Something Witchy by AJ Myers

My name is Ember Blaylock. Welcome to the World of Weird—better known as my life.

It wasn’t always like this. I was once a normal high school senior, just filling out college apps and trying to stay sane long enough to get out of Moonlight, Missouri. Preferably before I ended up in a straight-jacket out of sheer boredom.

At first, my only problems were my increasingly unwanted ability to see the dead and my desperation to remove the stalker known as my ex-boyfriend from my life. Somewhere along the line I must have pissed off the Bad Karma Fairy. Maybe I stepped on the wrong toadstool or peed in Loki’s personal swimming pool—I really don’t know. All I do know is I’m about to have the worst week of my life. Maybe the worst week of any teenager’s life. Ever.

All because of a dead guy.

From the second pale, too-hot-to-be-real Nathan Ashley stepped out of the wreckage of his mangled sports car, my life spiraled into complete and utter chaos. One minute, I'm quasi-normal, the next I’m being kidnapped by a vampire, I’m having weird, creepy powers sprout up out of nowhere, and I’m running from a demon who wants to get more familiar with my anatomy…or kill me. Again. Yeah, did I mention he's done it before?

Anybody know if those straight-jackets come in pink?

***

Bravo! I was very very impressed by this book. It's the perfect ride; long and pleasantly slow at times and then BAM, it's like all of a sudden you're on a roller coaster climbing higher and higher...and then you're back to that pleasantly slow ride....and then BAM, back to the roller coaster. It was like that the entire time, it was the perfect balance. The story, the plot, the climax, were all great! But my favorite thing? The characters! I am completely invested in Nathan, Ember, Grams, even Kim and Blake who appeared for a short time in the beginning. The characters are so alive, they jump out of the page...I don't know how she does it because she doesn't bore you with unnecessary details about them. Yet, you have this clear image of them in your mind. I kept reading the book fast, and then trying to pace myself...I wanted to finish it, but I wanted to take my time because I DIDN'T want to leave the world AJ Myers created. But then when I finished, I realized it was only part 1 of the Mystics & Mayhem series. I cannot wait to read the next installment!

Slam Dunk!

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.


But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

***

I don't even know where to start...this book is phenomenal!!! I haven't read a YA in years. I got it because it was free and the blurb sounded interesting enough. I went in thinking I knew how the story was going to be, and boy was I wrong! It's like one of those epic 80's movies...but set today. And I don't mean that it was super cheesy or anything like that...it was just this sweet yet angsty, beautiful, perfect piece of work. The characters were perfect, the story was perfect, it was just sooo perfect. I know I'm repeating myself, but there isn't much I can say right now, I'm still on such a high from reading this book. I'm probably going to read it again right after I post this! I'm not ready to leave Sariah Wilson's world or her characters. I wish I could find the perfect adjectives to describe my feelings toward her book, because I really want to send her a fan letter and just gush about what a rare treat this was for me. I'm a fan, 100%. I will buy and read every book she puts out. Bravo, fantastic, outstanding, extrordinary - that enough adjectives for you people? But seriously, this story spoke to me on so many different levels...a lot of them personal, so I'm not going to talk about them here. It truly is a wonderful read and I recommend this to everyone. Everyone should read this book; moms, dads, daughters, heck read it to your cat! Just read it, the world needs to be aware of this book and this author.

I knew halfway through the book that I was going to give it 5 stars. The moment she mentioned Sailor Moon, I knew. Anybody that mentions Sailor Moon in their story automatically gets 5 stars from me. ;-)