Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman

Title: Sirenz

Authors: Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman

Genera: Fantasy/Paranormal/Humor

Subjects: Mythology, Sirens, fashion, Gods and Goddesses, Hades, magic, New York

Length: 275 pgs. Paperback

Rating: ê ê ê ê

Char and Meg are roommates, and have been since the fall. Now it’s winter break and Char wants to go to a sale, so she drags Meg along. Char a fashion and pink obsessed girl. Meg is Goth. They end up fighting over a pair of red shoes at a subway station, accidentally pushing a guy into front of the train, and killing him. Hades appears and makes a deal with them. He will fix this if they become his new Sirens. He convinces them, but they really should have read the fine print. Now they have to lure some fashion designer guy to the Underworld because his contract is up. They have a time limit and Hades forgot to tell them that using their powers has repercussions. Hades suggests they become interns for the designers, but getting close to him won’t be easy.

Not the best beginning because I was confused what was going on. It really picked up around page 50. I love the concept of transformation, and I thought it was funny that Char and Meg started taking on bird features when the were accidentally over using their enthralling power. I laughed at all the chicken or bird jokes. This book was like Percy Jackson series meets Reverse-Maximum Ride with Devil Wear Prada thrown in. Really, it was awesome to see how the heroines dealt with the impossible situations that the Gods threw at them.

I highly recommend it if you love mythology or fashion. Or funny stories.

Art Review:

The cover definitely fits the book. The script that says “Sirenz.” The red shoe (with a tag saying “Your Immortal $oul”) that Shar and Meg fight over. The feathers, the Greek column thing the shoe is on. It’s simple, and the red really pops against the turquoise. On the back it says “Fashion Hell” like a tag for a brand.

~Haley G

Starstruck by Cyn Balog

Title: Starstruck
Author: Cyn Balog
Genera: Chick-lit/Paranormal romance/Humor
Subjects: Love, astrology, supernatural, overweight persons, New Jersey
Length: 244 pgs. Hardcover
Rating: ê ê ê ê

Gwen “Dough” Reilly, who’s mom owns a bakery, has gained 70 pounds since she last saw her best friend and long-distance boyfriend, Wish. Now Wish is moving back to their New Jersey costal town and based off his face book pictures, he looks like he turned into a total hottie, which makes Gwen afraid that he won’t like her anymore when he sees her. When he does see her, he act like she’s beautiful as ever. Is it an act or does he not really care what she looks like? And why is he obsessed with the sun, and disappointed by the rain? Christian, the creepy new employee at Reilly’s Bakery, says that what Wish has been doing means he’s doing rituals that a cult of astrologers called the Luminati practice, and that what he’s doing could have major consequences and hurt people around him.

I was surprised how good this book was. I read Fairy Tale and Sleepless, and I don’t remember them being as funny as this book was. Gwen is self deprecating and self conscious about herself being overweight. Balog did a good job describing how overweight teens feel, I think. Not many authors have overweight main characters and I think it’s an interesting twist to the story. This book was very original for a YA. The Luminati was new. I never heard of them, and yeah, they’re not the “Illuminati.”

I really wonder what Cyn Balog will cook up next. Her next novel is Living Backwards, and it also sound interesting and I can’t wait to check it out.

I recommend this if you want fresh, different YA novel to gobble up on a lazy day. Or if you want a book that will make you feel good about yourself. Feel-good chick-lit, this book is. :P

Art Review:

The cover’s not very exciting. It’s matte with glossed stars. The stars remind me of Christmas lights for some reason.

~Haley G

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert
Title: Memento Nora
Author: Angie Smibert
Genera: Dystopian Science Fiction
Subjects: resistance to government, comics, terrorism, consumerism, memory
Length: 184 pgs. Hardcover
Rating: ê ê ê ê
After a bombing in the mall that Nora and her mom were at, Nora has her first visit to TFC to get her memory of the bombing erased. Nora doesn’t take the pill because she saw a guy write “memento” on his cast and spit the pill out. She also didn’t go through with it because of what her mom said about her dad insulting her. Later on, Nora runs into the guy, whose name is Micah and he goes to her school. Micah’s into drawing comic, so Nora and him start working on a comic called “Memento” about what they want to remember.
The book has some really interesting world building in it. I was confused at first, but then understood how everything was connected (and will not spoil that). Basically, consumerism is valued, and if you don’t, you could be a terrorist. Actually, I was thinking about how this book’s consumerist society might be a dystopian solution to or economic problems. This book is set in the DC area, and thing supposedly blow up around the city all the time. Some group called the “Coalition.”
I liked the idea of making a comic. It was a cool twist that I’ve never seen in dystopian books as a way to resist. I like drawing manga to, so I understood what Micah was doing.
Art Review: I thought this was a graphic novel at first. The cover makes me think of sci-fi chic…the hairstyle of the girl looks like a futuristic short bob. I really like the clouds in the sky above the city. Purple clouds.
~Haley G

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Title: Blood Magic
Author: Tessa Gratton
Series: The Blood Journals
Genera: Supernatural/paranormal romance
Subjects: Magic, witches, death, immortality, blood, Missouri
Length: 405 pgs. Hardcover
Rating: ê ê ê
After Silla’s parents are killed, she receives a spell book that appears to be written in her father’s hand writing. Silla shows her brother that the magic is real. Nicholas Pardee moves in next store and see’s Silla do one of the spells in the cemetery. Nick already knows about the magic. He’s seen his mother do it when he was little. Blood is a necessary sacrifice in making a spell work, but Nick is afraid to tell Silla how dangerous the magic can be so he doesn’t let her know he knows. Silla and Nick fall for each other even though people at school warn him that Silla is “messed up” after her parents dying.
I thought this book would be really good. I just didn’t get into it because it’s somewhat different from the paranormal romance YA book I’m used to-I don’t know how, but it is. Maybe it’s the metaphorical masks that Silla wears…I was confused and thought she was literally wearing masks. I like Nick still. He calls her step mom Lilith, though that’s not her name. He’s poetic and cares for Silla.
The atmosphere of this book was pretty cool. Creepy. If it was closer to Halloween, I would definitely be more into it. I liked the mystery of who Josephine Darly was in relation to the main character. The story kept me guessing.
I recommend this books if you like dark magic and immortality stories, or mysterious stories.
Art Review:
I love the cover. Blood Magic in metallic red letters, a metallic forest with a soft-matte texture. The girl and the flower and red crows are glossy . It’s a well done cover.
~Haley G

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Title: Angelfire

Author: Courtney Allison Moulton

Series: The Angelfire Trilogy

Genera: Supernatural/paranormal romance

Subjects: Angels, warriors, reapers

Length: 453 pgs. Hardcover

Rating: ê ê ê ê ê +

Ellie has been having nightmares about fighting creatures. Some guy named Will shows up and she feels a connection to him. On her seventeenth birthday, Will helps Ellie remember who she is. A warrior who reincarnates to kill demonic reapers. She can’t remember everything yet, so she is still confused and Will, who is her Guardian, will be there to help her out.
I know I say this a lot, but I love this book! I’ve met the author three times and finally got to reading her book, and it was even better than I thought it would be (for reasons I will not spoil for you). I love angel books, and this one is now definitely up there with Unearthly and Hush, Hush.
Ellie and Will are so funny together. I love how Will acts mysterious in ridiculous ways. I also love that Ellie names her car Marshmallow. I want to name a pet bird Marshmallow!
Also, I could relate to Ellie because her dad act like a total jerk, and I have a dad who can be really mean sometimes (thankfully not as mean as Mr. Monroe. My dad is really nice in comparison, though he yells).  
If you haven’t read this book, read it. Wings of the Wicked (book 2) comes out next February, so you do have sometime.

Art Review:
The cover is awesome, overall. Not sure what the stone crescent thing behind Ellie is, but it looks cool. The cover is glossy and semi-metallic. The cover under the jacket is lavender gray and was Angelfire in shiny pinkish red letter with 2 Khopesh swords.

~Haley G

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Title: Darkness Becomes Her

Author: Kelly Keaton

Series: Gods and Monsters

Genera: Science-fiction/supernatural/paranormal romance

Subjects: Monsters, Mythology, Dystopian, New Orleans, Curses

Length: 273 pgs. Hardcover

Rating: ê ê ê ê

Ari travels to New 2, a dystopian version of New Orleans, in search of the truth behind her mother’s death, and also in search of her father. Ari is weird, but tough. Her hair is the color of moonlight (and not cut-able or dye-able) and eyes an unnatural teal. Ari finds out the her ancestors are cursed, and die by age 21. Oh, and that the Goddess Athena is after her. So, the love interest is a guy named Sebastian who has some special abilities. Some of the other characters have abilities too. It’s really interesting.

Also, I can completely see what they meant when they said "Part Twilight, Lightning Thief and Maximum Ride." Twilight for the vamps. Lightning Thief for the god/goddess Greek stuff. Ari is soooooooooooo like Max from Maximum Ride. She's tough, takes care of herself. Too bad she doesn't have a flock or anything. I'd like to add that this book takes place in a dystopian version of New Orleans (Maybe adding a bit of Hunger Games to the mix) and it's urban fantasy so if you like faery books, then you'll like this. This book has so much variety: Gods, Vampires, Witches, Monsters, ects….

I liked the variety, and I’m sure that I will read the next book when it comes out. I highly suggest this book. It’s fast passed. You can read it in less than a day.

Art Review: The cover looks awesome. The gate is probably some New Orleans land mark, but I’ve never been there. The title’s text looks cool, and I like that shade of blue. I like the metallic matte fence and then a glossy black tree. I saw the sequel’s cover, and it looks cool too, but it has green instead of blue.

~Haley G

Sirensong by Jenna Black

Title: Sirensong
Author: Jenna Black
Series: Faeriewalker (Book 3)
Genera: Fantasy/supernatural/paranormal romance
Subjects: Faeries, magic, romance
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Length: 312 pgs. Paperback
Rating: ê ê ê ê
Dana, still stuck in Avalon, the only place where humans and fey can interact, goes to an event with her faerie politician dad only to be invited to Faerie’s Seelie court. When they set out on this journey (that Dana is reluctant to go on because both queens probably want her dead), Dana’s father assures her that no one will harm her under the Queen’s protection (because killing one who is summoned by the queen is considered very rude). Dana is of course not so sure about that. Ethan, Kimber, and Keane come with her and they all travel near the end of Prince Henry’s caravan. With the Erlking’s mark on her should, Dana know he will be following her too. Danger awaits, and you can read the book to find out what happens.
I’m not a big fan of faerie books, but this series is definitely one of the better ones. Dana is sarcastic and funny, and her best friend is girly but smart. I like Keane and his bad boy/warrior looks. Ethan seems like a good boyfriend (but cocky at times). I think Jenna Black did an awesome job on her 3^rd book. I didn’t get bored at all, and with every conflict, it makes you want to read on. If you have read any of the books, you know what I mean. Also, I was wondering if anyone else feels that this series is semi-dystopian. The fact that the existence of fey is know to humans, and that Avalon has it’s own politic. Avalon is it’s own little dystopia, and they supposedly filmed movies there and stuff. With all the awesomeness of this series I will continue to read the Faeriewalker books. I really want to find out what happens next. (And you can too. Lol)
Art Review: Lovely cover as always. The girl’s eyes remind me of butterfly wings. She looks fey-ish. Or maybe half asian. The rose petals are very nice. The metallic dots are on the cover of each book in the series. These ones are silver. The cover has a nice texture. Can’t wait to see what the next cover will be.
~Haley G