Pint-Sized 'Pinions: Paranormal YA Edition
I've got a bunch stuffed into this post...
Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Signet (January 5, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0451228864
256 pages
New Girl.
New School.
Old Evil.
From the author of the Chicagoland Vampires novels.
A new series about a boarding school filled with something worse than homework.
Lily's parents have sent her to a fancy boarding school in Chicago filled with the ultra-rich. If that wasn't bad enough, she's hearing and seeing bizarre things on St. Sophie's creepy campus. Her roommate, Scout, keeps her sane, but keeps disappearing at night. When one day Lily finds Scout running from real-life monsters, she learns the hard way that Scout is involved in a splinter group of rebel teens.
They protect Chicago from demons, vamps, and dark magic users. It's too bad Lily doesn't have powers of her own to help. At least, none that she's discovered yet...
My 'pinion: A great YA debut. The sense of humor is classic Chloe Neill - very similar to her Chicagoland Vampires series. I love how her love of Chicago comes through in her writing. The teens all seem very mature and verbose for their age but, I guess, that's better than the alternative. As typical of the author, the action is plentiful and good and the plot is well-paced. Lots of mysteries here that I'm looking forward to Lily figuring out in future books.
Grade: B+
Lips Touch: Three Times 
by Laini Taylor, Jim Di Bartolo (Illustrator)YA Paranormal Romance Short Story Collection
Arthur A. Levine Books (October 1, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0545055857
272 pages
Three tales of supernatural love, each pivoting on a kiss that is no mere kiss, but an action with profound consequences for the kissers' souls:
Goblin Fruit: In Victorian times, goblin men had only to offer young girls sumptuous fruits to tempt them to sell their souls. But what does it take to tempt today's savvy girls?
Spicy Little Curses: A demon and the ambassador to Hell tussle over the soul of a beautiful English girl in India. Matters become complicated when she falls in love and decides to test her curse.
Hatchling: Six days before Esme's fourteenth birthday, her left eye turns from brown to blue. She little suspects what the change heralds, but her small safe life begins to unravel at once. What does the beautiful, fanged man want with her, and how is her fate connected to a mysterious race of demons?
My 'pinion: I'm not big on short story collections (that aren't anthologies by authors that I'm familiar with). That said, I may have to revise my opinion. Taylor's writing is beautiful and captivating. Nothing I can say would do this justice, so go pick it up.
Grade: A+
The Dark Divine (The Dark Divine, 1) by Bree DespainYA Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
EgmontUSA (December 22, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-1606840573
384 pages
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.
The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.
The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.
My 'pinion: The religious aspect adds something unique to this YA paranormal tale but, other than that, it's not too much different from the rest of the crop in the same genre. The relationship between Daniel and Grace is nice; not disturbing like so many other YA paranormal romances.
Grade: B-
Fallen (Fallen, 1) by Lauren KateYA Paranormal Romance
Delacorte Books for Young Readers (December 8, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0385738934
464 pages
There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.
My 'pinion: Ugh. Talk about a boring, meek and helpless heroine. Luce was borderline pitiful. She wasn't constantly whining - which would have made me hate her - but she didn't take any kind of action. Everything happened to or around her, not because of her. Even if everything she did happened to be a mistake, I would have like her more. Daniel turned out to be okay after starting out as a tool, but she fell in love with him while he was acting the douche! The secondary characters were a lot more intriguing than our heroine. I do like the premise though and there is a lot I wouldn't mind being made clearer in future installments, as long as Luce grows a pair.
Grade: D+
Deadly Little Secret (Touch, 1) by Laurie Faria StolarzYA Urban Fantasy
Hyperion Book CH (December 23, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-1423111986
272 pages
Some secrets shouldn't be kept...
Until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia’s life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades, an okay relationship with her parents, and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when a mysterious boy named Ben starts junior year at her high school, Camelia’s life becomes anything but ordinary.
Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend’s accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She’s reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead, she’s inexplicably drawn to Ben…and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help—but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.
My 'pinion: This one is borderline average. Camelia's an alright heroine. The premise and paranormal elements are interesting despite a rather unmemorable plot (seriously, I can't remember it). I don't get what she saw in Ben or why he deserved her devotion, but he wasn't a bad guy.
Grade: B-
Hex Hall (Hex Hall, 1) by Rachel HawkinsYA Urban Fantasy
Hyperion Book CH (March 2, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1423121305
336 pages
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.
As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.
My 'pinion: While the plot is a tad bit predictable and somewhat reminiscent of other YA paranormal novels, the humor is standout. I laughed out loud several times and, if the follow-up is a funny, I'll gladly follow this series. Plus, Sophie's an awesome heroine.
Grade: B
Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie (Books of Faerie, 2) by Maggie StiefvaterYA Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Flux (October 1, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0738714844
360 pages
Remember us, so sing the dead, lest we remember you
James Morgan has an almost unearthly gift for music. And it has attracted Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and then feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. James has plenty of reasons to fear the faeries, but as he and Nuala collaborate on an achingly beautiful musical composition, James finds his feelings towards Nuala deepening. But the rest of the fairies are not as harmless. As Halloween—the day of the dead—draws near, James will have to battle the Faerie Queen and the horned king of the dead to save Nuala's life and his soul.
My 'pinion: If I really enjoyed Lament, I loved Ballad. I actually preferred James as the narrator. Stiefvater resumes her engrossing, lyrical prose and, if you can get past Deirdre's occasional whining asides, you'll be wrapped up in it.
Grade: A
My review of Book 1, Lament
Darklight (Wondrous Strange, 2) by Lesley LivingstonYA Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
HarperTeen (December 22, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0061575402
320 pages
Faerie can't lie . . . or can they?
Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt. Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.
When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power. Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom . . . or tear them apart.
With breathtakingly high stakes, the talented Lesley Livingston delivers soaring romance and vividly magical characters in darklight, the second novel in the trilogy that began with wondrous strange.
My 'pinion: Darklight is better than book one, mostly because the romance between Sonny and Kelley is more believable. The faerie intrigue is, again, top notch. **Slight spoiler** My problem with the book - I hate when heroes and heroines martyr their relationships for the perceived health of the person they love. It never seems like they consider any alternative solution to their situations. Kelley could have put more though into that final decision, in my opinion.
Grade: B+
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth FantaskeyYA Paranormal Romance
Harcourt Children's Books (February 1, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0152063849
368 pages
The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .
Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction
My 'pinion: Funny, romantic and unique. I like how Jess and Lucius learned to love each other instead of instantly falling. The story is all the sweeter for it.
Grade: A-
The Mark by Jen Nadol YA Urban Fantasy
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (January 19, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1599904313
240 pages
Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.
Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?
My 'pinion: While it is intriguing and Cassie is a likable heroine, the story fell short somewhere. I think it's because so much time was spent laying groundwork for things to come that not enough happened during the course of the novel. I am, however, looking forward to the continuation of Cassie's story.
Grade: B
My Soul to Save
(Soul Screamers, 2) by Rachel Vincent
YA Urban Fantasy
Harlequin Teen (December 29, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0373210046
288 pages
When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.
So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.
The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can't possibly understand.
Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….
My 'pinion: This one was quite a bit slower going than it's predecessor. The plot seemed too focused on what was happening to other people - the stakes just weren't high enough for Kaylee. Still, it was enjoyable but I hope the next one is better.
Grade: C+
My review of Book 1, My Soul to Take
Disclaimer: Each book was reviewed from a copy provided by the publisher, except for My Soul to Save. Each synopsis was found at Amazon.com.
I'm an Amazon Associate. Feel free to use my links to purchase items - the commission will go towards paying the shipping costs on giveaways.
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