Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon

"A haunting love story about desire, danger, and destiny.
After Renee Winters discovers her parents lying dead in California’s Redwood Forest in what appears to be a strange double murder, her grandfather sends her off to Gottfried Academy in Maine, a remote and mysterious high school dedicated to philosophy, “crude sciences,” and Latin: the Language of the Dead. It’s here she meets Dante, a dark and elusive student to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they get to know each other better, Dante can’t seem to control his attraction either, and their desires gradually deepen into a complex and dangerous romance. Dangerous because Dante is hiding a frightening secret. A secret so terrible, it has him fearing for Renee’s life.

Dante’s not the only one with secrets, though. Turns out Gottfried Academy has a few of its own… Like, how come students keep disappearing? Why are the prefect-like Monitors creeping around campus during the night? And what exactly are the Headmistress and Professors really up to? Renee is determined to find out why."
   .My first and foremost thoughts on Dead Beautiful is, it's morbid.  Second thoughts, predictable.  By the time I had read a fourth of the book, I had the whole plot figured out.  Despite it's predictability and supreme morbidness, Dead Beautiful was a capturing read.  I read it all in only three hours, non stop.  BUT...in this case, the bad out ways the good.  My biggest problem was this.  The two main characters, Dante and Renee, greatly resemble Twilights characters, Edward and Bella.  Both boys are uber-strong, cold (as in skin temperature) and mysterious and both are fearful that they will, 'break' the girl. Both girls are plain in stature, (and yet both boys are head over heals in love and claim that 'she' "makes them feel alive"), both girls have almost no emotion, (I mean, it's like, 'Renee, you just lost your parents, why do you not care about them being dead and why do you only care about how they died and how wonderful Dante is?. Ugh. ) and most of all, both girls have a knack for getting in to trouble.  
    Second biggest problem.  This is what I noticed first thing off in the book.  Every single one of the Professors are close to identical to Harry Potter's professors.  Ready for this? Mrs. Lynch = Argus Filch,  Von Laark= Dumbledore,  Prof: Betty Mumm = Horace Slughorn, and so on and so on. I am like, "Ms. Woon, why can't you create a new batch of characters, maybe some that haven't been used before...Hmmmm" 
    As I said above, the plot is extremely predictable, up to the last few events. The book only really really got interesting towards the end. For me this is a one time read.  Read it once and if I want to read about that sort of story again, I will just read Twilight or HP.  

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

    "Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it.  That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two. 

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs."
But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?  My big question to all you readers of the paranormal, which do you prefer, werewolves or vampires?  For me, well, I would go with werewolves over vampires any day.  In my own (poor) opinion, I find that vampires are creatures of evil and should be kept that way, I mean drinking humans blood?? That cannot seriously be a healthy relationship. I don't especially like reading vampire books because I always hate the vampire character in it.  Must be the way i was raised.  

     But werewolves? Ever since I was six years old I have been fascinated by the folklore of werewolves. Some of my favorite books of all time are the ones with wolves in it.  The Mercy Falls trilogy, Call of the Wild (which is is not necessarily werewolves...), in the the Mortal Instruments series I loved the werewolf characters, the only people I actually liked in the Twilight series were the werewolves. As you can see, I'm a fan of werewolves, so here is a book called Raised by Wolves and guess what? It's about werewolves!!! So naturally I loved it...Just kidding, I don't just like a book because it's about something I like,  I judge books by their content. 

     And let me just rant about Raised by Wolves. (Rant in a good way, that is) .

     Firstly the characters. Bryn was my dream girl.  Funny, sarcastic and has a mind of her own.  The interaction with her between all the characters is hilarious, filled with her joking and occasional  ingenious diatribe .  And yet, she is self sacrificing when it comes to saving her friends, family and loved ones. Her amazing love for everyone around her simply blew me away, making me wish I could be that loving.  Bryn was defiantly a character that will go through the ages as astounding and heroic. 

    Chase; handsome, smart, loyal and werewolf!! A wonderful combination! His mental struggles with the feral were painful, even for you to read,  it will have you sitting in your chair encouraging him, urging him to stay on the right side.  His natural protection instincts with Bryn were funny and cute, especially the way she didn't want them and yet he never go the hint. 

    I have to say, all the characters in Raised by Wolves were tip top people, realistic and reliable.  I loved all the interaction with in the book, and the various conversations and fights were completely captivating. 

    The plot for Raised by Wolves was unique, but a little slow moving to get to the point.  The end of the book was sweet but a little unbelievable.   Of course there is a lot more good things to say about the book than bad.  I would have to say, that for a stand alone novel,  Raised by Wolves is epic.  

   It is the type of book that I can read at least once a year.  Even if you are not a werewolf fan, try giving Raised by Wolves a go,  for me it was enchanting and magical, so who knows, maybe you will find it the same way. 

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

 "With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret."
    Looks like it might be an interesting plot right? Big understatement.   Hugly interesting plot, one that just keeps on moving, the action, be it physical, mental or romantic, never stops!  I've always loved fantasy, especially dragon fantasy.  And in my own opinion there not enough of it out there.  Often times when it is there, it's lousy useless stuff that has no imagination.  But not Firelight.
    Firelight is so creative, different and magical.  As soon as I began it I knew that this is no normal YA book, it's special.  This is defiantly going up as one of my favorite books of the year.
   If you don't like dragon lore, than this is probably not going to be your dreambook, although, if I were you I would at least give it a try.  
   As with all books there are it's pros and cons.  Pros, just about everything. Cons, well,
I wasn't fond of the lack of development on Will's part.  I loved him. because he is so sweet and caring and HOT, but i didn't feel like you got to know him on a personal level.  Hopefully in the next book we will.  Cassion, was defiantly the villain in my thoughts, for me he came across as ultimate creep and overly possessive man freak. 
    All in all, Firelight was a big favorite of mine, but if your not a fan of paranormal, dragons and fast romance than this is not the book for you.  it is true, everything moves at a bit to fast of a pace but for me that just kept me reading. I can't wait for the next installment and i hope it is just as good, at least, but I am expecting it to be better!!
   

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Oh what fun! It was awesome to read Beautiful Darkness!! This new installment in the Caster Chronicles was just as good as the first one!
    One of my favorite things about the series is that it is narrarated by a boy, Ethan.  And I just have to say, Ethan is one of the best hero's I have ever read about.  His love for Lena is heartwarming, his bravery amazes me anew every book. He is by far a favorite character and his traits are the ones I like to see most in a boy.
    Lena was defiantly disappointing me until the very last couple of chapters. At first I was like, 'Oh, no! How could one of the Caster Chronicles main 'good' characters turn out like this?!" For the fist half of the book I was in denial of how she was acting, but when I finally admitted that she was the one doing it on her own, it simply broke my heart.  Her actions in the end of the book almost complety redeemed her in my eyes.  The authors were able to grow out her character through this book, showing insight into how she thinks and why she acts the way she does, that really brings her to life.
    For some reason I have always loved Ridley and had a kind of 'feeling' deep inside me that caused me to know what she was going to do. I've always felt kind of connected with her and can't wait to hear what will happen to her in the next book.
   Link was just as funny, wonderful and brave in a cowardly way, (if that makes since), as in Beautiful Creatures, if not more so.  This second book has only added to the depth of the characters
   The book it self was so creative, descriptive and captivating that it left me in a serious writing mode. (which is what I do when I'm deeply affected by something.  I write my own fiction, inspired by what ever mood I'm in).  Everything developed so well I was greatly impressed.  I loved how this book took a turn for the darker, once you begin to read it captures you so that you cannot stop reading until it the last page has been turned. 
Of course once your finished it just leaves you begging for more. 
   O loved Beautiful Darkness and can't wait until the next book comes out in the Caster Chronicles.