Nightshade

Quick Plot: Calla did it-- it was totally against the rules, but she couldn't just let him die-- human or no human, she saved him. Calla is the next alpha of her pack. She runs the show-- well pretty much. Her pack of werewolves? No-- the book is explict about this-- they're not werewolves, they're guardians, and they work for the Keepers. There is some very complicated stuff here about everyone's place and function, and some new mythology to wrap your head around. (I'm off track) Calla is the female alpha head of a pack of guardians scheduled to be joined with the male alpha (Ren) of another pack. They seem to have some crazy chemistry and good rapport, but once Calla saves the human (Shay,) everything in her world get's a little crazy. One question leads to another and before you know it she's tossing out all of her old rules and regulations.

Is this book a good read-- yes, it's fast, yet chock full of fun little tidbits. It's intersting, full of anxt and the stresses of being cool, and yet-- still having all of those little questions of teenage life like... oh, did I get that deer blood on my favorite tee?

So-- the author goes out of her way to invent a mythology to insist that these packs of people who change from wolf to human and back are NOT-- I repeat NOT werewolves. Thank you for doing it. Werewolves are gross-- let's just put that out there. Not having them be werewolves, but rather guardians makes this a touch more palatable. That being said, the fact that they're guardians is supposed to be a secret in the book, but it seems like everyone around them really knows everything that is going on. I mean-- I went to high school, and I understand that Ms. Cremer set it up that the 'humans' just know to scurry, but I really can't imagine that happening-- well not like this. These people act like roaches... they scurry away at the slightest thing. Which implies that they know something. Also I guess we're supposed to strongly dislike some of the people in this novel, but the adults (and I mean ALL of them,) end up seeming twisted and super sick-- which is a bit disconcerting.

I'm excited about this book though. It was a fun read, easy and interesting. I want to read the sequel-- as I was left dropping off a serious cliff at the end of this one.

R.

Reality Check

Quick Plot: It's reality TV, well- um-kind of. 16 year old BFF's Charlie, Keiran, Brooke and Hallie have been offered the chance of a lifetime. Their own reality TV show and not just that, but Charlie is going to be the star!!! [eeee--teen squealing commence] Well, long story short-- being part of something that public is not always great. Film can be edited to look like whatever someone wants it to look like...and Adults are not always looking out for your best interest (even if they claim to be.) Friendships crumble, tears tumble, and at then end of it all we've had our hard life lesson served up to us in a navy and pink platter.

Reality Check is worth a read. It was a fun book and the characters are endearing-- well most of them (one or two you will want to punch some sense into.) There were moments it was great and you couldn't wait to figure out what would happen next, or who was really pulling the strings.

All in all an engaging read and one that may make you question the bounds of your friendships. Could they take a reality show?

Backstabbers beware...

R.

Thirteen Days to Midnight

Quick Plot: Death??? Pshaw-- Jacob Fielding, you are indestructible-- and you can pass on your power to others, save lives-- do good things, great things, or can you... Jacob Fielding is a young man who is down on his luck. Already in the foster care system most of his life, he loses his latest (and greatest) foster father in a car accident and now lives with a bunch of old Catholic priests. He decides that it's time to go back to school and meets the new girl-- Ophelia James (Oh.) Obviously not recovered from the whack on his head in the car accident, he falls for her despite the fact that she stinks of danger and makes truly stupid decisions regularly. This book follows Jacob, his best friend Milo and Ophelia as they first find out how to save the world, and then realize that things are never quite as good (or simple) as they seem at first.

This book was quick and readable. There weren't any major issues with it other than a girl character who was obviously NOT written by a woman. (a little too much if you know what I mean.) The main character is impossible not to empathise with, (though a little hard to sympathize with as the whole abusive foster care situation is not completely common-- nor is living with priests.) The concept of the dark side of something that most people would find to be amazing is interesting, though I feel like I've read a couple of those now. Perhaps this is the recession's effect on the superhero. My advice-- read it, enjoy it, it's not going to give you nightmares, (despite the familiarity of the plot from movies such as unbreakable or various horror movies,) or even too much to think about.

R.