Can't Find a Bookmark

Review: Partials

2012-02-14T08:08:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them--connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

My Review: When I first read the synopsis for Partials I thought it sounded pretty interesting. I also couldn't help but feel like it would be difficult to pull off well. Going into it I didn't really have that high of expectations. I was completely blown away. It was wonderful. Definitely up with Pure and Legend for amazing dystopian fic.

Long Island is the gathering place for any human left alive after the Partials released the RM virus eleven years ago. The last of humanity is held together by the Senate, who are desperately trying to make sure they all have a future. Though the survivors are all immune to the disease that ravaged the planet, none of the children born after the virus hit have survived. Humanity is fighting a losing battle to procreate. The Hope Act was enacted in hope of taking a brute force attack to the problem of immunity. Every woman at the age of 18 is legally obligated to become pregnant as frequently as possible.

Kira had joined the maternity ward in the hospital in hopes of getting closer to finding a cure. What she finds though is that no matter how hard they try, no matter how many precautions they take, the child always dies. RM is still destroying them years later. As if humanities position isn't in a precarious enough state, a rebel faction on the island is terrorizing the city in hopes of repealing the Hope Act. Kira is determined to try and keep the island from tearing itself apart. She starts studying the virus, but to her horror they have already exhausted every single viable option for a cure. The only hope humanity has is to find those who released the virus in the first place, Partials.

I was completely blown away by just how much medical research was in this story. I was anticipating vague explanations, but the author went really in-depth. At least from my plain general knowledge of virology, it seemed well researched and accurate. I was pretty skeptical that a 16 year old would be able to find a cure when the rest of humanity couldn't, but I have to say that Kira was very resourceful. She dared to go where no one has gone before and her bravery and gall paid off.

I really just loved the whole entire story. The military structure was very well done. I felt like I was in the middle of a warzone while reading. Wells did an amazing job of putting you right into the middle of the action. What I really loved was the conflict between survival and morality. What's more important? Maintaining personal freedoms, or compromising those freedoms for the sake of survival? When it comes down to it, what's more important? When a select group of people determines what they shall do, worse always comes to worse. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the Senate needs to be stopped. It turns from protecting humanity, to protecting their seats of power and control over Long Island.

And the romance! Pure perfection! I could not have asked for a more perfect relationship in this story. Kira already has an established boyfriend at the start of the novel. I was terrified that when he became too protective that things were going to disintegrate. But it was just so well handled and non-dramatic. Kira understood that he was just trying to look out for her, that he was scared, and ultimately loved her no matter how stubborn she was. Also, there was the opportunity to introduce a love triangle. Did. Not. Happen. I could scream from pure joy. First. Time. EVER! I was pleased to say the least. Plus I just loved the guy (his name is not coming to me for some reason). He was utterly hysterical and sweet and just pure awesome. He's not the bravest or most daring, but he loves Kira and will do whatever it takes to make sure she's safe. More guys in YA need to be like him in my opinion.

And last but not least, I loved the whole concept of the Partials. It was a genius idea. They were super mysterious throughout most of the story. I really adored Samm. He defied expectations and I never lost faith in him. He's genuinely a good guy and he and Kira's fates become entangled. (in a very non-romantic way thank god) If I'm being vague, it's on purpose. I cannot ruin anything about this story. The plot twist was just great, amazingly well done. Did not see it coming at all. I was beyond impressed by this book. It was a monster. Took me roughly 10 hours to read. I kid you not. But it was soooo worth it. I'm thrilled for the sequel and can't wait to see where the story goes.

And to conclude this review, for your viewing pleasure he is an epic trailer for the book. Honestly, if you haven't read Partials then it's kind of hard to pick up on the relevance, but it's a cool look at Partials and the company that made them, ParaGen.

Cover Crazy (40.5)

2012-02-10T14:13:00.000-08:00

Cover Crazy is a meme created by Tawni @ The Bookworms to share book covers that you are thrilled about. Ok so I know I already did a cover crazy post for today. Who cares. The more the merrier, right? I came across another cover while I was on tumblr today and I am sooo friggin excited I had to share. Again... So yes here is Demon Eyes by Scott Tracey! Just omg. Amazing. I. Love. It. It is sooo freaking eerie and ominous. I want to re-read Witch Eyes all over again now. Waaaannnnttttt.

Cover Crazy (40)

2012-02-09T22:27:00.000-08:00

Cover Crazy is a meme created by Tawni @ The Bookworms to share book covers that you are thrilled about. This week it's Blind Spot by Laura Ellen. I really like this cover. Simple but very stark and in your face. I love how the script bends around the curve of the eye too. Definitely gritty. Can't wait to read this one. : )

Review: Struck

2012-02-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

My Review: Going into this I was really excited. It was really something that had never been done before. Well, the whole lightning thing anyway. I thought it sounded like a really cool concept. And my intuition was right. Bosworth did a wonderful job of bringing something new and unique into the realm of YA.

Los Angeles has just been struck by one of the worst earthquakes in memory. The city is in a state of panic, left without aid. Mia and her brother have to take care of their mother who survived a building's collapse during the quake. It's left her scarred both physically and emotionally, and the only solace she has is in the word of Prophet, a hit Evangelical television priest. Mia, however, isn't buying into any of the Doomsday prophecies. She wants nothing to do with the Followers or their opposition. She finds herself caught between two warring cults, both claiming that the other is the true enemy, but both just want to use her to their own ends. On top of it all, Jeremy complicates matters further. Is he there to truly protect her, or is there something sinister about his presence? As the storm of the century approaches Mia has to decide who to trust.

I had a lot of mixed feelings on this book. There was a lot of things that I liked, but some things I just couldn't quite get over. First of all the mixed genre kind of bothered me. And no I'm not saying that a book can't be a mix of genre's. It was just in this weird in between state? Half post-catastrophic in THIS universe, and then there was a somewhat magical element to it all, but only with lightning... I don't know. I just felt like it was incomplete? There was hardly any explanation to the whole lightning thing, so maybe that's why I feel that way.

Another thing I couldn't quite get over was the whole religious cult. I just don't understand it. Lately a lot of YA books are taking a new angle on religion and showing how it can be used to corrupt people. I'm an atheist. I should be cheering. And yet I find myself defending religion every time. I have no idea. Maybe I'm just touchy on the subject, but I hate how easily people can be pulled into a horribly corrupt group of people all in the name of faith. Maybe this book just reiterated that point for me, but it just didn't sit well. *shrugs*

On the other hand I loved Mia. She's really self conscious about her lightning scars, but she was made of some tough stuff. She doesn't let anyone tell her what to do or how to live her life. She's caught between two cults and I really admired her strength to stay out of the whole conflict. (though she inevitably gets drawn into it anyway) She looks out for her family and will do anything to protect her mom and her brother. She had a great strength of character. What I appreciated most though was her vulnerability. The scars that cover her body are a huge barrier for her. She doesn't let anybody else see them besides her own family. As she and Jeremy grow closer I really loved the bond they built. Jeremy thinks she's beautiful no matter what. I just loved the two of them, especially at the end. Just goes to show that beauty is more than skin deep.

Overall Struck was a very unique story. Extremely well written with great characters and an intriguing plot. I have to admit throughout the whole book I was just waiting for Mia to pull a Storm moment. I got my wish. ^.^ Can't wait for any further books. It shall be interesting to see how the lore of the "spark" plays out.

Review: Fever

2012-02-04T14:11:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

My Review: When I first read Wither, I fell in love. It was such a highly original idea and was well executed. I had high expectations for Fever. Have to say I was disappointed. With everything that happened, I still felt like nothing of significance took place.

It picks right back up from Wither, with Rhine and Gabriel on the run. Only they barely get off the beach and stumble right into a trap. They've got themselves captured by a red zone harem run by a crazy old woman. I swear, they didn't last 5 minutes! It almost took half of the book for them to get out. Ya. Exactly. Filler much? I was just frustrated by the whole thing. I kept thinking "Get back to the story! This is dumb!" When they finally escape it's bittersweet to say the least. Vaughn shows up, and they end up with the daughter of one of the prostitutes that befriended them.

Rhine and Gabriel get back on the move, with the little girl in tow. Along the way they encounter a fortune teller and a crazy ass old couple. When they finally reach Rhine's home, guess what?! Rowan isn't there! Surprise, surprise! A few more things happen that I'm not gonna mention, but in the end, Rhine ends up back where she started, in Vaughn's clutches. By the end of the book I was just like "did anything actually happen?" Of course it ends in a huge cliff hanger. I don't know. I just wasn't feeling it. Maybe I'm being harsh, simply because sequels are always freakin filler novels.

It's not like I don't like the books anymore. Just frustrated by the clear filler. Still love Gabriel. He's such a sweetheart. I have a feeling when we finally meet Rowan he's going to be an ass. Like a huge ass, and the image of Rhine's perfect brother is going to be shattered. I really want the next book. Simply because then the ACTUAL plot will continue. Once again, if this was a bit harsh, I just couldn't help it. I feel like so many sequels of books I LOVED have disappointed me in terms of filler and this is just the final straw. Still eagerly awaiting the third book.

Covery Crazy (39)

2012-02-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

Cover Crazy is a meme created by Tawni @ The Bookworms to share book covers that you are thrilled about. This week it's The Last Princess by Galazy Craze. Quite a pseudonym there, but I love the cover to this. For some reason decimated London is just an awesome thing. It's haunting and tragic but such a pretty sky. Will be interested to see if this one is as good as it looks.

Cover Crazy (38)

2012-01-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

Cover Crazy is a meme created by Tawni @ The Bookworms to share book covers that you are thrilled about. Ever since I read Sister's Red I have fallen in love with Jackson Pearce's writing. Sweetly is sitting on my shelf waiting to be read and I cannot wait for Purity! The cover is genius. Truly it is. Honestly I'm reminded of Robin Hood Men and Tights with the chastity belt, but still. I think that's kind of the point. Lol. So simple and classy. Love!

Cover Crazy (37)

2012-01-20T09:45:00.000-08:00

Cover Crazy is a meme created by Tawni @ The Bookworms to share book covers that you are thrilled about. This week it's The Girl in the Clockwork Collar! I still haven't read the Girl in the Steel Corset, but I still adore these covers! I'm actually pleased that they chose to focus on a different character for the cover! That's usually very uncommon. Love it! The dress is stunning and the collar is just so cool! Can't wait for this one! And of course for me to have time to read the first one. :)

Cover Crazy (36)

2012-01-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

Cover Crazy is a meme created by Tawni @ The Bookworms to share book covers that you are thrilled about. This week it's Glitch by Heather Anastasiu! I have been waiting on the cover for this for forever! I looked at it a couple days ago and just happened to look again and BAM! It was there! This looks so amazing! I love the purple/pink of her skin tones. So sweet! Can't wait for this one ^.^

Teaser Tuesday (20)

2012-01-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb @Should Be Reading

-Grab your current book

-Open to a random page
-Share (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page

-no spoilers!

-Share title and author

So New Year's resolution! Do posts besides my reviews. I used to be very good at updating on a regular basis. Needless to say college sucks. But since my schedule allows for a 3 hr gap on Tuesday morning and I don't have classes Friday, hopefully weekly memes will become a reality. So Teaser Tuesdays and Cover Crazy posts will now be regular. *crosses my fingers*

This week it's The Pledge by Kimberly Derting! I actually haven't started to read it yet. I got distracted by the Bachelor and Castle last night. But here are some teases from the first page!

"The air crackled like a gathering thunderstorm the moment the girl entered the chamber. She was just a child, but her presence changed everything."

"'Leave us,' she declared in a voice that had once been filled with authority but now came out hoarse and papery."

Review: Hallowed

2012-01-09T08:15:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

My Review: A lot of sequels of amazing debuts from last year are now coming out. And as I read them I can't help but be slightly disappointed because they're mostly filler. Yet, I expect this. It's a major trend in books, so I can't get too upset over it. I have to say though that Hallowed exceeded my expectations in this department. There was a legitimate plot going on, not just added in drama for the sake of drama with nothing actually happening. Even though it still had a good plot, I can't help but be horribly devastated with where it went.

Clara has defied her purpose. She went against "God's plan" to save Tucker, the boy she loved. Her mother still won't clue her in to what's really going on in her life. She feels like she's being punished for not full-filling her Purpose. Jefferey is steadily pulling away from their family, growing more withdrawn. The mystery remains where he was the day of the fire, and the threat of Samjeeza is still hovering over them all.

Now that all the angel bloods have been revealed to each other, Angela gets it in her head to start Angel Club. Though their quest for more knowledge about themselves is stunted by the fact that Christian refuses to open up. When Clara starts having another vision/dream it's clear that her purpose is not over, whatever it is.

A lot of things happen. I will say I was definitely thrown for a loop on a few of them. Did not call some stuff AT ALL. And yet, most of it wasn't all that surprising, amazingly enough. I was actually pleased with some of the plot reveals.

With Unearthly I really loved the fact that Clara went against her purpose for love. I get so freakin sick and tired of "you're destined for each other" love stories. Hate them with a fiery passion. I adore Tucker. So. Much. He's probably one of my all time favorite love interests. The main reason I loved Unearthly so much was that I was so ecstatic that Clara CHOSE him. She didn't pursue Christian because of some destiny, she fell in love with TUCKER. The whole happiness with that decision totally backfired in Hallowed though.

I feel like readers naturally fell in love with Tucker because we got to know him very well. Christian remained this huge mystery. In this book, more of Christian is revealed and of course he's an amazing guy and of COURSE Clara starts falling for him. She loves Tucker, she truly does and will do anything to protect him. But when he becomes a target for Samjeeza she realizes that he deserves someone he can actually be with without all this shit happening. She can't deny that she and Christian were "meant to be" and that they belong with each other. And she doesn't fight it. At all. I was PISSED. The whole point of the first book was that she FREELY CHOSE whom to love. And it just ruined the whole idea for me. I guess I really should have expected it, but I was really hoping that Clara and Christian could still work together to full-fill their purposes and have Clara still remain with Tucker. It just sucks. Don't get me wrong, I like Christian, but I LOVE Tucker.

Kind of a side note here, but I feel that Jefferey totally got screwed over. You never know what's going on with him. It's like Clara totally forgot he was her brother. Maybe it's because I'm an only child, but if I had a sibling I'd want to know what was going on with their lives. Clara's so self-absorbed with her love life dilemma and her purpose that she can't even see that Jefferey is majorly struggling with his as well. I hope that things work out okay for him, because well, I think he has it worse than Clara. I kind of just want to hug him because literally NOBODY is concerned for him.

I still really enjoy these books, but I have to say in the future books, if Tucker gets screwed over, these books will move from the "like" category, to "disdain" category very quickly. Please, please, please, let me still like this series when it's complete. It would be horrible otherwise. Eagerly awaiting the next one. Because I am dying to know what happens.

Review: Dragonswood

2012-01-06T19:53:00.001-08:00

Synopsis:Wilde Island is in an uproar after the recent death of its king. The uneasy pact between dragons, fairies, and humans is fraying, and a bloodthirsty witch hunter with a hidden agenda whips villages into frenzies with wild accusations. Tess, a blacksmith’s daughter from a tiny hamlet near the mysterious Dragonswood, finds herself caught in the crosshairs of fate when she is accused of witchery and has to flee for her life along with her two best friends.

Not even Tess’s power to see the future can help the girls as they set off on their desperate journey, but she keeps having visions of a man wielding a sword. And when she finally meets him, Tess has no idea how to handle the magnetic attraction she feels for him, or the elusive call she hears from the heart of the Dragonswood.

In this epic romance, an ancient prophecy comes true in a way neither dragon, fairy, nor human would have predicted.

My Review: It's been a good long while since I've read a good old fashioned fantasy novel. I discovered I missed them greatly. There really need to be more dragon's in books as far as I'm concerned. I have to say though I was greatly confused about the setting of this book. I thought this was AU until there was mention of England and King Richard the Lion Heart. I had one of those O.O moments while reading. But I rolled with it. Didn't matter much in the end.

Tess's story starts off with a good old fashioned witch-hunt. Gotta love killing innocent girls right? What was even more disturbing was the fact that the witch hunts were being led by a woman. I don't think I've ever come across that. Ever. Definitely threw me for a loop, that's for sure. When Tess is captured, she is tortured into giving up her "conspirators". Not meaning to condemn her friends, she answer's a question that ends up implicating her friends in witch craft. Tess is able to escape her captors and flees with her friends to the safety of Dragonswood.

Though Tess saved them, they still cannot entirely forgive her for uprooting them from their lives. She is guilt ridden for giving them up, and will do anything to get their lives back in order. Tess was extremely protective of her two friends, to the point of severe distrust of anyone else. She always expects someone to betray them, never believing in the kindness of others. Tess has had a rough life, being physically beaten by her father and trying to protect her mother from the same fate. She doesn't believe in the kindness of men, and expects a quick temper more than anything else.

When they meet Garth, a Woodsman of Dragonswood, she recognizes him from the visions she's been having. Mistaking him for someone that means them harm, Tess immediately does not trust him. It is only out of sheer desperation that she allows him to take her and her friend's in. However, as she spends more time in his company and gets to know him, the harder she falls.

The pacing of this novel was just wonderfully done. A lot happens, but none of it felt rushed. It combined dragons, faeries, and humans all together in a great ratio. Every species got it's own little spotlight. I have to say, the plot was totally predictable up to a certain extent. Whenever there is a prophecy involved it's always just a dead giveaway. And Garth's whole secret identity. Dude, I knew from the first time they sang the little song. Wish it hadn't been THAT obvious. Despite the predictability of the plot, I still really enjoyed it.

One thing that I absolutely loved about this book was the love story. Hallelujah I found another perfectly paced "falling in love" scenario in a book that was totally realistic and wonderfully done. They kissed once! On the very last page! Granted I have nothing against a good make out session, but it was just nice to see it done. I loved both Garth and Tess. They made an excellent couple. Plus I loved how Tess wasn't super gorgeous. She had her own little quirks, but she was a beautiful person and that's all that really matters. ^.^

The epilogue just left me wanting more though! I was like "ah! now what's gonna happen!" I hope this story continues on in the form of Tess's son. That would be cool. Can't wait to see if there will be more to the story.

Review: When the Sea is Rising Red

2011-12-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: After seventeen-year-old Felicita’s dearest friend Ilven kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg’s magical elite behind. Living in the slums, scrubbing dishes for a living, she falls for charismatic Dash while also becoming fascinated with vampire Jannik. Then something shocking washes up on the beach: Ilven's death has called out of the sea a dangerous wild magic. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she abandoned . . . or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg's caste system, and the whole city along with it.

My Review: When I first started reading this for some reason I was under the impression that this was a Victorian Era novel. Which is halfway accurate, but I somehow missed the whole supernatural aspect. Not to worry though, still loved it.

Felicita is a member of the magical elite of Pelimburg, the city that was named after her esteemed family that has since fallen. She is a War-Singer meaning that she can control the very air around her to do her will, but since she is a girl she is only thought of to be married off. When her best friend Ilven, from a neighboring House kills herself to escape from an arranged marriage, Felicita can't help the idea that sparks from her friend's tragedy. She fakes her own death and escapes into the city slums below.

After falling in with a group of rag tag orphans led by the enigmatic Dash, it seems that Felicita has found a new home, until a corpse washes up on the shore. As the body count grows, its clear that Ilven's death has risen a horrible magical being from the depths of the water, that will soon threaten Pelimburg. Dash wants to destroy the social caste system of Pelimburg and is willing to do anything to do so. Felicita must decide whether to stay by her new friends or protect the family she abandoned.

What I really liked about this novel was that the author was so unapologetic about everything that happened. Well...maybe unapologetic isn't quite the right word. Maybe, nonchalant is better. Oh those two girls are lesbians? Ok, that's cool. Felicita just lost her virginity? What, it was bound to happen sooner or later. It was just refreshing. Drama free. It was like I was in this nice happy little world free of overblown emotions. It was nice, I gotta say. I just felt like Felicita was so down to earth. She realized that shit happens and that you can't beat yourself up over every little thing. Sometimes you just have to move on and try to do better. Dwelling over every horrible thing that happens gets you no where. Once again, it was just nice.

Though Dash was kind of the main love interest, I just liked Jannik so much better. Maybe it was because he was a vampire...and well, vampires are just better, but I liked him as a person way more as well. While Dash is a conniving little bastard with a hidden agenda, Jannik can actually relate to Felicita. In a privledged house, but unable to do what you want because of your gender. Vampire House's are matriarchal instead of patriarchal and so his idiot of a sister will have all the power of the House while he is basically her glorified servant of a brother. He was just so nice too. Maybe I 'm a sucker for those kind-hearted, sullen, black haired, mysterious guys but hey. What can I say? Dash was a douche, and even though I say that I still can't bring myself to totally hate him. He had his reasons, is all I can say.

Truthfully though I kind of just wanted Dash and Jannik to just kiss and make up. God. Those two. So Iri and Nial and Lesley from the Wicked Lovely books? It was like one of their weird love triangles where they all love each other. Weird, but somehow that always seems to work. O.o

Anyway, I really enjoyed Felicita as well. She was a very refreshing MC and I greatly enjoyed her narrative. I really hope there is a second book, cuz I really want to know how it plays out. The ending left me wanting more. The only criticism I have on this was that I wish the story was a bit more fleshed out. For instance, the elite magical caste. You barely get to see them using magic. It's there and all, but it's rarely used. Same with the different caste systems. It's explained, but I wish why they were so hateful towards each other was more fleshed out. And especially with the vampires! Vampires are rather different in this world too, so I wish they had been explained more. All in all, the background and information was just adequate enough to get you through the book. Just wish there had been more flushing out. It would have moved this book from good to great. I really enjoyed this book, but I feel like it was more geared towards my taste. I like dark, unusual worlds and non-traditional characters. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I greatly enjoyed it.

Review: Balthazar

2011-12-23T21:46:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:Haunted by memories from his first days as a vampire, Balthazar has spent hundreds of years alone—without allies, without love. When he emerges from his isolation to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, Balthazar has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Having learned of Skye’s powers and the remarkable effect her blood has on vampires, he plans to use her for his own evil purposes. As they stand together to fight the evil vampire, Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by Skye...just as Redgrave realizes that he can destroy Balthazar once and for all by taking her for his own.

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart.

My Review: Usually I don't like deviations from the MC's of the original series. But I loved Balthazar so much in the Evernight books that I just had to read this, and I'm glad I did. Honestly, I think I liked it more than Evernight. Okay, not the first book of the series, cuz that was amazing, but all the following ones just weren't as good ya know? The plot for Balthazar was just as intriguing and fast paced as Evernight.

Balthazar has always been one of my favorite characters. He's kind and loyal and incredibly caring. Coupled with the fact that he is one hottie hunk and is a bad ass vampire, you can't get any hotter than that. He's always struggled with his vampire nature and his past has always been a big mystery. I'm really glad that we got glimpses into what made Balthazar the man he is today. Most of the chapters alternate from the present to different points in his past. We find out what his life was like before he was turned, how he was turned, and consequently how he killed Charity.

I really liked Skye as well. It took me a bit to remember who she was from Evernight, but everything eventually clicked in my mind. I really liked the fact that Gray wrote from Skye's POV as well. It was refreshing to get a human perspective on all of the supernatural events that were happening. After Evernight Academy burned to the ground, Skye went back home, however she wasn't welcomed with open arms. The death of her brother a year prior still haunts her family. Her parents are never home and refuse to speak about her brother and completely ignore Skye. Her old school now thinks she's a snob and her ex-boyfriend is with the girl he dumped her for. On top of it all, ever since she let Bianca possess her she's been having strange encounters with the dead. Wherever a person has died violently she relives the experience. Stranger still is what happens when vampires drink her blood. Soon Redgrave, Balthazar's sire, is after her and Balthazar will stop at nothing to keep her safe.

The attraction between Skye and Balthazar is electric. Loved every second of it. Skye knows what she wants and goes after it, that's for sure. Balthazar feels just as strongly, but he is well versed in the inevitable break between them that will occur. Balthazar ultimately breaks his "no humans" rule though, because Skye becomes the most important person in his life. I really loved these two together. I love Bianca and Lucas too, but so many things get between their relationship. It was nice to have a relatively simple love story.

With all the vampires after Skye you don't really get to know much about her unusual ability. The first book is just the tip of the ice berg, I can tell you that. Now that the Redgrave threat is over, Gray can really explore Skye's ability. I'm so glad this wasn't just a one shot type of book. I loved the character's so much that I just NEED more. A great addition to the Evernight universe that is for sure. Can't wait for the second one!

Sleepers Cover Reveal!

2011-12-21T13:01:00.000-08:00

You all know how much I adore Megg Jensen's books. And it's time for another great one! Megg is re-launching the first book of her Swarm Trilogy, Sleepers with a brand new cover. I haven't gotten to read Sleepers yet, but boy am I doubly excited now.

Isn't it gorgeous? Absolutely love! XD And it's only 99 cents right now! Don't miss out on the great deal!

Synopsis: An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.

Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?

Review: The Vanishing Game

2011-12-21T08:02:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: Jocelyn's twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes-and now he's dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from "Jason December"-the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn's childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.

But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house's powers weren't just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.

My Review: I have to say, when I first started reading this, I was severely creeped out. Fifty pages in and I couldn't stay up too late reading this at night. The author definitely plunges you right into the story. When Jocelyn first receives the letter you can only infer from the synopsis as to what it really means. The beginning kind of jumps abruptly from the letter to Jocelyn trying to find Noah. Everything is explained when Jocelyn tells Noah about what has been happening. Not a day back in her childhood town and her car has already been stolen along with most of her possessions. Noah is her only hope of getting back on her feet and finding out whether or not her brother is still alive.

Facing the horror of Seale House is more difficult than Jocelyn ever expected though. Not only is she starting to hallucinate and black out while in the house, but some of Seale House's nightmares might be real. When some troublesome kids run her out of the house she comes face to face with one of her childhood friends from Seale House. Except it isn't a happy reunion, he wants to kill her. But he is the least of her problems. Someone else is out there stalking her, waiting for the right time to get to her.

As Noah joins her on her search for Jack, they discover the first set of clues. Their childhood games of hiding clues has now turned into a race to find Jack before whoever is chasing them catches up and finishes the job. As the identity of their pursuer is discovered, the company Jack worked for is implicated in the whole mess. Did Jack fake his own death to hide? Or does he have something the company wants?

I have to say I was completely sucked in from beginning to end. I couldn't say for sure what was going on the entire book. I did end up guessing the plot twist, but I honestly didn't think I was right. I was just throwing out completely ludicrous plot twists in my mind and ended up guessing it. Though I have to admit I was NEVER for sure. There seemed to be so much contrary evidence. For one minute I was sure Jack was dead, the next that he was alive, and the most of the time I just plain didn't know. Definitely kept me on my toes the entire story.

I really liked Noah too. Despite all the shit going on around them, Noah and Jocelyn connect. He wasn't your typical heart throb. He was a very complex character and I loved his tough guy attitude and yet he was incredibly smart. Usually computer programmer and taekwondo don't mix, but I liked it XD

I really liked the ending as well. It wasn't picture perfect, if you get my meaning. It still had a good conclusion and Jocelyn was trying to move on and live her dream. I definitely would say the author left a possible opening for a second book, but I don't really know where she'd go with it. I just think that Jocelyn's story isn't over yet. This was definitely a refreshing read. Haven't read something that got me this spooked in a while. The clues were fantastic and clever and just really added to the mystery of the story.

Review: Dreaming Awake

2011-12-20T09:21:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…

My Review: When I first read Falling Under I was pleasantly surprised. It took a turn that I did not expect and I highly respected the author for that. It's not easy now-a-days to put a fresh spin on a YA novel. As much as I ended up liking Falling Under, I have to say that Dreaming Awake fell flat for me. As so many planned trilogies are, the 2nd book is filler.

Theia has been altered by Mara's blood and has become part demon herself. You'd have thought that this turn would have simplified Theia and Haden's relationship. NOPE! I was so excited because I thought things were going to finally get REALLY heated between them. It was a total psyche moment. Turns out that Haden can't take her virtue because it consummate his demonic side and he'll loose his humanity. Ya. Exactly. I know you're making a funny face right now as you read.

As far as plot, it was okay. Theia is struggling to hold onto her old self and integrate her new demonic side. Wanting to eat your classmates souls isn't exactly easy to cope with. Instead of being totally overbearing, her father is now just ignoring her. Add to it her lack of a true love life and some of her classmates suddenly looking like the walking dead, Theia has far from escaped from Mara's influence. Things get even more complicated when Theia finds out that Mara has been dating her father and eating away at his soul.

I still love all the characters. Though Theia pulled a dumb move with "I need to stay away from you, because I could never forgive myself if you lost your humanity because of me." I LOATHE Edward Cullen guilt trips! Ever notice that? Horrible logic! But Haden of course doesn't back down because he's Haden and he's awesome XD

The final showdown in Under was very well done. Theia finally stops running from her "evil" side, so to speak, and accepts all of herself, the good and the bad. I liked the fact that the author switched POV's towards the end as well. I thought it really added to the effect.

The one thing I cannot forgive though, is the killing off of my favorite character. I am not naming names. However I will say I was utterly devastated and bawled my eyes out. It was a pointless killing! I felt like it was one of those times where the author felt like they needed to make it more dramatic so they should make someone die. It added nothing to the story, the rest of the characters' don't even dwell on it that heavily. There wasn't even a funeral! See why I'm upset? It was just unforgivable in my opinion.

Ok, rant over. Overall, it was still decent. Plotline wasn't too bad, I still like all the characters, and the conclusion of it actually went somewhere, so I was pretty happy. Still felt like it was filler. And some of the conflicts just felt like they were added for shits and giggles. I don't know. Maybe that's just me. I'm excited for the third one though. With how this one ended, I am REALLY interested in seeing how things will play out.

Severed Blog Tour!

2011-12-05T13:53:00.001-08:00

Hey guys! Today I am happy to participate in a blog tour for Severed by Megg Jensen. I've been an avid fan of Megg's books ever since I read Anathema. Heck I read the second book of the series while I was in Europe. They're that addictive! I am super excited to read the conclusion to this trilogy (soon as finals are over and it is MINE) To help celebrate the release of the concluding book to the Cloud Prophet Trilogy here's a little fun video. Here is Megg sharing some of her secret obsessions!

Remember Anathema is free right now on Kindle and Smashwords! Don't miss the chance to get your hands on this awesome book! You can purchase Megg's awesome books HERE!

Review: Truth

2011-11-28T09:19:00.001-08:00

Synopsis: Nina Oberon’s life has changed enormously in the last few months. When her mother was killed, Nina discovered the truth about her father, the leader of the Resistance. And now she sports the same Governing Council–ordered tattoo of XVI on her wrist that all sixteen-year-old girls have. The one that announces to the world that she is easy prey to predators. But Nina won’t be anyone’s stereotype. And when she joins an organization of girls working within the Resistance, she knows that they can put an end to one of the most terrifying secret programs the GC has ever conceived. Because the truth always comes out...and the consequences can be deadly.

My Review:Truth pretty much picks up where XVI left off. If Nina had a tough time before, Truth turned out to be just a total shit storm. Sooo much happens and it is sooo hard to not give away spoilers. Forgive me if this review turns out to be super vague.

After certain spoilery stuff happens *cough*Nina and Dee go to live with Wei and her family. Meanwhile Nina's starting to have doubts about her relationship with Sal. She loves him, but he keeps doing and saying things that Nina has a hard time forgiving. Sal just wants to protect her, but Nina feels stifled and feels as though Sal thinks that she is incapable of contributing to the resistance. Then there's the fact that Sal is almost always gone on NonCon work. Nina can't help but compare their relationship to that of her parents, where her mother ended up alone. After a particularly bad fight, Sal stops communicating with her. She calls and apologizes and yet still no answer.

In the meantime Wei's brother, Chris, is making his own feelings known. I think this is the first time that I didn't mind a little bit of a love triangle. And truthfully, I liked Chris a lot more. He believes in Nina and shows his support. He's there for Nina when she just needs to talk to someone, and is an amazing guy for Dee. He was really sweet and I just loved his character. I honestly don't remember much of him in the first book, but he far outshines Sal in my opinion.

Nina is confused of course. She thinks she loves Sal, but at the same time she can't deny her feelings for Chris. During all of this emotional turmoil, Nina is welcomed into a secret group of the Resistance made up of women. Most of the Resistance has the same views as Sal, wanting to keep women out of danger and behind the scenes, but these women (or rather girls) are putting themselves on the line to make a difference. Nina wants to help Joan get off the streets and find a place for her to start rehabilitation. This becomes the Sisterhoods own small mission.

Through it all, Nina is going through her own family troubles and is just trying to do right by her sister. The ending was a total whirlwind of events. The thing I love about these books is that so much happens in such a short amount of time. Nina is successful in rescuing Joan and also exposes a slimeball of a guy to the entire world. It was pretty epic to say the least. In the end she is reunited with her dad, but things are far from perfect in the world. The GC is still running strong and they still need to fight against their regime of terror.

I can't wait for the next one. I really really really hope that Nina ends up with Chris. Don't get me wrong. I still like Sal and think he's a good guy, but he just doesn't cut it. He wont' be there for Nina when she needs him most and Chris will. I have a feeling I am not going to get my wish, but hey, I can hope.

And the winners are...

2011-11-25T21:53:00.001-08:00

Alright everyone! Time to announce the winners! A big congrats to Alexa and Lisa Richards! And the winner for Mike's contest was Amanda W! I'll be emailing you shortly to get your mailing addresses so I can send you your prizes! Thanks again to everyone who entered and spread the word! I'll be having another contest for my birthday, which is like in a week give or take so be on the lookout! ^.^ Hope everyone had a wonderful Turkey Day and no one got trampled on Black Friday. Lol.

Last Day to Enter Giveaways!

2011-11-25T11:11:00.001-08:00

Just a reminder, today is the last day to enter the Birthday Bash Giveaways! If you haven't entered yet just go to the links below!

Tyger Tyger and In the Forests of the Night
Infinite Days
Mike's Giveaway (Book of your choice)

Review: The Faerie Ring

2011-11-22T07:43:00.001-08:00

Synopsis: The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood. Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist. Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

My Review: You all know that I am a huge faerie fanatic. I'm also a huge fan of Victorian era England. The Faerie Ring just happens to combine both. I loved the whole atmosphere of the story. There is something about Victorian England that just makes a story so much better. The twisting streets of London, the clever street urchins, and the era of royals just create such an interesting world. I really loved the fact that the author incorporated the Faerie by means of a treaty with the royalty. Somehow that reminds me of A Midsummer's Night Dream. Don't know why, but it does.

I absolutely adored Tiki. Gotta admire a girl who sneaks around as a boy and pickpockets. Tiki was just the biggest sweet heart. She's the mother of her little family of orphans and she would sacrifice anything to keep them safe and out of harms way. Though she has a tender heart, she does whatever is necessary to survive. She doesn't let anyone bully her or tell her how to live her life. She's a gutsy little shit too. If I found myself in Buckingham Palace I would have gotten the hell out of there, not stolen the Queen's ring! Granted, Tiki didn't know it when she stole it, but I definitely wouldn't have even attempted to ransom it.

Oh and boy did I adore Rieker. He definitely made my top 5 favorite male love interests. Disheveled dark hair and smoky eyes with aristocratic features. And a thief to boot? Yep, in love. He had an endearing teasing personality that I just loved. He pops up in the most unexpected times, just when Tiki needs him. He watches out for her and provides unexpected insights into the world of the Fae. And yet Rieker is much more than just a common thief. He has his own story and even I had trouble guessing what it was.

I enjoyed Leo's occasional POV as well. Though he was no Rieker he was still a refreshing perspective. He'll definitely be more featured in the future books. And those Fae. Dang. I mean, I love evil nasty faeries, but they did some pretty nasty things in this book. You barely get to "know" them so to speak. Hardly anything about their world is revealed. It's all pretty vague. Which I'm assuming is on purpose lest it spoil future books. The ending was pretty awesome as well. As perfect as an ending can be when there is more books to come. If it had ended in a cliffhanger I would have died, but the author wrapped it up very nicely. I can't wait for the next book! Lots of interesting little facts were revealed towards the end and now I just have more questions! Really enjoyed this one!

And yet more Birthday Cake...

2011-11-20T18:58:00.001-08:00

I'm back again with another giveaway! This time my good friend and fellow blogger is hosting the giveaway! Mike over @SubtleChronicler is giving away a book of your choice! And remember to enter in the two previous giveaways! Up for grabs is Tyger Tyger and In the Forests of the Night (together as one package) and then Infinite Days! Don't miss out on the fun and spread the word! ^.^ All giveaways end the 25th! Yes Black Friday *evil laughter*

The Birthday Bash Continued!

2011-11-20T08:05:00.001-08:00

Alright guys! Time for the second giveaway! The next book I am giving away is Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel! This is U.S. only again. To enter just leave a comment with your email! Also you get an extra entry for every way you spread the word. Just leave a link if you do so! All Giveaways end November 25th!

Review: Cinder

2011-11-18T09:13:00.001-08:00

Synopsis: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My Review: I've always loved Cinderella. From the Disney version to Malinda Lo's recent retelling with Ash. I have got to say though, that Cinder is by far my favorite retelling. Marissa Meyer did so much more than tweak the classic tail. She literally created a whole new world. New Beijing is a clash of the old and new. Advanced technology where androids run amok in the city entwine with traditional Chinese culture seamlessly. Technology and a nearly magical race of Lunar's clash to still give the story that fairytale feel. Meyer effortlessly spins a tale of a second class cyborg, an interplanetary struggle, and a forbidden love. It's safe to say that I fell in love within the first 20 pages.

Cinder is truly unique among MC's. I loved the fact that she was a mechanic. There is just something amazingly awesome about a girl being a grease monkey. Plus she's a cyborg, which just added to the awesome-ness. I really don't think I've come across cyborgs in other YA books. Correct me if I'm wrong, I probably just haven't read it if that's the case, but I really loved it. I know I always loved Cyborg from Teen Titans, so it was nice to see another venue for them. Cinder as an MC was just fantastic. I loved her no nonsense attitude and how she tries to be so stoic and down to earth in regards to Kai. She definitely had some spunk to her and doesn't go down without a fight. Her devotion to her step-sister was truly beautiful. She cares for Peony so much and would do anything for her. Despite her biotch of a stepmother and other step sister, she doesn't hold it against Peony. Though others treat her poorly, Cinder takes the high ground and good to people no matter what.

I really loved Kai as well. (Does anybody else notice the new trend in the name of Kai for guy's in novels?) Even though he's crown prince, he's amazingly down to earth and has a great sense of humor. He is truly devoted to the well being of his country to the point of self sacrifice. He's able to see past the fact that Cinder is a commoner and a mechanic. He get's to know her for herself and falls for her. I was kind of disappointed with him towards the end. Though I think it wasn't because Cinder turned out to be a cyborg. I have a feeling he'll come around.

The Lunar people were definitely an added spin. Thank goodness I have a moderate understanding of quantum entanglement and knew what the whole bioelectricity thing was about. It has a scientific explanation but the citizens of New Beijing just refer to it as "magic". And damn those Lunars were EVIL. I'm terrified of humanity ever colonizing the moon now. Maybe Mars would be a better choice eh? The kind of side story to the lost heir to the Lunar throne was very cool as well. I liked the concept and the ingenuity in the creation of the whole Lunar race.

I loved every minute of this book. It still kind of sticks to the classic plotline, but there are so many more twists thrown in that you will always be surprised. I totally called a few things, but it didn't make it anti-climatic. Cinder was a highly original undertaking that put a fresh spin on an old classic. I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel! ^.^