Across the Blood Red River by Jennifer R. McDonald My rating: 5 of 5 stars * I received this book in exchange for my honest review*Don\'t you hate it when a book still hunts you even after you have finished reading it? I don\'t! I usually love it! But to be honest this book, being the last in the trilogy, needed some more closure for me. It is still pulling in my heart strings. I feel like I\'ve been left in the Vail, if you know what I mean.(And if you don\'t, it\'s probably because you are like me and you check out the reviews for the last book in the series before you read the first one. And here\'s my advice: buy these books right now! They are amazing and you won\'t regret it!)I have loved this series from the beginning. From the first page I was absorbed into this amazing world and enthralled (every pun intended!) by these great, intensely human and intriguingly supernatual, characters. Jennifer McDonald created an incredibly consistent world where complex rules, bonds and hierarchies - physical, magical and emotional - flow as organically as they do in our own reality. Her characters are intricately woven in inscrutable situations that provide both depth for the characters and engrossinly amazing fast paced action for the reader. This is definitely one of the best series I have read this year, and it\'s without a doubt one of my top ten favorite ever. That says a lot, I hope. But it does have it\'s flaws. There were some speling mistakes all thoughout, for exemple, even though they didn\'t distract me from the incredible plot. But the greatest flaw of them all, and one that pertains to this last book, is the fact that - in my opinion - it didn\'t really end.This was not a cliffhanger, per se, but it lacked closure for me. I won\'t spoil the ending, but let\'s just say it\'s very clear that Lyric has other adventures in front of her, and many questions are left to be answered regarding her imediate future and the imediate future of those she cares about. The epiloge even hints to them. And that kills me!! I heard Jennifer McDonald is working in a new series that takes place in this same world (which sounds like a brilliant idea to me), but not regarding the future of these characters I have grown to love.That being said, all the "questionable decisions" Lyric has made in the past have been delt with, and most of the questions posed in the former books have been answered. Lyric has shown a lot of growth in this last instalment, and cames into herself beautifully (yet not perfectly, which works well for her character). After suffering so much and doubting herself even more, she finally confronts her deamons (both internal and external). Lyric and Aiden\'s love grows stronger and more real, and I\'m glad with how it ended up. For concerned parents: (view spoiler)[ Even though there is some second base action and loads of hot kissing, this is a light handed book in that aspect. It also has some torture and some cursing, but in my opinion this book is perfectly fine for anyone over 14 years old (hide spoiler)]In summation, this book was filled with action, incredible twists and amazing character growth. It is the best one yet, even though it leaves things open and it doesn\'t feel like the end of the series. But this is a fantastic series, and I hope it doesn\'t end here anyway. In fact (let me summon my best Gemma-like spunk): Don\'t you dare leave us hanging Mrs. McDonald! :) I\'m joking, of course! But I do hope there is more of this story to be told.My rating: 4.5/5 (because of the lack of closure)Would I read it again? Absolutely!Would I read other books from this author? Yes, without a doubt.Do I recommend it? Yes! To any fans of YA or Urban Fantasy. Don\'t hesitate to read this! View all my reviews
Through the Gloom by Jennifer R. McDonald My rating: 5 of 5 stars Don\'t you hate it when you wake up at six o\'clock in the morning to pee and end up waking up for good because you can\'t fall asleep because you HAVE to know what happens in the book you\'re reading? I don\'t. I love it!This book in an incredible sequel to Into The Vail. It is every bit as thrilling as the first one, but with twists I didn\'t expect. I don\'t usually mind that much that I guess the ending before the author intends me too, but its great being surprised, isn\'t it?This world Jennifer McDonald created is incredibly consistent. It\'s so rock solid that for the most part things get explained without her having to spell it all out. You learn about something that happened and you just think: "yep, that makes sense!" I also think that is why she is able to surprise us with her chatacters actions without it being forced. Much like people who aren\'t fictional, they go about their own lives fluidly. They feel extremely real and are absolutely aware of their shortcomings. They aren\'t superheroes, even though they have supernatural powers - and that is a very hard thing to accomplish. I still love Lyric, even though she continues to make some questionable choices. It\'s all about her voice, I think, that makes it work. She is strong and willed, and she levels things in her own mind (meaning: to the reader) in a very natural and logical way. Even when she makes a stupid choice (which is not that often, by the way), you understand why she is making it. She is a smart girl trapped in an impossible situation, and you can see how someone would think like she does.I also understand all the other characters effortlessly. I love them and want to shake them to their senses in equal amounts. They draw you in, like they\'re your own loved ones. And Aiden... (pause for swooning)... even though I don\'t appreciate the back and forth in their relationship (I just want to see them together already!), I can\'t help but love them and cheer for them. Their love is magnetic and it makes me feel like someone replaced my internal organs with puffy little clouds when they are together.The only (very minor) criticism I would have is all the explaining in the beginning of the book. I do understand that the author has to explain somethings about the first novel, but really these are not stand alones by any means, so what\'s the point? If you haven\'t read Into the Vail yet, you have to before reading this. It\'s an amazingly interesting book and you won\'t regret it. As well as you won\'t regret reading this sequel. Now I have to go and start reading the third one!!My rating: 4.7/5Would I read it again? YesDo I recommend it? Yes! To any YA and Paranormal lovers. Do yourself a favor and pick this up! View all my reviews
Into the Veil by Jennifer R. McDonald My rating: 5 of 5 stars * I received this book in exchange for my honest review*Don\'t you hate it when a book keeps you up until three in the morning (even though you have to wake up at 6:30 to go to work) because it\'s so darn good? I don\'t! I love it!I fell in love with Lyric and Lincon right away (what a great name, Lyric, by the way). They are Vailwalker twins, and possibly the last of their kind of mages. Veilwalkers are witches who can freely go (you guessed it) Into The Vail between our world and the next - what some people would call purgatory. And the reason that is great, other then they see dead people, is that the Vail and our world are connected. When they are in the Vail they can see and hear everything that happends in our world, making them the best spies anyone could ask for.The world Jennifer McDonald created was one of the best aspects of the book for me. It talked about witches, werewolfs and vampires - all terribly familiar - in a strikingly unique way. There were other paranormal beings that were introduced as well, and even if I hadn\'t heard about them before, they felt right - like maybe McDonald had an insight into the actual magical world out there. Like maybe this world could be real, and we could be living in it.All the chatecters were like that too - they felt real. Even in the very beginning when nothing much was happening, the main characters already showed they were strong, smart, independent and kind. The best thing about it was that I didn\'t notice the author trying to make me see them that way. The dialogs were smooth and witty, and McDonald introduced this remarkable world and adorable characters in a very fluid way. They sneak up on you, and when you realize you are already rooting for them. Sure, they are teens, and that shows sometimes in some impulsive reactions and questionable atitudes. But they were not stupid kids, by any means. All, including the secondary characters, were complex and multidimentional. And I have to talk about the romance. It wasn\'t the main point of the book at all, and it wasn\'t particularly steamy either. But it was so sweet and it grew in such an organic way... It made me literally put my hand over my heart in a swooning gesture many times. I loved it and I can\'t even explain the reason for it that well.For me, this book was very well rounded. It had likable and believable characters, an interesting plot set in an unique world, heart-melting romance, and incredible action all through out. I\'m so glad I got to read it!My rating: 5/5Would I read it again? YesDo I recommend it? Yes! To any YA and Paranormal lovers. Buy it now, you won\'t regret it! View all my reviews
Brew by David Estes My rating: 4 of 5 stars * I received this book in exchange for my honest review *I had a hard time with this book in the beginning, because for some reason I was expecting a "serious" kind of Distopia, where the author would convince me this was a possible outcome for the world. Rhett, our narrator-slash-hero, I liked enough, but I felt a little trapped in his head in the beginning, like I was not living in that world, just reading about it... Suffice to say I was a bit underwhelmed. But then I realized that this isn\'t a "realistic" kind of book. It\'s more of a superhero or comic-book-kind-of-hero story - where the main character makes dumb choices, but doesn\'t really suffer the consequences; and where unbelievable things happen and he doesn\'t even blink because he apparently doesn\'t have time to think them through. And then Hex appears, and then Laney and Trish come into the story, and things start getting funnier, and more action packed. And character after character starts getting things more interesting and and crazier - not the bad kind of crazy, but the hilarious kind.And suddenly, now that I started getting the book, I like it much more! It\'s fun, it\'s funny, it\'s witty. And I know they are all similar words, but that\'s what it is! I was having so much fun by the middle of the book, that I was grateful for all the impossible things happening, and for the crazy-stupid-hilarious-fantastic dialog. Rhett and Laney\'s characters got deeper and more complex - as opposed to shallower and less intelligent - as their super witty banter goes on (which really surprised me, I have to admit). I started thinking "David Estes is brilliant!" as I doubled over surreal monologs such as: “I wake up in the dark. Or are my eyes closed? It’s so black they might as well be. But no…I think they’re open. I poke at my eye just to be sure. Ow!” How can you not love that? In a world with a lot of death and action, Estes managed to keep the story light and amusing, without it feeling disrespectful. It did leave me with some doubts about how this world truly works, and some parts of the book - especially the big fighting scenes - seemed a little rushed and confusing, though. I felt that even as some things were explained, I still wasn\'t sure I understood them. At the same time, I saw many of the big twists coming. So I guess that, same as Rhett, we are left sometimes confused by this world, and other times we are just left waiting for things you know are coming to happen. But, if you are as smart as he is, you\'ll laugh it off and try to enjoy the witch-apocalypse, since it is definitely entertaining!My rating: 3.8/5Would I read it again? Probably not...Will I read the next ones? Yes, this was a lot of fun.Do I recommend it? Yes! To fans of YA that are over 12 years old (there\'s a lot of bloodshed) and want to read something fun and lighthearted with a lot of action, magic and gore. View all my reviews
Brew by David Estes My rating: 4 of 5 stars * I received this book in exchange for my honest review *I had a hard time with this book in the beginning, because for some reason I was expecting a "serious" kind of Distopia, where the author would convince me this was a possible outcome for the world. Rhett, our narrator-slash-hero, I liked enough, but I felt a little trapped in his head in the beginning, like I was not living in that world, just reading about it... Suffice to say I was a bit underwhelmed. But then I realized that this isn\'t a "realistic" kind of book. It\'s more of a superhero or comic-book-kind-of-hero story - where the main character makes dumb choices, but doesn\'t really suffer the consequences; and where unbelievable things happen and he doesn\'t even blink because he apparently doesn\'t have time to think them through. And then Hex appears, and then Laney and Trish come into the story, and things start getting funnier, and more action packed. And character after character starts getting things more interesting and and crazier - not the bad kind of crazy, but the hilarious kind.And suddenly, now that I started getting the book, I like it much more! It\'s fun, it\'s funny, it\'s witty. And I know they are all similar words, but that\'s what it is! I was having so much fun by the middle of the book, that I was grateful for all the impossible things happening, and for the crazy-stupid-hilarious-fantastic dialog. Rhett and Laney\'s characters got deeper and more complex - as opposed to shallower and less intelligent - as their super witty banter goes on (which really surprised me, I have to admit). I started thinking "David Estes is brilliant!" as I doubled over surreal monologs such as: “I wake up in the dark. Or are my eyes closed? It’s so black they might as well be. But no…I think they’re open. I poke at my eye just to be sure. Ow!” How can you not love that? In a world with a lot of death and action, Estes managed to keep the story light and amusing, without it feeling disrespectful. It did leave me with some doubts about how this world truly works, and some parts of the book - especially the big fighting scenes - seemed a little rushed and confusing, though. I felt that even as some things were explained, I still wasn\'t sure I understood them. At the same time, I saw many of the big twists coming. So I guess that, same as Rhett, we are left sometimes confused by this world, and other times we are just left waiting for things you know are coming to happen. But, if you are as smart as he is, you\'ll laugh it off and try to enjoy the witch-apocalypse, since it is definitely entertaining!My rating: 3.8/5Would I read it again? Probably not...Will I read the next ones? Yes, this was a lot of fun.Do I recommend it? Yes! To fans of YA that are over 12 years old (there\'s a lot of bloodshed) and want to read something fun and lighthearted with a lot of action, magic and gore. View all my reviews
