Mini Reviews # 12

In my twelfth Mini Reviews post I'm talking about three Netgalley titles from 2012 that I liked very much, UNTIL I DIE by Amy Plum, ARISE by Tara Hudson and LIES BENEATH by Anne Greenwood Brown. Regardless of whether you are a fan of revenants, ghosts or mermaids, you'll love all three of these 2012 YA releases.

Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum

In DIE FOR ME Kate and Vincent finally found to each other. And as their romantic feelings start becoming so much more and Kate's already being considered an integral member of Vincent's revenants family, a new enemy is watching them and endangering everything dear to Kate and Vincent.

UNTIL I DIE is one of the few sequel candidates that I liked even better than the first book in its series. 

Kate and Vincent's dates and moments spent together are naturally romantic and comfortable. He is probably the most gentle and obliging book boyfriend in the world. Vincent and his revenants family are so history-charged it's always a pleasure to spent some time with them.

The ending of UNTIL I DIE is torturous! I've owned the third book in the DIE FOR ME series for several months now, but I can't bring myself to pick it up and see how it all ends. I'm always such a clingy reader. So Kate and Vincent, I dare you to have a happy ending in IF I SHOULD DIE!

5/5 ***** UNTIL I DIE – This dark and undead romance will cast a spell on you with its French esprit and allurement!

Last autumn I spent five days in Paris and all the time I imagined Kate and Vincent strolling down the street or sitting in a cute little corner café. Paris is such a fabulous YA setting. It's a romantic and at the same time dark city and anything is possible when you just believe in it. Amy Plum's elegantly written revenants series will have you falling in love with Paris, Kate and Vincent's beautiful romance and their families countless times.

Publisher: Atom
Publishing Date: May 3^rd 2012
Length: 357 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, paranormal, revenants, Paris, romance

Source: Edelweiss

Goodreads Summary 

Until I Die Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Arise (Hereafter #2) by Tara Hudson

Amelia and Joshua aren't safe yet, quite the opposite. Dark spirits are coming for them and Amelia is willing to do everything in her power to keep the people she loves out of the danger zone.

A cemetery at night, voodoo rituals and further ghostly additions to the HEREAFTER series cast ensure that ARISE is an even spookier read than Tara Hudson's debut.

Considering its history, New Orleans is always a city that goes well with YA ghost sightings and paranormal phenomenons, especially during Christmas time. 

Tara Hudson plays with the elements of visibility and invisibility, dream world versus reality, incorporeality and materialization. Amelia's story has always had a kind of wistful feel to it. In ARISE she might even have to sacrifice her own happiness in order to protect Joshua. Amelia and Joshua's relationship has its highs and lows in ARISE. Hot make-out sessions contrast with secrets and the distance put between the two lovers by vile demons. 

Their love has to withstand a hard endurance test. Can't we just ditch the demons of the netherworld that are threatening her existence and give them time to search for a cure, a way to bring Amelia back to the living?

4/5 **** ARISE - One of the breeziest, gentlest yet atmospheric and eerie ghost stories I have read so far.

Joshua and Amelia are visiting the Mayhew family in New Orleans for Christmas, my favourite season of the year, adding an extra portion of conflicts and emotions to their story. This is as much a story for YA contemporary readers as fans of the paranormal and stories shrouded in mystery.

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publishing Date: June 5^th 2012
Length: 404 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, ghosts, romance, New Orleans, voodoo

Source: Edelweiss

Goodreads Summary 

Arise Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Lies Beneath (Lies Beneath #1) by Anne Greenwood Brown

Calder and his sisters are on a mission. Avenge their mother and kill the man who was responsible for her death so many years ago. Jason Hancock is afraid of the sea, so isn't it a bitter fate that the evil mermaids are set out to drown him? To find access to him and gain his trust Calder is delegated to seduce Hancock's daughter Lily. Who would've thought they'd fall in love?

LIES BENEATH is told from Calder's point of view. A male mermaid narrator, what a novelty! He can be calculating and unforgiving when thoughts of revenge crowd his mind, but also very honest and exposed when he's talking about his feelings for Lily. Their love story follows an often-used scheme, seducing the girl to get what you want, falling in love with her and causing a major conflict when she finds out about your ulterior motives. But of course their romance can't be gerneralized like that. Lily and Calder have their very own touches to add and are a unique couple together.

We are equipped with a map showing the various places of interest to the plot, it's a welcome help to navigate our story more easily. Set in Wisconsin, and exploring Lake Superior LIES BENEATH has a very maritime and adventurous feel to it. Just grab a copy and you will be intrigued from the first sentence: „ I hadn't killed anyone all winter, and I have to say I felt pretty good about that.“ ― p. 1

5/5 ***** LIES BENEATH – What a killer of a YA mermaid story debut! Grab your floaties, it's getting dangerously good!

With its mermaid legends, cold-blooded killings and a tempestuous romance, LIES BENEATH was a highlight of my 2012 summer reading list. Calder and his sisters are set out to kill. They are violent and pretty feersome as it is, but revenge as their drive? Whew! I'm already looking forward to pick up the second book, hoping it's just as chilling and murderous a mermaid tale as LIEST BENEATH.

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date: June 12^th 2012
Length: 303 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, mermaids, mythology, romance, Lake Superior, revenge

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

Lies Beneath Excerpt 

Author's Homepage