Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew - about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam - was wrong.

Title: Ignite Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #3
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: February 4th 2014

Rating: 4 stars







Thoughts:

Ignite Me did several things: it made me laugh, it made me feel sad, it made me angry, it made me happy. While the overall plot may have been a bit lacking, this book managed to get many emotions out of me. 

I absolutely loved Juliette's growth in Ignite Me. Gone is the insecure and scared girl from the first two books - Juliette has finally come into her own, and it's awesome. Let me tell you, she was a complete badass. She finally accepted who she was and what she could do, and in doing that, she gained confidence. I loved confident Juliette fiercely. I wasn't too sold on her character in the previous books, but I see now how it was necessary for her to be that way. She isn't anymore, though, and I could cheer her on whenever she did a particularly badass thing. To be honest - yes, her character is a little bit special snowflake-y. She has one power that has many aspects, which caused Juliette to seem a little too badass at times. I personally didn't mind - for once. I was too busy enjoying who Juliette had become.

The side characters were really good too. Mafi managed to make them all feel different, even though they don't all get equal screen time. Kenji remains to be awesome. Seriously, he's one of my favorite characters ever. He's so funny and honest and always says exactly what he should say. And the dialogue was perfect. There were a couple of situations that put a huge grin on my face, or made me laugh out loud. The whole crew has awesome dialogue, and it's the kind of dialogue that I could imagine my friends and I having (especially the 'no more talking' coversation - I loved that one). 

And, of course, WARNER. I'm on Team Warner, definitely! He was extremely swoony and I really, really loved the way his character developed. We definitely get to see more sides of him and I understood him better in this novel. His character deepens and I just loved him so much. And no, I won't tell you who Juliette ends up with ;) But I was happy with the way Mafi resolved this love triangle - we get to see how both boys appeal to different sides of her and I could definitely understand why she chose who she did. 

The plot, however, was a bit lacking. The whole book is basically a build-up to the ending, which I expected to be the 'grand finale'. Instead, the whole thing is over in a few pages. I also found a few details to be quite unbelievable, but I found that the awesome characters and many FEELS you will get from Ignite Me made up for it.

In all, a really satisfying series ender! While the ending felt a bit rushed and short to me, Ignite Me features a fantastic cast of characters and made me feel nearly every emotion. I definitely recommend the Shatter Me-series, and I think that of the three, I can recommend Ignite Me the most. If you've started this series, you'll definitely want to read this!

ARC Review: Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas

Despite what her name might suggest, Heart has zero interest in complicated romance. So when her brilliant plan to go to prom with a group of friends is disrupted by two surprise invites, Heart knows there's only one drama-free solution: flip a coin.

Heads: The jock. He might spend all night staring at his ex or throw up in the limo, but how bad can her brother's best friend really be?

Tails: The theater geek...with a secret. What could be better than a guy who shares all Heart's interests--even if he wants to share all his feelings?

Heart's simple coin flip has somehow given her the chance to live out both dates. But where her prom night ends up might be the most surprising thing of all...

Title: Ask Again Later
Author: Liz Czukas
Series: none
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: March 11th 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Thoughts:

Fun, fun, fun! Lately I've been reading a lot of heavier/more serious books, and I needed a break. I needed somethinf cutesy and fun and fluffy. Ask Again Later is the perfect book for that. It was just so incredibly FUN to read, and it's been a while since I've felt like that!

Now, I know some people thought this, so let me make this clear: Ask Again Later is NOTHING like Pivot Point. Clear? Good. So, if it's not like Pivot Point, what is it like? It's cute! And funny. I actually laughed out loud a couple of times. If you know me, you know how incredibly hard it is to get me to show some emotion while reading. (Before I start sounding like a robot: I do feel emotions while reading. I can be incredibly sad or extremely happy or very angry, I just don't show it. I have also never cried over a book: I simply can't.)

Most characters were nice. I enjoyed Heart's unique, funny and not too serious voice. She's a really likeable protagonist, if a little weird and naive at times. But to be honest, that just added to her personality. If I had to pick a favorite character, though, I'd immediately scream RYAN at you! I don't even know why I love him so much, but I do. I loved reading the 'TAILS' parts (i.e. with Ryan in it) and he was just so cute and awesome. Schroeder/Chase was a character I liked too, although I feel we didn't get to know him very well.

Some characters were absolute jerks, though. I really disliked Troy and Phil. They were pretty much assholes and they only seemed to care about alcohol. And, to be honest, Troy was sort of pathetic. I really did like how Tara, Phil's fabulous girlfriend, turned out though. She could have easily been painted off as the 'perfect' mean girl, but instead she shows signs of depth in the parts we get to see her and she even made Phil apologize for his behaviour. Yay for non-mean girls! She's actually really nice to Heart, even when the latter didn't always fit in with Tara's group of friends.

The romance was cute. I'm not going to tell you who the love interest is, since it might be considered a spoiler. Even though I didn't feel we got to the LI that well, it was obvious that he cared for Heart and he was really nice to her (most of the time). I didn't SHIP IT LIKE CRAZY but I did want them to end up together. Also, no worries, there is no instant love to be found, even though the novel is set during one night

Although the plot isn't exactly brain-shattering or WHOA - no real twists, actually - I didn't mind at all. This story is just so much fun and I feel like there doesn't need to be an OMG-I-never-saw-that-coming twist or mind-blowing plot. As long as the book was going somewhere and stayed being awesomely cute and funny, I was happy.

In all, this was so cute and funny and exactly what I needed. I loved most of the characters and their banter, and the romance was definitely cute. This book was just so. much. fun. Ask Again Later is a delight to read!

ARC Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

Title: Into The Still Blue
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky #3
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 28th 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Thoughts:

For some reason, I have always found this series difficult to review. So, instead of doing my review the way I normally do it, I'm making a list of everything.

* The Characters

Aria was a delight! Her growth since the first book is very obvious. The way Rossi introduced the 'Dwellers' and the way they contrasted with Aria was brilliant. Aria was once the same, but she has come a long way since then and it showed. She kicked some serious ass in this book and I could only cheer her on! She isn't a damsel in distress that needs to be saved by Perry, but instead saves herself.

Speaking of Perry, I thought his character didn't grow very much in this book. However, he was still very enjoyable and loveable, so I'll let it slide.

Soren was the biggest surprise in this book and Through the Ever Night. In Under the Never Sky, I HATED him. He was so awful! In TtEN I actually started to like him and in ItSB it was a bit of a mix. I liked him and disliked him both, which I think shows skill on Rossi's part. It's not easy to write a character like that, and she succeeded on every front.

And finally, Roar. Oh Roar. He's been (one of my) favorite character(s) and it killed me to see him so broken in Into the Still Blue. His usual wit and humor faded a little and he seemed pretty miserable. I completely understood where he was coming from and I felt for him, but I couldn't help  but miss the old Roar.

* The Plot

Magnificent! No dull moment in Into the Still Blue. There were so many twists and turns, way more than in the previous books. I loved it. A lot of them I didn't see coming and it made the book that much better! Rossi isn't really kind to any of her characters: they all suffer in different ways, and it was FANTASTIC. I loved loved loved the way the plot progressed and turned out in the end.

* The Writing

Rossi's writing is very stable. It hasn't changed (much) since UtNS and TtEN, and while it isn't very flowerish and dreamy, it's successful. It was so easy to connect with the characters and all that they were going through.

In all, I loved this book. I think it was the best in the series, and I love it when series go out with a bang! The characters were all magnificent, although I did miss the old Roar a bit. The plot was crazy and awesome, and if you have read Through the Ever Night - whether you liked it or not - you should definitely read Into the Still Blue.

Digital ARC was provided by HarperCollins. Thank you so much! No money or favors were exchanged to alter this review.

Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

Title: Speechless
Author: Hannah Harrington
Series: None
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: August 28th 2012

Rating: 4 or 4.5 stars

Thoughts: 

Funny story: I saw this on Edelweiss with a 'request' button. Since I've seen Looking for the Panacea raving over it, I immediately requested this. It was only after requesting that I noticed that this book was actually published in 2012. Oops. I didn't think about it again, until I got an email that said I was approved to read it. Talk about unexpected!

While this book isn't a new favorite of mine, it's most certainly good. Speechless tells the story of a girl falling from her social status, making new friends, falling in love, and, ultimately, growing up. This is very much a story of self-discovery and I thought that aspect of the book was handled particularly well. The gradual change in Chelsea is believable and honest. She slowly starts seeing that not everything was her fault, that she made some bad decisions and some good decisions, that she isn't a bad person. She really did grow up in the story, and it was convincing and beautifully described.

I hadn't expected the gay aspect of the story, but I loved the message Harrington sends out. This book is a little preachy, but it's a message I stand behind. Harrington shows different forms of hate against gay people, and she also shows that that kind of hate is completely unwarranted. She shows the reader that gay people really are just people too. 

Then there's the romance. While it suffered a bit from my recent loss of the ability to ship people, it was a really good romance. Sam has got to be one of the sweetest characters I've ever read about. He truly cares about others and it just shines through. He and Chelsea were the perfect match and I normally would have shipped it like hell. The fact that I didn't really is a personal thing and most certainly isn't because of the book. In fact, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet and heartfelt romance!

I did have some minor issues with the book. Especially in the beginning, Chelsea slut-shames a lot. Every girl's outfit is critized for being too revealing and slutty. In fact, apparently every girl is basically a slut, except for Chelsea and her friend Kristen. Fortunately, the slut-shaming recedes after Chelsea is kicked out of the 'popular gang' and for most of the book doesn't exist anymore. But at the end of the book, a freshman's boobs are described quite extensively, paying no attention to the rest of her appearance. It's a shame that this happened, because all the slut-shaming really needn't be there.

Another tiny issue is the display of vegetarian food. Apparently, Chelsea's mother is really into organic/vegetarian food (which, by the way, aren't the same) and every night's dinner is basically described as 'tofu'. Now this is a personal pet peeve, but I'm getting so sick of the tofu-stereotype. I am not a vegetarian, but I eat vegetarian food regularly, and believe me, it does not consist of just tofu and salad. At all. There are so many great (vegetarian) recipes, and there are so many ways you can make it delicious. Some of my favorite recipes are vegetarian, and believe me, they're unbelievably tasty and plain great. It really was a minor thing, but I can get worked up over this because it's such a missed chance to show everyone that vegetarian food is so much more than tofu.

In all, this really was a good book. Speechless weaves many things, such as romance, life lessons and friends, into a beautiful coming-of-age story. I found this book inspiring and I hope you - whoever you are - will too, when you read it. 

** Thank you, Harlequin Teen, for the review copy! No money or favors were exchanged to alter this review. **

ARC Review: Pawn by Aimée Carter

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING. 

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. 

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Title: Pawn
Author: Aimée Carter
Series: The Blackcoat Rebellion #1
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: November 26th 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Thoughts:

Pawn was such a welcome surprise! I wasn't really a fan of Carter's The Goddess Test series, but Pawn is nothing like it at all.

I liked our main character, Kitty, from the start. She's spunky, not afraid to say what she thinks and she loves her friends fiercely. Although she says a lot of things without thought, she knows when to keep her mouth shut and she sees through lies and conspiracies. Everyone underestimates her because she only got a III and she can't read, but they are so very wrong - Kitty is smart. The other characters were so well-developed too. Although I'm not a fan of books in which the MC already has a relationship with someone, Benjy easily won me over. He was such a sweetheart! His love for Kitty is obvious, and he is so kind. The other characters all had believable motivations for doing what they did and they didn't act out of character. Although the villain(s) of the story felt a bit flat in the beginning, they have their backstories as well and eventually we find out why they are the way they are.

Pawn was filled with so many twists and turns! It seriously blew my mind. The start of the book is relatively calm, but after we find out what Elsewhere is (which blew my mind as well), every other page seemed to bring a new twist! Carter did not hold back with the surprises and the result is both dazzling and awesome. The twists weren't predictable either - I think I only saw one of them coming. The constant surprises make Pawn a fast, action-packed read. I read this book in one day, even though it has close to 350 pages.

For those who are afraid, there is no love triangle in this book. Maybe one will emerge in the next book, but Pawn is not focused on the romance, and when it does, it's Kitty/Benjy all the way. I really liked how the romance took a backseat to the plot, or rather how it was part of the plot. The romance was actually used to progress the plot, and I loved that! You don't see that oftern nowadays.

Speaking of, Pawn is deliciously original! It might look like your typical 'poor girl gets rich and rebels against the country'-story, but it's anything but that. The wealth of life as a VII is only remarked upon to show the contrast between the lives of those with a IV or lower and those who live like kings. Yes, there is a rebellion, but even that is refreshingly original. Instead of a herione who takes a nose-dive into a rebellion, Kitty thinks things through and is even hesitant to rebel against the Harts. Not only that, but the plot is very much focused on the betrayal and lies within the Hart family as opposed to the rebellion.

In all, Pawn is extremely enjoyable! When the twists and turns start pouring in, you'll hardly have time to catch your breath. A fast-paced and original read with delightful characters and many surpises!

Review: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

Title: The Sea of Monsters
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: April 1st 2006

Rating: 4 stars

Thoughts:

Does truth have a moral?

The second installment in the Percy Jackson series is much like the first in terms of action, characters and writing. Overall, this is a good thing (I did rate The Lightning Thief 4.5 stars). I found The Sea of Monsters to be a little less enjoyable, but that could be my reading slump speaking.

A thing I've learned: the Percy Jackson series is never boring. Something is always happening and the characters (and you) never have time to catch their breath. This makes the books fast reads and you'll never be bored! It was really enjoyable how Riordan weaved several myths into the books... like Medusa, Circe, etc. They're all a slightly more modern version of themselves, but if you pay attention it's easy to figure out who they are (well, and if you know the myths). Riordan really gave a twist to all the gods and heroes and villainous characters you know from the myths, and being a Greek Mythology Nerd, I really appreciated that.

The characters were, like in the first book, pretty good! Annabeth is my favorite character, because that girl is kick-ass. Seriously. I loved her! The scene with the Sirens was a really nice touch and we get to know more about her character: this was a whole different side of her. Percy kicks ass too, just as badass as in The Lightning Thief. I actually really enjoyed Clarisse's character, although not everyone may agree with me. In The Sea of Monsters, she grows into an interesting character that I want to know more about, rather than just being the broody and glaring girl from the first book. My only complaint with the characters lies in their badassery: I thought they were a bit too kick-ass for thirteen-year-olds. On the other side, they are demigods, so yeah.

My only real complaint here is the writing. It's funny and light, which fits the novel perfectly most times. However, there are a few scenes where I would've liked it to be a bit more serious. Percy goes from some deep and heroic thoughts to a joke within a sentence, and it annoyed me at times. Riordan also does a really good job at ruining a plot twist. I like twists to blow me away and make me go WHOA, but with Riordan's writing it's impossible. A paragraph before the twist is revealed, the narrative goes something like:

I probably should have seen it coming, but (...)

Annabeth and I were used to traps, but (...)

(These are not actual quotes but an impression of the writing)
 And then I immediately know that something's going to happen, and usually what too. I really hope this won't be in the third book, as it definitely ruined my surprise. 

Riordan does a really good job when it comes to humor, however. Apart from the actual jokes that are told by several characters, some situtations in the book are pretty humorous as well. It helped keep the book light and it makes you want to read further. For example, Grover's situation was both funny and dangerous. You want him to get away, but can't help but smile a little at the descriptions.

In all, this book was really enjoyable and a good sequel. The writing wasn't exactly my thing, but if you want a fast-paced, action-packed and humorous book, The Sea of Monsters is perfect for you!

Review: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Warning: synopsis contains spoilers for If I Stay. Review is spoilerfree for Where She Went.

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series: Throne of Glass #1

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: August 2nd 2012

Source: Purchased

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thoughts:

Libraries were full of ideas - perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.

Throne of Glass stole my heart on the first page. We are introduced to Celaena Sardothien, a young assassin. She's arrogant - very arrogant - but has the skill to back it up. She has just endured a year of slavery in the mines when she's offered a way out: a competition to become the King's Champion. 

I had expected this to be High Fantasy (which it is - partly), but I didn't expect the paranormal part of the book. After the initial shock, though, I really enjoyed it and immersed myself in it. 

One of the best parts of this novel is Celaena. I immensely enjoyed her fun character. She's very arrogant - and I can see why some people would dislike her - and I loved it. She's just one of those characters that almost need their arrogance to make them real. Sure, she was a bit full of herself, but she was such an ass-kicking and awesome character that it can easily be overlooked. I mean, how can you not love someone who says stuff like this:

"Here's a lesson for you, Weaopns Master," she said, stalking past him. "Give me real men to fight. Then maybe I'll bother trying."

Go, Celaena!

The only slight issue I had with her is that she was that good at seventeen. How does one become the world's greatest assassin at seventeen? And pretty much unbeatable, too. However, it's something I can forgive because I was enjoying the novel and Celaena's character so much.

The writing was overall pretty good, but there's one trend of Maas' I noticed:

Oh, how wrong he was!

Oh, how she adored candy!

You see what I'm getting at? There were just a bit too much of these little hiccups in the writing for my taste. The phrase "Oh, how..." just feels a bit fake to me. Besides, would the world's greatest assassin really say that? It's a minor issue, though, and the rest of the writing is solid and flows easily. 

The other characters were well developed too - especially Nehemia. Nehemia, Nehemia, Nehemia! She's a black woman from an under-appreciated part of the country, and she was above each and every character in teh whole novel. She's kind, but fierce. She was a good friend to Celaena: she had her back and even trained a bit with Celaena. And damn if that girl isn't powerful and deadly. She's just awesome, and I love Maas for creating a character that consist of two (or maybe three) minority groups and making her the best of all. 

The love interests - Dorian and Chaol - were pretty well developed too, and their relationships with Celaena were build up slowly. I even think they speak of 'love', which is a huge plus in my eyes. Dorian seemed to be the main love interest with the story, but I just didn't like him that much. I don't know why, but he was working on my nerves. I preferred Chaol, and I hear he plays a bigger part in Crown of Midnight. I was also very pleased with the ending: (spoilery, so I'll make the text white) Celaena dumps Dorian. Not only was I cheering because I didn't like Dorian that much, but also because she dumps him, not the other way around. And she didn't spend any time moping around, so major props for that!

The biggest flaw of the novel, for me, was the villain. It was painfully obvious from the start who it was. It was even so obvious that I thought Maas was just leading us on a wrong path to make someone very unexpected the villain. Unfortunately, this didn't happen. I was sorely disappointed by that, but that fight on the end at least made up for it a little.

Overall, Throne of Glass is an engrossing novel that features a solid plot, strong characters, and a slowly build-up relationship. It left me craving for Crown of Midnight, which I will read very soon. 

Review: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Title: Poison Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Series: Study #1

Publisher: Mira

Publication Date: March 1st 2007

Format: ebook

Description:

Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison...

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear...

Under The Never Sky (Under The Never Sky, #1)

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So, I have to admit, I read this book solely because of that title. I saw it and was like "Whoa, that is pretty interesting! Under The Never Sky.. Hmm... Wonder what that means?"
I didn't even read the synopsis until right before I started it.

But the book with the interesting title didn't disappoint! This is basically about Aria, who lives in a virtual world and gets kicked out, and Peregrine (Perry), who is a Savage living in the Death Shop (a.k.a. the outside world). They meet, go on a search together, adventure et cetera, et cetera.

Okay, so first I have to say, pretty prose! Rossi really has a nicely flowing writing style. The prose is pretty and poetic, but not in a heavy way. Instead, it is light and very readable.

Then, the overall concept. Although I loved the idea of a virtual world in which humans live with their bodies somewhere safe, the novel lacked some world building. It's never really clear how everything has come to be the way it is. I'm not someone who needs a lot of world building to get into a book, so I didn't really mind, but I can definitely see why it would annoy others. There was one thing that did annoy me: the freakin' Aether storms! It was never explained and we were apparently just supposed to go with it. Now, I now what Aether is in general concept, but it didn't seem to be like that, what with flards in the air and such. The Dutch edition of "Under The Never Sky" says they are electricity storms. I guess that's all the explanation we're going to get.

What I really liked is the way Rossi handles the senses. In Under The Never Sky, Savages sometimes have extraordinary senses, like hear good, see good, etc. But it was extremely awkward when (view spoiler)[Perry could smell Aria was on her period. That's so awkward that I can't even. (hide spoiler)].

The characters were well done, too. I never disliked Aria. I didn't love her, but she was certainly enjoyable to read and she shows iniative! Perry was nice too, never controlling and always sweet. And Roar. Oh, Roar. He was the lighter tone, flirting and joking and very, very loveable.

So, for some reason this sounds quite negative, but I did love this book. I mean, it's not like I give out four star ratings for free!

What's Left Of Me (Hybrid Chronicles, #1)

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang


Oh, I loved this book!

All the things I loved:

- That cover. It's freaking gorgeous. I have the paperback and I don't think this picture really does the cover justice. It's way too blue here! Still, I love it and it really captures Eva and Addie. To me, the person who's eye is visible is Eva and the other Addie. Don't ask why, it just is that way for me.

- The originality. I really loved the idea of two souls in one body, with the recessive soul fading away and all that. One thing I didn't get was why the government was afraid of hybrids, but maybe this will be explained in the next book.

- The characters. Zhang did such a good job with giving Eva and Addie distinct voices and personalities. I was never confused, never got the feeling they were too alike. The other characters in the book were displayed very well too. When Eva said one of the hybrids 'shifted', I really noticed a change. Very well done!

- The writing. It was lush and lovely and great. For some reason, it felt really calm to me. There are books that always make me a bit nervous, like I can't sit still and concentrate. This book did the opposite. I felt really calm, even during the action scenes. That doesn't mean I didn't feel them, I did, but I still felt really calm. It was really nice and relaxing, and I read the book in one sitting.

- The plot. It was good and at times pretty action-packed. If you expect this to be a book with a lot of action, though, don't. It isn't.

The romance fell a little short on me, but I didn't dislike it at all. It was there, but only barely. Recently, YA books (not all of them of course) are pretty much turned toward romance. Girl meets guy, they fall in insta-love, yada yada yada. I'm used to books with a lot of romance, so What's Left Of Me surprised me. I actually think it's good to have a book where the plot comes first. Learn from this, other YA books!

One other thing I slightly - but only slightly- disliked (or not even that, I just raised my eyebrows, y'know) was Eva's sudden progress. In teh beginning, she can't take over Addie's-her-their-whatever body, and later on she can only just move her fingers. But later, SPOILER, she suddenly takes over the whole body, is able to walk and talk and all that? I get that she was in danger - or thought she was-, but I would have liked to see Eva taking small steps, like first moving an arm, one leg, her head... But this was my only, minor issue with this book.
END OF SPOILER

On the whole, I loved it. What's Left Of Me takes great characters, lovely writing and an original concept, pushes it into one book, and tops it with a cover to die for.

Stormdancer (The Lotus War, #1)

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

I've had Stormdancer sitting on my shelf for quite a while. I glanced at it once in a while, but I always chose some other book to read. Why? I have no idea, because I loved Stormdancer.

The beginning of the book was the hardest part for me, because it felt a bit slow. You're thrown into this world with little explanation. There is a glossary, but I noticed that after I finished, because I have an e-version of the book. So that wasn't really helpul for me, but I'm sure it has helped others a lot. I only wish I'd noticed it right away... But oh, well.

After this first part the action begins. And boy, did I like it! Buruu the griffin was without a doubt the best part of this book. I loved him. I loved him SO HARD. When he and Yukiko first meet, he thinks like a beast, really. He hardly understands human emotions and is all bloodlust. (And did I love it. Especially the STAND ASIDE, I WILL GUT HIM.) HILARIOUS. But as the book progresses, he thinks more coherently and understands humans better.

I did love Yukiko too. She is just pretty badass. What more can I say?

I loved the writing *most* of the time. It usually was very pretty, but at times the book felt a little slow because of all the descriptions. But when there weren't too much descriptions, I loved it. A few quotes I really like:

To be a servant can be a noble thing, but only as noble as the master served.

This is how the rain becomes a flood. One drop at a time.

And that ending! It was so sad and so powerful and so WHOA. Don't you stomp on my heart again, Kristoff! Please do. It makes the book that much more powerful.

In short, where kan I get an ARC of Kinslayer?

Sever (The Chemical Garden, #3)

Sever by Lauren DeStefano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I first finished this book, I gave it five stars. After a bit of thought, I decided to make it four, because there were a few things I didn't like. When I first started this series, I enjoyed it. I didn't love Wither, but I definitely enjoyed it. Then I read Fever, which is by far the best book of the series. I absolutely loved that one and you've probably seen me gushing over it. And now I've read Sever. I really enjoyed it, but in the end didn't love it as much as Fever. These are basically my thoughts during Sever:

Pretty prose.. Gimme more.

Hm, so I like this guy. I get the cover now.

Yes, indeed, you're stalling. Don't.

Okay, interesting.

Whoa, really? I like Fever even more now.

God, Vaughn really does everything, doesn't he?

Meh. Don't like this guy, really.

Oh wow. That must suck SO HARD.

Wait wait, what is happening? How? Whut?

NOOOOO! No, no, no. I refuse to believe this. Fuuuuuuuck.

YOU GO, GIRL!

So.. Let me explain.

I have always loved DeStefano's prose and probably always will. I really love her writing still since it's so poetic and fits the story well. I did think her prose was strongest in Fever, not in Sever. But hey, pretty is pretty right?

I really liked Reed, but he was a bit convenient. I mean, we've never heard of him before (or maybe we have, but I've forgotten). But he was great, or so I thought. And oh, Cecily. I didn't like her all that much in Wither, but I absolutely loved her in Sever and she's probably my favourite character now (sorry, Rhine, too bad.). I mean, she really grows up and this girl is a Badass with capital B. Not that she does fight scenes or anything, but she's strong, maybe even stronger than Rhine. (view spoiler)[ Also, that ending? HELL YES. Cecily, I freaking love you. (hide spoiler)]

I like Rhine, but she was a bit passive in this book. I mean, in the first book (spoilers for book 1 and 2 here) she escapes the mansion and in the second book she's going on this journey that's tough as fuck. but in this book she sits a bit too much around instead of kicking some ass. Not that I didn't like her, but it was a little disappointing.

Then there's Vaughn. He might be the best character in this series. Yes, he's the villain, but altough I hated him in the first two books, I just couln't in Sever. In fact, I felt sorry for him. I could understand him and feel for him. It takes some skill to make your readers feel for the villain, so good job!

Unfortunately, I disliked Rowan. He's just way too meh for me (like Gabriel). He believed like everything he was told and I found I couldn't connect with him.

Now, we need to talk about that cover. Wither's cover was stunning. It was absolutely gorgeous. Then, Fever's cover happened. It was awful, but after reading the book made sense. And now Sever, which also doesn't really live up to expectations. I love the original way of presenting the font and cover, but other than that it's not really a pleasure for the eyes. But once again, after reading the book, it makes sense. The apples, the globe, the plane, the bird (probably representing freedom)... So even though I do not like that cover, I say once more good job.

And.. The plot. I loved how some things from Fever made more sense in this book, making me love Fever even more. I thought it was overall well done, but the ending was a bit hasty for me. The whole thing with Hawaii etc. was a bit too fast for me and I still don't really understand what happened there.

In short, a beautiful and often touching conclusion to the prettily written Chemical Garden series.

If I Should Die (Die For Me, #3)

If I Should Die by Amy Plum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SPOILER ALERT!


There it is, at last, the last book of the Revenants series. I've read and loved the first two books in the series and now I've read and loved the last one. Since the first book I've thought Plum's ideas about bardia and numa are very original, and I still think so.

I definitely thought this was the strongest book in the series because Kate really grows a pair in this one. She kicks ass.

The first chapter in this book was very sweet. If you're an emotional reader (which I am not), keep tissues at hand.

I think the whole thing with Vincent being allowed to stay three days with the bardia was a bit too convenient. I just can't believe any villain would allow that.

The two plot twists involving Kate (her being the Champion and her becoming a revenant) were really obvious, but well done.

I thought it was very realistic how Kate reacted to being a revenant. She didn't go all

1: Bella, "YES I am finally a monster! Life is so much better now! Yay me!"
or
2: Skye, "Oh boy, I am so special and two hot boys fawn over me, fuck my life!"

Instead, her reaction is very realistic: she's disgusted. She can't think of herself being undead, because she's disgusted. Yes! Now this is the appropiate reaction to finding out you're undead! God, I'm really glad Plum pulled it off that well.

I also feel like Plum's prose has developed over the course of the series. It doesn't make it to my "gorgeous prose" shelf, but I definitely see improvement, and that's a good thing. I really liked this passage, for example (spoiler for those who haven't read book 2!):

But I am suddenly unafraid, knowing I will face Violette with a powerful weapon: love. The complete and unconditional love of another being. That is something Violette does not have. It won't win me the battle against her. But it has already made me the victor over my fear.

I really loved that passage, and I do think Plum has talent.

The way redemption was woven into the story surprised me and made me happy. It's good to see the message that all hope is never lost, and you can be good and true if you really want to.

The ending - the epic battle- was a bit unsatisfying for me, but I can't name what exactly I missed in it.

I disliked how Jules was written out of the story. I get that friendship doesn't always last forever, but it was a bit too sudden for me. I wish the book took more time slowly buiding to his department.

All in all, I really liked this book. I think this is definitely the strongest book of the three, and it is a nicely woven tale of friendship, redemption and ass-kicking!

The Elite (The Selection, #2)

The Elite by Kiera Cass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I really loved The Selection, and I really loved The Elite.

I don't think they are high-quality books like Daughter of Smoke & Bone. This is due to worldbuilding, prose and just the general concept. I don't think they are lacking, but I also don't think they're outstanding.

But you know what? I really don't care. I read these books because they are light and fluffy and enjoyable. They make me happy, I like to read them. And that is what counts in the end. The The Selection series are just plain old fun to read. (Because, c'mon, who didn't or doesn't dream about being a princess? I bet you did.)

I would like to see a little more worldbuilding and information about the rebels. I thought the scene with the rebel girl was a nice touch, but also made me curious for more!

I also thought the plot twist involcing Maxon and his father was surprising and good. I'm curious to see if, and how, this evolves in The One.

Speaking of Maxon, he was incredibly sweet, as always. I really hope America chooses him, because he is just so sweet and giving toward her.
I was in fact a little shocked when there was a little revelation about (view spoiler)[ how he'd never recieved any gift (hide spoiler)] and I hope America will change that.

I did not like Aspen. Yes, he was at times sweet, but he mostly annoyed me. And I still haven't forgiven him for being such a jerk in book one.

All in all, a fun, quick and light read!
And the next book, called The One will be published in 2014. Yes. 2014. How will I survive? I need to know what's going to happen!

View all my reviews

Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2)

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm conflicted about this book. I enjoy this series, but it has clear ups and downs.

The prose

This, I'm sure, will for most people be the thing that makes them love or hate this series. I can stand it, think it's pretty in some passages, think it isn't in others. But I can stand it. It's definitely something new, with all the strikethroughs and repetition.

I think the prose in some places adds tensions, like in the

tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war

I really liked that. In other places, however, it just seemed weird to me:

Sometimes I wonder about glue. No one ever stops to asks glue how it's holding up. If it's tired of sticking things togheter or worried about falling apart or wondering how it will pay its bills next week.
That's because talking to inanimate objects is kind of weird, you know?

The Characters

God, Juliette was annoying in this book. She was self-absorbed, having pity parties every other page, and just plain annoying!

I thought Adam in this book was really boring. He doesn't seem sweet or whatever. He doesn't seem anything. He doesn't seem like he has a personality.

I loved Kenji. He was great, and I could kiss him in this passage:

"I'm sick of you being so caught up in your own little world all the time. You act like this whole thing - everythin we do - is a joke. You don't take any of it seriously-" "What?" I cut him off. "That's not true - I do take this seriously-" [Kenji] laughs a short, sharp, angry laugh. "All you do is sit around and think about your feelings. You've got problems. Boo-freaking-hoo," he says. "Your parents hate you and it's so hard but you have to wear gloves for the rest of your life because you kill people when you touch them. Who gives a shit?"

THANK YOU, KENJI. THANK YOU.

Fortunately, Juliette started to change near the end of the book. I'm really hoping she'll stay that way in book 3.

I thought Warner was freaking great. Yup, definitely team Warner. Also, chapter 62 *wiggles eyebrows*

The Plot

Nothing really special there. I thought the plot twist involving (view spoiler)[ Adam's father (hide spoiler)] was pretty obvious. The plot was believable, not too far-fetched as you see sometimes in YA literature.

All in all, a good read. If you like the prose and don't mind an unlikeable herione, this is definitely for you.

So now we have to wait for book 3. And I do think it will be called IGNITE ME!

Fever (The Chemical Garden, #2)

Fever by Lauren DeStefano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars



I have to start off with saying that DeStefano's writing is truly beautiful. It's very poetic and flows through the book like a river. Her writing style is very elegant and rich, and never too much.

Altough reluctantly, I like the cover. It's not a pretty one, BUT the cover designer did such a good job. Literally everything on the cover has to do with the book. The color of the dress, the drugged expression, the tarot cards.. Everything. So while I still don't like it, I do want to congratulate the cover designer because it's such a fitting cover.

Rhine (I still absolutely love her name) just didn't get a break in this book and I found the story to be very sad. Especially the last third, because damn. I really felt for Rhine and all the horrors she got through. I think she's very admirable, strong and stubborn. She doesn't give up, even though she has every reason to.

I also loved the new characters. I really liked Lilac and Maddie, the not-speaking malformed child!

And of course, the 'old' characters too! Cecily and Deirdre, I thought it was nice we got to see them again, because I was curious how their stories would end..


I still don't have any strong feelings about Gabriel. It's not like he's bad or anything, he was in fact very sweet and loving toward Rhine. But I just couldn't connect with him. He seems rather bland and I just don't care for him.

The ending - cliffhanger! How could you do this to me, Lauren? I really want to know what's going to happen now!


So in the end I really liked this book! It was very sad, but very good.