Posts Categorized: paranormal YA fiction

Book Review- Bloodlines

13 Jan, 2012 by in paranormal YA fiction, razorbill, richelle mead Leave a comment

Bloodlines
by Richelle Mead
Hardcover, 421 pages
Publication Date: August 23rd 2011
by Razorbill
ISBN 1595143173
Book Source: BEA
5 Stars

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive – this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

Review by ephrielle:
If you loved the Vampire Academy Series you will adore this one as well.  But don’t write it off as more of the same.  It is the same world but from the perspective of an Alchemist, namely Sydney Sage.  We get an insiders view of the Alchemist world as well as Sydney’s changing views of those they think abominations.  Don’t judge a book by its cover as well as people.  You might be surprised they aren’t what they seem.  Not only that but there is something deeper going on with Sydney.  And you will have to read to find out what.

I and so excited for this series.  It will be thrilling to find out where everything will lead.  In the last series Richelle Mead broke across boundary lines and it seems she will do it again.  After finishing this book I had a hard time sleeping since my mind was roving over all the possibilities.  An added bonus for this book is the lack of swearing.  Since the book is told by Sydney Sage there are some rather awesome moments of complete misunderstanding. For one super great example of this turn to page 229. Sage is so sure she is interpreting the moment right that she gets it so completely backwards.  I suppose knowledge isn’t all it is cracked up to be.  She is such a refreshing character.  It seems so many of the females right now are hormonal sex fiends.  So the books follow the lines of girl sees guy and almost immediately wants to get in his pants.  I love how we are watching her discover herself and the possibilities.  The pace of this discovery is slow enough as to be a sweet building torture.  I just must have more and can’t wait to get the next book.

Content: violence


About the author: Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time: Georgina Kincaid, Dark Swan, and Vampire Academy.

A life-long reader, Richelle has always loved mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. She’s a self-professed coffee addict and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.

Find more about author Richelle Mead on Goodreads/ Twitter/ Website/ Facebook/ Blog

Book Review- Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

06 Dec, 2011 by in paranormal YA fiction 1 comment

Hallowed (Unearthly #2)
by Cynthia Hand

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: January 17th 2012
by HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN 0061996181
Source: Netgalley
5 stars
For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

Cynthia Hand’s debut novel Unearthly made my best of 2011 list this year and it looks like Hallowed will be on the my BIR list for 2012. I love this series! Hallowed picks up right where Unearthly left off, and had I a chance to do it over, I would re-read book one before picking up book two. I remembered the plot and characters well, but there are so many little nuances in this installment that you will miss if it’s been awhile. Clara’s vision has come to a close and now she is having dreams as well as an overwhelming sense of sorrow. She’s made her choice clear between Tucker and Christian but that choice may be putting those she loves in danger.


Hallowed is a much more emotionally driven novel with less action than book one, but I soaked up every minute. So much so that I couldn’t pick up another read for a while.  I wanted to fill in the blanks on some things so I actually went back and re-read most of Unearthly when I was finished. We see all the same people in book two, but much less of Tucker’s sister Wendy and her boyfriend Jason. Also, Clara’s brother Jeffrey is a mystery. The one character I have not been able to connect with at all is Angela. So I’m gearing up for more of her in book three.


I had many questions answered about who and what the angel bloods are, about Clara’s upbringing and why her mother has held so many secrets. But the best part of Hallowed by far are the two boys Tucker and Christan. Cynthia Hand knows how to write realistic, amazingly supportive, perfect heroes each in their own way. They are completely different, but each brings out a good side in Clara. So many noteworthy scenes with them both in Hallowed- including a ski trip, fishing, and learning to use glory. Both boys grew on me more than they had in book one. I really didn’t think that would be possible!


Readers will be thrown for a loop with some of the plot twists and will laugh out loud as Hand pokes fun at Twilight stalkerish behaviors and love triangles (though they are used in this book.) The pace of Hallowed is slower but never drags and the tone a little more heavy as Clara is dealing with so many swirling emotions she is picking up from other people and non-people. Some of the content is better suited for an older teens since there are a few heavy make out, a partially undressed scene in a bedroom, and mild violence. No sex or swearing.


I highly recommend both Unearthly and Hallowed. If you are a fan of all things paranormal including angel mythology and the perfect swoon worthy male characters this is the series for you! I’m having a hard time moving on to another book because they influenced me so much. So, if you haven’t read them yet, run and pick up Unearthly today!

About the author– Cynthia Hand grew up in southeast Idaho (very near the Wyoming border). Currently she lives in southern California with her husband and two small children. She teaches courses in creative writing at Pepperdine University. Unearthly, her debut YA novel, was published by HarperTeen in January 2011, out in paperback on 11-1-11. The sequel, Hallowed, will be released on January 17.

Check her out on Goodreads/ her website/ blog/ twitter

Book Review- A Beautiful Dark

16 Nov, 2011 by in book review, paranormal YA fiction 2 comments

by Jocelyn Davies
Hardcover, 390 pages
Published September 27th 2011
by HarperTeen
ISBN0061990655
Book Source: BEA
4 stars

On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites;like fire and ice; Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

This was one of the smoothest reading YA books I’ve picked up this year. I really enjoyed Jocelyn Davies style and the setting of a ski town in Colorado was perfect for this time of year. Skye is 17 years old and living with her “aunt” a friend of her mother’s since both of her parents were killed when she was young. She has faint memories of lullabies and a rescue but not much else to ground her to her past. A Beautiful Dark opens on her birthday as her three best friends throw a surprise party for her at the local coffee shop where Ian, one of them works. The action heats up fast when two mysterious teenage boys show up and start a fight. One of them is dark but inviting- Skye, the other holds the peace of calm ans serenity but is standoffish- Devin. When both boys show up to Skye’s school and start vying for her attention, Skye finds herself more confused and torn than ever before. Will this straight -A ski champion be able to handle the pressure when not only these two, but also her best friend Ian turns on the heat in the competition for her affection?

With paranormal elements and a new take on angel lore, A Beautiful Dark kept me flipping pages. I was a little disappointed that there was so much emphasis on teenage drinking, the opening scene with a flask and an unchaperoned arty with a keg. There was also a heavy hit of swearing about 3/4 of the way through that caught me off guard. What I found wonderful was the cast of secondary characters. My favorite scene of the book actually involved Skye’s best friends Cassie and Dan. As for Ian…he is amazing. I found myself pulling for him and was sad when he dropped into the periphery as Skye begins to get to know Asher and Devin. It’s kind of fun to have a book with a love square, and it would have added some action to see a little more conflict in between each of the contenders. I am sad when the good angel comes off as aloof or distant because of “rules” or extenuating circumstances- Devin reminded me a bit of Gabe in Original Sin by Lisa DesRochers. I wanted to know more about him and see he and Skye spend more time together without the interference of evil angel chick.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this first in theseries and will read book two, A Fractured Light, when it hits the shelves. But the ending…what?! GAH! It’s a cliffhanger.

Book Review- Shatter Me

08 Nov, 2011 by in paranormal YA fiction, shatter me 3 comments

Shatter Me
by Tahereh Mafi
Hardcover, 342 pages
Expected publication: November 15th 2011
by HarperCollins
ISBN 0062085484

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.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Hmmm I have really torn feelings about this book. The first thing that struck me is how similar it feels to Possessed by Elana Johnson. Both start out with a girl in jail who gets a male roommate who ends up being someone familiar, both are dystopian with a paranormal twist. So this didn’t feel all that new to me. Tahereh Mafi’s prose and writing style was a times lyrical and beautiful and at other times the strike through verse and metaphors were distracting. So here’s the break down for me…

What I struggled with: Warner. I know some of you may think he’s got an appealing side but he is the ultimate creepy antagonist to me. He reminds me of Hitler and the scenes he was in were too violent and sadistic for me.

Suspension of disbelief- that being locked up or isolated from touch all that time Juliette would have the rage of hormones she does as well as the ability to be sexy to every man that crosses her path.

While I enjoy the good kissing scenes this felt like too much sexual tension for a young adult novel. Too much too fast. This is one for older teens, not 14 year olds.

The last part of the novel felt completely disjointed from the first. It shifts gears from dystopian to X-Men with a paranormal twist. At times it reminded me of Disney’s Incredibles. I know the scene is being set for a sequel but the ending chapters struck me as odd.

What I enjoyed: Shatter Me is engaging. Once you pick it up you won’t want to put it down. It’s interesting and unique in its style.

I love childhood crushes rekindled. The relationship between Adam and Juliette reminds me of one of my favorite books Sweethearts by Sara Zarr. I like that it shows those from a dysfunctional abusive home can still choose to be good and kind.

I liked the relationship between Adam and his brother, that even though he has a new love interest, he goes back to save his little brother and protect him.

Overall: I will be reading the rest of the series but am hoping there is a little less focus on lust and more seamless transition between the two worlds represented-the Reestablishment and the Omega rebels.

Content: moderate swearing, lots of sexual tension and heavy making out/ petting, moderate violence. Not for younger teens.

Trailer:

Book Review and Giveaway

08 Apr, 2011 by in book giveaway, paranormal YA fiction, the gifted 5 comments

The Gifted
by Deborah Andreasen
Paperback, 240 pages
Published March 28th 2011
ISBN 1456578235
4 stars

Pyper just wants a normal life. But ever since the day she died, she’s been able to control objects with her mind. What she can’t control is a mother who fears Pyper’s ability and the possibility of it being discovered. Pyper only finds solace in her friend and brother, Baler. When Pyper moves to yet another new school, she meets Kael, who takes an immediate interest in her. He knows her secret, and he’s got one for her: he needs her help saving the Fae people. The problem is, Pyper doesn’t believe in Faeries. But when her brother is abducted, Pyper doesn’t have much choice. Can she really save a race she doesn’t believe exists? Can she rescue her brother? And can she accept her second chance at life?

The first thing that grabbed me about The Gifted is how swiftly the writing pulls you in and holds you. Each page is tight and creatively crafted. Pyper, a red haired green eyed fireball, has been forced to move states over and over because of the impact of her strange abilities. As the book opens we find her in a new shcool and once again, two girls have singled her out as a freak. She has a little bit of trouble controlling her temper, and those on the receiving end meet with paranormal circumstances. Watching all of this unfold is Kael, popular gorgeous classmate who doesn’t seem at all phased by Pyper’s blatant efforts to completely ignore his advances. He tries and eventually succeeds in winning a tiny bit of Pyper’s trust. Neither he nor the two mean girls are at all what they seem.

Pyper has always had her brother Baler to confide in and lean on, but as time wears on he seems to be slipping further and further away to his new group of friends. Little do either of them know just how influential and life changing their choice in peers will become. Brother and sister have yet to meet the battle they were meant to fight. Andreasen takes faerie lore and puts in a fantastical paranormal twist which will appeal to Young Adults. The Gifted is a clean read I would gladly let my children read and once you pick it up you’ll stay with the plot until the end. I loved the brother and sister loyalty portrayed as well as the kind love Kael shows. It’s endearing to see such genuinely nice YA characters.

Author Deborah Andreasen has kindly offered up one copy of her book to our readers at Fire and Ice. To enter to win simply click and fill out this form.

Book Review-The Goddess Test

09 Mar, 2011 by in paranormal YA fiction 4 comments

Paperback, 297 pages
by Aimee Carter
Expected publication: April 19th 2011
by Harlequin Teen
ISBN 0373210264
series: Goddess Test #1
4.5 stars

Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it’s Kate’s turn.

It’s always been just Kate and her mom–and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld–and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy–until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails…

The Goddess Test is one of the most engaging reads of 2011 thus far. Aimee Carter’s writing from page one is beautiful and poignant. After getting my copy from NetGalley I was transported into the world of Eden Manor and finished it in less than 24 hours. The story opens as Kate Winters is taking her dying mother home from New York to Eden City Michigan to die. The last four years Kate has spent as a caretaker to her mom who has cancer. Kate’s not lived the life of an average carefree teen. So when she arrives at Eden High she is confused by all of the unwelcome attention she receives from classmates James, Ava and Dylan. Ava, class cheerleader is immediately jealous of Kate and takes her on an outing that turns deadly. There Kate meets mysterious Henry who answers her call for help. Henry is my favorite character of all. He’s polite and timeless while remaining a bit wounded at the same time. As the god of the underworld he has the power to bring back the dead for Kate who must, in exchange, trade 6 months a year of her life as his guest.

Patterned after the tale of Persephone and Hades, The Goddess Test brings greek mythology into the 21st century. Carter’s underworld is fascinating as are the 7 tests Kate must pass in order to become who she is meant to be. Kate is self sacrificing and selfess. Her love for Henry and her mother overrules all. My biggest hesitation with the book was suspending disbelief in Kate’s relationship with James and Ava. I have to agree with blogger Book Faery who said ” I could not believe some of the friendships that were so easily accepted by Kate. There were no reasons whatsoever for Kate to feel such loyalty to some of the characters she just met. There was no reason for her to sacrifice her life for a girl who wanted to harm her. ” My second disappointment was the test of lust that Kate and Henry go through. It fit well with the plot but added a twist that makes an otherwise clean book more suitable for mature readers.

My overall impression is one of praise for The Goddess Test. I stayed up late into the night reading it and could not put it down. The pace is fast and there are tons of surprises in plot. Aimee Carter is one talented young lady and I predict big things for this series. I’ll follow up on the story when Goddess Interrupted, book 2 is released in February 2012…can’t wait to see what kind of a life lies ahead for Henry and Kate. Thanks so much to Harlequin Teen and NetGalley for the sneak peek!

Book Review: Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates

30 Nov, 2010 by in omnific publishing, paranormal YA fiction, shades of atlantis 18 comments

Paperback
307 pages
Published November 2010
by Omnific Publishing
ISBN 1936305445
5 stars

Since the death of their parents, Triona Pryor and her brother, Ben, have lived with their aunt and uncle in Camden, Maine. Now in her senior year of high school, Triona loves her family and friends, but she has always felt that she didn’t quite fit in…in Camden, or anywhere else.

Enter Caleb Wallace, the devilishly handsome man who has recently moved to Triona’s small town. While their attraction to each other is instantaneous, it also proves to be dangerous…and deadly.

When tragedy strikes, Triona flees to London for solace and to start her life anew. It’s there she discovers from an unlikely source that her family has been keeping secrets from her – secrets about not only her birthright, but her ultimate destiny as well. Armed with this knowledge, Triona finds herself thrown into a whole new world and into a battle to save the lives of everyone she loves.

It’s been a while since I have been completely swept away into the world of a book, but Shades of Atlantis carried me away and left me there. Author Carol Oates reawakened my creative spirit and desire to learn about Celtic myth and lore. With only a month left of 2010 and over 115 titles reviewed, her book easily slides onto my list of favorite reads this year.
The tale begins with main heroine, red haired Alitriona Pryor, a regular high school student growing up in Camden, Maine. Raised by her aunt and uncle after the tragic death of her parents, she and her brother Ben find themselves pitched into a battle involving family secrets and hidden destinies. Triona begins work at a local seaside restaurant where she meets her new boss Caleb Wallace and immediately they both feel an attraction that is magnetic. The chemistry between the two of them soon proves to be dangerous. Caleb believes in Platos’ concept of soul mates, two halves that make a whole. Soon he starts to open up to Triona with tales of an ancient sword, magic, hidden civilizations and a gifted people. Are they all tales from his childhood or is there some truth to his stories?
Readers travel to the mountains of Maine, Clerkenwell London, Oxford, Dublin and ancient Tara, Ireland in search of the truth. Breathtaking scenery and local legend made the book vivid and alive. The author combines faery lore with Celtic history and adds a dash of Arthurian legend to Atlantis.

Her characters are all well developed and I dare say you will fall in love with both main heroes Caleb and John for the strengths they bring into Triona’s life. Once you pick up Shades of Atlantis you’ll want to carve out enough time to read it entirely because there is no turning back. I stayed up late into the night and woke up early the next morning entranced. My only reservation was that at times there are similarities to Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, but with enough of a twist to make this book stand alone as unique and powerful. Even the Epilogue was amazing! Each page well crafted and captivating. Congratulations to Carol Oates for an incredible debut. Shades of Atlantis is all together mesmerizing and magical.
Readers may also enjoy The Mark by Marilyn Bunderson or The Books of Faerie by Maggie Stiefvater. I would recommend this book for readers 16 and older as it does contain some sexual content and violence.

Carol has generously donated one free ebook of Shades of Atlantis for our readers.

To Enter simply comment below.
additional optional entries
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Contest ends December 30, 2010 and is open internationally

Author Interview With Carol Oates

30 Nov, 2010 by in omnific publishing, paranormal YA fiction, shades of atlantis 4 comments

What books or legends did you pull from that inspired Shades of Atlantis?

Because I’m Irish I’ve been immersed in the Celtic legends mentioned in Shades of Atlantis my whole life, we learned about this stuff in school. It’s part of my history and identity. Shades in terms of the book can be colors but it can also mean ghosts, in this case ghosts of the past or history. For centuries books have mentioned Ireland as a possible location for Atlantis. Where I live the local park is built on land that was once under water and was reclaimed from the sea.

Have you visited or lived in any of the settings in the book? Why did you pick the places you wrote about?

The only setting I’ve never been to is Camden, Maine. The Hill of Tara in County Meath, my first inspiration, is one of my favorite places in the entire world. The site was built circa 3200 B.C. Tara is said to be 600 years older than the pyramids of Giza and 1000 years more ancient than Stonehenge. Camden, Maine, in America, Triona’s hometown, is a beautiful town that had the perfect look and feel I wanted for Triona. It is south of a town called Belfast. Dublin, Ireland, which is another location, is also south of Belfast. Clerkenwell, London, in England, was chosen because it is located near Camden in London. Oxford, England, is northeast of London as The Hill of Tara is northeast of Dublin.


Where did the idea for your book first originate?
I started writing Shades of Atlantis years ago. My brother moved to County Cavan and I started travelling past the Hill of Tara on a regular basis to visit. It’s always been one of the fascinating places in the world to me. At the time construction work was getting underway for a new motorway that would eventually cut into the ancient site. I was saddened by the fact future generations would never get to experience Tara in the same way I had as a child and decided to revisit with some of the old histories I learned about in school. The story seemed to take on a life of it’s own soon after.

Any books you consider a must read?

Far too many, Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman is my all time favorite, The curious incident of the dog in the night time by Mark Haddon and The Princess Bride.

Favorite movies?

The Princess Bride, I could watch it over and over.

What music do you imagine playing through the story?

There is a playlist on my website and Youtube site. They are mostly songs I found much later as I was editing.


Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Highlight the differences and strengths of Caleb and John your two main male characters

I think Caleb comes off as being very confident, but he’s really not. He’s terribly unsure of himself and his path in life. He is a little jaded at the beginning of the story. He is rules by his passions and it’s a constant struggle for him to remain in control, but there is nothing he wouldn’t do for Triona.

Right from the beginning John is unwavering in what he wants and he is more mature despite Caleb being older. He is not as inclined to panic when things go wrong as Caleb is and like Triona finds it hard to believe in the supernatural.

Any plans for a sequel or upcoming books in the works?

Book two is well under way with a working title, Shades of Avalon. I am constantly writing and have several projects in the works. It’s a case of watch this space at the moment.

Is there meaning behind any of the names you chose for your characters?

Triona’s name is explained in SoA but I can’t give it away without dropping a big spoiler. Eila is a variation of my mum’s name since like Eila she was a strong woman and it was impossible to lie to her.

If readers want to learn more about the legends and faery lore in your book where would you recommend they look?

The Celtic mythology from Shades of Atlantis is all freely and widely available on the internet or your local Library and is very easy to find. I have barely scratched the surface.

Who would you cast for your characters? Or do you have photos/ links of what you think they look like?

My blog has pictures for Caleb, John, Triona and Ben. Although I was watching The Hole recently and the lead actor in that would make a pretty perfect Ben too.

Thank you so much to Carol for joining us and answering our interview questions!

You can find her website at http://www.caroloates.com/ and her Goodreads profile at http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3988619.Carol_Oates If you would like to read another interview with the author check her Publisher’s page at Omnific.

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Book Review- Infinite Days

24 Aug, 2010 by in book review, paranormal YA fiction, rebecca maizel, St martins griffin 5 comments

by Rebecca Maizel
published August 3, 2010
by St. Martin’s Griffin
details Paperback, 310 pages
isbn 0312649916
4.5 stars

“Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you…no one.” Those were some of Rhode’s last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face. It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste. Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust. I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn’t Rhode. But Justin was…daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream. I never expected to be sixteen again…then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me…

I picked up Infinite Days at the store after our interview with author Sheralyn Pratt who highly recommended it. Within the first couple of pages I discovered it was “another book about vampires” and I almost put it down…so glad I didn’t! Rebecca Maizel is a masterful spinner of stories and she left me captivated. It’s been several days since I finished and I can’t seem to get my mind off of her book. The first thing that drew me in was the cover. Five stars to that. It is made of opalescent paper which shimmers when light hits and the photo itself fits the book perfectly. It’s one of those covers you’ll want to touch and feel quite frequently. So while author Myra McEntire carries her books as a woobie blanket, I pet my covers for comfort.

But, on to inside the cover, which just blew me away. The beginning scene introduces Lenah Beaudonte, left to hibernate for 100 years and changed by the pure love of her soul mate Rhode Lewin into a human. Her past life as vampire queen in Hathersage, England is transformed into a new beginning as a High School Junior at a prestigious private school on the East Coast named Wickham. The thing that I love about Lena is her innocence in experiencing life. She re-reads human emotion and relishes in every day things we would normally take for granted like the sun on our skin. Two of my favorite scenes are of her standing in the rain and in a greenhouse with newly developed human senses of touch and smell. Of course it helps that Justin Enos,the schools biggest hottie is there with her! Which beings me to another reason I love this book. She has several layers of life all brought into one day and time, and as well several love interests to spice things up. Rhode, who changed her, Vicken whom she created and Justin in the present day. My prediction is that all three men will play a part in the sequel and things are about to get very interesting.

The overall theme that I picked up was that evil thoughts lead to evil actions, and it is pure intent which matters most. Change is possible and can ultimately mean the difference between life and death. Between flashbacks and a menagerie of interesting scenes from her past you will get sucked into the plot. And Rebecca has a way of awakening your senses along with Lena’s with chocolate chip cookies, the different colors of a grain of sand and the smell of an apple orchard. Truly a memorable debut. To learn more about Rebecca Maizel visit her website at http://rebeccamaizel.blogspot.com/ where you can enter to win a free audiobook and read excerpts from Infinite Days.