Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Hey, you guys! I feel so guilty! I haven't been on here in forever. It's been at least a week in a half and that's a week too long. I finished a book today, so here's the review for that and I'll post a note at the end to talk about why I've been so busy!



Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland

First in the Kara Gillian series

4 stars

Kara Gillian is a Beaulac, Louisiana detective who’s finally got the promotion she’s been waiting for. Kara can do things that most detectives or people can. She can summon demons which could prove to be helpful in her first murder case. When she accidently summons the Demonic Lord Rhyzkahl she doesn’t know why he let her live. But everything seems to be tied to the Symbol Man who Kara only has a short time to catch and bodies are piling up left and right. What’s a summoner to do but that her demonic lore knowledge pays off in the long run? I had been expecting to be blown away by Mark of the Demon, but sadly I wasn’t. After reading My Life as a White Trash Zombie and thinking it was pure comedic fun with gore thrown in, I was hoping for some laughs and demons. This book is not laughs… at all. It’s actually pretty sick and twisted how most of these murders were described and I felt queasy a time or two. I have to give Rowland props for not holding back when it came to gruesome though.


The main female character is Kara. I liked Kara, but I didn’t connect with her like I had with Angel from White Trash Zombie. Kara’s had it rough, but at the same time. I sympathized for her but I didn’t really feel much else. Kara has good qualities though. She’s strong, persistent, smart, knows her away around, but she’s also very closed off from people and she’s lonely. Really lonely. I feel like this character trait was contradicted though. She was lonely, closed off from most people, but had no problem interacting with people and getting them to talk. I feel like it shouldn't have been that easy for her. Maybe I'm just over thinking it. I like Kara, but at times I was hoping for something more interesting to pop up in her mind or around her.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 8

The main male characters are Rhyzkahl and Ryan. I liked Rhyzkahl. For a demonic lord he’s pretty interesting, but I don’t want to ever run into him. I do want to see where Kara and Rhyzkahl’s relationship ends up going. Ryan is full of secrets and I just want to know what he is. I think he’s a good friend to Kara. Will they turn into something more? Probably and I’m OK with that just as long as it doesn’t ruin their budding friendship.


Swoon Worthy Scale: Rhyzkahl: 8.5 Ryan: 8

The Villain- That was such a wild ride! I’ve never been so excited when reading a murder mystery. This was definitely the best aspect of the novel and it aside from Rhyzkahl it kept me wanting more. This is the way mysteries should be handled. That was sick, twisted and overall epic! I wonder what the next villain will be like.

Villain Scale: 10

A lot of these characters had potential to be developed, but they weren’t fully developed. Aunt Tessa could’ve been more present when she was there. I felt at times she wasn’t showing the personality Rowland described her of having. The cops could’ve gotten more fleshed out as well; along with Doc and the other coroners. Hopefully that’ll happen in the upcoming books.


Character Scale: 8

Overall this book was pretty good, but could’ve been better. I found myself losing interest at times and that made me lose interest for a while. Hopefully the next books will prove that this is a great series.


Cover Thoughts: I like the cover, but at the same time I think it’s nothing special. I do like the arcane symbols though and think they fit perfectly.



Last week was the last week of Marching Season, which meant Showcase was coming. Showcase is the last and final competition of the marching band season and it was hectic. I had practice every day and no time to read. It was worth it though since Guard did really good! Yay! I promise to be here on a little bit more frequently. Winterguard here I come!

Forever... by Judy Blume

Forever... by Judy Blume

3 stars

Katherine and Michael met at a New Year’s Eve party. Kath never thought they would grow to love each and promise each other forever. With promising forever comes love, making love, hardships, friendships, and breakups. Will Kath and Michael last forever? This book caused a storm of controversy when it came and some parents didn’t like the content, libraries banned, and it was just another book controversy apocalypse. I was expecting to be blown away. I first discovered this book when browsing the books in Walmart at the mere age of 10 and half. Since then I had been wanting to read this book very badly and that was four years ago. That’s a lot of waiting. I was disappointed in this book. It seems like I waited such a long time for something mediocre and not exciting at all. Well, that’s not entirely true. I thought the ending was very exciting with the whole Theo fiasco/ camp problem. My biggest pet peeve in this book was the writing. The writing and thoughts and sentences exchanged between the characters looked like this.

The main character is… Katherine… she also goes by Kath. Kath pauses… like a freaking madman. It got gather annoying… she also said um a lot. Um is Kath’s favorite word along with forever. Michael and Katherine… forever… See where the title comes into place. Even with the periods. I should’ve seen that coming just by the title. I was fooled. Kath is pretty unremarkable and I found myself not caring if she and Michael stayed together forever. I was more interested in finding out what was going to happen with the characters around her, but there were times when she became interesting. Like when she went to camp and started interacting with new people. Hey look I found Kath and Michael's song. Here it is
 

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 6.5

The main male character is Michael. Michael is boring and horny. The first time he was introduced I thought to myself, “This is who she falls in love with, oh lord.” Right from the start I knew it would be a mess… a very hot mess. Michael was boring, but the only thing he really seemed to offer in the story was sex. I guess that’s an odd thing to say considering this is YA and not erotica, but I said it and I mean it. Michael was boring and I could care less about him. We didn’t learn hardly anything about him and I don’t think Kath really knew him all that well either. A disappointing lead… probably one the most boring leads I’ve come across.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 4

The Villain- Hahahahahahaha
 
Hey, look it’s Kesha! Hot mess in the house just like their overly dependent relationship.
Villain Scale: bwahahahahah 2 cause I’m nice ;)

Kath’s friend, Erica, was interesting and trying to convert Artie, a young man who may or not be gay and is very confused. I thought she was kind of superficial, but at the same time I liked her. Artie was my favorite character along with Kath’s sister. They had substance and they were interesting. I felt like I know more about Jaime, Kath’s sister, and her aspirations, talents, and interests. Sybil was just thrown in there to be the sorta-friend that got knocked up. I wanted to know her story.


Character Scale: 4

The characters were nothing special, the writing felt mediocre, but I did enjoy some of the story. I expected so much and got nothing. I feel unsatisfied and sad. I expected so much. This was my mom’s first YA novel and she had loved, but why can’t I? Maybe it’s because writing has evolved and writing… like this… is pointless. I don’t know but I do know that my mom and I are going to have a very riveting discussion on this book tonight.

Cover Thoughts: I actually love the cover, but I wouldn’t really want my dad or anyone in public to see me with this. I find it simplistic and romantic, but I had been expecting a sizzling summer romance that would sweep me off my feet. I didn’t get that, but I did get the chance to read it and form and opinion.
  
 

Catch Up

Sorry I haven't posted any reviews and been pretty dormant on here. This week has been really busy since it's the last week before Showcase/Last Day of Marching Season Saturday! I'm currently reading Forever... by Judy Blume and Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland. Hopefully I'll write reviews for them soon!

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

First in The Dark Divine trilogy

5 stars

Grace Divine is the daughter of a pastor and feels like she will never live up to the Divine name. Then Daniel Kalbi comes back to town after not seeing him for three years. She doesn’t recognize him and he’s completely different from the Daniel she fell in love with when she was little. Grace can’t help falling for Daniel, even though she promised her older brother, Jude, that she would leave him alone, but saying it proves to be easier than doing it. I loved this book and I’m not afraid to admit it. Yes, this book had its flaws and there were quite a few, but I enjoyed this book. I read it in a day and gobbled up each word and cheesy line. I either have really good luck with werewolf books or really bad luck. The last one I had read was a flop and a disappointment. When picking up The Dark Divine I was hoping I wouldn’t want to toss the book at the wall or claw my eyes out. This book didn’t piss me off and make me angry, the whole time I was on the edge of my seat and waiting to find out more. The plot is very obvious and I guessed what would happen early on in the novel (which is something I try not to do, but can’t seem to help it), but I still seemed to be shocked when it was revealed. I think I was on a book rush, which is an adrenaline rush with books. But I think that’s what made me enjoy this book so much. Even though I knew what would happen I was still shocked and swamped in the story.


The main female character is Grace. Grace is well, I like her, but at the same time she confuses me. A lot of her thoughts had me scratching my head trying to figure out what the hell she meant. These parts probably didn’t make me look very attractive, but that’s a whole different story. I liked Grace, but she wasn’t an amazing character but she also wasn’t the worst. I do want to see where this is going to go because that ending was so good.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 7.5

The main male character is Daniel. Daniel stole my heart. It probably doesn’t help that I’m a total sucker for bad boys and I knew it would probably happen. Daniel was deep and layered kind of like Shrek, but attractive and a werewolf. Daniel and Grace’s relationship had felt a little rushed, but at the same time they had grown up with each other and they weren’t strangers.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 8.5

The Villain- I had kind of saw that coming, but at the same time I hoped that wasn’t the case.

Villain Scale: 7

I loved Grace’s family even if they were annoying at times, but then again what family doesn’t have annoying members?

Character Scale: 8

I liked the werewolf folklore. It was a little different. Interesting, but not completely original, but also not completely unoriginal; if that makes any sense. I need to stop saying but I must have said it at least five times already. With that I’m done with this review and I loved it. I’m going to read the sequels someday whenever that may be, but I will read them… and expect them to be amazing.


Cover Thoughts: It’s beautiful, her feet are kind of weird looking, but it’s still a beautiful cover and it’s what caught my attention.


I read this back in February, so yeah it's been a while. hehe  

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

5 stars
Hannah Baker committed suicide, but no one knows exactly why. Rumors swirl around why and how, but no one knows until cassette tapes show up to people who have hurt Hannah. Thirteen cassette tapes; each telling her story before her death leading up to her suicide. Clay Jensen comes home to discover these cassette tapes on his porch. As he listens to the girl he cared about recount the thirteen reasons why she killed herself he wonders why he has received the tapes. This book was recommended to me by a substitute teacher one day when I was in the fifth. After seeing and having my interest piqued, I wondered about the book and if I would ever read it. Easter came and my parents gave it to me as a gift and I was extremely excited. Even though I was extremely excited to read it, I didn’t pick it up until the May of my sixth grade year. I wait a really long time to read some books. A really long time. Sometimes I regret waiting and sometimes I think it was better if I hadn’t even bought the book. This was one of those books where I wondered why I waited, but at the same time I think it was best that I did. I think if I would’ve read this book in the fifth grade I probably wouldn’t have liked it nearly as much because I grew up a lot the following year and my opinions and thoughts changed. This story is gripping, emotional and touching. I still remember the chills I got when reading some parts or how I cried when reading certain parts.


The main male character is Clay. I don’t read a lot of male POVs, but when I do I usually enjoy them. Clay’s voice was clear and relatable. I don’t want to give a lot away about him though it doesn’t seem right if I did.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 8

The main female character is Hannah. Hannah is the girl behind the tapes and her story is tragic. Hannah is the rare occurrence of someone trying and failing to get help. Her last tape made me cry the most. Hannah deserved a chance at happiness and life, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 8

On a side note: This book has been picked up to be a movie and they’ve already cast someone to be Hannah Baker- Selena Gomez. I hope she’ll pull it off and give her character justice.
I love this book, but I don’t think there’s much I can say that hasn’t already been said. With that I recommend this book a 100% to anyone and everyone.

Cover Thoughts: I love the cover. It tells Hannah’s story even if it’s just a little bit of it. I like the look on her face, you can see her thinking and I’ve always wondered what exactly she was thinking.


P.S. I'm a freshmen in high school now, but I still remember this book. That's how much of an impact it had on me. 

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

5 stars

In the year 1941, fifteen-year-old artist Lina Vilkas and her family were forced to leave their home by the NKVD, Stalin’s army of Soviets. The Soviets place Lina, her mother, and brother on a train with a group of other people in a tiny overcrowded car. Lina and her family keep hope that one day they’ll be reunited with her father who was separated from them. As they fight for their survival, they must keep each other alive and hope for freedom. It took me eleven days to read this book. It took me so long not because I didn’t like this book or was bored by it, but the fact that with every page there was a new horror or tragedy forced upon Lina and I needed to take a break from the sadness and despair. I love books like this. This is the kind of book to make you think, “What if that would’ve been me? What would I have done?” I don’t think I would’ve been brave enough to do half the stuff Lina did or maybe I would, but let’s hope I never have to find out. I’ve never heard of Lithuanians and Soviets or Stalin or the NKVD. When I think of this time period I think of Pearl Harbor or Hitler and the Nazis. I’m sad to admit that but I don’t have hardly any knowledge in this tragedy that was bestowed upon the world, but now I do have some even if most of it was from the Author’s Note. I now know something.


The female main character is Lina. Lina is an artist, but she’s also strong willed, stubborn, hopeful, and a fighter. I guess in some ways you could compare her to Anne Frank if you wanted to, but I don’t. Lina is a strong character and she was full of hope. Hope that she would see her father again, hope she and her family would return to Lithuania, hope she would see the next day, and hope that her family was safe. Lina will always have a special place in my heart as a fighter.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 10

The main male character is… Andrius, I guess you could consider him to be that. I loved Andrius even when he and Lina were fighting. Andrius was just as much as a fighter Lina. He fought to protect his mom even when it was obvious that he couldn’t against the NKVD. He cared about people, whether it was Jonas, Lina, Lina’s mother, or anyone else. He would smuggle food to people and help them as much as he could. Even though I cried at the ending I couldn’t but smile when I read that one line that confirmed what I hoped would happen.

Swoon Worthy Scale: 9

The Villain- The NKVD are the villains, but the commander of the beet farm Lina and her family were at, Kretzsky, and Stalin are the most prominent. Stalin is the reason Lithuanians are being forced out of their homes and killed and starved. The commander was a pig for what he did to Lina and I couldn’t stand how he treated people. Kretzsky… I wanted to hate him, but I couldn’t. From the moment I started to see his name more on the beet farm I had a feeling he wasn’t all what he seemed. In this case he was painted as the villain, but turned out to be a hero.


Villain Scale: 10

Lina’s mother was a great mother and she loved her children. She fought for them and other people as well. Jonas, Lina’s brother, was adorable and I liked him. There are so many other characters and I don’t want to name them all because meeting them was like meeting a new person and I feel like if you haven’t read the book you should be able to meet these other people on your own.

Character Scale: 10

I loved the writing; it was simplistic, but telling and never too wordy. I liked how there was small passages about Lina’s past and how some of that tied into what was happening even if it didn’t seem like it at the time. My little sister let me borrow this book after she bought it at the book fair and all I have to say is that I’m glad she let me borrow it because of it I’ve met characters that will stay in my heart, new knowledge, and a book I will never forget.


Cover Thoughts: I love the cover. It’s beautiful and after reading the story it makes a little more sense. I just love the cover and it’s beautiful. Need I say more?

My Life As a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

My Life As a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

First in the White Trash Zombie series

5 stars

Angel Crawford is a loser and has always been one. She lives with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana; she’s a high school dropout with a pill popping habit and a criminal record who’s been fired from more sucky low-paying jobs than she can count. Things start to take a turn for the odd when she wakes up in the hospital being told she ODed on pain killers. She remembers being in a car accident but doesn’t have the scars to prove it. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there’s a job waiting for her at the local coroner’s office and that if she refuses she’ll be thrown in jail. She starts to develop a sickening hunger for brains, the ability to lift things that are ten times her weight, but all these new perks come with a the Hunger. To add the horribleness, the morgue is filling up with headless corpses when ever she’s the hungriest and it doesn’t hurt that there’s a hunky cop that always seems to show up. Angel has to grow up and grow up fast or she’s dead meat. Literally! Ever since I discovered My Life as a White Trash Zombie on Amazon while browsing for new books I’ve wanted to get my hands on it. I finally have! This book is perfect for me. I’m not the biggest fan of zombies, but if it’s done right I love them. It’s definitely done right in this book. It also doesn’t hurt that I’ve found a book set in Louisiana the whole entire time. They don’t have very many of them, but I usually read most of the paranormal ones I find.

The main female character is Angel. I loved Angel. She was funny, witty, and strong. She proves that you don’t need a high school diploma to be smart. As someone who has quite a few members in my family who haven’t graduated with a diploma, it’s nice to see a portrayal that’s actually real and relatable. She even talks a lot like me. I’ve never realized how Louisiana dialect sounds until we started learning about voice patterns in Speech class, but let’s clear this up. People in Louisiana don’t talk like the people on Swamp People.
 

We don’t sound like that unless we are joking around and doing impressions. There are also no swamps everywhere you turn. My backyard is not a swamp and no I don't travel to school in a boat (someone actually asked a student at my school that). Now that we got those misconceptions cleared up. Angel may be considered white trash, but at least she’s real and easy to relate to. I can’t really discuss her pill popping habit because I’ve distanced myself from it. Yes, people do it, but they do it in other parts of the world too. Angel is probably one of my favorite characters I’ve ever come across and I liked her from the very first sentence. She’s an interesting zombie, who can think with her head and her gut when it comes to crimes. I’m glad she was able to fight all her battles trying to pull her back down and I can’t wait to read more about her.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 10

The main male character is… well there really wasn’t a main love interest for Angel until the very end, but her love interest is Marcus. I like Marcus and it may or may not have something to do with the fact that he’s Russian. Marcus is actually a really good guy and it’s obvious that he and Angel will start to have more. I can’t wait to learn more about him.

Swoon Worthy Scale: 8.5

The Villain- The villain was actually a shocker for me. I had been thinking the whole time like Angel or that may be Kang, but boy was I wrong. I totally didn’t see that coming and I wonder if he’ll come back in the next book. Just shows that people are quick to judge based on their experiences and will exact revenge if it's a negative experience.

Villain Scale: 8

There is a really long cast of character from Randy, Angel’s loser on-again-off-again boyfriend, to Nick the Prick, a fellow co-worker, to Dr. Leblanc, the head coroner, to Derell, Angel’s partner, to Angel’s dad and to a bunch of other characters that will probably be more prominent in the upcoming books.


Character Scale: 9

These zombies are a lot more interesting than you’re regular run-of-the-mill B movie zombies. They are dead, but the brains they eat keep them looking like regular breathing human beings. If they don’t eat brains within three days their flesh starts to peel, they become slower, and less human. This book was zombariffic, yes I made that word up. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book and delve more into the world of Angel Crawford.

Cover Thoughts: The cover is absolutely kick-ass and one of my favorite covers. Everything about it is perfect. The colors, font, picture, and artwork; it’s my kind of cover and it’s what had me curious in the first place aside from the strange, but awesome title.