The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

Synopsis:
In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with "the dust of one hundred dogs," dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body-with her memories intact.

Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.

Review:
I was sort of scared to read this because of all the hype. I was scared it wouldn't live up to all the rave reviews and I really hate being disappointed. But it did live up to all the hype and I really enjoyed reading D100D.

I really enjoyed going back and forth between Emer and Saffron. Their voices were very distinct and the idea of them being the same person but centuries apart is really original. The story is also so unique it really defies genre. I have no idea how to classify this book because it is so unlike anything I have ever read.

This may be the debut of A.S. King but she is a master story teller, weaving different time periods and different points of view together masterfully and creating something completely unique. I highly recommend everyone go out and get this book right away.

If anyone else has reviewed The Dust of 100 Dogs please leave a link in the comments and I will add it to the post.

This book counts toward my Spring Reading Thing Challenge and '09 Debut Authors Challenge

Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Synopsis:

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Review: I have to say I was never much for the paranormal in books but lately I have been enjoying them more and more and this book was no exception. I enjoyed it far more than I expected, but it definitely had its faults. Jessica and Lucius are great characters with a lot of personality. They are funny and emotional and endearing. But the background characters don't have the same depth, they are very one dimensional.

I really liked the story, it was a fun romance that had a darker ending but the two parts of the story didn't mix well in spots. The first half is funny and the second half is dark instead of the two blending throughout. The ending also felt a little rushed. The whole story had built to that point and I was waiting and waiting for it and then it just ended. It ended the way I wanted it to but somehow I was still a little let down at the end.

I know this review makes it sound like I didn't like it but I really did enjoy this book and I think because I loved certain parts so much, the parts I didn't like were an even bigger let down.

This book counts toward my Spring Reading Thing Challenge

Spring Reading Thing 2009

For my fourth reading challenge I am signing up for the Spring Reading Thing 2009 hosted by Callapidder Days.

Essentially, Spring Reading Thing 2009 is a fun, low-pressure reading challenge open to anyone and everyone. It will take place March 20th-June 20th (which is, coincidentally, the spring of 2009).
For more information go here and sign up!
Reviews are posted here

I am going to use this as a challenge for reading the books I already own and sometimes get passed over for reviews or other challenges. I think 15 is a good number to start with so here we go!

1. Stargazer by Claudia Gray
2. Miss Match by Wendy Toliver
3. Split By A Kiss by Luisa Plaja
4. Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
5. Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell
6. Something Happened by Greg Logsted
7. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fanteskey
8. Every Demon Has His Day by Cara Lockwood
9. Fairest of Them All by Jan Blazanin
10. The Year of the Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty
11. Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
12. Looking For Alaska by John Green
13. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
14. Inappropriate Men by Stacey Ballis
15. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

I will link to the reviews as I read them.