Description: Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville—derailing the War Between the States and changing America forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Reeducation Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. But there are also opportunities—and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It’s a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. After all, not even being the daughter of a wealthy white Southern woman could save her from society’s expectations.
   But that’s not a life Jane wants. Almost finished with her education at Miss Preston’s School of Combat in Baltimore, Jane is set on returning to her Kentucky home and doesn’t pay much mind to the politics of the eastern cities, with their talk of returning America to the glory of its days before the dead rose. But when families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies. And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems.

Review: Dread Nation is a very clever and subversive horror novel set in an alternative American Civil War. The North and South have set aside their differences and slavery has ended when the dead rise up, prowl the battlefields, and eat their compatriots. The horror has birthed a new nation and a different type of slavery disguised by the Native and Negro Reeducation Act which forces Native and African American boys and girls into combat schools. Graduates from these schools are a buffer between the living and the undead.
  Jane McKeen is a biracial girl sent to Ms. Preston's school of combat to obtain an attendant certificate. She is trained in combat, weaponry, and etiquette so she can protect her future white employers. Though not an ideal life, the life of an attendant provides an opportunity for education and a chance at a better life. Jane yearns for the chance to be reunited with her mother and return to her home in Kentucky. Jane is an admirable heroine who is above all a survivor. She is quick on her feet, incredibly intelligent, and outspoken which leads her into trouble multiple of times. We get glimpses of her past as she writes letters to her mother and reminisces about home.
 When she is about to graduate her friend, Red Jack, asks for help locating his sister Lily. Jane's attempts to discover Lily's whereabouts land her in a survivalist colony called Summerland, whose motto is restoring America's former glory. Survivalists advocate a disordered view of natural selection that places Jane on patrol from zombies because her skin color makes her expendable and she is firmly under the watchful eye of a vicious sheriff and his psychopathic family. Jane now has an insurmountable task of finding a way out of Summerland not only for herself, but also for those she loves. She must make some unlikely alliances of her own if she is to survive long enough to find her own path to freedom.
  I am not a fan of horror novels and particularly not of zombies, but Dread Nation drew me in as a reader. It is a smart, thought provoking novel that explores horror of the fictional and unfortunately real kind. Ireland skillfully works in the different forms of enslavement, mental and physical, into a complex and engaging story. It is absolutely horrifying to see characters justify oppression, racism, and slavery. Despite these heavy topics, the novel also has lighter moments too where it explores friendship, love, defying expectations, defiance, and resisting paths that are thrust upon you. I am happy to see that this is a beginning of a series, but there is so much more that I want to know about Jane and her friends. This is a solid horror novel for fans of the movie Get Out and the television show The Walking Dead.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence including a scene of torture. There is minor language and antiquated racial slurs. Drug use is also mentioned. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Mayberry, Devils Unto Dust by Emily Berquist

  I have not been in a manga reading mood for quite some time this year, but I did manage to finish Zombie Loan which is now a complete series at 13 volumes. Zombie Loan has a good mixture of action, humor, and dark elements of paranormal/supernatural background.

Description: Michiru Kita's a weak-spirited girl who has a hard time saying what's on her mind. One day, she notices mysterious, ring-like markings around the necks of two of her classmates, Chika Akatsuki and Shito Tachibana - two boys who miraculously survived a horrible accident six months ago. Michiru, possessing the rare ability to see these rings, knows that they warn of impending death. Thinking that, perhaps, she can do something to save her classmates' lives, she approaches them...but it seems the boys have already made a different kind of deal and garnered themselves a heavy debt.

Review: I am conflicted on my opinions of Zombie Loan. I picked up primarily because I thought it would be a great read-alike for Black Butler, a manga series that I've really enjoyed but have fallen behind on. Zombie Loan shares dark paranormal/supernatural elements and humor of Black Butler, however, there is a lot more thoughtful meditation on the value of life and what it truly means to live sprinkled throughout the series.
  It took me up to the third volume of Zombie Loan to warm up to the characters and finally begin to see the manga story arc a bit clearly. Michiru who at first comes across as a hopeless, ditsy female character soon becomes much more complex as she realizes her destiny. I liked how she slowly grow into her own strong character instead of assuming this role because she has a hidden superpower. I also really liked how the two male leads in this manga, Chicka and Shito, treat her like a sister instead of both falling in love with her.   In addition to Michiru's character development, we also learn back stories of Chicka and Shito as well as watch these two boys with polar opposite personality traits overcome their differences and work together.
  The concept of fighting zombies to rack good points is a fun concept. The story becomes more intricate as it nears to the end, which is expected. There is plenty of action to keep readers on their toes along with moments of thought and reflection.
  I was not a big fan of the artwork in this manga. The girls have gigantic eyes and small features, which plays nicely off of the chiseled good-looking leading men. There were many times where I was confused as to which male character is which because they are drawn so alike. Overall, Zombie Loan was a decent manga series but not one of my favorites. I would have dropped it earlier, but a few students of mine told me to continue and said it got better, which it did. I would recommend this series to readers who like lots of action in their manga along with some food for thought and humor.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong language, strong violence, and crude humor throughout the series. This series is rated OT for older teens.

If you like this series try: Black Butler series by Yana Toboso, Blue Exorcist series by Kazue Kato

 With the school year coming to a close in a couple of days, I thought I would catch up on some reviews of books that I read earlier this year.


Description: Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is. She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along.

Review: I thought Emerald Green was a solid ending to a great time traveling series. We get a lot of our answers regarding Gwen's birth and a shocking revelation that the other characters have been dancing around but haven't officially addressed it. Gwen is still a delight, full of sass, wit, and handles her problems with ingenuity. It was lovely watching her grow throughout the series. The romance is still prevalent as Gideon sorts out his own issues and feelings for Gwen. I liked Gideon though I wanted to smack him upside the head for being an idiot for most of this book. Overall, I definitely felt satisfied with this ending though I'm sad the story is over and I have to say goodbye to these characters.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and minor language. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: Paranormalcy series by Kiersten White, Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray,



Description: Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.
  Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was: a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.
  Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous—it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost, Da's death was hard enough, but now that her little brother is gone too, Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself may crumble and fall.

Review: I loved the premise of this book and intrigued me right away, however, much of the book felt unfinished. I had many questions that weren't addressed such as why does the Archive need the actual bodies and what happens when the Archive gets full? Though these unanswered questions didn't stop me from reading and enjoying the book, they did nag and bother me. While we are taken to the various layers of the Archive, but I didn't really have a firm grasp on the image in my head.
  Mackenzie is an interesting character, who is forced to lead a double life due to her role in serving the Archive. In order to make her approachable and human, we watch as she wrestles with how to grieve the death of her little brother, which was fine but I'm a bit surprised that she didn't mourn heavily for her grandfather as they had a very close relationship. Though I liked seeing the vulnerable side to Mackenzie, I thought it took too much page time and slowed down the book's pace for me. I wanted to get to the action, which finally happens when Mackenzie stumbles upon an old murder mystery and befriends a dead boy named Owen who shouldn't exist outside of the Archive. There is also plenty of humor provided by the a great secondary character named Wes that also works for the Archive and is Mackenzie's peer. I would have loved to get to know Wes better as his personality and stories intrigued me. Though the action moves the plot along, more questions keep popping up which makes me wonder if the author intended this to be a series. I know there is a companion book to The Archive which I'm interested in reading in hopes that some of my questions will be answered. Overall, I do recommend picking up The Archive if you are looking for an unique fantasy with a mystery that discusses the afterlife without any supernatural forces and beings.  

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There are some disturbing images and minor language. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: The Unbound by Victoria Schwab, In the Shadows by Kiersten White


Description: An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
 Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP. For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Review: Ashes is a book that I wanted to DNF after I made the 100 pages mark, but I continued because this was my student book club's pick for our dystopian read. While the book had an okay start with an adventure/survival story as an electromagnetic pulse that may have taken out the entire world and have solved Alex's brain tumor that was deemed incurable by her doctors. Alex soon meets new companions- an obstinate eight-year-old orphan named Ellie and a young soldier named Tom-as they try to make sense of things. While I was getting interested in watching how this group interacts with one another and find out what had caused the electromagnetic impulse, the book then takes a horror turn with the appearance of zombies that are soon called the Changed. I'm not a zombie fan so this part of the "action" and gore was not my cup of tea.This is why I wanted to DNF the book, fortunately this portion of the book didn't last long. Soon the book morphs yet again into a weird cult novel leaving the questions and plot threads in the first two sections of the book unanswered and/or completely ignored. Overall, this was my least favorite book club pick and I can definitely see why I was hesitant to pick it up. I honestly can't recommend this one nor am I interested in continuing this series. 

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is some gruesome and gory scenes along with some strong language. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Maze Runner series by James Dashner, Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Mayberry, The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

  Happy Halloween! I hope you all found some spooky reads, but if you are still struggling to find something to read you might want to consider Emily Carroll's terrifying graphic novel called Through the Woods. Just be sure to read it with the lights still on!



Review: Through the Woods is a bizarre, creepy collection of dark tales that would make both Edgar Allen Poe and Stephen King proud. The graphic novel begins with a tale of three sisters who wait for their father to return, but one by one they disappear with a tall man in a broad-brimmed hat. Though the horror of this tale is subtle, it grows stronger as you continue the stories where a wealthy young woman weds a man in a lonely old house, and at night she hears a forlorn song of unavenged murder lilting from the walls and a girl spends the summer with her brother and his fiancée, who is not what she seems. All the tales in Carroll’s debut graphic novel are fairly standard ghost stories, but it is her eerie illustrations—popping with bold color on black, glossy pages—that masterfully build terrifying tension and a keep-the-lights-on atmosphere. Due to the limit of other colors in the graphic novel, the spooky images of stark forests, gaping caves, bloodshot eyes, and ominous shadows come alive and are brilliantly married to the text printed in manic handwritten fonts, some crazed and swirling, others coldly deadpan as if the words were running after the narrators. This graphic novel definitely delivers the chills and goosebumps making it a great Halloween read..

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are some disturbing images and strong violence. Recommended for older teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol, Mercury by Hope Larson

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. If you are looking for a spooky with a good dash of comedy to read for Halloween, I suggest picking up the Black Butler manga series or watching the anime.

Description: The decks of the Campania run red with blood when the corpses brought back to a semblance of life by the Aurora Society's "absolute salvation" turn on the ship's passengers in a ghoulish farce. With their investigation waylaid by this primitive struggle for survival, Earl Ciel Phantomhive and his exceptional butler, Sebastian, are trapped at the mercy of both the unnatural and Mother Nature herself. For even as dead feet shuffle along the opulent decks of the luxury liner in search of living prey, in the distance there looms before the cursed vessel a massive iceberg that glows and crackles eerily in the gloom of night...

Review: Vol 12 of Black Butler is filled with lots of action and gore as Ciel and Sebastian make a terrifying discovery of zombies on the ship. This volume is very well-paced and executed brilliantly. Toboso's artwork is always great, but really does draw engaging fight scenes which are easy to follow and understand. Often when reading action scenes in manga, I have a bit of difficulty to follow where the movement begins and ends but I didn't have an issue at all in this volume. 
  We see a more softer side of Ciel as he defends Elizabeth, his fiancee, and sees to make sure her family is safe on the ship. Ciel and Elizabeth have a strange relationship, more of a one-sided romance. Ciel doesn't seem to have much concept of how to make her happy. For instance, Elizabeth wants to spend time with him, but he just attempts to placate her by purchasing things such as dresses for her. I like them as close friends, but I can't really see them as a couple. 
  On the topic of Elizabeth, I really don't have strong feelings for her, but in this volume I'm alternating between wanting to strangle her and begrudgingly admitting that she can be cute and surprisingly awesome. Elizabeth is ordinarily used for comic relief, but in this volume she did have some great action scenes towards the end of the volume.  
  Like in the other volumes of Black Butler, there is a historical nod to the Titantic disaster as well as mentioning the Marconi device. Sebastian was notably violent and somewhat disturbing. He showed his demonic side and dropped all pretence of humanity, which is always interesting to watch. There are many times while reading this manga that you forget who Sebastian really is due to the slapstick humor and his type A personality of being the perfect butler. Snake was also fun to watch and it was nice to finally see Elizabeth's family who are usually talked about off the page. Volume 12 ends abruptly only to pick up in Volume 13. Will Ciel and crew be able to survive a ship full of zombies? I guess we'll find out and see!

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Strong violence and gore. Rated T+ for older teens.

If you like this book try: Black Butler Vol 13 by Yana Toboso, Blue Exorcist manga series by Kazue Kato, Soul Eater manga series by Atsushi Ohkubo

  I am fairly new to the steampunk genre, but I enjoy learning about the alternative histories authors create in their books. If you are looking to diversify your paranormal or urban fantasy reads, I would highly suggest picking up Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series. The books are very fun, the dialogue is incredibly witty, and the alternative Victorian England is something you haven't seen. I just finished up the fourth book in the series called Heartless. As a side note, I would recommend reading the series in order since each book and the character developments build upon one another.

Description: Alexia has once again regained her position as muhjah in the Queen’s Shadow Council along with Lord Akeldama. She continues to be under attack by vampires under Queen Countess Nadasdy orders. The vampires have gone as far as sending undead porcupines after her, but that's not the most distressing news Alexia has heard. According to a ghost, someone is planning an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria. Can Alexia found who the assassin is while protecting her own life and the lives she holds dear?


Review:  The world of the Parasol Protectorate series is very different from the common setting of books featuring vampires and werewolves. Instead of being the cliched dark brooding creatures of the night, they are creatures that despite their differences have to deal with England's social standing and decorum in an alternative Jane Austen induced Victorian London. In fact I think the book would hold just as strong albeit a less entertaining book for some if vampires and werewolves are not included.
  Alexia is your stereotypical, silent Victorian female that you encounter in this historical setting. She does have emotions and vulnerability as seen primarily in the first two books, but she keeps them in check. She is strictly about being logical or as some call it being a bit too pragmatic, but that is exactly the reason why I love her. She is a force to be reckon with and if she's not happy with what you are doing, she will come right out and tell you. She keeps the central male and alpha figures on their toes and that is where the excitement of the series comes from.
  Heartless returns more to the book's mystery roots and social commentary rather than the focus of romance unlike the first book, Soulless, but that is not to say there aren't lovely exchanges between the romantic pairs in the book. I actually like the fact that these two characters can maintain their romance despite their rocky start. I found the plot for Heartless entertaining. It was filled with lots of plot twists and the dramatic build up to answering all of our questions that we've held throughout the first three books. We finally learn about Professor Lyall and his connection to Alexia's elusive father, which took me by surprise in a good way. The symbol of the octopus on the cover, which always baffled me, is finally explained. And, as always, Lord Akeledama steals the spotlight with his flamboyant and keen eye to fashion. His incessant endearing words never fail to bring a smile on my face regardless if it's a compliment or a disguised insult.
  The steampunk inventions remain ingenious and deliciously silly at the same time. Carriger doesn't bog down into details about the inventions, but gives you enough information to figure out what it is and how it is suppose to function. Every time I read this series I end up wanting a gadget that was created in the book. I would love to have Alexia's parasol.
 In addition to its slapstick humor, Heartless does have its dramatic moments. We get a glimpse at how the characters feel constrained living within the confines of their social classes and tradition. Though these issues aren't spelled out completely, you can tell they affect the characters by their tone and their mannerisms, which is a good reflection upon the Victorian period where ones feelings aren't openly expressed.
  All in all, I enjoy the Parasol Protectorate series. I would definitely recommend it to those who like a mixture of a paranormal romance/steampunk tale with lots of dry humor, fashion commentary, and awesome character interactions.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and allusions to sex. Though there isn't anything graphic in the book, some teens may not enjoy the dry humor and somewhat slow pace. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Timeless by Gail Carriger (Released in 2012), Phoneix Rising by Philippa Ballantine, Greyfriar by Clay Griffith

1. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendra Blake- I recently finished this one and absolutely loved it. It's probably the best YA horror book I've read in a very long time.
2. Dracula by Bram Stoker- I can't believe I never read this book considering how many paranormal books are on my reading list. I think it'll be very interesting to see how this cautionary tale and genre evolved.
3. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury- A Halloween pick from the children's librarian at my local library. I have this one sitting on my shelf for a while and never read it.
4. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff- This book has an extremely creepy cover. It's been on my tbr pile since last year.
5. Dust and Frail by Joan Francis Turner- A great pick for zombies lovers, but I couldn't handle the blood and the gore. 
6. Solitary: Escape from the Furnace #2 by Alexander Gordon Smith: An edge of your seat horror/ thriller series that will really appeal to middle school/teen boys and reluctant readers. I've read the first two books and really enjoyed them.
7. The Dreaming by Queenie Chen- A three book, horror graphic novel series that revolves around dead boarding school students who disappear outside of campus.
8. The Collector by John Fowles- I started this book in high school but it really creeped me out. I think I'll give it a second chance.
9. Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman- I stumbled upon this book when I was compiling a book list and it sounds really good.
10. The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey- I've heard great things about this series. I have it on my tbr pile, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet.

What about you? What are your All Hallow Reads? Leave them in the comments!

  Are you a zombie fan? Personally, the whole undead eating humans isn't very appealing. I prefer the other paranormal creatures like vampires, shape shifters, and the fey. When my friend and fellow blogger, Jen over at That's What I'm Talking About, asked if I could do a guest review on her blog for Joan Frances Turner's books, Dust and Frail, I really had no idea what kind of zombies I'd run into. I'll give you a hint, they are not the good kinds! Since my review of Frail is already posted at Jen's blog, here is my review for Dust.

Description (from Goodreads):  Nine years ago, Jessie had a family. Now, she has a gang. Nine years ago, Jessie was a vegetarian. Now, she eats very fresh meat. Nine years ago, Jessie was in a car crash and died. Nine years ago, Jessie was human. Now, she’s not.
  After she was buried, Jessie awoke and tore through the earth to arise, reborn, as a zombie. Jessie’s gang is the Fly-by-Nights. She loves the ancient, skeletal Florian and his memories of time gone by. She’s in love with Joe, a maggot-infested corpse. They fight, hunt, dance together as one—something humans can never understand. There are dark places humans have learned to avoid, lest they run into the zombie gangs.
   But now, Jessie and the Fly-by-Nights have seen new creatures in the woods—things not human and not zombie. A strange new illness has flamed up out of nowhere, causing the undeads to become more alive and the living to exist on the brink of death. As bits and pieces of the truth fall around Jessie, like the flesh off her bones, she’ll have to choose between looking away or staring down the madness—and hanging onto everything she has come to know as life.

Review: If you've been reading my blog for quite some time, you know that I'm not a horror fan. I find gore scary just repulsive. I'm also not a big zombie fan either so please take this review with a grain of salt if you root for Team Zombie.
  Dust is not your stereotypical zombie book. Granted my personal knowledge of zombies are limited to movies like Shaun of the Dead, and the Night of the Living Dead, where your average zombie is eating humans while the humans go around and try to kill off the "invading" zombies. Dust far from this and actually present zombies in a new light. These zombies are capable of teaming up, communicating, and forming their own societies apart from human societies.
  Our main character, Jessie, is likeable. Her past made her a sympathetic character. I liked how Jessie desperately tried to hold on to her humanity even in her darkest hour. She was competent, aware of her surroundings, and over all a strong female character.
  Dust has a slew of secondary characters that was at times very hard to keep track of, but my favorite characters were Florian and Linc. Florian was old and wise man, always giving out helpful advise. I was sad to see him die and wanted more time with his character. Linc was a great, kind, caring, friend to Jessie. He was reliable and always supported her. 
  The concept of zombies and humans cohabiting and working together was interesting. As I said above, I'm not a zombie fan but I liked Turner's philosophical approach on what it means to live and to die, but I felt this fell short and flat in the book. In terms of a plot, there really isn't much besides the fact of a new virus out that makes another entire creature that isn't exactly human or zombie, but more like a hybrid. The narrative was very verbose and could have definitely used a lot more editing to take out the extraneous dialogue that didn't add to the story. My biggest problem with the book though it is the sheer amount of gore that is graphically detailed in the book. I lost my appetite many times while reading this book and I couldn't really eat long after I finished it either. I actually had to skim long passages due to the gore because I couldn't handle it. This book is definitely for those who have strong stomachs. 
  Had I not been requested to do a guest review for this book, I would honestly have to say I wouldn't have picked it up on my own. Readers who enjoy horror or zombies in particular may find this book interesting.


Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is extreme amount of gore and blood, strong language, and violence. For these reasons, I think the book is more appropriate for adults.

If you like this book try: Frail by Joan Frances Turner, Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield, or Rise Again by Ben Tripp

 Melissa Marr is the author of the best selling urban fantasy series, Wicked Lovely, which features the world of the fae. I really enjoyed the Wicked Lovely series so far (I've yet to read the concluding book which was released earlier this year). Graveminder is Marr's debut adult book which was released last month.

Description (from Amazon): Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn't a funeral that Maylene didn't attend, and at each Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."
   Now Maylene is dead and Bek must go back to the place--and the man--she left a decade ago. But what she soon discovers is that Maylene was murdered and that there was good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in placid Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D--a place from which the dead will return if their graves are not properly minded. Only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk.


Review: Graveminder is Marr's take on the American Gothic novel. The world and lore of the Graveminder is fresh, intriguing, unfortunately, I also thought it was a bit underdeveloped. For the first fifty pages of the book, the main characters are asking questions such as how does the undead return and why do they need food, drink, and stories to put them at rest? The character's questions mirrors the reader's, neither are given definitive answers. At some point, I gave up searching for answers and kind of skimmed the book.
  In her YA novels, Marr has a knack of exploring and exposing the emotional aspects of her characters. We feel as if we get to know them personally and understand their actions and motives. In Graveminder, however, her characters are quite vanilla and well, boring. Rebekkah is commitment phobic, refusing to establish ties to her hometown and to man that she loves yet vehemently denies. Though I understood her grief from losing a very close loved one and her uncertainties about her future, her passive aggressive attitude became obnoxious and really irritated me. Her relationship with Byron, a man who once dated her deceased sister, plays a big part in the book, however, I felt we were told more about their relationship than we got to witness it. Bryon seems like a really likable guy who is loyal and always available in a time of need. Interestingly enough, I think the only character that piqued my interest is Charlie or Mr. D who reigns the Land of the Dead though he has very limited appearances in the novel.
   I've read that there might be a companion novel to Graveminder, but I can't say that I find anything that pulls me to read the next book. Fans of Marr may be drawn to this new turn from the fae to zombies, but I didn't find it memorable.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, an allusion to sex, and off the page violence. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.


If you like this book try: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, Skinjacker series by Neal Shusterman

  There has been a recent trend in mashing up classic novels with the paranormal, especially after the success of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame Smith . Soon other titles seemed to follow: Jane Slayre by Charlotte Bronte and Sherri Browning Erwin and Little Vampire Women by Louisa May Alcott and Lynn Messina just to name a few. While I haven't read these titles per se, I have read their reviews and a few excerpts which seem to be humorous in the tongue in cheek sort of way and attempts to perhaps draw new readers into reading the original classics.  So when I saw the tagline for The Cellar by A.J. Whitten as "Romeo and Juliet meet the living dead" on Netgalley, I couldn't help but be intrigued and thought bringing the paranormal and classic mash up for the younger audience might be cool. The Cellar is scheduled to be in print on April 6, 2011. I received an advanced readers copy of this title for the purpose of an honest review.

   But her sister, Heather, doesn't share Meredith's repulsion. Heather believes Adrien is the only guy who really understands her. In fact, she may be falling in love with him. When Adrien and Heather are cast as the leads in the school production of Romeo and Juliet, to Heather, it feels like fate. To Meredith, it feels like a bad omen. But if she tries to tear the couple apart, she could end up in the last place she'd ever want to be: the cellar. Can Meredith convince her sister that she's dating the living dead before it's too late for both of them?

Review:  The Cellar by A.J. Whitten is a campy, horror book that is no different from the B-rated teen horror movies that are playing in your local movie theater. The novel is clearly plot driven and has very minimal character development. Meredith and Heather are two sisters who have recently lost their father in a car accident. The family is mourning and the various family members seem to be in different stages. Meredith keeps her emotions hidden and tries to be the strong one in the family. Heather, who was present in the accident that claimed her father, is numb and suffering from survival's guilt. Their mother, who is virtually absent both literally and physically in the novel, expressions her emotions by going on shopping sprees. Now enter Aiden, the hottest guy in Meredith and Heather's high school. He is described as being physically attractive and mysterious because he: a) wears sunglasses all the time and dresses like Justin Timberlake and b) drives a red Camero. There is definitely something off about Aiden, which you can tell from the way that he talks and seems to hypnotize others around him. The author does not leave any mysterious behind Aiden's identity and we know right away that he is a zombie looking for his next meal and mate.
  The fifth grader in me who had a R.L. Stine's Fear Street reading phase would have loved this book, but as an adult I didn't like it very much. There are some good suspenseful moments where Meredith finds the little clues to Aiden's puzzle and her budding romance with Sam, her sister's ex-boyfriend. Advanced readers will obviously know what is going on and predict the book's ending long before it unravels for the characters. There are also large plot holes in the book such as how is able to see if he has no eyes behind his sunglasses? How does his zombie powers work? And when does he precisely fall in love with Heather?
  The book does have interesting potential such as explaining Aiden's background and the mythology behind zombies, actually using Shakepeare's famous play as context (the play is only mentioned because it is a school play where..surprise!...Aiden and Heather play the lead roles), and digging deeper into Meredith and Heather's grief, however, the author does not address these topics in depth. I also noticed that the book is inconsistent with it's tone and the writing from too many different viewpoints (Meredith, Heather, and Aiden) hinders the novel.
  Overall The Cellar is a campy horror novel that will disappoint you if you want to take it seriously. It may work well with some reluctant readers, but I don't think it has a wide mass appeal.

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minimal language and a few gory, scary scenes. If this would be a movie, I think it would be rated PG-13. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: For a contemporary setting involved with zombies and other paranormal creatures try Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon or for more of a traditional, creepy, zombie novel try The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

  There are a few surprises that I'm working on for next week so I asked my dear friend, Leanne Ayer, to do a guest review for me. Thank you, Leanne! Enjoy her review of Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

    You really don’t need to have read the Dark-Hunter series to get a grasp of this book.Information is imparted in relatively palatable chunks so it’s not overwhelming, and I have every faith that each subsequent book will build on the incredibly rich mythology that Kenyon has created.
    So why do I love Nick so much? Nick is a wise-ass, he is smart-mouthed and sometimes his sarcasm makes me laugh out loud. I think part of the reason I like him is that he came from a rough beginning (as we are reading about in this series) so he’s tough, unrepentant, and yet he loves his Mama.  Nick was brought up to respect the women in his life, and he does in a way that kids today don’t necessarily understand.  He also has an intriguing way of seeing the world—it’s black and white, and yet in this book we’re starting to see some grey sneaking in.  I love being able to see his progression from quasi-naive teen to the man he becomes in the adult series.
   This book is engaging and drew me in right away.  It would be a great one for reluctant readers because of its fast pace—there’s really no time to get bored with this book.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution:  There is mild language, violence, and adult themes (Nick's mom is an exotic dancer), and supernatural beings. This book might be best for 14 and up.


If you like this book, try: Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon (due out in May 2011)

   I'm not a fan of today's slasher movies that are currently running in the theaters today. For me, horror is not seeing someone getting stabbed countless of times with a knife. What is truly terrifying, to me, is something that is psychological and can't be explained. I remember reading Poe's A Tell Tale Heart and I could almost feel a heart beating in the background as I read the short story. After being so absorbed in looking through the world through Louis' eyes and his transformation of a human to the undead in Interview with the Vampire, I couldn't go to sleep for two weeks. I was terrified that Lestat would "turn" me just because he was bored and to see what would happen, which now seems foolish only because I'd rather have a conversation with Lestat than be afraid of him but I think you get my point. It has been a long time that I've read an intelligent, thought provoking YA horror book.




Review:  If you could take the George Romero’s 1968 film Night of the Living Dead and put into a book, you would get Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I found the book to be very creepy. It is a perfect balance of horror without the gore with a bit of a romance story thrown in for good measure. I'm not a zombie girl, but I couldn't help liking this book. Although Mary's world is very bleak and often times chaotic, it is her hope and fortitude that allow her to keep going. What is frightening here is not really the Unconsecreated aka zombies, although there are numerous parts of the story where I had goosebumps while reading them, but the very idea of a life that is filled without choice or freedom is truly terrifying. Much of the story takes place in Mary's thoughts and at times can be a bit slow, but I found it hard to put down. Mary may be unlikeable to some people, but I liked how she never gave up her search and was very observant of others around her. I had many questions after finishing the book, especially as to how the Unconsecrated were created and why the villagers didn't know anything beyond their society. I was glad to know that there is a companion book called Dead Tossed Waves, which is now available.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of caution: There are graphic mutilations of the Unconsecrated aka zombies in the book, which gear more towards PG-13 than rated R. There is no sex or language.

If you like this book, try: Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan or The Giver by Lois Lowry.