Do you see what I see?

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Publish Date:  December 27, 2011
ISBN: 978-0310727583
Pages:  304


I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Abby's mom dies and her dad decides to move to Alaska to work at Jason Farms.  Abby's 17 years old, so you know the move isn't going to go well.


Jason Farms turns out to be a lab where humans are cloned.  Martyr is one of 55 clones, he's set to 'expire' when he turns 18, in 25 days.  the clones are told that the air outside is toxic and they've been created to save people from the air.  Of course, Martyr escapes.  Once he meets Abby, the adventures really start.

There is a religious theme in the story, but it's fairly low-key.  The scientific and religious views seemed to be quite even.

I don't have a lot to say about this one...it was ok, not fabulous but there also wasn't anything majorly wrong with it either.  It just kind of...was.

Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things (Courtney Crumrin #1) by Ted Naifen

Publisher: Oni Press
Publish Date:  April 11, 2012
ISBN:  978-1934964774
Pages: 144


I recieved this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 First off, this is a graphic novel, not a regular book.  Isn't the cover just about the cutest thing?!

The story's narrated by a goblin named Butterworth.  Courtney's family has come to live with her Great-Uncle Aloysius Crumrin in his mansion.  Courtney isn't particularly fond of the idea, but well, she's a kid so she has to go.

Great-Uncle Aloysius has a different kind of hobby - witchcraft.  Courtney finds it interesting and soon all kinds of things are happening.  The dark humor really caught me and the awful things that happen made me giggle with glee!

The illustrations are quite delightful - even if you get a black and white version.  Oh yes, Courtney's stories have been around for quite some time!

I think that if you enjoyed SCARLETT DEDD, you'll enjoy Courtney too.

Quarantine (The Loners #1) by Lex Thomas

Quarantine (The Loners #1) by Lex Thomas
Publisher:  Egmont USA
Publish Date:  July 10, 2012
ISBN:  978-1606843291
Pages:  416


I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So imagine that you're sitting in school one day, there's an explosion and all the adults die.  Then the government seals off the school due to a virus.  Oh - they do food drops so you don't starve.  But can you imagine the cliques that would become gangs?!

The book centers around brothers David and Will.  They aren't in any particular group, they're loners.  Their relationship comes off as real - who hasn't been driven to the brink of wanting to beat the snot out of a beloved sibling?

The setting is dark, grim, violent and realistic.  The story moves quickly, but think of your own school (or your kids) - how quickly can something minor blowup if an adult doesn't step in?

There is a romantic triangle, but she annoyed me the entire time.

Do you see what I see?

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls #1) by Victoria Foyt

Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls #1) by Victoria Foyt
Publisher: Sand Dollar Press
Publish Date:  January 10, 2012
ISBN: 978-0983650324
Pages:  320



I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 So this story is set in a future where the heat and sun have gotten ridiculous and the darker your skin is, the safer you are.  Caucasians are now the minority due to their fragile skin and are called 'Pearls'.  African-Americans are the majority and everyone wants to be a 'Coal'. So much so that Pearls cover their hair and skin with a makeup of sorts in order to be more 'average' and pretty.  Also, in this world you must be marked to mate by age 18 or lose all resources on which to live.

Eden is a Pearl - she's whiny, self-centered and I kept hoping someone would off her...the sooner the better.  She's 17 years old, but most of the time came off as maybe 12 years old and then I was icked out by the sexual stuff.  Eden only seems to be concerned with mating and having children, yet she's described as being really smart.  Not that you can't be smart and married with children - look at me! ;)

Then there's the men:

1 - her boyfriend Jamal - he's a Coal, but no one can know about their relationship.  He seemed obnoxious right from the start.

2 - her boss Bramford - he's a Coal and acts distant with her, but at the same time he acts very sexual toward her.

No matter what, she seems to be fine with the domineering ways of the men toward her.

Spoilers:



Bramford is eventually genetically altered to be a jaguar/human hybrid.  Suddenly, whenever he's near, Eden is hot for him.  When he's not around, she seems to think he's a rotten person. Frankly, I'm weirded out by her being so hot over a part animal/part human...also by her letting men lead her around and not thinking.

The premise is a good one, but the characters were lackluster, the writing was stilted and the plot mechanics were awkward.

Dust Girl (The American Fairy Trilogy #1) by Sarah Zettel
Publisher:  Random House
Publish Date:  June 26, 2012
ISBN:  978-0375869389
Pages:  304


I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story centers around Callie LeRoux.  Callie's mom is white and her dad is black.  But there's more to Callie than the color of her parents.  Set in the Dust Bowl era in Kansas, the story really captures the emptiness, starkness and hopelessness of the time period.

Callie's mom refuses to move out of their dying town, no matter what.  She says that when her husband returns, she has to be there.  The problem?  He left years ago and they've never heard from him at all.

During a huge dust storm, Callie's mom disappears, right after she tells Callie that her father is a fairy prince.   At the same time, an old man appears and gives her some advice along with telling her of her connections to the fae world.

Then there's Jack.  He helps Callie out and they end up traveling together.  Jack is smart, but tricky, he's used to having to scam people.  Callie and Jack certainly don't have a romance in the story, so if that's what you're hoping for, this isn't that story.

There are, of course, two factions of fae - but it's still sometimes hard to tell which one is the 'good' one.  This is a really difficult book to review without giving away too much.  Suffice it to say that if you like what I like (check out my other reviews) then you'll delight in this one!