Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall #1
Release Date: March 2, 2010
Pages: 323 (hardcover)
Obtained from: the library

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Hex Hall begins like 95% of the other paranormal teen-goes-to-boarding school novels out there: the main character messes up and gets sent to reform school to get herself and her magic under control. Classic, right? But unlike other paranormal academy books, Hawkins has the lady balls to lightly make fun of the genre she's decided to write. I'd call this a supernatural spoof at it's finest! Though Sophie is quite naïve compared to the other students at Hecate Hall, she has a strong voice and a wonderful sense of humor about being exposed to drooling werewolves, stuck-up faeries, and vampires who are obsessed with the color pink. I was impressed with her ability to keep her chin up and moral compass pointed north (for the most part) even though she's labeled as a social outcast from the moment she arrives at school. The dynamics between the misfits and popular students at Hecate Hall offered the most entertaining kind of teen drama--except better, since they can use magic to curse each other's socks off...literally.

Though the world isn't as rich as oh, say, Harry Potter's, Hawkins does a good job building an underground paranormal culture. Filled with its own mythology, history, and crazy killer cults, she is able to construct a world within our world without showing us much of it. Even though the plot twists were fairly predictable, they were still fun to watch unfold since the book was such a quick read. Slipping into this world was as easy as breathing, and I had no trouble finishing it in a few hours. There are a number of clues and hints throughout Hex Hall that lead up to the ending, and it's obvious that these details will be used to build a frame for the sequel. Speaking of the ending...I was ready to upturn a table the second I reached the last page. Worst. Cliffhanger. Ever. Though the book ends in a logical spot, it's the kind of ending that will leave you wanting more. Like, 300 pages more. Thankfully, from what I've heard, Demonglass promises to be just as good as the first. So give the Hex Hall a shot if you like the genre and like to laugh. You won't be disappointed.

P.S. I don't normally talk about book covers, but can somebody who has read Hex Hall please, please, PLEASE tell me what is up with the cat on this one? There wasn't even a cat in the book! In fact, I don't think there was even a cat mentioned in the book. If somebody can solve this mystery for me I'll love you forever.

Jan 9-23 In My Mailbox

Hey there guys! Once again it's time for IMM*. I've decided that I'm going to stick to doing memes every other week so that they don't make up the majority of my posts for each month. So here's the list of books that I've collected over the last two weeks. I sold my textbooks from last semester and received more money than I expected to get, so I put some of that towards books that I wanted:

BOOKS BOUGHT

(There are some really rockin' used bookstores in my area. I found all of these half-priced or for less.)

Wild Magic, Wolf-Speaker, Emperor Mage & The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce (IN HARDCOVER!)

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

The Book Without Words by Avi

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue by Chuck Black (I'm normally not into Christan fiction, but the medieval fantasy stories in this series are really good.)

The Wake of Lorelei Lee by LA Meyer

BOOKS FROM PAPERBACK SWAP

Circles in the Stream (Avalon Web of Magic #1) by Rachel Roberts

BOOKS WON

None!

BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW

The Legend of Socket Greeny by Tony Bertauski

Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon

How to Slay a Dragon by Bill Allen

The Branding by Micaela Wendel

BOOKS DOWNLOADED

Starlighter by Bryan Davis (downloaded from Barnes & Nobel's free Nook books)

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (downloaded from Barnes & Nobel's free Nook books)

Angel Burn by LA Weatherly (NetGalley)

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan (NetGalley)

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler (NetGalley)

The Atomic Weight of Secrets by Eden Unger Bowditch (NetGalley)

The Cellar by A.J. Whitten (NetGalley)

BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY

The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles #1) by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

Red Dragon Codex by R.D. Henham

Wow, when I look at it on paper I ended up grabbing more books than I thought. Like...a lot more. Ah well, at least I'm looking forward to reading all of 'em. Anyway, leave a comment with a link to your IMM and I'll check it out! I'll be replying to all unanswered comments and Follow Friday messages today during the Packer/Bears game. Until then, HAPPY READING, EVERYONE!

*In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Check it out for more details or to participate!

Jan 21st Follow Friday & Book Blogger Hop

Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View. Every week, book bloggers have a chance to connect and check out each other's blogs. Check it out to sign up and participate, or just check it out to check out some great blogs! This is my seventh week participating. This week's question:

Who do you cheer for?

Since I'm a Sconnie I cheer for the Packers and the Badgers, but to be honest, I'm not really into football. Occasionally I'll watch a game, but the following two conditions must be met before I turn the channel to ESPN:

1.) The game has to be somewhat important, like the playoffs or the Rose Bowl.

2.) All episodes of Bones airing on TV at the time of the game are reruns.

What can I say? I have my priorities. Brennan and Booth are much more entertaining than a bunch of spandex-wearing dudes trying to push a ball down a field (no offense football fans, no offense). Though...when somebody makes an interception that's pretty cool.

And if you do one Follow Meme, why not do two? The more the merrier! The Book Blogger Hop is a meme hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books. Like Follow Friday, It's a place for book bloggers to connect, and "hop" from one another's blogs to get to know each other. Jennifer also asks a question to kick off the conversations. This is my eight Book Blogger Hop. Er...or, I guess that it would be my eight Book Blogger Hop if there was one this week.

NO QUESTION THIS WEEK.

To all of you returning visitors, thanks again for stopping by my blog, and to all you new visitors, welcome! If you leave a link to your website I'll be sure to check it out over the weekend. Until then, happy Friday! Oh, and if you haven't already, be sure to sign up for my 100 Follower Giveaway. Deadline to enter is Feb. 7th!

The Talisman of Elam by Jim Mastro

Title: The Talisman of Elam

Author: Jim Mastro

Series: The Children of Hathor #1

Release Date: Aug. 31, 2010
Pages: 336 (hardcover)

Obtained from: Author for review (Thank you so much, Jim!)

When twelve-year-old Jason Hunter and his two friends discover a spaceship buried in the woods behind his New Hampshire home, his world is turned upside down. Suddenly, he finds himself fleeing the Earth on a desperate mission to save his abducted parents and prevent an alien invasion. The journey takes him halfway across the galaxy, where he must confront bizarre and deadly creatures, escape from a toxic region of space called the Vuhndalac Pit, and evade capture by a powerful alien leader intent on destroying him. Hidden somewhere among the stars is an ancient talisman that Jason must find before it is too late. If he is the Heir of Elam, the one person in the entire universe who can claim this talisman, he will be able to save his parents, and his planet. If he is not, touching it will be the last thing he ever does!

The Talisman of Elam is the first book in the epic science fiction/adventure trilogy, The Children of Hathor. Eons ago, great forces were set in motion by an extinct race whose technology was so advanced that even now the pieces that remain seem to operate as if by magic. Jason Hunter finds himself at the center of a gathering storm that threatens all humanoid civilization in the galaxy. He may be all that stands between humanity and destruction, or he may be the unwitting agent of that destruction! -Goodreads

Finding good science fiction is hard. Finding good science fiction for a middle-grade audience is even harder. But now seekers of space thrills need not look any further. The Talisman of Elam is what every young Star Wars geek (I say that with love) can hope for in a book, and I absolutely adored it!

The Talisman of Elam is classic science fiction with a modern twist. Mastro takes the reader on an amazing adventure as his characters pinball back and forth across the galaxy, encountering strange creatures at every stop as they search for the talisman. The plot is incredibly fast-paced (as Jason and his friends are constantly on the run), never leaving the reader with a dull moment. However, this doesn't mean that Mastro sacrifices the time to give enough background information or planet-related history to explain what's going on. As a matter of fact, I was a little surprised at how skillfully information is released throughout the story. Exactly the right amount of information is given at exactly the right time to completely construct the universe this plot takes place in and avoid confusion. Though the science fiction and fantasy elements of this novel are intelligent and complex, they are easy to understand because everything is grounded in some level of reality. If you could see me right now, you'd see that I have a big smile on my face. It's so hard to find good middle grade science fiction that isn't dumbed down or just plane silly-cute for the sake of amusement, and I had a blast learning about the universe's history according to Shalan.

I loved getting to know the characters as well. For 12-year-olds, Jason and his friends handle the situation that they've been dragged into like champs. They're brave, rational, and trusting of each other while still maintaining the uncertainty and excitement that 12-year-olds are expected to have. Oh, and did I mention that they balance each other out? Jason, Kevin, and Amelia each bring something different to the team, and Mastro capitalizes on their unique talents to move the plot forward. Even without one, the team wouldn't have succeeded in any of their quests. In fact, just about every character mentioned plays an important role in some way, shape, or form, even if they don't return in the end. It was nice to realize that any name I had to memorize wasn't without reason, and it was nice to see Jason's friends weren't just there to support him as cheerleaders.

Though The Talisman of Elam may not be for everyone, those who do decide to pick it up will enjoy its heroes, exciting plot, and masterfully constructed environment. This is exactly the kind of book that the middle-grade science fiction section needs, and I CANNOT wait to get my hands on the next book! For those of you who are interested at taking a peek at the first few chapters of The Talisman of Elam, Mastro has been kind enough to post them on his website. For more information, or to read The Talisman of Elam, go to http://www.talismanofelam.com/. I highly recommend it!

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima

Title: The Exiled Queen
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Series: A Seven Realms Novel #2
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: Sept. 28 2010
Pages: 586 (hardcover)
Obtained from: Bookstore

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction. -the E.Queen's book jacket

EXPLETIVE! If I had known how awesome this book was going to be I wouldn’t have waited this long to read it. High fantasy fans beware: The Exiled Queen is even better than The Demon King, and if you haven’t read The Demon King then head on over to the bookstore right now and pick it up!

NOTE: This review may contain spoilers.

The Exiled Queen picks up two days after The Demon King left off and is once again told in two perspectives. Han and Raisa are both on the run, heading towards a common destination—Oden’s Ford. Though roughly a third of the book is dedicated to their travels south, Chima manages to make each journey exciting and unique. Each character is attacked, captured, beaten and stalked in different ways until they reach their destination, where whole ‘nother definition of the word ‘intense’ is created.

As mentioned above, the rest of this book takes place in Oden’s Ford, and was home to some of the most interesting scenes in the series yet. Minor characters return and are given the opportunity to interact with Han and Raisa in ways that weren’t possible before coming to the schools, giving them much more depth. I felt myself growing attached to the characters who were supposed to be “bad guys,” as their motivations and own political Catch-22s were revealed. In addition, Han and Raisa run into each other a lot more once they discover that the other is there, which shifts the dynamics between them in a way I didn’t really see coming. Their skills also grow. Han becomes much more accustomed to his magic and works hard to train himself, where Raisa diligently studies to become physically fit and military savvy. It’s easy to see the two transform from kids to genuine leaders, and their newfound maturity promises epic decision making in the future.

For those of you who read and liked the first book, I'm 99.999% sure you’ll love the second. There is a lot a set up that takes place here but it’s never boring, and the two perspectives offered from each school continue to build upon the world that Chima has already created. There are also hints throughout the book as to how the two perspectives might be combined to save the realm in the future, and I cannot wait to see how the next book unfolds. Cinda Williams Chima, my hat goes off to you! This is some of the best fantasy the young adult section has to offer.

The Training of Socket Greeny by Tony Bertauski

Title: The Training of Socket Greeny

Author: Tony Bertauski

Series: The Socket Series #2

Publisher: Bertauski

Release date: Sept. 17, 2010

Pages: 264 (paperback)

Obtained from: Author

Socket Greeny is trying to live two lives: one as an evolved human while hanging onto his normal life. While fearlessly dealing with his masochistic trainer, he's trying to salvage his deteriorating releationship with his girlfriend back home. But Socket's greatest challenge is to find his true enemy. He discovers that fear has many faces, some that he's more familiar with than he would care to admit. -Goodreads

After finishing the first book in the series, there was just no way that I could forget about Socket and his friends--especially since the sequel promised to be just as exciting (if not moreso) than the first. And it was!

The Training of Socket Greeny is the second book in the Socket Series, and like the first book, wastes no time getting into the action. A year has passed since Socket first saved the world, and since then he's been extensively training so he can be admitted as an official Paladin soldier. Even though we don't get dragged through every single training exercise, we see enough to realize how much Socket's powers have grown--and boy, have they grown. As if time stopping and mind reading wasn’t enough, Socket discovers that he has an even stronger power, one that is revered throughout the Paladin Agency. It was fun to see him try and figure out how to use it, let alone figure out what it was in the first place.

However, even though Socket has made himself a respectable candidate, he’s still the same guy with the teenage-chip-on-my-shoulder spunk that I adored from the first book. I like to see characters that grow but still remain true to who they really are. Torn between maintaining his relationship with his two best friends and becoming the savior of the world, he handles the drama like any normal teenager would—with frustration, hope, and a bit of sadness when he realizes that maybe he can’t be two people at once (which was a very sad scene, by the way). I liked seeing more of his friends, even if their get togethers were strained from the pressures of life. In addition, we learn more about Streeter and Chute and they grow just as much as Socket does by the end of the book, especially after Socket demonstrates to what length he’s willing to go in order to save them (even if it’s from themselves).

However, even though I enjoyed the fast pacing of some of the scenes in this book, sometimes things were happening so fast and things were so abstract that I wasn’t able to follow what was going on. This wasn’t a huge issue because immediately after these scenes happened (and I mean, immediately), they were explained, but still, I had to go back and reread what had happened to understand who was being attacked, who had died, what sort of information was being revealed to Socket, ect. This was an especially issue towards the end when mass pandemonium erupts. Even though that scene was just made of pure unfiltered awesome, it took a little time and thought to put together what was going on.

Overall, I enjoyed The Training of Socket Greeny even more than the first book, and eagerly await the conclusion of this series in book three, The Legend of Socket Greeny. I recommend this series to anyone looking for a modern(ish) and intense sci-fi read!

In My Mailbox (3)

So yeah, TOTALLY meant to get this up on Sunday, but eh, you know, that thing called life sometimes gets in the way, and I've been focused on trying to reply to all of the comments and emails I've gotten from you guys over the weekend (which I thank you for, by the way!). So now...BEHOLD! MY DESK! WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS! (Please ignore my walls, which are totally cluttered with maps of Walt Disney World and writing notes for some projects I'm working on.) This IMM is going to cover the last two weeks.

BOOKS BOUGHT

(Most with the aid of gift cards and Borders Bucks)

The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

The Dealer (Cherub Mission 2) by Robert Muchamore

Malice by Chris Wooding

Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making MORE Magic Real by The Imagineers

Crossing Over by Anna Kendall

Two packs of Goosebumps books (by R.L. Stine). The first pack contains books 1-15, and the second pack contains 16-30. My best friend, Allie, and I were ecstatic to find these yesterday at Half Price for 10 bucks a pop. We loved these books as kids, and have been eager to reread them for a while now.

BOOKS FROM PAPERBACK SWAP

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

BOOKS WON

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (from Random Buzzers)

ARC of Vixen by Jillian Larkin (from Random Buzzers)

BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW

The Talisman of Elam (Children of Hathor #1) by Jim Mastro

BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Savvy by Ingrid Law

This is probably the best haul that I've gotten in a while. I doubt the weeks after this will be as rich, unless Borders continues to throw cash at me. I joined their upgraded rewards program and since then it's been raining awesome coupons and Borders Bucks. I recommend joining, especially if you tend to spend a lot of money there.

So what did you guys get this week? Leave a link and I'll check it out! Oh, and just a reminder, if you haven't done so already, please check out my 100 Follower Giveaway. There's lots of great prizes, and plenty of time to enter! Contest ends on Feb. 7. Thanks!