Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

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Title: Afterworlds
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Length: 608 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Classification: Young Adult, Contemporary, Paranormal
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Source: e-galley via Edelweiss (Thank you Simon Pulse!)
Read: September 2014

Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings… Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most. (From GoodReads)

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***I received an e-galley of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*** 

My Rating:

I decided I HAD to read this book because I really loved reading Westerfeld's first three Uglies books (no, I haven't read the last one yet). And so I was really excited when I was approved via Edelweisss to read and review his newest book, Afterworlds.

This was an interesting read. It is very unique since the author combines two stories into one book!

I had a hard time getting into the story at first. In fact, I almost gave up on reading it, but decided to keep on and see if the story started to pick up for me. It wasn't because I thought the story was boring. I had a hard time because of the alternating between Darcy's life and the chapters of the book she has written. I got a bit frustrated with the alternating chapters. Don't get me wrong, I think it was a very unique way to write the book. But I would get into the storyline in the chapter and become interested in what was happening, then it would be over and onto the other part of the story. I like that each chapter left me wanting more. But at first this back and forth really frustrated me.

But about half-way in, I started to be more interested in both sides of the book. And the back and forth didn't bother me as much anymore.

Darcy's Life:
I really enjoyed reading about the life of a young writer and how crazy it can be. I think it is a good insight into a writer's life. The difficulties and frustrations that an author can face, but also the happiness and the wonderful feeling of being published can bring.
I think what I liked most about Darcy's life is her relationships with others.
I really love her relationship with her sister. It feels real to me and I enjoyed the sibling banter between the two. But at the same time, you can tell that they really care about one another. I also liked the parts with her parents and her friends from high school. I liked how she found a way to balance her new life with her old life.
And I especially liked the relationship between her and Imogene. I like that it has the ups and downs and cuteness of a first relationship. It was easy to connect with those feelings of the characters. And I wanted to know what would happen.

The "Afterworlds" Story:
This is the story that Darcy wrote in one month. The first chapter is amazing. It really pulled me in and grabbed my attention with ease. I felt my heart beating and wanting to know what would happen to the main character, Lizzie.
Overall, I liked this storyline.
I found it to be fascinating and unique.
I liked the characters and relationships in this plot also.
Both Lizzie and her mother have been through so much. And I enjoyed watching them bond. And I think that Lizzie's character had a lot of development and growth throughout the story.

My Recommendation:
I am glad that I decided to not give up reading this book. I don't regret reading it at all. I was able to enjoy both of the storylines and found the story to be entertaining. But it is not a story that I plan to reread in the future. I do think that readers will enjoy reading this story. So I say, give it a read.

Compulsion by Martina Boone

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Title: Compulsion
(The Heirs of Watson Island #1)
Author: Martina Boone
Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Southern Gothic
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Source: e-galley (I was approved for an e-galley via Edelweiss. Thank you Simon Pulse!)
Read: August 2014

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Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson had been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead. (From GoodReads)

***I received an e-galley of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review***

My Rating:

I love this cover. It is so gorgeous. I really do try to not base wanting to read a book based on the cover, but after seeing the cover for COMPULSION, it just made me even more excited to read the book!

The Story:

A fascinating story about a girl whose life has been turned upside down due to the loss of her mother and being sent to live across the country with an aunt she has never met. Not only does Barrie have to get used to living somewhere new, she discovers and tries to get to the bottom of some old family secrets.
The author creates a southern setting that is realistic and beautiful. The type of world that readers will want to visit.
I found this to be a wonderfully written story that balances the paranormal, mystery, and romance.

This was so hard for me to put down. I was quickly drawn into this world. I love the interactions between the characters. I love the supernatural things that are happening on the island. And I really love the mystery that surrounds it all.

And even though I think the book ends with some closure. I was left wanting more. I wanted to know more about Watson Island. Especially the past history. I am really interested in finding out more about Barrie's parents and what else happened in their pasts on Watson Island. And I am really looking forward to finding out what else is going to happen to Barrie, Eight and Cassie.

The Characters:

I really love these characters.
I think that the characters were all well-written. I wanted to get to know them and was very interested in finding out more about their lives and what would happen.

Barrie: She is full of curiosity. Especially curiosity regarding her gift, which just added to my own. I also like that she is curious about her roots and her mother's past. After the loss of her mother, her life changed and part of what she has to discover deals with things that she never knew about her own mother.  I love that she is a strong character. She looks for answers and doesn't really rely on others figuring things out for her.
And I just absolutely loved the relationship between her and Mark. I love their phone conversations. I love that even though there are not a lot of scenes of them together, I still get the understanding of how important they are to one another. It is a very special bond and relationship.

Eight: He is so strong and dependable. He wants to try and protect Barrie, even if she doesn't let him. I loved finding out more about his character as the story went along. He is caring and trustworthy. I enjoyed watching the conflict between him and Barrie. I really like his gift and how it affects his character and his interactions with other people.

Cassie: I found her to be one of those characters you think you aren't going to like much, but yet you are drawn to them and want to know more. She is a complex character. I felt like I wasn't sure how to see her and how her relationship would be with Barrie. And even after finishing the story, I am not sure exactly how to view Cassie. I find her character interesting and there are a lot of times that I feel bad for what she is going through. But there were also times where I did not like the decisions that she was making. But I found that she not only adds some conflict to the story, but she also left me wondering what would happen next to not only her but with the relationship between her and Barrie.

I really love all the other characters in the story too. Like Barrie's Aunt Pru. She is a very intriguing character. I feel like she has so much weighing on her and she tries so hard to keep everything together. And I loved watching her relationship with Barrie bloom. Also, Eight's dad, Seven. I love the mystery surrounding his past and the connection to Barrie's family.

My Recommendation:
I love this book and can't wait to dive into the next book. The story is unique and has mystery, romance, tension, and a fascinating supernatural element. I highly recommend reading this one!