Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.

Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.

Hardcover, 295 pages  Published September 4th 2012 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

ISBN  0374373663 (ISBN13: 9780374373665)

Last year here on the site we read Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan for a book club pick. This book, like that one, revolves mostly around the idea of sea creatures coming to live on land. The story follows a 17 year old, Hester, and the “love curse” that has fallen upon her family. We learn about the curse through flashbacks to Syrenka’s life and Hester’s research.  Monstrous Beauty is a historical fantasy fiction with a few paranormal twists; a very unique read that is full of mythology, detailed research for historical accuracy and yet draws on the emotions of a mystery/detective novel.

With some subject matter that is more appropriate for more mature readers, Monstrous Beauty takes us through a tumultuous story of a young Hester. With this curse put upon her family, she has rejected the idea of finding love for herself, yet is still drawn to two different boys as she tries to solve the mystery of the curse.

After reading several mermaid books this year, what caught my attention was the mermaids’ connection to the land and I loved the mythology behind Syrenka’s life. Elizabeth Fama’s version of the mermaid is dark, terrifying and completely engrossing. Hester on the other hand is portrayed as naive and emotional but I found it was fitting for the time setting. With a young girl trying to solve a century plus old curse, the switching between the past and present helped build the tension as the story grew. The reader will question when, if ever, Hester will catch up to what we already know. 

When Hester does put the clues together it is a very dramatic and fast paced ending with plenty of paranormal activity.  I was not expecting ghosts to show up in a mermaid story, but with several supernatural elements blending in, it makes for a very unique and interesting read.

Bee is an orphan who lives with a carnival and sleeps in the back of a tractor trailer. Every day she endures taunts for the birthmark on her face—though her beloved Pauline, the only person who has ever cared for her, tells her it is a precious diamond. When Pauline is sent to work for another carnival, Bee is lost.

Then a scruffy dog shows up, as unwanted as she, and Bee realizes that she must find a home for them both. She runs off to a house with gingerbread trim that reminds her of frosting. There two mysterious women, Mrs. Swift and Mrs. Potter, take her in. They clothe her, though their clothes are strangely out of date. They feed her, though there is nothing in their house to eat. They help her go to school, though they won’t enter the building themselves. And, strangely, only Bee seems able to see them.

Whoever these women are, they matter. They matter to Bee. And they are helping Bee realize that she, too, matters to the world–if only she will let herself be a part of it.

This tender novel beautifully captures the pain of isolation, the healing power of community, and the strength of the human spirit.

Hardcover, 336 pages  Published February 12th 2013 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

When orphaned Bee is abandoned by her only guardian Pauline,she is stuck working the hot-dog stand with a travelling carnival. Because of Bee’s birthmark that covers a huge portion of her face, she has always been shy and bullied. It’s not long before her last and only friend also leaves the circus to take on a more steady job. When the owner suggests that Bee could be bringing in money for the carnival by becoming a part of the oddity exhibits because of her looks, Bee takes a stand and decides to leave and find herself a home of her own. With only a dog and a pig, Bee wanders off on foot looking for what she always imagined would be a perfect house.

Since she lost her parents Bee has always seen glimpses of a mysterious old woman. Until recently, she had never spoken to her and nobody but Bee could see the woman in the floppy hat. As Bee travels through a random town,  it seems that she is being guided by the woman. She is led to the house of her dreams and is soon introduced to Mrs Potter and Mrs Swift, who take her in. But when a nosy neighbour begins asking too many questions and Mrs Potter and Mrs Swift never seem to be around, Bee ends up having to grow up quickly, cooking and managing the house by herself. 

Beholding Bee is a very heart warming story and the companionship that Bee finds along the way is endearing. There are some similarities to the stories of Nanny McPhee, with a little less humour but a lot of heart. Bee eventually ends up attending school, making a great friend and building her life up to what she has always hoped it would be.

Set during the great depression, there is an emphasis on the history of women’s rights and a theme of learning how to take care of one-self and becoming a stronger person. As the saying goes “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Jamie Carpenter’s life will never be the same. His father is dead, his mother is missing, and he was just rescued by an enormous man named Frankenstein.

Jamie is brought to Department 19, where he is pulled into a secret organization responsible for policing the supernatural, founded more than a century ago by Abraham Van Helsing and the other survivors of Dracula. Aided by Frankenstein’s monster, a beautiful vampire girl with her own agenda, and the members of the agency, Jamie must attempt to save his mother from a terrifyingly powerful vampire.

“Department 19” takes us through history, across Europe, and beyond – from the cobbled streets of Victorian London to prohibition-era New York, from the icy wastes of Arctic Russia to the treacherous mountains of Transylvania.

Part modern thriller, part classic horror, it’s packed with mystery, mayhem, and a level of suspense that makes a Darren Shan novel look like a romantic comedy.

Hardcover, 489 pages Published March 1st 2011 by HarperCollins ISBN 0007354452 (ISBN13: 9780007354450)

After witnessing his father’s death, Jamie and his mother go on the run, until one day they are caught by two different groups. His mother is kidnapped by the enemy, and he is taken in by the same group his father belonged to, Department 19. Jaime is determined, not matter what it takes, and no matter who gets in his way, to rescue his mother.

Although Jamie is the main character and the story really revolves around him finding his mother, we do get to meet a lot of different character as it goes along. Jumping from perspectives and groups gives the reader a fully-rounded picture of what is happening on each side of this battle.

The author plays on real myths and stories from history to build this narrative, and by doing so, brings in a very classic storyline into a very modern story. The groups’ past, and their current day struggles are very well researched and there are a lot of interesting topics interwoven with a very believable take on what a modern vampire could be.

This book is rather large at just under 500 pages. It contains a lot of world building and is very much a book for those who enjoy detailed war stories; weapons, kidnappings, international travel, conspiracies, and the history behind the groups and wars of the past and current.

I think this book lived up 100% to my expectations of it.  I loved the vampires, the histories and how the departments have changed to today. The only thing that flawed the story was my connection to Jamie. His character felt a little flat, besides his determination to find his mother. I really didn’t get to see a developed character, or as much growth as I would have hoped for. What I did find is that Frankenstein had plenty of humour and personality to make up for Jamie’s lack!

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

Hardcover, 237 pages  Published February 19th 2013 by HarperTeen  ISBN 0062135317 (ISBN13: 9780062135315)

Twins, Annie and Fia’s, story is told from alternating perspectives. The majority of the story unfolds in flashback sequences to give the reader the facts and help build the plot of the current day situation. 

Annie is blind but has visions of events. Not exactly events that predict the future, but things that could possibly happen if certain situations play out. Fia on the other hand has the power of intuition.

The story focuses on Fia saving Annie. They are very close and their first and foremost thoughts are always about each other’s welfare. Several times throughout the story Annie warns Fia of visions she has, but even though Fia has the power of instinct, she doesn’t observe Annie’s warnings.

The girls are highly flawed characters. They both seem lost and depressed, as if they are searching for something to replace the loss of their parents. Throughout the story, Fia is taught the skills of an assassin at the school they attend, but it’s against her will, as the school master keeps Annie to make Fia do their bidding.

I found this book very unusual and unique. The “abilities/powers” these girls have are not exactly laid in concrete. This does lead to some confusion in the storyline. Fia acts on initial feelings, but she herself is all over the place emotionally and at any time, may have the instinct to fight or flight. Being highly strung, she tends to act out her emotions by partying and trying to mentally escape her situation.

Many of you may recognize the author from her Paranormalcy series which has a lot of humour, fun antics, great characters and a kick ass heroine. While this story does have a bad ass girl at the fore-front, all the characters in this book are highly flawed, and there is very little humour. Definitely something different than other paranormal books that take place in a private-school setting. It’s dark and and full of emotionally driven characters.

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

After being rejected from Eden for being a vampire, Allison makes the decision to follow the callings of her maker, Kanin. Kanin is currently being tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. Allie can feel Kanin’s pain through their blood connection, and it’s drawing her to him.

During her travels she comes across Jackal, and gets mixed up in the search for an abandoned laboratory that is now infested with Rabids. Allison must use her Katana skills to protect herself. 

She learns that Sarren is connected to the new danger that has taken over New Covington; something deadly that is affecting not only the humans, but vampires. She finds herself going back home, a place she never thought she’d ever return to.

With a lot of travelling, action scenes and twists to the plot, the story is progressed through the dialogue and connections between the characters. Dark secrets, lies and hidden agendas all come to a head by the end. Humor and emotions are relayed through the voices of the characters giving this story a fun and action-filled read.

Allison’s quest is to find her master and save not only him, but help to find a cure to save everyone from the Red Lung Virus. The pull to be both vampire, yet still connect with the human side, is a constant dilemma for her.

The Eternity Cure is a story with a truly evil villain, and a main character who still shows her human vulnerability in her concern for the well being of others.

Hardcover, 446 pages  Expected publication: April 30th 2013 by Harlequin Teen

ISBN  0373210698 (ISBN13: 9780373210695)