Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger #1) by V.C. Andrews

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 2005 | Series: Dollanganger Series (Book 1)

The four Dollanganger children had such perfect lives -- a beautiful mother, a doting father, a lovely home. Then Daddy was killed in a car accident, and Momma could no longer support the family. So she began writing letters to her parents, her millionaire parents, whom the children had never heard of before.
Momma tells the children all about their rich grandparents, and how Chris and Cathy and the twins will live like princes and princesses in their grandparents' fancy mansion. The children are only too delighted by the prospect. But there are a few things that Momma hasn't told them.
She hasn't told them that their grandmother considers them "devil's spawn" who should never have been born. She hasn't told them that she has to hide them from their grandfather if she wants to inherit his fortune. She hasn't told them that they are to be locked away in an abandoned wing of the house with only the dark, airless attic to play in. But, Momma promises, it's only for a few days....

My Review

This falls under the category of Awesomely Bad!
Flowers in the Attic was the first adult (well it seemed adult to me) book that I read. I remember it vividly. I was in 7th grade ( I know right!?!) all of my friends and I would just devour these books. At that age V.C. Andrews was spinning yarns that were both scandalous and delicious! We thought we were so naughty and bad ass for reading these tales.
Little did I know, it was just the beginning of my never ending love for young adult fiction....duhn,duhn,duuuuuhhh.
I was so enthralled with reading a story (which turned into a 5 book series) about a family of teenagers/young children locked away in an attic and the horrible physical and psychological horrors they had to endure. I loved the protagonist's means of escapism; that she could retreat into the world of ballet. It was the only thing from her old life that kept her somewhat grounded and sane. Being that I too was in Ballet during that time made the book more fantastical.
Oh, I will not spoil this sweet gem by giving any of the story away. You will have to go and read it yourself. The whole Dollanganger series is great! It's not Bronte, but it has it's own certain pedestrian charm.

Grade B+

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (Eon #1) by Alison Goodman

Sixteen-year-old Eon has a dream, and a mission. For years, he's been studying sword-work and magic, toward one end. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.
But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a twelve-year-old boy. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.

My Review

Wow! This book was uh-may-zing! Bravo Alison Goodman, I tip my hat to you.
Here's the Love:  Thank the Lord we still have some smart writers out there that aren't putting out the typical YA fluff. This book was not formulaic at all. Goodman weaves an action packed tale that is literally nail biting (for real my nails are gone people). Her character development is flawless and her descriptive writing is beautiful.
Here's the Hate:  I hate the cover! Yep, I said it. I think it's a horrible, and most women would see this cover and be totally turned off by it. I'm sure it interested a lot of 13 year old boys though ;) I know there are alternative covers out there that are a better representation of the awesomeness that's within, but this particular one blows.

Anyhoo," I'm all fired up to read the next one...all fired up!"

Just a side note: Since my initial review they have changed the cover art on both Eon and Eona!
  


 Yay! Much better :)

Grade: A

Tithe (The Modern Faerie Tales #1) by Holly Black

Book Description

Publication Date: March 23, 2004 | Series: Modern Faerie Tale

Welcome to the realm of very scary faeries! Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

My Review

Okay, first off...This series really shouldn't be in the YA category. It's a little too potty mouthed, sprinkled with sexual situations and use of drugs. Not to say that the youth of today is oblivious to this type of subject matter...I'm just sayin',... to all you mamma's out there that are screening stuff for your younger teens, this would probably be a no go.
With that said. This series was just okay for me. It wasn't life changing nor was the writing rockin' my world, but it held my attention and I was interested in what would transpire next.
That was pretty much my consensus for the entire series.

Grade C+

The Iron Witch (The Iron Witch #1) by Karen Mahoney

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 2011 | Series: The Iron Witch Series (Book 1)

When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed Donna Underwood’s father and drove her mother mad. Her own nearly fatal injuries were fixed by alchemy—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. Now seventeen, Donna feels like a freak, doomed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. Only her relationship with her best friend, Navin, is keeping her sane.

But when vicious wood elves abduct Navin, Donna is forced to accept her role in the centuries-old war between human alchemists and these darkest outcasts of Faerie. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous guy with faery blood running through his veins and secrets of his own, Donna races to save Navin—even if it means betraying everything her parents fought to the death to protect.

My Review

This book was pretty forgettable. I'm sure if you ask me about this book after this weekend I won't even be able to tell you the characters names or the basic premise.

 I didn't care about any of main characters. Their back stories were very glossed over, so I didn't give a rip about their "pain and anguish." Plus the stuff they were whining about was soooooo stupid. "I have these awful iron tattoo's and everyone thinks I'm a freak!" and "Oh, me too! You feel my pain." Blech! I don't pretend to be a writer (actually I am pretty horrible), nor do I fancy myself a literary critic. Thus, I won't go into a huge diatribe about how this book failed. You just have to take my word for it. If you MUST read this book, do what I did and get it from your local public library.

Grade: C

The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1) by Caitlin Kittredge

Book Description

Publication Date: February 22, 2011 | Series: The Iron Codex (Book 1)

In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.
     Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.

 

My Review

This book was a nice change of pace from the typical YA stuff that’s out there. Sure there was the typical ‘I’m super special and beautiful but everyone thinks I’m a freak,’ protagonist and the usual quasi-love triangle between her (male) best friend and the new male ‘hero’ in her life...okay there’s that, BUT, there is so much more! I loved that Ms. Kittredge combined the worlds of Steampunk, Faery, and Elfin. A bold, creative move that totally worked for me.
I agree with a lot of the reviewers that the book moved at a much slower pace then most YA novels but that was just fine with me as it held my attention throughout. I will admit it took me about 50 pages to get going but once I got into Kittredge’s world the rest of the book was smooth sailing. There were a few spots were I thought the author lingered a little to long as well a couple of spots where she could have spent a little more time. I honestly think this book could have been cut by about 100 pages and still be stellar...but this was her first novel for young readers, so of course I will cut her and her editor some slack. I look forward to the next book in this series as it has a lot of promise.

Grade: B

Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2011 | Series: Unearthly

When Clara Gardner learns she’s part angel, her entire life changes. She now has a purpose, a specific task she was put on this earth to accomplish, except she doesn’t know what it is. Her visions of a raging forest fire and a mysterious boy lead her to a new high school in a new town but provide no clear instruction. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between the boy in her vision and the boy in her life, between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. . . . When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?


My Review

When I started reading this book I had just finished up Elfland which had just blown my mind...so, it was a little hard to slip back into the YA angel mode. I realized I needed to let go and be a little more fair with this story then I was initially letting myself be. With that said; I really liked this book.
I know I like a book when I finish the last page, and I sort of sigh, and feel a little bummed if I can't move onto the next book straight away.

Digression and side note: I am a total series freak. I lurvs me a good series!

I am anticipating what the author is going to do in the next novel 'Hallowed'. What on earth will happen between Clara and Tucker, or Clara and Christian? Will her brother get more of a roll in the next book? What's going to happen with her mother? There seemed to be a lot of history with her and the blackwing Sam, hmmmm. I suspect someone close to clara is going to become/be a blackwing?... I'm just waiting for it.
If you enjoy the whole angel genre then you'll love this book! She gives a bit of a different spin on the whole nephilim thing. Plus, kuddos to the author for not making the angel blood(s) some sort of ueber sexy a-hole type. Ehhem, Patch ringing any bells to anyone? Just sayin'.

Grade: B+

Elfland (Aetherial Tales #1) by Freda Warrington

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2010 | Series: Tor Fantasy

Elfland is an intimate, sensual novel of people—both human and Aetherial—caught between duty and desire. It is a story of families, and of Rose Fox, a woman born to magic but tormented by her place in her adopted world.

Led by Auberon Fox, a group of Aetherials—call them the Fair Folk, if you will—live among us, indistinguishable from humans. Every seven years, on the Night of the Summer Stars, Lawrence Wilder, the Gatekeeper, throws open all gates to the Other World. But this time, something has gone wrong. Wilder has sealed the gates, warning of a great danger lurking in the realm beyond them. The Aetherial community is outraged. What will become of them, deprived of the home realm from which their essential life force flows?

Rose Fox and Sam Wilder are drawn to the lands beyond the gates, even as their families feud over Lawrence’s refusal to do his duty. Struggling with their own too-human urges, they discover hidden truths that draw them together in a forbidden alliance. Only by breaching the dreaded gates and daring the danger beyond can they confront that which they fear most— their otherness—and claim their birthright.

My Review

This was really a great book! I think one has to be a fan of British sci-fi and fairy tales; as they do have a different style and feel. I look forward to reading her next novel 'Midsummer Night'. It appears to be a companion book and not a sequel to Elfland.

Grade: B+

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Book Description

Publication Date: September 14, 2008 | Series: The Hunger Games (Book 1)

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

My Review

Here's the Love:
Bravo Suzanne Collins! I can't wait to see what you put out there next. It was (almost) very believable ;) I loved that the protagonist wasn't whiny or sappy. Nor was she too tough and cold. I fell in love with all of the characters. They were written beautifully. Great descriptive writing.
This is an amazing book!
The distopian theme within novels and movies has always interested me. One can go in so many directions with it. I am not a huge fan of reality T.V. and so I appreciate the authors critic on our present society and the potential danger that YouTube and other Reality T.V. shows have on our youth... the children are our future you know ;)  The story's main theme focuses on the sickness of voyeurism and how it has fueled society. I won't go into a huge diatribe and rant on and on about this subject. I will end this by writing, just go read the series if your haven't already!!!
Here's the Hate:
Honestly, I have nothing negative to say about this book (or series). There wasn't a point in which the story dragged, no inconsistencies...nothing! I was pure awesomeness!

Grade: A