Review: Manifest by. Artist Arthur

Title: Manifest (Mystyx #1)
Author: Artist Arthur
Publication Date: August 1, 2010
Pages: 256 
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 

Synopsis from Goodreads: When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City. But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener—and everything she'd ever want—except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door—Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize that they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good?

Review: Manifest, the first book in the Mystyx series, was an interesting introduction to a new series as well as a an exciting “who done it'” mystery that just keeps building and building until you have a whole list of who could be the killer.

First off let me say that I had high hopes for this book. And those hopes rested mostly on the characters that I thought would have something that made them stand out from the usually generic personalities of YA characters. Some passed those expectations and some didn’t. First off, Krystal is not your everyday character, and I liked that. Sure some may say she has a little bit of an attitude, but to expect her to be thinking about rainbows and the schools “hottest guy” every second is unrealistic. Her life has taken a turn for the unfavorable, so of course a little attitude is going to come off now and then, and going through life thinking you are a delusion ghost seeing crazy can’t help either. And as far as the other characters go…ehh. Meaning that I didn’t really find anything altogether that unique or memorable about them They all seemed to be fillers just so the plot could go a little smoother. Ricky at times proved to be a breath of fresh air, but his character too seemed a little in the background.

The plot in this book was one that grabbed my attention. It begins with Krystal meeting Ricky, the ghost in her bedroom, and then, after much negotiating, trying to figure out who killed him and clear the name of his friends. She finally succumbs to helping to try and figure out his killer when other complications come to surface. Like Ricky’s also dead girlfriend who doesn’t want to tell anyone what happened to her, even though it could probably help figure out who killed Ricky. And then Krystal starts talking to two kids from school, Sasha and Jake, and finds out that they are bear the same birthmark and have similar powers, and as they all group together to try to figure out Ricky’s killer, they learn very interesting things about their powers and their origins.

Figuring out who killed Ricky was a highlight because the plot kept on building and building. It wasn’t a mystery book where you just try to figure out who killed him from the beginning and that’s it, there are so many pieces to the puzzle that you have to try to put together and make a connection with before you can even barely narrow your suspects list. The mystery in this just got better and better

In the end, it is a book that I did enjoy. I would have loved to see Krystal’s romance blossom and be a bigger part of the story, but hey, that’s what a sequel is for!

Recommendations: If you are in need for a good mystery, this one is for you!

Overall: 3/5 Stars

Characters: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Originality: 4/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Ending: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Cover:  5/5

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Review: Betrayals by. Lili St. Crow

 Title: Betrayals (Strange Angels #2)
Author: Lili St. Crow
Publication Date: November 17, 2009
Pages: 296 
Genre: Paranormal
 Rating: 

 

 

Synopsis from Goodreads: She’s no angel . . .Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?) Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . . Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?

Review: First order of business: Team Graves! Now that that is out of the way I can get on with the review. To put it simply, this book is a bone-fide work of awesomeness. Seriously, I find it amazing what Lili St. Crow is able to do with the plot and the different characters she throws into the mix. And not to mention fit in not only a romance but a love triangle!

Yes, of course the plot and the mystery is what makes up every great paranormal read, and this book was no exception by far. It was one of those books that doesn't need to have a million different directions and things going on for you to be totally engaged. Dru goes from the whole "life on my own take no prisoners lifestyle" to something completely different learning that you are the only ultra special svetocha  in the world. Yep, imagine being told that you are and have been all your life a part of the very group of night crawlers that you have been hunting and killing since you were 3. But oh wait, you're precious, that's what they keep on telling her. Well, Dru doesn't feel very precious being thrown into an all boys delinquent school and being followed and told NOTHING at all about her circumstances. But that's okay, apparently everybody thinks Dru is a little too precious to know why she is so precious, why she is wanted dead, and why no one wants to tell her anything. But then again, if you were stuck in a delinquent male boarding school in hiding from a deranged 1 million year old vampire who wants your blood for power while the only two people in the world that you trust seem to be deserting you, you wouldn't want the details either would you...oh wait, of course you would!

Best part by far was the great range and distinctness of the characters. The new characters mixed in great with the book. But of course I couldn't forget my favorite character good o' Graves. All of my favorite parts of the books are the parts when he's featured. Though I was annoyed by him in the beginning when it seemed he and Dru were drifting apart, he quickly made up for it. And then there's Christopher, some exciting news about him is revealed and he still remains the mystery he was in the first book, but Dru has a few more leads into her getting to know what he's really all about!

I have to give Ms. Lili St. Crow props for busting out an engaging and exciting sequel to her equally fantastic Strange Angels. I can't wait for what the series has in store next!!!



Recommendations: If you read the first book do not do what I did I keep this book collecting dust in that TBR pile. It is an immediate must read!!!

Overall: 5/5 Stars!

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Originality: 4/5
Entertainment: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Cover:  4/5

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Monday's Question of the Day: Female vs. Male Perspective

Do you prefer Female or Male Perspective?

I am really 50 50 on this one. I mean a large large majority (95%) of the books I read are written from a female point of view (with the exception of the books that are written in both perspectives). And its not like perspective is really something that is going to make me choose one book over another but I think there is just something different about reading a book from a girls POV. Maybe its because I feel like I can relate more to the characters, but I sort of think it is because (this is just my opinion of course) girls in general have a very different way of seeing certain topics and adjusting their heads accordingly to different situations (if that makes sense?). The way a girl would see a situation in a book can be a 180 degree turn from the way a guy would see it. I mean I have yet to even come close to deciphering the male mind and though great books like Beautiful Creatures that are written in male POV makes me want to check out some more books like that, books with a a girls POV have me questioning the judgment of the character a little less since I guess I "know where they are coming from". The female mind spectrum is light-years away from the males, but really I think I like both perspectives equally...almost!

What do you guys think about the two perspectives? Do you have a preference, or are you indifferent to the whole discussion lol? Let us know!!!  

 

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Waiting on Wednesday- Blood Magic

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Blood Magic

Release Date: May 24, 2011
Publisher:  Random House Books for Young Readers
Paranormal/Supernatural
 

 Synopsis from Goodreads: This page-turning debut novel will entice fans who like their paranormal romances dark and disturbing. It's a natural next-read for fans of Stephanie Meyer, Carrie Jones, and Becca Fitzpatrick. But instead of mythical creatures, blood magic has everything to do with primal human desires like power, wealth, and immortality. Everywhere Silla Kennicott turns she sees blood. She can't stop thinking about her parents alleged murder-suicide. She is consumed by a book filled with spells that arrives mysteriously in the mail. The spells share one common ingredient: blood, and Silla is more than willing to cast a few. What's a little spilled blood if she can uncover the truth? And then there's Nick—the new guy at school who makes her pulse race. He has a few secrets of his own and is all too familiar with the lure of blood magic. Drawn together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick must find out who else in their small Missouri town knows their secret and will do anything to take the book and magic from Silla.

So, let me get this straight. This book thinks that it can just start off its synopsis mentioning some of my favorite authors and I am automatically going to click on it on goodreads and add it to my TBR list and use it in a Waiting On Wednesday??? Well of course! I appreciate the tactics. And I am so glad it did. This book sounds like it is going to be really good. A paranormal book tapping into the "primal human desires" how fun does that sound. And I am all about more political references in YA books. I think I am really going to like this one. The main character seems intriguing. I mean who isn't sometimes drawn to blood. It's going to be really something reading this book from that perspective!

What do you guys think? 

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Posted in: Waiting On Wednesday

CSN Giveaway!!!! [CLOSED]

 {Hello Everyone! I hope all of you guys are having an great week so far!!! The awesome people at CSN have offered me another chance to work with them which means you guys have the chance to win a $50.00 e-certificate to use on any of CSN's many different stores!!!

As you guys may already know CSN has so many different sites with every product you could imagine. From this unique Eames lounge chair to Luxe where you can find anything from the cutest shoes to handbags. And some of my personal favorite things that they have to offer Bookcases. They have some of the greatest and most affordable things on the web, and all of their sites makes it so easy to find exactly what you are looking for.

Now for the giveaway!!!

The giveaway is for a $50 CSN gift certificate to use on any of the CSN sites! 

First off, the giveaway is for U.S and Canadian residents only. Sorry to all international readers!

(And their may be some international shipping costs that the gift certificate cannot cover for some Canadian addresses).

The contest runs until April 12, 2011. So you have over 1 month to enter!!!

Just Fill out The Form Below and You are Entered!!! 

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