Days of Blood and Starlight

Title: Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2)
Author: Laini Taylor
Release Date: January 1st, 2012
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Hello, hello, hello!
This has been a long time coming. These books are fantastic. Laini Taylor has created an intricate world of desire and danger. I simply love her work. Her creativity and phrasing match each other so well, this book is tied together perfectly.

I would definitely suggest continuing on to this book if you have already read Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It flows nicely from the first book to this one. These books are high fantasy, so you need to take the time to learn the new terms and characters when you begin them, but they are worth it. This is such a fantastic world, I suggest reading them if you are in the mood for adventure.

I suggest these books to readers more experienced in the fantasy world, but also to those wishing to get into it!

To those of you who haven't read it, See you next time! This is where you get off because there are spoilers below the picture!

**Spoilers**

Alright everyone. Down to business. 

One of my favorite parts of this book is the difference yet similarity of the Chimaera and Seraphim. They are both different species, but when we jump from Akiva and Karou's points of views, we see the similarities of both sides. Taylor did a fantastic job making each minor character their own individual with different opinons that she gave them a chance to express. Like when Karou was standing up to the White Wolf, and the characters got to choose which side they supported. 

I also really enjoyed how Karou and Akiva were not together in this book. We saw their independence. These books are not just another romance story, it has meaning and its' own flavor. Yet we see the difference of their opinions on each other. Karou knows she loves Akiva, but also knows she can't be with him because of what he did to Brimstone. However, I am still confused on what actually happened. I hope that gets explained in the next installment. On the other side, we see how Akiva still loves Karou, yet we almost never see them together. It shows that just because there is romance in a book, there may also be bigger things going on. 

I absolutely loved seeing Zuzanna and Mik again. I missed them, and when they showed up I may have started laugh/crying. That moment, when Karou goes to see who is on the hill, and it's Zuzanna yelling her name and they are finally reunited. Oh, so beautiful. I think those two were some comic relief that we definitely needed. Plus, they were so adorable. So adorable. With their fairytale tasks and their sometimes awkwardly adorable moments together when they think they are alone but they're not. Ah, I love them. 

I also absolutely loved how we got Issa back. She is such a strong character not only in the book, but also in Karou's life. I picture her as the mother Karou never had. She is so protective and straight forward, we needed her to get rid of Ten (who I hated). 

I loved seeing things from Hazel and Liraz's point of view. Those two really defined the individuality of characters I was talking about before. It killed me when Hazel died. That's when we saw how human Liraz is. She's not just a killing machine, she has always wanted that love and family, and the one person she had it with got ripped away. And then when Akiva and Liraz brought Hazel to Karou to try to save him and she couldn't, it ripped me apart. The entire book built up Hazel, and then he was ripped away from us, AGAIN. 

Thiago. How I hated that bastard. I don't know if I have hated anyone as much as Thiago and Ten. They just annoyed the hell out of me. When Karou killed him, I was laughing. But then later, when Taylor scared us all by making us think that Karou had brought him back, I actually got angry at Karou. I couldn't believe she had done that. But, then when we find out that Ziri is actually now Thiago, it made me so incredibly happy. I also love Ziri so much now. He has become such a huge character in this series. He is so selfless and brave, I can't wait to see what lies in store for him (hopefully only great things that end in happiness because I don't think I can handle it if he dies). 

I have to admit, romantically, I can't quite tell if Karou will lean towards Akiva or Ziri. This is troubling me. I can't even say what side I'm on because I love all three of them so much. I think right now I'm on team Ziri because I just love him so much, but I can't ignore the bond Karou and Akiva have. However, there was nothing ever outright romantic with Ziri. I just have a feeling. We'll see. 

Laini Taylor did a beautiful job. In the end, everything that happens in this book ties together so well. It is flawless. I will be reading the next one, there was too much that didn't get finished, especially with the apocalypse. This book is just such an adventure. 

Until next time, Keep Reading! 

Eon

Title: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (Eon #1)
Author: Alison Goodmann
Release Date: December 26th, 2008
My Rating: 4.5/5


Hello all,
Today I have for you a review of Eon by Alison Goodmann. I picked up this book a few months ago on a book binge. After moving to college, I find that I have less and less time to read, so it has taken me awhile to get to this book. Once I got into it I didn't want to put it down (but reluctantly had to. Homework waits for no one!). Anyways, here we go.

I have always loved the Chinese/Asian culture. This book is in a made-up world, but it has that Asian cultural twist.

We follow a 12 year old boy named Eon as he attempts to become a Dragoneye. There are 12 dragons, and each year one of them chooses a new Dragoneye. One of the dragons, the Mirror Dragon, has not been seen in 500 years. Usually a Dragoneye can only see one of the 12 dragons, but Eon is special. He can see 11 of them. But there is one thing that Eon needs to keep a secret if he wants to become a Dragoneye. He is actually Eona, a 16 year old girl pulled from slavery to be trained to become a Dragoneye. The penalty for this; Death. Trouble up-rises in the kingdom and Eon must work with a fantastic group of characters to save the traditions of the Dragoneye.

This book thoroughly entertained me. There was never a dull moment. There was action, adventure, and comedy in a delightful mix. I absolutely loved Eon, even though she sometimes made decisions I wouldn't necessarily agree with. I found myself rooting for Ryko, Eon's guard throughout the entire book.

Usually I love a book with great romance, but this book didn't have any. Normally this would bore me to no end, but this book was so exciting I didn't even care. Yes, there is a lack of outright romance, but it hints at maybe a little something-something in the future ;).

I will definitely be looking forward to the next book. I recommend this book to anyone that loves fantasy and adventure.

I'm not going to be adding a spoiler section to this review, so this is it for today!

Until next time, Keep Reading!

Lola and the Boy Next Door

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss #2)
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: September 28th, 2011
My Rating: 5/5

Hey there!

I just finished a wonderful book by Stephanie Perkins. Lola and the Boy Next Door was such a good book. I could not put it down. I finished it in two days and wanted more. It was funny and quirky and just such a great read. It was fast paced and was entertaining the entire time. To my delightful surprise, Anna and Etienne return for cameos in this sequel.

I loved Lola. She was spunky and adorable. She doesn't care what people think of her. I also loved Cricket. Well, I loved his name to begin with, but then I just fell in love with his personality. I obviously hated Max, but who didn't? Lola's parents are hilarious and I wish I knew them in person. They remind me of the couple from Modern Family. Overall, this was a great group of characters and I am very pleased.

This book was 100% contemporary. It was short, sweet, and focused on the love interest. I loved every minute of it. This is exactly the type of book I needed to pull me out of a reading slump, and I am going to recommend it to anyone who needs a cutesy book to brighten their day.

Spoilers below the picture, so for those of you clicking out, see you next time!

**SPOILERS**

Here we go. 

I loved loved loved loved loved Cricket. And when he made the bridge between their rooms?!? I wish I had a cute neighbor guy like that. He was just so smart and loving. It killed me to read the look on Crickets face every time Max was mentioned. There were some parts where I didn't like Lola very much in those situations.

I was so happy when Lola kicked Max to the curb. I loved how Stephanie Perkins gave Lola time to grieve her breakup. A lot of authors just assume that because a character dumped someone for someone else, they will just skip on their merry way and move on. I like how Perkins kept it real and realized that even though Max was a jerk, there was a part of Lola that loved him. 

I surprisingly liked Norah. Well maybe I didn't like Norah, but I liked her appearances in the book. She added some drama and the scenes with her and Lola were some that stick out in my mind. I loved the scene at the end where Lola and Norah are watching TV and they feel like they are finally getting to know each other. 

I also liked Calliope. I know she was kind of stand-offish, but I just couldn't bring myself to dislike her. I was hoping that they would become friends at the end. My favorite scene of the entire book was when Lola was making Calliope a new outfit. It really brought the novel together for me. 

I can't think of much more to say, but overall I loved this book. I can't wait to read more from Perkins in Isla and the Happily Ever After. 

I recommend this book to anyone that loves a great, romantic, and funny book. 

Until next time, Keep Reading! 

The Lightning Thief

Title: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)
Author: Rick Riordan
Release Date: March 21st, 2005
My Rating: 5/5

Alright Everybody!

I'm finally done reading The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, and it was pretty amazing. It took me so long only because I am a new University student, and was getting used to college life. Otherwise, this book was so fast paced, I could barely keep up. I am most definitely now a Percy Jackson fan and cannot wait to finish the series. (By the way, I found a great box set at B&N for only $35).

This book kept me entertained the entire ride. It seemed like Riordan just jumped to the action. If the scene didn't have action in it, we only got a brief description and continued on to the good parts. That's one thing I loved about this book. I can't stand boring transition scenes.

The relationships between Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, developed very quickly. This meant we got to see the humor that true friends bring out in each other. They weren't afraid to throw insults at one another. This trio reminded me of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Percy, the hero, Grover, the comedic relief, and Annabeth the genius.

Riordan created a world full of myth, action, and anticipation. I absolutely loved how much I learned about Greek mythology and what it means to be a hero.

This is one of the only books I've read that I would recommend to readers of all ages. In fact, I'm about to force it onto my own younger siblings. I suggest after you read it, you do the same. I'm not going to insert a spoiler section, so don't worry to those who haven't read it yet. I'd love for you to find a way to contact me to discuss what you thought of the book! I love discussions. Feel free to leave comments!

Read this book.

Until next time, Keep Reading!

OPPOSITION!

Dun Dun Dun-Da!
Finally! It has come! the day you have been waiting for is here! That's right, my review of the fifth and final book of the Lux series, Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout. It has been a long time coming, I know. I have been reading this book for a long time (two weeks) because I have been busy moving in to college and getting used to the whole college life thing, but this morning I finished! I'm so excited to share my final thoughts of this beautiful series with you.

If you have not read the Lux series, go read them. If you have read them up to Opposition, stick around.

This book is full of comedy, drama, action, and multiple Harry Potter references. It all mixes together to form this great addition/finale to the series. I don't have enough good things to say about this book, so I'm going to jump to the spoiler section.

For those of you who haven't read it, this is me demanding you read it and get back here to discuss.

**SPOILERS**

Alright everyone. I am so sad to see this series go. I loved it so much and can't believe it is finally over. All of the books are amazing and this book was no exception. If anything, I have just fallen even more in love with Daemon Black. 

In the beginning of the novel, I was very confused by the whole zombie-brain-luxen thing going on. At first I thought Daemon was going to stay all bad, but then we saw from his P.O.V. and knew that he still loved Katy. Daemon and Dawson are not brain-washed by the other luxen because they are connected to humans. Dee, on the other hand, gets sucked in and cant escape on her own. 

I'll admit, I'm getting kind of tired of Dee always being hostile. I wish there was one book where Dee and Katy just get to be best friends. I can't help but love Dee, yet she always pisses me off and starts crying in every book. 

I loved seeing the connection between Dawson and Bethany grow even stronger in this book. During Origin, I honestly thought that Katy would be pregnant too because there was a bunch of foreshadowing, but I'm glad it was only Bethany. I loved seeing baby Ashley in the epilogue, it gives us some insight to Luc and Archer's background and how they grew up. It also made me think that if the Daedalus children grew up in homes, they would be as normal as Ashley. 

I feel like I didn't see enough of Daemon and Katy's relationship in this book. They were either always fighting the Luxen, Katy was hurt and Daemon was comforting her, or they were having sexy-time. I miss the back and forth from the previous books. That is what really kept their relationship interesting to me. 

The action in this book seemed rather anti-climatic. Through out the entire series there was all this buildup, and I was just expecting more. During this novel, there was a lot of action so for the finale I was expecting something huge, but then it turns out that Katy just runs away and lets the Arum handle it. It seems like the biggest climax was when we find Katy's mom, and even then it was a short scene that didn't really have an impact on the book as a whole. I was just a little disappointed by this. 

Don't get me wrong, I loved this book entirely. It was action packed and kept me on my toes. I just think I liked the first book, Obsidian, the best. 

Overall, I would definitely tell you to read these books. They really are fast paced and worth your time. They are hilarious and witty and gut-wrenching. I really don't want to say goodbye to these books and wish I could read them for the first time again. They will always have a spot on my favorites shelf, that's for sure. 

Until next time, Keep Reading!

Opposition release!

Hey there everybody!

As most of you already know, Opposition by the wonderful, fantastical, Ms. Jennifer L. Armentrout, was released a few weeks ago (And if you didn't already know that, get out. Go buy her books. Read them. And get back to me). In honor of this, I have decided to reread the entire series,  all five wonderful books. This is why I have not been posting very much recently. I'm getting through these books so fast, I don't really have time to write a full review on each.

To make things easier, I have written a short overall series review:

Read them. Now. 

There. Now that's done. These books are funny, romantic, and action packed. The paranormal characters are not vampires, werewolves, faeries, or angels. No, no, they are aliens. Miss Armentrout is a creative genius with witty characters, twisting plots, and lots and lots of relationships of the love-hate variety. Go read them. 

Now to make it easier for you, here they are in order: 

1. Obsidian (Lux #1) 

2. Onyx (Lux #2)

3. Opal (Lux #3)

4. Origin (Lux #4)

5. Oppositon (Lux #5)

Until next time, Keep Reading! 

(especially if it's these books) 

Throne of Glass

Title: Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Release Date: August 7th, 2012
My Rating: 5/5

Well then.
Holy. Mother. You. Must. Read. This. Book. Now. It was amazing. It definitely has a spot on my favorites shelf and I am so excited to read the next 4 to 5 books. The world is amazing. It is the perfect mix of fantasy and history. Sarah J. Maas created an exciting book that I am definitely a supporter of.

The main character, Celaena, is the most feared assassin in the entire country. When she is 17, she is captured and sent to a death camp. Somehow, she survives a year, and the Crown Prince comes to recruit her to fight in a competition to become the kings personal assassin.

This is a fast-paced, adventure-filled book that really deserves a read. I couldn't put it down.

If you haven't read this book, I insist you go find it and read it, then come back and read the rest of my review!

**SPOILERS**

Gosh, I can't even think about what to write, there is so much going to my head. 

I LOVED the love triangle in this book. Dorian, Chaol, Celaena. I'm totally team Chaol, but there's no way I can't love Dorian also. I mean come on, he got her a puppy. A PUPPY. In every love triangle, there is always the playful guy, and the serious guy. Dorian is definitely the playful one and Chaol the serious one. 

Next I want to talk about Arobynn, the king of assassins, if you will. At first I thought he was a cool guy. He took in the orphaned Celaena, and raised her as his own. But as the book goes on, we start seeing more insight to his true character. He trains her to be ruthless, breaking her own hand, paying him back for his training, and running his errands. I really hope we see more of him in the next books. 

In the beginning, I was very confused by the magic aspect. There are Wyrdmarks, which seem like runes in a way, then there is the black ring aspect used by Perrington and the King. This black magic can apparently control the thoughts of others, as seen with Kaltain. 

Some of my favorite scenes were the tests.  Especially the test where they climb the wall. I loved seeing Celaena save Nox. This was the first scene where we see the true talent and strength Celaena has.  

I loved the bond of Celaena and Nehemia. Celaena was able to have a gal-pal, who turns out to be a bad-ass magician that saves her life multiple times. I can't wait to see their relationship grow as the story continues. 

I also can't wait to see Queen Elena. I want more explanations of all her actions in this book, and I think we will get them in the next books. (I also think Elena and Celaena are related. Yay!) 

I have undying love with this book and can't wait to continue it. I suggest it to everyone. 

Until next time, Keep Reading! 

Fangirl

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Release Date: September 10, 2013
My Rating: 4.8/5

Hello there,
Today I have Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, and may I say, wow. This book almost didn't feel like a book. It felt more real than that. The entire time I was reading it, I didn't really feel like I was reading. Rowell created such a realistic world and even more relatable characters, I felt like I knew each and every one of them.

Cath, our protagonist, reminded me so much of myself. Rowell creates the most relatable characters in all of her books. Cath is an avid reader and loves to write fanfiction. She spends her time in her dorm room, writing and reading. She is socially awkward and has anxiety, which I see in myself. Her reactions to other characters are almost exactly what I would do in the same situation.

This book is hilarious and dramatic and tear jerking. The only reason I give this book only a 4.8 is because I wish it was longer. It ends and I don't feel like I know enough of what is going to happen. I recommend it to everyone, especially introverted people like myself.

For those of you who haven't read it, this is the end of the line. See you next time!

(spoilers below the picture) 

**SPOILERS**

Here we go. 

First, I want to mention the Simon Snow aspect of this book. It sounded so much like Harry Potter, I was almost shocked when Levi mentions Harry Potter in the book. Throughout the entire book, it kind of bothered me how alike the two story lines were, but then when I found out they both exist in Caths' world, it almost made me mad. I didn't think they should be so alike. However, I loved the idea of having another hit series and having the fanfic portion of the book. It might have been my favorite aspect (other than the reality). The scene towards the end, when they are waiting for the release, just brought me back to 2007, waiting in line for the final Harry Potter book. The emotions I had experienced were the same as Cath and Wren's in this book. 

I also loved reading the Simon Snow  and Carry On chapters. I loved how Cath took the main character, kept them basically the same, but twisted their actions to how she would write it. Before this book I was never really aware of the fanfic universe, but now I'm a little bit interested. 

I love Cath. Now, normally I love the bad-ass leads that can kick and punch their way through everything, but this book was refreshing. I saw a character that reminded me so much of myself, I almost couldn't differentiate the two worlds. Cath is real, and awkward, and funny, and caring, and sarcastic. The best part of all that, however, is how she reacts. She doesn't say anything I wouldn't be able to think of myself and I love that. 

Another one of my favorite aspects, cheesy as it may seem, was the romance. It was so awkward and silly, but again, real (I keep using that word, but only because it's true). Levi is such a sweet guy, I only wish I could meet someone like him. One scene I didn't think was very realistic was the kitchen scene. I don't really know why Levi was kissing someone else because Rowell made it seem like he wasn't that kind of guy. I agree that something had to happen to make Cath not trust him, but I wish it would have been something else. 

When I first met Levi and Reagan, I thought they were siblings or something. I never really believed they were together, like Cath did. Also, I love Reagan. I wish I had a friend like her. She was so hilarious and drama-free.  

When I first met Levi and Nick, I thought Cath would be going between them. I was pleasantly surprised when she doesn't actually like Nick. However, I loved the writing scenes with Nick, and then how Levi came and walked Cath home every night. That's when I knew that Levi would be the one Cath chose. When Nick showed up at Cath's door at the end was when I actually didn't like Nick. The whole novel, I didn't mind him that much until this scene. I was so happy when Cath didn't take credit for the paper. I totally saw where she was coming from because it wasn't actually her story and she finally put her foot down. 

I wish I knew a teacher like Professor Piper. She was actually involved with her students and cared about all of them. She paid attention to their writing, and I loved how she could differentiate between Nick and Cath on paper. 

Thinking of the mother aspect, I loved how Cath and Wren had different views and were each strong enough to follow their own paths. I could also see the situation from both sides; Wren wanting to know their mother and Cath wanting nothing to do with her. Laura herself however, I was not a fan of. This was particularly in the hospital scene. It didn't make sense to me how Laura could wait all that time with Cath to see Wren, and then when it was finally time she bailed. I was a little confused, but it really showed Laura's true colors and made me sympathize with both of the twins more; Wren losing her mother again, and Cath realizing what Wren had been going through. 

I feel like there were too many medical emergencies, with Wren and alcohol, and Art with going crazy. It almost felt like too much, but when I think about it, I could not get rid of either. They do tie in to each other and make sense on both ends. 

By the way, I also love Art. He's pretty great. 

Anyways, I'm reaching the end of my review, and the last point I can think of is the end. I wanted more. I felt like the book just cut off. I didn't know it was going to end there and kept reading into the Snow portion in the back before I realized the actual novel had ended. I wish there were two to three more chapters to show what happened with the fanfiction, Simon Snow, Levi, Nick, and Reagan. 

Overall, this book was a happy read. It just made me feel good. I would recommend it to everyone on the face of the planet (well okay, maybe not everyone but most people). 

Until next time, Keep Reading! 

Delirium

Title: Delirium (Delirium #1)
Author: Lauren Oliver
Release Date: February 7th, 2012
My Rating: 3.5/5

Hey all,
Today, I have for you, a review of Delirium by Lauren Oliver. This is a dystopian novel, where love is considered a disease and must be wiped out. The government created a procedure that "cures" people of any feeling of love at all, weather it be romantic, familiar, or just enjoying something. Everyone gets matched to be married and assigned a college and major. This means that they have to control over their lives, but they don't care because they can't be passionate about anything without love. This carries over to their family lives as well. There is no true love in the family unit and because of this, if mothers get too annoyed with their children they will abandon them or worse, kill them. This book reminded me of a few books; Matched by Ally Condie, 1984 by George Orwell, and Divergent by Veronica Roth.

I absolutely loved Oliver's writing style. It was artistic, but not confusing, and delightfully descriptive. I have found that I can't stand it when books are over descriptive. This book was a happy medium, enticing me in the details of the world Oliver created, yet not boring me with nonsensical jabber. This book had many creative aspects that really made me think about issues in the world we have today, which was previously done by George Orwell in his book, 1984.

The characters in this book were not my favorite. Lena did not always think in a sensible way and often react in a non-realistic way. I did like seeing her point of view from wanting the procedure and believing in it, to not wanting it. Which brings me to Alex. I feel like I never really got to know this character. He always seemed secondary and I feel like Alex and Lena just fell in love because of one incident. They didn't actually fall. I did however, love the contrast between the cured people and the uncured. Oliver does a beautiful job making the cured seem like they have some emotion, like it's hidden.

Overall, I am glad that I read this book, however it was not my favorite. It seemed rather anti-climatic. It just kind of went on and finally got interesting the last 70 pages. I would recommend reading this book to anyone who asks, but I wouldn't say it is a "Oh-my-God-you-need-to-read-this-book!" book.

For those of you who have not read this book, this is the end of the line for you. There are spoilers below the picture!

**SPOILERS**

Alright, there isn't really much to say in this spoiler section that I haven't already said up above. There are only a few points I would like to hit on here. The first is the crypts. I thought that was a very interesting twist when we found out that Lena's mom had been there the whole time. However, I did not find it very believable that she could dig a tunnel through a concrete wall, and nobody noticed. I am glad that she is alive and escaped, I just found it unrealistic. I also thought the punishment for Thomas was too severe, even taking in the nature of this book. He had reported the hole in the wall, after all. I feel like the rest of the guards should have caught on to Thomas and Alex. That would have made it more interesting, at least. 

The second thing I would like to bring up is more of a question. Is Alex alive? It never specifically explained if he was actually killed. I mean, I can expect that the guards would have killed him, but these books are a trilogy, what can Lena really do after this? Half of me wants to keep reading the series to find out, and the other half of me doesn't feel like it is worth it. 

Please, please share your opinions on this one, since I'm on the edge. 

Until next time, Keep Reading! 

Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1)
Author: Laini Taylor
Release Date: June 5th, 2012
My Rating: 5/5

Holy Crow.
If you have not picked up this book yet, you need to. I was introduced to it through the "booktube" community and am totally glad I fell on it. It is full of mystery, romance, adventure, and fantasy that interplay with each other into a beautiful concoction that is this book.

Laini Taylor has created a world I had never heard of before, which is hard to do considering the amount of books I have read. It is new and exciting and I can't wait to read more about it. However, this book is a little hard to get into. There are so many elements of this world that are not properly defined until about the last quarter of the book. But once you reach that half-way mark, this book blows the mind and you won't be able to put it down.

So, If you haven't read it, read it. Now. Then come back and see my spoiler filled review below the picture!

**SPOILERS**

Okay everyone, down to business. 

Oh man, this book. It had me laughing to angry and everything in-between. May I just say, this book may be on my favorites shelf. It was beautifully written, but not in a standard way. It made me think about how things from the past tie in to the present. I also liked the point of views. I'm normally a fan of single POV's, and generally hate having more than one, but in this book, they are split up in a way I like. Whenever it wasn't Karou's POV, it only lasted a couple pages, and I found it to be more interesting having another view of an event.

Karou is probably one of my favorite protagonists now. She is brave, smart, funny, and never weak. She does what she wants and is a total bad-ass. I loved seeing her discover who she is and what she can do. I also loved her relationship with Brimstone, who may also be one of my favorite characters.

Throughout most of the novel, I really didn't like Brimstone. He seemed brooding and scary and I actually thought he was a bad guy. Then, when we start seeing him through Madrigal, he totally changes. He becomes a hero of sorts, who I desperately hope we see again in the second novel.

Akiva. Ah, how I love thee. He's handsome, brave, and still has hope. I loved him and can't wait to see how his and Karou's relationship play out.

I was not a huge fan of how fast Karou and Akiva fall in love. It seemed too fast and cheesy for my taste. However, it makes perfect sense when we reach the last part of the novel. Now I actually understand that they fall in love so fast because they were already in love. Things like this make me love the novel that much more.

Another aspect I loved was when we got to see the story of Madrigal. She is now also one of my favorites, even though she and Karou could technically be compiled into the same character. I loved how Madrigal's events were placed out of order, but they made sense with what was going on in the present. It's hard to get into words, but the timing was simply beautiful.

Laini Taylor, hats off to you. She did a fantastic job with this book and I am now a fan. The plot and the characters were so intricate. She made a world with war in it, but we saw it from both sides. Even though there is a war going on, both sides may not be the bad guy, nor the soldiers fighting in it.

 This was a truly beautiful book, and I recommend it to everyone.

Until next time, Keep Reading!

Wait For You

Title: Wait For You (Wait For You #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout (writing as J. Lynn)
Release Date: February 26th, 2013
Rating: 4.3/5

Hey there,
As you all probably know, I am a huge fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout, so when I saw a SIGNED edition of one of her books at B&N I just had to pick it up. I had never heard of this book before and had no idea what it was about, that's how much I love her writing. This review is based off a re-read of Wait For You, so I did know what I was getting into for this review. I had fallen into a reading slump and felt like I needed a good contemporary to pull me out of it, and boy was I right in choosing this one.

I honestly have so much love for this book. It was very well written and hilariously funny. Like all of Armentrouts' characters, Cam and Avery are wittingly funny and always know the right (and realistic) things to say. This may be a love story, but unlike so many romance novels written today, it never reminded me of Twilight. It was very humorous but also had dark undertones that it touched in the plot. I really liked how it wasn't just a love story, we also dealt with issues Avery brought with her from the past.

On top of all that, this was also a very fast paced  book and a quick read. I'm serious. I picked it up yesterday and finished it this morning. I just could not put it down. It had me laughing and crying and wishing I could move to West Virginia.

This book is definitely one I would recommend to anyone, however, due to some graphic scenes, I suggest being over the age of 17. I only gave it a 4.3 because of the lack of adventure and the fact that nothing really happens unless Avery is with Cam (I like my strong female leads where I get to see their life without guys 24/7). It really is a fantastic book and worth the read.

Until next time, Keep Reading!

CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE!

Title: City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: May 27th, 2014
My Rating: 5/5


Hello all,
It is official. I have finished. It is done. And I can't believe it. I started reading this series in seventh grade, and now, as a new college student, I have finished. It took me around two weeks, but I could not imagine a better ending to this series. Cassandra Clare is the master of successfully closing one series while simultaneously opening another (In this case, The Dark Artifices). I'm sad to see these characters and this story go, but I can't wait to continue on in Clare's world in her upcoming books.

This entire book was filled with excitement, humor, and plot twists. However, I didn't actually get into it until page 500, which sucked because there are only 725 pages. I also really fell in love with the Blackthorn children and Emma. They were meant to be a smaller part of the book, but I loved reading from their point of view(s). I can't wait to continue their story in The Dark Artifices.

I've always loved Jace, Clary, and Simon, but surprisingly, I've never liked Alec very much. Until this book. Before this installment, he always seemed weak and whiny to me. In this book however, he becomes brave and loving and caring. He really redeemed himself in my eyes.

Alright everyone, I don't think I can go on any longer without spoilers, so if you haven't read the books, it's time for you to log off and get to the bookstore. These books are great and I insist you read them (even though I will admit books four and five are a little hard to get through).

Spoilers below Picture:

**Spoilers**

Thank goodness, I can speak freely now. Honestly, I'm having a hard time getting all my feelings to type out and kind of wish I could do a video, but I don't know how. So I'm going to try to get everything out, stick with me here: 

First of all, I was surprisingly upset by the whole attack on the werewolves. But I was more upset with Maia. She kept telling herself to tell Jordan she was breaking up with him, and she never did. To me, that made her seem weak. But she totally made up for it with the whole Bat/Leader of the pack thing. I can't say I was surprised or upset about Jordan, however. It is true, he had somewhat grown on me while he was protecting Simon and helping Jace, but I totally saw that coming. ALL THE WEREWOLVES AROUND YOU ARE DEAD. WHO DO YOU THINK IS NEXT? Jeesh. Common sense would have been nice. On a twisted note however, I am glad he died because it helped out the rest of the novel with Maia and Bat. 

Speaking of which, I loved seeing inside the pack. In this novel, the pack mentality is really shown with Luke as missing leader, and Bat stepping up as Beta, and then the fight scene with Rufus. I really loved watching Maia kick his ass. I was totally unsurprised when Bat and Maia kinda-sorta ended up together. 

Alec and Magnus. What can I say about them? All throughout the series, I was never a fan of Alec. He was always the annoying one that was sensible, when everyone else didn't want to be sensible. In this book, I did grow to like him. He was more brave and confident, especially when looking for Magnus. I finally saw passion in him, and it made him more relate-able. And I've always been a fan of Magnus. His sass is not missing at all from this installment. I loved the scene when we find out who his father is. I think that made Magnus more human and seem apart of the entire group. 

I still love Jace and Clary. Nothing in that relationship has changed except they seem more serious about each other and I love it. I also love how Clary is no longer the uneducated shadowhunter who screws everything up. She now saves the day without any faults of her own. She is stronger and better, and will continue to be so. 

Simon. Ah, Simon. When his memories were taken away, I actually wondered why Clare would do such a thing to a loyal reader, such as I. I really don't know why his memories had to be taken away if Magnus was just going to find a way to give them back. Maybe I'm just upset because I didn't like it, but I don't think that really needed to happen. It was just more heartbreak and confusion in a book that already had enough of both. However, I did like Simon becoming mortal again. I look forward to (crackpot theory) seeing him become a shadowhunter in the next series. I also love Isabelle much more in this book than in the others. (I didn't know where to put that, so I put it here.)

I loved the Blackthorn children (I include Emma as one of them, even though she's a Carstairs). I can't wait to read more about them in The Dark Artifices. I also love how we meed Emma as a bad-ass from the beginning. She was never a weak girl who had to learn everything. It's almost like she's the Jace or Will in upcoming stories. 

In the end of the book, I could not believe the deal the consul made with the fair folk. It was horrendous and demeaning. If I were in that room, I would hope I had the guts to stand up like Magnus and tell Jia she is making a mistake. I definitely think that element will come back into play in the next series. As soon as the fairies went against the shadowhunters, I wondered what would happen to Helen and Mark because of it. And I am so angry at that one guy that stood up and refused to let Helen stay with the shadowhunters. He's definitely going on my kill list even if I don't know his name. 

There isn't much to say about Luke and Jocelyn. I still love them and their wedding was beautiful. 

I really enjoyed seeing Tessa and James (or Brother Zachariah). I loved The Infernal Devices, and am really glad to see them reappear in the upcoming series. 

Last but not least, Sebastian. I hated him. Absolutely hated him throughout the entire series. And then, in the blink of an eye, I loved him. Well not him. I loved Jonathan. It ripped my heart apart, seeing him, how he would have been if it weren't for Valentine. I wish he could have lived as Jonathan and Clary could have had her dream come true. However, like in any great novel, that can't happen, and Cassandra Clare continued to rip my hopes out of my chest. But the book wouldn't have been the same without it. 

Overall, this book was amazing. I give it 5/5. It was the perfect ending to a legendary series. I don't think I could be happier. 

Well, I think that's all I have to say for today. My brain is fried and I'm all typed out. I'll probably reread this and remember something important I forgot to discuss, but for now, thanks for sticking with me through that. I know it was messy, but that's how my brain is right now. 

Until next time, Keep Reading!

Fighting Destiny

Title: Fighting Destiny (The Fae Chronicles, #1)
Author: Amelia Hutchins
Release Date: June 4th, 2013
Rating: 3.5-4/5

Hey there!
As of one minute and 37 seconds ago, I finished reading Fighting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins. And holy-hot dang. A few weeks ago I was looking at the championship round to Mel, Erin & Regina's Book Boyfriend Battle Royale, and found that Ryder was one of the contestants. I dug a little deeper and found his novel and I was hooked. I ordered on amazon ASAP, and when it got here, I couldn't put it down. Now, with my emotions still boiling, I must share them through a review:

First there must be this warning: do not pick up this book unless you are . . . exposed . . . to more . . . sensual books. Seriously, in the first ten pages there were three very explicit . . . ahem experiences. At first it seems like that is all the book focuses around, (and in a way I guess it does, but not in the way you're probably thinking. You dirty reader you). You see, the mystical creatures in this novel are Fae, which feed off of emotion. And these Fae found the best way to get emotions out of people was from bringing out their more emotional side (if you know what I mean). This was not necessarily my favorite part of the book.

Another part of the overall writing of this book that bugged me was the way the author never explained anything. She would just state what was happening and expect the reader to know what it meant. This was difficult for me as I am not very attuned in the Fairy world, especially the one she came up with.

The characters. Ah how I love them. Syn, our main, is such a bad ass and I love it. She bottles her emotions up, which I relate to, but then when she lets them out, she explodes and I love it. Larissa is the sweetie that everyone can't help but love. And Adam. The other half to our Synthia. My thoughts are that Adam and Larissa are perfect for each other. Now, to the most important (in my perspective) character; Ryder. Honestly, Ryder is probably the only reason I was so enthralled by this book. I couldn't wait to see what happened next between Ryder and Syn, whether it be hate, love, violence, deception, or acceptance. He is what made this book complete and I can see how he finished second in the Battle Royale.

The plot, sadly, was not laid out very well. Don't get me wrong, dear reader, I loved the twists and turns. But I did notice that some of the details in the beginning were dropped, as if the author decided to go another path with the story and didn't edit out the mistakes in the beginning. This thoroughly bugged me. It probably didn't help that the company I ordered from delivered a book with a blurry cover, as if it was photocopied onto it. It just looks horrible, and was a turn off for me. Overall, this felt like it was the authors first novel, which it is. I just hope this means there is room for improvement.

Don't get me wrong! I am definitely entrapped in this story Ms. Hutchins has created and will definitely continue to read the series, I just hope to see the improvements to the books overall. I give this book a 3.5 out of 5, simply because of the few plot/clerical errors. This is definitely an enjoyable and fast paced read.

Until next time, Keep Reading!

Amber Earns Her Ears

Title: Amber Earns Her Ears
Author: Amber Michelle Sewell
Release Date: July 12, 2013
Rating: 5/5 (for Disney lovers!)

Hello, hello, hello!
For everyone who doesn't know, I am a very avid Disney fanatic, so I am very excited to share my thoughts on Amber Earns Her Ears by Amber Michelle Sewell. As a Disney fan, I plan on taking part in the Disney College Program (DCP) and this book is actually a secret journal Amber kept while she was a part of the DCP. It was witty, funny, and brutally honest. Amber was not afraid to spill the "dark side of Disney". However, this did not deplete my love for the Magical World of Disney in any way, shape, or form. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and cannot wait to spend my time in the most magical place on Earth. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the DCP.

Until next time, Keep Reading!

Unravel Me

Title: Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: February 5th, 2013
Rating: 5/5

Alright Everyone.
Let me start out by saying before I start going crazy, the first part of this review will be non-spoiler. The half with spoilers will be below the picture. Thank you.
Holy Crow. If you have never heard of the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi, then you have been camping out under a rock in the deepest part of the major ocean trenches. These books are loved by many and it is obvious why that is. About two minutes and 36 seconds ago, I closed the last page in Unravel Me, the second installment of this beautiful trilogy. You need to pick these books up now. Seriously. A few years ago I fell in love with Shatter Me, and I am ashamed to admit that it has taken me this long to get my hands on the second book. They are both absolutely amazing and beautiful, and eye-opening, and wonderful, and crazy, and adventurous, and lovable. I will admit, the romance between Juliette and Adam may be a little cheesy at times, but I am totally willing to look over that detail considering what happens during this book. Let's just say, there is trouble in paradise.
There is only one negative thing I have to say about this book. Okay, maybe two. But the second is so small it doesn't really count. First, I just was not sucked into this book until around 150 pages. I couldn't tell you why that is but I just could not get into it. It was probably because nothing really happened, but after that, I flew through the pages. It got so good incredibly fast. Ugh fell in love. The second minor problem I have is that it seems these books end and begin at really random pages. Like in this book, Unravel Me ended but it didn't feel like the end. So I continued reading the excerpt to the third book, Ignite Me, and that is where I feel the book should have really ended. I could not have gone a few more weeks without reading that excerpt. I felt abandoned and like I wasn't finished with the book yet. However, after reading the three chapters from Ignite Me, the feels are real, and they are potent.
Now I will continue on to the spoilers. If this is where you click off, then I severely recommend you get your hands on a copy of this book, preferably your own so you are free to carry it around with you wherever you go for the rest of your life.

*SPOILERS*

Now the real fun begins. 

OH MY GOD THE FEELS. They are real. Holy crap. Honestly. I really hope you guys have read this book so you can relate. The romance, the action, and emotions, the adventure, the danger. Holy cow. First there's Juliette and Adam. Then things go south when we discover that Juliette is actually hurting him. Obviously they can't be together. But then Juliette and Kenji start kind of having a flirtationship, but don't worry, that goes nowhere. They it's back to Adam, and then there might be something with Winston, but I really think that was part of my imagination. Then we meet Anderson and the whole scene with Adam and Anderson goes down where I was like "What?" But that doesn't really end up coming up again until almost the end of the book. And then, quite possibly one of my favorite things in the entire book but something that I didn't think I would enjoy. WARNER IS BACK.  I know, I know. When that first happened and we started hearing Juliette's steaming thoughts about him I was like Huh? But now I am totally in love. Throughout the entire novel, Juliette's feeling just took me on one huge emotional roller coaster ride, especially the end (am I right?). Sorry, I don't want to give too many spoilers away for anyone who just had to take a peek at this review. But I  was totally devastated to learn what happened while Juliette was ahem knocked out. I felt the need for revenge like she did, and now I crave, desire, and need the third book to find out what happens. 

At this point, there is only one question left to ask. 

Team Adam? or

Team Warren? 

(I'm 100% Team Warren). 

Tell me your feels in the comments. 

Sorry for sporadic nature of this review, but I'm still going off that reading high you get after a fantastic book. Anyways, 

Until next time, Keep Reading!

Die For Me

Title: Die For Me
Author: Amy Plum
Release Date: May 10th, 2011
Rating: 1/5

Hello everyone!
Up next is Die For Me by Amy Plum. For the first time ever, I will shamefully admit that I did not finish this book. I know, I know. How can I truly be a book lover if I ever put a book down before the last page? Well, I'll tell you.

Let me start out by saying that for the longest time I was genuinely intrigued by this book, I just never had the time to pick it up. I am always intrigued by books that take place in far away places like Italy, Spain, Rome, and in this case, Paris, France. The cover also helped (I think it's gorgeous.) However, once I started reading it I realized how incredibly cheesy it was. My first clue was that the two characters instantly fall in love. Second, every other event is skipped except those that have to do with our hero of the story. By the time I was on page 100, it felt like I was reading a Twilight spin off written by a 12 year old. I know that sounds incredibly harsh, but if you've ever tried to crack this book open, you know why. The plot is poorly thought out, the dialogue is extremely cheesy and hard to follow, the actions are those of a pre-teen in love. The only aspect I enjoyed was the Sci-fi zombie-angels.

This is one book I would not recommend to anyone over the age of 13.

Sorry for the rude and spiteful feeling of this review, I was just very disappointed. If you have read and enjoyed this book, just remember that we may just have different tastes!

Until next time, Keep Reading!

The Darkest Minds

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Release Date: December 18th, 2012
Rating: 3/5

Alright everybody,
Time to get down to business. There is now a massive pile of reviews I must plow through. The next one I have for you is The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. I'll start off by saying this: I have no idea. Honestly, this book took me a couple of weeks to get through. And considering my track record of reading books, that's a lifetime. I just could not get sucked into this book. All around the internet all I've heard are great things about it, but I just didn't see them.

Warning: There are spoilers down below. Scroll to the last paragraph to hear my final (non-spoiler) thoughts.

First of all, we start out with quite an interesting back story. The protagonist, Ruby, lives in a society where all the children around her age develop powers that the older generation think are too dangerous. They get locked up in these camps to either live out the rest of their days or die depending on what level of power they have. Ruby is one of the highest levels but tricks the employees of the camp into thinking she isn't so that she can live. That's the interesting part of the story.

Next, Ruby gets chosen by a group called the Children's League and is shimmied out of the camp to join their forces. Only Ruby decides to spit in the faces of the League and runs away and finds a group of kids in a minivan. Zu, Chubs, and Liam. They have all been in camps similar, but not as severe as the one Ruby was in, but they organized a breakout led by the fearless and brave Liam. You can guess which one Ruby falls for.

Eventually they make it to a society of teens just like them. Escaped the system, strengthening powers, hidden away, desire to survive. They call it East River. Which turns out to be led by none other than the renowned and "cured" son of the president, Clancy, who also has powers. Of course a little romance appears between Ruby and Clancy. That is, until Clancy betrays Ruby and all of the other teenagers.

On the run once again, an injury occurs and in a moment of complete stupidity, Ruby calls the League to come pick them up. They give her an ultimatum; Work for us, or the boyfriend dies. Which do you think she chooses? However, the only way for Liam to truly be free is if she erases herself from his memory. And that, my children, is how this story ends.

Overall, this book honestly wasn't that bad. The back story was very well-planned and I did enjoy the powers and problems Ruby faced over the course of the novel. I guess I was just a little disappointed. I was expecting a great book because of all the fantastic reviews I found, only to find and eh that was alright kind of book. I guess my expectations were just too high. However, if you like books like Flecks of Gold by Alicia Buck, but not quite as exciting, then this book is for you. I would recommend giving it a try. Your opinion on it might be totally different from mine. I do not regret reading this book at all, I regret looking at the reviews on it first. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Until next time, Keep Reading!

Just One Day

Title: Just One Day
Author: Gayle Forman
Release Date: August 20th, 2014
Rating: 4.5/5

Hello!
Today, I have for you, a review of Gayle Forman's novel Just One Day. At the almighty Barnes & Noble, this book immediately caught my attention. Maybe it's the adventure lover in me that wishes I could visit Europe, or it was the adorably romantic cover, but as soon an I picked up this book I knew I was walking out with it. And boy am I glad I did. This book was absolutely lovely. It was adorable and hilarious and heart breaking, and realistic . . . .  well mostly, how many of us really skip out on a school trip to spend the day in Paris with a dreamy European actor? (Don't get me wrong, I wish I could). Anyways, safe to say I loved it.

Usually I'm an action-packed, always-on-the-go type of reader, but when this book slowed down (sorry, but it does) I still found myself intrigued with what Allyson was doing at college. It made me look forward to my freshman year (next year, kind of scared. . . . ). It starts to speed up again right before the climax. . . . and then drops off. Literally. As soon as the climax hits, the book ends. I know, really disappointing. Long story short (not really a spoiler but kind of), Allyson meets Willem, runs away with him, they get separated, she goes to college, then looks for him, eventually finds him, and it ends. That's it. It left me infuriatingly wanting more. So I guess this means I have to go find the other novel, which is from Willem's POV. Anyways, I definitely suggest you pick this one up!

Until next time, Keep Reading!

Hopeless

Title: Hopeless
Author: Colleen Hoover
Release Date: December 9th, 2012
Rating: 4/5

Hey Guys!
I know it's been a few months (I'm slacking from my computer duties, I know, how horrible) and I have a HUGE pile of reviews to get through. Just because my computer time lacks, doesn't mean my bookie time takes a punch ;). Anyways, the first review I have for you is Hopeless by Colleen Hoover.

Let me start out by saying this book confused me. Not in the events that were happening, I followed those just fine, but in the way I was left at the end. I felt it almost left me hanging even though I knew there was nowhere else Hoover could have gone with the story. When I was almost finished there were parts where I was like "This book should have ended here." Only to find there were fifty more pages left. I felt like I was slugging my way through the end of the book just so I could put it down and move on. However, I did absolutely love the beginning and middle part of the book. I even like the ending, just not after the ending. If that makes any sense at all.

I loved the way the protagonist, Sky, was written. I loved her character and her personality. She was very relatable. Now Holder was a different story. His emotions and actions were so spread out everywhere I couldn't figure him out. One minute he was flirty, then mad, then sweet, then angry, then yippy, then brooding, then . . . . you see my point. I just could not keep up with this guy and it quite honestly pissed me off.

To top it off, Hoover throws in twists that I never saw coming and were completely unrealistic. Don't get me wrong, I think the idea and main plot behind the book could have been great, but there were so many details that just didn't add up. Like parts with the mother/aunt, how the father ended up,the fact that Sky's friends really had nothing to do with the outcome, and so many other little details that just did not make sense to me.

Overall, this is a very good book. Though it may not seem like it from that review (I must be in a mood or something). I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Gayle Forman, Julia Hoban, and Justina Chen Headley. I would give it three out of five stars.

Until next time, Keep Reading!

The Splendor Falls

Title: The Splendor Falls

Author: Rosemary Clement-Moore

Release Date: September 8th, 2009

Rating: 2.5-3/5

Hey there
I recently finished reading The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore. She is known for her horror novels including Prom Dates from Hell, which I have also read. Rosemary has never been a stand-out author to me. I think she does better with short stories than with this 513 page novel. To be honest, this book just didn't do it for me. It was funny and scary at points, but when I finished it, I felt like I was just beginning the book. When I say that, I mean the ending of this book felt like the beginning of a different book. All the excitement is packed into the last three chapters. Sure, the rest of it had some funny tid-bits, and some interesting parts, but the build up to the climax was extremely fast. It all happens in an instant and I was left thinking, "That was it?" However, I did love the main character. She was relatable and witty, which I always love. Plus she's a damaged damsel. I don't know about you, but I kind of love it when the protagonist isn't perfect in a book.
Overall, I gave the book 3 out of 5 stars based solely on the humor. This just wasn't a book that stuck out in my head, and I probably won't ever remember that I read it. However, the horror factor in it definitely entertained me and kept me enthralled. I would recommend it for an easy-horror read.

Until next time, Keep Reading!