The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey (reviewed by Bear Schacht)

Mon-strum-ol-o-gy n.

1: the study of life forms generally malevolent to humans and not recognized by science as actual organisms, specifically those considered products of myth and folklore

2: the act of hunting such creatures

It was a spring night in 1888 when Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, was called out of bed by the arrival of a grave robber who had found something more gruesome and terrifying than anything the twelve year old boy had yet experienced in his year of working for the doctor. The find launches them into a case of nightmarish monsters, some human, and some very much not.

There were so many things I loved about this book; I almost don’t know where to start. The cast of the story included some really interesting characters, characters that not only stayed interesting, but got more interesting as the story went on. Doctor Warthrop struck me as being similar to Sherlock Holmes in many ways, if Holmes hunted monsters instead of criminal masterminds. You also get the sense that there is something more to Will Henry than meets the eye, though I can’t really put my finger on what it is. Of course, Dr. Kearns (if that is his real name) is the scariest character I have encountered in a long time. He definitely knows about monsters, and you know how they say it takes one to know one…..

Then there was the gore, something that you can’t ignore with this book. I have the habit of eating while I read, but if you are at all weak of stomach I would not recommend doing so with this book. I am not usually the biggest fan of gore and horror, but this was different. The way the story was told had the perfect blend of emotion-capturing horror as well as the slightly detached journalistic reporting of facts. With these two flavors of storytelling working together, even the most over the top grotesque parts of the book seemed more believable and less gratuitous than other horror I have read.

I could go on about this book some more, but I would much rather go read the sequel now. I guess that means you will just have to go get the book and read it for yourself, but remember that “Yes my dear child, monsters are real. I happen to have one hanging in my basement.”

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Ah, Bear. An amazing review of one of my favorite series ever. Think you can handle it? Click here to check our catalog to see if The Monstrumologist is on our shelves.

Misfit by Jon Skovron (reviewed by Xian Eutsler)

Misfit by Jon Skovron is a book about a teenager named Jael who is a half demon, and what takes place after she has embraced her demon side. When she learns that Belial (One of the Grand Dukes of Hell) is after her because of what she is, Jael has two choices. Keep running, or stand and fight. Of course she is tired of running and chooses to fight. With the help of her demon uncle Dagon and her father, she may just get the hang of being a demon.

What I really like about this book is that it incorporates elements of the Bible, and other cultures gods. It also shows what happen in the past between Paul and Astarte. How they met and why they had to keep running from Belial.

Misfit uses the past and the present to create a story about survival and standing up to your fears. Though the help of the demon uncle does make things more manageable; I really like this book. The fight against Grand Dukes of Hell isn’t an easy one. Throughout the book Jael learns to influence the elements water, air, earth, spirit, and fire. Not control but influence, this is the first time I have read a book where you couldn’t control the elements. They have to be influenced, or persuaded, to do what you want. Which I thought is another cool way to view the elements.

I hope there will be another book coming out, as I have enjoyed this one immensely. It looks like Jael will have much more to achieve if she is to fight off the Grand Dukes of Hell that want a go against her. Luckily she has her dad and her uncle to back her up!

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Thanks Xian for this amazing review. Xian reviewed Misfit from an Advance Reading Copy, but I saved this review until the today because today is Misfit's release day, hoorah! \o/ Happy book birthday to Misfit! After Xian's review, we're definitely buying a copy, so keep your eyes peeled!

Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer. We have lots of ARs waiting for your reviews, so ask today!

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (reviewed by Amethyst Collins)

Oh, where to start. I LOVED this book. Absolutely adored it. I figured out the ending about halfway through, but then for the rest of the story the author had me second-guessing myself. The words “historical fiction” usually have me running and often screaming as I go, but I’m beginning to learn that the fiction is usually more prominent in the story. (History is not my favorite subject.) I recently read another “historical fiction” novel that I really enjoyed, though, and I think I’m discovering a love for a new genre.

The author did a lot of research for this book, and it was very realistic. Apparently she loosely based the story on Sleeping Beauty, but there was only one moment where I was reminded of that fairytale. In my opinion, that’s a good thing, because it means she brought a lot of her own ideas to it. The romance in this story made me extremely happy. I kept exclaiming out loud so much about events that were happening, my mom actually came into my room to see what was up - I think she thought I was talking with a friend, and it was getting to be late at night.

This is one of those books that I never want to end because the world I’m in is so interesting and the characters are so lovable and the writing is so real. I envy you who are going to read it for the first time, because it will all be a surprise. Do I recommend? With all of my heart.

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YAY, Amethyst, is there anything better than finding a new genre and a new book to love!? Want to see if you could fall in love with this book too? Click here to check our catalog to see if The Healer's Apprentice is on our shelves.

Family by Micol Ostow (reviewed by Alanna Cover)

“when i was six years old, i drowned”

After Melinda Jensen runs away from a sexually abusive stepfather, Uncle Jack, and the empty shell of a mother at the age of 17, she's lost. She's given up. She gave up on mirror-mel who taunts her. She will become new. And she does, with the help of a man named Henry.

Henry is everything amazing. The stars, the sunset, Jesus Christ, messiah, beautiful music, and infinity all rolled up into one. She wants and he has.

Henry has infinity.

And Henry has a message. A message of love. He takes her home, to a ranch, to a family she always dreamed of. Or not. Either way, it's a family. An open, loving family. People Uncle Jack would call, “dirty hippies.” She is accepted, loved. She is chosen. Henry enjoys her. Drinks her up. She loves. They're full of love. Something she's never seen before. Something she has never experienced before. Love.

Henry is their god. Their father. Their husband. Their family. Their everything.

And Mel will do anything for him. Die. Kill. Anything. Anything to spread his message. Their family. Their love. Their open-armed, free love. Happiness.

But will she truly kill for the sake of a message? Will she give herself away?

When a man doesn't come to hear their music, hell breaks open. Henry is upset. And his family will do anything to help him, to make him happy again. He has told them to kill the man. He has chosen four of his “children” to do his bidding. Junior. Leila. Shelly. Mel. Will Mel help her family, or save herself?

This book was written amazingly. The language is so alluring, entrancing, beautiful. I could not put it down. Written in episodic-verse, the words flow easily, in a dream-like, thought-like environment, where you're so captivated, you forget where you are. Who you are. It made me wanna read a little more about the Manson Family.

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Wow, Alanna - what a beautiful review of a book that truly sounds stunning. Click here to check our catalog to see if Family is on our shelves.

The Warlock by Michael Scott (reviewed by Carolyn Adkins)

The Warlock, The Secret of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, is the 5^th book in the 6 book series by mythological writer Michael Scott. Do you know what’s better than seeing William Shakespeare battle non-human creatures on space ships? Nothing. Which is exactly what happened in this book, nothing. It was boring! The battles were lame and the story only advanced what, a couple of hours? Going back and forth to four or five different locations with different characters, being introduced to characters that have nothing to do with the plot, and being told one thing then told another all amounted to one thing. Yes, you must go through the entire boring and drab book, where nothing happens, to read the last sentence. The last sentence, not even the last paragraph, the last sentence is probably the biggest twist in the entire series! I highly recommend this book, just as long as you read the first four, just so you can read that last sentence. And to watch William Shakespeare battle non-human creatures on space ships.

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Oh, Carolyn - this was hilarious! I love an honest review, but is anything more frustrating than when a series doesn't turn out the way you want? Click here check our catalog to see if The Warlock is on our shelves so you can see if you agree with Carolyn.

Nightspell by Leah Cypess (reviewed by Amethyst Collins)

This is an intriguing new installment by Leah Cypess that, while showing her ability and style in writing, manages to create an entirely different story in a world previously created. I love the way she took something often used in fiction stories – ghosts – and made them entirely her own. Only people who were murdered stay as ghosts, and they only stay until they avenge themselves. Also, they have weaknesses such as silver and sunlight, can eat food and fool people into thinking they’re alive, and their whole reason for existence comes from a spell. Cool, no? And while romance was practically nonexistent, there is a lot of love in this story.

One of my favorite lines goes something like: “I don’t like my sister, but I love her.” I think a lot of people can relate to this feeling, even if it’s only at moments. The basic plotline is a girl going to save her sister from a forced marriage to bind two kingdoms together. In case you haven’t guessed, things don’t go quite according to plan. I enjoyed the time I spent reading Nightspell, and there were several instances where I would be so drawn into the book that I would gasp out loud. Would I recommend it? Well, though I liked Mistwood better, Nightspell is definitely a story well worth reading.

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Thanks Amethyst for this great review. Amethyst reviewed Nightspell from an Advance Reading Copy, but I saved this review until the today because today is Nightspell's release day, hoorah! \o/ Happy book birthday to Nightspell!

While you wait for the library's copy of Nightspell to arrive, you can click here to see if the companion novel, Mistwood, is on our shelves!

Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer. We have lots of ARs waiting for your reviews, so ask today!

Paper Towns by John Green (reviewed by Emily TenCate)

If you're anything like me, if I told you that the novel Paper Towns by John Green detailed the lives of a gamer and a popular girl in their last month of high school, you would be bored (or at least pretty skeptical) already. If I told you the novel also included romance, beer, and mischief, you'd groan and mutter, "Typical," and you'd probably cross the book off of your list without a second thought. Paper Towns is, indeed, about all of these things. But it's also about something more, and, in fact, that's the whole point of Paper Towns: it's impossible to sum something up if you only look at its components. To understand something, you really need to have seen the whole.

Paper Towns points out in excruciating detail that we (especially as high schoolers) only see people by parts. Take Margo Roth Spiegelmann, for example, the enigmatic sort-of-protagonist who is usually summed up (incompletely) as queen bee of the high school. When you get to know her, though, she's actually a marvelous prankster, with a head full of plans and stories and metaphysical theories about life. Take Quentin (also known as Q), an avid gamer and the boy-next-door, whose undiscovered inner hero only surfaces when Margo goes missing. Take "Bloody Ben", another obsessive gamer, whose whole life is defined by one embarrassing incident.

Throughout the book, these people discover that everyone has three dimensions. (Well, mostly everyone; the drunk jocks in this novel are as senseless and two-dimensional as ever.) They learn that you have to read people the way you read poetry: you can't understand the meaning if you only read and understand a couple of lines. You have to understand the poem as a whole before you can really say what it's all about.

And if you think philosophy is too boring and you'll never read this book, never fear, because Paper Towns is also deliciously, unexpectedly hilarious! And when I say hilarious, it's not just funny, it's laugh-out-loud ridiculous. It's intense, engaging, and (though this is coming from a senior in her last couple months of high school), completely understandable... well, maybe all except the part about naked graduation. Read it; you won't regret (or forget!) it.

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OH EMILY, WHAT A GREAT REVIEW OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME. I can only express my feelings about Paper Towns as such - <3 <3 <3

If you haven't read anything by John Green, you need to fix that ASAP, so click here to see if Paper Towns (or anything else by John Green) is on our shelves.