Review of Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

HarperTeen

Carrier of the Mark

By Leigh Fallon

2 Scribbles

Megan and her dad have moved nearly every year since the tragic death of her mother, and Megan hopes this latest move will be the last because she feels right at home in Kinsale, Ireland. Megan makes friends fast, even though (in very Twilight-esque fashion) the boy she is most interested in, Adam, avoids her. What Megan doesn’t know is that the odd gray-cloaked man she has seen in the strangest places has brought her to Kinsale for a very important event. There is something special about Megan that even she doesn’t know—and through a series of odd and mysterious happenings, Megan will soon find out what that something is.

Let me first say that while I loved the setting for the novel, I found the character of Megan…well…dull. Outside of being an American in Ireland, there isn’t anything particularly interesting about her. She doesn’t have any obvious skills, interests, or traits that make her outstanding (with the exception of her birth secret that comes out later). I loathe the fact that when Megan meets her beloved she falls head over heels for him despite the fact that she has never dated before. She doesn’t even seem to have any doubts about swearing eternal love to him and he does the same, even though they’ve only known one another for like, five minutes. The narrative seems to focus around him obsessing over her, her objecting to (but secretly relishing) his obsessing, the two sparring and then making up. What could have been a strong supernatural element gets overshadowed by the sappy romantic elements and the weak characterization. And, in true series fashion, the ending leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Sadly, this novel would have been stronger if some of those questions at least, had been answered. At this point I probably won’t pick up a next installment.

Review of The Sleepwalkers by J. Gabriel Gates

HCI Teens

The Sleepwalkers
by J. Gabriel Gates
4 Scribbles
Caleb is celebrating his graduation from high school with his family and his best friend Bean when he discovers a letter hidden amongst his pile of graduation cards.  Curious, Caleb opens the letter to discover that a childhood friend he hasn’t seen or spoken to in years, Christine, has written him, and he is compelled to travel to Florida, where his father lives, to find her.  After arriving in Florida, he realizes that it isn’t just Christine who has gone missing. And as a result, he and Bean begin an investigation into a truth that may prevent both of their graduation dreams from coming true. Gates has crafted a thriller that might best be described as The Grudge meets The Walking Dead.  There are plenty of creepy creatures (and people too) who go bump in the night in this tale, and the description of Florida, with its dank swampy areas, stifling heat, and thick, earthy smells add to the dark tone of the story.  The tension builds consistently throughout the novel, moving quickly between Ron (a man searching for his daughter), Margie (a waitress from a local diner), and Caleb (a.k.a. “Billy”).  Interestingly, the minor characters Ron and Margie actually seem at times to be better developed than the protagonist; and, the same goes for Caleb’s friend Christine. Yet this unbalanced characterization doesn’t function as a drawback, instead, it keeps the reader invested in the outcome. While the climax of the story is rewarding, the last chapter seems to have been tacked on as an afterthought.  One traumatized victim, Keisha, seems to use ridiculously simple dialogue to describe her distress, “this is freaking me out,” and the last line of the novel is an unnecessary cliché.  Let’s hope the neatly wrapped ending isn’t someone’s idea of an opening for a sequel, because this thriller can stand on its own.

Review of the Dark Divine by Bree Despain

EdgmontUSA

The Dark Divine

The Dark Divine Series Bk. 1

by Bree Despain

3 Scribbles

Grace has grown up in a very spiritual family. Her father is a minister who teaches forgiveness and grace, and this is where Grace’s namesake comes from. And yet there is a boy who goes to Grace’s school, Daniel, who seems to be the exception to the rule. It becomes clear in the beginning chapters that Grace, her brother Jude, and her family, all have a past with Daniel, although it takes nearly half of the novel to find out what that past actually is. Once the premise is unleashed (no pun intended) on the reader however, the pace of the story picks up tremendously. The next in the line of star-crossed tales about supernatural creatures (in this case werewolves) and their human beloveds, the story is not unique; however, fans of the genre will find the story, and the story’s end worthy of finishing if not for it’s romantic elements, then for it’s last minute twist. Ironic note: Despain's main character, Grace, bears the same name as Stiefvater's main character, also Grace. Both books are about werewolves and both released within months of one another.

Review of Shiver & Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Scholastic Paperbacks

Shiver

by Maggie Stiefvater

4 Scribbles

When Grace was small she was dragged from a swing in her back yard by a band of starving wolves. She was mauled nearly to death; yet, instead of fearing them, wolves are all she can think about. Each night of the cold winter she watches the wolf with the yellow eyes—the wolf who saved her life—and she wonders why he continues to appear just outside of her reach. I can't tell you much more about the novel (don't want to spoil any surprises) but I can say that Stephenie Meyer of the Twilight series has some serious competition here. Grace is a very intelligent and strong young woman, and the romance that develops in the story doesn't come off as too sappy. She is a girl who needs to be loved and to connect with someone, but she doesn't allow that need to consume her completely.

Scholastic Press

Linger

By Maggie Stiefvater

The Wolves of Mercy Falls Book #2

2 Scribbles

Sam assumes his leadership role as keeper of the pack, even though he will apparently never shift again. His relationship with Grace is stronger than ever, despite the fact that Grace’s parents become opposed to their romance—why?—because they find Sam sleeping with Grace in her bed. New blood comes to the pack in the form of a drug-addled rocker named Cole who apparently becomes irresistible to Isabel. The dark, melodramatic affair that develops between Cole and Isabel stands in stark contrast to the relationship between Sam and Grace. In all, the plot of the novel trudges on with few surprises, and in keeping with Bk. 1 the mood is decidedly dark. Sadly, what was a serious but non-sappy romance in Bk. 1 has waxed a bit exaggerated and artificial in this second installment. And as for Cole and Isabel...the novel couldn’t get more predictable. The book’s ending is clearly supposed to be a twist, but falls into place like letters in the alphabet. With so many other great books out there waiting for me to read them, I, for one, might be hard-pressed to read book 3 in the series, Forever, already in stores.