[Review: This Darkness Mone by Mindy McGinnis

"This Darkness Mine"
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: None
Pages: 352
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller, Horror
Date Published: October 10th, 2017
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by the publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Sasha Stone knows her place—first-chair clarinet, top of her class, and at the side of her oxford-wearing boyfriend. She’s worked her entire life to ensure that her path to Oberlin Conservatory as a star musician is perfectly paved.

But suddenly there’s a fork in the road, in the shape of Isaac Harver. Her body shifts toward him when he walks by, her skin misses his touch even though she’s never known it, and she relishes the smell of him—smoke, beer, and trouble—all the things she’s avoided to get where she is. Even worse, every time he’s near Sasha, her heart stops, literally. Why does he know her so well—too well—and she doesn’t know him at all?

Sasha discovers that her by-the-book life began by ending another’s: the twin sister she absorbed in the womb. But that doesn’t explain the gaps of missing time in her practice schedule or the memories she has of things she certainly never did with Isaac. As Sasha loses her much-cherished control, her life—and heart—become more entangled with Isaac. Armed with the knowledge that her heart might not be hers alone, Sasha must decide what she’s willing to do—and who she’s willing to hurt—to take it back.

Edgar Award–winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a dark and gripping psychological thriller about a girl at war with herself, and what it really means to be good or bad.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

If you've ever wondered what it would be like if Mindy McGinnis wrote a magical realism book, This Darkness Mine is the answer to your question. And yes, it's just as twisted, uncomfortable, and utterly fucked up as you'd expect it to be. Honestly, this book isn't for the faint of heart. This book is brutal... in all the best ways.

Mindy McGinnis is one of the few authors who are on my instant buy list, and she hasn't let me down yet. Even though this is the weirdest book in her catalogue so far, I dig it. This Darkness Mine is one of those books that's hard to review, because you don't want to give anything away, and you honestly can't put your finger on how to review it. 

I'm sure that some people are going to say that the plot isn't realistic, and I think that that's what makes it work. I mean the main character absorbs her twin in the womb, and that's just the beginning of the messed up things that "perfect" Sasha Stone has done to the people around her. Is Sasha the only one living in her body, or is her dead twin still around? McGinnis explores this idea in ways that can't be medically verified, but like I said, this book feels like a messed up, magical realism novel, so it worked for me.

Sasha starts out as this perfect angel, and it's fun to see who she truly is. Some might call her an antihero, some might call her a villain, and truth be told, she's not a good girl, that's for sure. 

On one side, it feels like you're watching Sasha's life unravel, but if you look closely I think that this book is about Sasha finding herself. She's not nice, she's not a reliable narrator, and if you're looking for a cute story about a girl finding out who she is, this isn't going to be the book for you. McGinnis is unflinchingly real with her narrative, and even though you'll be disturbed, you won't be able to look away.

Rating:

4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: With Malice by Eileen Cook]

"With Malice"
Author: Eileen Cook
Series: None
Pages: 320
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller
Date Published: June 7th, 2016
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

A read about a teenage girl who wakes up in a hospital bed and cannot remember the last six weeks of her life, including the accident that killed her best friend--only what if the accident wasn't an accident?

Eighteen-year-old Jill Charron wakes up in a hospital room, leg in a cast, stitches in her face and a big blank canvas where the last 6 weeks should be. She comes to discover she was involved in a fatal accident while on a school trip in Italy three days previous but was jetted home by her affluent father in order to receive quality care. Care that includes a lawyer. And a press team. Because maybe the accident...wasn't an accident. Wondering not just what happened but what she did, Jill tries to piece together the events of the past six weeks before she loses her thin hold on her once-perfect life.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

With Malice is the kind of YA thriller that I've been missing in my life lately. It's dark, and confusing, and it'll take you on a trip into the mind of someone who can't remember a life shattering event until people tell her what happened. I think that Cook is a genius for giving us the story from the view of someone who doesn't remember what happened. And the question of whether or not the accident was actually an accident will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

This book is one of those books that's hard to talk about. It's so convoluted that if you say too much you're going to give away a chunk of the plot. And nobody wants that. 

I will say that Jill's character was a really interesting one. Cook made sure that you felt for her, even though you knew she was an unreliable narrator. She can't remember the last six months of her life, and she's thrown into a confusing world that the people around her expect her to understand.

Most of the secondary characters are frustrating, and I disliked her father the most of all. But I am glad that Cook decided to give Jill a friend in the form of her roommate Anna. And that Cook actually uses Anna's character to move the plot along. 

If you love a good mystery, who done it, what really happened, type of book, then this is the one that you should be reading this summer. Plus some of the book takes place in Italy, and if that's not the perfect summer vacation spot I don't know what is. 

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

[Review: A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis]

"A Madness So Discreet"
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: None
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Date Published: October 6th, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To A Madness So Discreet, 

I needed a book like you in my life, and I'm glad that I found you. You're creepy, dark, wonderful, and just the right amount of unsettling. You blur the lines between madness and sanity in a really smart and interesting way. You're one of those books that I'll be thinking about for a good long while. And honestly you're one of my favorite books of the year, so there's that!

-The White Unicorn

Mindy McGinnis is a genius. Her books are so well written that I can never find anything to complain about. It takes a lot to be able to write a book that not only has a smart plot, but also is smart in what it has to say, and A Madness So Discreet is one of those types of books. It also helps that McGinnis isn't afraid to push the envelope when it comes to her story lines and characters. Happy go lucky novels aren't her thing, and I love that.

This is one of those books that has something for everyone. Do you like historical fiction? Do you like crime thrillers? Do you like books that take place in asylums? Do you like books full of demented secrets? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, get this book in your hands now, because all of those elements writhe inside these pages. 

McGinnis gives us a story with a lead that seems to be mute, but here, nothing is as it seems. I adored Grace. It was nice to see McGinnis giving us a softer, yet still extremely strong, female lead. Grace has been through the ringer. She was thrown into an asylum for a pregnancy, brought on by some horrific circumstances. There were so many times where she could have thrown in the towel, but instead she fights against what life has handed her and finds a purpose solving crimes alongside a handsome doctor. She's strong enough to leave everything behind and take on a new identity. Grace should have had it all, and instead she finds a family within the walls of a mad house. It's rather genius, isn't it?

It's refreshing, the way that McGinnis doesn't pull any punches with this book. The story deals with a lot of really tough issues. Madness turns out to be the least of her character's worries. All these people have dark secrets, and the lines of true madness are blurred in the smartest of ways. 

Though Grace clearly carries the story, McGinnis doesn't shy away from giving us a brilliant cast of secondary characters. Grace quickly become friends with Elizabeth (a girl who observes things through an imaginary String), Nell (who doesn't have issues with expressing her sexual needs), and Janey (the head nurse of the Woman's ward).

There is also Thornhollow (the handsome doctor I mentioned before). He's uncovering new ways to solve crimes, and decides that Grace would be the perfect partner. There actually isn't any love story between them to speak of, and it works. Though, if I'm honest I'd like there to be another book where maybe they end up together. Can you get on that McGinnis? 

Everyone should read this book, because it's brilliant. The thoughts, the words, the plot, the characters. Nothing is out of place. Everything is perfect. Read it!

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

[Review: The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich]

"The Dead House"
Author: Dawn Kurtagich
Series: None
Pages: 432
Genre: YA, Horror
Date Published: September 15th, 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

Debut author Dawn Kurtagich is dead on in this terrifying psychological thriller!

Over two decades have passed since the fire at Elmbridge High, an inferno that took the lives of three teenagers. Not much was known about the events leading up to the tragedy - only that one student, Carly Johnson, vanished without a trace...

...until a diary is found hidden in the ruins.

But the diary, badly scorched, does not belong to Carly Johnson. It belongs to Kaitlyn Johnson, a girl who shouldn't exist Who was Kaitlyn? Why did she come out only at night? What is her connection to Carly?

The case has been reopened. Police records are being reexamined: psychiatric reports, video footage, text messages, e-mails. And the diary.

The diary that paints a much more sinister version of events than was ever made publicly known.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Dead House,

What just happened? No, for real, what just happened? I think that you're the first book to freak me out this year. I've been searching for you, and I'm glad that we finally met. I just don't even know what more I should say. I guess you're just a really cool novel that's really well put together, and I dig it. Continue being you, cause you're one heck of a horror novel!

-The White Unicorn

Guys, this book was a trip. It freaked me out. It messed with my mind. It made me question everything about it. I didn't know what was going to happen, and I'm so glad that it ended up going the way it did, because The Dead House is one of those creepy books that I'm going to remember, while most I'd like to forget.

The novel is about two girls Carly and Kaitlyn Johnson. Or at least that's what they tell you. Both girls are stuck in one body, but have different personalities. Carly takes the daylight hours, and Kaitlyn only comes out in the dark of night. This big tragedy happens to them, and everyone thinks that the girls are just Carly struggling with Dissociative Identity Disorder, and that that is where Kaitlyn comes from. 

The girls are shipped off to a mental institution, and then, they are sent to a boarding school later on. The thing is, you don't know if Kaitlyn is just a split in Carly's personality, or if she's actually real. It's a mind trip. You get to know Kaitlyn and Carly through journal entries and sticky-notes, and they both seem so different. Another option presents itself later on. One that adds a paranormal element to the story, and adds even more creep factor than was there before.  I'd like to this that this second option is what was really going on the whole time.

The fact is that Kurtagich tells her story in diary entries, interview transcripts, video recordings, and police documents. She also jumps the time line around quite a bit, so you really have to pay attention to what is happening. Though it could be really annoying, Kurtagich weaves the pieces of her tale together masterfully. She keeps you confused, but gives you all the tools to understand what is happening to Carly and Kaitlyn on your own terms. 

This book is horrifying, and so much fun. As soon as the paranormal element comes in we see a whole bunch of teens working together to find out what is really going on inside of Carly, and the results prove deadly. Really deadly. 

Trust me, if you like a scary book, this is the one you should be reading next. It's fantastic!

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Close to perfect!    

[Review: Made You Up by Francesca Zappia]

"Made You Up"
Author: Francesca Zappia
Series: None
Pages: 448
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller
Date Published: May 19th, 2015
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be—sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. Made You Up tells the story of Alex, a high school senior unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion. This is a compelling and provoking literary debut that will appeal to fans of Wes Anderson, Silver Linings Playbook, and Liar.

Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take-no-prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8-Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn't she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.

Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Made You Up,

You were a weird one. On some levels I really liked you a lot. It was interesting to be in someone's head that didn't know what was real and what was made up. You had a couple really cool moments where I didn't even know what was going on, and I liked that feeling. Though I will say that some of you was very predictable for me. I liked you, even if I didn't love you!

-The White Unicorn

I love unreliable narrators, and that's just what Alex is. I thought that this book was refreshing, though I also thought that the story got a bit out of hand at moments. Zappia is obviously an author who is willing to think outside of the box, and I think that even though every element of the story didn't work for me, she has a really interesting voice. Needless to say, I was impressed with her debut.

Alex has schizophrenia, and she's learned how to make sense of the world around her. No one in her new school knows that, and she plans on keeping it that way. She has so many little quirks, like taking pictures of things that might or might not be there, asking deep questions and looking for answers in a Magic 8 Ball, and questioning everything. So she's basically a regular teenager, but it's her carefully created voice that makes you feel like something is a bit off. I have to admit that I loved living in her head for the duration of the novel.

Zappia's way of writing characters fit the book perfectly. I liked that we got to know each one of them really well, while also questioning every single motive that they had. Were they really Alex's friends? Was she making them up? Were the people she was surrounding herself with even there in reality? I had all of these thoughts rolling around in my head as I read, but I still found myself liking the people in Alex's life. Real or not.

I did have some issues with the story. While it worked well for the book, I found that the high school setting was odd. I found the scenes that took place outside of the school worked much better for me. Meaning that a good portion of the novel felt a little forced for me. I wish that wasn't the case, but it totally was. 

In the end, the good outweighed the not as good for me. If you like books that leave you guessing and are told through the eyes of an untrustworthy narrator, give this one a shot!

Rating:

3 Unicorns = I liked it a lot but it had it's issues!

[Review: Endangered by Lamar Giles]

"Endangered"
Author: Lamar Giles
Series: None
Pages: 288
Genre: YA, Thriller
Date Published: April 21st, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Endangered is a thrilling page-turner perfect for fans of Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers.

The one secret she cares about keeping—her identity—is about to be exposed. Unless Lauren "Panda" Daniels—an anonymous photoblogger who specializes in busting classmates and teachers in compromising positions—plays along with her blackmailer's little game of Dare or . . . Dare.

But when the game turns deadly, Panda doesn't know what to do. And she may need to step out of the shadows to save herself . . . and everyone else on the Admirer's hit list.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Endangered,

You're cool. You're one of those books that gives us a set of characters, and then dares us to become friends with them. No one is really that wonderful, and yet you make sure that we get the inside look on a whole cast of anti-heroes. Sure these people aren't that great, but they aren't that unfamiliar either. Thanks for being a book that isn't afraid to be different.

-The White Unicorn

I'm not going to say that Endangered didn't have its issues, because, well, it did. There were moments that seemed too easy. Things that lined up with too much ease. Moments where I wanted to scream at the characters to pay more attention. That being said, I feel like Giles really hit the nail on the head in his characterization. And that is why I am giving this novel such a high rating.

As a HUGE fan of a good anti-hero, I have to say that Giles has created a wonderful one in the form of Lauren (Panda). She's not a great person, but she thinks that she is. She almost has you believing that she is at times. You feel for her and what she is trying to do, but when she realizes what she's doing has a different outcome than what she thought, you start to doubt her as a reader. It's a great feeling, it's a conflicted feeling, but it's a feeling that makes this novel work so well. 

This book is a mystery, and like with a lot of YA mysteries, it comes together pretty easily. I do have to say that I wasn't 100% sure who did what until closer to the end, but I did figure it out before the reveal. It was done fairly well, and I think that someone younger, who hasn't read so many of these types of books, will be more surprised than I was. 

Panda and her small group of pals are fun to watch. There is her BFF and her ex in the mix, so that makes things interesting. I enjoyed the fact that Panda is a bit of loner, it makes her vigilante photos even more interesting. I also enjoyed the fact that there isn't a romance in this one. There is chemistry, but there is no time wasted on a relationship. It fit with the story and worked really well.

Overall, I would suggest reading this one for the wonderful, diverse set of characters. The story is entertaining as well, so you can't really loose.

Rating:

4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral]

"Chopsticks"
Author: Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral
Series: None
Pages: 272
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller, Graphic Novel
Date Published: February 2nd, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Format Read: Paperback from the library

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Summary:

After her mother died, Glory retreated into herself and her music. Her single father raised her as a piano prodigy, with a rigid schedule and the goal of playing sold-out shows across the globe. Now, as a teenager, Glory has disappeared. As we flash back to the events leading up to her disappearance, we see a girl on the precipice of disaster. Brilliant and lonely, Glory is drawn to an artistic new boy, Frank, who moves in next door. The farther she falls, the deeper she spirals into madness. Before long, Glory is unable to play anything but the song "Chopsticks."

But nothing is what it seems, and Glory's reality is not reality at all. In this stunningly moving novel told in photographs, pictures, and words, it's up to the reader to decide what is real, what is imagined, and what has been madness all along...

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Chopsticks,

You just blew my mind. I had no idea what you were when I picked you up at the library. I've been on a graphic novel kick lately and I saw that you were a book told through multimedia and I knew I had to "read" you. You're like "reading" a favorite Indie movie. Everything is so off kilter, but at the end of it all, you're still left with the knowledge that you've experienced something special. So, thanks for the memories.

-The White Unicorn

Honestly, I think that everyone should at least experience Chopsticks. I realize that it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but it's something so unique that I think everyone can get something out of it. The book is told through, mainly photography, and if you download the app, YouTube videos. It has pictures of Glory and Frank. It has pictures of paintings. It has pictures of landmarks. It has pictures of letters. It has wonderful photography inside of it's pages that ends up telling you a whole story. 

Chopsticks has very few words inside of it, but in the end you feel like you've read something shocking and inventive. I almost wish that I hadn't posted the summary at the top of this review, because the less you know about this book going into it, the better off you are. 

As I flipped through the pages I made sure to pay attention to every detail presented. I was being told a story without many words and so I knew that every single detail displayed would end up meaning something. I'm glad that's what I did, because if you flipped through this like it was a coffee table book, you'd miss out on the story that it's trying to tell.

Clues are woven throughout and even though I suspected the outcome, the conclusion still left me shocked. Honestly, I'd love to see this book brought to life on screen. I feel like people would love it just as much as I did if it was in movie form. Luckily, I think the book will do just fine on it's own. 

Chopsticks is a feat in the fact that it tells a story in a way that's different and it does it really really well. If you're in the mood for something that you've never seen done before, pick yourself up a copy. You won't be sorry.

P.S. if you've read it, let's talk about the ending!

Rating:

4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez]

"Kiss Kill Vanish"
Author: Jessica Martinez
Series: None
Pages: 423
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller
Date Published: October 7th, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Valentina Cruz no longer exists.

One moment, she was wrapped in Emilio’s arms, melting into his kiss. The next, she was witnessing the unthinkable: a murder in cold blood, ordered by her father and carried out by her boyfriend. When Emilio pulled the trigger, Valentina disappeared. She made a split-second decision to shed her identity and flee her life of privilege, leaving the glittering parties and sultry nightlife of Miami far behind.

She doesn’t know how to explain to herself what she saw. All she knows now is that nothing she believed about her family, her heart, or Emilio’s love, was real.

She can change her name and deny her past, but Valentina can’t run from the truth. The lines between right and wrong, and trust and betrayal, will be blurred beyond recognition as she untangles the deceptions of the two men she once loved and races to find her own truth.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Kiss Kill Vanish,

So, you were fun and I liked you a lot. On the flip side, I found some of the elements inside of your pages to be extremely unrealistic. Sure, you are a work of fiction, but I would have liked you more if your believability factor would have been higher. That being said, I did enjoy the mystery within your pages and I didn't managed to call all of your twists, so that was good!

-The White Unicorn

Kiss Kill Vanish is one of those books that was almost wonderful, but in the end, just ended up being okay. Martinez gives us a unique story and some interesting story building, but in the end I couldn't believe all the happenings that surrounded the story. Luckily I felt like her characters were strong, even if some of the circumstances of their stories were weak. This is one of those books were nothing is as it seems and it kept my attention because I needed to know what was going on.

Val is an interesting character. She's running away from the one place she's ever known and she's forced into living in a room that is more like a closet in Canada. She's used to the lavish things in life, but after she witnesses her boyfriend murdering someone for her father she runs away. I loved that she sees something terrible happen and actually tries to get herself out of the situation. It would have been easy for Val to turn a blind eye and continue living her life, but she gets out. On the other hand she then starts to fall apart as a character. She falls into this pit of whinny self doubt and starts running into the arms of all the boys. She could have been so strong and she could have proved to be an awesome female lead, but her need for male attention gets in the way and it kind of drove me nutty.

The males involved are very different, though they both seem to be older than Val. Which, truth be told, I found to be very interesting. Emilio is 23, which technically makes their involvement illegal. That being said it works for the story. I have to be honest when I say that I didn't really like the guy and I'm not sure what Val felt for him. Marcel is the other man in Val's life and I have to say that I kind of adored him. But then again, Martinez actually has time to build a solid relationship between the two. I was glad that their isn't a weird insta-love thing to this part of the story, because I'm not sure what I would have done had that been the case.

The actual mystery of the book is one that is both predictable and shocking at the same time. I think if Val would have been a little bit more on the smarter side of things it wouldn't have been as good. This brings up an issue with the story because I wanted Val to be smarter and I would have settled for a smaller pay off mystery wise if she would have been, but as you can see that didn't end up happening.

In the end, I'll tell you that this is a fun book and that there is a lot going for it, but sadly the execution fell flat for me and ended up not having the effect that I would have preferred. If you're looking for a semi-fluffy, slightly gory, thriller then this might be the perfect book for you!

Rating:

3 Unicorns = I liked it, but it had it's issues!

[Waiting On Wednesday: Vendetta]

Waiting On Wednesday happens every week on Wednesdays (hence the name) and is hosted by Breaking The Spine.  It's were people talk about the books they want to read about that aren't out yet.

My pick this week is...

"Vendetta"
Author: Catherine Doyle
Release Date: February 24th, 2015

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Summary:

Blood Will Spill, Hearts Will Break: With a fierce rivalry raging between two warring families, falling in love is the deadliest thing Sophie could do. An epic debut set outside modern-day Chicago.

For Sophie, it feels like another slow, hot summer in Cedar Hill, waitressing at her family’s diner and hanging out with her best friend Millie. But then someone moves into the long-abandoned mansion up the block--a family of five Italian brothers, each one hotter than the last. Unable to resist caramel-eyed Nicoli, Sophie finds herself falling for him -- and willfully ignoring the warning signs. Why are Nic's knuckles cut and bruised? Why does he carry an engraved switchblade? And why does his arrogant and infuriating older brother, Luca, refuse to let her see him? As the boys' dark secrets begin to come to light, Sophie is confronted with stinging truths about her own family, too. Suddenly, she's torn between two warring dynasties: the one she’s related to and the one she's now in love with. She'll have to choose between loyalty and passione. When she does, blood will spill, hearts will break. Because in this twisted underworld, dishonor can be the difference between life and death.

-Goodreads

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What are you waiting on this week?  I wanna know!    

[Review: Feral by Holly Schindler]

"Feral"
Author: Holly Schindler
Series: None
Pages: 432
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller
Date Published: August 26th, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

The Lovely Bones meets Black Swan in this haunting psychological thriller with twists and turns that will make you question everything you think you know.

It’s too late for you. You’re dead. Those words continue to haunt Claire Cain months after she barely survived a brutal beating in Chicago. So when her father is offered a job in another state, Claire is hopeful that getting out will offer her a way to start anew.

But when she arrives in Peculiar, Missouri, Claire feels an overwhelming sense of danger, and her fears are confirmed when she discovers the body of a popular high school student in the icy woods behind the school, surrounded by the town’s feral cats. While everyone is quick to say it was an accident, Claire knows there’s more to it, and vows to learn the truth about what happened.

But the closer she gets to uncovering the mystery, the closer she also gets to realizing a frightening reality about herself and the damage she truly sustained in that Chicago alley….

Holly Schindler’s gripping story is filled with heart-stopping twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Feral,

Well, you were creeptastic, weren't you? I liked that you kept me guessing and taking me on all these twisted roads, so even though I thought I had the end figured out I still wondered. Of course my first thoughts were correct, but book, you made me doubt those things that I knew to be true, and to me that marks a really good thriller. Throw in some feral cats who get a little too hungry, the voice of a dead girl and a girl who has a lot of issues herself and you understand what a thriller really is. Thanks for being so awesome and managing to creep me out at times. It takes a lot, so bravo for you!

-The White Unicorn

Seriously, Feral will give you the creeps. Schindler has weaved a tale that makes you wonder what you're really looking at. Are all the freaky things happening in Peculiar really real, or is something else going on? It's one of those answers that you crave as you pour through the pages. Schindler blends reality and fiction together in a way that makes you feel eery as you read Feral. She slaps you with some pretty brutal visuals and yet lets your brain take over in such a way that you, as the reader have control over how gruesome everything is in your own mind. I'm a big fan of that kind of writing style and I think it does wonders for this novel. It gives it scope and lets it breath freely.

Schindler uses Claire as her main character and the things that have happened to her are terrifying. You instantly feel sorry for her, because she feels sorry for herself, but your respect for her grows as the story progresses. Claire is a fighter and even though she has her issues (understandably) she still manages to pull herself together when she needs to the most. Her interactions with the people around her are skewed, because you're seeing all the weird happenings in Peculiar through her eyes. It's what gives the book it's vibe, but I did feel like it also gets in the way of really getting to know the other characters. In the long run, I have to admit that this didn't really bother me, but I can see it being an issue for some.

I liked that Schindler keeps away from romance. She gives the mystery and healing happening inside of Claire full focus and I couldn't be more pleased with her choices. There is a slight flirtation between Claire and Rich, but it's so slight that it's barely there. I do love their friendship though, it seems the most pure and true out of all the relationships in Claire's life. 

The way that Schindler weaves the stray cats of Peculiar into the story was good fun as well. Nothing is creepier then some wild cats snacking on a body and as an author, Schindler uses them to her advantage. Throw in the fact that Serena (dead girl) also has some time to shine in the book and you have a book that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, wondering what is going to happen next!

Rating:

 4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Dangerous Boys by Abigial Haas]

"Dangerous Boys"
Author: Abigial Haas
Series: Dangerous Girls #2
Pages: ?
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller
Date Published: August 14th, 2014
Publisher: (UK) Simon & Schuster, (US) self published
Format Read: eARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

Buy It!

...Amazon...iBooks...

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Summary:

Three teens venture into the abandoned Monroe estate one night; hours later, only two emerge from the burning wreckage. Chloe drags one Reznick brother to safety, unconscious and bleeding; the other is left to burn, dead in the fire. But which brother survives? And is his death a tragic accident? Desperate self-defense? Or murder?
Chloe is the only one with the answers. As the fire rages, and police and parents demand the truth, she struggles to piece together the story of how they got there-a story of jealousy, twisted passion, and the darkness that lurks behind even the most beautiful of faces…

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Dangerous Boys,

Wow, that pretty much sums up my feelings. Book, you are so delightfully f*cked up. Honestly, there really isn't any other way to put it. You twist and turn and delve into the darkness in the world. You're terrifying and exciting all at once. Part of me wanted to look away, but you held me entranced with all of your mind-f*ckery.

-The White Unicorn

When I finally got my hands on a copy of this book, it didn't take me long to put everything aside so that I could read it. I was a HUGE fan of Haas' Dangerous Girls and I couldn't wait to get back into a book that was going to take me on a demented journey. It amazes me that more people don't know about these books, because they really are something to dive into. If you haven't yet, start reading these puppies.

I think the thing that most impressed me about this book was Haas' ability to take her dark-hearted look at humanity into a small town setting. DG was set in the fantastical world of a far off beach vacation, but in DB she goes for small town Indiana. Let's just say that it works. It works so well. I think it also makes things feel a bit more menacing, because everyone knows what small town living is like to some extent. Hass utilizes that fact to her advantage and makes you squirm a little in your seat as you read. 

At it's core, Dangerous Boys is all about soul searching. Soul searching gone a little off the rails, but soul searching none the less. Chloe, Ethan and Oliver are just trying to figure out who they are. Essentially, this book is a coming of age story... with a twist. The kind of twist that will leave you breathless at the end of it all. 

I can't go into the characters too much, because, well, just because. I will say however that Haas has created some well fleshed out late teen/early twenty aged characters that are fascinating to watch. Chloe is stuck in rut and dealing with things that no one should ever have to deal with. Ethan is your typical Golden Boy, but with a twist. Oliver is, well, he's just Oliver. Honestly, if you want to know what I'm talking about, I suggest you pick the book up, because I don't even know to put into words how I feel about these three, but I can tell you that I enjoyed their story immensely.

If you're looking for a contemporary read full of mind-f*ckery and twist and turns that will leave you wondering what's what till the very end, this is the book for you. Be warned that some of the material gets pretty edgy, but in the end it only helps the story along!

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this now!

[Waiting On Wednesday: Winterkill]

Waiting On Wednesday happens every week on Wednesdays (hence the name) and is hosted by Breaking The Spine.  It's were people talk about the books they want to read about that aren't out yet.

My pick this week is...

"Winterkill"
Author: Kate A. Boorman
Release Date: September 9th, 2014

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Summary:

Emmeline knows she’s not supposed to explore the woods outside her settlement. The enemy that wiped out half her people lurks there, attacking at night and keeping them isolated in an unfamiliar land with merciless winters. Living with the shame of her grandmother’s insubordination, Emmeline has learned to keep her head down and her quick tongue silent.

When the settlement leader asks for her hand in marriage, it’s an opportunity for Emmeline to wash the family slate clean—even if she has eyes for another. But before she’s forced into an impossible decision, her dreams urge her into the woods, where she uncovers a path she can’t help but follow. The trail leads to a secret that someone in the village will kill to protect. Her grandmother followed the same path and paid the price. If Emmeline isn’t careful, she will be next.

-Goodreads

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I love how creepy this one sounds. I want to know what's out in the woods and I want to know who this enemy is? Is it a creator? I don't know, but I figure if I read this book, I'll be able to find out!

What are you waiting on this week?  I wanna know!     

[Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart]

"We Were Liars"
Author: E. Lockhart
Series: None
Pages: 240
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller
Date Published: May 13th, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format Read: Hardcover from the library

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Summary:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To We Were Liars,

What can I say about you? I don't think that I should say much. I think this review is going to be small and yet full of thoughts. You were a whirl wind. You took me on a journey and you entranced me with your pretty pretty words. Oh how I loved your words, but even with all the goodness that filled you, I still uncovered the twist far to early on to really get a full experience out of you, which makes me a little sad.

-The White Unicorn

This is one of those reviews where you want to say everything, but nothing at the same time. As a reader who figured out the "all mighty" twist in the novel at around 25% I'm at a loss for what a true spoiler would be regarding this book. I feel like the answer is glaring, even if it is confused by the wonderful storytelling, it's still there. I guess I just knew what to look for. 

I have to admit that I fell in love with Lockhart's writing style. It's so bare and clean and beautiful. We Were Liars is an extremely easy and fast read. Lockhart strings words together in the oddest ways. They're so strange that they're wondrous. You read, not only because you want to see what happens, but also just to see what sentences she chooses to use. I feel like this is something that I could go on and on about, but I won't. Just know what I want to read her other books when I can.

The other thing that I loved so much about this book is the social commentary that Lockhart uses at the forefront of the novel. She calls people on their crap and makes you think about things in a way that's interesting. Of course I can't tell you what actually happens, but I can tell you that I loved the family dynamic that Lockhart picked to use. It's one of the most interesting things about the book.

The characters weren't my favorite separately. I didn't actually find any of them likeable. That being said, as a whole I really liked them. They worked as a team of characters so well that, even though I didn't like any of them, that didn't end up mattering to me as I read. I also found the "love story" to be silly and completely unneeded. I understand why it was there, but I think it would have been better without it. But let's just chalk that up to personal preference.

So, that's all I'm going to tell you about this one. I think it should be read and enjoyed by anyone who is interested. I liked it a lot, but like I said, I figured things out really early and I think that affected how I read the story.

Rating:

3 Unicorns = I liked it a lot but it had it's issues!

[Review: (Don't You) Forget About Me by Kate Karyus Quinn]

 

"(Don't You) Forget About Me"

Author: Kate Karyus Quinn

Series: None

Pages: 336

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Thriller

Date Published: June 10th, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Welcome to Gardnerville.

A place where no one gets sick. And no one ever dies.

Except...
There’s a price to pay for paradise. Every fourth year, the strange power that fuels the town exacts its payment by infecting teens with deadly urges. In a normal year in Gardnerville, teens might stop talking to their best friends. In a fourth year, they’d kill them.

Four years ago, Skylar’s sister, Piper, was locked away after leading sixteen of her classmates to a watery grave. Since then, Skylar has lived in a numb haze, struggling to forget her past and dull the pain of losing her sister. But the secrets and memories Piper left behind keep taunting Skylar—whispering that the only way to get her sister back is to stop Gardnerville’s murderous cycle once and for all.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To (Don't You) Forget About Me,

Wow, you were a ride, weren't you? You pretty much took all my thoughts and shook them around and gave me creepy feelings. That being said I did figure out your main plot twist half way through. I wish that wouldn't have been the case, but you still had so many details that I wanted to keep reading, even if I knew I was right. You're on big mind-f*ck! You have a lot to say about people and what they will do to survive. But you give us this age old story line in such a strange new way that it seems like a new idea. You book, are a weird one and I like that about you.

-The White Unicorn

This is one of those books that is almost impossible to review. It's so layered, but if you pay too much attention to detail or point things out in a review, you might spill the beans everywhere. That would be no good on my part, but seriously, it's so hard not to write a review full of spoilers. So this will most likely be one of the shortest reviews I've ever written. This book is a jumble of things. It's full of characters with secrets and drug problems. People who don't remember what happens to them, people who have magical powers, people who can make other people do whatever they want.

Skylar is hooked on pills that make you forget things, but it's a forth year and people start dropping like flies. Memories start to pop threw the haze in her mind and she starts a journey to find out where her sister Piper is. She knows that she needs to rescue her, but she can't remember all the details after her sister led a bunch of kids to their death. I can't really say much else about her, but I can tell you that she intrigued me on a whole lot of levels.

One thing I can talk about openly is Quinn's power to weave a truly twisty story. Everything happens for a reason. Even the smallest details have a purpose in the overall story. It's masterful, it's crazy and it's mind blowing. Yes, even though I figured out the main twist early on, I was still confused about how Quinn would get us there. She's not afraid to create a world that spins and twirls and loops back on itself. She'll make you dizzy and then she'll give you the ending you've wanted all along.

I loved that Quinn also used old mixed tapes for the 80s as one of her biggest plot tools. As a fan of music is was fun to see the 80s song titles that doubled as chapter titles throughout the book. She also references tons of classic movies and when all is said and done, this book is basically just a really disturbing retelling of The Pied Piper. 

So, even though that's all I can tell you, know that you should read this book if you want to read something extremely unique and oddly magical!

Rating:

4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!   

[Review: The Secrets of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer]

"The Secrets of Lily Graves"
Author: Sarah Strohmeyer
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: YA, Thriller, Horror
Date Published: May 13th, 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

With the intrigue of Pretty Little Liars and plenty of romance, bestselling author Sarah Strohmeyer weaves a story of secrets and lies—set in a funeral parlor.

Growing up in a house of female morticians, Lily Graves knows all about buried secrets. She knows that perfect senior-class president Erin Donohue isn’t what she seems. She knows why Erin’s ex-boyfriend, hot football player Matt Houser, broke up with her. And she also knows that, even though she says she and Matt are just friends, there is something brewing between them—something Erin definitely did not like.

But secrets, even ones that are long buried, have a way of returning to haunt their keeper.

So when Erin is found dead the day after attacking Lily in a jealous rage, Lily's and Matt’s safe little lives, and the lives of everyone in their town of Potsdam, begin to unravel. And their relationship—which grew from innocent after-school tutoring sessions to late-night clandestine rendezvous—makes them both suspects.

As her world crumbles around her, Lily must figure out the difference between truth and deception, genuine love and a web of lies. And she must do it quickly, before the killer claims another victim.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Secrets Of Lily Graves,

Well, you were a fun ride! I don't know if it's because I'm a genius or if other people figured out your secrets early on too, but I kinda had you beg pretty early on. I'm gonna go with the fact that I'm a genius, but who really knows. That being said, you were still an exciting read. I guess I just wish I wouldn't have figured it out when I did.

-The White Unicorn

This was my first Strohmeyer book and I totally understand why people love her writing. It's super readable and enjoyable. She adds a lot of really quirky detail and I find that contemporaries are better that way. Even though I wasn't completely blown away with the story, I did love her writing and that's a good thing.

When all is said and done The Secrets of Lily Graves is a murder mystery. There are a few other things going on, like a love story and a friendship story and a death fascination, but those aren't the main plot points. Lily is trying to find out who killed the main popular girl at school and what they did it with. Sure it looks like suicide, but she knows better then that. It gets intense guys.

This is one of those books that you can't really say that much about. If you do, you might end up writing all the spoilers.  I can tell you that this book is well written and has a lot going for it. But it also left me feeling a little blah. Like I said, I figured the mystery out quickly, so I think that took some of the fun out of it, but I would say if you're looking for something quick, fun, funky and a little sinister this is the book for you.

Rating:

 3 Unicorns = I liked it a lot but it had it's issues.

[Review: The Here And Now by Ann Brashares]

"The Here and Now"
Author: Ann Brashares
Series: ?
Pages: 288
Genre: YA, Sci Fi, Thriller
Date Published: April 8th, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year.

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Here And Now,

I honestly don't know how you happened book?  Yes, I finished you and you were a quick read, but I don't like you at all.  You could have been great, but you just fell flat.  You took too much time trying to be a statement book instead of telling a story.  I know some people will like you more then I did and the fact that I'm not a big fan of time travel books most likely got in the way of us being pals, so I hope you find some out there somewhere...

-The White Unicorn

I hate to say it, but I'm extremely disappointed in this book.  I've said on multiple occasions on this blog that I'm a big fan of Brashares' Sisterhood books, so even though I'm not a fan of time travel, I gave this one a shot.  It just didn't work for me at all.  It still had that Ann Brashares thing that made you wanna finish it, but that doesn't mean that I loved it.  I wanted to love it and I was so excited for a new YA title after all these years, but this wasn't what I've been waiting for.  

I think my major issue with this book is that the main goal of the story was to save the world from this terrifying mosquito-borne illness.  That would have been awesome, if the book had actually focused on that, but the main plot got bogged down by the fact that all these other things came into play.  Other ways that we as human's were corrupting our future world.  I think the whole end of the world part of the novel needed a firm direction.  It needed to be one or the other.  Human's ruining the world, or a massive, deadly, bug carried virus.  Too much was going on and it made the virus seem less important and the rest of it seemed like Brashares was making a statement.  I believe that people should make loud statements, but they shouldn't just throw them in on top of their plot for making that statement for statements sake.  It created a lot of frustration for me as a reader.  And I found myself skimming parts of the book that didn't seem to fit in with the main directive of the novel.  

On the other hand Brashares has this unique writing voice that makes you want to find out what happens in the end.  Even though I wanted to quit this book, I kept reading because of the way that Brashares tells a story.  I wanted to see the end result of Prenna and Ethan's choices.  I also really liked the strong emphasis on free will.  It kept me guessing all the way to the end.  Was this book perfectly written?  Not at all.  But it did manage to keep me enthralled enough to finish it.

Rating:

2 Unicorns = It was okay, but something just didn't work for me!