The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Released on July 17, 2012

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When Rinn Jacobs moves to a new town she hopes it will be a fresh start-a place where nobody knows about her past. At first, everything goes according to plan. She falls in with the popular girls at her new school and falls for the very cute boy-next-door Nate. But River Hills High School has a secret. The ghost of a girl who died back when Rinn's mom was a student supposedly haunts a hallway. Rinn's not sure she believes it, but when strange things start happening to her friends, Rinn decides there's only one way to know for sure. She needs to ditch her bipolar meds and see what the voices are really trying to say...(from Bloomsbury)

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I love a really great ghost story. I’m a fan of those where the author is not afraid to kill off a couple of characters and The Unquiet definitely surpassed my expectations. It was more of a thriller than a ghost story as we don’t really see a ghost in the story through most of it but crazy things begin to happen from the start after Rinn moves into town. It’s definitely not one you should be reading at night before going to sleep, I started thinking I could hear creaking noises and seeing shadows on the wall.

The creepiness of the story seeps out and will give you chills. I love stories like that, ones that will get so descriptive, where the main character herself can’t tell the difference between reality and imagination so the reader doesn’t even know what’s real or not. It makes you crazy trying to guess what the heck is going on and also eager for the time when all truth will be revealed. I was able to pretty much put two and two together and figure out why the ghost was only haunting certain people, it was frustrating that Rinn had such a hard time figuring it out when it was so obvious to the reader.

The Unquiet wasn’t just a creepy ghost story, there was also a bit of romance. We have Nate who’s a charming small town boy, a good guy that and we get to see a lot of him at the beginning of the novel. I enjoyed the funny dialogue between him and Rinn as they get to know each other. Unfortunately he does disappear for about half of the novel when Rinn begins to get obsessed about the ghost in her school and spends a lot of time with her new friends. This book should’ve come with a warning to not get attached to any of the characters in the story. There were quite a few shocking things that I didn’t see coming which made me flip the pages even faster, I finished this in one day which is kind of hard for me to do lately but that’s how hooked I was to it. Sleeping is for wimps! Even though the pacing slowed down a bit in the middle of the book I still enjoyed it a lot and the ending is not a happily ever after for everyone involved but it was a good one that left me with my mouth hanging open. Eeeek! If you want something to creep you out this Halloween or just any dreary day during this winter season then The Unquiet is a must read.

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Top Ten Favorite Kick-Ass Heroines

Top Ten Tuesday is a list feature that was created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they give you a different question or topic where you can answer by listing your top ten choices.

This week’s topic is:Top Ten Favorite Kick-Ass Heroines. It was hard to limit myself to just ten awesome fictional heroines, there’s just so many great ones that I love. I’m sure many of these will be in lots of lists today. Here are mine:

1. Katsa from Graceling by Kristine Cashore , 2. Fire from Fire by Kristine Cashore and 3. Bitterblue from Bitterblue by Kristine Cashore – As you can see Cashore can write some pretty amazing and kick-ass heroines. They aren’t damsels in distress, they can use weapons and don’t need a man to save them. Love this series!

4. Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins- This is probably one of the most popular ones but why wouldn’t she be. Katniss suffers a lot in this series but is one of the bravest of them all.

5. Meghan Chase from The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa- Meghan goes into the crazy fairy world in search of her brother without thinking it twice. She’s constantly saving her own butt along with the ones of her companions through her long journey. She’s one of those great, inspiring heroines that never gives up.

6. Rose Hathaway from The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead- Rose can make some pretty dumb decisions sometimes but you can’t say she’s not kick-ass. She’s definitely a favorite even when she made me want to yell at her to not do certain things.

7. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling- How can I not mention one of my favorite characters from my favorite series of all time. She’s the one that is not only kick ass but she uses her brain in the process to save the day. One of the best female characters, ever.

8. Evie from The Paranormalcy Series by Kiersten White – Evie’s always getting into trouble which make these novels a lot of fun, but she can kick-ass in the process no matter which type of weird supernatural beast gets in the way.

9. Claire from The Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine- Here’s another heroine that always saves the day by using her wits. Another inspiring character that shows how intelligence is just as important.

10. Tris from The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth- Another dystopian with a brave heroine that won’t give up on those she loves. 

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Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Published by Balzer + Bray

Released on September 18, 2012

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In this horror novel loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, ten teens head to a house party at a remote island mansion off the Washington coast…only for them to be picked off by a killer one by one.

Shhhh!

Don't spread the word! Three-day weekend. House party.

White Rock House on Henry Island.

You do not want to miss it.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives-three days on Henry Island at an exclusive house party. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their own reasons for wanting to be there, which involve their school's most eligible bachelor, T. J. Fletcher, and look forward to three glorious days of boys, bonding, and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message:Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly, people are dying, and with a storm raging outside, the teens are cut off from the rest of the world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn't scheduled to return for three days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?(from EpicReads.com)

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This was soooo good you guys! Much more than I expected. I read Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None years ago in high school so I thought this one was going to be pretty predictable but it actually wasn’t. I found that even though it was inspired by that book I was still taken by surprise by some of the twists in the novel.

I was thrilled to see that we get thrown into the mystery from the very beginning and the story didn’t drag unnecessarily with things that weren’t important which made the book a very fast read. I was at the edge of my seat through most of it and even though I was annoyed by some of the characters and I was eagerly waiting for them to die already (I know I sound like a horrible person but if you read it you’ll know which one I’m talking about.) I did get a bit annoyed with Meg and how she puts up with her best friend’s attitude, I was hoping she would stand up to her.

Even though Meg lets her friend treat her like crap through most of the novel I was happy to see that she was actually pretty brave and didn’t let this crazed killer get to her and turn her into a sobbing mess like I would’ve been if I was in the same situation. Also, I kept trying to figure out who the killer was and I was so sure I had the right person just to be proven wrong by the end, I loved that I was fooled just like Meg. This was a great choice of book to read so close to Halloween. It reminded me of all those slasher movies I used to love growing up, one that will make you gasp and keep you guessing until the end.

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Waiting on Out of The Easy

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we are eagerly anticipating.

 

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Publisher: Philomel Books

Release Date: February 13, 2013

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.(from Goodreads)

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If you haven’t read Ruta Sepety’s Between Shades of Gray yet, you’re missing out on something amazing. That book was unforgettable and I’m so excited to get another novel by this wonderful author.

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Books to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

Top Ten Tuesday is a list feature that was created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they give you a different question or topic where you can answer by listing your top ten choices.

This week’s topic is: Top Ten Books To Get In The Halloween Spirit.

 

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs- This one’s very creepy and filled with some very strange pictures that will definitely get you in the mood for Halloween.

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore - Ghosts, Texas and Cowboys! Need I say more? This is a fun one that is a bit creepy but also lots of fun.

 

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion- Not just a zombie novel but one with a very unique concept. I really loved this one and and can’t wait for the movie to come out!

The Body Finder Series by Kimberly Derting – You’re missing out if you haven’t started this series yet, it’s got serial killers in it mixed with some supernatural awesomeness that is definitely fitting for Halloween.

 Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick – This is a great story about survival. Much more than just another zombie novel but still filled with all the scary stuff I love about zombies.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead Tossed Waves & The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan is an amazing, emotional and very creepy zombie series. These are the very first zombie books I read, before them I had a phobia about anything zombie related. Obviously I don’t now.   

    

The Morganville Vampires Series by Rachel Caine - There aren’t sparkly brooding vampires in this series. These are creepy and evil but the novels are also very fast paced and very fun to read.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake – This novel reminds me so much of Supernatural (TV show). I think that’s why I’m obsessed with the show now. Such a great novel about creepy and gory ghosts plus other crazy beings. 

 

I know it’s Top Ten but I couldn’t finish without mentioning this one:

 Ten by Gretchen McNeil – Another serial killer novel that will keep you at the edge of your seat. I just finished this one this weekend and thought it was a great choice to get in the Halloween spirit.

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Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Released on October 16, 2012

Source: Publisher

Buy it:

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Read an Excerpt

What a tangled world she weaves...

For generations, Spinsters have been called by Arras’s Manipulation Services to work the looms and determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die. Gifted with the rare ability to weave time with matter, Adelice is exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But once you become a Spinster, there is no turning back. Now caught in a web of lies and intrigue, Adelice must decide who to trust: her kind mentor, Enora; the handsome and mysterious valet Jost; or the charismatic Guild ambassador Cormac Patton. They each have secrets, but Adelice is about to unravel the deadliest one of all, a sinister truth that could destroy reality as she knows it.

In a powerful and original debut about a world where the Guild decides everything, one extraordinary girl dares to defy the power of men and the boundaries of love. (From FSG)

This book was quite a surprise for me. I didn’t really know what it would be about when I started reading it, even after reading the synopsis I still wasn’t sure what it was about. I was very confused at the beginning but intrigued nonetheless. The story was already moving at a good pace from the start but I didn’t understand what a Spinster was, or the loom and what the whole purpose of it was. Even though I was confused and eagerly waiting for some answers to pop up in the story I couldn’t put it down. Maybe it was just me and since I’m lacking some brain cells after having a baby that’s why it took me so long to figure it out. Once Gennifer started answering some questions in the novel and explaining about the new world and society these people lived in, I was fascinated. I started to understand that the girls weave time and how everything around them is built and how important they are, I was in awe as the pictures finally started forming in my head. The descriptions made it seem magical, colorful and beautiful. So yeah, as you can tell I loved the dystopian world building Gennifer created, it was pretty original and unexpected. I kept wanting more from Adelice, and hoping she would reach into her talent and experiment a little.

  We get two love interests in the novel, but I honestly didn’t have a problem with taking sides on this one since one of them seemed kind of shady to me through the whole novel and I had trust issues with that one. There were lots of villains which made the novel exciting since you never know who’s going to strike next. It was fun to be at the edge of your seat waiting for the next blow.  I was happy to see that the main character Adelice was not a naïve young girl, but a very clever and strong character who actually thought things through before acting and used her brain. The ending was crushing though, I had been waiting for it to happen because I just knew it would get to that point and I was happy to know it did, but it left on a cliffhanger that has become expected on almost every series now. It will be killing me wanting to know what the heck is going to happen next. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel to find out.

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Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Released on May 9, 2006

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Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastians, a boys' school that's pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom.  Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an an impossibly dorky accordion player.  The boys are no better, from Thomas who specializes in musical burping to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can't seem to stop thinking about.
Then there's Francesca's mother, who always thinks she knows what's best for Francesca—until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, along, and without an inkling who she really is.  Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and—hardest of all—herself.(from Random House)

I loved this book so much. I know it must get old reading that on many reviews but seriously you can’t go wrong with a book by Melina Marchetta, I don’t think I could hate any of them. I think every book lover must read at least one book by this woman, they’re unbelievable!!

I loved that the characters in this novel were all so different, so eclectic and fun. That Francesca changes so much and learns so much about herself throughout this novel. This book made me cringe, sometimes made me sad but also made me laugh a lot. Melina makes the story feel alive. Characters that I thought I would hate at the beginning I ended up loving by the end.

I loved seeing Francesca finding herself and who she really is thanks to the people around her, the great friends that make her a better self. How they opened her eyes and how she was able to grow. This book has everything a great novel should. Great writing the gets you emotionally invested in it, relatable characters that develop throughout the novel and humor that will make you laugh out loud and want more from these characters by the end of it.

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Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Speak

Reissued on May 11, 2004

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Halley has always followed in the wake of her best friend, Scarlett. But when Scarlett learns that her boyfriend has been killed in a motorcycle accident, and that she's carrying his baby, she's devastated. For the first time ever, Scarlett really needs Halley. Though their friendship may be tested by the strain, like a true friendship, it will endure. (from Goodreads)

Sarah Dessen never fails me. She’s the only one that could get me out of a three month reading and blogging slump. I went into Someone Like You thinking of drowning myself in something that will cheer me up, something with a hot boy that will end up in my never ending list of favorite fictional male characters, where many of Sarah’s have ended up in. Well that was not what I got, I did drown myself into the story but this was different. Definitely not the Sarah Dessen novel I’m used to.

Someone Like You is about the very hard topic of teen pregnancy, not your typical romantic love story at all but definitely a book with a different type of love, the friendships that can heal you, save you and carry you on through the hard times. It was frustrating at times though, I wanted to slap some sense into Halley a bunch of times during this novel to make her see the light about the jerk she was dating and the decisions she was making. I was screaming at her “I’ve been through this, don’t do this!!” Of course it is the very special books with great writing that can make me get like this with the characters. It’s probably the only book I’ve read by Sarah where I really disliked all of the guys in it, but even though it wasn’t what I was expecting it does not mean it wasn’t a great Sarah Dessen book. It was emotional, heartbreaking and had me in tears and smiling at the same time by the end. It’s not my favorite Sarah Dessen book but it’s still a great coming of age story, about the love of two best friends learning as they grow older about making the right choices for themselves.

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