Sunday, August 28, 2011

Passion by Lauren Kate

Passion by Lauren Kate
Pages: 420
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Rating: F

"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 certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand 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 pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever."


Review:

I am very happy to say I have finally finished this book. It has been four days of complete agony.

When I started this series, I was completely in love with it, but as the series progressed, I have come to see many faults in it.

For one, Kate's writing style is over-all very choppy. It went something like this:

"She did this. She did that. She did this other thing. Then, she did this."

In Passion, Kate has brought us through all of Luce's past lives, except the one I think most of us were waiting for: the life in which Daniel and Luce first meet. She was trying to show us throughout just how deep Luce and Daniel's love was, but I didn't see it at all. All I saw was an obsessive relationship between a selfish teenage girl and a pathetic angel.

I will, however, say that it is clear Kate did her research, only to put it through the shredder and pieced it back together, taking out the parts she didn't like and adding things that really made me mad. I am fascinated by angels and demons, and it really agitates me when people mess with it.

The one that bothered me the most:

Not many people have heard of the story of Lilith, the demon goddess. She was Adam's first wife. Long story short, she refused to lay beneath Adam, even after he has stated that women belong beneath man. She was then cursed to bare one-hundred children a day, only to have them killed. Of course, she is also said to steal children, but I would be stealing them too if mine were all being killed.

Kate's version:

"They [Lilith an Adam] weren't together long before Lilith left him. It broke his heart. He waited for her for a long time, but eventually, he met Eve. And Lilith never forgave him for getting over her. She spent the rest of her days wandering the Earth and cursing the family Adam had with Eve."

Let's not forget to mention that Adam didn't "find" Eve, but had her created with one of his ribs.

Who's the evil-ish one, now? Yeah, Adam, I'm looking at you!

But enough with the religious stuff! How about a couple pros, hm?

Sadly enough, the star I have given this book is all thanks to Cam: the only interesting character in the bunch. Cam is so full of personality, it's kind of hard to believe most of the other characters either bore me to tears, or make me want to claw my eyes out!

For two books, I have been waiting to see why Cam is the way he is, and I finally got it! It's a happy day for all the Cam fans. Though, it did not satisfy me in the least. I was waiting for something epic, but it was just another tragic love story.

They didn't fall because of love, Kate, they fell because of lust.

As much as I dislike this book and want to tear it from it's bindings, I will be reading the fourth and final book in the series, Rapture. Hopefully it will renew my liking for the series.

Side Note: This is probably the the most I will ever ramble in a review, there was just so much that bothered me, and I hardly got the half of it,

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Pages: 310
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: 2010

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt.  Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen mabh herself.
When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short.  An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power.  Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom...or tear them apart.
With breathtakingly high stakes, the talented Lesley Livingston delivers soaring romance and vividly magical characters in DARKLIGHT, the second novel in the trilogy that began with Wondrous Strange.



Review: 

This book was as amazing as the first, with the description and the characters and everything. I loved it so much. It definitely met my second-book-standards.

The main character kelley, kept up her not-so-annoying ways and I still like her.  She was still very hardheaded and stubborn.  Her love for Sonny Flannery was passionate and unending. Sonny Flannery my so hot Janus guard, is still amazingly perfect. Still my favorite character for the simple fact that he can give Kelley a rose and be sweet and then turn around and kick so Faerie butt. He's amazing,. Auberon nor Mabh was really in the book that often but they're still okay I guess. Nothing much changed with them.

Again, I'm not exactly sure what the plot of this book is but Lesley Livingston is just so awesome that she can make that work for her.  With or without a plot, this book was still utterly amazing and still met my standards.

It took me about 2 sittings to read this book also, because like the first book I just could not put it down.I definitely recommend the first and second book to anybody who needs something to read.

My rating:

A
("A" instead of an "A-" because in my opinion it is harder to write a second book than it is to write a first book)

Reason for rating:

  • Still not sure what the plot of these books are
  • I still love all the characters
  • It meets my (very high) standards for second books
  • It's not a normal "Faerie" book as one might expect
 -.:Christina:.-

Friday, August 26, 2011

Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowan

Nikki Donovan, Demon Princess, is back--and stuck in a love triangle that's straight out of hell!

Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowan
Pages: 292
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Rating: B

"Nikki Donovan has had a lot to deal with since learning she was half human, half demon. But things take a turn for the worse when Rhys, a gorgeous--but potentially dangerous--faery king enrolls at her school to investigate Nikki's potential of fulfilling an apocolyptic prophecy. Nikki knows she'd never turn violent, and she certainly couldn't destroy the world...could she?

"Of course, all Nikki wants is to be reunited with Michael, a Shadow creature whos status as her personal servant is further complicated by their undeniable attraction to each other. Even though the rules of the Shadowlands strictly forbid their romance, Nikki is determined not to let Michael go. But when she is summoned to the Underworld to appear before a demon council, it will take all her courage--and perhaps a bit of her demon strength--to get herself out again."

Review:

I think after having such a rough time with Reign or Shine, I was just not motivated to read this one. Though, I do have to say this one impressed me.

Remember that my one major issue with Reign or Shine was our Shadow/Prince/Servant/Thing, Michael. Well, he actually showed he had a backbone in this book! Again, he was kind of stupid (even he admits to it), but he was an idiot with a backbone. I mean, I guess I'd be a bit of a twit if I was stuck in a castle all my life.

So, yeah, respect for Michael went up a bit. Yay.

In this book, there were a lot more things going on (all of which are spoilers, so it's on the hush-hush), unlike in the first book where it was, more or less, Nikki getting used to her demonic self.

In Reign Check, there is a love-triangle introduced, the new addition being none other than King Rhys Oberon. Rhys was told by his advisors to go and keep watch on Nikki to make sure she isn't a threat to Faeryland. In doing so, he wreaks havoc on Erin Heights High...Only, not really. He was fairly harmless.

Rhys was by far my favorite character in the book. He was witty, sarcastic, and not a freaking moron. Not to mention he is super sexy. Sorry, Michael, but I do not like guys who sport shoulder-length, black hair.

Then, of course, there was Nikki. I will admit, the whole "I miss Michael" thing was getting quite irritating, but I have learned to accept that trait in the Young Adult community. I will also let it go because she still maintained her strong character. She rational, unlike a lot of heroines these days. Thank you, Nikki, for being smart.

The one problem I had with this is that is was, again, so horribly predictable. I was guessing on some of my predictions, and they all wound up happening. Like, really?

I'm surprised I liked this book as much as I did, with all the facepalms I got from the first book. I am left giving this book and 4/5 stars.

Note: There's seriously two more books coming out on this series? Kill me!

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Pages: 327
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: 2009


Since the dawn of time the Faerie have taken...
Seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow always thought faeries were just something from childhood stories.  Then she meets Sonney Flannery. He's a changeling--a mortal taken as an infant and raised among Faerie--and within short order he's turned Kelley's heart inside out and her life upside down.
For Kelley's beloved Central Park isn't just a park--it's a gateway between her ordinary city and the Faerie's dangerous, bewitching Otherworld.  Now Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her, but to the heritage that awaits her...a destiny both wondrous and strange.


Review:

I've realized that I like a book with a LOT of description because everything I've picked up has pages and pages of it.  I like to see, hear, smell, taste, and feel the things I'm reading about. This book both fulfills my standards of this and goes way beyond what I could have expected. Lesley Livingston did an amazing job on this book.  I can't wait to read the second one.

The main character Kelley, is pretty decent. The normal teenage girl.  Hardheaded, stubborn, gonna-do-it-her-own-way, Doesn't want to believe in anything, falls in love.  But she's not obnoxious or annoying so I fairly liked her. Sonney Falnnery, the oh-so-hot love interest. He's obviously my favorite character.  He has a dry sense of humor but there are moments when he's pretty funny. He has the way of jumping to conclusions though and I found that annoying. I mean if it's a matter of life and death think it through please. but I <3 him a lot. xD Then there's Auberon the Faerie king of the Unseelie court. He's annoying, and a jerk. There's not much I can say. I kinda wanted to punch him throughout the entire book. Oh, and he's Kelley's father. Spoiler alert, Kelley is Auberons daughter and the heir to the Unseelie kingdom.  Then there's queen Mabh, who is probably the second best character just because she's evil and likes to create chaos.  Another spoiler alert: Mabh is Kelley's mother. That's right, Kelley has the power of TWO VERY POWERFUL Faeries. Okay spoiler over.  

I'm not exactly sure what the plot in this book is to be honest.  I can't decide whether it was to protect the Faerie princess (Kelley) or to harm her, or to just show her the Faerie world. I'm not exactly sure. But Lesley Livingston is awesome enough where she can roll with that and make an awesome book, because plot or not, it was an amazing book.

It took me about 2 sittings to read this book, just for the simple fact that no matter how hard I tried I could NOT put it down.  This book is a definite must read if you're looking for something.

My Rating:

A-

Reason for rating:

  • Not exactly sure what the plot is
  • The characters are all awesome, even if they are jerks
  • The descriptions keep you reading because they're just that awesome
  • Not a normal "Faerie" book
-.:Christina:.-

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Torment by Lauren Kate

Torment By Lauren Kate

Pages: 452
Publisher: Tinderbox Books
Release date: 2010



How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for?

Hell on earth.
That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. 
It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. 
At shoreline, Luce learns what the shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything.  He's hiding something-something dangerous. 
What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?
The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series...where love never dies.

Review:

The author finally took my advice and didn't repeat throughout the book. In the first book that's all she did was say the same things over and over again. This time it was refreshing and barely anything was repeated.  Each chapter represented a day in Cam and Daniels truce, and each day something new and different happened. You were just waiting for it to happen because you never knew what it was going to be.  It had a way better drescription than the last book.

The main character Luce, Daniels "forever love interest" doesn't like to be told no.  She's always trying to get what she wants even if it puts her in danger. I had those *smack myself in the forehead because she's so stupid times* Shelby, Luces roommate was obnoxious and sneaky until Luce got to know her. Then she was just obnoxious.  Miles was the peace maker and was always trying to make light of any situation. He made me laugh out loud several times. I liked him the best. Cam wasn't in the book very much but he's still my favorite character of all. <3  And Daniel showed up at the most opportune times.  He's still very quiet, still very evasive whenever Luce asks him what's going on and sometimes I just want to punch him for thinking he can get away with it. 

It took only about 3 or 4 sittings to read this book. It was so much better than the first book by far. The plot was better than the first book, and I wanted to continue reading throughout the entire book.

Rating:

B

Reasons for rating:
  • Book was much better than the first
  • Characters were less annoying
  • Plot was better and kept me involved
-.:Christina:.-

Monday, August 22, 2011

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowan

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowan
Pages: 274
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 29th, 2009
Rating: C

"As if trying to fit in at a new school isn't stressful enough, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands—the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious—and surprisingly cute—messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew—what's a teenage demon princess to do?"

Review:

I'm really not sure about this book. I like it, I really do, but...Michael. Ugh.

This is the first time I've ever liked a main female character and totally wanted to stab the love interest with a pitchfork. He was just so...so stupid.

You know that insanely, ridiculously, and utterly retarded TV show, That 70s Show? Whenever Michael came into the book, my thoughts went straight to...well...Michael "Kelso" Kelso...

"Do you have any idea how annoying you are?"

"It wasn't every day I came right out and admitted my real feelings. But Michael seemed to be the type of guy who needed these things spelled out for him."

See. Even Nikki acknowledges it!

But, I will give him props for being one of the only Michaels I know of in a book that didn't have blonde hair, blue eyes, and played guitar. Awesome points from me.

Besides Michael, the story was just really predictable. I knew who the bad guy was, the motive, and how they were going to be stopped not even half-way through the book. Seriously people, when the bad guy is oozing niceness, it's obvious what their intentions are.

Then there is the over-all cheesiness of the book (it cheesiness a word?! o_O). I mean, the last couple of lines in the book were: Mess with the demon and you get the horns. Cute horns, but still, horns.

Nikki Donovan was okay compared to most heroines. She was actually pretty bad-ass at times, and didn't rely on Michael to save her. (Okay, she did once!). But why is she so damn peppy? Was Rowan trying to contrast her demon self and her human self? If so, too far.

Before you know it, demons are going to be sparkling, too.

The over-all plot of the story is pretty good, and it kept me entertained for the most part. It's very fast-paced, and there were really no boring parts. I did really like the book, much to my complaining over Facebook, and too Christina...and my mom.

The only reason I picked up this book was because I wanted to prove that I am a better demon princess that Nikki Donovan...I am~

Oh God, I think I'm finished. 3/5 stars. It's good, not great. I am currently reading the second book, Reign Check. Wish me luck~!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska by John Green
Pages: 221
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: March 3, 2011
Rating: A-

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

I have never been on such an emotional rollercoaster before. I went from laughing, to tearing up, to yelling so much during this book.

This book is separated into two parts: the Before section and the After section. The Before is the days leading up to an event, while After is how they cope with the event.

This is a very character-driven novel, as for most of the book, they are sitting around just talking. This isn't a bad thing, as most of their conversations did pull some sort of emotion out of me. Like-wise, there was some action in the book besides the event.

The main character, Miles, is what most people would consider an outcast in school. Before moving into Culver Creek, he was this nerdy/geeky guy who had exactly zero friends. Maybe this is due to is obsession for famous last words. I did like his character, and I like how he came out of his shell after meeting the Colonel and Alaska.

Chip, or the Colonel, is Miles' roommate. He is the humorous one in the book. He is witty, sarcastic, and just freaking awesome. He had me dying of laughter several times in the book.

And then there is Alaska. Cute, quirky, and utterly screwed-up. At one moment, she'll be her normal happy-go-lucky, probably a bit drunk[y] self who just loves sex and alcohol, and the next, this cold a bitchy girl, whom also just loves sex and alcohol. 

This book does have mature content, and it does go further than most young adult books dare to go, but it's not too terribly bad, and people in their late teens (about 16+) should be able to handle it.

All-in-all, this is probably my favorite book of the Summer. I could probably read it again sometime in the future. I recommend this to everyone. It's just one of those books everyone should read, even if it isn't interesting to them. It holds a powerful message. 

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
Pages: 324
Publisher: New American Library
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Rating: C

"Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul"


Review:

This book has such a beautiful cover. I couldn't help but pick it up. The book was also beautifully written, but made me feel quite stupid with all the big and scary words that Hayes used. I mean, maybe it was just me, but I felt like I should have had a dictionary next to me while I was reading this.

Theia, our main character, enjoyed using phrases such as "I suppose" or "young lad". Now, I get she is from England, but I'm pretty sure they don't talk like that. I understand why Haden's speech was so formal, as he was raised in, well, Hell, but Theia is a teenage girl. A human teenage girl who talks more formal than her stick-up-the-ass father.

From the beginning, it was quite obvious what Haden was: a demon. And let me tell you, he is a pathetic excuse for one. Yeah, he had his moments of blinding rage, but that wasn't very frequent, nor were his actions that bad. And let us not forget that he was curled up in a ball on the ground hyperventilating at one point.

A pretty cool aspect of the book is that it switches to Haden's point-of-view toward the end of the book. I was excited for this, and yet when it got to that point, I was disappointed. I didn't feel the change in views at all. His point-of-view was the same as Theia's, just with a few "man'''s and "dudes'''s. I thought the whining would stop, but alas, it did not.

The plot didn't really pick up until the last third of the book, when Haden's mother, Mara, was introduced. I. Loved. Her. So. Much. Now SHE is what being a demon is all about. She's wicked, sadistic, and sexy (well, she is a succubus). If only her son had picked up on some of that.

As a positive, there were some parts that were creative and somewhat creepy. I loved the minions, and the sewn ladies. I sort of wish I owned a few.

As a whole, this wasn't a terrible book, but it wasn't that great either. The main characters were a bit of a drag, but the side characters were just awesome. I can't wait until Dreaming Awake comes out. The cover for that one is just plain gorgeous as well.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger

Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger

Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger
Pages: 214
Little, Brown and Company
Release Date: 1945

 

Review:

This is the worst book I have ever read in my entire life. There is absolutely NO PLOT throughout the entire book. The book starts with Holden Caulfield in his fourth school, he ends up getting kicked out AGAIN, and the rest of the book is him wandering around New York.  I really have nothing to say about this book because it just sucks that bad.  The main character is Holden Caulfield and he is so depressing it's not even funny. I felt like punching him the entire time.  He is so ADHD it's not even funny. One minute he's talking about ducks flying south for the winter and the next he's drinking.  I can usually finish a book in about 2 or 3 days. This book took me 3 months to read because it was horrible and I just couldn't get into it.

Rating:

F- or a Z-

Reason for rating:

  • It was sooooooooooo boring
  • It had NO plot WHATSOEVER
  • The main character made me want to shoot myself
  • There was no decent writing throughout the entire book 

.:~Christina~:. 

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Pages: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 7th, 2011
Rating: C

"Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future."

Review:

London wakes up every morning forgetting what happened the day before, and anything previous, but can tell you what will happen in the future for as long as you are in her life. How awesome of a premise is that, huh? It's creative and unique and just what the YA community needs to stray away from the cliche` story-lines.

Except, the way this story was executed threw me off.

There were so many plot-holes in this story, it was like walking on swiss cheese. How does nobody outside the circle of people who know about her condition not realize that she is struggling her way through life and school? Also, if she starts each day anew, how does she maintain the same personality as the previous? You would think she'd have a massive case of bi-polar. The list goes on, but I'll continue with the review.

I had a real problem with London. She was bitchy, whiny, and just all around BORING! You could definatly tell that her heart was in the right place sometimes, but the way she does things is just stupid, and sometimes just plain wrong.

The relationship she had with her "best friend" Jamie was interesting. Jamie is one of the only ones who know of her condition, but she doesn't want her future spoiled. I get that completely. I also get that, when Jamie gets herself involved with a married teacher, that London wants nothing but to get her friend out of that, because of events she sees in the future. Really, though, calling your best friend a slut is not the way to do it. There is no reason at all to pin such a demeaning name to a friend.

Then there is her relationship with her hottie boyfriend, Luke. Sweet, kind, bashful Luke. He was by far my favorite character in the story. Probably one of the nicest guys anyone could meet, but he did know how to stand his ground. The only downside is that he is kind of clingy...and he has an abnormal obsession with drawing and painting ears.

Every day, London would wake up, read her notes, and fall in-love with the guy she reads about. It's sweet, but kind of unrealistic. Yes, she is basing it off of what her past self believes, but her past self is known for deceiving her somtimes. Anyway, whenever they meet face-to-face, you get a little sentence or two about how gorgeous he is. Normally, this would down-right annoy me and cause a little eye-roll, but this was kind of cute.

All-in-all, I never came to the conclusion that they are in-love, but have a massive obsession with each other.

The biggest problem I had was with the ending. It was rushed, and I just wasn't satisfied. There are still things I want to know; big things that were mentioned that were not answered! I want my answers...

I have got to say, though: this book did hold my attention. Through the holes and everything, it was still interesting and was written almost flawlessly. I read it front-to-back in pretty much one sitting, with little breaks in-between. This is not a bad review, or a bad book at all; it could just use a bit of work.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman
Pages: 292
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: February 17th, 2011
Rating: A
Recommended: Hell yes!

"When high school junior Natalie - or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper - is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected - especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?"

Review:

I swear to God, guys, my eyes are killing me right now. Normally this would be because I stupidly tripped over my own feet and fell eye-first on a rock (I wouldn't put it past me...), but this time, it is because I have been reading this book all day.

I am more of a fantasy-type reader, but sometimes I like to sit down and read a nice contemporary novel. I like reading a book about normal teenagers doing normal things. Although the premise of this book isn't what you would call "in-the-norm", Natalie and company still go through things real, living teenagers go through.

This book gave me a nice laugh. I quite often found myself putting down the book just to get over my little giggle-fits. Believe me when I say it was a torturous day for my family, hearing my giggles every few minutes. My friends and family often say my giggle sounds like a psychotic five-year-old. Really should work on that, eh?

I did like Natalie as a lead, but the ones I really felt drawn to was Tyler and Max (not so much Earl...sorry, my fellow nerd!) From the second these two came in--Tyler being a total, geeky pile of awesome and Max flossing his butt (I had a nice mental image...)--I was in love. Call me weird, but I like the odd-balls.

I had a hard time with Emilio, though. Don't get me wrong; he's a great love-interest; awesome personality...but when you are constantly getting a picture of your Uncle in your mind, things get kind of weird! This is not me criticizing or anything, but never in a million years would I have thought to see the name Emilio in a book. I though my Uncle had an original (if kind of icky) name. D:

All-in-all, I really loved this book. The plot, the characters, the mental images, everything! I need to start reading more contemporary books, because I find myself less disappointed by the end.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Soulstice by Simon Holt

Soulstice by Simon Holt
Pages: 266
Publisher: Little Brown
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Rating: 5
Recommended: Yes

"It's been six months since Reggie first discovered and fought against the Vours, malicious and demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on the eve of the Winter Solstice.

The Vours still haunt Reggie, but only in her dreams-until one night, when an unexpected visitor turns her nightmares into reality."

Review:

This is the second book in The Devouring series by Simon Holt, and it is even better than the former!

People complain that this book has lost its creepiness compared to the previous book, but I disagree. I think it manages to keep the same level of horror as before, if not a bit more.

The fearscapes in this one were just as creative as Henry's, and kept me excited for the whole time Reggie was in them. Let's just hope Holt can keep it up.

Now, the main problem I had with The Devouring is that the character development was a bit lacking. Let's just say I am completely satisfied with it now. Going through this book, I felt a lot closer to the characters, and even wanted to smack some around (given the circumstance, that is a good thing).

It is really hard reviewing short books. I feel like I am not saying enough, but at the same time, if I say much else (or really, any of the plot at all), I feel I'll be giving away the whole story. Not. Fun. At. All.

I am hopefully going to get Fearscape this weekend, given they have it in the bookstore. I know it's been out for a little under a year now, but whenever I go there, they only seem to have Soulstice (it took me over a year just to find The Devouring, and it wasn't in my local bookstore -_-).

Random Note: I keep renovating the format. Hopefully I'll find something to stick to soon.