ARC Review- Hero by Alethea Kontis

Hi Everyone!

Hero by Alethea Kontis 

Publication Date: October 1st, 2013

Publisher: Harcourt Books 

Source: Rachel from the Reader's Den :0

Rating: 4/5 EXQUISITE STARS

My Review:

I can become very attached to a person, to a character. I am more than just ecstatic to find two, Saturday Woodcutter and Peregrine Starburn, protagonists that I more than love. I cannot describe this lovely emotion. I hooray and long for a new scene between them. I am amazed that these characters still linger in my admiration. I only wish Saturday fought harder during entrapped periods on a mountain.

Hero by Alethea Kontis is the second book to a series set in a fairy tale land. The first situates on the youngest sister, Sunday, and the classic frog prince. (While sharing the trials of being a man) This second book continues sharing the trails of humanity, love and family. The world carries magic, mirrors, mountains, families, witches who cause shape shifting, and adventures.

This youthful book is addicting. The story is bolstered with mysteries and romance. I love learning more about Saturday’s brother Jack since the previous book talked about his past, but did not reveal his current story.

The writing is exquisite! Every line is admirably structured. Every moment makes a difference. I especially enjoyed the detailed glimpse on mirrors.

I liked the conclusive of the book's arc ending that still left room for a continuous plot for these incredible characters.

Thanks for reading!

ARC Review: Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing ...

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender 

Publication Date: September 24th, 2013

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Source- Netgalley

Rating: 3/5 WHY STARS

I could not help but incorporate some enthusiasm for Alender's previous trilogy, Bad Girls Don't Die. 

I remember the joy and thrills I felt while reading Katie Alender’s other series, Bad Girls Don’t Die. I lost my time reading Lexi’s mind and emotions when it was over. Those times were full of splendid scares. I remember the times were I disliked but understood some of Lexi decisions, were I loved Carter, and admired Megan. I will always remember Lexi, Carter and Megan as they were extraordinary, finely flawed characters.

Sadly, Marie-Antoinette, Serial Killer does not continue with an amazing and terrifying stories with must cheer for characters. Colette is a popular girl in a group of a controlling girl with no redeeming qualities and another submissive, yet very sweet, girl. While Megan, from Alender’s previous series, challenges the popular teen stereotype, Collette and her friends match it as tightly as a magnet sticks to a piece of metal.  

Collette and the cast of characters were not a complete mess. I just wish I could find one character to love and want to live with while vicariously reading this story. If only the characters were more authentic. Instead I found a story with an interesting plot, engaging enough writing and a beautiful setting, but without a deep connection with the characters.

The plot was terrifying when it was placed during the occurring murders. The secrets of why the murders occur were well planned. I was reading in terror through the startling details brought with each death and moments of suspense. Sadly, surprises were absent in this mystery. I imagine there was not suppose to be much of a mystery to the reader, and instead the confusion was for as the characters.

In the end, “Why, why, why?” is chirping in my head as I am disappointed with how simple this book turned out to be. I still recommend Alender because her first trilogy was unforgettable, but I say this story is a miss. 

Thanks for reading!

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell Review

Hi Everyone!

My current favorite TV Show is Once Upon A Time. I love how the show is formatted in a before and after of prior to the curse. I am shipping Emma and Hook. I find that they mesh together in every scene they are in together as two strong, independent people. Why does the first love have to be the one? 

Now, for my review of ...

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Publication Date: September 10th, 2013

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Source- Netgalley

Rating: 4/5 LEVI STARS

Add To Goodreads!

I began Fangirl suspecting a light and sweet read exploring fandoms and college. Thankfully, that is what I received and I gained even more. I am proud of Rowell’s realistic portrayal of Cath’s dealings with her social anxiety. Our protagonist, Cath, is a shy girl and fan-fiction writer who only desires a close relationship with her sister.

Since April my head has thought of many reasons for recommending this book. I finally found the true five.

1. Levi

I love him. I would love my own Levi. This character is as adorable as an alpaca. Levi gleams a bright, witty, wise, daring, and tenacious personality. Reading through Levi’s antics is a fantastic gift. If The True Meddling of Levi was a book, I’ll read it straight through. 

2. Levi Romance 

I commonly prefer family relationships to romances during books. In Fangirl, it was the inverse. I basically lived for more scenes between the two. I can imagine nothing more romantic that reading aloud in my dorm room to someone I love. And dance parties! .

3. Simon Snow and Baz

She has an amazing and popular Fanfiction story called Carry On featuring these two in her view as them being a romantic duo. The original work has the two being stringent enemies. I love these too together.

4. Fanfiction’s relationship with writers

I find that the Fanficiton bits scattered through the story added more depth to the story. Cath’s struggle to build her own story struck my own fingers as I constantly face a foggy image when trying to build my own story. The struggle for original work sections was magnificent through the energy and passion emulated both by Cath and her brilliant professor.  

5. A brilliant conclusion

This book’s closure is creative, touching and the last line is just spectacular, “Here I come, ready or not.”  (Rowell 434) Everything ends the way that matters, the real world, the Simon Snow series and the story as an aesthetic.

 Thanks for reading!

Waiting On Wednesday! Secret, Secret, Come Out Now!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

I decided to add a random fact about myself before everyone of my post, so you, my wonderful friends, can learn more about me. 

Today's!

My favorite food to buy at a sushi restaurant- pad thai! Yep, I do not like the taste of sushi. Yet, I do like the taste of peanuts, egg and delicious noodles. The best pad thai I ever had was at this restaurant called Raku in Dupont Circle, Washington D.C. 

Now for Waiting on Wednesday!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and is a wonderful way to share books you are waiting on and add books to your TBR list!

This week I'm waiting on...

Synopsis:

Nowhere is safe. Not even home…

Nick Merrick is stretched to the breaking point.

Keep his grades sky-high or he’ll never escape his hometown.
Keep his brother’s business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.
Keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his own twin—-or he’ll lose his family.

Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who’s supposed to be his “girlfriend’s” partner.

Of course there’s also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers.

There’s a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.

Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

Why Oh Why?

I was spinning on a ferris wheel while I was trying to think of another story. But none other books come to mind. Sure, their are plenty I am excited for, but this is the only book I am obsessively waiting for and wish I could read right now. 

This book has three main characters I already love (Nick, Quinn and Adam) and one I cannot wait to see him in a not vile way. Anti-heros are the best characters in my books, especially the ones who learn to break away from prior views. 

Thanks for reading!

ARC Review: Invisible by Marni Bates

Happy September Everyone!

On to the review...

Invisible by Marni Bates 

Publication Date: August 1st, 2013

Publisher: Kensington Publishing

Source- E-ARC on Netgalley (Thanks!)

Rating: 3/5 STEADY STARS

My review:

Some books have characters I immediately love. Those are the ones I prefer because I can genuinely care and root for a characters actions. And there are ones like this one where I immediately see flaws I find horrible.

There were so many times when I grew furious with Jane. Jane is the protagonist of Invisible by Marni Bates. She is weak. She never speaks out for herself. She judges others. She is crazy jealous of her two closest friends, Kenzie and Corey. Still, I admit expected her to be weak from the title. Still, I cannot root for her passivity and a narrow-minded attitude. I could accept her while she grew through her experiences. Just never forgot her shortcomings. 

There are some books, like Teen Idol by Meg Cabot, that are about speaking out for others. And there are ones, like this one, that are about speaking out for oneself. Both speaking out books are about realizing that no one is a reflected image. That judging others without moving through the image gives you a faulty view. I admire this message and I liked seeing it occurred in this novel.

I also liked how this book shared the different kinds of stamina owned by journalists and creative writers. Some people can be both but some, like Jane, can only be one.

I enjoyed the funny moments in this dramatic story. I regarded Scott as the best person in the story. The photographer, who admits his reporter drive (that can be aggravating occasionally), accepts diverging personalities and owns, the best characteristic, humor.

In all, Invisible is book that moves steadily. I am impressed by the message’s the author aimed to provide the reader and the chance she took with an unlikable narrator. Its enjoyable enough and I definitely appreciated Bate’s simple, engaging prose.

Thanks for reading!

ARC Review: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Hi Lovely People! 

In the midst of my busy college life, I had the time to experience and review The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater. I want to thank Scholastic for allowing me to read an E-ARC on Netgalley. The following review is completely honest and a bit contradictory because my emotions towards this story are captured in a personally unfamiliar paradox. 

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Publication Date: September 17th, 2013

Publisher: Scholastic 

Source- E-ARC on Netgalley

Rating: THOUGHTS OF GRAY STARS

My review:

Immediately after finishing review:

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater is both excellent and terrible. While reading, I felt both detached and impressed. The final pages urge me to forget the rough start and just remember the beauty of what I just read, the final surprise. To just remember the strong passion that erupted inside me as I was rooting for the Grey Man and Ronan in their individual quests. But I can't forget the many pages waiting for me to feel connected. The reading time where I just want to stop reading because the writing, though gorgeous and special, lack a sweet rhythm. 

Later in the day review:

If you were to ask me, “Which author do I wish I could write like? “, I would immediately say, “Maggie Stiefvater.”

Maggie weaves ordinary words in an mystical order that leaves behind a masterpiece. She is a master at the intricate rule of creative writing- to show instead of simply stating events.

Two instances:

“Was he unsaved? Would he have ever ended up any other way?” pg. 225 of my E-ARC

These words lit a fire within me that wanted to hug this character. A urge to do something, anything, to alleviate his pain and wishing along with anything his present state was unaffected by his past.

“The past was something that had happened to another version of himself, a version that could be lit and hurled away.”

This is an amazing metaphor that you will have to read this story to fully comprehend. The comma is in the perfect place. This sweet rendition brilliantly reveals a character reaching a euphoric state.

Both lines lingered in my mind because of the words are in all the right places. How can Maggie do this in every of her written lines? 

While every sentence is a rich diamond, a connective rhythm did not carry between the story and me throughout every page, every moment.

Some moments my connection to the story drifted. I found myself just reading to see what’s next, but not enjoying the process. The leaves of boredom did not stem from which character was narrating. Instead, the leaves grew from the slow events, the slow transgression to plot and confusion. These are the moments where I am thinking, “When can this story be over?” and “Maybe I should give up?”

Then, moments come where I am completely awake and aching. Moments where I am enthralled by the story, feeling pity, rage, astonishment, love. Suddenly, everything makes sense because I am thoroughly involved and understand what is inexplicably said and just pictured. Oh, that character is now ... Ahhhhh.

The characters are all the life force that strengthens this story. Adam touches me with his pain and longing for love. Gansey is gripping and strong, full of leadership and courage. Ronan is a loving brother and forgiver. Blue is rich of life.

Noah and The Gray Man are my favorite characters. They highlighted my reading journey.

Noah. I love the quiet guys. I wish upon a star that he will be the main Raven Boy in the next book. So much of him remains a mystery. I need his perspective. He possessed a staring role in my favorite chapter of the Dream Thieves.

When I first met the Gray Man, it was during a part of the story where I was completely detached from the story. I felt a rush of déjà vu, as heavy as water dripping from a waterfall. The rush felt like a throbbing neck, an injury that could result from strong pressure from water. A question emerged in my head, “Would he be a second Whelk?”

Thankfully he was not. He is more than he appears to be. He is neither good nor bad, neither unforgivable nor forgivable, neither lifeless nor energetic. He is a man with a thorn prickling inside him and above him. I desperately wished for the disintegration of that thorn.

This is a special read. It was a hard read. A read I would not re-read. A book you need to read. Read when you are ready to stick inclusively to the story with strong concentration.

Thanks for reading!

ARC Review: Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Hi Everyone!

The last few weeks have been exciting. I started my first semester of college and my first internship. After some awkward starts and a little stress over homework, I am now ready to blog again. 

I want to first thank my friend Rachel from The Reader's Den for providing me an ARC of Scorched by Mari Mancusi. 

 Scorched by Mari Mancusi 

Publication Date: September 3rd, 2013

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Source: Rachel from The Reader's Den

Rating: 3/5 FRIZZLING STARS

Add To Goodreads!

My Review:

Dragons! I love these steaming animals. Manusi sure knew how to create attraction to these creatures. They reminded me of sweet dogs. Manusi excelled when it came to describing dragons and creating the world.

I found the two brothers from the future, Caleb and Conner, impressive. They were both were blinded by their own views of the world in the beginning, but I found their perception grew throughout the story. I love character growth in books and theirs was splendidly done while they stayed true to their core identity.

I wish more of the story existed in the two brother’s perspective. During Caleb’s and Conner’s time, I became enthralled with their dismal history and charisma. I hoped for their success even when they were wrong. I liked Trinity’s sassy grandfather too who willfully did anything necessary for his granddaughter’s safety.

I found myself mentally tired during Trinity’s perspective. I became unconnected in her mind waiting for the next moment for another person to speak.

Scorched was exciting at points. At others it just ran along. I found it hard to want to read this book in one sitting while the story’s direction was completely obvious. It was full of good ideas. Its execution just lacks the impressive zing marking the Unforgettable Factor.

Still, I am interested in continuing for more Caleb, Conner, and most importantly, Trinity’s grandfather. 

Thanks for reading!