Love is Hell- Marr, Westerfeld, Larbalestier, Zevin, Stolarz

Title: Love is Hell

Author: Marr, Westerfeld, Larbalestier, Zevin, Stolarz

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Pages: 256 pages

From the back of the book: Supernatural romance is the well-chosen theme of five original stories by as many authors. After her family moves into a house where a boy was murdered, Laurie Faria Stolarzs protagonist finds herself falling in love with his ghost; Gabrielle Zevin introduces a high school student who may (or may not) be overidentifying with the book she is reading; and Scott Westerfeld looks into a future where hormonal balancers tamp down teen romances and bioframes obviate sleep and dreams. Melissa Marr and Justine Larbalestier reinterpret folklore conventions, Marr writing about selkies and Larbalestier about faeries. There’s enough variety to round out the central theme, and consistently supple storytelling will lure readers through all five entries. -http://www.amazon.com/Love-Hell-Scott-Westerfeld/dp/0061443042

Review: I wasn't sure if I would like this book when I borrowed it to review from Ashley. The first page of the first book caught my interest and I read it with curiosity, really liking what I was reading. With the second book it took me a few pages to realize it was set in the future. Normally I don't read books set in the future, but I was intrigued by what I had read so far and continued reading. I found that when I finished reading it I had really enjoyed it and wanted there to be more. The third book I definitely liked from the start until a certain twist turns the towns people from those who were bound with fear because of their superstitions to murderers. Book four, another good read. And with this good opening I thought I would enjoy the ending more then I did. Book five... definitely has an interesting start to say in the least, but it was an opening that certainly caught my attention and a happy ending to go with this time. I enjoyed the books as a whole but there were parts of the individual stories I disliked.

Rate: Over all I give this book from 1, I couldn't finish it to 10, unputdownable, I rank this book an 8.

Reviewer: Bec

Hearts at Stake- Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Hearts at Stake

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Pages: 256 pages

From the back of the book: On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.

Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.
-http://www.amazon.ca/Hearts-At-Stake-Alyxandra-Harvey/dp/0802720749

Review: I was suggested this book by a good friend who also writes and reads novels of the same genre and author that I do. From the beginning of this book I found it fascinating that the author lets you know that they aren't normal, ones a human whose friends with a vampire and the other is that friend vampire. I liked this and was interested in what would happen to this strange pair next.

It had a great plot and I enjoyed reading this, yet I couldn't help but feel as though there was something missing. The relationship between the two girls was there, in print. I wasn't feeling the deep connection that the two were said to have, the loyalty and closeness that I feel with my best friends, I didn't feel it with these two. I found that I couldn't feel any emotions from any of the character, nobody I could connect with and relate to as I read.

Rate: Over all I give this book from 1, I couldn't finish it to 10, unputdownable, I rank this book a 7.

Reviewer: Bec

Vampire Academy- Richelle Mead

My first ever review, lets hope I don't mess it up to much...




Title: Vampire Acedamy

Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 336 pages

From the back of the book: St Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school - it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St Vladimir's - the very place where they're most in danger...Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable night-time rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi - the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires - make Lissa one of them forever.
-http://www.amazon.ca/Vampire-Academy-Richelle-Mead/dp/159514174X#noop

Review: From the first word of Vampire Academy I couldn't put this book down, I loved it! I think this was the first book about vampires to really do that to me. I had read Twilight and liked it a lot, but it was NOTHING compared to Vampire Academy. A friendship that any girl would die for, a mentor that some would kill for. I was in love with Rose and Lissa's characters from page one, they sucked me in to their world, the same one I walk on every day but they made me see it from their eyes and I felt like I was them, not many books that make me fall in love with the guy she’s crushing on, feel loyal to her friend, see what she sees.

This book left me breathless. I was overwhelmed with Rose's feelings of love for somebody who she can't love, Lissa's feelings of love and trust in everything Rose does. I couldn't stop reading and when I did I ran to the bookstore to get the next book. And when I finally caught up to the point where I had to wait for the books to come out I thought I was going crazy. I am now holding my breath waiting for the next and last in the series to come out. While waiting I have re-read the series many times, and every time I do I find something new in the books.It's a read that can be read over and over and you'll never get tired of.

This, in my opinion, is even a book that those who don't like vampires can read, being a person who doesn't care for vampires myself I never thought I would like this book, when I picked it up I didn't even know it was about vampires. And now here I am counting down the days!

Rate: Over all I give this book from 1, I couldn't finish it to 10, unputdownable, I rank this book an absolute 10!

Reviewer: Bec