[Guest Post] Gone Too Far by Natalie D. Richards

Today, I have Natalie D. Richards, author of the just-released Gone Too Far, for a quick guest post. Gone Too Far is one of my most anticipated reads of 2015 (come on - don't tell me that the blurb doesn't pique your interest even just a tiny bit!), and I'm so excited that I have the chance to host Natalie on the blog and help her spread the word about her book!

Title: Gone Too Far
Author: Natalie D. Richards
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: January 6, 2015
Goodreads | Natalie's Twitter
Amazon | Apple | BAM | B&N | Chapters | Indiebound

Piper Woods can't wait for the purgatory of senior year to end. She skirts the fringes of high school like a pro until the morning she finds a notebook with mutilated photographs and a list of student sins. She's sure the book is too gruesome to be true, until pretty, popular Stella dies after a sex-tape goes viral. Everyone's sure it's suicide, but Piper remembers Stella's name from the book and begins to suspect something much worse.

Drowning in secrets she doesn't want to keep, Piper's fears are confirmed when she receives an anonymous text message daring her to make things right. All she needs to do is choose a name, the name of someone who deserves to be punished..

TOP FIVE APPS ON PIPER’S PHONE:

Okay, I’m going to be honest, this was the hardest interview I’ve ever had and it was So. Much. Fun. I thought about copping out and going with a bunch of super popular apps, but then I decided I wanted to really think about the stuff she’d love.

And surprise, surprise, I found some incredible apps along the way! My whole family is addicted to the Pottery one! J

So, without further ado, here are the apps that I think would get the most play on Piper’s phone.

1. Instagram

Piper’s a photographer, so I strongly suspect her primary social media outlet is Instagram, because she often sees the world through a lens. Sharing her world through a lens just makes sense to me.

2. Let’s Create! Pottery HD

This game is soooooo relaxing. You make pottery pieces and sell pottery pieces and buy new designs to put on your pottery pieces. Sound boring? Well, explain Minecraft!  ;-) Really, though, it’s super fun and addictive. It’s a different take on an “art” game and a super easy, mindless way to pass time when you’re waiting in line or bored out of your skull. I definitely see her playing this one.

3. Pro Camera 7

Sound boring? Well, if you’re a photographer who wants a better app for your iPhone camera, it isn’t. Piper’s pretty persnickety about her photography gear, so I doubt she’d be happy with the stock camera options on her phone. This isn’t her trusty Nikon, but it’s a step up. 

4.  Global Emergency Overview

Piper’s pretty desperate to move into her future as a photojournalist who documents humanitarian crises around the world. This is an app that provides a comprehensive list of this information. Piper isn’t able to take her camera overseas just yet, but she wants to be informed and aware of what’s happening in the world.

5.  PledgeMusic

Piper tends to avoid all things mainstream, which definitely causes a bit of friction with Nick. It would also steer her toward apps like PledgeMusic where she can discover, follow, and champion new indie musicians. This app is a really cool way to break down those barriers between fans and musicians and I bet Piper and Manny both love it!

[Blog Tour: Review] Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

(Check out the rest of the tour stops HERE!)

Title: Black Ice
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Source: ARC
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Goodreads

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

THOUGHTS: 

I don't think there's a YA afficionado out there who doesn't know Becca Fitzpatrick and her incredibly famous Hush, Hush series. In fact, I would even consider the Hush Hush series as one of the series that started the YA Paranormal boom a few years ago (I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about...).  With this in mind, I half-expected Becca's new project to be something 'paranormal' in nature - maybe there wouldn't be angels in the center of the story this time around, but maybe witches, vampires... you get my drift. Color me shocked when I found out that not only was the book, Black Ice, a psychological thriller, there was nothing remotely paranormal in its pages either!

Once the initial shock wore off (because believe me, I was all geared up for another paranormal series to fall in love with), I sought to find out all that there is to know about Black Ice. The premise itself already had me hooked; the blurb even the more so. I already knew that I wanted to read Black Ice when I found out that it's a totally different genre from what I'm used to Becca Fitzpatrick writing, but the urge intensified all the more so when I personally heard Becca talk about it during her book tour here in the Philippines. It was just so adamantly clear that she poured her heart and soul in this book, and that this was a story that she really wanted to tell. I wouldn't call the premise wholly original or anything like that (because come on, we've seen this in movies time and time again), but I wanted to see how Becca would make this story her own.

If I were to be a hundred percent honest, I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did. (Wait! I thought she was excited for Black Ice?, you may ask. Well, I am - I really am! I know, I know, I bet I'm confusing the hell out of you guys, but hear me out!) I've always had a weakness for thrillers, but if there's one thing I've come to realize after reading a number of them, it's that character development is barely there. Thrillers always tend to focus on the plot pacing and all those twists and turns instead of actually shaping the main characters, and that's something that's really grated on me over the years. As a reader, I do appreciate a good plot twist, but there's nothing more fulfilling than reading about a character who grows. This right here is the reason why even though I expected Black Ice to be an entertaining read, I never thought that it would be the kind that would make me tear through its pages like a deranged woman. But wow, was I ever mistaken! I read this one without stopping (and at an hour when I should be sleeping too!) and loved it. I was never bored, and while that was also because of the writing and the proper pacing of the novel, it was largely because of the main character, Britt.

I loved how Becca Fitzpatrick managed to keep this book filled with heart-stopping action and the plot moving at a quick pace without sacrificing her MC's character development. At the start of the Black Ice, Britt was the kind of girl who never lifted a finger to fight for she wanted. She was content with letting other people do the dirty work for her, and she was used to following other people around. Initially, you can't help but roll your eyes at Britt. At first glance, everything about her screamed 'spoiled' and 'immature', and she definitely did not think through her actions throughout the first few chapters of the book. But don't give up Britt, folks, because believe me - she grows and matures A LOT throughout the happenings of Black Ice. She proved herself to be a selfless friend in doing absolutely everything that she can to save her friend from the sordid mess they found themselves in. She kept her wits through her fear, and she never ever even thought about giving up. Britt finding this strength within herself and ultimately discovering who she really is is the true selling point of Black Ice, if you were to ask me.

I won't say that there were plot twists that surprised me - I don't know if it's just me, but the clues were easy enough to put together. I already had an idea what what the big 'ohmygod I did not see that coming' moment would be halfway through! Don't get me wrong - there were still parts wherein I had to scrunch my forehead and wrack my brain to figure out what the heck was going on, but there really weren't that many. Weirdly enough though, knowing what would happen didn't deter my enjoyment of the book. I think that has something to do with the writing (Becca's writing just flowed!) and how I can't help but root for the MC one hundred percent. I just wanted her to get out of this mess alive!

I also like how there was such an emphasis on survival (against nature), rather than uncovering the mystery of just who earth these two fugitives are. Not only did Britt have to escape these two guys, she also had to survive through the snowstorm with only one map and barely enough food at her disposal! Another thing I liked about Black Ice is that the romance never overshadowed the mystery and the thriller aspects of the book. Overall, I can say with no doubts whatsoever that Black Ice is one of my top reads for 2014. The ending's a bit too prettily tied-up, but hey, I can ignore that given just how much I enjoyed the first 98% of the book or so!

Rating: 5 Stars

Sick by Tom Leveen

Title: Sick
Author: Tom Leveen
Source: ARC from the Publisher
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Goodreads
Amazon | The Book Depository

Brian and his friends are not part of the cool crowd. They’re the misfits and the troublemakers—the ones who jump their high school’s fence to skip class regularly. So when a deadly virus breaks out, they’re the only ones with a chance of surviving.

The virus turns Brian’s classmates and teachers into bloodthirsty attackers who don’t die easily. The whole school goes on lockdown, but Brian and his best friend, Chad, are safe (and stuck) in the theater department—far from Brian’s sister, Kenzie, and his ex-girlfriend with a panic attack problem, Laura. Brian and Chad, along with some of the theater kids Brian had never given the time of day before, decide to find the girls and bring them to the safety of the theater. But it won’t be easy, and it will test everything they thought they knew about themselves and their classmates.

THOUGHTS:

As happy as I am that I've started reading other sub-genres of YA again (it took a while, yes, but reading nothing but contemporaries did take its toll), I've been craving for something different. Something out of the box. Something not like any other YA book I've read. When I first chanced upon the blurb of Sick, I instantly knew that this was the book that I've been looking for... and make no mistake, I had to have it. (And that I did!) This is my first foray into reading YA zombie books, but, wow, Sick surely didn't disappoint. While I did have my fair share of misgivings with the novel, all in all, I ended up liking it a whole lot.

A lot of reviews of Sick I've seen voiced their displeasure on how Brian was fixated in saving only the people he knew, or more accurately, the people he wanted to save, as opposed to wanting to save the entire world. Honestly though, this aspect of the novel is as realistic as it may come. As horribly selfish as this may sound - if it were me in that zombie-infested school, I would prioritize saving myself and the people I loved. I would also try my damn hardest to save the others, sure - and that is what Brian did, make no mistake about it - but they wouldn't exactly be a priority. A bit callous, sure, but that's how I feel. Survival of the fittest, simply put. Sometimes, I'd rather read about someone I can actually relate to - someone who feels the same way I do - as opposed to reading about a hero who feels nothing but a caricature of a character.

One of my biggest qualms about Sick is that I feel that not enough attention and detail were given to the development of the characters. It's as if the growth of the characters was shunted in lieu of the rapid pace of the story, as well as the overall plot development. The blurb of this book referenced The Breakfast Club, and I expected something similar - I expected to read about different kids from different backgrounds with all sorts of different attitudes revealing who they truly are to each other. What I instead got was the main character's perception of who his peers were. See the difference? I think that it would have been much better if Sick was told in several perspectives as opposed to one.

However, make no mistake about it - I did  like the pacing of this novel. I liked how I was on the edge of my seat with every turn of a page. The fact that every chapter began with a time stamp really set the tone of the novel as well - one can't help but marvel how lives could permanently change at such a a short time! Furthermore, I liked how Leveen was able to adequately portray the helplessness - as well as the young age- of these teens who were suddenly thrust into this sordid mess. On the flipside, I was also impressed at how Leveen was able to showcase that maturity is not necessarily positively correlated with age. Brian and his friends truly amazed me with the calmness they showed in such adversity - I don't think I would have been able to think of a sound escape plan in the face of zombies!

I was a huge fan of the supporting characters and Brian's relationships with some of them as well. You rarely get YA novels exploring sibling dynamics, but this one did. Leveen successfully demonstrated just how much Brian loved his sister Kenzie - heck, Brian was pretty much safe and sound from the zombies and yet he decided to go ahead and risk his life to make sure that she was okay! I like how Brian and and Chad's friendship was depicted as well. With no hesitation whatsoever, Chad agreed to help out Brian find Kenzie.. at the possible expense of his own life! Moments wherein it was shown that only Brian could successfully calm down Chad were some of my favorite parts of the book as well.

I'm clearly in the minority when it comes to the ending, but I happen to think that Leveen did a great job with it? How else was it supposed to end - with all loose ends tied up in a pretty bow and a happily-ever-after? That simply isn't possible given the plot, and it wouldn't be realistic either. For what it's worth though - the last chapter is brilliantly written, and it honest to goodness stayed with me. Also, make no mistake about it - you do get your answers before you reach that final page. All in all, I enjoyed Sick and my introduction to the world of zombies. I recommend it to any YA book lovers out there who are in dire need of something fresh to read!

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Broken by CJ Lyons

 
Title: Broken
Author: CJ Lyons
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Source: Ecopy for Review
Goodreads
Amazon | The Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author CJ Lyons makes her YA debut with a fast-paced thriller sure to keep readers guessing to the very last page

The only thing fifteen-year-old Scarlet Killian has ever wanted is a chance at a normal life. Diagnosed with a rare and untreatable heart condition, she has never taken the school bus. Or giggled with friends during lunch. Or spied on a crush out of the corner of her eye. So when her parents offer her three days to prove she can survive high school, Scarlet knows her time is now... or never. Scarlet can feel her heart beating out of control with every slammed locker and every sideways glance in the hallway. But this high school is far from normal. And finding out the truth might just kill Scarlet before her heart does.

THOUGHTS:

While I was reading the first few chapters, to be perfectly honest, I thought I knew what to expect from this novel. I even thought that the entire story was a little bit cliche - here we have your average, ordinary girl (except this one has a life-threatening disease) attending high school for the first time, makes both great friends and awful enemies on her first day alone, and finds herself smack in the middle of a love triangle. I was rolling my eyes good-naturedly, thinking that there was nothing special about this book other than how on point the MC's voice was. Heck, I was even mentally writing the first two paragraphs of my review after the first few pages or so!

So you can just imagine my shock when Broken went into completely uncharted territory and left me floundering and stuttering while reading its latter half. This book was NOT what I expected... AT ALL! (And once again, a book teaches me a lesson - sometimes, it's simply impossible to predict where a plot is going!) Gone are all the thoughts of Broken being the least bit cliche, because I'm pretty sure that I have yet to read a book even remotely similar to this one. So props to you, CJ Lyons - I can barely string a coherent interview together because your book blew my mind (in a good way)!

Okay, let me try to pull myself together...

I really liked Scarlet. Here you have a girl who's about to die (and she knows it), but she doesn't let that affect her disposition in life. She's being bullied left and right by her classmates who chose to label her a freak simply because of her disease, but she soldiers on and fights back against these people. Her sheer determination to actually live life as long as she can was just so refreshing to read through. Enough of those MCs who just hate absolutely everything and want to go sulk in a corner - here's someone who's actually fighting tooth and nail to live. Scarlet's voice is so raw, so gritty - with every word, you understand how she feels, even if she doesn't say it point blank. You get to know all her fears and all her dreams. Lyons did such an amazing job writing this character - by the end of the book, without a doubt, you know who Scarlet is.

The supporting characters made for an interesting read as well. Despite having their own problems, I love how Nessa, Celina, Jordan, Tony, and Scarlet herself helped each other out wholeheartedly. There was nothing of the 'my problem is worse than yours' scenario or anything like that. None of these characters felt sorry for themselves - instead, they chose to support each other with all their might. Oh, I'd also like to note that I couldn't be more wrong about the whole love triangle thing. Lyons went into a completely unexpected direction, and I really loved this book a lot more because of her doing so.

The story, the story... How do I even talk about it without spoiling anything? Initially, I pegged the novel as a contemporary read, but I was sorely mistaken. While Broken does indeed have aspects that fall under the contemporary genre, the second part of the novel dealt with Scarlet delving into the subtle holes of her medical history... and things got awry pretty fast, let me tell you.

All in all, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. All the characters were compelling; the MC had such an engaging voice; and do not get me started on the awesomeness that is the storyline. Suffice to say I'll definitely be on the lookout for CJ Lyons' books from now on!

Rating: 4 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] The Kings of Charleston by Kat H. Clayton

 

(Check out the rest of the stops HERE)

 

 

Title: The Kings of Charleston (The Kings of Charleston #1)

Author: Kat H. Clayton
Release Date: July 10, 2012

Goodreads

Casper Whitley is forced to move to Charleston, South Carolina where she’ll be the new kid her senior year of high school. Casper’s upset about the move until she meets the Roman family’s gorgeous son, Cal, but there’s a problem. A mystery surrounds him which can be summed up in one word…Kythera. Never heard of it? Neither has Casper until she finds the word tattooed on cars, paintings and all her new friends.

After Casper’s life is threatened, someone is forced to tell the truth about her parents, the Romans and Kythera’s motives for her being in Charleston. Once the truth is revealed, she must decide whether to protect her family and Kythera’s secrets or walk away from everything she has ever known.

THOUGHTS:

It's been quite a while since I've read something so laced with suspense yet doesn't fall under the genres of paranormal or dystopia. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but suffice to say I was more than impressed and overwhelmed by what I read. The mystery element thoroughly enriched the novel, and helped set it apart from other YA reads - quite frankly, I don't think I'll be forgetting this novel any time soon. I finished it in one sitting, and the reason is simple, really - the first few pages had me hooked right from the beginning, and Clayton's writing is just tremendous!

I enjoyed reading about our MC, Casper. It took me a while before I warmed to her character though - I know that she isn't comfortable with her lifestyle, but all the complaints about wearing expensive dresses and having her pictures taken all the time got a bit annoying, to say the least. Thankfully, this impression of mine didn't last. After reading more about Casper, it was hard not to notice how lonely she was in reality, and how she wasn't comfortable with throwing her wealth around. Moreover, her love for horses made it difficult to not like her, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for her when she was uprooted from the life she has always know at the blink of an eye.

The mystery of Kythera makes itself known pretty early in the novel. It made the novel thoroughly engrossing, and it is the reason why I couldn't read this particular novel quick enough. Kythera is everywhere  in the town of Charleston, and Casper is bombarded by it - the name is on her friends' cars, on paintings, and even tattooed on her friends' bodies. Not only that, this very word also managed to inspire terror from the other people who live in Charleston, and Casper somehow finds herself in the middle of the mystery of Kythera - just what is it, and what does it have to do with Casper and her family?

While the mystery of Kythera had me on the edge of my seat and tearing through the pages of The Kings of Charleston  like a madwoman, I wasn't that thrilled with the romance aspect of this novel. It came out of nowhere - Casper sets foot on the town of the Charleston for the very first time, and next thing we know, the neighbors' son, Cal, is spewing out all these lines how Casper is so beautiful and all that. Truth be told, the romance felt out of place, and as much as I tried to like Cal's character, I couldn't. He's too smooth, too slick, and basically an enigma. Not to mention, he's something of a liar as well. Lastly, he says he loves Casper, but I can't fathom how he came to that feeling in the first place.

From the middle of the novel, the action picks up, and it doesn't relent until the very end. Casper is thrown into hazardous situations one after the other, and it soon becomes clear that Kythera isn't your average organization. All in all, this is one heck of an exciting read, and I definitely recommend it!

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Published by: Simon and Schuster's Children Publishing

Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

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

There is.

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

She’s wrong.

THOUGHTS:

One of the things I liked about The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was that I had no idea what to expect from the book. I only knew that this book was extremely hyped up last year, and the reason I picked up a copy was because the sequel was just as hyped. Other than that, I was completely in the dark. The blurb revealed essentially nothing (other than the fact that the book most probably was a thriller), and I'm not going to lie - that brief blurb made me want to read the book more. I was hooked from the first sentence alone! There's nothing more invigorating than the feeling of opening a book wherein you have absolutely no idea what's going to happen, and you just allow the world to sweep you in.

I did expect something from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer though - I expected this hyped up and often raved about book to be a good read. And you know what? My expectations were indeed fulfilled. Big time.

Long after finishing The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, I laid in my bed, eyes wide open, and just stared into space. To say that the book is EXTREMELY creepy would be putting things lightly. (Yes, even with that 'extremely' in all caps!)  Hodkin had no problem drawing me with her writing - her words created such vivid and detailed pictures of the peculiar events of Mara Dyer's life - that I was even induced to getting goosebumps several times while reading! Goodness, that has never happened to me before! The fact that I started reading this book at around midnight didn't help things either...

As I've previously mentioned, Hodkin's writing is sublime. She was able to portray every aspect of Mara's emotions throughout the book phenomenally. Whether it be confusion, fear, loneliness or guilt she felt, I had absolutely no problem in connecting with Mara. She was a fully-developed character - a character dripping with depth; a character worth reading about. As a matter of fact, more often than not,  I actually felt the same things Mara was feeling - most especially when her paranoia got the best of her, and when she was drowning in fear and foreboding. Those moments were chill-inducing, to say the least. If that's not a testament to Hodkin's way with words, I have no idea what else can convince you.

The romance between Mara and Noah Shaw made for a sweet read as well. The beginning was little too instalove-ish for me, but subsequent interactions between the two did make my heart melt, and next thing I knew, I found myself smiling stupidly at some of Noah's antics. Noah is an interesting character, to say the least. He's witty, positively dripping with charm, and yet his gentleness when it comes to Mara makes for an welcome change of pace. I just love the way he is around her!

While the romance of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was an integral part of the novel as a whole, I'm sure I won't be alone in saying that it wasn't my favorite aspect. I'm not saying that the romance wasn't great, because it was, but the mystery of Mara proved to be the bigger draw of the book, at least for me. I couldn't wrap my head around all the twists, turns, and revelations Hodkin had up her sleeve, and my heart was beating like crazy as I got closer to finding out just what on earth was happening to Mara.

All in all, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a chilling read you don't want to miss out on. As you can probably tell by now, I tried my hardest to not include even the slightest spoiler so that your reading experience won't be ruined. Go grab a copy if you haven't, and I'll go purchase a copy of the sequel myself!

Rating: 4 Stars

Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Title: Ten
Author: Gretchen McNeil
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Published By: Balzer + Bray

And their doom comes swiftly.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

 

THOUGHTS:

This book isn't like any other book I've read  in recent memory. To elaborate, I don't think too many books like these fall under the general genre of YA today. Also, now that I think about it, this book surely would have been a big hit in the 90s wherein horror/thriller/suspense were very popular to teen and young adult readers. Think Christopher Pike and LJ Smith. That's not to say that that this book wouldn't be a success today, however. It's a quick, engrossing read - it's one of those books you just can't stop reading because you have to know who's behind it all. - and the premise is incredibly intriguing. One island, ten teens, one murderer - who will survive?

Come on, you know your curiosity's piqued - mine certainly was!

The beginning of Ten introduces us to Meg and her best friend Minnie while they were on their way to Henry Island. From the get go, it was quite obvious that Meg catered to her best friend's every need and that it was Minnie who ran the show. We then got snippets of Meg's anticipation of finally graduating high school and escaping Minnie's clutches, and her endless pining for TJ, a guy who Minnie also happened to like. Of course, because Meg always put Minnie first, she resisted her feelings for TJ... even though he liked her too.

I know that a lot of people have problems with characters with doormat tendencies like Meg, but I really liked how she was portrayed. Sure, sometimes I just rolled my eyes at how she lets Minnie decide everything for her, but then again, there are a lot of friendships like Meg's and Minnie's between teenagers and even adults, come to think of it. Sometimes, no matter how hard-headed or how bad of an influence a friend might be to you, you just can't forget all the things he or she has done for you and how much you care about him or her. That's the vibe I got off Meg - despite all of Minnie's shortcomings as a friend, she loved Minnie, and that's that. Then again, I also believe that sometimes a person has to let go, and this is something that Meg ponders on for quite a bit during the course of the novel.
 
However, I really can't say quite the same for the other characters. I barely got to know any of them, but that's to be expected in a book with ten characters. All characters (aside from Meg, Minnie and TJ - all of whom we get to know quite well because Meg is the MC) were given adequate introductions, sure, but the killings had to start early on for the whole story to fit in 300 pages, right? Honestly, I could barely keep track of the initial murders because I really couldn't remember which character was which, but once I adjusted to the pace of the story, I got along just fine. I also loved the book's setting  - the island and the storm really set the mood for the murders perfectly. Also, one of my favorite twists has something to do with the setting - I remember freaking the hell out when I read that particular part!

I had fun while reading this book. I really did. I wasn't trying to find out who the murderer was - I allowed myself to be swept into the story and let me tell you - I honestly felt like I was on the island! However, I did catch on pretty early on how the characters of the book were connected to each other, so I'm giving myself a pat on the back for that one! Also, let me tell you - the pattern the murders followed, the way the murders were done, was truly ingenious. Just thinking about them right now gives me the chills, and it's around two in the morning...

Another reason as to why I truly enjoyed this book is because I haven't read the book this was loosely based on. I had no basis of comparison, so I just sat back and allowed myself to be part of the story. All in all - Ten is a brilliant read. It's fast-paced, chill-inducing, appropriately gruesome, and it will make you think. It will make you ponder on the concept of vengeance as a whole. I had a hard time getting the story out of my head well after I finished it, and I think a lot of you will feel the same.

Rating: 4 Stars