Review: 52 Reasons to Hate My Father

Author: Jessica Brody


Genre: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary


Pages: 352


Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux


Date of Release: July 3, 2012


Rating: 10/10


Summary: Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.

Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteen birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.

In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him. -Goodreads

Review: Another funny, no HILARIOUS book I have read this summer. I loved how it was the spoiled-brat gets in trouble with daddy book. Because it always ends with the spoiled brat learning that she was wrong and there are better things in life than spending the cha-ching.

Lexington is so funny. Even though she is portrayed as the "spoiled-brat" she has the sense about what is right and what is wrong. And when she meets Luke, it's like BAM! There is so much electricity in between them, it's amazing how they didn't get together earlier. I also found it very hot that he was her bodyguard. I mean wouldn't you want a sexy bodyguard??? Anyways, I loved Luke's character. He was the typical guy who thought Lexi was a spoiled brat and he was better than her. Lexi thought likewise. In the end they went together like the moon and the sun. yum. Another thing that I thought was so adorable was that she helped him pick out clothes! If a guy you like has no fashion sense, that's how you make a move! Just go up to him and be like, "Who wanna go shopping together?" Do the hair twirling, it's cute. Also remember to bat your eyelashes. But not like your having a seizure or something. Flirting 101 brought to you by Sunshine!

Lexi and her dad have such a unique relationship. They love each other but they don't know how to express their emotions. Since Lexi's father was isolated from Lexi ever since his wife died they didn't establish a very good father-duaghter relationship. I guess it didn't help with him going around getting married. It was interesting following Lexi through her discovery of what really happened to her mom and why her father reacted to her car crash the way he did.

On that note, Lexi's dad is awesome. I wish my mom made me work a week at a different job every week. That sounds like fun. That element of the story really brings the book together. Every job she went to, Lexi learned something new and it rounded out her character. She saw herself and everyone in a new way and it made a better person. She saved her dad from making a mistake and got her relationship with her dad off the floor. On the plus side, she got Luke as her boyfriend! Even though, Lexi had to learn the horrible truth about her mother it brought things into light.

In the end, I was a mix of purple fuzzies*. I was sad to put the book down! So I suggest all of you out there that like hot bodygaurds to get this book. Yes, I'm looking at you. And since I absolutely loved every inch of this book I am putting three quotes below. Yes, THREE quotes.



 “Because apart we might be as different as night and day, black and white,
right and wrong, but together we create two sides of a whole.
Together we balance.”              


   “New languages are not something you can pick up overnight. They take time. Patience. The willingness to change the way you think about what you already know.”            


  “People can be so annoying sometimes. With all their stupid opinions and hidden agendas. But dogs? Dogs don’t have any agendas. They’re as honest and open and devoted as you can get. And that’s why they’ll always cheer you up. They’ll always love you. No matter how badly you screw up.”             

*Purple Fuzzies: Any feeling/emotion that makes you feel all gooey inside. Or if you say your sending purple fuzzies to someone you are sending them good wishes/prayers. My big sis and I say that we send purple fuzzies to each other a lot:)

                      
      

Review: Team Human

Author: Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan


Genre: Mystery, Paranormal, Romance


Pages: 352


Publisher: Harper Teen


Date of Release: July 3, 2012


Rating: 6/10


Summary: Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she stays in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity!

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Acclaimed authors Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up to create a witty and poignant story of cool vampires, warm friendships, and the changes that test the bonds of love.           -Goodreads

Review:

*WARNING*
I read this book during the summer (I know soooo long ago), so this may be not the best review I have ever had. Sorry:( This will review will be short and simple and a bit... meh. So if you have any specific questions about the book, leave a comment and I will go to the library just for you to seek the answer or something:) Did you notice my happy face and sad face are parallel to each other? ON WITH THE REVIEW!


I would like to say that I wasn't very fond of the main character, Mel. I like how she cares for her friends and just wants to help them out, but she very rash. She didn't really think about what she was doing or how her actions were hurting her friends, she kind of bulldozed through it. Like every single family member I have, they say to me, "Think before you Act." Trust me, I get that a lot. I also felt as if Mel was a bit closed-minded. I mean, c'mon... Vampires? They sparkle and are the Lion to your Lamb (Twilight reference!) Yeah, I get it that it's scary adapting to new things, but it's your BEST friend. For her, I think you should at least try to be nice.

I think Francis and Cathy are adorable! All those vampire-haters are booing right now, but those two... they are so beautiful together. Even though I find it that they their love is a bit fast-pace and Cathy has an obsession with vampires. I mean can you see this?

Me: OMG, I love vamps. They rock! I wish one went to our school...

~vampire walks in and he is *insert your dream guy/vamp here*~

Me: Omg, is that? omg, it is... omg I'm love with him

~Two days later, you and vamp-dude are in love~ 

Although, Cathy is so much better than this, this is what I saw. You never know, she wanted to meet some vampires and she got her chance, why not fall in love with him too? But who am I to judge?

Another character that I LOVE to bits and pieces was, Kit. Ahhh, Kit. The boy who was raised by humans. And Mel being a girl falls in like with his cutesy personality. But she doesn't know... that he will soon be a VAMPIRE!!!!!!!!!! *shocker* I just felt bad for Mel. Her best friend is in love with a vampire. That vampire's adopted brother wants to be a vampire and Mel is sitting there going like, "Why did the Vamps come in and destroy my life?" If I were her I would have clumps of hair beside me.

The one thing that kind of made me go 'meh' to is the plot. Or should I say plot? Because there was the problem of trying to separate Cathy and Francis (the Vampire) and then there is this totally different issue about Mel trying to solve another friend's case. The two were kind of intertwined because of Francis mother who was involved in the case. But it was too big of a storyline for my brain.

Before I forget... THIS BOOK WAS FUNNAY!!! Honestly, I could not take the smile off my face during this whole book. Except at the ending, but that's for you to read and find out. And Kit was like cracking jokes here and there. Mel was sarcastic and I actually got the jokes for once. I think I even slapped my knee* a couple of times:)

Overall, this book had great characters (even though Mel is flawed) and a okay storyline. If you want a quick, easy, laughable read this is something you need to go to the local library to check out or buy it or whatever kids do nowadays. That's funny, because I am still a kid! But I still don't know.   



"They’d never pass something like that in Maine,’ Mom said, rolling her eyes.
"Not in the vampire state."


If my mommy said that to me, I would be like, "Where is the werewolf state, I wanna see some Jacob Black in action!"

*When I refer to the "slapping of the knee" I mean that I heard, saw, read something so funny I slapped me knee. So if you said something and I slapped my knee, GOOD JOB.



                                                                    

Review: Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)

Author: Beth Revis


Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopia, Romance


Pages: 416


Publisher: Razorbill


Date of Release: January 11, 2012


Rating: 8/10


Summary: A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming. -Goodreads


Review:  Most of the books I read now are set in the future. And this one is no exception. It features a girl who is frozen alongside her parents. The only difference with her is that she is no one. She does serve a purpose ot the ship. Her mother is genetic scientist and her father a miltary man. So it shouldn't matter if she dies or not. And that is exactly what happens. Someone unfreezes Amy fifty years before she is supposed to be unfrozen. Elder upon seeing Amy drowning inside her cubicle is taken by her red hair and pale skin.

Do you see how this little love story comes into place?

I thought that was very smart on the author's part. I mean if Amy had dark hair and dark skin then Elder wouldn't take notice because everyone else on the ship is already like that. Imagine walking down the aisle of all these frozen people. seeing all different kinds of races and then suddenly a beautiful girl just happens to be mysteriously awaken. Yup, smart way to introduce the love story.

Even though, I thought that the love story was well-developed, I think that the mystery part could have been a bit more important. I understand that Amy and Elder just met and were learning about each other and about how different their lives were. But someone was going around murdering Earth people and it seemed as if Elder was slacking off his Scooby-Doo skills to go be lovey-dovey with Amy. Scooby-Dooby-Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

(I heart Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, Fred!!!)

Eldest freaked me out. He kind of seemed like a dictator. No, he was a dictator. If you are going to a new world to start a colony or something over there, then you wouldn't want to start backwards. We worked so hard to be free and all that good stuff, but starting the new world off with a dictatorship. Big no-no. Eldest would demand Elder to do all these thing that I thought were irrelevent to become the best leader ever. When Eldest drank himself to sleep in his room. Way to be role-model.

The scenes that made really believe in Elder's character and how he wanted to be out of the clausterphobic ship was when he looked to the "stars". Even though they were fake (he didn't know that) he had so much hope. Even though he probably wouldn't get to see the New world he had so much faith that what Eldest and him were doing was for the greater good of scoiety. It was a bit of dramatic irony right there. As the reader we could see from Amy and Elder's point of view, but they couldn't see the reality of each other's worlds. Elder's world was this controlled way of living. With the population not having the freedom to do anything. I mean the "Mating Season"? What is that? Even over here in present day Earth we have never had a Mating Season. Well, not that I know of. *shudder* Eldest's way of things was animal-like. Like a zoo or soemthing. Amy's world... I don't think I have to explain it because we are living it at this very moment. But think about it: Some futuristic boy tells you all these lies about what your world was like and you can't correct him or else your gonna be shot out into the stars because you are disturbing the "peace".

Now the ending just got me mad. Grizzly-bear mad. We finally think the ship is at normal speed and Elder is controlling everything and he has the girl and everyone is slowly becoming independent and then... "Oh sorry the ship is actually going too fast". What? What? They did not just tell me that instead of reaching the planet slowly, they just went zooom right by it. Beth Revis has left us this cliffhanger that is making my brain crumbe. I do not know how Elder and Amy are gonna fix this problem.

Second book in the Across the Universe series: A Million Suns


“Power isn’t control at all — power is strength, and giving that strength to others.
 A leader isn’t someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is
someone willing to give his strength to others that they may have the strength
 to stand on their own.”



                                             

Review: Silence (Queen of Dead #1)

Author: Michelle Sagara  


Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance


Pages: 289


Date of Release: May 1, 2012


Publisher: Penguin


Rating: 5/10


Summary: It began in the graveyard…

Ever since her boyfriend Nathan had died in a tragic accident, Emma had been coming to the graveyard at night. During the day she went through the motions at her prep school, in class, with her friends, but that’s all it was. For Emma, life had stopped with Nathan’s death. But tonight was different. Tonight Emma and her dog were not alone in the cemetery. There were two others there—Eric, who had just started at her school, and an ancient woman who looked as though she were made of rags. And when they saw Emma there, the old woman reached out to her with a grip as chilling as death….

Emma was not quite like others teenagers. It was true that other girls had experienced grief. Other girls had also lost their fathers, or had their boyfriends die in a senseless accident. But though she hadn’t known it till that night in the graveyard, unlike those other girls, she could see, touch, and speak with the dead. In fact, Emma could draw upon the essence of the dead to work magic. That was what Necromancers did. But Emma had no desire to be a Necromancer. She just wanted to help the ghosts who walked the streets of Toronto, unable to escape from the land of the living. And that was just as well, because had she chosen the path of the Necromancer, Eric would have had to kill her.

Instead, Eric and his fellow Necromancer hunter Chase found themselves violating every rule they were sworn to follow, becoming part of Emma’s group, helping her to stand against those who preyed upon the dead. But whether Emma and her friends could survive such a battle was anyone’s guess. And whether Emma could learn to use the magic of the dead against her enemies without herself falling victim to the lure of such power remained to be seen. Eric seemed to think she could, and her living friends would never abandon her. But only time would tell what Emma’s true destiny was… -Goodreads

Review: The long summary was well written and pulled in, making you want to read it. Which is exactly what I did. Though honestly, the book was well written it was just a bit slow, boring, whatever you want to call it.

The book started off pretty good, with her grieving for her dead boyfriend and Eric showing up. But the details of Eric coming was a bit vague. I mean at the beginning, all Eric seemed to do was follow Emma around feeling guilty about having to kill her. Then Chase comes along and puts Eric back on the right road. The events following are a bit confusing.

Right now, typing this, I still don't why those four ghosts were chained up at Amy's House. They proved to have purpose to Emma after she freed them, but I never got a clear explanation about why were there. Which leads on to the woman in the mirror. Who is she? What is she? Eric seems to know her, but it isn't revealed how she will be presented in the series.

Emma is a strong character. She knows what she wants and how she is going to do it. I mean she did convince some guy not to kill her. Pretty awesome! Emma helped free a little boy's ghost from a burning house and helped his mother get over the trauma. Okay, during that part where the little boy is saying 'see you in Heaven' to his mom, I was bawling. Snots, tears the works. Let me tell you, Michelle Sagara sure knows how to write a crying scene. The little boy seemed so mature and was just so cute... in a tragic way.

To say I really enjoyed this book would be a fib. But don't knock to til you try it, eh? Haha. I will be waiting for the second book in this series and I will review it.

Review: Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3)

Author: Jennifer Estep


Genre: Romance, Mythology, Fantasy, YA


Pages: 336


Date of Release: May 29, 2012


Publisher: Kensington


Rating: 9/10


Summary: I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?

It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life. -Goodreads

Review: I. Cannot. Wait. Until. The. Next. Book. That's all I have too say... just kidding:) But the first part I am dead serious!! I thought this book kept  me on my toes the whole time. Except when Gwen started being like, "I need to know everything about you." *Gwen's creepy face*

This series has come such a long way (actually pretty short, considering this is only the third book) and it has improved by sooooooooo much. Compared to the first book, I just enjoyed this one much more. I still wish Logan could be a little more 3D as a person. Like with feelings and stuff. I enjoyed reading about Logan telling Gwen to take her big nose and take it out of his business. I cheering him on! Gwen had to realize by then how nosy she is. Sometimes you can't really blame her... wait, yes you can! She has these awesome powers to look through a person's past and stuff. She can use it to help the elders at the school, she does but then she just wants to go through her friend's minds and grab every little detail too? So wrong.

Gwen also was being a jerk to Daphne. I mean stop worrying about yourself and take a look around... your BFF is suffering.

Okay, done my Gwen rant:)

Anyways, I enjoyed this book. Putting Gwen aside the villains were awesome! I know I shouldn't be cheering them on, but they really fooled Gwen. I mean Gwen's opposite does so many things to change Gwen's direction of thinking. I just thought she was awesome. There are some small plots but they intertwine with the main plot beautifully. It didn't seem confusing at all. If I tried to do that I would probably have people screaming in confusion:) I, myself scream in confusion sometimes.

The beginning set the book off perfectly and you cold already tell what the main purpose of the book would be. To be honest, some parts were predictable. Like I knew who Loki's Champion was, even though Gwen hadn't figured it out.

I will say this again, but the ending was my favourite part. A bit sad for Gwen, but wonderful. It was interesting how she used her powers to take the other guy's life. But then she realizes what happened and freaks out. And it's just adorable how she cares that she might take Logan's life away by touching him. I thought that was the end of their relationship, but they overcame it... together.

I have ran out of things to say about this book. It was just really good. A wonderful journey this series takes you on to see how Gwen saves the world, before everything goes crashing down.

As most people know, there is a fourth book coming out - Crimson Frost - on December 24th, 2012. Right on time for Christmas! And a fifth book is coming out in August 2013. Can't wait to get my hands on those books!!! 

Read my review on, Touch of Frost: Jennifer Estep
Read my review on, Kiss of Frost: Jennifer Estep



Logan gave me a crooked grin. "You won't hurt me. I know you won't."

"How can you be so sure?" I whispered.

His grin widened. "Because you're that Gypsy girl, and I'm the bad-boy Spartan. And I think it's time we were finally together, don't you?"

  

                                              -Dark Frost

*Me, drooling at this quote*

Review: The Selection (The Selection #1)

Author: Kiera Cass

Genre: Romance, YA, Fantasy

Pages: 327

Date of Release: April 24th, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Rating: 7/10


Summary: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. -http://www.kieracass.com/

Review: This book is placed in the future, far away from the year 2012. Well, that's what I got from this book. There was a lot of stuff about China and Russia and America being defeated of some sort, so I gathered that it is set in the future. Obviously, America hasn't bowed down to China... yet. Just kidding:)

First off, the characters are very well developed. I loved learning about America Singer and the world she she lived in. I loved her stubborn attitude. It was amazing. It's in the future, but has all the fun of kings, queens, princes and of course, princesses. That is a wonderful combo. Wait, is it just me or does everyone else notice most of new YA books are set in the future? I guess no one likes the present right now.

SPOILER ALERT!

Aspen really confused me. He really was in love with America, but he kept pressuring her into the Selection. He was happy for her. Then America makes this wonderful picnic and Aspen's man pride comes out and he sayd that he should be providing for her. That ends with him leaving their secret hideout and America crushed and hopeless. After, America is Selected. When America is leaving she sees Aspen with another girl (what is wrong with you, Aspen?). Two minutes later, he is rushing up to America but she is whisked away. Near the ending the book, he becomes a officer for the palace and starts going after America.

Everytime I think I got him pegged down, he just has to do something else.

Prince Maxon was adorable. What prince isn't? Messy blond hair and brown eyes. Like summerime as America puts it. He comes off as a formal prince, that at glance may make him seem shallow. But as the story progresses, he is just another awkward, shy, cute, funny guy who hasn't been around girls. In the beginning, America is like, "No way am I falling for a dude like him." She is totally wrong. You can see that her feelings become different over time towards Maxon. And Maxon is totally head over heels for her!

The one thing that erks me though is when Aspen comes in between them. I do not what America was thinking! Why would she let Maxon let Aspen gaurd during the night? Isn't America trying to get over him? America starts breaking the rules and hooks up with Aspen many times!! Why? And poor Prince Maxon just sits there and does nothing. Mind you, he know nothing. Even the maids, don't they suspect something? Erg. At least in the end, she tells Aspen that she loves Maxon too.  

I adored America's little sister, May. Actually I liked her whole family. Her mom probably acted like any other mother would in this situation. I could believe that my little sisters would be teasing me about Prince Maxon. It was just really believeable.

The plot... I don't really see a plot. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book, but I just didn't get the plot. In my English class we learned that the plot is what comes after the rising action and it comes after the falling action. But there so many things going on I couldn't pinpoint the plot. Oh, this book reminded me of a reality TV show! Something like The Bachelor. I only watched two episodes of that show, so I can't know for sure. I enjoyed the caste system. All royal families are One's, Two's, Three's and Four's are all celebrities or famous or the regular middle class of today. The Five's. Six's, Seven's and Eight's starve most of the time are small-class entertainers, servents or just crimimals. Kind of like how The Hunger Games.

America Singer is a 5, guess what she is? Hint: it's in her last name. Aspen is a 6, he is a servent. That's why he feels bad, when America brings food for him.

The book ended with the BIGGEST cliffhanger ever. Good thing there is a second book coming out. What is the title or when is it coming out? I do not know, but when I do, I will post it.



   "America?"
   I turned at the sound of my name. Maxon was jogging
down the hall toward me.
   I felt like I was seeing him for the first time.
   He had his suit coat off, and the sleeves were rolled up on
his white shirt. His blue tie was loosened at the neck, and
his hair that was always slicked back was bouncing around a
bit as he moved. In stark contrast to the person in uniform
yesterday, he looked more boyish, more real.

                                     -The Selection, pg.224

Review: Taken at Dusk (Shadow Falls #3)

Author: C.C. Hunter


Genre: Romance, Supernatural


Pages: 380


Date of Release: April, 10 2012


Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin


Rating: 6/10


Summary: Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean. But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together. Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined. -Goodreads

All I can say is that this book is better then it's prequel, Awake at Dawn.

I'm not going to summarize this book, since all done in the summary.

First off the love triangle has gotten better, but not by much. Kylie is mostly with Lucas now, but she still wants Derek. I mean, can she not make up her mind! The good thing is that readers won't have to read all the love poop in here, because this book has improved by focusing on the many questions in this book. Like, what happened to her grandparents. In the beginning of the book, it explains Kylie seeing her grandparents and feeling so close to them. Then, *poof* they're gone! At don't ask me where they went, because the book doesn't explain it either.

The flow of this book was really choppy. For example, one moment she would be concerned for her fake grandparents and then it's all suddenly, "I have to go to the graveyard!" Doesn't explain much. The love tension between Burnett and Holiday had lessened, until Kylie caught them making out. I do not know why, Holiday keeps resisting Burnett so much! It's not going to kill her to take a risk.

One thing I liked about this book was the amnesic ghost. She led Kylie through a maze of figuring out her past and the end *spoiler* ended up being Kylie's grandmother. The ghost had a amazing story about how she died and why she left her family and son. That was the only part that made me sit up in my seat waiting to figure out Kylie's grandmother's story. Also, her story brought an insight to the next book in the series, Whispers at Moonrise.

Going back to the love problem, another thing has popped up. Apparently, Lucas's grandmother does not want Kylie to be dating Lucas. Why, you ask? Because Lucas has gome from generations of full-blood werewolves and having Kylie there will mess it all up. What more drama can add to this, my brain will explode. There are too many reasons why she shouldn't be with either Derek or Lucas, so why can't Kylie figure this out!

Finally, Kylie has kind of figured what she is... a supernatural goddess. Okay, I just made that term up because I don't even know what to call her. Kylie is like part werewolf, vampire, shapeshifter, fairy, healer and everything in between. Hope that clarifies in the next book.

One more question... will Socks ever turn back into a kitten??? I don't think he looks as cute as a skunk:( If you want to more about this series, read my review on the second book in the Shadow Falls Series here    


     Mrs. Parker glanced at Kylie. "My grandson is quite smitten with
 you."
     Smitten? Kylie didn't know people still used that word. But since
 the woman was well over a hundred, Kylie supposed it fit her vo-
cabulary.
     "Uh, I . . . like Lucas, too."

                               -Taken at Dusk, pg.291

Review: Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1)

Author: Robin LaFevers


Genre: Historical, Mystery, Romance, Fantasy


Pages: 549


Date of Release: April 3, 2012


Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt


Rating: 9/10


Summary: Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart? -Goodreads 

Someone on Goodreads said,"Assassin Nuns." Hehehehe... that should be a oxymoron.

Ismae was handed off to marry a pig farmer by her father. But her father didn't tell the to-be-husband that Ismae has a big, red scar on her back. A scar symbolising that she is one of Death's Handmaidens. At night, the priest takes Ismae to a covenant for girl's like her. There she learns from the Sisters to train as a assassin for Death or also known as Saint Mortmain.

Sent on her third mission, Ismae acts as a mistress to Gavriel Duval. She is sent to seek out the traitors to Brittany. How does she do that? Death has gifted her the skill to see 'marks' on the traitors and it helps her assassin the right people. But how can Ismae protect what matters most? She knows how to kill a man a hundred ways, but what about her heart? It's up to Ismae to decide if she can kill the man she loves or follow her heart and Death's way.

Sorry, for the small summarising but seriously this was a long novel. Since it was so long, sometimes my eyes moved but I wasn't seeing the pages. Don't worry, it was still a pretty exciting novel.

I absolutely loved Ismae! I mean who wouldn't want to be an Assassin?! She grew up in a world of torturing and abuse, but she turned pretty special. Ismae had such a strong sense of right and wrong. Though, I think the covenant Sisters put some false information in her head. I don't think everyone who is marked should die? What if they were a traitor, but now is a good guy? Ismae learns that in the end she doesn't always need to make such rash decisions.

The covenant scares me a bit. I mean, all these middle-aged women or even older than that teaching how to kill someone, make death potions or to get away from the scene of crime is a bit creepy. It's still cool. Being a Death maiden and that. It was a new twist of a tale in old Brittany. It reminded me of demi-gods, since the girls are Death's daughters.

The romance in this story was very slow-building and finally in the last 50 pages do Duval and Ismae declare their love for each other. I think that should have been sped up just a bit. The romance was interrupted by the court. There were so many details of the courts decisions and who would marry Duval's sister or who was a traitor, it just blended in together. I was well-written though, I could picture myself in the court, sitting there watching every thing happen. Some things were confusing, because I'm not of a history fan, but I still got most of it.

Madame Hivern's story was a bit confusing. I would have to read a paragraph a couple of times before I kinda got it. I could see why she turned out so nasty and such. At least she finally stops planning against the to-be-queen in the end. I thought that was a mini-revolution inside Ismae. It was nice to Ismae finally realise she had control over her decisions and how she could use her gifts for better.

Gavriel Duval is a amazing person. He has so much love for his sisters, not so much for his mother and his love for Ismae just grows stronger and stronger. You could tell he was a solid character and was an important figure throughout the book. I actually thought he was going to die in the end. With the traitor poisoning him through a game of chess and him dying slowly. It was heartbreaking to see, Ismae try her hardest to get him better but couldn't help.

Pushing all of that aside, the mystery in the book was awesome!! I always love it when there is some mystery and romance together! You would never have guessed who the traitor was until the last 100 pages or so. I can't write any more without revealing the whole plot. So I'm going to end this with saying that this should be a must read on everyone`s list.

Make sure to be on the look out for His Fair Assassin #2, Dark Triumph. Which is Sybella's story. Sybella is a character seen a couple of times throughout this book.


   He is tall and cloaked in black. And still. He holds so very,
very still. My hand does not move to my knife, for I now recognize
His presence, a light, lingering chill and the faint scent of
freshly turned earth. With my heart thudding painfully in my 
chest, I rise to my feet. my gaze never wavering as I walk toward
Death.

                                     -Grave Mercy, pg. 522     

                                                                                                                                    

Review: The Book of Blood and Shadow

Author: Robin Wasserman


Genre: Thriller?


Pages: 448


Date of Release: April 10, 2012


Publisher: Random House Children's Books


Rating: 8.25/10


Summary: It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead. His girlfriend Adriane, Nora’s best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora’s sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life. -Goodreads

Sorry, I had to put a question by the genre section! I can't seem to find a genre that fits this book. It was just too good:)

After Nora's brother died, she and her parents spent time in solitude... literally. Nora's father locked himself in his office, her mom took a 24 hour job and Nora? She was left for herself. Her friends at school didn't understand how her stupid brother and a popular girl could end up dead from a car crash.

Two years later, Nora and her parents move to a new town. There, Nora meets kind-hearted, Chris and Chris's to-be-girlfriend Adriane. Nora also meets her first true love, Max. But Max isn't what he seems to be. When Nora's professor, Chris and Max start unravel the mysterious, Lumen Dei, things start to get ugly, really fast. The professor gets a "heart attack" and then Nora steal a important piece of information to the Lumen Dei. The next day, Chris is murdered and Adriane goes crazy and Max... no where to be seen. So, naturally everyone suspects Max to be the murderer.

Through a intensifying journey of notes from the past, a possible ally and unlocking the secrets to the Lumen Dei, Nora will have to watch her back, before they get her.

To be honest, I didn't really enjoy the beginning. It started off a bit to slow. But it started going faster when Nora and Max started piecing information together about Lumen Dei. Nora was a very strong character. The book described every detail about her, so well in fact that I could actually guess what she was going to do or say next. And even though she was a bit of a pessimist, she found "true" love in Max. Though it was easy to detect that there was something wrong with him. Max had these weird mood swings, like he was fed up of Nora, then he'd go back to being Mr. Nice guy.

I don't know why they included Nora's brother's death into this. I didn't see the point. But Chris's death was a whole other thing. Nora gives him the stuff she stole and he dies the next day. That means whatever Nora stole was very, very impotant and that is where the story starts off.

I enjoyed reading Elizabeth's diary or journal or whatever you call it. It gave hints to Nora about how she was supoosed to work the Lumen Dei and keep it from prying minds. There were times, though when I thought that there were too much of Elizabeth's notes. I wanted it to hurry along and get back to the interesting parts.

Before beginning her journey to Prague, Nora meets Chris's supposed cousin, Eli. Let me tell you, that I knew that Nora was going to fall in love or like with this guy in the end. I like to call it my sixth sense to know who with who is going to fall in love with eachother:) Anyways, Eli seems like no one should trust. Even weirder he says that his parents taught him everything to know about Prague and just happens to know how to Nora. Suspicious much?

It got confusing at the end, where there are now two groups who want or gaurd the Lumen Dei for different reasons. Then, Max and Eli are on the opposite teams and are against each other. Then, Nora is the Chosen One. Then, Adriane is having an affair with Max behind Nora's back! Oh no, she did not! Yeah, my brain still hurts from trying to figure the ending out.

I know I say this at the end of every review, but... is there going to be a sequel? It doesn't seem like there will, but I'm curious how life adapts for Eli and Nora afterwards.


    " 'Something'-would be God, I take it?" Eli asked.
"That would be God. And you know what? If there is a God,
 and it's the same God who's so eager to have temples built in
honor of his greatness, and wars fought over him, and people
dropping to their knees telling him what a wondeful, magnificent
being he is? If this all-powerful, all-knowing creature for some
reason just can't get by without my worship? Then let him give
me some proof. Or at least get over himself if I decide to go out
and get some. You think there's a reason people need faith? Like
 there's a reason for anything else happens? Right. Is there a
reason Chris had to die? Or that-" I swallowed it.

                               -The Book of Blood and Shadow, pg.296




    

Review: Awake at Dawn (Shadow Falls #2)

Author: C.C. Hunter


Genre: Romance, Supernatural


Pages: 383


Date of Release: October 11, 2011


Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin


Rating: 4.25/10


Summary: From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean. And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save. And how…

But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside.

Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls. It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny. -Goodreads

This is my least favourite book. The plot behind the story is well written, but the characters are poorly described. And almost all the the love/like relationships in this book were very complicated... which is overkill.

The main character interests me, but annoys me. It's love and hate relationship. Speaking of relationships... Kylie+Derek+Lucas or Holiday+Burnett or Miranda+Perry? They're all so confusing!!! First of all, Kylie is torn between Derek and Lucas, why? It seems like she kisses any one of them when they're free. Either way, Derek and Lucas are both creepy. Derek can change your emotions, cross him out. That leaves Lucas, but he seems a bit possessive, so cross him out too. That leaves no one. There Kylie is without a guy and can wait another year or so to find some other ones. Secondly, Holiday was betrayed by Sky (a vampire counsellor) and afraid to start something with Burnett. Ugh, Holiday just make up your mind, your heart has to take risks too! Finally, Miranda and Perry. What can I say, Perry is my favourite character throughout the whole series so far. But, apparently Miranda can't make up her mind either. Kylie and Della say that Perry has to make the first move (kiss). But seriously, I think they should move up to the 21st century, where the female can make the first move.

Something else that bugs me was what Kylie is. What is she??? Sometimes the book focuses waaaaaay too much on the romance, that it doesn't develop the point of the book. I mean I'm sitting there waiting too figure out what Kylie is and it's all about Derek this or Derek that. Then out of no where a piece of info comes up about what she is. The info isn't helpful though. It's always about ghosts and helping them. There was something new though... at the very beginning of the book, it says that Kylie enjoys drinking blood a little too much. That's all.

There was a random pop out here as well. Like who was targeting her in the woods? It's the guy who was at the zoo (in Born at Midnight)! Add his creepy grandpa who wants grandchildren more powerful than him. eeewwww. Then, Kylie finally thinks that she might be more than just one type of supernatural. And the only way to confirm this is to add another question into the story... who was her real father's parents? Not the adoptive ones.

Okay, let's end this on a kind of positive note. What happened to Socks? Kylie's adorable kitten-turned-skunk? Miranda turned him into a skunk and never changed him back, even though she said she would! So many questions, so little time. *sigh* There is a third book coming out, Taken at Dusk. Let's hope it shall be better than the previous books in this series.



    The girl returned to shrieking. Miranda beamed with pride.
    No doubt, catching Tabitha was good for Miranda's ego. Kylie
hated to pop Miranda's bubble, but..."As cute as she looks in
the cage, you do know you can't keep her."
  "I don't plan on it," Miranda said. "I told her that as soon as she
turns Socks back into a kitten, she can leave."

                                - Awake at Dawn, pg. 320