The Bad Influence Speaks

BIS Book Review: The Forever Girl: Sophia's Journey

Forever Girl series #1
by Rebecca Hamilton

Sophia Parsons is struggling to survive after college while working at a diner in the small, judgmental Colorado town where she lives in the house she inherited from her grandfather. Not only does she have to deal with a dead end job, but the leader of her mother's church wants Sophia to sell her the house and rid the town of her "evil" Wiccan ways. Each day is a challenge with the threats from Mrs. Franklin until Sophia meets Charles and discovers an unknown world where her talents are more than a disability.

Rebecca Hamilton is a new author on the supernatural scene, but on the basis of her first Forever Girl book, I believe she'll be here to stay. The Forever Girl: Sophia's Journey starts Sophia's journey into the supernatural world where the voices in her head have meaning and the drastic changes that will come to happen in her life. It is a Wiccan coming of age story with a love story and supernatural revolution rolled into the background. There is a good flow to the book and I was sucked in by the end of the first chapter. I'd suggest you don't start this late at night because you will struggle to put it down. I know I did and finally had to pause at 2 am when I starting taking long blinks and almost rolled my laptop off my lap.

While the protagonist, Sophia, is 22, this book is well suited for young adults. There is little swearing and the minimal sex and violence (which occurs more at the end of the book) is not graphic by any stretch of the imagination. The cover image, by the way, doesn't really express the feel of the books. Though the main character is a Wiccan, the book does not have a goth feel. It does have vampires (Cruor) and shapeshifters (Strigoi) and fans of the genre will enjoy it. It has the same feel as Lauren Kate's Fallen series though the supernatural elements differ. I'm looking forward to the second book, Come, the Dark: Cordovae's Journey, which is due out next year.

I plan on recommending this to a few friends with teenage daughters.

You can pick up a copy at Amazon in both paperback and Kindle versions.

 

BIS Rating: 4 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

 

Disclosure: I was provided a free e-copy of the book by the author for review.

BIS Book Review (and Contest): Frankenstein's Monster

by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe

 

The creature brought to life by Victor Frankenstein had escaped. After killing his creator, he travels the world trying to find a life for himself. It is not a peaceful journey though. Before his death, Victor Frankenstein extracted a promise from the sea captain (Walton) who found him to search out and destroy his creation. Through his travails the creature must decide, is he a man or is he a monster?

 

 Below the review there will be instruction for winning my Read It Forward copy.

 

This isn't a book I would have normally picked up at the store or library. I'm a little ashamed to admit that I had forgotten I had put in for a copy from Read It Forward until it arrived in the mail. It was a good book though. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

It is written in journal form from the perspective of Frankenstein's monster, who took on his creator's first name, Victor. I'd consider it a modern working of a classic gothic novel. The style, the language, and even the font take you back in time. You can tell O'Keefe spend a great deal of time crafting it (and crafted is really the best term here).

Victor struggles with finding his place in this world, which is something most of us find difficult. While he commits deeds that are on occasion horrible or taboo, he also has a good heart and fine intentions. You have the impression that if he hadn't been being ruthlessly stalked by Walton that he would have found a purpose and place much sooner.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of literature and gothic novels. I think the ability to write a good gothic thriller is a skill that is fading fast in our modern world. It's nice to know that there are still authors out there who are keeping it alive.

 

On Amazon: Frankenstein's Monster by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe

 

BIS Rating: 4 nightlights

 

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

 

Now for the contest. I'm going to pass on my Read It Forward copy of Frankenstein's Monster to someone who comments below with the title of their favorite monster tale or novel. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

 

Our contest winner is Kris (chosen by the very scientific method of calling a friend and saying, "Pick a number between 0 and 12"). Kris, check your email for my notification.

Everyone else, thanks for entering. They'll be more contests to come on the Bad Influence Speaks.