Crave by Melissa Darnell

Title: Crave
Author: Melissa Darnell
Release Date: October 25th, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 432
Format: Electronic Copy
Acquired: ARC; Netgalley
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars

Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.

For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

I have to say, finding original stories these days has become a difficult tasks, because lots of authors seem to love to fall into the trap of vampires as sexy and dangerous, and fall into the same trap of the supernatural genre has, but I have to say this story surprised me in a lot of levels.

I enjoyed Melissa's book a lot. The whole witches vs. vampires vs. vampire-witch baby is this fun twisted ride. And the fact that it was the girl this time who was the vampire surprised me, because as I was reading this I thought to myself the exact opposite of what I would have originally believed.

The fact that Savannah was considered an outsider is something I can relate to, because for a long time I was an outsider as well, and even now in college people still treat others like they are not good enough, and the worst part for Savannah is that none of this was her fault to begin with. This is just some weird traditions that go back centuries and the fault of genetics. And then the way she uses fear as the fuel that drives the Brat Twins to despise Savannah is interesting and real at the same time.

The love between Savannah and Tristan is cute and some of the things they did to be together surprised me, especially Tristan. There are moments when someone can tell this boy is truly in love, I mean he goes to an extent to prove this to Savannah. I never thought the boy had so much will power, and I found myself cheering them on the whole way.

And finally the ending. It was not a complete disappointment, because it gives you something to think about and when you get the sneak peek on the next book, it's like a mouth dropper.

I can tell that this series will be one that doesn't just revolve around these two love birds, but a whole system that is being threatened here. I loved the originality of this story and how alive all the character's were. I mean, everyone had their own personality. There was Anna and Carrie and Michelle, each with distinct personality but still working well together, and then there were the guys, which I found both creepy, like Savannah did, which just makes Melissa even better because she can make me feel like Savannah felt being around them.

And what I think she did best was switching points of views. I always want to know what the other person is thinking, whether a guy or girl, because it just drives me nuts, and I was glad that Melissa had differing points of views, because it's essentially the same story but a whole different effect. So I hope the rest of the series continues that way.

There was one mistake that was made when Savannah was referred to as a junior and not a sophomore, which she was. I don't know if it's because I have an ARC, or if that's how the finished product is, but besides that there just a whole lot of goodness in there.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Title: Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini
Release Date: May 31st, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 514
Format: Hardcover
Acquired: Borrowed
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author Challenge
Rating: 5 Stars

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.

To be honest, I did not mean to fall in love with this book. I don't know why, but I guess I was a little sick of Greek mythology, but Josephine turned all my expectations around. I was frustrated with Helen, I was frustrated with Lucas, I feel in love with them, I was confused, I was going out of my mind, and by the end I was ready to run to Josephine's home and demand to see book 2 because it just wasn't right the way she ended leaving me wanting more!

First, I loved how Josephine played with the tragic tale, and made me a little mad at how she didn't get the part that Helen of Troy and Paris actually hated each other and were in an unhappy marriage, but then again I was also unhappy that they took the Trojan horse out of the picture, but you can't have everything.

But I enjoyed that there was action and nothing to slow paced like some books. The romance between Lucas and Helen kept me wondering and questioning and just wanting more and more! And when her mother appeared? I nearly teared my hair off at what this lying snake was doing to poor Helen.

The connections that Josephine made compared to the Greek tragedy, I liked how she was able to manipulate the character's that are so old and so well known that this side of the story might as well be true. It was very believable. I didn't like how possessive Lucas was at times and I just wish that he had told Helen the truth in the beginning but when a girl's trying to kill you there's really no time to think about talking.

My jaw dropped at the end with Hector and I just wanted to jump in the pages and slap them all. I was practically jumping on my feet. I didn't want it to end; I loved the action, I hated what happened to Helen and Lucas. The story was so well rounded and there was just enough loose ends to leave someone wanting more but enough was answered in this book.

And I have to wait until May 2012 for book 2? What kind of sadistic author is Josephine to do this to her readers? Read, read, read. That's all I must say. This tale is dark, twisted, spellbinding, romantic ride to leave you speechless in the end...or two much to say, depending on your feelings.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 496
Format: NookBook
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author
Rating: 5 Stars

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

I don't think I have ever read a book so fast. This was the craziest ride I ever took. I love the concept. I love Tris. I love Four. I hated Marcus and Peter. I loved the Dauntless. Hated the fighting that went on. I was literally jumping on my feet.

Reading dystopia has always left me thinking and wondering, and this book gave me a new idea of the future. Veronica did a wonderful job of describing each faction and bringing to life each character. They were very real to me, and I kept asking questions, which thankfully, were answered. I don't think there was ever a slow part, besides the beginning when everything was getting picked up.

I was shocked that it was Erudite who began all this but since they are the smart ones, I guess that makes perfect sense. I was also shocked by the choice that Tris made herself, but I knew she didn't belong in her own faction.

The feelings that Beatrice had at the beginning when it came time to decide what to do is, what I think, what most teenagers feel like. Torn. How do you define yourself? How do you decide where you belong? And most importantly, how do you make your parent's understand your choices? I felt bad for Beatrice that this was the life she lived and really wished that there was a way things could have been simple for both her and her brother.

But simple would not make this novel a NYT bestseller or already a movie deal signed and ready to go.

Christine and William were awesome, totally saw those two together. I felt bad for Al and what he must have been feeling throughout the beginning of the trials. I also felt like Tris was just trying too hard to be tough, which of course is never good, especially in a faction that is ruthless.

I'm sad that I read it so fast and so soon, because now I have to wait impatiently for book two. And for those who read this book, you already know how the ending just makes you antsy for the next book. You gotta know what happens next!

Adventures, fast, kick-ass, and fun! You better have a free day off because once you start it you will not want to put it down!

Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Title: Choker
Author: Elizabeth Woods
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 240
Format: Hardcover
Acquired: Bought
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author
Rating: 5

Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has been a loner ever since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, years ago. She eats lunch with the other girls from the track team, but they're not really her friends. Mostly she spends her time watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing he would finally notice her, and avoiding the popular girls who call her "Choker" after a humiliating incident in the cafeteria.

Then one day Cara comes home to find Zoe waiting for her. Zoe's on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With her best friend back, Cara's life changes overnight. Zoe gives her a new look and new confidence, and next thing she knows, she's getting invited to parties and flirting with Ethan. Best of all, she has her BFF there to confide in.

But just as quickly as Cara's life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everyone is a suspect—including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day when she's at school. You're supposed to trust your best friend no matter what, but what if she turns into a total stranger?

I'm not going to lie; I was completely and utterly surprised by the ending. Like my jaw dropped.

Right from the first few pages you understand that there is something twisted and wrong about the friendship between Zoe and Cara and I believe that Elizabeth does a wonderful job getting to the core of this friendship and slowly watching the decay of it.

Cara at first is a character that you sympathize with because being in an unfamiliar surrounding, not really having friends, and then getting bullied by the popular girl's, you really want things to end well for her.

Another thing that Elizabeth did well was giving slight hints into the actual mind set of Cara, but you really don't get the full force until the end, which makes things far more interesting.

The pace was well done, and frankly the novel wasn't too long, but it also wasn't too short either.

I read this in one day. If you have yet to read this book pay attention to Zoe throughout the novel and Cara, very closely. At first I didn't really get the correlation between the two besides these were best friends and Zoe was the classic troubled teen who was abused by her step father, type of thing, and Cara was desperate for some familiarity in her life. But as the story progresses there is something about the two of them that connects, and I can't reveal what because that would be telling you everything.

Mysterious, twisted, and dark this is the best psychological thriller I have read the entire year. I say that you should really pick up a copy and read this. You'll be so into this you'll finish it in one sitting most likely. I loved this book and I'm surprised that I have nothing terribly bad to say about it. Elizabeth Woods is the best debut thus far, though you really get a sense that this author is really private since it's almost impossible to find anything about her, but if someone can like get an article or anything else that she's written I would appreciate that. I tried her website and it took me somewhere else, so besides living in Ohio we know nothing about her.

I would love to know where this idea came from.

All I have to say is pick it up and read it. You won't regret it.

XVI by Julia Karr

Title: XVI
Author: Julia Karr
Release Date: January 6, 2011
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 272
Format: Paperback
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author
Rating: 4 Stars

Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world-even the most predatory of men-that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past-one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer

I have to say, the 2011 line up of books is just amazing. XVI I specifically pick because I am a feminist through and through, and anything that deals with objecting women is something I would want to read.

I just have to say, that the world Nina lives in I would most likely just end up shooting myself before turning into a walking sex toy for any man, so you can imagine that the character Sandy just drove me up the wall. And the worst part is that girl's are portrayed in this way even today. Sure, if a girl get's gang raped she can easily go to court and most likely win if it's how it happened, but the way females dress today and the way they act, and even the TV shows just show the worst portrayal of women and those who are politicians or in some shape or form independent are seen as stupid, incompetent, or just not accepted my society.

This novel hit home in many places, especially since if I did live in this world then I don't think I could live having people think I "asked for it" because I'm a woman. It was just something that no female should go through, and Sandy just didn't understand. I felt bad in the end, but I was almost glad for the way things ended for her. It was wrong of me to think of that, but if the things that Nina and her friends described is the fate of women and Sandy was in no shape to fight against the system then I guess things ended for her the best way they could, because at least now no harm can come to her.

But if I did live in this world, I would have to find the courage to fight, even in this one.

Why did I give this book a four? I really wish they had described how things got to where they were in this book. I wish we got some more background information on how the government practically telling men to just rape women. I like how most of the character's developed, I liked how Nina grew, but I wish that at the very least Nina got to see her father.

I did like the pace of the book. Everything didn't just happen at once and things were spread out. I also liked the way the world was well developed in many cases. At lot of Nina's fear and doubts were well founded and I liked how she stayed consistent the entire novel.

I would definitely recommend this book. I think that Nina made some good friends and that the sequel TRUTH will hopefully give some insight to the history and that the entire rebel movement will go into full effect, because in this novel I felt like they were adding fuel to a car, and now this car needs to take off. I will be keeping an out for the next book and can't wait to read.

Realistic is really the only word to describe it because it's practically happening today. Sad, but still hopeful. I can see this book as a movie too. And it's also original, very original.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Release Date: January 11th, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 398
Format: Hardcover
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

This is one of the best reads I've had my hands on. First, there's the cover. At first I didn't notice the two people, but once I did I thought it was the coolest thing ever. And then you have the ship design on the back if you got the hardcover with the covering that comes off. I like when publishers add that to the story because it makes it more 3D and a lot easier for me to picture.

Second, it isn't like the other science fiction works I've read. At first when I saw that it was in space I was thinking about aliens and such, and I already went through my alien phase with Ender's Game. But the idea behind the story was increasingly original, I loved it! The idea of being in space for a certain amount of time and the freezing of the body's and the system that was set up.

Right away I knew there was something going on (especially when Elder started saying how Hitler was a great ruler, that really set off alarms and then the Season) and my suspicion only increased with the odd behavior of everyone.

When it comes to romance novels I always want to know what the guy is thinking and so I liked how Beth started interchanging the narrations between Elder and Amy.


I cried, I laughed, and I just had a good time reading it. It was really a good story. She constructed the story in a way that when the ending came you literally did not see it coming! I love the surprises and the twist of stories and this one really had me going in a whirlwind. The final pages I read with my mouth wide open.


Beth did an especially fantastic job in description and really capturing the torment that Amy was going through and how she felt about everything from the first page to the last page. Elder, I felt so bad for him. He grew up confused and believing things. There plenty of times I just wanted to jump into the pages and hit him.


Why it received a four was because I was left confused in so many places that I don't even know if Beth will cover come the second book. Don't get me wrong, she did a wonderful job tying up a lot of the major plot-driven events, but for the most part I felt like she could have dived into other areas. Though, I am looking forward to the second book.


Original, mysterious, twisted, romantic, and heart racing it was a ride that I would go on again.

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Title: Awaken
Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Info: Website | Twitter
Release Date: May 23rd, 2011
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Pages: 320
Format: NookBook
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space. 

I'm a technology junkie so when this caught my eye I knew I had to read it. Not only was it dystopia, but it was also dealing with a world of technology. So why not?

I noticed right away that it wasn't like most dystopia novels that I've read because most of those novels usually the main character deals directly with the government, in this one Maddie does deal with the government, but in the form of her father, a CEO. I found that difference a little bit of an awakening (no pun intended).

Maddie was very believable and there were moments where I just laughed at this poor girl as she tries to function outside of her normal life. I also felt empathy for her because of her home situation but I liked the speed that Katie took this. It didn't take terrible long for the plot to get going but it wasn't terribly quick either. Katie had a nice, steady flow that any reader who picked this up would be able to read this and understand everything that was going on.

Justin, well, he was a pain. Katie said that there was a sequel coming out and I really hope we get into Justin a little more. Though the book talks about his past his mind is just a wall and I just wanted to step in and knock and down. You get little tidbits in his mind but you never understand what he's thinking. You will always know what his intentions are but what he feels inside is just left a mystery.

I loved Clara. She was so much fun and I'm sure the kind of friend everyone would love to have! And she was honest and another tool that Katie used to get into Justin's head a little more as well as a good friend to Maddie. 

Their relationship was so sweet and I just wanted it to continue. The romance geek in me!

I shivered a little when Maddie mentioned the past before digital school started up and the past of both the character and the United States was brought up. You can almost believe that something like what was described is possible, especially with the current way our world is working.

The ending was a little bit of a shocker to me, but it does set it up very well for the sequel. You know that there's more that needs to be done and a lot of character story-lines that were left unfinished.

It took a four mainly because I wish there was a little more history, but I'm sure the second book will make up for it and it also took a four because it was written in Maddie's point of view, and while she had a wonderful way of describing things and making the story flow so smooth and silk like there is limited perspective. You only know what Maddie knows and it can be frustrating, which can work to the advantage of feeling for Maddie, but it also makes you wonder what everyone else is thinking.

Funny, realistic, and fresh I enjoyed this novel a lot. I love Katie's inventions, they were so creative and fun. This gave it high points for me. It was a fantastic read.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Wither
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Release Date: March 22nd, 2011
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 358
Format: Hardcover
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author

What if you knew exactly when you would die?
Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb — males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.
When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape — to find her twin brother and go home.
But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left

Why did I decide to read this book? Well, because everyone else was reading it. Not a very good reason, but I also found the cover attractive, so I decided to pre-order as soon as possible. When I got my copy I was so happy, just racing to finish it. I was on the edge of my seat ready to read what awesome adventure awaited within the pages.

As I was reading, slowly the excitement died away and disappointment set in. I'm in love with science fiction, especially dystopia, so I knew that this would be a good one for me to read, because the concept was so original and fresh. But, I was asking more questions and getting less answers and left completely baffled in a lot of sections.

My questions were typically: If children were so important, why do they live homeless? And than came the obvious question: What would be the point of polygamy? In any society there should always be more girl's to guy ratio, don't ask why, that's just how it is.

And something else about the society that bothered me greatly is that they would not be able to survive. I don't know how futuristic we're talking about but there's one thing I learned well in AP Human Geography and it's that international trade has to exist for a society to thrive. Now some could argue with me, "Well the Hunger Games didn't have international trade!" And I would tell you is, "How do you know?" In that novel we never got a hint on what happened to the other countries but there must have been some connection, but here the author plainly said only the U.S. survived and I find that alone unrealistic. But the point of the matter is that for a society to survive it needs to trade. The U.S. does not have an abundance of raw materials or certain things that we have grown comfortable in using. Now, I'm trying to give Lauren the benefit of the doubt and think that maybe other countries have survived but the government talked these people into thinking they were lucky to be alive.

I also wished that Lauren had gone into what the government's role in this society is. Obviously they don't have good programs to tend to children, awful scientist, and they don't seem to regulate anything! The human race is apparently dying out and yet they kill people (and those who read the book would know what part I mean).

Now, on to the characters. Okay, Rhine just made me mad. I understand that she really wants to get back to her brother and be with him, but I don't think she knows what she's doing, especially with the way it ended. I felt like she was acting on impulse a lot, and impulse just makes you stupid. I didn't feel like she knew exactly what she was doing. She had one thing in mind and yet you can see how her feelings to her husband shifts greatly near the end. And you want to feel bad for these characters but they are just so naive! 

Cecily made me want to rip my hair, but you felt bad for her because she is so young and naive and just doesn't get it! Concerning this one there was a moment where I broke down in tears (and for those who read it you may know what I mean) but at the same time I felt disgusted because she just doesn't get it! This could be very normal for this society, and I accept that, but if Lauren had been gracious enough to throw a character in here who actually knew what was going on this would have been a great reliever, because if the character's don't know what's going on than the reader doesn't know what's going on and there were moment's that I was just like: What are they trying to say?! And really, Cecily she is the youngest of the wives, but she is just too childish, too selfish, too much of everything, and I was annoyed with her more than anything.


Jenna was the most pathetic of it all. Throughout the whole book she says that she hates her husband and doesn't want anything to do with him and yet she sleeps with him every night! At least I can give Rhine a break in the fact that she didn't, but Jenna talks about survival and wanting to get out, but she does nothing but sit and feel sorry for herself. And you understand why, but at the same time is like she needs to pull it together.

And finally the husband. Okay, so you think he's this guy in the beginning who takes girl's as young as thirteen to be his wife, but at the same time you have to realize that he's just another pawn in this strange game of chess. You almost get the feeling that he does love Rhine and she him, but again Rhine is, in my opinion, clueless. And as well as him. He's lived in his house all his life and he never put point A and point B together. It's like these people have been programmed. They don't feel real.

Throughout the whole novel I just kept asking myself: WHY DON'T YOU GET IT? And really, I don't know if I want to read Fever if it's going to be anything like Wither. 

I was not impressed, I was disappointed, I was aggravated, I was confused, I was stressed. I would not pick this book up again. I'm giving it a 2 because despite the confusion Lauren DeStefano can write beautifully. She describes everything in vivid detail, but no matter how much detail she uses the novel just could not come alive for me. You know there's potential in this book but it isn't presented very well at all.

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Title: Falling Under
Author: Gwen Hayes
Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Release Date: March 1st, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul. 

Overall, I LOVED this book!

At first, I was afraid that this would be another Twilight-type novel, where the human girl falls in love with the supernatural being and all of a sudden her life just revolves around him and nothing else matters. That type of story. And for a while it seemed that way too, especially with the way Haden was acting, which is too Edward-like.

But, quickly into the novel you realize, this is nothing like Twilight. It's better, because Theia is a strong female and she does have her own mind. And since the beginning Theia has had to battle her own personal demons, but I didn't like how she was so down on herself. Yet, the reader can understand why she feels so low about herself considering everything that happened that led to her birth.

And I really wish there was more moments with her father, but I did like their one on one moment, but you get frustrated because here are two people who are suffering and instead of reaching out to each other they just push away, or at least that's what Theia's father does, and you're never sure if you should feel bad for this man because he's lost something important, or grab him by the shoulder and tell him, "Look, you lost one person, don't let the other go!"

Haden, for a moment I was afraid I would not like him. He seemed so smug and really pulls off the new-hot-guy-in-town persona, and what I really like what Gwen did was that she made him real! You see Haden and the Hell he lives in - literally. Well into the novel Gwen takes it a whole step further with Haden. And besides being real, he's hot, he's sexy, he's delicious, he really has a demon fighting inside of him that just won't let him go, and while his problem is paranormal you can almost connect to him. For those who did read it, I think it's safe to say we appreciate our mom's a heck of a lot more compared to Haden's.

The best part? I had fun reading this. I mentioned the Twilight reference I know this novel is going to suffer, well apparently Gwen knew the same thing too because there were moments where I had to stop reading I was laughing so hard to the little jabs she takes at the book. 

And Gwen herself, she had this way of bring the characters to life. Theia's two best friends are such opposite of each other and of her, and they all just fit together nicely. We all have those friend's that are afraid to do something risky, or those friends who likes to give the guy that likes her a real difficult time or those that are sheltered in life. There was something about these three girl's that fit nicely and they can play off each other well.

Some downsides? Like I said before, I wished that Theia was just a little tougher, but she was forgiven later on. Besides that, I felt like she could have added just a little more. I can't say too much, but there is a part which I hope will be addressed in book 2.

Haunting, sexy, funny, enjoyable, unexpected, twisted, and adventures are just a few words I can use to describe this novel and I cannot wait for book two to come out. This book was not at all what I expected!

For those who read it and didn't know there was a number two coming out it's Dreaming Awake and to be released January 3rd, 2012.

Again, great book.