Mini Book Reviews: Insylum by Z. Rider & A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

Title: Insylum
Author: Z. Rider
Publication Date: June 9, 2015
Publisher: Dark Ride Publishing
Pages: 122
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The Last Ones In...Never Come Out

A.J. changed in boot camp, coming out all straight-backed and short-haired. His best friend Nate hardly recognizes him anymore, especially when it comes to the way he acts. His priorities. Now he’s about to ship out to Afghanistan, and despite the rift growing between them, the two decide to have one last hurrah—at Insylum, the extreme traveling funhouse they’ve been waiting for a chance at for years.

They're last in line on the last night of the show. They are the last two to go in.

And they may never come back out.

Warning: Some tentacular activity. (Also body horror. And maggots.)

I know this may come as a shock, but I'm a huge horror junkie! So when I saw the cover for Insylum and read the synopsis, I was immediately sold! Especially since it was such a short read AND was available to borrow on Amazon Prime!

Insylum was a thrill ride from start to finish! Make no mistake, this is NOT a YA horror book by any stretch. It is gory and brutal right from the start. As I've said, I love horror, but this is the first horror book I've ever read (EVER) that made my pulse speed up! It definitely is not for the faint of heart. The characters were surprisingly well-developed for such a small book and the "funhouse" was described in such vivid detail that, well, it was terrifying.

I love a good 800 page Stephen King novel as much as the next person, but this much horror crammed into 122 pages just works! And there's a twist at the end that I definitely did not see coming! I only wish the ending had been described in a little more detail, but I guess that's supposed to be part of the mystery. In any case, I highly recommend this to any horror fan!

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Title: A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time #7)
Author: Robert Jordan
Narrator: Kate Reading & Michael Kramer
Publication Date: November 15, 1997
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
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Reviews for book 5 and book 6

In this seventh book of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, Elayne, Aviendha, and Mat come ever closer to the bowl ter'angreal that may reverse the world's endless heat wave and restore natural weather. Egwene begins to gather all manner of women who can channel--Sea Folk, Windfinders, Wise Ones, and some surprising others. And above all, Rand faces the dread Forsaken Sammael, in the shadows of Shadar Logoth, where the blood-hungry mist, Mashadar, waits for prey.

I'm going to be really blunt here: I've been putting off this review because I did not like this book and now I don't remember much about it. Looking back at the synopsis, I can recall why I don't remember what happened. Nothing happened. Really.

Okay, well now I'm not being completely truthful. A few things happened. Egwene puts her foot down in her new role among the Aes Sedai, Rand hangs out with some baddies, and Mat gets raped by a queen. Repeatedly. And everyone laughs it off.

I feel like this chapter in the series had potential to be amazing! Unfortunately, it seems as if Robert Jordan really just wanted to milk this cow as long as he possibly could, to the point where we get this seventh book of pure filler. The women argue, even MORE characters are introduced, and other characters are completely absent.

I could complain about a lot in this book, but my biggest complaint is the big battle at the end. There's one in every book and the battle at the end of book six blew my socks off! In my review of Lord of Chaos I said, "I had to literally restrain myself from jumping up and down in excitement!" and, "This book was truly the best of the six I've read so far!" My, how the mighty have fallen.

I'll continue the series just because I am already seven books in and have invested hundreds of hours of listening. I just really hope it pays off in the end.

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°o°  Notes on the Audiobook  °o°

I can't say much that I haven't already said about Kate Reading and Michael Kramer. They're fantastic! 

Paper to Popcorn #2: Of Metal and Wishes vs. The Phantom of the Opera

Welcome to Paper to Popcorn! Paper to Popcorn is not be your typical book vs. movie comparison. The focus is on retellings, although there will be some features of movie vs. the source material. Each chosen book/movie combo will battle it out in a showdown to prove which one is the best on its own merits. Posts will feature reviews of both the film and book, rating scales, a brief outline of differences between the two, and characters, and ultimately a victor will be chosen.

This week I'm featuring two Phantom of the Opera adaptations - Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine, and Phantom of the Opera, the 2004 film.

The Book

Title: Of Metal and Wishes (Of Metal and Wishes #1)
Author: Sarah Fine
Publication Date: August 5, 2014
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 320
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Review for book 2

There are whispers of a ghost in the slaughterhouse where sixteen-year-old Wen assists her father in his medical clinic—a ghost who grants wishes to those who need them most. When one of the Noor, men hired as cheap factory labor, humiliates Wen, she makes an impulsive wish of her own, and the Ghost grants it. Brutally.

Guilt-ridden, Wen befriends the Noor, including their outspoken leader, a young man named Melik. At the same time, she is lured by the mystery of the Ghost and learns he has been watching her... for a very long time.

As deadly accidents fuel tensions within the factory, Wen must confront her growing feelings for Melik, who is enraged at the sadistic factory bosses and the prejudice faced by his people at the hand of Wen’s, and her need to appease the Ghost, who is determined to protect her against any threat—real or imagined. She must decide whom she can trust, because as her heart is torn, the factory is exploding around her... and she might go down with it.

It was pure luck that brought Of Metal and Wishes across my path. I saw the second book in the series in a Waiting on Wednesday post recently, saw "Phantom of the Opera retelling," quickly found out it was a series, and searched my local library! I was so excited when I got my hands on this that I started it immediately and I was not at all disappointed.

I have never been a fan of the steampunk genre (is it a genre?) and didn't actually realize this book fit that bill until it was too late to back out. There are metal spiders, metal appendages, metal rooms, metal war machines... there's metal in the title! But it really did work in this book. The setting is so realistically portrayed that it all fit together and I could see it like I was there. The mood was dreary and I felt like everything was shrouded in dust (or metal shavings) and it was amazing.

The characters were one area I wasn't totally sure about at first. The society this book is set in is one in which women are extremely suppressed, have no rights, and are viewed as property. While this was really, REALLY hard for me to stomach, I did come to terms that this was just the way the world was and did not reflect the heroine, Wen (Christine), who is remarkably strong against such terrible odds. Although she is deeply respectful of her father, she also finds ways to be strong in her own way.

And of course a Phantom of the Opera retelling would not be complete without a love triangle! In fact, I think Phantom of the Opera was THE original love triangle (okay, maybe not, but I'm saying that) and that is why it works here. I will admit I felt incredibly confusing emotions over this. I have always been a Phantom fan but this book had me feeling things for Melik (Raoul) that I had to come to terms with. This book has made me a Raoul, er... Melik fan. I think this is because this is the first time I've ever seen the Raoul character written as multi-dimensional. The Ghost (Phantom) of this story is so easy to sympathize with, but I also understand the fear and uncertainty that Wen was feeling throughout the book. This whole situation is just a very uncomfortable one.

My one, very minor complaint is that the writing seemed a little strange. It almost seemed like it was written in a different language and then translated to English. Then again, maybe this was done purposely to add to the overall feel of the story.

This is a fantastic retelling that totally blew me away! It made me want to watch the movie so bad (incidentally, I did) and I was picturing scenes in the film as I read along with this new retelling of the story. It wraps up nicely at the end very similarly to how the movie (and original book) left off so it could really be read as a standalone in my opinion, although I'm very excited about book two! I highly recommend this to retelling and Phantom fans!

Characters	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Setting	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Writing	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Storyline	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Cover	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Overall Rating	1/5	2/5	3/5	4/5	5/5

The Movie

Title: The Phantom of the Opera
Director: Joel Schumacher
Actors: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson
Release Date: December 22, 2004
Runtime: 143 minutes
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Based on the hit musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the tale tells the story of a disfigured musical genius that haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, waging a reign of terror over its occupants. When he falls fatally in love with the lovely Christine, the Phantom devotes himself to creating a new star for the Opera--exerting a strange sense of control over the young soprano as he nurtures her extraordinary talents.

I first saw The Phantom of the Opera in early 2015 when it came to theaters. Back in the day Gerard Butler was at the very top of my man crush list with only Johnny Depp as a rival. I always thought the Phantom should have won out in the end and I'm a little hesitant to say my opinion hasn't changed much. It seems that a lot of people grow to love Raoul as they get older, but I'm team Phantom until the end!

Let me start by saying this movie is visually stunning! I'm no expert when it comes to cinematography, but from my amateur point of view, this is one of the most beautifully filmed movies I've ever seen. Every time I see it, every single set and film angle takes my breath away. Likewise, the music is brilliant and I suppose we have Andrew Lloyd Webber to thank for that. The songs are amazing and give me chills every time. What woman could resist "Music of the Night" really?

One area I've always had a problem with is the casting. Watching this again ten years after I was obsessed with it I think I've gotten some fresh perspective on it. I don't like Patrick Wilson in general. There are many reasons for this, but... I just am not a Patrick Wilson fan. That being said, I think he plays the role of Raoul very well and he sings the part amazingly. Emmy Rossum, though... I think she LOOKS the part of Christine, but... No. Her singing is pretty good (for most of the movie, anyway), but her face drives me crazy! She just sits there with her mouth hanging open for 75% of the movie. And I'll never understand why these two are the only ones with American accents... All of the minor characters are spectacular! Especially Carlotta, who I just love to hate!

Then there's Erik/The Phantom. I feel like I need to bow down to the casting directors and thank them profusely. These people knew what they were doing with this character! The Phantom is undeniably gorgeous, dark, and seductive. He made me feel for him in so many ways, not the least of which was wanting him to win in the end! And I don't care what anyone says, Christine is totally into him when they're singing "Past the Point of No Return." I know a lot of people hate on Gerard Butler's vocals, but I feel like he is the strongest singer and the only one whose emotions I could FEEL! Chills. Every single time.

My one final complaint is the big reveal of the Phantom. Even as a teenager I thought it was ridiculous that he was so perfect with the mask on and then as soon as he takes it off his hair is a different color, completely ruined, and the whole half of his face is messed up. Um... what? To be honest, re-watching it just now on my 60" screen I could totally see the elastic on the wig that Christine pulls off with the mask. Well, that illusion has just been ruined. Oh well.

Other than Emmy Rossum and , this movie is almost perfect! This is one of the few films I can watch over and over! Even though the ending rips my heart out every single time.

Cast	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Cinematography	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Screenplay	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Performances	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Music	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Overall Rating	1/5	2/5	3/5	4/5	5/5

Noteable Differences

• In Phantom of the Opera Christine is an orphan and she originally thinks the Phantom (Erik) is her father's ghost, but in Of Metal and Wishes Wen's father is a doctor.   
• Erik teaches Christine to sing, which is how their relationship begins, but in Of Metal and Wishes, the Ghost does not teach Wen anything. Instead, he's just kind of a creepy stalker. 
• Raoul is a very boring, one-dimensional White Knight character in Phantom of the Opera, but Melik is written to be the obvious love interest in Of Metal and Wishes.
• In The Phantom of the Opera Christine pulls off Erik's mask without his permission, but in Of Metal and Wishes, she has his permission. 
• Erik and Raoul fight in The Phantom of the Opera with Raoul almost winning, but no fight occurs in Of Metal and Wishes. 
• Christine helps to set up Erik in The Phantom of the Opera, but there is not a betrayal in Of Metal and Wishes. 
• There's no huge final choice in Of Metal and Wishes and no threat to make Wen choose. 

The Bottom Line

Not too surprisingly, this one is a tie! Both of these are beautiful (though very different) adaptations of an amazing piece of source material! One made me want Christine (Wen) to end up with Raoul (Melik), while the other always, ALWAYS keeps me on team tall, dark, and handsome (Erik)! Both are completely amazing and both should be experienced by everyone! But... if you're not going to read the book, PLEASE at least spend two hours of your life seeing the movie!

Book Review: The Program by Suzanne Young

Title: The Program
Author: Suzanne Young
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 405
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In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

The Program immediately caught my attention with its eye-catching cover and description. I love reading about conspiracy theories in my free time because I'm a nerd with nothing better to do, so when a book comes along that sounds like it might be up that alley, I'm definitely going to take notice! I didn't really know much about this going in other than what was on the inside cover, but I had high hopes for a conspiracy laden novel in the same vein as The Twilight Zone!

Sloane is the main character in The Program. She and her boyfriend James are navigating their lives and trying to survive without getting flagged for The Program, where people inevitably come back as shells of their former selves, memories missing. Anything could send them there - even crying - as the country panics to save their young adults from the suicide epidemic. And so, Sloane doesn't allow herself to show emotion except when she's with James. As her life falls apart around her and one by one her friends are either taken into The Program or "terminate" themselves, it's obvious that it's only a matter of time until she ends up in one of the two categories.

I liked Sloane for the most part. She fought like a champ, refusing to give up and lose her memories, and never stopped fighting even to the last page. I could definitely admire her will to survive The Program and come out in tact. It felt like I was there with her as she experienced the hopelessness of knowing she was really at the mercy of those around her. I didn't fully understand the decisions she made in every instance, especially when it came to Realm, but I still liked her.

The two love interests (you knew there would be a love triangle) were James and Realm - James from before and Realm from The Program. I didn't fully love either of them, and if I had to pick one of them to "win" I'm not sure who it would be. Both cared about her deeply, although Realm did some pretty reprehensible things. James was obnoxious and arrogant, but Sloane seemed to find that endearing. Either way, I enjoyed both of them and the love triangle actually made sense in this story rather than detracting from it.

I also enjoyed the more minor characters of Lacey and even Miller. The parents in every case really got under my skin. They all seemed incredibly weak and deluded. It makes me wonder how people might really react if something like this were to occur.

Suzanne Young did a great job of bringing this not-to-distant-future world to life! There weren't many locations featured, but the Program facility especially seemed to come off the page in a totally creepy way. I could definitely feel the dread of the characters as they roamed the stark white halls and smelled that hospital scent. I felt like I was right there sneaking around with Sloane and Realm (or James) throughout the book.

The other setting I felt was really well-done was the river. It was written in such a way that I could understand the peace that came over Sloane when she was there, especially when the rest of her life is so chaotic and depressing.

Speaking of depressing, that's what this book is. Granted, it's about a world with a suicide epidemic among young people. Still, I didn't realize just how bleak a world I'd be diving into with The Program. There are brief moments of happiness here and there, but for the most part I felt like I might get flagged while reading this book!

Perhaps that feeling is part of the originality of The Program, or maybe it's just because I usually steer clear of anything that's not going to give me the warm fuzzies at the end. I'm not quite sure if there's supposed to be some deeper commentary on problems in the mental health system, but I wasn't really in a mood to contemplate that much further. Please fill me in if you know something I don't!

In any case, The Program is pretty unique, at least among the books that I've read. The story, though bleak, did draw me in and make me want to find out what was really going on! Unfortunately, I didn't find out. I felt like there needed to be more backstory - more answers about what caused the epidemic and where The Program came from. There was one (what I assume was supposed to be) big twist, but it was actually quite predictable, although I'm still at a loss of whether or not the epidemic is something deeper and more sinister. The ending was satisfying though, and didn't end on a huge cliffhanger.

  In Closing 

I really did enjoy The Program even though I'm a little hung up on the depressing nature of the book (about an epidemic of depression and suicide). I'll definitely read book two to find out what happens next, although I don't feel a huge rush to do it right this second.

ARC Review: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

Title: Serafina and the Black Cloak
Author: Robert Beatty
Publication Date: July 14, 2015
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 304
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I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A spooky mystery-thriller about an unusual girl who lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate.
"Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there and they will ensnare your soul."

Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of Biltmore Estate. There's plenty to explore in the shadowed corridors of her vast home, but she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate's maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore's corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of Biltmore's owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak's true identity before all of the children vanish one by one.

Serafina's hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past.

Middle grade books are not regular fare for me, but when I saw the cover of Serafina and the Black Cloak, I just HAD to know more! And when I found out it was a "spooky mystery-thriller" with the Biltmore Estate as its setting I was all but jumping up and down in anticipation! The premise of this book is so exciting and unique and I had to know what was going on with the Man in the Black Cloak!

The main character is, as you may have guessed, Serafina. She lives in the basement of the Biltmore Estate with her Pa, and has for as long as she can remember. Serafina is also the Biltmore's Chief Rat Catcher, which she is actually amazing at because of her amazing senses and cat-like reflexes. Unfortunately, her Pa won't let her interact with anyone, mostly because he'll lose his job if it's discovered that he's been mooching in a basement for years with his kid. Eventually, though, it was bound to happen. Serafina meets two individuals - the Man in the Black Cloak and Braeden, the nephew of the Vanderbuilts, who own the home.

I absolutely loved every character I met in this book! Serafina was so unique and all of her quirks really came across in the writing. Every strange thing about her was written so nonchalantly as if it was no big deal at all that she only had eight toes. I loved the way she saw the world and the people in it. She was incredibly intelligent and brave throughout the book, taking on baddies that I would run from!

Braeden was another really fun character. I wish a little more had been revealed about his unique ability to communicate with animals, but he was a fantastic character even without that. I enjoyed watching him befriend Serafina and help her in solving the mystery.

The Man in the Black Cloak was sufficiently elusive and terrifying! It was so scary to read about his levitating pursuits and the abilities his cloak gave him. I don't want to give away too much, but this guy is honestly more creepy than some Big Bads I've read about in adult horror!

Having this story take place at the Biltmore Estate was brilliant! It's not very often that I read a book set in a location I'm familiar with, so I expect this must be how people who live in big cities feel since there are books set in Chicago and New York all the time. I've never actually been inside the Biltmore, but I was planning to get married there once, so I know a little.

I loved learning little tidbits about the house itself. Following Serafina around in secret passages made me really want to go do some sneaking of my own to see if they're all really there! The descriptions of some of the rooms in the house were spectacular as well. Now I'm really considering taking a visit before I move out of state next year!

The locations outside the house were equally amazing! I especially loved the graveyard and the path leading to it. It felt incredibly spooky! As did most of the locations, really.

There are actually two separate mysteries going on here. The first is obviously who the Man in the Black Cloak is and what he's done with the children who've gone missing. The second is who Serafina's mother is. I had a pretty good idea about the mother about halfway through, but the Man was a different story.

This was a mystery that was actually quite mysterious, which is not always the case when it comes to the mystery genre. I was pretty surprised to be 60% through the book and still not have it figured out. I thought that it would be pretty simple, being written for a much younger audience, but Robert Beatty really did a wonderful job!

My only tiny issue is the way the book is written, but I kept reminding myself that it's written for twelve-year-olds!

Even though Serafina has not been shelved as "horror" very often, that's what I'm calling it. Quite frankly, it was horrifying! And I loved it! Overall, this book was freaking amazing! I've already recommended it to quite a few people and now I'm recommending it to anyone who is a lover of mystery, thrillers, or horror (as long as you don't mind middle-grade writing)!

Book Review: The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

Title: The Neverending Story
Author: Michael Ende
Publication Date: 1979
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
Pages: 396
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This epic work of the imagination has captured the hearts of millions of readers worldwide since it was first published more than a decade ago. Its special story within a story is an irresistible invitation for readers to become part of the book itself. And now this modern classic and bibliophile's dream is available in hardcover again.

The story begins with a lonely boy named Bastian and the strange book that draws him into the beautiful but doomed world of Fantastica. Only a human can save this enchanted place - by giving its ruler, the Childlike Empress, a new name. But the journey to her tower leads through lands of dragons, giants, monsters, and magic - and once Bastian begins his quest, he may never return. As he is drawn deeper into Fantastica, he must find the mysteries of his own heart.

Readers, too, can travel to the wonderous, unforgettable world of Fantastica if they will just turn the page...

Let's just be real with each other for a minute... who didn't love this movie as a kid? Better yet, who didn't love Falcor as a kid?!

Because I did. Falcor was my favorite flying dog! Er... dragon. Luck dragon? Anyway, I loved Falcor and I thought Atreyu was just the cutest ever. But seriously, I never realized this was based on a book. So when I realized there was a book earlier this year, I knew I had to have it! I even splurged on the hardcover when I read that the text was color coded based on where the action was taking place. How cool is that?!

So then I started reading The Neverending Story. It.Was.MAGIC. Reading one of my favorite childhood movies was absolutely magical... in the beginning. I loved every second of meeting all of the same characters all over again and remembering things I'd forgotten. I also loved finding out all the new tidbits that didn't make it into the film.

I'm going to try really hard to include as many details about the actual book as possible since I realize a lot of you might never have seen the movie. I know that I'm old. It's just so hard not to fangirl...

(Honestly, I have no idea how to write this without mild spoilers,
but I've hidden them so highlight at your own risk.)

This is (partially) the story of Bastian, an apparent fat kid who can't play sports and sucks at absolutely everything. At the very beginning of the book, Bastian stumbles into a bookstore and finds a book he thinks looks nice. It does not look like this:

What does Bastian do? Well, he steals it, obviously. And then he seals himself into the school attic. Because he hates the bullies, he hates his school, and he hates his dad. He thinks his dad hates him too, so he decides not to go home (Bastian is really unlikeable, to be honest). Bastian decides to spend the entire day and night reading this cool-looking book that he stole from a bookstore. And then, thank goodness, the real story begins....

...because this book is also the story of Atreyu and Fantastica (no, not Fantasia), the amazing world he lives in inside the book. He's the hero, the good guy. It's Atreyu's mission to save Fantastica from the Nothing - a quest he's given by the Childlike Empress, Fantastica's ruler.

Atreyu's story is the one that I absolutely adored. As he travels through the world of Fantastica in search of the solution to the Nothing, he travels to amazing lands and meets a completely unique cast of characters. But as the story unfolds, Bastian starts to realize that he's the only one who is able to save all of them. And the Childlike Empress spends pages begging him to DO SOMETHING!

After taking ENTIRELY too long to finally work up the courage to speak the single word that will save Fantastica, the entire story shifts into unfamiliar territory.

The Neverending Story movie ends halfway through the book and that was not something I expected. What I found was that the second half was totally unnecessary. Part two follows Bastian as he rebuilds Fantastica with his... brain. Or something. Throughout his journeys he also meets many cool characters. Unfortunately, he's a totally unlikeable jerk. I literally had to force myself to finish the book.

This is honestly the first time I have ever completely hated a character. Bastian had literally no redeeming qualities and I found myself not caring at all whether he lived or fell off the earth or if his brains turned to mush.

If The Neverending Story had ended halfway through the book I would have given this five stars, no questions asked. Michael Ende did add on an entire second act though, which left me no choice but to bring that down. I would totally recommend the first half of The Neverending Story to absolutely everyone because, like I said, it's pure magic. Just, please, stop before you get to Bastian's "journey."

Book Review: Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd

Title: Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman's Daughter #2)
Author: Megan Shepherd
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Publisher: Balzer+Bray
Pages: 420
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Review for books 1 & 3

To defeat the darkness, she must first embrace it.

Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn’t forgotten her.

As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.

As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.

With inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this is a tantalizing mystery about the hidden natures of those we love and how far we’ll go to save them from themselves.

It took awhile to pick back up with book two in The Madman's Daughter series. While book one was quite entertaining, the end of it did not necessarily leave me dying to find out what happened next. Book one seemed to drag, just a bit, and the ending made me just the tiniest bit irritated. Alas, I finally picked up book two, two months later, and I'm so glad I did!

Her Dark Curiosity picks up several months after Juliet is abruptly pushed off of the Island (literally) after she has made it back to London. Juliet is now living with the Professor, the man who apparently turned her father in to the police once he began his experiments. Of course, she isn't entirely content with the rich, fluffy life the Professor gives her and, of course, she can't stop thinking about Montgomery - or Edward Prince.

This book really gave me a chance to get to know some of the characters a lot better than The Madman's Daughter did. Juliet is just as dark and twisted in book two as she was in the first, although she spends much of the book trying to overcome it. I was really surprised by some of the things that happened, especially some of Juliet's decisions, but her imperfections are really what make me love her as a character. I felt like I was inside her mind at times. Megan Shepherd has done a fantastic job with Juliet! I also loved getting to know Edward even better than I already did. He is such a fascinating character - especially after everything that was revealed towards the end of book one!

The one absolutely useless character in Her Dark Curiosity is Lucy, who we get to know a little better since Juliet is back in good social standing and thus good enough to be around her. She got on my nerves so many times throughout this book and one idiot move she made near the end sealed the deal for me - she's useless. Other than her, I loved most of the characters including the new ones. The good guys weren't entirely good and the bad guys were deliciously evil! The love triangle continued throughout the book, but it was done in a way that really did work for me and was mostly believable.

Megan Shepherd continues her fantastic world building with Her Dark Curiosity, although this one is set entirely in London. I felt like I could see the city and almost see Juliet moving through it. Her attic was perfectly dark and dingy in my mind and the Island-like botanical gardens seemed spectacular. The entirety of London took on a creepy air with the exception of Lucy's house, which always seemed very Downton Abby-esque.

The story that continued in book two really was better than that of book one, which was really surprising to me since I've always been a huge fan of The Island of Doctor Moreau. I'm pretty impartial to the Jekyll/Hyde story, but I am totally in love with the way it was used here! I loved that everything was wrapped up in a big conspiracy (What can I say? I'm a sucker for conspiracies) and I loved that the list of people involved was shocking and seemingly endless. All of it made everything seem more urgent and exciting!

Her Dark Curiosity definitely kicked the series up a notch in my book! I would have grabbed book three immediately after finishing except I already had something else on the agenda. I definitely have plans to read A Cold Legacy as soon as possible! I would definitely recommend picking this one up even if you weren't totally in love with The Madman's Daughter. This one is awesome!

Book Review: The Raft by S.A. Bodeen

Title: The Raft
Author: S.A. Bodeen
Publication Date: August 21, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 231
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Robie is an experienced traveler. She’s taken the flight from Honolulu to the Midway Atoll, a group of Pacific islands where her parents live, many times. When she has to get to Midway in a hurry after a visit with her aunt in Hawaii, she gets on the next cargo flight at the last minute. She knows the pilot, but on this flight, there’s a new co-pilot named Max. All systems are go until a storm hits during the flight. The only passenger, Robie doesn’t panic until the engine suddenly cuts out and Max shouts at her to put on a life jacket. They are over miles of Pacific Ocean. She sees Max struggle with a raft.

And then . . . she’s in the water. Fighting for her life. Max pulls her onto the raft, and that’s when the real terror begins. They have no water. Their only food is a bag of Skittles. There are sharks. There is an island. But there’s no sign of help on the way.

I love a good survival story. I LOVE them! So when I saw the cover of The Raft, I figured it was probably for me. And when I read the description, I knew it for sure!

The raft is emotionally wrenching from page one when the heroine is introduced. She lives on a tiny island with not much to do and takes refuge in visits with her aunt in Honolulu, Hawaii. Almost immediately, the action begins. After a terrifying encounter with a creepy homeless(?) guy on the street, Robie knows she has to get back home in a hurry. When she realizes there are no passenger flights going out, she decides to take the cargo flight home. After all, she's done it in the past with no issues. But this time there is an issue. The plane goes down. And my heart was in my throat for the rest of the book.

There's no romance here. Although Robie survives with the co-pilot, Max, he is there solely to survive and he has enough of his own issues without taking on any of Robie's. In fact, he's not a very likable character at all. But that's fine, because Robie carries this story on her own. She's a fantastic narrator. She has to be since she's basically alone for the entirety of this book! Although she isn't entirely reliable...

There is a very natural flow to the action of The Raft. Being stranded at sea with constant action would not be very believable. The author has created a situation that makes sense in the context of the story but is never boring. It was the opposite of boring, really, keeping me on my toes from start to finish. This was truly one of the most emotional books I've encountered, second only to the one book that has ever made me cry, which also happened to be a survival story.

Believe it or not, although Robie is stranded in the middle of the ocean and then stranded on an island for the entire book, there is a twist in this book that I did not see coming at all. Not.At.All. The twist in The Raft was early 2000's M. Night Shyamalan quality. It literally left me gasping for breath and that's not something I've ever been able to say about any other book.

I really can't recommend this book highly enough! It was a very short, very quick read, with a satisfying wrap up that had me immediately in search of other books by S.A. Bodeen. I can't wait to get my hands on more of her work! But really... go read this book!

Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Publication Date: April 26, 1993
Publisher: Laurel-Leaf Books
Pages: 179
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In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy. With echoes of Brave New World, in this 1994 Newbery Medal winner, Lowry examines the idea that people might freely choose to give up their humanity in order to create a more stable society. Gradually Jonas learns just how costly this ordered and pain-free society can be, and boldly decides he cannot pay the price.

The Giver is set in a future society which is at first presented as a utopia and gradually appears more and more dystopic, so could therefore be considered anti-utopian. The novel follows a boy named Jonas through the twelfth year of his life. Jonas' society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan which has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. Jonas is selected to inherit the position of "Receiver of Memory," the person who stores all the memories of the time before Sameness, in case they are ever needed to aid in decisions that others lack the experience to make. As Jonas receives the memories from his predecessor—the "Giver"—he discovers how shallow his community's life has become.

My brother has been trying to get me to read The Giver for years. It's one of his favorite series and I've heard him talk about it over and over but, for some reason, just never got around to picking it up. If I had to guess, it's probably because it's a classic and I don't usually love those.

I should preface this review by saying that I saw the movie first. I know, I know. But I did. The movie was actually pretty good! I really did enjoy it... until I started reading message boards and realizing how different it was from the source material. That is why I decided to finally read it and I'm really glad I did!

The Giver is definitely a heck of a lot different than the movie that was recently released. Honestly, I did enjoy some of the changes in the film and I can totally understand why they were made. I really am not sure if the book could have been translated exactly to screen. But I digress.

The book opens with Jonas as he prepares to get his assignment - his job, essentially. Much is revealed about the workings within the community he lives in. There is a huge focus on precision of language, sameness, and honesty, to name a few. It quickly becomes very obvious that this is a community run by very strict guidelines that are never -not- met. Jonas, however, is a questioner. Though he feels guilty, he doesn't do everything exactly the right way and sometimes sees strange things. This starts to make sense to Jonas once he is given the assignment of Receiver of Memory.

The previous Receiver (now the Giver) explains a great many things to Jonas through memories. Jonas learns of how things were before the world became the way it is. He learns about colors and pain and love. But these things that previous Receivers were content (or not) with are not enough for Jonas. He always wants to know more and asks all the why's.

I greatly enjoyed the characters in this book, although they were obviously very strange. I liked Jonas a lot simply because he was not content with what he was being told and he wasn't content with the way the world had become. The Receiver, though sometimes gruff, had the feeling of a grandfather who was concerned and wanted his grandson to have (know) everything. Fiona and Asher were also interesting characters, though I would have liked to have known more about them.

The story of the Giver is very imaginative. It made me laugh at times and it also made me cringe at a few moments (okay, more than a few). The only downside for me was that I didn't feel like I knew enough. Like Jonas, I wanted to know more! And this book left me with more questions than answers. I guess that the remaining books share a little more about what may have happened, but I feel like The Giver itself was abruptly ended and needed more explanation.

Back to the film, I liked the touches of romance that were only very briefly hinted at in the book, though I did like how the book explained more about how romance within the community worked. I also felt like the book did a better job with their assignments since Asher's especially seemed a little ridiculous in the movie. And while the movie's landscapes seemed a little far-fetched, I did like that it was better realized, while the book left pretty much everything completely to the imagination. Overall, I liked both the book and the movie for different reasons and I'd definitely recommend both!

Book Tour Review: Bound by Spells by Stormy Smith

Title: Bound by Spells (Bound #2)
Author: Stormy Smith
Publication Date: March 19, 2015
Publisher: Perfect Storm Publishing
Pages: 472
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Review for book 1

Aidan Montgomery hadn’t been prepared for Amelia Bradbury to walk in and then out of his life. He also hadn’t expected to find the powerful magic hidden deep within him for the last nineteen years, but he’s embracing it — finding more control and more answers every day. Now, with the help of Amelia’s best friend, Bethany, Aidan is on a quest to understand his destiny and find Amelia.

Amelia decided to stand by her duty, which meant walking away from her first chance at love. Trapped in Cresthaven at the Queen’s mercy, she spends her days with Micah — an ally she still holds at arm’s length — struggling to manage her heartbreak while keeping her mind focused on the task at hand. As she continues to unlock the secrets of the Keeper power, Queen Julia’s true motives reveal themselves, forcing Amelia to decide, yet again, how much she’s willing to sacrifice.

Will Aidan get to Amelia before it's too late, or will the very power that sustains them keep them apart? 

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Last summer I was lucky enough to participate in the Bound by Duty blog tour. Here was a book I had never heard of and really went into blindly, but came out totally in love! But... you know how it is when you read a book right when it comes out and then have to wait seemingly forever for the next one? Well, thank goodness book two didn't take a full year! I was so psyched when I found out Bound by Spells was being released that I absolutely had to get in on the pre-release events! And this one was totally worth the wait.

Bound by Spells picks up right where Bound by Duty left off - with Amelia amongst her enemies and Aidan unsure of how to help her. Not only that, but Aidan's also fighting an internal battle with himself since discovering his animage powers... and his inner wolf. Amelia is also learning to control the torrent of power that has been released within her and trying desperately not to give in to it completely. But the very best part is that the location shifts for book two, to the magnificent home of Micah's mother. While I definitely liked the college setting of book one and felt like it was a perfect way to get to know all of the characters, I loved getting to explore this new place with Amelia and Micah! Especially the library...

I fell in love with the characters of Bound by Duty and they continued to wow me throughout book number two. I so loved watching as Aidan discovered things about himself and came to terms with them. He definitely became my favorite character in the series for so many reasons, not least of which was his stepping up to the plate when he could have said no. Amelia too made some amazing choices in Bound by Spells - some that I wanted to beat her over the head for, but still... And, well, Micah was still Micah. I liked him for sure, but he definitely isn't the main man!

The action in this book, while a little scarce, was still exciting and moved the story ahead at a good pace, never dragging like some middle books do. My only complaint is that Amelia and Aidan are not together (well, not really) for most of the book. It's a little bit of a pet peeve of mine when characters spend an entire book trying to get back together (see my review for World After). Luckily though, Bound by Spells made up for it in another way, so it wasn't as bad as it could've been without that small, spoilery detail.

Overall, I really liked where this book took the series. Stormy Smith has written a fantastic story with amazing, strong characters who have held my attention from book one, page one. She has been on several of my top ten lists over the last year and, after finishing book two, I can confidently say she'll be in a lot more of them. I can't wait to see where book three goes (and I'm really hoping for a lot more Aidan/Amelia moments)!

Excerpt

Through our first month of class, I sat back and observed the quiet girl who moved with the same weighted motions I did. She understood loneliness. It was clear in the way she would brighten at an instructor's question, but dim as she refused to allow herself to answer. The way she moved with awkward grace, always bumping into things, but never people. I had overheard her and Bethany talking, and I knew she would be at that party. It was why I'd gone. But I felt like a creeper. I had been hiding out, berating myself for being there, when she came flying down the stairs.

I watched Amelia leap from the bottom stair of the deck like she could fly ― all of the awkwardness gone and her movements fluid and beautiful. She pushed her way into the oncoming tide. She was lit up in the moonlight as her head dropped back and from my angle, I could see her smile. I was an intruder on the moment, but her smile broke something open inside of me. She was content and I was jealous. I wanted to know her secrets. I wanted to know how she found that place. She was my beginning and my end. Because now that she's gone, I'm some kind of magical freak and I'm alone — again. (Aidan)

About the Author

Stormy Smith calls Iowa's capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly that stories of fantasy were her favorite, and even as an adult gravitates toward paranormal stories in any form.

Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn't be stopped. When she isn't working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy's favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.

Author Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

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Audiobook Review: Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

Title: Lord of Chaos (The Wheel of Time #6)
Author: Robert Jordan
Narrator: Kate Reading & Michael Kramer
Publication Date: November 15, 1995
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
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Reviews for book 5 & book 7

In this sequel to the phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Fires of Heaven, we plunge again into Robert Jordan's extraordinarily rich, totally unforgettable world:

On the slopes of Shayol Ghul, the Myrddraal swords are forged, and the sky is not the sky of this world;

In Salidar the White Tower in exile prepares an embassy to Caemlyn, where Rand Al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, holds the throne--and where an unexpected visitor may change the world....

In Emond's Field, Perrin Goldeneyes, Lord of the Two Rivers, feels the pull of ta'veren to ta'veren and prepares to march....

Morgase of Caemlyn finds a most unexpected, and quite unwelcome, ally....And south lies Illian, where Sammael holds sway....

After taking kind of a long break from The Wheel of Time series, I decided to get back to it with installment number six on audiobook (because I just cannot stay focused on these books on paper). My overabundance of free time lately made this one a much quicker "read" than books one through five, but I was honestly a little sad when it ended!

Lord of Chaos begins Perrin and Faile trying to manage Emond's Field, Nynaeve and Elayne hiding out with the rebel Aes Sedai, Egwene studying under the Wise Ones, Mat doing his own thing with his army, and Rand wondering if he's gone mad already. (Can we just talk about all the names in these books? It is SO hard to write a review after listening to them and not seeing names on pages!) As always with The Wheel of Time, book six starts right where book five left off. And, as always, the action takes a little while to pick up. These books are by no means fast paced. There were actually moments throughout the book when I'd stop and take note of what had actually happened and not much ever had. I think this is something that would really grate on my nerves if I were reading them instead of listening, but as it is I actually enjoy hearing all of the minute details. In any case, things did happen and they were amazing!

This is actually the first book in The Wheel of Time series that had me cheering out loud for the characters! I have been rather impartial to the individual characters up until now, but Lord of Chaos changed me. I am absolutely in love with both Rand and Egwene! I LOVED watching them throughout this sixth book as they both rose to the occasion and embraced the power they were faced with. I really liked the relationship between Egwene and Gawyn. Although it did seem a little rushed, it worked for me. And Egwene herself is just a lovely character - she seems so much more wise and mature than the other women her age. Could this be from her time with the Wise Ones? o_O The romance between Rand and Min was also a lot of fun! As was wondering whether Rand really was going mad! He has become so strong throughout this series. I can't wait to see where book number seven takes him! Between Egwene becoming the Amyrlin Seat and the final battle between Rand and the Aes Sedai, I had to literally restrain myself from jumping up and down in excitement!

Of course, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Nynaeve and Elayne continued to annoy me with their constant bickering and behaving like teenagers. I realize this book was written during a slightly different time, but the non-stop references to the differences between men and women had me rolling my eyes on a pretty regular basis. I try not to hold that against Robert Jordan... And it really doesn't detract from the story overall, at least in my opinion. I wished Lan had a more prominent role (read: any role) in this book. One negative about a series this long is that sometimes characters completely drop out of an entire book! Hopefully he's back for the next installment!

This book was truly the best of the six I've read so far! I couldn't give it five stars because it really did drag. I mean, it's almost 42 hours of audio, so... it was bound to happen. Either way, I really did enjoy it and I can't wait to read the next one!

---

°o°  Notes on the Audiobook  °o°

Once again, Kate Reading, Michael Kramer completely blew me away! I love them so much! Anyone who happens to be listening and hear them think they're the funniest thing ever, but their voice acting skills are superb!

Book Review: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Title: The Madman's Daughter
Author: Megan Shepherd
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 420
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Reviews for books 2 & 3

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect. 

The Madman's Daughter sat on my TBR shelf for over a year, waiting to get a second glance. I had read the blurb before I put it there, of course, but I apparently didn't read it close enough. Recently, while looking for something new to read, I came across this book again and gave the description another read. And I saw the last paragraph. I was totally sold! The Island of Dr. Moreau was one of the books I was forced to read in high school (we watched the 1977 movie too!) and was totally enamored with. The idea of a mad scientist making these creatures on a secluded island just really caught my interest for some reason. So when I realized this book was based on that story, I absolutely had to read it as soon as possible!

This is a book that is definitely leaning towards gothic. There is nothing heartwarming here, so if you're looking for that special feeling and a happy ending, look elsewhere. I would have expected nothing less from a book based on Dr. Moreau. The story begins with Juliet working in a university hospital as a maid, fallen from her on-high status as a result of the scandal surrounding her mad scientist father who promptly abandoned his family when the warrant went out for his arrest. Assumed dead, he was never sought out by his daughter. But when she gets a hint that he might still be alive and then has a run in with her long-lost childhood friend, she sets off to find him again. What she finds is not what she had in mind, however.

The characters in this story, particularly Juliet, Montgomery, and Edward, were all very well portrayed. Juliet was not the kind of helpless heroine who gets on my nerves and Montgomery and Edward were mysterious enough in the beginning that it allowed for a great deal of revelation and growth throughout the book. I was able to identify with Juliet as she attempted to reconcile the conflicted feelings she had for Montgomery and Edward - the boy she'd idolized as a child and the mysterious castaway. Both had their redeeming qualities and I'm definitely interested to see where this particular love triangle goes in the rest of the series. Juliet's father was just what a mad scientist should be - totally mad. My heart broke for Juliet as she realized just how deep that madness went. The secondary characters in The Madman's Daughter - Alice, Balthazar, and Jaguar - were all very well developed as well.

The plot itself, while significantly different from The Island of Dr. Moreau, was intriguing. I loved finding things out along with Juliet as the story progressed. There were also several twists that I never saw coming! The search for the monster on the island was particularly good. Without giving too much away, there were some intense, unexpected facts that came to the surface near the end that were just awesome! The way Megan Shepherd built up the worlds of both London and the Island was also really well done. The gloom and hopelessness of London was tangible, as was the uncertainty and danger of the island.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Though I went back and forth on the rating (probably because I had to take some time to come to terms with the ending), I settled on four stars. I didn't realize until after I finished that each book in the series is based on a different classic - The Island of Dr. Moreau, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Frankenstein. I'm very excited to see where this goes in the next book once Juliet is back in London!

Audiobook Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Title: Fallen (Fallen #1)
Author: Lauren Kate
Publication Date: December 8, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 452
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What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours?

17-year-old Lucinda falls in love with a gorgeous, intelligent boy, Daniel, at her new school, the grim, foreboding Sword & Cross . . . only to find out that Daniel is a fallen angel, and that they have spent lifetimes finding and losing one another as good & evil forces plot to keep them apart.

Get ready to fall . . .

This is another on a long list of books that I have put off reading for reasons unknown. The other day, while browsing my local indie bookstore, I came across a new copy of this with a bright and shiny "Soon to be a major motion picture!" sticker on the front. If there's anything that will force me to read a book immediately, that's it. I absolutely MUST read books before I see them on the big screen. Well, most of the time (that didn't really work out with The Giver or The Maze Runner). So anyway, I went straight home and got a copy of the audiobook to listen to.

Fallen is almost as dark and depressing as the cover suggests, although there are enough humorous and heartwarming moments to keep readers from throwing it across the room. The story begins when Luce is enrolled into a new boarding school for troublemakers - Sword and Cross. After several rough first encounters, she develops a couple very interesting friendships with Arriane, a slightly psychotic and pretty intense shock bracelet wearing student, and Penn, one of the only normal people Luce encounters at the school. I really enjoyed watching these two very different friendships develop. The characters were multi-faceted and well developed. I especially loved Arriane's personality! I think I would have enjoyed having someone like her by my side in high school.

Luce herself was a character I wasn't quite sure about. I didn't dislike anything in particular about her... She was nice enough, I guess. I think it was just her naivety that really grated on my nerves. I know that there's no way I could have expected her to know everything she needed to know going into this story, but her actions make her seem more like she's 12 than 17.

The love interest(s) in Fallen were slightly less appealing, in my opinion of course. First there's Daniel. From the very beginning, Daniel is a total jerk to Luce. In fact, the first interaction they have is when he flips her off. Yet, for whatever reason, she continues to seek him out. Now, I get that there's a supernatural element to their relationship. Still, I'll never understand characters who continually seek out guys who are nothing but rude to them. On the other hand, Cam is nothing but a gentleman from day one. Luce seems torn between them at first, but there's never any doubt who she'll choose (I mean, read the blurb). Again, I understand the supernatural implications, but I don't know many girls in real life who would choose Daniel over Cam, at least from what is revealed about him in the first 3/4 of this book.

Since this is the first book about angels I've read, I'm tempted to say it's totally original. However, I have Hush, Hush sitting on my bookshelf right now waiting to be read after I finish this series. I'm not sure if calling this original is really totally fair. Whether the whole "fallen angel" angle is unique or not, the story was really interesting and did keep me reading (err, listening). I really enjoyed learning the history of the fallen angels and the differences between the different kinds. The villain of the book was also very unexpected - great twist!

Lauren Kate also did a really great job of describing the environments at Sword and Cross. I especially loved the way she painted the pictures of the woods, lake, and church/pool. Not all authors are able to write their worlds in such a way that they can be visualized, but this one did and I hope that it will translate well to the big screen.

Fallen was a very quick read and was definitely interesting and I liked it enough to make me read the next book in the series. That being said, I didn't love it and I doubt I'd read it again. Something about Luce and the romance between her and Daniel just didn't quite work for me. Hopefully it'll be fleshed out more in book two! I still would recommend Fallen to fans of paranormal romance, especially those dealing with fallen angels, since I seem to have different preferences towards romantic relationships in books than a lot of my peers.

Notes on the Audiobook

The voice acting skills of Justine Eyre were actually very good - much better than some I've encountered recently! My one annoyance was that the voices she used for the men were all very, very similar. I get that it's difficult to sound manly as a female, but I wish there had been a little more variety. She did a great job overall though and I have no qualms about listening to more books narrated by her.