Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Fun!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where we make lists about bookish topics.

This week is Halloween week. Halloween is seriously my favourite holiday, so I had to make sure I actually came onto my blog to make this list. This week is a freebie, so it's pretty much anything goes, so my list will be some fun, scary books that remind me of Halloween. Get ready to sleep with the lights on!

1. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake - Part ghost story, part love story, this one kept me on the edge of my seat and scared me silly.

2. This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers - Zombies at their best. Summers effortlessly weaves together a story that could be real. A girl who doesn't want to fight to survive, but ends up surprising herself by how hard she fights for her friends.

3. Rooms by Lauren Oliver - Told from many perspectives, two of which are ghosts, this tells the story of a dysfunctional family and the house they live in. Super cool and creepy.

4. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma - This book is just creepy. After finishing it, I still wasn't sure what had happened and it stayed with me for nights after. Perfect for Halloween.

5. Hexed by Michelle Krys - Gotta have a witch tale on here. This one isn't really scary, but witches equal Halloween to me. This one has some Buffy elements and some cool witchcraft to make for an entertaining read.

6. The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe - A virus infects a small island and quickly spreads to the rest of Canada, then the world. Scary enough right?

7. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - A zombie book that takes place long after the apocalypse in a town that's starting over. Very old-fashioned and backwards and Mary will do anything to get out of it, even if that means crossing the fence into the unknown. Creepy at its best, and the sequels are amazing as well!

8. My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent - Demons, pure evil, and a seventeen-year-old girl trying to stop them from destroying her high school. One of my favourite series still and perfect if you want a little creep factor in your life.

9. Dracula by Bram Stoker - Because you gotta get a classic in there. If there's any vampire to be scared of, it's Dracula. Old school creepy.

And lastly, one that's on my list to read this year...

10. The Fall by Bethany Griffin - Her retelling of The Mask of the Red Death was dark and creepy, so I'm sure this one, a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher will be just as good. Just gotta find time to read it now!

I hope everyone will pick up a spooky book this week or at least watch something scary. Happy Halloween all!

Review: Shadow Kiss

Shadow Kiss
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: November 13, 2008
Paperback, 443 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She's having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all... might be seeing ghosts.

As Rose questions her sanity, new complications arise. Lissa has begun experimenting with her magic once more, their enemy Victor Dashkov might be set free, and Rose's forbidden relationship with Dimitri is starting to heat up again. But when a deadly threat no one saw coming changes their entire world, Rose must put her own life on the line - and choose between the two people she loves most.

I was super excited going into this book. Frostbite was so good and I couldn't wait for more Rose. It started with a bang with Rose having dark thoughts since killing her first Strigoi. Things aren't feeling quite right and she's pretty sure she's seeing Mason, her could be boyfriend who got killed during the attacks in the last book. Not only that but Lissa is experimenting with her magic with Adrian, causing friction between Lissa and Christian, and Victor Dashkov may be released from jail soon. Shit just keeps hitting the fan in Rose's life but she doesn't  have time to deal with any of it as she is now in her field practice for becoming a guardian, protecting someone she didn't think she'd be paired with. 

There was so much going on in this book, it was hard to put it down. I loved the field practice, where the dhampirs have the chance to put everything they've learned to practice and fight off the Guardians as though they are real Strigoi. Rose's practice starts off rough, but we all know how strong she is and she eventually proves it again to everyone around her. This book is a game changer. Everything that happens in it is sure to make an impact on the rest of the series. Lissa's powers are getting stronger everyday, but this is bad news for Rose since she is sucking up all the madness coming off of Lissa. Victor is still alive, though locked up for good, but I have a feeling he'll be back. Rose has finally discovered what being Shadow Kissed really means and it may not be a good thing at all. The ending is flawless and unexpected. Everything was written well and sucked me in and there was no way I was letting go. 

Rose and Dimitri's relationship also changes drastically in this book. I got chills every time they spoke, hoping for another kiss to add to the two they've shared so far. Dimitri is a good match for Rose. He knows how to calm her down but also understands that if she wants to do something, she'll do it. The age difference barely registers with me when they are together and the moments they spend together in the cabin were swoon worthy. I'm not sure what I'll think of the next book, Blood Promise, since the ending to this one may have scarred me for life, but I'm eager to find out what happens between Rose and Dimitri now that everything has happened. Rose is such a refreshing heroine, and I can't wait to see what other trouble she gets into. 

“Even I make mistakes." I put on my brash, overconfident face. "I know it's hard to believe—kind of surprises me myself—but I guess it has to happen. It's probably some kind of karmic way to balance out the universe. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to have one person so full of awesomeness.” 

Review: Frostbite

Frostbite
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: April 10, 2008
Paperback, 327 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose... 

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory. 

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

This series is quickly becoming one of my favourites and I'm only two books in. Mead's world of vampires is believable and refreshingly different than what I've seen in YA lately. The first novel, Vampire Academy, began the thrilling tale of Rose Hathaway and her best friend Lissa Dragomir, a vampire elite whom she'd do anything for. Rose's job in life is to protect Lissa from the Strigoi, an immortal race of vampires out to destroy the Moroi. When an attack on one of the royal families causes alarm, the academy takes to a sheltered ski resort in hopes of keeping everyone safe. The students spend their days making out, and falling in love. Rose desperately tries to get over Dimitri while hanging out with Mason and deciding whether he's worthy of her love. But some students aren't satisfied with just hiding in the shadows, some want to go out and fight the Strigoi themselves, and unfortunately for Rose, those students also happen to be her friends. 

The story weaves itself so tightly it's hard to put it down even at chapter breaks. I found myself halfway through it in one day and wishing I didn't have to sleep so I could keep going. The tension between Rose and Dimitri only heightens in this book, making me want to tear the pages until they finally kiss. There's no doubt those two are meant for each other, and I love that it's going to take them until the end of the series to finally get together (just a prediction). The friendship between Rose and Lissa is lovely to watch. The way that they act is very realistic. They love each other but still keep secrets and don't tell each other everything, as most of us do. It's the kind of friendship I know will transcend every awful thing that happens to them, and I know there will be more terrible things if these first two books are anything like the rest of the series. 

Mead just has a way with words. There is nothing special about her writing. The prose does not roll off the page and stay with you long after you've finished the page, but I like that about it. I don't need fancy words and metaphors galore, in fact I prefer the simple writing of hers. She tells the story as Rose, a straight forward girl who doesn't have time to dream about the flowers or gaze into the stars as she thinks about Dimitri. But Rose is more memorable a character than most I've read. She is loyal, loving, and determined to protect those she loves. She hasn't had an easy life, her mother wasn't around and she never knew her father. It may be impossible for her to find love and start a family as her role as a Guardian means protecting Lissa above all else. But you don't feel sorry for her, in fact you fear her. She is strong and brave and snarky. My kind of girl. Every character i this book stands out on their own, begging for attention from the reader. Dimitri is tortured and dreamy but it's never annoying. Lissa is in more pain than Rose, but does not want to burden her friend even though she fears for her life. And even those characters you want to hate, like Rose's mom and Adrian Ivashkov are likeable in the way that their characters are well rounded and real. Everyone has good and bad in them, and that's what creates a remarkable character.

Each book gives more information about these vampires and what it means to be them and fear them. Rose has a lot to learn and Lissa still has to figure out her powers. The need to find out how this series ends makes me crave the next chapter, Shadow Kiss, which I'll no doubt start shortly.

“There's nothing worse than waiting and not knowing what'll happen to you. Your own imagination can be crueler than any captor.” 

Review: Vampire Academy

Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: August 16, 2007
Paperback, 332 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Normally I shy away from vampire books. Ever since Twilight, I've been worried about how YA authors look at these supernatural creatures. I prefer books like Interview With the Vampire if I want some blood sucking fun, but Mead took these creatures and created something new that hit the mark on the head and I'm glad I decided to read this book. Mead's vampires are different, kick ass, and strange all at once and it made for a solid read.

Rose is a Dhampir, ahalf vampire, half human, who's sole purpose in life is to protect the Moroi, full vampires that are being hunted by Strigoi, immortal dangerous vampires. There are a lot of different vampires in here and that's what makes it so unique. Rose and her Moroi best friend, Lissa, have a bond that not many other Dhampir/Moroi pairs have. She can feel everything Lissa feels and this brings them very close together. After being dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy after being away for two years, Rose suddenly finds herself fighting to be near Lissa and defending the rumours that start spreading throughout the campus about the two of them. Throw in some hot boys, forbidden romance, and dead animals, and you've got yourself a vampire story for the ages.

Rose is not your typical YA Mary Sue. She's hardcore, kicks serious butt, and doesn't let anyone step on her or Lissa. It's refreshing to read a voice like hers, where, yes, even though she thinks the guy is cute, she doesn't let this get in the way of everything else going on in her life. In no way does the romance take centre stage and the rest of the plot get pushed into the background. In fact, I wanted more romance. I craved Rose and Dimitri to just make out and get the tension over with. Dimitri being her fighting instructor and five years older than her doesn't make for an easy romance. At no point did the age difference seem weird and gross, and the way it was handled throughout the book was spectacular. I'm certainly not done with the two of them. Rose and Lissa's friendship was comforting and nice to see in a YA series. Normally it's all about the romance, but I'm glad their friendship took the forefront and was challenged and put to the test throughout the book. The personal bond between the two was realistic and well written. It came off as best friends would, even though the differences between the girls could have meant quite the opposite. 

The book is set at a boarding school, therefore there will be drama between the students. The mean girls were there, threatening Rose and spreading rumours, but it never got too focused on that drama. What I loved about this book was that them being vampires wasn't the only responsibility they had. They were very much human, but still had the vampire characteristics. School took place at night and there were feeders for the Moroi to feed on. The differences between the Dhampirs and the Moroi was interesting to read about, given that the Dhampir were more human and did not have to drink blood and could go out in the sunlight. They are treated differently and it came off like racial slurs at some points and this made it feel very real. It's never about humans versus vampires in this book, it's vampire versus vampire and it came off very well. I'm curious to see where this series will go and how Rose and Lissa's relationship will evolve. I also can't wait to watch the movie, out next year!

“Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies.” 

Giveaway: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

The Reader's Den is having a very awesome giveaway. Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is one of my mot anticipated reads for 2013. Black's Curse Workers series blew me away and I can't wait to see what she can do with vampires.

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.


Head over to The Reader's Den to win your copy! The giveaway is international.

Review: The Farm

The Farm
Author: Emily McKay
Published: December 4, 2012
420 pages
3 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other…

And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race...

I found this book randomly. I had never heard of it, was intrigued by the cover and description and went right in, not sure how I'd react. I like doing that. I've discovered some of my favourite books that way (Soul Screamers series) so I'm not going to lie when I said I had high hopes that this new vampire series would suck me in. I was disappointed to say the least that by the time I got halfway through, I didn't want to finish. But I kept going, partly because I'd gone too far and partly because I wanted to see it redeem itself.

The main character, Lily, isn't the most likeable girl. I mean neither was Katniss, but there was something about Katniss that made me love her. Lily just annoyed me. Lily is trying to escape the Farm, a housing place for teenagers living in a world full of Ticks. Her autistic sister, Mel, is her only burden but she will do anything for her. Though I hate that she thinks of her as a burden since Mel is stronger than she is and I quite enjoyed her character better than Lily's. And when Carter, a guy Lily crushed on in the Before, suddenly arrives on the camp she is suddenly back in his arms. One of the problems I found with this was that since we get all three of their viewpoints, we soon found exactly what Carter was up too instead of trying to figure out whether he was a good guy or bad guy throughout the novel. His perspective almost seemed redundant and I think the book would have been stronger with just Lily and Mel's points.
Another thing I found strange was that Lily and Mel's points were both first person, but Carter's was third. It didn't make sense why she would bother with that since we still saw what he was thinking anyway. It just ended up confusing me. 

The plot moved a little too slowly for me and it had me wishing they'd escape sooner. But once they did finally get out of the Farm, the action got good. The Ticks are a nice change from the pretty vampires we've been seeing. They are ugly, animalistic, and not at all human. The last 100 pages went by in a flash and I found myself finally wanting to know what would happen to them. I'm not sure if it was enough to make me want to pick up the next book in the series, but it was a nice twist to what I thought would happen. Maybe by the time it comes out, I'll know if I want to know how this story will end.

They are as pitiable as they are inhuman. They are fear personified. Their emotions and minds given over to rage and hunger. They are all noise. He is none.

If he is not a Tick, does that make him a Tock?

Review: Paranormalcy

Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Published: August 31, 2010
335 Pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Evie's always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours.

But Evie's about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

Evie Green is a breath of fresh air in a sea of boring, frigid heroines. She's funny, sarcastic and has a mean sense of fashion. Plus, she kicks serious paranormal butt. The opening lines to this book says it all - 

“Wait- did you-- You just yawned!” The vampire’s arms , raised over his head in the classic Dracula pose, dropped to his sides. He pulled his exaggerated white fangs back behind his lips. “What, imminent death isn’t exciting enough for you?”

“Oh, stope pouting. But, really, the widow’s peak? The pale skin? The black cape? Where did you even get that thing, a costume store?” 

This was hilarious! And it certainly set the pace for the rest of the novel. Evie deals with some serious stuff and deadly beings but she hardly shows any fear. In fact, the only thing that scares here is Reth, her ex-faerie-boyfriend-thing. And you can't blame her because he has some serious mojo over her and I'd be scared to sleep too. But even with that fear lurking around her, she doesn't let it stop her from working and making friends, especially with the new kid that broke into the centre (the IPCA, which helps keep paranormal beings stabilized). Lend, a shape shifter, catches Evie's attention immediately. He is a supernatural being that she's never met before and he feels the same way about her. 

See Evie isn't entirely human. She can see through glamours, the mist that paranormal beings use to make themselves look normal to humans. She has always been able to see whats underneath, but she thought it was just a gift. Soon, with the help of Lend, she realizes she's much more than that. And with someone out attacking paranormals, Evie isn't sure what's safe and what's not anymore. The centre has forever been her only home and she's desperately wants to be a normal teenager. but by the looks of it, that's not going to be happening anytime soon. 

As Evie tries to live a normal life, hell breaks loose around her. Reth is still trying to take her heart and this rampaging paranormal showing itself to her. Add in Lend, vampires and werewolves and Evie's life is far from normal. This book was super easy to read and it threw me into a world that I didn't want to leave. I can't wait to pick up the next instalment, Supernaturally, to see what will happen next in Evie's crazy life. 

“Tasers are a one-size-fits-all paranormal butt-kicking option. Mine’s pink with rhinestones.” 

“I hate the vamp jobs. They think they're so suave. It's not enough for them to slaughter and eat you like a zombie would. No, they want to be all sexy, too. And trust me: vampires? Not. Sexy.” 

Top Ten Books to Get into the Halloween Spirit

This week's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is all about getting into the Halloween spirit. I love Halloween. It's my all time favourite holiday and I plan my costumes starting November 1st and then work on them all year. Yes, I'm a tad obsessed, but who doesn't love a night where you can be anyone you want to be and get free candy while doing it? So here's my list of spooktacular books to get you into the Halloween spirit!

 1. Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice

What's Halloween without some good old fashioned vampires. Rice writes them so normal that it's frightening. You just never know what's living in the shadows.

2. Shade series by Jeri Smith-Ready

Imagine living in a world where you can see and communicate with ghosts? There is no hiding from them unless you are in a black boxed room. Smith-Ready downplays the scariness of this as it's not the main plot point, but it still gives me the creeps.

3. Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

Cas is a ghost hunter. The thought of that is scary enough. And Anna is a vicious ghost that shows just how powerful spirits can be. This book might have given me nightmares.

4. Carrie by Stephen King

I Honestly haven't read this, but I wanted to include King on the list because he is the king of suspense and terror. His books are those of nightmares and he writes them flawlessly.

5. The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe

Poe creates a frightening scene just with his words. Even in his short stories, he captures your spirit and crushes it. Other tales worth noting are The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart. Anything by Poe is perfect for a spooky night lit only by candles.

6. Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Griffin has taken Poe's dark tale and created a fantastic YA book of it. Living in a world where plague and disease has taken over, what is there to live for? Griffin transforms his world into her own with just enough of his terror to keep you thinking.

7. This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

An underrated zombie book of perfection. It's not really about the zombies, it's about surviving and it's perfect for teens and adults alike. The horror outside is downplayed but the thought of what's out there is enough to keep you reading to see if anyone will survive.

8. Dracula by Bram Stoker

This is one of the books that started it all. Along with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Stoker's Dracula captures the essence of the horror that lives on the streets with us. Dracula will steal your breath away and follow you even after the last page.

9. The Forest Of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan

A zombie series with a fresh take. It's reminiscent of The Village and I think that makes it scarier. Everything is old and run down and the zombies are just on the other side of the dying fence. This series will stay with you and haunt your dreams.

10. Fear Street by R.L. Stine (or Goosebumps if you prefer)

Simple, easy, horror. These were the books I read in high school and couldn't get enough off. Each tale had a gruesome twist and the sheer, average, terror of it was enough to keep me up at night. Stine has a way with plots. His books are simple, yes, but they still leave you breathless.