Accession (Sarath Web #1) by Terah Edun

This was a confusing book for me.  There wasn't enough detail of the world in which I found myself immersed- a world of witch queens, magic, giant morphing toads, and drunken vampire-unicorn hybrids.  There was entirely too much information on dancing trolls under bridges and the sibling rivalry between perfect Rose and inadequate Katherine.  There were also a lot of mixed metaphors and a weak plot.

I think Accession has the potential to kick off a good series, but it might have been  better condensed.  Part One of a story, rather than the whole book.  It definitely needed more editing, and the writing style was so messy it was painful at times.  I will most likely read the second in the Sarath Web series, but if I am as disappointed in it as I was in Accession, I will give it up for good. 

Accession (Sarath Web #1) by Terah Edun: 2 out of 5 stars.

Until You Find Me by Amber Hart

I couldn't connect with the characters in this book at all.  Raven annoyed me with her incessant anger and refusal to even try to understand her father.  I admit, it wouldn't be easy to have a dad who seemed to care more about gorillas than his own family, but by the halfway point of Until You Find Me, she still hadn't given any indication of having any feelings other than blind anger.  Jospin also seemed incredibly shallow, with little character development by the halfway point. 

I gave up there because I'd already spent days trying to get into this book.  Neither the characters nor the story had me hooked enough to keep going until the end. 

Until You Find Me by Amber Hart: 1 out of 5 stars. 

The Silver Tower (The Silver Tower Saga #1) by Colee Firman

What started, for me, as a standard tale of a girl who longs to break free of her family's expectations ended up a richly detailed adventurous fantasy that left me wanting the next installment now.  Or sooner, if possible. 

As a protagonist, Sophie was excellent.  She doesn't just accept things as "the way they have to be." There is a lot of development on her part throughout the entire book.  The rest of the cast works well around her, even when people didn't turn out to be what I expected.  There were unlikely friendships made (Maven is a particular favorite of mine), betrayals, alliances, and yes, a romantic entanglement.
 
The Silver Tower kept me turning pages until the very end, and now I kind of regret it.  Mostly because now I have to wait (and wait, and wait) for the next book.  The writing is great, the dialogue is never forced or feels fake, and I'm going to have to find more of Firman's books to read in the meantime. 

The Silver Tower (The Silver Tower Saga #1) by Colee Firman: 4 out of 5 stars.

Handpicked by Dani Oden

As an introduction to college life, Handpicked is fairly accurate and occasionally humorous.  As a mysterious peek into the deep, dark secrets of sorority life where people go missing and someone is stalking the girls of a certain Greek organization, this story leaves a lot to be desired. 

There is a lot of lag time between a girl going missing and a severed hand being left for someone to stumble upon it.  There is even more lag time between the hand being found and the solving of the mystery.  Mostly that time is filled with stale descriptions of classes and parties, and completely inane chatter about the locations of closets, desks, and beds in a sorority house.  By the time the resolution finally rolls around, it feels rushed, disjointed, and frankly, uninspired.

I can't honestly say I'd recommend this, and after reading it I wouldn't buy it for my own collection.  I'm sure someone, somewhere would really love it, but it leaves a lot to be desired in the suspense arena.  The only thing that does recommend it is that the writing style is decent.  Sadly, that just can't override an tepid plotline and a slapdash conclusion.

Handpicked by Dani Oden: 0 out of 5 stars.

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin

Tabula Rasa is quickly paced, full of action, and answers the questions it creates for readers.  Sarah is a strong narrator supported by great writing skills.  Although we're not given deep looks at many of the other characters, they're described so well that they also stand out from the pages.  Sarah's interactions with everyone in this book affect the ultimate outcome of her life after the brainwashing of a clinic. 

One of the aspects I liked most about this book was the fight against those in control without being set in a futuristic dystopian society.  Its current setting makes it slightly easier to relate to, without delving into a huge breakdown of a society that we don't yet understand.

I also like that it can stand alone.  We might want to know more of what happens in Sarah's life after breaking free of the clinic, but there's no cliffhanger that makes a sequel necessary.  There is chaos and confusion from the beginning, but Sarah is forced to plan and take action in a small timeframe.  I've said it before, and I know I'll say it again: not everything has to be dragged out in a series. 

What begins with a girl who is literally a blank slate ends solidly with a protagonist who realizes the lengths to which she would go to reveal the truth, especially when the truth about herself might be the scariest thing she's ever had to face. 

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin: 4 out of 5 stars.

Feuds by Avery Hastings

Although I liked this story, it felt...glossed over, to me.  I got a sense of both Davis and Cole, but was not given a deep look at either.  Just when I felt like I was getting somewhere with one of them, another direction was followed.

Maybe I'm just projecting my feelings about falling in love under duress and in a very short amount of time, but I don't think there was really enough interaction between Davis and Cole for them to really love each other.  Attached, yes.  Deeply crushing on each other, yes.  Love?  I'm not convinced. 

 I also think the title doesn't really go with anything. The FEUDS were discussed a few times, and Davis even sees part of one of the fights, but I don't think they were important enough, plot-wise, to gain the title. 

Overall, though, I did like this story.  Both protagonists are easy to like.  Readers will find themselves attached to Davis and Cole, even though minor objections or questions.  (I certainly was.)  With a little more detail and polish, this could be a riveting YA romantic tragedy.  Perhaps that's what we'll get in the sequel.  I, for one, will definitely be reading it. 

Feuds by Avery Hastings: 3 out of 5 stars.

Blood of My Blood by Barry Lyga

Barry Lyga delivered an explosive story with twists I didn't see coming.  This is a truly chilling tale of what humans are capable of- murder, torture, and the haunting truth that one never knows what one will do when pressed into an impossible situation.  Blood of My Blood is the stunning conclusion to the Jasper Dent trilogy. 

Blood of My Blood by Barry Lyga: 5 out of 5 stars.

Also, even though I think Jazz might be too young to be familiar with My Chemical Romace, their song "Famous Last Words" is my theme for him.  It ran through my head often during this entire trilogy, and now when I hear it I think of him. 

Midnight Dawn by Jocelyn Adams

This is an action-packed fantasy novel that combines great writing with excellent characters.  Adams presents a world for Addison and company that seems plausible enough to scare you into wondering what would happen if it were true.  Even though I didn't read the first one, I didn't feel like I had missed too much.  All my questions were eventually answered, and the ending was neatly done.  Not everything was perfect, but everyone's fate was included before the final page. 

Midnight Dawn by Jocelyn Adams: 4 out of 5 stars.