Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I feel an enormous amount of pressure writing this review, but probably not for the reason that you might think. “Noughts and Crosses” tackles very difficult subjects in a multidimensional, emotional way. It features a relationship that has deeper implications than one may … Continue reading »
Lost Summer by Alex McAulay My rating: 1 of 5 stars There’s only so much suspension of disbelief you can have in a single story. I think in Alex McAulay’s “Lost Summer”, that suspension was used up well before the book hit the 10% mark, at least for me. Even in the most far-fetched of … Continue reading »
Identity Theft by Anna Davies My rating: 4 of 5 stars Initial reaction: I’m really glad I had the opportunity to read “Identity Theft”, considering it’s among the kind of stories I usually enjoy. It took a while to find its stride and I think I was put off a little by the info-dumpish, pop … Continue reading »
The Girl in the Wall by Daphne Benedis-Grab My rating: 4 of 5 stars Initial reaction: Whoa, this turned out to be quite the engaging read, and I’m surprised how quick it transpired in both the narrative flow and for events. This is probably one of the better stories of its kind in YA that … Continue reading »
Poison Shy by Stacey Madden My rating: 1 of 5 stars Initial reaction: I have many words to spare on the content and portrayal of this book, but it wasn’t what I thought it would be at all. I went into “Poison Shy” with the idea that it might be a decent murder/disappearance mystery, even … Continue reading »
Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon My rating: 2 of 5 stars Initial thoughts: I really wanted to like this novel more than I did, but for the sparse worldbuilding and lack of connectivity as far as the characterization and events goes, this didn’t deliver. I’m hoping I can explain more in my full review. … Continue reading »
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson My rating: 4 of 5 stars “Alif the Unseen” completely took me by surprise by how engaging and captivating the story was from beginning to end. I usually enjoy stories that involve sci-fi and suspense/thriller elements with a cultural twist, and I think this first read I’ve had … Continue reading »
Dead Time by Anne Cassidy My rating: 3 of 5 stars Anne Cassidy’s “Dead Time” was a captivating read for me, for the most part. I have a love for mystery/suspense/thriller novels, and I don’t see that many of them often in the YA genre. The story commences with a protagonist named Rose, who lives … Continue reading »
Blackout by Mira Grant My rating: 5 of 5 stars Initial reaction: Oh my word. This was brilliant. I think I have a new favorite trilogy to add to my list. *** Full review: I don’t know if I can describe the experience of Mira Grant’s “Blackout” in a succinct enough capacity to share how … Continue reading »
Promise Me Eternity by Ian Fox My rating: 1 of 5 stars Initial thoughts: I’m going to meditate on my rating for this book before I put up a full review, but I have to say that I struggled quite a bit with “Promise Me Eternity”, and while the novel did start picking up in … Continue reading »
Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher My rating: 4 of 5 stars I haven’t read that many books in the YA genre that deal with abduction, at least on a first-hand account basis. I remember reading quite a few abduction stories in my young to mid teens, but even then, the stories … Continue reading »
Beastly Things: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon My rating: 3 of 5 stars Donna Leon’s “Beastly Things” is one among a long standing series of mysteries revolving around Commissario Guido Brunetti, taking place in the heart of Venice, Italy. It’s my first novel in the progressive series, but from what I understand, … Continue reading »
Spontaneous by Joe Harris My rating: 3 of 5 stars I wanted to love “Spontaneous” a little more than what I did for the intrigue of the story as well as the dark style of the artwork. It feels like an X-Files or Twilight Zone story except that the twist doesn’t feel that genuine and … Continue reading »
I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga My rating: 4 of 5 stars The last time I read a series about a potential teenage serial killer fighting his inner demons (as opposed to the very real outer ones he faced), it kept me up quite a stretch of nights reading and waiting with a pounding heart … Continue reading »
Backlash by Nancy Fulda My rating: 3 of 5 stars Nancy Fulda’s “Backlash” is a non-stop sci-fi action/thriller novelette about a former war hero caught in the crossfire of averting a disaster that could change the course of time. Eugene Gutierez returned from an assignment in South America that left him with the scars of … Continue reading »
