Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Halloween Reads

October 27: Halloween themed freebie
(My choice - Top Ten Halloween Reads)

Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
are two of my most favorite ghost stories. These two books are the first that
come to mind when recommending a Halloween read!

Ten by Gretchen McNeil is intense and full of suspense and the perfect book
to read to get you in the mood for Halloween!!

Let's not forget about Zombies, which is exactly what you get when you read
This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers!! This book was intense!!

 I read A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis just a few weeks ago,
and I loved how creepy the story was! It definitely put me in the Halloween spirit!!

It's been a while since I read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, but I remember it being

very unique and different. Very spooky and great for this time of year!

This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee is a Frankenstein retelling that I absolutely LOVED!!
Again, I read this a few weeks ago, and it's another book that was total perfection

to read at Halloween time!! This book was SO good by the way. Check it out!

The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle is actually set during Halloween time,
so again, a perfect book to read for Halloween! Lots of creepiness as well!

I've not yet read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness &
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

but I imagine these would be perfectly scary read for Halloween!
I had hoped to squeeze this in for Halloween Reads week this month,
but unfortunately I've been too busy. :(

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There you have it, Bookworms! Just a few of my favorite Halloween Reads!
Leave a comment with your link so I can check out YOUR Halloween reads!
I'm always excited to find new books.

Have a great Halloween, Bookworms!!

Review: Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch

Ice Like Fire
(Snow Like Ashes #2)
by Sara Raasch
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Publication Date: October 13th 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 479
ISBN: 9780062286956
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Edelweiss/Own

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Available for Purchase:
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It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared—thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses—the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe—even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari—leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom—and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world. (Goodreads)

I read Snow Like Ashes last year, and really, really enjoyed the uniqueness of the story. I couldn't wait to get my hands on Ice Like Fire, even though I worried that the sequel would not be nearly as good as the first book. Well, it totally was!! I enjoyed this book just as much as, if not more than, Snow Like Ashes!! It definitely did not disappoint!

All the familiar characters that we knew from the first book are back in this sequel, along with a lot of new, interesting characters as well. I still imagine Meira as a young Xena: Warrior Princess, with her chakram and her fierceness, but there's also a new side of her in the book, the side that must act like the queen that she is. It was interesting to see this different side to Meira, as she was so fierce in the first book, but, I'm thrilled to say that she's a really awesome queen as well.

There are so many secondary characters that I love in this series. There are really too many to mention, but my list has grown as we are introduced to some new characters as the story goes along. It's hard not to totally love some of these characters.  But, there are also some character that you will really, really dislike, but who are also very well written.

Like the previous book, it really felt like there wasn't a dull moment when reading this story. There was so much action and suspense in the storyline, it really kept me on my toes wondering what would happen next. And again, the setting for the book was so unique; Raasch did a wonderful job with her descriptions. I could visualize the world she created perfectly in my mind, and they were so awesome!!

Overall; I really did not expect to enjoy Ice Like Fire more than Snow Like Ashes, but I totally did! I loved being back in world Raasch created, with its unique setting and awesome characters. I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on the third book in the series, which is set to be published in 2016!! If you've not yet check out this series, I definitely suggest that you add them to your reading list!

Review: First & Then by Emma Mills

First & Then
by Emma Mills
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Publication Date: October 13th 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9781627792356
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: For Review

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Available for Purchase:
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Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself. (Goodreads)

As soon as I discovered First & Then by Emma Mills, I knew I had to read this book. It is described as Pride & Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights, which happens to be two of my most favorite things. I have to admit, my curiosity was piqued, as I really love Jane Austen, and football, so I knew this book would make for an excellent read. AND IT DID!!

There were so many characters that I loved in the story, and all for different reasons. I found the main character, Devon, to be very likable, and I love how much she loved football, even if it was just to watch her best friend/crush play under the Friday night lights. Foster, Devon's cousin, is one of those characters that you just can't help but love, because he grows on you more and more throughout the story. And then there's Ezra, who is the strong and silent, yet somewhat awkward type, who is so much like Mr. Darcy, I instantly fell in love with him. These three characters really are the highlight of the book, and it made me love it so much more.

I am becoming a big fan of retellings of my favorite books lately, as I love seeing a book I loved retold in a different light, with a different persons perspective. And honestly, there just aren't enough Jane Austen retellings in my life. I adore Jane Austen, and Pride & Prejudice just happens to be my favorite read of hers. I really love how much influence Austen has in this book. I was hooked, and I read this book in just a few hours time.

Overall; I really love contemporary novels, and when you pair them with Jane Austen, you just can’t lose! First & Then was such a fun read! I loved the characters and the setting, and pretty much everything else about this book. I will definitely be checking out more books by Emma Mills in the future!!

Review & Giveaway: A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond

A Song for Ella Grey
by David Almond
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Publication Date: October 13th 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9780553533590
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Retelling
Source: For Review

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Available for Purchase:
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"I'm the one who's left behind. I'm the one to tell the tale. I knew them both...knew how they lived and how they died."

Claire is Ella Grey's best friend. She's there when the whirlwind arrives on the scene: catapulted into a North East landscape of gutted shipyards; of high arched bridges and ancient collapsed mines. She witnesses a love so dramatic it is as if her best friend has been captured and taken from her. But the loss of her friend to the arms of Orpheus is nothing compared to the loss she feels when Ella is taken from the world. This is her story - as she bears witness to a love so complete; so sure, that not even death can prove final. (Goodreads)

I have to admit, I was very intrigued when I was first invited to read A Song for Ella Grey. I've never read the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, though I'd seen it referenced in a few books before, and I've always been curious. As far as I know, there aren't many retellings of the myth out in the YA genre, so  I was even more excited to check this out!

The narrator of this story is Claire, Ella Grey's best friend. While we are reading the words from Claire's point of view, she feels more like a secondary character than a main character. Ella Grey and Orpheus are the stars in this book, and Claire is their storyteller. Getting to know these characters was a very interesting experience, they were all so captivating and mysterious.

I really enjoyed the writing style for the novel. It has a lovely lyrical feel to it, and I found the writing to be very beautiful. While I don't know much about the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, I was able to follow along with the retelling very well, and now I'm even more curious to check out the myth as well.

Overall; I can't say I've read many books like A Song for Ella Grey, but I really enjoyed reading the story David Almond created. I'm definitely going to check out the original myth now, as soon as I possibly can. I'm super excited to check it out as well!

*Giveaway*

Open to US Only
Must be 13 years or older enter.
Ends 10/24.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday #218 - Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Lady Midnight
(The Dark Artifices #1)
by Cassandra Clare
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Publication Date: March 8th 2016
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
ISBN: 9781442468351



Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Los Angeles. It’s been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge.

Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn. A series of murders in the city catch her attention — they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents. Could the murderer be the same person? And her attention isn’t the only one caught: someone has been murdering Downworlders as well. The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute: if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they’ll return Mark Blackthorn to his home. The catch: they have only two weeks to find the killers. Otherwise it’s open war between faeries and Nephilim.

The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she’s absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. (Goodreads)

Lady Midnight finally has a cover!!
And it's SOOOOO gorgeous.
I cannot wait to have this book in my hands.
And on my shelf!
I need it noooooooow!!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Review & Giveaway: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Hey guys!!

Today I'm participating in the blog tour for
Illuminae
by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff!!

Scroll down to check out my review for this awesome book,
and then enter the giveaway to win a copy for yourself!!

And stop by Jay's Website and check out the of the rest of the stops on this tour!!

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Illuminae
(The Illuminae Files #1)
by Amie Kaufman (Website | Twitter | Facebook)
& Jay Kristoff (Website | Twitter | Facebook)

Publication Date: October 20th 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 608
ISBN: 9780553499117
Genre: Young Adult | Sci-Fi | Dystopia
Source: Publisher

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Available for Purchase:
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This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes. (Goodreads)

When I first discovered Illuminae, I knew I'd have to read the book as soon as possible. Not only did  the summary sound pretty awesome, but the book is co-written by Amie Kaufman, whose Starbound series I really adore, and I was super excited to read something new by her. I'm new to Jay Kristoff's writing, so I didn't know what to expect from putting these two authors together in this book, but the story I got was completely captivating and totally engrossing. I really enjoyed it!

I have to say I really, really loved the characters in this story. Kady was such a great main character; I loved how snarky and sarcastic she was, and I found her very relatable. The girl did what she had to do to survive, and you can't fault her for that at all. She got the job done. Ezra is pretty awesome as well, and I loved the interactions between him and Kady throughout the story. There are also some great secondary characters in the story as well.

I really enjoyed the storyline for the book. It reminded me a lot of The 5th Wave series by Rick Yancey, and I think fans of that series will really enjoy this one as well! While the book starts off with a bang, it gets a little slow towards the middle as we start to learn more information and back-story. The last half of the book, however, is full of action and tons of suspense. I was definitely sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what was going to happen next!

I also really liked that instead of the story being told from a characters point of view, it is told through different formats; emails, instant messages, interviews, etc. I thought it was really interesting to read the book this way, as SO much more information was included than we'd normally get from just one character's POV.

Overall; I really enjoyed reading Illuminae!! I'm super curious for the next two books in the series, as I'm pretty excited to see what's going to happen next as the series goes along. If you're a fan of sci-fi, or just a fan of awesome stories in general, I highly recommend you check out Illuminae!!

Happy Reading!

_________________________________

*Giveaway*

Open to US/Canada Only
Must be 13 years or older enter.
Ends 10/19.

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Review: This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee

This Monstrous Thing
by Mackenzi Lee
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Publication Date: September 22nd 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780062382771
Genre: Young Adult | Retelling | Sci-Fi
Source: Edelweiss

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In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch’s life shattered to bits.

His brother, Oliver—dead.

His sweetheart, Mary—gone.

His chance to break free of Geneva—lost.

Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead.

But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair’s horror further damages the already troubled relationship.

Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay… (Goodreads)

This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee is a fantastically unique retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I can't say that I've read many Frankenstein retelling's up to this point, if any, so I was very excited going into this book. I was definitely not disappointed by the book, and it was a great book to read this month, with Halloween right around the corner!

The main character in the story is Alasdair, a boy who seems to have lost everything, and in his grief proves that he is so much smarter than he seems. Oh, this poor boy. So many things happen to Alasdair throughout the course of this book. I just wanted to jump in the book and give him a great big hug. But, even when everything seemed to go wrong for him, he still proved to be a really strong character, and he was so well written; it was impossible not to like him.

Alasdair was not the only well written character in the story, as there were others that I found myself liking as well, like his brother, Oliver, as well as another girl we meet in the story, Clémence. But while there are some characters you're really going to like, there are a few you're really going to dislike as well. I'm not going to spill the beans on who, so go meet them for yourself!

While the storyline for the book is set around Frankenstein and the time period within, the book also manages to have a complete unique story all on its own as well. The author did a really great job with researching the book beforehand, and I appreciated that so much information not only about Frankenstein, but also about Mary Shelley, was included in the story. It definitely made the book an interesting read.

Overall; I really, really enjoyed This Monstrous Thing so much. It really made for such a great book to read with Halloween coming up, but it's also a great book to read any time of the year! Mackenzi Lee is definitely on my radar now, and I can't wait to read more from her soon!

Cover Reveal: Spark by Holly Schindler

*Cover Reveal*

Hey guys!!

Today I'm helping to reveal the cover for
Holly Schindler's upcoming YA release,
*Spark*
out in stores May 17th, 2016!!

Are you ready for it???

It's pretty gorgeous!!

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Spark
by Holly Schindler
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: May 17th, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062220233

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Goodreads


When the right hearts come to the Avery Theater—at the right time—the magic will return. The Avery will come back from the dead.

Or so Quin’s great-grandmother predicted many years ago on Verona, Missouri’s most tragic night, when Nick and Emma, two star-crossed teenage lovers, died on the stage. It was the night that the Avery’s marquee lights went out forever.

It sounds like urban legend, but one that high school senior Quin is now starting to believe, especially when her best friend, Cass, and their classmate Dylan step onto the stage and sparks fly. It seems that magic can still unfold at the old Avery Theater and a happier ending can still be had—one that will align the stars and revive not only the decrepit theater, but also the decaying town. However, it hinges on one thing—that Quin gets the story right this time around.

Holly Schindler brings the magic of the theater to life in this tale of family ties, fate, love, and one girl’s quest to rewrite history.

~

“In my hometown, the restoration of a former movie theater on the town square provided the genesis for my new YA novel, SPARK. Who among us hasn’t dreamed of seeing their name in blazing neon across a gigantic marquee? Let me invite you to dim the lights and draw back the velvet curtains—let your imagination run wild as you enter my fictional Avery Theater, where literally anything goes…”
—Holly Schindler

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Holly Schindler is the author of three previous YA novels: PLAYING HURT as well as the critically acclaimed FERAL (starred PW review) and A BLUE SO DARK (starred Booklist review, ForeWord Book of the Year silver medal, IPPY gold medal). A writer of books for all ages, Schindler’s MG, THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY, has made the master list for children’s book awards in Illinois, South Carolina, and Alabama. She is also a hybrid author, having independently released comedic women’s fiction (FIFTH AVENUE FIDOS) and the forthcoming PLAY IT AGAIN, her adult follow-up to her YA PLAYING HURT. She can be reached through her author site: hollyschindler.com, and hosts special sneak peeks and giveaways for subscribers of her newsletter: tinyletter.com/hollyschindler.com.

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Spark “Premieres” May 17, 2016, but you can buy your “tickets” now.
Links to pre-order -

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Goodreads

Add this to your TBR, Bookworms!!
And pre-order your copy too!!

Waiting on Wednesday #217 - Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry

Walk The Edge
(Thunder Road #2)
by Katie McGarry
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: March 29th 2016
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
ISBN: 9780373211623



Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Razor knows his family is haunted by secrets of the past…

High school senior Thomas "Razor" Turner knows his family has a dark history as part of the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, especially when it comes to the secrecy surrounding his mother’s death.

When Razor starts to dig deeper into his mum's case he turns to the unlikeliest source for help: classmate Breanna Miller, the shy, smart girl he's never looked twice at. But the more time they spend together, the more they realise they actually have in common, and how attracted to each other they really are.

When secrets from the past are revealed can their newfound feelings survive? (Goodreads)

I am SO super excited for Walk the Edge!!
I was super curious about Razor when I read Nowhere But Here,

and I really, really want to know more of his story.
March is not going to get here soon enough!!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Review: A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

A Madness So Discreet
by Mindy McGinnis
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Publication Date: October 6th 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780062320865
Genre: Young Adult | Historical | Mystery-Thriller
Source: Edelweiss

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us. (Goodreads)

A Madness So Discreet is the very first book I've read by the super talented Mindy McGinnis, although I've had her previous books, Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust on my to-be-read list for quite a while now. Not only did the story sound awesome, but the cover is just absolutely stunning. I was super excited to finally read something by McGinnis, as I'd heard nothing but good things about her books. I definitely was not disappointed with this book!

The main character in the story is Grace, a young girl who holds too many secrets, and one in particular that lands her in an insane asylum. But Grace is not insane; not even close. Instead she is super smart, is given the opportunity to prove so when she is discovered by a doctor who is visiting the asylum. I found Grace to be a very interesting and unique character. You couldn't help but love her for all the things that she has been through in her young life, and the more these secrets come out as the story goes along, the more you will grow to love her.

Not only is Grace a great character, but there are so many other wonderful characters in the story that you will grow attached to. Of course, there will be some that you will absolutely hate with a passion, but the ones that you will love will completely overwhelm you with how awesome they are.  There are almost too many to mention, so go read the book and meet them for yourself!

The storyline for the book was quite addictive and completely engrossing. I didn't really know what to expect when I first started the book, and I found myself surprised by the direction the book takes. At first, the storyline had one sort of feel to it, then it took a turn and had a completely different feel to it. I enjoyed that McGinnis kept me guessing as I turned the pages.

I really loved the historical parts of the book, although some things were completely terrifying. Like the face that it only took a male family member and a judge to determine that a woman was 'insane', and therefore could be locked away for the rest of her life. So. Not. Cool. And then there are the asylums that were mentioned in the stories, one in which was absolutely horrible. I can't even imagine a place like that existing, although, sadly, I'm sure it did during this time period.

Overall; A Madness So Discreet has it all; a great storyline, wonderful characters, and a stunningly gorgeous cover. I'm so glad I added this book to my collection, and now I'm pretty excited to read more by McGinnis as soon as possible!!