The Iron King

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa is the first book in the bestselling Iron Fey series and explores an interesting take on mythical faeries.  I'm not talking wings and fairy dust faeries, but more like the dark, immortal beings known as the Sidhe.  In Kagawa's world, faeries and all things Fey, including their realm known as the Never Never, are contrived from mortal dreams.  The more stories are told about them, the stronger they are.  In the Never Never are characters from literary history such as the Seelie Court's King Oberon and Queen Titania, as well as the terrifying Unseelie Queen Mab.  

So when sixteen-year-old Meghan Chase discovers her four-year-old half-brother has been stolen, her entire world comes crashing down.  Escorted by the infamous Robin Goodfellow, better known as Puck, from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Meghan enters the world of Faerie to rescue him.  This is not an easy feat.  

Once in Faerie, Meghan finds herself a guest of the Seelie Queen---while making enemies with their queen---wanted by the Queen of the Unseelie, captured by goblins, nearly eaten by a kelpie, making bargains with a sarcastic feline and attracting the attentions---both romantic and lethal---of the dark but handsome, youngest heir to the Unseelie throne, Prince Ash.  

And that's not even the best part.

Long ago, when human dreams were filled with magic and myth, the realm of the Fey flourished.  Over the centuries, the belief in otherworldly beings diminished and the strength of the immortal Fey in the mortal realm along with it.  Then humans discovered iron and began dreaming new dreams, giving rise to an unheard of race of faerie: the Iron Fey.

It is in their realm that Meghan must go to save Ethan.  Accompanied by her three companions, Puck, Prince Ash and the feline cait sith, Grimalkin, she sets off on a grand adventure to face the Iron King, one that would change her world forever. 

I absolutely loved this book and once I finished it, I immediately went out to get the second one.  Kagawa weaves a world of magic and adventure punctuated with bits of romance, rivalry and a lot of humor.  Yes, some components of the story came off a little cheesy, but as the story was so compelling, I just went with it.  

My rating: 9 out of 10.

Vampire Academy

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead is the story of kickass, tough girl, Rose Hathaway and her vampire best friend, Lissa.  In the world Mead created, there are three types of supernatural beings: 

There are the Moroi vampires, which are living, breathing beings with a magical connection to the earth and the elements.  Twelve Moroi families are considered vampire royalty and Lissa is the last remaining member of the Dragomir line, making her the heir and princess of that family. 

There are the dhampirs, the half human, half Moroi guardians of the royal families.  

Then, finally, there are the Strigoi.  These are the villains of the series, and basically, they are the Moroi gone bad.  The Strigoi are almost what we'd consider typical vampires.  Undead, no direct sunlight, but they feed on the Moroi, not on humans.  

The story starts with Rose, a guardian in training, and LIssa on the run from the Strigoi.   They had left the Academy that served as home for Dhampirs and Moroi two years previously and, through their rare mental bond and pure luck, had managed to stay alive.

So, when they are found by the Academy guardians and taken right back into the dangers they left, life becomes complicated and dramatic.  Rose is pulled in all directions, trying to keep Lissa safe, detecting who is trying to kill them and fighting her increasing attraction to her older guardian mentor, Demetri.  Try as she might, there are some things even Rose can't conquer with a sarcastic comment.  

I have to say, I read this one because it was on a list of book-to-movie must reads for 2014 and I had no expectation of it being any good.  

Boy, was I wrong.  

I loved it. The dialogue was witty and snarky, the characters and situations were relatable, there was enough drama and intrigue to keep me guessing and I honestly did not see the ending coming.  

Still, the best part of all would have to be Rose herself.  Most main characters in this genre are charming, slightly innocent, and somehow either find themselves getting softer or getting tougher.  Not Rose.  No, she's already tough and really, the growth she goes through is really just admitting that she still has a lot to learn and her determination to do so increases.  She is the party girl who flirts with all the boys, slacks off in school and won't hesitate to punch someone in the face, especially if they hurt her friends.  Basically, she's a girl after my own heart.  

My rating: 8 out of 10.

 

Ender's Game

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is the tale of a young, boy-genius named Ender who was conceived by dictate of the government to be a military tool.  

At six-years-old, Ender Wiggin is taken away from his loving, but passive parents, his affectionate sister, Valentine, and his near sociopathic brother, Peter.  Ender is a Third, and therefore should not exist.  So when Colonel Graff shows up to take him away, it really comes as no surprise.  

Suddenly, Ender finds himself whisked away into space to Battle School where he will learn to fight for the fate of the human race against a third alien invasion.  There, Ender learns leadership, command, and battle skills.  He quickly establishes himself as the top soldier of the school and acquires all the prestige and isolation associated with that standing.  

The teachers, in an effort to quickly train Ender to be the best he can be, further his isolation from the rest of the group, causing him to work harder than anyone else.  There is no time to coddle Ender in any way.   He is the one they need, the only hope for saving Earth.  And if he can't do it, mankind is lost. 

Ender's Game surprised me.  As I've said before, I'm not usually into Sci-fi.  This book may have changed my mind.  Other than the ages of the characters not feeling realistic to how the minds of children work---even brilliant children---and the ending being tied up in a nice, neat, melancholy bow, I loved almost everything about this book.  The ant-like aliens were a little much and the hive mindset was fairly cliche, (this is why I don't do Sci-fi much) but I would easily read this one again, even if I probably won't continue on with the series.

My rating: 8 out of 10. 

The Witness

The Witness by Nora Roberts is about an awkward girl named Elizabeth Fitch, who one night decides to be daring for the first time in her life, and finds herself the sole witness to a brutal mob execution.  After an attempt is made on her life while in Witness Protection, Liz flees for her life and falls off the grid.  

Years later, she surfaces again as Abigail Lowery in a small town in the Ozarks and catches the eye of police chief, Brooks Gleason.  It takes some doing, but Brooks finally wins her over, discovering her secrets along the way.  Now, the only problem---besides an arrogant town jerk and his delinquent son who thinks money equals respect---is making sure the mob doesn't find her.

I guess I'm having a little trouble with Nora Roberts' work lately.  It's not that it's bad in any way, (can she ever truly be bad?) but it doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be.  i think predictable is the best description I have for it.  

I loved the character of Brooks Gleason and I adored his family.  Abigail was a little harder to relate to , being as she's so awkward, but I still found her entertaining.  The story line was fantastic and I loved the ending.  it was brilliant.  

However.  Throughout the entire novel, the theme of Abigail's trust issues and Brooks' eagerness to absolve them were repeated incessantly.  She's scared.  I get it.  Move on already.  

What I would have loved more of is what was actually happening with the mob?  She made such a big show over how scared Abigail was but, other than the beginning, she didn't really show the reader why.  Were they still looking for her?  Had they forgotten her?  Did they just assume she was dead?  All questions I would have loved an answer to.

Still, it was written by Nora Roberts and I have yet to read anything she's written and deem it less than good.  Usually it's some synonym of great, but for The Witness, good will just have to do.

My picky rating: 7 out of 10.

Under The Dome

Under The Dome by Stephen King is a gigantic (and I do mean gigantic.  Have you seen the size of that book?)  statement about the corruption that can come from power.  Especially when you're a big fish in a little pond like Big Jim Rennie, or Junior, his murderously deranged son.

 

When a dome suddenly descends upon the small town of Chester's Mill effectively caging them in, the town occupants are cut off from the outside world.  This gives Rennie the prime opportunity to assume the power he's always wanted.  But not everybody in the town supports Rennie's rise to power.  Drifter line-cook Dale Barbara, or Barbie, and newspaper editor Julia Shumway are two of his most prevalent opposition. 

 

As fresh oxygen wanes and temperatures rise, the town divides into factions, secrets are divulged and, in true King fashion, destruction ensues. 

 

All right, the truth is, I am not a King fan.  His writing style is not to my taste and I have a personal problem with statements he's made in public, so I don't make a habit of reading his books.  I say this because I truly did like this book and I want you to understand that it earned its rating wholeheartedly with me.

 

There were so many moments where I would have to put this story down and just gape in jaw-dropping horror.  So many "What the f***?" moments. But that's King.  There was a lot of description to slog through, and since I'm more a dialogue and action propelled girl, it became somewhat tedious.  I also found the ending to be a let down after a lot of awesome buildup.  But, getting up to the end, well, let's just say there is a reason Stephen King is so critically acclaimed.

 

If you're a King fan, or even a sci-fi/horror fan, I highly recommend this book.  Even if you're not but you want to escape to a disturbing new reality for a while or need a change of pace, this is the book for you.

 

My rating: 7 out of 10.



Homecoming Masquerade

Homecoming Masquerade by Spencer Baum was a rare gem among the rocks on my Nook.  In a world where vampires are the social elite and the rich send their children to an academy with the hopes that one of the girls will be Turned at graduation.  It is a popularity contest, among other things, and the girl with the most monetary support wins and will spend the rest of her eternity as a vampire.  As for the other girls, the penalty for losing is death.

 

The participating girls show up to the Homecoming dance---a masquerade---wearing black to signify their entrance into the contest.  For this year's senior class, the real contest really comes down to the manipulating Kim with her daddy's terrifying influence and money, and the newcomer, Nicky Bloom. 

 

However, Turning is not Nicky's aim.  Somehow she is exempt to vampire compulsion and she, along with her friend, Jill, use Homecoming as a way to get Nicky support to fulfill their ultimate goal of getting close enough to a vampire that they can kill them---and thereby take down the entire vampire race and restore the ruling order to humans.

 

This was actually an entertaining read, although not a whole lot happened, if I'm being honest.  While the dialogue could be a little stiff for some characters, the brilliance of Nicky Bloom was intriguing, as was the conniving pettiness of Kim. The story took place all in one night, but flashbacks gave the reader insight into why the characters are the way they are.  I suppose it could be considered boring because it does read like there's a lot of backstory, but I still liked it. 

 

Baum was able to portray a world where vampires, though greedy and extremely dangerous  and self serving, (politicians, anyone?) were not feared, but respected, while still holding on to the people's overwhelming need to remain human.

 

My rating: 6.5 out of 10. 

Black Moon

Black Moon  by C.L. Belvill was a free story off of my Nook.  Though it is listed as a book, it reads more like an erotic novella about a woman who finds herself in the middle of a supernatural war. 

 

After slipping into a heavily guarded compound, Isabella finds herself running for her life.  And then saved by the gruff and handsome, Donovan.  From there, things move fast and the two go from strangers to lovers to soulmates in a matter of pages. 

 

This story was okay, I guess. Some of it was a little hokey and the plot definitely needed to be fleshed up a bit. (Or a lot.)  It moved too fast to be plausible, even with the supernatural connections.  Honestly, it was so short that I really don't have much more to say on it. 

 

On the plus side, it was interesting and had a decent flow.  However, if I hadn't already committed myself to reading the next two books (eventually) I probably wouldn't. 

 

My rating: 4 out of 10.  (Guess I read one below 5 after all.)

A little background information...

Okay, so one of the things I decided to do this year is review every book I read, including some of the ones my book club did last year.  I like to think on them a little bit before writing them, so they don't always get done right as I finish reading them. 

It's a fun thing to do for me, sort of like writing a book report in school---without the terrifying act of presenting it to the class.  All those eyes staring at me.  Forget it.

Still, I want to make sure I'm honest.  These reviews are as much for me, to hone my writing skills, as they are for the author and especially the readers.  I'm not going to lie because I'm worried about hurting feelings.  I will never bash another author.  I try my best to counter any critique or criticism with an attribute of either the story or the writer themselves.  Especially as I start reviewing indie authors that I have connected with via Facebook, I would like to make it clear that I will do my best to present any book I read in a positive light (hopefully the story makes that an easy task) but I wont' compromise my opinion. 

HOW I REVIEW: I like to start my reviews out with a quick summary.  Some are longer than others as they may require a bit of backstory, or I can't say too much without giving away significant details.  If it's a trilogy or one that affects me in a significant way, I will write SPOILER ALERT at the top of the post so you're forewarned.  I'll do the same when I write a synopsis of a story.

After the summary, I like to follow up with my opinion.  What I thought, what I liked, what I didn't like.  What the author did well, what I thought they could improve on---not that I'm an expert, but everything can improve on something.  Usually.

Eventually I'd like to look at book-to-movie comparisons, analyzing specific characters or even giving my two cents on an author as a whole (this will include a lot of research).  I'll most likely do this with authors I already like, but I'm always open to suggestions for reading and reviewing any book you may like.

MY RATING SYSTEM:  First of all, I would like to remind everyone that taste in books, as in everything else in life, is completely subjective.  Just because I don't care for a particular story or author (or especially if I do) does not mean anyone else will feel the same.  What I say in these posts, how I rate a book is completely my opinion.  I don't want anybody to take it personally, and I'd like to remind any and everyone that when it comes to books, I can be incredibly picky (and stingy). 

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:  I rate books from 1 to 10, as per the rating system we started in my book club.  I am consistently rating books harsher than my friends, so when reading my thoughts or recommendations, please keep that in mind.

10: For me to give a book or books a ten means they must be pretty spectacular.  I'm talking Best. Books. I have ever. Read. spectacular.  I have to connect with these books on such an intimate level that they stay with me as cherished friends whom it would kill me to lose.  They basically have to be perfect (to me).  A rating this high doesn't come along all that often.  Recently, however, I seem to have stumbled upon a treasure trove of wonderful, heart wrenching stories.

9: This rating goes to those that are just slightly below spectacular, but are still fabulous.  Maybe something's a little cheesy or a character ticked me off in some way.  Maybe the ending wasn't quite what I expected or it feel just short of that extra something it needed to be a ten.  Still, this is also a rare rating for me and means that books to receive it are extremely special to me.

8: This is my average rating for books I really liked.  They're still stories I would eagerly recommend to friends or suggest to any avid reader.  Yet, on my list of absolute favorites, they just don't quite make the cut.

7: Some of my most treasure stories have this rating, written by some of my favorite authors, so it's nothing to be ashamed of.  Usually, if I give a book a seven, it means I enjoyed it immensely, but maybe I felt a character could have been more developed, there was a hole in the plot, dialogue was stiff or the ending disappointed me. Maybe a theme didn't feel quite right.  It may seem lower to some, but to me, low is really five or under.

6: I tend to give this rating to books that were good, but typically in a genre or writing style I'm not particularly fond of.  They may also exhibit one or more of the above-listed faults and therefore don't qualify for a higher rating.  That being said, in order to receive a six, the book must still be well written, have a strong storyline and intriguing characters.  I would also need to be willing to recommend it to any readers who enjoy that genre, style or author.

5: This is the highest of my lower ratings.  It is subject to all the former judgments and, try as I might, I just can't get myself to say that it was more than "okay."

4 to 1: These are my truly low scores.  This, to me, says poor quality.  I really did not like the story, and the lower on the scale, the worse I believe it to be.  It also means I can find very few redeeming qualities with the work, so I can't say I would recommend it at all.  Luckily, I haven't read a book lower than a five in the last two years. 

Now that you understand where I'm coming from, I hope that provides you with a little insight into what I truly think of the books I read.  It is important to me to give each story its due and, as I do with people, I try to see the best in everything.  However, there is a difference between being optimistic and sugar-coating.  When it comes to book reviews, you won't catch me doing the latter. 

Thank you for reading and please, keep at it!

Gone Girl

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is a two-sided story depicting a marriage---and a disappearance---from the husband, Nick's point of view, and the wife, Amy.  When Amy goes missing amidst the debris of what looks like a terrible struggle, Nick becomes the prime suspect while still proclaiming his innocence. 

 

As the police investigate and Nick does some digging of his own, the reader is welcomed into the mind of missing wife, Amy, and gets an idea of what the marriage is really like via her diary.

 

But not everything is as it seems.  Neither Nick nor Amy has been entirely forthcoming.  As their deep dark secrets come to light and the real truth unfolds, Flynn takes the reader on a roller coaster ride, keeping us on our toes as we try to find out who did it.  And why.

 

Personally, I really liked this book.  Which was actually a surprise to me because it's probably not something I would pick up off the shelves on my own.  This is why bookclubs are amazing tools for making you read outside of your comfort zone.  So, Gone Girl was a pleasant surprise and aside from the ending (which accounts for the slightly lower rating), I wasn't disappointed at all.

 

The characters were all well developed, illuminating how a person can change throughout a relationship, that people's views on who a person truly is are not always accurate and that everyone has secrets.  you will be guessing "what next?" until the very end.

 

Without giving too much away, I would like to commend Flynn for creating a character (I won't say which) that is so patient and diabolical, so conniving and utterly brilliant that I was in awe of the workings of their mind (even if I was a bit appalled) until the very last word.

 

My rating: 8 out of 10.

Kiss the Girls

 

Kiss The Girls by James Patterson is a thriller starring the famous detective, Alex Cross, as he is swept into a kidnaping murder case while looking for his niece.

While on the case, Cross meets the only victim who managed to escape and survive---barely.  Her name is Dr. Kate McTiernan and Alex Cross soon comes to see her as the strongest woman he knows. 

Through the course of the investigation---and his friendship with Kate---Cross discovers that there were actually two killers working and collaborating together coast to coast.  And it will take getting into the minds of two sadistic murderers to stop them. 

I'm not a big fan of Patterson, as an author or from what I've seen of him as a person, truth be told.  Just a personal preference.  I was, however, a fan of the storyline itself.  It wasn't predictable, it kept me on my toes, and when the author let the reader sneak a peak into the minds of the killers, it alleviated my boredom of being in Cross's mind.

It wasn't that I didn't like the character.  It was that I couldn't connect to him.  He didn't feel developed in any way but surface and felt extremely two-dimensional and repetitive. 

What I did like about Alex Cross was that he screwed up.  He wasn't the all-knowing detective a lot of the other characters thought him to be.  He accused the wrong person and even ended up getting into a pretty remarkable fight because of it. 

Overall, the book was okay, and Patterson fans would most likely enjoy it.  While I would recommend it to those who like the genre and style, I wouldn't read it a second time.

My rating: 6 out of 10.

 

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson  follows the story of disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, as he is enlisted by the renowned Vanger family to discover the decades old secret of what (or who) happened to the beautiful Harriet Vanger. 

 

As he dives into his new life---rather reluctantly, I might add---Mikael becomes immersed in the histories and deep, dark secrets of the Vanger family.  Before long, his employer hires a young private investigator with extraordinary skills to aid in his ventures.  Together, Mikael and Lisbeth Salander---who is dark and twisted in her own right---unearth more horrors and skeletons than any one family has the right to harbor. 

 

Okay, so this book was actually good---sort of.  It was well written, a good story, and unpredictable enough to keep me interested---once I actually got into it.  However, this was one of the most disturbing, screwed up stories I've ever read. And that's saying something.  Now, I'm all for a twisted plot, but man, this one takes the cake.  So much so that I have no intention of reading the next two in the trilogy.

The original title in Sweden was actually supposed to be Men Who Hate Women. That, to me, seems much more apt than The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.    Rapists, kidnapers, murderers, sadists, womanizers.  I swear, there wasn't a redeeming character in the bunch. 

The book was hard to read for me and not all pleasant, but even I'll admit that the plot twists were brilliant.  I thought for certain that I had it figured out---twice---but then the rug would be ripped out from under me.  I even did have it figured out once and second-guessed myself.  Go figure.

So, if you're a sap and enjoy likeable characters and happy endings (like me), this is not the book for you.  But, if you're a fan of dark and twisty, it's well worth the read.

My biased rating: 6 out of 10.

The Spectacular Now

***SPOILER ALERT:  THIS REVIEW POSSIBLY GIVES AWAY THE ENDING***

(Sorry, for some reason, I couldn't distance myself from this one the way I usually do.  My review addresses key things from the book so if you haven't read it or don't want to take the chance, please skip this one. I had seen the movie first, so it wasn't a big deal to me, but fair warning.)

 

The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp is the tale of the classic party boy who prefers to live in the present moment---with an abundance of alcohol---instead of looking forward to the future and actually doing something with his life. 

 

Sutter Keely is the epitome of the carefree high school boy.  All fun, all the time.  No sense of responsibility or consequences.  No regard for commitment past the "fantabulous" now.  Even when he loses his girlfriend, becomes distant with his best friend, disappoints his family, doesn't graduate and loses his job, he stays stuck in the now---probably from fear of looking beyond and actually testing himself to do anything but drink and have fun.

 

And then Sutter meets the shy and quiet Aimee, a girl who has been a pushover her entire life, and Sutter sees befriending the girl as an opportunity to "save her soul."  He doesn't plan for them to fall in love, but even then his emotions seem as if they're on the surface only because he doesn't see or want a future.  While he does help her gain the confidence she so desperately needs and to take charge of her own life, only heartbreak comes from loving a boy who deep down sees nothing of his own worth and goes along with her ideas of the future because he doesn't want to say no.

 

In the end, nothing really changes for Sutter Keely, except that the rest of his world has moved on while he is very much stuck in the now.

 

This book was amazing.  It was funny and entertaining while still portraying a deeper message beneath the humor, which I loved. Unfortunately, it also struck a nerve with me.

 

See, I know Sutter.  Dated him, even.  A real life version, at least. And I found it terribly sad that he let his fears and doubts dictate his life while still managing to live in utter denial, thinking this was how life was supposed to be.  He wasn't happier than anyone else.  He just medicated with alcohol so he didn't have to think about how unhappy and self-conscious he actually was.  It was like he had a self-destruct button that he couldn't stop pushing, but he didn't care because he had blissfully and blindly taped a sign saying "The Spectacular Now" over it. 

 

So, while the story was well written, I have seen it play out in real life---which is also what makes the book authentic and wonderful.  I watched someone I cared about do the exact same thing and in the end, I couldn't help but hate Sutter a little bit for wasting what could have been a legendary life, even if he did always have good intentions. 

 

Still, it is a book I would (and have) recommend.  My rating: 8 out of 10.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a coming of age story of an awkward teenage boy (whom today would most likely be diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome) named Charlie.  The story is written as a series of letters from Charlie addressed to "Dear Friend."  

The letters begin on Charlie's first day of school when he befriends his English teacher, gets in a fight and deals with the suicide of a friend.  High school is looking pretty dismal for the wonderful Charlie until he meets a senior named Patrick and his stepsister, Sam.  Before he knows it, Charlie is swept away into a brand new world of high school, complete with best friends, first love, drugs, alcohol, parties, infinite songs, sex, relationship drama and the Rocky Horror Picture Show.  

While he doesn't say much and proves to be innocent and naive, Charlie has a heart of gold and sees everything.  As the letters span the length of his freshman year, Charlie learns deep dark secrets about his family, his friends, and himself; as well as the beauty of each and of life, itself.  

Personally, I loved this book.  The style was different than anything I had ever read before, but once I got used to it, I couldn't put it down.  I laughed, I cried, I loved and I lost, just like you should in a fantastic book.  Chbosky portrayed the beauty of life, love, friendship and heartache---especially when experience with the emotions of a teenager---as both simple and complex all at once. 

My rating: 10 out of 10.

Dark Witch

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts is the first book in the Cousins O'Dwyer trilogy set in modern day Ireland, but dealing with an ancient curse.  Iona Sheehan thinks she knows what she's up against when she leaves her life in America and moves to Ireland to meet her cousins, Branna and Connor O'Dwyer.  She knows she is one of the three to inherit the powers of the Dark Witch, Sorcha, who lived and died in the thirteenth century.  She knows she will have to unite with her cousins and use the magic inside her to defeat the evil sorcerer, Cabhan.  What she doesn't know is how inexperienced she truly is.  Or how strong.  

She's always known she has an affinity for horses, can talk to them, understand them even, but what she doesn't know is that her love of horses will lead her to three new friends who will soon become like family and an integral part of the circle that will one day defeat Cabhan.  Or that one of those people would be the deliciously sexy Irish cowboy, Boyle McGrath.

Now Iona must work to discover herself, her power and her heart...before it's too late.

I have conflicted feelings regarding this book.  For one, it's Nora Roberts and I love her work.  The story was well written and if you had never read her books before, or even just a few, it would be really good.  However, when you've read as many of her books as I have, you start to notice that the story line and even the characters are repetitive, the characters are more type-cast than developed, the tone is clipped and rushed, and the story arc is thoroughly predictable.  

But don't let that discount the story.  It's witty, funny, has enough laughter and humor to counteract the tension and the danger.  And the love scenes, well...let's just say they are hot and steamy, in true Roberts fashion.  

Overall, while I'm still slightly disappointed, it remains a book that I would recommend to those who enjoy romance.  

My stingy rating system: 7 out of 10.

The Fault In Our Stars

The Fault In Out Stars by John Green is a beautiful, albeit tragic, love story about two teenagers with cancer.  Hazel Lankston has never been anything but terminal and, while she's not thrilled about it, she has accepted her eminent demise.  But then meets Augustus Waters and her once isolated existence is thrown into a delicious uproar.

This is the tragic love story we should be teaching to our children.  This is the Romeo and Juliet of our time.  Two star-crossed lovers meet and fall in love, but they don't selfishly kill themselves because the universe won't let them be together.  Instead they fight like hell to experience what they can and enjoy every day with each other because forever was not an option.  There is a fault in their stars, not in them.

This is not the typical cancer story.  It's not about survival, beating death or even young love.  It is about appreciating and experiencing everything this world has to offer while we're here with the ability to appreciate and experience it. 

Green wrote a novel that was so incredibly beautiful, I felt like I, personally, had been gifted with the amazing Augustus Waters, himself.  The Fault In Our Stars was moving and funny, tragic and heartbreaking.

I went into this story knowing there was no chance of happily ever after.  And don't get me wrong, I cried---hard---multiple times.  But it was not what I was expecting.  It was oh, so much more. 

If you want a story that shines brighter because forever comes too soon, I highly recommend The Fault In Our Stars.  As far as amazing romances go, John Green hit this one out of the park.

My rating: 10 out of 10.

(I don't rate them that high often, but lately I have been reading some extremely good books.)

Allegiant

 

 

Allegiant by Veronica Roth is the third and final book in the dystopian Divergent series.  In the final chapters chronicling Tris and Four's journey, the rebel group of faction loyalists that call themselves the Allegiant prepare to go to war with the Factionless to regain control of the city.

 

Meanwhile, the couple---along with a handpicked group of friends and Peter---travel outside the fence of the city with the support of the Allegiant.  Once outside the fence, an entirely new world awaits and nothing is as it seems.  Friends once thought dead are still alive and the people they meet will drop a bombshell that will change Tris and Tobias's perception of reality forever.

 

No matter where they go, revolution seems to be the theme of the day.  In the city, outside the fence, it doesn't matter.  And somehow, Four is in the center of all of it.  Which means that, like it or not, so is Tris.  This time, however, they're not always on the same side.

 

As one danger ties into another, Tris, Four and the others are the only ones who can and will try to stop two wars---though it will cost lives to do it and those sacrifices will be difficult to take.

 

I'll admit, Allegiant was just a little bit harder for me to get through. (Meaning I set it down maybe twice more than the previous two.)  I found all the revolutions  a bit of a stretch, to be honest.  It was always one thing after another for Tris and Tobias and I felt like they just couldn't catch a break.  But then Roth filled in the gaps, everything fell into place and I couldn't put that book down.

 

Although, truth be told, I was a wee bit apprehensive about finishing it.  No, scratch that.  I was just plain scared.  I had heard the rumors, though thankfully not the actual ending, and I knew most people hated the ending, some enough to boycott Veronica Roth all together.  So I went into the third book knowing it was not going to be a "happily ever after" storybook ending. 

 

When I finished the book I was not disappointed.  Not even a little bit.  Without giving anything away, I need to say that I applaud Veronica Roth for staying true to her characters, however heartbreaking it was to do so.  The story could not end any other way.  I thought the ending was beautiful and heart wrenching, but tragically necessary.  Well done, Ms. Roth.  Well done.

 

My rating: Still 10 out of 10.

Insurgent

 



Insurgent by Veronica Roth is the second book in the Divergent series and picks up where the first leaves off.  As Tris and Four flee the Dauntless compound with Peter, Caleb and Marcus, they are swept up into another revolution.

The City is in uproar.  Jeanine Matthews and the Erudite, along with the corrupt Dauntless, have more or less taken over.  The few Abnegation that managed to escape the slaughter of the simulation attack are on the run, staying at various safe houses, including the Amity compound which has resigned itself to being neutral.  The Dauntless remaining loyal to their faction took refuge with the Candor and the Erudite are not exactly thrilled about it.  They still search for the Divergent, certain their ability to be more than one thing and resist the simulation will interfere with their plans.

Meanwhile, the Factionless population is larger than anybody knew and they are far from being satisfied just waiting in the shadows. 

Because of this unease and Tobias's surprising connection to the Factionless, he and Tris get sucked right back down to the center of all the death and destruction that comes with revolution. 

In this sequel to the bestselling Divergent, Roth doesn't disappoint---at all---and I flew through it faster than I did the first.  Action, intrigue, death, scandal, passion, love.  This book has it all.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love and you'll lose, and in the end, you will be desperate to know what happens next. 

My stubborn rating system: 10 out of 10. 

Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth is the story of a girl in the midst of a dystopian society named Beatrice Prior.  In this futuristic setting, the city is divided into five factions.  The Amity, who live for peace and love.  The Candor, who value honesty.  The Erudite, who above all value knowledge.  The Abnegation, Beatrice's home faction, who believe in selflessness.  And the Dauntless, who live to conquer their fear.

In this divided city, when children reach the age of sixteen, they are give a choice: remain in the faction they grew up in or leave their family to join a new one.  However, if you fail initiation into your chosen faction, you become factionless.  You live as an outsider from society, doing the jobs no one wants to do.  You become nothing, unable to remain in your new faction nor return to your old one. 

In order to see which faction a person would best be suited for, each teenager takes an aptitude test.  Beatrice's test is inconclusive.  She has an aptitude for three of the factions and is declared Divergent.  This is not a safe thing to be, however, and she is warned against ever sharing it.  If those in power of the city knew, she would be killed. 

On Choosing Day, Beatrice stands before her friends and family.  And chooses to leave them. 

Enter the world of the Dauntless.  As Beatrice literally takes a blind leap into her new life and her new faction, she adopts the name of Tris and discovers new secrets about herself, including the depth of her feelings for one of her instructors, Tobias, who goes by the nickname of Four.

Yet everything is not as it seems.  With the leaders of the Dauntless faction searching for and killing the Divergent and a city-wide hostile takeover on the horizon, Tris finds herself fighting not only to get through initiation, but for her life.

By the time I read this book, there was so much hype that I was prepared to be disappointed.  I was not.  I devoured this book, inhaled the words like they were my life's blood, like I needed them to survive.  Roth weaves a world so rich in action and the deeper issues of humanity that it was near impossible to put down.  The story is about identity, trust and standing up for what you believe in.  It instantly jumped to the top of my favorites list, and I, for one, cannot wait to see the movie.

My rating system: 10 out of 10.

Revealed

 

 

Revealed P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast is the latest installment in the House of Night series.  It chronicles the most recent adventures of the fledgling vampyre High Priestess, Zoey Redbird and her rag tag group of friends against the now immortal, ex-High Priestess of Nyx, Neferet.  In this book, the reader gets a chance to see a darker side of Zoey---as well as a deeper look at Neferet.

Though Neferet has been defeated, her spirit remains and struggles to manifest in corporeal form, taking lives in the process and adding names to her already tragically long list.  The reader catches a glimpse of Neferet's past.  We get to see how destroyed she truly is inside, how warped and dark her soul.  And we get to watch her as she embarks on her journey to eventually become the immortal Queen Tsi-Sgili. 

Meanwhile, Zoey is having a hard time controlling her own dark side---along with her own heart.  With death and old magick swirling all around her, Zoey's seer stone comes to life and begins to take over.  All the while, Heath's presence within Aurox is becoming increasingly more pronounced, which in turn, vexes Zoey to no end and infuriates Stark. 

I have mixed feelings where the House of Night stories are concerned.  While I will admit that the books are addicting, I cant' actually figure out why.

I think it may be the dialogue.  it's like they try too hard to make the characters sound like teenagers that they instead end up sounding completely unbelievable.  They don't want Zoey to cuss so they have her say words like "bull poopie."  Who says that?  And Stevie Rae's character...that girl just sounds ridiculous.  Even Shaunee and Damien sound forced and all the kids in the "Nerd Herd" repeat their words and over explain everything.  Which I found to be extremely annoying.

The thing is, the Casts are actually decent writers.  Their choice of dialogue just doesn't let them show it.  They've head-jumped a lot since Burned and whenever the narration follows Aphrodite, Neferet, Kalona or even Stark, I found myself absorbed in the writing instead of being put off.  Those characters are believable, they hold and maintain their status, don't use exclamation points after every phrase and they actually sound like human beings (you know, with supernatural powers and near immortal lives.)  I think, maybe if they didn't try so hard, the book would actually reach its full potential. 

My rating: 5 out of 10

The Water Wars

"The Water Wars" by Cameron Stracher is an interesting---and telling---story depicting a world where water in general is a rare commodity and fresh water is like liquid gold.  In true dystopian fashion, Stracher's world is one where the rich get rich, the poor get poorer, the government is corrupt and an unlikely few can make all the difference. 

The tale is written from the view-point of sixteen-year-old Vera and follows her journey to save a friend from his kidnapers.  Along with her older brother, Will, Vera's adventures go from bad to worse as she becomes a prisoner of water pirates.  Through a violent chain of events, their captivity changes hands multiple times before the tale is through and keeps the reader on their toes.

As far as writing style goes, it's not my favorite.  That's not to say that the writing itself was bad. Far from it.  However, Stracher preferred to write his tale as more of a narrative than anything else, causing some of the characters and scenes to lack depth, yet the book never felt slow. 

I prefer stories propelled by dialogue, and one of the reasons why is that you get to know the characters.  It helps you to really see them, understand them, feel with and for them.  Yet I didn't feel like I really knew any of the characters much and certainly couldn't relate to them.  Kai, the boy they were trying to rescue, was barely more than a name on the page and even Will felt generic and two-dimensional.  Opportunities for dialogue and major character development were glossed over and condensed to a quick, one paragraph telling, before moving on to the next thing, and left the reader (meaning me) feeling cheated out of something precious. 

Still, the idea for this book is not to be discounted.  For those who think the concept of Global Warming just a myth, Stracher's "The Water Wars" will definitely make you think twice. 

What would the world be like with no fresh water?  As a resource, water may be one we take advantage of the most.  Stracher's version of the apocalypse may not be far off. 

The harsh reality is that those on top are typically after one thing: Power.  So in a world where money means power and power means water, it's no wonder that vicious companies overpower the governments and the people rot from bacteria and waste away from dehydration. 

Personal preferences aside, Cameron Stracher crafted a powerful and moving statement about wasting resources and the lengths even the "the weak" would go to save the ones they love while still addressing the greed and mankind.  I, for one, was captivated until the very last page---which I found only slightly disappointing.

My judgment scale: 6 out of 10. 

Immortal Rules Synopsis ***SPOILER ALERT***

***SPOILER ALERT***  IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE IMMORTAL RULES  BY JULIE KAGAWA, DO NOT CONTINUE READING THIS POST UNTIL YOU DO.  I WILL GIVE AWAY THE ENDING.

Allison Sekemoto is a jaded individual.  How could she not be?  She lives on the outskirts of a ruined city in a post-apocalyptic dystopian society ruled by vampires and ravaged by monsters akin to the undead known as zombies.  Within the stone walls of her city, humans are treated as cattle...or food.  And human food is hard to come by.  So when Allie finds a treasure trove of canned food in a shed outside the Wall, her survival instincts kick in and she convinces her friends to risk the dangers of the ruins to haul in the stash. 

Yet things go awry when a storm blocks out the sun and the Rabids---vampires gone wrong---attack the raiding party comes to a bloody end.  Two of her friends are lost and Allie and Stick run for their lives.  Rat goes down first.  It wouldn't be much of a loss to Allie---no love lost between them---except that nobody deserves to die by being ripped to shreds---while they were still alive.  Yet when Lucas taken, she feels his loss like a whole ripped through her chest and each of his screams both weakens and strengthens her resolve.  But it doesn't matter how fast she runs or how hard she fights.  The Rabids get her in the end.  And as she lay dying, her life force flowing into the dirt from her shredded flesh, Allie finds herself at the mercy of a mysterious stranger.  A master vampire, in fact.  He tells her his name is Kanin.  And he offers her a choice.  He can either help her die a swift and final death, or he can gift her with new life...as a vampire. 

Now, in order to survive, Allie must become the thing she hates and fears the most.  Just as Kanin is draining the last drop of life from her veins, her only coherent thought is "What have I done?"

As Allie begins her new undead life, she has trouble letting go of her human life. And despite Kanin's teachings, warnings and advice, she is bound and determined to hold tight to her humanity.  So when she discovers that Stick is still alive, Allie can't resist seeking him out to see how he is---and meeting an evasive, creepy vampire along the way.  But her meeting with Stick doesn't go as planned and her trust in him is ill-founded.  She soon finds herself at the mercy of the stranger seeking revenge on Kanin and his bloodline, running from the Prince's guard, parting ways with Kanin and killing her first two humans all in one fell swoop. 

It's a bit of luck---both good and bad---when she stumbles across a wandering band of humans seeking the illusive all-human colony of Eden.  To start, their leader, Jeb, is not exactly Allie's biggest fan---to say the least.  And the feeling is mutual.  His son, however, is nothing at all like the cold, hard leader of their group.  Zeke is warm and insightful.  He's friendly and thoughtful.  And the biggest difference of all is that he likes Allie.

But it's not exactly easy to be a vampire amidst a bunch of living, breathing, tempting humans all the time, what with her blood lust making her hyper-aware of the blood pulsing right beneath their skin.  And with the ever watchful and ever jealous Ruth tracking her every move, Allie finds it harder and harder to make it through each day without feeding, but somehow she manages.

As annoying as being a vampire might be, Allie finds her extra senses do have their uses.  Like detecting a wild boar who had been bitten by a Rabid and killing it before it before it could kill her, Zeke or Darren.  And in doing so, she inadvertently saves a man's life.

Ironically, it was also this man that brings about her ruin with her newfound friends.  As her bloodlust gets the better of her, forcing her to feed, she chooses to do so from a stranger instead of those she now considers her people.  Even the ones she doesn't like, like Ruth or Jeb.  And especially on the ones she does have feelings for.  Like Zeke.  However, draining the man's blood weakens him to the point where whatever strength he has is gone and he could no longer fight the disease making him a monster.  He becomes a Rabid.  And as Allie professes her apologies to the blood thirsty shell of the man he once was, who should come upon her but Ruth.  And Zeke.

Allison is driven off, but not killed.  The feelings she has for Zeke---the feelings Zeke has for her---are too strong and he can't do it.  He lets her go.  But not before vowing to kill her if he ever sees her again.

At first, Allie thinks that's it.  Fine.  Let the humans fend for themselves.  Still, is wasn't just Rabids and vampires that are after them.  A violent gang of bikers---Raiders---are on the human's trail as well and it isn't the first time Allie has encountered their kind.  Nor will it be the last.  But the nomads are humans and want nothing to do with her, so she does what any self-respecting vampire does when the blood bags are in trouble. 

She follows them.

And it is a good thing she does, too.  The bikers attack, taking everyone but Zeke in their vans, leaving the unlucky few dead in their wake.  Allie gets there just in time to save Zeke, but she can't save the others.  Instead, she promises Zeke she'll help him find them and thus, a tentative friendship is formed.

The two follow the bikers to Old Chicago which now exists submerged in icy water.  It would be difficult to handle for a human even if they weren't injured as Zeke is.  However, he is determined she not go alone.

They follow the trail to an arena where Darren is sacrificed as entertainment in an effort to get Jeb to cooperate.  A master vampire named Jackel believes Jeb is the key to finding a cure for rabidism---the mutation unintentionally caused when a human and a vampire attempted to find a cure.  Jeb's grandfather was the human.  Kanin was the vampire. 

With effort, Allie and Zeke manage to free the others from their water logged cages and Allie sends Zeke on ahead while she searches for Jeb.  She finds him at the top of Jackel's vampire tower where she comes face to face with her blood brother.  It seems she and Jackel were sired by the same master vampire.  She is no match for Jackel, however, and is spared only when Jeb hurls himself at her adversary---while thinking of Zeke, she's sure---and the grappling duo plunge to the ground twenty stories below. 

Jackel's tower is not a total loss, however.  Circled on a map on the wall is the location of Eden.  And it's not very far away.  They commandeer a van and get everyone left alive as close as they can.  But just as they're nearing the compound of Eden, they're attacked by Rabids.  Then saved by a military-like force.  They have found their home at last.

But Eden is for humans only and Allison Sekemoto is anything but.  She is forced to leave her new friends, which of course, is all right by her.

Kanin is trapped and being tortured by Sarren, the creepy vampire that attacked Allie in the city.  Allison doesn't know how, but she knows it's her duty to save him.  And Jackel is not as dead as she thought.

Back to New Covington she goes.