Shatter Me

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)
By Tahereh Mafi
Published November 15th, 2011 by Harper/HarperCollins
338 pages

5 stars - It was really great!


Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
 
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

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

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

Well I'm finally posting my review on this and it was great! I would have posted it sooner but I've been pretty busy with school just like I thought I would be. So sorry for not posting much.  I'd rather read but I have homework and tests, ughh.  Anyways back to my review.  So I had been wanting to read this book because just the summary sounded interesting and when I finally got to check it out from the library, I was excited.  Plus, and I know that you shouldn't do this, I really liked the cover.  And the story is just as good as the cover thankfully. 

Juliette is a 17 year old girl that has always been different and dangerous because just touching her skin can be fatal.  So Juliette has spent most of her life never being accepted or loved, not even by her parents.  And after a terrible accident Juliette is thrown into a cell where the conditions are bad and she's all alone, where she can't harm anyone.  Until the boy she once knew as a child is thrown in as well.  And when Juliette finds out that Adam is really a soldier for the Reestablishment who is sent to spy on her in her cell, she is upset.  And to make matters worse the leader's son wants to use her as a weapon of destruction and fear. Now Juliette will have to decide whether to use her power for good or evil.  Plus she's pretty sure she is falling for Adam but can she trust him?  Who can she trust?  And is her touch fatal to everyone or are there some people immune to it?  

Shatter Me was a great book and I loved how it was present day and not so far off into the future.  It was interesting to think that birds didn't fly and food was scarce.  But what I really loved was that I was able to feel for Juliette.  I just felt so sad for her because she had never known love, not even from her parents who sent her to a cell.  She was never accepted and yet she didn't hate the world.  I liked that.  Plus I loved Adam and how he admired Juliette and remembered her from their past.  The power that Juliette had was different from what is usually written and as you read on you see that she isn't the only one with something special about her.  I do have to say though that some parts might have been a little slow but overall it was a pretty great book and I can't wait to read the second one.  And I don't want to give too much away so If I didn't say much that is why. Oh and I also found the symbolism with the bird interesting.  But go ahead and check the book out and see for yourself.  Sorry again for not posting sooner. 

Vanessa

Obsidian (Lux #1)

Obsidian (Lux #1)

By Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published November 29th, 2011 by Entangled Teen

335 pages

5 stars - This book is amazing!!

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is.

Oh My Gosh!!! I loved this book!! And I really loved Daemon!! Haha in case you didn't notice, I thought Obsidian was a great read.  I had been seeing reviews of it and just seeing it on book websites but I hadn't ever picked it up.  So I finally did and bought it on my kindle!  I have to say that I wasn't disappointed, I just loved the story.  And of course the characters, I mean Katy loves to read AND has a book blog!  I was instantly able to connect with her on that level and I appreciated it.

I'm not going to give a summary of the book because I think the one above does a pretty good job to lure in readers and of course the covers are pretty amazing.  And I just loved this book so much that I feel like I can't really say the right things and I want you to have a good experience with it.  Like no spoilers or anything, I want you to be surprised. 

I will say most of the characters had a spot in my heart. :)  Again I connected with Katy because she loved reading and got excited over books plus she had a blog where she reviewed books.  But she was also a pretty strong character.  She didn't instantly fall in love with the guy and she kept her head in check.  She was also a great friend.  Dee is Daemon's sister and also an alien but she is totally sweet.  She is just very fun and nice and I loved her as Katy's friend, I'd love her as my friend too.  And the other major main character was Daemon, the really hot alien guy.  I'll admit that at most points he was a big jerk but when you find out why he really wants to protect his sister then you start to understand where he is coming from.  And the fact that he loved his sister so much is something that I like as well.  There are a few more characters that are enjoyable in the book but I'll let you find that out.  

So anyways I found Obsidian to be interesting and amazing.  I haven't read to  many alien books but this one was great.  It wasn't too out there and the characters seemed normal and were easy to relate with.  There was a mix of everything in the story.  A part that I loved was the bantering between Katy and Daemon, when a book is able to make me laugh so much then I know it is just about as good as it can get.  All in all Obsidian is a keeper for me and I can't wait to get the second book.  I know it's going to be a favorite series of mine.  Check it out and see for yourself!  I mean it!  Hopefully you'll find it as amazing as I did. 

Vanessa

Spellbound (Spellbound #1)

Spellbound (Spellbound #1)

By Cara Lynn Shultz

Published June 21st, 2011 by Harlequin Teen

341 pages

5 stars - I really LOVED this book!!

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to— Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Review:

Ok so it's like 1 in the morning over here and I just finished Spellbound!  And I would usually wait till the afternoon to write a review but I'm just so excited about this book that I had to tell someone! I really didn't know if I was going to like this book or not, I mean the summary sounded pretty good and interesting but I wasn't quite sure.  I have to say that I was hooked from the beginning!  Spellbound is different and well...just different.  In a good way of course.  

The story is told in Emma's voice and I really enjoyed her as a character.  She was normal and just a really cool girl that I could relate with.  

Emma has just moved to New York to live with her aunt and cousin, her only family left.  She is hoping to start over with a clean slate and leave the her terrible past behind.  But she knows it won't be easy to go to high end prep school that is hard to get into if you don't have the money.  She does have her 14 year old cousin Ashley who she adores so Emma is willing to try.  And throughout the first few weeks Emma makes some friends but she also makes some pretty dangerous enemies.  Oh and she also develops a pretty huge crush on one of the hottest guys at school, Brendan Salinger, who is hot and cold with his emotions towards her.  And if that wasn't enough now Emma is having strange dreams of herself in past lives which always end up with her dying.  Plus she's being warned by a spirit in her dreams and on the streets of New York when streetlamps mysteriously start exploding whenever she's around.  What is she being warned of? To stay away from Brendan because if she doesn't something very terrible could happen. But no matter how hard Emma tries she can't resist the feelings she has toward Brendan once they start hanging out.  Will Emma be able to escape her terrible fate and her own enemies? And just who will be there to save her when its time?

Wow I just really fell in love with these characters, except for a select few.  Like I was saying before I just loved Emma.  She was a normal teenage girl with problems any teenage girl would have.  But of course as the story goes on she finds out that she's not as normal as she thought she was.  I liked how Emma was herself and didn't try to change herself for anyone.  And even though her past was terrible she didn't let it control her.  Another character I loved?  Brendan of course!  Once you got to know him, he was just really nice and kind.  Plus he's pretty great looking :).  And I loved the relationship that went on between Emma and him, it was really sweet.  Of course some might think that they became drawn to each other pretty quick but it really makes sense once you uncover the secrets in the book.  Some other characters that were great were Ashley and Angelique.  Ashley is a spunky and pretty cool cousin.  I really enjoyed her lines in the book.  Angelique is a pretty unusual girl because she is into magic or witchcraft I guess.  She is a witch and is great friend to Emma.  She isn't afraid to be herself and is pretty supportive, I know I'd like a friend like her.  But anyways I loved seeing the characters grow in their relationships with each other.  

And in case you haven't guessed Spellbound includes fantasy.  The neat thing about this story is that it has witches in it and other magic but it shows it in a subtle way almost.  I mean it just makes it more believable I guess.  Despite that fact that there is a curse of course.  But everything just flowed together and was really interesting.  I really enjoyed the fantasy part of it and just all the new ideas that you haven't seen too much in YA.  I hope I'm making sense, the excited feeling is starting to wear off.  Spellbound was a great book, it was different and kept me reading through the night.  It had me laughing out loud and even crying a bit and when a book is able to make me do this then I know its a pretty darn great book.  So pick it up and see for yourself, I hope you feel the same way.  And I can't wait to get my hands on the second book, Spellcaster, which is already out! 

Vanessa

The Fallen Star (Fallen Star #1)

The Fallen Star (Fallen Star #1)

By Jessica Sorensen

Published April 11th, 2011 by Createspace

449 pages

4.5 stars - It was really, really great!!

For eighteen year-old Gemma, life has never been normal. Up until recently, she has been incapable of feeling emotion. And when she's around Alex, the gorgeous new guy at school, she can feel electricity that makes her skin buzz. Not to mention the monsters that haunt her nightmares have crossed over into real-life. But with Alex seeming to hate her and secrets popping up everywhere, Gemma's life is turning into a chaotic mess. Things that shouldn't be real suddenly seem to exist. And as her world falls apart, figuring out the secrets of her past becomes a matter of life and death.

Review:

First of all I just want to let you all know that I got The Fallen Star on my kindle as an eBook.  I was looking around at the free eBooks that they have on Amazon and I came across this one.  The summary sounded interesting and different so  I decided to give it a try.  I really, really, liked it in fact I loved it.  And the book is part of a series of 4 books and so far I've been reading the rest.  But anyways this book is just different in a good and exciting way!

So the book is in Gemma's point of view and it starts with her having been able to feel emotion for about a month or a few more.  Before then though Gemma hadn't ever been able to feel emotion, at least not that she could remember.  She didn't know what it was like to be happy, sad or scared. But now she can feel and she's been having a strange nightmare every night which involves her death and the hands of a frightening man. Gemma doesn't know what is going on or why her dreams feel so real but she can't talk to anyone about it.  She lives with her grandparents because her parents died when she was one but her grandparents are supportive or friendly.  As Gemma starts to get used to all these new emotions she runs into a new guy at school.  One that can literally make her feel electricity when she's near him.  The new guy is Alex and his sister is Aislinn and they seem to know more about Gemma than she knows about herself.  Now Gemma must figure out who she can trust and who will endanger the her life as well as others.  And in a world full of many different creatures, good and bad, Gemma will have to be careful.  Because Gemma isn't a normal girl, she has the power to end the world or save it.

Ok so I loved Gemma's character as well as the other main characters.  But reading about what Gemma had to say just made you feel for her.  She is not and never will be normal and has been stuck living without emotion for a long time.  And now that she gets her emotions back she is sucked into a world of magic.  I also loved Alex even though at times he could be kind of rude but once you get to read more about him you figure out why.  And I liked how Gemma didn't just instantly do whatever Alex wanted and she really tried fighting her feelings for him.  And fighting her feelings was especially hard considering the electricity they both feel coming from them.  But she stood her ground even then.  Plus Alex and most of the other characters isn't normal either.  Most of them are Keepers whose job it is to fight evil creatures.  A couple other main characters where Aislinn, Alex's sister and part witch part keeper.  Laylen is part vampire and part keeper as well and he is a friend of their's. 

So to keep from making this a really long post, I'm glad that I took a chance on this book.  It was really interesting and different even though it had the same creatures as any other paranormal book.  I think it was just the way that it was written, I mean Gemma sounded like a real 18 year old girl, aside from the part about her not being normal.  But the way everything flowed had me guessing who was to not be trusted and then proving me wrong.  I just really loved it and I'm loving the rest of the series.  So check it out and see for yourself.  If you like the paranormal romance type thing than this will be great.  Oh and the first book is free on the Kindle and the Nook.  But just as an eBook so if you have the ability to get e-books then this is great for you!  Check it out! Well I hope what I just wrote made sense because I'm kind of excited about sharing this with you, haha. Thanks!

Vanessa

The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection (The Selection #1)

By Kiera Cass

Published April 24th, 2012 by HarperTeen

327 pages

4 stars - I really liked it!

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Ok here is the review of The Selection that I promised you.  So this was a pretty interesting book.  I didn't think that I would like it as much as I did, even if the cover was really pretty looking, but I was wrong.  I know that not everyone has been giving this great reviews but I think that it's pretty good.  The Selection isn't just about 35 girls competing for Prince Maxon and the crown.  First there is the reason why some of the girls have signed up and then there is the fact that the palace is being threatened.  Why is it being threatened and does everyone know the real history of the country?

America Singer is a teenage girl living in a country called Illea or formerly known as the United States of America.  The citizens of Illea live in caste systems from level 8 to 1.  The lower you are the less food and money you get, basically the less of everything you get.  America and her family are at level 5 and they are all talented in the arts.  Whether its music making or painting, each one of them has a gift.  But the times are hard and winter is coming up with little promise of work for the family.  Then the Selection is announced on tv.  Its a chance for 35 girls across the land to compete for the crown and Prince Maxon's heart.  Just being one of the 35 girls and participating gets you money for your family.  Money that a lot of the families in the lower castes need.  Before she knows it America is entered into the Selection.  She doesn't want the attention or to try and love someone she doesn't even know because she already loves Aspen.  But Aspen is a caste lower and that means she really couldn't ever marry him.  So with a ton of pushing from her mom and some convincing from Aspen America enters...and she gets in.  Now everything is changing for America who doesn't even want the crown.  But once she actually meets Prince Maxon will her thoughts change?  And with the attacks on the palace and the games played by the girls will she fight to stay in the competition?  And the biggest question, is there a chance for America to win at all?

The Selection was interesting throughout.  It's not your typical YA novel and I think that's what kept me reading.  I literally finished this book in a day.  I can't say that it has any action but it was definitely interesting reading about what our country had come to.  The fact that the country was using a caste system and had royalty was different.  I felt like I was able to feel for America and even Maxon at times.  I mean to have to decide between your own wants and your family's needs is tough.  America didn't want to enter the competition but the chance to help her family out financially was large.  And Maxon who has just come of age and never once dated is starting all this with the cameras on him.  I also liked how Maxon listened to the girls and tried fixing the problems that he didn't know about in their society.  He wasn't just thinking about himself.  I guess if your looking for more adventure and action this book might not be the one for you but it was a good read to me.  It was different from the usual.  At some times it might have gone a little slowly but overall it had my attention and I can't wait to read the next in the series.  Besides the whole competition thing there are some secrets that the king and queen have been hiding or that the country has been hiding.  Either way check it out and see for yourself.

Vanessa

Ashfall (Ashfall #1)

Ashfall (Ashfall Series #1)

By Mike Mullin

Published October 11th, 2011 by Tanglewood Press

466 pages

4 stars - It was great!

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

So I wasn't sure if I was going to really like this book even though most of the reviews said it was good but I was wrong.  I really liked this book and the whole topic.  I've only read one other series that is similar to this one and that would be the Last Survivors by Susan Beth Pfeffer.  I really liked that series as well but this was pretty great.  At the end of almost every chapter was a small cliffhanger and it had me reading until I became to tired to read.  Ashfall had action and suspense and romance and danger plus a little humor.  And the book mixed it all together and turned out great.  Though I do warn you that some parts where a little gory.  But that's what made the whole story real.  It really made you think about what would go on if a huge natural disaster occurred. 

At the beginning of Ashfall Alex, a teenage boy, is left home alone for the weekend.  He is content with playing video games and just relaxing but little did he know that he wouldn't be able to do anything of the sort again.  Alex's house get's hit by something that causes a fire and leaves Alex no choice but to get out.  But that's just the start.  The supervolcano in Yellowstone has erupted leaving America in a blanket of ash.  Alex knows what he must do and soon he starts on his mission to find his parents and sister.  Are they in danger or even alive?  Alex hopes so but this journey isn't going to be easy.  There isn't any technology available and cars don't work in the ash filled air.  Walking on foot Alex discovers what people will do just to stay alive.  And on his way he finds Darla, a teenage girl who is smart and resourceful.  He also happens to make a few enemies.  But no matter what Alex keeps on his journey full of danger, hurt and a little love.  Can Alex find his family before it's to late?

Ashfall is written in Alex's point of view and I enjoyed hearing his story.  At times it was pretty funny reading about what he had to say.  Throughout the story Alex really grew up and he needed to because finding his parents in the world that he now lives in is tough.  Luckily he meets a mother and daughter along the way.  Darla is the daughter and I enjoyed her character as well.  She was into mechanics and she just knew how to take care of herself.  At the beginning she was a little distrusting and cold because of the state of things but after awhile she grew as well.  

So all in all Ashfall was a very interesting book.  It was realistic and it had great action and suspense.  I'm really looking forward to the next book to find out what their future is.  Ashfall was different from what I usually read and I found that refreshing in a way.  Of course it is kind of violent and times and a little gory like I said.  But its a good read and if you really like the whole apocalyptic science thing then this is the book for you.  Either way check it out and see for yourself.

Vanessa

Inside Out (Insider #1)

Inside Out (Insider Series #1)

By Maria V. Snyder

Published April 1st, 2010 by Harlquin

315 pages

3.5 stars - It was pretty good, check it out!

Keep Your Head Down.

Don't Get Noticed.
Or Else.
I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

I have to say that I enjoyed Inside Out.  The beginning was a little slow for me but only after a few chapters did it get good.  The book is in Trella's perspective.

Trella is a scrub or one of thousands of people who work on the lower levels of Inside.  No one is really sure what Inside is just that everything is square like and has 4 levels.  2 for the scrubs and 2 for the Uppers.  The scrubs are responsible for more of the physical labour, keeping everything clean and running.  And the Uppers work on the computers with maintenance.  The whole society is ruled by one family, the Travas.  They decide what goes and they have Pop Cops who make sure there are no trouble makers.  Trella usually stays in the pipes partly because her job requires it and partly because she doesn't like the noise.  It's crowded on the lower levels and everyone knows one another so the pipes are a type of hiding spot from the others.  Everything is normal for Trella and the people in Inside until Trella agrees to find something for Broken Man, a prophet who speaks of Gateway.  Gateway is the place where you can access Outside, a place that everyone dreams of finding.  No one knows where Gateway is and some don't believe it exists but Broken Man knows and soon him and Cog, Trella's best friend, have her helping find it.  But finding Gateway isn't going to be easy and it could result in getting in trouble which usually results in the Chomper.  Then she meets Riley, an upper who wants to help but Trella knows better than to trust just anyone.  Because trusting anyone and getting your hopes up could cost you your life.

So Inside Out was pretty interesting.  The whole time I was wondering what the Inside was and where they could be.  The book has you guessing at times and I liked that.  The only problem was that at times it could get a little slow.  But that's probably the only thing.  The ending was exciting and had me wanting to get the second book.  The characters were pretty great as well.  I liked seeing how Trella grew throughout the book and how she learned to trust.  Of course the other characters were interesting as well.  Inside Out had suspense and adventure (as much as you can have in a big cube).  There was also humor and some romance mixed in and I think that calls for a pretty decent book.  I know that I'll be reading the sequel to figure out what's going to happen.  So check this book out, its different from what's out there.


Vanessa