Review: ALL THE FEELS by Danika Stone

Source: Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: June 7, 2016
Number of Pages: 336 (Paperback)


Description from Goodreads:

College freshman Liv is more than just a fangirl: The Starveil movies are her life… So, when her favorite character, Captain Matt Spartan, is killed off at the end of the last movie, Liv Just. Can’t. Deal.

Tired of sitting in her room sobbing, Liv decides to launch an online campaign to bring her beloved hero back to life. With the help of her best friend, Xander, actor and steampunk cosplayer extraordinaire, she creates #SpartanSurvived, a campaign to ignite the fandom. But as her online life succeeds beyond her wildest dreams, Liv is forced to balance that with the pressures of school, her mother’s disapproval, and her (mostly nonexistent and entirely traumatic) romantic life. A trip to DragonCon with Xander might be exactly what she needs to figure out what she really wants.

REVIEW

As soon as I heard about this book, I knew it was perfect for me, and I was so right! ALL THE FEELS totally gave me "all the feels" (seriously, it has the most fitting title EVER!)! I loved absolutely every single second, and even though the Starveil fandom isn't real, I still felt like I was part of it, and I loved that!  

If you're a big fan or fangirl over anything, I think you'll relate to ALL THE FEELS. You might not be able to relate to how involved Liv is in the fandom, but if you're a big fan of everything, you'll definitely understand how much Starveil means to her. It made me think back to how obsessed I was with a few of my favourite fandoms, and luckily my favourites have always seemed to survive, but I could totally relate to how passionate Liv felt about Spartan dying, and I loved that she did something about it!

Now onto Liv herself! I absolutely LOVED her! I could relate to her late night fandom binges, and her reluctance to let the fandom go. I also loved her friendship with Xander, and I thought that Xander himself was fantastic! He was such a wonderful and unique character, and I loved how supportive he was to Liv. I loved their friendship, but I really, really loved seeing how their friendship progressed throughout the story, and I shipped them so, so so much! 

Overall, I thought that ALL THE FEELS was fantastic! It was fun, hilarious, and as a self-professed fangirl, it was extremely easy for me to relate to! Just thinking about this book has me grinning like a fool, and if you like romantic comedies with some fandom nerdiness thrown in then I think this is the perfect book for you, too!

What do you think?
Does ALL THE FEELS sound like something you'd like to read? 

Review: Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Source: Received an egalley on Netgalley for an honest review.

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR)

Release Date: September 4, 2012
Number of Pages: 295 (hardcover)

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.

Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.

---

Being someone who loves the Disney movie, The Little Mermaid, I was a little ashamed of myself for only having one mermaid story before this one. That's right, this was only my second mermaid book. And I really enjoyed it. One of the things that I love most about books that have different paranormals or creatures or anything, is the fact that the author has so much room for creative license. They can choose to go with something more traditional, or they can totally mix it up. I know some people are traditionalists when it comes to supernaturals, but I personally like it when author's do things their own. It makes everything more interesting. :D

In Monstrous Beauty, Elizabeth Fama takes mermaid folklore to a dark place. She weaves in curses, and dark secrets of mermaids. These mermaids are seductive, and very similar to Syren's in that way, which made me chuckle when I first read Syrenka's name. :P Along with being seductive, they live long lives, and are not supposed to be seen by humans...the latter being a similar trait among mermaids and tends to explain away why we never see them in real life...you know, if we were to try and claim that they were real and all. :P

Another thing that made Monstrous Beauty so interesting was the main narrator, Hester. She wasn't very easy to connect with...but the story itself was still completely compelling. Parts of the story are also narrated by Ezra...which gave the reader a bit of an inside view on things that Hester hadn't quite figured out yet. Both Hester and Ezra weren't really characters that you clicked with. I liked them well enough, but I just didn't "connect" with them. They're extremely detached, but somehow their story still manages to keep you hooked. I think that in a way it has to do with the way that Elizabeth Fama has crafted the story. She has some detached characters who are mysteriously linked, and are not only detached from the reader, but are detached from every day life. While reading, it's like you're trying to make a connection between Hester and Ezra, and you're hoping that whatever it is will finally help Hester open up to other people in her life (most notably Peter...who I loved :D). I found this form of storytelling really addictive, quick, and I also found it extremely easy to get caught up in the story.

I read this one with my friend, Zoë, and I absolutely loved it! :D I didn't want to put it down, and it made me want to check out some of the other mermaid books that I've heard of, but haven't gotten around to yet! I'd recommend this one to mermaid fans who like it when author's create a unique twist on supernaturals, and for people who like to be wrapped up in a story. I will caution that if you absolutely can't stand stories that have narrators who you don't connect with, then you might not like this one, but then again, I usually only read stories with main characters I click with...yet I loved this one, so you might wanna give it a shot. ;D

Any mermaid fans out there?
Have you read this one?
If you have, what did you think?
If you haven't, does it sound like something you want to read?

Review: Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

Source: Received a copy for an honest review from Scholastic Canada

Publisher: Point

Release Date: Already Released
Number of Pages: 278 (Hardcover)

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

From the fantastic author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom and Prejudice comes a story of all the drama and comedy of four friends who grow into themselves at a performing arts high school.

Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform.

---

I've read quite a few music-influenced stories in the last little while, and I was extremely happy with Take a Bow. It isn't exclusively about music, but about some students at a performing arts school. So, music, acting, painting, composing, and other fine arts rather than just music. :) I think that the variety makes it pretty original, and the multiple points of view from different types of artists definitely added to book's originality. :)

I wasn't sure if I would like the fact that it has so many point of views (it has four if you were wondering ;D), but I actually ending up really enjoying that aspect of the book. It was interesting to see different perspectives from different characters, especially ones who are so different. You have a child actor, a musical prodigy, a fame-seeking singer, and a shy composer who is more comfortable being the writer behind the singer. I loved seeing such different characters, and seeing them interact with each other.

The characters had me all over the place as far as emotions go. I was laughing with them, smiling with them...angry with them, but above all, I was completely wrapped up in their story. I have to admit, I did have my favourites out of the characters. I loved Emme, and I also really liked Carter. Sophie...well, she was my least favourite, but she was that character that you love to hate. Now, Ethan...I was very conflicted about Ethan. I really liked him sometimes, but at other times he was kind of a chauvinistic pig. His reasons for behaving that way were incredibly flawed, but he still managed to make me come around to liking him by the end of the book. I still don't approve of his behaviour lots of the time though...dude needed a smack in the head sometimes. :P But, his feelings for Emme, and the way that he was so protective towards her just completely won me over. Out of the two male characters though, I still liked Carter better. ;)

Personally, for me the best part of Take a Bow was the fact that it showed how human the characters were. Often, I feel that celebrities, or artists of any kind get glamourized or somewhat dehumanized. We think they're so different from us, and they almost don't get seen as people anymore. Take a Bow showed how they are human. They have flaws, feelings, and get self-conscious just like everybody else. It's great to get to see these young artists behind the curtain, and to get to know them for who they really are rather than who they pretend to be. I think that Elizabeth Eulberg did an amazing job showing how these four young characters are just trying to figure out who they are, and to be as true to themselves as they can. And in Sophie's case, she shows the reader the truth behind her phony persona, and it kind of shows you how maybe those artists you look up to aren't that great after all...then again, they could be even more amazing then you thought, like Emme. :)

Overall, I found Take a Bow to be a quick read, and I really enjoyed getting to see the real people behind these four young artists that Elizabeth Eulberg has shared with us. :) I think that people who love music and seeing artists behind the scenes will love this, especially if you're a fan of the whole "Behind the Music" thing. :D

Have you read Take a Bow?
How about any of Elizabeth Eulberg's books?
I haven't read any of her other books, but I've heard great things. :)

Review: The Vicious Deep (The Vicious Deep #1) by Zoraida Córdova

Source: Received an egalley from Raincoast, Sourcebooks and Netgalley for an honest review.

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 384 (Hardcover)

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he’s heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he’s suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea…and now it wants him back.

---

I'm of The Little Mermaid generation...meaning I watched the movie at least once a month (in some cases a week :P) throughout my childhood, and ever since I have absolutely loved mermaids. The Vicious Deep takes it to a whole new level though, and the male narrator is certainly one of the reasons for that. :)

In most stories about mermaids...or rather merfolk, the mermaid is a girl and she's the narrator, but this one is totally different. I loved that, and I really enjoyed Tristan. He was pretty cocky and a jerk at times, but I actually really liked him. He was straightforward and he knew he could be a prick...which was kind of refreshing. It also helped that he was hilarious, and that most of the other characters were really funny too. :D I'm a sucker for great chemistry between characters, and for lots of jokes and The Vicious Deep had tonnes of both of those! I also really loved Tristan's best friend, Layla. I'm gonna keep mum about my feelings towards Tristan and Layla, but I totally loved the two of them together. Read into that however you like. :P

I also really loved the descriptions, and the way that the different species of creatures: mermaids, fairies, vampires, and an abundance of others were incorporated into our world. When Zoraida Córdova described things, I almost felt like everything was in technicolor and super vibrant. I think that finding theperfect balance with how you describe something is an art, and Córdova is excellent at it! :D There are so many times where you read something and it's so descriptive that you almost get bored with all the adjectives, but not with The Vicious Deep. Instead, you feel as if you've been submerged in the same world as Tristan, and you're just as mesmerized and overwhelmed with it as he is. I also love that Tristan's reactions are realistic. He's so confused, and he acts like a snarky and sarcastic teenager, which I found pretty amusing.

Along with the awesome descriptions, and characters, I loved the whole story in general. It was such an interesting plot, and while the story was very character-driven, it was also full of action. There was always something going on, or something to be figured out, and because of that, The Vicious Deep constantly keeps you on your toes! :D

Overall, I loved this one! So much! It's definitely on the top of my favourite reads this year, and I'm counting down the days until I can read the next book, The Savage Blue! :D I would recommend this to someone who loves mermaids, or even someone who isn't a mermaid fan. This book is so versatile with its male narrator and the action throughout, I think it would appeal to a lot of readers. It would also be great if you're a YA fan and are looking for an awesome story with a male lead. I know I personally like to mix it up and read a story with a male narrator every once in a while and there aren't too many YAs out there with them. :D

Have you read The Vicious Deep yet?
Are you a mermaid fan?
Does this sound like a book that you'd enjoy?

Purchase Links:
Book Depository: UK / US
Amazon: UK / US / Canada
Barnes and Noble

Review: Dark Companion by Marta Acosta

  Source: Received an egalley from the author for an honest review.

Publisher: Tor/Macmillan

Release Date: July 3, 2012
Number of Pages: 

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.

Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.

The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.

Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?

---

Dark Companion is not a typical story. Even after just reading the blurb, I had expectations for it, and soon figured out I couldn't have been more wrong. While my assumptions weren't quite right, I actually wasn't disappointed that I was wrong. Instead I found a story that was a blend of mystery, paranormal, with a smidge of romance thrown in. I was also pleasantly surprised with the supporting characters, especially one that seemed to come to life and jump right off the page.

The main character, Jane, is actually pretty plain, or at least she seems to be. She also has a mysterious past, one that's unknown even to her. I liked her, but sometimes she got on my nerves. Then there are Jack and Lucky, the headmistress's sons...right away, I was instantly drawn to Jack. He was awesome, but Jane constantly was thinking about how gorgeous Lucky was, and Lucky this and all that. I never really saw the attraction towards him, he was kind of a douche, but to be honest, I think that's how you're supposed to feel. You're told Lucky's all that, then Jack's always popping up, being awesome, sweet and funny, and Jane never really notices, or at least doesn't acknowledge that she's noticing it. Jane seems to be blinded by Lucky, and is lured into the mysteries of Birch Grove...blinded by the things that she is offered.

I'm trying to be aloof about most of the story so that I don't ruin anything, but I will say that when you read it, you will love Mary Violet, or at least I hope you do because I sure did. She was such a character, so hilarious, and so over-the-top! She contrasted excellently with Jane, and helped bring Jane out of her shell. :) Once Jane opened herself up to her friends she became so much more likeable, and once she started listening to her instincts and trusting herself, she was even better. :)

Overall, I really enjoyed Dark Companion. It kept me on my toes, and I loved trying to uncover the secrets of Birch Grove...it's always fun to try and figure things out before the big reveal, and Dark Companion keeps you guessing. I'd recommend it to those who like to see characters develop, and for people who enjoy their stories with a dash of everything, from humour, to paranormal, to romance, and finally, to mystery. Dark Companion has a little bit of them all, and will keep you intrigued until the very last word.

So, does Dark Companion sound like your type of story?

Review: City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare

 Source: Bought/Personal Library

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Release Date:Already Released.
Number of Pages: 534 (Hardcover)

(Goodreads Link.)

I haven't included the description from Goodreads because I don't want to spoil anyone who doesn't want to read the description...if you do want to read it, it can be found on the book's Goodreads page.

---

I was extremely torn after I finished the book before this one, City of Fallen Angels, so I was going into CoLS just hoping that I would love it like I'd loved the first three books...and thankfully, I did! :D I am super happy to be able to say that I absolutely loved City of Lost Souls, and I'm extremely excited for the final book, City of Heavenly Fire now...and we have to wait until 2014 for it! It's gonna be a long wait, but at least now if I decide to reread the series, I know it'll end for the time being on a note I'm happy with...so yay for that! :D

One big difference between CoFA and CoLS from the first three books, is that that there are way more narrators! Instead of just being more Jace and Clary centric, these ones include lots of Simon, some of Alec, and in CoLS's case, even some of Maia (and some other characters who shall not be named to avoid spoilers :P)! I like that there are more sides to the story now, but it's definitely a big shift from the earlier books. Hopefully it's one that most fans will adapt to, and like. :)

The biggest thing I'm going to stress in this review is the fact that even if CoFA left you conflicted and kind of tormented (like it did for me :P), then you can still enjoy City of Lost Souls! I seriously was kind of nervous about going into this one because I was just so out of it after I read CoFA. I didn't even know how to react. I knew I loved the writing, but the story as a whole left me just so sad, and so broken up inside...so when I read CoLS I was just hoping and hoping that this one would end on a better note for me...and it did! Yes, it had a cliffhanger, like most of Cassandra Clare's books, but this one wasn't nearly as brutal as CoFA, and it left me content and excited for CoHF rather than feeling all jumbled! What I'm trying to get at here is that I think if CoFA wasn't necessarily a hit for you, you shouldn't be afraid to keep going with CoLS because if you don't read it, you might just miss out on one amazing story! :D

I think by now we all know the characters in this series, but I'll mention some just because. I've read some reviews where people said Clary annoyed them, but I've always loved Clary...I don't care what anyone says. I think Clary is a great heroine. She's strong, determined, and always stands up for what she believes in. She may be impulsive, and doesn't always consider her own safety, but she does it for the people she loves, and I can't help but admire her for that. Yes, maybe she mopes around about Jace and misses him...but seriously? Wouldn't you?! Honestly, I think some people forget that characters are supposed to be people too, and that they're supposed to behave as if they have feelings. :P Anyway, I think Clary is awesome, and I think that she's grown a lot over this series, and in CoLS she really shows it. She shows off some of her awesome Shadowhunter moves, and proves as always that she is willing to do whatever she can for what she believes in and to help those she loves. I'm going to avoid talking about my number one YA heartthrob, Jace, because I really don't want to ruin anything for you all...but I will say that he is in the book, so don't worry, he shows up. :P

So, if you've been afraid to start CoLS because you were unsure after CoFA, I'm going to encourage you to give it a shot! Also, if you've been waiting to read the final three books in this series until they all come out to avoid cliffhangers...I say go for it now! CoLS ends on a great note...one I was seriously okay with it ending on, so I think if you're waiting, it's time to pick it up. :)


Have you read City of Lost Souls?
Are you waiting to read the last three books until they're all out (I actually know someone who's doing this, which is why I'm asking in case you were wondering :P)?
Did you read City of Fallen Angels? Were you torn like I was?
Anything else you'd like to share? Haiku's about Jace? Rants about Clary (or should I say counter-rants since my comment turned into a bit of a rant :P)?
Whatever it is, feel free to discuss. :)

Purchase Links:
Book Depository: UK / US
Amazon: UK / US / Canada
Barnes and Noble

Review: Being Jame Baker by Kelly Oram

 Source: Own Kindle Version and won Paperback from Author

Publisher: Bluefields

Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 353 (Paperback)

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

An accident that should end in tragedy instead gives seventeen-year-old Jamie Baker a slew of uncontrollable superhuman abilities. To keep her secret safe Jamie socially exiles herself, earning the title of Rocklin High's resident ice queen. But during a supercharged encounter with star quarterback Ryan Miller she literally kisses anonymity goodbye. Now the annoyingly irresistible Ryan will stop at nothing to melt the heart of the ice queen and find out what makes her so special. Unfortunately, Ryan is not the only person on to her secret. Will Jamie learn to contain her unstable powers before being discovered by the media or turned into a government lab rat? More importantly, can she throw Ryan Miller off her trail before falling in love with him?

---

Just reread this one yesterday and today in anticipation for Serial Hottie, Kelly Oram's next book, and I loved it probably even more than I did the first time. :D

I just love this story. :) Jamie isn't the most likeable person at times...at least not in public, but as a reader, we know a little more than they do. She's been through so much, and she's turned herself into an Ice Queen to protect herself and others. I loved getting to see Ryan help crack the ice she'd encased herself in, and seeing her open up to him and others. I also loved getting to know Jamie as a reader. She's an amazing heroine, and she's so well-rounded. She's definitely one of my favourite heroines...and I meant that in the actual heroic sense. ;D

Plus, I just plain loved Ryan! He's adorable, and such an amazing guy. It's so nice to see a love interest who's sweet, and caring, and always positive...optimism is very attractive, especially on Ryan. ;) haha I also loved when he and Jamie were together. They're such an amazing pair. :D

Overall, I think that Being Jamie Baker is an amazing story, and it's one that I would definitely recommend! :D It's also available as an ebook now, so it's super easy to get a copy! If you like fun stories with amazing characters, you'll love this one, especially if you're a sucker for sweet and charismatic love interests that just won't give up. ;D

Links: Book Website | Author's Twitter | Facebook | Excerpt

Purchase Links:
Book Depository: UK / US
Amazon: UK / US / Canada
Barnes and Noble

Smashwords
Kobo Store

I won a copy of this one a couple years ago and absolutely adored it, and then I saw it recently for sale on Kindle and I couldn't resist buying a digital copy since it was only $2.99! So worth it, now I can read it wherever my Kindle goes. :P lol

Have you read this one?
If you haven't, do you want to? :)

Review: Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

Source: Bought/Personal Library

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 525 (Hardcover)

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

---

I absolutely loved Divergent, so to say I've been waiting for Insurgent to come out would be a serious understatement! Thankfully its release day has come and passed, and all Divergent fans have probably already read and devoured Insurgent...and if you haven't yet, you really need to! It is amazing, and it's one of those sequels that definitely lives up to the first book! I don't have a single complaint about Insurgent...I absolutely loved it! It constantly kept me enthralled and had me constantly in anticipation about what would happen next, and I loved every single moment of it.

The plot of Insurgent is obviously a continuation of Divergent's since they're part of a trilogy, but it definitely intensified in Insurgent! There were secrets revealed, plot twists, and you also learn more about the other factions and the whole mystery surrounding the factions and the people in general. I really wasn't expecting to actually learn so much in Insurgent...but you figure out tonnes, which makes me so much more excited for the final book in the trilogy because I just know that it will be AMAZING! :D

I can't write this review and not mention Tobias/Four...seriously, I just can't! I can't even put into works how awesome I think he is...I'd probably just end up gushing for a couple of paragraphs, so I'm gonna stop now. :P haha And while I love Tobias, I'm glad that the love element doesn't completely take over the story. Yes, it's a big part, and I love that it is because I'm pretty much a romance fiend and I look for it in every book I read, but I love that this trilogy is about more than romance. It's about choices, and it's about fighting for what you believe in, which is exactly what Tris is all about. :) She's one of my favourite heroines because she uses her head, and while she sometimes let's her feelings take over, she always does the smart thing when it matters. She knows that sometimes sacrifices have to be made, and I think that's one thing that many heroines don't do. Tris will make a sacrifice every time if it means accomplishing or fighting for what she believes in, and I really admire her for that. I also love that Tobias and Tris make each other better people. They challenge each other, but they also don't let themselves be completely consumed by their relationship...although when they are together, they are fantastic. I just really love their dynamics. :)

Insurgent definitely goes down in my book as one of my favourite middle books in a trilogy! It quells your curiosity after reading Divergent and answers some important questions, but it also leaves you on your toes and makes you incredibly excited for the next book. It's gonna be a long wait for the next one (even if logistically it isn't a long wait---only about a year, it is gonna feel long :P haha), and masochistically I may just enjoy the wait by rereading the first two books before then. :P If you haven't started this trilogy yet, I completely urge you to...yes, I urge you because it is URGENT that you read this series! It's amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone. It's action-packed and character-driven in a way that I think it's pretty versatile for most readers. If you're going to take my advice about a trilogy only once...let it be able this one. Seriously, read it now. :D

Have you started this trilogy yet?
Have you finished Insurgent, too?
What did you think?
And if you haven't started the Divergent Trilogy yet, what's holding you back??

Purchase Links:
Book Depository: UK / US
Amazon: UK / US / Canada
Barnes and Noble

Review: The Calling (Darkness Rising #2) by Kelley Armstrong

Source: Bought / Personal Library

Publisher: Harper Collins (US) /  Doubleday Canada (Canada)

Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

Maya and her friends--all of whom have supernatural powers--have been kidnapped after fleeing from a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set, and after a terrifying helicopter crash they find themselves pursued by evildoers in the Vancouver Island wilderness.

---

I absolutely love Kelley Armstrong's books, and The Calling is no exception! I loved that in this one, we got to know Maya more, and we got to be with her as the characters discovered more about what they are. I find the Darkness Rising trilogy to be an interesting contrast from the Darkest Powers trilogy because in that one, they all know what paranormal species they are....they might not all know it right away, but they all know what they are by the end of the first book...in this series, there is a lot more mystery surrounding what they all are. The reader doesn't know either, as they're different species than the characters in the other trilogy, so it's like you're going with them on their journey to discover what they really are, and I love that! :D I also loved that we got to see Maya and Daniel in their element. They're awesome in the wilderness, and you really get to see that in this one, and it was really amazing to see! I love to see characters that aren't totally reliant on technology. :P

I also absolutely loved how The Calling constantly kept me hooked! I took breaks while reading it, but I was constantly thinking about it, and was always ready to dive back into it! It's a nonstop action-packed read, and there really isn't a dull moment in this entire book! It makes me even more excited for the next one, The Rising, especially since you can tell the characters are going to be meeting up with the subjects from Project Genesis (i.e. Chloe, Derek, Simon, and Tori!) soon! I'm so excited for when the two groups meet up...I've really been missing my favourite werewolf! ;D

Along with the crazy action, and the hints of an impending unification of the two trilogies' characters, I loved the tension in this one! They're teenagers, so there are tonnes of different little blossoming romances. There are the obvious ones, and the hinted at ones, but my favourite is one that I'm really not expecting to work out, but I have hope that it will! I'm totally a fan of Daniel and Maya getting together! I just love them. They're best friends, and you can totally tell that he's in love with her...I think it's obvious to everyone but Maya! I like Rafe...but I really want her with Daniel. :P Fingers crossed that it somehow happens...or who knows, when they meet up with the others maybe he'll like Tori...that wouldn't be too bad. :P haha Any other Daniel fans out there??? I'm curious if I'm the only one. haha

The Calling was amazing, but it definitely left off at a cliffhanger...which isn't too surprising for a middle book in a trilogy, especially the middle book in the middle trilogy of a trilogy of trilogies. haha I think there's supposed to be a third trilogy with all of the characters after this one anyway. At least that's what I've heard. Correct me if I've heard wrong though. ;) Anyway, I really love this trilogy, and I loved the Darkest Powers trilogy before that...I also love Kelley's adult series, so if you're looking for an awesome paranormal series to start, I'd definitely recommend this one! If you want to start the Darkness Rising trilogy, I would recommend reading the Darkest Powers first though. It isn't necessary, but it definitely would help you feel a little less lost. ;)

Purchase Links:
Book Depository: UK / US
Amazon: UK / US / Canada
Barnes and Noble

Any other Kelley Armstrong fans out there?
Which books of hers have you read?
And if you haven't read any, do you want to?

Review: The Hunt (The Hunt #1) by Andrew Fukuda

 Source: Received an egalley from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: May 8, 2012 - Just released!
Number of Pages:  293 (Hardcover)

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

Don’t Sweat.  Don’t Laugh.  Don’t draw attention to yourself.  And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him.  He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood.  Gene is a human, and he knows the rules.  Keep the truth a secret.  It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him.  He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

---

The Hunt has a lot of buildup, which can be a good thing, but it can also be a bit of a bad thing. It worked well because it allowed Andrew Fukuda to establish his world, especially since the vampires are pretty unique with weird little ticks and quirks, like scratching their wrists when they laugh and cracking their neck when they're excited. However, it did make it a bit hard to get into the story, but once I got past the buildup and actual action started to happen, I was totally hooked!

I absolutely loved that The Hunt doesn't try to emulate other vampires, and the worlds of other vampire stories. It was refreshing, and I absolutely loved the new take. It kept me interested, and really curious. Some of it was kind of nasty with drool flying around, and nasty hissing and screams, but I did appreciate that it was something new. I was constantly trying to figure out things, and sometimes I was able to, other times...not so much. One thing I never really did understand was why the vampires called humans "hepers". I figured it might be for some scientific reason, like hemoglobin in the blood or something I have no clue about, but I never did find out for sure. If someone else did find out, I'd love to know. ;)

Another thing about this book that kept me kind of uninterested, while also curious, was the main character. Vampires aren't given names, and since the main character is pretending to be a vampire, he doesn't even really have a name until really far into the book...which was kind of odd and kept him relatively distant from the reader. His narrative also added to this, as he gave more of an observational perspective than his opinion. He tended to give other characters nicknames...which I loved, and it also gave him a personality when he was doing his best to pretend he didn't have one. :P I also felt a lot of distance from the narrator, Gene, because he pretty much hated being human since he was so used to hating what he was...it was really sad, and I loved once he began to embrace his human side...it was definitely the beginning of where this book really hooked me. Once Gene stops completely resisting his human nature he opens up to the reader, and for that reason I felt that his earlier distance was definitely intentional...and it totally worked.

Along with the original vampires, and the ambivalent narrator, is the plot. It's kind of familiar being a bit similar to the Hunger Games with people...in this case people means vampires, being brought together, but instead of fighting each other, they're supposed to hunt the hepers...meaning the humans. While the concept isn't necessarily new, I still felt it was done in a completely different way which kept it from feeling repetitive. The fact that Gene is a heper pretending to be a vampire also kind of stirred that plot idea up quite a bit! haha I actually really liked the main storyline of The Hunt. As I mentioned before, it could've used less buildup, but overall, I really enjoyed this book, especially it's originality and the way that the narrator evolves.

Overall, The Hunt is fantastic! It's a bit slow-going at first, but once it gets going it is an amazing story. Its vampires are original, and its narrator is rather unconventional. These things might entice you, or they could also turn you away, it all depends on what you like to read. I will caution everyone that this book has an insane cliffhanger...it's one of those endings you kind of love to hate. :P I'd recommend The Hunt to anyone who likes vampires, especially ones that aren't cut from the standard mode (but don't worry...these vampires don't sparkle :P), and also for anyone who enjoys reading stories where characters have identity issues...because Gene totally does, but he's working on it. :)

Are you a fan of original takes on traditional paranormal creatures?
How do you feel about narrators that kind of keep their distance...even from the reader?
What are your feelings on cliffhangers?
And finally, what are you thoughts on The Hunt?

Review: Croak (Croak #1) by Gina Damico

 Source: Received a copy from Thomas Allen and Sons for an honest review.

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 311 (Paperback)

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.

Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her Targets like a natural born Killer.

Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to Kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die—that is, people who aren’t supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent—Lex’s curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage—or will she ditch Croak and join in?

---

I absolutely loved Croak! :D I'll admit, at first I had my doubts. The description sounded amazing, but in the first couple of chapters Lex isn't a very appealing narrator...but I'll let you know people, she gets better, and once you give the book a couple of chapters, her story is fantastic! :D

I think you all probably know by now that I'm a sucker for romance, and I found Lex and Drigg's relationship to be so adorable! It wasn't the biggest part of the book...but I loved that it was there, and I also loved that their relationship wasn't just about romance, they were friends, too, and I found that to be pretty amazing in itself. I also loved their banter, and that instead of having them get together quickly, Gina Damico had the tension of it all stretch out...and when it finally happened...it was awesome! haha I loved them both separately, but I also loved them together. I loved that Lex was tough, and once she tamed down a bit, I found her to be an incredible narrator. She was sassy and hilarious. :) I really liked, actually loved, Driggs, too. He was so unique...seriously he's awesome, and I loved that he had a sweet tooth because I totally have a major sweet tooth, too! haha

While I kind of figured out this story as it went, and predicted some stuff pretty early...it was one of those stories where I loved that I was able to predict stuff! I love when I guess how something is going to turn out and then have it all kind of fall into place. It's even better when I can figure out some, but not be sure of everything or how it will all happen, and that totally happened for me in Croak. I loved it because while I guessed at some big stuff, Gina Damico still kept me interested while dropping the hints that kind of let me figure things out without giving everything away...and those are my favourite types of hints! :D

Along with the awesome mystery plot going on, and the adorable romance, I loved the little details of Croak that just made it even more awesome! The town, Croak, was so well thought out! I loved all the little technologies they had that went along with being Grims (the jellyfish, the cases they used to catch the souls, and the scythes were amazing little details!), and how the buildings in the town and even characters had punny names...I'm a sucker for puns, so when Lex's uncle was a Grim Reaper named Mort, I found it hilarious! And the building were named things like the Crypt, and even the name of the town itself...Croak, hehe :D Oh how I love the puns! haha

One of the things that I always like to read about in books involving death and Grim Reapers is the way that the afterlife is portrayed...and I loved how Gina Damico did it in Croak! It was so original, and fascinating! I also loved how notable people from the past popped up in the afterlife, like Edgar Allan Poe, and a bunch of the US presidents...they probably made up some of the most hilarious and entertaining portions of the book! haha

I absolutely loved Croak! It is a fabulous debut, and incredibly entertaining! This book will have you constantly laughing, and you will seriously love it! At least I hope you do! It's a relatively short book, so why not give it a shot, especially if you love puns, adorable romances, hilarity, and originality...plus, the sequel comes out soon, so you won't have to wait long for the next book! Yay! :D It will also pretty peak the interest of anyone who's a fan of books involving Grim Reapers! I completely recommend this one...it's definitely one of my favourite books of 2012 so far! :D

Is anyone else a fan of Grim Reapers?
Do you like to read about them?
Watch them on TV or in movies? (like Dead Like Me ---hilarious show, and it's on Netflix ;D)
Has anyone read Croak already?
If you have, what did you think?
And if you haven't, does it sound like something you'd like to read?

Review: Fallout (Crank #3) by Ellen Hopkins

 Source: Borrowed from the library.

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 662 (Hardcover)

(Goodreads Link.)

Goodreads links to other books in this series:
Crank (Crank #1)
Glass (Crank #2)

Note: I'm leaving out the description for this one because I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read the first books. It's probably not a huge shock who the new narrators for this book are, but I'll leave the decision to check out the description. You can find it in the Goodreads link above. I've also included the links for the first two books in the series for anyone who hasn't read them yet. :)

---

This is truly an amazing series, and it makes me so glad that I first gave poetic verse a chance because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have read these awesome books! :D

I'm not going to say too much because I will totally spoil the earlier books in this trilogy if I do, but I'll say a little. First, I loved that Fallout changes POV. The first two books were in Kristina's POV, which I loved, but in Fallout it switches to the POV of three other characters...I'm not going to tell you who they are (I'm sure the description will tell you anyway, but still :P), but I loved how by switching POV it showed the ways that addiction affects others, not just the addict. I also really enjoyed that throughout Fallout there were news articles that had little stories about characters from the previous two books. It was a fantastic way for the reader to become aware of what had happened to them, and so creative...I loved it! :D

This series is definitely intense and covers serious topics, and I love the way that Ellen Hopkins has written them. I find her writing style to be so beautiful, and it is so easy to lose yourself in these books. I've been so fortunate to never have faced addiction myself, but these books show how easy it could be to succumb to an addiction or become addicted to something, and they show how others can be affected by someone's addiction. I think this series gives voice to addicts, and people who have been affected by the addiction of others, and I find that to be so powerful and inspiring. This is definitely a series that readers can relate to, and even if Kristina and her family's story isn't something that you can directly relate to, it is something that you can read and find power in. Maybe you've considered drugs yourself, faced addiction, had family that faced addiction, or maybe, like most teens, you've faced peer pressure. In that way, even if you haven't done the same things as Kristina or faced the same things, you can look at her experience and the way it affected the people around her, and you can be confident in the good choices you've made, or you can find the strength to make better choices and not end up in the same situations that she found herself in. I find the fact that this series can inspire all that to be pretty remarkable, and it makes an already amazing series even better.

In her author's note of Fallout, Ellen Hopkins said that she wanted this "book to be the most powerful of the three", and I think she's done that! I've loved all three books, but I definitely found the conclusion to be even more powerful because it shows just how much Kristina's story isn't her own, and that the choices she made for herself had repercussions that affected a lot of people she cared about...and I found that to be incredibly powerful. Overall, I love this series, and I would definitely recommend it, especially if you haven't tried out poetic verse yet, and are a little unsure. Ellen Hopkins was the first author I read who wrote in poetic verse, and I've never looked back! She's a wonderful author, and if you're looking to try out poetic verse, she's a great place to start because you'll get a beautifully and creatively written series, and a truly remarkable story all in one package. :D

Have you read anything by Ellen Hopkins? Are you a fan of her, too?
I love books like Fallout, and the rest of this series, that make you think about things like addiction. It challenges you to put yourself in someone else's shoes and try to feel some compassion or understanding for them. Does anyone else feel that way about books with serious subject matter, like addiction?

Summer Lovin' Blog Tour: While He Was Away by Karen Schreck (Review)

 Source: Received an egalley from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 256 (Paperback)

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

"This is just something I have to do, okay?" I hear David say. "The right thing."

He cradles my face in his hands. He kisses me hard. Then he lets go of me. His eyes dart from me to whatever's next.

All she wants is for him to stay. She's been doing pretty well, pretending he doesn't have to go. But one day, after one last night to remember, she wakes up and there's no denying it anymore. He's gone.

When Penna Weaver's boyfriend goes off to Iraq, she's left facing life without him. As summer sets in, Penna tries to distract herself with work and her art, but the not knowing is slowly driving her crazy. Especially when David stops writing.

She knows in her heart he will come home. But will he be the same boy she fell in love with?

---

I wasn't sure about this book at first, Penna was incredibly dependent on David...and she didn't even have any other friends. I'm not a fan of co-dependent relationships, so it kind of put me off, but I hoped that Penna would evolve into more of an individual...and she did.

While He Was Away transformed from a book about about a romance between a girl and a soldier, into something more. I was really expecting this book to be all about the romance. The description heavily suggests that it is after all, but I found this book to be more about Penna by herself. I'm sure some readers probably clung to the romance aspects, but I felt that the moments where David was present were just too minimal to really govern the story, and it made it difficult to get to know him. Instead, I focused on Penna making new friends, and discovering things that she was passionate about...like trying to find out more about her grandmother, Justine.

Penna's search for Justine was my favourite part of this book. I absolutely loved it, especially since it involved her mother, Linda, too. I loved seeing the generations of women in their family, and how family can help you cope with things. I also loved that Penna opened herself up to making friends. I was actually really sad for her...she'd lived in Killdeer for about a year and she hadn't gotten to know anyone her age other than David. Once David left...it was even worse. Penna hadn't made a single friend to hang out with now that David was gone. I was so glad when Penna's mom dragged her to work at her restaurant, Red Earth. It gave Penna something to focus on, and it brought her to Cailtin, and through Caitlin, Jules. I loved Penna's blossoming friendships. Cailtin was so dramatic and awesome. Jules was an army girlfriend, too, so she was able to help Penna cope, and gave her advice. I loved how both girls encouraged Penna to go out and live her life, and when she needed them, they were there...and when they needed Penna, she was there, too.

Overall, I really liked While He Was Away. Although, for me it wasn't so much about romance, it was about a girl living her life despite the fact that the one she loved was away from her. It showed Penna coming out of her shell, and opening up to others. Along with friendship, this book was about family, and the obstacles that can come up in life...most of all, this book was about being yourself, even if that's not who you used to be.

Have you read this one yet?
If you have, or even if you haven't, what are your thoughts on While He Was Away?

Summer Lovin' Blog Tour: The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond (Review)

Source: Received an egalley from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 304 (Paperback)

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

The day Brigitta accidentally flings herself into the lap of a guy she's never met, her friend Natalie is convinced he's Trent Yves, egotistical heartthrob-in-hiding. When the boy, who calls himself Luke, is nearly eaten by a cougar, Brigitta finds herself saving his life, being swept into his spectacular embrace and wondering if she wants Natalie's fantasy to be true.

As the two spend the summer together raising orphaned cougar cubs, Brigitta still can't be sure of his true identity. But then again, since her grandparents' death, her father's sudden urge to give away all their possessions and become a shaman, and her own awkward transition from girlhood into a young woman, she isn't sure of anything. What is the truth? More importantly, can she accept it?

---

I don't know about all of you, but I've had daydreams where I've met celebrities, so I could definitely understand the whole celebrity appeal that is woven throughout The Summer of No Regrets. I really enjoyed this story, and I loved the whole celebrity aspect. I also really liked the main character, Brigitta, she was incredibly unique, but she also had aspects of her that were really easy to relate to...like her whole celebrity obsession, and the fact that she's embarrassed by her parents...I'm pretty sure that's something we can all relate to at least once! haha

I'm not going to tell you if Luke is Trent Yves, but I'm not going to tell you that he isn't either. Instead I'm going to tell you that you need to read the book to find out. Throughout the story, Brigitta is on the fence about Luke. One second she's convinced he is Trent, the next she's convinced that they're completely different people and that she's being absurd. It was confusing at times, but I think that confusion improved the story because it helped put you in Brigitta's shoes. She's confused, so you are, too. I liked Luke, a lot. I thought that he was a fantastic guy...he definitely needed to be more honest some of the time, but I really liked him when he let Brigitta see who he really was. It was fantastic.

Another detail that I wasn't expecting, but really enjoyed, was Brigitta's blog. She has an obsession with trying to find the right religion for herself, so that's what he previous posts were about. However, once Natalie insists that Luke is Trent Yves, she begins to blog about Trent...and I think that her blog posts share the truest representation of how she's feeling about the whole situation with Luke, and with her confusion about his identity. I also loved that the blog comments were shown, so you'd see some serious ones, then you had Trentsbabe, who was always hilarious and pretty much embodies that poster who never spells anything correctly and goes on and on about how someone is so seksi. It was such a small detail, but added a lot. :)

The cougar cubs were another great aspect. They helped Luke and Brigitta bond, but they also did so much more than that. They allowed Brigitta to process things, and to finally allow herself to come to terms with the deaths of her grandparents. Through that, it also allowed Brigitta and her father to finally repair their relationship, which I was really happy to see.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I loved that while celebrity and Luke played large roles, they weren't all that the book was about. This isn't a typical light summer read, it opened up a bunch of questions and went a lot deeper than just summer flings. I found it refreshing to have such a great summer read, and I loved that while it went deeper than I thought, it was still a fun and quick read. I definitely recommend this one if you want a fun read with some substance. :D

Have you ever had daydreams about celebrities?
Do you see celebrities everywhere like Brigitta's friend, Natalie?
Have you read this one yet, or does it sound like something you want to read?

Review: Revived by Cat Patrick

Source: Received an ARC from Hachette Book Group Canada for an honest review.

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release Date: May 8, 2012
Number of Pages: 304

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

---

Ever since I read the blurb and saw the cover of Revived I wanted to read it, and when I managed to get an ARC in my hands I was ecstatic, and once I actually read it I was even more thrilled! Revived is amazing! Honestly, it's addictive, and the story just reels you in and keeps you hooked until the very last page!

I wasn't sure about Daisy at first, she comes off as kind of flippant, mostly because of how she views death after using Revive for so long. However, even with her flippant feelings towards death, I really liked her as a character. I found her to be hilarious, and I really liked getting to see her open up to Audrey and Matt. I have to say though, while I loved Daisy and Matt together, I loved her relationship with Mason even more. He may not be her actual father, but they had one of the most amazing relationships I've seen in YA between a child and their parental figure. He respects her, and while she may not always listen to him, she still loves him and you could tell he genuinely cared about her. Their relationship wasn't something that I was expecting, but I was thrilled that it was there. I also loved Daisy's friend, Megan, and the blog that they run together sounds awesome. It's also nice to see unconventional character types given the respect and attention that they deserve. I'll let you read about Megan in Daisy's story...no spoiler from me here. :P

Along with the fabulous relationships in this book, it has one amazing storyline. I'm not going to go into too much detail because this is the kind of story that is so much better to experience for yourself, but I absolutely loved it! I'm a sucker for a good conspiracy...and I'm sure that there's no shock that this book has a big once since it's described right in the description. :P I thought that Daisy was the perfect narrator to undercover it all, and I loved getting to experience everything clicking into place for her as she figured everything out.

 Overall, I absolutely loved Revived, and I recommend it to anyone who wants an action-packed story that's also character driven. I will warn you that it might make you a bit squeamish at times because Daisy goes into detail about the times that she had to use Revive, but I didn't find it to be too much. However, I do know that I'm not the most sensitive person when it comes to that kind of stuff...I mean I do read zombie books, so I'm warning you just in case. :P That being said, I wholeheartedly suggest that you get your hands on a copy of Revived the first chance you get because this is one story you do not want to miss! :D

Purchase Links:
Book Depository: UK / US
Amazon: UK / US / Canada
Barnes and Noble

What do you think? Does Revived sound like a story you'd like to read?
Any other thoughts you'd like to share? :)

Razorbill Giveaway!

Today, I have an awesome giveaway for you all!

I was recently sent some amazing Razorbill titles, and I've decided to give you all the chance to win one of the three! Since I'll be shipping these, the books I have will be going to Canadian residents. However, I want everyone to get the chance to win some books, so I'm going to foot the bill for one lucky International (non-Canadian) to win their choice of one of the three! (Note: If you select Across the Universe you will be getting the paperback.) 

In total that will mean 4 winners! 

So, what do you have to do to enter...that's easy, just fill out the Rafflecopter below! :D

Here's what you can win! 

(Click on the links below to go their Goodreads pages.)

Across the Universe by Beth Revis | Playground by 50 Cent | Half World by Hiromi Goto

Here are all of the giveaway details:
-  International
- 4 Winners (3 Canadian, 1 International)
- Ends April 1st (12:01 AM EST)
- Winners will be chosen using Rafflecopter, and will have 48 hours to claim their prizes before new winner(s) are drawn.

***You also have plenty of chances for extra entries, but don't worry, the only mandatory entry is the first one. :)

ENTER USING RAFFLECOPTER:

Review: The Mockingbirds (The Mockingbirds #1) by Daisy Whitney

Source: Library

Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 332 (HC)/ 352 (PB)

(Goodreads Link.)

Blurb from Goodreads:

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.

---

Wow....seriously, wow. I was blown away by The Mockingbirds. I knew I would like it, it sounded like a fantastic premise, with an extremely powerful message, but I didn't know how much I would like it. In fact, I loved this book!

Daisy Whitney has a wonderful writing style. It's straight-forward, realistic, and extremely character driven. By the end of the novel I felt like I knew Alex. Her voice in The Mockingbirds is so strong. I think it would be hard to walk away from this book without feeling like you'd just gotten to know her in the most intimate ways possible. That's not to say that everything she thinks makes sense or is clear, but throughout her moments of confusion, she is so real. She exposes everything to the reader. Maybe not her every single thought, but the important ones, the ones that pull you up short and let you get to know a character.

I also have to mention that I love when characters have a passion. Something that weaves into their narrative and becomes a defining trait. For Alex, this trait was her music, her piano-playing. Her passion for the piano wove so intricately into her life that she would actually imagine composers in times of need for their advice. Another character I've read that was similar to this was Chloe in the Darkest Powers Trilogy, she loved movies, so she'd imagine parts of her life as scenes. I love these defining characteristics! They help me get into the mindset of the character, and imagine that I could have the same passion, and I thought that Daisy did a brilliant job weaving Alex's passion into her story.

Well, I can't go this whole review without mentioning the Mockingbirds now, can I? There is so much that I can say about the Mockingbirds, but I don't want to keep us all here forever, so I'll keep it short. The Mockingbirds were inspiring, as was Alex for standing up for herself, but as a group, the Mockingbirds were amazing. In a school where perfection is expected, and any deviation from it (other than actual failing at school) is ignored, they represent something so profound. An organization where students try other students, and punish them for their wrongdoings. I loved that they helped to defend what was right and wrong, and while it seems strange that students would organize this kind of society, in Themis it seems to work. My favourite part about the Mockingbirds was their association with To Kill a Mockingbird. I remember reading it in school, and I really enjoyed it, and I thought it was fantastic that Daisy Whitney used it as inspiration for the Mockingbirds, and her little allusions to the story were fantastic! :D

Above everything else, this book was inspiring. It was hopeful, and I hope that people in Alex's situation can learn from it and realize that it's okay for them to stand up for themselves, and that being raped is not the victim's fault. The inspiration is The Mockingbirds doesn't end with the story though, it continues into Daisy's "Author's Note" where she reveals that, like Alex, she was date-raped, and that she stood up for herself and continued to talk about it and fight for other women in her situation. To me, this note was just icing on the cake, inspiration piled upon inspiration, and I love Daisy for sharing her story and Alex's with us readers. I've never been in their situation myself, but it never fails to impress me when I read stories like this, where someone has the courage to speak. It impresses me because if they could have the strength to speak, so could I, or if it ever happened to someone I knew, I'd be able to stand up for and with them. It lets you know that life goes on after terrible traumas like this, you just have to let it. I also can't wait to read the sequel, The Rivals, to see what happens next at Themis.

Add The Mockingbird's sequel, The Rivals, to Goodreads: The Rivals

Happy Reading!!!

♪♫ Ambur

Review: In the Forests of the Night (Goblin Wars #2) by Kersten Hamilton

 Source: Received an ARC copy from Thomas Allen and Sons for an honest review.

Publisher: Clarion
Number of Pages: 288 (Hardcover)

Release Date: November 22, 2011

(Goodreads Link.)


Blurb from Goodreads:

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man's forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends.

Teagan knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich.

And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

---

To say that I was excited for In the Forests of the Night is a severe understatement...I have been anxiously awaiting this book since the moment I finished...no, maybe the moment I started Tyger Tyger...yup, I love this series that much. As soon as I start one I'm anxious for more...and more. I've got a pretty big To-read pile, so I haven't taken much time to reread a story in a while, but I made an exception for this series. I didn't want to start In the Forests of the Night without remembering all of Tyger Tyger, so I reread it beforehand...which was an excellent idea, not only did it help me remember, but it also gave me a double dose of Finn MacCumhail, that sexy beast, his words not mine...although I may have called him something similar to that in my head once or twice. ;)
 

Moving on from how much I love Finn...okay, I'm totally lying, there will be plenty more gushing about Finn in this review...anyways. In the Forests of the Night takes off immediately after Tyger Tyger, the last few pages of Tyger Tyger are actually the same as the Prologue of In the Forests of the Night, which is awesome if you choose not to the first book...plus those few pages are so freaking adorable, and awesome! I can't even reread them without smiling a gigantic grin and if I'm in the right mood, tearing up.

Teagan was fantastic in this one! I loved her in the first book, but she's really starting to grow into herself, and discover what she's capable of in In the Forests of the Night. She's starting to accept what she's found out about herself, even if she doesn't like it, and although she's still not happy with it, she knows that there's nothing she can do to about it all. And in some other big news Cindy the Chimp gets a boyfriend! :D Sorry if I spoiled that for anyone, but you will love that part, seriously it's so cute! :D If you can't tell, I'm also one of those people that see a puppy on TV and starts in on the babytalk...it's really hard to not do, seriously, they're just so cute, like Cindy and her boyfriend! :D

Since I've already told you about Cindy, I'm going to talk about the action in this one. There's lots of running. That is all. Okay, that's not all, but that's all I'm going to tell you so that you aren't completely spoiled by this review. :P There are also lots of goblins, and you get to see several different kinds. You also learn more folklore about the first Finn MacCumhail, and more of the Travellers' history. I absolutely loved learning about the history, and the former MacCumhail, and pretty much everything about this book. Honestly, In the Forests of the Night completely blew all of my expectations for Tyger Tyger's sequel out of the water. It was so much more than I expected, and I probably couldn't have loved it more than I already did. There was some epic use of foreshadowing in this one, and throughout the story I was kept on my toes, trying to figure out what would happen next.

In the Forests of the Night was an amazing sequel, and I think all fans of Tyger Tyger will be thrilled when they read it. Just as she did with Tyger Tyger, Kersten Hamilton has once again woven a wondrous story that draws you in right from the first page. The characters: Aidan, Teagan, Finn (♥♥♥) to name a few, welcome you back into their world as if you'd never left, and you'll be spellbound until the very last page. I, for one, am already anxiously...and I mean ANXIOUSLY, awaiting the next book!

Have you started the Goblin Wars series yet?
And if you haven't, why not?

Happy Reading!!!

♪♫ Ambur