*This title will be released on May 8, 2012*

Title: Endure Author:  Carrie Jones Series: Need #4 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal YA Excerpt: No Source: Netgalley Reviewed by: Abigail Reading level: Ages 12 and up Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens; 1 edition (May 8, 2012) ISBN-10: 159990554X ISBN-13: 978-1599905549   Sexual Content: Kissing Rating: Okay – A few good points, but with significant flaws. Library/swap/borrow if you want.

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Book Description

As LA plunges into an occult gang war, mob sorceress Domino Riley must unravel a conspiracy that reaches beyond the magic-soaked mean streets into a world of myth and legend.

Domino investigates the ritual execution of a mob associate, a graffiti magician named Jamal. The kid isn’t just dead, he’s been squeezed — the killer stole his magical power or “juice.” Domino summons Jamal’s shade, and the ghost points to Adan Rashan as his killer. This is tricky, because Adan is the favored son of Domino’s boss, Shanar Rashan, a six-thousand-year-old Sumerian wizard. It’s even trickier because only a mobbed-up sorcerer could have squeezed Jamal and Adan isn’t a sorcerer.

As the corpses pile up, Domino must confront the killer and unmask an otherworldly kingpin with designs on her gang’s magic-rich turf.

MOB RULES is an urban fantasy novel of murder and magic, betrayal and redemption set in the supernatural underworld of Los Angeles

 Review

Book 1 in The Underworld Cycle Series

In MOB RULES the good is really good (amazingly creative world building and a feisty fun sidekick), but by comparison, the bad is really bad (a slow storyline that never picks up speed). 

The main storyline in which magical mob enforcer, Domino, is trying to avoid a gang war while chasing down a nasty killer who skins and crucifies his victims in order to drain them of their magic sounds a lot more interesting then it is on paper.  And that’s not because Haley is a bad writer, he’s not, but his pacing leaves a lot to be desired.  The whole mystery could have been solved in three chapters but instead it drags on for fifteen. 

I actually found myself getting mad that this very cool world building was wasted on a story that just meandered through this fascinating alternate L.A. in which Domino’s familiar is Mr. Clean trapped in her TV, she contacts the dead through a Facebook type site, graffiti tagging can tap into juice (aka magic), and spells for everything from counteracting nicotine to all matter of cosmetic enhancements are triggered by famous quotes.

The other bright spots in MOB RULES were the scenes between Domino and a mischievous eight inch tall naked piskie named Honey.  Honey felt like an import from a Stephanie Plum novel with lots of quick and quirky dialogue like this scene where Honey begrudgingly offers to teach Domino how to control her magic:

I laughed. “No offense, Honey, but you’re eight inches tall.  And you have a sword.” I noticed the sword was missing.  “Where do you hide that thing, anyway?”
”It’s a secret.”

Overall, the truly stellar world building and fun supporting characters couldn’t save this story with its wimpy romance and dull plotting.  There is a prequel in the anthology Harvest Moon coming out October 1, 2010, and the sequel called Skeleton Crew due out sometime in 2011 but I can’t see myself picking up either.

Sexual Content: References to sex.  A scene of mild sensuality.

My Rating (out of 5):
Okay – Somewhat disappointing with significant flaws.  Library/swap/borrow if you want.

Click HERE to read an excerpt from MOB RULES

Previous books in the series:

1. N/A

Also reviewed by:

• Alternative Worlds
• Dreams and Speculation
• Fresh Fiction

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Luna; Original edition (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373803206
• ISBN-13: 978-0373803200
• Cover Art: N/A  

*Disclosure: I received this book courtesy of NetGalley

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Book Description: Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.

Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.

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Review:
Literaphobia-The fear of reading bad books. I've suffered from that phobia ever since I got hooked on phonics a kid.  But my fear was unfounded with Carrie Jones paranormal love story, Need.  If Twilight and Wicked Lovely had a book baby, it would be Need.

Woods and werewolves and pixies…oh my!

Zara is hollow inside and has been ever since her dad died. Thinking a change of scenery will wake Zara out of her coma-like trance, her mother ships her off to her grandmother in a little town in freezing Maine. Her mother succeeds far beyond her expectations, however, when Zara awakens not just to her life again (through the help of the brooding Nick), but to a dangerous world of ravenous pixies where her own soul may be the price demanded to save the lives of others.

The character of Zara is an extremely well written, very real, portrayal of a girl barley existing after a tragic loss.  She has a quirk, a cooping mechanism, of mentally running through lists of other people’s phobias when she is scared or uncomfortable, in fact the titles of each chapter of Need is a different phobia.

The author uses the present tense throughout this book (except in flashbacks) very effectively. This is a welcome trend that I'm beginning to notice in more and more books, especially YA books (The Hunger Games come to mind). As I reader, this tense allows me to feel like I'm experiencing the story as it happens, to almost be a part of the story.

There is a romance in Need, but unlike many books in this genre, it really isn’t the focus of the story.  At its heart, Need is Zara’s story.  How she copes with loss, new friends, family revelations, and her very way of life.  Falling in love is only a part—a good part, but a part nonetheless--of her story.

My only real complaint with Need is how easily Zara accepts the paranormal aspects of her life.  A few bizarre things happen and she immediately jumps to a fantastical conclusion without a hiccup.  In reality, I can’t imagine someone acting that way.  To add insult to injury, once she decides the paranormal explanation is the only one, she does an internet search and blindly believes everything see reads on one site without ever questioning its reliability. 

All in all, the writing style is a notch above most in this genre, the character of Zara is extremely believable and likeable, her love interest tortured yet loveable, and the story is imminently readable.  Yay for me that Captivate (Need, book 2) is available now!

Sexual Content: (YA titles receive a more thorough breakdown) Kissing.

Click HERE to read an excerpt of Need

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books; Reprint edition (December 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599904535
• ISBN-13: 978-1599904535
• Cover art: Nicole Gastonguay

Disagree with my review?  Email me your review for this or any other book I reviewed and I might use it for 2nd Opinion Review