Review: Obsidian

Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Format: Paperback
Source: Book Expo America 2012
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

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.

My first mistake going into Obsidian was expecting it to be the best book I've read! For this reason, it turned out to be a book that just didn't live up to the hype for me. Was it a fun, entertaining, and enjoyable read? Yes, most definitely. Was it OMG THE BEST BOOK EVER!? No, definitely not. While I really liked Obsidian, it did have its share of flaws.

I found that I didn't care for Daemon as much as I thought I would. Yes, he was hot, but he also had a severe case of the all too familiar male-jerk-syndrome. Sorry, but I just didn't fall for it this time. Why, oh why, would Katy be attracted to that? On a more positive note, him being such a jerk did lead to some fantastic interactions between the two! If there was one thing the author did especially right, it was the romance. Despite my dislike for both Katy and Daemon, I couldn't help but get sucked into their romance, snarky comments and all.

While I had multiple issues with the characters in Obsidian, it did feature a well-written, action-driven plot and an original premise. For this reason, I will definitely be checking out the next book, Onyx. Hopefully Daemon's attitude will level out enough for me to fully enjoy it!

Review: Remembrance

Remembrance (Transcend Time, #1) by Michelle Madow
Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased at Author Signing 
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's high school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, fighting fate isn't going to be easy

Remembrance is a beautiful tale of a love that transcends time. Not only is this story addicting, but it features an extremely relatable main character: Lizzie.

We’ve all been there: Caught between our own happiness and that of another. How do you choose? Lizzie has to face this dilemma several times in Remembrance. Does she hurt her best and most loyal friend? Does she break her boyfriends heart? This dilemma made Lizzie one of the most relatable characters I’ve encountered in awhile. Even though Lizzie was an extremely well-written and well developed character, I found other characters to be flat and one dimensional: Jeremy, for example.

What frustrated me about Jeremy is that we only saw one side of him: the jerk side. It would have been much easier to understand why everyone loved him had we seen a glimpse of his old self. I just couldn’t understand why everyone defended his actions when he was clearly no good for Lizzie! Seriously guys, he treated her like crap! I like my antagonists to have more than one facet to their personalities, so I found Jeremy lacking.

On a more positive note, there is one thing that could easily have gone wrong, but didn’t: The flashbacks. Too often I read books featuring flashbacks that are confusing, misplaced, and serve little to no purpose to the plot. Michelle did a fantastic job inserting a few well placed flashbacks that were actually functional. 

Remembrance was a quick, satisfying read that left me wanting to know more about Drew and Lizzie’s history together. Luckily, there is a short story, Vengeance, to hold me over until I can get my hands on Timeless. Don’t miss out on this romantic, feel-good, story!

Review & Tour: Of Blood and Bone

Of Blood and Bone (The Minaldi Legacy, #1) by Courtney Cole
Publisher: Lakehouse Press
Format: eGalley
Source: Kismet Book Tours
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

Luca Minaldi is powerful, rich and mesmerizing. But he is also a reclusive enigma. He lives in Malta, a fairytale-like place filled with sunshine and sea, beauty and secrets. And Luca’s darkest of secrets is the best kept of them all.

Eva Talbot is spending the summer in Malta to finish up her doctoral dissertation. When she meets Luca, a mysterious and handsome shipping magnate, there is an instant attraction. He has a disturbing and beautiful energy that she has never felt before. But she senses the darkness that lives within him.

Eva is hired to care for his mother, a woman who suffers from dementia, but it is Luca who Eva will eventually risk everything to save. She desperately wants to reach inside of him and fix what is broken, while at the same time, she knows that she is falling for him. Her life becomes a swirling chaos of darkness and romance, of secrets and mystery. And the question that emerges will become the most important answer of all.

Can she save Luca from the darkness that plagues him without losing herself?

The answer is a matter of life or death.

Oozing mystery, suspense, and intrigue, Of Blood and Bone by Courtney Cole makes for a perfect Fall read! While this is certainly not for young adults, it is definitely worthy of being reviewed here at Inklings Read!

Courtney does a fantastic job of teasing the readers in this book with the fantastic plot and steamy romance! She slowly reveals bits and pieces of information, but only enough to keep you guessing. I loved that she chose to write this story using multiple POVs! That extra peek into the mind of the characters really enhanced the story. Not to mention that layout was great for a dark, suspenseful book like this.

I could not help but fall under Luca's spell right along with Eva. Not only was he a perfect gentleman, but he was also well off, sophisticated, and protective. All great traits in my book! The erotic (yes, erotic!) and romantic scenes between the two of them were perfect! I would never have guessed that this was Courtney's first adult book!

Of Blood and Bone was a surprisingly quick read for me. I was finished in a day! Just one freaking day! When I say this book was addicting that is a slight understatement. I devoured this book! I highly, highly, highly, recommend it to my adult followers. I cannot wait to see what comes next in the second installment of The Minaldi Legacy!

*Special thanks to Kismet Book Tours and Courtney Cole for allowing me to be part of this tour!*

Audiobook Review: The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, #1) by Rick Riordan 
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Narrators: Kevin R. Free and Katherine Kellgren
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

The Red Pyramid is a fantastic story on its own, but the narration pushes it over the top! The story was easy to follow and the characters were easy to identify thanks to the extremely talented narrators. I was particularly impressed with Katherine Kellgren's take on Sadie's character! She reflected Sadie's spunk and sarcasm perfectly. It was so perfect that it actually had me laughing driving down the highway. I'm pretty sure people thought I was nuts, but oh well!

My only issue with this book would be that the children acted much older than they actually were. Their intelligence kept me interested, but did seem a bit unrealistic. The story itself was quite serious, but the humor and the characters kept it lighthearted and humorous! For these reasons,  The Red Pyramid, will most certainly thrill fans of The Mummy film.

I highly recommend listening to this one. You won't regret it. The top of the line narration and action-packed story will have you hooked for hours at a time. Don't miss out on The Red Pyramid!

Review: Wake (Watersong, #1)

Wake (Watersong, #1) by Amanda Hocking
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher/BEA
Release Date: August 7th, 2012
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs.  She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door.  He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back.  Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever.  She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove.  They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price.  And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

Not having read any of Amanda Hocking's books, I was hesitant to pick up Wake. Luckily, I was not disappointed. Wake proved itself to be a fast, engaging read! While I didn't find myself particularly impressed with the characters, I fell in love with the story. Hocking's true skill for storytelling will make Wake hard to put down this summer!

I was surprised to find that Wake has a darker side. I was expecting the usual fluffy summer romance. Not that there's anything particularly wrong with that, but it can get predictable. Wake was something completely different: an intelligent mix of mythology, horror, and a pinch of romance. After moving a bit slow in the beginning, Wake quickly picked up after Gemma's encounter with Penn, Lexi, and Thea on the cove.
 
The three antagonists, specifically Penn, made wicked awesome villains: beautiful yet deadly and easy to hate. Gemma was the perfect counter to the threesome mentioned above! She was passionate, likable, and relatively easy to relate to. Gemma was great, but the character that really stole my heart was Daniel! Daniel was a bit of a bum, living on a boat and all, but he had a fantastic personality. He was such an interesting character that he quickly became my favorite! Honestly, I wish he would have been Gemma's love interest instead of Alex!

While I do wish that the characters were a bit more developed, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment of the Watersong series. Definitely throw this one in your beach bag this August when it releases!

Review: Vanish (Firelight, #2)

Vanish (Firelight, #2) by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

An impossible romance.
Bitter rivalries.
Deadly choices.

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

The Firelight series continues to be refreshing and original with it’s second installment, Vanish. In Vanish, I became much more familiar with Tamra’s character! I liked the change of pace and focus from Firelight. While there seems to be less action in this book, there is much progress in character development!

I’ll be honest and admit that tables have turned in this book! I found myself liking Cassian and Tamra’s characters much more than I did originally! That is a feat in itself as I had developed a deep hatred for them both in the first book. I suppose this change can be attributed to seeing the other dimensions of their personalities. I came to realize that they really aren’t all that bad. On top of that, I actually developed some dislike for Will. I know, crazy right!? I thought so too, but he appeared snobby, possessive, and controlling, even more so than Cassian, in this book! As for the other characters in the novel, I only have one thing to say: F*#% Miram. When you read Vanish you will understand.

While I enjoyed Vanish, I do feel that there was a lot of filler in the story. There were times where I felt things could have progressed a bit faster or been more involved and action-packed. That being said, the conclusion left me craving for more of Jacinda’s story. I have a feeling that the third book, Hidden, will provide the action and epic-ness that I found lacking in Vanish. I’m definitely looking forward to it! I can’t wait to see what lurks behind enemy lines!

Review & Tour: The Age of Miracles

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
Publisher: Random House
Format: ARC
Source: TLC Book Tours
Release Date: June 26th 2012
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

“It still amazes me how little we really knew. . . . Maybe everything that happened to me and my family had nothing at all to do with the slowing. It’s possible, I guess. But I doubt it. I doubt it very much.”

Luminous, haunting, unforgettable, The Age of Miracles is a stunning fiction debut by a superb new writer, a story about coming of age during extraordinary times, about people going on with their lives in an era of profound uncertainty.

On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life—the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues.

The Age of Miracles is a somber and insightful look into the end of it all. I began reading filled with hope. That hope was slowly drained. I wanted to see Julia beat the odds and persevere! Instead I got a nostalgic look back on things that we take for granted every single day: a bird, sunlight, grass, etc. It was through Julia’s eyes that I could see just how delicate the balance of our planet is… and just how easily it can all come apart. The greatest thing about this book is the realism! The worst and most chilling part is that we’ve already experienced some of it.

"Haunting." In one word that's how I would describe The Age of Miracles. There were several scenes that left me hopeless for Julia’s world. I compare the feeling, not plot, of this book to the movie The Butterfly Effect, if you've ever seen it. Despite the slowness of the novel, I found it hard to stop reading. The Age of Miracles was not difficult to push through, not uninteresting, just slow at times. I guess that goes with the whole “slowing” of the world thing.

I was going to give The Age of Miracles 3 stars due to the open ending and lack of conclusion, until I realized that’s the whole point! This book is supposed to make you think. It’s supposed to evoke feeling. For that, I give The Age of Miracles 4 stars. Read this if you are looking for an eco-apocalyptic read that is thoughtful and emotional.

*Special thanks to Random House and TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book!*

Click the banner above to see a full list of tour stops!

Review: Touch of Frost

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy, #1) by Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp
Format: E-Galley
Source: Author
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died…

Touch of Frost is an excellent start to the Mythos Academy series! Estep uses elements of suspense, mythology, and romance to enhance an enjoyable, yet somewhat predictable plot. Though the book had a slow start, it quickly picked up halfway through. This book may have been used to set the stage for the rest of the series but I certainly didn't mind thanks to Estep's fantastic world building.

Estep does an amazing job creating a grand image of Mythos Academy. Her writing had me rereading paragraphs so I could imagine the intricacies of the academy over and over. We've all read books where the descriptions are beautiful, but too wordy or too simple or too boring. Estep does it right by providing readers with all the necessary information, in a pretty little word package.

While we are on the topic of beautiful things, lets talk about.... Spartans. Namely Logan. While he doesn't play a huge part in Touch of Frost, he's definitely memorable. Described as the "man-whore" of Mythos Academy, I couldn't help but feel that that there was more to him than that label and that he may know more than he lets on. I'm hoping he will be a mystery that gets unraveled (...or undressed *wink wink*) in Kiss of Frost!
 
If you are looking for a quick, fun, and entertaining read with mythological influences then Touch of Frost is for you! It shows some great potential for this series and I can't wait to read the next one. I'm thinking a Mythos Academy marathon might be in order!

l{B}ook-A-Likes

You'll definitely like Touch of Frost, if you've enjoyed the following in the past:

 

Review: Bitterblue

Bitterblue (Graceling Realm, #3) by Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Dial Books 
Format: ARC
Source: Won in contest 
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

I was a bit hesitant to pick up Bitterblue, knowing that the protagonist was one of my least favorite characters from Graceling. To my surprise, I found that I really liked Bitterblue. She had more depth as a character than I thought possible after reading Graceling! If you, like me, were put off by  Bitterblue in the first book, don't let that sway you from reading this YA high-fantasy must-read!

Let's face it: Bitterblue is no short read at 545 pages. At times it progressed a bit slowly for my tastes due to the lack of action. Despite that fact, the fantastic character development kept me hooked. I really respected Bitterblue in this book. She was a strong, fair, and independent queen, even if she didn't see herself as such. Her character grew on me more and more throughout the story. Despite the length and pace of Bitterblue, I was blown away by the depth and feeling of the characters within.

There is a lot of talk of truths and lies in Bitterblue. Like watching a terrible car crash, I couldn't help but be fascinated by the horrible reach of King Leck's grasp. What a psycho!? It amazed me how much of a hold he still had on people, even after his death. Much history is unraveled in Bitterblue, and it is not of a pleasant nature. Bitterblue has to decide whether revealing or covering up that history will be best for her kingdom.

Bitterblue will be a hard book to forget. With an endearing and strong protagonist, this book is a must-read for all high-fantasy lovers!

l{B}ook-A-Likes

You'll like Bitterblue, if you've liked these in the past:

Book Trailer

Review: The Immortal Rules

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1) by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen 
Format: eGalley
Source: Provided by Publisher For Review 
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

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

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

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

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

In market flooded with vampire books, The Immortal Rules stands out as a refreshingly original and brutal dystopian tale.

Allison was given a choice: die or become the very thing she despises. She chooses life… well kind of. Allison chooses to become a vampire. Throughout the book she struggles with this fact. There is a never-ending battle waged between her heart and her body. Her hunger doesn't discriminate: She fights it around everyone, even those she cares about. Despite her new vampire nature, she sacrifices herself many times for those she loves. I found her to be an extremely honorable and strong main character.

Not only did Allison struggle with her new vampire state, but as the story progressed she began to unravel a much larger mystery. Julie created the perfect balance between personal and large scale issues: neither overshadowed the other. I really felt for Allison’s situation. Being a vampire, people looked at her different, as if she was a monster. Even she, herself,  pondered that thought at times. Did she have a soul? When Zeke and his group came into the picture she was given some purpose and direction in her new life. She grew to love, appreciate, and trust them, Zeke in particular.

The tension and love between Zeke and Allison grew to impressive levels, but in the end left me a bit disappointed. I was looking for something more from them... But maybe that's the beauty in it: They found a plain love in a complicated world. Both had duties that came before their personal desires; creating a love that was believable and realistic. If you are looking for insta-love, I'm happy to say you will not find it here!

I’m a huge fan of Julie’s Iron Fey series! Unfortunately, so far, The Blood of Eden series doesn’t seem to be surpassing it…. yet. I see so much potential, but I feel that parts of this book were rushed and the ending was somewhat anticlimactic. I imagine I will like the upcoming Blood of Eden novel more so than this one. Saying that, I still believe that The Immortal Rules is one of the best YA vampire books out there. The combination of dystopian and paranormal elements is sure to please readers across genres!

Review: Starters

Starters (Starters, #1) by Lissa Price
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Format: eGalley
Source: For review by publisher
Release Date: March 13th, 2012
Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★☆

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined.

Starters was fantastic! It was a refreshingly original dystopian read . Filled with twists, it kept me on my toes from page one.

Imagine having someone "rent" your body: You wake up having no clue where you have been or what you have done. Lissa made this chilling concept easy to imagine. You are dropped into a world where trust is thrown out the window. No one is what they seem. Creepy right? Well, It gets creepier.

The situation Callie, Michael, and Tyler are placed in after their parents' deaths is bad enough. But when you toss The Old Man and Prime Destinations into the picture it becomes one heck of a scary beast. After agreeing to be a renter, Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she is thrown into a conspiracy she never could have imagined. Yet, even when lives were hanging in the balance, Callie remained a relatable and true character.

Callie's voice pulled me into the story easily and brought a certain realness to it. From the beginning it was clear that she was not afraid to make the necessary sacrifices for Tyler and Michael. Not only was she a selfless character, but she was quick to think and act even in the most desperate of times. Poor Callie never had a break in this book.

Lissa did an amazing job with the pacing! Just when I was starting to feel comfortable with the world, she would throw another twist at me. I was constantly on my toes! I did, however, find Starters lacking  in the detail department. It would have been nice to see the world fleshed out a bit more. Perhaps that's something I can look forward to in book two!

Starters is a smart, thrilling, and action-packed dystopian read. The ending will leave you desperate for the next book!

If you liked Unwind by Neal Shusterman then you will like Starters by Lissa Price.

Review: Tiger’s Curse

Tiger’s Curse (The Tiger Saga, #1) by Colleen Houck
Publisher: Audible, Inc. 
Narrator(s): Annika Boras & Sanjiv Jahveri
Format: Audiobook
Length: 15 hrs and 45 mins
Source: Purchased from Audible
Amazon | Audible | Goodreads
★★★★☆

Passion. Fate. Loyalty.

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

Tiger's Curse flaunts some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever read! It was easy to imagine the gorgeous, lush, and exotic places found in this story. Colleen's descriptions were detailed without being the least bit overbearing. Because the story covers a wide range of geographic locations, if you love books with travel, this one is for you!

With travel usually comes adventure, and I found the story to be extremely adventurous! Think Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider! There were more than enough riddles, puzzles, and death traps to keep any action fan satisfied. So of course, I was beaming! The action scenes were never repetitive and always entertaining!

Unfortunately the great scenery and awesome plot were unable to distract me from my inability to relate to Kelsey. I found her quite frustrating! Yes, she had a traumatic childhood, but there's something wrong with a girl who can resist Ren's charms. A sweet and handsome Indian prince... How can you say no to that!?! Her constant denial of her obvious feelings for Ren drove me up a wall. I wanted to reach through my speakers and smack some sense into her. By the end of the book, I could understand her reasons a bit more clearly, though I'm hoping she is not as emotionally closed off in the next book!

I don't know what I would have done had I not listened to Tiger's Curse. I wouldn't have a clue as to how to pronounce half of the Indian words and names! Annika Boras did a truly phenomenal job with the accents and pronunciations - not that I would have known any different, but they sounded authentic to me! She was also wonderful at portraying emotion with her voice: never overdone and never lacking.

The ending of Tiger's Curse was predictable, yet satisfying. Regardless, I'm definitely looking forward to the continuation of The Tiger Saga! I highly recommend this audiobook to paranormal and adventure fans alike!

Review: Boneshaker

Boneshaker (Clockwork Century, #1) by Cherie Priest
Publisher: Tor Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 416
Source: Purchased
Amazon | Audible | Goodreads
★★★★☆

Cherie Priest's much-anticipated steampunk debut has finally arrived in the form of a paperback original. Its plot features the sort of calibrated suspense that readers of her Four and Twenty Blackbirds would expect. Boneshaker derives its title from the Bone-Shaking Drill Engine, a device designed to give Russian prospectors a leg up in the race for Klondike gold. Unfortunately, there was one hitch: On its trial run, the Boneshaker went haywire and, long story short, turned much of Seattle into a city of the dead. Now, 16 years later, a teenage boy decides to find out what is behind that mysterious wall. Can his mother save him in time? Zombie lit of the first order.

Boneshaker was a wildly imaginative retelling of American history! Taking place during the 1800's, it is the story of a boy's struggle to prove his father's innocence and a mother's desperation to protect her son. Being my first experience with the steampunk genre, I was not disappointed one bit.
 
The story was filled with plenty of action; not at all what I expected. For the most part, the plot to Boneshaker was fast-paced and attention demanding. It lost momentum about halfway through for me, but quickly resumed pace over the course of a few chapters. What really kept this book moving was the constant perspective changes from Briar, the mother, to Zeke, the son. Cherie made each character stand out with their own original quirks and defining traits.

Being my first steampunk novel, I was worried I would have trouble imagining the world, machinery, and weapons Cherie created. That worry of mine was quickly discarded once I took in her descriptions! They were beautifully written and required little imagination on my part. I was quickly immersed in her Blight-filled Seattle. Not only did the characters have to worry about getting eaten alive by the "rotters," but also about breathing in the gas that could turn them into one; a constant struggle to stay alive.

The ending was epic to say the least, but left me wanting more. I'm not sure if the plot will be resumed in the next installment of the series or not, but I certainly hope so. I was disappointed to see the airships, kick-ass weapons, and crazy characters go. We went through so much together! It was as if I was saying goodbye to some very good friends. So sad. Boneshaker has left me itching to pick up another steampunk novel!

Review: Wanderlove

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard 
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Format: Kindle Ebook 
Pages: 335
Source: NetGalley 
Release Date: March 13, 2012 
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
★★★★☆

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry into this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story

Wanderlove is easily one of the most funny and adventurous stories I have had the privilege of reading this year. Three things in particular stood out about this book to me: (1) Kristen Hubbard’s writing style=hilarious, (2) The characters are so relatable and realistic, (3) There is a ton of wisdom packed into this quick read.

As far as writing styles go, Kirsten Hubbard has one of the most funny ones that I have ever seen! I was constantly giggling and smiling. If you read Wanderlove, expect to be thoroughly entertained from page one!

“At last, a woman excuses herself from the group and approaches me. She’s got knobby knuckles and pearly, lacquered nails. She reminds me of a velociraptor.” – Wanderlove

Bria, the main character of this story, is extremely easy to relate to. Describing herself as an “introverted hanger-back,” all I was thinking was “THAT’S SO ME!” I felt like I was on this journey with her, growing and learning. The newness and wonder of it all was beautiful to me.

As far as scenery goes, I’ve never been to the places in the book, but they sure seemed authentic to me. I’ll admit I even looked up Laughingbird Caye, and guess what!? It’s real! It is clear that Hubbard did some research (maybe even first hand?) for this one. Authenticity in travel fiction is a must!

The ending was left open, but very satisfying. Quite honestly, it was exactly how I wanted it to end. Wanderlove is a simple, yet beautiful adventure of self-discovery, love, and healing. Think Eat, Pray, Love for teenagers! I fell in love with this book from page one.

Review: City of Bones

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare 
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 485
Source: Borders 
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
★★★★☆

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

This is one of those situations where I’m upset that I read reviews for this book before reading it myself… Being one of the last people on the planet to actually pick up this series didn’t help! Unfortunately, The City of Bones just didn’t live up to the hype for me! Was it a great book? Yes, most definitely. It just moved very slow for me, whether it was the pacing of the story or my own issues, I’m not sure.

Clare created an innovative, dangerous, and beautiful world in The City of Bones. It’s a world where so much happens behind the scenes: Where demons, shadowhunters, and downworlders exist without the notice of mundanes. She must have put enormous thought into developing this expansive world! And that, I can definitely appreciate.

I found the story and characters engaging and the ending satisfying. I do, however, hope that the relationship twist at the end is falsified in The City of Ashes! Overall this was a great read and I would recommend this to any YA paranormal fans!

Review: Forgive My Fins

Forgive My Fins (Fins, #1) by Tera Lynn Childs
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books 
Format: Paperback
Pages: 293
Source: Borders
Buy It!? Amazon
★★★★☆

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

What a cute book!! Forgive My Fins was exactly what I was looking for in a beach read! It was a quick, sweet, and easy read. I’ll be honest: I’ve never read a mermaid book before, but this has left me craving more, more, MORE!

Lily was a pretty cool character! I think most girls can relate to her in some way. She did have a tendency to be incredibly shallow at times; especially in thinking that her infatuation with a guy she didn’t know was love. Her naiveté amazed me. I also found her childish and stubborn at parts. But, In her defense, she did grow up quite a bit in this book. Quince, on the other hand, was such a sincere character!! Quince = bad boy meets boy next door. He was patient, sweet, and comfortable in his own skin; the ideal male lead. The relationship between Lily and Quince was quite dynamic. It was a constant back and forth. I was never truly sure how it would end up.

I thoroughly enjoyed Child’s writing. She had a very light and humorous tone that had me smiling throughout the story. I also thought that she was extremely creative with her take on mermaid mythology. Overall, this was a great read! You will definitely want to pick up if you are a fan of mermaid tales or are looking for a cute and romantic summer read!

Review: Crescendo

Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Narrator: Caitlin Greer
Format: Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs 31 minsSource: Audible
Buy It!? Hardcover | Kindle | Audiobook
★★★★☆

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Path hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something. Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death.

Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperately searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

I have a few bones to pick with this book. Not only is Patch a jerk in this book, but Nora is too! She is so close-minded and prideful that it prevents her from seeing the truth. I found her hard to relate to in this book, because sometimes she was just being plain stupid. Read it, and you’ll see. Don’t get me wrong, I am still a big fan of the Patch x Nora relationship and I will be reading Silence when it is released. I just wish that Fitzpatrick could have toned down Nora’s stupidity, pride, and naïveté a bit.

In Crescendo, the mysteries of Nora’s past are revealed and investigated. But as I said earlier, sometimes Nora was extremely dumb with the way she went about things. On the upside: There were several large twists kept me on my toes guessing! These twists put quite a bit of stress on Patch and Nora’s relationship. If you like tension, then this book is for you. I personally, found myself getting frustrated at the two of them for the way they handled things. I know I’m making it sound bad, but despite everything I’ve said, I still love the characters and the story. And honestly, what I stated above, is the only thing that I was able to find wrong with this book.The Hush, Hush series has a strange hold over me. Must have something to do with the whole “star-crossed lovers” thing.

Caitlin Greer, the narrator, did a great job! She made every single voice different. So much that I feel if she spoke to me in each voice that I could identify them no problem. She did an especially wonderful job with Rixon’s Irish accent. Overall this was an entertaining listen that I would definitely recommend!

Review: Eden

Eden by Keary Taylor
Publisher: Self-Published
Format: Kindle eBook
Pages: 408
Source: Author
Buy It!? Paperback | Kindle
★★★★☆

Eve knew the stories of the Fall, of a time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. She's seen the aftermath of the technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter, able to grow new organs and limbs, how it evolved out of control. The machine took over and the soul vanished. A world quickly losing its humanity isn't just a story to her though. At eighteen, this world is Eve's reality.

In their Fallen world, love feels like a selfish luxury, but not understanding what it is makes it difficult to choose between West, who makes her feel alive but keeps too many secrets, and Avian, who has always been there for her, but is seven years her senior.

The technology wants to spread and it won't stop until there is no new flesh to assimilate. With only two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. While fighting to keep Eden alive, Eve will discover that being human is about what you will do for those you love, not what your insides may be made of. And even if it gets you killed, love is always what separates them from the Fallen.

First thing’s first: Take a look at this amazing cover! I’m happy to say that Eden is one of a few books I know of with a great story and a beautiful, informative cover.Taylor created a post-apocalyptic world where people are few and far between. What was meant to help people turned into an infection: A mechanical one that spread via touch. Think: zombie/terminator combo. Eden has a great mixture of love, technology, and post-apocalyptic elements.

The storyline of Eden is extremely intriguing, making it hard to put down. It completely gripped me from the start. I loved uncovering bits and pieces of Eve’s past. The mystery of it all had me hooked the entire time. Unfortunately, I cannot go too in depth describing the storyline without giving away spoilers. If you all have followed my reviews before, then you know I am a sucker for action! There was more than enough action in Eden to keep me satisfied. I did, however, find that the action scenes became predictable and repetitive as the story progressed. That's probably me being picky though!

There is a terrible love triangle here. I say “terrible” because it really pulled me along. It was torturous. I, like Eve, was constantly swaying back and forth trying to decide which one I liked better. Taylor made this very difficult as she created two really great male leads. While both relationships were real and developed (no “insta-love” here), I didn’t like the never-ending debate in her head. When I say "never-ending" I mean it; She must have had a debate with herself on every other page. To be honest, it took away from the story at parts. But, I can say that at the conclusion I was satisfied with her choice.

The ending was great: a real nail-biter. Taylor concluded things very well. I do think that it was left open for a possible sequel! Read Eden. Especially if you have a Kindle! It’s only 99 cents.

Review: Hush, Hush

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Narrator: Caitlin Greer
Format: Audiobook
Length: 8hrs 55min
Source: Audible
Buy It!? Paperback | Kindle | Audiobook
★★★★☆

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

I have a love/hate relationship with this book for one big reason: Why does Patch have to be such a jerk!? I mean, yeah I get that he has his reasons, but still. I’m growing tired of seeing YA characters falling for assholes. I also hate that even with him being such a jerk, I still fell for him just like Nora.  I don’t know what it is that makes him so damn attractive.  Really, it was quite frustrating! Can you say STALKER? I think the police would have been called by chapter 4 if I was Nora.

My initial reaction to Hush, Hush, was that it was going to be just like Twilight. Initial bio scene anyone? I was pleasantly surprised to find that the plot was quite original. It really picked up toward the end leaving me wanting more! I was super intrigued by Patch and his past. He’s such a mysterious character. At first I hated the dynamic between Nora and Patch, but Fitzpatrick’s writing quickly changed that. She wrote some super sexy and cute moments between the two. In the end, I fell for the sexy jerk of a fallen angel.
I’ll be honest that there were one or two parts I found VERY predictable. Other than that, this was a great listen and I will definitely be continuing the series! On another note: Caitlin Greer is a great narrator.

Review: Patient Zero

Patient Zero (Joe Ledger, #1) by Jonathan Maberry
Format: Audiobook read by Ray Porter
Source: Library
Buy It: Paperback | Kindle | Audiobook
★★★★☆

When you have to kill the same terrorist twice in one week there's either something wrong with your world or something wrong with your skills... and there's nothing wrong with Joe Ledger's skills.  And that's both a good, and a bad thing.  It's good because he's a Baltimore detective that has just been secretly recruited by the government to lead a new taskforce created to deal with the problems that Homeland Security can't handle. This rapid response group is called the Department of Military Sciences or the DMS for short. It's bad because his first mission is to help stop a group of terrorists from releasing a dreadful bio-weapon that can turn ordinary people into zombies. The fate of the world hangs in the balance...

For those who haven’t read a book from this series, know that you are in for an action-packed, fast paced, thrill of a ride. This was my first experience with Jonathan Maberry’s writing and I have to admit… it’s pretty amazing. He writes action scenes so vividly that it was as if I was watching it happen right in front of me. Those scenes are what stood out the most to me. Maberry’s writing combined with Ray Porter’s narration took this story to an entirely new level. I’m so happy I opted for the audiobook version of this!!

It is very clear that Maberry did plenty of research on weapons, diseases, pathogens, and more to add to the consistency and authenticity of this book. It seemed so freakin’ real!  Joe Ledger’s character was so badass, sarcastic and funny. I couldn’t get enough of the guy! His personality was the perfect balance of rough and real.

This wasn’t one of those mindless “let’s kill zombies” adventures. The story was realistic and well thought out. It kept me one my toes the whole time! Oh and did I mention it has AMAZING fight scenes? Check this out if you are a fan of zombies, military, or action genre books. You most certainly will not be disappointed! If given the opportunity, I highly recommend trying this as an audiobook. Ray Porter is an excellent narrator!