Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis

Max used to be a normal person. She went to college, she had a brother and sister, she had a life. That all changed when witch named Giselle turns her into a Shadowblade, a warrior with extreme strength and speed. Max fights for whatever Giselle wants her to and there to be Giselle's personal body guard. Now, her skills will be put to the test. When the Guardians are planning to destroy the human world, they want the witches' help. Giselle wishes to refuse but does not know if how to protect her coven when she denies the request. Max thinks she knows a way but it involves making an alliance with an enemy witch's Shadowblade and fighting with, instead of against, Giselle. Max must decide which need is greater, the need to be free or protect the place she has come to think of as home.

Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis was and amazing book. After I began reading the book I was not able to put it down. There is a really good plot line and the book is filled with adventure along with a touch of romance. The author doesn't put too much detail into things that don't really matter which keeps the book from getting boring. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and likes to read books that aren't in the normal witches and vampires genre.

There is some adult references and some language that younger adults should watch out for, but the book is pretty appropriate for young adults.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America

What I Wore To Save The World by Maryrose Wood

Morgan needs to figure out what she's going to do with her life, and fast! Her senior year is coming up and she has nothing planned out. She doesn't know where to go to college or what she wants to do with her life. She should have spent time figuring out what to do last summer, but that's when she vacationed in Ireland, fell in love with Colin, a cute Irish boy, and discovered she is a half-goddess. One day, a mysterious note brings Morgan and Colin together again. When she's with Colin, Morgan realizes that she has to save the entire world. She knows she has to tell Colin the truth about her, now, but will he ever believe her if he doesn't believe in magic?

What I Wore To Save The World is a book that gets you hooked from the very beginning. It is a exciting book because it makes you want to keep reading to see what happenes next. Maryrose Wood is a creative writer and used a entertaining plot to make this a captivating book. What I Wore To Save The World is a story with a combination of magic and romance. I would recommend this book to any romance-lovers or anyone who likes anything about magic.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Enon, Ohio USA

Blood Bargain by Maria Lima

Keira Kelly has finally settled into her happily ever after with her vampire lover Adam Walker, but what is she do when he starts starving himself of blood because he is repudiate about who he truly is? She has to try and find a way to persuade him to save himself before he grows weaker and it's too late. When people start mysteriously disappearing, Keira begins to worry about the safety of her little town, Rio Seco, and if it will jeopardize Wild Moon Ranch, Adam's vampire inhabited inn. As she starts investigating more into the situation, she encounters some dilemmas and one important clue directs her to the abandoned cemetery that is a significant piece of her magical heritage. Will Keira be able to stop the evil that is lurking in the dark corners of Rio Seco, Texas, or will it find her first and destroy everything she has worked hard to create?

Blood Bargain is a marvelous story about the love a girl has for her family, town and companion. This story is the sequel to the first book of the Blood Lines Series, Matters of the Blood. There is enough tension and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting it to never end. Every turn of the page was something unexpected. The characters kept the story funny and interesting while serious at times to create a fabulous read.

Some sexual content.

Reviewer Age:14

Reviewer City, State and Country: Sacramento, CA USA

Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

Lily Ivory's life to an outsider seems mundane. Waking up, opening her vintage clothing store, closing her vintage clothing store, dinner, going to bed. But Lily relishes in the mundane. She is really a witch (a rather strong one at that) who cast out her nomadic ways to settle down in San Francisco. Lily is always worried that she is not normal enough or that people don't like her. Remaining normal on the outside becomes harder when La Llorona decides to take a child while Lily is right around the corner. On her hunt for the demon and the little child, Lily finds friends and a possible love interest in Max, a local freelance journalist. Things are starting to look up for Lily Ivory.

I really liked this book. It was interesting and caught me right from the beginning. You get a glimpse into many different cultures such as Lily's witchcraft, the people around where Lily lives and the legends of the local Latinos. Two mysteries are contained in this one book and both have you changing your mind at every clue acquired. It keeps you on your toes and your mind constantly works to try and figure everything out before Lily.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Guilderland, New York USA

The Clone Betrayal by Steven L. Kent

This novel falls into the genre of science fiction and action. It is set in the years 2515 ans 2516, and the United Authority has lost contact with all but two of its planets following a brutal alien invasion. The United Authority's clone army and spaceship navy are used as scapegoats for the disaster. To get rid of the clones, the army and navy are sent out to retake one of the lost planets, Terraneau, and are marooned in a distant sector of the galaxy. Lieutenant Wayson Harris, a veteran of the alien invasion, is placed in command of the forces retaking the planet. He is the last of the Liberator clones, a dangerous and violent variety of clones that are aware they are clones and that have a hormone-pumping battle reflex. Normal clones are unaware that they are clones and will die if they figure it out. Harrison is resentful of the United Authority that has marooned them and figures out that the clone troops will be used as testing material for a new army and navy. He decides to declare war on the United Authority before it attacks, but must contend with both its new power and betrayal and power struggles within his own ranks. A subplot is his secret relationship with, Ava Gardner, a movie star whose career was ruined when it was discovered she was a clone. The ending is inconclusive, and the plot will probably continue in another book. This book is the fifth in the series.

I had mixed feelings about the book. I have read the preceding book in the series, The Clone Elite, and really enjoyed it. This novel had many unique characters and settings, probably more than the previous book. It also included a female main character, Ava Gardner, which changed the tone of the book and took the focus off the conflict somewhat. The book's plot made sense and was easy to follow, but there was enough intrigue between the various factions to make it interesting. I probably would have generally liked the book if not for the ending, which was inconclusive and depressing. There was also probably not quite enough physical action for me, though this was a lesser concern. The book was, to me, a disappointment after reading the more action-packed and fast-paced The Clone Elite, which wraps its story up more conclusively. It is probably best for people who enjoy science fiction with a moderate pace, more characterization and plot intrigue, only a moderate amount of action, and do not mind having to wait until the next book comes out for the ending; I personally prefer more action and less character development and like books with conclusive endings. It is not necessary to have read any of the previous novels to understand or enjoy this novel.

This book has some sex and violence. There are also references to relations between men, though not involving the protagonist. None of this is too explicit, but only teenagers or adults should read this book.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Royersford, PA United States

The Memaid's Madness by Jim C. Hines

When Queen Beatrice's soul is ripped from her body by Lannadae, the Mermaid Queen, three princesses set out to save her. Danielle, Cinderella, is naive but she is armed with the skill to communicate with animals. Talia, Sleeping Beauty, doesn't act like a princess as she kicks butt with her supreme fighting skills. And Snow, Snow White, an amazing sorcerer with the ability to heal. The result is a magical action adventure story filled with princesses and mermaids cleverly spun from 'The Little Mermaid' tale (along with three other fairy tales) by Jim C. Hines in The Mermaid's Madness.

Opening up The Mermaid's Madness I noticed a heading called 'Other Books in this Series' and saw another books title above this one. I normally read stories in order for I feel that that is the way they are supposed to be read, but lucky for me I gave this book a chance. Although it was clear that this book had a prequel, because there were references to a past adventure, Jim C. Hines was able to work in the character's background without messing up the flow of the book.

It was a good thing that I received this book on a Friday because I couldn't put it down. The plot hooked me in right at the beginning and kept going strong until the very end. It wove together action scenes, that made me sit on the edge of my seat and yell at my book, and emotional scenes that brought the characters to life, making me feel for them. Hines cleverly took well known stories and transformed them into an epic tale filled with girl power. Now I plan to read this series' previous books as well as the next one because The Mermaid's Madness is now officially on my favorite books list.

Reviewer Age:16

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Bam, crash, whoosh! These sounds are heard often when Bertie's around. Seventeen-year-old Bertie has been at the theater for as long as she can remember. She and her fairy friends have frolicked and played there forever. But sometimes Bertie longs for her family. When the theater manager threatens to kick her out of the theater, Bertie realizes she's got to do something, and fast. She won't have any time to look for her family while she strives to become the director of Hamlet. Now Arial, another player, wants to get out, but no one can. It's physically impossible. They're bound to the inside. But Arial knows how to get out. He's as cunning as he is an actor. His betrayal means nothing to Bertie, seeing how he was bad in the first place. But will Bertie be allowed to stay at the theater? Can she stop Arial from escaping? And will she ever find out who her parents are? Join in this world where magic and mystery weave together to create a great story!
I thought the book was quite ordinary. It wasn't terrible yet not a best seller. It's a book for people who like to keep reading to get all the answers. Definitely a book for rainy days! I got the feeling Bertie wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. She smoked and drank, and the vocabulary wasn't completely appropriate. It was fiction, almost sci-fi. I thought the ending was nice, but I thought in the end, Bertie didn't do much except worry and cause trouble. It's for people who like magic.

The main character smoked and drank. Occasionally she cussed. She seemed to want to prove herself by being a bit of a gangster.

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eagle River, AK United States

Days of Little Texas by R. A. Nelson

Ronald Earl is a sixteen year old preaching prodigy. He's young and from Texas, and this is how the nickname Little Texas comes to be. Not only is he a great preacher, he has amazing healing powers. Just by laying his hands on someone they can be instantly healed. He travels around doing sermons with his friends Certain Certain, Sugar Tom, and Wanda Joy. People come from miles away just to hear the famous Little Texas and have their ailments cured. One girl Little Texas thought he cured is appearing everywhere he goes. Little Texas begins to wonder if maybe he didn't heal her- could she be a ghost that has come back to haunt him?

Wow I really loved Days of Little Texas. It was an exciting mix of adventure, romance, religion, hope, and family. There was a lot of excitement and adventure that kept me guessing and more than once I was reading at the edge of my seat. The plot was original and I learned a lot of new things. Nelson pulled the reader in from the first page and wouldn't let them go until the last.

The characters were all great. Well developed with their own personalities, they stuck in my head long after I finished the novel. Not only was the book exciting with great characters, but Nelson's writing style was fantastic. The descriptions of all the scenes and characters were awesome, and I could picture it all in my head as I was reading, which made the book that much better. A haunting story, I highly recommend Days of Little Texas to everyone.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Hightstown, New Jersey USA

Philippa Fisher and the Dream-Maker's Daughter by Liz Kessler

In the second adventure of Philippa Fisher, Philippa and her family go on vacation to a cabin that they rented in the woods. Philippa can't stop thinking about her new best friend, Daisy. Daisy is her fairy godsister who recently granted her three wishes. While on vacation, Philippa meets a new friend named Robyn. They quickly become close, but Robyn and her dad are hiding something. Daisy visits Philippa one night in her dreams and she says she's in danger and needs help! What's wrong? Read and find out!

I absolutely loved this book! Liz Kessler does a great jog grabbing your attention and making you want to not put down the book. The ending was a shocker and I think that's why I loved it, because you don't know what she'll throw at you next.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Orland, CA United States

The Haunting of America by W. Birnes and J. Martin

The history of America is plagued with sightings and incidents with the beyond. Haunting of America depicts real-life events with ghosts, spirits, and demons from the time of the Salem Witch Trials to the early half of the 20th century. From George Washingtons famous discussion with an angel during the Revolutionary War to the Fox Sisters incidents with spirit knocks, the novel draws the reader in and does not disappoint. The novel also discusses spiritualism in the past and present; how spiritualism began, how it affected society in the past, and how it grew to become a rather popular belief.

Personally, I enjoyed the novel. Even though it is nonfiction, the authors' make the storyline and events rather interesting; instead of writing like a textbook, the authors included personal accounts of the incidents from those who experienced them and a detailed depiction of the event. I loved the fact that the authors touch on spiritualism as well as "ghost stories", which sets this book apart from others of this kind. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a great page-turner and who enjoy spooky stories that happen to be true. Additionally, anyone who enjoys going in-depth about history would find this novel interesting.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Pottstown, PA United States