American Katie Green has decided to stay in Japan. She's started to build a life in the city of Shizuoka, and she can't imagine leaving behind her friends, her aunt and especially Tomohiro, the guy she's fallen in love with. But her return is not as simple as she thought. She's flunking out of Japanese school and committing cultural faux pas wherever she goes. Tomohiro is also struggling—as a Kami, his connection to the ancient gods of Japan and his power to bring drawings to life have begun to spiral out of control.

When Tomo decides to stop drawing, the ink finds other ways to seep into his life—blackouts, threatening messages and the appearance of unexplained sketches. Unsure how to help Tomo, Katie turns to an unexpected source for help—Jun, her former friend and a Kami with an agenda of his own. But is Jun really the ally he claims to be? In order to save themselves, Katie and Tomohiro must unravel the truth about Tomo's dark ancestry, as well as Katie's, and confront one of the darkest gods in Japanese legend.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've been looking forward to this book since I finished Ink, about a year ago.  As the count down for it's release came closer, I became more and more excited.

When I actually received the book, I was actually nervous about starting it.  Ink was one of my top 10 books from last year, and I was worried that I had built up my excitement for the sequel - and I didn't want to be disappointed.

I have to say this... I was worried for nothing.  Holy freaking fluff balls, this book... I had to compose myself so I could put my feelings for it into words.

I don't know how she did it, but Rain was much better than Ink... which is saying a lot, because I loved the first book.  Maybe it's because I already knew the characters, so she could get more into the story, but I think it's because their was more folklore in this one.

There was still a lot of action, with the kendo matches and ink, the romance felt more intense, and their was one character that I wanted to jump into the book and shake because they were so selfishly cruel.  Just like both Shadow and Ink, I couldn't put this one down.  (Who needs sleep when you're reading a good book, am I right?)

Absolutely loved this story.  It will definitely make it into my top books again this year.  I cannot wait to read the third one next summer.

There’s something evil in Deadwood Park. 

Martin Cruz hates his rotten new town. Then he gets a message from a tree telling him it’s cursed — and so is he. It’s not just any tree. It’s the Spirit Tree, the ancient beech the high school football team carves to commemorate the home opener. And every year they lose.

But the curse is no game, and it gets worse. Businesses fail. Trees topple like dominos. Sinkholes open up in the streets, swallowing cars and buildings. Even people begin to fade, drained of life. 

Martin teams up with know-it-all soccer star Hannah Vaughan. Together they must heal the tree, or be stuck in Deadwood Park at the mercy of the psycho who cursed it.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I could lie and tell you that I picked this book to review just to read to my son at bedtime, but I totally wanted to read it for myself.  Although we both enjoyed it, there were parts of it that were a little scary for him.  It's a story that's more for readers who are better able to separate fiction from reality.

As a gamer, I was quickly drawn into the story.  The story opens with Martin, stuck living with one of his relatives because his mom has been deployed to Afghanistan, wishing he could be online playing a RPG with his friends.  He's not even allowed to play so he, instead, pretends to be his character from the game.

Toward the beginning you discover that the spirit tree, called that because the jocks carve their school spirit into it every year, is actually magical.  It communicates with Martin and another kid his age, Hannah, telling them there's a curse and they need to break it to heal the town.

The use of magic mixed with technology was interesting, as the spirit tree used text messages to communicate with the children.  I also enjoyed when the focus of the story went to the tree, telling part of the story from it's perspective.

I highly recommend this book, and it's a wonderful read for middle graders.

THE SILVER SICKLE is for fans of steampunk, cyberpunk, Veronica Roth, Scott Westerfield, and Allie Condie.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
The end of humanity will come through the Silver Sickle . . .

Farissa lives every moment with reckless abandon, for it may be her last. Any day now, the alien goddesses will harvest her and take her to the mysterious Silver Sickle, never to return. She’s accepted that. What she can’t accept is this new idea of freedom Zel has planted in her head. She’d give almost anything to be with Zel, but how can she run from her destiny if it means putting the whole kingdom in danger?

Everyone in the desert kingdom believes the goddesses are immortal, but Zel has invented a way to kill them. Now all he has to do is convince Farissa to run away with him and plant a seed of hope in her heart that she’s not destined to die. Little does he know that one seed of hope could change the course of the future.

I was given a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

After getting past the first couple of chapters, I couldn't help but be drawn into the world created in this story.  It's one of the most unique I have ever read, a science fiction spin on something from Arabian Nights.

Farissa is an awesome heroine.  She is freaking amazing with the things she's able to do, but she also feels real.  There's so much she goes through, and the parts between her and Zel were some of my favorites.  Zel is, hands down, my favorite.  He's smart, devoted to Farissa, and I would want him on my side if I were in this story.

Then there's the Amar and Cogsmen, their whole part of this was just... oh my freaking gawd.  Absolutely loved what the author came up with in regards to those characters.  I found the use of aliens worshiped as gods to be fascinating.

I would love to read more from this world, especially more about the Cogsmen.  Highly recommend this to both science fiction and fantasy lovers. 

Seven years ago, an innocent act by Rowan Slone turned her life into a nightmare. Since the age of ten she's lived with the burden of her baby brother's death. Now she is seventeen and all she wants to do is graduate high school, go to college, and escape the loveless family she has endured all these years—the same family that holds her responsible for his death. But no one holds her responsible more than herself.

When long-time crush Mike Anderson invites her to the Prom, suddenly her future looks brighter. Rowan's younger sister, Trina, however, is determined to ruin her new-found happiness, no matter the cost. And when Rowan discovers her mother’s long-held secret, she finds herself teetering on the edge of an abyss. Can Rowan find the strength to move toward the future or is she doomed to dwell in the past?

***AUDIOBOOK REVIEW***

I was given a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I've listened to audiobooks a lot, but this was my first time doing so using audible from my phone.  I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use.

As for this book - I planned on listening to it throughout the week while I was driving to and from work.  Yeah... that didn't work out.  Once it began, I had a difficult time turning it off.

The main character, Rowan - a 17 year old high school junior, is living her life in constant guilt over the accidental death of her infant brother when she was 10 years old.  She just wants to graduate high school, and go to a college far away from her family so she can move on with her life.

Between the actual story and the narrator, it was enthralling.  Being able to use the audible app meant I could listen to it while I was at work - bad idea.  Not only could I not turn it off, but I was unable to keep myself from bawling.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I agreed to review this book, and I'm glad I did.  It was definitely a story that will stick with me.

A year ago, Aia was found dead in a lake. Fortunately, her rescuer managed to resuscitate her. But how she ended up in the water in the first place, she doesn’t remember. Actually, she doesn’t remember one single thing about her old life from before she died. Now she lives her monotone life by the edge of the Great Forest in which she works hard day in and day out. Up there in Northland beyond the mountains, the war against supernatural beings, humans with strange abilities and all who side with them isn’t quite as visible as in the rest of Bragimark. But when she meets Merian Storm, a privileged student trying to escape her dysfunctional family and the memory of the man she loved, Aia is jerked out of her comfort zone and thrown into a journey across the haunted mountains in search of her past. When entering Merian’s war-torn home in the south, Aia’s role in the war becomes significant and so does her presence in the lives of the Storm family and vice versa – especially Merian’s rogue brother.

I was given a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

At first I wasn't impressed by the story.  The dialogue seemed off, and I wasn't sure about the characters - especially Merian.  She was hard to understand at first.  Seemed a little one-dimensional for a while.  Despite that, I decided to keep reading.  Mostly because of Aia, her story helped keep me interested.

There are editing issues - another thing about this story that made it hard for me to get into it.  Some parts felt like there were things missing, which would make it hard for me to get into it because I was trying to figure out what was going on.

I did really enjoy the romance of this story, especially how it didn't distract from everything else going on.  It made it feel more realistic.

All and all, I did really enjoy the story and I would be interested in reading more.  I recommend it to people who enjoy YA fantasy.

Title: Surrender
Series: The Ferryman + The Flame #1
By: Rhiannon Paille
Published: October 2nd, 2012

Synopsis:
How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn't listen, and because of what she is-- a Flame-- one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

***AUDIOBOOK REVIEW***

I was given a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

There was a lot about this story that I enjoyed.  The author wrote it in a way that I could easily envision it, and I was captivated fairly quickly by it in the beginning.  That is, until the conversations started.  The first one between Kaliel and Krishani felt so awkward - and not in a good way.  Part of the time I wasn't sure who was talking.  Not just between the two of them, this applies to many of the conversations throughout.

I felt the story was sometimes hard to keep up with, at some parts, but then something would happen that would get things back on a good pace and I would get myself back into the story.  The biggest issue I had was the love aspect of it.  I understand why it happened, and what was going on between the two of them - but it just felt weird to me.

I do not feel this story should have been labeled as a YA.  Mature YA or NA would be a better description.

Also, the narrator's emotions stayed consistent during the entirety of it.  For most of the book that was okay, but there were parts where it lessened the mood of everything.  I also found myself having a hard time staying focused during certain parts.  Although, I believe that she did help me to enjoy Surrender more than I would have had I been reading it on my own.

Between the story itself and the narration, I felt this story was interesting - I enjoyed being immersed in Avristar, and I would recommend it to lovers of fantasy.

Thirty years ago the town of Black Rock was nearly destroyed by a fire. The arsonist, teenager Jacob Crowe, has kept the truth behind the blaze a secret... until now. The lone survivor of a fire that took his brother and father, Jacob is unable to forgive himself for leaving his family to die. It is only when he discovers his friend Andrew Danner is something more than human that Jacob sees a way toward redemption. But for Andrew, the life of hero risks exposing his secrets to the world, leading him to question his humanity. Together, Andrew and Jacob will begin a dark journey that leads them from the boys they are, to the men they will become; revealing that the difference between heroes and villains are the lines you’re willing to cross. Written by award-winning novelist Adam Lance Garcia with art by newcomer Heidi Black, SONS OF FIRE is a dark reimagining of the origin of the superhero, exploring the ambiguity of morality and the violent price of power. Because when evil isn’t black and white, even heroes will burn.

I won a copy of this book from a giveaway, and was really excited about it.  It's been a long time since I've read a graphic novel, so I started reading it immediately.  My son knows when I'm reading, he can grab a book and come sit next to me... except he saw the pictures, so he wanted me to read it to him.  Not a good idea!  Haha!  I had to change words... and eventually kick him out of the room, with promises of juice (which he had to drink in the kitchen - mwahaha!), so I could read it without distractions.

I was originally drawn to this from the artwork on the cover.  Unlike most books I review, I'm allowed to judge this one by it's cover!  Heidi Black's drawings were really awesome.  Every page, the artwork stayed consistently awesome - and I am definitely going to have to check out more of her work.

The story line was also pretty interesting.  There were maybe a few parts where I found the wording to be a bit off, but nothing bad.

I do wish it was longer - and I can't wait for the next installment to find out what happens.

What if all you knew about fairy tales was wrong?

Warning: these Grimm Prequels are like snap shots of a magical land you're about to visit soon. I like to think of them as poisoned apples. Once you taste them, you will never see fairy tales in the same light again.

This Grimm Diaries Prequels are a number of short books in the form of epistolary diary entries. The diaries are more of teasers for the upcoming series: The Grimm Diaries, allowing you to get a glimpse of what to expect of the series. The 6 diaries are told by The Evil Queen, Peter Pan, Little Red Riding Hood, the Devil, Prince Charming, and Alice Grimm 
The first book in the Series will be out in February 2013, called SNOW WHITE SORROW.

Series Description:
The Grimm Diaries are pages written in a Book of Sand, where each fairy tale character confessed the true stories once altered by the Brothers Grimm two centuries ago. To keep the truth about fairy tales hidden, the Brothers Grimm buried the characters in their dreams to never wake up again. But the curse is broken now, and the characters are allowed to wake up every one hundred years. They intend to tell the truth about really happened, and about an untold cosmic conflict between fairy tale characters.

I have always enjoyed the Grimm fairy tales, so I was intrigued by these stories.  I saw there were a lot of mixed reviews, and so I was unsure whether or not I wanted to actually read them.  It wasn't until a request went out to read and give the book an honest review that I finally decided to give into my curiosity.

They started out pretty interesting, a whole spin on the original stories showing that what everything thinks about them is wrong.  That was my favorite part about them.

I wish I could have liked them more, but there were a lot of issues.  There were a couple of pretty good stories, but the rest of them seemed more thrown together and harder to keep up with what was going on in them.

My favorite of them all was the one about Little Red Riding Hood.  It was the one that seemed the most to actually fit as a fairy tale.  The rest had too much pop culture it in, and it really took me out of the story.  I mean... Dracula, named Draco, and reading Harry Potter... it just threw it all off for me.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend this story to anyone until it is fixed up - a lot.  Except the Red Ridding Hood story.  Seriously - it was pretty cool.

In the first instalment of S.M. Lynch's dystopian adult romance series... 

The year is 2063 and Big Brother has control; 40 years previously Officium took over global intelligence, government, supply and policing. In the wake of viral disaster they offered to return the world to order, but at a cost. 

New York journalist Seraph Maddon has been trying to link the death of her British parents to the group that has rinsed the world of all hope - but more than ten years of investigations have turned up nothing. It is only when she leaves her job behind to travel to England for a funeral that she starts to unpick her family’s involvement in a movement known as UNITY. 

Someone intends Seraph to cross paths with Dr Ryken Hardy and when they meet, it is not long before they are running for their lives - their combination a significant threat to those who believe themselves beyond surveillance. 

Seraph’s rollercoaster journey of reawakening and newfound love is a battle to finally break free of the shackles of oppression. Secrets and lies are the norm amongst a frightened population and the truth may be best kept hidden. 

But someone is determined… the truth will out, for better or worse… 

The story continues in UNITY Vol.2, THE INFORMANT 

***THIS BOOK WAS GIVEN TO ME IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***

This book... I need a moment to think.  There was so much going on here.  Not in a bad way even ... but holy crap balls.

The main character, Seraph, is awesome.  Even with all this crap thrown at her, she doesn't let it control her.  I could take some lessons from this woman!

When the guy (not sure if saying his name is a spoiler, so I'm leaving it out) first showed up, I wasn't sure about how I felt about him.  I didn't want to read a story with some romance that changes the story from awesome action to sex all the time.  It was done quite well.

Then there was Camille - she's not what I was expecting either.  I think this book was the most times I was thrown off by an author.

When it got to the end, I may have screamed some obscenities out loud.  Multiple times.  I look forward to seeing what happens in The Informant.

4/5 Platypires

***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fan Site: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.NG #NerdGirlPlatypire’s Review ***

The Crossover is a book about secrets, dark ones. Clay, the lead character, lives in England and rekindles a relationship from 1991 with Monet. They have a secret, his name is Robert. Clay visits his mother in Detroit, Michigan and finds his deceased father's journal from 1959. The last entry in the journal reveals a family secret that involves a dead husband and wife. Their names were Gerald and Delcine. Clay's neighbor, Carl, a London-based detective has a secret that he's keeping from the Press. A secret that's killing single women looking for love online. Carl receives a lead from a star witness who is dying to help. Inspired by true paranormal events.

The Crossover 

I was given this book from Reader Spoils in exchange for an honest review.

It was hard for me to decide on a ranting for this book.

On one side, there were a lot of issues with the writing - conversations were a bit awkward and there were some parts where the story just completely contradicted itself.  It also took a while for me to get into it, and the synopsis doesn't occur until the last 25%.

But then, once the story picked up, it was hard to put down.  The characters were fascinating and I found myself wanting to know more about it.

It has the potential to be a very powerful story.  It just needs to become a little less cluttered.

3/5 Platypires