Eragon, by Christopher Paolini

I am so suprised I haven't already written about this book. I have been a major fan for years. I am DYING while I wait for the final book to come out. If anyone knows the date -- fill me in!

So. This book. Is amazing.

It is about a boy, named Eragon, who finds a beautiful, polished, blue stone in the forest near his home. He takes it with him, hoping it will fetch his family food or supplies for the cold winter months ahead. What Eragon didn’t know is that this is no ordinary stone. This stone… is an egg. With a dragon hatchling inside.

This dragon brings danger, death, and all manner of destruction on Eragon’s town, family, and life. But, it also brings a destiny filled with magic, and power that will change his life forever.

Poison Study, by Maria V. Snyder

On the day Yelena is to be executed for murder she is offered a choice – continue with the hanging, or, become a food taster. Seems harmless right? Or not. She becomes the food taster, a.k.a. poison tester for all the drinks and meals for the Commander of Ixia.


As she becomes more comfortable in her role at the palace she begins to formulate her escape plan. But with internal plots, strange magical powers, and enemies out to get her…she might not ever be free again. Such an amazing (seriously, insanly amazing) book. I won't update the remainder of the trilogy *no spoilers here!* but suffice it to say - this is a MUST READ.

Skin Hunger, by Kathleen Duey

Magic has been banned in the world where Sadima lives. With her family's valuables stolen and her mother left to die on the day of her birth Sadima's life starts out rough. Her solace in life is the gift she has with animals. It comes from the magic hidden within her. The only magic left in the world is hidden, in fables, old songs, and in the select few people, like Sadima. But, when someone discovers her secret, Sadima begins a journey that will take her to places she never imagined and to discovers secrets she will wish she never had.

Thirst, by Christopher Pike

Alisa is the ultimate vampire, completely in control of her urges, feeding but not killing, living her opulent life in secret – no friends, no enemies, no one who knows she exists. But, someone knows she is alive, and is hunting her. The ultimate question of this book is – does she find out who it is? And, can she kill them, before they kill her?

This book has a love triangle in it (which I love), which seems to be the popular layout of books recently, but Pike writes in a way that is believable and completely original. Alisa is like no character I’ve ever met. She is heartless, cold, unforgiving. I found myself shocked at her lack of mercy and compassion. Shocked. But I was pleased that she stayed true to form throughout the book, definitely a strong character, and a strong story line.

The Owl Keeper, by Christine Brodien-Jones

Maxwell Unger has heard stories from his Gran about his world before the Destruction. A world where freedom, happiness, and books abound. That was when there were still Silver Owls in the world. Now that his Gran has passed away, it’s the stories that he remembers, especially his favorite, the one about the Owl Keeper. And Gran had told him the time of the Owl Keeper was coming, and that the Owl Keeper would be the person to save everyone from the evil lurking in the forest- to make everything right again.
This was a lower level read. Still good, but it was a book I could put down to eat dinner or watch a show, not 100% riveting, but still something I would recommend for a good read.

Inside Out, by Maria V. Snyder

This book was insanity. It leaves you wondering until the last page. LITERALLY. I had no idea how it was going to end. So intense. This book is about a girl named Trella. She lives on the lower levels, and her job title is Scrub. Cleaning and keeping the ducts and air shafts clean. No one is allowed into the Uppers. But, Trella uses her ducts and shafts to travel to the Uppers, and what she finds out changes everything. Making her the leader of a rebellion more than a thousand people strong. Changing everyones lives forever.

13 Reasons Why, by Jay Asher

It all starts with a small package left on Clay's front porch before he gets home from school. In that box are tapes. 13 tapes, recorded by Hannah Baker - Clay's classmate and crush - who killed herself 2 weeks earlier. There are 13 reasons why Hannah committed suicide. And Clay is one of them.
Clay now has a choice. To listen to the 13 reasons, and pass along the tapes to the next person in line, or, never find out.
This was a gripping read, I was hooked to the very end. This was one of the most real books I have ever had the opportunity to read. Sad and amazing all at the same time. And it makes you realize just how much you can impact another person's life.