The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (reviewed by Dillon Barnes)

This book had one of the most powerful and lovable heroines.  She is not the 'ideal' woman which makes her all the more wonderful.  The book's struggle represents humans need for push into greatness. Throughout the book our heroine goes through politics, kicks butt, and deals with emotional turmoil.

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Yup, Elisa is a great heroine.  Thanks to Dillon for this review.  Click here to check our catalog to see if Girl of Fire and Thorns is on our shelves.

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin (reviewed by Deserae RoseKing)

This book was very well-written and had a lot of really good character interaction, but it was a bit slow at times.  Overall, though, super good.  I hope there's a second. (4 stars)

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Boy, I loved Masque of the Red Death!  It was inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's classic short story of the same name. Don't you love it when books do that? Want to try Bethany Griffin's take on the story?  Click here to check our catalog to see if Masque of the Red Death is on our shelves.

The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant (reviewed by Kaela Jacobson)

It is a good story about some really sweet dogs.  I just don't like animal cruelty or dog fighting or anything like that.  And some of it was badly written. (4.5 stars)

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Kaela is reviewing an adult non-fiction book. Here on this blog we love reviews of ANY kind of book, movie, video game, or CD that the library owns.  This book is about the rehabilitation of Michael Vick's dogs.  Sound interesting?  Click here to check our catalog to see if The Lost Dogs is on our shelves.

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.