Book Review: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

FALLING UNDER BY GWEN HAYES

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (March 1, 2011)

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

What I enjoyed:

I loved the dark, creepy world of Under and the trippy sequences when Theia crossed over into Hayden’s world. Some readers have mentioned how dark this book was, but for me that was a selling point- I actually would’ve liked to spend more time in the macabre, twisted world of Under. I was both repulsed and fascinated by it—the architecture, landscape, inhabitants, you name it. I wanted more, more, more! Also, for a paranormal romance, Gwen Hayes definitely shocked me with a few surprises— I thought I had Hayden pegged right from the start and turned out there were twists and turns I never saw coming. In addition, the secondary characters such as Theia’s best friends Donny and Ame were so hilarious and well-constructed, I felt like they took on more personality than the main characters themselves (which is a good and bad thing).  I loved Donny’s brazen hard outer shell that masked the softer girl inside just wanting to find the right guy who would treat her right. And Ame was very interesting with her psychic tendencies and quiet “suffer in silence” obsession with Mike, the clueless boy from school. Together Theia's best friends were a great contrast with one another and with Theia herself—three girls who couldn’t have been more different but linked together through friendship. 

 What didn't work for me:

The pacing of FALLING UNDER seemed at odds with itself—the plot sort of stumbled along too slowly for me in the beginning and then sped up too fast toward the end. But here's my main issue with the book—once again we have another YA storyline where the main protagonist falls in love with the supernatural boy way-y-y-y too quickly. I know that teen girls tend to crush hard (I was a teen once too), but at the same time it gets under my skin to not end—to the point where I am wondering, do I even want to read YA paranormal romance anymore? Now, while in theory I can appreciate the romantic notion of sacrificing one's life for love, I felt mostly horrified at how willing Theia was to just throw her life away (literally and figuratively) for a guy she just met and knew so little about, beyond the fact that he was extremely good looking.  I feel like this is a trend being glorified in Young Adult, and it bothers me. I wanted more from Theia- she was a smart, well-disciplined young woman. To see her so eager to be consumed by Hayden and lose her identity in becoming his love interest, did not sit well with me.

Gwen Hayes did such a good job in painting a portrait of a young woman stifled by her overbearing father, that it was oftentimes hard to relate to Theia.  I think that's why I felt more connected to her best friends—those two girls had more of the mannerisms and speech that I could personally relate to. Theia came off as either very stiff to me, or conversely, very swoony and it was hard for me to catch up with her.  

It's a tricky thing when you are a reviewer – I try to take on books that I think will be a runaway hit for me, but when they end up falling short of the mark, there's nothing more painful and stress-inducing than knowing I have to put my negative thoughts down on paper.  I can't help but wonder—is the problem just with me? Are my reading tastes evolving out of YA? Do I need to switch to adult? I don't know the answers to these questions yet, but I do want to point something out-- despite my own trepidation, I know that FALLING UNDER will appeal to a certain type of reader and many people will connect and appreciate the story. There is definitely a solid audience out there for this type of book—sadly- I think I'm just not one of them anymore. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try it if you are interested in the premise.

Bottom Line: FALLING UNDER does have a lot going for it—the murky world of Under was fascinating and the book does have a lot of series potential. I may not be picking up the sequel, but I will support Gwen's writing by checking out her future works.

3/4 stars

 

Gwen Hayes lives in the Pacific Northwest with her real life hero, their children, and the pets that own them. She writes books for teen readers about love, angst, and saving the world. Her debut novel, FALLING UNDER, will be released in March of 2011 by NAL. Baffled by the fact that not everyone has people talking to each other in their head all the time, Gwen decided maybe she should start writing down what they say. She told her family she wanted to be a writer in 2007, they all nodded, and the adventures began. Official Website

         

Book Review & Giveaway: Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

PERSONAL DEMONS BY LISA DESROCHERS  
Reading level: Young Adult 
Paperback: 368 pages 
Publisher: Tor Teen; First Edition edition (September 14, 2010)

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance---even her closest friends---and it seems as if her senior year is going to be more of the same . . . until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can’t seem to stay away from him.

What she doesn’t know is that Luc is on a mission. He’s been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie’s soul. It should be easy---all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can’t be far behind. And sure enough, it’s not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than just Frannie’s soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay . . . for all of them.

Book Opening: "If there's a Hell on Earth, it's high school. And if there's anyone distinctly qualified to make that statement, it would be me. I draw a deep breath- mostly out of habit since demons don't breathe—then look up at the threatening sky, hoping it's a good omen, and pull open the heavy security door. –Luc Page 1

Notable Scene: "She needs to know what I am, to have a choice. I kiss her again, one last time, as if my life depended on it—which it pretty much does since, if I take this route, my next stop is the bottom of the Fiery Pit."

Angels and demons are lining up to claim Frannie Cavanaugh's soul.  One will try and save her; the other must try and lead her soul into eternal damnation. With temptation around every corner, the lines between good and evil become blurred for Frannie. But Frannie's no ordinary girl. Little does she know the she holds the fate of both Heaven and Hell in the palm of her hand. Which path will she choose? And will she make the right decision before it's too late?

PERSONAL DEMONS is told through alternating viewpoints of Frannie, the girl causing all sorts of commotion between angels and demons, and Luc, a guy who brings a whole new meaning to the words "bad boy".  This was a book that had a lot of potential for me but one I ended up struggling to connect with. I wish Lisa Desrochers had written PERSONAL DEMONS from the point of view of Gabe (Luc's angelic nemesis) and Luc only. I just couldn't connect with Frannie. I knew going in that this would be a love triangle but I didn't expect for Frannie to fall head-over-heels so quickly for both guys and then to constantly ping-pong back and forth between them at such a record-breaking speed! I admired her spunk, but I think Desrochers should've given this extremely level-headed, serious girl the self-control she deserved.  Most importantly, I think the romantic angle should've heated up more slowly as Frannie got to know both Luc and Gabe. 

As for Luc, he was my favorite character and I was pleasantly surprised by his characterization. I had initially pegged him as the quintessential bad boy who would stop at nothing to corrupt and ruin Frannie. But there was so much more to him—he definitely had a wicked side, but underneath it all I saw real humanity. I was drawn to his character and appreciated the way he evolved as the situation unfolded all around him. The scenes with Luc interacting with his brethren in Hell were some of my favorites; I enjoyed Desrochers world building and her frightening twist on demons. She could've taken the easy way out and made Luc nothing more than a monster in the disguise of hot guy, but she gave him so much more depth than that. Luc was definitely full of surprises and it was a refreshing change. 

Despite some reservations, I thought PERSONAL DEMONS was an interesting start to a new series that many paranormal romance fans will enjoy. The dialogue was snappy and humorous. Luc made the book for me, winning me over time and time again with his vulnerability.  Die-hard fans of paranormal romance will appreciate this series. It's a mixture of light and dark, with a striking plot and a lot of potential.  For fans of Gabe, he will be narrating the follow up, ORIGINAL SIN, due out July 2011.

LISA DESROCHERS lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. She can always be found with a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places and then take her by surprise. Growing up all over the country inspired wanderlust, and Desrochers loves to travel, which works out well since she lectures internationally on a variety of health care topics. Lisa Desrochers has a doctorate in physical therapy and maintains a full-time practice. Personal Demons is her first novel. Official Website & Blog

GIVEAWAY  

 Three finished copies of PERSONAL DEMONS courtesy of Tor Teen!

PERSONAL DEMONS

BY LISA DESROCHERS

Amazon| Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them

Official Rules:

1.You must be 13 year or older to enter.

2. Open to entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address only. 

3. Entries must be received by Midnight EST on December 22nd 2010. 

4. Once contacted, winners have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.

5. To enter to win, simply fill out the form below. Good luck!  

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Book Review: Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen

DEMON PRINCESS: REIGN CHECK BY MICHELLE ROWEN

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (May 25, 2010)
Language: English
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble| Indiebound
Read: Chapters 1 & 2

Enter the world of Nikki Donovan, a demon princess hell-bent on living a normal teenage life.

Nikki Donovan has had a lot to deal with since learning she was half human, half demon. But things take a darker turn when Rhys, a gorgeous -- but potentially dangerous -- faery king enrolls at her high school to investigate Nikki's potential for fulfilling an apocalyptic prophesy. Nikki knows she'd never turn violent, and she certainly couldn't destroy the world...could she?

Of course, all Nikki really wants is to be reunited with Michael, a Shadow creature whose status as her personal servant is further complicated by their undeniable attraction to each other. Even though the rules of the Shadowlands strictly forbid their romance, Nikki is determined not to let Michael go. But when she is summoned to the Underworld to appear before a demon council, it will take all her courage -- and perhaps a bit of demon-level strength -- to get herself out again.

Quick & Dirty Book Review:
The first book in this delightful series, Demon Princess: Reign or Shine was a light-hearted, hilarious novel with an intriguing storyline, compelling protagonist and a whole of demon butt-kicking action. In my opinion, Demon Princess: Reign Check surpassed its predecessor. With an exciting romantic triangle and profound writing dealing with deep issues of death, choices and the consequences of our actions, Reign Check has become my favorite book within the series. Michelle Rowen has crafted a thrilling world full of demons, faeries, dragons, slayers and much, much more.

Book Opening:

"Act normal, I told myself as I pushed through the front doors of Erin Heights High School. Everything's going to be just fine.

Unfortunately that thought lasted exactly thirty seconds."

Notable Scene:

“I was either going to burst into tears or go into a rage. I hadn't decided yet. But the fury I was feeling coursed through my body, and I felt myself start to change into my Darkling form again- this time under my own power, so it didn't hurt as much.

Her eyes grew large with alarm. "What are you doing?"

Have you heard about the prophecy?" I asked her. "The one that says I just might be the one that will bring about the destruction of pretty much everything and everyone?"

She swallowed. "I thought you said there might be another Darkling it applies to."

I fisted my hands at my sides. "Maybe I was wrong." -page 230

Full Review:

Nikki Donovan is hell bent on having a regular teenage life. She's back in the human world now, having fought her demonic aunt and saved the King of the Shadowlands from an agonizing death. As Nikki adjusts back to the life of a normal high school student, things seem to be back to normal. That is until Rhys, the teenage faery king comes waltzing into school and flips her entire world upside down. Now instead of worrying about little things like those pesky demon horns popping up when she gets angry, Nikki's got to convince Rhys she's not going to destroy the world despite the latest prophecy he insists is about her. Throw in the shocker that her best friend is in training to be Buffy-the-demon-slayer and ex-boyfriend Chris is mighty suspicious about her secret demon side, everything quickly goes straight to hell. Except in Nikki's case, that's more than just an expression. As news of the prophecy begins to spread, Nikki gets called to the Underworld to face a frightening demon council. This time, it will take all her wits, a little bit of power and the magic of the boy who loves her if there's any hope of making it out of the Underworld alive.

Michelle Rowen has a way of infusing so much warmth and humor into her heroines that you can't help but root for them and immediately be on their side. Nikki is an average teenage girl, just trying to make sense of her life. She isn't perfect. She has insecurities like we all do. But she also has tremendous strength, a lot of heart, and a hilarious sense of humor that makes this series really shine. Nikki impressed me with how determined she was to help Michael from not being treated as a second-class citizen and how she put her life on the line in the Underworld to do the right thing for him, knowing full well that every moment she lingered there, she ran the risk of ending up in the same boat as he was. I also loved that despite the fact that she was terrified at times (who wouldn't be), she never fell to pieces and still managed to make light of things with some really hilarious inner monologues and witty one-liners.

The romantic triangle between Michael, Nikki and Rhys was intriguing, and added some extra tension to the book. Rhys was the complete opposite of Michael. He was moody, dangerous and downright rude to Nikki, but their interactions really intrigued me. When he opened up to her and showed some depth and sensitivity, I began to see why she would be drawn to him. Michael was extremely lovable and the type of guy every girl dreams about—brooding good looks, strong, sensitive and willing to do anything to protect the woman he loved. I think should the series continue, it will be interesting to see who Nikki ends up with. Both guys have a lot to offer in their own ways.

The Demon Princess series was a real delight to read and I truly hope that this series gets another book. There are so many open-ended story lines I would love to explore including characters like Melinda and her demon slaying activities, Kassandra, Nikki's Underworld friend (sort of), or Chris, the ex boyfriend who has an interesting "gift". I'm also fascinated by what really goes on in the faery realm and would like to learn more about its inner workings. The Underworld itself, with its ever changing scenery, frightening creatures and harsh laws was also fascinating to me. I love how Michelle Rowen has created all these different worlds instead of one set land known as "hell". It keeps things mysterious and seems even more dangerous. With so many power players, things are fated to never be peaceful for long. I'm sure whatever Rowen cooks up will keep the series rolling with her trademark brand of humor, romance and action.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for my interview with Michell and your chance to win a SIGNED copy of Demon Princess: Reign Check!

Michelle Rowen is the national bestselling author of paranormal romance novels including the "Immortality Bites" vampire series. She has sold books to Grand Central Publishing, Harlequin Blaze, Berkley Books, Walker Books for Young Readers, and Dorchester Publishing (writing as Michelle Maddox).
Visit Michelle Rowen's Official Website & Blog

Book Review: The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

THE DEMON'S COVENANT
BY SARAH REES BRENNAN

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 440 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry; 1 edition
(May 18, 2010/May 27, 2010)

The Demon's Covenant is the sequel to The Demon's Lexicon. Mae was always in control, but suddenly everyone she trusted is lying--and in danger

“The covenant is binding. There is no escape.”

Danger is closing in all around Mae. In one corner the magicians lie in wait, biding their time until Jamie is inducted into their circle-whether he wants to be or not. Alan, secretive as ever, considers a disastrous bargain with a demon, knowing full well the ramifications of his actions. Meanwhile, Mae can’t help but be lured in by the seductive pull of the Goblin Market, But Mae is not a magician. She's just an ordinary girl thrown into a maddening world of magicians and magic. And once again she must face some difficult decisions. Except this time the stakes are even higher. Can Mae stay alive long enough to save them all?

The Demon’s Covenant solidified Mae as one of my all time favorite literary heroines. Nick, being the main point of view character in The Demon’s Lexicon was unable to provide the type of introspection that Mae could easily bring to the table. While I identified with Nick, I tended to view the others as he did - with a detached annoyance. With Mae it was different. Through her eyes, I got a deeper understanding for not only her character, but for all of those surrounding her. It was a smart move on the part of Sarah Rees Brennan and in my opinion, brought the series to a whole new level.

Strong, feisty and loyal to the end, I respected the depths of Mae's courage. The choices she was faced with were not easy. But she handled them in a believable way. I sympathized with her and rooted her on the whole time. In fact, from page one I was on her side. When things got really dicey, I wanted to jump in and help her. I loved how there was nothing she wouldn’t do to save her brother, I admired that. Bonds of family love ran deep in this book. Which brings me to Alan and Nick. The diary allowed tremendous insight into Nick and Alan's relationship. Heart-breaking and illuminating, I walked away from this book with a renewed appreciation for just how much Alan sacrificed for his brother. It was the most compelling component of the novel for me.

Sarah Rees Brennan impressed me with her use of strong imagery and world building in The Demon’s Covenant. There were so many examples of vivid imagery in the book, it was hard to pick just one to illustrate. In this example below, I could actually feel the sensation of being under a magician’s spell; my arms and legs held frozen by the will of someone with dangerous power.

“The magician brushed by Mae and suddenly she could move, as if she was made of ice and his touch was hot enough to change her to water." - page 11

Humorous moments like this next example helped balance out the dark aspects of the story and give the reader a chance to catch their breath.

"The magic bounced off Jamie and earthed itself harmlessly in the ground at his feet.

Jamie jumped back all the same, and Mae found him catching her hands, grip desperate for a moment until he remembered himself. Then he stepped away.

“Thanks, Laura” he said unsteadily. “I always wondered what a tiny heart attack would feel like, and now I know. Very refreshing!” - page 56

What does it mean to be human? How far would you go to protect your family? The Demon’s Covenant is so much more than a fantasy novel about demons and magicians. It’s one with numerous layers to peel back, examine and reflect upon. Throughout its pages the bonds of friendship will be tested, family loyalties will be defined, and alliances formed.

What about the romance? Fans looking for romantic tension won't be disappointed. A strong undercurrent runs rampant throughout the entire novel, ratcheting up to a fever pitch in the final pages.

My understanding is that book three will be told from Sin’s point of view. Sarah Rees Brennan- I can’t wait!

SARAH REES BRENNAN was born and raised in Ireland by the sea, where her teachers valiantly tried to make her fluent in Irish (she wants you to know it's not called Gaelic), but she chose to read books under her desk in class instead. After living briefly in New York and doing a creative writing MA and library work in Surrey, England, she has returned to Dublin, Ireland, to write. Her Irish is still woeful, but she feels the books under the desk were worth it.

To learn more about Sarah Rees Brennan and her books, visit her Official Website and Blog.

Read an excerpt of The Demon's Covenant.

Purchase The Demon's Covenant at Amazon.com.

Book Review: Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

ANOTHER FAUST by DANIEL AND DINA NAYERI

Another Faust tells the journey of five children who vanish from their homes and are re-introduced years later at an exclusive Manhattan prep school by their strange "governess", Madame Villeroy. The cover art of Another Faust gave me the impression that this book would be a much lighter read, but wow, was I wrong. If you think that Another Faust is going to be a glossy soap opera about spoiled rich kids with too much power, then you'd be mistaken, much like I was. Another Faust is a well crafted, educated and chilling tale of epic proportions. It is a re-imagined take on the Faustian tale that is masterfully written, with heavy prose and dark themes. To really understand it you need to give it your undivided attention. There are so many subtle machinations in motion as Madame Villeroy artfully exerts more and more of her control over the group of children.

The most appealing characters for me were Christian and Bice, because they had the most humanity. Having special abilities sounds fantastic right? Well Bice finds out that nothing is without a price when it comes to Madame Villeroy. Christian was willing to go to such great lengths for fame and fortune that he became an easy target for Madame Villeroy as well. Based on the type of childhood he had, I could understand his motivations, even if I didn't condone his actions. He still struggled with his conscience though, and that endeared his character to me.

As for the other children, Bella’s regret over her superficial fixation with beauty was heartbreaking and I kept hoping Bice would get her out of the jam she was in. My least favorite person, however, was Victoria. She was so selfish and downright diabolical, it was difficult to imagine her ever evolving into a person with a heart. But if a writer can evoke that kind of loathing in a fictional character, that's got to speak volumes for the quality of their writing, wouldn't you agree? I must also add that towards the end of the novel, I did acquire more understanding for Victoria's character,and almost even felt sorry for her a time or two. As for Valentin, he reminded me a lot of Victoria in that he had lost much of his decency, but there were small moments when I saw shreds of it shining through and because of that, his character was of great interest to me as well.

More than anything I wanted these five teens to find REDEMPTION. This desire kept me anxiously turning pages and reading much too late on many a night! The outcome of the novel was incredibly gripping and left me wondering if the authors will be writing more books in a series of novels. I have a feeling readers might not have seen the last of Madame Villeroy!

Final Note- If you enjoy thought provoking novels that can foster intelligent discussions about issues of morality and the pitfalls of greed and ambition, then this is a great book for you. For this reason I would even go a step further and suggest that Another Faust should be added to high school English curriculums. In my opinion it's a lot more fun than the original tale and I suspect teen readers would better relate to it as well. In addition, Another Faust has allusions to the original tale which are fun to pick out—for instance, the name of the elite prep school is ‘Marlowe’, a nod to Christopher Marlowe, who was the first to turn the Faustian myth into a morality play.

SPECIAL BONUS- Dina Nayeri has given me permission to share a deleted scene from the first chapter with you. It was cut during the first round because it was too dark, but according to Dina, it “gives you an idea of how horrible Victoria really is” (And I guarantee you will agree with that sentiment once you read this!)

Cut scene (from Chapter One)

“Drip…drip…drip. Victoria was transfixed by the fat droplets of cold water falling on her two-year-old brother’s forehead. He was sitting in the bathtub, fully clothed, and the water had been running, drop by drop, for an hour now. It was hard to keep him still so it would hit the same spot every time, but he was starting to turn blue and there was a red spot growing n his forehead. An annoyed grimace crept onto Victoria’s face as Charlie giggled and tried to grab a drop of water. She looked at her watch. How long does Chinese water torture take to work? He doesn’t have to die. Mum and dad will be home before then. A touch of brain damage, that’s all…..just a little tiny bit of permanent trauma. Maybe another twenty minutes….”


Hardcover: 400 Pages
Reading level: Young Adult
Publisher: Candlewick (August 25, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763637076
ISBN-13: 978-0763637071
Buy at Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, etc
Daniel and Dina's Official Website

Daniel Nayeri is a writer and editor in New York City. He wrote and produced “The Cult of Sincerity,” the first feature film to be world premiered by YouTube. He has had all kinds of jobs around books, including book repairman, literary agent, used bookstore clerk, children’s librarian, Official Story-Time Reader Leader, editor, copy-editor, and even carpenter (making bookshelves). He’s also a professional pastry chef. He loves Street Fighter 2, hates the word “foodie,” and is an award-winning stuntman.

Dina Nayeri graduated from Princeton where she first discovered her passion for fiction. However, being a stubborn know-it-all, she had to spend five years in the business world first. She worked as a consultant at McKinsey in New York City and as a project manager for Saks Fifth Avenue. Dina then received her MBA from Harvard Business School. During this time, she was a teaching fellow in economics at Harvard and a speaker on topics in business and marketing. Finally, she received a Master of Education from Harvard School of Education, where she was a Zuckerman fellow. It was during her graduate studies that Dina and Daniel began writing Another Faust together. Dina lives with her husband in Amsterdam. In her spare time, she loves to cook, travel, watch teen-flicks, and write stories.

Dina and Daniel were both born in Iran and spent many young adult years in Europe. There they learned several languages between them and tried Frosted Flakes for the first time. Their first two teen fantasy books, the first and second of Another Series will be published by Candlewick Press in 2009 & 2010.