Book Review: Shadowlands by Kate Brian

Shadowlands by Kate Brian
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 336
Received: ARC from publisher
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye.

Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

Review

What I thought before I started the book

Shadowlands is a contemporary, so of course I wasn't totally sold on the idea of reading it. I mean, ok, yes, there's a serial killer on the loose, and witness protection, and other tense stuff. But I wondered if that was going to be enough to keep me hooked.

But I had nothing to fear because Shadowlands kept me hooked from page one straight through to the gut-punching end. 

What I thought before I finished the book

Shadowlands starts out with a bang, wasting no time in throwing you in right as Rory is getting attacked. That's my kind of book. Tension is kept decently high in the beginning as Rory's family deals with the police and they discover just how involved the killer was in their life (super creepy).

And then the witness protection part started. I know how much Ruby loves witness protection stories, so it's hard to admit this but I sometimes struggle with them. I know there's usually something that shatters the safety of the program (so, yay action), and I do love mentally playing with the idea of taking on a new identity, but it's the whole "protection" part of it that I don't like. I don't want my characters to be protected, all safe and snug in their new identity. I want them facing constant peril.

So I was worried I'd start to doze off as soon as Rory and her family arrived at their quaint little island refuge. And I totally would have if it hadn't been for this mysterious something that simmered just beneath the surface.

A lot of time is spent on Rory going to the island's parties and wondering which guy is more interested in Rory (because, of course, two of them are). Objectively, I didn't much care about any of this. I didn't get why either guy was interested in Rory, and neither guy was particularly appealing.

But I still couldn't tear myself away. In this case, the fact that I didn't get why the guys were interested in her was actually intriguing. I got the feeling they were interested in her for some other reason. There was something going on in that little town and I couldn't shake the feeling that nothing was what it seemed. I was 100% committed to figuring out what was really going on.

What I thought after I finished the book

I would have loved Shadowlands when I was a tween/early teen. That was during my Lois Duncan phase and this book would have fit right in. Extra points would have been given for the startling ending I never would have predicted.

But I'm not a teen anymore, and I've read enough books to have had a pretty good idea where everything would end. I had two major theories about where this was all heading, and one of them proved right (thankfully, the one I was hoping for. Seriously, I was crossing my fingers and praying they weren't a secret cult of vampires).

That's ok though. Despite my theories, Kate Brian did a good job of dropping clues at just the right points to keep me hooked and guessing until the very end.

Extras to note

The mystery hogged most of my attention, but Kate Brian does also spend a lot of time developing the relationships between Rory, her father, and her sister Darcy. I was interested in seeing how each relationship deepened and changed through the course of the book.

That might not sound like a ringing endorsement, but I'm a very issue-phobic reader (there was the specter of a dead mother here, and NOT the literal ghost kind!), so coming from me that's pretty high praise.

Bottom line

Shadowlands ends pretty neatly (though abruptly), with a few threads left dangling. When I finished the book I was under the impression it was a standalone and I was perfectly happy with how it ended. The ending again reminded me of the books I read as a teen when most books were standalones and not everything was wrapped up with a bow and a twenty page epilogue.

But Shadowlands is not a standalone. It is part one of a trilogy (series?), and I am kinda disappointed. I don't see where the series has to go at this point, but I'm curious to find out (especially in light of the Big Reveal at the end). Not personally, maybe, as I'm not sure I'll be tuning in for the sequel, but I'll at least read reviews to find out what direction it takes.

But that's mostly because character building (these were pretty thin) and fantasies are more my thing. Fans of contemporary thrillers should enjoy Shadowlands (particularly readers who didn't spend their teen years marinating in Lois Duncan thrillers). The attractive cover, short chapters, and fast-paced mystery should make Shadowlands an appealing pick for YA readers.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Shadowlands that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

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Heroes in Training #1 & 2 by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom 
Poseidon and the Sea of Fury
by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
Series: #1 and #2 in the Heroes in Training series
Release Date: August 7, 2012, December 4, 2012
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 112, 128
Received: Review copies from author
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series!The terrible Titans—merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans—have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe....   
-Goodreads

After gobbling down the Goddess Girls series, I was eager to try Joan and Suzanne's latest MG Greek series, Heroes in Training. Of course, I wasn't let down!

Whereas Goddess Girls are decidedly girl books, Heroes in Training will appeal to boys just as much as girls. There is definitely crossover between the two series with regard to audience age, but I think Heroes in Training dips into the younger end of MG a little more (which will delight the younger siblings of my Goddess Girls library girls who have found the Goddess Girls series tempting but a little above their level).

Compared to Goddess Girls, Heroes in Training has shorter chapters and more straightforward focus on plot over character development. As a result, I didn't fall in love with the characters as much as I did with the Goddess Girls. Actually, I didn't even have much feelings for them one way or another. There's nothing wrong with them, but the plot definitely takes precedence. Which is totally fine. The intended audience really isn't looking or ready for complex character development.

The plot is so fast and fun that it's easy to get swept up in the events of the story and focus on little else. The action starts right away and doesn't let up. Greek myths are more directly re-told than not, but all the slower bits are stripped away, diving straight into the action. It's like a lesson on Greek mythology, but told in a totally kid-friendly, cartoon-episode way. It's also pretty funny (love the oracle and her foggy glasses!).

Book one, Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom, introduced readers to Zeus and set the stage for the coming battle against the Titans.  Poseidon and the Sea of Fury picks up right where book one left off but also introduces Hera and Poseidon. The character dynamics combined with Greek myth focus strongly reminded me of the Percy Jackson series (though this series is set IN the myths, whereas Percy Jackson was set in modern times).

These vibes absolutely delighted me,  because now I have a series I can give readers who desperately want to read Percy Jackson (their older siblings read it, they liked the movie) but they are too young to actually read those books on their own. Heroes in Training fills the void perfectly and gives them a series that can be Just For Them until they're old enough to transition to Percy Jackson.

Each book ends pretty much right in the middle of the story, giving a feeling more like a serialized novel than a more traditional series. I imagine this approach would frustrate readers immensely if installments were published once per year, but thankfully Heroes in Training seem to have a rapid publishing schedule with only a few months between each book. This should keep excitement high and will guarantee avid and frequent re-reads.  Heroes in Training should be a solid purchase for libraries and personal libraries.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key

Do you have any questions about Heroes in Training that I haven't addressed?

Feel free to ask in the comments!

Click to add to Goodreads

Click to buy on Amazon

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Book Review: Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman
Series: #1 in the Audrey's Guides series
Release Date: June 30, 2012
Publisher: Magic Genie Books
Pages: 293
Received: Review copy from author
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads: 

Falling in Love, baking a magical cake, fighting an evil necromancer—it’s all in a day’s work for Audrey Oliver, seventeen-year-old witch-in-training.

When her mother goes missing and her twenty-one-year-old witchy cousin shows up out of the blue, Audrey knows something’s gone horribly, dangerously wrong. Now it’s up to her to get her own magical powers up to speed before everyone she loves is destroyed by the sorcerer intricately connected to her mother’s secret past.

Review

Audrey has best friend potential

Audrey is my favorite type of main character: She's honest, real, a little insecure, not perfect, but her heart is in the right place and she always tries to do right by those she loves. Think girls like Gwen Frost from the Mythos Academy series or Mel from Crown Duel. I can instantly relate to this type of character.

The secondary characters were, for the most part, just as good as Audrey. Her love interest easily falls into the category of "nice guy" and while I usually find this kind of guy a little bland and boring, Julian's persistence and adorable attempt at cooking totally won me over.

But romance isn't the only relationship explored. I love it when authors provide MCs with non-romantic relationships, and Jody totally delivered on this front. From Audrey's best friend to her cousin to her sister, each character is fully developed and their relationships with Audrey grow and deepen throughout the book.

First time witches and magical mysteries!

While I think the strength of Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is more in the characters than plot, I did still like the plot (even if it is a little wandering). I'm a huge sucker for the "new witch learning about her powers" topic, and Jody Gehrman gave me pretty much everything I wanted on that front (except laugh out loud humor. I was really hoping for another basketball or closet scene).

Another bonus were the witchy gadgets and spells Jody Gehrman introduced. There were a lot of, "That's so cool! I WANT IT!" things, which is half the reason I love reading books like this in the first place.

While Audrey's learning what it means to be a witch and exploring her budding romance with Julian, she's also engaging in some detective work. *sigh* I love a character who sleuths. Audrey has a few mysteries on her plate and following along as she pieced together the clues was a lot of fun (even if a few points were kinda obvious).

The only downside?

Cackling evil villain. I had a feeling this was coming, but the final climax confirmed all my suspicions. The villain had very little depth and while they had an explanation for their behavior, it still pretty much added up to, "Because I'm evil!" and that was a total bummer. I was doubly let down considering how well Jody developed her other characters.

But that's ok. Maybe it's because I'm a big fantasy fan, but I've learned to brush off mediocre villain reveals as long as the journey is worthwhile. And I definitely enjoyed the journey here.

Bottom line

I will for sure continue with Audrey's journey in the next book. I have a feeling this series is going to be another comfort read for me, and while those books aren't necessarily mind-blowing, they're always good to kick back and relax with. I'm a character girl, and these are characters I can easily spend more time with.

The big showdown happened and everything was wrapped up mostly ok, but there are definitely a few major loose ends left dangling. I don't think it's a rip-you-hair-out cliffhanger though, and the plot is simple enough that I'm not too worried about forgetting major plot points by the time the sequel comes out. I don't think it's necessary to hold off on reading until all the books in the series have been published.

Added bonus? There are recipes in this book!

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews.

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Book Review: Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep

Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep
Series: #4 in the Mythos Academy series
Release Date: December 24, 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 384
Received: ARC from author and publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

WARNING!

This review contains spoilers for the previous books in the series. Haven't started the series yet? Check out my spoiler-free review of the first book Touch of Frost instead!

Summary

From Goodreads (spoilers, highlight to read):


I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we’d gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I’d have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn’t see that one coming.

I’ve been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison—and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan’s dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I’m guilty. If I’m going to get out of this mess alive, I’ll have to do it myself…

Review

Explosions of love!

I enjoyed every second of this book! I can't even put my finger on exactly why I love the Mythos Academy series so much, but I do. It's my ultimate comfort read. It's like putting on a cozy sweater, curling up on the couch, and having a marathon catch up session with my best friend.

I was happy with Crimson Frost from page one and it just kept getting better and better. Even though everything I wanted to happen didn't actually happen yet, I almost don't even care. What I got was perfect.

Are all my favorite characters back?

Well, no, because one of them is DEAD. (Do I sound upset? Who, me?). 

But, other than that, yes, everyone makes an appearance. Sadly some make less of a showing than in previous books (Daphne where were your sparkly fingers for most of the book?!) and Grandma Frost doesn't bake nearly as much as my stomach wanted her to (though my waistline thanks you, Ms Estep).

However, I forgive whatever quibbles I may have about wanting to spend more time with these characters because Vic makes up for it all. He gets ALL the points in the world!

I've always loved his snarky, bloodthirsty side, and the ante-upping of the previous book gives him a lot of opportunities to goad Gwen into enthusiastic violence. Plus, he has a rivalry with another talking sword (we hate her!) and I seriously can't get enough of their verbal sparring mixed with Vic's snide asides to Gwen.

But, as the previous book showed, Vic isn't all blood and guts. He has a softer side, and it comes out SO adorably in Crimson Frost. His relationship with Nox's little baby wolf is out-loud-awww-inducing and there is a particularly touching scene between Vic and Gwen that nearly broke my heart with bitter-sweet love. 

Is there series stretching?

No! While it does seem a little like a diverting tease because I really do want to see Gwen battle Loki already (she doesn't, not yet anyway), I can't accuse Crimson Frost of being a filler book. Stuff happens, from page one.

There's a trial and a new mythological creature and lots of bloody battles! Plus, other stuff. As per usual, there's a mystery threaded throughout the story and Gwen is up to her usual sleuthing. I love that she sleuths.

Even more importantly, I love Gwen. Crimson Frost reaffirmed why I love her so much. She's strong, resilient, inquisitive, loyal, and determined. But, she's imperfect. A lot of this book was Gwen doubting herself and wondering if she did the right thing and if she can actually do what Nike believes she can do.

Normally I'd be all, "Quit yer whining" about a character getting down on themselves, but not here. Gwen doesn't throw herself a pity party. She asks legit questions and honestly analyzes her actions. She has real reasons to doubt and I think it was important to the book and her character development for her to explore those questions. She didn't come across like a whiner at all. Her doubts only made her seem more endearing, real, and admirable.

So, much as I'd like to get to the final battle, I appreciate that Jennifer Estep isn't skipping ahead. These steps along the way are important and I think they make for a stronger series overall. 

I didn't notice the writing

My one quibble with this series has been Gwen's repetitive recapping everything. I find it endearing because it's a part of what makes Gwen, Gwen, but it was always something that stood out and pulled me out of my reading experience.

But that didn't happen in Crimson Frost!

There was just enough recapping so I knew where I was and what had happened in the previous books, despite my bad memory (it has been about seven months since I read Dark Frost), but that was it.

Bottom line

When is the next book coming out?! (Well, August 2013, so what I really mean is, why can't I have it now?!) The end is a pretty big cliffhanger. I mean, ok, fine, no one is actually dangling from a cliff and the book ends pretty much the way all the other books ended before where the main gist of the story is wrapped up but the overarching Loki storyline is still wide open and gearing up for even higher stakes.

But, I don't want to wait. I love this series.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Crimson Frost that I haven't addressed? 
Feel free to ask in the comments!

Looking for another book like this? 

You might like: 

Click on the covers to go to my reviews/Goodreads.

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2013 Reading Challenge Addict

3/6 challenges
Challenge Basics:  

Name: 2013 Reading Challenge Addict
Hosts : Reading Challenge Addict
Starts: January 1, 2013
Ends: December 31, 2013
Eligible Books: Complete the reading challenges I've signed up for.
Levels: Four; I am going to try for the second level: 6-10 challenges (I've signed up for 6)
Prizes? Yes, TBA
Sign up page 


Why I'm Interested:  

Well, I've already signed up for 6 challenges, so I still qualify as an addict!

Challenges Completed:

3. The Bucket List
2. YA Historical Fiction
1. Fairy Tales Retold

Have you signed up for this challenge? What level are you going for?

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2013 Fairy Tales Challenge

7/3 books

Challenge Basics:

Name: 2013 Fairy Tales Retold Challenge
Hosts : Debz Bookshelf
Starts: January 1, 2013
Ends: December 31, 2013
Eligible Books: Fairy tale retellings! Or original fairy tales.
Levels: Six; I am going to go for the first level: Read 1-3 books
Link your reviews? TBA
Prizes? Giveaways
Sign up page

Why I'm Interested:

Because I am a fairy tale addict. Also, because I like Debz and her blog. AND, because I participated in this challenge last year, and failed terribly. I'm determined to fix that in 2013.

Books Considered:

Fairy tales on my Retellings Goodeads shelf. Added bonus if I read books I already own.

Books Completed:

7. The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde
6. East by Edith Pattou
5. Watersong by Suzanne Weyn
4. The Rose Bride by Nancy Holder
3. Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
2. The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
1. Frogged by Vivian Vande Velde

Have you signed up for these challenges? What books are you planning on reading? Do you have any suggestions that I absolutely MUST read?

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2013 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge

2/5 books

How do you make a progress bar? 

Challenge Basics:  

Name: 2013 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge
Hosts : Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf 
Starts: January 1, 2013
Ends: December 31, 2013
Eligible Books: Any book that contains a witch as a main character or witchcraft elements.
Levels: Four; I am going to try for the first level: Read 1-5 books
Prizes? Yes! But only if you link your reviews.
Link Your Reviews: Yes, HERE
Sign up page 

Why I'm Interested:  

Because witches are awesome! But mostly because I like Melissa and her blog.

Some books I'm considering: 

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
The Minister's Daughter by Julie Hearn

Books Completed:

5.
4. Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop
3. Black Dawn by L. J. Smith
2. Curses, Inc. by Vivian Vande Velde
1. Spellbinding by Maya Gold

Have you signed up for this challenge? What books are you planning on reading? Do you have any suggestions that I absolutely MUST read?

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