Review: The Butterfly Clues

Penelope (Lo) Marin has always loved to collect beautiful things. Her dad's consulting job means she's grown up moving from one rundown city to the next, and she's learned to cope by collecting (sometimes even stealing) quirky trinkets and souvenirs in each new place--possessions that allow her to feel at least some semblance of home.

 But in the year since her brother Oren's death, Lo's hoarding has blossomed into a full-blown, potentially dangerous obsession. She discovers a beautiful, antique butterfly pendant during a routine scour at a weekend flea market, and recognizes it as having been stolen from the home of a recently murdered girl known only as "Sapphire"--a girl just a few years older than Lo.

As usual when Lo begins to obsess over something, she can't get the murder out of her mind. As she attempts to piece together the mysterious "butterfly clues," with the unlikely help of a street artist named Flynt, Lo quickly finds herself caught up in a seedy, violent underworld much closer to home than she ever imagined--a world, she'll ultimately discover, that could hold the key to her brother's tragic death.

The Butterfly Clues was a surprisingly entertaining read. With a uniquely tortured yet vibrant main character and an atmospheric setting, the words sucked me into Lo's world. This mystery is a refreshing read for any book lover.

The book starts out with Lo, a obsessive/compulsive girl who is dealing with the loss of her brother, nearly being killed in a dangerous area. She then learns a girl named Sapphire was murdered that very night. After finding Sapphires's butterfly pendant, Lo is determined to find the murderer.

My favorite part of The Butterfly clues is how the author dealt with Lo's obsessive/compulsive disorder.  The audience feels Lo's impulse to steal and gets used to rhythms of threes, sixes, and nines. Yet, the author also makes it clear that Lo is something other than her disorder.

The mystery in this book caused my heart to pound. It wasn't too predictable (something I cherished. Who else it tired of the same, reused plots?) and had me guessing at times. I loved how, throughout the book, you get to know Sapphire well, despite her being dead twenty pages in. Now that's good writing folks! Kate Ellison reveals secrets masterfully.

There are definitely family issues in this novel, ever since Lo's brother died (Ellison doesn't reveal why until later in the book. And I won't tell you either, mwahaha) Lo's family has been torn apart. Her dad is distant, and her mother is blank and hazy, a result of pills.

Lo is practically alone. This broke my heart. Then she meets Flynt, the first person to seem to actually care what's happening to her. I liked Flynt, another unique character. I imagine him as our next great painter. Mysterious and fun.

The ending of this book is terrific. I remember one line particularly."Almost seventeen years old, scarred but whole". (This may not be the exact quote, so feel free to correct me.) The dose of hope and realism made the conclusion amazing, and you could see how the terrors the characters faced made them stronger. Everyone was changed.

All in all, I recommend this book to fans of anything written darkly with touches of light. I loved it, and I hope you guys will too.

4/5 bookcases
Goodreads/Amazon

Feature and Follow Friday

Q:  Have you ever read a book that you thought you would hate — ? Did you end up hating it? Did you end up loving it? Or would you never do that?

Hmm, well normally if I think I will hate a book I just don't read it. No need to waste my time, right? However, I have read and liked Twilight, which I knew was a gamble. Also, well, here is the big one, I didn't think I would like Demon's Lexicon at all. But I loved it! Seriously, I think everyone should give it a try. I read it last year and reread it so many times.

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.

Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is desperate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

This is the Demon's Lexicon. Turn the page.

What are your experiences?

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Waiting on Wednesday

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

This Week I am Waiting On...

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie. 

 What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own. 

 Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length. 

 Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

Review: Into the Dark

Goodreads Description: When seventeen-year-old Oxford student Emily Baxter steps forward to become part of the search and rescue team for her kidnapped family member, she sees it as her last chance to put things right. 

Despite her seizures and being ripped between parallel universes, Emily is determined to get back to living a normal life. 

But first Emily has to join forces with the mysterious Gifted & Talented set and the darkly beautiful Henry Seadon. And survive. Killing the Misery-Makers who get in their way is a necessary evil.

Hmm, these books were enjoyable. I loved the scenes. In other worlds. however, I did not like any of the other scenes with just Emily doing her own thing. At least not for the first two books. the last two were better.

I loved the way the books were written, likewise, I read them quickly. However, things felt rushed in the second book. And the plot felt second to the Emily's love life.

The characters were nice, they weren't spectacular or anything, but I felt each was realistic
enough. Emily was pretty good, except on the second book. (Apparently I have problems with the second book!) She was way to swoony for this guy. Although he was pretty swoonable.

The setting was vivid and clear. Although I would have liked to know less about the college and people and more otherworldly stuff in the first book.

The highlights of the book are spent in Emily's blackouts. Here I feel the writing is fantastic. Real and heart pounding. Quite enjoyable.

Overall, I would recommend this series to people looking for well written books with cool characters! However, they shouldn't be looking for a real actiony novel or super strong heroine.

3/5 bookcases

P.S Misery Makers were awesome!

Review: Let it Snow

Goodreads Description: 

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow.
 A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. 

After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks.

 Thanks to three of today's bestselling teen authors--John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle--the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses

Okay, I read this, like, two month after Christmas. And I still loved it! The stories intertwine cleverly and the authors different writing styles compliment each others perfectly.

The stories and characters are both funny and heartwarming. Personally, my favorite story was the last part by Lauren Myracle, The Patron Saint of Pigs. Just hearing the name makes you smile, and I was smiling through out this whole story!

The first story is about Jubilee. Her whole Christmas is kind of a fiasco. Stuck in a weird town, with a train full of cheerleaders, and her parents are in jail, plus a boyfriend crisis. This story was probably my least favorite, just because the romance seems uber quick.

The next story, by John Green, claims second place. It seemed to drag in some place, but still funny and sweet... And a lot of immature boys who ruin their car to go see cheerleaders. My favorite characters in this were either The Duke or Tobin.
The Duke is this girl who has hung out with the boys for forever, but has yet to feel that anyone has noticed she is actually a girl. And Tobin, who is noticing Duke as a girl for the first time, and has to remind himself they are just friends. Duke is cool and confident, traits I like. And all the characters have hilarious comments!

The third story, my favorite, is about a girl missing her old boyfriend. And, to try to deserve him, tries to be less self centered. Also, her friend just got a little pig. Sooo cute! This story is extremely enjoyable and a breezed through it, or should I say blizzarded? (PS that's not a word, I know) Also, you visit old characters from the two previous stories and learn more yummy back story!

A lot of characters, places, gossip and more are intertwined between all three stories, leaving the readers charmed. This is a fun, daring winter read,
Overall, I highly recommend it. The characters, plots, and dialogue are all immensely enjoyable.

4/5 bookcases

I have read other books by John Green and Maureen Johnson, but never one by Lauren Myracle. Considering  Myracle was the one who wrote my favorite story, I need to read another book of hers in the future!

My absence over spring break

Small note: After the Google Reader crisis, I have moved onto bloglovin! Follow me?
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Well, as you may notice I have not posted for a week. This has been due to the fact I have been in Mexico. (Which is two veeeeerrrry long plane rides, and apparently a six hour layover,  from where i live).

Sorry I was gone... I blame it on hotel Wifi! 

The hotel supposedly had wifi. So I had been planning to post regularly while I was there. Well, the wifi had a mind of its own. It was very spotty and not reliable. So, anyway, sorry about my formerly unexplained absence.

To the good news! I read a lot of books during my spring break trip! And I hope to review some!

Here is the list:

And these are only some of the ones I read... I cannot wait to review Clockwork Princess and Audrey, Wait! They were both so freaking good!

I am sorry about Incarceron. This was a DNF for me. I know a lot of people love it though. Maybe I will try again someday. On the DNF subject, I am thinking of doing a list of books I didn't finish and then list my reasons why. I can't really do a full review because I didn't finish all of the book. Does this sound like an okay idea?

Well, I am back and ready to start bloggin' again! See you around the blogosphere!

Bloodlines: Review Poem

Goodreads Description: Sydney protects vampire secrets - and human lives.

Sydney belongs to a secret group who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the world of humans and vampires.

But when Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, she fears she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. What unfolds is far worse. The sister of Moroi queen Lissa Dragomir is in mortal danger, and goes into hiding. Now Sydney must act as her protector.

The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one...

Richelle Mead reminded me

why I so love fantasy

I was completely drawn in

I don't even know where to begin

Let's start with the Bloodlines cast

I fell for the paranormal gang fast

Each character sprang from the page

The bad ones, the good ones, 

the young and old aged

Sydney felt totally real

I know what she feels

She can be weak, can be smart

Can be strong, she is figuring out her heart

The alchemists call every vampire evil

But are the humans just more afraid then they reveal?

Sydney knows the djamphir and moroi 

She sees they have feeling that aren't just a ploy

Lost Aiden has a broken heart

Sweet Jill doesn't quite yet know her part

Protective Eddie has a secret of his own

I wish I could call each on the phone!

I totally related to Sydney which made this book all the more enjoyable. I haven't read Vampire Academy but will soon! I plan to write a full review next week, and attach this poem to it. Also, a vocabulary list. Mead is so creative! There are all these special words (most I can't pronounce!)

Overall, I loved this book, watch out for my special review next week!