Yes, I'm back.

So I was gone. But I have an excuse. School is crazy, homework takes time, and I had a week long horse show. But I will hopefully be back in full swing soon with reviews.

Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent (Divergent #2)
Author(s): Veronica Roth
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Page Number: 525
Format: Hardcover

Synopsis(Goodreads): One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

My Review: After reading Divergent in May and being totally blown away, I couldn't wait to read Insurgent. I didn't know when I was going to get it, but I was so excited. I was so lucky when one of my friends lent me her copy so I could continue on with this trilogy.

Divergent left me wondering if the world would be explained in Insurgent, and when I heard reviews saying that it did, I was super excited. We would finally know what was outside the fence. I would be reading and keep getting closer and closer to the end, and I kept telling myself that it would all be explained. But it didn't and that was kind of disappointing.

Otherwise, Insurgent was absolutely fabulous. Most people said that it had "second book syndrome" but I didn't think it had that. It was action packed and even the parts that weren't action packed were interesting.

I think Tris is a great narrator and character. Yeah, she does do things before thinking, but she still is a fantastic character. And don't even get me started on Four/Tobias. He's still super awesome.

The ending killed me. You spend all that time waiting for the information that changes everything and then its reveled and the book ends it was frustrating but it also hooked me. Now I can't wait till next fall to get the next book!!

Rating: 5/5 worms

Everything about this book screamed 5 worms. The writing, the plot, the characters the ending, everything. I loved it and it was definetly one to check out.

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted at Breaking the Spine. It showcases titles that we are currently awaiting.

 

This weeks title is...

One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different.

When Liza’s brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen hi...more

The Spindlers

by Lauren Oliver

Publication Date: October 2, 2012

 

Synopsis (Goodreads):

One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different.

When Liza’s brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen hi...moreOne night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different.

When Liza’s brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul.

She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him.

To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers’ nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests—or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.

From New York Times best-selling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope.



Top Ten Tuesday (2)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. They choose a topic and bloggers list their top ten things to go in that list.

This weeks list is...

Top Ten Books On Your Fall TBR List

1. All These Things I've Done  by Gabrielle Zevin: I can't tell you how long I've been longing to read this. The Book Rat praised this book and I can't wait to read it.

2. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare: In preperation for Clockwork Princess, I need to re-read Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince, but I am definetly looking forward to it!

3. The Mockingbirds by Daisey Whitney: The cover on this book is so pretty, and the idea of this book is so unique that I have been waiting forever to get this book.

4. The Host by Stephenie Meyer: After reading the entire Twilight Saga and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (both of which I love) I can't wait to sink my teeth into this!

5. Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin: This book is massive, and I know it will take a week or two to read, but I have heard only positive things about this book. Plus, I love fantasy!

6. I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan: I have heard nothing about this book, but that is what makes me so excited to read it. Plus, another beautiful cover.

7. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke:  It's been four years since I read Inkheart, so I will have to re-read the rest of the trilogy before reading Inkdeath. But I'm really excited to bring this trilogy to a close.

8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: I have no words to describe why I want to read this book. I just do.

9. Marked by P.C. and Kristen Cast: Another book that's been on my nook forever, I've been super excited to give this series a try, even though I've heard mixed reviews on it.

10. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: Another raved about book in the booktube community.

Review: The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

Title: The Healer's Apprentice
Author(s): Melanie Dickerson
Release Date: October 10, 2010
Publisher: Zondervan
Page Number: 255
Fomat: ebook

Synopsis(Goodreads): Two Hearts. One Hope.

Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her—a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill.

When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.

My Review: I got this book for free about a year ago on my nook. I didn't know when I would read it and I didn't know what it was about but it was free, so why not pick it up. Lately, I was in the mood for some fantasy/historical fiction and I thought I would give this book a shot. But this book surprised me, and not in a good way.

I expected this book to be an epic fantasy, where the female protagonist goes on some sort of wild adventure and battles trolls and dragons and along the way meets the prince of her dreams. I should have probably read the synopsis because this book was not about an epic adventure. It was about a girl who hates blood and falls in love with a guy she can't have. This book was the same old same old YA that I was trying to get a break from. This book was also really, really predictable. After about the first 60 or so pages, you could tell instantly what was going to happen.

Rose, the main character, was okay. She was caring for her friends and family, but there was just something about her that I didn't connect with. My favorite character was Hildy, Rose's best friend. Hildy was so naive and lovestruck, but she was funny and she gave the story a pop of color.

I didn't think the writing in this book was super special. She did a great job of describing the world that Rose lived in, but I didn't think the writing gave the story anything to give it an edge. So it was okay.

Rating: 2/5

I didn't like the plot, at all. I thought the writing was ok, but I really liked the first 50 pages so it got an extra star in my book.