Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Review and Trailer

I've talked about Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick a lot - I know - and realized I hadn't posted my review. So here it is, with a wonderful trailer to whet your appetite. Maybe I'll start it again this evening... and how long do I now have to wait for the sequel? Really?

Nora Grey, a straight A student, is disconcerted one day when her teacher rearranges the class and she ends up paired with a new student – a dark, brooding, dangerous looking but very good looking new student. Not usually interested in boys she’s alarmed at her attraction and doesn’t know whether to draw closer or to run. Nora is not a reckless girl and she knows she should keep away but Patch is always there, uncompromising, disturbing, and very, very alluring.

Nora thinks she’s being followed. Then her room is ransacked. Leading her to think about Patch, about whether he is who he claims to be. Why does he seem to be everywhere she is? Why does he know so much about her? And should she trust Elliot? And it turns out the answers are incredibly disturbing and difficult to deal with, especially if you’ve begun to fall in love. Nora finds herself in the middle of an age-old fight between fallen angels and the Nephilim (half-human, half angel). And the question becomes: what are they willing to do for love?

I was given this book and told to put down everything else for it. It had no cover, no blurb and I was enjoying the book I was reading. But I picked up Hush, Hush one evening and sat late into the night to finish it. It was that good. It’s an intoxicating, seductive, compulsive, and dangerous story that encompasses forbidden love, humor, mystery, romance, and a plot twist at every turn. Don’t miss it.

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev - Review

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith lives in a theater, an extraordinary theater called the Theatre Illuminati, where the characters of every play ever written can be found, bound to the theater by The Book--an ancient book of scripts. Bertie spends her days causing mischief with these actors, especially the four fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nate (a pirate from The Little Mermaid) and Ariel (from The Tempest) but after one too many chaotic antics she is asked to leave the theater. So Bertie has to find a reason for them to keep her. Can she find out what she brings to this particular theater, discover what brought her there, and ultimately understand who she is destined to be?

I loved this intriguing coming of age book. For me, it was like watching a play. It’s funny, and charming, and so well written that it’s hard to believe this is her debut novel. Full of theatrical, and especially Shakespearean, references this is the perfect way to see a different view of characters you already know and love. And if you haven’t read much Shakespeare, this is a great introduction to the characters that will leave you wanting more.

In the crowded YA genre, Eyes Like Stars stands out. It is unique, creative, beautifully written, with vivid characters, and a strong storyline.

Oh, and of course I would choose Ariel over Nate any day. Of course I would!

New Liar Cover

Thank you Megan for commenting on the cover!

The new image is fabulous and, to the author's delight, representative of the book. If anyone wants to hear about the issues regarding the initial cover and the lack of black faces on Y/A covers, Justine has lots to say, and all of it too true! http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/08/06/the-new-cover/

I want to say BRAVO to Bloomsbury from the floor sellers at Kepler's. We are eager to sell this excellent book, especially with its new cover that just calls to readers from the shelf.

VL

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

This is a must read--A masterful use--and purposeful misuse--of voice.

VL

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Liar

by Justine Larbalestier

Micah can count on one hand the number of times she’s spoken an honest word about herself. She lies about everything – her grades, her parent’s jobs, even her gender. Sure, it’s occurred to her that the consequences of lying could be severe, but Micah thinks nothing could be worse than the way her life is going right now. Her parents want to be rid of her, the kids at school don’t like her, and Zach, the boy she loves, was recently found dead; ripped apart in Central Park.

As Micah tries to uncover the truth behind Zach’s horrifying death, it becomes clear that there is a reason for her lies. Micah has a secret; and it’s the one truth she has never told anyone about. And it could be that this secret is the key to solving Zach’s murder.

But beware. With Micah as the narrator, you can’t count on anything being true. And in this thrilling page-turner, you’ll find yourself willingly believing the lies she tells without thinking twice.

Reviewed By Natalie

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

For those of you who like puzzles:

When You Reach Me
By Rebecca Stead

Twelve-year-old Miranda thinks she knows what common sense is. After all, she’s lived in New York City all her life and has never found herself in any sort of sticky situation, not even with the crazy guy on the street corner or neighborhood boys who are always stirring up trouble.

Then Miranda begins to receive strange notes from someone who seems to possess the impossible ability to foretell the future. Logical Miranda knows this can’t be true, even though her favorite piece of fiction is indeed A Wrinkle in Time. But not long after the notes begin to arrive, a mysterious boy at school challenges her perception of what is possible. Things in the notes begin to happen. The boy argues that her ‘common sense’ is just getting in the way of the truth: Miraculous things are occurring, if only she can allow her eyes to see them.

But Time is running out. The notes keep coming, and getting increasingly urgent and leading Miranda to believe that something terrible will happen if she doesn’t act fast. Utterly imaginative and simultaneously true to life, this book will have you piecing together the puzzle right alongside Miranda.

Reviewed by Natalie

Ash by Malinda Lo

September looms with a stunning amount of great releases! We are consuming large stacks of ARCs, and there are just so many titles to write about that we are frenetically at our keyboards.

Watch the posts! --VL

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Ash

By Malinda Lo

What if Cinderella hadn't needed a handsome prince? What if the Fairy Godmother had been the old sort of fairy, whose motives and intentions are decidedly less than kind?Ash takes the classic fairy-tale and turns it smartly on its head.

Aisling (called Ash), an orphan left in the care of her not-entirely-wicked step-mother, dabbles dangerously in the land of Fairy, trying to escape her daily drudgery and make contact with her deceased mother. But when real-life intrudes in the form of Kaisa, the King's Huntress, Ash finds she must decide between her promises to Fairy and the person she loves truly in the human world.

Ash is a wonderfully empowered heroine. She may not always make the best decisions, but she is adept at accepting the consequences and pressing ever onwards towards her goals. She is clever and resourceful, and it was a pleasure to read about a heroine who can rescue herself.

Reviewed by Sarah L

Rampant's Brilliant New Cover

Check out the reflection on the blade--Just brilliant!--VL

RAMPANT

If you have stopped by Kepler's this summer you've witnessed our unicorn obsession. We have uncicorn yarns for all ages from the sweet to the adventurous. But here at last rides in our Teen Unicorn Title . . . and it is not sweet at all. VL

RAMPANT
By Diana Peterfreund

I have to be honest here, but since reading this book I have been unable to look at Unicorns in the same way every again. This book first came to my attention over a year ago, long before publication, when Scott Westerfeld and Justine Larbalestier visited the store and raved about it. Then I simply had to get my hands on a copy, and I just loved it. I mean really, Killer Unicorns--how can you go wrong!

Here are some things you need to know about Unicorns: They are real. There are several different breeds (similar to dogs and horses) .They have an uncontrollable blood lust when faced with all humans--- except of course the virgin descendents of Alexander the Great. And therein lies Astrid's problem. She doesn't believe that Unicorns are real, until of course she sneaks out of her babysitting gig with her boyfriend, who is then attacked by one of the small variety and gored by the Unicorn's poisonous horn. Astrid can only halt the venom by calling her mother to tell all and to get the last of the antiserum that she has from who knows where.

....And this is only the beginning of her problems because her mother decides to pack her off to Rome to join the training school for Unicorn Killers and then the real trouble begins!

Reviewed by Antonia S.