Journey Through The Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout With Marissa!

(Hello guys! I recently finished reading all the books that are released so far in the Lux series so I decided to just put all my reactions in to one post. These reviews are completely spoiler free even if you haven't read any of the books in the series or just the first.)

Summary: Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is.

Marissa's Review: I really enjoyed Obsidian! It was a very different read for me. I have never read anything that had to do with the topic of aliens before, so i found the story very original. I absolutely loved the writing style in this book. It has a perfect mix of things. This book has drama, humor, action, and even some romance. I also loved the characters. Katy was a strong protagonist and really knows how to stand up for herself when she has to but she is also relatable. I loved that she was a book blogger, I mean that alone is just awesome. Daemon was such a lovable ass. I loved his little witty retorts with Katy. They were so entertaining to read! All that aside, Daemon is also a complex character. As you read on, you get to see a whole other side to him. The action scenes in this book are great. Especially that last scene!

Review: This one is probably my favorite out of all of them so far. OH MY. I can't even formulate in to words my feelings towards this book. I felt all the emotions throughout this book, especially towards the end. I am so obsessed with this series! This one definitely had me more on my toes than the first one! I always felt so scared to turn the page because I thought I knew what was gonna happen (which didn't really work out most the time because this book is full of plot twists! ) but at the same time excited because the action, drama and romance in this book is amazing! I absolutely love Katy and Daemon. I pretty much love all the characters in this series (for the most part, but you'll find that out for yourself when you read it). I loved the humor in this book. Especially when Daemon kept calling Blake the wrong name. I could not stop laughing! This one definitely has A LOT more drama than the first and I loved it. I can't wait to continue with this series!

Review: I.... uh.... don't know what to do right now. That ending! I could barely breathe! AH.

Review: Oh man that ending, I swear! I found the pace in this one to be a bit different from the others. I can't really explain it. Sometimes I felt like things were rushed and sometimes I felt the opposite. Regardless, I still enjoyed this one a lot! I did like the fact that there were alternating POV chapters in this book. It was nice getting a different insight from Daemon, especially in the beginning. Sometimes I would get a little confused because I was so used to Katy narrating but I got used to it! That ending was insane though. I'm still too overwhelmed by it to form coherent sentences to form a typed out reaction. GAH this series drives me mad! It makes me feel almost every possible emotion from joyous happiness to profound sadness but I LOVE it! I can't wait for the last book!

I really love this series a lot. Its just so suspenseful and has everything you really could possibly want in a book. I think if you're in to science fiction and fantasy you should definitely check this series out. Definitely prepare yourself for cliffhangers, staying up to late hours of the night reading, and a little loss of sleep. :)

Review: The Year of the Great Seventh by Teresa Orts

Summary: Sophie has always felt out of step—an outsider, even amongst friends in her high school with all the hype about celebrity culture. Her life in L.A. seems to have been already written for her, but when her junior year starts, it all takes a drastic turn. When she crosses paths with the school's heartthrob, Nate Werner, they fall for each other in a way neither can understand. What they don’t know is that by giving in to their desires, they are unlocking an ancient Egyptian prophecy that threatens to return Earth to the dark ages.

To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.

Kim's Review: Going into this book, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I gave it a chance because the plot seemed quite interesting and original. While it was a bit slow in the beginning, the plot quickly began to develop after the first few chapters. I really, really, really loved Sophie, the main character and narrator of the novel. Despite the strange events she was going through, I still found her relatable; in fact, she may be one of the most relatable female characters I've ever read about. Of course, I can't exactly say I've led my troubled boyfriend across the country to unlock an Egyptian prophecy before, but there were a lot of things about her personality and mindset that I could definitely relate to, and I had never seen these subtle quirks portrayed in a novel before. Sophie was also realistic - this isn't your typical, head-over-heels in love female character. Although she has her problems with Nate, she still gets her priorities straight and focuses on school as well as getting into NYU, her dream university. I loved Nate as well as Sophie's friends; none of their lives are normal, but they are also extremely different. Her two best friends are celebrities and, between shooting movies, regularly attend premieres and exclusive parties, while Sophie herself has a much more complex life. 

I would recommend The Year of the Great Seventh to anyone who love books like Veronica Roth's Divergent - books with the perfect combination of action, suspense, and romance. This is one of those books where you tell yourself "one more chapter and then I'll go to bed," but before you know it it's three in the morning and you've finished it! Orts is an great, creative writer, and I cannot wait to read more about Sophie and Nate in this book's sequel!

(Also, just a little side note - multiple times while reading I kept thinking about how this book would make a fantastic movie. Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself, but I wouldn't mind seeing Eddie Redmayne as Nate on the big screen. :) )

Thank you so, so much to Teresa Orts for allowing me to read her book and get to know her characters. I seriously loved reading this book and following Sophie and Nate on their journey!

Interview with Teresa Orts, author of The Year of the Great Seventh!

The Year of the Great Seventh, a newly released book written by the lovely Teresa Orts, is about a young couple who go on a journey across the United States to unlock an Egyptian prophecy. After reading her amazing novel, I got the opportunity to ask the author a few questions.

Q: How did you get the inspiration for your book’s plot?

A: I didn’t come up with the entire plot at once. One day, I was walking around Central Park and I came across Cleopatra’s needle. I thought it was quite interesting that there was a piece of Ancient Egypt in the middle of New York. When I got home, I researched on the internet how the obelisk had ended up in NY, and that was how I decided to have the prophecy linked to Ancient Egypt.


Q: In The Year of the Great Seventh, Sophie and Nate go across the country to research and unlock an ancient Egyptian prophecy. What kind of research did you have to do for your novel?

A: I spent a lot of time on the internet reading about Ancient Egypt. Also, I went to the Metropolitan Museum to see their Egyptian art, visited Cleopatra’s needle in Central Park several times, and the Cloisters in Washington Heights.


Q: Why did you decide to make Emma and Megan actresses? Did you base them/their experiences off of anyone in reality?

A: I’ve never lived in L.A., but I have visited several times. The entertainment industry is a big part of the city’s soul, and most people there, even if they’re just teenagers, are in one way or another related to it. I wanted the characters to come across as real, so I felt obliged to make some of them actors.
I didn’t base them on anyone in particular. Instead, each character is a combination of people I had met through the years.
  

Q: What chapter was the hardest to write and why? Which was the easiest?

A: I think the hardest chapters were the first few. Once you go into the action part of the novel, it is much quicker. Building up the characters and showing implicitly the relationship between them, it is definitely the hardest task. This is always done in the first chapters.
The easiest chapter was the one where the movie premiere takes place. I had been looking forward to writing it for a long time. I could see the scene clear in my mind, so it was easy to write.


Q: If you had to make a playlist for your book, what songs would be on it?

A: I know that playlists are in fashion at the moment, but I’m not really sure if I have one. I can share the songs I listed to for inspiration.

 “A Drop in the Ocean” Ron Pope
“Set Fire to the Rain” Adele
“Rolling in the Deep” Adele
“Devil Came to me” Dover
“The One” The Kin
“Somebody Told Me” The Killers
“I Wanna” The All-American Rejects
“Mona Lisa (When the World Comes Down)” The All-American Rejects
“The Wind Blows” The All-American Rejects
“Sex on Fire” Kings of Leon
"My Delirium" Ladyhawke

  
Q: Do you have any idea when the sequel will be released, and what we can expect from it?

A: I’m aiming to publish it next summer (2014). I think we’ll see a more mature side of Nate and Sophie. The sequel won’t focus on Ancient Egypt, but it will, obviously, still have a fantasy element.


Q: Which authors inspire you the most?

A: I rate authors and books, not by how much I enjoy a novel, but how many times I think about a book after I finished reading. For some reason, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes has been haunting me for a while.


Q: Finally, what advice do you have for aspiring writers?

A: I think the best advice I can give is, do what you love, enjoy the journey, and don’t obsess too much about the endgame. That way, no matter what happens, you got some pleasure out of it. Publishing a novel sounds fantastic, but the true joy comes from writing each page.

Check back tomorrow for my review of the book! Thanks again to Teresa Orts for allowing me to read and review her amazing novel. :)

Review: Struck by Lightning by Chris Colfer

Summary: Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal follows the story of outcast high school senior Carson Phillips, who blackmails the most popular students in his school into contributing to his literary journal to bolster his college application; his goal in life is to get into Northwestern and eventually become the editor of The New Yorker. At once laugh-out-loud funny, deliciously dark, and remarkably smart, Struck By Lightning unearths the dirt that lies just below the surface of high school. At a time when bullying torments so many young people today, this unique and important novel sheds light with humor and wit on an issue that deeply resonates with countless teens and readers.

Kim's Review: “...because a life without meaning, without drive or focus, without dreams or goals, isn't a life worth living.” 
“You don’t get to pick where you’re from, but you always have control of where you’re going.” 

I tried my best to be unbiased while reading this book, because I love Chris Colfer. However, I'm definitely not as "obsessed" with him as I was a year ago, so I did realize that his writing could certainly be better. There were some great quotes from this book (see above), but it seemed unnatural sometimes, like he was trying too hard to be poetic.

I watched the movie a few months ago and cried like a baby when it was over. The book was a fast read; I finished it in a few hours, but I liked the movie better. You can sort of tell that it was a movie first. It was scary how much I could relate to Carson though. We both want to go to Northwestern and be journalists, and also hate the majority of people in our high schools. His family situation and what his mother did towards the end (I won't spoil it) hit pretty close to home.

For those who know a lot about Colfer, it may seem obvious that the book is semi-autobiographical; there are quite a few "Easter eggs," if you will. It did seem a little redundant after a while, but didn't affect the overall quality of the book, and if you don't know much about the author you won't notice them at all.

Overall, I liked this book. The story and characters were great, but the writing did sort of fall flat. No harm in giving it a chance, though, because it's a really quick read.

Review: The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

Summary: Holmes and Watson are faced with their most terrifying case yet. The legend of the devil-beast that haunts the moors around the Baskerville families home warns the descendants of that ancient clan never to venture out in those dark hours when the power of evil is exalted. Now, the most recent Baskerville, Sir Charles, is dead and the footprints of a giant hound have been found near his body. Will the new heir meet the same fate?

Kim's Review: Finally! It took me nearly a month to finish this book. Don't get me wrong - I love Sherlock; I've seen the BBC series and one of the newer movies, I just started watching Elementary, and now this is the second story I've read. I just found it hard to read the older language (which isn't Arthur Conan Doyle's fault, of course). It was interesting to get to see Sherlock and John Watson as their original characters, instead of different producers/actors' interpretations of them. I already somewhat knew how the story was going to end from the BBC series, but I there were still a lot of things that surprised me. It was also neat to see John "fending" for himself and investigating without the help of Sherlock. All in all, I liked this book a lot, but I probably won't read another Sherlock Holmes story just because there are so many other books I need to get to! It gets 3.5/5 stars from me.

Kim's Summer Recommendations!

Sorry for the huge lack of reviews lately - it's taking me a while to get through the books I'm currently reading! Most of us are on summer break by now, which means more time for reading! Here are a few (semi) light-hearted, summer-y books I would recommend you read over vacation (in no order):

Click on the book titles for Goodreads pages/summaries!

1. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
I'll admit, these books aren't fantastic, but they're still fun to read if you're looking for something to read quickly over a weekend. There's also a sequel if you want to continue reading teenage Carrie's story!

2. The Year of the Great Seventh by Teresa Orts
This one isn't released until July 6th, but I've read an ARC and it might be one of my top ten books of the year! The writing and storytelling is amazing - I really can't recommend it enough. I'll be posting a full review and an author interview in a few weeks!

3. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
I usually don't like romance novels, but god, I love this book! Anna and St. Clair are one of my favorite book couples I've ever read about. There's a spin-off book, Lola and the Boy Next Door, to read when you're finished!

Review: Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the first book of this series, Unwind. Proceed with caution if you haven't read it yet. :)

Summary: Thanks to Connor, Lev, and Risa—and their high-profile revolt at Happy Jack Harvest Camp—people can no longer turn a blind eye to unwinding. Ridding society of troublesome teens while simltaneously providing much-needed tissues for transplant might be convenient, but its morality has finally been brought into question. However, unwinding has become big business, and there are powerful political and corporate interests that want to see it not only continue, but also expand to the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished.

Cam is a product of unwinding; made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds, he is a teen who does not technically exist. A futuristic Frankenstein, Cam struggles with a search for identity and meaning and wonders if a rewound being can have a soul. And when the actions of a sadistic bounty hunter cause Cam’s fate to become inextricably bound with the fates of Connor, Risa, and Lev, he’ll have to question humanity itself.

Rife with action and suspense, this riveting companion to the perennially popular Unwind challenges assumptions about where life begins and ends—and what it means to live.


Kim's Review: This book was so, so good. I had high expectations for it and they were definitely met, maybe even exceeded. Even though Unwholly was published five years after the first book, Unwind, Neal Shusterman did a fantastic job at picking up right where Unwind left off. The main characters had developed a bit since the last time we saw them, but in a good way. There were also a few new characters, most of whom I loved. I thought Cam, a human made entirely of unwinded body parts and organs, was the most interesting. I loved seeing his character progress over the course of the novel. I liked Miracolina, a tithe, as well, but nothing about her really...stuck out to me. She was just sort of there. And then there was Starkey, a stork who was sent to be unwound before escaping...sigh. I wanted to love this kid. I did. I was waiting for that redeeming moment where I was able to sympathize for him, like I did with Roland in the first book. But that moment never came. I hated him more and more as the book went on, and one of his actions towards the end of the book is just unforgivable. There were also some new minor characters and POVs who contributed to plot twists and overall made the book more interesting. In one of the last chapters there was a scene in one of the Graveyard's airplanes that legitimately made me tear up in the middle of algebra class. With the exception of Starkey, I really loved all of the new characters (well, except for Nelson, but we're not supposed to like him anyways).

While the plot was not as good as it was in the first book, it wasn't bad at all. There were still a lot of twists that kept me dying to find out what was going to happen. The only thing that's keeping me from giving this five stars is the fact that it's not quite as good as Unwind, but very close.

Review: The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

Summary: Before Sex and the City, Carrie was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school.

Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything.

Kim's Review: I absolutely love the TV adaptation of The Carrie Diaries. It was one of my favorite shows last season, so I had high expectations for the book. To be honest, I was disappointed. This is one of the rare occasions where the show is actually better than the book. A few important/major parts of the book seemed like they were just tossed in there, and then the author forgot about it until near the end. An example of this is Carrie's feminism. It's a pretty big part of her character in the novel, and in her "diary," or inner thoughts, she mentions it quite a lot. However, when Sebastian starts treating her like crap and turns out to be a huge asshole to her, she doesn't say anything to him and just lets it slide. As soon as an opportunity comes to let Carrie express her thoughts that she wrote a few chapters ago, Carrie (or the author) doesn't take it, and it seemed like if Carrie had just spoken her thoughts to Sebastian this novel could have been a hundred pages shorter.

All in all, this book disappointed me. I'm still going to read the sequel, but now I know to lower my expectations. I'll most likely end up selling both books back to the bookstore.

Review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Summary: Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

Kim's Review: (I've been reading all day and I'm writing this past my bedtime, so please forgive me if this review is all over the place.)

I liked this book, but didn't love it. The plot didn't move me as much as I expected it to; I didn't really begin to feel that bad for Lia until the last few pages. While the writing was nothing special, the format was different and made it an easier/faster read. I liked the characters, but we never discovered the real reasons behind Lia and Cassie's anorexia and obsession with their weight. However, I feel like Anderson's portrayal of a teenager like Lia was very realistic. Some of her emotions and thoughts were so spot-on and relatable.

Given the subject of the book, I can't say I enjoyed reading it, but it certainly was interesting to read Lia's thoughts throughout her battle with herself and her own body. I am giving it three stars because the writing is nothing more than "okay" and I wish the characters had more of a backstory, but Anderson at least partially redeemed herself in the last chapters of the novel. But, as the subject matter could be extremely triggering, I definitely would not recommend this book to anyone who has a past with eating disorders.

Review: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Summary: A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years, from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding, that puts the violence, fear, hope and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives, the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness, are inextricable from the history playing out around them.

Propelled by the same storytelling instinct that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heartwrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love, a stunning accomplishment.

Kim's Review: My grandma loaned me this book, telling me that I absolutely had to read it. To be honest, I wasn't that excited about it, because, you know, Grandma books. However, I still took the book because I didn't want to disappoint her.

Emotionally speaking, this is a very heavy book. In a 380-page book, I can't name more than one or two light-hearted moments. But the story is truly inspiring. The two main characters are Mariam and Laila. Mariam is about 20 years older than Laila, and both are forced to marry a man named Rasheed, who is significantly older than both of them. He is physically and emotionally abusive to them, favoring Laila but criticizing them for every little mistake. The violent descriptions Hosseini uses are horrifying. I wanted to slap/yell at/punch Rasheed so badly!

Mariam and Laila are such inspiring characters. Their emotions and thoughts are captured so perfectly, it is almost hard to believe that this book was written by a man. These two women are also incredibly strong and independent. The things they did to protect those they care about were captivating and kept me wanting to read more. I have no idea what I'd have done if I were in their position; I certainly would not have the bravery and willpower to even attempt what they did. It was really nice to see two fine examples of strong, female main characters in a novel. 

I am giving this book four stars. The one missing star is due to the fact that a few important parts of the plot seemed rushed, and a few quirks in the writing annoyed me. But those are basically the only flaws I were able to find in this book, and they're clearly outweighed by the pros. Since I normally review YA books, I should stress that this is an adult book - there are multiple vivid, violent scenes that made me squirm in my seat. The story is powerful, though, and you're constantly begging to know what will happen next. I would recommend A Thousand Splendid Suns to anyone who is able to stomach a few gut-wrenching scenes to follow the journey of two powerful, inspiring women.

Review: Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

Summary: Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there. Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run—on the field and off—Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes that to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never have understood.

Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?
Kim's Review: This is probably the fifth Ellen Hopkins book I have reviewed, and they all basically say the same thing: Ellen Hopkins is a writing goddess. Her writing and characterization never fail to impress me; she continuously finds a way to make her characters interesting and believable without being too dramatic or over-the-top. It has been a year or so since I read Impulse, the first book of this series, but I didn't feel lost because the reader is subtly reminded of what happened in the previous novel. I loved being able to see what was happening in Conner's family while he was away and how him being gone affected those around him. There were also a few new characters that interacted well with the older ones. I liked this book even better than the first one, and sequels like that are hard to come by. This is another amazing book by Ellen Hopkins, and if you haven't read at least one of her books already, you're sure missing out!

Note: Like Fallout, Perfect is the sequel to another one of Hopkins's books titled Impulse, but it can be read alone as well.

Review: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Summary: The story of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted "gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession," it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920's.

Kim's Review: Ah, another book that I'm one of the last people to read! I really liked this book, although it took a while to get used to the writing style since I rarely read classics. However, the plot was interesting and there were quite a few twists, which I enjoyed, but I did have to refer to Wikipedia a few times to clear things up. I also liked how there weren't a lot of characters in the book, maybe twenty at most (including minor ones). I could have gotten super confused very quickly because of the old-fashioned writing, but the fact that there weren't too many names to keep straight made it a bit easier.

I'm giving it four stars only because, while the plot and characters are great (no pun intended), it didn't have that "wow" factor that really made it stand out. It sort of reminded me of the novel Fahrenheit 451 in that there's not a lot of action and the plot-moving is really subtle. The best scenes aren't until the last thirty pages or so, but all in all it's a really good read (and a fast one as well)!

I'm seeing the movie tomorrow and I'm so excited. I'm glad I was able to read the book first; I just hope it can live up to my expectations!

Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

***SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ DIVERGENT!***

Summary: One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Kim's Review: Ho. ly. Crap. This book is FANTASTIC. I was a little worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations, but it was just as good as Divergent. The plot and twists and everything about it was just perfect. My only complaint is that Tobias and Tris annoyed me a bit with them constantly keeping secrets from each other. I just wanted to scream at them sometimes! However, their less angsty, adorable scenes made up for it. 

Even after everything she had been through, Veronica Roth continued to make Tris strong and not pathetic. I mean, she easily could have spent the whole novel wallowing and feeling sorry for herself, but instead she took action (even if her decisions were sometimes irrational) and made herself useful. 

Another thing I love about Divergent and Insurgent that I hadn't even realized until I saw someone else's review is that, for what seems like the first time in YA trilogy history, THERE IS NO LOVE TRIANGLE. And the story is still fascinating, and even better because of it. I loved having more action-y scenes instead of the main female character dramatically trying to decide between two guys. Bless you, Veronica Roth (and please don't mess it up in the Allegiant - I'm trusting you).

And the ending. THE ENDING. I had to reread the last page or two at least twice after I finished because I couldn't even comprehend it. It's so strange and creepy but PERFECT. I would give this book 6/5 stars if I could.

I love these two books so much. I haven't felt this way toward a book since I read The Hunger Games. What am I supposed to do until Allegiant/the Divergent movie comes out?!

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

 

Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Kim's Review: THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I'm not even sure I'm capable of writing a coherent review of it right now, but here goes nothing.

Divergent is set in a dystopian Chicago. Everyone is separated into five factions, which they choose when they turn sixteen. It is told from the point of view of a girl named Beatrice, who, before the Choosing Ceremony, is Abnegation - a faction known for its people's selflessness. She takes an aptitude test to see which faction she would fit in best, and is surprised when she learns she is Divergent, sharing qualities of all five factions and therefore not quite fitting in anywhere. At the ceremony she has to choose a faction or live the rest of her life factionless. Along the way of trying to find out where she truly belongs, she meets Four and is intrigued by him.

I can't say much more without getting into spoiler territory, but I loved this book so much. Ther are a lot of resemblances to The Hunger Games, but there are certainly things that set them apart as well. The future universe and government Veronica Roth has set up is really interesting and I truly enjoyed reading about it. Divergent is action-packed and fast paced; there is hardly ever a dull moment. Some aspects of it is even a bit terrifying.

Also, Four and Tris are so damn cute! I could not get over them. They've got to be one of my favorite book couples, right next to Anna and St. Clair. :) Their scenes gave me butterflies in my stomach more than once. Seriously, where can I get my own Four?

Another reason I loved this book is because it is set in Chicago, where I live. Since I frequent downtown, I loved being able to have a clear vision of all the locations in my head and not having to depend on just the descriptions to set up the mental image. It is sort of strange to think of Chicago being like it is in Divergent in the future - Lake Michigan as more of a marsh, Navy Pier's ferris wheel rusting...this was also a good setting to incorporate the Dauntless's train-jumping, since you can basically always hear a train no matter the time or place. But I'm rambling, so all I'm going to say is that you definitely need to read this book and be sucked in with Tris's adventures!

GIVEAWAY! 2 E-Book Copies of The Sound and the Echoes by Dew Pellucid

Thanks to a kind offer from the author, we are giving away TWO e-book copies of The Sound and the Echoes by Dew Pellucid!

"Imagine that everyone around you has a mirror image living somewhere else. Your world is like a sound, which produced that other world of echoes. And in this land men are governed by a terrible law—no Echo is allowed to live after his Sound dies.

One Sound especially must die. The Prince’s Sound. The Fate Sealers and Fortune Tellers will make sure of that! Because after this Sound dies, the Echo Prince will have to die too.

Now, twelve-year-old Will Cleary is about to discover that he is the Sound the Echoes are hunting. And so begins his perilous adventure into a see-through, sparkling world, filled with spying crystal balls, an eerie fortress of castaway children, a hunt for clues in an ancient book of riddles, and a last-chance escape through a frozen gem-studded lake into a secret land that holds the key to placing the Prince on the throne and returning freedom to the Echoes."

This is a magical novel with an engaging plot and characters (you can read my review here), and now you have the chance to win a copy of it!

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Review: The Sound and the Echoes by Dew Pellucid

Summary: Imagine that everyone around you has a mirror image living somewhere else. Your world is like a sound, which produced that other world of echoes. And in this land men are governed by a terrible law—no Echo is allowed to live after his Sound dies.

One Sound especially must die. The Prince’s Sound. The Fate Sealers and Fortune Tellers will make sure of that! Because after this Sound dies, the Echo Prince will have to die too.
Now, twelve-year-old Will Cleary is about to discover that he is the Sound the Echoes are hunting. And so begins his perilous adventure into a see-through, sparkling world, filled with spying crystal balls, an eerie fortress of castaway children, a hunt for clues in an ancient book of riddles, and a last-chance escape through a frozen gem-studded lake into a secret land that holds the key to placing the Prince on the throne and returning freedom to the Echoes.

Kim's Review: I was given an ebook of The Sound and the Echoes to review, and I decided to give it a chance because the plot seemed interesting. Overall, I thought this book was okay. The plot was pretty good, although I wasn't really dying to know what happened next because you could sort of figure out how the book was going to end (although that is to be expected, considering the book is for middle school kids). I think this novel's strongest point was its characters; I loved all of them (except for the ones you were supposed to dislike). Each character seemed to have their own little quirk, which was fun to read. 

However, the one category I was a little disappointed in was the writing. There were a lot of typos, which were a bit distracting, and the descriptions of Echos and their universe seemed redundant. It seemed like the word "see-through" was used way too often, when the description would have sufficed without it.

All in all, Pellucid created a magical universe that is fun to read about through interesting characters. If you can look past some errors in the writing, this is a good book.

(Also: check in tomorrow for some exciting news regarding this book! ;) )

Review: Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

Summary: Thanks to Connor, Lev, and Risa—and their high-profile revolt at Happy Jack Harvest Camp—people can no longer turn a blind eye to unwinding. Ridding society of troublesome teens while simltaneously providing much-needed tissues for transplant might be convenient, but its morality has finally been brought into question. However, unwinding has become big business, and there are powerful political and corporate interests that want to see it not only continue, but also expand to the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished.

Cam is a product of unwinding; made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds, he is a teen who does not technically exist. A futuristic Frankenstein, Cam struggles with a search for identity and meaning and wonders if a rewound being can have a soul. And when the actions of a sadistic bounty hunter cause Cam’s fate to become inextricably bound with the fates of Connor, Risa, and Lev, he’ll have to question humanity itself.

Rife with action and suspense, this riveting companion to the perennially popular Unwind challenges assumptions about where life begins and ends—and what it means to live.

Kim's Review: Ahhhh! This book was so, so good. I had high expectations for it and they were definitely met, maybe even exceeded. Even though Unwholly was published five years after the first book, Unwind, Neal Shusterman did a fantastic job at picking up right where Unwind left off. The main characters had developed a bit since the last time we saw them, but in a good way. There were also a few new characters, most of whom I loved. I thought Cam, a human made entirely of unwinded body parts and organs, was the most interesting. I loved seeing his character progress over the course of the novel. I liked Miracolina, a tithe, as well, but nothing about her really...stuck out to me. She was just sort of there. And then there was Starkey, a stork who was sent to be unwound before escaping...sigh. I wanted to love this kid. I did. I was waiting for that redeeming moment where I was able to sympathize for him, like I did with Roland in the first book. But that moment never came. I hated him more and more as the book went on, and one of his actions towards the end of the book is just unforgivable. There were also some new minor characters and POVs who contributed to plot twists and overall made the book more interesting. In one of the last chapters there was a scene in one of the Graveyard's airplanes that legitimately made me tear up in the middle of algebra class. With the exception of Starkey, I really loved all of the new characters (well, except for Nelson, but we're not supposed to like him anyways).

While the plot was not as good as it was in the first book, it wasn't bad at all. There were still a lot of twists that kept me dying to find out what was going to happen. The only thing that's keeping me from giving this five stars is the fact that it's not quite as good as Unwind, but very close.

(4.5/5 Stars)

Kim's Top Ten Book Recommendations!

First off, did you notice our new blog title and theme? Thanks to Char for the new look! :)

Since my book reading has been going a little slow lately and I haven't posted a review in a while, I've decided to make a list of my favorite books to recommend to you all! I'm sure everyone and their mother have read a few of the books on this list, but I decided to include them anyways.

(These are not in any particular order.)

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Charlie is a freshman, and while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.


This is one of the most realistic and relatable books I have ever read. This book (and the movie) are really inspiring; whenever I'm feeling down, I just pop the movie into the DVD player and, two hours later, I usually feel much better. I'd recommend Perks to high school students, especially freshmen. The movie is home to one of my favorite quotes (which might be in the book as well, but I don't remember): “Even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there."

2. Unwind by Neal Shusterman

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

The world Shusterman created in Unwind is amazing. This book really made me think about society and where we are headed. Some of the events in this book don't seem too far-fetched. Of course, I don't think we'll be sending kids to get their bodies torn apart, but with constantly improving technology, who knows where we're headed?

3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

At first glance, this book may seem like a light-hearted comedy, but don't let it fool you. There are some parts that are quite funny, but they are often also mixed with depressing and oddly philosophical moments. Part-Time Indian is unlike anything I have ever read.

4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step. Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed. In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another.

This book is extraordinary. It starts off a bit slow, but after a while I couldn't put it down!

5. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Flowers for Algernon is the beloved, classic story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In poignant diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance--until Algernon begins his sudden, unexpected deterioration. Will the same happen to Charlie?

This is one of those books that sticks with you long after you finish reading it. I first had to read a small portion of it for school, but I loved the story so much I bought the book and read the whole thing. Charlie is an interesting character and reading his journey through journal entries was intriguing.

6. The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters, with two more on the way. That is, without questioning them much---if you don’t count her secret visits to the Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty-year-old uncle---who already has six wives---Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever.

This is a truly compelling and unpredictable book. I read it in a few hours. Everything about it is great, from the plot to the characters to the writing. I'd definitely recommend this book for a quick read if you have a few hours to spare.

7. Room by Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.
Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

This book is creepy, yet amazing. It's an adult novel and there are some graphic/uncomfortable scenes, so proceed with caution, but you should definitely read it. The story is told from the point of view of a five year old, and his innocence and naiveity make it even sadder. Room left me with an eerie feeling long after I finished it, but it's written quite well and the plot is executed fantastically.

8. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

I have no words for this one. Just read it.

9. Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless. Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.

Ellen Hopkins is one of my all-time favorite authors. The characters she creates continue to amaze me. Written in poetry, this book is a pretty fast read, and I can guarantee you won't be able to put it down.


10. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

At his new school, Craig realizes that he isn't brilliant compared to the other kids; he's just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable and Craig stops eating and sleeping-until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, isolated from the crushing pressures of school and friends, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

God, I love this book so much. I love everything about it. (And I love psychology, so it was interesting to be able to read what Craig was thinking all the time as he contemplated suicide, was checked into the mental hospital, and went through treatment there. This is one of those books that I took out from the library and then, after I finished it, wished I had bought it instead.

Whew! There you have it! Sorry for the super-long post. I wish Blogspot had 'read more's.

Until next time! -Kim