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: The Raven Boys

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. 
Format: ARC
Source: BEA 
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★☆☆

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Unfortunately, having enjoyed Maggie's Wolves of Mercy Falls series, I found The Raven Boys to be quite a disappointment. The difference may lie in listening to The Wolves of Mercy Falls series on audiobook verses reading The Raven Boys. Maggie has very gorgeous, beautiful writing, but at times it can be hard to follow. I found myself rereading sections several times just to understand what the heck was going on. Like the Scorpio Races, I almost stopped for this reason. When a book becomes work, I generally don't want to continue. I think I would have enjoyed this much better had I listened via audiobook.

The Raven Boys certainly gets points for originality. I can honestly say it has a story unlike any other. The mystery of it all drove me to push through what was ultimately a good story. I would recommend this book to most people, however, I would strongly recommend listening to it on audio! If you are up for the challenge, give reading it a shot, but it may leave you frustrated and disappointed like me.

Audiobook Review: Pandemonium

Pandemonium (Delirium, #2) by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: Harper Audio
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Sarah Drew
Source: Purchased from Audible
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

If I’ve learned to expect one thing from Lauren Oliver, it’s unbearable cliffhangers!  When you read Pandemonium I can almost guarantee you, like me, will end up begging for the next book!

Pandemonium was a slow start for me. At the beginning I felt that it just didn’t compare to the first book. Boy did I change my mind during the second half!! Just as Delirium was emotion filled, Pandemonium certainly had its moments as well. There were a few particular scenes that I struggled with… If you’ve read this you probably have an idea of what I’m talking about. The story wasn’t completely focused on emotion, however. There was plenty of action to keep me satisfied as well, even more so than the first book. 

Many new characters were introduced into Lena’s story. The character I found most intriguing, like many others, was Julian. I loved the contrast between the two: how each of them came from different backgrounds but managed to work together. I loved watching the suspicion between them melt away as they learned to trust one another!

I enjoyed Pandemonium just as much, if not better, than Delirium. The characters, action, and turn filled plot left me begging for more. As I mentioned earlier, be prepared for yet another cliffhanger! Yes, I am still recovering from it! Be sure to check out the Delirium series: Delirium, Pandemonium, and Requiem (coming March 2013)!

Audiobook Review: Delirium

Delirium (Delirium, #1) by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperTEEN
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Sarah Drew
Source: Purchased from Audible
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now.

Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Delirium is one of those books that I had no interest in reading initially. The plot seemed a bit too familiar and sounded as if it could easily go wrong. Then came the gushing reviews from my fellow bloggers. So what did that make me do? Naturally, I put off reading it even longer (I've since learned to listen to them)! Eventually I gave in and now I can’t believe how I could put off reading such a fantastic book!

 Delirium contained all my favorite elements: A bit of action, a pinch of  mystery, a killer ending, and a romance seemingly doomed from the start. Yet, even in the face of that doom, the main character, Lena, maintained hope. There's just something about underdog characters like Lena that I love. They manage to both inspire and intrigue me. Up against all odds, will they make it or break it? You'll have to read this one to find out!

Delirium evoked all kinds of emotions: anger, sadness, love, and hope to name a few. Expect a rollercoaster! While, yes, this is a very emotional book, it has none of the fluff that one might expect from reading the blurb. There is legitimate thought and meaning in Delirium! Yes, it is about love, but there is so much more to it!

Don't be like me and put off reading Delirium! Life's too short to miss out on the good ones!

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: The Lost Prince

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1) by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley  
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

Julie is an author that, no matter the topic, I will always love her books. Yes, you may even call me a fangirl. I can always count on her rich, beautiful settings and unforgettable characters. The Lost Prince is no exception.

The Lost Prince is a book that, despite being a spinoff of The Iron Fey series, can be read without reading through the original books. I do, however, strongly recommend reading The Iron Fey series first. Not only are they fantastic books, but they will definitely help fill in some plot gaps for unfamiliar readers.

For those who have read The Iron Fey series, do you remember Meghan’s tiny, little brother, Ethan from the first book? Yeah, he’s all grown up now and shirtless on the cover! Seeing him at a young age and seeing him grown are two opposite sides of the spectrum! I loved the contrast between the two. The fey have tortured him his entire life, so I can completely understand his broodiness and complex personality. You can tell Julie really took the time and effort to develop his character!

The Lost Prince features some fantastic action scenes and quirky characters! I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Ethan and Kerrian. It was vaguely reminiscent of Ash and Puck. So if you’ve liked the banter between those two in the past, you will definitely find some entertainment here. I’ll be honest and say I really wanted a glimpse at the present day life of Ash and Meghan. Luckily The Lost Prince delivered. While the story doesn’t revolve around them, there are still some beautiful scenes between the two. I didn’t know it was possible to miss two fictional characters so much… Special thanks to Julie for not leaving them in the dust.

The Lost Prince is nothing short of a showstopper! It has proven itself to be just as engaging and exciting as the The Iron Fey series. I have no doubts that it will continue to meet or even surpass my expectations of the original books. *Impatiently waits for next book*

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: Hidden (Firelight, #3)

Hidden (Firelight, #3) by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTEEN
Narrator: Therese Plummer
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased from Audible
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

Hidden was an easy 5 stars for me! It was action-packed, character driven, and epic. I’m a sucker for epic-our-world-could-end-right-now stories and this one certainly did not disappoint.

Hidden picked up where the last book, Vanish, left off. Holding nothing back, Hidden delved right back into the intense action and fantastic plot. I was excited to meet several new characters, one of which I found very intriguing! If you’ve read the book, you probably know who I’m talking about. While most of the ends were tied up in this book, I would love to see another book or novella specifically featuring my new character of interest. I feel like there could be another great story surrounding him.

As I said, Sophie Jordan did a great job resolving this book! She wasn’t afraid to kill off characters, so be emotionally prepared for that. There were some very heart-wrenching and emotional points that had me sniffling along with the characters… but even with that, Hidden never slowed. This book will demand your attention and keep it easily with the unbelievable plot twists and revelations. We finally get answers to the biggest questions in the series. Thank goodness because not knowing was killing me!

Hidden is a must read for fans of the series. This is the book where it all comes together! If you haven’t started the series yet (you really shouldn’t have read this review *wink*) you really need to start, because this book made for a phenomenal conclusion to the Firelight series!

Review: Pushing the Limits

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: ARC
Source: Received at BEA
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

I did not expect to love Pushing the Limits as much as I did! Guys, this book is seriously incredible. It is a must read for contemporary fans… Actually, I would say it’s must read for everyone! I’m not a big fan of the contemporary genre, but this book just blew me away. Trust me, this is worth it.

There is a fantastic story to be found here. Well really, there are two fascinating stories: Noah is on a quest to be with his brothers again and Echo is trying to find some sort of peace in her life after the loss of her brother, Aires, and what we will call “the incident.” She has difficultly remembering the night of “the incident,” and this book is all about her path to that memory. It was easy to see just how fragile Echo’s mind was after her episodes, aka when she remembered bits of that memory . Like Echo, I found myself consistently asking: Can she handle the truth? Will she crack? What is the truth!? McGarry writes in such detail that it is hard not to question if she has experienced much of this story herself.

The voices of Echo and Noah were completely different and easy to identify. I felt that I was actually reading from a male point of view, which can be hard at times when there is a female author. The romantic scenes were to die for. Noah’s character is not so noble at first glance, but trust me, he warms up on you FAST. Echo was real: She was flawed, she was insecure, and yet she had this inner strength that truly amazed me. Even though her world came crashing down at times, she still persevered. She was quite inspirational. Noah and Echo really complemented each other and made for a great read with dual point of views.

Despite being a bit slow at the start, Pushing the Limits, has earned its place on my favorites shelf. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone and everyone who will read it.

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Review: Hallowed (Unearthly, #2)

Hallowed (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Kindle Ebook
Source: NetGalley
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Perfectly titled, Hallowed is darker in tone than Unearthly. Faced with knowing someone very near to her will die: Clara's relationships are stressed, her inner strength is tested, and her true purpose is revealed. On top of that new characters bring with them unexpected twists and back stories. Cynthia Hand has done it again! My love for the characters drove me to quickly and gladly devour Hallowed.

I was surprised that I found myself disliking Tucker quite a bit in this book. After Unearthly, I didn't think that could ever be a possibility! Though Clara obviously felt strongly for Tucker, being an angel-blood stressed their relationship to the max in Hallowed. I'm sad to say that I slowly converted to Team Christian over the course of this book. Crazy, right!? Reasons being: He was always there for Clara, but never pushy or selfish; She could confide in him about angel related things, something she couldn't really do with Tucker; and they clearly had feelings for each other outside of their purposes.

While this book is sad, it is also filled with hope. Strong characters and an emotion filled plot will engage and inspire readers. I highly recommend this book if you read and enjoyed Unearthly!

Review: This is Not a Test

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers 
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Release Date: June 19th, 2012
Buy It From Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

I approached This is Not a Test as I would any other zombie novel: expecting only blood, guts, and horror. I was gravely mistaken... While This is Not a Test does contain the elements mentioned above, there is significantly more to this story. It is emotional, humbling, thought provoking, and original. In truth, it is not the plot that makes this book shine, it's the characters, namely Sloane.

Sloane didn't want to live. She was tired, damaged, and looking for a way out. She was weak and not particularly likeable. Still, I didn't want to see her die. As my dislike for her character grew, I also found that in the process I started rooting for her. I just wanted her to find some peace. Happiness maybe? Thankfully Rhys was there to give her a glimpse of what could be. Rhys' character really impressed me. He maintained a level-head throughout all the madness. Trace on the other hand clashed with Rhys on everything and fed off of the mayhem. I don't think Trace was a bad person, just very hurt. In a way each of the characters in this story was damaged.

As far as setting goes, it didn't really change all that much through the story. Very little of this book occurs outside the school walls. Boring? Not one bit. The tension between the characters alone would have been enough to keep me engaged and reading.

While This is Not a Test makes for a perfect, open-ended standalone novel, I would absolutely love to see a sequel. Ok, scratch that.... I'm DYING for a sequel! If you don't mind a little less gore and a little more emotion in your zombie books, this is definitely for you.

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!

Mini Review: Unraveling

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Katie Schorr
Source: Audible
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Audible | Amazon | Goodreads
★★★☆☆

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

Unraveling is a unique sci-fi thriller that is set apart from other YA Sci-Fi novels by its original plot. The plot is so different, in fact, that I'm not going to say anything else about it except to expect the unexpected! 

This book, characters, and narration were just "meh" for me... Unfortunately, I've already forgotten most of them! Originality and good writing weren't enough to keep me hooked in Unraveling, but, to others, it may be worth checking out.

Review: The Selection

The Selection (The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Amy Rubinate
Source: Audible
Audible | Amazon | Goodreads
★★★★★

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

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

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

I picked up The Selection expecting a light romantic read. What I got instead was a reflective, romantic, and beautiful story with surprising depth. For having a Bachelor-esque type set up, I was amazed by the sincerity, legitimate emotion, and lack of cat fights between the girls. If I had to use one word to describe Kiera Cass' take on this story, it would be "tasteful."

The Selection features a terrifying love triangle. I was happy to see that there was no insta-love! After being with Aspen for years, it was expected that America have feelings for him, so I didn't feel cheated there. I especially enjoyed the relationship between America and Prince Maxon! America was the one person that Maxon could expect to be honest with him. And believe me, she could be a feisty one! The banter between the two was quite entertaining. A choice between two fantastic guys: How will she ever choose!?

The crazy part is that I almost stopped listening to this book due to the narrator! She has a very... different voice. She was almost robotic at times. Once I adjusted to her voice, I was able to focus on the story. I might recommend reading the book instead of listening due to the difficulty I had with her narration.

If I have one complaint about the content of this book, it would be the abrupt ending! Talk about a cliffhanger... If you have issues with cliffhangers, you might want to put this one off until the next book, because it is a bad one! All I can do is hope it doesn't take too long for the next one...

The Selection is a book that could have easily gone wrong. Instead Kiera Cass made it tasteful, fun, and intelligent. Don't be turned off by the reviews saying that it is a Bachelor spinoff. There is so much more to this book! It is definitely one to add to your summer reading list! I'm certainly looking forward to the next installment in this series.

Review: Hemlock

Hemlock (Hemlock, #1) by Kathleen Peacock
Publisher: HarperCollins 
Format: ARC
Source: Blog Tour 
Release Date: May 8th, 2012
Amazon |  Goodreads
★★★★★

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

Typically I'm not a fan of murder mystery novels, but I couldn't turn down the opportunity to read one with a werewolf spin! Not only did Hemlock keep me on my toes, but it also played out completely different from how I envisioned it! The unpredictability of this novel is what kept me hooked throughout it's entirety. 

In Hemlock, Kathleen provides a much needed breath of fresh air to the the werewolf genre. I found it interesting that Kathleen made the existence of werewolves common knowledge in this book. The lupine syndrome is treated as an epidemic. It's such a simple premise, but I can't recall a werewolf story I've read where the same is true! Hemlock seemed to carry a Salem Witch Trial likeness with it that only added to the tension of the murder storyline.

The characters in Hemlock were fantastic! They were real and relate-able; especially Mac, the protagonist. She was strong and very likeable. On top of the characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the romance aspect of this book! Kathleen did a wonderful job providing tension within the love triangle without making it annoying and overbearing. Let's face it: it's pretty easy to get frustrated with love triangles! Two-thumbs up for a successfully written romance!

Hemlock will appeal to readers of many genres! Yes, even those who haven't liked werewolf books in the past! There's much, much more to this book than werewolves. Whether you are looking for a good YA romance, an intriguing mystery, or an action-packed read Hemlock will deliver!

This book was reviewed as part of the Hemlock ARC Tour, hosted by PARAFANTASY!

Ezmirelda - Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this awesomeness!

Review: Cinder

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1) by Marissa Meyer 
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Format: ARC
Pages: 387
Source: Won in contest 
Amazon | Audible | Goodreads
★★★★★

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl... Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

Cinder is a freakin' brilliant take on the Cinderella fairytale! It was completely addicting, well paced, and featured a cast of unforgettable characters.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Cinder was a very strong character even though she was based on Cinderella. Despite her situation, she always took an active, not passive, approach to changing her life. She wasn't content with being her stepmother's doormat and I loved that about her! Being a cyborg, she was considered a lesser citizen of New Beijing, but she didn't let that hold her back. It was quite inspiring really. Her conversations with her android Iko kept things light and humorous. Though Iko wasn't human, it didn't keep her from having one of the most entertaining personalities in the bunch.

While the love story isn't too prevalent in this book, it's definitely there. I loved that fact that it was subtle and didn't overshadow the main plot. I really liked Kai! He had a really good heart. He wanted what was best for his people even if it meant sacrificing his life and his happiness. He was such an honorable guy and a true leader.

While the characters were fantastic, one aspect of the plot was extremely predictable! It wasn't exactly a small piece of the story either... Allow me to explain: When I say predictable, I don't mean something that you could predict based off of the Cinderella story. It was something completely different, but very integral to the story. I could understand predicting something from the Cinderella fairytale, but this was unrelated and pretty obvious from the beginning. Regardless, the predictability didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story! Another thing I found difficult about this book is that when it came to the setting, my imagination really had to come into play when thinking about what the city might look like. Meyer doesn't give the reader all that much description to go off of. Be prepared for a little legwork in this area!

Despite a few flaws, I easily give Cinder 5 stars. I couldn't imagine a Cinderella retelling being any more original! I've certainly set myself up for torture knowing that I need to wait until next year for the second book...

Review: Unearthly

Unearthly (Unearthly , #1) by Cynthia Hand 
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 435
Source: Purchased
Amazon | Audible | Goodreads
★★★★★

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Unearthly is the first angel book to completely blow me away! It was well paced, well characterized, and extremely addicting. It was hard to pull myself away from the pages. Surprisingly though, I'm at a loss of words to describe the exact elements that made me love this book as much as I do!

While it is difficult to describe the allure of this book, I think what pulled me in were the characters. Clara was easy to relate to, a normal girl. She didn't let her being an angel-blood get in the way of her having a life outside of her "purpose." I liked that there was that paranormal to normal life balance. And Tucker! AH <3 (fangirl moment)! Watching his relationship grow with Clara added depth to an already amazing story. At the beginning I hated him, but he won me over effortlessly as he did with Clara. Who would have known that he had a soft side!?

In addition to the great characters, I think the conclusion really sets Unearthly apart from the rest. This book could not have had a more perfect ending: no cliffhanger, a good resolution, and me dying for the next book! I recommend this to ANY paranormal fan. I can almost guarantee you will be as captivated as I was by the characters in Unearthly.

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: Awakened

Awakened (House of Night, #8) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 
Format: Ebook
Pages: 290
Source: Purchased
Amazon | Audible | Goodreads
★★★★★

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey.  Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z.  But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there.  Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it?  Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim?  The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship?  Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

Awakened is, by far, the most emotionally charged book in the House of Night series. I found myself tearing up during numerous parts, both happy and sad. Until this book, I never realized just how much of a hold the characters have on me.

Like the other books, the story is read from the different point of views of select characters. The Casts do a great job with this! I never found myself getting bored of reading the different point of views. I especially enjoyed getting in Rephaim's head. So much inner turmoil! He has an entire battle of light vs dark raging inside his head. He's one of the most interesting and original characters in the series and my personal favorite. The turn in the relationship between Stevie Rae and Rephaim was the highlight of this book for me. I cannot express how happy I was with the outcome of this relationship in Awakened. The Casts did a wonderful job working the plot to make that outcome possible. I really love Rephaim... I'm just a sucker for bad guys gone good! I  hope to see more of him in the next book.

Though there was plenty of drama in this book, it was not the stupid teen drama from the previous books. It's good to see the kids have finally grown up a bit! While there were not too many advances in the plot of the series, I still found the story to be engaging and interesting. Awakened paves the way for some true action in the next book, Destined.

Awakened has rekindled my love for the House of Night series. I think it is safe to say it is my favorite of the series so far! For those wondering if this series is worth pursuing, it is! There were rough patches in the beginning, but I think those have finally been smoothed over.