Thursday, May 31, 2012

Last breath by Rachel Caine

This book may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.
Summary:(from book jacket) With her boss preoccupied researching the Founder Houses in Morganville, student Claire Danvers is left to her own devices when she learns that three vampires have vanished without a trace. She soon discovers that the last person seen with one of the missing vampires is someone new to town-a mysterious individual named Magnus. After an uneasy encounter with Morganville's latest resident, Claire is certain Magnus isn't merely human. But is he a vampire-or something else entirely?
Review: This is book number eleven in this series but I have to say it was my favorite on so far. The plot of this book was fast paced and exciting. I flew through this book in a day. Things that happened in this book were crazy and extreme even for Morganville. The way this book ended made me super excited to read the sequel .I am amazed at how Rachel Caine still manages to keep this series fresh and excting. Very rarely, if ever, do you get to spend eleven book with the same characters and when I was reading this book, at some points I felt like I was spending time with old friends. I absolutely love all the characters in this series. Apart from Claire and her friends, my favorite characters are Oliver and Myrnin and I hope that they both stick around in the next book. This has become one of my favorite series. I don't ever want ti to end. Anyway i dont' have much else to say about this book that hasn't been said in previous reviews. If you're not reading this series I strongly recommend you start. Although it might take a while.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Passion by Lauren Kate

This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series
Summary:(from book jacket) Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn't need to be that way... Luce is certian that something-or someone-in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most importan journey of this lifetime...going back eternities to witness her romances with Daniel...and finally unlock the key to making their love last. Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared past, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames...forever.
Review: I thought this was a pretty good edition to this series. Although, it was somewhat slow paced. The way it ended make me really excited to read the next(and last) book in this series. I did enjoy seeing Luce's past lives up close. Of course, some were given more detail than others but I still really liked that part of the book. Lauren Kate made all the characters from  the past just as vibrant and unique as all the other characters. The peices of the puzzle came together nicely, although I don't think any of what Luce realized on her journey was all that surprising. Although, I do think she changed alot during the course of the book. Both Luce and Daniel are really great characters and the depth of their love for each other really showed in this book. Bill was a really interesting character. He was full of surprises and I have a feeling his role in the final book will be big. This book was pretty good despite the slow parts and fans of this series won't be dissapointed.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Summary:(from book jacket) Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an  exceptional student body that the administration trusts you always behave the honorable way- the Themis way. So when Alex Patrick is date raped during her junior year, she had two options: Stay silent and hope someone helps, or enlist the aid of the Mockingbirds- a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of the student body. In this account of a teenage girl's search for her voice and the courage to use it, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that standing up for someone, especially yourself, is worth the fight.
Review: This is a book with a really unique idea behind it, but I have mixed feelings about how it played out. I really liked the message that this book sends about standing up for yourself and doing the right thing. It really added a lot of depth to what was going on in the story. I really liked Alex as the main character. Her emotions were well portrayed and believable. I am glad that she turned out to be such a strong character and decided to stand up for herself. She was by far my favorite character. She was the only one that felt real to me. I couldn't really relate to any of the other characters and thought they lacked in any sort of character development. my main problem with this book though, is that I just did not find the way things were run at Themis to be at all believable. Everything from the way the faculty acted to the way the Mockingbirds was run, just didn't feel real to me. I think this is why I couldn't fully get into the story, it took away some of my enjoyment. I understand what the author was trying to say by setting things up this way, but it just didn't work for me. Overall, this was an OK read, but I think this book  will be enjoyed by many.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

Summary:(from back of book) everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like your best friend's boyfriend. Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, super smart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two tiny details: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend. Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants to do is hurt her best friend. But when she is thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens between them. It's wonderful...and awful. Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more.
Review: I have really enjoyed a lot of Elizabeth Scott's books in the past and this one was no exception. This was a light romantic read, but it also dealt a lot with Brianna and Sarah's friendship, which was far from perfect. I flew through this books 210 pages in a day. Although, the plot was fairly typical, it didn't detract from the story at all. The plot was paced well and I was hooked and dying to know how the story ended. What made this story really stand out for me was the characters. Sarah, Brianna and Ryan were all very well written characters. I felt like I was reading a story about real people. Sarah was a main character that was very easy to relate to, despite having never been in her situation. She is a very genuine character, and it made me like her and root for her even if she didn't always make the smartest choices. Anyone who has enjoyed Scott's other books should read this one. it is a sweet story of love and friendship that readers of romantic and heartfelt stories will enjoy.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Hunger by Michael Grant

 This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series
Summary:(from book jacket) It's been three months since all the adults disappeared. Gone. Food ran out weeks ago and starvation is imminent. Meanwhile, the normal teens have grown resentful of the kids with powers. And when an unthinkable tragedy occurs, chaos descends upon the town. There is no longer right and wrong. Each kid is out for himself and even the good ones turn murderous. But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, begins calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them. The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.
Review: This is the second book in the Gone series by Michael Grant. I really liked the way the story continued to play out in this book. It was really action packed and I was surprised at how quickly I finished it. There was never a dull moment throughout the entire book. I liked the storyline involving the Darkness a lot better than I did in the last book. It seemed a little bit less ridiculous. I was still surprised about some of the violence that occured in this book. Like I said in my review of Gone, this went beyond what a bunch of 14 year old kids are capable of. That being said, I really liked all the characters, especially Sam. He is really struggling with his role throughtout he book and it made me really like him. I always enjoy books with an abundance of characters and this book definitely does. I think all the characters were unique and well written. This book also deals with the real life problems that the kids are facing, in addition to the supernatural ones. The fact that they are running out of food makes thing very real and very serious, the desperation that many of them had made the story a little bit darker. The way thing were left in this book make me excited to read the rest of this series.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Dragon's Oath by P.C Cast and Kristin Cast

Summary:(from back of book)
In early 19th century England, long before he’s a professor at the Tulsa House of Night, Bryan Lankford is a troublesome yet talented human teen who thinks he can get away with anything… until his father, a wealthy nobleman, has finally had enough, and banishes him to America. When Bryan is Marked on the docks and given the choice between the London House of Night and the dragon-prowed ship to America, he chooses the Dragon – and a brand new fate.Becoming a Fledgling may be exciting, but it opens a door to a dangerous world.... In 1830’s St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, Dragon Lankford becomes a Sword Master, and soon realizes there are both frightening challenges and beautiful perks. Like Anastasia, the captivating young Professor of Spells and Rituals at the Tower Grove House of Night, who really should have nothing to do with a fledgling… But when a dark power threatens, Dragon is caught in its focus. Though his uncanny fighting skills make him a powerful fledgling, is he strong enough to ward off evil, while protecting Anastasia as well? Will his choices save her—or destroy them all?
Review:This book is the first prequel to the House of Night series that tells the story of Dragon Lankford. I thought it was a fairly interesting story, but it was only 145 pages, which made it a very basic and quick plotline. My favorite part of the book was seeing how Dragon and Anastasia met. Seeing these older characters when they wer younger was definetely a really interesting viewpoint and a good way to get to know them. I especially liked getting to know more about Dragon. He is a more complex character than I realized. This story also made me want to know what role he will play in the rest of the series. I don't really know what else to say about this one. It's not much more than a shorty story, but it was interesting enought that I will probably read more of these House of Night novellas.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

 This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series
Summary:(from back of book) Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known, and all she needs for happiness. But life after the return is never safe, and there are threats even the barrier can't hold back. Gabry's mother thought she left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, but like the dead in their world, secrets don't stay buried. And now, Gabry's world is crumbling. One night beyond the barrier... One boy Gabry's known forever and one veiled in mystery... One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half  imprisoned. Gabry knows only one thing: if she is to have any hope of a future, she must face the forest of her mother's past.
Review: This book takes place many years after the end of the last one. I thought this one was pretty good. There were a lot of plot twists that kept things interesting, despite the fact that at some points it seemed to be the same premise as it's prequel but with different characters. It took me a while to get fully into the story, but once I did I enjoyed it. The way this book ended definitely made me want to read the sequel. Based on how this one ended I think the next book will be just as exciting. This book also had a lot of creepy zombie action, nothing that I couldn't handle though. I also appreciated the fact that we gt to find out where some of the characters from the last book ended up. I liked Gabry as a main character, she was a very believable and relateable character. Catcher and Elias were also both very intriguing male leads. Although, I have to say I hope things work out better with Catcher in the next book. I haven't read many zombie stories so I don't really know how this compares to others, but overall, I think this was pretty good.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Firespell by Chloe Neill

Summary:(from back of book) When Lily's parents decide to send her to a fancy boarding school in Chicago, she is not happy. Lily's classmates are the ultra rich brat pack type- and if that isn't enough, she's hearing and seeing bizarre things on St. Sophia's creepy campus. The only thing keeping her sane is her roommate Scout, but even Scout's a little weird- she keeps disappearing late at night. When a prank leaves Lily trapped in the catacombs beneath the school, Lily finds Scout, who's running from a real life monster. Scout is part of a splinter group of rebel teens who protect Chicago from demons, vamps, and the gone to the dark side magic users called Reapers. She let's Lily in on her secret, even though Lily has no powers of her own...or at least none she's discovered yet.

Review: I think this book is  pretty typical for what it is. I enjoyed the story behind what this group does and the nature of the enemies they face. The plot was entertaining and well paced, which kept me interested, despite some of the more predictable moments. The ending especially, was pretty predictable although I am interested to see what happens in the next book. I thought there were a few things that could have been given a better explanation, but hopefully that will happen as the series continues. Now that the setup has been done in this book, I think the sequels will be even more action packed and exciting. I enjoyed getting to know Lily and Scout. They were both funny and awesome characters, at first I wasn't sure how I felt about Lily as the main character, but I liked her more and more as the story went on. Anyone who likes the many paranormal boarding school type of books should give this series a try.