Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Ever since she found out that she's a demon, one of only two in the world, Sophie has been determined to undergo the Removal. She wants nothing to do with her magical powers if they mean that she can, and most likely will, hurt people. And it wouldn't hurt her chances with Archer, since he's a demon hunter, but she's not so worried about that... maybe. Her dad, the head of the Council in charge of all prodigium, decides to take her to London where he feels like he can teach her more about controlling her powers. Sophie is excited at the prospect of going, and it has nothing to do with the latest reports saying that Archer is there as well... possibly. When Sophie arrives, though, she is shocked to find other demons living in the house, which leads her to the question: Who is raising more demons and why?

I am sooooo upset with Rachel Hawkins after finishing this one. I mean, I know that leaving readers hanging a bit while they wait for the next book to come out is becoming kind of trendy with authors, but SERIOUSLY?!?!? After that ending, we don't even know who's going to be alive in the next book, if anyone! But really, I love her writing style so much. Reading Sophie is like the running commentary in my head: full of sarcastic remarks and a tad bit snarky. It's going to be extremely hard to be patient for Spell Bound to be released on March 13, 2012.

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

Aura is completely torn up about the last time she saw Logan. Instead of passing on as planned, his ghost form shaded out and became a violent spirit. Months later, she is still hung up on him and hoping that she can help him return to a ghost and pass on, fully knowing that once a ghost shades, they're lost forever. When Logan returns and not only becomes a ghost, but also temporarily gains a body back, Aura has some major decisions to make. Should she help Logan try to get his old life back? Or should she continue to encourage him to pass on? And how much longer can she deny the growing attraction she has with Zachary?

I have to say that this was very good by middle-trilogy-book standards. It answered many questions from the first book, but left lots open for the last and also brought up many other questions. My only real complaint is how easily she forgives a certain incident (you'll know what I'm talking about when you read it!) The final book in the series, Shine, is set for release on May 1, 2012 and I can not wait to see how this series ends!

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s. It is nearly graduation, and she and Lissa can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows that he is out there hunting her. Rose must risk everything to save her true love. The question is, if she saves him, will he still want her?

The 5th book in the Vampire Academy series does not disappoint. I found it enthralling and in parts devastating. I got to the ast page and could not believe I would have to wait until December for the next one! The final installment is titled Last Sacrafice. The good news is Richelle will be writing a spin off series based on other characters from the Vampire Academy!

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Like all people born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. They're more annoying than anything and she does everything she can, from visiting places that use BlackBoxes to wearing red, to keep them at bay. On her boyfriend Logan's birthday, his band has agents from a record company coming out to see them play. At the afterparty celebrating his birthday and the offer from the company, things get out of control and Logan dies. Aura is devastated until she realizes that Logan has not passed on. She spends time with him when she can, but is forced to spend a lot of time with the gorgeous Scottish exchange student, Zachary, working on a research project. It turns out that Zachary was the last person born before the Shift, Aura was the first person born after the Shift, and there are a LOT of agencies very interested in the two of them.

This was a fantastic story. The growing relationship between Aura and Zachary as well as her resulting guilt over Logan are very believable (and at times heart-wrenching.) There are many storylines left open, though, so I'm REALLY excited for the sequel, Shift, coming out in May 2011!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie is a witch who recently came into her powers. Her father is a powerful warlock who she's never met. She and her human mother have been on the move ever since Sophie discovered her magic because her spells have a tendency to go wrong. Eventually, this leads to her being placed at Hecate Hall, a reform school for Prodigium, where she lives with other witches, shifters, and fae. One of the first things Sophie learns at her school is that there was a terrible murder there last year and all indications point to the only vampire in the school who just happens to be Sophie's roommate. As more students are attacked, Sophie tries to prove that her roommate is innocent, all the while struggling with three dark witches as enemies, a crush on the hottest warlock in school, and learning that her family history is very disturbing.

This was an excellent book. Not only is Sophie a strong character, but she's also witty and very funny. The mysteries in the story unravel in unexpected ways. I can't wait for the next book in the series! Unfortunately, there's no release date yet.

A Witch in Time by Madelyn Alt

Stony Mill's newest witch, Maggie O'Neill, has been attached at the hip to the smoking hot Marcus Quinn. Things couldn't get any better until her sister Mel gives birth to not one, but two babies. Maggie’s visiting Mel in the hospital when death visits the hospital...twice. Nobody bats an eye, but Maggie knows something sinister is haunting the hospital. Now she’ll need help if she’s going to tie two murders to one killer.

Another great mystery from Madelyn Alt! Her characters are fun and endearing, you'll love it!

No Rest for the Wiccan by Madelyn Alt

Maggie loves her job at Enchantments as much as she loves being Indiana's newest witch. But when her family needs her, she's still willing to lend a hand. She reluctantly volunteers to care for her bedridden, oh-so-perfect sister, and her beautiful nieces. But there are some strange spirits hanging about the area,and it looks like a job for Maggie and the N.I.G.H.T.S. ghost hunting team.

Need a good book poolside? Check out Maggie and the N.I.G.H.T.S!

Where There's a Witch by Madelyn Alt

Taking a break from her job at Enchantments, Stony Mill's finest mystical antique shop, Maggie O'Neill visits a carnival where she senses some bad spirits. And when a construction worker is suspected of killing a young woman, it's up to Maggie and the N.I.G.H.T.S. ghosthunting team to uncover the dark spiritual energy leaking into their town before it spoils everyone's fun.

This is a great series. Totally fun beach read!

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

Abbey's best friend, Kristen, has recently died. At first, Abbey doesn't believe that Kristen is really gone because they don't find her body, but when they discover it in the Crane River a little ways down from the Sleepy Hollow Bridge, Abbey is forced to accept the loss. She meets a mysterious and beautiful boy named Caspian and quickly begins having feelings for him. While she struggles to cope with the death of her best friend, she learns that Kristen was keeping secrets from her. Then she learns a secret about Caspian, and begins to question her very sanity.

I have lukewarm feelings about this book. While there was a pretty neat twist at the end, there were NO clues that would lead you to the conclusion. The relationship between Abbey and Caspian, while said to be love, reads more like obsession. Her best friend's recent disappearance/death spend so much time on the backburner that it doesn't seem very realistic. There are so many unanswered questions, but hopefully the second book in the series, The Haunted, will answer some of them AND be a bit faster paced. It's slated to be released August 31, 2010.

Fade Out (Morganville Vampires Book 7) by Rachel Caine

Without Bishop ruling over the town, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again. Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and Eve joins the local theatre company. When one of her castmates goes missing, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project is a whole lot bigger, and more dangerous than anyone suspected.

Once again our favorite characters deliver and Morganville gets some "new blood" to spice things up. It's like watching your favorite TV series! The next installment, Kiss of Death, comes out in April 2010!!!

Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires Book 6) by Rachel Caine

In Morganville, the evil vampire Bishop has kept a death grip on the town. Now an underground resistance is brewing, and in order to contain it, Bishop must go to even greater lengths. He vows to obliterate the town and all its inhabitants, the living and the undead. Claire Danvers and her friends are the only ones who stand in his way. If they can defeat Bishop, will the vampires ever be content to go back to the old rules?

Things really come to a head in the sixth book. The characters are growing and changing, as is Morganville!

Lord of Misrule (Morganville Vampires Book 5) by Rachel Caine

Into the relative harmony of Claire Danvers' new home, comes a master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of evil and let chaos rule. To top it off, violent black clouds promise a storm of devastating proportions. As Claire and her friends prepare to defend Morganville, the unexpected happens, vampires begin to vanish one by one. Claire is left with one choice, swear allegiance to Bishop, or die.

This installment kept me on the edge of my seat!

Feast of Fools (Morganville Vampires Book 4) by Rachel Caine

In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans have learned to live in relative peace. Claire Danvers knows that after dark, her homework takes a backseat to staying alive. This tenuous harmony is turned on its head with the arrival of an ancient old-school vampire who cares nothing about keeping the peace. What he wants from the town’s living and dead is unthinkably sinister.

This book introduces some new characters in to the mix. While some of the secrets surrounding Morganville are revealed, this mysterious town will suck you in and keep you begging for more!

Midnight Alley (Morganville Vampires Book 3) by Rachel Caine

Morganville’s such a nice place to live, if you don’t mind all the dying. Claire has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. The protection her contract secures does little to reassure her friends. All of a sudden people are turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from Claire’s past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons in his secluded home.

The plot thickens as they say. You'll want to read the next one right away. Hey, that rhymed!

The Dead Girls' Dance (Morganville Vampires Book 2) by Rachel Caine

Claire Danvers has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a small town, homicidal at her school, and finding out that her college town is overrun with vampires. On the up side she has a great roommate, and a new boyfriend. Now a fraternity is throwing the Dead Girls' Dance and surprisingly Claire and her best friend Eve have been invited. This time both the living and the dead are coming out, and all hell's about to break loose.

The second book in this series just makes you want more! I recommend reading them back to back.

Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires Book 1) by Rachel Caine

Claire Danvers is a freshman at college in the small town of Morganville, Texas. Terrorized by Monica, leader of the "mean Girls", she decides to look for off-campus accommodations. Claire answers an ad in the paper for a room in a creepy old shared house. She finally feels like she is making some real friends, even if they are a little odd. Claire soon realizes her roommates may be the best thing about this town, because believe it or not, Morganville is run by vampires. In Morganville you have two choices, you either work for the vampires and have their protection or you're fair game. Luckily Claire’s new friends have her back and they hatch a plan to deal with the vampires and help her stay alive. However, Morganville is a town full of secrets and some of Claire's roommates have secrets of their own…

This is the first book in the Morganville Vampires series. Lovable characters and a huge cliffhanger leave you wanting more!

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Fifteen year old Chloe Saunders has a meltdown at school, fending off teachers as she swears she saw a ghost. This episode lands her in the Lyle House, a group home for disturbed teens. Chloe is immediately diagnosed as schizophrenic, but with some encouragement from her housemates, she begins to believe in her powers. With some prodding, she researches necromancy and learns more about her abilities. When she summons some spirits to find some answers about strange occurrences at the Lyle House, she is immersed in the world of supernaturals. It turns out that the other teens in the Lyle House also have supernatural talents and the fact that they have all been herded together is not mere coincidence...

Although this story took quite a while for me to get into (200 pages in, I still had no idea what was going on!), the payoff in the end was definitely worth it! Hopefully, the second book in the series will pick up right where this one left off.

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

The underground population of witches, vampires, and werewolves has lived beside humans for centuries, hiding their powers. But after a genetically engineered virus wipes out a large part of humanity, many of the "Inderlanders" reveal themselves, changing everything. Rachel Morgan, witch and bounty hunter with the Inderland Runner Services, is one of the best at apprehending supernatural lawbreakers, but when it comes to following the rules, she falls short. Determined to buck the system, she quits and is reluctantly forced to team up with Ivy, a living vampire. But this witch is way out of her league,and must evade shape-changing assassins, and outwit a powerful crime lord.

This is the first book in the Rachel Morgan series.(There are currently eight)
They are all fun, suspenseful and give a fresh look at supernatural creatures.(Warning: graphic)

Devoured by Amanda Marrone

Megan’s twin sister Remy died in an accident nine years ago, and she’s been haunting her ever since. Knowing how crazy that sounds, Megan keeps this secret to herself and tries to lead a normal life. But when she takes a summer job at Land of Enchantment to keep an eye on her new boyfriend and his lovesick best friend, she meets fellow employee Luke who can see Remy, too. Megan wants to keep her distance from Luke, but she knows she needs his help. Because someone’s definitely in danger, the only question is who?

Amanda Marrone weaves an unexpected tale of love, ghosts and enchantment that will make you think twice about your favorite childhood fairy tales.

Revealers by Amanda Marrone

Jules has special abilities. By day, she and her friends seem like typical high school seniors. By night, they are Revealer witches. One by one, her friends turn eighteen and are initiated into the coven's inner circle. And one by one, they are getting completely freaked out. Jules realizes she's got to find out what's behind the shadows of her coven before it's too late to save her friends and herself. What she discovers may be too powerful for even the toughest witches to defeat.

This book is action packed and a new take on witches!