Blog Tour, Review, Excerpts, and Giveaway: Rook by Monica MacDonald

Book Title: Rook

Author: Stella MacDonald

Publish Date:  November 21st, 2013

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Plot:  Could you be the monster to save who you love?

Two women, separated by generations, must leave what they know to start a new life. Seventeen-year-old Kate's senior year is ruined when she's moved from the only home she's ever known. After an isolating month alone in her apartment, school starts, but neither her classmates nor her teacher are who they seem. Kali, a single mother living in the nineteenth century wilds of Montana, is stalked by a malicious past. She fights to keep her daughter safe while her freedom is threatened by her less than benevolent benefactor. Both find love, and with it hope, but that is quickly ripped away as one woman must learn the lessons of the other -- before it's too late to save either.

Why I Read this Book: I received a copy of this book for review purposes as part of a blog tour hosted by I'm a Reader, Not A Writer with permission from the author.  This in no way influenced my review.

Review

This book had me interested form the beginning.  With a mix of contemporary and paranormal young adult writing, I was intrigued by the plot from the beginning.  The mystery of what was happening was enthralling.  Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the writing style.  I thought the ending was incredibly strange, but I enjoyed how strange and unique the ending was.  Spoiler: I did not enjoy that the story included reincarnation and magic. 

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  Any

Overall Rating:  4/5

Buy it on Amazon:

Praise for Rook

"This book also drew me in. I couldn't let go of what was happening and when life intervened and forced me to close my computer I kept looking for a few moments to sit down and read some more.” Brookeworm, a Blog 4 Stars

"Rook had me hooked from the first page. It all started so mysteriously that I just had to know what it was all about. “ Jannat Bhat, Obsessive Compulsive Reader 4 Stars

“Rook is an amazing story that had me at the edge of my seat.” Tee Loves Kyle Jacobson Blog, 5 Stars

Tour Schedule

Author Stella MacDonald

Stella is a married graduate student with three boys. Utah is home right now, but the need to wander has extended beyond the fantasy world of writing and into real life. She's lived all around the US and even into the Middle East. The world is really a small place, only made bigger through imagination.

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/24/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Excerpts

Excerpt 1

Is that him? Is he back?

My legs jerked, kicking and twitching me around to face the sound. I managed to roll slightly, knocking against a soft, solid object at my feet. It grunted weakly, and immediately I recoiled as though I had been bitten. Squinting, I stared, willing my eyes to find light in the dark, but there was nothing.

The sound of the runner drew closer, as if they would trample me any moment. A dim, swaying light appeared through the trees, burning away the inky edges of the deep shadows. When light and sound were almost upon me, branches above me snapped, spraying me in a shower of dried pine needles and snow.


Except 2:

Sean’s dark eyes had not been distracted from mine for a moment. I blushed under the heat of his watch, brushing a nervous hand through my hair. I wondered how long it would be before I could stop turning red every time I felt something.

"I really thought it was just me," I said, needing to fill the silence. "I didn't think you would feel the same way."

"No," he admitted, "It's not been just you for a long time." He kissed my forehead and then turned back to the trail, this time leading me by the hand.

All our lives, there was him, and there was me, and then there was that third being that was us. We had fed that friendship and helped it grow, but it was always just a friendship that remained as familiar to us as we were to ourselves. Now, the us had changed completely. I felt like it was a bigger, more beautiful thing, and it frightened me in a delicious, hopeful way.

Excerpt 3

“Sean.”

My finger ran softly over my lips, remembering just how they felt pressed gently against Sean’s mouth. The small, intense thrill that raced through me felt like it might cleave me apart.

From nowhere, doubt wormed its unwelcome fingers into my mind, forcing my eyes open to face some ugly possibilities. Did Sean feel the same now as he did last night? Or, had he just been caught up in the moment? I ached at the possibility, and instantly thought of a million ways to convince him he was wrong. But what if I couldn’t convince him?

He might have changed his mind, but maybe he was surer than ever, I reminded myself, shoring up my resolve. I considered my old standby of just wait and see. I could give him space; let him decide the next move, but I dismissed the idea almost instantly. This time, I wasn't going to give in like I always did, even if Sean was having second thoughts. Today, I decided, I was going to be brave.

Mine.

Release Day Review of Sinners' Garden by William Sirls

General Analysis

Book Title: Sinners' Garden

Author: William Sirls

Publish Date: December 17, 2013

Genre:  Christian Fiction

Find It Here: Amazon (Affiliate Link)

Plot (from Goodreads):  In a small town where hope and tragedy intermingle, things—and people—are not always what they seem.

Andy Kemp has suffered most of his life from both physical and emotional scars, and he believes that the scars on his face are proof that God doesn’t love him. Andy has grown into a withdrawn teenager, keeping to himself, until his uncle, ex-con Gerald Ripley, shows up and wants to be a mentor to Andy. Rip has turned his life around and wants to do everything he can to help mend Andy’s pain and the rift in his relationship with his sister.

Meanwhile, police officer Heather Gerisch responds to a late-night breaking and entering episode in one of the poorest homes in town. The masked man makes the sign of the cross, escapes, and Heather soon realizes that he has left $5,000 in gift cards to a local grocery store. As the bizarre break-ins continue and Heather pursues the elusive “Summer Santa,” Andy begins to hear strange and beautiful music, and Rip is convinced that he is hearing the voice of God.

As the lives and stories of the townspeople of Benning Township intertwine, extraordinary circumstances emerge and long-kept secrets are revealed.

Why I Read this Book: I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review as part of the Street Team for the book.  I received no compensation for this review.

In Depth Analysis

Have you ever read a book so fast because you wanted to find out what happens in the end? I felt like that when reading The Sinners' Garden . This book is so action packed that I could not put it down. The great plot was not the only amazing part of this book though; the lessons that I learned about God while reading this book are enough to fill another book of my own. I learned more about God's love and that He loves us no matter what our faults are (or what we believe our faults are). God chooses those that are broken as leaders. Moses had a speech impediment, but God chose him to be a great leader. David was an adulterer, but He was also a Man after God's heart. God loves all people and everyone has a special role as part of the Body of Christ. I also learned about how important forgiveness is and how it can change the lives of you and the people around you. It is one of the hardest things to do, but it is also one of the most important things to do in strengthening your relationship with others and your relationship with God. I was also reminded that God is everywhere and a miracle does not have to occur to be able to speak to God. All we have to do is speak and then listen for His response (and sometimes this includes having a little bit, or a lot, of patience).

Not only are the innumerable lessons that can be learned from this book amazing, but the story alone was fantastic.  As the book progresses, the reader begins to learn more and more about the characters and begins to love them.  The mystery of the "Summer Santa" keeps the story suspenseful.  This story follows the lives of so many characters and usually stories that do this end up being confusing and hard to follow, but this book did not disappoint.  I am so glad that I was able to get an unedited ARC of this book and I cannot wait to get my hands on the final, edited version of the book and fall in love with the characters all over again.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  16+ as there are many topics that may be difficult to understand by a younger audience

Overall Rating:  5/5

Throwback Thursday Book Edition #3: The Lost Books series (1-4) by Ted Dekker

Picture from GoodReads

General Analysis

Series Title: The Lost Books (books 1-4)

Author: Ted Dekker

Publish Dates: 2007-2008

Genre: Young Adult, Christian Fiction, Fantasy

Plot for Chosen (from GoodReads):  Think with your heart and prepare to die . . . for you have been Chosen.

Thomas Hunter, supreme commander of the Forest Guard, has seen a great evil decimate much of his beautiful world. With a dwindling army and an epic threat, Thomas is forced to supplement his fighters with new recruits ages 16 and 17. From thousands, four will be chosen to lead a special mission.

Unknown to Thomas, the chosen four are redirected to a different endgame. They must find the seven lost Books of History before the Dark One. For these seven books have immense power over the past, present, and future, controlling not only the destiny of their world . . . but that of ours as well.

Why and When I Read This Book: I started reading the Circle trilogy, the companion series to the Lost books series, in middle school and I loved them.  I started reading this series in high school, but I only owned the first 4 books.  I now own the last 2 books as well and I hope to read them very soon!

  

In Depth Analysis

This series is a fantasy series that is just amazing.  The world that Ted Dekker created is so detailed and so beautiful.  The concepts behind this book are so unique.  I don't want to give away too much, but this series and the Circle series are closely related in that the main character in this series is also the main character in the Circle trilogy.  The Circle trilogy is set in the "real world"; whereas, the Lost books series is set in an amazing fantasy world.  I cannot explain exactly how this is possible without giving away too much information about the books, this unique concept is one of the reasons that I love this series.

Another reason that I love this series is that one of the main themes is good versus evil.  Unlike a lot of authors, Ted Dekker makes out evil for what it really is: dark and sinful.  He also illustrates the Love that God has for all of his children and contrasts this to the ideals of the evil character and by doing this shows how great God truly is.  I think it is important to show the darkness of evil not only to warn against it, but also to use it to show what true Love is and that God is whom we should seek after always.

This fantasy novel is great for those who love a good adventurous story full of action.  I would also recommend Ted Dekker's Circle Trilogy to read along with this series.  The chronological order of the books is Green ("The Beginning and the End" to the Circle Trilogy), Black (Circle Trilogy), the Lost Books series, Red (Circle trilogy), and then White (Circle Trilogy), but either series can be read first and still be easily understood.  Next week's Throwback Thursday will be on the Circle Trilogy.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 10 and up.  There are some violent scenes, but that are not graphic (if I remember correctly).

Overall Rating: 5/5

Throwback Thursdays Book Edition #2: The Hunger Games Trilogy

This weeks "Throwback Thursday:Book Edition" will be for the Hunger Games trilogy.

General Analysis

Series Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publish Date: May 1st, 2011 (Kindle Edition with all  three books)

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian

In Depth Analysis

I originally read this book in high school.  I read the  first book as part of a group that I was involved in known as the Helen Ruffin reading bowl.  The Hunger Games was nominated for the Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers in 2009 and won this award.  I read the first book as part of the Helen Ruffin reading bowl team.  I read the second book soon after and I read the third book shortly after it came out in 2010.  I recently bought all three books for my Kindle and have since reread the whole series.

My Original Thoughts:  I really enjoyed the first book.  I thought that the plot was so unique and I really enjoyed the plot twists.  The love triangle in the book was excellently placed and I was eager to find out who Katniss would choose.  As the series continued, I found that I was disappointed with how the series progressed.  The series became kind of predictable and never ending.

My Thoughts After Rereading The Series:  After I reread the series, I enjoyed the last two books much more than the first time that I had read them.  When I reread the books, I noticed more details than I did the first time and that really amplified how much I enjoyed the books.  Suzanne Collins developed a wonderful story that I will be happy to read once again.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: I would recommend this book to mature teenagers and older as there is a good bit of violence.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

General Analysis

Book Title: The Uglies

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Publish Date:  February 8, 2005

Genre: Young Adult Dystopia

  

Plot:   In a society that makes you get a surgery that makes you “pretty” when you turn sixteen, Tally Youngblood is really excited about her 16^th birthday.  Until you have this surgery, you are considered "Ugly".  It is a “perfect” plan that is intended to prevent people for judging others.  Just before she turns sixteen and after her friend Peris has had the surgery, Tally meets Shay, a girl that almost never lives by the rules of the government.  Will Shay convince Tally that it is not worth turning pretty and that it is better to run away in hopes of finding a secret society?

Overall Thoughts: This is the second time that I have read this book and I enjoyed it as much, if not more, than the first time that I read it.I really enjoyed the plot and the characters in this book.  I also really enjoy the writing style.

In Depth Analysis

To me, this book is a mix of YA contemporary and dystopia.  It is a classic dystopian in the sense that the story is set in a futuristic society that is supposedly better than societies of the past, but the society has flaws that the government is trying to hide.  It also has a very contemporary feel to it.  It has a substantial amount of romance and “girlyness” to it that just makes it feel very contemporary.  It is a great mix of both of these genres that would seem not to mix well with each other but go very well together in this book.

My favorite part of this series is the intricate plot that Westerfeld presents.  The plot is full of so many new concepts and plot twists that are relatable to the reader and this makes the story an exciting journey.  Everything in this book is unexpected.

My second favorite part about Uglies is how well developed each of the characters are.  The reader knows little about the characters when he or she begins the book, but the reader quickly falls in love with each of the characters.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  13+

Overall Rating: 5/5

Future Reviews and Reads

I am currently reading The Reason by William Sirls.  I received this in a giveaway as part of the GoodReads group, Christian Fiction Devourers.  It is a Christian Fiction novel.  I am thoroughly enjoying this book and hope to be finished with it before the end of the week.

I am also reading a devotional/inspirational type Christian book entitled A Woman’s Heart for God: Drawing Closer to the Lover of Your Soul by Sheila Cragg.  It is also very good and gives great tips on how to become closer to God.  I hope to be finished with this book by the end of the next week.

Everwild

Throughout writing this blog, I have realized something:  each book is very unique from another and that is what makes reading them so wonderful.  Because of this, I have decided that I am going to try out a new reviewing format.  Each books is unique, so I do not think the reviews should be so structured.  Let me know in the comments if you like this format or if I should continue with how I was writing reviews before.  Thanks for reading my blog!

General Analysis

Book Title: Everwild (second book of the Skinjacker Trilogy)

Author: Neal Shusterman

Publish Date: November 1, 2009

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy

Plot:  The Chocolate Ogre wants to help those that are stuck in Everlost reach their light.  Mary Hightower wants the population of Everlost to grow, not get smaller as the children in Everlost reach the light at the end of the tunnel.  Allie the Outcast continues to desire to travel to her home and find out what happened to her parents the day that she died.  Each meet exciting adventures along their way.  Will these three meet up again, or will they live in separate areas of Everlost?

Overall Thoughts: I absolutely LOVED this book.  Neal Shusterman never ceases to amaze me with the originality that he puts into each one of his books.  The story was full of plot twists.  In this book, we really get to know the characters that we have come to love from Everlost and learn to love them even more than we did before.

In Depth Analysis

Neal Shusterman is one of my favorite authors.  He really knows how to include action and suspense throughout his novels.  His characters are always changing (sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst).  In Everwild, Shusterman really develops the personalities that we began to love in Everlost.  We really get to know each character.  Although the book is written in third person, Shusterman allows the reader a glimpse into the thoughts of each character which really connects the reader to the book.  

Even though I felt like I knew each character in the book, the characters contuinually did things that I did not expect.  This novel is filled with a lot of plot twists that Shusterman introduced oh so well.  The action and suspense were really bumped up in this novel, and it ended up being a much better novel than Everlost.  If this novel was a recipe, I would say it included a hand full of of action, a pot full of suspense, and the perfect amount of romance.  Everwild ended in a cliff hanger and I cannot wait to read the next novel in this amazing trilogy, Everfound.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  I would recommend this book to ages 12+.  The novel is a little bit dark.

Overall Rating:  5/5

Future Reviews and Reads

Of course, I cannot wait to read Everfound, but I am not sure when I can get my hands on a copy of it.  I do not think that my library has a copy of this book.

As always,  you can check out which books I am currently reading on the right side of my blog.  Additionally, I am always up for suggestions of books to read.  Please leave them in the comments.

A Review on the Volume 1 of Two Manga Series: Death Note and Kingdom Hearts

As you may or may not know, I am a huge fan of manga and graphic novels.  My favorite part about them is being able to see what the author envisioned for each of the scenes as he or she was writing.  I also like that they tend to be quicker reads than novels.  In the last week, I have started reading two manga series: Death Note and Kingdom Hearts.  Here is my review on the first volume of each of these manga series.

Death Note

General Analysis

Book Title: Death Note, Volume 1: Boredom

Author: Tsugumi Ohba

 Illustrator:  Takeshi Obata

Publish Date:  October 10, 2005 (United States)

Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy

Plot:  A teenage boy, Light Yagami, finds the Death Note that a Shinigami dropped on Earth. The holder of the Death Note has the ability to kill anyone on earth as long as he knows their name and knows how they look.  Light decides that he wants to use the Death Note to rid the world of criminals and to make a utopia where everyone is no longer harmed by these criminals, but Light does not realize what he has gotten himself into when he starts to use the Death Note.

Overall Thoughts: I really enjoy this series so far.  The plot is very intense and the characters are believable.  The story is filled with action and suspense.

In Depth Analysis

Characters:  The characters are really believable.  They have a depth to them that is rarely seen in manga.

Writing Style:  The writing style for this manga is amazing.  The plot is very well thought out and very intricate.  As soon as you feel you understand all the rules of the Death Note, another rule is sprung on you that changes the plot dramatically and keeps you on your toes.

Likes:  I love the plot and the development of both the plot and the characters.

Dislikes:  I do not like that this is such a dark read, but the plot is so enjoyable and so mind boggling that I continue to enjoy the story that is presented.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  Because of the dark nature in the manga series, I would recommend this to teenagers 16 and above.  There is not and cussing in this first volume, but the book is very violent.

Overall Rating: 5/5

Kingdom Hearts

General Analysis

Book Title: Kingdom Hearts, Volume 1

Author: Siro Amano

Publish Date: October 11, 2005 (United States)

Genre:  Young Adult Fantasy

Plot:  When a storm hits his island, fourteen-year-old Sora is swept into a mysterious land where he meets Court Wizard Donald and Captain Goofy, who are on a mission to find King Mickey and return him to his throne at Disney Castle.  (Taken from GoodReads because I could not think of a description due to the confusing nature of the plot).

Why I Read this Book:  I have played the video game and wanted to know more of the story behind the video game.

Overall Thoughts: The plot was very confusing and I did not understand what was going on most of the time.  I loved the idea of the story line, but how it was presented was lacking in quality.

In Depth Analysis

Characters:  Most of the characters we already know from Disney, but the author has put a good amount of originality to them while keeping the characters true to their nature.

Writing Style:  The writing style of this volume was were I thought the manga was lacking.  The beginning of this volume was very confusing and the story line was really hard to follow.  There were so many questions left unanswered.

Likes:  I love the idea of the plot in this series.  The way the author integrates the stories that we already know from Disney into a brand new story is very creative and original.  I love to speculate which story from Disney will integrate itself into the story line next.

Dislikes:  Writing style (see above)

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  There does seem to be a dark nature to this series; therefore, I would recommend this book to ages 12 and older.  The darkness of the manga does not seem to be too overwhelmingly scary.

Overall Rating: 3/5

Future Reviews and Reads

I am continuing to read The Language of God by Francis S. Collins and Jesus Freaks by dc Talk.  They continue to be quite good.

I am also reading Everwild by Neal Shusterman, which is the second book in the series entitled Skinjacker.  It is much better than the first book, Everlost, which I also enjoyed.

I am also reading Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaker's Journey which is very interesting.  I am learning os much about the filmmaking process.

City of Bones

General Analysis

Book Title: City of Bones

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publish Date:  March 27, 2007

Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy

Plot:  Clary Fray stumbles upon a world that most humans do not see.  This world is full of Demons, Shadowhunters (who kill said demons), vampires, and much, much more.  The world that Clary thought she knew starts to tumble as she struggles to understand why demons would be interested in killing a mundane, those that normally do not see the shadow world, and why Clary is the only mundane known that is gifted with the Sight.

Overall Thoughts: I really began to love this book after the first 100 pages or so.  The action and intensity of the story is something that cannot be compared to most books.

In Depth Analysis

Characters:  The characters are very defined and full of depth.  The way that the characters relate to one another is described in wonderful detail and really makes the characters enjoyable.

Writing Style:  The writing style is amazing and very suspenseful.

Likes:  I loved almost everything about the story.  The way the story is told is incredible and leaves you wanting more.  The characters are lovable, even those that you love to hate.

Dislikes:  I did not like that there were a few sexual references, cussing, and references to drugs.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  I would recommend this to teenagers and older that are able to handle violence.

Overall Rating:  4/5

Everlost

General Analysis

Book Title: Everlost

Author: Neal Shusterman

Publish Date: October 1, 2006

Genre: Young Adult Dystopia, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Fantasy

Plot:  Nick and Allie are caught halfway between life and death.  They live in a place called Everlost which is filled with things that no longer exist.  They no longer need to breath or eat, yet the desires to do so still exist.  The longer that kids exist in Everlost, the more they begin to forget about how they were and who they were in the living world.

Overall Thoughts:  I thought this book was wonderful, but not as wonderful as other books by Neal Shusterman.  I recently just reread this book.  The first time that I read it was in high school and I loved it just as much as I did when I was in high school.  The only thing that I did not like was that the story was not as good as I expect from Shusterman.

In Depth Analysis

Characters: The characters are very in-depth with their own unique personalities.  Each has their own story which I was delighted to read.

Writing Style:  The writing style is wonderful as always.  Filled with suspense and action, Neal Shusterman never ceases to amaze me.

Likes:  I love the way that every character in Shusterman's books always have a story that makes them who they are.  It makes the story easier to relate to.  I also love the suspense and the action that is in all of his novels.  Shusterman always has unique ideas for each of his books and it makes reading each book of his an adventure.

Dislikes:  This book was fun to read, but seemed to have been written for a younger audience than most of his books.  I did not find it as enjoyable as his other books, but it was still a fun read.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  I would recommend this book to middle school and high school students.  The writing style is more for this younger audience.  The only thing that may not be appropriate for young audiences is the darkish subject matter of the book, death.  Neal Shusterman handles this subject in a light and enjoyable way and in a way that is appropriate for all ages.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Future Reviews and Reads

I just finished a book that was a Read and Review book on Goodreads called Genesisthat is part of the XII Saga by Jason Rowe and Brian Palmer.  It was not an enjoyable as I hoped.  My review for Goodreads is located here.  I may do a review for my blog on this book soon.

I am starting a book soon called The Why of Things that I got from a giveaway on Goodreads.  I am excited to be starting this contemporary novel by Elizabeth Hartley Winthrop.

I am also still reading The Language of God by Francis S. Collins and Jesus Freaks by dc Talk.  I am greatly enjoying both of these Christian Nonfiction books.

Divergent

General Analysis

Book Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Publish Date: February 12, 2012

Genre: Young Adult Dystopia, Science Fiction

Similar Author/Books:  This book is very similar to the Hunger Games series.  The writing style is similar to that of Suzanne Collins (see Writing Style below).  It is a dystopian novel that has factions that are meant to make the world a better place.  Each faction is meant to have a different type of person, each type seeking to reduce the risk of war.  That being said, the plot and writing style is still very original and unique.

Plot:  At the age of sixteen, every teenager must choose which of the five factions they wish to join.  Each faction values one virtue (honesty, selflessness, courage, peace, or intelligence).  Up until this point, each child has been raised in one of these factions.  To leave their faction is seen as betrayal.  Will Beatrice chose to stay with her family in Abnegation, known for their selflessness, or will she leave her faction and join another?

Overall Thoughts: This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time.  It is full of action and has a tinge of romance.  It has a wonderful writing style and an amazing plot.

In Depth Analysis

Characters: The characters are each unique and very complex.  Some characters you love to love and other characters you will love to hate.

Writing Style: I believe that the writing style is one of the best that I have read.  Each word is carefully placed to leave you with a little curiosity, but with enough knowledge as to not be confused to what is happening.  The action in this book keeps you reading long past the time that you decided that you wanted to go to bed.

Likes:  The plot, characters and suspense are carefully planned.  The romance leaves you delighted.

Dislikes:  In one section of the book, there was a reference to sex outside of marriage.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  Because of the violence and the mention of sex, I believe that this book is best for mature teenagers and adults (14-15+).

Overall Rating:  5/5

Future Reviews and Reads

I am currently reading two really good Christian Nonfiction books, The Language of God by Francis S. Collins and Jesus Freaks by dc Talk.  The Language of God is a wonderful book by a leading Human Genome Project scientist that seeks to show how someone can believe in a benevolent God that wants to be involved in our daily lives and also believe in science.  Jesus Freaks is a compilation of martyrs that have died for Jesus Christ.  So far, both books are getting a 5/5 from me.

I also intend to start another YA book soon.  I may start the second book in the Divergent series.  I can borrow the ebook version from my library for my Kindle.  I really enjoy that you can get not just hard copies of books from libraries but also get Kindle (or other ebook reader) versions also.

The Gathering

General Analysis

Book Title:  The Gathering

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Publish Date: April 12, 2011

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Similar Author/Books:  I think that the writing style is very similar to Neal Shusterman in the way that the author, Kelley Armstrong, leaves a lot of suspense to the main story line.  As the story progresses, you learn more about the main plot of the story and as soon as you think you have figured out the plot, Armstrong throws in a new bit of information that makes the story even more action packed and thought provoking.

Plot:  Maya, age sixteen, has grown up in a small town on Vancouver Island.  The town is a medical research community where even the residents do not know what exactly is being researched.  Maya takes care of injured animals that she finds in the forests around the medical town, but it seems when she is around they heal quite quickly.  Things seem strange even for this small town, when the number of cougars in the area seems to be increasing and they all seem to be attracted to Maya.