Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

Title: Dreams of Gods and Monsters
Author: Laini Taylor
ISBN: 9781478900054
Publisher: Blackstone Audio/Little, Brown Books
Released: April 8, 2014
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3
Duration: 18 hours, 8 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"In this thrilling conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, Karou is still not ready to forgive Akiva for killing the only family she's ever known.

When a brutal angel army trespasses into the human world, Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat—and against larger dangers that loom on the horizon. They begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves—maybe even toward love.

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera, and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy."

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First Lines:

"Nerve thrum and screaming blood, wild and churning and chasing and devouring and terrible and terrible and terrible...
'Eliza. Eliza!'
A voice. Bright light, and Eliza fell awake."
Page 1
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Review:

I would like to start out by noting that the audiobook is over 18 hours long. I mean... that's insane. It took me forever to get through it - even though I loved it. Guess I just didn't have enough empty days to do a marathon listen. *Also, this is a review of the third book, so expect some spoilers for the first two in the series!!*

This is the conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, so there's a lot to wrap up. Karou and Akiva are on the brink of an all-out war, but they have to bring unlikely allies together to succeed. Several worlds hang in the balance while they try to save as many people as possible. There are lots of people to bring back from the dead, lots of magic to learn about, lots of relationships hanging in the balance, and lots of enemies butting heads.

As you can imagine, there are tons of loose ends to tie up in this final book. The biggest being the relationship between Karou and Akiva - it starts out really rocky because of what happened in the last book. They really aren't sure about each other throughout the story, lots of second-guessing. But having to work so closely together to save the world(s) really pulls them back. Really, you're left until the acutal epilogue to find out their future.

There is a new character introduced in this book - and is part of the quote above. Eliza... and she changes the tide of the entire story. She's raised as a human in a very strange situation. Her family is part of a cult that believes they are descended from angels. Eliza is the first to actually exhibit some signs that something is different and she is treated like a prophet. She escapes that world, but she still has frightening dreams and can never fully shake it off. Honestly, I think she became my favorite character in the whole trilogy. I wish she had been introduced sooner, but I think the flow worked really well in this final book.

You also get a whole new group of people who are fully invested in the saving of their world. I'm not going to go into them, because they really change the course of the ending. They have an extreme relationship with magic and the ability to quickly dispose of people that are threatening their world.

One other thing that I found very interesting about this book is the treatment of the angels that appear on earth. What do you think would happen if thousands of angels came from the sky and landed in the Vatican City? Thinking about the different groups of people and how they would handle things - the fanatics, the cynics, the world of science... etc.

In the audio version, it's a little crazy with the various viewpoints. Things change quickly - especially in the end when the pace of the whole book kicks up a notch. I'm sure there are clear breaks in the actual text, but it doesn't come across as easily in the audio. But I will say that I have continued listening to this series (instead of getting a print copy) because the reader is so wonderful.

Honestly, if you haven't read this series and you're into urban fantasy, angel stories, otherwordly lurv... then you should really pick up this series. Plus side: it's now complete! You won't be waiting for the next one to come out. The ending does leave a little room for the imagination and there are so many side characters that I wonder if there will be a spinoff. One can only hope!
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Other Blog Reviews:

JAWKWARDLOL
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Alice Marvels
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Bookish
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This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: This is What Happy Looks Like
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
ISBN: 9781478978770
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Released: April 2, 2013
Duration: 8.5 hours
Source: Playaway from my public library

Summary:
"Perfect strangers Graham Larkin and Ellie O'Neill meet - albeit virtually - when Graham accidentally sends Ellie an email about his pet pig, Wilbur. The two seventeen-year-olds strike up an email relationship, even though they live on opposite sides of the country and don't even know each other's first name.

In a witty and unforgettable correspondence, Graham and Ellie share details about their lives, hopes, and fears. But they don't tell each other everything: Graham doesn't know the secret hidden in Ellie's family tree, and Ellie is unaware of Graham's life in the spotlight.

When Graham seizes an opportunity to spend time in Ellie's tiny hometown of Henley, Maine, he takes their relationship from online to in person. But can two people from such different worlds be together despite the odds stacked against them?"
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First Lines:

"It was not all that different from the circus, and it came to town in much the same way. Only instead of elephants and giraffes, there were cameras and microphones."
Page 21
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Review:

I feel like everyone hopes someone they meet online will turn out to be famous. Or maybe that's just me. :) So the whole idea of this book was super cute and wonderful.

Graham and Ellie accidentally start emailing - just a slip of the fingers made Graham email the wrong person. But then they started talking. And becoming friends... and maybe more. It all changes when he shows up in her tiny town to film a movie. They realize just what it would mean to be together. Not to mention all of the attention they would attract by being together.

I loved the last book by Jennifer E. Smith - the same sort of cute romance that just makes you feel good. That's what I was hoping for with this book and I wasn't disappointed. She weaves a romance that seems both realistic and a little over the top at times. But that's only to make the whole thing more exciting.

Beyond the romance, this book is also about family. Ellie has a secret about her father that just cannot get out into the world. Her mother spends her time protecting Ellie and keeping her from making huge mistakes. Which is something she can't do when Graham is around. But it's sort of a beautiful relationship between a mother and daughter. You can feel how much they love each other and their little family.

I just think there is always a need for heart warming stories like this. No, it's not even remotely reality, but there is something so calming and comforting about this type of story. I will definitely recommend it to any of my chick lit/realistic lovers. They will definitely find this one to fit the bill.

Okay, so I listened to the audio for this book. While everything flowed well and all, I did have one little complaint. And it's nitpicky. But the woman reading Ellie had a way of enunciating things that otherwise would have been drawn out a different way. Some of the letters were too hard, so it wasn't how we would normally speak. I got used to it after a while, but Ellie's voice in my head is a little more robotic. :) Otherwise, it was really well done.

After listening to this book, I've decided I really am a Jennifer E. Smith fan. I'll probably read/listen to anything she writes after these books. She spins a great story that makes me want to snuggle up and lose myself in it. If you haven't read anything by her before, I highly recommend you give it a shot. Especially if you love romance. ;)
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Other Blog Reviews: 

The Pretty Books
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Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Title: Forgotten
Author: Cat Patrick
ISBN: 9780316094610
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Released: June 14, 2011
Duration: 6 hours, 19 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.

When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future."
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First Lines:

"Aren't Fridays supposed to be good?
This one started badly.
The note on my nightstand didn't tell me anything useful. My eyelids wanted to stay closed; my favorite jeans were in the hamper; and there was no milk in the fridge."
Page 7
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Review:

For whatever reason, I actually didn't know what this book was going to be about. But it was available from my library's audio collection - so I gave it a go. I should really start paying more attention to the summaries before I actually read/listen to a book. I still really liked it... but in a different way than I expected :).

London forgets everything at 4:33am every day. She has to leave herself notes and clues about things that have happened and are important. Then one day she meets a guy - someone she really doesn't want to forget. But there's one kicker - she can remember things from the future. She knows what is going to happen to people. And this guy isn't in her future. She can't see him.

I had assumed this book was going to be very mysterious. And while there is a little bit of that element, it's much more than that. In fact, it comes across more as a love story.A girl just trying to be normal and have a normal relationship. But she finds out more about herself than she thought possible. But she has to keep her secret from this guy... What would he do if he found out about her?

Can you imagine not remembering anything from your past? Truly nothing?? That seems amazingly scary. I think anyone would do the same as what London does - take notes. Keep folders of your information. Make sure that everything is written down every night so you can remember it the next day. And the idea of deliberately forgetting something is even more intense. It's also crazy to think that she can scan her future memory for clues about things that have happened in the past. What a trip!

I really enjoyed this story. I think the concept is cool and really blows my mind. And to think that there was a reason for it - and maybe a way to fix it is even more insane. I thought this was well done and the story really pulled me in. I'm definitely a fan of Cat Patrick now and I need to go find everything else she's written. I will definitely be recommending her book on - especially if you like YA romance with a little meat to it.
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Other Blog Reviews:

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The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
ISBN: 9780307582911
Publisher: Random House
Released: October 06, 2009
Series: The Maze Runner #1
Duration: 10 hours, 50 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind."
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First Lines:

"He began his new life, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air.
Metal ground against metal; a lurching shudder shook the floor beneath him."
Page 1 
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Review:

Yep, I'm probably the last person on the planet to read this book. Well, listen to it. I've heard so many rave reviews, that I figured it was probably time. And I have to agree... it's the perfect boy adventure story.

Thomas doesn't remember anything from his life before The Glade. All he knows is that someone is controlling their movements and they have to figure out a way to escape. But he's no ordinary Glader. Some of the boys remember him. And he gets attacked by one of them - saying he remembers him from before. Things are changing - and not for the better. They have to get out before they're all killed by the monsters in the Maze. Thomas just knows that somewhere in his mind is the key to getting them all to safety.

I went into this book knowing it was going to be good. Didn't really know what it was going to be about, but knew I had to read it (listen to it). And I'm so glad that I did! It's now a story that I can't get out of my head. The whole concept of the Glad and knowing that you were sent there by people. People who are now watching you. Waiting to see what you do. It's a creepy concept. But the boys who have been sent there have formed themselves into a working society. They have people who take care of each aspect of life. And they have the runners - the ones who are trying to find a way out. It's a little Lord of the Flies with the boys governing other boys without any sort of adult authority. But that's sort of where the similarities end.

Unfortunately, there's a big, scary threat... the Grievers. Each night they come out into the maze and will kill you if you're caught out there after the walls close each night. And if they do sting you (instead of straight up killing you), then you will go through the Change. None of the boys really understand what the change is, but they know it's scary. And you will get back some memories. But you will never be the same.

The ending is more epic than I ever imagined. There's a huge battle that leaves you breathless and concerned about every character in the story. Thomas grows close with several of the characters and it's very interesting to see how he interacts with each of them. He becomes the central part of the escape. He becomes the one people are scared of. He becomes the one that they can all learn from. Watching that transformation of naive newbie to the end is quite the transformation.

Although everyone on the planet has already read this book, I am definitely recommending it. If you've been putting it off like I have, you should go ahead and get on it. The audiobook was really well done and that is probably the perfect way to get drawn into the story. The reader does a great job with the different boy voices and has a wonderful tempo with the intensity of the story. He really pulls you in without knowing you were being pulled in. I'm definitely on the edge of my seat wondering what happens in the next book - which I'm off to look for now. Again, this is a must read!!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Love, Literature, Art, and Reason
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The Diviners by Libba Bray

Title: The Diviners
Author: Libba Bray
ISBN: 9780449808764
Publisher: Little, Brown/Listening Library
Released: September 18, 2012
Series: Diviners #1
Duration: 18 hours, 14 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"SOMETHING DARK AND EVIL HAS AWAKENED. . . .
Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It's 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries her uncle will discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho is hiding a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened. . . ."
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First Lines:

"In a town house at a fashionable address on Manhattan's Upper West Side, every lamp blazes. There's a party going on - the last of the summer."
Page 1 
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Review:

To be honest, I actually own a paper copy of this book. But it's just. so. huge. So I opted for the audio - in hopes of being able to listen to it more quickly. I'm going to assume that was successful :).

Evie has a special gift for getting into trouble. Well, and an actual special gift that usually goes with the trouble. She's shipped off to live with her uncle to live a glamorous life in NYC. Only, there's a killer on the loose. Her uncle gets called to help with the investigation and she tags along. Before long, she's fully involved and finds her life in grave danger. Plus there are parties, dancing and cute boys.

Everything about this 1920s setting lends itself to wonderful costumes, characters, and craziness. I really enjoyed delving fully into the time period. And it is quite the chilling mystery. I made the mistake a few times of listening right before I went to bed. Man! The author does a great job of the suspense - I had no idea the ending would turn out the way it did. She's a gifted story teller, for sure.

There were a lot of characters to follow. A few times I got a little lost - and it would have probably been worse if I had been reading a paper copy of the book. Luckily, the reader did a great job of keeping voices straight so I was able to figure things out based on that. I got worried every time a new character was introduced. But those characters are what really made this story move - all of the different experiences and perspectives. Not to mention, a few of those characters only existed for a chapter or so. Ahem.   

I cannot review this book without talking about the audio. The reader for this book was fantastic. There were all sorts of crazy voices and songs that she did a wonderful job with. I was very impressed. She made it feel like I was totally transported back to the 20s. The lingo sounded natural and I imagine that she had a lot of practice with the various characters. It was just really well done and I highly recommend it.

If you're a fan of mysteries, then this book is totally for you. There's a bit of stuff about mysticism and the occult - which I have always found very interesting. It was just another part of this book that made me intrigued. So, I think if you can get over the size of the book, this is definitely one to give a shot. Or listen to. That's what worked for me on this one. But I'm a big fan of Libba Bray, so I might be jaded.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Candace's Book Blog
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Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Title: Carrier of the Mark
Author: Leigh Fallon
ISBN: 9780062184825
Publisher: HarperCollins
Released: November 29, 2011
Duration: 7 hours, 58 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRis.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction."
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First Lines:

"My first day at a new school... again. I pulled on the school uniform and eyed myself critically in the mirror. A uniform! I couldn't believe it."
Page 1
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Review:

Girl meets boy. Girl falls madly in love with boy within six seconds. Boy is mysterious, but for a good reason. Girl gets pulled into his world and finds out she belonged there all along. It's a pretty solid base for a teen novel :).

So, Megan is new to Ireland. She's used to moving and changing schools, but the life in Ireland is totally different. And for some unknown reason, she has attracted the attention of Adam - a guy every girl fantasizes about. She soon finds out that his family is shrouded in mystery and there are lots of urban legends about them. But once she starts to get to know the family, Megan realizes how much deeper that legend goes - and how much of it is true. But little did she know that she has her own mysteries. She can only tap into her potential if she sticks with them.

Ah, love. Young love. I know this is a staple for every teen novel of all time. And this one fits firmly into that category. It almost takes on its own persona in the story. The beginning of the relationship happens so quickly at the start of the story that it hardly seems possible. But such is a teen novel. :) Adam and Megan are the living embodiment of love at first sight. By the end, they are willing to die for each other. It's sort of sweet, I suppose. Very Romeo and Juliet without the star-crossed bit.

Throughout this love story, you've also got the magic and the mystery and the intrigue. I'm not going to give up what Adam's family can do, but it's very interesting that Megan showing up is what makes the circle complete. They are powerful, but with her around they are so much more. So it becomes more about the relationship with the entire family - not just the guy. I sort of liked that aspect of the book. It was a little less overwhelming with all the mush :).

I did listen to the audiobook on this one. The narrator did a really good job - especially with all of the various accents. Set in Ireland, so you have lots of that. The main character is American. And then you have various English accents that pop up as well. I was a little worried about that when I first started. Not nailing an accent could throw off the entire audiobook. But she did well and it was super believable.

In terms of recommending this title, I think you'll love it if you're into either YA fantasy or romance. It probably pulls in both of those audiences. It's a pretty epic love story, that's for sure. I would love to read a second book about one of the side characters. I feel like we've got a handle on Adam and Megan, so moving to a new perspective would be pretty cool. But I do think there is a second book scheduled to come out this summer. It will probably be worth checking out! 
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Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Title: Carnival of Souls

Author: Melissa Marr

ISBN: 9780062201911
Publisher: HarperCollins
Released: September 04, 2012
Series: Carnival of Souls #1
Duration: 8 hours, 5 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures—if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father—and every other witch there—fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls."
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First Lines:

"The man - witch - who'd summoned Selah was nothing like what she'd expected. In truth, he looked no different than many daimons she'd met: implacable expression and a musculature that would serve him well in one of Marchosias' fighting competitions."
Page 1
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Review:

Talk about a book in my wheelhouse. Witches, daimons, cute boys, fighting girls, family intrigue...  I was sold on this book before I really knew what it was about. I blame my love of masks and the pretty cover.

True to Melissa Marr style, we are taken into a whole new world - one where daimons rule. Witches have been given the human world to rule over. Mallory is caught in the middle, but she has no idea. She just knows that there is a cute boy who sort of shows up everywhere she goes and that her father is a witch - keeping them on the move and trained for any danger. As she begins to uncover the truth about the world around her, things start to go wrong.

I love the world building of The City. The rules are all different and the way people are ranked in society is totally foreign. Women are required to breed once they hit a certain age - they are even given something to make them more breedable. That's the one and only reason Aya has chosen to fight society and compete in the Carnival of Souls. It's a dark and sinister world where people are fighting - literally - for their lives and positions in society. Just to throw this out there, though... the Carnival is a little Hunger Games. People fighting to the death for a better standing. I'm just sayin.

It was hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that all of the daimons could transform into some other animal. Of course, it's a scary, wolf-seeming animal. But there wasn't much description there. It's probably on purpose so you can conjure up  your own scary versions of them. I personally would have liked a little more specific information about the creatures, though. Also, the whole pack mentality made this seem a little more werewolf than anything else.

As an audiobook, this one gave me a little trouble. I know I liked the story, so it had nothing to do with that. The reader was male and I sort of wished for a switch in voices when you were listening to the female characters (I know not everyone is a fan of the voice switching). In fact, there were more female voices than male. It wouldn't be bothersome, except some of his inflections for the way the girls talked... it was just wrong somehow. Everything else was really good. But the voice of Mallory seemed a little too meek and whiny the way it was done. Otherwise, the reader did a good job.

As a whole, I really enjoyed this story. There were some things that I wasn't a fan of, but that didn't keep me from having fun with this one. I think if you're a Melissa Marr fan, you will definitely want to check this one out. It seems like lots of the reviews are a bit on the fence. So I am hoping that the next book will give us even more to work with - this one totally leaves you on a cliffhanger. So, of course, I'm sucked in :).
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Other Blog Reviews:

Candace's Book Blog
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Winter White by Jen Calonita

Title: Winter White
Author: Jen Calonita
ISBN: 9781470808907
Publisher: Little, Brown/Blackstone Audio
Released: October 9, 2012
Series: Belles #2
Duration: 9 hours, 33 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"Isabelle Scott and Mirabelle Monroe are still reeling from the revelation that they share more than just the roof over their heads. The media has pounced on their story and the girls are caught up in a flurry of talk-show appearances and newspaper interviews. They've put on a happy public face, but someone is leaking their true feelings to the press.
While it seems like the world is watching their every move, at least they have each other.

But with cotillion season right around the corner, Izzie and Mira have barely had time to process their newfound sisterhood. Mira has always dreamed of making her debut in a gorgeous white gown—now if only she could find an escort. Izzie, meanwhile, is still struggling to find her place in Emerald Cove, and it's seeming ever more impossible with EC mean-girls, young and old, doing their best to keep her down. As cotillion preparations heat up, though, there are dance steps to learn, manners to perfect—and secret initiations to complete?—as if sophomore year wasn't hard enough.

It's time for the gowns to go on and the gloves to come off."
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First Lines:

"'How y'all doing this fine morning, North Carolina?'
Wendy Wallington's famous Southern twang ricocheted throughout the television studio whipping her audience into a frenzy."
Page 1  
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Review:

I don't think I ever got around to reviewing the first book in this series last year. But I listened to that audio as well and loved everything about the story. Had to give the second one a go.

So, Mira and Izzy have found out a huge secret (which I'm not divulging, just in case). They have come to rely on each other for comfort. Izzy's new life is still very overwhelming and misses home. But she is beginning to fit in - in ways she never expected. Mira is learning more and more about her crush and falling even harder. Not to mention that is cotillion season! It's all about dresses, escorts, and white gloves.

Honestly, the first book was so fun and cute that I couldn't help but want to get into the second one. It pulled me back into the girl's lives without any trouble. This book has a whole new vibe - Mira and Izzy are actually getting along. They have formed an alliance because of a few shared enemies. Not to mention they need each other to get through the media circus that has become their lives. It's kind of sweet to see the girls come together like that.

I loved the whole cotillion angle in this book. It gives you a little sneak peak into a life that not a lot of people get to experience. It's fun to get Izzy's take on everything because she's so new to the life. Mira has, of course, embraced the whole experience from the time she was five. There's lots of cattiness and drama surrounding the event. It makes for a great setting to get to know the people in their lives better.

I kind of love that both of these books have had an emphasis on community service. Most of the time it's in the context of looking good to others - and cotillion stuff - but I think it's important that people know those types of opportunities are really out there. I'm probably reading way too much into that aspect of the story, but it's sort of heartwarming for me. It's also cool that most of it is giving back to people who actually need it - not just the rich helping the rich.

I worry that this book is going to get dated quickly. There is a lot of name-dropping and contemporary references. It doesn't take much for a book like that to feel old. It's a great story and I hope it lives on for a while, but I do wonder if people five years from now are going to care about some of the names in there.

All in all, these books are super fun and adorable. If you're looking for something light and easy, I highly suggest these. The audio versions were great as well. The reader does a wonderful job with all of the various southern accents. I know that was probably a chore. But it turned out really well. I can't wait to see what happens next to these girls! 
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Other Blog Reviews:

Justin's Book Blog
YA Booklover Blog
Imaginary Reads
Blue Sky Bookshelf
Catching Books
The Irish Banana Review
Deborah's Books
Twice as Nice
Owl Read It
Ex Libris

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Title: What's Left of Me

Author: Kat Zhang

ISBN: 9780062223838

Publisher: HarperCollins

Released: September 18, 2012

Series: Hybrid Chronicles #1

Duration: 9 hours, 37 minutes

Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren't they settling? Why isn't one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn't. . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she's still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable—hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

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First Lines:

"Addie and I were born into the same body, our souls' ghostly fingers entwined before we gasped our very first breath. Our earliest years together were also our happiest."

Page 5 

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Review:

Can you imagine what it would be like to have another soul in your body? I really can't. What an amazing concept! Not to mention that the dominant soul has to take over before you're a teen. Crazytown.

Addie and Eva share a body. This is totally normal - except for the fact that they are over the age of ten. Now they would be considered Hybrid. If anyone knew that Eva was still there. The dominant soul was supposed to take over, but Eva hung on. Now they are terrified that someone will discover their secret. It doesn't help that a strange girl at school has started talking to them. She seems to know more than she lets on.

I have a hard time imagining having another soul in my body. A constant presence who can feel what you feel... It's just such a strange idea. Though the book does say that they can cut themselves off from each other - having a wall between them. But it's still. Creepy idea. It sort of plays on the whole having an invisible friend as a young child. That friend is just inside your head. With you.

There's also a bit of government control over human's bodies. This country doesn't allow Hybrids to exist, but other countries are run by them. Hybrids are blamed for all terrorism, all evil, and are the boogieman for children. Flood at the art gallery? Hybrids. Riot in the streets? Hybrids. It's sort of an interesting look at government and what sort of influence they have. Plus, they have the ability to split families apart when the idea of hybrids is introduced. It's a little scary!

I'm trying to do this review without giving too much away. There were some things that I could see coming a mile away, but others I was shocked to see how they turned out. So I don't wanna ruin it for you. I really enjoyed it. I'm guessing that there will be a second book because things are left a little incomplete. Not to mention that it's part of a chronicle... obviously. I look forward to seeing where this story goes.

The reader on this book was really good. I liked how the inflection changed just slightly between Addie and Eva. It was enough to know they were different, and didn't keep you guessing on who was supposed to be speaking. I think this book has the potential to get confusing in that way, but the author and the reader did a great job keeping those things clear for you.

I may be a little partial because the author is a local for me. That's really the reason I gave this book a shot (well, that and it's in my wheelhouse). She is definitely talented and I am excited to read/listen to more from her. Fans of dystopian books will enjoy this one - even though that's not really where this one fits in. It's science fiction, but it has the feel of a dystopian. Definitely worth giving a shot.

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Other Blog Review:

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