A Stranger Thing by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal

Elvie is at it again in the sequel to Mothership.  Elvie’s pregnancy has been pretty rough, but nothing could have prepared her for the actual birth… to a baby girl.  According to her, just handsome, baby daddy it is impossible for her to have given birth to a girl, since he can only produce boys, and it seems like the rest of the Almiri clan feel the same.  Immediately Elvie, Cole, Ducky, her father, and baby are shipped to Antarctica.  Here they must assimilate with the criminals shipped out by the Almiri, oh and there is a new species of Aliens after Elvie and her baby. 

Now Elvie has the care of her new baby in her hands, but she isn’t getting a break anytime soon.  With the new Aliens as a threat, old secrets coming to light, and some strange feelings evolving and dissolving for her baby daddy, Elvie is in for a tougher time than most teenage moms.  Will she be able to come to terms with her past and who she is?  Will she and her family be able to leave Antarctica anytime soon?  Is the leader of the Almiri really James Dean?!?!  Keep tuned in because things have just gotten stranger for our heroine.

3 out of 5 stars, Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC.

Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

 

Ready for a world full or frilly dresses, gadgets galore, proper etiquette training, and some nice romance mixed with a healthy dose of spying?  Then welcome back to the world of mischief at Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy, where our heroine Sophronia awaits for the next adventure, and what an adventure it will be: the school is off to London!  That’s right, the dirigible school (floating school) will be arriving in London, but when the school rarely ever moves this trip starts making minds suspicious.  There is something not right, Sophronia and her friends will have to figure out what is going on before the end results become worse for the humans and supernatural.

This sequel had a lot of adventure, more so than the first.  The secrets were great, too.  Being a fan of the Parasol Protectorate series, I really enjoyed this book.  Some of the characters in that series are referenced to in this book; this includes one creative mistress of ridiculously fashionable hats/parasols.  I also enjoyed the romance.  I am not a Soap fan. I love him, just not for Sophronia; however, I like Felix.  He was introduced in the first book during a ball, as a “rake-in-training.”  There is something frustratingly charming about him and I really can’t wait to see more of him.

Overall I give this book 4 stars and I cannot wait to jump on the next fun installment of this series.

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC.

After Eden by Helen Douglas

When time travel is an option, many think of going back to the past and eliminating a threat to the future.  If you could, would you go back in time and end Hitler's reign of terror?  If you knew some one's actions in the past could affect future generations, would you stop those actions?  These are some of the questions asked in the book.  (Where have a seen this before... oh yes, All Our Yesterdays, which is the best time traveling book of the year!) 

Eden and Connor have been best friends, since forever.  Connor is the smart one and Eden is, well she's Eden.  What she doesn't realize is that Connor has had feelings for her for a long time now.  As this is their last year in school Connor feels as though this will be his last chance to nab the girl of his dream, and best friend.  Eden, could not be any more clueless, especially since there is a new boy in town. 

Ryan is the classic new boy enigma.  All the girls are raving about him and everyone is curious about him, including Eden and it seems like Ryan also is curious about Eden.  After hanging out with each other one day, Eden finds a book that will change not only her life but her best friend's.  Turns out, Ryan is from the future, a future affected by a discovery made by Connor... after a dance.  Story goes that Connor's heart was broken at this dance, after he left he discovered a planet through a telescope--one that he named Eden.  Ryan's role is to stop the moment or change the moment when Connor had his heart broken.  What ends up happening is a lot of secret sharing, hiding and plenty of heart gushing moments.  And of course, when there is time travel, there is always a glich.

3 out of 5 stars.

Thank You NetGalley.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a world wind, intense novel, full of action and everyday crime.  Does it have feel of the paranormal?  At times it does, but overall it is about teens with heightened abilities, such as profiling.  You also have teens that are good at reading lies and emotions.  Together these teens form a group that the FBI uses on special cold cases. 

Enter 17 year old Cassie, a natural at reading people.  The FBI has caught wind of what a special nugget Cassie is, and they have come a knockin’.  Cassie moves away to live with other teens in this classified unit.  She meets a few teenagers and begins to train with them.  On top of trying to fit in to a new program she has to deal with the attentions of two boys and the attention of new serial killer, who oddly enough resembles the killer of her mother. 

I like the overall concept, and the fact that it was more realistic than other YA novels in the supernatural/sci-fi genre.  With its ties to profiling and the FBI, this book would work well for mystery and crime lovers.  The characters can be somewhat annoying, but overall not in a big way.  The twists in the book were well worth the guessing game.  Yay, for not knowing who the bad guy was until the end.  My problem was the ending.  Is this going to be a series?  If so, I am all set to jump on the band wagon, but can someone release soon if this will be the beginning of a series?

 

Thanks Net Galley!

4 out 5 stars

Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

“When Keirran went back into the Nevernever, I knew I hadn’t seen the last of him.  Still, I had no idea how entangled my life would soon become with his, and how he would be the catalyst… for the end of everything.”—Iron Traitor

Ethan and Kenzie have just come back from their action packed adventure through the Land of Faerie.  Kenzie is battling an infection, due to her visit and Ethan is fighting off jealous quarterbacks, a lawyer father, and the police.  It almost seems like his life is back to normal, and he would really much rather prefer it that way.  Ethan knows he has a nephew, Keirran, and he knows that people are trying their best to keep them apart but right now he wants to concentrate on Kenzie and staying away from Them. 

Unfortunately, the forgotten are still having problems and Keirran is missing.  The entire Iron realm is looking for Keirran, but he is on a mission to save Annwyl, the love of his life, from being one of the forgotten.  No matter what Ethan does, he ends up roped into helping in this situation, along with Kenzie.  There are forces trying desperately to keep Ethan and Keirran apart, to keep the prophecy from coming true; however, the only way to save Annwyl is by speeding up the prophecy. 

With fairy queens that like to manipulate, an impossible task, some dark magic, a very very thin man out to collect the forgotten, and the Forgotten Queen wanting to cash in on Keirran’s promise these three will be running out of breath within the first 100 pages.  Watch out for some favorites like Grimalkin and Puck to return.  And yes, Meghan and Ash will make an appearance as well, which is weird now that they are full blown parents.  If I were Keirran I would heed my father’s warnings.  Poor Ethan, will he make it out of this series alive?

As a bonus there is an excerpt of The Forever Song, book 3 of the Blood of Eden trilogy. 

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

"You don't ask around, because no soul alive in Los Angeles would ever admit to the organization being there and give President Gray an itch to scratch.  Having the Federal Coalition was already bad enough for business.  The people who could tell you the way would only cough it up for a price that was too big for most to pay.  There was no open door policy, no walk-ins.  There were standing orders to dispose of anyone who so much as gave an agent a sidelong look.

The League found you.  They brought you in, if you were valuable enough.  If you'd fight.  It was the first thing I learned sitting next to Cate on my way in--or at least the first real thought to solidify in my mind as our SUV zipped down the stretch of freeway, heading straight into the heart of the city."

--Never Fade



Never Fade is the second book in the Darkest Minds series.  In the first book we left Liam, with an erased mind and Ruby going off with The League.  Ruby is now fully integrated with The League and her first mission ends up being a rescue mission to save Liam's brother.  This novel was just as action packed as the last novel and Chubbs even ends up back with Ruby.  They must navigate the world outside again, with fears of running into Clancy Gray again.  There are subplots to the subplots that were introduced in the first novel and even Clancy's mother makes somewhat of an appearance. 

Ruby now has a new group of "friends," Liam comes back (more or less), and the whereabouts of Zu is still unknown.  The ending was just as gripping as the first book, and I can safely say is that I am going to be anticipating the release of the next novel.  Ruby can be annoying, but the other characters are strong enough to pull her through her annoying moments.

I gave this book 4/5 stars.  Thanks NetGalley!



To read the review of the first novel follow this link Darkest Minds

Reality Boy by A.S. King

"I'm the Kid you saw on TV.  Remember the little freak who took a crap on his parents' oak-stained kitchen table when they confiscated his Game Boy?  Remember how the camera cleverly hid his most private parts with the glittery fake daisy and sunflower centerpieces?  That was me.  Gerald.  Youngest of three.  Only boy.  Out of control." --Reality Boy

Reality Boy was such a breath of fresh air.  Instead of delving into a world of supernatural and paranormal mystery/romance, or even into a coming of age story about love, Reality Boy answers a question that disappears as quickly as it appears in our subconscious: "What happens to those poor kids that have had to grow up on Reality TV."  King's novel shows us how one child, who happens to be the problem child, grew up and apparently never shed is "Crapper"image.

Gerald has been known as the Crapper, ever since the first time he released his bowels in protest on national television.  He is an angry person, who can turn violent, without familial support.  His mother is too busy giving all her attention to her first born, his father is busy appeasing his mother, and his other sister has left the nest and the craziness that is their houshold.  Gerald has had to deal with other people's misconceptions of who he is as a person, and has to figure out who he really is, without other people's ideas including his mother, who treats him as if he has a learning disability and will go no where. 

I really liked seeing Gerald work through the mess ups and hang ups in his life.  He was an interesting character to delve into the mind of, and his little girlfriend was the right mix of personalities to compliment his character.  They were both messed up, and this set the mood of a real young adult novel.  They are both working through their hang ups, but through that they help each other grow.  The ending was just right.


I gave this book a 4/5 for originality and for great characters (even the ones you want to kick).

Thank You Edelweiss.