The Gift of Charms (The Land of Dragor) by Julia Suzuki

Title: The Gift of Charms

Author: Julia Suzuki

Publisher: Dino Books

Release Date: September 4, 2014

Pages: 288

Source: Author

Synopsis (Goodreads): In a secret land, far away from the habitation of man, dwell the world's remaining dragons -- hoping the dragsaur beasts have vanished forever. Here they try to live their daily lives, but all is not well and their talents are fading. 

Things change, however, when, from a strange egg, Yoshiko is born - a dragon with a unique destiny. 

Great adventure lies ahead as many challenges must be overcome, leading to a dangerous mission to the human world in attempt to return to the clans their missing magic!

Can Yoshiko make it in time?

My Review

I had never heard of The Gift of Charms before the author contacted me to review it, but I'm really glad that I read it. It's a really cute middle grade book that I flew through. 

The Gift of Charms tells the story of a dragon named Yoshiko, who is born different then any other dragon. It tells the story of his adventure that he undertakes and is a really quick read. I thought that the writing style was really easy to fall into and it kept me engaged throughout the book. I wish that the book would have gone a little more in depth and been a little bit longer, but it is a middle grade book so I totally understand why. 

I thought the world of Dragor was really interesting to read about, as well as the back story about this incredible land. There was a lot of information in this book that got carried throughout the story, so you got to see characters and events that were mentioned earlier come back in the end. The land of Dragor was described very well and I could picture the setting very well. The characters and clans were also described really well, and I had no trouble picturing the colored dragons. 

I found that I liked the main character Yoshiko more as the book went on. He started out rather whinny, and kind of hard to relate to, but as the book went on he really grew up both mentally and physically. He turned into a character that I enjoyed reading about. The other characters in this book were nice to read about too, especially Guya. I liked reading about some of the side characters stories, and would have liked to have known even more about them. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

This book is a very well written middle grade book that I would recommend to anyone who wants a fun and quick read! 

 

Broken City by D.D. Chant

Title: Broken City

Author: D.D. Chant

Release Date: February 11, 2011

Format: Ebook

Page Number: 363 

Source: Author

Synopsis (Goodreads): Deeta Richards has never seen the outside world. Before she was born a banking crisis brought civilization to an end and now no one leaves the safety of the compounds unless they need to, but Deeta still dreams of seeing more than the building she was born in. 

Tom is in the guard, this group are the only people that the tribal elders allow to leave the compound and Tom knows only too well that Deeta could never survive the harshness that exists outside. Then tragedy strikes and Deeta and her sister Jan find themselves captured by a hostile tribe. Why does Tom know so much about these people? And why do they know so much about him? As this mystery draws to a climax, they discover that their friend Tom is not quite what he seems...

My Review

Broken City took me way longer to read that I planned, but that was completely my fault. I had school, after school activities, and life in general, but that's besides the point. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to discuss it. 

Broken City is set in a post apocalyptic world where the world is divided into various tribes, and many people never go outside. When I was reading Broken City, I thought that the world building and the descriptions of the world were beautiful and very vivid. There is a particular scene where the descriptions are particularly lovely. There are various settings, and I was able to imagine all of them with perfect clarity. There is a lot of information given to you about the world in this book, and I think I would have retained a lot more of this book if I read it in less sittings, but never the less, I really enjoyed the world. 

The characters were rather hard to keep straight. There were so many characters that I couldn't keep them all straight; this also might have been because I read this book during a long period of time. Deeta's character was good; she was very trusting and compassionate. Tom felt very guarded during the book, but you find out why in the end. I absolutely loved Jan as a character, because she was so spunky and funny. She had funny dialogue and I couldn't help thinking of Jan from the Brady Bunch when I was reading this book. Meeting the characters from other tribes was also really interesting, because you get to see the differences in their ways of life in the book. 

I really enjoyed D.D. Chant's writing style. There really weren't any slow parts, and the book kept a good pace. There was a lot of words I had never heard before, and I really appreciated the variety of vocabulary. A lot of the dialogue in this book was hilarious, and I marked various passages that I loved. I also liked that this book wasn't filled with instalove, and all of the romances were developed and drawn out.  I felt that the ending of the book was very abrupt, but there is a sequel, so I can understand the abruptness. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

I really, really enjoyed this book and I wish I would have read it quicker. This book is a really great post apocalyptic book that has a lot to offer! 

Book Haul and Giveaway: Twin Cities Book Festival

Hey guys! Sorry for the lack of posts; I was gone for a week and life has been hectic. Anyways, about a month ago I went to a really awesome book festival, and I got some nifty stuff. I'll link my vlog from the event on this post as well.

September Wrap Up & October TBR

Hey guys! As you probably could have guessed, school is a little crazy right now. I haven't been reading a lot, so I don't have a lot of books to review. So I've decided I'm going to try and post my videos from my YouTube Channel on my blog. So without further ado, here is this weeks video: September Wrap Up & October TBR

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Title: Sisters Red

Author: Jackson Pearce

Release Date: June 7, 2010

Publisher: Little Brown Books

Format: Paperback

Source: Own

Buy Sisters Red!

Synopis (Goodreads): Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

My Review

I had been meaning to read Sisters Red for forever, so when I finally picked it up I was a little disappointed with it. 

Sisters Red follows two sisters as the fight werewolves to keep other girls safe. That alone made me want to read the book. I was so excited to read a book that had a little more gore to it, and I definitely got that. This book has a lot of action and is definitely a dark retelling of the classic story. 

I was not expecting the romance that I got in this book. For once I was hoping to find a book without any romance! And while that wasn't the case, I thought the romance in this book was cute. It wasn't adorable, but it was cute. What I found more interesting than the romance was the bond between Rosie and Scarlett. Rosie feels indebted to Scarlett and continues to help her fight the werewolves even though she wants a different life. These two sisters really loved each other, and it was really obvious throughout the book. 

The writing in this book was good. The action scenes were filled with action, and the book was very well paced. I really enjoyed reading this book and I found that I flew through it. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

#CatchUpReadathon Participation and TBR

Hey guys! Today I'm here to announce my participation in the #CatchUpReadathon that is being hosted by The Book People. This readathon starts tomorrow, August 25th, and goes for a full week. The Book People are hosting some really cool giveaways and they have daily challenges, and I think it's going to be a ton of fun!

I created my TBR to fulfill all the challenges, and I'm hoping I can at least start all the books that fulfill the challenges. So lets get on into my TBR!

I'll Be There  by Holly Goldberg Sloan: This book fulfills Monday's challenge to read the book
that's been on your shelf the longest.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pierce: This fulfills Tuesday's challenge to read a book that was gifted to you.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson: This book fulfills Wednesday's challenge to read the book you've abandoned, and am I the only one who thinks it's funny that I'm giving this book a "second chance"?

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin: This fulfills Thursday's challenge to read the longest book you own. No promises on finishing this one though.


The rest of the challenges are to read as much as you can, so I have just picked some books to read in case I complete all the challenges.

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor: Currently reading and I'm loving it!

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor: If I finish Days, I've gotta finish the series.

Unclaimed by Laurie Wetzel: This one just sounds great!

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang: This one also sounds amazing.

So there you go guys! That is my TBR for the #CatchUpReadathon. Let me know if you're participating and I will talk to you guys later!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books People Tell Me To Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. They give bloggers a topic and we say our top ten things that fall under that list. 

This weeks topic is...

Top Ten Books that People Tell You That You MUST Read

Disclaimer: People don't usually tell me to read books. I usually tell people to read books. Therefore, this list is going to be a bit short. 

1. The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner: My best friend has been nagging me to read this trilogy for forever. Maybe I'll get to it before the movie comes out. 

2. The Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu: My best friend has also been telling me to read these books, and I own the first, so I really have no excuse. 

3. Anything by Jodi Picoult: This same friend is also obsessed with Jodi Picoult, and she highly recommends her. 

That was my Top Ten (Three) Tuesday! Sorry is was so short, but I don't get recommended books often. What was on your Top Ten Wednesday? Tell me in the comments below! 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Publisher: Dutton Books
Format: Paperback
Source: Own

Goodreads | Book Depository

Synopsis: Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

My Review

When it comes to reading books, I am a procrastinator. I will buy a book, and then place it on my shelf for years before I pick it up. Or, I will just forget the book came out and I won't read the book for a few years. Lola was one of those books. And I wish I had read it sooner. 

This review will probably be more of a rave, but I will try my hardest to keep the gushing to a minimum. 

Stephanie Perkins, you write the most adorable and beautiful books. When I read Anna and the French Kiss, I felt like I was in Paris. The imagery was beautiful! And reading Lola was no different. I felt like I was with Lola where ever she went. I could imagine her costumes and all the other little details. This book, also like Anna, was cuteness overload. I actually squealed a couple times during this book, because the cuteness overwhelmed me! 

All the characters were perfect. I honestly didn't think any of them had any flaws, at least in my mind. Lola was fabulous. She was spunky, creative, and she reminded me of cinnamon. She also had tons of character development throughout this book. And then there is Cricket. Ah, Cricket. He is adorable, simply adorable. I loved his character from the first time we saw him. He is perfect. And we got to see Anna and St. Clair in this book! That just made me love the book even more. 

While Anna and the French Kiss was mostly fluff, I felt like Lola had a lot more substance. Throughout this book, we see so many real life issues; these things would actually happen. I felt that Lola and the Boy Next Door was more real than Anna and the French Kiss, but I still love Anna. This book also had one of the few love triangles that I actually liked. It wasn't cheesy, it was real! Thank you Stephanie Perkins for making a realistic love triangle. 

Rating: 5/5 worms

If you haven't read Lola and the Boy Next Door yet, don't be like me! Read it now, you won't regret it. 

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. It showcases upcoming titles that we are currently awaiting. 

This weeks selection is....

In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3)

by Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: October 28th, 2014

Synopsis: Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the

 government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds. 

They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IANN, the disease that has killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the "rehabilitation camps" housing thousands of other Psi kids.

Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Title: Torn Away

Author: Jennifer Brown

Release Date: May 6, 2014

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Page Number: 288

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis (Goodreads): Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives -- but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents.

In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before -- one in which her mother wasn't perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

My Review

I was really blown away by Torn Away. When I picked it up, I wasn't expecting much, but I really enjoyed this book. This book tugs at your heart and makes you feel all the feels, but it is also a really touching story. 

This story is a very sad story about a girl named Jersey who loses all she has because of a tornado. It's raw, it's sad, but it's also very real. People lose everything  to tornadoes sometimes, and it just made the story that much more real. 

This book was very character driven. The main character, Jersey, goes through a lot in this book as she deals with the deaths of her mom and sister. She was a very realistic character, and she was broken throughout this book. Throughout this book, you could see Jersey's coping mechanisms for what happened to her, and it was very interesting to read about. At the end of the book, Jersey finally starts to heal, and that made me feel good. 

This book was incredibly descriptive. I could imagine everything that was happening during the tornado, the wreckage after, and everything else. Jennifer Brown's writing really drew me into the story and it was a really quick read. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

Title: We Are the Goldens

Author: Dana Reinhardt

Release Date: May 27, 2014

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

Format: eBook

Page Number: 208

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis(Goodreads): Nell worships her older sister, Layla. They're one unit, intertwined: Nellayla. As Nell and her best friend, Felix, start their freshman year in high school, on Layla's turf, there's so much Nell looks forward to: Joining Layla on the varsity soccer team. Parties. Boys. Adventures.

   But the year takes a very different turn.

   Layla is changing, withdrawing. She's hiding something, and when Nell discovers what it is, and the consequences it might have, she struggles. She wants to support Layla, to be her confidante, to be the good sister she's always been. But with so much at stake, what secrets should she keep? What lies should she tell?

   Award-winning young adult author Dana Reinhardt explores questions of loyalty, love, and betrayal in this provocative and intimate novel. 

My Review

I was really looking forward to starting We Are the Goldens. It sounded like it could be really interesting. However, when I finished, I was really let down. This book wasn’t quite what I hoped it would be. 

This book is about two sisters who are really close, and Nell (the younger sister) knows a secret about Layla (the older sister). I was really intrigued by this concept, however, it just fell flat. To me, it felt like this book was mostly about the Nell and not about the secret the sisters shared. It didn’t have any of the spark that I was hoping for, and overall it was just okay. 

This book is told in second person point of view, and that was interesting because I had never read something in second person before. I thought it worked for the most part in this story, because Nell was telling this story to Layla. However, sometimes I got confused with the point of view and I didn’t always know who Nell was talking to. Overall, I think the point of view hurt the story. 

The characters in this book were really lifeless. They didn’t show any emotion, and since this book was Nell telling a story to Layla, we didn’t get to see much of the other characters. I didn’t really like any of the characters, because they just seemed boring and lifeless to me. I wished we could have gotten to know the characters better and that they had seemed more alive. 

Rating: 2/5 worms

Overall, this book was kind of a let down. Everything was rather bland and I thought it could be much better. 

The Sting of Summer by Katherine Over

Title: The Sting of Summer

Author: Katherine Over

Release Date: May 11, 2014

Page Number: 246

Source: Author

Synopsis(Goodreads): Summer has arrived. For seventeen-year-old Becca, it marks the start of the wedding season. Her family operates an event venue in the form of a renovated barn, and nearly every weekend a wedding takes place in their backyard. Becca lends a helping hand for the accelerated schedule, but work is not the only task on her mind. Seth, her longtime crush, has nabbed a photography internship that requires wedding coverage, putting the two of them in close proximity. Becca intends to make Seth something more than a far-reaching fantasy, but it's hard to build a dream when a growing tension in her family life cannot be avoided. Will Becca succeed in her quest for love? Or will summer collide with her plans and leave nothing but a sting in her heart?

My Review

The Sting of Summer is an interesting book about family, change, and life. One of the main things I loved about this book were the themes it had. It talked a lot about family, change, and how sometimes things aren't always what they seem. The main character, Becca, realizes that her life is changing and that sometimes what she wants isn't what she thought it was. These themes are really relevant today and I think that people can really gain from this.

Becca was a really funny character. You got to see her try to find summer romance while she was dealing with change, and it was really interesting. She had a really quirky personality and is probably one of the funniest characters that I've read about in a while. All of the other characters were really interesting to read about, and they felt really well rounded. Andie was really funny and Nolan was really cute. 

As for writing style, I had a few problems with it. I felt that the overall plot of the book was really predictable, and you could figure out what was going to happen. I also didn't like how Katherine Over never used contractions; it made some of the dialogue really awkward and choppy. There were also some spelling and grammar errors. However, when Katherine was writing about the weddings, she used such detail that I found myself imagining the weddings in perfect detail. The characters were really well described and so were the situations that they were in. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

Overall, I think this is a book that many people would like. The characters are funny, there are great themes, and the writing is vivid.  

Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Title: Second Star

Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Release Date: May 13

Source: Netgalley

Format: ebook

Page Number: 256

Purchase: Book Depository

 

Synopsis (Goodreads): A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward his nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of J. M. Barrie's classic tale, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up—and the troubled beauty trapped between them.

My Review

This book was beautiful. Absolutely wonderfully awesome. I have been obsessed with Peter Pan retellings ever since I read Tiger Lilly and I was so happy to get my hands on a copy of Second Star for review.

 

The retelling aspect of this book was perfect. I thought it was done brilliantly and I couldn't have thought of a better way to do it. I really enjoyed the surfing aspect of the book, because it was really unique and different. I liked how most of the story was original with some aspects of Peter Pan woven in. It took me a little while to get into the story, but when I did, I was completely involved and I loved it.

 

The characters in this book were really, really good. Wendy was very focused on finding her brothers, and while she was sometimes naive, I really liked her. As for Pete and Jas, well, I couldn't pick a side in that love triangle. Both love interests really cared for Wendy and it was interesting to see the differences in each of their relationships. All the side characters, such as Belle, were also really interesting to read about, and they added a lot of flavor to the story.

 

The whole last half of this book completely got to me. I wasn't expecting that sort of an ending at all, and I was blown away. The last half of the book went by so fast and I loved every second of it. This book deals with Wendy's struggle to try to find her brothers, and it was so fantastic. The writing in this book was also wonderful, and it made me want to drive to a beach and read.

 

Rating: 5/5 worms

This book was absolutely wonderful, and I think anyone would really enjoy it.

 

 

The Legend of the Blue Eyes by B. Kristin McMichael

Title: The Legend of the Blue Eyes

Author: B. Kristin McMichael

Release Date: March 15, 2013

Publisher: Lexia Press

Source: Publisher 

Format: Paperback

Page Number: 256 

Synopsis (Goodreads): Arianna Grace liked her boring, Midwestern, teenage life where she ignored the many unanswered questions of her childhood. Why were her parents dead? Why did she not have family? Where was she raised until she was five? When someone offers to explain it all, Arianna thinks she’s just getting answers. Instead, she is thrown into a world of night humans who drink blood.

On Arianna's sixteenth birthday, her world is thrown upside down when she changes into a vampire. Night humans, or demons, as some call them, live in normal society. Learning all of the new rules of a world she didn’t know existed might be hard enough, but it's further complicated by two former-friends that now want to help her take her role as the successor to her grandfather. 

There is a war going on between the night humans. Sides have been taken and lines are not crossed. Four main clans of night humans are struggling for control of the night. Divided into two sides, clans Baku and Tengu have been at war for centuries with the clans Dearg-dul and Lycan. That is, until Arianna Grace finds out the truth; she’s the bridge of peace between the two sides. But not everyone wants peace. With the night humans divided, Arianna is now a pawn in the war between them. She must choose a side—her mother’s family or her father’s—and for once in her life, decide her own fate.

My Review

The Legend of the Blue Eyes was not just another vampire book. This was a vampire book with some bite (pun intended). I thought this book was an interesting take on the typical vampire novel. 

I really liked the plot in this book. I thought it was interesting to hear about two vampire clans at war. However, you don't really see any war in this book, which was disappointing. It was interesting to see all the different character relationships, and it was interesting to see how the main character acted. Some times in this book I felt the pacing was too fast, and I didn't really understand, and I sometimes I lost interest. However, the end of the book really picked up speed. 

I thought Arianna had some issues. I thought she was a little too trusting and a little too naive, especially for being thrown into a new scary situation. I thought she handled her new situation a little too well, because I know if it were me, I would be freaked out. I liked reading about all the breeds of creatures in this book. It was really interesting to get to read about all the characters, but I also thought the romance between them and Arianna was a little odd. 

I thought the writing style in this book was good. The way B. Kristin McMichael wrote was really engaging, and I could imagine the world that Arianna was living in. The book was very fast paced, and I thought that was good. 

Rating: 3/5 worms

Overall, I liked this book. I had issues with Arianna and sometimes I didn't understand what was going on, but I really liked the concept behind this book. 

Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

Title: Fire and Flood

Author: Victoria Scott

Release Date: Feburary 25, 2014

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Format: eBook

Page Number: 304

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis(Goodreads): Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

My Review

In a world dominated by dystopians, I think that Fire and Flood was really good. Though it had some things that could be compared to The Hunger Games, I still think that it held its own. 

One thing I want to mention is that Fire and Flood is not just another Hunger Games wanna be. Fire and Flood has its own unique story line with its own unique twists and turns. Though some things seemed rather close to the Hunger Games, the Pandoras and other elements in the story made it different. 

The main character Tella was kind of meh. She was really obsessed with Guy and her Pandora Madox, and it was kind of weird. I also felt she was trying to hard to be tough, and she was really naive at some parts of the book. The side characters of the book, especially Tella's friends were really interesting and it was cool to see their reasons for entering the race. 

There was a ton of awesome stuff that went down in this book. It was filled with tons of action and was really fun to read. Sometimes the writing made everything seem kind of awkward, but other times it was really good. The whole book was really engaging and it was a fast paced read!

Rating: 4/5 worms

Graphic Novel Review: The Undertaking of Lily Chen

Title: The Undertaking of Lily Chen

Author: Danica Novgorodoff

Release Date: March 25, 2014

Publisher: First Second Books

Format: Ebook

Page Number: 432

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis (Goodreads): In The Undertaking of Lily Chen, Deshi, a young man struggling to make a life for himself in rural China, watches his life comes unhinged when he accidentally kills his older brother in a fight. His distraught parents send him on a hopeless journey to acquire a bride for his brother to marry posthumously so he doesn't enter the next world alone—an ancient Chinese tradition with many modern adherents. Eligible female corpses are in short supply, however. When Deshi falls into company with a beautiful, angry, and single young woman named Lily, he sees a solution to his problems.  The only hitch is Lily is still very much alive. Danica Novgorodoff, author of Slow Storm and Refresh, Refresh, brings her distinctive voice and gorgeous, moody watercolors to this wry, beautiful, and surprising literary graphic novel.

My Review

This book was very different. And I didn't completely enjoy it. There was a lot of weird things going on through it, but some things I enjoyed. 

Since this is a graphic novel, I'm going to do a different kind of review.

Likes

• The Premise- The idea of this book was really different. It was something I had never heard before. 
• Super Quick Read- I read this book in about an hour and a half. It was really quick read. 

Dislikes

• The Creepiness of the Drawings- The art in this book was nice, however, it was so creepy that I couldn't enjoy it. 
• Weirdness- The whole book was just to creepy and weird. 
• Speed- Everything in this book went by too fast. 
• Ending- I didn't think anything in the ending really wrapped up the story. 

So, overall I didn't really enjoy this book. I just thought the whole thing was too weird, and not in a good way. 

Rating: 2/5 worms

Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

Title: Don't Even Think About It

Author: Sarah Mlynowski

Release Date: March 11th, 2014

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Format: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis(Goodreads): We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.

Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.
So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening.

My Review

I really enjoyed Sarah Mlynowski's Magic in Manhattan series, so I had high hopes for this book, and I can say that I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm glad I got it for review. 

The concept of this book was crazy unique. I mean, come on! A flu shot that gives you telepathy! That's kind of awesome. I thought Sarah Mlynowski was able to deliver this topic through the kids very well, because we got to see what the kids with telepathy were thinking and feeling in this book. 

Although the plot was something I'd never heard of and played a major role in this book, I felt like this book was more character driven. The characters play a huge role in this book because you get to see their reactions to their new found superpowers, and you get to see what each person used their telepathy for. I also really liked how the characters, for the most part, stuck together as a group to try to figure out what was wrong with them.  

However, I didn't like trying to keep up with all the characters. It took me to the middle of the book to figure out who each one was, but after that it was easier to follow. 

In my opinion, the writing style of this book lacked some of the sparkle that it had in the Magic in Manhattan series. It didn't have the descriptions I was looking for, and it didn't have the funniness and wit that I remembered from her previous books. But, all in all, I think Sarah Mlynowski did a great job of creating this story. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Never Fade (The Darkest Minds #2)

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: October 15 2013

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Format: Hardcover

Page Number: 507

Source: Own 

Synopsis (Goodreads): Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. 

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. 

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

My Review

I absolutely loved The Darkest Minds which I read last year, and so I was absolutely ecstatic to read Never Fade, and Alexandra Bracken did not disappoint. Everything about this book was absolutely amazing. 

I loved jumping back into the world of The Darkest Minds and seeing what happened to all the characters. After the first book ended I really wanted to know what happened to them and I was relieved that we got to see most of them again. 

Ruby really grew into an incredibly strong character through the course of these two books. She really learned how to use her powers and has come to terms that she's not a monster anymore. She would do anything to help people she loves, and I loved seeing her growth. It was also really interesting to see how much Chubs and Liam have changed from the first book. Chubs has really changed as a person and, well, we all know what happened to Liam. I also really loved the addition of new characters to add spark to the story. 

I loved that Never Fade was a continuation of The Darkest Minds, as well as having a story all its own. Ruby has to go on a quest so to speak, to find Liam and retrieve a flashdrive that contains important information. The plot of Never Fade was never boring and it was always fast paced with so much going on and I can't even describe the wonder that it was!

Rating: 5/5 stars

This book was just as good, if not better than The Darkest Minds and you should definitely read it!