Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Let me start off by saying that I LOVED this book!  I had no expectations going in, but hoped for a good, entertaining read.  I was not disappointed.  Cynthia Hand has written an exceptional story.

I loved Clara, Christian, and Tucker.  They seemed so real, so likeable.  Ms Hand allowed their relationships with each other to develop over time, as real relationships do.  That in itself was a breath of fresh air.  I love that I initially didn't know whether or not to like Tucker.  I didn't know if he'd get in the way of Clara and Christian, or if he'd end up being the love interest.  Clara's two friends, Wendy and Angela, were so very likeable as well.  I simply adored everyone in this book.

The story was well-paced and very well-written; it was so easy and fun to read.  Details about Clara's purpose were given a bit at a time, and I loved the mystery of it.  I loved that Clara was so realistic.  She had struggles, and like any teenager, she wanted a normal life, all the while knowing that she had a greater purpose to fulfill.

I was sucked in to the story immediately, and couldn't put the book down.  And, wow, was there a big twist!  I CAN'T WAIT for the next one to be released!

5/5

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

This book has been called a "haunting story of friendship and love".  That, along with all the rave reviews this book has received, built up such an anticipation in me.  I couldn't wait to read this book!  Unfortunately, Never Let Me Go did not live up to my expectations.  Maybe I wasn't thinking critically enough, maybe I'm not intelligent enough to get to the deeper meaning...whatever.  I just didn't enjoy it.

Never Let Me Go is told by Kathy, a 31-year-old who is recounting her childhood days spent at Hailsham, a private school in the English countryside.  It was at Hailsham that she met Ruth and Tommy, who would become her two best friends.  At Hailsham, the students were brought up to believe that they were special.  They were content, until the remarks of one of Hailsham's teachers forced them to see the truth about who they were and what their future would hold.

I don't want to spoil anything here, so I won't say what the big secret is.  I'd already known to a degree what the secret was before reading the book, so I wasn't as surprised as I could have been.  But I don't think I would have enjoyed the book more had I not known beforehand.  The story was so slow, and things were alluded to and then not explained until further on in the book.  I felt like I was going in circles.  And when Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy discover what the big secret is, it seemed to me like they didn't do a whole heck of a lot to change their fates.  They kind of just accepted everything, and that bothered me.

I don't know.  Maybe I'm not making any sense.  And maybe I haven't thought enough about this book.  Let me just say that I didn't care for it, and that's okay with me.

2/5

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Not wanting to leave her life - or boyfriend - behind on Earth, but not able to face a life without her parents, seventeen-year-old Amy follows her parents and is cryogenically frozen for a 300-year journey across the universe.  Her parents are specialists who have been asked to help colonize a new planet, Centauri-Earth.  By a mysterious turn of events, Amy is reawakened 50 years too early.  She quickly realizes that her awakening wasn't an accident; someone tried to kill her.  With the help of Elder, the future leader of the ship, Amy goes on a quest to find who attempted to kill her, and who has been murdering the other frozen people.  She desperately wants to protect her parents from the same fate that awaited her.

 

I really wanted to love this book.  It sounded so amazing.  Unfortunately, I can only say that I liked it.  The premise was fascinating, but there was just something about the book that turned me off.  The alternating chapters between Amy and Elder were interesting (I love being privy to both points of view in a book), but I'd sometimes forget who was speaking and then have to re-read entire excerpts.  The characters weren't unlikeable, but I found that I didn't ever really care what happened to them.  I wasn't really cheering them on, though I was hoping that Amy would be able to save her parents.  I just wasn't as invested in the characters as I wanted to be.  Another problem I had was with "The Season".  Way too much time was spent on that particular plot point.  Eww.  I also sometimes felt like there was too much detail given.  Some parts of the book really dragged for me, and I couldn't help but wish that the book would end already.  Definitely not a feeling I want when reading a book.

Overall, it was a good read, but I don't know that I'll read the sequels when they're released.

3/5

Blah

I guess it's time to review some books, right?  I haven't been in the mood for it, and to be honest I'm still not.  But, I guess I'll just get 'em done...

A bit behind

I've been without internet access all week, and my husband finally figured out how to fix the problem.  So I'm back!  I finished Across the Universe on Monday, and I'm almost done with Never Let Me Go.  I realize that I need to review Across the Universe, but I'm in the middle of making cupcakes for my daughter to pass out at school tomorrow (she turns nine on Saturday... I'm getting so old!), and I just don't have the time for a review right now.  I promise, it will be up soon.

Thanks for checking in!

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Oh my goodness, was this book awesome or what?  The following summary contains spoilers from the first and second books, so read at your own risk:

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?

Even better than City of Ashes, City of Glass had me setting everything aside so that I could read.  I was on pins and needles, waiting to see what would become of the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders, and when Clary and Jace would realize that their relationship wasn't what they thought.  I had a lot figured out, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the reactions of the characters as certain things were revealed.

I was so happy that the Shadowhunters and Downworlders formed an alliance.  Clary's growth amazed me.  She went from a know-nothing Mundane to someone capable of defeating Valentine.  And Jace... oh, Jace.  His inner torment over his feelings for Clary was delicious.  He has some of the most swoon-worthy lines in this book, and I loved it, just as I loved getting to see Alec, Isabelle, and Simon grow and mature throughout the series.

I'm actually surprised that this 'trilogy' has been turned into a series of six books, though I guess I shouldn't be, given the success of the series so far.  I have to say that I thought the ending of City of Glass was perfect, though, with everything wrapped up nicely.  Even so, I'm going to have to read the next three books when they come out.

4.5/5

Also in the series: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Fallen Angels (2011), City of Lost Souls (2012), City of Heavenly Fire (2013)

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

I really should have written this review immediately after finishing the book.  I just finished the third book in this series, City of Glass, and the plots of all three books are kind of muddled together in my brain now, and I can't really remember what happened in which book.  So I'm just going to use the summary from the book cover for this review (there are spoilers from the first book, so read at your own risk):

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

After the revelations in City of Bones, I was definitely looking forward to seeing what City of Ashes had in store for Clary, Jace, Simon, and the gang.  All I can say is, wow.  I definitely didn't see some things coming (like Simon's transformation), but other storylines had some definite foreshadowing of what was to come in the third book.  I grew to love Jace even more, and felt for him and Clary with everything they had to deal with.  But I could already see where the whole Jace and Clary storyline was headed, so I had hope that things would work out (as in, be revealed) in City of Glass, even though there were more books still to come in the series.

Definitely more fast-paced than the first book.  I was left wanting more, and put everything else on hold to delve right into City of Glass.

4/5

Also in the series: City of Bones, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels (2011), City of Lost Souls (2012), City of Heavenly Fire (2013)

TBR

In this case, TBR means "To Be Reviewed" and not "To Be Read."  I know I need to review City of Ashes, but I'm so into City of Glass that I don't want to write a review right now.  I'll probably just do both of them once I finish CoG, which I am loving, by the way.

I'm off to read some more!

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

In The Dark Divine, Grace made the ultimate sacrifice to save her boyfriend, Daniel.  Now her brother, Jude, is missing and Grace will do whatever it takes to find him.  With each passing day, the wolf inside her is threatening to come out.  With Daniel growing distant, Grace turns to newcomer, Talbot, for help with her powers.  But a voice inside her head is urging her to give in to her dark side, and Grace isn't sure who she can trust.

I really enjoyed The Dark Divine, and I thought The Lost Saint was just as entertaining a read.  I liked the growth of Grace and Daniel throughout this book (though I felt like maybe Grace changed a bit too much; she definitely wasn't the good preacher's daughter in this one).  Their relationship hit bumps that any normal relationship does, but I thought they both needed to have more trust in each other.  New guy, Talbot, didn't help in that area, and he seems to be giving Daniel a bit of competition.  I liked the addition of Talbot, and I like what Bree Despain did with his character (can Grace trust him or not?), but personally, I remain firmly in Daniel's corner.  He's the guy for Grace, hands down.  The ending was incredible, and I can't wait to read the next book!

This was a great read.  The only thing I really dislike about these books is the font they're printed in. ;)

4/5

Also in the series: The Dark Divine

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna's parents are forcing her to spend her senior year at an American boarding school in Paris.  For most kids, the thought of spending a year in Paris is exciting, but Anna just wants her normal life in Atlanta with her mom, brother, best friend, Bridge, and Toph, the boy she's interested in.  She's lucky to meet a great group of people her first day at school, and the six of them become inseparable.  As she adjusts to life in Paris, Anna realizes that she has feelings for her new best friend, Étienne St. Clair.  He's oh-so-sexy and very smart...and he also has a girlfriend.  But anything is possible in the City of Light, where wishes have a way of coming true.

This book made me giddy.  Seriously.  I felt like a teenager all over again, falling in love for the first time.  It's a really cute story, with interesting characters and believable scenarios.  St. Clair immediately stole my heart, and I swooned right along with Anna throughout the entire book.  It was such a charming little book!

I realize that this is in no way a well-written review, but I can't stop the swooning long enough to put coherent thoughts together.  (Then again, when have any of my reviews been well-written?)

J'ai adoré ce livre!  (which means, I loved this book!)

4.5/5

Bloody Valentine by Melissa de la Cruz

Bloody Valentine is a novella of three short stories from the 'Blue Bloods' world.  This book is best read after Misguided Angel, the fifth book in the Blue Bloods series, as two of the stories take place after the events of MA.  The first short story follows Oliver Hazard-Perry as he tries to get over his feelings for Schuyler Van Alen.  The second story shows Schuyler's parents, Allegra Van Alen and Bendix Chase, fall in love.  The final story is the long-awaited bonding between Schuyler and Jack Force.

Of the three, my favorite was the bonding story.  I've loved Schuyler and Jack together since Blue Bloods, so it was fun to read their 'wedding' story.  I also really enjoyed Oliver's story, and I'm happy that he's no longer pining for Schuyler.  Oliver's story gives a sneak peek into Melissa de la Cruz's new spin-off series, the first of which is entitled The Witches of East End.  (I don't think I'll be reading the spin-off.)  I wasn't as interested in Allegra's story, truthfully, and I was left somewhat confused.  Overall, I'm left feeling very excited to get my hands on the final book in this series, Lost in Time.

I think the cover is gorgeous, and I enjoyed the stories.  Better than Misguided Angel, definitely.

4/5

Also in the series: Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations, The Van Alen Legacy, Misguided Angel, Keys to the Repository (companion book), Lost in Time (Oct. 2011)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

I tried reading this book about a year ago, and just could not get into it.  I made it to page 170, and then decided I couldn't go any further and returned the book to the library.  I told myself I'd try it again sometime.  When my sister, Kira, told me that she planned on reading this series, I decided that the time had come to give City of Bones another try.  But, where Kira has now read all 3 in the series (the fourth book - of six - is due out this spring), I only finished this first book a couple of days ago.

So, what did I think this time around?  I definitely enjoyed it more.  I didn't have a difficult time getting into the story at all, which was a relief.  I was actually worried that I would get stuck at the same spot and not want to read on.  I'm glad that didn't happen, because I ended up liking the story quite a bit.  Jace definitely intrigues me (I may have a teeny crush on him, too), and I'm interested in seeing what Clary can make of herself.  (I have to say, though, that the name 'Clary Fray' annoyed me the entire time.  Not a name that really flows well off the tongue.)  What kind of Shadowhunter will Clary be?  And what does the future hold for Clary, Jace, and Simon?  Simon is a cool character, too, and I'm already wondering what will be in store for him.

One thing that kind of bothers me about YA books these days is that almost all of the main characters seem much too young to be in some of the situations they're placed in.  I just can't wrap my head around a 14- or 15-year-old doing some of the things authors have them doing these days.  I felt that way with Clary.  She seemed a bit too naive and young to be a Shadowhunter.  I know she had a completely different upbringing than Jace, Isabelle, and Alec did, but a part of me still can't accept that someone so young (barely 15 years old) can do the sorts of things a Shadowhunter does.  And reading about Clary and a certain someone kissing in the hallway kind of shocked me, too.  Don't get me wrong - I wanted her to kiss this certain someone, but at the same time I was thinking how young she still is.  Maybe it's just me, and it's been too long since I was a teenager and felt urges like that. ;)

Anyway, I look forward to continuing with this series.  I really thought there were only 4 books in the series, and knowing that there are really SIX and that I'll have to wait until 2013 to finish the series is depressing.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Also in the series: City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels (April 2011), City of Lost Souls (2012), City of Heavenly Fire (2013)

Night Star by Alyson Noël

Haven blames former best friend, Ever, for everything that has gone wrong in her life since becoming an Immortal.  She's determined to make Ever pay, by killing her and sending her to the Shadowland.  And if Jude and Damen are destroyed along the way, all the better.  Haven tells Ever that Damen is not what he seems, and when Ever sees proof of that with her own eyes she again wonders if she and Damen really are destined to be together.

Meanwhile, Haven is out of control.  She's chugging elixir like no one's business, and refining her powers so that she'll be ready for the showdown with Ever.  It's only a matter of time before best friend is pitted against best friend in a fight to the finish.

Night Star is the fifth book in the Immortals series, and I am really hoping that the sixth book, Everlasting, is the final book.  The title implies that it probably will be.  I can't wait to be done with this series.  This fifth book just dragged the story on.  Not much happened until the final pages.  I'm sick of reading series books where nothing happens, where the story drags and I want to pull my hair out.  I tell myself that I've come this far...I have to continue.

I hate Haven (I've said that with every book), and I'll be glad the series is over if only to bid farewell to her.  She gets more and more annoying with every book, if that's possible.

Ever finally realized who she's meant to be with in this installment, so that was at least something good.

This series has been like a roller coaster ride for me.  Books 1 and 3 received 3 stars from me, while books 2 and 4 received 4 stars.  It's only fitting that book 5 be given 3 stars then, right?  (Honestly, I was tempted to give it 2, but the ending was so much better than the rest of the book.)

3/5 stars

Also in the series: Evermore, Blue Moon, Shadowland, Dark Flame

Fly Me to the Moon by Alyson Noël

When flight attendant Hailey Lane's work trip is cancelled, she rushes home to surprise her boyfriend of four years.  She'd found a blue Tiffany box in his bag before she left, and with it being her birthday and all, she's certain that he's going to propose.  She couldn't have been more wrong.  When she arrives home, she finds Michael in the bedroom with another man.  Realizing that she has nowhere to go, she plans trips around the world to mend her broken heart.  Hailey discovers that, of all the men in the world, sometimes Mr. Right is in your own back yard.

Fly Me to the Moon is the selection for our church book group this month.  The woman who recommended it hadn't read it prior, but, thinking it was a YA book, felt no hesitation in suggesting it as a good read for our church group.  She feels horrible now that she suggested it because there were a few scenes of crude sexual behavior as well as crude language throughout.  It's definitely not a YA book.  She still enjoyed the story, but I can honestly say that I didn't.  I felt like the story dragged too much, and Hailey found herself in too many questionable situations.  I don't think the various trips to other countries added much to the story; the only trip I found even remotely interesting was Hailey's vacation in Greece.  The ending was very abrupt, too.  There was a lot of build-up between Hailey and a certain someone, and I think things were wrapped up far too quickly.  This was the guy that I wanted to read about because I knew Hailey was bound to end up with him, but we were only given snippets of him here and there throughout the book.

Overall, I though it was an okay read, but definitely not something I'd recommend.  I'll take Ms. Noël's YA series, The Immortals, over this any day.

2/5

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

This is the story of Edward Tulane, the haughty china rabbit who belongs to a little girl named Abilene.  When Abilene and her parents journey to England, Edward is lost at sea.  After laying on the ocean bottom for a year, Edward is rescued by a fisherman.  Thus begins his miraculous journey.  The passing years find Edward living with different people and learning how important it is to open your heart and be loved.

One part of the book that really touched me is near the end when Edward is conversing with an antique doll.  He says that he doesn't care if anyone comes for him; he's done with being loved and done with loving because it's too painful.  As the doll leaves the shop with her new owner, she tells Edward, "Open your heart.  Someone will come.  Someone will come for you.  But first you must open your heart."  Edward's heart stirs, and as much as he doesn't want to believe it, he can't help but hope that someone will come for him.  His heart had opened.

He's rewarded in the end.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was a real treat to read, and the illustrations were gorgeous. Edward's journey was sad at times, but the lessons he learned from his experiences are applicable to us all.  I can't wait until my girls are older so that I can share this book with them.

4/5

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.

Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.

Claudia claims to live Outside—her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return. But they don’t realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.

Because Incarceron is alive.

I've read numerous reviews of this book, the majority of which have been 5-star reviews.  So I was expecting Incarceron to be amazing.  But, it fell far short of my expectations.

First of all, the terminology was confusing.  It took me quite awhile to understand what certain words meant.  I also had a hard time grasping what was happening.  Maybe it was too complex a world for a simple girl like me.  I enjoyed Finn and Claudia as characters, and was rooting for them to find a way to free Finn from Incarceron, but the story as a whole didn't do much for me.

I read a week or two ago that Taylor Lautner has been signed to play Finn in the movie version of Incarceron.  Catherine Fisher seems pleased, but, personally, I don't think he fits the part.  At all.  I tried to imagine him as Finn while reading, and I just couldn't do it.

I have the sequel, Sapphique, on reserve at the library, but I don't know that I want to read it anymore.

3/5

Bad reader

So, I've been a bad reader the last week.  I've been watching a lot of TV/movies with the hubby, so I guess that's a good reason. ;)

Anyway, looking at the 100 Greatest Novels sidebar, I realize that I haven't read anything from the list in quite awhile.  Since September of 2008, apparently.  Wow.  So, this year I'm going to try to make more of an effort to read books from the list.  It might not happen, but that's my goal as of now.  We'll see.

Dark Flame by Alyson Noël

In Shadowland, Ever's attempt at getting the antidote for Damen failed.  Instead, she bound herself to her enemy, Roman.  Now there's a dark flame ignited inside her, and she's being pulled toward Roman.  She knows that she loves Damen, or at least some small part of her knows it, but Roman is the one she wants now.  She eats, sleeps, and breathes Roman, and she's terrified that Damen is going to find out and dump her.  She needs Roman to give her the antidote, but she's continually driven off course by her intense longing for him.

I thought Dark Flame was really good; much better than Shadowland.  It definitely held my interest, and I loved learning more about bad guy Roman...where he came from and what his story is.  He's such an interesting character, and I'm hoping to get more of his story, especially now that something surprising has happened to him.  I liked seeing this alternate side to Ever, too.  I just wish she'd learn to trust Damen, and not always attempt to work everything out on her own.  I want her to grow and learn from her mistakes, and I think she's finally getting there.  Damen was his perfect, patient self, and I respect that.  He's had ample opportunities now to drop Ever like a bad habit, but his love for her is true and has lasted centuries.  I also liked seeing a bit of Jude again.  He's now remembered his past with Ever, and he's ready to fight for her. 

I have two big gripes:  One, the way Ever was able to overcome her attraction to Roman.  All she needed to do was think positively, really?  Two: Haven.  She's annoyed me to no end since book one, and I just want her to disappear.  She should go to the Shadowland and never return!  I hate the way she jumps to conclusions, and how she thinks she's better than everyone.  Ugh.  Go away, Haven.

Overall, a really good read.  I'm looking forward to Night Star.

4/5

Also in the series: Evermore, Blue Moon, Shadowland

Entice by Carrie Jones

At the end of Captivate, Nick was killed and carried off to the mythical Valhalla.  Zara, who swears that her life means nothing without Nick in it, allowed pixie king Astley to kiss her, thus making Zara his queen.  Now, Zara is bound and determined to find a way to save Nick.  Bedford is being overrun by evil pixies, and young people are disappearing left and right.  A war is brewing, but Zara knows she doesn't stand a chance of defeating the evil pixies without warrior Nick by her side.  Finding a way to get to Valhalla is difficult enough, but, once there, will Nick even want Zara anymore, now that she's been pixie kissed?

I thought Need was good (3.5 stars), and I really enjoyed Captivate (4 stars), so I was very eager to read Entice.  (I read Need and Captivate during my 6-month blog break, so I didn't review them.)  The bottom line: I liked Entice a lot, but the whole 'finding a way to Valhalla' thing was far too drawn out.  Most of the book followed Zara and Astley (with support from Issie, Devyn and Grandma Betty) on their search for Valhalla.  Their attempts proved unsuccessful a time or two too many, which not only drew the story out, but annoyed me.  I just wanted to know if Zara would find her way and rescue Nick.  Not that I like Nick that much...he's okay, but Astley is the guy pixie I'm rooting for!  You can't help but fall in love with him in Entice.  He's so considerate of Zara and would do anything for her, even help rescue her werewolf boyfriend.  I am completely Team Astley!

The fourth book will be released sometime in early 2012.  Ugh.  Another long wait for another series book.  I look forward to seeing what the title will be, as well as what the cover will look like.  I think the covers in this series are gorgeous.

4/5

Also in the series: Need, Captivate

Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz

After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the five remaining gates that guard the earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silver Bloods.

Back in New York, Mimi has been elected Regent of a crumbling coven. Struggling with her heartache over the loss of Kingsley and with her overwhelming desire to destroy Jack, she must focus all of her energy on a perilous new threat. Vampires are being abducted and their captors are planning to burn them alive online…for all the world to see. Help arrives in the form of Deming Chen, a Venator from Shanghai, who must untangle the web of deceptions before the killers strike again.

As the young vampires struggle for the survival of the coven, they uncover a deadly secret, a truth first discovered by Schuyler’s mother during the Renaissance but kept buried for centuries. And as the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler to a terrible choice that will ultimately map the destiny of her heart.

Boy, did I have mixed feelings about this latest Blue Bloods novel.  I wanted to love it because, really, I've loved them all.  (Okay, maybe not the first book, but it was still pretty entertaining.)  After reading about these characters for five books now, I feel completely invested in their lives, so it's disappointing when an entire book goes by without anything really happening.  The story that had been built up over the four previous books went almost nowhere in this fifth installment, which seemed like it was written simply as a filler to tide us over until the next book comes out.  And why is it that authors feel they have to write so many books in a series?  The story could have ended with this fifth book, but I'm left waiting for a sixth book to be published.

I really like reading about Schuyler, Jack, Mimi and the gang.  There were two very noticeable missing characters this time around, though: Kingsley (for obvious reasons) and Bliss.  Where was Bliss?  She's been a major character through four books now, and not even one mention of her in book 5?  What?  I did enjoy the interactions between Mimi and Oliver.  Mimi has really grown on me over the series, and I enjoy reading her side of the story just as much as Schuyler and Jack's side.

As disappointed as I am with this book - it is, by far, the weakest book in the series - I can't find it in me to rate it lower than a 3.  I really can't believe I have to wait until October to read the next book.

3/5

Also in the series: Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations, The Van Alen Legacy