Passion and Poison Review

TITLE: Passion and Poison: Tales of Shape-Shifters, Ghosts, and Sprited Women

AUTHOR: Janice M. Del Negro

ILLUSTRATOR: Vince Natale

PUBLISHER: Marshall Cavendish Children's Books

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/1/2007

PAGES: 164

MY RATING:

INSIDE COVER SUMMARY: Janice M. Del Negro's unique storyteller's voice enriches this collection of eight original tales about strong, resolute females. Whether she's spinning a story about a brave housekeeper who does not suffer fools gladly or a woman who uses her wits to avenge her sister's death, she embroiders her tales with elegant language and vivid imagery. There are characters and settings that will chill the bones, from the skulls in a moonlit mausoleum to the apparition of a wealthy woman who turns up "in a cyclone of light and fog" to three cauldrons filled with hair, bones, and blood. Mysterious shape-shifters and ghostly figures appear, but the women here handle them with grace and conviction. As these characters act to achieve justice and fairness, they become heroines in the landscape of the imagination.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I thought this book was going to be really terrifying, but it was not super scary. The book states that it is for ages 10 and up, so it's more of a middle grade than a young adult book. This was a very quick book to read through, and I was thoroughly entertained. The stories are quick and slightly spooky. I really enjoyed the illustrations that are scattered throughout the book, they helped to set the mood. My favorite story in the collection is Sea Child and I also really enjoyed The Severed Hand.

COVER: The cover of this is pretty creepy. The pop of red on the woman's necklace and the red squiggly title just stand out and make you immediately think of blood.

**I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Arclight Review

Amazon

TITLE: Arclight

AUTHOR: Josin L. McQuein

PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books

PUBLICATION DATE: 4/23/2013

PAGES: 400

MY RATING:

SUMMARY (From Goodreads): No one crosses the wall of light...except for one girl who doesn't remember who she is, where she came from, or how she survived. A harrowing, powerful debut thriller about finding yourself and protecting your future--no matter how short and uncertain it may be.

The Arclight is the last defense. The Fade can't get in. Outside the Arclight's border of high-powered beams is the Dark. And between the Light and the Dark is the Grey, a narrow, barren no-man's-land. That's where the rescue team finds Marina, a lone teenage girl with no memory of the horrors she faced or the family she lost. Marina is the only person who has ever survived an encounter with the Fade. She's the first hope humanity has had in generations, but she could also be the catalyst for their final destruction. Because the Fade will stop at nothing to get her back. Marina knows it. Tobin, who's determined to take his revenge on the Fade, knows it. Anne-Marie, who just wishes it were all over, knows it.

When one of the Fade infiltrates the Arclight and Marina recognizes it, she will begin to unlock secrets she didn't even know she had. Who will Marina become? Who can she never be again?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This was a pretty good book. It was really intense right from the very beginning. I really enjoyed learning right along with Marina. At times I felt like I was next to her, taking everything in with her. I predicted a major plot point, but it didn't diminish the story at all. 

CHARACTERS: My favorite character in this book is Tobin. I just love his determination. Rue was also an interesting character to learn about throughout the story. 

COVER: I really like the cover. It gives off that creepy vibe that is found in the book. 

**I received an ARC of this book for review from Amazon Vine.

Girl In The Wall Review

TITLE: The Girl in the Wall
AUTHOR: Josin L. McQuein
PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books
PUBLICATION DATE: 4/23/2013
PAGES: 400
MY RATING:

INSIDE COVER SUMMARY: Ariel's birthday weekend looks to be the event of the season, with a private concert by rock star Hudson Winters on the grounds of her family's East Coast estate, and all of Ariel's elite prep school friends in attendance. The only person who's dreading the party is Sera, Ariel's former best friend, whose father is forcing her to go. Sera has been the school pariah since she betrayed Ariel, and she now avoids Ariel and their former friends. Thrown together, Ariel and Sera can agree on one thing: This could be one very long night.

They have no idea just how right they are.

Only moments after the concert begins and the lights go down, thugs open fire on parents and schoolmates alike, in a plot against Ariel's father that quickly spins out of control. As the entire party is taken hostage, the girls are forced apart. Ariel escapes into the hidden tunnels in the family mansion, where she and Sera played as children. Only Sera, who forges an unlikely alliance with Hudson Winters, knows where her friend could be. As the industrial terrorist could be. As the industrial terrorist plot unravels and the death toll climbs, Ariel and Sera must recall the sisterhood that once sustained them as they try to save themselves and each other on the longest night of their lives.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Fun might be the wrong word to use with the subject matter of this book, but I did find myself having fun while I was reading this. I liked hearing about the plan to save everyone as it was unfolding. The last part of the book had a lot of intense chaos. I could really picture it all in my head as I was reading about it. I am really satisfied with how the story ended.

CHARACTERS: I liked all of the characters in this book. I feel like everyone had a purpose and they all fit well together. 

COVER: I like the cover that is under the dust jacket. It's bright pink and super pretty! The image on the cover is okay. I really like how the title is written.

**I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Masque of the Red Death Review

TITLE: Masque of the Red Death

AUTHOR: Bethany Griffin

PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books

PUBLICATION DATE: 4/24/2012

PAGES: 319

MY RATING:

SUMMARY (From Goodreads): Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup...and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club--in the depths of her own despair--Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliot, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for--no matter what it costs her.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I haven't read the original Masque of the Red Death by Poe, but I did read the plot on Wikiepedia so I'm a little familiar with the story. I can definitely see how this book by Griffin was inspired from Poe's version and I would like to read the original one day soon.

I would say this is a solid book the whole way through. I enjoyed reading it. I felt like I was in the world as everything was unfolding, so much so that I wondering if I should be wearing a mask while I was reading. The ending was intense and exciting and I cannot wait to see what is going to happen in the next book. 

CHARACTERS: Let's start off by saying that I am team Will. I felt a little creeped out by Elliot, and I think Araby and Will would make a better couple. 

I'm a little bit uneasy about the relationships between all of the characters at the end of the book. I want to see how the relationships will unfold in the next book and see what will happen between certain people.

COVER: I love the cover. It's haunting and creepy and just awesome.

*I won an ARC copy of this book from Angie @ Libby Blog

Card Share #5

Here's a couple of cards I've made in the last two days: