Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Pages (Hardcover): 336 pages

Publisher: William Morrow

Released: May 17, 2011

Description: Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn't a funeral that Maylene didn't attend, and at each Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is dead and Bek must go back to the place--and the man--she left a decade ago. But what she soon discovers is that Maylene was murdered and that there was good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in placid Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D--a place from which the dead will return if their graves are not properly minded. Only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk.

Review: Angst, when it comes to teens, is normal. When it comes to adult novels, it's annoying. And when both of the main characters are filled with it for the majority of the book, I'm not a happy reader. Sadly, the other characters, minus Liz and Daisha, were flat and one dimensional. The plot had great ideas and I was excited to read this, but execution wasn't there.

Grade: 1 lines out of 10

Claymore Vol 1 by Norihiro Yagi

Pages (Paperback): 208 pages

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; 1 edition

Released: April 4, 2006

Description: A Claymore - a female warrior named for the sword she carries - travels from medieval village to village to destroy Yoma, monsters who disguise themselves as humans and who are almost impossible to kill. Claymores are half-humans, half-demons who willingly transformed themselves by mixing their blood with monster's blood. Claire, nicknamed silver-eyed killer, is such a powerful Claymore, she can slay a Yoma using only one hand. But she must constantly struggle to keep from becoming a monster herself.

Review: Claire is a Claymore, a contract demon killer. She goes from town to town killing the monsters that are causing problems. There are only four chapters in this volume, so it's simply an introduction into the world of Claymores. Their world is cruel and bloody. In order to fight the monsters they need to become them, but the more they do this the more they start to lose their human side.

Grade: 9 lines out of 10

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Pages (Hardcover): 400 pages

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Released: August 31, 2010

Description: Lucy Sexton is stunned when a disheveled woman appears at the door one day…a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lucy's own beautiful mother. It turns out the two women are identical twins, separated at birth, and raised in dramatically different circumstances. Lucy's mother quickly resolves to give her less fortunate sister the kind of life she has never known. And the transformation in Aunt Helen is indeed remarkable. But when Helen begins to imitate her sister in every way, even Lucy isn't sure at times which twin is which. Can Helen really be trusted, or does her sweet face mask a chilling agenda?

Review: I've heard of Lauren Baratz-Logsted before, I mean I remember when Crazy/Beautiful was all around the bloggersphere. But for some reason, I didn't equate that Lauren to the Lauren that wrote this book. In any case, this is a fantastic book filled with twists, turns, and then some. You start thinking one way and find out you're completely wrong at the end. Loved this!

Grade: 10 lines out of 10

K-ON! by kakifly

Pages (Paperback): 128 pages

Publisher: Yen Press

Released: November 30, 2010

Description: In an effort to save their high school's memberless pop music club, four high school girls sign up for the after-school jam session. They may have rescued the club, but it's going to take some work for them to crank out any music. Yui Hirasawa loves pop, but she's never played and instrument or read music before. With the help of the other club members, Yui learns everything she needs to know to become and excellent lead guitar player. But the real test of her rock star potential is yet to come. What will her fellow students say when the pop music club performs at the school festival?!

Review: I've heard a lot about this manga, and anime, but never really took an interest in it. Then, I came across the manga and decided to take a read, just to see what the hoopla was all about. I'm glad I did, because K-ON! takes an incredibly simple concept and makes it charming and fun to read. As you read it, you want to root for the girls to succeed and be friends forever. I enjoyed it.

Grade: 9 lines out of 10

Pet Shop of Horrors by Matsuri Akino

Pages (Paperback): 200 pages for book 1

Publisher: TokyoPop

Released: June 17, 2003

Note: This is a review of the entire series and not just the first volume, even though the information above is for the first book.

Description: A smoke-filled alley in Chinatown harbors Count D's Pet Shop. The pets sold here aren't your everyday variety and the Count prides himself on selling Love and Dreams in the form of magical creatures that come with an exclusive contract. But buyers beware. If the contract is broken the Count cannot be held accountable for whatever may happen. A fascinating and macabre look into the very soul of human nature.

Review: I absolutely loved this manga. The artwork is good. The plot, while sometimes repetitive in the earlier stories, still leaves you wondering what will happen to the owners who break their contract. Count D is clearly the star of the show. He's funny, charming, but cold at the same time. As the series progresses, he does loosen up a bit, thanks to police buddy Leon. I loved it!

Grade: 9.5 lines out of 10

Zombie Britannica by Thomas Emson

Pages (Paperback): 350 pages

Publisher: Snowbooks

Released: August 1, 2010

Description: Cassie's day as a guide at Westminster Abbey begins badly when zombies storm into the building and eat the tourists. Carrie escapes - but finds London choked with the undead. She has no idea where they came from, no idea how to stop them - all she knows is she has to race through dangerous, gore-soaked streets and find her daughter. And her day doesn't get any better...

Review: This is the fourth book I've read by Emson, there werewolves are gone, the vampires have vanished. The big bad supernatural creature haunting the UK are zombies. I do love zombies, but this book lacked the same hard hitting intensity as the previous books. Yes it was graphic and fast paced, but for some reason it didn't translate here as well as it did with his previous books.

Grade: 7 lines out of 10

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I came across Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum and it reminded me of another book. If you look at the cover, you'll be able to tell too.

I love the blue hues, but when I first saw the cover it reminded me of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

Somewhat similiar, I'm sure I've seen ano ther book that looks like Amaryllis in Blueberry, but at this time I can't remember what the name is. That's going to actually bug me now, because I know the book, but can't remember it. It will come to be eventually though.