Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Mind blowing... Holy frex...



There are very few books that simply blow me out of the water. Very few. I can count them on one hand.



And to be perfectly honest, I didn't even like this book when I first started it. I thought that it was getting off of the ground way too slow and there wasn't much going on-- add that in with the fact that I already don't have a taste for science fiction so much (especially spaceship voyage kind of science fiction) NOR mysteries, and I thought I had a complete dud on my hands. For my personal tastes anyway. By the 50s to 100s each hook kept pulling me back. It took a while to get to the end, simply because I kept wanting to give up, but the story wouldn't let me forget about it completely.



The thing about mysteries that I hate is that I usually can predict who the killer is... or at least when I can't, everything adds up pretty flawlessly. But ACROSS THE UNIVERSE had a dozen or so surprises even AFTER we find out who's behind this... It's like opening up one door, simply to find another. And it does this in dominoe fashion to the very last page.



I still wouldn't have liked it though, had it not been for the love story. "Brave New World meets Titanic" is correct, back cover. I am sold, Revis. Completely and totally sold. Keep writing your science fiction/mystery/romance trilogy and I will bow down to it's utterly captivating prose!



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Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

While I have not posted any reviews for the previous books in this series, I absolutely adore Vampire Academy. Last Sacrifice didn't change that for me.

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The final book for Rose...



What can I say? At first glance, the Vampire Academy series really didn't allure to me. I figured it was just another vampire fad on it's way out. It wasn't until I'd ran out of books to read and a friend thrust them into my arms, that I actually started reading them... and strangely enough, liking them.



Following Rose and her friends for the past year, I've delved into such a journey. And honestly, such a good story. I was fairly satisfied how things were left off. While some characters are left with loose ends, I seriously believed that Mead ended things very well with the main character in question. Rose's ending couldn't have gone any other way. She ended up with who I thought she was meant to be with. Even Lissa's future took a surprising, yet satisfying turn.



But this book isn't an ending... It's a perfect segue into a new beginning. And I can't wait to see what comes next in Mead's upcoming continuation of Rose's world. And with an intriguing new point of view in third person, hopefully we'll get to see even more happy endings for the other characters that we love in BLOODLINES.



LAST SACRIFICE is enticing, romantic, and full of fast-paced action that will satisfy all of your genre needs. I'm very happy that my friend made me read these books. Very happy.



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Long Time Coming...

Alright, I know I suck at keeping up with this thing lately. The truth is, I just haven't been reading. For the past three-ish weeks or so I've been working, writing, and getting my holiday groove on. And when I say I've been writing, boy have I EVER been writing. Ironically, more so than during November when I entered for NaNoWriMo. Which is kind of sad. I've actually been co-writing a new project with my best friend, which is to say... VERY exciting.

But no worries! I have returned to reading and will be posting a new review very, very soon. Hopefully by tomorrow or Wednesday. Anyway, just thought I'd check in and explain my very boring absence. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas week! Happy reading!

Suspiciously yours,
Apt Katie.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Some books are so good that you can ramble on and on for days about every little thing inside of them. All of it's information has been poured into you and you are overflowing with such intensity to share it with someone. Anyone.



Other books are so powerful that you can't say a word. It's very pages have sunk deep into your heart and mind and will continue to sit there until it is etched into your soul. It whispers to you. There aren't any words good enough to describe what you have just experienced.



DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver happens to be one of the most powerful books I have ever read.



And the only words I can seem to come up with are...



More than amazing... More than five stars... Beautiful in every way.





It comes out in February of 2011. Read it.



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Jane by April Lindner

Surprised myself by finishing this in a storm of two days. Eh, technically 24 hours. Truly amazing.

Jane by April Lindner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I've never read Bronte's JANE EYRE. It's a classic. And they're usually awesome for a reason. But I've never had the opportunity. We didn't read it in school.



Now... I wish I had.



JANE by April Lindner is a MARVELOUS retelling of what I know is one of the greatest romances of all time. She completely revamped it for modern standards too. Mr. Rochester turned into a world famous rockstar? Yeah. I believe it now.



The character of Jane Moore was just so relatable and... fresh. It was nice to finally read about an OLDER and more mature young adult, versus the usual onslaught of sixteen year olds who are stuck in the high school rut. Jane's basically an adult. She thinks about adult things like money, jobs, where she's going to live, how she's going to pay for college, why her family treats her the way they do. I mean YES! Someone I can relate to! Not that I don't love a good high school fiction once in a while, but now that I'm 20, it's nice to read about someone my own age. It puts me back in that head of mine and lets me relate to the character and say "yeah, I'm going through that too" versus "yeah I kinda remember that".



And I just loved the relationship that grew between Jane and Nico. It felt real. Sure when they finally revealed their feelings for one another it felt just a smidge rushed, but yet believable. This is a rock star! Why would he be patient? Just awesome. All I can say is that if Lindner continues on like this, she just found herself a very loyal and enthusiastic fan!



How I wish that there could be a sequel for this one...



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Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Okay, I'm actually going to try and put into words how awesome this book is.



It's been about a month or so since I read it, sooo forgive me if this review lacks in details.



I would also like to start off by thanking HarperTeen for sending me an ARC so that I may review this amazing book before it hits stores.



UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand is undefinable. Debut? Yes. Really freaking awesome debut? Yes. First part of a trilogy? Yes. Can't wait a whole year for book two? Of course I can't! It's a new take on Angels (or Angel-bloods in this case) and if you're a sucker for romance, well here you go. A chance to get weak in the knees and laugh at the same time because of it. The story itself is quite a journey. Clara is our main character. She has a purpose to fulfill. She must save a mysterious boy from a forest fire. This purpose relocates her mother and younger brother to the town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. And thus, we meet Christian. The boy she must save. Of course Clara has a crush on him right away. Who wouldn't when he's a handsome, popular skiier who plays a part in your own destiny? But alas, he is dating Miss Popular Kay. Insert some epic drama there. But it's not just about Christian these days. Clara's mother can't help but hold back a lot of important information from her daughter and there are loads that Clara has to figure out on her own, or with the help of an angel-blood that she meets in her new school. Add in a plot-twisting cowboy with the intention to either irritate Clara to death or finally get her on his side and I am completely and totally signed up.



It surprised me how much I liked this book. Not only did it have the heart-ache and mystery that I love- both subtle and yet complex in their own rights- but it provided a well-rounded debut with a character that any girl can relate to. I really loved the humor that Hand uses and there were plenty of down right embarrassing moments that would make any reader 'face-palm'. I would also like to add that I lived in Boise, Idaho for two years back in elementary school and it's nice to finally find an author who lived around that same place. The scenery up there is just down right gorgeous and I think that Hand really captured it well.



Waiting impatiently for the sequel and totally completely Team Tucker,

Katie.



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Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Ha! Finally got one done! (Just don't expect another review soon, unfortunately. I'm behind on my NaNoWriMo writing.)

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


CRESCENDO was everything it lived up to be. There was action, heart-ache (popular with most YA sequels these days), and mystery. The characters developed just as they should have in this sequel. I was very surprised to find that I liked Nora and Patch much better in CRESCENDO than I did in HUSH, HUSH. I mean, honestly I wasn't that big of a fan of the setting and mystery in the first book. I'm just not a mystery fan. However, I will say that Ms. Fitzpatrick executes it wonderfully. She deserves props for this genre, folks.



For some reason, Patch's bad boy image wasn't sticking too well with me from the first book. Like others, I felt that he was more of a jerk. But then again, he was sort of the bad guy in the plot. In CRESCENDO however, this image was as bright and vivid as the summer sun. Completely believable. I loved that he and Nora wouldn't compromise in their relationship. It proved that they were strong characters and not just paper cut-outs stuck in a book.



The Marcie Millar factor and the story behind that was also beautifully done. Though I will say that I'm a little tired of hearing how the rich cheerleader in school is such a witch with a capital B. It would be nice if the sixteen year olds in YA would grow up a little bit.



And with that, I found another issue I have. Sixteen year olds in serious relationships. Sure, it can be done. But it's hard to make it last forever. The undying romance and maturity of this genre forced upon a budding junior in high school just seems a little bit of a stretch to me. But of course, Nora is no ordinary girl!



All in all though, I give CRESCENDO 4.5 stars. It was interesting, it kept me turning the pages, and after that cliffhanger of an ending, I am SO ready for TEMPEST. I just hope that it gets here soon enough so I don't forget major plot points again.



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