{Review} Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Released: September 25th 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Hardcover, 404 pages
Series: White Rabbit Chronicles
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

Rating

{Review} Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Poison Princess
(The Arcana Chronicles, #1)
by Kresley Cole

Released: October 2nd 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Romance
Source: Bought at Walmart.
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side…

Rating: 5 stars

{Early Review} The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

The Lost Prince
by Julie Kagawa

Expected Publication: October 23rd 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Paperback, 379 pages
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Source: Received eARC from NetGalley.
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’s dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.

Rating- 4 stars

{Review} Sovereign Hope by Frankie Rose

Sovereign Hope
by Frankie Rose

Published: July 1st 2012
Publisher: create space
Format: Paperback, First, 391 pages
Genre: YA Paranormal, Romance, Adventure
Source: Received from author to review.
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Rating: 4.5

Everyone has a soul
Some are just worth more than others

Farley Hope was seventeen when her mother disappeared. In the last six months not much has changed, except that her eighteenth birthday came and went and still no sign of Moira. Her life is just as complicated as it always was. Since her father died in a car crash before she was even born, she’s officially parentless, and to top it all off she’s still suffering from the hallucinations. Mind-splitting, vivid hallucinations- the kind prone to induce night terrors and leave you whimpering under your covers like a baby.

The last thing on her mind is boys. Farley is on break from St. Judes’ when she meets Daniel. It’s not some casual run in at a party, or even a blind date with friends, though. Daniel is the guy following her in his 1970′s Dodge Charger; the guy standing at her window in the LA lunch hour traffic, trying to persuade her to leave everything behind and follow him. And he's hot as all hell.

The moment Farley lays eyes on Daniel, everything changes. He is cold and withdrawn, but there are cracks in his harsh veneer- cracks that betray the secrets he is trying so hard to hide. Farley is drawn into a world that will shake apart everything she thought she ever knew. There are truths out there that she must learn: that a person’s soul is their only real currency, and there are people who would do anything to take hers; that loving someone can hurt so much more than hating them; but, most importantly, when your future is predestined, there is little you can do to change it.

Farley Hope is prophesied.
Her coming has been awaited for hundreds of years.
She is destined to end the tyranny of the Soul Reavers.
To do so she must die.

I really liked this book. I'm glad Frankie gave me the chance to read and review it and be apart of her blog tour. <3 A million thank you's to her gorgeous self! Sovereign Hope is different from your typical YA book. It has a pretty cool plot twist and is awesomely written.

The world of Sovereign Hope is total excitement. Dark, dangerous, and thrilling. It's new and it's very neat. I loved Frankie's writing. There's a city under the city which SH is set in. And there's these people called The Immortals, and that's exactly what they are, they're immortal, and they harbor supernatural abilities. Then there's these people called The Reavers. A scary race that only wreaks havoc on people...such as Farley Hope. ;) Then there's these things calls Whytes. Which actually scared the shit out of me when I read the description of one of them. The picture in my head was not one for a small child. THEY'RE SCARY. Let's just leave it at that. xD

Characters. The heroine. Farley Hope is pretty likable girl. She's a bit too stubborn and hard-headed, if you ask me. But she's tough. And it was definitely stated in the book. Literally. She gets flustered easily, but it's predictable since you're learning so quickly about a city that's under a city. But I like her. c:

Daniel... He's arrogant, lol. I was beginning not to like him, to be honest. Throughout the first sixty-percent of the book. But then, I warmed up to him; his shy and sweet side came out. And he was quite cute. :D I knew that Daniel was the love interest even before I read the book, but I liked how we didn't seen signs that Farley and Daniel felt anything for each other until well over half way through the book. And that was because of Daniel's jerkiness. xD He's black-haired, and green-eyed, and described as hot as a Calvin Klein model. Not really my favorite combination in hair and eyes, but it'll do. ;3

Agatha is your typical mother-like figure. She watches out for everybody and cares for them. I was definitely warming up to her until the end of the book. D< Damn you, plot twist, you came out of nowhere. xD And Aldan. He's my favorite character in the book. <3 There's not much that was said about him, because, well, he was in a coma. But alas! There's a twist. ;) He was definitely a good character to add in this story, and I loved him. I hope he comes back, but I know he won't. D:

There were a few things in the book that is my reason to not giving this a five-star rating. Some things seemed too fast paced, like the part where Beatty and his gang came in. That was so abrupt I thought I missed something in the last chapter or two. And the ending was pretty sudden too. And it did end off in a cliffhanger. But in some ways I liked the fast-paced nature of this book, because there was never a moment in it that wasn't packed with action and kept you reading. That's what I gotta have. And Frankie delivered it. :D Thank you again, Frankie, for giving me this chance!

{eARC Review} Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Defiance

by C.J. Redwine

Expected Publication: August 28th 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover, 416 page
Genre: YA High Fantasy, Romance
Series: Defiance, #1
Source: Received eARC from Edelweiss
Pre-Order: Barnes and Noble | Amazon
Rating: 5/5 stars

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

This story follows the female protagonist, Rachel Adams, in the city of Baalboden--where every women at the age of seventeen must have a "Protector", to go with her everywhere and...well...protect her--she gets some troubling and devastating news that her father has not come home from a courier mission. Refusing to believe that he's dead, Rachel sets out on an adventure beyond the "Wall" surrounding Baalboden and into the Wastelands. But her new Protector, Logan McEntire--a boy she had fallen in love with a couple years back, but refused her--won't let her go into the wilderness alone. But what stops him is the Commander, and he plans to take down Rachel's plans.

For me, this book was very easy to get into. And I loved it instantly. Mostly because I love the idea of a YA book set in medieval times. But other than that, it was very enjoyable! The suspense from the first page kept me interested from the very get go, and I couldn't put it down!

The plot is definitely something different, but not different enough to where I actually want to call it original. But it's close. ;) I could picture every action-packed moment in my head easily and beautifully. There was not a dull moment in this book, and I wasn't expecting anything less than that.

Rachel is totally bad-ass. Sure, she has her stubborn moments, but it's understandable because she's damn determined to find her dad. I loved that she knows how to fight in a world where the women are always being protected. But she can very much protect herself, her father made sure of that. I think the only thing I didn't much like about her, is her hair. I've read about a lot of red-heads, and it's just getting tiring... :/ and most of them are pretty weak heroines. D: But that's the only thing I don't care for about Rachel.

As for Logan, he's totally a hero that I could fall in love with, and I did. <3 He's kick-ass, handsome, and a fighter. And he fought through hell for Rachel, even when he didn't think he loved her. And I admired that about him. And when he did come to terms with his love for her, it was sweet and just...ugh. <333 So tender.

Commander Chase is every bit of evil as it gets. I hated him, once he opened his mouth for the first time, I hated him. He was conniving, manipulative, and spiteful. And I hope he gets what he freakin' deserve in the next book. That's all I'll say about that. -_-

I'm glad the romance wasn't really rushed in this. And to be honest, there wasn't much romance anyway. There's a couple kisses in there, C.J. didn't really put any detail in there, which kind of was a downer. :c Nothing steamy or spicy, just plain. The action was too good for me to really think about the lack of romance in this really. So, I didn't care much for it. For once. Haha. ;3

I give this book five stars, because it deserves the hell out of them. I enjoyed this book a lot, and can't wait for the next one. Which it'll be longer since I read this two-month in advance. D: Damn... Also, a bunch of thank you's to HarperCollins and Edelweiss for approving me to read this digital ARC. :D

{Review} Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone
by Leigh Bardugo
Released: June 5th, 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Format: Hardcover, 358 pages
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: The Grisha Trilogy, #1
Source: Bought online at B&N
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon
Rating: 5/5 stars

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.

Shadow and Bone was just downright amazing. Spectacular, incredible, all of the above. This is easily one of my top five favorites of 2012. And is easily the top ten of all time. <3 I loved this book so much, plus more. It deserve every one of those stars; and if there were more stars, I'd give it more. Definitely. This is one of those times where I wish I had all of the books in the series. I. Must. Have. Them. All. o_o

I have a limit on my emotions, okay. And when that line gets crossed, I just go crazy. I did with this. And you know what?



The story follows a young girl, Aline Starkov, who grew up in an orphanage with her best friend, Mal, and got transferred to a military post to serve as a mapmaker for the First Army. In the world of Ravka, there are people with unique abilities call Grisha. And one day, while protecting Mal as they were crossing the "Fold" or The Unsea, she discovered she held a power that was more powerful than any of the Grisha. Her life changes when she learns more about her power, and more about betrayal and trust than anything.

I'm glad I didn't rush through this like I normally would have done. With this epic read, you have to take your time with it in some parts to get to understanding what's what and what's happening, especially since this is so original. But it didn't take long for me. It was so freaking vivid in my head, and so amaaaaazzziiinnnnggg. Ugh. <3333 Leigh Bardugo created a whole new world unlike any other, it's so intriguing and mesmerizing! I'd love to read this all over again, to fall even more in love with the story and get swept away by all the characters.~ The map in the front of the books was awesome, and very helpful actually! :D The plot itself was different and more unique than anything I've ever read. And that's saying a lot. I've read a quite a bit in my short 16-going-on-17 years of existence. And this has to top the cake beautifully.

The characters in this was weaved perfectly. The main heroine, Alina--which the book is set in her POV--is stronger than most heroines I've read about. Sure, she has her weak moments. But in a world like Ravka, who wouldn't? I'd probably be crapping my pants with each glance at The Unsea. ._. I loved Alina because she had a transformation in the book. First she was dull and naive, but when she got a grasp of her powers, she turned into a strong, kick-ass lady. I liked that her power was Sun Summoning, where she can summon brilliant light to her fingertips. It's different and pretty damn cool if you ask me.

Malyen "Mal" was my favorite character in this. He's different from most love interests in YA books. Alina being in love with him, and him just prancing around with other beautiful women and him not noticing it, just made me like his and Alina's relationship even more. It kept me guessing to see if Mal came to his senses or not. This one quote he said to Alina near the ending of the books just sent me swooning and careening.

"I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. I'd catch myself just walking around to find you, not for any reason , just out of habit, because I'd seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I'd realize that you weren't there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don't tell me why we don't belong together," he said fiercely.

I just wanted to cry for them both right then and there. You could just feel the love pouring from them, and it was just so sweet and tender.

As for the Darkling, I liked him a pretty good bit. He was just the right about of brooding and mysterious and dangerous. He was also a damn good villain. And he knew it. I also liked the fact that we didn't really know his name. And I don't know if we'll ever know his real name or not. It's just one of the many mysteries that is Shadow and Bone. :D But I know this, it was pretty nasty that the Darkling played Alina. I think I felt more sorry for her than anybody in the book. It just goes to show that the Darkling is very much a power-hungry selfish person. And to think I was liking him better than Mal in the beginning. >_> Also, and this is my fangirl coming out. If anyone has seen the Nick TV show The Legend of Korra, I think General Iroh reminds me a LOT of the Darkling.



Just sayin'... *scoots away awkwardly*

All of the other characters were spectacular in this. I don't think there wasn't really anything I didn't like. Well....except Ivan. He's a prick. c:

There was never a dull moment in S&B, it kept me interested from the prologue. The action in this was awesome and very satisfying for me, since I'm a big action freak. c: And the romance is very nice and spicy. Bardugo can right those scenes very good, I tell ya. ;) This is gonna be one of those books where I'll be thinking about for a long time. And I wouldn't mind a bit. <3

I can't say this enough: I loved Shadow and Bone! I would recommend it to everybody. Read this now!

{Book Review} BLACK DAWN by Rachel Caine

Black Dawn 
by Rachel Caine

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: NAL
Format: Hardback, 367 pages
Genre: YA Paranormal, Adventure, Romance
Series: Morganville Vampires, #12
Source: Bough from Walmart.
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Rating: 4.5 stars

The hotly-anticipated twelfth instalment in the Morganville Vampires series 

In Last Breath, the rain brought a new and dire threat to Morganville and its vampires... their ancient enemies, the draug. Now, the vampires are fighting a losing war, and it will fall to the residents of the Glass House: Michael, Eve, Shane and Claire, to take the fight to an enemy who threatens to destroy the town, forever.


Lovers of Morganville, rejoice: Black Dawn takes the intrigue, romance and nail-biting suspense of the series to its highest level yet!

Ahhh, Rachel Caine. You cease to entertain me. :) I think that the Morganville Vampires will forever be one of my top ten favorite YA series'. And Black Dawn just adds more to the suspense and thrilling experience to the story of MV! As always, can't wait for the next installment. <3

{Review} STORM by Brigid Kemmerer

Storm
by Brigid Kemmerer
Release Date: April 24th 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Format: Paperback, 353 pages
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Series: Elementals, #1
Source: Received a signed copy from author.
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon


Rating - 4.5 stars

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming . . .

{Review} EMBRACE by Jessica Shirvington

Embrace
by Jessica Shirvington
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
Format: Hardback, 400pp
Age Range: 12 - 17 Years
Genre: YA Supernatural Romance
Series: The Violet Eden Chapters, #1
Source: Bought
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

Look for the sequels ENTICED in September 2012 and EMBLAZE in March 2013!

This book, I will admit, wasn't the best book I've ever read. And it wasn't the worst book either. But damn, it was almost painful to get through without cringing or wanting to throw the book in acid. I say that, but it did get better about over halfway through it. Just a smidgen. And to be honest, I did really want to like this book. But it was just...MEH. This book was way too fast-paced and basically scattered everywhere.

Characters... I. Hated. Violet. She is whiny, weak, bitchy, and almost slutty when it comes to Lincoln and Phoenix. I did see a slight transformation between the beginning and end of the book. But I didn't really care lol. It was like the transformation did shit to her attitude. So that's all I'm gonna say on her. Bleh. And her friend Steph was just the same way. -_-

I felt sorry for Lincoln more than anything. I don't think he deserved to be treated as badly as Violet treated him. When all he did was protect her and watch over her without telling her the details. I mean, what's the point in getting mad and shit when you're gonna find out sooner or later? Sooner rather than later. That's the point of "coming of age" at the age of seventeen. *head/desk* If it were me; granted, I'd be a bit upset, but I would think it was for the better of it. Violet just pitched an ungodly fit and didn't talk to Lincoln for a few weeks. WTF. I liked Lincoln better than anybody in this book. I liked Griffin, though. It was like he didn't care about the bullshit that went on between Lincoln and Violet. And I felt automatically satisfied when he hit her like... umpteenth times.

Phoenix. *Sigh* I liked him...then I didn't like him. It was almost like his and Violet's relationship was based on sex. Which they did have. I mean it's quite obvious that they're going to do it from the point when Phoenix put his hands all over her in Hades. (Which is a restaurant/club.) By the end of the book though, I didn't like him. For all the right and wrong reasons I guess. He lied way more than Lincoln, that's a fact that you'll read at the end. And he's snarky and cocky with his devil-may-care attitude. So much so that it was just annoying to the point to where I just wanted to shove a metal pole up his ass and call it a day.

I think the one of the reasons why I didn't like this book all that much was because it was focused around...well...lust. And angels. Ohohohooo, let's not forget the angel part. I've read way too many angel books, and this is just done it in for me for them. Unless the book actually sounds good. Though it wasn't the same...plot...that angel-based YA books have. I don't think I've read a book where the angel-human hybrid had to go through a few tests in order to become a Grigori. Which was slightly different than most YA lits. So I will give it credit on that.

Also, another reasons why I didn't like it; this happened in the beginning. The Christian in be and my Southern ways...automatically didn't like this. I mean, I don't see how a Christian person could like it. Here's the quote in Violet's POV:

How could I believe in God? What kind of bastard would leave me motherless the moment I was born? Would leave me alone in a room with a sicko who would mess with my mind forever? And that's just me; don't even get me started on the rest of the world. God? He's for the very lost to question and the very found to praise.

Okay, don't get me wrong. I think I get an idea how hard it would be to go motherless and almost get raped and whatnot. And I apologize if I offended anyone how there... But holy shit. I just wonder if Violet even took a minute to think...well maybe that wasn't God's doing. Maybe it just happened out of coincidence. I know it seems kind of heartless of me. But it's just...I'm Christian, and I thought I would say something about it.

I hate giving a book a bad rating, and a review to go with it. x_x But it did get better through the middle/end. Just not enough for me to actually give it four or five stars. Much less three. But, I read what the next book is about, and I think I might give it a try. Only if I can get passed the urge to strangle Violet.

Rating: 2/5

{Book Review} THE IMMORTAL RULES by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules
by Julie Kagawa (blog, twitter, facebook)
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Format: ebook, 504pp
Age Range: 14 years+
Series: Blood of Eden Series, #1
Genre: YA Paranormal, Dystopian
Source: Received from NetGalley.
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

*flails around, screaming* This. Was. The. Definition. Of. Badassery. I have a hard time believe anyone could not like this book. I can't put it into words about how different this was from her Iron Fey series. Not bad different, believe me. I have nothing bad to say about this piece.

Julie Kagawa didn't fail me with this one. That's for damn sure. Before this book, I was about done with vampire books. Like, almost completely wiping them off my genre criteria. But when I heard that she was writing a vamp book, I couldn't resist the hella strong urge to pick this book up. (Even thought I got this as a eBook through NetGalley. <3 Thanks NG, I love you.) Julie developed basically a whole new breed of vampires that definitely do not sparkle. They drain you, not become besties with you. Like most YA books that have even one vampire in it. -__- It was like taking a breath of fresh air. <3

I loved how she came up with the rabids too. I'll be damned if that's not what caused the nightmare I had when I went to sleep after I finished TIR. (I shit you not. I almost woke up screaming. *shudders*) Those things are basically have all the killer works. Something I definitely do not want to run into when I'm taking a nice walk out at night.

The scenery in this book was insanely awesome. I could picture a combination of, like...Priest and Silent Hill together. (Minus the gore from SH. x_x) The action in it was so vivid, I had to reread over some parts, it was that intense.

The character development in this was amazing. Every character almost has their own kickass trait. Except for maybe Ruth. *recoils in disgust* Allison Sekemoto has to be one of the most badass heroines out there in the YA lit world, as for as I'm concerned. With her being a vampire, and wielding that katana, just screams that she could drop your ass like a dime in less than five seconds flat. Aside from her skill to take someone down, I seriously loved her personality; brave, independent, courageous, kind when she wants to be(which was rarer than red steak). She takes nothing from anybody. And she has a mouth on her like a viper. ;3 I love her.

Her mentor, Kanin, was my second favorite character, since Allison was totally my first--which is rare, because I hardly ever pick the heroine out of a book as my favorite character. Kanin was so incredibly mysterious and...and...brooding. So much so, I don't even think I saw a description for his hair. (Which bugs the ever lovin' noodles out of me.) Though, him not taking any crap from Allison just makes him all the more awesome. I'm tired of mentors or teachers or whatever going easy on their "students." It's almost borderline pathetic. I think I almost had a heart attack when got taken away. I think I almost let a tear shed. But I didn't let it fall because I thought, that cannot be the last we see of him.

And Zeke, being as cool and skilled as he is, I didn't find him to be the most perfect match for Allison that I thought he would be. Sure, he's awesome, no doubt. But (and it's stated in the book) he's sees the good in everything. But it's not like I don't like him for Allison, I do. I'm just saying that Allison...is what she is, and Zeke is so...pure and good. xD They're complete opposites. Then, when shit hit the fan, he got down to business. Aside from that, I definitely loved him. <333 (What's not to love? Blonde, blue eyes, lean muscles, and scars. They're sexy.) I hated Ruth, the nosy bitch. So there's not much to say on her. And I didn't like Jeb either, so I'm pretty content with how things turned out. ;)

JK had me in awe with writing this little precious. The level of badassery is so high, I cannot even comprehend. She can definitely make that happen, with her wicked world building skills. I loved every moment of this book, and do not regret not waiting for the release date, and savoring it with everybody else. xD I'M GREEDY, AND I CAN'T HELP IT. I read this within one sitting, and couldn't believe my eyes when I finished it. YOU DUN IT AGAIN, KAGAWA. This has to be the longest review I've written so far.

Also, the sneak peak of The Iron Prince wasn't anything like I imaginied it would be. I'm going to like Ethan Chase...

Rating

DARK KISS by Michelle Rowen {Book Review}

Publication Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin
Format: Paperback, 352pp
Age Range: 14 years+
Series: Nightwatchers Series, #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Source: Received from NetGalley
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

I don't do DANGEROUS.

Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha—that’s me. But I just couldn’t pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It’s like part of me is missing—and I don’t know if I can get it back.

Then there’s Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he’s keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he’s what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me....

Nightwatchers: When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

This is my first ebook received from NetGalley.com. So, it hasn't come out yet; it does on March 22nd. c: (I'll try not to include too many spoilers.)

To start off with, this is about angels/demons. And considering, I've read a pretty good amount of angelic and demonic books, I still liked this. Sure, it's still got all the basic angel/demon stuff, and yada yada. At least, I think it does. Can't really go much more further with this type of stuff. >-< But there are some minor twists and turns in there, making it a bit different. It was definitely good and definitely thought out. There were a couple surprises, but none too holy-shit-I-think-I-just-pissed-my-pants-on-that-one like. ;3

The plot was pretty cool. Like I said above, it had to have been at least a little thought out from the beginning. I enjoy books with twists and turns that make you have whip-lash turning the pages back and forth and rereading, or those moments where you're like, "I can't believe that just happened," or "I can't believe he/she let him/her do that." And that's almost happened with this one. I got so frustrated in a few parts, though. But it wasn't because the books was bad, it was from the characters.

Speaking of the characters, just about every one of them was more than frustrating. I like there were only two or three that I know of. And that was Bishop, Zach, and Connor. I reeeeeeally didn't like Sam. I don't know if it's just because she was just having trouble accepting that there are angels and demons, when there's crystal clear proof. Or if it's just because her bitch-of-a attitude got on my nerves. (Which it did anyway.) She has to be one of the top twenty or thirty weakest heroines out there. I'm sure anybody that reads my reviews knows that I do. not. like. weak females. Though, I can see a bit of a transformation throughout the book with Sam. NOT MUCH. Next is Kraven. I like him, then I didn't like him. :/ His mood swing almost make him out to be like he's bipolar. And and bipolar demon is frustrating. I loved his sarcasm, but I'm like Sam, I can't figure him out for shit. And it's beyond infuriating. I can't tell if he likes Sam or not. asdfghjkl; I loved Bishop and Zach. They were both so sweet. c: Bishop especially. I loved his protectiveness of Sam. Which she doesn't deserve. Roth is a bastard. Enough said. I didn't like Natalie. At all. From the beginning. The conniving bitch. I didn't really like Carly in the beginning, because she seemed too... uppity? Then on up in there my distaste for her only grew, but then I felt sorry for her in the end. :/

Can I just say that I seriously love this cover? Not just from the hottness..... But that's the majority of it. >_> I mean, what hormone-raging teenage girl wouldn't like it? But I like how the wings are and the scenery in the background. Not to mention blue's my favorite color. Oh my God, I'm so lame for that.

I've read just one book from Michelle Rowen--which was The Demon In Me. And I'm glad I got into her books. Her writing is awesome and almost to the point. I definitely want to get the second book to this. <3

Rating

WINGS OF THE WICKED by Courtney Allison Moulton {Book Review}

Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardback, 528pp
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Age Range: 14 years+
Series: Angelfire Series, #2
Source: Bought at B&N
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.

Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven's warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell's strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She's been warned.

Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian's new plan to destroy Ellie's soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian's schemes, the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.
She'll be betrayed.

Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be Hell to pay.

*Slight Spoilery!* This is one of those times where I'm seriously mad about the next year release date for the next book.



...I seriously...seriously...LOVED this book. IT WAS SO EMOTIONAL, I COULDN'T STAND IT. But I did, and it seriously left a bruise on my heart. xD

Will is so sweet. I mean, ugh. He's number one on my top five favorite male heroines in books. AND HE'S BADASS. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOOOR? And then Cadan? WHY DID YOU ACT THAT WAY? Damn it all if I didn't fall for him too! -_-' They were both so freakin' sweet. I don't think I've ever read about a (TWO) guy that's that caring and...and...and...UGH. *_*

There was definitely some sad parts in this book. One in particular that I just...felt so hurt over. I didn't cry, I just felt hurt. I think all the "sad" parts in there I just felt hurt over. Especially for Ellie and Will. It was back and forth that I felt sorry for. I know in one part with Ellie and her Dad. And can I just say that I was not excepting what happened with him. I was like...o_o... And then when Ellie lost it, I thought it was hella badass. ;D

I reeeeeally loved the action scenes in WotW. It was definitely detailed and intense. I couldn't stop reading them. o.o BRUTAL, MAN. You can tell Ellie is getting better and better at her fighting strategies. I don't know if it means shes coming into her Gabriel state even more, or if it's just in her nature since she is Gabriel. (Sorry if I gave that away. D:)

I think the almost heart attacks that I had when I read this book is enough for me to send CA Moulton my medical bills. Especially that one I had in the last few pages of the book. YOU PULLED A CASSANDRA CLARE ON US, CA. D:< Buuuut I won't because I'm a nice person, and I want the next book. :3

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Rating

BLOODROSE by Andrea Cremer {Book Review}

Rating:★★★
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Format: Hardback, 416pp
Age Range: 14 - 17 Years
Series: Nightshade Series, #3
Source: Bought at Barnes and Noble.
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

The third and final installment of the international bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In this remarkable final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, international bestselling author Andrea Cremer crafts a dynamic novel with twists and turns that will keep you breathless until its final pages.

Are. You. Fucking. Kidding. Me.

That ending. The last few chapters. Oh my God. My heart. It's broken. Ren. Oh, my poor Ren. I can't even.






I cannot believe that happened. How could an author be THAT cruel. I seriously can't fathom how brokenhearted I am. When I read that part, I couldn't stop crying. Holy shit. Thanks for breaking my heart and stomping on the pieces, Cremer. No really, thank you. See what you do to me? I can't even write a decent review.



Just...let me go wallow in my tears...in a ditch. I was not expecting this book to be this cruelly disappointing. Ugh.

I apologize for this crappy review. But...I just don't really see the point in it now.

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KISS OF FROST by Jennifer Estep {Book Review}

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep


Rating: ★★★★★
Publication Date: December 1,2011
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Paperback, 368pp
Age range: 12 - 17 Years
Series: Mythos Academy Series, #2
Source: Bought at Walmart
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Logan Quinn was try­ing to kill me. My Spar­tan class­mate relent­lessly pur­sued me, swing­ing his sword at me over and over again, the shin­ing sil­ver blade inch­ing closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes prac­ti­cally glowed with the thrill of battle...

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

I can say that my feelings for Logan freaking Quinn have lifted from dislike, to like. JUST A LITTLE BIT. I had my hopes up for Preston (I think I have a cousin with that name. o_o), and of course... That sure didn't go well.


I really liked this sequel to Touch of Frost; it definitely had some new emotions in there. And some new history of some sort. And I really liked that we got to look at some other characters too, that was a plus. :D (I so like Oliver....*dodges confused glares*) And Kenzie is a jerk. D: Juss sayin'.

Was anyone else surprised when Gwen shuffled through Preston's memories, and found that one? I wanted to bawl for Gwen's sake. That must've been SO HARD. T-T I hate reading about heroines going through stuff like that, when I actually like the girl. It makes me wanna cry so bad.
Anyway, this was a cool read! I loved it. :3 And of course, I can't wait for the next book!

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TOUCH OF FROST by Jennifer Estep {Book Review}

Rating: ★★★★★
Publication Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Paperback, 336pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: Mythos Academy Series, #1
Source: Bought
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died...

I really liked this book a lot. I really love Greek and Norse mythology, and this had it all. <3 And I intensely like the idea that Loki is the bad guy in this. Not many books talk about him, or Thor for that matter. At least, any that I know of.

I felt insanely sorry for Gwen; she's a genuine good-natured girl. And how she's treated in this book just pisses me off to no end. I just want to run up and hug her and pamper her. :)

Logan is just a complete jackass. But he's kickass too. Although, jackass ruled out kickass in my shelves for heroes. The ending of it totally made me dislike him more than the beginning. Maybe my feelings will change in the second book, but probably not by much. But I do hope that there's more to his story like he said in the end of the book. I'd like to know more of his history and why he's slightly bipolar. ;P (That's not in the book, just so you know.)

Over all, this was a pretty interesting book. I really loved the history and research that was in this. Very interesting. :D Since I've got a hard-on for Norse and Greek mythology, of course I'd like it. <3

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RECKONING by Lili St. Crow {Book Review}

Rating: ★★★★★
Publication Date: 11/1/2011
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Pages: Paperback, 304pp
Age range: Young Adult
Series: Strange Angels Series, #5
Source: Bought from B&N
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

The electric finale in New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow's Strange Angels series! 

Nobody expected Dru Anderson to survive this long. Not Graves. Not Christophe. Not even Dru. She's battled killer zombies, jealous djamphirs, and bloodthirsty suckers straight out of her worst nightmares. But now that Dru has bloomed into a full-fledged svetocha - rare, beautiful, and toxic to all vampires - the worst is yet to come. 

Because getting out alive is going to cost more than she's ever imagined. And in the end, is survival really worth the sacrifice?


DRU ANDERSON'S NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK.  BUT SHE SHOULD BE.

Oh my Cheez-Its. That can't be the ending. SO MUCH IS LEFT IN A CLIFFHANGERRR.

*le sigh* I don't want to say much, in fear of spoiling anything. But I will say that this is a somewhat satisfying ending to this series. I do believe I felt more sorry for Graves than anybody. Then Christophe. Hell, I felt sorry for Dru. But then it's like, Well you're kick-ass and stubborn. You'll find a way out of it eventually. And man, there was a lot of action in this one too. I mean, dur. You're going to expect a shit-ton of action in a Lilith Saintcrow book.

I feel like Graves wasn't in this book that much. I mean, I know it's nothing compared to Defiance. But still, this was the final book, and I feel like Christophe somewhat got all the heat. Even though I love him more than Graves. I still like Graves though. c:

There could definitely be a sixth book. And I'm not saying that like, "oh I heard somewhere that the author is writing another book." Noooo. I'm saying that like "there's a lot that's undone" type of way. Lili is notorious for endings like that, it seems. Her books leave you wondering. Big time. I read her Dante Valentine series that came out in one book... And it was weird. But a good type of weird. And it had an ending that was like..."WTF HAPPENS NOW?!" That's how I feel about the Strange Angels series. Like a few questions for instance. (Spoilery!!!!) Is Graves really coming back? Where does this leave Dru and Graves? Where does this leave Dru and Christophe? What's Dru's full name?

UGH. I wish there was a sixth one. :( But this was an awesome finale~

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