Book 12: Annette Curtis Klaus' "Blood and Chocolate"

Here we go again. I have given you another "chick" book but at least it's a little more violent, bloody, and sexy. The fantasy romance novel takes the legend of the werewolf in a slightly new direction. They are not made but born and they're an evolutionary special part of our world.

The werewolves (though they are far too proud to call themselves that), are in big trouble. Their leader, our main character Vivian's father, burned up in a raid by humans. All because one of the teen wolves got a little too frisky with a human girl and ate her. Yum yum, fake boobs, it's what's for dinner. So the clan moved to a new city and scattered around and started bickering like any other family. 

Vivian a sexy blond with big boobies struggles to find her niche in the new school where everyone hates her because she's beautiful. She misses her father and falls in love with gasp! A human. She wants to share her beautiful, wolfy side with him along with her naughty bits. But her family and the rest of the clan don't like that because well, look what happened the last time humans found out. 

This is a bit of a cheesy romance for adolescents, most of the fun parts are not explicitly talked about but made very, very clear. Hidden beneath the sex and violence there's a wonderful  message to accept who you are oh and don't have interracial relationships because those will only end in violence and tears. Right...

Again, a very quick read that doesn't have much meat and potatoes, just a side salad, but good for a weekend read after reading abundant amounts of Shakespeare and articles on Rhetoric and Literary Criticism. I would not suggest this for readers that like in depth reading or find romance novels tedious. I find them hilarious, hence I was able to get through this book unscathed. 

This book is another 2 out of 5, quite a bit of a doozy. But again if you're really bored...why not.

Book 11: Terri Farley's "Seven Tears into the Sea"

Okay, okay, I know, I'm reading one of those dreaded "chick books." I am a chick after all and might as well get it out of the way, at least I'm not reading "Twilight." These chick books do have a time and a place and hey, a lot of adolescent girls love these fantasy romance books. I'll admit, for the longest time, I was one of those girls...I even read every single one of the "Twilight" books...then realized what I just read and came to my senses.

So, this story is based off the legend of the Selkie, a man or woman who is actually a seal who shed its skin and became a human and usually find love. The human will then hid the skin of the Selkie to keep it from swimming away (giving Dori's "just keep swimming" phrase to be a tad bit difficult). The Selkie may love the human but usually ends up hating them and calling for revenge. This legend comes from Ireland, Scotland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. It's quite a depressing legend. 

Now in the book, the story tells of Gwen who has a big mystery in her past (dun dun duunnn), and at the fresh age of seventeen finally returns to the place it all happened to help out her dear old Gran. No this is not based off of "Little Red Riding Hood." She gets a cottage all to herself, which I'll admit, I completely want it. She meets Jesse who seems so familiar, oh no could this be related to her mysterious past?! Yes. Obviously. And obviously though she hates him at first they end up making sweet, sweet oceany love. Well, they kiss. I mean no seventeen-year-old girl has sex. Come on.

This book was so fast to read, I don't remember how I got from page 1 to suddenly page 100 in what seems to be five minutes. No it was not difficult, nor particularly interesting. The plot was so predictable that I bet you can guess how it ends. The title kind of implies that already. 

Despite the beautiful imagery and an awesome legend to base it off of, this book is pretty much a 2. If you're really bored, have no homework or work, and it's raining and you're lonely but can stand to feel worse because you have no "epic" love than this is the book for you. If not find something else to read.

Book 10: Frank Beddor's "The Looking Glass Wars"

We all know the story of "Alice in Wonderland," whether or not we have read the actual book (I read most of it and then decided this is too weird even for me). This classic tale has been re-imagined by Disney several times as well as SyFy (their miniseries Alice is awesome), and other film industries (also check out Malice in Wonderland). But this book is one of my favorite stories inspired by Lewis Carrol's work.

The story tells of Alyss, the princess of Wonderland, thrown alone into the midst of the human world after her aunt, Redd, viciously murders her parents and takes the crown. Her powers of "imagination" are soon lost after years around we humans who lack that skill. Upon her sixteenth year she must return to Wonderland and face her bitchy dictator of an aunt who never learned to share.

With amazing detailing and creation of a whole new world, along with a clever case of Stockholm Syndrome, new and old characters, and the message of a powerful imagination, this book makes my list of great for young and old. It is marketed to the younger side of adolescents but I enjoyed it still. It's an easy read, but a great story. And who doesn't love a great story? Hitler, that's who (I really have no idea but off the top of my head it was Hitler or Dick Cheney and I probably shouldn't mention him being an ass on the internet, he might shoot me in the face).

In the middle of the book as an awesome bonus, there's a series of illustrations depicting some of the main characters. These drawings are amazing and detailed, giving form to some of the complicated creatures that are described in the story. Being of a softhearted artist myself, I may be "an adult" but I do love myself some picture books.

For adolescents who love fantasy or just great books I'd recommend this 3.8 out of 5 star book.