Top Ten of 2012: Book Boyfriends

Top 10 of 2012 is a week long event celebrating the best of books from the past year. It is co-hosted by Rachel from Fiktshun, Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Jaime from Two Chicks on Books, & Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.

Best Book Boyfriends of 2012

In no particular order... And keep in mind that these quotes may be spoilery to a certain extent.

1. Hector from The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2) by Rae Carson

"I love you the way a drowning man loves air. And it would destroy me to have you just a little."

Oh, Hector. *sigh* You have no idea how much I ship him and Elisa.

2. Gabriel from Spark (Elementals #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

A girl on the cheer squad had once asked Gabriel if having a twin was like looking in a mirror all the time. He'd asked her if being a cheerleader was like being an idiot all of the time - but really, it was a good question.

What? There had to be at least one funny quote. ;) But don't you worry, Gabriel's still so hot that plays with fire -- literally.

3. Adrian from The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead

"I tried to be a better person for her– but it was to impress her, to get her to want me. But when I’m around you, I want to be better because… well, because it feels right. Because I want to. You make me want to become something greater than myself. I want to excel. You inspire me in every act, every word, every glance. I look at you, and you’re like… like light made into flesh. […] You have no clue how beautiful you are or how brightly you shine."

*melts into a puddle*

4. Zachary from Shine (Shade #3) by Jeri Smith-Ready

"I don't need to see you to know that you're beautiful."

Zachary leaned in, and I thought he was going to kiss me. Instead he pressed his cheek to mine and held it there. It felt more intimate than a kiss.

Zachary is just so lovely, he will forever be on this list. Such a fabulous character!

5. Daemon from Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

"I always liked you. From the moment you first flipped me off."

"If there is anything, there is us. You and me. No one else."

Daemon is always good for snark and suggestive comments, but he can be pretty swoony as well, I gotta admit.

6. Han Alister from The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms #4) by Cinda Williams Chima

"So here's the truth - I love you. I love everything about you – [...] You've given me the words I need to become whatever I want. [...] I love how you go after what you want – whether it's kisses or a queendom. [...] I want to breathe you in for the rest of my life."

Jeeze, the swoon here is at such a high level I had to take out sentence upon sentence to make that passage quotable!

7. Jared from Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

"Nothing else ever mattered to me, and you weren’t even real. All I ever wanted was you."

Oh Jared, you co-dependent moody little thing -- why do I love you so?!

8. Josh from The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

"I wished my mother was here tonight, which is stupid, because it’s an impossible wish." He shrugs and turns to me, drowning the smile that cracks me every time.

"It’s not stupid to want to see her again."

"It wasn’t so much that I wanted to see her again," he says, looking at me with the depth of more than seventeen years in his eyes. "I wanted her to see you."

What even. Josh, you are way too swoony. I freaking adore the relationship in this book.

9. Shane from Let It Bleed (WVMP #3.5) by Jeri Smith-Ready

"If I were a poet, I would say you outshine the sun, moon, and stars put together." He steps forward, pressing the length of his body against mine. "But I'm not a poet, so I'll say that no matter what you wear, I always picture you naked."

Okay, there had to be a sexy quote too, and a lot of what Shane says definitely fits the bill. Shane & Ciara's relationship is super hot, but super loving and sweet as well.

10. Chase from Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

"Ember, you're the only piece of me I have left. Everything else - my family, my home, my soul - they're all gone. I don't know who the hell I am anymore. If it weren't for you... I don't know."

He put a hand on his throat, as though trying to stop the words, but they came anyway. "You're home. To me."

I adore how much Chase loves Ember, and how much he's done for her, even when she doesn't realize it at all.

The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima

Release Date: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 608
Series: The Seven Realms #4
Review Source: Finished copy for review from Hachette Book Group Canada (@HBGCanada)

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
A thousand years ago, two young lovers were betrayed—Alger Waterlow to his death, and Hanalea, Queen of the Fells, to a life without love.

Now, once again, the Queendom of the Fells seems likely to shatter apart. For young queen Raisa ana’Marianna, maintaining peace even within her own castle walls is nearly impossible; tension between wizards and Clan has reached a fevered pitch. With surrounding kingdoms seeking to prey on the Fells’ inner turmoil, Raisa’s best hope is to unite her people against a common enemy. But that enemy might be the person with whom she's falling in love.

Through a complicated web of lies and unholy alliances, former streetlord Han Alister has become a member of the Wizard Council of the Fells. Navigating the cut-throat world of blue blood politics has never been more dangerous, and Han seems to inspire hostility among Clan and wizards alike. His only ally is the queen, and despite the perils involved, Han finds it impossible to ignore his feelings for Raisa. Before long, Han finds himself in possession of a secret believed to be lost to history, a discovery powerful enough to unite the people of the Fells. But will the secret die with him before he can use it?

A simple, devastating truth concealed by a thousand-year-old lie at last comes to light in this stunning conclusion to the Seven Realms series.

My Thoughts:
The Seven Realms is one of my favourite series, so needless to say I was very excited to read this final volume. This is one of those books that’s filled with so many things that I enjoy. There are absolutely amazing characters, tons of action scenes, some romance, and a political aspect with fighting for the throne. In this volume of the series everything is brought together. There are so many different plots to wrap, and yet it’s done masterfully. I can’t think of a single big remaining question I have about the series, because it’s all brought together in such a seamless manner.

Character wise, Raisa is the strong warrior queen who is willing to fight and do the best for her queendom. However she’s not a robot, fighting or serving blindly. She has wants and ambitions of her own (such as being able to marry for love) which aren’t compatible with her queenly duties. On the other hand, we have Han who has grown so much as a character throughout the series. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to be with Raisa; he want to prove his love and his worth, not just to Raisa but to everyone around her. There are also so many amazing side characters in this series, and yet it’s never confusing. The author gives all of them life and personality.

This is a massive tome at over 600 pages and yet I absolutely inhaled it. I adore Cinda Williams Chima’s writing style, and I love the characters and the story itself. I’m sad that it’s the end of the story for these characters (although I’ve heard Cinda has written an adult series set in this world where some characters are familiar to us), and yet I’m so happy where the book left off. This is really one of those perfect endings where you get a happy ending for the characters, and yet you can imagine a future for them as well. It feels, to me at least, like a big compliment when I can almost see the characters as real individuals outside of the text, and that is very true for me here. I absolutely love this series, and I highly encourage you to check it out if you haven’t already.

The Cover:
Gorgeous!!

Rating:
[5/5]

Find The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima on Goodreads, Book Depository, Amazon.

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Release Date: January 31, 2012
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 384
Series: Article 5 #1
Review Source: ARC from Raincoast Books

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

My Thoughts:
I was completely intrigued by this book since I first read the description of it, and as I started reading it I was equally enthralled by the book itself. I feel like the world that Ember, our main character, is living in requires a bit of suspension of disbelief, partially because none of the technology indicates that the book is set in the future, yet there have been wars and destruction and a whole upheaval of society based on fundamentalist morals. I would have liked a better idea of how this society came about and who actually is in charge, but if you can ignore that aspect and just go with the story I think this book is fabulous. I started reading and did not want to put it down.

Ember is very sheltered from the reality going on around her, and I felt like she was very naive about some situations and downright obtuse about others. Ember is also fiercely protective of her mother, and she’s a good person caught up in a terrible situation, so you do feel for her. I think another reason you can connect with Ember is her relationship with Chase. It’s not a spoiler to say that Chase, the boy she loved, took part in the arrest of her mother, but things are very complicated in that regard. As a reader you can figure things out about Chase that Ember hasn’t or doesn’t want to face. You can tell that Chase is the best type of boy, fiercely loyal to and in love with Ember, and this relationship shows of all of Ember’s best qualities. Basically I was completely in love with Ember and Chase’s relationship, as angsty and distant as it was at times. This was real, long blooming love trying to rekindle, and it was completely amazing to watch.

The interesting thing about this book is that I completely called the “plot twist” right from the very beginning. It just seemed obvious, and I suppose it was Ember’s hope and naivete that led her to not even consider that particular aspect. However my guessing two very important facts about the book didn’t ruin it for me. In a way it made it more exciting, wondering when Ember would figure it out, and how it would all go down. And getting to that point in the book? Crazy exciting, with tons of emotion and action along the way.

I really liked this book, partially because no one felt like a stock character to me. The characters were interesting and well developed, there was tons of action, and the book was well paced, keeping me interested throughout. Though, as I said, I would have liked some more background information on the world these characters are living in, what was described was interesting and plausible. I also adored the fact that despite the fact this is a series book it could totally stand on its own. Concrete beginning, middle, and end, with just enough promise for the future that will make you want to read on. This book is my favourite dystopian since I don’t even know when. ‘Article 5’ stands out amongst shelves of other dystopian books because of its characters and its heart.

The Cover:
I really like it!

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Article 5 by Kristen Simmons on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Release Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 416
Series: Unearthly #2
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

My Thoughts:
What can I say about this one?? Such a good (and incredibly emotional) follow up to ‘Unearthly’. ‘Hallowed’ gives readers a continued connection with the main characters as the love triangle amps up. This series deserves an award for one of the best love triangles ever, though. I love how the love triangle has a purpose to the story, and that both guys are worthy of Clara.

There were some shocking moments in ‘Hallowed’ and some heartbreaking ones as well. More details about the angel mythology are revealed, and Clara learns secrets about her family and about the past. This aspect was fascinating, as was the continued discussion about purpose. I liked how the idea of free will was brought up, and whether or not angel-bloods have choices.

Cynthia Hand’s flowing prose will have you holding your breath as you keep turning pages to see what will happen next. This is such a great series, and ‘Hallowed’ offers revelations that will make you look at events from ‘Unearthly’ in a completely different way. I never thought I would fall in love with an angel series, but these books have proved me wrong. An incredible second installment that will leave you wanting Book 3 pronto (!) in order to find out more about Clara and her purpose.

The Cover:
So pretty!

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Hallowed by Cynthia Hand on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

P.S. Happy Birthday Mom!! =)

A Book I'm Thankful For

I've been a reader since I was a little girl. To try and name all my favourites would be impossible. Even to try and figure out which book over the course of my whole life I'm most thankful for is a daunting task. I have some favourites I've loved since I was little (The Giver, A Wrinkle in Time, The Magician's Nephew), but when I think about a book I'm most thankful for my mind can't help but drift to a book I read earlier this year. This gorgeous book is entitled 'Jellicoe Road' (or 'On the Jellicoe Road', originally) by Melina Marchetta.

Just thinking of 'Jellicoe Road' makes me slightly giddy. There are very few books I feel passionate enough about to recommend them to everyone with no caveats, but this is one of them. Whenever someone mentions it I can't help but squee over it, and when I see positive reviews I get so excited that someone else has enjoyed it as much as I did. I feel a connection to 'Jellicoe Road'. I created a label here on the blog for my review of it called "beyond description," because that's what 'Jellicoe' is to me. I can go on and on about it, but when it comes down to it I can't even fully describe how much I adore it.

'Jellicoe' is heartbreaking and hopeful. It's simple and complex. It's confusing at times, but ultimately rewarding. Gorgeous, breathtaking, disjointed, poetic. It will make you laugh and make you cry. I don't know how Melina Marchetta writes so beautifully, but somehow she does. No other author makes me feel the way she does with her words.

I really can't think of a more beautiful book, and that is why 'Jellicoe Road' is a book that I'm thankful for. I really can't praise Melina Marchetta's writing enough.

You can read my review of 'Jellicoe Road' here.

And now in full confession time, I'm writing this post because I saw a contest on Beth Revis' blog.

Really, this is the ultimate way to enter a contest. It's an epic giveaway, so who wouldn't want to win the prize (open internationally, btw)? But it's also awesome to hear about all these books that are special to people, and I've really enjoyed reading the several posts I've seen about it in my Google Reader.

If you enter the contest or have just written about a book you're thankful for be sure and link me to it in the comments, because I'd love to check it out!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Release Date: November 15, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 342
Series: Shatter Me #1
Review Source: Won ARC from Jess

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

My Thoughts:
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one. I adored the concept and all I had heard about it were rave reviews, but hype kills me almost every time. The only books I can think of from the past couple of years that lived up to their own hype (in my opinion) are Divergent and Anna and the French Kiss. Well, thankfully, I can now add Shatter Me to that list. There’s just something really special about this book that I’m having trouble putting my finger on. It has a certain je ne sais quoi, but thankfully it also has a lot of other awesome qualities that I can describe.

I think what makes ‘Shatter Me’ really special is the writing style. Juliette’s voice is so endearing and honest, and I loved the whole strikthrough concept, which is especially prevalent at the beginning when Juliette is feeling the most alone and trying to hide her emotions. Mostly I think the writing style just felt real. It honestly felt like the perspective of a real person. There were fragmented sentences and then vivid imagery, but mostly there were fully realized emotions and thoughts. The writing style alone puts this book above other similar works, but that’s not its only strength.

Juliette and Adam are both such fantastic characters. I adored how kind Juliette is despite all the hatred she’s been subjected to. The fact that she cares so much about the plight of others really touched me. Adam, similarly, is a loyal and good person who has had to deal with a different kind of adversity but has come out of it stronger. And the two of them together? Wow! Lots of really perfect moments between these two. What’s great is that the two main characters are not the only ones who are fully fleshed out. I was especially interested in the villain character, because there was nothing simple about him or his motives. It just seemed so true to life. People are complex, and the characters in 'Shatter Me' show this, making them seem like real people.

Honestly, what else can I say? This book has received such fabulous reviews that I didn’t think it could live up to my expectations, but I’m so happy that it did. Tahereh Mafi is a fabulous writer, and I cannot believe this is her debut novel! I’m already excited for Book 2, because even though ‘Shatter Me’ tells a complete story, it is also a first book where the ending sets up a pretty awesome premise for the next installment. Basically? You should read this book. You MUST read this book.

The Cover:
I know this cover has a lot of haters, but I adore it! Okay, yes, it's another "pretty girl in a dress" cover, but I think it shows Juliette's strength really well. I also love the font, and how the tagline incorporates the whole strikethrough style of writing. AND I adore how the light effect in the background is actually part of the photo. Gorgeous!

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Pages: 489
Series: Divergent #1
Review Source: Won

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

My Thoughts:
I've been a big fan of this book ever since it released, but I never posted my review here because of the huge amounts of reviews that were flooding in during May and June. But now I figured it was about time for me to squee about 'Divergent':

When I finished this book I literally said “Holy crap.” It was just so GOOD. What the book contains isn’t necessarily all unique, but it sure is amazingly executed. Veronica Roth’s writing is so powerful. It’s a pretty simple story, but with enough descriptions to keep things interesting.

I love the different factions and how they’re divided by personality. I love how action-packed the book is: all the Dauntless training exercises were incredibly interesting.

The main character of this book, Tris, is fabulous. She is so brave and selfless. She is strong because of her ability to be brave. Four is such a lovely character as well. His “mystery” background was pretty easy to figure out, but it was still interesting to see it play out. Plus his nickname becomes way less lame once you figure out what it stands for.

This book has scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat, a slow-building romance, friendship, and cruelty. There is so much of everything, yet never enough. ‘Divergent’ is a decent length, but it will keep you reading and reading and wanting more. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year!

The Cover:
Love it!

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Divergent by Veronica Roth on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 528
Series: Seven Realms #3
Review Source: For review from Hachette Book Group Canada (@HBGCanada)

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.

Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.

The Gray Wolf Throne is an epic tale of fierce loyalty, unbearable sacrifice, and the heartless hand of fate.

My Thoughts:
It’s hard to write anything that will do these books justice, but let me start off by saying that the ‘Seven Realms’ series is now one of my favourites. I really enjoyed the first book, loved the second book, and I totally adored this third book as well. The only negative thing I can think to say is that I’m disappointed I’ll have to wait for the fourth book! I honestly feel like I was on a journey with these characters and I’m sad the book is over because I can’t continue on with them. Thankfully there’s no big cliffhanger, but these books will make you fall in love with the characters and the storyline.

If you enjoyed the first two ‘Seven Realms’ books then no doubt you will love ‘The Gray Wolf Throne’. If you haven’t yet read the series but are a fan of ‘Graceling’, ‘Poison Study’, ‘StarCrossed’ (Elizabeth C. Bunce), ‘The Girl of Fire and Thorns’, or similar books then you are likely to enjoy them. The books contain such a fabulous balance of adventure, action, politics, magic, and even romance. All the characters come alive, and Han and Raisa easily make my “book boyfriends” and “favourite heroines” shelves on Goodreads. Silly as those honours are, I don’t give them away lightly, so that shows you how great the characters are.

Besides the great characters, these books also contain a richly imagined and vividly described world. The geography, the culture, the politics... all of it is wonderfully laid out. Political intrigue comes up in this book even more than in the past two, and it was incredibly interesting to read about. Besides Raisa’s small group of allies it’s hard to know who to trust. Even amongst these allies there are specific agendas, and dealing with these becomes a main focus. I love how the best fantasy books bring up issues that are important for us today, and I saw that in this book. The wizards, clan, and valefolk cannot see eye to eye, which leads to so many different problems, and most of it is based on prejudice because of race and/or class.

I really cannot describe how great these books are. As I mentioned, they’re some of my new favourites, and I can see why fans of the books have been recommending them so much. If you’re at all a fantasy fan then I suggest you make this series your next endeavour.

The Cover:
So gorgeous!

Rating:
[5/5]

Find The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Series Spotlight: The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

The Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine



Goodreads Links:
1. Glass Houses
2. The Dead Girls' Dance
3. Midnight Alley
4. Feast of Fools
5. Lord of Misrule
6. Carpe Corpus
7. Fade Out
8. Kiss of Death
9. Ghost Town
10. Bite Club
(Extremely Short) Series Synopsis:
Morganville is a small college town in the heart of Texas-not a place that exactly screams "hotbed of creatures of the night". But college freshman Claire Danvers is about to discover why, in Morganville, you should never, ever stay out after dark...

Background:
If you read my reviews regularly then you know I'm not the biggest vampire fan. Heck, before this year I rarely read paranormal books at all. But the books I've read about vampires tend to be boring, chasing the same tropes over and over again. Vampire Academy is a huge exception to this. Those books amazed me, and made me appreciate that a talented author can take a paranormal creature I normally dislike and turn it into the basis for one of my favourite series. Despite this, The Morganville Vampires weren't exactly on my radar. But that all changed over the past couple of months. I'd been seeing this series everywhere! The books at Walmart, individual reviews on blogs I read, and people naming the series as one of their favourites in various 'Best Of' posts. I thought "Hmm, maybe I should pick them up." But 10 books is seriously intimidating. I held off. Then my library got an eBook of the first 8 (!) books of the series. I then thought "Well, that's an easy way to check out the majority of the books. Why not?" One 1500+ page eBook later and I was totally hooked. As I read book after book I quickly put physical copies of Books 9 and 10 on hold at the library as well. And if a series fails to bore you after 10 books? I'd say it's pretty darn good.

My (Spoiler Free) Thoughts:
To me, these books are the perfect reads because they offer a perfect combination of character driven drama, crazy action-packed scenes, and mega plot twists. Each book has scenes about the friendships and romances of the main characters, but there's also a (relatively) self-contained plot involving one major issue in each one.

When I think about what I love about these books my mind first goes to the foursome who live in the Glass House. I love how in a series about vampires the books equally focus on the "normal" people in Morganville (though I think if Eve heard herself described as normal she would either laugh or freak out). Claire Danvers is our main character, and she is all kinds of adorable. She's incredibly intelligent and very studious as well (going to college at 16 isn't exactly for slackers), and she's very sweet. When the series begins Claire is just starting off on her own and she's a little bit wide-eyed and naive. As crazy events surround her, though, she becomes a very strong and determined young woman, willing to stand up for those she loves, even to the detriment of herself.

Michael Glass is the owner of the Glass House, and he's a little bit of a contradiction. He's responsible and soft-spoken, but he's also a musician who has Rock God appeal when he's on stage. And then there's another little issue that Michael has, but I won't spoil it here. Eve Rosser, though not my favourite character, has her strong points as well. She's the sassy goth who is extremely loyal and quickly becomes Claire's best friend. Then we have Shane Collins who has very strong views about vampires thanks to his tough upbringing. Shane is fiercely protective and a bit of a tough guy, but he has a sweet side as well. Nic at Irresistible Reads chose Shane as one of her Book Boyfriends, so you can read just a few snippets of his sexiness and awesomeness here.

The series presents the reality of living in Morganville, a town full of vampires, as very much Us versus Them. And in a lot of ways that's the way the town works. Vampires aren't romanticized in this series. They are the enemy of humans, the rulers over them, and a serious threat. However, not everything is that black and white. Even the strictest rivals can work together against a common enemy. Even a cold-hearted vampire can protect a human. The villains of the series are so nuanced. I can pretty much only think of one or two characters who are out and out bad. The rest of them are so interestingly layered. The town's founder, Amelie, is cold and dangerous, and she pushes down restrictions and punishments on one hand, while protecting Claire on the other. Oliver is portrayed as someone who loves killing and war, and he can never be trusted, yet he also puts things on the line and works behind the scenes to protect certain people.

Of course some of the books are stronger than others. I found the latest, Bite Club, to be the most disappointing, but I say 'disappointing' while also noting that I gave the book a very strong 3 out of 5, and it was just as "unputdownable" as its predecessors. None of the books have failed to entertain me. They are all page turners and kept me reading during the day and up late at night so I could finish them. One thing is for sure: Rachel Caine absolutely knows how to tell a story. This is an incredible series for both the characters and the action. If you haven't picked it up yet, don't be intimidated by the size of the series. The books are such quick reads, and I'm positive that if you start them you'll very quickly fall in love.

The Covers:
Um, yah, not so much. They're very typical "I'm a paranormal book!" covers, aren't they? And who chose the model to represent Shane on the Bite Club cover? What a travesty!

Series Rating:
[A very strong 4/5]

Check the official Morganville site for links to purchase the books, as well as FAQs, information, etc.

The Morganville Vampires #11, Last Breath, will be released November 1, 2011.