In My Mailbox #56

From The Library
Wicked By Sara Shepard Killer By Sara Shepard Audrey Wait! By Robin Benway In The Shadows of Blackbirds By Cat Winters Poison Apples By Lily Archer Clockwork Angel By Cassandra Clare The Last Blue Envelope By Maureen Johnson Black Heart By Holly Black

Red Glove (Book 2, Curse Workers)

Summary:

"Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.
That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she’s human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila’s been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila’s love is as phony as Cassel’s made-up memories, then he can’t believe anything she says or does.
When Cassel’s oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can’t trust anyone—least of all, himself?
Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose."

Plot: The plot is a very fast paced, murder mystery with some spy-like scenes. The story line flows well with Book 1 and in fact was more interesting to me.

Characters: Cassel definitely grew on me more as character, You see his duel personalities, His has this dark side (although, not always aware of it) but then he struggles with his inner want to be a good guy. Lila is a stronger character in Book 2, but there is still an Air of mystery surrounding her. And as usual Sam and Daneca play the role of supporting friends and characters equally well. Sam being goofy and great comic relief, while Daneca has the feminist do-gooder thing down.

Final Thoughts: I enjoyed Book 2 WAY more then I did Book 1, it is a good thing I like finishing series once     I begin reading them (unless absolutely horrid). Although, I do like this series and these books, I don't find them to be anything WOW worthy, hence why I don't have much to say over all. I read it, I liked it, you probably will like it and that is that.  I will say the idea of Curse Workers is pretty original.

White Cat

So, I literally just finished reading White Cat By Holly Black and I am not sure how I feel and to be fair I really wasn't sure what I wanted from this book when I picked it out at the library... So I guess I was a blank slate... but lately I have been on a book low and I need a high.. not meaning I haven't read any good books, just meaning I haven't read enough GREAT books and I feel like this is depressing me into not like other books as much as they may deserve. Although, I did enjoy Please Ignore Vera Dietz and Demon Glass A LOT. Those weren't enough to satisfy me, I guess.

White Cat is about a family of curse workers. Curse workers are normal people who are born with powers that can affect people by their touch. So in this world which is basically modern day America but instead of Mob Families you have Criminal Curse Worker families and in this world being a worker (good or bad) is illegal and to try and prevent being worked.... Everyone wears gloves.  So the main character Cassel grows up in a family of workers and con artists and although he is a great con artist, he is not a worker. So, he spends most of his life feeling like he his on the outside looking in when it comes to his family as workers, since they are so secretive about the going ons of the family business.

As far as the book goes I did enjoy it, I liked how original the idea was and that was most definitely refreshing, but at times.. I felt it was hard to keep up with and I just couldn't fully get lost in it. It was just missing the extra umph of writing in my opinion. However, although at times I was uncomfortable will the darkness of the book, I think Black did a great job at balancing that and keeping the book still YA friendly. In the end I would most definitely read the second book in series and see if it can suck me in even more.

In My Mailbox (8)

Library

A Kiss In Time By Alex Flinn

White Cat By Holly Black

DemonGlass By Rachel Hawkins

Rumors By Anna Godbersen

Gift

A Place of Yes By Bethenny Frankel

"Bought"

Bright Young Things By Anna Godbersen

Eclipse By Stephenie Meyer