Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Goodreads Synopsis
Joy Delamere is suffocating...

From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.

Joy can take his words—tender words, cruel words—until the night they go too far.

Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe... if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.

Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.

By Holly Cupala
Paperback, 299 pages

Published January 3rd 2012 by HarperTeen

4.5 out of 5 stars

Genre: YA Contemporary

What I really wanted was not to be a burden to anyone. To be really and truly free.

Don't Breathe a Word was an incredibly touching and captivating read. It's one of those books that leaves me wondering and thinking long after I've finished it.

We have Joy Delamere, a girl who suffers from severe asthma and is in an unstable relationship with her boyfriend, Asher. She feels her family and Asher are suffocating her, not allowing her the freedom she wishes she could have in life. So, after a night in which Asher went too far in damaging Joy, she escapes into the streets of Seattle, where a homeless boy had offered her protection would she ever need it. She sets out to find him, hoping she could be saved from the suffocating life she had been living.

This book was such a breath of fresh air. It's raw and real, and the issues and problems explored in this book were dealt in a tender manner. Joy learns that living on the street isn't as freeing as she thought it would be. She suffers from drug dealers, rapists, thieves, and abusers. She lives in a ratty old shack, with the boy, Creed, and his gang, May and Santos. Together, they pitch in to bring in money somehow, bring in food from the garbage, protect each other from the street thugs out there. Their world is truly heartbreaking. Each teenager is running away from something, each with their own morbid history. We learn slowly why each one escaped their other lives and how they ended up homeless in the streets of Seattle. I loved Creed! He was protective (not overbearingly, though!), caring, understanding, determined. He had a dream to become a musician, and Joy was there to encourage him forward. I thought they were a perfectly complemented pairing. 

Holly Cupala really wove this story into a beautiful one, and I was able to connect with Joy on some levels, in her pain and her imprisonment she feels. My only problem was that in the beginning, Joy appears to be a girl who doesn't know how to stand up for herself. She depends on other people to help her--like Asher, then later on Creed. But I got to watch her develop into a fierce and brave girl throughout the book, and I admired the strength she has towards the end.

So, overall, I loved it. Joy's voice was real, honest, and Holly Cupala doesn't sugarcoat the horrors of run-away life. I'll definitely be looking into her other books as well!

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

Goodreads Synopsis

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy.

By Cate Tiernan

Hardcover, 407 pages

Published September 7th 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

5 out 5 stars
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal

Wow! This was definitely a great and compelling read with a great main character who I instantly loved.

Nastasya is an immortal. She's been alive for about 450 years now, and her whole life she's been living a reckless and meaningless life. She's been a 'party-girl' for as long as she remembers, and she's always thought it was the way to live. Then one day, her best friend, Incy, another immortal, tortures a human with dark magic, causing Nastasya to question the way her life is heading and what she might become if she continues down the same road. So, she sets out to River's Edge in hopes of beginning a new life. There she meets a bunch of other immortals who are also trying to begin anew, and hope to become good immortals--Tahti. While at River's Edge, Nastasya assimilates to a complete different lifestyle from her previous years, in which she has to do chores--cooking, cleaning, picking eggs, and other chores she hates. She also gets a minimum paying job, which is unbelievable for her since she's never had a job in her whole life--at least, not like this.

There's so much more to the story than that, though. Nastasya is running away from her past, a past so terrible and frightening, Nastasya avoids thinking about it all the time. She has secrets and nightmares she doesn't share. She has darkness within her she doesn't want to admit to. I connected with her on so many levels. She has such a witty and sarcastic attitude--being inside her head is so much fun. She makes awkward situations light, teases other people for their faults. It's obvious she's spoiled and likes things to be fun and exciting, rather than dull and boring. So, coming to River's Edge is so unlike her character that at first she isn't intent on staying at all. But the people there, the atmosphere she finds herself in, makes her view her life in a new manner, and finally she actually feels like she's <i>doing</i> something. I loved all the characters in this book, even the mean ones. River, the immortal who takes in Nastasya, is patient and kind. She's a wonderful mother like figure for Nastasya. There's Brynne, Solis, and Charles among others who befriend Nastasya and teach her things she hadn't known before. She learns more about the history of Immortals and what they're capable of. And I can't forget about Reyn! She refers to him as the 'Viking God' and also very often, "Odis", because of his incredibly good looks. There is seriously so much tension between these two--I just wanted them to kiss already! She finds him insufferable though, and knows there's more to him than meets the eye. He ends up playing a large part in Nastasya's life, both past and present. He's almost a catalyst for Nastasya's new lifestyle where she faces the darkness within her, and learns to confront the past she's been running away from in the past 440 years. It's such a long and tough journey for her, but she never falters or backs down. Even with that tiny voice in her head giving her doubts, there's always a bigger part of her that wanted to keep going, to find the place she's been looking for her whole life. I loved how the author makes us realize that even though Nastasya is old, like really old, she's still a teenager at heart, still confused about the person she is, and the person she's meant to become.

Immortal Beloved doesn't have any action-packed scenes or drama-worthy fighting. This is simply a story about a girl who goes on a journey in hopes of finding the right path, while escaping the evil that she seems to have gotten caught up in recently. She recognizes the darkness in immortals and is determined to not let it conquer her. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in this book, many including Nastasya's cranky boss, Old Macintyre, and, of course, Reyn. There's also a side-plot regarding someone who wants Nastasya dead. I loved the immortal history, their background. I want to learn more about them, and I want to see some more of Nastasya and Reyn--hopefully their relationship will be more prominent in the next book. We're also given insight into Nastasya'a history, and I'm definitely interested in learning more about her magick powers. This was a great story, great first book, and I'm eagerly ready for the next one! There is still unanswered questions lingering, and characters left out. It seems they'll be more focused in the next book.

This song reminded me of Nastasya's story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZUZjhX2qU&feature=related

Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould

Goodreads Synopsis:
Venice, 1585.

When 16-year-old Laura della Scala learns that her older sister, Beatrice, has drowned, she is given no time to grieve. Instead, Laura's father removes her from the convent where he forcibly sent her years earlier and orders her to marry Beatrice's fiancé, a repulsive old merchant named Vincenzo. Panicked, Laura betrays a powerful man to earn her way into the Segreta, a shadowy society of women who deal in only one currency—secrets. The Segreta seems like the answer to Laura's prayers. The day after she joins their ranks, Vincenzo is publicly humiliated and conveniently exiled. Soon, however, Laura begins to suspect that her sister's death was not a tragic accident but a cold-blooded murder—one that might involve the Segreta and the women she has come to trust.

By Sasha Gould

Hardcover, 262 pages

Published March 13th 2012 by Random House Children's Books

4 out of 5 stars
Genre: YA Historical Mystery

Mystery, intrigue, secrets -- Cross My Heart was a surprisingly pleasant read.




Cross My Heart takes place in the town of Venice in 1585. Sasha Gould does a great job of setting up the atmosphere for the book in a delicate and exquisite prose. I was immersed in this world, and I loved the aristocratic parties, the carriages, the gondoliers, the palazzos--it created a vivid image in my head, and I was able to admire Venetian Society while reading. The main character, Laura della Scala has just been released from a Convent she's been in for six years because her father wishes her to return. Laura is expecting to come home to her sister and a real life, but ends up discovering her sister is dead, and Laura is now to marry her sister's fiance--an old and revolting man. She then joins a secretive society of women, the Segreta. In exchange for a secret, Laura is given a reprieve from her arranged marriage. But as she gets more entangled with the Segreta and learns that her sister's death was in fact a murder, Laura becomes suspicious of the secretive society and everyone around her.

The mystery in this book was definitely my favorite part. It's a guessing game, and Laura has plenty of suspects/clue to work with. Apart from the mystery, though, there were plenty of other plots going on in the book. We have a (secretive) romance with the doge's painter. There is another death of Laura's acquaintances that mysteriously occurred. The doge--who is the most powerful man in Venice-- has a longstanding feud with the de Ferrera's family. There's plenty of secrets about various people in the town, secrets that threaten to destroy lives and reveal lies. Laura is also dealing with her father, who is only concerned about the family's reputation and social standing. He is pressuring her to find a suitable and well-respected man to hurry up and marry. As a former nun, Laura deals with all this in a careful, but at times impulsive, manner. She is eager to experience the life she had missed out on, but at the same time is wary of what is out there, because obviously her sister was in some kind of danger somehow. She stands up to her father when she should. She's quick-minded at the right times, and acts as expected throughout the book. Her relationship with the painter, Giacomo, offers a few surprises later on, but was sweet and cute and grows at a moderate pace as the book progresses.

Because there was so many plots/side-plots going on, I felt that each one wasn't fleshed out as fully it could have been. There was a lot of unanswered questions at the end, lots of loose threads left untied. So, I'm guessing there might be a sequel. I didn't understand why the Segreta existed, or what even they exactly did. I did find them intriguing and neat, but their purpose wasn't as clear as I wanted it to be. The murder is resolved, but I was still confused as to what exactly snapped the murderer to be so vicious and cruel. The doge's secret is also left undeveloped, as well as Laura's consequences in the matter. If some of these plots had been given more attention, I would have given it more stars, but because the story seemed inconsistent and random, it's a solid four stars.

Regardless of the various plots going on, I enjoyed the book as a whole. It's well paced, with enough surprises and twists to keep me interested. I liked the characters, loved the atmosphere, enjoyed the mystery. It's a rich and vivid read, and if you enjoy quick, historical reads, this is a book for you.

"No -- we're looking for something more precious and more powrful than coins or jewels."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Why," she says, drawing out the word, "we want a secret."

Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié

Goodreads Synopsis
The authors of the "New York Times"-bestselling Wicked series deliver the first in a new trilogy--a darkly adventurous spin-off featuring vampires and those who hunt them.

By Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié

Hardcover, 470 pages

Published September 7th 2010 by Simon Pulse

3 out of 5 stars
Genre: YA Paranormal/ Fantasy

I had really hoped to like Crusade, but it ended up falling flat for me in the end.
In Crusade, vampires, or Cursed Ones, as they're called, have taken over the world. Small groups of hunters have come together in hopes of defeating them. Jen comes from Los Angeles where the vampires have practically infiltrated everyone her world, tricking the people she knows to be on their side. Even Jen's own father sides with the vampires, believing Jen's hostility towards them is wrong. So, Jen decides to go to Spain to train to become a hunter. There, she and five others form a group of hunters, called Team Salamanca. Each hunter comes from different parts of the world with different backgrounds, so they're not exactly a cooperative team. There's a Wiccan white witch, Sky; a witty but lonely Danish werewolf, Holgar; hot-tempered and hostile, Jamie; the Hunter and supposed leader from Japan, Eriko; a seriously religious vampire Antonio, and finally Jen. Together, they try to eradicate vampires, but really most of them don't even get along. They have trust issues. They argue a lot. They don't agree on many things, and so on. It was kind of hard to envision them as a team with all this going on. So, Crusade pretty much follows Team Salamanca when they decide to try and save Jen's sister, Heather, after she's been caught by a powerful vampire.

I really loved the premise of the storyline. Vampire taking over? I always love it when some kind of supernatural force tries to take over the world--those stories always capture my interest. But the characters in Crusade is what made me kind of disappointed in this book. Most of them infuriated me, and I couldn't relate or agree with their actions and thoughts. Crusade is told from practically all the characters' point of views. I stopped counting after seven.  I don't mind having multiple point of views; it's always interesting to see the story from another character's eyes, but here we were simply given background stories and I felt like they were added to make us feel sympathetic with each character, to give us a reason for their behavior and role in the book. I could have easily related with the characters from Jenn or Antonio's point of view if it were written that way.

Team Salamanca was a weird group. Jamie was a hothead. I didn't like his temper tantrums, his quick hatred toward Antonio and Holgar, his negative view on the world. I might have felt sorry for him if he wasn't so judgmental of everything. Eriko, the former Japanese schoolgirl, was assigned to be the Hunter. She was given an elixir to give her special strength, but she's so unsure of herself, and always questioning herself that it got annoying towards the end. Skye...well, I don't know. She hides a secret that puts everyone else in danger. She just seemed empty to me. Holgar, the werewolf was probably the only one I liked. He was almost charming, but not too cocky. He's easygoing, and I definitely was able to understand why he felt like he had to watch his back at all times with his hunters. Then there's Jen and Antonio, the star crossed couple of the book. Before Antonio became a vampire, he wanted to become a Priest. So, his relationship with Jen was bizarre. All the time, he's thinking of wanting to be with her, but then pushes it away by reminding himself of his calling. I understand that he's religious and devoted, and I liked that about him, but he mentions it everytime we're in his head. It became repetitive and unnecessary. Jen has self-esteem issues. She doesn't believe in herself, even though she's obviously good enough to have been chosen to be in Team Salamanca. I was hoping to see some bravery and kicking-ass from her, but she's helpless and weak whenever Antonio is with her, and denies any remark that she's "special", as Father Juan keeps telling her. The only time she showed any bravery and independence was when she had been in LA by herself with her father. I liked her at that moment, but she becomes blubbery when Antonio shows up again. I also found her and Antonio's romance to be seriously lacking passion or chemistry. They seemed to be so in love with each other, but they had doubts about their the other one and their relationship. Again, this was repetitive and could have been avoided if they trusted each other. We also have Heather, Jen's sister. Heather was a character with no spine. I tried to relate with her, but couldn't. There's also Father Juan, the one who chose the hunters for Team Salamanca. He's a nice man, supportive of his team. But he was very cryptic and I wasn't in the mood for those cryptic remarks.

I might try the next book. I might not. Crusade frustrated me. I liked the concept, but it just didn't engage me as I had expected it to.