[Giveaway] Lux Prompt Tour: Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hey folks! I'm lucky enough to be part of the month-long Lux Prompt Tour (also known as the month of Daemon), and we have a lot of things in store for you! First and foremost, Lux: Beginnings (Obsidian & Onyx) and Lux: Consequences (Opal & Origin) were released on June 3, 2014, and they are now available everywhere books are sold, including your local Target, B&N, and Walmart. Next up, Opposition will be available next month, and we have the cover and blurb for you! Also included in Opposition is Shadows, the prequel novella!

 

Title: Opposition (Lux #5)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: August 5, 2014

Published by: Entangled Teen

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

And... you have the chance to win a SIGNED copy of Opposition! Just answer the prompt question below in the comments section:

What do you like most about the Lux series?

Me, I like the back story the most. I love how Jennifer explored the Luxen race, as well as the past of Daemon and his siblings. Stories about aliens have always been my weakness, and believe me when I say that the Lux series doesn't disappoint!

[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Wings by Elizabeth Richards

 

(Check out the tour schedule HERE!)

 

Title: Wings (Black City #3)
Author: Elizabeth Richards

Release Date: June 12, 2014

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR

Goodreads

Following the cliffhanger ending of Phoenix, Natalie finds herself separated from Ash and unexpectedly reunited with her parents, including the father she thought was dead. But she can only think of Ash. She hasn't heard a word of him since she and Elijah were brought to the underground headquarters of the Sentry Rebellion. But she vows to find him.

Ash, meanwhile is back in Black City; it's the perfect place to hide from the Sentry government. But not for long. He won't give up on Natalie or bringing an end to the terrible reign of Purian Rose.

A pulse-racing end to an exciting series.

THOUGHTS:

In all honesty, I've come to dread the final installment of all book series that I love, and it's mainly for two reasons. One, simply because the series is wrapping up, and coming to an end. It's so difficult to say goodbye to a series that has been a part of your life for a few years a least, and while I've always looked forward to finding out how  the story will finish, I hate the feeling of realizing that I will never read about this particular world, and its characters, ever again. Second, I hate to say this, but over the past two years, I've encountered so many series with terrible endings - endings so jaw-droppingly horrible that I can't help but wish that I've never invested in these books in the first place. Now, I bet you guys can just imagine my trepidation when I cracked open Wings. I was chanting "please be an awesome book, please be an awesome book" in my head so many times while I tried to find a comfortable position to read!

And... it was. It really was.

Now that I've finished reading Wings, and thus effectively ending my part in Ash and Natalie's tumultuous journey to secure peace for everyone, I feel a bit... broken. A part of me still can't believe that everything's over. I loved the ending, don't get me wrong, but this book was so difficult to get through, simply because the two main characters have been through so much! I'm amazed at how strong and how focused in their goals both Ash and Natalie are. Throughout the series, they've faced so many obstacles, but the concept of giving up never even crossed their minds. Their incessant determination is just astounding!

I also can't help but marvel at just how much both Ash and Natalie grew as characters, and I have to laud Richards for making them relateable. While yes, they were trying to save the world, but that doesn't excuse them from your average, same old problems that every single person faces. We have them encountering filial-related problems; of course, a little jealousy here and there couldn't be avoided as well, and despite everything they have accomplished, they were also times wherein they let their insecurities get the best of themselves. While not necessarily main plot devices, it was so refreshing to find characters in dystopians facing the same problems that I do, and ultimately being characters that I can actually see myself in.

Richards outdid herself with the plot and story of Wings. While a majority of the book dealt with the rebellion deciding on how best to take down Purian Rose (and this means a lot of talking and confrontations), everything was still paced properly in the sense that I never felt bored while reading it. I've come to find that the last books of dystopian series tend to be a bit on the boring side, simply because it deals with politics and rebellions, but I'm happy to note that Wings goes on a different path entirely. Wings is jam-packed with action scenes, beautiful moments wherein you can't even think of denying Ash and Natalie's love for each other, and mind-boggling revelations. Just when you thought that you knew all the characters, their backgrounds, and you knew what to expect of them, you learn the hard way that you never did after all. (And let me stop myself here because if not I will end up spewing out spoilers!) Books that keep me on my toes have a special place in my heart, and suffice to say that Wings is one of those books!

There is one particular scene in the book that had me screeching like a banshee, and that had me screaming "Why Elizabeth, Why!?", and ultimately this is the scene that made me decide to give Wings five stars instead of four. It's also the scene that stuck with me, simply because I did not question just why a character decided to do what he or she (check me out - I'm trying my hardest to avoid giving out spoilers!) did. This character's decision made sense, and it fit with how Richards developed said character. This scene was also highly emotional, and because it happened in a part of the book where you didn't think it could possibly occur at, the element of surprise will definitely envelope you when you read it.

All in all, I don't think I have any words to explain just how much I loved Wings, and how much I enjoyed the Black City trilogy. Most of my fellow bloggers as well as my blog's readers are most probably aware of just how much I tend to side-eye and ignore dystopian novels, but I'm really glad I gave Black City a shot. Thank you so much to Elizabeth Richards for these characters whom I will remember forever, and for writing a beautiful trilogy that has ultimately had me wanting to read dystopia again!

Rating: 5 Stars

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[Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway] Wings by Elizabeth Richards

 

(Check out the tour schedule HERE!)

 

Title: Wings (Black City #3)
Author: Elizabeth Richards

Release Date: June 12, 2014

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR

Goodreads

Following the cliffhanger ending of Phoenix, Natalie finds herself separated from Ash and unexpectedly reunited with her parents, including the father she thought was dead. But she can only think of Ash. She hasn't heard a word of him since she and Elijah were brought to the underground headquarters of the Sentry Rebellion. But she vows to find him.

Ash, meanwhile is back in Black City; it's the perfect place to hide from the Sentry government. But not for long. He won't give up on Natalie or bringing an end to the terrible reign of Purian Rose.

A pulse-racing end to an exciting series.

EXCERPT:

EDMUND

“Mrs. Hope, it’s Edmund,” I say, my voice cracking a little.

All the lights in the cottage are off, apart from a single candle that illuminates the hallway. Rows of medical books line one side of the wall. A clock ticks at the far end.

There’s a creak of floorboards from the room overhead.

I walk up the rickety staircase, gun raised. Every instinct screams at me to run, by a strange tugging sensation compels me forward, like someone is pulling on a gossamer thread woven to my chest, drawing me farther up the stairs.

I lick my dry lips. “Whoever’s here, I’ve got a gun, so you’d best leave now!”

A dull pain begins to ball up inside my rib cage as I softly tread toward the bedroom.

I open the door.

“Mrs. Ho—” My words get lost in my throat. The old lady is in front of the window, floating several feet above the ground, her long white nightdress billowing in the breeze. A pale arm is hooked around her waist—someone is lifting her out of the window! I take a step toward them, and pain explodes in my chest. I fall to my knees, dropping the gun.

“Help me!” Mrs. Hope cries.

I struggle to my feet and stagger over to the old woman just as she’s dragged out of the window. She stretches out her hand, our fingertips touch, and then—

She’s gone.

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White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: February 25, 2014

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

THOUGHTS:

I've read my fair share of Jennifer L. Armentrout books (and we all know she has a ton - I'm starting to think that she writes even while she's sleeping or something), but I wouldn't exactly call them favorites. They're entertaining enough, sure, but I've always thought that they lacked a little something that would put them well above the pack. Despite all this, however, I was really excited to read White Hot Kiss. A fair share of bloggers whom I follow have all professed their undying love for it and proclaimed it as the best book JLA has written so far, and as a result, I had to see whether that was true. Also, the premise is nothing short of enticing - demons? gargoyles? wardens? Yup, I was pretty much sold.

And... I think this is one of the few times wherein I book I read has lived up to all the hype surrounding it. Also, yes, I do think that White Hot Kiss is indeed JLA's best book to date!

JLA did such an amazing job in portraying her female MC, Layla. She's likeable, a character you want to know more about, and a character you just can't help but root for. Layla is half Warden and half-demon, but because she was raised amongst Wardens, (and demons are the Wardens' sworn enemies), Layla was taught to hate half of who she is. Can you imagine that - being raised to hate half of who you are? She was taught to embrace only her Warden half and does everything that she can to stamp out the demon blood running through her veins. Also, despite living with the Wardens all her life, she is, and will always be, considered an outsider. She is ostracized, ignored, and openly considered to be dangerous by the very people she has known all her life. Not only is Layla going through the normal identity crisis that all teens experience, she is also struggling to find out which side of herself she should embrace. Should she continue living as a Warden, or should she give her demon half a chance?

The plot mostly centered around Layla and her search for acceptance, as well as her desire to belong somewhere. All her life, she considered herself a Warden. She has helped kill demons for years now, and her closest ally, Zayne, is a Warden too. While Layla's home life isn't exactly full of sunshine and roses, she's always had Zayne by her side so when Zayne starts to seemingly have no time for her anymore, Layla feels more alone than ever. Not only that, Layla also realizes that there are now demons who seem to know who she is and who want to kill her. All in all, Layla is confused, lost, and alone... and suddenly, here comes a demon named Roth who not only saves her, but also introduces her to everything she was forced to hate in the past.

Roth is everything that Layla was taught to be afraid of, and at the same time, he was what the Wardens were trained to kill. At the same time, however, Roth is also the only guy Layla currently knows that she won't accidentally kill should she kiss him. Ho-hum! The way the romance between Roth and Layla played out is classic Armentrout - the chemistry is definitely there (and believe me, the chemistry is all sorts of intense), and Roth's sharp retorts and witty one-liners sure do keep things interesting. What I liked most about White Hot Kiss' romance angle was how Roth continuously teaches Layla that things aren't quite black and white, and that nothing is as simple as it ever seems. He encourages her to embrace absolutely everything about herself, and to ultimately embrace her strength and her special abilities.

And because I feel like this review won't be complete if I don't say it... Roth is hott. (Yes, with an extra T. Borrowing this bit from Wendy Higgins' Sweet Evil!)

The story was well-paced. It was action-packed, yes, but that didn't distract from Layla's search for acceptance and belongingness, which I consider the biggest plot point of the book. As I have previously mentioned, I also love the romance and how it complements Layla's journey. The world building was spot on. I didn't have the chance to read the prequel, Bitter Sweet Love, before I started White Hot Kiss but Armentrout's world was easy to soak in and get lost into. I can't wait for JLA to explore this world more in the succeeding books of this series!

Perhaps the one thing that I'm a bit iffy about is how JLA is setting up a love triangle between Layla, Roth, and Zayne. Don't get me wrong - I love Layla's relationship with Zayne. I love the easy camaraderie they share, and I just adore how comfortable they are with each other. Heck, I even love how JLA portrayed Layla's love for Zayne. It was genuine, and in those scenes, you really feel for Layla. Anyway, as I was saying, throughout the book, Layla struggles through her feelings for Zayne, which she assumes to be romantic love, but I believe otherwise. I really wish that JLA can just focus on the friendship developed for a good number of years between the two, instead of making everyone go "Team Roth!" or "Team Zayne!"

All in all, White Hot Kiss surprised me... in a good way. This is one JLA book that definitely deserves that 'favorite' label!

Rating: 4 Stars

Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3)

Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: March 19, 2013

Published by: Simon & Schuster Margaret K. McElderry

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Tessa Gray should be happy — aren’t all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding to Jem Carstairs, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to the Magister, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan of destruction.

He needs Tessa.

Tessa knows Axel Mortmain, the Magister, is coming for her, but not where or when he will strike. Charlotte Branwell, the head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain first. And the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa’s heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, and Will knows he should force himself to find someone else to care for, he is as much in love with her as ever.

In the last words of a dying Shadowhunter reside the clue that might lead Tessa and her friends to Mortmain. But the Shadowhunters of the London Institute cannot stand alone, and in their homeland of Idris, the ruling body of the Clave doubt their claims that Mortmain is coming. Deserted by those who should be their allies and with their enemies closing in, the Shadowhunters find themselves trapped when Mortmain seizes the medicine which is all that is keeping Jem alive. With his best friend at death’s door it is up to Will to risk everything to save the woman they both love.

To buy Will time, the warlock Magnus Bane joins with Henry Branwell to create a device that could help them to defeat the Magister. As those who love Tessa work to save her, and the future of the Shadowhunters that resides with her, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself —for in the discovery of her own true nature, Tessa begins to learn that she is more powerful than she ever dreamed possible. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

THOUGHTS:

I can just hear the gasps of outrage and see the raised eyebrows of disbelief. "I thought you loved this series! How is it possible that you've only read this now, months and months after its release?" I know, I know. See, the reason is pretty simple - I was scared. Since I first cracked open Clockwork Angel one fateful day in August of 2011, I've grown to care so much about these characters. So yeah, even though I got myself a copy of Clockwork Princess the week it was released, I consciously avoided reading it because I couldn't stand the thought of either Will or Jem dying, or Tessa forever breaking the heart of the guy she doesn't choose. Oh wow, even an act as simple as typing out that last sentence is enough to make me want to curl up in a ball and start sobbing - what have you done to me, Cassandra Clare?

Anyway, to cut the long story short, over the weekend, I finally had the courage to pick up Clockwork Princess from my bookshelf, and I settled myself for a good, long read. I prepared myself mentally for what was to come, but really, how on earth do you prepare for something that you just know that will break your heart?

First of all, as always, I have to comment on how Clare's writing blew me away. It has always done so, since I first read City of Bones, but I am struck speechless at how exquisitely detailed the Infernal Devices series is. Everything about it screams 'different time', 'different place', and the amazing thing is, nothing felt forced, nothing felt fake. I never thought, "Oh! I'm reading a book set in Old England which was written by an American ." Nope, nothing like that. Everything was... real. Authentic. The words flowed with ease, and also, though we shift character POV a few times in Clockwork Princess, I had no problem discerning which sublplot belonged to which characters. It's mindblowingly amazing how Clare managed to highlight every character's individuality and at the same time retain that way of speaking that marks them as English. I don't know how she did it, but I sure as heck am not complaining! Despite the serious tones of this last novel, I also loved how Clare managed to keep both Will's and Jem's witty quips and retorts present. Even when smack middle in the dreariest of situations, the fact that Will's dry sarcasm always rears its head never failed to make me smile.

Also, though more than a year has passed since I last read Clockwork Prince, I was transported back to Tessa's England with no problem whatsoever. It's as if I read both the previous books in the series just days ago when it reality, it has been a long time. It was also easy to get back to where we were plot-wise - a war was slowly but surely brewing, and with it, the shadowhunters' were desparate to prevent chaos by keeping Tessa safe; and at the same time, they were hoping to slow down the timebomb that was Jem's life rapidly ticking away. Everything about this book excited me - like any other reader, I had my theories with how everything was going to play out, but not only did I enjoy the numerous and twists Clare had up her sleeve, I also enjoyed absolutely every scene, every interaction before and after we hit the climax. I also found myself caring about all of the main and secondary characters ( I don't think this has ever happened before!) - Will, Jem, Tessa, Charlotte, Henry, Gideon, Gabriel, Sophie, Cecily, Jessamine - every one of them I wanted to emerge unscathed; every one of them I wanted to have his or her happy ending.

This book made me appreciate (even more than I already do) the strong relationship between Will and Jem. Certain interactions (because wow these two have a way with words) actually had to make take a break from reading because I was too overwhelmed with emotions. I know that they're parabatai, and having a good camaraderie comes with the territory, but their brotherhood (or whatever you want to call it) is something else! I know that Jace and Alec are also parabatai, but the relationship between Will and Jem is just in a different level entirely. The way they are so attuned to each other's thoughts and feelings; the way they always put each other first - no one knows Will like Jem does, and no one knows Jem like Will does. I will forever be thankful to Clare for writing such a beautiful friendship that I will never forget.

Usually when I read series with a love triangle, I always end up picking a side to root for (Team Dimitri!Team Jace! Team Gale! Team Adam! Teem Alex!), but for this series... it's simply NOT possible. I love both Will and Jem, and I want them both to be happy. I also love Tessa, and I have never felt frustrated at her confusion between these two boys who love her so dearly. As a matter of fact, I wholeheartedly understand where she's coming from. Before finishing this book, I already knew that I will support and understand whatever decision Tessa makes, and that I did. Throughout the series, I have always admired Tessa's sheer strength of will, as well as her unwavering loyalty to all her friends, and I want her to be happy too. I started this series without rooting for a particular guy to win the heroine's heart, and I ended it just like that.

The ending was just breathtakingly beautiful. I cried at certain parts of the novel, but the tears fell non-stop when I started the epilogue. Everything about this book was wholly satisfying, but the last few chapters, as well as the epilogue, especially so. All loose ends were tied up, and in certain Cassandra Clare fashion, you can't help but have an sudden epiphany of how certain scenes, certain characters' actions, in some books of the Mortal Instruments series now make sense in your head. We were all given a look at how our beloved main characters' lives pan out after the battle with the Magister, and I truly can't ask for anything more.

I was crying my heart out when I finished the last page of Clockwork Princess, and it was for a number of reasons. I was crying because this book was such an emotional read; because the conclusion was just satisfying; and ultimately, because I love this series and these characters so much. There aren't even words in the dictionary to express just how much I'll miss them. I have nothing but the utmost gratitude for Cassandra Clare for creating these characters and this amazing trilogy.

Now I just have to figure out how to get over Clockwork Princess... ;)

Rating: 5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway] The Survivors: Body & Blood by Amanda Harvard

Title: The Survivors: Body & Blood
Author: Amanda Harvard
Release Date: July 23, 2013

Goodreads

How many answers you seek are just a part of you, waiting to be found?

The game has changed.

Fresh from her first brush with mortality, a fragile Sadie Matthau is playing human with Cole Hardwick while the Survivors endure unimaginable tragedy. Wrought with the first deaths of their own kind, a tyrant who will torture them, and an opponent more terrifying than anyone could have foreseen, the Survivors are facing their end.

Told from three points of view, The Survivors: Body & Blood is a bloodcurdling, mind-bending, heart-stopping ride. As Sadie and the Winters uncover more enemies, more history, and more answers, they find themselves brought closer together and ripped further apart. And all the while, a haunting Alexander Raven lurks at the edge of Sadie s lifeline, at the darkening fringes of her mind.

As the Survivors descend into chaos, Sadie realizes a painful truth: the deepest of secrets leave the darkest of marks.

Caught between a terrifying fantasy and her own grim reality, Body & Blood is the story of Sadie s dance with her demons, future, past, and present.

TEN THINGS EVERETT THINKS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SADIE:

Sadie and Everett have what’s best described as a complicated relationship. Whether they’re running toward each other (slow-motion-in-a-meadow-style, obviously) or running oh-so-vehemently away from one another, there’s a connection the two can’t deny. And though half the readers of Survivors (cough*Team Cole*cough) would probably tell you differently, Everett probably knows Sadie better than anyone. So lo and behold, here are ten things Everett knows about Sadie that he thinks you should know too.

#10. She’s quieter than you expect. — Sadie’s the kind of girl who always has a million things running through her mind. Given that she is usually thinking all those things at once, she isn’t talking as much as you’d expect her to. I think it’s because she spent the majority of the last three years alone. And most of her life, even surrounded by people, she probably felt alone. I’m still trying to get her to work on talking to me. Really.

#9. She’s brilliant, but sometimes her shall-we-say-rural education shows through. — Ever notice how sometimes Sadie’s reading a Wikipedia page or a piece of fiction and letting it inform her next move the same way a serious history book might? Yeah, me too. Look, I’ll be the first to admit that she sometimes sees the most out-of-the-box answers because she’s willing to look in the strangest of places, but she also sometimes misses the nuances. I’m not sure she ever stops to question how reliable her sources are.

#8. She can look good doing anything, and that matters. — As much as I love the fact that my girlfriend is a downright knockout — and, trust, I do — I know that her ability to look put-together in any situation says a lot more about her than you might think at first. Her affinity for style might come across as superficial, but it’s bigger than that. She uses style to fit into her surroundings, becoming a veritable chameleon in any room she enters (or, conversely, totally stand out because she can look perfect when she totally shouldn’t).

#7. Yeah, I know how it looks when she hangs out with my little brother. — I know Sadie and Mark’s relationship is one that looks questionable. Maybe I even question it in my stupider moments. But in the end, those two need each other, and their friendship keeps them sane sometimes. Far be it from us to question it. (…Right?)

#6. When she runs to Cole, it isn’t about Cole. — It’s about wanting to be human. Hoping she’ll come to terms with her supernatural species sooner rather than later? Me too.

#5. She’s always hiding something. — You know that. I know that. I wonder if she knows we know that. And I just wish she could . . . talk to me.

#4. She’s a saint for putting up with me in the winter. — Depending on your view of me and my family, and the blond-haired-blue-eyed one, then maybe you think it’s the least she could do, and maybe you think, she shouldn’t put up with it! But whatever the case, I know this: I was born the way I am, and in the winter, it’s tough. It’s terrible. I’m terrible. I’m sorry for it, but there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. That she takes me that way — loves me that way — is just another reason I can have patience with her for all she does.

#3. She doesn’t really want to die. — She wants to live. Peacefully. Happily. I’m trying to show her that can happen, just as she is.

#2. She means well. — Sometimes, she’s a bit reckless, and, trust me, the closer you are to her, the harder it is to watch. But I have to repeat this to myself like a mantra. She means well. She does. I give her the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes you have to do the same.

#1. We’re meant to be together. —  Look, nothing is ever easy with us. I wish it were, but I’m coming to terms with the fact that we’re a challenge sometimes. She sees challenge in most everything. I have challenges of my own. But we can deal with those challenges together because — wait for it — we’re meant to be together.. Maybe it’s not even that I need you to know that, but I need her to. Don’t believe anything else. Don’t doubt what I promise we know: She and I are meant to have our chance.

Everett’s full of fun and insightful things to say. Make sure to follow him on Twitter at @TPWinterB (where Felix, Corrina, and Mark named him that, short for “The Pretty Winter Boy.” It’s not a compliment so much as it’s the-giving-of-hell.)

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Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike

Title: Life After Theft

Author: Aprilynne Pike
Release Date: April 30, 2013

Source: An ARC was sent by the publisher in exchange of an honest review

Published by: HarperTeen

Goodreads

Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.

THOUGHTS:

I'm not exactly sure what to make of this book honestly. Everything about it - the characters, the plotlines, the relationships, even - caught me in surprise, and pretty much throughout the novel I had no inkling what was going to happen next. I expected love to blossom between the two main leads, but what I got was the exact opposite - they honestly can barely stand each other! I expected a fun story full of witty and snarky remarks exchanged between Jeff and Kimberlee, and while I did get that, I didn't expect the message that the novel wanted to get across to be poignant and something that you would want to ponder for a while.

This isn't a book that would offer you answers about the afterlife, or why exactly is it that only Jeff could see Kimberlee. Instead, this is a novel that would allow you to linger on the consequences of one's actions, and maybe, just maybe, it isn't too late to do something about what you did wrong in the past. Jeff represents a chance for Kimberlee to right so many wrongs, and I really can't blame Kimberlee for doing absolutely anything she can to have the assurance of Jeff's help, but my perspective definitely shifts as I continued reading the novel.

I love how Pike subtly drilled to her readers just how powerful an emotion sincere remorse and just how much one can achieve through it. I was also particularly impressed with how Pike explored the concepts of doing something you have to do as opposed to doing it because you actually want to through both Jeff and Kimberlee's characters, and how massive the difference is between both notions. Pike ascertained that being forced to do something can only contribute to the failure of your ultimate goal. Jeff never wanted to help Kimberlee out - he was only forced to do so because she threatened to haunt him forever if he didn't; on the flipside, she to return the things she stole simply because she believed there was no other way for her to move on otherwise. The aftermath of Jeff and Kimberlee's choices - choices that were driven by the wrong reasons; the wrong motives - slowly make themselves known throughout the novel.

I love how Pike developed Jeff and Kimberlee's characters through their complicated (and rather difficult to define) relationship. They helped each other grow - through each other, they learned how to see the world with more knowing eyes, and at the same time they finally figured out how to see themselves for who they truly are. Jeff was a bit of a pushover towards the beginning, but the scene wherein he finally tells off Kimberlee (and in the process tells her something that she has needed to hear for a long time) was rather riveting and eye-opening.

Life After Theft was easy to read. It was difficult to put down, and Pike did a great job with the pacing of the novel. It wasn't too fast-paced that I got a whiplash with every turn of a page, and it wasn't too dragging that I had to fight to keep my eyes open. I also liked how Pike addressed Kimberlee's kleptomania - I actually got chills when Kimberlee tried explaining to Jeff how she can't stop stealing, and furthermore, how she describes her feelings when she takes the things other people hold dear was just excellently written. This may not be your usual YA paranormal novel, but it's one that gets the author's message across perfectly.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards

Title: Phoenix (Black City #2)

Author: Elizabeth Richards
Release Date: June 4, 2013

Published by: Putnam Juvenile

Goodreads

Ash and Natalie are just starting to build a life together when things in the United Sentry States go from bad to worse. Ash and Natalie find themselves at the center of turmoil when dictator Purian Rose threatens Natalie’s life unless Ash votes in favor of Rose’s Law—a law that will send Darklings and other dissenters to a deadly concentration camp known as the Tenth.

When Ash can’t bring himself to trade Natalie’s life for those of millions of Darklings, her fate is sealed. Enter Elijah Theroux, the handsome Bastet boy Natalie once saved from her mother’s labs, where he’d been experimented on and tortured. It was his venom the Sentry used to create the lethal Golden Haze, the heart of the government conspiracy that led to Black City’s uprising and Ash’s rebirth as the Phoenix, the face of the rebellion. Elijah is back and Ash doesn’t like him; it’s clear he’s taken with Natalie, and Ash fears she may have feelings for him as well.

But Elijah also may have the answer to taking down Purian Rose for good—a powerful weapon called the Ora. Ash, Natalie and Elijah just have to escape Black City undetected to find it. But fleeing the city and finding this weapon (if it even exists) are easier said than done, and the quest could tear Ash and Natalie apart, even pushing them into the arms of others.

THOUGHTS:

After reading this book, I have a lot of... feelings. Feelings that won't stop haunting me before I go to sleep; feelings that make me want to curl myself up in a fetal position in the corner; and feelings that just make want to... scream. Ash and Natalie haven't had the easiest of relationships, and just when you thought things were finally about to look up for him... they don't.

Phoenix picks up where Black City left off - Ash is now a hero to the rebellion, and there are now more humans and darklings alike who are devoted to the fight for equality between all beings. Purian Rose is frustrated with the rapid growth of the rebellion, and he is willing to do anything to ensure the continuance of his regime. Moreover, he has found a way to hurt Ash where it would devastate him the most, when he makes him choose between Natalie's life or the cause he has dedicated himself to. Ash, of course, is heartbroken, and rightly so. How exactly can he denounce his cause, yet at the same time, how on earth can he just let Natalie die?

Right off the bat, I felt bad for Ash and Natalie. They're supposed to get married, to live happily ever after, but that simply won't happen anytime soon. They just cannot get a break! However, one thing is for certain - I can't help but admire their love for each other. It's just so strong and magnificent, and just apparent throughout the course of the novel. Despite all the nonstop difficulties the two of them encounter - be it about Purian Rose or their relationship - you really cannot deny just how much they care for each other. I truly loved reading about how Natalie and Ash display their deep affections for one another. Some part of me truly believed that their love can trump all. I particularly felt emotional when Natalie herself encouraged Ash to choose the lives of the darklings instead of hers. Not a lot of people can do something that selfless.

I'm going to admit, however, that I did kind of want to smack both Natalie and Ash a few times while reading Phoenix. Though I understand perfectly their reasons for doing so, it pained me to see them not communicating with each other. It hurt to see them think the worst of each other. I'm going to laud Richards' writing on these parts, simply because while I was frustrated with both characters, I still felt for them, and I knew where they were coming from. That's not exactly an easy balance to strike, and Richards did so with no problem whatsoever.

Most sequels usually suffer from the "second book syndrome" (okay I may just have made that term up), but Elizabeth Richards' Phoenix doesn't. The action picked up; the romance sub-plot made for an entertaining read; and both main characters experienced apparent character growth. Natalie's discovery did break my heart, but hey, what's to remember about a book that didn't make you tear up, right?

Rating: 4 Stars
 
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Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Published by: HarperCollins

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

THOUGHTS:

Honestly, I hate myself for taking so long to buy myself a copy of this book. Once I finally did, I then let it sit on my shelf for how many weeks before I even picked it up. So why did I do just that, you may ask? Simple.. Bloggers have been positively raving about Shatter Me since I started blogging (that was six months ago!) and it had somehow become engrained in my brain that books that are hyped aren't good. Crazy analogy, huh? (This is the reason why it took me forever to pick up The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer as well.) Too hyped - it can't possibly live up to the hype!, I couldn't help but think. And if it's not adamantly obvious by the very first statement of this review, Shatter Me lived up to the hype surrounding it. In fact, I'm going to go one step further and state no-holds-barred that this novel blew me away.

First and foremost, I loved how Mafi didn't try to make her dystopian world so utterly complicated. Plenty of authors make that mistake - they suddenly throw out all of these names and terms that make no sense to first-time readers on the first few pages - no background whatsover, I might add - and they don't realize that most often than not, they lose these readers due to the fact that their worlds are too perplexing to grasp. I love how this world portrayed in Shatter Me is so simple, yet Mafi made sure that we had enough background to know just why the world we live in came to be the world she built. I found it easy to lose myself in this particular fabricated world - every single detail about it was absorbing, and I honestly couldn't read about it enough.

I loved the writing. I loved how unconventional it was, and it fit Juliette's personality to a T. I know that some people found it to be a bit too exaggerated, but that wasn't the case to me. It perfectly showcased Juliette's loneliness, desperation, and self-hatred. Labelled a murderer because of her fatal touch, Juliette is deemed too dangerous to be amongst other people, and she was thrown into isolation. Via the writing, you see how 264 days in isolation affected her - she had no one to talk to but herself all those days, and Juliette merely had a pen and notebook to keep herself company. Furthermore, we were also privy to the difference between how Juliette herself wants to think, and how she was taught to think by those around her. As a matter of fact, in my opinion, Juliette is a step or two away from complete and total insanity, all because of what she went through in life. After such a long time living in her cell by herself, Juliette is thrown into a loop when she is suddenly joined by another prisoner by the name of Adam.

I think it couldn't be more obvious that a relationship, a connection, would develop between Juliette and Adam. What else could you expect between two people locked together in confinement? What I was interested in was how Mafi would write about this said relationship - how exactly would she develop it? I'm not going to lie - I was expecting insta-love, but that couldn't be further from how Mafi portrayed Juliette and Adam's budding relationship. A lot more things are at play between the two. Well, sure, there is a bit of insta-love from Juliette's side of things, but hey, can you blame her? How long has she been without another person beside her? However, just because Juliette is attracted to Adam, that doesn't change the fact that she's almost forgotten how to act around another person, and that she is wary of other people, simply put. Their initial interactions were minimal at best. That of course changes as time goes by, but you get my drift. I appreciate that Mafi's writing was true to Juliette's character and background through and through.

Okay - this review would be in no way complete if I don't talk about Warner. Warner, Warner, Warner. Pretty much all my friends who have read Shatter Me are gaga over Warner and want him to end up with Juliette, but I really can't say the same. It's not that Warner isn't an intriguing and fascinating character (because he IS, and I want to learn everything I can learn about him), but I just don't think he's a good match for Juliette.Warner is TOO infatuated with Juliette, and this infatuation seemingly stemmed from merely his admiration of her power, and I do not like that (of course, I could be wrong, given that I haven't read the sequel). He's practically obsessed! Besides, Juliette is (for the lack of a better word) broken. In my opinion, a guy like Warner - power-hungry, domineering, sly and dangerous, amongst others - can't possibly help Juliette love herself more in the long run.

All in all, I LOVED this novel. (And I just love Tahereh!) I can't wait to see how Juliette will continue to grow as a character, and I'm positively excited to know more about both Adam and Warner. I don't usually like dystopia, but this one sets itself apart from other books from its genre. I'm definitely following this series to the end!

Rating: 5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four by Nya Jade

 

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

 

Title: Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four (Shapers #1)

Author: Nya Jade
Release Date: October 30, 2012

Published by: Dreamwell Publishing

Goodreads / Amazon

The students of Green Lane Academy roam their halls unaware that below their manicured campus exists a prestigious school of an entirely different kind . . .

Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Pope has enrolled at the Campus Below: a spy academy for shape-shifters hidden deep beneath the grounds of a boarding school whose humans unknowingly protect it. There, thanks to a carefully planned schedule, she leads a double life: spy trainee Below and normal teenager Above.

As if two course loads, concealing a secret power she alone wields, and coping with her father’s recent death weren’t enough, Phoebe finds herself developing major feelings for actor and teen heartthrob Colten Chase, who attends the Campus Above and appears to be majoring in winning Phoebe’s heart. But when officials learn that Phoebe may be at the center of a startling prophecy, she becomes the target of shape-shifting assassins who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth.

Now Phoebe’s lessons about Shaper’s enemies and spycraft take on great importance as a menace stalks the campus, with Phoebe as its target. Meanwhile, what began as an unlikely relationship with Colten, quickly morphs into heartache when she suspects that something sinister lurks beneath this movie star’s glitter and fame. Suddenly, Phoebe’s caught in a mesh of lies, betrayals, and danger where she doesn’t know who to trust, and needs to rely on herself—and her secret power—to get to the truth and to stay alive.

THOUGHTS:

Arguably the most enjoyable YA Paranormal read I've delved into for quite a while, Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four is a novel that I'm sure that most people will have no trouble liking. Author Nya Jade did a tremendous job in world-building - I was thoroughly immersed in the word she created, and I found myself desperate for more information. I won't lie though - the first few pages did throw me off a little bit. A lot of details were just all over the place, and at first I couldn't make myself understand what was what, but once I got the hang off things, I just soaked everything all in. Jade also managed to walk the fine line between showing and telling, and the just enriched her storytelling even the more so.

I love the premise - there exist two schools, the Above and Below in one place, where one caters to purely humans while the other caters to Shapers, or shapeshifters, and the Shapeshifters must attend both. The Shapers have a mission, a career path to undertake once they graduate, and that's to kill Vigos which are evil shapeshifters that are considered as abominations. I enjoyed the interactions between the Shapers and humans; as well as those between the Shapers themselves. I had no problem connecting with the characters, most especially the MC, Phoebe, as well. I loved learning about the world of Vigos and Shapers with Phoebe and her classmates, and I can't wait to learn more about it.

I enjoyed reading through Phoebe doing her best to live two lives, and they're not easy at that. In her 'Above' life, Phoebe found herself the apple of Colten's, a movie star, eye, and Phoebe is understandably overwhelmed. She's not exactly used to having boys give her the time of day, and here was a bonafide celebrity just showering her with attention. Meanwhile, in Phoebe's 'Below' life, she finds herself the center of a prophecy that endangers her life. Add these all to Phoebe's other problems - Phoebe wields a power that she must keep secret per her father's wishes, and Phoebe hasn't exactly recovered from her father's death at the hands of Vigos either. Yet despite all these, I admire Phoebe's sheer determination and how strong-willed she is to do her best in everything she does.

Initially, I was wary of the development of Phoebe and Colten's relationship. I was half-expecting something like insta-love, but I'm happy to note that we readers don't get anything like that. While an integral part of the story, the budding romance between the two isn't the primary focus of this series, and that's something that I'm actually a huge fan of. I also like how Colten never took advantage of Phoebe's naivety.

Simply put, I loved this novel, and I can't wait to read its succeeding sequels. I'm not going to lie though, I found some of the dialogues and the way certain paragraphs were phased a little iffy, but that's something that I can look past. Anyway, Phoebe is a character that I loved reading about, and I enjoyed being a part of her journey. Moreover, Jade did a bang-up job with the plot and storyline - I actually didn't predict the twists, and that's saying something, because I have a knack for guessing the twists beforehand...

Rating: 4.5 Stars

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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

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep (Mythos Academy #1)

Title: Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1)
Author: Jennifer Estep
Release Date: August 1, 2011
Publisher: K-Teen

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy; a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why; especially since I should have been the one who died...

THOUGHTS:

I just made my way back to the land of YA Paranormal after almost two full weeks of non-stop Contemporary and New Adult reads, and of course the first two reads I finish weren't two that I particularly enjoyed. (This is read number one, in case you were wondering.) Sigh. That's the life of avid book readers, I suppose. We will get disappointed by some of the books we read, and there's really nothing any of us can do about it.

The premise of Estep's Mythos Academy series is interesting enough - think Vampire Academy, however, we get mythical creatures from Valkyries to ninjas inhibiting a school instead of vampires. The very name of the book (and the series) made me excited about Estep's world-building, but sadly, I didn't feel that she delivered. I was rather disappointed at the lack of background information and details about this specific world Estep introduced. Come on - I want to learn more about these mythical creatures! Most of them were simply mentioned and never delved into again. Though I know that this novel is only the first in a series, I still feel that Estep should have spent more of the first book drawing the readers into her world.

Another reason as to why I didn't really enjoy this novel is because of its MC, Gwen. Not only is Gwen the MC, she also narrates throughout the novel in first person, yet despite all this, she still never made me feel invested in her life. Sure, she can tell the history of an object through a touch, but other than her unique ability, nothing about her is remotely interesting. I just couldn't relate to her - heck, nothing she says or does made me feel anything towards her. Nine times out of ten, I desperately wanted to skim through her endless soliloquies about just how much an outcast she is, how she misses her recently deceased mother, and how she believes that she caused her mother's death. Gwen's consistent berating of herself was just a smidge overdone. Instead of feeling sorry for her or even feeling even the slightest twinge of sympathy towards her, I just rolled my eyes and desperately wished for her woeful monologues to end.

Quite frankly, I never quite understood why Gwen felt responsible for her mother's death either. Her reason for believing that she caused her mother's death was a tad too far-fetched, in my opinion. I honestly felt like she was grasping at straws - she was looking for someone to blame, couldn't find one, and chose to blame herself instead. As I said previously, all of this is supposed to at least make you feel sorry for Gwen, but no matter what I did, I honestly can't feel anything at all towards her character!

Oh, the blurb is a bit misleading as well. Gwen was NOT the one who should have died, and it was clear all throughout the novel! Also, the resolution of the whole mystery fell a little flat. Even the plot twists incurred not even a 'what!?' or a 'huh?'  from me. Simply put, I didn't enjoy Touch of Frost as much as I would. Some parts of the novel were fun to read, sure; a few characters were interesting, yes; but the negative aspects of this book overshadowed its positive aspects. The blurb promised so much; the premise certainly piqued my interest; but Touch of Frost failed to deliver. Character development was pretty much non-existent, and the novel as a whole lacked punch. I don't think I'll be picking up the second book in this series.

Rating: 2 Stars

Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

Title: Spark
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Published By: K Teen

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking. 

The fuse is lit…

THOUGHTS:

Wow. Wow wow wow!

Good god, Brigid Kemmerer has done it again! If you've read my review of Storm, the first book of Kemmerer's Elemental series, you would know that I absolutely loved almost every aspect of the Elemental world that Kemmerer had to offer. I adored the characters, had almost no misgivings with the plot and its subsequent twists (I did point out that Storm's biggest plot twist was a tad too predictable, but maybe that's just me)... simply put, I enjoyed Storm. A lot. I didn't think that it was possible for me to enjoy Spark more than I enjoyed Storm (Hey, I can't even count the number of times I squealed and hurriedly flipped through the pages of Storm) but apparently, I was wrong.

I loved Spark. I loved every page of Spark! (I just can't seem to say that enough...) While reading the book, I often felt like I was reading it too slowly - I was that excited to found what the next pages had in store for me. I was practically tearing through Spark's pages like a madman, and I read the book in one go. It was truly an enjoyable read, and no aspect of Spark bored me in any way. Also, it's pretty rare in a series that the second book is as good as the first, so for Spark to be better than Storm is already quite an achievement. Honestly, I think that Spark was even more jam-packed story-wise, action-wise, romance-wise and character-building-wise than Storm was, and I'm not just saying that. I got to learn so much more about Merrick brothers, and as a result, I truly felt invested in all their stories.

I'm not going to lie - I fully expected to pine for Chris and Becca (since they weren't the main characters as they were in Storm) while reading Spark, but Gabriel had me hooked from the first page. I mean, come on, not every character can make you care so early on in the book! Also, Spark allowed us to peek in on Gabriel's innermost thoughts, and let me tell you, Gabriel is one character who has so much depth. His words, actions, and even the things he wanted to say but couldn't, reached out from the pages of the book and tugged at my heartstrings. Reading through the times he ceaselessly thought about what he went through early in life was just painful. Fire, despite being Gabriel's element, has given him a lot of grief, and I thoroughly enjoyed the parts of the book wherein Gabriel worked to have complete control over something that has taken so much from him. Furthermore, I also liked how Spark showed how Gabriel interacted with the people in his life - his eldest brother, Michael; his twin and other half, Nick; his youngest brother, Chris; his enemy-turned-friend, Hunter; and of course, Layne.

Let me get this out - I have to commend Brigid for create engaging heroines. Just like Becca, Layne's an amazing character to read about. What she's going through would surely seem familiar to some readers, and her subsequent relationship with Gabriel was fleshed out perfectly. It wasn't rushed; it wasn't forced - as a matter of fact, the development of their feelings towards each other were both gradual and natural. I also loved how Layne's relationship with her younger brother was portrayed. Kemmerer truly has a knack for creating strong family dynamics between her characters!

The friendship between Hunter and Gabriel was beautifully written as well. I felt like Kemmerer was trying to tell readers that though maintaining good relationship with family members is important, it wouldn't hurt to have true friends by your side as well. We can never quite predict just how these people will come into our lives, but sometimes, these are the ones we need to get through life's toughest times. Both Hunter and Gabriel started to depend on each other for support throughout this novel, and I fervently hope that their friendship will be explored in the next book (which is about Hunter).

All in all, I loved Spark. (Wait, I think I said that already...) I consider this book a favorite of mine, most especially since it was THE book to pull me off of that dreadful reading slump. I'm sure some of you noticed that my blog was empty all of last month! Anyway, if you guys haven't checked out Brigid Kemmerer's The Elemental Series, I suggest you do so now. We have a bit of time before the next book in the series comes out, so you all have ample time to catch up!

Rating: 5 Stars

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Release Date: October 23, 2012

Published By: HarlequinTEEN

Source: NetGalley

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he's dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

THOUGHTS:

While reading the Iron Fey books, one thing that really impressed me about the series in general was how good Julie Kagawa is with her world-building. Her books are filled with vivid descriptions of this beautiful world she has created from scratch, and she always keeps you wanting more. Moreover, her readers are thrust into the unknown world of the Nevernever at the beginning of the series, and yet by the time they finish the last page of the final book, Nevernever has somehow become thoroughly familiar - it's as if it's a place one visits quite frequently in his or her spare time. That quality always present in Kagawa's books - that quality that distinctly marks her writing - is all over the pages of The Lost Prince, so rejoice and prepare to fall in love once again with the world Julie Kagawa created.

The Lost Princes introduces us to Ethan - yes, that same Ethan who was kidnapped as bait to lure Meghan into the Nevernever during the Iron Fey series - more than a decade after the abduction took place. We get a long, hard look at just how much his life has changed since Meghan left him to rule the Iron realm, and to say that the fact that he can see the creatures of the Nevernever has ruined his life is an understatement. Ethan is still being tormented by the fey, and as a result, he has become sullen, withdrawn, and weary of basically everything and everyone. Hey, you can't blame the guy - he lost his sister to the Nevernever, and he was kidnapped by that world's creatures when he was a little boy. What else is he supposed to feel? How else is he supposed to act?

I really liked reading how the events of The Lost Prince unfolded from Ethan's POV. The difference between his POV as compared to Meghan's is adamant and refreshing, even - Meghan went into the Nevernever blind and with no idea what to expect; Ethan meanwhile was nothing but startlingly aware of the dangers the other world presented. It was interesting to see the Nevernever through the eyes of someone who has despised and hated it his entire life. Also, I loved getting glimpses into Ethan's character  and just how deeply betrayed he feels upon Meghan's decision to ultimately leave him and their family for good. I can't wait to learn more about him through the next books of the series.

To those who are huge fans of Kagawa's original Iron Fey series, yes, our favorite characters from those books were kind enough to grace us with reappearances. I'm not going to spoil things for you and say which of the characters appear, but hey, I think it's pretty obvious. Also, I may have squealed and screeched when a certain devious character appeared in the middle of the book...

All in all, The Lost Prince is a great beginning to a new series. The ending does bring forth a lot of questions, but there weren't cliffhangers or any of the sort that makes you want to bang your head against the nearby wall, so that's great for us readers. Also, I feel like there's still a lot more that Kagawa can bring into this series, and I'm really excited for that. Hey, if there's anything I'm sure of, it's that Julie Kagawa's books only get better as the series progresses.

Rating: 4 Stars

Storm (Elementals #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys - the ones she doesn't want.  Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water - just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.
 

When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all...

THOUGHTS:

Fine, I'll admit it - I initially read this book because I found out that it was the first in a series that centered on the lives of four brothers (Chris, Gabriel, Nick and Michael) who can control the elements. Yes, you read that right - this book has FOUR BROTHERS in it, and they have powers! If that doesn't even pique your interest in the slightest, I honestly have no idea what will. 

But hey, let me get this straight - I'm not saying that the book centers on the brothers being hot or anything like that. This book is AMAZING. It has a great plot, characters with depth and emotional background stories, intense action scenes, and of course, like any other first book in a series, this book brings forth a lot of questions - some get answered, but some don't.. yet. Moreover, this book gradually introduced us to the budding relationship between Becca and Chris - their relationship was fleshed out, and I really like how they didn't fall in 'can't live without you' in love after the first few chapters. We really need more of these relationships in YA, don't you guys think so?
  
Anyway, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I started reading Storm. Yes, I did expect that the four brothers would all be hot (come on, don't tell me you didn't), but I certainly didn't expect them to have so much more going on for them. I didn't expect to like the brothers for who they are, hotness aside. I didn't expect to feel sorry for Michael whenever his brothers treated him with disrespect; I didn't expect to empathize with Chris whenever his need to belong was highlighted; I didn't expect to adore the relationship Nick and Gabriel had with each other, and last but definitely not the least, I didn't expect my chest to tighten whenever Becca was bullied or to feel proud whenever Becca stood up for herself. Simply put, I didn't expect to feel so many things while reading this book. 

Becca. Yes, the brothers made Storm interesting, but Becca was the heart and soul of the book. The way Brigid Kemmerer portrayed her through moments when she had to toughen things out, stand her ground, and protect herself was downright realistic. I also loved it when Becca stood up to the brothers instead of cowering in fear - we don't see that enough in YA books.  I truly felt like Becca was a good friend all throughout reading the book - that's how real her character was.

All in all, if it isn't that obvious from my gushing, I loved this book - though I found some plot twists a little predictable - and I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out!


Rating: 4 Stars

Angel's Fury by Bryony Pearce

"I've started to have dreams while I'm awake. I remember music I've never heard. . . . I've got all this extra stuff in my head, but I'm forgetting things from my own life. I feel like I'm being taken over."

Cassie Farrier has always suffered from terrifying nightmares. On a trip to Germany she recognises scenes from her dreams and finds evidence of a sixty year-old massacre. Fearing for her sanity, her family sends Cassie to a retreat where she meets others with symptoms like her own and finds out that she has lived a number of past lives. 

However, the Doctor at the retreat is not what she seems. Cassie and the boy she comes to love must escape the Doctor’s influence but can they also escape the misery of their shared past? 

THOUGHTS:

Cassie Farrier is a girl who has nightmares when she sleeps. Every night, she dreams about the violent death of a little Jewish girl named Zillah at the hands of a Nazi. She can't control the dreams - she can't stop them no matter what she does, and she's done everything. Fervently hoping for the dreams to cease, Cassie travels to Germany - the site of Zillah's death - but things only get worse. Out of sheer desperation, Cassie's parents enlist the help of a doctor who informs Cassie that her dreams are actually memories of past lives, and that she can help Cassie get rid of them once and for all. However, Cassie soon realizes that the doctor is not who she seems...

Remember how I talked about books that you can't stop thinking about after you finish them? (I know, I know, you probably don't, but humor me for a bit here!) Well, this book is one of them. I finished reading Angel's Fury a few hours ago, and I just can't stop thinking about it. It's hauntingly good - scenes that Bryony Pearce described with such detail are still flashing through my head, and I bet they will be doing just that for at least a couple more days. I can't help but marvel at the never-before-seen premise this book offers to us readers... I've never read anything like it, and I don't think I will.

Honestly, upon picking up the book, I didn't know what to expect - the blurb didn't really shed a light on what the book will be about (other than the fact that an angel will come into play) but I was gripped from the very first chapter. I was turning the pages as quick as I can, devouring each word, taking in each scene, that I soon forgot the promised angel. Let me tell you right here - the angel part of the story doesn't come into the story until the latter part of the book, but don't be disheartened - the plot of this book will keep you in the edge of your seat. As a matter of fact, I will be very surprised if you don't finish this book in one sitting.

What impressed me the most about Angel's Fury (other than the plot, which I cannot even fathom how to rave about) is Pearce's writing. The raw emotion she put into her scenes - whether be it through Cassie's eyes or through one of Cassie's past lives' - is just... overwhelming. Her words reverberate with this quiet intensity that will surely make you think about them later, and I certainly did just that.

I know my review's a little cryptic, but I really don't want to spoil anything for you guys! Trust me - just grab a copy of Angel's Fury, sit somewhere comfortable, and read. You won't regret it, and I guarantee that you'll enjoy reading this book!

Rating: 5 Stars