The Hexed, by Heather Graham

In his youth, Rocky not only had to deal with the death of a friend, he was the one who found her body.  Now a member of an elite FBI team that deals with unusual situations, Rocky has returned to his hometown area of Salem to investigate a series of murders identical to that of his childhood friend.  Are the murders are related to each other, and to the witchy past of Salem?

I was absolutely fascinated by this book!  I love that the story centers around a real historic area, and weaves a lot of historic fact into the plot.  I also like that the story did not take the easy way out, making the culprit someone obvious or simply blaming the paranormal.  The plot was very strong, and well written.  I was engaged from the first page.

The character development was good, but I would have liked to either see a little bit more development, or a little less characters.  I know we needed a large cast, to serve as red herrings, but some of the people who were not obvious suspects just seemed to muddy things a little, and make it hard to keep people straight.  Also, I could have done without the romance aspect of the book.  I think the thriller and paranormal aspects of the plot were strong enough to carry the story, the romance seemed like it was an afterthought to try to appeal to romance fans.  

All in all, I found the book really well written, and very unique.  I am looking forward to reading more from this author!

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours, in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

Haven, by Laury Falter

Kennedy goes to school, like she would on any normal weekday.  Today, however, is anything but normal.  A global epidemic has struck, and Kennedy, along with several classmates, has found a haven inside the high school.  Outside, The Infected wander around seeking victims.  What has happened to the world, and how are they going to survive this mess?

There is so much about this novel that I really loved.  First off, yes, this is essentially a zombie story; however, just like the original Night of the Living Dead, the "z word" is never uttered.  Instead we are given a somewhat clinical explanation as to what is infecting people.  I like that, I felt like it stayed true to the history of the zombie genre.  The book struck me as The Walking Dead for the high school set; again, I think this is a good thing.  

I really liked the characters of Kennedy and Harrison.  I thought they were well developed and had a rich, dimensional role in the story.  I liked that Kennedy was a strong female character, in many ways equal, if not superior to, Harrison.  I also liked the romantic storyline between the two characters.  Even in a world full of chaos, love can bloom.

The story seems to be marketed to young adults; however, there is enough of a storyline to also engage adult readers.  The book ends a little abruptly, mostly to hook the reader for the next installment of the series.  All in all, I thought this was a good book, proving that there is still life (reanimated life at least) in the zombie genre.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

Graveyard Games, by Sheri Leigh

Dusty has come back to her home town, to bury her twin brother, Nick.  The circumstances surrounding Nick's death are suspicious; authorities are claiming it was a bobcat attack, but Dusty, along with several other town members, is not buying it.  She tries to infiltrate his group of friends to learn the truth, and along the way she faces monsters- both her family's and the town's.

I thought this book had a great premise.  It started off strong, I mean, the book opens at a funeral, so it is pretty obvious there is going to be a mystery.  The shadowy nature of the storyline indicates there are some supernatural elements at work, and for the majority of the book, the storyline develops in a logical, solid manner.  The last quarter of the book or so, however, seems a bit out of place.  It becomes very sexually focused, with scenes that seem out of place and forced.  

The character development was fair, but I felt like characters did things that did not make sense, or just disappeared out of the story for no reason.  For example, in the beginning there was a big emphasis on Dusty and Nick's stepmother, Julia.  But suddenly, she is no longer mentioned.  So what was the point of that early focus.  Similarly, I felt like the decisions Dusty makes in the last part of the book are not copacetic with how she is for the majority of the story.  It is almost like two versions of this book were written, and portions were mixed and matched.

It is not a bad book.  On the contrary, the premise of the story is really good.  And most of the execution is pretty good as well.  But the last part just seems off, and as a result the ending is not satisfying.

This book is from my personal library, and I wrote an honest review of my own volition.

 

The Small Hand and Dolly, by Susan Hill

A pair of ghostly stories.  In the first, a rare book dealer stumbled upon a deserted house in the country.  He feels a small hand grab his, despite the fact that he is alone.  From that point on, he continues to be visited by the small hand, and a compulsion to hurl himself into water.  In the second story, a spoiled young girl is sent to spend time with her aunt.  When her aunt buys her a doll, the girl shows contempt for it, because it does not meet her exact specifications.  Her bad behavior has lifelong consequences.

I found this pair of spooky stories to be delightful, and chillingly effective.  In the first story, I felt that the setting was beautifully developed.  I could see the house and the gardens in my mind.  In fact, it was almost as if a short movie were playing in my head as I read, something I always take as the sign of a strong story.  The ambiance of the story was very good.  The characters had a decidedly British feel to them.  The were a little distant, I never felt as if I got to know them that well, but it was not really necessary.

The second story was a little creepier than the first.  Once again, we had a decidedly creepy setting, an estate in the fens.  However, the characters are much more important to the story than the setting.  As a result the characters were much more developed than the first story.  However, I did not really find any of the characters all that likeable, so I was not as drawn into the story.  The action and plot was still spooky, and I was able to enjoy the story even if I disliked the characters.

The book is a quick read, and likely to appeal to fans of thrillers or paranormal stories.  

I received a review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine program in exchange for my honest review.

The House in Wales, by Richard Rhys Jones

During World War II, often children were sent to live in the countryside, away from the bombing.  This was especially common if they were orphans, like Danny.  Sent to live with a vicar in Wales, Danny has no idea what he has gotten himself into.  He has had run ins with the woman who acts as the live in maid, as well as her beastly dog.  Danny tries running away, and is branded as a delinquent.  When he senses there is evil in the house, no one wants to believe him, thinking he is just another troubled youth.

This book is certainly not for the faint of heart, or for anyone who is squeamish when it comes to reading about the occult.  The characters are deliciously deceptive, and concentrated evil.  I personally loved the back story of the Vicar.  It was my favorite aspect of the book.  While he is far from a good man, he was actually a victim in the whole situation.

The story moves along at a fast pace, which I enjoyed.  At times, I was not sure I understood how all the pieces fit together, but they eventually all came together for me.  Some of the minor characters were actually really enjoyable, like the other children in the village.

The book pulls heavily on paranormal and occult themes.  There is also moderate sexuality in the story.  When you combine those things together, you get a book that is probably most appropriate for adult readers who like a good scare (think a sexed up version of Stephen King).  All in all I enjoyed the book.  It left me feeling unsettled in the exact way a horror story should.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Showing, by Will MacMillan Jones

There is no way Mr. Jones would ever want to live in his grandparents' home.  However, when it gets out on the market, he cannot resist going back for one last look, even if that look is full of evil foreboding.  Unfortunately, as soon as he leaves, women start going missing, and the cops determine Jones is connected to the disappearances.  And he is, just not in the way the cops expect.

Nothing like a demonic house to keep a reader on their toes, eh?  This book was a perfect read for a windy, bleak autumn night.  And it was certainly spooky.  The tale certainly has a British air to it, with very polished writing and somewhat buttoned up characters, but I really did not mind that.  For me, this story was less about the people, and more about the house and the ambiance.

I think the tone of the story is set very well.  The house actually becomes a character in the book, one with depth and mystery.  The book held my attention well, and I read it all in one sitting.  The book will appeal to fans of paranormal stories, mysteries, and thrillers, because it adequately combines aspects of all three genres.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

A Clockwork Heart, by Liesel Schwarz

Elle Chance, female airship pilot, is back with another steampunk adventure.  Recently married to Hugh Marsh, Elle finds it difficult to balance her life as a working woman, a wife, and of course as the Oracle.  A horde of clockwork zombies is taking over the city, and Elle finds herself, and her husband, right in the middle of the trouble.  A colorful cast of supporting characters tries to help Elle solve her problems and discover how to balance her identity.

This is the second novel in this steampunk fantasy series, and I have to admit I was a tiny bit disappointed.  The first book in the series sets the bar high, and something about this follow up fails to deliver a little for me.  I disliked the fact that Hugh, while a main topic of this book, as a character is hardly explored.  It is like we are told about him much more than we are shown him, and to me that kind of writing lacks impact.  I do, however, like the steampunk take on zombies; I found it really refreshing and innovative.  In general, this book takes steampunk and develops it into something different, which I love.

As with the first book in the series, the paranormal aspects of the book are frequent, and well developed.    The writing is vivid, and creates the perfect atmosphere.  I felt like I, too, was skulking the misty streets of Victorian London alongside Elle.  While the fairy is still present in this book, her presence is greatly reduced, and honestly we probably could do without it, but it does seem the precedence was set in the first book, so some follow up was necessary.

All in all, the book is good, just not as good as the initial book in the series.  Still good enough to keep me waiting for the next installment though.

I received a review copy courtesy of Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.

When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears, by Kersten Hamilton

In this final book of the Goblin Wars trilogy, we find Teagan and Finn fighting to save the their loved ones, and keep evil dark forces from escaping Mag Mell and entering the world.  Despite her tumultuous and conflicted heritage, Teagan has chosen to fight on the side of what is right and good, and seeks goodness in the creatures and people around her.  As Samhain draws near, it appears that all hell is going to break lose, literally.

I have had really mixed feelings about this trilogy.  They are wildly popular, incredibly creative, and totally original.  They pull heavily from Celtic mythology, but also incorporate aspects of romance, action, and the paranormal, so it is easy to see why they appeal to a wide variety of readers.  It is just, for me personally, the entire series is just a little too much.  Too many fantasy creatures from Celtic mythology with which I am wholly unfamiliar.  Too much darkness for the targeted age group.  Too many odd people and things to try to keep straight.  When I read, I like to picture people, places, and things in my mind.  I struggled with that during all three books in this series, because the concepts were just too foreign for me.

I think the writing and the story is very solid.  More than the first two books, the action and plot progress very rapidly in this story, which helped me quickly become engaged as a reader.  I found the characters to be very consistent with their earlier development, yet they do continue to develop throughout this story.  I was surprised by some of the turns the story takes in the end, some made me happy, and some made me sad.  Because I had already read the first two books in the series, there was no way I was no going to seek closure in the third book; I felt like that closure was received, and that it was well executed.  Off the entire series, this book was my favorite.  

I received a review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine program in exchange for my honest review.

Another Little Piece, by Kate Karyus Quinn

Annaliese was missing for a year, and most people assumed she was dead.  When she makes a sudden reappearance, everyone is stunned.  She has completely lost her memory, however, and she seems, well, different.  In reality, she is different, and is inhabited by the spirit of another girl.  Slowly, memories of this other girl start to flood over her, and she begins to dread the truth of who she is, and what she must do not.

I thought this was an incredibly original concept.  However, the execution was more than a little clumsy.  I felt like the story jumped all over the place, with different times and characters jumbling together.  I never felt like I got the whole story; it hopped around so much that things were lost in the process.  And because the main character has undergone so many transformations, I never really felt like I know who she was.  Was the story about Annaliese or Anna?  I was never able to really tell.

The description of the book says it is a mix of Stephen King books and Pretty Little Liars.  That may have been the goal, but the reality is it missed the mark.  The strength of this book is the feeling it creates.  The author does a great job of creating a very dark, gothic setting and story.  I just felt like it needed to be a little bit more refined.

I received a review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine program in exchange for my honest review. 

The Widows of Braxton County, by Jess McConky

Is it really possible that the sins of a father are visited upon his sons?  Can ghosts really exist?  Kate and Joseph are off to begin their new life as newlyweds, on Joseph's family farm.  Upon arrival, Kate realizes that the life she was promised is not quite the reality she faces.  Family secrets, jealousy, violence, this is what awaits Kate.  Will she be able to rise above it?

I found this multi-generational tale quite intriguing.  I quite like the idea of land having memory and spirit, affecting all the generations to come until the wrong has been righted.  I felt like both the back story and the main plot were very well conceived and executed.  There was the perfect blend of mystery, thrills, and honest to goodness ghost story to keep me glued to the book.

I really connected with Kate as a character.  She hopes for a better life for herself, and winds up fighting for any life at all.  Some readers may see Kate as weak, choosing to stay in an unhealthy environment.  However, I think this is common, particularly for women living in a strange place with absolutely no support system.  I, personally, found Kate to be a strong character, fighting for what is right.  

All in all, I thought this was a captivating, well written book.  It will appeal to fans of thrillers and mysteries.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

  

Dead is Just a Dream, by Marlene Perez

Life is never dull in Nightshade.  In the most recent story of the "Dead is" series, people in town are suffering from poor sleep, specifically, people are having nightmares.  And several people are turning up dead.  No one seems to be able to figure out who is responsible for the madness, but with several new faces in town, suspects are plentiful.  It is up to Jessica, and her fellow verago warriors, to keep the town safe.

This series continues to be one of my favorite young adult series.  I like that the books are short reads, but even being short, the are compelling.  The writing is clean cut, not a lot of fluff, and always related to the story.  And the story is smart.  The author continues to create truly frightening situations of out everyday life.  The books are just scary enough for the intended age group, in my opinion.

I also like that this series build upon the established cast of characters.  We continue to learn more about the tried and true characters, like Jessica, and watch them grow.  Yet there are always new characters and story arcs added to the books to keep things fresh.  I was worried that I would have forgotten a lot of the details of the previous story, but because the characters are so well established, they all came back to me quickly.

This particular story focuses on those small things that people are scared of, whether they are the everyday fears or the extremes.  To me, that is one of the scariest types of plots a book can have.  All in all, another well done book in this series.

I received a review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine program.

 

A Haunting in the Haight, by Sarah Mathews

Belle has never been able to turn down a good ghost story or haunted location, so when a haunted home in San Francisco is put up for sale, she and her family move in.  Almost immediately strange things begin happening, not all of which can be attributed to ghosts.  Belle is being tortured by her husband's ex-wife, Raffaella.  Sometimes the scariest hauntings are done by the living.

Like Belle, I too cannot turn down a good ghost story.  I started reading books about hauntings, fictional and purported fact, when I was about 8 years old, and have forever remained fascinated.  You do not come across many fresh takes on the ghost story anymore, what with all the paranormal investigation shows and what not.  So I was quite pleased with the spin this book had on paranormal activities.  The book certainly had the feel of an Amityville horror type story, with the house being such a tragic location, but the reasons behind the hauntings provided a twist worthy of M. Night Shymalan.  I particularly loved the way facts about real haunted San Francisco locations, like the Winchester House (inspiration for Stephen King's "Rose Red" t.v. movie).

I probably was most drawn to the paranormal characters, both living and dead.  To me, they were the heart of the story.  The action centered on them, and they were the ones in control of the story, most notably Raffaella.  However, I did have a soft spot for the alcoholic dog, George, who added a bit of levity to the story.

All in all, this is a good, solidly written ghost story, that offers something fresh to the genre.  A real find indeed.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Club Monstrosity, by Jesse Petersen

All the movie monsters of old- Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, Werewolves, Invisible Man, Mummy, etc- are alive and well, and living in Manhattan.  Well, they were alive and well, until someone started murdering them according to their legendary movie demise.  The monsters all attend a support group together, and when members start turning up missing, the group bands together to save each other.  Led by Natalie, a Frankenstein's Monster, the group figures out who is harming them, why, and how to stop further losses among their ranks.

I love when authors take classic literary characters, ideas, and themes, and reboot them, provided they do it well.  And I was quite pleased with the way this author crafted the story using so many classic monster tales.  While all the main characters had their original monster identities, they also had fresh twists on those identities, allowing us to get to know them as characters, and individuals, instead of just the same old monsters we know.  I really loved the humanity in all of these characters; it made me, as a reader, really care about them, and want to see them protected.

I thought the storyline was smart, a great combination of old lore with new styling.  I am tickled that the monsters all live in Manhattan; if there is one city where a bunch of monsters would fit it, that would be the place.  The book has something for everyone; classic gothic literature, paranormal romance, mystery thrills.  That all adds up to mass appeal.  From what I understand, this is the first in a series, and I really look forward to further installments.  This book was well written, and highly entertaining.

I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

A Conspiracy of Alchemists, by Liesel Schwarz

Elle Chance is a strong woman, in a time when women are rarely seen as strong.  A female air captain in the Golden Age of steam powered cars and machinery, Elle has no concept of her own power within a world divided into Light and Shadow.  She becomes entangled in a dangerous caper thanks to some mysterious cargo she was hired to transport, and it turns out she plays a much bigger role in the world than she ever imagined.

I quite enjoyed the premise of this book.  It was sort of a steampunk paranormal romance mashup.  But not your typical steampunk, and not your typical paranormal.  The steampunk aspects were pretty subtle, as far as steampunk goes, and sprinkled throughout the book.  And the paranormal aspects, while much more prevalent, were different than any I have encountered in other books.  The world is divided into Light and Shadow, and the Shadow side is rife with warlocks, vampires, and fairies.  Yet, as with all things, some Shadow dwellers are good, and some are evil.  It was interesting to see this dichotomy within a dichotomy.  I felt like the story world was complex, and richly developed.

I liked Elle as a character, but never felt as if I got to know her as well as I would have liked.  I appreciated that she was a strong female protagonist, and while her story had an aspect of romance, it was not the weak willed do-anything-for-a-man type of romance that is so prevalent in paranormal romances.  Elle has real power and strength.  I also liked the voice of the fairy, which we see sprinkled throughout the book.  It took me a bit to realize it was the fairy's point of view in these passages, but once I did, I really felt it added a unique, whimsical air to the book.

All in all, I found the book interesting and engaging.  The story has a lot of fast moving action, so it held my attention well.  It will appeal to fans of steampunk, paranormal, and romance genres, as it sits in a sweet spot where all three meet.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

 

The Dark Heroine, by Abigail Gibbs

Violet stumbles upon a massacre in Trafalgar Square, and is immediately caught up in a world she of which she was previously unaware.  Vampires are real, and the government is aware of their presence.  When the vampires realize Violet has witnessed their violence, they kidnap her, only to find out she is the daughter of an important political figure.  Using Violet as pawn, the vampires try to protect their realm, all the while advancing the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy.

In the post-Twilight hysteria, we saw a boon of vampire books.  Some were really great, some were really awful, but most fell somewhere in between, and that is where I personally would place this book.  Among fans of young adult literature, this book is burning up the charts; readers seem to love it.  I am glad the author is being so successful, as I hope it will encourage more young authors to take risks with their work.  However, I have found myself unable to connect with the book with such fervor.

I found the story for the majority of the book to be pretty standard fare, and slightly predictable.  It is only the last third of the book, which delves further into the different realms, the prophecy, and the nine heroines, that seemed truly unique to me.  This makes me hopeful for the rest of the series.

I did enjoy Violet's character, but I was disappointed that the entire story depends on her submitting to the violent masculine vampire world.  I am also disappointed that the book seems so sexually violent, with frequent sexual threats and attempted assaults.  Yes, vampires are highly sexual beings, but their sexual and sensual nature does not necessarily need to be depicted in such violent ways, particularly in books aimed at teenagers.  I am not sure I would encourage a teenage girl to read books that contain violent sexual assault.  I think the fact that Kaspar is highly sexual, in and of itself, is fine, but it is when he wields his sexuality as a weapon that I am troubled.

I certainly do not think this is a terrible book.  It simply was not to my taste.  Thousands of readers love it.  I suppose you will need to read it for yourself to decide if you are among those thousands.

I received a review copy courtesy of TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.  See the rest of the tour here.

 

Loss, by Jackie Morse Kessler

Billy Ballard is the school punching bag, the running joke among a group of boys.  He is weak, he is powerless, and he will never fight back.  His whole life he has had nightmares about a mysterious man and horse from his childhood, not knowing that those dreams would lead him to his destiny.  Billy Ballard is Pestilence, but will he fight for his destiny?  Will he fight to become the White Rider?

Very few series are as gripping and imaginative as the Riders of the Apocalypse series.  As with the previous two installments, this book captured me from the opening lines.  With bullying being a problem of national scale, I found this book to be very timely and appropriate.  So many children are bullied as Billy is, and so many people turn a blind eye.  So many of us have felt this pain, which really allowed Billy to be relatable.  I found him well developed as a character, one with whom I deeply sympathized.

In terms of the storyline, I did find the plot slightly less clear than the previous books in the series.  The concept of the White Rider being divided into two entities seemed out of tune somewhat with the feel of the series.  Also, the author mentions that her original ideas for the story focused on Alzheimer's and Robin Hood, shades of which still appear in the eventual incarnation of her story.  I found both those aspects of the story quite confusing and out of place.  It was if the story was battling itself, which may have actually been intentional, much like the two aspects of the divided White Rider battle each other.  I loved the extreme symbolism surrounding the colors of white, black and red, this was much more intense than it had been in the previous books.

I think this is an incredible series.  While this book is not my favorite of the series so far, it is certainly worth the read.

This book is from my personal library.  All opinions are honest and original.

Straightjacket, by Meredith Towbin

Caleb is convinced he is an angel, sent into the world to rescue Anna, an 18 year old girl who has suffered abuse at the hands of her parents.  The pair meet in a mental hospital, where the doctors and staff chalk Caleb's heavenly beliefs up to delusion.  He slips into periods of deep catatonia during which he meets his guide, Sam, in heaven.  Anna is touched by Caleb's tender, artistic nature, and slowly begins to believe he actually is an angel, sent to change her life, and not merely the troubled young man the doctors claim he is.  What if she is wrong?

This book had a truly mystical feeling about it, one which drew me in from the very beginning.  From the moment we are first introduced to Caleb as a character, it is implied that he is an angel, and he has times where his spirit transcends Earth to Heaven, leaving his physical body trapped in a somewhat frozen state, much to the dismay of those in his presence.  We get two views of Caleb, his own and Anna's.  Similarly we learn of Anna from both her own view and Caleb's, though Anna has up a lot of protective walls as a result of the abuse she has suffered.  These dual views of both main characters allow them to be richly developed; we see their flaws and their emotional depth.  Both characters are strong, but of the two, I found myself much more drawn to Caleb.

I like that the writing leaves much open to reader interpretation.  Is Caleb really an angel, or merely a disturbed teenager?  Does he have views of heaven, or just powerful delusions and hallucinations?  The book really made me reflect.  As someone who worked in the mental health system, I strongly believe that treatment for mental illness can allow individuals to live happier, healthier lives.  However, many are quick to diagnose anyone who is a little different (creative, artistic, free spirited) as mentally ill, and I wonder if this is accurate.  Consider the lives of the saints, and mystics from all the major religions in the world.  Often they went into fugue-like states, but instead of calling it mental illness, we called it religious ecstasy.  Instead of a curse, it was a blessing.  Were these same saints and mystics to come into the world today (or prophets, sages, and philosophers) would they be put in mental hospitals and filled with drugs?

The enigmatic nature of the writing intentionally draws the reader deeper and deeper into the story.  I became incredibly invested in Caleb and Anna's story, and found myself rooting for their success.  I wanted Caleb to be an angel.  I wanted Anna to get rescued.  The story seemed mythological in a way, prophetic even.  I am a person who believes angels come in many forms, and often walk among us unknown.  The story is dreamy, and romantic, but also incredibly thought provoking.  While this is a young adult book, it has mass appeal for adult readers as well, particularly fans of paranormal romance and mystical stories.  As a debut novel, this is simply stunning and gorgeous.  I am excited to see what this author will continue to bring to the table.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author and publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Cold Case Morphs, by Barbara Silkstone

Morphs are people who wear full body morph suits, often as a way to escape their problems, and feel comfortable being their true selves.  A group of Morphs open a detective agency, specializing in cold cases, and their first case is as cold as they come.  While investigating a potential haunted house, Fedora and her fellow Morphs stumble onto a missing Hollywood director, a possible serial killer, and maybe, just maybe, true love.

Let's be honest up front, the idea of functioning in your everyday life while constantly wearing a Morph suit is a little, well, wacky.  So it stands to reason that a book about Morphs will also be a bit wacky, and it it is.  But it is wacky in a wonderful way.  Because many of the characters are wearing Morph suits, we learn very little about their physical appearance.  This forces us as readers to focus on their actions and personality traits in order to form opinions of them; in my mind, I bet these opinions are far more accurate than if we were to allowed to be influenced by physical appearance.  And in some ways, the mystery of these people in Morph suits is a little sexy.

Morph suits aside, the story at the heart of this novella is really quite normal.  A dash of mystery, some humor, romance, paranormal activity, and a few homages to some great 80s movies.  What is not to like?  I really liked the central mystery of the story.  I thought it was well developed and had many layers for such a quick read.  I liked the tie in a past story by the same author that involved Morphs, and I like the open ending that allows for more mystery Morph stories in the future.

Do not let the uniqueness of Morphs scare you off from this book; the story is so engaging, by the end, the Morphs seem like any other character, and though the story is unusual because of the Morphs, I think it is all the better for it.  I hope to see more Morph stories in the future!

I received a review copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.

The Abandoned Edge of Avalon, by Eden Tyler

Alexis has spent her entire lift feeling different from everyone else.  She has odd dreams and can read her best friend's mind, only making her seem that much stranger.  So when it is revealed that Alexis is not human, but is instead a fairy, things actually start to make sense.  She learns that she has a very important destiny to accomplish in the land of Avalon; for all intents and purposes, her life is just now beginning.

I have had this book on my kindle for two years now; it was originally offered as a free download.  Imagine my surprise to learn that by the time I got around to reading it,  it is now completely out of print, and being re-imagined as a young adult book.  I can say quite confidently that this was a good idea.  This book, as it stood in its original printing, seemed a but juvenile.  Despite the fact that the characters were meant to be in their mid 20s, they all acted and talked like teenagers, which left the book hollow.  There really was not enough character development, and it seemed like once she learned she was a fairy, Alexis' character underwent rapid, unexplained changes anyway.  In fact, I found her rapidly developed revulsion for humans the most unbelievable thing about the book.  When the book involves real life fairies, and the character development is the LEAST believable part, that is kind of a problem.

In terms of the story, I do not think it is a bad story, just nothing special.  A young person finds they are special or have special abilities, and must perform some act of bravery to save their kind.  Along the way said young person meets their soul-mate and swaps some blood.  It is like Twilight, True Blood, and Harry Potter are having a literary threesome.  Again, that is not necessarily a bad thing, but as it was originally intended, for adult readers, I do not think there is enough that is unique to the story to engage readers at a deep level.  I do think, however, that this story could work very well in a form altered for young adult readers.

This book is from my personal library.  All opinions are honest and original.

Two and Twenty Dark Tales, edited by Georgia McBride and Michelle Zink

Perhaps Mother Goose was not telling us the full story in those catchy nursery rhymes.  Perhaps, like the original fairy tales, the origins of those nursery rhymes were much darker.  In this collection, you read about a dystopian Jack and Jill; an shipwrecked Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod; and the creepiest Wee Willie Winkie you ever did meet.  It may be a good idea to read these in the daylight, because these are certainly no bedtime stories.

Overall, I found this concept to be really awesome.  I love re-imaginings of old tales, regardless of the slant, but to take something as benign as nursery rhymes and reinvent them as something dark and brooding was an act of sheer brilliance by some of the authors in this anthology.  Like any collection of short stories, some appealed to me more than others.  I was certainly more predisposed to the very dark tales, like the one of Wee Willie Winkie, and the Little Miss Muffett story.  I also liked the stories that were more closely linked to the original nursery rhyme, which both of the stories I just mentioned were.  Some readers may like the stories that are less literal, for me they just did not work.  

For some reason, I found this book to be a very slow read, and felt like I was slogging through a lot of it.  For me, each story was either love or hate.  There were no stories on which I was just lukewarm.  I wish it had been a bit more consistent in terms of all the stories living up to the "dark tale" promise.  But the coolness of the concept, and the artistry of the stories I loved far outweigh the portions of the book I hated, so I still think this is a worthwhile read.  My only real complaint is that the advanced reader copy did not contain two of the stories; that is like leaving out chapters of a book and expecting a review to review the whole book.  To me, that just does not work well from a reviewer's perspective.  

The book will probably appeal to other fans of re-imagined fairy tales or classic stories.  Also, I think the book would be appropriate for, and appeal to, older teen readers, since many of them feature characters who are young adults.

I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.