Mind Games by Kiersten White

Genre: science fiction
Series and Book #: unknown
Pages: 237
Summary:

Two sisters. Bound by impossible choices. Are determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

James’s frozen face melts into a smile. “Do you want to know the trick to getting in trouble under the watchful eye of a psychic?”

I think of the nailed-shut windows. I think of Clarice. I think of the two, the two, the two who are now zero. Tap tap. “Yes, I absolutely do.”

“Don’t plan it. Don’t even think about it. The second you get an inkling of what you could do, do it then. Never plan anything ahead of time. Always go on pure instinct.”

I smile. “I think I can do that."

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This has to be one of my favorite books. They way the book was structured, the characters, and the plot were all amazing. I could read Mind Games again and again and never get bored.

Fia was a perfectly broken character. She's been hurt and she deals with it by internalizing the pain. Her defiant nature keeps everyone away from her, granting her privacy in a place where nothing is private. Not thoughts, feelings, or the future. She was clever, funny, and continuously loyal to her sister. Despite everything she'd been through, she never cared so long as Annie was safe. Fia was soft and rough and her character was just impeccably well written. 

Annie, like her sister, deals with the pain. But she remains optimistic and hopeful where her sister has come to terms with their entrapment. Annie was very naive to their situation throughout the entire book. It was only until she actually heard that Keane didn't really care for her that she started to realize Fia was right all those times she'd said the Keane Foundation was wrong. But I suppose when you're blind, its hard to distrust everyone you meet. Annie was a perfect contrast to Fia. 

I loved it. Hands down. It is confusing at first. Kiersten doesn't provide any background information whatsoever. Even the summary is vague. Though I didn't have any information on the backgrounds of the characters, it was a brilliant novel. Kiersten slowly reveals the details of how Fia and Annie managed to become intertwined with the Keane Foundation. She flips back and forth between the present and the past. Its was a wonderful way to write this book. I'm looking forward to more. 

The Cover: I like the varying images over the girl's face. Reminds me of Annie's visions and Fia's face. 

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Genre: paranormal
Series and Book #: Paranormalcy Trilogy #3
Pages: 385
Summary:

Evie’s paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

 

The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie’s hands.

 

So much for normal.

 

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Evie is back, witty banter, pink Taser, and all! Putting aside Supernaturally, a definite low point for the trilogy, Endlessly was a wonderful return to the Evie we've come to know from Paranormalcy.

The writing in Endlessly was sporadic. One minute we're at Lend's, then we're in the Faerie Realms, on to IPCA headquarters, back to Lend's, IPCA, Faerie Realms...it was breathtaking, and not in a good way. There were also some plot holes. For instance, Evie seemed really into planning the Winter Formal for school, but its only relevant at the beginning of the novel. More consistency would have made this book easier to keep pace with.

Kiersten White's creativity is amazing! I loved her idea of the Empty Ones and the gate closing off Earth from the true world of the paranormals. This makes the trilogy set apart from other paranormal reads out there.

This was a great conclusion to a funny, unique trilogy. Its such a peaceful ending, I don't know what to say! Thankfully Evie gets her happily ever after with Lend, in a world blessedly less-full of paranormals. I'm glad she gets serenity after all.

The Cover: All the Paranormalcy covers are beautiful, this one included. I like that the model looks tranquil and happy, like she knows the end is near and everything is going to be okay.

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Genre: paranormal
Series and Book #: Paranormalcy Trilogy #2
Pages: 336
Summary:

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.

 

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As much as it pains me to admit it, Kiersten's second novel wasn't as good as her first. While Evie tries to figure out what she is, she grows into a more serious character. This coupled with the new experience of high school and Evie's confusion that it's not all it's cracked up to be creates a confused, mature heroine. I found myself missing her playful attitude when she was at IPCA and the crazy adventures she went on there.

The whole mystery surrounding Jack was good but it wasn't engaging. Supernaturally was rather slow. It was mostly Evie sorting through her own emotions: how she felt about lying to Lend, or not spending enough time with her roommate, or her disappointment with high school. I still liked Lend and Evie's romance. They were still madly in love with each other but they still fought (making the making up all the more better!). Lend was still such a sweetie.

Overall, the characters were the same, but the plot was lacking. As for Evie discovering what she was, I don't think Kiersten ever really made that clear, and I hope Endlessly will provide more. The humor of this novel wasn't as apparent: sure, Jack had some moments, and Evie still playfully bantered, but there was always a sort of somber edge to the book. This pretty much lives up to an awkward second novel that is just the median between beginning and end, offering needed facts but not including anything earth-shattering that will change the series forever.

The Cover: As lovely as the first. I love the nod to the red sky in Faerie

Release: Endlessly by Kiersten White

Evie's paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie's hands.

So much for normal.

Cover Reveal: Endlessly by Kiersten White

Thursday on her blog, Kiersten White (the hilarious author of Paranormalcy and Supernaturally) revealed the cover of the third and final book in the Paranormalcy Trilogy. Here it is:

How gorgeously gorgeous is this? Gosh, I'd buy these books just for the covers! They're so darn pretty! But you shouldn't just buy them for the covers. They're amazing and funny, so go and get them!

Kiersten White's Super Contest!

Most of you know who Kiersten White is, the fabulous author of Paranormalcy. Well, she's having a contest over on her blog where you can win these prizes:

• Signed ARC of Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lani Taylor
• Copy of Lola and the Boy Next Door plus an Anna and the French Kiss bookmark
• Paperback copy of Paranormalcy and hardcover copy of Supernaturally, both signed by Kiersten herself PLUS two signed bookmarks
• BONUS: if you buy both Daughter and Lola, you'll receive a signed copy of Anna and the French Kiss!

Even though it's hurting my chances of winning...(just kidding, I love this contest and I love all my readers!)...sign up for it! It's open internationally, to everyone!
http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/2011/09/lola-and-daughter-of-smoke-and-books.html

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Genre: teen fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Series and Book #: Paranormalcy Trilogy, book 1
Pages: 352
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 one 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.

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I read this book I believe last summer and I was thinking about how wonderful it was a week ago and how surprised I was that I hadn't yet reviewed it. So here we go into a total realm of awesome.

Paranormalcy was one of those books I kept seeing everywhere. Everyone was talking about it, blogs were raving, and when one of my friends bought it, I immediately asked if I could borrow it. A few hearty laughs later and I was beaming at Evie and the excellent teenage writing of White. This book was so awesome.

Evie is such an adorable character, and I love her Taser (that's pink...and BeDazzled). I just fall in love with her on the very first page. What she's going through and how she thinks about it really is part of the main focus of the book; she's worked for the IPCA her entire life and when she meets Lend it all changes. She goes with him and sees what life's like outside of the IPCA; something she's never really gotten a chance to do. She's witty, funny, and also very serious, especially when something happens to her best friend.

The side characters were wonderful too. White really knew how to weave Evie with the side characters so you could see how Evie really depended on the people around her. Reth was one of my favorite characters, also; I love cocky, clever, and evil characters for some strange, strange reason.

Overall, Paranormalcy is just one of those rare, out-of-this-world awesome books. It's unique and special. It even features mermaids, which aren't exactly popular in YA but I still love them. White has done an amazing job with this first novel and I can't wait for the second, Supernormalcy, coming sometime (I hope) in the near future.

The Cover: It's dark, but light. The model looks a lot like how I pictured Evie. Even the dress and hair style is featured in the book! So pretty, and so appropriate.