Book Review: Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone

By: Henry Holt

Genre: Young Adult, Sci-fi

Goodreads Description: The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Magic, Romance, Palaces, and fighting? Who wouldn't love this book!

      Alina is just a small, ordinary girl. She is in love with her best friend, who is too busy chasing after other girls. All she wants is to be able to catch his attention like the other girls do. Well when they venture into the fold, she captures everyones attention in a way she never thought was possible. When Mal is about to be attacked by a horrible creature, she saves him with a power inside of her she never knew that she had. Nothing is better than a strong kick butt female character like Alina!

      Then you have Mal, Alinas best friend since childhood. He is described as extremely hansom and a total ladies man. But he cares for Alina so much and you see that more and more as the story goes on. 

      The Darkling is a hard one to figure out! He is someone you can not decide whether or not to trust. Well honestly it is like that with everyone in this book but he is the hardest to figure out. But he is so smooth that you honestly fall in love with the bad boy. 

      My favorite part about this book was hearing about all of the Grisha power. There were so many different types and reading the parts when they use there power, I was honestly just thinking "THIS IS SOOO COOL!" 

      Every part of this book keeps you wanting more! from the romance to the fighting to the suspense! I just loved it!! 

My Rating:

Book Review: The Moon And More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More

By: Sarah Dessen

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Goodreads Description: Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.

I love Sarah Dessen's books! And this one is no disappointment! This is why she is my favorite author!

     First of all, it was good to get some more of Colby! I love that place and if I could, I would jump right in the book to live there. The perfect small town beach where people no each other, but it is still close to a city as well. My kind of paradise! 

     Then you have the main character, Emaline. May I just say, that is such a cool and unique name. She was a great character to read about. Strong but with vulnerability as well. Fun but still hardworking and kind of a control freak. Scared to try new things, but still willing to sometimes. She has the perfect balance to her character and that is why I loved reading from her point of view. 

     Emaline is a small town girl, getting ready to take on the "real world" and wants to enjoy one more summer before everything in her life that is familiar, changes completely. Plus, a girl that wants to become close with a father she barely ever knew. Plus, after a relationship with her high school boyfriend, Luke, ends she has to face a whole different looking future that she did not expect. 

     Theo, talk about a true New Yorker. In Colby for the summer, he is the perfect kind of change that Emaline needs. He is a fun, caring, and very enthusiastic person. But, to Emaline, it is a huge change and one she has to figure out if she is ready for. 

     Luke is Emaline's boyfriend of the last three years. Well that is until he does something to screw it all up. But, it may not have been the worst thing for both of them. And even after everything he is still the sweet guy who comes to help when Emaline needs someone the most. Talk about an amazing person!

     Clyde and Ivy. What a contrast in characters! You have Clyde, who is the laid back, calm, small town artist. He doesn't let his successful art change his small town roots. Then you have Ivy, who is a neurotic, demanding, sometimes just plain rude, documentary filmer. They both made the book interesting in their own way, especially when they were in scenes with each other or talking about each other. 

     Then you have Benji, Morris, Daisy, and Emaline's family. Can I just say that Emaline has a great support system and amazing people surrounding her in life. They are all fun and care about her so much that they would drop everything to help her out. She is a very lucky girl. 

All in all this book was so great! There are so many awesome lessons to be learned from Emaline and her summer story in this book. 

My Rating:

Top Ten Tuesday!!

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke And Bookish

Top Ten Book At The Top Of My Summer TBR Pile!

1. The Moon And More by: Sarah Dessen (currently reading)

2. All I Need by: Susane Colasanti

3. Across The Universe by: Beth Revis

4. Wild Awake by: Hilary T. Smith

5. The Girl Of Fire And Thorns by: Rae Carson

6. September Girls by: Bennett Madison

7. Life After Theft by: Aprilynne Pike

8. Pulse by: Patrick Carman

9. Mind Games by: Kiersten White

10. Mila 2.0 by: Debra Driza

What is on the top of your To Be Read pile? 

Book Review: Before I Fall by: Lauren Oliver

Before I Fall

By: Lauren Oliver

Genre: Young Adult

Goodreads Description:  What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing. 

     What an inspiring novel! Talk about a book I could not put down! This was the type of book that I ended up placing little sticky notes all over to mark quotes that I loved. Lauren Oliver is such an amazing and talented writer! She definitely knows how to suck the readers in. 

     Let's start off with the main character, Samantha. Popular, a follower, and mean if it means she will look cool. But if you had to keep reliving the day you died, don't you think you would change too? That is one of my favorite things about this book. Getting to see Sam open her eyes and realize how wrong she has been and then try and change it. She makes plenty of mistakes throughout this book, but when she wakes up she always has a chance at a redo. She grows so much in this book! 

     Sam's best friends: First you have Lindsey, The Leader. She is the one who decides who they are mean to. But, she is also the friend that has your back no matter what, and if someone messes with you they are sure going to regret it. Then you have Ally. She is a friend that will speak her mind when necessary but likes to keep things light and happy. Lastly, you have Elody. She is the quiet friend who never really sticks up for herself and doesn't do good with any type of confrontation, but she is still a great friend who loves to have fun. 

     Rob is the typical popular boyfriend. The kind that you see with a girl and think, he is super cute, and then you talk to him and think, "why is she with him?" I love as you read this book, you see what a jerk he is and also that Sam sees what a jerk and loser he is. 

     Kent is kind of described as a loser at the beginning of this book. But once you see more of him as it goes on, you realize he is the sweet, caring kind of guy you would totally want to date! Talk about an amazing guy! I was totally rooting for him in the beginning because I always like an underdog and also he sounded like the type I would go for, and can I just say that in the end the nice guy does sometimes win? 

     Now to Juliette, she is a girl that your heart literally breaks for! You want to be able to help her and you just keep turning the pages and hoping that things will change! The more she is picked on and talked about, the more pissed off you get. I wanted to jump into this book sometimes and just shake Sam and her friends for being so mean to her. But, Sam learns eventually that making fun of someone isn't always just fun, and there are sometimes consequences. 

     Over all, this book was absolutely amazing and inspiring and breath taking, and impossible to put down... well I could go on forever saying good things about it. Lets just say it is definitely one of my favorite books now! 

My Rating:

Book Review: Through The Ever Night

Through The Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2)

By: Veronica Rossi

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Goodreads Description: It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both. Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder,Can their love survive through the ever night? In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Hot guys, mean villains, epic fights! Why wouldn't you like this book? 

     This series has not been a disappointment! The story continues right where it left off. The romance between Aria and Perry is totally there! But with murder attempts, starving people, Talon still in Reverie, and the Aether storms getting worse, things get intense really quick. This forces Aria and Roar to leave and go in search for Liv and the Still Blue. Relationships are then strained and people are hurt. 

     Towards the middle of this story I was kind of at a stand still for a few chapters. It just got a little dull for me. But I pushed through it and am so happy that I did! It definitely paid off! 

     Once again, I love Roar! He is by far my favorite character! In this book though, my heart literally breaks for him! 

     I love how Aria is a total beast in this book! talk about a strong and awesome female character! She definitely grew into the type of character I was hoping for!

     Perry was a little disappointing for me through out this book. But he had a right to be the way he was. He was in a very vulnerable and stressful position, so I do not have any real complaints about him. 

     There are a few shocks in this book! from a mean character returning to actually be helpful, to a beloved person losing their life, to worries about relationships being ruined. You must read to find out! ;)

     I would totally recommend this whole series to everyone! If the only complaint I have had the entire time was just a few chapters in the middle, then let me tell you, that is just me being picky! Great book!

My Rating: 

Only 3.5 because at some points it wasn't a book that stopped me from putting it down. But still totally worth reading!

~Book Review~ Under The Never Sky

Under The Never Sky
(Under The Never Sky #1)

By: Veronica Rossi

Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult

Goodreads Description: WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY 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.

     I loved this book! From the very beginning they have you hooked. A few people breaking in to a part of their dome and then going crazy and killing people and starting a fire, and then Aria getting saved by this mysterious savage? How can you not get excited to read this book?? Plus, not to mention, the freaky Aether storms with killer lightning. 

     Now for Perry, that mysterious savage, who saves Aria's life time and time again. Talk about one hansom sounding guy. I totally loved his character! A strong, stern guy who can't stand the "Moles" but keeps saving one anyways. And how he can't stand her at all but slowly starts to when he gets more comfortable with her. Plus he has some awesome abilities! Who wouldn't love to see at night and be able to smell so well you could actually smell how people felt! That is so awesome! 

     Aria is a great character. Strong, stubborn, but smart too. She was awesome! I loved that she pushed through her pain and exhaustion on the outside so she wouldn't seem weak. Plus, she begins to develop some talent on her own along the way. 

     I love getting to watch Aria and Perry travel together and slowly become closer. That would have never have happened without Roar, one of Perry's best friends that they run into along the way. He was so amazing, and hilarious, fun and caring. He was hands down my favorite character in the book! Also, he is a Audile, which means he can hear amazingly! He is quite the help to Perry and Aria along their journey. 

    Along with Roar is a little boy named Cinder, and his name makes perfect sense too. Talk about the coolest ability of all! He can channel the Aether storms through his body! AWESOME!

   All in all this book was great and I am excited to start the next book in the series because lets just say they leave you with some crazy stuff towards the end! 

Star Rating:

Allegiant Cover Reveal!

Have you been as excited as I have for the third book in the Divergent series by Veronica Roth???

Well, it's getting closer! With the cover and title finally released, it is getting harder and harder to wait for this book! Due out in October 2013, I will be preordering this book for sure! 

This is an awesome cover! I had no idea what to expect but I can totally say I am in love with it! 

Also, who is excited for the movie of Divergent???

I know I am! 

Here is an interview with Veronica Roth on the today show revealing her new book, Allegiant! 

http://www.today.com/video/today/51828575#51828575

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Book Review: ARCLIGHT by Josin L. McQuein

ARCLIGHT (Arclight #1)

by: Josin L. McQuein 

Genre: Young Adult, Sci-fi thriller

Goodreads Description:   No one crosses the wall of light . . . except for one girl who doesn’t remember who she is, where she came from, or how she survived. A harrowing, powerful debut thriller about finding yourself and protecting your future—no matter how short and uncertain it may be. 

The Arclight is the last defense. The Fade can’t get in. Outside the Arclight’s border of high-powered beams is the Dark. And between the Light and the Dark is the Grey, a narrow, barren no-man’s-land. That’s where the rescue team finds Marina, a lone teenage girl with no memory of the horrors she faced or the family she lost. Marina is the only person who has ever survived an encounter with the Fade. She’s the first hope humanity has had in generations, but she could also be the catalyst for their final destruction. Because the Fade will stop at nothing to get her back. Marina knows it. Tobin, who’s determined to take his revenge on the Fade, knows it. Anne-Marie, who just wishes it were all over, knows it.

When one of the Fade infiltrates the Arclight and Marina recognizes it, she will begin to unlock secrets she didn’t even know she had. Who will Marina become? Who can she never be again?

An incredible book that sucked me in from the very beginning! You will NOT be able to put this book down! 

I don't even know where to begin. This book was just so amazing! It sucked me in to a completely different and terrifying world. I could not put this book down! 

Let's start off with the setting. A compound surrounded by a parameter of lights to keep out the dark. Everywhere is white and beaming. Beyond the compound is just darkness and unknown and death. Ya I would have to say I was biting my nails at the beginning. The "red-wall" is the alarm for when the compound is under attack by the creature called the Fade, and you begin the book with this happening. The way they describe the creatures look, and the sound of their giant claws scratching, it was down right scary. And the story about how the Fade became Fade! How the nanites (little particles meant to repair cells) were created to save humans but ended up taking over! That is so crazy to think about when you look at how far technology has come already!! This book really managed to freak me out and get me thinking about tons! 

The main character, Marina, was just simply amazing! I loved her character the entire book. She started out as a scared, confused girl but not like some characters from other books. She still had a fire about her the whole time. She didn't whine or complain at all but more kept to herself about stuff. She always had a certain strength to her that made me like her. Getting to watch her grow stronger through out the books was awesome! Also, the book keeps you on your seat the entire time, wanting to know what happened to Marina. She can't remember anything that happened to her when she was in the dark, but through out the book you get to see little clips as she remembers little pieces. I don't want to spoil anything, but lets just say WHATTTTT! Was not expecting anything like that! 

Tobin is an interesting character. He starts out very stand offish towards Marina, like he is disgusted with her because his father died trying to rescue her (don't worry, not a spoiler). But then in the crazy Red-Wall scene at the beginning, he rescues her and things begin to change between them. He becomes somewhat of her protecter, but at the same time she is his. It's pretty awesome how both of them need each other at certain times, and not just the guy saving the girl. 

I couldn't help but love Tobin by the end of the book but he wasn't the only guy that stole my heart! Who you might ask? Well you just have to read to find out. Also, if you want to know the CRAZY twist ending you should read the book as well! I recommend this book to everyone! It is officially one of my favorite books and makes me want to read more sci-fi! 

My Rating For This Book: