Cover Reveal: Control by Kim Curran

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Release Date: August 6th, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry

Scott Tyler is not like other teenagers. With a single thought he can alter reality around him. And he can stop anyone else from doing the same.

That's why he's so important to ARES, the secret government agency that regulates other kids like him: Shifters.

They've sent him on a mission. To track down the enigmatic Frank Anderson. An ex-Shifter who runs a project for unusual kids - as if the ability to change your every decision wasn't unusual enough. But Anderson and the kids have a dark secret. One that Scott is determined to discover.

As his obsession with discovering the truth takes him further away from anyone he cares about, his grip on reality starts to weaken. Scott realises if he can't control his choices, they'll control him

I don't know about anyone here, but I am absolutely ecstatic for this book! I loved the first one and now the story continues!

Broken by A.E. Rought

Title: Broken
Author: A.E. Rought
Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Release Date: January 8th, 2013
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Pages: 366
Format: Paperback
Acquired: Advance Reader's Copy
Age Group: Young Adult

A string of suspicious deaths near a small Michigan town ends with a fall that claims the life of Emma Gentry's boyfriend, Daniel. Emma is broken, a hollow shell mechanically moving through her days. She and Daniel had been made for each other, complete only when they were together. Now she restlessly wanders the town in the late Fall gloom, haunting the cemetery and its white-marbled tombs, feeling Daniel everywhere, his spectre in the moonlight and the fog.

When she encounters newcomer Alex Franks, only son of a renowned widowed surgeon, she's intrigued despite herself. He's an enigma, melting into shadows, preferring to keep to himself. But he is as drawn to her as she is to him. He is strangely... familiar. From the way he knows how to open her locker when it sticks, to the nickname she shared only with Daniel, even his hazel eyes with brown flecks are just like Daniel's.

The closer they become, though, the more something inside her screams there's something very wrong with Alex Franks. And when Emma stumbles across a grotesque and terrifying menagerie of mangled but living animals within the walls of the Franks' estate, creatures she surely knows must have died from their injuries, she knows.

When this book is described as a modern day Frankenstein they weren't kidding. I am so glad that Strange Chemistry sent me this book because I honestly enjoyed every minute. I stayed up all night finishing this book, biting my nails, just thinking of everything that could happen.

The character of Emma made me upset. Mostly because I felt like she was too young to feel the way she did about her dead boyfriend Daniel and then on top of that she just cried a lot and mourned. I understand the mourning portion, but she was a little too focused on her pain and I'm just glad that she realized this eventually.

Also, another problem that I had is how fast she went from loving Daniel to loving Alex. While there were four months in there, and she was still mourning to Daniel.

But aside from these two points, I did enjoy the book. Rought brought a wonderful story to life that somehow mixed creepy and romance together into one.

Bree was my favorite character. She was so patient and took everything into stride with whatever was going on with Emma. And Josh - can I just say that there could not have been a better antagonist.

Overall this story was really great. And I'm surprised that I'm even writing this review since reading it I felt like like I didn't know what to say. Honestly, I was at such a loss of my general feelings towards this novel, but writing it now I think I see why it was great.

The pace wasn't too slow, the characters developed nicely, and I almost wish there was a sequel to this story. For awhile I thought there was since everything cuts so close to the end, but Rought wrapped it up nicely!

Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings

Title: Poltergeeks
Author: Sean Cummings
Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Release Date: October 2nd, 2012
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Pages: 320
Acquired: ARC; Netgalley
Format: Electronic
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult

15-year-old Julie Richardson is about to learn that being the daughter of a witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection.

In fact, there's a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. After a large-scale paranormal assault on Julie's high school, her mother falls victim to the spell Endless Night. Now it's a race against time to find out who is responsible or Julie won't just lose her mother's soul, she'll lose her mother's life

This was a much, much needed break from all the intense adult books that I have read. Honestly, I was starting to feel a little dirty because I was reading so much of it, so when I got to this book it was like taking a huge step back and breathing.

This review is long overdue. Like many other works, I've been sitting on this, contemplating what to write. This was cute and funny and I really wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did.

Poltergeist have entered Julie's life; a young witch, the girl never realized just how supernatural her life really was until the faithful day she sees her neighbor doing something...not so normal.

It was weird, or at least I find it weird, but I had an instant connection with Julie. Her voice, her personality; everything about her just came crystal clear. I could see her well and I could see a lot of the other characters. There wasn't a lot of trying in connecting, which I was happy about. When an author is able to draw the reader in like that I think that's a good sign.

There's not much I can say. I was surprised, which is also weird since I thought that I was at the point where I read so much that books just couldn't surprise me anymore. Well...never say never, right? Sean Cummings is brilliant and I am so glad I got the chance to read this book!

Shift by Kim Curran

Title: Shift
Author: Kim Curran
Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Release Date: September 4th, 2012
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Pages: 293
Format: Paperback
Acquired: ARC
Age Group: Young Adult

When your average, 16-year old loser, Scott Tyler, meets the beautiful and mysterious Aubrey Jones, he learns he's not so average after all. He's a 'Shifter'. And that means he has the power to undo any decision he's ever made. At first, he thinks the power to shift is pretty cool. But as his world starts to unravel around him he realises that each time he uses his power, it has consequences; terrible unforeseen consequences. Shifting is going to get him killed. In a world where everything can change with a thought, Scott has to decide where he stands

First, I just want to give a huge thank you to Strange Chemistry for letting me read this book! It was fantastic! Beyond fantastic, it was amazing. Despite the fact that it was told from a male's point of view, an English boy to be exact, I found myself following the story well. Scott was very realistic and well developed.

I don't really read modern sci-fi stories, but this book stuck out in a lot of ways. First, the shifting. I loved how Curran was able to explain how shifting works and she mixed in the mythology, history, and modern times so well. I almost want to run to London just to see if Shifters are really there.

Shifters are people, young children and teenagers to be exact, who have the ability to undo any chance they have ever made. Scott has just discovered that he is apart of this group, but he's a little more special. As the story progresses the plot picks up right away and it's never a dull moment.

This book was an incredibly fast read. Anyone can pick it up and just go off into the world of shifting, and the enemies that they have to face. And not to mention a little bit of romance, which I just found cute.

And for me, who primarily reads novels from a female protagonist, this was a nice change. I always find it interesting how a female author can get into the head of a male character, or maybe it isn't as hard as I think...either way, Scott was very believable.

There were moments I almost cried, I laughed, and I questioned, and in the end everything was just wrapped up tightly. If you need a quick read or a good modern sci-fi novel, this is yet. Fast pace, interesting, and original this book is not easily forgotten.