Linger

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

This is book two of the Mercy Falls trilogy. The first is Shiver. Considered young adult and written with more maturity than most in that category.

Evermore

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Meh. It's not awful, I did read the whole thing. But, I had the distinct feeling I had read this book before. At least in the beginning.

Immortal

Immortal by Gillian Shields

Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn from her home near the sea to become the newest scholarship student, strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave her drowning in loneliness.

Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a mysterious and attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian blaze with each secret meeting, she begins to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl—a girl who is so eerily like Evie she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present that she cannot control. As the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate. (source)

Soulless

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless is a Victorian-era story of werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and a preternatural named Alexia Tarabotti. I love Alexia, she's stubborn and opinionated.

Here's the first part of the books description: "Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette" (source).

4 out of 5 stars

Hush, Hush

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush is the first in a series. It's an easy read with a nice flow to the story. It was easy to pick up and read quite a bit in a short period. Aside from being totally readable, I found Nora, the main character, to be completely annoying. But, most 16-year-old girls are totally annoying.

Patch shows up in her science class mid-year and is assigned to be Nora's partner. He's mysterious, totally aloof, and uncooperative. He seems bent on making Nora uncomfortable and defensive, which she is. Yet, for some reason, she's drawn to him. He feels dangerous to her and she even believes he means her harm. So why WHY does she continually seem to be seeking him out, even if only mentally? She tries to pretend indifference, yet is obviously not. Patch seems to draw her into dangerous (!) situations and she knows it but, for some reason, follows along.

Of course, there is a little mystery that comes along with the story. There are some supernatural events that begin happening once Patch shows up. Nora has weird hallucinations like totaling her best friends car on a dark rainy night, or her bedroom being ransacked. She also begins to hear a voice inside her head. Not "voices" but a voice ...

Nora's best friend, Vee, is a dolt and I don't really understand why they're friends.

The story ends kind of abruptly and it's all wrapped up with a tidy ending. The follow-up, Crescendo, should prove to be interesting how the story moves along. Am I going to read it? I'm not sure yet. But if I do, you'll hear about it here.

Happy reading!

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.