The Beast Is Kissing Me

Published: March 15th, 2012
Hickey of the Beast
By: Isabel Kunkle
Candlemark & Gleam
ISBN-13: 9781936460229


Connie thought freshman year might suck. She never thought it'd be literal.

Bad dreams? No big deal. After all, Connie Perez is starting her first year in the prep school her mom runs. Anyone would be a little stressed, right? When she starts dreaming about strange creatures and places that don't make sense, she doesn't think much about it: there's other stuff on her mind. Then she starts noticing that the people she dreams about get sick right afterwards.
Then everything gets weird.

There's something bad on the campus of Springden Academy. Something that feeds on students and warps their minds. And, as Connie and her friends try to figure out what's going on, it starts to look like she's the only one who can stop it.

Freshman year was hard enough without having to fight evil after class.

Hickey of the Beast is a hilarious look at coming of age in a school where there are no secrets, but plenty of mysteries, and where supernatural studies take on a whole new meaning. It's a story about all the things that make growing up hell: boys, history class, annoying little brothers, and saving the world from evil. When the supernatural comes to school, it's no field day - and that's before you factor in homework.

Review

   Connie has been looking forward to her freshman year and dreading it at the same time.  After all, having her Mom as the principal of the prep school she'll be attending automatically singles her out as a faculty brat, not trustworthy.  Then Connie starts having what seem to be psychic dreams.  She sees girls getting sick and then next thing you know, in real life they're having breakdowns and leaving school.  Connie doesn't take it seriously at first, but then she realizes that she might be the only one who can stop whatever is sucking the energy from her classmates.  She goes on a quest to discover what it going on and her friends support her all the way.  But the answer just might be closer to home than she thinks.  Will she be able to triumph over evil or will Connie just be the latest victim?  This was an interesting book.  The whole thing is a gigantic letter to one of Connie's friends from summer camp about this unbelievable thing that she wants to share with her.  It was an original take on the draining of energy by 'psychic vampires.'  I really liked Connie, she was an interesting heroine and she kept me laughing and wondering what she would do next.  The book held up really well for having originally been in serialized format.  I am glad I got the chance to read it and although the ending wasn't completely unpredictable, it wasn't what I thought it would be either.  I would look forward to reading more about Connie in the future and I will be keeping an eye out for Isable Kunkle's future writings.  Recommended for a fun, different-than-your-average-bear story.

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading Copy from the publisher, via LibraryThing. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published March 15th, 2012.*

Deadly Sweet

Published: September 6th, 2011
Sweet Venom
By: Tera Lynn Childs
Katherine Tegen Books
ISBN-13: 9780062001818


Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Review

   Grace moves to San Francisco to attend a prestigious private school that will better her chances of attending a major college.  She has had a great life with her adopted parents and brother.  Gretchen was kicked around by her parents and lived on the streets for awhile.  That is, until Ursula found her and traine her for her destiny - hunting mythological monsters because she's a descendant of Medusa.  But she's also a teenager and she wishes it wasn't just her job.  Greer is a social whirlwind living a the high and extremely orderly, planned life.  She has no room for monsters or sisters.  I really enjoyed this book!  I liked that it was told from all three girls' points of view alternately.  It WORKED, because each girl has a distinctive voice and personality.  They don't bleed together.  I hope Greer plays a much bigger narrative part in the next book because she was barely in this one at all, and I would like to see more of her.  There is some sweet romance subplot with Gretchen and Nick, the new boy in school and also Grace and Milo, her brother Thane's friend from the soccer team.  The girls have to fight extra hard because a bounty has been placed on their heads.  Someone is trying to get rid of them and they ARE NOT playing!  Thane had some mystery surrounding him as well and near the book he goes off on his own, refusing to tell anyone where he went.  Grace's wimpy, effusive nature does sort of get annoying every once in a while, as does Gretchen's toughness that can turn mean-spirited occasionally.  But overall this was a cute, enjoyable read for people who like mythology and good YA.  I would recommend it for those people.  Also, don't go in expecting brain food, but brain candy and you'll go away satisfied.

VERDICT: 4/5  Stars
Book#9 of Challenge COMPLETE

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*