Burning by Danielle Rollins

Title: Burning
Author: Danielle Rollins
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Release Date: April 5th 2016

Source:ARC from the Publisher. Thank you Bloomsbury!

Summary from Goodreads:

After three years in juvie, Angela Davis is just a few months shy of release, and she'll finally be free from the hole that is Brunesfield Correctional Facility. Then Jessica arrives. Only ten years old and under the highest security possible, this girl has to be dangerous, even if no one knows what she did to land in juvie. As strange things begin happening to Angela and her friends that can only be traced to the new girl's arrival, it becomes clear that Brunesfield is no longer safe. They must find a way to get out, but how can they save themselves when the world has forgotten them?

Review

Well that was an interesting read for sure.  Burning had such a unexpected blend of thriller, mixed with crime, mixed with supernatural elements that really worked at times.  Even though the book was blending so many elements I was intrigued and read almost the entire book in one sitting.  It had this eerie almost scary movie vibe to it that just drew me in.

About 75% of the way through the book I was thinking it was going to be a 4 star book for me but unfortunately the ending felt rushed and left me wanting more but not in a good way.  I still enjoyed the craziness of the story but felt like by the end there was some lack of direction on how it should conclude and what should happen to the characters.  Angela's ending was open but a bit predictable and Jessica's ending was really not what I wanted to happen at all.  So ultimately I felt rather let down.  That is to say though, others might enjoy the dramatic ending.

If you are in the mood for a slightly creepy, slightly eerie story about a girl in juvie who meets a very special and uniquely talented new inmate and their dangerous situation, then check out Burning!

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

Title: These Vicious Masks
Author: Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: February 9th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Jane Austen meets X-­Men in this gripping and adventure-­filled paranormal romance set in Victorian London.

England, 1882. Evelyn is bored with society and its expectations. So when her beloved sister, Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent. But they’re not the only ones looking for Rose. The reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters have special healing powers. Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared.

Review

I can’t put my finger on the exact issue I have with the writing style but the sentence structure and flow slowed me down. These Vicious Masks was hard to get into, both the writing and slow introduction made for a tedious first couple of chapters. (I almost gave up but I had heard good things so I kept going).

While I think at times These Vicious Masks seemed to have some great innovative plot points other times it felt like a mash-up of popular tropes that feel overused. The setting and world building seemed a tad stereotypical. Along with the world, I did not really care about the characters; there was nothing wrong with them but I just did not care what happened to them. Evelyn is a strong willed female lead that is full of attitude, witty comments, and a fierce love for her sister that made her an entertaining character. (One of the aspects that kept me going throughout).

These Vicious Masks unfortunately fell flat. Conceptually it sounded like a book I would have loved but the writing style, romance, and world building did not work for me.

Riders by Veronica Rossi

Title: Riders
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: February 16th 2016
Source: Review copy from publisher (Thank you Tor Teen!)

Summary from Goodreads:

Nothing but death can keep eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

While recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine, and Death—are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now—bound, bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him?

Review

Veronica Rossi is one of my favorite authors so I was quite excited when I got my copy of Riders. Riders was not what I was expecting at all, it is a dark, action heavy book primarily narrator as a recollected story.   Riders drops the reader right into the story.  It took my a little bit to get used to the story telling and immerse myself into the story.

Since it is a different world where the characters are unsure of what is going on at first it took longer for me to get into the plot and understand the happenings at first.  It made the beginning part of the book a bit slow for me though it did pick up.  The action and fight scenes were dark and powerful.  I really enjoyed the introduction into the supernatural elements.

The powerful yet dangerous horsemen of the apocalypse are mysterious characters whose stories unfold throughout the course of the book. Although it was a tad slow at the beginning, I really enjoyed the good (ish) versus evil story line.  I look forward to learning more about each horsemen and continuing this high stakes series.

The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen by Katherine Howe

Title: The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen
Author: Katherine Howe
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 15th 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

It’s summertime in New York City, and aspiring filmmaker Wes Auckerman has just arrived to start his summer term at NYU. While shooting a séance at a psychic’s in the East Village, he meets a mysterious, intoxicatingly beautiful girl named Annie.

As they start spending time together, Wes finds himself falling for her, drawn to her rose-petal lips and her entrancing glow. There’s just something about her that he can’t put his finger on, something faraway and otherworldly that compels him to fall even deeper. Annie’s from the city, and yet she seems just as out of place as Wes feels. Lost in the chaos of the busy city streets, she’s been searching for something—a missing ring. And now Annie is running out of time and needs Wes’s help. As they search together, Annie and Wes uncover secrets lurking around every corner, secrets that will reveal the truth of Annie’s dark past.

Review

The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen was unlike most books I have read lately. It is told through two point-of-views, Wes and Annie; it is not exactly alternating but instead the story is split into parts based on the POVs. The reader is introduced to Annie early on when Wes sees her for the first time at a psychic visit.

The pacing slows at times but the eerie storyline still kept my attention. The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen is a slow moving, slow building haunting story. Katherine Howe weaved a unique character driven ghost story all without explicitly coming out and saying it.

Parts of the romance are not my favorite, it took some interesting turns which in the end comes together but at times I felt like Wes was all over the place with his feelings. Aside from the romance, I really enjoyed the development and personal growth seen in Wes, as well as the underlying mystery throughout. The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen reminded me of a favorite of mine, Anna Dressed in Blood just without the horror/creepier supernatural aspects. I enjoyed this subtle but mysterious ghost story!

Unmade (The Lynburn Legacy #3) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title:Unmade
Series: The Lynburn Legacy #3
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date:September 23rd 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
Powerful love comes with a price. Who will be the sacrifice?

Kami has lost the boy she loves, is tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before. With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her town.

Rob Lynburn is now the master of Sorry-in-the-Vale, and he demands a death. Kami will use every tool at her disposal to stop him. Together with Rusty, Angela, and Holly, she uncovers a secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes responsibility—and a painful choice. A choice that will risk not only Kami’s life, but also the lives of those she loves most.

This final book in the Lynburn Legacy is a wild, entertaining ride from beginning to shocking end.

Review

Sarah Rees Brennan really knows how to make me laugh and want to cry all within a couple of chapters.  Unmade was a truly fantastic, heart breaking, action-driven final book.  This is truly how series should end!

Similar to the first two books, I loved the relationships, friendships, family love, and overall story. The witty banter between Kami and Jared is the best it has ever been.  Kami is constantly coming up with funny nicknames for him that have me laughing out loud.  Even though I love the banter, I adore the fact that the friendships in the story are even stronger and player a bigger role in the plot than the romances.  Rusty, Angela, Holly, and Kami would really do anything for one another.  Their friendship is powerful, rare, and honest.  At times their love for one another and the risks they take will bring tears to your eyes.

Family is not always a common theme in YA literature and this series has it in spades.  Kami has such a strong love for her family and they all play a big role in the story.  The family adds depth to Kami's character and to the overall plot. As for Kami, she is a rock star hero who propels the fast paced, action packed plot forward.

There is humor, tragedy, war, and love within this last installment in The Lynburn Legacy.  I was completely taken by surprise by certain parts, I applaud Brennan for taking risks that while make for a tough read truly make the book a fantastic one.  I urge you to give this series a try, it is one of my all time favorites, it is fantastic beginning to end!

Atlantia by Ally Condie

Title:Atlantia
Author: Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date:October 28th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 298 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Can you hear Atlantia breathing?

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

Review

I have not read any of Ally Condie's other work; there are quite a number of mixed reviews so I have stayed away but Atlantia peeked my interest so I thought I would give it a try.  Atlantia was not for me.  By a quarter of the way in, I was already struggling and starting to really lose interest in the characters.  I actually decided to listen to the audiobook since the narrator is the same person that reads The Lunar Chronicles which are FANTASTIC audio books.  Even her awesome narration could not save the book for me.

The world building was rough, there is the below where most of the story takes place and the above is the mysterious, desirable place. (A bit like Little Mermaid) Though the details of how exactly they were living underwater, walking/swimming I seemed to have read right over them or they were not there because I could barely visualize the below.  On top of the rough world building, you have predictable characters.  The lack of originality in some of the plot points just had me losing more and more interest as the story progressed.  The pacing was slow and boring until the last couple chapters which then brought on more predictable scenes.

Unfortunately, Atlantia's promise of a unique underwater world full of sirens and politics just fell incredibly flat for me.  The world, the characters, the supernatural aspects, and even the love story were just mediocre and boring at times. 

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Title:Afterworlds
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date:September 23rd 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 608 pages
Source: BEA 2014 & Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings…

Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most.

Review

Not going to lie, the size of Afterworlds is slightly intimidating.  I am a bit behind on my reading this year and 608 pages is a good amount of pages.  So I was thrilled when the library had the audiobook version!  Afterworlds is a mix of two distinct stories that some how just work together.

One of my favorite aspects in Afterworlds was the combination of interesting stories; the premise was unique and different, making it an enjoyable listen/read.  The two narrators did a fantastic job; it was easy to tell the difference in story lines and the characters had individual personalities, flaws, and emotions that each narrator brought to light. Darcy's story was full of new beginnings, new experience, and starting off adult life while on the other hand Lizzie's story was full of tragedy, mystery, death, and self-awareness.  Lizzie's story is the book that Darcy is writing, so as she discusses the changes she made and plans to make in the future the reader gets to read those changes unfold. 

The romance in Lizzie's story was not my favorite, it did not seem very well developed, it felt forced, and was not really necessary. On the flip side, the love story in Darcy's life was cute; it was a new experience for her and it fit the story perfectly.  I am rather torn between 3.5 stars and 4 stars; similar to the romance, my interest in the stories ebbed and flowed.  There were times when I was not as interested in Lizzie's story but interested in and then a hundred pages later my feelings flip flopped.  While the premise is great there are times when I could feel the story drag; the world building and secondary character development was well done yet a points the plot just did moved at a vastly slower pace.

Overall, I would recommend Afterworlds (especially as an audiobook); it was a refreshingly unique read that weaved together two very different story lines. **If you have read it, did you prefer one story line over the other?  Did you like the love interests?**

Jackaby by William Ritter

Title:Jackaby
Author: William Ritter
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Release Date:September 16th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 304 pages
Source: BEA 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
“Miss Rook, I am not an occultist,” Jackaby said. “I have a gift that allows me to see truth where others see the illusion--and there are many illusions. All the world’s a stage, as they say, and I seem to have the only seat in the house with a view behind the curtain.”

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre.

Review

I love Sherlock Holmes (especially the BBC show!) and have tried to get into Doctor Who but have had little success there.  I was hoping that Jackaby was going to be a mix of the two with a dark and haunted New England setting and I am here to report that it was in fact an absolute mix of both Sherlock and Doctor Who. Unfortunately, I was TOO much like Sherlock and Doctor Who for me.  I felt that Jackaby lacked some originality.

The story had the same feeling as every Sherlock Holmes movie, and especially the BBC version: a witty sarcastic main character who has unusual detective practices and generally seems crazy.  The Doctor Who comparison was seen in regards to the main female lead, Miss Rook; she was like Doctor Who's Companion. So take both of those main characters and throw in some mystery, wild paranormal/supernatural pieces and you get Jackaby.

Once I got past those very close similarities, I was able to enjoy the story more.  It was a nice standalone detective mystery with a fast paced plot.  The characters were easy to like; Jackaby is full of wit while on the other hand Miss Rook is full of surprises, being an independent female during an era where it is not socially acceptable.  Once of my favorite aspects of the story was the lack of romance, it was so nice to fully dive into the mystery without having an romance squeezed into the short book.

All in all, Jackaby was a quick enjoyable read, full of creatures, ghosts, banshees, and more.  As long as the reader knows that the story lacks some originality and is super similar to Sherlock, the book is a fast paced and enjoyable read.  

Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White

Title: Perfect Lies
Series: Mind Games #2
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 18th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 232 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

What I Liked

• The sibling bond. Family love is such a strong value that I do not always encounter in YA, so when I do I typically really enjoy it.  The love between the sisters, Fia and Annie is a driving force.  While there is romance in the story, the love is this story is between the siblings.  
• Awesome powers.  The girls in the story have awesome yet terribly dangerous powers.  
• The friendships.  Fia and Pixie were a great sarcastic and witty pair.  While on the other side of the story you have Eden and Annie that have such a heartfelt and comforting friendship.  Both sisters have friendships that play key roles in the story but are unique in their ways.  
• The romance.  Even though Fia and James are together the romance was still a back seat to the overall story.  This highlighted the the complicated supernatural, crazy unpredictable plot.  

What I Didn't

• Hard to remember.  I definitely needed a refresher.  Perfect Lies jumps right back into the crazy lives of Fia and Annie.  I highly recommend reading the two books back to back.  It would help with getting used to the story telling format. 
• The non-linear story telling format.  Unlike the first book, this time the non-linear, jumpy story telling combined with the alternating POVs confused me and detracted me from the story instead of improving the story.  I would try to remember all the little things from book one while being mentally tossed around by the format.  

Bottom Line

Perfect Lies was a pretty good ending to a crazy story.  There were definitely aspects that could have been a bit stronger but overall I enjoyed the duo-logy.  Though if you take anything away from this review... it should be: read them back to back!  (I really think it would improve the experience)
  

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Title: The Falconer
Series: The Falconer #1
Author: Elizabeth May
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: May 6th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, US, 336 pages
Source: EW

Summary from Goodreads:
Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844

Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.

Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.

But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?

What I Liked

• Aileana.  One of my absolute favorite things about the book is the main character, Aileana.  She is a fighter, she is full of sass and full of revenge.  Aileana is far from perfect, making her a stronger character - not to mention she is a girl engineer during a era where that is not socially acceptable. **Cheers for smart girls!!!**
• The relationships.  Both the romantic and non-romantic relationships where spot on.  The tension between the Aileana and her love interests was great.  The friendships were also a nice addition.  Aileana had a best friend, Catherine, and a faery Derrick, who lived in her closet.  Each character had a unique role in the story and kept me grinning throughout.  
• The Scottish Lore.  Having recently visited Scotland, I absolutely loved reading about places where I have been, like the Edinburgh Castle. The story takes place in a steampunk Scotland, so picture lots of greenery, castles, Victorian dresses, cool inventions, and fancy parties.  
  

  
• The plot pacing.  I felt instantly captured in the story; the plot was fast paced with plenty of action and fight scenes.  

What I Didn't

• Some of the vocab.  This is probably just a me issue but the story uses both Scottish and faery words that I just cannot pronounce.  When I cannot pronounce a word it makes it harder for me to remember what they mean therefore I had  to refer to the glossary quite frequently. 
• The cliffhanger.  HOLY MOLY!   Although I thoroughly enjoyed the plot pacing once of the least favorite parts of the story was the ending.  Granted I am excited for the next book but I would have loved just a bit more resolution.  

Bottom Line

The Falconer reminded me of why faery books are awesome.  I definitely recommend The Falconer if you want to read an awesome story that has faery fighting and a Scottish 'lady' that must save the city all while attempting to manage society's expectations; you have to be okay with a cliff hanger though!
  

Untold (The Lynburn Legacy #2) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Untold
Series: The Lynburn Legacy
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 24th 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 370 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
It's time to choose sides....

On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

A darkly humorous take on Gothic romance, Sarah Rees Brennan's Lynburn Legacy weaves together the tale of a heroine desperate to protect those she loves, two boys hoping to be saved, and the magical forces that will shape their destiny.

What I Liked

• The main character - Kami Glass She is just fantastic.  Kami is not only witty but stubborn and great friend.  She keeps the story going and kept me laughing the whole story.  Here is an example of her awesomeness:
  
   "One of those mistake-identity makeouts," Kami said defensively.  "They happen." "Oh, sure," Angela replied. "In Shakespearean comedies, all the time." "You are full of cruelty and mockery," Kami said. "My heart breaks to think of the day I entrusted you with the fragile flower of my girlish friendship."

• The secondary characters.  Every character introduced has a role and purpose in the story.  Kami's family plays a part as well as all the townspeople.  Angela and her brother her fantastic, he his so cocky but in a humorous roll your eyes kind of way. 
• The love story. If you read Unspoken, then you will know how it ended. Untold picked up right where Unspoken left off.  The tension between Kami and Jared just radiates off the pages; without giving away too much, I will say that I was definitely cheering and grinning at certain parts :)
  

  
  "Every time you felt alone in a crowd, alone by yourself, forever and essentially alone, and don't pretend there weren't moments like that.  Every time you felt worthless, every time you thought there was no purpose to existing, no center to the world and no peace to be found. I never had a single moment like that, I was never lonely a day of my life, until now."

  
  
• The witty and sarcastic comments.  They never stopped.  Similar to the first book, I loved how Rees Brennan could blend such an entertaining dialogue with suspense and romance flawlessly.  

What I Didn't

• Not much!  I have a love-hate relationship with the cliffhangers... I have wait until September to read the next book and I am left just hanging!  I want more resolution but can still absolutely appreciate the storing and the ending.  Here is a foreshadow/hint at the ending without giving any context or character. " This is the worst mistake I will ever make."  

Bottom Line

GAHHH!  If you love witty, sarcastic, and funny characters mixed with sorcery then this series if for you! If you are curious about book #1 Unspoken, check out my review here. Sarah Rees Brennan is the queen of cliff-hangers; I cannot wait for the third book.  Untold tied up the cliff hanger of book one and just jumbled up all my recently recovered feelings to leave them hanging again!
  

REVIEW: One (One Universe #1) by LeighAnn Kopans

Title: One
Series: One Universe #1
Author: LeighAnn Kopans
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: June 11th 2013
Pages: Paperback, 374 pages
Source: Bought

Summary from Goodreads:
When having two powers makes you a Super and having none makes you a Normal, having only one makes you a sad half-superpowered freak.

It makes you a One.

Sixteen-year-old Merrin Grey would love to be able to fly – too bad all she can do is hover.

If she could just land an internship at the Biotech Hub, she might finally figure out how to fix herself. She busts her butt in AP Chem and salivates over the Hub’s research on the manifestation of superpowers, all in hopes of boosting her chances.

Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and all her carefully crafted plans fly out the window. Literally. When the two of them touch, their Ones combine to make them fly, and when they’re not soaring over the Nebraska cornfields, they’re busy falling for each other.

Merrin's mad chemistry skills land her a spot on the Hub's internship short list, but as she gets closer to the life she always wanted, she discovers that the Hub’s purpose is more sinister than it has always seemed. Now it’s up to her to decide if it's more important to fly solo, or to save everything - and everyone - she loves.

Never have I encountered such an emotional character.  I was about 1/4 of the way through the book and I started to notice how often the main character, Merrin cries.  ALL THE TIME.  I started to highlight how often she cries, I know I missed a couple in the beginning before I realized it was a trend but she cried at least 11 more times after I started counting.  

This made it very hard to enjoy the story.  I just found the main character to be a bit over the top with roller coaster emotions, one minute she is kissing her crush the next she is sprinting away in tears.  I just wanted to shake her and tell her to stop crying. The other characters were nothing special either.  

The development between the friendships and relationships was quite insta-love and insta-friendship.  Merrin was a bit hesitant actually noticing the instant friendships and relationship but that seem to be a quick fleeting thought.  It all felt quite forced which made the plot seem forced as well.  The supernatural aspects were mediocre; while the idea seemed to somewhat original it just lacked execution.

Overall, I could not give One more than 2 stars due to the over emotional main character, forced relationships, and average supernatural plot elements.  It felt like Alex Mack (the old TV show) gone wrong.  Unfortunately, I won't be picking up the next one unless I see some raving reviews. The super powers were not as awesome as I was hoping and crying teen drama is not for me.   Emma Stone portrays how I really left most of the book.