Review: Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers

ORIGINAL SIN
By: Lisa Desrochers
Published By: Tor Teeh
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Series: Personal Demons (#2)
Pages: 398
Genre: Paranormal
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: BEA
Buy the Book: Amazon

Note: Original Sin is the second book in the Personal Demons trilogy, and this summary may contain spoilers.

Goodreads Summary: Luc Cain was born and raised in Hell, but he isn’t feeling as demonic as usual lately—thanks to Frannie Cavanaugh and the unique power she never realized she had. But you can’t desert Hell without consequences, and suddenly Frannie and Luc find themselves targeted by the same demons who used to be Luc’s allies.

Left with few options, Frannie and Luc accept the protection of Heaven and one of its most powerful angels, Gabe. Unfortunately, Luc isn’t the only one affected by Frannie, and it isn’t long before Gabe realizes that being around her is too…tempting. Rather than risk losing his wings, he leaves Frannie and Luc under the protection of her recently-acquired guardian angel.

Which would be fine, but Gabe is barely out the door before an assortment of demons appears—and they’re not leaving without dragging Luc back to Hell with them. Hell won’t give up and Heaven won’t give in. Frannie’s guardian exercises all the power he has to keep them away, but the demons are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell’s grasp.

And not everyone will get out of it alive.



I really enjoyed Personal Demons, so I was eager to continue the story with Original Sin. So many of the things I loved from the first book carried over here - Frannie's voice and the romantic chemistry to name a couple - and in this installment, all of the stakes get higher.

Frannie, Luc, and Gabe went through a lot in Personal Demons, but the story is far from over. Demons will be demons, and they are none too thrilled with the turn that Luc's mission took. Therefore, they have no intention of leaving him - or Frannie - alone. Frannie might have a new guardian angel, but it isn't enough to keep the demons away permanently. On top of that, Frannie's friend Taylor has been acting strange, and Frannie is determined to find out why. With so many evil forces at work, Frannie and Luc will have to figure out a way to stay off the demons' radar or send them back to Hell empty-handed - and quickly. But can they survive everything Hell has to throw at them?

Though Personal Demons often seemed cliche, Original Sin was not quite what I was expecting. Instead of simply following Frannie, Luc, and Gabe, new characters were introduced - a new guardian angel for Frannie and a new neighbor for Luc - and these two factor heavily into the story. Frannie's new guardian angel even has chapters from his point of view, further bringing this second storyline into play. Lili, the next door neighbor, is a powerful presence and an extremely interesting (if not always likable) character. Frannie's world seems to be crumbling in this book, and she definitely had her struggles with the demons. She is still trying to come into her own, and I look forward to seeing how much she grows in the last book.

I said that Original Sin was not quite what I expected, and that extends beyond the basics. There were a few twists and surprises toward the end of the book, but I liked that they further integrated the story. There was also the matter of Gabe. Gabe was, for various reasons, absent for much of this story, and I have to say that I missed him. Although I like Luc, I like Gabe as well and hope that he will be back in the third book.

If you've read Personal Demons, you will definitely want to keep going with the series. And if you haven't started it, pick up Personal Demons and get ready to dive into an edgy paranormal story. As for me, I can't wait to find out what happens in Last Rite!

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:

TOUCHED
By: Corrine Jackson
Published By: Kensington Teen
Release Date: Nov. 27, 2012
Preorder the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Remy O’Malley heals people with touch—but every injury she cures becomes her own. Living in a household with an abusive stepfather, she has healed untold numbers of broken bones, burns,and bruises. And then one night her stepfather goes too far.

Being sent to live with her estranged father offers a clean start and she is eager to take it. Enter Asher Blackwell. Once a Protector of Healers, Asher sacrificed his senses to become immortal. Only by killing a Healer can a Protector recover their human senses. Falling in love is against the rules between these two enemies. Because Remy has the power to make Protectors human again, and when they find out, they’ll becoming for her—if Asher doesn’t kill her first.

This is Book One in the Touched trilogy.



Why it's wanted:
First of all, I love this cover! But beyond that, the story sounds different and intriguing. I want to know what happens to Remy!

Teaser Tuesday (53)

I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"The world around me melted into silence: the waves hitting the rocks, my breathing, the pounding of my heart...and the bells. No sound, no pain, no fear. Only Anna.""


p. 131 (Proof Pages) from ASHES ON THE WAVES by Mary Lindsey (This teaser posted with permission from the author.)
Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will share the books we have just finished reading, are currently reading, and are planning to read.



Just Finished Reading:
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Currently Reading:
Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey

Planning To Read:
Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood



What are you reading this week?

Review: Hidden by Sophie Jordan

HIDDEN
By: Sophie Jordan
Published By: Harper Teen
Release Date: Sept. 11, 2012
Series: Firelight (#3)
Pages: 272
Genre: Paranormal
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA
Buy the Book: Amazon

Disclaimer: Hidden is the third book in the Firelight trilogy, and the summary below may contain spoilers for the previous books. If you are new to the books, be sure to look at my reviews of Firelight and Vanish.

Goodreads Summary: Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.



It's no secret that I love the Firelight trilogy. These books are unique in a market flooded with so many paranormal creatures, and Sophie's writing is fantastic. I was extremely excited to get a copy of this at ALA because I was dying to know how the series ended.

If you have read Vanish, you know just how action-packed the ending was and why the year-long wait for Hidden was way, way too long. Hidden begins just after the the events of Vanish, with Jacinda determined to make everything right once and for all. Her plan - infiltrate the enkros stronghold and make it out alive - is dangerous, but she knows it must be done. Only nothing could have prepared Jacinda for what she finds within... And even if all goes according to plan, there is still one minor detail Jacinda will have to work out: Does she belong with the pride and with Cassian, or can she ever be free to be with Will?

From the beginning, Hidden had a different tone from Vanish. The setting is darker, the stakes are higher than they have ever been, and it seems as though the weight of the world is on Jacinda's shoulders. For so much of the book she is at war with herself, trying to decide between what she feels is right and what she wants, wondering if there is a way for both to coexist. Eventually she has to face the hard truth that she cannot please everyone, but by accepting that, she grows into a stronger individual. Although there are things I wish she had done differently, I could sympathize with her dilemma and liked the person that she became. With that, I was thrilled to see what happened for Tamra in this book and how she became her own person as well. There are also new draki to meet, and I appreciated what they brought to the story.

As much as I enjoyed Hidden, I also had one issue with it - there were times that seemed stagnant, when I longed for the excitement that was so pervasive in Vanish. However, the ending of the book made up for that. There were twists that I didn't see coming and, my own personal opinions and wishfully constructed endings aside, Hidden provides good closure to the trilogy.

I have loved spending time in the world of the draki, and I will be sorry to see these characters go. I'm secretly holding out hope that Sophie isn't done with this world and we will see dragon books from her again...but whatever books we see from her, I know I will be reading them!

Review and Giveaway: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

PUSHING THE LIMITS
By: Katie McGarry
Published By: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: July 31, 2012
Series: None
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.



When I first heard about Pushing the Limits, I heard that it was similar to Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. Because I enjoyed that book and because I like darker contemporary fiction, I knew that I had to pick up this book. And I am so glad that I did! I haven't read a book that was quite so emotional in a long time.

Echo Emerson is trying her best to live with the holes in her memory. She knows that she cannot have contact with her mother, and that there are scars all over her arms, but that is about all she knows. That, and her father wants to start a new family with his second wife Ashley. After one of their therapy sessions, she runs into Noah Hutchins, the hot womanizer of their grade. Echo wants nothing to do with him, but the counselor Mrs. Collins has other ideas. Echo and Noah find themselves thrown together, trying to fight an undeniable attraction and realizing that each might be just the person the other needs. But after what they've both been through, can they risk trusting - and loving - someone else again? And how far can they both go before one of them has reached their limit?

Pushing the Limits is one of those books that draws you in and takes hold of your emotions so fully that you feel as if you are living the story rather than just reading it. I had to know what happened to give Echo her scars, and I had to know if there was a happy ending here. There is so much emotion packed into this book. Both Echo and Noah have their own emotional baggage that they are sorting through, and it made me care about both of them that much more. I wanted so much for them both to heal and to find happiness with each other. With that, I loved the dual points of view in this book. I enjoyed the glimpses into both Echo and Noah's life, and that made the book even more powerful. Noah was especially wonderful - he's a bad boy with a hard exterior but soft interior, just the right combination to be completely swoon-worthy. He might even be a new book boyfriend.

This book deals with a lot of issues, from mental disorders to broken families and the ramifications of both. In addition, it looks at both friendships and love, and how these can help or hurt your everyday life. It has very serious undertones, and even though it isn't always an easy read, it is an excellent one. The stories of Echo and Noah are ones that won't soon be forgotten.

Pushing the Limits is a book that you will want to move to the top of your to-read list. There is going to be a companion novel following, and I cannot wait to see what Katie McGarry writes in it!






~GIVEAWAY~
I am very excited to have one copy of Pushing the Limits to give away! Please note that the book will be coming directly from the publisher; please allow ample time for the book to arrive if you win.

The contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only. Must be 13 to enter. Please see my Contest Policy for more information.

This contest will close on Friday, Sept. 14 at 12:01 AM.

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:

BEAUTIFUL REDEMPTION
By: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Published By: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: Oct. 23, 2012
Preorder the Book: Amazon

Note: This is book four of the Caster Chronicles, and the summary may contain spoilers.

Goodreads Summary: Is death the end . . . or only the beginning?

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes -- even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series.



Why it's wanted:
This is such a wonderful series, and I can't wait to see how it ends!

Teaser Tuesday (52)

I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Live free or die.

Four words. Thirteen letters. Ridges, bumps, swirls under my fingertips.

Another story. We cling tight to it; and our belief turns it to truth."


p. 86 (ARC) from PANDEMONIUM by Lauren Oliver

Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

THRONE OF GLASS
By: Sarah J. Mass
Published By: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: Aug. 7, 2012
Series: Throne of Glass (#1)
Pages: 416
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: TLA
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.



Throne of Glass was a highly anticipated title this year, and after reading it, I can see why. I've been reading more fantasy books lately, and Throne of Glass can definitely hold its own beside some of the other great fantasy titles. From the very beginning, this book sweeps you away to another world and keeps you there as you watch the story unfold.

Celaena Sardothien is one of Ardalan's most famous and feared assassins. As such, when she is finally caught, she is sentenced to the hard labor camps in Endovier for her crimes. However, because of her reputation, she's given a chance for freedom from the prince himself. If she will serve as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin, and if she wins, then she can earn her freedom. Celaena agrees and is taken to the palace to train with none other than the Captain of the Guard before the competition begins. But it seems that there is much more happening at the palace than just a competition. Champions are winding up dead outside of challenges, and it seems like evil magic might be the cause. Fortunately, Celaena is not on her own. She becomes friends with the Princess Nehemia at the castle and also becomes closer to the Prince and Captain Westfall. But will all of her training be enough for her to figure out what is happening and, more importantly, to win?

I love fantasy books, especially if they are fantasy books that include sword fights and similar styles of combat. Throne of Glass has that and more. From a kick-butt female assassin to intense action to two love interests, this book has the recipe for a great start to a trilogy. Celaena is a strong character, despite - or perhaps because of - everything she's been through. Her secrets and her past are revealed gradually through the book, making her all the more intriguing at the beginning and helping you connect with her by the end. I enjoyed watching her friendship with Nehemia develop. Friendship was something that Celaena seemed to lack in her childhood, and it was nice to see it happen here. I also liked the magic thread that was woven through this book, and I'm hoping to see it developed more in the next installment.

Finally, there are the love interests, Prince Dorian and Captain Westfall. I'm hesitant to call it a triangle, exactly, but there is something there. I'll be curious to see how everything plays out for them, as it certainly kept things interesting in the first book. And while Throne of Glass never wanted for action or intrigue, I found that it wasn't a quick read. I wanted to take my time and take it in, as these characters seemed more complex than some. And in a way, this made the book all the more satisfying.

Throne of Glass is a fantastic debut from Sarah J. Mass, worthy of the hype that it has gotten. It is a thrilling fantasy novel, and I look forward to seeing what happens next!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will share the books we have just finished reading, are currently reading, and are planning to read.



Just Finished Reading:
Pushing the Limits by Katy McGarry
Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
My Life in Black and White by Natasha Friend

Currently Reading:
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Planning To Read:
Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers
A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger



What are you reading this week?