Dark Flame (Immortals, #4) by Alyson Noël, Book Review

In Alyson Noel’s most darkly seductive Immortals novel yet, Ever fights for control of her body, her soul—and the timeless true love she’s been chasing for centuries.

Ever is trying to help Haven transition into life as an immortal. But with Haven drunk on her new powers and acting recklessly, she poses the ultimate threat—exposing their secret world to the outside. As Ever struggles to keep the Immortals hidden, it only propels Haven closer to the enemy—Roman and his evil companions.
At the same time, Ever delves deeper into dark magick to free Damen from Roman’s power. But when her spell backfires, it binds her to the one guy who’s hell-bent on her destruction. Now there’s a strange, foreign pulse coursing through her, and no matter what she does, she can’t stop thinking about Roman—and longing for his touch. As she struggles to resist the fiery attraction threatening to consume her, Roman is more than willing to take advantage of her weakened state…and Ever edges closer and closer to surrender.

Frantic to break the spell before its too late, Ever turns to Jude for help, risking everything she knows and loves to save herself—and her future with Damen …

Title: Dark Flame
Author: Alyson Noël
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 320
Release Date: June 22, 2010
Source: Bought
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4/5

Wow. Just--wow. I love Alyson Noël--always have, always will. I first spotted Evermore (Immortals, #1) at Wal-Mart in my early teens and plucked it off the shelf, mesmerized by the cover. I opened the cover, read the first page, and began the journey into the world of the Immortals. I thought that Evermore was amazing, Blue Moon was okay, and Shadowland was really good. Dark Flame picks up right where Shadowland left off and I was happy to return to this world once more. This time around, Ever fights her attraction to Roman and tries to break the binding spell that ties them together. All the time, Ever is weakening and becomes very miserable and frail--both physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Just when Ever thinks that she has lost it all, she dedicates to overcoming those obstacles and fights them until she finally reaches her goal, 320 pages later.

The plot-I love the plot of the Immortals series. The idea of a sixteen-year-old girl who dies and then comes back with psychic abilities and discovers that she is the reincarnated spirit of an immortal's lover and has to battle a scorned lover, a betrayed accomplice, and a heartbroken comrade is brilliant, and Noël manages to make every second of it exciting and thrilling.

The setting-Laguna Beach, California is a beautiful place with a sapphire ocean, white sand, golden sun, and baby blue sky with tropical trees, sun kissed skin, and plenty of marine life with an active social life and a diverse range of minorities. I know all this why? Not because I've been there, but because of the vivid descriptions in Noël's books. I loved the setting, and it has endless possibilities.

The characters-I loved how strong and independent Ever was. She took the reins and took control of her own life. She wasn't going to let anyone tell her what to do--she knew her path, and she followed it the way she wanted to, not the way someone else told her to. Ever is definitely a smart chick who makes loads of mistakes, but she learns from her mistakes and tries her best to do the right thing, and that's why she is one of my favorite heroines. I love Damen, Ever's handsome, mysterious, and wealthy lover. Damen is funny, intelligent, artisitc, protective, loving, caring, and understanding--what guy could be more perfect? I love the relationship between Ever and Damen, and the high stakes that jeopardize it all. Jude--eh, Jude...Jude is a reincarnated spirit who has fought for Ever's heart alongside Damen for centuries. Jude makes a great best friend, but I cannot see him and Ever getting together. I got very angry at Jude at the end of this book, and when and if you read it, you'll understand why, although I can understand the reasoning behind what he did and I guess I can understand. I got very, very annoyed with Haven during this book, and I just wanted her to get hit by the bus...she wouldn't die, of course, because she's immortal, but I hoped that the bus would punch her in one of her seven chakras and kill her--yes, she was that annoying that I wanted to see her get run over...twice! I understand why the author made Haven the way she was in this book to set things up in the next installment.

When I closed this book, I sat there for a moment and digested what I had just read. I loved everything about Dark Flame...except a minor tediousness throughout the book. I felt as if Noel repeated herself often and retold a few things from the previous novel, Shadowland. I also noticed a few inconsistencies in the mythology of the book. For instance, Hecate (Goddess of Magick) was portrayed as an evil, rogue immortal queen of the Underworld. I believe that Noël only did this to make Hecate an original element of fiction instead of the classic Goddess of Magick. I loved the wide array of diversity and culture in this book. Noël includes straight as well as LGBT characters in her books and the philosophies initiated in her Immortals series has both Wiccan and Hindu roots with pentagrams, magick, spellcasting, sacred circles, chakras, and meditation.

Destined (House of Night, #9) by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast, Book Review

Breathing hard, Aurox stood there over the bodies of his vanquished enemies. He turned to Neferet.

"Very good," she said in her emotionless voice. "Let us leave this place before the authorities descend."

Aurox followed her. He walked heavily, his hooves gouging furrows in the dirty alley.

Weak. He felt weak. And more. There was something else.

"What is it?" She snapped at him when he hesitated before entering the car again.

"I do not know. I feel--"

She laughed. "You don't feel at all. You're obviously over thinking this."

"Yes, Priestess." Aurox got in the car and let the world speed past him.I do not think. I do not feel. I am a weapon.

Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet -- which would be a whole lot easier if the High Council saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together -- if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow. But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more -- or possibly less -- than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there's something strangely familiar about him . . . Will Neferet's true nature be revealed before she succeeds at extinguishing Light? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect them all? Find out what's destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

Title: Destined

Author: P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 325

Release Date: October 25, 2011

Source: Publisher

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 4/5

*I received this title from the publisher in exchange for a 100% honest book review.

Best. House. Of. Night. Book. EVER! I'm a major House of Night fan--I always stay on top of things and get so hyped up about these books that I read them the day I get them and rave about them to all my family, friends, and online community. I love the history, mythology, religion, and magick involved in the House of Night. Vampyres practice a Wiccan/Pagan-inspired religion with Celtcic Shamanism themes who worship a Goddess named Nyx who is the personification of night and in return for their faith, Nyx grants her sons and daughters the power of magick. I can totally relate to the vampyre religion in the House of Night universe because I am a Wiccan myself, and I enjoy reading about a cast of characters who share a similar belief system.

The plot-Destined opens where Awakened (House of Night, #8) left off. Jack and Zoey's mother are dead, victims of Neferet and the Darkness which she so eagerly controls. Destined covers the concept of good vs. evil, light vs. dark, and other important themes while still maintaining the theme of acceptance and tolerance. I loved how Zoey really stands up to face the world right after the death of a good friend and her very own mother and takes on the role of High Priestess in an attempt to stop Neferet from wreaking havoc on Tulsa and the rest of the world.

The setting-Like every other book in the House of Night series, Destined takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Zoey and the gang, as well as the Red Fledglings escape from the confines of the depot tunnels and reclaim their right to attend school and temple services at the House of Night with all of the other Blue Fledglings. Of course, Neferet does everything in her power to cause hell on earth and make Zoey fall and falter. However, Thanatos--Death, personfied--arrives from the Vampyre High Council in Italy to evaluate Neferet's performance as a professor, mentor, and High Priestess. Thanatos and Zoey team up and throughout the course of the book attempt to prove that Neferet is evil and will stop at nothing to become Divine and rule over the world.

The characters-The only real issue I had with this book was the characters. I've never had a problem with the characters, but in Destined, I did. I felt as if the Nerd Herd (Zoey, Stevie Rae, Damien, Shaunee, and Erin) all changed in numerous ways--some were for the better and some were for the worst. I felt that Zoey got a tad bit more immature than in the previous books, and so did Stevie Rae and Erin. I saw a major maturity level rise within Damien and Shaunee. Damien has just lost his lover, Jack, and Shaunee confronts the issues of her estranged father and distances herself from all of her friends in an outcry for help. Aphrodite is my favorite character, along with Zoey and Damien, because she has always been so mature in the books, but in Destined, I felt as if she were way more immature than she ever was and would've appreciated more character development in this book.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because of the plot, theme, setting, and major cliffhanger. The only thing keeping me from giving this book 5 stars was very poor character development.

Dragon's Oath (House of Night Novellas, #1) by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

The first in an enthralling new mini-series of novellas from the #1 bestselling authors of the House of Night, Dragon’s Oath tells the story behind the House of Night’s formidable fencing instructor – the love that will transform him, and the promise that will haunt him.

In early 19th century England, long before he’s a professor at the Tulsa House of Night, Bryan Lankford is a troublesome yet talented human teen who thinks he can get away with anything… until his father, a wealthy nobleman, has finally had enough, and banishes him to America. When Bryan is Marked on the docks and given the choice between the London House of Night and the dragon-prowed ship to America, he chooses the Dragon – and a brand new fate.

Becoming a Fledgling may be exciting, but it opens a door to a dangerous world.... In 1830’s St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, Dragon Lankford becomes a Sword Master, and soon realizes there are both frightening challenges and beautiful perks. Like Anastasia, the captivating young Professor of Spells and Rituals at the Tower Grove House of Night, who really should have nothing to do with a fledgling…
But when a dark power threatens, Dragon is caught in its focus. Though his uncanny fighting skills make him a powerful fledgling, is he strong enough to ward off evil, while protecting Anastasia as well? Will his choices save her—or destroy them all?

Title: Dragon's Oath

Author: P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 145

Release Date: July 12, 2011

Source: Publisher

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 4/5

*I received this title from the publisher in order to read in exchange for a 100% honest book review.

I have always been a fan of P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast and the House of Night world since the release of the first book in the series, Marked. If you're a fan of House of Night, you're aware of the character of Dragon Lankford, Sword Master of the Tulsa House of Night, but before he was Dragon and a vampyre, he was Bryan Lankford, a noble Englishman who was the son of a notable duke.

This book starts off with Dragon being disowned by his father and ordered on a ship to the Americas from England. While boarding the ship, Dragon is Marked by a vampyre Tracker and his life changes forever--this is when all the action starts. From this point on, a chain of events take place in Dragon's life and it truly changes him forever. He falls in love, confronts his inner humanity, and battles Darkness.

The plot-I loved the plot of this book because of the action and adventure. I'm an avid House of Night fan and totally devoured this book in a half hour or so. I enjoyed seeing the back story of Dragon and how he came to be. We also encountered the semi-life of Anastasia, Dragon's slightly older vampyre lover.

The characters-The characters in P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast's books may seem kind of shallow at times, but Dragon was full of depth. His true emotions poured out in this book, exposing a new side of him.

The setting-I loved the setting--well, settings: London, England and St. Louis, Missouri. I enjoyed seeing the different time eras in this book and look forward to reading the future novellas produced in this House of Night mini-series.

In conclusion, this book was great and I can't wait to read Lenobia's Vow, novella two in the series, which will be released on January 31, 2012. The third book in the series will be titled Neferet's Curse and is expected to release on July 17, 2012 but is subject to change. The fourth novella chronicles the life and times of Kalona and how he fell from divinity to damnation, but a title and a release date has not yet been announced.

Abandon (Abandon, #1) by Meg Cabot, Book Review

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back. But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid. Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away... especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most. But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Title: Abandon
Author: Meg Cabot
Publisher: Point
Pages: 304
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4

*I received this title from the publisher to read in exchange for a 100% honest book review.

Let me start off by saying that before reading Abandon, I hadn't read anything by Meg Cabot. Wait--I take that back. I have read two books my Cabot: Code Name Cassandra (1-800-Where-R-You, #2) and Sanctuary (1-800-Where-R-You, #4) although they were read years ago and they were for middle grade readers. I loved the Princess Diaries movies based on the series of novels, and I also enjoyed the film adaptation of Avalon High, so I went into Abandon expecting good things. I wasn't let down.

The premise of this book is basically a seventeen-year-old girl dies, comes back to life, is branded as psychotic, gets into major trouble at her school, and is shipped off to live with her eco-friendly mother in Florida versus her power-hungry father in Connecticut where the previous drama had taken place. Ever since Pierce (the girl) died and came back, she had been stalked by a smokin' hot bad boy named John--John Hayden, and omigoddess, he is gorgeous! I even found myself falling in love with him.

I LOVED the plot of this book. It is about Greek mythology, and can be summed up in one sentence: Abandon by Meg Cabot is the modern-day retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Persephone. I really enjoyed seeing how Cabot adapted the myth into a modern-day scenario and flew threw this book.

The characters were great, too. I loved the heroine, Pierce, and her attitude and outlook on everything that takes place during the course of the book. I really liked how Cabot wrote a kind, caring protagonist who is more than willing to put others first. John Hayden was an amazing hero and I loved how he was protective, mysterious, and alluring. He was like a mixture of Edward Cullen from Twilight and Jace Wayland from City of Bones--two of my favorite heroes from two of my favorite series.

The setting of this book was great. The small, haunted island of Isla Huesos, Florida was eerie, spooky, and kind of frightening. Ravaged by storms and plagued by the haunted spirits of deceased pirates and island-people, Isla Huesos was the ultimate magnet for all things weird and freaky. I loved every single minute of it.

All in all, I thought this book was kind of slow in the beginning, but the ending totally made up for it. I was completely and totally lost in the Underworld of Cabot's mind and I cannot wait for the next book in the series, Underworld.

Swoon (Swoon, #1) by Nina Malkin, Book Review

Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree, and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him -- but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking. Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent -- and irresistible -- adversary, before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.
What do you do when the boy of your dreams is too bad to be true?

Title: Swoon
Author: Nina Malkin
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 425
Release Date: May 19, 2009
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 2.5

*I received a review copy of this title from Simon Pulse in exchange for a 100% honest book review.

Swoon tells the story of a seventeen-year-old girl named Candice "Dice" Moscowitz who moves from her beloved home in New York City to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousin and a very preppy, conformist community in rich and privileged Connecticut. When Dice's cousin, Penelope "Pen" dies, she comes back but possessed by the spirit of the ghost of a man named Sinclair "Sin" Youngblood Powers whom was hanged in the seventeenth century. The novel chronicles the adventures of Dice as she tries to exorcise Sin and save Pen.

The plot-I loved the plot and the concept more than the book itself. I love the idea of possession, ghosts, spirits, etc. and I was really looking forward to reading this book. I love Nina Malkin's writing style, even though it may be hard to follow at times, it is very unique and different.

The characters-I loved the characters. I thought that all of the characters were very real, and I felt as if they could actually be real people in the normal, mundane world. I loved Dice and Sin; I thought that Dice was a great heroine and Sin was a very dark hero.

The setting-I loved the setting in this novel, because it presses important societal issues such as conformity, individuality, and pushes the boundaries of acceptance. I loved the harsh reality of this book--Nina Malkin is definitely not afraid to write very provocative, mature scenes.
All in all, Swoon was an okay book. I gave it a 2.5 because I liked the plot and the characters, but I hated the pacing--I wish the action-adventure scenes would've been more amped up.

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare, Book Review

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Title: City of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry 
Pages: 485
Release Date: March 27, 2007
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5/5

*I received a review copy of this title from Simon & Schuster in exchange for a 100% honest book review.

I originally read City of Bones when it first came out, but I never finished it and it. For years, it sat there waiting for me. I decided that I wanted to re-read City of Bones just to brush up on some information, and re-live the experience. Presently, there is a ton of hype surrounding The Mortal Instruments series, and there's even a movie in the works, set for release in 2012.

The plot-I loved the plot of this book. It basically tells the story of a fifteen-year-old girl named Clary Fray, living in New York City, whom arrives home one night to find her apartment in ruins and her mother gone. And then Clary is attacked by a demon, which she kills. Clary meets a beautiful golden boy named Jace and joins his "family" of Shadowhunters, demon-slaying Nephilim, half-angel, half-human celestial beings. Clary basically goes through the entire first novel discovering herself and who she really is and who had abducted her mother and why, all the while encountering supernatural and paranormal elements.

The characters-The characters in this book were hilarious, smart, intelligent, independent, witty, and all around great. I usually hate at least one character in a book, but in City of Bones, that didn't happen. I loved Clary because she was so strong and independent. I love Alec and Isabelle for their humor yet their immense seriousness at the same time. I loved Jace because he is outrageously gorgeous and headstrong. I loved his personality and his unwillingness to back down from a fight. I thought that Simon, Clary's best friend, was a great character because of his humor and his "dorky" personality. I thought that Jocelyn (Clary's mother) and Luke (Jocelyn's best friend) were great characters, and I loved reading them. Valentine (the big, bad enemy of the series) was a prime example of an amazing villain. I loved Valentine's evil snarkiness and his aversion to certain Downworlders--vampires, werewolves, witches, and faeries.

The setting-*sigh* The setting of this novel is New York City, which is where I want to move after high school and attend college. I loved seeing the real, exotic, gritty, artistic side of NYC and loved how the City was seen as a playground for Downworlders.

I thought that City of Bones was filled with a perfect amount of action, adventure, romance, and suspense. This urban fantasy is so amazing and I am excited to read more from Cassandra Clare. I am currently reading the sequel, City of Ashes, and can tell you this: uh-maz-ing!

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey, Book Review

“It seemed so right. Danny was mine, I was his, and that wasn’t going to work if he was dead. So I would make him not dead, not anymore. I didn’t think any further than what it would feel like to kiss him again, to wrap my arms around him and bury my head against his shoulder.
That was my first mistake. It also turned out to be the biggest.”
When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved.

Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart.

Amy Garvey’s transcendent teen debut is perfect for fans of Shiver and Beautiful Creatures. Wren’s unforgettable voice and story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

Title: Cold Kiss
Author: Amy Garvey
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 336
Release Date: September 20, 2011
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Rating: 5/5

*I received a review copy of Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey from the publisher, HarperTeen, in exchange for a 100% honest review.

Amazing. Powerful. Beautiful. Haunting. Heart-breaking. Enchanting. Captivating. Enticing. Magical. All of those words describe Cold Kiss--and even then, those words cannot live up to the amazing, powerful book written by debut author Amy Garvey.

When I first heard about Cold Kiss, my interest was piqued and I wanted to know more. After further research and examination, I knew that I wanted to read it and it looked pretty good. My expectations for Cold Kiss were normal, average...a fairly good young adult novel. I was tremendously wrong. After the first chapter--no, the prologue--I knew Cold Kiss would be amazing, and I was right. Amy Garvey set the tone for the entire book in the prologue and I instantly knew that Cold Kiss was going to be that book--the book that leaves you in a snotty, teary mess with a gaping hole in your chest. Cold Kiss blew me off my feet with a force so strong that I had so sit and just ponder the book long after finishing it.

Even after the last page of Cold Kiss is turned, you are eerily haunted and plagued by the beautiful imagery expressed in the book.

Cold Kiss tells the story of a seventeen-year-old girl named Wren, living in New England (even though her exact location was never specified, you knew she lived in New England and based on the rich, thriving imagery and descriptions, I was 99.9% sure that the book took place in New York City, New York) with her mother and younger sister, Robin. A few months prior to the time that the novel takes place, Wren's loving boyfriend, Danny, dies in a tragic car crash and she is so overcome with pain and agony that she uses the magical powers that every woman in her family possesses to bring him back to life. However, he is only an empty shell of the boy she loved and he is more like a mindless zombie (a cold, hard gorgeous zombie) who sits in a neighbor's garage and waits by the window for Wren's daily visit. Danny--or his physical shell, anyway--is obsessed with Wren and the more time she spends with a new boy named Gabriel, the more Danny becomes jealous and possessive. While the plot of the book is Wren bringing her dead boyfriend back to life, the underlying plot/theme, in my opinion, was Wren dealing with the emotional havoc that losing Danny caused her, and dealing with the consequences of love and loss.

As Wren and Gabriel become closer and closer, Wren's captive heart becomes wild and free and she returns to the girl she used to be before Danny's untimely demise and I found the transition from pessimistic and depressed to optimistic and alive to be very interesting. Throughout the novel, Wren and Gabriel's relationship unfurls like a delicate flower and by the end, I felt as if the flower had bloomed into a bond so strong, a force so powerful, that nothing could break it.

I loved the magic in this book. At first, you're wondering why and how Wren managed to resurrect Danny, but as the book continues, you're left with what is Wren. She seems to be a normal, teenage girl who fights with her mom often and has an annoying little sister but Wren is so much more than that. She has thoughts and emotions far beyond her years and I loved how Wren managed to overcome many things that were currently happening in her life. The concept of witchcraft is often speculated in the book, but Wren promptly denies calling herself a witch.

I thought that the characters were amazing. I have never read a book with characters that felt so real that they could just pop out from the pages and shake your hand. Every single character had individual personalities and continuously developed throughout the book. Wren was a strong, independent heroine who harnessed the magic, bravery, courage, and acceptance within and managed to "save the day" in a sense. Wren often has flashbacks of her time with Danny when he was alive and well, and in those scenes, you got a taste of who Danny was and I could completely understand why Wren loved him so much and was willing to risk so much just to have him back; Danny was sensitive, kind, and caring and I couldn't help but find my heart aching for both Danny and Wren. Gabriel, at first, seemed like a platonic void but page after page, he began to transform into something more--something more romantic, and you feel the instant chemistry between Wren and Gabriel from the start. I thought that, for "supporting characters" Robin and Mom helped support the foundation of the novel and I found myself wanting to know more about them.

As the story unravels, Wren, a ball of pent-up energy, begins to release excess amounts of emotional luggage and magic harvested within her veins. You may think Wren was stupid for bringing Danny back to life, but who hasn't bargained something in our lives to bring back or keep hold of something--or someone--that we love? I know that if I lost the man I loved, I'd do anything and everything in my power to bring him back to life.

I think that one of the main things that makes Cold Kiss such a phenomenon is the writing style. For a debut author, Garvey sure knew exactly what she was doing and where she wanted to go with the story. Throughout the entire book, Garvey never lost sight of who she was or the voice she was using to write Cold Kiss. I thought that the prose-like writing in Cold Kiss was melodic, harmonious, beautiful, haunting, and poetic. The writing was raw and drug out emotions straight from the human soul.
All in all, this book was utterly amazing and touched a part of me that I will never forget, or loose sight of. Cold Kiss made me laugh, cry, fall in love, and get angry; the book tore me apart--and I loved every minute of it.

Cold Kiss was a beautiful, tragic love story and I know that it will stay with me forever.

“Love doesn’t break easily, I found. But people do.”
-Amy Garvey, Cold Kiss
Up next: City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare