Review: Blood of My Blood (I Hunt Killers #3) by Barry Lyga

Title: Blood of My Blood

Series: I Hunt Killers #3

Previous novellas/books in this series: Down Time (#0.1) | Lucky Day (#0.2) | Career Day (#0.3) | Neutral Mask (#0.4) | Blood Boy (#0.5) | I Hunt Killers (#1) | Game (#2)

Author: Barry Lyga

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: September 2014

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: Jazz Dent has never been closer to catching his father.

Jazz has been shot and left to die in New York. His girlfriend, Connie, is in the clutches of Jazz's monstrous father, Billy—the world's most notorious serial killer. And his best friend, Howie, is bleeding to death on the floor of Jazz's new home.

Somehow, these three must rise above the horrors and find a way to come together in pursuit of Billy.

But then Jazz crosses a line he's never crossed before, and soon the entire country is wondering: "Like father, like son? Who is the true monster?"

From New York City to the small town of Lobo's Nod, the chase is on, and this time, Jazz is the hunted, not the hunter--while Billy Dent lurks in the shadows.

And beyond Billy? Something much, much worse. Prepare to meet... the Crow King.

My rating: ★★★★☆

This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. I highly recommend you look up trigger warnings, if need be, because any type of abuse you can possibly imagine, poor Jazz endured. I nearly cried and threw up at the same time. Just reading over the notes I left myself in preparation for writing this review made me teary-eyed and angry on his behalf.

Review: Game (I Hunt Killers #2) by Barry Lyga

Title: Game

Series: I Hunt Killers #2

Previous novellas/books in this series: Down Time (#0.1) | Lucky Day (#0.2) | Career Day (#0.3) | Neutral Mask (#0.4) | Blood Boy (#0.5) | I Hunt Killers (#1)

Author: Barry Lyga

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: April 2013

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: In an effort to prove murder didn’t run in the family, Jazz teamed with the police in the small town of Lobo’s Nod to solve a deadly case. And now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help, he can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force–running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend, Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game.

My rating: ★★★★★

This book was insane... in the best way possible!

Review: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Title: I Hunt Killers

Series: I Hunt Killers #1

Novellas in this series: Down Time (#0.1) | Lucky Day (#0.2) | Career Day (#0.3) | Neutral Mask (#0.4) | Blood Boy (#0.5)

Author: Barry Lyga

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: April 2012

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis:

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

My rating: ★★★★☆
The premise of this book is what immediately grabbed my attention. I read a couple of the novellas beforehand and I was all in! And overall, I really enjoyed this book!

Review: The Shattering by Karen Healey

Title: The Shattering

Author: Karen Healey

Genre: YA, mystery thriller, paranormal

Publication date: September 2011

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Source: Own Hardcover

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Synopsis:

"If you want to find out who murdered your brother, follow me."

Keri, Janna, and Sione have one thing in common: Their older brothers are dead. Each death was ruled a suicide, but there were no notes, no warnings, and no explanations.

So they've worked out a theory: Their brothers were murdered - and weren't the only victims.

As the search for the serial killer goes on, mysterious forces are unearthed and suspicion is cast on the those the three trust most. When secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?

This supernatural thriller from award-winning author Karen Healey (Guardian of the Dead) teems with suspense, loss, revenge, and magic.

My rating: ★★★★☆
The Shattering was a pretty good read, considering it was only ONE DOLLAR! I found a hardcover of it at the freaking dollar store, can you believe it? Anyway, it had a very interesting premise with the whole mystery of all these older brothers committing suicide, except maybe it was murder? What?! It was just super intriguing! And there was an unexpected supernatural twist which I very much enjoyed, even though the actual ‘why’ behind all the killings wasn’t all that surprising. I did, however, enjoy learning that I was right about the whole thing, a very rare thing for me seeing as how I like being totally and completely surprised. Everything was tied back to the tourist town with some pretty crazy magic and, well, it did not disappoint.

Review: Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

Title: Gods Behaving Badly

Author: Marie Phillips

Genre: Adult, fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: December 2008

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Source: Own Paperback

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Synopsis:

The twelve Greek gods of Olympus are alive and well in the twenty-first century, but they are crammed together in a London townhouse--and none too happy about it. For Artemis (goddess of hunting, professional dog walker), Aphrodite (goddess of beauty, telephone sex operator), and Apollo (god of the sun, TV psychic), there's no way out--until a meek housecleaner, Alice, and her would-be boyfriend, Neil, turn their world upside down.

When what begins as a minor squabble between Aphrodite and Apollo escalates into an epic battle of wills, Alice and Neil must fear not only for their own lives, but for the survival of humankind. Nothing less than a true act of heroism is needed--but can these two decidedly ordinary people replicate the feats of the mythical heroes and save the world?

My rating: ★★★★☆
Everyone knows I love mythology, so you can imagine my excitement when I found this book. Unfortunately, I didn't exactly love it.

Review: Monster High by Lisi Harrison

Title: Monster High

Series: Monster High #1

Author: Lisi Harrison

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: September 2010

Published by: Poppy

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

From Lisi Harrison, the New York Times bestselling author of The Clique and Alphas, comes a new series with a fresh twist on high school, romance, and the horrors of trying to fit in.
They prefer to call themselves RAD (Regular Attribute Dodgers), but some call them monsters. So far, the "monster" community has kept a low profile in Salem, but this year two new girls enroll at Master High School, and the town will never be the same.

Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and cheerleading. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters who might be stalking the halls, Frankie finds that life in the "normi" world can be rough for a chic freak like her.

She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver--but can a normi be trusted with her big secret?

My rating: ★★★★☆
I found out about this book through a TV commercial. Yeah, weird, I know lol. It was a commercial about a website for kids where they can play games and whatnot (www.monsterhigh.com). It featured a lot of cool paranormal creatures, ranging from vampires to werewolves, mummies, and even Frankie Stein herself. I always thought that was pretty cool…and later I find out that there are actually books! But Monster High wasn’t exactly what I expected. Is that a bad thing? No. I actually really liked the book! :)