Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

Review of Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

Published: March 1, 2007

5 out of 5 smirks

Synopsis: “Succubus (n) - An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men.

Pathetic (adj.) - A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid.

When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants. The wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid’s life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies. Her immortal best friends haven’t stopped teasing her about the time she shape-shifted into the Demon Goddess get-up complete with whip and wings. And she can’t have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy’s life. At least there’s her day job at a local bookstore—free books, all the white chocolate mochas she can drink, and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can’t.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle’s demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won’t help because Georgina’s about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny…”

Let me start off first by saying I think Richelle Mead is a talented, intelligent author who writes amazing books leaving the reader wanting more. I think having a couple of series can be difficult especially if one is a hit and the other is not, but Richelle Mead has two of the most amazing series books out there. I love The Vampire Academy Series and now I am addicted to the Georgina Kincaid Series. Needless to say I am impressed not only with Richelle Mead for writing these incredible series but I also admire her as a person.

Succubus Blues is snarky, sexy, sly, and serious. I loved all the immortal and mortal characters in this book. It is the type of book you want to read over and over again because you feel like you need to re-experience everything that took place in it. Georgina Kincaid, the succubus in this series, shows readers that just because your immortal does not necessarily mean you are living life to its fullest. Georgina makes talking fun, with wit and sarcasm at her finger tips she really is just as charming as one would expect from a succubus.

I don’t really want to spoil the plot line (mystery, romance, immortal fighting) of Succubus Blues or even say much about too many of the other fantastically well-played characters in this book. However, I will say besides Georgina, my two other favorite characters are Carter (Angel) and Seth (Mortal Author). Carter is just hysterical being an Angel and Seth is someone you want to be the love of your life. My draw to this series is the characters, it wouldn’t matter if they were all just sitting around playing board games (which does happen) and not doing anything else, this series would still be amazing.

Originally I checked this book out from the library but afterwards I knew I could not, not own this series. I went out and bought all 5 books (6th book to be released in 2011) of the Georgina Kincaid Series, and I am glad I did. I want to review all the books in this series for you but they are run together where plot line is concerned. Each book has a great and different aspect to it but we as readers also get to see the bigger plot line that involves all the books put together. Succubus Blues (made me smile), Succubus On Top (made me lust), Succubus Dreams (broke my heart), Succubus Heat (made the breaking of my heart bearable), and Succubus Shadows (made me believe in true love and soul mates).

When the next installment for the Georgina Kincaid Series comes out, I will give you folks an update on how the series is going. For now go to the local bookstore or library and check out Richelle Mead’s books. The Vampire Academy Series, The Georgina Kincaid Series, and The Dark Swan Series. Also be sure to check out her website: http://richellemead.com/index.htm

Oh also the cover I used is the one from Russia, because I thought it was beautiful.

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

Review of The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

Published: April 13, 2010

4 out of 5 smirks

Synopsis: “Sixteen-year-old Jess Parker survives by staying invisible. After nine schools in ten years, she's come to terms with life as a perpetual new girl, neither popular nor outcast. At Mt. Sterling High, Jess gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret club of the most popular girls in school, where makeovers are the first order of official business. But there's more to being a Cindy than just reinventing yourself from the outside, a concept lost on Jess as she dives tiara-first into creating a hot new look.

With a date with her popular crush and a chance to finally fit in, Jess's life seems to be a perfect fairy tale. That is until the Wickeds--led by Jess's archenemy--begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers her new sisterhood is about much more than who rules Mt. Sterling High School. It's a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys need Jess on special assignment. But when the mission threatens to destroy her new dream life, Jess is forced to choose between this dream realized and honoring the Sisterhood. What's a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn't want to wear it anymore?”

The Cinderella Society was an empowering girl’s story about finding where you fit in and who you truly want to be. The Cinderella Society is about destiny, sacrifice, good v. evil, and trying to get out of high school in one piece. Kay Cassidy wrote a cleverly written story about belonging and helping others. Jess (main character) is a new student at school who just happens to get bullied almost every day until a letter shows up in her locker and changes her life forever.

There are a couple of things I really enjoyed about TCS, the first being Jess is a really strong character who exhibits both strengths and weaknesses like a real person. Another aspect is the crush, Ryan, who is more lost than a dog who escaped to chase after a ball. Jess and Ryan’s “dates” are so complex and reflect exactly how a girl and a guy in high school can simple not work out because of wires crossing. I also adore the fact that Jess knows when to ask for help and how to recover from going onto a path not suited for her.

I gave The Cinderella Society 4 smirks because I loved it, but I would not buy it in hardback. I will get this book when it comes out in paperback because I want to be able to travel with it. Yes, I know I’m weird because I don’t “travel” with hardback books but we all have our quirks….I just have several more than the average person. Bottom line, The Cinderella Society is an amazing story about girl power, and the power of positive thinking about who you are and how you look. You should also know there will be another Cinderella Society book out Spring 2011.

The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

Review of The Demon’s Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

Published: May 18, 2010

5 out of 5 smirks

Synopsis: “The Demon's Covenant is the sequel to The Demon's Lexicon. Mae was always in control, but suddenly everyone she trusted is lying—and in danger.”

WARNING: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FROM THE DEMON’S LEXICON

The Demon’s Covenant is an amazing story. And I love Sarah Rees Brennan’s voice she gives each of her characters. Although the characters are different from each other, they all fit together well and have that whole witty banter thing going for them. The Demon’s Lexicon (which is the first of this trilogy) laid the ground work for this book, which was told from a more brilliant perspective (Mae). I found myself enchanted by the love square in this installment, but you know there really isn’t one considering there is only one choice for Mae to make.

Ok, ok I am bias since I am Team Nick, but I can’t help it. There is something so tragically beautiful about Mae, a witty, snarky, pink hair bombshell, who wants to be with Nick, who just happens to be a demon and kind of human in a sense inside a guy’s body. The Demon’s Covenant really explores who the characters turn out to be and more of their personalities. We also get to see Mae or Mavis with each different guy (Nick, Alan, Seb) in her life, basically summing up to some really STEAMY make out scenes. I really could go on and on about the incredibly complex, sarcastic, intelligent, and funny characters that make The Demon’s Covenant is well beyond worthwhile but I won’t because you aren’t stupid.

You know that when I give 5 smirks to a book I am going to own it, because it is well worth it so I can read it over and over again. And due to the 5 smirks I gave this book, you should know Sarah Rees Brennan is brilliant for creating this trilogy and for creating the characters she did. I look forward to reading the next installment and openly hope for more STEAMIER make out sessions, between Mae and preferably Nick.

Special Day

Hey to all of my 4 fantastic followers! I just wanted to give a shout out to the person who inspired me to get this blog, my fabulous friend Sophie (katarinasmama). Sophie is also a book pusher in the best way possible and because of her I now love to read (and also cannot seem to stop :))! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIE! I hope you have an amazing month!

White Cat by Holly Black

Review of White Cat by Holly Black

Published: May 4, 2010

4 out of 5 smirks

Synopsis: “Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.”

To be honest, I was really afraid to read this book. I’ve tried reading a couple of other books by Holly Black and I cannot seem to stomach some of them. I do think Holly Black is an incredibly original author who breaks the mold of what most stories have in common. For that reason, I decided to give White Cat a chance. White Cat was not at all what I expected from Holly Black, I mean there were some parts were I felt a shock go throughout my system and my stomach became unsettled but it was good. Like many books I read, if I put the book down even once to go off and doing something else, I am not interested. I read White Cat in one sitting because it was an amazingly innovative story that made me feel.

Half the time I felt like I was the one getting coned out of a con and then back into a con again. So I really enjoyed the perspective of Cassel and everything he had to go through and put into motion. White Cat really put the reader into a mystery within a mystery inside the con of all cons. Cassel is really “too clever for his own good and twice as pretty.” I find that, Cassel, as main guy characters go didn’t make my heart beat faster but rather I wanted to learn more about him and what goes on within his mind. It was invigorating reading White Cat and waiting for the outcome of the story to be revealed. Even though I may have objected to one part of the ending, I still enjoyed the ride. 4 smirks is pretty high on my scale when I am scared to death of reading a book.

I like Holly Black and her unique story telling abilities and am looking forward to giving her other books another shot. And since White Cat is Book 1 in the Curse Workers Series, I am looking forward to the next installment and interested in seeing which POV it is from, the story, and if the series itself focuses on Cassel because I am sure there is more to explore with him.

Dead In The Family by Charlaine Harris

Review of Dead In The Family by Charlaine Harris

Published: May 4, 2010

5 out 5 smirks

Synopsis: “After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she's angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he's under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry...”

I love The Sookie Stackhouse Series books. For me, these books are an escape of reality and allow me to live in a different world where all my supernatural fantasies come to life. Not that I actually want to get beat up and throw around and in the hospital all the time, but all the other aspects of this world seem pretty awesome. I love that all The Sookie Stackhouse Series books have a title with the word “Dead” in them. It makes learning about the newest edition all that much more fun.

Dead In The Family was not at all what I would expect from Charlaine Harris. Most of the books that lead up to this book, are full of fighting, mystery, sex, and passion. In Dead In The Family we as readers get to experience Sookie in an extreme way and see how much she has changed since the first book (Dead Until Dark). Sookie after being tortured in the last book (Dead And Gone), in Dead In The Family comes to terms with what she has gone through along with how she has changed. It shows how traumatic her life has been seen Dead Until Dark and how ultimately because of the trials she has been through, Sookie herself is a little bit darker as a character.

In Dead And Gone we are left with a cliff hanger of whom Sookie will be with and/or go to for love. Whether it be Eric (due to the blood bond or not) or to Bill who was willing to die for her in order to protect her. I am personally not a Bill fan, but the story told in Dead In The Family made me mad at him for reasons I will not reveal (no spoilers). In this book we also get a glimpse of Sookie’s family that she has left which is basically next to nothing. There is her nephew, two fairies, and her brother. The one thing I will spoil about this book is, by the end we see Sookie get a stable connect with part of her family in the most touching way.

What I liked most about Dead In The Family is we get to see a combination of who Eric has become to Sookie. Eric, I feel has changed for the better while “loving” Sookie thus he himself has changed. Eric stays the same in most ways, but in the ways concerning Sookie he has a little bit of how he was in Dead To The World. It was refreshing and I am anxious for the next of The Sookie Stackhouse Series book to come out, which will probably be a year from now. If you have not read this series please go to the local bookstore and pick up all 10 books so far. They are priceless, at least in my opinion.

Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Review of Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Published: April 27, 2010

4 out of 5 smirks

Synopsis:

“When friends stop trusting each other, Darkness is there to fan the flames….
Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It seems more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her. But how? He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates. And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left…

Enter BFF Stevie Rae. She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own. The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences. Her kind of boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good. The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world.

In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it). She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not. Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance.”

So this House of Night Book was not my favorite, but it was good enough to keep me in a transfixed state until I finished the entire thing. Burned had a lot more points of views in it which I totally liked, but really I just wanted to hear from Stark and Zoey. Burned also played a really good part in setting up for the next book, giving information I am sure will be prudent in the next installment. What was missing for me in Burned was the romance, love that Zoey seems to have for at least two guys at a time, and I really wanted this book to explore more of a relationship with Stark.

The really great aspect of Burned was the fact we as readers got to experience how Stark was feeling the whole time Zoey’s soul was shattered. It was really an eye opening occurrence to see how Stark felt so much for Zoey in general, it was almost like he was made to find her. And ok, I admit it, I have a huge crush on Stark and was really only interested in what his point of view was because it was exciting and thrilling. I also liked the whole Otherworld aspect of the story as well how Zoey’s soul shattered and became stuck there.

All in all, it was not my favorite House of Night book but it did have its perks, which is getting me prepared for the next installment. Burned was very different from the other House of Night Series books in the most surprising way. It dealt with a lot of the other characters and what they were going through as appose to just telling Zoey’s side of the story. It shows how truly dedicated Zoey’s friends were in saving her and even her enemies who really deep down need her to stay alive. I recommend The House of Night Series, all the books have a different aspect and are really enjoyable to read.

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

Review of Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

Published: April 20, 2010

4 out of 5 smirks

Synopsis: “Hunger for nourishment. Hunger for touch. Hunger to belong.

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.

Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?”

Well I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised by Radiant Shadows. The only book I originally loved out of this Wicked Lovely Series was Wicked Lovely itself. However, Melissa Marr truly brought back what was so key in Wicked Lovely into Radiant Shadows. Loving the characters whose point of views you are reading from are key and I loved Ani and Devlin. They are the exact opposites of Ash and Seth and seeing their story and how they evolve together was a treat.

What I really loved about Radiant Shadows is the fact that Melissa Marr stays true to each courts function, which is ultimately to have balance. In Wicked Lovely, Ash and Seth were this typical couple, happy and dealing with being a Queen and being Fey. Ash and Seth feed off each other’s happiness and sacrificed for one another, both acting like a little bit of Winter Court and little bit of Summer Court, to find balance. In Radiant Shadows, Ani and Devlin were total opposite and feed off passion for one another, for fighting, for being part Dark Court and part High Court. Ani and Devlin also did not sacrifice for each other, but became one in their own skins, finding their place in the world of the Fey.

I only gave 4 smirks for Radiant Shadows because I had trouble with another girl in the book named Rae (please read prologue of the book otherwise you will be lost). I just kind of felt like Rae’s presence was kind of weird and kinky (not in a good way). Other than that Radiant Shadows had every aspect I look for to enjoy a book (you know, violence, mystery, Fey, supernatural, love triangle, lust, revenge, just the usual). And seriously if you haven’t read the Wicked Lovely Series you are missing out. Ok well in my opinion you aren’t missing out on the two middle books (Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity), but you definitely are with Wicked Lovely and Radiant Shadows. Plus check out the cover of Radiant Shadows, how do you not want to read it?

I also wanted to say a special thanks to my friend katarinasmama, who not only lets me borrow books that she owns without hesitation, but also encouraged me to have this blog.