A Note:

6/2/13

I once told myself: IF I am accepted into grad school, this blog would no longer be updated. As it turns out, in April, I received news of my acceptance for the Fall 2013 semester, where I will attain a Master's degree of Science in Nutrition.

Running a blog, as many of you may already know, is a demanding side job once the excitement wears off. And once I fell out of the blogging community's loop (have you SEEN how many blogs there are now? Wow!), it was like the kiss of death. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get into a blogging routine once this happened due to the disconnect I felt from the community.

So I took a break. I struggled with the loss and with missing my blog. And then I realized I didn't have to run Book Faery to still be a book reviewer; I could read my books and post reviews online. I'm still a book review blogger, just not in the traditional sense.

I'll still be online. You can chat with me on Twitter, where I'll be posting links to my reviews and talking books. I'll also be posting links to nutrition articles. And if you'd like to connect with me where I guarantee I will post reviews, just add me as a friend on Goodreads.

So that's all, folks! It's been a fun and amazing journey, and I thank you all for listening to my thoughts about books. I hope we all can keep in touch elsewhere :)

Tori

Monday, June 6, 2011

Tori's Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready


Hardcover:
336 pages
Price: $9.99
ISBN: 978-1416994077
Released: May 4, 2010 
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Author's Website: Jeri Smith-Ready
Buy it: Amazon
Obtained: BEA
Genre: YA 
Series: Shade 
Book Order:
1. Shade
2. Shift (book review)








Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

My Rating:

My Opinion:
For some reason, I procrastinated when it came to reading SHADE. It wasn't that I thought the premise was boring (it sounded anything but), but it wasn't calling to me. Perhaps because I knew so little, I didn't want to sit down and give SHADE a chance. Besides, I had plenty of other review books I needed to pay attention to and that I was behind on.

Fast forward a year (I got SHADE in 2010 at BEA), and here I am, ready to review the first two books in this trilogy. And of course, like a few rare gems that totally blow my mind, SHADE showed me my place and admonished me for neglecting it.

I cried while reading Aura's tragic story. Not once, not twice, but FIVE times. And it wasn't even a couple of tears and a few sniffles--this was full-blown bawling my eyes out. I had a stuffy nose, couldn't breathe, and my eyes were bloodshot by the time I was done. Why? Because the love story between Aura and Logan was so tragic, so heartbreaking, it shattered my icy heart and even made this jaded (occasional) YA reader give a shit.

Characterization is flawless. Logan, Aura, and Zach are all three-dimensional. The plot was engaging, the dialogue realistic. Logan initially reminded me so much of my first boyfriend (who was also a guitarist, ha!) that I think I was able to relate with Aura on a whole different level. Granted, I never had a fear of him leaving me, but for other aspects regarding the music? Definitely.

SHADE is not your run of the mill paranormal romance love triangle. There is a love triangle, but Jeri handles it so well that I honestly did not care. Highly recommended read!

5 comments:

  1. Yay!!Another Shade fan!Karen must be so proud :) As am I of course!
    I'm so so glad you love it!

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  2. I really did love this book and I have SHIFT sitting on my TBR pile. Might have to reread SHADE, though. Thanks for the great review!
    Mary @ Book Swarm

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  3. Hey there, new follower here. I hope that when you get a chance you will stop by my blog and follow me back.

    Thanks. Have a great day. Love your blog, I will definitely be back.

    ~Steph
    http://fortheluvofsanity.blogspot.com

    http://karmaroxx.blogspot.com

    http://read4sanity.blogspot.com

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  4. @Greekie, you should be proud! ;)

    @Mary: Re-reading SHADE is a great idea!!

    @Pain: Thank you

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  5. I completely agree. The twist on the love triangle in this book is fantastic and made the story very emotional.

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