February 26, 2013

Review: Partials by Dan Wells

Partials (Partials #1)
Author: Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Pages: 468
Source: Hardcover/Library

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.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulsepounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question--one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.

Review: I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. I don't know why but I was hesitant to read this book, but it was calling to me to finally read it so I gave it a shot. So glad I did. This book was just awesome! I really wanna talk about Kira first. So here goes. I really liked her. I thought she was a strong main character! She is only what? 16. She's had to deal with a lot for a 16 year old and that showed in how strong of a character she was. She's lost her parents due to RM when she was 5, seen infants die because RM gets them either within hours or days of being born since there's no cure and she's dealt with all these rules the Senate has brought down upon her (some of which a 16 year old should not have to deal with.) I really loved though that she was so dedicated to saving humanity, even if it meant her going against the law pretty much to do it. And then on top of that, she went into enemy territory and brought an enemy back alive. That girl has guts. I definitely knew she was right studying a Partial to try and cure RM but I had no clue how exactly it would help cure it. Also, I really don't have an opinion on hers and Marcus's relationship, but I definitely do think they care about each other a lot. 

I thought the whole conflict with the Senate and The Voice was whack! The Senate was deadset on controlling people and The Voice was deadset on getting them to stop it. All The Voice wanted was for The Senate to repeal the Hope Act (the law mandating that girls a certain age or older have to get pregnant). I don't see why that was such a big deal when it was painfully obvious that the Hope Act wasn't working. Making more people have babies that aren't gonna be immune to RM isn't gonna help. The Senate was just determined to keep tight grip on everyone. I really wasn't a fan of The Senate. I honestly wanted them to fall. 

The Partials. Man, I totally wasn't expecting the news about their species that was revealed. Or that they were on a mission to East Meadow when Kira and her group attacked. I was surprised also with how they were built and how they could interact with each other. It was interesting to say the least. I wasn't surprised however that we found out that the Partials didn't release RM on the humans. I felt like that would have been to simple. I definitely think there's something bigger lurking out there.  

Now, Kira's little secret that she herself, and we readers found out at the end of the book. I wish I could say it was surprising, but it wasn't. I had this suspicion for a while reading the book that we were gonna find that out about her. I definitely cant wait to read Fragments to see where Kira's and the Partials stories go next!!!

4 1/2 Stars!

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May 17, 2012

Review: Faery Tales & Nightmares by Melissa Marr

Faery Tales & Nightmares
Author: Melissa Marr
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: February 21, 2012
Pages: 418
Source: Hardcover/Library

Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments dark and light by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from beneath the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention—with amorous or sinister intent—relentlessly.

From the gentle tones of a storyteller’s cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favorite characters from Marr’s Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with...or to fear.

Lush, seductive, and chilling, Melissa Marr’s stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.

Table of Contents:
"Where Nightmares Walk"
"Winter's Kiss" (Fairy Tales)
"Transition" (Vampires)
"Love Struck" (Selchies)
"Old Habits" (WL World)
"Stopping Time" (WL World)
"The Art of Waiting"
"Flesh for Comfort"
"The Sleeping Girl and the Summer King" (WL World-ish, the short story that started the series)
"Cotton Candy Skies" (WL World)
"Unexpected Family" (WL World)
"Merely Mortal" (WL World)

Review: I really enjoyed all the stories! Especially the ones from the Wicked Lovely world! That is one of my fave series so jumping into stories from that world was like seeing an old friend. :) I think out of all the WL stories though "Cotton Candy Skies" was my favorite. It brought us back to Faerie after the Shadow Court has settled in. The story focuses more on Rabbit and his adjusting to living in Faerie but it also gave us more of a glimpse of how things have changed with the Shadow Court being there now. I had always wondered how things would be different with the Shadow Court being there now and I finally got a glimpse! I also enjoyed "Stopping Time" because it was Leslie's side of her life after leaving the Dark Court. I always wanted to know how she was living after that, I mean we had some idea in the books but never a full story really from her point of view after Ink Exchange. I did enjoy getting to read about Seth in "Unexpected Family", Keenan & Donia in "Merely Mortal" and the Dark Court after Niall became king in "Old Habits" though even though the first two mentioned were my faves! 

I also enjoyed reading "Transition" and "Love Struck." The vampire story was really interesting. I was expecting a different outcome to that story but I was pleasantly surprised with how the story actually went down. It was interesting. Lol. But I enjoyed "Love Struck" way more! I haven't really read any Selchie stories so it was a new experience for me. I loved the background behind the Selchies and how it was incorporated into the story, but I also enjoyed how it didn't go along completely with the Selchie story and took on a bit of a unique story in itself. I was very happy with the outcome of that story even though I didn't see that being the outcome at the beginning. I also liked the short story that started the Wicked Lovely series, "The Sleeping Girl and the Summer King." I could definitely see how that story really got the series going!

5 Stars!

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March 08, 2012

Review: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium (Delirium #2)
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Pages: 375
Source: Hardcover/Own 

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

Review: *Mostly spoiler free (there is things that may give you idea of what happens)* AHHHHHHHH!!!! No seriously, that's what I was doing for like an hour after I finished the book! This book was freaking amazing!!!! There was always something to keep you wanting to read more! The sequel to Delirium couldn't get any better than this! First thing I loved about this book was the "then" and "now." I really loved reading what happened right after she escaped into the Wilds and what was happening right then! I couldn't put the book down! I really liked Raven! She is one badass chick! Lol. She is a great leader and made another strong female character, and I really liked seeing that. I loved how Raven had a way of doing things and how there was always someway to help. I also thought the way they were able to get messages from the outside was interesting. Feeding the birds in the city and leaving paint so that they'd get it on them and that signaled a certain message. That's a very good idea and I really liked how it was used (though when the birds had red paint on them I was freaking out man!). Lol. I also liked how when they went undercover in the cities that Raven, Tack and Lena stayed together. Though I don't completely approve of what Raven and Tack planned involving Lena. But it had a good outcome nonetheless.

So much happened to Lena in Pandemonium! She couldn't catch a break anywhere! I mean first she has to deal with losing Alex when she escaped and he didn't, and while she was dealing with that she was also trying to regain her strength from the days in the Wilds all alone! That sucks like massively! I was very proud of her trying so hard to strengthen herself and become a real member of the group. I loved the moments when she actually felt like she belonged there. I felt for her though because even though she was still feeling the loss of Alex she then had to help Raven through some losses, and those affected Lena as well. And then, when they are undercover in the city Raven and Tack throw Lena into another situation that she has to get out of and UGH! Lena just never got a break and it sucked seeing her have to endure so much (though she's a very strong girl and she handled most of those situations very well.) I was very happy that Lena was able to get through to Julian when they were being held hostage and that in the end she was able to save him. And that Raven and Tack even came to the rescue to help after what they put Lena through. I was losing faith in Raven and Tack after learning about what they did but it was restored at the end when they helped Lena out! And OMG!!! Lena's MOM!!!! And ALEX!!!!!!! AHHHH!!!! The ending was beyond freaking amazing!!!! I cant believe her mom was there helping her and OMG!!! ALEX!!!! YAY YAY YAY!!!! I think that describes my excitement about the end! Lol.

You have to read this if you liked Delirium!!! You will LOVE IT!!!! :D

5 Stars!

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March 02, 2012

Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: February 21, 2012
Pages: 341
Source: ARC from Publisher/Won on Goodreads

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

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.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

Review: I thought this was a great sequel to Wither! I really enjoyed it! It was really eye opening. We got more of a first hand look at all that was going on in the world outside. I was really interested in the Scarlet District though (the circus thing). Jenna came from a district like that so you really got a sense of what she had to do and what she went through before she became a bride in Wither. Overall though, even with learning more about how Jenna lived previous to being a wife I was still way to happy when Rhine and Gabriel got away from the Scarlet District. I thought it was just wrong with what went on there. I was so worried about Gabriel when they left though because of the drugs that Madame had put in his system. Even though it caused him pain and gave him nightmares I was glad it worked its way out of his system. I also felt really bad for Rhine, especially after she got back to New York. It felt like she was losing hope every day that went by and she didn't find her brother. Not to mention she got sick which made me feel even worse for her. :( Poor Rhine.

Vaughn!!!! UGH!!!! Do I even have to repeat what I said in my review of Wither of how much I despise Vaughn?!?!?!?!? Why cant he just leave Rhine alone???? I mean first he follows her to the Scarlet District of which she has to escape from due to him showing up and then he freakin shows up in New York! UGH!!!!! And then on top of everything we find out he's part of the reason Rhine got sick! Like seriously, I despise Vaughn so much! I hold my position on that firmly after the ending of the book. The ending! I don't know what to think about the ending! I definitely cant wait for the next book to see where it goes!

4 Stars!

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