Archive for Young Adult Books
The Vampire Diaries Books 3 & 4: The Fury and Dark Reunion by L. J. Smith
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Title: The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion
Author: L. J. Smith
Release Date: December 26, 2007
Pages: 528
Genre: Young Adult Vampire
The third and fourth books in the Vampire Diaries series, The Fury and Dark Reunion, are combined into one novel and it concludes the series that brought a young high school girl, Elena, into a complicated triangle with two vampire brothers who both want her as their own but for very different reasons – one loves her completely and one just wants to own her.
In The Fury, Elena has become the same as the brothers – a vampire. As she adjusts to her new life as one of the “undead”, an unknown danger appears to be bearing down upon Fells Church which threatens them all. As a newly turned vampire, will Elena be able to help out not only her friends but also save the whole town? Or will she sacrifice her immortal life to protect the ones she loves?
Dark Reunion brings the group back together to conclude the story line as they face the biggest evil they have ever come up against. And it’s an evil so immense that even the Salvatore brothers are out of their depth. Without Elena to bind them all together, can the group learn to trust each other enough to overcome their fears and stand against the oppressive evil that’s overshadowing Fells Church.
These last two installments of the Vampire Diaries series bring to a closure L. J. Smith’s story of a vivacious, young high school girl who is in the middle of an unbelievable position, yet the author makes it quite believable. Elena is so engaging and her love for Stefan and her friends keeps you pulling for her through both stories. The conflict with Damon just adds to the spice and keeps the love story from becoming clingy and boring. The Vampire Diaries books are well written and never boring – which is a testament to L. J. Smith’s skill. Add The Fury and Dark Reunion to your vampire library.
New Fantasy Novels: Legacy
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Title: Legacy
Author: Molly Cochran
Release: December 20, 2011
Pages: 432
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Being a 16-year old girl is hard enough. Try being a 16-year old witch your Dad decides needs to move out to a boarding school in Massachusetts. But Katy Jessevar is both feisty enough to work hard to overcome it and strong enough to learn to deal with a student body who for some reason just seem to despise her. She soon discovers something else, too. Sometimes it turns out that what appears to be a door slamming in your face is actually a totally new one opening up for you.
Katy begins to wonder if that is what this new life is about when she discovers that the school her Dad sent her to, Ainsworth Preparatory School is also a place where nearly everyone is a witch, just like her. Unfortunately, she also discovers it is the place where her Mother committed suicide many years ago when Katy was just a child. That wouldn’t be so strange if it weren’t for the fact that there are a lot of questions surrounding her death. And they are questions that no one seemed willing to answer, least of all her Dad.
She soon discovers that those same dark forces seem to be returning once again to Ainsworth, and they are just as menacing as when her Mother dealt with them. Even meeting a boy, a special boy with special meaning for Katy can’t help her shake a bad feeling. It is a feeling that whatever the dangerous forces are that are converging on her; they are something that will threaten not just her, but this boy, her town, and perhaps even the world.
Legacy is an amazingly good book for a first effort, one that leads the reader on from the first page. Molly Cochran is a gifted writer with just the right touch for a YA fantasy book. Katy is someone we will want to see more of in the future, and I am sure we will!
The Vampire Diaries Book 3: The Fury by L. J. Smith
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Title: The Vampire Diaries Book 3: The Fury
Author: L. J. Smith
Release Date: April 27, 2010 (reissue)
Pages: 304
Genre: Young Adult Vampire
The third book in the Vampire Diaries series, The Fury, is a real shocker. Elena appears to have escaped death but at the cost of her humanity. She wonders – is death the worst thing that could happen to me? Maybe, maybe not as she realizes that she is now a full-fledged vampire and nothing will ever be the same again. How will she survive without seeing her family again?
With both Damon and Stefan acting as caregivers, her transition to her new life is never boring to say the least. The evil force that caused Elena’s death and unintentional rebirth is still malevolently stalking her. When the animals in Fell’s Church start to attack their owners, the stakes are raised because it’s not just Damon, Stefan, Elena and her cadre of friends who are at risk, it’s now the whole town that’s in danger. Will Alaric, the mysterious history teacher, be able to assist them? Or is he behind the attempts to kill them? With Elena now one of them, will Stefan and Damon finally make amends and heal their bitter past?
With this final installment in the Vampire Diaries initial trilogy, L. J. Smith concludes her tale of a popular high school girl who gets caught up in the middle of a fantastical situation with two competing vampires. Through it all, this young girl maintained her composure because she is led by an inner strength which keeps her focused and firm in her convictions, namely that Damon has some good in him somewhere and Stefan is the love of her life. In addition, her friends all stay true to one another and to Elena no matter how much they change – like, one of them becomes a vampire? That’s one of the most likeable things about the Vampire Diaries series – how these teens are faced with such bizarre events but their friendship is what helps them make the right decisions. They accept each other for better or worse. But really, can The Fury truly be the end of the series? Let’s hope not.
The Vampire Diaries Book 2: The Struggle by L. J. Smith
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Title: The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle
Author: L. J. Smith
Release Date: March 30, 2010 (reissue)
Pages: 304
Genre: Young Adult Vampire
Book two of the Vampire Diaries, The Struggle, has Elena taking on Damon as she seeks to find out what he has done to his brother, Stefan, who is missing. Even though he is a very strong, very scary vampire, Elena does not care – she has to save the one she loves – and she will take him on, but at what price? Damon has decided that Elena will be the perfect partner for him, there is no way Stefan can truly appreciate this vibrant, spirited girl. And so begins a dance between these three – Elena, Stefan, and Damon – that will likely not end well. It usually doesn’t when two guys both want the same girl.
With her good friends supporting her, Elena uses Bonnie’s psychic powers to find out what happened to Stefan. But, she’s not to be left in peace in her search – Damon appears to have gained access to her house, and by extension, her family, which he uses to his advantage. How did that happen, she knows she did not invite him. What’s so scary is that no matter how hard she fights it, there exists some kind of attraction to this bad boy vampire which she refuses to acknowledge. Isn’t he the diabolical force behind the pages of her diary showing up everywhere at school? Pages that indict Stefan as the person who’s been murdering people in Fell’s Church?
Between fighting off Damon’s insidious advances, trying to figure out who stole her diary, and defending Stefan against false accusations of murder, Elena shows her strength and adaptability by handling it all with a steadfast strength that won’t be shaken because she follows her heart. Will Elena be forced to choose one of her two vampire admirers as her own? There will be no choice if Damon has his way. And, after several incidents happen that point to an even bigger evil than Damon inhabiting Fell’s Church, Elena is not sure that she and her friends will survive. What is targeting them? The action and intrigue are certainly ramped up in The Struggle, the second installment in the Vampire Diaries.
The Vampire Diaries Book 1: The Awakening by L. J. Smith
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Title: The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening
Author: L. J. Smith
Release Date: August 25, 2009 (re-release)
Pages: 272
Genre: Young Adult Vampire
The first installment in an excellent young adult vampire series, The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening, delivers an exciting take on the vampire genre. Elena is a beautiful student who is the queen of the high school – no one can touch her popularity. She can have anything she wants.
But, she’s not mean about it – she simply knows that she is one of the special people. So, when a new boy comes to school and he is completely immune to her charms, Elena is totally stumped. How dare he act like she doesn’t exist? How dare he snub her when she tries to introduce herself? All her angst goes into her diary which chronicles her plans to triumph over this arrogant boy.
Little does she know, the new guy, Stefan Salvatore, is very much aware of Elena but he’s doing his best to dissuade her from any involvement with him. That’s because Stefan is a dangerous individual and he knows how close he is to losing control around the beautiful, spirited Elena. However, he’s underestimated Elena – she has made it her personal mission to win him over. And, like all dangerous attractions, Stefan can’t resist her and they fall in love. Everything should be fine now, right? No, not really, because there are a couple of problems – he’s a vampire, he’s got lots of secrets, and one of his darkest secrets has shown up in Fells Church and it wants Elena too.
I have to admit, I’ve been watching the Vampire Diaries TV show and was instantly trying to compare the book to the show. But, after about twenty pages, it because apparent that the characters in the book are quite different from the tv storyline. Elena has a definite, unique personality of her own. With Stefan, you get a better understanding of why he is so sad and withdrawn. Damon, Stefan’s brother, is just a bad, bad man. I really liked this book and immediately dove into the next one upon finishing The Awakening. L. J. Smith has a crisp writing style that keeps you fully focused on the story and it’s given me a true craving for the Vampire Diaries series of books.
Fantasy Book Highlight – Firelight by Sophie Jordan
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Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices.
When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will’s dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She’ll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide. Get Firelight by Sophie Jordan.
YA Fantasy Book – A Touch Of Mortal by Leah Clifford
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Eden didn’t expect Az.
Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick-up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.
Yeah.
So long, happily-ever-after.
Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.
She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own.
And that’s only the beginning of the end. A Touch Of Mortal
