Monday, September 12, 2011

YA books and Campaign good news

Recently, I've had the chance to read more YA books. I haven't read much in this genre because what I've read in the past, I haven't liked. I'm also a writer of adult books. I like to read about adult characters. Yet there's been so many great YA books around that I've heard about, I thought I'd give the genre another chance.

I started off with Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series. A very good start! I loved it. Then I read Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. Wow. It was a phenomenal book. The hype was right. I have the next two books on reserve at the library.

My next pick was another popular paranormal romance series called the Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine. My good luck came to a sudden end. It took over 70 pages for the story to really get started. I didn't like the characters. It had an intriguing premise, but I had no sympathy for anyone. Perhaps I should have read Caine's Weather Warden series instead. For any of you that have read it, is it worth picking up?

Okay. Surely the next book had to be better. I've been waiting a long time to read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ranson Riggs. It has a fantastic cover and one of the best book trailers I've ever seen. Yet the book failed to live up to my expectations. It was a decent story, but it didn't wow me. It seemed like Riggs tried too hard to make the story fit the photos.

Right now, I'm reading Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. So far, I'm not impressed. I'll read the whole book unless it becomes horrible, but there's only been a few books that ever made me stop reading.

I'm still willing to read more YA paranormal and dystopian books. Where do I go next, though? Do you have any suggestions?

In other news, I won a copy of Stone Cold Seduction by Jess Macallan. Yay! When I finally get my Nook, I'll have a book to read.

My entry in the first challenge of the Campaign has been judged and made it to Stage Two. I'm honored and excited. The Campaign has been so much fun. Here's what the judge had to say:

Hi Christine! I'm Elizabeth Moss and you were put in my part of the judging element for the campaign challenge.

I'm delighted to say I loved your story and you'll be going through to Stage Two!

So congrats!

What I love about your story is how it begins so dramatically in media res. The backstory is expertly revealed in the sparse phrase 'My demon hunting background' - no more is required. The action is in your face from the start and doesn't let up until the door swings shut again. Soren is sexy, and you can see why she's torn. (And in case we were in doubt, you cleverly slip in that 'she doth protest' to ensure we know this is boy on girl action.) Exciting, breathtaking, dynamic, telling dialogue, and all I can ask is - what happens once they're inside the car together??

Love it. Best of luck with the next round.

17 comments:

  1. Congratulations for the book and making it to the next round! I don't have any suggestions since I can't recall anything right now :/

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  2. I didn't like Uglies, either.

    I do have suggestions: the Everafter by Huntley is very good. If I Stay by Gayle Forman is also good.

    :) Good luck! I'm glad you're giving this genre a try.

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  3. Oh I got one!!! If you liked the fast pacing of The Vampire Academy novels and the Hunger Games; try Jeri-Smith Ready's 'Shift' and the following 'Shade'. One of the best YA series I've read this year.

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  4. Congrats! I do love a good paranormal. And YA are booming lately. If I weren't already neck deep in my Fantasy WIP I'd take a dive. :)

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  5. Congrats on heading to stage two! And you posted about a sick kiddo on my blog, I hope you all feel better soon!

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  6. Yay for making it to round two!

    For YA books, I've heard good things about Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments Series. I have the first three, but I haven't had a chance to read them yet. My sister loved Myra McEntire's HOURGLASS too.

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  7. Congrats on heading to round 2~

    Some YA books I enjoy POSSESSION by Elana Johnson, HUSH HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick, IN THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan, FALLEN by Lauren Kate, and MY SOUL TO TAKE by Rachel Vincent.

    I could probably list off YA books all day ;)

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  8. Yay on making it to stage two, Christine.

    I don't read much YA either. I prefer adult. I'm working on a WIP right now and wondering just how 'adult' I should make it. Maybe I'll aim for something between PG and R.

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  9. Thank you all for the congratulations! And thanks for the suggestions. I have a lot to add to my reserved list at the library.

    M Pax, I often wonder how 'adult' I should make my stories too. Sometimes they go in the direction they want on their own.

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  10. Congratulations on reaching Stage Two! :)

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  11. Wow - it's great that you got to stage two! Well done! As for YA, I'm a fan of the genre, but have become a bit disillusioned with the slow beginnings of some of the books I've read recently.

    One that I loved was Melissa Marr's "Wicked Lovely". I didn't read the other books in series, but thought the first featured a strong heroine and a plot that never followed precisely the path I thought it would.

    I think I'll be taking up your recommendation of the Vampire Academy series.

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  12. CD, you won't be disappointed. Richelle Mead is a great writer!

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  13. If you want to try another dystopian novel, try the Last Survivors series by Susan Beth Pfeffer. The first one is 'Life As We Knew It'. You can see the synopsis on Goodreads

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  14. I feel the same way you do about the Morganville Vampires series and I recently won all of them in a contest so I hope they get better along the way.

    I have been focusing on YA Contemp lately but I did read Variant by Robison Wells last weekend (in one sitting) and LOVED it. It would be considered Dystopian.

    Congrats on being shortlisted for the Campaign challenge!

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