City of Bones

by Cassandra Clare

I've been wanting to read this book for a while, and when the third entry to the series came out a few months ago I made sure to finally put this on hold at the library.

City of Bones was a fun mix of action, romance, and supernatural elements. I enjoyed the twist at the end even though I suspected that it was coming.

I wish I had written this blog a few weeks ago when I actually finished it (around the date this post is dated.) I can't remember many details or specific things I wanted to say about it. But I did enjoy the book and the supernatural world that the author created, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane

by Suzanne Collins

I've gotten terribly behind on this blog (7 books behind) and I can't really remember the order I read some in or when I finished them, so this is just my best guess.

This is the second book in the Gregor series. Gregor returns to the underland to fulfill yet another prophecy. This book was better than the first one with some additional fun characters through into the mix. The fireflies are both hilarious and infuriating, while the newest rat Twitchtip keeps you guessing. Gregor continues to struggle to interpret the prophecies and understand his new friends all while having to make some of the most difficult decisions of his life. You can't help but love him, his sister Boots or even the various rats, bats and cockroaches that accompany him.

Gregor the Overlander

by Suzanne Collins

Two reasons to read this book: it's by Suzanne Collins, author of the incredibly awesome The Hunger Games, and Dani recommends it! (Both reasons clearly being enough on their own - put them together and it's pretty much mandatory to read this book!)

Gregor the Overlander is the first book in a five-part series. Gregor lives in New York City and lives a fairly ordinary life - until he and his little sister Boots fall through a grate in their laundry room and find themselves deep below the city in the Underland. Here they meet pale-skinned people with violet eyes, as well as scores of giant cockroaches, bats and rats. Gregor soon learns that the Underlanders believe he is the "warrior" from an ancient prophecy as well as that his dad (who's been missing for over 2 years) is likely being held prisoner by the rats. Gregor and his new acquaintances must set out on a journey to save his father, as well as the future of the Underland from the scheming plans of the rats.

Fun premise, fast read, amusing characters and four books to follow all add up to an exciting new series to enjoy!

It's a Mall World After All

by Janette Rallison

Fun and frivolous - that's how I'd describe this book. I laughed a lot.

Charlotte works in Bloomingdale's in the mall. While she spraying people with perfume she observes lots of things going on around her. First, she thinks she witnesses her best friend Brianna's boyfriend Bryant out with another girl. She also befriends a little boy who comes in needing new shoes for his mother. Charlotte spends a lot of the book trying to help this boy while also trying to prove to Brianna that Bryant is actually a jerk. Along the way she has many amusing encounters with Colton - Bryant's best friend who sometimes seems interested in her, as well as the boy Reese and his friend T.J. This boo isn't the next great American novel, but it is a fast read that will have you laughing out loud with frequency.

Gatekeepers

by Robert Liparulo

I've finally gotten around to reading the next book in the "Dreamhouse Kings" series. This book comes after Watcher in the Woods which comes after House of Dark Shadows. I liked Gatekeepers better than Watcher. The story was more interesting and some questions about the house begin to get answered.

However, my complaints remain the same: more questions are asked than answered, and the book ends right at the climax as each previous book has done. The first half of the book is spent resolving the climax from the previous book while the second half is spent creating a new one. So of course now I'm obligated to read the next book if I wish to know what happens. And while this may be a good book-selling strategy, it does annoy me. It's a good premise - I would have read the whole series even if they had been written the normal way!