Review: Vampiric Vacation (Sinister Summer #2) by Kiersten White

Title: Vampiric Vacation

Series: Sinister Summer #2

Previous book in this series: Wretched Waterpark

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: Middle Grade, mystery, humor

Publication date: September 2022

Published by: Delacorte Press

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: The spooky summer adventures of the Sinister-Winterbottom twins continue in another gothic mystery: can Theo and Alexander solve the secret of the Sanguine Spa in the little Transylvania Mountains?

After leaving Fathoms of Fun, the kids are on their way to the next odd summer destination their aunt has chosen for them. This time, they find themselves dropped off at the Sanguine Spa in the "little Transylvania Mountains". There they meet the owners: Mina, her mysterious little sister, Lucy (who is extremely pale, can't go in the sunlight, and has an affinity for hanging upside down from the ceiling), and their intimidating guardian, the Count.

When the Count sends all the children in the spa on a scavenger hunt, the Sinister-Winterbottoms use the excuse to snoop around and discover that this spa may be more than just eerie--it might also hold clues to what happened to their parents. When Wil starts to show vampiric symptoms, the twins resolve to investigate what's really going on at the Sanguine Spa.

The second book in the Sinister Summer series continues the adventures of the Sinister-Winterbottoms and their aunt who never saw a discount vacation destination she didn't love.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I have loved Kiersten White’s middle grade novels—they are just so silly and fun! I really enjoyed Wretched Waterpark, so I was very much looking forward to reading this book! And overall, I liked it!

One of my favorite things about the book was the setting. Sanguine Spa...

Review: Wretched Waterpark (Sinister Summer #1) by Kiersten White

Title: Wretched Waterpark

Series: Sinister Summer Series #1

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: Middle Grade, mystery

Publication date: June 7th 2022

Published by: Delacorte Press

Source: eARC from publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis: Twelve-year-old twins Theodora and Alexander and their older sister Wilhelmina Sinister-Winterbottom don’t know how they ended up with their Aunt Saffronia for an entire summer. She’s not exactly well equipped to handle children. The twins are determined to make it a good vacation, though, so when Aunt Saffronia suggests a waterpark, they hastily agree.

But Fathoms of Fun is not your typical waterpark. Instead of cabanas, guests rent mausoleums. The waterslides are gray tongues extending from horrible gargoyle faces. The few people they encounter are very, very odd. And the owner disappeared under bizarre circumstances, lost to the Cold, Unknowable Sea—the wave pool.

When Wil goes missing, rule following, cautious Alexander and competitive, brave Theo will have to work together to solve the mystery of Fathoms of Fun. But are they out of their depth?

My rating: ★★★★★

One of my favorite books by Kiersten White is Beanstalker and Other Hilarious Scarytales, a spooky MG book that intertwines nursery rhymes and fairy tales in a really fun way. When I found out Kiersten White was writing another MG book, I was very excited! And I am happy to say that I loved Wretched Waterpark! It’s such a great, summer-y read!

Review: Hide by Kiersten White

Title: Hide

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: Adult, horror

Publication date: May 24th 2022

Published by: Del Rey

Source: eARC from publishers via Netgalley

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Synopsis: The challenge: spend a week hiding in an abandoned amusement park and don’t get caught.

The prize: enough money to change everything.

Even though everyone is desperate to win—to seize their dream futures or escape their haunting pasts—Mack feels sure that she can beat her competitors. All she has to do is hide, and she’s an expert at that.

It’s the reason she’s alive, and her family isn’t.

But as the people around her begin disappearing one by one, Mack realizes this competition is more sinister than even she imagined, and that together might be the only way to survive.

Fourteen competitors. Seven days. Everywhere to hide, but nowhere to run.

Come out, come out, wherever you are.

My rating: ★★★★☆

When I first heard that Kiersten White was not only writing a horror novel but an ADULT horror novel, I was like, “YES! I’m all in!”

Literary Nails: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

I'm back with another book-inspired nail art design! This one I decided on very last minute because it's a book that was released just recently. It's also very Halloween-y...

Review: Endlessly (Paranormalcy #3) by Kiersten White

Title: Endlessly

Series: Paranormalcy #3

Previous books in this series: Paranormalcy (#1) | Supernaturally (#2)

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: July 2012

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Library book

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Synopsis:

In Endlessly, pink-loving, butt-kicking Evie has way too much on her to-do list. Paranormals are begging her to open a faerie gate so they can leave the human world, something Evie’s not sure she has the power to do. The Dark Queen is torturing humans and must be destroyed.

On top of all that, Evie’s prom is coming up. She’s not sure what to wear, and, oh, yeah, her shape-shifting boyfriend, Lend, has been cursed so that he falls into an enchanted sleep whenever he and Evie are in the same room…and even Evie’s ex-boyfriend, the faerie Reth, can’t reverse the dark magic.

An epic battle is looming, and the choices Evie makes will determine the fate of whole paranormal world—and her own life.

My rating: ★★★★☆
And we have come to the conclusion of the series. A series I started 7 years ago and have only finished it just now. Heh. Hehe...

Review: Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White

Title: Supernaturally

Series: Paranormalcy #2

Previous book in this series: Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: July 2011

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Library book

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Synopsis:

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be...kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Evie is trying to live a normal life with Lend. Going to high school, going on dates... just normal teenager stuff. But if you think Evie’s left IPCA behind for good, think again! She starts taking jobs on a case by case basis, with her own rules, but things just go wrong. So much for normal.

Review: Beanstalker and Other Hilarious Scarytales by Kiersten White

Title: Beanstalker and Other Hilarious Scarytales

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: Middle Grade, fantasy, fairy tale retelling

Publication date: July 2017

Published by: Scholastic

Source: Own Hardcover

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Synopsis:

Once upon a time, a girl skipped into the forest and became a zombie.

Wait, no, that's not how this story is supposed to go. Let's try again.

Once upon a time, a boy did a horrible job as a sheep-sitter and burned his tongue on stolen pie.

No, children in these stories are always good and virtuous. From the top.

Once upon a time, a king and queen tried to find a princess for their son to marry, and he wound up fleeing from a group of very hairy vampires.

Hmmm...

What about, once upon a time, a bunch of fairy tales got twisted around to be completely hilarious, a tiny bit icky, and delightfully spooky scarytales... in other words, exactly what fairy tales were meant to be. Grab some flaming torches, maybe don't accept that bowl of pease porridge, and get ready for a wickedly fun ride with acclaimed author Kiersten White and fairy tales like you've never heard them before.

My rating: ★★★★★

Vampires and Zombies and Stepmothers, Oh my!

I can always count on Kiersten White for a fun, humorous read, and this was no exception! While yes it is an MG novel, I do like to read them every once in awhile, and this one was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Literary Nails: The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Hey guys! Ready to see some more (super glittery!) book-inspired nail art?

This week's bookish nail art was inspired by...

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Review: The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Title: The Chaos of Stars

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, paranormal, Greek mythology, Egyptian mythology

Publication date: September 10th 2013

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: The publishers via Edelweiss (thank you!!)

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Synopsis:

Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.

My rating: ★★★★★
I read Kiersten's Paranormacly a while ago, but I absolutely loved it! She is just a fantastic writer and I was very excited to read The Chaos of Stars because I am a HUGE fan of mythology! So this was a MUST read for me! And this book...LOVED it! It was just very beautifully written with amazing descriptions! I especially loved the museum bit.

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Title: Paranormalcy

Series: Paranormalcy #1

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: August 2010

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

My rating: ★★★★★
OMFG I LOVED this book!! It was amazing!! Can someone please tell me why I didn’t read this book sooner?! Lol