Review: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

 
 

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Published: May 29th, 2012; HarperTeen
487 pages

From Goodreads:
StarHearts, as fans of Josephine Angelini call themselves, will stay up all night reading Dreamless, the second book in the bestselling Starcrossed series. The saga mixes mythology, romance, action, and intrigue in a completely original way.

Dreamless continues the story of Helen Hamilton, a shy girl living on Nantucket Island whose desire for an ordinary life was thwarted when she discovered she is a Scion, a descendant of a Greek god and a mortal. Each Scion has a power, and Helen’s is the ability to travel to Hades.

Helen is determined to use her talent to stop a war amongst the gods and change her destiny, which is to live a life patterned after that of the tragic Helen of Troy. But her quest may cost her Lucas Delos, the boy she loves.

My Rating:
4 stars

Thoughts:

So. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Starcrossed, so naturally Dreamless was the very next book I read. And even though Dreamless was a good book, I can't help but feel like not enough happened by the end of the book, ESPECIALLY since it was almost 500 pages long. It had the same quality of writing as Starcrossed, but still couldn't quite live up to its predecessor.

Helen has a whole slew of new problems now that she has found out the task she must complete. it involves traveling to the underworld (a bit too often if you ask me). In most books, the MC has some goal, and once they reach it everyone is happy and there are just a few more loose ends to tie up before the book ends. In Dreamless, Helen completes her impossible task, only to find out she didn't do it right, or something, and the story kept going. This book meandered a lot, so I think it could have been just as good of a book if the author had deleted a lot of scenes that did nothing to advance the plot or build relationships between characters. Yes, it's awesome that you can write a 500 page book, but was it really necessary? If the answer is no, then you're just wasting readers time.

My other issue with this book was the lack of advancement in the Lucas/Helen department. I won't say more than that, but if Orion is supposed to be a replacement, he isn't cutting it. For whatever reason, the relationship between him and Helen seemed too rushed and uninteresting. And (SPOILER ALERT!) the fact that he and Lucas were all chummy after a while was just annoying (If you want to add a love triangle, there needs to be at least SOME tension!) I don't know where Angelini is going with the whole Orion/Helen thing, but this is one of very few love triangles that hasn't left me squealing like a young schoolgirl. And that's just darn disappointing.

Aside from my qualms about the length of this book and the minimal romance, it was very good. I think Angelini crafted a well researched and believable story, and I still love the mythology involved in this book. You get an even bigger dose of myths, and (GASP!) there are even actual gods in this book. It isn't like everything related to greek mythology in this book is 100% accurate, but it is 100% believable. The backstory that Angelini created enhances the story instead of weighing it down with confusing bouts of info-dumping. So bravo to that!

I'll won't go into too much detail about this book, other than that it was a great book! It didn't quite surpass Starcrossed, but I will still be reading the next book in the series (Goddess) because I feel quite invested in Helen Hamilton and her life. If you haven't read Starcrossed (hopefully you have, otherwise you shouldn't be reading THIS review if you haven't even read the first book in the series!) then do so ASAP. After that, pick up a copy of Dreamless by Josephine Angelini. It's an awesome book that will leave you wanting more.

Shanzy <3 

Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Published: May 31st, 2011; HarperTeen
487 pages

From Goodreads:
How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

My Rating:
4.5 stars

Thoughts:

I’ve been meaning to read Starcrossed for about a year now, and after a few delays, I finally got around to it! It’s definitely a book I don’t regret reading, and although it didn’t knock my socks off, I’m still giving it a solid 4 star rating.

The story centers around 16-year-old Helen Hamilton, and is mostly your run-of-the-mill girl discovers she has superpowers and falls in (forbidden) love kinda story. It is very similar to the book Carrier of the Mark, and therefore Twilight plot-wise. But where Carrier of the Mark was a total flop for me, Starcrossed held my attention and was a really enjoyable book.

Josephine Angelini added enough detail to the story that it became original even though the plot is one that has been done many times. There were some points in the book that bordered dangerously close to info dumping, but nowhere near as bad as some books. I was overjoyed to find out that this book dealt greek myths, something I’ve been interested in since I was small – and based off my general knowledge, Angelini got her facts right.

There were some parts where the relationship between Lucas and Helen did move a little fast, but not in such a way that made their relationship less believable. There was a great amount of sexual tension going on between them because of certain circumstances, and I loved it! I really can’t wait to see where their relationship goes in the next book.

Even though the plot wasn’t completely original, I thought the characters really were. Yes, some of the relationships that developed were visible from a mile away, but the characters and their actions were otherwise unique.

I’ll try not to go on all day about this book, even though it was a great book, and I probably could. To put it short, Starcrossed wasn’t perfect, but was still well worth reading. It’s a bit on the long end (487 pages!) of books, but I barely even noticed. I’m putting the next book in the series at the top of my to read list, and I think you should too!

Review: Carrier of The Mark by Leigh Fallon

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Published: October 4th, 2011; HarperTeen
342 pages

From Goodreads:

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

My Rating:
1 star

Thoughts:

I tried so hard to like this book. The cover drew me in, and I was really excited to read a story that was set in Ireland. The plot sounded promising, though maybe a little clichéd. I figured this would be an enjoyable read, even if it didn't amaze me.

I WAS SO WRONG.

Before I started this blog, I would stop reading a book if it didn't pull me in after the first couple of chapters. Now, I try to finish every book, no matter how horrible. Let me just say, this one was a struggle. There wasn't a single part of the book that didn't make me roll my eyes or laugh uncontrollably. I found myself giggling at pretty much every romantic scene in this book because they were so RIDICULOUS.

The author of this book has a pretty inspiring story - she posted this book on a site called inkpop, where it shot up in popularity and caught the attention of HarperCollins, who decided to publish her book. I think it's amazing that something like that happened for her, and I wish every talented writer out there could be as lucky as she was. But after reading Carrier of the Mark, I can't help but think that this book didn't deserve to be published. It sounds pretty cruel to say, but the whole book sounded like a mediocre story you read online - they have some promise, but still require an overhaul of editing and revising before they should ever see the light of day. So, rather, it isn't that this book shouldn't have been published, but it should have gone through a LOT more work before it was "ready".

Something else I need to bring up, even though it pains me to do so, is the similarities to Twilight. If you take 95% of the scenes in this book and change the names Megan and Adam to Bella and Edward, you would think you were reading Twilight. In comparison to some of my favorite books, Twilight is a horrible, clichéd love story. In comparison to Carrier of the Mark, Twilight is a literary masterpiece. And I understand that EVERY novel is going to be similar to another novel in one way or another, but this book had nothing to set it apart. At all.

The plot of this book was shaky at best, starting with the fact Megan and her father (who acts more like a roommate than a parent) relocated from the United States to Ireland because he got a job at a country/sailing club. I'm sorry, but aren't there country clubs in the US? you're telling me that her father was applying for jobs, and he decided to apply to someplace in Ireland, just for kicks?

Then there's the 0 to 60 romance between Megan and Adam that was probably the worst part of this book. And sadly enough, it was also the biggest part of the book. Megan sees Adam on her first day of school and is immediately in love, even though her new friend, Caitlin, tells her that Adam DeRis and his family are odd, and she should stay away from them (see! Twilight!). Megan spends the next few chapters talking about how she can't stop thinking/obsessing about Adam, even though they have never actually spoken, and it has only been three days since she first discovered he existed. It's pretty creepy at this point, and Megan just gets more and more annoying as the story progresses.

And it isn't just Megan who deserves the Academy Award for being a poorly conceived character. Adam, as well as his siblings, all had about as much depth as a piece of paper, and Megan's troop of friends were equally horrible. She and her "best friend" Caitlin are attached at the hip after the first day they meet, and just because the author tells us they're super close and buddies for life, nothing in her writing really affirms that friendship.

Eventually, after a couple hundred pages of sappy romance and poorly conceived plot, Adam and Megan learn that their love is forbidden (OH NO!) and some evil guy kidnaps Megan. I had mostly checked out by this point of the book, but the most ridiculous scene was at the very end. Megan and company are fighting the baddie that kidnapped her, when Adam gets hurt. Megan thinks he's dead, and just like any normal, level-headed person DECIDES TO KILL HERSELF. I believe she has known Adam for about a month, and she legitimately says that life isn't worth living without him. If I hadn't had only 20 or so pages left in the book I would have put it down and walked away.

I could go on all day about how much I didn't enjoy this book, but I won't. If you love clichéd, sappy, unoriginal stories, then read this book. I swear I'm not trying to be mean, but really, this was a terrible book. I've read amazing books, good books, and lots of mediocre books, but this one was just BAD. So I'm sorry Leigh Fallon, but I do not recommend reading Carrier of the Mark.

Review: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Published: June 12th, 2012; Balzer + Bray
402 Pages

From Goodreads:
It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen's persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

My Rating:
2 Stars

Thoughts:
 

For Darkness Shows the Stars first drew me in because of its interesting premise. I’m a fan of Jane Austen, so knowing this book is based off of Persuasion got me really excited to read how Peterfreund had interpreted the book and created her own story with the same idea. I had high expectations, and they weren't met. I enjoy a certain type of book, and this one wasn’t quite it (but that could be a good and a bad thing, since it’s good to go out of your comfort zone every once in a while). I liked all of the characters in this book, but there were a number of things that bugged me too much to really enjoy the story.

First off, there could have been a lot more back story to why the reduction happened, and just an explanation for all of the terms like “post”, “reduced”, and so on. I spent the first chapter or so in a state of confusion that made me want to put the book down and walk away. Maybe it’s just me, but I felt like it was just too much unknown information being piled on in the first chapter, and then very little spread throughout the rest of the book.

Another thing I didn’t really like was the limited description of the character’s appearances;  when the author finally said that Elliot’s hair color was brown I already had a picture in my head of a blonde girl. I’m not saying I need every exact detail of a character’s appearance described to me in a book, but I at least like to know how the author envisioned them in a broad sense, because if I can’t “picture” a character then I can’t really get into a story.

There wasn’t enough romantic tension in this book either. Yes, it’s based off of a book that was written in the 1800s, but I might have liked this book better if it didn’t follow the plot of Persuasion to a T. I would have liked to see more sparks flying between Elliot and Kai; more than the angry stares and handful of times when they actually talk to each other. They spend 7/8 of the book that way, and then suddenly everything changes. It was too abrupt (not just the romance, but the end of the book as a whole), especially since most of the book progressed slowly. 

I did really like Elliot as a character, since she truly took care of herself and did everything she could to help the people living on the family land. I don’t remember any moments in the book that made me roll my eyes because she was being annoying and whiney (because she wasn’t) but she didn’t really wow me either.

I liked For Darkness Shows the Stars, and didn’t have any trouble finishing it, but I can’t help but feel like you could just read the real Persuasion if you were interested in the plot. The few things that made this book unique weren’t developed enough to make this story stand alone. The author’s writing is worth reading, and that was one of the only things that kept me from deserting this story. I know my rating of a 2 seems a bit harsh, but I think it was because I was REALLY excited to read this book, and my expectations were insanely high (the last sci-fi romance I read blew me away, and I was hoping this one would too). I can’t say I didn’t like parts of the book, and I would recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a okay read. BUT if you’ve already read Persuasion and you’re looking for a new and creatively original variation of the classic, look elsewhere. 

Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

 

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
Published: July 26th, 2011; Philomel
390 Pages

From Goodreads:
When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer, one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack and the man she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

My Rating:
4 stars

Thoughts:

The second book in the Nightshade series sets Calla in a whole new setting, and surrounded by a brand new group of people (minus Shay). Yes, I missed the pack, but these new characters were well-rounded enough that I didn’t feel like the heroine was spending her time around a bunch of robots. Wolfsbane would get higher points for that alone, but the plot of this book was also an improvement (though it’s pretty much expected that the second book in a series is better than the first…)

Things changed drastically from the first book to the second, since Calla was no longer trapped in the cage that was Vail; she gets to go to different places in the world, and wasn’t held back by the keepers and their rules. And this change was a definite improvement, since the first book only occurred in a limited environment. The searchers hideout (which isn’t much of a hideout) sounded beautiful, and I can’t wait to see more of it. The searchers themselves weren’t as monstrous as they were made out to be in the first book (but they aren’t little pansies either) and they became a support to Calla; I ended up really liking them.

Calla’s relationship with Shay was less inhibited in Wolfsbane, since they no longer had to hide their feelings for one another (much to my chagrin). Mostly, I liked the fact that their relationship took a spot on the back burner and the story focused more on rescuing Calla’s wolf pack. Nightshade was mostly about Calla’s feelings for Shay, so I liked Wolfsbane because it put more significance in Calla’s relationships with people other than Shay (which is hard to find in some YA novels). Not that the romance was nonexistent, since it would be a disappointment if it was.

I’m not going to say I don’t like Shay, because he’s growing on me. He spends a lot less time being annoying in this book, and his identity as the Scion brings some nice things along with it (I’ll try not to give anything away). I’m still a big supporter of Ren (especially after what happens in Wolfsbane) so I can’t wait to see what happens to his and Calla’s relationship in the final book.

I’m going to warn you, and just say that Wolfsbane has a few more tragic events in it than Nightshade did. Nothing is bawl-your-eyes-out sad, but some of the things that happen definitely set a bit more depressing tone to the overall book.

Wolfsbane isn’t the greatest book I’ve ever read (I don’t even know if I’d be able to choose one, if someone asked) but it was still outstanding. Calla grew as a character, and Cremer has built a great cast of characters who are flawed just enough to be believable, but not ridiculously messed up. There were enough loose ends to make me put the next book, Bloodrose, at the top of my reading list. I can’t wait to see where this series ends, and if you enjoyed Nightshade, or even thought it was okay, you should absolutely read Wolfsbane.

Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

 

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Published: October 19th, 2010; Philomel
452 Pages

From Goodreads:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My Rating:
3.5 stars


My Thoughts:

I was really excited to read Nightshade for the longest time. From the gorgeous cover to the enticing story of a werewolf who is torn between duty and destiny, Nightshade was mostly worth the wait. Certain parts left me feeling a little miffed, but I was otherwise interested in every part of Calla’s story.

This book was new for the werewolf genre, since the main character was actually a werewolf for a change. Most of the books I have read in the werewolf subgenre feature a female damsel in distress and a male bad-boy-werewolf who is trying to cope with the beastly side of himself. Not that I don’t enjoy those books; I just thought it was pretty interesting to see the world from Calla’s point of view.

And of course the boys in this book were hot. I, personally, am a bigger fan of Ren than Shay. For whatever reason, Shay just seemed too whiney for most of the book. Maybe it’s just because I have a predisposition to the tall-dark-and-handsome type, but I’m usually a fan of the underdog in the story. My theory is that Cremer tried a little bit too hard to make the reader feel sorry for Shay, which backfired and made me like him less. A lot less.

 But boys aside, the other supporting characters in the story were pretty awesome. Calla’s friends made me wish I had my very own wolf pack to be besties with (pardon me, just being a dork here). Bryn was adorable, and Ansel stuck by Calla’s side no matter what. Even though things weren’t always perfect, they were always loyal to each other.

The way the wolves could shift from their wolf form to their human form  and vice versa without going through some creepy body crunching, clothes tearing transformation was a nifty way of doing things. Sure, it could be considered cheating, but it was nice to not have to wonder how the characters could afford to destroy that many pieces of clothing. Kudos to you, Andrea Cremer, for coming up with something simple that I haven’t seen done before.

The plot in this book was pretty easy to follow from the very start. It didn’t really deviate from the regular YA forbidden love story line, which was kind of a disappointment. Yes, the idea of keepers and searchers was a new one, but there wasn’t any big moment that I didn’t see coming. I’m hopeful the next book in the series will leave me a bit more enthralled. I’m not saying the plot in this book was stagnant, because I’m happy as long as there’s at least one original idea in a story, and Nightshade had quite a few.

Overall, Nightshade was pretty enjoyable. I gave it 3.5 stars because I liked it, but there wasn't anything in it that made me want to call one of my friends and tell them they had to read it. It's in that strange in between space of being okay and pretty good, and I can't quite make up my mind about how much I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t my favorite book ever, but it’s pretty neck in neck with most of the other paranormal romances I’ve read. I can’t wait to see how Calla’s story evolves in the next two books, so I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Published: January 24th, 2012; HarperCollins
370 Pages

From Goodreads:
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned--to her old life, her family, her boyfriend--before she's banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance--and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's queen.

My Rating:
5 stars

My Thoughts:

Let me put it frankly; This is a great book. Whether it was the awesome characters, the mythology, or the amazing plot, I had no trouble finishing Everneath.

                Nikki has made some bad choices, which have changed her life drastically. While she could have just curled into a ball and sulked for the 6 months she had left, she didn't, she got out and started mending the broken relationships she left behind. Yes, some of that mending was pretty painful to read (her interactions with Jack start off slow , and they left me wanting more every time), but you get to see Nikki's growth as she goes from an empty shell back to an actual human being. And the story didn't just center around the love triangle between Nikki, Jack, and Cole - Nikki also had to repair her relationships with her father, little brother, and her best friend, all while trying to get over the grief of her mother's death. She was a heroine with depth, so I wasn't annoyed by any of the choices she made. An amazing main character is always the first step to a great story, and was just that kind of character.

                 Jack was another great character in the story. Jack, Nikki's (sort of) ex-boyfriend who has changed since Nikki left. She thinks he hates her, but as the story progresses, you slowly learn more and more about the adorable relationship Jack and Nikki had before she left. Jack seemed like a jerk at the beginning of the story, what with him being described as a jock and a ladies' man. I didn't think my opinion of him would change so much, since he just seemed like one big cliché when he was first introduced. You eventually get to see that Jack never did anything to hurt Nikki - it was just a series of misunderstandings that led her astray. By the end of the book I loved Jack. Yes, he still was a bit of a cliché, but in a good way. He grew along with Nikki, and you could tell their relationship was built on something other than mutual lust.

                Surprisingly, I was a fan of Cole too (I usually only like one of the main male characters). Brodi Ashton did an amazing job of making Cole an antagonist while also being a sympathetic character - even though he wasn't always nice, there were still times I wished he was real so I could hug him.

                The backdrop of mythology that tied this whole story together was another reason I loved this book. I've always found the Persephone myth interesting, so I loved how it was tied into Everneath. It wasn't a verbatim reproduction of the myth - Ashton took it and made it her own.

                I won't go into detail about the end of the book, but I'll just say I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

                Overall, Everneath was a fantastic book. Brodi Ashton created characters that were real, and a story that made sense and had actual depth. I will be reading the rest of the Everneath series as soon as I can get my hands on it (and I suggest you do too).  

Review: Arise by Tara Hudson

Arise by Tara Hudson
Published: June 5th, 2012; HarperTeen
404 Pages

From Goodreads:
New Orleans
Saint Louis
Number One Cemetery
A night there can change a life . . . or a death.

Increasingly worried that dark spirits will carry out their threats and hurt the people she cares for most, Amelia is ready to try anything to protect them. And for his own very different reasons, Joshua has come to this cemetery at midnight to join her in a powerful ritual.

Both know that once Amelia steps inside the Voodoo circle and the beautiful girl from the Conjure Cafe begins the ceremony, everything will change.

Tara Hudson's enthralling sequel to "Hereafter" escalates the danger and excitement, bringing a new dimension to her already mesmerizing story of a haunted love.

My Rating:
4 stars

My Thoughts:

After reading Hereafter, I was somewhat disappointed in the outcome. The first book in a series is supposed to pull you into a rollercoaster ride that leaves you wanting more once it's finally over. I didn't really feel that after reading Hereafter, so I was hopeful that Arise wouldn't fall completely flat.

                I can't say that Arise completely made up for what Hereafter was lacking, but it was a bit better. I liked the setting of New Orleans, since it seemed to be more detailed than Hudson's description of Amelia's hometown in Oklahoma. The original setting was pretty stagnant for me, so a change of scenery was welcome, no matter how random it was.

                Gabrielle was also a breath of fresh air from Amelia's helplessness, I just didn't like how the author sort of shoved her into the story. It was too sudden for Gabrielle and Amelia to go from strangers to friends in all of a day. She was kind of a pro and a con to me; she was the right character, just not at the right time in the story.

                My main problem with both Arise and Hereafter is that they have little to no depth. The story is original, but the characters and the plot were flat to me. The first half of the book was Amelia worrying about leaving Joshua so he wouldn't get hurt by the evil demons that were following her (which, frankly, didn't seem all that evil). When she finally "left" it was for a day, which she spent moping over how much she missed Joshua. Joshua and Amelia win my award for sappiest couple; I would welcome a bit more dysfunction.

                 I really hoped Amelia would grow a bit more in Arise, but she was still fumbling around blindly. Her story could really use some more direction, instead of Amelia simply reacting to situations.

                Don't get me wrong, I liked this book, but it just has some hiccups that made it harder to finish. The series could use some more continuity with the antagonist, since I have a feeling Hudson is going to recycle the same thing that happened in the first two books (but I would be incredibly happy if she didn't!). The demons haven't really been explained enough for them to be menacing - they're just creepy looking people who are supposed to be evil.

I'll probably give something away if I go on, so I'll end this review here. Let me just say that Arise was definitely an improvement over Hereafter, but the series still has a long way to go before it'll be one of my favorites. Tara Hudson wins on originality and her writing, but the flimsy plot and flat characters made it hard to finish. I gave it four stars, because the good outweighed the bad, and I was able to finish it. If you read Hereafter and liked it, I would definitely recommend reading Arise.

Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Published: June 7th, 2011; HarperTeen
404 pages

From Goodreads:
Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life--or her actual death--she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but "will" him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, "Hereafter" is a sensation you won't want to miss.

My Rating:
3 stars

My Thoughts:

Hereafter is the story of Amelia, a ghost that wanders the streets of a small town  and has no recollection of her past, other than that she drowned. Everything changes for her when she rescues a boy from drowning, and her whole world is turned upside down.

                I was first drawn to this story because it's plot sounded so unique - I haven't read many books where the main character is a ghost with no memory of her past. I read it with high expectations, and while I can't say it completely let me down, I wasn't totally enthralled by it either.

                The book started off well enough, with Amelia rescuing a handsome boy named Joshua - who can see her -  from drowning in the river where she died - she doesn't pull him out of the water or anything, she just wills him to live. That seemed sort of strange to me, but still, the romantic in me (I try to keep her locked away as much as possible...) was swooning at their chance encounter.

                Their romance heats up as the story goes on, and I thought Hudson did a good job with building romantic tension between Amelia and Joshua, which included a fireworks-and-electricity reaction whenever they touched. But at the same time, their interactions were extremely cheesy. Joshua was the perfect hero, with his dark hair, blue eyes, and innate ability to compliment the heroine and make her feel all tingly. And I had to roll my eyes every time Amelia's voice cracked/squeaked when she was talking to Joshua. I'm pretty sure it happened every time she spoke to him, and it made her sound like a middle-schooler talking to her crush. Their interactions became a constant repetition of Joshua being perfect, and Amelia swooning at how perfect he was.

                And Eli wasn't very menacing as an antagonist. Amelia went back and forth between whether or not she could trust Eli, and Amelia's final "battle" with him was pretty anticlimactic (in my opinion). I would definitely preferred an antagonist with a bit more menace. Joshua's grandma posed a bit of a threat, but even she was more like an angry kitten.

                My main problem with Hereafter was the ending, which lacked an amazing cliffhanger that would have made me run out and buy the next book ASAP. There was a final showdown and everything, but no setup for the next book. In my opinion, a lot of events were rushed, so the author left little setup for events that could happen in the next book.

                I liked Hudson's writing, but Amelia wasn't really deep enough for me to feel like I could relate to her, and Joshua was too much of a cut-and-paste YA "hottie" for him to be believable. I didn't hate this book, but it could have used a bit more work. The plot had promise, but it went downward from there. I will be reading the next book in the series, and I'm just hoping the characters develop more and become more than just their relationship. I really have no idea what's happening in the next book in the series, but I'm hoping for the best.

                I know I've pointed out a lot of negatives about this book, but Hereafter wasn't a horrible book. I don't regret reading it, but it doesn't stand out from other run-of-the-mill YA novels. I would recommend reading it, since it has an interesting plot, and Tara Hudson's writing is pretty decent. I wouldn't put this on the top of my list, but it was still a good read.     

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie
Published: November 30th, 2010; Dutton Juvenile
366 pages

From Goodreads:
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My Rating:
4 stars

My Thoughts:

                I have been wanting to read Matched for quite a while, so you can only imagine my excitement when I finally found it at the library. I know I'm pretty behind on reviewing it, since it came out in 2010, but I wanted to share my opinion anyways. It wasn't the greatest book I've ever read, but Matched was still an amazing dystopian story. I might be a little bit biased because I'm obsessed with anything dystopian, but I haven't read a single dystopian novel (as of yet) that has let me down completely.

                Matched had some rough edges, but it was overall a good book. Cassia seemed shallow at points, but - in my opinion - that's what happens when you're brainwashed to sit back while someone controls your entire life for you. She was raised to follow instruction, not think for herself, so you can't expect her to be a strong-minded, independent person just yet. I'm hopeful she grows into a stronger personality in the next book, because she had just begun to change by the end of the first book.

                I thought Condie did a great job creating the society - it was detailed, and the government seemed like a menacing force. But there really wasn't much background on how the society formed in the first place. The Society didn't seem loosely thrown together, but at least a little more past info would have helped, such as why the country is divided as it is, and if all of the changes happened gradually over time, or if there was a war that caused sudden changes. I have a few questions, and I hope they're answered in the next book.

                My final problem is that I would have enjoyed a bit more "fireworks" between Cassia and her men. It was simply stated that she and Xander were best friends, but their interactions didn't make it seem that way. Even when they acted like a couple it reminded me of grade school puppy love. Cassia's relationship with Ky was a bit more dangerous and forbidden, but there was a lack of romantic tension built up between them (other than Cassia saying she wanted to kiss Ky). It seemed a little lacking; once again, I'm hopeful to see them develop more in the next book.

                Aside from the things I DIDN'T like about this book, there were plenty of good parts to it, and I expect the problems will be ironed out in the later books. I loved the addition of the poetry in the story, and the way it inspired Cassia to act. And (as I said before) I thought the concept of The Society was original (it just needs to be explained a bit more). This book was really good. It had imperfections, but not so many that I had to set the book down and stop reading it. I enjoyed it, and I would totally recommend reading  Matched, whether you're dystopia obsessed like me, or you just want a good book to read. 

Review: Chime by Franny Billingsley

Chime by Franny Billingsley
Published: March 17th, 2011; Dial
361 pages

From Goodreads:
Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment.

Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know.

My Rating:
2 stars

My Thoughts:

To some, Chime might be the perfect gothic masterpiece. To me, it was confusing, childish, and an overall struggle to finish. The first chapter started off well enough, with Briony telling a judge that she was a witch, and she deserved to die. It was a good hook, but the story went downhill from there.

I was confused from the start by the vague setting of the story (a swamp in England called the swampsea. Where?). And Briony’s inner monologue didn’t help either; she spent so much of the book talking about how horrible of a person she was, that there wasn’t much story there other than that. And Billingsley’s writing style left me with no idea what the setting or the characters looked like. I had to re-read entire sections because of their strange wording, which made me fall out of the story, and made the book an ordeal to finish.

The plot wasn’t confusing, but that was only because it was so simple that I could tell what was going to happen at the end of the book. I didn’t feel like I could relate to anything that was happening because it all seemed so made up.

And the relationship between Eldric and Briony was barely even there. When Briony and Eldric spent time together, it was in their “bad-boy club” which involved Eldric teaching Briony to box, and the two of them speaking in their own made-up version of Latin. And every description of Eldric from Briony’s point of view described him as a lion. I couldn’t see him as a good hero because I kept picturing a man with whiskers and cat ears. And then Briony would go on about how she was lusting for him, for no reason. To put it in short terms; they had zero chemistry.

This absence of chemistry seemed to be because Briony (and the story in general) was so childish. Sure, Briony made a few clever witticisms, but her behavior made her seem like she was ten, not eighteen. And the names she had for the “old ones” sounded like they had been pulled out of a children’s story (take “mucky face” for example). I felt like I was reading a children’s book.

The only thing that keeps me from giving this book one star (I know I haven’t said anything good about it) is that Billingsley’s writing style wasn’t bad in a seemed-like-a-first-grader-wrote-it kind of way. Her writing was detailed and even fancy, but in such a way that it seemed overdone. If the author had spent more time developing her plot and characters (instead of using fancy words and creating pretty sentences) I might have liked this book.

I feel kind of bad about giving Chime such a low rating, but I just couldn’t make myself enjoy reading it, no matter how hard I tried. Certain passages were kind of poetic, but that didn’t make up for the bad plot and flat characters. I liked Rose at certain points, but that was it. Billingsley’s writing style might be an acquired taste, but it’s definitely not for me. Unless you like vague stories with little to no romance, I wouldn’t recommend reading this book.

Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Published: January 17th, 2012; HarperTeen
403 pages

From Goodreads:
For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

My Rating:
5 stars

My Thoughts:

Let me just start off by saying, I finished this book in one sitting. I get bored easily, so if a book doesn’t capture my attention and keep it I eventually put it down and take a break. If it’s a pretty good book, I’ll probably pick it up again later on the very same day. If it’s bad, I’ll agonize over whether or not to finish it at all. In the case of Hallowed, I had no problem finishing the second book in Clara’s story.

The book started off great, was great in the middle, and ended amazingly. There weren’t any epic battles in this book (which, for a YA paranormal book is pretty strange) but that didn’t matter, because the story was emotionally charged enough as is.

It seems like Cynthia Hand has a talent for writing secrets into a story and systematically dropping them like bombs. The thing I loved most about Hallowed was that many of these secrets were revealed by the end of the book, to maximum effect (but not all of them, since there is a third book). Some of them I kind of expected, but others were a surprise, one of the main reasons I could not put this book down.

I also really liked that we finally got to see Christian as a real character, instead of the boy Clara had dreams about, and then spent the next few weeks obsessing over. This time, he’s no longer a superficial popular boy, so we get to learn more about him, and less about how darn hot he is (not that I have any complaints against the hotness). I was sad that Tucker didn’t play as big of a part in the second book, but Christian’s larger role was a fine alternative.

My other reason for giving this book a five star rating, is that it almost made me cry. I had to keep myself from bawling because I would have had one of my family members pounding on my bedroom door and asking me what the heck was going on. The only book that has made me actually cry was Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, but that was mostly because I was just sitting there like “WHAT?!?” as soon as I was done reading it. When it comes to being sad, Hallowed comes in as a close second (but good sad, not everyone-is-dead-and-the-series-is-over sad).

All in all, this book was AMAZING. Angels are a popular theme these days, and I think Cynthia Hand does an incredible job with their back story. It’s original, heart-wrenching, and every single chapter sucks you in and leaves you wanting more. I will be purchasing the third book (Boundless. It has a title! But it doesn’t come out until 2013 D:) as soon as it comes out, so if you haven’t read Hallowed, or it’s prequel, Unearthly, read them ASAP. They’re amazing.  

Review: The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain
Published: March 13th, 2012; EgmontUSA
488 pages

From Goodreads:
 A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.

My Rating:
4 stars

My Thoughts:

In the final installment of the dark divine series, Grace Divine is still the somewhat angsty teen she’s always been (no thanks to the homicidal werewolf possessing her), but she’s faced with bigger problems than she ever had before; Daniel is stuck in wolf form, her mom is in a mental hospital, Caleb Kalbi has escaped, swearing revenge on his son and the Divine family, and Sirhan Etlu (leader of the Etlu clan of werewolves) is dying. If I was in the same situation, I’d probably be a ball of nerves as well.

The relationship between Grace and Daniel is one of the high points in this book. They had moved past their high school relationship and were more of adults when they were together (Daniel kept Grace from going crazy, and vice versa). They couldn’t keep their hands off of each other from time to time, but ultimately, the relationship they shared helped each of them grow, so I enjoyed that aspect of the book. Also, Daniel – post wolf transformation – was no longer described as skinny, or lanky, which was something that had kept me from being a huge fan of his in the first two books. He was a full on “beef cake” this time around, which I was a big fan of.

Talbot, on the other hand, made me sad. I liked him in the second book – sure he was a little intense at times, and we found out he was Caleb’s right hand man, but still, I’m a sucker for the tall dark and handsome types. With Grace and Daniel’s relationship on steady ground, Talbot was shut out. I felt bad for him, but to resist spoiling the book, I won’t say any more than that.

The pack of boys who recognized Daniel as their Alpha at the end of book two returned in the final book, and the “Lost Boys” (as Grace calls them) were good comic relief at points in the book, and they also showed Grace maturing as she mothered them and thought about their welfare, as if they were her own children (awwww!)

My definite favorite part of this book was the awesome fight scenes. It’s a given that there was going to be a final battle between Daniel and Caleb, and the way Bree Despain set up the climax of the book made it a ton more awesome than a father and son going at each other in hand-to-hand combat. The final 50 pages of the book were pretty epic, let me just say that.

My problems with this book, however, kept me from giving it 5 stars. I’ll try not to go on about them for too long, since this was a really great book, but they also kept me from being completely absorbed while I was reading.

First off, parts of the book seemed to drag. It’s kind of long at 488 pages, but that’s mainly because the author can be very descriptive times. This is kind of a neutral thing to me, because I would rather read a well-written descriptive book that’s really long, than a 200 page book that has no detail. I really enjoy Despain’s writing style, so I don’t feel like I wasted my time with this book. I just couldn’t get completely into it.

Also, certain characters in the book annoyed me. I haven’t liked April from the start of the series; she was a sad excuse for a best friend, and I didn’t really see her as a necessary character. Sadly, Grace was also annoying from time to time. When she said she didn’t have a life if they couldn’t change Daniel back into a human, I could practically see the blank pages in Twilight when Edward left Bella. Yes, most of the books I read are about romance, but a heroine should have an identity outside of her relationship with the hero.

My final problem was that the book was pretty predictable at times. I like a book that surprises me, and this one really didn’t.

Overall, The Savage Grace was really good. I like Bree Despain’s writing style, and most of the characters she created. Some parts of the book could have been better, but I would still recommend reading this book if you enjoyed the first two books in the Dark Divine series.

Review: Fateful by Claudia Gray

Fateful by Claudia Gray
Published: March 29th 2012; HarperCollins
328 pages

From Goodreads:
The RMS Titanic is the most luxurious ship ever built, but for eighteen-year-old Tess Davies it’s a prison. Travelling as a maid for the family she has served for years, Tess is trapped in their employ amid painful memories and family secrets.

When she meets Alec, a handsome upper class passenger, Tess falls helplessly in love. But Alec has secrets of his own… and soon Tess is entangled in a dangerous game. A sinister brotherhood that will do anything to induct Alec into their mystical order has followed him onboard. And Tess is now their most powerful pawn.

Tess and Alec fight the dark forces threatening to tear them apart, never realising that they will have to face an even greater peril before the journey is over…
  
My Rating:
5 stars

My Thoughts:
 

I think this book was just the perfect storm for me. First off, I have been fascinated by the story of the titanic since I was little, and I read practically every book I could find on the subject. Imagine my excitement when I found out Claudia Gray had written a YA paranormal romance that took place on the Titanic!

            I didn’t really know what to expect when starting this book, and whether it would be more historical fiction or paranormal romance. Luckily, it was a great balance of both.

            Tess’ employers (the Lisles) were truly evil, and her hopes of getting away from them just kept getting muddled. That is, until she meets Alec - the rich, handsome man of her dreams. Problem is, he’s a werewolf… sure, this story could have become perfectly cheesy from that point on, but it didn’t (yet another one of its many charms).  It had an amazing balance of action and romance, and an evil nemesis to match (other than the Lisles, of course).

            The main thing I LOVE about Claudia Gray’s books (I read her Evernight series, which was also amazing) is that they’re for young adults, but she makes them a bit more sexy than any other YA books I have read. She crosses the boundary of cute puppy love in a very, very good way. Thanks to this, her heroes are always capital H-O-T hot, and Alec fit this description to a T.

            Aside from the hero’s sexiness, this book amazed me because I was practically crying by the end of it. Gray did her research; everything about the titanic was believable, and the last few chapters had me feeling like I was actually there, reliving this tragic event. I even got chills at certain passages because they were so amazingly written.  

            This book was AMAZING, and gets 5 stars because I could barely put it down while I was reading. It’s equal parts exciting, sexy, and moving, which is a hard combination to find nowadays. I know I’ll be putting any new books by Claudia Gray on the top of my reading list from now on. If you haven’t read Fateful by Claudia Gray yet… Read it. Now.

Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Published: April 12th 2011; HarperCollins
359 pages

From Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

My Rating:

4 stars 

 

Thoughts:
 

The YA genre has become overrun with books about werewolves (and other were-beings). Some people scoff at this and say they’ve lost faith in reading any of these books since they think they’re all just the same cut-and-paste story. I, on the other hand, love this abundance of books. Sure, some of them will be bad, but there will also be some amazing ones mixed in there too. As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

            The Gathering was one of these amazing finds. I read Armstrong’s Darkest Powers series a few years ago; I loved her writing style, and her series was one of the first ones I read that had a heroine who was a necromancer. In short, I had high expectations for The Gathering, and I wasn’t disappointed.

            The story starts off with the death of Maya’s best friend, Serena, and then fast-forwards to a year later. Maya has mostly moved on, and spends most of her time with Serena’s boyfriend, Daniel. Her life is mostly problem free, but the new guy, Rafe, won’t leave her alone.

            By far, my favorite part of this book was Maya herself, because there wasn’t a single point in this book where I had to question whether or not she had a brain. She was smart, and she didn’t swoon every time Rafe looked at her. All of the characters in this book were well thought out, and they didn’t fit perfectly into any stereotype.

            After the first few chapters of the book I expected there to be some budding romance between Maya and Daniel, since they were best friends and spent most of their time together. Surprisingly, there didn’t seem to be too much romance between them, but with this being a series I won’t be shocked if something does happen eventually (what can I say, I’m a fan of love triangles).

            The romance between Maya and Rafe was also a high point of the book, because it wasn’t an immediate “oh wow, I’m in love with you even though we just met” situation. Even by the end of the book there wasn’t any declaration that they were soul mates and they would be together forever. I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops in the next book.

Overall, I really liked this book. There were a few points where it dragged a little, but everything else about it was amazing. This book had a lot of setup for the next book (The Calling, which is out now!) so there were a lot of unanswered questions and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. If you’re looking for a great book, definitely read The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong.

Review: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

From Goodreads:
If there’s an upside to having your heart broken, it’s this: A broken heart makes you brave.

The first day of sophomore year doesn’t go the way Lucy planned. After a summer apart from her boyfriend, she’s ready to greet him with a special surprise and instead gets a shocking one in return: He’s breaking up with her. Beyond devastated, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life.

Enter three stunning girls with the unnatural ability to attract boys and an offer Lucy can’t refuse: They can heal her heart in an instant. And then she’ll be one of them—a member of a sisterhood that is impervious to heartbreak and has access to magic distilled from the tears of brokenhearted boys. But to gain their power, Lucy must get a guy to fall in love with her the old-fashioned way, and then break his heart in the next seven days.

While the sisterhood may need another Heartbreaker, Lucy’s only desire is to get her ex back. But how far is she willing to go, and who is she willing to cross to get what she wants?

My Rating: 3 stars

Thoughts:

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers has me torn for multiple reasons. First of all, the sisterhood was original, and I really liked Olivia, Gil and Liza (though the descriptions of Liza as “big” didn’t really make sense to me). When I started reading this book I was expecting more of a cutesy contemporary YA romance where the heroine goes through a few trials before winning back the boy she loves. It was that kind of story in some ways, but it had a lot more magic than I thought it would (in a good way) so I was happily surprised.

On the other hand, the main character and her attempts at romance fell completely flat for me. Yes, it’s supposed to be tragic that Lucy’s boyfriend broke up with her, but after reading the first hundred pages or so, it made no sense why she was so obsessed with him in the first place. There weren’t any descriptions of him that showed his redeeming qualities, other than that he liked to take pictures, but Lucy still kept going after him. My main problem with this was that Lucy spent 95% of the book fantasizing about getting Alex back, so there wasn’t room for any actual romance in the book; there was potential for things to happen, but nothing ever did.

Luckily, this book improved after Lucy finally realized her ex was a dud (sadly, that wasn’t until there were only like 20 pages left in the book). I would give this book a higher rating if it weren’t for all of Lucy’s pointless attempts to win Alex back. But, her final realization was worth the wait, and while I can’t say I loved this book, it was still worth reading.