Immortal by Gillian Shields

Immortal by Gillian Shields 5 of 5 stars.

Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, housed in a Gothic mansion on the bleak northern moors, is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn away from her home by the sea to become the newest scholarship student, she is more isolated than she could have dreamed. Strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave Evie drowning in loneliness.


Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a rebellious, mocking, dangerously attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian grow with each secret meeting, she starts to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl—a girl who is so eerily like Evie, she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present that she cannot control. And as the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate. (Goodreads Summary)

Evie Johnson is on her own. With her grandmother in the nursing home and her father in the army, a scholarship to one of the oldest and most elite boarding school in the country comes as more than a welcomed relief to her father. But Evie isn't so sure. From the moment she starts her journey to Wyldcliffe Abbey School, she knows something isn't right. Darkness and danger hover over the entire school like a dark cloud, but the Abbey isn't the only thing shrouded in mystery. There is also Sebastian, a beautiful and strange young man and the only thing keeping Evie's head above water.

But as things continue to get stranger at the school with its lingering Gothic influences, Evie begins to realize its not just Sebastian she does not understand, it is herself. As ghosts and foreboding tidings seem to seep from the very blood stained walls of the Abbey, Evie realizes she's in a fight for her life. One where she can trust no one and nothing until this horrible evil can be at once laid to rest. Can Evie push her emotions for Sebastian away long enough to see behind the curtain to her true self and his?

Immortal is a stunning modern Gothic thriller with rock solid characters and a beautifully toned narrator. Gillian Shields's writing was so addictive I could barely put the novel down. The distinction between Evie and Agnes's voices in the book was what really held things together for me and managed to separate the modern from the Gothic while melding them together at the same time. With two characters so alike it takes a great deal of talent to make them both stand on their on as well as Gillian Shields was able to.

I'm thankful that she didn't make Sebastian into the cookie cutter type of guy many novels of this type seem to dish out. He was complicated and unpredictable until the very end, and I like that. There's nothing worse than being able to predict the outcome of a story. It may make you feel smart for a while, but it is very unsatisfying.

Overall, the plot and tone of Immortal is gorgeous and powerful, full of all the right undertones and highlights a book of this genre needs. Its a novel that fits in perfectly with the popular books of today but also goes far beyond that in the sense of timelessness that it brings. Anyone with a thirst for a good fantasy will love this. It may not be the ideal light summer read, but for those of you like me who enjoy your books heavy and intense, you will love this one.

For fans of: The Evil Within by Nancy Holder

To order Immortal Gillian Shields from Amazon.com please click here.

Immortal is available to read free online for a limited time thanks to HarperTeen. Click here to view the ebook.

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This blog is an Amazon Associates Affiliate when you buy an item from Amazon.com after following one of our links to the site, we gain a small commission. However, this does NOT effect our opinion of the books. Thank you.
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Sountrack Saturday (1)

In honor of my slightly belated return to the blogging world, I have come up with a new meme to host. Introducing... Soundtrack Saturday! Every Saturday I will be posting a song I think goes along great with a certain book or series. I hope everyone will comment and let me know what they think about the meme idea in general, the song, or the book choice. =) I love to hear from you guys!

For this weeks Soundtrack Saturday we have "Fire on the Mountain" by Rob Thomas. This song reminds me so much of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray!

Fire on the mountain

Through the freeze

Save yourself

There's evil

In the garden

But you don't see it

I can tell

[Chorus]

How do you sleep while

The city's burning

Where do you go when you can't go home

How do you drink when

There's blood in the water

Where do you turn when

The world moves on

When the world moves on, on

Fire on the mountain

You can feel it

Against your skin

You're standing

By the river

Let the river

Take you in

How do you sleep while

The city's burning

Where do you go when you can't go home

How do you drink when

There's blood in the water

Where do you turn when

The world moves on

When the world moves on

When the world moves on, on Yeah

[X2]

Hell, I see smoke out on the horizon

Mama, get your baby, take

Her down to the water

I view the wind like a promise broken

I see the future but

It's getting farther

How do you sleep while

The city's burning

Where do you go when you can't go home

How do you drink when

There's blood in the water

Where do you turn when

The world moves on

When the world moves on, hey

When the world moves on, [x3]

Yeah, oh Yeah, oh yeah world moves on

That world moves on, yeah

Pretty much the whole song reminds me of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, but since this song reminds me of it so literally, I've highlighted the words that really stick out to me in red. (I only highlighted them once, excluding repetitions.)

That's it for today! Let me know what you think, and feel free to use this idea yourself. I would appreciate it if you did use this meme idea, if you would link back to me and of course share your link with me so that I could spread the word. If  by some chance someone else is already doing this, please let me know, so that I can give credit where credit is due. I don't mean to copy anyone!

Much love,

Arya

Salome by Beatrice Gormley

Salome by Beatrice Gormley 5 of 5 stars.

Her name is Salome. You may think you know her story. . .how her seductive Dance of the Seven Veils led to the beheading of John the Baptist. But you don't know it from her side. You don't know how a web of betrayal, and greed, and desire was spun around an innocent teenage girl. How she came to doubt her own mother. How she searched for a friend in an unfamiliar land. And how she walked into a trap and changed the course of history.

This is Salome's story in her own words.

Listen, and learn of strength, of power, of loyalty. . .and of death. (Book blurb)

When Salome's mother becomes involved with Antipas, a high political official in ancient Rome, Salome begins to see her mother for what she is, a jealous and power hungry woman. But after spending her whole life practically worshipping the ground Herodias walked on, even thinking of them as sisters, it is hard for Salome to accept. But as Antipas's sights switch from mother to daughter, there is no denying Herodias's cruelty to her Salome.

As Salome realizes that power and seduction are the two main themes ruling this game of courtly intrigue, she can no longer deny what she wants: to become a priestess of the Goddess Diana in Rome. She finally decides to do anything in her power to get what she wants, even seducing her own mother's husband. But Herodias isn't finished playing all of her cards yet...

Salome is the beautiful tale of an all too familiar and misunderstood girl in Ancient Rome, struggling to keep her head above water in the midst of greed, jealousy, and politics. Beatrice Gormley shows us the tragic story of the girl who called for John the Baptist's head. Her prose is innocent and beautiful as she speaks from Salome's point-of-view, giving us a picture far different from the one that has always been portrayed.

Beatrice Gormley swept me away with Poisoned Honey, her latest novel about Mary Magdalene.  Salome was no disappointment either. The characters were vivid and whole, jumping right off the page. My favorite character in the novel was probably Leander, Salome's tutor and friend. He added layers to the story as well as being able to show Antipas from a slightly more objective perspective. Joanna was also an interesting character, and one who I recognized from Poison Honey.

Salome was simply a beautiful historic fiction novel that I will cherish forever. I believe anyone could love this book, whether you enjoy historical fiction, religiously based novel, or don't read much at all.

To order Salome by Beatrice Gormley from Amazon.com please click here.

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This blog is an Amazon Associates Affiliate when you buy an item from Amazon.com after following one of our links to the site, we gain a small commission. However, this does NOT effect our opinion of the books. Thank you.
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Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink 5 of 5 stars.
To be released August 1, 2010.

As sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy that has divided her family for generations, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy and that's not the only thing she wants. There's also Lia's beloved, James.
The sisters always knew that the prophecy would turn their closest allies against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing. (Book blurb)

It hasn't been long since we last saw Lia and Alice, determinedly on different sides of an ancient prophecy that could mean death and destruction for humanity. Now, Lia and the keys, Luisa and Sonia, must make a terribly dangerous journey to a mystical land in order to find out where the missing pages of the prophecy are hidden. They face horrifying dangers along the way, but nothing could prepare them for the betrayal within their own group.

Even while Lia is desperately searching for a way to save the world as the only Angel the prophecy has seen for centuries, Alice is pulling Lia's beloved James closer and closer. Nothing seems sacred in the battle to Lia anymore, but she cannot afford worrying about James in the face of all that is happening. Luckily, a dashing young man by the name of Dimitri sweeps in as the perfect distraction. But Lia's emotions are not that simple and this exotic man along with the battle to the death she surely faces with her sister Alice only makes her realize how little she really does know about herself. Her only hope is that she can figure it all out before its too late.

Guardian of the Gate is a wonderful second novel in this action packed series. Michelle Zink leaves nothing out as she continues the story of Lia and Alice in her fine and suspenseful prose. I was happy to see the added layers and new characters in the story. It made things more interesting and provided extra insight into Lia's psych. Watching her grow as a character has been a wonderful ride.

I was so excited to get a copy of this book in advance, and I was not disappointed. There is so much more action, adventure, and romance fueling this second book that it is hard to even compare it to the stunning first novel. I enjoyed the new character Dimitri and all of the different facets he offered to the tale. I think he is one of my favorite characters in the series so far.

Overall, Guardian of the Gate is a wonderful Gothic thriller full of everything a good novel needs. I would suggest this series to anyone, though I would not advise you to read this second book until you have read the first. I cannot wait until the third novel is released!

To pre-order Gaurdian of the Gate from Amazon.com please click here.

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This blog is an Amazon Associates Affiliate when you buy an item from Amazon.com after following one of our links to the site, we gain a small commission. However, this does NOT effect our opinion of the books. Thank you.
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Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer 5 of 5 stars.

To be released October 19 by Philomel.

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice? (Synopsis from book)

Nightshade for Calla is a steamy world, full of conflicting desires and difficult choices. Where succubi, incubi, and wraiths roam, powerful sorcerers control a tight band of werewolf warriors known as the Guardians. The greedy and often times lecherous Keepers have power over every aspect in the Guardians life, in return they offer them every luxury imaginable. But as the Keepers continue to spoon-feed their own propaganda to the Guardians, another battle is brewing deep below the surface.

When a strange young man arrives in town bearing a cross tattoo, Calla's world falls to pieces. Despite being promised to the sexy alpha wolf Renier, she can't deny the pull she feels toward Shay. As her world and his tangle together she learns shocking secrets about her past and future, all of it seeming to surround this alluring boy. But can her feelings for Shay outweigh her instincts to protect her pack?

Andrea Cremer has redefined werewolves in young adult literature. Her mythology and history of this world is beautiful, mesmerizing, and complete. Nothing is impossible in Nightshade, from werewolves to a mammoth brown recluse. She has created a story worth reading again and again.

The thing I like most about this story is its unpredictability. Just when I think I have Calla and the other characters figured out, they throw me for a loop adding twists and turns to an already complex story. Calla's feeling and personality change drastically from the beginning of the story to the end, but she still doesn't seem to have completely figured herself out.

Another very dynamic character is alpha wolf Renier. In the beginning of the story he seems like a shallow playboy, but after a while you see other sides of him; his love for Calla, his need to be a different kind of leader than his father, and his deep-seated grief for his mother. I certainly felt for him throughout the story.

Andrea Cremer's prose pulled it all together nicely, giving Calla personality while still being almost objective even from a first person POV. I was able to see the feeling and struggles of the other characters clearly without them being completely transparent. My biggest problem with the story is the cliff-hanger ending that is sure to leave me on the edge of my seat until the sequel.

Overall, I have to say that Nightshade by Andrea Cremer is definitely on my top-ten list of werewolf stories. Lust, danger, and rebellion are all common themes for coming of age tales, but somehow they have set this particular story apart from the rest of the pack creating something truly special.

To pre-order Nightshad by Andrea Cremer on Amazon.com please click here.

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This blog is an Amazon Associates Affiliate when you buy an item from Amazon.com after following one of our links to the site, we gain a small commission. However, this does NOT effect our opinion of the books. Thank you.
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Home Sweet Home?

Well, I'm back. Hopefully. We got home a few days ago only to find that our water wasn't running, and our phone and internet wouldn't work. The well is going again, but we're still having trouble getting the internet back up. The man was supposed to be here today and wasn't. Maybe we'll see him tomorrow? Anyway, I've got a wifi card I'm using for now (sharing with mumsie) until its up. I've got several reviews to post so look out! I missed you all sooo much. Despite technical difficulties, its good to be home!

CSN Giftcard Winner + Updates

Hi, everyone!! Yes, camp is finally over. (Thank goodness!) Not that I didn't cry like a baby when I left my friends, but it was a pretty intense schedule. Speaking of intense, I'm still in NC and going whitewater rafting Wednesday, how cool is that?! But don't worry, loves. I'll be home soon to get back on my regular blogging schedule.

In the meantime, how about we find out the winner of this $40 CSN Stores Giftcard??
*drum roll, please* And the winner is.... *Fanfare sounds* Gina from Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

You should be receiving an email from the company shortly.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and for those newbies of you who became followers of my blog. You are all incredibly awesome.

One last tidbit of news before I sound off for the night... I saw Eclipse today. No, I wasn't able to see it at midnight *sniffles* but I did see it today. I have to say, it wasn't half as good as New Moon. Though I did think they did a good job keeping it by the book, and I was completely drooling over Taylor Lautner. (Figuratively speaking, of course!)