Die For Me

Die for Me
by Amy Plum
The Revenants, book one

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile.

As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again. (description from Amazon.com)

I wanted so much to like this book. It got great buzz everywhere and come on, that cover! I think realistically the cover is half the reason, or maybe more than half, that I picked up the book...pretty!

Unfortunately, nothing about this book hooked me. Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad. Not by any means...but it didn't thrill me, either. I don't know if I'm just so burnt out on paranormal romance at this point that anything I read would get this reaction, or if I really just could not connect with Kate and Vincent.

The idea of the revenants was novel. The Parisian setting was lovely. This was not, however, the book for me. *sigh*

2011 Debut Author Challenge title
2011 Zombie Reading Challenge title

Bad Taste in Boys

Bad Taste in Boys
by Carrie Harris

Someone's been a very bad zombie.

Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steriods are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate! She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town . . . and stay hormonally human. (description from Amazon.com)

Short. Sweet. Sarcastic. Smart.
Veronica Mars meet Buffy the Vampire Slayer...okay, now create a happy little zombie fighting sleuth and voila! Kate Grable.

Kate, Kate, Kate. I <3 Kate. She is one smart cookie. She's also hilariously blasé about shuffling, hungry, black vomit hurtling zombies that are continuously losing body parts in her vacinity.

With a guy who actually appreciates her for her brains (yes, my inner - I mean 0uter, I mean inner...whatever - nerd screamed "Yes!!!"), two best friends who love and support her and try to also break her out of her "nerdy" shell, and a brother that is willing to fight zombies alongside her, Kate is one lucky chick. I'm a little jealous, honestly!

For a quick, snappy, hilarious zombie book, run out and pick up Bad Taste in Boys. There will be NO bad taste left in your mouth. *snort* I know, I know...I couldn't resist. Anyway, two dismembered thumbs way, way up!!

2011 Debut Author Challenge title
2011 Zombie Reading Challenge title

Graveminder

Graveminder
by Melissa Marr

Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn't a funeral that Maylene didn't attend, and at each Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is dead and Bek must go back to the place--and the man--she left a decade ago. But what she soon discovers is that Maylene was murdered and that there was good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in placid Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D--a place from which the dead will return if their graves are not properly minded. Only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk. (description from Amazon.com)

This was one of those books that stands just perfectly on its own. Though I loved the worldbuilding and could absolutely immerse myself again and again into Rebbekah's world, I am also completely satisfied with this book and where it ended.

The characters were intriguing, deep, and balanced each other perfectly. The world was mysterious, thought-provoking, and enthralling. The writing was engaging. All around, this was a fantastic book.

I am a huge fan of Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series and I had feared that her attempt to do something different would be disappointing...I could not have been more wrong! I loved that this adult book drew me just as strongly as her YA ones. I cannot wait to see what she does next.

2011 Zombie Reading Challenge

The Dark and Hollow Places - Blog Tour

The Dark and Hollow Places
by Carrie Ryan
Forest of Hands and Teeth, book three

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face when she and Elias left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the horde as they found their way to the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.

Annah's world stopped that day and she's been waiting for him to come home ever since. Without him, her life doesn't feel much different from that of the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Then she meets Catcher and everything feels alive again.

Except, Catcher has his own secrets -- dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah's longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah -- can she continue to live in a world drenched in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction? (description taken from Amazon.com)

This was an amazing conclusion to the Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy. The world, or at least as much of it as Annah, Gabry, Catcher, or Elias have ever known, has been overrun by the Horde. As each becomes trapped, literally to escape the Unconsecrated, and figuratively by their love for each other, they must all learn...are they will to do what it takes to survive? Is surviving the same as living?

I loved both the previous books in the series, but this final book is definitely my favorite. Every emotion is heightened. The love is deeper and becomes more desperate as the characters' situations, nay, the entire world's situation become so dire. The danger is amplified to the point that I doubted, seriously doubted some characters' survival. I was on the edge of my seat right until the end, and then I close the book with a tear in my eye and a smile on my face.

This book was definitely worth a gold star. It was a satisfying conclusion to the series, leaving readers with a vision of hope. A reminder that even when the world seems at its most dire...a simple light in the dark can be a symbol that life still exists, in all its messy, wonderful glory. That humans will always find a way to survive, to live, and to love.

*On a different note, I apologize for this post going up so late. I had thought it posted, but apparently it was temporarily lost in the "Great Blogger Debacle" of last week. Sorry if you saw it and then it disappeared!*

Full disclosure: ARC received for review from Book it Forward ARC Tours
2011 Zombie Reading Challenge Title

Zombies Reading Challenge 2011

Okay, seeing how many zombie books I read last year (and how much I secretly...oh wait, not so secretly enjoyed them!) I decided to sign up for a "Zombie Reading Challenge" this year.

Hosted by the ladies over at Book Soulmates, the challenge runs from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st of 2011. Here's the blurb from their website:

Satisfy your undying hunger - for books! The new year is beginning and we know the majority of our close friends and family are going on a diet, I know I am {Vanessa}, so we need to find an outlet for our hunger. What better substitute than books! Let's devour ZOMBIE books! I only read one Zombie book this past year and I think it's time start piling up the bodies, er, I mean books! So start devouring!

I plan to devour at least 10 more zombie books this year! Wish me luck!!
If you want to join, scoot on over to their site to check out the rules and sign up!