Halflings

Author: Heather Burch

Genre: Young Adult/Christian/Fiction/Romance/Paranormal

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

 

Positive Elements: Pro-God/Christian and anti Satan/demons, obviously, this book focuses on half human/half anges known as Halflings. You have a few spiritual complications right there, but nothing too serious. The Halflings’ job is to protect Nikki, which they do to the best of their ability. There is a strong bond between them, even whey they annoy each other.

 

Negative Elements: No swearing. No sex – but a fair amount of sexual tension. Raven is a Halfling who appears to be ‘turning to the dark side,’ and who ‘falls in love’ with Nikki and does his best to seduce her. It’s also known he plays around with girls and ‘has as much fun as possible’ while doing his job. Hell hounds and dark halflings prey on Nikki. There is some violence, a lab explodes killing scientists.

 

Summary: The minute I read the description, I had doubts about the book. Paranormal Romance has long irritated me, and it didn’t start with Twilight. The whole idea of angels (or half-angels) falling in love and fighting over a human girl… yeah. I wasn’t impressed with the book. It wasn’t written badly – in fact, the writing style was nice and kept me turning pages. But at the end, I felt more like I’d wasted time. I know NO author wants to hear this, and I happen to like Heather a lot. But to me, the book seemed to scream “Christian Twilight! Christian ‘Hush, Hush’! Read me!” I can’t stand cliches, and this book really was one. Now, I did totally fall in love with Vine. The youngest halfling is adorable and sweet and oh-he’s-just-the-cutest-thing-I-want-him-for-a-friend. Mace and Raven, however, didn’t impress me. I don’t like paranormal love triangles 99 percent of the time, and this was not the other 1 percent. It felt like the book was trying too hard to be the aformentioned Christian Twilight, and the ‘Christian’ part of it seemed pretty small. Over all, my opinion was that the book was unoriginal and trying too hard to cater to what a lot of teens some to want.

I think Heather has talent. I didn’t completely dislike the book, and I think as an author Heather could write some awesome, awesome stuff – but Halflings didn’t make it.

Ages: 16+

2 out of 5 stars

 

 

- Readers can download a free ebook prequel here: http://tinyurl.com/6tosslq

 

For more info, check out these sites –

http://halflings.ning.com/ is a great website where readers can learn more about Heather’s book.

- Readers can download a free ebook prequel here: http://tinyurl.com/6tosslq

ADD Librarian • The Book Fae • Bookworm Reading • Fiction Fire • My Story Shelf • Jill Williamson • Katie McCurdy • Oh, Restless Bird • Rachelle Rea • SLY Games • Terri Harr • Virtuous Girlhood

And if you need the actual URLs:

ADD Librarian • http://addlibrarian.wordpress.com/

The Book Fae • http://www.thebookfae.wordpress.com/

Bookworm Reading • http://bookwormreading.blogspot.com/

Fiction Fire  •   http://www.fictionfire.blogspot.com/

My Story Shelf • http://mystoryshelf.blogspot.com/

Jill Williamson • http://www.jillwilliamson.com/

Katie McCurdy • http://katie-mccurdy.blogspot.com/

Oh, Restless Bird • http://daughteroftheking89.blogspot.com

Rachelle Rea • http://www.rachellerea.com/

SLY Games • http://slygames.net/wp/

Terri Harr • http://terriharr.blogspot.com/

Virtuous Girlhood • http://www.virtuousgirlhood.com/

 

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Halflings by Heather Burch by clicking on the links above, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.

 

Princess of the Midnight Ball

Author: Jessica Day George

Series: None; prequel to Princess of Glass

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Fairy tale/Romance

Returning home from the war, young Galen finds work with his mother’s family in the royal gardens. There he learns that the king’s twelve daughters have a secret: every night they dance their shoes to tatters, but no one knows how or why. When prince after prince tries and fails to find the answer, and the family is haunted by accusations of witchcraft, Galen decides to help. Armed with a pair of silver knitting needles and an invisibility cloak given to him by a strange old woman, he follows the princesses and unlocks the secret of their curse.

This book includes knitting patterns for a shawl and a chain of black wool that are key to the plot. I will also be posting more knitting patterns here that correspond with with the story.

Positive Content: Galen genuinely loves Princess Rose and wants to rescue her and the sisters from their curse; no matter what it takes. He shows them thoughtful gestures and is respectful, polite, and gallant. The sisters all look out for each other, and their father the King loves them dearly.

Negative Content: Queen Maude placed a curse upon her self and her daughters because she wanted children so much. (She also wanted the war to end) Because of the King Under Stone’s curse, the girls cannot tell anybody about their midnight dancing trips. They are accused of Witchcraft after many princes who try to ‘solve the riddle’ end up dying mysterious deaths. The bishop Angier is malicious and conniving.

Summary: Another fantastic, squeaky-clean fairy-tale rewrite from Mrs. George. It’s so refreshing to have an appropriate and clean book like this!! I highly recommend this to fans of McKinley, Levine, Napoli, etc. looking for a quick, entertaining, good read.

Ages: 14+

5 out of 5 stars

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

Author: Jessica Day George

Series: None

Genre: Young Adult/Fairy tale/Adventure/Fantasy/Romance

Blessed-or cursed-with an ability to understand animals, the Lass has always felt estranged from her family, who struggle to make a living in the windswept north. So when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out and promises that her family will be provided for if she accompanies him to his castle, she doesn’t hesitate. But the great white bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle. Slowly the Lass unravels the mystery of the bear’s enchantment and the spell connecting him with the strange symbols carved in the castle’s icy walls. But on a journey to a place where the four winds fear to travel, the true horror of the bear’s spell is revealed, and the Lass’s courage-and love-will be tested.

Positive Content: The Lass goes through many trials and dangers in order to rescue the White Bear. She has a very caring heart and has strong bonds with her  brother, her father, her wolf, and eventually, the bear. Several characters risk their lives for others. Love is a very strong theme as well. There is no language, no sexual content, and very mild violence.

Negative Content: The Trolls are, well, selfish and wicked. The Troll princess kills of many creatures simply for slips of the tongue. She has also cursed many men into Great White Bears.

Summary: I’m a huge fan of Jessica Day George’s fairy-tale rewrites, and this one did not disappoint me. A rewrite of one of my favorite fairy tales, it beat “East” by Edit Pattou and “Ice” by Sarah Beth Durst. When I say beat, I mean ‘pulled up ahead so far it lost them in the dust.’ I highly recommend this book.

Ages: 14+

5 out of 5 stars

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Series: None

Genre: Young Adult/Futuristic/Mystery/Romance

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox awakens after more than a year in a coma to find herself in a life—and a body—that she doesn’t quite recognize. Her parents tell her that she’s been in an accident, but much of her past identity and current situation remain a mystery to her: Why has her family abruptly moved from Boston to California, leaving all of her personal belongings behind? Why does her grandmother react to her with such antipathy? Why have her parents instructed her to make sure not to tell anyone about the circumstances of their move? And why can Jenna recite whole passages of Thoreau’s Walden, but remember next to nothing of her own past? As she watches family videos of her childhood, strange memories begin to surface, and she slowly realizes that a terrible secret is being kept from her.

Positive Content: Jenna’s parents love her a lot, enough to go to great lengths (which I can’t divulge without ruining the plot) to keep her safe. Jenna tries to be a good daughter, though she can’t really remember anything about who she was before. She hopes she was a nice person. She and several of her friends protect and defend each other. One of Jenna’s friends who is chronically ill is saved, even though the procedure is illegal.

Negative Content: There are a couple instances of kissing, with mention of tongue. One of her friends calls someone a crude word. Jenna, not knowing what it means, then repeats it to her grandmother, to others’ shock and horror. This word is repeated a total of nine times. There are eleven instances of swearing. A boy grabs Jenna and tries to force her to come with him.  She then grabs him in the groin to make him stop (she is saved bya  friend). A car accident is somewhat described. Saving humans ‘not meant to be saved’ is a major theme.

Summary: I’d heard a lot of UH-MAY-ZING things about this book, so I had to pick it up and read it for myself. It was pretty good, actually; it kept me very hooked and intrigued… until I got about 1/3 of the way through the book. Then the author seemed to kind of give the surprise away on a silver platter. However, it didn’t really spoil the book, and I still enjoyed it. The character of Jenna is well-written and you can empathize with her. But all in all, I have to say it was just ‘pretty good.’ Not spectacular, but worth reading.

Ages: 16+

4 out of 5 stars

Siren

Author: Tricia Rayburn

Series: None

Genre: Young Adult/Mystery/Fantasy/Romance

Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything–the dark, heights, the ocean–but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge. That is until Justine goes cliff diving one night near the family’s vacation house in Winter Harbor, Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day. Vanessa’s parents want to work through the tragedy by returning to their everyday lives back in Boston, but Vanessa can’t help feeling that her sister’s death was more than an accident. After discovering that Justine never applied to colleges, and that she was secretly in a relationship with longtime family friend Caleb Carmichael, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor to seek some answers. But when Vanessa learns that Caleb has been missing since Justine’s death, she and Caleb’s older brother, Simon, join forces to try to find him, and in the process, their childhood friendship blossoms into something more. Soon it’s not just Vanessa who is afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes home to a string of fatal, water-related accidents . . . in which all the victims are found grinning from ear to ear. As Vanessa and Simon probe further into the connections between Justine’s death and the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance, and that will change her life forever.

Positive Content: Vanessa really loved her older sister Justine, and Justine did everything she could to look out and protect her younger sister. Vanessa watches out for her friends, and she and her parents try to connect in spite of differences. Simon, Caleb, and Vanessa all demonstrate personal sacrifice and look out for each other. Also, it was surprisingly free of language.

Negative Content: Vanessa’s sister and Simon’s brother are in a relationship.  They kiss a lot, and there’s talk of them making out all summer, and that they just hook up in the summer time.  It turns out that their relationship is more serious than just a summer romance, even though the rumors say it’s a fling. They are in love with each other.-A girl has a mysterious pull on men, and she acts seductively toward them.  She sometimes wears provocative clothing, and entrances them with her voice.  Kissing etc.

-The main characters who have been friends since childhood, have been developing feelings for each other.  Although the main character has never even kissed a boy before, she decides to kiss him and they procede to his bedroom where they sleep together.  There’s some detail about kissing, her taking off her shirt and removing his.  Mention of him slipping his hands between her skin and the button of her pants.  Then they wake up the next morning in bed together.

-A teenage friend of Vanessa’s ends up pregnant by her boyfriend.

 

There are some scary/tense scenes with some of the Sirens.

Summary: This book had just the right mix of intrigue and creepy-ness that made it difficult to put down. It was well-written, fast-paced, and exciting… but by no means ‘squeaky-clean.’ It dealt with sexual content well for the most part, considering it’s about Sirens. If the author could have simply taken out the ‘bedroom’ scene, it would have been a fairly clean book. However, it simply… wasn’t.

Ages: 17+

3 out of 5 stars 

 

The Iron King

Author: Julie Kagawa

Genre: Young Adult/Urban Fantasy/Romance/Adventure

Series: The Iron Fey #1

My name is Meghan Chase.
 
In less than twenty-four hours I’ll be sixteen. Countless stories, songs, and poems have been written about this wonderful age, when a girl finds true love and the stars shine for her and the handsome prince carries her off into the sunset.

I don’t think it will be that way for me.

I’d heard a lot about this book. Critics raved over it, book reviewers adored it, foreign countries sent hit men to snatch up all they could. So naturally I felt compelled to read and review.

Positive Content: Megan really loves her younger brother, and would do anything to get him back from the faeries who have kidnapped him and replaced him with a changeling. She loves her mother as well, even though the two are pretty distant. She really loved her father before he disappeared and still misses him, in spite of everything. She is willing to sacrifice anything – her safety, her memories, her life – in order to protect her friends. She risks everything in order to bring her little brother back from the NeverNever. Likewise, Puck and Ash honor their promises and look out for Megan’s safety.

Negative Content: Quite a bit of foul-mouthing here, including one ‘F-bomb’ (granted, the main character is horrified when this word is uttered, but that doesn’t alter the fact that it was still there) as well as several other a-b-and-d-bombs. Some crude language is used. Many of the faeries are sensual creatures and don’t mind hiding it (Megan herself is the product of a one-night tryst between her mother and the faerie king Oberon). A group of satyrs chases Megan with ‘wicked intentions’ (Puck warned her of  this earlier). Meghan has a few disturbing nightmares concerning her little brother being in danger (i.e. she dreams he’s hanging from wires like some sort of cyborg, etc.) They visit a faerie masquerading as a voodoo seer (the scene lasts only about a page and a half, if I remember correctly). Several people are killed and/or nearly killed. And, of course, there’s the whole ‘love triangle’ thing, which I’m really, really getting sick of.

Summary: This book had a strong imagination powering it, and many aspects of the Iron King are delightful and enthralling. The world of faerie is mysterious, magical, and dangerous, and I grew to like Megan, Puck, and even Ash as they journeyed through the Nevernever in order to retrieve Megan’s little brother. However, there was quite a bit of content that this book could definitely have done without; language and immoral faeries being the main problems. I’d probably own this book – but I would take a lot of black marker to it.

Ages: 17+

3 out of  5 stars

Firelight

 

Author: Sophie Jordan

Series: Firelight #1

Genre: Young Adult/Adventure/Urban Fantasy/Romance

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet of her kind, she nearly pays with her life, only to be spared by a beautiful stranger sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki–a descendant of dragons whose ability to shift into human form is her best defense.

Forced to flee into the mortal world, Jacinda struggles to adapt. The one bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irrestibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will’s dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away – if it dies she will be left a human forever. She’ll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

This book’s cover was awesome, so it caught my eye at the library. It has several things going for it – well-written, realistic, gripping, emotional, believeable characters. I felt like I was really there, and I couldn’t put the book down! However, there were also some things I didn’t appreciate too much. But read on.

Positive Elements: The Draki are everything to the Hunters, but still when he has the chance, a hunter does not turn Jacinda in to the others. He goes out of his way to protect her from both himself and the other hunters. Jacinda tries to do what’s right for the most part, and her mother obviously loves her daughters and wants them to be happy. Even though they argue, Jacinda and her sister Tamra love each other very much. For her mother and sister’s sake, Jacinda tries to be happy in her new life situation even though she hates it.

Negative Elements: A few swear words and a smattering of ‘crude’ remarks. Two boys at school are known to be ‘players,’ and it’s said they’ve been through half the girls at Chaparrall High. Jacinda catches a girl coming out of the bathroom with one of the aformentioned boys. In order to keep Tamra safe, Jacinda goes with her to a party where Tamra consequently gets a little drunk. The sisters are often snarky to one another, having trouble identifying with their differences. But the main thing here is the relationship between Jacinda and Will. I’m not usually a fan of teen romances in the first place, especially ‘passionate’ ones. This is no mild flame (pardon the pun). They’re both instantly attracted to each other, both mentally AND physically. They kiss several times, and each time it’s quite passionate (Fortunately, Jacinda begins to turn into a Draki every time they kiss, so it never goes farther). While they never physically consummate their relationship, it’s still sexually charged and intense, more dwelling on the physical aspects of each other (Jacinda never seems to think about anything except Will’s good looks) than any worthwhile qualities. Being around Will awakens Jacinda’s dying Draki half, and consequently excites and thrills her, making her want to be around him as much as possible.

Synopsis: This book had great possibilities, and, as it stands, is still pretty good for half the time. The other half is disappointment and 16-and-18-year-old romance, focusing more on obsession than real, true, unconditional love.

Ages: 17+

2.5 out of 5 stars

 

The Healer’s Apprentice

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Genre: Young Adult/Romance/Adventure

Series: None

 
Rose has been appointed as a healer’s apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter’s daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her—a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill.
 
When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she’s never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose’s life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.

I had heard a lot about this book, and was ecstatic to find it for a couple dollars at a used bookstore! (It was in fantastic shape, too!) I read it in one day. I loved it. It was well-written and fun and emotional (and the cover is pretty, to boot!)

Self-sacrifice, heroism, chivalry, and love are huge themes throughout the book.

However, this is NOT a children’s book. Sexual situations – though dealt with EXTREME tact and really not innapropriate at all – make it too mature for younger audiences. Also – though also dealt with VERY well, it really isn’t a very large part of the book – a pagan sorcerer pops in now and then, using demons at his will. Though this SOUNDS very dark, etc. I was surprised that it really wasn’t.

This is a book I really enjoyed reading, though read with mild caution.

Ages: 17+

4 out of 5 stars

Beauty

 

Author: Robin McKinley

Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Young Adult

Beauty isn’t. She was when she was small, but now that she is older, Beauty is more of an ironic nickname than anything else. When her family loses all its money and they have to move to a small house in the country, Beauty adjsuts very well. She grows very fond of roses – but little did she know that asking for one would have such dire consequences.

This book was AWESOME! Granted, it takes a little bit to get ‘into’ it. But I was SO pleased that you never met any witches/warlocks or anything (they are briefly mentioned, but that’s it). It was so much better than Robin McKinley’s other retelling, “Rose Daughter” – I was very pleased!  There was no language and really no sexual content (she and the beast fall in love, of course, and her sisters marry).

If you want my complete, honest opinion about this book – it was one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. And that’s saying something.

Ages: 15+

5 out of 5 stars

Rose Daughter

Author: Robin McKinley

Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult/Romance

Beauty has a strange gift with plants – especially her roses. She loves them, and they grow for her – but people are beginning to whisper. Is it magic? Beauty does not believe so -  but when she is sent to live with the mysterious Beast in his castle, she begins to discover things that she never thought she would.

This was a fun book – I’m always up for a good fairy-tale retelling. This is Robin McKinley’s second retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and I found it enjoyable, but there were a few things I didn’t really like.

1. Greenwitches and Sorcerers are mentioned a lot in the book – although right up until the very end, you never really meet one. It is found out that the Beast has a sorcerer’s powers. This was a disappointment, seeing as how I’m very agains tthe whole ‘good-witch’ ‘good-wizard’ thing, Greenwitch or no.

However, there was a pleasing lack of language and sexual situations. Still, wizardry/witchcraft portrayed as ‘good’ is against my principals, so I wouldn’t read it again.

Ages: 15+

2.5 out of 5 stars