Audio Review – Page 18

City Of Bones by Cassandra Claire

Published on May 26, 2012May 26, 2012 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Nothing like a little clubbing in New York to change your forever.

Fifteen year old Clary was thrilled to get an evening at the happening club Pandemonium, hanging out with her best friend Simon. Dancing and a good time was definitely on the agenda… witnessing a murder was not. Yet Clary is unnerved when she witnesses three teenage boys commit a murder that no one seems to notice but her, and then the body disappears into the air without leaving behind even a trace of a struggle.

Into the air!

Shortly there after Clary takes a call from her mom telling her not to come home but to go anywhere else and then she hears her mom being attached. By the time she does arrive at the house it is ransacked and her mom is nowhere to be found.

Welcome to the world of the Shadowhunters, a group of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. When a Shadowhunter close to her own age named Jace comes to her rescue, things become interesting. Clary is introduced to a while new world she never knew existed…. one of fighting for justice, and filled with weapons… and apparently, good looking guys.

As Jace, as well as his close friends Alex and Isabelle, come to help Clary find out what happened to her mom, they all discover that Clary’s meet up with the Shadowhunters was less of a coincidence than one may think. Clary is connected to these people more than anyone had realized…

and that puts her in a dangerous position.

I believe there are 5 books out now of the 6 book series

Uber embarrassing confession. My good friend Amy gushed about this book years ago. She gushed so much I did what I usually do, I went out and bought the book. Then I did something else I usually do too…. I shelved it for a later day. Well… although it caught my eye through the years, I never pulled it off the shelf, then as more and more books came out in this series (5 now I believe…) I didn’t know if I wanted the commitment of a long running series.

A couple weeks ago when I needed a new book download for my IPOD I was excited to stumble through a list that had City Of Bones on it. Knowing I had a much greater chance of getting to this read on audio, I downloaded it.

City of Bones was pretty much what I expected, an interesting paranormal YA genre of these Shadowhunters who fight demons among us every day human types who really don’t have a clue of what is going on around us. The Shadowhunters use something they call “glitter” that makes us everyday humans not be able to see them as they truly are, but instead they blend right into wherever they are: an elderly gentleman making his way down a hospital corridor, a businessman walking hurriedly through the streets of New York… if you were wondering how Clary seen them… well, that I can’t give away.

While I found City of Bones to be interesting and well written, I don’t see myself diving into the rest of the series. It was good, but didnt hook me to the point I need to go and get the second book right now! (I don’t quite want to dig out the Spoiler page for this one but did anyone else get a Harry Potter vibe on this one? They are looking for the Mortal Cup…. there is a bad guy trying to get to the cup first named…. ~~Voldermort,~~ I mean named Valentine.)

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

Audible.com

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

Published on October 27, 2011October 27, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

After Airline Pilot Chip Linton’s emergency landing in Lake Champlain resulted in the death of most of his passengers on his small plane, Chip moved his wife Emily and their ten-year old twin daughters to a remote Victorian home in Northern New Hampshire.

The plan was for Chip and his family to start fresh after the accident, but Chip is haunted by the memories of the crash, as well as it seems he is haunted by passengers that died on that fateful flight. While Chip is battling the inner demons of the 39 lost people on his flight, a long ago sealed door is found in the basement of their home with 39 six-inch long carriage bolts.

39…

While Chip makes a frightening discovery behind the bolted door… his wife Emily finds herself drawn to a group of herbalists in the area who seem to have taken an obsessive interest in her twin daughters. Torn between the strange behavior her husband is now producing as he spends more and more time in the basement, and the odd women herbalists giving her children new names… Emily is left struggling to maintain her family when all she really wants to do is pack up and get far away from this strange place.

It’s hard to believe now that in my early 20’s horror/thrillers were my favorite genre. Then, I read everything that Stephen King and Dean Koontz put out there. As years went on, I went away from King, still enjoy a good Koontz, but have really moved on to a tamer, Harlan Coben for my fix. However, occasionally I have a craving (much like I do for 80’s music), where I want to dab a bit into the spooky genre, hoping to bring back the old thrills I used to get reading them.

This fact, along with my desire to read something by Chris Bohjalian, brought me to Night Strangers. For this time of year, if just felt like it could be spooky good.

So… is it?

Well no doubt about it that Night Strangers will make you hear every bump in the night. Putting anything in the basement is pretty spooky for me and that is barely touching the hair-raising happenings of Chris Bohjalian’s tale of the paranormal.

I definitely got what I was craving and then some… I tend to lean more towards the good old spooky ghost stories than the modern paranormal horror so at times there was a bit of “WHOA!” For the most part… I would call this book a ghost story with a triple energy drink kick. After all what s not to love about a book where not all your characters are living? 😯

If you are looking for a little spooky in your pre-Halloween week, look no further for great writing that will definitely make the hair on your neck tingle and have you checking the basement door.

Twice.

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include Night Strangers

I purchased this audio from audible.com

After by Amy Efaw (audio review and giveaway)

Published on August 23, 2011August 23, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)38 Comments

How could this happen? Who would do such a thing? These are the questions that surround the new-born baby that was found tied in a trash bag in the dumpster.

This certainly could not be Devon Davenport, a straight A student, exceptional athlete, and girl with a plan. Yet, when the police find Devon she is bleeding heavily, and when rushed to the emergency room it is confirmed that she has just given birth. Soon Devon finds her self thrown into a Juvenal criminal facility and being charged with attempted murder. As police and lawyers talk to her, tell her she must tell the truth… Devon has to admit that she doesn’t remember what happened.

Is Devon in fact dealing with such trauma that she truly can not recall what happened… or is this just a brilliant ploy to get off the hook…

I listened to this audio because I had heard raves about the book. The subject matter interested me…. a baby left in a dumpster…. a teen so distraught, she does not even realize for most of the book that the baby is hers.

I know many people loved this book, but I have to say I was not one of them. As well written as this book was, it didn’t hold true for me. I could not believe that a girl like Devin, described as a straight “A” student, obviously intelligent, and strong-minded – had no idea she was pregnant. I know that the power of the mind can be strong, but the physical changes to her body…

And if that is worth arguing about by those who loved the book, and feel that it is possible to put yourself into such a state of denial…. then I will add this…

The fact that Devin refers to the baby throughout the whole book as “it”….. drove me nuts!

Maybe it was the audio version but Devin just was not engaged in what she had done, even as she began to remember she still did not seem to connect that the baby was a human life…. I don’t know… I am still a little frustrated about it.

I enjoyed the part with Devin in the correctional institute. I liked the correspondence between the girls, this is where the book excels. Amy Efaw really captures the things that the girls are dealing with and how they defend themselves from society. Its sad, really.

I think that in the end, no matter what Devin’s circumstances (I wont even go into my thoughts about the mother) were a major concern and the audio made me angry more than anything. The ending is all a little too neat…. and as the final words were said… I was left with a feeling of “huh?”

If you would like to give this audio a try – leave a comment here letting me know… I will have a drawing later this week … and offer it up to someone.

The 2011 Where Are You Reading Map has been updated to include After

I purchased this audio from Amazon

First Drop Of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

Published on July 22, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

Denise MacGregor knows all to well about the things that go bump in the night. Her husband has been killed by a demon. So have several of her other relatives as the demon is in search of one man… and he is using Denise as bait.

Denise in a frenzy wonders who she can turn too. She makes a call to her best friend Cat who is half vampire, half human, but instead of Cat, it is Spade who answers her call for help. Spade is a not too painful on the eyes vampire. He is kind and generous and agrees to help Denise with hardly any questions asked.

Yet Denise is unsure what her dept to Spade may become. He has paid for people to get out of her way. He has protected her… and he has discovered that her blood has been possessed by the demon making it as hard to refuse as a drug to other vampires. As Spade works to hide the truth about Denise’s blood… he also works to control himself around this grieving girl who makes his once beating heart… feel alive again.

1ea — Ok... this really has nothing to do with anything except that this is Timothy Hutton and I think the dude in the cover shot looks like him. 🙂

O.K.

I listened to this on audio.

Note: I am more willing to stretch my genre tastes with audio…. 1. because I can listen to an audio that is not always captivating much longer that I can tolerate a book that does not grab me and 2. I thirst (ha ha… vampire humor!) for good audio

So yeah, First Drop Of Crimson is more than likely a book I would have never picked up. Just not my thing… even the cover is not to my tastes. HOWEVER, this one of the audio offered at the Blackstone Audio booth at BEA this year and I wanted to give it a try.

I can’t say I disliked the audio. It was interesting. I found it to be a cross between the Sookie Stackhouse series (which annoyed me to no end) and the Twilight series, which I enjoyed. The “Twilight” side of this audio saved it. Denise reminded me a little too much of Sookie, mainly the narrator’s voice gave off a simpleton southern twang that had me thinking… oh no… it can’t be…. Sookie reincarnated… BUT as the read went on, I discovered that Denise was smarter than Sookie. Not always… but occasionally.

There are some pretty steamy and graphic sex scenes in this audio – fair warning for young readers. It was a little too hot for me, and that’s not saying much as I do not like that in books anyway.

I did not learn until after I finished this read that this series – while being book one, is actually a spin-off from another series of Jeaniene Frost, and the characters in this audio, have already been developed well in another series – which is great for those who have read the series, but for a newcomer like me… confusing. Knowing this now explains a lot about the beginning of the book when cat is mentioned but does not actually show up until the middle and Spade seems to have a familiarity with Denise prior to this book.

I will not continue on with this series, it is not what I am drawn too, however I do think many YA readers will enjoy this and find it fits in well with the paranormal reads that are in huge demand today.

Goodreads review

I have updated the 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map to include First drop Of Crimson

I picked up this audio at the Blackstone Audio booth at BEA

Rococo by Adriana Trigiani

Published on June 7, 2011June 7, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Rococo: also referred to as “Late Baroque” is an 18th century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings. It was largely supplanted by the Neoclassic style. In 1835 the Dictionary of the French Academy stated that the word Rococo “usually covers the kind of ornament, style and design associated with Louis XV’s reign and the beginning of that of Louis XVI”. It includes therefore, all types of art produced around the middle of the 18th century in France.

~ Thank you Wikpedia

Bartolomeo di Crespi, “B” has a dream. He has always wanted to get his interior decorating hands on his church, Our Lady Of Fatima. Seriously…. this church could do with a make over and B has just the plan. When the opportunity arises renovate the church, B is beside himself with joy and that is really where the fun begins!

B soon learns that his “one man plan” is not going to work as there is no “I” in Team. And as if working with other artistic types isn’t hard enough, he also is dealing with his large Italian family and loads of drama… his sister Toot is desperate need of a post divorce make over of her own and relies heavily on her brother, Capri the daughter of the richest woman in New Jersey was long ago told she would marry B, and as much as B loves her…. he doesn’t love her in that way, Father Porporino does his best to keep his flock scandal free (even as we slowly uncover one of his own), Eydie the international designer is stepping to close into B’s dream for the church, and B’s cousin Christina is drowning in a grief that consumes all who come near…

What this adds up to is a funny adventure with delightful characters centered around a family that still sticks together no matter what, a church that is the center of them all, and B the artist who would love to just do his job and avoid all the rest but has too much a sense of family to shut them out.

Adriana with friend and comedian, Mario Cantone

There is no secret that I adore Adriana Trigiani. She is an amazing woman, writer, and author. I have been lucky enough to spend time with her and this is where I stumbled on to this treasure of audio. Adriana is an amazing story-teller…. not only in her books, but in everyday life. Recently at a lunch in New York, Adriana shared stories about her books and about her good friend Mario recording Rococo. (You may recognize Mario from the Sex In The City movie).

When I left that luncheon I knew I had to find Rococo (which I had never read) and I had to find it in audio with Mario narrating. I did find it on audible.com and anxiously awaited for my current audio to end so I could give this one a try.

If you are talking awesome narrators – Mario Cantone hit the spot. This audio was amazing to listen to! I laughed through much of it, delighted in all the Italian characters who were loud and opinionated and lovable. Honestly – Adriana did it again.

What I love about the books I have read of Adriana’s is the family. I am not sure if all her books are like this, but the ones I have had the privilege to experience are centered around family that cares about one another. I come from a small family that is not all that close and reading or listening to such family is an experience for me. I bask in what that would be like – big meals, family gatherings, opening your home and your heart when there is a need….

This audio is truly a treasure. If you have a chance to listen to this one, I encourage you to do so. Mario reads with such a passion and while it is a fun listen, there is also a great story line and in the end… I was emotionally choked up, already missing characters who had now become family in my mind.

I have updated the 2011 WHERE ARE YOU READING map to include Rococo

I purchased this audio from audible.com

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (book and movie)

Published on April 27, 2011April 27, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Criminal defense attorney Michael Haller is cool, cocky, quick-witted, and takes his clients wallets to the cleaners while defending them, yet with his over bearing confidence (and a few tricks up his sleeve) the repeat offenders come back to him time and again. Michael’s father was a legend in law and left Michael with this advice:

“The scariest client a lawyer will ever have is an innocent client. Because if you screw up and he goes to prison, it’ll scar you for life.”

When rich kid Louis Roulet requests Michael as his lawyer, Michael is thrilled as this is going to add significantly to his bank roll. All he has to do is get Louis off and Louis seems to be a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, an innocent guy. Yet as the holes get bigger and bigger in Louis’ story, Mickeys defense is ripped to shreds. As Michael tries to find a way to bury the proof, to bring in enough of a gray area to cause reasonable doubt, he starts to get a few reasonable doubts of his own.

I have not read Michael Connelly in quite a while. He writes like John Grisham but with more of an edge to his books…

AND in this case…. I went to the movie with hubby (his pick) LOVED the movie… had to read the book.

Good grief – that is the second time I have done this recently.

I have to say – this audio blew me away just as much as the movie and I have to add that Matthew McConaughey is a perfect Michael Haller. As I listened to the audio I thought, “this is so a McConaughley role”…. cocky self assured…. yup.

And author Michael Connelly (not to be confused with Michael Haller or Michael McConaughey – yes… a LOT OF Michael’s in this review) writes a compelling, clean and not gory mystery that left me high on the “WOW” factor. Well written characters, I loved the twists and the turns and recommend both book and movie.

Note about the movie: Ryan Phillippe plays the rich Louis Roulet and he is cast perfectly too…. he gives off an arrogant vibe and does creepy well.

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include Lincoln Lawyer

I grabbed this little jewel of an audio from my local library

Massacre At Mountain Meadows by Ronald Walker, Richard Turley Jr, Glen Leonard

Published on April 19, 2011April 19, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

When we hear the date of 9-11 or September 11th, we have memories of a horrific event in our history. What you may not know, is that this was not the first September 11th on record for being a horrific event.

On September 11, 1857, more than 120 men, women, and children who were traveling by wagon train from Arkansas to California were murdered by Mormon militiamen and Paiute Indians at Mountain Meadows in southern Utah (35 miles south-west of Cedar City).

At the time, the massacre lasted five days, ending on September 11th when John Lee entered the meadows with a white flag and convinced those of the wagon train to surrender peacefully. Once he escorted the men, women, and children out of the safety of their wagons, he gave a signal and they were attached by the militia and indians and killed. (*Note – John Lee was the only man tried, convicted, and executed for his role in the massacre).

Following the massacre the perpetrators hastily buried the victims, leaving their bodies vulnerable to wild animals and the climate. Local families took in the surviving children, and many of the victims’ possessions were auctioned off. Investigations, temporarily interrupted by the American Civil War, resulted in nine indictments during 1874. Of the men indicted, only John D. Lee was tried in a court of law. After two trials Lee was convicted and executed.

How could basically good people commit such an act?

Four of the nine Utah Territorial militiamen of the Tenth Regiment “Iron Brigade” who were indicted in 1874 for murder or conspiracy (Not shown: William H. Dame • William C. Stewart • Ellott Willden • Samuel Jukes • George Adair, Jr.)
		Image via Wikipedia
Isaac C. Haight—Battalion Commander—died 1886 Arizona	Maj. John H. Higbee, said to have shouted the command to begin the killings. He claimed that he reluctantly participated in the massacre and only to bury the dead who he thought were victims of an “Indian attack.”	Maj. John D. Lee, constable, judge, and Indian Agent. Having conspired in advance with his immediate commander, Isaac C. Haight, Lee led the initial assault, and falsely offered emigrants safe passage prior to their mile-long march to the field where they were ultimately massacred. He was the only participant convicted.	Philip Klingensmith, a Bishop in the church and a private in the militia. He participated in the killings, and later turned state’s evidence against his fellows, after leaving the church.

as found at wikepedia

I had never heard of this until I found this book in audio format at audible.com. I was interested in knowing more about this event in our history that I knew literally nothing about.

What I found within this ten and half hour audio was a lot of history prior to the massacre. While the audio starts with a graphic description of what was found at Mountain Meadows even years after the event, it quickly backtracks years before the event and perhaps covering what is believed to have caused the massacre to happen.

At the time, the massacre lasted five days, ending on September 11th when John Lee entered the meadows with a white flag and convinced those of the wagon train to surrender peacefully. Once he escorted the men, women, and children out of the safety of their wagons, he gave a signal and they were attached by the militia and indians and killed. (*Note – John Lee was the only man tried, convicted, and executed for his role in the massacre).

As I listened to this audio it seems so many things played a part in this tragedy. Politics, war hysteria, misinformation, misunderstandings, personal vendettas, and Mormons themselves were being heavily persecuted and attached in these times. Many had moved from state to state trying to stay alive.

All in all this is a heartbreaking, awful event, where so many people of all faith and all race suffered – even beyond the event itself. No one can possibly know all what drove what happened that day to happen. I appreciated that all three of the authors on this book are Mormon and told as accurate account of what happened that day as they could. Much research was done to tell this historic event. As hard as it is to listen to, I think it is an important part of our history and I am glad I took the time to learn about this.

Amazon Rating

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include Massacre at Mountain Meadows

I purchased this audio from audible.com

In September of 2007, 150 years after the massacre, this article was released in Ensign Magazine

A fictional movie called September Dawn is based loosely on the Massacre At Mountain Meadows

Open House by Elizabeth Berg

Published on April 17, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

Divorce is a series of internal earthquakes…. “one after the other”. Samantha ought to know. At the age of 42, Samantha’s husband Dave decides that he needs to move on leaving Samantha shocked. Sure they had their arguments, but didn’t everyone?

Finding herself left with a home, a mortgage, and their 11 year-old-son and learning in short time David has had no problem moving on not only to another woman, but also a cute apartment – AND the white couch that she had wanted for years but he told her was impractical…. “Sam” knows she has to pull it together.

When a decision is made to take in boarders to help with the house payment, a host of colorful characters come into play. And ultimately a decision that has a life long impact on Sam and those in her life.

There are many layers to Elizabeth Berg and I have enjoyed experiencing her many ways of writing characters who come to life on the pages of her books. Samantha was one of those characters I came to know and enjoy.

Samantha, “Sam” was not wishy-washy and I liked that. Although she grieved for the loss of her husband in her life, she did not lay down and die.. she seen what she needed to do and she did it. Samantha’s pain of losing David, and the emotions and decisions that followed felt real to me and I appreciated that Samantha was written as a strong female character, but was not too strong too hurt and to make poor decisions along the way to finding herself again.

Something about this particular Berg book appealed to me… I liked the way Samantha opened up the house to boarders and imagine that had to be both an important and hard thing to do as you let strangers into the home where you lived a marriage and raised a son. I laughed at times, and felt the tinge of pain at others as I can imagine Samantha did as well.

Perhaps this one notches it way up towards the top of the Elizabeth Berg books I have read, not taking hold of the number one position, but floating around the top there as a well written story on a topic that unfortunately many women know all too well.

I applaud Elizabeth Berg’s ability to take a character like Sam and build her into someone stronger than even she had realized. While not a perfect read, one that left me thinking long after the final page was turned.

Amazon Rating

The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include Open House

I listened to this book on audio, borrowed from my local library

The Art Of Mending by Elizabeth Berg

Published on February 19, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

Laura Baratone is a master with material. She can create masterpieces with her quilting skills. As she looks forward to her annual family reunion with her parents, her brother Steve, and her sister Caroline, the reunion turns out to be more than anyone bargained for.

When Caroline takes her brother and sister aside and tells them that she was abused by their mother as a child, a whole new door is open to the past – and to the future. As Laura tried to piece together all of this she wonders, if Caroline being over dramatic? She does have a flare for drama… or is there truth behind this accusation.

1aaaa — mending - the act of putting something in working order again

As I continue my way through Elizabeth Berg’s works I am continuously impressed with the diversity of her books. The Art Of Mending is indeed a book about mending. What does a family do when a tear in its very fabric of who they thought were is found to be frayed? How does one move on from something that seems to have happened so long ago yet exploring this history could change everything that you were.

Laura was the perfect main character for this read… she was the eldest sibling and the one that had it most together. Elizabeth Berg put much on this characters shoulders as Laura worked to separate the mother she knew and the memories she had of growing up to what was actual fact. As she sorts through her memories she starts to see things differently through these new eyes and what had appeared to be a saddened. melancholy of a sister she had in Caroline- turned out to be something much bigger.

I found the beginning of this read to drag out and take a while to get to the heart of the matter. One there, it sparked into a flame that held throughout the rest of the read. I felt much like Laura myself, trying to sort out what would eventually turn out to be truth or fiction.

A read that is on a very hard subject. Emotional abuse is every bit as damaging as physical abuse. Tearing away at a persons self-worth can damage them for life, and Elizabeth Berg sets an extraordinary example of that here when we have siblings now in their 50’s dealing with something that happened when they were between the ages of 3 -14.

Not my favorite of the Elizabeth Berg books that I have read but a worthy opponent.

Amazon Rating

The 2011 WHERE Are You reading Map has been updated to include The Art Of Mending

Rented this in audio format from my local library

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Published on February 18, 2011February 18, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

“Ok… so here’s the scoop. My name is Kelley, K -E -L -L -E -Y. Yes, I am a girl. Well… actually as it turns out I am more than that but hang on a second to that story line. I am 17 and have moved to New York to be on Broadway.

Seriously. Broadway. And for those of you giving me the eye roll and thinking yeah, that’s why everyone goes to New York, AND before you label me as an EPIC FAIL… know this….

I AM on Broadway. And thanks to the star of the show getting herself hurt, I am also the lead… well, anyway I hope I still am, ’cause let me just say things got über weird around here lately. Like I met this boy in Central Park, and yeah he seemed a bit different but not entirely unfortunate looking if you know what I mean.

And then – well, not sure how long I have to talk here but things really fast became really STRANGE and yeah that is with a capital ‘S’. For instance, I saved a horse from drowning, and it followed me home. It’s true! And then that boy? Turns out his name is Sonny and he keeps turning up everywhere I am, like totally stalker like, but really, I am not sure I mind…

And the last thing I can say before I go is that guess what? Turns out, I am seeing more mystical creatures than on the stage these days…. yup, and I even just learned…

Oh gotta go. Lay- tah!

So…… I listened to this on audio after picking it on from audible.com for their first in the series sale of audio less than $5. I thought this was a good price and a good time to try out a few series I have been curious about but wasn’t sure.

Wondrous Strange was one of those stories that is coming at you from two different directions. On one side you have this background mythical story of creatures and Fairy Kings (they seem to be quite the rage in YA these days!) and ancient porthole like gates that only open once a year in Central Park (of course – I knew that!) and guards of these gates to keep the baddies from entering the world. Then on the other side you have Kelley. She is carefree and fun, she has a high maintenance roommate and she just got the lead in the Broadway Play A Midsummer Night’s Dream and she is beyond thrilled.

Starting out – I much preferred Kelley’s story line as mythical creatures and gates and the narrator’s voice that took on an eerie bubbly tone that took some getting used to, was honestly for me – hard to follow.

Of course, as many stories tend to do, once you get in a little deeper and things start to mesh a bit…. I started to get it and the narrator didn’t seem to bother me as much, in fact towards the end when they added a few spooky sounds and laughter, I was rather impressed.

My overall thoughts are this book is a good Fantasy YA. The storyline was fun, and as a lot of the action takes place in Central Park in New York, I could picture many of the things mentioned. YA Fantasy lovers will gobble this book up and anxiously head into the rest of the trilogy….