Review: Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Title:  Shadow & Bone
Author:  Leigh Bardugo
Series:  The Grisha, #1
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date:  June 5, 2012
Pages:  358
Rating:  

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

I have not read any Young Adult for at least a year, maybe even longer. I definitely wanted to get back to Young Adult, because I know there are so many great ones, not to be missed. To get out of my Young Adult reading slump I decided to go for The Grisha Series. I've been seeing 4-5 star reviews like everywhere, barely heard a bad thing about it. I was prepared to be amazed and I'm a hard cookie to please these days. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! Where has this book been on my life? Well, I guess on my TBR for the past two years.

SHADOW AND BONE has everything you are looking for in a Young Adult book! A strong heroine, epic fantasy setting, amazing writing and dialogue, all the main/side characters are awesome, heartwarming love interest story, and psycho psycho that you love to hate. Well, maybe I'm not usually looking for all these things in a Young Adult book, but I'm glad SHADOW AND BONE had all these elements! This story is about the greed for great power and using it to control and the world. We have the Grisha with special powers. Our heroine, Alina is a sun summoner which is really rare and she is the salvation of everyone, but The Darkling plans to use her to for his own personal plans. I'm not going to really go into summary mode, because it will probably take me all day.

I loved Alina. She was a strong heroine and was able to hide her Grisha abilities for a long time for the hope to stay with her childhood friend, Mal. But she ends up saving his life with her powers and gets found out and get taken to be trained with her new powers. The world of the Grisha was beautiful, but everyone has their own agenda, you can't really trust anyone. Although I didn't really get to get to know Mal too much until we got more than halfway though the book, I loved him and his gentleness and love for Alina. It makes you want to root for him.

Now, The Darkling. I hear everywhere that readers love him and consider this a love triangle between them and everything. And I just don't get where that is coming from. In the beginning we don't really know much about him. He is mysterious and that's what truly drew me in about him. But when we find out what his real agenda is and see how he truly is by the end of the book, I wanted to stab him in the eye. I have had my share of love interests that love the heroine but are really evil. From what I have read it seems like The Darkling's only agenda is enslaving Alina and he only wants her for her powers. But I have seen the cruelness and evilness in him. So, right now he isn't a love interest to me.

Right now at this point I have finished the book. Seriously you shouldn't read this book at work. It got so good, and then my lunch break was over. I ran into the bathroom to finish reading it. I got all happy and excited and angry and enraged and went into my fangirling mode! This was just one damn fine epic book. I'm glad I read it and I'm glad this is the book I chose to get my out of my Young Adult reading slump. And I am fucking starting the next book ASAP, because I just have to know what happens next. If you haven't read this series yet, do yourself a favor and read it.

read more

Review: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Title:  Spell Bound
Author:  Rachel Hawkins
Series:  Hex Hall, #3
Publisher:  Hyperion Book CH
Release Date:  March 13, 2012
Pages:  327
Rating:  

 
Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

“In the past few hours, I’ve been possessed, nearly had my head caved in, and found out my mom is secretly a Prodigium hunter. And before that, I lost just about everyone else I care about, and discovered that people I trusted are secretly demon-raising creeps. My life sucks pretty hard right now. So, yeah. I’m making jokes.”

Oh, man! Oh, man! Oh, man! I was nervous to read SPELL BOUND because I had waited so long to read it and that I may need a memory refresher as well, but none was needed at all! I jumped right back into the series where I had left off and couldn't stop once I started and SPELL BOUND definitely delivers!

“I’m the worst fiancée ever, aren’t I?” Cal lifted one shoulder. “Nah. This one warlock I knew, his betrothed set him on fire.”

I had missed all of the characters! I love this series and its snarky dialogue and couldn't get enough of it. I enjoyed the new characters and the old. We get to see Sophie's dad, James again. I love that man to death! For some reason I want a short story on Sophie's dad and mom! Hehe Okay. Moving on. I missed Archer and Oh, Cal! I cannot believe they did that to you. Is there this rule that when there is a love triangle that you gotta kill off the other love interest or something that I don't know about. Jeez.

“Whoa, I'm your girlfriend now?" Archer shrugged. "We've tried to kill each other, fought ghouls, and kissed a lot. I'm pretty sure we're married in some cultures.”

Anyway, SPELL BOUND could not have ended better. I loved Sophie and Archer! I heart you so much, Archer! And Cal, you will be missed! I will really miss Sophie and the whole gang. Amazing end to the series, I really enjoyed it and I am sad to see it go!

read more

Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title:  Unravel Me
Author:  Tahereh Mafi
Series:  Shatter Me, #2
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Release Date:  February 5, 2013
Pages:  461
Rating:  

 

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

“I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend."

I am TOTALLY TEAM WARNER now! I want him all to my greedy self!!!! In the first book Shatter Me I loved Adam and Warner both. Adam for his sweetness and kindness and then we have Warner for is ability to be the ultimate villain where you still fall for him. I was down the middle on the two, but now I know I am Team Warner all the way. UNRAVEL ME is about converting you over to the dark side, Come and join us Warner Fanatics!

Kenji nods very slowly, looks a little solemn. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I get it.” “Thank you.” “Adam is jealous of our love.” “Just go get your food!” I push him, hard, fighting back an exasperated laugh.

In UNRAVEL ME we do get some answers to some questions that popped up at the end of Shatter Me. For example, why can Juliet touch Adam and Warner and will we explore more into Juliet's gift? We get answers and more questions in this book. Adam is a little distant in this book, it felt like he was in the way of Juliet and Warners love. Haha! We get to see why Warner is the way he is and get a complete understanding of tortured hero syndrome. I felt for Warner over and over and I want Juliet to as well.

“You sick piece of shit," Adam says to him, his voice low, measured. "Such unfortunate language." Warner shakes his head. "Only those who cannot express themselves intelligently would resort to such crude substitutions in vocabulary.”

Oooooohhh! And we get to hear Warner's real name! Another secret regarding Warner and Adam and we get to meet Warner's father as well! Let's say he is a real dick and no wonder Warner is the way he is. The ending was pretty good and I am looking forward to the next/final book! I have to say that I didn't like this book as much as the first book though. It felt a little slower paced in this book and the excitement was drained out of me compared to the first book, but honestly I still loved it. I still have more questions I want explored in the next book!

read more

Review: Rift by Andrea Cremer

Title:  Rift
Author:  Andrea Cremer
Series:  Nightshade Prequel, #1
Publisher:  Philomel
Release Date:  August 7, 2012
Pages:  430
Rating:  

 

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this book is as fast-paced and breathtaking as the Nightshade novels.

 

He drew a shuddering breath. “I thought myself strong, but discover I am weak as the next man. Perhaps weaker.” “And if I wish to give what you ask,” she whispered. “What then?” He bent down, brushing his lips over her forehead, the bridge of her nose.

After the horrifying ending of Andrea Cremer's Bloodrose, I have been a bit terrified to even read another one of her books. Come release day of RIFT I didn't realize how excited I was for it. I thought I"d give her one more chance since she is one of the few YA authors that have the power of blowing me away! Well, guess what? She blew me away again! RIFT has got to be one of the best YA books of the year! I sat reading this baby for a day and a half unable to put it down. My butt was seriously glued to my bed!

She cupped the pendant in her hand. It was rimmed with gold, its surface delicately carved to reveal a rose crossed by two swords. Alistair leaned over her shoulders. "The Bloodrose it represents the love and sacrifice required of a true warrior.”

RIFT is a prequel about the origin of the Keepers in Nightshade. It takes place in 1404 A.D., which is one of my favorite times because it is the time of those yummy sexy hottie scotties! RIFT is the story of Ember Morrow in training to become a guard with, the sexy and desirable, Barrow Hess mentoring her. There is much evil and deception and betrayal in RIFT that makes you hold your breath. Oh, and a whole set of wonderful characters you fall in love with! I loved Ember! She was strong-willed and stubborn and eager to fight on the battle field! She is a natural warrior and look forward seeing her grow more as a character!

Ember pulled his face to hers, kissing him again before she said, “Your strength gives me courage.” He smiled gently. “No, Ember, that is all your strength and none of mine.” She balked, but he kissed her, murmuring against her lips, “And that is why I love you.”

Barrow Hess. Nuff said. He reminds me of Dimitri from Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy in a way and I think that is one reason why I am so in love with him. Barrow is loyal, strong, sexy & hot, and my god. I love him! He doesn't quite turn into a love interest until almost the end and I really enjoyed Barrow and Ember's relationship just developing into something. No rush! But when it does turn into something. Oh. my. god. They have such sweet and tender moments that made me want to melt. I just needed more! I look forward to seeing their relationship develop more in the next book!

Breathing hard, Ember looked up into his face. He wore that infuriating expression of being on the verge of laughter. “You’re supposed to be teaching me,” she said. “Not enjoying yourself.” “I believe I can do both.” He smiled.

We have so many fun characters! Kael, Alistair, Lukasz, and Sorcha who are apart of the guard and I have a place in my heart for all of them! I would say that the evil that took place and who being responsible for bad stuff happening was predictable before it happened. Love triangle? We may have one in the next book. We'll see. And here is where I conclude my thoughts! I adored RIFT and I am both excited and terrified for the next book, Rise. And with Andrea Cremer's books you just can't help to be a little terrified, because you never know what she's going to do or who she's going to kill!

read more

Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

Title:  The Elite
Author:  Kiera Cass
Series:  The Selection, #2
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Release Date:  April 23, 2013
Pages:  323
Rating:  

 

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Iléa.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

 

My brow folded together. He couldn't still think I wanted that now? Apparently, he did. As he slowly took in my expression, he fell into absolute shock.

"America, I know you're upset, but please? I told you; you're the only one. Please don't do this.

I have been very excited to read THE ELITE ever since I finished the previous book, The Selection. I fell in love with the whole concept and I was eager to see what was to happen in the next installment. America has fallen for Prince Maxon and she is in the middle of Maxon or Aspen and she has to decide. And if she chooses Maxon, she gets the crown and responsibilities that go with it.

There is an terrifying incident early on in the book (which has nothing to do with Aspen or Maxon), that makes America question everything about becoming the prince, parts of the job that she doesn't want or thinks that there is no way that she could possibly do. She begins having doubts and Maxon doesn't make it easy or reassuring for her either.

Marlee laughed. "You're so ridiculous. If Maxon didn't have feelings for you, he'd have sent you home a long time ago. The reason you're still here is because he refuses to lose hope."

This is where my rant comes in. America is having doubts. Aspen doesn't think she can do it, the princess thing. First of all, why the hell are you talking to Aspen, of course he's going to say no. He wants you to pick him, The public see America in last place, don't worry about what they say. Just have faith in yourself, okay? And how can you not know Maxon has the hots for you, huh? Does he have to come and see you every freaking day for you to feel secure. I have no idea why you are having doubts. He's kept you at the palace this long. And he has told you his thoughts.

America just seemed like a weak heroine this time around and it was incredibly irritating. I wanted to knock some sense into her. And she does something incredibly stupid near the end of the book just because she is mad at Maxon and she only thinks of the consequences after she does it. I mean, seriously, what did you expect? I really hated how since she was mad at Maxon near the end, she decides Aspen is the better choice. You cannot base that on a stupid fight you had and had not really talked about with Maxon?! Are you stupid or what?

"I need to know that I can depend on you. I need to know that you can keep my secrets, trust my judgement, and not hold things back from me. I need you to be completely honest with me and to stop questioning every decision I make. I need you to have faith in me, America."

Maxon had some mistakes, but not like America. I feel like America really betrayed Maxon's trust and she needs to earn it back. Maxon is down to the wire and needs to make decisions about these girls, about choosing his wife and he needs America to come to a decision if she wants him or not. There are other girls who deserve to be there. And I agree with him. I think both characters went through a lot through this book with discovering what they want and things about each other.

Overall, I loved THE ELITE, but because of the little problems I had with America, I had to drop a star, but it was still great! I couldn't put the book down, just like with The Selection. I think Kiera Cass is freaking amazing and Oh, my god! I can't wait to see the cover of the next book, the synopsis and just get my hands on the actual next book in this outstanding trilogy!

read more