[Review] The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

I've been participating in an impromptu book club with a few friends over facebook chat. I may move it over to Goodreads if more people join. We're kind of terrible at the whole structure thing. This was the second of our book choices. Why? Why do I read any book? Because it looks interesting. My one friend is also deathly afraid of zombies and I wanted to challenge her. I'm an asshole.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth
The Forest of Hands and Teeth #1
Carrie Ryan
July 2009
Gollancz

Disclaimer: Fry typed 'The Forest of Hands and Teats' too many times to count during the writing of this review. 

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In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

This book starts out somewhat normal, as far as dystopians go. We have an isolated village, fenced off from the rest of the world. The rest of the world is full of shambling undead or, as the book likes to refer to them, the Unconsecrated. Okay, cool. Not too bad.

It only gets worse from here.

Mary's father is missing, presumed dead, possibly unconsecrated. Her parents had a loving marriage despite the fact that the marriages in the town are mostly arranged. The boys in the town get to pick which girls they wish to marry. With minimal courtship and theatrical ceremony, they are bound together in holy matrimony for the rest of their lives. Mary, of course, has a crush on a certain boy, Travis, who she wishes to catch the eye of. Unfortunately, his brother, Harry, called dibs. Harry's proposal delays her and when her undead father comes to the fence, it drives her mother into a frenzy. Her mother is bitten.

The village is run by a group of creepy nuns, they take Mary's mother in and allow her to chose if she wishes for a clean death or to become unconsecrated. In her grief, Mary's mother chooses to stay with her husband and join the legion of the undead. Mary stands vigil as she sickens and turns, out of respect. Mary is then cast into the Sisterhood by her brother as he blames her for their mother's demise.

In the sisterhood, Mary is rebellious and unbelieving of her fate and everything the Sisterhood tells her. When her crush is in a terrible accident, he is brought to a nearby chamber where Mary nurses him back to health and creates intricate stories to whisper to him in the dark. She's head over heels by the time the mystery deepens.

A stranger appears! But, there is supposed to be nothing out there, beyond the fence.

Mary, I should mention, is obsessed with the ocean. To her very core she needs to see the ocean and nothing will stop her. Knowing that people can travel about without becoming undead only adds fuel to the fire.

The evil Sisterhood eventually brings the unconsecrated down upon the village. And so, with no village to go back to, Mary heads out onto a fenced in path away from the city. Travis, Cass (her best friend and Travis's betrothed, even though she's in love with Harry), Harry, her brother, and her brother's wife all end up tagging along with. There is still plenty of mystery and tragedy during their travels.

At one point, they find another village. Upon investigating, they turn up so many undead that they are forced to take shelter. Mary ends up with Travis, playing house. Yet all she can think of is to be morose and fatalistic. Instead of spending the hours doing exactly what she wanted to do to begin with, she spends them thinking about the lives of the undead outside and how exactly to leave and get to the ocean. Seriously. She now has everything she ever wanted before they left the village and all she can think of is getting to the ocean. Someone needs to slap her.

This wasn't what I was expecting from a zombie book at all. The romance was convoluted and over-complicated. Everyone knew who liked whom. They were just making each other miserable. I have no idea why they would do that. They're supposed to be friends and relatives. Wake up and knock it off!

The action scenes were interesting. I still wanted to find out what happened next.

I want to know where the paths lead, because Mary and company only went down one of them and their mysterious stranger came from another route.

The concept was sound and also interesting. The characters were not. The romance was not. The obvious plot twists were not. The book still had a solid base to work from, the subsequent layers just seemed lazy and less thought out.

SoSo for me. I may or may not pick up the next one in the series. I am curious about the world as a whole, but I really abhor Mary.

[Arc Review] Perdition by Ann Aguirre

Perdition
Dred Chronicles #1
Ann Aguirre
August 27th, 2013
Ace

Arc won via Twitter from the Author.

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WELCOME TO HELL 

The prison ship Perdition, a floating city where the Conglomerate’s most dangerous criminals are confined for life, orbits endlessly around a barren asteroid. 

Life inside is even more bleak. Hailed as the Dread Queen, inmate Dresdemona “Dred” Devos controls one of Perdition’s six territories, bordered on both sides by would-be kings eager to challenge her claim. Keeping them at bay requires constant vigilance, as well as a steady influx of new recruits to replace the fallen. Survival is a constant battle, and death is the only escape. 

Of the newest convicts, only one is worth Dred’s attention. The mercenary Jael, with his deadly gaze and attitude, may be the most dangerous criminal onboard. His combat skill could give her the edge she needs, if he doesn’t betray her first. Unfortunately, that’s what he does best. Winning Jael’s allegiance will be a challenge, but failure could be worse than death…

Wow. After the last Sirantha Jax book covering turns of political and social upheaval with sparse and decimating action, this book comes roaring out of the gate. After scant chapters to set up the location and characters, the plot takes a death grip and doesn't let go. When I hear phrases like 'non-stop action', I immediately become skeptical, but Perdition's plot is constantly moving, barely offering time to rest between fights. There is even a large scale massacre within the last chapter, within the last four pages. I've never been offered that much action that late in a story without a horrifying cliffhanger. Ms. Aguirre doesn't leave us hanging, crafting it in such a way that I want to pick the next book up, but I'm not full of hatred over an abrupt ending.

Perdition takes place turns and turns after Sirantha Jax's story. It's set in the same world, mentioning events from the other series. Compared to the scope of Sirantha Jax's tale, this book is set on a singular ship in a rotating orbit. It's the most maximum security of prisons with no escape and no guards. Prisoners can join a variety of gangs depending on their personalities and murderous ideals. Each gang controls part of the ship. There is plenty of infighting in the gangs as well as territorial skirmishes.

As for the characters who inhabit this ship, they are varied and interesting. The mercenary, Jael, last seen on Ithiss-Tor, returns as one of the main protagonists in this series. He is pretty much the same, though it seems time on the bug planet has given him a chance to think over what a jerk he was. While he still harbors the notion that everyone is out to get him, he is less inclined to act upon it and quicker to apologize on the rare occasions when he does. Being what he is, he hasn't visibly aged, which is good, because he'd be very rickety and not all that great at combat.

The new protagonist, Dresdemona Davos, the Dread Queen, recently took over the territory in which she lives. Her rule is hanging by a tight thread. Her borders are threatened on both sides by two different gangs and there is dissension in her ranks. She has to navigate through an alliance with the crazy Silence, who's disillusions involve plenty of mute fighters and lots of death, in order to have the numbers in order to defeat the encroaching gangs. She also has to deal with a coup to throw her out of power in the most permanent way.

The other point of view belongs to Dresdemona's right hand man, Tam, a former political spy. While I am unsure as to what his motives or endgame is, he is both helpful and demanding. The Dread Queen is a character of his own design and he pulls most of the strings.

The other characters are just as colorful. There is a soothsaying mechanic, an innocent old man, and a huge cheerful berserker. There are plenty more, and they cover just about every creed and vice you can consider.

The romance, while hinted at being a possible love triangle or tetrahedron, turned out being not so complicated. It had it's ups and downs, but for being in a war on a prison ship, it was both sexy and sweet.

Overall, I really loved this book. It's dark, exciting, sexy and full of interesting twists and turns. I didn't want it to end. I savored it until the last possible moment and I can't wait to read the next one!

[Review] Tall Dark and Vampire by Sara Humphreys

Tall Dark and Vampire
Sara Humphreys
August 6, 2013
Sourcebooks Casablanca
320 pages

Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley


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She always knew Fate was cruel...

The last person Olivia expected to turn up at her club was her one true love. It would normally be great to see him, except he's been dead for centuries. Olivia really thought she had moved on with her immortal life, but as soon as she sees Doug Paxton, she knows she'd rather die than lose him again. And that's a real problem...

But this is beyond the pale...

Doug is a no-nonsense cop by day, but his nights are tormented by dreams of a gorgeous redhead who's so much a part of him, she seems to be in his blood. When he meets Olivia face-to-face, long-buried memories begin to surface. She might be the answer to his prayers...or she might be the dead of him.

So, first thing I have to say is that this book wasn't bad, but it wasn't OMG yell from the roof tops good either. For me Tall Dark and Vampire was you typical vampire romance and a bit cheesy. The book is about Oliva, a 300 year old vampire so in love with, or maybe guilt ridden, with her deceased fiance that she has been celibate since the day she turned. Then she starts dreaming about her fiance, such vivid dreams, but vampires don't dream, so she writes them off and tries to ignore them. When a guy her coven member drank from turns up dead and the cops start knocking on the door she opens the door to find the lead detective is the reincarnated version of her long lost fiance. There is instant attraction between them because they have after all been dreaming of each other. There is mystery, romance, action, and evil bad guys in this book and I really wanted to like it. It was easy to set down and parts were "come on really" cheesy. Like the ending was so over the top. I liked the message that there is bad in everyone, humans or vampires, and it's how you live that determines who the monsters are. The book did have its moments, but it was the we are destined and very tidy ending that had me rolling my eyes. So while I didn't feel like I wasted my time with Tall Dark and Vampire, it was just an ok book so that I am giving it three laser pistols for a stable orbit.

[Review] Wrong Bed, Right Bed by Katee Robert

Wrong Bed, Right Guy
Come Undone Book 1
Katee Robert
February 26, 2013
Entangled Publishing
A Brazen Novel


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Prim and proper art gallery coordinator Elle Walser is no good at seducing men. Heck, she’s been throwing hints at her boss for months, but he’s completely clueless. Desperate to escape her mother’s matchmaking efforts, she comes up with a plan—buy some lingerie and climb into her boss’s bed. The plan goes brilliantly…until she accidentally seduces a sexy stranger instead.

Bad boy nightclub mogul Gabe Schultz just had the best almost-sex of his life. Too bad the smoking hot blonde thought he was his brother and bolted before he could finish what they started. Though her holier-than-thou attitude puts a serious damper his mood, Gabe’s never been one to give up on something he wants. And he wants Elle. But does a man who lives on the dark side really have a chance with a proper lady?

So I just closed the page on another cute, sexy, and I can’t stop grinning romance.  This time it was Wrong Bed, Right Guy by Katee Robert.  This book is about a shy woman named Elle who works in a gallery.  She is tired of playing it safe and has the hots for her boss Nathan, the owner of the gallery.  So she decides the way to finally get him notice her is to seduce him.  But the man in the bed is not Nathan but his brother Gabe.  She of course is horrified and he of course is intrigued by the sexy woman in his bed.  I of course fell in love the characters and all the crazy shenanigans they find themselves in on the road to love.  I really liked the sizzling chemistry between Elle and Gabe.  My favorite part was when Gabe gives Elle flowers.  That scene was so cute it had me grinning like an idiot.  I liked that as story went on and they grew closer Gabe started to push to pursue her dreams.  This story was also about two people healing from terrible wrongs in their past.  Wrong Bed, Right Guy is a quick easy and very sexy read.  I could not put it down.  I am most definitely going to check the next book in the series starring Elle’s brother and her best friend.  I can’t wait to see what kind of delectable trouble they get into.  In conclusion, if you are like me and enjoy a quick romantic romp then read this book.  I give Wrong Bed, Right Guy four laser pistols.

[Review] Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Opal
Lux series #3
Jennifer L. Armentrout
December 11, 2012
Entangled Teen
452 pages


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The Lux series continues with the third installment of this riveting paranormal YA series. No one is like Daemon Black. When he set out to prove his feelings for Katy, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something she’ll do again and now that they’ve made it through the rough patches, well, there’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on. But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they loved. With help coming from the most unlikely source and Adam’s death still lingering with those who loved him, friends will become the deadliest of enemies and the villains will no longer be clear. When each step they take in discovering the truth puts them in the path of the secret organization responsible torturing and testing hybrids, the more Katy realizes there is no end to what she’s capable of. They won’t turn back, even if the outcome will shatter their worlds forever.

Warning: Reviewing book 3 in the series. So it may contain spoilers if you have not read books 1 and 2 of the Lux series.

This book picks up right where the second leave off and doesn't hold back. I really enjoyed Opal, it was the most romantic of the three books so far. I love how Daemon and Katy have decided to finally give their relationship a go. They are dating officially by the third book. Daemon is very swoony in this book and I love how sweet he is. Don't get me wrong, he is still very much a bad boy and can be a jerk, but it is sweet to see him falling deeply in love with Katy adn Katy feels the same way. I like how Katy still isn't afraid to stand up to Daemon and fight for what feels right. There is one line I love in the book when Daemon tells Katy, "You make me want to be a better person - Luxen - Whatever." That is love, it should make you grow but not completely change you.

There was not much action in this book like there was in some of the previous books. Opal was good and as far as action went it was all leading us to the final scene that broke my heart right in two. All I will say is WTF, that is no way to end a book. I can not wait for the next book Origin and I have heard it will be told from Daemon and Katy's point of view. 

In conclusion, I give Opal four laser pistols because while not on the edge of my seat exciting, it was very romantic and I loved seeing Katy and Daemon's relationship grow from scorching hot chemistry to real love. I liked that healing was beginning to take place for Dee and Dawson as well. As always I love the snarky bits as well and hilarious movie references. I end the review with my favorite quote there is more, but I am just adding in the last line. "You'll have 15 min... so don't let a spitting dragon take you down."

I read this book as part of a three day read-a-thon hosted by other bloggers. I have included a link at the bottom for the blog Stuck in Books. Even though the Lux read-a-thon is over, they have some links to other cool Jennifer Armentrout fan read-a-longs. Go check it out.

http://www.stuckinbooks.com/

[Launch + Giveaway] August 6 Entangled Teen Launch Party!

Welcome to the Entangled Teen August 6 launch party! Today, we're celebrating the release of Out of Play by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry, A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris, and Hover by Melissa West (coming August 13th).

Out of Play by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry

Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn’t have a drug problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—just need a little help taking the edge off sometimes. After downing a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.　

Hockey player Penny Jones can’t imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers to all the best schools, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who’ll take care of her absentminded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered to come home from work, let alone deal with their new tenants next door.

Penny’s not interested in dealing with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps and begins to see what he’s been missing. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time.

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A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris

Alessandra D’Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, Alessandra is lost. Until the stars hear her plea.

One mystical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat’s Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. Surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen…until she meets the infuriating—and infuriatingly handsome—surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in…and introduces her to a world filled with possibility.

With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still can. But how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she’s come to love?

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Hover by Melissa West

On Earth, seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander was taught to never peek, but if she hopes to survive life on her new planet, Loge, her eyes must never shut.

Because in this world, pleasure is everything, held up by a ruling body that keeps their people in check by giving them what they want and closing their eyes to what’s really happening around them. The only hope Loge has is to move its people to Earth, and they have a plan.

Thousands of humans crossed over to Loge after a poisonous neurotoxin released into Earth’s atmosphere, nearly killing them. They sought refuge in hopes of finding a new life, but what they became were slaves, built to wage war against their home planet. That is, unless Ari and Jackson can stop them.

But on Loge, nothing is as it seems…and no one can be trusted.

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To celebrate, Entangled is giving away a paperback of each book! Check out the Rafflecopter below to enter.

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[DNF Review] Dancing with the Devil by Keri Arthur

Dancing with the Devil
Keri Arthur
July 30, 2013
Dell

ARC Provided by publisher via Netgalley

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Private Investigator Nikki James grew up on the tough streets of Lyndhurst and believes there’s nothing left to surprise her. But all that changes the night she follows a rich man’s daughter into the shadows and finds herself caught in a war between two very different men. One is a madman, intent on destruction. The other has his own heart of darkness.

For three hundred years, Michael Kelly has existed in life’s shadows, gradually learning to control his vampire cravings. He is convinced that no one can breach his formidable barriers—until he meets Nikki. With her powerful psychic abilities, Nikki swiftly invades both his mind and his heart. Nikki knows how dangerous love can be . . . but if she wants to survive, she must place her trust in this man who could easily destroy her. For only together can they overcome the evil threatening to destroy them both.

I don't usually post reviews on books I can't finish, or I don't like to. I got about 42% into the eBook version and I just can't make myself go pick it back up and finish it. This book is about Nicki, a P.I. who is also psychic and Michael, the man who is looking out for her. The book starts off with a bang, sinister men and zombies. After that it jsut kind of fizzles off and is like an other urban fantasy I have read.

The big secret isn't all that secret and there is chemistry between Michael and Nicki. For me,  I don't know, there just wasn't something there to hold my attention and I have been reading this book off and on for the past month. I think it is safe to say that I am not going to finish it. It wasn't horrible, just kinda boring and predictable for me. I give Dancing with the Devil two laser pistols as it is losing orbit.