Review: Gravediggers: Mountain of Bones by by Christopher Krovatin

Title: Gravediggers: Mountian of Bones 
Author: Christopher Krovatin
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publishing Date: September 11th 2012
Pages: 336
Genre: MG Suspense/Thriller
Series: Gravediggers #1
Source: Audio

  

Ian was the one who chased the majestic buck into the forest. Kendra and PJ followed him. They all hoped to return to the hiking trail before anyone noticed they were gone. However, the mountain had other plans for them: dark, sinister plans that only nightmares are made of.

The Goonies meets The Evil Dead in this series about three kids who become separated from their backpacking group in the Montana wilderness and discover they are stranded in the heart of zombie country.

Ian was the one who chased the majestic buck into the forest. (His motto: Act first, think later.)

Kendra didn't want to become separated from the other sixth graders, but she followed Ian anyway, despite what her analytical mind told her.

PJ followed him, too. Even though he was scared, he figured he might catch some amazing footage with his video camera.

They all hoped to return to the hiking trail before anyone noticed they were gone. However, the mountain had other plans for them: dark, sinister plans that only nightmares are made of.

Now they don't know where they are. They don't know how to get home. They don't know what gruesome creatures lurk in the shadows-but when they find out, will they be able to defeat these monsters and escape the mountain together?

This first book in the Gravediggers series is a scary, mysterious, wild ride that will thrill readers to the very last page.

There seems to be lots and lots of zombie books out lately and I was happy to find one for the MG audience. I don’t find many MG’s that grab my attention right off but this one did. It was really good; I had a great time listening to it. It did have its slow moments but for the most part I was on the edge of my seat and practically biting my fingernails. Great cast of characters, great plot, and filled with lots of suspense and thrills.

Groups of middle school kids go a trip with the school to get close to nature, meet new friends, and well learn. Three sixth graders take a little trip off the beaten path and end up lost in a forest full of zombies. They must stay together and work together to stay alive with little food, no shelter, and no knowledge of zombies, well except for what’s been seen in the horror movies.

A really fun story, well written, full of excitement and the book had everything needed for a great zombie book intended for a younger crowd. There isn’t much you can do with a zombie story, but this story read like its own with a bit of old school zombie fun. There were some gory parts, a bit of scares, and of course some tension between the characters.

The characters start of as your stereotypical pre- teens. I found this to fit right into the story. The ages of the kids are 11-12, and at that age kids are trying to fit in and be who they think everyone else thinks they should be. The two boys are your jerk of a jock, Ian, and what seems as the dork of the grade, PJ. They have been friends for a very long time but as they age, Ian becomes popular and feels that he is outgrowing PJ. PJ is your typical geek that is into horror movies. He knows he is being left behind and is trying to hold on to their friendship. We throw in a smart, antisocial, brainy girl into the mix and everything goes haywire. The mix seemed to be just right for being lost in the woods trying to survive zombie fighting team. They all grow up quite a bit and realize that they all have something needed to survive the crazy woods and find that the other is so much more than they show on the outside and a friendship is saved, and new ones made.

The story is more about the characters then the actual zombies and I really enjoyed the character building. I think the only thing really missing for me is romance; however I am glad it was not in this story, it didn’t really fit.

I was really satisfied at the end of the story, I felt I got my fill of adventure, thrills, and friendship and I will definitely read more from the story.

No trailer but funny video:

Stacking the Shelves #12

Stacking The Shelves is a hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Come join the fun and share all the book you received this week. 

This week I received....

Audio from the Library:

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

                                        

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

                                   Zom-B by Darren Shan

                                                        

When news reports start appearing of a zombie outbreak in Ireland, B's racist father thinks it's a joke-- but even if it isn't, he figures, it's ok to lose a few Irish.

B doesn't fully buy into Dad's racism, but figures it's easier to go along with it than to risk the fights and abuse that will surely follow sticking up for Muslims, blacks, or immigrants. And when dodging his fists doesn't work, B doesn't hesitate to take the piss out of kids at school with a few slaps or cruel remarks. 

That is, until zombies attack the school. B is forced on a mad dash through the serpentine corridors of high school, making allegiances with anyone with enough gall to fight off their pursuers. 

Bought Audio:

BRZK by Michael Grant

                    

Set in the near future, BZRK is the story of a war for control of the human mind. Charles and Benjamin Armstrong, conjoined twins and owners of the Armstrong Fancy Gifts Corporation, have a goal: to turn the world into their vision of utopia. No wars, no conflict, no hunger. And no free will. Opposing them is a guerrilla group of teens, code name BZRK, who are fighting to protect the right to be messed up, to be human. This is no ordinary war, though. Weapons are deployed on the nano-level. The battleground is the human brain. And there are no stalemates here: It’s victory . . . or madness.

BZRK unfolds with hurricane force around core themes of conspiracy and mystery, insanity and changing realities, engagement and empowerment, and the larger impact of personal choice. Which side would you choose? How far would you go to win? 

                        Dark Star by Bethany Frenette

                                     

Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in the Twin Cities, so it's hard for Audrey not to feel safe. That is, until she's lured into the sweet night air by something human and not human--something with talons and teeth, and a wide, scarlet smile. 

Now Audrey knows the truth: her mom doesn't fight crime at night. She fights Harrowers--livid, merciless beings who were trapped Beneath eons ago. Yet some have managed to escape. And they want Audrey dead, just because of who she is: one of the Kin. 

To survive, Audrey will need to sharpen the powers she has always had. When she gets close to someone, dark corners of the person's memories become her own, and she sometimes even glimpses the future. If Audrey could only get close to Patrick Tigue, a powerful Harrower masquerading as human, she could use her Knowing to discover the Harrowers' next move. But Leon, her mother's bossy, infuriatingly attractive sidekick, has other ideas. Lately, he won't let Audrey out of his sight. 

When an unthinkable betrayal puts Minneapolis in terrible danger, Audrey discovers a wild, untamed power within herself. It may be the key to saving her herself, her family, and her city. Or it may be the force that destroys everything--and everyone--she loves.

The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life  by Tara Altebrando

An all-day scavenger hunt in the name of eternal small-town glory

With only a week until graduation, there's one last thing Mary and her friends must do together: participate in the Oyster Point High Official Unofficial Senior Week Scavenger Hunt. And Mary is determined to win.

Mary lost her spot at Georgetown to self-professed "it" bully Jake Barbone, and she's not about to lose again. But everyone is racing for the finish line with complicated motives, and the team's all-night adventure becomes all-night drama as shifting alliances, flared tempers, and crushing crushes take over. As the items and points pile up, Mary and her team must reinvent their strategy--and themselves--in order to win.

For Review:
                     
                     Luminosity by Stephanie Thomas

                                                 

My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since. 

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me. 

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I think I’ve already helped them win.

                     

Black City by Elizabeth Richards 

                                                         

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

Books Bought: 

                     
Break My Heart 1,000 Times by Daniel Waters 

                                       

Living in the aftermath of the Event means that seeing the dead is now a part of life, but Veronica wishes that the ghosts would just move on. Instead, the ghosts aren't disappearing--they're gaining power. 

When Veronica and her friend, Kirk, decide to investigate why, they stumble upon a more sinister plot than they ever could have imagined. One of Veronica's high school teachers is crippled by the fact that his dead daughter has never returned as a ghost, and he's haunted by the possibility that she's waiting to reappear within a fresh body. Veronica seems like the perfect host. And even if he's wrong, what's the harm in creating one more ghost? 

From critically acclaimed Generation Dead author Daniel Waters, comes a delectably creepy and suspenseful thriller. Break My Heart 1,000 Times will leave readers with the chills. Or is that a ghost reading over the page?

Giveaway Hop: Mythology Giveaway Hop

Signed Hard Copy (US) or E-book (international ) Of Poseidon by Anna Banks 

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

  

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen — literally, ouch! — both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . . 
Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

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Blog Tour: Shadow of The Blood Moon (Blood #2) by Robin P, Waldrop

Tour hosted by  Supagurl Tours: Tour Schedule

Shadow of The Blood Moon (Blood #2) by Robin P. Waldrop

YA Urban Fantasy

Genevieve Labreck is back with a score to settle. Her mom has been kidnapped by Zane, hybrid and all-around monster.  Rumors fly that Gen’s mom is holed away in Prague, a city recognized by humans for its serene beauty and intense culture, but Gen and Will know something humans don’t. Prague is haunted by dark, evil forces.

Can Gen and Will save her mom, or will they be too late?

Some will live, others will fall. At what price do you walk away from those you love?

Purchase Links:

E-Book

Amazon UK/Amazon US/Smashwords

Paperback:

Amazon/Amazon UK

Audiobook:

Amazon US/Amazon Uk

In Case You Missed the First BooK : Ties to the Blood Moon

Genevieve is a teenage girl who moves in with her aunt in Alaska after the death of her mother. Soon after her arrival she learns the things she was raised to believe only existed in fairytales are in fact a big part of her history. When it gets to be too much she seeks refuge in the arms of her new boyfriend, William, only to find out he's not who she thought he was either.

About the Author: 

Robin P. Waldrop hails from Miami, but lives in Alabama with best friend, business partner, and husband John. She is a mother of five, grandmother of five, and owner of a variety of different animals. 

When she’s not working at her business with her husband she’s found at her computer where she breathes life into all the wonderful characters that are born from her vivid imagination . 

She is an award winning author who enjoys writing edgy YA paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and FBI suspense/thriller novels and short stories. Always a voracious reader with an unapologetic television addiction, Robin still searches for the perfect cup of coffee. 

Givaway: Ebook of Ties to the Blood Moon and Shadow of the Blood Moon 

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