Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace

Genre:  YA Urban Fantasy

Kali Wallace' website

Expected publication date:  January 26, 2016

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Description (taken from Kali Wallace' website):

Breezy remembers leaving the party, the warm, wet grass under her feet, her cheek still stinging from a slap to the face. But when she wakes up, scared and pulling dirt from her mouth, a year has passed and she can’t explain the necklace of bruises around her neck. She also can’t explain the man lying at her grave, dead from her touch.

Returning home seems impossible. Her parents and sisters have clearly grieved and struggled to move on, and Breezy can’t begin to answer their inevitable questions. Her heartbeat comes and goes, she doesn’t need to eat or drink, she can see the inky memories of murderers, and she can somehow pull on this dark guilt to kill them. Haunted by the happy memories from her life and disgusted by the half-dead creature she’s become, Breezy embarks on a reckless quest to find answers and a dangerous healing magic…but the cure is as dark and terrible as the disease.

Set in a gorgeous, terrifying world, Shallow Graves is a stunning novel about the heartbreaking trauma of a girl’s life cut short and her struggle to reconcile her humanity with the creature she’s become.

Breezy has just spent a year buried under the ground.  And now she's back from the dead with a creepy ability.  She initially spends her time hitch-hiking across the country.  At a truck stop, she meets a boy whose random act of kindness sets events into motion.  Breezy doesn't know what to make of her life, but she could sure use some help trying to straighten herself out.

As a reanimated corpse, Breezy can sense murderers in a crowd.  She can feel a killer instantly and desires the killer's life force.  But once she puts herself into questionable situations, she looks for help.  The only problem is the people who offer her help also offer another side of the world.  And it's not quite the help she could have imagined.  Can Breezy determine friend from foe quick enough before things get crazy?

The best way I can put this story is it was weird.  After finishing it, I'm still trying to puzzle out what the main point of the story was.  Maybe it's zombies need a reason to live too?  Or it's a discombulated collection of short stories thrown together without much explanation?  Without a good purpose, I found myself lost in the story without living the story.  It was weird, and I didn't really know what was going on.

I feel like I'm on a trend of reading books that are coming out next year and were only 'meh' for me.  I definitely recommend you find other reviews before giving this book a try.

Thanks goes to Around the World ARC Tours for providing me a review copy.

The First Days by Rhiannon Frater

Genre:  Adult Zombie Fantasy

As the World Dies Series, Book 1

Rhiannon Frater's website

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Description (taken from Rhiannon Frater's website):

The morning that the world ends, Katie is getting ready for court and housewife Jenni is taking care of her family. Less than two hours later, they are fleeing for their lives from a zombie horde.

Thrown together by circumstance, Jenni and Katie become a powerful zombie-killing partnership, mowing down zombies as they rescue Jenni’s stepson, Jason, from an infected campground.

They find sanctuary in a tiny, roughly fortified Texas town. There Jenni and Katie find they are both attracted to Travis, leader of the survivors; and the refugees must slaughter people they know, who have returned in zombie form.

Alright, I think I'm going to admit defeat to the zombie attraction.  I'm just not attracted to zombie novels.  Kind of stinks, I know.  But it's just not my genre of books even though I like dystopia and paranormal.  Now onto the review...

This book jumps right into the beginnings of the zombie apocalypse with Jenni watching her family become zombies and then try to eat her.  By chance, Katie happens to be in the right place at the right time and saves Jenni.  Together, they work on saving whatever family they have left and surviving.  By escaping to the country, they meet some interesting people and find a town that is fortified against the zombies.

What I really loved about this book:  we see people that are affected by their past and further tortured by the zombies.  Just because the world has been destroyed by zombies does not mean they lose who they were before; instead, it melds into who they become during the apocalypse.  We see a lot of zombie killing, a hunger for everything to go back to normal, and the need to survive and save others.

What I didn't like about it:  I guess I just don't like zombies.  The hopelessness of it.  It's awesome to see the courage in people and watch them step up to fight, but when it gets down to it, I'll be one of the first people turned into a zombie...

I highly recommend this book to those who like zombies.  It's got a good story, and I imagine the next few books will be good as well.  As for me, I might go check out Rhiannon Frater's vampire books...

Challenges:  TBR Pile Reading Challenge

If I Should Die by Amy Plum

Genre:  YA Paranormal Fantasy

Revenants Series, Book 3

Amy Plum's website

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Note:  It's advised you read the series before reading the descriptions below.  They'll spoil previous plot lines.

Description (taken from Amy Plum's website):

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

Did I not completely predict that or what?  So umm, nothing new in my mind happened.  Because I had it all figured out (although I think it was kind of obvious to figure out).

As the second one ended, we found evil betrayer villain (EBV for short) destroying Vincent.  But is he really gone?  Kate, along with the help of her friends: the revenants and guérrisseur, will fight until the end to save Vincent.  I feel like I can't give a description because there are keywords that will give it all away.  Needless to say, this book is captivating.

I was pretty much hooked from the beginning because this was one of my fun series to read.  However, it didn't feel as awesome as the other ones.  I was captivated sure, but I wasn't surprised by anything.  And to me?  The ending was dumbish.  I need a succinctly complete ending with everything explained to be satisfied...

Do you like romances?  Are you sick of the vampire/werewolf trend?  Do you like Paris, France?  Read this series if any of the above interest you.

Challenges:  Paranormal Reading Challenge

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Genre:  YA Zombie

Courtney Summers' website

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Description (taken from Courtney Summers' website):

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up.

As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life–and death–inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

There are a couple of things I have learned from reading this zombie book.  One is, I don't know if I actually have a fascination for zombie books.  I mean in a zombie world, can anything ever end right?  And two, I love having an explanation for everything.  Even the smallest poking and prodding in the right direction would be good for me.  I felt like this book had zero explanation and was all about living in the moment of zombies.

Right from the beginning, I did not like Sloane.  I understand that she had a very traumatizing childhood and no longer wanted to be a part of this world.  And of course, the zombies ruined her perfect suicide plans.  But even through understanding all of this, I found Sloane to be a very whiny character, and she came off as a victimized little kid.  I just couldn't feel any empathy for her.

However, the side characters?  Grace, Cary, Rhys, Harrison, and Trace?  I loved these guys.  They are all coming from different backgrounds.  And you're going to watch them go through a hard time filled with so many mistakes and emotions.  They honestly made this book worth it.  I would have liked this book a bit more if it weren't for the ending.

I always forget that in a zombie apocalypse, there are no surprise endings.  In the end, we're all going to die...  And while a lot of people die in this book, you don't really get any closure from Sloane's point of view other than she's going to fight to stay alive.  And I really, really wanted some closure or an explanation.  But all I got was, "And the fight to survive continues."  Blargh.

There are a lot of people who loved this book.  It's about finding your will to survive when you think you're done with life, and it's not a sugar-coated zombie apocalypse.  However, it just didn't suit me.

Challenges:  Young Adult Reading Challenge

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance

Revenant Trilogy, Book 2

Amy Plum's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Amy Plum's website):

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

Hmm,  I'm mixed with this book.  I've come to the conclusion that when it comes to romance, I much more enjoy the pursuit instead of what happens once the couple's together.  Because once they're together, things can become slightly boring.  And while I would day the beginning of this book was slightly boring, the ending was a spectacularly event-filled ending that wowed me.

This is a second book in a series.  Kate and Vincent are together; so there's no romantic chase there.  If anything, we see their struggles as any paranormal/human romance would face.  And we delve deeper into Revenant lore, which is just so cool to learn about.  And then towards the ending, everything picked up immediately.  And then the ending claimed.  And I felt like I was at the edge of the cliff with someone ripping my heart out and tossing it over.

Even though I found this book predictable, I still have to say the ending made it for me.  And I have a prediction for the next book which is based on a technicality in this book (you'll have to message me if you want to hear it).  As far as recommendations go, I'd recommend this series.  Wait for the third and final book to come out, and read them back to back.  I'll be eagerly waiting to pick up the trilogy once the third and final one is out.

Challenges:  Sensational Seconds, YA Mythology, and Young Adult Reading Challenges

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Genre:  YA Apocalyptic Future

Forest of Hands and Teeth Series, Book 2

Carrie Ryan's website
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Carrie Ryan's website):

Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known, and all she needs for happiness.

But life after the Return is never safe, and there are threats even the Barrier can't hold back.

Gabry's mother thought she left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, but like the dead in their world, secrets don't stay buried. And now, Gabry's world is crumbling.

One night beyond the Barrier...

One boy Gabry's known forever and one veiled in mystery...

One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned.

Gabry knows only one thing: if she is to have any hope of a future, she must face the forest of her mother's past.

This book began with plenty of action and zombies.  And then it slowed down for a bit.  Once I got about halfway, the action picked up again.  I enjoy Carrie Ryan's writing, and how she describes the setting from Gabry's point of view.  I thoroughly enjoyed how she grew and matured within the story.  I wasn't as engrossed in this book as I was with the first one.  However, I still enjoyed it.

I've heard many people say the second one is a million times better than the first, and you can start the series with the second one without reading the first.  While the second book is from Mary's daughter's point of view making it a different story, I completely disagree.  There's a moment in the book where things click in to place; it makes the first one more well-rounded.  Plus, I absolutely loved Mary's character in the second book, and I don't think I could have had this much appreciation for her if I hadn't read the first book.  I'll be continuing this series because I'm still hoping for a happy ending in a zombie-apocalypse world.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Genre:  YA Apocalyptic Future (so I may have made this genre up)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth Series, Book 1

Carrie Ryan's website

Description (taken from Carrie Ryan's website):

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.


The Sisterhood always knows best.


The Guardians will protect and serve.


The Unconsecrated will never relent.


And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.


But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.


Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?




About five pages into this book, and I was completely engrossed in Mary's world and her story.  So much in fact that I stayed up way past my bedtime reading without even realizing it.  In a world where death surrounds you, what do you hold onto for hope?  And what are you willing to risk to ensure your dreams can be reality?

This book was good until I got three-fourths of the way through it.  Zombies were killing off characters left and right.  And the story began to take a complete nose dive into a direction I didn't want to see it take.  Here's the question that this book made me think about: is it worth it to sacrifice everything and everyone around you to chase a dream that isn't a proven reality?

And then the book just ends.  That's it, no more...  Well, of course there's  a second and third book.  Of course I'll be reading them and hoping for a better ending.  But when it comes to a post-apocalyptic world where there are zombies everywhere, can there ever be a good ending?