The Program by Suzanne Young

Reading Level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 405 Pages
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Narration: First Person: Sloane
Genre: Dystopian
Challenge: Dystopian

The Program Series:
Book One: The Program
Book Two: The Treatment (4/29/14)
Book Three: Unknown

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Goodreads Synopsis:

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, 

teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. 

They are both growing weaker.

Depression is setting in. 

And The Program is coming for them.

My Review:

In this world, the teenage-suicide rate has skyrocketed. So much so that adults have labeled it as an out-of-control epidemic, a contagious disease that spreads from teenager to teenager. Bringing literal meaning to, "If your friend jumps off a bridge, would you do it too?" In order to control the epidemic, adults have developed and begun utilizing something called "The Program." So far, it's only in its beginning stages, which is why it only takes place in certain school districts. The teenagers who have the misfortune of going to those schools are sent to the Program if they show any signs of suicide, self-harm, or depression. All it takes, is one outbreak, one escaped tear, to get someone flagged and sent in for treatments. 

Since The Program boasts a 100% success rate in turning kids back into "normal, happy" teens who can live "normal, happy" lives, parents have become desperate enough to send their troubled teens in, no questions asked about what The Program really does. Despite the fact that government keeps any information about it under lock and key and that no visitors are permitted in the facilities, parents still ignore their misgivings and believe the best about it. Teens in this society live in constant fear of exposing their emotions. There not allowed to grieve or cry for their many lost loved ones, which makes them all the more suicidal. Many teens who are flagged choose death over the Program anyways, because they see what happens to those who enter it. They're wiped clean of memories of their friends, relationships, and anything else worth remembering. A clean slate.

The characters themselves were strong independently. Sloane and James weren't one of those couples who were nothing without the other. Although Sloane did panic a bit in the beginning from having to make decisions by herself, she got over that initial shock, put on her big girl pants, and did her best to remedy the situation. She was truly a strong heroine. Not in the physical sense, but in the mental sense. You would have to be if you wanted to stay sane in a society like this. Never showing your genuine emotions? Even in front of your parents? That's a complete nightmare. Her strained conversations with her parents tore my heart into pieces. I mean, I understand why they would feel so protective of her after losing their first child, but I was still pleading, begging really, for them to listen to their daughter for a change.

Although I really felt for her, there were still a couple of times when her naivete made me cringe. She trusted too easily at times, and when she did have the sense to be paranoid, she did what she was told anyways. Instead of trying to concoct a plan to get out of what she didn't want to do, she decided to live in the here and now, expressing a tiny act of defiance that would've never gotten her anywhere. James was a refreshing love interest. I really loved his personality and how he always tried his best to look after Sloane. But as all people do in reality, he had his faults and made mistakes along the way. This made him feel tangible, relatable in the everyday sense. Plus, he had a hilarious sense of humor, something that was definitely needed to temper out the dark, haunting setting these characters live in.

The relationship between Sloane and James was a refreshing and unique one! By now, I'm used to reading books where the main character falls in love with a character that she meets later on in the novel or with someone she never knew she had feelings for. In The Program, she was already madly in love. The way they interacted with each other was absolutely adorable.

Overall, I'm super happy for picking this up as an impulse read. Usually, I tend to stay away from books that don't involve a lot of action scenes, but this one, was a definite heart-jerker. The writing style was average. Something that I didn't notice too much, but also something that I didn't get irritated at. The theme was absolutely amazing, and I definitely give Young props for that. In a quickly overpopulating dystopian genre, Young manages to weave a chilling, eerie world that distinctly stands out above the rest. The Program makes you feel like a world as dark as this one can actually happen to us one day. A scary thought. In the next novel, I'm hoping that we'll find out more about the reason for the skyrocket in teenage suicides. There were a couple theories tossed around here and there, but nothing concrete. Can't wait!

Heroine- 4/5
Mentally strong, a bit naive.
Writing- 4/5 Nothing special.
Romance- 5/5
Loved the dialogue between these two!
Action- 4.5/5
Not your typical physical action, but
enough to keep me thoroughly engaged.
Sequel? Yes
Recommend? Definitely, although you probably have to be in a certain mood to read it.
Overall- 4.5/5

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Reading Level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 544 Pages
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Books for Young Readers
Narration: First Person: Mara Dyer
Genre: Mystery/Paranormal
Challenge: Paranormal Reading Challenge
Source: Library

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Mara Dyer Series:
Book One: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Book Two: The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Book Three: The Retribution of Mara Dyer
                                                (10/22)
Author's
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Goodreads Synopsis:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

My Review:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer left me breathless. The sequel rendered me speechless.

 

It's been days since I've read The Evolution of Mara Dyer, but even now, every single time my mind wanders in that direction, I have this almost irresistible urge to jump up and down and start hyperventilating like a little kid in a candy store. There are so many great and downright creepy things in this novel! I'm so relieved that I decided to read this in broad daylight, because if I hadn't, I would have definitely flinched at every single rustle of sound thinking that somewhere, out there, Jude was watching me.This is the type of novel to make you want to turn every single light in your house on. To check behind your shower curtain and under your bed just to make sure that there aren't any murderers lurking in the shadows. If you scare easily and still wish to read The Evolution of Mara Dyer, despite all my warnings, I urge you to proceed with caution.

 

I absolutely adored the protagonist, Mara. If I had the misfortune to be caught in her position, I would've cracked and gone 100% insane eons ago. I'm usually really good at distinguishing between the truth and the red herrings as well as figuring out answers way before the characters themselves do. But with Mara? It was just a huge jumble of puzzle pieces that I couldn't fit together no matter how hard I struggled to. Because, let's face it, she's not exactly what you would call the most reliable character.

At times you might think that she's just a misunderstood girl who wields a deathly power that no one understands. Not even herself. But other times......Michelle makes you wonder. Is she really insane? Are her hallucinations based on things that have actually occurred in the past or are going to occur in the future? Or are they the product of PSTD and a heightened sense of paranoia?  Her parents didn't make things any better either. Even though I knew that all they wanted was for their daughter to get better again, they could've at least taken the time to hear her out instead of nodding condescendingly every time she uttered a word.

 

Noah Shaw. I haven't been this swoony over a male character since Daemon Black from The Lux Series and Kaidan whatever his last name is from the Sweet Evil Trilogy. That's definitely saying something because Daemon's and Kaidan's sexiness can not even be comprehended or described from words of the English language. Why oh why can't boys like this exist in real life? British accent, dangerous, dark, mysterious, compassionate, and witty. What more could a girl ever want? The conversations between Mara and Noah always had me laughing out loud and clutching my stomach from not being able to catch my breath! Knowing my luck, those out loud moments always occurred during very inappropriate moments.

 

The relationships in this novel were beautifully written and perfectly executed. Not very often do we see such a strong bond between brother and sister. That one time when Daniel had to share his secret thoughts about Mara during an activity in the insane institution/Rehab Center was just So. Freaking. Beautiful. I was reduced to a sobbing, blubbering mess of tears. And Noah? The romance between them wasn't perfect. No romance ever is, which is why I loved this novel so much. We don't see the same, "He fell in love with her. She fell in love with him. He left because of some paranormal reason to protect the one he loved" sort of crap. Even though they did have fallouts and kept secrets from each other once in a while, they stuck together during the good and the bad times.

 

Loved the pacing of this novel! There was always so much stuff happening and your just continually bombarded left and right with questions! We get a little more background information on both of our main characters, but those answers just lead to more and more questions. I could barely make any guesses on where the novel was going next. Every plot twist, with the exception of one or two, took me by surprise. I was absolutely flabbergasted. And the end? I'm sure that everybody finds that to be such a big cliffhanger, but it can't be true. It's impossible. Michelle wouldn't do that to us. Right? .....o.o

 

Overall, please do yourself a favor and pick this book up as soon as you can. I might even get my mom to drive me to Barnes and Noble right now just to get a copy for the purpose of staring at it all day and thinking of the beautiful, masterpiece that is known as Noah Shaw. *Happy Sighs* A great read for everyone......except the fainthearted and easily spooked that is....*Evil grins*

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

“We are far too screwed up for a goddamned love triangle.”
― Michelle Hodkin, The Evolution of Mara Dyer

 

“You’re stronger than you believe. Don’t let your fear own you. Own yourself.”
― Michelle Hodkin, The Evolution of Mara Dyer

 

“I'm not sure you can appreciate how much I want to lay you out before me

and make you scream my name.”
― Michelle Hodkin, The Evolution of Mara Dyer

 

“It doesn't matter what we are. It matters what we do.”
― Michelle Hodkin, The Evolution of Mara Dyer

 

Heroine- 5/5

Romance- 5/5

Action- 5/5

Comedy- 6/5

Uniqueness- 5/5

Writing Style- 5/5

Overall- 6/5

 

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Splintered by A. G. Howard

Reading Level: Ages 14 and up

Hardcover: 384 Pages

Release Date: January 1, 2013

Publisher: Amulet Books

Narration: First Person: Alyssa

Genre: Retellings

Series: Stand Alone

 

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Goodreads Synopsis:

 

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

 

My Review:

 

My first reaction to this cover.....

 

I kid you not, it freaked me out that much. Now that I look back on it, I don't really understand why I had this reaction in the first place. Maybe it was the slightly deranged glint in her eye? Or the creepy gnarled vines and way too vibrant flowers in the background? Whatever the reason, it gave me the shivers! However, after I read the summary and the motto at the top, I had a epiphany (I just love the sound of that word. Try it! E-piph-any.....Yeah I'm nuts, I know). After being enlightened about what this novel was based off of, I looked at it from a new perspective and it soon made perfect sense! It was like hearing the light bulb ding above your head or the feel of that last pesky puzzle piece falling into place. The cover portrays exactly what I imagined this dark and twisted Wonderland to be, with a slightly insane girl featured in the middle of it all, who immediately made me think of noneother than Alice herself!

 

I have to admit that I have never read Alice In Wonderland before, and have only gotten the opportunity to watch the movie adaption. There aren't many retellings based off of this story, but from the ones I have read (Alice In Zombieland), I wasn't all that impressed. Splintered, however, was a different story. I thought it was really cool how Howard intertwined both elements from Lewis Caroll's Wonderland with her own imagination and transformed it into a twisted and violent world. Of course since I haven't read the real Alice In Wonderland, I can't judge whether or not it was related to the events that took place in Caroll's version, but from what I remember of the movie, it was pretty clever.

 

At first, the protagonist, Alyssa Gardner, seemed like a pretty cool chick to me. Ever since her mom was committed to an asylum, she tried her best to act and dress like the complete opposite of her crazy mother in hopes that she wouldn't end up like her one day. Even though Alyssa's change of style was partly because of her mom, she was still a tomboy at heart who wasn't afraid to be the odd one out. One thing's for sure, not many people would have the guts to wear the eccentric outfits she wore in this book. Alyssa was the type of person who didn't like leaning on others for support. She was a independent, headstrong girl who fought her own battles, and that was why I loved her character. Her reactions to her mother's situation and all the problems springing up in her life felt realistic, and because of that, I could connect with her character better.

 

However, as the story progressed, I liked her less and less. Although she still retained her independent nature, which was one of her few saving graces, she became annoyingly juvenile, and I ended up having to constrain myself from slapping my kindle around out of aggravation. Prior to reading this book, I already knew it was going to be one of those YA love triangles. Which surprisingly I was looking forward too! However, I didn't feel the romance that the author was trying to place on the characters. Alyssa kept on going back and forth between Morpheus and Jeb like choosing whether she wanted Peanut Butter or Jelly on a sandwich. She treated them like they were just toys to be used and thrown away and even had the audacity to be jealous and reprimand one guy for it, while she was dating, or whatever the heck you can call their relationship, the other guy!

 

As I said above, there were two love interests. Both Jeb and Morpheus have a dark side and a haunting story to tell, but for all intents and purposes, let's just say that Jeb is day and Morpheus is night. Jeb is portrayed as the knight in shining armor. The sun to Alyssa's otherwise gloomy day. I enjoyed reading the conversations that Jeb and Alyssa had, because the playful insults they traded with each other had the potential to draw out a few chuckles from me here and there. Yes, I do agree with other bloggers when they say that Jeb is too overprotective of her and needs to back off and give her some room. But! You can clearly see that Jeb is doing it out of love and truly cares about what happens to her. Jeb grows throughout the novel as well! Not sure when it takes place, but somewhere during their journey through Wonderland, he realizes that Alyssa isn't some defenseless little damsel in distress in need of constant help, but instead a strong and independent woman capable of fighting her own battles.

 

Morpheus. Oh Gosh. From all the descriptions I've read of him, I expected him to be some broody and sexy guy who helps Jeb and Alyssa along the way. I was prepared for the jealousy and the heartache, but Morpheus didn't even come close to my high expectations. Before he made a appearance, I was literally jumping up and down saying, "Is he gonna come now? Is he gonna come now?" but when I did meet him it was a sore disappointment. Yes, he had that bad boy and mysterious nature about him that most girls find irresistible, but in my opinion, he was just a conniver who had his own agenda. He kept on manipulating others into doing his bidding, and I just wanted to smack him throughout the whole book! There were only a few parts in the novel when I felt that he was slightly genuine in his feelings for Alyssa, but other than that, nope, didn't like him.

 

The beginning drew me in right away with its gruesomeness. It started off with Alyssa pinning butterflies and flowers onto easels in order to get them to stop talking to her. Not your most normal introduction xD. The relationship Alyssa and Jeb had was intriguing, and I was thoroughly entranced by everything that was happening. However, as soon as Alyssa fell down the rabbit hole with Jeb trailing just behind her, the action slowly dwindled. Which really should be the other way around. Howard had a great idea with enourmous potential, but the actual Wonderland part didn't fascinate me or make me want to read more about it.

 

Overall, I had high expectations for Splintered, but sadly it fell flat for me. The beginning was fast paced, but as the story progressed, my previously rapt attention soon diminished to a slightly interested but mostly blase feeling. Nonetheless, I loved the way Howard tied in the original elements from Alice In Wonderland and used them to her advantage. If you enjoy reading fantastical novels such as Alice In Wonderland and are drawn to dark and twisted books, you might want to check out what Splintered has to offer.

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

"He laughs, dark and soft, under his breath. "I am a man in every way that counts. Just like you are a woman, even if some people believe you're nothing more than a scared little girl in constant need of saving." -Splintered by A.G. Howard
 

Cover- 5/5

Heroine- 3/5

Romance- 3/5

Action- 3/5

Comedy- 3.5/5

Overall- 3.5/5

This review was entered for the 2013 January Debut Challenge.
 

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False Memory by Dan Krokos

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 336 pages
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Genre: Science Fiction/Futuristic

Book One: False Memory
Book Two: Untitled (August 2013)

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Barnes and Noble Summary:

Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn’t at all surprised by Miranda’s shocking ability.

Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn’t easy—especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving.

Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn’t seem to matter...when there may not be a future.

Dan Krokos' debut is a tour-de-force of non-stop action that will leave readers begging for the next book in this bold and powerful new series.

My Review:

False Memory, like the last novel I read, had a unique and never before seen storyline. I mean how many novels do you see about a girl who can trigger pure terror into everyone around her? When I picked up this book, I had no idea what to expect. One thing I found interesting was that the author was male, while the protagonist was female. Alot of male authors try and fail to understand the female mind and how it reacts to certain situations. In Dan's case, he succeeded!

The protagonist Miranda, who even though was strong, fierce, and stubborn was also vulnerable at the same time. When Miranda wakes up in a mall all by herself with no memories of her past, she starts to panic. I mean how would you feel if you woke up one day with no memories of what happened and how you got there? In her panic, she accidentally lets go of this physic energy that incites pure terror into everyone around her. Things go nuts. People start running around and trampling each other and even jumping off of balconies. Through it all, only one boy remains calm and undisturbed by the disaster happening around them.

Enter Peter. Peter is a black haired blue eyed stranger that Miranda has never seen before. But even though Miranda doesn't know him, Peter knows her. She learns that she is what they call a Rose and that Peter is just like her. Together, they set out on a journey with the rest of her team to find out the truth of who they are and what they were meant to do.

This novel is absolutely packed with action! Most of the time I was on the edge of my seat flipping page after page to see what happens next! The romance in this book, like many YA novels, was a love triangle. The two love interests were complete opposites of each other. One was calm, cool, and collected, while the other was cocky, witty, and arrogant. The romance kind of reminded me of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. She loved him. He loved someone else. She didn't love him back sort of thing.

Near the end of the book, things get a little hectic. Half of the time I had no idea what was going on but after rereading it again slowly, it finally clicked. False Memory is the kind of story that has a very intricate and complicated storyline, so that if you miss something the rest doesn't make sense. I recommend False Memory to all Sci Fi fans and to anyone with a love of fast paced action and heart racing suspense.

Heroine- 5/5
Romance- 4/5
Action- 5/5
Comedy- 3/5
Overall- 4/5

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Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Hardcover: 384 pages
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Books for Young Readers
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic

The Arcana Chronicles

Book One: Poison Princess

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Amazon Summary:

She could save the world—or destroy it.  Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.  But she can’t do either alone.  With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?  Who can Evie trust?  As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

My Review:

For some reason, when I first glanced at the cover for Poison Princess, I thought it would be a historical erotica romance type of book, and not the usual fast paced and steamy (but clean!) romance I usually crave. That's why I immediately said "pass" without researching more about it. Weeks later, I came across the book again after reading a glowing review about it. I deemed this as fate and decided to dig a little deeper and find out what all the hoopla was about. The summary talked about things like ancient prophecies, visions, and superpowers, and of course that got me really intrigued because it sounded like a book I would pick up and devour in a day. So ignoring the cover, (Not that the cover wasn't pretty, but it still reminded me of one of those erotica novels I see in Wal-Mart stores. *Shivers*) I cracked it open and prepared to journey into the post-apocalyptic world known as the After Flash.

After reading the first chapter, I was completely and wholly hooked. At that moment, I knew that I wouldn't be getting sleep any time soon. I kept on reading and reading until my eyes felt like they were bleeding and my dad turned off the lights so that I would have to read under the covers with a flashlight. It was that good! I loved how Kresley started at the end and flash backed to the beginning. Not many authors possess the skill to utilize it nowadays, but when an author does use it correctly, there's a 99.9% chance that I'll love it! The first chapter was told in the point of view of this creepy and insane psychopath. Gahh! His thought process and the way he looked at other human beings like they were just insects ready to be dissected totally creeped me out and had my eyes widening. But even though it was quite disturbing to be in the mind of a nutjob, it still reeled me in and I genuinely wanted to find out what happened next to Evie. Was she going to be the next unfortunate victim? Or was she smart enough to not fall for the psychopath's tricks?

Evie, was a pretty likable protagonist. Even though I couldn't really relate to her, I understood where she was coming from and her actions were pretty realistic. Before the Flash, (Modern Civilization) Evie had one of the richest families in Louisiana. She lived in a mansion, had a closet you could get lost in, wore shirts that probably cost like half a grand, and had the cute Quarterback of the football team as her boyfriend. Any other person would say she lived a pretty lavish and easy life right? Wrong. Evie isn't like other girls. She sketches grotesque pictures of red witches who enjoy inflicting pain on others, monsters who ooze pus and drain humans of their blood, and barren lands filled with nothing but death and destruction. Not only that, but she also has countless nightmares every night and hallucinations so real, that she can barely tell the difference between reality and fantasy. Like any other teenage girl, she thinks she's going completely bonkers and losing her sanity. Yet even though she's terrified in the inside, she tries her best to pretend that it doesn't bother her, to stay strong so that no one will judge her. After the flash, (after solar flares torch the earth and populations have diminished drastically) Evie still fights to stay alive. Some people might think that she was pretty much useless because she couldn't do much, but I think that she tried her best and that's all that matters. What else can you expect from a 16 year old girl, who's all alone in the world with only her sick mother to keep her company?

Jackson, ehhhh I had mixed feelings about him. My first impression of Jackson was "bad boy" after seeing the cover, and unsurprisingly I was right. He's the type of guy who stares at a girl's ass and doesn't even feel ashamed about it. At first I thought he was rude and barbaric, but throughout the novel I've learned that he just uses that meanness as a shell to protect himself. Jack grew up in a bad childhood home with leaky roofs and a mother who had abusive boyfriends, but he still had hopes and dreams of living a better life when he grew older. He could be considerate and thoughtful at times, but sometimes he just blatantly tells Evie that he just brought her along for sex, because there are "slim pickings" and then I just go back to disliking him again.

I loved the style of writing this author used. It sucked me right into the novel and I could actually feel myself standing in Evie's shoes and see the devastated world through her eyes. Most of the time, when I get to a particularly dull part of a novel, I just read every other word and skim the rest, but I couldn't do that through this novel because I was hooked onto everything the author described. Poison Princess was pretty well paced as well. I was never bored of it, that's for sure. It didn't have my heart pumping faster or anything but it still captured my attention. And that ending! Oh My Gosh I hate cliff hangers sooooo soooo soooo much!

I will definitely be watching out for the second installment of the Arcana Chronicles and won't hesitate on picking it up this time!

Heroine- 5/5
Romance- 4/5
Action- 6/5
Comedy- 2/5
Overall- 4.5/5

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Reading Level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 336 pages
Release Date: December 8, 2011
Publisher: Philomel
Genre: Paranormal/Souls

Book One: Shattered Souls
Book Two: Scheduled for release for early 2014

Author's Website

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Amazon Summary:

A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

My Review:

17 year old Lenzi Anderson isn't your typical teenage girl. Why? Because she can communicate to the Hindered, lost souls who require her services to move onto the afterlife. In the beginning of the novel, Lenzi has no idea who or what she really is and what she's destined to do. She is perfectly human, until her seventeenth birthday that is. That's when the voices start. At first she thinks she's going mad just like her father did, but soon finds out that all of this is normal when she meets her Protector, Alden. Alden explains to her that she has been reincarnated for generations and is famous among their people as the most talented Speaker there is. The problem is, is that instead of getting her memory back bit by bit, she has no memory of her past lives at all.

Let me start off by saying that this is the first ghost/soul based book I've read. I haven't read them before because ghosts and spirits usually creep me out and have a tendency to curve into the horror zone of YA novels. There are many things that I both like and dislike about Lenzi. Dislikes: I can't get to in depth about it without giving away spoilers, but I didn't like how she handled her romantic problems. Likes: Lenzi had a very believable voice. Instead of just believing right away that she was a Speaker and that it was meant to be, she had doubts just like any other person would. She asked the same questions that I would ask if I was put in her position. In fact, the reactions of all the characters were rational and not hastily thrown together in order to let the novel move along faster. Another thing I liked is that she was a fighter. Maybe not in the physical sense that I usually read about but she was a fighter in the mental sense which I appreciated as well.

Lenzi has two love interests and this makes the well known love triangle romance. Zak, her current boyfriend is likeable and sweet in the beggining, but soon turns territorial and possesive as the story progresses. You can tell that Zak really does care for Lenzi, but even though he does, he can't help her with who and what she is like Alden can. Alden is honarable, trustworthy, and always puts Lenzi's needs before his own. They have a unbreakable connection from the time they meet even though Lenzi has no memory of her past lives.

The storyline of Shattered Souls is not one I see alot in YA Paranormal. It was fresh, unusual, and one that I enjoyed alot. There are still some creepy aspects of this book like the exorcisms and possessions, but other then that it was amazing! I will be definitely reading the sequel to this riveting debut!

Heroine- 4/5
Romance- 4/5
Action- 4/5
Comedy- 3/5
Overall- 4/5