GHOSTS, SUPER-POWERS, & MYTHOLOGY
933805
Received from:  NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for:  Older children (4th grade and up) due to ghosts.

This was a great story.  It was a mystery with a ghost, a girl with super powers, and bit of Greek Mythology.  The mythology was explained very well for those who may not know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice.  Theirs is one of my favorite stories of mythology.

The characters and the plot were well-developed.  There was a fabulously wrought twist at the climax.  It was easy to lose myself in this story.  The extras at the end of the book are a bit of dessert at the end of a fine meal.  Do not skip any of them!
2493224
I really enjoyed this book. I was a bit concerned when the main character was introduced as a self-proclaimed sixteen-year-old witch, thinking this could easily stray into romantic wish fulfillment YA territory. This is not that book. Without giving away too much, she's more of the problem than the solution.

I love mythology, and I especially loved seeing some of the minor Norse characters get their own stories. Although I would have loved to see even more appearances, the human characters were just so well written that I enjoyed their scenes just as much as the gods'. The plot was fast-paced (perhaps a little too fast near the end, but it led to an epic climax where I was genuinely concerned about who would live and who would die.)

Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a fun, sometimes dark, sometimes funny, sometimes scary paranormal story.
2208244
After her mom loses her job, Sarah must pick up the slack and get a job to help cover expenses. She is hired at the University of Oklahoma's campus libraryan old, gothic building adorned with gargoyles who guard the books.

She discovers a common bond with a Frisbee-throwing meteorology major named Adam. With this new love interest in the mix and a quirky, ghost-hunting co-worker named Stanley to keep her busy, Sarah still finds time to complete her homework for Physics class. But things take a strange turn when a little ghost tour leaves her questioning her beliefs.

Is it her late father's spirit trying to guide her? Or is it something else that's following Sarah?

Author P. L. Weaver uses intellect and intrigue to craft the first book in this supernatural YA series.
4351544
Growing up I did not hear the traditional fairy tales like sleeping beauty, snow white, etc. Instead I learned about the different ghost stories famous in my small town from relatives. My dad would tell me about big foot, aliens, studies of ESP in different laboratories. Growing up I believed in ghosts. And so when I first discovered the Ghostbusters it was both new and familiar. Nearly 30 years later the Ghostbusters have been rebooted and with the new film comes a great book about the history of Ghostbusting. Combining real history with the mythos of the Ghostbusters universe is done very well by Mr. Shaffer. You can really see his love for the Ghostbusters franchise as well as his attention to detail in the history or paranormal studies. I can't recommend this book enough. It's a fun read and belongs on the shelf of every fan of Ghostbusters and the paranormal.
4085225
Fifteen-year-old Gala Rhyce is an illustrator for comic books, touched by one ghost, and has this fantastic paranormal power. She sees ghosts and their auras. She also see human auras. All this makes her different, and she wants to be normal as she approaches her first day of a brand new school, in her new hometown of Flagler Beach, FL. But the spirits are determined Gala won't be normal. She has a job to do, and a boyfriend, Cy, to break up with now that he's in college. Her latest adventure doesn't start off great, what with a ghost dog causing her tremendous physical damage, but Gala meets a "Ghost Boy" she names Jaylen. Things really heat up when a prank crazy ghost, Roy, attaches himself to her. Just when she thinks she has things figured out, life throws Gala a curve ball she never saw coming.
Becky Pourchot weaves a paranormal tale of one teen's calling to help clear ghosts from the human plane with ease. To Kiss a Ghost is a fun easy read for any and all teens. The action is believable, and hysterically funny as Gala's ten-year-old brother gets into the act by "enchanting" food for the ghosts. There is heartbreak when Gala must give up a ghost she's come to love, with a sweet, enduring kiss, but there is also hope for the future when she discovers her ghost is actually a teen not much older than her recovering from a fire that destroyed his home. To Kiss a Ghost garners five stars for it's entertainment value, it's realism, and for being good enough to hope the sequel comes out soon.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
1084096
We have all seen the movie Poltergeist and its sequel, but do we believe in ghosts? Have we even seen a chair move by iteslf? Lecouteux and his title gives us a lot of history into this topic.... Lots!

From pagans, to the medieval Christian church, through the Age of Enlightenment, ancient Greece and Rome, the author shows us how modern research shows that these sightings follow a similar path. He ties, also, scientific studies with the, "presence of a troubled adolescent in the house".

So, whether you believe that, as Lecouteaux contends, that unhappy spirits help us confirm the existence of supernatural beings that inhabit the earth with us and our tie in with nature and unseen things.

Whether you believe in all this, Lecouteux sets out a timeline with relavant information that grabs the reader into a balance with tactile evidence and possibility.

Interesting title...
4914265
Superpowers is a different book about super powers.  What do ordinary people do with superpowers? If you decide to use them for good, what if you fail? Are there consequences to gaining these new abilities? And what if you new superpowers don't help?
  The tone of the book is very real. These are 5 college students that wake up with superpowers. But their concerns ar those of everyother college student. Grades, money, relationships, the next party , family. Parts of the book  are funny, parts of it are sweet. There are echoes and references to all the superhero journeys. And because it begins in May of 2001, there is a little dread.

  The best thing about this book is that it keeps me thinking. I read it about a week ago and the characters and events keep swimming around in my brain. Well worth a read, and a reread.
3946424
Jayne (pronounced zha-NAY) Heller has just dropped out of college and is wondering what to do with her life.  Her uncle Eric is murdered and she is shocked to find she's his sole heir.  She's even more shocked to find out he's worth billions.  Then she finds out he's been fighting supernatural beings for years and was about to assassinate the leader of a cabal of wizards, the Invisible College, that harness demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination.

Even after a hit squad tries to kill her, Jayne is sceptical magic and evil demons exist.  Then she encounters a possessed dog and becomes a believer.  She decides to honour her uncle's memory by continuing his fight against the Invisible College and their leader, Randolph Coin.  Jayne has a team at her back made up of friends of Eric's - Aubrey, a scientific researcher of parasites who has a relationship with Jayne; Miridin, a horrific looking man under a 200 year old curse by Randall Coin; Chogyi Jake, a Buddhist with zen-ish ways and mystical abilities; and Ex, a former Jesuit priest who may have a thing for Jayne (I haven't figured it out yet).

This book was interesting and had a new take on the supernatural theme.  There was a lot of action, some mystery, and a great cast of supporting characters.  M.L.N. Hanover uses a lot of foul language though. It fits the characters well, but you may not want tweens to read it.  I really enjoyed Unclean Spirits and would recommend it to others who like urban fantasy.  I'm looking forward to reading Darker Angels: Black Sun's Daughter book 2.  M.L.N. Hanover is a pseudonym for Daniel Abraham - a Hugo nominated author.
1380498
This combined a lot of my favorite paranormal elements: a police force for magical beings a la Men in Black, an ensemble of quirky characters who must work together to save the day, and two difficult MCs whose antagonism generates lots of heat. Add to that well-drawn characters, good world-building and a solidly suspenseful plot, and you have a very enjoyable paranormal read. Also, the book features a yeti, which is seriously the coolest thing ever, especially since the guy is a complete sweetheart. My one annoyance is that despite having a number of really good, interesting and diverse secondary characters--I mentioned the yeti right?--somehow none of the ones we actually get to know are female. They're there in the background, and some of them are kick-ass and heroic, but they don't get speaking parts--it felt a bit like a missed opportunity. Especially for a book which features a super-cool yeti.

Bottom line: this is a solid, well-written, quite entertaining paranormal, which happens to feature a yeti, which makes it and any sequels automatic must-reads.
1569507
The book is action-packed from start to finish. We join Elisa on a hunt for the Keystone tablets, the key to unlocking the lost city of Lemuria, which was apparently struck down by the gods for becoming too advanced for its own good. My favorite character was Asami, a kitsune, or spirit from Japanese legend. And this book has plenty of mythology in it, which is fun and different. Definitely would love to read more of this series.
1274120
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

In Fractured Earth, the Actuator split the world into different realities. A few people are trying to get the Keys that the Machine Monks created when they activated the Actuator. They need the Keys in order to restore the world to the original reality. The task seems insurmountable, but they have to try.

Borderlands gives a peek at some of the other realities and the people who inhabit them. 16 short stories tell of whats going on in various parts of the world since the accident that changed everything.

Remembering Emily by Sara Wolf ~ Love really is a powerful emotion.

Stolen Orchid by Matthew Cox ~ Very Sci-Fi.

The Blackbirds Tale by Dan Willis ~ Not a big fan of noir, but this is pretty good.

The Dream Journal by Nathan Yocum ~ I couldn't make sense of this one.

The Austenation by Mara Valderran ~ A mixing of the literary world. Not bad.

Escape by Patrick Burdine ~ Creepy andcreepy. But good.

The Ritual by Whitney Trang ~ Another horror realm.

The Gatekeepers of Change by James Pratt ~ This reminds me of the show Supernatural and one of my favorite guest stars. Im not saying who though.

The Ringer by Craig Nybo ~ I like detective stories especially when mixed with paranormal. Clever.

Anna and Lena by Jason Purdy ~ Wow. This is grim. And sad.

Once Upon a Frozen North by Jason Persson ~ Who doesnt like Vikings?

Halfway by Jay Wilburn ~ Eeeep! Horror fans need to read this one.

The Search for Punarnav by Juhi ~ Hindu mythology made real. I love mythology but having it real is a bit too scary an image for me.

15 Seconds of Fame by Jason A. Anderson ~ Another detective story. I mentioned I like those, right?

Forever Young by Wilbert Stanton ~ Interesting concept.

Cult of the Actuation by James Wymore ~ Ah! The aftermath of book 1 with Red and Dragon Star. Likey likey!
2127950
This book was quite good. I enjoyed Thomas' spin on the paranormal. She builds a world with (what I can best describe as) mysterious supernatural super heroes. The romance wasn't overpowering, and the writing was smooth and engaging. I enjoyed this and look forward to the next book.
3342494
At first I wasn't sure whether or not I would like this. But, after getting into it I was hooked.
Sarah adds some interesting details to the general ghost lore that at least I'm not familiar with. Every time you think you've read all the stuff people could write on ghosts, you go and learn more.
There were a couple fuzzy parts that made me go back a couple pages to make certain what she was getting at. Sort of like missing the antecedent that the pronoun needed. But I was able to find what I was looking for.
I'm also looking forward to her next book in this series. Darn you, Sarah, for enticing us like that!
4539166
* Entertaining stories with interesting illustrations and photos,
  * A few stories do not appear to be historically accurate.
  * Ideal for anyone planning a vacation in New England, or looking for some well-known ghosts to investigate.

This book includes some great stories of New England (USA) ghosts.

If you're looking for interesting folklore and some quirky personal investigations, this book is better than the average.  The stories can be chilling, and they're well told with interesting historical details and trivia.

Many of these tales were meticulously researched, with documents and photos to support them.  They're told in a conversational style, and the naturalness of that makes the stories even more eerie and disturbing.

However, other stories -- or aspects of them -- may be more folklore than fact.  That said, most of these stories have at least some foundation in truth, and they can be fascinating for ghost enthusiasts.

The author is well-known as a superb storyteller, and this book is among his best.  It's great book for a 'good scare' around Halloween.

In addition, if you're a ghost hunter (as I am), Cahill interviews people with powerful stories.  These are some excellent starting points if you'd like to research New England's classic ghost stories.
4786190
Nicole and Lizzie are best friends that both have magic, because they're fourth in kids. They leave to go to school and the craziness hits! So. Much. Crazy. If you like/love paranormal science fiction, you're going to love all the monsters/ghosts/Great Ones. This is a super long read, but I'm excited to connect the Kilenya series with this one!
3899978
Legends of deadly ghosts and mythical entities have been around since the dawn of time. However there are several myths about various paranormal entities named Mary, and in author Gwendolyn Kiste's book Pretty Marys All in a Row a new story about the infamous Marys arises, and it's a whirlwind story that fans of horror and speculative fiction will love. Here's the synopsis:Youll find her on a lonely highway, hitchhiking at midnight. She calls herself Rhee, but everyone else knows her by another name: Resurrection Mary. And when shes transported home each night to a decrepit mansion on a lane to nowhere, shes not alone. In the antique mirror, call her name three times, and Bloody Mary will appear. Outside, wandering through a garden of poisonous flowers is Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary, a nursery rhyme come to gruesome life. Downstairs is another jump-rope rhymeMary Mack, forever conscripted to build her own coffin. And brooding in the corner with her horse skull is the restless Mari Lwyd. They are the Marys, the embodiment of urban legend and what goes bump in the night. Every evening, they gather around the table and share nightmares like fine wine, savoring the flavors of those theyve terrified. But other than these brief moments together, the Marys are alone, haunting a solitary gloom that knows them better than they know themselves. Thats because they don't remember who they were beforeor even if there was a before. And worst of all, they don't know how to escape this fate. That is, until a moment of rage inspires Rhee to leap from the highwayand into the mirror with Bloody Mary. Suddenly, the Marys are learning how to move between their worlds, all while realizing how much stronger they are together. But just when freedom is within their reach, something in the gloom fights backsomething that isn't ready to let them go. Now with her sisters in danger of slipping into the darkness, Rhee must unravel the mystery of who the Marys were before they were every childs nightmare. And shell have to do it before whats in the shadows comes to claim her for its own. I have to say, this is one of my favorite reads of 2017. I love creative new takes on myths and legends, and this book had a fantastic use of a new spin on several legends. The friendship and sisterhood between the Marys, especially Bloody Mary and Resurrection Mary, was such a fantastic twist to the tale. Seeing these characters bond and become so much more than their dark haunted history is a breath of fresh air to the legends, and although this book was short, it had a big impact in such a short amount of time. The writing was spectacular. The vivid imagery used was so creative and painted an incredible picture in my mind as I read it. The character's were the definite highlight of the book, while the complex narrative told a unique story that brought a new light to the darkness surrounding these legendary characters. Overall this was a wonderful story that you guys need to read. The characters alone are worth the purchase, but the incredible story and smart writing showcases the fantastic command author Gwendolyn Kiste has over the speculative fiction genre. If you haven't yet, be sure to pick up your copies of Pretty Marys All in a Row today! Rating: 10/10
3988688
The world of the Kitsune Tales is a richly-drawn world with complex politics and intriguing mythology. Combining the elements of magic and mystery, the author tells the story of Tsurugu, an onmyoudou (magician) who hides a multitude of secrets within himself while attempting to serve the lady Kaede and her husband. This novel is populated with an array of youkai, supernatural beings of varying powers and abilities, chief among them the kitsune, or fox spirits.

The intertwining plots and compelling characters combine with rich Japanese culture and mythology to provide a thoroughly enjoyable read.