Review: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (Anna #2)

Title: Girl of Nightmares (Anna #2)

Author: Kendare Blake

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy

Publisher: Tor Teen

Synopsis/Summary (could be spoilery to people who haven't read the first book): It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

Find the Book on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

     First of all I want to talk about my concerns going into this book. Anna Dressed In Blood was a really, really good book, but I thought the ending was pretty much a closure. We didn't get a happily-ever-after ending, but everything was kind of resolved, there were no important mysteries left. So I was worry that Girl of Nightmares would just be a forced continuation of Anna Dressed In Blood, either with no connections with the first book or the plot was entirely forced out, but I see that those were wasteful concerns. Because Kendare Blake can always write a good story. Because I love everything about this series.

     The book started about half to almost one year after the events of Anna Dressed In Blood, Cas was still moaning over Anna, refusing to let her go. Then he started seeing Anna everywhere, but not the good kind, he was seeing her being tortured, killed and could do nothing to stop it, because Anna wasn't really there. I was a little hesitant going into the book because of the aforementioned reasons, and for the first 30 pages or so it really did seem like nothing would be going on. There were only vague expressions about "things are going to happen", "I feel that something big is going to happen", something like that. Then Anna appeared, and things really started going on.

     There are several things I like about the plot. For one, I like that the plot actually relates to the previous book, instead of just making up a bunch of events and throwing Anna into it. In this book we dived into the aftermaths of clearing the curse/link/connection of the athame with the Obeahman, while further expanding the paranormal world of the series.

     Secondly, I like that the plot has a really good climax. my heart wasn't actually beating fast while reading that, but I felt the urge to read, to keep going, even though the chapter had already ended, I just went on with the next chapter without pausing.

     Thirdly, love the butter sweet ending. I guess there would never be a happy ending for Cas and Anna, but I am glad about the way it ended.

     I have something to say about the writing too. This book was written from Cas' POV, first person. We got the somewhat scattered thoughts of Cas all the time. Sometimes I am a little annoyed by it, it seemed like he would miss out some detail when things happened, then suddenly sprang it back at your face a few paragraphs later. But I also love his humor, he never fails to crack me up, even if he wasn't trying. The writing doesn't really omit a scary feel to it, but then again, I feel that that was never the atmosphere Blake wanted. I think she was trying to craft a tragic love story with two very stubborn and hard-ass characters, so the feel should be grim, but the slight humor was a wonderful touch too. :)

 

    I think every book I've read that involves magic or paranormal powers is somehow always linked to Voodoo and Wicca and stuff. So there was no surprise there that this book also have Voodoo and some other way of magic in it. There were rituals and other stuff, so I could see that Blake did her research.

    Oh, I can't tell you how much I love all the characters in this series! Cas, Thomas, Carmel and Anna are such charming characters!

    I have developed a very deep case of love towards Thomas in this book. His setting was actually quite the basic side-kick type, faithful to the protagonist, possess some powers that are great asset to protagonist, etc. But I could really see his growth in this book. In book one, he was just the scrawny, annoying friend of Cas, but in this book I could see him being more brave, and of course, I could really see his loyalty to his friend when he stood by him through every crazy attempts to help Anna. He has definitely snatched a place in my heart. I might actually like him even more than Cas. But Cas was funnier ;P

    Some goes for Carmel, she was more fierce this time. A little shaken-up at the first half of the book, but she really came through later on, and was there when Cas needed her. I think she and Thomas make such a cute couple. They basically come from two different worlds, Thomas as the nerd/freak and Carmel as the queen bee, but they compliment each other so well. I love them!

    There is a new character introduced in this book, and that's Jestine. Jestine is another feisty female character created by Blake's awesomeness. I have some reserves about her, despite her actually being genuine and frank with Cas and the others. Maybe it's because there might be something going on between her and Cas? I don't know, I just couldn't really like her like I adore the other characters, but maybe she will grow on me, if we get another installment *hint, hint*.

     I am giving this book 5 stars! The climax was so good that I couldn't take my eyes off the book! Kendare Blake did her magic again on this book and brought us an unforgettable and tragic love story with ghosts and kick-ass female characters! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, okay, maybe not kids under 13, but I am sure everyone 13 and up would enjoy this book! There's no steamy romance scenes, so younger YA readers could enjoy it too and even though this book has a ghost, it's not necessarily scary, a little bloody at times, but it's not the hide-under-your-bed kind of scary, so you should be able to enjoy this book! And need I remind you, it's almost Halloween! A ghost story is just what you need to get in the festive mood! So, go on, go to the nearest bookstore and buy the 2 books, you won't regret it ;)

Rating: 5 stars!

This book actually talks about the afterlife, so what do you think exists in the afterlife? Do you think there really are Heaven and Hell? If there is, how is it determined that you would enter Heaven or Hell? Judgment? Or by a lucky draw? ;) Tell me in the comments below, I <3 reading comments and chatting with you guys!

Review: Doomed/Beelzebub Girl by Jayde Scott (Ancient Legends#2)

Title: Doomed/Beelzebub Girl (Ancient Legends #2)

Author: Jayde Scott

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Scotland (self-published)

Synopsis/Summary: Enter a paranormal world of dark magic, rituals, love bonds and legends… 

Fallen angel Cassandra wasn't supposed to fall in love with Dallas. It should've been just a bit of fun she couldn't resist. The bond they share could save her from her curse before she's forever bound to Hell. Trouble is, she's Lucifer's daughter and Dallas is mortal, and mortals don't survive in Cass's world. When strange things are starting to happen in Hell, Cass knows she must protect Dallas at all costs because where Cass comes from, losing one's twin flame is a fate worse than death... 

Will chaos-loving Cassandra find a way to sway her immortal family in time with a revengeful killer wracking havoc in Hell in her quest to get the one thing half the paranormal world desires?

Find this book on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

    This book, is pure genius guys! It's totally worth the $2.99 on Amazon! I am not a big fan of paranormal romance, but I tell you, this book will suck you in even if you're not a fan of the genre!

    Okay, so, now that I have calmed down enough to compose my thoughts, I'll tell why you HAVE to read this book.

     First of all, Cass! But that shouldn't be discussed in the plot section, so... Second of all, humor! Seriously, this book had me cracking up the whole time, sure there are dramatic and sad parts, but most of the story focused on Cass as she tried to maintain his relationship with Dallas (Amber, our protagonist of the first book's brother) while keeping her paranormal identity a secret! Now, we all know secrets in a relationship is a big no-no, so I had a lot of fun (yes, call me a devil for watching people suffer from their own messes) reading about how Cass managed to hide Dallas from the fact that they are in Hell, literally. Most part of the book feels like a rom-com to me, and it actually lightens the mood while reading most of the book. For the remaining of the book, it was very dramatic and it was so gripping that I literally couldn't detach myself from my phone (sadly, I don't have a Kindle). So, in short, this book is equal part dramatic and funny, Jayde Scott pulled it off wonderfully!

     Another thing that I liked about the plot, the ending! Seriously, it's part cliffhanger and part closure, and I love it! It gave me hope after the tragedy that happened near the end of the book, while also telling me that it's time for the story to end and we as readers left Dallas and Cass alone to fight for their love and bond. I have always complain about endings of other books, because most either ended too abruptly and rushed or too perfect, leaving readers no room of imagination, this ending, in my opinion, is perfect! Ugh, I just love it to death, I'm even okay if there's no sequel, leaving me with the little cliffhanger, because I just feel the overwhelming hopefulness in the end and I know how things will turn out, doesn't mean it's predictable though ;)

    Third thing I love about the plot, the romance! Yes, it's very rare that I would love the romance of a book so much, recently there's only Alice in Zombieland (haven't officially started it, I bought the physical book and the ebook, and I might have taken a few peaks in the ebook, but I love reading  physical books, so I'll endure, for now. Until the book arrives...), but now I have one more to the list, Cass and Dallas! Seriously guys, these two aren't overly clingy like some couples and they never got more than just a few intense kisses but that's enough for me, 'cause I can feel that they are passionate about each other. However, if you're looking for romances that's so steaming hot it makes feel like you're in a sauna, it might disappoint.

    One weird thing about the plot though, is how fast Cass and Dallas progress. Sure, they're mates and all, but Dallas actually moved in after only three chapters, and it was mentioned in the start that they hadn't seen each other for months before the story began... Now, I don't know about you, but I think that's too fast, Dallas said he wanted to skip the dating part but really? He moved no more than 24 HOURS after their FIRST meeting in MONTHS, tell me I am not the only one finding this particularly weird. Well, I guess there really is nothing that could keep these lovebirds apart. Aside from this, I freaking love EVERY part of this book! Ugh, I am fangirling again, let me compose myself...

    Okay, I am finding the setting of Hell is really stereotypical. Unbearable heat, dying trees, cracking earth? It's definitely the typical image for Hell, so like A Job From Hell, the settings are common, yet again, Jayde Scott put a good spin on the idea and made it into the perfect backdrop for the romance between Dallas and Cass.

    So, there's a curse involve in this book too. I've found a formula, paranormal romance+fated bond+curse=Ancient Legends boos. I don't mind Jayde Scott repeating this formula though, 'cause I am sure she'll be able to whip up a tale filled with romance with unexpected twist I'll enjoy from this formula. So the setting doesn't really matter much in my opinion, well, unless you're crafting a completely different world like dystopian novels, what matters is the plot, and like I said, I love it!

    I love almost EVERY character in this book! Well, all except for Rebecca, that girl is a pycho.

    I couldn't love Cass more! If you've read my review on A Job From Hell (link here), you'll know that I loved Cass right from the start! She's mischievous and I love that kind of character, they're so much to watch because they seem to have ways to get out of EVERYTHING, and their constant funny yet genius plans don't hurt either. Cass has all of these traits PLUS she's kind-hearted, making me love her even more. Throughout the book, she had had many ingenious ideas, including making Dallas propose to her, clearing Hell's name (at least it's something like that) and I just love it. She's kind immature at times but that made me love her even more! Plus I would really like to someday her persuasion skills, it could be useful ;)

     I also really liked Dallas. Despite what Amber said in the first book, Dallas is definitely a very good guy, and a very hot one too. I like that he seems to put up with Cass' far-fetched lies to hide the paranormal world from him, and his concern on Amber made him so much more attractive. A guy that loves and cares for his family deeply, with charming good looks too, isn't he the package?

     Other characters like Amber and Aidan also made an appearance too, no Kieran and Clara though, what a shame. I am only now realizing how protective Amber is towards Dallas and it did, in some degrees, annoy me a lot. Can't she see that Cass is a really great girl for Dallas? Why did she keep insisting Cass is unstable? It's not like she know everything about her. Well, my rants aside, I still love Amber, and I understand her protectiveness towards his brother, I don't like it though. Aidan doesn't have much part in this book, which is kind of sad 'cause after the first book, he has grown on me a little. Well, I heard that the fourth book will be about Amber and Aidan's story again, so I don't have to worry ;)

Conclusion (notice the title graphics? I actually have one for conclusions too but I keep forgetting to scan it...):

    One thing that I want to note is that I love the cover of Doomed more than the cover and title for the Kindle edition. The cover that I featured in the info brings out the story of this book much better, and Doomed actually sounded way cooler than Beelzebub Girl (how can you be serious when you say the word "Beelzebub"?).

    Okay, covers aside, I really recommend this book to all of you, not just YA paranormal lovers, 'cause this book is great, with the humorous storytelling technique of Jayde Scott, this book sure provides a relaxing read for readers, with a hint of drama and thriller too. But be warned, the ending is not happily ever after but I think it suits the book well. This book can actually be read as a stand-alone, some previous events in book one were mentioned but Cass did briefly recap most of the events and readers would be fine learning about Cass and Dallas on the way, since Cass and Dallas aren't exactly heavily featured characters in book one. So, go on and buy it! The book is only $2.99 on Amazon for the Kindle version and the same on B&N but it promises so much more than its price! I am definitely giving this 5 stars!

Rating: 5 stars!

Do you guys love paranormal romance stories? Any suggestions? What do you think of Doomed? Great? Horrible? I would love to hear your opinion on the comments! :)