BOOK REVIEW: The Iron King

Meghan Chase has basically one friend at school, Robbie. Otherwise, she is virtually invisible. She lives in the country with her mom, little brother and step-father and leads an uncharmed life. She struggles with the loss of her dad who she saw disappear before her eyes when she was young. The day she turns sixteen, her entire life changes. Strange things begin to happen at home, a stranger begins to watch her from afar, and Robbie becomes overly protective. When Meghan's brother becomes a living terror, Meghan realizes that he's been kidnapped by the faerie world and replaced with a troll. Meghan must travel with Robbie, who isn't what he seems either, into Nevernever to try to save her brother and hopefully figure out what happened to her father. While in Nevernever, Meghan discovers a whole new world where nothing is what it seems. She discovers new truths about her friend Robbie, and she discovers that she may be the daughter of a faerie king.

Fast-paced read. Very good! Recommended.

BOOK REVIEW: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Mary lives in a world that consists of only her small town. Her town is surrounded by a fence that keeps out the Unconsecrated (i.e. zombies). The Unconsecrated seek to get to the living, and constantly try to breech the fence. Everyone accepts their presence and accepts their lives within the center of the Forest of Hands and Teeth, except Mary. Mary's mother always told her about before the Return, when there were no Unconsecrated, when they could freely travel outside of their towns. Mary's mother told her about the ocean, which Mary longs to see. When Mary's mom becomes infected by the Unconsecrated, Mary's life becomes a jumbled mess, which ultimately leads to the demise of her village. Mary and her loved ones struggle to survive and to determine if there is someplace outside the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Some slow parts, but overall a good read. Pretty depressing though.