The Midnight Star by Marie Lu (The Young Elites book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two book sin the series, The Young Elites and The Rose Society, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher on the first book.

“There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.

Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all that she’s achieved.

Adelina’s forced to revisit old wounds when a new danger appears, putting not only Adelina at risk, but every Elite and the very world they live in. In order to save herself and preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Mi Adelinetta! You are the evil villain but really no one understands you. In this final installment of the Young Elites trilogy, you and the other Elites face your greatest enemy and must put aside your differences and work together to not only save yourself but the world in which you live in. As with any great quest, not everyone will survive. As with Lu’s Champion, fans will be torn over the masterpiece that is the epilogue.

Visit Marie Lu’s website. Visit the Young Elites’ website.

Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch (Snow Like Ashes book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Snow like Ashes and Ice Like Fire, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite stories for you.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher on the series.

Check out Epic Reads if you need a recap on the series.

“Angra is alive, his Decay is spreading—and no one is safe.”

“Meira will do anything to save her world. With Angra trying to break through her mental defenses, she desperately needs to learn to control her own magic—so when the leader of a mysterious Order from Paisly offers to teach her, she jumps at the chance. But the true solution to stopping the Decay lies in a labyrinth deep beneath the Season Kingdoms. To defeat Angra, Meira will have to enter the labyrinth, destroy the very magic she’s learning to control—and make the biggest sacrifice of all.

Mather will do anything to save his queen. He needs to rally the Children of the Thaw, find Meira—and finally tell her how he really feels. But with a plan of attack that leaves no kingdom unscathed and a major betrayal within their ranks, winning the war—and protecting Meira—slips farther and farther out of reach.

Ceridwen will do anything to save her people. Angra had her brother killed, stole her kingdom, and made her a prisoner. But when she’s freed by an unexpected ally who reveals a shocking truth behind Summer’s slave trade, Ceridwen must take action to save her true love and her kingdom, even if it costs her what little she has left.

As Angra unleashes the Decay on the world, Meira, Mather, and Ceridwen must bring the kingdoms of Primoria together…or lose everything.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This series is tied up nicely but not everyone ends up with a happily ever after. Fans of Meira will enjoy going on last last adventure as she works to defeat Angra and save Primoria.

Visit Sara Raasch’s website.

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

"Where will love find you?"

On September 1, all of New York City was struck by a blackout. Lucy Patterson didn't know that the entire city was in the dark because she was stuck in an elevator in the building where she had lived her entire life. She wasn't alone. Also in the elevator is the teenage son of her building's new superintendent. He and his father had just moved in about a month ago. Lucy had watched them carry in their furniture while sitting in a coffee shop. The doormen in the building wouldn't give her any information about him. Even if she was a confident girl, he seemed too aloof to approach. Lucy is a wealthy girl from the upper floor who attends a private all girl school. Her brothers have just left for college and her parents are on a trip to Paris. She is truly alone for the first time in her life. She had just run downstairs to check the mail and grabbed the elevator. When the two of them realize that they will probably be stuck for a while, they attempt to have a conversation. Lucy finds out that Owen, who lives in the basement apartment, isn't a fan of the city. His father's job was an unexpected detour. When she asks him why he was going up, he shows her a key and says he was heading for the roof.

Having lived all of his life in Pennsylvania, Owen is having a hard time in New York City, as is his father. Turns out, his mother died in a car accident while trying to light a cigarette. His father was out of work and a cousin offered him the position in one of his buildings. Now, instead of waking up to sunny window and the birds chipping, he sees a mold stained, cracked ceiling and a sliver of light bleeding through the barred window at the top of the wall. The city is closing in on him and the roof of the apartment building is the one place he feels free. It's not too long before they hear someone knocking on the elevator doors. Owen gets up and knocks back. The elevator door is opened and Lucy and Owen crawl out. They find out that not only is the city in a blackout, but it looks like it may be part of the Eastern seaboard. They head towards the stairwell and are reluctant to part. Lucy offers Owen a flashlight, but he declines. Hearing her footsteps fading away, Owen changes his mind. He runs back up and Lucy meets him. He does want that flashlight. The two of them climb to Lucy's apartment.

Finding only one flashlight, the two of them head back down and into the city to get some supplies. New York is so different in the dark than what Lucy is used to. They find some water and batteries and stand in line for free ice cream, since it's melting anyway. Owen shows her the stars unobstructed by the city lights and Lucy is fascinated. Heading back to their building and make the climb to her apartment. It’s hot and they lay on the tile kitchen floor. Owen notices that the refrigerator is covered in postcards. Her parents send her one from every trip they go on. They soon head for the roof to get some air. The two of them talk about the constellations and all of the postcards on Lucy's refrigerator that her parents have sent her over the years. Lucy asks Owen if he could go anywhere in the world, where would it be. It is a question Owen has often wanted to ask. He talks about wanting to head off for college on the West Coast while she would like to visit all of the places on her postcard collection. Lucy watches Owen fall asleep before her eyes drift closed.

Lucy awakes the next morning to the bright daylight and finds Owen gone. She heads back to her apartment but the power isn't on yet. She debates going to the basement to find Owen but doesn't. When the electricity comes back on, her parents call. Instead of coming home to check on her, they have made arrangements for her to fly and meet them in London. She will be flying out in a couple of days; she doesn’t see Owen again before she leaves.

It turns out that Owen’s father is suffering from heat exhaustion after trying to get back home during the blackout. Their cousin, the building’s owner isn’t happy that Owen’s father was MIA during the blackout. The water pumps need to be able to pump water to the upper floors. Owen handles the tools while his father tells him what to do. The two head out to sightsee in Times Square when the building is back in order. Stopping in a souvenir shop, Owen buys a postcard to send to Lucy in the heat of the moment. Meanwhile in London, Lucy does the same thing. She buys a postcard and sends it to Owen. When Owen and his father arrive back at the building, they see their cousin and a plumber. Turns out the basement flooded because the water pumps weren’t tightened. Sam fires Owen’s father. The two men decide that this is their chance to head west

Back at home, Lucy is checking the mailbox when she sees Owen. She finds his postcard and laughs. She tells him that she will be moving to London. Her parents’ are keeping their apartment so she will be back for summers. Owen keeps quiet that he had his father are leaving. She tells him that he should be on the lookout for a postcard as well.

After just one night, Owen and Lucy cannot keep their minds off of one another. Even though they should be growing closer, geographically, they are moving away from each other. Postcards turn out to be the way the keep in touch. Will something come of their continued relationship or will the increasing distance drive them apart?

Visit Jennifer E. Smith’s website.

Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Due to significant spoilers for the first book, Just One Day review found here, I don't want to go into too much detail. This book tells Willem's side of the story from that fateful morning in Paris until the final scene in Just One Day.

Visit Gayle Forman's website.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman (Just One Day book 1)

“She left looking for him and along the way she found herself.”

Allyson Healey received a trip to Europe through the Teen Tours! Cultural Extravaganza as a high school graduation present from her parents. After a whirlwind visit of various tourist destinations, Allyson, her best friend Melanie and the rest of their group are going to spend their last night in Stratford-Upon-Avon seeing the Royal Shakespeare Company perform Hamlet at the Swan Theater. While standing in line in the sweltering heat, a group of people are shouting and handing out neon-colored flyers. Melanie takes one and sees that it is for a free performance of a Shakespeare play. Allyson realizes she is now standing in a shadow and looks up. She slowly makes out a cute boy about a foot taller, staring down. Starting up a flirty conversation with her, he tells Allyson that such a night shouldn’t be spent indoors watching a tragedy. Come see Twelfth Night, outside he says. Melanie coyly replies that they will think about it and he leaves.

Immediately, both girls decide to skip out on Hamlet and their tour. Melanie pretends to be having a heat stroke and Allyson convinces their tour leader, Ms. Foley, that she is capable of taking Melanie back to the hotel. Not wanting to miss the play, Ms. Foley reluctantly agrees. The girls take off for the park but are disappointed when they find no signs of a performance. Standing in line for ice cream, the sounds of drums and shouting quickly draws their attention. Allyson and Mel must follow the play as it takes place throughout the park. Finally during Act 2, the handsome boy who handed them the flyer appears. Allyson thinks he briefly makes eye contact with her. When the actors take their final bows, the boy flips a coin to Allyson that she catches. Mel gushes that it is sweet he acknowledged the both of them.

Mel wants to spend their last night hanging out with the tour at the pubs. Allyson just wants to go back to the room and get ready for their train ride to London early the next morning. The two go their separate ways. Mel is groggy on the train and tells Allyson to wake her in London. Having missed breakfast, Allyson goes to the dining car to find something to eat. While sitting at the table, a familiar voice strikes up a conversation with her. It is the boy from the night before. Over breakfast, he tells Allyson the reasons he knows that she is an American but doesn’t look like one. She reminds him of a silent film actress named Louise Brown and nicknames her Lulu. He introduces himself as Willem and tells her he is going home to Holland, his first time in two years. They are laughing when Melanie shuffles in. a little miffed, she quickly brighten upon noticing Willem. Allyson silently pleads with Mel not to spoil the moment. The three get off of the train together and Mel receives word that her cousin will be late picking them up. Allyson is disappointed in the station with the station and Mel asks if she is still moping over not getting to go to Paris because of a strike. She states that Budapest wasn’t the same. Allyson can’t believe she is so close to Paris and will not get to see it. Willem tells her to just go. Allyson’s overprotective mother would not be happy and suddenly Melanie becomes the voice of reason. Willem offers to pay for the train ticket and be her guide. For the first time in her life, Allyson throws caution to the wind. She tells Mel to cover with her mother when she calls and sets off for Paris with a boy she just met.

Allyson/Lulu and Willem spend the day in Paris not doing the typical touristy things. She gets glimpses onto his nomadic lifestyle. Also, she is left wondering if he isn’t a bit of a playboy over the number of girls he seems to know. A day of fun and unusual adventures leads to a conversation over the differences between falling in love and being in love. Willem describes being in love as a stain on one’s soul. He admits to falling in love many times but never actually being in love, like his parents. The day takes a turn for the worse when Willem attempts to stop an altercation and Allyson feels the need to rescue him. Escaping from the danger, Allyson is cut on the neck and it brings Willem back to reality. Ready to put her on a train back to London, Willem attempts to make things right when he sees how angry she is. They end up squatting in an artist’s studio where the tension between the two of them finally erupts. Allyson tries to delay the inevitable by promising to stay one more day. Exhausted, they fall asleep but not before whispering to a sleepy Willem her real name.

The next morning, Allyson wakes up in a panic when she realizes that Willem has left and she is alone in Paris without her suitcase and out of money. Unable to reach Mel, Allyson must rely on Ms. Foley to help her get back to London and her friend. She breaks down when she is reunited with Mel.

After just one day oink Paris with Willem, Allyson finds her life in a major tailspin. Unable to shake the memories, she sets out on a journey to find Willem but along the way she just might discover something about herself. Why was Willem gone the next morning? Will Allyson be able to get over the hurt and get on with her life? Can she locate him knowing very few details about him? What does she learn about herself after this experience?

Don’t fret over the ending! Just like Forman’s If I Stay/Where She Went, Allyson and Willem’s story will continues on October 13, 2013 with Just One Year, this time from Willem’s point of view.

 

Visit Gayle Forman's website.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief - Book One

When twelve-year-old Percy Jackson learns that his father is actually Poseidon, god of the sea, and that several other gods of Mount Olympus are unhappy about that, he takes refuge at Camp Half-Blood. Here he learns more about his half-boy, half-god heritage and a few skills before he must embark on a quest to find Zeus' master lightning bolt. On a cross-country quest with his friends Grover, a satyr and Annabeth, the daughter of Athena, their mission takes them to Los Angelos, home of Hades and the Underworld. Can they find the master lightning bolt and prevent World War III on Mount Olympus before the Summer Solstice? Will Percy be able to save everyone he loves? And will he finally meet his father?

 

The graphic novel version of the novel leaves out some of the smaller parts and background infromation, but does follow the original story.

The Sea of Monsters - Book Two

Percy's seventh-grade year was surprisingly quiet until a game of dodgeball unearths a gang of cannibal giants. Things get worse with the unexpected arrival of Annabeth who bears bad news. Thalia's tree at Camp Half Blood was poisoned and the safety of the camp is in danger. Can Percy and the gang complete their quest in time to save Camp Half Blood? What will Percy think when he meets his previously unknown half brother? Hilarity once again ensues wherer Percy is concerned but readers will be shocked by the twist at the end.

The Titan’s Curse - Book Three



When Percy receives an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he must rely on his mother to drive him, Annabeth and Thalia to Maine to help him out. Upon their arrival, they are stunned to learn that Grover has discovered not one but two half-bloods, sister and brother Bianca and Nico di Angelo. The di Angelos have no idea that they are demigods and the escape from Westover Hall doesn’t fair well for all of them. Soon our young heroes learn that Kronos, the Titan lord, has set his most devious trap yet and Percy and the gang have unwillingly fallen prey.

The Battle of the Labyrinth - Book Four

When Percy goes to Freshmen orientation in June at Goode High School, the last person he expected to run into was Rachel Elizabeth Dare. Unfortunately the two also encounter two empousai and a brief battle entails that is interrupted by Percy’s mother’s boyfriend, Paul Blofis. Fleeing from the school, Percy runs into Annabeth and tells him they must go to Camp Half-Blood immediately.



As Percy’s fifteenth birthday nears, the Titan Lord Kronos and his army are gathering strength and have the once impenetrable camp in their sights. When the campers begin putting the clues together, they realize that Luke is trying to enter the camp through the labyrinth and bypass its borders. It’s up to Percy, Annabeth and the gang to go on a quest through the labyrinth.

The Last Olympian - Book Five


It’s been one year since The Battle of the Labyrinth and Percy’s sixteenth birthday is one week away. After a flawed mission to destroy the Princess Andromeda, Percy finds himself for the first time in his father’s realm. Things are going very badly for the Olympians in their war against Kronos and his army. Percy is disappointed when his father sends him back to Camp Half-Blood instead of joining his army.



At camp, Percy finally gets to hear the prophecy surrounding his sixteenth birthday. He is shocked by what he hears but then receives even worse news. The mighty monster Typhon has escaped Mount St. Helens and is rampaging towards New York City and Mount Olympus. When Percy hears that the Gods are battling Typhon and Olympus is unprotected, he believes that it is a ploy of Kronos’ to destroy the Olympian gods once and for all.


Is Percy right about Kronos’ plan and can he convince his fellow demigods to join him on the fight? Can Olympus be saved? And who will survive in the conclusion of Percy’s tale?

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Ultimate Guide by Mary-Jane Knight

A short, illustrated guide that highlights important people/Gods, places and events that transpire in the Percy Jackson series. Does contain some spoilers if you haven’t read the entire series yet.