So I've Been Thinking.... #3: Why I Love Reading

If you're reading this, then you and I have something in common, even if we're completely different people. We may have never spoken, or even met, but across maybe thousands of miles, you and I share a bond.

That's the beautiful thing about books. They can bring people together like nothing else out there. If two people both love to read, then they will always have something to talk about, even if they share nothing else.

I was talking with some people today about a book that we had all read over the summer, and I was amazed at how easily the conversation flowed. I'd never met half of these people before, and most of the others I'd never actually talked to, but there was never a lull in our discussion.

And then there's the people who hate reading (crazies, all of them) and think I'm completely making all of this up. How in the world could people be interested in a bunch of words printed on a page? The story wasn't even that interesting anyways!

And for those people, I feel horribly sorry. It's a shame that they haven't found the kinds of books that they love yet. There are entire new worlds that can be explored between the pages, concepts that can't be understood without them, and knowledge that wouldn't exist if they had never been written.

I'm not saying that I've loved every book I've ever read. And I'm certainly not saying that I've never quit after the first few chapters of a book just because it bored me to tears. There are thousands of books out there that just aren't for me. That doesn't mean that all books are bad; it just means that I'm not going to be reading the ones that are.

Through trial and error, I've learned what kind of books I enjoy to read, and now it's hard for me to put down nearly every one I pick up. But that doesn't mean I was just destined to love reading from birth. I love the books that I love because I know that they're awesome. And I love reading because I don't force myself to read the ones that aren't.

To do something like that would take away all of the fun! I think the reason that so many people don't really like books is that everyone has been telling them what to read their whole life. After reading so many books that they have just hated, it became a chore. They weren't going to waste their time looking for something that was just going to disappoint them in the end.

It's sad that they haven't found the kinds of books that interest them yet. I always tell people to think of the types of movies or television shows that they enjoy and read something like that. If you watch CSI, read Agatha Christie; if you like the Discovery Channel, read Imagine by Jonah Leher; if you like the Syfy Channel, like yours truly, then try out urban fantasy. The list goes on and on forever. You just have to be the one to find it.

Review of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Death. Destruction. Deceit.

All done by the one person that you have left in the world and the one person that you believed you could trust more than anyone else in the world.

Clockwork Angel is a book that takes place in the time period of Queen Victoria. For those of you that don't know, that is in the nineteenth-century. Shadowhunters rule the world. Downworlders don't. I know, I know, I am making this too mysterious and all. I suppose that I am but that is the whole if the book. Mystery and  a lot of foreshadowing.

Allow me to start at the beginning. Tessa Gray goes to England when her Aunt Harriet dies. She has no family and no one to turn to besides her brother, Nathaniel Gray. When she arrives, she is kidnapped and forced into the service of the Dark Sisters. I know this is sounding quite cliche or what not, but bare with me.

The rest of the book pertains to Tessa and the Shadowhunters. Of course, there are attractive guys that make the protagonist, Tessa, swoon. They are William Herondale AKA Will and James Carstairs AKA Jem. Both are attractive but they couldn't be more different than three peas in a pod. Or maybe a better analogy would be a cat and a dog. My point remains the same. One is dark and mysterious while the other is open and mysterious. Towards the end though, Tessa realizes that she has made a grave mistake in trusting one guy while the other clearly should be the one who her affections are directed at.

The main reason that I truly enjoyed this book as much as I loved the Mortal Instruments was mainly due to the fact that the characters were the ancestors to the characters in the Mortal  Instruments. Plus, the plot was more enticing and when the true plot was finally revealed, it left me stunned and amazed. The style was more original and the plot itself left not a lot to be desired. Truth be told, many fantasy books nowadays area ll typical: a guy, a girl, and an evil person, or organization, that wants either the girl or boy, dead. True, some of what is written might be original in a way but just in general, its not.

That is why I absolutely LOVED this book. The plot was similar to something Agatha Christie would write and it was refreshing to know that true fantasy fiction isn't completely dead.

For When Words Aren't Enough

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Attractive Characters #3: Harry Potter

       Now, to be frank, I am a fan of the "dark-haired, dark-eyed" male population. I don't mind blondes, nor do I intend to be biased, but that is just the truth of the matter. I like those types of guys.... that might be why I am such a fan of Harry Potter. Yes, I am speaking of the wizard who was born to Lily and James Potter, was a victim of attempted murder, and who is mostly famous for his lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. That Harry Potter. The one and only. The Magnificent. The Hottie.
   

     Allow me to elaborate some more. Harry James Potter is the protagonist of the seven Harry Potter books, by the author J.K Rowling. The reason that I enjoy reading about this character is because he is attractive. Not just in the physical sense. Harry has that... charm, I suppose you could say, that makes people automatically like him. Except for the Dursley's, obviously. But he is loyal, honest, and awkward. There are a plenty amount of guys out there with this description, but Harry seems to ooze these three qualities.

        He is loyal.
               He is.
      Harry sticks by his fellow wrongdoers (Ron and Hermione) with a loyalty that is astonishing. He never lets them down, regardless of how bad the situation might be. For example, in book four, he and Ron get into an argument that almost severs their friendship. Neither spoke to the other, and both were miserable, but they both made up. He could have remained cold-shouldered to Ron for longer and even severed their friendship for good, but he didn't. With Sirius Black, his godfather, he stands by him when the entirety of the wizarding world convicts him as a mass murderer. Now, that is the definition of loyalty. Stand by a murderer.

    He is honest.
           He is.
         Honesty is one of the character traits for the students of Gryffindor, and Harry wears it well. Sure, he has told a little white lie for getting out of trouble, but who counts those? Apparently not him, seeing as how many times he had to tell one to avoid detention. But honesty wise, he is chock full of it. When Lord Voldemort returned from his... ghost like form, he told the whole world. Wizard world, that is.  Granted, he had to tell someone how Cedric Diggory died, but that fact still remains that he actually told everyone when he suspected that no would believe him. He turned out to be right, but that didn't prevent him from giving up.

  He is awkward.
         He is.
       As I said before, many guys are awkward. Teenage guys, adult guys, even little children can be awkward and gangly. Harry beats them all in this area but he does it in a charming manner that makes one think of how sure he is. When he is in the back of McGonagal's classroom sparring with Ron, this let's everyone know that he just like any other boy who hates doing work. Plus, once he hits his teenage years, he even tries to ask the hot and popular Cho Chang to the Yule Ball. That turns out to be a failure considering that he was up against the hot and popular Cedric Diggory.

        And his good looks just add to this charm.

Review of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Some of you already know what's coming. If you've been paying attention, you would know a little bit about why I chose this book already. If not, you can read more about it here, where I explain how even a book that doesn't fit your normal tastes can still be just as enjoyable as the ones that do. And trust me, this one is definitely worth the risk.

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

At a very young age, you are thrust into a game you know nothing about. You are tied for life to a person you've never met and trained by a man you hardly even know, even though most of the world calls him your father. The rules are a mystery, and the stage is even more so, until one day, you're given the news:

The game has begun.

Yet the world still remains a mystery. You know not the identity of your opponent, and you feel as clueless as the awestruck patrons wandering around the circus thinking this nocturnal wonder a dream. All you've been given is two simple rules: do not interfere with your opponent, and above all else....

WIN.


I was very cautious beginning this book. The concept seemed amazing and it was obviously beautifully written, but everything just looked so.... flat.

I'm a comedy kind of girl. I love to laugh when I read, no matter the stares I get when I break out into hysterical fits while combing through a book. I grew up on Shel Silverstein, what else can you expect?

But I decided to give this book a chance anyways, and I have to say I didn't regret it once.

There is a beautiful and unique world crafted into this novel while the readers discover how the rules work as the characters do. Nothing ever barges in too suddenly, and the whole story seems dreamlike.

I love how the author interlaced different time periods throughout the chapters, only to have them meet at the end. At first I thought it would just be too confusing, and it wasn't until the last few chapters that I realized what was going on. I saw how two seemingly separate story lines slowly began to overlap until they reached the same, dramatic end.

For a very mellow book, I thought the ending was very exciting. There wasn't some huge showdown like I'm normally used to, but the whole build up with the explosion and the foreshadowing really ramped it up towards the end.

The only real complaint that I had was that I was more interested in the game than the actual characters. I never really got into them and how they worked as human beings; they just seemed like multiple chess pieces being moved around on the board while the circus took center stage. Except for Widget and Poppet, I loved those two.

This book was able to use a lot of very classic elements throughout, but it still seemed extremely original to me. There were scenes alluding to Shakespeare's Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet, as well as a bit of James and the Giant Peach at the end there.

I thought it made the novel all the more interesting. I smiled when I saw those familiar parts, and really enjoyed myself, even though I had expected to be horribly disappointed. I chose this book on an impulse, drawn in by the mesmerizing cover and captivating summary. I had expected to like it mainly for the idea behind the story, but I had never expected to fall in love with it so much.

 Rating: 5 stars

For When Words Aren't Enough

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Trailer-palooza #2: Narrators

I absolutely love book trailers. I think they're a wonderful way to introduce readers to a new novel in a way that is much more interesting than a simple summary. There is so much that can be done with them, and even an awful book can have the most beautiful trailer.

But not all are so perfect.

My biggest pet peeve when it comes to book trailers are those awful narrators. You know the ones that sound like they're reading right off of a script? The ones that make you want to tear your ears out so that the whiny droning will finally stop? Yeah, me too.

Apparently people think that you don't need to be an actor if it's only your voice being recorded. Those people are horribly, horribly wrong. Somebody needs to slap them ASAP.

See what I mean?

Sometimes you can still have a great trailer even if the voice leaves something to be desired. But sometimes a poorly chosen narrator can completely ruin the whole thing.

On the other hand, a really great narrator can make a book trailer that I wouldn't have even considered all the more appealing.

What do you guys think? Do the narrators really make that much of a difference?

Pretties!

I have some exciting news! Here at Marked By Books, we just got our very first set of ARCs! Does this make us official or something? Can we have a party?

Won in a giveaway hosted by Fiktshun. Thank you!

Are they not the most beautiful things you've ever seen? Gorgeous!

Trailer-palooza #1: James Patterson

So I just recently stumbled upon James Patterson's Youtube page. I have been looking for this for a very long time, hoping that I would find some trailers for his books. The Maximum Ride series was so action packed, and there's supposed to be a movie about it soon, so I figured the trailers would be pretty interesting.

Angel by James Patterson

Nevermore by James Patterson

To be completely honest, I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, they were beautifully created, but they just seemed a little too much like commercials for my taste. Not really enough substance. The characters also didn't look anything like how I had imagined them (which is a sad, but usually inevitable truth), and the narrator's voice really annoyed me.

Witch & Wizard: The Gift by James Patterson

This trailer, on the other hand, I enjoyed very much. I haven't read this book yet, but I think I might need to now. The guy's voice was a little cheesy, but I love how the female character blew at the dandelion and everything else around her came crashing down. Very well done.

Review of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!

Wands? Wizards and witches? Stone castles with three headed dogs that fall asleep to music? What kind of school is this? The one that the famous Harry Potter and his two fellow musketeers attend and dominate. Well, not dominate. Just go around breaking rules under a cloak of invisiblity, riding a broomstick that costs more than his old house, losing tons of Gryffindor House points. That sorta thing.
 
All this applies to the first Harry Potter book by the famous author, J.K. Rowling. Allow me to re-cap the series for those of you who haven't read the books (Gasp!) or who have forgotten. Harry is a baby that survived the Killing curse, Avada Kedavra, of the world's most infamous wizard: Lord Voldemort. He survived and for his pains, received a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt on his forehead. That scar is what makes everyone recognize him when he goes out in public, among fellow wizards. Muggles (humans with no magical power) have no clue about magic or about Harry.

The plot officially starts off with a kick when Hagrid, a keeper of the grounds at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, comes to collect Harry from his cursed Muggle relatives and to take him to buy all his school supplies. He goes to Diagon Alley and begins to explore the world of magic in which he is now part of. No more Muggle contraptions, no sir. He also meets his arch-nemesis (or enemy, nemesis just sounds more dramatic don't you agree?) Draco Malfoy who he does not hit it off with.

A month later finds him at Hogwarts School, headmaster and excellent wizard Albus Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. but people just call him Albus. He starts off with a new (and first) best friend in Ronald Weasly, also referred to as Ron. He befriends another wizard, technically a witch, Hermione Granger (Yes, a girl). The trio establish a firm friendship that doesn't waver even despite the adventures that almost get them killed. That involves traversing the third floor, which happens to be forbidden, and coming face-to-face to a three headed dog that goes by the name of Fluffy. Ah, the irony. He was named by Hagrid, just FYI. Throughout the year, they  continue to discuss the contents of what Fluffy might be guarding, seeing as how he stands atop a trapdoor. Turns out, Dumbledore was doing a favor for his old (and I mean VERY old) buddy, Nicholas Flamel. Yes, he is still alive, hence my comment about being VERY old. Anyways, turns out that Dumbledore was hiding Flamel's Sorcerer's Stone so that Voldemort wouldn't get his greedy, bony, hands on it.

You see, Voldemort was a rogue wizard that wanted to be granted immortality and as we all know, that gift also comes with a consequence. He didn't have a true body. He was more of a form of vapor. A soul without a body, I suppose you could say. So, he wanted the Stone to be able to make his own body. In the meantime, he hides out in his follower's body. That being the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Quirinius Quirrel. Hence, the reason that Dumbledore hid the stone at the school: No one would even attempt to steal it with Fluffy there.

At the end, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all end up putting Fluffers to sleep and entering the trapdoor. They face plants, keys that fly and other mysteries that they manage to pass. At the end, Harry and Voldemort have  showdown that leaves Harry mortally wounded but alive. He recovers, thanks to Dumbledore. Good man, Dumbledore.
 
This is where the adventure begins.....

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Attractive Characters #2: Jace Lightwood

Blonde hair, gold colored eyes and a tendency to kick butt. All this applies to Jace Lightwood from the Mortal Instruments series. With his customary crooked smile, Jace is a Shadow Hunter as well as the son of the Herondale's biologically, the Lightwood's through adoption, and the Moregenstern's through....adoption as well. If a person with that many families didn't know what love was then there is something wrong in the wiring of their brain as well as heart.

Jace might know how to kick some serious patoosh and he might be able to send a demon back to its homeland without a second thought, but he also has a truly enormous that puts his family and loved ones before anything else.

With his blonde hair and gold eyes, his movie star good looks in general, he catches the eye of almost any human girl that can see him. Which almost none get that privilege, though, due to his runes for invisibility. But there is one girl that can truly capture his heart: Clary Fray. He hides many secrets from his past and refuses to acknowledge them to himself. All the darkness in him from his past, makes him all the more deadly....

1. He has movie star good looks and his heart is full of love. He protects those that he holds dear and doesn't think twice about his own safety....Though he can be a tad bit conceited...
2. Jace is a hot guy, granted, but he is also a hot guy that can kick some serious butt. Sure, he has the magic of the runes to protect him as well as some deadly devices, but who wouldn't like a guy that can knock out a demon by himself?
3. He might be a little conceited as well as sarcastic, but he is his own person and refuses to be changed by what he does for a living.

"You know, some people think Shadowhunters are just myths. Like mummies and genies." Kyle grinned at Jace. "Can you grant wishes?"

"That depends," he said. "Do you wish to be punched in the face?"

(City of Fallen Angels)

 "No," said Jace. "I think I'm better than everyone else. An opinion that has been backed up with ample evidence."

(City of Fallen Angels)

 His sarcasm is part of his charm. But, he can also be quite loving:

"I never cared," he said. "I wanted you anyway. I always wanted you."

(City of Lost Souls)

Next Week: Harry Potter

Attractive Characters #1: Murtagh Morzansson

             So am I the only one who has read the Eragon series? If so, here is a recap: it's about a farmer boy named Eragon who finds a dragon egg in the mountains of his homeland and who takes the egg home. He eventually flees his hometown with a fellow villager names Brom the Storyteller, (Yes, that is his formal title) and goes to a secret society called the Varden who take him in and who help him with his dragon, The dragon's name is Saphira by the way.
            Now, along the way to the Varden, Eragon and Saphira face some serious encounters. One of them is fighting the creatures the evil king, Galbatorix, sends. The creatures are called the Raa'zac. They are evil and they wound Brom who was in turn trying to protect Eragon. The fight ensues and it appears as though the Raa'zac are going to win...until a mysterious stranger comes along and helps them. Turns out that the stranger is also on the run from the government and he is also trying to stay alive. That stranger is Murtagh Morzansson.
           Now, I don't plan on revealing all of Murtagh's characteristics due to the fact that there may be some people that haven't read the books and I don't want to ruin the series. So all I have to say is that Murtagh and Eragon happen to have more in common than they originally anticipated. They are both against the king and they both are AMAZING fighters. Swordsmen, to me more accurate. Here, I composed a list of why Murtagh is an attractive character, and not just in appearances.

This is the person that I find most suitable to portray this godly character. Granted, he is the one that already plays him, but still. Good choice, Hollywood.

1. He is a skilled fighter. Who wouldn't love to be able to wield a sword and be able to kick butt? Plus, he used those skills to save Brom and Eragon so that has to count for something. 
2. He is mysterious. He doesn't mention a whole lot about his past and avoids the subject entirely when mention of the Varden comes up. Plus, he has a scar across the whole of his back and he never mentions how he came to wield it. Well, he does but that is a discussion for another time. 
3. He has dark features. Black-brown hair, gray eyes, and a tanned complexion. Who wouldn't find that even remotely attractive???? 

Now, this is what I am going to post weekly. Not this, obviously, but a different character each week. Sometimes, I will post a girl, sometimes a guy. Thanks for reading! Email me some characters that you might like me to review. I shall be happy to comply!!

So I've Been Thinking.... #2: Fads, a Confession, & Harry Potter

We've all seen the crazy hair feathers. And the saggy pants. And let's not forget Twilight.

Fads are everywhere. They dictate what we should and should not be doing based on what is cool at the moment, but within a year or two, their most ardent supporters suddenly become the very ones laughing in their faces. They get turned on because something shinier has come along, and everyone completely forgets why they started loving them in the first place.

For the record, though, let me say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with fads. Quite often they're the key to introducing you to something wonderful, something you never would have known about had it not been for its sudden popularity. But there is something wrong with pretending to love something just because everyone else seems to think you need to.

Sure, there is probably a pretty good reason why so many people seem to adore it, but that doesn't mean it's the right reason for you. Everybody is different, and we don't all have the same tastes. Sure it would make marketing a whole lot easier, but where's the fun in that? That would make me no different than a circus clown, and while I'm sure they're wonderful people, I don't plan on going to clown college anytime soon.

There are books out there that I love that never seem to get any of the attention they deserve (cough, cough, Tamora Pierce), and there are very popular books out there that I just don't see the allure of. So I suppose I might as well get around to the confession, now. Deep breath....

I've never read Harry Potter.

Yes, yes, I know, how can I call myself a respectable young adult book lover (and a fantasy one at that) and not have read the Harry Potter series? Honestly? I'm not really sure. The entire premise of those books is so up my ally that I can't believe nothing ever.... clicked.

I got through the first half of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but after that I just couldn't take it anymore. I don't know if it was the writing style I had a problem with or that it had a slow beginning. The book just didn't work for me. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Just because you aren't obsessed with the same thing everybody else is doesn't make you any less of a person. In fact, it just might make you more.

Now, I'm not saying that just because I didn't like Harry Potter that there is something horribly wrong with everybody who does; that completely gets rid of my point here. What you should be proud of is the fact that you chose whether or not this was the thing for you.

Either way is fine by me. If you don't like the book, then you can learn from that and move onto something that you do enjoy. If you relish every page from start to finish, then congratulations, you've got a keeper.

The point of this is that just because some new (or old) book is the current fad at the moment, doesn't mean that you have to like it just because everyone else does. By all means, give it a chance, and if you truly like it, then it's a win for everyone involved. If not, move on. Don't try to look for something that's not there, and instead go onto a book that you know you'll love.

But when that book's time has passed, and suddenly it's not so cool anymore, don't throw it away like it's trash. Stand by your decision. If you loved it before, chances are that you'll love it again.

Attractive Characters: Introduction

As an introduction, allow me to explain what this new page is. You see, I have this....fetish, for lack of a better word, that has to do with attractive guys. When I read books with a description of the character and I find myself attracted to the character, I visualize that character in my head. For all you readers out there, you know how frustrating it is to read a book and then have the movie come out. When that happens, the majority of us are not satisfied in the slightest. And not just with the revised plot, but with the actors and their appearances. So, mis amigos, this is a page that is solely dedicated to characters and their attractiveness. It might just take away from the stress of watching the movies. Or not. That is up to you.

Coming Soon.... #1

Coming soon to theaters near you....

Just kidding, I couldn't help myself. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen that since VHS tapes were the most popular thing out there. Ah, memories.

Anyways, I thought I'd just share some new books coming out that I'm really excited about. Some have already released while there are others that we have to wait just a little while longer for.

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter

July 31st

I'm really excited for this book. I read the first book in the series, The Goddess Test, and I absolutely loved it. Pretty much anything involving Greek mythology is in my good graces. What can I say, the Percy Jackson series ruined me. This is the third book in the series, and, as the failure that I am, I haven't read the second one yet. I swear, it's standing in my To Be Read pile right next to my bed, I just haven't quite gotten to it yet. But never fear, the time will come.

Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Adventure by James Patterson

August 6th

I can't believe this is really it. The final Maximum Ride novel. Ever. I never thought this day would come. The series kept going on and on, even at times when I thought enough was enough (more on my love-hate relationship with these books at a later date), but there never seemed to be an end in sight. But it has finally arrived. I'm both excited and extremely nervous for this book. The last two books had tied my heartstrings into an endless knot, and I'm not sure I can take any more heartbreak. But I really want this series to end well. So much has been thrown at these characters, I think that it's time they finally get their happily ever after.

Whispers at Moonrise by C.C. Hunter

October 1st

This author sure loves cliff hangers. All of the three previous books in the Shadow Falls series have ended without a real ending, just continuing the story from one book to another. There's not necessarily a problem with that, it's just so frustrating! Having to wait months at a time to continue a journey with characters that you know and love is excruciatingly painful. It never feels like the last book really ended, just that I took a long vacation from it. No, that's not right, it makes it sound too voluntary. More like the last book was ripped out of my hands only chapters from the end. Completely unfair. I've killed for less.