A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris

A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 320
Series: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #2
Review Source: eBook for review from publisher

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Alessandra D’Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, Alessandra is lost. Until the stars hear her plea.

One mystical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat’s Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. Surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen…until she meets the infuriating—and infuriatingly handsome—surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in…and introduces her to a world filled with possibility.

With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still can. But how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she’s come to love?

My Thoughts:
This book was really cute and it was a lot of fun to read. It’s a real fish out of water story in many ways, with Alessandra coming from the 16th century and having to adapt to all things modern. It also contains an adorable romance which starts out as an antagonistic relationship, but quickly becomes mutual respect/admiration. This leads to a lot of very cute scenes as Austin introduces Less to things like amusement parks and surfing.

I loved seeing the Cat/Less dynamic back in place in this book, and also seeing what's been going on in Cat's life since she returned home. I loved how much Cat supported her cousin and encouraged her in her acting. This book is really about finding your passion, and the things that makes you you.

If you’re looking for a fun read, I would definitely recommend this one. I always look forward to reading Rachel Harris's works, and I already can't wait to check out the next book written by her.

The Cover:
It's cute.

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Find A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

I don't often post reviews of books that I got from the library or that I bought on my own, but this one just HAD to be posted because of how much I loved it. Now, months after I read 'Unspoken', I FINALLY had room in my blog schedule to post the review:

Release Date: September 11, 2012
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 373
Series: The Lynburn Legacy #1
Review Source: eBook from library

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed the Demon’s Lexicon books by Sarah Rees Brennan, so this one was always on my TBR list. Then I kept hearing such great things about ‘Unspoken’, and I was itching to get my hands on it. My library finally got the ebook, and I waited (im)patiently for my digital hold to come in. I dropped everything to read ‘Unspoken’, and I’m so glad I did. It rocketed to the top of my favourites of 2012 list, and also to the top of the “holy crap, nooo, why do we have to wait for the next book?!” list.

I think what is so fabulous about this book is that Sarah has taken so many elements that I usually loathe, and has made me love them. How does she do this?! First we have the ultra special magical connection between our heroine and hero. Then we have the makings of a love triangle. Then we have a hero who is incredibly codependent. It all sounds disastrous, and yet I adored it. The connection between Jared and Kami feels incredibly precious, and reading about the two of them and seeing how they’ve been connected all their lives explains a lot about why these two are the way they are. Jared is completely that tortured wannabe bad boy, and yet as we delve into his thoughts we see all the different angles of him. The “love triangle” isn’t wholly developed, but what exists of it really fits the book, and especially makes sense as you delve closer to the end of the book.

Beyond these elements that have been turned on their heads into something fabulous, ‘Unspoken’ has a lot of other things going for it as well. It’s a gothic mystery, with an amazing setting of Sorry-in-the-Vale in the Cotswolds, England. The setting is so incredibly atmospheric, it just works perfectly for the story. The book also has an amazing protagonist in Kami, a spunky journalist who is more than a little bit Veronica Mars-like (you can tell that Sarah is a fan of the show, which is awesome!). If you’ve read Sarah Rees Brennan before then you know that she’s an expert at angst that will make you flail around and cry, but she’s also fabulous at quirky humour. I loved the humourous tone that ‘Unspoken’ had, and the unique characters that filled the pages. There’s also an intensely romantic tone to the story, despite it not featuring any actual romantic relationships. What it does feature amazingly well is friendship and family. I love romance, but too often I think friends and family get the shaft when it comes to YA.

It’s hard to describe exactly what it so compelling about this book, but hopefully I’ve been able to explain just a little bit of why I loved it so much. All of these great aspects I’ve pointed out come together seamlessly in a book that will fill you with all kinds of emotion. I read a lot of books, but this is one of the best examples of a paranormal mystery I’ve read in a long time, and it also features one of the best relationships that I’ve read in a long time. I am anxiously awaiting the second book, 'Untold', which is set to release around September 2013.

The Cover:
I LOVE it, so I'm super disappointed that the covers will be changing.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Every Never After by Lesley Livingston

Release Date: March 12, 2013
Publisher: Razorbill Canada
Pages: 256
Series: Never #2
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
It's happening again!

Despite their vow to each other at the end of Once Every Never, best friends Clare and Allie once more find themselves in trouble—and travelling in time. Indulging in a low-key vacation at Glastonbury Tor, taking part in an archaeological dig while soaking up the sights of summertime England, the girls have promised each other: no time travel shenanigans; no involvement with dangerous Druids or villainous museum thieves; and definitely no weirdness about the fact that Clare is now seriously dating Milo, Allie's super-genius hottie cousin!

But when Allie makes an unexpected discovery at the dig site—a skull—the grisly artifact sends her spiralling back in time to a Roman encampment besieged by rampaging Celts. Caught between the Legions and the war band, Allie is rescued from certain death by Marcus, a young Roman soldier with a secret. As she struggles to survive in the past, Clare and Milo race desperately against time in the present to bring Allie home...before she loses her head OR her heart.

My Thoughts:
‘Every Never After’ is a book filled with a zany humour that is so uniquely Lesley Livingston; it’s an energy that really can’t be described unless you’ve met Lesley and/or read one of her books before. ‘Every Never After’ is a perfect blend of geekiness and giddiness, and if you liked the first book (‘Once Every Never’) then I’m certain you’ll enjoy this one too.

‘Every Never After’ features more time monkey shenanigans, this time involving Allie, but also relating to Clare in a roundabout way. The book also contains more Milo and his adorable smarty-pants ways, as well as an introduction to a guy who is swoony in his own right. The characters are definitely a huge strength in these novels. Allie and Clare are such strong, tough heroines, but they’re also perfectly teenage girl. They’re completely intelligent and capable, but they still enjoy checking out cute guys (and who can blame them?).

‘Every Never After’ is another fun time romp from Lesley Livingston, with an ending that’s one part satisfying and one part “ack, I need the next book now!!”.

The Cover:
Like it!

Rating:
[4/5]

Find Every Never After by Lesley Livingston on Goodreads, Chapters-Indigo, & Amazon.ca.

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

Release Date: February 26, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Pages: 304
Series: Shades of London #2
Review Source: ARC for review from Razorbill Canada

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance. But Rory's brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she's become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades—the city's secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it's too late.

In this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated The Name of the Star, Maureen Johnson adds another layer of spectacularly gruesome details to the streets of London that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

My Thoughts:
‘The Madness Underneath’ is a pretty evocative title, but it became even more perfectly creepy as I delved into the book and found out exactly what it was referring to. I was a huge fan of Maureen Johnson’s ‘The Name of the Star’, so I was eagerly awaiting this sequel. Rory has survived the Ripper that was plaguing modern-day London, but after being through this trauma she can’t tell anyone the truth about it. She’s been sequestered away from the only people who she can talk to about ghosts and her abilities. Of course this is only the beginning and Rory is once again involved in some ghostly occurrences.

In ‘The Madness Underneath’ there are more murders and events that Rory sees a pattern in. What I liked about this book is that the murders were only one part of the plot, and they weren’t a huge spectacle in the same way that the Ripper murders were in the previous book. If you can call ghosts and abilities realistic, then I would say that it all felt realistic, rather than repeating the same type of huge media event like in the first book. Another amazing part of these books is that Maureen Johnson is perfect at writing about London and making you feel like you’re really there. She clearly knows the area and all the little details, and it makes the book feel all the more truthful.

I really enjoy our main character, Rory. She’s quirky and sweet, and I just find her relatable in general. She’s smart but she’s not a keener when it comes to school, she has friends and a cute guy she enjoys making out with but doesn’t know if she actually likes him in a boyfriend type of way... all of these characteristics make her interesting and yet also someone who feels real. She’s not the “special snowflake” heroine that a lot of books present, even though she does have a crazy cool ability. Toward the end of the book I felt like Rory made some decisions that were just ridiculous -- things that I thought she was too smart to do. Upon reflection, though, I think I can excuse her behaviour and possibly even understand it. Rory has been through a lot, and the whole book is really about her trying to reach out and find someone who understands her; when she does make her (pretty stupid) decision, it’s based upon finding this acceptance, which I think makes a lot of sense, even though we as readers are shaking our heads.

I would be remiss not to mention the other Shades (those with the ability to see ghosts), because I love, love, love them. I would have liked to see more of Boo, but I still adored all of the scenes with the trio. I particularly enjoyed all of the Rory/Stephen scenes. I love their banter and how Stephen is so introverted, and yet is willing to share personal things with Rory. All I can really say is that I shipped them in the first book, and I enjoyed their interactions a lot in this volume.

As much as I love this book and this series I almost want to tell you to hold off until Book 3 is published, because this book has an ending that is absolutely insane. I sort of saw it coming right before it happened and I was freaking out, and then I read it and... oh man. I literally had to calm my breathing and tell myself to calm down and remind myself it was a book and not part of my real life. Yes that is how crazy of a reaction I had to it. Just thinking about it now is making me all flail-y. So despite the ending that will make you want to completely badger Maureen Johnson for information on the 3rd book and might put you into therapy, this is definitely a must-read. I loveeee these books, so if you do end up reading ‘The Madness Underneath’ right away, please come join me in freaking out and wanting the 3rd book pronto.

The Cover:
Not my fave, but I like it in that it's unique and atmospheric.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Release Date: January 22, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 336
Series: The Archived #1
Review Source: Finished copy for review from Hachette Book Group Canada (@HBGCanada)

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

My Thoughts:
“Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.” Could there be a crazier or cooler tagline? The concept of this book is what drew me in, and I can honestly say that Victoria Schwab did an amazing job of world building. The construction of the whole concept was amazing and mysterious. The Archive of histories (copies of people’s bodies!!) was such an intriguing labyrinth. Then there were the creepy Narrows, which are basically dark alleys that Keepers use to access the Archive, and where they also track down rogue histories. I also loved how (and where!) the doors to the Narrows could be found.

Mackenzie, or Mac, is our main character, and I definitely empathized with her and liked her. She was dealing with the death of her brother as well as having to keep huge secrets from her family. While this led her to make some less than stellar decisions, I always understood where she was coming from. Wesley is an amazing character as well. He was such a perfect mixture of mockingly self-deprecating and egotistical. I loved that he was such a good guy, and his role in the story was a very interesting one.

At the heart of this book is a mystery plot line, and that’s what I enjoyed the most. I loved seeing Mac discover clues and trying to figure things out. I loved how there was another secret about the Archive at every turn, and that even as we learn so much about it there is still so much to find out. I also loved how there were two cute boys in the book and yet there was no love triangle. In fact there was little to no actual romance (despite Wesley’s noted adorableness), but I didn’t miss it at all.

Overall I was deeply fascinated with the world that Victoria Schwab has created in ‘The Archived’, and was equally as impressed with the characters. I also enjoyed thinking about the idea behind the Archive -- preserving all the history of the world in the form of individual stories. It’s a really beautiful concept in a lot of ways, and it was interesting to see it played out in this way. 'The Archived' was a great read, and I look forward to checking out the sequel once it is released.

The Cover:
Love!! Such a perfect representation of the book.

Rating:
[4/5]

Find The Archived by Victoria Schwab on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 390
Series: Raven Cycle #1
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before

My Thoughts:
I absolutely adored ‘The Scorpio Races’, so there was no question about whether or not I would check out Maggie’s new series. The concept was so interesting sounding, and after reading ‘The Raven Boys’ there's also no question in my mind about how intriguing this book is. When thinking of how to express my feelings for this book “intrigued” is the word I keep coming back to and using over and over again. I really don’t know of any other book like it, which makes it stand out all the more. The fusion of history, legend, treasure hunting, and the occult make for an irresistible combination.

One reason why I appreciated ‘The Raven Boys’ so much is because I love history and historical mysteries; I could identify with Gansey’s obsession in that way. The characters are another huge aspect of what make this book so fabulous. The aforementioned Gansey is rich, eccentric, and completely socially awkward, but he is such a fabulous character, primarily because of how much he cares about his friends. I adored all the Raven Boys and the friendship they had, and also I loved how Blue fit into their group. Blue and her family of psychics add another interesting dynamic to the book.

‘The Raven Boys’ is a bit meandering and slower paced at some moments, so I can see how it might not be for everyone. However, I was so enchanted by the characters that I loved every moment I could spend with them. Don’t get me wrong, the book isn’t all slow. There are plot-twists that have the potential to leave you shocked, and moments of higher intensity when you can’t read quickly enough to find out what’s going to happen next.

Overall I was wholly impressed with ‘The Raven Boys’, and it confirmed to me that I am a fan of Maggie Stiefvater’s writing (potentially enough so to make me go back and give ‘Shiver’ another chance). ‘The Raven Boys’ is an enchanting read, one that will stick with you long after you’ve finished the last page.

The Cover:
You should know that I'm terrified of birds. I think that spells out my reaction to this cover pretty well. ;) However, objectively speaking it's pretty awesome and unique, and I like the white background element and the swirly-ness (that's obviously a technical term) of the illustration.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Release Date: May 15, 2012
Publisher: Disney Hyperion / Doubleday Canada
Pages: 343
Series: n/a
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Oct. 11th, 1943—A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When “Verity” is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn’t stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she’s living a spy’s worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?

Harrowing and beautifully written, Elizabeth Wein creates a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other. Code Name Verity is an outstanding novel that will stick with you long after the last page.

My Thoughts:
‘Code Name Verity’ is a very emotional book that really hits you hard. It’s a story of war and tragedy, but it’s also a celebration of female power and female friendship. I really connected with both the female characters, and I loved the how the story was was told in an epistolary fashion.

I don’t often like unreliable narrators, but this was one case where it was done so cleverly and interestingly that I really did like it. I had suspicions and curiosities, and that kept me engaged even when the story was a bit slow.

This book was very bittersweet at times and also surprisingly funny (not what you’d expect to read in a book where torture occurs). The characters were so lovely and real feeling that I couldn’t help falling a bit in love with them.

Despite all my praise I have to say I didn’t love this one quite as much as everyone else seems to. It really is slow at times, and not everyone will appreciate all the details about aircraft. However I definitely think ‘Code Name Verity’ is worth a read because it’s a very powerful and important story that will stay with you.

The Cover:
It's okay, but can we talk about how amazing the UK one is?!

Rating:
[4/5]

Find Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein on Goodreads, Book Depository (OR Book Depository w/ UK cover), & Amazon.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Release Date: September 29, 2011
Publisher: Putnam
Pages: 372
Series: Shades of London #1
Review Source: eBook from library

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

My Thoughts:
Basically this book is FABULOUS. I was looking forward to it for a longggg time and it did not disappoint. One thing I feel like I must say: if you find the beginning a little difficult and/or boring KEEP GOING. The beginning is all set-up with no supernatural elements, but it's written that way for a reason. Believe me. The ghosty-ness will happen and then you will be GLUED to your seat dying (ha.) to know what will happen next.

I loved all the characters, which is very important to me. Our main girl Rory, Jazza (what an English nickname, gosh), Stephen, Boo, Callum, Jerome, Jo, the scarily field hockey obsessed 'call me Claudia', and even Charlotte because she goes to a fancy dress party as AMY POND (and a ginger girl who dresses as a slutty cop and calls herself kissogram Amy is somehow weirdly a-ok in my book).

I don't even know how to describe this book, because half the fun is unravelling all the details alongside Rory. There's a teensy bit of romance, although it's not spectacular since Rory's new love connection seems seriously shy around girls, and Rory never really talks much about why she likes him. But really, do you need a fabulous romance when you have London, boarding school, hidden abilities, ghosts, secret police, and crazy panic of Jack the Ripper-like murders? No, I don't think so. Plussss I can see how Rory's love life could possibly go in a different direction in future books. But maybe that's just me hoping. We shall see!

Basically this book is super fun and interesting with equal parts humour and creepiness. Rory is quite adorable as the fish out of water American at London boarding school, and her story would be an interesting enough one even without the paranormal element. But add in that paranormal element and you have a FANTASTIC start to a new series that will leave you anxiously awaiting Book 2.

The Cover:
I initially really liked it, and I still think it's pretty, but... it's one of those covers that, once you've read the book, you realize doesn't really represent the book that well.

Rating:
[Strong 4/5]

Find The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.