---

Savannah Colbert has never known why she’s so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It’s as if he’s a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she’s destined to fail.

For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can’t stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

Belinda:

Cover

A sepia picture of a girl in a white strapless gown on a leaf strewn lawn. Her eyes are accented in blue and her hair has slightly auburn tinges. Around the edges of the cover are the foiled images of foliage.

Characters

Though there is a cast of many in Crave, the non-essential players are useful tools to move the storyline along.

Favourite

Emily, mainly because she kept her cool, was supportive but protective all at the same time.

Least Favourite

Savannah’s Mum. If I was going through all the changes Savannah was and my Mum wasn’t there I would be royally p.o’d.

Beginning

The beginning is a little confusing, and makes very little sense until later on.

Storyline

Savannah falls ill and is made aware of her true family heritage upon awakening. The consequences of  her family’s past demons is more than enough to alter her future.

Ending

Finally the beginning makes more sense and that’s all I will say on the matter.

Thoughts

Initially when I started getting into Savannah’s dance club whimsy, I was rolling my eyes. Melissa managed to keep things atypical and I was really getting into the groove of it by the time Tristan entered and added his spice in the mix. Then the whole scenario went to a whole new level.

Score one for the guy following the girl for once!

Quote

“I’m sorry, was there something to actually see?” Savannah to Dylan

Krista:

Savannah Colbert has never known why she’s so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy, Tristan Coleman. Especially, when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It’s as if he’s a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she’s destined to fail.

For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can’t stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

Paperback, 416 pages  Published October 25th 2011 by Harlequin Teen (first published October 18th 2011)

ISBN  0373210353 (ISBN13: 9780373210350)  series: The Clann #1

Cover

I love the colors and the contrast between the background and her dress. The dress does make some sense for the story as the main character is a dancer.

Characters

There is more than just a paranormal romance factor in the story. We get to see great family dynamics as well as the friendships, romance and a generations-long battle that has been happening between creatures living in the world.

Favourite

Savannah was my favorite character. She is a little headstrong in some scenes of the story, especially when it comes to the relationship she has with her father. But I felt all of her reactions and actions were something I myself would do in her situation.

Least Favourite

I agree with Belinda on this one. I, for one, did not like Savannah’s parents. The mother or the father. I was happy to see a novel in which the parents actually take a pretty large role in the story, but the scenes that they were in really made me the most upset. More the father than the mother, but that is how I came to understand Savannah’s actions better as well. The relationship she had with her parents may have been understandable, but at most times they were not very supportive. That is where her grandmother comes into play.

Beginning

In the beginning of the story we learn that both Savannah and Tristan have been feeling really sick lately. Savannah has never been sick a day in her life so the reader knows that something is off.  We also learn that Savannah is bullied and somewhat of an outcast at school, but Tristan is pretty popular and outgoing. And that they have a long past that has been broken somehow.

Storyline

We get alternative perspectives between Savannah and Tristan’s points of view. They have both been feeling ill lately, and because of some long history in their town, there is rumors and mysteries surrounding the Clann. Most of the town is part of this mysterious Clann, and Tristan is from one of the well known Clann families as well as hanging out with the popular girls at school. Savannah used to be best friends with this group, but in the fourth grade something happened and she has been pushed out. When Savannah’s illness takes a turn, her family sits her down to explain to her that nothing she ever could have imagined was happening to her, and everybody in the Clann knows she is different. But her and Tristan have a overpowering attraction to each other that must be confronted.

Ending

This section is the only part I have a hard time commenting about because I hate spoilers. The ending is perfect, it ties up all of the mystery and confusion. This is my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. But I went into it knowing the ending. It’s action packed, mysterious and intriguing. You will definitely want to pick up book two COVET.

Thoughts

My favorite thing about this book is Tristan and Savannah’s “Dream Dates”. These are the parts when these characters seem to really open up for the readers. They are so open and honest with each other, you get the dialogues between Savannah and Tristan in the dream sequences.  There is a good balance of events that happen, great anticipation and I loved all the twists to paranormal aspects that this story brings. Tristan learns a lot of new things about his heritage and Savannah is put through several different tests to determine who she is meant to be.

Quotes

“I understood then why humans have noses. So we can find each other to kiss in the dark.”

Lisa:

Cover

I don’t have very much to say about the US paperback cover. It doesn’t have any connection to the story, at all. This cover is so generic, it could be used for any other Young Adult paranormal novel. Besides having no real meaning (towards the story line), nothing really sticks out or catches your eye when walking by. This cover is such a disappointment, especially since Crave was such an AMAZING read!

Characters

The main character is Savannah who is in the process of changing into a vampire. Though her mom and grandmother are both witches, the vampire inside of her is from her dad’s side of the family. What I thought was the most interesting was the tons of rumors going around that the Clann had some sort of magical powers, which is true, but no one really believed it.

Favorite

I really loved the main character. Savannah wasn’t as dramatic about all the things changing, not only in her appearance, but also her thoughts, emotions, and…cravings as Twilight made vampires seem. She was so down to earth, and that’s what I really liked about her.

Least Favorite

At the beginning of Crave, I had to say my least favorite character was Savannah’s dad. But after finishing the book and learning why he isn’t around as much as a dad should be, I can happily say I don’t dislike any of the characters!

Beginning

Crave seems to start off with a normal teenage girl, going to high school, dealing with not only the daily bullying from the Clann kids who run the school (The Clann, are the decedents of the original founders of the town), but also with her father, who isn’t around. When he is there, he doesn’t care about Savannah or her hobbies.

Story Line

Soon Savannah starts the process of changing into a vampire. At first she assumes it’s just a seasonal flu. But sitting down with her mom, grandmother, and dad (shocker!), she learns a lot about herself, and her family. Her dad is a vampire, her mom and grandmother are witches, and Savannah’s family was part of the Clann, until they were kicked out, due to some of her mother and father’s decisions and life choices.

Ending

Besides dealing with the changes of becoming a vampire, trying to impress her father, and following the directions of her mother, Savannah is having a hard time staying away from the boy she loves, Tristan (who is next in line to become the Clann’s leader). I don’t want to say much more, because I don’t want to ruin the ending for you. Buuut … Savannah doesn’t have a choice, she has to do, what her mother and father didn’t do, stay away from the one she loves.

My Overall Thoughts

his is one of the best books I’ve read this summer! Though the cover isn’t anything special, the story is! The ending is like nothing I’ve read before. Rumors of it being a cliff-hanger are true. But it’s the good kind of cliff-hanger that makes you want to run to the bookstore at midnight in your pajamas just to pick up the next book!

Paperback, 416 pages

Published April 6th 2012 by MiraInk (first published October 18th 2011) ISBN 1848450966 (ISBN13: 9781848450967)

---

---

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what’s normal when you’re a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who’s becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn’t ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary’s only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

Hardcover, 1st Edition, 453 pages

Published March 25th 2008

Margaret K. McElderry Books

ISBN 1416914293 (ISBN13: 9781416914297)

Belinda:

Cover

I found the audio book of City of Ashes in my local Library; the cover is the same as the paperback with a muscular, redhead in a tough girl stance super imposed over the Brooklyn Bridge.

Characters

There are a wide variety of supernatural characters, and though there is political crap to sift through, they work really well together to add depth to the story.

Favourite

Jace (Jonathan). He’s conflicted thanks to his lineage, but lets his morals guide him. He’s a smart mouth, a tough guy, and he’d fight to the death for his adopted family.

Least Favourite

The Inquisitor. It’s one thing to not believe a teenager in an impossible situation, but it is another thing entirely when you do the things she does. Nasty, nasty.

Beginning

Clary’s Mum is in a coma and Jace is facing a situation with his biological father that throws the Lightwood family into chaos.

Storyline

Valentine is up to his old tricks again and it’s Jace, Clary, Isobelle, and Alec’s job to stop him.

Ending

There are answers to be had but you’ll have to read the book, because I don’t want to spoil it for you.

Thoughts

I tried to get my hands on the first book, City of Bones, so I could lead into City of Ashes… not only were there no copies on the shelves in any of my local stores, but the holdings list for the library was impressive, and after listening to City of Ashes, I now understand why.

This series is gritty and will tear at your heart. It will be interesting to see if the good guys win in the end. At the moment all bets are off.

Quote

Rather than a quote, I dedicate the song What You Want, especially the film clip to the book. The two really mesh, and the lyrics are so relevant it gives me goose bumps.

Krista:

Cover

I love the covers for all of the Cassandra Clare books, the colors are beautiful and there is really a lot of detail.

Characters

This series contains an ensemble of characters that come into play. Some readers find it overwhelming, but I for one love getting to know each of them and their relationships with each other.

Favourite

Luke is by far my favorite character. He is the only father figure that Clary knows. In the first book the reader is a little unclear what his position will turn out to be. But the relationships that form between Jocelyn (Clary’s Mother), Luke and Clary are my favorite.

Least Favourite

This early in the series I think it would be Magnus that is my least favorite. This does change later on, but in City of Ashes he seems really smug and indifferent to the rest of the group. He definitely is a personality type that you have to get used to.

Beginning

The end of book one really left us off with a crazy whirlwind of events. This book jumps right into where we left off with Clary having her world turned upside down. The beginning here will introduce us again to what transpired in the first book and focus on the whereabouts of Valentine and Jace.

Storyline

Jace is torn between his fellow Shadowhunters who have taken him in, and the return of his father Valentine into his life. Clary is pulled in several different directions as well with her mother in a magical coma, and learning who her real father is. She is not ready to lose Jace completely but starts to really feel like she belongs among the Shadowhunters.

Ending

Cassandra Clare has an amazing way of building up to an intense climax with each book. Several different events take place and lead into what could possibly happen in the next book. Not exactly a cliffhanger, but something that will make you say WOW!

Thoughts

There is a lot of action, great plot and fabulous writing style. There is a constant flow of action and entertainment until the last page.
My absolutely favorite part of this particular story was the relationship between Simon and Jace. And, oh boy, does Simon go through a lot of stuff in this one!

Valentine is a creepy and well written villain as well. He has the potential to be a real Voldemort. I really loved to hate him.

Quotes

“Look,” Luke went on, “In all the years I’ve known him, there’s always been exactly one place Simon wanted to be, and he’s always fought like hell to make sure he got there and stayed there.”
“Where’s that?”
“Wherever you were.”

“I keep thinking about blood, I dream about it. Wake up thinking about it. Pretty soon I’ll be writing morbid emo poetry about it.” – Simon

Lisa:

Cover

Every single book in this entire series is an eye catcher! Doesn’t matter if you pick up the Hardback or the Paperback copy; they both look A-MAZING! But my favorite part about this series, has to be the way they look together on my shelf. After purchasing all of Cassandra Clare’s books, you do have quite a shelf full!

Characters

I love all of the characters. from the love triangle between Clary, Jace and Simon to the evilness of Valentine.

Favorite

Jace or Simon would have to be my favorite (I guess I’m in a little triangle of my own). I love how sweet Simon can be to Clary, he is just the kind of guy they will always be there for her. While Jace is Clary’s starcrossed lover, and part-time badass, with a motorcycle!

Least Favorite

I don’t really dislike any characters in this book, but Maryse (mother of Isobelle, Alec and Max) did frustrate me a few times throughout the story. I wish she’d have believed, trusted and stood by Jace’s side more often!

Beginning

Jace is living with the Lightwoods, while he is having problems with his father Valentine. Clary is living with Luke, as her mother is in a coma. Clary is also having feelings for her best friend Simon. Not liking the first book in the series, The City of Bones, I think caused me to start reading this book very skeptically, which ended up making me feel that the beginning of this book was simply okay.

Story Line

Valentine is starting to build a army. With almost no help Jace and Clary and a few others (Luke, Isobelle, Alec and Simon) try to stop him before things go to far, and time runs out. Spending a lot of time together, Clary and Jace start to rekindle their feelings for one another, causing jealousy from Simon. The relationships were very interesting and about 1/5 of the way through the book, I start enjoying and loving the story!

Ending

It’s almost hard, describing the ending, without giving away too much, but I’ll try my best anyways! Defeating Valentine and most of his evil plans, Jace proves Maryse wrong, and that he deserves her trust and respect. Things and especially relationships (not just love ones, but also biological ones) may not be what they seem! 🙂

My Overall Thoughts

Disliking the first book, caused me to go into The City of Ashes with a bad taste in my mouth. I didn’t really enjoy the beginning but once things started heating up, I couldn’t (and didn’t really want to) put the book down. I can’t wait to see how the series continues, and how things between Clary, Jace and Simon work out!

http://www.cassandraclare.com/

Audiobook, 11 Discs

Published April 1st 2010 by Bolinda Publishing (first published January 1st 2008)

ISBN139781742338484

---

---

Everything burns in Pandemonium, a city in Hell made of chrome and steel, where there is no future and life is an expanse of frozen time. That’s where Daphne lives.

The daughter of a demon and a fallen angel, she wonders what lies in store for her. Will she become a soulless demon like her sisters? Or follow in the footsteps of her brother Obie, whose life is devoted to saving lost souls on Earth? All she wants is to find a place where she belongs.

When Obie saves a bleeding, broken boy named Truman from the brink of death and then suddenly goes missing, Daphne runs away to Earth to find him. But on Earth, everything is colder and more terrifying, and Daphne struggles between her demon instincts and her growing—yet achingly unfamiliar—feelings for Truman. As Daphne and Truman search for Obie, they must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in their way. But Daphne also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

Paperback, Australia and United Kingdom, 368 pages

Published January 5th 2012 by Simon & Schuster UK

ISBN 0857070789 (ISBN13: 9780857070784)

Belinda:

Cover

Krista and Lisa have (as far as I know) the US version of this book, the title is different and so is the cover art.

On the UK / Australian version, Smoulder is the title and the cover is reminiscent of the metal garden Lilith is in, in every scene. In the background, is the depiction of Pandemonium; a blazing city. There is also a pleasant looking girl glancing to her right wearing a pink dress. I would assume this is Daphne.

Characters

I was not overly fond of the characters in this book. There seemed to be an overabundance of nasty characters and too few relatable ones I could learn to like.

Favourite

Petra. She’s kind to Daphne and is given hell for it. In an environment so full of nastiness and evil, the kindness is a nice change.

Least Favourite

Beelzebub. Mainly because he knew stuff, and though he thought his actions were deeply rooted in love, the actions, however, are really rotten.

Beginning

Daphne’s brother, Obie, leaves Pandemonium to live on Earth to be with the love of his life Elizabeth.

Storyline

Lilith loses her psychic connection with Obie and the duty of finding him falls on Daphne.

Ending

Daphne must find Truman, one of the only people she knows who may know of the whereabouts of Obie. But finding Obie isn’t the only challenge ahead of her.

Thoughts

It was difficult to get into this novel to begin with. Trying to imagine places that were a little too far out of the reach of my mind and trying to feel compassion for a character I really didn’t give two hoots about made for some slow reading.

When the child, Raymie, came into the mix, I was finally brought into the plot in a way I could grasp, and the storyline picked up the pace.

This wasn’t my favourite book of the year so far; but it wasn’t a complete waste of time. I’m interested enough see what would happen if there is a second book.

Quotes

“Not God,” the baby whispers in a weird, creaking voice, dusty like the room. “I’m Raymie.”

Krista:

Cover

The US cover has a beautiful maroon/reddish coloring and the silver flourish is all raised. I have to say that the cover appealed to me immediately before I read the summary. Gorgeous, and fits the mood of the story.

Characters

Mostly recognizable names from religions and myths. Stories of Adam and Eve, heavenly angels and Lucifer himself.

Favourite

Daphne is my favorite character because she never put on a front. She was always true to who she was, although at times confused. The emotions that humans feel are new to her and she has a hard time understanding what they are. But in the end, she is bold, determined and stands up for what she feels is the right thing to be doing. Raymie was a very close second favorite!

Least Favourite

It is always difficult to find a character that I don’t like unless they stand out. I had a hard time trying to figure this one out in this book and even though he is such a minor character I would have to choose Adam. For turning away his son.

Beginning

The unique setting of Pandemonium in the beginning of the story, really does set the mood of the novel with the stories behind daily routines, and a feeling of unending monotony. It surprised me that Earth could be considered scarier than Hell. I began to wonder how the rest of the story is going to go when the main character would prefer to stay in Hell than experience Earth.

Storyline

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. When her brother Obie is kidnapped,  Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to Earth. With the help of Truman, the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne discovers clues to Obie’s whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human.

Ending

The ending was a perfect match for this book. I was happy to see a stand alone book that wrapped up well with an ending that made me feel content.

Thoughts

This story ended up to be more than I expected. It was dark and grim and brimming with legends, beliefs, folklore, myths, tales, and symbolism. The writing was beautiful and the characters pensive and haunting. It’s by far one of my favorites reads of the year.

Quote

“I’ve never been impulsive. It’s always been in my nature to consider things carefully and then decide upon the best solution. Except, sometimes the circumstances change. Sometimes things get so complicated and so bad that your nature just doesn’t matter anymore.”

“It’s not the wisest thing – love – but when it happens, there’s not a lot you can do to stop it. Sometimes you just have to soldier on through.”

Lisa:

Cover

The U.S. of The Space Between is like no other; it’s incomparable! The immense detail put into the foreground (looking closely you can see all of the roses scattered around her, and she is even holding one in her hand!), the blood red back drop, and the pale white girl laying front and center all set the mood for the story. Even though, I’m not the girl for scary or creepy covers, I have to admit, I really like this one!

Characters

I really enjoyed all of the characters, including Daphne (and the way she didn’t want to be, who she is; a demon), Truman (and the way he is broken, just looking for a way out), Lilith (and her tendency not to care about her daughter) and even little baby Raymie (and her intelligence). The Space Between did include A LOT of characters, so I do recommend reading it a bit slower, so things don’t become confusing.

Favorite

This is a hard one, I would have to pick either Raymie or Truman. Truman because of how broken down he is. He lost his mother and only has his step-father left (who by all means is a good guy!), and is looking for a way out of his nightmares. Raymie because she’s just a baby, but yet can talk, communicate and understand everything she is told.

Least Favorite

Lilith = bad mothering.

Beginning

The Space Between was action packed and filled to the brim with information and intensity! The beginning of the story was where we learn about Daphne, who she is, who her mother and sisters are, and what they do – entice humans, and use them for their own good. I feel that The Space Between’s beginning did an awesome job at hooking me into the story and it’s characters. It made me want to read more, and see what happens.

Story Line

Daphne is a demon girl, she isn’t like her other sisters, who go to earth to find and seduce men for their own good. The only reason she wants to go to earth, is to get her only brother back.  On her mission, Daphne looks for clues, and the biggest one, is a suicidal boy named Truman. She denies having feelings for him, not wanting to become like her mother or her sisters, but soon she can’t hide it anymore.

Ending

I know this is going to be such a girly thing to say, but even with all of this action going on with Obie being missing, the demons coming after Truman and Daphne, I was more enticed by their relationship than anything else! So in the ending I was extremely happy to see both Truman and Daphne accepting and pursuing their feelings towards one another!

Overall Thoughts

The Space Between wasn’t originally on my “To Be Read” list, but I’m really glad we decided to put it into our book club. This isn’t really a book for summer, it doesn’t include beaches, or the sun, but if you’re looking for something a bit dark but yet romantic in a way, this is the book 🙂 I hope you guys pick it up and enjoy it as much as I did!)

---

---

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (August 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545123267
ISBN-13: 978-0545123266

Belinda:

Cover

A tangled forest is depicted in varying shades of blue and peeking through the branches is a wolf. The title in is black and a blood spatter takes the place of the dot of the ‘I’. The print inside the book matches the cover with a blue ink rather than black. At times I found this to be quite off-putting.

Characters

There is a wide variety of characters to be found in Shiver. Some you’ll like, some you’ll love to hate, others are merely window dressing, but they all have their place and they all matter to making the story roll along at a steady pace.

Favourite

Sam. So predictable that I would choose him, but he’s patient and caring. Not to mention he’s kinda cute.

Least Favourite

Beck. You would have expected me to pick Grace’s parents, but no, Beck is the bee in my bonnet for this book. Instead of allowing the pack die out and leaving people to be people, he’s ‘recruiting’ and creating a dangerous situation for the residents of Mercy Falls.

Beginning

Grace is mauled by the local pack of werewolves. She survives, much to the astonishment of the community. She is left with an unnatural intrigue for the wolves who almost ended her life.

Storyline

The storyline is told from both Grace and Sam’s point of view, and I was pleased to see the characters make a go of their unique situation.

Ending

Sam makes a decision which may or may not kill him.

Thoughts

I was a little hesitant to read this book at first, because books that gain so much hype so quickly in the past haven’t done much to win me over.

Shiver really surprised me and I found myself on the last page and so invested in the characters that I was impressed by the power of Maggie Stiefvater’s magic, and a little irritated that I didn’t have the second book ready to go.

My vision isn’t as good as it could be and the thought of the ink being in Green and Red in the other two books is the only thing holding me back from devouring them. I may have to look into getting them out of the library in an audio book format.

Quote

“One happy day for each falling leaf you catch.” Sam’s voice was low.

Lisa:

Cover

In the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, each book has a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L cover! I honestly like these covers so much, I’m having a hard time deciding where I should start! They’re so clean, perfect and describe the book exactly.

I love the font detail, the drop of red (which I’m not to sure if its supposed to represent blood, or not) in every title, is interesting. It really sticks out, and catches the eye. Most people already know this, but the color used on the cover is the same color used to print the inside font. So Shiver’s cover is blue and its font was blue. The cover of Linger is green, so its font is green; same thing with Forever (the third book in the series), except in red.

This is the first time I’ve ever seen something like this. It’s awesome! Even with this, my favorite part of the cover has to be the forest detail in the background> It really ties in the story, that the cover protects.

Characters

I really enjoyed reading about the two main characters (which the whole story was about…duh, Lisa), Grace and Sam. I loved seeing them both grow, and their relationship bloom and develop.

Favorite

Grace!!!! I love her! I’ve liked really liked her throughout the entire series. She’s not the typical teenage girlfriend type … but then again she isn’t dating a typical teenage boy, either.

At the beginning of Shiver, Grace is a good girl, not doing one thing wrong. She has 100% of parent trust. When she finally meets Sam, finds out who he really is, and starts having feelings for him, this changes. Sam spends almost every night in Grace’s bed. Something she would have never even thought about doing it.

Least Favorite

We don’t really get to read or learn much about Grace’s parents, but they would HAVE to be my least favorite characters. I think it’s great when kids have really tight relationships, and they can trust each other with everything. But even with such a great relationship with one another, parents should never just leave their daughter all alone by herself most of the day.

So it wasn’t necessarily their personality that I didn’t like, but more like their parental skills.

Beginning

I just finished reading the third and final book, Forever, in the series! The Wolves of Mercy Falls is one of my favorite series, its even above the Twilight series.

The story itself is about a teenage girl named Grace. But we do get to learn about one of her past experiences, right up front. When she was younger, she was attacked by a pack of wolves in her backyard. She was dragged to the middle of the forest, where she layed in white snow (which was stained red, from her blood), surrounded by wolves, biting and pulling on her. Until one very special, yellow eyed wolf rescued her.

Story Line

Soon we learned that this wolf, isn’t just any old wolf (besides the fact, that he saved Grace). He’s a boy, a boy named Sam. Just like Sam, the pack who attacked Grace are also humans … just some, more than others.

Ending

Out of the three books, I would have to say this ending was my favorite. I don’t really want to give it away, so I’m not going to say too much. But since Sam is half-wolf, and half-human. depending on the temperature, he changes between the two. When its cold, he changes to a wolf, when warm, human.

Overall Thoughts

Before reading this, I had just finished the Twilight series, and was looking for something new to indulge in. In the Twilight series, I discovered a fancy towards werewolves, Team Jacob! So I was looking for something that had werewolves in it; preferably no vampires. I’m not sure how I stumbled across this series, maybe through blogging, youtube, friends, or maybe just through the library.

But I’m glad I did! I hope Maggie Stiefvater continues this series, or at least writes another book, I would be the first to buy it!

Krista:

Cover

I like that the covers are simple and each book in the series is a separate color. My favorite thing is that the writing inside the book (at least the US copies) are also in different colors. Shiver is blue. It has a blue cover along with blue writing inside.

Character

Least Favorite

If I had to chose a least favorite, I suppose I would chose Grace’s parents for this one. Maybe her father more than her mother, but their lack of being around and paying attention to what was going on really played a lot into this story. It was necessary for them to be more detached for some of the connections to happen between Grace and Sam.

Favorite

I have to say Sam is my favorite character because I think that he grows the most throughout the story.  His situation is the most desperate and even up until the last page the reader never knows what is going to happen with him. I think he is the character that really drives this story.

Beginning

The book is separated between Sam and Grace’s perspectives, in the beginning and the end we get a lot more of Grace than we do of Sam. The building up of the plot and Grace’s weird connection with the wolves keeps the story rolling with just enough hints to what maybe connecting her to them (the wolves) Even though she was almost murdered by them as a young child.

Storyline

I would not call this story action packed or an intense read. The story delves a lot more into emotions and feelings than adventure. Since Grace was attacked by the wolves as a child and her parents are not a prominent feature in her life, she feels alone and not able to connect with others around her. There have been other attacks on people in her town and she cares more about the welfare of the wolves and not wanting them hunted for their actions. When Sam shows up one day, there is a deeper connection with him than she has ever felt with anybody else, and even though he’s a werewolf, he is the only thing that can fill the void in her life.

Ending

The ending of the story was the  most intense part. A lot of events happen pretty fast and because this is the first book in a series, we don’t get all of the answers that we want. I was caught off guard with some of the things that happened, but happy with others.

Thoughts

I have to admit that I thought a book about werewolves was going to be more intense. But this is something I am labeling under the romance section of my library. It is something that is very emotionally driven. I liked how the romance was handled in the book, they have a strong attraction to each other, but yet I thought the interactions between them in the more private moments were more romantic than the “mushy” love that we sometimes get in books. There were points throughout the story that Grace was not exactly my favorite character, but overall I think that I would have had very similar thoughts if I were in the same situation. I could understand her and what she was feeling.

Quotes

“You’re beautiful and sad,” I said finally, not looking at him when I did. “Just like your eyes. You’re like a song that I heard when I was a little kid but forgot I knew until I heard it again.” For a long moment there was only the whirring sound of the tires on the road, and then Sam said softly, “Thank you.”

“I smiled at the stacks, inhaling again. Hundreds of thousands of pages that had never been turned, waiting for me. The shelves were a warm, blond wood, piled with spines of every color. Staff picks were arranged on tables, glossy covers reflecting the light back at me. Behind the little cubby where the cashier sat, ignoring us, stairs covered with rich burgundy carpet led up to the worlds unknown. ‘I could just live here,’ I said.”

---

---

Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (January 17, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061996181
ISBN-13: 978- 0061996184

Belinda:

Cover

A red haired girl, I assume to be Clara is surrounded by a snow covered forest wearing a nightgown. It makes me feel cold just looking at it.

The cover is overlaid with a lovely, glossy, Celtic or tribal pattern.

Characters

The characters have evolved and moved on from the events of Unearthly and we are introduced to a few new ones.

Favourite

Angela – she’s fearless and hungry for knowledge. She’s outspoken but speaks up for what she believes in.

Least Favourite

I’m going to go out on a limb and pick Michael for my least favourite character. He rubs me the wrong way and though he’s essentially a good character, I just don’t like him.

Beginning

Clara is reeling from the repercussions from Unearthly but is plagued by more visions.

Storyline

Her inner struggle over the new visions and whether to tell the pivotal person they are in danger make for some dramatic chapters.

Ending

The true meaning of the visions becomes clear. Cynthia Hand had me crying and not in a pretty way.

Thoughts

Besides the crying, I enjoyed this novel.  It travelled well and kept me intrigued even through the slightly predictable bits. I would still start with Unearthly though, as some of the character development begins its arc in the first book.

You’re left with hope, and that’s a great feeling after doing the ugly cry.

Quote

“Get your butt in here Carrots.” – Tucker

Krista:

Cover
The U.S. Cover is gorgeous. Just like book one this has a pearl glimmer to it. Very gorgeous.

Characters

Favorite

My favorite character is Billy. Although we don’t get to meet her until later in the story, and she is more of a side character. I hope to see her more prominent in the next book.

Least Favorite

I actually did not have a least favorite character in this book. I enjoyed the placement of all of the characters and they fit very well into their places. If I had to choose one, it would be Christian, just because he knew Clara and Tucker were dating, yet still stuck himself in the middle. Although, if I were in his place I would have done it to – so it’s a love/hate relationship.

Beginning

In the beginning, I was nervous because of how the last book ended. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, and Clara seemed awfully depressed all the time. The new Angel Club that is formed introduces more characters and more details about angels and their abilities into the story. We learn about the way each of them was raised and how it affects their calling and the world they live in.

Storyline

Without causing too many spoilers (because this is the 2nd book in the series), the love triangle between Tucker, Clara and Christian begins to develop more. There is something going on with Clara’s brother. He is being really secretive about and starting to act like an angsty teenager, upset by everything that comes along. The blackwing is still watching all of them, and there is a constant danger whenever they leave the hallowed grounds. They usually travel in groups just in case. And then finally, we get to see an introduction to several new characters whom I enjoyed and hope to see more of in the future.

Ending

There are a lot of sad moments in this book. The further the storyline progressed, the more the focus is taken away from Clara, and it made my heart hurt.The story focuses on three things, the Angel Club, the love triangle and family. The ending in this book was so sad, I had to keep tissues nearby. I guess mostly because we as the reader are brought the knowledge of what may be happening early in the book, but I think we have the hopes up that maybe something is going to happen to stop it. A lot of events happen all together and it will make you rethink a lot about what we learned about the characters in the first book.

Thoughts

My overall thoughts on the story is that it is one of the best versions of an Angel story out there. I think there is more to it than just the love triangle, even though that is in the forefront of what is happening. If you look beyond that you will see each character’s experiences and growth. This is not just a story about Clara and who she is going to choose. It’s a story about a family, albeit not a normal family, but nonetheless one that focuses on living life for the better and making those decisions that influence all of them – not just selfish ones. There is is a very sad tone to this part of the story, it was very well written and something that I did not see coming. I really enjoy the fact that I got something little deeper, even though it did break my heart.

Quotes
“There’s nothing more inspiring than the complexity and beauty of the human heart.”

“I’ve learned that a storm isn’t always just bad weather, and a fire can be the start of something. I’ve found out that there are a lot more shades of gray in this world than I ever knew about. I’ve learned that sometimes, when you´re afraid but you keep on moving forward, that’s the biggest kind of courage there is. And finally, I’ve learned that life isn’t really about failure and success. It’s about being present, in the moment when big things happen, when everything changes, including myself.”

---