The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The Ember Series #1

Blurb from gr: The great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever! This stunning debut novel offers refreshingly clear writing and fascinating, original characters.

While tagged as young adult, I feel this book is written more for children. I know when I was a "young adult" (13+) I was reading novels much more advanced than this one.

That being said, I did enjoy the story. I wanted to find out what happened next, to see if they could unravel the mysteries of their city and "The Instructions." I think certain elements required a suspension of disbelief (such as Lina and Doon discovering how certain items work a little too quickly without instructions), although for the most part they did act like tweens. Once they found something special, they wanted to hoard the knowledge to themselves so they could appear as heroes to the town. I also found the book a bit preachy, which I think is another sign it should be geared more towards children, but overall it was interesting enough that I will be reading the sequel.

My rating: 6/10

Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong

  Women of the Otherworld series #3

Blurb from gr: For years real witches have hidden their powers, afraid of being persecuted. They have integrated so well into the community, you could have a witch living right next door and never know about it. Take Paige, for instance, whom we first met in Kelley Armstrong's novel Stolen. Just an ordinary twenty-something who runs her own website design company, worries about her weight and wonders if she'll ever find a boyfriend. Okay, so she's leader of the American Coven and guardian of Savannah, the teenage daughter of a black witch. Really, life is ordinary. But then a telekinetic half-demon, Leah O'Donnell, shows up to fight for custody of Savannah. And although Paige is ready for her, she's not quite so prepared for the team of supernaturals that Leah brings with her, including a powerful sorcerer who claims to be Savannah's father.

When all hell breaks loose -- literally -- and Paige is accused of witchcraft, Satanism and murder, the Coven, fearing exposure, abandons her. Cut off from her friends, Paige is forced against her better judgment to accept the help of a young sorcerer lawyer. And she quickly comes to realize that keeping Savannah could mean losing everything else.

Acquired: paperback; purchased by me

This novel is told from the persepective of Paige, a witch. I was weary about starting this book - I loved Elena's character, and I just wasn't sure if I would like Paige as much. However, I was happy to find I did enjoy Paige, and felt empathy for her, as her known, comfortable life seemed to come crashing down upon her head. This is one of the strengths, though, of Armstrong's writing. While some issues are resolved at the end of the book, not everything is back to normal and peachy in Paige's world. I am looking forward to the next book when we find out a little bit more about Lucas's family.

My rating: 8/10

Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong

  Women of the Otherworld series #4

Blurb from gr: Paige Winterbourne, a headstrong young woman haunted by a dark legacy, is now put to the ultimate test as she fights to save innocents from the most insidious evil of all.. . .

In the aftermath of her mother's murder, Paige broke with the elite, ultraconservative American Coven of Witches. Now her goal is to start a new Coven for a new generation. But while Paige pitches her vision to uptight thirty-something witches in business suits, a more urgent matter commands her attention.

Someone is murdering the teenage offspring of the underworld's most influential Cabals - a circle of families that makes the mob look like amateurs. And none is more powerful than the Cortez Cabal, a faction Paige is intimately acquainted with. Lucas Cortez, the rebel son and unwilling heir, is none other than her boyfriend. But love isn't blind, and Paige has her eyes wide open as she is drawn into a hunt for an unnatural-born killer. Pitted against shamans, demons, and goons, it's a battle chilling enough to make a wild young woman grow up in a hurry. If she gets the chance.

Another Paige novel. I do think that this book was better than Dime Store Magic. I really enjoyed experiencing even more Lucas, and I found the idea of Cartels pretty interesting. I enjoyed the dynamic between Lucas and his father, and I liked seeing more Paige and Lucas without Savannah. Paige proves again to be a strong and likable female protagonist. Another hit for Armstrong - I'm hoping the next new perspective will be just as good.

My rating: 9/10

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

 Psy-Changeling series #1

Blurb from gr: Born a Psy, Sascha Duncan must hide the emotions which mark her as flawed. But a passionate Changeling will tempt her to reveal everything-and risk her very soul.

Acquired: paperback; purchased by me.

My first official paranormal romance novel. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The writing was decent, the paranormal world introduced was rather unique (to me), and the characters were interesting. There were sensual sections, but overall I was impressed by how the book was more plot-driven and thought-out than I had anticipated.

A solid read, and intelligent enough that I will continue on with the next book in the series.

My rating: 7/10

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

  Blurb from gr: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?


In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.


Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love. 

Hunger Games series #1
Acquired: Hardback; purchased by me

Wow. Fabulous. I haven't been this excited over a new series in ages! Although a tad slow at the start, I was soon on the edge of my seat, trying desperately to keep focused on what I was reading and stop my eyes from wandering over to the next page in anticipation.

While there are definitely adult situations in the book, it's truly written for an advanced young adult audience, as Katniss is spared from having to do too many "dark" things herself. Really, if I had any complaints, it'd be that I wished the book had been written for adults. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed not only her character, but also those of the many delightful secondary characters, particularly Cinna and Haymitch. A must read!

This series is looking like the next big thing, and I'm totally on board that ship.

My rating: 10/10
 

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

Women of the Otherworld series #2

Blurb from gr: Even though she's the world's only female werewolf, Elena Michaels is just a regular girl at heart -- with larger than normal appetites. She sticks to three feasts a day, loves long runs in the moonlight, and has a lover who is unbelievable frustrating yet all the more sexy for his dark side. Like every regular girl, she certainly doesn't believe in witches. Then again, when two small, ridiculously feminine women manage to hurl her against a wall, and then save her from the hunters on her tail, Elena realizes that maybe there are more things in heaven and earth than she's dreamt of.


Vampires, demons, shamans, witches -- in Stolen they all exist, and they're all under attack. An obsessed tycoon with a sick curiosity is well on his way to amassing a private collection of supernaturals, and plans to harness their powers for himself -- even if it means killing them. For Elena, kidnapped and imprisoned deep underground, separated from her Pack, unable to tell her friends from her enemies, choosing the right allies is a matter of life and death.

Acquired: paperback; purchased by me


A satisfying sequel to Bitten. I really enjoy Elena's character, and I am sad the next few books in the series will be from another character's viewpoint.

I was excited to learn about the other paranormals involved in this world, and to see how they interact with each other. I found this book to be just as captivating and action-packed as the last, and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

My rating: 9/10

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Women of the Otherworld series #1

Blurb from gr: Ever since her parents were killed in a car accident when she was five, Elena Michaels has longed for a normal family life. Smart, beautiful, and engaged to be married, Elena hopes to fulfill that dream when disaster strikes. Not only has her fiancé lied about his secret life as a werewolf, but he's made her one, too. She has no choice but to join him at Stonehaven, the upstate New York home of an elite pack of werewolves.

In an attempt to break away, she moves to Toronto to lead a normal life. Working as a journalist, Elena now lives with her new architect boyfriend, works out in the basement gym of their high-rise apartment, lunches with girlfriends from the office, and—once a week, at four in the morning—runs naked and furred through a downtown Toronto ravine, ripping out the throats of her animal prey. But when a band of outlaw werewolves threatens the Stonehaven pack, Elena's feral instincts drive her back there to join the defense. What follows is a war for territory, for pride, and ultimately for Elena herself.

Acquired: paperback; purchased by me

Wow. After having demolished the Sookie Stackhouse series, I decided I should try a break from the latest vampire fad, and go for a werewolf novel. I have to say I chose this book from the strength of its reviews on Amazon, and I didn't have big expectations.

I thought Bitten was most excellent. It was very well-written, action packed, and had me up reading til all hours of the night. I loved how Armstrong slowly revealed the layers of details surrounding Elena's transformation. I loved how Elena, despite being a powerful protagonist, still felt fear and panic in the appropriate situations.

Armstrong avoids the popular paranormal chick-lit formula, so it was a nice break from the types of books I have been reading lately.

I highly recommend this book!

My rating: 9/10

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Blurb from gr: Thirty-three-year-old Minerva Dobbs is annoyed when her current boyfriend dumps her three weeks before her sisters' wedding. But she's downright furious a few moments later when she overhears her now "ex" boyfriend bet hunky Calvin Morrisey that he can't take her home and bed her. In fact, she's so angry at them both that she lets Cal take her to dinner and decides to string him along until after her sisters' wedding. Minerva pegs Cal as a handsome "used car salesman of seducers." Cal thinks Minerva is a "cranky, starving, risk-averse statistician." But Minerva's hormones keep whispering "this one," although she knows the gorgeous Cal isn't the man for her practical, white-cotton-bra, several-pounds-over-thin, self. And Cal is blindsided by the lust he feels for the voluptuous, sensual woman he glimpses behind Min's actuary exterior. While Cal and Min struggle to deal with their mutual distrust and attraction, their friends and families try their best to interfere and direct the progression of the unlikely romantic connection.

Acquired: paperback; purchased by me

I don't normally read romance novels. Lately I'd wondered what all the hype was about, so I decided to give the genre a try. I found a book blog website, and took note of a few highly-praised titles.

This was the second romance novel I read, and probably the last modern-day romance I will read. It was okay - there was nothing wrong with the book, other than it's just not my style. I think if I'm going to read romance, it will be either historical or paranormal romance.

In my experience, no normal, handsome, and well-off man is really going to be getting all hot and bothered over how a chubby so-so looking woman scarfs down doughnuts in front of him.

All in all, I would recommend the book if you are already a romance fan, or like modern fiction, but I think I'll stick to my normal scifi/fantasy books.

My rating: 5.5/10