Review - Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
Released: April 25, 2006
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: 2/5
Author Site: Melissa de la Cruz

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times.

I almost put this book down several times because usually if I'm not into a book within at least the first 100 pages then I never will be but I have heard such great things about this series that I stayed with it and Blue Bloods redeemed itself in the last few chapters somewhat. I gave it two stars sadly just for laying the groundwork to hopefully a more meaningful adventure in the second book.

The characters never came to life for me and were just drab and boring. The only one with any finess at all was the evil minded Mimi who basically single-handedly kept the story alive with her jealousy and bad attitude. I kept waiting on Jack to break out of his shell and show me something but even though he had a few spurts of life and interest in Schuyler he always let his father and twin (Mimi) rule his world.

Bliss and Dylan was a relationship that I saw potential in and just when I was becoming involved (FINALLY) in the story, chaos and mystery break out and the book ends.

Schuyler who I would think should be a main character is just flat and at first I was hoping her and Jack would become a team/couple but Jack acts as though he has no mind of his own so then their is Oliver but one minute he is acting like a child and the next he is all knowing so I just easily got disgusted with the characters.

Another thing that just bugged me to no end was it was almost midways before any mention of vampires and angels ever came into play. The first half was merely high school kids on their day to day crisis

Review - Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Released: June 23, 2009
Publisher: Hyperion Book
Age Group: Children's
Pages: 304 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 5/5
Author Site: Eoin Colfer

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren’t the fairies of bedtime stories; these fairies are armed and dangerous.

I was pleasantly surprised with Artemis Fowl because I must confess I went into this book expecting NOT to like it. I have came so close to picking it up several times at the book store but it just never hit me hard enough to buy it so when Netgalley offered it up I decided here was my chance to step outside the comfort zone.

The first couple of pages had me captivated and quickly delved into the extraordinary world of a miniature 007 meets Richie Rich! It was incredibly easy getting sucked into Atemis's wicked schemes and I feel what really made this so enjoyable to me was the fact that it was more of an updated fantasy adventure weilding computers and high tech gadjets instead of just the usual spells, wands, and ect..

I definatley see more Artemis in my future!

Review - Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Released: February 1, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion Book
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 352 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: 5/5
Author Site: Rachel Hawkins

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It’s gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie’s estranged father—an elusive European warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it’s her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

I finally got the chance to pull this remarkable book off my TBR shelf and I enjoyed it sooo much! I Love the covers for this series! It's a mixture of teenage angst with a sliver of comedy and a side of oh my God I have super powers! Sophie can't stay out of trouble no matter how hard she tries and it seems the more she tries the bigger the trouble she does get into! I felt so sorry for her in the beginning of the book because she just seemed a bit sad and lonely and never having really had any contact with her father her whole life has hurt her more than she lets on but then after constantly beeing bullied in her new school she begins to come out of her shell and fight back a bit and by the end of Hex Hall she is able to stand up for herself and has some tough decisions to make that will change her life forever.

Hex Hall won't dissappoint you especially if you like the lighter fluffier paranormal stories. It was just a totally quick lighthearted fun read and the set up for book two which is Demon Glass sounds just as awesome so I have to grab it now so I can continue and see what Sophie does next.

One of my favorite quotes from the story:

“Good luck explaining to God that you used to spank one of his heavenly beings."
Mom gave a startled laugh. "Sophie!"
"What? You did. I hope you like hot weather, Mom, that's all I'm saying.”