Possess by Gretchen McNeil Book Review

Possess by Gretchen McNeil
Publisher: HarperCollins, Inc.
Release Date: August 23, 2011
384 pages
Rating: 3 stars
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“She felt like a baton getting passed along in a relay race, completely devoid of any control over her destiny.” 
― Gretchen McNeil, Possess

Synopsis
Rule #1: Do not show fear.
Rule #2: Do not show pity.
Rule #3: Do not engage.
Rule #4: Do not let your guard down.
Rule #5: They lie.

Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her mom, by the cute son of a local police sergeant, and by the eerie voices she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Unfortunately for Bridget, it turns out the voices are demons – and Bridget has the rare ability to banish them back to whatever hell they came from.

Terrified to tell people about her new power, Bridget confides in a local priest who enlists her help in increasingly dangerous cases of demonic possession. But just as she is starting to come to terms with her new power, Bridget receives a startling message from one of the demons. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the demons' plan before someone close to her winds up dead – or worse, the human vessel of a demon king. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Possess had some seriously creepy parts. I actually had to stop reading late at night because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to sleep without the light on. But the majority of the book wasn't too scary. Just a few parts. Which was fine by me. The plot was entertaining enough. One scene took place in a doll shop which made me think of my close friend who is terrified of dolls. Bridget was also scared of dolls. And spiders. I agree. I hate spiders. Her phobias were amusing, and I like how they fit into the plot. 

I have to admit that I didn't really like the protagonist in Possess. Bridget was just too much of the stereotypical hormonal teenager. That should be expected since she's fifteen. But she was whiny, prickly, and sarcastic. She was so defensive and confrontational even when people wanted to help. I honestly couldn't stand her for most of the book. Plus, she was immature. Most of the characters were immature. Their conversation annoyed me. I understand they're in high school, but I hate the use of teenage slang. Everybody said dude. I never said dude when I was in high school. Bridget was constantly saying whatever and her responses annoyed me. She also said fail a lot. At least, I think it was fail. It showed up as flail a few times in the Kindle edition, but there were several typos and spacing problems in this edition. That didn't affect my enjoyment though. 

Something that bugged me about Possess was the romantic interest. Matt was sooooo overprotective. His concern for Bridget was cute, but his constant need to protect her, watch over her, and ask how she was doing every minute of the day was a little creepy. Is he her father figure? Her bodyguard? He asked her how are you? a million times. And I can't help but judge him after he dated that b***h Alexa. How could any guy date her and still be likable? Is he brain damaged? Plus, Bridget was so harsh and rude to him, but he still kept trying. Why? I would've given up and said the heck with you a long time ago if someone was that rude to me. Many people, especially the targeted teen audience, will love Matt with his irresistible hotness and his baseball skills and his unwavering need to protect Bridget. But for me, he was just too good to be true and a little needy.  

I did love the storyline and the details behind Bridget's power. The Watcher and Nephilim myth popped up again just like in a recent book I read, Angelfall. Possess offered some suspense, and it was cool to see the mystery unraveling. Though Bridget was a little slow on the uptake. I found Peter Kim amusing and terrifying. It shows that Asians in puppy love can turn psychopathic fast. 

I heard there may be a sequel in the works. Which makes sense because there are some loose ends. Nothing too big or significant though. I'd recommend Possess for anyone who wants an enjoyable read with some chills. But, and I hate to say this, it had its downfalls and I didn't really feel connected to the characters at all. Meaning, I probably won't pick up the sequel. 

Happy reading,

Courtney

Angelfall by Susan Ee Book Review

Angelfall by Susan Ee
Publisher: Feral Dream
Published: May 21, 2011
Series: Peryn & the End of Days #1
Rating: 5 stars
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“Angels are violent creatures.” 
“So I noticed. I used to think they were all sweet and kind.” 
“Why would you think that? Even in your Bible, we’re harbingers of doom, willing and able to destroy entire cities. Just because we sometimes warned one or two of you beforehand doesn’t make us altruistic.” 
― Susan Ee, Angelfall


Synopsis

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

It is difficult for me to even describe why I love Angelfall or how much I love it. But I'll try. I just love everything about it! It's frightening and touching all at the same time. It gave me chills with its monstrosities. You can try to organize humans and angels into neat categories, dividing them into the good and bad guys but it doesn't work. There's so many shades of grey which is fascinating. Humanity itself appears beastly at times. Angels can surprise you. It makes the story unpredictable. 

As for the characters, I loved them. The mother kind of amused and frightened me. She was a wild card. I don't know if I've ever heard of a schizophrenic being so violent from my days as a psychology minor (they're more likely to harm themselves than others contrary to belief and Hollywood movies), but the mother offered such a wicked twist with her constant reappearance. I adored Penryn and Raffe. Penryn was so strong and she kicked butt. Like Katsa, Tris, Hermione, and Katniss, I admired her. If I could go back in time, I would definitely add Penryn to my 10 characters I would switch places with. She had the fighting skills from dealing with her crazy mother, and she had a reckless bravery and gut instinct that impressed me. 

Raffe and Penryn were adorable together. This is one of the best romances I have ever read. It's not instalove. It's certainly not cheesy. It actually was a very light romance so far. It sneaked up on you at times (though the reader knew it was bound to happen). They just seemed to fit together, and not just romantically. They eased each other's loneliness and offered each other companionship. Their conversation flowed naturally and smoothly. Their banter was amusing and entertaining. I think they worked well in every scenario. It was hilarious how Penryn kept saving him when he's an angel. Their debt to each other kept switching back and forth. 

While there's romance in Angelfall, it doesn't drive the plot and it's hardly present. There was so much more to the story. There's plenty of action. The book was fast-paced and entertaining. I love me some action with fights and tight situations, and this book provided so much. It has some angel mythology, but it takes a different twist with these monstrous offspring that sound so lovely and friendly (sarcasm). While the book takes place entirely in California, the reader is given a broad, convincing look into this new, terrifying world. It's dismal but moving to see tragedy and hope alongside each other. Btw, there are dark twists at the end that are immensely intriguing  (no spoilers). 

I cannot wait for the next book in the series! The sequel is expected in 2013. Series have exhausted me (there's so many and I miss independent, standalone books), but I am relieved this one is not finished! That would be devastating!

Happy reading,

Courtney

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor Book Review

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Release Date: September 27, 2011
417 pages, Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1
Ratings: 5 stars
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“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.” ― Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Synopsis

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I cannot express how much I loved this book! I am not exaggerating in the slightest. I had heard such good things about Daughter of Smoke & Bone, and I was not disappointed. This book was so wildly imaginative, I found myself envying the author for coming up with this story instead of myself. It's one of those books that you read and you think, "Darn, why didn't I write this?" 

The world building left nothing to be desired, and I found Taylor's word choice so brillant and poetic. There was something hauntingly beautiful about every scene Taylor described, from Karou's cozy little flat to another world layered on top of Earth. You journey with Karou to different cities, from Morocco to Paris to Prague, and you get a heady taste of each culture and every place is so alive and magical. Prague especially comes to life with Taylor's words, taking on a otherworldly feel with its castle and hidden cafes and cathedrals. Its vampire tours and narrow streets. I wanted to step into the book and visit Prague, to see what was being described. 

I loved Karou! She was sweet and fiery, strong but so vulnerable when it came to matters of the heart. I sympathized with her heartbreak in the beginning of the book. We've all been there, and her heartache shows a softer side of her, and her wish for companionship and longing for love. It really pains the reader to see her suffering. She is so eccentric and lovely in her oddities. With her tattoos and passion for art, she becomes such an intriguing character. Her creativity was endless! I found her artistic ambition and imagination wonderful! She has so many secrets to reveal, most of them ones she herself doesn't even know. She seems like such a delightful character, searching for happiness and something to fill her emptiness, and the reader wants her to find that fullness and happiness. 

This book offers a friendship that surpasses the friendships of other books. Zuzana is hilarious, and I found myself laughing out loud whenever she talked. She was so outspoken and so little, but amazingly fierce and loyal to Karou. It was so nice to finally see a strong friendship that was touching, especially since she was Karou's only friend. Karou's and Zuzana's banter was amusing, and their conversation was fascinating. I loved some of Zuzana's allusions, such as to Narnia. Her endless questioning and concern was adorable. She was so lovable. 

Akiva was endlessly fascinating. Taylor's description of him seemed fitting for an angel, with his fiery eyes, tattooed knuckles, and scarred skin. He never came off as simply some hot hunk but actually a fierce power to be reckoned with, so devastatingly beautiful it almost hurt to look at him. I found him to be endearing and sweet, but also fearsome and intriguing. He even had moments of hilarity, where he offered a sly comment. He was the perfect romantic interest, and I loved the star-crossed romance that formed between Karou and him. It was so much more than Romeo and Juliet, so intricately layered and magnetic. This book really showed how love and hope carry so much power, but how both are complicated by war and animosity. 

I also have to give Taylor credit for imagining a war that goes beyond the usual battle between devils and angels. Where the seraphim don't match our biblical stories. She wove her own mythology into being, and I loved the storytelling and the other world. The chimaera really made the story because they were so different from any other devils or beasts. It was hard to really define who the enemy or beasts were, making Karou's and Akiva's romance all the more poignant. 

The story unraveled its secrets in such an original way. Flashbacks appeared in unlikely places and I felt Taylor did a fantastic job of moving smoothly between the past and the present, and between different POV's. While I've said before that I was unsure about hearing the story from the romantic interest's POV, I loved hearing Akiva's side of things. It offered a startling view from a seraph, and I found Akiva's thoughts lovely and heartwarming. Plus, it helped the story develop even more, revealing key elements. 

I would recommend this book to any fantasy lovers, or really anyone that wants a fantastic read! This has become one of my favorite books ever and I cannot wait for the sequel, Days of Blood & Starlight, which will be released November 6, 2012.

Too far away for my comfort! But actually not far at all. 

Happy reading, 

Courtney 

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey Book Review

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
Publisher: Philomel/Penguin
Release Date: December 8, 2011
336 pages, Souls #1
Rating: 4 stars
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“I can just imagine the recruiting poster. 'Ghost whisperers wanted: no experience necessary. Death wish and masochistic tendencies a must.”  ― Mary Lindsey, Shattered Souls


Synopsis

Lenzi Anderson hears voices. First, it started off as just hearing static constantly. But now she hears different voices begging her for help. She is terrified that she's becoming like her father, a schizophrenic who committed suicide a year ago. Then, she starts seeing images when she closes her eyes. A grave, a stone angel, a boy with grey eyes. She's scared to tell her mother. She's afraid that she's going crazy and that she'll be locked up.

But then she meets the boy with grey eyes in real life. Alden tells her she isn't crazy; the voices are real. He reveals to her that she is a reincarnated Speaker, someone who can talk to spirits and resolve their problems so they can move on. He is her Protector, and he has filled that position for centuries. But for some reason, Lenzi can't remember any of her past lives. 

Lenzi has to choose between her life with musician boyfriend Zak and her destiny as a Speaker protected by Alden. But when a Malevolent spirit from the past- intent on killing her - tries to take over her body, Lenzi is forced to make a decision before it is too late. 

My Thoughts
I cannot gush enough about how much I loved Shattered Souls. First off, the cover is stunning. I am not usually into any covers with photographed models, but the color scheme is so striking. I also love how her dress and body transforms into rose petals. It's so beautiful. I actually bought this book because the cover caught my eye, and I am so glad I did.

The premise is awesome. The whole system of Speakers and Protectors is so inventive and a crazy twist on Ghost Whisperer and Medium and all those shows because the spirits actually inhabit the Speaker. The Speaker serves as a vessel, and the Protector has other purposes besides being just a bodyguard. The whole idea of soulsharing and a grading system for resolutions was wildly imaginative.  The whole Intercessor Council as a business, keeping files and documenting ghost resolutions, was another original twist. Each ghost was interesting, and I was fascinated by the interactions between Lenzi and the voices in her head. They were amusing, touching, and sometimes terrifying. The Malevolents were of the creepy Exorcist variety and were convincing villains. They were out to possess Lenzi's body which is scary.

The romance was out of this world. I loved Alden and Lenzi together, and overall, I just loved Alden. I was humiliated when I was reduced to a giggly little girl whenever Alden appeared. He was just delightful! He was supportive, compassionate, intelligent, and mature. So sweet and thoughtful. He's like the perfect guy any teenage mom would dream of for their daughter because he's centuries old (how can he not be mature?) and he is dedicated to protecting Lenzi from evil spirits. He actually said enlightening things. He could be so witty and clever. He wasn't overprotective or jealous to the point of annoyance. He didn't fawn over Lenzi until I wanted to gag, but he did pay attention to her and actually listened. Yeah, basically, I am all about Alden here. He has his weaknesses too so he's not sickeningly perfect either.

Lenzi was a great character too. I loved her origami interest, her love for music, and her sarcasm. She was a strong female lead. It took some time for her to believe Alden or to even be willing to talk to a spirit, but that was realistic. She had been through a lot with her dad and his illness. Despite her struggles with her Speaker identity, she really came through and proved herself.

The other characters kind of took a backseat, but I loved them. One of my favorites had to be Alden's dog Spook. He was such a cute addition. And my mom had a black cat named Spook before I was born. We always have to have a black cat. It was different to have a spirit sensitive dog instead of a cat. I liked it.  I adored Izzy. I love children, and Izzy was far from a spoiled brat. She was a sweetheart and very endearing. Race was funny and competition for Alden. Though very little competition. Maddi provided a girlfriend for Lenzi which was nice, seeing she had no friends. People tend to think you're crazy when you hear voices. Fancy that. Race and Maddi were both really supportive and loyal, and I hope to learn even more about them in upcoming books.

I was less than thrilled about Lenzi's continuing relationship with Zak. He seemed to have potential for alcoholism and physical abuse. Yet Lenzi never seemed to fully realize that. She forgave him too easily and ignored Alden's warnings. Understandably, she had just met Alden, but Zak was just a little too possessive and overbearing. If he wasn't coming on too strong, he was passed out drunk. It's a sad fact of life that many girls will end up with loser boyfriends and stick with them because of their insecurities. So I can try to understand Lenzi's situation. She had no friends besides Zak, and she was going through a lot with her father's death and the appearance of the voices. But I would still expect her to realize at some point that Zak was bad news. Even after she was fed up with him, she still thought he was a good guy.

Despite Zak's despicable character, I loved Shattered Souls just so much! I could not put it down! I cannot wait for the next book to hear more about Speakers and Protectors. Lindsey actually announced it will be a companion novel which will follow another Speaker and Protector pair. While I hate to lose Alden, I love companion novels because they offer a wider view of the world and introduce new characters. It is expected in 2014. AH! So far away! Yet I do think a sequel to Shattered Souls should be written because I felt the ending left me expecting more in the future.

But then she has Ashes on the Waves expected for 2013! This book is inspired by my favorite Edgar Allan Poe poem, "Annabel Lee!" And that sounds awesome! Can't wait!

Happy reading,

Courtney

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: November 15, 2011
338 pages, Shatter Me #1
Rating: 4 stars
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“I spent my life folded between the pages of books.
In the absence of human relationships I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.” 
― Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me

Synopsis
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. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Wow! Shatter Me was a steamy read! I have to say that for a girl that isn't supposed to be touching anyone, she is touched and touches others a lot in this book. But I'm not complaining. It wasn't overdone or anything, and I really enjoyed the romantic aspect of this book, which is a strong part of it. Actually, it is pretty much all romance.

I feel the crossing out of words in the beginning really worked to convey Juliette's scattered mind. She must be messed up after such a traumatic life and imprisonment. The crossed out words didn't distract me, and I like how all of the hurtful thoughts, the ones that cause her pain to think about, are the ones crossed out. And also the crossed out words decrease as the book continues and she is finally allowed to live a life. I feel her thought process was well-written and very poetic. I loved the imagery Mafi used, and how Juliette's dream of the bird flying away represented her desire for freedom.

I loved the premise because I feel like living sustainably is a big concern of the present. We all worry that our future could turn out grim, even if it doesn't turn out exactly like this. It was an interesting perspective and convincing. It wasn't too over the top.

I really liked Adam and Juliette. I actually had a lot of respect for the heroine. She was a strong character and while she was beautiful, she wasn't vain. In fact, she didn't even realize she was beautiful. Adam and her were really good together, and I like how they brought out the best in each other. Adam was very sweet and such a good guy, and Juliette has morals, but she does what she needs to do in certain situations. She can be a fighter and fierce when necessary.

There wasn't a lot of action in this book. Most of the beginning was spent in the army headquarters. While it wasn't boring, not much happened outside of the kindling romance and Warner's spiraling insanity. I think I would have liked more description of the compounds and maybe a larger view of the world. A lot of the book was closed off in locked rooms and hideaways. Maybe I'll get a larger perspective of the world in the next book.

I kind of felt sorry for Warner. Okay, yeah he's got a screw loose. I was intrigued by Juliette's attraction to him. But there's no competition between Adam and Warner. Adam all the way. Warner's just a little too much of a wannabe Hitler.

I will definitely read the next book because I loved this one. I could not put it down and enjoyed every page. I can't wait!

Happy reading,

Courtney