Twisted

Twisted is the ninth book in the Pretty Little Liars series and I was wondering where Sara Shepard would go with things since everything seemed tied up nicely in the eight book. In a way I was surprised at how the story started out.

Immediately the hint of a new secret is pushed at the reader but I was not as interested in the secret at least until the new A showed up and started tormenting the girls.

Hannah continues to want her father to accept her and thinks his companion is the perfect way to grow closer to him at least until she realizes her step-sister, Kate, is getting the majority of camera time. Overcome with jealousy and rejection issues Hannah continues to struggle with her self  esteem.

Aria finally has it all, peace with her fathers new wife, her mother getting rid of her sleazy boyfriend, and the perfect boyfriend who she has had a crush on since seventh grade. All that starts to fall apart for her though when her boyfriends family decides to host a foreign exchange student who is a dream girl right down to the perfect Finnish accent. Caught up in the girl's little games Aria does her best to stay one step ahead of her in keeping her boyfriend all to herself.

Emily is in a serious slump, having lost the love of her life again she just does not know how to function. Hoping against all hope that Ali survived the massive inferno somehow she also fears to tell her friends the truth she left the door open hoping Ali would escape. Needing a friend she is glad when a new girl moves in down the street. The two girls quickly bond and Emily starts to trust her new friend with some dangerous secrets which quickly turns deadly when a new A starts texting Emily about her secrets.

Spencer has it all, she got her grades up, took extra AP classes, and is even getting to see her mom happy as she dates a gentlemen with two children of his own. With everything turning around Spencer is able to forget the horrors of her summer until her mom's boyfriend's daughter starts holding music practice in the house. Confronted with the horrors of what she did Spencer is certain nothing will come from it until a new A starts sending her incriminating texts.

All in all Twisted felt like a dead horse was being beaten until the new A showed up. At first I was confused as heck at what was going on. Things did not transition that smoothly like previous books had. While some time had passed the characters seemed different in some ways and like they had got a bit more childish in other ways. I am still enjoying the series and I do plan on reading Ruthless soon.

Wanted

Wanted is the eight book in the Pretty Little Liars book series.

In shock over the appearance of Courtney, Ali's mentally ill twin sister, the pretty little liars try their best to cope with all the changes around them. With Ali's supposed killer behind bars and the haunting text messages having stopped the girls all hope to have a normal life again.

Spencer just wants a chance to get to know her half sister but Courtney is acting strangely and Spencer has uneasy feelings. However with her family all torn up and her mom devastated from the affair her husband had Spencer clings to the only people who want to talk to her.

Hannah just wants to continue to be popular and bring down Kate, her future step sister. Determined to get back her queen bee spot Hannah cannot wait to knock down Kate when Courtney suggests a diabolic plot to embarrass Kate in front of the whole school.

Emily is beyond torn, having had a long time crush on Ali Emily is not sure how to interact with Courtney. Confused and embarrassed that Courtney will be grossed out Emily struggles with trying to understand her own feelings and not giving the school more to gossip about.

Aria is cautious of Courtney, she does not trust her nor does she want anything to do with her. Careful to keep her emotions under control Aria watches Courtney for any sign of the mean pranks that Ali use to play on the girls. Something is wrong and Aria is determined to figure it out.

Wanted tied up the Pretty Little Liars series nicely, I was expecting some of the twists and not some of the others. I did have a few questions left about things but nothing major. I was surprised at the end of the book to read the note from the author saying how it was the last book in the series when eight more books exist. I have started Twisted and it does seem a bit different, I would like to see how it will end up tying back into the first books in the series.

Of Neptune

Of Neptune is the third book in the Syrena Legacy trilogy. Oddly enough I enjoyed the second book the most and most of the time I tend to find the second book in any trilogy unsatisfactory in some way.

Emma feels out of place, seen as a abomination by the Syrena she does not wish to live in the ocean. However she fears humans finding out she is half merperson. Torn on what to do she follows her grandfather's advice and decides to visit Neptune with Galen. Amazed to find a whole town full of half breeds and humans living in harmony Emma is immediately enticed by the life that could exist in Neptune for her.

Galen cannot wait to get Emma away from everyone and have her all to himself so when she suggests visiting a town in the middle of no where he is all for it until he finds out the town is full of half breeds living a normal life. Horrified at the thought of losing Emma Galen lets his temper get the better of him and runs off to do what he thinks is right and tell his bother, the Triton King, about the town.

Of Neptune reminded me a bit of the first book interesting in parts but slow for the rest of it. I had a hard time finishing the story and I even had nothing else to read. I am glad I did read all of Emma and Galen's story but over all it felt like the story contained a lot of unnecessary filler. While I liked enough to have gained something form reading the trilogy the writing did not entice me enough to seek out more of Anna Banks work.