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: 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: Mistborn

Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1) by Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 643
Source: Borders 
Amazon | Goodreads
★★★★★

For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.

Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.

But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets, and gotten it. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.

If you are looking for an innovative, epic fantasy, Mistborn is it! This book is so much more than your typical lord of the rings type fantasy. It contains one of the most original and innovative magic systems I have ever seen. I love the way that Sanderson managed to thoroughly describe the world, politics, and magic system without ever making me bored. Trust me, politics in books normally bores the crap out of me! That is a feat in itself.

To start, Brandon Sanderson writes some amazing characters! Not only are they believable and consistent, but they are just plain likeable. And I’m not just talking about the main characters! Some of the most entertaining and heartbreaking scenes involved the secondary characters. There was something about Kelsier and Vin that I just fell in love with. Their relationship was like that of father and daughter. Kelsier, though he could be egotistical and manipulative at times, maintained hope in even the most grim of situations. Seeing Vin go from a scrawny, insecure, abused girl to a confident and trusting woman was incredibly rewarding and inspiring. She certainly grew throughout the story, thanks to the incredible cast of characters.  I could go on and on about how much I love them all… I’m just happy I should have another couple books to get to know them better!

The plot of Mistborn was extremely well thought out. Sanderson constantly had me on edge thinking that the crew might give up or fail. I don’t want to go in depth with the plot and give something away though. I can, however, tell you that the fight scenes throughout the book were amazing and well choreographed. What a treat!

I was excited to find a developing romance in this book as well! I honestly did not expect one but it was a most definitely a pleasant discovery. Once again, you won’t squeeze the details out of me! Just know that the relationship is cute and awesome.

If you are a fantasy fan like me, then I can pretty much guarantee that you will love this book. It was refreshing and original like no other fantasy I have read. I already have the next two books and will hopefully get around to reading them before the end of the year! What was originally supposed to be a trilogy will have a new addition, The Alloy of Law (Mistborn, #4) on November 12th, 2011!




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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: The Truth About Forever

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Puffin
Format: Paperback
Pages: 374
Source: Bookstore
Buy It!? Paperback | Kindle
★★★★★

Sixteen-year-old Macy Queen is looking forward to a long, boring summer. Her boyfriend is going away. She's stuck with a dull-as-dishwater job at the library. And she'll spend all of her free time studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father's recent unexpected death. But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother's open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew. Before long, Macy joins the Wish team. She loves everything about the work and the people. But the best thing about Wish is Wes—artistic, insightful, and understanding Wes—who gets Macy to look at life in a whole new way, and really start living it.

This was my very first Sarah Dessen book and I must say it was a beautiful experience. This is one of those books that I probably would never have read if it wasn't for the blogging community. I always thought that it could simply be classified as "chick-lit" but it was so much more than that. It was an inspiration.

Macy's grief felt real. My heart broke reading about what she had been through... It is amazing how much she grew throughout the story. She and I both learned so much. Because I started reading this on the beach, I was a little worried that this was going to be a bit too depressing , but I quickly discovered that it was certainly not: There were quite a few parts that actually made me chuckle out-loud (Mostly with Bert in them). Dessen writes without sounding preachy and it is just... poignant and perfect. I'm so happy that I've finally had a chance to try her books. This one will not be the last.

I truely believe that everyone can take something away from The Truth About Forever. Give it a shot and you will not be disappointed.

Review: Dragon’s Heart

Dragon’s Heart (Pit Dragon Chronicles, #4) by Jane Yolen
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format: Paperback
Pages: 391
Source: Publisher
Buy it!? Paperback | Hardcover
★★★★☆

Austar IV isn't the planet it once was, and when Jakkin and Akki finally return to the dragon nursery, their homecoming arouses mixed emotions. Together they've survived the insurmountable, and now they can weather the brutal conditions of Dark After and communicate with the dragons they love. But with this knowledge comes responsibility. What they've learned about survival could transform the planet--or, if entrusted to the wrong hands, bring about its destruction. Akki's insistence that she return to the Rokk to finish her training and begin new experiments drives a chasm between her and Jakkin. Suddenly she finds herself in the midst of a political battle that could claim her life. Only Jakkin can save her. If only he could reach her. . . .

Ahhh I’m so happy that I’ve finally received the opportunity to read/review this book! What a treat! This was the series that first sparked my interested in reading. I picked up Dragon’s Blood way back in my middle school days and I was instantly sold after the first few chapters. I fell in love with the rich world and amazing characters. I’m happy to say that all of those things I loved still remain in Dragon’s Heart.

This continues where A Sending of Dragons, book three, left off. For those who haven’t read this series yet, I will not spoil it by telling you how it ended. I will say that it was a welcome return to the beautiful setting that is Austar IV. Is it strange that it felt like I was going home, back to where it all started? Yolen, as always, does a wonderful job portraying the lush, or should I say barren, landscape that is Austar IV.

While there were quite a few tragedies in this book, it was not emotional at all for me. I felt some disconnect between myself and the secondary characters. It is probably because I didn’t revisit the first three books before jumping into this one. I found myself confused at parts, but that quickly changed as my memory of the previous books returned.

You are in for some surprises with this one! There are deaths that I didn’t see coming, connections between characters I would never have guessed in a million years, and new companions. Unfortunately, I feel as though this book was rushed and anti-climatic… I look back and, though I loved every second I spent reading this, not much actually happened over the course of the book. Most of the loose ends are tied up, but rather than having a feeling of completion, I was left wanting more. I think I was expecting Dragon’s Heart to be much more epic than it actually was. Regardless, it gets 4 stars from me for the conclusion of an amazing series that I am so sad to see end…

Beach Reads for Summer 2011

I’m headed to the beach with my boyfriend this weekend (YAY!) and I wanted to find a light, beachy, summer read.  I wouldn’t dare leave my precious kindle sitting on my towel unattended so I made a, supposed-quick, stop at Borders with the plan of buying ONE beach read. An hour later I left with four… Yeah, I guess I got a little out of hand. It’s been so long since I’ve been in a physical book store thanks to my Kindle! I would absolutely love to hear your opinions on the books I picked up! Here they are:

Forever Summer by Alyson Noel

Summer. A break from the burdens of school. Deep tans, deeper thoughts. Far away from the everyday. Closer to making dreams come true . . . What does summer mean to you? For the two teenage girls in these two unforgettable novels, summer means being torn away from the familiar and finding new friends. A new place in the world. A new sense of self. And maybe even new love along the way . . .

When you’re having the time of your life, you never want it to end.

 

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

Sometimes I still wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of looking up at the moon and feeling as invisible and free as a fish. But I'm jumping ahead, and to tell the story right I have to go back to the very beginning. To a place called Indigo Beach. To a boy with pale skin that glowed against the dark waves. To the start of something neither of us could have predicted, and which would mark us forever, making everything that came after and before seem like it belonged to another life.

 

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Sixteen-year-old Macy Queen is looking forward to a long, boring summer. Her boyfriend is going away. She's stuck with a dull-as-dishwater job at the library. And she'll spend all of her free time studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father's recent unexpected death. But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother's open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew. Before long, Macy joins the Wish team. She loves everything about the work and the people. But the best thing about Wish is Wes—artistic, insightful, and understanding Wes—who gets Macy to look at life in a whole new way, and really start living it.

 

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie—-she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

 

I was really hoping to get Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs, but unfortunately they didn’t have it… What do you guys think?! Which one should I read first?