Evernight

Title: Evernight

Author: Claudia Gray

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publication Date: June 1st 2008

Hardcover: 327 pages

Summary:

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would." 

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

Book Review:

I know Evernight has been out for awhile, but I need some book to review while I wait for new ones. It has also been awhile since I last read Evernight, sorry if this isn't one of my better posts.  

Anyway, Evernight is the first book in a series of four books, so far. It is also the debut novel for Claudia Gray. Evernight is an amazing first book about first love and vampires.

In Evernight, you follow a character by the name of Bianca. Throughout the book she struggles to fit in where it is cut into two easily defined groups. Because Bianca is in-between, she is left without any friends. It is after a half-hearted attempt to escape from Evernight, that Bianca meets Lucas. Out there in the woods they seem to click, but when they return to school Lucas acts like he doesn't want anything to do with Bianca. Slowly, but surely they become friends though. Sadly nothing ever is as it seems. Everyone is hiding something, the question is what and what will it do to Lucas and Bianca's relationship. 

Evernight has a dark overtone throughout the book. It adds menace, unease, and for me a sense of mystery. I really liked the storyline even it was a little slow to start. I'm not saying that I didn't like the beginning though. Because I think I actually liked the beginning a little bit more than the rest of the book, but I don't know. I really think that Lucas and Bianca had chemistry. It is hard to find a book that has actual chemistry between the characters. For a lot of the books the characters are suffering from lust. The characters were also a big part of why I liked this book. Bianca was so sweet and lovable. Lucas was protective and secretive. Patrice was kinda nice at times. Vic was funny, and ect. I really can't go into much more detail or I would give away part of the story and I don't want to spoil such a good book. Oh, by the way people should know that not all your questions will be answered in Evernight. Of course the love story  was kinda annoying though for me. At times it's okay, but I don't normally enjoy the love story part of books. I put up with it, but I don't enjoy it. Overall a solid book. And may I say that it is annoying when people compare this is Twilight, because Evernight is way better than Twilight. 

Rating: A

Notable Quotes:

"Self-knowledge is better than self-control any day," Raquel said firmly. "And I know myself well enough to know how I act around cookies." 

"It’s funny—when people call you “shy,” they usually smile. Like it’s cute, some funny little habit you’ll grow out of when you’re older, like the gaps in your grin when your baby teeth fall out. If they knew how it felt—really being shy, not just unsure at first—they wouldn’t smile. Not if they knew how the feeling knots up your stomach or makes your palms sweat or robs you of the ability to say anything that 

makes sense. It’s not cute at all." 

"The silence between us stretched out, but it wasn't awkward. Sometimes there are people you can be quiet with, and you never feel the need to fill the gap with meaningless chit-chat. I'd only become that close to a couple people in my hometown, and I'd always thought it took years. Lucas and I were already there. "

"I apologized to her once for spending less time with her, but she blew it off. "You're in love. That makes you actually kind of boring to people who aren't in love. You know, the sane ones." 

"You're impossible," he murmured. "But you're worth it." 

Both Stargazer and Hourglass are already out.

Afterlife comes out March 8, 2011.

Halo

Alexandra Adornetto was born in 1992. She was the daughter of and English and Drama teacher. She attended, in her own words, "many" schools including MacRobertson Girls' High School Ruyton Girls' School, Korowa Anglican Girls' School and Eltham College. Adornetto's other completed books are The Shadow Thief (published 2007) and The Lampo Circus (2008), and Von Gobstopper's Arcade (2009) all published by HarperCollins.

Title: Halo

Author: Alexandra Adornetto

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends  

Publication Date: August 2010

Hardcover: 496

Summary: 

Three angels- Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human- are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness. They must work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments. 

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them. Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong. 

The angel’s mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

Book Review: 

I read this books a couple of months ago so sorry if I don't get into specifics. This review is just my simple thoughts on the book. I'm not going have a page long review about it.

There is so much more to Halo than its cover...

The concept of this book was good. Bethany, her brother, and her sister come down to earth to protect their designated area from darkness and what not. For Gabriel and Ivy this is just another job. For Bethany it is different. This is Bethany's first time being on earth, having a human body. Unlike her brother and sister, she isn't unattached from everything else. They all three go off in their own directions. Ivy works in the town. Gabriel works as a music teacher at the high school, and Bethany has to attend school. 

I thought that Bethany was sweet and lovable. She was strong without being annoying, and she had the type of vulnerability that made people want to protect her. Though she was stubborn and was prone to making rash decisions. I guess this just makes her more believable. Unlike her siblings Bethany doesn't really know what she is doing. Gabriel and Ivy have to purposes set out for the. While  Bethany is still trying to find out what her role is in all of this. Xavier as another character I liked. He was sweet and kind. Xavier was just an overall good guy. Though at times he could be overly protective, but he was also passionate and loving. 

Alexandra Adornetto does a great job a weaving a delicate yet strong storyline. While reading the book you will be entranced by everything thats going on. The characters and the story line is wonderfully put together. Alexandra Adornetto has shown that she is an excellent write.

I cannot guarantee that you will like this book, but it is very likely. Though it was not one of my favorite books I will be looking forward to reading the books to come.

  

Rating: B

Notable/Funny Quotes:

"One of the most frustrating words in the human language, as far as I could tell, was love. 
So much meaning attached to this one little word. People bandied it about freely, using it to 
describe their attachments to possessions, pets, vacation destinations, and favorite foods. In the 
same breath they then applied this word to the person they considered most important in their 
lives. Wasn’t that insulting? Shouldn’t there be some other term to describe deeper emotion?" 

"Did I mention I've finally decided on a nickname for you?"
"I didn't know you were looking."
Well, I've given the matter some serious thought."
"And what have you come up with?"
"Cookie," I anounced proudly.
Xavier scrunched up his face. "No way."
"You don't like it? What about Bumblebee?"
"Worse."
"Snookie-Wookie?"
"Do you have any cyanide?"
"Well, some of us are just a bit hard to please." 

"Sometimes it's better to stop trying to make sense of things. Life isn't clear cut, there are always gray areas." 

"Sometimes it's the little things that count most."

Hex Hall

Rachel Hawkins, author of Hex Hall, and Demon Glass which is coming 
soon. She was born in Virginia and raised in Alabama. She graduated 
from Auburn University and became a english teacher.  In 2007 
she quit teaching to pursue writing full time. She lives with her 
husband and her son. 
For more info on Rachel, visit her site(s):
Website: http://www.rachel-hawkins.com
Blog: http://readingwritingrachel.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rmhawkins

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Publication Date: March 2010
Hardcover: 323 pages


Summary: Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Book Review:

Hex Hall was definitely a great book. It totally has the wow! factor that I have been looking for in these YA, Fantasy books. I enjoy most of the YA books, but this one really stands out. All the supernatural creatures and all that. The werewolves, fairies, witches, vampires, demons, ect. It just adds to the amazing storyline and gives the characters their individuality. Pretty much anyone who likes the genre of books will fall in love Hex Hall. The cover indicates that Hex Hall is a light book. This is totally misleading. While there are parts where it is light and cute, there is also the darker, more edgy side of it. Sophie was a cute, lovable, and funny character. Sophie is a witch who had a love spell go wrong. That is what lands her in the awful school of Hecate Hall a.k.a. Hex Hall. This is the school where prodigium's learn how to control their powers, so they do not expose themselves and everyone else. Sophie was not my favorite character though. I loved her a lot, but my favorite character in this book had to be Jenna. I know that she doesn't play that much of a part in the story, but my heart just went out to her. Jenna was the outcast at school just because she was the only vampire student there. Archer was also another great character. Sorry that I can't go into more detail about him, but that would give stuff away. Anyway what I can say about Archer is that he was just great. I don't know how else to describe him. The twists in Hex Hall were just enough to keep me interested. Rachel really showed her ability to write suspense and mystery, oh and just overall Rachel proved that she is a great writer. Overall this was a amazing book, and absolutely loved the twist at the end. I can't wait for the next book Demon Glass.

Rating: A

Notable/ Funny Quotes: 

"Good luck explaining to God that you used to spank one of his heavenly beings."
Mom gave a startled laugh. "Sophie!"
"What? You did. I hope you like hot weather, Mom, that's all I'm saying." 

"Let's just say you may regret that second piece of cake.'
Oh my God. Regret cake? Whatever was about to happen must be truly evil." 

"I don't know what I was expecting a vampire's room to look like. Maybe lots of black, a bunch of books by Camus... oh, and a sensitive portrait of the only human the vamp ever loved, who had no doubt died of something beautiful and tragic, thus dooming the vamp to an eternity of moping and sighing dramatically.
What can I say? I read a lot of books." 

"So if you can heal with your touch, why are you working here as like, Hagrid, or whatever?" 

"I heard the man and woman cry a warning as I frantically racked my brain for some sort of throat-repairing spell, which I was clearly about to need. Of course the only words that I actually managed to yell at the werewolf as he ran at me were, 'BAD DOG!'
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of blue light on my left. Suddenly, the werewolf seemed to smack into an invisible wall just inches in front of me....
'You know,' someone said off to my left, 'I usually find a blocking spell to be a lot more effective than yelling "Bad dog," but maybe that's just me." 

"Don't worry about it," I said."Hey werewolves gotta drool, vampires gotta eat..." Hex Hall

Coming Soon
        On
February 15th 2011


For more information:Demon Glass