Book Review: Twelfth Grade Kills

Title: Twelfth Grade Kills (Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #5)
Author: Heather Brewer

From Goodreads
It all comes down to this.

Vlad’s running out of time. The Elysian Council has given him weeks to live, and that’s if the Slayer Society doesn’t kill him – along with all the citizens of Bathory – first. Then there’s the issue of Vlad’s father, who may or may not still be alive after all these years, and oh yeah, that tiny little detail in the Pravus prophecy about Vlad enslaving Vampirekind and the human race. So much for college applications.

In this epic finale to Heather Brewer’s heart-stopping Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, dark secrets will be revealed, old friends will become enemies, and warm blood will run cold. Just be careful it isn’t yours.


My Review (CAUTION SPOILERS FROM PREVIOUS BOOKS)
I adore this series I really truly do.  It has been so fun watching Vlad grow up and become who he was always intended to be.

The Characters:  Ok I love Vlad - I have from the first book.  He was so easy to love because he wasn't this perfect, self confident boy.  Instead he struggled a lot with everything - from being picked on to dealing with being a vampire.  It was great to see, in this last book, how confident he had become.  He was so much more sure of who is was and what he needed to do.  After 5 books with him he still continued to grow.  I also liked, though, how Vlad still needed to grapple with things happening.  Questioning who and what he should believe, but this time he was much more logical in his thoughts and much more willing to act on them. 

All the minor characters were just as strong as always - from Henry and Joss to Snow and Meredeth.  It was great to see Joss back and how his character develops in the book.  There was so much about him I learned.  Like Vlad he definitely grew throughout the course of the books.  I can't wait to read the books Heather Brewer are writing about him.  It will be neat to learn even more about him. 

And then Snow.  Dear sweet Snow.  Beyond Vlad, she is my favorite character in this series, and I was very please to see how her story developed.  I had worried she would end up fading out of the books, but she was there in a very strong way!

The Plot:  There was a lot going on in this book.  From the question of Vlad's dad, to the question about Vlad being the Pravus or not and saving all humankind!  So many many things!  Thankfully they were all given fair play and nothing seemed short changed.  The questions I needed answered were answered in due time (ok ok so I did get impatient, but that's me!) And boy oh boy was it filled with some awesome twists and turns.  I was never bored because I learned soon on that I couldn't trust anything because it could be pulled out from under me at any time.  What a great way to hold my interest.  This led all the way to a very dramatic final scene where all the answers (well most) are given.  Breath-holding and heart pound right until Vlad's last act.  Well done!

Final thought:  I'll miss you Vlad, but I'm happy with how it all ended.
Best stick-with-you image:  Graduation
Best for readers who: like vampires that don't sparkle
Best for ages: 12+

Waiting on Wednesday: Dork Diaries 3

This is inspired by a meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. In this post I talk about books yet to be released that I'm excited about OR already published book's I've seen that I'm really wanting to read. I also like to try and find books other bloggers aren't sharing so that more books are shared.

 

I'm Waiting On:

 

Dork Diaries #3 Tales from a Not So Talented Pop Star

by Rachel Renee Russell

Release: June 7th

 

This series is just cute and fun, and I love books like that.  I have many many girls that love this series.  Basically thing Diary of a Wimpy Kid for girls.  And what a relatible girl.  Although she's a bit dramatic - she is a pretty typical tween girl.  Can't wait for this one.

 

Summary

Since we first met Nikki Maxwell, she's been doing everything she can to keep everyone at school from learning the truth--that she's there on scholarship in exchange for her Dad working as the school's exterminator. The last thing Nikki needs is having her friends and--worst case scenario--her crush, Brandon, associating her with the humongous roach on top of her Dad's van! Now it looks like her secret could be about to come out, and Nikki's willing to go to any zany and wacky length to prevent that from happening. The timing seems perfect when a major talent competition is announced with a school scholarship offered as the top prize. Nikki loves to sing and dance and now she gets to have tons of fun with her friends while competing for a chance to free her Dad from his obligation! (And free herself from all that potential damage to her reputation . . .) Once again, hijinks and misunderstandings aplenty ensue, as well as more hilarious and heartwarming moments with all our favorite characters.

 

Tween Tuesday - the I So Don't Do Series by Barrie Summy

Tween Tuesday was started over at GreenBeanTeenQueen.  Each Tuesday I highlight a book that is great for ages 9-12 or what is also known at the Tween Set.

Today I'm highlighting the:

I So Don't Do series by Barrie Summy

They are:

I So Don't Do Mysteries

I So Don't Do Spooky

I So Don't Do Make Up

I So Don't Do Famous

This is just a super cute series about a girl Sherry (short for Sherlock) who is recruited by her ghost (yes I said ghost) mother to solve mysteries.  I've had several girls - including my daughter - read these books and really enjoy them.  They are just fun and it's great to find a series like that.

I asked my daughter a quick thought on the books and she said, "Funny" and smiled.  I like that!

Here's the book trailer for I So Don't Do Make Up

Net Galley Month Wrap - Up With Two Mini Reviews

I was excited to participate in NetGalley Month hosted by Red Willow Books.  I had high hopes of getting a ton read.  Well - I didn't.  I did get two read though!  Below are my mini reviews of them.

Those That Wake by Jesse Karp
New York City’s spirit has been crushed. People walk the streets with their heads down, withdrawing from one another and into the cold comfort of technology. Teenagers Mal and Laura have grown up in this reality. They’ve never met. Seemingly, they never will. 
But on the same day Mal learns his brother has disappeared, Laura discovers her parents have forgotten her. Both begin a search for their families that leads them to the same truth: someone or something has wiped the teens from the memories of every person they have ever known. Thrown together, Mal and Laura must find common ground as they attempt to reclaim their pasts.

Review
I wish I would've liked this one more.  It had such a great concept, but honestly I wasn't too sold on it.  The idea was so intriguing.  The idea of being erased from every one's memory that once knew you - wow!  And at first it was wow!  When Laura figures out her parents don't know her anymore I was heart sick!  Her grief was so spot on.  But then from there I got very complicated for me.  I didn't expect it to have so much science fiction, so I think that was the problem.  After they "awake", they start going through all these theories, and I found it very hard to wrap my head around what they were trying to say.  I got, in the end, that it had a lot to do with hopelessness, but I wish it had just stuck to that instead of trying to make it all scientific.  At the end of the book I got the lesson it was trying to teach, but I really had to work for it.  I wouldn't say don't read this book - but I would say be prepared to work for it!

Cool side note - it talks about MEME's! With the use of meme all over the blog world it was really cool to see it explained in the book the way it was.  I kinda understand why meme's are called memes' now :)

Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed, romantic trilogy, L..A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill-ride of a road trip - and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.
They’re out for your soul . . . and they don’t have heaven in mind.

Review
Did like this one better after I got over one thing! Growing up Christian I had one idea of an angel, and I really had to let that idea go with this book.  These are not angels like I know them! They aren't loving and kind at all!  Plus I had to accept the idea that you would want to kill them.  Yikes!  Once I let go of that I did enjoy it much  more.  I liked Willow a lot.  She was so strong and sure of herself.  As her and Alex team up I loved that she did things like drove the car too! She wasn't so helpless and in need of being "saved" or taken care of.  Nice to see that.  As the book went along it did become more romance than I expected.  There was a chunk that was just that.  I think I would've liked a bit more pure action and fight, but I think that's coming in a following book.  I also liked that you never really knew who you could trust or not.  When that happens I find myself sitting up and taking notice better.  Over - all good read once I let go of preconceived ideas.

One part I didn't like - there is a scene where Alex and Willow drink.  It just seemed very out of place and unnecessary to the plot - not to mention they are both under 21.  Most books I get when characters do this, but I didn't this time.  Just a minor thing but one I did want to point out.

So that wraps up my NetGalley Month!