The Scorch Trials

by James Dashner

Summary: This sequel to The Maze Runner leaves off exactly where the first ends. The guys are told they have been infected with The Flare, a disease that will turn them into Cranks, crazied zombie-like creatures intent on killing whatever is in their path. WICKED gives them a new trial--make a 100 mile trip in two weeks, and they will be given the cure. No Grievers this time, but if you read the The Maze Runner, you know there's no way all the boys will survive to the end, and the horrible deaths are spine chilling. Betrayal, adventure, suspense--these books have it all!

My thoughts: Great sequel! Not quite as good as the first book, but that's usually the way it works. I still enjoyed revisiting these characters, though, and there are definitely some surprises. Fair warning: the story isn't over yet, so don't expect to get all the answers this time.

All We Know of Heaven

by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Summary: Bridget and Maureen are alike in so many ways. Petite, blonde, cheerleaders, best friends forever. A horrible accident--one lives, one dies. But the doctors get it wrong. They tell Maureen's family to plan a funeral, and Bridget's family sits at the bedside of a comatose girl they think is theirs. After realizing the devastating truth, the doctors must give miraculous news to one family, and destroy the lives of another. Maureen must overcome not only her physical issues, but come to grips with the grief and resentment of Bridget's family. Bridget's boyfriend stays by Maureen's side, however, and even though it seems wrong to both of them, they seem to be falling in love. Is he simply replacing Bridget, or can this love possibly last through all of the difficult times ahead?

My thoughts: I was fascinated with this story when it came on the news a few years ago. Something very similar actually happened, and while this is a fictional tale, the real event was pretty close to what Mitchard has written here. Even though the story veers off to be mostly a romance (which I normally don't enjoy reading as much) the story unfolds so dramatically that I couldn't help but be drawn in. Maureen's painful recovery, both physically and emotionally, is a strong testament to the power of love and family bonds.

The Replacement

by Brenna Yovanoff

Summary: The town of Gentry has a dirty little secret. The children here have a pretty high mortality rate--they're dropping like flies. Mackie Doyle knows why. He knows that the children in the town's cemetaries aren't the same children the parents raised and loved. Those children ended up somewhere else. Underground. And he knows this because he's one of them, only he survived. He's slowly dying, though, and when a friend of his sister's gives him a serum that makes him better, he learns there is a price to pay. What he finds in the world of the underground will gross you out, fascinate you, and haunt you for quite some time.

My thoughts: The Replacement is the first novel by this author, and I'm impressed! With a pretty horrific cast of characters, both dead and alive, this is a very original story that plays on one of humanity's greatest fears. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. Check out a cool book trailer here http://got.im/q5d.

Full Tilt

by Neal Shusterman

Summary: Brothers Blake and Quinn couldn't be more different--Blake is the good boy, and Quinn is the troublemaker. When a strange invitation to an eerie theme park comes for Blake, he wants to ignore it, but Quinn intercepts it and goes in alone. Blake and their friends Russ and Maggie follow Quinn in to try to get him home, not realizing quite what they're signing up for by walking through the gates. They must each complete seven rides--rides that are composed of their greatest fears--by dawn, or they become a part of the theme park...forever.

My thoughts: Whoa! Talk about creepy! Shusterman has a gift for creating suspense. I couldn't stop turning pages, because I was so nervous for these characters!

Another Whole Nother Story

by Dr. Cuthbert Soup

Summary: In this rip-roaring follow-up to A Whole Nother Story, Ethan Cheeseman, his three children, a sock puppet, and a dog named Pinky head back in time to 1668. Their goal? To break a centuries-old family curse by returning the White Gold Chalice to its owner, and to stop the murder of their wife and mother Olivia Cheeseman just before it happens. Unfortunately, landing in 1668 damages their egg-shaped time machine, and the family must go in search of a blacksmith to find materials for its repair. Meeting a lively, and mostly underdeveloped cast of characters along the way, including Big, a Pocahontas look-alike, and the Mailman (so named because his many piercings resemble chain mail) the Cheeseman family and company wreak havoc wherever they go. To complicate matters, Olivia’s murderer, Mr. 5, is right on their tails. The story is narrated by the self-described “incomparable” Dr. Cuthbert Soup, and punctuated by his mini-chapters, which usually have only loose connections to the story, but are hilarious on their own. It’s over the top with a sometimes annoyingly frantic pace. However, the laugh out loud moments are many, and the puns are clever and sarcastic. Should appeal to fans of titles like A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Name of this Book is Secret, and other stories that capitalize on the absurd.

My thoughts: You like silly? This is the book for you. It won't be published until December.

Num8ers

by Rachel Ward

Summary: Jem has a big problem. She sees numbers floating over every person's head, and she has seen them her whole life. These numbers represent the date that person is going to die. She's never seen the numbers lie, and it's a terrible burden for her to bear. Jem's own life is less than perfect, jumping from foster home to foster home, and more or less living the street life. When fellow outcast Spider comes along, she tries not to let herself feel close to him, but a mass tragedy at the London Eye causes them to become the focus of a nationwide manhunt, and they find themselves on the run from the law. Jem starts to fall for Spider, but there's just one catch: his numbers don't look so good. Can she figure out a way to save Spider in the week he has left?

My thoughts: This book is sort of like a cross between a horror movie and an episode of CSI. It's very, very, British, so you'll have to get past the English slang, but it's easy to figure out pretty quickly. I love the concept, and the story was pretty good. Not my favorite book this year or anything, but worth reading for the great ending.

Glimpse

by Carol Lynch Williams

Summary: On the opening page of this novel in verse, Hope finds her older sister Lizzie holding a gun with her finger on the trigger. She has completely given up, about to attempt suicide. While Hope knows their life isn't rosy with a dead father and a grieving but selfish mother, she can't imagine what is so terrible for Lizzie that it would drive her to want to die. As the story unfolds, Hope begins to see through her mother's lies to get to the truth about the horror in their house.

My thoughts: You won't figure out until the very end what's happening to Lizzie, but you know it isn't good. This is a very sad story, but it's a quick, intense read. I had to know what happened. Carol Lynch Williams is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Mockingjay

by Suzanne Collins

Summary: Katniss is once again forced into a role she doesn't want to play, this time as the Mockingjay. She's a pawn and a symbol of the rebellion, but she knows she has to fulfill this role to have any chance of taking down the Capitol. Gale is with her in District 13, but Peeta has been taken prisoner by the Capitol, and she's desperate to save him. So I won't be accused of spoilers I'll stop right here!

My thoughts: This is my least favorite of the three, but I still loved it. Collins took some risks, and went some places I never thought she'd go, but she does answer questions we've all had for two years now, and I'm happy with the ending!

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

by Lisa Schroeder

Summary: Ava's boyfriend has just died in a horrible accident. She's devastated, not only because she has lost Jackson forever, but because she feels responsible for his death. She misses him terribly, but soon after he dies, she starts to sense him around her. The smell of his aftershave permeates her room, the temperature drops, the radio tunes in, by itself, to a song that she feels might be a message. And then she sees him in her bathroom mirror, and she's knows he's really there. How can she ever leave her house now that Jackson is with her? But how can she truly live her life without leaving her house? Will her love and her guilt ruin her?

My thoughts: I love books in verse. It's so great to be able to quickly read a book from start to finish and be totally involved in the story without taking a break. This story was interesting, and sweet, and a tiny bit creepy! You don't find out until the very end how Jackson died, so that alone will keep you reading!

The Coming of the Dragon

by Rebecca Barnhouse

Summary: Loosely based on the final years of Beowulf’s kingship, this imaginative retelling fleshes out the story of the only man who truly stands beside the great king to the end. Rune is an infant when he washes ashore in a mysterious boat, but is only spared death by King Beowulf and Amma, a strange old woman who becomes a mother figure to him. The king protects Rune and trains him to fight, but he remains a threat and a misfit in the minds of most villagers. He is content living a simple life until a vicious dragon is awakened and destroys everyone and everything he loves. Avenging his family leads him to answers about his own heritage, as well as some nail-biting suspense as he confronts the dragon more than once. While Rune’s insecurity and self-doubt wears thin at times, his innocence and perseverance make him a sympathetic and unlikely hero. An adventure-filled coming-of-age tale.

My thoughts: I liked this one but didn't love it. It had some exciting moments, but I wished there had been more stuff about the dragon!

Duckling Ugly

by Neal Shusterman

Summary: Cara is ugly. Not just any kind of ugly. This is break a mirror when you look in it--literally--kind of ugly. She eats lunch alone every day, except for the occasional guy who stops by to impress his girlfriend with how nice he is by eating with the outcast. But suddenly, the tables turn. Cara is given a gift, but it comes with a price. Will she make the right choice? Would you?

My thoughts: Cara's story is very unusual--it's definitely not like anything you've ever read before. Some of the situations Cara finds herself in will give you real chills. The decision she is faced with is frightening, and it really makes you wonder what you would do in her unusual situation.

The Steps Across the Water

by Adam Gopnik

Summary: Rose has an embarrassing little speech impediment, switching around the beginnings of words. Sometimes she calls her home, New York City, "U Nork" instead. During a trip to Central Park with her father and brother (Oliver, from 2005's The King in the Window), she sees mysterious steps across the water, but no one believes her. Soon after, a "classmate," Louis, reveals to Rose that the steps are real and lead to U Nork, a flip-side New York City where, believe it or not, the pace is even faster and the people are ruder. Louis has been assigned to watch Rose, because she is special to the people of U Nork. Its citizens are in trouble, and it's Rose's face they've been seeing in the sky as the only one who can save them. The rip-roaring plot is laced with original and fantastical characters, who fully enjoy 30-second lunches shot into their mouths with cannons and use giant pigeons as a taxi service. Gopnik's writing is sharp and smart, and U Nork is an exciting place. Young readers will cheer for Rose and her friends with more than an occasional chuckle along the way. Bruce McCall's illustrations were unavailable at the time of review.

My thoughts: This book isn't published yet. I'll get a picture of the cover up as soon as it's available! This is a funny, weird, little fantasy. It definitely won't be for everyone, but I think a few of you will love it, especially if you're a fan of books like Gregor the Overlander!

Living Dead Girl

by Elizabeth Scott

Summary: Alice's name isn't really Alice. As a young girl, she was kidnapped from a school field trip by a man named Ray. She has been his prisoner for so long, that even though he allows her to roam free during the day, she doesn't attempt to escape. She is convinced that he will harm her family if she ever leaves. As Alice grows older, Ray begins to look for a younger girl to replace her. He wants her to help him. She knows this might mean her own death, and is certainly not going to be good for the new girl.

My thoughts: Shudder. This is a horribly sad story made even more sad by the knowledge that, while a rare event, things like this do sometimes happen. Definitely a high school book. I liked Norma Fox Mazer's The Missing Girl much better.

The King Commands

by Meg Burden

Summary: In this rousing, romantic sequel to Northlander, Southling Ellin Fisher is adjusting well to life in the Northlands palace. The new king Alaric and his brothers have welcomed her as a sister and changed the cruel laws that once oppressed the Southlings. Life is full of swordplay, stables, and budding romances, until the nightmares begin that reconnect Ellin to fellow Southling Lev, imprisoned for killing the king a year earlier. Ellin is a Healer, and shares mental connections with some people, so Lev’s nightmares are also hers. She is drawn to the prison in a dangerous effort to help Lev recover from a terrible illness and stop the dreams, which angers Alaric (with whom she is hopelessly in love), and gets her temporarily exiled. Ellin’s adventures are engaging, and there are enough twists and turns to keep readers hooked. However, the real gem is seeing Ellin mature as a character as she faces competition from a beautiful foreign princess, which eventually turns to friendship. Lots of romance intrigues (the princes are a hot-blooded bunch), but the final outcome is impossible to predict. Book Two of the Tales of the Borderlands successfully continues the series and sets up for the next installment, but easily stands alone as plenty of background information is seamlessly integrated into this new tale.

My thoughts: This is another book that I reviewed for School Library Journal. When I opened the package, I groaned. Not only is the cover really cheesy, the plot not really my thing, and it's a sequel to a book I haven't read! But this is actually a really great story! If you liked Graceling, try the Tales of the Borderlands series! (Just do your best to ignore the weird cover!)

Guardian of the Dead

by Karen Healey

Summary: Strange things are happening around Ellie Spencer's New Zealand boarding school. One of which is the fact that she seems to have fallen in love with a fairy. But not just any fairy. He's part of an ancient race, and Ellie finds herself pitted against some of them in a fight for her life.

My thoughts: There was so much buzz about this book I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of it. Sadly, it just never really clicked for me. I enjoyed how the author incorporated the legends of the New Zealand Maori, but other than that, it was just another supernatural romance. Lots of people disagree with me, though, so if you want to check it out, hit the public library! This one's high school only!

Somebody Everybody Listens To

by Suzanne Supplee

Summary: Retta Jones is kind of a big deal in her small Tennessee home town. She's the girl with a big voice, who can sound like just about anyone--Dolly Parton, Faith Hill...you name it, she can sing it just like they do. When she graduates high school, and after a particularly irritating incident at her dead-end waitressing job, she decides try her luck in Nashville. With her grumpy aunt's beat up car, a cell phone courtesy of her best friend, some holey jeans, and her guitar, Retta learns the hard way what life is like on Music Row, and in the process learns how to be herself.

My thoughts: Supplee (also the author of Artichoke's Heart) is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her female characters have such fresh, strong voices, and her story lines are realistic and believable. I don't get emotionally involved or invested in books as often as I wish. Supplee completely sucks me in.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

by John Green and David Levithan

Summary: Two boys, both named Will Grayson, are on a collision course. Neither knows the other exists, but they are about to enter each others' lives in a very big way. The first Will, written by John Green, is your average suburban teenager, with a hilarious best friend named Tiny Cooper who is anything but Tiny. The other Will Grayson, written by David Levithan in all lowercase (so you can tell them apart) is totally emo and completely confused about life. When the two meet in the unlikeliest of ways, it causes a chain of events both hilarious and touching.

My thoughts: I always love John Green! When your English teacher talks about "voice," this is the non-boring version of what she means. If you've ever read anything by Green before, you know right away this is the part he wrote. Will Grayson is a young adult novel, but won't be on middle school shelves. If you're an eighth grader, check it out next year at your high school, or hit the public library this summer!

The Hard Kind of Promise

by Gina Willner-Pardo

Summary: Sarah has always found Marjorie’s odd behavior entertaining and charming. She never questioned their promise, made at age five, to be best friends forever. Not until 7th grade, when Marjorie’s smelly lunches, love of old movies, and insistence that Sarah play a big blue alien for her film production project cause Sarah to start to pull away. When she overhears, from a bathroom stall, a classmate call her a loser for hanging out with Marjorie, she begins actively pursuing new friendships with girls in her choir class. These girls are classic seventh-grade snarky, yet somehow also endearing. Sarah awkwardly tries to include Marjorie, who refuses to fall into anyone’s idea of normal, while simultaneously trying to be popular and become her own person. Sarah’s emotional turmoil and guilt over the changing of the friendship is painfully and realistically portrayed, but gentle humor (Marjorie shows up to Cotillion proudly sporting a 120 year old “vintage” gown) keeps the story light. A sensitively drawn and satisfying conclusion will have girls nodding their heads with understanding as Sarah struggles with the promise she made years ago. A heart-warming story about the unexpected lessons life teaches, through the eyes of a girl experiencing it for the very first time.

My thoughts: This is not normally the kind of book I would pick up on my own, but since I reviewed this one for a library magazine, I had to read it. I'm so glad I did! This is such a sweet story! It's not published yet, so watch for it when it comes out next month!

Killer Pizza

by Greg Taylor

Summary: Toby think he has landed the world's greatest summer job, working at the new Killer Pizza restaurant in town. He and the other new employees are shocked to learn, though, that they haven't really been hired to make pizzas... They have been hired to kill an especially nasty breed of monsters called guttata. A bite from this monster turns humans into young guttuta, and only Toby's organization has the antidote, and the skills to stop the monsters and save their town. But does this young monster killing team really have what it takes?

My thoughts: This book is super fun and easy to read. Toby is realistic and likable, and there are enough twists, turns, and shocking moments to keep you guessing and turning pages!

Ruined

by Paula Morris

Summary: Rebecca and her dad live together in New York City, but when he has to take an extended trip to China for work, he sends her to live with his sister in New Orleans for the year. She soon learns that this old southern town has rules she doesn't understand, and she has a hard time making friends. The beautiful old cemetary by her aunt's house seems to call to her, and even though it's forbidden, she walks around it whenever possible. There she meets Lisette, a girl with tattered clothes and bare feet, and becomes her friend. But no one else can see Lisette...because she's a ghost. Why can Rebecca see her when no one else can? Is Lisette really her friend, or is Rebecca just a pawn in the fulfillment of an ancient curse?

My thoughts: It took me a little while to get into this one, but after the slow start it really took off! I like the unusual New Orleans setting, and learned a lot about the city, and Mardi Gras, that I didn't know.

Out of the Woods

by Lyn Gardner

Summary: The magical pipe that caused so many problems in Into the Woods finds its way back to Storm Eden from the bottom of the sea where she tossed it, hoping never to see it again. In this fractured fairy tale/fantasy, the evil witch Belladonna wants the pipe, but her time is short if she can’t convince Storm’s beautiful older sister Aurora to promise the witch her heart. Using a magic mirror (one of many nods to Snow White) to improve her looks, Belladonna fools Storm, Aurora, and baby Any into believing their father is dead and that they are now in her care. Snappy dialogue and familiar fairy-tale references, some of which cleverly poke fun at well-known characters, create the feeling of a fairy tale community to which the Eden sisters now belong. The girls’ characters are sometimes misguided but always believable as they venture into the Underworld, the only way to rid themselves of the pipe and save Aurora’s life. Readers of the first book will happily revisit Eden’s End. However, those who haven’t read the first installment may struggle since no back story is provided and minor characters greatly influence the plot with little to no introduction. Themes of loyalty and family are creatively and unexpectedly interwoven, and playfully point out that sisterhood is sometimes both a blessing and a curse. Mimi Grey's black and white illustrations manage to be gorgeous and hilarious at the same time, and thankfully, sneak in on almost every page.

My thoughts: I reviewed this book for a librarian's magazine (that's my review above), and so read it without reading the first in the series. I think if I would have read Into the Woods first, I would have liked this book a lot more.

Frozen Fire

by Tim Bowler

Summary: Dusty's brother disappears without a trace, and then her mother leaves without an explanation. Dusty remains behind in an empty house with a devastated father. A phone call from a mysterious young man makes her think he knows something about her brother's disappearance, but danger seems to follow him. He knows things he shouldn't, people are getting hurt, and the cops warn Dusty that the boy may not be what he seems. In fact, he may not even be human.

My thoughts: The opening words of this story pull you in immediately. The words "I'm dying," uttered by a stranger on the phone. While it's slow in some parts, the unusual story kept me reading. I liked this book, but I'll warn you, all the questions you have will not be answered. Sometimes that's okay, though!

The Maze Runner

by James Dashner

Summary: When Thomas wakes up in the Glade, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by other guys his age, who certainly aren't making his transition to a strange new world any easier. He's clearly the new guy, and the rules the Gladers have created for themselves don't make any sense at first: don't leave the maze, never get caught in the maze after dark, and don't ask questions. Until one night, through a tiny window in the maze, he sees what everyone is afraid of--a terrifying creature called a Griever. The Grievers come out at night, and kill everyone in their paths. The Gladers have made a life for themselves, and have become accustomed to their routines. They have jobs, and friends, and a crude form of government. A group called the Runners explores the maze by day to try to find a way to escape. Their routine hasn't been altered in years. But the day after Thomas arrives, everything changes...

My thoughts: The Maze Runner is a sort of sci-fi Lord of the Flies. I love the way the characters interact with each other. It's exactly how I imagine teenaged guys would treat each other in this situation. The suspense/mystery element is really well done. I truly couldn't put this book down, and when I had to, I was thinking about when I could pick it back up. Hunger Games fans, give The Maze Runner a try!

What I Saw and How I Lied

by Judy Blundell

Summary: The time is just after the end of World War II. The soldiers are finally home, including Evie's stepfather, Joe. One night, the phone rings, and Joe has a strange and puzzling reaction to the call. The next day Joe, Evie and her mother are in the car on a road trip from New York to Florida for what Joe says is a surprise vacation. While hanging out at the mostly empty hotel (they have arrived in the off-season) Evie meets 23 year old Peter. He's gorgeous, and kind, and pays attention to Evie in a way she has never experienced. She falls head over heels in love. When Joe meets Peter, it's clear they're no strangers, and that no love is lost between them. What secret are they hiding? And what's going on between Joe and Evie's mother? The tension is building, and Evie can't figure out why.

My thoughts: There are many novels set during WWII, but I love that this one takes us to the weeks and months following the war. Rations have been lifted; people can eat what they want, sew what they want, and shop, and work and rest without the stress of the war. This books gives us a glimpse into that exciting time. It is also a smart, disturbing mystery with a strong central character you can't help but love. You might see what's coming for Evie before she does, but you'll never guess how this story ends.

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead

Summary: Miranda and Sal have been best friends since birth. As they walk down the street one day, a boy walks up to Sal and punches him in the stomach for no apparent reason. From that moment on, their friendship changes. He begins avoiding Miranda, and completely cuts her out of his life. By chance, Miranda must come face to face with Marcus (the puncher) at school one day, and the two have a very interesting conversation about Miranda's favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time. Marcus makes her think about things in a different way. Meanwhile, Miranda is finding strange, cryptic little notes that instruct her to keep the notes a secret, mention the location of her house key, and most importantly, to write a letter. What do the notes mean? Who are they from? And will her letter really help save Sal's life like the mysterious author claims?

My thoughts: Finally! This book is everything a Newbery Award winner should be. It's sweet, real, and completely believable, even though the biggest plot element is total fantasy. Somehow Stead makes you believe that the impossible can happen. I absolutely loved this book.

Purge

by Sarah Darer Littman

Summary: Janie Ryman has a secret, or rather, she HAD a secret. She makes herself throw up in a desperate attempt to stay thin, and to try to take away some of the pain she feels inside. At her sister's wedding, her secret is revealed, embarrassing herself, her sister, and horrifying her friends. She chronicles her story through journal entries at the psychiatric hospital where her parents send her. At the hospital, she meets an intriguing cast of characters with eating disorders who seem to fall into two categories: the Barfers and the Starvers. The people she meets, the discoveries she makes, and the secret she eventually reveals will keep you turning pages.

My thoughts: Just like with Wintergirls, this book makes me sad. It is horrible to think that I know anyone who can relate to the way this young girl thinks and feels about herself. What I like about this book is that the author reveals that she is an eating disorder survivor, and lists many resources on how to cope with and get help for this terrible disease. Her personal knowledge of the disorder makes the story very believable.

Bad Girls Don't Die

by Katie Alender

Summary: Alexis's younger sister Kasey is kind of a weird girl. She acts more like an elementary school kid than a middle-schooler, and she has a strange attachment to her doll collection. But soon Alexis starts to notice Kasey's behavior getting more and more bizarre. And did her blue eyes just turn green? When Kasey asks Alexis to tell her a story, why does the tale of a young girl being tortured and bullied suddenly spring into her mind? As weeks pass, it becomes increasingly clear that Kasey is not altogether herself, and who she is becoming is a danger to not just Alexis, but to many people in town.

My thoughts: This is not only a great ghost story, but a good story about fitting in, school, and figuring out who you are. Alexis is an interesting character, one you can relate to. She's not the character in the scary book or movie who makes dumb decisions and gets herself in trouble. She's smart and makes good choices, which makes this story all that much scarier.

Kaleidoscope Eyes

by Jen Bryant

Summary: Lyza was always close to her grandfather, and when he passes away in 1968, she has to go with her father and older sister to help clean out his house. In the attic she finds a note with some maps and a key that are marked for her eyes only. Her grandfather has left her documents that lead Lyza and her two best friends on an exciting search for Captain Kidd's pirate treasure.

My thoughts: The Vietnam War-era setting gives this book a different feel--it's interesting to read Lyza's reaction to the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy, and to watch her see her friend's older brother get drafted. This is a novel written in verse. Jen Bryant takes full advantage of this format, using very few words to make a very powerful statement.

Prophecy of the Sisters

by Michelle Zink

Summary: Twins Lia and Alice Milthorpe couldn't be more different. When their father dies suddenly and mysteriously, the girls and their younger brother are left orphans. Lia's friend and long-time love James is working on organizing the Milthorpe family library, when he comes across a strange book with only one page. The cryptic message it reveals kicks off a deadly chain of events that pits the two sisters against one another, fulfilling an ancient prophecy, and leaving the fate of the world in their hands. One sister is good, and the other is evil beyond imagining. Who will win?

My thoughts: This is the first in a planned series, so be prepared for the cliffhanger ending! I think that the sequel will be well worth the wait, though. This book is exciting, suspenseful, and has some truly shocking moments. It would be creepy enough if set in modern times, but the late 19th century setting makes it even creepier.