The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

The Savage Grace (The Dark Divine #3) by Bree Despain
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Source: Library

Summary

A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Do you ever have those books where it's hard to determine whether you actually liked the book or you only think you liked it because you wanted to like it? The Savage Grace was one of those for me. I had trouble mustering up enthusiasm for this book from beginning to end. Plus, writing this review several weeks after I finished the book, I had to rack my brain to remember anything about the story. But I liked it. I really did. When I dig hard enough, I remember the story and characters with fondness. It's just hard for me to care.

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

The Lost Saint (The Dark Divine #2) by Bree Despain
Release Date: December 28, 2010
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Source: Library

Summary

A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns.

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger - in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her - not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Bree Despain delivers sizzling romance and thrilling action in the heart-pounding sequel to the The Dark Divine.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Bree Despain managed to do something with The Lost Saint at which few authors succeed: write a sophomore book that is better than the first book. I liked The Dark Divine, but I really liked The Lost Saint.

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
Release Date: December 20, 2011
Publisher: Mira
Source: Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Summary

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Like many readers, I adored Maria Snyder's book Poison Study, so it was with great eagerness and a little trepidation that I picked up Touch of Power. I'd heard that it was just as good as Poison Study or maybe even better; I was afraid that I would be disappointed. Not to worry. I loved Touch of Power!

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Out of Sight, Out of Time (Gallagher Girls #5) by Ally Carter
March 13, 2012; Hyperion Book CH
*I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Summary

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

The fifth Gallagher Girls book is a story filled with mystery, confusion, fear, tension, and sadness. The Gallagher Girls series started out as a fun, sweet romance of a young girl in spy school. With each book, the series has become more mature and the danger more visceral. It is a series of friendship and family with some romance as well.

Out of Sight, Out of Time is very confusing at first. The fourth Gallagher Girls book came out two years ago. If you haven't read the series since then, I highly recommend re-reading the books (or at least the fourth book) before picking up Out of Sight, Out of Time. I did not do this and was quite lost at the beginning of the book.

On the other hand, the feeling of being lost and confused is part of what Ally was going for in this book - at least I think so. Cammie wakes up with no memory of the past five months. She is as mixed up as the reader. The plot of the book is not only about what she did over the summer, but what caused her to forget it.

Out of Sight, Out of Time is the type of book I find most frightening - a psychological thriller. Cammie's biggest threat isn't necessarily a bullet; rather it is an unknown source that has attacked her mind. There isn't nearly as much humor in this book than in prior volumes of the series. There also isn't a lot of romance. Zach is present, which is wonderful. He is a sweet guy with a delightful hint of darkness. But his role in this book is to help Cammie rather than to build their relationship.

It wouldn't be a Gallagher Girls book without help from Bex, Liz, and Macey. Plus Zach. Cammie tries to act on her own, but she relies on the physical and emotional support of her friends. And her family. I've always loved the strong role that Cammie's mom plays in this series. It's one of the best portrayals of a mother/daughter relationship I've read in recent YA. Her aunt is also a crucial character as well. Cammie and the adults in her life get along well and work together, instead of against each other.

"Fun" isn't a word that describes Out of Sight, Out of Time well. It is so tense and scary at times that I was biting my nails in anticipation. That's not to say that it isn't good. On the contrary. I think it's the best Gallagher Girls book yet. It's grown up and disturbingly dark. Very few YA thriller books go to the level of depth that Gallagher Girls does. I can't wait to see where the series goes from here. I highly recommend Out of Sight, Out of Time and the entire Gallagher Girls series.

Rating: 4 / 5

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
September 13, 2011; Scholastic Inc.

Summary

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

It's not often that an author does something truly groundbreaking. Brian Selznick is rewriting the possibilities of children's literature. Picture books are no longer confined to the infant and preschool set. Illustrations do not simply support a story, they tell a story. Wonderstruck is a fabulous novel that illustrates just how far you can with words and illustrations.

Wonderstruck tells two seemingly unrelated stories. Ben's story begins in Minnesota in the 1970s. It is told through words. Rose's story starts out in New Jersey in the late 1920s. It is told entirely through photos. Ben is mourning the death of his mother and wants to learn more about his past, including his father, who he has never met. Rose is a deaf girl who longs for people and a world, that for various reasons have been closed off to her. Both characters set off on journeys to New York City to hopefully find what they think they're missing.

From an adult perspective, Ben and Rose's stories are quite melancholic. There is death, mistreatment by adults, frustrating friendships, and more. All this is framed around exciting adventures. I wonder if kids pick up on the sadness or if they mostly focus on the excitement of the characters' quests.

The book partially feels like an homage to The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler. Selznick even credits the book at the end. Much of it is set at the Museum of Natural History which Ben explores extensively. The book also takes us to parts of New York City that the casual tourist is unlikely to find. I loved how Ben and Rose's stories eventually meshed up. I definitely did not expect the connection...although to be honest I hadn't spent much time pondering the possibilities. It makes a rather depressing book feel uplifting an hopeful. The only criticism I have of this book, other than being sad, is that it's a bit unrealistic. Not impossible that the various plot points could occur, but I highly doubt it. But I will gladly suspend belief for this book.

The illustrations are amazing. There are over 400 drawings. Each are made with such detail that I wanted to cut them out of the book and hang them on the wall. It's amazing how well they conveyed Rose's story. Not only that, but they reflected the characters' emotions as well or even better than words could have. I thought it was appropriate that Rose, who had no hearing, was the character whose life was featured in a richly detailed albeit silent world.

You must pick up Wonderstruck. It's a very quick read that packs a big emotional punch. A sweet story about discovering your roots, but most importantly discovering yourself.

Rating: 4 / 5