Series:  Birthmarked
Author: Caragh O’Brien [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre:  Dystopian
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Format: #1 – Hardcover, #2 eBook
Source: #1 – Purchased, #2 Publisher (ARC via Net Galley)
Reviewer: Michelle
Parental Advisory: violence, criminal activity
Teachable Moments: politics, free-will, loyalty, gender equality

Book Names:
1 – Birthmarked [indie bound] [amazon]
2 – Prized [indie bound] [amazon]

Plot:
<spoilers this way come! Because I’m reviewing two books at the same time it’s impossible not to let information flow.  Beware!>

The Enclave is home to a powerful government oppressing those living outside the gates.  Amongst the inhabitants of the many outlying villages are Gaia and her parents.  Gaia’s mother, tasked with assisting in the birthing of healthy babies then delivering them to the Enclave, and her father are unexpectedly taken away one evening leaving Gaia alone to find out why.  Taking over her mother’s place as midwife she takes the opportunity to ask members of her community what they may know.  Then, one day, she is visited by the mysterious Captain Gray as he has been tasked with investigating her parents actions and behavior and reporting what he finds back to the Enclave.  This leaves Gaia with more questions than answers .  To find the answers Gaia goes undercover in the Enclave where she finds herself the focus of some serious political intrigue where survival is more than about just being the fittest.  It’s about cracking codes, seeking the truth about her parents, rebellion against their oppressors and ultimately determination to make the world a better more fair place for everyone.

The result of her actions bring about the events in Prized.  Gaia’s now focused on finding a place in the world outside of the Enclave.  Carrying her newborn sister through the rugged terrain of The Wastelands she hopes to find a safe haven where they can go unnoticed and live free.  Unfortunately she is drawn into a world that isn’t all that different than that of the Enclave.  Being taken captive she and Maya are taking to Sylum a place where females are the ruling class.  Though motivations are different the population here  is about assuring that the human race is given a fighting chance.  Arranged marriages, infertility, more baby selection drama, and all manner of feuding (family and otherwise) are what welcome Gaia when she arrives at Sylum.  But she also encounters the potential for love.  With Leon missing she meets brothers Will and Peter whom she has vary different attractions to.

Characters:
Gaia is, in Birthmarked, a strong and determined young lady.  One who has clear visions of who she is and where she comes from.  She fights injustice with her daring and courageous nature.  Though not entirely fearless she puts the welfare of her family high above her own.  She is a girl of action and is quick-thinking. Gaia suffers though, she misses the comfort of home and the love of her family.  She’s vengeful of death and has a mean streak that works to her advantage.  Caring of others, she even finds compassion for some in the Enclave that have been most oppressive of others. But then, in Prized, she loses some of her will.  She loses some of her fire.  She becomes more introverted and careful. All of which I found to be believable under the circumstances.  Her experiences in the Enclave fundamentally changed her.  Add to that, the responsibility she had in Prized was not just for herself but now for her infant sister as well.  This resulted in Gaia becoming more conservative, far more cautious, and even subservient when needed.  Many of these traits were against her nature but people do what they must to survive.

Leon (Gaia’s first love) remained fairly consistent throughout both Birthmarked and Prized.  This is not to say his character was completely unchanged or under developed but rather what made him Leon continued to shine through in all circumstances.  A man of honor, he consistently challenged those around him.  Though he was, at times, a prisoner to his family and the reigning government of the Enclave he was subversive enough to fight for what he believed in.  The strong silent type he was straightforward and of few words.  He was courageous enough to take risks when necessary yet realistic enough to reserve himself when the situation called for it.  Like Gaia, he knew how to love.  He struggled with showing his emotions but once revealed he had such endearing tenderness.

The Matrarc of Sylum read as a giant cliche.  I did appreciate that she wasn’t a faceless foe like the Enclave was in Birthmarked but still she was very predictable.  A bitter and scorned old woman she was deadly and domineering.  Her character did not feel fully fleshed out. I never completely understood her motivations.  As the leader of Sylum she claimed to be working for the greater good of her people, and I did feel she was at times, but many of her actions felt far more personal which I never found reason for.  She was certainly the most atrocious of Prized’s characters — not an ounce of compassion nor love.  Her negative influence and desperation for control went to making me loath her (which I believe was the intention) but I would have liked to have seen some sort of emotion from her.

I thought there was great opportunity where Will and Peter (Prized’s brothers who were both attracted to Gaia) were concerned.  Certainly there is room for them to develop as the last book progresses.  I did find each of them interesting enough to keep me reading but I would like to see more of them independent of their desires for Gaia.  Where Peter was the more law-abiding of the two Will wasn’t afraid to step outside the lines time and again.  Will was softer spoken while Peter more abrupt.  Will was emotional and tender while Peter was more gruff and stronger armed.  Each of them had a compelling relationship with Gaia in their individual way.

There was also a variety of secondary characters throughout both, Gaia’s parents who were bold and strong, Leon’s family who were dark and overbearing, as well as a number of inhabitants in Sylum who both fueled Gaia’s fire of rebellion and assisted in oppressing her.  All in all it was a fairly well rounded (though at times peripherally developed) cast.

Setting:
The setting of these books is just as much a star as the characters.  It is a sparse land with serious environmental issues that cause any number of stressors for its inhabitants.  It leads to infertility and desperation for food and water that naturally affects the behavior of people.  A world that is easy to envision I could imagine the large-scale difference between the populated city of the Enclave, the lesser comfortable outlying burgs that surrounded it, the rigors and savagery of the Wastelands as well as the discomfort but safety of Sylum.  There was community to be found in each, the populace carrying varying degrees of comfort.  Of course this went to the availability of natural resources and the level of oppression experienced by governmental leaders.  All in all O’Brien has crafted an interesting world that lends itself to be a good back drop for the action of the plot and the depth of characters being built.

Final Thoughts:
While I enjoyed Birthmarked more than Prized I feel invested in this story.  I found O’Brien’s addition of the love “square” to be an interesting twist on the usual romantic fare.  All the more impressive is the fact that Gaia was appealing with all of her suitors.  She could find happiness with each of them for different reasons.

Further, the characters were differentiated enough to allow for more complex relationships (familial, romantic or friendship).  Was that opportunity for complexity always taken?  No, sadly it wasn’t.  But there was enough there to build on for the final book which I’m very much looking forward to.  I’m also quite looking forward to how the plots of Birthmarked and Prized are tied together (if they are).  Will events from the Enclave to come back to haunt Gaia and Leon, if so how will it impact life in Sylum?  There is a great deal of potential for the final book in the series.

Series:  Lumatere Chronicles
Author: Malina Marchetta [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre:  Fantasy
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Format: #1 – Hardcover, #2 eBook
Source: #1 – Purchased, #2 Publisher (ARC via Net Galley)
Reviewer: Michelle
Parental Advisory: alcohol, drugs, sex, violence, war
Teachable Moments: war, loyalty, teamwork

Book Names:
1 – Finnikin of the Rock [indie bound] [amazon]
2 – Froi of the Exiles [indie bound] [amazon]

Plot:
<spoilers this way come! Because I’m reviewing two books at the same time it’s impossible not to let information flow.  Beware!>

Finnikin is a young man when his best friend (and prince of the land Finnikin lives within) is killed along with the rest of the royal family.   This time, known as “the five days of the unspeakable” forever curses a portion of the land’s population to be sequestered within the gates of the palace walls.  Those remaining outside the walls become exiles left to roam until they find a place to live.  There is great suffering for all on both sides, with the exception of the Imposter King who is the one who initiated the coup.  Then after ten years, Finnikin is confronted with Evanjalin a young girl who claims to walk through the dreams of others.  She has claimed that the young prince, and heir to the throne, is actually alive and should be found so as to return him to his rightful place by ousting the Imposter King.  So starts a journey (both physical and emotional) that will bring Finnikin and other exiles back to their homeland.

In Froi of the Exiles Finnikin, the newly appointed queen, and their loyal friend Froi are again put to the test when bordering lands look to start war. Froi, having now been trained by the Royal Guard, is sent out to the kingdom of Lumatere’s most aggressive foe as a spy and assassin. In doing so he is confronted with a young Princess possessed by multiple personalities.  In working through his royally appointed duties Froi befriends a pair of brothers and finds himself at the heart of a larger mystery involving the Princess of Charyn.

As a reader who has not always connected with works of fantasy I found both Finnikin and Froi to be exceptionally well written and plotted.  Though each book did start off slowly once the action picked up both were difficult to put down.  Marchetta is detail oriented in he writing, leaving very few questions related to the plot left unanswered.  Even so, she creates a story that is so tightly woven that it is difficult to foretell the surprises she has in store.  Though I was able to discern a very large reveal in both (similar plot points actually) the general progress of each was enjoyable regardless.  In that way, the story was more about the characters than the plots they were in.

Characters:
Finnikin is one of those strong silent types.  A hero in action and words.  Though he is, no doubt, rough around the edges when a person is able to dig deep enough they see the tenderness beneath the tough outer shell.  He is extremely loyal and his bravery knows no bounds.  Valiant almost to a fault he is, at times, out of his element when dealing with those he is unaccustomed to.  His progression from the lonely exile to the loving future consort is one that moves at a leisurely and believable pace.  By the time he is revisited in Froi of the Exiles he’s softened considerably.  This is not to say that he is weak, but rather he has learned to wear more outward emotion and to show more happiness than ever before.  He’s certainly complex but extremely likable no matter his attitude.

For her part Evanjelin is equally rough.  Strengthened by the difficult life she’s lead up until her meeting of Finnikin and his friends she is closed off entirely from making connections with others.  Her defenses are rigid and she is not one to let her guard down with anyone.  That is until somehow Finnikin is able to get her lower her walls a bit.  In doing so she opens herself up to the potential of friendship and love.  Like Finnikin she is loyal and steadfast, she cherishes those she loves and is fiercely protective.  There is an air of mystery to Evanjelin though, there is more to her than the reader is led to believe.  It is in the discovery of what exactly that means that shows the continued growth she experiences.

Froi is the worst kind of street urchin.  A scrupulous survivor in Finnikin of the Rock he is not bound by any kind of socially acceptable behavior.  He is erratic, irrational and isn’t short of temper and violence.  He has no respect for life (his or others) and is not above criminal activity.  Like Evanjelin he is a survivor and has endured the unspeakable in his plight to make it from one day to another.  Of all the characters in these books he is the one who develops most significantly.  He goes from this street thug to an incredibly loyal and stable friend.  Though he constantly fights his urges and propensity for violence he becomes a more gentle and understanding soul.  A man who wants love and friendship in his life.  He is brave and unafraid to do what needs to be done while still doing his best to discern what is right from wrong and follow a more honest path.

Quintana is crazy crackers.  This girl has multiple personalities to spare.  But you know what, that’s what makes her so very interesting.  She’s had a hard life.  Unloved by her family, thought by her people to be a curse on them, and basically prostituted out to a variety of men and boys in the hopes of lifting said curse.  She is, by far, the most tortured soul in the books.  The wrongs done her makes it completely believable that she’s retreated into herself and relied upon the two personalities to survive.  But survive she has and she’s a stronger girl for it.  She has no shortage of fight in her and isn’t afraid to take giant risks.  As anyone with such a grand personality would Quintana loves grandly as well.  When she finally finds that love she goes after it full force.  She is a girl of action to be sure.

There are a bevy of secondary characters here too.  Marchetta does not skimp on creating a robust canvas for Finnikin, Evanjelin and Froi to interact with.  From Finn’s companion in exile Sir Topher, his Father Trevanion who is the leader of The Royal Guard, the latter’s lady love Beatriss (and her child Vestie), Lucian of the Monts, Gargarin & his brother, Lirah, and a host of other folks who cross the paths of the main characters.  Marchetta has incorporated diversity of age, gender and class and has done so well.  I admit, at times it can get a tad bit confusing trying to wade through all of the different characters but once you get to know them it flows well.

Setting:
Holy world building batman!  Marchetta is all about creating this HUGE, lush landscape that spans multiple kingdoms and regions.  From the rugged mountainous terrain to the sparse water-starved land Marchetta has set the scene with just the right level of detail.  I was completely aware of my surroundings throughout both book.  Not only that but there was the perfect variety of landscapes used to exemplified the differences between regions.  It helped to characterize each of the kingdoms by their different crafts and trades.  Much like our world today there are different natural resources to be found in different locations and that helps orient a person.   Furthermore, Marchette did well to incorporate the use of different languages by different people.  Sure, the reader doesn’t hear much of it but the allusion makes the settings all the more realistic.  But, these books aren’t just about the physical Marchetta gives the full sensory experiences.  I could smell the stench of city streets where slaves were traded, I could feel the grime of the prison where Finnikin’s father was held, and I shivered in the cold air of the forest and rocks.

Final Thoughts:
I was afraid going into these books.  Besides the sheer length of each being somewhat daunting, Fantasy has never been one of my strongest points.  Gotta say, though, that I loved these books.  This is actually one of my favorite series going.  The characters are so dynamic and (despite the fantastical world) relatable. The situations they find themselves in are action-packed and give the reader the perfect reasons to root for particular people and outcomes.  They are just all around fun and enjoyable to read.  Escapism at it’s very finest.  Oh and the writing?  Amazing.  Truly, inspired.  The perfect combination of dialogue and prose for this reader.

Get thee to a bookstore and get these books.  The third in the series Quintana of Charyn is due out in October at which time you know I’ll be pestering you all to read them all!

Series:  Perfect Chemistry
Author: Simone Elkeles [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre:  Contemporary, Urban, Romance
Publisher: Walker and Company
Format: 1 Paperback, 1 eBook, 1 Hardcover
Source: 2 Purchased & 1 Publisher
Parental Advisory: language, drugs, alcohol, murder, gangs, sex
Teachable Moments: peer pressure, gang culture, gun control, loyalty, independence, pregnancy

Book Names:
1 – Perfect Chemistry [Indie Bound] [Amazon]
2 – Rules of Attraction [Indie Bound] [Amazon]
3 – Chain Reaction [Indie Bound] [Amazon]

Plot:
<spoilers!  spoilers!  spoilers!  Because I’m reviewing multiple books at the same time you may become aware of certain pieces of information.  Beware!>

The Fuentes brothers lost their father to gang violence at a young age.  This left Alex the man of the house and protector of his grieving mother and two younger brothers (Carlos and Luis).  Living in a tough section of the Chicago suburbs it was difficult not to get drawn into a life of gangs, crime and violence.  But still, there was no shortage of love.

Book one, Perfect Chemistry, centers around Alex the oldest of the Fuentes boys.  He is doing his best to stay in high school long enough to graduate so he can at least attempt to create the potential for a better future.  The problem is that he’s having a slight problem getting around the requirement of leading the life of a Latino Blood.  The Blood’s are a prominent gang in his neighborhood; a gang who’s presence is and participation in is unavoidable.  Particularly given the fact that his father was a member as well. That makes Alex particularly interesting to the gang.  Enter Britney, the blonde haired popular cute girl from the right side of the tracks.  She comes from a good family, has a safe and relatively happy home, gets good grades and just generally leads the perfect life.  Or so Alex thinks.  What he fails to realize is that it’s all a facade.  Though her life is not nearly as complicated or dangerous as his own she has burdens to bare.  Anywho, as you can imagine these two never run in the same circles and, in fact, often times find themselves butting heads.  Neither particularly likes the other for a variety of reasons.  Until one day, they are paired on a school chemistry project that requires them to spend time together outside of school.  As one would imagine, the more time they spend with each other the more they learn about the other’s lives.  Voila….romance.  But wait, there is conflict and violence and angst!  This is not an easy relationship to navigate for either of them, but in the end….well, in the end you’ll see what happens.

Book two, Rules of Attraction, focuses on Carlos the middle brother. The story is somewhat similar to Perfect Chemistry in that Carlos is trying his best to maintain distance from the Latino Bloods.  Now living in Colorado with Alex after his mother ships him back from Mexico (where he was loosely affiliated with a local gang) Carlos starts high school off by turning on his bad boy charm.  This, naturally gets him in trouble and he very quickly finds himself on the wrong side of the law.  As a result Carlos is moved out of Alex’s house and into the home of one of his brother’s college professors.  Enter Kiara, the daughter of the professor and the girl Carlos doesn’t want to let himself open up to.  She is nothing like any of the spicier girls he’s attached himself to before — she’s academically inclined, always trying to do good and see the positive in people, she takes responsibility for herself and her actions and isn’t afraid to admit her shortcomings.  Guess what?  Romance ensues!  But wait, there is conflict and violence and angst!  You know what this means, right?  The road to relationship bliss is rocky and difficult for both of them to navigate but in the end….well, in the end you’ll see what happens.

The last of the series, Chain Reaction, focuses on the youngest Fuentes Luis.  Having always been the “good” brother, the one who did well in school and was always on the straight and narrow, it is interesting to see that Luis is now the danger junkie and ladies man of the family.  Living in Colorado with his mother after moving back from Mexico to be near Alex and Carlos, he finds himself relocated again a couple of years later.  This time he’s back in the Chicago suburbs where the Feuntes family planted their roots.  This, naturally, means that he’ll be the focus of the local chapter of the Latino Blood.  If for no other reason than Alex’s previous departure, though that isn’t the only reason why.  There is a much larger reason, a secret that was alluded to in the first book of the series.  So, the good boy gone bad is closer to the gang life than ever before.  Even so, this book wouldn’t be an Elkeles creation if it didn’t have romance in the air.  You see, in Colorado Luis was always surrounded by girls falling at his feet it stands to reason that when he lands back home in Chicago his senior year of high school he’s overcome by the rarity of encountering a girl that’s just not into him. Enter Nikki, a badass in her own right.  She’s a girl who’s not at all interested in gang bangers and isn’t afraid to let the boys who she feels fall into that category know she’s off limits.  It is clear from the start that she is going to keep her distance from Luis no matter how much charm and swagger he throws in her direction.  Coming full circle back to Perfect Chemistry, Luis and Nikki meet a curmudgeonly chemistry teacher who ingratiates herself into their lives in an attempt to better them both.  You know what’s coming right?  Yup, you guessed it….romance! But wait, there is conflict and violence and angst!  Their relationship actually seems to be the most difficult of the three, but in the end….well, in the end you’ll see what happens.

Characters:

Alex felt old beyond his years, which makes sense to me given his childhood and the level of responsibility he was required to take on as a result of his father’s death.  Being the protector didn’t afford him the opportunity to find himself as much as take on the persona of his father.  He was only able to show true emotion and vulnerability when spending time with Britney and even then he was quite guarded.  Though rough around the edges he was charismatic in the cocky kind of way that makes you want to peel away the layers to see the truly genuine heart that is underneath.

Britney should have been the typical girl next door.  The popular girl with the jock boyfriend who becomes homecoming and prom queen.  She’s happy and easy going and smart.  But not street smart.  She thinks she knows about gangs and the people who are in them but she’s really quite naive about their motivations and circumstances.  Moreover, they are equally naive about hers.  Underneath her sparkling exterior Britney is a bit of a tortured soul.  She’s a girl who has taken on the responsibility of taking care of her disabled sister.  She’s a parent in ways her own parents can’t be.  Dedicated, strong and more similar to Alex than she realizes.  They both hold family close and in the highest regard even to their own detriment.  It’s one of the things that draws them together.

Carlos, well he’s the cocky bastard of the group.  Definitely full of himself he thinks his poopie doesn’t smell!  But….his attitude is well earned.  He’s not had an easy life.  Being the middle child has made him the direct focus of his brother Alex but also disregarded (at times) by his mother.  He has an air of loneliness and desperation to him which makes him more human.  His actions tend to be spontaneous and without much consideration to future outcomes.  He feels deeply for the people in his life but acts stupidly on their behalf or in reaction to what he perceives as their slighting behavior of him.  He’s rash but sexy and filled with the kind of rough around the edges charm that makes girls want to fix him.

Kiara is possibly my favorite character of the entire series.  Such a genuinely nice and caring person she is always putting everyone in her life before herself.  She is a wholesome girl who is entirely genuine in the expression of her thoughts and feelings.  Her goals are to be successful in life and love and make the lives of the people around her better.  Though cautious with her feelings she can’t help but reach out to Luis against her better judgement which only makes me like her more.  She knows she’s setting herself up to fail or get deeply hurt (or both) and still she makes the effort.

Luis is by far my favorite Fuentes.  He puts Carlos’ cockiness to shame by notching it up to narcissism.  But I can tell you it’s not unappealing.  It’s actually quite endearing.  He’s so obviously trying to cover up what he perceives as inadequacy — feelings and vulnerability — with brash and sass.  He says and does anything he can to deflect the growing attachment and affection he feels for Kiara.  He’s distrustful and cautious but deep down faithful and filled with the kind of integrity that makes anyone want to stand by him.

Nikki was actually my least favorite character.  Mainly because she was set up to be this brash tough girl but really never achieved that goal.  She definitely had back bone, she had no problem verbalizing her opinions and feelings, but I didn’t see her as the match for Luis in the fearless and cocky department that I was expecting.  Now, having said that I still liked her a great deal.  I liked that she had a good full heart and that she loved on such a grand scale.  Despite being so close minded about love when she put herself on the line she did it full force and without much trepidation when it eventually happened for her.  I do think she felt a tad bit more judgmental than the other girls but that could be because she was the girlfriend that followed Kiara.  Comparatively speaking she was likely closer in attitude to Britney so had this story been the second as opposed to the third I may have felt differently.

I felt like the secondary characters in all books were a bit ordinary.  I suspect that was by design since the main focus was on the brothers and their girls.  In each of the different books the parents were exactly what you would have expected.  Each parent had a protectiveness of their child and then as varied circumstances applied there was shirking of responsibility, materialism, judgement, friendship and understanding.  The evil foe in every book were gang members, in a couple of cases the same gang members, so there was no shortage of hostility, violent tendencies, domineering and control issues.  There were best friends and classmates that allowed for story progression and character development in ways that the romantic entanglements wouldn’t necessarily have facilitated.  All in all the characters in each book fit their role and served their purpose well.

Setting:
From the Midwest to the heat of Mexico this series did well to show the disparity in The Fuentes lifestyle versus the girls in their lives.  The Fuentes family have always lived in a small home.  In Chicago it was a house where all three brothers had to share a room.  The women in their lives, on the other hand, all lived in much more posh circumstances.  I will say, that the scene was set with a minimalist vibe.  I got the dark, grungy, downtrodden feeling from the Fuentes locations (their house, the garage where Alex worked, the warehouses and such) and I got the lighter more comfortable feeling from the larger upscale homes of the girls.  There was also the variety of high school locations like hallways, classrooms, parking lots and the like.  Not much to any of that really.  BUT I’ll say that in these books it wasn’t really about the location anyway.  There wasn’t as much focus on the intricacies of the where because it was all about the who and the what.  This worked really well for it.

Final Thoughts:
The common themes of these stories left the series feeling a bit repetitive and at times (particularly in books two and three) predictable.  Each had a central focus on both gang culture and the romantic entanglement of the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks falling in love with the good girl from the right side.  Having said that each story had it’s own particular strength that allowed for just the right amount of differentiation to make it feel fresh and compelling enough to keep me coming back for more.

In fact, I would say this is one of my favorite contemporary series and that rests solely on the shoulders of the Fuentes brothers.  One of the things I liked best was that these brothers rarely compete against each other.  They had genuine bonds of love and respect.  Sure they fought, they disagreed vehemently even, but they also had mutual respect and were careful to protect each other at all costs.  There were flashes of sibling rivalry but it was never full blown.   To that end my absolute favorite part of Chain Reaction was that it contained the most interaction between the Fuentes brothers.  They spent a great deal of time together and it was so much fun to see how they related to each other and how dear their family was.  It was such a great addition to the usual love story the books have built their foundation on.

But let’s face facts.  These books are also about romance.  The Fuentes brothers are H-O-Double T HOT and they definitely don’t shirk the responsibility of bringing the sexytimes. There is plenty of passion, seduction, and surprisingly tenderness between the brothers and their girls.  There is a sweetness to the stories and in all three cases a bit of angst.  But that’s what makes it great right?  It can’t be too easy or else it would be boring!

I really enjoyed seeing the different characters and their interpersonal relationships develop through the different stories.  Not everything was romantically based.  There were friendships, mentorships and parental relationships that had great impact and influence over each of the boys.  I also really enjoyed that Elkeles included an epilogue for each book in which she showed the brother of the book in the future.  A great way to tie up the book and give me a feeling of completion and satisfaction.  Also, I quite liked that the story from the previous book trickled into the next.  Not in big ways just how a family infuses itself into all of the lives of it’s members.  You see small things and know where people are but it’s not full blown.  Elkeles did an awesome job of that.

In case you can’t tell, I enjoyed this series and would encourage you to read it.  It’s good contemporary that spans age and gender.  I liked the romance factor and the plot was gritty enough to keep me on the edge of my seat every now and again.  There is definitely something for everyone!

Series:  The Ghost and the Goth
Author: Stacey Kade [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre:  Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Format: 1 Hardcover & 1 eBook
Source: 1 Purchased & 1 Publisher (via NetGalley)
Parental Advisory: language, drugs, alcohol, mental illness, suicide, murder
Teachable Moments: self-worth, fidelity, dealing with loss, sibling rivalry, GLBT

Book Names:
1 – The Ghost and the Goth [Amazon]
2 – Queen of the Dead [Indie Bound] [Amazon]

Plot:
<spoilers this way come! Because I’m reviewing two books at the same time it’s impossible not to let information flow.  Beware!>

Alona Dare is your typical popular mean girl in her school’s social strata.  She is in it for number one and it doesn’t matter who gets in her way.  Especially those she considers to be the lowest of the low.  Enter Will Killian, in a uniform of all black and always with his head down he’s made himself known as an outcast.  It’s apparent early on that the two would never be caught dead together.  That is, until, Alona actually does end up dead and her ghost becomes tied to Will in an unexpected way.  It’s clear I’m not necessarily spoiling anything by saying that Will sees dead people.  It’s the reason he and Alona finally speak and bond with each other.  While this is one of the key touch points of the story (their tentative friendship) what I won’t spoil for you is the mystery surrounding why Alona is still bound to Earth, how it is and why Will can see her, and the role his father’s disappearance plays in it.   There is also small subplot that plays in as a distraction to it all with Will’s friends Lily and Joonie.  This subplot builds the relationship between he and Alona and also opens the door for story progression in book two.

Despite the connections created by characters and plot elements laid out in The Ghost and the Goth it’s follow-up Queen of the Dead felt like an entirely different read.  Some of the same plot held true — Alona was still Earth-bound, Will still spoke to spirits, and there was a mystery to continue to solve but it’s tone felt different.  It was a much darker book from the first; it felt more dire and desperate.  This comes from the fact that despite revelations about his father in book one this second in the series focused a lot on his quest to find out more.  More than that it focused on the quest of others to find more out about and manipulate him.  This book lost some of the fun and spunk that the first had and definitely didn’t go towards the “rootable” factor.  In book one I was rooting for a variety of things (Alona to get to heaven, Will and Alona to get together, Alona to stay on earth with Will, Will to find out about his past, etc etc etc) but in Queen of the Dead about the only thing I could root for was particular people’s disappearance.  I did feel more compassion and sympathy for Alona in this book than in the prior and I suppose I could construe some of my feelings as rooting for a certain outcome where she was concerned but I did feel far less invested.

Both books are told in alternating point of view which works really well for them.  We get to not only see into Alona and Will’s minds individually but we also get to see a larger and wider swath of the story and all it’s secondary characters in a much more manageable way.  The voices of each blend in well together and bring realism and emotion to a story that is based on the implausible. It was also helpful in not only providing me a more well-rounded perspective on Will and Alona as individual characters but also their progression and development as a result of their relationship and circumstances.

Characters:
As I mentioned Alona was the typical popular mean girl, maybe even bordering a little on cliched.  She wasn’t afraid to mock, alienate or torture those who were not of what she considered her same social standing.  She’s a girl who (like most her age) has secrets and problems.  She is fighting for control of anything and everything she can because there is so much now that is out of her reach.   She wasn’t completely devoid of humanity and compassion though.  She was shown to have depth over the course of these books through how she interacted with her family and how (in book two) she dealt with her circumstances with and as a result of Will and the changes in their relationship.  While I didn’t quite latch on to her at the outset I have slowly come to like her as my favorite character of the series.

Will is a recluse, sent into himself as a result of his ability to see spirits.  While most believe he is some sort of deviant or perhaps of questionable mental capability he is truly of sound mind.  He just can’t seem to clear it much with all the spirits looking to him for salvation.  He’s not completely friendless, and his loyalty to those he holds close is admirable.  It even makes him charismatic.  His ability isolates him but his endurance of the circumstances his life has handed him makes him quite lovable.  It is his strength that carries the pair through book one.  I was less taken with him over the course of book two, however, as there was a pretty significant and not so subtle shift in his character.  He becomes more self-involved and selfish, less caring of Alona’s feelings and the affects his actions have on those around him.  It makes sense, this shift in his personality, but it wasn’t something that I enjoyed.

Mina showed up in the second book positioned as the mysterious girl who had so much in common with Will.  Set up as the third point in a triangle, the one with whom Will could forge a stronger connection to, she was filled with attitude and for the most part nastiness.  All I can say is that this was a girl who was trying too hard.  Trying too hard to position herself, trying too hard to be the bad girl and just overall trying too hard to be a pain in the ass.  Of course, she was only successful in one of the three.  The latter.  I didn’t find her attractive in the capacity as friend or foe or potential romantic interlude for Will.  She was whiny and unappealing and felt like a total plot point for the story.

There are a host of secondary characters in both books, parents, friends and a variety of foes for Will.  All fit their particular purpose in the story but none stand out far enough to detract the focus from Will and Alona.  In book one Will’s friend’s Joonie and Lily make small appearances as does his mother.  As one would expect, they carry story forward for him and open doors for the future.  In book two there are a variety of Will’s father’s former associates (including Mina and her abusive father) which also carry story forward but none of them were anyone I’d want to continue to see in the future.

Setting:
The setting was typical but well dressed.  Homes, high school, hangouts.  Alona and Will don’t travel much outside of the ordinary.  Well accept occasionally they’ll hang out in locations that are haunted.  But even so these locations aren’t out of the ordinary in a physical sense but rather in the tone and feeling that surround them.  This makes sense as the story is far more plot driven than a story that requires extensive world building.  This isn’t to say that the environment doesn’t have an impact because it does.  Alona can only be present in certain places and Will’s affliction requires that certain senses be kept less acute than others.  They often find themselves tied to their surroundings in different ways that allow for the setting to play an interesting role in the story while not making it it’s own character.  Which, frankly suited me just fine.

Final Thoughts:
I definitely liked the first book better than the second.  It was far more charismatic and held a great deal more tension both from the romantic perspective and the plot.  There was a great mystery and the characters felt far more realistic and enjoyable.  Book two, well, it felt off.  First, it was far more predictable.  I saw the big twist at the end coming a mile away, which was extremely unexpected given the fact that book one did so well to avoid that pitfall.  I’ll also add that the forced triangle between Alona/Will/Mina was a big detractor.  Book one also had the advantage of creating real romantic tension.  The addition of the pseudo-triangle in book two felt incredibly forced and not in a good way.  When well done and well positioned a triangle can create a great feeling of angst.  In Queen of the Dead it was just uncomfortable.  This could be because the character Mina felt forced as well.

I realize all of these things were crafted to set up the third book but man, I was kinda sad it wasn’t executed as well as the first book.  I will say, however, that these issues won’t keep me from reading it.  Sure, the second took a less than appealing turn but in doing so it really did set up the next book well.  I’m so interested to see where things shake out with Will and Alona and how Mina and the other secondary characters of the book factor in to Will’s further progression.  It has a lot of potential; potential I hope rises to the level of book one’s greatness.

(Series Spotlight is a commonly used name for blog features blogs duplication is neither intended nor malicious)

Series: Summer Series
Author: Jenny Han [website] [twitter]
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Format: 2 Hardcover & 1 eBook
Source: 2 Purchased & 1 Publisher
Parental Advisory: drinking, language, sex, drugs, death
Teachable Moments: self-worth, fidelity, dealing with loss, sibling rivalry

Books:
1 – The Summer I Turned Pretty
2 – It’s Not Summer Without You
3 – We’ll Always Have Summer

Plot:
<spoilers this way come! Because I’m reviewing all three books at the same time it’s impossible not to spoil you.  Beware!>

Belly is in love.  In love with her coveted summers at Cousins Beach, in love with the extended family that her mother’s best friend Susannah has created for them, and most especially in love with Susannah’s sons Jeremiah and Conrad. Over the course of three books the reader follows Belly as she navigates the slowly building revelation that this extended family is changing in unexpected ways.  Touching on a range of emotions Han’s Summer series runs the reader through wringer giving the highest of highs and, at times, the lowest of lows.

In book one we meet Belly and her family (mother Laurel and brother Steven) as they arrive at Cousins Beach for their annual summer with the Fishers.  Looking forward to settling into the comfort of her home away from home and her typical summer routine of following the boys Belly embraces the familiarity that summer brings.  At the center of it all is Susannah, her maternal role model, a woman she adores spending time with.  A woman who is the glue that bonds the two families so tightly together.  She is the one who shares in Belly’s undying love for her two sons.  Unfortunately, amidst the sun-kissed frivolity of trying to lure secret crush Conrad to fall in love with her it is revealed that not all is well with Susannah.

Volleying between past and present we see how Belly has grown from tag-along into a young girl worthy of a boy’s romantic attentions — and attentions there are from a variety of boys.  Belly is now a full fledged potential girlfriend and there isn’t a boy residing in that beach house that doesn’t recognize it.  Her brother Steven is uncomfortable with the kind of attention Conrad is paying to his sister, Jeremiah and Conrad both are uncomfortable with the attention that local boy Cam is paying to her, and Belly herself is uncomfortable with the prospect of moving on from her true heart’s desire.  The makings of good romantic angst right?  And it is, there is friendship and love and no shortage of conflicted feelings amongst them all.

But at the center of it all is Susannah and the fact that she’s hiding a very big secret from them all.  A secret that will undoubtedly change the way Cousins Beach is reflected upon for summer’s to come. Which catapults the reader into book two which focuses on the summer immediately following Susannah’s death.  Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad are the core of the story as the two former work together to help the latter deal with the loss of his mother. After her death Conrad’s life takes a turn for the worse — he quits football, becomes surly and closed off, and lashes out at the people he loves most.  Nothing exemplifies this more than his departure from summer school.  What people don’t realize is that this time his actions aren’t intended to be difficult but rather he has a justifiable reason for leaving school behind.  Though it was decided summer at Cousins Beach wasn’t in the cards for the families this year Jeremiah reaches out to Belly when Conrad goes missing knowing that this is where he’s gone.

This begins their unanticipated summer at the beach.  A summer where Jeremiah takes Susannah’s place as the family caretaker and the romantic triangle between the three becomes more prevalent.  Filling in the gaps are no small amounts of family drama in the forms of some decent sibling rivalry and Mr. Fisher’s appearance at the house.  Though Susannah had specific desires for the Cousins house he has determined that it must go.  In acts of rebellion that change the relationship they have with their father the boys make a variety of attempts to save the house.  Some are successful and others not so much.  At the conclusion of their great many battles Belly too is faced with a choice — pick Conrad or Jeremiah.  Which she does, and which segues the reader into book three.

The last in the series focuses on Belly and Jeremiah’s new relationship as they navigate being more than friends while also being away together at college.  It’s no small feat as an uncomfortable and unexpected development facilitates their engagement to be married.  No, no she’s not pregnant it’s something else entirely but it is an event that gives pause for thought.  Now betrothed the two families begin to travel a very rocky path towards their nuptials.  There are rifts between parents and children, between brothers and sisters and between lovers as they all come together to plan and participate in a wedding.  Cousins Beach still plays a strong role throughout this book as this is where Belly ends up living (with Conrad for some time as a matter of fact) while she’s planning her wedding.  In that time there are revelations made about the status of her relationship with Jermiah and even the status of her non-relationship with Conrad.   And yes, there is a wedding at the end!

Han has crafted an excellent emotional journey as the reader follows Belly through her childhood to marriage.  As mentioned previously there is an emotional depth and high-spiritedness to the story that draws the reader in and allows them to really enjoy following these characters through their lives.  More importantly, it’s written so that we invest in the characters.  We care what happens to each of them and hope that all end up achieving their hopes and dreams.  The plot allows for that, it allows for a twisty/turny ride while still getting to the final spot in one piece.  Is it the most intricate and original plot?  No, it’s not.  But the reader knows that going in and loves the series anyway and that is because of the compelling and rootable characters.

Characters:
Belly is the ultimate conundrum.  Though she appreciates and encourages the stability of things in her life staying the same she is constantly rebelling against it.  At least where the romance in her life is concerned.  She is perseverant, head-strong, sometimes domineering, and yet is equally fragile.  She looks for the best in everyone even when they fail to give it to her, even when they hurt her so deeply she can barely stand it.  She is loyal and always striving for more.

Conrad is hard edged working diligently to maintain a man’s persona. When in reality he’s just a little boy looking for acceptance and love.  Ironically, he pushes away the people in his life that offer him exactly what it is he’s looking for.  He’s rebellious, stubborn, and infuriating a great deal of the time.  Like Belly he is loyal and isn’t afraid to make hard choices that could possibly work against his happiness.  Fearful of of that happiness it takes him a good long time to finally accept that he is deserving of it.

Jeremiah is the supposed golden boy.  The one who goes through the least appealing transformation. At the outset of the series he’s the good boy, the one that appears to be golden in the eyes of everyone.  The stabilizing and supportive force in the family where Conrad is the turmoil. He is a good friend to Belly and a loving brother to Conrad and even steps aside as Conrad pursues Belly when he wants her for himself.  By book three however, his character has developed into a shallow domineering frat boy.  He is nothing like the endearing and adorable friend we got to know in books one and two.  Now he is a man who seems more interested in having Belly for the sake of saying he has her than for any other reason.  He loves her, I’m sure, but those moments where it really shows through are few and far between.

There are other characters throughout the series that are worth mentioning.  Susannah is the rock that everyone seems to cling to.  Even in death her calming force is referenced and used by all as they navigate the different situations in their lives.  Mr. Fisher is who Jeremiah becomes by book three domineering and overpowering.  A man who has to have his way no matter what it costs or who it hurts.  Belly’s best friend Taylor  is probably the most cliched.  She’s boy crazy, shallow and lacks the dedication to Belly that the latter has in return.  For his part Belly’s brother Steven is a good friend and supportive brother.  Though we see little of him overall his truthfulness is a springboard for Belly to make difficult but wise decisions.  Lastly there is Laurel, Belly’s mother.  She is rigid and desperate to have the relationship with Belly that her daughter had with her best friend Susannah.  She seems to always make the wrong choices as far as Belly is concerned but her desire to be close to her daughter is prevalent and admirable.

Han has created a fantastic cast of characters for the Summer series.  Realistic and believable each is flawed in a variety of ways.  But, those flaws are what makes each relatable, what makes them the people readers want to see succeed.  There was character development (and in one notable case regression) throughout but regardless of the direction the character went it was reasonably done within the plot devised.

Setting:
Han sets the perfect scene throughout all three books as Belly and the boys navigate between Cousins Beach, their respective homes and then in the last book college.  Always the backdrop for every moment in their lives Cousins Beach isn’t just a location it’s a feeling.  It gives strength and peace in times of turmoil as well as joy and love in times of happiness.  The dune filled beach and crisp salty air wafts through each page.  It’s understandable why everyone loves it so much.

Final Thoughts:
I loved this series! Once of my absolute favorites and one that I highly recommend to anyone.  Those who love contemporary will assuredly like it most but it’s also excellent for those looking to expand into contemporary for the first time.  The characters are likable, the plot is easy to follow and enjoy and the scene is immaculate.  If you haven’t already add it to your wishlist or TBR.