Review of Blackwood by Gwenda Bond

Description:

On Roanoke Island, the legend of the 114 people who mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony hundreds of years ago is just an outdoor drama for the tourists, a story people tell. But when the island faces the sudden disappearance of 114 people now, an unlikely pair of 17-year-olds may be the only hope of bringing them back.

Miranda, a misfit girl from the island’s most infamous family, and Phillips, an exiled teen criminal who hears the voices of the dead, must dodge everyone from federal agents to long-dead alchemists as they work to uncover the secrets of the new Lost Colony. The one thing they can’t dodge is each other.

Blackwood is a dark, witty coming of age story that combines America’s oldest mystery with a thoroughly contemporary romance.
 
Review:

Hmm...I can honestly say I have no opinion good or bad on this book.  There were many interesting facets of this story, yet it was a little hard to follow along.

This book has history, mystery, ancient curses, ghostly voices inside one's head, alchemy and body jumping bad guys.  As I said, interesting facets of a story.  There was a lot going on and the story felt busy in a good way.

I wish the story wasn't so jumpy between Phillips and Miranda.  It felt like a game of ping pong a little bit.  I do like the idea of dual narration though.

If you like history, then this book is for you.  The author worked very hard at using an old history lesson and twisting it into a modern day story.  I found the premise interesting.

Okay folks, I think that is all I have to say about this book.  It will be out 09/04/2012 if you want to venture a historical fantasy read.

Review of Frost by Kate Avery Ellison

Description:

In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.

She saves his life.

Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.

But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.

Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?
 
Review:

This book was everything I expected and more.  The author was descriptive and the story was captivating.  I started the book expecting to put it down after a few chapters and ended up reading it the whole way through.

You really feel for the MC Lia.  Her family was killed, leaving her in charge of her younger sister and crippled brother.  The town wants her matched and that would mean leaving her family.  Lia became all work and no play in an effort to avoid such action and keep her family afloat. 

Then one day her sister found a "farther" in the woods and Lia's world was turned upside down.  Everything she thought she knew was questioned.  She must learn to follow the rules or put her trust in this new stranger, Gabe.

There was a good dose of mystery in this book.  It kept me guessing until the very end.  I was pretty sad to see the story end.  I am thankful there is a sequel to Frost.  Thorns will be out in July 2012.  I for one am stoked and will be one of the first to see how this journey continues.

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