Enchanting Review: Summerland

SHADOWLAND (The Immortals Series)
ALYSON NOEL
Paranormal YA
St. Martin's Griffin
ISBN# 978-0312590444
368 Pages
$17.99
Hardcover—Available November 17, 2009

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

After making an irreversible decision in Blue Moon, Ever and Damen must learn to live with the consequences of not being able to mix DNA until Ever can find whatever antidote exists. Unfortunately, only Roman knows and he's not interested in giving up his secrets, especially to Ever. With that spurring her on, Ever and Damen head to Summerland more often where she hopes to find something to help. But between that, her aunt's new relationship with Ever's teacher and the fact that Ever has to find a summer job within a week or go work as an intern at her aunt's law firm, things aren't exactly looking like she'll get the dream summer she planned. With the return of the twins, Romy and Rayne and their taking up residence at Damen's, things between Ever and Damen are changing. With the twins in tow, suddenly Damen's acting like Mr. Mom, ditching the cool car and staying home to help the girls adjust to life on this side of Summerland. Add in a new mysterious guy who has more history with Ever then she could have imagined and things in the series are really getting complicated.

I really enjoyed SHADOWLAND, the third installment in The Immortals series. Ms. Noel does an excellent job deepening the mystery of the Immortals and what exactly Roman wants, other than to make Ever and Damen's lives miserable. With the addition of the mysterious Jude, surfer and owner of the crystal shop, we finally get a glimpse into Ever's surprising past lives, lives which Damen may not have truthfully portrayed before. Are Ever and Damen truly destined to be together or has he chased after her unmercifully for centuries? And what role does Jude have in her life—past and present? At times SHADOWLAND gives us more questions than answers as it moves forward. I really liked the addition of the twins and learning more of their history and their past connection to Damen. I think my favorite scenes take place in the crystal shop where Ever takes a part time job, working the store and giving psychic readings, taken on a whole new persona for the readings to disguise her identity—a good idea when someone from school shows up with interest in taking one of Jude's introduction classes.

Ms. Noel never fails to leave things with an immense cliffhanger and SHADOWLAND is no different. With Ever's life changing decision, more things hang in the balance, much to Roman's sick delight. I can't wait to see what Ms. Noel has in store for us with the next book in the series out in 2010.

Alyson Noel is the author of Evermore, Blue Moon and seven previous novels for St. Martin’s Press. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she is at work on the next book in the Immortals series. Visit her on the web at www.alysonnoel.com.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
November 2009

Enchanting Review: Post Grad

POST GRAD
EMILY CASSEL
Women’s Fiction
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0-312-59626-2
256 Pages
$13.99
Trade--Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Ryden Malby’s had her whole life planned out, do well in high school, get a great scholarship and graduate, thereby moving into the next phase of her life, a gorgeous place and her dream job at the city’s best publishing house. Graduating from college was one thing, but when her plans for her life are quickly disintegrating she’s forced to do the unthinkable—move back home with her parents, her crazy grandmother and strange little brother till she can find a job and figure out what to do with her life.

POST GRAD is a hilarious, entertaining read. There wasn’t a single chapter where I didn’t either laugh or lament the thought of having to eventually put the book down. I loved Ryden instantly, it’s hard to not like a girl who’s dealing with a family as crazy as hers, and her nemesis in Jessica Barde, the ‘perfect’ girl who seems to always show up when Ryden would least like her to, especially during one truly horrific moment when working at Luggage World. Her best friend Adam who’s hopelessly crushing on her. Ryden’s family is truly one of the best, most outrageous families I’ve ever come across. Her father is beyond hilarious and her grandmother is a scene stealer. It’s so hard to pick a scene to mention in the review, but the first one that pops to mind is when her grandmother takes them shopping for her own casket and the chaos that ensues. Ryden’s already embarrassed enough at times by her family, but to have her grandmother actually trying out the caskets is enough to give the poor girl a meltdown.

If you’re looking for a great read, POST GRAD is one book you should definitely pick up.

Check out the first chapter online at http://us.macmillan.com/postgrad

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009

Enchanting Review: Blue Moon

BLUE MOON (THE IMMORTAL SERIES Book 2)
ALYSON NOEL
Paranormal YA
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0-312-53276-5
284 Pages
$9.99
Trade—Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Ms. Noel picks BLUE MOON up a short time after Evermore leaves off. Ever and Damen are happy together, she’s starting to learn more about her mysterious powers and everything looks like its going great, until the new kid at school arrives. Everyone adores Roman, except for Ever. There’s something off about him and she can’t put her finger on it…until her whole world starts falling apart and Ever finds herself on the outside looking in.

BLUE MOON is a great second book in the series. We learn more about Ever; her relationship with her friends; her previous incarnations with Damen and more about the mysterious Summerland, as Ever finds herself spending more time there in order to find a way to save Damen. At Summerland, she meets a pair of mysterious sisters who I’m sure will play an even bigger role in the series going forward. I’m anxious to learn more about these two. While I thought the pacing of the book was sometimes a little slow, the lead up to the ending picks up relatively quickly and puts Ever in a spot no one would expect. Filled with well developed characters, more mysterious clues about where everything is eventually headed and the fact that the ending leaves Ever and Damen’s relationship potentially changed forever, BLUE MOON is a book fans of paranormal YA won’t want to miss.

Ms. Noel is the author of Evermore and seven previous novels for St. Martin’s Press. She lives in Laguna Beach, California where she is at work on the next book in the Immortals series. Visit her on the Web at www.alysonnoel.com

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2009

Enchanting Review: Evermore

EVERMORE

ALYSON NOEL

YA paranormal

St. Martin Griffin

ISBN # 978-0-312-53275-8

306 pages

$9.95

Paperback available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom hates her life. After a tragic accident, that claims the lives of her family, Ever lives with guilt, blaming herself for their deaths. Now she lives with her aunt in California. Though Ever didn’t die, something changed within her. She now has the ability to see people’s auras and hear their thoughts just by touching them. She hates this and tries to avoid any human contact. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, a new boy shows up. Damen Auguste is gorgeous and wealthy and Ever can’t read his aura. Not only that but Damen makes her feel emotions she wants to forget. Should she succumb to his charms or continue to live in denial? And can she accept what she truly is?

I enjoyed this tale of Ever as she struggles with the conflicts of surviving an accident and the strange ‘gift’ she received. When I first started reading this story, I thought it would be yet one more paranormal tale. Boy was I wrong! Noel creates characters that are realistic and believable. I couldn’t help but wonder what Ever would do when Damen showed up. Just when I thought I knew what would happen next, another twist showed up. I couldn’t put this book down! For sure Ever’s story will appeal to those who love books on the paranormal.

Alyson Noel lives in Laguna Beach, California and is working on her next book. The sequel BLUE MOON is scheduled for release August 2009. Find out more about Alyson on her website www.alysonnoel.com

Kim

ENCHANTING REVIEWS

Feb. 2008

Enchanting Review: Cracked Up To Be

CRACKED UP TO BE
COURTNEY SUMMERS
Contemporary YA
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0-312-38369-5
214 Pages
$9.95
Trade--Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Parker Fadley is no longer the girl everyone used to know and love. All Parker knows she is has to live up to the so-called good behavior expected of her by the school principal and guidance counselor in order to graduate--something that seems to be her only goal. She honestly doesn’t care about her old life or her old her friends. All she wants is to escape.

Parker first comes off kind of abrasive, but as the story goes along and the past slowly starts being revealed through her flashbacks, you start to see why she’s changed from the perfect A student, cheerleading captain into the girl she is now. Surprisingly her strange relationship with newcomer Jake is the catalyst it seems for her breakthrough to start. I have to say I liked Parker a lot, I loved her witty comments, she was never short of a good comeback to her ex-boyfriend, Jake or even Becky, the girl who’s taking her place with her ex and the cheerleading squad. I liked Jake too, how he never gave up on Parker and was always sorta there. I liked how he broke down her walls. One of my favorite scenes is when Jake gives Parker a print out on breathing on the school bus after one of her anxiety attacks. Not only does the scene have some great dialogue that me had laughing, it also showed growth on Parker’s part when she starts to see Jake in a bit of a different light.

CRACKED UP TO BE is a great debut novel. Readers looking for a not your typical young adult read should pick this one up! Parker is definitely not a character you come across that often.

Courtney Summers lives and write in Canada, where she spends most of her time behind a camera, at a piano or with a word processing program. Visit her website at www.courtneysummers.ca

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
March 2009

Enchanting Review: Hunted

HUNTED
P.C. CAST & KRISTIN CAST
Paranormal YA
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0312379827
336 Pages
$17.95
Hardcover—Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Zoey Redbird is being HUNTED. Not only has Kalona been released, he’s partnered up with Neferet and together they are planning something terrible, if Aphrodite’s visions and a newcomer’s poetry is to be believed. But when a horrible accident forces Zoey and company straight back home to the House of Night they realize just how bad things are. The students and teachers have turned into ‘pod people’ and its up to Zoey to do something that seems impossible—send Kalona right back where he came from.

I’m not sure HUNTED was what I expected the fourth book in this great series to be.
Zoey’s powers are continuing to grow, as is the powerful circle she surrounds herself with, but as her powers are growing, so unfortunately are Neferet’s and Kalona’s, who has the ability to appear in Zoey’s dreams. What I really liked about HUNTED was the widening out of Zoey’s circle of friends as well as the return of Heath, one of my favorite characters. Something about Eric though kept me suspicious through most of the book and I still wonder if there isn’t something to come with him in future books. One of my favorite moments is who imprints with Stevie Ray. My only real issue was the ending, which seemed sort of abrupt and almost too easy for Zoey and company, compared to the endings of the others in the series. Still, I can’t wait to see what lays ahead for Zoey and her friends.

Stay up to date with the latest House of Night news at http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
April 2009

Enchanting Review: Evermore

EVERMORE

ALYSON NOEL

Paranormal YA

St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN# 978-0-312-53275-8

301 Pages

$9.95

Trade—Available March 2009

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Sixteen year old Ever Bloom isn’t exactly your typical teenager. Orphaned after a tragic car accident she feels responsible for, she’s been relocated from the only home she’s ever known to live with her single aunt in California. And since the accident, Ever’s been able to see and hear things that others can’t, including her little sister. Already feeling alienated from pretty well everyone at school, except for her two closest friends who are a bit of the outcasts themselves, Ever isn’t sure what to make of the hot new guy, especially when it seems like he’s interested in her.

EVERMORE is a fantastic paranormal read that I couldn’t put down. From the moment I opened the book, right through to the end I was hooked, wondering what was going to happen next and trying to figure out what it was both Ever and Damen were hiding. I liked Ever right from the start, enjoying her voice and her sense of humor that she never lost, even with what she was going through. Newcomer Damen Auguste is a total mystery for a good portion of the book and even when the readers are let in on a bit of his secret, there are still questions around him. How can he control what he does? And how come he’s the only person Ever can’t get a grip on? I have to say I really liked the chemistry between Ever and Damen, and can’t wait to see their relationship grow in the next book.

One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Damen first comes over to Ever’s house and her little sister is practically climbing all over him. It’s all Ever can do from admonishing her sister to stop—something she can’t do in front of someone who obviously can’t see what her dead sister is doing—or so it seems, til she thinks he actually moved around Riley to get up. I also loved the scene where Ever finally finds out what the red tulips mean and what the meaning behind the flowers he was giving to her high school nemesis was.

Readers looking for a unique paranormal read can’t go wrong picking up EVERMORE. Look for the second in the series, ‘Blue Moon’ to be released summer 2009.

Alyson Noel is the author of Saving Zoe and Art Geeks and Prom Queens. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she is at work on her next book. Visit her on the web at www.alysonnoel.com

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

February 2009

Enchanting Review: Untamed

UNTAMED

P.C. CAST & KRISTIN CAST

Paranormal YA

St. Martin's Griffin

ISBN# 978-0-312-37983-4

352 Pages

$8.95

Trade-Available September 23, 2008

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Starting two days after 'Chosen' ended, UNTAMED kicks off with Zoey feeling isolated from her friends. After the 'outing' of her relationship with Loren as well as the realization that Stevie Ray was an 'undead dead' her friends are having issues trusting her. If they could only realize the reason they were left in the dark was for their own safety, but all they want to see right now is that Zoey kept secrets, important secrets from them. But when Aphrodite returns unexpectedly to the House of Night, she isn't alone. She's brought Stevie Ray back with her, along with news of a set of horrifying visions of the future—there's a war coming between the vampyres and the humans and its Zoey's demise that sparks it.

The fourth in the House of Night series, UNTAMED takes Zoey and her circle of friends down an unexpected and surprising path. Knowing that the target on her back is larger than anyone could have imagined, her new unusual alliance with Aphrodite and the growing tensions between her and the high priestess Neferet, Zoey's determined to keep Aphrodite's vision from coming true.

After the surprising deaths of Professor Nolan and Loren Blake, Zoey’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep everyone she cares about safe.

While there were still a few good chunks of back story scattered through the first half of the book, UNTAMED moves forward at a brisk pace. Aphrodite's surprising infiltration into Zoey's circle of friends, or at least her friendship with Zoey, continues which I was so glad to see as she’s become a favorite of mine in the last two books. Actually, at times I thought she stole a few scenes, especially early on when she was helping Zoey and Stevie Ray. But my favorite thing about Aphrodite I think is her continual comebacks to the Twins comments. I loved Zoey’s sheer will to keep Aphrodite’s vision from coming true and the ending, well there really isn’t another way to describe it but heart pounding and jaw dropping.

After an ending that will leave you breathless and wondering what lies ahead for Zoey and her friends, I can't wait to see what happens next! One of the best and possibly my favorite book of the entire HOUSE OF NIGHT series, UNTAMED will keep you riveted till the very last sentence.

Check out the newly redesigned House of Night website at www.houseofnightseries.com

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

September 2008

Repost: Enchanting Review: Marked

MARKED

P.C. CAST AND KRISTIN CAST

Paranormal Young Adult

St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN# 978-0-312-36026-9

306 Pages

$8.95

Trade - Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Sixteen year old Zoey Redbird is just like any other typical teenager, worrying over the geometry test she has to take tomorrow-that is, until she’s marked by a tracker and her entire world changes. Everyone knows what happens next, Zoey needs to go to the House of Night, the vampire finishing school to complete the change or else she could die without ever having the chance to complete the change.

MARKED is unlike any paranormal I’ve ever read. P.C Cast and Kristin Cast create an intriguing paranormal world in which to set the House of Night series. There are stages to becoming a full fledged adult vampire, and at any point in time, a fledgling’s body can reject the change, as Zoey soon learns, perhaps a nice foreshadowing of things to come?

Zoey isn’t your average vampire fledgling. Her mark is colored in almost immediately, which makes her somewhat of a freak at House of Night and an easy target for the bitchier brigade, led by Aphrodite, the head of the Dark Daughters and Sons, a selective group of students at the House of Night. Zoey would be happy to stay far away from Aphrodite and her cohorts, only her mentor, the High Priestess Neferet encourages her to join the Dark Daughters. As Zoey can’t say no to her new mentor, she finds herself at the ritual. And when things later get out of control, it may be Zoey is the only one who can right things, much to the chagrin of her nemesis.

I was hooked from page one into this amazing book. From Zoey’s indifferent parents (I literally cheered when she snuck out of the house to get away from them) to Nyx, the goddess, the story is populated with amazing characters who come alive within the pages of MARKED.

MARKED is the first book in the House of Night series. You can visit the official house of night website at http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

May 2008

Enchanting Review: Betrayed

BETRAYED

P.C Cast and Kristin Cast

Paranormal YA

St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN# 978-0-312-36028-3

310 Pages

$8.95

Trade—Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

BETRAYED is the second book in the ‘House of Night’ series and picks up a short time after MARKED. Zoey Redbird is still at the House of Night finishing school and is beginning to finally fit in and feel at home, even with her strengthening powers and thanks to the help of her new circle of friends. As the new Leader of the Dark Daughters, Zoey’s dealing with a lot more responsibility not to mention the jealousy of the ousted former leader, Aphrodite.

But things are never smooth sailing at House of Night, as a few of the fledglings’ bodies suddenly reject the change into vampyres. Things begin to get even more troubling when two of Zoey’s friends from the outside world disappear and the blame is put on a rogue group of vampires, something Zoey wonders about when she sees something inexplicable outside late at night.

What can I say about this book other than have Kleenex handy for the emotional last few chapters and be prepared for a few twists and turns that will leave your jaw hanging in disbelief. BETRAYED is an entertaining mix of paranormal and mystery that will leave readers desperate for book three.

For vampire fans, you can’t go wrong picking up the unique House of Night series. I look forward to seeing what the third book; CHOSEN has in store for Zoey and the rest of her friends. If BETRAYED is any clue, readers will be in for a wild ride. You can learn more about the series at the official website, http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

July 2008

Enchanting Review: Chosen

CHOSEN

P.C. CAST & KRISTIN CAST

Paranormal YA

St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN# 978-0-312-36030-6

307 Pages

$8.95

Trade—Available Now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

The third book in the House of Night series, CHOSEN picks up shortly after ‘Betrayed’. Dealing with the secrets she has to hide from her friends, knowing that any knowledge of Stevie Ray’s condition could put them, not too mentions Stevie Ray, in jeopardy, Zoey decides the safest thing for all involved is to keep the secret to herself…and Aphrodite. But that’s not the only thing she has to deal with. Heath is still desperate to maintain their relationship, Erik is her vampyre boyfriend and Poet Laureat Lorne Blake is making her contemplate having three boyfriends at once.

My biggest issue with CHOSEN was it felt like there was a good portion of the book that was a rehash of back story and that had me skimming sections to get past what I already knew. However, there are more than enough unexpected twists and jaw dropping turns that kept me glued to the story. The conflict between Neferet and Zoey deepens, almost hitting a crescendo with a startling discovery of just what exactly the high priestess is willing to do to destroy Zoey. Aphrodite becomes a frenemy of sorts to Zoey, something the group just can’t understand with their limited knowledge of what is actually going on.

I love the dynamic between Zoey and Aphrodite, the friendship that seems to be forming between them or at least a very unlikely alliance. Now that Aphrodite is on Neferet’s bad side, the two girls have some common ground, including the fact that they’re the only two at the House of Night whose minds she can’t read.

Look for UNTAMED, the fourth book in this great series to release September 2008.

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

August 2008

Enchanting Review: Cruel Summer

CRUEL SUMMER
ALYSON NOEL
Contemporary Young Adult
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0-312-35511-1
229 Pages
$8.95
Trade-Available Now

Rating: 3.5 Enchantments

Colby Cavendish can’t believe her parents have ruined her summer. Sure, they’re getting a divorce and don’t want her to be in the middle of it, but that doesn’t mean they needed to ship her all the way to Greece-and her crazy aunt Tally, ruining her summer in the process.

First, Colby hates being sent away and is desperate to escape the boredom that is her new home on the tiny island of Tinos. Crazy Aunt Tally may not be so crazy, but she’s still not who Colby would want as an ideal roommate. Then there’s the island itself, small, full of routine and not so much to do. There’s one coffee place with internet that Colby adopts as her home away from home, but Petros, the owner keeps telling her to get out there and get some sun, and is only to glad to kick her out one day when the electricity goes out. Colby’s all set to spend the summer miserable, up until she meets Yannis, the cute local guy she first bumped into on the small boat on the way to the island and maybe things start to look up after all.

I have to admit there were times when I really wasn't fond of Colby. Even after meeting Yannis, she still keeps emailing her supposed 'friends' back home in Los Angeles who haven't yet emailed once back, asking about Levi, the guy she left behind. And when her 'friend' makes a couple rude comments about Yannis' picture on her blog, Colby finds herself looking at him in a whole new light, which ruins the romantic evening he had planned. Even the twist of the 'anonymous' commenter on her blog wasn't so hard to figure out.

CRUEL SUMMER had its high points, but they didn't outnumber the lows for me. While Colby did finally mature in the end and I loved how she began to embrace her life in Greece after she started hanging around with Yannis, she spent a lot of the book being too wishy washy for my tastes.

Alyson Noel is the author of Saving Zoe and Art Geeks and Prom Queens. She lives in Laguna Beach, California where she is working on her next book. Visit her on the Web at www.alysonnoel.com

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
August 2008

Enchanting Review: Betrayed

BETRAYED
P.C Cast and Kristin Cast
Paranormal YA
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN# 978-0-312-36028-3
310 Pages
$8.95
Trade—Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

BETRAYED is the second book in the ‘House of Night’ series and picks up a short time after MARKED. Zoey Redbird is still at the House of Night finishing school and is beginning to finally fit in and feel at home, even with her strengthening powers and thanks to the help of her new circle of friends. As the new Leader of the Dark Daughters, Zoey’s dealing with a lot more responsibility not to mention the jealousy of the ousted former leader, Aphrodite.

But things are never smooth sailing at House of Night, as a few of the fledglings’ bodies suddenly reject the change into vampyres. Things begin to get even more troubling when two of Zoey’s friends from the outside world disappear and the blame is put on a rogue group of vampires, something Zoey wonders about when she sees something inexplicable outside late at night.

What can I say about this book other than have Kleenex handy for the emotional last few chapters and be prepared for a few twists and turns that will leave your jaw hanging in disbelief. BETRAYED is an entertaining mix of paranormal and mystery that will leave readers desperate for book three.

For vampire fans, you can’t go wrong picking up the unique House of Night series. I look forward to seeing what the third book; CHOSEN has in store for Zoey and the rest of her friends. If BETRAYED is any clue, readers will be in for a wild ride. You can learn more about the series at the official website, http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
July 2008