Waiting On Wednesday

Welcome to Turning Pages!

This week, and the next to come are going to be extremely stressful, but after that (thank goodness!) it summer break, and I don't plan on doing anything but read! I just posted my review of The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, so please make sure to stop by and check it out!

This week I'm waiting for Rebel Heart, by Moira Young!

"The Tonton have been defeated. Lugh has been rescued. The heartstone has brought Saba and Jack together. Now, Saba and her family head west to meet him and start a new life. All should be well. But shadows of the dead are stalking Saba. And another kind of shadow is creeping over the dustlands. Then a messenger shows up. With news of Jack."


This is the second book in the Dust Lands series, I loved Blood Red Road! If you've read Blood Red Road or Rebel Heart, let me know what you think!!

Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars

Title: The Fault In Our Stars.
Author: John Green.
Series: No.
Format: Hardback.
Pages: 318.
Source: Library.
Publisher: Dutton Books.
Published Date: January 10, 2012.
Summary:

"Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind."

Cover:

Even though I like this cover, I wish it reflected the story more than it does.

My Thoughts:

Everyone has problems, and no one's life is perfect. Maybe financially, family or health wise, everyone has their own issues and difficulties. In The Fault In Our Stars, the main character Hazel has her own set of issues. At 12 she was told she had cancer in her lungs, Hazel was told she wasn't going to live much longer. Getting another chance at 14 the tumor in her lungs shrunk.

Besides spending her afternoons watching the newest episodes of America's Next Top Model, Hazel also attends a cancer support group for teens! Where she meets a cute friend of a friend named Gus, who himself, recently over came cancer, but sadly lost his leg in the battle.

Hazel and Gus waste no time becoming close, and already share some common interests; reading and poetry (not America's Top Model). Going on their own journey (literally across the world) and having the time of their lives', but things aren't like what they seem to Hazel. The world around Hazel does a 360, and her life changes completely.

I already knew The Fault In Our Stars was going to be extremely sad, but the ending wasn't anything like I expected! Not at all! One part that made me feel that way, was when Hazel described how the support group leader would read off a list, that had previous members who passed away from their disease, at the end of every session. That must be really upsetting, being in that support group, just hopping your name won't be on there anytime soon.

This is the first book from John Green that I've read, but I do plan on reading a few more, if you like any in particular please let me know!

Summers Coming, and These are the Books I Want to Read!

Welcome to Turning Pages!

Summer is just around the corner, for those of us who aren't already out of school (lucky!), and it's just about that time to start looking for books that are perfect and light reads that can easily be brought to the beach.

Here are a few that I plan to read (:

We'll Always Have Summer, by Jenny Han.

"It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever."

Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver.

"What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing."

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, by Morgan Matson.

"Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself."

Catching Jordan, by Miranda Kenneally.

"What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate."

Chain Reaction, by Simone Elkeles.

"Like his brothers, Luis Fuentes is a risk taker; whether he's scaling the Rocky Mountains or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis is always looking for the next thrill. Nikki Cruz lives her life by certain rules -, don't trust a boy who says "I love you", boys lie to get their own way and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Then she meets Luis at his brother Alex's wedding and suddenly she's tempted to break all her rules. Getting Nikki to give him a chance is Luis's biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by the head of the gang that nearly destroyed his brothers' lives. Will Luis's feelings for Nikki be enough to stop him from entering a dark and violent world that could prove to be the ultimate risk?"

Have you read any of these books yet? What do you plan on reading this summer?! Let me know!

What's Coming?

Paperback:

Dark Frost (Mythos Academy Series), by Jennifer Estep. 

Bloodlines (Bloodlines Series #1), by Richelle Mead. 

Darkness Before Dawn, by J. A. London. 

Destined , by P. C. Cast. 

Clockwork Prince, by Cassandra Clare. 

Bitterblue, by Kristin Cashore. 

Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society Series #2) , by Ally Carter. 

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments Series #5), by Cassandra Clare. 

Endure (Need Series #4), by Carrie Jones.

Hardback:

Keep Holding On, by Susane Colasanti. 

Dreamless, by Josephine Angelini.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Welcome to Turning Pages!!

Last night I was determined to finish two books that I've been reading for way to long now. It's not that they aren't interesting, but I've just been really busy with school and life, so I couldn't really find the time to read. But last night I had nothing to do, so I was extremely determined to finally finish these books and start something new!

And this is what I'm reading right now!

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle Mcquerry

"This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance. On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears."

Blogger of the Week

Welcome to Turning Pages, and to another "Blogger of the Week"!

If you aren't familiar with this somewhat new meme, here at Turning Pages, then don't be worried! You can simply press up top, on the "Blogger of the Week" tab and read all about it (:

This week's blogger is Kathe from Good Lit and Green Tea!

Kathe, can you tell us a little about yourself, and your blog, Good Lit and Green Tea? How did you come up with the name? Does it have a special meaning? 

Hi, Lisa! Well, I'm twenty years old, a Psychology major, and a Filipina. I've been blogging for roughly seven years, if I'm right, and book blogging for... three months? I'm really new at this! Good Lit and Green Tea originally wasn't a book blog, to be honest. It was just supposed to be my journal when I started reading classics. Then, well, I got sucked into the book blogging world and haven't gotten out since! Oh, and the bit about green tea? Basically, I'm not supposed to have coffee anymore—doctor's orders. I've been told to have tea. Green tea, specifically. Hence the title. ;) 

(I love green tea, but I don't think I could go a day without a good hot cup of coffee; unless of course it's a sunny day, then I'll reach for ice coffee)

 If you could change one thing about your blog, what would that thing be? 

Well, considering how I haven't been around for a long time, I haven't seen many things I don't like yet. I guess I should be more critical, huh? Haha! Regarding its appearance, maybe the layout or the font. I think it's too big! Perhaps more sidebars would be lovely, as well. Not, about the content... I'm having a bit of a problem with my weekly book haul because of the whole Story Siren fiasco, and that's causing me just a little stress, but I'll figure things out. I need that issue solved, and stat! Besides that, I'm happy. I really am. :)  


(I wish I could be satisfied, I always feel there's room for improvement)

What are your goals for blogging? 

Well, since I'm so new, I've reviewed very few books... so one of my goals is to get past 50 reviews this year. With internship and all my thesis work, I wonder if that's possible. I'll definitely do my best, though! Also, I really, really want to make new blogging friends who like reading and writing about books as much as I do. I have some I absolutely love, but the more, the merrier, right?

What got you into blogging about books? Have you always enjoyed reading? 

I've been reading since birth, pretty much. I was a bookworm throughout grade school and high school, and though uni sucked me dry for a long time, I think I'm back to reading, and for good! My blog, on the other hand, I started because of a classics challenge I had for myself: to read twenty classics in a year. I'm far behind, unfortunately, but I'll catch up! 

What do you enjoy doing besides reading and blogging? 

I've been a Human Resources intern since mid-April, and that's taken up most of my time recently. I hardly have time to do anything else! I still write prose for myself, articles for the publication for which I work, and occasional things that could be poetry but lack finesse. I spent around two years doing judo, too, and I miss that. I'll probably visit and train with my team when I'm not so busy! 


(My advisory teacher does judo, and he spends a lot of our class time showing us videos of his tournaments, I think it's pretty cool looking!) 

If you could disappear into any book, which would it be? Why? 

The problem with the books I read nowadays is that they're all dystopian, so of course I'm exposed to everything negative, right? Haha! Being Graced with a useful power in Kristin Cashore's Graceling world sounds tempting, though... especially if I were a lady at court as well. In Lienid! Oh, and of course living in an alternate reality London, like Jonathan Stroud used as the setting of The Bartimaeus Trilogy, would be amazing. I'd have to be a magician, though! 

Have any book changed your life? Changed the way you think? 

Well, every book adds to my understanding of life, so I can't mention any one book. The Book Thief, though. Oh my god. I laughed, I cried, my heart physically hurt... It was intense and it totally changed the way I review. I became so much harder on ratings after reading it. No other book I've read has gotten to me like that one. I wonder if I'll ever find a piece of historical fiction as good! 

Favorite fictional crush? 

Oooh. I'm pretty tough on protagonists and their love interests, so this is difficult! I'm torn between Max Vandenburg from The Book Thief and Po from Graceling by Kristin Cashore. On a lighter note, I also have a soft spot for Jem Carstairs from Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices Trilogy. :)


Thank you Kathe for stopping by and answering a few of our questions! 

What's Coming This Week

Paperback:

Frostbite (Vampire Academy Series #2), by Richelle Mead. 

Dark Kiss (Nightwatchers Series #1), by Michelle Rowen. 

The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney. 

Something Deadly this Way Comes (Madison Avery Series #3), by Kim Harrison. 

Undercurrent (Siren Trilogy Series #2), by Tricia Rayburn. 

A Need So Beautiful, by Suzanne Young.

Hardback:

The Enchantress (Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series #6), by Michael Scott. 

Taken by Storm (Raised by Wolves Series), by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. 

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles Series), by Kady Cross. 

Fated (Soul Seekers Series #1), by Alyson Noël. 

Alice on Board, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. 

Of Poseidon, by Anna Banks.

Book Review: The Last Echo

Title: The Last Echo.
Author: Kimberly Derting.
Series: Yes, #3.
Format: ARC.
Pages: 360.
Source: Author.
Publisher: HarperCollins.
Published Date: April 17, 2012.
Summary:

"Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye...."

Cover:

The covers of The Body Finder, and The Desires of the Dead are both really pretty! The cover of The Last Echo isn't any different, it's just as beautiful and enticing as the previous two covers! I love it! (I hope the next book is either green or orange!)

My Thoughts:

Kimberly Derting has been one of my favorite authors since I started Turning Pages, which is a little over a year ago. She is hilarious, and extremely nice! If she comes to signing near you, you need to go; Kimberly is so easy to talk to, and she's funny!

After reading The Body Finder and The Desires of the Dead, I had expectations shooting out of the roof for The Last Echo! But yet again Kimberly Derting hits it out of the park, with this new audition to her series.

The Last Echo continues on with the main character, Violet, or Vi for short. In The Desires of the Dead, the story leaves off with Vi joining a special police force, that with holds others with powers just as special as hers.

Working on a new case, Violet gets herself caught up into it once again. She was kidnapped by the man, her team has been looking for; who had taken and murdered various teenage girls, just like Vi. This time she's all on her own...and Vi does what she has to, to get out.

I love this series ever since The Body Finder hit the shelves; I can't wait to see how the next book goes, and how the series comes to an end! Kimberly Derting, if you're reading this, in the next book I would like to order some extra Jay on the side (;

Waiting On Wednesday!

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Summary:


"“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.” It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore. From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before."


Release Date: September 18, 2012.

Blogger of the Week!

Welcome to Turning Pages!

And to another Blogger of the Week! If you don't know what this meme is about, or if you would like to take part and be featured as Blogger of the Week, go here!

This week's blogger is.....Rose from her blog, Sucked Into Books!!!

Rose, can you tell us a little about yourself, and your blog, Sucked into Books? How did you come up with the name? Does it have a special meaning? 

Well im 15 I live in Illinois. I love to read YA Paranormal Romance. I also love to draw, and sing. My blog is mostly about Ya books, and reviews. I came up with the name when I came across a blog that had a similar name. I just changed it a bit to make it my own. To me it has a special meaning because I can’t live without books at all.

(I love singing, but too bad I'm horrible at it...)

If you could change one thing about your blog, what would that thing be?

 I wouldn’t change a thing. I love my blog.

(Not one thing?)

What are your goals for blogging? 

To try writing a review twice a week.

What do you enjoy doing besides reading and blogging?

I really like to draw and sing or dance on my wii.

(I love playing Mario Karts!)

Your all time favorite book?

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Favorite fictional crush? 

Daemon Black

Thank you so much for stopping by and answering a few questions for us Rose! Your blog sounds awesome!

If you are a book blogger, and would like to spread the word about your blog, by becoming Blogger of the Week, make sure to go here, and check out how to participate!

It's Monday What Are You Reading?

Welcome to Turning Pages!

This week I'm finishing off City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, but I'm also just starting the Darlings Are Forever by Melissa Kantor! I just finished reading The Darlings in Love, and couldn't put it down! I couldn't wait to pick up this book!

If you haven't read them, you need to!

 

"Jane, Victoria, and Natalya are the Darlings. Best friends forever. They have a shared motto: "May you always do what you're afraid of doing." When the friends begin freshman year at three different high schools in distant corners of New York City, they promise to live by their motto and stay as close as ever."

What are you reading?!

Book Haul

Hello, and welcome to Turning Pages!

Things are a bit stressful right now, with end of the year projections being assigned like crazy and AP testing. But I'm doing my best with keeping up with blogging and school work all at the same time. Right now, I'm taking a break from math homework to get in a few posts(:

Last week, I kind of went on a book shopping spree! Last month, I borrowed a lot of books from the library, so I didn't really buy many, but this week I might have gone a little crazy! I bought a total of EIGHT books!

So without further a do!

Chime, by Franny Billingsley.

"Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment. Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know."

Crave, by Melissa Darnell.

"Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail. For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences…."

The Space Between, by Brenna Yovanoff.

"Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped—and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie’s whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way."

Drought by Pam Bachorz.

"Ruby Prosser dreams of escaping the Congregation and the early-nineteenth century lifestyle that’s been practiced since the community was first enslaved. She plots to escape the vicious Darwin West, his cruel Overseers, and the daily struggle to gather the life-prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive and gives Darwin his wealth and power. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient that makes the Water special: her blood. So she stays. But when Ruby meets Ford, the new Overseer who seems barely older than herself, her desire for freedom is too strong. He’s sympathetic, irresistible, forbidden—and her only access to the modern world. Escape with Ford would be so simple, but can Ruby risk the terrible price, dooming the only world she’s ever known?"

Captivate, by Carrie Jones.

"Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town. A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his."

Virals, by Kathy Reichs.

"Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever. As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent. Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals."

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs.

"Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush. Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life. When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned."

Torment, by Lauren Kate.

"Hell on earth. That’s what it’s like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts—immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn’t told her everything. He’s hiding something—something dangerous. What if Daniel’s version of the past isn’t actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else? The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies."

If you have read any of these books, or have a book haul yourself this week, comment down below with a link! I love checking out book hauls(:

What's Coming This Week?

Paperback:

Cryptic Cravings (Vampire Kisses Series #8), by Ellen Schreiber.

Shade's Children, by Garth Nix. 

Bitter End, by Jennifer Brown.

Hardback:

Immortal Hearts (Vampire Kisses Series #9), by Ellen Schreiber. 

Brothers to the Death (Saga of Larten Crepsley Series #4), by Darren Shan. 

Railsea, by China Mieville. 

Gilt, by Katherine Longshore.