A-Z, Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules Book Review & Fred

For my A-Z Challenge, the letter is “R,” and today, I’ll be doing a "Review" filled with engrossing characters that should entice those interested in hot YA fantasy literature.  Are you familiar with Julie Kagawa, the author of the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fae Series? Well, if not, she’s about to launch Book I of the Blood of Eden series.  It's a book about vampires titled, The Immortal Rules. And boy does it rule! (Some spoilers mentioned.)

The Immortal Rules is a wicked novel about a post-apocalyptic world where vampires rule in various vampire city destinations around the country and enslave humans for blood.  Within the city walls, there are registered humans: those that donate their blood in exchange for food, shelter and protection. And then there are the unregistered humans: those that refuse to conform and that live on the “Fringe—the outermost circle of the vampire city.” They survive by hiding from hunting vamps and scavenging for food.  The novel begins with a young 17 year old human girl, Allison Sekemoto, who is unregistered and fighting for that very survival along with her gang mates.

Since food is always the underlying concern, Allie finds the mother lode in an area outside the city called the ruins. Venturing in this forbidden place can get you killed, which is exactly what happened to our heroine. Turning from human to a vampire was probably the worst thing that could happen to Allie. Still, intuitively she is a survivor. Her sire, Kanin, is like her vampire sensei. He teaches her everything she knows about being a vampire and of course about the immortal rules. She learns about the vampire hierarchy, how the world morphed into a post-apocalyptic nightmare and sadly, how she can never trust humans again.

The Immortal Rules reminded me of hodgepodge of other bestsellers including I am Legend and The Hunger Games. Allie is so likable simply because she is a quick learner and excels at surviving.  Her human beginnings were incomprehensible—a mere child with no family, starving at every turn. And then of course she dies and is forced to experience a whole new level of hunger.  I loved Allie’s spirit, her innocence and her strength—not to mention the world Kagawa built. And the ending…was like a movie. Thrilling. This novel will no doubt be another successful series for Kagawa.  In fact, for those that don’t know, Palomar Pictures just purchased the film rights for The Immortal Rules and Blood of Eden series. 

The Immortal Rules was easily a 4 for me. If you like YA books and you’re in need of a great vampire one, then this is hands down your novel.   Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules releases April 24th. 

And now....Fridays with Fred

Fred is taking break today.  In his place is one of his friends, Achilles. And like Fred, Achilles is an staunch Heat fan, which is a good thing because right now the heat are hot, hot, HOT! Go Miami Heat!

Remember to stop by and say hi to Schatze over at Mary’s BookHounds too. 

Have a great weekend.

Mina B.

Book Review: Jessica Redmerski's The Mayfair Moon

As promised, I'm reviewing Jessica Redmerski's debut novel, The Mayfair Moon.  I'm super excited to tell all my minions about this freakishly good YA paranormal romance book about werewolves.  Last week, I had Jessica on the blog discussing her debut novel.  If you missed it, take a moment to read my interview with Jessica and get some killer insight into her dark tale.

This YA paranormal romance book is a crossover tale.  It does a great job at enticing YA readers while also peaking adult book lovers interest.  Adria was a truly likable YA character.  In the beginning, her home life was such a mess that the only person she could trust was her sister, Alexandra.  But after a horrible incident with a werewolf, everything changes and Adria and Alex are sent to live with her uncle in Hallowell, Maine.

Strange things happen in that eerie town.  For one thing, Alex is never the same since the werewolf attack and leaves Adria left alone to fend for herself at the new high school.  However challenging, Adria rallies, finding new friends while quickly becoming acclimated to her new home.  Everything seems fine until she stumbles upon a mysterious group of young adults–one being Isaac Mayfair.

At first, Adria doesn't know that Isaac Mayfair is a part of a legendary werewolf family.  After she realizes the sister that she's known and loved her whole life is gone for good, she begins to understand the true gravity of her situation. Her and Isaac soon come together and then love blossoms.  Once Adria learns the truth about her and her sister's fate within the Mayfair family, she's shocked that the monstrous world exists–one that's more terrifying than her original home life.  With everything stacked against her, she's lucky she has the love and protection of Isaac and his family.  Or is she?

So much happens in this YA tale, I don't want to say any more.  This tale is dark and featured not only beastly werewolves, but also extremely dysfunctional families; both human and supernatural.  Oooo there's nothing better than family drama!  The ending left me with more questions than answers.  I'm certainly hooked and want to read more about Adria and Isaac.  I'm betting you will too!    

The Mayfair Moon kindle book is on sale on Amazon for $2.99.  What a steal, eh?  Go get it today!

Mina B.

Book Review: Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones

Book one in Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones (Mortal Instruments), was definitely not what I expected.   Truth be told, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.  I’ll do my best not to mention too many spoilers but I’m won’t make any promises.

The book opened with fifteen year old Clary Fray hanging out at a club called Pandemonium in New York City where she sees things that no one else can see.  I was hooked instantly by Clare’s vivid words and artful imagination.  Clary spied the unthinkable and doesn’t know how or why.  It’s there where she meets a young pack of beings called Shadow Hunters.  She’s drawn to them, but for what reason?  These Shadow Hunters she befriended are both fierce and feared.  But how can Clary, such a young, insecure and innocent teenager, have the courage to hang with demon hunters…killers even?

In a series of events, her overprotective mother disappeared and not too long after, she’s chased by horrifying demons.  Everything that was familiar to her is now inexplicably different.  The tale then moved from one task to the next as Clary tries to find her mother, save her friend and find the mortal cup.  During her quest, she slowly discovered the truth about what she is.  And not to mention who her father is.

This book had pros and cons for me.  First pro, it was unbelievably well written.  The dark urban fantasy world Clare created was amazing and captivating.  The beginning started with a bang, but then at times, I found the book lagging.  For example, Clary and her new shadow friends did a bunch of running around which I found tiring and unnecessary.  During the last third of the book, the plot spiked and I was excited.  With all the foreshadowing, it was easy to guess who her father was so I was excited to read the outcome.  Unfortunately, the author did what I thought was a bait and switch with the plot, revealing a major character – and potential love interest – as her brother.  For me, I found that confusing and slightly disappointing.

Overall, my favorite aspect was the dark world of Shadow Hunters, Idris and the City of Bones.  I loved the characters Jace, Simon, Alec and even Luke.  I couldn’t get enough of them and wanted to read more.  For me, Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones (Mortal Instruments) was a 3.75.  If you’re looking for a unique take on dark YA urban fantasy, then this is just the book for you! 

Until next time…Mortal Instruments anyone?

Mina B.

Easter Hop Winner & Book Review: Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is Book 1 in Suzanne Collins's riveting YA trilogy and for me, an explosive read.  Collins swept me away instantly with her spellbinding, authentic tale. I truly haven't read a YA book this phenomenal in awhile. (FYI:  The winner of my Eggstraveganza Hop is mentioned at the end of this post)

The Hunger Games begins in a fantastic, grim world, featuring a nation called Panem, formerly known as North America - or what's left of it.  The futuristic country is divided into Districts and each sector is assigned to various occupations. For example, District 12 is the mining district and District 11 farming/agriculture and so forth (you get the picture.) Most of the districts are poor but a few are affluent. Under the tight-fisted and menacing regime of Panem, people barely survive let alone live. The government holds a deadly grip on the Panem countrymen to discourage any District uprisings.

One method they use to control their people is through the Hunger Games. Each year a District must draw two names from their resident pool to participate in the games. The Hunger Games is the ultimate game of survival where young adults are sent into an arena set with elaborate earthlike/manmade conditions and where they fight to the death. The last person standing – or better yet alive – is the victor. Oh...and did I mention this barbaric sport is all caught on camera?  Oh yeah!

Katniss Everdeen is our heroine and I have one thing to say about her: Katniss KICKS ASS!!! She’s probably my favorite YA hero period! Katniss lives in District 12 (the mining district), specifically in the Seam, the poorest area in the District. Her father died in the mines and since then, she’s been tasked with sourcing/hunting for food for herself, and her mom and sister, Prim.

Katniss only comprehends one thing….survival. She lived a poor and abject life, starving most days and using all her resourcefulness to find food. She’s barely living, but at least she has her guy friend Gale. He’s taught her everything she knows about hunting. And it’s a good thing too. Because once Prim’s name is drawn for the games, sixteen year old Katniss volunteers for her little sister. And from that moment on, her life was never the same.

The Hunger Games was so brilliantly paced it was literally unputdownable. I was enthralled from the beginning and then once Katniss hit the Capitol for the games, the story took off like wildfire. My mind raced through the pages, sucking in every nuance and every twist in this spectacular tale. I won’t say anymore about it other than it’s a MUST read. Stop. Drop. And Read it…Now. Like Katniss…this book’s on fire!

On my Killometer scale, The Hunger Games a 5. What’s that? That’s when a book is so flipp’n good that I add it to my treasured book collection.

Until next time….can’t wait to read it again!

Mina B.

And the winner for My Hoppy Eggstravaganza Giveaway is …

Congratulations to Sarahthehobbit the winner of My Easter Hop and the recipient of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and a $10 Starbucks GC. The Winner will be notified by email and will have no more than 72 hours to respond before another winner is drawn. Winners are selected by the reputable Random.org.


A special thanks to everyone who participated! I love doing these hops because I get to meet new friends and say hi to old ones too! I’ll probably do another contest soon. Maybe even with book Catching Fire so be sure and check back or sign up to receive my email notifications.

Book Review: Rachel Caine's Ghost Town

Rachel Caine’s Ghost Town, Book 9 in the Morganville Vampires series, was easily another thriller. I meant to review this some time ago, but then time slipped away from me.  That happens, you know.  It’s called life.  Anyway, the series was/is one of my favorite young adult series.  Despite targeting the youngsters, it has crossover appeal that continues to outlast most series.  If you haven’t read the series, take a moment to peruse my previous reviews. Glass Houses, The Dead Girls Dance, Midnight Alley, and Kiss of Death.

I’ll do my best not to mention too many spoilers, but it may just happen.  I apologize in advance if I go overboard.  Where to begin?  Ah…the town of Morganville.  Yes.  Morganville has its boundaries, you know.  And those parameters are watched/guarded against vampires and humans alike.  Like the roach motel, you can check in but you can almost never check out – thanks to the town’s mystical borders.  In previous books, we’ve learned just how those borders were kept; by some freakish “steampunky” device which used the brain of Myrnin’s former vampire assistant, Ada.  It needed a brain as its CPU, Myrnin insisted.  After Ada departed, he wanted Claire’s brilliant mind to fill that position.  Claire obviously declined that promotion.

In a bizarre twist, Claire fixes the machine/computer and in less than 48 hours, Myrnin screws it up, wiping 3 years worth of memories of Morganville residents (vamps & humans.)  The story starts out with mild hysteria building and quickly burst into full blown chaos.  Humans are losing it, crazed with amnesia and then worse, the vamps become afflicted too.  In fact, they become so enraged; they outright kill/maim anything that crosses their paths.

What I love best about this series are three things.  First, the books are always fast-paced thrillers.  Action. Action.  Action.  Need I say more?  Second, there’s a steady, frightening undertone of impending doom that permeates throughout Caine’s novels.  I for one would not want to visit Morganville, ever!  I mean who can Claire and her friends trust?  No one.  Even Michaels’s friendship is questionable at times because he is - after all - one of them…a vampire.   Lastly, the characters…I can’t say enough about the characters.  They are so beautifully complicated, vulnerable and imperfect that in short instances, you see the humanity in the vamps and the beastly nature of the humans.

This book was another 4 for me.  Now it’s your turn to get your Morganvill fix. Read Rachel Caine’s Ghost Town and hurry because this May is the release of Book 10 in the series, Bite Club.

Until next time…The Morganville Vamps are to die for.

Mina B.

Book Review: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's Beautiful Creatures

Today I’m finally getting a chance to post my review for Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl’s  Beautiful Creatures.  Whew!  It’s about time too.  Okay, where to start?  How about the back cover?

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations.  But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met.  When Lena moves in the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Overall I liked this book, but I did think it was a bit long and drawn out.  It left me with more questions than answers which can be good and bad when you’re reading a new series.  Ethan Wate tells the story through his perspective, which I enjoyed since it was rich with his southern drawl.  I loved the intricate details of Gatlin and how the authors delved into the Deep South’s undying love for the Confederate Army.  The beginning was like reading a southern melody about Gatlin’s coming and goings – or lack thereof.  What I loved most about this story was in the small backward town of Gatlin.  Nothing’s really quite what it seemed.  On the surface its M.U.N.D.A.N.E. but once the story peels back its dull layers, a mystical intriguing, possibly Goth-like world exist. That...was really cool – authentic even.

Here are a few spoilers, folks.  Even though the story revolves around a romance between Ethan and Lena, it plunges into a southern and creepy underworld with Seerers, Incubus, Castors/Witches, Holy-Rollers, Ghosts, Talisman, insane Mortals, mystical Librarians etc… I really liked Ethan – probably more than I cared for Lena.  With his Mom recently dead and a delusional Father - he appeared to me to have less of a family than Lena.  Ethan and Lena obviously were connected throughout the entire book – which I thought was endearing, especially for a YA novel.  But some of the storyline – like I mentioned earlier - left me with more questions than answers.  Without saying too much, Lena and Ethan are from different worlds and that leaves their relationship doomed.  One character I couldn’t get enough of was Uncle Macon.  He oozed darkness and wore his sophistication and arrogance like one of his fine, expensive outfits.  He was extremely protective of Lena and I couldn’t get enough of him (and possibly Boo Radley too.)

Being from the South, I appreciated this mystical, original, southern YA tale.  It was like sitting down to one of my family’s country style meals; some parts were to die for while others were just plain okay – but overall…very satisfying.  Beautiful Creatures was a 3.5 for me.

Until next time…try something dark, magical and sweet, Beautiful Creatures.

Mina B.

Book Review: Ellen Schreiber’s Vampire Kisses

Earlier last year, I listed the top 15 YA vamp novels – courtesy of Vampires.com.  Ellen Schreiber’s series, Vampire Kisses, is #12 on that list.  I recently read the first book of the series, Vampire Kisses, and truly enjoyed it.  Even though it was YA and PG perfect, it had enough humor and mystique to keep me wanting more.

Raven Madison is the typical Goth girl, who’s obsessed with vampires.  I recall first reading this thinking – oh here we go again – another Goth-obsessed, vamp girl in a teeny bopper tale.  Despite all the clichés in the beginning, Schreiber convinced me of Raven’s uniqueness.  Even as a child, Raven was different – kind of like Wednesday from The Addams Family – with more flair for drama and less morose tendencies.  The town of “Dullsville” is indeed boring for a freakishly different girl like Raven.  She lives vastly different from her family and the townspeople of “Dullsville.”  And as the odd girl out, she cares less about what others think and practically never conforms to anything normal. She has only one friend, Becky, who is the 2nd least popular teen in high school – Raven being the least.  And then of course there's Raven’s childhood nemesis, Trevor- who has spent the better part of her life, making her miserable.

The first part of the story was so incredibly enticing with constant battling between Raven and Trevor.  There are so many times when I wondered if Trevor was secretly in love with Raven. Even Raven suspects this, but that’s neither here nor there.  For those that are interested in reading this book, for me, it was the pranks or battles between Trevor and Raven that hooked me. With each one trying to outdo, completely embarrass or ruin each other’s reputation, I couldn’t help but be drawn into the YA drama.  And the “article of clothing” tricks Raven played on Trevor had me rolling. She was cute and clever and in the end, revealed the naked truth about Trevor.

These high school ruses were fun, but by far were not the main purpose.  A new boy moves into town, Alexander Sterling.  There’s something alluring about him and Raven is immediately smitten. For the first time in Raven’s entire existence, she connects with another person, Alexander.  He’s handsome, gentle and odd just like Raven and together they're in their own way, normal.  Now, I have to admit, there are times when I thought Raven’s vamp obsession was a bit tiring.  However, I guess it had a point. In the end, Raven and Alexander’s relationship became so intertwined that as a reader, you get caught up in their bliss.  But what is it about Alexander?  Is he really what Raven wants?  Oh yeah, but there's a cliffhanger in this book that stunned and saddened me at the same time.  I won’t tell you what happens, you’ll have to wait and read.

Despite the whole Goth-angle, I still really liked the book. It had laugh at loud moments, a loveable character (Raven) and endearing romance.  If you’re looking for a sweet YA vamp tale, why not give Schreiber’s Vampire Kisses a try?  I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed.  On my Killometer, I gave Vampire Kisses a 3.75.

Until next time…Vampire Kisses is oh so sweet.

Mina B.