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: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Narrator: Kate Rudd 
Format: Audiobook
Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
Source: Purchased from Audible
Amazon | Audible | Goodreads
★★★★★

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

The Fault in Our Stars is absolutely brilliant. It is perfect… Though it may be early to make this claim, it could possibly be my favorite book of the year! It’s always difficult for me to write reviews on books that I love this much. I feel that I can never quite do them justice. I will let a quote from The Fault in Our Stars describe it for me:

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” – The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green

That’s exactly how I feel...  All of us have had our lives touched in some shape or form by cancer. Whether it be watching an actor fight it or a family member, it’s not a foreign thing to us. This book is not just about Hazel and Augustus, it’s about humanity. Anyone who reads this will be able to find some truth in Green’s words. Yes, I have never read any of his previous books… *GASP* I know, crazy right? But this experience has made me contemplate why have let such a gem of a writer go unread for so long… Green’s writing is beautiful, poetic, and completely genius!

Green wrote about a dark subject and yet maintained some glimmer of hope throughout. While this story did make me cry, it did not devastate me. In fact, it was extremely inspirational. The characters were easy to love, understand, and relate to. I couldn’t get enough of the playful banter between Hazel and Augustus! Even living on borrowed time, their relationship progressed naturally and developed into a beautiful, deep love.

I cannot forget to mention the phenomenal narrator of this audiobook, Kate Rudd. It would have been easy for the narrator to take the emotion too far and overdue it. But not Kate! She portrayed the perfect amount of emotion in every single situation. The narration was so real and believable, that it only added to the beauty of Green’s words! She is genuinely talented.

The Fault in Our Stars left me with what can only be described as "that wow feeling." As readers, you all know what I’m talking about: When you sit silently for awhile after finishing a book because you are so in awe of what you had just experienced. You don’t just read or listen to this book, you experience it in the deepest sense… It will make you want to live your life differently! It will change you. And it has certainly set the bar high for the rest of the upcoming YA books this year. The Fault in Our Stars receives my highest recommendation for any reader, regardless of genre!

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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: The Iron Knight

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey, #4) by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Format: Kindle eBook
Pages: 386
Source: NetGalley
Pre-order It!? Paperback
★★★★★

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.
Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Wow… just… wow. A perfect end to an amazing journey and an EPIC love story; one against all odds. Julie Kagawa you have outdone yourself once again. Each book in this series is better than the one proceeding it (Note: I was pretty blown away with the first). The Iron Fey series forever holds a place on my favorites shelf, this one being the best of them all.

The Iron Knight begins with Ash continuing his journey to find a way to keep his vow to Meghan. His drive and commitment to this task was inspiring. In this book you get a deep look into Ash’s past. In the other books, Ash was so cold and closed off that it was hard to learn anything about him! I loved reading from Ash’s point-of-view, and I’m so happy to had the opportunity to learn more about one of my favorite characters. Speaking of characters, I love them all. Julie has written some of the most memorable characters I have ever read.

My return to the Nevernever was as pleasing as the last. Kagawa’s settings are so descriptive and imaginative, without being overbearing. I particularly loved the Gauntlet and Testing Grounds. I’ve never read anything like them. They weren’t just action packed, they were incredibly critical to the plot! I love how Kagawa used them as a channel to learn more about Ash’s past.

Kagawa really surprised me with the twist about 1/4 of the way in. It challenged Ash… and turned his world upside down. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how/if he would overcome it. Though it was painful, I loved getting a deeper look into the mind and emotions of the Winter Prince.

The Iron Knight was such a quick read for me… Before I knew it, it was all over. It' so sad to see this series end. Boy, did it have a spectacular ending. And yes, if you must ask, there were tears. This is definitely one of my favorites. If you have not read the rest of the series, get on them now so you can get to this one right away! You won’t be disappointed one bit.

“Coming in 2012, there will be a SECOND IRON FEY TRILOGY. This is for all the Iron Fey fans out there, whom I'm forever grateful for. This series, set several years after the events of the first, will star an older Ethan Chase, Meghan's brother. Yep, Ethan is getting his own adventure, so be sure to be on the lookout for that.” – Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa will be released October 25th 2011.

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Review: Divergent

Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Collins, Inc.
Format: Ebook
Pages: 487
Source: Purchased
Amazon | Audible | Goodreads
★★★★★

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

This is seriously one of the best debut novels I have ever purchased! Roth does an amazing job of pulling you into this crazy world. At first I shied away from it thinking Divergent was just a fad and wouldn’t compare to the other dystopian books I have read. Boy was I wrong! This book is so deserving of each and every bit of praise it receives.

I loved all the characters, but Tris and Four were written so well. They were definitely my favorites. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but is Four not the most romantic badass that you’ve read?! I was swooning over him the entire book… Following Tris and Four as their relationship developed was certainly a treat. Roth has a great skill with romance.

This book was not all rainbows and butterflies… Tris faced quite overwhelming odds, heartbreak, death, and betrayal. Reading this, I couldn’t help but put myself in her place and wonder if I would be strong enough to survive. She was a very inspirational character for me..

I’m so happy that I decided to read this! This story is not only original, but action-packed and filled with twists! I swear I had no idea they were coming. I became so engrossed that it was an extremely quick read for me. I would sit in bed and think to myself “Just one more chapter…” and before I knew it, it would be 1am. I was so tempted to stay up and finish it.  You definitely need to pick this up if you get a chance. It is an original, strong story one that I likely will not forget. I’m very excited to see where the next book goes!

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Review: Forbidden

Title: Forbidden
Author: Tabitha Suzuma
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Publisher
Release Date: June 28th, 2011
★★★★★

Summary
Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending. – goodreads.com

Review
I don’t even know where to start with this book… It’s amazing, heartbreaking, tragic, beautiful, and perfect. My review, and the 5 stars I give it, will not do it justice. I was so emotionally torn up after reading this… There was no possible way I could write a review. That would mean that the story was over, that it was done, and the idea of such a thing left me utterly heartbroken. Now, a day later, I finally stop tearing up at just the thought of it.

First let me say, this is about incest, a very touchy subject for most people. But, I can promise you, if you open your mind and your hearts to the characters you will not be disappointed. I started reading this out of pure curiosity and out of a desire to have my beliefs challenged. And challenged they were.

My favorite thing about this book was the characters, especially Lochan. If the entire book was written from his point of view I would have been fine with it. His struggle, seemed much worse to me than Maya’s. Not only was he dealing with providing and caring for the family, but he also had a crippling social anxiety that prevented him from communicating with people he didn’t know well and from speaking in class. He was the most selfless character in the book… He was always putting his family before himself, unlike the mother who was rarely present, and hung-over when he was. She frustrated me so bad! I hate her… I hate her SO much. And I blame her too… For everything. I loved cute little Willa, Tiffin, and rebellious Kit. They weren’t the perfect family, but as I was reading it, they were mine…. they were real.

Suzuma’s writing pulled me into the story in ways that I never thought I could be. Her writing was just so… real. When Lochan was having his panic attacks, I was right there with him, pulse increasing and eyes bulging. When he was breaking down…. so was I… It was a wonderful and terrible thing to become so invested in these characters, particularly Maya and Lochan. I felt for them and empathized with them… I wanted them to be happy. I wanted them to be together without shame or guilt.

Even knowing this book was not going to have a happy ending, I kept hoping, wishing, and praying that it would.That maybe Maya and Lochan would go get a blood test and find out they weren’t brother and sister. It never happened… but I continued to hope. The ending of this story was so shocking and came up on me so fast, that it absolutely ripped me apart. I was helpless. Forbidden has devastated me. It has left me with a gaping hole in my chest. I feel so empty and lost that I truly believe this story will haunt me forever.

I can’t recommend Forbidden to everyone, particularly young readers, because of the subject matter, but for anyone who is willing to invest themselves emotionally, I strongly, strongly, recommend this…

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Review: Mockingjay

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)
By Suzanne Collins
Scholastic, Inc.
Genre: Dystopian YA
Rating: ★★★★★

Summary
“Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.” –goodreads
 
Review
This book was by far one of the most emotionally draining books I have ever read. It has haunted me all day and I'm sure it will for quite awhile longer.. I have sat here for at least two hours struggling to find the words to describe this amazing book. What I know I can say is this: This book is the most moving and heart wrenching book of the series. It has left me with an immense feeling of loss, even if it is not necessarily an unhappy ending.

This book follows the others and is absolutely packed with action. Katniss never gets a break! I would say that it is more gory and graphic than the other two as well, but very realistic. If you thought you had seen human cruelty at its worst in the first two books: prepare yourself. You will feel all of Katniss' emotions: frustration, fear, helplessness, terrible loss. All of them. If you were concerned about the Gale vs. Peeta dilemma, then you will be happy to know it is resolved in this book.

I cannot say more for fear of spoiling the plot. This definitely needs to be experienced spoiler free.. There are so many twists and turns that Suzanne Collins had me guessing the entire time. I believe everyone should experience this amazing trilogy.. You will not be disappointed.

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Review: The Iron Queen

The Iron Queen (Iron Fey, #3) by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Kindle eBook
Pages: 368
Source: Amazon.com
Buy It: Paperback | Kindle
★★★★★

My name is Meghan Chase.
I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

What I Loved

• How attached I became to all of the characters.
• The action- MUCH more than the rest of the series.
• The romance- Meghan's relationship with Ash is definitely solidified in this book.
• The unpredictable, open, but satisfying ending. Have kleenex handy!
• Lastly, RAZOR the gremlin. What a great character. Very well written.

What I Didn't Like

• The crazy feeling of loss and sadness knowing I have to wait until the fall for book #4 in the series..
• The standard this sets for YA fantasy books... Will I ever find a series that compares??

Review

This series will forever hold a special place in my heart and bookshelf (Uh, I mean...kindle space), particularly this book. For me, this was the best in the series so far. It had everything I wanted more of from the other books, specifically action and romance. I wanted to see Meghan and Ash's relationship fleshed out. Here that definitely happens.

Ahh the romance... Who doesn't love romance? The difference between the romance in this book and the romance in the other two books is exactly this: Here the romance makes sense. In the other books it seemed too "Twilighty" to me. You don't just instantly become infatuated with a person! In "The Iron Queen" Meghan and Ash have a background and have been through many hard times. This makes their love far more believable and understandable. The thing that I like about Julie's writing in this book is that the romance was not overdone nor underdone. In my opinion, it was very balanced. If you've been waiting for more romance between Meghan and Ash, this is the book!

Here we see Meghan become stronger and more passionate about her mission. We see her grow as a character. She is no longer the self conscious girl from the first book. She has faith in her abilities and more importantly knows what needs to be done. I love this... It was strangely inspirational looking back at her from the first book. At first I thought the ending was terrible, but I didn't know then that there was another book on the way. I was like "WHAT!? HOW CAN YOU END THE SERIES LIKE THIS!?" I cannot explain my relief when I discovered that the next book is set for release this fall.

Overall, every second of this book was a joy to read. I would have given it more stars if possible! Warning though: Be prepared for some tears. I was sick with the stomach flu and exhausted but I just could not put this down. I ended up passing out with it the first night. Took me two days to finish.. Do not pass this series up!

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