My Ramblings on Shadow Falls 1 & 2 by CC Hunter

I'm posting on both of these books together because I read them back to back (in one day) so I figured one post would work too!

Born at Midnight

By: CC Hunter

Release Date: March 29, 2011

Author Website

Summary:

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Awake at Dawn

Release Date: October 11, 2011

Summary:

Now that she’s settled in at Shadow Falls Camp, Kylie Galen’s determined to discover the extent of her supernatural abilities. But with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about die, a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, and her sixth sense telling her someone is watching her, Kylie’s quest for answers is quickly put on hold.

To make matters worse, just when she’s about to give her heart to Derek, a half-fairy, he starts pulling away. When Lucas, a werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past, returns, Kylie’s feels more conflicted than ever. Her weekend with her mom should have been the just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Someone from the dark side of the supernatural world has plans for Kylie--and it'll take all her resources to get back to Shadow Falls alive...

My Ramblings:

So here's the deal on these books. They are addicting. I had never heard of them before and then 2 days ago a friend posted a link on facebook letting everyone know that the first book was only $2.99 for Nook or Kindle (that's still the price, so get on it). I'm always looking for a new series to read, so I figured I'd give it a try. I devoured it in just about 2 hours. Then I went right back online and grabbed the sequel (a little more expensive at $9.99, but still worth it). I blew through that one in about the same amount of time. Then I had a pity party for myself b/c the 3rd book, Taken at Dusk, isn't out yet. Then I realized it was okay, because it comes out April 10th and that's only a month away. Thank goodness I don't have to wait that long! So basically this series monopolized my entire day. And it was awesome. 

So, about the books. I'm going to mush the reviews together her because the second book really is a seamless continuation of the first. At the heart of the story is Kylie, a girl who is pretty much having the worst few months of her life. Her boyfriend dumps her because she won't put out, her Grandmother dies and then her parents divorce. On top of that she seeing ghosts. Her parents think she's lost her mind and she is promptly shipped off to Shadow Falls, a camp for delinquent kids. Only Shadow Falls isn't all it seems. In fact  Shadow Falls is a camp for supernatural kids of all types. Which is the things I loved the most about this series. You have a bit of everything here, vampires, werewolves, shifters and Fae, all trying to navigate the joys of summer camp. For Kylie she has to add in the fact that she doesn't even know what kind of supe she is (or if she really is one). 

In each book Kylie has to solve a mystery surrounding the ghost that has attached itself to her. In the first book the ghost has a very personal message for her. In the second the message pertains to someone she loves. In both cases Kylie must figure it out in order to find out something more about herself and her abilities. Both mysteries are written very well. In the first I had no idea who the ghost, named Daniel, was or what he was trying to tell her. In the second book I had an idea of who the ghost was and I was pretty sure I knew what the message was, but in the end I was only partially right. In both cases Hunter kept me guessing right to the end, which is always fun!

Lastly I want to mention all the secondary characters. They are awesome. Each one has a place. Kylie's roommates Della (vampire) and Miranda (witch) provide a lot of the comic relief with their constant bickering. Despite their catty attitudes they are also extremely loyal, and that's always good to see. Perry (shifter) is also hysterical, especially when he uses his abilities to get close (in more ways then one) to the girls. The camp leaders are perfect as well, they are great role models and you can tell they are really there for the campers. They also aren't one dimensional, which I appreciate. They have their own lives and we get glimpses into their personal lives and relationships, which makes it easier to relate to them. Kylie's parents are, well, parents. They mess up. A lot. Kylie doesn't get why they are acting the way they are, which is pretty standard when it comes to kids and divorce. As their relationships shift, we get glimpses into why their marriage fell apart and what that means for Kylie. 

In other words this is a great series. If you like paranormal stories, this is a great one!

Ps. I want this series to be a tv show very, very badly. The way it's written would make for a very fun tv show. All those supes, all that mystery and that romance, action and humor. It's basically everything I love mushed into one and I think it would work great week to week. 

My Ramblings on Girls Don't Fly by Kristen Chandler

Girls Don't Fly

By: Kristen Chandler

Release Date: October 13, 2011

Author Website

Summary:

Myra is used to keeping her feet firmly on the ground. She's got four younger brothers, overworked parents, and a pregnant older sister, and if Myra wasn't there to take care of everyone, they'd probably fall apart. But when her boyfriend unceremoniously dumps her, Myra feels like she's lost her footing. Suddenly she's doing things she never would've a few months earlier: quitting her job, applying for a scholarship to study birds in the Galapogos, and falling for a guy who's encouraging her to leap from her old life . . . and fly. (from goodreads.com)

My Ramblings:

I really enjoyed this book! I've been a fan of Chandlers since I read her book Wolves, Boys and Other Things that Might Kill Me last summer, so when a friend sent me a copy of this book (it's signed!! Thanks Amy!)I was really excited to dive in. It was such a great read. What I really like about this book is that Myra is very easy to relate too. I'm from a small town and I know how hard it is to step outside of that box and do something different and exciting, so it was fun to see Myra try to figure out how to take that step. 

He ex-boyfriend Erik makes the perfect bad guy. He's not a horrible person, but he makes a great catalyst for Myra not only wanting a change, but needing one and having the guts to go for it. He reminded me of the guy that is big man on campus in high school, but who can see that his time is short. On the other Pete is the perfect good guy. He's not pushy in terms of trying to get Myra to apply for the program in the Galapagos, but he also tells her like it is, which is something she really needs. 

This was a great coming of age story that anyone who has ever wanted to leave their old life behind will connect to. By the end you might just be convinced to take a leap and fly too. 

My Ramblings on Griffin's Fire by Darby Karchut

Griffin's Fire
By: Darby Karchut
Release Date: April 2012
Author Website

Summary:

For centuries, there have been rumors about a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors and their apprentices clandestinely serve as guardians for humans in danger.

Forced to become mortal, ex-teen angel Griffin has been banished from the Terrae Angeli. Struggling to adjust, he enrolls in the heaven-and-hell known as high school. In spite of his friends’ support, Centennial High proves to be a battleground, complete with a malicious math teacher. 

And to make matters worse, his Mentor, Basil, has been ordered to take on a new apprentice, the gifted and egotistical seventeen-year-old Sergei, whose covert attacks make Griffin’s home life as bleak as a Siberian winter.

Caught between school, Sergei, and a desperate secret, Griffin is certain of one thing: the only way to fight a Cold War is with Fire. (from goodreads.com)

My Ramblings:

First of all- I love these books. I read book number one, Griffin's Rising last year (review) and immediately was drawn into not only the story, but the relationships. I was stoked when Darby sent over an advanced copy of Griffin's Fire, because I wanted to know what would happen to Griffin now that his identity has essentially been taken away from him. What will he do know that he is no longer an angel? 

What I liked about this story is that it jumped right back in seamlessly. I was instantly back into the story and the relationships and there was no confusion or trying to remember what had happened, despite the fact that I haven't picked up Griffin's Rising in almost a year. We find Griffin trying to deal with his new found mortality, and he's doing it with all the grace and maturity expected of a 16 year old boy, in other words, he's miserable and he's making sure everyone else knows it. More interestingly we see how Griffin's new status (and mood) are affecting those around him through journal entries. We see Basil trying to raise a happy teenager instead of an angel in training and we see Katie trying to be a good friend and help Griffin deal without putting on too much pressure. It's the relationships that really make this story special. 

I went on a tangent with my first Griffin review, but it bears repeating again here. I find the characters in this book refreshing. They all have issues, but their issues are realistic. Basil and Griffin don't always get along, but they love each other and at the end of the day Griffin knows that Basil will always have his back, even when he does monumentally stupid things and make horrible decisions. Griffin might second guess it, but Basil never does (and therefore neither do we). The same with Katie's family. They are well adjusted and accepting. They are the kinds of friends Griffin needs, and again, even when things go bad (like when you find a 16 year old boy asleep in your daughters bed), they manage to be both responsible parents and understanding to what Griffin is going through. I like seeing all the healthy relationships in these books. Sure there are bad guys, but the good guys win by working together and trusting each other, something that I think is missing in other books. Plus I love good parental units. Not every main character needs to be struggling against his parents, and Basil is a great parent. 

Now, besides the great relationships, we also get a really good story. Nicopolis is still out there, but we see the truth come out, and there is a backlash of sorts against the punishment that was dealt out to Griffin. They regret taking his angel status away, and even though it can't be reversed, they are doing all they can to bring Nicopolis to justice. The bad guy in this story is less of an actual monster and more of Griffin struggling against himself. Sergei, Basil's new Tiro is there to turn the screws and make Griffin doubt himself, but he is more of a classic bully then an actual evil guy. It was really interesting watching Griffin navigate real teenagedom (like high school...shudder) while still having one foot in the world of angels. 

It all wraps up nicely in the end, but there is still a hint at what might be to come. Griffin is more secure in himself and has made a wider circle of friends (I particularly like Cas and his family) and is coming to terms with who and what he is, and who and what he could be. Plus, Nicopolis is still on the periphery and I think that before all is said and done we will see that relationship come to a head with exciting and possibly devastating results. I, for one, can't wait!