So Much for Library Resolutions...

Welcome to my extremely abbreviated Library Loot this week.  Though I suppose it is more of an In My Mailbox thing, since I am still on my library reprieve.  However, there was one book whose hold I didn't postpone. Since I blogged about how much I wanted it, and how sad I was the library didn't have it yet, I figured I couldn't wait anymore.

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

And I got some in the mail as well:

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman (for Cybils)
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass (for Cybils)
Prince of Fenway Park by Julianna Baggott (for Cybils)
Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt (for review)
Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman (for review)

The Language of Secrets by Dianne Dixon

Did you get anything good this week?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage,
I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

*ARC provided by publisher*

The Dark Divine begins when Grace is shocked to find her old friend Daniel has returned after being gone three years.  When her brother warns her to keep away from Daniel, Grace is both intrigued and upset.  No one will tell her just what happened the night Daniel left, the night Grace found her brother Jude covered in blood.  However, Grace wants to do everything she can to help Daniel get his life back, even if it means putting her life in danger.

Things I Liked:
This is the kind of book that you pick up and have to devour in one day.  I couldn't put it down and kept wanting to read more, to find out what new twist of plot would happen next.  I was quite impressed with Despain's ability to write about religious characters and supernatural aspects together.  The story went places I definitely did not expect.  An excellent debut by one of our fabulous Utah authors :)

Things I Didn't Like:
I would have liked a little more explanation about the paranormal stuff that went on and some more info on the night Daniel left.  However, I still find myself thinking about the ideas and characters days after I read the book.

Read-alikes:
It felt like Fallen by Lauren Kate
Reminded me of Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr (review coming soon!)

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
some scattered throughout

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
definitely some violence, but not gory

Overall rating: *****

Do you find yourself being partial to certain authors even before you've read their books?  I was really excited about this one, mostly because she is a local author for me!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage,
I will get a very small percentage

Listless Monday, Broken-Hearted Edition

Listless Monday was inspired by both Amanda at A Bookshelf Monstrosity's feature Books by Theme and Court at Once Upon a Bookshelf's Listed feature.  Be sure to check out their lists!

In honor of February, I am going to do some Valentine's Day themed lists!  Today we start with the poor folks who are not so lucky in love.

The Broken-Hearted:

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Black and White by Malorie Blackman
Breaking Up is Hard to Do by Niki Burnham, Terri Clark, Ellen Hopkins, & Lynda Sandoval
The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor
The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
Getting Over It by Anna Maxted
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
I Know It's Over by C. K. Kelly Martin
I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second by Drew Ferguson
Shug by Jenny Han
Some Day this Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron
The Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stay tuned for next week, where I list those more fortunate in love, the Twitter-Pated.

As always, any suggestions?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage,
I will get a very small percentage