Review: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Title: Cryer's Cross
Author: Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pub. Date: 2.8.2011
Genre: YA
Keywords: Mystery, OCD, Relationships, Grief, Secrets, Murder
Pages: 233
Description (from Goodreads): 
The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.


I adored Lisa McMann's first three novels, WAKE, FADE, and GONE, but had no idea what to expect of CRYER'S CROSS. The verse is absent, but there is still a certain cadence to the writing that identifies it as a McMann novel... It's entirely different from her first three, but no less impressive. 


Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this novel is the main character's OCD and the role it plays. To my knowledge, there aren't very many YA books that deal with OCD and there definitely aren't any that handle it this particular way. Kendall's disorder is both a blessing and a curse and McMann sends this message in an entirely new, brilliant way.


CRYER'S CROSS has a sinister feel, but it's not so scary that it'll keep you up at night. Instead, it's more of a slow, steady buildup to the revelations at the end of the novel... When I reached that point, all I could say was 'Wow.' For me, the novel reached it's most intense near the very end, but it wouldn't have packed the same punch if not for the slow journey to that point.


I'll admit that I still favor McMann's trilogy over CRYER'S CROSS, but this novel proves that she's fully capable of doing something completely different and still blow readers away. I'll definitely be reading McMann's next novel, THE UNWANTEDS... I'm curious to see what she'll show readers next!

Review: The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Title: The Demon Trapper's Daughter
Author: Jana Oliver
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pub. Date: 2.1.2011
Genre: Paranormal YA
Keywords: Demons, Loss, Romance, Mystery
Pages: 340
Description (from Goodreads):

Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…


Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps.  The good news is, with society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood.  And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?

Please Note:

THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER is the first book in the series here in the United States. The second book in the series, SOUL THIEF will be released August 30th.  The UK Edition of the series have different titles and covers. The first book is THE DEMON TRAPPERS: FORSAKEN and is available in the UK and Australia now. The second book, THE DEMON TRAPPERS: FORBIDDEN is due to be released early September. The UK edition is the same story with only formating and spelling differences (A lot more 'U's and 'Y's like in colour and tyres).

I'll be honest: I picked up THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER on a whim, but I wasn't very excited about it. I'm not the biggest fan of the cover (though I like it more after reading the novel) and, while the description sounded interesting, I thought it had the potential to be cliche. 

I was wrong. 

I simply could not put it down. Kickass main character? Check. Detailed world with unique paranormal elements? Check. Good looking boys? Double Check. It doesn't always happen that a novel has all three of these key elements and it didn't take long before I realized that Jana Oliver had blown these requirements out of the water.

I was extremely impressed with the paranormal elements of THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER. Oliver managed to provide plenty of detail and background without slowing the novel's pace down to a crawl. Thankfully, there weren't any spots within the novel that left me wondering when something was finally going to happen.

Riley's story wouldn't be complete without a love interest... or two. I'll admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Simon... The only word I can use to describe him is 'blah.' Luckily, there another candidate for Riley's affections and he is the complete and total opposite of 'blah.' If Riley doesn't want him, I'll be more than happy to take him off her hands...

If you're skeptical about picking up THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER, I urge you to give it a chance. I've no doubt I'll be reading the continuation of Riley story in SOUL THIEF, which releases in the US in August.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pub. Date: 2.1.2011
Genre: Dystopian YA
Keywords: Love, Disease, Control, Cure, Secrets, Family, Loss
Pages: 441
Description (from Goodreads):
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.


Lauren Oliver captured my bookish heart with BEFORE I FALL, and, with DELIRIUM, she's proven that she's more than a one hit wonder and fully capable of slipping from one genre to another without missing a beat.


There's something about Oliver's books that pulls me in and makes them near impossible to put down. The writing and plots are always fantastic, but I think it's the characters and their emotion that I find so alluring. There's so much passion in these books, particularly DELIRIUM. There's passion in the carnal sense - the romance is gorgeous - but Lena also possesses a passion for life and love that will speak to any reader.


In DELIRIUM, curing deliria, or love, isn't limited to just romantic love, it includes all love. The love between siblings, between a parent and child, and for life itself... What a terribly lonely world Lena is trapped in. There are times when I think  that it would be much easier to not deal with the pain of love, but, after exploring Lena's world, I don't think the benefits of escaping love would ever outweigh the costs. If nothing else, DELIRIUM reminds readers just how lucky they are to know and experience love... even with the heartbreak and pain that travels beside it.


Somewhat unsurprisingly, Oliver leaves us hanging at DELIRIUM's close and, at least in my case, guarantees that readers will be scrambling to get their hands on the next installment. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

Waiting on Wednesday (37)

WoW is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman
Dial/2.17.2011
Description (from GoodReads):
Natalie, a seventeen-year-old former drama club member who now writes a relationship column for her school newspaper, decides to go undercover as a student at an all-boys boarding school so that she can figure out what guys are really like.

I was excited to see a new offering from Gehrman when it popped up on GoodReads, even though there was no description or cover art. But holy mackeral. Now that those two crucial elements have been supplied I'm completely ecstatic. I hoping that this book will brighten up the dreary days of February when it's released!

Waiting on Wednesday (36)

WoW is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

The Locket by Stacey Jay
Razorbill/2.3.2011
Description (from GoodReads):
What if you got a second chance to fix your worst mistake?

What if you found out miracles could happen?

What if you found out that sometimes, miracles are curses in disguise...

One girl, two boys, and one very scary piece of jewelry.

The description doesn't really tell much about THE LOCKET, but I'm not worried because Stacey Jay has never let me down before! It doesn't look like there will be any zombies in this book, which will be a first for Jay! Very interesting... I'm waffling on the cover though. One minute I like it, the next I'm not so sure. I'm not really a fan of the font used for the title.

Cover of the Week (16)

A Touch Mortal  by Leah Clifford
Greenwillow Books/2.22.10
Description (from GoodReads):
Eden didn’t expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.
Yeah.
So long happily-ever-after.
Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.
She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own.
And that’s only the beginning of the end.

You have to appreciate a book that makes you drool, no matter how unattractive. The colors of this cover just POP! Can you imagine how amazing it's going to look on a bookshelf? Hint: Freaking fantastic.

Also, we already know that Az "saunters." Saunter = hawt. I'm pretty sure that's one of those basic math equations.

Cover of the Week (14)

Cover of the Week is a weekly feature at The Hiding Spot, in which I share a cover that gives me that swoony feeling.

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

HarperTeen/2.1.11

Description (from GoodReads):

Corrinne Corcoran’s upscale Manhattan life is perfectly on track—until her father announces he’s been laid off and she’s shipped off to Broken Spoke, Texas, to live with her grandparents. All alone in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the glamorous life she’s supposed to be living. But as she grudgingly adjusts—making new friends and finding romance along the way—this city girl begins to realize that life without credit cards and shopping sprees may not be as bad as it seems....

In this sparkling debut that flawlessly balances romance and humor, readers will grow to love sharp and sassy Corrinne as she goes on her totally reluctant but completely irresistible journey of self-discovery.

The first time I saw this cover, all I could think was cowboy. And then plaid.Since I happen to like cowboys and plaid very much. Once I had calmed down, I started to appreciate other aspects, like how the models' heads are tilted toward one another, but they still sit a respectable distance apart. I may be wrong, but this seems to hint that there may be some romantic tension.


I've been on a bit of a contemporary YA kick, so I was so thrilled to find this upcoming debut. It may have taken me a bit longer to find it without such an amazing cover, but I think I would have been pumped about it regardless!

Waiting on Wednesday (31)

WoW is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Flux/2.1.11
Description (from GoodReads):
Freak. That’s what they called seventeen year-old Donna Underwood in high school after a horrific fey attack that killed her father when she was just a child. Her injuries and rehabilitation resulted in magically enhanced strength, thanks to the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. As a child of the alchemists, she is both blessed and cursed with a magical heritage that doesn't leave much room for boys, parties and homework.

Now, after ten years of wishing for a normal life, she finally has to accept her role in the centuries-old war against the darkest outcasts of Faerie: the Dark Elves. Aided by a gorgeous half-fey dropout, Donna must race to save her best friend’s life - even if it means betraying one of the world’s greatest secrets and confronting the very thing that destroyed her family.

Top three things that caught my eye as I read this description:
1. "centuries old war against the darkest outcasts of Faerie"
2. "gorgeous half-fey dropout"
3. "both blessed and cursed with a magical heritage"
Yup. Can you blame me for lusting after this one?

Waiting on Wednesday (30)

WoW is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
Random House BFYR/2.22.11
Description (from GoodReads):

In the dim light of the dark room, I'm alone, but not for long.
As white turns to gray, Kate is with me.
The background of the dance studio blurred, so the focus is all on her
legs extended in a perfect soaring split.
The straight line to my squiggle,
my forever-best friend.

Sixteen-year-old Liz Grayson is photogirl—sharp, focused and ready to take the world by storm with her camera. But Liz's entire life is called into question when her brother is accused of a crime—and the accuser is Liz's own best friend. As the aftershocks from that accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself, shifts out of focus. And for the first time in her life, Liz finds herself unable to trust her own point of view. Told in stunning, searingly raw free verse, Exposed is Kimberly Marcus's gut-wrenching, riveting debut and will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson and Virginia Euwer Wolff.

After reading GLIMPSE by Carol Lynch Williams, I'm intrigued by novels written in verse. Especially novels bursting with raw emotion and tough topics, like the description of EXPOSED implies. The novel also caught my attention due to the main character being a photographer. I love that she uses a darkroom... that was always my favorite part of photography! Looks like another amazing debut novel...

Check out my review of GLIMPSE here!

Cover of the Week (12)

So Shelly by Ty Roth
Delacorte BFYR/2.8.11
Description (from GoodReads):
Until now, high school junior, John Keats, has only tiptoed near the edges of the vortex that is schoolmate and literary prodigy, Gordon Byron. That is, until their mutual friend, Shelly, drowns in a sailing accident.
After stealing Shelly's ashes from her wake at Trinity Catholic High School, the boys set a course for the small Lake Erie island where Shelly's body had washed ashore and to where she wished to be returned. It would be one last "so Shelly" romantic quest. At least that's what they think. As they navigate around the obstacles and resist temptations during their odyssey, Keats and Gordon glue together the shattered pieces of Shelly's and their own pasts while attempting to make sense of her tragic and premature end.

This cover really creeps me out. And, for that reason, I love it.  I'm slightly confused by the book's description, so my interest in the novel is based solely on the cover art... that in itself demonstrates how compelling it is!

(I can't wait to find out what's going on in this novel!)