Review: One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen

Title: One Hundred Candles (Past Midnight #2)

Author: Mara Purnhagen

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 240

Publisher: Harlequin

Summary from Goodreads:

"It's taken a long time for me to feel like a normal teenager. But now that I'm settled in a new school, where people know me as more than Charlotte Silver of the infamous Silver family paranormal investigators, it feels like everything is falling into place. And what better way to be normal than to go on a date with a popular football star like Harris Abbott? After all, it's not as if Noah is anything more than a friend….

But my new life takes a disturbing turn when Harris brings me to a party and we play a game called One Hundred Candles. It seems like harmless, ghostly fun. Until spirits unleashed by the game start showing up at school. Now my friends and family are in very real danger, and the door that I've opened into another realm may yield deadly consequences."

One Hundred Candles is the second book in the Past Midnight series. Haven't read the first book, Past Midnight? Well then you can check out my review here.

One of my complaints about the first book in this series was that the action wasn't enough. However, One Hundred Candles totally stepped it up in the action department. The spirits are bigger, badder, and meaner! Everything is more intensified from the first novel from Charlotte's relationships and family dynamics to the psycho killer monster that's after her! The book may have started out a little slow and I wasn't sure where Purnhagen was taking it at first but once it got going it was great! There were twists that I just didn't see coming which is always an amazing thing to have in a book.

Charlotte, as a narrator, still didn't do much for me however. I felt compassionate for her and I really did want her to see her succeed but there wasn't any real connection for me just like there wasn't in the first book. All of the characters, while extremely likeable and easy to read about, are just hard to connect to. I just didn't get the feeling that they were real people (which they're not but I still like to think they are).

Overall, even though I didn't connect well with the characters I still found this book to be very enjoyable and entertaining. It seems these books get better as the go so I can't wait to read the next installment in the Past Midnight series.

Friday Follow and Blog Hop (12)

Here's something I haven't done in awhile! Friday Follow hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee and the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Crazy-For-Books. Both are blog hops to help bloggers get their blogs out there and connect with other bloggers with similar interests.

Friday Follow's question is which 3 authors would I like to sit down with for an hour to talk about their books and get writing advice.

I would probably have to go with the most obvious one first. J.K. Rowling. I mean she's pretty much a literary genius. I mean I don't even think I really have to explain this one any further. Next would be Julie Kagawa. I am a HUGE fan of the Iron Fey series and I would love to hear about what inspired her, her views on the characters and I'd of course hit her up for the inside information (a.k.a. what's coming next, personal details about the characters that authors know but don't necessarily tell the reader, etc.). Finally, Simone Elkeles. It's rare to come across contemporary books such as hers that are so moving. I think she's an amazing writer and I would love to pick her brain. Of course there are so many more I would want to talk to but those are just the first three off the top of my head.

The Book Blogger Hop asks what genre I wish I could get into but can't.

I'm pretty open when it comes to books and I've never ruled out a genre. I guess if I have to pick it would be historical fiction. I like his. fic. but I never seem to read much of it so I'd definitely like to give that more of a try.

Happy Hopping!

Third Sentence Thursday! (1)

Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Sniffly Kitty's Mostly Books. Here's what you do, you take the book you're currently reading, post the third sentence of the book and do a mini review for JUST that sentence!

So, for my TST I'm going to be sharing the third sentence from the first book in The Mortal Instruments series, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

"You can't bring that thing in here."

Don't you just hate when you can't bring a "thing" in somewhere? What is this mysterious thing of which they speak? Well whatever it is, sounds like they're going to have to find another way to get it in!

Waiting On Wednesday! (5)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. WoW spotlights upcoming releases that we are well... waiting on!

So I'm going to be breaking the rules a little bit! Opps! I'm waiting on a book that already came out but I jus

t found out about!

Title: Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles)

Author: Julia Crane

Summary from Goodreads:

"Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends-she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.

In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.

An ancient prophesy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle...without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?"

From the reviews I've read and the trailer it looks amazing! I love elves of any type (probably one of my favorite paranormal creatures) and so a book about them sounds just awesome! Only downfall is that it's an e-book! :( So unfortunately until I decide to take the leap and get an e-reader I'll just have to suffer. You can check out Julia Crane's website for more info on this book!

Review: Past Midnight

Title: Past Midnight (Past Midnight #1)

Author: Mara Purnhagen

Rating: 3.5/5

Pages: 216

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

(Received via Harlequin Teen Panel)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV…no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston—and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends—and potential boyfriends—is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear.

All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive…."

Upon first reading the back of the book I really did not think I was going to like it. I just assumed that, like most books I've read that are about or contain ghosts, I wouldn't like it. I was very pleasantly surprised though.

The Silver family are your usual paranormal investigators. Instead of trying to contact ghosts they try to debunk them. I really liked this take on ghosts because it allowed for alternate opinions and scenarios to be presented to the reader. Everything wasn't so cut and dry.

The main character Charlotte, while not my favorite narrator, was pretty okay. She was someone who spent her life investigating the paranormal and for once just wanted to be normal. (Quite the opposite of what most books are about now a days!) She quickly made friends with popular Avery and while they're friendship seemed too quick to start and more superficial than Charlotte made it out to be, they were otherwise realistic and quite enjoyable. There really weren't any characters I disliked in this book but none that really jumped out at me either.

One thing I do have to say is, the action wasn't very... well actiony. (Not a word. I am aware of this.) I'm not saying there should have been some kind of epic battle but I never felt that there was any dire need for the characters to do anything until pretty much the end of the book.

Having said all that Past Midnight was an enjoyable, quick read that offers a new look on paranormal.

Review: Clockwork Angel

Title: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Pages: 476

Publisher: McElderry Books

Rating: 5/5

Summary from Goodreads:

"Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all."

I was hesitant at first to read Clockwork Angel because I had read the first book in Clare's Mortal Instruments series, City of Bones, and I had not cared for it as much as it seemed everyone else had. The hype surrounding Clare and her books was very off putting to me. However, once I decided to pick up this book I couldn't put it down.

What I really enjoyed was the fact that there was such a twist in the plot. Clare did such a good job keeping everything hidden that I honestly did not know who the real villain was until the end! She set up a whole elaborate plot for the characters to follow when in all actuality they were just chasing a story. You never saw the real bad guys for who they were until the end. Most books you read it is very easy to pick out who the villain is or it is just told you up front. No surprises. But Clare kept the reader thinking and engaged in the story. There was never a dull moment.

Also, Clare did an amazing job mixing the aspects of fantasy such as the clockwork creatures and the supernatural beings with the reality of London in the 1800's. You would have thought Clare had been alive during that time herself she did such a magnificent job weaving the two worlds together.

All in all I found Clockwork Angel to be a surprisingly good read. It was compelling, witty, and action filled. The characters are endearing and the plot takes you for a wild ride that you don't ever want to end.

A New Identity!

First off, you're all probably thinking WHO THE HECK IS THIS AND WHY AM I FOLLOWING THEM?! Well, calm down I didn't weasel my way onto your blog rolls! This blog was formerly known as "The Ramblings of a Book Addict". I found this name to be too long and it just didn't suit me anymore. I wanted something shorter, sweet, and to the point. So from now on the blog is Monica Must Read. I've also changed my twitter name but if you were already following me then don't worry you still are!

Next, as you all may (or may not) have noticed I've been MIA from blogging for quite some bit of time! I feel horrible about neglecting my lovely followers but with school I just wasn't able to blog. But, now it's summer and I'm planning to make a comeback of sorts! So in the next few days I'm going to be writing up a number of reviews from the books I've read in my down time and I'll be up and running in no time!