Where I am published elsewhere...

Remember how much I loved Stacey Kade's The Ghost and the Goth trilogy? (Especially books one and three?) :) I approached last week about writing a "series" review for BreakPoint.org, and it was posted late yesterday! I'm so thrilled about this opportunity! You can read my series review here.

Where the Twitter-less blog gets tweeted...

This review of BODY & SOUL by @StaceyKade KILLS me (n a great way): tinyurl.com/84jcqwy
— Christian Trimmer (@CITintheCITY) May 10, 2012

Stacey Kade's editor read my review of Body & Soul! And liked it apparently! Had to document this moment forever on the blog... :)

Review: Body & Soul by Stacey Kade

Body & Soul (Ghost and the Goth #3)
By: Stacey Kade
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
ISBN: 1423134664

About the book:

Alona Dare has been living as Lily “Ally” Turner for over a month...and it's not been easy. Besides being trapped in a body so not as good as her original one, she's failing miserably at playing the sister and daughter of people she barely knows. Plus, she can't help but think that Will Killian - the boy she hates to care about - somehow wishes the real Lily were back.

She and Will have been trying to find a solution, looking for a two-for-one miracle that would free Alona and keep Lily alive. Visits to local psychics have proven useless, but then they stumble across Malachi the Magnificent, who seems to be different. His office is full of ghosts, for one thing. But Malachi doesn’t seem to hear or see them, which is odd. Plus, he bolts the moment he sees Will. To make things even weirder, Misty Evans, Alona's former best friend, is waiting in Malachi's lobby and claiming that she's being haunted. By Alona.

Will's convinced that Malachi has answers, while Alona is all kinds of pissed that someone's impersonating her. But their efforts to uncover the truth will bring them much unwanted attention and put them directly in the path of a ghost who will stop at nothing for another stab at life. Even if it means destroying Alona.

Review:

A little over a month has passed since Alona Dare and Will Killian found themselves involved in a life-or-death confrontation with "the Order," the super secret organization Will's father had been a member of, that seeks to regulate and control ghost and human interaction. Alona made a split-second decision that changes everything -- in order to save Lily Turner, Will's former best friend, she "inhabits" Lily's comatose shell of a body. Her action has unexpected repercussions, not the least of which is how, for all intents and purposes, she is permanently stuck in a body far from her previous ideal with a new ready-made family she knows absolutely nothing about. For his part, Will has trouble coping with the new "Alona-ified" version of Lily -- having the former high school "It Girl" firmly ensconced in the all-to-real body of his former best friend is a twisty new reality he's ill-prepared to cope with, especially guilt over his not-so-secret attraction to Lily 2.0. In their quest to undo Alona's unprecedented body-snatching accident, the ever-bickering but committed pair run afoul of a ghost who will do anything to achieve a second chance at life. But in the battle to free Alona and save Lily's body from a hostile takeover, will Will and Alona lose their best shot at the happily-ever-after neither saw coming, but now both can't imagine living without?

I absolutely adored Kade's introduction to Will and Alona's adventures in The Ghost and the Goth -- it's a breezy, fast-paced read chock-full of banter in the spirit of Shakespeare's Beatrice and Benedick and simmering romantic tension. While I wasn't quite as crazy about its sequel, Queen of the Dead, or as interested in Kade's world-building of a larger ghost-talking Order with questionable containment practices, Queen nicely sets up the possibility that Alona and Will could have an actual relationship in this world. So it was with eager antcipation that I downloaded Body & Soul the day it released -- and oh my WORD, I'm happy to report that Kade does not disappoint. The final installment in the Ghost and the Goth trilogy places the focus squarely on the always-volatile, simmering will-they-or-won't-they Will and Alona relationship. Kade has crafted the romance on a slow burn from the start -- first there was their societal complications, Alona the queen of the popular crowd while Will was the definition of a loner. And then, when they finally reach a point where they can look past their preconceived ideas about each other, they run headlong into the not-so-small issue of Alona's status as Will's self-proclaimed spirit guide. This has never been a romance that could be rushed, but between Kade's mastery of teenage angst, snarky sense of humor, and apparent love of verbal sparring matches, the always sparkling, fiery, against-the-odds relationship is what makes this such an enjoyable series.

Body & Soul is candy-coated escapism at its best, but couched within Kade's wickedly funny, swoon-worthy romance is a surprisingly touching examination of family and identity. You don't expect great character studies in novels of this ilk, so its all the more surprising and enjoyable to see the carefully-meted out character growth Kade has developed over the past two novels come to fruition in the series conclusion. Alona, in particular, has undergone a steep learning curve that reaches its culmination once she unintentionally appropriate's Lily's body. For the first time in her life she's part of a family that cares about her, and in turn she begins to consider the implications of her actions and attitudes on those she encounters. It is particularly fascinating to watch Alona grapple with this second chance at life, forced to decide if she can make a new life for herself as Ally, taking the best parts of herself forward while laying the pain of the past to rest. Will, for his part, must overcome his lingering prejudice against Alona's popular origins and come to terms with the transformation she works in the shell of his former best friend -- an attraction that says more about how much he's fought his attraction for Alona's spirit versus any given physical form. Though they may spar and bicker, the heart of this series is what happens when two seemingly incompatible individuals discover the unlikeliest of friendships brings out the best in each of them.

Body & Soul is a thoroughly satisfying, fast-paced conclusion to a sparkling, unexpectedly entertaining series. Between Kade's ability to pen dizzying banter, develop a sizzling romance, and a standout, swoon-worthy hero, she's marked herself as a unique voice to watch in the YA market. I eagerly await her next book!

Review: Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

Queen of the Dead (Ghost and the Goth #2)
By: Stacey Kade
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
ISBN: 1423134672

About the book:

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

Packed with romance, lovable characters, and a killer cliffhanger, Queen of the Dead is the out-of-this-world sequel to The Ghost and the Goth.

Review:

Two months have passed since former high school "It Girl" -- now "Queen of the Dead" -- Alona Dare was hit by a bus and ended up not quite dead -- well, dead certainly but not gone, left with only other annoying "in-betweener" ghosts for company and Will Killian, social misfit extraordinaire with a gift for speaking to the dead. Bound to Will as his self-proclaimed "spirit guide," the mismatched (but adorable) pair have been working to help the ghosts they encounter settle their final issues with those they've left behind. This constantly stretches Alona's patience for lesser mortals -- *ahem* I mean beings -- but she finds surprising fulfillment in her mission with Will. For his part Will is alternately frustrated and impressed with Alona's work and her character -- clearly he underestimated the girl when she was alive. With the tentative promise of the unlikeliest of cross-dimensional romantic relationships developing between them, the mismatched but oh-so-couple is discovering the relationship life and class denied them in life. But while on a routine job for a new spirit acquaintance, Alona and Will meet a girl who shares Will's ghost-talking ability, and their fragile relationship comes under unexpected fire. The new girl, Mina, causes Will to question everything he thought he knew about his ability, casting doubts on the future of his work and relationship with Alona. Hurt and ticked, Alona risks everything to regain Will's attention and soon discovers that her rash temper and the new ghost talkers threaten not only her relationship with Will but her very existence... 

The debut novel in Kade's Ghost and the Goth series was an unexpected and frankly delightful surprise. Generally speaking paranormals are not my thing, but interject a healthy dose of angst, a heaping tablespoon of snarky humor, and a simmering romance against the odds? I'm so there. I completely feel in love with the characters of Alona and Will and their sarcastic banter, and was thrilled to learn that Kade was continuing their adventures (the third volume, Body and Soul, releases next month) this sophomore effort lacked a bit of the spark that I was hoping for given my thorough enjoyment of its predecessor. In retrospect I should've seen it coming, but what can I say, I was blinded by my book-crush on Will. *wink* Two months into the Will and Alona relationship, Kade uses this opportunity to develop the mythos of their world, delving into Will's family history and expanding on the idea of ghost talkers and their varied belief systems and modus operandi. While this definitely raises the stakes for Will and Alona, I have to be frank -- the creation of some sort of larger mythology just didn't interest me all that much, mainly because it requires that for a full two-thirds of the novel Will and Alona share no - ZERO - page time. I was reminded of my experience with the TV show Being Human (BBC version) -- I adored the first half of season one as it explored the interaction between the three mismatched roommates and their struggles to be "normal." But when the show took its mythology to a larger and darker scale I lost interest. However, someone with a greater interest in paranormals would probably appreciate Kade's world-building more than I, given my admittedly limited experience in this genre.

The lack of Will and Alona page time is, without a doubt, this book's greatest deficit. Their snarky banter, the do-they-or-don't-they like each other, will-they-or-won't-they kiss tension is what makes these stories sing. The opening and concluding chapters to this second outing are noticeably stronger than the middle because that's when we see the two of them together, trading quips, commenting on the action, and -- best of all -- revealing their attraction and need for each other. My personal preference issues with the plot's format aside, Queen of the Dead is every bit the quick read as its predecessor -- at times shaded a bit darker than I would've liked, but every bit the snappily plotted and well-executed page-turner. Her characterizations are superb -- Kade has a real knack for conveying teenage angst and snarkiness on the page. But all is not witty sarcasm -- Alona in particular, the character you'd least expect to feel sympathy towards, grows a lot over the course of this story. And while I feel Will and Alona spent far too much time apart, I will say I was pleasantly surprised by the twist at the novel's climax, leading Alona to sacrifice herself for the sake of another, and just maybe opening the door to a real relationship with Will. With a novel full of shared Will/Alona banter virtually assured by Queen's end, I can't wait for the third book to release. Thanks to its sarcasm-heavy banter and sizzling romantic tension, this series is a memorable and addictive YA offering. Here's hoping the third book does a better job fulfilling the promise of the first.

Review: The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

The Ghost and the Goth (Ghost and the Goth #1)
By: Stacey Kade
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
ISBN: 142312197X

About the book:

After a close encounter with a bus, Alona Dare goes from homecoming queen to Queen of the Dead. She’s stuck as a ghost in the land of the living with no sign of the big, bright light to take her to a better place. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser outcast.

More than anything, Will wishes he didn’t have the rare ability to communicate with the dead, especially the former mean girl of Groundsboro High. He’s not filling out any volunteer forms to help her cross to the other side, though it would bring him some welcome peace and quiet.

Can they get over their mutual distrust -- and quasi-attraction -- to work together? Readers of this spirited paranormal comedy won't want this odd couple to ever part.

Review:

Alona Dare is the undisputed queen of her school, possessing the perfect body, the perfect friends, the perfect boyfriend. Her life is the envy of her lesser peers, a carefully crafted image she jealously guards and cultivates with the aplomb of a savvy press agent. But there are cracks in the foundation of Alona's perfect life -- a less-than-perfect home life that reaches a boiling point, leading Alona to an unguarded, fateful moment when she steps in front of a bus and is instantly killed. But death is nothing like Alona expected, as she shortly wakes up still in the land of the living -- not living, exactly, but stuck "in-between," forced to watch life go on sans her sparkling presence. To her everlasting chagrin the only one who can still see her and hear her is Will Killian, a loser -- the type of guy she'd have never associated with when she was alive. But she needs Will and his "knack" for communicating with the dead if she has any hope of moving on from land of in-between. For his part Will would like nothing better than to see Alona disappear for good -- his "gift" has brought him nothing but heartache and stress, and one less unseen voice clamoring for his attention can only be seen as a win. But the more Will and Alona get to know each other the more they begin to realize a spark of what might have been if either had dared to look beyond the superficial. When a particularly malevolent ghost sets its sights on Will's destruction, the Alona and Will are forced to become allies, and in the process discover the sparks of a relationship neither saw coming which proves a force that cannot be denied.

Paranormals of any sort are pretty much completely outside the realm of my reading experience, but after a friend's review I knew I had to check this book out. Fabulously cheesy title and candy-colored cover aside, it sounded like just plain fun. And oh, I'm so glad I stepped outside my norm and tried this, as The Ghost and the Goth is ridiculously entertaining from start to finish. With Alona and Will, Kade has created two of the most memorable characters to populate YA lit that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting on the page. Just when you think you have Alona all figured out -- spoiled, bratty, and privileged -- sure you could never, ever pull for her as a heroine, Kade gradually lays out the truth of Alona's backstory, revealing her heartache and struggles and just how easy it is to judge her, even as we as readers formed our own preconceived notions about Alona because of how she perceived others. And Will -- oh my WORD, where was a Will when I was in high school (never mind, where is the equivalent now? LOL)? He is quite simply one of the most swoon-worthy heroes ever, the struggling social outcast, burdened by a gift (curse?) he never wanted, absolutely sure he has Alona's character nailed until she begins to prove him wrong.

Kade gives us these characters, their hopes, dreams, and fears beautifully realized on the page, and she nails the teenage point-of-view. All of the uncertainty and angst are there, but that never bogs down the narrative because sparks positively fly from the page whenever Will and Alona meet. The novel alternates between chapters in each principle's point-of-view, allowing us to see their transformation and slow-burning romance gain traction, as the most unlikely romantic pair you'd ever hope to meet starts to discover just how much they've come to matter to each other. And if sarcasm and witty banter are your thing, Kade delivers it in spades. The snarky one-liners fly between Alona and Will non-stop, so much so that they began to remind me a bit of my favorite bickering Shakespearean couple, Beatrice and Benedick of Much Ado About Nothing. Yes, I just pulled the Shakespeare card -- I loved this pair that much. :)

This is a breezy, fast read, the perfect candy-coated brand of escapism I found myself craving this week. Kade keeps the action moving at a snappy pace, never losing sight of her story's greatest asset -- the wonderfully snarky back-and-forth between Alona and Will. And I loved how she gradually metes out the secrets of each character's backstory, constantly dropping tantalizing clues, just enough information to keep you flipping pages at a breathless pace. And while the climax is a bit (ahem) over-the-top, the earnestness it provokes in  Will and Alona, their heartfelt desire to help each other more than makes up for it. While I could've done without some of the swearing, this is a surprisingly clean novel with an equally surprising romantic sizzle that guarantees I'll be reading its sequels. The Ghost and the Goth is a ridiculously fun, engaging, addictive read -- very, very well done.