I'm back! It's been awhile but I have big plans for this blog over the next year! But on to today's post...
I was laying in bed last night wondering how some bloggers and YouTubers can make a list of their Top 5 Favorite Books. Only 5?! How, in all the vastness that is literature, can someone pick only 5? So I thought about it and if someone forced me to pick only 5 I, reluctantly, came up with a list. Each book I picked for a specific reason. The following are listed in no particular order.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
This may be an obvious choice, but it's a great book and was a representation of a chapter closing in my life. I literally grew up with Harry Potter. I was in fifth grade when I first started reading the books, 11 years old like him, and was 19 when this book came out. These books, as a series, were the first books that engaged me to read more and it was sad to see them end. I was happy with the outcome and this book answered every question left lingering.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Technically 1984 was the first and only dystopian novel I'd read up until this book. And while I'm a great fan of it, this book hooked me on a whole different level. The Hunger Games got me addicted to YA dystopian novels. The characters are relatable yet survive in this world we couldn't ever imagine existing. This book allowed me to escape my world into one where life is almost unbearable and difficult situations are lurking around every corner. I love the idea of "What if the world was this way?" and The Hunger Games opened a door to many more books that I may have not picked up before.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I chose this book because it had a huge impact on me since the 11th grade. It wasn't so much the content, but my teacher who made everything click using this book. It was with this book that I learned about symbolism and it changed the way I read from then on. Cheesy, I know, but true. To make a long story short I got a bad grade on my Huck Finn paper because I apparently missed the English class the year before where symbolism was discussed. So I was tanking early and my teacher explained symbolism again and it seemed clear but I didn't want to make assumptions so I talked to him after class. "So if I mention the color rose I can talk about an actual rose like the pedals and thorns and what those mean and that's symbolism?" He said yes and it clicked. Symbolism suddenly became my favorite thing in English. I loved analyzing everything! Even though my teacher taught me this valuable lesson, this book was the book I learned it with...plus it's a great book. And by the way, I got an "A" on my Gatsby symbolism paper. :)
P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
This book may seem like an unlikely and odd pick, and my explanation won't be too long, but I chose it because it made me cry like a baby. I had never, and still have not, read a book that physically has evoked that much emotion in me and made me cry. It really touched me and a book that can make me feel that much needs to be on my list.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The reason I picked this book is simple: I love the story. I feel it's still relevant today with the wacky Bennett family and the classic boy-girl "I love you, I don't love you, but okay I really do love you" struggle. I love Kitty and Lydia and their young antics. Of course my favorite, and the most emphasized part of the story, is how Elizabeth begins to fall for Darcy only to find he's a pompous ass. But when Darcy redeems himself and the tension and mysteries between Elizabeth and Darcy clear up they find they really are meant for each other and that class and society can't dictate their love. It's a great love story and you can't go wrong with one of those.
So those are my top five books! What are yours?
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Book Review: 'Anna Dressed in Blood' by Kendare Blake
First off I have to say I am really excited to review this book because I was really excited to read it!
Without further ado....Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake!
Summary:
Theseus Cassio Lowood, a.k.a. Cas, kills ghosts. It's not a hobby; it's a job. He goes around the country carrying on the family tradition of slaying unwanted spirits, particularly the violent ones. Cas and his mother travel to find these ghosts based on tips and once the job is done they pack up and move on to the next job. But Cas's newest job isn't as simple as all his other cases. Anna Korlov is known as Anna Dressed in Blood and the citizens of Thunder Bay steer clear of the home she resides in...and for good reason. The rumors of what Anna is capable of are horrific and Cas is there to stop her from killing any more people. At a back to school party Cas meets characters who will be allies through the rest of the book- Carmel, Will, and Thomas. At the end of the party Cas gets to see Anna at work with Cas's bully but it's then he sees Anna is unlike any ghost he'd ever encountered because she made the exception not to kill him and also knows that she's dead. Cas has the hard task ahead of him in trying to figure out how to kill her, but his feelings soften toward her as the book progresses and he thinks maybe she can be spared, but Will wants revenge for his dead friend. But before Cas can think about what more can or should be done with Anna an evil being from his past arrives threatening him and also wanting Anna dead. The end of the book ends in a climatic showdown between evil and possibly evil turned good and leaves the reader craving more!
Review:
I was really excited about this book when I first heard about it coming out. I've always loved ghosts and ghost stories so I knew this would be right up my ally. What really intrigued me was I hadn't read a YA book like this before where ghosts were the paranormal creature. That aspect made this book stand out for me. I'm not saying ghosts aren't prominent in other books, but for me this was my first real ghost exposure in YA.
My favorite aspect of the book was Anna's back story. When Anna Dressed in Blood is first introduced and I got the little bit about her being murdered on the way to the dance I wanted to know more. It really got intriguing when Cas realizes she isn't like the other ghosts in that she remembers how she died and knows that she's dead. I was in shock when the ritual Cas, Thomas, Carmel, and Will did revealed what had happened leading up to her death and the circumstances behind why she died. It was very unexpected. But after learning what had happened I felt I understood her more and felt more sympathy for her. So in the end, when she did what she did (and I won't mention what since I don't want to spoil it), I was rooting for her despite knowing every horrible thing she'd done before. Anna is a great character and I'm hoping there are sequels so she can come back. It's set up either way where it could be a sequel or stand alone but if I had to choose I'd want sequels!
One thing I'd really like to see/know more of in the future (hopefully in sequels!) would be Cas's athame. It became such a pivotal element by the end of the book I'm dying to know more about it. At first it was just a unique knife that belonged to Cas's father and now Cas which can slay ghosts only by their hands but at the end when the twist happens the knife becomes way more than a knife. It may sound silly, but I'd be interested in the back story of the knife! Where it came from, how it was forged, etc.
I loved how average, non-magical people made a difference. Thomas is a witch and has powers and Cas has the power to kill ghosts but I really liked that, even though Cas didn't want to get Carmel and Will involved, they were able to help especially in the ritual to bind Anna in the circle so she could be contained. I like the idea that average people can help out and make a difference despite it maybe not being in an environment or situation they're used to. I also like the fact Carmel breaks the stereotypical mold that she is originally set up as- popular girl, homecoming queen, high maintenance. She willingly and eagerly interacts with those outside her social circle, she goes along with the whole magic and ghost thing which probably would be frowned upon, and she genuinely cares what happens to people, especially Thomas and Cas. The way she became a round character with depth appealed to me.
The one down side I have with the book, and it's not a huge one, is that the book is first person POV from a male perspective. Just as a personal preference I prefer either third person or first person POV from a female perspective. And that preference is simply for the fact I feel I can relate better to the characters that way. But the same way that this book was new in terms of featuring ghosts, it's fairly new for me in terms of reading from a male perspective. I've read one or two books before from the male perspective and it wasn't so bad, and like those, this wasn't a huge issue for me. I do greatly enjoy Cas as a character and am eager to see more. While I'm not a huge fan of male POV's, it does make this book stand out since most of YA (at least that I've read) are from the female POV's and I like that. These days, especially in YA, a book has to stand out in one way or another and the fact this book deals with ghosts and is from a male POV it definitely does and for that I was interested.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves ghost stories, paranormal YA, and anyone who is seeking something a little different in the YA book realm. I enjoyed it and am excited at the possibility of sequels!
Without further ado....Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake!
Summary:
Theseus Cassio Lowood, a.k.a. Cas, kills ghosts. It's not a hobby; it's a job. He goes around the country carrying on the family tradition of slaying unwanted spirits, particularly the violent ones. Cas and his mother travel to find these ghosts based on tips and once the job is done they pack up and move on to the next job. But Cas's newest job isn't as simple as all his other cases. Anna Korlov is known as Anna Dressed in Blood and the citizens of Thunder Bay steer clear of the home she resides in...and for good reason. The rumors of what Anna is capable of are horrific and Cas is there to stop her from killing any more people. At a back to school party Cas meets characters who will be allies through the rest of the book- Carmel, Will, and Thomas. At the end of the party Cas gets to see Anna at work with Cas's bully but it's then he sees Anna is unlike any ghost he'd ever encountered because she made the exception not to kill him and also knows that she's dead. Cas has the hard task ahead of him in trying to figure out how to kill her, but his feelings soften toward her as the book progresses and he thinks maybe she can be spared, but Will wants revenge for his dead friend. But before Cas can think about what more can or should be done with Anna an evil being from his past arrives threatening him and also wanting Anna dead. The end of the book ends in a climatic showdown between evil and possibly evil turned good and leaves the reader craving more!
Review:
I was really excited about this book when I first heard about it coming out. I've always loved ghosts and ghost stories so I knew this would be right up my ally. What really intrigued me was I hadn't read a YA book like this before where ghosts were the paranormal creature. That aspect made this book stand out for me. I'm not saying ghosts aren't prominent in other books, but for me this was my first real ghost exposure in YA.
My favorite aspect of the book was Anna's back story. When Anna Dressed in Blood is first introduced and I got the little bit about her being murdered on the way to the dance I wanted to know more. It really got intriguing when Cas realizes she isn't like the other ghosts in that she remembers how she died and knows that she's dead. I was in shock when the ritual Cas, Thomas, Carmel, and Will did revealed what had happened leading up to her death and the circumstances behind why she died. It was very unexpected. But after learning what had happened I felt I understood her more and felt more sympathy for her. So in the end, when she did what she did (and I won't mention what since I don't want to spoil it), I was rooting for her despite knowing every horrible thing she'd done before. Anna is a great character and I'm hoping there are sequels so she can come back. It's set up either way where it could be a sequel or stand alone but if I had to choose I'd want sequels!
One thing I'd really like to see/know more of in the future (hopefully in sequels!) would be Cas's athame. It became such a pivotal element by the end of the book I'm dying to know more about it. At first it was just a unique knife that belonged to Cas's father and now Cas which can slay ghosts only by their hands but at the end when the twist happens the knife becomes way more than a knife. It may sound silly, but I'd be interested in the back story of the knife! Where it came from, how it was forged, etc.
I loved how average, non-magical people made a difference. Thomas is a witch and has powers and Cas has the power to kill ghosts but I really liked that, even though Cas didn't want to get Carmel and Will involved, they were able to help especially in the ritual to bind Anna in the circle so she could be contained. I like the idea that average people can help out and make a difference despite it maybe not being in an environment or situation they're used to. I also like the fact Carmel breaks the stereotypical mold that she is originally set up as- popular girl, homecoming queen, high maintenance. She willingly and eagerly interacts with those outside her social circle, she goes along with the whole magic and ghost thing which probably would be frowned upon, and she genuinely cares what happens to people, especially Thomas and Cas. The way she became a round character with depth appealed to me.
The one down side I have with the book, and it's not a huge one, is that the book is first person POV from a male perspective. Just as a personal preference I prefer either third person or first person POV from a female perspective. And that preference is simply for the fact I feel I can relate better to the characters that way. But the same way that this book was new in terms of featuring ghosts, it's fairly new for me in terms of reading from a male perspective. I've read one or two books before from the male perspective and it wasn't so bad, and like those, this wasn't a huge issue for me. I do greatly enjoy Cas as a character and am eager to see more. While I'm not a huge fan of male POV's, it does make this book stand out since most of YA (at least that I've read) are from the female POV's and I like that. These days, especially in YA, a book has to stand out in one way or another and the fact this book deals with ghosts and is from a male POV it definitely does and for that I was interested.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves ghost stories, paranormal YA, and anyone who is seeking something a little different in the YA book realm. I enjoyed it and am excited at the possibility of sequels!
Monday, October 24, 2011
A-Z Tag
This is a tag I saw on a YouTube channel I follow and figure since I'm not much of a vlogger I can still post it in blog form. I promise more book reviews are coming shortly! It's been a little crazy. But until the next review (which I expect will be up by this weekend) I give you this post. :)
The gist of it is that each letter of the alphabet must appear in either the title of the book listed or it's author. I tried my best to make each letter the first letter of the first word of the title. I did pretty good. I discounted the "The's" because there are tons of those and they just don't count. These are all books I've read and highly recommend. :)
A- Attention. Deficit. Disorder. by Brad Listi
B- Beloved by Toni Morrison
C- Crave the Night by Suzanne Sizemore
D- Divergent by Veronica Roth
E- Enclave by Ann Aguirre
F- Forever In Blue by Ann Brashares
G- Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
H- Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I- Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
J- Jazz by Toni Morrison
K- Touch the Dark by Karen Chance
L- The Lost Saint by Bree Despain
M- Miss Peregrine's House for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
N- Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
O- The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
P- Pride and Prejudiceby Jane Austin
Q- The Red Queen by Phillipa Gregory
R- The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson
S- Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
T- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
U- Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
V- Vision in White by Nora Roberts
W- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
X- When Darkness Comes by Alexandra Ivy
Y- New Moon by Rebecca York
Z- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Garcia Marquez
The gist of it is that each letter of the alphabet must appear in either the title of the book listed or it's author. I tried my best to make each letter the first letter of the first word of the title. I did pretty good. I discounted the "The's" because there are tons of those and they just don't count. These are all books I've read and highly recommend. :)
A- Attention. Deficit. Disorder. by Brad Listi
B- Beloved by Toni Morrison
C- Crave the Night by Suzanne Sizemore
D- Divergent by Veronica Roth
E- Enclave by Ann Aguirre
F- Forever In Blue by Ann Brashares
G- Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
H- Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I- Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
J- Jazz by Toni Morrison
K- Touch the Dark by Karen Chance
L- The Lost Saint by Bree Despain
M- Miss Peregrine's House for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
N- Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
O- The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
P- Pride and Prejudiceby Jane Austin
Q- The Red Queen by Phillipa Gregory
R- The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson
S- Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
T- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
U- Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
V- Vision in White by Nora Roberts
W- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
X- When Darkness Comes by Alexandra Ivy
Y- New Moon by Rebecca York
Z- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Garcia Marquez
Friday, September 30, 2011
Book Review: 'Wither' by Lauren DeStefano
This review is all about Wither by Lauren DeStefano and I'm really excited about this book!
Summary:
What happens in a world where men only live for twenty-five years and women only twenty? Rhine Ellery is only sixteen when she is snatched by Gatherers and forced to become a bride in a polygamous marriage. Rhine suddenly has every luxury at her fingertips- fancy clothes, servants, and all sorts of activities to do. What she doesn't have is her twin brother and her freedom. She is forced to marry Linden along with two other girls, Cecily and Jenna. Whats comes unexpectedly is Rhine's attraction to a servant, Gabriel, and an unexpected friendship with Lady Rose, Linden's first wife. As time passes and Linden begins to fall in love with Rhine, she still refuses to be a true wife to him and plots her freedom instead of plotting for a baby. Rhine learns, though, that there are many secrets in the house, most of which revolve around Linden's father who is determined to find a cure for the virus that takes the newer generations at such young ages. As the story unfolds and major events happen to each of the characters, Rhine is put to the test to see if she can survive and create her own future or if she will live as an unhappy bride for the few remaining years of her life.
Review:
This book both excited me and disturbed me. It was exciting because it was a story I had never read before. The plot was entirely new and original. It was also fast paced and kept me wanting to read more. It was also disturbing in that some of the actions and situations genuinely shocked me. There was a little bit of graphic content that it pulled me back to the reality of "oh yeah, this is about a polygamist family." I think the fact that since the characters die so young and they are forced to take on more adult roles much sooner, things like the sexual content and descriptions were definitely bold. It's not often I feel a sense of weirdness and wrongness in a book, and for a lack of a better word it "disturbed" me with the whole situation of Cecily losing her virginity and the whole set up and aftermath of that. Sex doesn't shock me but sex with a thirteen year old does. I'm not saying I disliked it, I'm saying it's something I've never encountered in a book before. But while it may seem extreme to write something like Cecily's situation, in the world DeStefano has created it's not that big of a deal. As Rhine points out in one point in the book, at sixteen she's practically an old maid. Cecily being thirteen and having sex and the after effects of that is normal in this futuristic world. So while it was hard to grasp the content at times, I understand and see where it comes from and how it falls into place.
I have to commend DeStefano in her protagonist. Rhine is a strong young woman who would not give in to Linden no matter how sweet he came off or even after he declared he loved her. I have read numerous romance novels where Stockholm syndrome never fails. Mind you these are adult novels, but more often than not a woman is abducted and held captive but through spending time with the capture and softening at all his attentions, the woman eventually grows to like him and, like in all romance books, they fall in love and live happily ever after at the end. Rhine is different. Even though she becomes first wife and she gets a lot of attention and his love, she still doesn't soften to him or the idea of living with him until she dies. She never waivers on her plan to escape and get back to her brother. Jenna has a similar quality, but not a pronounced and strong as Rhine's. Seeing that Rhine stays true to her thoughts and intentions the whole book really made me happy. It was great to see a girl in a book not eventually succumb to the attentions of a guy.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes YA dystopian novels and who wants something a little more darker and different than most of the YA out there. There is definitely some difficult stuff to read in this book so I'll warn you now. It was a great book between it's uniqueness and overall story plot and writing style. I can't wait until Fever hits shelves next year!
Summary:
What happens in a world where men only live for twenty-five years and women only twenty? Rhine Ellery is only sixteen when she is snatched by Gatherers and forced to become a bride in a polygamous marriage. Rhine suddenly has every luxury at her fingertips- fancy clothes, servants, and all sorts of activities to do. What she doesn't have is her twin brother and her freedom. She is forced to marry Linden along with two other girls, Cecily and Jenna. Whats comes unexpectedly is Rhine's attraction to a servant, Gabriel, and an unexpected friendship with Lady Rose, Linden's first wife. As time passes and Linden begins to fall in love with Rhine, she still refuses to be a true wife to him and plots her freedom instead of plotting for a baby. Rhine learns, though, that there are many secrets in the house, most of which revolve around Linden's father who is determined to find a cure for the virus that takes the newer generations at such young ages. As the story unfolds and major events happen to each of the characters, Rhine is put to the test to see if she can survive and create her own future or if she will live as an unhappy bride for the few remaining years of her life.
Review:
This book both excited me and disturbed me. It was exciting because it was a story I had never read before. The plot was entirely new and original. It was also fast paced and kept me wanting to read more. It was also disturbing in that some of the actions and situations genuinely shocked me. There was a little bit of graphic content that it pulled me back to the reality of "oh yeah, this is about a polygamist family." I think the fact that since the characters die so young and they are forced to take on more adult roles much sooner, things like the sexual content and descriptions were definitely bold. It's not often I feel a sense of weirdness and wrongness in a book, and for a lack of a better word it "disturbed" me with the whole situation of Cecily losing her virginity and the whole set up and aftermath of that. Sex doesn't shock me but sex with a thirteen year old does. I'm not saying I disliked it, I'm saying it's something I've never encountered in a book before. But while it may seem extreme to write something like Cecily's situation, in the world DeStefano has created it's not that big of a deal. As Rhine points out in one point in the book, at sixteen she's practically an old maid. Cecily being thirteen and having sex and the after effects of that is normal in this futuristic world. So while it was hard to grasp the content at times, I understand and see where it comes from and how it falls into place.
I have to commend DeStefano in her protagonist. Rhine is a strong young woman who would not give in to Linden no matter how sweet he came off or even after he declared he loved her. I have read numerous romance novels where Stockholm syndrome never fails. Mind you these are adult novels, but more often than not a woman is abducted and held captive but through spending time with the capture and softening at all his attentions, the woman eventually grows to like him and, like in all romance books, they fall in love and live happily ever after at the end. Rhine is different. Even though she becomes first wife and she gets a lot of attention and his love, she still doesn't soften to him or the idea of living with him until she dies. She never waivers on her plan to escape and get back to her brother. Jenna has a similar quality, but not a pronounced and strong as Rhine's. Seeing that Rhine stays true to her thoughts and intentions the whole book really made me happy. It was great to see a girl in a book not eventually succumb to the attentions of a guy.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes YA dystopian novels and who wants something a little more darker and different than most of the YA out there. There is definitely some difficult stuff to read in this book so I'll warn you now. It was a great book between it's uniqueness and overall story plot and writing style. I can't wait until Fever hits shelves next year!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Banned Book Week September 24- October 1, 2011
Well, I just wrote a hefty blog about my thoughts on Banned Book Week and banned books in general and of course my internet decided to stop working and it was all lost. Sigh...
So instead of writing it all again (I may try re-writing it later this week), I'll leave you with this...
Read banned books! Don't let anyone censor what you read because you have a mind and can think for yourselves. If you don't want to read a banned book, or any book for that matter, then don't. Just don't let anyone take away your option of reading any book you want.
So instead of writing it all again (I may try re-writing it later this week), I'll leave you with this...
Read banned books! Don't let anyone censor what you read because you have a mind and can think for yourselves. If you don't want to read a banned book, or any book for that matter, then don't. Just don't let anyone take away your option of reading any book you want.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Book Review: 'Succubus Revealed' by Richelle Mead
This review is going to be very bittersweet. The Georgina Kincaid series, by Richelle Mead, was the first urban fantasy series I read and this is the final book in the series. Ever since I began reading this series I couldn't get enough and was very eager to read this book. I don't intend to post any spoilers, but in case something slips I apologize and will initiate a *SPOILER ALERT* now just in case.
Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead
Georgina Kincaid has a crazy life. Aside from being a soul stealing succubus and trying to balance her life with her mortal boyfriend Seth Mortensen, Georgina is having to face the most difficult challenge of an unannounced transfer to Las Vegas, the home of sin. Not only is there no explanation of why she is being transferred, but she will be forced to leave behind Seth while he helps his ailing sister-in-law. What's strange is everything Georgina could ever want in Vegas is handed to her on a silver platter- her favorite boss, a new succubus BFF, and a job as a Vegas show girl. It's not until her supernatural friends start connecting the dots that Georgina realizes everything isn't adding up. Her contract with Hell is brought up and is questioned about it's legitimacy after a shocking discovery is made through hypnosis. Georgina has to now come to terms with what has been revealed while trying to keep what she's built with Seth intact. The story concludes with the readers finding out some characters are not what they seemed, others becoming more than could ever be expected, and Georgina accepting what has become of her life.
Even though this review is about the book, I'm just going to make an interjection about the overall series...it was AMAZING! From start to finish it was great...the characters, the plot, the actual writing style were all phenomenal. I'd never read anything like it up until the point I started the first book in the series and the characters and plot were so alluring it was hard to put down any of the books.
No matter how much I longed to read this book, I did not open it and read it the second I got it. I really didn't want the story to end. Even if it ended the way I hoped (and it did) I still didn't want it to be over. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and read straight through. It has to be one of the best last books in a series I've read. Although, Richelle Mead has never disappointed me so I wasn't too worried.
The plot, I have to say, was unexpected. When I read the description and it mentioned Vegas I was expecting more Vegas in the book, but it was actually pretty minimal in my opinion, not that I minded. There was plenty of shenanigans and revelations happening in Seattle. I was thinking the majority of the book would be Georgina in Vegas dealing with whatever situation she gets herself tangled up in, but seeing as it wasn't and the book mainly revolved around her and the other familiar faces I've learned to love throughout all the books was comforting. It was like I was getting the end of everybody's stories by the plot mainly staying in Seattle instead of opening up too much with the new characters introduced in Vegas. I like that the characters and plot stayed within a familiar territory.
I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone who hasn't read it, but the whole revelation between Georgina and Seth and their connection is what I totally didn't see coming...but I loved it! If you read it then I'm sure you know what I'm referring to. I'm pretty good at being able to guess what will happen or have a clue of what might happen in books, but this plot twist totally caught me off guard. In case Georgina and her world couldn't get anymore interesting in this book, this plot point was the turning point of me not putting down the book. I couldn't stop after I read about this.
The ending is what I was hoping for. Despite some characters doing some things I never thought they would do, everything ended the way I hoped it would. I enjoyed the epilogue because it gave a nice closure to everything and wrapped everything up. It was a nice was to say good-bye, not just the epilogue, but the whole book. Again, I won't say what happened, but I was happy.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read the other five Georgina Kincaid books (you won't be disappointed). I'd also recommend this entire series to anyone who loves urban fantasy. It has interesting characters, intriguing story plots, and has it's fair share of suspense. But now that all the books are out there's no stressing waiting for the next book to come out. :) Go read this book, and the rest of series if you haven't, and I promise you won't be disappointed.
Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead
Georgina Kincaid has a crazy life. Aside from being a soul stealing succubus and trying to balance her life with her mortal boyfriend Seth Mortensen, Georgina is having to face the most difficult challenge of an unannounced transfer to Las Vegas, the home of sin. Not only is there no explanation of why she is being transferred, but she will be forced to leave behind Seth while he helps his ailing sister-in-law. What's strange is everything Georgina could ever want in Vegas is handed to her on a silver platter- her favorite boss, a new succubus BFF, and a job as a Vegas show girl. It's not until her supernatural friends start connecting the dots that Georgina realizes everything isn't adding up. Her contract with Hell is brought up and is questioned about it's legitimacy after a shocking discovery is made through hypnosis. Georgina has to now come to terms with what has been revealed while trying to keep what she's built with Seth intact. The story concludes with the readers finding out some characters are not what they seemed, others becoming more than could ever be expected, and Georgina accepting what has become of her life.
Even though this review is about the book, I'm just going to make an interjection about the overall series...it was AMAZING! From start to finish it was great...the characters, the plot, the actual writing style were all phenomenal. I'd never read anything like it up until the point I started the first book in the series and the characters and plot were so alluring it was hard to put down any of the books.
No matter how much I longed to read this book, I did not open it and read it the second I got it. I really didn't want the story to end. Even if it ended the way I hoped (and it did) I still didn't want it to be over. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and read straight through. It has to be one of the best last books in a series I've read. Although, Richelle Mead has never disappointed me so I wasn't too worried.
The plot, I have to say, was unexpected. When I read the description and it mentioned Vegas I was expecting more Vegas in the book, but it was actually pretty minimal in my opinion, not that I minded. There was plenty of shenanigans and revelations happening in Seattle. I was thinking the majority of the book would be Georgina in Vegas dealing with whatever situation she gets herself tangled up in, but seeing as it wasn't and the book mainly revolved around her and the other familiar faces I've learned to love throughout all the books was comforting. It was like I was getting the end of everybody's stories by the plot mainly staying in Seattle instead of opening up too much with the new characters introduced in Vegas. I like that the characters and plot stayed within a familiar territory.
I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone who hasn't read it, but the whole revelation between Georgina and Seth and their connection is what I totally didn't see coming...but I loved it! If you read it then I'm sure you know what I'm referring to. I'm pretty good at being able to guess what will happen or have a clue of what might happen in books, but this plot twist totally caught me off guard. In case Georgina and her world couldn't get anymore interesting in this book, this plot point was the turning point of me not putting down the book. I couldn't stop after I read about this.
The ending is what I was hoping for. Despite some characters doing some things I never thought they would do, everything ended the way I hoped it would. I enjoyed the epilogue because it gave a nice closure to everything and wrapped everything up. It was a nice was to say good-bye, not just the epilogue, but the whole book. Again, I won't say what happened, but I was happy.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read the other five Georgina Kincaid books (you won't be disappointed). I'd also recommend this entire series to anyone who loves urban fantasy. It has interesting characters, intriguing story plots, and has it's fair share of suspense. But now that all the books are out there's no stressing waiting for the next book to come out. :) Go read this book, and the rest of series if you haven't, and I promise you won't be disappointed.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Book Review: 'Enclave' by Ann Aguirre
It's been a couple weeks since a book review, but I've been pretty busy reading! Every book I picked up I couldn't put down but now I'm back in action with another book review of a great book!
This book review is all about Enclave by Ann Aguirre.
In a society that lives underground and it's oldest member is no older than twenty-five years old, surviving one's first fifteen years is quite a feat. At that time, at the naming ceremony, each member who has met this mile stone is finally issued a name and officially joins a group- Hunters, Breeders, or Builders. Deuce proudly accepts her new role as a Huntress, something she's always wanted. She is then paired up with the mysterious and quiet Fade, a Hunter who came to the College Enclave after surviving on his own in the tunnels for years. He was accepted only because the Elders felt he had to be a strong person to outlast the Freaks roaming the tunnels. Deuce quickly learns what it means to be a Huntress when she and Fade go outside the protected Enclave walls to collect meat and take down any Freaks lurking about. After following orders from Silk, her supervisor, Fade and Deuce quickly find out the Freaks actually seem to be working together, creating a much bigger and deadlier force than has been seen before. In a turn of events Deuce and Fade are forced from the Enclave and must survive on their own. The story continues introducing new characters and includes plenty of action. In the end serious questions about what might happen to the rest of the human race are raised and leaves the reader craving for more.
I really enjoyed this book! I have been more interested in YA dystopian novels and this one did not disappoint.
This is a strong story of coming of age and finding your place, not only in society, but also finding out your place with yourself. Deuce is a Huntress to the Enclave, but she also begins to really figure out who she is and develops her own thoughts and opinions which may or may not be what she is "supposed" to think according to the Elders. I like the fact she stands up for what she believes in, helps others, and does what she knows is right even if it means potentially fatal consequences for herself. Deuce is a strong female protagonist and it's hard not to love her and be on her side.
Enclave overall paints a very scary picture of what the world could be like in the future. For one thing, I could never imagine living underground. I'm pretty sure Deuce's enclave basically lives in old Bart or Subway tunnels and having personally used the underground rail system many times I can relate to some of what Deuce refers to, especially after she emerges topside about the smell and stuffiness of the tunnels. Another thing is only living to an average age of twenty-five. I'm almost that age now and it'd be a very odd thing knowing my lifespan would essentially be up by now. The way the Elders are described in the book makes them seem like they look older than twenty-five, but if you lived underground your whole life I wouldn't doubt there would be some physical variations. The Freaks are the scariest part! If those things were roaming around the world today I wouldn't dare venture outside. It's one thing to read a book where a virus killed off almost the entire population and the lifespan of the average Enclave member is a quarter that we would consider normal, but to add Freaks to it makes the thought of the end of the world that much more fearful and unknown.
I really hope there is a sequel to this book! While I enjoyed the book a lot, it definitely was set up to continue on. Will there be more Ann Aguirre? Please say yes because I want to read more! :)
I would definitely recommend this for anyone who loved the Hunger Games books (like me!) or who love YA dystopian novels in general. There is plenty of action and unforeseen events and a hint of romance for those who can't get away from that kind of thing (like me again!). Go read this book because if you like to read the same things as I do I know you'll love this book too.
This book review is all about Enclave by Ann Aguirre.
In a society that lives underground and it's oldest member is no older than twenty-five years old, surviving one's first fifteen years is quite a feat. At that time, at the naming ceremony, each member who has met this mile stone is finally issued a name and officially joins a group- Hunters, Breeders, or Builders. Deuce proudly accepts her new role as a Huntress, something she's always wanted. She is then paired up with the mysterious and quiet Fade, a Hunter who came to the College Enclave after surviving on his own in the tunnels for years. He was accepted only because the Elders felt he had to be a strong person to outlast the Freaks roaming the tunnels. Deuce quickly learns what it means to be a Huntress when she and Fade go outside the protected Enclave walls to collect meat and take down any Freaks lurking about. After following orders from Silk, her supervisor, Fade and Deuce quickly find out the Freaks actually seem to be working together, creating a much bigger and deadlier force than has been seen before. In a turn of events Deuce and Fade are forced from the Enclave and must survive on their own. The story continues introducing new characters and includes plenty of action. In the end serious questions about what might happen to the rest of the human race are raised and leaves the reader craving for more.
I really enjoyed this book! I have been more interested in YA dystopian novels and this one did not disappoint.
This is a strong story of coming of age and finding your place, not only in society, but also finding out your place with yourself. Deuce is a Huntress to the Enclave, but she also begins to really figure out who she is and develops her own thoughts and opinions which may or may not be what she is "supposed" to think according to the Elders. I like the fact she stands up for what she believes in, helps others, and does what she knows is right even if it means potentially fatal consequences for herself. Deuce is a strong female protagonist and it's hard not to love her and be on her side.
Enclave overall paints a very scary picture of what the world could be like in the future. For one thing, I could never imagine living underground. I'm pretty sure Deuce's enclave basically lives in old Bart or Subway tunnels and having personally used the underground rail system many times I can relate to some of what Deuce refers to, especially after she emerges topside about the smell and stuffiness of the tunnels. Another thing is only living to an average age of twenty-five. I'm almost that age now and it'd be a very odd thing knowing my lifespan would essentially be up by now. The way the Elders are described in the book makes them seem like they look older than twenty-five, but if you lived underground your whole life I wouldn't doubt there would be some physical variations. The Freaks are the scariest part! If those things were roaming around the world today I wouldn't dare venture outside. It's one thing to read a book where a virus killed off almost the entire population and the lifespan of the average Enclave member is a quarter that we would consider normal, but to add Freaks to it makes the thought of the end of the world that much more fearful and unknown.
I really hope there is a sequel to this book! While I enjoyed the book a lot, it definitely was set up to continue on. Will there be more Ann Aguirre? Please say yes because I want to read more! :)
I would definitely recommend this for anyone who loved the Hunger Games books (like me!) or who love YA dystopian novels in general. There is plenty of action and unforeseen events and a hint of romance for those who can't get away from that kind of thing (like me again!). Go read this book because if you like to read the same things as I do I know you'll love this book too.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Book Review: 'Happy Hour of the Damned' by Mark Henry
It's book review time! I'm reviewing an adult urban fantasy book this week.
Last week I read Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry.
Amanda Feral is an ad exec in Seattle but her world takes a strange turn after a freak encounter with a scary looking, pus oozing guy in an elevator. When she wakes up she's a zombie and her world is turned upside down as her wacky, sexy, and funny life as a zombie begins. Quickly gaining good friends in fellow zombie Wendy and gay and fabulous vampire Gil, they live it up partying and drinking. When succubus Liesl goes missing, Amanda takes it upon herself to help find her even though she doesn't exactly know why. In searching for Liesl she and the rest of her friends get caught in a plot of a zombie take over, the only problem being the new zombies are "mistake" zombies, not made, functional zombies. Amanda endures various situations and confronts colorful characters throughout the book on her mission to find out what happened to Liesl and in doing so creates a wildly unique story. The only question is...will Amanda get out in the end undead?
This is unlike any book I've read. Richelle Mead's quote on the front sums it up: "Sexy, funny, and twisted. You've never read anything like this!"
I know from watching Mark Henry on YouTube he says he doesn't censor himself and he didn't lie. There were several instances when I had to stop and ask myself "Did he really say that?!" There is definitely some provocative language and is not suited for young people. Even though I wouldn't have the guts to say some of what he wrote I appreciate it. It's refreshing to read something that normally would be frowned upon or may be seen as unacceptable. It makes the story real and helps create Amanda's snarky and bold character. The questionable language (to some) made the book better, in my opinion.
Speaking of language, I have to say the language used was excellent. It would probably be really easy to write this story in a plain, boring way just to get it across, but Henry steps it up. The analogies and descriptions made me want to keep reading. Overall, the whole thing is written very well. For example, a line on page 136 says, "When I joined the weathergirl, tears clung to her cheeks like beads of dry Elmer's glue." How could you not love that description?! Everything he wrote makes the story seem tangible and realistic because I can see and sense what he means and is talking about.
I have to admit I was a little weary about this book, not because it was urban fantasy (because I love urban fantasy), but because it had a zombie as the main character. I have probably read about every kind of supernatural creature but never a zombie...and I don't know why I waited to long!
This book is funny, sexy, wacky, and has it's fair share of action and adventure. Just because it's a zombie book, don't second guess it....READ IT!
I recommend this book for anyone who loves urban fantasy and wants to read a something a little different than all the mainstream urban fantasy out there.
Last week I read Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry.
Amanda Feral is an ad exec in Seattle but her world takes a strange turn after a freak encounter with a scary looking, pus oozing guy in an elevator. When she wakes up she's a zombie and her world is turned upside down as her wacky, sexy, and funny life as a zombie begins. Quickly gaining good friends in fellow zombie Wendy and gay and fabulous vampire Gil, they live it up partying and drinking. When succubus Liesl goes missing, Amanda takes it upon herself to help find her even though she doesn't exactly know why. In searching for Liesl she and the rest of her friends get caught in a plot of a zombie take over, the only problem being the new zombies are "mistake" zombies, not made, functional zombies. Amanda endures various situations and confronts colorful characters throughout the book on her mission to find out what happened to Liesl and in doing so creates a wildly unique story. The only question is...will Amanda get out in the end undead?
This is unlike any book I've read. Richelle Mead's quote on the front sums it up: "Sexy, funny, and twisted. You've never read anything like this!"
I know from watching Mark Henry on YouTube he says he doesn't censor himself and he didn't lie. There were several instances when I had to stop and ask myself "Did he really say that?!" There is definitely some provocative language and is not suited for young people. Even though I wouldn't have the guts to say some of what he wrote I appreciate it. It's refreshing to read something that normally would be frowned upon or may be seen as unacceptable. It makes the story real and helps create Amanda's snarky and bold character. The questionable language (to some) made the book better, in my opinion.
Speaking of language, I have to say the language used was excellent. It would probably be really easy to write this story in a plain, boring way just to get it across, but Henry steps it up. The analogies and descriptions made me want to keep reading. Overall, the whole thing is written very well. For example, a line on page 136 says, "When I joined the weathergirl, tears clung to her cheeks like beads of dry Elmer's glue." How could you not love that description?! Everything he wrote makes the story seem tangible and realistic because I can see and sense what he means and is talking about.
I have to admit I was a little weary about this book, not because it was urban fantasy (because I love urban fantasy), but because it had a zombie as the main character. I have probably read about every kind of supernatural creature but never a zombie...and I don't know why I waited to long!
This book is funny, sexy, wacky, and has it's fair share of action and adventure. Just because it's a zombie book, don't second guess it....READ IT!
I recommend this book for anyone who loves urban fantasy and wants to read a something a little different than all the mainstream urban fantasy out there.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Book Review: 'Love Story' by Jennifer Echols
This weekend I read Love Story by Jennifer Echols and am excited this is the first book I am reviewing!
This is a cute story about growing up, coming to terms with your past,choosing the direction of your future, and of course love, told from the perspective of a dedicated creative writer.
Erin Blackwell is a freshman in college with dreams of becoming a best-selling author. Her grandmother, though, doesn't approve and wants her to take over the family racehorse business instead. When Erin opts for majoring in English versus Business at a New York university, her grandmother cuts her off financially and strips away her inheritance giving it to Hunter Allen, the attractive young stable boy whom Erin has known since they were both twelve years old. Now, struggling to make ends meat in the tough city of New York, Erin is learning the hardships of choosing the path that will hopefully lead to the career she wants. Erin hasn't let Hunter slip from her mind, though, and writes him into her latest provocative creative writing assignment. When Hunter suddenly shows up in her class she is mortified that he will recognize that the hero is mimicked after him. Hunter does indeed recognize the parallel and begins getting even with his own reality-themed sex stories. Through their stories and interactions we, the readers, get an insight into their pasts and everything that has made their relationship so complicated and what could possibly make everything right to create the "happy ending" Erin loves to write in her stories.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book. I loved the message that Erin portrayed of following your dreams. I'm a believer in that and the fact that she chose to leave a well established life to follow hers immediately showed me she would be a strong character. Her tone at times was harsh and strong, but that added to her overall independent nature. I definitely laughed out loud at times at the dialogue, especially when Manohar brings up Erin's use the word "nipple" in her first story. Trust me it's funny!
The fact that some of Hunter's and Erin's stories were actually printed in the book for the readers to read was a bonus. When reading the blurb on the back I was curious of how I would be able to know what the stories were about without a character just telling me or the stories actually being in the book. I really wasn't expecting to be actually reading the character's works. But seeing as the first chapter started with Erin's story helped me get a better feel for the book and the situations that were going to come up. I have to say I really enjoyed those short stories. If they were stand alones and not a part of this overall book they'd be very interesting to read and dissect.
Of course I loved the romance aspect of the book. Hunter is one of the classic dreamy guys of teen novels and you can't help but fall in love with him. I can't reveal what part made me angry with him, but I feel he vindicated himself later for the most part. I appreciated the fact they had a history and Echols explores it and fleshes it out for us. A lot of books, both YA and adult, have the hero and heroine fall in love too fast, sometimes in a matter of a couple days. It's not realistic. But in this story we see how their relationship developed- from where they started six years prior up through the years to the current time of the story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves YA love stories in the modern period. It was a very fun and pleasurable read and I'll definitely have to check out Jennifer Echols' other books!
This is a cute story about growing up, coming to terms with your past,choosing the direction of your future, and of course love, told from the perspective of a dedicated creative writer.
Erin Blackwell is a freshman in college with dreams of becoming a best-selling author. Her grandmother, though, doesn't approve and wants her to take over the family racehorse business instead. When Erin opts for majoring in English versus Business at a New York university, her grandmother cuts her off financially and strips away her inheritance giving it to Hunter Allen, the attractive young stable boy whom Erin has known since they were both twelve years old. Now, struggling to make ends meat in the tough city of New York, Erin is learning the hardships of choosing the path that will hopefully lead to the career she wants. Erin hasn't let Hunter slip from her mind, though, and writes him into her latest provocative creative writing assignment. When Hunter suddenly shows up in her class she is mortified that he will recognize that the hero is mimicked after him. Hunter does indeed recognize the parallel and begins getting even with his own reality-themed sex stories. Through their stories and interactions we, the readers, get an insight into their pasts and everything that has made their relationship so complicated and what could possibly make everything right to create the "happy ending" Erin loves to write in her stories.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book. I loved the message that Erin portrayed of following your dreams. I'm a believer in that and the fact that she chose to leave a well established life to follow hers immediately showed me she would be a strong character. Her tone at times was harsh and strong, but that added to her overall independent nature. I definitely laughed out loud at times at the dialogue, especially when Manohar brings up Erin's use the word "nipple" in her first story. Trust me it's funny!
The fact that some of Hunter's and Erin's stories were actually printed in the book for the readers to read was a bonus. When reading the blurb on the back I was curious of how I would be able to know what the stories were about without a character just telling me or the stories actually being in the book. I really wasn't expecting to be actually reading the character's works. But seeing as the first chapter started with Erin's story helped me get a better feel for the book and the situations that were going to come up. I have to say I really enjoyed those short stories. If they were stand alones and not a part of this overall book they'd be very interesting to read and dissect.
Of course I loved the romance aspect of the book. Hunter is one of the classic dreamy guys of teen novels and you can't help but fall in love with him. I can't reveal what part made me angry with him, but I feel he vindicated himself later for the most part. I appreciated the fact they had a history and Echols explores it and fleshes it out for us. A lot of books, both YA and adult, have the hero and heroine fall in love too fast, sometimes in a matter of a couple days. It's not realistic. But in this story we see how their relationship developed- from where they started six years prior up through the years to the current time of the story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves YA love stories in the modern period. It was a very fun and pleasurable read and I'll definitely have to check out Jennifer Echols' other books!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
First Blog!
Hello everyone!
While I'm not new to blogging, I am new to Blogger so I'd like to introduce myself.
If you can't tell from the title of my blog, I'm a bookworm and I love books! I've decided to create a blog solely to discuss books and do book reviews. The posts may stray off course from reviews now and then, but the posts will be about books. My plan is to have my reviews be for current and recent books, but older books may be thrown into the mix.
So a little about me...
My name is Sarah and I love to read as well as write. I graduated with a degree in English (surprise!) from UC Davis a little over a year ago and I love me some coffee! :)
I read all different genres of books, but I primarily read paranormal, both YA or adult, paranomal romance, and YA dystopian novels. I've been getting more into that last one lately. But in general I just love to read. If it sounds good I'll give it a try and will finish the book no matter what.
I am excited and will probably post in the next day or so because I am expecting a huge book delivery from Amazon (insert happy dance)! I'll be letting you know what I got and what will probably be read within the next couple weeks. After that I'll begin the fun task of reviewing.
Until next time, happy reading!
While I'm not new to blogging, I am new to Blogger so I'd like to introduce myself.
If you can't tell from the title of my blog, I'm a bookworm and I love books! I've decided to create a blog solely to discuss books and do book reviews. The posts may stray off course from reviews now and then, but the posts will be about books. My plan is to have my reviews be for current and recent books, but older books may be thrown into the mix.
So a little about me...
My name is Sarah and I love to read as well as write. I graduated with a degree in English (surprise!) from UC Davis a little over a year ago and I love me some coffee! :)
I read all different genres of books, but I primarily read paranormal, both YA or adult, paranomal romance, and YA dystopian novels. I've been getting more into that last one lately. But in general I just love to read. If it sounds good I'll give it a try and will finish the book no matter what.
I am excited and will probably post in the next day or so because I am expecting a huge book delivery from Amazon (insert happy dance)! I'll be letting you know what I got and what will probably be read within the next couple weeks. After that I'll begin the fun task of reviewing.
Until next time, happy reading!
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