Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Aden has four voices inside his head and if that wasn’t enough, he has four supernatural powers. Eve can time travel, Julian can raise the dead, Caleb can possess another human, and Elijah can predict the future. As Aden bounces around from foster homes, juvie, and insane hospitals, he feels more alone despite the four souls in his head. When he ends up in Crossroads, Oklahoma everything changes. Elijah has a vision that he will kiss a dark haired girl that will change his life and also that Aden will die soon. On the day Aden is fighting zombies Julian accidentally raised, he is suddenly drawn to a mysterious girl that he feels he must hug but at the same time, to run away. Aden knows there is something strange about this girl. Could it be the dark haired girl he will kiss? Or does she have the clues to finding out what is going on in his head?
 
The Good: This novel was one of those that you get to page like 300 and you look back and nothing huge happened but yet the pages flew by. But don’t get me wrong this book was great, filled with lots of mystery and intrigue. This was and interesting combination with the supernatural. Usually in the paranormal genre that usually entails big battles between vampires and werewolves or running from psychotic enemies. And while that may seem stereotypical this novel was totally unique in a very good way. I am often hesitant of male protagonists. I find some to be completely unrelateable. But Aden (and his companions) were very easy to read and provided a fun, interesting, unique dynamic.
 
The Bad: I felt the lack of excitement throughout the book slowed its pace slightly. While the ending was climatic, it lacked the proper build up to make it especially exciting. But overall Showalter did a good job of being unique in what seems like an overcrowded genre. 

Ugly Updates: Showalter has published many other books in the paranormal genre. Unraveled, the sequel to Intertwined, comes out August 31st! So get reading Intertwined so you're all ready when it comes out. Check out Showalter's site and order Intertwined and Unraveled on amazon.

Rating: A

Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

This title is also known as My Love Lies Bleeding.
Lucy and Solange have been best friends since they were kids despite that Solange’s family are vampires and at her upcoming sixteenth birthday she will become one too. But Solange is very different from the vampires of her family and others in the community. She is the very first born vampire that is a female. And there just happens to be a prophecy saying she will become queen. Though Solange wants nothing to do with this the current queen feels very threatened. As her sixteen birthday approaches she must put up with the growing gifts from courters, the overwhelming numbers of admirers that think her uniqueness in enthralling, and seven very overprotective brothers. Oh and the fact that the bloodchange could leave her dead.

The Good: With alternating points of view from Lucy and Solange, Hearts at Stake is a fun, admirable read. Lucy’s character is hilarious. She is fun, witty, and clever and with her hippy-parents-philosophy references she is an easy enjoyable character to read. Solange, similarly, is a character that I came to love. She is down-to-earth and strong-willed. She always wants to protect herself and to not be coddled. But with an Edward Cullen-like over protective family it provides a very interesting dynamic. This novel in essence is a upbeat, fairly-quick, mysterious vampire story that kicks butt.

The Bad: This novel, like any good novel, has romance. But it is weird at some places. Its hard to explain but I felt with switching points of view at cliff hanger end-of-chapters left some things – important things – left unsaid. This, overall, isn’t a huge deal. For some reason this kind of stuck with me. I personally love different points of view. I think it gives a story dynamic. But that said it should be done eloquently.

The Ugly Updates: This is Harvey’s first novel. Book two of the Drake Chronicles, Blood Feud, is out as of June (I hope to get my hands on a copy soon!). Out for Blood, the third book, is out December 22nd (USA).

Overall: A

Waiting On Wednesday: Mockinjay by Suzanne Collins

I am a huge fan of the Hunger Games. I have loved them from the very beginning. And now it is 27 days till the conclusion and I really don't know if I can wait that long. But to help me (and you) to make it until August 24th you should check out Scholastic's Summer of Hunger Games. There giving away prizes, discussing all the books, and tons more. Check it out here. For a schedule of events click here. Also I'm giving away a copy of Mockingjay!! It stinks its not an ARC but still at least you won't have to buy your own copy! So check it out. Don't forget to add extra entries if you've already entered!

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Weekly Update (7)

Sorry this update is out a little late. It's going to be a crazy busy next two weeks so just bare with me. I don't really have much to say this week. No new additions to my TBR pile. I updated my Contests on my left sidebar. Sorry so many of them were out of date. Don't forget to enter my Mockingjay contest this is the last week it ends Saturday! There is also an option to add extra entries if you've already entered. Onto the update:

This week:

• Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
• Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Have a great week. P.S. Has anyone heard that at Goodreads you have a limited number of friend requests a day? Does anyone else find this as ridiculous as I do?

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Summer Series: House of Night by P.C. & Kristin Cast

 
 Note: This is a review of a whole series and the summary will not spoil any of the books, including the first.
Zoey is just a normal girl until one day after school she is Marked. Marked to be a fledgling where in the next four years she will either turn into a gorgeous full grown vampire or she will die in the changing process. While dealing with be the new kid in the elite school, her mom and step-dad’s disgust with what she’s become and the popular queen bee who can be quite the beeoch, she discovers she’s a standout among the fledglings. Her crescent mark is filled in, like an adult vampire, yet she is still a fledgling. Zoey realizes that that the Goddess has chosen her specifically for a job. She just not sure what that is yet. Follow Zoey on her journey through school, boyfriends, death, affinities, war, betrayal, and friendship.

To start I had a love-hate relationship with these books. I’ve heard really great things about them but when I read the first book in the spring I was sadly disappointed. But I decided I would give there series another try. So I really tried to like the books but the really weren’t that incredible and I only made it to book four. But here’s more specifically what I thought about it.

The Good: Zoey and her friends are funny and very relatable. They really made the story readable. They had a really interesting dynamic together that made me want to be their friend too. Stevie Rae is southern bell with quite a sense of humor and a “mother hen” outlook. Damon, their openly gay friend, taught me some new words that I’m sure will probably show up in my SATs for which I thank him. Lastly, Zoey, though I wanted to shake her senseless sometimes she really was a strong heroine who dealt with horrible circumstances very realistically, she didn’t pretend she was Super God and made everything perfect again. Because what teenager doesn’t freak out a little when they’re in over their head.

The Bad: Overall I thought the House of Night series was lacking in maturity and action. One thing that drives me crazy in a book is parentheses. I can deal with one or two but one every page, not so much. When a novel is written in first person, like House of Night, I feel there is no need for them especially when your going to say something like this; “I learned it from Star Wars (I know I’m such a geek)”. The novel fell flat in the action department. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat at all. The novel was also a bit predictable. It lacked intrigue, poise and overall sophistication. I felt like it was more written for middle grade. The only thing that made it YA was the swear words and occasional sexual references. Though it was nothing inappropriate and I would say middle grades could read it.

Overall: C- 

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