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 Host (The Host #1)

Author: Stephenie Meyer


Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, YA


Pages: 619


Date of Release: May 6, 2008


Publisher: Little, Brown and Company


Rating: 10/10


Summary: Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans, is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love. -Goodreads

Review: I must be feeling generous this month, because this is the second book I gave a ten out of ten. In the beginning I wasn't so sure about it, cause I thought it would be going back between Melanie and Wanda. But boy was I wrong. Good thing, my friends bugged me to read it or might have never had.

The Host, takes place in the future. Souls, such as Wanda, take humans as hosts and live in them until they die. The humans don't remember anything. They mentally die, while the soul uses their body to live in. I thought that was cruel and sick. The souls thought "oh, the humans are fine, we just need a host to take over and live in them." What?! Don't they care about the humans? Apparently Earth was the only planet that refused to give the should their bodies. Ugh, I wonder why?

One thing I found super duper cool, is Wanda's stories. They are unbelievable! I actually enjoyed reading about Wanda telling Jamie about all the planets she lived on. Like the Bear planet with their scary claw beasts. Or the Bat planet with their delightful singing. I found weird that there could be other organisms that live really different then they do. I don't know how Stephanie Meyer came up this stuff. It was so much better than her traditional vampire love story.

As many people told me, the book doesn't get interesting until after 100 pages. I agree with them. It started of slow, then started to get interesting, then it just blew my mind. Everything came so neatly, like Melanie was still inside of Wanda and showing her bits and pieces of the life she had. I don't don't want to ruin the story for you guys, because this book is just too awesome to explain.

All of the characters were different and unique. I just wished Wanda dwelled on them a little bit more. Like when Wes died and his girlfriend was in grieving. Or when they tested out taking a soul out of a humans body. I guess Wanda didn't want to upset someone, but it's nice to know what happened to them later.

And my all most favourite part... *insert drumroll* THE END! Not of the review, but of the book. First I'm like "oh no!" Then I'm like "YES!" An awesome ending to end a awesome book. I was so scared it would be the end of the little humans rebelling, but then it turned around and became so much more great.

Just one random question floating around my head. When Wanda is switched into a different body of an 18 year old, I wonder how old Ian is? I mean the love of your life is 18 years old, physically and your how old again?


  "There was no hatred in your heart," I whispered. "That you existed is proof that we were wrong. We had no right to take your world from you, Walter. I hope your fairytales are true. I hope you find your Gladdie."

                                  - The Host, pg.354

Review: The Opposite of Tidy

Author: Carrie Mac

Genre: YA, Contemporary


Pages: 361


Date of Release: April 10. 2012

Publisher: Razorbill

Rating: 10/10


Summary: How do you come clean when your life is a mess?

Fifteen-year-old Junie is barely coping. Her mother has started sleeping in the chair in front of the TV, and the house is so packed with junk, newspapers, cupboard organizers and other helpful items from the Shopping Channel that she can barely get in the front door. Her father is no help, since he’s always with That Woman. To top it off, she’s failing math.

So when Wade Jaffre, the hot new guy at school, offers her a ride home from school, it seems too good to be true. Junie surprises herself by accepting—and even talking! But as they approach her house, her parents are outside, screaming at each other. Junie doesn’t have to think twice about directing him on to her best friend Tabitha’s house, nor about continuing the charade of pretending she lives there.

Tabitha and her mother are understanding—and willing to go along, for the moment. But as the weeks go by, Junie’s lies start piling up and the opportunity to tell the truth seems to slip away. Until the day Junie’s world—and her mother’s—is literally turned inside out for the world to see, and Junie and her mother must face the consequences of her mother’s illness ... and the lies they both told to hide it. -Goodreads


Review: The summary does not do this book justice! This book is raw. I was cringing from parts in the book, because they were so RAW and REAL (alliteration, people!). Even so, this was a heck of a good book. I just finished it last night around 1:00am. That's why my eyes look like bruises today.

Junie's mother has a problem, a hoarding problem. There house is full of things that her mom buys through the television. I could imagine that being real, because there are people out there that do have this disorder. It was interesting break reading this book, because it didn't involve anything supernatural. Junie has a crush a on a really cute guy named Wade. Wade is the new guy in town and starts to notice Junie. One day, he offers Junie a ride. But as they near her house, Wade sees a divorced couple yelling in the middle of their front yard. Little does he know that they are Junie's parents and poor Junie is so embarrassed she lies and tells him to go to a house a block down.

This is the part where it gets cringy, like you know she is going to do something bad and there will be harsh consequences. She tells Wade that she lives in that house, but really it's her best friend's house. Junie gets Tabitha and her mom to go along with this lie. When Tabitha's mom tells Junie to fix he problem, she doesn't. She keeps lying to Wade and the lies just keep piling up. After everything is going so well in Junie's world of lies, it comes crashing down and her lies are spread out for the world to see... literally.

Every time I turned the next page, I kept thinking this is when the poo is going to hit the fan. I was into the book, that my heart sped up every time she told another lie. Though, that's why I enjoyed this book. It started to get really interesting at the end when the TV people come and expose Junie on live television. Whew, I tried to imagine what would happen if that were me and I think I would live my days in a remote cave. Seriously.

I thought the characters were really well developed. Carrie Mac made believe that I could have friends like that. If I had to choose a character to be, it would be Tabitha. It is wrong to lie and she tried to tell Junie that, but she wouldn't listen. Wade seem to have his own personality and wanted to have Junie in his life. I thought Junie was a little bit selfish and dumb when she thought it was okay to lie for "a little while." That is just not right. Junie's mom... a didn't like her one bit. Not because of her problem, but because she manipulates Junie. I mean seriously, are really going to make your fifteen year old daughter help you clean up piles of poo, pee, just plain sewage, because you don't want anyone in your house. I would have moved to the other side of the country. And every time Junie tried to reason with her, she would end up crying. I don't know how Junie put up with it.

The story line was wonderful. It didn't just explode together, it came part after part. Beginning, middle and end, just like they teach you in grade three.

I don't have anything else to say. I guess you have to read it to be blown away by it's awesomeness. A hundred high-fives to the author who made this astounding book. Whoo hoo!

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

June Releases

Flirting in Italian: Lauren Henderson
Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

Rapture (Fallen #4): Luaren Kate
The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1): Leigh Bardugo
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2): Richelle Mead
The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students - children of the wealthy and powerful - carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

The Serpent’s Kiss (The Beauchamp Family #2): Melissa de la Cruz
Just as things have settled down in the off-the-map Long Island town of North Hampton for the magical Beauchamp family, everything gets turned upside down once more when Freya's twin brother Fryr, or "Freddie" as he's called now, returns from Limbo with shocking news - that it was none other than Freya's fiancé, Killian Gardiner, who set up his downfall.
He begs Freya to keep his presence a secret, even from their own family, but somehow the irascible Freddie is still able to conduct many affairs with the town's young lovelies from his self-imposed exile. Until he falls for the wrong girl.

While Freya tries to keep her brother from exacting revenge on the man she loves, Ingrid has her own problems. Her human boyfriend, Matt Noble, becomes entangled in a complicated investigation, and when the magical creatures at the center of it come to Ingrid for help, she has a difficult choice to make.

To top it off, a dead spirit is trying to make contact with Joanna - but does it mean to harm or warn the witches? All hell breaks loose at the family reunion over Thanksgiving, and much mayhem ensues, but when the culprit behind Freddie's imprisonment is finally revealed, it may already be too late to staunch the poison that's been released by the serpent's kiss. The spells cast by the bestselling Witches of East End continue in this bewitching follow-up that Melissa de la Cruz's many fans won't want to miss.

Timepiece (Hourglass #2): Myra McEntire
A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.

Blood Moon (Drake Chronicles #5): Alyxandra Harvey
When the vampire tribes convene for the rare Blood Moon ceremonies, Solange’s fight with her feral nature, a mysterious stranger, family secrets and forbidden magic put all of the Drakes in danger.

A Want So Wicked (A Need So Beautiful #2): Suzanne Young
Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is.

After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose effect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?

Before I Wake (Soul Screamers #6): Rachel Vincent
I died on a Thursday-killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. The good news? He didn't get it. The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school... Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend. But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life....

Endlessly (Paranormally #3): Kierstan White
Try as she might, Evie can’t seem to escape her not-so-normal past. And what was supposed to be a blissfully normal school break is ruined when a massive group of paranormals shows up at her house, claiming that Evie is the only one who can protect them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The deadly war between the faerie courts looms ever closer. The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its future rests solely in Evie’s hands.

So much for normal.

With a perfect blend of humor and suspense, Endlessly is everything readers could dream of in a conclusion—and the unexpected twists will keep them guessing until the very last page.

Happy Belated June!!!

Sorry! I just remembered that I forgot to do the monthly releases feature! Whoops. Well, Happy June everybody! June is my favourite month out of all the other months. Why? First of all, it marks the end of another fantastic year. Second of all, it marks the beginning of summer, which is on June 21st. But what else happens on June 21st? MY BIRTHDAY OF COURSE!!! That's right, I am the supreme summer baby. Just kidding. I will be turning the big 15. YAY! So, Happy June everyone and I hope everyone has a great start to their summer!

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

Yeeeeeeeesssssss!

Guess what I got?

After waiting for so long in line for these books, I (well, my sister) got them! Reviews will come soon after I read them! These books are so awesome...

Insurgent: Veronica

The City of Lost Souls: Cassandra Clare

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

Review: Abandon (Abandon Trilogy #1)

Author: Meg Cabot

Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Retellings, Paranormal

Pages: 304

Date of Release: April 26, 2011

Publisher: Point

Rating: 10/10

Summary: Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.
But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld. - Goodreads

The ironic thing is that, every time I walked by this book in the library I didn't pick it up. Until, my sister got it and demanded I read it. Let's just say I should have picked it up a long time ago:)

Pierce Oliviera died, went to the underworld, met the handsome guy in charge and came back... alive.
Pierce would be happy about being alive, if it wasn't for John Hayden, the guy in charge of the underworld. John keeps reappearing in Pierce's life - every time she is in danger, he comes in then disappears. But that is not the only reason he comes back, Pierce is the one he wants and will keep waiting until she comes back with him... whether she likes it or not.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Meg Cabot has always been one of my favourite authors, but I was blown away by this book. I should be getting bad karma for not picking this book up sooner. Let's talk about the story behind the book first. It's obviously about the myth of Persephone and Hades. But, Meg Cabot has put such a twist on it, that it seems like a whole different kind of story. For example, the ruler of the Underworld isn't a god named Hades, it's a regular guy who died at sea. It's not Persephone being taken to the underworld, it's a girl who has already died once and is still alive. Meg Cabot sure has a way with stories!

John Hayden is the most interesting character out of his whole book. Abandon, doesn't give a lot of info on what happened to him or why he chose to give Pierce the necklace but he still pulls you in. Pierce is a weird girl... in a good way. She dies, goes back to the Underworld, escapes it and tries to live normally for the next couple of years. Her cousin confuses me though. Why is Alex, so defencive against the popular kids at school? Hope to figure that out.

Another thing I think was perfect, was how there are parts in the book where Pierce slips back into a memory. Those parts, I think, gave us an insight on how life was for Pierce after she came back to life. It was really interesting, learning about the present, but also reading about the past, which made the present. It fit so well with the character of the book. Do books have characters? Well, they do now! I don't have anything negative to say about this book, it is soooooo goooood *tears of joy* Make sure you check out the sequel, Underworld, coming out this month!!!!


 "But Alex's dad did kind of scare me in one way: He had the
saddest eyes of anyone I had ever seen.
  Except maybe one other person.
  But I was trying hard not to think about him. Just like I tried
never to think about when I died.
  Some people, however, were making both those things extremely difficult."

                    -Abandon, pg.11

                    

May Releases

There are so many good YA novels coming out this month!!! Here are the May releases...

Bitterblue (Graceling Realm #3): Kristin Cashore
Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart. -Goodreads

Sweet Evil: Wendy Higgins

What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip to meet her father forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. When she confronts her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns? -Goodreads

Darkness Before Dawn (Darkness before Dawn #1): J.A. London

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series. -Goodreads

Unbreak My Heart: Melissa C. Walker
Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart? Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to. -Goodreads

Underworld (Abandon #2): Meg Cabot
Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape. -Goodreads

Keep Holding On: Susane Colasanti
A romantic and empowering book about bullying

Noelle's life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn't know how much she gets bullied, or the ways her mom neglects her. Noelle's kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her, she's terrified. Surely it's safer to stay hidden than to risk the pain of a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself--and for the love that keeps her holding on. -Goodreads

Hemlock (Hemlock #1): Kathleen Peacock
Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love. -Goodreads

Until I Die (Revenants #2): Amy Plum
Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series. -Goodreads

One or Two Things I Learned About Love: Dyan Sheldon
A wise, sometimes hilarious, always witty new novel from Dyan Sheldon, in which our heroine learns that "love" is not always what it seems...

Hildy D'Angelo is seventeen and this is the summer she falls in love for the first time. She isn't what you'd call experienced when it comes to boys, but Connor is good looking, smart, charming and sweet (with a melt-that-ice-cap smile). Hildy is a sarcastic and funny, down-to-earth girl with lots of friends, and yet she proves to be a little bit of a fool for love. When Connor uses the L word, Hildy, already half in love with the idea of falling in love, releases her hold on the Earth. And because it's all very new to her, she thinks that Connor's irrational bursts of jealousy are signs of affection. Teething pains. No big deal. She ties herself in knots trying to appease him and not let on to her suspicious friends (or herself) that there is anything wrong. Until, finally, poor tortured Connor goes a step too far - and Hildy sees the truth at last...-Goodreads

Dark Kiss (Nightwatchers #1): Michelle Rowen
I don't do dangerous. Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising... -Goodreads



The Summer My Life Began: Shannon Greenland
Elizabeth Margaret—better known as Em—has always known what life would contain: an internship at her father’s firm, a degree from Harvard and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is that it’s not what she wants. When she gets the opportunity to get away from it all and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em pursues her secret dream of being a chef, and she also learns that her family has kept some significant secrets from her, too. And then there’s Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can’t resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels she is living on her own terms for the first time. -Goodreads

                                                         Insurgent (Divergent #2): Veronica Roth

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

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

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

 

 City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5): Cassandra Clare The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

                                                                                                                      

The Serpent's Shadow (The Kane Chronicles #3) Rick Riordan                                                                                                      He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sade Kane can’t seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos.

To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent’s shadow... or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld... -Goodreads

This is So Not Happening (He's So/She's So #3): Kieran Scott After their long summer apart, Ally and Jake were hoping for a drama free senior year. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like things will work out that way...again. — It turns out that Chloe is pregnant and says that Jake is the father. Hammond is pissed at his best friend, but mostly can't believe that Ally would stay with Jake. But Ally is tired of being apart from Jake and is willing to make it work. But that is easier said than done when Jake starts blowing Ally off to go to doctor's appointments with Chloe and Ally joins the school play and meets a new cute guy.

But as graduation approaches, things get more complicated as new secrets come out and Ally realizes maybe Jake isn't the guy she thought he was. After everything they've been through can Ally and Jake get out of Orchard Hill with their relationship intact? -Goodreads

                                                                         

Monthly Releases!

Happy May Day everybody!!!

I just wanted everyone to know that I have a new feature coming out called Releases. It will be a post once a month, to inform all those YA lovers out there of all the new books coming out that month. Today will be the first post on this feature so make sure to check it out!!!

Upcoming Books for Review!

I've been reading through books, like... a paper shredder does to paper. Seriously, there have been so many great books to read, that I have forgotten to review them. I really need to get into the blogging habit *sigh*. Anyways, here is a list of books that need reviewing and shall be on the blog over the next couple of weeks. Also, I wanted to mention, that if anyone wants a book reviewed or something like that just leave a comment and I will review any book you want in the YA genre. The books below are not in order of reviewing.



Awake at Dawn: C.C. Hunter



Abandon: Meg Cabot

Grave Mercy: Robin LaFevers

Fateful: Claudia Gray

Half-Blood: Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Book of Blood and Shadow: Robin Wasserman

Taken at Dusk: C.C. Hunter

Once in a Full Moon: Ellen Schreiber



Pure: Jennifer L. Armentrout