Posts Tagged: YA

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Review: Hushed by Kelley York

Posted by 29 Comments

Hushed
Kelley York
Release date: December 6th, 2011
by Entangled Publishing

Goodreads / Purchase

He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

*A copy was provided by Entangled Publishing for review purposes* 

Hushed is definitely not a bedtime story! It’s dark, sinister and completely unorthodox. Frankly, I thought it was brilliant! We all know Dexter, right? (Michael C. Hall <3 ) Hushed is basically a YA version of Dexter. A little less gory, a little more angst.

Everything about this book screams unconventional. The plot, the relationships, even the twists are completely unexpected because it’s so different from what we’re used to seeing. I found it refreshing, really. Especially in the YA genre, it’s rare – and impressive – when I read a book that has an original idea and truly sticks out from the rest. A serial killer protagonist in a love triangle like you’ve never seen before – Kelley York has done it!

When your main character is a killer, you shouldn’t expect a light read. And I can assure you that nothing in this book is light or fluffy. It initiates strong emotions that can even become uncomfortable at times – though I don’t say this negatively. Archer does not have an easy life, and it’s only getting worse. His mental health is going downhill fast. The harsh turns his life takes are definitely not easy to swallow. But they’re appropriate, if not ideal, to give us a deeply realistic contemporary story about a guy who has made bad (really bad!) decisions. Although I may not agree with how far he went, I believe some people deserve a second chance. Ultimately, this book takes you a little out of your comfort zone, but you soon realize how innocent it really is.

Deeply intense and strangely beautiful, Hushed is an outstanding novel that will stay on your mind for a long time! With that said – Entangled Publishing seems to be continuously dishing out fantastic YA novels. Be on the lookout!

5 Hot Espresssos

Interested in more Hushed?
Drop by on December 29th for the Hushed blog tour stop!

Review: Arson by Estevan Vega

Posted by on 12/02/2011 • 16 Comments

ArsonEstevan VegaReleased May 4th, 2010by Tate Publishing

Goodreads / Purchase

Arson Gable feels like a freak. He can create fire. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. But he can’t shut it off. Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl—who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin—moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he’s never had: purpose. Using what he fears most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is his present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy…

Review: Before by Cambria Hebert

Posted by on 12/01/2011 • 23 Comments

Before(Heven and Hell, # 0.5) Cambria HebertReleased November 16th, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

What if your life was charmed and everything in it was perfect… Before.This is the story of my past. Of what things were like for me when everything was normal. Of what every teenager’s life is like. Clothes. Parties. Boys and summer vacation. What’s so wrong with that? I liked it. I was happy. Until things changed. I changed.I didn’t know that lies and secrets were about to take over my existence. I didn’t know there was someone out there, someone meant just for me. I didn’t know that I was about to go on a journey, a journey that would lead me to the girl I am today.This is the beginning of the worst year of…

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Posted by on 11/28/2011 • 40 Comments

Catching JordanMiranda Kenneally Release date: December 1st, 2011by Sourcebooks Fire

Goodreads / Purchase

What girl doesn’t want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn’t just surrounded by hot guys, though – she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that’s just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there’s a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team… and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

*A copy was provided by Sourcebooks for review purposes* What did I think of Catching Jordan? Umm.. well.. it was FREAKING AMAZING! There…

Review: The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle

Posted by on 11/25/2011 • 28 Comments

The Secret of Spruce Knoll

Heather McCorkleReleased August 3rd, 2011by Abbott Press

Goodreads / Purchase

It’s hard enough being a teenager under normal circumstances; imagine being orphaned, sent to live with an unfamiliar aunt-and learning that there really is magic in the world. Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with her aunt. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with so-called “channelers”-a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands.

Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they-and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Now, Eren learns she not only…

Review: June of Rock by Elisa Ludwig

Posted by on 11/24/2011 • 28 Comments

June of RockElisa LudwigReleased July 21st, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

Fresh out of 10th grade and freshly dumped by her dreamboat music nerd boyfriend Micah, June Dixon is headed to Camp Decibelle for the summer. The girls-only rock camp sounds like the perfect destination for a budding drummer with a respectfully punk attitude — except for the “girls-only” part. Once at Decibelle, June is thrown in among her fellow campers, a hodgepodge of indie wannabes, aggro-folkheads and metal sleazoids. All of them are aiming for superstardom, starting with the camp’s Battle of the Axes competition. Learning to keep a beat and start a band is tough enough but June must also contend with the dueling egos (and rhythms) of her bossy bandmate Jess, Jess’s disgruntled best friend from home…

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Posted by on 11/22/2011 • 36 Comments

ParanormalcyKiersten WhiteReleased August 31st, 2010by HarperTeen

Goodreads / Purchase

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie’s dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

This is the book that you read when…

Review: Awakening by Karice Bolton

Posted by on 11/21/2011 • 17 Comments

AwakeningKarice BoltonReleased September 27th, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

Alone in snowy, remote Whistler village, Ana tries to build a new life since losing her parents. With a cozy condo, a sweet-faced bulldog and an evening job to leave the days free for the slopes, life slips into a great routine. If only she could shake the guilt for not remembering anything about her parents and banish the night terrors that haunt her every dream. 

On a whim, Ana goes out with Athen, a guy she’s just met in the Grizzly Pub… The only problem is that she feels like she already knows him. Within 48 hours of meeting Athen and his family, Ana’s world implodes. She falls for Athen quickly and before she knows it, a past life begins…