No comments about The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, Book 3).

5 comments about Twilight (Twilight, Book 1).

1. This is exactly what I wanted and more. I originally bought the collectors edition of New Moon, after seeing it I had to have them all in collectors editions. I love these. they look like antique books, with the ribbon bookmark and the uneven pages. I already have a set of the saga in hard and soft back, but the collector's edition is a true COLLECTOR'S EDITION. thank you



2. Twilight is my favorite book ever. It combines romance, suspense, danger, and love. Many teens or tweens would love this book. It is perfect for the avid reader or someone who reads once a week. Even my gramndma loves it! My friends and I are so obbsessed it is all we e ver talk about. I don't know anyone who has read it and not loved it. It is just such a perfect book. I recomend it to anyone 11+. I don't think I can express how much I love it before you stop reading this and buy it. I'll just end it on go team Edward!



3. I saw the movie Twilight, several weeks ago, purely by accident. I'm so glad I had recalled hearing something positive about the story in a review I had read and took the time to view the movie. I immediately bought the book and since have read it twice. I must commend the author for her truly unusual and captivating story. It's my understanding this story came to her in a dream and I count myself lucky she had the dream and wrote it down to share. The story is about a 17 year old high school student, who at first comes across as somewhat ordinary, but who is anything but. She is full of self doubt, has a problem with coordination, lots of typical teen angst, but with a core of unbelievable inner strength. And then we meet Edward Cullen, whom we discover is a "vegetarian" vampire. Edward's physical beauty if often referenced throughout the novel, and having seen Rob Pattinson's portrayal of him in the movie, I luckily had a face and physique to put with the character in the novel. I would have to say, great casting. While Edward has a great many gifts such as super human strength, speed, agility, he too is much like Bella. Full of self doubt, unsure of his place in the world, unable to befriend or connect with humans. He leads a fairly solitary life, surrounded only by his adoptive family. To me, the most beautiful part of the story is the gentle and tender way Bella and Edward find each other, share their secrets with each other and come to the knowledge they are soul mates, however challenging that path is to them both, being of two different worlds. Some the passages in the novel where Bella and Edward speak to one another truly takes my breath away. This is a mesmerizing, romantic, engaging novel I know I will read over and over as time goes by and enjoy every word with each reading. In a word, enchanting!



4. I am not an avid reader, nor did I have any interest in the idea of vampires and the hype around the Twilight movies. I happened to catch the movie and thought it wasn't horrible, thought I may take the time to read the first book. The movies do not do these books justice. I only ordered the first book because I really didn't intend to get swallowed into the story as much as I did. I was done within days, and upset I had to wait for the second! This is for the person who can handle a classic romance story. Highly recommend for this type of reader. It is not over the top cheesy, but there is plenty of action to keep you involved. It is actually tough to watch the movies now because of how much they leave out.



5. I have read my fair share of fantasy novels. As my best friend knows, who got me Twilight for my birthday. Just to put it out there, the book wasn't bad over all, however, there were some annoying aspects.
   
   To start with, the undeveloped character irritated me. I don't want to place myself in the book. No, I want a character I can relate to from her struggles to her love and everything else in-between. I found it hard to even like her at points. Bella being dependent on men was another down fall to her personality. She doesn't need to be a feminist, but some back bone would be nice because of how woman are more independent now. Second, Edward, oh, Edward, the author overly did the adjectives in this book. As a reader, I know he is good looking I do not want to be reminded time after time. To me, Edward is over controlling and reminds me of a story I'd see on lifetime about a girl and her overprotective boyfriend (In the end, the girl is killed).
   
   In addition, I don't believe in their love. It wasn't real to me. I have never met a guy and within a few months knew he was the one for me. Even after a few years, I still questioned. The books connection to Romeo and Juliet is puzzling. I found the play a tragedy, but Twilight is hardly that.
   
   Finally, guys loving Bella just to love her was over the top. No non-self-esteem teen has guys all over her. Guys notice that and don't like it.
   
   Overall, the book was captivating and interesting. I found some of the folktales to be wrong, which is disappointing. Especially, since in those folktales there were never vampires because that's a European thing.
   If you want a fun read, it's a good book. However, if you are looking for more I'd find something else.

5 comments about The Awakening (Darkest Powers, Book 2).

1. Picking up just days after THE SUMMONING left off, Chloe is back and ready for her next great adventure.
   
   Chloe always thought she was a normal girl, until a couple of weeks ago that is. Now she has been captured once again by the Edison Group, as she is a teen necromancer, that's right she can raise the dead and she really doesn't have much control over it. Chloe is now in the race for her life as she has escaped from the Group for a second time and absolutely cannot get caught. Along with her are her three friends, who all happen to be supernatural's as well. There's Tori, a whiny witch, Derek, a sarcastic wereworlf, and Simon a flirtatious sorcerer. These four kids have to find help quickly or die trying. If they don't, the Edison Group will get them once and for all and they would be turned into lab rats, which is the last thing any of these kids want.
   
   I love this series. It is suspenseful and action packed and I couldn't wait to finish it from the moment I picked it up, it was just so good. If you haven't read the first book though, I highly suggest you pick it up, because it provides a lot of necessary information.
   
   The characters in the this book were much more developed than in THE SUMMONING. I felt Like I got to know each of the four main people a little bit better and they were actually a lot of fun and wish they had been a bit more 3-D. All four characters really formed a stronger relationship together and it made the book feel less empty. Tori was especially fun, her tantrums made me laugh a lot!
   
   The plot was riveting and fast paced. It literally flew past for me and I couldn't believe it was over when I closed the back cover. There was so much adventure and many twits and turns that kept my heart racing. I also enjoyed the author's writing. She did a great job creating a lot of suspense and she quickly developed the story so there was never a dull moment.
   
   Overall I really liked this installment in the Darkest Power trilogy. I absolutely cannot wait for the third book because the ending left the reader hanging once again.



2. The second installment of the Darkest Powers series is just as good as the first. This one centers around the group after they escape the Edison Group and their quest to find Simon's Dad or at least someone who can help them. At first I found myself routing for Simon but then I got to see special moments between Chloe and Derrick. Their moments together have all the angst and tension that a good relationship needs. The only part that bugged me about this book was the constant movie scenarios. I know this is a big part of who Chloe is but I feel like she should be more focused on her tasks at hand. Other than this one minor bleep in the story I felt that Armstrong still has a great series and I can not wait for the next one.



3. I remember finishing the The Summoning, the prequel to The Awakening, last summer and thinking, " I doubt Kelley will be able to top this." Though, apparently she can, as she has proven it with The Awakening.
   
   In The Awakening more action and intense drama occurs. As well as major character development. Since, Tori, Chloe, Derek, and Simon's powers began to involve steadily in the book. Also, there was more information told and found out about the Edison Group and werewolves which was fascinating in any case.
   
   Derek and Chloe? Yep, their relationship defiantly grew throughout The Awakening and made it one of my favorite parts. I swear I will scream if they don't get together by the end of this series. Since, they are so cute with their bickering and how they always protect each other.
   
   Overall, The Awakening will have any fan of the Darkest Powers Trilogy begging for a sequel by the end. I look forward to reading the next book, tremendously. I wish Spring 2010 would come faster.
   
   Grade: A+



4. 
   I thought that The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong was a good book. The characters were well developed, and the main character had a tweak that made the story have a darker aspect. The fact that she was a teenage girl who was able to talk to ghosts and raise the dead made the story much more interesting than if she was a normal girl. The other characters, two spell casters and a werewolf also added to the story overall. The story interests teenage readers who liked fiction, action, and seeing the characters in peril throughout the story. Also, the book explores what it would be like for a group of teenagers living on the streets. All in all, the story was very interesting and capturing.
   
   There was one thing that I didn't like about the book: the story didn't go very far. There was no climax. After they escaped the group that planned to experiment on them, nothing big happened to the characters. It was just hide, run, get attacked by a person there wasn't much danger from, and repeat. The author didn't make the small attacks that happened while the group was on the street very important. Even though the people attacking could easily kill someone, the author made it seem like the characters weren't too threatened. It just fell flat.
   
   In the end, I thought this book was good. It had great content and had interesting aspects, but the plot needed work. It needed a climax. The book preceding it in the series was better. That book developed the characters more, and had a better plot. I am hoping the third book will exceed both.



5. While the first book was very good, it seemed as thought it was just setting the stage for the series. This is the book where everything really speeds up and gets interesting. I absolutely loved this book! It was non-stop action and the plot gets more complicated with every chapter.
   
   The character development is absolutely incredible. I will always have a special place in my heart for Derek :) That was what really kept me reading- the story may have been wonderful, but I fell in love with all of the characters. Chloe is a very likable protagonist. She is brave and compassionate, but not to the point of absurdity. Like every teenage girl, Chloe is insecure and afraid. This makes her even more lovable. Her friends each have their individual personalities, but none of them are shallow or flat. The reader comes to know every character in a personal way.
   
   If you want to know what the genre is, combine scifi, mystery, romance, horror, and fantasy. And there you have it! The Awakening. No matter what your favorite genre is, this book can appeal to almost anyone. I strongly recommend it! After that ending, I'm DYING to read the next book! The Reckoning comes out this April!!! *squeals*

5 comments about Boys that Bite (The Blood Coven).

1. This is one of those books that is easily devoured in very few sittings. From the first page to the last, it is a wild, raucous ride into the lives of twins who are as different as night and day and who delve into the world of vampires. But only one of them does so willingly. Rayne, the ultimate goth girl, has literally done her homework on how to become a vampire and she is all too eager to become one of the living dead. Unfortunately for her, she coerces her twin, Sunny, to go along with her to the club where she is to be initiated and it is Sunny who is bitten in her place when Magnus, Rayne's sponsor, mistakes Sunny for her twin. She soon learns, however, that there is a small window of time in which the damage can be undone and her humanity can be saved. So begins the wild race to find the cure that takes them into the heart of danger.
   
   Along the way, Sunny must deal with her growing feelings for Magnus, the new attraction she presents for other humans, and her own ambiguity about becoming a vampire. She does so with a wit that will have readers laughing out loud, so it is highly recommended that you do not eat or drink anything while reading this book. All in all, this was a rollicking good ride that I would love to take again.



2. I am an adult that has enjoyed reading fantasy and vampire fiction since I was a young teen. I now work with teen and pre-teen girls who are all about the twilight series, so I have read everything. I read the blood coven series and recommended to teens. This series is a great story, funny and upbeat, and has good life lessons without being preachy. The female characters are strong and independent. They fall in love but aren't walking doormats for the boys in their lives. If you're a mom and you're reading this, buy it for your daughter. Then read it yourself because you will totally relate to the 80's and 90's cultural reference that made me gigggle.



3. i have ran out of vampire books to read. i need some suggestions that are related to some of the things i have read..
   i have read:
   -the twilight series
   -the blood coven
   -vampire academy
   -the house of night series
   -blue bloods
   u may have noticed that i like romances.. please suggest any boks related to the ones listed above..
   thanks



4. As far as cases of mistaken identity go, this one pretty much bites - or sucks, take your pick. Okay, okay bad vampire pun, but really. Sunshine McDonald is SO not the kind of girl who would ever dream of becoming a creature of the night. For crying out loud, she plays varsity field hockey!
   
   Her identical twin sister, Rayne, has longed for just such a thing. She's studied and prepared, been tested and signed the contract. Too bad she didn't tell Sunny about her plans because then her twin might have known what was up when the oh-so-hot guy approached her at the club and asked if she was ready.
   
   So, now Sunny has been bitten by Magnus and neither one of them is amused. When Magnus takes her to the leader of his coven, Sunny is relieved to learn that the transformation process can be reversed easily, but it does have to be done in the next seven days. Sadly, Lucifent does not get the chance to tell Magnus and Sunny how to undo the mistake before he gets staked by Bertha the Vampire Slayer (she's no Buffy).
   
   Now Sunny and Magnus will have to figure it out for themselves and they'll have to do it quickly. Otherwise, they'll be stuck with each other for all eternity.



5. My thoughts...I am a sucker for YA vampire novels and this one was no exception. This book's original story plot contained a case of mistaken identity. As the story progressed with the characters searching for a cure to the vampirism virus, I found myself drawn into the story until the end. It did not end the way I expected either. The book traveled to several locations and I felt Mari did a great job of describing the settings. Some of the scenes were witty and I enjoyed the banter between the main characters.
   
   Sunny and Rayne are identical twins, so their bond is closer than regular sisters might be. They did not argue as much as I expected, especially given the situation. I really liked Sunny and I hope we learn more about Rayne as the series progresses, she sounds very interesting. As for Magnus, he grew on me. Initially I did not like him or his character. I expected the girls to be irrational and immature, but he was supposed to be knight from ancient times. His character showed change as the book progressed, which led me to believe he was putting up a front to protect himself. The book ended with a surprising ending and a twist which makes me want to jump right into the second book Stake That.
   
   The cons...I stumbled a bit through the beginning of the book mainly because of the character's reactions, particularly Sunny. She just seemed so unfazed by the whole accidental turning incident. But, her character, like Magnus, showed a lot of growth as the book progressed.
   
   Overall I enjoyed this book and I can't wait to continue the series. It is a great read for fans of YA vampire literature.

5 comments about A Certain Slant of Light.

1. My Thoughts:
   Positives:
   
   * God, this book was good. I was interested throughout the whole thing.
   * The romance between the two main characters is gripping. It reminds me of that first pull towards someone that you hope to spend eternity with.
   * Interesting take on the living and the dead
   * Mixes past and present circumstances, giving life to both with a lot of figurative language that seems literal.
   
   Negatives:
   
   * Drug use, teenage sex, not appropriate for immature readers.
   * Abusive families in many extremes makes this a little difficult for the faint of heart.
   * Makes religion look REALLY bad.



2. THREE QUICK POINTS:
   * Point 1: Classic voice wrapped in a contemporary setting. It felt more like reading historical literature than contemporary fiction, despite its 21st century setting.
   
   * Point 2: James and Helen (once she gets a body) are bunnies. And I don't mean cute. I mean they like to get down and dirty. A lot. And passionately.
   
   * Point 3: More questions than answers. After the final page is closed, a lot of questions about the meaning of life and death are still lingering in the air, unanswered.
   
   SHORT SYNOPSIS:
   Helen has died, but her spirit remains. She calls her incorporeal self Light. To sustain her existence, she clings to living hosts.
   
   Through her current host, a modern high school English professor, she meets James. He is also Light, but inhabiting the body of Billy Blake.
   
   As James and Helen come to know each other, their desire to connect on a physical level grows and they decide Helen needs a body. Both with physical bodies, they proceed to live the lives of their hosts, though they have none of their memories.
   
   Through these physical bodies, both James and Helen are able to figure out what happened to them and ultimately move on. Along the way, however, they make decisions that greatly affect the lives of their respective hosts.
   
   MY THOUGHTS:
   I went into this book believing it was a straightforward romance, but when I closed it, I realized it was more about how actions can affect others.
   
   Using prose and pacing customary in historical literature, Helen brings us through the story, explaining what it feels like to be Light, how it feels to find love with James, and her struggle with doing the right thing as opposed to following her desires when it comes to the lives of Billy and Jenny, their host bodies.
   
   The latter became the undercurrent to the story: how James and Helen's actions were affecting the lives of Billy and Jenny. Inadvertently, both James and Helen needed to help their hosts, whose souls had vacated their bodies beforehand, in order to free themselves and bring their hosts back to their rightful homes. In essence, James and Helen needed to do what Billy and Jenny could not.
   
   Although Billy's story was cut off due to perspective, it's relatively simple to assume that he needed to confront his brother and father in order to move forward in his life. And Jenny needed to confront her parents--more specifically, her mother--and let them know who she was as a person rather than shrinking away into oblivion.
   
   At the end of the book, there are plenty of strings untied, which can be frustrating, but makes for interesting discussion. For instance, in the case of Billy and Jenny, they seem to be in one fine mess, however, another way of looking at it would be that Billy and Jenny were drawn together for a deeper reason and they would continue forward, helping each other and possibly finding lasting love.
   
   Finally, there's plenty of allegory to decipher which brings up questions about the meaning of life and death and even God. It's a great book to pick up for book clubs as there are likely to be many conflicting opinions. However, it's important that the reader enjoys classic literature on some level; otherwise the motility could seem sluggish. It helps, too, if one is in the right state of mind before reading.
   
   NB: There is some explicit sexual content, though tasteful, and some mature subjects such as drug/alcohol abuse. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under 16, or at least, anyone who is not mature enough to handle such content.



3. Helen is a ghost destined to exist alone. For reasons unknown to her since she cannot remember her previous life, she is required to go from host to host to keep from going back to the horrible place she came from. Everything changes when a guy in her host's English class actually looks at her, this has never happened to her since she has been a ghost. After talking to the boy, she realizes that have more in common than she first knew and this takes her on a journey that she could never have imagined.
   
   
   I found this book interesting enough to keep my attention but honestly didn't get **can't put it down** good feelings about it until the very end. The story is good and fairly interesting but the plot seem thin and meandering, I wasn't sure where it was going. I will say I was a little surprised at how things turned out in the end, but it was a nice, satisfying ending that made this a better read than I thought it would be about half way through.
   
   
   The cover is nice and spooky so of course I liked that, ha ha, and there are some critical moments of the book that center around bathtubs so it is appropriate also.



4. I just finished reading this book, literally, like a minute ago. And I felt compelled to write a review right after while all the emotions are still fresh in my mind. I have to say that this is what every fantasy romance novel (especially ones that are classified as Young Adult) should strive to be.
   
   I wouldn't be surprised if people sort of classified A Certain Slant of Light as just one of the many fantasy YA novels that are romance and were made solely to capitalize on the success of Twilight. They might dismiss it because of that. If they did, it would be a terrible mistake. This shouldn't even be classified with those other YA novels, not because they're necessarily bad, but because those are more or less fluff. And fluff is good sometimes, yes, but sometimes you need to something a little more meaty and that's what this is.
   
   The writing in A Certain Slant of Light is simply superb. It's just beautiful. And that's something that sets it apart from the those other fluffy YA novels (Twilight, Evermore, etc.). There's a poetic flow to it that just leaves you engrossed with not only the plot, but with the language. The heroine, Helen, is so complex, yet completely relateable in all of her ghostly glory. The romance in this was really sweet, but what really had me hooked, was Helen's backstory. Her attachment to her various hosts, her love of reading, her desire to escape the hell she was sometimes plunged into, but her utter fear at actually finding out what happened to her was compelling.
   
   So, people shouldn't dismiss this book just because it's YA. Not only is it an amazing YA book, but an amazing book, period. One that I believe everyone would enjoy if not for the plot, then for the tremendous and beautiful writing.



5. At first glance this book looks like some depressing suicide story. Please don't be mislead. This book is VERY well written. I felt longing and sorrow and love in this book. This novel has such a great twist on reality. And you'll love the end. 5 stars and anyone who says differently is crazy. :)

5 comments about Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery, Book 1).

1. I enjoyed it alot and hope for just one more in the series and then I think she will be beating a dead horse not that it could not win the Derby on its last run.



2. My Thoughts:
   The beginning of Dead is a tad bit confusing, as Harrison doesn't give any real back story to the world of reapers, timekeepers, and angels. However, you will soon forget you are confused because of the hilarity. Madison could be a completely emo, downtrodden character, but Kim Harrison writes her with the best personality. Not even three chapters in, I got the feeling that I wanted Madison Avery as my best friend. There was tons of fluff in this story, but not so much that you couldn't see the actual story underneath. Madison's snappy comebacks and witticisms are what had me laughing the most. In this book, the phrase "when I died" could have been greatly overused, but Kim did a phenomenal job at not letting that happen. I think one of my favorite lines is when Madison says "when I hit ctrl + alt + del" instead of saying "when I died".
   There was a lot of action right up front, but then it sort of cooled off for a while and it felt like nothing happened. The end, however, is packed full of everything I love about Kim Harrison. We expect a page-turning urban fantasy from Kim, and she delivers in Dead. She doesn't take an overused fantastical world from YA fiction and plug her characters into it. She uses our world, right here, and twists what we already know.
   This is a war between good and evil, choice and fate. You just don't know which is which.
   The Verdict: A great read for anyone with a paranormal sense of humor.
   Expect a sequel on, or around, May 12, 2010



3. Once Dead, Twice Shy, started out really slow, and really confusing. It took awhile until I completely grasped the concept of what was going on, which seems to be the general feel of most reviews I've read as well. (It would have been really helpful to know beforehand that there was a preceding short story called "Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper" in the Prom Nights From Hell anthology. That however, wasn't mentioned on her site, or on the book anywhere at all.)
   
   Overall the story was nice, it had a good plot as well as decent characters, but my absolutely favourite thing about this book was Madison's guardian angel. About halfway through the book we meet Grace, who is assigned to Madison for reasons I can't tell you (dun dun dun!), but she's basically a beautiful limerick singing guardian angel. Here is two small examples of Grace's quirky mini-songs:
   
   "There once was a girl with blond hair, whose tresses were short like a mare, she brushed and she preened, like she was a queen, till I laced her shampoo with some Nair."
   Excerpt pg. 50, Once Dead, Twice Shy
   
   "There once was a girl from Lake Powell, whose mouth was something quite foul. The crap she did spew, like an overfull loo, til I smacked her right into a wall."
   Excerpt pg. 111, Once Dead, Twice Shy
   
   Other than my insane love for Grace, I really like the way that Madison and Josh's relationship ends up. You learn a good amount about both characters, and they fit into the world that Kim made just perfectly. The scenes are well described, so much that you don't have to question anything, I could easily see everything that Kim described as if I had been there. So, other than the slow and slightly confusing start, the book was good, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series!



4. I didn't know this, until I looked it up, but apparently a short story set before these events explain in better detail what happened to Madison. The short story appears in the anthology Prom Nights From Hell. Also equally important to point out, far as I know this doesn't tie into her mainstream series The Hollows (or the Rachel Morgan books, whatever you want to call them). This is my first time reading Kim Harrison, in any form, as well.
   
   My very first thought while reading this was that even though its a YA, I don't think its a great idea to have the MC finding her killer attractive. I don't care if he's David Tennant good looking, she shouldn't still think he's hot after being killed by him. It just...squicks me. That's a pet peeve however and shouldn't be counted against the book.
   
   The book moved fast, keeping up the momentum that is started in the first chapter or so. It's not WHAM-BAM-THANK YOU MA'AM fast, but it moves along quickly enough to make you go 'huh? wait. back pedal' when character development emerges. Since I haven't read the short story, I can only assume that the lack of substantial coverage over Madison's Prom Night is covered in depth in that story, but for me I had to piece together most of it from the random comments made by Madison and company.
   
   I was intrigued by the fact that there are 'light' and 'dark' reapers hanging around this mortal coil, duking it out to either kill or save a person who decides to march off the beaten path of fate. I would have been perfectly content if we just learned about them the entire time, since the dynamics were rather interesting to contemplate. We were also introduced to Timekeepers and seraphs however, making things a bit more complicated.
   
   I think that Harrison over reached her audience a little bit. In mainstream paranormals, complicated entangled relationships are the norm, from my experience in young adult paranormals the complicated relationships tend to stay centered around a couple characters--not the main character and the entire cast of supporting. By the halfway point of the book I couldn't honestly tell you that I understood what was going on completely. Someone was after Madison, she had a lot more to worry about other then the phantom 'living' person feelings she was supposed to not be having and her mentor was starting to look shady. That's all I really got.
   
   Like I said I was intrigued by the dark vs. light reapers and Madison was an interesting character, but there wasn't enough backstory to back up her feelings or frustrations properly. The world seemed distractedly built--or it might have been because I was too busy trying to keep Team Good and Team Evil straight to notice the world building details and the supporting cast was all over the place. The twist at the end left reasonable interest for me to want to read the next book however.
   
   Oh and the banter/bickering with practically everyone in the cast that Nakita engaged in was priceless. She was my favorite character I think, with Grace in a close second.



5. I love the Hollows series so I thought this one was worth a try, so I bought it to preview for my teenage Niece. I was surprised, I liked it a lot. It is geared towards a more high school reader, but entertaining none the less. There is not that teenage angst and over drama that some other books have. Madison is a smart, dead girl that is still learning. I like her as a role model and the book is tame enough for my sister to let her daughter read. I'm looking forward to book two for myself.

5 comments about Never Cry Werewolf.

1. When I read the editorial review, I liked the whole idea of the book and surely I'm not a 3 star - not a good book. It's just that, after reading it, I was not so exited about it.
   
   The story is about two teenagers, Shelby and Austin who meet and feel that they can trust each other before even getting to know each other. The general feeling I got was that everything was rushed. How come a guy with a life threatening secret that he never told to anyone before - with the exception of one time and that was unwillingly - revealed his secret so easily to a total stranger? Ok, he had to hurry because of the full moon but he could at least play it a bit more difficult in giving in. `You asked I told' as he says it's not a good way to protect a secret.
   
   Just when you feel you are getting to know the characters, the book comes to an end. I think the story was not fully developed but I can't say that I didn't like it. I would like it more it I got to know the characters and if not everything happened over a week. We didn't have to have a full description of every single day, but at least to know that they did meet and they did get a change to talk and talk again and then risk their lives for each other.
   
   As I said, I'm not fully disappointed by it and surely I don't feel that I wasted my time reading it, it's good but it could be a lot better if it was developed a bit more, both the characters and the scenes.



2. When I received this in the mail a couple of weeks ago, I was so excited. Since, I'm loving the whole uprising of "werewolves" in YA. Plus, I adored the cover and I still do, it's just that classic pretty. Sadly enough, Never Cry Werewolf, wasn't as fantastic as I expected it to be.
   
   First off, the characters for the most part were not fully developed and semi bland. Shelby was the classic "my mom died and I can't stand my new step-mom, so I'm going to do everything to annoy the crap out of her" girl which got on my nerves at times. Also, I couldn't stand how she constantly got herself in huge trouble for Austin, especially in the situation that happens in the first couple of chapters. Seriously, for most of the book, she didn't even know him that well and to top things off she had a feeling there was something not right about him. But, yet, she always came to his beck and call when he needed her help. Though, during the end of the book, I came to a good place with her, were I didn't quite love her but at the same time didn't full out hate Shelby. Since, I began to take in her reasoning for acting the way she does and I started to understand her love for Austin even if he wasn't the most normal guy out there. Austin though was a character that I did enjoy reading about even with his faults. I felt mostly sorry for him, because of how he had to always keep part of himself hidden from the real world. Also, towards, the end I really liked how he began to come up with ideas that would effect Shelby in a good way, instead of a bad one. The other characters, such as Ariel and Prince, were ones I liked but didn't always have enough appearances as I wanted them too.
   
   The plot was interesting, but there wasn't enough build-up, suspense, or mystery until the end. For instance, you basically knew that Austin was a werewolf from the start. Leaving no suspense to when you officially knew yes, he was a werewolf. Plus, for most of the book, some of the situations were drawn out in a unnecessary way, which left them to be boring, not exciting as they should have been. Lastly, the whole story didn't begin to get the feeling of excitement until the end and when you finally were happy to find out what happened next, the story just ended.
   
   Overall, while Never Cry Werewolf has an interesting premise, it wasn't executed in a way that brought excitement or mystery. Leaving me to suggest that you pick this up at the library when it's released or what for the paperback. Since, it's not fully worth the $16.99 price tag.
   
   Though, I would like to say, that even with the problems this novel had, I still will continue to read Heather's books. Since, I have a feeling that she has talent that will better as time goes on and more books are written.
   
   Grade: C



3. A excellent book. The only problem I had with it is the quick wrap up ending that I don't want to spoil to those who haven't read the book. The story deals with Shelby who mother dead of three years and dad remarried a woman who got her dad twisted around her finger so that Shelba and her dad doesn't seem much of each other any more. Shipped off to brat camp Shelby meets and falls in love with Austin the were wolf who has a problem of his own. Figuring out a way out of the camp before the next full moon. With Shelby in on his secret the two need to really put their heads together or Charles the son a tabloid magazine will get an exclusive story that were wolves really exist.



4. I really liked this book and enjoyed the characters of Shelby and Austin. Shelby's mother died and her dad got remarried to every one's nightmare of a stepmother. And Austin is the sexy guy we all had from our high school, the outcast, and the rugged tough guy with secrets no one knows.
   My favorite moment with Austin and Shelby is in chapter five. When Shelby and her friend Ariel are the last ones out of their camp and Austin raises his eyebrows at her. I think this part of the book made Shelby and Austin. You know they like each other, and just him raising his eyebrows at her shows that he was watching for her. I will share that paragraph with you:
   
   "I saw Austin on the fringe of the Sapsucker crowd. He was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt and had an incredibly bored look on his face. As Ariel and I approached, Austin raised his eyebrows slightly and gave me a little nod."
   
   I just think this part of the book made their relationship.
   This was a great read. Fast paced and kept me entertained until the end.



5. I loved 'Never cry werewolf'. It is a very simple story (girl meets guy, guy is werewolf), but that very simplicity, combined with the authenticity of the narrator's voice, is just what makes the book so enchanting. So many urban fantasy- and YA fantasy-novels die a slow death because of an everexpanding cast of secondary supernatural characters, the appearance of which make the pace of the story slow (plus they distract from the character development of the narrator). No such thing in 'Never cry werewolf'! Shelby, the main character, is fresh, engaging and spunky - none of these weak, Bella-esque traits. Throughout the book we learn more about her past and her issues, and she really grows and develops as a person. The romance between Shelby and Austin is believable and very well written. Also, I loved Ariel! I really, really hope that this is the first in a series; even though it is a rounded story, there are one or two clues that could easily be explored in further novels, and I would very much like to see Shelby and Austin again!

5 comments about Frankenstein (Dover Thrift Editions).

1. Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is the most important novel of the twenty-first century. Written almost two hundred years ago by a young woman nineteen years old, this parable captures with astounding clarity the problems that heartless science has visited upon the planet earth. In brief, the story makes clear the circumstances by which human inventions control their inventors. This book is not to be confused with many of its movie versions, some of which wholly invert Mary Shelley's themes.



2. I purchased this book for a history class. Of course I have seen the movie. This book is nothing like the movie. After I understood that it was written during the Romanticism period than it was actually a pleasure to read. At nineteen, how old Mary Shelley was when she wrote Frankenstein, she wrote an amazing and deeply profound story of a being that is looking for what everyone of us look for: the comfort of companionship and love of another. Human beings are meant to be in relationships of one kind or another. Mary Shelley also does an admirable job showing the anguish of Victor. You see the love,support, and concern of his family. It was thought-provoking and poignant. I found myself hoping the being would find what he so desperately craved. i felt his frustration at such an injustice, as he saw it. If you have seen the movie I strongly recommend Frankenstein. I promise, you won't be disappointed.



3. The novel is as complex in its vocabulary, its ability to elicit emotion from the reader and its horror.
   
   There are better places on the 'net and elsewhere to give you a summary of the plot. See the Cliff Notes site for the best rendition: [...]
   
   The book starts out on a ship that is exploring the extreme north, where ice floes and freezing temperatures are the norm. The captain sees a figure on a dogsled going across the landscape. He thinks this is weird. Then he later finds a man on an ice sheet near death.
   
   The captain, Robert Walton, pulls him aboard and is amazed at his articulate manner (I guess hanging out with sailors all day for weeks does that to you). His name is Henry Frankenstein. Henry finds that Robert has some interest in bringing things to life, etc., and experimentations of that nature. Henry freaks out and says no, let me tell you my story.
   
   And so it goes.
   
   Though Shelly's language is at times a bit of a chore to get through, I was impressed with the flow and style of the story, her commentaries on family, Nature, the poor, and Man daring to act the role of Creator.
   
   The details of Victor creating the creature are a bit weak, but understandable. After all I'm sure Henry did not want to give all the details otherwise we'd be setting up shop and doing it ourselves!
   
   There are not secret labs, no big electric machines and no maniacal servants or criminal brains. There is plenty of secret work, as Victor, through use of chemistry and alchemy texts, creates the "spark of life." But, he is so horrified at what he has done, that he suffers a nervous breakdown and takes months to convalesce.
   
   The creature, with no guidance and his master abandoning him, wanders the countryside as he learns to survive. He starts out noble and appreciative of nature, but also finds that Man rejects him utterly.
   
   Unlike God's creation of Adam, and Genesis' exclamation that His creation was "good", Victor's creation is found to be evil.
   
   The creature holes up in a cottage where he can spy on the people therein. There, he learns the language and the behaviors of the three people within. Here Shelly makes much about the unfairness of prison justice and the squalor being experienced by the common folk of the time. Living during the time of the Industrial Revolution, it is understandable she would make comments along the lines of destitution and that machines alone can degrade Man. Quite interesting.
   
   As the story progresses, the creature decides that he will avenge himself against Man and against his creator for making him ugly and wretched.
   
   And so the horror begins. Victor tries to make a life for himself but the creature has other plans as the creature kills his little brother William.
   
   Victor finds the creature and they make a bargain: create a female version for the creature's companionship and he will go off to South America and leave him forever. And if he does not, the creature will make his life a living Hell.
   
   What a choice, huh?
   
   Anyway, Victor tries to make a woman for the creature, but then changes his mind and rips it to shreds. He is afraid that they will reproduce and populate Man with these demons. (Why he didn't just make the female version incapable of giving birth, I'm not sure.)
   And so the story goes: through the wretched squalor of poor villages, through the injustice and inhumane prisons and tribunals, the death penalty for an innocent, and further death of Victor's father, the murder of his wife Elizabeth and Henry Clerval.
   
   The struggle and horror between the creature and Victor is ameliorated by Victor's view of Nature, in the Swiss Alps, and his travels along the Rhine and in England, Scotland and Ireland. Interesting how Shelly shows that Nature, or God's creations, will create a positive joy, but Man's abominations will not.
   
   Shelly makes many comments not only on the society of her time, but philosophical concepts of science gone made, of horror and squalor, and of the justice systems of the time.



4. The plot and perhaps the character itself of Frankenstein has been manipulated and perhaps even corrupted by the passage of time. Few of those that dress as "Frankenstein" for Halloween know the true story behind the creature. This is unfortunate as Mary Shelley's classic is among the best books ever written. More than a monster story, it raises questions of morality and ethics.
   
   When Dr. Frankenstein sets to create the creature, it is to set his stamp on science. But in many respects, he took on the role of a deity by creating a new life. But that new life is neglected and shunned by his creator, causing him to reject his deity. As this morality play progresses, the frightening reign of terror begins. Dr. Frankenstein is faced with a moral dilemma that could halt the creature. He must weigh the risks of this dilemma against the benefits. Though quite predictable in terms of the plotting, Frankenstein set a standard in its time. The creature is cunning in the traps and scenarios it lays for his creator making the villain more frightening.
   
   Shelly's writing also causes the reader to feel sympathy for the creature. It is a struggle to maintain this feeling, but Shelley is able to meet this challenge. In this respect the daemon is less demonized.



5. I admit that this novel holds a special position in English literature and rightly so, but it was not as good as I had hoped. When the monster finally speaks in the story I swear his "voice" sounded just like his creator's. How could two characters from vastly different life circumstances sound indistinguishable? One was an adult born in to an educated well to do family and the other was recently and suddenly "awakened" to live in the woods as a hiddeous outcast. The monster taught himself to read Paradise Lost? Seriously? Actually that was the major flaw in the book. All the characters seemed to be interchangeable even though they should have totally different personalities.
   
   Another thing I didn't care for was the use of multiple narrators in the story. I know this was common practice in literature of the time, but not to this extent. The main narrator of the novel is telling a story to his sister about the story Frankenstein told him about his monster's story that he heard about the exploits of the family in the cottage. What is that like 5th person narration? I think this distances reader from what should be a very intense and personal story.
   
   I don't want to dismiss the contribution this has made to literature and popculture I just think that the story of how Mary Shelley wrote the story is much more interesting than the actual story Frankenstein.

5 comments about The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story.

1. A traditional style ghost story which is set around the turn of the 19th/20th century.
   Like all the best ghost stories it wasn't overly long, and successfully built up the ambience of Eel Marsh House secluded by fog and marshland. The main character, Arthur Kipps a young London solicitor, is easy to relate to with his determination to complete his job balanced with his unease and fear of the malevolence surrounding Eel Marsh and the Woman in Black. Hill pays attention to detail without becoming tedious in order to create an atmospheric and chilling tale.
   
   Although I saw the West End theatre version of the story a few years ago it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book but I did find the stage version just had the edge when it came to the fear factor.



2. I looooove a good ghost story. I prefer a ghost story that relies upon imagination rather than gore to draw you in. I became aware of this particular book when a newspaper reviewed one of the local acting companies version of a play that is based on this book. I went straight to Amazon.com to research it, and ultimately, to order the book (though I toyed with buying a video). "The Woman in Black " has very good writing, great atmosphere, is very suspensful with a foreboding tone, and is very hard to put down. I was drawn into it immediately and I read it in the space of an afternoon. I was ready to rate this as the best ghost story I had ever read....but then I got to the end. This book spent the first 9/10's of it drawing me into the story and then the last 1/10 wrapping it all up. I felt shortchanged with the ending, wishing that Susan Hill had spend a bit more time and pages in wrapping up the story. It was like eating a really good tootsie pop and then finding out there was no tootsie roll in the middle.



3. This book is short, so I read it in a day. It was perfect for a fall day, just enough spookiness to make it feel like Halloween. I really enjoyed it. I love the old-fashioned ghost stories, so this was absolutely wonderful!



4. This is more of a novella than a novel. It has wonderfully whimsical illustrations which add to the sense of the book as a reproduction of an older tale & maybe that's the problem.
   
   I really love a good ghost story, but this just didn't do it for me. I found the writing to be mannered to the point of distraction & the story to be a cliched set piece with nothing new to add to the genre.
   
   I wanted to be scared by this book, but the ghostly happenings are just so predictable - the woman in black with the wasted face that pops up all over, the deserted house in the marsh that no one will visit, the ghostly sounds of pony trap & chair, the callow narrator's journey from youth to experience, etc., etc., etc.
   
   I really like this author, but this isn't one of her better outings. I'd like her to write as herself & not in imitation of others.



5. Absolutely chilling! By far the most frightening ghost story I've ever read. This extremely short novel is a period piece by modern English writer Susan Hill and a crucial part of any ghost-story fanatic's collection.

5 comments about Tenth Grade Bleeds #3: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod.

1. My 13 yr old daughter LOVES this series each book is read within a few days. If you have a young teen that likes Twilight this book is for you.



2. MY DAUGHTER LOVES TO READ, I CALL HER A BOOK WORM, SO INSTEAD OF FIGHTING TRAFFIC TO GO FIND WHAT SHE WANTS, I COME HERE AND ORDER ALL HER BOOKS



3. I LOVE TENTH GRADE BLEEDS ALOT.CAN'T WAIT FOR 11TH GRADE BURNS AND 12TH GRADE KILLS TO COME OUT.VLAD GET TO DATE MERIDITH FINAllY. BYE



4. This is the first series of books that my son has read from cover to cover and now can't wait for the next book. He has me preorder is it is available



5. My 13-year old son bought the first book in this series at the end of last school year (April 2009) at a book fair and enjoyed reading it. Then I bought the next two books for him through Amazon. He again seemed to enjoy Ninth Grade Slays, but when he started reading this book, he honestly could not put it down. It is the first book he has ever read that he literally kept reading and reading and reading until it was done! I was just amazed! He even went on the author's website to see when the next book would be coming out! HE LOVED IT!!!!!