Review: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
Pages: 400
Expected publication: May 8, 2012 (HarperCollins)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Series or Stand-alone: Hemlock (1)
Rating: Swoon-worthy
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website



Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but blood lust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

My Review

For some time now, I've held off on reading werewolf novels, but within a few chapters of Hemlock, the debut from Kathleen Peacock, I knew not only that I couldn't hold out  any longer, but also that this novel was truly something astoundingly special.  Poignant, electrifying, and enchanting, Hemlock is a spectacular start for Peacock.  Picking up shortly after Mackenzie's best friend is murdered by a werewolf, Hemlock races headlong into the action as a still-grieving Mac decides to take matters into her own hands and investigate Amy's death.  Along for the thrill-ride are a wonderfully written cast of supporting characters, ranging from the tragically broken Jason (Amy's boyfriend), the protective Kyle (Mac's best friend), and Tess (Mac's cousin and parental figure.)  Between the stunning cast of characters, their intricate relationships, and the mystery aspect, I absolutely couldn't put down Hemlock or tear myself loose from the gorgeous web the story wove around me.  

Mac is a refreshing protagonist - self-aware without being TOO much so, spirited, honest, and brave.  She's also a tremendously strong female, with a huge heart.  Mac cares a great deal about her friends and family, and isn't afraid to show it in various ways, whether it's reaching out to try to save Jason, who's fallen apart after Amy's death, or looking out for Tess.  I want to applaud Kathleen Peacock for writing such an amazingly sympathetic and likable character in Mackenzie.  This story, compelling as it was, wouldn't have made such a huge impact on me where it not for Mac.  

Hemlock did make an impression on me, from start to finish.  I enjoyed trying to figure out who Amy's killer was, and it was delightfully frustrating in so many ways.  Kathleen Peacock has written a nicely-developed mystery that stumped me and will likely continue to do so with readers.  When the mystery finally was solved, I think I may have gasped.  Between that aspect, and the Trackers, an above-the-law fanatical group of werewolf hunters, Hemlock definitely had a darker feel than I expected, but one that I adored.  I definitely want to know more about the Trackers, and about the werewolf camps, as well as about the secondary group that came into play during the story, battling for rights for werewolves.  

I didn't want to finish Kathleen Peacock's debut novel for many reasons, yet another one being how haunting and brilliant all the characters and their interactions were.  I felt for so many of them, and yet I have to say, I think - and this may seem odd - that one of the strongest characters in the novel was Amy.  Although she was never anything but a memory, she was very much a presence: in Mac's nightmares, in between Mac and Jason, and Mac and Kyle, in the town, in the mystery of her death.  Amy was compelling, and added yet another layer, another enigma to Hemlock, because as the story goes on, we see that there was much more to Amy than anyone knew.  I also really loved Mackenzie's relationship with Tess.  Despite Mac's family history, it was clear how much she and Tess cared for one another.  

Further complicating Hemlock in an elegantly heart-pounding manner is the thread of romance Kathleen has woven throughout her novel.  I didn't expect to fall in love with any characters, but I fell, hard, for Kyle.  It's been a few weeks now since I finished Hemlock and I'm still swooning over him.  I really enjoyed watching Mac and Kyle puzzle through their feelings for one another, and I thought their relationship was intense, sweet, and perfect, in some ways.  I could see how badly Mac wanted to rescue and fix Jason, but I think by the time Hemlock ended both she and he were starting to realize he would have to save himself for it to mean anything.  I was slightly disappointed in the emerging love triangle between Kyle, Mackenzie, and Jason, but I will say it was all well-written, emotional, and an impossible decision for Mac to make.  I'm glad Peacock didn't rush her toward either boy rather, the steps Mac did take felt natural and organic.  I am definitely a Kyle/Mac girl, but I cannot wait to see where the second book takes all of these characters I've come to love.

Yes, I said love.  It may seem improbable, but I already feel like I know these characters, this town.  Hemlock was such a bewitching and compelling debut that I know I won't forget it anytime soon.  Some books just have IT, that spark, that combination of events, characters, writing, and themes as to make them unforgettable.  There's a certain kind of magic in a well-written, striking book, where all the ingredients meshed perfectly.  And with plenty of action, mystery, romance, darkness, heart, and soul, Hemlock is one of those books. 

Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Expected publication: May 1, 2012 (Harper Collins)
Pages: 464
Series or stand-alone: Sweet Evil (1) (I think!)
Rating: Squee-worthy
Source: ARC from the publisher
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Find the author online: Twitter | Website

What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip to meet her father forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. When she confronts her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

My Thoughts

 Debut author Wendy Higgins delivers as astoundingly heart-pounding, poignant, breath-taking book with Sweet Evil, the story of Southern "good girl," Anna Whit, and the drastic turn her life takes when she meets Kaidan Rowe; Kaiden is THAT guy - mysterious, sensual, and immediately works his way totally under her skin.  What surprises the sweet, good-natured Anna the most isn't her attraction to Kaidan, but rather, it's that he is something she's never come across before: he's like her.    Wendy Higgins made it impossible NOT to fall for not only Anna, but Kaidan.  The two of them together in any scene, on any and every page, were a tantalizing mix of oil and water; despite their similarities, they are also very different, and the ways in which Wendy showcases that were stunningly beautiful and heart-wrenching at times. 

Sweet Evil is a study in many things: love, fear, evil, good, and ultimately, what a person's soul is worth.  There were a few moments when I feared it would stray into a territory too religious for my tastes (though if it had, I couldn't fault the author!) but Wendy Higgins managed to infuse Sweet Evil with a sense of spirituality, and something else: hope.  Even in a story that, at times, was dark and things seemed hopeless and inevitable for Anna, somehow, the darkness never quite overcame the light.  Sweet Evil isn't preachy, and I think a lot of people tend to see books as either religious or not - a spiritual tone gets lost in the mass labeling.  But Wendy Higgins knows when and where to use that approach, and how to do it right, and make it all seem fitting, and more of a "good versus evil" approach.  There are times when Anna prays, and other such religious mentions, but none of it is ever over-done, or handled poorly; if anything, it is lovingly done, which really impressed me, to have all that going on there, kind of battling the dark. 

I was also a big fan of the characters, and while Anna and Kai were both amazingly genuine, there was also a wonderful cast of supporting characters.  I was especially fond of Anna's dad, and really found myself wanting to get to know him more in the book/s to come.  And what I loved was that each of the secondary characters stood out to me - none of them felt like a stereotype, except maybe a few that simply didn't get a lot of page time.  I really loved Kopano, and even may have  giggled a bit over him.  I think it's wonderful that Wendy Higgins presents so many different, vivid characters for us as readers to enjoy, and that some of them are fantastic foils to others. 

And of course, I have to talk a bit more about Anna and Kai.  I knew they were going to be special from the moment I first saw this cover.  When it arrived, I held it close, and couldn't wait to start it; shortly after beginning Sweet Evil, I was deeply involved in Anna and Kaidan's story.  Kai is tormented, and Anna is incredibly drawn to him, but make no mistake - this isn't insta-love. This is organic, and this is real - they are a simmer, a growing flame, an attraction that builds throughout the course of Sweet Evil.  As often as I fell for them, I was frustrated because of what they were going through, and I will say that they felt totally real, and I was RIGHT THERE with both of them, especially seeing things through Anna's eyes.  Wendy Higgins really brought their tension and their yearning for one another to life so well, so achingly truthfully.  What I loved is that we get to see Anna fall in love, but because of her situation, it isn't strictly the happy first love - it's something more, something infinitely more complicated and fragile.  It's as harrowing as it is renewing, and the growth that Anna experiences through her relationship with Kai and because of everything happening to and around her is both encouraging and bittersweet. 

Sweet Evil took me through the gamut of emotions: fear, shock, sadness, frustration, happiness, hope, and even a few teary-eyed moments.  The pacing was perfect for the story being told; at 464 pages, Sweet Evil is longer than most YA books these days, but that was fine with me, because I was totally engrossed in the story being told.  Everything worked for me - the pacing and passage of time, Anna's growth as a person, the overall plot, and the romance.  Sweet Evil is sure to resonate with readers - I know it did with me - and if you're anything like me, you'll be thinking about it for a long time. 

 Further Thoughts

Are you comfortable or uncomfortable with religion/spiritual themes in books?  Do you think there is a time and place for that theme?   What about "angels and demons" books?  Is that a trend you're interested in seeing more of? 

Review: Croak by Gina Damico

Croak by Gina Damico
Expected publication: March 20, 2012 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Pages: 311
Rating: Squee-worthy
Series or stand-alone: Croak (1)
Source: E-ARC from the publisher
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.

Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rock star crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her Targets like a natural born Killer.

Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to Kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die—that is, people who aren’t supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent—Lex’s curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage—or will she ditch Croak and join in?
 

My Review

Lex Bartleby is a self-professed "equal opportunity bully," a girl who goes in two short years from being a model daughter to the terror of her high school.  When her parents inform her - after restraining her at the dinner table - that she's being sent to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, all hell breaks loose.  Lex goes, albeit unwillingly, and the real fun begins when she meets Uncle Mort and they travel to the hamlet of Croak, possibly the best kept secret and most unorthodox little town you've never heard of.  Hilarity, misadventures, and even a bit of romance ensue in debut author Gina Damico's Croak.  

I was excited to read this book, but when I started it, I was unsure.  It hit me what was wrong after about two chapters: this book is in 3rd person, and I've read mainly 1st person point of view books recently, so that in and of itself is NO fault of Croak.  And, the further I dug into the story, the cooler the setting is (more on that in a minute).  But by far, the point where I fell, heart and soul, for Croak...was when I met Uncle Mort.  Mort is too cool for words, and I may have squee'ed over him for an inappropriate amount of time.  He's not the only well-fleshed out character in the book - he just happens to be the most awesome one.  

Croak is a fun story, considering it revolves around the topic of death.  Gina Damico keeps the action flowing as well as the jokes.  There were a few moments where I literally laughed out loud - something completely unexpected amidst this story of a town full of Grim Reapers, but you see, Croak is irresistibly good.  Gina does a great job at writing not one but several teen characters - under her pen, they seem real, people you'd want to get to know, despite the scythes they carry.  Croak also brings to life the sleepy town through a vast array of hilarious secondary characters, and Gina even managed to surprise me with the identity of the book's villain.  

My only downsides are really quibbles: I wish several of the characters, mostly the other Grims, had been a bit more fleshed out.  As awesome as they were to Lex, befriending her, I'm hoping we get more back story (and possibly a bit less kissing in the case of Kloo and Ayjay) in the sequel.  Gina is talented enough that I'd hate to see her waste that by not living up to her full potential.  Croak proves that Gina is enough of a risk-taker to keep the reader guessing, so I am highly anticipating Scorch, the sequel. 

Overall Croak was an adorable, fluffier fantasy.  I would compare it to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - it kept reminding me of that series (which I LOVE) because at times, Gina would break from Lex's point of view and make a seemingly random statement that nonetheless was funny and fit right in with the tone of Croak.  There were also some very "punny" moments and names, which I loved.  I spent a lot of time giggling, which I think I mentioned, and there was definitely action and danger, and I loved the softer side of Lex we got to see as Croak goes on.  There is even a tinge of romance, but I won't spoil.  Instead I'll say...read this one yourself!

 Further Thoughts

Have you read Croak?  What did you think?  Are you as psyched for the sequel, Scorch, as I am?  Or have you read a similar book you'd like to recommend me?  Are you a fan of YA paranormal books?  I shelved this one as 'YA urban fantasy,' but it was also a bit of a paranormal romance, too - which is cool because I enjoy both genres.  What about you?

Review: Switched by Amanda Hocking

Switched by Amanda Hocking
Pages:293
Published: January 3rd, 2012 (St Martin's Griffin)

Series or Stand-alone: The Trylle trilogy (1)
Source: Won from Goodreads
Further information: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Blog

Rating: Squee-worthy

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right.  She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her.  Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit.  But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth:  Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.   

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening.  And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

My Review

Author Amanda Hocking is a bit of a legend in the indie publishing world, becoming THE best-selling Kindle author, and within a few pages of Switched (which is now being re-published now that Amanda has a traditional publishing contract), it was apparent just why so many others had previously downloaded and devoured her novels.  Switched opens with Wendy Everley's mother wielding a knife at her, then fast-forwards eleven years, re-introducing us to an older version of Wendy, who has been raised by her aunt and older brother, in the absence of her mother.  Wendy is troubled and sensitive, and often misunderstood.  I loved her immediately.  Her emotions are beautifully painted across the pages of Switched, and I gravitated toward her throughout the novel.  I understood her; who hasn't felt at times that they don't fit in?  Wendy is sympathetic and genuine - she doesn't pretend to be someone she isn't, and her desire to make a good impression on others later in the book mixed with her frustrations came across as incredibly sympathetic, and I applaud Amanda Hocking for creating such a strong heroine.  I can see a lot of potential for character growth in Wendy in the next two novels!

Switched catapults the reader into Wendy's new world, the community of Trylle - set in Minnesota, though it feels like another world.  Amanda Hocking's world is richly alluring, and the world-building is superb, giving Switched a timeless sense - antiquated at times with the notion of a Trylle monarchy and hierarchy (that is nevertheless fascinating), yet wholly possible.  Amanda Hocking has also put forth an intriguing cast of secondary characters scattered throughout Forening (the Trylle community.)  From perennially sunny Rhys, to cool, impeccable, mysterious Queen Elora,  to distracted, powerful Tove, to sensual, devoted Finn, each of Hocking's characters will pull the reader in, in various ways. 

From the moment Wendy enters Forening for the first time, I was captivated.  I immediately wanted to know more about the world of the Trylle - trolls, though quite different than in the stories we're used to.  Everything changes for Wendy, and I was right there with her, pained for her when she was upset, overwhelmed when she was in awe.  Amanda Hocking did a superb job of holding my attention; my only complaint with the pacing is that it seemed like Switched went by in a blur.  It was too short for me, and I felt like I blinked, and it was over.  I wanted much, much more time with the characters, because love or hate, they had my attention, and I needed to know what was going to happen next, but there were also some moments and plot points that I felt could have been slowed down and wouldn't have suffered.  The climax of Switched was breathless and awesome, leaving me hanging by a thread for the sequel, Torn, so I definitely have no complaints about the overall lure of the book. 

I also want to touch on the relationships between the characters.  I think that that is Amanda Hocking's strongest suit, and probably what absolutely held me riveted while I read Switched.  From the start, and Wendy's relationships with Matt and Maggie, her brother and aunt, I was thrilled.  Despite her early childhood, Wendy had a great relationship with both, with perhaps some room for improvement, but they were very supportive of her and encouraging, maybe a little bit TOO much encouraging (Wendy's behavioral problems and such are explained, but I thought her family could have pushed her harder.)   Then we have Wendy and Rhys, and I just wanted to hug them both - I think they're going to end up being really good for and to one another.  And Wendy and Elora, which, I want to see more of them interacting but I also want to know more about Elora.  (I also need more explanation about her and why she treats Wendy the way she does.)  But by far, the stars of Switched were Wendy and Finn.

I'm not a fan of insta-love.  I think it's a weak plot device, usually.  And I wouldn't call Wendy and Finn insta-love.  There's interest and fascination on both of their parts, and at times, their feelings for one another, especially Wendy's for Finn did seem to explode too quickly, and I would have loved more time with them, seeing their mutual attraction and caring develop.  But there was something so real and genuine about them.  Despite the fact that Finn wasn't always nice to Wendy (he has his reasons) I never felt like he didn't care about her, and vice versa.  I really respect Amanda's ability to write a potential pairing as heart-felt as Wendy and Finn.  And, considering that I'm head over heels in love with Finn, I definitely am looking forward to seeing him around a lot in Torn.  (He better be.)  Finn endeared himself to me immediately, with his loyalty to what he believes in, and his protective streak, which is about a mile wide.  

Overall, I would definitely recommend Switched.  I'm (im)patiently waiting for Torn, and I know I'll devour it in a matter of hours, just like with Switched.