Such a fun, adorable read! I loved the K-Drama arc and the character growth. Was it a bit predictable? Yes. Were the characters a bit overdrawn? Yes. Such a fun, adorable read! I loved the K-Drama arc and the character growth. Was it a bit predictable? Yes. Were the characters a bit overdrawn? Yes. But it was still a blast to read, which is exactly what I wanted....more
I am very sad that I didn't like this one more, to be honest. I was expecting a very moving read, but what I mainly got was frustration. The big eventI am very sad that I didn't like this one more, to be honest. I was expecting a very moving read, but what I mainly got was frustration. The big event that was mentioned in the synopsis didn't even happen until there were 60 pages left, which left for a seriously rushed development.
Full review to come closer to the release date....more
This one had so much potential, but the jerk main character honestly ruined it for me. She was so blind for like 3/4 of the book, and when she did havThis one had so much potential, but the jerk main character honestly ruined it for me. She was so blind for like 3/4 of the book, and when she did have some character growth, it was all in a rush, far too quickly. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the concept and ending.
First and foremost, I think it’s important to establish one thing: I am not a historical fiction person. Honestly, it’s not a genre I pick up a lot. IFirst and foremost, I think it’s important to establish one thing: I am not a historical fiction person. Honestly, it’s not a genre I pick up a lot. I just avoid it. However, when I won a copy of Venom from Monica, and after all the fangirling she did of the book, I knew that I had to pick it up. And surprisingly, I liked it, although it did have its faults.
Another surprise for me, when the best thing about this book for me was the setting. I am mainly a plot person, as I appreciate the plot of a book typically more than I would appreciate the setting. But set in a historical Venice, I was enchanted by the setting in this book. The description was flawlessly intertwined with the other aspects of the book, and I actually felt as if I was there. Normally, that doesn’t really happen for me, but I could feel myself walking down that creepy ally, or seeing the glittering river in the night. It was enchanting to be so immersed in the setting.
Of course, being so immersed in the setting, I was as equally riveted to the plot as well. The mystery made for great pacing, which kept me flipping the pages. This 400 page book flew by, since I was always trying to guess who did it, and to find out who was the next target. The mystery is something I actually didn’t see coming, and I loved the red herrings that were thrown in here as well.
However, I felt as if the plot and mystery were put on hold at times for the romance. Maybe this is just because I’m not the biggest romance fan out there, but I definitely didn’t like this. Sometimes during the book, I felt as if everything was just kind of put off for the romance to happen. And then the suspense and mystery would return. This inconsistency started to irk me at times. I understand that this was marketed with a big focus on romance, but I don’t think that means that the plot can just be put on hold for the romance.
I also wasn’t very fond of the beginning of Venom. I can’t go into details, since I don’t want to spoil anything, but I thought it was a bit excessive and I just didn’t like it in general. I understand what the author was trying to go for in several of the scenes… but I thought it was a bit uncalled for.
Overall, Venom is a book that I surprised myself by enjoying. While I didn’t fall in love with it, because of the romance and beginning, I liked it. I’d only recommend this one to some though, mainly for people who are looking for a good historical book with a focus on romance. I’m definitely curious to see what happens next, and will probably be picking up the sequel if my library has it....more
To be completely honest, I think with I Hunt Killers, I suffered a case of too high expectations. After reading some really faActual Rating: 3.5 Stars
To be completely honest, I think with I Hunt Killers, I suffered a case of too high expectations. After reading some really fantastic reviews for this book, I was super excited to dive in and give this creepy looking a try. I still enjoyed I Hunt Killers, but it definitely wasn’t as amazing as I thought it would be.
Getting into the mind of a serial killer’s son was creepy and intriguing all at the same time. Jasper’s dad taught all about being a serial killer, so it was super interesting to see how a criminal’s mind actually worked. But it was creepy at the same time, because it seemed to real. The justification given for being a killer was hauntingly realistic and I could actually sort of understand why someone super twisted up would want to be a killer. I seriously have no idea how the author got this insight- it freaked me out!!
This book was also such a compelling read. With such a unique and strange set up, I wanted to know more about everything, really. From the characters to the mystery, I just wanted to know more. All of that adds up to a seriously addicting read that kept me up reading late into the night!
Even though I Hunt Killers was quite the compelling read, I had guessed the mystery pretty early on. Yes, I hadn’t quite predicted all the little details, but overall, I figured things out pretty quickly and easily.
Also, some things seemed so unrealistic. If you’re the son of a killer, then don’t you think the police should be watching you carefully? Instead, Jasper was actually allowed to be a part of the investigation for things. And there were just some other events that made me scratch my head and wonder how they could actually happen. I just wished some things would be a bit more realistic.
Overall, I enjoyed I Hunt Killers. It was an entertaining mystery read, with some creepiness thrown in. If you’re looking for a good mystery, pick this one up! However, there is a pretty decent amount of gore and blood in this one, so if you’re a bit squeamish, you may want to pass or just read this one during daylight hours.
I’ve seen many “meh” reviews of this book, so I went into this book with pretty low expectations. But, I actually did end up enjoying Monument 14. It I’ve seen many “meh” reviews of this book, so I went into this book with pretty low expectations. But, I actually did end up enjoying Monument 14. It was a book filled to the brim with action, likable characters, and hauntingly realistic events. Monument 14 was totally un-put-down-able.
As a person who loves her books action-packed, Monument 14 was definitely my type of book. There was always something going on. Once things slowed down even the slightest bit, something else would be thrown into the book to make things a little more interesting. Sure, a few of these things were a little cliché and predictable. But the plot twists that were thrown in really made me want to keep on reading and reading. This book was really compelling, to say the least.
This book had a bit of a scary factor. I can definitely see people who aren’t very… brave [?] be scared while reading this book. Why? Because everything that happened in this book could happen any second. It could happen as I’m typing up this review. A massive hailstorm could start right now, right this second, and change the world as we all know it. That’s what makes this book scary. The fact that it could happen to us, right now.
I enjoyed the characters in this book. We have quite a crew- 14 kids ranging from high school aged to little 5 year olds. I felt like each had their own personality. It’s hard to do that with so many different characters, but I really think that the author managed to pull it off. It was easy to distinguish the characters because of how they acted and their distinct personality. It was very well done!
However, some of the character’s decisions seriously annoyed me to no end. I feel like they made some really impulsive and stupid decisions. I understand that yes, the apocalypse is happening. But still. You can make some sensible decisions. The ending had one very annoying character decision that I did not like at all. On top of that stupid decision at the end, the ending was also a cliffhanger. I was not a happy person when I read the ending.
Overall, though, I really did enjoy the book. There was some really great action, and the plot was generally fast-paced. Combine that with a scary factor, and distinct characters, and you have a pretty great book. Even though there were some very stupid character decisions, I would definitely recommend Monument 14 to anyone who is looking for a good, short, action-packed read!
Thank you to Macmillan for giving me an ARC copy of this book at ALA Midwinter! However, this did not affect my review in any way.
The. Ending. Is. Killing. Me. I have to wait a few days before I can get the last one! I'm glad I waited until all the book were published, so now I dThe. Ending. Is. Killing. Me. I have to wait a few days before I can get the last one! I'm glad I waited until all the book were published, so now I don't have to wait that long for it.... But STILL! Goodness!
The insta-love and beginning made me think I wasn't going to like this one, but I really did enjoy the ending. I'm curious to see what happens with RaThe insta-love and beginning made me think I wasn't going to like this one, but I really did enjoy the ending. I'm curious to see what happens with Rachel, though. She seems to have gone a bit psycho.
Crewel is a debut like no other. So much buzz shrouded this book way before it wYou can find this review, and more, at my YA blog My Not So Real Life!
Crewel is a debut like no other. So much buzz shrouded this book way before it was published, telling the story of an author striking gold during NaNoWriMo. When I found that publishers were actually competing over the rights to this book big time, I thought this book would be utterly amazing. While it does have its fantastic qualities, there was one major thing that prevented me from fully enjoying it.
The world Albin has created is stunning. There’s really no doubt in my mind that it’s superbly original. Yes, there were a few uncanny resemblances to other books, but in general, the entire concept of this book is fresh and new, which is something so difficult to achieve in YA today. I mean, weaving time? I love the fact that there’s a physical being to time, and that there are some people that can actually change it, by weaving. It’s something I’ve never read about, never even remotely heard about before, and it was extremely refreshing to read something new in dystopia.
The plot of Crewel is one of those that doesn’t let you go. While there are a few slower moments occasionally, the suspense and intrigue are always there, which moves the story along quite nicely. And whenever things started to calm down, something else would be brought to light that would turn things around in a new direction. I was pretty much hooked throughout the entire story, always asking questions and wondering what was going to happen next. It easily held my interest, and I gobbled this book up from page one.
However, one major flaw in this book for me was our protagonist. Adelice does have her good qualities, but in reality, she made so many stupid decisions, that I couldn’t warm up to her at all. She just kept making dumb decisions, and at times, went with the flow too much. If she’s supposed to be a rebel, then I expected her to make cunning decisions and question everything, but instead, she lets a ton of things happen without ever doing anything. Occasionally when she actually did something, it was dumb. I understand slipping up a little in a high pressure situation, but some of the annoying things Adelice did made me want to face palm myself. It was at the point of ridiculousness numerous times.
Overall, Crewel was a fantastic and stunning debut, in regards to originality and the addictive plot. Even though there were plenty of moments where I wanted to slap Adelice throughout the novel, I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel, after that cliff hanger ending. I’d definitely recommend this one to dystopian fans looking for something different in the genre....more
So, in this book we meet Nikki Youngblood, your typical teenager. Or so she thought.But when I mysterious attacActual Rating: 2.5 Stars
My full review:
So, in this book we meet Nikki Youngblood, your typical teenager. Or so she thought.But when I mysterious attack on her happens, three strange creatures called Halflings, are sent to protect her. But who are they protecting her from? Why is she being hunted? What's so special about Nikki?
I really liked the action in this book. The book starts out with a bang, and there's lots of action throughout the book that kept me reading, and a few twists I really didn't see coming. It was a really compelling read for me, and I loved that. I finished the book really quickly, since it was short anyways, and I wanted to see what happened. There were lots of questions and some mystery that also kept me hooked throughout the whole book.
Unfortunately, that's where the good really ends for me. Our main character, Nikkki Youngblood, is a strong, worthy fighter who keeps her ground. Or so we're told. I honetstly didn't see Nikki being strong at all throughout the book. She changes who she is for two guys she doesn't even know well at all. If you're telling me that Nikki is a strong character, then you need to show me that. It's the age old rule of "Show, Don't Tell." Would I describe Nikki as strong? Uh, no, not at all. She's just your average main protagonist trying to decide which guy to choose.
Another thing is the insta-love. And the love triangle. Both of these thing annoy me so, so much, I don't think I can voice my contempt for these things. And, guess what? Yep, there's not only insta-love in this book, but there's also a love triangle! Do you know how frustrating this was? Well, it was frustrating. Very frustrating. I like a well done love triangle [like in Cynthia Hand's UNEARTHLY series] but this certainly wasn't well done. Mace was just plain annoying to me. I tried so hard to like him, but he just seemed like an obsessed stalker [which he essentially was, actually]. And I don't understand why Nikki even liked Mace, either. I certainly didn't see why she liked him. Raven, on the other hand, I liked better. He was your typical bad-boy, though. There was nothing unique about him for me. Hard outside, soft inside, yes, yes, we've seen this before. And I especially didn't like the insta-love. Nikki immediately fell in love with both boys, although I could see how the author tried to make it non-insta-love [is that even a word?], but it didn't work, unfortunately. Nothing really did work.
Another thing I disliked was the writing. It was just mediocre. I could see some attempts at good writing, but it didn't work. Like I said before, I could see how the author tried to make Nikki's feelings for Raven build up, but it didn't work. I honestly don't know what was missing. I feel like the author needs a little more writing experience, or something to help out her writing. The writing definitely has potential, though, but it needs work. It wasn't horrible, it just wasn't good.
And lastly, but not least, the ending. A cliffhanger. Seriously? The three things I hate: insta-love, poorly done love triangles, and cliffhangers, all in one book. I didn't even fully comprehend the ending, and then "BAM!" it was over. I feel like I blinked, and it was over. There are some cliffhangers that are fantabulously done [which, I really do hate to admit, because I don't like cliffhangers] and they make you want the next book, but this ending didn't really do that for me. Instead of screaming with rage and throwing the book on the floor, I just scratched my head and said "Huh?". I feel like it was much too rushed and seemed kind of weird.
It truly breaks my heart to write this review. I got the opportunity to meet the author at ALA, and I got my book signed by her too. She was such a sweet person, so definitely go out and meet her if you ever get the chance. I'm only sad I didn't like the book as much as I liked her.
So overall, I liked the action, but there was just way too many things that kept me from enjoying the book. I would give this book a shot if it seems like something you might like, but be wary before you start. ...more
Wow, 2012 has been an awesome year, seriously. I really loved Unraveling. There was action, twists, and good characters too. JActual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Wow, 2012 has been an awesome year, seriously. I really loved Unraveling. There was action, twists, and good characters too. Janelle was pretty likable. Overall, it was an amazing book!
I’m not going to lie to you, The Rise of Nine was one of my most anticipated books this year. And I had pretty high expectatioActual Rating: 4.5 Stars
I’m not going to lie to you, The Rise of Nine was one of my most anticipated books this year. And I had pretty high expectations. I was worried that this wouldn’t live up to the first two books, and that it would be a flop. Fear not, because The Rise of Nine managed to render me speechless. My predictions and expectations were pretty much thrown out the window right at the beginning of this book.
The action in this book was amazing. There was always so much going on, but even with lots of action, it wasn’t too much. It was pretty much perfect. I was hooked from page one, and I couldn’t put this book down! The amazing plot twists also helped with that. I just could not guess what was going to happen next with this book. I really love when that happens, because I love to be surprised when I’m reading. It was great to read something so action-packed and unpredictable.
The characters were also really well done in The Rise of Nine. I wasn’t a fan of Number Seven at all in the first book, I thought she was really drab and boring. But I ended up really liking her by the end of this book! She really grew as a character, and therefore ended up growing on me. The new characters were also really interesting to read about, I loved learning about them.
Even though I was so blown away by this book, I had a few minor problems. One being that I thought Nine wasn’t portrayed very well. Being the avid fan of this series that I am, I bought and read the short story about Nine. Because of this, I really got to know him well. He wasn’t what I think he should have been like in The Rise of Nine based on what I read in the short story. Also, there is a character in this book that I was seriously unhappy to see. I’ll just leave it at that, since I don’t want to spoil anything! But both of those things were just a bit frustrating.
Overall, The Rise of Nine really managed to wow me. With plenty of action, great plot twists, and better characters, this book definitely won me over. I’m already dying for the next book! If you’re a teen and like any type of action, then you must definitely pick this series up now! For the rest of you, if you’re looking for something fun and entertaining, then you definitely should start this series....more
I really enjoyed this one!! The originality was so amazing, as was the world-building. I also love how the stories finWavering between a 4 and a 4.5.
I really enjoyed this one!! The originality was so amazing, as was the world-building. I also love how the stories finally intertwined. I'm kind of hesitant about the overall pacing and the romance, though.
Some AWESOME plot-twists in this one! I also loved, loved, loved, seeing Perry grow so much. Even though the pacing was reallyActual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Some AWESOME plot-twists in this one! I also loved, loved, loved, seeing Perry grow so much. Even though the pacing was really slow, I was totally hooked.
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