Review: Partials by Dan Wells

Partials (Partials #1) by Dan Wells
Publication: February 28th, 2012 by Balzer + Bray
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary from Goodreads:

Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out.

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask.

Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question--one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival.

Warning:
You may or may not get heart attacks from the addictive quality of this book.  Most likely you will.  I also apologize for the vagueness of my review, it's hard not to give anything away.

Intro
It took me a week to read the first 150 pages.  It took me 4 hours to read the rest.  (This is FAST for me).  The first 150 pages felt more like a prologue (that could have been greatly condensed in my opinion), but after you get through them, the story really picks up.  I literally had to put the book down sometimes because I had to run around and freak out.  It's been a really long time since I've spazzed this much while reading a book.  It feels awesome.

Characters
So I was not a huge fan of Kira at first... she seemed like an overly sentimental and weepy character.  But then, she got pretty badass.  She was also very intellectual and although I felt like the science was a little too dumbed down, it was clear Kira knew her stuff.  I also really loved Samm, hehe.  Even though I liked how the romance between them was subtle, I hope there will be more in the next book.

Plot Twists!!!
Around the middle of the book, I was saying to myself, "This is REALLY good, so I don't mind that it's so predictable."  And then I immediately had to take back my words because Partials is plot twist after plot twist! Eventually I gave up guessing what was going to happen because I was always wrong.

I started off thinking, "Oh, the humans are so evil, this book does a great job showing the corruption and ignorance of humanity.  The Partials are the victims here!"  And then things weren't exactly as they seemed... my opinion of the humans and Partials kept on changing...  Eventually, you just don't really know who the good guys or bad guys are, and Partials definitely kept me second guessing.

Overall
Despite the slow beginning, Partials is a really action packed book that will definitely satisfy dystopian and science fiction fans alike.  And if you're looking for a twisty read full of surprises, Partials is for you!  I will definitely be on the lookout for Dan Wells' other books, and I'm highly anticipating this sequel!

Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland #1) by Catherynne M. Valente
Format: Hardcover, 247 pages
Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure
Published May 10th, 2011 by Feiwel & Friends
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Rating: *4.5 out of 5

From Goodreads:

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday. With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making is a short, but intriguing and charming book. It is the story of a girl named September, who in true fairytale fashion, goes off on an adventure in Fairyland where she is faced with an exciting but dangerous world filled with exciting but possibly dangerous characters.

What stood out most to me was the writing.  It is in 3rd person, with an often ominous narrator.  The writing was similar to the writing in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.  In a way, this kind of made me feel like you never really get to know the characters too intimately, they are kept distant from the reader as they go on their adventures.  I was okay with this, and thought it made the reading experience more unique but maybe not as enjoyable as it could have been.

I think what I enjoyed most from this book was the creative and colorful cast of characters that September meets on her journey.  I also really loved the world building in this book, although it take some concepts from traditional fantasy stories, I thought it was still really unique and well done.

Overall, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making is a thought provoking book, that should not be limited to middle grade readers.  It has gotten great feedback from readers of all ages, and I think older readers can appreciate the literary devices the author uses more than younger readers.  I would highly recommend it to fans of the writing in A Series of Unfortunate Events and to fans of middle grade books in general.

*To clarify on my rating, even though I think this book deserves a 5+ out of 5 based on writing, story, and all that literary jazz, it was not the book for me.  You know a book is good if it's blurbed by Neil Gaiman.  But if based on my personal interest in the book, I gave it a 4 out of 5.  Although I can see the book is brilliant and magical, the writing style did not completely work for me.

And just for the heck of it, here's my favorite quote :)

“One ought not to judge her: all children are Heartless. They have not grown a heart yet, which is why they can climb high trees and say shocking things and leap so very high grown-up hearts flutter in terror. Hearts weigh quite a lot. That is why it takes so long to grow one. But, as in their reading and arithmetic and drawing, different children proceed at different speeds. (It is well known that reading quickens the growth of a heart like nothing else.) Some small ones are terrible and fey, Utterly Heartless. Some are dear and sweet and Hardly Heartless At All. September stood very generally in the middle on the day the Green Wind took her, Somewhat Heartless, and Somewhat Grown.”

-Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Format: Hardcover, 318 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Published January 10th, 2012 by Dutton Juvenile
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary from 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.

Disclaimer: this review is more of a long winded babbling than a review.  Sorry about that.

I think everyone can acknowledge that this book was good.  Some call it John Green's best.  There are countless glowing reviews so if it seems like I'm focusing on the negative things, it's just because I feel like all the fantastic things about this novel have already been said.

If you've read other TFioS reviews, you've probably already heard about the crying and tears... and while I did get teary eyed and cried at one point in the novel, it was not an emotional breakdown kind of book for me.  You would think that a book dealing with cancer would be chock full of overbearing scenes of despair, but it's really not.  I appreciate that John Green didn't try to go all Nicholas Sparks on us. (Nothing against Nicholas Sparks, but really, his books are a recipe for tears).

Although I loved this book, a thing that bothered me was that at times, it felt really... pretentious.  And I know it's slightly pretentious to use the word pretentious, but that's the word that comes to mind.  I'm okay with the fact that Hazel and Augustus aren't exactly your typical teenagers.  It's refreshing to read about witty teenagers who think more about their lives than school, friends, partying, etc.  But some of their dialogue and mannerisms just came off as pretentious to me... Augustus and his unlit cigarette metaphors... like, if I met someone like that in real life, I wouldn't know whether to think he was cool and thoughtful, or a douche.  And some of the profound moments and sophistication in this book felt forced and over calculated.  Just my opinion.

Overall, while TFioS is a beautiful story that I most definitely enjoyed reading, it didn't live up to the hype for me.  (And what I mean by 'live up to the hype' is I was kind of expecting a 5+ out of 5.  Maybe it's my fault for having high expectations.).  This is just my opinion, 99.999999% of the people who have read TFioS LOVED it with their heart and soul.

Okay, so after writing all that, I realized it kind of sounds like I didn't like this book... even though I really did! *pinky promise* While I was reading, there were times where I wanted to sticky note passages and annotate.  And I'm not gonna lie, first thing I did after I finished this book was look up An Imperial Affliction on Goodreads.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:
(Emphasis needed on the word some.  Because I have a lot.)

“I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.” 

“That's the thing about pain...it demands to be felt.”

“It's just that most really good-looking people are stupid, so I exceed expectations.'
'Right, it's primarily his hotness,' I said.
'It can be sort of blinding,' he said.
'It actually did blind our friend Isaac,' I said.
'Terrible tragedy, that. But can I help my own deadly beauty?'
'You cannot.'
'It is my burden, this beautiful face.'
'Not to mention your body.'
'Seriously, don't even get me started on my hot bod. You don't want to see me naked, Dave. Seeing me naked actually took Hazel Grace's breath away,' he said, nodding toward the oxygen tank.”

-John Green, The Fault in Our Stars 

Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Title: Bloodlines
Author: Richelle Mead
Pages: 421
Publisher: Razor Pill (Penguin), 2011 Hardcover

Goodreads summary:
When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

My summary:

First, let me state immediatly that if you haven't yet read Last Sacrifce and plan on doing so, do not read this book. I know that it stands apart from Vampire Academy, but it often goes back to what happens in that book. So that would be some major spoilage.

Secondly, I don't think you actually have to read the Vampire Academy series to read this book. As I just said, it does tell you the vital things that happened in the last series so that you understand what happened, but you just won't get that connection to the characters, since most were introduced through out VA.

Now, let's get this review started shall we?

Definitely better than I was hoping! But then again, I kind of had set it at a low standard to begin with. Not that Richelle Mead's writing is bad, it's just that I didn't think anything would be as good as the Vampire Academy again.

I'm so glad I was proved wrong!

The writing was excellent, once more drawing you into the mystery of what was happening. The book engulfs your attention, making you turn the page over and over again until you reach the end. It was wonderful!

The characters definitely played a part in it. Since most were reaccuring characters, I already had that bond with them. Their personalities weren't much different that Vampire Academy, so it wasn't liking they had been rewritten completley. Of course, actions and events change a person in real life, so they were a tiny bit different from the Vampire Academy series.

Eddie, continues to be my favorite! Though now he's a bit more serious.

Jill, Oh you'll love (or not) the plot twist in this one with her.

Adrian, still in love with him. Though possibly now even more! Alas, his heart still seems to be yearning for Rose. But I wonder if that will change soon.

Sydney! The main character of this story, she's by far the most interesting. Her conflicts seem so real, the eternal battle she has with what she knows and with what she grew up with. I feel like this happens often, in the real world and mostly with religion. I have the conflict myself at times, which makes it so much more interesting and personal.

The plot: interesting, though it would seem to have been done before. But of course, the little things Richelle Mead adds to the story makes it interesting and unique in its own way. The setting is great! I always wondered how they would fit in. The problem, interesting.

The new characters are some you're going to love and hate! Just as its meant to be. They're great, and I can't wait for all of you to enjoy them!

Overall: It was a good book, well written and definitley something all Vampire Academy readers will enjoy.

Rating: 4.3/5

Did I fall in love with the book: No, but close.
Would I reccommend it for someone else: Yes! Especially if you read VA.

Here's the book trailer for it. When I first saw it, I thought they were making a TV show. Then I kind of freaked out. So enjoy the USA TV Spot.

Mini Reviews: Shift, Blood Red Road, The Demon's Surrender

I clearly have a problem.  We can call this problem, "April takes forever to write reviews and eventually forgets everything that happened in the book".  So I'm just going to write mini reviews that aren't gonna be too in depth and maybe a little random because I have the memory span of a goldfish.  I also have this problem called "April sucks at writing" but we can save that discussion for another time.

Shift (Shade #2) by Jeri Smith-Ready
Published May 3rd, 2011 by Simon Pulse
Hardcover, 367 pages

(Summary from Goodreads)

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.

My Review:
Shift is an emotional roller coaster that you may not want to read in public, due to people giving you strange looks when you bust out laughing, blurt out "OMFG", and grin like a loon.  Not that I would know from personal experience, or anything like that.

In Shade, you are introduced to Aura's world where she and everyone born after her are able to see ghosts.  Shift explores more of the mythology of the world, which I loved!  The author does an excellent job with the ghost mythology, this coming from someone who generally doesn't like ghost books.  As much as I love the romance in these books, I hope to find out more of the mythology in Shine.

I just realized that in almost every book review, I talk about boys.  This one is no different.  I think the key to a great love triangle is you don't know who the girl/guy is going to end up with.  And Jeri Smith-Ready definitely knows how to write a great love triangle.  Even though this is the 2nd book in the series, I STILL can't figure out if I like Zachary or Logan more... but I think I'm starting to lean toward Zachary.  Love love love the prom scene ;)  I was a little confused with the introduction of Dylan and Aura making this awkward love quadrilateral.    Although looking back now I can kind of see where the author was going with it, I didn't really know what to think of it while I was reading.  It felt a little out of place and random in the book.

I really liked the usage of heritage and culture in these books.  Aura isn't just randomly Italian, Zachary isn't just randomly Scottish, etc.  The author incorporates history, ancestry, and culture into almost every character.  Personally, I think these give the characters more depth and they are more realistic to read.

4.5 out of 5 stars :)  Highly recommend this series to all readers, no matter what genre you prefer.

Blood Red Road (Dustlands #1) by Moira Young
Published June 7th, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Hardcover, 459 pages

From Goodreads:

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

My Review:
One of the first things you notice about this book is the writing and the voice.  Although it takes some effort to tone down your inner editor, the way it is written allows Saba to have a really clear, distinct voice that stands out.  And it really helps you get into the mindset of the world of Blood Red Road.  I can understand how this could be a turn off for people, but I really liked it and thought it made this book unique.  Props to Moira Young for turning off the spell check.

Something that threw me off a little was Saba's relationship with her brother Lugh.  They were really close and Saba was willing to do anything to get Lugh back, but I couldn't really figure out why besides that they're twins.  Although this is a minor issue, it was at the back of my mind for the entire book because the main reason Saba even has this grand adventure is because she's trying to get Lugh back.

I really liked Saba as a character and her growth throughout the novel.  You can definitely see her mature at the end of the book through her relationships with other people.  I liked how she and Jack didn't exactly have instalove, they had issues like normal couples do.  A character I wished there was more of was DeMalo.  I really liked him, and although this doesn't really seem like a love triangle kind of book, I wouldn't mind if DeMalo was part of it. :)  I get vibes that he's gonna be in the next book, so April is happy.

What I appreciate is that Blood Red Road had a resolution, and didn't leave you with a heart in your throat cliffhanger.  Although it could have been an action-packed standalone, I really liked the ending and it probably gave this book rating half a star.

4 out of 5 stars.  Although it didn't exactly live up to my expectations, I still thoroughly enjoyed Blood Red Road and anticipate any upcoming books in this series :)

The Demon's Surrender (The Demon's Lexicon #3) by Sarah Rees Brennan
Published June 14th, 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Hardcover, 400 pages

From Goodreads:

The Goblin Market has always been the center of Sin’s world. But now the Market is at war with the magicians, and Sin’s place is in danger. Thrown out of the Market she loves, Sin is thrown together with brothers Nick and Alan—whom she’s always despised.

Alan has been marked by a magician and is being tortured so that the magicians can get to Nick. As Sin watches Alan struggle to protect the demon brother he loves, she begins to see him in a new light—but she and Mae are locked in a fierce rivalry over who will inherit the leadership of the Goblin Market, and a decisive battle with the Aventurine Circle is looming. Mae’s brother, Jamie, is holed up with the magicians, his loyalties in question. And Nick—well, who knows what a demon might do to save his brother? How far will Nick go to save Alan—and what will it cost them all?

My Review:
Honestly?  I don't think there was a possibility of me NOT liking this book.  Simply because I am completely in love with these characters and the author's writing.  The Demon's Surrender is from Sin's perspective, and I really came to love her despite her not being a prominent character in the previous books.  She was wholly devoted to her family and the Market.  And I liked how she grew to love Alan, despite how they felt each other before.  Somewhat random, but I really admire Sin and Mae, and pretty much every female in this series for their strength and refusal to let people walk all over them.

Because I am such a shallow person, we cannot leave this review without mentioning Alan and Nick.  Gotta love those Ryves boys.  From page one of The Demon's Lexicon, I was in love with Nick even though I describe him as a demonic sociopath frequently.  Demon's Covenant being from Mae's perspective, I was pretty smitten with Nick still.  Not gonna lie, the demon mark (hickey of death) scene was hot.  But in Demon's Surrender you get a closer look at Alan, and I fell in love with Alan.  He has the whole broken boy thing going on which makes me want to give a hug.  It's official.  Alan makes it onto the list.  Alan Ryves for life.  And Nick too.  Because there is no such thing as teams in this book, for me at least.

As usual, SRB gets all plot twisty, but I'm not gonna give anything away ;)  But I seriously love the title The Demon's Surrender, it fits this book perfectly.  I'm seriously getting teary eyed knowing this is the last book, but I am so glad that I picked up this series last year.  Will forever be one of my favorites.

5 out of 5 stars :) A perfect ending to a freaking amazing series that will never leave me.  I'd highly recommend this series to anyone, including my grandma, my goldfish, my biology teacher, etc.

Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Published by EgmontUSA on June 14th
Hardcover, 397 pages

(Summary from Goodreads):

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

On an irrelevant sidenote, OMG! I got the color for my blockquote, and it looks so cool! It's almost like I'm a real blogger.  Thanks so much to Brielle and Penelope for the help!  If you're interested in learning more, check out Penelope's post.

My Review:
I think what I loved about this book was more of the characters and romance rather than the actual plot and concepts, even though Hourglass definitely has a unique story line in YA.  I don't think I've ever read a book about time travel before either, but it was a little difficult for me to get into the time travelling. Maybe I just didn't read those sections thoroughly, but I kinda wished it could have been explained a little more.  There are also a couple of really great plot twists that I think a lot of people will enjoy, but (this is a first) I kinda saw them coming, so I guess it didn't impact me as much as it could have.  Hopefully this means me and Myra think alike... except I'm nowhere near as cool as her.

I think what really stood out to me in this book was the characters.  I loved Emerson as a main character, I felt that she was easy to relate to and her sarcasm was pretty amusing.  She had a very unique voice which I give Myra props for.  I liked Michael as well, he was super sweet (and hot) and I was totally in love with him until I met Kaleb.

Oh Kaleb.  I've officially added him to my fictional boyfriend list (I really do have a list because I have a tendency to forget them since I have so many).  Even though Kaleb has his sweet moments, he's kind of the opposite of Michael.  Whereas Michael is overall a gentleman, Kaleb is flirtatious and a total player, which makes him so much more entertaining for me.  And oh yeah, he's pretty hot too.  (You see where my priorities are by now lol).  I also really liked the minor characters like Lily, Cat, Ava, Liam, Thomas, Jack etc. and I hope we get to see more of them in the next book, which I definitely will be reading!  I think Myra is a fantastic writer and I'll be sure to pick up anything she writes in the future :)

Overall:
4.5 out of 5 stars!  With it's infectious characters and compelling romance, Hourglass is a must-read!  I'd recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of mystery, hot boys, and snarky, strong heroines.

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Goodreads summary:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, 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 to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating 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 a growing conflict that threatens 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 literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.


My Review:
THIS.  This is the dystopian that I love.  You've probably noticed that the dystopian genre has been really popular recently due to the Hunger Games and its' awesomeness.  I can name at least 10 that have come out in the past 8 months.  But out of all those books, Divergent reminds me of Hunger Games the most.  I'm not trying to say it's some knock off of the Hunger Games, which it definitely isn't, but the action, suspense, and violence gives off a HG vibe, which is always awesome.


Even though this book was great, and I loved it a lot, there were times when I really struggled to relate with Tris.  Mostly because she is really badass and I am most definitely not.  And there were times when I really couldn't comprehend how she could be so callous and claim it was being Dauntless. Which I suppose it was, but I just couldn't relate.  Her badassery overall is pretty cool and always interesting to see characters like her, it just makes me feel lamer lol. (Did I really just write lol in a review? Yeah).  I really liked Four though, how he could be strong and vulnerable at the same time.  God, that sounded cheesy. 
I had a bit of hard time remembering that he was only eighteen, considering that he is her mentor and he seems so mature.  


I loved the world building in this book, a dystopian Chicago felt so real to me.  I also liked the use of the Factions and it really allows the reader to wonder more in depth about the world and how if they were a character, which Faction would they be in?


Not going to give away the ending, but it kinda left me in shock at some points.  The plot overall was great and kept me turning the pages, and there was almost never a dull moment.  I'm glad that there wasn't a HUGE cliffhanger like in most dystopians, but it kinda left me feeling, "There's no way she ended it like that" which I suppose could be a good thing.  Fortunately, there is going to be a trilogy and I will definitely read all of the books!  There's also a movie optioned I believe so I'm really excited for that too.


Overall:
4.5 out of 5 stars :) Action-packed debut that will keep you flipping pages at the edge of your seat, I highly recommend this to fans of books like the Hunger Games. I am definitely looking forward to the sequel to this book!

Review: Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

So, because I struggle with reviewing contemporary books (it's not that I don't like them, I really do, I just never know what to say for them) I almost passed up on this book.  And I'm soooooo glad I didn't.  Because even though a lot of is contemporary, there are some eerie supernatural aspects of if that made this completely enjoyable for me.  If the paranormal genre and the contemporary genre had a secret love child, it would be this book.


Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: June 14th 2011 by Dutton Juvenile

Goodreads summary:
Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.

My Personal Ramblings:

I'd just first like to say Nova Ren Suma is SUCH an AMAZING writer.  And she has a pretty awesome name.  Which is slightly irrelevant. *cough* Anyways... I'm going to sound like a nerd but I love her use of diction, symbolism, metaphors, etc. all that boring stuff you learn in English class and you thought you would never have to use!  Or maybe that's just me... *cough*  But in all seriousness, even though I believe this is her 2nd book, and her first book in the YA genre, her writing is expertly FLAWLESS and flows so easily.  Without trying, I easily read this book in one sitting, and then was surprised at how quickly I got through it.  

Remember what I said about this book being the love child of paranormal and contemporary books? Yeah, that becomes pretty apparent throughout this book.  Even from the very beginning of the book, you can see how Chloe and the majority of the town views Ruby as almost god-like.  As the book goes on, secrets are revealed about Ruby, and how her power in the town isn't completely all from her.  However the paranormal aspects of the book blended in with the realistic world so well, it's almost as if it was an illusion.  There is no direct explanation about Ruby's power, and it almost seems fantastical at times, but there is definitely supernatural at work.  The lines between reality and fantasy are so blurred that sometimes you question the characters' sanity.  But I thought it was a perfect way if one wanted to incorporate paranormal into a book with many contemporary themes.  


Ruby is one of those strange characters that I would hate to meet in real life, and yet she completely intrigues me as a book character.  She completely walks over people, especially boys, and claims to not care about anyone, except Chloe.  Chloe's development did not happen the way I thought it would and wanted it too, but I definitely like the way it ended.  I wanted Chloe to stand up for herself, and break out of her sister's shadow.  Which she does... but not at all how I expected it.  This is relevant, but seems completely irrelevant now, but I love the chapter titles.  Each chapter is titled with the first two or three words of the chapter, which sounds weird, but the titles of the book show an almost perfect progression of the internal conflict of the story.  

What I love about the ending is that it makes you realize this book is about the bond of sisterhood and how unbreakable that bond is.  The book was filled with other issues like love, family, individualism, etc. but the ending really brought it all together back to the main purpose.  I liked how the ending had an opening, and there was not a complete resolution because there is no ending to Chloe's love and loyalty to her sister despite everything that happens in the book.  I've read some reviews that said they wished that there was more action in this book overall, and my argument to that is there is no need for more action.  The tension, the suspense, the internal conflict IS the action of the novel, and in my opinion, it works.  Based off the ending, I believe Imaginary Girls is a standalone, but I will definitely be reading whatever Nova Ren Suma will be writing in the future. 

Overall:

4.5 out of 5 stars :) Haunting and eerie, this book will suck you in and won't let go.  (I've just realized how strange and creepy that sounds.  But it's meant to be a good thing lol).  Definitely worth checking out on June 14th!

Review: Rules of Attraction

Title: Rules of Attraction
Author: Simone Elkeles
Pages: 324
Hardcover, Walker & Company

Goodreads summary:
When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now

My review:

Oh my goodness. Love this book!

Okay, so I wasn't expecting much of it to begin with. I loved the first one so much and I've had a history of being disappointed with the sequel. But this book, this book brings hope that squalls will once more be grand!

This is the story of Carlos Fuentes, Alex's high school senior little brother, and high school senior Kiara.

Kiara is your basic high school senior, with a slight speech problem. Carlos is your basic Mexican gang member. They would have never picked one another as someone they would go out with.

When circumstances beyond them control bring them under the same roof, they can't recognize one another.

The book is amazing. I loved it so much, and as a native Spanish speaker, it was amazingly correct. Well there was one exception, but it could actually depend on what it really means. I'm glad to say that I've learned a lot of things from this book. Due to my growing up in the States, I'm not that advanced in the Mexican slang and well reading Simone Elkeles has finally caught me up to the language of my cousins.

I personally connected with the book, and I'm thinking that's what made me love it so much. It wasn't just how well written it was, or how there was a believable romance, or how I was basically engaged into the story that when I took a break and returned to my room, for a moment I was trying to remember what channel I had been watching. That's how good it was, I could see everything playing out in my head.

I'm giving this 4.5 out of 5 stars and am recommending it to everyone who loves a romance, wants to learn Spanish or just looking for a good sequel.

-Karina