Just wanted to let all of you know the Goodreads Choice Awards is now open for voting. The schedule is as follows:

Opening Round Oct. 30 -Nov. 10

Semifinal Round Nov. 12-17

Final Round Nov. 19-27

Please show your favorite author support by stopping by and casting your vote!

Awaken by Kristen Day
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

If the first book had me intrigued, the second one has me hooked!

I found myself on the edge of my seat for every twist and turn of this book (and there are a lot!). It is anything but predictable. Stasia finds out about more of her abilities and what is needed for her to complete her journey to the Underworld and back unscathed, not to mention Finn’s big secret! With the presence of Nadia, a new arrival from California who already seems to hate her, and the unexpected run-ins with bloody ghosts, having to die just to enter the Underworld is proving to be the least of her worries.

Kristen Day does a wonderful job depicting a world that can be both beautiful and horrifying. The imagery created is amazing and the dialogue is witty. The pace of the story was steady and never dull. I was impressed with her ability to blend both the light and macabre sides of the story so well together. It definitely makes her style of writing unique.

The only con for me was, like the first one, I still didn’t feel like I got to know who Finn was. He was present on and off for the first half of the book but then MIA for most of the second half. He was starting to feel like Edward from the second book of the Twilight series; talked about more than actually present. Yea, we know he loves Stasia and we find out his troubled destiny, but other than that his character still felt a little two dimensional for me. I felt I knew Stasia’s roommates better than I knew him. I couldn’t help but wish for some bonus chapters from Finn’s point of view (especially for that scene with Stasia just before Halloween and the last scene at the end!). Maybe it’s just me, who knows, I’ve been told I could be broken :D

Regardless, this was not enough to stop me from desperately wanting to read the third book. The new insight about her dad and the cliff hanger ending are killing me! I must know what happens next! I seriously don’t know what to write without giving spoilers, but you must know you have to read this series. It is fresh and unique and leaves you needing more!

I am thankful the author gave me a copy of this book for an honest review.


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Forsaken by Kristen Day
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This book was definitely not what I expected, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It was like Everblue meets The Goddess Test and Half-Blood all rolled into one. I love the world Day created, and the mysteries wrapped around Stasia's history and Finn's identity kept me intrigued.

Why did her parents really leave her as a baby? And why does Finn seem to know so much about her when they’ve only just met?

The pace of the book was rather steady, but there were a few scenes (mainly ones meant to help explain the intricacies of the world) that seemed to slow parts of the story. I understand their necessity, but there were so many that didn't include Finn, that I felt I didn't get to know him well enough before the end of the book. I know this was to help maintain his air of mystery, but I wish he could have played a larger part in the middle of this book.

All in all, Kristen Day couldn’t have done a better job with her debut novel. The plot was well developed and the characters are easy to fall in love with. There are plenty of secrets to be unraveled and the adventure is ongoing. I know I for one cannot wait to see what else is in store for Stasia and Finn in the next installment!

This book is a great find, and I'm grateful the author let me have a copy to review.


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Being Human by Patricia Lynne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me a while to write this review because I feel so torn about it. I love the book but I am not so in love with the ending.

The story itself is amazing! I am not usually one to care for vampire books, but I found this one really drawing me in. The characters are well developed and they pull you in until you feel like you are part of the story yourself. You watch Tommy and Danny navigate their bond of brotherhood and the obstacles that threaten to tear them apart. I also appreciate Lynne's ability to showcase that "being human" is more than just a literal application, it's who you are inside.

I fell in love with all of the characters so much that by the time I got to the end I felt a little bereft at the abruptness of it. I didn't find it matched the pace of the rest of the book, and it felt a bit hurried. I'm not looking for another book, but I would've liked at least an epilogue to get a little more closure. Other than that, I found it was a refreshing find compared to most all other paranormal YA books out there.

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Welcome!
My name is en creshio, aka Tohrutohno on some other sites. On this site, I hope to bring to you honest book reviews as well as a little insight into one of my favorite hobbies; tea (although that might come later :D).  I tend to love books that fall in the paranormal or YA genre but will read anything if it piques my interest. To my fellow bibliophiles in the same boat; below, I have posted links to current authors so that it can be that much easier to keep up with current updates and releases. As we all know, that next book can never be published fast enough! If you don't see an author you'd like to have a link to, let me know and I'll add it to the list.