Oath Of Servitude

Oath Of Servitude (The Punishment Sequence, 1)
by C.E Wilson
Rating: 4 Bows!

This is the story of Teague and Cailin, two teenagers who have been brought together by fate. Teague, a human, struggles to come to terms with the consequences of a recent accident that has destroyed the happy life that he had once enjoyed. Cailin, a pixi, is trying to stay true to herself while fighting against forces beyond her control that have exiled her from her home into this strange world of humans. She fears the darkness. He cannot escape it. But when the two of them are thrown together, they begin to discover the light inside of themselves.

*I was given this book in exchange for my honest review*

I haven't read a book before that dealt with Pixies so I was eager to see how someone would bring a story of Pixies to life. 

Cailin is sent to the human world for a year to help a friend of her fathers in exchange for avoiding the Darkness. This is where we meet Teague. Teague has suffered an accident and is now blind and angry. This book is the story of how Cailin a tiny pixie helps Teague, a human, feel normal again. 

I liked Cailin. She may be an inch tall or so but she is one feisty lady! She's got attitude and sass yet shows fear when thrown into the unknown. In a way, Teague and Cailin had much more in common than they realized, Teague felt out of place because of his condition and Cailin was in a foreign place and even when she was at home, she was the oddball. It wasn't hard to see that Cailin and Teague were good for each other and I was thoroughly entertained by their interactions.

I felt a sense of happiness watching Teague accept his condition while also accepting Cailin. I was so into the book that I kept wondering, "How is a their relationship going to work when they are different sizes?!" I guess I'm gonna have to wait until the next book to find out though..sigh!

I didn't really care for the conversation of Cailins sisters in her homeland, it was confusing to be honest. However, the book was great and I loved the concept of being able to make a difference no matter your size. This is an interesting series and one that I will continue to read!

Sanctum

Sanctum (Guards of the Shadowlands, 1)
by Sarah Fine
Rating: 4 Bows!

“My plan: Get into the city. Get Nadia. Find a way out. Simple.”

A week ago, seventeen-year-old Lela Santos’s best friend, Nadia, killed herself. Today, thanks to a farewell ritual gone awry, Lela is standing in paradise, looking upon a vast gated city in the distance—hell. No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn’t just anyone—she’s determined to save her best friend’s soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife.

As Lela struggles to find Nadia, she’s captured by the Guards, enormous, not-quite-human creatures that patrol the dark city’s endless streets. Their all-too-human leader, Malachi, is unlike them in every way except one: his deadly efficiency. When he meets Lela, Malachi forms his own plan: get her out of the city, even if it means she must leave Nadia behind. Malachi knows something Lela doesn’t—the dark city isn’t the worst place Lela could end up, and he will stop at nothing to keep her from that fate.

This book was so different from everything I've read lately. The world was new for me and I really liked it. I'm not gonna go into details about the world building because I'm not a professional but from my point a view, the world was original and very interesting. 

Lela was such a strong character. She was really tough... borderline manly in her fighting skills. But she was also girly when she had to deal with her feelings for Malachi. At times I did think she was really stubborn and it frustrated me but what girl isn't stubborn... Lela does so much for everyone especially her friend Nadia that I can't help but love her, she is the perfect mix of strength, loyalty, independence and vulnerability. 

Malachi was just perfection for me! He was a major bad ass, I mean common...he's the leader of the Guards and the most feared person in the land! I liked that he had a vulnerability and wasn't a macho about it. He didn't know how to handle his feelings for Lela and that made him more endearing to me.

This was a new world being introduced so it needed a lot of explaining to get readers to understand and what I loved about this book was that there was no useless information, no useless scenarios where people just talk with out there being a point. This was fantastic for me because it kept me interested made me want to keep reading. 

This was an interesting story and I got to say that I am really looking forward to the next book because I can't wait to see where Malachi and Lela are headed next!! 

Look What I Found!!

So I walked in to Barnes and Noble to look around

and I was walking through an isle when I did

a double take. Guess what I found

sitting on the shelf?!

ORIGIN!!!!!

What the heck, right?! I had to double check

the release date and it is indeed

August 27...but it was already

on the shelf.

I didn't question it, I just grabbed it and ran

to the register praying they didn't say

"I'm sorry that book isn't supposed to be

for sale yet"!

So now I'm the proud owner of Origin (Lux, 4)

3 days before it's release date :D

After Daybreak

After Daybreak (Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy, 3)
by J.A. London
Rating: 5 Bows!

Our last hope lies with our oldest enemies.

When we lost the war with the vampires, our world changed. The Old Family overlords trapped us in a few scattered cities and demanded our blood. Then Victor- the first vampire I've ever trusted, ever loved- came to power, and I hoped for peace between our kinds. Only now a new type of monster, Day Walkers, has emerged, and their maniacal leader is threatening to destroy us all, human and vampire alike.

The Old Family Council is stubborn and proud, unwilling to acknowledge the danger. But once I claim my birthright as the last living member of the Montgomery line, they will have to listen to me.

Neither fully human nor vampire, I am the bridge between both. Even if I'm not sure where I belong anymore, I know that the only way any of us will survive is if we stand together.

It has all lead up to this..the final fight with Sin, the creator of the Day Walkers. 

After Daybreak did not disappoint. We were left with question in the previous novel and we finally get all our answers. There's plenty of action, suspense, and of course romance!!

What I loved about this book was that Dawn stood up for what she believed in and dealt with everything she was handed with dignity and grace. The way she matured was something we got to see from the very first book and it's what helped her succeed. 

We meet the 14 Old Families in New Vampiria, and we get to see how the Vampires truly live. It was great to see both the humans and vampires way of life because I feel it gives us  perspective, that not everything is as it seems.

I personally loved all the side characters in this book! Richard and Faith finally settle their differences and THANK GOD FOR THAT! I'm even glad to say that I've grown to like Tegan! We can't forget Victor though!! He was so sweet and protective and not to mention a complete bad ass! Even though it took some time, I was happy that Victor understood that humans are not part of the problem but part of the solution. 

The final installment of this trilogy was phenomenal and I couldn't have pictured a better ending. I'm sad to see it end but it always makes me happy when I can say that i'm completely satisfied with the way things ended in a story, especially with the characters. J.A. London, you outdid yourself with this series and I give you mad props! Thank you for introducing us to these wonderful characters!

Blood-Kissed Sky

Blood-Kissed Sky (Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy, 2)
by J.A. London
Rating: 4 Bows!

There's nowhere left to hide.

I thought vampires were our enemies - they controlled our lives, isolated our cities, and demanded our blood - until I met Victor. With Victor taking over as the new Lord Valentine, things were supposed to get better. Instead, they're worse than ever.

Day Walkers, a new breed of vampires who can walk in the sun, are terrorizing the city. Blood supplies are low, and if Victor's vampires don't get enough, they will become infected with the Thirst - a disease that will turn them into mindless killers.

To stop it, I must journey across the desolate wasteland to the very place where the sickness began. I can only hope that the answers that await me are enough to save us all... before it's too late.

It continues! The second installment of the Darkness Before Dawn series does not disappoint. There's plenty of action, plenty of vampires and a lot of drama!

Blood-Kissed Sky picks up right away and the pace never slows. We get the full history of how Day Walkers came to be and the true story of the 14 Old Families...or so we think...
This story takes place in a new city, Los Angeles, so we get to see how the people in that city have adapted and the shocking revelations that Los Angeles hides. 

All the characters were great but I had one minor problem: Tegan. Her character bothered me in the first book but towards the end I figured she was okay. In this book however, I can't say that I'm okay with her, I have to say that I do not like her. All of Dawn's problems would be less hectic if Tegan wasn't in the picture. In the first book, Tegan makes Dawn go to a party (clearly, Dawn doesn't want to go) and they almost die at the hands of Vampires. What happens in this book? THE SAME THING! Seriously Dawn is dealing with a lot of problems and all Tegan wants to do is party. And not to mention the whole boy situation...(but that's a spoiler that I will not give!!)

We don't get to see much of Victor in this novel but when he does make an appearance...I almost faint! He's so sexy and I wish he was real and could be my boyfriend! I'm totally fangirl-ing over him! :D

Blood-Kissed Sky was a great sequel and I can't wait to read the last installment of this trilogy! J.A. London, you did another amazing job with this one! 

Waiting on Wednesday: These Broken Stars

These Broken Stars (Starbound, 1)
by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

This cover is absolutely stunning! It's what caught my eye...and then I read the synopsis. I've really been liking a lot of science fiction/dystopian novels lately and this book is one I'm dying to read! It feels like it will be something along the lines of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and Gravity by Melissa West. 

I'm so excited for this novel that I already have such high expectations. PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE don't disappoint!!!  

Darkness Before Dawn

Darkness Before Dawn (Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy, 1)
by J.A London
Rating: 5 Bows!

Only sunlight can save us.

We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what's left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.

After the death of my parents, it's up to me—as the newest delegate for humanity—to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine . . . or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it's safe to let one in.

Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever.

And they're back! Who? Vampires of course!! I haven't read a series about vampires since Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy and I'm glad I've waited. Darkness Before Dawn broke my resistance of Vampire novels.

Let me start off by saying that Darkness Before Dawn is nothing like Twilight..And thank God for that! This novel takes place in a world where the humans have lost a war with the vampires and now the Vampires are the ones that call the shots. Pretty neat right? We have Dawn, our heroine, who is appointed delegate for the city of Denver and is to meet with the strongest vampire of all 14 Old Families: Lord Valentine.

If Lord Valentine existed I would be hiding under a rock! He is truly what I imagine a vampire to be: scary, feral, and downright mean! At times I felt bad for Dawn because she had to deal with Lord Valentine while at the same time figure out what is going on with the vampires in the city. She had to much weight on her shoulders but she embraced it with strength and dignity. 

Now Victor...where can I get me one of those? He is prince charming in the night when he shows up at the right time to save Dawn and he only gets better from there. Victor is mysterious and secretive but that's what attracts me to him, it doesn't hurt that he's smokin' hot!!

There's plenty of action and romance and not to mention a twist I didn't see coming!! If you loved Vampire Academy you will definitely love Darkness Before Dawn! J.A London, I thank you for reminding me why I love vampire novels! Great start to a series!!

Hump Day!

Happy Hump Day everyone!

So I've got a bunch of new books!!

BUT

I'm back at school...

Tragic, I know!!

So for some reason I signed up for these classes:

- Physics I

- Immunology and Infectious Diseases

- Biochemistry I

- Literature

- MCAT Prep Course 

(I think I wasn't of sound mind when I registered)

So I'm pretty sure I have my work cut out for me and hopefully I can get back into my school routine soon!

However, I will make time to read everyday!

It's a must.

I need to read, like I need air to live!!

Ahh...okay well that's whats going on for now. I hope

everyone is having a great day, and remember to 

breathe, it's almost Friday!! (:

Hover

Hover (The Taking, 2)
by Melissa West
Rating: 5 Bows!

On Earth, seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander was taught to never peek, but if she hopes to survive life on her new planet, Loge, her eyes must never shut. Because Zeus will do anything to save the Ancients from their dying planet, and he has a plan.

Thousands of humans crossed over to Loge after a poisonous neurotoxin released into Earth's atmosphere, nearly killing them. They sought refuge in hopes of finding a new life, but what they became were slaves, built to wage war against their home planet. That is, unless Ari and Jackson can stop them. But on Loge, nothing is as it seems...and no one can be trusted.

OH DEAR BABY JESUS! This book was absolutely fantastic, words really can't explain how much I loved this book!!

Hover picks up where Gravity left off and the action starts the moment Ari opens her eyes. I really admired Ari in this novel. She picks up the role of a leader without question and her motives or always for the good of the people. We get to see Ari grow up in a blink of an eye and the situations she's placed in were terrible and I think that's what made me love her more, she always had hope.

Jackson..swoon. I adored Jackson. We get to see more of him and why he is the way he is. My heart broke for him and for everything he's been through. He is truly the strongest person ever! The love he has for Mami is heart-wrenching and you really see his true colors when he speaks about her. 

Jackson and Ari's relationship is non-existent for most of the book...but don't worry it comes back and with a vengeance! I can understand why Ari pushed him away most of the time, I mean he lied to her about everything, so I would want to get to know the REAL him also before letting him back in again. When they get together, wow. It's a beautiful love full of trust and the ability to lean on one another. This is the kind of love that I wish more YA books would have.

I'm not gonna lie, the events that occur in this book are hard. There's anguish, death, fear and anger. Everything leads to the Zeus. I wanted to kill Zeus myself every time he   made an appearance, I HATE HIM!!! And that's not even the worst of it, the ending...WOW...I did not see that coming. Warning: It is a cliffhanger BOO!!! 

Seriously...GO READ THIS SERIES IT'S AMAZING!! <3

Saw It. Want It. Need It: Everneath

Everneath
by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s queen.

Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.

Okay so I've been putting off reading this book because the last book hasn't come out yet. What does that have to do with anything you ask? Well I've read the synopsis for Everneath and Everbound and with just reading that I have fallen in love with Cole. So now my problem is that if Nikki doesn't end up with Cole, I'll be so upset and mad that I'll end up hating this series forever!! I know that's horrible of me but I can't take it when the heroine doesn't pick the person I want!

Putting all that aside, I've read some pretty awesome reviews about this book and now I'm determined to read it no matter the outcome of the series! 

Everneath reviews I liked:
- Brooke Reports
- YA-Sisterhood 

The Secret of Ella and Micha

The Secret of Ella and Micha
by Jessica Sorensen
Rating: 4 Bows!

Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.

Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.

Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.

Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.

I gotta say that I love this cover, I know there's a new version coming out soon but NO! this is my favorite. The red lipstick really gives a vixen vibe and makes me think that she's hiding something...gives me goosebumps!

I'm going to be completely honest here, this book is fantastic, with its heart-stopping romance and never give up attitude. BUT, yes there's a but, when I think of Ella, it makes me not like the story as much as I thought.

Why? Well, her actions completely baffle me and enrage me: running away because you had a breakdown doesn't solve anyones problems. In fact I would think you'd want to stay with the people, mainly the boy *Micha*, who will help you through your problems, right? And then to go and completely make a new version of yourself with a new personality is not healthy at all, it's downright fake. What bothered me the most was that Ella was so stubborn in trying to keep up this fake personality when she goes back home. I seriously wanted to slap her and I honestly believe that if Micha didn't have the amount of feelings he had for Ella he would have been long gone instead of putting up with her crap! That's part of the appeal of this book though...

Micha was what sold this book to me, what made me go from a rating of 2 to 4. His determination to get the girl he fell in love with back no matter the cost was admirable. Michas feelings for Ella show in everything that he does, from the way he cares for her and protects her, it made me fall in love with him.

I was glad when Ella snapped out of her zombie mode and realized what Micha meant to her and that was the turning point for me. Before I was like meh, I'm not a fan of Ella, to, YES! FINALLY! this girl gets it now! Need less to say, after being frustrated, angry, shedding tears of joy, this book is worth reading. It teaches you that running from your problems won't make them disappear, you've got to face them head on and with the people who love you. Jessica Sorensen, this was another winner.

In Shadows of Magic

In Shadows of Magic
by Alison Prince
Rating: 4 Bows!

Mandy McKinney lives the charmed life. She is beautiful, athletic, popular, dating the hottest jock in school, and certainly doesn't have any time for her loser twin sister. But Mandy also has a secret. When the truth is unveiled, her world is twisted upside down, and her very life is at stake.

Mandy's twin sister, Brianna, has never had any success in the dating department. When Brianna finally meets the guy of her dreams, it turns out that he has secrets of his own. Dangerous secrets. Just her luck.

The twins are about to be swept away into a world of beauty and power beyond their wildest imaginations where nothing is what is seems, danger is lurking in the shadows, and their only chance of survival is finding themselves, and each other, once again.

I love the cover of this novel, it's what caught my attention in the first place. It's beautiful and captivating and really makes you think "MAGIC"!

Brianna and Mandy are twins with magic (their mom's a witch, duh!) but Mandy inherited a great deal of power while Brianna just got a spark. The twins are the complete opposite of each other; Mandy has it all: looks, popularity, athleticism, and boys, while Brianna is just your ordinary typical girl. Jealousy is bound to happen, and it does.

The girls may be polar opposites of each other, but in reality they're not that different. Brianna may be jealous of Mandy, but she is quite content with her life and yet she can't help but want a little of what Mandy has and Mandy, knowing she uses her magic to appear beautiful and obtain everything she has, starts to question if everything in her life is actually real or a product of her magic.

The relationship between the two sisters was strained and most of the time I was hoping to see them reconnect and forgive each other but at the same time I wanted to smack both girls on the head as well. But as the story progressed, I enjoyed how both sister realize that magic doesn't make life better (Yay!). From here on they try to learn to work together,with a little help of some friends, and it's a blast! I loved watching both girls find the right guy and fall in love, it was sweet and romantic! I felt like both girls deserved happiness and I was glad they found it.

This book conveys the message that just because something is perfect, doesn't mean it isn't broken. It is a novel of finding your strength, learning to love yourself and finding love and it's a book that I think everybody, especially those in highs cool and college, should read! 

Scarlet

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, 2)
by Marissa Meyer
Rating: 5 Bows!

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

It just keeps getting better! I haven't found a YA series that progressively gets better as the books go by since Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments. Marissa Meyer has an act for intertwining fairy tails with her novels without us even noticing because we are too wrapped up in the story...and I love that!

Scarlet starts right where Cinder left off and the action starts from there. 

In a way this was two different stories to me until I got close to the end. We meet Scarlet a red-headed farmer who is looking for her Kidnapped grandmother. She meets Wolf, a mysterious fellow who seems to know where her grandmother is. And so the journey begins for these two.

Then we have Cinder. Following the doctors orders, she escapes prison, but not alone. Captain Thorne is a prisoner as well and with his help, they manage to flee the prison. Cinder and Captain Thorne set off to find the woman who was responsible for bringing Cinder to Earth.

While everyone is off on their journey, Emperor Kai is dealing with the Lunar Queen and the fact that she has launched attacks on Earth. 

The new characters were perfect in this story, Wolf was powerful and secretive and that made him so sexy! Captain Thorne was handsome and down right hilarious! And Scarlet was so much like Cinder, strong when she needed to be while still being a teenager and falling for Wolf. 

Marissa Meyer I salute you! This was a fantastic sequel to Cinder and I can't wait for Cress. My only complaint is WHY WON'T IT COME OUT SOONER!!!!

Cinder

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, 1)
by Marissa Meyer
Rating: 5 Bows!

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

I did it, I gave in to the hype that is Cinder and you know what? It was all it was cracked up to be!! It was a wonderful rendition of cyborg-Cinderella! Say what now? You heard me, our "Cinderella" is a cyborg...in a dystpoian era...how cool is that?

I've gotta give Marissa Meyer credit for creating such a unique character in Cinder. I absolutely loved Cinder. Cinder is not all human, she's a cyborg because of her metal leg and hand. But that's not all, she also has no tear ducts and she can't blush. I'm not sure if that's a bad thing, not being able to blush, I mean you wouldn't have to look like a tomato whenever you're swooning for a boy, right?! 
I loved that Cinder's personality was a mix of sarcasm and heroism. She truly has a warriors heart.

Prince Kai was just like any other male character but he was also different. The way he acted, sometimes unsure and shy about himself, mad him so much more swoon worthy! Oh Kai <3

Even the side characters were great. They provided a good balance to the hecticness that was going on in Cinder's life and brought laughter and tears to my eyes. 

The story had an easy flow to it and even though some parts were predictable, I hardly paid attention to that because I was too busy laughing and enjoying myself with Cinder's sarcastic comments!!
This book is a great read and everyone should pick up a copy, I promise it won't disappoint!!

Oh Mondays...

I just started reading Cinder so I have no reviews to post yet so I thought I would do something a little different today. When I was looking through Barnes and Noble online for other books to buy, I stumbled upon some series that I read and that I had completely forgot about!! Now I am one to finish a book, even if its terrible, because I'm OCD that way and I even continue to read the series because I just can't help it.

So I have decided to vent/express my thoughts and comments about a 2 series that I have been disappointed by and 1 that has brought me back to them! Ready? Here we go!

*Please keep in mind that these are my opinions and may be different than yours, please be kind :)*

1) House of Night Series by P.C Cast and Kristen Cast

I started this series when I was a sophomore in high school and the books were amazing! BUT, there's always a but, I stopped at the fourth book. Why?? Because I felt the authors were just dragging on the series and each book seemed to get even more ridiculous than the last. It got to the point where I was thinking, "Zoey, why are you such a slut?" and I knew then that it was over for me. It's been 6 years since I started this series and I can't bring myself to finish it; I still can't believe that there are 11 books to this series and a 12th one on its way, stop, please just stop!

2) The Immortals by Alyson Noel
I don't really have any negative things to say about this series except that it bore me. I did finish this series for the sake of finishing but it took me a while. I don't know what happened, I mean I liked the first novel, the second one was okay, and then it just started getting a little twilight-ish to me. I did feel like it dragged on and I just got confused about everything that was going on at one point... It was a different type of story however so I give it bonus points for that!

3) Dark-Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon
I have been dedicated to this series for years...but again, I stopped reading the books after the 14th or so book. It wasn't because they were getting terrible or because the story dragged on, it was more because in every book we were introduced to characters and those characters each got, or are getting, their own book but the characters that have been there from the beginning, that clearly have a major impact in the series, have yet to have a book of their own! At the very least I would like some more background information on who they really are, but no, we haven't gotten that and it's been 12 years...
HOWEVER, I did read a statement Sherillyn Kenyon released on her Facebook page addressing the exact same issues I was upset about, and I shouted "AMEN" so I'm feeling a little hopeful and I plan to get back into this series ASAP!

Well that's all for now, Happy Monday everyone!!!

Under The Never Sky

Under The Never Sky
by Veronica Rossi
Rating: 4 Bows!

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINIES BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

Can I just say how beautiful and captivating the cover is? I must admit that the covers of books sometimes determine whether I get the book or not, I try really hard not to do that though but it just happens! Well the cover of this book definitely drew my attention. Again, I'm not very big on the whole "earth is destroyed and there's different worlds" types of books so I never really wanted to read this. There was however so much hype about this book that I gave in and read it.

However I was a little disappointed, there was so much hype that I expected this grand story and it just fell a little flat to me. There were some things that I just couldn't get my mind wrapped around and some things that I thought needed a little more explanation. I ended the book with questions (which is not a happy thing for me) like "What happened to Cinder?" "What exactly is Aether" but it is a series so I'm assuming explanations will be given later.

On a good note, I did like Aria. She behaved like any normal person would if they were in her situation. She was scared and confused being left in an unknown place and it took her time to gradually trust in Perry and have courage in herself. This is a big thing for me because it makes the character more believable and relatable. 

Perry was just as great. Being a "savage" he pretty much acted like one through out the story until he came to accept Aria and trust in her. I loved all his mad skills and the concept of his abilities. What I really liked about Perry was that he didn't automatically fall in love with Aria, it took time and it progressed through out the book. 

The side characters play big roles in the story and they brought humor and suspense to Aria and Perry's quest. I gotta say though, I hope we see more of Roar in the next book, he cracks me up!

For being a novel with a theme that I stay away from, it was good. I wouldn't say it was up there with the hype it was given, but that's just me. I think everyone should give this book a chance and it may turn out to be your cup of tea and you'll really love it. I'll definitely be picking up the second novel "Through The Ever Night"!

Shattered Promises

Shattered Promises (Shattered Promises, 1)
by Jessica Sorenen
Rating: 3 Bows!

For twenty-one year-old Gemma, life has never been normal. She knows nothing about her past and has been haunted by the same monsters in her nightmares for the last few months. Unemotional and numb to life, she feels disconnected from everyone. Until the very first day she cries. After that, nothing in her life is the same. Her emotions slowly surface and she starts experiencing love, happiness, and anger, feelings she never knew existed. But they leave her confused and she doesn’t know whether to embrace them or run away from them. Her life only gets more complicated when she meets Alex. Sexy, arrogant, and secretive, Alex can get under Gemma’s skin like no one can. Yet she’s drawn to him by an invisible connection she has no control over. She’s also seen him before. In her nightmares. Every part of Gemma’s mind is screaming at her to stay away from Alex, but every other part of her is begging to get close to him. But the closer she gets, the more she realizes Alex knows more about her than he originally let on. As secrets about her past unravel, Gemma’s life becomes threatened. She needs to figure out what’s going on, before she winds up dead. But the only person she can turn to for answers is the one person she isn’t sure she can trust.

Shattered Promises is a re-imagined version of Jessica Sorensen's YA series Fallen Star. When I read this book I had no idea that it was a different version of the YA series so I had no idea what this book was about. When I read the synopsis however, I was very intrigued. The story was original, different from everything I have read so it immediately peeked my interest. 

Sadly, it did not turn out the way I had hoped. Don't get me wrong, the book itself was good and it has potential, but the story was rushed so I didn't get to know the characters at all which made it hard to connect with them.

The action and plot was unusual and interesting enough to keep me reading. The main problem was the interactions between Gemma and Alex. When Gemma meets Alex she feels an "electricity" towards him whenever he's around. Of course, this would make her feel attracted to him, even if he's a jerk, and I can understand that. What I can't understand is after all the lies Alex has told and all the secrets he's kept, Gemma still falls into bed with him. Really? In my opinion, I would think you would need a little something more than feeling "electricity" to sleep with someone. This is where my issues with the characters really hits home. If we were given more time to learn about the characters and let their connections grow, I wouldn't have a hard time believing their actions. 

This book was "meh" in my opinion because in the end, the plot was good and kept me interested. I'm hoping that in the next book we're given more time and information to get to know the characters and understand their relationships. 

Hemlock (Hemlock, 1)

Hemlock (Hemlock, 1)
by Kathleen Peacock
Rating: 4 Bows!

Mackenzie Dobson's life has been turned upside down since she vowed to hunt her best friend Amy's killer: a white werewolf. Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country, and bloodlust is not easy to control. But it soon becomes clear that dangerous secrets are lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, Mac's hometown—and she is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her in grave danger.

I started this book at 9pm and finished it at 2am because it was that good! The synopsis gives little details about the story so I was a little hesitant reading the story but from the first page you're thrust into the action and it doesn't let up until the very end!

There was plenty of action and suspense but overall I would categorize this book as a mystery. So we have Mac, whose best friend Amy was murdered by a werewolf and is determined to find her killer. Mac's best quality, in my opinion, is her loyalty to her friends Jason and Kyle, the fact that she is determined to help them get over Amy's death and not hit rock bottom. 

There is a bit of romance but wait for it...it's a love triangle! Normally I steer clear of these but in this case I felt like it wasn't really a love triangle. We have Jason and Kyle who are best friends but completely different in personalities and some other stuff... Jason is broken and on the verge of being an alcoholic due to Amy's death. He's on a path to destruction because of his rage but he's also sweet and protective towards Mac. Kyle, has issues of his own but he's sweet and protective and the Mac can always rely on him.

The good thing about this "love Triangle" is that Mac makes her choice, I won't say who 'cuz you have to read the book, but I can't say I'm too happy with her choice. However, from reading the story it's pretty clear that Mac isn't too sure about who she loves and I really hope that Mac will end up with the other person in the upcoming books!! 

Hemlock was a good book filled with mystery and action and it's a great start to the trilogy. I'm anxiously awaiting the release of ThornHill and I can't wait to see where Kathleen Peacock takes this series!

Altered (Altered, 1)

Altered (Altered, 1)
by Jennifer Rush
Rating: 5 Bows!

When you can't trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

Before I start my review, can I just say how gorgeous the cover of this book is?! The guy looks pretty hot, the dark and eerie feel to it is intriguing, and the branch tattoo is awesome! I love it!

Okay, by a first glance you may think that this book is dytopian themed but it's actually a thriller. I haven't read many, if any at all, books in this theme but after reading Altered, I think I just might.

I really liked the protagonist Anna. She wasn't whiny or ditzy, she was smart and level-headed and every thing she did I found reasonable, in my opinion, and that's what I loved the most about her.

The boys all had distinct personalities: Nick is stand-ofish and at times mean, Trev is always calm and reasonable, Cas is a joker and kept the tension at bay, and Sam is the smartest of the group and the leader. The boys work together exceptionally well and the way they handle situations is pretty darn cool. I liked watching Anna's interactions with each of the boys because they all were so different from each other. 

This is a thriller so that's really the main focus of the novel but we are given a little romance..YAY!! Although there isn't much, from what we are given Sam and Anna make a pretty good pair. Their both loyal to the group and you can see that the feelings they have towards one another is something that could possibly grow into something bigger.

I am so in love with this book and I would recommend it to everyone! There's action, suspense, and little bit of romance thrown in there to keep everyone on their toes! Jennifer Rush, I applaud you, you have made a new fan and I look forward to Erased (Altered, 2)!