A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.
It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
This has been on my 'to be read' list for a while so I was super psyched when I finally was able to read it. But unfortunately I think I hyped this book up so much in my head that there was no possible way it could live up to my expectations. I was expecting a shocking horror story and a very mysterious plot twist every 100 or so pages. What I got: bratty children and freaky pictures. Talk about a let down.
Jacob's grandfather is by far my favorite character...Jacob on the other hand is the book's main narrator and he is extremely annoying. The first 150 - 200 pages are not terrible, actually it's the polar opposite. The backstory of the children and the accompanying pictures really set the scene. Everyone thinks Jacob is crazy and he sets off on a mission to prove he's not. Then we get to the island...
It's a small island so Jacob finds the abandoned house fairly easily and therefore all the children and Miss Peregrine. *Enter very elaborate and random backstory* I understand the book is called 'peculiar' but my God this was just nonsense. Suddenly shit hit the fan and everyone was running for their lives...
The monsters were what I really wanted to read about but like everything else interesting in this book it was just glossed over in favor of a creepy love interest between a century old woman and our main character. Gross.
2 stars
PS - I will never look at a bird the same way again
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Redemption by R.K. Ryals
A fateful car accident, a strange Abbey ruled by an even stranger Abbess, an insane Demon, a world where right and wrong becomes dangerously twisted, and a confident, rebellious teenager . . . .
Dayton Blainey is a foul-mouthed, grief-stricken young woman forced to live with a religiously eccentric aunt who favors her moral older sister. But when Dayton's life becomes intertwined with a dangerous stranger, she suddenly finds herself at the center of a war fought since the beginning of time. Trapped between what she believes is right, and a forbidden attraction, Dayton must come to terms with betrayal and her surprising lineage to stop a war before it even begins.
This book was free on Amazon so I set my expectations SUPER low. Little did I know that this book was actually super entertaining!
Dayton is pretty much me if I was forced to live with nuns for 10 years, so I definitely found her to be relatable. Also I kind of love her best friend Monroe, their relationship is quirky and generally interesting to read about. These two things are what got me through the first half of the book, because it definitely wasn't the plot. I've never in my life read a book that actually takes place at school as much as this book. Yeah, all the main characters are teenagers but the first 100 or so pages are about how boring and confining school is. I lived that, I do NOT want to read about it. Don't worry though, after that it gets way better.
After her 18th birthday things really start to pick up and we get introduced to new exciting characters and she officially begins her adventure. Pretty much everything after that is a spoiler so I don't want to say too much about it but if you can get through the first half of this book then the rest is definitely worth it.
I wish book 2 was free because then I'd probably be done with it by now, but the fact that I actually have to go out and find the thing means that it's going to be on my 'want to read' list for a while :(
All in all, this book is interesting and relatively fresh in terms of plots, I just wish I could erase the first half of the book and jump right into everything. 3 stars
Dayton Blainey is a foul-mouthed, grief-stricken young woman forced to live with a religiously eccentric aunt who favors her moral older sister. But when Dayton's life becomes intertwined with a dangerous stranger, she suddenly finds herself at the center of a war fought since the beginning of time. Trapped between what she believes is right, and a forbidden attraction, Dayton must come to terms with betrayal and her surprising lineage to stop a war before it even begins.
This book was free on Amazon so I set my expectations SUPER low. Little did I know that this book was actually super entertaining!
Dayton is pretty much me if I was forced to live with nuns for 10 years, so I definitely found her to be relatable. Also I kind of love her best friend Monroe, their relationship is quirky and generally interesting to read about. These two things are what got me through the first half of the book, because it definitely wasn't the plot. I've never in my life read a book that actually takes place at school as much as this book. Yeah, all the main characters are teenagers but the first 100 or so pages are about how boring and confining school is. I lived that, I do NOT want to read about it. Don't worry though, after that it gets way better.
After her 18th birthday things really start to pick up and we get introduced to new exciting characters and she officially begins her adventure. Pretty much everything after that is a spoiler so I don't want to say too much about it but if you can get through the first half of this book then the rest is definitely worth it.
I wish book 2 was free because then I'd probably be done with it by now, but the fact that I actually have to go out and find the thing means that it's going to be on my 'want to read' list for a while :(
All in all, this book is interesting and relatively fresh in terms of plots, I just wish I could erase the first half of the book and jump right into everything. 3 stars
Sweet 16 to Life by Kimberly Reid
Thanks to skills learned from her undercover-cop mom, Chanti Evans has saved lives and exposed lies at her exclusive private school. But taking down Langdon Prepsters is one thing. Does she have what it takes to go up against hardcore criminals?
After a semester with Langdon’s most rich and snobby, Chanti knows all too well that trust is tough to find and keep. So when her old hood friend, MJ, turns to her for help, Chanti is determined to protect her from vengeful gang member Lux. But that means mending fences with her irresistible ex-boyfriend, Marco, and enlisting his very reluctant assistance. And when Lux suddenly vanishes, Chanti and MJ become prime suspects. Now to clear their names, she must uncover secrets that will strike much too close to home, putting her place at Langdon—and her future—on the line…
This book was super cute and sassy! Chanti is a teenage girl who means business and that's not a type of character you see a lot now-a-days. To be fair I did jump into this book without reading any others in the series, but I was still able to keep up with the action and the plot left me interested enough to continue reading. Any 'need to know' background knowledge that I'm sure was covered in book 1 was glossed over but provided just enough insight for me to know what was happening and I appreciate when an author does that.
A thing to note is that this book is basically a modern day Nancy Drew novel. Personally, that made this book even MORE appealing to me because who doesn't love a good Nancy mystery?? But if you are that person, then maybe this one isn't for you.
But other than that, the book was exceptional. The characters were real enough to relate to and didn't fade into the background (which tends to happen to characters who are not 'the killer' or the main character) and Chanti's narration kept things fresh and moving along. The ending did leave you with a cliffhanger, but that's to be expected in a series.
Overall I will be reading the next Chanti adventure and I'm excited to see how everything plays out with her father!! 3 stars
*This book was provided to me by the author through a Goodreads Giveaway which in no way affects this review...if anything it got another reader hooked on this series!*
After a semester with Langdon’s most rich and snobby, Chanti knows all too well that trust is tough to find and keep. So when her old hood friend, MJ, turns to her for help, Chanti is determined to protect her from vengeful gang member Lux. But that means mending fences with her irresistible ex-boyfriend, Marco, and enlisting his very reluctant assistance. And when Lux suddenly vanishes, Chanti and MJ become prime suspects. Now to clear their names, she must uncover secrets that will strike much too close to home, putting her place at Langdon—and her future—on the line…
This book was super cute and sassy! Chanti is a teenage girl who means business and that's not a type of character you see a lot now-a-days. To be fair I did jump into this book without reading any others in the series, but I was still able to keep up with the action and the plot left me interested enough to continue reading. Any 'need to know' background knowledge that I'm sure was covered in book 1 was glossed over but provided just enough insight for me to know what was happening and I appreciate when an author does that.
A thing to note is that this book is basically a modern day Nancy Drew novel. Personally, that made this book even MORE appealing to me because who doesn't love a good Nancy mystery?? But if you are that person, then maybe this one isn't for you.
But other than that, the book was exceptional. The characters were real enough to relate to and didn't fade into the background (which tends to happen to characters who are not 'the killer' or the main character) and Chanti's narration kept things fresh and moving along. The ending did leave you with a cliffhanger, but that's to be expected in a series.
Overall I will be reading the next Chanti adventure and I'm excited to see how everything plays out with her father!! 3 stars
*This book was provided to me by the author through a Goodreads Giveaway which in no way affects this review...if anything it got another reader hooked on this series!*
Monday, July 21, 2014
Captured by Erica Stevens
Captured, taken from her beloved family and woods, Aria’s biggest fear is not the imminent death facing her, but that she will be chosen as a blood slave for a member of the ruling vampire race. No matter what becomes of her though, Aria knows that she must keep her identity hidden from the monsters imprisoning her. She has already been branded a member of the rebellion, but the vampires do not know the true depth of her involvement with it, and they must never know.
Though hoping for death, Aria’s world is turned upside down when a vampire named Braith steps forward to claim her. He delays her execution, but Aria knows it’s only a matter of time before he drains her, and destroys her. Especially once she learns his true identity as a prince within the royal family; the same royal family that started the war that ultimately brought down humankind, reducing them to nothing more than servants and slaves.
Aria is determined to hate the prince, determined not to give into him in anyway, but his strange kindness, and surprising gentleness astonish her. Torn between her loyalties to the rebellion, and her growing love for her greatest enemy, Aria struggles to decide between everything she has ever known, and a love she never dreamed of finding.
I downloaded this book for free off of Amazon, so naturally I didn't read the full description, and by the time I got around to reading it I completely forgot this book was about vampires (oops!) but I guess that ended up being this book's saving grace for me.
Aria is a kick butt warrior girl who is a part of the human rebellion against the vampires. She gets abducted and sold into blood slavery for the eldest prince in the royal family. She hates him but also loves him which is something she can't deal with because she grew up to hate ALL vampires, but Braith is different...naturally.
After some Stockholm syndrome moments the book actually picks up. Things from Aria's past begin to come up and they begin to crack the edges of her perfect prince love bubble. The end of the book is pretty much a cliffhanger leading to an all-out war: vampires vs. humans, who will come out on top? (I have no idea because that's where the book leaves off!!)
I wish the first part of this book had been quicker because I could have given it a higher rating. Listening to Aria whine about her friends and family back home is annoying and pointless. On page 1 she was abducted so we really don't know anything about these people she misses so much. And since this book is in 3rd person after we read pages and pages about Aria whining we get to switch to Braith's perspective and listen to him whine about Aria's whining...I was so glad I decided to read this one!
But after you get past all the craziness and separation anxiety the book really picks up and it makes it worth the read. 3 stars
Though hoping for death, Aria’s world is turned upside down when a vampire named Braith steps forward to claim her. He delays her execution, but Aria knows it’s only a matter of time before he drains her, and destroys her. Especially once she learns his true identity as a prince within the royal family; the same royal family that started the war that ultimately brought down humankind, reducing them to nothing more than servants and slaves.
Aria is determined to hate the prince, determined not to give into him in anyway, but his strange kindness, and surprising gentleness astonish her. Torn between her loyalties to the rebellion, and her growing love for her greatest enemy, Aria struggles to decide between everything she has ever known, and a love she never dreamed of finding.
I downloaded this book for free off of Amazon, so naturally I didn't read the full description, and by the time I got around to reading it I completely forgot this book was about vampires (oops!) but I guess that ended up being this book's saving grace for me.
Aria is a kick butt warrior girl who is a part of the human rebellion against the vampires. She gets abducted and sold into blood slavery for the eldest prince in the royal family. She hates him but also loves him which is something she can't deal with because she grew up to hate ALL vampires, but Braith is different...naturally.
After some Stockholm syndrome moments the book actually picks up. Things from Aria's past begin to come up and they begin to crack the edges of her perfect prince love bubble. The end of the book is pretty much a cliffhanger leading to an all-out war: vampires vs. humans, who will come out on top? (I have no idea because that's where the book leaves off!!)
I wish the first part of this book had been quicker because I could have given it a higher rating. Listening to Aria whine about her friends and family back home is annoying and pointless. On page 1 she was abducted so we really don't know anything about these people she misses so much. And since this book is in 3rd person after we read pages and pages about Aria whining we get to switch to Braith's perspective and listen to him whine about Aria's whining...I was so glad I decided to read this one!
But after you get past all the craziness and separation anxiety the book really picks up and it makes it worth the read. 3 stars
Taken by Erin Bowman
There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.
They call it the Heist.
Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.
Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?
Nope. Didn't like this one at all. It's been a while since I've disliked a book so much that I didn't really care what happened at the end. And unfortunately this book just didn't provide enough action for me to be invested in any part of it.
Gray is really boring. I am personally not a fan of male character leads to begin with and Gray is the perfect example. He is all talk and no action. Even when there is action it is just a means to get to the next 'plot twist', a.k.a. sitting and talking about this one thing a character said 30 pages ago that is somehow significant now.
This book had all the ingredients of a classic dystopian novel: post-war towns rising from the ashes of battle, a single leader running the rest of civilization into the ground, and of course the rebellion against said leader. This book didn't give me anything new to think or get excited about. As soon as we learned the town was surrounded by an impenetrable wall, we KNEW Gray had to cross it. And OF COURSE he'll live, he's the main character!
Nothing in this book was suspenseful for me, I could see every big reveal coming a mile away. So about halfway through the book I no longer had any desire to read about Gray and his so-called 'adventures' and that was the most disappointing part. If I'm not motivated to read, then why bother? But I did bother and skimmed the rest of the book to see if I was right...and I was.
I will not be reading any more of the Taken series, I just can't bring myself to do it. 1 star
They call it the Heist.
Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.
Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?
Nope. Didn't like this one at all. It's been a while since I've disliked a book so much that I didn't really care what happened at the end. And unfortunately this book just didn't provide enough action for me to be invested in any part of it.
Gray is really boring. I am personally not a fan of male character leads to begin with and Gray is the perfect example. He is all talk and no action. Even when there is action it is just a means to get to the next 'plot twist', a.k.a. sitting and talking about this one thing a character said 30 pages ago that is somehow significant now.
This book had all the ingredients of a classic dystopian novel: post-war towns rising from the ashes of battle, a single leader running the rest of civilization into the ground, and of course the rebellion against said leader. This book didn't give me anything new to think or get excited about. As soon as we learned the town was surrounded by an impenetrable wall, we KNEW Gray had to cross it. And OF COURSE he'll live, he's the main character!
Nothing in this book was suspenseful for me, I could see every big reveal coming a mile away. So about halfway through the book I no longer had any desire to read about Gray and his so-called 'adventures' and that was the most disappointing part. If I'm not motivated to read, then why bother? But I did bother and skimmed the rest of the book to see if I was right...and I was.
I will not be reading any more of the Taken series, I just can't bring myself to do it. 1 star
The Lake by AnnaLisa Grant
At 17, Layla Weston is already starting over. Having lost both her parents and grandparents, and with nowhere else to go, Layla is moving from Florida to a small town in North Carolina to live with the only family she has left: her estranged uncle and aunt. The last five years of Layla’s life were spent appeasing her less- than-loving grandmother, followed by being her grandfather’s caretaker. Growing old before her time, Layla lost her identity, she must learn how to allow herself to be loved and cared for once again. Life takes an unexpected turn when Layla meets Will Meyer. His breathtaking good looks are enough to catch her eye, but his sincerity and passion are everything she needs to find the strength and confidence she lost — and lead her into love. When tragedy once again strikes Layla’s life, her hope is all but completely crushed. Through it all, Layla learns what it means to truly love and be loved.
This story was adorable. A young girl who has suffered through tragedy and lost herself slowly learns to love and trust again. It is your run-of-the-mill happy go lucky books. And that's exactly what I needed when I picked this up (well actually I bought it virtually on Amazon but it's the same idea).
Layla's struggles are real and I found it easy to sympathize with her and all she's been through. And then of course her first love is literally 'love at first sight' and even though the idea is tired and recycled, to read it from Layla's point of view is both adorable and relatable.
As she is slowly accepted into the tight-knit community she landed in you can't help but cheer for her to enjoy her life and be herself because she is FINALLY able to. Like any other main character in any book she has her struggles and obstacles to overcome but they are all dealt with in a timely manner which keeps the reader engaged and wanting for more.
The only criticism I do have for this book was the fact that the author had to keep restating how Layla's past was terrible and it beat her down emotionally for years on end. I clearly know about Layla's past, I've only been reading about it for a couple hundred pages or so. Usually in previous books I've read, the re-stating of facts is followed by additional details that give the reader insight into what really happened or finally put together the pieces of the character's past...but not in this book. We knew from page one what Layla's life was like with her grandparents so the reiteration of events was not necessary.
Other than that I really did enjoy reading this book! It was cute, timely and a twist on the classic feel-good novel. 3 stars
This story was adorable. A young girl who has suffered through tragedy and lost herself slowly learns to love and trust again. It is your run-of-the-mill happy go lucky books. And that's exactly what I needed when I picked this up (well actually I bought it virtually on Amazon but it's the same idea).
Layla's struggles are real and I found it easy to sympathize with her and all she's been through. And then of course her first love is literally 'love at first sight' and even though the idea is tired and recycled, to read it from Layla's point of view is both adorable and relatable.
As she is slowly accepted into the tight-knit community she landed in you can't help but cheer for her to enjoy her life and be herself because she is FINALLY able to. Like any other main character in any book she has her struggles and obstacles to overcome but they are all dealt with in a timely manner which keeps the reader engaged and wanting for more.
The only criticism I do have for this book was the fact that the author had to keep restating how Layla's past was terrible and it beat her down emotionally for years on end. I clearly know about Layla's past, I've only been reading about it for a couple hundred pages or so. Usually in previous books I've read, the re-stating of facts is followed by additional details that give the reader insight into what really happened or finally put together the pieces of the character's past...but not in this book. We knew from page one what Layla's life was like with her grandparents so the reiteration of events was not necessary.
Other than that I really did enjoy reading this book! It was cute, timely and a twist on the classic feel-good novel. 3 stars
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Forever Ours by Cassia Leo
After eight years of being tossed around from one home to another, never forming any meaningful friendships or bonds with her foster families, Claire's caseworker gives her an ultimatum: Behave or your next home will be a halfway house.
When fifteen-year-old Claire arrives at the home of Jackie Knight and meets Jackie's fifteen-year-old son, tattooed guitarist Chris, she fears she'll be seeing the inside of that halfway house soon. But Chris isn't like any other guy Claire has ever encountered and he soon gains her trust through his music and unwavering patience.
Claire has finally found her forever home and she and Chris soon find themselves falling in love.
But Chris's dreams of musical stardom and Claire's need for a stable home soon put their love in jeopardy. Chris struggles deeply with his plans for the future, entirely reluctant to leave Claire behind; until Claire does something that may break their love -- and the only home she's comes to know -- forever.
Wow. This book. So good.
I went into this book blind. It was the best experience, especially compared to some of the books I've been reading lately.
This book was real, raw, oozing emotion and I loved every minute of it. Granted it was a bit graphic during the sex scenes but this is most 'real' book I think I've ever read. Claire and Chris jump off the page. They struggle with real relationship issues and the ending broke my heart.
I am DEFINITELY reading the rest of the series!! 5 stars <3
When fifteen-year-old Claire arrives at the home of Jackie Knight and meets Jackie's fifteen-year-old son, tattooed guitarist Chris, she fears she'll be seeing the inside of that halfway house soon. But Chris isn't like any other guy Claire has ever encountered and he soon gains her trust through his music and unwavering patience.
Claire has finally found her forever home and she and Chris soon find themselves falling in love.
But Chris's dreams of musical stardom and Claire's need for a stable home soon put their love in jeopardy. Chris struggles deeply with his plans for the future, entirely reluctant to leave Claire behind; until Claire does something that may break their love -- and the only home she's comes to know -- forever.
Wow. This book. So good.
I went into this book blind. It was the best experience, especially compared to some of the books I've been reading lately.
This book was real, raw, oozing emotion and I loved every minute of it. Granted it was a bit graphic during the sex scenes but this is most 'real' book I think I've ever read. Claire and Chris jump off the page. They struggle with real relationship issues and the ending broke my heart.
I am DEFINITELY reading the rest of the series!! 5 stars <3
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Every girl who had taken the test has died. Now it's Kate's turn.
It's always been just Kate and her mom - and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld - and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy - until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.
If she fails...
How do I even begin to review this book? I downloaded it to my iPad in April but just finished it a few days ago. The story wasn't gripping enough for me to want to spend my day with Kate, her dying mother and Henry.
Also all the mythology is wrong.
That might have been what did it for me. I took Latin in high school and Greek mythology was taken very seriously. This book just glosses over all of it. If you know nothing about the myths then this probably won't be a big deal for you - but it really bothered me.
That being said I kept waiting for the seven tasks to present themselves and to see how Kate was going to overcome them. I waited, and waited, and waited. Then finally she gets a test!...It's a paper test, an exam from her tutor and she fails. But just kidding, that didn't matter. It was just to make sure she was paying attention. *insert frustration here*
We finally get to understand the tests at the end of the book (so at least there's no cliffhanger in that department) but they were so lame that all the build up was unnecessary.
So overall I will NOT be reading the next installment of the series - I can't justify spending time on a series where the main character whines the whole book just to get a happy ending. ugh
3 stars
Five by Christie Rich
Rayla Tate dreams of escaping her ordinary world for a bright future in the art world. Throw in an overbearing aunt who is keeping major secrets, a disgruntled best friend tagging along to college, and a bunch of fae warriors waiting in the wings to claim her the minute she leaves her sleepy little town, and Rayla's dreams are about to shatter.
She soon discovers she is a coveted Elemental with power she never knew she possessed--a power that could change the world. Everywhere she turns another man tries to woo her. The weird part is she's drawn to each one of them. Who are these strange men, and what dark power do they hold over her? Rayla must quickly learn to fend off these beautiful and seductive pursuers using any means necessary or find herself lost to the fae world forever.
This was a free download through the Amazon Kindle app. (translation: my expectations for this book were VERY low)...that being said I actually liked this book. It was engaging and fast-paced which is good because I read the whole thing on my phone (a.k.a. the place where books are destined to be unfinished). This was a book I'd read during my lunch break at work and after a while I started looking forward to lunchtime because I would be able to get that much farther into the story.
I mean the book is definitely fantasy so that means everyone is attractive and the main character is totally reckless, but somehow manages to escape death/punishment/abduction narrowly every time. So naturally this gets a little redundant.
I can only give this book 3 stars because it's not my ideal genre (see the afore mentioned reasons) but all in all it's a solid book. When I finished it I really thought about buying the next one...but then didn't.
She soon discovers she is a coveted Elemental with power she never knew she possessed--a power that could change the world. Everywhere she turns another man tries to woo her. The weird part is she's drawn to each one of them. Who are these strange men, and what dark power do they hold over her? Rayla must quickly learn to fend off these beautiful and seductive pursuers using any means necessary or find herself lost to the fae world forever.
This was a free download through the Amazon Kindle app. (translation: my expectations for this book were VERY low)...that being said I actually liked this book. It was engaging and fast-paced which is good because I read the whole thing on my phone (a.k.a. the place where books are destined to be unfinished). This was a book I'd read during my lunch break at work and after a while I started looking forward to lunchtime because I would be able to get that much farther into the story.
I mean the book is definitely fantasy so that means everyone is attractive and the main character is totally reckless, but somehow manages to escape death/punishment/abduction narrowly every time. So naturally this gets a little redundant.
I can only give this book 3 stars because it's not my ideal genre (see the afore mentioned reasons) but all in all it's a solid book. When I finished it I really thought about buying the next one...but then didn't.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?
Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.
I just feel so let down by this book. The contemporary novels I read have to be engaging and feel really real but this book just didn't do that for me. The premise didn't do much for me either...should a teenage girl in a coma stay in her body and live out the rest of her life, or totally give up and join her family in spirit.
I'm sorry but for me that isn't really a choice - I'd stay with my remaining family and live out my life like my parents would have wanted me to. The fact that just giving up is even an option is what mostly deterred me from this book. But it's being made into a movie so of course I had to read it.
My biggest problem with this book was the language it was written in. Mia would be weighing her options, then suddenly out of nowhere we'd be looking back on a memory that conveniently tied into exactly what she was thinking about. *repeat for 200 pages* Then she finally made a decision on page 201, but by then I really didn't care anymore.
Had I resisted the urge to read this book and just see the movie like most normal people I probably would have liked it SO much more. In my opinion this book was written to be a movie. Just re-format the text and you have a well-written screenplay. Because of this I will probably go see the movie and hope for decent acting or else I'll have even more to complain about.
2 stars
Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.
I just feel so let down by this book. The contemporary novels I read have to be engaging and feel really real but this book just didn't do that for me. The premise didn't do much for me either...should a teenage girl in a coma stay in her body and live out the rest of her life, or totally give up and join her family in spirit.
I'm sorry but for me that isn't really a choice - I'd stay with my remaining family and live out my life like my parents would have wanted me to. The fact that just giving up is even an option is what mostly deterred me from this book. But it's being made into a movie so of course I had to read it.
My biggest problem with this book was the language it was written in. Mia would be weighing her options, then suddenly out of nowhere we'd be looking back on a memory that conveniently tied into exactly what she was thinking about. *repeat for 200 pages* Then she finally made a decision on page 201, but by then I really didn't care anymore.
Had I resisted the urge to read this book and just see the movie like most normal people I probably would have liked it SO much more. In my opinion this book was written to be a movie. Just re-format the text and you have a well-written screenplay. Because of this I will probably go see the movie and hope for decent acting or else I'll have even more to complain about.
2 stars
Monday, July 7, 2014
Twilight by Meg Cabot
Suze has gotten used to ghosts. She's a mediator, after all, and communicating with the dead is all in a day's work. So she certainly never expected to fall in love with one: Jesse, a nineteenth- century hottie. But when she discovers that she has the power to determine who becomes a ghost in the first place, Suze begins to freak. It means she can alter the course of history ... and prevent Jesse's murder, keeping him from ever becoming a ghost -- and from ever meeting Suze.
Will Jesse choose to live without her, or die to love her?
This is the last installment of the Shadowland series (for the time being???) and I'm still crying hours after finishing this book. I love this series so much. All the characters are likable, especially Suze - she is the girl I wish I was in high school. Her narration is witty and honest, you can really feel the entire range of her emotions. That being said, this is a book for readers interested in the love affairs of a teen girl who also happens to kick butt. The action in this series is not sub-par, but it is also not always the main plot line which may leave some people slightly bored. Personally, the narration more than made that up for me but that's just my personal taste in books.
This book especially was based on the 'love triangle'. Literally the entire book was about whether Suze and Jesse were going to be together or if Paul was going to get in the way. There were no extraneous ghost or sibling issues and the fact that there is a whole book dedicated to just this and still be great is amazing to me. It justifies Meg Cabot's dedication to characters and ability to write.
Really this book was phenomenal. I won't go into any spoilers but supposedly the next (adult?) installment of the series is coming out in 2015 which I am now torn about reading. It wouldn't be the first time that some of my favorite characters have been brought out of the woodwork just to be ripped apart by an author trying to make another buck. I sincerely hope that is not the case and I WILL read the new book because I love this series and I don't think I would be able to overlook anything surrounding Suze and her adventures.
5 stars...duh.
Will Jesse choose to live without her, or die to love her?
This is the last installment of the Shadowland series (for the time being???) and I'm still crying hours after finishing this book. I love this series so much. All the characters are likable, especially Suze - she is the girl I wish I was in high school. Her narration is witty and honest, you can really feel the entire range of her emotions. That being said, this is a book for readers interested in the love affairs of a teen girl who also happens to kick butt. The action in this series is not sub-par, but it is also not always the main plot line which may leave some people slightly bored. Personally, the narration more than made that up for me but that's just my personal taste in books.
This book especially was based on the 'love triangle'. Literally the entire book was about whether Suze and Jesse were going to be together or if Paul was going to get in the way. There were no extraneous ghost or sibling issues and the fact that there is a whole book dedicated to just this and still be great is amazing to me. It justifies Meg Cabot's dedication to characters and ability to write.
Really this book was phenomenal. I won't go into any spoilers but supposedly the next (adult?) installment of the series is coming out in 2015 which I am now torn about reading. It wouldn't be the first time that some of my favorite characters have been brought out of the woodwork just to be ripped apart by an author trying to make another buck. I sincerely hope that is not the case and I WILL read the new book because I love this series and I don't think I would be able to overlook anything surrounding Suze and her adventures.
5 stars...duh.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...
So this book series gets such high praise from everyone I know and with every recommendation comes a warning: suffer through the first book. I never really understood how the first book in such a beloved series could be so bad but after completing City of Bones I can understand the frustration. The first 100 or so pages are not bad; classic backstory and character building, so naturally a little dull, but the story still had potential. Then the action comes to a stand still and we have to go on a side adventure which has nothing to do with the main plot at all. Had those 100 pages been cut out I feel like this book would have been SO much better. Yes, we were introduced into the 'world of darkness' and those that inhabit it, but I feel like that will happen in future books anyway so it was completely unnecessary here in book 1.
If that mini-adventure had been cut out I would really have no major complaints about this book. Clary was only annoying in that part (at all other times she was manageable) and the Institute was interesting...to a point. Jace got a little whiny at the end but I could understand where he was coming from. Actually the only character who really irked me was Simon. I can officially say I greatly dislike him, especially because the mini-adventure was his fault and he didn't even have a good reason for causing all the trouble!!!
Unfortunately the way book 1 left it, I can only assume Simon gets a more major role in the upcoming books but I sincerely hope not. I honestly think he should have died - it would have provided much better character development for Clary and then he would finally be out of the picture.
Overall I will continue to read the series but I do not plan on re-reading this book any time soon. 3 stars
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...
So this book series gets such high praise from everyone I know and with every recommendation comes a warning: suffer through the first book. I never really understood how the first book in such a beloved series could be so bad but after completing City of Bones I can understand the frustration. The first 100 or so pages are not bad; classic backstory and character building, so naturally a little dull, but the story still had potential. Then the action comes to a stand still and we have to go on a side adventure which has nothing to do with the main plot at all. Had those 100 pages been cut out I feel like this book would have been SO much better. Yes, we were introduced into the 'world of darkness' and those that inhabit it, but I feel like that will happen in future books anyway so it was completely unnecessary here in book 1.
If that mini-adventure had been cut out I would really have no major complaints about this book. Clary was only annoying in that part (at all other times she was manageable) and the Institute was interesting...to a point. Jace got a little whiny at the end but I could understand where he was coming from. Actually the only character who really irked me was Simon. I can officially say I greatly dislike him, especially because the mini-adventure was his fault and he didn't even have a good reason for causing all the trouble!!!
Unfortunately the way book 1 left it, I can only assume Simon gets a more major role in the upcoming books but I sincerely hope not. I honestly think he should have died - it would have provided much better character development for Clary and then he would finally be out of the picture.
Overall I will continue to read the series but I do not plan on re-reading this book any time soon. 3 stars
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