Review: The Archived by Victoria Schwab

The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Publication: January 22, 2013 (Hyperion)
Source: ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating: Swoon-worthy

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Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.  Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

Memorable Quote

There are no windows because there is no outside, and yet above the shelves there is a vaulted ceiling of glass and light.  The place is vast, and made of wood and marble, long tables running down the center like a double spine, with shelves branching off to both sides like ribs.  The partitions make the cavernous space seem smaller, cozier.  Or at least fathomable.  

The Archive is everything you told me it would be: a patchwork...wood and stone and colored glass...all thorughout, a sense of piece.  

But you left something out.  It is beautiful.    

My Review

 

Victoria Schwab became one of my favorite authors with her debut, The Near Witch; I fell hard for her haunting writing style.  When I heard about The Archived, I was beyond excited, especially when I received a galley.  I immediately knew this was going to be a book unlike any other; within the first 40 pages, I cried twice.  Victoria's prose gripped my heart tight, and her authentic characters made me feel at home within the pages.  The emotions are right there on the surface, beautifully etched across the pages. 

I think one of the marks of a great author is one who is able to write characters that you remember long after you read about them.  Victoria does that with not just one, or a few, but with all of the characters in The Archived.  Whether they grace one page or many, they're fantastically alive, from Mac to Wesley, to Ben, to Roland, to Nix.  I admired Mac's tenacity and her huge heart, Wes's humor and caring, Roland's patience with Mac.  I fell head over heels for Wes, and needed more, more, more of Wesley and Mac together - I really enjoyed watching their friendship grow.  But by far the characters that made the deepest impression on me were the ones who weren't in The Archived as much; it says a great deal, to me, when the secondary characters can fill your eyes with tears and make your heart ache.  

I read The Archived over the course of several days - slowly, because I didn't want to finish it.  It's so much - a mystery with a blush of romance, a study in how grief can tear apart or repair relationships, a rich parallel world running alongside our own.  Victoria tenderly paints such vivid images in The Archived - of escape, of love, of friendship.  Along with being an ethereal story, it's just gorgeously written.  There are passages about Mac's losses that just ripped my composure to pieces; there are other sentences that sewed me back together.  Victoria is an artist when it comes to wording and evoking feelings.  

I loved that Victoria wasn't afraid to face uncomfortable issues like death, loss, unhealthy relationships, and dealing with those things.  I liked that some characters weren't who I thought they were, and that seeing all of this through Mac's eyes felt genuine.  We were in her point of view; we made mistakes with her - and grew with her, too.  Mac's behavior isn't excused like happens in other books I've read.  She makes some bad calls, but she kept trying, and I applaud her for that.  I enjoyed that relationships were explored and built, torn down, and rebuilt.  I loved the world of the Archive - the Histories, the Librarians, the Keepers, and their rules and customs.  I liked the overall mystery, and all the revelations - some I guessed, some I didn't. I was fascinated by The Archive, and I wanted to stay forever.  I wanted to be there with Mac, and I guess in a lot of ways while I read The Archived, I was.  I can't wait to go back. 

Other books by this author:

The Near Witch

About Victoria

I am the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, I have been known to say "tom-ah-toes", "like", and "y'all". But since this is about what I write and not how I pronounce my a's, I will say that I tell stories. 

I'm a lover of fairy tales, and folklore, and books that make me wonder if the world is really as it seems. I love writing about doors, and places between, and the cracks where reality slips into something darker, stranger, and invariably more interesting.

Visit Victoria online at: her blog | her twitter | her website

Shop for The Archived online at: Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble 

Review: Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini

Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini
Publication: October 30, 2012 (Simon Pulse)
Source: Finished copy from the publisher
Rating: Squee-worthy

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Experience the afterlife in this lyrical, paranormal debut novel that will send your heart soaring.When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.
 
Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed.

As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.

Memorable Quote

The wind roared and the rain battered me.  The storm bellowed, but for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, i felt a pocket of peace inside my soul.  It was mine and no ones else could take it away.  I was the eye of the storm.  

My Review

Touching the Surface was one of my most anticipated books of 2012, and within the first few pages, I was psyched for this story.  I love afterlife novels like Dean Winchester loves pie.  With a lush, ephemeral setting that was described so vividly, and characters that felt real to me immediately, it was impossible not to fall for Touching the Surface.  By the end, I was genuinely moved by this wonderful novel about letting go of the past, in order to hold on to something new.  

I loved the setting; the Obmil is a fantastic, ethereal place. I was confused at first, because Sabatini's afterlife is complex, and it took me a few chapters to really "get" everything - the levels, the rules.  Once that happened, I could appreciate the world-building, which was actually very well done.  I loved that Kimberly used the "Delves," or flashbacks as a plot device to get me invested in who these characters were...characters I very quickly grew to love.  

I always enjoy character growth, and that was present in Touching the Surface.  Elliot changed so much from who she was when she arrived in the Obmil; I loved seeing her shed her selfishness and grow into a person who cared about others, and understood the impact of her actions in their lives.  This is a very character-driven strory, and I found myself connecting deeply to Elliot, Julia, Trevor, Owen, and even Mel.  Everyone added a bit to the overall message of Touching the Surface, and I liked how unexpectedly various characters ended up tangled in Elliot's life.  

Along with the mysteries of the afterlife, and several things that weren't what I thought them to be, I also fell hard for Trevor.  At first, I was prepared to hate him for his reactions to Elliot, but there was a reason, and I am so, so glad I stuck with Kimberly's story, and got to know both Trevor, and Oliver.  These two boys play a huge part in Elliot's life, in different ways; there's no love triangle here, but there - is - a meaningful love story that blooms sweetly, slowly encompassing Elliot and Trevor.  

Touching the Surface is a story that lingered with me.  I found myself shedding a few tears as the climax swelled toward an ending that was more of a beginning.  Even now, days later, I'm still thinking of this beautiful story, and I urge everyone to read it!



You're sure to fall for:

The Catastrophic History of You & Me by Jess Rothenberg
If I Lie by Corrine Jackson

About Kimberly

Kimberly Sabatini is a former Special Education Teacher who is now a stay-at-home mom and a part-time dance instructor for 3, 4 and 5 year olds. After her dad passed away in 2005, she used writing as a way to make sense of the experience and discovered that she’s full of questions that need to be answered. She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband and three boys.

Visit Kimberly at: her website | her twitter | her pinterest

Shop for Touching the Surface at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 

 

Review: Lullaby by Amanda Hocking

Lullaby by Amanda Hocking (Watersong #2)
Publication: November 27, 2012 (St Martin's Press)
Source: Finished copy from the publisher
Rating: Beam-worthy
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Harper only wanted a safe, normal life. But when her younger sister Gemma runs off with a dangerous clique of beautiful girls, Penn, Thea, and Lexi, everything changes. Vowing to get her sister back no matter what the cost, Harper must face dangers unlike any she's ever experienced. Fortunately, she has Daniel by her side, a gorgeous guy who's devoted to helping her find her sister—and who's immune to the girls' dark powers.

While Harper searches for her sister, Gemma struggles to adjust to her new life.  Gemma's powers are growing by the day, and the longer she lives with her new "sisters," the harder it is to resist entering their magical world.  It's a realm both dark and beautiful, and where she's plagued by strange hungers and unspeakable needs.  Just as she's drifting far away from her old life,  Harper and Daniel find her...but no one can deny how much she's changed.  All she wants is to return to her family and the mortal world, but how can she do that when she's become something else entirely—and will they still love her once they learn the truth?

Prepare to fall under the spell of Lullaby, the second book in the Watersong series from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.

Memorable Quote

"But I don't want her to take care of me," Daniel said.  "If anything,  I want to take care of her."

My Review

I approached Lullaby with some trepidation; I didn't overly care for Wake - it had potential, but left me wanting something more.  I hoped that Lullaby would build on the mythology foundation laid in Wake, but instead, I closed the second novel in the Watersong series feeling almost cheated.  The lack of action or character development disappointed me, enough that I decided not to continue with the series. 

While I liked the idea behind the lovely, sinister Penn, Thea, and Lexi - deceptively beautiful sirens - I couldn't buy into Gemma's shaky transitions.  One moment she was struggling to retain her humanity, while the next she was seducing an en-spelled guy, or worse.  She went back and forth so many times on where she stood that I felt dizzy.  There was some growth on Thea's part, which was encouraging, but even Harper - my favorite character from Wake - could barely carry this lackluster sequel.  I felt like Harper regressed as a character.  With Gemma missing, Amanda Hocking stripped away Harper's personality, until Harper felt more like a plot device than a character. 

I did like a few aspects of Lullaby, specifically the small progression of Harper and Daniel's relationship.  For me, they are the best thing about this series.  I continued to struggle to even care about Gemma, Alex, or many of the other characters, and apathy bothers me.  Normally feel SOMETHING for a book character, but frankly, I could care less what happens to Gemma.  *SIGHS* And that's a huge problem for me.  Also, the writing really got on my nerves.  Everything was written so as to happen to the characters in the past, instead of them being actively involved in the story. 

Combine the fact that basically very little happens for the first 150 pages of Lullaby, with an unlikeable (for me) narrator, bland writing, and a plot that feels too loose for me to enjoy, I won't be continuing this series.  However, if YOU enjoyed Wake, then Lullaby is a book you'll want to check out, if only because the action finally picks up and sets up interestingly for Tidal. 



Other books by this author:

Switched (Trylle #1)
Wake (Watersong #1)

You're sure to love:

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

About Amanda

I live in Minnesota, and I write young adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy mostly. The My Blood Approves series is about vampires in Minneapolis, and its available now. I also wrote the Trylle Trilogy, which is a paranormal romance without vampires, shifters, mermaids, fae, angels, dragons, ghosts, or ninjas.

Visit Amanda at: her website | her blog | her twitter

Shop for Lullaby at: Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Review: Scorch by Gina Damico

Scorch by Gina Damico (Croak #2)

Expected publication: September 25, 2012 (Graphia)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | B&N | Amazon
Connect with the author: Website | Twitter

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Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby is a teenage grim reaper with the bizarre ability to damn souls. That makes her pretty scary, even to fellow Grims. But after inadvertently transferring her ability to Zara, a murderous outlaw, Lex is a pariah in Croak, the little town she calls home.

To escape the townspeople’s wrath, she and her friends embark on a wild road trip to DeMyse. Though this sparkling desert oasis is full of luxuries and amusements, it feels like a prison to Lex. Her best chance at escape would be to stop Zara once and for all—but how can she do that from DeMyse, where the Grims seem mysteriously oblivious to Zara’s killing spree?

My Review

I was thrilled to return to the small, eccentric town of Croak to revisit my favorite characters: Lex, Driggs, Uncle Mort, and the various other townspeople.  Author Gina Damico's zany cast of characters kept me laughing as the plot moved along, through both triumphs and tragedy's.  Scorch is a deeper book than I originally thought it would be, because for Lex, the stakes are higher.  She's an outcast in Croak now that Zara, a fellow Reaper, is on the loose.  I thought in so many ways, Damico's second book was brilliant, because even though there were touches of her trademark humor and sarcasm, it's clear the characters have more to lose.  

Once again, the characters in Scorch are absolutely a joy to read about.  Each of them - down to the most minor of characters - comes alive under Damico's pen.  Despite the many dangers - Zara's string of murders, Lex's new, odd powers, and so much more - all the characters stayed true to themselves.  I loved the progression of Lex and Drigg's relationship, and how real it felt - perfectly awkward at times, serious or tender at others.  I laughed out loud as often as I gasped with fear for my favorites.  Gina Damico has a true talent at creating memorable characters.  

With bodies piling up and the mystery of Lex's powers growing stranger every day, no place is safe for Lex and her friends.  I read Scorch quickly because I HAD to know what happened next.  Damico kept me guessing and kept me interested!  I have a few mixed feelings on some of the plot twists, but overall, I enjoyed this one and will definitely be on the edge of my seat for the final book in the trilogy! 

Other books by this author:

Croak (Croak #1)

Untitled (Croak #3, 2013)

You're sure to fall for:

Undeadly by Michele Vail

Review: Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz and Ron Bass

Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz and Ron Bass
Pages: 342
Expected publication: October 2, 2012 (Razorbill)
Source: ATW ARC Tours
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | B&N | Amazon

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What if you could dream your way into a different life? What if you could choose to live that life forever?

Sloane and Maggie have never met. Sloane is a straight-A student with a big and loving family. Maggie lives a glamorously independent life as an up-and-coming actress in New York. The two girls couldn't be more different--except for one thing. They share a secret that they can't tell a soul. At night, they dream that they're each other.

The deeper they're pulled into the promise of their own lives, the more their worlds begin to blur dangerously together. Before long, Sloane and Maggie can no longer tell which life is real and which is just a dream. They realize that eventually they will have to choose one life to wake up to, or risk spiraling into insanity. But that means giving up one world, one love, and one self, forever.

My Review

Lucid captured both my interest and my heart from the beginning; as soon as I met Maggie and Sloane, two very diverse girls who dream of one another's lives at night, I knew I wouldn't be putting this book down until I was finished.   Authors Adrienne Stoltz and Ron Bass created a stunningly poignant cast of characters, from actress Maggie to typical student Sloane, who nevertheless keeps secrets, to Maggie's flighty mother and loving little sister, to Sloane's achingly real family.  Against this backdrop, a mystery like nothing I'd ever read played out.  

While at times, I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't, much less what I - wanted - to be real, I know one thing: I loved Lucid.  Both girl's hopes and losses felt solid enough that I didn't question the fact that, whatever was happening, I adored both Maggie and Sloane.  I found reasons to hope that it was Sloane's life that was real, and reasons to hope it was Maggie's.  Authors Bass and Stoltz did an amazing job of making this twist-y story believable, and making me cheer for the characters.  

Sloane and Maggie's struggles to find or even believe in love were especially heart-wrenching.  As I sped through the pages of Lucid, I found myself hopelessly drawn to both girls, but especially Sloane, in her possible relationship with the beautiful, impossible James.  I also wanted to wrap my arms around Maggie, caught between two guys, and terrified of letting either in.  Wondering if either girl would find real love started to mean more than knowing what was and wasn't real to me, and the explosive ending wasn't something I saw coming.  Having finished Lucid, I'm still trying to piece together what really happened - the fact that the ending was so disjointed both loaned a creepy feel to the book, but also left me confused, which dampened my enjoyment of this book.  But Lucid is still an incredibly emotionally powerful debut, and I'd love to read more from either author!



You're sure to fall for:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Zoe Letting Go by Nora Price

Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

The Diviners by Libba Bray
Pages: 608
Published: September 18, 2012 (Little, Brown Books FYR)
Source: SBB ARC Tours
Rating: Swoon-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | B&N | Amazon
Connect with the author: Website | Blog

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Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-tute-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.







 

My Review

 

The Diviners is a stunningly original, hauntingly beautiful book, a larger-than-life glimpse into 1920's New York City, a place where, for Evie O'Neil, anything and everything is possible.  The incomparable Libba Bray has written another achingly real cast of characters - runaway dancer, Theta, piano player Henry, gifted Memphis, strange, extraordinary Jericho, scientist Uncle Will - all threaded into Evie's life.  The synopsis barely hints at the magical, macabre story inside the pages, which is part historical fiction, part paranormal, and part murder mystery.  

I'm not sure what I'm more thrilled about and deliriously into in The Diviners.  The characters are all such richly developed fixtures in this book, and the gritty, elegant 1920's New York City just comes alive on the pages.  I felt SO much while I read Bray's book: genuine fear as the occult murders continued, hope as Evie and her uncle discovered clues and raced against the clock to solve the murders, glee when the characters triumphed, sadness when they didn't.  My heart was definitely invested in The Diviners - in the mythos Libba Bray created, as well as in the hints that there was much, much more just beneath the surface.  The Diviners did a fantastic job of introducing all the pivotal characters as well as setting the stage for the sequels. 

I was truly scared as the climax of The Diviners swelled toward an ending that left me with more questions than answers; though in this case, that's okay.  I know that Bray will deliver.  There's a sense of urgency and a sweeping, overwhelming, dizzying undertone to The Diviners, a warning of dangers to come that I just wanted to drink in.  Something bigger than all these wonderful characters is coming, and I for one cannot WAIT to find out!  With just a touch of perfectly developed, unhurried romance, as well as a dusting of steampunk, The Diviners is everything I could ever want in a book.



Other books by this author:

A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle #1)

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Black House by Stephen King

Review: Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, and Larkin Reed

Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed and Larkin Reed
Pages: 368
Expected publication: October 1, 2012 (Arthur A. Levine)
Source: ATW ARC Tours
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | B&N | Amazon

Connect with the authors: Twitter | Amber House Trilogy Website

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"I was sixteen the first time my grandmother died . . ."

Sarah Parsons has never seen Amber House, the grand Maryland estate that's been in her family for three centuries. She's never walked its hedge maze nor found its secret chambers; she's never glimpsed the shades that haunt it, nor hunted for lost diamonds in its walls.

But all of that is about to change. After her grandmother passes away, Sarah and her friend Jackson decide to search for the diamonds--and the house comes alive. She discovers that she can see visions of the house's past, like the eighteenth-century sea captain who hid the jewels, or the glamorous great-grandmother driven mad by grief. She grows closer to both Jackson and a young man named Richard Hathaway, whose family histories are each deeply entwined with her own. But when the visions start to threaten the person she holds most dear, Sarah must do everything she can to get to the bottom of the house's secrets, and stop the course of history before it is cemented forever.

My Review

The mark of a good book, to me, is when after you've finished, you're still wondering about the characters, and dying to know how everything plays out.  That happened to me when I read Amber House.  Although at times I felt that the writing could have used some polishing, authors Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, and Larkin Reed have crafted a spine-tingling story about family history, loss, scandal, secrets, and the hope that history does not have to repeat itself.  Combining the paranormal with a dash of sci-fi, Amber House is many things: romantic, genteel, and above all, scary.  I LOVE to be scared, yet it very rarely happens...but Amber House actually left me afraid the night I finished it.  

The Parsons family has a troubled past that Sarah, the main character, sees and experiences in glimpses, called "echoes."  I enjoyed this aspect of Moore's story, because the house, recently vacated by Sarah's deceased grandmother, is full of family heirlooms, each one with a different, sad and sometimes, horrifying story to tell.  I couldn't help but feel for Sarah and for her adorable younger brother, Sammy.  They were both amazing characters, and Jackson and Richard were wonderful additions to the plot; each boy served a purpose other than being a love interest - they actually each furthered the story being told. 

Amber House has a great deal to offer fans of mysteries.  There's a decidedly Gothic, spooky feel to Moore's book, including two twists I didn't see coming, but enjoyed.  I've heard this is part of a trilogy, so I'm excited to see what the next book holds.  There is a LOT of potential in the characters and in the storyline, which really took off for me about halfway through Amber House.  If authors Moore and the Reeds want to write more about these characters and the imposing, mysterious Amber House, I will definitely continue reading!  I enjoyed the writing style, the elegance, and the period feel to this book, and will be anxiously awaiting news of a sequel. 

You're sure to fall for:

The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red (I kept thinking of this movie while reading Amber House!)

Review: Burn Mark by Laura Powell

Burn Mark by Laura Powell
Pages: 416
Published: June 19, 2012 (Bloomsbury)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Beam-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Connect with the author: Facebook | Website | Twitter

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Glory is from a family of witches and lives beyond the law. She is desperate to develop her powers and become a witch herself. Lucas is the son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition—the witches’ mortal enemy—and his privileged life is very different to the forbidden world that he lives alongside.

And then on the same day, it hits them both. Glory and Lucas develop the Fae—the mark of the witch. In one fell stroke, their lives are inextricably bound together, whether they like it or not...

My Review 

Burn Mark is a gritty, tough look at two very different characters, from two very separate walks of life.  I devoured Laura Powell's debut novel in a matter of hours, almost in one sitting, and although I didn't make that lasting connection with it that I hoped to, I did find myself thoroughly drawn in to the world she's built.  In Burn Mark, the danger is real, and there were definitely moments when I felt a chill, reading about the society Powell created, and the situations her two main characters found themselves in.  

Told in dual narrative, in Burn Mark we meet both Glory and Lucas.  Glorianna Starling Wilde wants nothing more than to "turn fae," or become a witch.  She's a legacy in the making.  But for Lucas Stearne, "turning fae" is a nightmarish world he wants nothing to do with.  When both teens turn and develop the tell-tale "Devil's Kiss," or mark of being fae, both their worlds change.  I loved the juxtaposition of their two worlds.  Glory is from a long line of witches, with ties to more than one powerful coven.  Lucas is from a long, esteemed line of witch hunters.   Seeing the two radically different reactions from these equally compelling characters was what moved along Burn Mark for me, since the pacing was slower than I expected.  

If there was one flaw in Burn Mark that did take my enjoyment back a few notches, it was that I felt like I was being inundated by information - terms, people, places, mythos, legends, and such.  I know sometimes the "info-dump" plot device can't be avoided, but unfortunately here, it was just too much to take in all at once.  I'd barely gotten to know a character before I was being trampled by their rich family history - which was fascinating, don't get me wrong - then hit by new phrases.  It was overwhelming!  

However, there is a very thrilling story playing out in Powell's novel.  Not only are both Glory and Lucas struggling to accept their new lives, but there's also a power struggle going on between the covens, plus a lot more at stake, as is revealed in Burn Mark.  I thought the WICA agency (sort of a witch-themed FBI) was an interesting addition, and I was invested in what was going on, though worried for Glory and Lucas as they got in over their heads in everything.  There was a good sense of urgency throughout Burn Mark, but again, it was almost as if Laura Powell tried to take on and accomplish too much at once.  Enough happens and is revealed that I was left wondering if there would be a sequel, which is there is, I'd definitely read it.  

Burn Mark is overall a dauntless paranormal tale, which features an interesting contrast between Lucas's easy life of opulence and Glory's hardscrabble life on the streets.  Both characters stand on their own, though I liked Glory's tough ways and fast talking more than I did Lucas, and in a lot of ways, I feel like there's still a great deal to learn about Lucas.  He came off as very reserved, and if there is a sequel, hopefully Laura Powell will let us further into his thoughts and reveal more about what makes him tick.

Please check this one out if you're looking for something edgy and different; I don't think Burn Mark will disappoint!  

Be sure to check out the rest of the Burn Mark tour!

 

You're sure to fall for: 

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Chime by Franny Billingsley