Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.

1913, Salem, Massachusetts - Sarah Engelmann's life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.

With the help of Alex, a Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex's elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah's own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah's continuing visions reveal?

No less than Gabriel's Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.

For a complete review which may contain SPOILERS, please click 'Read More' below:

The Darkening Dream is a YA vampire novel truly unlike any other. Set in historic Salem, Massachusetts in 1913, it follows the story of friends Sarah, Sam and Anne and newcomer, Alex, as they face an evil that will test all of their faiths. What can four teenagers do against a power so old, so treacherously dark? As it turns out, a lot.

This book suffered from being entirely too long. It was difficult to get into and I found myself having to put it down several times, to come back to later. I think if it had been about half the length, it would have read much easier. The chapters were quite short for such a long novel, and there was too much 'build-up' before the real action took place. That being said, if you can slog through the beginning you will find a unique take on vampire mythos that combines many religions and interesting historical facts.

I really appreciated the strength and conviction of Sarah's character. She never wavered from her spiritual faith and she lent a great deal of power to the battle against evil. Which made the last 15 pages or so really hard to believe. Without giving anything away, I will say that she acted in ways that were completely opposite of her character for the previous 300+ pages.

It was an interesting young adult story and if you're looking for a vampire story with more religious overtones, this one would be a good one for you to try.

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be... kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

For a complete review which may contain SPOILERS, please click 'Read More' below:

Supernaturally is the second book in a trilogy. As the title suggests, Evie's world is one full of supernatural beings including... herself? All Evie wanted was to live a "normal" life - go to high school, work a job, hang out with her boyfriend. Lend is living at college, so their time is limited and her vampire roommate is lost to the world of online gaming. Pretty soon, normal starts to look suspiciously like boring. Even the novelty of having a locker can't save Evie from her doldrums. Which is why when her former IPCA boss slash mother figure begs her to become a freelance agent, she jumps all over the chance. The return of her faerie ex and the truly strange new IPCA agent (stalker?) throw a kink into her well oiled life. Evie's hiding things from Lend and taking risks with her life. Is she on the path to self-destruction? And how will she cope with shocking revelations about her past?

Evie is a fascinating combination of teen super sleuth, agent of bad-ass, and vulnerable girl coming to grips with who she really is. Let's face it - as a teen, did any of us really know who we were? Though set in the world of the supernatural, Kiersten White writes characters we can all relate to. Who hasn't kept a secret from someone they love out of misguided fear? Who hasn't felt the insecurity of not knowing where you belong? I don't want you to think Supernaturally is all big issues and weighty matter, it's not. Evie is full of humor (see her pink taser!) and her budding relationship with Lend is tender and heartfelt.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, action packed YA read, then this fresh take on the paranormal is just the right thing!

The conclusion to the trilogy, Endlessly, is set to release July of this year.

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

For a complete review which may contain SPOILERS, please click 'Read More' below:

And to listen to an excerpt from the Cinder Audiobook, please click on the icon below:

Just the cover of this book pulls you in and begs you to take a closer look. A leg in a red shoe with translucent stockings that show what appears to be metal parts? Very intriguing, indeed. Cinder is a fairytale re-telling like no other. Instead of an ill-treated maid of all work, Cinder is a brilliant mechanic and... a cyborg. When the Prince brings a broken android to her booth for repair, Cinder begins daydreaming of a different life.

When he youngest stepsister and only human friend contracts the deadly plague that has been sweeping through the countryside, it's the last straw for Cinder's evil stepmother. As Cinder's guardian, she has the power to "volunteer" her for plague research. Cinder embarks on a twisted path that should lead to death but instead reveals many secrets from her past and encourages hopes for her future.

Cinder is a marvel with all things mechanical, as well as intelligent, independent, ingenious and strong. Used to being cast in the role of 'freak' by everyone she meets, she is vulnerable and unsure of Prince Kai's attempts at friendship.

Kai, the Prince who would be Emperor, seems lost and a bit alone. He is prepared to assume the mantle of responsibility, even if that means forfeiting his own happiness.

If you;re like me, you guessed the big secret early on in the book but that doesn't mean it wasn't shocking when finally revealed in black and white. Of course I'm not going to reveal any of the secrets, but let's just say - there are some really good twists and turns! The ending left me both elated and frustrated, wishing the second book was already out for me to read. I'm not quite sure where Ms. Meyer is taking us, but I am happy to be along for the ride.

Book 2 in the Lunar Chronicles, Scarlet, will be released sometime in 2013.

How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth about the past?

Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is an exclusive, gifted school.

Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her. She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become inked with a unique tattoo (tatu) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatu enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their ink-art. Both of her parents were inked, though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young.

Learning about her family's past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope in her own life.

For a complete review which may contain SPOILERS, please click 'Read More' below:

Rae of Hope is book #1 in the Chronicles of Kerrigan series. How many Young Adult stories centering on magic are there? The same old thing gets old after a while, which is why I found Rae of Hope so delightfully refreshing. Children of special lineage receive a unique tattoo on their sixteenth birthday. Each tatu is different, though some designs and abilities are passed down in families. The tatu gives the wearer supernatural abilities ranging from control over the elements to telepathic abilities to shape changing.

Rae Kerrigan's parents died in a terrible fire when she was just six years old. Raised by her aunt and uncle, she doesn't recall much about them or her former life. Much of what she could remember has been suppressed by the trauma of being the only survivor. So she is pretty surprised when her uncle sends her back to the country of her birth, England, to attend a mysterious and exclusive boarding school - Guilder Boarding School.

Once at Guilder, Rae has trouble fitting in when it becomes apparent that everyone there knows much more about her history than she does. Her eyes will be opened, and not every secret has a happy ending. Throw her approaching sixteenth birthday and the inevitable tatu into the mix, and you have some serious teen drama. CAUTION: Many twists and turns lie ahead, with secrets revealed, deception, and even a betrayal!

I loved Rae's character. She seemed so down-to-earth, just like a friend next door. She has great resiliency in the face of her mounting troubles, you can't help but to root for her. Her roommate Molly is  vivacious and flirtatious but she always seems to be around when Rae needs her. The boys at the school give you a mental image of bees flitting around a beautiful flower - there doesn't seem to be any lack of male interest in Rae.

All in all it was just what you would expect from any high school aged book - tons of drama and angst and love unrequited. The foundation for this magical world of tatus was easy to follow and very interesting. The only thing I did not care for was the ending. Without giving anything away, I will say that the two characters featured on the last pages did not act in a way that I felt was true to their characters' previous behavior. A little disappointing, but it can certainly be overlooked when compared to the whole.

I will definitely pick up the 2nd book in the series to see where Rae's tatu takes her!

You think your school's scary?

Get a load of these teachers:

Ms. Fang, an 850-year-old vampire
Dr. Dragonbreath, who just might eat you before recess
Mr. Snakeskin—science class is so much more fun when it's taught by someone who's half zombie
Mrs. T—break the rules and spend your detention with a hungry Tyrannosaurus rex!

Plus

Gargoyles, goblins, and Frankenstein's monster on the loose
The world's most frighteningly delicious school lunch

And

The narrator's an eleven-year-old ghost!

Join Charles "New Kid" Nukid as he makes some very Scary friends—including Petunia, Johnny, and Peter the Wolf—and figures out that Scary School can be just as funny as it is spooky!

For a complete review which may contain SPOILERS, please click 'Read More' below:

This is going to be a special review for two reasons. Scary School is not like the other YA books I have previously reviewed. It's suggested age level is 8+, Grade 3+. More importantly, this is a joint review from my son, Book Addict Jr. and myself.

Book Addict Jr. loves all things spooky and paranormal, so this book was right up his alley. We read most of it together and I appreciated that the humor and jokes were just as funny for him as they were for me. In fact, Book Addict Jr. calls it "really hilarious!" His favorite chapter was 16 'Johnny, Ramon, and Peter's Disgusting Idea'. There's disgusting even in the title and what little boy wouldn't love to read about a Sasquatch, a Zombie and a Werewolf playing basketball and eating bugs!

Scary School is chock-full of things that go bump-in-the-night, but don't worry. Most of them are just the students! I'm sure we've all been there before, had a teacher who seemed threatening and a little mean but none of ours ever ate up the class for bad behavior!

Book Addict Jr. adds that "there was a lot of action" and it was "really awesome!" He would definitely recommend it to other kids (he already has) and was excited to learn that there will be more books in the series, a new one coming out each year.

5 stars to Derek the Ghost. Keep writing about your Scary School and we'll keep reading them!

As a sort of Beauty and the Beast re-telling, The Merchant’s Daughter was right on point. A beastly Lord with a temper to match? Check. A girl whose inner beauty shines just as brightly as her outward perfection? Check. There’s even a kindly, mothering servant and a brutish oaf intent on taking what he wants.

Annabel is a sweet breath of Spring air to the darkness that has made its home in Lord Ranulf’s heart. Betrayed by someone he loved, scarred inside and out, he has vowed to never let a woman get close to him again, especially one who is beautiful. Meanwhile, Annabel has had enough of lecherous men who think to force themselves upon her. Frightful as a wounded creature, she finds herself inexplicably comforted in her new Lord’s presence.

The build up to this great romance was definitely slow. It took nearly all the length of the novel for Annabel and Ranulf to finally reveal their feelings to one another. This is the point where I, as the reader, wanted to yell “Wake up!” at them. Everyone else could see what was going on but them. Despite this long, long journey to happiness, the ending was satisfactorily happily ever after.


I felt that Annabel and Ranulf made a wonderful, complementary couple. The lack of in-your-face passion was not missed, as it was replaced by a sweet, slow tenderness that leaves a little pang in your heart.

A good medieval set young adult romance.