A Modern Witch (Modern Witch # 1)
by Debora Geary

Summary
Lauren is enjoying the wonders of online shopping when she suddenly finds herself in an online chat room for witches instead of adding ice cream to her grocery cart.  Believing it’s some sort of computer glitch, she decides to humour the “witches” who want to chat with her about her “power”.  As a successful real estate agent, Lauren is quite sure that her powers are good intuition and solid research skills. But the women in the chat room are convinced, and inform Lauren that they’re going to send someone to “scan” her for witching power. Writing them off as nutty but harmless, Lauren returns to her grocery shopping and assumes that will be the last of it. But then a man shows up in the restaurant where she’s eating lunch and levitates some plates, sending Lauren’s whole word into turmoil. When Jamie finally manages to convince her that she has actual power, Lauren must decide whether to embrace this new mystifying world of witches, or run back to the comfort of blissful ignorance and her couch.

Review
A Modern Witch starts off slightly confusing by throwing readers into the middle of a scene without any back-story. But once the characters are established, it becomes a compelling and heart-warming tale that’s hard to put down. The dialogue flows naturally, and the characters are very likeable making it difficult not to root for them. One of my favourite aspects of the book is the refreshing and unexpected romantic twist. I always love it when a story doesn’t do what I expected! The addition of technology is a welcome enhancement to the witch genre, bringing a modern twist to what can sometimes seem dated. While not an action packed tale, the story moves along quickly, holding the readers’ attention right up until the end.

Verdict
A Modern Witch is a fun and entertaining read that mixes fantasy and technology seamlessly. I look forward to reading the next two installments in this series!

*I received this book for review from the  author through the LibraryThing Member Giveaway program.

Anything
by Michael Baron

Summary
Ken & Melissa truly have it all. They each have a rewarding career, live in a nice home and are about to be blissfully married to the love of their life. As their wedding approaches, Ken visits their favourite jewellers to find Melissa the perfect wedding gift. Instead he is offered a rare opportunity to observe Melissa’s life before he knew her. Thinking it’s a hoax, Ken decides to humour the mysterious Stephon and take him up on his offer. The result turns out to be something much more than Ken believed possible. Now he’s faced with an incredibly difficult decision that could change everything he thought he knew.

Review
Michael Baron has a knack for creating wonderfully charismatic characters, and the central character in Anything is no exception. We get to know Ken well as the story is told from his POV, while Melissa remains more of a mystery. The secondary characters play very minimal roles in this book, but Ken manages to carry the story effortlessly on his own. The twists and turns created by Ken’s choices make this very different love story with less angst than your typical romance. While the intrepid ending wasn’t quite what I expected, I still felt it was a fitting conclusion to the narrative.

Verdict
A sweet, touching romance with just a hint of fantasy and mystery thrown in, Anything is another enjoyable story from Michael Baron.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

The Future of Us
by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Summary
In 1996 few people had a computer in their home, the internet was a strange new place and Facebook hadn’t even been invented yet. So when Emma Nelson logs onto her AOL account for the first time, she’s understandably confused when a window for Facebook pops up on her screen. As she explores this perplexing website, Emma is shocked to discover that somehow this page seems to be all about HER but 15 years in the future. Unable to deal with this bizarre discovery on her own, Emma confides in her next door neighbour (and once best friend) Josh. Josh is convinced it’s a prank until he gets a look at HIS future self, and really likes what he sees. But the pair soon discovers that even the tiniest action in the present can have a huge effect on the future. Will Emma and Josh be able to manipulate their future to ensure happiness or will they end up destroying everything before they even get there?

Review
With a truly unique and innovative concept, The Future of Us captures the reader quickly and keeps them hooked with a perpetual desire to find out what will happen next.  Emma and Josh are likeable, although slightly selfish characters, which makes them believable teenagers. A collaboration between two authors, each chapter in The Future of Us alternates between the two main characters point of view. While this tactic can often be confusing – especially in this case when the characters have a very similar voice – it was an excellent way to show how different Josh and Emma’s views of the future were. While some potential for greatness was wasted with unexplored plot-lines, The Future of Us is a thoroughly enjoyable, feel-good story that moves well, even if it doesn’t overwhelm. The 90’s references were perfect, and the questions raised by the possibility of seeing your future kept me thinking for days after I had finished reading.

Verdict
The Future of Us is a quick, easy read that’s hard to put down. With an original concept and thought-provoking message, Josh and Emma’s story will appeal to readers both young and old.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

The Space Between
by Brenna Yovanoff

Summary
Daphne, the daughter of Lucifer and Lilith has spent her life in a city made of steel. Unwilling to indulge in the common behaviour of her sisters, she has forgone the pleasures of earth for an eternity of nothingness in Pandemonium. But when Obie – the one person who breaks up the monotony of her existence – goes missing, Daphne sets aside her fears and ventures out into the world to find him. The only clue she has is Truman, the human boy she met when Obie saved him from eternal damnation in Pandemonium. With Truman’s help, she struggles to rescue the one person that matters most before it’s too late. In the process, Daphne discovers her true power and learns that life is full of the unexpected and people can be saved in more ways than one.

Review
The Space Between is a dark and haunting tale, written in wonderfully descriptive prose so that even the bleakest scenery appears vivid and harshly beautiful.  The story is broken up into three parts: Hell, Earth and Heaven. As is to be expected, Pandemonium (hell) is very bleak and as a result the story doesn’t fully come to life until Daphne ventures to earth. Yovanoff has an interesting take on good and evil, breaking out of the norm to allow angels to be harsh and demons to show kindness. Consequently, the characters in The Space Between are unique and original. And it was very refreshing to read a YA fantasy novel with NO love triangle!  The light romance that was in the story was subtle and believable. My one issue with The Space between was the shift between 1^st person and 3^rd person narrative in an attempt to show both Truman and Daphne’s points of view. It was too subtle to be effective and was often confusing. The final battle was somewhat anti-climatic, but the story continues after the final showdown, and I very much enjoyed the unexpected ending.

Verdict
A beautifully written and fresh take on the standard YA fantasy fare, The Space Between is both eerie and yet heart-warming at the same time.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

Inheritance (Inheritance Cycle #4)
by Christopher Paolini

Summary
After the siege of Feinster, Eragon and Saphira continue to travel across Alagaësia with the Varden in an attempt to take control of the land and thwart Galbatorix’s supporters. The further they venture, the more they fear their enemy is too powerful to be defeated.  Eragon trains as hard as he can in hopes of becoming a strong enough fighter to defeat the all powerful Galbatorix, but nothing he does seems to be enough. When unexpected allies join their side, the Varden’s hopes rise, but will it be enough to bring down the most powerful magician in the land? Or will Eragon and the Varden be forced to admit defeat and live under Galbatorix’ rule?

Review
If you’ve come this far in the series then you’re probably already a fan of Paolini’s remarkable characters in the Inheritance series. I love each of the characters and would have a hard time picking my favourite (it’s Saphira). Each of the characters are complex individuals with both strengths and flaws, and their unwavering convictions make it hard to dislike even the most evil players. Rich background stories are woven throughout the four books and Inheritance is no exception, as we finally learn more about the Dragons history and the fall of the Riders.

While the books are sometimes criticized for being too long and drawn out, I for one don’t have a problem with how the story has progressed or its conclusion. While I must admit that Inheritance did drag a bit in the middle, I still enjoyed all the side adventures that brought Eragon and his friends to where they are today.

***SPOLIER IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH***

For those of you expecting a big love scene, you may be disappointed… Eragon’s story has never been a romance, but a tale of growth, strength and overcoming obstacles against all odds. I think Paolini handled the Eragon/Arya situation perfectly in keeping with the true spirit of the novel.

Verdict
It was a long time coming, but Inheritance makes for a satisfactory conclusion to Eragon and Saphira’s story, while still leaving the door open for possible future Rider adventures. This fan is satisfied.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

Crossed  (Matched #2)
by Ally Condie

*This review contains spoilers for Matched, book 1 in the series.

Summary
After they came and took Ky away, Cassia wasn’t sure what the future held, but she knew she had to find him. Now she’s been working in the outer Provinces for months in hopes of somehow finding a way to connect with him. Fearful that she’s running out of time before she must return to her work assignment in the Society, Cassia sneaks onto an airship transporting workers to a village in the border provinces. Once there, she hears word that someone who fits Ky’s description has recently been in the area. Along with Indie, her one friend from the work camps, Cassia plans an escape and embarks on a journey to find Ky and with any luck, others who want to rebel against the Society as well. While she searches for Ky and the Rising, Cassia must stay alive, avoid capture or discovery and decide where an with whom her future lies.

Review
Now that Cassia has ventured away from her comfortable life in the Society, the sterile and pristine world we were introduced to in Matched has been replaced by rugged wilderness and harsh terrain giving Crossed a very different feel than the first book in the series. Along with the Society, Cassia’s family, and to an extent Xander have also disappeared from this second installment. I found myself missing the characters from the first novel, but did enjoy the new characters that were introduced in book 2.

Each chapter in Crossed switches back in forth between Cassia and Ky’s points of view. While I enjoyed getting to better know Ky in this manner, I found the flip-flopping confusing at times and often had to check back to see who was speaking.  While the story isn’t quite as gripping as Matched, Crossed does set up the next book in the series wonderfully. I’m eager to see how things work out in book 3!

Verdict
An enjoyable read, Crossed felt a little more like a bridge between the fist and third books in the series rather than a complete novel on its own. Fans of Matched will want to read this one, but don’t expect the same book you read in the first installment in the trilogy.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

Explosive 18 (Stephanie Plum #18)
by Janet Evanovich

Summary
Stephanie Plum has plenty of FTA’s to catch after returning from her trip, but her capture ratio is low! While this should be a top priority since rent needs to be paid, Steph’s far more concerned with all the interested parties wanting to question her about a missing photograph.  Yet, all her family and friends seem to care about is what exactly happened on her Hawaiian vacation. And that’s one thing she does not want to talk about! Meanwhile a problem with the bonds bus forces Vincent Plum Bail Bonds to seek yet another location. Now Steph has to sort out this photo mess without getting killed and still earn enough money to make ends meet.

Review
Picking up shortly after the (small) cliff-hanger at the end of Smokin’ Seventeen, Explosive Eighteen changes things up a bit by having two fun mysteries that don’t even involve the bonds office. And those are on top of Steph and Lula’s hilarious adventures in Bounty Hunting! I personally found this deviation from the normal formula to be fun and refreshing. I also really liked that we got a direct continuation of the story from the last installment. Often the Plum books are fairly self-contained, but I’m a fan of the continuing arc.

I’ve read complaints about Steph’s back and forth between Morelli and Ranger, and the fact that she hasn’t improved much as a Bounty Hunter in all these years. While both these issues are still present, what was different in book 18 is that Stephanie seems to have realized that it’s time to make a choice and some improvements. Yay for progress! And it wouldn’t be a Plum novel without the many laugh-out-loud moments, which were in full supply in Explosive Eighteen. I found Lula was especially hilarious this time around, and would like to petition Janet Evanovich to make Lula’s “Hell yeah. I’m a big Tweeter” comment a reality! Because @Lula would definitely be a Tweeter worth following!

Verdict
With some fun mysteries and hilarious antics, Explosive Eighteen is one of my favourite Plum adventures in quite a few numbers!

BONUS!  The hardcover edition of Explosive Eighteen contains the cutest tear-out 2012 Plum calendar!

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1)
by Patrick Ness

Summary
Life in Prentisstown is tough. Being the last settlement in the New World, and having lost all their women to the terrible Noise Virus, life can seem very isolated for the men (and one boy) who remain. Except that no one is ever really alone when everyone else can hear your every thought.  And that is the curse that the men of Prentisstown bear – their “Noise” is always out there for everyone to hear. Todd is the last boy left in Prentisstown, but less than a month remains until he will finally be a man. He’s sure things will be better once he can be counted among the men in town, but when he discovers a strange silent spot amongst the Noise in the swamp, suddenly everything Todd knows is thrown into question. His family sends him away, telling him to run for his life and never look back. Angry and confused, Todd has no choice but to flee the only life he believes exists. As he makes his way into the unknown, he discovers that everything he once thought to be true was a lie. Now he must uncover the truth, and hold onto hope in a world where there seems to be none.

Review
The premise of The Knife of Never Letting Go is fantastic! The idea of being able to hear the thoughts of everyone around you is original and unique. There’s plenty of non-stop action to keep the reader flipping pages. The characters are believable, well developed, and grow throughout the course of the novel. And once you get used to the strange grammar and horrific spelling, the dialogue is interesting. So really, it’s got all the factors that make up a great book right? Right. Except that I hated it. I mean I read the whole book and have no complaints about the quality of the writing, but everything that happens to the characters throughout the course of the story is AWFUL. There might be one or two brief moments of happiness, but that’s it. I almost stopped reading 2/3 of the way through because something so terrible happens that I didn’t think I could take any more. I managed to soldier on, but there was definitely no happy reward for my efforts. And don’t even get me started on that ending – or rather complete lack of an ending. I’m all for a well-done cliff-hanger, but this book just stops (at yet another horrible thing) a few pages short of an actual ending. I actually wondered if my digital copy was missing some bits the ending was so abrupt.

Verdict
If you’re OK with a really dark and unhappy story, then The Knife of Never Letting Go is a great read. If you want to feel a little bit good while reading, then skip this one.

Relic Master: The Dark City (Relic Master #1)
by Catherine Fisher

Summary
Raffi and his master are Relic Hunters in an age when Hunters have become the hunted. The Order has crumbled and the Watch is tracking down those that are left and making them disappear. The few remaining members of the Order are deep in hiding and Raffi and Galen are unable to rest or let their guard down as they search for lost relics. When they’re summoned to a small settlement to examine an artifact, they know danger may await them but Galen seems to be looking for trouble these days. Instead of a relic, the Relic Master and his apprentice are given a new mission, and so they set off for the lost city of Tasceron. But Tasceron is a dark (literally!) and foreboding city with dangers lurking around every corner. Will Raffi and Galen be able to find the mysterious Crow and make it out alive, or will their efforts be in vain?

Review
Set in a bleak dystopian future, The Dark City is filled with magic, chaos and intrigue. Anara is different from our world in almost every way, but Fisher has crafted the Relic Master universe in life-like detail, making it easy to imagine the harsh but beautiful landscapes and the sinister yet magnificent city of Tasceron. At first, almost everything in Anara is shrouded in mystery. The reader is left wondering what The Watch is, what the relics do, and where the mysterious powers come from. As the story unfolds, little pieces of information are slowly revealed that shed light on the many mysteries. When the story ends, a lot is left unexplained but I believe this is intentional, and these answers will come in the following installments of the series.

The characters in The Dark City are interesting, especially those that enter the story a little later on. The main characters (Raffi & Galen) are likeable, if not overly unique, but the mystery surrounding Carys is one of the more compelling plots of the novel. And I couldn’t help but find the Sekoi very charming and charismatic. It’s refreshing to read a YA fantasy novel that doesn’t revolve around romance or a love triangle, and yet still focuses on the development of relationships between the characters.

The Dark City provides a satisfying ending while still setting up the next books in such a skilful way that the possibility of what’s to come is hard to resist.

Verdict
While The Dark City was an enjoyable read, I think the real meat of the Relic Master story will come in the three following novels, when more answers are revealed.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

The Summer of Permanent Wants
by Jamieson Findlay

Summary
It’s hard to be different, especially for a child. 11-year-old Emmaline has suffered an illness that’s left her unable to speak, and as a result she doesn’t get to spend much time with children her own age. So when her Gran invites her to spend the summer sailing the Rideau Canal on a floating makeshift bookstore, Emmaline is thrilled.  This could be her chance to have an adventure and be a part of something bigger than the isolated world in which she spends her days.  While her parents are reluctant to let her travel so far and so long without them, Gran convinces them it will be a good thing for Emmaline. Gran’s true hope is that breaking away from her usual routine will help Emmaline rediscover some of what she has lost.

Review
Written in beautifully flowing and descriptive prose, The Summer of Permanent Wants is a quirky, youthful adventure that touches both the fantasy and non-fiction worlds. Each chapter in the novel is its own standalone story, but they all come together to tell a bigger tale. And just as summer builds giving us one exciting experience after the other, each story in The Summer of Permanent Wants is more captivating than the last!

Canadian author Jamieson Findlay has used the familiar landscape of the Rideau Canal and the towns that populate its banks as the setting for this tale of exploration. It was a pleasant surprise to recognize many of the places that Emmaline and her Gran visited during their voyage, making it that much easier to imagine oneself as a witness to their escapades.

The characters that populate the stories are unique and eccentric, created with just the right mix of imagination and believability to keep young readers intrigued. We get to spend a lot of time inside Emmaline’s mind, and learn a great deal about what it’s like to struggle with something so confining as a language impediment.

Verdict
The Summer of Permanent Wants is sure to capture the attentions of the young explorer in all of us, but especially children with a sense of adventure.

Read an excerpt from The Summer of Permanent Wants!

 *This book was provided for review by the Publisher.