Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book 2)

Hardcover: 452 pages

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Genre: Fairy Tale | Sci-Fi

Date of Publication: February 5, 2013

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turned out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Review:

Wolf is so attentive to his alpha female.

I love Scarlet and Wolf. It doesn't take him long to fall completely for her. He is a big teddy bear that just needs a hug for all he has been through. Ugh! I swooned so many times because of these two.

Heartthrob Thorne joins Cinder when she breaks out of jail. He is the comedic sidekick that the story needed. Thorne is amazing! He is charming, hilarious, and absolutely full of himself--in an endearing way.

Though Cinder is amazing, I am delighted to say that the story gets better and better. I can't say that I like Scarlet better, but I would say I like it just as much because of the characters. The great thing about Meyer's writing, is that she has found a way to seamlessly stitch together the happenings of people all over the world into the same story. It flows so smoothly. The reader is not left wondering what is happening to people in other cities. The story follows Cinder, Scarlet, Prince Kai, and Levana. Marissa Meyer is brilliant!

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The Lunar Chronicles Series:

Cinder (January 2012)

Scarlet (February 2013)

Cress (February 2014)

Fairest: Levana's Story (February 2015)

Winter (Coming November 2015)

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Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Series: Raven Cycle (Book 1)

Hardcover: 416 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre: Paranormal

Date of Publication: September 18, 2012 

Synopsis:

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, 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 is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher 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 doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

Review:

Brilliant.

I could not put The Raven Boys down. The concept of the novel is so intriguing. There are multiple points of view, but they are presented through Third Person, which I greatly appreciated. It created a smooth transition between the characters.

I have not read Stiefvater's Shiver series, but I will have to pick it up because I am blown away by her writing style. Stiefvater is an amazing story teller. The Raven Boys is a complex, multi-level story that combines mythology with the supernatural and adds a dash of teenage angst.

The characters are amazing. I can hear the accents in the text and the linguistic nuances that are unique to each individual voice. Each character has a back story that adds such depth and meaning to the events that push the story forward. Ronan and Adam tugged my heartstrings in a serious way. I was fully prepared to hate Gansey just like Blue, but I loved him. I opened the book fully expecting Gansey and Blue to fall into an infatuation that quickly led to his death. Well, I'm still waiting on it because who would have thought that she would get the butterflies for Adam. And realistically, their personalities match. It was perfection!

I haven't read reviews for the next two books, so I don't know whether Gansey and Blue will get together, but I have to admit that if they do I'll feel a little hurt. Betrayed. Because Blue and Adam are so stinking cute that I can't even handle it.

Other than that, I just really enjoyed everything about this book. It is hard to surprise me, but there were a few good ones in there. I have to put the warning out there, there is some bad language. The F-bomb is used about 4 or 5 times that I noticed. Just a disclaimer. Can't say that I didn't warn you.

The Raven Boys is an absolute must-read. Go buy it and read it. NOW!



Rating: 5 out of 5 Owls



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Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book 1)

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Genre: Fairy Tale | Sci-Fi

Date of Publication: January 3, 2012

Synopsis:

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 pass, 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.

Review:

Holy cow, this book is good!

And when I say good I mean that it has been years since I've read a book that I liked as much as Cinder. For a debut novel, I am thoroughly impressed by Marissa Meyer and I can only hope that when I finally publish my first book my story will be as complex and developed as hers. Marissa has created a world with multiple layers of pain, suspicion, intrigue, and romance. I don't know much about the mechanical and medical side, but it seems like Marissa did her research. I've never been a sci-fi fan, but I've always loved fairy tales and this one is a superb retelling of the classic Cinderella.

I am so glad I finally read Cinder. I'm glad I only just discovered it because there are two other books out, so I won't have to wait to continue the story. I hope to have Scarlet by the end of the week. Kudos to Marissa Meyer for a fantastic story. Her writing style flows between perspectives without any confusion--mainly because she uses third person, which I greatly appreciate. Her story-telling is top notch. I was definitely reminded of Sailor Moon in terms of the matriarchy and the nature of the villains, but the development of the lunar characters is strictly Marissa's.

There is character development, plot twists, and great mythology. It is very predictable, but the story is so good I easily looked past it. I can continue to gush, but that would be redundant. Cinder is an absolute must read. Go get it now!

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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The Lunar Chronicles Series:

Cinder (January 2012)

Scarlet (February 2013)

Cress (February 2014)

Fairest: Levana's Story (February 2015)

Winter (Coming November 2015)

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Review: Life As We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer

Genre: Dystopian | Sci-Fi

Synopsis:

Miranda's disbelief turns to fear in a split second when an asteroid knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sun-room, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove. In her journal, Miranda records the events of each desperate day, while she and her family struggle to hold on to their most priceless resource--hope. 

Review:

I LOVED this novel.

As the protagonist of the novel, Miranda grew slowly and realistically as the conditions of the world around her changed and she had to take on the responsibility of taking care of her family.

This novel will shock and scare you. It will make you take a step back and evaluate yourself. Are you prepared to face such a disaster as the conditions of the earth changing so much that there is no more electricity, more more food, and contaminated water? Disease spreads like the infamous Spanish Flu in history books and gang violence increases. Would you be able to keep your wits about you and survive? Would you want to live in a world where everything you have ever known is gone?

This novel, written in heart wrenching journal entries, will force you to consider the worst and reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses. For those who don't like feeling depressed while reading a book, there's a ending full of hope. There is a little bit of love, but I expect more in the sequels.

Read it. It's amazing.

Rating: 5 out of 5

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Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Genre: Paranormal | Witches

Synopsis:

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generation. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. 

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautifiul girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. 

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything. 

Review:

My first review of the year happens to be of the last book I read last year. It is coming a month after I finished it, but here it is. I just saw the trailer for the movie again and decided it was time to stop being lazy and get this review finished. 

This novel is a delight. The majority of the novel is written in Ethan's perspective, which is a refreshing change. Lena and her family retain a level of mystery up until the very end. There is a TON of angst between the teens and pretty much everyone else. There isn't an overload of information in one single spot, but because Ethan has no idea what Casters are or what they can do, there is a lot of explaining. Still, there is enough plot movement to keep it interesting. 

One thing I absolutely loved about the setting of Beautiful Creatures (Gatlin, SC) is that it shows both the good and bad aspects of Southern culture. I'm a born and bred Southern girl who loves the South. While the people in the small town of Gatlin turn against the Ravenwoods, there is still a strong degree of loyalty and familial love that resonates throughout. I loved the descriptions of the scenery and the dreams that take place during the Civil War. 

All in all Beautiful Creatures jumped to my favorites list by the third chapter. I can see myself reading it again and again and catching something new each time. I am anxiously waiting to see the movie.

Rating: 5 out of  5 owls

Movie Trailer:

The Spanish moss is just gorgeous!

Review: UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn

Genre: Fairy Tales

Synopsis:

Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular, and uncoordinated; that is, until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her high school status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is a descendant from the Brothers Grimm, and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business, which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her it's next fairy-tale victim.

To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.

Review:

I LOVE this book!

Those who know me personally know about my obsession with fairy tales. I even focused my thesis in college on the darker aspects of the original tales. The grimmer (pun intended) the tale, the better.

When I read the summary I was a little skeptical. It sounded like the plot of the Grimm series on NBC. But it was free, so I downloaded it. It sat in Nook Wonderland for about two months before I decided to read it. After the end I was left wondering why did I not read this earlier?! 

I immediately bought the second book, Fairest, and I will be starting it after I finish this review.  

Now, I want to be clear on several aspects concerning this wonderful, amazing, brilliant, fantastic novel. Twitter is probably mentioned six dozen times, the tales are not like a Disney movie, it is a YA book so many of the characters are petty and shallow, and if you don't like the Disney "and they lived happily ever after" endings then I will metaphorically get tickled to death by your reaction to this book. For me, the ending was the best part. The foreshadowing made it a little obvious, but that's peachy-keen for me. I won't spoil it, but know that it is grand. 

I loved how the tales took on a twist based on how Mina lived it. The stories would change based on the decisions she made. Mina experienced great character growth and became mentally stronger as the plot progressed. Brody's sweet but come on, Jared is fae. Enough said. 

Chanda's spin on the classic fairy tales is creative and exciting. I have no doubt that I will be reading this series over and over again.

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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Review: Keystone by Misty Provencher

Genre: Paranormal | Teen Romance

Synopsis

Book Two in the Cornerstone Series.

There's a man-made storm coming, like a rip in the world, and it's called the Cusp.

Struggling to fit into the destiny she's accepted, Nalena Maxwell has been left with one objective: she must find her murdered grandfather's Memory. Stolen and hidden away by her own father over seventeen years ago, the Memory could be the key to ending the Cusp and destroying the Ianua's rival community, The Fury.

Driven by each individual's selfish desires, The Fury has always lacked the loyalty and organization it needs to be an actual force of power.

Until now.

Someone masterminded the Fury's massive attack on the Ianua, slaughtering twelve of their thirteen community leaders, the Addos. Now there are rumors that the 13th Cura, to which Nali belongs, has gone to the Fury, manipulating the last Addo in order to control the other 12 Curas.

As the Cusp brings the Fury and their own communities against them, Nalena's Cura must preserve the Ianua, but finding the key to the Cusp isn't as simple as it seems.

Review:

It takes a lot to make me cry when reading a book. I had legit tears streaming down my face when Nali had to say goodbye to her mother. Misty has a real talent at making her readers feel every emotion that the characters experience.

Keystone is everything I had hoped for and much more. It is everything a sequel should be. At one point I was afraid Misty was bringing Zaneen and Milo in as new love interests, but I was so pleased when Garrett and Nali stayed true to each other. I love the inner strength of these characters, and I appreciate that Misty left room for them to grow. Zane was a wonderful comic addition and I love him almost as much as Garrett.

The action scenes were intense, and Misty maintained a level of mystery that prevented me from figuring everything out right away. I honestly have no complaints and suggestions of things to change. Everything was written with such care and thoughtfulness.

Great job, Misty! 

Random Quote:
I wince. "Yeah, sorry I stink."
"Oh honey," she laughs. "I have four boys. You don't even know what stink is."

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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My review of Cornerstone, the first book in this series.

Review: Inescapable by Amy A. Bartol

Genre: Paranormal | Angels

Synopsis:

I'm Evie and this was to be the making of me-my first year of college. I'd hoped that once I'd arrived at Crestwood, the nightmare that I've been having would go away. It hasn't. At 17, I may be inexperienced, but I'm sane. When Reed is near, however, nothing makes any sense. He's not what he seems to be...and neither am I. I'm afraid that the nightmare my dream is foretelling is...inescapable.

Review:

My aunt, Globug, let me borrow her copy of Inescapable and I absolutely LOVED it. I read it over the course of two days because I just couldn't put it down. 

As a born and bred Southerner, who actually lives in the Upstate of South Carolina and has many friends from Asheville, I have to say that the linguistic interpretation of the accents from the area are completely off in terms of the timing in which vowels are stressed and when the consonants are shortened. This mistake is an easy fix and is probably only recognizable to Southerners from the area. In regard to the story itself, much of the plot was predictable because of expectations in the genre. Though I was definitely surprised with the ending, in all honesty I'm not too sure about the direction that Bartol took with the ending. However, I'm sure the extra complexity that was shoved in at the end with little explanation will be explored in the next novel. Maybe I just hate cliffhangers, but I still loved the story so much that I will definitely start the second book ASAP. 

So, the parts I absolutely love about Bartol's creation include the characters, the touch of mythology, and the attachment I developed for the characters. While the struggles that the characters face are not completely original--I've read dozens of books where the lead character discovers he or she is a half-breed and must confront the physical changes that occur due to this discovery while simultaneously battling an evil force that just so happens to be rising in the close area and conquering the trials of true love--Bartol has a special way of writing that draws the reader in and makes the characters lovable. While I adore Russell and feel badly for him, I was pulling for Reed all along. Call it pessimism or realism if you like, but even if everyone on earth actually has a soul mate the likely hood of finding one's soul mate before loneliness causes one to "settle" is highly improbable. However, to actually find one's soul mate and deliberately choose to be with another is simply brilliant. I was hooked. Bartol reevaluates the concept of a soul mate and the ideal of true love with a unique interpretation and great writing. 

The touch of mythology, both direct and subtle parallels to the Greek myth of the goddess Persephone, made me sigh a breath of sheer contentment. While I normally don't enjoy books featuring angels, Bartol blew this genre out of the park. She moves from simplicity to complexity all in the same paragraph and leaves  the reader begging for more. The references to some of my favorite literary classics were seamlessly incorporated, yet added so much depth for those familiar with those works. Add on to that the catchy and clever chapter titles and you have a winner. 

I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning. I was falling in love with all of the male characters and I experienced the emotional roller coaster vicariously through Evie. I was proud of Evie for never wavering on her love for Reed, and I appreciated her genuine reactions to the changes her body experiences. I will purchase this for myself to read over and over. I can't wait to start Intuition. This is a definite MUST read.

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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Review: Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Genre: Supernatural | Werewolves

Synopsis:

Having fallen for a human boy, a beautiful teenage werewolf must battle both her packmates and the fear of the townspeople to decide where she belongs and with whom.

Having fallen for a human boy, a beautiful teenage werewolf must battle both her packmates and the fear of the townspeople to decide where she belongs and with whom.

Review:

This is the book that started it all for me. I first read Blood and Chocolate when I was a sophomore in high school. I LOVED it. By the time I finished high school I had read it over ten times.  I now read it at least once a year. There has been some debate around this novel concerning its sensual content. Vivian, the main character, is a strong teenage werewolf who relishes in the beauty of her beast. That is, until she meets Aiden, a human boy who she falls madly in love with. However, according to the laws of her pack Vivien must put aside her seeming teenage infatuation with Aiden and mate with Gabriel, the pack's new leader--a sexy hunk of man-flesh. Despite their mutual attraction for each other, Vivien is determined to resist Gabriel and make Aiden hers. 

This book combines supernatural elements with typical teenage angst and has a murder mystery appeal to it. What I appreciate most is the realistic voice that Vivien has. She is a teenager struggling to learn how to balance her role as the new alpha female and gain acceptance from her human counterparts. It is a story of self-discovery, sacrifice, and love. 

Tasty Tid-bit:

"You think you're such a stud, don't you?" she said. 

"Don't you?" he asked.

She stormed out of the kitchen to the dining room.

He followed her. "I see I'm required to court you in every room of the house."

"Not likely," she replied. 

"I'm looking forward to the bedrooms," he said.

"Go to hell!"

His grin faded. "I will court you," he said. "And I won't give up. I will wait for you like I waited for you outside that cave, and I'll follow you like I followed you home that night, keeping you safe. I will wait for you because you are meant to be mine"--his voice grew husky with desire--"and because you'll be worth the wait. Goodbye, Princess Wolf. Let me know what deeds must be done to win you."

When he'd left she could still smell him in the room as if he'd claimed her whole life. 

"I'll choose my own mate," she swore, and walked to the phone.



Rating: 5 out of 5 owls



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Review: Reckless Magic by Rachel Higginson

Genre: Supernatural

Synopsis:

16 year old Eden Matthews has been in and out of private schools for the last two years. She can't seem to stop herself from closing them down. Kingsley is her last chance to finish high school and the last private school willing to accept her.

She is focused on just getting through graduation until she realizes Kingsley is not like the other private schools she's been to. The students may be different, but so is she. And after meeting Kiran Kendrick, the boy who won't leave her alone and seems to be the source of all her problems, she is suddenly in a world that feels more make-believe than reality.

To top it off, she is being hunted by men who want to kill Kiran and her best friend Lilly is taken away to a foreign prison. Eden finds herself right in the middle of an ancient war, threatening everything she loves. She alone has to find a way to save her best friend and the boy who has captivated her heart.

Review:

This one has been added to my list of favorites. I had downloaded Reckless Magic on my Nook months before my aunt suggested I read it, however I wasn't able to read anything until my student teaching was finished. I am pleased to say that I haven't read a book that forced me to stay up all night until I finished it in years. I couldn't put it down. I quickly became emotionally attached to the characters and I relished in the romantic drama. I don't even know where to begin to describe how amazing this book is. Eden is strong, loyal, determined, outspoken, and so normal she's endearing. Kiran is a complete prick until the reader realizes how thoroughly smitten he is with Eden. Avalon is the perfect over-protective brother and Amory is just gallant. 

Rachel Higginson is brilliant. She has created a world with such care and intimacy that the reader feels connected and engulfed in the story. I see myself re-reading this book every year. I'm anxious to begin the next installment of the Star-Crossed series. Check out Reckless Magic, it's golden. 

Tasty Tid-bit:

"As unlikely as our love affair might have been, loving Kiran was the only concrete path I could imagine. Consumed with a love that would probably get me killed, I would never have chosen any other way. We were truly destined for each other, fated to be together... we were star-crossed."



Rating: 4 out of 5 owls



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Review: Entwined by Heather Dixon

Genre: Fairy Tales

Entwined is a lovely reworking of the classic fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Azalea, the princess royale and eldest sister, loses her mother to childbirth. Though newly born Lily survives the ordeal, the tragedy of losing their mother hits the family hard. The girls' father, whom they call 'Sir' or 'the King', begins to drift farther away than before. He demands that the girls give up dancing in order to fulfill the year-long period of mourning. The girls, now dressed in black, must also lose their father in a war, as he leaves to lead the troops. Despite their father's many restrictions, the girls are determined to find a way to dance, a talent inherited by their beloved mother. Upon discovering a magic passageway, the girls begin to take nightly visits to the mystic pavilion looked over by the Keeper. However, this beautiful eternal dance is not what it seems. The girls must face a more dangerous threat than mere family rules. It becomes a battle between dark magic and love.

The most endearing aspect of the novel is the close bond that all the girls share. The realization of their father's love, merely expressed differently than their mother's, emphasizes the importance of vocal confirmation of love and affection between family members. There are tidbits of romance throughout, which add a nice subplot, but it is not the primary focus. Familial love and honesty are the major themes of the novel. To put it simply, Entwined is delightful.

Book Trailer:



Rating: 5 out of 5 owls



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Review: Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

Genre: Fairy Tales

Synopsis:

As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past — until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone — it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.

Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

Review:

Where was this novel during college when I wrote my dissertation on the sacrifice motif in fairy tales? To put it bluntly, this novel is wonderful. From the first sentence I was hooked. I could not put Sweetly down. Not only did the subtle references to motifs and themes common to traditional fairy tales tickle my love for folklore, but Pearce's descriptions of the painful torment of losing a sibling--a twin--are heart wrenching. The reader cannot help but become emotionally attached to Gretchen. Once again, I appreciate the maturity of the protagonist, Gretchen, and her brother Ansel. Gretchen and Ansel have a strong sense of reason and adult maturity that tells of  life quickly thrust into adulthood. 

Pearce's interpretation of the age-old tale of Hansel and Gretel combines the supernatural elements of pagan influenced folklore with the beliefs and customs of modern society. These supernatural elements are tastefully subtle and add mystery to the plot. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the novel is the somewhat tragic ending. I love the "what goes around comes around" finale. This novel is definitely one that I will enjoy reading again and again.

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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