RIP IV Challenge Wrap-Up

Can I just say how much I loved this challenge! I really did! It got me in the Halloween mood all month long. I read books outside my normal genres (and by that, I mean horror). It was so fun and I got a lot more titles read then expected. The challenge was for 4 titles and I definitely surpassed that amount - Yay me! Here is my final list:

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
Impossible - Nancy Werlin
Fairest of All - Serena Valentino
A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray
Tombstone Tea - Joanne Dahme
The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan
Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger
Prophecy of the Sisters - Michelle Zink
The Vampire Diaires - L.J. Smith
The Peruke Maker: The Salem Witch Hunt Curse - Ruby Dominguez
Hellbound Hearts - edited by Paul Kane & Marie O'Regan
Ginger High - Melissa Burmester
Skeleton Creek - Patrick Carman
Day by Day Armageddon - J.L. Bourne
Another Faust - Daniel & Dina Nayeri
Dying to Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road - K. Klise & M. Sarah Klise
The Magician's Elephant - Kate DiCamillo
A Certain Slant of Light - Laura Whitcomb
Ruined: A Ghost Story - Paula Morris
Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror - Chris Priestley

This was spOOktacular reading. I can't wait for this challenge again next year!

Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley

Young Edgar loves visiting his eccentric, Great-Great Uncle Montague even if it means going though the spooky woods to get there. For Uncle Montague is a very talented storyteller and has a story to tell about all the creepy odds and ends he has lying around his study.

I loved the goosebumpy feeling I had the whole time I read this book. The fact that each tale’s main character was a child made it even more spooky for me. I loved the gothicy feel each tale had and although the stories were short they were definitely potent and got their message across. As always, my main complaint with short stories... that they are just too short and right when I'm finally getting into the story they end.

Needless to say, I thought Mr. Priestley delivered with this group of stories. The underlying story of Uncle Montague and Edgar was, I think, the creepiest by far... but I won't give anything away. I loved the wordplay used, I think Mr. Priestley has a talent for using simple words and descriptions that definitely enhance his stories and make them far more sinister. Although I felt some of the stories ended quite abruptly, in retrospect, I think, this was what made me think of them well after I was done reading them.

I recommend that younger readers take the warning on the back cover seriously, as this isn't a book to be read alone or late at night... especially those who are faint of heart. If they are brave enough, then I definitely recommend a quick glance in the closet and definitely take a peek under the bed.

As the not-so-young adult I am, I found these to be deliciously creepy, spine-tingling and definitely worth the read.

Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris

When Rebecca’s father needs to travel out of the country on business for several months, he has no other choice but to leave her with her aunt Claudia and cousin Aurelia. She is none to happy about this - leaving the comforts of her home in New York City to live in post-Katrina New Orleans, where she is to start a new school for the reminder of the school year.

Upon her arrival, her aunt warns her to stay away from the cemetery across the road from their house. But Lafayette Cemetery doesn’t seem like a dangerous place to Rebecca, instead she can’t wait to make her way through its tombs. When a few of her classmates sneak into the cemetery at night she finds this the appropriate moment not only to spy on the snobby girls from her school, but also to venture through the cemetery. She not only gets lost in the cemetery but runs into a friendly girl, Lisette, who helps her find her way out of the cemetery in time without getting locked in or anyone finding out she was there in the first place. Lisette and Rebecca quickly become friends, but it doesn’t take long for Rebecca to realize that there’s something very different about her new friend... Lisette is a ghost.

Lisette is a ghost with a secret and she needs Rebecca’s help. But Rebecca soon find herself drawn into a multi-generation curse where danger lurks around every corner. Rebecca has made a pact to help Lisette - but can she trust Anton, the cute boy who tries to befriend her but is also one of the rich kids in town? What about aunt Claudia? How much does she really know?

Ruined is foremost a ghost story - but there’s also so much more to it. I absolutely loved Rebecca. She was a very refreshing character - brave, strong, not bothered by her lack of popularity and stood her ground when confronted by the “mean girls” of her new school. I liked that she wasn’t worried with how she looked or what anyone thought of her. None of that teen drama/angst about fitting in with the rich girls... I found her to be a very real voice. I also really enjoyed reading about post-Katrina New Orleans. When Lisette and Rebecca take a walk through town, you almost feel as if you are walking with them. All the details and stories along the way... I think this was my favorite part. I loved reading about the older New Orleans families, their homes and their traditions surrounding Mardi Gras.

I was intrigued from the start by Lisette's death - and the curse that ensued. It was a real page-turner for me... I just needed to find out what happened and how it would all end. There were a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming and that made for good reading. You were just never sure where the story was going. Did the rich girls really want to befriend Rebecca or did they have ulterior motives? Was Anton interested in more than a friendship or was he just playing with her? And what about Lisette? How much can you really trust a ghost?

I found this to be a very enjoyable read and would definitely recommend to anyone who likes ghosts, romance, quirky characters, history, all mixed together with the flavor of New Orleans.

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Helen has been haunting people for over a century. She is used to her lonely existence... never seen, never heard, but in some ways she feels as if she has been a muse to her hosts (or the people she haunts), she has inspired them. She doesn’t remember much of her past life other than her name and her age and has always felt that something has kept her from heaven, but she just can't remember what it was. She refers to herself as Light, while she calls living human beings the Quick.

One day while in class with the English teacher she has been haunting, she feels eyes on her. One of the students can see her!?! Billy Blake is the emo kid in the back of the room, does drugs, doesn’t do very well in class, nothing unremarkable about him at all. That is until a ghost named James takes over his body after Billy’s spirit leaves his body after a drug overdose. Billy (or really James) can now see Helen. He explains how Billy’s spirit left his body behind and he is now in that body.

As Helen and James begin to fall in love - there are obviously some issues with this relationship. Helen’s lack of a body being the biggest. Luckily for Helen, James has a knack for finding spirit-less bodies, and they find one body belonging to a girl named Jenny whom is also roaming around spirit-less. With both Helen and James having bodies they can now love each other more freely and also help one another discover details to their lives before being “light” but there are still many obstacles in their path - especially those of the lives of the two kids they are now inhabiting.

This was surprisingly very good. It was beautifully written, almost lyrical in nature. You become immersed in Helen and James, and their star-crossed lover-esque type relationship, from the start. You can't help rooting for their love and can only hope that they can somehow find a way to make it work.

Although this is classified as young adult novel, I think it is geared more towards older teens and adults. For starters, James and Helen are both in their late 20's so they might look like teenagers, but they certainly don't talk, feel or act like teenagers. Also, I will forewarn that there are some sex scenes (yes, more than one). But they were very tasteful - more like a fade to black, but still more than you normally find in your everyday YA novel.

All in all, reading A Certain Slant of Light was a joy. There are so many emotions infused in the storyline (i.e. hope, self-forgiveness, longing, love) that at times I wasn't sure if to laugh or cry (although I will confess that I did both). I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a ghost story that will leave you feeling haunted and have you thinking about it long after you have put it down.

My Rating: 

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

Peter Augustus Duchene is a ten year old orphan who is undergoing training to become a soldier like his father before him. When his guardian, sends him out to buy some fish and bread at the Baltese market square, he sees a fortune teller tent and decides that answers to his questions are far more important than eating stale bread. Instead he pays the fortune teller to answer a most pressing question... is his sister alive, and if so, how can he find her. See Peter was told that his sister died at birth - but he’s always had this niggling suspicion. The fortune teller answers him with the response "follow the elephant". To Peter, this sounds preposterous and he just assumes the fortune teller is mad. But when a magician across town tries to conjure up a bouquet of flowers for an audience member and instead summons an elephant who crashes through the ceiling of the opera house, an unbelievable chain of events are set into motion.

I loved that throughout the story you get a little bit of each character as some of the chapters flip from one character’s viewpoint to the next. Although the story is about a boy in search of a sister, a magician who just wanted something “more” in life, and an elephant that although alters many a life, does it for the best, it is so much more about love, relationships, darkness and loneliness but also about hoping, dreaming and believing.

The book’s description says it is geared for grades 4 - 7, but I do not think a child can take in and savor Ms. DiCamillo’s writing. Her wordplay is something to behold - something to be spoken out loud. Not just is the story magical but reading it feels like a treasure. You just feel so good doing it. It is a quick read - the pages are small, the writing is simple, with few words on each page, but the message is so tremendous. Ms. Tanaka's illustrations although sparse (and I confess, I would have really liked there to be more of them) only added to the seduction and mystery of this tale.

All in all, I highly recommend this to children and adults of all ages. This would make a lovely Christmas gift and I can definitely envision it on the big screen.

Dying to Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise (illustrator)

When Ignatius B. Grumply rents the Victorian mansion at 43 Old Cemetery Road hoping to find some peace and quiet so he can finally rid himself of his dreaded writer’s block - little did he know what a task it would become.

For starters, 43 Old Cemetery Road is already occupied - Seymour Hope is an 11 year old boy whose parents (the owners of the house) have left behind while touring Europe. Seymour and his cat Shadow are residing in the house and have no intentions of letting anyone else move into the place - much less the grouchy, I.B. Grumply. Also living in the house is an irritable ghost named Olive C. Spence - who’s rather put out by Mr. Grumply’s moving in. It's hard to say who is more outraged... but a grumpy old ghost just might inspire this grumpy old man- and the abandoned kid?

The story is told in a series of letters, e-mails, newspaper clippings and a few drawings (done by one of the main characters). I fell in love with this short little story and devoured in about an hour tops. The characters are quick and witty. The illustrations were just amazing - I loved all the little details (especially when Olive was in the picture and you’d see her glasses floating around). The word play and the characters names [i.e. Anita Sale (realtor); M. Balm (librarian); E. Gadds (attorney)] were quirky and just impressively clever.

I fell in love with the Klises’ style and their sense of humor. I found this to be a very unique and engaging read with a bit of a mystery (but nothing too scary). It is great for all ages - but is definitely geared towards a young crowd. Best part of it all, more books coming soon.

Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish - only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary “gifts.”

But as the students claw their way up - reading minds, erasing scenes, stopping time, stealing power, seducing with artificial beauty - the side-effects of their own addictions. And as they make further deals with the devil, they uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins.

At once chilling and wickedly satirical, this contemporary reimagining of the Faustian bargain is a compelling tale of ambition, consequences, and ultimate redemption. [borrowed from Amazon.com]

I really tried to love this book. I read some stellar reviews and was super excited, headed out to my local bookstore and picked up a copy the day it came out - but sadly it fell flat for me.

I loved the idea of this book. The premise was fantastic - kids selling their souls to the devil in exchange for being beautiful, popular, intelligent, etc. But in the end, I just couldn’t relate to any of them. Don’t take me wrong, I once also dreamed of being the most beautiful girl in a room or excelling beyond my peers in academics, what kid hasn’t? But I just never warmed up to any of the characters.

I will admit though, that the story had a great ending and the last 100 or so pages were real page-turners. Another Faust is a dark, thought-provoking novel that requires the reader's full attention - but sadly, it just never caught mine.

GIVEAWAY: On that note, I feel I need to pay this one forward. I'm gladly giving away my gently read copy because I'm sure someone will like this. The reviews are mostly four or five stars - so obviously readers are enjoying it.

I'm opening this one to FOLLOWERS ONLY. You guys deserve an upper hand on some of these giveaways and this one is perfect for that.

As always, leave a comment for one entry. If you'd like extra entries just say so in your comment or separate comments (extra entries for Twitter, sidebars, Facebook, etc.) Make sure to leave an e-mail address, especially if you are leaving a comment under Anonymous.

Rules: This contest is open internationally. Winner will be drawn Saturday, October 31.

Day by Day Armageddon by J.L. Bourne

Day by Day Armageddon is written in diary entries from the perspective of a lone survivor in a post-apocalyptic world that is overrun by the living dead. When a strange epidemic makes its way to the United States, humanity quickly begins to crumble. Panic and chaos ensue but thanks to his military training, he has an upper hand on surviving.

The author, John Bourne has been writing this ongoing zombie saga in between serving as a U.S. Naval officer. His knowledge of tactical survival and weaponry is reflected perfectly within the pages of the novel.

The book gives off a realistic viewpoint of this harrowing and desperate situation - the journal entries seem to come from a man who although scared is determined to survive. The journal itself has doodles around the edges, passages that are circled or underlined, some pages where the entries have been completely scratched out, grammatical problems and even some smudges that you can only assume are blood. It's like a field guide to survival after a zombie invasion.

As a side note, I found it refreshing that it wasn't gory in nature. Most zombie related material is all full of blood and guts. This is a fantastic read for zombie lovers or fans of the horror genre.

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek . . . and Ryan and Sarah are trying to get to the heart of it. But after an eerie accident leaves Ryan housebound and his parents forbid him from seeing Sarah, their investigation takes two tracks: Ryan records everything in his journal, while Sarah uses her camcorder to search things out. . . and then email the clips for Ryan to see.

What a unique and fantastically creepy book this was. Firstly, the book looks and is written in journal entries by Ryan. You know he and Sarah are trying to uncover the secrets of their town. Why the town is called Skeleton Creek? Why little by little its inhabitants are moving away - to where it's even resembling a ghost town. The strange skull and bones symbol they've uncovered. And even what happened at the dredge on the outskirts of town... why it closed down?

Of course, these kids are full of questions and on their quest to find answers they've uncovered a mystery that might be deadly in nature.

The coolest thing about this book - the neato passwords scattered throughout the story. That's right, after every couple of chapters, Ryan receives passwords from Sarah to her website (www.sarahfincher.com) and, guess what, you get to go along for the ride and see her videos. Which are quite creepy and made me jump a time or too. She is a bit reckless and doesn't put too much thought to things before she acts (if I were in her shoes, I'd be running for the hills) - but in the end, her antics are what keep you on the edge of your seat.

The actress who plays Sarah may be in need of some acting classes - but nonetheless, these videos really gave it a spooky feel. Ryan's entries are very detailed and, you, as the reader, are just as scared as he is while reading them. There were a few parts that were not very credible since Ryan writes them in the present tense and there is no way someone could write these things as they are happening. Especially some of the more tense situations.

All in all, this was a very spooky, thrilling, emotional roller-coaster story that has an ending that will leave you with your mouth hanging wide open and in NEED for the next book. This is great for young adults and even the young tweens who like a quick fright of a read. Very cool and highly recommended.

Ginger High by Melissa Burmester

Ginger High is no ordinary school. It is a school for students with special powers. Many years ago people came to Earth from the Kingdom of Animist, a parallel universe. Two long time friends, Matthias and Amanta, attended the school and then returned home to Animist. The school has had many unexplained deaths. Daisy Fisher attends the school after her old school burns down. Matthias and Amanta are called back to the school to help solve the mysteries. What are powers? And what is with this crazy school? Welcome to Ginger High.

First off, I would like to give major kudos to Miss Burmester for being a published author at the young age of 14. Ginger High was written at the age of 12 and the fact that she was able to have it published two years later is quite the accomplishment.

This was a very neat story ... with parallel universes, a school for kids with super powers, supernatural creatures, a war in the midst, students being mysteriously attacked, oh and, of course, a cute boy. I enjoyed the story line as well as I thought there were some great characters in the story. My only complaint would be with character definition. I really wish there would have been “more” to all the characters. I felt that I couldn’t identify or relate with any them because there just wasn’t enough substance. I also felt that the ending didn’t wrap up and left a few loose ends - but that might be because I now read that Ginger High will be a series.

This is a fast moving story with plenty of twists and just enough action and adventure to keep the pages flowing. I believe this is geared toward young adults but I can definitely recommend to younger tweens as well. This is a wonderful debut for Miss Burmester and I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for her future work.

Hellbound Hearts edited by Paul Kane and Marie O'Regan

Hellbound Hearts is an anthology celebrating Hellraiser creator Clive Barker and the world he created with his novella The Hellbound Heart. This is a collection of tales inspired by Barker with some well-known and some not-known authors such as Neil Gaiman, Steve Niles, Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, Mick Garris, Richard Christian Matheson, Sarah Langan, Mark Morris, Nancy Kilpatrick, Peter Atkins, Tim Lebbon, Nancy Holder, Yvonne Navarro, Kelley Armstrong and Nicholas Vince - edited by Paul Kane and Marie O’Regan. The collection also features a foreword by Barker himself, who also painted the spooky, original cover.

This book is a treat for any horror fan. These are all twisted, gory and scary stories - that I will admit to having to watch some happy tv before hitting the sack because I was that spooked. Although not all the authors were known to me - I found it a good introduction to their work. I enjoyed all the stories - some more than others. This is the type of book where you can pick and choose the story you want or just read the whole thing through - but it’ll definitely have your heart racing, glancing over your shoulder every couple of minutes and terrified of things that go bump in the night. I loved every second of it.

GIVEAWAY: Thanks to the lovely Sarah with Pocket Books I was able to finagle us 2 copies to giveaway - whoot!

As always, leave a comment for one entry. If you'd like extra entries just say so in your comment or separate comments (extra entries for followers, Twitter, sidebars, Facebook, etc.) Make sure to leave an e-mail address, especially if you are leaving comment as Anonymous.

Rules: This contest is open to U.S. residents only. Winners will be drawn Saturday, October 31.

The Peruke Maker: The Salem Witch Hunt Curse by Ruby Dominguez

The Peruke Maker starts in the 17th Century - when the witch hunt hits a feverish peak. There we meet Bridget Cane, the Peruke Maker’s daughter. She is a youthful beauty with long, flowing, red hair, and who has just been condemned as a witch.

From there the story jumps to Sarah who lives in the 21st Century - and who due to a dreadful accident somehow forges a connection with Bridget’s ghost. Sarah begins to time travel between the present day and Bridget’s time taking a front row seat to the Salem witch trials and the curse of Thomas Cane.

I picked this book for review because I love to read anything dealing with the Salem Witch Trials. I find the subject fascinating and this gave a pretty gory and detailed version of some of the acts taking place at that time when it came to the torture and punishment that some of these so-called witches were put through. This story is written as a screenplay so that was a bit of a turn off for me because you really don’t get a lot of character definition (other than young woman, mid-20's, red hair, etc.), nor setting details.

With that said, I found that I really enjoyed it. It had enough suspense and intrigue to keep me interested. The story itself was full of tension and you just kept reading it with the hope that good would conquer evil in the end. Ultimately this a story about love and forgiveness that I can recommend to anyone interested in a quick read relative to the Salem Witch Trials, curses and magic.

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L.J. Smith

A deadly love triangle

Elena: beautiful and popular, the girl who can have any boy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, desperately trying to resist his desire for Elena . . . for her own good.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him.

Elena finds herself drawn to both brothers . . . who will she choose?

Why didn't I read this series when I was 12? I’m 31 now and enjoyed it, but I think this would have been much more magical at 12.

Elena comes off on the pretentious and shallow side at first - the self-titled “queen of the school”. But she slowly blossoms throughout the book and you eventually start to like her. Her obsession turns to devotion, and her conceited demeanor transforms into a single-minded determination to become someone worthy.

Stefan is handsome, brooding and your typical tortured vampire. He's haunted by his past love who he and his evil brother Damon dueled over, and centuries later he's still not over it all-until of course, he meets Elena.

Damon although evil - I found to be a very captivating character. Even in the first installment of this series, it is difficult to dislike him. He is the embodiment of sexuality and temptation that I can assume will only become more appetizing as the series enfolds.

My only gripe would be that I found Elena and Stefan's relationship to be slightly rushed and not very credible. One moment he’s avoiding her like the plague - the next moment she’s telling him she loves him. I just don’t think that’s a positive note for kids to read about when they’re young and impressionable. I feel that the “love” word should have a bit more substance than that.

With that said, I can definitely see why this series is popular - especially with the tween crowd. There were foggy cemeteries, dead teachers, dark and stormy nights, girls being held in thrall, you know, all that great classic stuff. Ms. Smith’s writing is succinct and to the point - but you can still enjoy all the details that are necessary to create the dark atmosphere surrounding Elena and Stefan. I will forewarn, the ending is a cliffhanger, so there is no doubt that I will be picking up the next book in the series.

This is a story of love, betrayal, revenge, second chances... but also so much more. Although it is geared for a teen/young adult crowd - I think adult readers will find it a fun, enjoyable read.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Sixteen-year-old Amalia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her.

Talk about sibling rivalry - and although these sisters are on opposing sides of the prophecy, I loved how neither is wholly good nor bad. I love that Ms. Zink’s story has such strong female characters. They embody the best and worst in us all. Lia is on a journey of discovery, love, loss, and what it means to grow up. I love the way that the “twin” thing is played out - neither girl knows what the other is thinking, they only think they know. But I know, right? Or do I? Accckkk.

I loved the Victorian backdrop - with the obligatory rainy nights, howling winds, the swishing of heavy dresses, the rushing waters and high cliff tops, but it's done so perfectly that every little detail contributes to, but doesn't override, each scene.

The story is riddled with symbolism both subtle and dark. Every time I thought I had finally unlocked the mystery, I was taken on a new unexpected turn that left me in awe. The story started a bit slow for me but that was okay because it slowly built up to this fantastically riveting story - and the best part of it all is that it’s the first of a trilogy.

This was a fast, enjoyable read. I highly recommend this to both teens and adults alike. I can't wait for the next one!

Her Feaful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

When Elspeth Noblin dies of cancer, she leaves her London apartment to her twin nieces, Julia and Valentina. These two American girls never met their English aunt; they only knew that their mother, too, was a twin, and Elspeth her sister. Julia and Valentina are semi-normal American teenagers -- with seemingly little interest in college, finding jobs, or anything outside their cozy home in the suburbs of Chicago, and with an abnormally intense attachment to one another.

The girls move to Elspeth's flat, which borders Highgate Cemetery. They come to know the building's other residents. There is Martin, a brilliant and charming crossword puzzle setter suffering from crippling obsessive-compulsive disorder; Marjike, Martin's devoted but trapped wife; and Robert, Elspeth's elusive former lover, a scholar of the cemetery. As the girls become embroiled in the fraying lives of their aunt's neighbors, they also discover that much is still alive in Highgate, including -- perhaps -- their aunt, who can't seem to leave her old apartment and life behind. (borrowed from Amazon.com)

First off I want to make it known that I am a big fan of books that have more than one narrator and I especially love the fact that all these “narrators” are living (or not-living in one case) under the same roof. With that said, there was such a variety of characters in this novel. Julia and Valentina - the mirror twins; Robert the grieving, younger lover of Elspeth; Elspeth our lonely ghost; Martin suffering from OCD and his wife Marjike. From the start you know that Elspeth had a falling out with her twin sister (Julia and Valentina’s mum) - that is the underlying storyline. Much of our story revolves around the twins’ move from the US to London and their settling in, Robert’s grieving process, Martin’s OCD and Marjike’s extended vacation away from Martin - (my favorite character being Martin, of course). I loved reading about the relationships formed, how they all start to rely upon one another and even Elspeth’s influence on both the twins and Robert.

Ms. Niffenegger’s prose is stunning - her descriptions of Highgate Cemetery are so realistic you can almost envision it (and with a little help from google - you can really envision it). I loved reading of London - the dreary weather, the gloomy atmosphere. It really gave that creepy feel to this ghost story.

There are so many words I can use to describe the feelings I had while reading Her Fearful Symmetry... i.e.: awed, emotional, fascinated, happy, outraged. It has an ending that will make you read and re-read it over and if you are like me, you will keep thinking about it long after you are done with it.

All in all, this was a stunning book full of surprises and twists and turns, beautiful prose and great characters, not to mention, quite the page-turner, I just could not put it down.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Mary leads a normal life in her small village in the forest. There are certain truths that she was brought up believing in - the Sisterhood always knows best; the Guardians will protect and serve and the Unconsecrated will never relent. But above all, you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future - between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

First off, there was no way of telling that this was a zombie book by just looking at that cover... with that said, this is a zombie book! I love zombies! And our story starts off with a bang - or more like a bite.

Mary’s life is turned upside down right from the first chapter. You can feel her desperation as well as her resignation to this life. They have been brought up believing that they are the last of the human race. They have to marry not out of love but to keep their race going. If you don’t find a suitable match then, as a female, you join the Sisterhood. For Mary, the short weeks she spends under the same walls as the Sisterhood is life altering. She is now even more determined to believe in a world outside of their fenced in village... but especially, she dreams of the ocean. Her mother has told her stories of what the world was like before the Unconsecrated and Mary has always hoped for something more then her simple life in the village.

The story has its ups and downs but at no point did I feel like it dragged or anything. On the contrary, I was intrigued by the dystopian world Mary was living in. I wanted to know more and more. And although some things were left unanswered - it felt real. Mary is living generations after the Unconsecrated - so the information that we get is from a young girl with the limited knowledge that has been handed down to her by relatives and townsfolk. I will admit to having chewed off a nail or two and at one point or another having to put the book down because... yes, I admit it, I was freaked out.

All in all, I thought the story flowed real smoothly. There was plenty of action and excitement and I thought it blended well with the parts that were more informational in nature. I loved that throughout it all there was a hint of romance and that alone made the bleak world a more (dare I say) hopeful place.

I really enjoyed and highly recommend this. Plus, I can't wait for the sequel, The Dead-Tossed Waves.

Tombstone Tea by Joanne Dahme

Jessie has recently moved to a new town and is going to a new school. In order to be accepted by the “in” girls at school - she has been dared to spend the night at the local cemetery with a list of names whose graves she has to find. Upon entering the cemetery, she meets Paul, a handsome boy who works as a caretaker at the cemetery. Paul explains to Jessie that this evening is the rehearsal for the Tombstone Tea: a fund-raising performance in which actors impersonate the people buried in the cemetery. But Jessie quickly discovers that they aren’t actors at all but the ghosts of men and women buried in the cemetery. When one of the ghostly inhabitants decides to adopt Jessie to replace her lost daughter, our heroine fears she may never escape the cemetery.

Once again, I was suckered in by the neat cover - but this was surprisingly really good. It was an exciting and interesting story. I loved reading about the cemetery’s ghosts and how they came to reside there as ghosts. Jessie was a great heroine, but all the quirky and zany ghosts were my favorite characters. They had such history and depth to them. Ms. Dahme’s lyrical prose was stunning at parts - you could almost feel the cold seeping into your bones and the ghostly apparitions chasing poor Jaime through the cemetery. Her details and descriptions made it very visual for me. Paul was this guiding light for Jaime and I was hoping more would come from their friendship. Although the story ends and leaves no loose ends, I got the feeling that there might be a continuation to it. Many of the ghosts were introduced in detail, but there were still so many more that you just catch a glimpse of. I can definitely see Jessie having more adventures in the cemetery and there’s also Paul to think about (love interest?). Overall it was a gripping and enjoyable read that I would recommend for readers of all ages who enjoy young adult fiction.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. [taken from back cover of book]

Firstly, I want to say that I absolutely loved Ms. Bray’s descriptions of colonial India, Victorian England and The Realms - such very different places but so vividly detailed. Oh and Spence... {sighs} I love Victorian finishing schools. I liked Gemma - I thought Ms. Bray did a great job depicting her as a normal teen with all the emotional turmoil, teen angst, pettiness, selfishness, etc., that you would see in any teen. I liked that she wasn't perfect - that she had her flaws and in the end that was what won me over. My only complaint was that (on certain occasions) the way she talked and expressed herself was not very true to that of a Victorian young lady - I found it somewhat modern.

I liked the friendship that the girls sparked - I thought they were all so different (some likeable, some not so much) but in the end, they made it work. I also enjoyed how Kartik was woven into the story - especially in those dream sequences (wink wink). I wasn’t sure if to like him or not (somewhat the way Gemma feels about him) but I think there’s still hope for him yet. I really had to appreciate that Ms. Bray managed to tell an entertaining story, while trying to instill ideas of feminine power.

My only issue with this book is that they paint suicide in such an easy light. I really don’t want to spoil or give anything away, so I won’t be able to discuss this in as much detail as I’d like, but there is more than one suicide and the characters just seem “okay” with this.

All in all, I still thought that the story flowed really well and had plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. There were plenty of loose ends - but alas, there are two more books in this trilogy which I’m sure will remedy that. In the end, I found A Great and Terrible Beauty entertaining and definitely a page-turner. I would definitely recommend to lovers of historical fiction with a (slightly creepy) magical twist.

Fairest of All by Serena Valentino

Fairest of All is the Wicked Queen’s story... what drove her to become soooo wicked.

Firstly I want to say that the moment I saw this cover - I absolutely had to buy it. It really is spectacular. Secondly, the fact that it is a prequel to Snow White - obviously “had me at Hello”.

Ms. Valentino did a wonderful job blending what we already know of Snow White and the Wicked Queen with this new tale. In it we learn of how the Wicked Queen became the bitter and well, evil witch we’ve known for years. We are taken back to the days where she lived with her father, an artist in crafting mirrors. We also read of her marriage, her dreams, hopes and eventually her downfall. Although I did find her a wee bit whiny at times, I thought she was a very interesting character with lots of emotional turmoil. I really sympathized with her as her life was definitely not an easy one.

This is definitely a YA title - but I would recommend it more for older teens vs. the younger tweens. The content is a bit dark at times. Reading this was like getting inside information on one of my favorite Disney villains. And I really enjoyed the fact that it had a couple of twists thrown in that I didn't see coming. I recommend this to anyone who'd like a new twist to this classic fairytale.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Lucy has been raised by her foster parents - since her biological mother went insane shortly after her birth. Now at 17 she finds herself in quite a predicament... she is pregnant and has just discovered that she is cursed to follow in her mother’s footsteps and succumb to insanity after the birth of her daughter. The only clue is the ballad that her mother passed down to her, which is a more sinister version of the song "Scarborough Fair". With the help of her foster parents and the boy next door, Lucy must use the song as a guide to complete the tasks which need to be performed in order to break the Elfin Knight’s curse that has been inherited by all the women of her family; if she fails, she too will be doomed.

Ms. Werlin’s writing style immediately grabs you and pulls you into an extraordinary world where realism and fantasy blend seamlessly. I can honestly say that there were parts in this book where I was scared to keep reading. The suspense of not knowing what would happen next had me flying through the pages... I just had to know what would happen to Lucy and her baby.

I will forewarn that some elements of the story are not appropriate for a young adolescent audience. There is a non-graphic rape scene and some sexual scenes. The romance is set within "traditional" values and the characters devotion to each other was so innocent and refreshing. I did feel that it dealt lightly with the after-effects of traumatic events such as rape and child abandonment though.

All in all, this was a quick read that young and old can equally enjoy. If you like your romances sprinkled with suspense, intrigue and a hint of magic, then this is definitely one you’ll want to grab.