Review: Winterborne by Augusta Blythe

Title: Winterborne
Author: Augusta Blythe
Publisher: Self published
Publish Date: April 24, 2011
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 188 (ebook)
Source: From author for review

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year old Mia Winterborne is destined to be special. Details are sketchy, though, as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. Mia only knows that she'll inherit her kickass superpowers on her seventeenth birthday. Helping Mia prepare for her anticipated ascendancy is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls' intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia's powers finally hits home. The nearer Mia's birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.

From Goodreads

I was a little surprised when I first picked this up and started to read. The synopsis gave me the impression that the story was told from Mia’s point of view, if not a third person point of view. It’s actually told from Loie’s (rhymes with Joey) point of view. Although the focus is technically on Mia and her impending powers, we get Loie’s feel for things, her thoughts and concerns.

I liked Loie’s story. That’s probably because I spent most of the time feeling sorry for her. Although that sounds bad, it’s really a good thing because I like to be emotionally invested with the characters I read about. Loie’s home life is really not ideal and clearly difficult to deal with. It was hard to see her in such a difficult position, especially because her biggest problem was her relationship with her grandmother. There was also the tension between the girls and Andreas, the British hottie. (Side note: I kept forgetting that he was British. I think the name probably threw me off because it seems so not-British to me.) It hurt me to see how poorly Loie thought of herself. She was always giving up because she “knew” Mia was better than her in every way. She was always the follower, Mia the leader. It might be the teacher in me, but I absolutely hate to see young girls selling themselves short. You’re all wonderful and beautiful no matter what anyone tells you!

The story was interesting overall. I liked that a few things caught me by surprise, and the storyline kept me interested. I did predict a few things, but that’s also part of the fun: reading to see if you’re right. There was always a lot of weird stuff going on around Loie and Mia, and so many unanswered questions. Andreas seemed like a nice distraction from the upcoming, unknown powers, until... Let’s just say he’s not all that he appears to be.

The book definitely had a good balance of action, romance, and mystery. I think it’s enough to keep any YA reader interested through to the very last page. I’d definitely recommend this to fellow YA lovers.

Make sure you visit Augusta Blythe's website so you can get yourself a copy of WINTERBORNE.

Thanks so much to Augusta herself for the ebook review copy!

Waiting on Wednesday (37)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!
I first heard about it from PageTurnersBlog.




My Waiting on Wednesday this week:

Eve by Anna Carey
Publication Date: October 4, 2011

Synopsis:
The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust... and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

From Goodreads

I've had this one on my TBR list for over 6 months now. It sounds like such an awesome book. I love that cover, too. The font for the title and the bridge into the fog make such an awesome pair.

What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Teaser Tuesday (31)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

This week I'm reading Jennifer L. Armentrout's debut novel, Half-Blood. I read the prequel, Daimon, over the summer and thought it was a great introduction to the series. Here's my teaser this week:

The worst possible thing happened. A wall of flames flew up in front of me, burning through benches and shooting at least eight feet into the air. It was real. No illusion. The heat blew back at me and the fire crackled, eating through the walls.

In front of me, he walked right through the flames, looking every bit like a daimon hunter should.

I hope that's intense enough for you. Can you believe this action happens in the first chapter? Yeah, it's a pretty explosive start. I'm really enjoying it so far! Make sure to check out my review of the prequel, Daimon, if you haven't yet.

Feel free to share your teasers with me. I'd love to see what you're reading!

Review: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Title: The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Scholastic
Publish Date: June 12, 2005
Genre: YA, mythology
Pages: 377
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
1. The Lightning Thief
2. The Sea of Monsters (April 1, 2006)
3. The Titan's Curse (May 5, 2007)
4. The Battle of the Labyrinth (May 6, 2008)
5. The Last Olympian (May 5, 2009)

*Read for book club.

Synopsis:
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

From Goodreads

I have to say, it took me a little while to get into this book. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because I’m so used to reading from a teen female’s point-of-view that I was a bit thrown off when I went to read one with a 12-year-old male main character. I think I was also missing the romance I’m used to reading.

I really did like the story. There was always something going on, and there wasn’t much time spent waiting for something to happen. I like stories that always keep me on the edge of my seat because I know something is going to happen again. However, I also found it predictable. I guessed a lot of stuff before it happened, both about characters and events. But really, I don’t mind that too much because it keeps me reading to see if I’m right.

The main characters made a great team. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover worked really well together. They always had each others’ backs and there wasn’t any big tension or disagreements between them. I’d definitely read this book with my future class because it promotes strong friendships and getting along regardless of your various backgrounds.

I would recommend this book to students in middle school, probably not older. I think if I’d read this in high school I wouldn’t have liked it as much because the main character is a 12 year old boy. But if the reader also likes Ancient Greek mythology, they might be more likely to enjoy it. I’m glad I read it, and it’s definitely one that I’ll recommend to my students when I have my own classroom.

Waiting on Wednesday (36)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!
I first heard about it from PageTurnersBlog.




I've got two books this week. And they're interconnected! See what I'm waiting on:

Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick
Publication Date: October 4, 2011

**Warning about spoilers**

Synopsis:
The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past... bridged two irreconcilable worlds... faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust... and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for — and their love — forever.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: This is the third book in the Hush, Hush series. I've really enjoyed the first two and can't wait to see where it goes next. I love Patch and Nora.

Hush, Hush: The Graphic Novel by Becca Fitzpatrick and Jennyson Rosero (illustrations)
Publication Date: October 18, 2011

Synopsis:
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life!

From Goodreads

Why I want it: Uh, hello! It's Hush, Hush in graphic novel form! Of course I want to read it! I think it'll be awesome to read this story in a different way, with the accompanying pictures. So excited!


What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

In My Mailbox (29)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that gives bloggers a chance to share what books they've received in the last week. It's hosted by The Story Siren and you can find out more info about it here.



Here's my haul from the past two weeks! (But really I got almost all of it this past week.)

Bought from BookCloseouts
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Evernight by Claudia Gray {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston {Goodreads | Book Depository}
My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White {Goodreads | Book Depository}

All of those books, except Timeless, I got from Book Closeouts, an online bookseller in Canada. They had all their kids books on sale for $1.49 a piece. Along with these teen/YA books, I also grabbed some teaching tools for my future classroom:

These look like they're going to be awesome resources. They're all part of the 100 Facts series from Miles Kelly Publishing. The ones I got are:

Birds, World Wonders, Myths & Legends, Rainforests, Weather, Rocks & Minerals, Monkeys & Apes, Ancient Greece, Big Cats, Polar Lands, Bears, Ancient Rome, Endangered Animals, Elephants, Mammals, Knights & Castles

I can't wait to use them in some lessons.

Bought from Kobo
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Won
Timeless by Alexandra Monir {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Swag (won from Mundie Moms)

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (35)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!
I first heard about it from PageTurnersBlog.




Here's what I'm waiting on this week:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Synopsis:
Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: There's a lot of mystery surrounding this book. Really, I'm not quite sure what it's about, but it's definitely caught my attention. And I love that cover: it's underwater, he's wrapped all around her... Very sexy and mysterious.

Illuminated by Erica Orloff
Publication Date: December 8, 2011

Synopsis:
An epic romance full of mysteries that transcend time—fans of Romeo and Juliet and The Time Traveler’s Wife will rejoice!

Some loves are not made to last . . . Like Romeo and Juliet, Heloise and Abelard were doomed from the start, and their romance was destined to pass into history. Yet when sixteen-year-old Callie Martin discovers a diary hidden within an antique book, their story—and hers—takes on another life. For the diary leads Callie to the brilliant and handsome August, who is just as mysterious as the secret the diary hides. Their attraction is undeniable. As the two hunt down the truth behind the diary—and that of Heloise and Abelard’s ancient romance—their romance becomes all-consuming. But Callie knows it can’t last . . . love never does. Will their love that burns as bright as a shooting star flame out, or will these star-crossed lovers be able to defy history?

From Goodreads

Why I want it: Romeo and Juliet. Star-crossed lovers. That's enough for me.


What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Teaser Tuesday (30)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

This week I'm reading Winterborne by Augusta Blythe. It's another self-published novel. I'm liking it so far, and here's my teaser:

I don't know why I let myself get so freaked out at the mere hint of Mia's impending powers. After all, I'm just season one Willow to her Buffy. I listen, I help. I occasionally goof up. Not much else is expected of me.

I chose this to give you an idea of what the characters are like, how they complement one another. And, of course, the pop culture reference. Not that I've ever watched Buffy, but I'm sure some of you can appreciate it :).

Feel free to share your teasers with me. I'd love to see what you're reading!

Judging a Book by Its Cover

When I was perusing Goodreads the other day (which is always a bad idea), I added a whole slew of books to my TBR list. They all have 2012 release dates, and some of them are sequels. But one thing I noticed, is that there are a lot of really awesome covers accompanying these new books. And so, I decided to compile a post of upcoming releases with awesome covers.

I hope you enjoy the pretty!
Links will direct you to the corresponding Goodreads pages.

Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey | January 5, 2012
Fever (Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren DeStefano | February 21, 2012

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth | May 8, 2012
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows | January 31, 2012

Wrecked by Anna Davies | May 1, 2012
Above by Leah Bobet | April 1, 2012

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver | March 6, 2012
Everneath by Brodi Ashton | January 3, 2012

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand | January 24, 2012
When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen | February 28, 2012

Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton | February 14, 2012
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks | May 22, 2012

There's a lot of promising books coming out in 2012. Most of them don't have covers yet, so I encourage you to visit my "Unreleased" Goodreads shelf to discover some more. And remember, if you're looking at a book on Goodreads, check out the right sidebar. There's always suggestions for books similar to the one you're looking at ("Readers Also Enjoyed").

Feel free to leave a comment telling me what you think about these covers!

Have a Good Weekend and Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!
I first heard about it from PageTurnersBlog.




I've got two Waiting on Wednesdays this week:

Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong
Publication Date: September 20, 2011

Synopsis:
A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.

Sixteen of today’s hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying. Authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Melissa Marr return to the beloved worlds of their bestselling series, while others, like Claudia Gray, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl, create new land-scapes and characters. But whether they’re writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

Suspenseful, funny, or romantic, the stories in Enthralled will leave you moved.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: This compilation of stories is chock full of awesome authors. What I love about anthologies like these is that I can get just a quick taste of a variety of authors. It's a great way to learn of authors and books I might like!

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Publication Date: September 20, 2011

Synopsis:
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: Secret wife, chosen one, savage enemies, dying young. Lots of stuff in the synopsis catches my attention and makes me want to read it! It sounds like an awesome adventure!


What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: February 1, 2010
Genre: YA, fantasy
Pages: ebook
Series: The Iron Fey
1. The Iron King
2. The Iron Daughter (August 1, 2010)
3. The Iron Queen (January 25, 2011)
4. The Iron Knight (October 25, 2011)

Synopsis:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

From Goodreads

Since I got my Kobo, I pretty much resigned myself to reading “priority books” (A.K.A. review books) on it. I finally decided that I should use my Kobo to read an ebook I’d actually spent my own money on. THE IRON KING was book number one on my list.

I loved everything about this book: the story, the writing, the characters. Everything. I love how the main character is a young female who is flung into this world she never even knew existed. And then she’s told she’s actually a part of this strange and different world. Then there was the action and adventure aspect, which was really explosive and engrossing. It did kind of remind me of The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, mostly in storyline. But what I really loved about this story was how different it was from any other book about fey that I’ve heard of.

The adventure in this story was so captivating that I had a hard time putting it down. As soon as the characters got past one obstacle, there would always be something else coming at them. The persistence of both the enemy and the main characters was awesome. And it never gave you a chance to put the book down! When I think back to how much they actually had to go through to get to the end, it’s crazy. It’s almost too much to shove into one book, but Julie writes so well that their constant insecurity isn’t overwhelming.

I really loved the characters. Meghan is a strong girl, very determined. From the first moment she leaves on her quest, she never forgets what she’s going for. Puck was always great for comic relief. He always had a witty comment in reply, whether he was talking to his BFF, Meghan, or his mortal enemy, Ash. Ash himself was a troubled character that you couldn’t help but wonder about. I have to say, I haven’t declared a Team yet. Puck or Ash? I’ll have to read more of the series and get back to you on that...

Teaser Tuesday (29)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

I'm currently reading The Lightning Thief, book one in the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, for book club. It's our last book before the school year, and I think we chose a good one to go out with. Here's my teaser:

By the time I looked up, the sign was already fading, but I could till make out the hologram of green light, spinning and gleaming. A three-tipped spear: a trident.

Might be *slightly* spoilery, but I feel like a lot of people know more about the story since the movie came out, even just from the trailers. I haven't seen the movie yet either. The book, however, is pretty interesting to start. Lots of action and stuff going on. I can't wait to see how the movie measures up.

Feel free to share your teasers with me. I'd love to see what you're reading!

In My Mailbox (28)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that gives bloggers a chance to share what books they've received in the last week. It's hosted by The Story Siren and you can find out more info about it here.



Another buy 3 get the 4th free sale at Chapters grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go! Here's what I got:

Bought from Chapters
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater {Goodreads | Book Depository}

Yes, I know I said by 3 get 1 free, but I also picked up a cookbook for myself and one for my sister for her birthday present. So really, I didn't overwhelm myself with books that I don't have time to read... not really ;).

These are both books that I've been planning on getting for a long while. I finally have all of Maggie's books! And HALO looks like an amazing book. That cover always catches my eye. Besides, I think it's time a read another angel story.

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Review: Solid by Shelley Workinger

Title: Solid
Author: Shelley Workinger
Publisher: Self published
Publish Date: July 9, 2010
Genre: YA, sci fi
Pages: 223
Source: From author for review
Series: Solid
1. Solid
2. Settling (July 4, 2011)
3. Sound (expected pub 2012)

Synopsis:
Eighteen ears ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed “open-book” military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes - its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air “athletes”; “indies” as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

From paperback

SOLID was the first book I thought of when I wanted to read something different. Yes, I love reading about werewolves and the like, but sometimes I just need a change.

What I liked about SOLID was how the paranormal aspect (or sci-fi aspect) wasn’t something only a few of the characters knew or believed. It was a universal acceptance of what happened and that these teens had special abilities. It’s a nice change from the “No, I don’t believe you. That’s impossible.” And the fact that we got to discover along with the characters what their special abilities were was great.

The romance in this story was cute, but a little fast. The whole book only takes place over 3 weeks, and I feel like the bond created between the two characters was just a little bit quick. But, I did like it, and thought they had a cute relationship.

One thing that bothered me about this book was the timing. I got disoriented a few times. Some scenes only took up a few pages, but next thing you knew, a whole day had gone by. Like the characters would be at their afternoon activity, and then all of a sudden it would be bedtime. I had to do a double take to figure out what had just happened. I think something like that might get more refined as the author gains experience.

The end of the book brought along a few things I didn’t see coming. It was also kind of a slow build up, too. It was leisurely reading and then suddenly I’m in the middle of the climax of the book. It kind of snuck up on me I suppose. That can kind of be understood as a problem with the timing again, though.

SOLID really is a cute book with a different premise from what I’ve recently read. I know the second book, SETTLING, just came out and I think I’ll have to give it a try. I’m curious to see what will happen next.

Visit Shelley on her website here.
Add SOLID to your Goodreads library here.

Review: All Hallows' Moon by S.M. Reine

Title: All Hallows' Moon
Author: S.M. Reine
Publisher: Self published
Publish Date: September 9, 2011
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 114 (ebook)
Source: From author for review
Series: Seasons of the Moon
1. Six Moon Summer (review)
2. All Hallows' Moon
3. Long Night Moon (Spring 2012)

**WARNING: Spoilers if you haven't read SIX MOON SUMMER yet!**

Synopsis:
Rylie survived becoming a werewolf at great cost. She moves to her aunt’s ranch in the hopes she can enroll in a new high school and quietly continue her life... with a few distinct changes. She transforms into a beast every new and full moon and struggles to control her murderous urges.

Without many werewolves left, it’s hard to stay in hiding. A family of hunters -- Eleanor, Abel, and Seth -- recognize the signs and follow Rylie to her new home. They want to stop her before she murders someone, and the only way to do it is with a silver bullet. Seth soon realizes the werewolf is Rylie, the one monster he failed to kill. Worse yet, he’s still in love with her.

Torn between family and love, Rylie struggles to reconcile her feelings and control the wolf within while Seth fights to do what’s right. But what is right-- obeying desire or duty?

From Goodreads

This book starts out with Rylie hitch-hiking her way to her aunt’s house where she will live, so she doesn’t have to worry about the wolf being stuck in a New York City apartment. Rylie is so very different now from the girl who was dropped off at summer camp three months prior. As can be expected, becoming a full-fledged werewolf has changed her in more ways than one. She’s tougher now, and she has ridiculous moods swings when the moons come. I can’t imagine what it was like for her to go through all of it alone.

One aspect of this book that I absolutely loved, was that we got more of a glimpse of Seth’s life in this one. We see his family, what kind of household he grew up in, even his ambitions for the future. I really like Seth as a character. He’s so conflicted between his loyalty to his family and his feelings for Rylie. I could really feel his pain as a reader, and I think that’s essential.

There were some great new characters in this book, from Seth’s brother Abel to Rylie’s new friend Tate. Even Seth’s mother Eleanor was interesting, but you have to discover her for yourself. Definitely not the typical mother figure. I like how Reine doesn’t take the safe road all the time when it comes to her characters. For example, Tate is a user and seller of marijuana. Personally, I don’t often see illegal drugs in YA fiction, as if authors are afraid to tackle such a taboo topic. But not Reine. She just puts it out there and it’s no big deal, which is great.

This book was definitely an emotional ride for Rylie and Seth, both individually and together. Along with that, there was a great deal of action. Just like the last book, Reine’s writing shines when she describes the change and during those intense fight scenes. Seriously, there’s one part that had me cringing in pain because of how well she described it... It still hurts to think about it.

A quick read that you can’t put down, ALL HALLOWS’ MOON is a great follow up to Reine’s wonderful debut! I can’t wait to see where she takes it next!

Visit S.M. Reine here.
Buy SIX MOON SUMMER, book 1 in the Seasons of the Moon series here.
ALL HALLOWS' MOON comes out on September 9, 2011!