AKA Review ALL THE THINGS!

I want to get back into reviewing, but I'm SO far behind on reviews that it seems daunting. Whenever this happens it's time to cue the mini-reviews! Just some simple one-paragraph reviews of the books I've read in the last couple months. That way I don't feel like I'm buried in unwritten reviews and can get back to writing them!

This time I'm going to feature all of the books I've read since February that are sequels. Whether book two, end of a trilogy, etc. The rating for each book is in (parenthesis) next to the title and author name.

Prodigy & Champion, Marie Lu (4.5 flowers)

This series surprised me! I loved that it went in directions that you wouldn't expect, especially when it game to bad guys. Are the bad guys really bad? Are the good guys good? I still don't know! And that's how I like it. Also, I want to live in Antarctica now.

Perfect Lies, Kiersten White (4.5 flowers)

This book is like an episode of Law and Order before bed. Now... if you're me, that sounds like the perfect nighttime plan. Seriously. I love Law and Order before bed. And this book fit that bill perfectly. Full of mystery, a little bit of romance, some tense moments, but nothing that would scar me or even get my blood pumping very hard. A simple, easy, fun read.

Infinite, Jodi Meadows (5 flowers)

Holy crap. What can I say about this book except that IT IS AMAZING. I have adored this whole series, but this one really took the cake. There were certain things revealed that just... whoa. Blew my mind. I'm STILL processing them. And that ending! GAH! That ending gave me so many mixed emotions that my brain still feels backwards. If you haven't read this series, DO IT.


Split Second, Kasie West (5 flowers)

I have no idea why I like this series. I shouldn't. It's primarily a contemporary romance, which as you know I am NOT a fan of. And yet, I love this series. I guess that little paranormal flare is just enough to make it amazing. Or maybe I do like CR and just don't know it... regardless, even though there were moments in this book where I thought things like "Well that's convenient" it was immediately coupled with "But I don't care, because I LOVE IT!" This is another series that I see as primarily fluffy, but not without depth and intrigue. Plus I love the characters!

Dreams of Gods and Monsters, Laini Taylor (4 flowers)

Just finished this one yesterday. Honestly, I found this book pretty slow. Felt like not a lot happened. But also honestly, I didn't really care. The writing is beautiful. The characters are beautiful. The story is beautiful. So a little slowness couldn't hurt.

At first I was like "You're going to end there!? THERE?! Are there going to be four books in this 'trilogy'?!"

But then I was like "Oh. Okay. Actually. This is a super fantastical awesome ending. I am happy. And so is my imagination."

Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Genre: Romance, Political Intrigue
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Pages: 368
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Blurb: An okay read, but never really grabbed me.

Review: I've heard some people say that fans of the Grisha Trilogy will like this book. And eh... I think I can see where they're coming from. But I adore the GT, and this book... was just okay.

Does this book have a lot of politics? Honestly... not really. I felt like we never really got to see the inner workings of their world. The class systems and heirarchy were mentioned, but never fully explored. I didn't really get to know anyone but the two main characters. And so all I got was two perspectives when I wanted a lot more. And I don't mean I wanted a multiple POV book, just a more diverse cast of characters. Or even better, a more in depth exploration of those characters.

Was the love story interesting? Yes. It was very interesting to see the two main characters struggle with their loyalty to their culture, and to each other. That was something unique. And I appreciated that neither character was willing to throw either away easily. In most cases like this it seems that the characters decide to forget everything they've known for their whole lives and just run off together, OR they decide that the only way they can move forward is to completely abandon each other. Not so in The Winner's Curse. The characters wrestled very well with their conflicting emotions.

But in the end, I'm not quite sure I was invested enough to crave the sequel. I might pick it up someday if I get the chance. But I would recommend you get this one from the library before buying it.

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Release Date: September 18th, 2012
Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Romance?
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 584
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

Blurb: How can a book so long leave me wanting so much more?!

Review: This book... whoa. I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, but it wasn't this. I think I assumed this book was a straight-up horror. And while there are a lot of horror/thriller elements, there is so much more. It's got horror, supernatural powers, steampunk, romance, and more. In fact, there is so much in this book, that one book can't contain it. And it doesn't, unfortunately.

The sequel to this book comes out this fall, and I don't know how people have waited so long. When I reached the end of this book I felt like a thousand gallons of information and plot had been poured over me, and yet I was still missing things! Because of this I began to doubt the book. I had read it primarily over the holiday break, and so I had large chunks of time to devote to it. Did that make it seem faster-paced than it really was? Would I have been bored by this book if I had been reading it in 30-60 minute intervals? I don't know.

What I do know, is that the characters seemed very interesting and complex. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, because I couldn't relate to them. But I still found them fascinating. And every twist and turn of the plot kept me on my toes and wondering if it really was magic, or if someone was just imitating magic. And even though I didn't feel like there was much of a cliffhanger at the end of this book I have SO MANY unanswered questions that I await the sequel with baited breath.

Other Reviews:

• TBA (Loved it!) 
• TBA (It was okay)
• TBA (Didn't Like It.)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Release Date: October 22nd 2013
Genre: Dystopia, Romance
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 526
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Series: Divergent #3 (Review of #1, #2)
Summary (spoilers, highlight to view):

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Blurb: Not an awesome finale, but certainly not terrible

Review: Like most of my end-of-series reviews, I'll keep this fairly brief and spoiler-free. I was really nervous to read this book because it seemed like it caused SO much angst in the YA world when it came out. I have since discovered that this angst is primarily due to two things: 1) the slow pace, and 2) Tris' actions at the end of the book.

Neither of these things bothered me. I thought the book was "fine." I never felt like I was dragging through it, and was eager to read it. I didn't notice the slow pace at all, but perhaps that's because it has been ages since I read the first two, so I had nothing to compare it to, and I also read most of it over Christmas break, and so had big chunks of time to read. So perhaps it was slow, and I just missed it.

BUT, I can speak with confidence when it comes to the second issue. Tris' actions at the end of the book did not bother me at all because it was typical Tris. I felt like even though Veronica decided to do something fairly drastic with the story, she did not jump the shark. I totally believe that Tris, Four, Christina, and everyone else would have acted the way that they did. Does that mean that I liked the choices they made? No. Not even. But it didn't diminish the book for me at all because even though I didn't really like what happened, I felt like it was the right thing for the story. There was even sequel-phase in this story (which I usually hate) that felt totally natural and right.

If anything bugged me, it was that although this book claims to be "told from a riveting dual perspective," there were several times where I lost track of who was speaking. It didn't regularly switch back and forth each chapter, and Tris and Four have such similar voices, that I got lost quick. It would have been helpful to have their name at the top of the page or something, like that hilarious Brian Regan sketch. I should find a link to that...

Anyway, there you go. I didn't hate the book, I didn't love the book, I just thought it was a satisfying end to the series and I don't regret leaving it behind now. Though, I will go see the movie, if just for curiosity's sake.

Other Reviews:

• TBA (Loved it!) Coming soon! My school district blocks blogger blogs (except mine for some reason...) so I will have to add this later!
• The Quiet Voice (It was okay)
• TBA (Didn't Like It.) Coming soon for the same reason. :)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Genre: Fairy Tale, Middle Grade
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 304
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

At Ever After High, an enchanting boarding school, the children of fairytale legends prepare themselves to fulfill their destinies as the next generation of Snow Whites, Prince Charmings and Evil Queens...whether they want to or not. Each year on Legacy Day, students sign the Storybook of Legends to seal their scripted fates. For generations, the Village of Book End has whispered that refusing to sign means The End-both for a story and for a life.

As the daughter of the Evil Queen, Raven Queen's destiny is to follow in her mother's wicked footsteps, but evil is so not Raven's style. She's starting to wonder, what if she rewrote her own story? The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, has a happy ever after planned for herself, but it depends upon Raven feeding her a poison apple in their future.


What if Raven doesn't sign the Storybook of Legends? It could mean a happily never after for them both.

Blurb: The goal may be to sell Mattel, but this is still 100% Shannon Hale.

Review: I did have a concern going into this book, but it doesn't seem to be the same concern that most people had. In nearly every review I read I saw people saying "I was nervous about Shannon and Mattel working together." To which I say: ...why? For some reason I never had this worry. Yes, I knew that the goal of this book would be to sell the dolls, merchandise, etc. But I also felt pretty confident that Shannon wouldn't have agreed to any kind of book deal if she didn't know she could be true to her own writing.

So no, that wasn't my concern. My concern was simply that this book was clearly targeted for the middle grade audience. Not only am I not a middle grader, I actually really dislike middle grade books (just personally, not in general).

Both of these concerns were resolved by the same fact: This book was written by Shannon Hale. Despite the commercialism behind it, Shannon rocks out some awesome values. And despite the intended middle grade audience, the brilliant writing can make this appealing to all ages!

I'll admit that I struggled through the first few chapters. It was just dripping with puns, and at first the use of the word "hex" was just too much for me: "hexcellent" "hextbook" "hexting" AHHHH!!! But eventually it became just like any other book that makes up its own lexicon, and I got used to it. After that happened I loved this book. There were so many subtle things that I'm not even sure a middle grader would get, but I got it and thought it was hilarious. There were even some sections (particularly when the narrator is addressed directly) where I could hear Shannon reading the book in my head. So yes, this book is meant for middle graders, but in the same way Disney movies are made for kids: most adults can still enjoy it if they embrace a little bit of silly.

And I definitely noticed some awesome messages that Shannon had stuck into the book. There were several, but the main one that stuck out to me was how she portrayed the female body image. Yes nearly every princess in the book is described as being beautiful, but I can't remember one time a character was described as "skinny." One of the main characters puts her hands on her "broad" hips, and then later when called "plump" the character isn't bothered. And another character is positively described as having very strong legs (my favorite character in fact, guess who?). Now... I may be reading too much into this, but when I look at those dolls I see skinny waists, big eyes, and high heels. But when I read this book I see princesses that every girl can love and become. And whether or not Shannon consciously wrote this into the book, I LOVE it!

In fact, I loved everything about it. Was it fluff? Hex yes! Fluff to the max! But what did Austenland teach us about froth and fluff? It's the best part! And honestly, I am just as excited for the sequel to this book as I am for some of her YA books.

Other Reviews (TBA):

• TBA (Loved it!) I can't find one of these on a blog! Just goodreads. Anyone know where I could find one?
• Random Musings of a Bibliophile (It was okay)
• TBA (Didn't Like It.) Also couldn't find a blog with one of these. Instead I found a lot of GoodReads reviews that simply said "It was too fluffy and punny, I couldn't finish."

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Genre: Romance, Mystery, Adventure
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Pages: 384
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die.

Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s naked in an empty rock field.

Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that she has to find a way to beat the clock, and quickly.

Blurb: A nice relaxing read. Gritty, and yet fluffy.

Review: Sorry to review this so early, but I can't keep quiet about this one! This was the book that brought me out of my reading slump. It was really easy to get engaged, and the plot was very interesting. However... it was a strange paradox, the plot seemed gritty, and yet it always felt fluffy. I never really took it seriously. This is probably because the romance always seemed over-the-top and silly. But then again... I almost always say that teen romance is over-the-top and silly; so that isn't necessarily a trustworthy stance. And anyway, I really appreciated how easy it was to read (which could be interpreted as fluffy, I suppose) because it was like a happy roller coaster for my brain. Didn't have to fight it to like it.

Even though it seemed fluffy, I was definitely invested. I like that the book is a stand alone (it is a stand alone, right?), but it drew me in and I definitely wanted to know more about Nil. This is the kind of book that I really wish had a map and/or pictures. Ooh! And a prequel would be really cool!

This book comes out in spring, and I think it'd make a great spring break read!

Other Reviews (TBA):

• TBA (Loved it!)
• TBA (It was okay)
• TBA (Didn't Like It.)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Release Date: October 29, 2013
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 368
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

In the world of SORROW'S KNOT, the dead do not rest easy. Every patch of shadow might be home to something hungry, something deadly. Most of the people of this world live on the sunlit, treeless prairies. But a few carve out an uneasy living in the forest towns, keeping the dead at bay with wards made from magically knotted cords. The women who tie these knots are called binders. And Otter's mother, Willow, is one of the greatest binders her people have ever known.

But Willow does not wish for her daughter to lead the lonely, heavy life of a binder, so she chooses another as her apprentice. Otter is devastated by this choice, and what's more, it leaves her untrained when the village falls under attack. In a moment of desperation, Otter casts her first ward, and the results are disastrous. But now Otter may be her people's only hope against the shadows that threaten them. Will the challenge be too great for her? Or will she find a way to put the dead to rest once and for all?

Blurb: An AWESOME story, but not one to read if your brain is tired.

Review: I am a HUGE fan of the author's first book, Plain Kate, and so I had really high hopes for this book. I loved this story and the world and the characters. HOWEVER I never really understood what was going on...

This was one of those books (and maybe there's a word for this?) where they never actually come out an explain anything. You are just supposed to piece things together by watching the characters live their lives. And maybe it's just because my brain is super tired from my penultimate semester, but I just could never wrap my brain fully around anything. I found myself CRAVING an omniscient narrator who would explain the rules of the world to me, or a new character to stumble in so that the existing characters would have to explain what was going on to him/her. And even though a new character eventually DID stumble into the world, the existing characters DIDN'T explain anything. At least, not more than they already had. They expected the new character to figure it out, just like me.

Things that I wish had been more fully explained:

1. What exactly is "binding"? Where did it come from? How was it discovered? Why does string have power? Does ANY kind of knot have power?

2. Where do the dead come from? Are the non white-hands recognized as being the dead versions of people who were once alive, or are they just mysterious malevolent spirits? (honestly, I only JUST realized that the dead hide in shadows, and that's why the traveling folk don't come to the forest often. They're trying to avoid shadows.)

3. How is the society organized? I was kind of able to piece together the idea of the cords, but I would have liked to know more about the different kinds and options, what it takes to belong in each.

4. Why aren't there very many boys? Why do only women have power? Has there EVER been a boy with power? Do the boys leave because they DON'T have power, or just because it's the norm for boys to leave?

I THINK that all of these things were in the book somewhere, but they were never explicitly explained. And so I feel like in order to answer these questions I'd have to do a lot of guesswork and fill-in-the-blank. And even if someone were to tell me the answers to these questions now... I still wish I had been able to find them in the story.

With all that said, I did REALLY enjoy the book. Maybe if I had gone into it after having read some kind of author's note or summary it would have helped. OR if this had been a book club book and so I could now TALK to people about it. But as it is, here I am 400 pages later and I'm STILL not quite sure what happened...

Other Reviews (TBA):

• TBA (Loved it!)
• TBA (It was okay)
• TBA (Didn't Like It.)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Release Date: February 12th, 2013
Genre: Romance, Mystery, Supernatural/Superpower
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 343
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Blurb: HOLY CRAP I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!

Review: I know that River already reviewed this and said pretty much all I am going to say. But I need to say it again: This book is amazing. It REALLY makes you think! First of all, I was not expecting it to be so... X-men like. I mean, they don't go around fighting bad guys, but they do have superpowers and go to a high school for people with super powers.

But that's not what makes this book truly amazing. The concept is just... so original. The idea that you can have two stories happening simultaneously to the same person is... mind blowing. Throw into that a murder mystery and some pretty cute boys, and you've got a winner.

One thing I especially loved was the rules that Kasie set up in the world. Although Addie can SEE the future, she understands that there really isn't anything she can do to CHANGE the future. There are so many uncontrollable details that go in to the future, that it's not like she says "I'll look at my future and if it sucks then I'll just fix it." This made for some great tension in the story. Ah! So much great tension!

The end of this book really blew me away. As in... I think pieces of my brain might still be scattered around from when my mind exploded. This book does not stick to standard romance conventions. Addie is forced to choose between her own happiness, and the happiness of others. And she might have to break some promises along the way. So good! If you want a more detailed/cohesive review, I would check out River's.

Other Reviews:

• Finding Bliss in Books (Loved it!)
• The Book Geek (It was okay)
• Mother/Gamer/Writer (Didn't Like It.)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Release Date: July 23rd, 2013
Genre: Horror
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 688
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Imagine if one day, without warning, the entire human race turns against you, if every person you know, every person you meet becomes a bloodthirsty, mindless savage . . . That’s the horrifying reality for Cal, Brick, and Daisy. Friends, family, even moms and dads, are out to get them. Their world has the Fury. It will not rest until they are dead.

Blurb: GAH! This would be the scariest thing ever!

Review: Ready for some more horror? Don't worry, this one I definitely recommend. This book had me on the edge of my seat, and almost crying sometimes. Why? Because it hit me where it hurts! One of my greatest fears is being isolated or shunned or hated by  society. I need people to like me in order to survive! Therefore, the idea that the WHOLE WORLD can turn against you just made me weep. Literally!

Honestly, if everyone started trying to kill me, I would probably just give up. I'm super impressed that these kids didn't. Not only did they find a way to survive, they rose to the challenge.

What I particularly love is that Gordon has gathered together a cast of characters that are likable, but definitely flawed. And the bad people aren't necessarily "bad" just as much as the good people aren't necessarily "good."

The "horror" parts of this book were pretty gruesome, but also so unbelievable that they didn't bother me. Picture dozens people being folded like paper and exploding into blood colored sand. I don't know about you, but I can't really picture that in anything other than a cartoony way. (If you don't know yet that horror doesn't usually bother me, you can read more about that here.)

All-in-all I found this book captivating, if not very stimulating. If you're looking for something that'll wrap you up for 500 pages, but won't tire out your brain too much, this is the book for you!

Other Reviews:

• The Book Zone for Boys (Loved it!)
• Book Jems (It was okay)
• The Armchair Librarian (Didn't Like It.)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Release Date: June 2008 thru April 2013
Genre: Horror, Sci-fi, Dystopia
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: Approx. 500 pages each book
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

Without warning, everyone over the age of 15 years old disappears. In the following series of events, the remaining teens and children discover that some of them have supernatural powers. Terrible things happen to them.

(Summary by me. Tried to keep it not-spoilery)

Review: Yup. I'm reviewing a whole series. Why? Because I feel the need to warn you all.

Gone saved me one Christmas break. I absolutely could not find anything I wanted to read, and so I went to the closest bookstore and bought the biggest book in the YA section. I loved it. You can read that review here. I also really loved the second book. Mini review of that here.

But then... as I read on in the series... things started getting progressively more disturbing. But there was never any profanity or sexual scenes (which are my no-nos) so I kept going. You can see my feelings evolving in my reviews of the third and fourth books.

But then things got REALLY disturbing. But at this point I had already devoted over 2,000 pages to these books. So I wasn't going to stop. The last review I posted for book 5 is here.

And now here I am. I've officially FINISHED this series. And here are my final thoughts:

This series grabs you and doesn't let you go. However, sometimes it felt like I had already stepped into the Tower of Terror elevator; and by the time I realized what was happening, it was too late to get off. And I mean the REAL ToT elevator. Not the Disney ride. This series took me places I didn't want to go, but because I felt so invested in the characters I went there anyway. Do I regret reading it? Um... I'm going to hesitantly say no. Because I really did love the first two. And I am a self-proclaimed lover of horror books. But... I don't know. The things that happened to these kids, both what they did to each other and what was done too them, hit me in a place beyond fiction.

GAH! This is a hard review to write. Can you tell? Never before have I read books that I LIKED/loved, but that I wouldn't recommend to anyone. As it is, this is not a series I recommend to people. It's not even a series that I don't recommend lightly. I don't recommend it at all because I don't want to be blamed for people getting trapped in it.

Any of you read this series? Can you add more coherence to my review?

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Even though I haven't been posting, I HAVE been reading. It's made for a pretty big backlog of reviews. Here's a few books that I read a a while ago and I don't remember a whole lot of details. Hence, mini-reviews! These are a great way to smoosh down that "waiting to be reviewed" list, too! The rating for each book is in (parenthesis) next to the title and author name.

Siege and Storm, Leigh Bardgo (4 flowers)
(Goodreads | Amazon)

This is the sequel to Shadow and Bone and this is definitely a bridge book. I liked the story, but didn't feel like anything really happened a lot was just set up. Yes, there were battles and romance (and oi-vey was there sequel phase), but nothing that made my jaw drop (like the first one did). However, it built the story up enough that I can tell the third book is going to blow my mind.

Of Triton, Anna Banks (4 flowers)
(Goodreads | Amazon)

This is the sequel to Of Poseidon. These books are the epitome of a great summer read for me. Really. They're light and fluffy, but still manage to strum my heartstrings. This one actually made me cry! And (correct me if I'm wrong) but I believe this is the final book in the series. Everything certainly wrapped up nicely. Gotta love duos!

Mind Games, Kiersten White (4 flowers)
(Goodreads | Amazon)

This book was really good! But if most books can be equated to movies, then this book is more like a TV episode. Everything happened so fast and so short. It would be really hard for me to justify buying this little book (only 237 pages) in a $18 hardcover. Paperback, perchance, but not hardcover. I really wish this one had been longer, or that the second book and the first had been put together into one big book. If you get the chance, I would DEFINITELY check this one out from the library or some such.

The Age of Miracles, Karen Thompson Walker (2 flowers)
(Goodreads | Amazon)

This book is the cause of what will forever be known as "The Book Slump of Summer 2013." After reading this one I didn't even crack open another book for a MONTH. I have no idea what the point of this book was. Great premise. Terrible execution. And WAY too much foreshadowing/foreboding. It got so old! And don't even get me started on how many things the author got "wrong."

Falling Kingdoms, Morgan Rhodes (3 flowers)
(Goodreads | Amazon)

I thought this book was... fine. (have you noticed that it's been a while since I read anything that really wow-ed me?) The multiple perspectives sometimes through me off, not because I got confused, but because I had no idea who to root for. Because the jumping around preventing me from connecting with any of the characters, I didn't really care about any of them. And there was some weird insta-love stuff going on (followed quickly by insta-death). I definitely don't regret reading it, but I'll probably forget about it long before the sequel comes out.

Release Date: February 26th, 2013
Genre: Sci-fi, Dystopia
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 384
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

The year is 2051, and the world is still recognizable. With the help of her mysterious classmate Dylan Gilmore, Faith Daniels discovers that she can move objects with her mind. This telekinetic ability is called a “pulse,” and Dylan has the talent, too.

In riveting action scenes, Faith demonstrates her ability to use her pulse against a group of telekinesis masters so powerful they will flatten their enemies by uprooting street lights, moving boulders, and changing the course of a hurtling hammer so that it becomes a deadly weapon. But even with great talent, the mind—and the heart—can be difficult to control. If Faith wants to join forces with Dylan and save the world, she’ll have to harness the power of both.

Blurb: Is this a movie, or a book? And no, that's not a good thing.

Review: Sorry to be posting so many "didn't love it" reviews lately, but... I didn't love this book. And if I had read that plot summary before I started reading, I probably would guessed that I wouldn't like this book before I even read it. Any book that feels the need to put "in riveting action scenes" in their summary... probably isn't for me.

It wasn't that it wasn't a good story, it had a lot of potential. But I felt like I was reading a movie screenplay with how bluntly descriptive it was. I never really knew what was happening in the world because the author left this so vague. I think that can work for a movie, because while the main characters are talking on the screen you can see the world around them and make your own assumptions. But in a book... all you have is what is written on the page, and it wasn't enough in this one.

I felt like this would translate really well into a movie, but left my brain feeling tired by how much I had to infer. Because of this abrupt and blunt way of describing both characters and actions, I never really felt like I connected with any of the characters or story. Because of this, I have no desire to go on and read any other books in this series.

Other Reviews:

• Curling Up With a Good Book (Loved it!)
• A Life Bound By Books (It was okay)
• BookNook (Didn't Like It.)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.

Release Date: April 16th, 2013
Genre: Romance, Sci-fi, Dystopia
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 408
Rating:
Amazon Link*: Click here
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Blurb: If you don't buy into the premise, this is just a contemporary romance.

Review: The gist of this book is that teens can be "infected" with depression. And so many of them are being "infected" that they are committing suicide in droves. I think it said 1 in 3 teens committed suicide. That sounds like a really cool premise, except that... I didn't buy it.

The world of this book is SO DEPRESSING. All adults are so paranoid about the kids getting depressed that the teens can't display any emotion (even extreme happiness is frowned upon), can't disagree with anyone, and essentially they don't have any individualism. Who wouldn't be depressed in a world like that? If I had to keep such a tight leash on myself all the time I can actually see why suicide might seem like a viable option.

My best friend suffers from depression. And she's told me before that she knew she didn't have anything to be sad about, but she was still sad. Perhaps if the author had started earlier in the "epidemic" history. If we had seen teens who really did have nothing "wrong" with their lives get depressed and commit suicide in large amounts. But that's not what I saw. I saw teens in a crappy world with only one way out.

Because of this, everything else that happened in the book just seemed like a contemporary story. This was another one of those books where a good portion of it was told in flashbacks, and those flashbacks didn't have anything sci-fi or dystopian about them. I don't like contemporary romance. I find it dull. And yet when we would come out of the flashbacks we would get just enough of a glimpse into the sci-fi aspects of the book that I kept reading.

I didn't hate this book, but I was far from loving it. If there are more in the series I will not be reading them because I feel like there isn't enough sci-fi stuff to carry the story, and I don't care about the romance.

Other Reviews:

• Katie's Book Blog (Loved it!)
• Xpresso Reads (It was okay)
• Birth of a New Witch (REALLY Didn't Like It. WARNING has some strong language!)

*I am an amazon affiliate. If you purchase this book using my link, I will get a tiny fraction of the purchase, which goes toward contests.