Nightfall Gardens and Generation V

Nightfall Gardens by Allen Houston.  Supposed to be for a younger audience, but the novel seems a bit dark and grotesque  for the younger age range, and for an older YA audience, the lack of characterization might be a problem.  I found it hard to care about any of the characters, and this is the kind of novel that demands that you care about the danger the young people are in. 

 There are frightening experiences and grotesque and sinister characters that only elicited an intellectual response (from me),  but not an emotional one.  For macabre atmosphere and monsters are nightmarish, and yet the protagonists don't truly engage emotionally. I simply couldn't feel the appropriate concern for the characters despite the frightening circumstances.  The author mentions a reader as young as ten, so maybe my evaluation isn't the best, but I won't be reading more in the series.  Goodreads reviews are very positive, but I found it disappointing.

Neat cover, though.

"The beginning of a Harry Potter-esque series for those 

who prefer gross-out horror to magical whimsy."

 - Kirkus Reviews

Purchased.

YA/Horror.  2013.  249 pages.

Generation V  by M.L. Brennan.   Moves back and forth from an effort at being sincerely horrified at evil and just plain shallow--with attempts at humor.  Characters are thin and not particularly likable. Again Goodreads reviews are overwhelmingly positive, but I wasn't much impressed with plot or writing.

NetGalley.  

YA/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy.  2013.  319 pages.