Well, I guess I should get started.
First up we have The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. Sadly, this one only gets 2 of 5.
Summary: High school junior Violet uses her uncanny ability to sense murderers and their victims to try to stop a serial killer who's terrorizing her town, and although her best friend and would-be boyfriend Jay promises to keep her safe, she becomes a target.
I know, it sounds really good and it was really good. Until the ending. Wow. It was really lame. She spent all of this time building up this great suspesion and laying out this lovely romance. Then I got to the climax and it fell flat on it's face. It made me so sad. I was really enjoying it, too.
I was a little hesitant to give this a low rating. I just learn that there's a sequel. It was just released on the first of the month and I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy.
By itself this book is a huge disappointment, but as a series? It might redeem itself in the long run. I'll just have to wait and see.
Next, we have Nevermore by Kelly Creagh. This one gets a 5 of 5.
Summary: When cheerleader Isobel Lanley is assigned to work with goth, Edgar Allen Poe fan Varen Nethers on an English project, she is swept into a horrific dream world that he has created in his mind.
My thoughts: I love, love, love, LOVE this book. This is the second time I've read it. It's the first of a series. I believe there will be three books all together, but I've been wrong before. The next one isn't due to come out until Spring 2012. I'm dying to read it.
Anyway, I love this book because it's wonderfully balanced. There's just the right about of suspense, romance, and general creepiness. I'll admit it, I got scared a couple of times. She takes you into this living dream where everything is connected to one of Edgar Allen Poe's works. A few I was familiar with, from highschool lit., but a lot of the stories were new to me. It makes me want to read everything by Poe. Just not at night. It's some scary business.
After that I read Spells by Aprilynne Pike. I think this one warrants a 4 of 5.
Summary: Summoned to study at The Academy of Avalon, sixteen-year-old Laurel learns about the town with friend Tamani, while honing her long-forgotten skills as a Fall faerie in order to protect her human family and Avalon from trolls.
My thoughts: I'm really enjoying these books and I'm really looking forward to the release of the next one on May 3. There's action and romance and a lot of drama. It kind of reminds me of the second Twilight book. By the end I was really mad at Laurel. I have a feeling she's going to do the right thing eventually, I just wish I didn't have to be angry with her first. If you enjoyed Twilight, then you'll like these books.
And then I finished the Princess Diaries books. Princess in Training, Party Princess, Sweet Sixteen Princess, Princess on the Brink, Princess Mia, Forever Princess all by Meg Cabot. Yeah, I know. Moving on. I give the series as a whole a 4 of 5.
Summary: The last half of the Princess Diaries covers Mia's sophomore year to graduation. Everything important is covered. Her relationship with long-time crush Michael, her 16th birthday, her campaign for student council president, a play that her grandmother writes and directs, the rather twisting roller coaster of her love life and those of her friends, her therapy, her friendship with Lana, her romance novel, and her senior prom. A lot happens in a few books.
My thoughts: It winds around and around and beats around the bush. I was just starting to get tired of listening to all of her teenage whining when suddenly I got to Princess Mia and everything changed. The last two books were amazing. I especially loved the last book, Forever Princess. It was really really good. I cried a little while reading the last one.
Now that I made it through all of these books I have no idea what to read next. Obviously, finding material isn't a problem for me. Just give me a day or two. Maybe it's time for some Jane Austen immersion therapy.
