Torment by Lauren Kate

Just finished this one. I've been waiting all year to read it and now I have to wait until summer for the next one. Not fair...

Torment by Lauren Kate

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Did I like this book? Yes. Could it have been better? Probably...



When I first started TORMENT I was confused... At the end of FALLEN Daniel insists that she go to some cabin and stay out of the lime light for a little while, but in the beginning of TORMENT he decides to take her to California to some school called Shoreline where she'll supposedly be safe. Psh! When will they figure out that trouble doesn't just find Luce, but Luce constantly looks for trouble? That was one of the things that annoyed me the most. No matter how many times someone told her to lay low and stay safe that she'd only be at Shoreline temporarily apart from Daniel, yada yada, she still made sure that she constantly did the opposite. She wasn't extremely smart in this book.



Her relationship with Daniel was tested as well. Every single time they see each other in TORMENT it's make out session first, then just one more fight before he flies off again. You could feel how taxing that was for Luce, and you could definitely see how much it was hurting Daniel. While I am totally a Cam fan, I still think Daniel is the one for our Lucinda Price here. Instead of blaming Daniel for the curse several times over, I kind of wish she would've just had some faith in him. He's technically not a teenager anymore and he's been around infinitely longer than she has, sooo I think he knows what he's doing and all Luce can do is complain about his methods. If someone tries to tell you to stay out of trouble for your own good, it's probably best if you at least try for more than one day to do just that. But it wouldn't be Luce if she listened to someone else's orders.



I loved how caring Luce was. She didn't just forget about Penn, she mourned her. She was constantly thinking about her friends and their safety (though she could've done well thinking about hers a little more too). She thought about her parents and her past lives' families. She truly cared about them.



Which brings us to the whole mystery of her past(s). I was hoping that we would get more answers in TORMENT, but it seems like it was just another build up for the third book, PASSION, where the real discovering is about to take place. The announcers (shadows) are really weird, I never would've thought of them as puddy-like, murky goo that roll out into some projector screen and show you some distant memory from the past. But hey! It works... They were definitely a big part of this whole story.



The love triangle... seems to have become a square. Obviously Daniel is still in this, but add a new character to the mix: Miles. He's a nephilim kid at the new school that Luce opens up to. He's normal. He's way less complicated. And he makes her feel good. But I am completely confused. I thought we had a love triangle between Daniel, Luce, and Cam. But she just seems to despise Cam in this one and he only shows up for about four scenes through out the ENTIRE story. Which totally sucks! Cam is one of the most awesome bad a$$ characters out there! How is there NOT going to be a love triangle with him in it?!



Which is why ultimately TORMENT was just down right confusing to me. Instead of staying in Georgia, and figuring out her past like I was hoping would happen, she goes to another school in another completely different state and makes a whole other set of friends. It was like FALLEN repeating itself only in California instead of Georgia. The only part I got really excited for was the end when we go back to Georgia for Thanksgiving and we even get to see Sword & Cross one more time. Finally some action! And then I ended up getting all upset again when Luce decides to do something without so much as explaining herself or talking to anyone after they've just had this huge dramatic fight in her backyard. She just does it. Without thinking. How very Lucinda... I just want to get to PASSION, the storyline for that one at least goes somewhere.



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Twelfth Grade Kills by Heather Brewer

Twelfth Grade Kills by Heather Brewer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


First off, look at the cover. If I hadn't been hyped after reading ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS there's no way I wouldn't have been after seeing this cover for the fifth, and final book of the series.



I'll start off with saying that I picked up Vlad Tod a little late in the game, and honestly wasn't too sold. I mean, he starts off at the end of middle school, so I expected cutesy right off the bat. Then NINTH GRADE SLAYS got a little better... and then TENTH GRADE BLEEDS got even a little MORE better... and then holy crap... I read ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS and was completely head over heels for the plot. I honestly loved letting Vlad grow on me. It was entertaining to watch him grow up and to see him develop into the Pravus. So, needless to say once I got to the end of the fourth book in the series, I was completely sold for the fifth. How was Brewer going to end this? How was it going to pan out for Vlad and his friends? I NEEDED to know the answers...



And now, after reading it I can honestly say that I'm a little disappointed. Brewer totally rushed it. It starts off with a bang, for sure, but then add in a completely unexpected, and let's be honest, completely unbelievably bogus twist! I couldn't stomach it. And what's more she barely develops it, barely glosses over the weight of what happens there! After that initial loop, it seemed like the rest of the story was falling into place exactly how it should have and exactly like I was hoping it would. And then... horrors... She rushes towards the end and patches everything up so haphazardly I was completely NOT sold.



I still love Vlad. And I think that this had the makings of a great story. Unfortunately it was butchered by the fact that it wasn't long enough. 325 pages is NOT long enough to cover what this series has been building itself up to since day one. I don't know what happened... I just know that it is extremely sad how off track this went. I only hope that my alternate ending- wait no, scratch that, alternate explanation for SEVERAL things leading up to the ending can overshadow what I just read...



I gave it four stars anyway though... ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS totally saved this one from becoming a three star burn out...



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Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


So, we'll start with some backstory... Prepare yourselves, it's a little lengthy (And that's possibly an understatement).



I first stumbled upon this book by browsing through goodreads in a half-bored, cover-catatonic state. Skimming through lists of 'Beautiful YA Covers for 2010' and 'Most Exciting Upcoming YA Novels for 2010' etc. And who doesn't do that on occasion? Other than those of you who only go on your Goodreads accounts every six months (Come on people! Join us bookworms!). But the point is, at first glance, I immediately made a mental note of this book. I mean, come on... LOOK at that cover and tell me it's not downright gorgeous and all-around intriguing! I was convinced, after finding out that it was a debut novel and all, that I had found a gem. But of course, it was due to come out in August.



August... the month that every YA book seemed to want to come out on! I had made demands for books like CLOCKWORK ANGEL by Cassandra Clare, NEVERMORE by Kelly Creagh, THE HAUNTED by Jessica Verday, and PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White... I mean, there were some heavy-duty books coming out. Thus, the decision to wait. You see, I haven't quite figured out where to plant my money trees yet, hence the short supply of funds. Dang dogs of mine... always digging...



And then... as if by fate, I received a message in my inbox from none other than Lani Woodland. It was a simple reply about some contest information I had sent out in a mass message through my group GOODWRITERS for GOODREADS. And I was so shocked! I recognized the name because, honestly... how was I going to forget that cover (And interesting piece of information that I found out after talking with her, she took the picture for the cover... Yep! All credit goes to the author for making this book's cover so gorgeous! And may I add that it's underwater? Skills man... Skills)? Mental post-it slammed onto the forefront of my brain and all, I responded like a giddy fan girl, and most unconventionally at that "Hey! You're Lani Woodland! Author of INTRINSICAL" (Yes, you CAN call me by my other nickname Captain Obvious!) She responded, in that simple grace with which all authors seem to have when talking to tactless fangirls they have never met. I like to think it was my careful research from my first sighting of her debut where I stumbled upon her blog and found out that INTRINSICAL started out as a fanfiction for one of her favorite television shows! That alone was enough to get me to want to read it because I knew right then and there that she hadn't wrote INTRINSICAL for any reason other than because it was something fun to do! Perhaps something she HAD to write! I know how that is... But alas, at the time I was unable to get my hands on it because of depleted funds, as mentioned earlier. However, that did not stop me from reading the sneak peek on the book's website where the first two chapters are posted, which was enough to torture me! How I cursed my bank account that day!



The funny thing is, after much reading, and too much waiting, one glorious day, Lani Woodland messaged me again and asked me if I would review her book. And since you're reading this, I presume you know exactly what I said. Therefore any details about the manner in which I accepted, in all brilliant vocabulary I assure you, is unnecessary... But again, I must thank her for sending me a copy. I love books too much to pass up an opportunity like this! And how wonderful it is that INTRINSICAL turned out to be so much more than I had ever guessed!



Backstory over... So, onto the review of INTRINSICAL:



I'm going to break it down into two parts (Story and Characters), because I always admire reviews that can separate the main aspects of a story. It makes it that much easier to find exactly what I'm looking for and what I'm not looking for in a book.



STORY:



There are several things that make this section work. One aspect that truly makes or breaks this is the writing style. INTRINSICAL is told in the first point of view, which has become pretty normal for YA literature these days. At first, I told myself not to look too closely at this subject because it is, after all, a debut, but there wasn't any need to cut Lani any slack. She really proved she can write! At times, I marvelled over some of her comparisons and the way that she described exactly how Yara was feeling. Even the dialogue was entertaining. Yara and Brent's snappy conversations, or I digress, more like snappy arguments and teasing, really had me laughing sometimes! Over all, I was pleasantly surprised by how well INTRINSICAL was written.



Secondly, the plot is another vital part of a story. If things don't add up, or become too painstakingly obvious, a book just isn't worth the read. But again, that wasn't the case with this one! I was thrown for a loop quite a few times in this book and quite happy about it! But let me break down the elements of this story a little more...



MYSTERY: Golden. I sure as fire didn't know how this was going to end and I was constantly guessing at who the murderer was. A+ for Mystery!



SUPERNATURAL FACTOR: Another win, win. Ghosts aren't the mainstream in YA today. Honestly there are only a handful in what is now a sea of vampires, vampires, werewolves, vampires, angels, vampires, and vampires AND werewolves. So a new story about ghosts is original and intriguing. A+ for something fresh!



ACTION: Definitely pulse-quickening. There were only a few times that I felt confused and those were usually in the short skirmishes between what is the mist and our lead characters. I still give this part of the plot a solid A.



ROMANCE: Perfect for Young Adult. It was sweet, longing, and something that developed over the story. It wasn't impossible to believe love at first sight and it wasn't missing anything. I wanted things to work out in this section just as much as Yara and I'm a total sucker for subtle romance in stories sooo A++ because this part totally rocked.



And that pretty much wraps up the story section of this review. It's hard to go wrong after that!



CHARACTERS:



Yara: At first, I didn't really relate to Yara. When I started reading, I assumed that she was just like any other teenage girl- reading gossip magazines, crushing on cute boys at school, dealing with her school work and hanging out with her best friend Cherie... All of it normal and expected. Of course, this is excluding the Prologue where the whole story starts off with a bang! Or a slow mist trying to murder someone, you know, same difference! And she was admirable- jumping right in, without hesitation, to save the day! But after that, normalcy kicked in and I was still busy trying to peg her character down... Later though, Yara really proves herself and really started becoming relatable. I found myself sympathizing with her and even at times cheering her on. I always hate it when the main character is a whiney, teenage girl that can't see past her own problems or concerns. Yara wasn't one of these. She was brave, selfless, caring, and strong in her own right.



Brent: The confusing one for me. The beginning didn't have me warming up to Brent. I started off unsure about him at every turn, looking for the culprit in this paranormal mystery. Sure, he was the cute boy in the story... The crush! And I knew that Yara would like him, but that didn't mean I was going to be fooled! Props to Lani Woodland for showing me... After that initial plot twist that I was NOT expecting in the least, I couldn't get enough of this guy! That hook in Yara's gut that connects her to him, let's just say I was having similar sympathy pains... And he wasn't just the cute, overbearing, swoon-worthy male lead. He was real. He was relatable. He wasn't one of those guys that could never in a million years exist, save for a piece of fiction. Brent turned out to be believable and lovable!



Villain/Mist: Since I don't want to post any spoilers, I'm going to leave the villain unnamed so you can buy this book and find out for yourself! I won't say much, but I was surprised that I could feel any sympathy for evil, even at the end. What's more, it gave me the creeps! So more props! That's what a supernatural villain is supposed to do!



Supporting Cast: I won't make this list of characters TOO long, but the leads' friends like Cherie and Steve were heart-warming! I always enjoyed a good scene with those two, and was glad to finally read a YA novel where friends weren't stabbing each other in the back and/or hanging around on the sidelines in all their obliviousness. They actually played a part and behaved like living, breathing people!



In the end, I have to say that I'm sorry...



That it's over, that is. I really, really enjoyed INTRINSICAL. It exceeded my expectations and surprised me. I hadn't expected to walk away with new imaginary friends like Yara and Brent and Cherie and Steve. I hadn't expected to close the book and be sad that there was no more to read. But that's exactly what happened. While INTRINSICAL is perfectly capable of remaining a stand-alone novel, I actually do kind of hope that there might be a sequel. I would absolutely love to read more of these characters, and honestly the ending leaves this open as a possibility. If there is no sequel though, I just hope that Lani Woodland simply keeps writing and publishes another book to read! Because she has all the talent in the world to do so!



And now that I've exhausted everyone's mind with such an extensive review, if you think that you'll like a good story with ghosts, mystery, romance, and truly awesome characters, I suggest you buy INTRINSICAL. It is all of this and more!



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Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

I read this book a couple months ago as well, but it is worth a post! Check it out!

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


While reading this, I had one thing on my mind. The Covenant. If you've seen this movie, and you liked it, even a little bit, then you're going to love Shadow Hills.



Though the Covenant was more about witchcraft in relation to Salem, MA and Shadow Hills deals more with Greek mythology and science- the two seemed very similar to each other. I liked the Covenant a lot, so I easily got into Shadow Hills as well.



The characters:

Phe is a genuine character that definitely knows how to get into trouble. Some people might find that annoying, but it keeps the plot moving in a story and that's all that's important. Her love for music and clear thoughts made for an interesting read.

Zach was definitely hot and I didn't mind reading about him at all. He's more of a nice guy than the dangerous type, but that's never a bad thing. I felt that the relationship between him and Phe was very sweet and I was invested in it almost as much as they were. The only complaint I have there is that I felt it moved a little more quickly than it would have in real life. But this isn't real life so I guess it works.



The Villain: I won't name him and spoil anything for those of you who haven't read this yet, but I felt like he was kind of obvious through out the whole book. I was kind of hoping for some surprise, but he was still perfectly evil enough to hate.



The story: Shadow Hills is a very good blend of mystery, thrills, chills, and paranormal romance. At times I'd get creeped out, the same as Phe. The mystery kept the plot moving. Though normally I'm not really a mystery kind of reader, I found that I enjoyed this one. I wasn't sure how much I liked the whole Greek mythology bit because it wasn't quite as developed as I was hoping it would be. Plus, when there's chanting and rituals I kind of get creeped out. As said above, the romance is pretty well developed, though it happens within a week and a half. I'm definitely Team Zach (are we making teams yet? :D). Then again, who isn't a sucker for a hot guy with paranormal powers and who treats a girl like she's his center of gravity? I'm all for it!



Over all, I really really liked Shadow Hills and I hope there's a sequel because I'm not done reading about this world of BVs and Phe's destiny. I'd recommend this book to anyone with a preference for paranormal romance and mystery!



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Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Since I'm still trying to find more books to read, here's something I read about a month ago. More werewolves, yay!

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I love werewolves. And this original take/twist on Red Riding Hood is DELECTABLE!



The characters were great. I was glad that the POVs switched between two sisters. Having a sister of my own, I could feel the connection between them and it gave me a sense of nostalgia. I am left wanting to call my sister after putting down this book, let me tell you. I also am left wondering where MY hot, axe-wielding woodsman is! Silas Reynolds is amazing.



The plot twist was pretty freaking cool, I might add. But a leetle predictable once I knew what to look for. The romance was sweet and well-developed. And the setting was very enticing and grungey enough to be believable. Pearce writes this urban fantasy as if she's lived in a run-down, crackhead-invaded apartment building herself!



Overall, I would read this book again. And I can't WAIT for the sequel!



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Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Sooo since I've started my job, I haven't been reading as fast. This book, however, is an exception.

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've been trying to read Raised by Wolves ever since I bought it back in the beginning of July. It wasn't that I couldn't get into it or whatever, but that I never could start it in peace! Every which way I looked, another book that I had been holding out on would come out in stores. Books that I had marked for devouring, that is. And saving Raised by Wolves seemed like a good idea at the time. Like storing up for winter... or in this case, storing up for an empty buffet table. I was saving it in the hopes that when I DID get a chance to read it, it would blow me out of the water.



RAISED BY WOLVES didn't blow me out of the water. But it did make me happy.



Barnes has somehow found her own niche among the werewolf YA lit groups and I can say that she did it with a dash of originality. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters, including Bryn and the assortment of pack members around her were strong, well-built characters. I loved reading about their interactions.



The only thing that prevents me from giving this story another star and making it AHMAZING is the fact that I COULD put it down. I COULD step away from it. The plot was a slow build... it seeped into my interest and curiosity like molasses, taking it's time, but sticking with me after I turned the last page. And this is why I will be picking up TRIAL BY FIRE as soon as it comes out.



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Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Just finished this one. I kept it nice and short since I'm both tired and can't give a very good explanation considering it was but 15 minutes ago that I closed this book.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really, really liked this book. At first, I was worried that it was going to be just like the Mortal Instruments series, but it proved me wrong.



It does have a lot of similarities to Clary, Jace, and Simon's story, but there's so many new and different elements to it that the comparison stops short once you get about a quarter of the way through it.



Tessa- I think she's amazing! I give her two thumbs up, because she didn't annoy me as much as Clary did. She's more relatable in a sense- what with her bookishness and her dilemma of figuring out who she really is.



Will- Just like Jace. I really liked him, but on occasion I was just as upset with him as Tessa was. Since I found out that he's Jace's ancestor, it all makes sense.



Jem- is amazing. There were so many things that I could quote from him! Facing my own issues and questions, and hearing him answer not only Tessa's, but my own... Yeah, I really like Jem.



As for everyone else- hate Nate. Jessamine, Sophie, Charlotte, Henry, etc... They're all cool. Thomas- broke my heart. And the plot is twisted and dark in a completely cool way. Can't wait for book two! Need it now!



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Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

In light of my announcement today, I decided to share my review about this awesome book! Just to keep everyone satisfied until the next review. Happy reading!

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another 4.5-er! Personal Demons had me up late and early to finish it. I couldn't get enough of Luc! He was sexy, sultry, and hilarious! (Couldn't find a synonym for 'funny' that started with the letter S)Oooh! How about sinfully humorous? That seems to fit very well with this one! The only two things that upset me a little were Frannie and the stereotypes.



Frannie was a bit all over the place in this love triangle between the angel and the demon. At times, I wasn't even sure who she would end up with. But I desperately hoped it would be Luc!



The stereotypical versions of heaven and hell were a bit over the top at times. There was at least one pun in every single chapter. But at least they were funny most of the time.



All in all, this book is great! It's got everything from humor to love to lust to sin to angels to demons and the book itself simply has one of those amazing personalities! Read it when it comes out next month! It's a must-read!



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Update Uno

Sooo, this will be short.

I got a job! Hooray! I start tomorrow! Yay!

Yep, this means I'm gonna be reading slower. Not so yay. Not so hooray for that part, but I will try to get a book in at least once a week. No worries! I'm never going to stop reading!

In spirit of this good news with sorry side effects, I found this on Google:



I'm really thankful I found a job. Especially in this economy right now.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I just finished this one, and there's not a lot that I have to say. It was a beautiful, but tragic novel. And now, I must slink away to dry my tears.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Well... I finally read this one. I was really scared to, after reading a few reviews that contained spoilers and even flipping to the back of the book myself to find that it was going to be bitter sweet anyway.



This book kills. In a good way, in a bad way... in every way. I'm not going to put any spoilers in here. I think there are enough out there in other reviews as it is. I'm just going to say that it hurts to read this book. But that's the whole point. It is up there as probably one of the deepest books I've ever read. If there is any piece of literature that can describe war and the effects that it has on someone who's been through every gorey bit of it, better- I haven't read it yet. There was only one death that REALLY got to me. And that's on page 347. Chapter 24... Which has been one of my unlucky numbers in the past.



Another word to describe this whole series, even though being fictional, is real. This book doesn't sugarcoat anything, it doesn't patch everything up with a nice happy ending, and it doesn't leave you with warm fuzzy feelings. But it is a gift. And despite the tears and all of the pain that it gives out, I love it very much. Even the end.



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One last thing. I just want to say thank you to Suzanne Collins for thinking up something so original and beautiful as this series. For the past two-three years or so, it's been one heck of a ride reading these books.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

I just finished this book last night. I literally could not put it down. Every five minutes I walked away from it couldn't even keep my mind from wondering what would happen next. My recommendation is that anyone who sees this book in a store, pick it up and start reading! Pronto!

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Holy crow! Or I guess I should say raven...



This book has been added to my list of favorites! The build-up alone surpassed my expectations. And honestly the whole goth boy meets cheerleader scenario... add in the Edgar Allen Poe twist of horrors... all of that didn't seem like it would fit together without coming off as some cheesy wanna-be-a-slasher-flick-morphed-into-literature type of book. But oh, did Kelly Creagh ever pull it off! I was hooked from the first chapter. I literally devoured this book within the first 24 hours that I had picked it up. And even now I am left wanting to reread it and dreading the fact that I have purchased other untouched books to be read.



The characters alone allowed for intrigue. Varen Nethers makes goth boys around the world seem swoon-worthy... A type that I had overlooked before, but that Creagh brings up close and personal in NEVERMORE. I was constantly texting about his schmexiness to one of my best friends through-out the entire afternoon that I spent reading this book. The most surprising character of all though... was Isobel. Whoever thought that a cheerleader that has everything in her life going right for her- and whom most bookworms would choose to ignore and/or despise, could be one of the most relatable, and admirable female leads ever written? Certainly, not I. But oh, how I admired her and related to her on so many different levels! I was swept away by her courage and her ability to step past stereotypes and social standards. Even in the face of pure, Poe-inspired horror, she stood her ground and proved that she wasn't just some cheerleader- she was a real heroine!



My only complaint about the book is it's ending. Because I need the sequel. Now. Like right now. The last 100 pages or so went by in a whirlwind of action after about a 400 page build up. And that last fourth or fifth of the book (I'm bad with math) was lacking a particular character of interest except for a few brief moments. So, it is DIRE and IMPERATIVE that I get hold of the sequel. Immediately. Oh, please Kelly Creagh! I really, really need the sequel!



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Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

So, since it's September finally! Annnnd I really want to kick start this new month with a cool, cool book that really rocked my world! I'm going to present you fine people with a review about Shade! I read it a while back, but it's still as good as any to reflect on!

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I don't know how to explain how amazing this book truly is. Anything I say won't be enough...



True, there are parts that are a bit shady for younger readers. There were quite a few lines in there that made me blush so scarlet I could feel the heat radiating off of my face, but... As shady as the parts that discuss alcohol, sex, drugs, and rock n roll were... the feeling that I was left with when I closed that book and set it aside was pure wonder.



Shade is an emotional roller coaster. From page 48 onward this book will cause you pain, heart-break, and the deadliest feeling of all... hope.



In the end, I was more than happy I read this book, and a little proud that I'd gotten through it all in one piece. I can't even tell you how many times I cried during this story...



Aura is a complex character, but very relatable. Everything she goes through will bring you closer to her and make you not only sympathize with her, but empathize as well.



Logan is the tragic one. The one you'll hold onto with that deadly hope, just like Aura.



And Zachary is the one that will lead you toward the light...



I won't say any more for fear that I'll spoil it, but just know that this book isn't a waste of time. It's one of the best books I've ever picked up.



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