Review: Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer

By: Katie Alender

Pub. Date: October 1, 2013

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages: 304

Source: TLA

Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger . . .

Acclaimed author Katie Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of revenge, betrayal, intrigue — and one killer queen.

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer was a book that I have never heard of until I saw ARCs of it at TLA. I was upset that I couldn't score a copy, but my friend loaned me hers! What an awesome premise- a ghost story featuring Marie Antoinette as a bloody murderer! What's not to get excited about? Unfortunately, despite the buildup of hype in my head, the story fell flat for me. I didn't feel connected to the characters and the writing just dragged on. The only reason I gave this book three stars, instead of two, was because I could tell that the author did a bunch of research to write this book, and it was definitely evident in the writing. I loved reading about the Queen, the Palace of Versailles, and The French Revolution.

Colette is so excited to go to Paris on a school trip. She's even more excited that she gets to go with her two best friends, popular girls Hannah and Pilar. We get a first hand view of their friendship and it isn't pretty. Hannah is clearly your stereotypical, rich girl. She's mean and manipulative and she thinks she is the only one that matters. There were so many times that I wanted to shake Colette for being friends with Hannah. The friendship was very realistic though. As teenagers, we don't always do what is right. We want to fit in above everything else. So while I couldn't stand that Colette and Hannah was friends, I understood why Colette maintained that friendship.

I wasn't a huge fan of Colette. She annoyed me throughout the entire book. It wasn't until the last quarter of the book that she finally started to grow up a little. My favorite characters were Jules, their tour guide while in Paris and Audrey, the "unpopular" girl. The two of them definitely jumped off the page much more than Colette did.

My favorite aspect of the story was the rich and detailed Paris setting. Everything was described so beautifully, I felt like I was on the trip experiencing everything right along with Colette. I've never been to Paris, but I always wanted to go. I especially want to visit the Eiffel Tower and Versailles, and this story has made me even more excited to finally get there.

The ghost story aspect was a little disappointing, though the murder scenes were pretty cool. You can figure out the reason behind the murders fairly quickly and it wasn't as epic I was hoping it would be. Though the twist at the end was very interesting.

I think this story is better for MG, or on the younger spectrum of YA. I think those age groups would definitely enjoy this story!  

Review: Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood

Star Cursed

(The Cahill Witch Chronicles # 2)

By: Jessica Spotswood

Pub. Date: June 18, 2013

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Pages: 384

Source: Netgalley & TLA 2013

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

With Born Wicked, it took me a little while to fully get into the story, but I was able to get into Star Cursed right away. It picks up a few months later with Cate being fully immersed in the Sisterhood-helping the poor, feeding the hungry, oh and learning spells to take down the Brotherhood. Cate has always been a strong and selfless heroine, and we get to see that personality even more in Star Cursed. Cate has given up her life and happiness to keep her sisters safe, and it is hard not to respect someone that does that. The romance between Cate and Finn has taken a back seat to taking down the reign of terror that the Brotherhood has in place, but I absolutely loved the sweet, stolen moments that the two of them shared.  

The Brotherhood is arresting more and more young girls, hoping to find the witch with the visions. Cate knows that in protecting her sisters, more and more innocent girls are being tortured and killed. There was a lot more action in Star Cursed because the Sisterhood are gearing up for the prophecy. Everything is a big mess, and the people that Cate thought she could trust, are the ones that are hurting her the most (cough, Maura, cough). I was never a huge fan of Maura, but I just wanted to slap the face off of her in this one. She was reckless and never cared about who she was hurting in the process of the "greater good".

The ending will definitely make you want to punch the wall, so be prepared. I am so interested to see how Jessica Spotswood will fix it. Here that Ms. Spotswood, YOU WILL be fixing it!!  

This is a series that definitely should not be missed! I can't wait to see what will happen next. 

Review: Left Drowning by Jessica Park

Left Drowning

By: Jessica Park

Pub. Date: July 16, 2013

Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing

Source: Netgalley

I received this galley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.

Wow. Just wow. This is one of those reviews where it is so hard to get my thoughts and feelings down on paper. From page 1 I was intrigued about everything. The writing was so good, the characters were all just so amazing and the plot was just, wow.

When her parents died, Blythe stopped living. She goes through the motions every day but she doesn't really experience anything. Everything changes when the Shepard siblings (Chris, Sabine, Estelle and Eric) walk into her life. I loved the Shepard family! They were so beautifully broken. They had a horrid childhood, Chris experiencing the worst of it, but they loved each other so much. I loved their connection and I loved how they "adopted" Blythe into their crazy bunch. She needed someone to help her, and while Chris and her had a romantic connection, Sabine and Blythe's connection stole the show for me. Sabine is fun and crazy, but he is also thoughtful and sad. Every time he appeared on the page, he just jumped out at me.

Chris and Blythe had a very interesting connection and it ran a lot deeper then either of them could have imagined. Chris did some things that I definitely did not agree with it, but when you see what his past was like, it's amazing he isn't more messed up. Chris experienced unimaginable things, and everything he went through was to make sure his sister and brothers were protected. It was hard not to fall in love with Chris!

Blythe had a very sad relationship with her own brother, one that made my heart hurt. They were so close before their parents died and after there is nothing but awkward, short talks. I loved watching their relationship finally start to change for the better.

I really loved everything about Left Drowning. I think I am the only person left in the world who hasn't read Flat-Out Love or Flat-Out Matt, but I hope to change that very, very soon!

Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Of Poseidon

(Of Poseidon # 1)

By: Anna Banks

Pub. Date: May 22, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Pages: 326

Source: TLA 2012

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen — literally, ouch! — both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

My only regret in reading this book is that I waited over a year to read it! I seriously enjoyed every single second of this story. The characters were written beautifully and the plot was fast paced and fun! Not only was it fun, but it was funny. There were so many laugh out loud moments. Emma is so quirky and feisty! Galen is also funny, but in the I'm-not-trying-to-be-funny-I-just-am kind of way. From his facial expressions, to his confusions on dating and human way of life, I just loved everything about him. He definitely topped some of my favorite YA boys list-and he's a prince, a Syrena prince!

Besides the characters, learning about the mythology of the houses of Poseidon and Triton was my favorite thing about this book. I loved learning about what happened so many years ago that first divided the Syrena people, and the events that happened a little more recently that really changed everything for them. I loved how Anna Banks incorporated the lost city of Atlantis as well. The history of these two houses was written so perfectly. I know there is still so much to learn and I can't wait to find out the rest!

I have read a few mermaid stories, and I have enjoyed all of them, but Of Poseidon is definitely my favorite! I can not wait to read the second book in the series, Of Triton. Banks is such a talented writer, and her fun personality can definitely be seen in her writing. I will read anything and everything this lady writes from now on! 

Review: One Tiny Lie by K.A. Tucker

One Tiny Lie

(Ten Tiny Breaths # 2)

By: K.A. Tucker

Pub. Date: June 11, 2013

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 256

Source: Netgalley

I received this galley in exchange for an honest review.

Livie has always been the stable one of the two Cleary sisters, handling her parents' tragic death and Kacey's self-destructive phase with strength and maturity. But underneath that exterior is a little girl hanging onto the last words her father ever spoke to her. “Make me proud,” he had said. She promised she would...and she’s done her best over the past seven years with every choice, with every word, with every action.

Livie walks into Princeton with a solid plan, and she’s dead set on delivering on it: Rock her classes, set herself up for medical school, and meet a good, respectable guy that she’s going to someday marry. What isn’t part of her plan are Jell-O shots, a lovable, party animal roommate she can’t say ‘no’ to, and Ashton, the gorgeous captain of the men’s rowing team. Definitely him. He’s an arrogant ass who makes Livie’s usually non-existent temper flare and everything she doesn’t want in a guy. Worse, he’s best friends and roommates with Connor, who happens to fits Livie’s criteria perfectly. So why does she keep thinking about Ashton?

As Livie finds herself facing mediocre grades, career aspirations she no longer thinks she can handle, and feelings for Ashton that she shouldn’t have, she’s forced to let go of her last promise to her father and, with it, the only identity that she knows.

I was a huge fan of last years, Ten Tiny Breaths, and was very excited to hear that the follow up would be about Livie, Kacey's wise-beyond-her-years younger sister. One Tiny Lie is set three years after the events in Ten Tiny Breaths and follows Livie on her first year of college at Princeton. Since her parents died, Livie has done everything she could to be a good girl. She never drank, smoked, or even had a boyfriend. She did her homework and anything else she needed to do to get into a good school and become a doctor. But Kacey wants her to be a teenager for once and actually live a little. With the help of an unorthodox therapist, Livie is finally going to start living. Her first night of her goal was hilarious, and I think many people can relate to it-even the "I was so drunk, I got a tattoo" part.

Things get a little more complicated when she meets roommates-Ashton and Connor. Ashton is the one who she has an undeniable connection with, but he can be an infuriating jerk sometimes. Plus there is the little problem of him having a girlfriend. Connor is the boy she starts dating. He is sweet and intelligent, and everything she thinks she wants out of life. But let's face it-they had absolutely no connection. It was so bad, that it was painful to read at some parts.

I spent the first half of the book not being able to stand Ashton. He was a stereotypical rich and privileged jerk. But the more time you spend with him, the more you realize he is fiercely loyal to his friends, smart and holding in a lot of pain and sadness. I couldn't wait for Livie to peel all of his layers to find out the man Ashton really is and boy, was I impressed!

I always loved the sister dynamic between Livie and Kacey, and it was a lot more interesting now that Livie was older. Kacey was absolutely hilarious and some of the things she did was so embarrassing for Livie. But you can tell how much the two of them love each other. I also loved seeing some of the other characters from Ten Tiny Breaths. I didn't realize how much I had missed them!  

I am so glad that I read One Tiny Lie. I definitely recommend both of these novels!

Review: Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson & Chris Tebbetts

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

(Middle School # 1)

By: James Patterson, Chris Tebbetts and Laura Park (illustrator)

Pub. Date: June 27, 2011

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Pages: 288

Source: TLA 2013

Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he's got an ace plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off: With his best friend Leonardo the Silent awarding him points, Rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class-5,000 points! Running in the hallway-10,000 points! Pulling the fire alarm-50,000 points! But when Rafe's game starts to catch up with him, he'll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he's finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he's been avoiding.

Blockbuster author James Patterson delivers a genuinely hilarious-and surprisingly poignant-story of a wildly imaginative, one-of-kind kid that you won't soon forget.

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life wasn't even on my radar until I received a copy at TLA. I absolutely loved it and went out and bought the next two books in the series right away. 

Rafe is about to start middle school and that is the last place he wants to be. His home life is kind of crappy with a worthless step dad, an annoying sister and a mom who is always working to support the family. His only friend is a boy named Leo. With the help of Leo, he decides to make his middle school years as interesting as possible by breaking every single rule in the school code of conduct. While some of the things are a little outrageous, you have to realize that Rafe is only 11-12 years old. He doesn't know any better. As we get to know him better, we learn that there are definitely some mental issues going on, but I think they happen because of his loneliness and guilt.

The chapters are short, so it's a perfect filler if you only have a few minutes to read. There are a lot of fun drawings throughout the book as well. I am not a fan of James Patterson since he doesn't even write his own books, but there were many parts where I couldn't stop laughing. Whoever the ghost writer was is very talented!

Middle School would definitely appeal to middle school students but my main concern was the punishments. It was almost like Rafe was able to get away with everything, and the end made it seem like he gets rewarded for all of his "crimes". I am just afraid that readers will think they could get away with breaking all of the rules too.

As a teacher I could definitely appreciate some of the interactions between Rafe and his teachers. They were so realistic! I literally have had some of the same conversations with my 9th graders!

I really enjoyed Middle School and can not wait to read Middle School: Get Me Out of Here (book two) and Middle School: My Brother is a Big, Fat Liar (book three)!

Blog Tour: The Trouble With Goodbye by Sarra Cannon

The Trouble With Goodbye

By: Sarra Cannon

Pub. Date: May 21, 2013

One night can change everything…

Two years ago, Leigh Anne Davis shocked everyone in tiny Fairhope, Georgia when she broke up with her wealthy boyfriend to attend an Ivy League university a thousand miles away. At school, she finds a happiness and independence she’s never known.

Until one terrifying night takes it all away from her.

With no place else to go, Leigh Anne heads home to reclaim her old life. A life she worked so hard to escape. On the outside, she seems like the same girl everyone has always known. But deep inside, she’s hiding a terrible secret.

That’s when she meets Knox Warner, a troubled newcomer to Fairhope. His eyes have the same haunted look she sees every day in the mirror, and when she’s near him, the rest of the world fades away. But being with Knox would mean disappointing everyone all over again. If she wants to save what’s left of her old life, she has no choice but to say goodbye to him forever.

Only, the trouble with goodbye is that sometimes it’s about courage and sometimes it’s about fear. And sometimes you’re too broken to know the difference until it’s too late.

About the Author:

Sarra Cannon grew up in a small town in Georgia where she learned that being popular always comes at a price. She is the author of the young adult paranormal Peachville High Demons series, which she first began self-publishing in October of 2010. Since the series began, Sarra has sold over 120,000 copies and recently signed a contract with Sea Lion Books to create a graphic novel adaptation of Beautiful Demons, the first book in the series. 
Sarra lives in North Carolina with her amazing husband, her new baby boy, and her teeny tiny Pomeranian, Snickerdoodle.

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarracannon

Twitter:  twitter.com/sarramaria

Website: www.sarracannon.com

Goodreads:  www.goodreads.com/Sarra_Cannon

Pinterest: pinterest.com/sarracannon/