Review: Red by Reese Reed

Summary:

How do you make sense of a world in which right is wrong, evil is virtuous, and those you were taught were monsters are the ones truly worthy of saving?

Jennifer's life was chaotic enough without having to leave home for college. Still reeling from her mother's untimely death, Jen resists the overwhelming urge to cling to life as she remembers and continues to press onward as she knows her mother would want. But as she hugs her dad goodbye, she has no idea that she will soon be thrust into a world she once thought existed only deep within her childhood imagination. When an ill-timed Samaritan mission goes awry, Jen finds herself stumbling through an unfamiliar land of quaint, friendly dwarves, a monstrous wolf, and blood-thirsty deceit. Is everything here as black and white as it seems, or must she simply look deeper to find the hidden shades of red?

Publication Date: April 16, 2015

What a fun fast-paced read! I love fairytale retellings and the author made this book even more engaging by throwing in her own twists on classic lore. The characters were all so fun and I loved being part of Red’s world.

The author’s strength is definitely in crafting strong, smart, witty female leads. I adored Jen. I found her so relatable and I loved her every girl quality. I could imagine myself reacting the same way if I found myself in a strange, enchanted forest. The secondary characters were all great too (who doesn’t love Snow White’s dwarves?).

The pace is super quick and that would probably be my only complaint. I was enjoying the world so much I wanted a lot more. The swiftness also didn’t leave for a ton of development as far as the romance. This is a more of a personal preference since I’m a fan of slow building love stories.

Great book for YA paranormal fans! I always like books with crossover appeal and Red definitely will appeal to adult fans as well.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Review: Chasing Memories by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Goodreads Summary:

There isn’t another way; not now. The others are coming. I can’t let them have you…

Seventeen-year-old Reagan has a problem: She can’t remember what happened the night her brother was taken. Now, the dreams haunting her from the incident are becoming more intense by the day. All the while, the lines between what’s real and what’s a product of her paranormal-obsessed mind are becoming blurred.

Is she losing her mind or has she just stepped into a world she thought only existed in books?

Caught in a web of worried parents, competing boys, Wiccan relatives, protective amulets, and psychiatrist babble, Reagan must determine the truth before it’s too late.

Publication Date: June 10, 2013

Chasing Memories was a heart-pounding and suspenseful read. It surprised me in so many ways and for the longest time, I couldn’t figure out where the story was headed. Fans of YA paranormal reads will really enjoy this book!

I had a love/hate relationship with Reagan. Sometimes, I wished I had the ability to reach into books and shake some sense into characters. However, she was a very realistic teen character and I thought the author portrayed the thoughts and dialogues of teens in a very honest way. Her emotions were up and down, but she was still a sympathetic character.

The plot started off with plenty of action as Reagan and her brother are attacked at their campsite. Reagan survives, but her brother is presumed dead. Reagan has nightmares about the attack, but never fully remembers what took place. The book follows Reagan as she tries to unravel the mystery and also as she’s introduced to the world of the paranormal—most notably werewolves and witches.

Reagan has two love interests: Dex and Rafe. Unfortunately, both came across as psychopaths. Dex only wants to use her sexually and Rafe is a creeper who tries to get her drunk and lure her out into the woods. Luckily enough, a new guy made an appearance in the third act and it sounds like he’s a much better match.

The pacing was good and I finished the book quickly. The only complaint I have is that I wished the end resolved more. However, it is a series and I do plan to read the next one.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Review: White Witch (Coven #1) by Trish Milburn

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and uninhibited opinion.

Goodreads Summary:

Witchcraft Is Her Family’s Business. No One Quits The Family And Lives To Tell About It.

“Jax” Pherson has power, enough power to know her future will end in service to the dark coven her father controls. Unless she can stay hidden in a small community in the mountains of North Carolina. She must find a way to live without magic and deny the darkness she feels welling up inside her—the same dark power that fuels the covens around the world. All she wants is a normal life. A boyfriend. Friends. Some place to belong, but all too soon Jax’s barely begun new life hangs in the balance when she discovers that the boy she’s attracted to is sworn to kill her kind. He’s a hunter with good reason to kill everything that goes bump in the night. Even the most fleeting use of her power is tantamount to signing her death warrant and will bring both hunter and coven down on her. But can she walk away when her friends are threatened by an old evil? Something created by the magic of witches? Jax’s only hope of survival is to convince the boy she loves to forget everything he’s ever been taught and help her find a way to fight the covens. To believe there is some good in her.

Publication Date: March 1, 2012

This book was the first witchcraft based YA novel I've read in a very long time. The last one I read approached the whole witch thing in a cheesy way which made me feel like I much rather have spent my time watching old episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. With White Witch. I have to say that wasn't the case and I liked it more than I expected. It was suspenseful with a likable cast of characters.

What I Liked: The action in the book starts immediately since Jax is on the run from her evil coven. The first few chapters focus on her assimilation into a normal high school life, something I found interesting. Her friendship with Toni and new romance with Keller felt natural and didn't come across as forced or unrealistic. The final third of the novel is really what lifted this book from a three star to a four star book for me. When Egan was introduced, he instantly became my favorite character in the novel. It doesn't seem like him and Jax are going to have a romantic relationship, but his protectiveness over Toni was very sweet. Also, Jax's father made a terrific villain which I hope to see more of in the sequels.

What I Didn't Like: I have to say I'm not a super fan of the cover and I think it was one of the reasons I didn't expect to like the book. It has a little bit of a cheesy look and the figure reminded me too much of Storm from X-Men. Pop culture references don't usually bother me, but the ones in White Witch felt very dated, especially since the book came out a few months ago. A few examples: Scott Speedman, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly were all mentioned over the course of the novel. I would have also liked to see a little more back story on Keller and about his family's history of hunting.

Rating: Four out of five stars