Insurgent (Divergent Series Book #2)

Insurgent (Divergent Series Book #2) by Veronica Roth

(Summary taken from inside the book jacket) "One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself-while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so."

I LOVED the first book, Divergent, so I was really excited to read book two. I purchased it right when it came out, but I have so many books that I have to read that I feel bad reading a book I want to. So, it sat under my bed for a very long time. I finally decided it was time. And I was so excited. It had been so long that I had a difficult time remembering all the characters and details at first, but then it all came back to me. Wow, this book did not disappoint! It is exciting, engaging, and well written. It brings out a side of Tris that makes her seem a little more vulnerable: she grapples with guilt from killing Will, and she can't even bring herself to hold a weapon. Her relationship with Tobias, although still there, is strained at times. There is a lot of guilt and forgiveness in this book. I love Christina's transformation. Forgiving your brother's killer would be so difficult. The characters come to life in this book. I love that they are able to interact with a few of the different factions, so we get a sneak-peek into the lives of Amity and Candor factions as well as the Dauntless. I'm with Tobias when it comes to Tris and her lack of caring about herself. She drove me crazy in a few places, but I did understand why she made those choices. There are some interesting turns in this book, and I really enjoyed it. Bring on book three!!!

There is quite a bit of violence in this book. Many people die, and some are well known characters. There are times when Tris and Tobias get close to "intimacy," but they do not ever actually do it. There are scenes where they sleep in the same bed, with not very many clothes on, and hands go places, but they never go farther than that. There are a few profane words, but not a lot. If you loved book one, you will love book two!

Rating: PG-13 (Violence, deaths of characters, minor profanity, and some close-to-"intimacy" scenes with kissing)

Recommendation: 13 years-old and up.  It's a good young adult book.

The Legend of Diamond Lil: A J.J. Tully Mystery

The Legend of Diamond Lil: A J.J. Tully Mystery by Doreen Cronin

(Summary taken from the back cover of the book) "After his last run-in with Vince the Funnel and the mystery of the missing chicks, J.J. the search-and-rescue dog is ready for some much needed R & R. But just when he thinks he has everything under control, there's a new problem to worry about: Diamond Lil, a shiny new dog who's taken up residence next door. Suddenly Moosh and her chicks are spending an awful lot of time with their fancy friend, talking about weird things like fluffy feathers and good posture. And Lil's not the only new kid cramping J.J.'s style. There's a possum loose, and it's up to J.J. to keep everyone safe. But the questions keep piling up. Is Lil all that she seems? And how does the possum keep finding her way to the chicken coop?"

I hate to admit it, but it took me quite awhile to figure out what was going on in this story, who all the characters were, and what in the world was happening. I seriously had to read the first few chapters a couple of times before I finally figured it out. I know, dumb, right? I can read Charles Dickens no problem, but this?? My daughter's second grade teacher picked this book for this month's book group, and so I sat her down and we started reading. At first we were taking turns reading chapters, but it was a little difficult for her, so I ended up just reading it to her. Once I started reading consistently I think we both understood it a little better. When I read that summary above I realized that this is not the first book; maybe it would have been easier if I had read the first book already.  For example, he mentions a  "Barb" and I had no idea who that was until later in the story when I finally figured out that was his owner. The voice of J.J. the search-and-rescue dog is a little sarcastic, and that threw me off in a children's book. So anyway, as the story continued I figured it all out and I actually began to enjoy it. I enjoyed the ending and how it all came together. Once I figured out that Moosh was the mom chicken and her babies were Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie, and that J.J. lives in the same backyard and watches over them, it all became much more clear. So anyway, I liked it, and I think my daughter did to. I did have to stop and explain things to her like what cornstarch is, that Roberta is a girl's name, and what "you look like the back side of bad weather" means. There are quite a few phrases like that, and a second grader has no idea what they mean. Overall I liked it and think it is a good read for second/third graders. It's clean except for some potty talk. I think it's a really good read-aloud so you can stop and explain things the children don't understand. It is a mystery, so it would be a good pick for kids who like the mystery genre.

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: Second grade and up. It may be too difficult for the second grader to read and understand on her own, but makes a good read-aloud. A third grader would understand more of it, I think.

Time In

Time In by Tim Filewod

(Summary taken from the back cover of the book) "What are you like? Would you take a risk? When Toby is invited to travel through time one day, he accepts without thinking. He wants to find his father. Suddenly, he finds himself in the future--in a world with no countries that is controlled by huge multinational companies and policed by the Council and their Time Masters, who need his help. Toby persuades two of his best friends to join him and together they try to prevent an environmental disaster [from] happening by travelling back in time to 1981. However, a sinister organization called MORSC wants to stop them. Will Toby be able to complete his mission and meet his father? And if he ever finds his dad, what will he be like?"

I liked the characters in this story. The kids are cute and adventurous. They might be a little too trusting, but that is the risk they take and it works in their favor this time. Duke and Mark Anthony, and some of the older characters are mostly believable and seem sincere. I like Mr. Filewod's creativity and imagination. There is definitely a lot of action in this book, and it is mostly clean, which is great! There were only a couple profane words, no "intimacy," and some violence (fighting bad guys). A main character does die as well. Unfortunately, that is where my like of this book ends. It definitely needs an editor. There were a lot of spelling and grammatical errors. Although the story was creative, the plot didn't really follow through as I thought it should. I felt like the main purpose of the story was for the kids to go on this mission and fulfill it. That mission mostly became a side-story. Although they tried a few times, the majority of the book was about the fighting and getting away from the bad guys. The last few pages finally got back to the main point, but I felt the solution was unbelievable and almost comical. The story also sidetracks into Toby and his dad. I didn't quite understand what he was going to do once he found his dad, and how that would help his mom. I thought he would go back and try to prevent the accident, but that is not what happened. I'm not quite sure his solution was very believable either, and I don't know really how it would help. My biggest dislike of this book, though, is one of my soap-box issues. I don't care what you believe politically, hiding those political issues in children's books is not okay. As an adult, if I read a book or watch a show that has a political bias, I can identify it and choose whether I agree or not, and if I don't know, then I have the power to research it and figure it out for myself. Children do not have that power or ability. They don't know all the issues and can't identify a bias. They believe what they read. The whole main point of this book is politically-based and biased. It makes one side look like the heroes and the other like horrible monsters, almost. If you want to write a political book, fine, then write it for adults, or write it nonfiction and identify it as what it is. Okay, I'll step off my soap-box now. Sorry for that little rant, but it really irritates me. 

Anyway, I think this book has potential. It needs an editor and some good rewrites. I'd say take out the political bias and have the kids solve a mystery or something. There are some very cool contraptions and some awesome technology; use those and make it fun. 

Rating: PG+ (Fighting bad guys, the death of a main character, a couple of profane words)

Recommendation: 4th grade and up (9-10 years-old)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Spirit Animals Book 1: Wild Born

Spirit Animals Book 1: Wild Born by Brandon Mull

(Summary taken from the back cover of the book) "In the world of Erdas, four children are about to discover if they have a spirit animal, a rare bond between human and beast that gives great powers to both. Separated by vast distances, Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan each see a flash of light...and then the animals emerge. Wolf, leopard, panda, falcon. Each of the children has summoned a beast from legend. Now their fate is set. The four new heroes and their animals must band together on a dangerous quest. A dark force from the past is rising, and only they have the power to stop it. The fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of these brave strangers...and on you."

This book was ok., It was not as good as some of Brandon Mull's other books, but it was good. The kids in the story are asked to do very grown-up things for their age and most of the time they seem to handle it well. They are cute characters. I was glad there was a mixture of boys and girls. Even though they come from different backgrounds, most of the kids seem to work well together. There are, of course, the few that don't play nicely and think too highly of themselves. The bad guys are definitely bad without being overly scary. There is a sense of mystery as you try and figure out which characters are the good guys and which are the bad guys. The concept of the spirit animals is clever and interesting. I liked the scenes where the animals chose their children. It was slow in some parts, but very action-packed in others. My 12 year-old and 10 year-old both read it and liked it, but they didn't love it. They liked "Fablehaven" a lot more. It will be interesting to see where the next books go, since they will be by different authors. I think I will grab them at the library because my boys are always needing new books. 

Rating: PG+ (Fighting, violence.....I read this back in December.....I'm pretty sure there wasn't any language.......)

Recommendation: 3rd grade and up

Eternal Night

Eternal Night by Jade Kerrion

(Summary taken from amazon.com) "Alone for a millennium, since a human murdered her beloved consort, Ashra, the immortal icrathari queen, rules over Aeternae Noctis, the domed city of eternal night. Her loneliness appears to be at an end when her consort's soul is reborn in a human, Jaden Hunter, but their reunion will not be easy. Icrathari are born, not made. If Ashra infuses Jaden with her immortal blood, he will be a vampire, a lesser creature of the night, a blood-drinker rather than a soul-drinker. Furthermore, Jaden is sworn to protect his half-sister, five-year-old Khiarra. She is the child of prophecy, destined to end the eternal night and the dominion of the Night Terrors—the icrathari and the vampires. As Ashra struggles to sustain her crumbling kingdom in the face of enemies without and treachery within, Jaden fights to defend his sister and unravel a greater mystery: what is the city of eternal night, and how did it come to be?"

This book is very different from the other two books I have read by Jade Kerrion. I have to say I was disappointed at first. I was so confused; I had no idea what was going on. There was a lot of vocabulary that I did not understand, and I couldn't figure out what the point was. It took me quite awhile to figure out what was going on, who everyone was, what all the creatures were, and who I should be routing for. However, once I figured it all out, I couldn't put it down. The characters started to come off the page and the story grabbed hold of me. I had a deep respect for Ashra and came to understand why she did what she did, and what motivated her. I began to like her more and more. I liked Jaden from the start. I liked his personality, devotion, dedication, and ability to think outside the box. One of the things I didn't understand was the city itself: why did it continually stay in the dark, how did it do that? And wait, the city floats above the earth? When it said that they could see the earth, I seriously thought they might be on the moon looking at a far-away earth. I did not understand that the city was on the earth, just floating above the surface. Ahhhhh......I know, I'm making myself sound not very intelligent. I finally got it though. I understood why the city moved and stayed in darkness. It's a very interesting yet complicated scenario. After I started putting things together I also came to understand the other creatures more. The Daevas were one creature that baffled me at the beginning. I never liked them, but did begin to understand them more as the book went on. I thought it was interesting how Khiarra fit in and ended up fulfilling the prophecy: it wasn't really what anyone had thought it would be. Even though I had doubts about Siri from time to time, I thought it was clever of Ms. Kerrion to use that name for someone who had "encyclopedic knowledge of science and technology." They were constantly asking her questions. Iphone/pad/pod anyone??? Anyone ever ask "Siri" a question on their device? Hahaha....maybe it's only me, but I thought it was clever. I ended up really liking this book. If you haven't tried a book by Jade Kerrion yet, now might be a good time!

There is profanity in this book along with violence, deaths, fighting scenes, and quite the "intimacy" scene. 

Rating: PG-13+ (Profanity, deaths, fighting, and an "intimacy" scene)

Recommendation: High School Senior and up

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Paths of Thorn and Flame (Dark Matter Heart Book #3)

Paths of Thorn and Flame (Dark Matter Heart Book #3) by Nathan Wrann

(Summary taken from amazon.com) "Cor, Taylor and Caitlyn fled the city, leaving a trail of chaos in their wake. Attempting to regroup, the trio learns that Caitlyn's actions have put Cor's mysterious new friend, Diana, in mortal danger. He must risk everything to save her, only to discover that she may not be who he thought she was. Secrets, lies and new enemies are uncovered down every path that Cor takes as he desperately tries to make things right and so he can ride off into the sunset in search of a normal life."

This book follows right where book #2 finished, and it is filled with lots of action, surprises, twists, turns, deception, mystery, and romance. It follows Cor, Taylor, and Caitlyn as they leave the city and try to figure out what to do next. I didn't love what they did to Orlovsky, but I guess it was better than the alternative. And, I didn't feel like that ever got fully resolved. I know it was mentioned later on, but we never saw it fully resolved. Cor made a lot of rash decisions, which drove me crazy, and I know it drove Taylor crazy as well. Cor needs to learn to calm down and think things through first. Taylor still baffles me a bit; I'm not sure a teenager could really be in his position, but you never know. I do like Taylor a lot, and I think he adds a lot to the story. Caitlyn....hmmm not too sure about her. She makes some rash decisions as well. Some good, some bad. I'm glad there was a little bit more about Diana in this book. I think she's really good for Cor. She brings a little bit more thought and calmness into his life. I liked the turn the story took in this book. I don't know if "normal" is something they will ever find, but it's worth a shot. I think the ending was ok. It left it open for another book or maybe another series. I don't know about what they did with the blood drive truck. I know they needed blood, but there had to be a better way, maybe??? I'm glad that it made Cor stop and think, though.

There is profanity, violence, gore, deaths, and some more gruesome descriptions. This book does have an "intimacy" scene. If you've read the first two books you will want to finish the series for sure. 

Rating: PG 13+ (Profanity, violence, gore, deaths, gruesome descriptions, and an "intimacy" scene.)

Recommendation: College age and up

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

From Out of Chaos (Dark Matter Heart Book #2)

From Out Of Chaos (Dark Matter Heart Book #2) by Nathan Wrann

(Summary taken from amazon.com) "The Cor Griffin Bloodsuckers' story continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Matter Heart. Cor, Taylor and Caitlyn have put an end to The Creeper's reign of terror, but at what cost? The teens' lives are thrust deeper into turmoil as Detectives Tolliver and Orlovsky keep Cor under surveillance; Caitlyn copes with her transformation, and Taylor sets off a cataclysmic chain of events that will tragically change their lives forever."

If you remember my review of "Dark Matter Heart Book #1" , I did not like the ending, and I wasn't sure if I would even read the next two. Well, it took me awhile (over a year), but I did read #2 and #3. I'll review #3 later, but I am glad I read #2. I'm glad I waited to read it, because I had time to shake off the yuckiness of the first book's ending. The book starts off right as the last one finishes, and goes from there. It continues with the same characters. I found the relationship between Cor and Caitlyn very interesting in how it changed and how each of them handled it. Some of the new abilities Cor has are crazy. They might be a little over-the-top and unlikely, but hey, that's what fiction is for, right? I like how Mr. Wrann ties events and circumstances in his story to works of "fiction" like "Frankenstein" and "Dracula." I obviously love to read, and have read "Frankenstein," and think it's funny how Taylor and Diana kept telling Cor to read them because they had answers to a lot of his questions. So it makes me wonder.......are they fiction??? I liked the introduction of Diana into the story and think she added a new perspective and dimension to the story. Taylor's little experiment is.....how do I put it????......horrifying and unbelievable at the same time. One part of my brain kept saying, "Really? He could really do that as a teenager?No way." The other part of my brain totally believed he could because he is intelligent and curious, and it creeped me out. I like Taylor's character a lot, but some of his circumstances are a little sketchy. I don't  know if he could really do what he did as an orphan to become who he is in the story. But, I guess that is the fun of fiction....anything can happen. I am still not sure about Caitlyn. Good? Bad? Her actions at the end of the book definitely made me not like her as much, and not trust her as much. 

Mr. Wrann's writing style is easy to read and pulls you in. There is language in this book, but it is not as bad as the ending of the first book. There is also violence and gore, but it also isn't as bad as the first book's ending. There is some sexual tension between some of the characters, but no scenes or actual discussion about it. A few main characters die, and the descriptions of their deaths are quite gruesome. I'm glad I read this one. I enjoyed it, for the most part. If you liked the first book you will like this one as well.

Rating: PG 13+ (A little lower than the first book's rating of R) Profanity, violence, gore, deaths. It may have an "f" word--it's either in this one or the next one--I read them one after the other so I can't remember.

Recommendation: College and up (That is what I rated the first one, and even though it's not quite as bad, anyone who reads it will have read the first one, so they need to be the same."

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Love Water Memory

Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge

(Summary taken from the back cover of the book) "At age thirty-nine, Lucie Walker has no choice but to start her life over when she comes to, up to her knees in the chilly San Francisco Bay, with no idea how she got there or who she is. Her memory loss is caused by an emotional trauma she knows nothing about, and only when handsome, quiet Grady Goodall arrives at the hospital does she learn she has a home, a career, and a wedding just two months away. What went wrong? Grady seems to care for her, but Lucie is no more sure of him than she is of anything. As she collects the clues of her past self, she unlocks the mystery of what happened to her. The painful secrets she uncovers could hold the key to her future--if she trusts her heart enough to guide her."

I loved this story. It is written so well (except for the profanity, which I will get to later.....). The language of the story is beautiful and captivating. I was hooked from the first paragraph. How could you not be? I mean, a very well dressed woman finds herself in the water searching for something, and she can't remember anything about herself. What happened to her to cause this? Who is she? Does she have a family? Friends? A job? Where is she from? I had to find out. The first part kind of reminded me of the old movie "Overboard" with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Do you remember that movie? So cute. Anyway, this woman can't remember anything, and it intrigued me from the get-go. Not only is the writing beautiful and the story captivating, but the characters are so well done that you just fall in love with them. I couldn't get Lucie off my mind, even when I wasn't reading. I wondered about her and her past. I did kind of find it hard  to believe that she had these fancy clothes and an expensive bag and she decided to dump them for a mini denim skirt, a t-shirt with a saying on it, and a bag from Guatemala. But, what would I do with a new start? That's just it.....I never stopped thinking about Lucie while I was reading this book, and even after I finished. I just kept wondering what I would do, and how would I feel if I were Lucie, or how would I feel if I were Grady? Grady, now he is another character that comes to life on the pages. I felt bad for him because here he had this fiance and now she doesn't remember him or anything about their life together. I felt his frustration, but at the same time, I think he handled it fairly well. I loved that they got a fresh start. I loved that they could both start over. The story of them re-finding their love is both maddening and beautiful, but fascinating all the way around. I never really liked Helen. I know she had endured a difficult life, but she was so angry and mean. This story is crafted so well. It has mystery, intrigue, romance, and a fresh look at life.

One of  the only things about this book that I did not like was the profanity. Oh. my. I LOVED the story, but I can't recommend it to any of my friends because the language is terrible. Awful. The kind of every day, common, swear words aren't that bad. However, there are so many "f" words that it made me sick.  Ahhhhhhh!!! Why do authors feel the need to ruin such incredible stories by using such awful words? I don't get it. I don't. I'm sorry. When the profanity is that bad it totally detracts from the flow and quality of the story; it's disappointing to say the least. The other thing I didn't like was the sexual language. I know, they're consenting adults and they had at one time been quite "intimate." I also know it's a real issue in relationships, but that doesn't mean that I want to read very descriptive details about when a man gets excited (that's the nice way of putting it) or all the explicit details about what goes on. 

I wish I could recommend this book to my friends because it's an amazing story. I just wish it didn't have the profanity or the explicit details of their "intimate" relationship. It is crafted so well, the language of it is so beautiful (if you take out the profanity), and the characters come to life on the page. Lucie's past turns out to be not-so-pretty, so there are some disturbing, graphic, and violent scenes as well. However, if profanity doesn't bother you, you will love the story.

Rating: R (This is not appropriate for younger readers.) Profanity (especially the "f" word), explicit "intimacy" details, domestic violence, murder.

Recommendation: Adult

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

                                                                         

                                                          

Kyle By Fire

Kyle By Fire by Mark Minson

(Summary taken from amazon.com) "Everybody has some magic. Kyle has a lot of it. But all he wants is to fit in as a junior in high school. Dating a pretty girl would be nice too. One out of two isn't bad. An organization hundreds of years old that wants to lower everyone's magic level finds out that Kyle is an Extraordinary Talent in Metal-working. He has the most magic in his talent anyone can have. This makes him a threat to their plans so he must be eliminated. With his best friend, James, and the Council of Magic, he has to battle an enemy mingled among the low magic holders while trying to protect those he cares about."

Full disclosure: I have known Mark since high school. Hahaha....We even took creative writing together. However, I did not go easy on him, I promise. I told him I was nervous that I wouldn't like it and then what would I do? Luckily for me, I really enjoyed it. There were some editing issues, but he promised me he fixed them, so I'm excited to introduce you to a new author and my friend Mark. 

I actually did enjoy this book (and not just because the author is my friend). The characters are believable and well developed, especially Kyle, James, and Jessica. They are in high school, and I like that they aren't perfect. They make mistakes and don't always do perfectly in school. They have problems with friends and family members, and yet, they are able to rise above their trials and do some great things. I like that Kyle looks for, and sees, the best in everyone. He doesn't put boundaries on what people can achieve, even when everyone else around him does. I also like that Kyle is a problem-solver. He doesn't wait around for someone else to solve his problems; he works hard, practices, and searches for answers. I also like that he doesn't let his power go to his head. James and Jessica also have a lot of those same qualities, but they have their own talents and abilities as well. The story is creative and imaginative, with lots of action and surprises. There was a part that I thought was quite predictable, but he changed it, so that shouldn't be an issue either. There is a little bit for everyone in this book: action, adventure, magic, romance, and suspense. I also love that this book is clean! Okay, there is a little bit of kissing, but that is it. There is no language or intimacy. There is some violence, and a few bad guys get really hurt, but it is not over-the-top or gory. I haven't handed it over to my boys yet, but will shortly. I think they will really enjoy it. I liked it a lot and definitely recommend it, the middle graders will especially enjoy this book. 

Rated: PG+ (Violence, including fighting and people getting hurt.)

Recommendation: 5th Grade and up (About 10 years-old), if they're okay with an occasional kiss. :)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I have also known the author since high school....don't worry, it is still an honest review. 

The Vampire Hunter's Daughter

The Vampire Hunter's Daughter: Complete Collection Parts I-VI by Jennifer Malone Wright

(Summary taken from an email the author sent me) "This special edition of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter contains parts I-VI, the complete collection. Fourteen-year-old Chloe witnesses her mother’s murder at the hands of a vampire. Before the vampire can kidnap her, there is an unexpected rescue by a group of vampire hunters. Overwhelmed by the feeling of safety, Chloe passes out and they whisk her away to their small community. When Chloe wakes, she comes face to face with the only other living relative, besides her mother, whom she has ever met: her grandfather. Chloe’s mother kept her hidden from the family; now, Chloe tries to unveil the family secrets. Through her grandfather, she learns her mother was a vampire hunter. In fact, her entire family is descended from the powerful bloodlines of vampire hunters. Chloe agrees to join the family she has never known for one reason only: Chloe vows to kill the vampire responsible for her mother’s murder. With vengeance in her soul, Chloe is even more determined to follow through on her vow when she discovers the true identity of her enemy and how he is connected to her."

I liked this book. It had a lot of familiar vampire themes and situations, but it had its own twist to it. It was a fairly quick and easy read, and although a little slow in some parts, it was action-packed in others. The characters were developed well, and I did come to like most of them. Chloe was ok as a main character. She was at least a strong character most of the time, and although she had some moments of self pity and gloominess, she usually tried to pick herself up and work hard to get out of whatever situation she may have been in. Her relationship with Drew drove me crazy, but I had to remember that she is only 15, so she hasn't had any experience in a close relationship. And, 15 is a hard year anyway, and her mom had just died. So, I tried to cut her some slack. I did like Drew most of the time. I also liked Luke and Gavin. The story, although mainly simple, does have a few twists and turns. It is somewhat predictable, but not enough to detract from the story line. I thought some of Chloe's powers were great, and would want a few of them for myself. I thought Ms. Wright's descriptions of the scenery were well done and painted a beautiful picture of the community they live in. I especially liked the waterfall. 

There is some language in this book. There are a few scenes that are violent and somewhat disturbing. There is some gore (They are hunting vampires, so there is bound to be some blood are gore, right?) and some fighting scenes. There are a few references to sex, although there aren't any actual scenes. Overall, I did like the book. It was entertaining, and was a quick, easy read.

Rating: PG-13+ (Language, violence, gore, abuse, references to sex--one of the ladies is "used" by a vampire for not only blood, but sex as well.)

Recommendation: 16 years old and up.