Release Date: October 2, 2012
(Thanks to ATWT for letting me participate on this tour!)
Published by: Balzer + Bray

Through to You by Emily Hainsworth

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day.

As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.

Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Camden, the protagonist - I never thought I'd actually like reading from a jock's perspective but Emily Hainsworth makes Cam seem real, his hopes and dreams of playing football again also real. Cam's a bit of an alpha, which I don't usually like either, but here it also makes him a bit vulnerable and more of a sympathetic character. He's also specifically cut himself off from his former friends but since you get to read from his POV, it makes you less irritated with him (even though there was a part of me that objected to how volatile he acted in dealing with Mike, his more or less only friend).
2. (+) Portrayal of Grief - It's stunning how well Emily Hainsworth portrays grief.  It's never too much (to the point where you want the protag. to move on already) or too little (to the point where you don't actually believe in how much the protag. loved the person).  Cam's grief felt real and was there in every action he took.
3. (+) World-building - If you read this summary thinking you were going to get an explanation for why there are two separate but parallel worlds, well... you were duped. It's really a shame that they're calling this a scifi romantic thriller and not just a romantic thriller because the scifi part isn't developed... Nonetheless I still enjoyed it. I liked that the author carefully showed us that this was another world with each of Cam's interactions and experiences, and we learn about the slight differences in characters and events through scenes, not telling descriptions. I also liked how she established the existence of the portal into the parallel world -- or rather, the idea behind it.
4. (+/-) Thriller Aspects - On one hand, it succeeds with several of its thriller aspects.  It was also short and didn't prolong the story with unnecessary filler which ratcheted the tension. At the same time, I was still able to predict certain (but not all) parts of the story.
5. (+) Themes - The themes in this novel were done really well. I liked the hint of second chances, what could be, and how your experiences influence who you become... the question of "what if" that often drives authors to write a certain story is really prevalent here.
6. (+) The Romance - The cleverness of having this parallel world is that Hainsworth can compare and contrast the romantic relationships. It was a good way of showing what was real, what was fake, what the flaws were in each relationship, and what also made each sweet.  It made every one more realistic, and I kept wishing that Cam notice what's right in front of him...
7. (--) Forgetableness - This is going to sound really mean, and I don't want to at all, and this is nothing against the author... but I finished reading this book and it didn't stay with me. It was easy to forget because it didn't pull at my emotions. It has good cinematic qualities -- if producers get on their shit and actually make this movie (the book's already been optioned), then they could make it more atmospheric and suspenseful but even then it wouldn't be the kind of movie I'd see (some thrillers, yes, but the premise behind this one isn't the type I think I'd go to the movies for). The idea of a parallel world was cool and well done, but altogether the book lacked... depth for me.
8. (+) Writing - Hainsworth has an engaging style, one that gets right to the center of things. Perfect for the thriller part of the story.
9. (+) Pacing - Admittedly, in the beginning I was a little restless, waiting for everything to start, but once the story got going, it went fast.
10. (+) The Cover - I'm not much a fan of people on covers, but this one gets right to the feel of the book. The darkness, the suspense, the drowning in grief, the shaded title...

The synopsis above is one of the best summaries of a book that I've ever read. If you like it, then I'd say go for the book too.

Release Date: August 7, 2012
Source: ATWT Tours
Published by: St. Martin's Griffin

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

At the moment, I'm on page 120 out of 320 of Glitch, but I'm hitting that stage. Feeling disinclined to continue but wondering at the same time if I'm being too harsh with the book.  You tell me--do I continue or do I stop reading?

What I dislike:

1. the science is wrong.  I don't think I'm a hardcore sci-fi fan, and normally I wouldn't even notice blips in the science... but Glitch interested me because of the science. Emotion is one of the things I've studied in college, and I find it particularly fascinating. I wondered: would this book be based on Eckman's theories (i.e. just by smiling, you'd feel the emotion of happiness... he's also done work to show the universality of some emotions like happiness, anger, fear, etc. and much more) or would it take a more brain-centered approach-- that is to say, would it focus more on the regions lateralized to processing emotion?

It took the latter.  And got it wrong.  The explanation is that the "V-chip" implanted in everyone deactivates the amygdala which "facilitates the emotional response."  NO.  Activation of the amygdala directly correlates to a fear response. For instance, one study found that the amygdala was more active when more of the whites in people's eyes showed (and when do the white of your eyes show?  When you're more frightened of something, etc. etc.) It's theorized that the amygdala has a role in processing other emotions, and yes, it is a part of the limbic system, which is a series of brain structures involved in the processing of emotions. BUT no, the amygdala is not solely responsible for emotions. A "V-chip" designed to shut off emotions would have to do more than that.

For example, it's known that people who have bilateral lesions / damage to both sides of the amygdala have trouble experiencing fear.  They can still experience happiness and sadness etc. etc, and if anything, people who have this damage tend to be "more social" and have increased confidence. The emotions they have trouble experiencing are the ones that more negatively oriented like fear, disgust, and anxiety. Clearly there is more to emotion than just what role the amygdala plays.

The bad science didn't end there.  This book tries to use scientific concepts to explain paranormal abilities. One of the explanations for why Zoe has telekinetic powers is because of evolution. Hmmm... have several generations passed?  Because, yeah, evolution happens over thousands of years, not a few generations. And you cannot focus/direct evolution on one specific subset of people. It just happens, and the likelihood of it happening to this small portion of people?  Yeahhh.  I really could go on and on about this, but there's other stuff left.  The other explanation was plasticity.  Not a lot is known about plasticity, but it's believed to happen when your brain compensates for damage to its other regions (for a long time, the brain was believed to be immutable, unchangeable; this concept puts that belief to shreds by showing how the brain remaps itself in response to certain challenges). There's a famous case of this blind painter who's able to figuratively "see" and paint people/scenes in color because his brain dedicated the space that would normally be activated for the visual system for that.  So if the brain dedicated the neurons that would normally be activated for emotional processing to paranormal abilities, Zoe shouldn't be able to experience the level of emotions that she does after "glitching."  There's a sacrifice involved here. You can't have the best of both worlds.

Another small detail:  Zoe says that at age eighteen, they are given an adult "V-chip" that'll last for the rest of their lives. That logic makes no sense. The limbic system has extensive connections to the prefrontal cortex which is still growing when you are in your twenties. Why would you get a new chip when you're 18 and your brain isn't fully formed yet?  If the Community is really trying to keep its inhabitants under control via inhibiting emotions, it wouldn't do a very good job with that system.  If anything, this only shows that the science was dumbed down for young adult and its max perceived age group.

When I look at #1, I wonder if anyone else besides hard sci-fi fans would be disappointed.  It's more personal for me because I study neuroscience and it's really offensive to see how "hot" of a science it's become -- that people just want to take advantage of it and simplify it to these kinds of means...

ANYWAYS.

2. the premise is great but not executed to its fullest potential. It's essentially the same problem I had with Shatter Me.  This book is trying to tackle too many issues at once.  Emotions + dystopia + paranormal romance = headache. And things skipped over. What seems particularly interesting to me is that if you didn't have emotions before, how would you know to identify them when they came? How would your personality be affected?  How would your conscience change, and would you really want to experience emotions if you had none before? Adrien, the romantic interest, has to tell Zoe what conscience means, but Zoe's already had all these values input into her... like duty and order. How has that affected her conscience?  Does she still not have one without emotions?  If it truly is just knowing the difference between right and wrong, she would already have one, yes? I feel like this book could deal with these questions in a much more potent way... but so far it really hasn't.  


There's also quite a gap in the narrative itself and the premise.  At the start of the novel, Zoe has already started glitching... but even so, there's still this weird feeling I get when reading her POV. I find it hard to believe that she's only just started glitching and experiencing emotion.  Her narrative isn't dry enough for someone who hasn't experienced a whole lot of emotions.

3. the romance is too fast.  I'm not even to page 150. Adrien is the one who pulls Zoe away from a dangerous scene, and their conversations mostly consist of info-dumps about how bad the Community is for enslaving its inhabitants in this emotionless world.  Given the content of their conversations, I have a hard time believing in their romance.  Adrien, maybe I could believe in his side of it. Visions of the future with Zoe in them, with him?  Yeah.  I could see that.  Zoe?  You're just experiencing emotion, you've just left everything you knew behind, and you've realized that the boy before you is attractive in many ways.  But you've known him for less than a day. You're telling me you wouldn't feel overwhelmed by all the info.?  You're telling me that you'll feel that intense of a "connection" within a DAY?  ARGH INSTA-LOVE.

What I like:

1. the dystopian part is well done.  For once, the heroine finds out that the dystopian world is not what she thinks it is... within the first like 50-100 pages.  The whole book isn't you getting angry at the protagonist for not seeing how BAD an idea this society would be.  And I liked that.  And I liked that it felt vaguely dangerous, and I liked the history behind how this society came to be. I can definitely see why Andrea Cremer blurbed this book.

2. the blurb promises lots of plot twists.  I haven't reached any major, MAJOR twists yet, but since she's already realized how bad this dystopia is... what else can there be left besides lots of action and getting to the Resistance and spying and suspense?

I'm already getting the feeling that fans of Nightshade, Matched, and Across the Universe might like this book. (Then again, I am a fan of all three and I'm not too happy with it...) (The book kind of feels like a mix of all three, which is why I'm making that comparison).

So what do you think?  DNF or continue reading?  At this point, I'm kind of leaning towards DNFing but you guys tell me.  Do you want a full review of this book, or do you think this is valid enough for me to stop?  Should I give it a second chance?

Release Date: June 12, 2012
(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!)
Published by: Delacorte Books

Rapture (Fallen #4) by Lauren Kate

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

This isn't a typical review, because if I completely reviewed Rapture, I'd probably end up ranting about the other three books.  I've always thought that the Fallen series had a good premise, even if I thought the story wasn't heading in the way I would've preferred.

Of the Fallen books, Rapture is by far the best.

1. Luce grows a lot as a character. She irritated me in previous books because she would whine and not do anything. Essentially she was the damsel in distress who didn't know how to take care of herself and depended on Daniel. A lot. ...Well, in Rapture, she changes. She steps up and becomes a better heroine, one who's willing to take risks and be the leader that everyone needs her to be.  And bonus points!  She doesn't keep talking about how gorgeous Daniel Grigori is.

2. Daniel is less controlling. Daniel annoyed me at points in the other books because he was so controlling and demanding of Luce when she didn't know much about their relationship or him. A lot of the times I didn't see the attraction, but in Rapture, he's freer and a more assured boyfriend, which made the romance much nicer (and less requiring of suspending my disbelief).

3. The plot. Even though it was a bit cliche (find three artifacts then face the villain), it was better than those of the other books and more expansive, incorporating world-building and historical/biblical details that were interesting to read.

4. More action!  Yes, no sitting around at school, none of that drama.  The countdown element really helped move the story along and kept it fast-paced.

There were some negatives about this book. For one, I predicted what was going to happen about halfway through the book as well as many of the plot twists.... I also felt that Lauren Kate took the easy way out with some of the deaths... but all in all, I'm glad that this was how the series ended.

Fans of the series will love this conclusion as well as the revelations that unfold regarding Luce and Daniel's history, their curse, and Luce's role in this battle of good and evil.

Published by: Random House
(Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher!)
Release Date: June 12, 2012

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

Ten Likes/Dislikes


1. (+) Calder, the protagonist - Calder was the cocky / arrogant YA guy who knew he was good-looking and used that to his advantage, but I think that with the situation Anne Greenwood Brown has set up, you can't help but root for him. He wants to be the better merman, doesn't want to follow his sister's orders for revenge. He pulls back and becomes more compassionate, or at least more kind, when he is with Lily. And it's easy to see why he's motivated to be a part of this plan in the first place. With a reason like that, it makes it harder to fault him for being the way he is.
2. (+) World-building - I loved all the details about being a merman - the transformation, how it hurt, how Ms. Brown showed us every detail of what they looked like as merpeople to how it felt; the migration patterns and the family connections; the positive emotions and the merpeople's needs to feed on humans; reinvigoration and how you could make a mermaid.  I loved the setting too - by Lake Superior - and all the details of an East Coast summer, which I've never experienced except through this book.
3. (+/-) Romance - Paranormal romance, in general, is really hard to sell for me because while I felt for Calder and rooted for him, I could never find him attractive and do not understand why Lily did. She suspects him of stalking her, outright accuses him of it, but still hangs out with him as if that's normal. I just couldn't understand that.  Otherwise, I liked Lily, her devotion to poetry, her good relationship with her family, the way she doesn't quite let Calder get away with everything, and her compassion and selflessness. I'm glad that the second book will be told in her perspective so we will get to know more about her.
4. (+) Risks - For what it's worth, I appreciate the fact that the author was willing to take risks regarding Calder. He nearly kills an old woman and sees people not for who they are but the positive emotions that he wants to have.
5. (+) Plot Twists - I didn't see them coming / kept thinking that something else would happen due to heavy-handed foreshadowing, but it didn't happen, and I was glad that the author still surprised me with some world and character building details.
6. (+/-) Calder's sisters - While I like that we got to see the villains of this story from the perspective of someone who didn't fully see them that way, I still think Calder's sisters could have been developed a bit more. You're constantly reminded of the dangers they pose, and you learn about their individual... talents, shall we say, but they were a bit unreal to me. If we had more reason to believe in their mother (and if those Indian myths are true about their origin), then I think it might be easier to picture them.
7. (--) Side Characters - Besides Calder, Lily, and Calder's sisters, there aren't really other characters you can feel much for. If you don't feel anything for them and/or don't get wrapped up in the world-building, then there's not much left.
8. (+) The Writing - Pretty easy to read, even when Calder's descriptions of  positive emotions gets to be a little creepy.
9. (+) Pacing - Although the beginning was a bit slow (for a paranormal romance, Calder and Lily's first meeting wasn't really a meeting so much as Calder stalking Lily), the rest was pretty well paced, building up to the climax.
10. (+) The Cover - I like this cover and how you immediately know that this is a mermaid novel... although the girl looks a little funny... as if she has no breasts? It's kind of an unnatural position.

A fresh take on mermaid mythology.

Release Date: June 12, 2012
(Thanks to ATWT for allowing me to participate on this tour!)
Published by: Balzer + Bray

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

First off, when I saw that this was a post-apocalyptic retelling of Persuasion and the critic reviews said sci-fi and romance fans would be equally enchanted... I knew I had to have it.  And I was not disappointed in the slightest.

Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Elliot North, the protagonist - In a way, she reminded me of Bitterblue (MC in the novel by Kristin Cashore).  They are both strong, smart, and determined female protagonists that don't wield swords but show their strength in their other capabilities.  I really loved reading from her perspective, and though the story is told in third person (like Austen's), I was able to fully empathize with Elliot.  She's probably in contention for one of my favorite female protagonists of 2012.
2. (+) World-building - It took me a while at first to completely understand all the distinctions and what the terms really meant, but I loved everything about the world of this novel. It's unlike any other futuristic novel because it has Austenian elements as well. There are light sci-fi elements like mentions of enhancing the human race and more hard elements like designing the perfect crop. I particularly loved the theme behind the world-building - about the fine line of bioethics, science and religion--how far we are willing to take our knowledge.
3. (+) The Romance - Gah!  So perfect. Kai is really brutal to Elliot in the start, and most of the romance does follow the same pattern as that established by Persuasion (anger to the point of hatred to resolution to love), but there's an undercurrent of tension here that I didn't really feel when I read Persuasion. And later, once they had gotten their issues onto the table and somewhat resolved, all I could think was: Kiss her already, dammit!
4. (+) Retelling - The Persuasion elements were enough that it could be called a retelling but what made me really glad was that Peterfreund mostly used them to highlight Elliot's character and never once did it seem like the story being told was confined by the fact that it was a retelling (though honestly I don't remember much of the events of Persuasion).
5. (+) Character Cast - Beautiful job developing and making these characters three dimensional. There were a few that I had wished gotten a little more attention, but mostly everyone is their own person, and I could imagine the kind of person they'd be in a more contemporary setting today.
6. (+) Villains - There are no true villains like how you might think of them, but the people who are meant to oppose Elliot do so in a way that felt realistic to the story.  For what it's worth, I liked that not everybody was perfect, that they all had their own motives which influenced their outlooks enough that plenty of people could be villains in their right.
7. (+) Timeless - This novel is unlike most other YA novels in that I could actually see its themes and its characters respectively being applicable and loved years and years later. It took a bit from a classic itself, and to me, seems like a classic in and of itself.
8. (+) The Writing - Beautiful and sensual and absolutely perfect for the kind of sci-fi and romance mesh that this story is.
9. (+) Pacing - It's a consistent but somewhat slow pace that builds to a satisfying climax and conclusion. It takes a few chapters for the action to get started (aka Kai and the Cloud Fleet showing up) but other than that, there were no hits and misses.
10. (+/-) The Cover - This one's definitely pretty but almost pretty without any representation of the novel... though honestly I'm not sure what I'd have expected the publishers to come up with for this one...

Another favorite of 2012. The back cover had it right: an epic, post-apocalyptic love story inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, and I couldn't turn its pages fast enough. If any of you are the slightest bit interested in this novel, Diana Peterfreund released a free prequel called Among the Nameless Stars, which you can find here.

You guys hear about the vampire parody that Sarah Rees Brennan and Justine Larbalestier wrote?

Release Date: May 8, 2012
Published by: Harper Teen

Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

Ten Likes/Dislikes

1. (+) Kate, the protagonist - Kate is just the same as she was in Die For Me: strong, decisive, determined... still reads a lot and is more of a homebody than anything else. I loved her interactions with her sister Georgia as much as I did for the last book too. The only complaint I'd have is that Kate seemed to cry a lot in this book.
2. (+) World-building - Lots and lots of more details are revealed about the revenants. The plot revolves around one detail - a prophecy for the revenants - and more is revealed about the energy transfer that you read about in the first book, with the Lucien fight.  We're also introduced to the guerriseurs and more of the numa/bardia/revenant dynamics.  All in all, I was really impressed by how developed Amy Plum had made the world for her paranormal creatures.
3. (+) Romance - Vincent and Kate are as sweet as ever (though there is still a hint of a love triangle, more so than in the first book, with Jules liking Kate), but I still have a truly hard time believing in their love -- at one point, Vincent says that he loves Kate because she's complicated. And yes, I understand it - it's very romantic, loving someone for and with her flaws... but because I am  kind of cynical, I find it weird that Vincent says all these mushy, romantic things. Sometimes it feels like he's the kind of dream guy any woman would want and not his own character, if that makes sense. I can't picture him existing beyond these pages (but again: this could be my own cynicism.)  It's still nice to read about though.
4. (--) The Plot - I saw the plot twists coming from a mile away. The plot moved really slowly in the beginning. At times, the plot seemed non-existent; at least in the first book, you had Vincent and Kate falling in love, now they're already in love. The conflict then comes from Vincent being a revenant (his promise to Kate, etc. etc. -- it really gets beaten into your head, the number of issues they have)... but at the same time, there were a lot of chapters that felt like filler chapters.
5. (+) Stakes - Amy Plum really ups the stakes in this novel. Though I was disappointed by the plot, I could appreciate this at least, and with that cliffhanger... There's no doubt now that I want to know what happens in the third book.
6. (+) Parisian Setting/Culture - I loved how Amy Plum added new things and places that she hadn't included in Die For Me. I found it particularly interesting that it was considered not polite to eat your lunch on the street. Seemed like such a random every day fact that you just wouldn't even notice it...
7. (+) Not Like Twilight - by which I mean, when I read Die For Me, I thought that it was basically a better written version of Twilight. I didn't think that the characters were any more fleshed out or original, or the revenants that new or different of a paranormal creature. But Until I Die was a breath of fresh air. There were a lot more world-building details, and the characters seemed more like their own and not inspired off the large family dynamic in Twilight. The only complaint I'd have is that Kate spent way too much time with Vincent, and way too little time with the other revenants (especially if Amy Plum is building the love triangle, which it kind of seems like she is), and that in itself reminded me a bit too much of Bella's dependency on Edward.
8. (+) Writing - Amy Plum's writing is really easy to visualize and flows well.
9. (--) Pacing - This book goes...so...slowly.  It's not just in the beginning. The slow pace continues throughout the book, and honestly I probably felt this way because I was also disappointed in the plot--which as I said was slow as well.
10. (+) The Cover - It doesn't really represent the story, the fact that a girl is walking down some random alley... but it's pretty, and the colors do the story justice in terms of symbolism. This book is heavier than Die For Me.


Although there was more mystery in Die For Me, and we get to know the side characters better in it than we do in this, I enjoyed Until I Die more than its predecessor. I came to see the story as separate from others like it and could appreciate it on its own as a lush addition to the paranormal romance genre.