March 17, 2013

Review: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

The Way We Fall (Fallen World #1)
Author: Megan Crewe
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: January 24, 2012
Pages: 309
Source: Hardcover/Library

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When sixteen-year-old Kaelyn lets her best friend leave for school without saying goodbye, she never dreams that she might not see him again. But then a strange virus begins to sweep through her small island community, infecting young and old alike. As the dead pile up, the government quarantines the island: no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for the island’s dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Poignant and dizzying, The Way We Fall is the heart-wrenching story of one girl's bravery and unbeatable spirit as she challenges not just her fears, but her sense of what makes life worth living.

Review: Overall I enjoyed the book, though not as much as I hoped to. I loved the idea of a virus spreading all over because if you think about it, that is something that really could happen with all the new super-bugs and whatnot that keep showing up. It really tests your strength when you know at some point someone you love is going to come down with the virus and there's no cure for it. It just tests you so much! And beyond that, when you lose the people you love, then you have to learn to trust in others that you probably wouldnt have thought to trust in before. Like Kaelyn, her best friend and person she could count on through all of this wasn't one of her friends, it was one of her enemies. That showed how in times of crisis people can put aside their differences and be there for one another. It was nice to see that. Also, it was nice to see that some people, even in bad times like in this book can still love one another. I really enjoyed seeing the little group Kaelyn has formed. Those people are always gonna have her back so she surrounded herself with some good people! I felt bad for Kaelyn though, her mom came down with the virus and died, just like her best friend. Then her dad got shot and her brother just ran away from it all. And then on top of everything when the book ended her cousin got the virus and we still don't know what happens to her for sure. I hope she survives! :)

What I didn't enjoy... I felt like everything got too predictable. Once the virus broke out it was like go out to scavenge, watch your back to make sure sick people didn't sneak up on you. And when that wasn't enough, then you also had to look out for the group that kept breaking into everything and setting things on fire or killing people. It just got so routine. It was like you run out of supplies, then someone you know gets sick or sick people keep trying to get you, and then the group goes on a rampage again. And it just felt like that same exact pattern over and over again. If it wasn't so predictable with the pattern I probably would have given this book more stars. Besides that the book was good. I really hope the next book isn't as predictable with events!

3 1/2 Stars!

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November 19, 2012

Review: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under The Never Sky (Under The Never Sky #1)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 374
Source: Hardcover/Library

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Review: This book is amazing! So I've been in a reading slump all week and this book was the only book that I was able to really get into. It pulled me in right from the first chapter and just got better and better as the book went on! I really liked some of the unique aspects of this book, like the Aether storms. I loved it! I guess the closest thing we could compare Aether storms to are lightning storms. But no lightning I've ever seen came close to the intensity of these Aether storms. Those storms were so intense so I definitely see how they could easily kill someone. On the flip side I found the Pods really interesting as well. Not nearly as interesting as Outside but still interesting. So they had these screen things that go over their eye, which then lets them go in any realm and pretty much do whatever they want. But if it wasn't for those realms, then everybody would be bored all the time. It sounds kinda boring, having to experience something through a "Realm" instead of actually like doing it in real life (you know, without the eye piece). I disliked though, the fact that the consuls could pretty much throw you out into the The Death Shop and not even care. Not cool!

Perry & Aria. Perry, he just wanted to sneak into a Pod and get some supplies. Instead he ends up saving a girl (Aria) from an attack, in the process also picking up her eye piece. When he gets back outside he ends up being tracked by the people in the PODs to get the eyepiece but instead they take his nephew. Meanwhile. Aria, has lost her eyepiece and now has no proof that she was attacked and going into the closed off section of AG 6 wasn't her idea. The consul made her seem like he believed her and then she was gonna get to see her mom after the ordeal when in reality, he just said that to get her on a ship to dump her out in The Death Shop. I loved seeing how Perry and Aria grew throughout the book. They went from being angry with each other over their separate issues to being really close. I really loved how dedicated Perry was to trying to get his nephew Talon back from the people who kidnapped him. He did more than Talons own father would. That says a lot. And Aria, she was determined to get to Bliss just to see if her mother was ok, no matter what it took. And most of all, Perry and Aria learned to trust each other which helped each other with their separate goals but also formed a relationship between the two of them. They came from different worlds technically but accepted each other anyways. I'm definitely a fan of Perry and Aria, and I'm really looking forward to more of them! 

Aria's mom, Lumina. Man. Ok, first of all, I feel so bad about what happened to her when Aria finally found her in the end! Second, I can't believe the mind blowing secret she was hiding from Aria! She's not completely who she thought she was. I was starting to suspect it but I was still a bit shocked to find out it was true none the less. After we found out about it so many things suddenly made sense. Like how Aria was able to survive outside the PODs when most people wouldn't. And how she seemed to have a special ability like Roar and Perry do. I figured it out even before Perry figured it out about her. I'm really happy she has this ability though, because it is definitely helping her survive even better than she learned to so far. Now, to the consul again. I seriously don't like this guy. I mean first he throws Aria out into the The Death Shop just because he can and then after he finds out about the secret Aria's mom hid from everyone he then thinks he can use Aria for what he wants. And then uses Perry's nephew of which Aria has grow to care about even though shes never met him as leverage for her to do it. That's just freaking cruel. Seriously. Can someone take the consul (Soren's father, to be more specific) down?!?!? And then Vale, Perry's brother & Talons father,... what he had happen to Talon just to get food... Definitely not a fan of Vale either!

I seriously can't wait to read Through The Ever Night!

5 Stars!

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August 04, 2012

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath (Everneath #1)

Author: Brodi Ashton
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/ Harper Collins
Publication Date: January 24, 2012
Pages: 370
Source: Hardcover/Library

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her friends—before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she’s forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s...

Review: I really enjoyed this! This definitely makes the list of favorite myth retellings! First of all, I really loved the alternating POV's of "Before The Feed" and "Until The Return." It really helped make sense of everything having those alternating POV's when your were reading, especially when something in the present related to something before or in the feed. I also liked some of the mystery behind why Nikki survived like she did. It made me really curious and wanting to read the book more. Then there was a few more mysterious things introduced which made you pretty curious and I just loved it! Ms. Ashton definitely knows how to write a good book and keep you hooked! I really loved how Nikki tried to fix her relationship with her dad. She did whatever she could to please him to make up for her disappearance even if she wasn't exactly a fan of it. Though I really felt for her with the whole Jack thing. She had no idea to even talk to him again and after what had happened I wouldn't either. It's hard to find something to say to someone you just left when you cant even explain why you left in the first place. I really liked though how Jack was open minded about everything. Most people probably wouldn't have been. And Nikki's brother, man I felt for him! His sister disappeared for a while and then just reappeared back into his life and he had no idea how to handle that. Poor guy.

Cole and Jack... Hmm. Lets start with Cole. He was... Interesting. The Everliving are very interesting. I thought the fact that he could take away peoples pain was pretty cool, but when you find out he can take away more than just the pain then you really get to thinking. Is he really using this to help Nikki or is he only trying to use it to his advantage to get what he wants? I was pretty sure for a while he was using it more to his advantage to get what he wants but there was moments when he was actually sincere and it made you question his motives. Even after finishing the book I'm still not sure where I stand on the subject of Cole. I guess we'll have to see what happens in Everbound to see if that makes my opinion of him lean more toward one side or the other. Jack. I wasn't exactly a fan of his in the beginning either, but as he slowly worked his way back into Nikki's life and even accepted what she told him about why she had left I started softening up towards him. He really showed his true colors to Nikki, especially in the end of the book! Jack did so much to help Nikki when her time was running out and then his sacrifice in the end just for her... It was so heartbreaking but yet so heartwarming at the same time. I definitely can't wait for Everbound to come out!

4 Stars!

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June 18, 2012

Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Incarnate (Newsoul #1)
Author: Jodi Meadows
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Pages: 374
Source: Hardcover/Library

New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

Review: I really enjoyed this book! I had no idea what to expect from this book based on the whole Newsoul/Nosoul thing. I loved the mystery behind why another soul vanished when Ana was born! It was so interesting. I also loved how this was more of a unique reincarnation novel. This one tackled the subject of souls disappearing and not coming back at all. I thought the whole thing with people hating Ana was not fair. It's not her fault she was born, she even said that straight out. And it's not like she meant for Ciana's soul to disappear! It just happened from what she knew of. And her mom! Her own mom thought she was a nosoul! How horrible is that? No one deserves to be treated like nothing from their own parents! 

Sam! Ahhhhhh! I loved him. He didn't care that Ana was THAT Ana! He stood by her anyways and helped her when no one else would. He was such a sweetie! He even taught her music which she (and I) treasure! He was amazing taking her under his wing even though so many people hated it. I also loved how those close to him also gave Ana a chance and took her in. They were really amazing to her! I thought it was so messed up what happened at the end to them! You know the council only did that because of Ana's mom. I really disliked Ana's mom! She was just so rude! Acting like she cared and then saying really mean stuff to her own daughter when no ones looking! It was just so messed up. I was also shocked at the end when Ana's dad came back into the picture and then we find out what happened to make Ciana's soul disappear! And then Templedark! OMG! All that happened at the end makes me really excited for Asunder!!! 

If you like reincarnation books you definitely need to read this!

4 1/2 Stars!

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May 29, 2012

Review: Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Article 5 (Article 5, #1)
Author: Kristen Simmons
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Pages: 364
Source: Hardcover/Library

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings—the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Review: I honestly wasn't sure what I was going to think about this book since I've heard some mixed reactions on it. After reading it though I loved it! The only complaint I have is that I did feel like the story was more set on the romance but besides that I thought it was great. The Moral Statues... Gosh, they were pretty strict! Like they were strict in general but the whole idea of being arrested for them if they just suddenly changed like that day. That would scared me to death. I mean you could go from being safe one day to being arrested for noncompliance the next. That definitely doesn't sound like fun. It also was pretty intense since the people who got arrested were usually never seen again. This dystopian world was definitely interesting and different!

Chase. I couldn't get a read on this guy for a while! I mean one minute he's acting all soldier like and the next he's all Ember's hero. It seriously took me like half the book to see that he actually wanted to save her and that he still cared about her. I was definitely happy that he broke her out of that rehab place. I was disgusted by what went on in there and I honestly don't know if I would have been able to read anymore about it. It was heartbreaking! I mean, how could the government be letting people do that? Even though Chase lied to her to get her to go with him after breaking her out I was happy he did it. She is much better off with Chase and hiding from the FBR than in that rehab center. I was also happy that even though it took Ember so long to realize it, that she did let Chase in after he admitted he still loved her. I honestly believe those two are stronger together than they are apart and they need to stay that way!

5 Stars!

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April 12, 2012

Review: Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton

Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire #2)
Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Publisher: Harper Collins/Katherine Tegen
Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Pages: 516
Source: Hardcover/Library

Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.

She’ll be betrayed.
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.

Review: This book was so much better than the first (which says a lot because I really enjoyed the first!) So much happened, both good and bad, and it made me want to keep reading more and more! I also loved that there was more action in this book! It was like Ellie never got a break. I mean, even on the few nights she wasn't hunting reapers they still found her and tried to fight her. Not to mention the reapers coming after her just kept getting harder and harder to fight. And I thought her life as the Preliator was hard before! And I dont wanna spoil any of the story line but OMG! What happened with her family! I totally didnt see any of that coming!

Will! Thank you for coming to your senses, even though you had to have Nathaniel talk to you about it! Now that that's out of the way! Lets talk about Cadan! I really didnt know what to think about him at first! I mean he's a demonic reaper but he was helping Ellie so much with the warnings and whatnot! I'll admit, my heart softened a little for him at the end of the book just because he really did protect her instead of Bastian. Now since were talking about Will and Cadan! OMG! The revelations at the end about Will and who his father is! And about his mother! And who Cadan's father is!!! I was seriously reeling from all this information at the end! And then what happened to Will at the end!!! I seriously need the next book, I need to see what happens to Will!!!

5 Stars!

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April 09, 2012

Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

A Million Suns (Across The Universe #2)
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: January 10, 2012
Pages: 386
Source: Hardcover/Library

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.
It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

Review: This book was beyond amazing!!!! I really enjoyed it!!! It is an amazing sequel to Across The Universe! I loved loved loved how the action really picked up in A Million Suns!  I really didn't want to put it down! It was that good, like seriously, it was way better than I was expecting! So lets start off with Phydus! Omg! They were not joking when they said the ship was ruled by chaos! Gosh, so much stuff happened all because everyone wasn't on the drugs anymore! And not to mention it showed some peoples true colors! And they were kinda scary. I was also annoyed with the mutiny against Elder! I mean seriously, he took you off the drugs and tried to tell you the truth about everything (and you guys wouldn't believe him) and then you turn against him! And then you turn against Amy again just when she was starting to feel a little comfortable. Gosh, Amy and Elder really never seemed to get a break in this book!

This whole thing with Orion leaving clues for Amy! I thought this was so interesting! I was so curious about what exactly he was trying to tell her, though the wild goose chase to find the clues wasn't exactly all fun and games. I thought the way he had hid them though was really creative! And OMG! When we found out the truth, what Elder saw when he went out of Godspeed in the spacesuit! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!! I was so shocked! Everything changed after that! I was also shocked with what Doc did to try to stop Elder and Amy from moving forward with their plans after they found out all the information Orion wanted them to find! I must say though, I am really looking forward to Shades of Earth to see exactly what happens in the end!!! AHHH! And I'm hoping Amy and Elder have a happy ending even though they were kinda rocky at the end of A Million Suns!

5 Stars!

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