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Friday, December 26, 2014

Forgotten Friday: Shadows by Paula Weston

This meme is about books that have been pushed aside while others have gone viral and made into movies. It can be old books, new books, any book that never got its (or enough) time  in the spot light.

This is a book about angels without most of the religious aspects you would expect. Actually, if I'm more specific it's about bastard half-angel children (who are now adults). This book is sexy, exciting, filled with adventure, and a tiny bit of love. This is an Aussie series which is a new one for me, there is a lot of terminology and slang that I'm not familiar with but I love it. It's about a girl name Gabby whose brother passed away and while she's trying to move on with her life discovers that it's not just her brother she has lost in her past. If you like fantasy, action, and a book with a lot of attitude, this book is for you.

Synopsis: It’s almost a year since Gaby Winters was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude. Her body has healed in the sunshine of Pandanus Beach, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn’t help that every night in her dreams she kills demons and other hell-spawn.

And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams—he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense. Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth—and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares.

Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And most importantly, who can she trust?

Fast-paced and gripping, Shadows, the first book in the Rephaim series.

You guys can check out my full review of books 1, 2, and 3 of the series by clicking the links below. In addition, you can check out my book boyfriend post on our leading male Rafa here




I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Tear You Apart by Sarah Cross ARC Review *SPOILER ALERT*


Tear You Apart by Sarah Cross
ebook, 384 pages (according to Goodreads)
Published by EgmontUSA
Expected Publication Date: January 27, 2014
Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository |
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

Synopsis: If you want to live happily ever after, first you have to stay alive.

Viv knows there’s no escaping her fairy-tale curse. One day her beautiful stepmother will feed her a poison apple or convince her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Henley, to hunt her down and cut out her heart before she breaks his. In the city of Beau Rivage, some princesses are destined to be prey.

But then Viv receives an invitation to the exclusive club where the Twelve Dancing Princesses twirl away their nights. There she meets Jasper, an underworld prince who seems to have everything—but what he really wants is her. He vows to save her from her dark fate if she’ll join him and be his queen.

All Viv has to do is tear herself away from the huntsman boy who still holds her heart. Then she might live to see if happily ever after is a promise the prince can keep. But is life as an underworld queen worth sacrificing the true love that might kill her? 

If you like Once Upon a Time but prefer something darker, read this book. It was a good book. The plot is very interesting and the writing style is great. The world that Sarah Cross has created is outstanding. So, what stops me from falling in love with this book? The toxic relationship of the main couple. Vivian is so nasty to Henley for no good reason, and he's violent tendencies, although he never physically harms Viv, makes him hard to fall in love with. I think Cross tries to explain away their nastiness with their cursed situation that makes them act crazy, but sorry no dice. It was painful. Usually, I can read a book of this size in half a day (sometimes in a few hours) but I had to keep walking away from this one. Reading about the couple, especially in the first half, was brutal. It made me sick. Otherwise the world is very interesting, the plot is very detailed and well-developed, but the main couple is so toxic that it drags my rating of it down. I would be interested in reading Cross' other books in this realm but only if the main characters were not this nauseating to read about.

Strengths/Likes:

1) I love the basic world and plot of the book. It's a whole new twist on fairy tale retellings. Instead of reading about Snow White herself, Snow White's story is now a curse placed on our heroine. Effectively turning the original fairy tales away from their counterparts. It was brilliant.

2) The writing is great, it's engaging and sucks you right into the story. It's the main reason I haven't given this book an even lower rating.

3) I'm curious if Cross has seen Once Upon a Time because similarly to the show, in this book Vivian (Snow White) once had a happy relationship with her stepmother. Nevertheless, I like this. Usually in these types of stories and fairy tales when the villain is revealed to be the a loved one of the protagonist, all of sudden he/she doesn't have any feelings for that villain. It just never seemed realistic to me. In this book, Vivian has lingering, heartbreaking, feelings towards her stepmother that I think are so beautiful and tragic.

Weaknesses/Dislikes:

1) Maybe the whole "the world is trying to keep us apart but we're going to fight for our happily ever after anyway" is becoming too cliché for people. Maybe someone out there wants more books about dysfunctional relationships because they are more common in real life, but that someone isn't me. Viv and Henley's relationship is so nasty that even when they have nice scenes I still find my mind circling back to those repulsive scenes.

So here's the gist, Viv has a Snow White curse, meaning that a Huntsman (who was cursed to do this) will either cut out her heart to give to her stepmother or will help her escape to marry her prince charming. Well, unfortunately for Viv, the love of her life who's she's known forever has been cursed to be her Huntsman. What does she do about it? Punish him for it. Treat him like it's his fault that their happily ever after was ruined. Even though Henley exhibits no signs that he will kill her, she treats him as if he will. It's disgusting.

Henley is not completely sympathetic either. Although I feel bad for him because in his entire life all he ever wanted to do was protect and be with Viv, it doesn't enable me to overlook his extremely violent tendencies. He never physically abuses Viv but whenever he's angry he feels that it's his prerogative to destroy things. I don't mean just throw things across a room, I mean dismantling a car with a shovel. According to the history of the book, for as long as Viv has known Henley he's been like this.   Of course, he has positive qualities that Cross tries to use to cover this, it doesn't work.

2) Although I love all the mentions of different fairy tale curses, there are too many minor characters to keep track. Viv has a lot of friends and although they are mentioned frequently they don't effect the plot very much. Even though they are present often they don't stick out enough to be important. Therefore, they all seem completely unnecessary.

3) There were a few inconsistencies in the plot. The one blaring one is the wife of the troll king is known to be mentally unstable but there is a part at near the end where she is completely lucid and talking and acting normal. There are a few others but this is the one that sticks out the most.

Favorite Quotes/Moments:

1)  "I wish she wasn't here."

"Don't you always with that?" His half smile was cute. It made her wish, even more, that it was just the two of them on this road, with the whole night stretching out, unfinished.

"Maybe if I whistle, a friendly hungry bear will come out and maul her. As a favor to me."

"I'd probably get mauled first."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take." She grinned; he treated her to that same smile again.

"Yeah, I bet."

2) "Be nice to me or I won't let you hang out with us," Garnet told her brother. "I'll order you out the door with my imperious princess voice."

"And I'd have no choice but to go."

"That's right."

3)  "What do we do?" he said finally.

"We try, anyway. And if we fail, we fail together. I'm not leaving you again."

"No. If you have a chance--"

"Henley." She pulled his face down to hers. Kissed him once, hard. "I am never leaving you again."

4) "A brown mouse climbed onto Viv's knee. It held a wilted daisy in its mouth and made sure that she saw the present before dropping it onto her leg. Viv took the tiny, bitten-off flower in one hand and stroked the mouse's back with the other.

"Thanks," she murmured. "Although if you really loved me, you would have given Regina a disease by now."

Thank you Netgalley and EgmontUSA for my ebook copy of this book.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Books VS. Movies: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

It seems like nowadays that all of our favorite books are being turned into movies. This meme is about the failures and winners of the silver screen in comparison to their books.



Winner:

The book is the clear winner in this round. The book is well-written and even though the plot isn't unique it was well executed. Most of all, it was really sweet. The romance between Edward and Bella was and is beautiful. A lot of you say that Edward is a creepy stalker and that the whole book is cheesy. I agree with those comments to a certain extent but the book is more than that. If you look at most YA romance books, most of them have similar themes are are on the cheesy side but this is one of the good ones.

Loser:

This first movie murdered the entire franchise. The effects were cheap and cringe-worthy. All of the make-up and lighting made the actors all look like corpses. The movie added extra things to the story and script to try to make it more comical and engaging towards their target audience but it didn't work. If anything, those scenes made them more awkward (with the exception of Charlie and the shotgun, I love that scene). Worst of all: the acting. It was so awkward. I'd say it was robotic but robots can display more emotion than Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart do in this movie. There was no passion, no romance, nothing. All intensity and chemistry that Bella and Edward have for each other are completely nonexistent between these two. In general, I blame the ultimate failure of this movie on the direction. Apparently Summit agreed with me since after this movie they changed directors. That wasn't enough to save this trilogy though. The following movies were better but the first sucked so bad that it took away from any positives the franchise had.

You guys can check out my Book Boyfriend post on Edward Cullen here; I have a few book quotes from Twilight and the other books in the series.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Rite of Rejection by Sarah Negovetich ARC Review

4/5 Stars
Details of the book:
ebook, approx. 320 pages (according to Goodreads)
Published by Sarah Negovetich
Publication Date: December 4, 2014
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository |

Synopsis: "Before you stands the future."

Straight-laced, sixteen-year-old Rebecca can't wait for her Acceptance. A fancy ball, eligible bachelors, and her debut as an official member of society. Instead, the Machine rejects Rebecca. Labeled as a future criminal, she's shipped off to a life sentence in a lawless penal colony.

A life behind barbed-wire fences with the world's most dangerous people terrifies Rebecca. She reluctantly joins a band of misfit teens in a risky escape plan, complete with an accidental fiancé she's almost certain she can learn to love.

But freedom comes with a price. To escape a doomed future and prove her innocence, Rebecca must embrace the criminal within.

This book is Matched by Ally Condie crossed with Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Rite of Rejection has renewed my faith in self-published novels. Generally, I avoid them because they are not normally submitted to the same amount of editing and revising that books published by a big publishing company are. In this case, I'm wrong. It's a dark dystopian novel where all the teens have to go through the ceremony of Acceptance before they are officially a member of society, except that the ceremony is corrupt and it's not just the criminals and low-lifes that end up in the Pit. It's a pretty dark book but it has an interesting plot and is well-written. The ending--although unique--is a bit unsatisfying but I read on the author's blog that there might be a sequel (big might) so my fingers are crossed.

Strengths/Likes:

1) The basic plot of the book is very interesting. As I said in my intro, it's Matched crossed with Delirium. The main difference is that it's not the protagonist's love interest that winds them up as an outcast of society.

2) There is strong character development especially in Rebecca (protagonist). She starts out as straight-laced, ordinary, law-abiding, scared girl but develops into a strong character that even though she has ones she can depend on is able to stand up for herself.

3) I like the couples in this book. There are two main ones, one that is a homosexual one that hides for most of the book, although I thought it was as clear as day from the beginning. Then there is a interracial couple. I'm so glad that author's are finally starting to write about more than just white heterosexual relationships. It gives me more faith in our world.

Getting back to the book, I have found a lot of books when they try to do this that they put so much emphasis on the difference of the couple's race or that they've written a homosexual couple that it takes the focus away from the actual relationship. Instead it's focuses on how their relationship is not acceptable in society. Although that's understandable and realistic, authors often spend too much time on the social issues aspect of the couple's relationship instead of the relationship itself. This is true in real life but in a book, for me to root for any couple, I have to know each of the characters individual and see how are are together. Rite of Rejection does just that.

Weaknesses/Dislikes:

1) I found that the main twist of the novel was fairly predictable. It was supposed to be shocking and disturbing, and yet I wasn't surprised at all.

2) I go back and forth whether or not that I like the ending. Part of me likes it, the other part of me is wanting more. It's a unique ending but it doesn't give me any satisfaction. Basically, without giving too much away is that you have no idea what happens to all of the characters. Even though the book gives you hope for the future, you just don't know. I hope that Negovetich will write another novel, I read on her blog here that she has written a first draft but she's not sure if she wants to turn it into a full novel just yet. I hope she will though.

Favorite Quotes/Moments: 

1) "The sheer force of will it takes my mother not to roll her eyes at me is astounding. Her facial muscles actually tense with the effort."

2) "Now you'll have time to make it home for a couple of hours of sleep and Cindy won't make you crash on the couch."

"I think I'll pad my luck with a quick stop at the bakery. Nothing says 'please forgive me' like a butter croissant."

3) "When we get out of here, I'm going to take you on a real date." He grips both of my hands and his face is more serious than I've ever seen it, "As soon as we get settled, we can go out for a fancy dinner and dancing. I'll buy you a fancy dress, ten times nicer than the one you wore to Acceptance."

4) "I'm going to be a widow traveling with her sister. Of course, I'm heartbroken and you all feel horrible about my loss." She winks at me and smiles. "I'll wear black."

5) I grip his hand and pull it up to my cheek. His skin is rough but it feels like silk against my face. "Don't leave me."

Daniel reaches behind him with his free hand and pulls a makeshift chair over next to my bed. "I'm not going anywhere."

Thank you Netgalley and Sarah Negovetich for my ebook copy of this novel. 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard ARC Review

ebook, 307 pages
Published by HarperTeen
Expected Publication Date: February 10, 2015 
Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

This book is like Shadow and Bone mixed with The Selection and The Hunger Games. Maybe that makes it sound cliche but it's definitely not. Although it has similarities to the books I listed above, it stands on its own. The plot and characters are so complex that nothing and no one is as they appear. The writing style is well-detailed and evokes a lot of emotion. While reading, I found myself in the character's shoes and feeling all of their emotions. I finished this book yesterday and a few of the scenes are still playing in my head and making me want to cry. This book has it all for you dystopian lovers out there. There's magic, action, suspense, drama, and love.

I had two main problems with this book. First, parts of it are a bit slow but it's understandable because the author has created a whole new world for us so it takes some time to explain. It's very detailed; I could clearly picture everything in my head. I just found it to be a bit slow.

The second was that it was unclear who the main love interest is, which makes it unique but also makes it harder to connect with the main character's emotions. On the other hand, it makes love not the main story line, which I prefer. I would definitely recommend this book and I can't wait for the next one.


1) The story was just so complicated and dramatic. It was very well thought-out and had a good pace. There is so much that happens but it doesn't feel overwhelming. I forced myself to read this slowly and carefully because I wanted to imagine every little detail so I could be fully immersed in the plot.

2) I'm glad that there is so many other things important to the plot other than the romance. Sometimes when dystopian novels are so focused just on that the rest of the story suffers. This not just the not the case with this book. There is just the right amount of romance and it blends well into the plot.

3) All of the characters are just as detailed and complicated as the plot. No one is as they appear and it's great.

4) The main character has flaws that other characters never forgive her for. It's common in the majority of YA novels that the main character is this righteous heroine, that could do no wrong, and when she screws something up it's somehow not her fault or it was out of her hands. Although Mare has her amazing qualities she is also flawed which makes her more relatable.

5) The main character has other complicated relationships other than her love interest. There are her relationships with each member of her family. Each one is well-defined even though they are not a large part of the plot. I especially loved her relationship with her brother Shade.


1) Mare goes back and forth on who she's in love with. One minute she loves someone, then the next she hates them, it's very convoluted. It sounds worse by the way I'm describing it but considering the plot of the book it's understandable as to why she struggles with who to trust and love but I just wanted something a tad more concrete.

2) There are large sections that are a bit slow, but as I said, this isn't a huge problem because Aveyard is world-building and that's to be expected.

Kilorn Warren. A fisherman's apprentice, a war orphan, and probably my only real friend. We used to beat each other up as children, but now that we're older--and he's a foot taller than me--I try to avoid scuffles. He has his uses, I suppose. Reaching high shelves, for example.
Dear family, I am alive. Obviously.
If there was ever a person begging for an elbow to the face, it is Evangeline Samos.
Cal bold and reckless, things he never was before. He takes me by the hand, pulling me to him. He's betraying his only brother. I'm betraying my cause, Maven, and myself, but I don't want to stop.

Anyone can betray anyone. 

His lips are on mine, hard and warm and pressing. The touch is electrifying, but not like I'm used to. This isn't a spark of destruction but a spark of life.

As much as I want to pull away, I just can't do it. Cal is a cliff and I throw myself over the edge, not bothering to think of what it could do to us both. One day he'll realize I'm his enemy, and all this will be a far-gone memory. But not yet.

Thank you Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for my ebook copy of this ARC.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Moronic Monday: Jasmine Rourke (Breathe by Elena Dillon)

Mondays, the worst day of the week. Despite the fact that it's the start of your school/work week, there is always something extra that just pushes it to the next level. That someone that just permanently keeps Monday at the top of most dreaded days of the week. That's what this meme is about. The one character that drives you mad with their stupidity. Their idiocy is the type that you can spot their impending train wreck from miles away, the type that makes you want to slam their heads into a desk repeatedly. Moronic Mondays are not for your lovable idiots, no, it's for the ones that you think they deserve every bad thing they get it.


If you've seen my review of Breathe by Elena Dillon you know that I'm not a huge fan of this book to begin with but Jasmine (protagonist) really bothered me. Her sister was kidnapped and murdered and when she starts getting stalked by whom she already suspects is the same person who killed her sister, she doesn't tell anyone. She doesn't call the cops or her mother. She tells nobody. Instead she runs off with the killer, puts her life, her friends, family, and her boyfriend's life in danger. I understand she was scared but she was already aware of how her sister was captured, therefore, she should have been more wary and more cautious.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Forgotten Friday: Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss

This meme is about books that have been pushed aside while others have gone viral and made into movies. It can be old books, new books, any book that never got its (or enough) time  in the spot light.

I was watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas last night (the cartoon version, not the Jim Carey version) and it got me thinking about the other Dr. Seuss books that I loved. Although, Horton Hears a Who is more famous because of its movie, my favorite is still Horton Hatches the Egg. I think it's such a beautiful story and speaks out about absentee parenting. Admittedly as a child, I was so confused as to why the tree underneath Horton doesn't snap or how he didn't crush the egg but it's Dr. Seuss so anything can happen.



I hope you all are having a Happy Holiday season so far!

Thursday, December 4, 2014

For Real by Alison Cherry ARC Review


For Real by Alison Cherry
ebook, 304 pages (according to Goodreads)
Published by Delacorte Press
Publication Date: December 9, 2014
Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository |
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Synopsis: No parents. No limits. No clue what they're in for.

Shy, cautious Claire has always been in her confident older sister's shadow. While Miranda's life is jam-packed with exciting people and whirlwind adventures, Claire gets her thrills vicariously by watching people live large on reality TV.

When Miranda discovers her boyfriend, Samir, cheating on her just before her college graduation, it's Claire who comes up with the perfect plan. They'll outshine Miranda's fame-obsessed ex while having an amazing summer by competing on Around the World, a race around the globe for a million bucks. Revenge + sisterly bonding = awesome.

But the show has a twist, and Claire is stunned to find herself in the middle of a reality-show romance that may or may not be just for the cameras. This summer could end up being the highlight of her life... or an epic fail forever captured on film. In a world where drama is currency and manipulation is standard, how can you tell what's for real?

This book was a pleasant surprise, I really wasn't expecting to like it since it doesn't fall under the type of books I normally read, but I was really happy that I read it. Alison Cherry's writing style is sophisticated and relatable. It was a great change of pace from the typical YA novels out there. It's not about about a weak heroine finding true love, it's about two sisters trying to rebuild their relationship while taking revenge on the douchebags in their lives.

Strengths/Likes:

1) I really liked the way the story was written. There were many words that were higher diction than I'm used to seeing in YA adult books, and I loved it. I think it's often perceived that teenagers can't be intelligent and books with simple language really feeds into that. The way Alison Cherry writes is in such a way that even though the writing is more refined it's not overdone. It doesn't come off pretentious or arrogant, it's still accessible.

2) I love the two leading ladies, Miranda and Claire. I think they are such strong female role-models. I especially loved Claire. I found her hilarious and spunky.

3) All of the characters are more than what meets the eye. Cherry addresses how people present themselves in certain ways but in reality they could be nothing like the person they show themselves as. It's really brilliant.

4) I love the limerick game!

Weakness/Dislikes:

1) The book for me was a pretty quick read, I wanted more adventure. I wanted "Around the World in Eighty Dates" (the reality TV show our characters participated in) to be much longer.

2) SPOILER ALERT:

I wanted Will to redeem himself. I think that it's great and more realistic that he didn't but the romantic in me still wanted him too.

Favorite Quotes/Moments:

1) "I wish I were watching this on a real television. I fear I'm missing nuances of his six-pack."

2) "It's always nice to see someone who has the shoes you want, or the house you want, or the boyfriend you want, or whatever, but who still objectively sucks as a human being, so you can be like, 'Sure, she's prettier and richer than I am, but I'm still superior."

3) "The girl in the kitchen was telling the truth--there's a large CXLVI inked onto his right bicep. I have no idea if an IQ of 146 really makes you a genius, but even if it does, tattooing it on your body definitely bumps you back down a notch."

4) "She probably has impeccable table manners, speaks twenty languages, and uses some sort of billion-dollar yak's blood zit cream that makes her skin look like rose petals. How could I ever compete with someone like that, boring or not? I don't even know what a prawn fork is. She probably has her own monogrammed set."

5) "Um, if you could choose a superpower, what would you pick?"

He doesn't hesitate even for a second. "The ability to transform things into cheese."

I laugh. "What? Cheese? Wouldn't you rather be invisible or something?"

"No, think about it. I could turn toxic waste into cheese and solve the pollution problem and hunger problem at the same time. And I could turn trash into cheese and sell it, so I'd be filthy rich. Plus, I'd always have a snack."  

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Book Boyfriend: Niklass (Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay)

So I've seen this meme floating around many book blogs, but initially I got the idea from Reading Lark and they got this meme from The Unread Reader. I've enjoyed the meme so much that I will also be joining in on the fun on Wednesdays. Welcome to Book Boyfriends everyone!



Appearance:

  • Tall
  • Thick muscles (Stacey Jay's words, not mine)
  • Smiles all the time
  • Dark blue eyes
  • His hair is the color of a lion's mane


Why Niklass is my Book Boyfriend:

Yes, he's a bit of a womanizing, arrogant, prick, but most of our beloved fictional characters are just that. He has a good heart, and he's hilarious. Not to mention he's a decent fighter with thick muscles haha. Niklass has enough of that princely charm with a bad boy edge. I love that.

Actor to be my Niklass:

Looks-wise and what this role would entail I would have to go with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Niklass is pretty much Jaime Lannister without the whole sleeping with his sister thing haha.



Quotes from and about Niklass:

1) "Have to keep myself in prime condition for your sister. Girls like insufferable boys. It's the nice ones they can't be bothered with. Store that pearl away for your future Ror, if you hope to fare well with women."

2) "Women fall in love a dozen times before their fifteenth birthday, but when a man falls, he falls heart, body, and soul, and no woman but the one who has captured his imagination will do."

"Is that right?" I lift a brow in his direction.

"It is," he says. "The poor bastard becomes obsessed. Every bit of sense he possesses flees his head to set up camp in his britches, and there's no reason with him until the spell is broken."

3) "Regiene didn't love me; she loved being with a boy with ties to the crown," he says, not a trace of hurt in his tone. "As soon as she had a crown of her own, her true colors began bleeding all over the castle. She's been a terror to the other ladies, including my little sister, and I could never love a girl who treated my Hannah poorly."

4) "I didn't want a girl to marry me because she felt sorry for me. I wanted to win a wife based on my own merits."

5) "Are you all right?" he asks.

I shake my head, my eyes filling.

"Don't cry." He takes the mirror from my shaking hand. "You look beautiful."

My face crumples.

"Well, that's not so beautiful," he teases as he pulls me into his arms. 

If you guys want more of Niklass, you guys should definitely check out Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay, I highly recommend it. You guys can also check out my review of it here, I have some more quotes about Niklass there.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Charmed (The Witch Hunter #2) by Michelle Krys (ARC Review)


3/5 Stars
Details of the book
Paperback, 358 pages
Published by Delacorte Press
Expected Publication Date: May 26, 2015

Synopsis: Indie has spent the last few weeks frantically searching for Paige. She's tried every spell imaginable, but witchcraft has gotten her nowhere, and she's going crazy with guilt. Despite what her warlock boyfriend, Bishop, tells her, Indie knows it's her fault her best friend was kidnapped by the Priory. And with the Priory destroyed, finding Paige feels more hopeless than ever-especially when Indie discovers that Paige isn't even on Earth. She's trapped in Los Demonios, an alternate dimension of Los Angeles filled with evil paranormals. No one who has gone there has ever come out.
Fueled by terror and loyalty, Indie is desperate to find a way into the underworld prison. She'll worry about getting out later. But facing the dark world's most dangerous witches and warlocks on her own means keeping her plan hush-hush-and forging alliances with some sketchy people, including a seriously sexy sorcerer.

Sometimes a witch must keep secrets from the people she cares about most. And sometimes she isn't the only one with secrets…

Does anyone know if this is supposed to be a trilogy? I'm asking because this book felt like it was the end of Indie's story. There was nothing left untied or any unanswered questions and usually that makes me happy, but in this case it doesn't. Maybe because I was expecting it for it to be a trilogy and it's not? Someone let me know.

If it's not a trilogy then I think it needed to be. The action in this book is amazing, but what I loved most about Hexed is how focused it was on the characters as people and their relationships. In this book, that all takes a back seat to the plot. We're introduced to new characters and there is a whole new dark adventure that Indie embarks on, but she basically does this alone and no else seems to matter or exist. You don't feel the spark between Bishop and Indie. In fact, in certain parts it seems like their relationship is coming to an end instead of developing further. The main relationship that the book focuses is on is Indie and Paige. Not in a satisfactory way either. 


Strengths/Likes:

1) I like that nothing keeps Indie down. No amount of warnings stops her. She needs a job done and instead of depending on others, she takes control of the situation herself. 

2) I really liked all the magical and the action aspects of this book. Even though I found aspects of it predictable, I love how Krys involved actual places and tied in all the magical world to make it seem more real. 

Weaknesses/Dislikes:

1) The main problem in this book are the relationships. The only reason I accepted Paige and Indie's friendship was because it was clear in Hexed that Paige wasn't going just to accept any of Indie's crap in the future. She was not going to deal with being the replacement best friend. For it to be effective that Paige is now Indie's new best friend would be if Krys gave us something in their relationship to understand why they are suddenly so close, but, she didn't. This is because Paige is missing for most of the book, and at the end it's generally accepted that they are best friends. Indie even refers to her as her best friend, but it just seems like the only reason for that is because Bianca turned out to be a backstabber. Therefore, I could not care less that Paige was missing. Yes, I felt bad that she got roped into this awful situation that has nothing to do with her because of her "friend" but I didn't care about what was happening to her at all. Now, if Krys gave us more details of the past where maybe Indie wasn't a complete ass to Paige then maybe I'd care more but without any details I didn't care. If this was a trilogy, there would be room to fix this but I have a feeling it's not. 

Paige and Indie's relationship is not the only relationship that suffers. Indie and Bishop's relationship is practically nonexistent as well. There is little spark, they barely have any time together, and most of the time Indie spends lying to him. 

The above reasons are why I really couldn't fall in love with this book. For me to love a book, I have to care about the people and I didn't. The relationships didn't seem important to Indie, so why should they be important to me? 

2) I found the twists and turns of the this book to be fairly predictable. There were several hints about Indie's power and it's "impossibility."

Favorite Quotes/Moments:

1) His eyes move over to Bishop, then down over our outfits. "What are you guys supposed to be?" 

"Hockey player and puck bunny," Bishop chimes in proudly."

2) Julia comes up to her side. She's wearing the usual Fairfax High cheerleader's uniform of blue pleated skirt, silver spankies, and a fitted silver shell, but she's got fake rot on her cheeks and blood dripping from her mouth. She eyes my jeans, tank top, and bunny ears and gives a condescending little snort. 

"Nice costume."

"Thanks," I say, feigning nonchalance. "You should have dressed up too. I mean, you do the whole brain-dead-cheerleader thing every day. Where's the fun in that?"

Monday, December 1, 2014

Moronic Monday: Gogol Ganguli (The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri)

Mondays, the worst day of the week. Despite the fact that it's the start of your school/work week, there is always something extra that just pushes it to the next level. That someone that just permanently keeps Monday at the top of most dreaded days of the week. That's what this meme is about. The one character that drives you mad with their stupidity. Their idiocy is the type that you can spot their impending train wreck from miles away, the type that makes you want to slam their heads into a desk repeatedly. Moronic Mondays are not for your lovable idiots, no, it's for the ones that you think they deserve every bad thing they get it.

Anyone else think that Gogol was a selfish brat? I read this book a few years ago, and I was fascinated by the story itself but from when Gogol is a teenager and on--I was just annoyed. His shame for his family and his origins brought a nasty taste in my mouth. His parents did the best they could and still let him run rampant and do whatever he pleased. Was that enough? Nope. Through most of the book, I was just wishing that I could get more of his parent's story because Gogol's just annoyed me to no end. Only after tragedy strikes, near the end of the book, does he realizes his faults but it's too little too late for me.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Signed Grisha Trilogy Giveaway!


This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thank you all for entering! The winner has been e-mailed and has have 48 hours to respond or I will be forced to pick another winner. 


You guys can check out all three of my reviews for this trilogy by clicking the links below.



Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Tether (Many-Worlds 2) by Anna Jarzab ARC Review (SPOILER ALERT)


Tether by Anna Jarzab
Paperback, 305 pages. 
Published by Delacorte Press
Expected Publication Date: March 10, 2015
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

Synopsis: Everything repeats.

Sasha expected things to go back to normal once she got back on Earth. But now that she knows parallel worlds are real, and that an alternate version of herself exists in a world called Aurora, her old life no longer seems to make sense . . . and her heart breaks daily for Thomas, the boy she left behind. Troubled by mysterious, often terrifying visions and the echoes of a self she was just beginning to discover, Sasha makes the difficult decision to journey once more through the tandem.

Thomas is waiting for her on the other side, and so is strange, otherworldly Selene, Sasha’s analog from a third universe. Sasha, Selene, and their other analog, Juliana, have a joint destiny, and a new remarkable power, one that could mean salvation for Selene’s dying planet. With Thomas’s help, Sasha and Selene search for the missing Juliana. But even if they can locate her, is Sasha willing to turn her back on love to pursue a fate she’s not sure she believes in?

Tether is suffering from second book slump. I liked it but I can't say that I'm head-over-heels for it. The beginning starts out strong but somewhere around the middle I became bored and had to push myself to finish it. One of the most confusing things is that it is written from four different POVs. That's right, you heard me. Four. I've seen the multiple perspectives work before like in The Song of Ice and Fire series, but not in this case. All of the voices sound too similar and I found myself confusing Thomas and Sasha at times. All of the problems I had with the first novel continued on into this book and became worse. All in all, I don't regret reading it but I can't say that I'm in love either.

You guys can check out my review to Tandem here.

Strengths/Likes:

1) I still think Sasha is a really strong heroine. I find her to be very mature and strong. She still makes good decisions and analyzes situations without letting her judgement become to clouded by her own personal attachment to Thomas.

2) There was some really beautiful scenes written at the very end of the book with Thomas and Sasha. It's these scenes that make me want to push on to the third book.

Weaknesses/Dislikes:

1) With a new analog comes a new plot and it really threw me off. The entrance of Selene really took the focus off Juliana and Thomas, who have their own separate messes that are going on, along with what's happening with Sasha's new otherworldly analog. If this was a series instead of a trilogy, I would be on board but as far as I know it's not. It's because of that that I think that this new plot line with Selene takes the attention away from the main characters that we fell in love with in Tandem. 

2) I can't say that I'm as attached to Sasha and Thomas in this book. Their relationship feels wishy-washy. The couple goes through a bit of a rough patch because they are trying to figure out how to make their relationship work despite the fact that they are from completely different worlds. Instead of it being sad, it's annoying. Thomas randomly pushes Sasha away because he can't focus when he's thinking about her, so he gives her the brush off and starts acting rude without explaining himself--and well I think that's a real dickhead move.

Another thing that really messed me up about their relationship is how Thomas kept having problems reminding himself that Juliana and Selene were not Sasha. I get it, they look exactly alike but somehow it made me feel as if he could have easily been with any one of the three. Which, just further diminishes Thomas and Sasha's relationship.

3) I think Callum and Juliana's relationship is a joke. The reader doesn't get to learn about how they started falling for each other. We are told that they spent time in adjoining prison cells for a while but we don't get to see their relationship develop. After reading about Callum and Sasha in Tandem, it was really hard for me to take his and Juliana's relationship seriously.

4) I can't stand Juliana. Some of you may have known this from my Moronic Monday post about her. I get that she is supposed to be a sympathetic character who's suffering from all of the pressure and responsibility of a life she never wanted but no matter how much I try I can't make myself like or feel bad for her.

5) There are so many new characters, mostly KES agents, and I just don't care. I can barely keep track of who is who and even though some of them are funny I'm not given enough information or development to care about them.

Favorite Quotes/Moments: 

1) "Honestly, Sasha, I don't care what they want. They're my friends and colleagues. I like them, and I respect them, but I'm on your side. Yours. No one else's. I'm here to protect you. I'm here to help you. "

2) "Wow, you do look good without a shirt on," I said, doing my best to keep my voice steady, surprised I could even speak.

He walked toward me until we were separated only by inches. "So what you're saying is, you're not interested in the glorious history of this very important landmark?"

"Yeah," I said, grabbing both ends of his towel and using it to pull him forward. "Sorry, but I'm really not."

Friday, November 21, 2014

Hexed (The Witch Hunter #1) by Michelle Krys Review (light spoilers)


Hexed by Michelle Krys
Hardcover, 369 pages.
Published by Delacorte Press
Publication Date: June 10, 2014
Rating 3.5/5 Stars

Synopsis: If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid. 

This book makes no apologies. It knows that its plot and characters fits the mold of a typical YA fantasy book but instead of trying so hard to distract us from these details, it makes fun of them. It's really a character driven book. The characters are so  well-developed that it makes up for the drops in the plot. At first I had a hard time getting into this book because Indie is not an easy girl to get on board with but eventually I saw how real she was and I found myself rooting for her. 

I can't say that this book has me hooked, on more than one occasion, I found it easy for me to put it down and come back to it later even if I was in the middle of one of the main dramatic scenes. It's definitely a good read, and worth the time I spent with it but I'm not in love. I'm reading Charmed next so, who knows. It could happen. 

Strengths/Likes: 

1) Indie is a really interesting character, at first I hated her for not seeing that those closest to her were clearly douchebags and pushing away the people who really cared about her. Then I realized that this is real life; this is reality. There are so many times that we keep those toxic relationships in our lives while we push away the ones that we truly need. She's not the typical YA heroine. She's popular, shallow, and a bit of a snob. It takes some time to peel back her layers before you get around to liking her but believe me I did. She's such a strong person and a great role model for girls and women.

2) I'm happy with the development of Indie and Bishop's relationship. It's not an instant love affair, but you can feel the intrigue in each other when they first meet. They both come with baggage and have several personality flaws but I thought they were cute. 

3) I loved the magic in this book. So many times it's happened when I'm reading a fantasy novel, I wonder why can't they magically make cash or conjure up whatever they need to help themselves out. Finally, this book has granted my wish and gave me what I wanted without any lame limitations. 

4) Bishop is hilarious. He's not the typical gorgeous, well-versed, well-groomed, rich YA guy. He's a grungy, punk-rock, kind of guy with a tattoo of a naked Betty Boop on his neck. So, physically he's not my type but his personality and snark make up for that. 

5) I loved how Krys still keeps Indie's school life tied into the plot. In a lot of popular fantasy novel's it's like the heroine never goes to school and her mystical parts of her life never interfere in her every day life. Krys marries these two very well together without going to overboard.

6) Jezebel. She's an awesome badass character. Sure, she's a bit of a bitch but I like how she didn't do things just because they were "the right thing to do." She cared about her wants and needs first. This is a very realistic quality in people, why should she put herself in danger for a complete stranger?


Weaknesses/Dislikes: 

1) It doesn't make any sense to me who all of these dangerous and magical things are happening around Indie and no one ever bats an eye as why any of it is happening. There are murders, strange accidents, things being destroyed and we are given no explanation as to how or if it's all being hidden from the mass public all around. 

2) The fight scenes are over really quickly and seemingly easily. When everyone can conjure up whatever they want, I expected more dramatic and drawn out actions but they seem to be over just as soon as they started. Also, with the exception of the first death in this book, the action seems kind of silly. The seem to have the greatest powers in the world and yet they conjure up animals to do the work for them. One dog, a tiger, and a dragon. You want to think dragon is badass...but no it's really not. It sounds more like the characters are being chased by King Bowser. 

Favorite Quotes/Moments:

1) "Mom has to literally drag me out of bed on Monday morning. She shovels Cocoa Puffs into my mouth and even goes so far as to try to dress me in this hideous last-season tracksuit she dug out of the dregs of my closest. I snap out of it long enough to throw on jeans and a tank top instead.

I'm almost out the door when I decide that a little makeup wouldn't hurt. And what the hell, why not wear some cute sunglasses and those wedge sandals I bought last week? I mean, just because my boyfriend cheated on me, my best friend betrayed me, Bishop deserted me, I might be a witch and evil sorcerers could try to kill me with the Bible they stole from my family doesn't mean I can't look good, right?" (142). 

2) "Before I know it, I'm singing along too. Bishop smiles. I smile. There's a whole lot of smiling going on. And I just know that this memory will be forever burned into my brain, because this kind of magic--the kind that can't be conjured with a spell, where everything is just right, and all your problems vanish for three perfect minutes--doesn't happen every day" (275-6). 

3) "Do I know you from somewhere?"

"Um, yeah. The shop, the party, the Hollywood sign, just now at your house--"

"Before that, I mean."

He rubs his forehead. "God, now I feel bad. I slept with you, didn't I? Oh, this is terribly embarrassing. This happens sometimes, you know. But it's so hard to remember all the faces, all the names--"

"Very funny" (177).

4) "Bishop?"

"You expecting another ridiculously handsome man to appear right now?"

"Oh, Bishop, thank God it's you!" I push to my feet and plow into his chest, wrapping my arms around his middle and holding on to him like he might disappear at any moment."

"Uh, okay." He laughs, then pats my back. "Not exactly what I was expecting, but I'll take it. Shall we find a bedroom, or is here good for you?" (169). 


Forgotten Friday: Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

This meme is about books that have been pushed aside while others have gone viral and made into movies. It can be old books, new books, any book that never got its (or enough) time  in the spot light.


This book is not exactly forgotten. In fact the literary scholar world this book is a big deal but I'm not hearing enough about it in today's conversation. According to a ex-professor of mine, who has my thanks for assigning this book to read, they have attempted many times to make this book into a movie and failed. It's not your average book about slavery. It's a science fiction book about a modern-day black women (it was published in 1979) who somehow teleports to the past where slavery was still around, where she meets a young boy who grows up to be a slave owner. It's a really interesting twist and POV of slavery that I don't think is getting talked about enough. It shows the progression of how white people of the time were raised into being the bigoted, cruel, slave owners that were infamous in the South. It's a tragic, serious, and well-written book that I think more people should know about.

Synopsis: Dana, a modern black woman, is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday with her new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save him. Dana is drawn back repeatedly through time to the slave quarters, and each time the stay grows longer, more arduous, and more dangerous until it is uncertain whether or not Dana's life will end, long before it has a chance to begin.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Book Bucket List: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

There are books in your life that you come across and you know you have to read them. They can be old, they can be new but before your time runs out you have to find time to read them. Welcome to my Book Bucket List everyone!

Why it's on my Book Bucket List:
I heard that this book is amazing. It sparks something in all of our bibliophile selves as well as tell a tragic and beautiful story.

Why I haven't read it yet:
Anything written during the time of Nazi Germany, I think we can all agree are all extremely depressing. For these kinds of historical fictions I need to psych myself up to read them. Maybe the characters aren't real, but when I get into a book they feel real to me. Which makes it even harder when it's a historical fiction based on real and grievous events. I love it when a book evokes so much emotion in me that I actually cry but at the same time I don't want to make myself depressed.

Synopsis: The extraordinary #1 New York Times bestseller that is now a major motion picture, Markus Zusak's unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul.

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Moronic Monday: Edward Fairfax Rochester

Mondays, the worst day of the week. Despite the fact that it's the start of your school/work week, there is always something extra that just pushes it to the next level. That someone that just permanently keeps Monday at the top of most dreaded days of the week. That's what this meme is about. The one character that drives you mad with their stupidity. Their idiocy is the type that you can spot their impending train wreck from miles away, the type that makes you want to slam their heads into a desk repeatedly. Moronic Mondays are not for your lovable idiots, no, it's for the ones that you think they deserve every bad thing they get it.

Don't get me wrong, I love this book but I had so many problems with Mr. Rochester. First and foremost I felt that he toyed with Jane's emotions. The way he has her out and about with his high society friends, knowing how they would treat her. Then tricking her into confessing her emotions with his psychic ruse. Lastly, and most importantly how he was married and tried to marry Jane at the same time. Yes, yes, his backstory is very "tragic." Not really. He was tricked into a bad marriage because of his father as well as his own stupidity. Who the hell marries someone they who they never had a full conversation with them? That in itself proves that he's an idiot, but on top of the fact that he tried to marry Jane at the same time and hide his crazy wife..I can't even begin to go on about how stupid and unfair that was. Why wasn't he just honest about it? Maybe Jane never would have run away then. In fact, his hiding her almost got himself and Jane killed. This is why he's my moron this week.