A Book Obsession..

Review: Infinity Bell by Devon Monk

, by KT

Infinity Bell by Devon Monk

House Immortal #2

Return to national bestselling author Devon Monk's heartpounding House Immortal series, where eleven powerful Houses control the world and all its resources. But now, the treaty between them has been broken, and no one—not even the immortal galvanized—is safe....

Matilda Case isn’t normal. Normal people aren’t stitched together, inhumanly strong, and ageless, as she and the other galvanized are. Normal people’s bodies don’t hold the secret to immortality—something the powerful Houses will kill to possess. And normal people don’t know that they’re going to die in a few days.

Matilda’s fight to protect the people she loves triggered a chaotic war between the Houses and shattered the world’s peace. On the run, she must find a way to stop the repeat of the ancient time experiment that gifted her and the other galvanized with immortality. Because this time, it will destroy her and everything she holds dear.

is her enemy, and every second brings her one step closer to disaster....

Devon Monk's skill to keep a world fresh and interesting never ceases to amaze me. And her ability to shake things up? Surpurb. Of course that has a bit of downside as well, as the ending of this one has left me desperate to get my hands on the next installment to see how those wonderful twists play out. But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself here skipping to already wanting the next one before even telling you why you want this one. Simply put, the plot behind INFINITY BELL is an on the edge of your seat roller coaster ride. I couldn't put it down once I started as I had to know what happens next. Granted I felt similar about the previous, but this one even more so. Everything has been turned upside down and I really enjoyed how easy it was to immerse into the book right alongside the characters. I'm being purposely vague here as you'll want to read for yourself, so just trust me when I say, this one has one heck of a gripping plot.

As much as I loved the intensity of the plot, the characters are who really stole show. Everyone from Tilly, Abraham, the two Neds, her brother, and so on, made me fall completely in love with them all over again. I just loved how fully fleshed out all the characters were and reading the book felt like I was experiencing things right alongside these fabulous characters. Then on the reverse side are the villians, and they were just as every bit as fleshed out as the main cast. I cannot tell you how much I despised the main villan. Of course, that's not a bad thing considering it only sucked me further into the plot and plight of the "good" characters. So overall, a stellar job on both the characters and the plot.

In my review of the previous book I called her a powerhouse in the genre, and that proved itself true again in INFINITY BELL. I know with absolute certainty that when I pick up one of Devon Monk's books I'll have a guaranteed solid block of entertainment that I'll immensely enjoy. The track record is holding steady, and this series and INFINITY BELL are an absolute must buy for fans of the genre.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Between Dreams and Reality
Carole's Random Life
Vampire Book Club

Previous Books:
1. House Immortal

Kirsten Reviews: Pocket Apocalypse by Seanan McGuire

, by KT

Pocket Apocalypse by Seanan McGuire

InCryptid #4

Endangered, adjective: Threatened with extinction or immediate harm.Australia, noun: A good place to become endangered.

Alexander Price has survived gorgons, basilisks, and his own family—no small feat, considering that his family includes two telepaths, a reanimated corpse, and a colony of talking, pantheistic mice. Still, he’s starting to feel like he’s got the hang of things…at least until his girlfriend, Shelby Tanner, shows up asking pointed questions about werewolves and the state of his passport. From there, it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump to Australia, a continent filled with new challenges, new dangers, and yes, rival cryptozoologists who don’t like their “visiting expert” very much.

Australia is a cryptozoologist’s dream, filled with unique species and unique challenges. Unfortunately, it’s also filled with Shelby’s family, who aren’t delighted by the length of her stay in America. And then there are the werewolves to consider: infected killing machines who would like nothing more than to claim the continent as their own. The continent which currently includes Alex.

Survival is hard enough when you’re on familiar ground. Alex Price is very far from home, but there’s one thing he knows for sure: he’s not going down without a fight.

Pocket Apocalypse by Seanan McGuire is the latest novel in her InCryptid series which features the Price family, who are cryptozoologists, and and a generally rowdy bunch. Their ranks also include two telepaths, a reanimated corpse, and a colony of talking mice who worship the Price family as their gods. If it sounds a bit complicated, then that’s part of the joy of this series. Alexander Price and his sister Verity, whose alternating adventures make up the four books written thus far in this series are definitely not superhuman, although several of their family members aren’t human. What makes them good at what they do is their love of knowledge, respect for cryptids, and a determination to see every sort of creature as worth saving, unless it happens to be attempting to chew their face off. Even then, they might just pause long enough to try and reason with it before defending themselves.

‘Cryptids have feelings too’ is not an attitude common to many organizations that are aware of such creatures as gorgons, Church Griffins, or Aeslin mice, and this has put the Price family at odds with some rather unfriendly people. This time, though, the unfriendly people Alex is dealing with are his girlfriend, Shelby Tanner’s parents and the rest of the Australian cryptozoologists who have a werewolf problem they don’t want any outsider jumping in to solve.

Alex has his own history with werewolves, and he isn’t eager to hop on a plane and head to the other side of the world, but if werewolves manage to spread to other continents, they will literally take a bite out of almost anything, and after all, this is what he does for a living.

That puts Alex squarely in the middle of family drama that isn’t, for once, his own, facing down the hostile locals, both werewolf and human, and figuring out where he and Shelby’s relationship is headed from here.

McGuire has a knack for blending great characters, creatures, and humor with a plot that moves at a quick pace. All of these elements make this book a very enjoyable read, and will have readers eager for the next adventures of the Price family, wherever they may happen to wind up next.
(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Previous Books:
1. Discount Armageddon
2. Midnight Blue-Light Special
3. Half-Off Ragnarok

Review: Grave Matters by Lauren M. Roy

, by KT

Grave Matters by Lauren M. Roy

Night Owls #2

Night Owls bookstore always keeps a light on and evil creatures out. But, as Lauren M. Roy's thrilling sequel continues, even its supernatural staff isn’t prepared for the dead to come back to life…

Elly grew up training to kill things that go bump in the night, so she’s still getting used to working alongside them. While she’s learned to trust the eclectic group of vampires, Renfields, and succubi at Night Owls bookstore, her new job guarding Boston’s most powerful vampire has her on edge—especially when she realizes something strange is going on with her employer, something even deadlier than usual…

Cavale isn’t thrilled that his sister works for vampires, but he’s determined to repair their relationship, and that means trusting her choices—until Elly’s job lands all of the Night Owls in deep trouble with a vengeful necromancer. And even their collective paranormal skills might not be enough to keep them from becoming part of the necromancer’s undead army…

This book and series is rather frustrating for me. There's so much potential there for an excellent story, but it's massively hindered by the constant switch in narrators and their subsequent different storylines. Due to this constant shift I was never able to settle into anyone's head as as soon as I started to get hooked on one character and their chain of events, it would all be ripped away and into the next. Sometimes the changes were so abrupt that I hadn't even started to get sunk in at all. It just made for a very frustrating read. That being said, considering all this frustration it does speak to the impressive skill and writing that I continued on and did enjoy as much as possible. I just feel like this book would have been so much better if the rotations and perspectives had been cut in half. There was just two much going on with too many characters getting the limelight.

Putting all that aside, I did enjoy the characters in this book/series as there is one heck of a cast. Each and everyone had a very unique personality and were fully fleshed out despite the short amount of page time featuring each one. I absolutely loved the extra backstory on each character that was filtered in throughout the book, and it only endeared me to the cast of characters more. The two succubi and Chaz probably were my absolute favorites, followed up shortly by Justin. And the rest of the cast was pretty interesting too, again I just wish there had been a bit more screen time with each.

I enjoyed this one more than the first one as I had more time with the characters to get to know them etc, but overall it was still frustrating. I just wanted to get more time with the characters and perhaps more focus on fewer storylines. Granted everything was tied together really well at the end, which was no small feat considering and impressive writing, but prior to that point it was just too much for me. That being said, there wasn't a dull moment and despite my frustration with the rotation, over all it was a decent read that kept my attention. So the end verdict is a bit flawed but still entertaining.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Gizmos Reviews
Badass Book Reviews
The Qwillery

Previous Books:
1. Night Owls

Early Review: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

, by KT

Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

The Others #3

The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…

Frankly I'm not sure I can do this book and this series justice in this review, but I'm going to try. Sometimes, it amazes me just how much I love this series. I'm an unashamed romance addict and considering these have barely a hit of romance, you wouldn't think they would top my all time favorites list. But they do. They are simply that good, and VISION IN SILVER is no exception. From the moment I picked it up, I couldn't put it down, winding up reading until the wee hours of the morning just to find out how everything turned out. I cannot think of a single negative thing to say about this book, and that's a rare feat. Even when I love something, there still will be at least one part that wasn't the best for me, but that's not the case here. Serious kudos.

I really love how the world is ever expanding in this series, and yet it never looses focus on the characters that drew me in the first place. Meg has a new dimension added to her character as she realizes that she has reached her limit as her coping mechanisms start to fail. It frankly couldn't have come at a better time as this realization leads them to finding how to help her, and in turn the rest of the Sangue. She really is a pioneer and I adored her for it even as I had to watch her brutally struggle. On other expanding aspects, the political ramification have stepped up a notch, and the ending left me on the edge of my seat. I don't know how I'm going to wait until the next book to see where things go next.

I hope I've given this book and series the justice they deserve. Simply put this series, and VISION IN SILVER in particular is an absolute must buy for fans of Urban Fantasy. If you haven't tried this series yet, you just don't know what you are missing!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Rabid Reads
Between Dreams and Reality

Previous Books:
1. Written in Red
2. Murder of Crows

Early Review: Dark Debt by Chloe Neill

, by KT

Dark Debt by Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires #11

A vampire never gets old. But neither do his enemies. When a figure from Ethan's dark past makes a splashy debut in Chicago, Merit and her Master don't know whether he's friend or foe. But they'll have to figure out soon, because trouble is brewing in the Windy City.

At an exclusive society soiree attended by the upper echelons of the human and supernatural worlds, Merit and Ethan barely stop the assassination of a guest. When the target turns out to be a shady businessman with a criminal edge, Merit suspects a human vendetta. But the assassins have fangs....

The connections to Chicago's Houses go deeper than Merit knows, and even one wrong move could be her last....

Oooh was this one a doozy. I wasn't quite sure what was going on at any moment right up until things hit the fan each time. It made for a very enthralling and edge of my seat read. So many times by the point you get to the 11th book in a series, things become more than a little predictable, but that wasn't the case here. Not only do you have the horror and utter messiness of Ethan's maker wreaking havoc, but there's also humans mucking up things as well. Now you would think "what kind of threat can a human be compared to centuries old vampire?," but trust me, this new player to the game is every bit as much of a risk as anything as Merit and Ethan have faced previously. As I said, it made for one heck of a ride.

I do have to express one small but of a frustration. Merit and Ethan's relationship seems to have gone a bit stagnant for me. I guess I just don't understand Ethan messing around with pretending to propose, and then on the other side, Merit's utter terror at the prospect. She's obviously 100% committed to him and based on the prophecy will bear the first vampire child with him, and yet the idea of marrying him makes her all but run for the hills. Frankly I don't get it, and it kind of lessens their relationship for me. But as the relationship is only part of this series, I can put those frustration aside as the plot and other character dynamics made up for it.

All in all, this was another enjoyable installment in the Chicagoland Vampires series. I always greatly look forward to each new installment, and this one didn't disappoint. Sure to please fans of the series, DARK DEBT is not to be missed!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Rabid Reads
Cocktails and Books

Previous Books:
1. Some Girls Bite
2. Friday Night Bites
3. Twice Bitten
4. Hard Bitten
5. Drink Deep
6. Biting Cold
7. House Rules

8. Biting Bad

9. Wild Things

10. Blood Games

10.5. Lucky Break

Early Review: Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

, by KT

Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Alpha & Omega #4

THE NEW CHARLES AND ANNA NOVEL

Praised as “the perfect blend of action, romance, suspense and paranormal,"* the Alpha and Omega novels transport readers into the realm of the werewolf, where Charles Cornick and Anna Latham embody opposite sides of the shifter personality. Now, a pleasure trip drops the couple into the middle of some bad supernatural business…

For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way...

Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.

I really love Patricia Briggs' books. Each new one feels like coming home to old friends, and I've never been disappointed. Dead Heat was no exception. While this series has a bit of a different feel to it than the Mercy Series, I look forward to these books every bit as much. Charles and Anna have something inexplicable that just draws you in. Charles is so gruff and hard on the outside and everyone has a hard time understanding how Anna is not terrified of him as well. It makes for rather hilarious moments when she sasses at him or teases him and anyone who is around, their eyes bug out of their head. It's just great to see this hard man in a newer, softer light for her alone. As much as I love how Charles is portrayed in this series, I have to confess that Anna really steals the show for me. She's come so far, and yet you still see the vulnerabilities from what she's faced.

The plot behind DEAD HEAT was incredibly enthralling. It starts out calmer with Charles and Anna taking a much needed personal break to go horse shopping. This also brings them to a very old friend of Charles, which added another depth to his character. Previously we've only seen him be soft towards Anna, with a just a bit of affection toward his father, brother, and Mercy as well, but no further than that. So like I said earlier, seeing Charles care about someone else other than his very very short list was a treat to see. This book also showed why he is so reserved from caring about others, aside from the enforcer bit of course. It added a new depth to his character which I loved. But getting back to the plot, the Fae are at it again wreaking havoc. This time around was pretty horrific, and it kept me on the edge of my seat watching it all unfurl.

So all in all, this book and this series is the total package, great plot, incredible characters, and a swoon worthy romance that sucks you right in. I cannot recommend these books any higher!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Dark Faerie Tales
Carole's Random Life

Previous Books:
1. Cry Wolf
2. Hunting Ground
3. Fair Game

Kirsten Reviews: Another One Bites the Dust by Chris Marie Green

, by KT

Another One Bites the Dust by Chris Marie Green

Jensen Murphy, Ghost for Hire #2

Jensen Murphy is back in the spooky sequel to Only the Good Die Young.
Some people think that ghosts are spirits that refuse to go to the other side because they have unfinished business. Take my word—that’s true. I should know. I’m a ghost.

I was an ordinary eighties California girl, dead before my time, until psychic Amanda Lee Minter pulled me out of the time loop where I was reliving my death over and over. Now I’m Jensen Murphy, Ghost for Hire. I decided to put my spooky talents to use in helping Amanda Lee track down bad guys and killers (including my own).

It’s taken time to figure out exactly how that will work (our first case was definitely a learning experience for all involved), so when a young woman asks Amanda Lee for help convincing her best friend to leave a dangerously hot-tempered boyfriend, I’m ready and willing to use our collective powers on her behalf. But some people are dangerous not only to the living—especially when there are darker forces involved...

Another One Bites the Dust by Chris Marie Green, the second installment in the Jensen Murphy Ghost for Hire series. In what is somewhat unusual in the urban fantasy genre, the protagonist is, as the title suggests, a ghost. Jensen was murdered by a serial killer and was trapped in a time loop, reliving her death endlessly until Amanda Lee Minter, who happens to be a psychic, pulled her out and they find they can help each other. People come to Amanda Lee when they have problems and need help finding people who are beyond the reach of most police departments or private investigators. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Amanda is friends with a ghost, and that Jensen’s talents are geared toward being unseen and poking her nose into places the living often can’t go. In short, she tries to catch the bad guys, solve murders, including her own.

Their newest case involves a young woman who asks Amanda Lee to do help convince her best friend to leave her boyfriend, before she gets hurt.

In this series, ghosts have more than a couple useful skills that keeps them from being mere shades who can give people a bad scare. They can enter the dreams of the living, create hallucinations, and also get a sense of what people are thinking or feeling just by being in some kind of contact with them.

One large part of the story is Jensen’s search for the truth about who killed her, and there are enough details about her death to make the reader fully invested in her getting justice. Then there is the storyline about Heidi, Amanda Lee’s client, who is worried about her friend, the one dating a possible psychopath. Finally, there’s some time spent following up with Gavin and Wendy, the brother and sister from the first book, and Jensen has to resolve the feelings she has for Gavin.

Having several plotlines keeps the book moving at a quick pace, but it also makes it feel a bit scattered at times, and there isn’t much time spent on developing or getting to know some of the secondary characters better. In future books, it would be interesting to see more of Jensen’s fellow ghosts, as they definitely have their own stories that are worth exploring further.

This book has some definite strong points, a different take on ghosts, and also feels like it’s still learning to stick its landings. So far, it’s worth it to stick around and see where it all goes from a promising second outing.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Between Dreams and Reality
Bibliosanctum
a GREAT read

Previous Books:
1. Only the Good Die Young

Early Review: Armageddon Rules by J.C. Nelson

, by KT

Armageddon Rules by J.C. Nelson

Grimm Agency #2

Marissa Locks, newly appointed partner of the Grimm Agency, has a reputation for making a mess of magical matters—although causing Armageddon is a new low, even for her…

Marissa is due for a little happily ever after. After all, she did kill the evil Fairy Godmother, end a war, and snag a sweet promotion within the Fairy Godfather's magical-problem-solving Agency. But between maintaining a relationship with someone whose amorous advances can cause third-degree burns, dealing with a killer-poodle infestation, and helping her best friend, Princess Ari, learn to wield spells more powerful than curing a hangover, she’s not getting as much peace and quiet as she hoped.

When an enemy from her past appears to exact a terrible revenge, Marissa’s life goes from hectic to hell on earth. With Grimm inexplicably gone and Ari trapped by a sleeping spell, Marissa decides to fight fire with hellfire—and accidentally begins a countdown to the apocalypse.

With the end of days extremely nigh, Marissa will have to master royal politics, demonic law, and biblical plagues in a hurry—because even the end of the world can’t keep the Agency from opening for business…

This was such a fun book! I love Marissa's character. She's so quirky and sassy, plus has a backbone of steel to boot. And trust me, she needed it with everything that was thrown at her in this book. Considering what happened to her in the last book, it's impressive that the bag of nasty tricks this round was worse. But she handled everything in her usual quirky way. And let me just say, how she managed the apocalypse curses? Priceless. She kept me entertained throughout the entire book. If you are a fan of Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson, you'll love Marissa as well. And of course the rest of the cast is pretty fantastic as well. From Her best friend Princess Ari, to her dragon cursed boyfriend, and even the Fairy Godfather himself, Grimm, each one added another interesting layer to the series.

This series is perfect blend of modern fantasy, humor, fantastic character, and a killer plot. I loved every minute of this book and I can't recommend it any higher. If you looking for something fun, yet action packed, look no further than this terrific series. It's the perfect book to kick back and enjoy the ride. I'll be counting down the days until the next book releases.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Previous Books:
1. Free Agent

Kirsten Reviews: Sworn in Steel by Douglas Hullick

, by KT

Sworn in Steel by Douglas Hulick

Tales of the Kin #2

It’s been three months since Drothe killed a legend, burned down a portion of the imperial capital, and unexpectedly elevated himself into the ranks of the criminal elite. Now, as the newest Gray Prince in the underworld, he’s learning just how good he used to have it.

With barely the beginnings of an organization to his name, Drothe is already being called out by other Gray Princes. And to make matters worse, when one dies, all signs point to Drothe as wielding the knife. As members of the Kin begin choosing sides – mostly against him – for what looks to be another impending war, Drothe is approached by a man who not only has the solution to Drothe’s most pressing problem, but an offer of redemption. The only problem is the offer isn’t for him.

Now Drothe finds himself on the way to the Despotate of Djan, the empire’s long-standing enemy, with an offer to make and a price on his head. And the grains of sand in the hour glass are running out, fast...

Sworn in Steel by Douglas Hullick continues the story begun in Among Thieves. As the story begins, it’s been several months since the protagonist Drothe killed a legend, burned down a fair amount of the imperial capital, and in doing so, managed to catapult himself upward into the ranks of the criminal elite. Now, as the newest Gray Prince of the underworld, he’s finding that rising to power is not so simple a life as she might have imagined. In killing a Gray Prince, Drothe is no longer Kin, and as a Prince, he has a great deal of additional responsibility, and he isn’t exactly sure how to best go about handling this new role.

Barely established as a Gray Prince, Drothe is already having to deal with challenges from other Princes, and when one of them is found dead, everyone believes that Drothe is the one responsible. The resulting power struggle, which finds the Kin choosing sides does not look to be the kind of situation which will end well for Drothe. At this critical moment, Drothe is approached by one of the Degans, Wolf has engineered a clever piece of blackmail, and who offers him the solution to his problem, and even more tempting, redemption. But, this offer isn’t for Drothe, and he has to journey to the Despotate of Djan, enemy of the empire, to make this offer to Bronze, from Among Thieves, all the while he has a price on his head.

Of course, there is the issue of the way Drothe and Bronze parted in the last book, and needless to say, there are other complications that arise. This includes a group of traveling troubadours and a number of other interesting characters.

Part of what keeps the story moving is the fact that Drothe is not same confident individual from the first book. As a newly-promoted Gray Prince, he is unsure of how to handle himself or these additional duties. Instead of being able to do everything himself, he has to learn how to delegate authority, work with other people, and so rather than planning out his moves, and anticipating what his enemies might do next, Drothe spends the majority of the book reacting to events as they occur. By the end of the story, he has had more than a few setbacks, and not only from people out to get him, but he does have an objective, and at least some idea of how to go about reaching it.

Beyond the plot and character development, the author does a substantial amount of worldbuilding, further explaining things like the Order of the Degans, the system of magic that is part of this series, and other information which readers will find interesting. The setup for the next book is clear by the last few pages, and there is quite a lot of room still to be explored, both for the characters, and the world they inhabit.
(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
The Bibliosanctum
Staffers Book Review
Open Book Society

Previous Books:
1. Among Thieves

Early Review: Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

, by KT

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

Seeker #1

Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’.

Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin's new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her.

Right off the bat I have to express frustrations with the marketing on this book. It was pitched to me as The Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones. When I read that I was sold 100%. Sure after reading the blurb, I was a bit iffy on it, but with that comparison, I figured I couldn't go wrong. Well, I was wrong. The book is nothing, and I do mean nothing like either comparison, and that false marketing really soured things for me, but even so I kept reading thinking it would turn around and I would see what the raving was about. Unfortunately it didn't.

At times it felt like only half the story was being told, leaving the reader to try and fill in the rest, which left me rather frustrated and unsatisfied. I just felt like there was so much going on that was never explained leaving me feeling a step behind pet much throughout the entire book. Granted, the world and concept were intriguing even if the cast of characters weren't exactly strong, so it was rather disappointing with the lack of real details or explanation. In fact all of it was rather convoluted which frankly was unnecessary. So much seemed to go on off page and only briefly mentioned then glossed over yet it was supposed to play this huge role in how the characters acted. That just didn't work for me. I still don't understand much of this works even after finishing the book, and it's frankly a shame. There was so much potential here that ultimately fell flat for me.

To be honest I'm not sure why I kept reading this one. I guess I kept waiting for it to turn around and I remember thinking, you made it this far, might as well continue to see what happens. Problem is that it doesn't really start going anywhere until about the 70% mark in this longer YA. That's a lot of pages to get through just to get involved in the story. It's a shame because there was potential here, but the end result just wasn't for me.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating: