Quotes About Books #1

A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it or offer your own version in return.

–Salman Rushdie

Absolution by Gail Gallant

 Series: Apparition
Author: Gail Gallant
Page Count: 288
Published: September 2nd, 2014
Publisher: Doubleday Canada

5 Stars ★★★★★

Amelia has a gift. She can see ghosts. 

She and Morris, a paranormal investigator, assist those plagued with hauntings, and in Absolution, Amelia investigates a haunted hotel with a tortured ghost who harbors a dark past. 

This book was great! It completely reached above and beyond my expectations and pulled me into the story from the start! There aren't enough, good quality mystery YA novels out there, but this is one of the few that have blown my mind! 

Amelia was an incredibly likeable character, and I was able to connect to her and her thoughts, emotions, and experiences with ease. She felt like a real person at times, not just a fictional character. 

The author was able to creep me out at the appropriate instances, for example, when Amelia was trying to communicate with the ghost and when the ghost  actually appeared. However, this is one of the YA books that does not override the characters' personal issues with paranormal ones, so I was able to keep track of and remember the relevance of both the "real-world" and the paranormal events in the story.

I recommend this novel to fans of ghost stories and to YA readers looking for something that deviates from intense love triangles and balances romance with mysterious events and happenings.

I received this book in a first reads Goodreads giveaway.

Find Apparition on Goodreads

Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Series: Between

Author: April Genevieve Tucholke

Page Count: 360
Published: August 15th, 2013

Publisher: Dial

3 Stars ★★★

Violet's ex-rich family isn't much help to her and her brother; after all, their parents ditched them for Europe. When a hot, mysterious stranger inquires about renting out the guesthouse..... Violet has no idea what is to come. Supposed sightings of the 'Devil', deranged children and a hallucinating friend is just the beginning, and all of it started when River moved into town.....

I was sort of disappointed when I read this book; I was expecting something a little darker, with more of the horror element to it. I wasn't afraid for the characters like I have been in some other books. 

I also did not like Violet enough to care about her situation and found that she made choices which were not always fully explained and thus left me confused. I did not connect to her and I actually found myself feeling empathetic towards the "villain" of the story, instead.

However, this book was not entirely disappointing. While I love angels, vampires, werewolves, etc.., I appreciated that the author chose to deviate from the stereotypical YA novel's cut-out paranormal type characters and try something a little more original.

I recommend this book to those who are looking to expand away from the angels/vampires/werewolves in many of the other current YA books. 

Find Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea on Goodreads

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

Series: N/A

Author: Annette Curtis Klause
Page Count: 198
Published: October 1992

Publisher: Laurel Leaf Books

  5 Stars ★★★★★

This book is about Zoe; a girl whose mother is dying of cancer. She meets the mysterious and strangely gentlemanly Simon; who also suffered the loss of his mother....several hundred years ago. Amid the struggles that she faces day to day, she finds herself falling for Simon....but Simon's evil brother, who is also a vampire, has murder on his mind. Will they be able to stop him before he strikes again?

I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this book. But when I found it in a little used book shop, I had to buy it. I am very glad I did! The writing is beautiful and  lyrical. I loved the rawness of Zoe and Simon's emotions, and how the author wasn't afraid to explore every aspect of their thoughts. 

This story wasn't cliché or stereotypical at all. The romantic aspect of it was touching and beautiful, and the author made it appear as if the characters' emotions were very, very real and true.

A great read, with a beautiful, bittersweet ending! This read tugs on the heart-strings and pulls you in from the first page!

I recommend this novel to both teen and adult readers looking for an emotional, paranormal read.

Find The Silver Kiss on Goodreads

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Series: The Morganville Vampires

Author: Rachel Caine

Page Count: 239
Published: October 3rd, 2006

 Publisher: NAL

5 Stars ★★★★★

Claire is sixteen years old, and starting her first year of post-secondary education in Morganville. After angering Monica, one of the popular girls in her college dorm, she finds herself battered, bruised, and desperate. 

While going through advertisements for off-campus housing, she stumbles across the Glass House. Shane, Michael, and Eve are looking for a fourth roommate. They reluctantly allow her to stay, but only temporarily...at least, that was their plan.

Monica is out for revenge, and not only does she have her group of human admirers to assist her, but as Claire soon learns, she has connections with vampires as well. But the worst of it is yet to come; Claire will face shocking revelations, brutal attacks, and life-threatening betrayals.

I was pleasantly surprised by the first installment in The Morganville Vampires series, Glass Houses. The synopsis had me prepared for a stereotypical, potentially cliché YA novel, with brooding vampires and spontaneous love affairs. 

While some of the vampires could be described as brooding, it wasn't a common trait amongst every single one of them. I appreciated that Rachel Caine gave each of the vampires their own unique personalities as opposed to the popular "I'm a self-loathing vampire" trope...it made them seem all the more believable. 

As for the non-vampire characters in this book, I really grew to care about some and loathe others. They were realistic; they had their own strengths and beauty, yet they also had their flaws. The characters were diverse and I felt like they complimented each other well and really added to the story.

The plot and pacing were so incredibly refreshing, especially for a YA novel! Chapters didn't drag on and on, yet they didn't fly by either. I was hooked to the story, and to the mystery and danger Claire had to face throughout the book. As for the romantic aspect, I was greatly impressed. There was no "insta-love", and when characters did become interested in each other it was obvious why (and it wasn't just because of looks, money, or paranormal status). In other words, the romance was meaningful.

I recommend this to fans of vampire fiction and YA fiction,  especially fans of Claudia Gray and Melissa de la Cruz. 

Find Glass Houses on Goodreads