Review: Winterveil by Jenna Burtneshaw (Wintercraft #3)

Title: Winterveil by Jenna Burtneshaw

Published: June 25^th, 2013 by Greenwillow Books

Source: Library

Format: Hard cover

Genre: Fantasy | Paranormal

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A-

Teen Kate Winters and her powers are unique. She alone can understand Wintercraft, a book of ancient secrets. In Winterveil, the veil between the living and the dead is crumbling, and only Kate can stop it. The pull of the veil is powerful, and part of Kate wants to let it fall, allowing the dead overrun the living. Her best friend Edgar Rill urges Kate to save the world of the living. But Silas Dane can influence Kate too. Silas, a merciless villain, has the potential to behave honorably—if he chooses.

My Review

I was dying to read the conclusion of the Wintercraft series, sadly, my local library took forever to bring the book.  If you recall, the ending of Blackwatch was quite dire and all seemed hopeless (like the drama?).  I should have trusted Burtenshaw to be able to get Kate, Silas and Edgar out of that bind. 

The story of Wintercraft is so unique.  The idea of a city where the dead was buried and was tended by a specially trained group of people and then abandoned it’s hard to imagine.  Even harder is that the dead couldn’t find peace when they built the new capital city on top of it.  The world building is impeccable, as it’s strange. 

The story is told in the third person, which is very appropriate for this complicated story as it allowed the reader to be everywhere and know everything that was going one.  Even then, the plot is unexpected, complex and full of surprises.  The writing is straightforward and easy to read and understand and that is always a bonus when reading fantasy.

What to say about Kate?  She is somewhat different in Winterveil.  She’s more powerful, braver, more mature, and accepting.  It must be incredible scary and empowering at the same time to have a deeper understanding of things that most of the people cannot see.  To see and hear ghosts and a different world that is beyond most people’s comprehension.

Silas – would you get offended if I were to say that I fell in love with you as a character - *I’m sure he’s probably just shuddered*.  Silas is so, so, so …(hold on, I’m thinking of the right words) exceptionally difficult and loyal.  He has suffered so much, and keeps enduring everything the world throws at him, just to save Albion, the city he feels honor bound to protect.  Silas, I understand your sacrifice and I hope you find peace.  The relationship between Silas and Kate is also unique.  Even though there is a vast different in their age and experience, I kept hoping that the bond they shared would develop into something deeper.  One can only hope, right?

Edgar is sweet, protective, resourceful, but always timid and fearful.  In this installment we see the reasons why and I think he developed a bit of a backbone, for which I’m glad.  Even then, I just don’t see anything romantic developing between him and Kate.  –Just saying.

Dalliah is our evil character here, and evil she is indeed!  She has the same problem as Silas, leaving without a soul in a torturous state, and she has been like that for years.  She has done so many atrocities to bring down the veil and she sees a golden opportunity in Kate, which is a true Winter and much more powerful than she could ever be.

What a wonderful ending to the series, although it was very open.  I still hope for a ‘cure’ for poor Silas and some sort of reconciliation for Kate and the rest of the skilled. I think there is so much more of the story to tell *hint, hint, cough, cough*

About the cover: I always like the covers for these books.  This one is mysterious, I imagine it’s Silas running up the castle’s stairs in Albion about to confront the council.  I like the contrast of dark and light and the birds in the background. 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for.

Title: The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Published by: HarperTeen

Release date: July 1st, 2014

Girls started vanishing in the fall, and now winter's come to lay a white sheet over the horror. Door County, it seems, is swallowing the young, right into its very dirt. From beneath the house on Water Street, I've watched the danger swell.The residents know me as the noises in the house at night, the creaking on the stairs. I'm the reflection behind them in the glass, the feeling of fear in the cellar. I'm tied—it seems—to this house, this street, this town.I'm tied to Maggie and Pauline, though I don't know why. I think it's because death is coming for one of them, or both.All I know is that the present and the past are piling up, and I am here to dig. I am looking for the things that are buried.From bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson comes a friendship story bound in snow and starlight, a haunting mystery of love, betrayal, redemption, and the moments that we leave behind.

Why I want to read it: This book sounds creepstactic!  A ghost and a mystery are right up my alley.  I haven't read any books by Anderson, but I've heard wonderful things about Tiger Lily.  Also, this cover is just gorgeous. 

What are you waiting for this week?

Review: Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore (Goodnight Family #1)

Title: Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Published: July 12^th, 2011 by Delacorte

Source: Library

Format: Hardcover

Age group: Young adult

Genre: Paranormal mystery

Grade rate: A

Amy Goodnight knows that the world isn't as simple as it seems—she grew up surrounded by household spells and benevolent ghosts. But she also understands that "normal" doesn't mix with magic, and she's worked hard to build a wall between the two worlds. Not only to protect any hope of ever having a normal life. Ranch-sitting for her aunt in Texas should be exactly that. Good old ordinary, uneventful hard work. Only, Amy and her sister, Phin, aren't alone. There's someone in the house with them—and it's not the living, breathing, amazingly hot cowboy from the ranch next door. It's a ghost, and it's more powerful than the Goodnights and all their protective spells combined. It wants something from Amy, and none of her carefully built defenses can hold it back. This is the summer when the wall between Amy's worlds is going to come crashing down.

My Review

A few weeks ago the topic for Top Ten Tuesday was about authors that deserve more recognition and I stumbled upon a list with Rosemary Clement-Moore’s name in it.  I promptly went to my local library and checked out Texas Gothic and managed to fall in love with the Goodnights.

I love the writing from the beginning.  I mean, take for example the first line of the book:

“The goat was in the tree again.”

Isn’t this hilarious? I found it hard to stop reading right after that opening line.  The writing is a gem, it’s straightforward, easy to read and quirky.   The plot is a typical mystery, it actually reminded me to the Deadly Cool series, you know what I mean, right?  The heroine is investigating a mystery that gets her in trouble multiple times and at towards the end there’s a big dangerous scene and all is well at the ending.  However, the story behind Texas Gothic is different because it also involves the paranormal world of the Goodnights.

The Goodnight family is awesome!  Among them they have different kinds of paranormal abilities. There are psychics (taking / seeing ghosts) and witches.  I found it hilarious that they had the ability to tell when something was wrong with another member of the family, they call it the heebie-jeebies and it’s like their own 911 call and homing device rolled into one.  In this installment our main character is Amy (short for Amaryllis).

Amy is ranch-sitting for her aunt Hyacinth with the help of her sister Phin.  Here she is ‘contacted’ by a ghost that wants something from her and what follows is a series of both mysterious and extremely funny events on the hunt of answers.  Amy is loyal, strong, and tries to keep her family out of trouble by being the voice of reason.  I loved her voice so much; she is quirky, funny, ironic, self assured (you have to be to chase a cow in your undies, right?)

Phin is very scientific and less intuitive.  She reminded me to Temperance Brenan from the series Bones :)  I truly enjoyed reading about her and her relationship with Amy, they are so different and yet so close and they watch out for each other, as sisters should.  We are also introduced to Daisy, their cousin, who talks to dead people.  I’m not kidding; she actually does and she works for the police and the FBI helping them with murder cases.

Ben is a gorgeous and scowling cowboy from the neighboring ranch that, to boot (pun intended), does not believe in the paranormal.  I found Ben to be so sweet at the end, even if he was quite exasperating at the beginning.  Amy and Ben’s relationship is really new and I hope I get to see a bit of them in the next book.

As you can see the characterization is really good.  In summary, Texas Gothic is a mystery- paranormal-engaging-fun read and I cannot wait to read Daisy’s story on Spirit and Dust next!

Here are some quotes for your reading enjoyment:

“I was generally pro-bat, except when I was trekking through the dark trying not to think about the dire fate of every horror movie character stupid enough to go into the dark with a flashlight and check the fuses.”

“Emery cut in impatiantly, "For crying out loud. Who do you think you are, Nancy Drew?"

Hey," I snapped, because no one sniped at my sister but me, and Mark echoed with a stern "Chill, dude."

Phin was unperturbed. "Those books were highly unrealistic. Do you have any idea how much brain damage a person would have if she were hit on the head and drugged with chloroform that often?”

“You have a funny way of showing how much you don't like me."

"I don't like gophers, either, but I wouldn't leave one to suffer. I'd shoot it to put it out of its misery.”

About the cover: I really love this cover!  The colors work well with each other, the font plays on the ‘gothic’ title.  It is mysterious and beautiful at the same time.

Waiting on Wednesday: Ashes to Ashes by Melissa C. Walker

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for.

Title: Ashes to Ashes by Melissa Walker

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books

Release date: December 23rd, 2013

When Callie's life is cut short by a tragic accident, she expects to find nothingness, or maybe some version of heaven.Instead, her spirit travels to the Prism, an ethereal plane populated by the ghosts she thought were fictional. Here she meets a striking and mysterious ghost named Thatcher, who is meant to guide her as she learns to haunt and bring peace to the loved ones she left behind.However, Callie uncovers a dark secret about the spirit world: The angry souls who always populate ghost stories are real, dangerous, and willing to do whatever it takes to stay on Earth, threatening the existence of everyone she ever cared about.As she fights to save them, Callie will learn that while it may no longer beat, her heart can still love-and break.

Why I want to read it:  I really like this cover, it's so pretty.  It seems like this is a paranormal story, full of ghosts, mystery... and romance.  

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Review: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

Title: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

Published: January 1^st, 2013 by Scholastic Point

Source: Library

Format: Hardcover

Challenge(s):

Grade rate:  C+

A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.
 Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't. Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

My Review

I am a big fan of Kim Harrington’s Clarity series, thus I was excited to read The Dead and Buried.  I found the book to be predictable, but good.

The Dead and Buried was a typical hunted house ghost book, and that my friend was my main issue with it.  Don’t get me wrong, it was still a great read.  Jade comes from a small town and her family just moved to a big house, that they could afford because a girl died there.  You might guess where this is going, right?  Well, since mean girl-turned- mean- ghost-Kayla was murdered she is really mad and will stop at nothing until Jade figures out who killed her.  (Now, I ask you, if you knew there was a ghost in your house, would you mess with a Quji board? I think not!)  Jade now has a difficult assignment to complete, made more difficult by the fact that she is new in town and Kayla belonged to the “popular” group in school. 

I didn’t identify to the characters as much as I did with the characters in the Clarity series, which was a big disappointment for me. Is not that I didn’t like Donovan or Kane, is just that I didn’t care for them as I should have.  Even if both of them were handsome and good guys at heart I hardly get to known him.  The story felt rushed and with little time to cultivate relationships and friendships. Most characters, such as the popular crowd, Jade’s stepmother, the nerdy friend, and even the absent dad felt very familiar and can be found in countless other stories.

The plot is very cookie cutter and predictable, but it is still entertaining.  The story is short and that might be part of the trouble with character development.  The writing is easy to read and flows nicely for a short book.   

Overall The Dead and Buried, was a typical hunted house read, a short and entertaining story.

Here are some quotes:

“He was right, but thankfully the pie gods chose that moment to bestow upon us or order. I do not exaggerate and neither did Kane.  With the first bite, I let out an embarrassing moan. .. We ate in silence. Part of me wanted to scarf the whole thing as quickly as possible and the other part wanted to savor each bite as long as I could.” – Jade
 

“Looking back, we’d all been haunted by the dead and buried. Not just the house.  We’d carried ghosts inside of us, making our spirits weary” – Jade

About the cover:  When I saw this book initially, it had another cover that looked more mysterious to me but now I can’t find it.  The current cover doesn't do much for me.

Review: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Published: June 21^st 2011 by Walker Children

Source:  Library

Challenge(s): Support your Local Library

Grade rate: A-

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

My Review

Haunting Violet is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Harvey and I think I can now say I’m a big fan as I loved this book.  It definitely falls in the “can’t put it down category”.  Maybe my fascination has to do with my love of historical romance novels, and this book almost qualifies as one.  I felt like I was wearing a familiar and comfortable pair of slippers. *sigh*

On with the review… Violet is a charming character.  She is beautiful, pragmatic, not conceited and with a strong sense of morals and self-preservation.  Violet had a difficult life and an abominable mother, I don’t know how she turned out to be such a good person with such a bad role model, but then again, she had Colin.  I loved Colin.  He is not only handsome, but resourceful, loyal, and he really cares for Violet and more important, he accepts her the way she is.  I really enjoy Violet’s best friend, Elizabeth (lovely name, right?).  She is also very loyal and open minded about the “Spiritualism” and loves a good adventure as well.  I really came to hate Violet’s mother and I don’t know what it is about Lord Jasper that I quite can’t trust.

The plot was excellent and unpredictable.  I certainly didn’t suspect any of it (although I have to admit I usually don’t!).  It is a combination of paranormal / historical romance / mystery, it actually reminded me a little of both Amanda Quick and Julia Quinn writing style and plot building.  The writing was easy to read and follow, the story line and setting was introduced nicely and the pacing was perfect.  I only problem was that the ending was kind of abrupt and it left the story wide open for a sequel.  What happens now with Violet and Colin?  Can they have a future together? How would Violet handle her new-found ability?  I can’t find any indication that Haunting Violet has a sequel, but it certainly should.  Pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top?  I know I will start reading The Drake Chronicles soon!

About the Cover:  I really like the cover, the significance of the river and the lilies is evident in the story.  The girl in the cover looks “haunted”, I liked how delicate she looks and the colors as well.

Enter my 300 Follower Giveaway  here!

Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson (Hereafter #1)

Title: Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Published: June 7th 2011 by HarperCollins

Source: Puchased for Kindle

Challenges:

Grade rate: C+

Can there truly be love after death?
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.
Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

My Review

Hereafter is the first paranormal romance that I’ve read in which the main character is a ghost.  In fact, the book is narrated from Amelia’s point of view and we know what it feels like to be a ghost, and be confused and lonely.

Amelia is, as I mentioned, a ghost of an 18-year-old girl that wonders around near the place of her death.  I think she develops a strong personality with a very ferocious sense of right and wrong and protectiveness towards those few that she loves.  Joshua is a sweetheart (not to mention gorgeous!), he is also protective, but ill equipped to defend Amelia.  Eli is evil and obviously the bad guy (or known bad guy) of the story, he has a distorted sense of ownership and a twisted mind. I hoped that Jillian, Joshua’s sister turned out to be one of the “good guys”, but I guess we’ll see in the sequel.  I did not like Josh’s grandmother at all.  She had knowledge about ghosts and demons but sees everything as black and white and is unwilling to help Amelia.  Other characters were minor, such as Joshua’s friends, and parents. 

Hereafter’s plot was original and the story was paced nicely.  I guess that this first book left a lot of questions unanswered and it was a bit confusing.  I honestly don’t understand how a ghost and a human can be together (it’s just creepy, right?) and the instant-love from Josh’s side was a little unbelievable.  I only have good things to say about Ms. Hudson’s writing.  It was well paced, lyrical, and the descriptions seem to take a life of their own.

I will still read Arise, book two of the series due to be published this June, as I want to know how it will all work out for Amelia and Joshua.

About the cover: It is a beautiful cover, very appropriate for the plot as it shows Amelia as a ghost and the dark river. 

Review: Shadowcry by Jenna Burtenshaw (Wintercraft #1)

Title: Shadowcry by Jenna Burtenshaw
Published: June 21st, 2001 by Greenwillow
Source: Library
Grade rate: B


Kate Winters isn’t who she thinks she is. Burned out of her family bookstore by a suspicious fire, she will be pursued across a country riddled by fear and war before she discovers the extent of her skill and her destiny. Her pursuers include Silas Dane—one of the most compelling villains since Rowling’s Professor Snape and Pullman’s Mrs. Coulter—and Edgar, a young man who worked at the bookshop and who seems to know much more about the secrets of Wintercraft (a mysterious book that has been in Kate’s family for generations; a book responsible for the disappearance of her parents years ago) than he lets on.


My Review

This novel was published in the UK last year under the name ‘Wintercraft’, which makes a lot more sense that ‘Shadowcry’.  This is a fantasy book with some mystery thrown in the mix for good measure.   I felt the story was original, even if the concepts were a little hard to grasp. 

The characters are very complex, each with their own agenda and strong personalities.  Kate comes across as an open-minded, practical young woman with a power that she neither understands nor wants.  Despite his cruelty and lack of remorse and empathy, Silas Dane was my favorite character.  He was product of an experiment gone badly and even if I didn’t like his methods, he had his own brand of honor.  Edgar was elusive and I hope we get to know him, and well as Artemis and Tom, better on the next installment.

‘Shadowcry’ is told from a third person point of view that is refreshing to see in YA.  The writing was a little slow at the beginning but it picked up at the end, and easy to read, and the plot was, as I said before, very original.  Ms. Burtenshaw is a brilliant writer and I am looking forward to more of her books.  One thing I didn’t like was the multiple attempts at escaping and the multiple times they got caught and / or separated.  It was a little irritating, but on the other hand, if someone was holding me against my will I know for sure I will do whatever it takes to gain my freedom and the freedom of my loved ones.  

Overall, an interesting read with an original story line.  I am looking forward to the sequel (‘Blackwatch’ in the UK.)

About the cover:  The cover was pretty, but other than the arcs, the architectural detail, and the air of mystery, I feel that the UK cover was probably a better fit for the story.

Review: Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready (Shade #2)

Title: Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
Published: May 3rd, 2011 by Simon Pulse
Source: Library
Grade rate: B

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.
Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.
As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.

My Review

I loved 'Shade'.  One of the things I liked the most is that the setting is Baltimore, and as you know I live in Maryland.  It's great to know the places that the characters like, live in, eat at, and visit.  Nevertheless, I had mixed feelings about 'Shift'.  The first part of the book was somewhat confusing to Aura, therefore I felt confused.  Her feelings and the attitude of those around her changed so fast that it left me reeling.  The second part of the book, was much better and coherent for me, it flowed easier and was more interesting.

Aura is a likable character, she is pretty and intelligent, but although I can understand her feelings of mourning and loss, I can't understand why she seems to cling to Logan and the love they once shared.  The boy is DEAD *period*  I am not saying that she should be instantaneously ready to date or fall in love, but she should recognize that, and move on.  And what happened with Dylan, what on earth was that? 

Zachary, on the other hand I love.  He is not only gorgeous, smart, has the patience of a saint, but most important he is in love with Aura and he is ALIVE.  See the difference?  I do hope that everything works out for them because they make a great couple.  Other characters of importance were Megan and Logan's siblings, they were well fleshed out, but took a back burner to Aura and all her relationship problems. 

Once the part about Aura's angst was sort of over (and honestly it was tiring) I loved the rest of the plot.  We learn a lot about the Shift, and Aura's mom.  It becomes more fast paced and I can't wait for 'Shine' the conclusion of the trilogy, due out Summer of 2012 (another whole year to wait *sigh*)

If you like paranormal and romance, you should give this series a try.

About the cover - I like the cover.  The black background makes it mysterious and the burst of red is a significant part of the story.