Book Review: Crossroads by JJ Bonds

If you've read the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, then you're going to enjoy Crossroads by JJ Bonds. Why? Because Crossroads is a school full of vampires, studying, feeding, and training to excel among the elite of their own kind. There's no pretense about what they are or where these teens stand in the food chain - Vampires are simply the diamonds among the rough of humanity.

Katia is a vampire transfer, an unpolished diamond uncertain about her new surroundings at Crossroads. In fact, she's uncertain about a lot of things - her foggy past as well as the nefarious dreams taunting her night after night, a red-eyed man chasing her endlessly. Katia's been able to temper that fear in the past, thanks to the comforting embrace of an uncle she didn't know she had until a year ago. Money and prestige has protected Katia, but now that she's at Crossroads, her uncle's influence can't protect her from adolescent petulance, unwanted male affection or even the dead bodies piling up outside of town.

What I liked about Crossroads? Everything. The novel is well executed with concise language, matched by an even paced plot that finishes with an action-packed, gripping final chapter. Droplets of information are littered consistently throughout the novel, building each character's construct and offering the reader ideas about where this series may progress.

There's also a touch of romance, though nothing overly amorous to throw you off the point of the novel. Sexual tension does weave its way through the pages, but the focus is entirely on Katia's growth, her ability to determine her dreams, tamper her blood lust and uncover the secrets of her past.

Crossroads rates four out of five fangs - a great start to a series, though I hope for more action in the next few novels.

Synopsis:

When Katia enrolled at Crossroads Academy she knew things weren’t exactly going to be easy. The sole heir to the worlds’ most powerful vampire, her presence was bound to cause a stir. But nothing could have prepared her for this. Whispers follow everywhere she goes. So does trouble.

Bodies start turning up in nearby Rutland and Katia is sucked into a twisted web of danger and deceit. Haunted by nightmares she can’t explain and a thirst for blood that is never sated, Katia will do whatever it takes to keep her past buried.

Nothing at Crossroads is what it seems and Katia’s secrets may be the darkest of them all.

Book review: Pyxis by KC Neal

Pyxis, aptly titled "The Discovery" is a novel, for my mind, designed only to introduce you to the idea of a future plot and the building of strong character foundations.
Pyxis presents the idea of something compelling, a story involving a pyramidal group of teens - protagonist Corrine, her best friend Angeline, and her sometimes-maybe-boyfriend Mason. 
Formed by the trappings of high school, but forging closer upon the discovery of this mystery box known as the "Pyxis", and the novel attempts to explore its purpose and the reasons why these kids have been chosen.
Interestingly enough, you never find out what the Pyxis is. In fact, the novel doesn't explain much of anything bar family secrets never to be fully revealed. I felt bogged down by several chapters exploring a cookie experiment using unidentifiable liquids from the Pyxis box bearing no hypothesis or result. Following these lack-luster chapters with shared nightmares of fog between Corrine and Mason and I started to think we might be getting somewhere - at least some answer or deeper deluge into their meaning, but then boom, the novel is pretty much at its end.
I wish I could say that I enjoyed Pyxis, but with a million questions unanswered and no discernible plot direction, I can't imagine picking up the next installment as I wasn't left wanting.
I cannot fault the writing style, the descriptive content, or the dialogue, as this was very consistent throughout the novel. Imagery was particularly creative and the introduction of some sinister characters did give the book promise, but with too much space in between explanation, no moments of suspense and very little intrigue, I can only rate this book two out of five fangs.

Synopsis:

Corinne lives an average teenage life working at her dad’s cafe, hanging out with her best friend, and trying to forget a falling-out with her almost-boyfriend Mason. Things take a strange turn when she uses her late grandmother’s food dyes for a bake sale, and her customers suddenly find her irresistibly alluring. Then she discovers she and Mason are haunted by the same dreams of a dark force that consumes everything in its path. 
Pursued by shadowy figures and a crazy woman with secrets from the past, Corinne must find out who her grandmother really was. In her quest to unravel her family’s history, she learns she is destined to protect this world--and the dark world of her dreams. She races to find the answers she seeks before her nightmares break free.

Kristy :)