Witch Song Book Review

I was so lucky to receive a copy of this book to read and review. I've been in kind of a reading slump lately. I've read a few books that I wasn't a huge fan of and it made it hard to pick up another one. I didn't want to be disappointed again. And after reading the first chapter of this book, I wasn't.

Blurb: The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons--but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

I loved this book. Not just because the author is awesome and I've been bloggy friends with her for a while, but because it was so different. It was fresh, unique. Something I'd never read before. The world Amber created was so interesting and real. Her writing and descriptions were beautiful.

The characters were rich and well rounded. They all had strengths and flaws. I loved the main character Senna. She was so timid about her power and her witch abilities, and I loved seeing her grow throughout the book. Her relationship with Joshen was sweet and not just based on looks alone. The villains were scary and I really liked how she put their point of view in the novel as well. The pacing was great. I didn't get bored. I wanted to find out what happened next and read it pretty quick. Which is saying a lot, since I don't have as much time as I would like to read anymore.

Anyway. It was a great story. Real characters with a lot of action and some romance. You all know I'm a sucker for a good romance. ;) The magic system was very unique as well. So cool. Anyway, read it. You won't be disappointed. Amber wrote a fantastic debut that is definitely worth reading. And honestly, that cover is to DIE for! Gorgeous!!

Book Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

I realize I did a book review yesterday, but this book is so fresh in my mind I have to write my review now.

YA Science Fiction
Release Date: January 11, 2011

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Isn't that cover awesome? I love it. Now, let's get on with the review. I'm not going to lie. This was one of the strangest books I've ever read. Like, ever read. I've never read anything like it before. I don't read a lot of science fiction, and this book threw me for a loop! There were so many crazy things that happened that I didn't even know what was going on at some points. Some of the stuff was just so bizarre. The whole Season thing was weird. I'm still not sure what to think of that. All I know, is that I'm so glad society isn't like that here!
The characters were very well written. Amy acted just like I would have had I been her age. You can't just adapt into a whole new culture in one day. She was whiny at times, cried a lot, and was so insistent that something on the ship was not right. I thought she was very real. Elder was a great character as well, and I hope to see him grow a little more in the next book. It will be interesting to see how that plays out.
Overall, the book was brilliantly written. I was sucked in from the first page, and I had to find out what happened at the end. Some of the secrets I never saw coming. I say... great job to Beth Revis. I still prefer fantasy, but this book made me want to read science fiction a little more now. ;)
*This book does have some "human mating" topics that may be a little much for younger readers. Just a heads up. :)

Book Review Tuesday!

I love books. Love them. Since I just closed down my book blog I've had going for a few years, I didn't want to give up reviewing for good. I'm going to make Tuesday review days, and spotlight a favorite read of mine. The first one I wanted to spotlight, is Rachel Hawkins Hex Hall series.


Blurb from Goodreads:
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.
As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

The cover of book 2! I won't post a blurb, since I don't like spoilers! :)


Aren't those covers AMAZING?! I love them. And I cannot say enough good things about these books. The minute I started reading Hex Hall, I could not put it down. Sophie is such a great character. She is probably one of my very favorite YA characters, ever. She is hilarious. She's down to earth, and very real. I also love her love interest. Who doesn't love a good romance? ;) Anyway. I'm not going to do long reviews or anything, but this series is a must read. I loved both books and cannot wait for the next one!
By the way, Demonglass just came out last week and it was just as good as Hex Hall, if not better. Let me know if you end up reading them! I hope you like them as much as I did! :)