Book Review: Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

 
Low Red Moon

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Publish Date: September 14, 2010

Hardcover, 256 pages
Young Adult

My Review:
Why I read this:  It sounded like a good book.


How is the novel driven:  This is more suspenseful than a typical young adult paranormal, so I believe it is more plot driven.  Characters are important and I think Ms. Devlin has found a great balance between driving  the plot and developing the characters.


My thoughts: I loved the suspense element of the book.  I loved the romance in the book and I loved the paranormal aspect.  Ms. Devlin does a beautiful job balancing all three and making a book that kept me turning the pages until it was finished.  When it was finished I wished there was more even though things were tied up in the end.  I just didn't want to leave Avery and Ben, I found their stories fascinating and want to read even more.

The characters are well-developed,  yet not completely developed since in a suspense novel you need questions about the characters and there are definitely questions surrounding each of the characters.  I enjoyed watching Avery come to terms with the world that she finds is around her and as she tries to do what is right and fights with her head over her heart.  Ben is mysterious, he is suddenly there and then not and then back.  I like him and like his backstory and want to know more about him and get to know some more through the book.

The book is full of tragedy but Avery and Ben work to overcome it.  It is by no means a depressing book, it is a serious book with a great suspense plot.  I had an idea of what was going on, but was still surprised in the end by who the evil character was, so that made the book great in my mind.

If you enjoy some suspense and romance in your young adult paranormal then this is just the book for you.  Ms. Devlin shows great promise as a writer in this genre and I can't wait to read more of her books.


I see now that Ivy Devlin is a pseudonym for Elizabeth Scott who has a bunch of YA books out.  I have a couple of hers on my TBR pile and I will have to read them very soon.

My Rating: 4.75/5.0

About the Book:
The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver—deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed them, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school—Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. When Ben reveals he's a werewolf, Avery still trusts him—at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died.Part murder mystery, part grief narrative, and part heart-stopping, headlong romance, Low Red Moon is a must-read for teen paranormal fans. As breathless as Twilight and as spooky as Shiver, this is a book to be devoured in one sitting—by an acclaimed YA author making her paranormal debut under the pseudonym Ivy Devlin.

About the Author:
IVY DEVLIN is the pseudonym of a popular and critically acclaimed author of teen fiction. With Low Red Moon and the Ivy Devlin name, she makes her paranormal fiction debut. She lives in Virginia.

Her Website
Trailer for Low Red Moon


FTC Information: I received this book through 1-ARC Tours for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: Manifest by Artist Arthur

 
Manifest

Publisher: Kimani Tru

Publish Date: August 1, 2010

Paperback, 256 pages
Young Adult

My Review:
Why I read this:  It sounded like an interesting book.  I love the cover and the main character's name is Krystal (spelled different than mine), which is not a name that is used often, I could not resist.


How is the novel driven:  Character though events play a main role too, but this is all about Krystal really learning about herself and her power and being introduced to Sasha and Jake as well.



My thoughts: I really enjoyed this book.  I liked the weather aspect affecting the main characters' powers and what happened in the community.  I liked the different take on paranormal with the characters having specific powers.  I also liked having the small group of characters with these powers and getting to know them.

Krystal was an interesting character and I enjoyed seeing her growth during this novel.  She learns more about herself and comes to grip with a lot that goes on in her life.  I like how she finally takes a look around and notices other things besides herself.  I think a lot of teens can relate to what Krystal is going through and Ms. Arthur portrays her in a honest and real way.

I think Jake and Sasha make interesting characters as well and can't wait to read more about them in the next two books in this series.  They make the group of three really interesting with the different social statuses, and completely different types of people they are, yet when thrown into the situation they are in, they work together and become friends.

The ending wrapped up this book nicely but left it very open for the next two books.  I like it when a series does that.  I'm eager for the next book, but not upset because I was left completely hanging.  Ms. Arthur does a wonderful job pacing the book and finishing the book - it was a very enjoyable read.


My Rating: 4.25/5.0

About the Book:
When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.

But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener—and everything she'd ever want—except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door—Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize that they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good?

About the Author:
Learn about her here.

Her Website
Twitter


FTC Information: I received this book through Around the World Tours for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.