Book Review: Legend

Legend
Marie Lu
YA Dystopia
Publisher: SPEAK (an imprint of Penguin)
Published: 2011
5/5

            What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
                From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

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                This novel alternates between Day and June; each character receives their own chapters and all of Day’s chapters are written in gold ink. The detail that was put into the book art is fantastic, great fonts, embossing, foiling, texture; this is an absolutely beautifully put together book. The amount of detail is really quite something and this is easily one of the most graphically beautiful books that I’ve ever owned. I’ve spent a lot of time staring at this book even before I bought it; it does a fantastic job of grabbing your attention.
                Both Day and June are fantastic, well developed characters. They each hold their own and have strong voices that I did not find blended in together as one voice too often, the author managed to keep both of them distinctly different.  These two are going to make an un-stoppable team and I wouldn’t want to be one of their enemies!
                The world building was also very well done, it was pleasing, easy to follow and full of a rich culture that is easily believable. Despite technological advances each sector of the city has their own characteristics and the differences between all of them are vast, well thought out and detailed to an enjoyable amount.
                Everything about this book is strong, and it’s very easy to see why so many people are falling over themselves to read this series. Well written, strong characters, great storyline and development. June is a kick-butt character who can hold her own, she’s strong, smart, determined and a great fighter and in every way I believe almost the female version of Day, they’re just different sexes and grew up in different worlds but beneath the power of the same government.
                I enjoyed all the developments and little surprises along the way, all the events both large and small seemed to have taken place with a purpose and I really enjoyed that a whole lot.
                Definitely worth your read, easily one of the best dystopia’s written in the Young Adult genre.
                I am looking forward to Prodigy which looks like it will be another beautiful book.
               

Book Review: Crescendo

Crescendo
Becca Fitzpatrick
Young Adult
Published:2010
4/5

 

                Nora Grey’s life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn’t pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it. A mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He’s more elusive than ever (if that’s possible) and what’s worse, he seems to be spending time with Nora’s archenemy, Marcie Millar.
                Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadn’t been acting so distant, Even with Scott’s totally infuriating attitude, Nora finds herself drawn to him – despite her lingering feelings that he is hiding something.
                If that weren’t enough, Nora is haunted by images of her murdered father, and comes to question whether her Nephilim bloodline has anything to do wit his death. Desperate to figure out what happened, she puts herself in increasingly dangerous situations to get the answer. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything – and everyone – she trusts.

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                Fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I enjoyed it quite a bit more than Hush, Hush even. Normally people like the first book in the series the most but I might actually enjoy Crescendo the most!
                This book was action packed, full of mystery suspense mind numbing romance, ridiculously good looking Patch of course and who could resist Patch? I certainly couldn’t even if my life would be better off without him.
                I enjoyed all the twist and turns in this novel, I am really liking the direction I believe this book is going in and that’s a beautiful thing you guys. I really, am just…ugh I really just love this series and all the characters; again Vee just makes me laugh with how ridiculous she is. Nora and Vee’s schemes are hilarious and kind of on the dumb side but that’s what makes it all the more entertaining.
                I really like that I didn’t figure out who the bad person was in this story until that person was revealed, I really enjoyed the plot twists with other characters as well including Marcie Miller.  It was a really interesting plot progression for me and I am glad I gave the second book a shot because I was unsure as I did not enjoy the first book quite as much.
                Have you guys read this series? What did you think about it? Or at least up until this point! What did you not like about it?!
               

Book Review: Coraline

Coraline
Neil Gaiman
Adapted & Illustrated by P. Craig Russell
Graphic Middle grade Novel
3/5

            When Coraline steps through a door into her family`s new house, she finds another house strangely similar to her own (Only better). But there`s another mother there and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to Change her and never let her go.
            Acclaimed artist P. Craig Russell brings Neil Gaimen`s enchanting, nationally bestselling childrens book CORALINE to new life in this gorgeously illustrated graphic novel adaptaion.

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            I loved the movie Coraline, the movie happens to be one of my all-time favorites and I watch it a couple times a year.  This graphic novel adaptation however left me feeling pretty `meh` about a story that I thought I would love in all formats (looking forward to reading the actual book its self still however)
            Let’s talk about the artwork. I thought that it was okay, it wasn`t as amazing as some of the work I’ve seen in other graphic novels such as the walking dead and though this book was in color I felt that it fell flat and the characters were too…Just not what I would have wanted. I suppose I was hoping for characters that looked more like the characters from the movie and that is nobody’s fault buy my own.
            I also felt as though the graphic novel adaptation left a lot of important things/details out that I really would have enjoyed seeing in illustrations. While I thought some of the artwork was beautiful it over all failed to capture the magic that the movie had captured. I also found the storyline lacking. Her other mother is seen as terrible from the get go and Coraline does not seem interested in her other family at all at any point in the story and I felt as though perhaps they had missed an important detail there because that’s what the story is all about I thought at least anyways.
            This is not a negative review however because I still enjoyed reading it and looking at the pictures and following the story line and though it lacked some of the magic I thought it could have used I still read this book in one night, in one sitting instead of going to sleep like I should have it wasn’t all bad.
            I enjoyed Coraline, I thought her character as a whiney bratty little girl sang true and though I felt as though she was detached from most of the other characters she fought hard to make sure everyone is safe and that everyone has a happy ending, except for, of course, the other mother.
            This graphic novel adaptation is worth the read I think! If you enjoyed any of the various formats of Coraline it’s worth giving this one a shot and trying it out for yourself because at the end of the day it’s still an enjoyable story.

Book Review: Under the Never Sky

Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1)
Veronica Rossi
YA
Published: 2012
5/5

          Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving the outer wasteland-known as The Death Shop- are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild- savage- and her only hope of staying alive.
          A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile- everything he would expect from a Dweller. He needs Aria’s help too however; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry Must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the Never Sky.

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          I for one really, really enjoyed this novel and despite hearing a lot and I mean a lot of mixed reviews I found that I was able to settle in and engage myself into this world.
          I have heard that many people didn’t find the world detailed enough and I think I probably disagree with this a little bit. I understand some things are lacking but I found the landscape vivid and easy to imagine as I was reading. I could picture Aria picking up real rocks for the first time; I could feel her feeling the sun on her skin for the first time as well (Though how she managed to not have gotten a major sun-burn is beyond me… I would figure skin meets sun first time would equal terrible sun-burn) this world despite lacking some details was real to me, I could imagine myself there. I understand this is a ‘futuristic world’ but the point is that she is exiled out into the part of the world were technology doesn’t exist.
          I found Aria to be a strong character given her situation and the fact that she led an incredibly sheltered life where most physical and social interactions happen in virtual reality to ‘protect’ its people. She goes through some really scary changes once she leaves the compound and experiences a literal new world of things that’s she’s only heard about or seen in a hologram.  I know the thought of her being ‘so beautiful’ is clichéd but it also makes sense given the fact that every single person inside the compound is genetically altered. Why would anyone create ‘unattractive’ people?
          Perry is okay I think, I enjoyed his character and am hoping for a little bit more development towards him. His personality seems a little unstable, as though the author may have flip flopped a bit. I don’t think you could say that someone who doesn’t talk a lot suddenly talks all the time… that was a little weird? Maybe I misunderstood. I really like that he is so loyal, and loving and kind. To the root of his personality he is a kind hearted person even though he is supposedly a bit of a ladies man… It’s also kind of awkward to me that he can ‘sense’ when a woman is ready to get pregnant… convenient but awkward.
          I am really looking forward to the next book in the trilogy and am hoping it’ll keep me up until 1am when I feel like death because I have to read it and find out all the goodness and excitement and the ROMANCE! 
         
          If you liked this book I think you would like: Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel… This is a story about early humans and is adult fiction but they kind of remind me of each other… only not at all but I think you’d like it!

Book Review: Pushing the Limits

Pushing the Limits
Katie McGarry
Young Adult Contemporary
Published: 2012
5/5

                No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with “freaky” scars on her arms. Even Echo can’t remember the whole truth
                But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his surprising understanding, Echo’s world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common.
                Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she’ll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

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                WTHECK was my first impression when I first started reading this novel; however that impression failed to hold onto my ever loving bad boy’s soul and pushed way beyond a great book into probably one of the best books I’ve ever read in contemporary YA… EVER.
                Noah Hutchins is a boy after my own heart and reminds me terribly of a boy I dated in high school, and then when I was a little bit older and then RIGHT before I met my husband. He is dangerous and dark and knows just how to push his way into your heart to the point where you have to hold on tight because once you fall in love with him there’s a part of you that will always love him. Noah Hutchins is smoking hot, and secretly a good guy underneath all his many layers.
                I enjoyed this book considerably more than I ever thought I would enjoy this book and I’m so happy that I bought this book and then devoured it in a few hours… once again staying up WAY past my bed time (Good thing I’m an adult and the only one I have to answer is my Hubby when I’m being beyond cranky because I stayed up all night reading…good thing he thinks my obsession with books is ‘cute’) The plot is amazing you guys, I can’t even believe how She managed to tackle such a serious topics and still managed to make everything alright, give everything a smooth ending and to see Echo ‘heal’ from all the tragedy and pain she had gone through was incredible. It was a journey that I’m fairly certain I’ll be taking again someday in the future… or like right now because I really want to read it again but I have a massive TBR pile and at this point (May 15^th this will obviously be go up late ) I have not managed to read a single book I said I was going too this month (opps).
                Pushing the Limits is well worth the hype and frankly it deserves it as well! Definitely check this book out; I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed with it unless of course they’re cold hearted (Just kidding everyone’s entitled to their own opinions!)

Young Adult Series I Don’t Get Why People Are Crazy About!

                All these series are not living up to the hype for me. They lack the spark that makes me want to stay up all night breathing in the fumes from the ink on the pages!  Also this is obviously not meant to insult anyone who likes these books, I am totally okay with other people liking them…just not what I fancy in a novel is all.

1. The Delirium Trilogy – Lauren Oliver
                   I really wanted to like this series, people are crazy over it and I’ve liked everything else that I’ve read by Lauren Oliver so I gave it a shot…regretted it massively and now own the whole series and have no idea what I’m going to do… obviously I have to read them right? Maybe it will get better for me?
                   There were just too many plot holes for me to enjoy this series and the longer time has gone by since I’ve read Delirium the more I don’t like it…Just wasn’t my cup of tea I suppose.

2. Unwind Trilogy – Neal Shusterman
                   This is another the longer I think about it the more I just want to kick myself for giving it an okay rating because I really am not feeling it and 100% will not be continuing on with this series unless somehow they end up in my hands…like fall out of the sky end up in my hands kind of thing.
                   Just wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, I was really unhappy with what unwinding is and what it does and how just… it’s too unbelievable, I can honestly see people removing the emotion of ‘love’ before they go around ‘unwinding’ 12 year olds.
                  
3. The Mortal Instruments Series – Cassandra Clare
                   I am fairly certain I first heard about Cassandra Clare when she wrote Harry Potter Fan fiction and that was a LONG time ago so I was looking forward to City of Bones when it was first released. I bought it and never even finished it. It lacked something for me and I thought that the characters took some weird turns that my younger self wasn’t prepared for and was overly disappointed.  I don’t even remember what it was exactly but something happened that I was like ‘wtfudgesickles’ and didn’t want to finish it.

4. Infernal Devices Trilogy – Cassandra Clare
                   I bought the first book in this trilogy while I was standing in a chapters because it had a beautiful cover mostly and I didn’t hate Cassandra Clare’s writing style so I thought I would give her spin-off trilogy a chance and it was on sale for like 5 dollars or something…perhaps even less I cannot remember that was a long time ago. I never picked it up until recently. I have ben hearing people go on and on about how good Clockwork Princess is and how much they LOVE the series and I hated it you guys, I started it and never finished it I just hated it. I don’t even have words to express how weirdly annoyed I felt while reading it… so weird right? Because the premise totally sounds like something I would like!

5. Caster Chronicles – Margret Stohl & Kami Garcia
                   I really like the idea of this series and perhaps one day I’ll get around to reading it fully (doubtful) but as it stands I’m definitely not a big fan. I bought ‘Beautiful Creatures’ last January or December and started reading it but I couldn’t really get into it. I do know that I don’t usually like books told from a Males perspective (If they’re written by woman) because I always feel like the author doesn’t do a great job making the ‘male’ character seem believable. I suppose this would be okay if it wasn’t told in first person. I’m not a huge fan of first person anyways but I really struggle with it when the lead character is a male and I feel like they’re being to ‘feminine’ if that makes any sense to you?
                   I found that most of the characters lacked something for me as well, I wasn’t able to connect with them in a way that I liked too…I also found this book terribly slow, I am pretty sure I was at least 200 pages in and I felt like absolutely nothing was happening. Perhaps I’ll give it a shot again one day… Perhaps I won’t!
   We will have to see

                   what books or Series do you think are over rated and why? I would love to know! So I can be fully warned in the future! <3 Hope you’re all having a great, fantastic week!

Book Review: One for the Money

One for the Money (Stephanie Plum #1)
Janet Evanovich
Adult Crime Mystery Series
Published: 2006
4/5

 

            One Fine mess…Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and an even bigger money problem (Since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash- fast- but times are tough, and soon she’s forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: Family…
            One False move…Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie’s bail bond company. She’s got no experience but that doesn’t matter. As does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants, to the time Steph hit him with her father’s Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-e has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. Now the hot guy is in hot water-wanted for murder…
            One for the money… Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn’t. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she’ll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunger overnight- and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man.

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            This book is F-U-N-N-Y… seriously there are so many laugh out loud parts in the book it will keep your interest and keep you extremely entertained. One for the money has a fantastic group of characters, with unique personalities and even better flaws.
            Stephanie plum is tacky, has big hair, and wears A LOT of spandex. She’s determined, brave and at times down right stupid but you root for her, you will cheer for her as she works to get to her ultimate goal…10 grand or perhaps its revenge on the boy that took advantage of her and broke her heart.
            My favorite character is easily her grandmother! Wow what a fire cracker, the things that come out of this woman’s mouth is so freaking funny; I really wish my grandmother was a lot more like her, unfortunately for me they’re polar opposites. I hope when I’m an old lady that I’m even 1/10^th as funny as this grandmother is! My grandchildren wouldn’t be able to not love me I’d be so funny and entertaining. She’s just…she’s so fantastic and the best character in the book as far as I am concerned. Stephanie Plums whole family is so freaking hilarious… this whole book is too funny and obviously you get that buy now!
            I really enjoyed the plot progression despite the fact I found it a little redundant and a little slow at times. There were some parts of the book that I found a little too unbelievable but all in all it was a really great start to what I assume will be a great series. I am very much looking forward to the progression of the plot and the steamy romantic side story…Morelli sounds pretty darn good looking and he’s extremely likeable… they always are!
            I recommend this book to anyone who likes girly crime fighters! This one will make you laugh, make you gasp and best of all keep you coming back for more!