The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross Review

Title: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2)

Author: Kady Cross

Genre: Young Adult, Steampunk

Page Count: 416 pages

Publish Date: May 22, 2012

Book Type: Kindle Galley

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 978-0373210534

From Goodreads: In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous. 

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. 

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

My Review: Love this cover! That necklace/collar is crazy looking. Imagine having that thing strapped to you. The colors are also amazing.

I really enjoyed The Girl in the Steel Corset last year and was excited to enter the wonderful steampunk world again in The Girl in the Clockwork Collar. This time, the gang traveled to New York City to try to save their friend Jasper after he was arrested at the end of Book 1. Naturally, nothing goes as planned and Finley, Griffin, Jasper, Sam, and Emily find themselves in the middle of trouble.

One of my complaints from Book 1 was that I felt the characters weren’t developed enough. This all changed in this book and I got to know them much more. Finley and Jasper were the two characters that the readers will really get to know. Some new characters were also introduced and I hope we get to see a few of them again. Although mentioned quite a few times, Jack Dandy wasn’t in the book. Maybe he will be in the next one.

The relationships were fleshed out some--although Finley and Griffin still drive me crazy. Just make it work, you two crazy kids. I had wished there was more Sam and Emily, but the moments that were there were completely precious. 

While I was able to predict the answers to some of the mysteries, the very end was actually pretty surprising. I didn’t see that one coming--you’ll have to let me know if you do. Hopefully some of the consequences will play out in the next book.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar was packed with action and adventure. It was really exciting and I had a hard time putting the book down. 

This sequel really solidified my love for steampunk and I cannot wait for the next book to come out! I’ll be glad for the trip back to London, even though I enjoyed them crossing the pond for a bit.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kady Cross and Harlequin Teen for this review copy!

Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade Review

Title: Queen of the Dead (The Ghost and the Goth #2)

Author: Stacey Kade

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Page Count: 266 pages

Publish Date: May 31, 2011

Book Type: eGalley from NetGalley and signed copy won from a contest

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

ISBN: 9781423134671

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: Minor Spoilers from The Ghost and the Goth 

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like. 

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess. 

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea. 

Packed with romance, lovable characters, and a killer cliffhanger, Queen of the Dead is the out-of-this-world sequel to The Ghost and the Goth.

My Review: I love the covers of these books! I miss Will being in his hoodie, but good old Alona is still in her gym uniform. I also love how Alona manages to look transparent without being too ghost like. If that makes sense.

I love how both books in this series are quick reads, yet they still manage to be highly character driven. I tend to find quick reads like this usually have me feeling like the whole point of the book was to get from Point A to Point B--no character development. This isn’t the case for Stacey Kade’s books. Love!

We find out more about Will’s past in this book (i.e. his family) and it was really interesting. There are also some developments with some of the ghosts from the previous book and their journey to “make it back to the light.” I’m trying not to get too spoiler-y here, but I really liked how two of the ghosts thought they were being held back for one reason and it ended up being another. This part of the book really made me think.

As much as Alona would probably annoy me in real life, I actually love reading about her. Her actions are always surprising me. The end of the book leaves her in a position that I am really curious about. It made me squirm and I wonder if it had this effect on others as well? So, if you’ve read it.. let me know!

If you enjoyed the first in the series, you will like this one as well! I can’t wait to see where Kade takes these crazy kids (ghosts).

Thanks to NetGalley and Stacey Kade for this review copy!

Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy Review

Title: Sharks and Boys

Author: Kristen Tracy

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Page Count: 272 pages

Publish Date: June 28, 2011

Book Type: ARC that I won and e-galley from NetGalley

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

ISBN: 9781423143543

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: When 15-year-old Enid Calhoun follows her boyfriend Wick to Maryland for a party, fearful that he might be intending to cheat on her, she finds herself sneaking on board a houseboat where Wick and his friends plan to have a wild night. But before the boys discover their stowaway, a hurricane strikes, and the teenagers are carried miles from the shore and shipwrecked. What follows is a harrowing, yet heartwarming, story of survival, as the teens battle hypothermia, dehydration, man-eating sharks--and along the way, confront their own deepest secrets, including their catalytic roles in the disaster.

My Review: This book is part of the Contemps reading challenge. The cover for this one is really cute. I love how blue the ocean is and after reading the book, I really appreciate the shark fin in the water. Also, I love how the green bracelet from the book made it onto the cover. It’s always fun when the cover for a book actually matches the content of the novel. It doesn’t always happen.

I honestly had a love/hate relationship with many of the characters in this book. I don’t want to go as far as telling you their fates (because this is a main part of the story), but Kristen Tracy really made me feel bad for some of them...and not feel bad for other ones. It’s funny... I think the characters I liked the most were not really the main focus of the story. I liked Munny and Landon way more than I liked Enid and Wick. Munny was a “fact box” and was always telling everyone random stories and statistics. I often wish I retained so much knowledge where I had a fact I could throw into every situation. [tangent ] Much like Dr. Spencer Reid on “Criminal Minds.” If you don’t watch “Criminal Minds,” you probably should. Reid is amazing. Garcia is such a techo-nerd that I absolutely love her. [ /endtangent] Landon seemed like such a genuinely good person. I wish he was real! Enid, at times, was very needy and insecure, but with what has went on in her life, I feel like it is natural for her to be a bit insecure. I don’t really know how to express my feelings for Wick. So, I’m just going to let everyone form their own opinions on him.

I love how the characters were all twins and that they met through a study at a college. I always find anything involving twins fascinating. I found myself thinking about what happened to these characters well after I was finished reading. This may be because Tracy ended the novel very abruptly. Some people may not like this, but I found it kind of nice.

Tracy did an excellent job of describing the locations and effects of being shipwrecked. I felt as if I was lost at sea while reading. It’s definitely not a situation I want to be in anytime soon. 

What is your favorite shipwrecked/stranded at sea novel? Sometimes, I enjoy a really good pirate novel!

Hereafter by Tara Hudson Review

Title: Hereafter (Hereafter #1)

Author: Tara Hudson

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Ghosts

Page Count: 416 pages/533 KB

Book Type: Kindle e-galley

Publisher: HarperTeen

ISBN: 9780062026774

ASIN: B004GUSHVE

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: 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: The colors included in this cover are absolutely gorgeous. We’ve been seeing a lot of really pretty covers lately, haven’t we? I just love how it turns from dark blue to light blue to a yellow. Plus, the transparency of her dress is awesome. “A stranded spirit. A sudden love.” To me, this promises a powerful love story.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this book. I am not 100% in love with paranormal romance stories, but there are a few certain ones that I do love. The synopsis had me intrigued, but skeptical. A ghost and a boy falling in love? I wasn’t quite sure how (and if) this would work. Oh, was I wrong.

Hudson’s writing style was really beautiful. She definitely has a way with words. I was completely engrossed in the story from start to finish. Hudson paints a picture with her words and it really allowed me to visualize everything that was happening.

I thought Amelia’s form of ghost-amnesia was very interesting. Would ghosts remember their previous lives or would they have no recollection? I enjoyed taking the journey of discovering Amelia’s past with her. Joshua’s character was a really good one. I want to learn more about him! I loved how the characters in this novel were really fleshed out. They weren’t just caricatures. They all had strengths and flaws. 

I cannot wait for the sequel. How will the story play out with Amelia being a ghost and Joshua being alive and well? Can they have a happy ending? I know that I am rooting for them.

For the comments: What is your favorite paranormal love story? 

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperTeen and Tara Hudson for this review copy!

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini Review

Title: Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1)

Author: Josephine Angelini

Genre: Young Adult, Mythology, Fantasy

Page Count: 496 pages, 833 KB

Book Type: e-galley

Publisher: HarperTeen

ISBN: 9780062011992

ASIN: B004JN1D3W

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

My Review: I love this cover. I cannot wait to go and get a physical copy of this book--it’s that beautiful. The colors and her flowing dress are gorgeous. The black and white version on the Kindle does not do it justice. The blurb doesn’t even really bother me since it is so small and isn’t a main focus (and you know how much I hate blurbs on the front of books). The only problem I have with this cover is that it seems like her face is cut off at a weird part. It’s not too big of a deal though.

I’ll have to admit, I’m loving this Greek mythology trend in books. I first read The Goddess Test and now Starcrossed. I’ve enjoyed both of them! Granted, I really know nothing about Greek mythology, so I don’t really know if sticklers would enjoy this book or not. If you’re not sure if you want to read this, based on accuracy in Greek mythology, please remember that this is a work of fiction. If you can’t invent something in a fictional world, when can you? (/endrant)

I am insanely jealous of Helen getting to spend time with the super-large Delos family. They seem like such a fun group of people. The supporting characters in this novel were just as fabulous as the main characters. Helen’s best friend, Claire, had me laughing out loud a few times. I can’t say too much without spoiling it, but look for the part where Helen goes to Claire’s house to talk with her (and the following scene). Claire is so funny throughout. 

I read this book very quickly because every time I would put it down, it was all I could think about. This, I think, is a testament to how much I enjoyed it. 

There was a little bit of insta-love (or, more accurately, insta-hate turned insta-love), but at least it was explained. I cannot wait to see where Josephine Angelini takes this series. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2011 so far. I can’t wait to re-read this one. Cliff-hanger warning! Go. Buy. This. Book. Now.

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperTeen, and Josephine Angelini for this review copy!

Have you read this? Did you love it as much as I did? I would love to hear your thoughts! (Side note: sorry for the huge gust-fest!)

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross Review

Title: The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles #1)

Author: Kady Cross

Genre: Young Adult, Steampunk

Page Count: 336 pages/493 KB

Book Type: Kindle Galley

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 9780373210336

ASIN: B004XDYXAI

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

My Review: I adore this cover. 1) Her dress is gorgeous. 2) I love the steel corset showing. 3) I love the steampunk attributes in the background. 4) The font was an excellent choice. I just wish the blurb wasn’t there. The cover would have been perfect without it.

This is a good debut steampunk novel. I really think it would be a good introduction into the steampunk world if you are unfamiliar with it. The only other steampunk I have read was Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare and I could definitely see some similarities throughout. I wonder if that happens with all steampunk novels since they are heavily based on machinery.

Since this is a first in a series, it was a good lead in. It didn’t blow me away, but kept me interested enough to want to read the second. I’m anxious to read the prequel that I have waiting for my on my Kindle because I have a feeling it will explain a few things that I was curious about during the novel. I enjoyed the characters in this book; however, I wish we would have gotten to know them even more. I wanted more back story.

Some of my favorite parts were the explanations of the steampunk aspects of the world Kady Cross created. The organites (or “little beasties”) were fascinating. They basically regenerated cells in a body and could heal wounds at a quicker pace than normal. Very useful. The Girl in the Steel Corset wasn’t my favorite book of the year, but it has me interested enough to want to read the sequel!   

Thanks to NetGalley, Kady Cross and Harlequin Teen for this review copy!

Have you read The Girl in the Steel Corset yet? What did you think? Also, if you could leave me some more steampunk suggestions in the comments, that would be fabulous!  

The Cellar by A.J. Whitten Review

Title: The Cellar

Author: A.J. Whitten

Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Zombies

Page Count: 276 pages

Book Type: Kindle e-galley

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Press, Graphia Books

ISBN: 9780547232539

Picture from Amazon

From Goodreads: Meredith Willis is suspicious of Adrien, the new guy next door. When she dares to sneak a look into the windows of his house, she sees something in the cellar that makes her believe that Adrien might be more than just a creep—he may be an actual monster.

But her sister, Heather, doesn’t share Meredith’s repulsion. Heather believes Adrien is the only guy who really understands her. In fact, she may be falling in love with him. When Adrien and Heather are cast as the leads in the school production of Romeo and Juliet, to Heather, it feels like fate. To Meredith, it feels like a bad omen. But if she tries to tear the couple apart, she could end up in the last place she’d ever want to be: the cellar. Can Meredith convince her sister that she’s dating the living dead before it’s too late for both of them?

My Review: I like how the cover to this one is creepy. Basements are quite scary, aren’t they? The idea of plunging yourself into darkness below the Earth’s surface. Scary.

I loved the twist on zombies in this one. It was interesting that they have the ability to transfer their souls into another body once their own has wasted away [looking like an actual zombie]. They also could think, emote and feel unlike many other zombies. This was a nice, quick read with likable characters and a nice plot. The end of each chapter kept me wanting to read more.

There were moments that involved bugs in this book that had my skin crawling. The detail that went into the bug attacks irked me, but they were so well done. The thought of what’s behind Adrien’s sunglasses [you will understand when you read the book] also was kind of terrifying. 

Overall, it was a fairly suspenseful read with some good characters. I thought there could be a chapter or two more tacked onto the end so the readers really get an idea of the aftermath of what occurred during the story. I would definitely check out another book by A.J. Whitten in the future. Sidenote: I also love how A.J. Whitten is the pen-name for a mother and teenage daughter team. That is just so cool.   

Thanks to NetGalley, A.J. Whitten, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Press and Graphia Books for this galley!