Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn

This review was written by: B

Received: ARC from Publisher

Publication Date of Book: June 2015

Pages: 240

Stars: 4.5/5

The things that we love tell us what we are.

-St. Thomas Aquinas

GoodReads' Summary:

From the Morris-Award winning author of Charm and Strange, comes a twisted and haunting tale about three teens uncovering dark secrets and even darker truths about themselves.

When nearly killing a classmate gets seventeen-year-old Sadie Su kicked out of her third boarding school in four years, she returns to her family's California vineyard estate.  Here, she's meant to stay out of trouble.  Here, she's meant to do a lot of things.  But it's hard.  She's bored.  And when Sadie's bored, the only thing she likes is trouble.

Emerson Tate's a poor boy living in a rich town, with his widowed mother and strange, haunted little brother.  All he wants his senior year is to play basketball and make something happen with the girl of his dreams.  That's why Emerson's not happy Sadie's back.  An old childhood friend, she knows his worst secrets. The things he longs to forget.  The things she won't ever let him.

Haunted is a good word for fifteen-year-old Miles Tate.  Miles can see the future, after all.  And he knows his vision of tragic violence at the school will come true, because his visions always do.  That's what he tells the new girl in town.  The one who listens to him.  The one who recognizes the darkness in his past.  

But can Miles stop the violence? Or has the future already been written?  Maybe tragedy is his destiny.  Maybe it's all of theirs.

My thoughts:

I think that I can safely say that I'm in shock over Delicate Monsters; I literally have no idea what to say.  I suppose that I shouldn't be surprised that Stephanie Kuehn wrote another stunningly prodigious novel that managed to leave me speechless, an occurrence that rarely happens.  However, I will try my best to form coherent sentences as I attempt to describe Kuehn's gripping new release.    

Delicate Monsters is equally dark, mysterious, eerie, and bizarre. Throughout the book, we gradually get to know three deeply troubled individuals: Sadie Su, Emerson Tate, and Miles Tate.  Sadie is an agitator who loves to create trouble, inflicting suffering and pain upon whoever crosses her path.  She's an unfiltered manipulator who doesn't listen to anyone.  Emerson is almost like the "golden boy" of this story.  He loves his mother, is a decent basketball player, and is a seemingly overall good teen, but he possesses a darkness within himself that's hidden and buried deep beneath his skin.  No one has any idea about who he really is or exactly what he did during his childhood, except Sadie.  Miles, my personal favorite, is small, sickly, and frightened.  Under constant bullying, Miles is always alone; no one would protect him even if they wanted to.  Together, these unsettling individuals create three separate perspectives that intertwine and unfold before your very eyes into something terribly distressing.     

This psychological contemporary kept me engaged; I never wanted to put it down.  The further into the story I got, the darker it became, an aspect that I truly loved about Delicate Monsters.  Nothing was held back.  I was shocked time and time again by unveiled revelations.  Mysteries were built upon mysteries until they all came tumbling down, releasing an avalanche of despair on my heart.  I do have to warn you, now, that this book is not for the weak of heart.  It's gritty and consuming.  It also delves into mental illnesses and social issues that are sometimes hard to deal with.

Kuehn's characters are undoubtedly enthralling and uniquely distinct.  They have layers that are slowly pealed back, chapter by chapter, so that we can see who they truly are little by little.  You think that you know them, but you don't.  It's unimaginable to even fathom the depths of their souls.  Mixing up who they are is impossible because the author does such a fantastic job of inserting an exceptional sharpness to each one of them.  Her writing is also dreadfully beautiful.  Kuehn is not afraid to think outside the box.  She is willing to tell a story like no other, no matter how traumatic or disturbing it is.

I have to admit, I've been having a hard time accepting the ending to Delicate Monsters, but I'm slowly coming to terms with it.  It definitely fits the story, but I'm left with an ever wondering mind.  However, I highly recommend this book to YA psychological fans everywhere!  It's beautiful, memorable, addicting, and haunting.           

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Black Moon by Kenneth Calhoun

This review was written by: B

Received: Blogging for Books

Publication Date of Book: January 2014

Pages: 277 (Paperback Edition)

Stars: 3.5/5

Summary found on the paperback version of the book:

Insomnia has claimed everyone Biggs knows. Even his beloved wife, Carolyn, has succumbed to the telltale red-rimmed eyes, slurred speech, and cloudy mind before disappearing into the quickly collapsing world. Yet Biggs can sleep, and dream, so he sets out to find her.

He ventures out into a world ransacked by mass confusion and desperation, where he meets others struggling against the tide of sleeplessness.  Chase and his buddy Jordan are devising a scheme to live off their drug-store lootings; Lila is a high school student wandering the streets in an owl mask, no longer safe with her insomniac parents; Felicia abandons the sanctuary of a sleep research center to try to protect her family and perhaps reunite with Chase, an ex-boyfriend.  All around, sleep has become an infinitely precious commodity.  Money can't buy it, no drug can touch it, and there are those who would kill to have it.

Kenneth Calhoun has written a brilliantly realized and utterly riveting depiction of a world gripped by madness, one that is vivid, and strange, and profoundly moving.

My review:

Black Moon is a novel riddled with insomnia, survival, and insanity.  Calhoun's engrossing writing stunningly depicts a beautiful yet horrifically frightening reality of life without sleep, shedding a dark light on the possibility of a world gone mad from something entirely different than the common Robert Frost theory of fire and ice.  Life has become a constant struggle.  Not many people are able to sleep, and the ones who can are hunted and murdered by the ones who cannot.  Each chapter took me on a wild journey that was captivating to read through even though it was mentally straining.  Happy endings are not always possible, and Black Moon definitely proved that sentiment time and time again.

The cast of characters in this novel were plentiful and equally their own persons.  Calhoun went out of his way to mold different ages, genders, and psyches into his story so that everyone was evenly represented. I especially enjoyed when specific characters unexpectedly crossed paths with one another.  The constant back and forth chapters between the different characters’ story lines were also welcomed; it effectively added to the suspense of the entire novel.  However, I was greatly discouraged when a specific character was dropped.  I had no idea what had happened to them and no way of ever finding out what became of them.  In fact, there were quite a bit of unanswered questions by the end of   Black Moon, and I felt as though not enough closure was given to me.  For this reason, I did not feel fully satisfied with the novel itself.  

For me, one of the more appealing aspects of Black Moon was the reading experience.  Many times the author dove into the psyches of insomniacs and wrote from their perspectives.  In fact, it was almost as if I was actually looking into the mind and stream of consciousness of an actual individual suffering from sleep deprivation.  This exposure was both spellbinding and haunting.  However, even though I enjoyed this novel, I felt as though it drug on at times, and I believe that quite a few sections felt similar to each other and were almost repeats but from another character's perspective.  Also, some of the insomniacs’ story lines become muddled and confusing to follow due to countless incoherent thoughts; however, I realize that this was definitely part of the author’s intent.  In the end, I believe this book to be a worthy read, but it was admittedly not the best that I have ever come by.  

Please note that I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books for this review review.

Other Information:
Author Bio: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/177469/kenneth-calhoun/
More Info: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/228170/black-moon-by-kenneth-calhoun/

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April and May: Merfolk

Merfolk

April and May's Topic of the Month is officially Merfolk!  To kick it off, we have posted a few merfolk based books that may interest you.  If you have any suggestions let us know!  Hope you enjoy!  (Click on the covers to go to the books' GoodReads pages!)

Ready by: H and C

Here is the GoodReads summary of the book:

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.

He was gone for three days.  Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened.  Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong.  But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before?  How can he explain he's heir to a kingdom he never knew existed?  That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.

Something happened to him in those three days.  He was claimed by the sea . . . and now it wants him back.

Other Book(s) in the Series:

    

Here is the GoodReads summary of the book:

Shea MacNamara's life just got complicated.

After a freak tornado devastates his Oklahoma farm, the fifteen-year-old orphan is whisked away to Cape Cod.  Struggling to make sense of his new surroundings, he's trying hard to deal with feelings of abandonment . . . and the emotions stirred by a girl he meets along  the shore.

Kara belongs to an undersea world hidden from drylanders.  The daughter of royal servants, she knows the planned marriage of her Princess to the foreign King should put an end to the war between the clans.  But two things stand in the way of the lasting peace: the ambitions of the foreign King's regent, and rumors of the Princess's bastard child.

Sparks fly when she meets Shea, but could the cute drylander really be the Son of a Mermaid?

Other Book(s) in the Series:

Read by: B and C

Here is the GoodReads summary of the book:

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids.  To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans and absorb their positive energy.  Usually, they select their victims at random, but this time around, the underwater clan chooses its target for a reason: revenge.  They want to kill Jason Hancock, the man they blame for their mother's death.

It's going to take a concerted effort to lure the aquaphobic Hancock onto the water.  Calder's job is to gain Hancock's trust by getting close to his family.  Relying on his irresistible good looks and charm, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter Lily.  Easy enough, but Calder screws everything up by falling in love - just as Lily starts to suspect there's more to the monster-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined, and just as the mermaids threaten to take matters into their own hands, forcing Calder to choose between them and the girl he loves.

One thing's for sure: whatever Calder decides, the outcome won't be pretty.

Other Book(s) in the Series: 

    

Ready by: B

Here is the GoodReads summary of the book:

What happens to the girls nobody sees - the ones who are ignored, mistreated, hidden away?  The girls nobody hears when they cry for help?  Fourteen-year-old Luce is one of those lost girls.  After her father vanishes in a storm at sea, she is stuck in a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village with her alcoholic uncle.  When her uncle crosses an unspeakable line, Luce reaches the depths of despair.  Abandoned on the cliffs near her home, she expects to die when she tumbles to the icy, churning waves below.  Instead, she undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid.  A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in - all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives.  The mermaids are beautiful, free, and ageless, and Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: they feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks.

Luce's own talent at singing captures the attention of the tribe's queen, the fierce and elegant Catarina, and Luce soon finds herself pressured to join in committing mass murder.  Luce's struggle to retain her inner humanity puts her at odds with her friends; even worse, Catarina seems to regard Luce as a potential rival.  But the appearance of a devious new mermaid brings a real threat to Catarina's leadership and endangers the very existence of the tribe.  Can Luce find the courage to challenge the newcomer, even at the risk of becoming rejected and alone once again?  

Other Book(s) in the Series:

    









Here is the GoodReads summary of the book:

No one understands the fury of the ocean like Zoey.

Ten years ago, she lost her leg in a freak shark attack.  The night after her sixteenth birthday, she has yet to accept her awkward prosthetic limb or the fact she will always be different.  Wary of the sea, and its hidden threats, she ventures to a bonfire at the beach.  She's mesmerized by its awesome power, wondering what she ever had to fear, until a rogue wave sweeps her into the cool, salty water.

Zoey believed mermaids were creatures of legend, characters in silly children's stories, but it's hard to ignore the captivating tail that's suddenly appeared, or the sense of finally being whole.  She abandons her life on land in search of answers about who she really is and where she came from.

What she discovers is a kingdom full of intrigue and danger, as well as a royal father she never knew existed.  Settling into her role as a mermaid princess, she learns her family is under attack, both on land and in the water.  Raging storms swell up, threatening coastal cities, and sea levels rise practically overnight, endangering the lives of everyone she loves.  Determined to stop the strange phenomena, Zoey becomes caught up in the race to track down what, or who, is responsible for the catastrophic events.  

But Zoey possesses another secret, one born of legend and more powerful than an mer or human can imagine.

Here is the GoodReads summary of the book:

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home, continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark, and take care of her brothers and surfer dad.  But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother.  The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well.  And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her -- and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

Other Book(s) in the Series:

    

Here is the GoodReads summary of the book:

A mermaid haunts Adrianne's dreams . . . is she coming to warn her, save her, or drag her down into the depths of the briny sea forever?

When Adrianne comes face-to-face with the mermaid of Windwaithe Island, of whom she has heard terrible stories all her life, she is convinced the mermaid means to take her younger sister. Adrianne, fierce-willed and courageous, is determined to protect her sister from the mermaid, and her family from starvation.  However, the mermaid continues to haunt Adrianne in her dreams and with her song.

Here is the GoodReads summary of the book:

At the ripe age of 21, happily single Mericle Edwards discovers that her body -- her human body -- is only a temporary fix.  Born in the Deep as a princess with fins and gills, she was hidden amongst the humans, so her father -- a corrupt sea king -- could not use her to his advantage, or worse, destroy her in order to keep his position as ruler of a kingdom in the North Atlantic.  

A visit from a crystal-eyed stranger, along with the onset of startling abilities brings Meri to a realization that her life is in for a drastic change.  Expectations are high and duties aren't taken lightly in the Deep.  Thankfully, Meri's true form knows exactly what's expected of it.

With the guidance of her mentor and his unmatched 'charm', and a few others along the way, Meri will have to make some tough decisions.  Will she fulfill her dream of becoming a small town veterinarian or give it all up to save a world and a lifestyle she remembers nothing about?  Is there someone she's destined to be with after all?

Will her deadly fear of water be a problem?

Transformed by E.V. Fairfall

This review was written by: C

Received: Copy from the Author 

Publication Date of Book: January 2014

Pages: 273 (Paperback edition)

Stars: 4.5 / 5

Fear doesn't live in someone who has nothing to lose.

 -Thea

Years and years ago, Thea and her brother landed on Earth, destroying everything and leaving carnage in their wake.  It was then their duty to recreate and bring back what they themselves had demolished.  Taking the time to painstakingly implement the most intricate of details, Thea and her brother worked diligently to manifest the most beautiful of creations from animals to plants to humans.  However, when they were done, the Earth would not let them grow old and die; instead, the two were to continue on with their duties. 

Now commonly known as Mother Earth, Thea has guided her creations and looked after them with the utmost of care, going as far as to even take her animals' forms.  However, humans soon began to destroy the beauty around them as time went on.  They tear down forests and hunt living creatures only for the vanity of sport.  The siblings roam for years, attempting to balance the good and evil in the world that was tipped when the humans became greedy, but suddenly Thea ends up somewhere she cannot escape.  Earth wants her to teach the Willipord family, a group of less than empathetic hunters, compassion, and it will not let her go about the rest of the world freely until she succeeds.

The Willipords are ruthless, though, and in order to do carry out Earth's wishes, she must turn into a human.  However, her brother gave her one rule and one rule only: never take the form of a human.  Thea is terrifyingly hesitant to go against what her good-natured brother has told her, but her plan requires defying his wishes.  She hopes to make Brice Willipord fall in love with her.  Brice is undoubtedly handsome but his personality leaves little to be desired.  Plus he has unknowingly hurt Thea countless times.  Despite these prospects, she is willing to do what it takes to be free again . . . that is until she meets Chamber.  Chamber has two things in common with Brice: he is a Willipord and a hunter.  Thea cannot help but feel attracted to this broken, curly-haired boy with mesmerizing eyes.  But he's a hunter. Perhaps Thea's plan won't work out as she had originally hoped, for fate has twisted the forthcoming events into something unimaginable.

What happens when Thea falls for what she despises most?  The end result can't possibly be good.  Also, Brice hates to see a girl end up with Chamber, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to have Thea ripped away from Chamber.  Who will end up with Thea?  Who exactly is her brother?  Is it possible to have a soul mate? Will Thea ever be free?  Can the Willipord family actually change? Read Transformed to find out!

Words were power, and ideas were death to the mind if left to wonder.

My thoughts on the book:

Original ideas for YA books are awfully challenging to come by.  It almost seems as if ideas are just recycled again and again until they are completely exhausted.  Sure, some can include twists that make them unique and still thoroughly enjoyable, but the core concept is still the same.  However, Transformed was brilliantly new and quite honestly refreshing.  Never have I come across a book such as this.  The entire design was memorable, rare, special, and captivating.  From beginning to end, it was practically perfect.  

The origin and creation story that were weaved into Transformed were fascinating and gripping with a great perspective.  Also, Thea as Mother Earth alongside her mysterious brother were completely intriguing, especially when their stories unfolded.  I was shocked to find out exactly who her brother was, but it made perfect sense.  Just thinking about how caring, gentle, genuine, and pure Thea was is remarkable.  It is easy to imagine that she is what humanity was supposed to embody.  This then leads me to the point where many honest emotions were explored and pondered as Thea finally experienced the forbidden: being human.  I feel as though E.V. Fairfall kept Thea's behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes true and parallel to her innocence and first experiences.

I found the views on hunting in this book to be well thought out and heavily explored without being preachy.  I personally find hunting to be an intensely horrifying endeavor.  I just can't bring myself to understand the satisfaction that some experience when killing an animal only to have it hung on his or her wall.  Through Thea's voice, I felt terrified and profoundly saddened when she saw an animal shot before or was hurt herself in the same manner.  For some reason, my mind kept wondering to that one scene in Powder when the hunter felt exactly what the fallen deer felt, but I digress!   

Why kill a soul if it didn't need to die?   

-Transformed

If you like twists, this book definitely has some!  I had no idea that they were coming.  Each one was equally unpredictable and shocking!  Plus, the ending was pure perfection!!!!  I was literally putty as I read the last page.  I wish we all had a Chamber in our lives.  (Sigh)

So, if you enjoy a unique, thought-provoking, twisting, fantasy, paranormal story, definitely pick up Transformed!  It's a marvelous read.

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Ask the Dark by Henry Turner

This review was written by: C

Received: ARC from the Publisher

Publication Date of Book: April 2015

Pages: 256 (Hardcover)

Stars: 2/5

Short summary of the book:

Billy Zeets lives in a small town with a dark secret. Young boys have been going missing, and their bodies are not always turning up close to home. The town is filled with missing posters and absolutely no leads. Enacting a curfew and accusing an innocent are the only two things that the authorities have accomplished.
Billy is just trying to live his complicated life. Once a notorious thief, he has turned his life around in order to honor his mother’s dying wish of Billy attaining a better and honest life. His father has done all that he possibly can to pay the bills and support Billy and his sister. However, a horrible accident has left him injured and unable to work. Billy’s father has given up on life, and they are about to lose the only home they have. Billy refuses to accept this reality and the responsibility of making an astronomical amount of money when paying off their debt falls upon his shoulders. On top of that, he has to straighten out his rebellious sister who begins to date the notorious Bad-Ass Ricky.
Billy is struggling with finding work and making the payment before time is up. He sticks to simple schemes to gain wealth, including mowing lawns and helping out friends. He soon relapses into his old habits and tries to resort to stealing anything of value that can be sold to make an easy profit. His thievery leads him to discover that the killer is closer to home than originally believed. Billy soon begins to pick up clues and forms a possible conclusion as to who the kidnapper and murderer truly is. Boys are still going missing and Billy’s information could bring them home safely. However, due to his past, the police would never believe a word Billy says and the killer is closing in on him, too. Will he save the missing children in time, or will his good intentions fall to ruin?

My thoughts on the book:

I would have to say that I do not read contemporary mystery books very often because I never seem to find a plot that grabs my attention and keeps me interested. The beginning of the book already fills you in on how the entire story is supposed to end and the following chapters explain how everything comes to pass. It also does not contain real dialogue; therefore, Billy is relaying what happened and what everyone said. The only other book like this that I have read would be Project Cain, but this novel just did not do it for me. I was a bit bored as I read most of it. I feel that this is the result of a lack of fast-paced action considering the fact that this is a murder mystery. I also have qualms with the fact that you understand the clues and where the story is going way before the main character does. However, I feel as though the idea for Ask the Dark was interesting, but how it was conveyed was not as spectacular.
I do have to give the author props for writing the entire book in the exact way that the characters actually speak. You do not have to imagine the accent or pronunciation of words because he writes every sentence just as you would hear it if you were speaking to a character directly (For example, week is written as we-). The ending of the story is also a redeemable quality for this book. It took me awhile to get interested in the plot because I was frustrated that it took Billy so long to figure out how the clues connected, however, he was smarter than everyone else in the sense that he was the only one capable of collecting clues and evidence to finally piece it together. The ending scenes with Billy confronting the killer and being taken were well written and drew me in. I feel as if the climax was the best part of the book, and I was happy with how the story concluded.

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Stake-Out (Paranormal Detectives Book One) by Lily Luchesi

This review was written by: B and C

Received: ARC from the Author

Publication Date of Book: May 2015

Pages: 128

Stars: 4.25/5

You think anything not human is an enemy.  You kill first and ask questions never.  Not every paranormal creature is evil...

-Stake-Out

Detective First Grade Daniel Mancini was supposed to be following a possible homicide suspect, but what he found instead was a far cry from the supposed human killer.  Alarmingly, he discovered a bloodthirsty, murdering vampire with no qualms when it came to slaughtering the human population.  Daniel has no idea who to tell about this sudden and unnerving development, but when he finally does describe what he witnessed, Daniel is forced into early retirement.  Now this formerly skilled detective is sitting at home, depressed from being let go after failing his psychological evaluation.  No one can possibly understand what he has been through or even comprehend that he is telling the truth . . . until two years later.

One evening, the beautiful Detective Angelica Cross knocks on Daniel's door and asks him the unthinkable: to join the Paranormal Investigations Department, a secret branch of the FBI.  She believes without hesitation that Daniel really did see a vampire, a supposedly fictional creature of the night that should only exist in legends and works of fiction.  Angelica even knows who the vampire was.  The creature that ruined Daniel's career was none other than the 200 year old Vincent, a rogue and viciously bloodthirsty vamp.  Daniel's not sure if he wants to delve into this new world where make-believe creatures actually exist, but he's sure as heck not going to let an immoral thing strike an innocent victim again, especially if that thing ruined his career.

Together, Angelica and Daniel must work as a team to take down one of the maddest, blood-crazed vamps to roam the streets.  However, the two have to battle with their differences, prejudices, and feelings towards their work and each other.  It doesn't help either that one of them has secrets harbored and festering in the dark.  Daniel can't fathom the idea of supernatural creatures being anything other than evil, but Angelica understands that only certain ones are corrupt and have fallen into immoral practices.  However, despite their obvious differences, the growing attraction between the two partners can only mean trouble.  On top of that, Daniel is beginning to have sudden, unexplainable visions from the past.  What do these mean?  Can Daniel and Angelica really put a stop to Vincent?  Are the two falling in love?  Are all supernatural creatures vile things?  Who is the enemy here?  Read Stake-Out to uncover the answers if you dare!

"That's the difference between you and I -- you see life as a game to win, no matter the cost. I see it as a precious gift to cherish."
        -Angelica

Our Thoughts:
Lily Luchesi has created a story full of paranormal thrills, including vampires, werewolves, witches, hunters, supernatural powers, danger, heartbreak, excitement, and a devastating love story!  What more can a girl ask for?  All of our favorite things were combined into one story.  From page one, the novel held our attention, and our breath caught as we read the last page.  It can easily be agreed upon that vampire lore has been heavily explored these past several years, but we believe that Stake-Out holds its own.  The characters were kick-butt and intriguing, creating both a strong atmosphere and reading experience.

Angelica added a depth to the story and proudly represented females everywhere.  C and I have an extremely hard time finding female characters that we actually enjoy reading about.  Too many of them are whiny, unpleasant, indecisive, passive, or are just blind followers.  Others have low self-esteem or retain this complex where they think they need a man to rescue them instead of saving themselves.  Now, we're not saying that these are terrible qualities or characteristics that lesson someone's worth; it's just that they are often qualities that are exploited or implemented so frequently that a girl seems weak.   Angelica was just the opposite, though.  She a true breath of fresh air.  Angelica Cross can easily be described as headstrong and independent.  However, she also doesn't fit in among humans or supernatural creatures extremely well, a fact that she doesn't let bring her down.

There were quite a few elements that made Stake-Out unique for us.  For one, there were several lovely references to the fantastic show Supernatural.  (Cue the fangirling!)  There were also quotes/lyrics at the beginning of each chapter.  This made for a distinctive reading experience, smoothly setting the mood and tone for the pages it was representing.  The flashbacks were also a favorite of ours.  SPOILER The memories created an addicting atmosphere that we rapidly ate up.  We also loved the early interactions between Angelica and Daniel.  The entire idea of the male protagonist being reincarnated was brilliant, creating a catastrophic love story with implications during present day.  END OF SPOILER  Yes, it was easy for us to guess Angelica's secret before it was revealed, but this surprisingly didn't ruin the story for us in any way.

If you're looking for a quick, satisfying paranormal read, Stake-Out is the perfect book for you! There were great characters, backstories, and romance.  Lily Luchesi has won two fans today, and we eagerly anticipate the sequel!

Plagued: The Ironville Zombie Quarantine Retraction Experiment (Plagued States of America, #3) by Better Hero Army

This review was written by: B and C

Received: Copy from the Author

Publication Date of Book: October 2014

Pages: 300 (Kindle Edition)

Stars: 5/5

"Of course," the doctor replied, offering an awkward smirk in his direction.  "Even zombies are still human, right?"

-Dr. O'Farrell

Tom and Penelope have been trying to get their lives back on track ever since they came out of Biter Territory alive without Larissa, Tom's infected sister, not too long ago.  Moving on is a little harder than expected, though.  In fact, it is practically impossible to do in a world infested with zombies and overwhelming memories mixed with unanswerable questions.  Then Tom's father, a powerful man in the government, decides to take a trip into the Quarantine Zone on a mission of his own.  He takes a crew with him that includes the mysterious and deadly Dr. Kennedy.  However, the Senator's helicopter unexpectedly goes down, crashing into the dangerous, zombie infested territory.  Tom can't let his father die in that forsaken place and makes up his mind to go after him.  Tom will definitely need help and he knows just the guys to ask if he wants to make it back home alive.

Hank (a previous companion of Tom's from the time he spent in the Plagued States of America), Mason (an extremely wanted, high-trained soldier), Dr. O'Farrell (an intelligent and inquisitive scientist), Houston (the guy with the train who can take the crew where they want to go), and Penelope (a half-breed who is Tom's closest companion) all head off into the most dangerous mission of their entire lives thus far.  Each and every single person mentioned has their own motives for taking up the task, but they agree to work together for a single cause.  Making the treacherous journey on board Houston's train, it becomes frighteningly clear that not only do Tom and Penelope have to deal with trying to keep safe from the zombies outside, but now they have to worry about Houston's own zombies that are housed within the train cars.  Of course, it is also imperative that no one finds out about Penelope's true nature of being a half-breed.  Tom has assisted her with assimilating back into civilization the best that he could, but that does not mean that she is safe.  Who knows how people might react to her if they found out what she really was?  Dr. O'Farrell seems to be getting too close to the truth for the two's comfort, but being in such close proximity to one another has the opposite effect of keeping secrets hidden.

The truth is, Senator Jefferson wants to wipe out the infected in the Plagued States of America.  So, why did he risk his life to go there if he just wanted to eradicate the entire population?  What is he planning to do?  What is Dr. Kennedy up to anyway?  Her presence is bound to mean even more trouble.  Will Penelope be found out by those surrounding her?  Will she ever be cured, her utmost desire?  Once Tom's gang arrives on enemy ground, they discover even more pressing matters.  Are the half-breeds becoming smarter, more alert?  Will everyone make it out alive from this entire ordeal?  Are zombies more human than we would like to admit?  Who will live and who will die?  Read, Plagued: The Ironville Zombie Quarantine Retraction Experiment to find out!

Elated moaning and groaning from the zombie horde rose above the snaps and creaks of glass, their calls announcing to one another that sanctuary was at hand.  Their calls became frenzied as they pushed against the faltering glass.  Penelope recognized a few calls as something more insidious -- hunger, and the sight of prey.

Our thoughts:
Better Hero Army easily surpassed all of our expectations in his third installment to the Plagued States of America series!  Everything in this novel was bigger and better, ultimately making this the best book in the collection thus far.  It was amazing to get to witness so many of the wonderful characters from The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment and The Rock Island Zombie Counteractant Experiment come together into one story.  Their interactions, struggles, predicaments, dreams, hopes, and faults were equally addicting to delve into.  Not a single dull moment passed within these pages.

It seems almost impossible for us to touch on all of the wonderful aspects that we were naturally drawn to in this book, but we'll start with the idea of zombies and their humanity.  Portions of The Ironville Zombie Quarantine Retraction Experiment focused on the question: Are zombies still human?  Yes, they lost themselves to the instincts of a rabid animal, but who has the power to dictate who is still a person and who is not?  Is it okay to treat them as if they are vermin, slaves, or even lab experiments?  Penelope is a half-breed but she still cares and feels emotions just like everybody else.  Sure, she's still relearning about her surroundings but she is not evil.  She is intelligent, which brings us to our next point.  The half-breeds have proven themselves to be quite a smart and more quick-witted bunch than was previously believed, and this idea made the story even more terrifying.

Going up against an enemy that, while slow, is plentiful in numbers, persistent, and able to use weapons and deception against you when you thought they were only mindless creatures, is exceptionally terrifying.  There was this one particular scene that included a half-breed coming up to the  structure where Tom and everyone else were hiding and the creature was banging against the glass with a creepy, smiling expression on its face.  Chills literally ran down our spines.

Experiencing this story through Penelope's point of view was definitely intriguing and special and sets this book apart from the rest of them.  She is such a unique, distinctive individual, and this all leads to the fact that looking through her eyes was like looking at an entirely new world.  Knowing what was going on in her head added an entirely new perspective to this series that complemented the other books yet elevated this one to a whole new level.  It allows the reader to understand a partial history of some of the first zombie experiments and what it is like to be stuck in a life that you didn't choose.

Overall, Better Hero Army outdid himself and wowed us yet again!  In fact, he absolutely blew us out of the water!!!  His writing style and plot lines have evolved to become more in depth and intricate, bringing the zombie atmosphere into a whole new playing field.  The stakes have been raised yet again, the mystery deepened, and the terror and thrills have heightened!  We highly recommend this series.  It has never let us down.  You seriously need to go pick up the books right now!

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