In My Mailbox (7)

Once Dead Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: May 2009
Age Range: 12
240pp

Synopsis
My name is Madison Avery, and I'm here to tell you that there's more out there than you can see, hear, or touch. Because I'm there. Seeing it. Touching it. Living it.

Madison's prom was killer—literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.

Now she's stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.

With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.
Well, if she believed in that stuff.

Ashes of Midnight (Midnight Breed Series #6) by Lara Adrian
Publisher: Dell Publishing
Pub. Date: May 2009
368pp

Synopsis
A woman driven by blood. A man thirsting for vengeance.

A place where darkness and desire meet...

As night falls, Claire Roth flees, driven from her home by a fiery threat that seems to come from hell itself. Then, from out of the flames and ash, a vampire warrior emerges. He is Andreas Reichen, her onetime lover, now a stranger consumed by vengeance. Caught in the cross fire, Claire cannot escape his savage fury—or the hunger that plunges her into his world of eternal darkness and unending pleasure.

Nothing will stop Andreas from destroying the vampire responsible for slaughtering his Breed brethren . . . even if he must use his former lover as a pawn in his deadly mission. Blood-bonded to his treacherous adversary, Claire can lead Andreas to the enemy he seeks, but it is a journey fraught with danger—and deep, unbidden desires. For Claire is the one woman Andreas should not crave, and the only one he’s ever loved. A dangerous seduction begins—one that blurs the lines between predator and prey, and stokes the flames of a white-hot passion that may consume all in its path. . . .

20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pub. Date: June 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
304pp

Synopsis
"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."

"Okay."

"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"

"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

Immortal Outlaw by Lisa Hendrix
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: June 2009
336pp

Synopsis
Only her kiss can save this cursed Viking warrior.

Like the rest of his crew, Steinarr the Proud is condemned to live out eternity as a were-creature—at night he transforms into a lion. Now only one maiden can set him free to love as a man.

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Pub. Date: June 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
304pp

Synopsis
16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: June 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
336pp

Synopsis
Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole — a charm that keeps her alive — and they want it badly enough to kill again.

Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is des-perate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.
This is the Demon's Lexicon. Turn the page.

Dark Days Series Contest!

**Contest Closed**

Dark Days Series Contest

Win a signed copy of Nightwalker, a signed copy of Dayhunter, a Dayhunter mug, and a pair of magnets.

Rules: Only 1 winner!

1. Comment on Author Interview here: +1
2. Comment on My Review here: +1
3. Link to blog: +1
4. Follower : +2

Total = 5 entries

Contest ends @ midnight June 13, 2009. Open to Everyone!

Got Zombie? Gen Dead Series Winner!

The Winner of Generation Dead, Kiss of Life, and a Generation Dead bracelet is......................................

♔ jessica.marie @ Books Love Jessica Marie

Please email me your address within 48hrs.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Review: Dayhunter by Jocelynn Drake

Dayhunter by Jocelynn DrakePublisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: April 2009
368pp

A new day dawns blood red

A master of fire, Mira is the last hope for the world. For centuries she has secretly enforced the history-altering edicts of the Triad. Now she and her unlikely ally—the human vampire hunter, Danaus—have come to Venice, home of the nightwalker rulers. But there is no safety in the ancient city, for the threat of conflict is in the wind . . . with unholy alliances and earth-shattering betrayals taking hideous form in the shadows.

Banished for eons beyond the world's boundaries, the malevolent naturi prepare to feed once again upon a vulnerable earth—and treachery is opening wide the portal that will enable their dread re-emergence. The great battle that has always been Mira's destiny is looming, and she must remain powerful in the face of a shocking revelation: that Danaus, the only creature she dares to trust, is something more than the man he claims to be . . .

Dayhunter is the 2nd installment in the Dark Days Series. This is an excellent fast-paced urban fantasy. Once again, Jocelynn continues to amaze me with all the plot twists in this series. Dayhunter has everything you could possibly want in a book. Its action packed (the way I like my books) and full of twists and turns and shocking revelations throughout. This is one of those books that keep you on the edge - I stayed up all night reading this one because I had to know who would come out on top and who would be left in the dust. There are so many unholy alliances in this book that you don’t know who’s backstabbing who.

I love the characters in this series. Mira, the vampire who can control fire is somewhat of an outcast within her own race. She’s strong and unlike any other nightwalker and she wants to rid the earth of the naturi who are the greatest threat to the world. In order to accomplish this she has to trust in an unlikely ally, vampire hunter Danaus. Danaus is not what he seems and as Mira comes to find out his background she has to stand strong in this new revelation for he’s the only one that can help her accomplish her goal in defeating the naturi.

Oh I have to mention there are some “To Die For” men in this book and I mean that literally!

Dawnbreaker is the 3rd book in the Dark Days Series and is scheduled to be released September 29, 2009. If you like dark and edgy fantasy, this is the series for you.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Author Interview: Jocelynn Drake

Jocelynn Drake is the critically acclaimed author of Nightwalker her debut novel in 2008. Dayhunter (April 2009) is the 2nd book in her Dark Days Series where Mira is a vampire with the ability to control fire and she’s the last hope to save the world with the aid of unlikely companion vampire hunter Danaus. I appreciate Jocelyn for giving us insight on the development of her characters in the Dark Days Series.

What got you interested/started in writing?
I started writing when I was twelve years old when I spent the summer rewriting the tale of Robin Hood so that it included a female that could kick butt with the rest of the guys. I guess I'm a daydreamer by nature. My mind spends more than half of the day locked in worlds of my own creation. The only way I've found that I can get some of those daydreams out of my head is to actually write them down. As a result, I ended up with a lot of unfinished novels during the early years. Once I knew where the story was going and how it would end, I would stop writing it and move on to the next daydream.

However, once I discovered Mira, Danaus, and the rest of the Dark Days world, I knew I was hooked and that I would be happy to play in their world for many years to come. I may know how a book is going to end, but there's always an opening for the next story when it comes to Mira and Danaus.

Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?
Can I simply say that I'm a sponge? I have a degree in literature, which has led me to read many great classics all the way up to post-moderists. I read urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy, traditional fantasy, and just whatever meets my fancy at any given moment. All of that is playing around in the back of my mind, influencing my style.

Some of my favorites actually include the Batman comics. The dark look into the human psyche is one of the things that I will constantly return to in my own books. Walking the razor's edge between honor and revenge, justice and falling into the dark pit, is something that not only rings through the Batman comics, but also echoes through some of my characters as well. I like looking into the soul of a human and seeing what darkness I can find.

Another is Kim Harrison. She has been my friend and mentor for many years. She has helped to fine-tune my work and kept me grounded as a person. She was also one of the people there, cheering me on when I wondered if I would ever get published.

Who is your favorite character in this series and why?
Mira will always be one of my favorite characters. She is my Batman with far more questionable morals. She a wonderfully dynamic character, who seems to be eternally trapped between two worlds. She's a powerful nightwalker, and that demands that she adhere to the social mores (which are dark and violent) that go along with that status. Yet, standing in direct contradiction to that society is human society, which she just can't walk away from because of the ties she has with humans and semi-human creatures. I think at some point, she's going to have to chose a side if she's going to survive and I'm interested to see which side she finally falls on.

What are your current projects?
At this very moment, I am working on the revisions for Book 4 and I am finishing up the plot outline for Book 5, which is due to my editor this fall. I am currently contracted for six books in the Dark Days series. I have a number of other side projects that I am itching to play with, but for now, Mira and her world have to come first. There's plenty of time to play later.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That this process doesn't get any easy. I thought that after I created my first book, that the second one would be easier to writer, and the third one would be a piece of cake. Boy, was I wrong! Each book comes with its own set of problems no matter how well I try to outline it ahead of time. My first couple of books I had trouble with not enough subplots. Now my latest tweak is character development. No matter how many books you write, there will always be something new with the next one that will trip you up.

The other thing that I've learned is that if you've truly breathed life into your characters, they will never cease to surprise you. You may have plotted out the scene, but occasionally that character will open his/her mouth and completely shock you with a new view, idea, or approach to where you were working. I adore my characters and love how they constantly surprise me.

What in your opinion are the most important elements of good writing?
One of the most important things to me will always be having dynamic, amazing characters. I've read books with predictable or slow-moving plots, but I happily read it because I fell in love with the characters. Not only do the main characters need to be deep, dynamic, and unpredictable, but you need to have a stable of secondary characters that are equally dynamic. New writers need to take the time to develop back story and define motivations for their characters if people are going to follow and love them.

In urban fantasy, one of the key things is having an intricately developed world. The more detailed the world that a writer creates, the more solid and real it is for the reader. This means coming up with specific rules and sticking by them even if it means having to dig yourself out of a difficult plotting situation.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?
That's a hard question. I have lots of stories planned out, but I never know when I will have a chance to work on them. I have hopes of greatly expanding the Dark Days series to include many more storytellers. I actually started writing entire novels in the traditional fantasy genre, and I have hopes of one day returning to that genre. It's a great place to play. I also have plans to write just fiction. So, in the end, it's all a matter of finding the time and seeing where the wind blows me next. However, I can say that Dark Days series will be a part of my writing life for many more years.

What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

How important are character names to you?

Character names are extremely important to me. It is always my starting point before I start to sketch out any new character. The name leaves that first and often lasting mental impression on a reader. The name gives not only a glimpse at the person's heritage, but the sound alone can create an impression of strength, weakness, sneakiness, and many other personal characteristic well before the character speaks his/her first words on the page.

Thanks Jocelynn!

For more information about Jocelynn Drake and the Dark Days Series check out her website here. Dawnbreaker is the 3rd book in the Dark Days Series and is scheduled to be released September 29, 2009.

Win Strange Angels!

**Contest Closed**

Are you Strange?

This is your chance to win Strange Angels!

Rules: Only 2 Winners!

1. Comment on My Review of Strange Angels here : +1

2. Comment on Author Interview here : +1

3. Link to blog: +1

4. Follower : +2

Total = 5 entries

Contest ends @ midnight June 10, 2009. Open to everyone!

Reader Appreciation Winners!

If I Stay (ARC) by Gayle Forman
1. Jenna @ A Read in the Life
2. Debbie @ Debbie’s World of Books
3. Amber @ Just Your Typical Book Blog

Going Too Far, Major Crush & The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols
Gaby317 @ Starting Fresh

Please email me your address within 48hrs .

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Review: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: May 2009
304pp

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called "the touch." (Comes in handy when you're traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she's next. Even worse, she's got two guys hungry for her affections, and they're not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

So, Dru is this bad-ass heroine with kick-ass abilities who’s just trying to survive in the “Real World” after the death of her father. She teams up with unlikely characters in Graves and Christophe to find out who murdered her father.

This is a dark and edgy read where things go bump in the night. The supernatural creatures in this book include Werewulfen (Werewolves), Suckers (Vampires), Zombies and others. They are well imagined and I had no problems picturing them.

There were times I found Dru a little annoying, she wanted to take on the world on her own and push everyone away but I came to understand that she’s just as vulnerable and wants to protect her friends from the dangers that seem to be chasing her – this is just her persona to keep from losing control.

St. Crow did a great job with the plot as I could not put this one down and the characters are well developed. Graves is such a Sweetheart! What can I say about Christophe? 1 word “HOT!” Strange Angels is full of non-stop action and loads of ass-kicking throughout. There are exciting twists and turns in this book. There are also some humorous moments that had me laughing out loud.

This was an exciting start to a series. Betrayals the follow-up to Strange Angels comes out November 2009 and I can’t wait to crack it open!

Rating: 4.5 out 5 stars

Review: Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters

Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pub. Date: May 2009
416pp
Series: Generation Dead Series, #2

The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay. Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time. While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they're calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation.

Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends. Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie — her Homecoming date Tommy Williams — her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her. Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave. Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kiss of Life. I finally got to see inside the differently biotic’s head and the struggles that they endured. Through their point of view you see the frustrations of how it is just to function normally – movement and language was a test of wills. It was through love and commitment that they were able to bring some normality to their lives.

I know some readers didn’t care too much for Kiss of Life but I’m not really sure of the reasons. I can only suspect that one of the reasons was probably the differently biotic’s point of view. If this was the case, in a way I can understand that but I look at it as the glass being half full or half empty so to say. Although it may have been frustrating reading their point of view because you’re not use the writing style, I acknowledged the frustration of reading the zombies POV as understanding exactly the thought processes and what they’re feeling in trying to function in the world and not having to be so dependent on others. So, imagine if you had broken you legs or fingers or if you knew someone who had a stroke and was paralyzed due to it, they would have to relearn how to walk and talk again through physical therapy and the support of loved ones. I can totally relate to this and how frustrating it would be. They want to matter and not feel irrelevant and codependent and it’s through their struggles that I can respect what Daniel Waters was trying to accomplish by taking a different route in this book. That’s just my opinion.

In this installment the crew is continuing to fight for the rights of the living impaired and point out the monstrosities that were committed against them. This is a story of Hope, Love, Friendship and Fairness and Justice for all. I enjoyed seeing the friendships build between the trads and differently biotic and how it impacted them in positive ways. What can I say Love conquers all!

I’m highly anticipating the next installment due to the events that took place at the end of the book. I have to know what’s going to happen next.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

In My Mailbox (6)

Won in Contest courtesy of Jenny @ Wondrous Reads

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Synopsis
Told in a letter to her captor by 16-year-old Gemma, Stolen explores the influence that a really wild and remote space can have on the inner development of a young woman.

Gemma, a British city-living teenager, is kidnapped while on holiday with her parents. Her kidnapper, Ty, takes her to the wild land of outback Australia. To Gemma’s city-eyes, the landscape is harsh and unforgiving and there are no other signs of human life for hundreds of kilometres in every direction. Here, there is no escape. Gemma must learn to deal with her predicament, or die trying to fight it.

Ty, a young man, has other ideas for her. His childhood experience of living in outback Australia has forever changed the way he sees things. But he too has been living in the city; Gemma’s city. Unlike Gemma, however, he has had enough. In outback Australia he sees an opportunity for a new kind of life; a life more connected to the earth. He has been watching and learning about Gemma for many years; when he kidnaps her, his plan finally begins to take shape.

But Ty is not a stereotypical kidnapper and, over time, Gemma comes to see Ty in a new light, a light in which he is something more sensitive. The mysteries of Ty, and the mystery of her new life, start to take hold. She begins to feel something for her kidnapper when he wakes screaming in the night. Over the time spent with her captor, Gemma’s appreciation of him develops into what is could be referred to as Stockholm syndrome.

For Review

Eyes Like Stars (ARC) by Lisa Mantchev

Synopsis
All her world’s a stage.

Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.

She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

That is, until now.

Enter Stage Right

NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE’S sidekicks.
ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

BERTIE. Our heroine.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.


Crazy Beautiful (ARC) by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Synopsis
In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.

Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her.

But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.

Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: April 2009
Age Range: 12 and up
208pp

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

A sophisticated, layered, and heart achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

*Spoiler* While I normally don’t include spoilers in my reviews – There is a scene mentioned from the book – You have been warned!

If I Stay is an intense and powerful story centered on music, family, love, hopes and dreams and choices about life and death. Gayle did a fantastic job, the writing is beautiful. I love how Mia reflects on her life, which builds up to the decision that she has to make should she stay or go. This was a quick and engrossing read I had to know Mia’s decision. I was completely engaged in Mia’s story that I was moved to tears. Gayle’s writing is that powerful you can’t help but be consumed by the story.

There are so many heartfelt moments in this novel that I absolutely have to mention one in particular. As I said before I don’t like including spoilers in my reviews but I’m going to make an exception for this book. I totally lost it during this scene with Mia and her Grandfather.

Gramps: “It’s Okay,” he tells me. “If you want to go. Everyone wants you to stay. I want you to stay more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”
Gramps: “But that’s what I want and I could see why it might not be what you want. So I just wanted to tell you that I understand if you go. It’s okay if you have to leave us. It’s okay if you want to stop fighting.”

As I was losing it with this scene, my daughter is sitting in my lap and turns around and sees me crying, she rubs my face and says “ Mommy it’s okay,” she has no clue what’s going on, she’s only 2 and that only made it worse. I had to take a breather and recollect myself before I could continue reading this book. I’ll let you ponder that.

I asked Gayle this question in an interview and this was her response:

What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?
I get asked a lot of questions and you asked some unusual ones here. I get asked all the time if there is going to be a sequel but nobody asks me what how I think the characters in "If I Stay" fare in the future. Which is funny because I've thought about that a lot. See what I mean about letting go? It's hard.

I would love to see more of the characters and I can understand how it’s hard to let go of the characters after reading this novel as I did not want the story to end.

Rating: 5 out 5 Stars

Prepare to be Swooned!

**Contest Closed**

This is your chance to win Swoon! What say you, do you want to be Swooned?

Rules: Only 1 Winner!

1. Comment on My Review of Swoon here : +1
2. Comment on Author Interview here : +1
3. Link to blog: +1
4. Follower : +2
Total = 5 entries

Contest ends @ midnight June 5, 2009. U.S. Residents Only. (Sorry!)

Review: SWOON by Nina Malkin

SWOON by Nina Malkin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: May 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
432pp

Sin is coming...prepare to swoon.

Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him — but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking.

Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent — and irresistible — adversary before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.

What do you do when the boy of your dreams is too bad to be true?

Well going by the title of the book, I got exactly what I expected and then some. I laughed throughout this book and the pages kept on turning. I had to know what was going to happen next especially with all the scandal going on. This is a YA book but be prepared for references of sex, drugs and profanity. Hopefully this won’t deter you from giving this book a chance as this did not stop me from putting the book down, I don’t think it’s something that teens of today have not heard or seen on T.V before.

Now what can I say about Sin? Hmm…Sin...Sin…Sin “What a mischievous boy!” I can see how Dice fell for him, I mean who wouldn’t.

Malkin’s writing is totally original and unique, and has a nice flow to it. Malkin has a way with words that draws you in to her world. I enjoyed this book very much. Swoon is Malkin’s first novel in the paranormal genre and I have to give props to her, she did a fantastic job because I was totally swooned.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Review: Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr

Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: April 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
400pp
Series: Wicked Lovely Series, #3

Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone—but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who'd always terrified her—but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever imagined.

In Melissa Marr's third mesmerizing tale of Faerie, Seth and Aislinn struggle to stay true to themselves and each other in a milieu of shadowy rules and shifting allegiances, where old friends become new enemies and one wrong move could plunge the Earth into chaos.

I enjoyed this installment of the Wicked Lovely Series. I appreciated the new insight on all of the courts and their inner workings. It’s also nice to get the character’s point of view of their feelings and how they react to certain influences and the decisions made because of them.

Aislinn has a decision to make. Who do you choose? The Mortal who is your forever or the Immortal who will live forever? This book portrays Keenan as being selfish from some of the character’s point of view, but I find myself feeling sorry for him as I see his actions from a different perspective. I can’t help but to want him to find happiness. I dunno that’s just my opinion. I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

The plot was totally unexpected as I did not see this plot moving in the direction that it took with Sorcha and Seth. Overall, I think it’s a good development for the story line and brought more excitement to the plot. I can say that a decision by one of the characters was unresolved and the ending has me really excited about the next installment.

What I would love to see in the next installment is more of Niall, I find him very enticing! What can I say I love bad boys!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Author Interview: Nina Malkin

SWOON is in stores today! I appreciate Nina for taking time out to answer questions about her new novel. Some of Nina’s other novels include 6X: The Uncensored Confessions, 6X: Loud, Fast, & Out of Control, Orange Is the New Pink and An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle. SWOON is her first novel in the paranormal genre.

What was your inspiration behind SWOON?
While SWOON is at its core a love story, it’s also a tale of betrayal, hypocrisy, revenge and redemption. The notion of a contemporary girl who becomes possessed by the spirit of a boy from the past magically occurred to me (as ideas do), but SWOON didn’t take shape until I was going through a significant betrayal in my own life. Basically, I had two choices while dealing with this situation that weighed so heavily upon me: let it slay me, or write my way out of it. Since I’ve always found writing therapeutic, I took the latter route—and was fortunate that my exploration into treachery resulted in SWOON.

How did you come up with the title?
SWOON. Say it! Such a lovely word, so round, so full, so ripe. And the meaning! Who wouldn’t want to be “overwhelmed by happiness, excitement, adoration or infatuation”?

How do you conceive your plot ideas?
Unlike many authors, who outline their novels and know what’s happening at each stage in the story, I write primarily for my own pleasure—I want to be as blown away by what happens as any other reader. So I let the characters talk to me, tell me their story, and oftentimes I’ll sit back from the computer like, “whoa—who knew!?” In SWOON, the time travel subplot, the mysteries surrounding various deaths and, yes, the notorious “spanking scene” were all surprises to me.

What makes your book so different from others?
Sinclair Youngblood Powers, as both hero and antagonist, is unlike any character I’ve ever met in fiction, my own or anyone’s. Flawed characters are the most compelling, and Sin is uniquely flawed. Is he evil? Is he good? Yes, and yes. He is the hero, and he is the villain. He is driven—yet he is torn. He is noble—yet he is petty. He is capable of great cruelty and great sensitivity. He is passionate—yet he is thoughtful. He makes a lot of mistakes, but ultimately he takes responsibility. The fact that he is incredibly hot is just the icing on the cake.

What are your expectations for SWOON?
A book is like a baby. You mustn’t have expectations for it; you must simply try to do right by it. I wrote a novel I believe to be true to the trinity of plot, character and language. Although I’m not a provocateur, I didn’t shy away from controversy or change things that were inherent to the story to make the book “safer” or more appealing to the masses. I sought to amuse and minister to myself and also reach others with universal ideas and emotions. I can do no more. Now it’s up to readers—and to blogs like Fantastic Book Reviews that influence readers. I’m gratified that there are blogs like yours that help books find their audience.

What do you consider your best accomplishment?
My best accomplishment is also my greatest gift, and I repeat it every single day. I live.

What’s next for you?
There’s sort of a cattle call going on in my cranium, as the characters camped out there try to lure me into telling their stories. That’s all I’ll divulge about my fiction right now. I am, however, very excited about my website ninamalkin.com. Rather than make it purely a vehicle of shameless self-promotion, there’s a lot of interactive stuff going on that allows me to establish a rapport with readers—a “love advice” column, tarot card readings, fortunes and stuff. Visit me!

Thanks Nina!

For more information about Nina Malkin and SWOON check out her website here.

Monday Madness (2): SWOON by Nina Malkin

What is Monday Madness? Well, it’s sort of like Waiting on Wednesday, except I will be featuring a book that will be released during the same week. So, I have some great books that I will be featuring along with Interviews from Authors, Book reviews, and Contests for the books.

Stay tuned for more!

SWOON by Nina Malkin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: May 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
432pp

Synopsis
Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him — but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking.

Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent — and irresistible — adversary before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.

What do you do when the boy of your dreams is too bad to be true?

I’m really excited to read this book and I will be posting my review of Swoon later this week.


Check out the Book Trailer for SWOON!

In My Mailbox (5)

Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters

Synopsis
The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay. Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time. While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they're calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation.Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends. Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie — her Homecoming date Tommy Williams — her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her. Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave. Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without.

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Synopsis
Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called "the touch." (Comes in handy when you're traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she's next. Even worse, she's got two guys hungry for her affections, and they're not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

Swoon by Nina Malkin

Synopsis
Sin is coming...prepare to swoon.
Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him — but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking.

Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent — and irresistible — adversary before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.

What do you do when the boy of your dreams is too bad to be true?

Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle

Synopsis
In 1837 England, young daughters of viscounts pined for handsome, titled husbands, not careers. And certainly not careers in magic.

Twins Persephone (Persy) and Penelope (Pen) Leland are anticipating their first London season with mixed feelings. Pen can't wait for the balls and parties and crowds of handsome young men to flirt with, but Persy would far rather stay home with their governess, Ally, and continue her magic studies. The only thing drawing her to London is the prospect of seeing Princess Victoria, her and Pen's idol.

But then Ally disappears from a busy London street and the twins are drawn into searching for her...and find that her disappearance is linked to a dastardly plot to enchant the soon-to-be Queen. Persy also discovers that a good lady's maid is hard to find, that one should never cast a love spell on anyone after drinking too much brandy punch at a party, that pesky little brothers can sometimes come in handy, and that even boys who were terrible teases when they were twelve can mysteriously turn into the most perfect young men

For Review:

Fire (ARC) by Kristin Cashore

Another Faust (ARC) by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

Synopsis
One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish - only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange andelegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary “gifts.” But as the students claw their way up - reading minds, erasing scenes, stopping time, stealing power, seducing with artificial beauty - the side-effects of their own addictions. And as they make further deals with the devil, they uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins.

Betraying Season (ARC) by Marissa Doyle

Synopsis
Penelope (Pen) Leland has come to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister, Persy. But when the dashing Niall Keating begins to pay her court, she can’t help being distracted from her studies.

Little does Pen know, Niall is acting upon orders from his sorceress mother. And although it starts as a sham, Niall actually falls deeply in love with Pen, and she with him. But even if he halts his mother’s evil plan, will Pen be able to forgive him for trying to seduce her into a plot? And what of Pen’s magic, which seems to be increasingly powerful?

Bloody Good by Georgia Evans

Synopsis
In the first of a supernatural trilogy, one Dr. Alice Doyle finds that the power to fight evil comes from places she'd never believe...

While the sounds of battle echo through the sky, a lady doctor has more than enough trouble to keep her busy even in a sleepy hamlet outside London. But the threat is nearer home than Alice knows. German agents have infiltrated her beloved countryside—Nazis who can fly, read minds, and live forever. They're not just fascists. They're vampires.

Alice has no time for fantasy, but when the corpses start appearing sucked dry, she'll have to accept help where she can get it. If that includes a lowly Conscientious Objector who says he's no coward though he refuses to fight, and her very own grandmother, a sane, sensible woman who insists that she's a Devonshire Pixie, so be it. Indeed, whatever it takes to defend home and country from an evil both ancient and terrifyingly modern...

Author Interview: Lili St. Crow

Strange Angels is Lili St. Crow’s debut novel in the YA genre. Strange Angels was released May 14, 2009. She is also author of the paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels Dante Valentine and Jill Kismet Series. I appreciate Lili St. Crow taking time out to answer questions pertaining to her books.

Strange Angels is your first YA novel, what inspired you to write for young adults?
Honestly...I was asked to do it. I'd never even thought about going into YA, I just assumed that my subject matter and habit of profanity would preclude any such move. But YA is so different from when I was a teen; there's really been a revolution in realism (rather than just odd outcroppings of banned realism) in the genre. Or at least, adults and publishers have finally cottoned onto the fact that kids do things you wish they wouldn't sometimes, and it's okay to have books about those things and their consequences. Kids don't like to be lied to or put off or talked down to. They want answers just like anyone else, and they want good fiction just like anyone else. You can make those answers and that fiction age-appropriate, certainly--but "age-appropriate" doesn't have to mean "simplistic" or "censored."

You’re listed as Lilith Saintcrow under your adult books and under your YA novel Strange Angels you’re listed as Lili St. Crow, was there reasoning behind this?
That was just to cut down on confusion. I'm pretty prolific, and we wanted to make it clear that Strange Angels was mine, but also make it clear that it was a young adult book.

You have written several adult series, how do you keep your plots and characters fresh?
I do write with certain themes--redemption, vengeance, betrayal, found families, trauma--but there are so many possible permutations keeping it fresh is the least of my worries. There are millions of ways a writer can ask what if? and come up with a different idea/answer each time. Of course there's a certain "sound" to my books, because they're all filtered through me. But I don't worry so much. The freshness happens on its own as long as I'm curious and inquisitive about different things.

What’s been the hardest for you writing more than one series?
Writing more than one series is actually my natural state. Most of my professional life has been spent writing series, and the novel form is the most comfortable for me. I tend to find shorts and one-off books more difficult because of the tightness of focus. The only thing about series is that they require a lot of endurance. You can get utterly sick of the characters, since you spend so long with them. Pacing yourself is key.

Your post about Book Reviews was great; please share with the readers how you deal with criticism of your books?
I listen, and I move on. Writing is very, very personal; of course it hurts when someone says something negative about the book you worked so hard over. But that's life--no book is perfect, there is no book that everyone is going to like. Take what you can from the criticism and move on.Of course, a good bitch session with your best friend over wine and Thai food doesn't hurt either.

How many books can we expect in your YA series?
Right now there are three books in the Strange Angels series, with the possibility of two more.

Which book was your favorite in the Dante Valentine Series and why?
Oh, wow. I'm not sure I can answer that, because I love them all in such different ways. Working For The Devil was unmitigated fun, Dead Man Rising was a very personal exploration of darkness, Devil's Right Hand was me scared to death in a good way and working on something much bigger than I'd ever tried before, Saint City Sinners was me saying goodbye to old friends, and To Hell And Back was a big blazing redemption story. I loved them all in very different ways.

What projects are you currently working on?
Right now I'm working on the third in the Strange Angels series, the fifth Jill Kismet book, and assorted short stories. It's a lot of work, but I'd rather have too much work than none at all.

What’s next for you in the future? What direction do you see your books heading?
I have a very foggy idea that's been coalescing in between other projects, a book full of homicidal faeries and a man named Jeremy Gallow. When I get the current glut of work out of the way I might take some time off and explore him a little bit. He seems interesting.

Thanks Lili!

For more information about Lili St. Crow and Strange Angels, please check out her website. Betrayals the sequel to Strange Angels is scheduled to be released November 17, 2009.

Fantastic Friday: Got Zombie?

**Contest Closed**

The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay.

Have you heard of the Generation Dead Series? No/Yes

Are these books on your wishlist? Yes

Well this is your lucky day!

I'm going to give you a chance to win Generation Dead and Kiss of Life along with some Generation Dead wrist bands.

Rules: There will only be 1 winner!

1. Comment on my review of Generation Dead here : +1
2. Comment on Author Interview here : +1
3. Link to blog: +1
4. Follower : +2
Total = 5 entries

Contest ends @ midnight May 29, 2009. U.S. Residents Only. (Sorry!)

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow In Stores Today!

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: May 2009
Sales Rank: 743
304pp

Synopsis
Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called "the touch." (Comes in handy when you're traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she's next. Even worse, she's got two guys hungry for her affections, and they're not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

Check out the Book Trailer!

Review: The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: April 2009
Age Range: 12
360pp
Series: Darkest Powers Series, #2

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that
is not a power you want to have. Ever.Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

Once again we have a sequel that’s even better than its predecessor. I can finally pass The Awakening over to my Mom who keeps harassing me about this book. I had this book on Currently Reading for a while but I didn’t want to start this one until I had no interruptions and I’m glad I did because I was literally on the edge of my seat and could not put it down. The phone would ring and I would go to pick it up and say to the caller “One second,” and forget I had the person on hold. Guess who the caller was? My Mom! She had the nerve to tell me I was slacking on my reading. I told her if she stopped bugging me about the book I would finish it. My Mom is so cool! Enough about that, I ended up finishing this book the same day.

I have to mention a scene from the first book in the series The Summoning. Do you remember the Attic Scene? I almost put the book down, "I was scared sh_tless." I could have sworn I was hearing things because for a minute there I thought I was up in that attic. These things “Ghosts” scare me….too many weird experiences. Moving along now….

Kelley continues to weave an amazing plot. I love her writing style, the characters are believable and as mentioned above Kelley makes you feel like you’re experiencing the lives of the characters. When I finished reading The Summoning last year, I was still trying to figure out the extent of the character’s powers and now that I know, I say “Lets Kick Some Butt.” This installment has more action which is how I like my books and I love the twists and turns along the way. Oh, I almost forgot to mention Ehem (Clears throat) “Chloe’s and Derek’s relationship.” What’s up with that? Now you’ll have to go pick the book up to see what I’m talking about. So, what am I going to do now? I’ll have to keep from climbing the rafters until The Reckoning is released.

I highly recommend you give this series a try.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Treasure Chest Winners!

Drum Roll.......................... The Winners for Treasure Chest Tuesday Are:



1. Deadly Little Secrets - Valorie @ Morbid Romantic

2. Graceling - Mishel @ Mis(h)takes

3. The Hunger Games - Katie @ Katie's Book Blog

Please email me your address within 48hrs.

A Big Thanks to everyone who participated!

Don't forget to enter the Reader Appreciation Contest, click here for more info.

Author Interview: Daniel Waters

I want to start by saying, the sequel to Generation Dead “KISS OF LIFE IS IN STORES NOW!” If you have not…. let me repeat again…. If you have not read Generation Dead please go pick it up, I highly recommend it. I’m thrilled that Daniel found time to answer questions about Generation Dead which I might add is “fresh and brilliantly original.” Generation Dead was released last year. Tommy Williams is one of the characters from Generation Dead and he’s earned a special place in my heart. Check out his blog called My So-Uncalled Death. Now, let’s get on with it, I give you Mr. Daniel Waters Ladies and Gentlemen!

I haven’t heard a story like Generation Dead, it’s very original, how did you come up with the idea?
Thank you. I'd watched a newsmagazine show on violence in school, and the clips featured kids who were basically engaging in random acts of violence and taping them so they could put the videos on YouTube. I thought the footage was absolutely terrifying. I knew I wanted to write about it, but my attempts at going at the material "through the front door" so to speak weren't really going anywhere. In thinking about what would cause kids to do this one another, I thought about discrimination, prejudice, hate. From out of the blue I thought that if zombies really existed they would be the most discriminated against group ever, and for some reason this made me envision a zombie trying to take a living girl to the prom. The idea just sort of took off from there.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?

I do an outline for every book that I work on, but quite often the outline changes while I'm working on the story. The characters change and grow as I work with them as well--characters I thought were minor end up being focal points. And I guess I shudder at the word "formula" with regard to fiction--the idea of writing the same book over and over again is horrific to me, although I think you see that quite often with series' fiction. I like to try to use different stylistic techniques from book to book--the "speech pauses" in Generation Dead were something I actually spent a good deal of time on, making sure that the breaks happened in the right places in the dialogue. In Kiss of Life I try something new with a zombie point of view. Ultimately, the reader decides if these elements work or don't, but I'd much, much rather try something different and fail than do the same thing over and over again.

What were your feelings when Generation Dead was accepted and you saw the cover of the finished product?

It was such a strange feeling, like I was both completely emotionally and spiritually drained and renewed at the same time. I'd envisioned making my living writing fiction from a very early age, and over the years I wrote, and wrote, and wrote--and along the way I experienced a number of "close calls" where it really looked as though I was about to sell a novel, agents were interested, an editor wants to bring it to committee, whatever--but ultimately each time it didn't happen. Luckily, I'm very stubborn and my capacity for disappointment and pain is boundless, so I never stopped writing--although I did take a number of years, particularly trying years, where I stopped submitting my work. This turned out to be a very good thing, because when I emerged from that cave and started submitting again things happened fairly quickly.

I knew as soon as I wrote the first draft for Generation Dead that it was going to be the book that got me my break in publishing. Everything just clicked. Even so, when it was actually accepted I was overjoyed.

And the cover! I honestly think that it would be my favorite cover even if it wasn't my book. I am very fortunate; both my books were done by a brilliant designer, Elizabeth Clark. The funny thing is, when they told me what their concept for the cover was, it didn't sound right to me at all, but when I saw the finished art I almost fell on the floor it was so beautiful. I vowed then that never again would I squawk, that I'd just sit back and let the experts do their jobs.

I still squawk sometimes, but I try to keep a lid on it.

Would you consider yourself more like Adam or Tommy?

I'm probably a little like both of them--like just about any of the main characters, actually. Adam's loyalty, Tommy's drive. Both of them are willing to endure punishment, physical and mental, for the things that they believe in. Adam's a listener, Tommy's more of a talker and oddly I see myself as having both of those aspects.

I read where you did a guest blog at The Horror Library and you talked about taking your armor off and someone commented about you being the author who writes about dead kids, and your response was “No,” “I’m the guy that writes about kids who’re trying to live.” Is this one of the messages in your books?
I'm not sure--my response there was really just a knee-jerky thing to someone who had already written the book off as exploitation or celebration of teen death, which made me pop my claws because I see the book as very anti-death. If there are messages to be found, I suppose "Choose life, choose love" are among them. "Message" is a funny word in this case, it implies a pronouncement, a definitive statement. I don't think I make any pronouncements; mostly what I think the book does is raise questions.

Do you still write and draw comic books? What is your favorite comic book/movie?

Well, I never could draw, really. I've written a couple of comic book scripts and I keep threatening to collaborate on a comic series with my friend, the artist Matthew Dow Smith. We've pitched a couple ideas but nothing has stuck yet. Watchmen is my favorite comic book by far, and my favorite comic book movie is Ghost World.

Can you share a little teaser with us from Kiss of Life/ What can we expect?

In Generation Dead, the point of view characters were all traditionally biotic. In Kiss of Life you'll get more of the zombie point of view. You'll also get a more old-school zombie!

What’s next for you, can we expect more books in the Generation Dead Series? I'm working on the third, Passing Strange, right now. I do know how the series will end, but I'm not certain yet how long it will take me to get there. Whenever I work with the characters, more stories seem to demand to be told. I've got a number of other projects in various stages of completion, so maybe you'll see some non-GD stories from me in the future.

Thanks, Daniel!

For more information about Daniel and The Generation Dead Series, please check out his blog. You can also read my review of Generation Dead here.

Reader Appreciation!

**Contest Closed**

I want to thank everyone for supporting these Fabulous Authors, Jennifer Echols and Gayle Forman!

I'm having a contest to giveaway the following books:

1. ARCs of If I Stay by Gayle Forman - 3 will win!
2. Going Too Far, Major Crush, & Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols = 1 person will win all!

Rules:

1. Comment here on my interview with Gayle Foreman if you want If I Stay
2. Comment here on my interview with Jennifer Echols if you want all of her 3 books
3. Additional: +1 link to your site, +2 Follower = Up to total of 4 entries
4. If you commented before Contest you get an additional +1

Contest ends @ midnight May 26, 2009. Only applies to U.S residents.

Review: Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pub. Date: May 2008
Age Range: Young Adult
400pp

Phoebe is just your typical goth girl with a crush. He's strong and silent and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is happening. Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead. They are coming back to life, but they are no longer the same-they stutter, and their reactions to everything are slower. Termed "living impaired" or "differently biotic," they are doing their best to fit into a society that doesn't want them.

Fitting in is hard enough when you don't have the look or attitude, but when almost everyone else is alive and you're not, it's close to impossible. The kids at Oakvale High don't want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn't breathing. And there are no laws that exist to protect the differently biotic from the people who want them to disappear-for good.

With her pale skin and Goth wardrobe, Phoebe has never run with the popular crowd. But no one can believe it when she falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids. Not her best friend, Margi, whose fear of the differently biotic is deeply rooted in guilt over the past. And especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has just realized his feelings for Phoebe run much deeper than just friendship. He would do anything for her, but what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

First off, I want to say that Generation Dead is a totally fresh and original story. The writing is Brilliant with a capital B. The characters are so well developed that I felt their struggles and found myself completely engrossed in this book and could not put it down. I stayed up all night to read it and kept saying to myself “Keep it together.” Why? One minute I was laughing, the next minute I was angry and finally believe it or not I was tearing up (I’m a very emotional person). Was there an underlying message in this book? Well, I’ll let you come to your own conclusion about it. Mine, prejudice is something that is very apparent and we’re presented with diversity of choices on a daily basis. So, I say “You never truly know someone until you've walked a mile in his shoes.”

Daniel is able to get into the minds of teens and portray their thoughts, feelings, reactions and interactions to the world around them. I felt like I was teenager again. At times I found myself thinking back to when I was in high school and remembering all the cliques and how people were treated because they were different. Even with the “differently biotic” spin, this book is so relatable to what’s going on in today’s society. The only criticism I have, is when it ended I wanted more. I highly recommend this book, go check it out!

One last note: KISS OF LIFE THE SEQUEL TO GENERATION DEAD IN STORES TODAY!

Rating: 5 out 5 stars

Author Interview: Gayle Forman

If I Stay by Gayle Forman was released April 2009. Gayle Forman is an award-winning author and journalist whose articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, and The New York Times Magazine. Her other novels include Sisters in Sanity and You Can't Get There From Here. She lives in Brooklyn with her family. I want to thank Gayle for taking time out from her busy schedule to answer some questions.

What got you interested/started in writing?
I've been writing as far back as I can remember. When I was like four, I used to come up with silly poems my parents would write down and I of course wrote notebooks full of Very Serious Poetry in high school. I wrote short stories and such in my late teens and twenties, but, and here's the strange part: I did not consider becoming a writer until I was in my mid-twenties and in college, and then it was journalism that captivated me. I don't know what I was thinking in those early days. I just liked writing. I never thought about it going anywhere. I took three years off before going to college and when I finally started school, I planned to study pre-med and become a doctor. That plan fizzled after about six months and I wound up taking journalism classes just for the hell of it and realized that journalism combined my love of travel and my love of meeting new people and my love of writing. But again, I didn't really see myself as a fiction writer. I was a journalist for more than ten years before I ever thought about writing a novel.

What inspired you to write If I Stay?

Lots of different things. Music was a huge part of it. I lived in Oregon in the early to mid 1990s when the music scene in the Pacific Northwest was just exploding and there was this amazing indie music community where I lived. I met some of my best friends there, and the guy who I wound up marrying, so I think that inspired a lot of the book's general musical ambiance. The root of "If I Stay," however, is inspired by a question that haunted me for years: What would you do if something catastrophic had happened to your family and you were aware of it, and you yourself were hovering between life and death. If you could choose to live or die, would you? Then Mia showed up to answer that question for me.

Who is your favorite author and why?

I don't have a single favorite author or a single favorite book. I'm a Gemini! My tastes are all over the map. I'm a huge Philip Roth fan--because his books have amazing characters and narratives and incredible philosophical bents--and I think Junot Diaz is amazing because his words crackle off the page. Sarah Dessen's novels are rich and deep and authentic and always make me cry. I read Sherman Alexie's YA novel first and then went back and read his short stories and now I love him. I love Nick Hornby. I love Ann Patchett. Jumpa Lahiri. Elizabeth Scott. I definitely lean toward contemporary writers and toward fiction, though I'm very into Michael Pollan these days, too.

What are you currently reading?
I just finished "You Don't Love Me Yet" by Jonathan Lethem, which came out a few years ago. My husband picked it up for me. It was great. And I'm about to go on tour so I binged and bought three YA books, "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" by Stephen Chobsky, which everyone tells me is amazing and I have to read; "Living Dead Girl", by Elizabeth Scott, who I love, though I've put off reading this one because I have a daughter and wasn't sure I could take (still not sure). And Blake Nelson's latest novel "Destory All Cars."

What are your current projects?
I am working on my next novel, working on a couple of magazine pieces, and promoting "If I Stay." I'm about to go on tour to Europe for two weeks, which is very exciting.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
The books are a constant source of surprise because you never quite know where the writing process is going to take you. The idea for "If I Stay" really began with Mia, who arrived, fully formed, as a cellist. That was a huge surprise because I knew nothing about the cello, nothing about classical music. But that was who she was and I had no choice but to learn about these things to write her. For me, as I write, the characters reveal themselves to me and that is just as surprising as getting to know a true flesh-and-blood stranger. So it's a fun, illuminating process, full of twists.

What’s the hardest part about writing?
Sometimes letting go of your characters is hard. And letting go can mean different things. Sometimes it's admitting that a project you're working on just isn't working, and that happens to me all the time. I have a driveways worth of rusting wreck drafts lingering on my hard drive. And even with a "successful" book, you have to at some point let the characters go; they cease to become yours and they become your readership's. As a writer, that is what you hope for, but it's hard when suddenly the world you have created is open to feedback. It's nice, though, when that feedback is positive.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
Hang out with my family. The days when we are outside, away from the computers, just tooling around Brooklyn, are the best and are when I'm at my happiest. Nothing compares to that.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I didn't write it with any sort of message in mind, and it was only after, when we showed it to publishers, that they all started talking about the themes in the book, change and sacrifice and decision. I think the book is about love, so if there's any takeaway, it would be to think about the people in your life who you love and who love you and feel good about that. It feels really good to feel grateful. Feel free to gag now.

What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?
I get asked a lot of questions and you asked some unusual ones here. I get asked all the time if there is going to be a sequel but nobody asks me what how I think the characters in "If I Stay" fare in the future. Which is funny because I've thought about that a lot. See what I mean about letting go? It's hard.

Thanks, Gayle!

For more information about Gayle and If I Stay, please check out her website.