The Hollow by Jessica Verday

When Abbey’s best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead…and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey has never felt so desperately alone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen’s funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey’s life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he’s the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again…but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen’s betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

Initially I did not want to post my review so early but since everyone is excited about Hollow, I decided to post it earlier. The moment I finished reading the first chapter on Jessica’s website, I was hooked! I wanted to know more, more about Abbey and Kristen. I was lucky enough to get an ARC for The Hollow a few weeks later.

When I finished reading The Hollow, my first thought was Oh My God. It was so freaking good absolutely wonderful! I was very impressed by Jessica’s writing. Her descriptions were very vivid. Here’s a teaser (nothing spoilerish):

He was wearing a seventies-style brown paisley shirt that did not flatter this portly frame in any way and, unfortunately already bore the faint marking of a sweat patch under each arm. (pg 56)

Maulsoleums and crypts, with faded names that I knew by heart, rose majestically from the earth. Their outsides, although ravaged by the effects of time, still provided a safe place for the bodies that rested inside, and I nodded my head as a sign of respect to those once graceful homes of the departed. (pg 71)

His smile was breathtaking, and heartbreaking, all at the same time. (pg 120)

Hope you enjoyed the teasers. You can see how much I love Jessica’s writing! She’s a really good writer. I was quite surprised to learn that Abbey made perfumes. I wasn’t expecting that but I found it really cool. Makes her character very unique from all the others that I have read.

As this book is the first book in a trilogy, there will be unanswered questions. Definitely makes readers want the second book once you’re done with the first.

I’m trying to make my review spoiler free so I will keep this short. The Hollow is definitely a book you do not want to miss. A must read! The next two books in the trilogy come out in 2010 and 2011. I can’t wait! The Hollow comes out September 1 2009. Preorder it now on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Visit Jessica Verday’s blog and Lee Verday’s blog as well.

Gold star!

Check out this video of my Hollow collection. Just basically shows my ARC of The Hollow, UK cover and the Goods.

Click here to view my video!

I LOVE the music. Don’t you? Let me know what you think of the video!

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

No one wanted Ai Ling. And deep down she is relieved—despite the dishonor she has brought upon her family—to be unbetrothed and free, not some stranger’s subservient bride banished to the inner quarters.
But now, something is after her. Something terrifying—a force she cannot comprehend. And as pieces of the puzzle start to fit together, Ai Ling begins to understand that her journey to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams isn’t only a quest to find her beloved father but a venture with stakes larger than she could have imagined.
Bravery, intelligence, the will to fight and fight hard . . . she will need all of these things. Just as she will need the new and mysterious power growing within her. She will also need help.
It is Chen Yong who finds her partly submerged and barely breathing at the edge of a deep lake. There is something of unspeakable evil trying to drag her under. On a quest of his own, Chen Yong offers that help … and perhaps more.

Oh my goodness, you have to read this book. Cindy Pon is a wonderful writer! Silver Phoenix is action-packed! There are demons, monsters, gods as well as all the delicious mouthwatering Chinese food! There were a lot of surprises throughout the book which made me unable to put it down. Ai Ling and Chen Yong’s journey to the Palace is filled with breathtaking descriptions of the picturesque scenery.

Ai Ling is great character who we should all admire. She is very courageous and definitely someone I would love to be friends with! It’s good to know that Ai Ling knows how to read as girls in China in the past did not know how to read and write. Chen Yong is gallant and a likable character. Chen Yong’s younger brother is quirky and very comical. Awesome characters!

Silver Phoenix is a beautifully written novel with a unique plot. It is a refreshing read compared to all the vampire novels (not that vampire novels are bad). It is truly an excellent debut novel, highly recommended. Once you finished it, you will be dying for a sequel. And yes, Cindy is curently working on the sequel!

Gold star!

Just a little additional info, modern day China, in the city area, (e.g. Beijing, Shanghai) is very hip and modern. They have malls there as well as fast-food outlets. However the country side is a different thing.