Ember by Jessica Sorensen

 
Title: Ember
Author: Jessica Sorensen
Series: Death Collectors #1
Publisher: Borrowed Hearts Publishing (August 28, 2012)
Length: 223 pages
Format: ebook

Description:

What if you knew when someone was going to die?

For seventeen-year-old Ember, life is death. With a simple touch, she knows when someone will die. It’s her curse and the reason she secludes herself from the world. The only person who knows her secret is her best friend Raven.

Then she meets Asher Morgan. He’s gorgeous, mysterious, and is the only person Ember can't sense death from. So when he pushes into her life, she doesn’t mind.

But when unexplained deaths start to haunt her town, Ember starts questioning why she can’t sense Asher's death and what he may be hiding.

My Thoughts:

      Ember by Jessica Sorensen is a true breath of fresh air. Not only is this book one of a kind, but it had me guessing until the very last page and let me tell you, that's a hard thing to accomplish. Ember is tired. Tired of seeing how everyone will die, tired of being alone, and tired of being death's constant companion. Things are about to get much worse with the arrival of two new guys to her small town. One is bright and shining and the other is dark and enigmatic. Both men want her, but what for? With talk of Grim Reapers and Angels of Death nothing will ever be the same for Ember again.
       Throughout the whole book readers are drawn to Ember and the insane agony that is her life. The poor girl literally lives with death and where she goes it follows. Her whole life seems to be one catastrophe after another from seeing things when she was young, to being blamed for deaths and disappearances. Despite this she isn't a girl that gives up. You can't help but go through the book hoping that something good will finally happen to her. Ember's best friend Rave is the perfect foil. Bubbly, care free, and living for the next party she keeps Ember together, but readers get a sense that in the end she might be Ember's downfall. The arrival of Cameron and Asher had me hoping that Ember just might get a happily ever after, too bad they brought nothing but mystery and trouble. I couldn't tell who I liked the best or what "team" I'm on. Each character has their own little story that adds to the overall depth of the book. They build a world of death and secrets that readers will get lost in. This is a dark and bleak book where you don't just fall in love with the characters, but the story as a whole.
      Speaking of the story as  a whole... it was amazing. With the recent popularity of YA books it is hard to find one that is truly original. Jessica Sorensen is an author that has. I have never read a book that combines these particular "creatures" in quite this way. What a combination they make! I definitely will be getting the second book. I give this book a 4 1/2 STAR rating.

*** I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Want to learn more about Jessica Sorensen? Check out her websites below!

http://jessicasorensensblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Sorensen/165335743524509?ref=hl

https://twitter.com/jessFallenStar

Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens

Title: Heavenly
Author: Jennifer Laurens
Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing (June 1, 2009)
Series: Heavenly #1
Length: 294 pages
Format: eCopy Kindle

Description from Goodreads:

I met someone who changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel. Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What could I do? I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him.

Zoe's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoe lost in her broken life. Zoe escapes the only way she knows how: partying. Matthias, a guardian sent from Heaven, watches over Zoe's autistic sister. After Zoe is convinced he's legit, angel and lost girl come together in a love that changes destiny. But Heaven on Earth can't last forever

My Thoughts:

     Heavenly was a pleasant surprise for me. At first I didn't really like Zoe, because she wasn't the type of girl I would want to hang out with. However, Jennifer Laurens does an amazing job of giving readers insight into why she is the way she is and as the story progressed she evolved into a character I can't wait to read more about. Zoe is a character who has some faults; drinking, sleeping around, and being a tad hypocritical at times, but she can admit to those. Matthias and Abria were amazing! I loved how each of them contributed something that was missing in Zoe's life. The relationship that Zoe has with her you autistic sister Abria was particularly interesting. A good friend of mine has a son with autism and she explained it much the same way as it appears in the book. It was a change of pace to read about this in a young adult book. At times I cringed at the way Zoe acted/felt  toward her sister, but then I don't know what it is like to be in her position. As for Matthias I find him very intriguing and mysterious, but I'm not sure if I like him as a love interest for Zoe. Despite Zoe's brother and best friends being secondary characters I am very curious to see where the author will take these characters.
     This book was unique in my opinion. There haven't been many books about angels that I have read and continued on with the series and even less "religious" books that I've kept up with. Most of the angel books never really bring God into the story or talk about the spiritual evolution that a character goes through after being in contact with an angel. This is something I find extremely lacking in these books. Jennifer Laurens tackled this pretty well. Secondly, when the book did verge onto this subject it wasn't "preachy". Be for warned Heavenly has one MAJORLY unexpected ending and cliffhanger. Make sure you can get the sequel Penitence right away. Not all of the aspects of the book jived, but this is a story that I really enjoyed. I can't wait to read the next one. I give this book a 4 STAR rating.

Forgiven by Jana Oliver (Demon Trappers #3)

  



Title: Forgiven
Author: Jana Oliver 
Series: Demon Trappers #3
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (March 27, 2012)
Length: 386 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Format: paperback

Description from Goodreads: The days are growing darker for 17-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father’s reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky Fallen angel, and a freshly-made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Heaven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend Simon has told the Vatican’s Demon Hunters that she’s working with Hell. So now she’s in hiding, at the top of everyone’s most-wanted list.

But it’s becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control: something sinister is happening in Atlanta… or someone. The demons are working together for the first time ever and refusing to die, putting civilians in harm’s way. Riley thinks she might know who’s behind it all, but who’s going to believe her? Caught between her bargain with Heaven and her promise to Lucifer, Riley fears the final war is coming – and it may be closer than anyone thinks…

My Thoughts:

     Jana Oliver does a wonderful job of picking up exactly where Soul Thief left off and recaps what has happened in the previous two books in a very natural way. This installment of the Demon Trappers series finds the demons bigger and badder, the relationships more tense, and everyone questioning the very foundations their beiliefs are based on. Riley Blackthorne has a lot to deal with in Forbidden. The choices she made in Soul Thief are quickly reaching the boiling point and all Hell is about to break loose (literally). This poor girl can never get a break and as much as I love all of the fighting and drama I look forward to something positive with no strings attached (just surviving doesn't count) happening tio her. Riley and Beck's relationship is on the edge during this book and for some reason I like this, but it does get the chance to finally evolve. Forbidden shows you a bigger glimpse into the life of "Backwoods Boy". I really liked getting to know more about what makes this guy tick and the more vulnerable side he shows in Forbidden makes me love his character even more. I am very excited that there seems to be a setup to reveal even more about him in the next book. Her father, Mort, and even Ori play a large part in the book too adding even more twists, turns, and heartbreak. The one character I would like to see more of in the next book is the little klepto fiend (I think that's what he is called). He is so cute and provides a much needed comic relief! Maybe Riley could carry him in her pocket or something.
     The "magical" world of this series is absolutely spectacular! The intricacies of the relationships between Heaven and Hell, demons and angels, trappers and hunters, and good and evil are amazingly detailed and unique. They are the main thing that keeps me coming back to this series everytime. The other reason that I will always come back to this series is that in this fate-of-the-world-rests-on-the-shoulders-of-this-one-girl book the characters are believable. Riley, Beck, and everyone else are human in the sense that they screw up a lot! The things that they mess up are mistakes that everyday people make and in this world of fantasy it makes the book relatable. Riley Blackthorne is one of my favorite kick-butt heroines ever! The next edition of this series can't come soon enough for me. I give this book a completely and unabashedly biased 5 STAR rating.

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies (Bk. #1)

Title: A Beautiful Dark
Author: Jocelyn Davies
Publisher: Harper Teen (September 27, 2011)
# of Pages: 400 Hardcover
Source: Bought on Amazon
***This is book number one of a trilogy***

From the Back of the Book:
On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.
In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

My Thoughts:

  A Beautiful Dark has been on my TBR list for a while so with my Christmas money I thought I would give it a try. I wanted to like this book but, it just didn't do it for me. The main thing not in it's favor for me was the fact that I just couldn't seem to like Skye. She is too wishy washy for me. Half of the book revolves around her going back and forth between having feelings for Asher and Devin. I love a good love triangle as much as the next person (actually one of the reasons I bought it), but I couldn't decide who Skye liked until the last two pages...literally. Then there is poor Ian, the best friend whom Skye has to be blind not to have noticed he has a thing for her, but constantly insists on hanging out with. Give the poor boy a break. Cassie, Skye's best friend, was way too shallow. When she finally did show the first sign of being growing as a character it came out of nowhere. The characters just weren't that likable to me. If I had to pick a favorite it would definitely be Asher. He was dark, brooding, and a bit of a playboy. The thing that made him stand out is that he was his own person. Asher isn't perfect and doesn't apologize for it. He goes after what he wants and still manages to make you like him.
     Now to the story line. I knew what the characters were from the first page. I wasn't expecting a big reveal or shock thrown in to the plot in that area. The thing is that I have read stories along this same line dozens of times.  A Beautiful Dark didn't add anything I haven't read before. I was upset with the lack of originality. I feel like I have done nothing but complain. Onto the part I liked. The ending was the best part of the book. It could have been fleshed out a little more, but I so was not expecting that to happen. A Beautiful Dark leaves with a huge cliffhanger. Will I be picking up the next one? The answer is if the price is right.  My review might sound a like I hated the book, but I didn't. A Beautiful Dark was just OK. I give this book  a 3 STAR rating.

Soul Thief by Jana Oliver (Demon Trapper Bk. 2)

Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

From the Back of the Book:

Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…

My Thoughts:

Ms. Oliver has done it again. Very few books about demon and the struggle between Heaven and Hell rival Soul Thief and The Demon Trapper’s Daughter. Soul Thief continues the journey of Riley Blackthorne in her quest to find out what happened to her father and why demons are calling her by name. In the same manner as the previous book, Soul Thief does not do light and fluffy. It is gritty, harsh, and mesmerizing to the very end. Riley struggles even more in this book and so does Beck right along with her. Their relationship is brought out a little more in this installment, but not by much. This would probably be my one complaint. This really shouldn’t be taken to heart though. I’m sure Ms. Oliver knows where she is going with the story line and I put my full faith in her. The main thing that you take away from this story is that there isn’t always a happy ending in real life. I even think that it says this somewhere in the book. In this light you have to admire Jana Oliver standing out from the crowd.  Many times in YA paranormal books authors seem to have a hard time not ending with a happily ever after ending each time. Soul Thief as did The Demon Trapper’s Daughter had violence, language, and sexuality in it. This wasn’t just a titillating ploy by the author, but what I believe is an integral part to who the characters are and the overall plot. I enjoyed Soul Thief immensely and am eagerly awaiting the next installment in The Demon Trapper’s Daughter series. I give this book a 4 ½ STAR rating.

***Soul Thief Extras***

Soul Thief by Jana Oliver has approximately 320 pages and was published by St. Martin's Griffin(August 30, 2011). This is the second book in The Demon Trappers series. The first book is The Demon Trapper's Daughter. The third book, Forgiven, will be released on March 27, 2012.

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

From the Back of the Book:

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 human 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?

What I Thought:

This book was really good. The beginning was a little slow and confusing for me, but it eventually picked up. The whole back ground of how the demons and the city came to be was what made it a little confusing. I just wish there had been more detailed back story info. When the book did eventually pick up I fell in love with it. The characters were troubled, deep, and amazing. Riley has an "I won't give up" no quit attitude that you have to admire. She wants something and she is going to go after it full force no matter what is thrown at her or who/what stands in her way. She has lead a rough life, but she takes it in stride and keeps her chin up. Time to get down to Beck. Let me first say that as suck a mysterious/intriguing character I really enjoyed the snippets from his point of view. It was nice to be let into his world. He is so gruff and overprotective of Riley. You can feel (or at least I can/ think I can?) the feelings that they have bubbling under the surface for each other. Simon...I don't know what it was I just didn't like him.

This new take on demons and the chaos that they cause in the world is a fresh idea that I greatly enjoyed. The Demon Trapper's Daughter is billed as YA, but I could see it appealing to adult genre fans also. It was pretty gritty. There were plenty of action/violent scenes and some sexual commentary. I think this added to the book and showed how bleak their world and outlook on life is. All in all, I definitely enjoyed this book and will be continuing the series. I give this book a 4 1/2 STAR rating.    

***The Demon Trapper's Daughter Extras***

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver has approximately 368 pages and was published on February 1, 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin. The second book titled Soul Thief is currently available.