Authors and publishers are welcome to send us copies of MG, YA and any adult works for older teens. We're happy to give a review. We're at demonicattractions@gmail.com even if you just want to say 'Hi!'
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Jennifer Groves was kind enough to send an ARC of Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey.
Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship
To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad.
The lovely Victoria Simcoxsent her novel, The Magic Warble for review.
Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen - all these and more can be found in The Magic Warble, an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship.
And thanks to the fabulous Nikki at Wicked Awesome Books Alyssa won Beautiful Creatures and Hunger Games!
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem Maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
There were no surprises in Gatlin County. We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere. At least, that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. There was a curse. There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.
Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.
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Lockdown: Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith
pub: Oct 2009
288 pages Synopsis:Furnace Penitentiary: the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface.
Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, sentenced to life without parole, “new fish” Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world. Except in Furnace, death is the least of his worries.
Soon Alex discovers that the prison is a place of pure evil, where inhuman creatures in gas masks stalk the corridors at night, where giants in black suits drag screaming inmates into the shadows, where deformed beasts can be heard howling from the blood-drenched tunnels below. And behind everything is the mysterious, all-powerful warden, a man as cruel and dangerous as the devil himself, whose unthinkable acts have consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the prison.
Together with a bunch of inmates—some innocent kids who have been framed, others cold-blooded killers—Alex plans an escape. But as he starts to uncover the truth about Furnace’s deeper, darker purpose, Alex’s actions grow ever more dangerous, and he must risk everything to expose this nightmare that’s hidden from the eyes of the world.
I really enjoyed Lockdown, as a winner of a middle grade read. Our main character, Alex, really turns himself around early in the book and becomes a likable protagonist. While the fact that the story has a bunch of underage kids in a hardcore prison may sound a little goofy and a ploy allowing children to relate to an adult story, it's not.
Furnace makes Alcatraz Island look like a bed and breakfast that you stumble upon while driving through a small town in the middle of nowhere when you could have sworn everyone in town said there wasn't any lodging and you should get on your way and never come back but the people are so nice that you stay even against the protests of your modest yet attractive sister but suddenly your modest yet attractive sister goes missing and your car is totaled and the phone is out and....oh wait, that's not right. Suffice to say Furnace would make Clint Eastwood wet his pants.
Pictured: Poser
With a gritty feel and menacing characters, Lockdown sends us on a thrilling ride with a great group of characters. His best friend/cellmate Donovan shows him the ropes and protects him from the darkness that lurks within Furnace. Also within the group is Zee, a quick talking schemer bent on escaping the inescapable.
It takes a monster to guard monsters. The guards range from giant human refrigerators to skinless super hounds, all with soulless silver eyes that gleam with a dark masochism. The real horrors come at lights out. Gruesome inhuman creatures with gas masks sewn onto their faces who communicate with bestial screeches that pierce the night. If they mark your cell you're dragged deeper into Furnace to be turned into something...dastardly.
Descriptions are excellent. So vivid that I could smell the stench and see the entire prison and its inhabitants running as a visual in my head throughout the book.
One itty bitty hiccup. Toward the end Alex has a bit of a pity party and sulks around for a chapter until he has a brilliant epiphany. I got sucked out of the story and thought it killed the momentum and rising action like a badly placed Vulcan death grip.
Whoops! That's not the baroreceptor that's his spine! Oh well, it was just a redshirt.
But not to worry, Alex bucks up and moves on, more determined than before and we're rocketing along with heart-stopping action once again! Lockdown is a fun ride. Pick it up for a great action thriller!
**GIVEAWAY POINTS** Remember you can get 5 extra points when you comment on a post (like this one) between now and the end end of the MegaBook Giveaway. Be sure to ENTER HERE if you haven't already. Good Luck!
Wish You Were Dead
by Todd Strasser
pub: Sept 2009
240 pages
Synopsis:
I’ll begin with Lucy. She is definitely first on the list. You can’t believe how it feels to be in the cafeteria and turn around and there she is staring at me like I’m some disgusting bug or vermin. Does she really think I WANT to be this way? I hate you, Lucy. I really hate you. You are my #1 pick. I wish you were dead. The day after anonymous blogger Str-S-d wishes the popular girl would die, Lucy vanishes. The students of Soundview High are scared and worried. Especially frightened and wracked with guilt is Madison Archer, Lucy’s friend and the last person to see her the night she disappeared. As days pass with no sign of the missing girl, even the attention of Tyler, an attractive new student, is not enough to distract Madison from her growing sense of foreboding. When two more popular students disappear after their names are mentioned on Str-S-d’s blog, the residents of Soundview panic. Meanwhile, Madison receives anonymous notes warning that she could be next. Desperate to solve the mystery before anyone else disappears, Madison turns to Tyler, but can she trust him when it becomes clear that he knows more than he’s sharing? The clock is ticking. Madison must uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearances . . . before her name appears in Str-S-d’s blog.
Oh boy, Wish You Were Dead is capital-C Creepy! I loved it and was sucked in from the first pages.
An anonymous blogger starts talking about the kids that are mean to her at school. Then it escalates to wishing those kids are dead, and guess what? They go missing.
Our protagonist, Madison, feels responsible since she had taken the first girl, Lucy, home the night she was kidnapped but didn't watch her go in. That's when Lucy got snatched. When other kids start disappearing too, Madison begins investigating.
The chapters are short which helps to move the story along at super speed. The point of views change from the anonymous blogger, to Madison and then best of all, we get to hear what the kidnapper/killer is saying to his or her captives (we don't know who the killer is until the end).
Man, that puppy is psycho. The dialogue with his/her captives gives you goosebumps. The poor kids get not only physical torture but psychological as well.
Madison and Tyler are good characters who seem to follow a logical path on their investigation. There are a couple of subplots that play out well in the end, a few red herrings and interesting twists. And as far as relationships went, they were portrayed well.
Strasser also does a good job of making you feel ambivalent about the kids who get kidnapped. I mean, you start thinking that if they hadn't been such jerks, perhaps they wouldn't be in this mess, but on the other hand, they don't deserve this, so it gets you thinking.
No fantasy in this one. Just nasty nutso serial killer stuff. The pace is fast and I was flipping pages well into the night to finish it. Trouble was I was the only one up and jumped every time a weird noise rattled the house. Had to be a windy night, right? I brought one of the dogs in my room for backup. Don't laugh!
I don't want to give too much away so I'll just say this is a wonderful creepy thriller filled with suspense and nail biting moments. A fun who-dun-it!
The Cover: Totally fits the content. Creepy!
First Lines:
Prologue - kind of:
Today at school Lucy Cunningham looked at me like I was something the cat coughed up.
It starts out from the blogger's point of view. I thought this was good. Funny but sad.
The 1st Chapter:
The red taillights of Tyler Starling's ugly purple car disappeared into the dark. It was just after three a.m., chilly and quiet. Lucy Cunningham stepped off her front walk and strolled down the dark tree-lined street.
Good. I'm anticipating Lucy's luck to run out.
Strasser has written several other books so be sure to visit his website and blog, and check out the book trailer below.
As always, if you have a review of this book, we'd love for you to add your link.
Wish You Were Dead is one of the great books available in our MegaBook Giveaway! Be sure to ENTER and Good Luck!
What happens when a fairy corsses the fobidden divide into Earth?In Feyland, all fairies are born with unique magical abilities. Zaria spent her childhood yearning to be like other fairies, but at twelve, she became on of the most powerful fairies ever.
Sneaking through a secret doorway to the human world, Zaria is Earth-struck: she wants to understand and experience everything about humans. But when she is seen, her exposure puts all of Feyland at risk.
With only her own judgment to guide her, Zaria must try to fix the mess she's made on Earth. Will she use her new power wisely and make the right choices?
I've been reading a lot of good fairy stuff lately and add Violet Wings to my list of Feyland treats. It's an endearing tale with lots of magical creatures, lovable characters and enchanting lands. Hanley puts in some fresh takes on fairy lore, such as fairies are the female of the species and have wings, while genies are the males and have magic feet, but both can fly. It's a delightfully woven tale.
Zaria has been an orphan since her parents and brother went missing three years ago, presumably killed by humans. Fairies and humans used to live harmoniously but as technology advanced and humans became more scientific than imaginative, they became dangerous to fairies.
Consequently, for many years now, fairies and genies have been forbidden from letting humans see them and travel between the two worlds is restricted. For a look at Earth and humans, fairies can go to a viewing station and look through magical scopes.
Zaria has been well taken care of since her family's disappearance but by a somewhat detached guardian and therefore, she's been rather lonely. When she comes of age and finally gets her magic wand, excitement ensues. She gets herself in trouble and puts herself and others in danger.
Each fairy has specific gifts and their magic is measured in radia, a precious commodity in Feyland. There are many classes of fey which pertain to their gifts and power. The level of magic is inborn and since magic levels have been decreasing for years, those with high levels are treated with more respect. Zaria turns out to be extremely powerful but, along with her best friend, Leona, a fiesty, hot-tempered cutie, must understand how and when to use the power for good.
There is fairy court intrigue, sinister plots. But as she pushes the envelope of irresponsible behavior Zaria uncovers evidence of nefarious deeds by those in the high court. Could all of this be connected to her long lost family? And she needs to find out why high level individuals seem to have it out for her.
Zaria is spunky, fun and clever, as well as being a loyal and loving friend. She's adorable! Leona gets herself in several tough spots but both girl's are innately good and trying to mature and learn from their mistakes.
The fairy world is complicated so Hanley uses a clever device to help the reader understand the complexities. At the beginning of each chapter, there is an excerpt from a Feyland history book. It provides interesting details of the fairy world that not only explains a multitude of fairy stuff but hints at what's to come in the next chapter. I thought it was very clever and appreciated the insights.
The ending is satisfying with a few bittersweet overtones, but also leaves enough unanswered questions to have me ready for a sequel.
Violet Wings is geared toward younger teens and an extremely enjoyable read. A fun adventure with just a hint of romance, it focuses more on Zaria figuring out the puzzle of what intriguing plots are simmering under the Feyland surface. It's a treat!
Violet Wingsis one of the many great books available in ourMegaBook Giveaway!
Ashlyn Woods just transferred to one of the most beautiful campuses on the west coast, where she can't wait to start her life over as a normal college student. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she discovers that she is a Soterian: a person who develops amazing powers when the balance of good and evil shifts too far in evil's favor.
Soon she and the other Soterians are studying martial arts and learning to use their powers to prevent California from being plunged into chaos. But they quickly discover that they're up against a much more dangerous enemy than they anticipated. And when Ashlyn meets Kai, a devastatingly gorgeous guitar player, she realizes she must sacrifice more than she ever imagined.
Lots of action makes Rising Shadow a fun read. Ashlyn is just trying to get her bearings at her new college in Santa Barbara, CA. when she develops the ability to fly. Crazy but true since she is a Soterian, a person who’s abilities develop when the balance of good and evil goes in evil’s favor.
The story centers around a California political race and when the winner is announced under suspicious voting conditions, Ashlyn’s powers come to life. She isn’t alone. Several other college kids have super powers too and with the help of a professor from the college, they start training.
That’s when the story starts to shine. The beginning covers a lot of Ashlyn moving from Northern California to Southern California and getting situated at school. I could have done without that and been happier starting closer to when she develops her powers and gets together with the other super heroes.
There is also a lot of detail that bogged the story down for me but overall Wheeler does very well with a creative premise.
The group has to uncover the evil plot and determine how to overcome the bad guy. I did enjoy the interesting twist at the end. Wheeler gets you going one way and then surprises you.
Ashlyn and her group are interesting folk and their relationships come through as real especially with her friends and comrades. She does meet a hot guy in the beginning and they click quickly but he moves away.
They manage to fuel their long-distance romance and he comes back. He’s a sweet guy – no bad boy here but it’s easy to see why Ashlyn likes him and his acceptance of Ashlyn’s weirdness shows a surprising level of maturity.
Rising Shadow has great action, super heroes, political intrigue and suspense. It’s a good choice for those who like an entertaining thriller.You can check out the Soterians website for more info.
Rising Shadow is one of the many great books available in ourMegaBook Giveaway. Be sure toENTER!
**GIVEAWAY POINTS** Remember you can get 5 extra points when you comment on a post (like this one) between now and the end end of the MegaBook Giveaway. Be sure to ENTER HERE if you haven't already. Good Luck!
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa pub: Feb 2010 pages 363
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny - one she could never have imagined...
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school...or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face...and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.
Fan-fun-tastic! I'm telling you guys, The Iron King is a blast. I'm not even a huge faery fan but this book had me riveted. Interesting mythology that combines Kagawa's unique take along with traditional lore, creative characters and enchanting worlds - it doesn't get much better than this!
The insane amount of new and old mythical creatures is amazing. Kagawa shines in her description with her vivid detail of the creatures, faeryland and the landscape of it's many courts. Visuals kept running in my head.
The action and weirdness gets going fast and soon Meghan's life is turned upside down. Her little brother has been kidnapped (a changeling put in his place - a nasty creature who attacks both Meghan and her mom) and Meghan must head to faeryland to get him back.
Luckily, her longtime childhood friend, Robby, is actually prankster Puck from a Midsummer's Night Dream, and off they go through the 'trod' (or door that happens to be in her little brother's closet) into faeryland. It's as beautiful as it is dangerous, and things are often not what they seem. Who are your friends and who are your enemies can change in blink of an eye.
I got an Alice in Wonderland feel from The Iron King. Especially when Grimalkin, a sly cat faery comes into it as one of her companions on the journey. And what a journey. Everything goes wrong. Meghan finds herself in one pickle after another.
The weird and wonderful adventure never stops. At several points, I was going, "Come on! Not something else going wrong. Can't we catch a break?" And I used the 'we' since I was battling faeries, trolls, gremlins, chimeras, and all other fantastical beings right along with the characters.
Is some stuff predictable? Sure. I mean she's the daughter of the Summer King so of course she has to fall for the son of the Winter Queen - the two courts are mortal enemies after all. I'd be upset if the wasn't the case. But for the most part the story is one delicious surprise after another.
Characters? Fun and complex. It seems everyone, except Meghan (she's just trying to save her brother and get the heck out of Dodge), has a hidden agenda or something mysterious going on under the surface.
Puck steals the show with his humor and dry wit. Meghan is likable and just when you think she is going to be stupid enough to make another bargain with a faery, she surprises you. I enjoyed the way she grew throughout the story. In the end, her grit and determination to save the ones she loves really shines. And then there's Ash, prince of the Winter Court. Total hottie - yet cold in so many ways. He's ready to kill Meghan several times but eventually warms up. Super swordsman with his icy blade, able to drop predators with shooting icicles (the Winter Court version of ninja stars - so cool) and he waffles between killing and kissing Meghan - love that tension and conflict!
My only complaint would be that he isn't in it enough. We get a glimpse of Ash in the very beginning but then he doesn't show up again until around page 170.
Their developing romance was fun - that hate-love-hate-love thing - and I would have preferred more of it sooner. But Kagawa keeps you busy with the next adventure so I can't complain too much. And I think he'll be prominent in the sequel. Yay!
Which leads me to the other thing I loved about The Iron King. Kagawa does an excellent job of giving you a satisfying ending with, and this is important, just enough unanswered questions and hint of the next adventure that you're frothing for the sequel. I'll be ready for The Iron Daughter when it comes out in August 2010.
There's mild language and the sex is just that yearning sexual tension so I think this is fine for younger readers as well. The Iron King is a terrific romp with crazy creatures, fantastical worlds, fun characters, a fast pace and a satisfying ending. This is one of the best first-in-a-series that I've read!
The Cover: The top one works for me. I like the colors, the partial of the girl's face (although I could do with less - you know me), the swirly things and font. I don't care for the second cover.
First Lines:Ten years ago on my sixth birthday, my father disappeared. Good. I'm intrigued and interested to find out some details about the disappearance which are explained immediately and intrigue me more. The first pages get you right into some fun.
The Iron King is one of the many great books available in ourMegaBook Giveaway!
If you've reviewed The Iron King, I'd love to hear your opinion. Link your post here!
LJ Smith
White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner
