Review: RADIANT and BOUNDLESS by Cynthia Hand

*WARNING: HERE BE SPOILERS for Books 1 and 2.*

Proceed at your own peril. 

Titles: Radiant and Boundless

Author: Cynthia Hand

Series: Unearthly #2.5 and #3

Why I read it: To finish the trilogy and find out what happens!

Thoughts: I liked Radiant, but Boundless was my favorite book in the trilogy.

First of all, I'll briefly discuss Radiant. This novella is the bridge between books 2 and 3 in the trilogy, and it follows the POVs of both Clara and Angela as they spend their summer between high school and college in Italy with Angela's family. I really enjoy Angela as a character, but I didn't like being in her head. For most of the series, I questioned her intentions, but this glimpse into her mind doesn't really lend itself to continue that speculation. \

In my opinion, the best novellas for series change your perspective on something, whether that be a plot point or character. Take for instance Destroy Me, the first novella from the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. Since Destroy Me is written in Warner's POV, we see a completely different side of him than we saw in the first book, and it changed how I reacted to him in the second book. We also got to see events in Destroy Me that are important to the plot, but would have been impossible to learn about in the main trilogy since Juliet wasn't there to witness them.

With that in mind, I don't think Radiant is a successful novella. The Angela and Phen plotline is essentially summarized in book three, so I don't think this novella offers anything new or important. It also didn't really change my opinion on Angela very much; if anything, it made me like her a little less, but I don't think that's what Cynthia Hand set out to do; I just didn't like being in her head at all.

My official recommendation would be to skip this one and save your two dollars.

Boundless, on the other hand, I absolutely loved. I loved seeing Clara's relationships with Angela, Tucker and Christian, and how they all developed in different ways. One of the things I love the most about this series is the way it deals with morality, and good vs. evil. For a book about angels, there are few characters who are entirely good or entirely bad. Sometimes good people make bad decisions, and sometimes bad people can be influenced by love and sympathy. I loved it. I also loved the way the angel-bloods mythology is even further developed and utilized within the story.

This book, more than the first two, really twisted in unexpected ways, especially toward the end. I was not expecting that ending at all, but I think it fits the story beautifully. And I am more than pleased with how it ended. I think I even cried there in the last few chapters.

I admit that I had been hesitant to read this for a while, but I am so glad I decided to pick it up. For anyone who is wary of angel books, I would recommend giving this series a try!

Ratings: 

Radiant: 3/5 stars

Boundless: 5/5 stars

Tell me: have YOU read this book yet? What was your opinion? Let me know in the comments below!

Review: HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand

*WARNING: HERE BE SPOILERS for Book 1*

Proceed at your own peril

Title: Hallowed
Author: Cynthia Hand
Series: Unearthly #2

Why I read it: To continue the trilogy!

Thoughts: I loved this book even more than the first one.

First of all, I have to say that the twist at the end of the first book? That Christian is also an angel-blood? I loved it. I couldn't say that I guessed it, because I would be lying. But I did know that something was up. I think it's a very interesting twist, and it kinds of flips the love triangle onto its head in a way.

Speaking of the love triangle, I really adored how this book dealt with it. For Clara, it's not all black and white. Christian can understand what she's going through in a different, deeper way than Tucker can. And she doesn't want Tucker involved in all the angel-blood stuff because she wants to keep him safe. It's just complicated and I love it. Still a Tucker/Clara shipper, though.

I also really enjoyed how we're getting more and more of the mythology behind the angel-bloods; what it means, what their powers are, and what kinds of angel-bloods exist.

What I loved most about this book is that while the threat of the Dark Wings still looms over the story, it's not the main focus and conflict of this book. Hallowed deals with friendships and relationships, and especially family. It deals with heartbreak and confusion and finding yourself, and loss and grief and coming to terms. I cried while reading this book, which was something I absolutely never expected from this series.

I still definitely recommend this series, especially after reading this sequel and seeing where the series is going. I couldn't wait to read the next book after I finished this.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Tell me: have YOU read this book yet? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Review: UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand
Series: Unearthly #1

Summary: In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees...

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans ( a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy. 

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side. 

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny? 

Why I read it: I wanted to read an entire trilogy on vacation, and this was the one that caught my eye!

Thoughts: I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would.

I knew I would probably enjoy it at least somewhat; I just wasn't sure how much. Part of that uncertainty came from the fact that this is a paranormal romance. These were all the rage back in the post-Twilight days; there was even an entire section of YA devoted to them in Barnes & Noble for a while. They come in all different varieties of paranormal: vampires, werewolves, angels, demons, aliens, etc. And honestly, I've mostly avoided the genre. Don't get me wrong; I live for romance in a book. I'm ten times less likely to read a book if there's no romance at all, no chance for swoons. But I have to have a plot, as well, and my number one fear of reading paranormal romances nowadays is "too much romance, not enough plot."

Also, the last time I tried to read an angel book with a girl in a pretty dress on the cover, it was not a fun time. (Bonus points if you know what book I'm talking about.)

So I went into this series with a bit of trepidation. Luckily, my fears were banished by the end of the first book.

The book begins with Clara receiving her purpose, though she doesn't yet know all of it, or what any of it means. Clara's purpose uproots her family from California and deposits them in Jackson, Wyoming, where her visions are telling her she's meant to be. From there, it's a journey to find out what her true purpose is, how she's supposed to fulfill it, and how to balance her angelic side with her normal, everyday life.

Clara is a fantastic protagonist. When we first meet Clara, it's only been a few months since she learned of her angelic heritage, so she's still figuring things out along with the reader. But despite the fact that Clara has supernatural powers and a purpose she's fated to fulfill, she's still a very normal teenage girl who worries about what her hair looks like and what her classmates think of her. And I loved that.

Clara's mother is also an angel-blood, and while she teaches Clara a lot about what that means, she also keeps a great many secrets from her. But I still loved Clara's relationship with her mom, and the way they can never stay mad at each other because they've always basically been best friends. Clara's little brother, Jeffrey, is also navigating his life as an angel-blood, and it's fascinating to read about the three of them together.

Now let's move on to Christian and Tucker, our love interests. Yes, there is a love triangle. But you should know by now that I actually like love triangles when done properly, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Christian is the mysterious boy in Clara's vision, so she knows he factors into her future somehow. But Tucker is the boy who throws a wrench into everything, and makes Clara more confused than ever.

I will say that I was a Tucker fan from the moment we met him. Clara and Tucker's relationship at first is slightly combative and sarcastic, and we all know I love relationships that grow from antagonism. But Christian does have his merits, and it was easy to see why Clara had feelings for both of them. They are both decidedly swoon-worthy.

I love the mystery of Clara's vision, and seeing the hints peppered throughout the book as to what will happen. The twists and reveals that happen are perfectly plotted and foreshadowed, and I definitely guessed at least one of them, but I was taken by surprise by the others. When Clara's visions finally come true, it's a rollercoaster ride from there to the end, including the introduction of a very intriguing antagonist.

The other thing I really liked about this book was the mythology of the angel-bloods. It's very original, like nothing I've ever read before. I loved learning about angel-bloods and their powers, and about the different kinds of angels and and angel-bloods. Every new piece of information felt like a piece of a puzzle, a small part of the bigger picture.

My only problem with this book is that it was a little slow in parts. The pacing is mostly fine, but there just isn't quite enough action to go around in a book this size. There's a very slow build from the beginning of the book to the climax, and then it's intense until the end. But it didn't lessen my enjoyment for this book by much.

If you, like me, are wary of the paranormal romance genre, I recommend you giving this book a chance. The plot and mythology are just as interesting as the love interests, though the romance does provide plenty of swoony moments.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Tell me: have YOU read this book yet? What was your opinion? Let me know in the comments below!

Review: THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST by Holly Black

Title: The Darkest Part of the Forest
Author: Holly Black

Summary: Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they're destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she's found the thing she's been made for. 

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries' seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can b, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once. 

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking. 

Until one day, he does...

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

Why I read it: I was looking for another standalone to finish off March, but I didn't want to read another contemporary. This was one of the most recent books I'd bought, so I grabbed it!

Thoughts: LOVE.

This is the first Holly Black book I've ever read, so I wasn't sure what her writing style was going to be like, but I absolutely loved it. The writing is lyrical and beautiful, and unexpectedly emotional. In the beginning, during exposition, the narration wandered a bit. Things would be happening and the narrator would start thinking about something else, which would then make her think of something else, until her thoughts finally ended up back in the present. At first it was a little bit confusing, but it didn't take long to get used to. I ended up liking the almost stream of aspect.

The characters are fantastic. Every character is fully fleshed out, and I was shipping characters left and right from the very beginning. Hazel is so strong, and I love that she is the warrior instead of her brother, Ben. But Ben is pretty amazing, too. I loved him so much, and his crush on the horned boy is so perfect. Having a gay character in an urban fantasy YA was so refreshing.

The secondary characters are fantastic as well, such as the horned boy and Ben's best friend, Jack. Even characters who are mentioned in passing early in the book are brought up again at some point, often playing a significant part in the plot. I like this attention to detail; the idea that no one is insignificant.

I've read quite a few books with fairies or faeries or fae in them, but this one managed to be completely different. The folklore and mythology behind the fae is so intriguing, and some of it definitely felt familiar. Especially the Alderking. (Erlkonig, anyone? Since I'm a vocal music person, it was great to see that come up! Let me geek out a bit.)

This book twists and turns and I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. There were so many plot points that I never guessed, but they worked perfectly. I really appreciate that this is a standalone fantasy, and everything is wrapped up by the end.

I highly recommend this to everyone, whether you're a diehard Holly Black fan or a newbie like me! Especially if you like books about fae.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Tell me: have YOU read this book yet? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below! 

Review: A DAWN MOST WICKED by Susan Dennard

Title: A Dawn Most Wicked
Author: Susan Dennard
Series: The Spirit-Hunters #0.5

Why I read it: I was bored late at night and I realized that I still hadn't read this yet. I have it on my Kindle app on my tablet, so I just opened it up and started reading. Then I finished it over the next couple of late nights!

Thoughts: I love Susan Dennard's writing, and I absolutely LOVE her Spirit Hunters trilogy. And I thoroughly enjoyed this novella! It was great finding myself back in the world of the Spirit Hunters and seeing some of the characters once again.

This novella is centered around Daniel, the sarcastic inventor and member of the Spirit Hunters. A Dawn Most Wicked explores Daniel's backstory and how he ended up in a team with Joseph Boyer and Jie. In the original trilogy, this past was hinted at, but we got a much deeper understanding of Daniel's character in the novella.

The novella is a lot longer than I had expected, but that definitely works in its favor, because we have time to really explore Daniel's history, as well as his relationships. None of it feels rushed, and everything seems necessary.

While I loved reading this novella, I admit that the story wasn't exactly what I was expecting, though it definitely makes sense for Daniel's character. I was just expecting to be much more emotionally invested in Daniel's relationship with Cassidy, especially after finishing the trilogy last summer. But I still loved the writing, and the action scenes were so fast-paced.

My only other problem isn't with the novella itself, but rather how it is marketed. It is listed as the #0.5 installment in the series, meant as a prequel. However, the beginning and end of the novella take place at the end of the first book, and contain major spoilers for that book. Therefore, I would strongly suggest waiting to read this until you've read at least the first book, Something Strange and Deadly, otherwise you'd be spoiling yourself.

I highly recommend this novella if you're a fan of Susan Dennard's trilogy. It might not be crucial to the story, but it definitely is enlightening and entertaining.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Tell me: have YOU read this novella? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Review: STRUCK by Jennifer Bosworth

Title: Struck
Author: Jennifer Bosworth
Series: Struck #1

Summary: Mia Price is a lightning addict. She's survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her. 

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come. 

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn't who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything. 

Why I read it: A long time ago when this came out, I thought this sounded so intriguing, so I got it for Christmas. I FINALLY picked it up in December. I needed a book to read after finished Cress, but I didn't want to get invested in a series because I knew I was going to start Shatter Me as soon as I got it for Christmas. So I chose a book from my TBR jar and this is what I came out with!

Thoughts: As intriguing as I found this premise, I'm starting to think I never finished reading the synopsis. Because I think if I had read the entire synopsis, I would have realized that this wouldn't be a "Danielle" book. Because I did not enjoy it very much.

First, let's talk about characters. I didn't really care for any of them. Mia is whiny and very rarely takes any initiative of her own. Which is strange, since I expected a lightning addict to be much more confident and badass. I truly like a lot of YA cliches, but the girl who tries to hide and go unnoticed is not one of my favorites. Her brother, while playing a couple of semi-important roles in the plot, has very little to actually do or say. In the beginning, I thought his defiant attitude would serve as a good counterpoint to Mia's passiveness, but then he basically disappeared throughout the middle of the book. I felt bad for their mother, but at the same time, I just wanted to slap her.

The other students at Mia's school. Honestly, I can't even remember their names because they didn't have a ton of personality. They were just there to serve as impetus for Mia to get involved--in some way--with both cults. Which I will get to in a moment.

But first, let's talk about Jeremy. Oh, Jeremy. This boy is a Gary Stu if I ever saw one. The insta-love between these two was just awful, and I didn't believe it for a second. Also, there is a little bit of a mystery surrounding who Jeremy is, and boy did I see that one from a mile away. And it annoyed me so damn much that Mia didn't figure it out, too. She should have.

The plot was okay. I didn't realize there were "two warring cults" in the book; I thought there was just the religious cult, which really intrigued me. Cults like that make me very curious, which was part of the appeal of this book. But the two cults aspect really took me out of the story. I knew this book would have a little bit of a paranormal aspect to it, but I didn't expect the religious mythology aspect to play such a large role in the plot.

The story takes place in Los Angeles. But because this MAJOR storm has taken place, there is a lot of world-building to do in order to get a real feel of what this earthquake has done to the landscape and the culture. But instead of learning about it bit by bit, the first ten chapters or so are mostly explanations, with very little real action. Which was not great. I never really got seriously invested into the story or attached to any of the characters.

Maybe I was just expecting something different out of this than what I got. If the sequel to this ever comes out (it's been planned for two years already, with no release in sight), I probably won't be continuing with the series, and this book will probably be going in my unhaul later this spring.

Rating: 2/5 stars

Tell me: have YOU read Struck? Did you like it more than me, or do you agree with my points? Let me know in the comments below! 

Series Review: MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin

  

Series Title: Mara Dyer

Book Titles: 

1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

2. The Evolution of Mara Dyer

3. The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin 

Summary (Unbecoming): Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. 
It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously. 
There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. 
She's wrong.

Why I read it: I had heard about the first book a while back when it first came out, and I was intrigued, but it was never a priority. This year, when I started this blog and started really following the booktube community, I started seeing the series again. Then, the third book was released this November and all pre-ordered copies were signed! So in July, I pre-ordered my copy and ordered the first two books. Then I marathoned the entire series when Retribution arrived at my house!

Thoughts: I seriously LOVED this trilogy. I have heard a lot of people had issues with the third book, and I can understand their reservations, but I had none of the same problems. I ran through the three books in about a week, and they're not small books. But that's how good they were.

The characters are fantastic. Mara is an unreliable narrator, as even she doesn't know what's going on around her, but she has a good heart, and I was constantly rooting for her throughout the series. Noah Shaw is the perfect bad boy with a heart of gold and I totally fell in love with him. Like seriously, Noah Shaw has jumped near the top of my book boyfriends list. But I also love Jamie Roth! Jamie is Mara's first friend at her new school, and he stole my heart. I was thrilled when he continued to be a main character in the trilogy.

Mara's family is also present throughout the series, which is a welcome surprise in a YA world where most of the families are unimportant to the story. Mara's parents want nothing but for Mara to be better, and her brothers are always on her side, which was a wonderful addition to the story.

As far as Mara and Noah are concerned, their romance is very realistic to me. There is an instant attraction, but a slow-build to anything real, and I loved every delicious second.

Michelle Hodkin's writing is perfectly suited to this kind of story. The way she describes Mara's hallucinations make you feel paranoid and crazy right along with Mara. It's a very visceral experience. I wanted to keep reading. I wanted to learn more.

The setting was great, too. Being a Florida native, I know firsthand what it feels like to be in Florida, and Hodkin paints that picture perfectly, as well.

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect with this series. I'd heard it was a thrilling, mess-with-your-mind adventure, and it totally was. But it certainly has some elements that I wasn't expecting, which made the series even more un-put-down-able to me. It had everything I love in a series: mystery, thrills, great characters and a fantastic romance.

I seriously adored this series. If you love a palpable romance between two leads, a mystery that you're racing to solve, and unreliable narrators, I would highly recommend you check out this trilogy!

Individual ratings: 
Unbecoming: 5/5 stars
Evolution: 5/5 stars
Retribution: 5/5 stars

Rating overall: 5/5 stars

Tell me: have YOU read the Mara Dyer series yet? What did you think of them? Let me know in the comments below! 

Review: SINNER by Maggie Stiefvater

*WARNING: Minor spoilers for Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy ahead!*

Title: Sinner
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls #3.5

Summary: Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret--his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. t one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved? 

Why I read it: I just marathoned the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy in October/November, so I was ready to get back to that world at the end of November and finish out the series with this companion novel. And Cole St. Clair is my favorite character in the series.

Thoughts: If you've read my review of the original trilogy, you'll know that it wasn't my favorite series. I enjoyed it, but I had several problems with it. But I decided to read Sinner anyway.

I was so not disappointed.

First of all, Cole and Isabel. They're my OTP. Seriously, I love them. They're both so sarcastic and sure of themselves, but they're both broken on the inside in some way or another. They're perfect for each other.

Many of the things I disliked about the trilogy (Sam and Grace, the wolf drama, the open endings) were gone from this book. Though Cole is a werewolf, that fact plays a minor part in the book. It is more of a characteristic, a backstory, than an actual plot point. And I appreciated that. And while Sam and Grace make a couple of small (voice) cameos, they play no part in the plot, either. And this ending is very definite. And it was wonderful.

Other things I originally disliked were just different enough in this book that it didn't bother me. I hated Sam's songwriting in the original, because he would just spout of with several lines at a time out of nowhere. In Sinner, however, Cole's songwriting on the spot consists of short phrases that he writes in a notebook for later inspiration. It felt much more believable.

Mostly, I just loved this book because I got exactly what I wanted out of it. It is not the best book in the world. It is not mind-blowing or life-changing in any way. But I wanted a book about Cole and Isabel, and that's what I got. It's not about the wolf drama or some overarching plot. It's just about Cole and Isabel and their relationship. And I loved every second of it.

Rating: 4.75/5 stars

Series Review: WOLVES OF MERCY FALLS by Maggie Stiefvater

Series title: Wolves of Mercy Falls

Book titles: 

1. Shiver

2. Linger

3. Forever

Author: Maggie Stiefvater 

Summary (Shiver): the cold. Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why. 

the heat. Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now. 

the shiver. For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human--and Grace must fight to keep him--even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future. 

Why I read it: I heard about this series a long time ago and thought it sounded awesome. So it got put on a "to buy" list, and my mom picked up the hardcover boxed set a couple years ago. She read them immediately and loved them, but I just haven't had the urge to get to them. But this summer, I learned that Maggie Stiefvater was coming to my area in November, so I decided to read the series before I got to meet her. (This event happened last Monday, so click here to view pictures on my Instagram account!) Also, her other series (The Raven Cycle) has gotten a LOT of hype, especially since the third book was released just a couple weeks ago. So I thought it was about time! 

Thoughts: First of all, I really enjoyed this series. These were the first werewolf books I've ever read, and it was a good introduction to the creature. However, I had some problems with the series that luckily did not diminish my enjoyment too much. I will start with those, and then tell what I did like about it. 

Let's start with our main characters, Grace and Sam. Grace is a girl who was attacked by the werewolves as a child, but never turned into one. Sam is the yellow-eyed wolf that she's always felt connected to who suddenly turns back into a boy that she falls in love with. Yes, it's a little insta-lovey. Her connection and almost obsession with the wolf at the beginning of the book borders on creepy. It's like she's in love with the wolf before she even knows he's a boy and it's super weird. 

Grace is a very straightforward, no-nonsense character, which is refreshing for a young adult novel. She is not constantly plagued by daydreams or romantic fantasies, and I really appreciated that. Sam, however, has taken on all of those qualities. He is a sensitive, guitar-playing, song-writing, poetry-reading boy. And while I do like the musician side of him, Sam often writes songs in his head. And they seem spontaneous, four to six lines coming to his mind immediately when the situation arises. And that is super annoying. It's a pet peeve of mine. Sam and Grace and their romance are cheesy enough on their own, but the song lyrics make it almost unbearable. And just to drive that point home, we are introduced to another musician in the second book, and he is the complete opposite of Sam. 

In fact, let's move on to the other characters in the books. The aforementioned second musician is Cole St. Clair, and he is undoubtedly my favorite character in the series. Which is upsetting, since he isn't introduced until the second book. He is the angsty, angry, sarcastic, bad boy, and I absolutely LOVE HIM. Especially when he meets Isabel, a friend of Grace's, and sparks fly. I enjoyed Cole and Isabel infinitely more than Sam and Grace. 

I also feel like the pacing was inconsistent throughout the series. All three books feel a little slow, with a large chunk of action happening at the end, and a lot of build-up happening until then. All three endings are very abrupt, but in different ways. The ending of Shiver feels like an indie movie, with a climax and an extended denouement with a very sudden turn on the last page. Though the first book is my least favorite in the series, it may have my favorite ending. It left me wanting more, but it could be read on its own. 

The ending of Linger is even more abrupt, with the climax happening in the last few pages and very little denouement happening afterward. I enjoyed the majority of Linger more than Shiver, but I did not love the ending. 

The ending of Forever, and of course the end of the trilogy, had a very open ending. By the end of the story, we were still left wondering what happens to our favorite characters, and not in the best way. I usually don't mind open endings, but this one left me feeling a little unresolved.  

Now, I said that I enjoyed the series, despite the problems I had with it. And I really did. I believe that my favorite part about this book is the mythology. This is the first werewolf series I've ever read, but I absolutely loved the mythology and the science behind the werewolves. We're told that the werewolves change to wolves when it is cold outside, and that during the summer, they get to be human again. This explanation changes a bit throughout the series, with characters making new discoveries, but I loved all of it. It's so unique and different from other werewolf stories out there. 

The dialogue is fantastic, especially between Cole and Isabel. Their relationship is more believable than Sam and Grace. And I suppose that's a good thing, since Maggie Stiefvater recently released a companion book to the trilogy entitled Sinner, which is all about Cole and Isabel. YAY. I would read about Cole and Isabel forever, so I'm hoping to read that soon. And hopefully it will provide us with a little more closure about Sam and Grace and I can feel at peace about the Mercy Falls world. 

Best of all, even though this series wasn't my favorite, it has convinced me to pick up more Maggie Stiefvater. I just purchased The Scorpio Races, and I bought Blue Lily, Lily Blue at the signing, so I just need to get the first two books. 

If you haven't picked up this series, I would still definitely recommend them, especially if you have an inclination towards paranormal romance stories that are heavy on the romance. 

Individual ratings: 

Shiver: 3/5 stars

Linger: 3.5/5 stars

Forever: 4/5 stars 

Rating overall: 3.5/5 stars 

Tell me: have YOU read the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy? What did you think of them? Let me know in the comments below! 

Series Review: THE SECRET CIRCLE by LJ Smith

Series title: The Secret Circle

Book titles: 

1. The Initiation

2. The Captive

3. The Power

Author: L.J. Smith

Summary: THE CIRCLE'S POWER HAS LURED HER HOME...

Forced to move from sunny California to gloomy New England, Cassie longs for her old life. Even so, she feels a strange kinship to a terrifying group of teens who seem to rule her school. Initiated into the coven of witches that's controlled New Salem for hundreds of years, she's drawn into the Secret Circle, a thrill that's both intoxicating and deadly. But when she falls for the mysterious and intriguing Adam, Cassie must choose whether to resist temptation or risk dark forces to get what she wants--even if it means that one wrong move could ultimately destroy her. 

Why I read it: This series was adapted into a TV show a few years ago by the CW, which is also home to The Vampire Diaries, another LJ Smith adaptation series. Unfortunately, the show didn't do as well as hoped, and it was cancelled after one season. Last year, I decided to watch that season on Netflix an absolutely fell in love with it. So when I realized that the season ended on a cliffhanger, I decided to read the books to find out what happens. 

Thoughts: The books are COMPLETELY different from the show. The changes pretty much happen from page one, so I still don't know what would have happened on the show. 

What a shame that is, because the story the show was telling was MUCH more compelling than the one LJ Smith told. And almost the entire main plot of these THREE books made it into the first season of the show. Which means that the show had SO MUCH POTENTIAL for the future. I am so sad it's over. 

I know that LJ Smith has a lot (A LOT) of fans, especially of her Vampire Diaries series. But I can't say that I love her as an author. At all. 

The plot is super contrived, which isn't always a bad thing. After all, the main premise is the same in the books and the show, and the show totally makes it work. First, we have the "special and she didn't know it" trope. Cassie is a witch, but she has never known about her heritage. Then we have the "love at first sight" AND the "true love/soulmates" trope. Cassie and Adam feel a strange connection to each other the very first time they meet, and the second time they see each other, Cassie tells him that she loves him. *eye roll*

Almost all of the characters are extremely one-dimensional, and play into stereotypes perfectly. We have Cassie, the Mary Sue. Then we have Adam, the perfect love interest. Diana, the purely good girl. Faye, the bad girl. And Nick, the bad boy with a heart of gold. Of all these characters, Nick is the one who intrigued me the most. He's the only one who shows any real growth, and he was totally swoonworthy to boot. 

The writing is so wooden. At the bottom of one page, two characters do the exact same thing, one line after another. Something about a smirk or a grin, but Smith uses the exact same phrase for both actions. And if I have to read another line about Faye's "honey-colored eyes" or Diana's "hair that is the color of moonlight," I may puke. 

Wow. This review is making it seem like I really hated the books. I promise, I didn't hate them. Yes, the three main aspects of a book that usually make me like it (plot, character and writing) are lacking, but I still almost liked them. It was a fun idea, even if the plot was predictable, and I had fun comparing it to the TV show. 

In the end, I'm glad I read the books. And if I hadn't loved the TV show so much, I might have liked the books a little better. 

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5