Release Date: October 12, 2010
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 360
Series: Caster Chronicles #2
Rating:
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary: 

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

Review: In one phrase: sequel-phase. (tee hee. That rhymed.)

For those of you who didn’t read my Crescendo review, and don’t know what sequel-phase is, allow me to cut and paste for you:

The sequel-phase is where our happy couple (who fought to be a couple in the first book) begin to drift apart. Whether from misunderstanding, change of interests, homicidal angels/werewolves/vampires, or all of the above, it doesn’t matter. The point is, our couple breaks up.

Now this can be okay. IF that’s not the only plot point in the story.

The happy news? It wasn’t the only plot point! Hurrah!

I really enjoyed this book. There was action, cool new insights into the Caster world, EPIC battles, and so much more.

The reason it got 4 flowers instead of 5 is because the sequel-phase drove me CRAZY! Dagnabit Lena! You and Ethan worked so hard to be together! Why are you throwing all of that away!

Yeesh.

But if you like Beautiful Creatures and you have the tolerance to stick through Lena/Ethan stupidness, you’ll like this book.

Release Date: October 12, 2010
Genre: Dystopia, post-apocalyptic, suspense, mystery, sci-fi
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 360
Series: ?
Rating:
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary: 

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more Variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety... until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, much of the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated--and with it, order--and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim... and meal.

The Gladers are far from done running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder--does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

Review: Have you guys noticed that my reviews are getting longer? Did y’all notice that? Is that annoying? Sorry. I guess I just have a lot to say. Let’s see if this one is brief.

This book was just as gripping and interesting as the previous novel in the series The Maze Runner(which I LOVED!). But why then did it only get 4.5 flowers?!

Answer: I was confused.

There was one aspect of the book that I just did NOT understand at all. I won’t tell you which aspect it is, ‘cause it would give stuff away, but it was an important aspect.

And when things were finally revealed… I was still confused. No, not confused. I was on edge. I didn’t believe it. I thought it was a mistake.

After a few days of reflection, I have come to the conclusion that I was SUPPOSED to feel this way. I deduced this by the fact that the author (Hi, James!) didn’t try to sway my opinion. He kept things open.

And after I thought about that, I was REALLY excited for the final book. Before I was just really excited. Now I’m REALLY excited. All caps.

Release Date: October 19, 2010
Genre: Romance, Supernatural/Angels
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
Pages: 432
Series: Hush, Hush #2
Rating:
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary: 

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away, and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch, or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Review: Before you read this review, make sure you have some general idea about how I feel by reading my rant.

I enjoyed Crescendo. I have MAD love for Becca Fitzpatrick for many reasons. She’s right up there with Kiersten White.

HOWEVER, Crescendo bothered me a little. In Hush, Hush there is PLENTY of romance. I would categorize it as a romance novel with a paranormal sub-genre (did you read the rant?). And it does a pretty good job of balancing the two. Even though I didn’t like Nora’s relationship with Patch, I was able to enjoy the freaky paranormal aspects enough that I ended up really liking the book.

Not so much with this one. This book suffers from what I call the “sequel-phase” of a romance. I discussed this with my friend Debbie for some time, and she was of the mind that this phase is unavoidable. I’m starting to agree with her.

The sequel-phase is where our happy couple (who fought to be a couple in the first book) begin to drift apart. Whether from misunderstanding, change of interests, homicidal angels/werewolves/vampires, or all of the above, it doesn’t matter. The point is, our couple breaks up.

Now this can be okay. IF that’s not the only plot point in the story.

Crescendo had other plot points, but they were SO dependent on Nora and Patch no longer being together, that they fell flat for me. I WANTED to know more about those things, but all I was being given was “Patch this. Nora that. Get back at Patch this way. Nora feeling sorry for what’s she’s done but not DOING anything about it!”

This book is still getting the same rating as Hush, Hush though because I ADORE Becca’s writing style. She could write about cow-pies and I would still be interested. I might not LOVE it, but I would definitely read it.

Oh dear. I guess now I should clarify that this book is MUCH better than cow-pies. Bad example.

Release Date: January 1, 2010
GoodReads Page
Summary:

Vera and her brother Will live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations.

Why I want it:I’m a sucker for any kind of dystopian. And this one sounds great! However, am I the only one who noticed that the “cover” says “stockphoto” on it? What up with dat?

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