(ARC) YA Book Review: The Weepers: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

Release Date: 1 May 2012 (1 Feb 2012 UK)

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

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Goodreads description:

3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life.

Sherry and her family have lived sealed in a bunker in the garden since things went wrong up above...and two minutes ago they ran out of food. Sherry and her father leave the safety of the bunker and find a devastated and empty LA, smashed to pieces by bombs and haunted by ‘Weepers’ - rabid humans infected with a weaponized rabies virus.

While searching for food in a supermarket, Sherry’s father disappears and Sherry is saved by Joshua, a boy-hunter. He takes her to Safe-haven, a tumble-down vineyard in the hills outside LA, where a handful of other survivors are picking up the pieces of their ‘other lives’. As she falls in love for the first time, Sherry must save her father, stay alive and keep Joshua safe when his desire for vengeance threatens them all.

My Thoughts...

YA Book Review: Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Release Date: 18 October 2011

Publisher: Del Rey (Random House)
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

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Goodreads description:

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. 

My Thoughts...

YA Book Review: Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Release Date: 1 November 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Borrowed from Library

Goodreads description:

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

My Thoughts...

While this book started off a bit slow for me, it eventually sunk its teeth into me and wouldn't let go.  This book brings to life the fall of a society--the moment when the civilization that we know collapses like so many before it.   Four teenagers must cope with the terrible evils that permeate society and bring survivors to the brink of extinction.  Where will the world end up? Who will win? What are they fighting for?

Humans are the most violet species on the planet. We have a brilliant history of all the ugly deeds we've done. We're rotted straight to the core. The disease finally won the battle. We've never had the cure, and the symptoms are out of control. We're finally doing something right by wiping ourselves off the face of this planet.

- p.135

From the beginning, Ms. Roberts doesn't shy away from the dirty realities of her post-apocalyptic world.  The four main characters face death and destruction on a scale that the majority of us can't relate to or even truly begin to imagine.  Each character must face the death of a loved one or close friend.  Each character must fight to survive on a daily basis.  The world that they are now living in is a stark place.

When I first started this novel, the multiple POVs threw me for a loop.  The story seemed a bit disjointed, and it took a long time for the connections to form between the characters.  You knew (or assumed) from the beginning that somehow these four teenagers were going to end up together, but the process of getting them there was a be arduous at times. I jumped for joy when two characters finally met just over 200 pages into the story.  The idea that two of them were finally working together gave their part of the story some cohesion.

There are different types of people in this world. There are people who accpet what's in front of them unquestioningly. They live in the dark. In defeat. Ignoring what the future might bring or how they might help to make things happen. Then there are people like me. Optimists. They too live in the dark, in times like these, but dream of light. i trust in the possibilities of betterness. I believe there is more to life than this. I have to. There's no other choice for me.

- p.219

Each minor character contributes to this story.  While we may be following Aries, Michael, Mason, and Clementine directly, the story is really driven by the people they meet along the way.  Each of these secondary characters has something to teach a main character, whether it's patience, love, trust, or acceptance.  There are not throwaway parts in this story. I felt like each person had a special role in the story that would have left a hole if they were removed.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel.  There were a few things that were a bit "off" for me.  First, I'm not sure what role the "Nothing" was meant to play in the narrative.  I didn't feel that the sections of the novel narrated by "Nothing" added a lot for me because the voice didn't make a lot of sense.  I couldn't connect with it.  Second, this novel has a lot of action and character development, but in the end, it feels very much like the beginning of the story.  Since it took the entire book to establish our band of characters as a group, it ends feeling like a beginning.  I'm fairly used to cliffhangers so that's not really the issue.  I simply felt that not a lot really happened in terms of plot development in this book.  However, my connection with the characters and enjoyment of the writing style definitely has me looking forward to reading more in this series!

Book Review: Alexander Death by JL Bryan

Release Date: 23 September 2011
Publisher: Self-published
Source: Author via Kismet Book Tours

Series: The Paranormals (Book #3)

Goodreads description:

While Seth searches for Jenny, Dr. Heather Reynard of the CDC unravels Seth and Jenny's secrets.

Alexander opens Jenny's mind to her deep past, and to the full horrific extent of her powers.

Torn between her feelings for Alexander and Seth, and between her past lives and her present, Jenny must prepare to face her enemies in the final, catastrophic battle...

My Thoughts...

I HAVE to start out by saying this--BUY THESE.  (And absolutely no one has paid me to say that--it is my absolute, 100% honest opinion that you should go HERE and buy these.  They are worth every freaking penny.)

The conclusion to The Paranormals series, which began with the fabulous Jenny Pox, was a stunning finale to an absolutely phenomenal series. (How many positive adjectives can I put in one sentence?)

Alexander Death picks up right where we left our characters at the end of Tommy Nightmare. Jenny is on the run with Alexander, the mysterious zombie-master who rescued her from the riot in Charleston. Seth is desperately searching for Jenny and feeling completely guilty about his actions in Charleston (as he SHOULD BE). Dr. Reynard is trying to figure out what really happened in Fallen Oak. Ashleigh/Esmerelda is on the run with Tommy.  The scene is set for some major drama and action.

JL Bryan is not afraid to pull out all the stops, and if you're as emotionally invested in these characters as I was, this book will send you on an emotional roller coaster. I love how much Jenny really came into her own in this book, even if she totally had me worried a few times. Seth, even though I was totally mad at him at the end of Tommy Nightmare, continues to grow on me and he's really pining after Jenny and determined to get her back (which may have helped him win my heart back just a little).

Ashleigh is totally, 100% back to her manipulative self in this book and I absolutely HATED her.  Seriously, this chick is a straight-up crazy b*tch. I hated the way that she used Tommy and Esmerelda. HATED.  When she pretended to BE Esmerelda so Tommy could be with the girl he loves, well, I wanted her to DIE (for real this time).

The tension builds up throughout this book to an absolutely stellar, explosive ending.  A perfect (albeit, bittersweet) ending. I, for one, know that I will miss Jenny and the gang, so this will be a series I re-read again in the future (and probably one that I'll give away as Christmas presents to my unsuspecting family).

Be sure to check out ALL of the fabulous Alexander Death posts this week as part of the Kismet Book Tours' The Paranormals Blog Tour!

 Monday, October 31st – The Slowest Bookworm
Tuesday, November 1st – Buried In Books
Wednesday, November 2nd- Paranormal Opinion
Thursday, November 3rd – Belle Books
Friday, November 4th – Supernatural Snark

(ARC) YA Book Review: Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Release Date: 20 September 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

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Goodreads description:

When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved.

Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart.

My Thoughts...

Cold Kiss surprised me, to say the least. I started this book expecting a rather straightforward paranormal romance type of book, complete with the love triangle and teenage angst I've almost come to expect with these "types" of novels.  However, what I got was a refreshing paranormal read that focuses in on emotional growth, specifically the grieving process and the pain of losing someone that you love.

When the book opens, the paranormal event has already taken place. Wren, consumed by her grief, has used the powers that she has to bring her boyfriend, Danny, back from the dead. While he's not the same as he was before the accident, Wren takes all the comfort she can in the fact that at least now he's not dead. But hat is he really? And what will happen if/when Danny begins to remember the past? What happens Wren's grip on Danny begins to slip?

Wren's journey is one that many readers can identify with.  She's reeling in the loss of her first love--the first person that she gave her heart and soul to. She dealing with the death of her boyfriend/best friend. The grieving process and the emotional roller coaster that people deal with when experiencing these things is well-portrayed in Cold Kiss. Wren's coping mechanism is, of course, different than most people, but if it wasn't, this wouldn't be a paranormal zombie book. I think Wren's innocence and naivete make her relateable and connect you with her character, despite the initial strangeness of her decision and resulting situation.

However, Wren's journey isn't just about grieving and dealing with Danny--it's also about the process of moving on. Enter Gabriel--a new "man of mystery" at Wren's school who understands and supports her in surprising ways. While Gabriel brings yet another supernatural element to the story, the focus of this book remains more emotional than paranormal.  Gabriel is, of course, attractive, but it's his surprising understanding of her situation and his ability to guide Wren through this difficult time that really endears you to his character. There's a lot about him that makes him appealing, but overall, I think readers will fall for his loyal personality that helps others even when it's immensely difficult for him. By the end, I felt like I really only had the first tastes of who Gabriel could develop into as a character, and I hope that maybe we'll see some more of him in the future!


This story is really about Wren's emotional development--the plot is very character driven versus action driven, which makes it stand out among many YA paranormal books.  I'd quickly recommend this to fans of both paranormal and contemporary reads because I think it offers something for readers of both "camps." Overall, this is a quick-paced book that many readers will devour in a single sitting. The mysteries that remain at the finish of this book will leave you thinking and hoping that Ms. Garvey will give us more!

(ARC) YA Book Review: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Release Date: 6 September 2011
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

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Goodreads description:

A cataclysmic event. An army of "The Changed."
Can one teen really survive on her own?

An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky, destroying every electronic device and killing billions. For those spared, it's a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human...

Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the Changed, Alex meets up with Tom---a young army veteran---and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse.

This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to survive.

My Thoughts...

This novel blew me away.  With the proliferation of post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, I always start a novel like this is the slightest bit of apprehension because surely this one can't be as good as "X." As is the case so often, there was absolutely nothing to be worried about with this book--it was probably one of the most riveting novels that I have read this year.

When the novel opens, we are introduced to Alex, who has set off on a hiking/camping journey to Lake Superior.  Although we're not privy to her reasons for the trip, there is the distinct feeling of running away from something and an attitude of finality and closure to her journey (which makes more and more sense as you learn about her history and reasons for the trip later). Alex is immediately an intriguing character who captures your imagination with her slightly brash personality. She has a slight air of self-pitying at the beginning but that is quickly overshadowed by her fiercely independent nature coupled with her deeply caring spirit.  There's no denying that she's been through a lot and that may have caused her to be slightly wary of and abrasive toward people, but as you see her interact with the other characters, you quickly learn that she has a compassionate side that can't be shut away or overlooked.

The characters are a major factor in what made me fall in love with this book.  Alex was obviously well-developed and incredibly realistic in her strengths and flaws.  However, each and every character that we meet has a complex, fascinating nature. First, there is Ellie.  Ellie has all the signs of being a bratty, spoiled child unaccustomed to not getting her way, but she is slowly revealed as simply a truly scared child with a rough past and also as a fiercely loyal child as we watch her become attached to Alex.  Tom is just as mysterious with his uncertain past in Afghanistan and guarded personality.  As Alex becomes attached to Tom and we slowly learn more about him, he becomes more complex and appealing. Even the character we don't get to know quite as well later in the novel, including Jess, Chris, and the Reverend, are all engaging characters that you easily find yourself drawn to.  I definitely look forward to the second book so that I can learn more about these characters.

Now, the characters are fabulous, but no story could truly be as spellbinding as this one without fabulous storytelling and writing. Ms. Bick's writing is so fantastically realistic that it is absolutely terrifying at times to be reading this novel. The ideas that she brings forth about mutually assured destruction and the true weapon capabilities that we have in our world are terrifying, and that makes the story that much more engaging. The ending to this novel will leaving you gasping for breath and begging for more! I seriously kept attempting to turn to the next page on my Nook because I could NOT believe that was the end of the book.  I will definitely be waiting on pins and needles for the next book in 2012.