Review: Early to Death, Early to Rise

Title: Early to Death, Early to Rise
Series: Madison Avery # 2
Genre: Young Adult-Paranormal/Fantasy
Author: Kim Harrison
Publisher: Harperteen
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Book: Bought

"Seventeen, dead, and in charge of heaven's dark angels—all itching to kill someone.

Madison Avery's dreams of ever fitting in at her new school died when she did. Especially since she was able to maintain the illusion of a body, deal with a pesky guardian angel, and oh yeah, bring the reaper who killed her to his untimely end. Not exactly in-crowd material. It's amazing that her crush, Josh, doesn't think she's totally nuts.

Now Madison has learned that she's the dark timekeeper, in charge of angels who follow the murky guidelines of fate. Never one to abide by the rules, she decides it's time for a major change to the system. With the help of some unlikely allies, Madison forms a rogue group of reapers who definitely don't adhere to the rules of the heavens.

But as she grapples with the terrifying new skills that come with being a timekeeper, Madison realizes she may not be prepared for what lies ahead—unless she gets some seriously divine intervention."

This is the second installment to the Madion Avery series. The first book had me hooked but this one, I am not to sure.

The book picks off right were it left off. Madison has chosen choice. In which she believes everyone has a choice and you can choose your future, not in fate. Madison is once again trying to save someone by giving them a chance to choose. In between it all, Madison is joined with the struggle of the both Light and Dark, and the very annoying Grace. Not to mention Josh, who has grown into a great love interest.

This book was a fast and easy read. It was short so it did not take me a long time to read it. While the writing and plot was good, I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I felt like the book was missing something. Like words were missing in detailing something or maybe the drama could of played out a different way. I just felt as if this book lost it spark. It did hold my interest, but just not in a great way.

I did however enjoy the ever increasing chemistry between Josh and Madison. I was glad to see them finally crossing that line. I also enjoyed Grace and her annoying singing. If one thing puts a smile on my face it was Grace. Her little songs are just hilarious. Plus I love her humor in it all.

If you have not read the first book, Once Dead, Twice Shy, you should before you read this one. It will confuse you since if starts off where the first one left off.

I give it 4 BITES!

Happy Reading!

Review: Once Dead, Twice Shy

Title: Once Dead, Twice Shy
Series: Madison Avery # 1
Genre: Young Adult- Paranormal
Author: Kim Harrison
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 26, 2009
Book: Bought

I picked up this book at my local wal-mart cruising the book section. The book section there has gotten fairly large and that make me happy! You see, in order for me to get books, I have to go to out to the mall that has the ONE book store Waldenbooks/Borders. So for me to take a trip all the way downtown....yeah it takes time, money, gas,etc.... So I found this book and it caught me eye.

"Madison's prom was killer--literally. Now, thanks to a mysterious amulet, she's stuck on Earth: dead but not gone. She has no idea why the darker reaper who did her in was after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course. With a little skilled light-bending, the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys....maybe), her cute crush and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's redy to takec ontrol of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.

Well, if she believed in that stuff."

This is a very different very interesting book. At first I thought this was vampire and it was not. It is based on Light and Dark Reapers. Which of course you don't find many YA books based on a plot like this, so I was very happy to be reading something different.

Madison was killed om her birthday/prom day. A Dark Reaper is after her due to something in her future. Apparently her saw something that she does to interrupt his plan and so he sets off to kill her. But he did not succeed. Instead, she got a hold of his amulet, which is allowing her to manifest a body, allowing her to stay earthbound.

My favorite part of this story is the G.R.A.C.E.S. or Guardian, Reaper-Augmented Cherub, Extinction Security. This little guardian angel was funny. All her little one-liners kept me laughing.She defiantly added humor in this book.

I also enjoyed how Madison chose to make her own decisions. We all have a choice in what we do, no matter what fate says. Fate may say we do this, but we can always change that. I admire her for that passion.

This book was a small, fast, easy read. It had no curse words or sexual references.  Kim Harrison did a fantastic job writing this. I'm  glad that I found a book that is suitable for teens, but also great in the paranormal area.

I give it 5 BITES!

Happy Reading!