YA Review: Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Review: Glass Houses
Series: Morganville Vampires – Book 1
Author: Rachel Caine
No of Pages: 239
Release Date: 3 October 2006

WELCOME TO MORGANVILLE TEXAS. DON’T STAY OUT AFTER DARK.

It’s a small college town filled with quirky characters. But when the sun goes down, the bad comes out. Because in Morganville, there is an evil that lurks in the darkest shadows – one that will spill out into the bright light of day.

Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. The popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks on the school’s social scene: somewhere less than zero. And Claire really doesn’t have the right connections – to the undead who run the town.

When Claire heads off campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don’t show many signs of life. But they’ll have Claire’s back when the town’s deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood...

My Thoughts:

I had high hopes for Glass Houses, but it didn’t really live up to my expectations.

Claire is a nerd, she’s sixteen and already in college. She moves to Morganville which is the closest college she is willing to go to that’s near her home, because she also wants to escape her parents, but what teen doesn’t?

When she gets to Morganville though Claire is faced with more than just being top of the class; extreme bullying, violent abuse and vampires are added to her list of worries. Claire can never seem to catch a break. One thing after another after another seems to be going on and it’s only until she moves into the Glass House that she finally is able to make a few friends that things can start to mildly resemble normality.

Claire for me wasn’t very interesting. Trouble follows her everywhere she goes it seems and at the start I felt sorry for her but it got old really quickly to the point where I was thinking “not again”. Caine wrote some cringe worthy stuff when it came to the extent of the bullying Claire faced at the hands of the cheerleaders.

Eve was probably my favourite character in the entire novel, purely because she was the rocker chick that didn’t want anyone to know she cared. She is the epitome of cool because she has a heart to go with her smarts.

Glass Houses also introduces us to some traditional vampires, and by traditional I mean blood-sucking, evil, human controlling fiends. These vampires are very similar to the mafia, expecting protection money so the humans can feel safe.

What detracted from Glass Houses for me was the intense bullying situation. Claire was nearly set on fire in the back of a van at one stage and no one does anything! A few school girls held her down as someone held a lighter to her clothes. Who does that? What kind of people are these? It was infuriating for me to visualise not because of the situation, but what kind of teenage girls would set someone on fire and not face any repercussions? What was the response to this atrocious act? That Claire needs to stay out of her way. She was pushed down a flight of stairs and laughed at, not helped because of the fear of this teenage girl. Even her over-protective parents who came rushing to see her when she didn’t answer their phone call just dismissed it.

For me Monica had too much power. It was more than just Queen Bee she was getting away with things that are illegal. Beating people is illegal, soliciting hit-men is illegal, ordering policemen to shoot people is illegal, and arson is illegal. Not just mean, but against the law and she was just getting away with it. It was unrealistic and it annoyed me that it was the only thing interesting about this book but also the most far-fetched.

I think I will continue this series, just to see where it goes and to find out what happens after the major cliff-hanger at the end, but I am not going in with high-hopes.

3/5

Adult Review: Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Review: Dead to the World
Series: Sookie Stackhouse – Book 4
Author: Charlaine Harris
No of Pages: 321
Release Date: 3 May 2005

Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She’s pretty. She does her job well. But she has only a few close friends, because not everyone appreciates Sookie’s gift: she can read minds. That’s not exactly every man's idea of date bait - unless they’re undead; vampires and the like can be tough to read. And that’s just the kind of guy Sookie’s been looking for. Maybe that’s why, when she comes across a naked vampire on the way home from work, she doesn’t just drive on by. He hasn’t got a clue who he is, but Sookie has: Eric looks just as scary and sexy – and dead – as the day she met him. But now he has amnesia, he’s sweet, vulnerable, and in need of Sookie’s help – because whoever took his memory now wants his life.

Sookie’s investigation into what’s going on leads her into a battle between witches vampires and werewolves. But there could be even greater danger – to Sookie’s heart – because the kinder, gentler Eric is very hard to resist.

My Thoughts:

Another dive into the world of Sookie Stackhouse, and now that Bill is out of the way, it’s getting interesting.

Sookie once again is just getting better, taking Eric in after he suffers amnesia to help keep him safe to me is just so good for her and her growth in this society. Sookie still remembers her place in the supernatural society, but she also is starting to come into her own. Things aren’t quite as scary anymore and when Sookie finds out about witches actually existing she doesn’t freak out like she would have in earlier books.

Eric is just getting hotter as far as I’m concerned. Suffering from amnesia at the hands of the witches Eric has forgotten that he is a 1,000 year old Viking vampire that people bow to and cower in fear from as soon as he enters a room. Eric’s tender side in Dead to the World made me fall even more in love with him than before, because it proves that he’s not just an evil overlord, but that he may have a sliver of humanity left.

Eric is a little bit of an odd character for me, I don’t want him to be gentle; I want him to be hard hitting, evil and funny. But in Dead to the World, his tender side was just so perfect; it didn’t even seem like Eric. So although I missed witty Eric, I absolutely loved gentle Eric and although it fits him I can’t see the two sides of him ever reconciling into one being and if I had to choose it would definitely be evil Eric.

Alcide and his wolves also play a major part again in this book and with the addition of Alcide it once again adds more of a plot mover to the story.

I was so glad that Bill barely made an appearance in Dead to the World, as in Club Dead because I really don’t like him. Sookie doesn’t need the distraction that Bill causes and I am hoping that the series continues on this broader path of the extended set of characters.

Dead to the World also introduces witches, which for me wasn’t that big a deal. They seemed more like the hippy Wiccans rather than full blown cackling witches for most of the story. They made for an interesting dilemma for Sookie to deal with though.

Dead to the World was yet another excellent instalment in this fabulous series.

4/5

HBIC Review - Matched by Ally Condie

Genre: YA Dystopian
Series: Matched #1
Paranormal: None, Dystopian
Purchase:  Amazon.com | BookDepository.com
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Review by Parajunkee @ Parajunkee's View


PJVs QUICKIE POV:
Another Young Adult dystopian, Matched has some heavy competition and if you don't compare it to some of the greats it is a worthwhile read and entertaining. The problem is I couldn't help but compare it to other books.  Unfortunately I couldn't stop thinking this one was so very similar to Brave New World, but not as good.


REVIEW:
In Cassia's world there are no choices. The Society decides everything, the clothes you wear, the jobs you take, the music you listen to and even the person you marry and how many children you have. There are hardly any decisions you can make that are your own.

On Cassia's Matched day she is excited and surprised when she is matched with her best friend Xander. Things like this rarely happen and Xander is known to her and she loves him as a friend. But for a split second another face flashes on her screen before Xander's and she knows him too and from the moment she see's Ky's face she begins to doubt the trust that she has had in the Society. She also begins to see the wholes in the Society that have always been there, but she's just chosen to ignore.

Cassia is one of the more naive characters of a dystopian that I've read. Most of the protags start out as naive but Cassia's progression was rather slow compared to others. It just seemed that everyone around her knew so much more than she did. Speaking of the characters, they were rather robust and well rounded, Condie did a good job in developing the subtle intricacies of each character. I had a special affinity for Cassia and the side-characters that interacted with her. Condie did a wonderful job of building the emotional connections with Cassia and the side characters. Even Cassia's connection with her Grandfather was exceptional and I felt a special affinity with him.

Where I found the novel lacking was in the world building. Where her characters were robust and developed I found the world Cassia lived in flat and 2D. Almost a cartoon representation of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. The comparison between the two novels comes to play in with the overbearing society that regulates every day behavior. The introduction of a character from "outside" of that society, Ky being from the Outer Territories and an Aberration. And, finally the references to take a pill and be happy which were so prevalent in Matched. But where Brave New World introduced us to a monstrously complex society, well developed plot lines and immense amount of science fiction and futuristic elements that stimulated creativity and imagination, Matched did not.

One of the reasons I love science fiction are those small elements of futuristic creativity. Like the simulated grass carpeting in Brave New World. The authors imagining of the future gadgets that we might have. Matched had future elements but nothing that couldn't be created today. Incinerators, Ports, Coms, Genetically altered flowers...nothing that had me stretching my science fiction muscles, even though this was supposed to be a completely new Post-Warming generation of people, at least 100 years in the future from what I could garner. One hundred years is a long time and ripe for new gadgets and fun things...I love to read about that stuff.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
For lovers of dystopian fiction, I don't know if this one will be up to par. But if you are looking for an entertaining read with a bit of message, this book is for you. Safe for young teens and mature enough for adult consumption.

Faith Revisited by Madelyn Ford

Faith Revisited by Madelyn Ford
Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

!! Win this Book & Other Vampire Books during vampire week see above blinky!!

PJVs QUICKIE POV: Reminiscent of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Ford immediately sucked me into her stunning world of fallen angels, club owning vampires -- and nasty demons that are ever present and on a mission to spread hate and discontent. Ford titillated me with a wonderfully sexy novel that had me from page one.

REVIEW: Faith and Hope, born of a vampire father, a very powerful vampire father, are on the cusp of their change. Unbeknowst to their over-protective father they hunt demons. They are hunting a nasty one that has taken a liking to killing women in their neighborhood. When engaging this demon a very powerful demon that they are unable to defend themselves against, appears and they know they are about to die.

Bale a fallen angel, from the race known as the Grigori rushes to the rescue of what he thinks are two human women. What he finds is much more. He takes the women back to the Grigori compound, because Faith has been infected with a deadly poison and he finds himself immediately possessive of her. He refuses to let her leave his room and even allows her to feed off of him as the change quickly over-takes her because of the poison. Though it is immediately obvious that Faith is Bale's mate, both are in complete denial, but as they try to distance themselves from each other complications arise.

The entire relationship with Bale and Faith is very deep and intense. Bale is your typical old-world Alpha male. Faith is your very progressive 21st century female, together they clash...but clash good. I found the relationship real and very sexy. I wanted a Bale of my own. Sometimes I did find that their stereotypical roles did get a bit overwhelming, but this is my usual problem with Alpha ruled PNRs. While I think aggressively over-powering men are sexy, they can be a bit much at some point. I did like that Bale called Faith "baby" instead of some insipidly derogatory pet name like "little one."

On top of it they are surrounded by all these other hot Fallen Angels and Faith's twin that you know will just star in their own book, can't wait to read those!

Overall a great read, and I can't wait to read more from Madelyn Ford!

RECOMMENDATIONS: PNR fans. Black Dagger Brotherhood junkees. Adults only, there is a lot of biting, nipping and sucking ;)




BWB Rating 3/4

Raphael by D. B. Reynolds HBIC Review

 Raphael by D. B. Reynolds
 Review Copy Provided by author.

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PJVs QUICKIE POV: Vampires! Who can resist a vampire, especially a powerful, sexy, rich, vampire god like Reynolds created with Raphael. Oh mamma, I was in vampire heaven with this one, it had it all: tough and gritty heroine, sexy and ridiculously manly hero, interesting back-drop, mystery, violence and steamy, wall-shaking romantic interludes. I need to simultaneously smoke a cigarette and punch something after finishing this novel. Vampire fans, run, don’t walk --- and get this novel.


REVIEW:
The setting: Malibu, California.


The heroine: Tough cookie, private investigator, Cynthia Leighton. Former LAPD officer who does not play well with others. 

The hero: Lord Master Vampire Raphael, enough power at his fingertips to crush mere mortals with a look and make women undress on command.

The situation: While Raphael is away on business, someone makes a power-play to shake things up. Alexandra, a vampire Raphael holds dear, is kidnapped and guards are murdered. Raphael’s trust has been betrayed and there are traitors within his staff.

Raphael needs someone outside of his influence to solve this mystery, find out who kidnapped Alexandra and deal with the humans who have become pawns in this vampire power-grab. Cynthia Leighton is just what Raphael needs. She is used to working with vampires and she is smart enough to track down Alexandra and tough enough to bear witness to the vampire way of doing things. What neither one of them planned for was the attraction that is becoming much more than just a distraction.

Like I stated in the quickie above this novel had it all. A must-read for vampire fans. Strong characters, matched with an intensely hard-hitting plot and a whirl-wind and very lusty introduction to a society of vampires, made for an excellent book. One of the things that stands out the most about this novel was it was real. Far-fetched right for a paranormal novel? But the thing about PNR and UF is that the underlying factor in all of them is human emotion. You might be a vamp, but you were once a human - and here you are falling in love. The emotionally responses, the dialogue and even the sex scenes were real.

How many times have you read a sex scene in a book and went, “Well that was hot, but I don’t see myself ever doing that particular move.” These were nothing like that. It was real, completely believable character interaction.

Then, Reynolds also has a quirky way of writing that at first made me stop and reread a few sentences, but once it seeped in I really began to enjoy her voice. This doesn’t happen often, but she actually introduced me to a few new words. Nothing high-brow or anything, just interesting descriptions and metaphors and a way of rearranging sentence structure that gave the tone a little more depth and a old-world feeling. Not a historical feeling, this is hard to describe, but a full-bodied, aged feeling. A good analogy would be that her book was like a good merlot. Very spicy, aged and with a full-body flavor.

The only bitter flavoring that I found with this book was just a small niggling at the back of my head that I had read this before, or at least similar story-lines. Hot over-powering male vamp hires prickly female PI, doesn’t shine as the most original idea, but the setting, the characters and the excellent writing sets it a part from the rest.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Fans of authors such as J.R. Ward, Laurel K. Hamilton, Jeaninne Frost should really enjoy. Adults only, this book contains violence, explicit sex scenes and cursing. Not for anyone with a purity ring. ;)

Siren's Call: A Dark Tides Novel by Devyn Quinn
ARC provided by author.
Release Date Aug 3, 2010

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PJVs QUICK POV: This book screamed, "I'm a paranormal romance," at me when I first read the synopsis, but I really think it is much more than a romance story with paranormal flavoring. Which is why I enjoyed it. The story blends real world problems and emotions, a rich complex Urban Fantasy world, and even science fiction aspects in a complex, entertaining package. For me the romance was very low on the radar compared to all the other parts of the novel, which might strike some people as a bad thing, especially if they are looking for that romance -- but I liked it.

REVIEW: After his wife is murdered, carrying their unborn child, Kenneth decides he is going to commit suicide by throwing himself into the stormy waters of the sea. Thinking he is a crazy swimmer, Tessa stalls before swimming to his rescue, when she spots him from her lighthouse. Being a mermaid has it's advantages though, and she quickly locates him and saves him from the rough sees with a bit of Mer magic.

About a year later, Kenneth is still haunted by what happened to him in the water. He can't quite remember, but he knows something otherworldly was at play in those waters, and the lovely redhead that pulled him from the sea has something to do with it. A few counseling sessions later, Kenneth liquidates all his property and sets of to the island he tried to end his life on, and the woman that is a reoccurring fantasy in his dreams.

When Kenneth does come to the island there is an instant attraction between him and Tessa. But Tessa is a bit on the bitchy side, she likes her seclusion, and she doesn't trust men one iota. But, financial situations and overbearing siblings force her into taking Kenneth on as her handyman.  The quickly find their attraction is too much to contain, especially after Kenneth stumbles onto Tessa in her Mer form. Nothing hotter than a chick with tribal tats and a tail!

Just as Kenneth and Tessa are getting comfortable. The real world intrudes, by way of two sisters and one ex-boyfriend who believes he can win Tessa back with the hopes that he has located a missing Mer world. The whole gang treks across the world to discover this ancient city - but in the end they discover a lost world of mermaids which might change everything forever!

Highly entertaining, a quick fun read, with just enough action to keep me on my toes. I found the romance part of the novel rather light, with enough nookie to keep it steamy, but the not a lot of emotion to make it all sappy. But, because of the light romance side I didn't quite see the love. I felt Kenneth's but in the end, I don't know about Tessa...but that might be the intention of Ms. Quinn, could there be an upset in any future books? I thought the Aryan like Mers were diabolical and believable. I actually think a lot more time could have been spent developing this world, instead of only the last part of the book. But Tessa and Kenneth's established personalities which happens in the beginning of the book does great wonders to make you fall in love with Kenneth...and at least attain a grudging respect for Tessa. I think Ms. Quinn did a wonderful job with portraying the colder side of the finned females and her hero was a lot more well rounded than most romance heros, while her heroine was much more prickly than the usual wilting violet romance chick. I really liked that, but it could throw some hard-core romance fans off.

Two gripes that I do have to mention, or I wouldn't be honest. One...when I think of a red headed mermaid saving a drowning man...my thoughts go directly to Ariel. And two, the cover.  Where are the tats?

RECOMMENDATIONS: This is a wonderful novel for Urban Fantasy readers that would like to transition to Paranormal Romance. Romance fans might also give this one a try, because the mermaids aren't as overpowering as vamps, or werewolves can be.

BWB Rating 3/4

HBIC Review: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Review copy provided by Amazon.com (after I paid them)

PJVS QUICKIE POV: Incarceron is mad mix of science fiction, steampunk, fantasy and adventure. A thoroughly entertaining read that I had to read from start to finish with only a few breath in between. A YA novel that reads more like a Big Girl book, Incarceron had me biting my nails until the end. Not a perfect novel, I did find some of the secondary characters quite annoying, and the main characters often acted out of character and quite juvenile, but overall I'm happy with the outcome and hope to read Sapphique very soon.

REVIEW: After years of war a tyrant took the crown and declared that TIME was to stop. There would be no progress, and technology no matter how helpful would be rendered illegal. Mankind must go back to the age of innocence, a time of manners and protocol and courtesans. A good majority of the population that was considered troublesome will be incarcerated forever in a place called Incarceron. Yet, this is not a prison... it will be paradise.

Finn Starseer awakes in Hell. A chamber where the walls are alive and they watch him. He has no past, all he knows is that he is imprisoned. When he is released from his cell he enters the world of Incarceron, which is far from a paradise. Warlords reign, and chaos breeds disease, death and hatred. Finn knows but one thing, he wasn't born in Incarceron - and he must escape.

A very unique tale, Incarceron is a blend of different genres and styles. The novel is a mish-mash of gritty dystopian and frilly historical steampunk. I've never experienced anything like it, yet the flavor reminded me of Dune. The background itself seemed almost too robust for the YA tone and innocence. And I almost think it might have been better served wrapped in an adult SciFi package. I found myself almost awed by the background, the world building and the prose - but at different points I would be shaken by some of the more juvenile behaviors of the characters. One being the almost infantile reactions Claudia had. She was bred for court politics and it was reiterated how cold, detached and manipulative she could be - yet she reacted at moments like a spoiled child, her and Jared whispering their findings where they knew there would be listening devices. They would often spew out their plans to relative strangers and their attempt at political maneuvering was sometimes silly. Then there was Finn, whom I really pitied through half the book. He was such a pathetic creature, a complete victim, definitely not someone I saw as hero material. Then there were the secondary characters. I really liked Jared he was probably my favorite but all the rest could have dissipated for all I cared. Keiro, well he was made to be unlikeable. Attia, I would have left her in the tunnel, especially after that end bit and her all with-holding vital information, what was that about? These short-comings did detract form the novel, but in a whole it was quite good and I look forward to reading #2.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Innocent enough for younger teens. Fans of The Hunger Games, Uglies and SciFi tales such as Dune will enjoy.




BWB 3/4

1. Claudia was portrayed as a very strong character, did you think bravery lead her steps into Incarceron or do you think she just played a card in the prisons hand?

I think Claudia was forced on us as a strong character. *IMHO* They kept on saying, O Claudie, U so strong. But unfortunately I found some of her actions were just manipulative or spoiled rich girlesque. I think she really didn't want to marry Caspar and it was a very impulsive step on her part. I mean really she tore up the dress like a child! I didn't get bravery, I got impulsiveness and her only ticket out of the crazy princes bed.

2. Although Jared and Claudia's relationship is purely student/ teacher....did you pick up any undercurrent of sexual tension between them?

Well, yeah. They kept on accusing them of it...and then Claudia would get all huffy and self-righteous. There was a weird blur between age in this novel - so by all means Claudia could be hot for teacher, but I think she is just stubborn enough to deny herself a match made in heaven. Plus, I think her eyes are on the crown...

3. Spill! What are your predictions for the next book {Sapphique}? What are you looking forward to/what do you hope gets explained before the grand finale?

I think most of the book will be them trying to get back into Incarceron - just as all of Incarceron was spent trying to get out. I think Finn/Giles will be used as a pawn and there will be more doubt shed on him that he isn't actually Giles. I also think Claudia and Finn will try to force a relationship, but it might be awkward, with Claudia always running to Jared and Attia always in the back of Finn's mind. 

4. What do you think of the relationship between the Warden and the Queen in regards to the big picture?

I think the Queen might have a little more than adoption papers to hold over the Warden's head.

5. Do you think that Finn is the only one besides Sapphique who has escaped or left Incarceron?

Well, actually there was a third right? That little girl child... *spoiler*

Claudia.

6. What is your take on the futuristic aspects mixed with the period clothing and mannerisms? Is this what would be considered Steampunk or is it more Science Fiction? 

I thought it was a good and incredibly intelligent blend of steampunk (futuristic gadgets in period world), Science Fiction (futuristic), Dystopian (tyrant Queen enforcing oppression with one girl pushing back) and adventure (the quest for Escape). 

Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison - PJV Review

Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison
Review copy provided by author.

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PJVs QUICKIE POV: I’m always happy to experience a new author’s voice, it’s exciting to read a debut, like trying a new wine or if you are not into that...a new dish with all your favorite ingredients. Sometimes these experiments leave you disappointed, running back to your old favorites...but other times they push aside the rest, soar to the top and leave you hungry for more. This, my friend, is what Shadow Bound did for me.

REVIEW: Talia O’Brien is the spawn of death himself. Half fae, whom are the guardian of the in betweens, and half human, Talia can wrap shadows around herself, more comfortable in the dark than she is in the light with the living.

On a day that changed her life forever, Talia came face to face with a monster and watched it suck the soul from her roommates body. The only thing that saved her was death - she has been running ever since. Now trapped in an alley with a wraith hunting her, on verge of heat stroke and dehydration, Talia must make a choice. Should she trust the man that has come for her? Should she put her life in his hands and her powers behind his cause? His natural charm and his casual good looks don’t make it any easier for her and as more and more comes out into the open about both Adam and Talia it might not just be their lives on the line, but their hearts also.

This book had me saying “wow” as I scrolled through it. The author's tone drips with old world depth and verse that historical authors try but very rarely achieve, which was surprising for a modern urban fantasy. The tone was reminiscent of one of my favorite YA authors, Maggie Stiefvater.  Like Steifvater you could almost drink in the words as if they were a humid evening instead of two dimensional words on a page. As the novel progresses the tone did evolve into a more modern narrative, but oddly I was not disturbed by the shift. It worked with the story.  Much as the shifting POV did. The POV shifts seamlessly from Adam to Talia leaving the reader with a varied world view, yet it didn't lead to confusion like often happens in ambiguous POV changes. The storyline was also very original, I have read before of soul sucking, and kisses of death...but the author paired it together in an original way.  I was highly impressed with Shadow Bound...and I can’t wait to read the second installment Shadow Fall.

The one short-coming that I did find with the novel was more of a “taste” preference. The heroine was a little more malleable than I would have liked and the hero a bit too one-tracked, leaving the romance a bit on the fizzle side instead of the passionate. But, like I said this is a personal preference - reading too much PNR I like my girls with snark and my boys with bite. (Insert Kitty Rrrrr here)

RECOMMENDATIONS:  Adult novel, for mature readers. This novel has a more fantasy feel than UF, even though it really is UF, so this might be a great transition book for fantasy lovers.






BWB RATING: 4/4

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Hourglass by Claudia Gray - HBIC Review

Hourglass (Evernight Novels #3) by Claudia Gray


ARC review copy provided by Harper Collins.

PJV's QUICKIE POV: I thought Evernight (links take you to reviews) was a good YA book.  Stargazer and OK follow-up, but Hourglass...blew both books away.  Never before has a third in a series entertained and delighted like this book did? A third?? Can you believe it? This book had it all, tragic love, fights for their lives, a hint at a triangle, some life or death decisions, a little hanky-panky and an ending that had me throwing the book across the room than running over to it to reread and than cursing that I would have to wait like forever for the fourth book, Afterlife, to come out. Word on the street is that there will also be a Balthazar book, but hints at 2011 releases have me pulling out my hair.

Review:  I can't review this without SPOILERS for Evernight & Stargazer so go and read those books before you read this. Bianca after being lied to by her parents, attacked by ghosts and survived a Black Cross raid is now living amongst the enemy - but she is with Lucas, her soulmate.  They aren't given much time together though as she is forced to bunk under nasty conditions, and train as a Black Cross agent - learning how to fight and kill her own kind.  All the while she is desperate to spend as much time with Lucas, sneak away to get a little "blood" snack, and remain perfectly and 100% human ot the Black Cross people.

The third Evernight book is stuffed full of suspense and heart ache. Lucas and Bianca are literally stranded in a world that they never chose to be a part of.  Lucas was raised to hunt and kill vampires, Bianca was raised to some day become a vampire herself. They were never given choices, they were never even given another option, their life was fated before they were even born. Bianca's was filled with lies and half-truths, Lucas' was filled with misconceptions and bigotry.  They are forced to remain in Lucas' world until they can finally save up enough money to escape...but what other options does a 17 and 19 year old have, especially with no education and no money?

The Romeo and Juliet connotations continue throughout this book...all the way until the end, and what a shocker that was! Oh I'm still reeling from that bomb that Ms. Gray threw at me. Thanks! Now I will go insane with wonder. Love those cliffhangers.

Recommendations: Recommended that you read Evernight and Stargazer before reading Hourglass. You don't have to but it forms the foundation of the relationship between Bianca and Lucas and Balthazar quite well.  These book push the mature teen envelope, this is a maturing teen couple...there are sexual scenes in it. Nothing descriptive at all, I would give this to my teen. Fans of vamps, UF and YA paranormals read this series.

BWB 4/4 Rating

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