Daimon By Jennifer L. Armentrout

Daimon By Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pages: 62

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: May 10th, 2011

Format: Ebook

Found At: Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rating: B

"For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.

According to her mother, that’s a good thing.

But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.

The daimons have found her" (Synopsis from Goodreads.com)

Review:

Daimon is a prequel to Half-Blood, part of the Covenant series by Jennifer L Armentrout, and what a prequel it is. Right from the first page, I was drawn in. I'm not one to read an Ebook, but this sounded really interesting.

Alex is a half-blood, or a demi-god, who has fled her Covenant with her mom for reasons she does not know. In the course of only three years, she has jumped to four different schools, trying to hide the fact that she isn't exactly fully mortal.

Alex is a refreshing lead. She is strong, cocky, and funny (if not a little corny), and she does let a weaker side show.

As far as side-characters go, they make very little appearance, and none really caught my attention. Of course, except for the daimons, who, in my opinion, are a really fresh take on demons.

In a sense, the concept reminds me of the Vampire Academy series (which is not a bad thing), except with Gods: There are the pure-bloods, who have elemental powers; half-bloods, who protect the pures; and daimons, who feed off of aether (which the pures have a high amount of).

Daimon is a fast-paced novella that will keep you reading the whole way through, and will have you rushing to the book store when Half-Blood releases in October.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Pages: 452

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: 2009

"There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at Sword & Cross boarding school in Savannah.  He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are screwups, and security cameras watch every move. 

Except Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--he goes out of his way to make that very clear.  But she can't let it go.  Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desparate to keep secret...

even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, FALLEN is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story."

Review:

This book isn't as good as you might think it is.  I mean yeah we all love those "dark thrillers" and "passionate love stories," but Fallen isn't what you should pick up for those things.  Don't be fooled by the last line of the synopsis.  Yes, there are some very well written parts and some very creative parts, but they're very rare throughout this book.  You don't get much action, and it's very slow to start.  Nothing made me laugh out loud, cry from complete sadness, or make me want to kill one of the characters.  Lauren Kate was not very imaginative with the plot of this story because it's like most other books I've read.  A girl meets a guy, he doesn't like her (or seems to not like her), they fight/argue a LOT, and they end up falling in love.  Blah, Blah, Blah.   

The main character Lucinda Price is quite boring and doesn't do much throughout the book, besides stalking the guy who obviously doesn't like her, and running screaming from shadows.  She tries to hard to fit in, and that gets annoying quite fast, also she self pity's herself a lot.  There are other people in that school that are worse off then her.  She just needs to grow up.  Daniel the other main character tries to hard to be cool, and avoids her to much. I mean avoiding is fine when you have a secret like his, but he does it way to much and in sometimes stupid ways.  He leads her on and then drops her.  Typical guy right?  And Cam.  *sigh* he's gorgeous, but he could use a personality check.  Guys can't be perfect all the time.  That's why the ending like it was. 

It took me several sittings to read this book because I just couldn't get involved in the plot, or think like the character.  I felt like an outsider intruding on people having sex. (*coughcoughMeghanandAsh*) sorry that's in another book. >:)  But it was kind of awkward throughout the entire thing.  it could have been thought up, and portrayed better. 

Rating:

D

Reason for rating:

• It was boring
• The plot could have been better thought up
• It was verrrryy cliche
• The main characters were boring
• There were only several spots in the book that had contained decent writing

-.:Christina:.~

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Pages: 487
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: May 31, 2011

Warning: Review might contain very minor spoilers.

     "Helen Hamilton has spent her sixteen years trying to hide how different she is--no easy task on a island as small as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood...and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles on a tragedy the Fates insisted on repeating throughout history.
      As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even damaged powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together--and trying to tear them apart."

Review:
     There has been a lot of hype on this book lately, and I just have to wonder exactly why. Yes, this book is written without any grammatical error, that I've caught, and the synopsis for this book does draw you in quite well, but I have found myself quite confused throughout the whole book. It seems like with each explanation the author gave, more questions were developed. A lot of these questions were left unanswered (or maybe the answers were too complicated for me to grasp).
    I felt no connections to many of the characters, including Helen and Lucas. As the book dragged on, I felt that I didn't care to create a connection to them, unless it was my fist connecting with their faces (only to have my fist shattered into a million pieces because, well, they're invincible). Helen was just one of those heroines that was very much capable of defending herself, but she refused to fight. Most of her actions throughout the book were also made with little thought.
    Let's face it, no matter how smart this girl is academically, her street smarts are lacking.
    Other than my problem with Helen, I do feel the need to say that Lucas annoyed me as well. He was way too over-protective. Protective-ness is only attractive to an extent.
    The only two characters I enjoyed reading about were Jason and Matt. Jason because he was, to me, pretty funny (unlike Claire, who I felt tried too hard), and Matt because he was an all-around sweet guy, and NORMAL (also unlike Claire, who pushed her best friend off the roof. I mean, really...).
   The romance between Helen and Lucas was flat and boring, and I was kind of expecting it to be. The second they stopped trying to kill each other, I was mentally groaning and hoping the Furies would come back and make them strangle each other...at the same time. Dying at the hands of your lover is romantic...right?
  I will give Angelini credit: her writing did flow well and her grammar was really good, but that obviously does not make the story. Right, if the grammar is really bad, it does turn you off to a book (at least it does for me), but it doesn't work both ways.
   All-in-all, I did not enjoy this book, but I don't blame the people who did enjoy it. I would actually recommend people to try reading this book. I didn't like it, but I am part of the minority.

My Rating:

D

Reasons for Rating:

• Explanations were confusing and didn't answer many of my questions.
• The characters you were obviously supposed to like came off as annoying.
• Romance was boring and rushed.
• Claire (worst. best. friend. ever.)
• The writing was good for a debut.

~Tye <3

Wither By Lauren Destefano

Wither by Lauren Destefano
Pages: 358
Publisher: Simon&Schuster

Release Date: March 22, 2011

"Thanks to modern science, every newborn has become a ticking time-bomb--males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape--to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant she is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left."

Review:

This is a book I've been wanting to pick up ever since I first saw it in my Wal-Mart. Of course, it wasn't until a couple months later that I decided to get it. I am so happy I did. =)

Wither is a book with very dark and serious themes, and does get a bit graphic at times. This is definitely a book for older teens. Probably sixteen and up.

Rhine is a pretty strong main character. She thought for herself, and did what she had to do, even if it came back and bit her in the butt.

The side characters were also pretty interesting. They all had their own personality that I found realistic for the situation, even if there were some times I wanted to smack them--mainly Cecily--in the face...really hard.

The plot was above and beyond my expectations, and it was written very well. As my friend said: It made me laugh, cry, scream in rage, and smile--just not in those exact words.

The romance in here was quite adorable in my opinion, and subtle. I thought about it, and the pacing of the romance was fairly normal. Not to mention Gabriel is just plain cute. I want a servant-boy of my own!

My Rating:

A

Reason For Rating:

• The plot is great and original.
• Characters are believable.
• Romance has a good pace, and doesn't over-power the story.

~Tye<3

Thirst NO. 1 by Christopher Pike

(The Last Vampire, Black Blood, Red Dice)

Pages: 594

Publisher: Simon Pulse 

Release Date: August 4, 2009

As to blood---

ah, blood, the whole subject fascinates me.  I do like that as well, warm and dripping, when I am thirsty.  And I am often thirsty....

Alisa has been in control of her urges for the five thousand years she has been a vampire.  She feeds but does not kill, and she lives her life on the fringe to maintain her secret.  But when her creator returns to hunt her, she must break her own rules in order to survive.

      

Review:

Christopher Pike takes the normal vampire that you know and love, and throws it away completely, going back to the way things were before they were sparkly and fairy-like.  He has perfect detail so you can actually hear the wild screams, smell the putrid flesh and blood, see the bones crunching, taste the rancid air, and feel the fear, and love that the character you're reading through feels.  These details will sometimes make you grimace in disgust.

The main character, Alisa Perne, has been portrayed as a five thousand year old vampire, who still doesn't know what she believes in. She is definitely dynamic, because through every point in the book you learn new things about her that you would not have guessed.  Unlike Edward and the Twilight vampires, Alisa and the Thirst vampires in this book are dark, and most definitely dangerous.  They're not afraid to spill blood or take it.  Most of the other characters are pretty boring, but Alisa brings out their character throughout the book. 

The plot in this book is stunning. I was captivated in the very first paragraph. It can get boring, and slow at some points, as do most books, but in the long run it is very fascinating to get inside the mind and thoughts of a not-so-frilly vampire.  There's action in just about every chapter, whether it's a little fight killing one person, or a big fight killing many, it keeps you zoned on the book the entire time. 

It took me 3 or 4 sittings to finish this book, but some people read slow, and some people read faster, so it totally depends on the person.  I most definitely would recommend this book. It is close to the best book I've ever read. Possibly even the best.  The plot is fantastic, and the characters for the most part keep up with the plot, and have an edge to them.  I definitely cannot wait till I get around to reading Thirst NO. 2!

My Rating:

A-

Reason For Rating:

•     The Plot is incredible and never leaves you hanging.
•     You're captivated from the very first paragraph.
•     The characters barely ever bore you.
•     Christopher Pike gives us the nitty gritty of vampires and not some frilly, sparkly vampire.
•     It is very interesting to read. Nothing like what I've read before.

~.:Christina:.~

The Devouring by Simon Holt

The Devouring by Simon Holt

Pages: 231
Publisher: Little Brown
Release Date: September 1st, 2008

The Vours: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter  solstice.

When dark creeps in and eats the light,

Bury your fears on Sorry Night.

For the winter's blackest hours

Comes the feasting of the Vours.

No one can see it, the life they stole.

Your body's here but not your soul...

Review:

Simon Holt creates a world full of fear. His detail on everything gives you a perfect vision of what the characters see and do, and these details may send shivers down your spine.

Regina Halloway, as a main character, I felt was a tad bit flat. I get that she is a die-hard horror fan, and she cares deeply for her brother, Henry...but, that's about all I've got. I felt the same about most of the other characters as well.

Though, the Vours, in my opinion, were great. They are nothing like a normal ghost, except maybe for the fact that they possess people. No, the Vours feed off children's fear. This may seem like a great deal-- give a Vour a place to stay and live life without fear--but, where do the minds of the children go afterward? Do they really get rid of all their fears?

I read this whole book in maybe two sittings. It is a really quick and fun read. I do really recommend this book. The plot is incredible, even if the characters are a bit flat. I do feel the characters have plenty of potential in the next book: The Soulstice. Even if you don't like the book, you have got to admit, the covers are gorgeous! Don't deny it; you know you do. =)

My Rating:

B

Reason for rating:

• The characters are a bit flat, but have potential to become three-dimensional as the story progresses.
•  The plot really draws you into the story.
• The details Holt uses create a creepy, yet enjoyable world.
• It's a quick and fun read.
• Holt takes a creative approach to what we think of as ghosts.

~Tye <3

The First Blog Post :D

This is Christina, I wanted to be the one to write the first blog post.  I just wanted to take the time to say hi, and welcome to our blog page where we write reviews on books that we've read.  I know that we're not going to make every single person happy with our reviews because not everybody likes or dislikes the same things.  Tyler and I have disagreements all the time over books.  So I just wanted to say that if you have any recommendations on any books, that you think we should read, please feel free to let us know.  We're always open to new books and new experiences and we'll never turn any book down.  It just might take us a while to read it because we read a lot.  If you have any other questions, or concerns, please feel free to let us know. Thanks!