A Bunch of Books

I haven't posted a review in a while, but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading. In fact, I think I've been reading more since I haven't been blogging about it. Having an ereader makes me read more/faster too, for some reason.
Anyway, in this post I'm going to do mini reviews of the books I've read recently.

The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin has been occupying most of my time lately. I've read through #4, and I know that after I finish A Dance with Dragons that there will be a huge hole in my heart until the next book comes out. These books aren't YA, but they're SO GOOD. 

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver was a great sequel to Delirium. I wasn't sure where it was going at first, but it definitely surpassed Delirium. So much stuff goes down in this book that you'll tear through it in a day and then be angry at yourself because book 3 is a year away. At least that's what happened to me.

This Is Not A Test buy Courtney Summers is a contemp disguised as a zombie book. That's a great thing. You'll come for the zombies, and you'll get them (some of those scenes are so tense you guys), but you also get FEELINGS. I was completely engrossed by this book and am going to be shoving it into people's hands when it comes out in June. If you like zombies and horror, you'll like this book. If you like contemporary books with issues and complex characters, you'll like this book.

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman is so unique in a YA landscape of vampires and werewolves and high school. I've never read The Da Vinci Code, but this is what I imagine it's like, only BETTER. There are a bunch of threads throughout the story, and it's fun seeing them all come together in the end. If you're burned out on the paranormal YA scene, definitely give this one a try. You won't regret it. 

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin was a mixed bag for me. The premise sounded great, and when it started I really liked it. But as the novel went on, I kept finding things that turned me off from the book. I wasn't very invested in the characters, and I felt that some of the aspects of the story could have been pulled off better. That said, I did think that the writing style was very good. Talking with some other people, I've found that I'm definitely in the minority on this one, so if you're into dystopian and steampunk this might be something you'll like. 

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo was ah-mah-zing. I was completely captivated from the beginning. The world building is fantastic, and I'd kinda describe the plot as a mix between Harry Potter, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and The Hunger Games. Kind of. Actually, forget I said that because this is in a class by itself. The story and language are so deep and captivating that I predict that this will be on many "best of" lists this year. 

Finally, Purity by Jackson Pearce. Purity is different from her other novels, but just as good. I don't read a lot of contemp, but this was a great read. The characters felt real, and while the subject matter may be a little much for some people (or so I've seen), I thought that it was handled very well and with a lot of heart and humor. 

Review: Black Heart by Holly Black

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy. 


But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.


Okay. I'm just gonna put this out there. The Curseworker trilogy is one of the best YA series you're going to find. Period. It's combination of mobsters, magic, and con artists sounds fantastic, and it's even better than your expectations. So if you haven't read White Cat, do it. I'll wait.
If you have read the first two in the series, book three isn't a disappointment. There is so much going on in this book, that you won't be able to put it down. The ending was just right, not just for the book, but for the series. I'm sad it's over, but it's been an amazing ride.

Review: Croak by Gina Damico

Fed up with her wild behavior, sixteen-year-old Lex's parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach Lex the family business.

She quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. But Lex can't stop her desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. Will she ditch Croak and go rogue with her reaper skills?

Croak was a nice, original read. It reminded me of the tv show Dead Like Me, in a good way. It took me a while to get used to the voice, but once I got used to it the rest of the book flew by. The concept of a town full of Grim Reapers was unique and interesting, and it lends itself to a lot of dark humor, which I enjoyed. 

There is a lot of violence and language in this novel, something I didn't mind, but some people might. 

This is a great debut and nice start to the series, and I can't wait to see where book two goes.

Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. 

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies. 

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart. 

I'm just going to put this out there: Across the Universe and A Million Suns are probably the best Sci-Fi YA titles on the market right now. I've got friends who don't read this genre raving about these books. If you haven't read them get on it now. 

As for AMS, it goes above and beyond AtU. It felt like every other chapter I was finding out that what I thought I knew was a lie. This book constantly kept me on my toes. I can't wait to see what happens in book three. 

Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps. 

Looking for Alaska is one of those rare books that, after you finish it, makes you sit back and think about life. I knew what was going to happen, so I wasn't expecting much, but the book honestly blew me away. The characters felt so real (although I kept imagining them older than the book states they are) and it was very east to relate to them. I expect that this book will be taught in schools and read and loved for many years to come. 

Review: Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. 

I'm not going to do a long review of this, because if you've read the first two books you're probably going to pick this one up regardless of what I say. 

Bloodrose definitely is a perfect end to the series I can honestly say I didn't see the ending coming at all, and I loved it. If you haven't read the series, now is the perfect time to start because since this is the final book you won't have to wait to find out what happens. 

The Book I'm Most Grateful For

Beth Revis is having an awesome contest, and all you have to do is tell her what book you're most grateful for.




I'm most grateful for the Harry Potter books, because without them all of the other awesome books that are out now probably wouldn't be here.

Review: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

There are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

The Near Witch is one of those books that completely envelopes you from the beginning. The prose is perfect and the story is fantastic. I absolutely loved every aspect of this novel. The setting feels real, but at the same time it has a fairy tale vibe going on which suited the story perfectly. This is an outstanding debut novel and I'll definitely be reading anything else Victoria puts out!

5/5

Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended.Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and 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.

Short review: If you liked Nightshade, you'll LOVE the sequel.

I read this book in one sitting. It was so engrossing and action packed, even more so than the first book. It kind of reminded me of an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in a good way. It's filled with loads of magic and fighting and plotting. I know everyone's always focused on "teams" and when it comes to Ren and Shay, I'm still Team Shay. Especially after this book. This one ends with another cliffhanger, but it's not quite as extreme as the ending of Nightshade. Overall I liked it better than Nightshade, and can't wait for book three!

Book Trailer: Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

I love Melissa, and I can't wait to read this one!

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here—one of whom was his own grandfather—were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

I was expecting this book to be creepy. It's not. Some of the pictures are, but when you take them in context with the book, they become less creepy. The idea of taking real pictures and writing a story around them is awesomely unique, and it adds a lot to the story. The story does drag in a few places, and the pictures are a nice diversion . The story is solid, but I felt that the main character talked and acted like he was a lot older than he should have considering his actual age in the book. The issues I had don't outweigh the positives, though. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a different, unique read. 

4/5

Review: Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

This book is complex. It's a little confusing to start (especially due to the fact that there isn't a map of Inside in the book) but as you read it gets easier to understand. The story follows the typical Dystopian formula, but that doesn't detract from the amazing setting and world building. The thing I liked about this book over a lot of the other Dystopians I've read is the fact that the main character isn't the only person getting things done. As the book progresses, you can sense the growing tension in all of the characters and the payoff is very satisfying. There's a tiny cliffhanger, but the sequel is already out, so no waiting!

Recommended if you like The Hunger Games, Divergent, Across the Universe

4/5

Book Trailer: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I've got this book in my TBR pile, so whenever I get to it I'll have the review up. I just had to share the trailer with you guys because it's one of the best I've seen. What do you think?

Review: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him. 

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers. 

Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

I had high expectations for Brightly Woven. I've been wanting to read it for a while, but I never seemed to be able to get my hands on a copy. The other day I was at the library, and I saw it sitting on the shelf. I practically ran to get it, even though nobody else was around.
I'm a fan of Fantasy, and this novel didn't disappoint. The concept was original, and the characters were fun and interesting. I probably wouldn't call it my absolute favorite, but I can see myself rereading this one. If you like Fantasy and magic and politics, you'll wanna give this one a try.

4/5

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

If you haven't heard about this book yet, where have you been?

I've seen people talking about it all over Twitter and in the blogosphere, and after reading it I know why! This is one of those books that sucks you in and doesn't let up until the end. Since it is dystopian, it's easy to relate it to The Hunger Games. There are a few similarities, but this doesn't feel like a copy. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who loved The Hunger Games, Delirium, or Matched. I recommended it even if you didn't like those books. 

On the official Divergent Facebook page, there's an aptitude quiz just like the one in the book. You can take it to see which faction you would be in. 

I got Erudite. ;)

Review: Red Glove by Holly Black

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else. 

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does. 

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself? 

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

Yay Red Glove! Ever since I finished White Cat, I've been anticipating this one. It definitely lived up to the hype. Normally when I start a new book in a series, it takes a while for me to get back into the swing of the book. Even though it's been almost a year since I read WC, it was super easy to jump back in. 

I love, love, love the world Holly has built in the Curse Workers series. I also love the cons. I was kind of worried that with all the story threads going on that the cons would get pushed to the back, but that wasn't the case. I have so much love for this book and this series and I can't wait for Black Heart!

5/5

Review: The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.  

Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again. 

But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

Carrie has outdone herself. This book is haunting, violent, and beautiful at the same time. If you've read either of the first two books you know that Carrie has a way with words. I can't really explain it, but just the way she chooses to describe things is amazing. I found myself rereading paragraphs because they were just that good. I don't want to say too much about the plot other than it's kind of a continuation from The Dead Tossed Waves, only told from a different perspective. If you haven't read this series, go out and get on it! Just don't be surprised when you find yourself unable to stop.

5/5

Cover Alert! The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Cover Alert! Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Cover Alert! Pledge by Kimberly Derting

This cover is AMAZING. What do you think?