Title: Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2)
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Published: October, 2010 by Simon and Schuster
Pages: 427
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away, and Nora can’t figure out if it’s for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father’s death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn’t answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch, or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed Hush, Hush a lot more than this instalment. I just felt frustrated throughout the majority of this book. Nora is the same as always, and if there’s harder way to go about something, she’ll find it.

Title: Unnatural (Archangel Academy #1)
Author: Michael Griffo
Published: February, 2011 by K Teen (Kensington)
Pages: 480
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it’s a place filled with secrets. Just like its students…

For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he’s ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, alone. At Archangel Academy, Michael belongs. And in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran’s enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he’s ever known.

But Michael’s only beginning to understand what makes the Academy so special. Ronan is a vampire—part of a hybrid clan who are outcasts even among other vampires. Within the Academy’s confines exists a ruthless world of deadly rivalries and shifting alliances, of clandestine love and forbidden temptations. And soon Michael will confront the destiny that brought him here—and a danger more powerful than he can imagine…

Final Thoughts:
Slow to start, but stick with it and you’ll be greatly rewarded. Michael and Ronan will keep you glued to the pages. Full of snarky vampires, apathetic mothers and controlling fathers, Unnatural comes as a fresh breath in the vampire/boarding school genre.

Title: Alpha (The Shifters #6)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Published: October, 2010 by Mira
Pages: 472
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder and treason. Yeah, we’ve been busy. But now it’s time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother’s death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council. It’s not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I’m heading for a final showdown that can—that will—change everything forever. A showdown I’m not sure I’m ready for. But life never waits until you’re ready.

Final Thoughts:
Wow, this book had my emotions all over the place. In the middle of an all-out war Faythe just can’t catch a break. It’s one of those tense reads where if something can go wrong, it will. And aside from her Pride problems, her love life isn’t much better. Torn between two guys (oh the pain of it) and with Calvin Malone well and truly on the bus to power hungry crazy town, Faythe’s life is one colossal mess.

Title: Shift (The Shifters #5)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Published: March, 2010 by Mira
Pages: 441
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

Being the first female werecat enforcer isn’t easy. Scars accumulate, but I’m stronger in so many ways. As for my personal life? It’s complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother’s death and my father’s impeachment, it’s all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe. With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option…

Final Thoughts:
Oh my god. That’s pretty much the feeling I was left with throughout this book. Rachel Vincent is definitely not one who shies away from killing off her characters or maybe just dismembering them. The personal struggles come hard and fast. No one is safe. The internal war that has been building steadily throughout the series is coming to a peak. I’m left in awe of Calvin Malone’s sheer evilness. It’s brilliant.

Title: The Sunlight Slayings (Oliver Nocturne #2)
Author: Kevin Emerson
Published: August, 2009 by Scholastic
Pages: 224
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

Oliver Nocturne finds himself reunited with Emalie’s cousin, Dean, who has returned as a zombie. Dean has information on something that is shaking up the vampire community – vampire children are mysteriously being turned to dust. Oliver and Dean reconnect with Emalie, and the three of them set out to solve the mystery and in the process encounter the Fallen Brotherhood, a human group fighting against vampires. And the Brotherhood has some news for Oliver ….

Final Thoughts:
If you enjoyed the first book, The Vampire’s Photograph, you’ll most likely be kept entertained with this second instalment. Oliver, Emalie and Dean are all back, yes Dean too. There’s plenty of rodent eating, unnecessary secret keeping and a little bit more insight into Oliver’s destiny. I’m not in the target age group so it did leave a lot to be desired for me, but if I were still a tween I’d be all over this.