Happy Horror Release: Supernatural

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
aka The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
by Stuart Turton
-Horror, Supernatural, Occult
Release date: September 8, 2018 US
Amazon | Goodreads
A brilliantly original high concept murder mystery from a fantastic new talent: Gosford Park meets Inception, by way of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express One of Stylist Magazine's 20 Must-Read Books of 2018 One of Harper's Bazaar's 10 Must-Read Books of 2018 One of Marie Claire, Australia's 10 Books You Absolutely Have to Read in 2018 'Somebody's going to be murdered at the ball tonight.

It won't appear to be a murder and so the murderer won't be caught. Rectify that injustice and I'll show you the way out.' It is meant to be a celebration but it ends in tragedy. As fireworks explode overhead, Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed. But Evelyn will not die just once.

Until Aiden - one of the guests summoned to Blackheath for the party - can solve her murder, the day will repeat itself, over and over again. Every time ending with the fateful pistol shot. The only way to break this cycle is to identify the killer. But each time the day begins again, Aiden wakes in the body of a different guest. And someone is determined to prevent him ever escaping Blackheath...

Detour 2 Death by J.R. Turner

Detour 2 Death
by J.R. Turner

Published: 2011
Publisher: Echelon Press
Genre: Supernatural, YA
ebook
Rating: 3

Description from the amazon:
There are worse things than death, but not at Marsden Memorial hospital.

Kaylee Hensler knows her best friend Davey is on the brink of death. She knows this because she’s a psychic. When she flees the girl’s reformatory her parents sent her to to get to him, she has no idea the special sort of hell waiting for her.

Reapers are collectors and they come in many forms. In Feverland, the world created by Davey’s sickness, the red reaper goes by the name of Molok, an ancient evil with deep roots. In Shadowland, the dark side of the hospital, a black reaper promises torture and torment to lost souls. The white reaper is the most fearsome, giving Kaylee three days before he collects both her and Davey’s soul.

Kaylee has one secret weapon, one she doesn’t fully understand. Her abilities will be tested, her loyalty betrayed, and her love misplaced. No one escapes Death.

Extreme Hauntines Series:
Dead Friends Forever
School's Out 4-Ever
Detour 2 Death

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): limbo
This story involved the struggle between characters and with supernatural beings. Faith and angels play a part with some of the action. However, I just could not connect with any of the characters to care.

Note that I have not read books 1 and 2 which may establish the personalities and relationships of the characters for better enjoyment of this 3rd book.

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
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* review copy courtesy of author

* must say though, i was intrigued with the main characters in J.R.'s pirates guest post

* check out these self defense links from the author

Assiniboin Girl by Kathi Wallace

Assiniboin Girl

by Kathi Wallace

Published: 2009
Genre: Historical Mystery, Supernatural
e-book: 115 pages (if printed)
Rating: 3

Available at: Drollerie Press

Inspiration: first e-book requested review

Description from publisher's site:
Mary Two Dogs is lost. She grew up in New York the only child of musician parents, but when they die in a car accident coming back from a gig, she’s shipped off to live with her Aunt Janet in Georgia. The South is a strange new world to her, and she becomes the target of racist attacks from some of the other girls. Her Aunt Janet, an undercover FBI agent can’t move, but to keep Mary safe, she sends her to the Assiniboin reservation in Montana.

There Mary has to learn to deal with a whole new world, a completely different set of expectations. Pitied for her lack of understanding of her people, she must learn what it means to be Assiniboin and who she is. To do that, she must find her true name.

My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): True name
Although this is an e-book, I ended up printing out a copy to read. The title of the book didn't really grab me. But it sure did my Hubby who ended up reading this as well.

I liked the story alright but felt it was more MG than YA reading material. I found this a light read that touched upon serious issues like racism, murder and death. It was interesting to read about Mary's Sioux reservation experiences.

Amusing quote:

My mother always tells me to watch my mouth. It runs like a chicken after grubs. -Sue

Hubby's rating: 3.5

Hubby's thoughts: Entertaining. He liked the Native American aspect.

Book trailer:

I like the silhouettes in the the sunset.

******* updated: 7.6.09 *******

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
by Beth Fantaskey

Genre: Romance, Supernatural, Vampires
Published: 2009
Hardback: 354
Rating: 5

Inspiration:
I wanted to see how a Romanian vampire princess comes into her own (reminds me of the Princess Diaries) also liked Persnickety Snark's review and Debut Author Challenge

Description from book:
Enter a bizarre new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu who claims Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth and he's her long-lost fiance. He's arrogant, officious, embarrassingly overprotective, and, well, incredibly hot.

Armed with a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica tries to imagine the transition from an average American teenager to a glam European vampire princess. But just when things start to heat up with Lucius, a devious cheerleader sets her sights on him.

Soon Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war--and save Lucius's soul from eternal damnation. All of which leaves her to wonder: Wouldn't life be easier if she could just fall for a nice mortal boy?

My thoughts:
In-a-word: Pact - schmact
Very entertaining story! It did not fail in creating a different kind of vampire lore. The element of young love was satisfying. I loved watching the transformation of the spunky main character from teen to adulthood (ahem... vampirehood).

Looking forward to her next work: Jekel Loves Hyde (amazon.com says it releases July 10, 2009)

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes
by Cassandra Clare
Genre: Supernatural
Published: 2008
Hardback: 464 pages
Rating: 4

Inspiration: book 2 of series

Description from Simon and Schuster's site (you can hear an excerpt here too):

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

My thoughts:
In-a-word: Runes-speak
As with the second book in trilogy series, you're in for more action, more character development and a cliffhanger ending. The book did well in describing and pulling me into the Shadowhunter world. Also, the hints of Jace's true lineage is enough for me to pursue book 3.

The Mortal Instruments Series:
City of Bones
City of Ashes
City of Glass

Vampire Knight v.3 by Matsuri Hino

Vampire Knight v.3 by Matsuri Hino
Genre: Supernatural
Published: 2007 English version
Paperback: 192 pages
Rating: 4

Inspiration: part of manga series I started last year and want to continue

Description from the book:
Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: The Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Kaname, the pureblood vampire, has kept to his room since learning of Yuki and Zero's forbidden act. However, the arrival of Ichijo's grandfather brings the entire Night Class together to greet one of the oldest vampires on the senate. Ichijo's grandfather says he's there merely to visit his grandson, but he's out for Kaname's blood.

My thoughts:
In-a-word: Pureblood
Although, I thought the storyline was okay this time around, I like the graphics. The vampires are a lovely bunch, except when feasting. There's a love triangle (see portrait, Zero, Yuki and Kaname) in this storyline which keeps me guessing. But I'm more interested in this vampire world's lore.

Kit's Wilderness by David Almond

Kit's Wilderness by David Almond
Genre: Supernatural
Published: 1999
Hardback: 229 pages
Rating: 4
Inspiration: Page Flipper's Top Teen Book list post and Persnickety Snark's Operation Retirement Rescue

Description from book:
Thirteen-year-old Kit goes to live with his grandfather in the decaying coal mining town of Stoneygate, England, and finds both the old man and the town haunted by ghosts of the past.

My thoughts:
In-a-word: Ammonite
This is a gem of a story. I like how the past and the present links with each other and how it goes as far back as cave men times. There are also friendships that form and bloom.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Genre: Supernatural
Published: 2007
Paperback: 485 pages
Rating: 4

Inspiration: release of City of Glass (book 3 of the series)

Description from book:
Suddenly able to see demons and the Shadowhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, fifteen-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizarre world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster.

My thoughts:
In-a-word: reunion
Being the first in a series this book does a great job of drawing the reader into its world. It is filled with action, betrayal, love, good, evil, twists and turns. What I enjoyed the most from the book is the engaging dialogue sequences. By the end of the book, you'll find yourself screaming for more. On to book two...

The Mortal Instruments Series:
City of Bones
City of Ashes
City of Glass