Monday, May 31, 2010

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where I share what books I got in the past week.

This is what I got this week:


Won:

Let me know what you got this week!

Swords are for fighting,

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Review: Blood Captain (Vampirates #3) by Justin Somper


Synopsis:

As fans of the Vampirates series know, nothing is quite as it seems when Vampirates and pirates are involved, so twins Connor and Grace have to keep up their guards. But with every new challenge pulling them farther apart, it seems that the time has finally come for the twins to explore their separate fates.

Grace, unable to forget the blindness she caused her Vampirate friend Lorcan, chooses to journey with him to see if his sight can be restored. As for Connor, he must endure the latest addition to the Diablo crew: Captain Wrathe's awful nephew, who seems to dislike him from the very start. Will both twins find success, and what will it take to bring them back together?

Review:

It seems like each book in the Vampirates series gets better and better! I loved Blood Captain, the third installment in the series, more than the first two. I must admit that I enjoy Grace's story so much more than Connor's. Even though they are twins, the paths that they have chosen are so completely different. Connor has his pirate dreams while Grace feels right at home on the Vampirate ship. I find Grace's interaction and relationships with the vampires so interesting. My favorite parts in the book are when Grace and Lorcan are involved. Their relationship is intriguing, and I cannot wait to see where it goes in the next book.

One thing I am curious about is Connor, Bart and Jez's lost weekend. It is hinted that they had a pretty wild experience one weekend that they were off pirate duties. I really want to know what happened! I wish it was explained in the book, but it is not. I hope it will be explained in a future book.

As with the other books, the ending was a cliffhanger. It was a quick read full of adventure, drama, suspense, and action. Needless to say, I wanted to start the next book as soon as I finished.

Rating: 4.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Review: Titus and Atreus by Meridi Myers

* I received Titus and Atreus for review (my first review book ever!)


Synopsis:

Two worlds,
Two boys . . .
. . . One prophecy.

Grief-stricken by the loss of his parents, Titus Attwater is convinced his life will never improve. His older sister ignores his calls, his grades in school have plummeted, and his house, once a place of warmth and security, is now lonely, cold, and alien.

But when a young man appears one night in Titus's house, claiming he came in upstairs through the full-length mirror, Titus's life gets turned upside-down. For, as Titus soon discovers, this intruder is not from Earth. Against his will, Titus is kidnapped and taken to another world, a place like Earth but markedly different. It is here where he will befriend angels, face assassins, and help a young prince unravel a prophecy that proves much darker and more twisted than any of them had imagined.



Review:

When I first picked up Titus and Atreus, I did not know what to expect. As I started to read it, I was pleasantly surprised to discover how much I was enjoying the story! The plot was completely original and unique. I have never read anything like it. I absolutely loved the idea of having a twin soul on another world. In fact when I was younger, I used to think that there was another version of me living on another planet somewhere who looked exactly like me, but had a different lifestyle.

Titus' reactions were funny! I found myself laughing many times at the way he reacted to new things. I also liked how Meridi used the word "creepers" on page 27 of her book. (I'm probably the only one who appreciates this because I use the word "creepers" all the time...probably more than I should).

The ending was left me wanting more. I want to know what will happen next, especially where Titus is concerned. I imagine it must be difficult for him to be away from the world he always knew.


Overall, I found Titus and Atreus to be extremely enjoyable. I loved the plot, characters, pace, and everything about it. The last battle scene was amazing! I had my eyes glued to the pages as I read. I needed to know how it would all play out. Needless to say, this book was fast-paced and hard to put down! Definitely a fun read.


Rating: 4.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (12)...




Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.




This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is:

Unraveled by Gena Showalter (Intertwined, Book 2)


Publication Date: August 31, 2010

Synopsis from Gena Showalter's website:

For once, sixteen-year-old Aden Stone has everything he’s ever wanted:

A home.

Friends.

The girl of his dreams.

Too bad he’s going to die…Since coming to Crossroads, Oklahoma, former outcast Aden Stone has been living the good life. Never mind that one of his best friends is a werewolf, his girlfriend is a vampire princess who hungers for his blood, and he’s supposed to be crowned Vampire King – while still a human! Well, kind of.

With four – oops, three now — human souls living inside his head, Aden has always been “different” himself. These souls can time travel, raise the dead, possess another’s mind, and, his least favorite these days, tell the future.

The forecast for Aden? A knife through the heart.

Because a war is brewing between the creatures of the dark, and Aden is somehow at the center of it all. But he isn’t about to lie down and accept his destiny without a fight. Not when his new friends have his back, not when Victoria has risked her own future to be with him, and not when he has a reason to live for the first time in his life…



I am really excited to read this book! I loved Intertwined (in fact it was the first book I reviewed on my blog!), so I am looking forward to what happens next.

Swords are for fighting,

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (12)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 48 of English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack:

"Do you really think those questions have an easier answer than why two American women, one of whom will become a countess if things work out just right, wouldn't make up a story that ensures they miss their plane so as to stay at the earl's estate a few more days? Every minute helps build a bridge, right, Mrs. Hoffmiller?"
What is your teaser this week?

Swords are for fighting,

Monday, May 24, 2010

In My Mailbox (13)

Sorry this is late! I had a pretty crazy weekend and week. Hopefully I will find some time to sit down and write reviews soon, but I am super busy with school and such.

As most if not all of you know, In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where I share what books I got in the past week.

I got a lot awesome books this week:



Won:

Borrowed:

  • Kiss of Lifeby Daniel Waters

Thanks for sticking with me! I have three weeks left of school, so hopefully I will find some time to write some reviews. If not, once school is over, I will definitely have time to write reviews again.

What did you get this week?

Swords are for fighting,

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Waiting On Wednesday (11)


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.




This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is:


The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer

Publication Date: June 5, 2010

Synopsis:

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

Obviously, I am a HUGE Twilight fan. I am so excited to read this novella!

What is your Waiting on Wednesday pick?

Swords are for fighting,

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (11)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 33 of Vampirates: Black Heart by Justin Somper:

" 'What was I doing on the Nocturne? Simple, really. I was a donor.' "


I seriously love this series! I can't wait to see what happens next.


Swords are for fighting,

Sunday, May 16, 2010

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where I share what books I got in the past week.

Here is what I got this week:


Won:

For Review:


I have not bought any books this week, either! It has been a whole month. I don't think I will be able to stop myself from buying books for long because tomorrow is my birthday and with that comes money, which I am sure I will use on books.

What did you get this week?

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Pretty Little Liars (Pretty Little Liars #1) by Sara Shepard


Synopsis from Goodreads:
Everyone has something to hide—especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna.
Spencer covets her sister's boyfriend. Aria's fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily's crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful.

But they've all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.

How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and all the dirty secrets they've kept. And guess what? I'm telling.

Synopsis from
Amazon:

In the exclusive Philadelphia suburb of Rosewood, Alison is the Queen Bee of her elite seventh grade hive. BFs Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily vie for her attention, even as each of them hides a hideous secret only Alison knows. So when Alison goes missing after a slumber party, never to be seen again, each girl is heartbroken, but also a little relieved. Now it is three years later, and though the four girls have grown apart, they are each still hiding something. Artsy Aria is carrying on an affair with one of her teachers, fashionista Hanna shoplifts to accessorize her trendy outfits, blue-blood Spencer is sleeping with her older sister’s boyfriend, while straight-A Emily is trying to ignore her attraction to a new female classmate. When the girls begin receiving threatening text messages and emails that from someone known only as "A," they must confront the fact that against all odds, it appears Alison is back. Could Alison still be alive? And if so, why is she so determined to uncover all their dirty little secrets?

Review:

I started reading Pretty Little Liars as part of I Heart Monster's Read Along. It was a really fun event where we read the book in a week and discussed certain chapters each day in preparation for the show that is going to be on ABC Family in June. (if you are interested, I Heart Monster is hosting another read along for Huge by Sasha Paley from June 20-26th. You can find more information here).


Ok, back to the review. I was extremely surprised to find how much I enjoyed this book. I thought it would be about whiny, spoiled teenagers suffering through high school drama, but I was definitely wrong. Sure, it is about spoiled teenagers in high school, but the story was strangely addicting! The girls are crazy! I cannot believe some of the things they did at such a young age. The story is pretty much centered around the secrets these girls have from before their friend, Alison, vanished in 7th grade. For 7th graders, they have a lot more secrets than I have ever had. It was interesting to see that those secrets still control their lives three years later.


I loved how each chapter was in either Spencer's, Aria's, Hanna's or Emily's point of view. Spencer and Aria were by far my favorite characters. I found their lives more interesting and exciting than Hanna's or Emily's. I did not really like Hanna at times, and Emily was just forgettable to me. Even now, it was hard to remember her name.


The creepy messages that the girls receive from a person known only as 'A' reminded of the show Gossip Girl. Every time I read one of them, I could not help imagining them being said in the same voice as Gossip Girl.


Overall, Pretty Little Liars was fast-paced. It was extremely hard to put it down (I was only reading five chapters a day for the Read Along), and when I did put it down, I was thinking about it for the rest of the day. I wanted to know what happens next, and if I was not reading it as part of a Read Along, I would have finished it in a day. I would recommed this book to mature teenagers and up since there are many mature themes in this book such as drugs, alcohol, student-teacher affair, shoplifting, eating disorders, etc. In my opinion, it is more of a guilty-pleasure type of book, but I sure did enjoy it! I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Rating: 4/5

Books in the Pretty Little Liars series:

  1. Pretty Little Liars
  2. Flawless
  3. Perfect
  4. Unbelievable
  5. Wicked
  6. Killer
  7. Heartless
  8. Wanted
Swords are for fighting,

Friday, May 14, 2010

Mega Swagbucks Day!

Search & Win



I don't know how many of you know about Swagbucks, but basically it is a search engine where you earn Swag Bucks by searching for anything and everything on the web. When you get enough, you can redeem your Swag Bucks for prizes! My favorite prize is the Amazon giftcard because I can use it to buy books.

Mega Swag Bucks Day happens every Friday. It is the day when you have a higher chance of earning larger amounts of Swag Bucks. (The largest I've gotten is 40, but I know there are higher ones out there)

To start earning Swag Bucks all you have to do is
sign up. It is absolutely free, and it is a great way to get free prizes! I use it all the time to look up new books I've read about on other blogs...actually I use it to look up pretty much everything. So, if you want, sign up here and start searching and earning!

Book Blogger Hop! (6)

Crazy For Books' Book Blogger Hop is here! Once again here is how it works:

ABOUT THE HOP: This is a weekly event, hosted here, where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read. It's a great way to network with other bloggers and make new friends! In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start Hopping!! Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews. If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!


If you are participating or you found me through the Hop, leave me a comment. Have a fun Book Blogger Hop Friday!

Once again, sorry for the lack of reviews. I have two upcoming reviews: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard and Titus and Atreus by Meridi Myers. I hope to have Pretty Little Liars up today or tomorrow.

Swords are for fighting,

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (10)...



Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.







This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is:

Torment (Fallen #2) by Lauren Kate

Publication Date: September 28, 2010

Synopsis:

How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean - and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future...and that Daniel hasn't told her everything. What if his version of the past isn't actually the way things happened...what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?



I am really excited to read this! I want to know what happens. I really enjoyed Fallen, the first book in the series. You can read my review of Fallen
here.


What is your Waiting on Wednesday pick?



Swords are for fighting,

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (10)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 242 of Vampirates: Blood Captain by Justin Somper:

"Then, in his head, he heard a whisper - as soft and elusive as a trickle of water. 'Welcome, Connor Tempest. You took your time.'"
I love this series! It is so much fun to read.

Swords are for fighting,

Monday, May 10, 2010

Blog Awards (3)

I have recently received three blog awards!

The first award that I received is the One Lovely Blog Award from Becki at Confessions of a Bibliophile. Thank you so much Becki!




Here are the details:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.


I will be passing this award on to these lovely blogs that I have recently discovered:


The second award that I recently received was the Prolific Blogger Award. Anne from Potter, Percy & I gave me this award, so thank you Anne!


About this award:
A prolific blogger is one who is intellectually productive, keeping up an active blog with enjoyable content. After accepting this award, recipients are asked to pass it forward to seven other deserving blogs.


I will pass this award to these seven bloggers:

  1. Kristen at Bookworming in the 21st Century


  2. Kate at The Neverending Shelf


  3. Chioma at Black and Blue Ink


  4. Jenn at Books at Midnight


  5. Corrine at Lost For Words


  6. Jen G. at The Introverted Reader


  7. Shaynie at The Book Blog


The third award I received is the Sunshine Award from Christina T at Reading Extensively. Thank you Christina!


To accept the Sunshine Award, I have to link to the person who gave it to me and then pass the award on to twelve other bloggers...I think I can do that.

Here are the bloggers I will pass this award to:

  1. Becki at Confessions of a Bibliophile

  2. Anne from Potter, Percy & I

  3. Cindy at Princess Bookie

  4. Angela at Dark Faerie Tales

  5. Jennifer at Reading With Tequila

  6. Mrs. Magoo at Mrs. Magoo Reads

  7. Lydia at The Lost Entwife

  8. Steph at Paper Cut Reviews

  9. Sab H. at YA Bliss

  10. Becky at Page Turners

  11. Karen at Karen's Addictions

  12. Zia at My Life In Not So Many Words

Thanks for the awards!


Swords are for fighting,

Sunday, May 9, 2010

In My Mailbox (11)

Happy Mother's Day everyone!!!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.





This week I only got one book:

Once again, I did not buy any books...but I have not had much time to read either. Hopefully that will change soon, but for the next 4 or 5 weeks I doubt it. Finals are quickly approaching, which means more essays and such.

On a happier note, I now have 100 followers!!! Thanks everyone for following me. I can't believe I have 100 followers already.

Swords are for fighting,

Friday, May 7, 2010

Book Blogger Hop! (5)


Book Blogger Hop is upon us!!!!! Crazy For Books is the fabulous host. Let the fun begin!

For those that do not know, here is how it works:


ABOUT THE HOP: This is a weekly event, hosted here, where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read. It's a great way to network with other bloggers and make new friends! In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start Hopping!! Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews. If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!


If you found me through the Book Blogger Hop, leave me a comment :)

I am off to find some new blogs!

Swords are for fighting,

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (9)...






Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.





This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is:

Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen

Publication Date: September 1, 2010

A heartwarming tale of terror in the middle of the zombie apocalypse.

Meet Sarah and David.

Once upon a time they met and fell in love. But now they're on the verge of divorce and going to couples' counseling. On a routine trip to their counselor, they notice a few odd things - the lack of cars on the highway, the missing security guard, and the fact that their counselor, Dr. Kelly, is ripping out her previous client's throat.

Meet the Zombies.

Now, Sarah and David are fighting for survival in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. But, just because there are zombies, doesn't mean your other problems go away. If the zombies don't eat their brains, they might just kill each other

This book sounds so great! I love zombies, so I am pretty sure I will love this book. The synopsis sounds interesting.

What is your Waiting on Wednesday?
Swords are for fighting,

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (9)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 95 of Titus and Atreus by Meridi Myers:

"Juno's eyes widened to saucer-size and he made to unsheathe his other dagger, but it was already too late. A split second later, a hand slipped around Atreus's neck, and he was captured."

I am really enjoying this book. Thanks Meridi for sending
it to me!



Swords are for fighting,

Monday, May 3, 2010

Review: Dark Visions by L.J. Smith

Dark Visions is made up of the three books in the Dark Visions series: The Strange Power, The Possessed, and The Passion

Synopsis from Goodreads:
GIFTED AND CURSED


Kaitlyn Fairchild has always felt like an outsider in her small hometown. Her haunting eyes and prophetic drawings have earned her a reputation as a witch. But Kait's not a witch: She's a psychic. Tired of being shunned, Kait accepts an invitation to attend the Zetes Institute, where she can have a fresh start and study with other psychic teens.

Learning to hone her abilities with four other gifted students, Kait discovers the intensity of her power -- and the joy of having true friends. But those friendships quickly become complicated when Kait finds herself torn between two irresistible guys. Rob is kind and athletic, and heals people with his good energy. Gabriel is aggressive and mysterious, a telepath concealing his true nature as a psychic vampire, feeding off of others' life energy. Together, Rob and Gabriel's opposing forces threaten the group's stability.

Then one of the experiments traps the five teens in a psychic link. A link that threatens their sanity and their lives. And Kaitlyn must decide whom to trust...and whom to love.

Below is the synopsis for each separate book from L.J. Smith's
website:

Dark Visions, Volume I: The Strange Power

Kaitlyn is an artist, but not an ordinary one. She draws pictures of things that are going to happen in the future. Everything she draws come true—but sometimes she can’t figure out what she’s drawn until it’s too late. Kait is only too happy when Dr. Xetes, a scientist who is studying psychic abilities, invites her to come to California and join his school of similarly talented individuals. There Kaitlyn meets golden boy Rob, a healer, and the dark lone wolf Gabriel who apparently wants nothing to do with her. But with so much supernatural energy going around, it’s hardly surprising that the psychics develop a telepathic link that can’t be broken.

Dark Visions, Volume II: The Possessed
Kaitlyn and her buddies are on the run. Having learned the dark secrets of the psychic institute they head north, looking for shelter, not daring to even contact their parents or old friends. They’re on their own in a race for time, when Kaitlyn discovers Gabriel’s dark secret: he’s a psychic vampire. He needs to drain other peoples’ life-force to live, and he hasn’t been doing it. What to do? Kait volunteers—and finds the experience not entirely unenjoyable.

Dark Visions, Volume III: The Passion, Pocket Books
Back at the lab, captured like animals, Kaitlyn and her friends must face the true meaning of what the link means, and what their lineage is. They also have the fight of their lives on their hands, as Dr. Xetes does his best to do them in. But the real question for Kaitlyn is: Rob or Gabriel? Sunlight or darkness? Kait has to search her heart for the answer.


Review:

I had a hard time getting into Dark Visions. The storyline could have been interesting, but the characters did not deliver it for me. Kaitlyn's relationship with Rob and Gabriel felt platonic and forced. I did not feel the spark between them at all. I also thought that the ending was way too perfect. Everyone ending up with their perfect other half was a bit too cheesy for me.

To me, many parts were rushed. The characters would be doing one thing and do a complete 180 and start doing something completely different. Other parts, like the relationships between the characters seemed forced. I loved the idea of the characters having a psychic link between them where they could mentally speak to each other. A great relationship could have really developed between the characters, even an intimate one, but it felt to me like their relationships were forced.

One thing about this series that really bugged me was how the author constantly switched from referring to Kaitlyn as "Kaitlyn" in one paragraph and "Kait" in the next. I felt like it should have been one or the other, not both. I finally got used to the name switching in The Passion, but there were times when I just had to stop reading because it just did not flow for me.

At some parts, especially in the first book, The Strange Power, I was screaming at Kaitlyn in my head. I could not believe some of the things she did. If she just kept her mouth shut at times, then certain situations could have been avoided completely. She definitely was not the brightest character because she did some stupid things that were completely avoidable.

I know many people love this book, but I just could not get into it. I have read and enjoyed L.J. Smith's Nightworld series, so I think it was the story that I did not like, not the writing. Anyways, I would suggest you give it a try if you want and form your own opinion about it.

Rating: 2/5


Swords are for fighting,

Saturday, May 1, 2010

In My Mailbox (10)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

Here is what I got this week:


Won:
I am pretty proud of myself. I did not buy any books this week!

What did you get this week?

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Synopsis:


There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.


Review:

When I first started to read Fallen, it reminded me of Evermore by Alyson Noel. The plot line seemed to be similar, so I found many parts to be predictable. The 'big reveal' of what Daniel is was no surprise (the title pretty much gives it away). That being said, I thought I knew how this book would turn out, but I was way off. The second half of the book was filled with many twists and turns. I did not expect what happened to one of the characters to happen! (on page 409 to be exact) It was a huge OMG/ What the heck? moment for me. I still cannot believe that it happened. It was completely unexpected.

Fallen is set in Sword & Cross boarding school, and it is a school for troubled kids. Almost every student there seemed to have some sort of criminal past. I loved that it was not a normal boarding school setting for the rich and spoiled.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They were all so mysterious that they kept me guessing who was "good" and who was "bad." I really enjoyed the main character, Luce. She was strong and determined. Her friend, Penn, was an amazing character. I loved everything about her, and she was an amazing friend to Luce. Arrianne was quirky and interesting. She had me guessing the whole entire book. I pretty much liked all of the characters, even the "bad" ones.

I have to say that I absolutely love the cover! I find it to be beautiful. I love the Gothic feel it gives off with Luce in her in a gorgeous dress, pale skin, and dark hair in the middle of a forest.

The ending was a huge cliff-hanger that left me wanting more. So many things were left unanswered, and it kind of got confusing. I am looking forward to finding out more in the sequel, Torment.

Rating:4/5

Swords are for fighting,