The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole (books 1 & 2)

Book Description:
She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen-year-old Evangeline "Evie" Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can't do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side.

Book Description:
Shocking secrets.
Evie has fully come into her powers as the Tarot Empress, and Jack was there to see it all. She now knows that the teens who’ve been reincarnated as the Tarot are in the throes of an epic battle. It’s kill or be killed, and the future of mankind hangs in the balance.

Unexpected allies.
With threats lurking around every corner, Evie is forced to trust her newfound alliance. Together they must fight not only other Arcana, but also Bagmen zombies, post-apocalyptic storms, and cannibals.

Gut-wrenching treachery.
When Evie meets Death, things get even more complicated. Though falling for Jack, she’s drawn to the dangerous Endless Knight as well. Somehow the Empress and Death share a history, one that Evie can’t remember—but Death can’t forget…

In this seductive follow-up to Poison Princess, #1 New York Timesbestselling author Kresley Cole takes us deeper into the dark world of the Arcana Chronicles.

My Thoughts:
Hmmm where do I even begin... This was a young adult??? I should've done more research on the author before attempting to read this book because this was, in my opinion, not appropriate let alone it to be appropriate for younger audiences. Content wise. 

The story was brilliant and super, incredible original. The author took tarot cards and made it into a thrilling story. When after so many hundreds of years a game where each tarot card is literally a person and they all fight to the death and the winner? Time stops for them they don't grow older and live on until the next game until they are defeated! The winner, remembers everything. The losers? have to start all over, discover all over. So the story line was just amazingly fun! What happened??? THE CONTENT!!! 

Let's break it down a bit...

BOOK ONE-Poison Princess: In the beginning of the story the main female protagonist Evie is thinking about giving up her virginity to her long time boyfriend. When a hot and sexy new guy from the other side of tracks comes into their school and brings a long with him a few others including a girl. Evie's best friend tells her that if she wants to keep her boy friend, WHO HAS BEEN FAITHFUL, from going into the arms of a sexy newcomer who dresses provocatively she needs to go beyond her and dress SLUTTIER.... WHAT?! no she wasn't joking. And told Evie she needed to give up her V-Card. Yup! 

And Jack? what they heck is his problem? He is the rudest, sexually frustrated guy ever who treats Evie horribly until she finally falls for him.

Seriously the whole time in Poison Princess Jack is nothing but sexual innuendos, rude, and mean. But because he saved Evie's life a few times she falls for him? Evie is truly stupid. And what does that teach younger girls? That really bothers me. 

Don't even get me started on the crudeness of side characters that really thought was inappropriate. Geez...

BOOK TWO-Endless Knight: I know. I continued. I warily went into this book because I hated the content and the characters in the first book but I wanted to give it another shot. Who knows!? I've seen authors clean up and some go south. It started off the same. But then...what the heck?! Jack continues to be a douche canoe and treats her bad until she has sex with him. 

Yup, that's how I felt! Oh and it gets DESCRIPTIVE! 

When Evie gets captured by the one guy who has been after her from the beginning things get slightly better. The story flows and I start to really get involved in some characters. Then... what does the author do? at the VERY END, She rips it apart from me! When I was done with the book I shut it angry. I felt the author made the good guy the bad guy and the bad guy the good guy. HOW IS THAT HEALTHY for a fictional and/or nonfictional girl??? 
I am however almost tempted to read the last book when it comes out to see what she does with this because I am no upset about the whole content. The unhealthy relationship between Jack and Evie and then turns the tables and makes the good guy bad and the bad guy "good."

Overall-if content bothers you. don't read it. If it doesn't bother you, don't read it.

Sexual Content: HEAVY (innuendos, descriptions, etc)
Language: heavy
Violence: moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: mild (some underage drinking in book one)