3.5 STARS | Frost by Marianna Baer

Title: Frost
Author: Marianna Baer
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Horror, Thriller, Romance
Elements: Ghosts
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0061799495
Published: September 13th, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★.5

Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school starts with a cruel shock: Frost House, the cozy Victorian dorm where she and her best friends live, has been assigned an unexpected roommate—eccentric Celeste Lazar.

As classes get under way, strange happenings begin to bedevil Frost House: frames falling off walls, doors locking themselves, furniture toppling over. Celeste blames the housemates, convinced they want to scare her into leaving. And although Leena strives to be the peacekeeper, soon the eerie happenings in the dorm, an intense romance between Leena and Celeste’s brother, David, and the reawakening of childhood fears all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. But does the threat lie with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind…or in Frost House itself?

From debut author Marianna Baer, Frost is a stunning and surprising tale of suspense that will have readers on the edge of their seats.

Characters

Leena Thomas was looking forward to living her senior year in Frost House with her best friends, but a classmate's unfortunate accident caused her to be assigned to Frost House, too. Celeste Lazar is known for her eccentricities. While collecting a bird's nest for a project, Celeste broke her leg causing her to need a first floor room and was assigned to Frost House as Leena's roommate. When Leena goes to check out her room she meets David Lazar, Celeste's brother, while he was setting up Celeste's side of the room. David recently transferred to Barcroft and he immediately hits it off with Leena. As strange things begin happening in Frost House; stress, jealousy, and fear put an strain on the relationships of the dorm residents and those around them.

Theme

At the core of the story, the theme of Frost is fear. Each character is driven by their fear of events happening around them. Leena's fear of being hurt and the stress of Celeste's situation cause her to take drastic measures to calm down. Celeste fears Frost House itself and the strange things happening there and to herself. This fear causes her behavior to become even more erratic. David fears what people will think of his sister and himself considering their family's history of psychosis. To prevent that and protect his sister, David plans something potentially dangerous to get her moved out of Frost House.

Whether these fears are caused by something supernatural or psychological, the outcomes are dangerous and potentially life-threatening.

Plot

Told from Leena's point of view, Frost takes us through her first semester of senior year and the strange happenings at Frost House. We never really find out whether the cause of the events is supernatural, psychological, or some other factor. Some could argue that it was the ghost of the woman who died there trying to get Celeste to leave and Leena to stay. Or some could argue that it was totally psychological and their minds were playing tricks on them. Frost keeps you guessing well after the last page.

Setting

Frost House is an old Victorian house that was later converted into a boy's dorm. After feeling a need to live there, Leena talked to the dean to see if her and her friends could be assigned to live there their senior year. Permission was granted and Frost House was changed to a girl's dorm, but they also got an unexpected roommate in Celeste.

For Leena, Frost House is a refuge. She feels comfortable and safe there.The place she's most drawn to in Frost House is the closet in her room. The smell and feel bring feelings of nostalgia; memories of a better, happier time.

For Celeste, Frost House is hell on earth. She's tortured and abused by unknown forces. It gets to the point where she feels she'll die if she stays and believes the house is haunted by the woman who had died there so long ago.

For one girl, Frost House brings peace and safety, for the other it brings only fear and torment.

My Final Thoughts:

I like how we are left to come to our own conclusion on what was really causing the events in Frost House. We are never told one way or the other. I think it was a little of both: part supernatural, part psychological, with a little help from some carbon monoxide. I think the CO weakened Leena and Celeste's minds so much that it opened a doorway for the ghost to communicate. But that's just my opinion.

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Marianna Baer received an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a BA in art from Oberlin College. She also attended boarding school, where she lived in a tiny dorm called Frost House, which was subsequently torn down. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. Frost is her first novel.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2011 to my book review blog, Zodiac Book Reviews.

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4.5 STARS | Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter

Title: Lord of the Vampires
Series: Royal House of Shadows #1
Author: Gena Showalter
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Vampires, Witches, Ogres
Publisher: Harlequin
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0373618668
Published: August 23rd, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★.5

Once upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden. To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with a need for vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.

Nicolai the Vampire is renowned for his virility, but in a cruel twist of fate “The Dark Seducer” has become a sex slave in the kingdom of Delfina—stripped of his precious timepiece and his memory. All that remains is a primal need for freedom, revenge—and the only woman who can help him.

When the wanton vampire summons Jane Parker, she is helpless to obey. She's drawn to his dark sexuality and into his magical realm. But for this human, all is not a fairy tale. For saving Nicolai could mean losing the only man she's ever craved...

Characters

Nicolai is the eldest son of King Aelfric and Queen Alvina; and the crown prince of the kingdom of Elden. Having lost his memory and freedom after the fall of Elden, Nicolai has become a sex slave in the kingdom of Delfina. Knowing only that he must leave Delfina and go to Elden to kill the Blood Sorcerer, Nicolai enlists the help of Jane Parker.

Jane Parker recently regained the use of her legs after a terrible car accident that took the lives of her family and left her scarred. She's been dreaming of a vampire named Nicolai who oozes sexuality. After reading a book about him and his captivity, Jane wakes up in a place she doesn't recognize and Nicolai is very real.

Theme

One theme in this book is Nicolai (and to a point, Jane's) memory loss. Nicolai's memory is wiped clean by the evil princesses sexually abusing him. Jane suspects that she's met Nicolai before since some things in his world look familiar, but she can't remember meeting him before she ended up in Delfina. We find out later about who erased their memories and why.

Another theme is Nicolai's burning need to kill the Blood Sorcerer. Before dying, his father cast a spell filling all four of the royal heirs with the need for vengeance. I'm sure they would all feel the need to avenge their parents and kingdom even without the spell, but the spell ensures it. The timepiece Nicolai has tells him how much time he has left to kill the Blood Sorcerer, but having been in the palace of the kingdom of Delfina where time moves slower, twenty years have passed and time is running out.

Plot

The plot is told from the alternating perspectives of Nicolai and Jane.

Their memory loss adds the element of mystery to the story. Past events, first meetings, and other memories are slowly revealed as Nicolai starts remembering everything. His powers also start resurfacing as Jane's blood undoes the magic spell concealing his memory and powers. We also learn a little tidbit about Jane that even she doesn't remember. So we're along for the ride as events come to a head. There's even a few surprises to look forward to.

Setting

Delfina is ruled by the Queen of Hearts and her vile daughters, Odette and Laila. Nicolai is held captive as a sex slave and repeatedly abused by the princesses. I'm sure if Nicolai wasn't being driven to return to Elden, he would destroy the entire kingdom instead of just it's rulers. The place fills him with so much hate and rage that the only thing keeping him from a full blown rampage is Jane and the need to escape and protect her.

And Delfina is definitely not a friendly place for humans. They are used and abused almost as badly as the servants and sex slaves, if not worse.

My Final Thoughts:

The story and character relationships seem to move pretty fast, but actually started way before the first line and meeting. We just don't know it because the characters themselves don't know it yet. I love how everything just fits together. Some people might think that Nicolai's possessiveness is a major turn off, but it's really not. It seems that with vampire and werewolf/shapeshifter characters that their possessiveness is so not a turn off at all. I think it makes the story and relationship between Nicolai and Jane more intense. I also thought it was cool how Jane slowly (**SPOILER, SPOILER**) turns into a vampire after that first time drinking Nicolai's blood. A lot of other cool things happen because of Nicolai's blood. I just really loved this book. It's a great start to the Royal House of Shadows series.

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Gena Showalter sold her first book at the age of 27 and now, four years later, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen books, with eleven more on the way in a thrilling blend of genres: breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting edge young adult novels, and stunning urban fantasy.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, MTV, Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in French, Italian and Korean. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2011 to my book review blog, Zodiac Book Reviews.

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5 STARS | Twilight: The Graphic Novel Volume 2

Title: Twilight: The Graphic Novel Volume 2
Series: Twilight: The Graphic Novel #2
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Adapter/Artist: Young Kim
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Graphic Novels, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy
Elements: Vampires, Psychic Abilities
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0316133197
Published: October 11th, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★★

Having uncovered the dark secret of her enigmatic classmate, Edward Cullen, Bella Swan embraces her feelings for him, trusting Edward to keep her safe despite the risks. When a rival clan of vampires makes its way into Forks, though, the danger to Bella has never been more real. Will she make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people dearest to her?

The second volume of Twilight: The Graphic Novel completes the visual adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's worldwide bestselling debut novel and is a must-have for any collector's library.

Adaptation

The adaptation of the story was expertly done. With some graphic novel adaptation of novels such as Twilight, the story ends up watered down which causes holes in the story. With this adaptation that story ran smoothly and didn't leave me wondering how it got from one point to the next.

Art

The art, oh my goodness, the art. I think Young Kim's art is the most beautiful art I have ever had the pleasure to look at in a graphic novel. She took the descriptions of the characters from the book and really brought them to life with her art. To be completely honest, that characters in the graphic novel turned out looking exactly as I imagined they did. I love how the flashbacks, the first meeting with James' coven, and the end were done in color. Now, I usually don't like graphic novels done in color, but in this adaptation the color in the moments I mentioned adds depth, character, and drama to the scenes. It adds to the art instead of taking away from it.

My Final Thoughts:

From my review I'm sure you already know how much I loved the adaptation and art, so I won't comment on that anymore. I just want to say that any Twilight fan would have to be stupid not to check out the graphic novel adaptation. It's something no fan of Twilight should miss. I absolutely loved it!

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Stephenie Meyer's life changed dramatically on June 2, 2003. The stay-at-home mother of three young sons woke up from a dream featuring seemingly real characters that she could not get out of her head.

"Though I had a million things to do, I stayed in bed, thinking about the dream. Unwillingly, I eventually got up and did the immediate necessities, and then put everything that I possibly could on the back burner and sat down at the computer to write—something I hadn't done in so long that I wondered why I was bothering."

Meyer invented the plot during the day through swim lessons and potty training, and wrote it out late at night when the house was quiet. Three months later she finished her first novel, Twilight. With encouragement from her older sister (the only other person who knew she had written a book), Meyer submitted her manuscript to various literary agencies. Twilight was picked out of a slush pile at Writer's House and eventually made its way to the publishing company Little, Brown where everyone fell immediately in love with the gripping, star-crossed lovers.

Twilight was one of 2005's most talked about novels and within weeks of its release the book debuted at #5 on The New York Times bestseller list. Among its many accolades, Twilight was named an "ALA Top Ten Books for Young Adults," an Amazon.com "Best Book of the Decade...So Far", and a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year.

The highly-anticipated sequel, New Moon, was released in September 2006, and spent more than 25 weeks at the #1 position on The New York Times bestseller list.

In 2007, Eclipse literally landed around the world and fans made the Twilight Saga a worldwide phenomenon! With midnight parties and vampire-themed proms the enthusiasm for the series continued to grow.

On May 6, 2008, Little, Brown and Company released The Host, Meyer's highly-anticipated novel for adults which debuted at #1 on The New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. The Host still remains a staple on the bestseller lists more than a year after its debut.

On August 2, 2008, the final book in the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn was released at 12:01 midnight. Stephenie made another appearance on "Good Morning America" and was featured in many national media outlets, including Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek, People Magazine and Variety. Stephenie headlined the Breaking Dawn Concert Series with Justin Furstenfeld (lead singer of Blue October) to celebrate the release in four major markets across the US. Breaking Dawn sold 1.3 million copies in its first 24 hours.

The Twilight movie, directed by Catherine Hardwicke and starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, was released on November 21, 2008. Twilight debuted at #1 at the box office with $70 million, making it the highest grossing opening weekend for a female director.

Stephenie lives in Arizona with her husband and three sons.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2011 to my book review blog, Zodiac Book Reviews.

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5 STARS | The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Knight
Series: The Iron Fey #4
Author: Julie Kagawa
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Fae
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0373210367
Published: October 25th, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★★

My name - my True Name - is Ashallayn’ darkmyr Tallyn. I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her. My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase - a half human, half fey slip of a girl - smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end - a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan's side.

To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Characters

Ash is kind enough to introduce himself to us:

"My name---my True Name---is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn. I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her. My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl..."

Ash gave up everything for Meghan...and lost it all when she became the Iron Queen. To get it all back, Ash will travel to the End of the World in order to gain a soul.

Joining him in his quest is the mischievous Puck, the grumbling Grimalkin, and the totally unexpected Big Bad Wolf and thought-to-be-dead Ariella.

Theme

This is a classic star-crossed lovers story. In order to save Ash's life, Meghan---using his True Name---commands Ash to leave the Iron Realm and never come back. Ash vowed to find a way back to her side, and that's where the story of The Iron Knight comes in. The Iron Knight is Ash's journey to the End of the World, his trials, his tribulations---all to gain a soul so he can enter the Iron Realm unharmed, and ultimately be with Meghan again.

Plot

Since this is Ash's story I'm sure you know it takes place from his POV. We get a really good look into Ash's mind, his past. We see what he's able to hide so well under that Winter Prince mask.

And for those who have read the other books in the Iron Fey series---which are from Meghan's POV---where we wonder what could possibly be going on inside Ash's head---this book is a miracle.

Setting

There are a number of settings along Ash's journey: from the wyldwood to the Deep Wyld; the River of Dreams to the village of Phaed; the Testing Grounds to, finally, the End of the World.

Out of all these places, I think that the End of the World has the most impact. From it's floating islands and castle to the many awe-inspiring creatures; the End of the World is full of things you've never seen and will never see again.

This is where Ash is tested to see if he's worthy of a soul. He learns all the things it means to be human: weakness of the flesh, conscience, and mortality. And with this knowledge he has to choose whether or not he truly wants a soul. Does he want to remain an immortal, soulless fey or become a weak, mortal human? But if he chooses to become human, there is a price.

My Final Thoughts:

I loved being able to see things from Ash's point of view. It was really cool seeing his memories of the past, his feelings toward Meghan, Puck, and Ariella. The visions of the future---what Ash would become if he didn't gain a soul, his possible future with Meghan. It was just a great experience being in Ash's head. Though the parting with Puck was kind of sad, since he can't go into the Iron Realm, the ending (or beginning) for Ash and Meghan was a happy tear-jerker.

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Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.

When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dog trainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon puppy.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2011 to my book review blog, Zodiac Book Reviews.

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5 STARS | Destined by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Title: Destined
Series: House of Night #9
Author: P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Vampyres, Deities, Immortals
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0312650254
Published: October 25th, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★★

Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet – which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together – if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow…

But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more – or possibly less – than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there's something strangely familiar about him…

Will Neferet's true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect him – and everyone – from his own fate? Find out what's destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

Characters

(Because there are so many characters to summarize I'm going to try to keep the summaries as short as possible.)

Zoey Redbird and her Circle (in elemental order):

Damien has the affinity for Air. He's usually breezy and upbeat, but Jack's death has brought him down.

Shaunee has the affinity for Fire. She's a very warm and passionate person, but she's feeling a little lost after realizing that she wants to be 'Shaunee' and not 'Twin' anymore.

Erin has the affinity for Water. Erin is usually a calm and refreshing person, but after a fight with Shaunee she wonders if she's really just frozen and cold.

Stevie Rae has the affinity for Earth. She has a strong, nurturing nature. Being the first Red Vampyre and High Priestess has put a lot of pressure on her, and recent events are leaving her shaken.

Zoey has an affinity for all five of the elements, but is most closely linked to Spirit. She is the leader and heart of the group. She can see past a person's outer facade and see them for who they really are. Zoey has been richly blessed by Nyx with great power and responsibility---whether she wants that responsibility or not---for such a young fledgling. This makes her a very special---and sometimes envied and hated---fledgling High Priestess.

Those on the Side of Light and Truth:

Stark is Zoey's Guardian Warrior and boyfriend. He's recently been plagued by bad dreams which have kept him from getting any proper sleep. Zoey helps as much as she can by using Spirit to calm his dreams.

Darius is Aphrodite's Warrior and boyfriend. He's ever vigilant in his duty as protector. Though deadly in his skill with knives, he's gentle and caring with Aphrodite.

Rephaim was recently forgiven by Nyx and gifted with the form of a human boy, though during the day he takes the form of a raven as punishment for his past crimes. He is Stevie Rae's Consort and acts as her protector.

Lenobia is the House of Night's Horse Mistress. She has battled with Darkness in the past and can see how deep in Darkness Neferet is. She provides wise council for Zoey and her circle.

Thanatos is a member of the Vampyre High Council, the governing power of the Vampyre people. She has come to the Tulsa House of Night to be the High Council's eyes and ears. She has an affinity for Death and is a seeker of Truth.

Aphrodite is a Prophetess of Nyx. Her visions have been pivotal in the success of Zoey and her circle. Though the visions are painful and draining, they have prevented many disasters and deaths in the group. Having visions that only portend death and destruction is both physically and emotionally draining, and they have been getting worse, which worries Zoey and Darius.

Kramisha is a Poet Laureate. Her prophetic poems, though most of the time are confusing, have helped Zoey and everyone prepare for their battles with Darkness. Sometimes they are messages for individual people.

Those on the Side of Darkness and Deceit:

Neferet was once the respected High Priestess of the Tulsa House of Night, though certain of those around her suspected something wasn't quite right. Though Zoey and her group know Neferet's true colors, Neferet has still been able to deceive everyone else.

The White Bull is the physical form of Darkness. He enjoys death, destruction, and chaos.

Aurox is the vessel Darkness created for Neferet with the sacrifice of Zoey's mother, Linda, who Neferet murdered. Because the sacrifice was imperfect, Nyx was able to interfere by asking Heath if he'd rather be reborn or help Zoey by having is soul put into the vessel. With the imperfect sacrifice and Heath's soul in Aurox, he's beginning to think and feel, which he was never meant to do. Though he was made by Darkness to serve Darkness, he is leaning toward Light, if not a middle ground.

Those in the Middle:

Dragon is the Sword Master of the Tulsa House of Night. With the loss of his mate, Anastasia, Dragon has decided to be on the side of neither Nyx or Darkness, only himself. Having lost himself with the death of Anastasia, he claims he only has the dragon to be, and a dragon shows no mercy.

Erik Night is Zoey's ex-boyfriend and the Tulsa House of Night's new Tracker. He Marks his first assignment, Shaylin, in red instead of blue. She was blind, but after being Marked, can see and has the gift of True Sight. This definitely frazzles him. He hasn't made it clear where he stands in the fight between Light and Darkness, but remains in the middle.

Theme

During the ritual on Grandma Redbird's lavender farm, each of the circle members bring an object that represents a truth about them that no one else knows. Each of these truths are things that people go through everyday.

Feeling the weight of a loved one's death; loneliness and wanting to rise above the fear of being alone; feeling empty and frozen to everything; fear of the unknown; and feeling like your going to break and fearing you'll never be the same again.

The overall theme of the book, as well as the series as a whole, is the battle between good and evil. We see this in many stories so it's nothing new. Zoey says that she feels as though she'll shatter all over again from the pressure of her role as the leader of her group. What I think she needs to do is when the pressure is too much, step back and let her friends help her. She's not alone in this battle.

Plot

The plot of Destined is written in the alternating POV's of Zoey, Aurox, Kalona, Rephaim, Erik, Stevie Rae, Lenobia, Stark, Shaunee , Neferet, and Dragon.

This gives readers more insight into the characters and their parts in the story. We see a lot of character development, especially with Kalona and Shaunee. We see a more human side to Kalona and a more independent side to Shaunee.

It was great seeing more of Dragons after having rad Dragon's Oath. The conclusion to Dragon's story is bittersweet, but I think the sweet outweighs the bitter.

Lenobia's point of view in Destined is a great introduction to her novella, Lenobia's Vow.

In regards to the fight between Shaunee and Erin, it would have been nice to see Erin's side and what was going through her head. But we only see one side of the Twin split in Shaunee's POV.

Setting

*ATTENTION!!* 

*THERE ARE SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT!!*

(For the setting I'm only going to mention Grandma Redbird's lavender farm.)

The lavender farm is the setting for the reveal ritual Thanatos casts invoking Death to reveal the truth of Zoey's mother's murder. This is not the only thing that happens at the farm while the ritual is happening, though.

Through the ritual the truth of Linda's murder is revealed, as well as the truth of Neferet's true allegiances. Dragons shows up and protects Rephaim from Aurox's attacks, but is ultimately killed. But in protecting Rephaim, Dragon is able to show mercy and ultimately Anastasia and Nyx. Zoey looks through her seer stone after prompting from Nyx and sees that Aurox has Heath's soul, and protects him using Earth from Stark and Darius' attack. Kalona arrives after receiving a call from Stevie Rae to help Rephaim. Kalona shows his love for his son and asks Nyx not to take him. After Rephaim is healed, Thanatos declares herself the Tulsa House of Night's new High Priestess and Kalona gives her his Warrior's Oath, which she accepts. And as they are leaving to return to the House of Night, Nyx leaves them with a warning.

As you can see, a lot happens in this short amount of time. So much is learned and so much is felt; it's like emotional overload.

My Final Thoughts:

I love all the revelations and character development that happens in Destined. With Neferet finally outed, it's going to be interesting to see what happens next. I'm really curious about what's going to happen between Zoey and Aurox now that she knows the truth about him, or at least part of the truth. I have a feeling things are really going to heat up with all that's been revealed in this book. I can't wait to read Book 10.

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P.C. Cast was born in the Midwest, and grew up being shuttled back-and-forth between Illinois and Oklahoma, which is where she fell in love with Quarter Horses and mythology (at about the same time). After high school she joined the United States Air Force and began public speaking and writing. After her tour in the USAF, she taught high school for 15 years before retiring to write full time. Ms. Cast is a New York Times Best-Selling author and a member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Oklahoma Book Award, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers’ Best, and the Laurel Wreath. P.C. Cast is an experienced teacher and talented speaker. If your organization is interested in information about her workshops or presentations, please contact her personal assistant, Camden Clark, at camdenclark.pa@gmail.com. If the request is specific to her young adult series, you may contact her St. Martin’s publicist, Rachel Ekstrom, at rachel.eckstrom@stmartins.com. Ms. Cast lives in Oklahoma with her fabulous daughter, her spoiled cat, and her adorable Scotties!

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Kristin Cast is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author who teams with her mother to write the House of Night YA series. She has stand alone stories in several anthologies, as well as editorial credits. Currently Kristin attends college in Oklahoma where she is focusing on attaining her dream of opening a no kill dog rescue shelter in midtown Tulsa.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2011 to my book review blog, Zodiac Book Reviews.

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2 STARS | Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel

Title: Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel
Series: Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #1
Author: Richelle Mead
Adapter: Leigh Dragoon
Artist: Emma Vieceli
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Graphic Novels, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
Elements: Vampires, Dhampirs, Magic
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1595144294
Published: August 23rd, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: ★★

After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It’s filled with intrigue, danger—and even romance.

Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life.

Adaptation

There's nothing wrong with the wording, it's all taken straight from the book. But it's like the adapter only took the bare minimum of the story to put in the graphic novel. All of the juicy, meaty parts are left out. There are a lot of events and conversations not even included. I think the story part of this graphic novel would have been better with more substance to it.

Art

To be perfectly honest, I don't really like the art. I also don't like that it's in color. When I read graphic novels I prefer them to be in black and white. The art doesn't really add much character to the faces. Maybe it's just that I don't like American-looking art styles in manga.

My Final Thoughts:

I was sort of disappointed with the whole graphic novel. I thought it could have been much better.

When graphic novels are done in color, for me, it takes something away. It doesn't look as deep as it could be if it were in black and white. And with the pages being glossy it adds a glare that makes it difficult to read.

The adaptation wasn't any better. The story was so watered down that all the depth was sucked out of the story.

If I had to choose between reading the original book or the graphic novel, I'd choose the original hands down.

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Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time: Georgina Kincaid, Dark Swan, and Vampire Academy.

A life-long reader, Richelle has always loved mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. She's a self-professed coffee addict and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.

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Emma Vieceli (born June 13, 1979, in Essex) is a professional British comics artist of Italian-English heritage. She is currently a resident of a small village in Cambridgeshire, England.

Vieceli joined Sweatdrop Studios in 2002, and through the group released her own comic series, 'Dragon Heir'. She has also contributed to anthology titles including Boiled Spoons, Cold Sweat, Love, Sweat & Tears, Pink is for Girls and Planet Manga (A&I Covermount) and in 2005 she achieved a runner up position in the first Rising Stars of Manga United Kingdom & Ireland Competition, with her 15-page shōjo entry, "Between the Lines". She included cameo appearances of various titles being published under Sweatdrop Studios in her short story; Looking for the Sun, Once upon a Time, Fantastic Cat, as well as Dragon Heir.

She has worked on comic adaptations of William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing for Self Made Hero. Amongst other projects, has worked on the art and design of the collectible card game Herocard Cyberspace from Tablestar Games and was also of the head contributors to Draw Manga Sweatdrop Studios from New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. Vieceli has worked with Spacedog Entertainment, illustrating the cover to eV, a short story in Princess Ai: Rumors From The Other Side, both published by Tokyopop, and a story in Tori Amos' Comic Book Tattoo a 480 page anthology published by Image Comics on July 3, 2008. In addition, she created Violet for The DFC, which was previewed in The Guardian Comic on May 31, 2008. In 2011, Vieceli provided the art for the Vampire Academy graphic novel, based on the novels of the same name.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2011 to my book review blog, Zodiac Book Reviews.

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3 STARS | Manga Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice

Title: Manga Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice
Series: Manga Shakespeare
Author: William Shakespeare
Adapter: Richard Appignanesi
Artist: Faye Yong
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Graphic Novels, Classics
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0810997172
Published: March 1st, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★

The Merchant of Venice, one of the Bard's most enduring plays, explores themes of forgiveness, prejudice, and fairness, all of which remain vital topics today. In the Manga Shakespeare version, the setting and themes of the play take on new meaning as adapted by the artists guiding the series. Whether readers are fans of the Bard or of manga, this is a story that will captivate and engage, even after four hundred years.

Adaptation

With most of Shakespeare's writings, it can be difficult to understand. The Manga Shakespeare series is supposed to use the original text and art to make it easier to understand and more fun.

I think personally, having never read The Merchant of Venice before, that the play would have been easier to understand if the adapter had used modern English. I think with a mix of modern language and the art depiction the play can be very easy to understand. But by using the original text you're still not making it any easier to understand. I had to use a Spark Notes No Fear Shakespeare version of the play while reading the graphic novel so I could understand what was being said.

Art

Though I don't like the word adaptation I really love the art. The artist depicts the characters as looking elvish; though the prince of Arragon looks more like a mer person and the prince of Morocco reminds me of a snake.

There is a distinct difference between the depictions of the Christians and the Jews. The Christians have light countenances and clothing, while the Jews are dark haired and wear dark clothing.

Faye Yong's are is just really beautiful and pleasing to look at.

My Final Thoughts:

Though I didn't like the adaptation and comprehension was as difficult for me as any Shakespeare play or poem, the art made up for it. I really enjoyed looking at Faye Yong's depictions of the characters. Her art is really beautiful.

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A former pianist left Malaysia to pursue an Illustration degree in the UK. Faye has a weakness for shoujo manga and anything with a happy ending and is on a lifelong quest to improve her artistic & storytelling skills. Her main influences and inspirations include Japanese manga, fashion & fabulous looking people. She works primarily with Photoshop, Manga Studio, Illustrator and her Intuos tablet.

Faye placed third in the hotly contested Rising Stars of Manga UK and; Ireland 3 in 2008 and; won the People's Choice Award in the same year.

Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2011 to my book review blog, Zodiac Book Reviews.

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3 STARS | Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Title: Fury
Series: The Fury Trilogy #1
Author: Elizabeth Miles
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Mythology
Elements: Furies
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-1442422247
Published: August 30th, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better—the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen.

Characters

Emily Winters is one of the IN crowd. She could have any guy she wants. But the guy she does want just happens to be her best friend's boyfriend. And he's showing an interest he really shouldn't be showing. When Em's BFF goes on vacation, she spends some quality time with the BF. And as they get closer strange things start happening. Em better watch out, or she's gonna get burned.

Chase Singer seemingly has it all---he's popular, quarterback of the football team, and recently met the most beautiful girl. But behind that facade is the real Chase---he lives in a trailer, doesn't have much money, and has a terrible secret. As his carefully constructed mask begins to crumble around him, Chase starts to come unraveled himself.

Ty, Meg, and Ali are the furies, or the Angry Ones. Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto. The furies are merciless in their pursuit of punishment. And the punishment must fit the crime. You definitely don't want to ever gain the attention of these three girls.

Theme

There are three themes that correspond with the three characters I mentioned earlier.

In Em's case, she betrays her best friend and cheats with said best friend's boyfriend. I guess, technically, that's two themes, but I'm putting them together as one. Em knows what she's doing is wrong and that is will hurt her BFF, but she truly believes that the BF, Zach, really cares for her. When she finds out that he's just been playing her, she ends it, but the damage has already been done.

The theme in Chase's case is, you could say, a type of bullying. I can't say too much or I might give something away, but Chase does something that drove an old childhood friend to suicide.

And it's obvious that with Ty, Meg, and Ali the theme is vengeance or punishment. As it is a fury's job to punish those who have done something wrong, they go after Em and Chase respectively for the wrong they both have done.

Plot

The plot switches between the POV's of Emily and Chase.

I think I would describe this book as a psychological thriller with elements of horror and the supernatural.

The mythology of the furies was used expertly in the character names, personalities, and behaviors. Though their names are shortened and modernized, you can still tell who is who. Ty is Tisiphone, Meg is Megaera, and Ali is Alecto. Their personalities and behaviors match up pretty well with their legendary selves as well.

Tisiphone is known as the avenging one who is the voice of revenge and the avenger of murder. So it makes sense how Ty in Fury is the spear point in exacting revenge against Chase who ultimately caused a suicide.

Megaera is known as the grudging or unwilling one who burns with envious anger and punishes for infidelity. Meg and Ali are the ones who exact punishment against Em for her cheating and betrayal.

Alecto is known as the unceasing one who is never-ending in her anger and castigates mortal crimes. Ali really is relentless when she interacts with Em, and seeing as infidelity can be considered a moral crime, it only makes sense that Meg and Ali work together to punish Em.

Setting

The story is set in Maine during the winter. Winter is sort of eery in itself. It's cold, ruthless, unrelenting, and quiet. The earth in its rest. It's easy to imagine something scary happening in such a setting. Winter is hauntingly beautiful, just like the furies are in the story. The furies themselves are like Winter; cold, ruthless, and quiet. Unrelenting in their purpose. For a story such as Fury, it doesn't seem right for it to takes place in any other season.

My Final Thoughts:

I thought that the beginning of the book was a little slow, which made it hard to really get into the story. Once the story started to pick up and more action was happening, it was really enjoyable. I love the mythology of the furies and how it's used in the book. The author has them appear in a modern setting and modernized their names, so it's like old meets new. I like how Em grows a backbone after her encounter with the furies. It's going to be interesting to see what happens in the next book, Envy, with Zach. He definitely deserves the wrath of the furies.

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Elizabeth Miles grew up in Chappaqua, New York, not far from New York City. She graduated from Boston University in 2004, and has worked ever since as a journalist for an alternative newsweekly. She has been honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. Elizabeth serves on the board of trustees of Portland Players, a community theater and second home. She loves pizza; she can often be found running around on stage while scantily clad; and a cold winter night in Maine is one of the creepiest and most beautiful things she can think of. Fury is Elizabeth’s first novel.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2011 to my book review blog, Zodiac Book Reviews.

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