Oct 31, 2016

Review--Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.

“When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”

These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.

Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.

As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.



I actually got in a spooky read just in time for Halloween! Well, sort of spooky. It wasn’t all terror but there were some creeptastic moments towards the end that gave me chills notwithstanding the incredibly cold office I was in! LOL! Blood and Salt was Kim Liggett’s first book that came out last year, pitched as Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn! Having never seen the latter…or desire too really, because me and scary movies? Nope!—I can’t say how much of that part is true. There’s definitely corn. Lots of corn. Lots of sentient corn. Yep.

Ash has always known she was a little different. Ever since she could remember, like we’re talking baby times which I found odd. How can you remember something that happened to you as a baby? But anyway, ever since she was young, she has always seen a dead girl hanging by her feet just above her head. She’s become desensitized to it over the years. She comes from an odd family, you could say. Her mother is always putting protective tattoos on her and never really explaining why. Then one day after she’s had some sort of vision that leads her to lose the entire day, she and her twin brother, Rhys, come home and find their mother gone. A note is left saying she’s gone back to Quivira, the home she escaped from just before they were born.

Feeling the need to rescue their mother, Ash and Rhys drive halfway across the country to find her. What they end up finding is the strange hidden community of Quivira. The community comes off as very cultish. They greet Ash and Rhys with open arms once they know they’re their mother’s children. And right away they whisk Ash off to be readied for her choosing ceremony or some such thing. And thus begins a convoluted tale of strangeness.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good weird book. But some of the weirdness wasn’t fully explained in this one. There are events from the past, like the way back when past, that greatly shape our present. Luckily Ash has a connection to one of these important people and has a series of well-timed flashbacks in the form of visions you could say, which help to shed some light onto the growing weirdness.

Then Ash meets a boy, of course, Dane is your ultimate bad boy you could say. He’s been outcasted from the community for he is a mixed blood, one from the enemy of the ancestor from the past. I can’t explain it all that well, just know that things are explained in a much easier manner in the book. Anyway, Dane is considered a Mixed blood and basically shunned, why he’s allowed to live there was still a little sketchy and a romance with him is basically forbidden. Especially since the community has already chosen who Ash is intended for. The romance between them was kind of hit or miss I felt like. They did the dance of “should we, we shouldn’t”. I never really felt hooked into the romance really. And when it comes to fruition it was a little ehh. For once it really starts going of the lovey-dovey feels the climatic ending starts to come into play.

This book was straight up weird for me. But again, not always a bad thing. A lot of weird things keep happening in this tight-knit community. People are suddenly spontaneously dying in gruesome ways and it definitely seems like some people are lying about things. It’s all very intense and somewhat complicated to explain in an easy manner without touching onto spoilers. So just know that it’s complicated and weird and answers are not always easy either.

One thing that made this a difficult read was trying to figure out why the past events were so important to the future. In some sense I get it, I do, it’s all the unsaid things that happened in the past that are somewhat important and how that plays roles into the present time that I don’t get. It’s really more of me knit-picking over details and wanting to know more about them rather than just accept them for what they are.

I’d like to say that the ending was impeccable! That all loose-ends came tying together. We get a little bit of that honestly. This book definitely reads as a potential standalone, but I do believe there will be at least one more book. Goodreads shows that a Blood and Salt 2 will be releasing next year! As there were a few loose-ends that are left out there to tease and torment you. But it may actually be happening, the sequel that is! I hope at least. While the things left unaccounted for, aren’t terrible-drive-you-crazy things, it will be nice to hopefully see some conclusion settled towards them. That is if this sequel is in fact more sequel than book 2 spinoff! As I said, I only just found out about a book 2, there’s no word on what kind of book 2 it will be.

The ending though was pretty twisted! So many shocking things and reveals were coming to play and quite a few were of the jaw-dropping variety!

While I couldn’t get totally hooked into this story as I would’ve liked, it was still an engaging and intriguing one! I guess I would’ve hoped for more creepy and little more explanations on things from the past and why they were so important for the now! I am more than likely going to pick up the second installment of this possible series of some kind! Be it duology, trilogy or whatnot. I feel hooked enough to want to see where things might end up for the characters as we left them!

 

Overall Rating 3.5/5 stars




ARC Review--Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.




I received this ARC while attending BEA earlier this year. I was in no way compensated for this review.


Heartless was one of those reads I HAD to have! I have been a huge fan of fairy tale retellings since way back when. They weren’t even popular back then. Which just shows my age, so when I heard Marissa Meyer was going to do one regarding the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, I knew it was going to be something truly wonderful. It was that, and oh so much more. It was epic!

First off, going into this I knew my Wonderland lore. I know very well who the Queen of Hearts is. Disney and Carroll taught me very well. By knowing her story from that point, you can kind of see where her story will go from the beginning. It’s like reading Wicked, you know who that Wicked Witch of the West was, you knew her fate going into the story, so don’t be surprised by what happens. It’s that kind of thing, though one (me being one) still hopes to see something else happen!

Okay, that jazz out of the way, let’s move on! From the getgo I couldn’t help by love Catherine! She’s our fated Queen of Hearts to be, but what she longs for is a simpler life. She loves to bake and her dreams involve owning her own bakery rather than being a queen. It’s bad enough that king has quite the crush on her. And if you know your Disney (and likely Carroll, though I can’t recall as it’s been to many years since I read the book) lore, you’ll recall the king is quite comical and sadly, a joke. He has no fire in him and he’s a little too lenient in his ruling. Cath has no desire to marry him, let alone be with him. But her parents are definitely pushing for an engagement.

Then in walks Jest, the new court jester and right away attraction sparks between these two. And yeah, I’ll admit, I swooned a bit too! LOL! He’s definitely got the whole mystery guy thing going on with him. He’s not as LOL funny you might expect from a jester, but he’s most definitely a performer. And try as they might to fight the attraction growing between them, they find themselves more dallying in secret than not.

This isn’t just a love story though. Cath is determined to live her life her own way despite her parents’ expectations. But life continues to bombard her it seems. There’s a bit of a mystery going on as well. One that involves a Jabberwock! Yeah, we got all the Wonderland peeps here! And it was most incredible! Seeing the Chesire Cat, the White Rabbit, the Hatter, the March Hare, the Catepillar…so many familiar faces and more! Cath herself was a force to be reckoned with and I loved her for it. She was a dreamer and wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way. She’s a remarkable heroine!

I think that’s one thing I really loved about this one! All the Wonderland residents and just general madness going on. While you don’t have to have read the original tale to enjoy this one, I will say that it helps to have some knowledge. It’s like finding little Easter eggs as you read when this or that gets mention. Cath is more familiar with the things that gave Alice her wonderment or things that perplexed her.

Heartless was just phenomenal in my opinion. Speaking as someone who looooves fairy tale retellings and origins this book had me written all over it! The ending, while still totally expecting it, still kind of took me by surprise. Which is hard to do, though my head kept telling me what to expect. And naturally, I started devising theory after theory trying to see what the outcome would be. And for some reason, I didn’t let myself think that THIS would be the outcome I got! Guess I’d rather deal with a different kind of “heartless” state of being than what Cath endured. But I will say again, that I absolutely loved this book! I wouldn’t change a thing!

I highly recommend this book for all fairy tale fans! Origin stories are one of the best in my opinion and Marissa Meyer went above and beyond with this story! Now I am eagerly awaiting to hear what her next project will entail. I can only hope it will still be fairy tale related!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


Heartless releases November 8, 2016



HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Happy Halloween everyone!! Hope you all have an incredibly amazing Halloween! 


And one day, I will get myself to Disney World during October! It's a new life goal of mine! LOL!





It's Monday! What are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.


Last Week I Read:

Heat by Alyssa Rose Ivy (ARC) (5 stars)
Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones (ARC)--Review to come at another date
Waylaid by Kim Harrison (4.5 stars)
Trickster Blood by Lucienne Diver (5 stars)


Currently Reading:

Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett


What I Hope to Read this Week:

The Operator by Kim Harrison (ARC)


Other Posts of Interest:







Oct 30, 2016

Stacking the Shelves

This weekly meme is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!



This was a nice week! While I didn't really buy much, I didn't come out empty handed and yet, I didn't add to the TBR pile either!! LOL! Here's what I bought:

 Midnight Hour by C.C. Hunter--Keeper Copy!
The Immortal Throne by Bree Despain--Keeper Copy!



And then I finally got my Stealing Snow preorder incentive! I was getting worried about it at first since the whole month had nearly gone by and I hadn't gotten it yet. But thankfully it arrived! Then I had the panic attack thinking, what if the mail people BROKE the mirror?! But thankfully, that didn't happen either! WHEW! lol!

Stealing Snow sticker
Stealing Snow compact mirror



And then I found out that I won a giveaway from Somewhere Only We Know and Words Fueled by Love for the monthly Series Ender Challenge Giveaway! It was a surprise to me too!

Amazon Gift Card


The second happy surprise came when I received my rather large credit card bill in the mail, along with that dreadful envelope came a happier one!

Barnes and Noble Gift Card



And that was my pretty awesome week! What did you all get?






Oct 29, 2016

2016 Series Enders Reading Challenge: October Recap

Well, this month I didn't get much accomplished series wise, but I did finish up one!! 

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows Duology) by Leigh Bardugo





Oct 28, 2016

Mini Review--Trickster Blood by Lucienne Diver

Hermes, the god of tricksters, walk away from mischief and mayhem? As if.
 
A Latter-Day Olympians Prequel

Hermes (yes, that Hermes of Greek myth) has an unerring nose for mischief and mayhem, which comes in handy as a syndicated columnist for the Miami Sentinel.

When a colleague offers to forgive a lost bet in exchange for checking on his father in Ft. Lauderdale, Hermes’s Spidey senses go on high alert. The father, it seems, has taken up with his much younger housekeeper. The suspected foul play has trickster written all over it.

The young woman who answers the door almost knocks Hermes back a step with her shining golden hair and laughing, kaleidoscope eyes. Oh yeah, there’s a trickster here. But which one? For once in his eternal life, Hermes isn’t sure whether he should stage an intervention, or leave the “happy couple” to their mutually assured destruction.

Especially since Farrah is much more than she seems, and Hermes is all about fun…and frolic.

Warning: Full of tricksters, trouble, and an intriguing temptress who may be more than our hero can handle. Not that he won’t give it his best shot! 



I knocked out yet another novella from my TBR pile today! Of course, I post this a day later! It feels great to read even just 2 novellas. Today I ventured back to Lucienne Diver’s Trickster Blood, a short prequel novella featuring my favorite trickster, Hermes! It’s been a year since I last read the latest Latter-Day Olympians novel. Really hope Lucienne writes more! It’s such a fun, spunky series featuring Greek mythology characters in a fun modern day twist.

Since this is a sort of prequel novella that takes place before Tori comes into the scene, it’s purely just a Hermes story. Which is no hardship! Hermes is your trickster god and a bit of playboy in some respects too. This time, an old friend of his is calling in a debt. Instead of owing him the money due to him, he asks Hermes to check in on his father. He’s worried his housekeeper might be taking advantage of him. Feeling “whimsy” Hermes agrees. Not that he couldn’t afford to pay up, but he’s always up for a little mischief, naturally.

What he finds at the condo where his friend’s father lives, is young woman who is clearly not human. And there’s quite a twist to who actually needs his help in this situation!

Being under 50 pages this was quite a quick read, but an enjoyable one! It’s definitely one to read if you’d like a taste of Lucienne’s writing in this series which is one of my favorites! While our main heroine isn’t on the scene, like I mentioned earlier, Hermes is definitely a more than enjoyable substitute. While he doesn’t have the same kind of snark that Tori has, he’s got charm and charisma and is slightly driven a bit by lust when a beautiful woman is involved. His character will surprise you in this one!

Trickster Blood was a short, yet still incredibly entertaining and delightful read! If you’re a fan of Greek Mythology reads and enjoy ones with a modern day twist, then this series is sure to delight you as it delights me!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars 




Oct 27, 2016

Follow Friday

This is a weekly blog meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

 

The Rules:

  • The goal is to increase blog followers, make friends and have something to post.
  • You create your own post using the post prompt.
  • You leave your link and thumbnail in the linky list that links back to your post prompt.
  • Once you have your post up and linked, visit other posts and tell them hi. The point is to FOLLOW them not just comment.
  • If you see a post that just hit it to the moon, or just want to show appreciation to a fellow blogger friend, like their name on the linky list to show some appreciation.
  • The person with the most likes gets chosen as the next Feature (you can be chosen every 90 days unless we are in need of features)
  • It is required that if you participate that you have to follow the FEATURE. It is a big no-no to participate and ignore the feature. They are the special snowflake in this little blizzard.
  • As a participant it is up to your discretion on how you want people to follow. Please post RSS, GFC etc if you have a follow of choice.

Specific RULES:

  • Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
  • Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
  • If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed FOLLOW as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
  • Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
  • If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
 

This week's prompt is: What are Some of Your Favorite Creepy/Twisted/Dark Covers?


MY ANSWER: 

The Need to Reads:



The Have Reads:






Mini Review--Waylaid by Kim Harrison

Worlds collide when Rachel Morgan of The Hollows meets Peri Reed of The Drafter in this exciting new short story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison.

The paranormal and the futuristic meet in this thrilling novella featuring your favorite badass heroines from two of Kim Harrison’s most beloved series: the Hollows and the Peri Reed Chronicles. The magic of the Hollows runs full force into the technological sophistication of The Drafter when a device capable of carrying a city’s data stream pulls Rachel, the bounty hunter witch of the Hollows, between realities, marooning her in a world where the supernatural holds no sway. To get Rachel and Jenks home, Peri, the dangerous renegade of 2030, must decide what will chart her future: her blind trust in those who grant her power, or her intuition telling her to believe.




After I found myself between books and not enjoying my current one, I decided to pick up Kim Harrison’s Waylaid which was an awesome little short story that was a crossover between the Hollows and the Peri Reed Chronicles. What would happen if two completely different worlds/characters collided? Well, we get that answer in this one when our beloved Rachel is somehow summoned into Peri’s world.

After stealing a device called an accelerator, Peri and Jack came home to some wine and watched one of Jack’s supernatural shows. Feeling funny, Jack acted like a goof and suddenly, there’s a strange red-headed woman in their apartment. But to us, Hollow fans, this is no strange woman, this is Rachel Morgan!!

I still felt a bit confused over how Rachel was summoned exactly, but it’s been a few years and too many books since I last visited the Hollows. But as I tend to do, I just rolled with things! And soon the story revolves around trying to get Rachel back to her world, for she only has until the end of the night to get back home.

I was most happy to see that Jenks was summoned over as well. That part got a little odd as well, in the understanding area of things. But I guess it all works! Lol. If you might recall, Peri’s world is one without magic and hence cause some confusion for me. I still plan to try out her next book soon though. Having Rachel and Jenks in her non-magical world was a trip! And it kind of helped me get reacquainted with Peri’s world as well.

The story was far shorter than I anticipated. Mostly because I would say the other half of the book is a sneak peek at The Drafter. Having read that I skipped it. But the story itself was a rather quick one! I really liked seeing Rachel and Peri interacting with one another! This definitely reads a fanfic piece, as Kim will mention in her foreword and it totally works that way for me too! It was incredibly awesome and definitely something fans of either series should read! The ending was positively perfect too!


Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars—wouldn’t have minded a little more story, but I guess that’s because I hate how short stories always leaving you craving for more. 




 

Random Thursday

It's the last Thursday of the month! Halloween is just 4 days away!! EEK!! This last round of factoids brings us to the end of the article I found 40 Spooky Facts About Halloween by Karin Lehnardt! 

And as promised here is the link to the article in full! You'll get the full sentences and whatnot besides how I tried my best to shorten and give you the gist of said factoids! A very fun and intriguing article! If you have time, definitely take a look at it!


31. 40.1% of those surveyed planned to wear a Halloween costume in 2010 according to the National Retail Federation. In 2009 it was 33.4% and apparently 33% will throw or attend a party! -->sadly I am usually not in any of these percentages. There's never any parties going on and no one to come. Plus it's been during the week for soooo long, and as adults, we have to work the next day. Ugh.

(image borrowed from cardstore.com)



32. The National Retail Federation surveyed that 72.2% will hand out candy in 2010, 46.3% will carve a pumpkin, 20.8% will attend a haunted house, and 11.5% will dress up their pet! -->we generally hand out candy, though in the past years it's been mostly too old teenagers coming for the candy. So we close shop earlier and earlier! Haven't carved a pumpkin in ages, and we would dress up our two littler dogs years ago, but after they passed and we got big dogs, we just didn't bother. There's no way either one would keep it on for more than 3 seconds! LOL!

33. Apparently, Halloween is thought to have originated around 4000 BC. -->daaannng!

(image borrowed from the Lala)
34. China has what's called Teng Chieh or Lantern Festival; this is their Halloween festival. They hang lanterns in shapes of dragons and other animals to help guide spirits back to their earthly homes. Food and water is left out for their deceased loved ones in order to honor them. -->so amazing how different cultures have similar traditions!

35. In Hong Kong Halloween celebrations are known as Yue Lan or "Festival of the Hungry Ghosts". They celebrate by lighting fires and leaving out offerings of food and gifts to placate any angry ghosts who might be looking for revenge. -->this gave me chills! So creepy!

36. There are many countries, such as France and Australia, that see Halloween as an overly commercialized American holiday. -->yeah I can see that. But I like learning about the older versions of it when it was more meant to honor our deceased loved ones. 


(image borrowed from SmartSign)

37. On Halloween night, children are more than twice as likely to be killed in a pedestrian/car accident than any other night. -->the truly scary part of Halloween! Be sure to wear reflective lights or something protective so that you can be seen by cars if you and little ones are going out on Halloween! Flashlights too! 

 (image borrowed from Wikipedia)
38. Salem, Massachusetts and Anoka, Minnesota are the self-proclaimed Halloween capitals of the world! -->Salem, yes, but Anoka?! Where is this place?! Other than Minnesota! Must research!

(image borrowed from MassVaction)
39. Boston, Massachusetts has the world's record for most lit Jack O'Lanterns at once, which is 30,128! -->whoa!!!

(image borrowed from halloween-nyc.com)
40. The largest Halloween parade in the United States is The Village Halloween parade that takes place in NYC. There are 50,000 participants and over 2 million spectators!




Oct 26, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.
 
 
On-the-run ex-agent Peri Reed returns bigger and bolder than ever in this second highly-anticipated installment in #1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison's new suspense trilogy, The Peri Reed Chronicles.

Peri Reed’s job eats her mind, but for a special task agent in hiding, forgetting the past can be a blessing.

Betrayed by the man she thought she loved and the agency who turned her into the very thing she fought against, Peri abandoned the wealth and privilege of Opti for anonymity riddled with memory gaps and self-doubt. But when a highly addictive drug promises to end her dependency on those who’d use her as a tool for their own success, she must choose to remain broken and vulnerable, or return to the above-the-law power and prestige she once left: strong but without will—for whoever holds her next fix, will hold her loyalty.

Yet even now as then, a love based on lies of omission might still save her life.
 
 


I love Kim's books! The Drafter was definitely a different kind of read from her and for me as well, but I haven't given up on the series yet. Sad thing is, I have this sitting on my kindle waiting to be read for review. It's a tossup if I will get to it before its release date, but I'm trying! So hence the waiting and struggle! LOL!


TITLE: The Operator
AUTHOR: Kim Harrison
PUBLISHER: Piatkus
GENRE: Science Fiction
RELEASE DATE: November 22, 2016





Oct 25, 2016

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by MizB of Books and Beat

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.



"I had awoken into a new world, a new life. Reality had snapped in half: truth on one side, lies on the other. But which was which? I struggled to match its jagged edges, but the pieces did not fit."*




*Quote comes from the eARC therefore it and its location are NOT final.











TITLE: Wintersong
AUTHOR: S. Jae-Jones
PUBLISHER: Thomas Dunne
GENRE: Fantasy YA

RELEASE DATE: February 7, 2017







Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list  that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.



This week's topic is: Halloween related freebie: Top Ten Scary Books I NEED to Read Still!


*in no particular order
**also note some of these "scary" books are thrillers, which kind of count as scary for me, because here, the monsters are HUMAN!! ;)


10. DARK SHIMMER by Donna Jo Napoli--this one sounded spooky in the traditional sense! Plus I had read an MG book by this author years ago when I was at that level so I felt compelled to pick this one up!
9. THE MASKED TRUTH by Kelley Armstrong--a thriller! I love Kelley's books so I am super excited to read this one!
8. THE HOUSE by Christina Lauren--this one has gotten mixed reviews, but I thought it sounded creepy and intriguing! I mean a sentient house? Totally screams Monster House to me! :D


7. THE APPEARANCE OF ANNIE VAN SINDEREN by Katherine Howe--another creepy sounding story! Love a good ghost story and really want to read this one!
6. DAUGHTERS UNTO DEVILS by Amy Lukavics--heard good things about this one! The cover gives me the serious creeps even! 
5. AFTER THE WOODS by Kim Savage--another thriller I had my eyes on! Love a good thriller!


4. SLEEP NO MORE by Aprilynne Pike--this one sounded really good! I picked it up last year as well, and then bought the e-sequel! So hoping it will be incredible!
3. THE DEVIL YOU KNOW by Trish Doller--another thriller I heard good things about! First off, still not sure why teen girl thinks it's a great idea for her first rule-breaking spree to be to travel with two teenage boys she doesn't know whatsoever! And having it turn out that one is a killer? Creepy!! And I NEED to read it!
2. THE LAST GOOD DAY OF THE YEAR by Jessica Warman--I actually won this one and it sounded good! Because as I've said, a good thriller is just as terrifying as a story filled with killer monsters!!


1. WELCOME TO THE DARK HOUSE by Laurie Faria Stolarz--I read her first series ages ago and loved it! It was the perfect blend of magic and thriller and mystery! I LOVED IT! So naturally I picked up her next series, also still unread and then this one! Really need to read her books again!


BONUS PICK BECAUSE I JUST KEPT GOING DOWN MY GOODREADS LIST BEFORE REALIZING I SURPASSED 10! 


DIARY OF A HAUNTING by M. Verano--the cover caught my eye by how friggin creepy it was! After checking out a few reviews I decided to buy it! Impulse shopping is a dangerous thing when it comes to books! LOL!