Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights the book you're looking forward to the most.

I've been a terible blogger this past week and I missed like two days of posting (even though it wasn't my fault, I'm still sorry),  which is why I decided to skip Top Ten Tuesday's post yesterday and catch up on my reviews. So I'm posting a Waiting on Wednesday today, even though I haven't posted one in over a month.

In this heart-wrenching and suspenseful teen thriller, sixteen-year-old Sarah Meadows longs for "normal." Born with a port-wine stain covering half her face, all her life she’s been plagued by stares, giggles, bullying, and disgust. But when she’s abducted on the way home from school, Sarah is forced to uncover the courage she never knew she had, become a hero rather than a victim, and learn to look beyond her face to find the beauty and strength she has inside. It’s that—or succumb to a killer.
 
 
 
 
 
 
This book sounds intense and heart-pounding. It sounds like the type of book that keeps you up all night and is impossible to put down. The main character seems vulnerable and afraid snd has to find courage within herself. That kind of character development is the type of thing I love reading about in a book because not everyone is a natural heroine. I like reading about how it's possible to change and become someone great. Having someone who's wimpy being put into a life-or-death situation and being forced to step up to the plate is exactly why I'm so excited for this book. I can't wait to read it!
 
Add to Goodreads
 
So what book are you waiting on? And what do you think of the book I chose?
 
 


 


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken


The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds, #1)Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Dysney Hyperion
Release Date: December 18 2012
Pages: 496
Genre: Dystopian


When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.



When I first attained this book, I was a little emotionless about it. I thought it sounded interesting but I wasn't sure I was going to like it. I was kind of cautious about reading yet another dystopia. I found out within 50 pages of the story that I had the wrong attitude about it. By that time I was enraptured and I wished more than once that the story could've been longer. And it's already a good 500 pages.

To start out, the writing was superb. Especially compared with books that have not-so-superb writing. That's incorrect actually. It can hold its own against some of the best writing I've ever read. I think the best factor of the writing was the way it got me to care about the main character Ruby. Besides that I noticed something else, which is something I rarely see any more in a story. There was almost no explaining! I was never bored with the story because it was being built by events happening and not by explaining. The world was built that way along with the plot and the characters.

The plot of the story is, honestly, the reason I stayed up until midnight. I just couldn't put this book down. It was such a page-turner and always had something going on. After most of the children of the world die of a mysterious disease, adults are left with a shocking revelation: they have no time to grieve over their lost children. Because the children let behind are dangerous. And they need to be contained. Which is why Ruby ends up at Thurmond, a rehabilitation center for other children. When shocking things are revealed Ruby knows she has to escape or die. She's been through a lot, though, and ends up carrying baggage with her along with a secret that could quite literally kill.

Ruby has spent the past six years of her life surviving. She's not brave and she always puts herself first. But the time comes when Ruby has to choose between herself and her friend and she makes a decision that will haunt her forever. Which might be why she starts strengthening herself and, in the end, becomes someone every reader wants to read about: a heroine. I related to Ruby at first because not everyone is a heroine and I understood that. But I admired her later on in the story and she may just be my new favorite character. She was put into some tough spots and she came out on top.

On the run, Ruby discovered three people that became like family: Liam, Zu, and Chubs. Liam was a great guy and a natural leader but he could be a little too nice. Sometimes I feared he would slip up and befriend the wrong person and adding to that was how trusting he was. I found it annoying at first but near the end of the story something huge happened and his instincts kicked in. He became all bad boy on me and I realized that not only could he kick ass but he was also the perfect person for Ruby. Zu was an adorable little girl who I couldn’t help but like and Chubs was… Chubs. It was impossible for him not to grow on me. He had strong opinions about things and always stood up for what he believed in but was made more relatable because he could be sweet and shy. He was basically the perfect sidekick. He added a lot to the story.

But I did think some areas of the story could've been better done. Ruby's power confused me. I didn’t really understand it at all until about the end. Another thing I disliked was that I wasn’t' certain what the other types of powers were. There were five types of powers and I don't know much about any of them. Finally, the rehabilitation center bugged me. I wasn't entirely sure of its purpose. I get what it was supposed to do but it wasn't doing any of that.

It was the end of the story that actually ensured I was a new fan of this series. The end was so good- it pulled everything together and set the premise for the next story. I was going to give this book 4 stars but after the ending I had to up that to five. The ending made the entire story worth it. It was like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Which is why I'm going to be recommending this book to my family and friends and you guys too even if, like me, the plot doesn't sound all that special to you.

                                                                   
   My expression before starting                                                          After reading the book:

It was as if my birthday came early.
The Darkest Minds. I thought                                                           It was such an epically exiting (is
 I might like it but the plot sounded                                                 epically a word?) ending and I can't
 a bit used.                                                                                         wait for more!



 
 
5/5 Mugs of Piping Hot Chocolate
 

Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)Title: The Immortal Rules
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 24 2012
Pages: 485
Genre:Dystopian/ Paranormal

 "In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity."Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of "them." The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked--and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend--a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what--and who--is worth dying for.


Julie Kagawa's previous series, The Iron Fey series, was a series I enjoyed. But it didn't blow me away- not like this book did. I think that not only did Julie Kagawa's writing improve since her first book but her ability to formulate a plot did too.

If the plot of this book brings to mind a typical vampire story, one that's been done 100 times before, throw that idea in the trash. This book was fully it's own. The vampire aspect of it was different from any other vampire story I've read before. It was set in a dystopian world where vampires have basically enslaved the population. Humans have no power and are forced to donate their blood. Allie's hate of vampires is overpowering. But she eventually finds that their is so much more to her world and maybe even vampires than it seems.

The Immortal Rules was divided into several parts and they're each so different from each other. Allie starts out living on the fringe of a vampire- inhabited city and lives a life filled with a hatred of vampires, all while struggling not to starve and protect her friends.  After becoming one of the dreaded vampires, Allie ends up on this epic yet dangerous journey with a bunch of humans. She begins to question everything she's ever known and worries that maybe she's her new friends biggest threat. Allie goes through so much in this story and judging by the cliffhanger, she is going to go through more.

I loved watching Allie's character develop throughout the story. From an early age Allie learned not to trust anyone and to harden her heart against love. But she starts to discover that sometimes that's not possible and maybe she doesn't want it to be.  She isn't afraid to be straight up with people and even kick some ass. She often leapt into battle without thinking, especially if it was in defense of a loved one. She's such a strong yet flawed character and I loved reading about her. Zeke appears to be innocent and trusting. He has a good heart and cares about anyone and everyone. He is just such a good guy and can't help but find the good in everyone. Seriously, he's one of the best guys I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. He was a realistic guy- vulnerable at times and perhaps slightly messed up from his past. But there was more to him than just a good guy. Because he hasn't lived years on the run from vampires for no reason. He's tough and would do anything for his make-shift family. Finally, there was Kanin, Allie's vampire mentor. He created her instead of letting her die so there was good in him. However, he has lived a long time and came to his conclusions a while ago about the location of humams on the totem pole. He had a dark side to him but it was kind of delicous. Also, at the same time, he's fair and did have a soft side to him. Kanin is a very intriguing and mysterious character and I would like to get to know him better.

Julie Kagawa's writing got so much more scrumptious in this book. It was like a cake. But not just any cake- it was a 3 layered milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate cheesecake drizzled with fudge sauce and chocolate chips and layered withfudgy chocolate with cherries on top. The writing enchanted me and forced me to care for the story. The descriptions were beautiful and insured the world was well built. I feel like I only got to eat the first layer of the cake and am salivating for more. I hope Julie Kagawa hears that- I need more! More! More! More!

I would definitely reccomend this book to people who crave a novel to get lost in. It's a paranormal dystopian with vampires but the vampires were the opposite of cliche. But if you get this book know that you will be left desperately yearning for the next one. It was that good. Consider yourself warned.

Memorable Quotes
 
“The mighty hunter,” I quipped as we snuck out the backdoor, escaping into the yard. “He can take down vicious rabids and rampaging boars, but one old lady can make him flee in terror.” (Allie to Zeke)
 
“You are a monster.” Kanin’s deep voice droned in my head again, as I forced myself to move, to walk away. “You will always be a monster, there is no turning back from it. But what type of monster you become is entirely up to you.”  ( Kanin to Allie)
 

 
5/5 Mugs of Piping Hot Chocolate (Yummy times 5!)

Friday, January 25, 2013

Feature & Follow Friday


FF 2012 Feature and Follow #131Feature and Follow Friday is something hosted over at Parajunkee's View to help people to discover your blog and you to discover yoursIt features a question every week for bloggers to answer. 







Q: What is the last book that kept you up late into the night just to finish it?

 

You might be thinking right now that of course it was Insurgent by Veronica Roth (if you alreayfollow my blog you know I raved about that book a few days ago) that kept me up late at night but it wasn't. I had to be up early the next day so I forced myself to put the book down.

The truth is that even if books have kept me up late, they haven't kept me up too late. However, Storm by Brigid Kemmerer (read my review here) entranced me until early morning. The plot just called out to me and the main character was relateable and courageous. It did have it's flaws but I still enjoyed the story a lot. Unfortunately I ended up stumbling around school like a zombie the next day but that's another story...

 Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. 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.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. 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.

The storm is coming.
 
What is the last book that kept you up late at night? Also, please leave links to you Feature and Follow.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Summer of The Mariposas by Guadalope McCall

Title: Summer of the Mariposas
Author: Guadalupe McCall
Publisher: Tu Books
Release Date: October 1, 2012
Pages: 355
Genre: Mexican- American Retelling of The Odyssey


"Fifteen-year-old Odilia and her younger sisters embark on a journey to return a dead man to his family in Mexico, and must outwit monsters and witches to make it back home again. "






The Summer of Mariposas is a Mexican-American Retelling of the Odyssey. It was about this insane quest that entailed returning the dead body of a middle-aged Mexican man to his family. This meant Odilia and her sisters had to cross the border to Mexica all while evading the police for running away and deling with mystical creatures. On top of that was the question on all the girls minds. Why did their dad leave them? And did they even want him back?

The Odyssey is such a good story, so when I heard there was a retelling of it for young adults I  jumped at the chance to read it. Boosting my excitement was that it was a Mexican- American
 retelling of the Odyssey. I loved all the culture that added to the story. It also didn't hurt that that
meant the setting took place in both America and Mexico.

Another thing that I felt added to the story was it's lack of romance. That might be suprising but the story didn't need it. The story had so much going for it and if a romantic relationship had been factored in it just would've affected it negatively. The relationships of the sisters and their mother was probably the most important part of the story.

The sisters thought of themselves as forever bonded. Their relationship was so deep. Their love for eachother meant everything. But things happened to cause that bond to falter and begin to break. The epic journey they went on helped to bring that sense of closeness back. It also helped them to recognize things about both their other and their father that they may have not wanted to recognize before. The journey ended up changing their lives as dramatically as it did for the hero in the Odyssey.

The writing style was very different to me. It was written so that Spanish words were thrown in here and there. They never confused me, they only drew me deeper into the story. However, if you might find that confusing ther's a glossary of Spanish words located conviently at the end of the book. Another thing I liked abou the story was the way it was narrated. It was never narrated too emotionaly but it was emotional enough to make certain that I cared about the characters and their quest.

There was one thing that bugged me about the story. It was divided into three parts and before each part it gave a summary of what happens. I fell for it every time so that I always knew what was going to happen. I just couldn't seem to stop myself from reading it. So if you want to read this book remember to skip over those parts.

The story definitely had a lot of action in it due to it's relations to the Odyssey. At the same time, it was also about about a journey which meant that it had many factors of a contemporary novel too. It consisted of drama, family ties, betrayals, mystical beings, and monsters (both human and paranormal). These characteristics made for a good read and I am on the look out for Guadalupe McCall's next books. Because of that I would recommend this story to fans of road trips, family relationships (not in the romantic way!), and, of course, the Odyssey.


4/5 mugs of pipimg hot chocolate

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted on The Broke and Bookish about the top ten of almost anything book related. I thought it was a great idea and decided to join in on the fun!

 

Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of


 
Latin America: To me, Latin America can be a beautiful thing. The beaches, rainforests, villages... I would love to learn more. I find it an even more desirable setting because my sister is going to be an exchange student there next yeear and I get to visit her.





Alaska: I've always wanted to visit Alaska. I just picture myself in a cabin in the woods by a fireplace with a book in hand and yes, a mug of hot chocolate. So cozy.






The desert: I would love to read about epic journeys across the desert. I think it could get interesting. Like a survivalistic type book.







The country/ farmland: I love books about little houses on farmland. They enchant me. Horsesand chickens and pigs, farm-cooked meals, fields of wheat, fresh air, and somehow I always imagine a river to jump in.





Historical: I love reading historical fiction. I hate history but reading about a novel that's set in the past adds to the story. I love the descriptions and reading about something that might as well be fiction but is a factual setting.





A small island: I think it would be so fun to read about adventures on an island especially deserted islands.







Asia: Anywhere in Asia interests me. I find it to be a fascinating place with so much culture.








The beach: Personally, I love stories about the beach. They remind me of the summer. This is actually my favorite time for me to read summer stories because they take my mind off of the snow and school. It makes me feel free. Ahh... the care free days.






Castles: The idea of the fairy tale castle with dragons and a moat has always tugged at my heart. Even if the setting is in modern day, if it's in a castle I'm hooked.






Bakeries/ Restaurants: I love to bake and love it even more reading about someone with a passion for baking. the descriptions of the foods be it pastries or italian pastas make my mouth water in anticipation.







There are so many other settings I like. I like spaceships, alien countries, boats, airplanes, boading schools, the wilderness (I love adventures in the wilderness) and so much more. What are some of the settings you guys like? Leave your inks and I'll check them out.



Monday, January 21, 2013

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Title: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test 2)
Author: Aimee Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Pages: 297
Genre: Fantasy- Greek Mythology


 "Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone."- Goodreads




The second book in the Goddess Test series bothered me. After a while, it became very tiresome to read. The characters acted like jerks and were constantly getting on my nerves. There was so much drama that was drawn out throughout the story. I also felt that certain parts of the story needed to be fleshed out more. However, the book did contain characteristics I liked. The plot was charmingly set. It was paced well and kept my interest. I loved the Greek Mythology, and I loved the setting.

The descriptions in the story kept me hanging. I was enchanted by the descriptions of the Underworld and loved learning more about it. The story flowed pretty well. There were a couple hiccups and I did think that some factors of the plot needed to be fleshed out a little more. I sometimes felt that the writing was moving too fast- it didn't leave enough time for details. Other than that, I enjoyed the writing. It kept me hooked.

I couldn't put the book down because I kept wondering what was coming next. The story starts off with Kate traveling to the Underworld after having spent six months in Greece with James. The story line skipped straight to the action and drama and never looked back. Because Immortality and the world may not be forever. The Titans are becoming a threat and it's up to Kate along with her friends and the other immortals to stop them. The story was a tornado- unpredictable and fast-paced.

It wasn't just the lack of communication between Henry and Kate that bothered me. Although I definitely did get sick of that. It was the character's behavior! Claiming you love someone only to act the exact opposite. It made no sense. There was no excuse for Henry to treat Kate like that! For goodness sake! Henry was being unreasonable and insufferable. And Kate! She put up with it. She practically begged Henry to love her, as if without his love she wasn't worthy.

James and Kate just spent six months together, which is why I wasn't surprised that they were closer. They were best friends. James was there for Kate, even if he did like annoying her. He could be a troublemaker but it only added some needed tension to the story. He cared about Kate and wanted to make sure that she made the right decision. Ava was pretty much the same as ever. She was light and often seemed carefree. Her personality was explained more because the storyline delved into her past. Cronus was the villain that was introduced. He was a Titan and evil but near the end of the story I began to discover that he had layers. Something about his character was off and I would like to see more of him and find out just what that is.  Finally, we got to meet Persephone. Persephone's side of the story was revealed and I found myself pitying her. She was hard to like at first but I eventually warmed up to her character.

The end of the story left off with a terrible cliffhanger that left me gasping. I desperately desire finding out what happens. I ended up enjoying the book because of it's plot and setting but at the same time I can't get past how frustrating the story could get. Don't get me wrong I'll definitely be reading the next book. I just hope it leaves behind some of it's flaws.

Memorable Quotes
 
“You can say you love me all you want, but if you only ever act like the opposite's true, then I can't trust your words anymore.”  
 
“Being with Henry doesn't mean you have to give up who you are. Henry doesn't define you.”  
 
"Because there is no power in the world that can take away the pain until it is ready to leave." said Theo”  

"I'm not leaving you for him. I'm not leaving you for anybody, and I never would have gone looking for something better. You are my something better, and I wish- I wish I was yours, too."

 
Rating: 3/5 Mugs of Piping Hot Chocolate


Sunday, January 20, 2013

Stacking the Shelves


 
 
Stacking the Shelves is a meme posted every Saturday on Tynga's Reviews. It's a blog post about the books you received the previous week. I will be doing my Stacking the Shelves Post every Saturday, too.
 

 
"In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.

Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals.

As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world."
 
 

 
"Some memories are better left untouched.

Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family.

It's a miracle... at first.

Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together.

But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked.

Something unspeakable..."
 
 
"Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys! "
 
 
 
"One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature."
 
 
 




"Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.
Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.
As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart."


 "Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone."





 "Fifteen-year-old Odilia and her younger sisters embark on a journey to return a dead man to his family in Mexico, and must outwit monsters and witches to make it back home again."
 
 
Wow, I don't know what happened but blogger somehow deleted my thoughts on my books and my summary at the end of the post... :/ I just don't have the time to rewrite a paragraph about each book. I'm so sorry but I have to write three reviews.
 
Anyway, I got more than a few good books this week. It was a really good week for me and I'm so excited to read everything. Please comment about the books you got and leave links to your posts if possible.
 

Have a good week!



Saturday, January 19, 2013

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: May 1, 2012
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pages: 525
Genre: Dystopian


 One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.


Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Oh. My. Gosh! I picked up Insurgent about a year and a half after reading Divergent. I'd heard great things about this book. Seriously good things. So I put it on hold at the library but it took months before I could check it out. I think, no I know that if this series had came out at the same time as the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins would've had some intense competition. It was that good.

To start off, the plot was so much more complex and action-driven than I thought it could possibly be. Tris and her side- kick/ boyfriend Tobias had a lot to deal with. They ended up traveling through several factions. Human nature was revealed to be more sophisticated than they thought and nothing was as it seemed. Choices were constantly being made that changed everything. This time, however, not only did trouble follow Tris but she asked for it. Begged for it even. She was done trying to save herself. She wanted to help other people, even at the cost of her life. I'm not complaining about this. The action and intense moments were spell-bounding and encrypting. I was always surprised at what was happening and always excited about it. None of the storyline was cliché or predictable.

There were secrets. Secrets that made me tremble and my blood pulse. So many things were happening and going on that I was constantly on the edge of my seat. I felt as if at any moment the world would cease to exist and I would fall into the pages of Insurgent. Because when I was reading it, it was the only thing that was real to me. Nothing else mattered. Besides the secrets there were betrayals that shook my world. It seemed as if everyone had a goal in mind. As if everyone had their own motivation for doing everything they did and if your motivations didn't correspond with their own, you might as well be dead.

That's one of the many things I liked about Insurgent. The people, even the minor characters, were never one-dimensional. They weren't just thrown into the story for no reason. Even the villain could be understood, almost, and even pitied.

Tris not only witnessed the death of one of her best friends, she was the cause of it. And it haunted her. It was constantly haunting her. That kind of guilt doesn't go away immediately and Tris made some suicidal decisions because of it. At the same time, she was learning stuff about herself. Like what it means to be brave and truly selfless. What it means to believe in something. Because even when Tris was on the ground and stomped on, she never truly gave up. Not only was she a survivor but she was a fighter too. When she was put into a chaotic life-and-death situation, she pulled through despite her issues.

Tobias had his own issues to deal with. But he didn't let that stop him from caring about Tris. He was always there to catch her when she fell and it was evident that he would do anything for her. However, his relationship with Tris was pushed to the background throughout the story. There was too much going on. That doesn't mean they ever forgot about each other. All their goals, whatever they were doing was dropped in the space of a heartbeat whenever one of them was in danger. Because they were in it together. For better or for worse.

And the writing. Oh gosh, the writing! It was written in such a manner that I was always left wanting more. I became attached to all of the characters and their complexities. The descriptions were spot on and, like I said before, I often felt as if I was inside the story. The way Veronica Roth set up some of her sentences, it was as if she had written them so they could relate to anyone's life. Her sentences fit together perfectly, like poetry. I'm in love with her writing. I want to devour it.

If you're a fan of the Hunger Games, not only is this book asking for you, it's screaming for you. The dystopian setting was well-developed. There was constant action, intrigue, drama, romance, secrets... Must I go on? I for one, can not way to tear into the next book.

Memorable Quotes
 
“I read somewhere, one, that crying defies scientific explanation. Tears are only meant to lubricate the eyes. There is no real reason for tear glands to overproduce tears at the behest of emotion.
I think we cry to release the animal parts of us without losing our humanity. Because inside of me is a beast that snarls, and growls, and strains toward freedom, toward Tobias, and, above all, towards life. And as hard as I try, I cannot kill it.”  
 
“We're all right, you know,' he says quietly. 'You and me. Okay?' My chest aches, and I nod. 'Nothing else is all right.' His whisper tickles my cheek. 'But we are.”  
 
“People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets. You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them.”  
 

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Feuture and Follow Friday

Feature and Follow Friday is something hosted over at Parajunkee's View to help people to discover your blog and you to discover yoursIt features a question every week for bloggers to answer. 

 

 Q:  Who is your favorite villain from a book?

 
Oh, wow. This is like the perfect discussion for me because I posted a discussion like an hour ago about how villains are two sided. You can read that here.
 
Anyway I have two favorite villains. The first is Severus Snape. I know that he could be considered a hero. However, he was a villain first if that makes sense. I believe in second chances. Read my discussion if this is confusing. Another villain I like is Stefan from Vampire Diaries. He may be a hero now but he used to be a mass murderer.
 
What are your picks. Be sure to leave your links!
 

Discussion: Heroes Vs Villians

I did a post last year about the Top Ten Villains of 2012. It got me thinking- What is a villain? Is the line between villains and heroes so thick after all?

When I think of villains, I think of evil people with a penchant for killing. Lord Voldemort often comes to mind. However, not all villains are like him. Some are just ordinary people in drastic situations. People are such complex things.

Here's an example that I think many of you can relate to: Sydney Sage from The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead. She's the heroine of her story. Strong-willed and willing to do anything for her friends. Even if it means protecting the enemy: Adrian. Because even if Adian is her friend and a good guy, she is betraying both her family and her cause by questioning her beliefs. She's the opposite of what her dad and the Alchemists (people who hate vampires like Adrian) want.

I know this is controversial. But I want you to think about it. Think about your favorite heroine. Do they have factors that make them a villain, too? Also, something I've found is that some stories have kind of one-dimensional villains. Sometimes the only thing I see about villains is how evil they are because that's all I'm told. Like with Severus Snape. Until the seventh book he was a bad guy. A really bad guy. Then I, as a reader, was given more of an insight into his life. I realized he'd made mistakes but turned out not so bad after all.

Which got me thinking. I know there are people out there that are truly evil. But some villains aren't. Some of them  just  needed a Dumbledore in their life to become a hero like Snape. Some of them needed a second chance. People make mistakes.

That's my rants on heroes and villains. I just feel like it's such a two-sided topic. There are so many stories to a person. I've realized in reading how things aren't always black and white. Often (not always) villains are just scared and alone. I watched an episode of Vampire Diaries about a month ago that summed up my feelings perfectly. If you haven't watched the  Diaries one of the main characters is a character named Stefan. He used to be a mass murder but the help of his family pulled him through his dark times and helped him find a better path. In the episode I watched he said something about the villain, Klaus. He said the only difference between him and Klaus was that he had people he could count on to keep him sane.

In conclusion, I just wanted to get my opinions out there. What are your opinions on this topic? Do you feel that villains don't deserve a second chance or that things often aren't as they seem?

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Entice by Jessica Shirvington


Title: Entice
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: September 12, 2012
My Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 438

Genre: Paranormal- angels

Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels.
Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.
The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.

Enticed is the second compelling book in The Violet Eden Chapters.


Warning: This is a review of the 2nd book in the series. It may contain small spoilers of the first book.

I wasn't too impressed with Entice, the first book in this series. I felt that the writing fell short and the plot was cliché. TI picked this book up for a couple reasons. One is that I have a hard time quitting on a series. It takes a lot to make me not finish a series. The other reason is that I was bored and looking for some simple entertainment. This book delivered on the entertainment part but it was far from simple. I felt that the story became more unique and developed in this book. This book changed my opinion of the series quite a bit.

The writing, to me, seemed very good. I did find it to be too simple a few times. I don't think I would've noticed that if it hadn't bothered me in the first book. It wasn't too bad in this book. Besides that I really enjoyed the writing. It flowed, gave me an insight on the characters/ setting, and was an overall success.

After everything that happened, Violet's life is finally beginning to settle. As much as it can for a human who's part angel anyway. She is getting used to her angelic status and even meeting people her age in the same situation as her. They're having fun together all while saving the world. Their fun is interrupted when Phoenix shows up. He needs something and needs Violet and her friends help to get it. To add to the drama, Lincoln is in cahoots with Magda doing something secret. Something that may be endangering his life.

The story was fast-paced and filled to the brim with action. I was never bored. At all. The only problem with the plot was that there almost seemed to be too much going on. Moments that should've been important weren't a bi deal. The cliffhanger at the end of the story didn't shock me too much because there was a couple cliffhangers (big moments) throughout the story. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, it's hard for a story to have too much action.

Violet is a strong person. She went through a lot with her mom's death, dad's distant attitude, and betrayal of a major person in her life: Phoenix. But she became a stronger person because of it. She wasn't afraid to jump into battle or put her life at stake for others. Phoenix's presence (literally) wasn't very strong. He only showed up in the book a few brief times and appeared evil for most of it. He never really got to tell his side of the story. Hopefully he will in the next book. There was a lot more Lincoln in this book. You get to know him better despite his secret. I ended up realizing what a good person he was. I just wish he would stop being so stubborn about his relationship with Violet. Then there was Violet's best friend. Steph is a very likeable character because she was supportive of Violet but not annoying about it. Finally, there was the new Grigori in town: Zoe, Salvatore, and Spence. I really liked Spence. He became close with Violet and was a good friend.  He was a bit of a troublemaker, but that only made the story better.

Besides the action there was also quite a bit of drama. With three new Grigori in town it was bound to happen. Added to that is the reappearance of an old (and evil) character. Lincoln and Violet are still trying to work through the risks of their relationship while dealing with secrets and the jealousy of other people. There was a ton of stuff happening. I loved it.

In conclusion I found Enticed to be a very enticing book (yes, I went there). The plot was just so amazing. I really want to see more of Violet and finds out what happens next. With any luck there will be more of Phoenix in the next book so I can find out what's going on there. Seriously people I need the next book. Anyway, I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal/ action-packed stories or angel stories. This book is begging to be read.



 
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