paranormal YA Archives | Page 2 of 4

Book Review | School Spirits | Rachel Hawkins

Aug 15

I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Book Review | School Spirits | Rachel Hawkins

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
Series: School Spirits #1
Published by Disney Hyperion on May 14, 2013
Genres: Contemporary YA, Horror & Ghost Stories, Paranormal YA, Young Adult
Pages: 297
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher via NetGalley
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Goodreads
four-stars

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy’s mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who’s always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins’ delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as theNew York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Reviews, Young Adult Tagged With: Disney-Hyperion, paranormal YA, Rachel Hawkins, series

Book Review: Spirit by Bridgid Kemmerer

Jul 15

Title: Spirit
Author: Brigid Kemmerer (web | twitter)
Series: Elementals #3
Genre: Paranormal YA, Contemporary YA
Amazon || Goodreads
Publisher: K Teen
Release date: May 28, 2013
Source: ARC from the publisher via NetGalley (Thanks K Teen!)

Summary: With power comes enemies. Lots of them.Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…

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Filed Under: Reviews, Uncategorized, Young Adult Tagged With: Brigid Kemmerer, Elementals, K Teen, paranormal YA, series

Audiobook Review: Every Day by David Levithan

May 9

Title: Every Day
Author: David Levithan (web | twitter)
Narrator: Alex McKenna
Genre: Contemporary YA, Paranormal YA
Amazon | Goodreads | Audible
Publisher: Knopf BFYR, Listening Library
Release date: August 28, 2012
Source: Library
Challenge: YA Audiobook Challenge
Summary: Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

Book Review: Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Apr 4

Title // Author: Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff (web | twitter)
Genre: Paranormal YA, Ghosts, Mystery
Amazon | Goodreads
Publisher: Razorbill
Release date: January 8, 2013
Source: ARC from the Publisher via NetGalley (Thanks, Razorbill!)

Summary: The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

Paper Valentine is a hauntingly poetic tale of love and death by the New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement and The Space Between.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Reviews, Young Adult Tagged With: Brenna Yovanoff, ghosts, murder, mystery/thriller YA, paranormal YA, Razorbill

Waiting on Wednesday (26): All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry

Mar 27

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. I love it because it is basically a squee-fest where book lovers can choose one book that they are DYING to get their hands on. Check it out!

All Our Pretty Songs

by Sarah McCarry

Amazon | Goodreads

The first book in an exciting YA trilogy, this is the story of two best friends on the verge of a terrifying divide when they begin to encounter a cast of strange and mythical characters.

Set against the lush, magical backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, two inseparable best friends who have grown up like sisters—the charismatic, mercurial, and beautiful Aurora and the devoted, soulful, watchful narrator—find their bond challenged for the first time ever when a mysterious and gifted musician named Jack comes between them. Suddenly, each girl must decide what matters most: friendship, or love. What both girls don’t know is that the stakes are even higher than either of them could have imagined. They’re not the only ones who have noticed Jack’s gift; his music has awakened an ancient evil—and a world both above and below which may not be mythical at all. The real and the mystical; the romantic and the heartbreaking all begin to swirl together, carrying the two on journey that is both enthralling and terrifying.

And it’s up to the narrator to protect the people she loves—if she can.

GUYS. THIS BOOK sounds so freaking intriguing and wonderful, right? I’m completely taken with this talk of mystical goings on, mythical creatures, a talented musician, ancient evils, romance, heartbreak, AND MORE. Also, it’s a debut. AND AND! What is the deal with the narrator being nameless in this summary? Methinks this is a THING, no? One more little thing that endears this book to me: ALL OUR PRETTY SONGS takes place in the Pacific Northwest, home to bands like Nirvana. The title of this book is a lyric from my favorite Nirvana song, In Bloom. Quite frankly, it’s the only Nirvana song I like (always had a softer spot for Pearl Jam), but the title reminds me of when I was a youngster and Nirvana was new and cool, not classic rock like it is now. It makes Sarah McCarry‘s book strike another chord with me.

ALL OUR PRETTY SONGS by Sarah McCarry comes out on July 30, 2013 from St. Martin’s Griffin

Filed Under: Waiting on Wednesday Tagged With: anticipation!, debut 2013, paranormal YA, Sarah McCarry, St. Martin's Griffin, waiting on wednesday

Audiobook Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Mar 14

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare (web | twitter)
Narrator: Jennifer Ehle
Series: Infernal Devices #1
Amazon | Goodreads | Audible
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (print), Simon & Schuster Audio (audio)
Release date: August 31, 2010
Challenge: Audiobook Challenge, TBR Challenge
Source: Bought it

Summary: Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa’s power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm’s length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Waiting on Wednesday (25): Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Feb 20

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

by April Genevieve Tucholke

Amazon | Goodreads

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery…who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

YOU GUYS. I am looking forward to this debut SO HARD. First of all, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA takes place…well…near the ocean. I’m a big sucker for books with seaside settings. But I’m mostly loving the kind of dark and twisted vibe I’m getting from this summary. I’m intrigued by this River character, who may or may not be the Devil himself. Usually beach reads are kind of fluffy and light…this one sounds like the exact opposite. BRING IT, April Genevieve Tucholke!!

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA is coming out August 15, 2013 from Dial.

Filed Under: Waiting on Wednesday Tagged With: anticipation!, April Genevieve Tucholke, debut 2013, devil, paranormal YA, vampires, waiting on wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday (24): The Outside by Laura Bickle

Feb 6

The Outside: The Hallowed Ones #2

by Laura Bickle

Amazon | Goodreads

After a plague of vampires is unleashed in the world, Katie is kicked out of her Amish community for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival. Now in exile, she enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two “English” friends and a horse by her side. Together they seek answers and other survivors—but each sunset brings the threat of vampire attack, and each sunrise the threat of starvation.

And yet through this darkness come the shining ones: luminescent men and women with the power to deflect vampires and survive the night. But can these new people be trusted, and are they even people at all?

In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, it’s up to one Amish girl to save her family, her community, and the boy she loves . . . but what will she be asked to leave behind in return?

Friends, Laura Bickle‘s THE HALLOWED ONES was legit one of the creepiest, most interesting books I’ve read in a long time. I absolutely loved the time we spent in Katie’s Amish community, and I loved how that increased the tension between their world and the outside (heyo!), where the evil, EVIL vampires lurk in the night. Chills, friends. CHILLS.

To say that I’m eagerly anticipating the sequel, where Katie is forced out of the only life she’s ever known into the vampire-infested world, is an understatement. THE OUTSIDE sounds like it’s going to bring the fear and take it up a notch. Also, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with Katie and Alex. One of my favorite aspects of THE HALLOWED ONES was the Amish setting, so I’m curious about what is going to take the place of that environment, but I’m confident that Laura Bickle is going to BRING IT.

THE OUTSIDE is coming out September 3, 2013 from Harcourt Children’s Books.

Filed Under: Waiting on Wednesday Tagged With: Amish, anticipation!, Harcourt Children's, Laura Bickle, paranormal YA, vampires, waiting on wednesday

Book Review | The Gleaning | Heidi R. Kling

Dec 14

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Book Review | The Gleaning | Heidi R. Kling

The Gleaning by Heidi R. Kling
Series: The Spellspinners of Melas County #2
Published by Colliloquy on November 12, 2014
Genres: Paranormal YA, Witches, Young Adult
Pages: 200
Format: eARC
Also in this series: Witch's Brew
Also by this author: Witch's Brew
Source: the publisher
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Goodreads
three-stars

In the second installment of the Spellspinners saga, Lily’s worldview is rocked by fear, mistrust, and heartbreak, as she deals with the fallout from the night of her enchantment.

Someone powerful is determined to keep her and Logan apart. But who? And why?

As the covens prepare to do battle in the Solstice Stones, the lines between good and evil, dark and light, begin to blur. Allegiances are called into question. Trust is broken. And all Lily knows may just be an illusion.

Will the star-crossed lovers unearth the seeds of betrayal before it’s too late? Or will the witches and warlocks of Melas County be forced to say goodbye to their magic—and any chance of reconciliation between the covens—for good?

In The Gleaning, nothing is as it seems. And Lily and Logan will have to tread carefully if they hope to uncover the truth in time to save their love and break the curse.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Reviews, Young Adult Tagged With: Coliloquy, Heidi R. Kling, paranormal YA, reviews, series, witches

Book Review | The Hallowed Ones | Laura Bickle

Nov 29

The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle
Series: The Hallowed Ones #1
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on September 25, 2012
Genres: Historical Fiction, Paranormal YA, Young Adult
Pages: 311
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought it
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Goodreads
five-stars

Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning.

Book Review | School Spirits | Rachel Hawkins

Book Review: Spirit by Bridgid Kemmerer

[Read more…]

Audiobook Review: Every Day by David Levithan

Book Review: Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Waiting on Wednesday (26): All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry