"Psyched" (a freaky review by Lexi)

Dearest Readers,

I'm so excited to be sharing the next few books with you!!! They've all been great, and I'm in the process of reading yet another wonderful one!!! So get ready to read about some awesome novels!!! Today's is Psyched by Juli Caldwell!

Creepy looking cover, huh?

Summary: "Aisi Turay has it all under control. At least, she thinks she does. Forget that the most popular girl in school hates her guts and will stop at nothing to embarrass her. Forget that her little brother is tormented by the ghosts and demons she sees all the time. Forget that her mom is a con artist who pretends to be psychic to make some cash. Forget that her dad is hiding a secret than can destroy everything she knows about herself. Nope, she's got this one...until that one awful day when she nearly loses it all. With ghost-hunting hottie Vance, a guy who stumbled into her life at the worst possible moment, Aisi must search for the messages hidden in visions and memories to protect her family. Maybe, just maybe, they can reclaim what she thought was lost forever." (Thank you, Goodreads!)

The novel started out with action and did not disappoint from there on! This novel has an interesting background inside, and I'd have never thought of such a fabulous back story! I love how deep the abilities and story goes, and the paranormal ideas inside of it all!

The main character, Aisi, can see spirits, as can her little brother. Seeing what she sees can be terrifying, and her gift can be more of a curse at times. When she thinks she's all alone in this fight, it turns out that she's not, even though her family is broken, and she doesn't have many friends (okay, just the one). This novel had me from the first page, and I know that it'll grab you as well! The paranormal aspects may be fake, but you'll never think that as you're reading. The story and everything is so realistic and creepy! I think y'all will love it as much as me!

In Conclusion & Suggestions: Read it if you want a fast-paced novel that's action-filled but not too scary!

Rating:

4/5 ghosts (only because the novels I read following had me immersed in them more)


Till next time!


XOXO,

Lexi

"Walk of Spirits" and Hospitals (a weird Lexi review)

Hello, great Readers!

So, my Papaw is in the hospital, and I'm staying with him tonight. He's doing better, but I wanted y'all to know I'm not ignoring the blog or anything. So no post on Tuesday; I was pretty busy taking care of the house, my Mamaw, and our dogs. Prayers and good thoughts would be appreciated. :)

Okay, so today's book is Walk of Spirits by Richie Tankersley Cusick.

Summary: "When Miranda Barnes first sees the sleepy town of St. Yvette, Louisiana, with its moss-draped trees, above-ground cemeteries, and her grandfather’s creepy historic home, she realizes that life as she knew it is officially over. Almost immediately, there seems to be something cloying at her. Something lonely and sad and . . . very pressing. Even at school and in the group project she’s been thrown into, she can’t escape it. Whispers when she’s alone, shadows when no one is there to make them, and a distant pleading voice that wakes her from sleep. The other members in Miranda’s group project, especially handsome Etienne, can see that Miranda is in distress. She is beginning to understand that, like her grandfather before her, she has a special gift of communicating with spirits who still walk the town of St. Yvette. And no matter where she turns, Miranda feels bound by their whispered pleas for help . . . unless she can somehow find a way to bring them peace." (Danke, Goodreads!)

This book was so good. The acceptance of Miranda from the others seemed a bit too fast, though. I did like the idea, though. However, it could be dragging at times. I did love the love story though, and the ghost hunting. Otherwise, it was "meh." Compared to other novels in this category, especially with novels like the Lily Dale series, the situations and dynamic of the characters just didn't stand out enough for me.

In Conclusion: It's interesting. Flip a coin to decide whether to read it or not.


Rating:

3/5 footprints


XOXO,
Lexi

"My Daylight Monsters" (a psychotic Lexi review)

Our loving Readers,

You guys rock. You read our posts and show your love, and guess what? We love you, too!

Today's book is still following the October posts of freaky books. I know that it's November, but I was on a roll, people! Today's review is My Daylight Monsters by Sarah Dalton.

Cue "Monsters Under My Bed" by Eminem...

Summary: "I always thought my demons came out in the day, rather than at night. I’ve never been scared of the dark. I’ve only ever been scared of real things: getting ill, having injections, physical pain… death. Those are my monsters, not ghosts or vampires or whatever else can hide under your bed at night. 

I was wrong.

The dark makes everything worse. 

When Mary’s psychiatrist advises a short stay at a psychiatric unit, her worst nightmares are confirmed. How can she get better in a place that fills her with dread? When she meets the other patients, she begins to gather some hope, until she realises that the death toll in the hospital is rising without explanation. Something sinister stalks the corridors and maybe she is the only one who can stop it… 
Mary has to confront the Things that she sees if they are to stand a chance. But will she survive a confrontation with death itself?" (Thank you yet again, Goodreads!)

This girl sees monsters: huge specters of truly terrifying creatures that would scare anybody. You'd expect them to be at night, of course; maybe two a.m. if you believe in "ghost time." However, Mary sees them during the day, in her every day existence. (Could you imagine being in class seeing these things???) So, of course, she voluntarily ends up in a psych ward, makes friends, and starts to notice some hinky things. So is it all in her head, or are these things real?

The characters are realistic, and truly so is the psych ward. First time I've read one this realistic. (I'm totally into novels that involve psych wards, so that's a big deal here.) It's an amazing novel where you can relate to these characters and feel what they're going through.

In Conclusion: This was a book that confuses you yet makes you laugh, and then you wonder about the sanity of these people. It's actually really good, so go read it!

Rating:

5/5 straight-jackets

"The House of Dead Maids" (a historically haunted Lexi review)

Readers,

TODAY IS HALLOWEEN!!!!!

I just thought I'd let you know, lol. It's me and Ash's fave holiday!!! We dress up and go trick-or-treating which, this year, I'll be using to grab candy and hopefully find my dog as well.

Okay, onto a spooky book!

The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle. Even this cover gives me chills!!!

Summary: "Young Tabby Aykroyd has been brought to the dusty mansion of Seldom House to be nursemaid to a foundling boy. He is a savage little creature, but the Yorkshire moors harbor far worse, as Tabby soon discovers. The ghost of the last maid will not leave Tabby in peace, yet this spirit is only one of many. Why do scores of dead maids and masters haunt Seldom House with a jealous devotion that extends beyond the grave? 

As Tabby struggles to escape the evil forces rising out of the land, she watches her young charge choose a different path. He is determined to keep Seldom House as his own. Though Tabby tries to befriend the uncouth urchin, her kindness cannot alter his fate. Long before he reaches the old farmhouse of Wuthering Heights, the boy who will become Heathcliff has doomed himself and any who try to befriend him." (Thanks, Goodreads!)

If you've read Wuthering Heights, or Jane Eyre, or have seen the movies, read this for sure! If not, read it anyways! It's a great scary novel for Halloween, and for whoever enjoys Southern Gothic novels as well. So much history and questions plague you throughout this novel, and you'll be wondering exactly what is going on while you read this. One thing is for sure: you'll be entertained the entire read!

In Conclusion: If you like creepy ghost stories, this one is for you!

Rating:

5/5 skulls


XOXO,
Lexi

"Spookygirl" (I'm Back! - a Lexi review)

Hello,

I'm back for the rest of the week. I still haven't found my baby (2 weeks and 1 day), but tons of people have seen him, so there's still hope. Prayers, good thoughts, anything really, is welcome. But I can't stop doing this and talking to my friends, and everything, but instead, hope for the best, prepare for the worst, but still go on in life.

So, let's get to the book, shall we? Spookygirl by Jill Baguchinsky. (That's such a mouthful!)

Summary: "Violet doesn't remember much about her late mother, but she is certain of one thing: she too can see ghosts and communicate with the dead. But when Violet discovers paranormal activity in the girls' locker room, she finds herself ill-equipped for handling the school's ghostly echoes. Through Violet's own investigation and with the help of some unlikely allies, Violet discovers there is a lot she doesn't know about her special skill--and more still that can stand in the way of its power. With sharp wit and determination, Violet sets out to uncover the truth behind her school's haunting, to finish the investigation that led to her mother's sudden death, and to learn why the only ghost she has ever wanted to see is the one that has eluded her forever."

So this novel can be cheesy in its events and names (if you read it, you'll get it). With the stereotypical goths, the story was kind of guess-able. You'll know what's going to happen before she does, which is seeming to become more the case in YA books. But the lines, thoughts, and general teenagers are just hilarious (and they're supposed to be). The take on ghosts is interesting, like why they're here and what they like. I REALLY like this novel, and it's a great take on ghosts, but based upon the other paranormal books I've been reading for fall, it's not the best...

In Conclusion: Not the best ghost book, but it's super entertaining, relatable, and funny. It's one of those "eh, read it or don't" books.

Rating:

3/5 keys

"Through Her Eyes" (a creepster Lexi review)

Hi, Readers,

Oh my goodness, today is a very rainy, odd day. Today's awesome, haunted novel is Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer.

Summary: "Every ghost has a story to tell.

The last place Tansy Piper wants to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But it's the strange artifacts she finds in the cellar—a pocket watch, a journal of poetry, and a tiny crystal—that have the most chilling impact on her.

Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality—before she loses touch with her own life forever." (Thanks tons, Goodreads!)

I actually really liked this novel when it came out. Super interesting idea, and very well-done! I think that the characters were cool, and the story was really fun to follow along with. However, based upon the amount of ghost novels/stories I have read over the span of my 25 years, it wasn't the best. However, definitely not the worst either. The hauntings are believable and fun (connected to an object? totally awesome). Also, the aspect of the grandfather's silence is an interesting side story/aspect. However, again, read many better novels. Still, if you're a fan of ghost stories, go for it!

In Conclusion: It's really good and interesting, so why not?

Rating:

3/5 cameras

"Beyond" (a haunted review by Lexi)

Readers,

This creepy novel is awesome. It scares you enough to keep you going on, trying to figure out what the heck is happening. It's called Beyond, and was written by Graham McNamee.

Summary: "Jane is not your typical teen. She and her best friend Lexi call themselves the Creep Sisters. Only Lexi knows why Jane is different from anyone else: Her own shadow seems to pull her into near-fatal accidents. Jane is determined to find out why these terrifying things happen, and to overcome her shadow enemy. Her sleuthing with Lexi connects her own horrors to the secret history of a serial killer." (Oh, Goodreads, what would I do without your wonderfulness?)

This novel was super interesting, and picked up fast. However, there was a drag to it in the middle, and you kinda want it to go faster, to learn more earlier.

In Conclusion: It's a quick read, so why not?

Rating:

3/5 stars

"Amber House" & Busy Life (a sprawling Lexi review)

Readers,

Hey, loves! I had to be gone to take care of emergent matters. However, now everything is good, so let's make up for that sucky-ness with an awesome book review, shall we?

Okay, so this next book is Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, and Larkin Reed. (A lot of authors, ay?) Look at this absolutely gorgeous cover!!!

Summary: "'I was sixteen the first time my grandmother died . . .'

Sarah Parsons has never seen Amber House, the grand Maryland estate that's been in her family for three centuries. She's never walked its hedge maze nor found its secret chambers; she's never glimpsed the shades that haunt it, nor hunted for lost diamonds in its walls.But all of that is about to change. After her grandmother passes away, Sarah and her friend Jackson decide to search for the diamonds--and the house comes alive. She discovers that she can see visions of the house's past, like the eighteenth-century sea captain who hid the jewels, or the glamorous great-grandmother driven mad by grief. She grows closer to both Jackson and a young man named Richard Hathaway, whose family histories are each deeply entwined with her own. But when the visions start to threaten the person she holds most dear, Sarah must do everything she can to get to the bottom of the house's secrets, and stop the course of history before it is cemented forever."
(Thank you yet again, Goodreads!)

Maybe it's the three-author thing, or maybe it's my love of books that can take me to another time and place. Maybe it's because I'm close to my little brother and can still decode what he's saying (he speaks Lexi, lol). I dunno. But the book is amazing.

The historical parts of this novel are quite wonderful. Maybe one author created just the house itself. Maybe another took on the characters. Maybe that's why everything is so beautifully and wonderfully detailed and developed. You'll get caught up in this great story plot, the beautiful house that serves as amazing scenery, and the characters that make this tale shine. This is a fun story. It even has a ball!

This reminds me of a beautiful mansion in the South, you know? And I love the love and drama that the South always evokes. (I'm not talking about any kind of hatred towards anybody, cuz that just breaks my heart.) There's this romanticism that makes me think of a Willow tree in front of a sprawling house, tons of history, and then ghosts from the past. Might just be me, lol. But this story evokes the same kind of feeling with all of the history and everything.

Even if you're not into things like that, you should read this novel. It has so many twists and turns in it! And then you get blown away by the entire book, especially the ending!

In Conclusion: READ. THIS. BOOK.


Rating:


5/5  mazes

"Magic Under Glass" (A Fairy-filled Review by Lexi)

Readers,

For some reason, I'm feeling quite sickly today, so this is going to be a quick-y review.

Today's book is Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore! I got it at Half Price Books, and must write thank you to my mom for not only letting me go in, but paying for my four new books! It was a sweet blessing and gesture, and I truly appreciate it.

Now on to the review!

Summary (from Goodreads): "Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl forced to dance for pennies. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing with a piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new and better life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets are beginning to stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumors swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry's involvement with a league of sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. Then Nimira discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman named Erris is trapped inside the clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. The two fall into a love that seems hopeless, and breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril."

This novel was sooooooo good! It kept me on my toes, and then developed like a child's fairy tale (but a bit creepier). All the mysteries, magic, and beauty just were phenomenal. I loved how it seemed so very realistic of a story! The characters, mannerisms, speech, and world all seemed completely possible, and you get yanked into the world that Namira is in. Then, you just don't want to leave it.

In the technicalities, like world building and character development and such, everything was spot on. The only thing is that you shouldn't attempt to read this novel in one night. You should let yourself absorb, enjoy, and ponder over all of the details and happenings, letting the story go into your brain and soul. It just has too many fun and interesting details and happenings for one to just gloss over the story without letting it into your heart and head. It is never ever boring though, and is very fast-paced with a great cast of characters, without provoking confusion. Perfection, in my opinion.

In Conclusion: If you loved fairy tale movies growing up (especially Disney), and you also have respect for the classics (whether you've read them or not), you will love this novel. Be sure to let yourself truly just experience the story, and you will love it!!!


Rating:

5/5 piano keys



Love,

Lexi

"The Name of a Star" (a dashing Lexi review)

To our amazing and awesome readers,

Hello, again! It's been soooo long.

Okay, so I read an awesome book and thought today (Friday) was Thursday, so now I'm postponing this until Saturday. Then, you'll have a fun bunch of randomness on Sunday!

So this novel is The Name of a Star by Maureen Johnson, and it's the first book of "The Shades of London" trilogy. The first two are out, and the third will be coming in 2014. If you can't deal with a bit of blood and such, please do not read, as this novel mentions murder and Jack the Ripper and such.

First, look at this cover!!! Actually, there have been three, so I'll let you see them all!!!

  

All so pretty, huh? Okay, so read the summary before I decide to flip out and babble on about how flipping awesome this novel is!!!

Summary: "The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. 

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man...  And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target?" (YAY FOR GOODREADS!!! YAAAAAAY!!!!!)

So right off the bat, I love the main character. She sounds like me and my inner thought process. The author honestly portrayed the characters as they would really speak. She doesn't go for useless slang, but instead had the character just as somebody would today. I know that this novel involves murders and such, but please understand that there's plenty of humor! Humor that's done very well.

Then there are the rest of the characters, who were all well-rounded. You got a chance of experiencing and seeing each character's true colors and lives. Each character is unique and is shown (and a little told, of course) to be a very realistic person that you could meet on the street.

Every happening in the novel seem so realistic. From going away to school in London to the Ripper coming back, there was not one ounce of fake; I could picture it all. Johnson totally took my mind into the novel, the story, the settings, that I absolutely saw it all as real. The plot is wonderful, and very unique. I loved the idea of Jack the Ripper coming back, and if anybody other than Maureen Johnson wrote it, it would not have been this amazing and flawless.

Little Bit of Dialogue from the Novel:

"You told him I have period fever," I replied. "There's no such thing as period fever."
...
"No, there is really no such thing as period fever. There's a difference between being a guy and being an idiot."


In Conclusion: Unless you can't stand any amount of gore, read this. Heck, if you do, skip the gore and go for it! This is one of my favorite novels now, and I'm so glad that I chose to read this novel next! It's going to be difficult to find a read as great as this to read next.

Rating:



7/5 Heart Cutters (Get it!?! Cutters??? Like the Ripper!!! Bahaha!)



Till Tomorrow (Sunday),

Lexi, she who is braving the storm