The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) By Richelle Mead Review

SUMMARY

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

REVIEW

Richelle Mead - BEST AUTHOR EVER!!!!!!!

The Indigo Spell. Hmmmm where do I start??

With the third book we are now halfway through the series and things are starting to heat up.Everything about The Indigo Spell screams AWESUM. Sydney Sage is a wonderful character to watch grow. I loved her in this book. She discovers so many things not only about her world, but also about herself. It’s human and raw. Plus all the emotions that she goes through. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed reading through an emotional roller coaster as much as I have reading Sydney’s life. 

Adrian is flat-out, hands down wonderful. He’s no longer the man whose hands won’t do manual work, and he’s become the man who will do anything for Sydney. No matter how obscure the task, Adrian rises up to the challenge. He is protective, but he also realizes Sydney’s strength and trusts her to do what’s best. I am forever more impressed by Adrian, and although he is more mature, he still contains his ability to spout off lovely, witty comments that I’ll never tire of.

The world changes in The Indigo Spell. Mead brings things to another level of dark paranormal elements. She adds a little romance and some mystery. I truly enjoyed reading The Indigo Spell, with all of the jaw-dropping revelations. Mead’s writing style just compliments everything that has been going on with the story, and I have never had a dull moment. It’s paced nicely, allowing me to fully comprehend what’s going on.

Stunning as always, the writing flows with an ease that cannot be rivaled. The romance is perfect, perfect, perfect. Sydney and Adrian are always making new memories together. I loved Hopper and the pie scenes. AND spirit dreams are back! O how I missed thee. They are each other’s flame in the dark, and the understanding they have for each other is unparalleled. Seriously, these two make me so happy.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES -

“Adrian's face was the picture of perfect politeness and restraint, meaning something disastrous was about to happen.” 


“Because I can't help doing it," he said with a shrug. "And hey, if I keep loving you, maybe you'll eventually crack and love me too. Hell, I'm pretty sure you're already half in love with me."
"I am not! And everything you just said is ridiculous. That's terrible logic."
Adrian returned to his crossword puzzle. "Well, you can think what you want, so long as you remember-no matter how ordinary things seem between us-I'm still here, still in love with you, and care about you more than any other guy, evil or otherwise, ever will."
"I don't think you're evil."
"See? Things are already looking promising.” 


“We need to get inside. I think my hair gel’s frozen.” 


“But each time you use spirit, you’re more likely to go crazy.”
“Already crazy about you, Sage.” 


“Sydney, I saw your cousin punch a grown man and throw a speaker at someone. Do you really think I’m going to sign on for a job that makes her do work she doesn’t want to do? What if she gets frustrated at what I’m telling her? How do I know she won’t stab me with a compass?”


“But when I touch you, your aura … it smolders. The colors deepen, it burns more intensely, the purple increases. Why? Why, Sydney?” He used that hand to pull me closer. “Why do you react that way if I don’t mean anything to you?” There was a desperation in his voice, and it was legitimate.” 


“Well, you can think what you want, so long as you remember - no matter how ordinary things seem between us - I'm still here, still in love with you, and care about you more than any other guy, evil or otherwise, ever will.” 

Do Over By Emily Evans Review

SUMMARY

“Run Paisley run. Don’t look at Trey as boyfriend-material. He’s ridiculously smoking hot, but when he dates--he’s cheetah fast. Quick to catch you. Then gone.” 

My BFF is right. Trey’s not for me. 

I know what I want out of senior year: an artistic guy, a perfect prom, and a plan to reunite my parents. I can make those happen if I have a magical crystal like the one I saw at the museum. I need that Do Over stone. 

How to use the power…hmm…Trey’s an über-jock with commitment issues. Can I turn him into the perfect boyfriend? Maybe with a thousand do overs.



REVIEW

This story is a romance. Pez is forced to interact with the jocks her father coaches. She finds one of them attractive, but she recognizes that he's promiscuous and isn't generally into jocks, so doesn't act on it. Over the course of the story, they get to know each other better and develop a relationship. There is some tension before they act on their attraction, and there are difficulties they overcome when they start having a relationship, but the author doesn't unnecessarily draw out the problems, and Pez doesn't spend all her time wallowing in thoughts about the relationship - she's got things to do after all.

I love that the author avoids the standard YA tropes and tendencies. There's no love triangle, insta-love, or angst. The girl doesn't feel unworthy of attention and she doesn't need - or get - a makeover. She's popular and good at school without being a genius or a goddess. The boy has no impulse control issues and wasn't her best friend from when they were kids. Nobody is abused or bullied. Mind you, I've loved stories that had all of these things, but it's refreshing to see YA romance that doesn't use any of them.

Highly recommended if you like YA romances.

Something Like Normal By Trish Doller Review

SUMMARY

When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

REVIEW

Something Like Normal is told from Travis’s perspective. Travis is a marine, and 19 years old. He joined the Marines to get away from his dysfunctional family, but then discovered that he was surprisingly good at being a soldier. I was impressed with how Trish Doller was able to get inside not only a teenage guy’s head, but also a soldier’s… and relay the experiences and emotions of Travis’s time in Afghanistan, and also dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You can’t help put love Travis as a character – he’s flawed, he makes mistakes, and he strives to be better. When Travis returns home from Afghanistan, his family is in shambles, and he feels out of place. He mourns the death of his best friend Charlie, and feels guilty that he wasn’t able to save him. When he meets Harper again, a girl he has a not-so-great past with since middle school, he begins to find peace, and “something like normal”. I really liked Harper, Its not everyday you get to read about a girl who punches a Marine in the face for something that happened when they were 13. LOL. I loved seeing different sides of Travis – from his moments with Harper, to the way he was with his Marine buddies (like a family), to the relationship he has with his mom. I seriously wanted to strangle his Dad, and punch his brother at times. I felt so strongly about the characters in this book, they all felt so real. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Unmaking Hunter Kennedy By Anne Eliot Review

SUMMARY

After a car accident--an event he considers a prank gone bad--pop star, Hunter Kennedy is forced to hide out with his aunt in small-town Colorado. He’s supposed to rest, heal his scars and attend high school in disguise until the press dies down. But he only wants to get back to work.

Worse, the girl who’s been assigned to make him over into a geek is a major geek herself. Vere Roth is a chattering pixie, a blushing tornado and a complete social disaster. He’s never met a girl who’s never-been-kissed, believes in romance and thinks Hunter’s a 'nice' guy.

Funny thing is...Hunter is nice around Vere because she’s his first real friend. He also can’t seem to stop sharing his secrets or keep her out of his heart. Knowing he’d never deserve a girl as sweet as Vere, he resigns himself to the friend zone, and helps his new bestie with her own makeover. 

She tortures him daily for ridiculous guy advice on how to snag her life-long crush. A guy Hunter thinks is totally wrong for Vere, and sadly, one who has taken note of Vere’s transformation.

When Vere asks her best friend for some kissing advice, Hunter can’t resist...

And that’s when things get out of control...

High School Romance, first love, sweet romance

REVIEW

Awwwwwwww....sweetest book ever! I must say that I absolutely loved all the characters. It was extremely easy to fall into Vere's shoes. She was sweet, innocent, and was completely and entirely clueless about boys. 

Hunter Kennedy isn't your average kid. He's been in the public eye for most of his life shooting commercials and, most recently, as the lead singer of GuardRobe. Then he hit a low point. His mom sent him to get help then shipped him off to middle of nowhere Colorado to live with his aunt. Will he flounder or find himself while he tries to stay undercover?

Hunter was much more accepting of Vere's situation once he got to know her. I loved reading from his point of view because he was so eager to make her happy. Charlie was the epitome of big brother. He was strong and protective, but also wanted to see that his sister wasn't going to be broken by the star who came into their lives.

This book was sweet, just like a first kiss should be. I love that it was written in both Vere and Hunter's points of view. You could just tell by the way Vere would describe him that she was totally head over heels in love with him, but that she was oblivious to it too. We knew from square one that Hunter had some problems to work though and I loved seeing how he evolved and grew through the entire story. It was descriptive and kept me hanging on each word.

Overall, Unmaking Hunter Kennedy is a beautiful story of first love. If you are looking for a very sweet, very innocent story of two kids falling in love, you've found your book!

The Storyteller By Antonia Michaelis Review

SUMMARY

Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?

Award-winning author Antonia Michaelis moves in a bold new direction with her latest novel: a dark, haunting, contemporary story that is part mystery, part romance, and part melodrama.

REVIEW

I am literally in tears. Why oh why did it have to end this way :'( !!! 

This book is about Anna, a good girl. A girl raised with every advantage. A girl who feels trapped by her own inexperience. And this book is about Abel, a mystery. 

The book opens with someone cleaning up a bloody bathroom and then burying the body of a female in the woods. We aren't told who the female is or who is burying her. As the story unfolds, the author, Antonia Michaelis, does an excellent job of giving the reader hints as to what is going on while teasing us with many possible options for who the killer might be. One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the story within a story.

 Abel Tannatek, a classmate and love interest of Anna's, is the storyteller. He uses a running fairy tale to try to explain the circumstances of their lives to his 6 year old sister, Micha.  Anna and Abel's story is so heart wrenching. 
It has a fairytale feel, but the content is anything but. Right off the start, you anticipate that there will be pain. And there is pain. A LOT of it. Don’t jump into this one unless you’re emotionally ready. It’s a sad tale, peppered with hope, that grips you tightly right through to the end. 
I found this book very intriguing. It was very well written and the suspense held until the last page.

FAV QUOTES -

“Sometimes I don't even know if I'm extremely happy or extremely sad. It happens a lot when I think of you” 


“In love, there is no criticism. In love, there is no rationality” 


“If you have known someone your whole life, you can see them in the dark.” 


“Next to that dragon Micha had wirtten: 'KIS EacH OthER'. 
Abel looked at Anna. Anna looked at Abel.
'She is the little queen,' said Abel, 'in our fairy tale, at least.'
'One must obey the queen,' said Anna.” 


“What does that mean?' Anna whispered. 'What does that all mean?
Abel ran his fingers through her hair again, and his hand wandered down and stayed on her throat. 'It means everything,' he whispered back. 'And nothing.” 


“In a dream, in a fairytale, nothing has to be explained, everything happens of its own accord.” 


“Go away princess. Leave your outlaw alone. You won't change him... go away, Anna, far away, and don't ever come back. The fairy tale doesn't have a happy ending.” 


“That was how she saw the storyteller for the last time - in an absolutely silent world, in a staircase. He'd hit his target.
When she fell into darkness, she knew that she would never see him again.
She'd love him to the very end.” 


“I am not staying with the murderer," she said, her words muffled by his jacket. "I am not staying with the victim Abel Tannatek or the culprit Abel Tannatek. I am staying with the storyteller.” 


“Just a tiny little pain,
Three days of heavy rain,
Three days of sunlight,
Everything will be alright,
Just a tiny little pain.”