Fallen

Fallen by Lauren Kate

There's something strange about Sword and Cross reform school. When Luce arrives after her boyfriend dies in a mysterious fire she feels out of place. She's new and everybody seems to know each other so of course she doesn't fit in.

I had a feeling early on that there was something unusual about the school. Luce sees Daniel and feels inexplicably drawn to him. He is rude and dismissive but she can't stay away. At one point she asks him if they know each other from someplace else. Cam is gorgeous and uber nice, but she can't stop thinking about Daniel. Daniel and Cam seem to hate each other. Strange love triangle.

Then the shadows arrive. Luce has seen them most of her life and they always leave her with a sense of foreboding. She has strange and vivid dreams. The "strange" begins to spill over into her waking life. I began to wonder if the people around her know what's happening, or if maybe she was a little crazy.

Usually when reading the first book in a series I grant a little leeway to the story, knowing that there will be more to come. I really love the concept of this one. I am hoping that the plot tightens up a bit and we don't spend quite so much time in Luce's head filled with self-doubt.

Torment is book two, out now. Passion comes out this summer. I am certainly checking them out.

Thereby Hangs a Tail

Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn

This is book two in a series. I read Dog On It last year and there's a third title that follows this one; To Fetch a Thief (which I haven't read yet). The stories follow the private detective partnership of Chet and Bernie and are told from Chet's perspective. Chet is a dog. So see? Great premise.

I love dogs. I love detective stories. There's something about these that just don't quite do it. I enjoy thinking about the world from a dog's-eye-view and the first book was great fun. I found myself struggling to get through the second one. Maybe it was just the story, about an abducted show dog named Princess. I found it a little tedious.

The third one is in my to-be-read pile, and I'm sure I'll read it. I hope I enjoy it as much as the first one, I hope I hope. Because, if it doesn't measure up I'm afraid I'll have to stop with the series. Life is too short and there are way too many really good books out in the world ...

Have you read these? Do you feel the same?