Seriously Wicked by Tina Connolly

Title:Seriously Wicked
Author: Tina Connolly
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date:May 5th 2015
Source: ARC received from publisher.

Summary from Goodreads:
The only thing worse than being a witch is living with one.

Camellia’s adopted mother wants Cam to grow up to be just like her. Problem is, Mom’s a seriously wicked witch.

Cam’s used to stopping the witch’s crazy schemes for world domination. But when the witch summons a demon, he gets loose—and into Devon, the cute new boy at school.

Now Cam’s suddenly got bigger problems than passing Algebra. Her friends are getting zombiefied. Their dragon is tired of hiding in the RV garage. For being a shy boy-band boy, Devon is sure kissing a bunch of girls. And a phoenix hidden in the school is going to explode on the night of the Halloween Dance.

To stop the demon before he destroys Devon’s soul, Cam might have to try a spell of her own. But if she’s willing to work spells like the witch...will that mean she’s wicked too?

Review

Seriously Wicked is a fun, light-hearted story of a teenage girl that finds herself battling her adopted mother, who happens to be a wicked witch.  The world building started off a bit rocky.  I was unsure if the characters and townspeople are aware that witches and demons exist in their world.  When Cam's friend is inhabited by a Demon, he does not seem very phased by all the magical aspects of the story. The witches in this book are in hiding, they even have their own underground phone system and Internet!.  Cam's "mom" wants to take over the town and have the witches come out of hiding and Cam wants to do everything she can to stop her. 

All that being said, I think a key factor in enjoying this book is to suspend your disbelief.  There are demons possessing high school crushes, dragons locked in garages, and werewolves as pets.  I definitely think it is geared toward a younger YA crowd, so you are not going to find your swoon-worthy romance plot line or deep emotional feelings out of this one.  If you are looking for deep and intense character development I would recommend passing on this one. The book is great fun but it cannot be taken too seriously.

Seriously Wicked is entertaining blend of Sabrina-the-Teenage-Witch-witchery, high school drama, and learning to accept others and yourself.  It is worth picking up if you want a younger YA book with crazy witchcraft and a cute 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!

Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper

Title:Salt & Storm
Author: Kendall Kulper
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date:September 23rd 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 398 pages
Source: BEA 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
You don't know what you must give up to become a witch.

Avery Roe wants only to claim her birthright as the witch of Prince Island and to make the charms that have kept the island's sailors safe at sea for generations, but instead she is held prisoner by her mother in a magic-free life of proper manners and respectability.

Avery thinks escape is just a matter of time, but when she has a harrowing nightmare, she can see what it means: She will be killed. She will be murdered. And she's never been wrong before.

Desperate to change her future, Avery finds a surprising ally in Tane—a tattooed harpoon boy with magic of his own, who moves her in ways she never expected. But as time runs out to unlock her magic and save herself, Avery discovers that becoming a witch requires unimaginable sacrifice.

Avery walks the knife's edge between choice and destiny in Kendall Kulper's sweeping debut: the story of one girl's fight to survive the rising storm of first love and family secrets.

Review

Salt & Storm sweeps you into the old world of the American Northeast where whaling was a way of life, as were witches.  Avery Roe is destined to become a witch just like every other woman in her family. She is destined to protect the sailors and whale hunters. She has her future planned out, that is until her mother traps her.

The book starts off quite strong, introducing the way of life for the townspeople and how the witches play a role in their safety.  The setting and mood are very well done, I felt immediately drawn into this old New England way of life and wanted to know more about the Roe witches.  The reader is also quickly introduced to the love interest in the story, a nice bonus was that it was not a love triangle, instead it was a powerful relationship that development into a strong first love.

The plot pacing was great for the first half of the story but as time progressed it seemed to lose steam. Parts started to drag and with a potential ending disclosed in the beginning (and in the synopsis) it was easy to start to lose interest and guess at how Avery's destiny was going to play out.

Overall, I am not the biggest fan of the ending or the other relationships within the book.  The secondary characters are hardly developed and do not play large roles at all.  Salt & Storm had high potential and lived up to it in parts but not everywhere.  I recommend it with some hesitation,.

I'm Waiting On School Spirits (School Spirits #1) by Rachel Hawkins

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine to shine a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating!

This week I chose...

Title: School Spirits
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: School Spirits #1
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: May 14th 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

I know technically this came out yesterday but I have not had a chance to buy/check out from the library yet! I loved the Hex Hall series, so I can't wait to read School Spirits! 

What are you waiting on?

MOVIE: Beautiful Creatures & BOOK: Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

So I saw the movie this past weekend. I dragged my boyfriend along and he had an open mind about the movie(as much as any non-book-reading male can), but 15 minutes into it he was thoroughly confused at everything that happened on the screen and cringed the rest of the way through. So it was hard to have a book vs. movie discussion with him so I figure I would see what others thought of the movie. He did say that not having read the books, he got a bit lost in the movie. I just finished book three in the series (I finished the first book a couple years ago, so it is not fresh in my mind for a super detailed comparison). I liked the casting for the characters and thought the movie wasn't bad but it was not fantastic either. I also went in with very LOW expectations as most books turned to movies do not live up to the book. I can't say I hated the characters/actors (like I disliked Kristin Stewart...there was none of that here) it was more of a plot issue. I thought the setting was well done and I also like the costumes :) Side note though: I pictured Amma a little differently and was wondering where Marian was; she continues to be an important character throughout the books.

So what did you guys think??

Title: Beautiful Chaos (Castor Chronicles #3)
Author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Pages: 518 Hardcover
Source: Audiobook
Rating:  4 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:
Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What — or who — will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself — forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

***THERE MAY BE SPOILERS ****

The Beginning: It started off a bit slow, but picked up right where book 2 ended. Gatlin is facing the consequences of Lena's claiming; there are locusts, sweltering heat, and all the Castor's powers are out of wack. Lena and Ethan are back together and doing much better than in book 2 which is quite refreshing.  There is no longer really any love triangle, just their cute, powerful love story. 

The Middle: I really enjoyed the story as the plot progressed. I found the fact the Ridley was in public school to be quite entertaining. Kami Gracia and Margaret Stohl do an incredible job of developing the secondary characters.  John Breed now is even a likeable character.  But my favorite sidekick characters have to be Ridley and Link!  The fact that Link is part incubus now makes for a great twist; he is now super popular and buff and Savannah Snow is fanning all over him.  Link is probably one of the reasons this story is a 4 star read for me, his friendship with Ethan is so genuine and now with his new powers he is just goofier than ever.

The End: HMM… without spoiling the book, I would have to say that the ending was definitely interesting. I am curious to see what they are going to do for the fourth book. It did take me for surprise though, I really thought the Crucible was going to be someone else.

Overall, this book was a 4 star read. I enjoyed it much more than book 2 so I am glad I continued on. There is definitely more about the creepy castor world and lots more drama and intensity. The beautifully enchanting world of the Castors and Mortals continues to collide into a dangerous and complicated story.


Audiobook review: The narration is the same as the first two books in the series which is nice since it gives consistency from book to book. But be aware it is  LONG audiobook.  I enjoyed the reader and the voices for the other characters were also well done. Some parts were a bit creepy yet corny (when the Lilium talks). I would also give the narration 4 stars.