Book Club - May

We read House of Sand and Fog - Andre Dubus III

In this riveting novel of almost unbearable suspense, three fragile yet determined people become dangerously entangled in a relentlessly escalating crisis. Colonel Behrani, once a wealthy man in Iran, is now a struggling immigrant willing to bet everything he has to restore his family's dignity. Kathy Nicolo is a troubled young woman whose house is all she has left, and who refuses to let her hard-won stability slip away from her. Sheriff Lester Burdon, a married man who finds himself falling in love with Kathy, becomes obsessed with helping her fight for justice.

Drawn by their competing desires to the same small house in the California hills and doomed by their tragic inability to understand one another, the three converge in an explosive collision course. Combining unadorned realism with profound empathy, House of Sand and Fog marks the arrival of a major new voice in American fiction.

I thought this was a good book and the ending kind of surprised me.  Nothing too major happens in the book until the last 100 pages and then so much happens.  The book is a little depressing and really makes you think about what people will do when it comes to a house and money.  I thought the writing style was good and it was easy to differentiate when I was reading from a different character's point of view.  Not sure I really truly liked any of the characters since they all had some faults.  There's really no good guys or bad guys in this story.

The book for June is Breath, Eyes, Memory - Edwidge Danticat

Book Review: The Serpent's Shadow - Rick Riordan

The Serpent's Shadow - Rick Riordan

He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sade Kane can’t seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos.

To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent’s shadow... or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld...

4/5 stars (really liked it)

 These books keep getting better and better.  Fun and fast reads.  I love learning about Ancient Egyptian Gods, which I did not know much about before reading these books.  In this book we learn more about Zia and Walt.  There is a lot of action and some sad parts.  Overall a great book.  I really like Sadie and Carter.  I would love it Rick Riordan wrote a book about them for adults when they are all grown up.  Great ending to the book series.

Book Review: Lenobia's Vow - P.C. Cast

Lenobia's Vow - P.C. Cast

The second in the enthralling new mini-series of novellas from the #1 bestselling authors of the House of Night, Lenobia's Vow tells the gripping story behind the House of Night's enigmatic riding instructor – and one of Zoey’s closest allies against evil.

In a small southern town at the turn of the century, young Lenobia is developing into a beautiful young woman with ideas of her own. But when she is Marked as a fledgling vampyre, her world turns upside down, and she is drawn to the musical streets of New Orleans. There, she learns of the city’s dark underbelly, ruled by powerful black magic. As Lenobia experiences her first love – and loss – and discovers a passion for horses to sustain her, she must come face-to-face with Darkness itself. And she may not escape without scars.

3/5 stars (liked it)
I like reading the House of Night Novellas.  They are short and we get some backstory on adult characters.  The first was about Dragon and it made me understand his actions in the recent novels.  This story is about Lenobia and now I understand her more and why she acted the way she did with Travis in the last House of Night novel.  This story follows her journey from France to New Orleans and how the journey changes her to become the person she is.  We do not get to know her much after she is marked.  I felt the very last chapter was too rushed and that too much happened right at the end, almost forced.  Otherwise a good story.  Looking forward to reading the next novella about Neferet.

 

Book Review: Sisterhood Everlasting - Ann Brashares

Sisterhood Everlasting - Ann Brashares

Four friends
One sisterhood
Ten years later, the story continues

On the cusp of turning thirty, Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget are now living separate lives, out on their own. Yet despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness. Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

4/5 stars (really liked it)

I laughed, I cried, I got peeved at the girls and I loved this book. I think it's a great follow up and wrap up to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series. It had been a while since I read the first four books but I was able to catch up pretty quick. All the characters I loved from the series are there and all grown up. So glad Ann Brashares wrote this book. 

Book Review: Awake at Dawn - C.C. Hunter

Awake at Dawn - C.C. Hunter

From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean. And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save. And how…

But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside.

Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls. It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny.

4/5 stars (really like it)

This is starting to be one of my new favorite series.  The books picks up right where the last one left off.  Kylie is still at Shadow Falls and she still (or anyone for that matter) does not know what she is.  Although she develops some new abilities, which could point to some supernatural being.  She's still seeing ghosts, although Daniel (her biological father) is not there as much.  She also has boy problems.  Derek is still there but she still has feelings for Lucas, who is not there.  Trey is also still calling her and her best friend Sarah hasn't called her.  Also she keeps feeling someone watching her.  I like how we find out more about Kylie and her new abilities.  Her friends, Miranda (a witch) and Della (a vampire) are also interesting.  I do really want to learn more about Lucas though.  Also I love how you get a little bit on the relationships with adults (Holly & Burnett).  I can't wait to read the next book. 

Book Review: Born at Midnight - C.C. Hunter

Born at Midnight - C.C. Hunter

 

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

4/5 stars (really liked it)

I love the whole concept of a camp for Supernatural beings.  I know it's not a new concept (Camp Half-Blood and I'm sure there's others).  Shadow Falls is an interesting place were all Supernaturals have to learn to get along and the Government funds it.  We see Vampires, Werewolves, Shape-shifters, Fae & Witches.  Kylie though is a mystery since no one, including herself, knows what she is.  She is in denial most of the book saying that she's just a human and some kind of mistake is made.  I love how we watch her accept herself and those she had a first deemed to be "freaks".   The ending is left open so that I will definitely be picking up the second book.