Top Ten Tuesday: Books I've Read in 2013

1) Requiem by Lauren Oliver - My review

2) Dare You To by Katie McGarry - My review

3) Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

4) Just One Day by Gayle Forman

5) The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead - My review

6) The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace

7) Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi - My review

8) Golden by Jessi Kirby - My review

9) School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins - My review

10) The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler - My review

Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads

When I think of beach reads I imagine books that are easy to immerse yourself in, have a bit of humor in them, are relatively quick reads, and are mostly just light and fun. Not all of these books fit the description, but still. I also looked at my beach reads list from last year and tried not to pick the same books. 

1) School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
2) The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
3) Golden by Jessi Kirby
4) The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
5) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
6) Just One Day by Gayle Forman
7) All Sarah Dessen books
8) Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
9) The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
10) Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

 By 'beach read' I think I'll generalize it to a summer/holiday/light-hearted/fun/friends/romance read :) Though they're not all typical contemporary as I'm not reeeeeally a contemporary girl.

1) Falling Fast - Sophie Mckenzie
2) Boys Don't Cry - Malorie Blackman
3) Star-Crossed - Rachel Wing
4) The Truth About Forever - Sarah Dessen
5) Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater
6) Incarnate - Jodi Meadows
7) Sam Cruz's Unfallible Guide to Getting Girls - Tellulah Darling
8) Candor - Pam Bachorz
9) Everneath - Brodi Ashton
10) Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen

May Recap

If you haven't been obsessively keeping tabs on our blog, I must say I'm neither surprised nor upset. So here are some posts of note from May, just in case you missed them ;D

Gabbi's review of A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty

Charlotte's review of Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Gabbi's review of Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Charlotte's review of Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling

Charlotte's review of Falling Fast by Sophie McKenzie

Gabbi's review of The Bane by Keary Taylor

Gabbi's review of School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

Charlotte's review of Slated by Teri Terry

Gabbi's review of Golden by Jessi Kirby

Top ten books when I need something light and fun.

That's about it. Been a crazy month. I (Gabbi) finished up my junior year. AHH! I'll be a senior in high school next year! I've developed a new obsession with Doctor Who. And, oh yeah, I'm leaving for New York on Thursday! When I get back, I start this summer school volunteer program where I help elementary kids that are considered "at risk" for falling behind. 

Don't worry, though. This month will still have lots of goodies on the blog! 

Book Review: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

Series: School Spirits #1

Genre: YA Paranormal 

Publication Date: May 14, 2013

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Format: eARC

Pages: 304

Source: Received for review from publisher on NetGalley

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance! (Summary from Goodreads.com)

I'll be honest, I had no frackin' idea what to expect going into this book. I really enjoyed Hawkins's Hex Hall series. Though the Brannicks actually made an appearance in Spell Bound, they didn't make an enormous one. Still, I got good vibes from Izzy, so I was incredibly curious what it would be like to see the world from her eyes. I really loved it. School Spirits has an entirely different feel than Hawkins's other series.   It stands on its own, that's fasho! The best way I can think to describe this book is as an adventure. It was a quick read, and a lot of fun!

Protagonist: 
Like I said, I was getting good vibes off of Izzy in Spell Bound, and, about two years later (in book time--in reality...a day later), I get to delve into her head and discover that my vibes were right on! Izzy is great. She's determined, persistent, and sort of socially awkward. It was certainly entertaining to watch a girl used to battling monsters be thrown in to high school, totally clueless how to go about it. I mean, she totally breaks a guy's nose on her first day.

Friendships: 
Despite that awkwardness, she makes friends right away. Anderson, Dex, and Romy are characters to love. They are the "outcasts" in their school. They started a ghost hunting club (named PMS), they don't dress like the others in high school, and people are rude to them. But they are so cool! They're supportive of one another, have hilarious banter, and they just don't give a crap what others think. Izzy may have befriended them for reasons that weren't entirely genuine, but she quickly cares about them and stands eagerly by their sides. The whole dynamic of their group is worthy of countless cheesy grins.

I've read in some reviews that people think it's a little unrealistic that Izzy moves to a new school and makes friends so quickly and captures the attention of one of the "popular" kids. I disagree. As a girl who has had her fair share of being the new kid, I know that it's not too hard to make friends the first day--especially if one is pretty, and especially if one immediately talks to the "outcasts."

Romance: 
There were a few potential romantic interests, but the romance was definitely more of a sub-plot than anything. It did not overwhelm the main story line or action. First there is Adam, who turns out to be a douchenozzle, which is okay because that makes room for Dex. Like, on the real here people, Dex is one of my fave YA boys. He's such an asthmatic goober! He's so funny. No joke, I highlighted my favorite quotes in the e-reader, and the majority were from him:

Satisfied, Dex went back to the salt. After a while, he moved to the foot of the grave, pouring it there.

"This is fun," he said. "Weird and disturbing and possibly illegal, but still fun."

“This is better than our regular PMS meetings,” Dex said once we had our food. “Those are sadly lacking in fries, I’ve found.” He reached past me for the ketchup. “And desecrating graves is a surprisingly fun bonding activity. I only defile the dead with my closest friends.” 

 “Bats live in caves,” I reminded him. “And where there are bats, there’s bat poop. Lots of it. Did you know there’s a cave in Mexico where they have a whole mountain made of guano?”

Dex leveled a fake-sultry gaze at me. “Are you coming on to me?” 

That is just the itsiest bitsiest fragment of all the quotes I loved. Another thing about Dex: he dresses like a total stud. Someone said he was kind of Magnus-y, and that is pretty spot-on. It's all peacoats and scarves for Dex!

However great Dex is, though, I still would have liked more Torin. Ya know, the man in the mirror. There's definitely something sizzlin' there, but it is not nearly as fleshed out as I would like. I actually like Torin a lot.

Plot: 
Okay, so no, this book does not have the most complex, unpredictable, original plot in the world. But who gives a spork? Hawkins is so good at delivering an entertaining read. Who needs something super complex when you have a severely bitchy ghost, a missing sister, and a dark warlock who lives inside a mirror, and a mom who is most definitely hiding something. The pacing is great, of course. It's so easy to just fly through this book.

But here's the thing. This is now a standalone. I think at one point it was supposed to be a series, but that is no longer the case. And it devastates me. No lie. COMPLETELY DEVASTATES. Because I loved this book soooooo much. I was looking forward to more Brannicks, more Torin, more Dex, I was looking forward to more Izzy being awesome. And now, not only do I not get that, but I also do not get to see how some major plot points get resolved. The obvious story was resolved, but what happened to Finley? Will a certain prophecy of Torin's come true? I will never know. It's not like majorly torturous, but I still hate it.

So basically...
Whereas a lot of paranormal books are exhausting nowadays, I thought this book was exciting, entertaining, and certainly a worthy read. I loved the characters and obviously the writing.There is a great big HOWEVER, though. If you think you'd be driven crazy by the loose ends, then this is a serious judgement call. But if you love the Hex Hall series and think you'd be okay with not knowing how every little thing turns out, I recommend this book. To me, it was worth it.

Book Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Series: Hex Hall #3

Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication Date: March 13, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 327
Source: Borrowed from friend

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Who knows how to write a great ending to a great series? Rachel Hawkins does! I regret that it took me so long to read it after its release. It's hard for me to review a book that is the last in a series, because I want to be like, "Everything was just as good as the last books but it's better because it's the end and things are concluded."

As usual, Hawkins exposes us to a cast of charming characters. Sophie is still sarcastic and entertaining--definitely not a character to be forgotten--and making her toughest decisions yet(it's crazy to think about how much she has grown since this journey began)! Should she take back her powers and risk being controlled by the enemy? Should she quietly plan an attack or face the enemy outright? What kind of attack could she possibly plan? And how in the world is she handle the two guys pining after her? Speaking of which--Cal and Archer? Yes. I love that it's not so much a love triangle. I mean, Sophie is kinda confused about her feelings, but she knows who she wants to be with. It doesn't seemed tried or tiresome like a lot of YA love triangles. Not to mention both guys are really great in their own ways (Archer's...well...hotness and Cal's kindness--both willing to do anything for Sophie). I want to say more, but I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read it yet. Jenna is still Sophie's loyal companion, and a great example of friendship in YA. And Sophie's parents are always looking out for her, which is something I admire in  a book.

I loved that we meet the Brannicks in this book and find out that they're not at all who we thought they were. The whole plot really is just enthralling and the pacing is speedy. I was dying to figure out what happened after Demonglass and I was not disappointed. However, Hawkins did not give me the answers easily. In the beginning, she granted us very little reprieve and left us wondering what happened to certain characters. Once the characters are reunited, it is not exactly an ideal situation. Throw in some plot twists (one of which was MAJOR) and ba-ba-BAM. If there is one thing Hawkins is good at, it's throwing in wonderfully awful obstacles. In the end, I'm really happy with the way things were wrapped up, though there were a few things (one in particular) that really devastated me.

This whole series is an adventure that, even if you're paranormal-wary, you don't want to miss. It's exciting and interesting and engaging. Definitely something to read when you're looking for a distraction. It's been a few weeks since I've read this book and I've forgotten a lot, but I have not forgotten how enjoyable the experience of reading this book was. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books When I Need Something Light and Fun

The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook - This book is so full of shenanigans and letting loose! 

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White - Evie is such a fun narrator and I love all the different paranormal creatures.

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade - Alona is bitchy and full of herself to the point of humor. Will has that whole "let the world burn" attitude. An unlikely romance blooms between 2 flippant characters creating an altogether fun read.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - Paris atmosphere, cute boys...YUM! This book is super cute and fluffy.

The Collector by Victoria Scott - Dante's voice is definitely something you don't find every day in YA. It was a fun read.

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill - London. A hunt for a mystery boy. With a hot boy at her side. It's one awesome adventure!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins - Using magic to fight evil paranormal creatures with a side of sarcasm. All of Hawkins's books are quick, exciting reads!

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger - Power to women!

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally - I love the concept of this book: a team full of awesome, funny football guys and one girl just trying to figure things out among them. This book is really fun.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - This book may not necessarily be "light" but it is an interesting story without a whole lot of depth and very easy to lose yourself in.

Bookly Gabbing: Spin-Off Series

Bookly Gabbing is just a feature here where I ramble about book-related subjects. And sometimes other-related subjects :)

It seems to me like spin-off series are just the thing to do lately. That and novellas, which I rarely rarely read. I don't really have a problem with spin-off series because a lot of my favorite authors have started spin-off series: Richelle Mead (<3), Cassandra Clare, Rachel Hawkins, Andrea Cremer. And, with the exception of Andrea Cremer, I've adored every word of those series (I just haven't read Rift or Rise yet. No hate against Andrea).

Some other popular authors that wrote spin-off series are Julia Kagawa, Rick Riordan, P.C. Cast, Alyson Noel, and Melissa de la Cruz.

My main problem with spin-offs is that I can't help but think of the original series and comparing them. It's the same writer, the same world (though, most likely, with largely different different elements of the world being displayed), and some characters we've probably seen from the original series. Excuse me for finding it slightly difficult to not connect the two. Like in Richelle Mead's Bloodlines series (which is a spin-off of her Vampire Academy), I can't help but think about what Rose would do if she were in Sydney's shoes and how she is infinitely more amazing. No offense to Sydney or anything, but Rose is my favorite book heroine to ever exist. Feeling that way makes it slightly more difficult for me to really melt into Sydney's character and enjoy the books as if they were standalones. Because Sydney is a great character, but she's no Rose.

However, spin-off series allow room for further development of a world we have come to love. Like in the Bloodlines series, we see a whole other side of the Moroi and Strigoi world, which is really its own world. The world of the alchemists. With science, logic, strict rules, and a major belief system. We are exposed to an entirely different brand of secrets, betrayals, and hard decisions. It's extremely interesting to see how these aspects that seem so separate from the original series relate. Of course, we also get to see other characters that we liked in the series receive their happily-ever-afters.

Not to mention, the author has more published book under their belt. They are, most likely, more confident in their writing, more accustomed to working with a deadline and readers' pressure. They've come to know the world they've created. In School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins (the first book in the Hex Hall spin-off series), I enjoyed the dialogue more, the pacing of the story. In my opinion, it was an all around better adventure.

In The Infernal Devices, which is Cassandra Clare's prequel to The Mortal Instruments series, we get to see the ancestors of the characters in TMI, and how their stories affect the story of the present. How their ancestors changed the world we already thought was so developed (or at least I did. PLEASE no bashing of Cassie Clare).

I know some people think spin-off series are a cash cow thing, or because the author is just so incapable of coming up with fresh ideas. But even if that is so, I like them. And that's all that matters right? Who cares about the motivation behind writing a book, or how much money the author makes? If it entertains you, then it serves its purpose, no?

What do you think of all the spin-off series lately? Love 'em or hate 'em? Which ones have you read and loved? I do not mind if your view opposes mine, or even if you have negative opinions of any of the books I used as examples, but please, no brutal bashing on my blog. Save that for Goodreads.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Finished: 

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins - Gabbi

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins - Gabbi

The Collector by Victoria Scott - Gabbi

Currently Reading: 

That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard - Gabbi

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton - Gabbi

Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza - Charlotte

Next In Line: 

The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton - Gabbi

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Finished:

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - Gabbi

Dare You To by Katie McGarry - Gabbi

Dark Parties by Sara Grant - Charlotte
Gotcha! by: Shelley Hrdlitschka - Nova

Currently Reading:

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins - Gabbi

Slated by Teri Terry - Charotte

Losing Lila by Sarah Alderon - Charlotte

Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher - Charlotte

Up Next:

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken - Gabbi
Shards and Ashes - Anthology (Dystopian) - Nova

Purchased: 

The Lord of the Rings Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien - Gabbi

The Lord of the Rings Part Two: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien - Gabbi

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer TBR

All titles link to Goodreads. 

1) City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - I love Cassie and I love The Mortal Instruments. And I love Jace. I have been waiting for this novel for what feels like forever, what with the super cliffhanger ending that was CoFA. I've had it for a few weeks but for some reason I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. 

2) The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead - OMGOMGOMGOMG!!! I fangirl every time I even think of Richelle Mead. She's my ultimate favorite author, just like VA is my ultimate favorite series. I adore Adrian so much *swoooooon* and I have no doubt I will love this series as much as VA. 

3) Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins - To this day, I don't think I've found a witch/magic book that manages to balance fun, action, a great plot, and fabulous worldbuilding like the Hex Hall series. 

4) My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick - I love the concept of this and I've heard really great things about it. 

5) A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger - I have yet to read a book by Kody Keplinger, but I want this book so so so so bad. It sounds so amazing. I've always had this creepy thing for step-sibling relationships. 

6) The Fault in our Stars by John Green - I've also never read a John Green book, but I've heard the most amazing things about him. I won this book and I figure it's as good a place to start as any. 

7) Shut Out by Kody Keplinger - I got a signed copy of this from Kody herself and I cannot wait to delve in. 

8) Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Artmentrout - Same thing that goes for Kody Keplinger and John Green applies to Jennifer's work. I feel like I am the only person who has not read this series. I'm kind of waiting for the entire series to be released before I start because I have a feeling I'll just want to keep reading after I finish each book. 

9) Rift by Andrea Cremer - I adore the Nightshade series and I cannot wait to see where Andrea goes with this, Her worldbuilding is complex and intriguing and absolutely wonderful. Her writing is phenomenal. I am so excited. 

10) Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson - I hear this is such an emotional contemp book and I've really been into that. Plus, I hear it's a great beach read! 

What books are on your summer TBR pile? Let me know in the comments or leave links! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Characters in Books

Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books

(In no particular order)

1) Rose Hathaway (Vampire Academy series)

Okay, really? Rose is my favorite character of all frackin time. She's badass, kickass, and a smartass. She's fiercely loyal, clever, and fights for what she thinks is right. She's got so many issues, and it's so great to watch her overcome her problems. 

2) Wesley "Link" Lincoln (Caster Chronicles)

Link is hilarious. Even in the most darkest times, Link could make me laugh. Then, in Beautiful Chaos, we see a more vulnerable side of him and I was swooning and awwwwwwwwing. 

3) Cassel Sharpe (Curse Workers series)

Cassel is incredibly, well, sharp. He's cunning and snarky. And most of all, I love that, despite his family history, he tries to hold himself to a higher standard. Cassel is so messed up and that's why it's hard not to love him!

4) Adam Wilde (If I Stay)

First of all, Adam is obviously sexy. Second of all, he's a musician--which is sexy. I loved how much he clearly cared about Mia and the extremes he went to in order to see her. He's adorable and, uh, did I mention SEXY!? 

5) Evan (Hushed)

The one thing I really admired about Evan was that he is infinitely patient with Arthur and he is willing to risk everything in order to help Archer. He is kind and understanding. 

6)Jace Wayland (Mortal Instruments series)

Okay, I can't help it. Jace is so wonderfully swoon-worthy. Everything that comes out of his mouth makes me melt. He is broken, sometimes a little rude, and extremely reckless. But he has a softer side when it comes to the people he loves and he is willing to sacrifice anything and everything for them. Honestly, I could go on and on about Jace, but I'll just end with: He's beautiful. 

7) Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games trilogy) 

Elaboration is really quite unnecessary, because we all know how kickass Katniss is. 

8) Dimitri Belikov (Vampire Academy series)

He's different than the average YA love interest, perhaps because he is a lot more man than boy. He is sweet, tender, wise, a god, focused, determined, and a lot more delicious adjectives. AND A NOMNOM ACCENT ;D

9) Sophie Mercer (Hex Hall trilogy)

I wasn't crazy about her in the first book, but in Demonglass she kicks up her badassery with more magic and kissing and snark! 

10) Magnus Bane (Mortal Instruments & Infernal Devices series)

Uh, he's MAGNUS FRACKIN BANE. Nuff said. 

No joke, that's just the tip of the iceberg of the characters I adore. Who are your favorite book characters!? 

Practically Peeing - The Ending Edition

I know, what a weird post title! But there's a lot of times when I'm excited for a book I say I'm peeing my pants for it. So "Practically Peeing" is a feature sort of like Waiting on Wednesday or On My Wishlist or Books  To Pine For where I showcase books that I realllllllly want to read. They might already be released, they might be a year away, they might be coming out next month! Either way, I can guarantee, I really want to read them.

There are so many trilogies and sagas and series in the world these days, I feel like I'm always waiting for the next frickin' book! But among all these beginnings, there are a few fabulous series coming to an end, and while it's sad to see the stories I love coming to an end, I cannot wait to see how the amazing authors conclude their characters' drama.

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

October 23, 2012

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Is death the end . . . or only the beginning?

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes -- even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series.

Black Heart by Holly Black

April 3, 2012

Margaret K. McElderry

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love. 

Endlessly by Kiersten White

July 24, 2012

HarperTeen

Try as she might, Evie can’t seem to escape her not-so-normal past. And what was supposed to be a blissfully normal school break is ruined when a massive group of paranormals shows up at her house, claiming that Evie is the only one who can protect them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The deadly war between the faerie courts looms ever closer. The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its future rests solely in Evie’s hands.

So much for normal.

With a perfect blend of humor and suspense, Endlessly is everything readers could dream of in a conclusion—and the unexpected twists will keep them guessing until the very last page. 

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

March 13, 2012

Hyperion Books

 Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Taken by Storm by Jannifer Lynn Barnes

May 22, 2012

Egmont USA

Bryn knows first-hand that being the alpha of a werewolf pack means making hard decisions, and that being human makes things a thousand times worse. She's prepared to give up her humanity, but the wolf who promised to Change her is waiting - though for what, Bryn doesn't know. Still human, she must take her place in the werewolf Senate, the precarious democracy that rules the North American packs. Standing side by side with werewolves who were ancient long before she was ever born is enough of a challenge, but Bryn soon learns that the Senate has been called to deal with a problem: the kind of problem that involves human bodies, a Rabid werewolf, and memories that Bryn, Chase, and the rest of their pack would rather forget. With bodies stacking up and political pressure closing in from all sides, Bryn and her pack are going to have to turn to old enemies and even older friends for help - especially when it starts to look like this time, the monster might be one of their own. 

Have you read any of these series? Are you superdy siked for any of these books!?