October Contest

Hey peeps!
This is the first time I'm going to upload a picture of myself. It's crazy. It's awesome. And it's for Julie Kagawa's contest for some swag. Yup.

In case you can't read that, it says "Got Faery Fruit?" Yeah, we kind of do.
It's from that one time Meghan went insane eating it, courtesy of Puck!
Anyways, I'm the girl in the black. My name is Lilith, and I'm totally a Winter faery.
My friend's name is Dawn, and she's a Summer Court type of girl!
As you can tell, I'm the total dark night faery, and my friend is totally angelic. Legit.

Note: These aren't our real names! Mine is Valerie, and my epic friend's is a mystery.
Join in the fun! Click here!

A Well Deserved Post

I'm going to keep this short and simple, but I'm now posting reviews for Open Book Society! I am so happy posting for OBS! It's so amazing.

If you haven't heard of it, check it out. Here's my one of reviews: Palace of Stone. Sorry that I waited two months to let you guys know!

Valerie!

PS. Email me if you want to at blackandblue@openbooksociety.com!

The Promise by D.D. Chant

One thing you should know about me is that I usually don’t do historical romance. Sure, historical action (which does not exist) is fine, but a whole book centered on romance is a little overboard for me. Yup, I have no patience reading a whole book about a girl and a guy falling in love in Saxon England. It just gets a bit boring! However, with The Promise, I was kind of proved wrong…
4 out of 5 stars

The Promise by D.D. Chant
4 out of 5 stars
Out! Available!

Summary from Goodreads: Dear Reader,

I wish to tell you a tale that began with a promise destined to change the lives of many. When only a child, Lady Adele of Berron lost her family during a dreadful battle and was betrothed to a stranger. Lord Rafe of Valrek, only a boy himself when the battle of Calis raged, grew to be a feared warrior and trusted advisor to his King. But sadness filled his past and Adele served only to remind him of all he had lost. However the promise that bound these two together caused great anger to some. What, Dear Reader, happened in those days of treachery and darkness? Incline your ear that I may whisper the secrets that you so desire to hear......

Lady Quill

Basically, The Promise is the love story between Rafe and Adele. Of course, it’s not just a love story. It’s a historical love story with action and intrigue! Yay! In other words, it’s not boring. And coming from me, that’s pretty high praise. Then again, when you have a story with murders, a nasty villain, action and blood, how can you call it boring? That’s a rhetorical question, isn’t it?

Compared to Broken City, I have to say that The Promise is better. Well, at least that’s my opinion. I feel like the characters are more memorable and the plot was less spontaneous. Also, the typos were less obnoxious. There were still typos, but it was more like missing a comma in the middle of a sentence instead of gaping grammatical errors. (No offense…)

I really liked the writing style! It was clever and addicting without being in your face, as well as having to vintage feel to it. I admired how the style really did sweep me into Saxon England with all the dresses and weapons and others. Plus, it expanded my vocabulary! (Random, I know.) I had to look up some words, but that’s totally fine with me. Now I can officially say I know what yarrow tissane is! Happiness!

The prologue to The Promise is epic! I mean, what other story has a prologue that’s like a letter to the reader, quickly debriefing him or her on the basics of the story? Not only did that save space and words, but it quickly intrigued the reader as well. I’m pretty impressed, which is quite impressive as well. Also, Lady Quill is such a cool name! I wonder if it has to do with writing the story with a quill….

Who knows?

Broken City by D.D. Chant

Valerie is going to do this review in third person. She doesn't exactly have a legitimate reason for doing so, but her excuse is that Broken City is too awesome to do a regular review for. Not that Valerie ever did regular reviews....
 3.5 out of 5 stars

Broken City by D.D. Chant
3.5 out of 5 stars
Out. Happiness!
Summary from Goodreads: Deeta Richards has never seen the outside world. Before she was born a banking crisis brought civilization to an end and now no one leaves the safety of the compounds unless they need to, but Deeta still dreams of seeing more than the building she was born in. Tom is in the guard, this group are the only people that the tribal elders allow to leave the compound and Tom knows only too well that Deeta could never survive the harshness that exists outside. Then tragedy strikes and Deeta and her sister Jan find themselves captured by a hostile tribe. Why does Tom know so much about these people? And why do they know so much about him? As this mystery draws to a climax, they discover that their friend Tom is not quite what he seems...

Valerie really enjoys the character Tom. In her opinion, he is smart, complicated, calm and definitely a hero. He was always there for Deeta, no matter what the circumstances were. Valerie loves how hard it was to figure him out; she loves characters with that characteristic. Not only that, but she also loves Tom's story. He has a whole back story that is surprising and unexpected, but it also explains his character and his reason for being in the same building with Deeta. Valerie greatly favors Tom; according to her he is probably her favorite character in the book.

That's not to detract from Deeta, of course. Valerie liked reading from Deeta's point of view. She liked reading about her life and all of her moments with Tom (obviously!). Valerie enjoys the fact that Deeta is a curious, strong heroine, even considering her sheltered background. Valerie thinks that Deeta is pretty epic! Valerie also thinks that Deeta is realistic character; she's believable and likable as well. Deeta is just plain cool.

The supporting characters, in Valerie's opinion, are well-developed. All of the actions made by them are believable. Valerie was not dumbfounded at any point at how absurd a character ended up being or how odd they were acting. Why? Well, they didn't break character, so they weren't absurd. Valerie loved the variety in ages in the supporting characters. There were children, but there were also older characters as well. Yay!

Valerie loves the plot. She loves how unpredictable it is. She loves how she did not see the ending coming. She's obsessed with the fact that the twists, however unseen, also made sense. Valerie likes how it's unique from most dystopian novels. She likes how there are tribes, which makes it seem a bit more realistic and less unbelievable. As you can see, Valerie really likes this plot. She can tell you might be tired of reading about it, so she will now move on.

The only problem that Valerie has with the story is the amount of typos. It was sometimes hard for Valerie to focus on the story when the missing punctuation marks and spelling errors made it hard to understand the writing. She just wishes that they wouldn't detract from the story. However, at times the typos really annoyed Valerie. At times Valerie got really....

There's a lot of Valerie's in this review... don't you think?

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

I just wanted to say that Cracked Up to Be is perfectly sad and sadly perfect. (Although I'm not sure why being perfect would be sad. Parker Fadley knows though.) 5 out of 5 stars.

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers
5 out of 5 stars
Out. Buy it. Change your life.
Summary from Goodreads: When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace? Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her conselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all. Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth. Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

Cracked Up To Be was the exact opposite of what I expected. It's about a girl with issues, and the girl is just trying push everyone away. She's trying to remember this huge mistake she made, even when everyone else has forgotten about it or gotten over it. She's sinking into herself, into this huge hole that replays that one night over and over again. This girl, Parker, just wants to be alone, but no one will let her be.

I didn't hate Parker like some people did. In the beginning, I just couldn't understand why she acted the way she did. I was a little confused by why she was so cold, but as the story kept on going, I started to understand. Parker Fadley is not easy to like, but you can't help loving her. I wanted to scream at her at times, but I couldn't. It was like she was this fragile thing underneath her facade. I felt like she was far away and I couldn't reach her, just like everyone else she knew did.

When I finally figured out why Parker is so broken, I started crying. I normally don't cry when I read books, but I couldn't help it. Parker's mermory is so horrible; I can't imagine having to live through it. Parker gives you the memory in bits and pieces, but that doesn't stop the force of it. I couldn't believe how terrible it was. Well, actually, I could, but it was still really shocking. I mean, from the way Parker acted after, it wasn't hard to believe the truth.

I really hated the ending. I hated how unhappy it was. I guess that's the way it was supposed to be. Parker made this huge mistake. She kept on pushing people away. She has to pay the consequences after. I hated how it ended up that way, with all the happiness a little too far away from her grasp. It made me sad how a sad book ended in a sad ending. But it makes you cry. I haven't written a review in a long time, but Cracked Up to Be made me start writing one. It also made me want to be a little nicer and a little better. It changes you. That's the true beauty of Cracked Up to Be. No matter how much you want to stop thinking about it and just try to stay the same, you can't. You have to change.

I guess that's the way Courtney Summers meant it to be.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

I guess I'm probably the only person I know who has not felt passion to this book to the point where love is in the air. I mean, sure I admired it and all, but I didn't love it. I don't understand what went wrong because I should love The Immortal Rules. There's great character development, tons of bloody action and just enough romance. It's either me or the vampire aspect. It's probably just me....
3.75 out of 5 stars.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
3.75 out of 5 stars
Published 4.24.12
Recieved from Netgalley
Summary from Goodreads: In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity. Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters. Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad. Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike. But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

The Immortal Rules starts off with Allie in the Fringe, barely surviving with her friends, including a boy named Stick. She's the only one who cares for Stick, who happens to depend on her. He can't survive; he literally has a bare mind and survives only by the kindness of Allie. Until the day Allie is attacked by rabids.

Then a vampire offers her a choice: die or stay forever dead as an immortal vampire. Of course, Allie chooses to become a vampire. During that process, she learns so many skills. She learns that vampires cry blood, they can only drink human blood, and that some are incredibly evil and will do anything for an exotic looking girl. She learns to fight with a katana- an epic Samurai sword, which is so cool! She also develops a ton of skills, including being super fast and silent and having the ability to naturally attract people. She starts getting used to being a vampire!

Fate brings her to join a group of humans who don't know she's a vampire.... yet. There's Caleb, this really cute little boy who has yet to learn about the evils in the world and Caleb's older sister, Ruth, who is a very jealous girl with relatively well intentions. And of course there's Zeke. He's the love interest, and surprisingly, not a bad boy. I thought he would be like Ash, but Zeke's this really nice boy. He's a golden boy... literally. He's got blonde hair and blue eyes which are to die for! Of course, Allie doesn't want to fall in love with him. After all, it puts him in trouble. As time passes, however, she can't help it! I mean, who can resist Zeke? He's just so nice and so good and so angelic and so kind! He's the type of boy that you can always love and always count on. He would never try to put you in trouble or forget you.... as long as you're a human.

Of course, that brings an epic plot twist! Actually there are tons of plot twists! You see, Julie Kagawa is the master of plots. At first I thought I could predict what would happen, but I was wrong. You can't tell who is the traitor and who is the good guy until the end. That brings me to the cliffhanger! There is this huge cliffhanger! I can't believe it! It was crazily great! It's not a cliffhanger that's boring; it's a cliffhanger that makes you want to go to Julie Kagawa's house and kidnap her and force her to write you the next book quickly! Yes, it's that crazy!

However, there were also some other parts that I did not like. I guess it's the whole vampire aspect. There's something about vampires that is just so old, no matter how you try to revamp them. (Bad pun!) I guess even if your vampires are like Allie, you still can't help but get sick of them. It's just a natural reaction. I think everyone will love it though! It's just that I'm a little different.... not always in a good way. Another thing is Allie. I don't like how she's so rude and rash and mean, especially to Ruth and Zeke. I know that Ruth is not the most admirable character, but Allie should have treated her more nicely. I think that Allie's behavior really stopped me from liking her as much as I should have. It's just so unsettling how mean she is. She should have a nicer heart... no offense. As for Zeke, sometimes Allie treated him like trash. He honestly should have been treated more nicely. At times, I was awestruck by how she treated him. So yes, Allie isn't exactly the most lovable character, even after you find out about her life.

BUT I'M STILL GONNA READ THE SEQUEL! It's a love-hate relationship!

Enna Burning by Shannon Hale

I love, love, love Enna Burning, to the point where I'm fired up and about to burn! (Bad pun!) I fell for The Goose Girl, but I've fallen even harder for Enna Burning. Maybe it's the word burning, but I have no idea. All that I know is that it's a definite 5 out of 5 stars!

Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
5 out of 5 stars
Published!
Summary from Goodreads: Enna and Princess Isi became fast friends in The Goose Girl, but after Isi married Prince Geric, Enna returned to the forest. Enna's simple life changes forever when she learns to wield fire and burn anything at will. Enna is convinced that she can use her ability for good--to fight Tira, the kingdom threatening the Bayern borders--and goes on secret raids to set fire to the Tiran camps and villages. But as the power of the fire grows stronger, she is less able to control her need to burn. In her recklessness she is captured by the Tiran army and held captive by a handsome, manipulative young captain who drugs her to keep her under his influence. Can Isi and her old friends Finn and Razo rescue her without sacrificing themselves? And with the fire still consuming her, will Enna find a way to manage the gift that threatens to destroy her?
In The Goose Girl, I didn't exactly like Enna. She was just too bubbly to the point of annoying. However, in Enna Burning, I got to know Enna Burning and understand her a little more. I can't say that she's my favorite character, but I can say that I like her a little more and I don't think she is annoying. Enna definitely is flawed. She has good intentions, but she is a bit rash and bold at times. That gets her in a lot of sticky situations, which causes more trouble than she expected. The main issue is that she does everything independently, even though she needs the help of her friends. It's hard for her to change, but by the end of the book, she develops like crazy. I love character development!

I also love twisted, messed up villains. I fall in love with them, which is pretty unfortunate for my friends. In this book, the twisted guy really takes advantage of Enna. He does mean well, but he also has high wants. He wants Enna to betray and kill against her will, but I still can't help but fall in love with him! I think he's so broken, even though he is also incredibly selfish and mean and cruel. It's so sad how messed up he is. If he had a better heart, maybe Enna would seriously consider him. Finn was cute and loyal and all, but I just couldn't really connect with him. He's just so nice to a point where you think he's too nice. He's perfectly quiet, which is definitely a little boring. Sure, he may be the best guy for Enna, but he's totally not the best guy for the reader. I want a guy with issues, not a guy who is a block. No offense to anyone who loves Finn, of course. It's just that I want a guy with attitude!

I totally missed Ani and Geric! Ani is still your wise character who can definitely help Enna, especially when Enna discovers the gift of fire. Fire is a blessing and a curse. It gets you wanting to burn more and more, to the point where the people you love are in danger. You end up falling victim to its addiction, and there's no going back. Unless, of course, you have a great friend who has the power of the wind. Friendship is a topic that is greatly stressed, and I love how Shannon Hale intertwines it with a bit of fantasy! Isn't it so amazing how fairy tales are so interesting now? Yes, I now love them.

P.S. The Goose Girl is actually a real fairy tale, one of many compiled by the Grimm brothers! I just read it last night, and I have to say, I love Shannon Hale's version a whole lot more! It's so much more detailed, although I greatly enjoyed the shorter version as well!

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. DON'T READ THIS REVIEW IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK. IT WILL RUIN YOU. (And yes, I'm posting!) 5 out of 5 stars!

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
Published in 2012
5 out of 5 stars
Summary from Goodreads: The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.


This is going to be a rant on Zach. He's mysterious and cool, yes, but he also has that stalker angle too. I don't like how he can be such good friends with Bex and than have the nerve to kiss Cammie. I don't like how he was so secretive before. Yes, now he has developed more, but I still don't like him. (I think that that's just me though.) I'm just more Team Hale than Team Zach. Zach just isn't goode (bad pun!) enough for Cammie.

As for Cammie, let's just say I'm glad she goes crazy. That was a huge risk taken by Ally Carter! It totally paid off! I like how Cammie is vulnerable at the beginning and how she ends up buddying with her friends. I am so glad she goes crazy. It just makes it all seem a little more realistic, a little closer to the truth. Plus, she is so much stronger and independent than what she was like in Only the Good Spy Young. This Cammie is new and improved. She's a hardcore version of her passed self! I love how she ends up being not crazy in the end; it's kind of the comforting event we readers need.

This plot is totally unique, in a great way! You have Solomon, who wakes up and graces us with his amazing presence. Then Dr. Steve, who totally is a traitor and a liar and needs to be locked up. I hate him and how he used Cammie and Zach. I hate how he got away with it. But kudos to Ally for the epic twist! I did not see it! That was amazing! Of course, I love how there's Sublevel 3 and even more gadgets and events! I missed reading this series! I missed the suspense and all the twists made. I missed not knowing what would happen next!

I'm going to miss reading a GG book, as GG6 is not going to come out for a long time. And it's kind of ironic that I'm reviewing it exactly a month after the release date.....

Yes, I'm going crazy. And no, I don't need Cammie to help me remember. (Although, I'd love to meet Preston. I actually love Preston! Preston>Zach.)



View all my reviews

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
5 out of 5 stars
Published
Summary from Goodreads: Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.
On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

13 Reasons Why I Loved This Book

1. It's so beautiful and heartwrenchingly sad.
I guess that goes with books about suicide, but it's just that it's so fragile as well. This book seems like it could break and fall apart and waver in the wind. Of course that isn't the most important thing. It's just that it can make you cry like a maniac and more. In other words, bring some tissues!

2. It's not cheesy.
I hate cheesiness. I hate all cliche and annoyingly predictable plots with mushiness. Luckily, Thirteen Reasons Why is not one of those books. Instead, it's realistic and real and actually sad and a portrait of what can happen. I'm still amazed by how much I didn't rant over the cheesiness because there's NOTHING to rant over. This book, people, is something for the people in life who love to find realistic books. (Which means everyone!)

3. It affects people.
This book makes people want to change themselves for the better and stop acting petty. It makes them want to pay attention to the world and help make it happier. It makes people want to avoid Hannah's situation and actually do something. It's inspiring; need I say more?

4. It's narrated by two people.
At the same time. Side by side. The only way to tell that Hannah is talking is by the italics. That's crazily hard to do, and guess who pulled it off? Jay Asher. Yup, that's right. He pulled it off flawlessly without getting the reader confused or wasting the reader's brain. He actually pulled it off! Congratulations!

5. It's short.
I finished it in a day without spending too much time. For readers who don't really like reading, this book is a must! Thirteen Reasons Why is a sucker-punch people! It is a masterpiece because it manages to fit a ton of punch in less than 300 pages! That is called genius!

6. It has a great writing style.
I love first-person! It's so easy to understand and all, but that's not the main point. I feel like I can bond more with the main character than in third-person. Furthermore, Jay Asher's writing made you feel sad, happy, worn out, whatever he wanted you to feel! It's kind of beautiful, kind of brief and straight to the point. It's epically amazing.

7. It has an epic title!
I don't need to expand on this, do I?

8. The characters really are something rare.
Hannah is a gem. She's clever and morbid and depressed and truly messed up. That's why I like her. She is a truly flawed character with issues. That's life, and she wants you to know it. I don't approve of her actions, but I love her character.
So many characters are flawed and haved individual personalities. Mr. Porter, Bryce, Clay, Courtney. All these people are truly not just characters, but real, animated spirits.

9. The cover is perfect.
Something about a girl on a swing just totally pops. It's not normal. It's not done. It's unique, just like this book.

10. It's unique.
No one writes about the reasons why a girl killed herself. Period. Except Jay Asher. That's why I loved it.

11. These names are incredible!
I love how the names seem modern and brief and contemporary. They pop with the story and make you remember them. They are totally epic and amazing!

12. It happens so quickly.
Thirteen Reasons Why spans over a period of less than 4 days. It's so brief and quick and just what I call an "overnighter." It's focused mainly on one night, yet there's so much to read about! It's totally not normally done, which is another reason why I love it!

13. It's crazily popular!
I love how popular this book is. Now I can talk to people who've actually read this book and bond with them! Okay, so maybe that's not a valid reason, but not like I care! Popularity can be a reason, as long as you let it!

Goodbye!

I guess you might have noticed that I've recently started blogging less and less and that I haven't really done anything but post reviews. It's true. Nowadays blogging seems more like a burden than something fun to me, so I've decided to kind of drop it.

Yes, I just wrote that.

My blog will still stay here, it's just that I probably won't be posting very much if at all. I'll still be reviewing but just on Goodreads! I'll miss you all, and I'm grateful for all the fun I had!
Peeps, I miss you already!

My Goodreads Profile

Love ya forever!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Yes, this is a sci-fi twist on Cinderella! And yes, I'm reading a fairy tale! (Well, kind of!) Cinder's more like a creepy cyborg novel with a bit of Cinderella than a Cinderella with a bit of creepiness. Since I'm all for the creepy, I definitely liked this book. 4 out of 5 stars.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
4 out of 5 stars
Published in 2012
Summary from Goodreads: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.


Today's rant, or rather, review, is called "In Which Valerie Is Crazily Obsessed With A Girl Named Cinder." In short, Cinder is epically epic! I like Cinder. She's kind of insecure, kind of strong, kind of smart and kind of average, except for the fact that she's this amazing mechanic and cyborg. However, by the end of the book, she's a bit stronger and definitely twice as awesome! I like how she can actually talk to Kai without getting too shy at the end of the book. I also like how the author was not afraid to make the main character a cyborg. That's a huge risk, and if you ask me, it paid off.

Yes, this is kind of a retelling of Cinderella, but it's also so much more exciting. You see, there's also a lot of other side plots that revolve around the ball and around cyborgs and this species known as Lunars. Not only is included, but there's also a lot about the this epidemic that has spread like crazy throughout the world, adding to the long list of chaos! It's crazily scarily exciting with tons of action! However, the reason why I had to take away a point is because I could guess the most important twist. Most people probably won't be able to, but I did. I guess that just makes me an obsessed reader or a very critical reviewer.

I absolutely love the supporting characters. You have Iko, this bubbly, amazing android! I love how positive and opitimistic she is! She is so happy and inspiring and helpful and loyal to Cinder. You have Kai, the prince and our love interest. He happens to be pretty charming and handsome and swoon-inducing, at least for Cinder. I like how friendly he is! I am surprised with Peony. I like how nice she is, especially for a stepsister! You don't normally find nice stepsisters! (Not in the Disney Cinderella, at least.) I love how Cinder's side characters are just as cool as our main character and how I can relate with all of them. They never, ever break character! I can kind of predict them, and that's what I LOVE about this book. You think you can predict a character, but then something happens and your thoughts change again! Exploding diagrams, people! It's crazily crazy and totally amazing!

As for the cover, let's just say the whole shoe thing has made me crazy. I've stuck this book under my cover-lust shelf, and I've got to say that I'm so not regretting it. This cover is just as amazing as the book itself, which, if you ask me, is pretty hard to do. It's even harder to drool over this book, but I did it anyways! SWOON, SWOON, SWOON!

Excuses!

Today I'm too lazy to type a review because of something called MANGA.
Here's the link: Mangahere's epic version

This one's epic!

Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers

I know this book is morbid, but I can't help loving it. I hate how it makes death seem so amazing, but I love it anyways! I can't help obsessing over everything about this book even if it's so creepy and scary and totally not normal! I love Grave Mercy even though I'm not supposed to! 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers
4.5 out of 5 stars
Publishing 4.3.12
Recieved from NetGalley
Summary from Goodreads: Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Ismae is a strong, jaded girl. She's so broken and has definitely been through tons of harsh experiences. When she finds herself at St. Mortain, things start to change. She starts to grow even stronger and become a warrior, or rather a handmaiden to Death. I liked reading about her experiences at the convent and what she learned. What I loved is how she developed from a bold girl unable to love to someone who is strong yet loves incomparably. I guess Ismae is that girl who is a jewel in the rough. I guess she's too amazing to write about too much as well....

Gavriel Duval. I guess all the guys who are epic assassins and have major charm happen to have cool names! He's so sharp and brilliant and sly and clever and simply not normal! At first he's headstrong and bold and totally ticks Ismae off, but as they get to know each other, they totally can't live without each other! You see, they have great chemistry! I love how their comebacks and conversations totally build off of each other. If I have to only write one thing, I guess I'd say that Gavriel totally rocks your socks off! (And your shoes!)

This is not your normal plot with normal twists and normalness. Grave Mercy is about a mission, a mission so huge that it contains so many side stories. There's a murderer, a traitor, a task to be fulfilled and allegiances to be pledged. There's so much happening that it sometimes gets overwhelming! Not only that, but there's the whole morbid aspect of it all; usually death is not that welcome or normal of a topic, but in Grave Mercy it is. One thing to definitely keep in mind is the uniqueness of this book. I don't think you'll find another one like this!

The setting is breathtaking. There's so many descriptions of an older time with simply beautiful and half romantic sights. I love how Grave Mercy is set in a time long ago, so the author gets to make everything up! The setting totally brings a lot of unique stuff such as different weapons and dress. If Grave Mercy was set in a contemporary frame, it just would not have the same ring to it. In other words, this setting is perfect just the way it is.

It's coming out in two days! Make sure to get your paws on it! It is totally more than worth it! Yay!

Tempest by Julie Cross

1521 ratings later, I finally realize that I should actually start reading a book that's been on my shelves for over three months. 706 reviews later, I finally post my own. Now I actually finished it! 4.25 out of 5 stars!

Tempest by Julie Cross
4.25 out of 5 stars
Published in 2012
Summary from Goodreads: The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

I've waited a long time to read Tempest and an even longer time to finally read another book about time travel. As for the time travel in this novel, all I will say is that it's not exactly what you'd expect. You see, no matter what he does when he is time traveling does not change the present. I thought that was pretty cool, so I was even more cooled out when even more action started pouring in. When Holly got shot, I was shocked even though it was already in the summary. Still, that's not even the most exciting! It's just the beginning! In other words, this plot is filled with ACTION AND TWISTS. It's just that amazing!
Plus, there's a bit of the spy stuff going on. You have the CIA, science nerds, some hardcore ninja moves and, I repeat, a ton of action!

Jackson is okay. I personally do not think he's that crush-worthy, but he's still a decent guy. Sure he might have some issues like being secretive and being easily forgetful, but no one's perfect. The reason why I don't love isn't because of those issues, it's just that he isn't exactly what you would call a bad boy. Half of me really loves how he loves Holly and is really loyal to her. The other half kind of hates him because he actually seems kind of normal. With Jackson, I'm on the fence. Nothing else to say now.

Another thing that happened with Tempest is that I kept on putting this book down. The first day I read it, I only got to page twenty. I then put it down for two more days. Finally, I started reading a bit. Basically, with Tempest, you can't really guarantee that you'll ever finish it. It's not that it's a bad book, it's just that it's kind of forgetful in my opinion. I kept on getting distracted by other books for some odd reason, and I honestly do not think I will be the only one who ends up distracted.

It's not that the writing is bad. In fact, it was great. I loved the first-person writing and how I was not lost as the setting kept on changing. I loved how I could be sucked into the story, if only for a few minutes. I loved how I could understand 2009 and 2007 quite easily. There goes the college setting! In other words, no matter what the author is writing about, you will love it!

Warning: there are some parts that will offend younger and Christian readers. If you do not like swearing or some innappropriate topics, do not read this book. Remember that these kids are college students, so of course it is not for all readers. Keep this in mind!

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

It's been a long, long time since I've read a book by Ally Carter. It's been an even longer time since I've read a book about stealing, and I've missed it! I have honestly missed the wit and humor of Ally Carter! So yes, 5 out of 5 stars!

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
5 out of 5 stars!
Published in 2011!
Summary from Goodreads: Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life life. Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long, and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous and that is simply… the emerald is cursed.

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all she has her best friend—the gorgeous Hale—and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses, realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

Whenever Hale pops into my mind, and trust me, he does that a lot, I always think, SWOOOOOOOOOON! Yes, I am so in love with him! Hale's epic. He's loyal, cute, and charming! I love how his name is W.W. Hale! I love how he always says the awesomest to Kat and how he is always hugging Kat! I love him! Yes, he's so on my crush list. And yes, if he were real, I would so be stalking him.
Maybe it's just the name, but Hale's that smooth guy that all the girls, including me, just happen to stalk and fall in love with him!

Of course, Kat comes next. Kat, like Hale, is epic. She's clever, tiny, smart, sassy and of course, catty! In Uncommon Criminals, Kat goes through something called CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. You see, she's drunk on stealing. She's taking the credit all for herself and doing all the missions herself. She is addicted to stealing and needs to get out of it. So of course, the fabulous Ally Carter makes her learn. By the end, Kat is a much better person. She's also a much better thief and acknowledges her team. Not to mention that this development is also plausible. You see, usually characters develop too much or too little. However, Kat develops just the right amount.

As for the plot, I have one word: FANTABULOUS! I love this plot! There are so many twists, not to mention the entrance of a new jewel to steal, the Cleopatra! The Cleopatra has a dark history and an even darker shine. I am literally lusting after the Cleopatra, not to mention hating the so-called villian. Her name just might be Maggie. She's a great, twisted character at the least. I think I admire her as a villain, but let me just say that she's sly and clever. A bit too sly and clever, if you know what I mean. She's a mutant monster with a bit of ninja! Crazy!

I'm in love with the cover! I love it. Maybe it's the pearls or the Cleopatra or the model, but I'm obsessing over it! I can not stop looking at this cover. I will literally go blind looking at it over and over again. It's honestly glued to my side, and I'm totally not exaggerating!

I love the idea of stealing stuff. If I could be a theif, I so totally would! Stealing stuff is just so appealing to anyone and everyone; adults and kids alike will love it! I am so lusting after stealing, if that makes sense at all. Of course, that's expected from the genius Ally Carter. She's so clever, even more sly and clever than Maggie and Kat combined!

Waiting on Wednesday: Gravity

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted Jill over at Breaking the Spine that features upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating!

This week's not-yet-published "need-to-read-now" selection is:

Gravity by Melissa West
Publishing 10.28.12

Summary from Goodreads: In the future, only one rule will matter: Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed--arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know--especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

I admit, I'm definitely not the biggest fan of science fiction. In fact, I am definitely the opposite. However, I can't wait to read Gravity! I want to try this sci-fi novel out!

Teaser Tuesday: Uncommon Criminals

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at ShouldBeReading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

My Teasers:

"I for one like chaos. Chaos looks good on me." -pg. 145

"I think you should apologize to my ship first." -pg. 151
(This is on the ship....)

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan

Do you know what sucker-punches are? They're short books that pack a lot of punch. They can change a person within a matter of pages. They are epic and amazing and beyond awesome.... and Becoming Naomi Leon is one! 5 out of 5 stars!

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan
5 out of 5 stars
Published in 2004
Summary from Goodreads: The highly anticipated new novel from the Pura Belpre and Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author of ESPERANZA RISING.Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw has had a lot to contend with in her young life, her name for one. Then there are her clothes (sewn in polyester by Gram), her difficulty speaking up, & her status at school as "nobody special." But according to Gram's self-prophecies, most problems can be overcome with positive thinking. Luckily, Naomi also has her carving to strengthen her spirit. And life with Gram & her little brother, Owen, is happy & peaceful. That is, until their mother reappears after 7 years of being gone, stirring up all sorts of questions & challenging Naomi to discover who she really is.

Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw is a girl of many layers. She's quiet, mousy and boring at first sight. Get to know her, and you'll realize she is actually so much more. She has the heart of a lion. She has a mind of courage. She is so much more than what you expect. She might only be in fifth grade, but she seems so much more mature. She is Naomi, and she is worthy of being called a heroine.

Owen is cute. What else can you expect from a little brother? He is called deformed by his mother, but I call him sweet and precious and optimistic and truly nice. Some brothers are annoying, but this brother is truly not! He has a heart of gold and a smart mind. I love how optimistic he is; he does not let anything or anyone get to him. He truly is nice by the way he thinks about people. While they might make fun of him, he still loves them. He truly loves his enemies.

As for Naomi's mother, I'm just going to say she has issues. I really dislike her to the point where it is almost hating. I honestly can not believe anyone could be as evil as her. She's the villain that at first seems like the good guy. At first I thought she would have a heart of gold, but I was wrong. She is a wretched monster, and everyone should dislike her. She is so selfish and messed up and mean, and did I mention messed up? I hate her to the point that I would probably start yelling stuff to her face...

This story is a quilt. Like a quilt, there are so many layers woven together flawlessly. Every event blends into each other to the point where you can not tell them apart. Every single event is tied to another, and it is done perfectly. I love how it is overwhelming, but not to the point where I get a headache.

The author probably is a poet. Every single word can be a single poem; it's just that beautiful and raw and full of emotion. I felt like crying during some parts, and the writing helped a lot. It is tense and broken and sad. Then it gets cheerful and truly happy and amazingly beautiful. It is a mirage of creativity and wonder. It is a masterpiece.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

I normally don't review a book until at least two days have past. Time to break that tradition! Today I finished the Goose Girl, and today I will review it! People might wonder why, but all I will say is why not? It's a definite 5 out of 5 stars!

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
5 out of 5 stars
Published in 2005
Summary from Goodreads: She can whisper to horses and communicate with birds, but the crown princess Ani has a difficult time finding her place in the royal family and measuring up to her imperial mother. When she is shipped off to a neighboring kingdom as a bride, her scheming entourage mounts a bloody mutiny to replace her with a jealous lady-in-waiting, Selia, and to allow an inner circle of guards more power in the new land. Barely escaping with her life, Ani disguises herself as a goose girl and wanders on the royal estate. Does she have the pluck to reclaim her rightful place? Get ready for a fine adventure tale full of danger, suspense, surprising twists, and a satisfying conclusion. The engaging plot can certainly carry the tale, but Hale's likable, introspective heroine makes this also a book about courage and justice in the face of overwhelming odds. The richly rendered, medieval folkloric setting adds to the charm.

I don't know how Shannon Hale does it. She conquers that problem that most authors writing in third-person have- the dreaded problem in which the reader can not relate to the main character. However, Shannon Hale totally gets rid of that problem! I felt as if I could totally relate to Ani without being bogged down by the third-person. Also, with third-person tends to come something called flowers. I absolutely loathe flowers, so it's a good thing the Goose Girl was not overflowery! I was so glad that the writing was UNDERSTANDABLE and great!

Ani is a great example of a believable character. In the beginning, she is a plain, boring girl. She follows everyone's directions and orders. She worries constantly about what others think of her. She is weak, and she knows it as well. However, throughout the story, she really develops. She learns to speak her mind (at least a little bit), become a bit braver and trust people. She becomes less shy and more amazing! She gets a bit bolder and more humorous. She's not afraid to be herself.

I thought fairy tales were boring and full of romance and mushiness. I thought wrong. While the Goose Girl has a bit of romance, it's not entirely centered around that. It's also about speaking and talking to animals and loving animals and truly caring for them with all your heart. It's about that special feeling you feel when caring for a pet or looking at the cutest animal ever. It's also full of action and a bit of fantasy! I liked how I could get interested in the fights just as quickly as I got into talking with Falada! I loved it all!
One thing I will say is that this plot, the flow and ease of it all, is totally unexpected. There are characters that aren't your average villains. There are some who you will fall in love with and others you will hate with passion. Everyone is created with a purpose, and it's either to make you hate them or love them. There really is no in between, which is what I love even more.

As for this cover, I will just say to judge the Goose Girl by its cover. The girl on the cover is so pretty! I just love her dress and the geese in the background. If possible, the cover is just as good as the writing itself! Which is kind of impossible, but it's totally theoretical!

So, just keep in mind that the Goose Girl is not entirely your light, average, fairy tale read! It's that and so much more! Just read it and find out how epic it is for yourself!

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

I love this series! With most series, I don't bother to read the sequels until about a year later. However, with the Mythos Academy series, I CAN'T NOT read it! I also can't not obsess over it. It's like a disease of obsession! 4 out of 5 stars!

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep
4 out of 5 stars
Published in 2011
Summary from Goodreads: I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

One thing I'm questioning is the author's choice to wait until the middle of the book to put Logan in the story. To tell you the truth, I kind of missed him. I really missed his loyalty and how he cared for Gwen. I wanted him and Gwen to be together! In other words, Logan kind of won me over. I really like him now! (The power of bad boys!)

Gwen, as usual, is your average stubborn, strong, great heroine! She's blunt, sharp and smart! I love how smart she is! She always uses her brain, even when she does not want to. Even when she is close to dying, she tries to get out of the situations and survive. She really has the mind of a heroine; I admire her character and ability to survive swords.
As for her psychometry, I'm just glad that Gwen used it well. You see, her powers grow, but she does not use them selfishly, well not in the end. She uses them for good reasons.

I could tell who the villain was the first time I read about her or him. While this time it was kind of obvious, the whole story behind it is not. I did not know the true identity of the villain until it was explained. In the end, the author still manages to surprise you. Yay! Anyways the part with the Reapers is explained in more complexity, so I feel as if I understand that part better.

I like Gwen's grandma. She is epic! I like how she can the future. However, I like her goodies and baking even more! Every time I read about what food she is whipping up, my mouth literally starts drooling. I was covered in drool by the end of the book! (Well, maybe not covered...)
Plus, I thought she had some great advice. Gwen's grandma is your light that helps you see when it's black and dark out. She's that loving character every book needs!

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

I think I've missed out on ranting about the book by about two years. You see, two years ago, I could have read this book. I actually had it! However, for some reason, I did not. That's where my missing out comes in. Why? It's an all-time-favorite! 5 out of 5 stars!

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
5 out of 5 stars!
Published in 1961
Summary from Goodreads: A Journey to the Lands Beyond...

For Milo, everything's a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he's got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it's exciting beyond his wildest dreams...

I absolutely love puns. Puns, if you ask me, are amazing. I obsess over books as well. (Everyone should know that...) So when you combine puns and books, you obviously get a book I should love, such as the Phantom Tollbooth. The Phantom Tollbooth brings puns to a new level! The wordplay is epic! I love how the author played with the words to get some downright hilarious and sometimes silly results!

With great puns come great characters! Well, by great I mean interesting and unique and totally out of this world! For example, you meet a guy named Alec Bings, who is always three feet above the ground. He's a great thinker (maybe...) and all, but still, he's not my favorite! My personal favorite is .58, who is .58 of the total child! .58 can drive the .3 of a car, so I could not stop laughing! You also meet Rhyme and Reason, the two sisters who also happen to be majestic princesses in a land far, far away...
Speaking of Rhyme and Reason, I love their advice. They give phenomenal advice that can help everyone of all ages. It's easy enough to read for a five year old, but it's still helpful for everyone older!

It's a journey, it's a mega fantasy land, it's a totally travel-packed plot with some action! I liked everything about the plot; the totally unexpected characters and surprises, the way the setting interacted with the plot, and the fast-paced rhythm to it all! (Not only that, but my mouth literally dropped when I got to the demons... I so did not expect them to be like THAT... in other words totally true and odd!)

At first I thought Milo was boring, but throughout the novel, he really develops. He gets a new view on the world. At first he was incredibly bored with the world, but now he is excited for whatever life is bringing him! He can't wait to try things out and overcome whatever life's obstacles come. In other words, amazing character development.

I just wish The Phantom Tollbooth had a sequel; now I'm in search of an equally imaginative novel.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

I admit it, at first I HATED Before I Fall. I first read it in August and got to page fifty. I recently reread it, and that's when I realized the parts that I hated before were done on PURPOSE, aka Sam's selfishness and others. 5 OUT OF 5 STARS~!!!!!!!!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
5 out of 5 stars
Published in 2010
Summary from Goodreads: What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death--and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

I think what really hit me was Samantha. She's your average mean girl- the one who everyone is jealous of. And she knows you're jealous, which can kind of cause her to act like an arrogant jerk.
Then she dies. She has to relive her last day seven times until she finally realizes the reasons for the events that day has brought.
I was hit by how much Sam developed throughout the novel. In the beginning, she is this really self-centered, annoying person. However, every time she relives that day, she finds out how annoying she truly is. Every time she relives her life, she grows a little more. She gets rid of her problems bit by bit and finally gets a heart until in the end, her actions truly show how much of a heroine she truly is.
I would probably not have the heart to do what Sam did; I do not think anyone would have. I am honestly impressed with Sam. She truly is a heroine in the end.

I guess what really hits the readers is the harsh truth Before I Falls shines into high school popularity. The bullying, the cliques, the cattiness of it all. Lauren Oliver portrays it truly. She doesn't overdo it. (Is it possible that she spied on a high school to make it so real? JK!)
I honestly can't believe how real the events seem. What Sam and her friends do to other people is so mean, but unfortunately it is happening all over the world.

3 word review of the plot: Unique and beautiful. Amazing and inspiring. Reliving a day seven times has really not been done before. If that does not seem unique, then the ending definitely is. It is so unique that you literally want to tear the book and cry. As for the beauty, I found it beautiful how carefully death was talked about. It seemed almost like a friend in Before I Fall, as if it could take everything painful away. Not only that, but there were so times that the words were so heartwrenchingly graceful that it made me cry.

And I honestly did cry.

My Apologies

Google took my email away for a bit, so that's why you couldn't access it today if you tried. :(
Anyways, I'm sorry, but I'm back! (Yay!)



(Hope that makes up for it!)

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Aliens are the one species totally banned by me. I can't read about them. I just can't. I really have no idea why I decided to read I am Number Four, since it is about aliens. Well, it was not bad! 4 out of 5 stars.

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
4 out of 5 stars
Published in 2010
Summary from Goodreads: There were nine. Three are dead. I Am Number Four.

Nine teenagers and their guardians are hiding on Earth... protected by a charm that means they can only be killed in numeric order, three are already dead. John Smith is Number Four. And his mortal enemies, the Mogadorian, are hunting him down.

The only way to keep off radar is to keep moving, never staying in one place for long. Finally in the firing line, all he can do is adopt the guise of a student and pray his unusual gifts—his legacies home; Planet Lorien—stay hidden long enough for him to settle into this new community.

But others seem to sense his otherness and when small-town life sucks him into its intrigues, it’s only a matter of time before his true nature is revealed. And that means there’s no space for love, friendship or a future if it means protecting not only himself, but the other five...

His name is John Smith. (Seriously!) Sorry to say, but he is kind of boring. While he does a variety of crazily scary things involving putting fire on himself, I still felt as if he was boring. He just does not have that spark that most characters have. He wants to fit in and be normal and all, but he just does not realize how incredibly annoyed that makes the reader. No offense intended!
That was what I also felt for Sarah. Like John, she is a little boring. Sure she's pretty, but I could not tell why John liked her. He just did.

The only character I actually liked was Henri. He is that father presence throughout the novel, that constant flame burning with love, that character that makes you smile. He is just incredibly caring and loving, unbelievably kind and loyal to John. I liked how he respects John no matter what and always wants the best for him.

This plot is more action-driven than character-driven. Honestly, that kind of works! If it were character-driven, I would die of boredom. However, since it was action-driven, I got to read about these action scenes involving swords and burning things and a lot of other exciting things! Translation: there was a lot of fighting.
The whole alien aspect is pretty impressive. John came from the planet Lorien, but that's only the beginning of the story...
Since I cannot give anything away, I'll just say that it is definitely not what you expect. The whole story is actually pretty complex. I was definitely impressed by how it all unfurled!

I liked the setting. Paradise, Ohio is just your average small town, but I felt as if the town was alive! I could not believe how complex the relations were within the town. Everything is described wonderfully; I felt as if I could draw out the whole town. Not only that, but I did not feel bogged down by descriptions. There is a perfect balance, and it definitely shows.

All in all, while there are slightly boring characters, I am Number Four is still a great read!

Gotta Be Epic!

Yes I am a Directioner! This is my favorite song. It's amazing! Just pure magic!

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

There are countless reasons why I love this book. If I listed them all, the world would explode because of how OBSESSED I am. In other words, I will not list all of the reasons. Make your own! 5 out of 5 stars.

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
5 out of 5 stars
Published in 2011
Summary from Goodreads: What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

I'm obsessed with a guy. His name is Sam Henry, and I think know I am in love with him. Well, why wouldn't I be in love with him? He's so sweet and nice and HYSTERICALLY FUNNY! Honestly, I was kind of flipping through the pages just for HIM. He literally made me laugh like a maniac and gag on my laughs! I loved how he really cared for Jordan; he was so loyal to her and let her be, even though it ended up breaking his heart.
SAM HENRY, YOU ARE AMAZING! (If I were slightly more girly, I would ask him to marry me....)

Jordan is incredibly inspiring. While some people might just call her a rock, I call her inspiring and strong and true to herself. I like how she did not really change her thoughts just because she was worried about her image; she had confidence in herself. However, she was not bratty or obnoxious about it either! Nor was she perfect. What changed in the end was her understanding of things around her. Basically, I could totally RELATE to her because she was a NORMAL person other than the whole girl-playing-football aspect of it all...

I hated Ty. Well, I disliked him. I think the word that best describes him is controlling. Honestly, I hated how he wanted to control Jordan all the time and how he treated her like trash. He was annoying, bossy and totally self-centered. While I really do not want to go on a rant about him, I will say that he has ISSUES. He needs to cool it!

Let me just say that the plot is not exactly as clean-cut as you might think it is. The guy she chooses is not immediately evident; it takes some time before he, whoever he is, comes. I guess I can not say anymore, but I will say that he is kind of unexpected. (Cue creepy music)
As for the whole college aspect of it, I was TICKED. I could not believe how some colleges treated her! (However, the college she ended up thinking about is AWESOME!)

I will admit that I am not exactly your fan of football. However, with Catching Jordan, I felt as if that did not matter. I was not TOO confused with the football action going on; the author did something sneaky to make me clarified. So yay! I officially love this book!

Waiting on Wednesday: Defiance

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted Jill over at Breaking the Spine that features upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating!

This week's not-yet-published "need-to-read-now" selection is:

Defiance by C. J. Redwine
Publishing 8.28.12

Summary from Goodreads: Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Well, I don't know about you, but the whole girl-in-a-purple-dress-and-red-hair thing has kind of made me interested. Not only that, but the summary seems just impressive! I like my girls able to wield swords and fight! As for Logan, he seems intriguing! I want to read about him. Especially him and Rachel together...

Yes, this has brought obsession to a whole level!

Teaser Tuesday: I am Number Four

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at ShouldBeReading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

My Teasers:

"No. Don't give up hope just yet. It's the last thing to go. When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope." -Kindle pg. 124

"Is Earth going to curdle?" -Kindle pg. 129

First Date by Krista McGee

Once again, I have read one of those books where an ordinary girl catches the eye of a celebrity, in this case the President's son, and they basically fall in love and live happily ever after with lots of ponies prancing around. Or something like that. Of course, I liked it a lot. (Especially when the title is First Date!) 4 out of 5 stars!

First Date by Krista McGee
4 out of 5 stars
Published in 2012
Recieved from Netgalley
Summary from Goodreads: Addy Davidson discovers God's unexpected plans for her life when a reality TV show turns her quiet existence on its head.

The orphaned daughter of missionaries, Addy is quite content to stay in the shadows and never draw attention to herself. But when she's selected for a reality TV show to try to become the President son's prom date-a show she didn't audition for-she's suddenly in America's spotlight.

The lights, the make-up, the competitions, and the blogs discussing every move she makes all make Addy incredibly uncomfortable. But through her time at The Mansion, Addy comes to realize that first impressions aren't always right, that hiding out may not be what God had planned for her life, and that her faith should affect everything she does. It may just be that her selection wasn't random at all and that she's on this show "for such a time as this."

I am kind of confused as to how I truly feel about First Date. At times, I felt as if the writing was stiff and unbearable, but I still was sucked in by it. I was addicted by the overdone writing, which totally does not seem possible. The third-person was a terrible choice, as it was written terribly, but I still kept on reading and reading because I could not stop! That situation is not supposed to happen, but it totally did! I guess I can't complain about that; it is my own inability to decide if I truly like the writing or not.

One major thing to note about First Date is that it is a Christian novel. However, even non-Christians can be hooked right away without feeling uncomfortable. I'm a Christian, but I don't tend to read strictly Christian novels. With this book though, the religious part was pretty light and not too forced. I like how people of all religions can read First Date. In other words, it's a jewel for everyone!

Addy was okay.... actually she was more than okay. At first she was kind of annoying and fake at parts, but eventually she realized her mistakes and patched them up and APOLOGIZED FOR THEM. She developed quite a bit throughout the book, both in character and in faith. While she was not the most realistic teen, she was definitely an enjoyable one. I hope to read another story about her.

As for the setting, that's the first time where the main character is on a reality show. I have no idea if reality shows are actually like how they were described, but if they are, I can't believe they are that catty! (Well, I guess that's Hollywood!) Anyways, I like how the reality show helped to tie in with Addy's relationship with God. All in all, well done. I kind of want to be on that reality show now...

Since First Date is a Christian novel, the romance is clean, and there are no swear words. I am so glad to find a light, refreshing read that does not offend anyone. If you want a nice, fresh Christian read, be sure to check out First Date! It will not make you bash your head into a wall. At least I hope not...

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I've been saying the first sentence of this book over and over again since last year. Of course, it has definitely driven everyone around me crazy but not like I care! However, I've driven everyone even more crazy BECAUSE I FINALLY READ IT! And I'm pretty speechless right now... 4.5 out of 5 stars!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
4.5 out of 5 stars
Published in 2011
Summary from Goodreads: Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

I have a very distinct taste in books, especially when they are about ------. (Hint... synonym to killing, begins with m.) While I can't say that I loved the plot, I liked it a lot. Some of the times it was too fast-paced, especially the ending, but overall it was pretty good. I was pretty surprised by how exactly the ending turned out, but I can't say much. I will say that it is totally not your average twist. It's so much more than a twist, especially because it kind of messes up all your predictions and makes you think again. It also makes you reread it to finally get the gist of what happened. I think that's a bad thing though...

As for Mara, I'm just glad I could finally find another main character who loves drawing. You see, Mara's great at drawing and she loves it. I guess that's why many people call her artsy...
She's also famous for her rejoinders! (Witty comebacks... per say.) I loved how quickly she could come up with these super offensive biting remarks that really ticked people off. She is also pretty strong, not that it I would notice if she wasn't...
I really had some trouble understanding her visions. I could not tell what was real and what was not. I do think it will be clarified in the next book though.
Even through this all, she was pretty relatable. Mara is bogged down by tragedy, and I could not help but feel terrible for her as she tried to reason why it would happen.

Noah... some people think he's like Jace Lightwood, but I think he's in his own class. Cocky? Yes. Arrogant? Yes. A bad boy? Yes! A smoker? Yes, unfortunately. However, what people don't include is that he is incredibly loyal to Mara and that he really loves her and her family. For me I was struck by how realistic he is. You see, at times I thought he was too good to be true, but then he would make a mistake and I would be happy for his flaws. He did open up incredibly, which may or may not be normal. Not that I care, because I'm basically in love with him!

I always judge books by the last paragraph of every chapter. As for this book, it is basically always a single sentence that is super impressive. Every last sentence is catchy, true and sometimes incredibly heartfelt and funny. Of course, that makes you want to flip the page and read even more, so you end of finishing the book super quickly. Not that I care though... I'm still awed by Noah.

Why I'm Having Shivers Right Now

I literally got shivers listening to that last sentence. However, do not watch this if you have not read the first 4 Gallagher Girl books!

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

The sky truly is everywhere, but I did not realize that until I finished reading The Sky is Everywhere. As of right now, I am staring at my book shocked because of how breathtaking and striking it is. It made me awestruck. 5 out of 5 stars!!!!!!!!

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
5 out of 5 stars
Published in 2010
Summary from Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life - and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie's struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.

I think the raw, real emotion totally sold me. The Sky is Everywhere did not make me scoff at how cliche I thought it was; it shattered me heart and put it back together again. I could not believe the sheer emotion and heartbreak that is contained in such a small little book. It did not turn out to be a mini cheesy sob story I initially thought it to be. It turned out to be a gem of a novel that made me cry and later laugh through my tears. It had me bawling! (Well kind of...)

I absolutely loved the poetry Lennie wrote and ended up dropping. You see, Lennie has this amazing poetry with a pulse. What I loved about it was how it did not need to rhyme to make total harmony. (Well kind of...) It's explosive and magical and fiery. It is wistful, sad, hopeful, happy and everything good poetry is. It's also deadly and lethal because you can't stop reading it. You can really tell why the author is also a published poet. With poetry like this, I'm surprised that I did not read this before.

Quirky characters are definitely present, and I'm so glad that I got to meet them. Usually you cannot find very many good books with weirdly awesome characters. As for The Sky is Everywhere, it is a marvelous exception. I liked how Joe had some swoon-worthy smiles, Lennie's grandmother used a plant to determine Lennie's life, Big's weird fascination with bringing things back to life and Hannah's tendency to shout animals instead of swearing. In other words, these characters are totally amazing and have some cool habits! They are real and unique and smile-inducing! I fell in love with all the characters!

I like how the author made music pretty important. Music is a part of everyone's life, and Jandy Nelson did not forget. It is so inspiring the way she talks about it. Every time I read about Lennie's clarinet or Joe's playing, I got shivers down my back. I could not stop staring at the book because of how true the sentences are. I was amazed; I still am amazed. How can anyone not read this book?

As for the cover, I fell in love with it the day I saw it. While love at first sight might not occur in books, it occurs for me with covers. I love how the bold colors pop with each other and how the heart and also a rose petal. With The Sky is Everywhere, the cover alone communicates just how much you need the read it.

So.... stop reading this review! Start reading the book!