After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city.
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.
Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose. Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?
Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.
Thanks to all the wonderful publishers who supplied these amazing books!
"Thunder Bay, Ontario, is our destination. I'm going there to kill her. Anna Korlov. Anna Dressed in Blood."
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.
*************
Kendare Blake has created a world that has left me craving more. From the very first page, I was hooked. Anna Dressed in Blood is a beautifully written horror story with everything you would want rolled into one book. If you like a gruesome horror story, this book is for you. If your into a good Murder Mystery, Anna Dressed in Blood is right up your ally. If you want a uniquely written story with humor, love, loss and characters that will blow you away, Then Anna Dressed in Blood is your book.
Cas is no ordinary teenager... He is a bad ass ghost killer. Cas along with his mother, travel the world in search of ghosts who need to be sent from this world. After receiving a tip, Cas travels to Thunder Bay, Ontario in search of her, Anna Korlov, Anna Dressed in Blood. Blake has captured Cas's character perfectly. She has turned him in to a real person, from his laid back; carefree attitude, to his use of teenage slang, he definitely reminds me of my younger brother. It is not very often when you find the main character to be male, and it brings a new freshness to YA books.
Anna was such an amazing character to read. She was genuinely scary and yet had a softer side that made her one of my favorite characters in YA to date. Anna is constantly struggling to find herself which gives you such a diverse and interesting perspective to read. I love constantly wondering what she will do next.
Anna Dressed in Blood was by far my favorite read of 2011. I loved the dark humor and the gruesome details that Blake has introduced in her story. She has truly captured the essence of a teenage boy in today's society and the more reserved side of a girl who grew up in the 1950's. The way Blake was able to tap into the mind of each character and made them feel so real was mind-blowing and I have truly enjoyed every word she has written. Overall I give Anna Dressed in blood 5+ Hoots. It was exceptionally written and laugh out loud funny. I can not wait to revisit this wonderful world in the sequel.
I was born and grew up on a wheat and sheep farm in Western Australia. As the youngest by quite along way, I was left on my own a lot to read books, dream and run wild. Adolescence was rough when I was wrenched from my lovely cocoon and sent to boarding school. I started writing at an early age (eight) but didn’t really knuckle down to it until I was about 30. Since then I’ve worked hard to become a better writer. In my leisure time I love sport and reading and TV.
2) What was the inspiration for writing Burn Bright?
I’ve always been interested in the idea freedom versus rules and regulations. And I’m fascinated with nocturnal creatures. The two things kind of collided and Burn Bright was their baby!
3) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing Burn Bright?
I think as a young girl I experienced minor forms of oppression and those things came out in the writing of the book. As a teenager you can feel very disempowered and Retra’s journey helped put some things to rest for me. As the writer, I was cheering for her (the character) to get strong and more confident.
4) Was Retra's character based on anyone or were they purely made up character? What is she like?
Retra is a purely fictional character. She’s a girl who’s had little life experience and has been terribly sheltered. Going to Ixion is the beginning of her discovering herself and the world. She’s shy but smart and she’s very loyal.
5) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Burn Bright?
That was my publisher’s inspiration. We knew we wanted something really special, and someone at Random House had see Jaroslaw Kubicki’s work. Once you’ve read the book you’ll understand that it’s a perfect fit. I think he is an inspirational artist.
6) Do you plan to have Burn Bright as a stand alone novel or part of a series?
It’s part of a series called The Night Creatures trilogy. Book two, Angel Arias, will be out later this year. And book three, Blaze Dark, will be available next year.
7) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?
Funnily enough, I can’t. I love music too much and find it too distracting while I write. However I listened to Yunyu’s song (http://www.burnbright.com.au/the-music/) so many times during the time I was writing Burn Bright, that I think of that as my soundtrack.
8) What do you plan on doing in the future?
Well, I have book three still to write. I also have an idea for a book written about which I call Emo Traders which will be my next young adult proposal. Can’t tell you too much yet ,but it’s a neat and scary idea. Watch the website www.burnbright.com.au for updates.
9) What are you reading right now?
I’m reading a lot of crime novels at the moment. It seems to suit my mood.
10) Who are a few of your favorite authors?
In YA: Melissa Marr and Isobelle Carmody.
In SF: Ian McDonald, Jon Courtenay Grimwood and Nancy Kress
In Crime: Stuart MacBride and Michael Connelly
In Paranormal Fantasy: Patricia Briggs, Diana Pharoah Francis, Kat Richardson
I'm 25, live in Florida, and own way too many books. Wanna know a secret... I hated reading until my little sister made me read a little book called Twilight. Then I was hooked. Now I am obsessed with it. I guess I just needed some inspiration! Happy Reading!
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