ENVY by Gregg Olsen-REVIEW

The small town of Port Gamble, Washington is rocked by the death of one of their own. Katelyn, found dead by an apparent suicide, was a teenager like many others – having friend trouble, boy trouble, family trouble, but would she kill herself? Twins Hayley and Taylor don’t think so and decide to get to the bottom of what really happened.

So begins the mystery with several twists, turns, and red herrings thrown in.  

As mysteries go, it was fine. The author definitely had me trying to figure out what happened to Katelyn as each new clue was introduced. My problems with the book aren’t necessarily from the plot.  

I have a real pet peeve when books include mentions of real life objects that will date the story.  This book has way to much of that.  There are mentions of Facebook and fashion brands that might not be around in several years and end up pulling the reader out of the story. 

There were too many flashbacks and flash sideways. The flash sideways are due to the fact that the author used a third-person omniscient narrator. The third-person omniscient is presented by a narrator with an overarching point of view, seeing and knowing everything that happens within the world of the story, including what each of the characters is thinking and feeling. I really don’t like this style. It has too much of a Desperate Housewives feel to it. 

Oh, there is also some cyberbullying thrown in for good measure.


I did like the paranormal twist added to the story.  The twins, Hayley and Taylor, have some cool abilities, but…..it seemed like they could do just about anything they wanted to. When they wanted to figure out some part of the mystery they found a way. They can sense what happened from touching things (these scenes appear as flashbacks).  One of them can go under water or drink water and have messages appear. They can put things under their pillows and dream about them. There is even one instance where they foresee the future. Good grief! 

All in all ENVY was okay. 

Be sure to check out the website for the book.  It has a lot of cool extras.

THIS DARK ENDEAVOR by Kenneth Oppel-REVIEW

Victor Frankenstein wasn’t always the mad scientist we know him as today. Once he was simply a rebellious and rambunctious young man living a privileged life. It’s not until his identical twin, Konrad, becomes ill that his mind begins straying to thoughts of alchemy. Well, that and the fact that he, along with his brother and distant cousin Elizabeth, stumble upon a hidden library deep within their chateau. Not an ordinary library though, but one filled with books of recipes for magic potions and elixirs. 
 
When their father finds them in the Dark Library, he asks them to promise never to return because of the dangers of the information they might find. Alchemy is a foolish and dark endeavor and one that is illegal to perform. To Victor, the library is an interesting place filled with mysterious books and Konrad’s possible death provides Victor with the excuse to return. Enlisting the help of their best friend Henry and beautiful Elizabeth, Victor finds a recipe for something called the Elixir of Life and is willing to stop at nothing to find a way to concoct the potion. 

The journey is a dangerous one and filled with much adventure. Not only does Victor have to conquer his fears, but he must also fight his growing feelings for Elizabeth and increasing jealousy of Konrad. Will Victor be able to find a way to save Konrad or is it foolish for him to even try as his father says?

My heart goes out to Victor. Konrad is more charming, smarter, and the favorite of the staff. When he finds out that Elizabeth loves Konrad, too it is almost more than he can take. Will his feelings for Elizabeth get in the way of his desire to save Konrad?

THE DARK ENDEAVOR is an interesting take on the Frankenstein classic. Kenneth Oppel has answered our question, “What led Frankenstein to his fascination with creating life where there is none?”  The sequel, SUCH WICKED INTENT comes out August 2012.

THUMPED by Megan McCafferty-REVIEW

READ BUMPED before you read THUMPED. You will be totally lost is you don’t.

Harmony and Melody are in the spotlight. Identical twins, separated at birth, both pregnant and due on the SAME DAY!!! Of course that is news. The cameras follow Melody everywhere as she goes about her life, sometimes even appearing in public with Jondoe (the sperm donor). Harmony is safe from most of the paparazzi because she is back home behind the guarded gates of Goodside living her life with Ram. 

Even though Harmony and Melody are the most envied girls in the world, neither one of them is particularly happy. While Melody knows what she is doing is important for the world and for her sister, it is costing her more than she imagined – the one guy she really loves.  Harmony always felt she was meant to live in Goodside, but after returning from her time in the outside, things have changed. She wants more out of life and doesn’t feel comfortable with the people of Goodside anymore.

The girls know they are doing the right thing, but as they get closer and closer to the Double Double Due Date life get tougher and tougher. Only telling the truth will set them free, but is the world ready for what they have to say?

McCafferty gives us a nice conclusion to BUMPED, but I really missed all the world building and word play that was in the first book.  Also, we didn’t get enough romance.  I definitely wanted more Melody and Zen, but especially Harmony and Jondoe.  THUMPED really brings the topic of motherhood to the forefront instead of simply the act of getting pregnant like in BUMPED.  The back of the book says this is the conclusion to BUMPED so it seems to me that this is the last one in the series. 

Out of the two books, BUMPED is clearly my favorite.

BUMPED by Megan McCafferty-REVIEW

"Picture a world where a virus has rendered everyone over the age of 18 infertile. What are married couples supposed to do if they want children? That’s right! Hire a surrogate.


In this world there are Professional Surrogates who enter into strict contracts with couples to provide them a baby. These surrogates are required to Bump in order to get pregnant – it’s strictly business. The boy and girl will probably be total strangers and most likely never see each other again after the pregnancy test shows a postive result. These surrogates are chosen strictly for their genetic and physical traits.

Some girls are Amatuer Surrogates – not quite good enough to make it Pro. They Bump with anyone they want and then hope to find a couple willing to purchase the offspring.

Melody and Harmony are identical twins who were separated at birth. At 16, they were able to look into their birth records and found each other.

Melody, a Pro Surrogate, was less than thrilled to find there was someone in the world exactly like her. It hurts her chances in business. Now she can’t be promoted by her agent as unique.

Harmony couldn’t be happier to have found Melony. As someone who is neither Amatuer nor Pro, she looks forward to preaching to Melony about God and hopefully prevent her from living a life of a sinning surrogate.

Megan McCafferty does an excellent job building this futuristic dystopian world. The word play alone is enjoyable. The media bombards these young tweens and teens with advertisements, clothing, and music encouraging drug use in order to help the teens relax. Condoms have been outlawed and the term baby is considered a nasty word because it encourages affection for the Bump.

Harmony and Melony’s lives are turned upside down after a case of mistaken identity leads them both down paths they never imagined.

When you get to the last page, you’ll ask yourself, “How long do I have to wait for the sequel?”

THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES by Carrie Ryan-REVIEW

The final installment to The Forest of Hands and Teeth Trilogy was not disappointing!


Annah has been surviving on her own in the Dark City for a long time. In fact she has been waiting for Elias to return to her for 3 years. Elias joined the Recruiters 3 years before and has not returned to the city. Annah still has hope that he will come back to her. Finally realizing that she cannot wait forever she is determined to go searching for him. On her way out of the city though she sees someone entering that looks very familiar. In fact she looks just like Annah! She knows immediately that it is her sister that she and Elias left in the Forest many years before.

While searching the city for her sister Annah meets Catcher. She is attracted to him but unable to let her heart care for someone else. At the same time a massive horde has attacked the city. Annah risks going back to her flat to gather personal belongings and weapons. When she arrives she finds Elias there waiting for her. They escape to the island that the Protectorate is living on. The Protectorate hold Annah, her sister Abigail(now Gabry) and Elias hostage and demand that Catcher in his immune state make trips into the city finding supplies to keep the island inhabitants alive.

Annah is elated to finally be reunited with her sister. With that elation comes heartbreak though as she sees the bond between Abigail and Elias. Their love cannot be denied.

The island is a nightmare for Annah. The Recruiters are cruel and heartless. Their commander Ox has stated that Annah and her group should stay clear of the Recruiters because if anything happened he would definitely side with his men. All seems hopeless. Annah begins to wonder why people continue to struggle to survive the massive hordes that are taking over the earth.

All is not lost though and Annah has to believe that all humanity will not be wiped out by the undead.

As with the other 2 books in the series The Dark and Hollow Places is a roller coaster ride of excitement and heart-stopping action. The last several pages had me biting my nails and reading as fast as I could to see the final outcome!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Unlike the previous two books in this trilogy, this story takes place in the city where people have been eeking out a living ever since the Return. Even though life is dangerous and difficult - the people have been relatively safe from the Unconsecrated. While there are some wandering around, someone who knows how to fight can take care of them.


Annah's life is full of regret. She regrets leaving her sister behind in the forest. She regrets the event that left her scarred for life. She especially regrets allowing Elias to leave.

Annah has had to manage life on her own for over three years - ever since Elias left to join the Recruiters. Every day she hopes he'll show up and she can feel complete again - maybe even relax a little since she won't have to survive alone.

Eventually, Annah gives up and decides to leave the City, but on her way out she glimpses someone that looks just like her - her sister. She made the immediate decision to turn around and find her. Annah lost Abigail once - she wasn't going to do it again.

The Horde is forcing people in the City to look for safety. The City with its walls and bridges and guards have been relatively safe for years, but it has never been assaulted by the number of Unconsecrated that have awakened and are on their way to the City.

Annah searches the City high and low looking for Abigail only to discover she has been taken to the Recruiters' island headquarters. After running into Catcher and reuniting with Elias, they make their way to the island to get Abigail - but mostly for safety since the Horde has breached the City walls.

Instead of being a safe haven, the island turns out to be a prison as they are held against their will. They come face-to-face with nightmares that shouldn't be possible with the humans around them. Annah especially sees the monster in the Recruiters and devotes her time to finding a way off of the island. She convinces her sister, Elias, and Catcher that life can continue away from the City.

THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES is a perfect conclusion to the trilogy. Annah's point of view is fascinating. Life has never been easy for her, yet she is able to maintain hope and instill that hope in others. The damage she has (inside and out) really makes it difficult for her to feel wanted and loved by others. Her insecurities cause her to put up walls, making her seem tough on the outside. It is heartbreaking to read her inner thoughts - to see what she really thinks about herself and her scars.

As for readers that are new to this trilogy, I highly recommend you read all three of the book in order. THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES, and THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES. This way you'll have a full understanding of the world you are reading about. I feel THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH gives the best descriptions of the Unconsecrated whereas in THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES we need to use what we already know to help us complete the picture of the Horde breaking into the City.

The way THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES ends is great. Very hopeful! I can see another off-shoot series developing with the way things are at the end. I'd love to read the novels that could follow this trilogy. Let's just hope Carrie Ryan isn't sick of the world she has created. Even if she is, maybe she'll come back to it one day and let us know how everything turns out.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Julie agrees to meet Karin halfway on The Dark and Hollow Places. She totally enjoyed the series even though the books tended to be rather "dark". The redeeming feature in all 3 books for her is the vein of hope that constantly runs through each story. In each book there is a strong female character that carries that hope for herself and the people around her. Dealing with Zombies(Unconcecrated, the horde, the Returned, the Undead) there is a lot of gruesome killing that goes on in the books which may not be for all audiences. Also there is allusion to sexual activity that may not appeal to all readers.
 
If you have read this trilogy COMMENT and let us know what you think.