Entries Tagged 'Paranormal' ↓
August 16th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Book Review, M-O, Paranormal, Romance, School Situations
by First Mate Keira
Title: Shadow-Kiss (Vampire Academy Series, Book 3)
Author: Richelle Mead
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 443
Grade Reading Level: Grade 9+
Summary: Lately Rose has been seeing her dead friend around St. Vladimir. Mason’s ghost, if that was what she was really seeing was messing with her and screwing up her trials. Nobody else saw him. So her only explanations were crazy or incompetence. Neither she wants to own up to, but given her lack of options there’s only one way to really go. On top of that, Victor Dashkov is being tried for his crimes but without any of the key witnesses there! If only Dimitri or somebody could get them to the royal court to ensure he was sent to Moroi prison. Oh and Moroi around the school were showing up bruised and injured, but to a one, they are all quiet about what happened to get them that way. What on earth is going on?
Why I started this book:
It’s the next in the series and I had read the previous two. Mead does a lot of exposition and telling in the first couple of pages so anybody can hop into the series at any point in time and know without a doubt what was going on both in story arc and world building.
Likes:
- Who wouldn’t love getting to beat up on a teacher? Rose and her fellow dhampirs get to do just that with all their training instructors during their trials. Rose gets matched up with Lissa’s boyfriend, something she’s not happy about and when Mason’s ghost shows up causing her to lose focus and get Christian ‘killed’ it causes big, big trouble for her.
- Adrian. Love him. He gets the quartet (Rose, Christian, Lissa, and Eddie) to the royal court so they can testify against Victor.
- Rose and Dimitri lying at court. Victor smirking knowingly in the background and his parting shot.
- SPOILER… I’m probably the only weirdo who will like this but I was glad when Dimitri was changed into a Strigoi. It sucks. It’s super angsty. It totally means more drama. For those reasons I love it. I also know somehow, probably with spirit, Dimitri will be changed back into Dhampir or at least Moroi. But this is conjecture. I have more books to read before I can know this for sure.
Dislikes:
- The Moroi torture brigade at the school all trying to figure out how to use compulsion. Now if we’re going to talk about crazy that’s crazy and also beyond stupid…in more ways than one since they are the reason the Strigoi can access St. Vladimir’s in the first place. I was surprised that Rose didn’t go kick all of them in the teeth when she learned that.
- I’m not a big fan of the whole head-hopping business. I get that it’s part of Rose’s shadow-kiss abilities, but I’d much rather focus on her and her story than Lissa’s.
Buy: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3)
Rating: 4 Treasure Chests
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August 14th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Book Review, M-O, Paranormal, Romance
by First Mate Keira
Title: Frosbite (Vampire Academy Series, Book 2)
Author: Richelle Mead
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 327
Grade Reading Level: Grade 9+
Summary: Because Rose was out of school for two years, she’s only now able to take her Qualifier. She's going to be tested by one of the best guardians ever to graduate, Arthur Schoenberg, who’s currently guarding a royal Moroi family. When they first arrive at his home, the two find inside Arthur, his Moroi family, and a few extra guardians slaughtered in what appears to be a massive organized Strigoi attack, something that was believed to be impossible. What are they going to do now?
Why I started this book:
I recently finished Vampire Academy and Frostbite is the second in the series. You can read book two without having read book one because the opening of Frostbite gives the full rundown on the world, it’s culture, people, and sums up the last book.
Likes:
- The change of pace and setting. When a second equally lethal attack happens relatively soon after, all winter travel plans are changed for both the school, the families of the students, and the royal court. Safety can only be found in large numbers and so many go to a Moroi exclusive ski resort that runs at night.
- While the grownups try to figure out what to do about the Strigoi, Rose is trying to figure out her love life. Caught between the man she loves, the boy she thinks she should, and a flirtatious bad boy Moroi royal, Rose has a lot on her plate.
- Mia coming over to the light side and not being such a horrible character. Hurray!
- Adrian giving Rose all that perfume and her response. Too cute.
- Adrian's nickname for Rose, "Little Dhampir."
Dislikes:
- Rose’s relationship with her mother, Janine Hathaway. I much prefer happy mom-daughter pairs compared to hostile warring fractions. Neither Rose or Janine understand the other and instead of truly talking they gripe and bungle every conversation.
- Rose’s bond to Lissa seems awfully one-sided and only convenient for Lissa. If only the bond between them worked in reverse! At least about being able to see inside each other’s heads.
- Have I mentioned the Dhampirs are brainwashed to be pro-Moroi all the time? Sheesh. Seriously, why can't the Moroi protect themselves? Good thing the Ozeras are around or the outcome of Frostbite would be way different.
Buy: Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2)
Rating: 3.5 Treasure Chests
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August 12th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Book Review, Friends, M-O, Paranormal, Romance, School Situations
by First Mate Keira
Title: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy Series, Book 1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 332
Grade Reading Level: Grade 9+
Summary: After two years on the run, Rose Hathaway and Vasilisa (Lissa) Dragomir are captured by a group of Guardians and sent back to St. Vladimir’s Academy. Lissa is a Moroi, or a good vampire, and the last of her royal line, making her a princess. Rose is a mix of human and vampire, known as a dhampir. Dhampirs grow up to be Guardians, who are the protectors of Moroi. From the beginning dhampirs are taught “They come first” and that they need Moroi to reproduce. Best friends, Rose and Lissa share a bond, something that they learn more about back at school. There was a reason they left St. Vladimir’s in the first place… and now that they’re back again they have to navigate the social hierarchy, catch up on two years worth of classes, fall in love with two inappropriate boys, and solve the mystery that sent them fleeing in the first place.
Why I started this book:
I kept seeing the book series in stores, around the blogosphere, and in the library. It was recommended to me as a good series for Twilight fans. I finally picked it up when I heard it might be made into a movie sometime in the future.
Likes:
- The friendship between Lissa and Rose. They seem to really care for each other and want what’s best. They get into fights, they keep secrets from one another, but they’re very tight and supportive too. They don’t compete with each other.
- Mead captures the spirit of a teenage girl and infuses it into her heroine, Rose. She becomes a perfect pot of contradiction with heavy sarcasm, flirting, insecurity, and confidence.
- I like that the half-vampires and good vampires are alive and that the blood drinking is limited to Moroi and Strigoi (undead/bad vampires).
- Mead creates a solid story based on real folklore, like the Balklan myth of Dhampirs, and imagination. I really like the integration and world-building. It’s pretty complex.
Dislikes:
- The underage romance between Dimitri and Rose. She’s a year shy of being legally an adult and it might not make much of a difference to some people, but it rubs me the wrong way and sends a bad message.
- All the dead animals being planted on and in Lissa’s things by some weirdo. No wonder Lissa and Rose ran before – wouldn’t you to get away from this sort of creepy stalker displays? Yuck.
- Yet again, all the cool kids and everybody else seems to be drinking and/or smoking or have done it in the past. Doesn’t the word underage count for anything? Where are the teachers on all of this? Sheesh. There needs to be several room raids since lockers aren’t in use.
- There’s a lot of telling instead of showing in the novel, which can make it hard to read and occasionally a little lackluster, but the plotline and characters have me hooked.
Buy: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1)
Rating: 3 Treasure Chests
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June 27th, 2010 — If You Love, Paranormal, Romance
by First Mate Keira
If you haven't yet read the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, you should. All 4 books are out. This is their order:
- Twilight
- New Moon
- Eclipse
- *Breaking Dawn
Plus there’s a companion piece to Eclipse entitled The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
. Wondering who is Bree Tanner and why does she get a novella? There's also a guide to the world, The Twilight Saga: The Official Guide
.
If you’re a Twilight fan...
And are itching for more books to read that give off a similar flavor check out these trilogies, series, classics, and stand alones. There are 40 books in all!
All links provided go straight to book reviews, except for links for upcoming books and companion novels. The rest of the buy links are on review pages.
The recommendations are in no particular order. A * means it's been read but the review isn't posted yet.
Blueblood Series by Melissa de la Cruz:
Love Triangle. Check. Vampires. Check.
Four books are published so far. Ten are predicted. The fifth is coming out later this year. Here is the reading order:
- Bluebloods
- Masquerade
- Revelations
- Van Alen Legacy
- Misguided Angel
– October release
Plus there are two fun series related books to check out: Keys to the Repository
and Bloody Valentine
(December release).
Theater Illuminata Trilogy by Lisa Mantchev:
Love Triangle. Check. Paranormal/Fantasy. Check.
Two books published so far. Last one said to come out in 2011. The third act is still untitled. Here is the reading order:
- Act I: Eyes Like Stars
- Act II: Perchance to Dream
- Act III: (Currently Untitled) – Releases 2011
Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead
Five books published so far. Last book in the series on Rose will come out December of this year. Here is the reading order:
- Vampire Academy
- Frostbite
- Shadow Kiss
- *Blood Promises
- Spirit Bound
- Last Sacrifice
– December release
A spin off series set in the same world, taking side characters and turning them into main characters with a whole new storyline and plot believed to start releasing in 2012.
House of Night Series by P.C. and Kristin Cast:
Vampires. Check. Love Triangle. Check.
Seven books published so far. Twelve books predicted for the series in total. Here is the reading order:
- *Marked
- Betrayed
- Chosen
- Untamed
- Hunted
- Tempted
- Burned
- Awakened – January 2011
There will also be a companion piece that gives the 411 on the book series called The Fledgling Handbook 101
. It will be released in October.
The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater:
Werewolves. Check. Young Adult Romance. Check.
One published. One about to be published. One to be published summer of 2011. Here is the reading order:
- *Shiver
- *Linger
- Forever
Fallen Angels by Becca Fitzpatrick:
Paranormal Romance. Check. Love Triangle. Check.
Here is the reading order:
- Hush, Hush
- Crescendo
– October release
Fallen Series by Lauren Kate:
Paranormal Romance. Check. Love Triangle. Check.
One book published. One about to be released. Rumored two more to come. Here is the reading order:
- Fallen
- Torment
– September release
Classics and Single Titles:
The first three classics were mentioned and inspired Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga. Won’t your English teacher be proud!
- *Pride and Prejudice – Edward as Mr. Darcy? Featured in Twilight.
- *Romeo and Juliet – Featured in New Moon.
- *Wuthering Heights – Featured in Eclipse.
- Jane Eyre – Gothic romance. It’s what people read before vampires.
- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen – Love Triangle.
- Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt – Fantasy romance with an immortal theme.
- Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine – Fantasy romance with a curse.
- Beastly by Alex Flinn – Paranormal romance with a curse.
As you can see we have a lot more reviews to put up, but you can’t go wrong with any of the books on this list. Are there any books or series we’ve missed that you’d add? Tell us in a comment!
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June 7th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Book Review, Coming of Age, D-F, Paranormal, Romance
by First Mate Keira
Title: The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods, Book 4)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 384
Grade Reading Level: 9th Grade +
Summary: The Van Alen Legacy begins approximately a year after the events of Revelations. We find Schuyler and Oliver at a party in Paris where the European Conclave will attend. She’s there looking for sanctuary as she’s been unfairly accused as her grandfather’s murderer by the New York Conclave.
After the blowout between Mimi and Jack at the end of Revelations, Mimi has left New York to join Kingsley and his team of Venators. She’s done this for two reasons: first to force Jack into missing and wanting her; second to be of use and do something active because most of the New York Conclave’s most powerful members are gone forever… consumed. She and Kingsley are on the trail of Jordan, who is really Sophia the Watcher.
Bliss is fighting to remember who she is and is trapped inside her own body. It shocks and decimates her to realize she’s lost a year of her life to Lucifer. Some dad! When suspicions are aroused, he gives her back some control. Can she figure out how to keep him out or is she doomed to be his slave?
Why I started this book:
I started this book because I finished reading Revelations, the third book in the Blue Blood series, and The Van Alen Legacy was the next one published.
Likes:
- Charles Force actually doing something very archangel-like. Finally he’s got his head out of his butt and is taking charge, even if the Conclave doesn’t think so.
- Jack asking Schuyler to come with him back to New York. He puts himself out there even though he’s aware of her conflict with Oliver.
- Oliver getting Jack to go with Schuyler at the end of the novel. I like him for it.
- Kingsley and Mimi together. He’s good for her and hopefully with him in the picture Mimi will let Jack go.
Toss-Up:
- I still find Mimi a vacuous character, but Cruz is revealing hidden depths to her. I hope to like her completely in another few books. For being Jack’s twin, his bonded, she might understand him but she doesn’t get him. If she did, she’d realize her Venator plan is a crap plan for getting him back.
- Lucifer’s body snatching of Bliss. A great idea but very creepy to think about. I’m glad it got solved quickly.
Dislikes:
- Schuyler looking away from Jack’s true vampire/angel form. She should embrace him for his darkness and Destruction. I sincerely hope she gets another chance to prove herself.
Last Minute Thoughts: Cruz has stated this series will have ten books in total. I can't wait for the next one to come out. How about you?
Buy: The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods, Book 4)
Rating: 4 Treasure Chests
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