1-27-12 Destined by PC & Kristin Cast - Fiction

4 - I still like this series and I still get really swept up in the stories. This is the 9th book in the House of Night series and Zoey and her crew are still all tied up in the thick of things in the battle between light and dark that has them facing off against their former High Priestess, Neferet. This story includes not only the main characters we have loved and followed but Kalona, the white bull, and Thanatos all are involved and a new character, Aurox is introduced. Of course, you never know if anyone is what or who they seem to be. Still love these!

12-27-11 Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer - Fiction

5 - Still love this book. Yes, over the holidays I didn't have time to get to the library on the days it was open so I had to go through my meager bookshelf and start reading from it. But I still enjoy this book and with all the press about the movie I was itching to re-read it anyway. If you don't know the story of this series by now you must live under a rock so I'm not going to rehash it for you. But I am among the ones who loved this final book in the Twilight series.

5-29-11 Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz - Fiction

3 - Eh, a mediocre Wiccan themed teen/tween book. Set in a boarding school, the story centers around Stacy, a 16-year-old who has visions in her dreams and who practices Wicca. When the visions start focusing on her est friend being in danger, Stacy knows she has to act. Like I said, this is a mediocre book with mediocre writing, characters that aren't compelling, and a plot that's only so-so. I believe it's aimed at the teen market, but I would put the writing to more of a tween audience even though sex is mentioned. Just one of many average youth books.

5-26-11 Virals by Kathy Reichs - Fiction

5 - I loved this even if it is a teen book. Reichs has created a story with great science, action, and teen issues and behavior that will entertain even adults. Tory Brennan is the niece of Temperance and has inherited her aunt's love of science and discovery. After being sent to live with her dad when her mother dies, she becomes friends with a small group of teens that live on the same South Carolina island. All their parents work for a research lab based at an environmental preserve. Because they are teens, they get themselves in trouble and are soon in way over their heads with genetic mutations, corporate espionage, and a decades old murder. Even if you're an adult, if you enjoy the Kathy Reichs novels or the TV series 'Bones' I suggest you pick this book up. It will keep you interested until the last page.

5-24-11 Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine - Fiction

3 - I had forgotten how mediocre this series was and got really excited when I picked up the fourth book. As I read, I remembered. It's cute, the continuing saga of a girl who moves to a small town for college and discovers the town is run by vampires. She lives in a house off campus with three roommates: a goth, a vampire, and a human. In this episode, a new vamp has come to town and isn't interested in keeping the status quo of balance between humans and vampires. That's all I'm going to say on this one because I'm already bored just writing about it.

5-10-11 The Emperor of Nihan-Ja by John Flanagan - Fiction

5 - As the 10th book in the Ranger's Apprentice series, The Emperor of Nihan-Ja carries on the wonderful characterization and suspenseful military and moral plots that Flanagan started way back with the Ruins of Gorlan. I love that this is actually a young reader series and yet can hold an adult's attention. The military tactics and the veiled references to other cultures such as the Norse, the Arabic, and the Oriental are fabulous and hopefully will get a new generation interested in history. These are the joys of fantasy books based on reality. Anyway, on the cover of this book, instead of having "Book 10" it says "The Final Battle." I'm hoping that's not true that this will be the last Ranger's Apprentice novel but if it is this is a worthy finish.

4-11-11 Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast - Fiction

4 - I thought when I started this book that it would be the last in the House of Night series. Sometimes it's so good to be wrong. The Casts keep adding layers to the story that keep the reader involved and keep the series fresh. Zoey is learning the responsibility that comes with her being so gifted by the goddess and Neferet is becoming more of whatever she is becoming. Each book in this series makes me so eager for the next and this is no exception.

3-17-11 Halt's Peril by John Flanagan - Fiction

5 - I can't believe that Flanagan can keep coming up with such great stories for this series but I'm glad he does! This is the ninth book in the Ranger's Apprentice series and it follows Halt, Will, and Horace as they track a small band of fraudulent religious zealots. The three of them together are always a good read as their characters banter so comfortably and work well with each other's strengths and weaknesses. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series because these are characters you grow to love.

3-4-11 Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - Fiction

4 - This almost is a 5. Clare is known for her Mortal Instruments series and this series (The Infernal Devices) is a prequel to Mortal Instruments. I love her combination of Victorian London and the supernatural. She has adjusted London's geography and timeline slightly for the book but it still has a great feel of the age. Tessa is an American who is coming to London after the death of her aunt to live with her brother, her only living relative. She soon discovers that the world isn't quite as she sees it and that she is more than human or possibly not human at all. With her new found gift, or curse, she is taken in by The Institute which is run by Shadowhunters, those who protect humans from the dangers of the supernatural world. This book has great character development, hinting at pasts that may or may not be revealed as the series continues. Full of action and great literary references, Clockwork Angel is a great start to a series I am eager to continue.

7-8-10 The Kings of Clonmel by John Flanagan - Fiction

4 - A great return to the camaraderie of just Halt, Will, and Horace. Each character has grown and Will and Horace are no longer stumbling their way through the action. Halt is beginning to show his age and realize it and that does not make him happy. The three of them make up a special task force that is meant to assist in dealings with foreign countries. They have been sent to Hibernia, Halt's homeland, to deal with a religious cult that has slowly been working its way through each Hibernian kingdom. The king of Araluen is concerned that Hibernia is just a jumping off point for an assault on his country. The task force must travel to Clonmel, the last free kingdom, and attempt to stop the cult. Great adventure and battles in this one. Plus a couple fun revelations.

6-6-10 The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan - Fiction

5 - I have to give this book a 5 because it's a standout in teen books right now. A very taut thriller, the first in a series from what I gather, that portrays a teen with high moral values, self control, and no swearing. Now, don't get me wrong, I love bloody and crass and sex in my fiction books, but once I was done with his book and reflecting what I would write I was astounded at what was missing in this book. Yes, there is violence, but even that is tempered because Charlie, a seventeen year old with a black belt in karate, takes to heart what his sensei has taught. Sensei Mike uses a quote from "Kung Fu" (gotta love it!) as his basis for teaching that ends with the phrase "all life is precious." Plus, Charlie keeps referring to a Winston Churchill quote from World War II to keep moving as he tries to figure out where the last year of his life went. One night Charlie goes to sleep in his bed and the next morning he wakes up strapped to a chair in a torture room with no idea how he got there. After he escapes he discovers a year has gone by since the last day he remembers and he is now on the run from a group he doesn't know and the authorities as well. I'm going to check out the second book because I can't believe that Klavan can keep the momentum of this book without reverting to more adult themes.

6-3-10 I'll Pass for Your Comrade by Anita Silvey - Non-Fiction

3 - This book is about the women who served as soldiers in the Civil War (or the War between the States depending where you're located.) I was a little surprised at how short this book was (93 pages) but I thought it might be due to lack of information and research material. It turns out that because of misshelving at the library I checked out this young adult book because it was in adult history. Nevertheless, it was interesting. I never knew that there had been women on both sides of the conflict who had disguised themselves as men to fight with the armies. There weren't may, only a few hundred, but I'd never heard them mentioned. This is a good overview of the subject with many interesting individual stories and some great Civil War photographs and period illustrations. Silvey also mentions another book, They Fought Like Demons, that is "the most comprehensive book to date on women soldiers in the Civil War." So, now that my interest has been piqued, I may have to look for the adult history book on this subject.

6-1-10 Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine - Fiction

3 - OK, this series is starting to lose its sparkle for me. I can't quite put a finger on why but I think it has to do with Claire. All through this book she's completely wound tight with no real break and all the situations she's in she bumbles through. That stressed out attitude doesn't put me on the edge of my seat, it drives me batty waiting for a breather. The best way I can describe it is the series is losing the characters and focusing way too much on the events. Claire has pledged to Amelia and now has to work with a half crazed vampire. She can't tell anyone that she's working with him or what they are working on. Plus, Shane gets stabbed and Eve's brother, Jason, is stalking Claire. Claire's parents also add a layer of turmoil. I don't think I'm going to continue this series.

5-27-10 Burned by P.C. and Kristin Cast - Fiction

5 - This was a nice change of pace in the House of Night series because most of the book is told through Stevie Ray, Rephaim, Aphrodite, and Stark instead of Zoey. Zoey's in the Otherworld, her soul shattered, and the others need to find a way to get her back to her body before seven days is up and her body dies. Stevie Ray is also dealing with the guilt and difficulty of keeping Rephaim alive and hidden and the fact that she is the only High Priestess at the House of Night. Aphrodite is discovering new powers associated with her being named a Prophetess of Nyx. Rephaim is struggling with being imprinted with Stevie Ray, an enemy of his father's. Stark is wading through his guilt at not protecting Zoey as her Warrior and then must face a family legacy to save her. As usual, this was over way too soon and now I have to wait for the next book. Sigh.

5-23-10 The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine - Fiction

4 - This series still holds my interest and I will be reading the third book soon. Caine gives great cliffhangers. Claire, Eve, Michael, and Shane have an uneasy truce with the vampires but Shane's obsessed dad is about to kill them all with his actions. Claire is drawn even deeper into Morganville's workings and it appears she will never be able to leave the town. Michael makes a choice that will change his relationship with Eve and the others forever. Shane must choose between his friends and the last of his family. When everything seems settled, Claire is faced with a decision that could doom or save herself and her friends but that will seal her fate either way. Remember this is a teen book with teen characters so teen issues do come up but they are blended very well with the supernatural story.

5-21-10 Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - Fiction

3 - Another teen book with a great premise and mediocre character development that just doesn't quite have that "oomph" that makes it truly re-readable. Nora finds herself attracted to and frightened of Patch, her new biology partner. Once they are introduced strange things start happening. Nora doesn't know what or who to believe anymore and her best friend Vee isn't helping because she keeps pushing Nora toward another guy who seems perfect on the surface but who starts to creep Nora out. Little does Nora know that she has been targeted by a fallen angel who longs to be human and as a descendant of the Nephilim her death is the only thing that can make that happen. Fitzpatrick lays it on way too thick with the carnal attraction between Nora and Patch and forgets about creating a memorable and unpredictable plot. A so-so book in the middle of my good run.

5-15-10 Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda - Fiction

3 - An interesting idea but not a totally gripping story. Billi SanGreal is a Templar. Not a knight yet, but in training. She's unusual because she's a girl and she's the youngest member of the order. She hates it. When other girls are going to the movies or the mall, she's training with weapons or learning Latin. She has to worry about school counselors and child services because of all the injuries she receives in training. Plus everyone thinks her father murdered her mother but she can't tell anyone that her mother's death was caused by the supernatural. Now Kay, her childhood friend, is back in town and instead of just continuing as her friend he's the new Oracle for the order. One of the most powerful Oracles of all time. But it comes down to Billi, who turns her back on the order when her father is injured, to face her fears and her anger and to save the world from a biblical fate. Not awful, but not fantastic either. There wasn't quite enough character development to make you care.

5-13-10 Glass Houses by Rachel Caine - Fiction

5 - OK, I'm on a little bit of a vampire kick right now. This is a story about a little Texas town called Morganville. Claire, a 16 year old college freshman, moves there for school and discovers what a strange town Morganville really is. Normal college towns have a very lively center around the school and then a quieter residential area for the locals. But Morganville's locals are strange. They never seem to go outside at night. They barely go out during the day and move quickly not stopping and chatting, not making eye contact. When Claire starts living off campus she learns what's different. Vampires. The town is run by vampires. And if you don't have a protector you're a free lunch. It didn't seem so strange before about the number of college kids who don't come back to school because it is mostly a transfer school, but now Claire sees it in a new light. And she's gotten on the wrong side of the daughter of the mayor, one of the most powerful human families. As if college wasn't tough enough already.

4-1-10 Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison - Fiction

4 - I've come to enjoy the depth of Harrison's Hollows series so this is a little too juvenile for me, but it is a teen book. Madison is a dead teenager who, when not in school, hangs out with a reaper. Barnabas is a light reaper who tries to save the lives of those targeted for an early demise by the dark reapers. Madison is to be trained by him because, in a weird twist of fate, when she died she was able to steal an amulet from her reaper and keep the illusion of a corporeal body. This amulet involves her in a power struggle between the forces of light and dark. Not like being a teenager wasn't hard enough. Luckily, Once Dead, Twice Shy contains Harrison's slightly off humor, mostly in the form of a guardian angel with a penchant for limericks. Not a bad teen book but if you've been spoiled by the Hollows books like I have you may want to skip this one.

1-23-10 Erak’s Ransom by John Flanagan – Fiction

5 – This is an interesting entry in the Ranger’s Apprentice series.  Erak’s Ransom covers the missing time between the 4th and 5th books giving the reader a new adventure with Will, Halt, Horace, and Evanlyn.  Obviously, Skandians are also involved and Flanagan takes the characters to a brand new land full of unfamiliar customs and wily adversaries.  The fights and intrigue are technical in their planning and the banter between the characters is easy and humorous as always.  A wonderful adventure that more than satisfies the curiosity of the reader as to what happened to Will right before he became a full Ranger.