Matched - Ally Condie

If you enjoy books like hungry games, and Uglies, then you will probably like this book. Cassia lives in a Society in which everything is taken care of for her. The pick her job, when she dies, what she eats and who she will marry. In this Society everything you do is watched and they predict everything you are going to do. But can the officials predict everything that is happening to Cassia?

When Cassia gets matched with a life long friend, she is thrilled. Until she plays her microchip that tells her more about her match and someone else pops up on the screen as her match for a second before disappearing, but Cassia was able to identify the persons image. This one mistake on Cassia's microchip brings on a chain of events that Cassia never dreamed would happen in her ordinary world and she begins to challenges her predicted life in the Society.

It is a well written book, I thought it flowed together very nicely. There were some parts that would abruptly end and then another paragraph would start which was a day later which would confuse me abit but not enough to mess up the story for me. I can't wait for the next book that comes out next year! There is so much more I want to learn about there Society that wasn't touch in this book.

The Reckoning - Kelley Armstrong

Chloe, Simon, Derek and Tori are still on the run from the Edison group, but now they are semi safe in a safe house with Simon and Derek's father's old friend Andrew. Now, that they have escape, there new mission is to save Chloe's Aunt Lauren and Rae from the Edison group. But it is easier said than done. They can't just barge out and rescue them plus they have other issues like Derek changing, a not so friendly Poltergeist ghost, and the constant wondering if they can trust Andrew and his gang. While they wait to go out and rescue they do learn more about their powers and other stuff related to the Edison group and Supernaturals.

Sometimes I felt like the author had lack of imagination in some parts. There are parts where Chloe says they have a plan and she hopes it will work but the reader never really gets a glimpse of what actually is that plan, and then something else happens and the plan gets foiled. Or someone will go off to talk to someone else away from Chloe so we never get to know what they are talking about. And it kind of leaves you hanging. There are also parts where there will be dialogue between the characters and then it will stop and Chloe will summarize some of it and then the dialogue would begin again like the author didn't know how to proceed with it so she just summarize a part because she didn't know how to write it.

I also felt that characters changed too much in such a short time. Growing in a two weeks time period or less? I don't really like it when a trilogy is set in such a small time period but yet everyone has changed drastically. Chloe relies on Liz too much for only knowing her hardly a day before she dies.

But even with those problems, I thought there was a lot of good parts. There were a lot of small twist like who can Chloe trust? Can she trust her aunt? Can she trust Andrew? Can she trust Margaret? Can she trust the demi demon? Can she trust the ghost that come to her? There are also a couple good action parts that I really enjoyed. And, I did enjoy the relationships the characters had together as well.

In the end, it felt like there was a bunch that was left hanging and I really wanted to know more. Especially about one character which is just left dangling and I want to know what happens! Overall it was an okay series.

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I felt there was a huge inconsistency in this book and it bothered me a bunch. At one point, Chloe gets werewolf blood on her and Derek begins to freak out trying to get it all off of her because there is two ways to turn into a werewolf, their blood and their saliva. So, he methodically cleans every bit of blood off of her that belonged to the werewolf but later in the book it is okay for him to kiss Chloe, which involves saliva. So, is Chloe now going to turn into a werewolf?

The Awakening - Kelley Armstrong

Chloe, Simon, Derek and Tori are on the run from the Edison group. But Chloe is also trying to run away from her Necromancer abilities that have been haunting her. Unable to fully control her gift she has resurrected zombie bats, and homeless man. She is disturbed by ghost replaying their death scenes over and over. And humiliated by having conversations with someone only later finding out that someone is a ghost by everyone snickering at her for holding a conversation with herself.

Unable to fully understand her ability until they find Simon and Derek's father kit, but the Edison group is making that pretty tricking for them. Chloe is also not the only one having troubles. Derek is on the verge of his first change to a werewolf, Simon is a diabetic, and Tori is just stubborn. But, they do have the help of Liz, Chloe ex roommate now ghost poltergeist. She is able to scout out for them to make sure they don't run into trouble.

Though it looks like Simon and Chloe might have something going on. I really hope Derek and Chloe spark a relationship. Derek might be bossy and grouchy but I love his character always looking out for Chloe. Like Tori has said, it is always Chloe, Chloe, Chloe. But, it is fun to read about and I hope Tori gets a bigger lead and more responsibility in the next book.

This book was fun, full of adventures and kept at a pretty good pace. It is easy to read, really good book to read through the weekend with.

The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong

Chloe seems like a normal girl. She is pretty happy with her normal life even though her and her dad move around a lot. But this year she was able to start the school year without moving, she is in an art school she really likes and she has a group of friends. The day her life changes seems to be one of her best days, until a janitor no one else can see starts chasing her around the school with his face melting off, then everything turns for the worse. Chloe is placed in a group home with other teens and automatically given the labeled of schizophrenia by the doctors there.

At first Chloe takes it all in. She believes if she takes her meds the visions will go away. The soon that happens the sooner she can go back home, back to school, back with her friends, and back to being normal. All seems to be heading the right way, until Chloe's roomie is sent away and in the middle of the night comes back but vanishes just as quick. Chloe begins to think her old roomie might be a ghost. Trying to investigate what really happened to Liz, her roommate at the group home, Chloe begins to find out more about the group home. She realizes the group home isn't what she thought it was and Chloe herself, isn't what she thought she was...normal.

I enjoyed the book, Chloe compares all her decisions and experiences to movie scenes. Most of the time, her life is nothing like what she sees in the movies and things to happen the way she plans. Even though the book is about a time span of a week, Chloe learns a lot about herself. I feel like it should have been spaced out more because things happen to her pretty fast. But, that means there wasn't really any dull moments. There was a lot of actions a bit of twist and turns and I am excited to jump into the next one.

Crescendo

Everything was going perfect for Patch and Nora. For two months after the incident in gym Nora is in total bliss with her relationship with Patch. But, perfect does not stay perfect forever and right when Nora tells Patch she loves him everything starts to spiral downward and nothing is even close to perfect anymore. Thinking that the intimacy of saying 'I love you' to Patch scared him away Nora begins to get upset, then she finds out about the archangels, and then about Patch and Marcie. If that is not enough, there is a new guy in town from Nora's past that her mother was trying to set her up with. And, Nora begins to think she is seeing her dad again! Nora's mom also sold Nora's only form of transportation so she is stuck getting rides where ever she can find them.

The book is fast pace with a lot of obstacles for Nora. Nothing comes easy for Nora and she has to fight through everything. She tries not to let her feelings for Patch get in the way of her future but they keep coming back to haunt her. She has to deal with Marcie who has been picking on her since they were young and nothing seems to stop Marcie, and now she is even going after Patch. Not only that, but Nora gets the sense that someone might be trying to harm her as well!

I really enjoyed the book, the only thing I didn't enjoy was the ending when it leaves you with a question and then the end! I want to know what happens and it is going to be so hard to wake until the next book comes out.

Beautiful Darkness

I had to reread Beautiful creatures, before I read this one...My review for that one is further below.

For beautiful Darkness it begins at Macon's funeral and you can already see Lena is pulling away from Ethan, especially when an unexpected guy walks up to Lena and gives her a tiny sparrow. As Lena pulls away and starts to severe her connection with Ethan, Ethan will do anything to get Lena back. But, it seems like Lena is starting to sway towards the dark side by hanging out with Ridley and John Breed, the guy from the funeral. And as Lena makes an new guy friend, Ethan also makes a new girl friend Liv. Seems like Ethan has a thing for friends that have "L" name.

I did see a couple inconsistencies in the book. Ethan points out that Liv has probably only seen Blood Incubus in one of her caster volumes when they are confronted by Hunting and his gang. But, didn't Liv see Incubus at Exile earlier in the book in the tunnels when they were 1st looking for Lena?

Also, in the first book and this book it is mentioned many times that you can only go into the Lunae Libri during holidays when the regular library is closed, and no other days. And, they have to stick to the hours or they would get stuck in the Lunae Libri and they didn't know how a human would coup being stuck in there. But, in the descriptions the Lunae Libri seems to branch out into the tunnels with no boundary from the tunnels. So, how could they get stuck if they could just walk down another tunnel and open up a door way? Unless I am mistaken, but it seems like the Lunae Libri has no end and goes straight into the tunnels so how can it close if they can go into the tunnels whenever they please?

Also, Lena lives with Reece, so why didn't she go to Reece for help instead of Ridley? She said Ridley was the only one to help but Reece could help too? Maybe it is was because Lena only grew up with Ridley and not Reece so they weren't as close?

It kind of bothered me when Ethan would get saved just in the nick of time by Amma, Ridley, Aunt Prue, Leah. They would just pop out of the middle of nowhere. Yeah, Ethan questioned it each time and it was answered but it still seemed odd

But, even with the inconsistencies I still enjoyed the book. Last book had Boo, this book at Lucille who has a great personality. I also enjoy Links character with his manly garden shears that can open up caster tunnel doors. And Liv, I could hear her accent while I read. A lot of my questions were asked, like why did only two died at the end instead of all the dark casters when Lena chose. Did Lena get a new name? Where did Lucille always run off too.

In the next book, I hope Ridley turns good and gets some good powers I like her character.

The Lost Hero

Jason wakes up sitting in the back of a bus, holding a girls hand. He has no clue how he got there or anything about himself. At first his two best friends, Piper and Leo think he is joking. Until the Venti come and try to toss them off the side of the Grand Canyon and their coach turns out to be a goat. Then, they don't know what to believe.

The book as a lot of great references to Greek and Roman mythology. I love learning about the mythology but also reading an adventure book. The Persy Jackson series focused just on Greek, but this one starts to veer towards Roman and you begin to realize maybe there are more demigods out there...but Roman ones.

The three Demigods that go on the adventures seem a bit reminiscent of the Persy Jackson trio. Two boys and one girl. One of the boys and the girl in a relationship. It would have been nice if he switched it up a bit with maybe two girls and a guy or four demigods. These three seem to be much more powerful than Persy and his friends were.

There was a lot of action and adventure but it didn't seem to peak my interest. I always knew it was coming it just seemed like the same old same old. But, I enjoyed the new characters and the new Roman mythology along with the Greek.

Behemoth

Behemoth starts about two days later still on the Leviathan heading for Istanbul. But, on the way there they encounter two German ships that have a Tesla cannon and are ready for the Leviathan! The Leviathan gets an unexpected jolt and everything seems to go down hill from there for Deryn and Alek. The war continues on with more countries entering and Alek finds himself among the enemy on the Leviathan with the British on the other side of the war and Alek must find a way to escape but nothing goes to plan!

Great book, but I don't think it should have been called Behemoth. Since the Behemoth only makes a small appearance in the book. I think it should have been called Bovril! But, maybe the Behemoth will be more prominent in the next book.

This book does answer some questions from the previous book, but not thoroughly. The question of what is in the egg is semi-answered in my opinion. You find out what is in it but not exactly what it is capable of. Also, there is Deryn situation, and whether or not to tell Alek she is a she. That is an ongoing problem for Deryn and it gets a little more complicated for her as well. I love the things Deryn says, she calls herself a "daft lassie mooning at a village dance" when she relates to her problem. She is quite funny.

There are some new characters that pop up in the book. They are not on the Leviathan for that long so they have some on ground friends as the book progresses. But, still all the old favorites are still there.

And of course, the book ends with you wanting more.

prophecy of the sisters

The book starts with a death and ends with a death. Alice, Lia and Henry attend their fathers funeral. After the funeral Lia notices a circle marked into her wrist and as the days go by the mark gets darker and darker. Lia learns that two other girls, Sonia and Luisa from town have the same mark as her but it isn't a coincidence that they are all there in the small town. As Lia unravels the truth behind the mark she also learns not to trust her sister.

I like this book it was a little dull at the beginning but it picked up at the end. It was very easy to see through the storyline and figure out what was going to happen. Like who is the guardian and who is the gate or what the keys were. That kind of bothered me because I like to be in suspense. This book didn't do it for me because I was able to guess earlier on.

Paranormalcy, Kiersten White

Evie wants to be a normal teen, but the fact is, she isn't. She can see through glamours. Making her a high commodity. Since she was young she went on "bag and tag" missions for the IPCA. Spotting vampires, werewolves, hags and other paranormal creatures that others couldn't spot with the naked eye. But Evie can see right though their glamour to the paranormal inside. This is normal life for Evie until one day the alarms go off and Evie finds a paranormal wearing her bosses body then everything changes from there!

Evie might be a little too conceited and pink for me but overall I like her. She is different than most teenage heroines I read about. She actually acts her age, like a 16 year old instead of older. She isn't always running into the face of danger, sometimes she runs the other way. She craves the things she doesn't have: a family, drivers license, locker at a high school, being normal. She doesn't always want to know about everything either. When the chance comes for her to empty everything off her plate she takes it. She doesn't want all that responsibility she wants to be a teenager. It is kind of refreshing to read because a lot of other heroines would want to know everything, be involved in everything and run straight into danger with a smile. But I am tired of that character. Evie wasn't that. Evie was refreshingly honest, and funny.

I like how Evie compares everything to her tv show. Because that is the closest she has to gauge what a normal life is like, by watching Easton Heights. Reality doesn't always end the same for her as it does in tv show though. Things happen more normally and not overly dramatized.

There is a point when she has the chance to sleep with the guy and she doesn't. She doesn't sleep with a guy the first chance she gets like in for instants in books Twilight, or Shiver. The book is well rounded and is great for teenagers. It is funny, action pack, and entertaining to name a few, without using profanities, sex, or an annoy heroine that must save the day and be in everyone's face. I would recommend this book to any teenager.

Clockwork angel

This book is a lot like the books before it in the Mortal Instrument series. Instead of Clary, Jace and Simon it is now Tessa, Will and Jem. And, instead of Clary looking for her missing mother it is Tessa looking for her missing brother. Even though there are a lot of similarities there are also difference. New characters, and every character has such a unique personality that it is drawn out of the book and makes them so real. I love the personalities that is given to each character, it truly brings them to life to me.

Tessa lives in New York with her Aunt, but when her Aunt dies she receives a letter from her brother Nathaniel with a ticket to London to come and live with him. But, when she arrives, instead of her brother there to meet her it is the Dark Sisters. Tessa becomes a prisoner to the Dark Sisters as they try to train her for her new husband the Magister. Just when Tessa is about to be shipped off to the Magister as her training ends Will comes along and saves her!

Will is arrogant and rude, but Tessa sees something else. And she is able to push past his armor to see past the arrogance and rudeness to what he is hiding inside. Will is a complex character. But Tessa doesn't just fall for Will she also likes Jem. Jem is frail and is held back by his illness. But, he is intelligent, soft spoken and kind.

Just like the Mortal Instrument series, this book catches you off guard and throws a twist in there that you were not expecting. Although if you read carefully the clues are there, I just never put the pieces together fast enough before the characters in the novel figures it out. But I like twists in the books I read.

The author ties in as much real history from London of era as she can. Which really brings the book together. Not only that, but the poetry at the beginning of each chapter is also from that era and they also tie into the book beautifully.

One thing though, I really don't understand is the Clockwork Angel. It wasn't really described well. It kind of just does its part in the book and that is all. Why does it do it? And, Tessa never really questions it which leaves me questioning it.

There are a tons of things that are left open for the next book. I wish I had that book on hand right now so I could just jump into it!

Sapphique - Catherine Fisher

Sapphique picks up about two months after Incarceron ended. Finn has escaped the Incarceron, but as he escaped the warden of the prison enters bring with him the two keys, the only way to enter the Incarceron. With Finn the only one to escape, this left his oathbrother Keiro and Attia in the Incarceron which he promised he would find a way for them to escape as well.

Not only does Finn want to find a way to rescue his friends but he must deal with his own problems in the realm. The realm isn't exactly what he thought it would be. Constricted by the protocol, the realm seems sometimes worse than the prison to Finn. The Queen will do anything to discredit him. And then, another boy announces he is Prince Giles, and Finn finds himself doubting his true identity and Claudia also begins to doubt him. And with no memories of the past, when he use to be Giles, almost everyone else doubts him as well.

In the prison Attia and Keiro try to find a way to escape on their own. Keiro lost faith in his oath brother and is determined to find a way outside. Attia meets up with magician named Rix who is in possession of Saqqhique's glove. Which might be another way to escape the prison and Attia will do anything to possess the glove herself.

Attia and Keiro go through more wings of the prison. Each wing is unique and interesting to read about. The Incarceron itself leads Attia and Keiro through its vastness as they try to find the way to the prisons heart.

There is tons of adventure in the book. It is a quick read with twist and turns. It leaves you hanging with Attia and Keiro and then switches over to Claudia and Finn or visa versa. So, you are always wanting to read more to figure out what is happening to the other characters. The ending is good doesn't leaving you hanging. But, in my opinion, there could be another book.

Incarceron

It was hard for me at first to grasp what I was reading. At first a lot didn't make sense. But as I continued to read, pieces started coming together and I started to really get into the story.

Finn lives in a dark, horrible place...a prison. And, for as long as he can remember, which is the last three years, he has always lived there. But he has dreams of the outside. He doesn't believe he was always in this prison but everyone tells him there is no way to escape and he must be part of the Incarceron.

The Incarceron is a vast, dark prison. With no stars, just red unblinking lights that watch everything. Many have tried to leave the Incarceron, and most have failed except for Sapphique. Sapphique is the only one that was known to escape, and many want to follow in his footsteps to get away from the prison. The prison is a ever changing intelligence and doesn't want any of its children to escape.

Finn, Keiro, Attia and Gildas try to escape the prison like many have. But they have something others didn't. For one, they have Finn the starseer, the one with the visions of the outside believed to be given to him by Sapphique. And, they have the key.

Outside of the Incarceron, is Claudia. Claudia is also trying to escape. She is about to get married to someone she loathes. Claudia wants to find the Incarceron and in a way escape into because she believes it is a paradise. But, she soon finds out that the Incarceron is far from a paradise when she finds the key. The key helps her communicate with the other key in the Incarceron, the key Finn has. With this key, Claudia find out many secrets she had never known and it drastically changes her life.

This was a great fast pace book. I like how imaginative it was with the living prison the Incarceron. The place Claudia lives seems to be the past but is actually the future generated by a computer to look like the past. Claudia lives in a realm that was forced to live the life of the Victorian age.

Really great book, and can't wait to read the next in the series.

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay is such a tragic story, and almost to the end of it I began to regret reading it. Thinking the endings I made up in my head were better than the ending of this story. Main characters die and leave you grieving for them. There is a lot of violence and massacre and I am not sure how young someone should be to read this book. Suzanne Collins does a great job describing events and bringing out emotions out of the reader whether it is anger, laughter, or grief.

Mockingjay starts up where Catching Fire ended. Katniss is in the rubble of district 12, no longer what it use to be. Tripping over skulls, Katniss cannot really get a grip of what really happened. Only 800 or so survived. And this fuels Katniss revenge...to kill Snow. Then, Katniss is thrown into life in district 13 as a rebel, where schedules get printed on your arm and everything is straight and to the point. Katniss is still under the camera's scrutiny, but this time to defy the capitol and become the Mockingjay.

Not only is this book about revenge for Katniss, but it digs deeper into some history of characters as well. Like, why President Snow smells like roses. Or Finnicks and Haymitch's history with the capitol and why they are how they are now. There is also a brief discussion about the meaning of the countries name "Panem".

I think my favorite part of the book is the simple relationship between Katniss and Buttercup. At the beginning Katniss and Buttercup have a great interaction with each other giving some comic relief to the sorrow of the rest of the plot. But, at the end, the relationship between Katniss and Buttercup leaves me in tears. I really loved the addition of Buttercup in this book it really brought the book together for me. Even though it was a very small part of the book.

Suzanne Collins has a great way of making the storyline become dull and a bit boring and then all at once hit you with a new situation that leave you at the edge of your seat, biting your fingernails as Katniss gets thrown into a tough spot.

Some of the things that happened in the book, I really wished didn't happened. I don't want to say any of them to give it away. But to be vague, people dying. Or descriptions of people that were on the sidelines that died. It really bought emotion to the scene but at the same time was it necessary? You really get attached to a character and then all of sudden they are gone, dead. It was sad.

In the end, everything comes together I suppose. Everything is wrapped up. And it was a great trilogy.

Linger - Maggie Stiefvater

I am not exactly sure how I feel about this book now that I am done with it. There are parts I liked, and parts I am not sure about. Parts reminded me of Twilight and their sickly love towards each other. With the characters feeling that the world will stop if they are broken apart. And, maybe I just think that is a little over dramatized and it bothers me. I don't think it is the best thing to sell to teenagers that they can't live without their true love even if they are a room apart. It is unhealthy to think that way, although I am sure tons of people have felt the way Sam and Grace did about each other in this book. But, it annoyed me. And, I found myself siding with Grace's parents instead of Grace as she started to annoy me.

But, I did like the plot how Sam is finally finding himself at the same time Grace is slowly losing herself. I like the new character Cole and his relationship with Isabel, Sam and himself. I was happy to learn more about Sam's past and also Cole's past as well. There was more depth with Isabel that I like a lot too. She might be my favorite character. The point of view alternated between Cole, Grace, Sam and Isabel. And, I didn't have that hard of time trying to figure out which characters point of view I was reading from because they all have a very distinct personality.

I do want to know what happens in the next book which I believe is being called Forever. It leaves you wanted to know more. What will happen to Grace, Sam and Cole. Will they finally get there happy ending?

Getting Ready for Mockingjay

After reading Deeply Desperately I went ahead and read Hunger Games and Catching Fire to get myself ready for Mockingjay that comes out August 24th. I thought, I would read Hunger Games in a week and Catching Fire in a week and be done right in time for Mockingjay to come out. Obviously that didn't happen. I am reading much faster than I used to with my kindle now! But anyway. I have already written reviews for Hunger Game and Catching Fire which is I think around the beginning of my blog. Again, they were fantastic books and I am excitingly waiting for the last in the series.

Catching Fire just leaves you hanging for the next series. And when I read it the first time, I was like what? I have to wait a YEAR to find out what happens next! But, alas, the year has gone by and it is almost time for Mockingjay. I really can't wait!

Since this is a recap post I will list the other books I am waiting to come out.
- Absolutely Positively, the next in the Lucy Valentine Novels comes out February 1st 2011 so I have quite a while to wait for that one.

- City of Fallen Angels the next in the Mortal Instruments series comes out April 5th 2011 which again is another long wait. But, inbetween that wait and now is...Clockwork Angel which is a spin off of the Mortal Instrument in which some of the characters will be in both and that one comes out soon! August 31st 2010

-The Dark and Hollow Places comes out March 22 2011 another long wait. It is the third book in that goes along with The Forest of Hands and Teeth and The Dead Tossed Waves. Both, excellent books and I can't wait for this third one.

-Another spin off book that I can't wait for is The Heroes of Olympus from Rick Riordan. I loved the Persy Jackson ones that this one is a spin off of and I hope it is good as well. That comes out soon October 12 2010

-Beautiful Darkness a sequel to Beautiful Creatures comes out October 12 2010 as well so I will be busy that day reading new books!

-Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick which is the sequel to Hush Hush comes out I believe in October also. I think the 19th.

-Leviathan left you at a huge cliff hanger so I can't wait for the sequel Behemoth which comes out also in October on the 5th. Man, I can't wait until October.

Deeply, Desperately: A Lucy Valentine Novel - Heather Webber

I could not put the book down this weekend! I read the whole book in one weekend which I don't do very often. The book was a great, fun adventure that I just could not stop reading! Everything was resolved in the end, but I can't wait to read the next one in the series. I already have it on my wish list :)

The novel pulls you in right way with Lucy's new adventure with Lost Love. Lucy cannot see peoples auras like the rest of her family. So she uses her physic ability, to find lost objects, to get into the family business by finding lost loves. But that isn't the only thing on her plate! She must juggle with the pestering Preston, Marsol getting her involved in destroying Em's relationship with her fiancee, threat letters, a missing person case and the cupids curse!

I loved the book, but there was one thing that did bother me. Sometimes, when Lucy would start a conversation with someone. The conversation would go half way through and then Lucy would daydream or start thinking a couple paragraphs. Then it would abruptly go back to the conversation like it never stopped. Because of the paragraphs in the middle I have already forgotten initially what the conversation was about and would have to back track to remember what the beginning of the conversation was about. But, that might be just me easily forgetting :P

Overall, I love the dialogue between the characters and the characters themselves. I really like the relationship between Grendel and Thoreau. She describes Grendel so well and it is so funny. The book has romance, adventure, funny parts and sad part. Overall a well rounded book.

Storm Glass - Maria V Snyder

This book courses off from the study series with a new protagonist Opal. Opal is in the Study series having a little role in the first book and a somewhat larger role in the last book in the series. All the old characters from the Study series is in this one as well, except for Valek. You kind of need to read the Study Series to understand this book better since it reference back to that book a lot.

Opal is a glass maker, actually a glass magician she can do a lot of nifty treat with glass that she learns along the way in the book. The protagonist in both Study series and this glass series have a lot in common. People are trying to kill them, they learn new tricks with there magic, find a lover, and everything ends up okay in the end. It isn't very different than the study series. Same things are going on in a way. This one seemed to have a little bit more imagination in what was going on with her. And all in all was a good sister book to the study series.

The Dead Tossed Waves

I was hoping the book would start up where it left off with Mary finding out about the ones she left behind in the forest. Because, that is usually how a sequel goes, but not this one. Instead this book skips to the next generation that have to deal with the Mudo (or Unconsecrated from the first book). The book centers around Gabry, Marys daughter. Who doesn't know very much about her mothers past.

Close to the end, it does give us a glimpse of what happened to Harry, Cass and Jacob so it ties up that loose end. But, it gets me wandering about Jed did he escape? Never goes back to him. And, it kind of tells the beginning of the Return but not enough information for me.

Gabry didn't grow up like Mary. The Mudo was not part of her everyday life. She was shelter from them. They didn't moan at the fences like in Mary's childhood. The mudo was buffered away from them with the forest and ocean blocking the mudo from there village. Of course, Gabry saw mudo, the ones that washed ashore that were bloated and slow, which her mom would behead right way and they were no threat. They were no threat, until the night Gabry sneaks over the barrier with her friends and she encounters her very first breaker mudo.

Gabry escapes the mudo, but two of her friends didn't and Catcher, her crush, was infected. Gabry was the only one able to run home as the rest of her friends were captured by the militiaman and punished for breaking the law by going past the barrier to the unprotected area.

Gabry tries to make things right. But things keep spiraling in the wrong direction. At one point Gabry must find refugee in the same forest her mother is from. And, by doing so Gabry also finds out she has more in the common with the forest than she knew.

During the novel, you going get bits and pieces of the first novel. Basically, it is a whole new story but in the same environment. It is great, because we the reader, know more than the Gabry who is telling the story trying to piece everything together. The book doesn't over summarize anything but actually put things in a new light with Gabry. I really enjoyed the book, it was one thing after another with Gabry, just like her mother in the first novel. And, I can't wait for the next!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan

This book is mostly the inter thoughts of Mary. A girl who lives in a village surrounded by the Forest of Hands and Teeth. There is not very much interaction with other characters in the book. There is some dialogue but mostly it is Mary.

I do enjoy books with a lot of character interaction, dialogue. Even though this one didn't have much of it, it made up for it in great detail. I could envision everything that happened to Mary. At some parts I didn't want to go on afraid of what would happen but at the same time I just could not put the book down!

This is a very great book, different than most I have been reading right now. It kept me on the edge of my seat and was never a dull moment. Mary dreams of the ocean and hopes there is something other than the fences that entrap her from the unconsercrated on the other side. Terrific book! and now I am off to read the next one!

Fire Study

I just finished Fire Study, the last book in the Study series. It took me quite awhile to read it. It didn't have me as interested as the other two books in the series. I would go days without really wanted to read it. There was a lot of repetition in the book, summarizing from the other two books and repeating facts from earlier in the book, that dulled the book for me. Didn't have as much adventure, rather boring.

Yelena, the main character, has to fight the fire warper. She has many enemies in this book. Ferde who she defeated in the last book but was freed from another of her enemies Cahil. Cahil wants to rule Ixia and loathes Yelena and Valek. Yelena must also battle with the 1st Master Magician Roze who doesn't trust Yelena and believes Yelena is a spy from Ixia trying to take over Sitia. So, Yelena has a lot on her plate as she tries to find a way to get Ferde back and fight the Fire Warper.

There is still the same characters from the previous books, Valek, Ari, Janco, Fisk, Cahil, and Leif. Even though I didn't like Valek in the second book, this one I started to see the old Valek again. Yelena did start bothering me and if you have ever read House Of Night novels, she began to remind me the the main character in that series Zoey.

Some of the dramatic scenes didn't really hold any emotion for me. I don't want to list any to give anything away. But, when someone would die or something big would happen I didn't really seem important the way it was described. It would be described in two sentences and that would be the end of it.

I enjoyed the first two I just wished this one peaked my interested as much as the first one!

Magic Study

Magic Study is the sequel to Poison Study. At the end of Poison Study, Yelena finds out her parents are still alive and that she is part of the Zaltana Clan in the country of Sitia. To learn more about her magic abilities and to get to know her family she must travel to the country of Sitia. Also, she has been exiled from Ixia because of her magic abilities so she must leave her friends and Valek.

Being Yelena, soon after she arrives in Sitia she makes enemies. Her older brother Leif loathes her, believing she is a spy for Ixia and not his real sister. On the way to the Citadel she makes enemies with Goel a guard for Cahil who is the last of the Blood line for the King of Ixia. But, Yelena also makes friends, Dax a student at the Keep where Yelena learns about her magic. And Fisk the little beggar boy who helps her around the market place.

Poison Study has a lot of action, Yelena must fight for her life a couple times. And, as like Poison Study, Valek does come to her rescue a couple times as well. She also learns about her magic which is interesting. She has the ability to heal, listen to peoples thoughts and talk to horses but she can't move objects with her mind.

It is a great book, but I enjoyed Poison Study much more. One of the things I really liked in Poison Study is Valek. I enjoy his personality, but in Magic Study Valek seems different, softer I suppose. Maybe he has been soften by his love for Yelena. Valek wasn't in Poison Study as much as he was in Magic Study, but I feel like that character lost a lot in the sequel. Ari and Janco on the other hand are as funny and sarcastic as they were in Poison study. I really enjoy Ari and Janco. Also, the new faces in this book are very entertaining as well, such as Fisk, Dax, Leif and Cahil. I didn't get quite a grasp on the Cahil character and I hope to learn more about him in Fire Study.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

There is never a dull moment with Yelena the poisoned food taster. The main character of the story, Yelena hasn't had the best life. Orphaned as a child and brought to Brazell's manor only to become a lab experiment. When she kills Brazell's son she is sent away to be sentenced to hang. That is when Yelena's life changes. She becomes the food taster in exchange for her life. Yelena must face many obstacles as a food taster. At any moment she could be poisoned by the food she tastes, Brazell is after her for killing her son, and her food taster instructed Valek could kill her any time with one of his tests.

Always finding herself back up against the wall she tries to fight for her life. Yelena may have made some enemies but she has made some friends as well that try to help her fight through.

It was a great book, I didn't want to stop reading. Never a dull moment, always something new about to happen. Some great small twists that kept the novel interesting. I can't wait to read the next in the series Magic Study. I hope to see some of the old characters in this novel as well.

Ella Enchanted

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine has been out for many years and even a movie has been made which I have watched as well. But, I haven't read this book until now. It was a delightful book, cute and funny. I haven't watched the movie in quite some time, but from memory, there are lots of differences. Ella Enchanted is a re-telling of Cinderella (Cinder ella get it? took me almost the end of the book to see that.) The story of Cinderella never tells why Cinderella does everything her step sisters and step mother tells her too, I mean why didn't she just run away from it all? But, Ella Enchanted gives a reason to why Ella stays and does all of their bidding. Ella Enchanted even has the glass slippers and pumpkin stagecoach which I don't think the movie had. I think the movie strayed more from the Cinderella aspect of it and went more toward Ella's obedience.

When Ella was a baby, she was gifted obedience and must do whatever anyone has order of her. Ella didn't let this gift bring her down. She was defiant to her gift, if her cook told her to bring her almonds Ella would bring her two. She would find ways to defy the gift. When Ella's mother dies things go down hill for her but she meets Prince Char and starts a relationship with him. It is a cute story between her and Char. But, after a while, Ella's father must remarry and Ella moves in with her Stepmother and stepsisters who make things awful for her when her father leaves.

I am glad that I finally read this book. It is a really cute retelling.

Princess of the Midnight Ball

Princess of the Midnight Ball is a great story. Based off the Brother Grimm tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I really like how she retold the tale. In the Brother Grimm's tale the girls seem more arrogant. But, in the Princess of the Midnight Ball the girls seem to have more compassion and I like reading the way Jessica Day George wrote them.

The story is about twelve princesses. Ever morning when they wake their dancing shoes are found worn out. No one can figure out why this is happening. And the twelve princesses will not tell anyone. So, the king makes a reward: The prince who figures out the secret can marry the daughter of their choosing. But, all the princes fail. Then, the solider turned under gardener tries. And, he has some tricks under his sleeves.

The story follows Galen the solider/under gardener and Rose the eldest princess most of the time. Rose has eleven other sisters all named after a flower that grows in the late Queen's garden. One of the sisters who stand out the most besides Rose is Poppy, which the next book in the series Princess of Glass is about. I haven't read it yet, but I really enjoyed this books so I am going to read that one next!

Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater

Grace and Sam have been watching each other for years. Ever since Sam saved Grace. Grace watched Sam in the winter and fell in love with his yellow eyes. But Grace was human and in her eyes, Sam was just a wolf. But, Sam is more than just a wolf, he is a werewolf but Grace doesn't find out until it is almost too late. Sam was running out of summers. And, now that Grace knows Sam as a human, it might be too late for the two of them.

Shiver is a great love story, a bit reminiscent of Twilight in some ways. So, if you like Twilight you will like this book. But, unlike Bella, I feel Grace is more relatable and not as crazy love stricken as Bella in Twilight. Grace knows she only has a little bit of time to spend with Sam so she absorbs everything she can but is still smart about it.

This book, I believe, is a great page turner. I wanted to know what would happen with Grace and Sam. What would happen to Jake and what would happen to all the other wolves. The story does get sad at the end and I almost had some tears. I don't want to give to much away but this is a really good book. Bunch of people recommended this book to me and I would recommend this book as well.

Burned, House of Night

The book starts out with Zoey in the otherworld not sure if she wants to put her soul back together and return to her body or stay in the other world forever with Heath. At the same time, Aphrodite and Stark are in Venice with the High Council trying to figure out away to get Zoey back in her body. Stark will do anything to save Zoey, but he must confront the demons inside of himself in order to find a way to Zoey. Also, back in Tulsa, Stevie Rae is fighting her own problems along with trying to find away to get Zoey back as well. Stevie Rae tries to fight Darkness in many different forms and also at the same time trying to figure out her 'boy' problems.

After this book, I am starting to not like Stevie Rae as much as I use to. She seems to be turning into a second Zoey with always using her gift to save her, lying to everyone, and having all her boy problems get in her way. But, like Zoey, Stevie Rae is now a High Priestess. I am starting to think one of the requirements of being a high priestess is to become a whore, as Dallas puts it. Plus, the amount of times Stevie Rae uses the Earth energy she is soon going to kill it, it is ridiculous.

This book seems much more vulgar than the previous books. Aphrodite and Stark seem more vulgar in there attitudes. I thought this was a book for young adults? Seem to be way too raunchy and vulgar. There are no really lessons in this book unless you want to teach someone how to go from one guy to another in a blink of the eye. Like Stevie Rae pretty much did in this book, and Zoey has done in the past.

It seems like the authors try so hard to give each character their own voice in which it borders on the point of being really annoying. For example, Dallas saying 'girl' a million times, I started to wince whenever I read him saying girl. And the Scottish guy Seoras, I couldn't understand anything he was saying.

It was typical that Dallas changed and how he all of a sudden has an affinity right before he changes, even though affinities are supposed to be really rare. What is rare, is fledglings with out an affinity in this series. And of course he has to become the new villain because only a day or two has gone by since a new villain came into play.

Some other stuff that bothered me was the quotes that some of these characters said. Stevie Rae comments at one point: "I have to deal with the shitstorm Dallas is brewin' up" These girls can never take blame on themselves. If she was only honest in the beginning none of that would have happened. But then there wouldn't have really been much of a book. Another quote is when Stark comes to the realization that "Zoey loved Heath, maybe even more than she loved him" you think? Zoey has know Heath for years. And, what...she has known Stark for like five days? But yet they are pretty inseparable at the end of the book.

And, what was with the ghost kid talking to Rephaim? Was it just way to use up more page space to fill even more of the book with nonsense. Hopefully more will be in the next book about that. I just can't stop reading, hoping the authors will redeem themselves and actually put in lessons for there young adults that are good instead of..it is okay to sleep with your teacher, it is okay to sleep with a guy you have only known for a matter of days, it is okay to do whatever you like because you think you are better than everyone else, and it is okay to treat people like crap..etc.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella

Bree's point of view was way different than Bellas. In a way I felt like the narrative was closer to how Stephanie Meyers narrated Host instead of the Twilight Saga, but I liked it regardless. It was a new take on young vampires, I like how the author played off of how we the audience portrayed vampires before we even started to read the Twilight Saga.

Even though, I knew the outcome of Bree's story before I even read it because of Eclipse I was hoping it would be different. I became so attached to Bree and her short story. Stephanie did a great job of giving a story to the character Bree who only had a small roll in Eclipse. You feel for Bree in this story. It was very well done. The only thing I wished was that Stephanie started from the very beginning of Bree's second life and not 3 months in. But she does in away take you back to see how Bree was changed at the beginning, but I would of liked to see more.

This book made me see Riley in a different light as well. And I liked the other characters that never were in the Twilight Saga but made into this book like Freaky Fred and Diego.

I look forward to Stephanie Meyer portraying other characters that we barely know, she does a great job at it.

The Red Pyramid

I have been waiting for this book since I saw Rick Riordan was doing another series. Sadie and Carter are a brother and sister who barely know each but must come together when their father blows up the British museum. The story is narrated in a way like you are listening to a recording from Carter and Sadie. Even though, at each chapter it tells you who is narrating, as I got into the reading I began to get confused of who was actually narrating Sadie or Carter. That is the only thing that bother me in the book.

The book in general was a great adventure. Sadie and Carter trying to find their father and beat the evil Set. They come in contact with a bunch of Egyptian gods: Anubis, Horus, Isis, Serket, Thoth, Sekhmet, Bast and many more. Not only was it a great adventure novel but I got to learn about Egyptian mythology that I didn't know about to begin with. It was fun to learn along with Sadie and Carter as they learned about there heritage.

There were a couple loose ends at the end of the novel which makes me wanting more. Not to give anything away but Sadie and Carter are still missing someone that they must find and they still have alot to accomplish. So I can't wait for the next one!

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Since I was going to go see the musical Wicked, I thought I would read the book before I went to watch it. I knew in advance that the musical was way different than the book, but I still wanted to read the book.

The book follows the life of the Wicked witch of the West also known as Elphaba. Elphaba is born green which her father sees as disgrace towards him in away. Elphaba had a hard childhood, growing up green with a mother who wasn't all there and a father who would leave for long periods of time, then when her sister was born she had to take care of her because she was armless.

Elphaba grows up and goes to school at Shiz and a little while later she is joined by her sister Nessarose. Shiz is where Elphaba meets Galinda. Reading through the part where she is in Shiz, and before that with her childhood were my favorite parts of the book. After that, the book begins to get a little darker and harder for me to understand exactly what is going on.

Although, after the Mauntery time and the trip to Kiamo Ko, I start enjoy it again with Liir involved. I really liked the character Liir, which is one of the reasons I am excited to read the next book in the series.

I don't think I would give this five stars because it wasn't as good as I was expecting it to be. There were some confusing parts that I thought were left unanswered. Like, how did Elphaba become all bloody and messed up when she arrived at the mauntery. What really happened to Fiyero. What happened with Nor (I think this one is answered in the second book). I did enjoy the musical and even though it was very different to the book I felt like it went better along with the Wizard of Oz and explained things better than this book.

The Vanishing of Katharina Linden

First off, it took me about a quarter of the book to realize that there was a glossary at the back of the book with German terms in it. The book is riddled with German words and at first I thought I was going to have to guess my way through the German words, as only a couple of them had the definition of the word in the text. But, I was happy to find the glossary, and I was repeatedly flipping back that for the definitions of certain words.

The book is about Pia who wants to be the girl who solves the Katharina Linden case, no the girl whose grandmother had exploded. This book is not particularly about the disappearance of Katharina Linden but of a chain of events that has changed Pia's life in the span of a year.

Everything takes place in a small town, in which everyone knows everyone business. And, they think they know everything that is happening in there town, except for one small thing the disappearance of young girls in the town.

Pia, is a normal ten year old girl in this town, that is until Pia's grandmother dies an unexpected death, death by explosion. With everyone knowing everyones business this piece of news spread like wild fire and now Pia is the girl whose grandmother exploded. Then, girls start to go missing, and to try to wipe her name clean as the girl whose grandmother exploded Pia goes on the hunt for the missing girls with her sidekick StinkStephen.

I really enjoyed the book, it is all in Pia's point of view. Although, at the end, I felt as though maybe everything didn't all go together as nicely as it should have. Not, to give anything away, I will just say I wanted more explanations at the end.

A Conspiracy of Kings

At the end of The King of Attolia, one of the things that wasn't answered for me was what happened to Sophos? This book tells you exactly what happened to Sophos in his owns words from when he was kidnapped to when he becomes king.

I liked hearing from the point of view of Sopho's. The book was about 75% in Sopho's point of view. He is telling you a story, of how everything happened to him. I think I might like Sopho's point of view almost as much as Gen's. From Sopho's point of view it goes back into third person, then Sopho's point of view again and then third person once again. It didn't bother me, it actually helped the book flow.

In King of Attolia, we find that Sophos was kidnapped and missing but we don't know how it all happened. We only get a brief summary of what happened to Sophos in King of Attolia. In A Conspiracy of Kings it takes you back even parts from the book The Thief, but this time in the perspective of Sophos. Sophos thinks back a lot from when they were in The Thief. He is always thinking 'what would Gen do?'

Sophos, who is now Sounis has grown a lot in this book from The Thief, no longer asking too many question at all the wrong time. But now, he has a country on this shoulders as a young Sounis trying to get the people and the barons of Sounis on his side. Sophos has a lot to conquer: The Medes, his father, the people of Sounis, his barons, even Gen. He has a lot on his plate for a young king.

The Queen's Thief - King of Attolia

None of the guard like their new King of Attolia, and that is shown when one of the Guards, Costis, hits the king making him fall. Costis believes he is going to be executed for his actions, but the King instead pardons him and ups his rank to Lieutenant. Thinking it is all a joke, Costis goes along with it to show the king he can handle it all.

Through the book we follow Costis around as we watch him change as his life takes an unexpected turn. The king is putting him through many hardships and Costis takes it all. Costis learns a lot from his experience with the king and he learns to appreciate the king as well.

Like the first two books, there are some twist in the book but they were easier spotted this time around than the first two books. I really like reading about the guard and the way Costis handled everything. Of course I enjoyed how the king was able to figure everything out and trick everyone. I liked the King when he was only the Queens Thief and now I like him even more as the King.

The Queen's Thief - The Queen of Attolia

I don't think Queen of Attolia was as good as the first book in the series but I still enjoyed it. Right away you get sucked into the book as Eugenides is trying to run away from the queens guard. I was pulling for Eugenides to escape the entire time, because Eugenides always escapes! But this time he wasn't as lucky and he is capture by the Queens guards. The Queen, angry by Eugenides always sneaking into her castle takes matters into her own hands and cuts off Eugenides right hand so that he would never steal again.

When Eugenides is sent back to his queen, the plot began to slow down for me. I began to get disinterested as there were many long paragraphs describing what was going on with Eugenides and not enough dialogue. I began to be disappointed by the book. But the ending of the book began to pick up again and got my full attention once again.

I liked the ending, and of course, like the previous book in the series, it caught me off guard once again with a twist in the storyline. I enjoy the way the author writes and I am already off reading the third book of the story.

The Queen's Thief - The Thief

I really enjoyed this book a lot. Gen a common thief had bragged his way into prison. But soon the Magnus, hearing the of Gen's reputation, takes Gen out of prison and onto a journey to steal something out of a fairy tale. Accompany the Magnus, and Gen on the journey are Sophos and Ambiades, Gen names as the Uselesses, and Pol.

Very entertaining book about there journey to steal what Gen believes is a fairy tale. All characters have there own personality which makes the book even better. I love the Sophos character how he is always asking questions even at the worst times. Of course I like the main character Gen, always having something witty to say.

The book takes a sudden twist at the end that I didn't even see coming. I thought it was well done. I can't wait to read the next book in the series: The Queen of Attolia.

Tempted, House of Night Novel

The authors of the House of Night Series decided to take a different approach this time when writing the Novel. Instead of just being first person in Zoey perspective there was other perspectives as well. They were a bit weird, because it wasn't in first person but more like First person talking about themselves as a third person. Because the narrative changed each time the person changed, even though it was in third person. Like if we were following Heath around the narrative would change say Zo when referring to Zoey but if we were following Stevie Rae around the narrative would change to say Z when referring to Zoey. I think I would liked it better if it was all first person instead of changing back and forth.

I do like the authors new approach to the novel. It was very refreshing. Barely any recaps in the novel which made me very happy. The last five novels, too much was recap and not enough was new story line. This books still only gives you a timeline of two to three days that it takes place in. Which gives you the impression that a lot more happens than what would really happen in a normal day.

I do want to read the next novel, because this one left you with a lot of unanswered questions. Although nothing was really resolved in this novel and more was left unanswered. It felt like this novel was another filler because of the fact nothing was resolved. The authors can go on and on with this series because they only cover two to three days in a novel and then immediately pick up where they left off in the next book. I have never read a series before that after six books you have only read two to three months into their life.

Hunted, A House of Night Novel

This book is about 320 pages but it all takes place in two days. Of course, the book wouldn't have been as long if the authors didn't recap everything over and over again.

Everything happens in only two days but the things that take place feel like it has been in place for a long time. Like it feels like they are in the tunnels for days even though it is only a day. And, Stark has pretty much did every girl in the school but only had a day to do it? And Zoey falls completely in love with Stark even though she knows him for a day? And Kalona and his crew can take over and kill pretty much all the sons of erebus in a day? I mean they are warriors no battle ends in a day...

The authors are trying to portray good characteristics to young adults it seems like. Always preaching in Zoeys voice. But yet, Zoey can kiss nearly every boy in school and it is okay. This book shows it is okay to sleep with a boy, it is okay to kiss 4 guys in the same day. Even though Zoey makes excuses it still seems okay. I don't think the authors are really getting the right points across.

It also feels like the authors pretty much wrote these books just to let out steam about their students because they both are teachers correct? Or at least one of them are. There is a line on page 252 that isn't even necessary. It even shows how unnecessary it is by putting it in parentheses it says: "(at the House of Night professors can call kids idiots when they act like idiots because the idiot children can't run home to their mommies and cry about it; hence there is a lot less idiot behavior at the House of Night than at most public schools)". Seriously? It seems like the author called a student a idiot and cried about it to their parents and she had to vent about it in the book. Not cool.

Not only that, but there are a lot of occurrences that the author confuses the names Damien and Darius. Or at the end calling Zoey's Grandma Stevie Rae's Grandma. There are also punctuation mistakes that left me confuse and trying to figure out if someone was still talking or not. Overall though, I am still going to read the next book since they were all given to me to read. But, I don't think I would have kept reading if that wasn't the case.

Untamed, A House of Night Novel

The 4th House of Night Novel starts off with Zoey abandoned by all. Her three boyfriends are no longer in the picture, her best friends don't trust her anymore, Aphrodite is missing and so is Stevie Rae. But of course, this is Zoey and in a matter of pages she has everything she wanted yet again. Aphrodite is with her, Stevie Rae is fine and her best friends trust her again. Oh, and Erik is starting to talk to her again. Everything is good in the life of Zoey except that Neferet trying to destroy the world.

I really try to like these house of night novels, but there are so many things that make me roll my eyes. Must Zoey really emphasize how rich Aphrodite is? Everything of Aphrodite's is explained with and adjective to describe how rich she is. The authors over describe everything to the point where you don't even want to read anymore because it is repetitive. Yes, Aphrodite is rich it doesn't need to be pushed in our face anymore. That isn't the only thing the authors overly explain over and over again, just one of the many examples.

Also, how can it be that Zoey is always in the right place at the right time? She just so happens to wander by and hear conversations that give her the one up on the situtation. And when everything is not going her way she can just magically call up the elements and they will willingly do her biding.

Zoey is nearly an adult at the age of 17. But she is still portrayed as a kid and everyone else around her as a kid. If the authors wanted to portray everyone younger then they should have made the characters 13 and 14. Not 17 and 19. Zoey is running around saying bullpoopy and other childish words. Yes, I get the fact that the authors doesn't want Zoey to cuss but there are other more mature words that she could use and not cuss. I think that is what is making me have a hard time with this novel, they are suppose to be an older age than they are actually are but there choices of dialogue are making them feel much younger.

Chosen, A House of Night Novel

Zoey recently found out her best friend is still alive but different. As in red eyes, turns into dust in the sun, needs blood all the time, undead different. Zoey is also still having guy troubles. She must decide between Heath her long time on again off again boyfriend, Erik the fledging superman, or Loren the vampire part-time teacher who is to old for her.

I really don't know what the author is trying to accomplish. She tries to tell everyone that being racist is bad, smoking is bad, homophobes are bad, and many other things but at the same time her characters are having sex with minors, calling each other hos and cussing up and down. The characters really don't have any personality. Erik talks exactly the same way as Zoey. I think the only character that might be a little different than the rest is Aphrodite.

I also hate it how the main character calls everyone 'kid'. Seriously, Erik is what, almost 19 and yet she still calls him kid? He is about 2 or 3 years older than her he is not a kid. And the main character herself is what, 17? and she is certainly not a kid anymore. A 12 year old in this book would be a kid not a 17, 19 or 16 year old. I think it is because the author is a teacher and she sees the characters as kids so she incorporated herself into her main character by calling everyone a kid. I don't know why but it really annoys me.

Even though the characters have no personality and the lessons in the book are tilted, I still enjoyed the plot. Like all the other House of Night books so far, the first couple chapters were hard to get into but after a couple chapters the story started to go on a roll. Although, again, I would probably never would have picked this series out on my own to read.

Betrayed, A House Of Night Novel

Continuing on with the House of Night Novels, Zoey finds herself in a lovers....square? Three guys potentially going after her and she can not figure out which one to be with. Erik the hot fledging, Heath her boyfriend from when she was a human or Loren the off limits Vampyre teacher. Everybody loves Zoey.

Zoey get almost everything she wants four awesome friends, guys swooning over her, leader of the Dark daughters but not everything is perfect. She keeps seeing dead fledgings turn into these red eye creatures also, humans are dying close to the House of Night making it look like the vamps are killing humans. When someone close to her is taken by these red eye creatures and someone close to her is turned into these red eye creatures Zoey takes it on herself to figure out what is going on and to save her friends!

The ending of this book didn't make me want to continue to the next book as much as the last one. It is kind of getting redundant now. And, the author summarizes so much from the previous book which seems like too much. I already know this, I read the first one...so move on! I started the third book a couple pages in and so far all it is is a summary of the last two. Sometimes you might want to put in a bit to let you remember but when it was say over and over in the first one, and over and over in the second I am pretty sure we got the point now.

I am starting to wonder if I will be able to get through all these books without getting bored of Zoey Redbird.

Marked, A House of Night Novel

My mom's boyfriend's daughter, who is 13, and happens to like some of the same books as me let me borrow her House of Night Series. I think I saw these on amazon before, but thought nothing about them. But since she thought I would enjoy it I decided to read them.

Right away when I started reading it, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get into the book. It seemed like it was going to be too young adult for me with no substance and a lot of teenager slang that I wasn't going to be able to take. But once it started to get more in depth into the House of Night with Zoey going to school there it started to get better. And now, I must admit that I am ready to read the next one.

The book just goes into alter reality where vampyres are known about. Heck, some of them are celebrities. I would like to know more about the history of this alter reality, how the vamp became how they are. I was confused at first because it felt like I should have known more before I actually started to read the book. Hopefully in some of the other books that follow it will give more information.

The book is about zoey redbird who gets marked to become a vampyre and she must move to the school House of Night in order to live. Because, if you get marked as a vampyre and don't go to the House of Night you die. The house of night is a place to go while you are living through the changing process to become a vampyre. You stay there for four years just like a high school and at the end if you can take the change you become a vampyre.

Zoey finds out she is not like all the other fledglings, she has extra powers and her mark is different than everyone elses.

After getting past the beginning it is a really good book, and now I am off to read Betrayed, the second book of the series.

Mortal Instruments - City of Glass

I just finished the third book of the Mortal Instruments, City of Glass. I really liked this book a lot, it kept me enthralled in it the whole time. I really like how all the books were so intricately woven together that you didn't really catch what was going to happen until it did, but looking back there were always clues woven in so subtly that you still were surprised.

Even though I enjoyed the book, like the last one it had some discrepancies that left me going, what a second! I will list a couple that I think I saw. For instance, when simon was in the jail and Raphael comes to see him Simon says it is the first time he has seen Raphael since he was turned. But Simon previously talked about how Raphael had talked to him about some stuff, plus Simon knew some of the vampires names like he had hung out with them a couple times. Also, Simon said that after he was a Daylighter Raphael didn't like the fact that he didn't roam at night anymore. That would make you think that Simon had had contact with Raphael before the Jail incident.

Also, there was a point were Clary said she hadn't seen Magnus since he took the book from her. But, after Sebastian left Alec said Magnus helped perform the tracking spell on his stuff. Now, Clary might have not been there when that happened, but with Alec told her don't you think she would have asked about Magnus? Especially since she thought he just took the book and ran without helping her mom? Just saying...

I also didn't like the fact that Max death wasn't in more detailed. How did it happen? How did Isabelle escape? It was never fully described which left you wondering. Isabelle could have told more to Simon when he was comforting her but she didn't which left you feeling like you missed something.

There were a lot of other points where I felt I was missing something, but all together I really liked the books. I liked the angles she did. Making Vampires a little different than we were use to. Making the bad guy related was also a good move too. I can't wait for the fourth installment to come out and of course The Clockwork Angel as well.

Mortal Instrutments - City of Ashes

City of Ashes, was just as good as the first one. Although, I felt there were some discrepancies with time in the book and with things happening. I don't have any on the top of my head but I remember reading it and thinking that doesn't seem right.

Throughout the whole book there is the elephant in the room of Jace and Clary being brother and sister but not wanting to be because they want to be more intimate. At the same time, Simon wants to be with Clary and Maia wants to be with Simon and Alec wants to be with Jace it is like a love pentagon?

There was a point in the book where the inquisitor looks at Jace and has a look in her face that maybe, maybe Jace isn't Valentines son but really Jace Wayland? But we will never know because the Inquisitor dies right then! I really want him to not be Valentines son, so Jace and Clary can be together. Tons of times someone is in the middle of saying something really important and then gets cut off and I am like come on! What was he going to say!

I hope some things get resolved more like how Simon can now be in the sun. Is it Jaces blood that lets him? Is it because Jace gave it to him voluntarily? Also, is Jace really Valentines son because tons of time it says Jace doesn't look like Valentine and most of the time Valentines says you carry my blood. But in a way, Simon carries Jaces blood now too, does that mean they are related? Did Valentine infuse him with his blood to be better? But he is isn't really his father? I have so many questions. I hope City of Glass answers some of them. I am a couple pages into it so far. Hopefully they can get Clary's mom to wake up so she can clarify some stuff too!

Mortal Instruments - City of Bones

I just finished the book Mortal Instruments City of Bones. I really like the book a lot. There was a twist at the end that surprised me and I was hoping it wasn't true! But it was. The only thing I didn't really like about this part was the ending, where they confront the bad guy, that part lagged it went on and on and I was like just do something already!

The book is about a 15 year old name Clary who happens to go into an all age club and follows a demon to three shadowhunters. After that, Clary's life changes! She is no longer the mundane she thought she was and finds out she is more like these shadowhunters then she ever wanted to be. She finds out her whole life has been a lie and her mom didn't tell her what she really was.

When her mom goes missing she teams up with the shadowhunters to find her mom. But not just the shadowhunters are helping, her friend Simon that she known all her life, who is a simple mundane (human) helps out as well. I really like the characters Simon and Jace.

I really like the twist and turns of the book. And now I just started the second book in the series and so far it is good as well.

Truly Madly - A Lucy Valentine Novel

I received this book in the mail a couple months ago as an ARC (Advance Reading Copy). When I received it, just looking at the cover it didn't really look like something I would be interested in. Man, I have to stop judging a book by its cover because this book was great.

The book is about Lucy Valentine, family of the great match-makers of Valentine Inc. All Valentines can read peoples auras and set them up with there ultimate match, that is except Lucy. Lucy ability got electrified and instead of being able to match make she can find lost objects just by shaking hands with the person who lost the object.

This is a very funny, entertaining book with a mystery as well. Lucy gets herself in a bind when she shakes someones hand who is missing a ring. As soon as she shakes his hand, Lucy knows where it is, in the ground on a skeletons hand! Lucy just can't leave this alone and must figure out the mystery. But, not by herself of course. Sean the hot PI from the office above Valentine Inc helps along the way. And Sean is the first person that her powers works differently than normal.

I recommend this book, it was highly entertaining, and I couldn't put the book down. I loved Grendel the three legged cat :)

I can't wait for the second book to come out which is Deeply Desperately by Heather Webber.

Book suggestion?

I am seriously at a standstill of what to read. I have a couple books on my kindle right now but nothing seems appealing. I don't know what I want to read. Maybe an adventure mystery or a historical fiction or a steampunk. Maybe I will go searching for another steampunk...

Scott Westerfeld Leviathan

I have to wait to read the rest? Leviathan end with you wanting more and a bunch of questions that were not even answered!

Leviathan is the past but a different past than we remember. It is at the start of a war Darwinist vs Clankers or how we remembered it WWI. It is about Alek and Deryn both on different sides of the war. Alek is a clanker and and Deryn is a Darwinist. Both of them are hiding there identity. Alek is hiding that he is of noble blood and Deryn is hiding that she is a girl.

Deryn is on the Leviathan posing as a boy because girls are not allowed to fly on the Leviathan. Alek is running away from his life after his parents were murdered. And their paths cross when Alek witnesses the Leviathan crash landing close to his hideout. Desperate to help them, Alek runs right into Deryn!

It is a great book, I really enjoyed reading it. Deryn and Alek are so different. I like the way Deryn speaks with her slang. And Alek is...to take Deryns word posh! I didn't want the book to end and there were so many questions I wanted to know like. Will anyone find out Deryn is a girl? Will Alek be able to escape? And what are in those darn eggs? I can't wait till the next one comes out Behemoth in I guess October :(

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful creatures, what immortals call the mortals who believe that they can change everything.

Ethan is an everyday boy living in an everyday small town where nothing is ever changing and no one ever leaves. Until he starts having dreams about a girl he had never met, and a month later she shows up in his life.

The book is a love story like a lot of the other young adult stories out there. Beautiful Creature is a lot like Twilight and Hush Hush with mystical creatures falling in love with a mortal. Beautiful Creatures is narrated by Ethan a sixteen year old boy who falls in love with Lena. Lena is different then you normal girl and Ethan soon finds out exactly what Lena, the girl of his dreams, really is. And, when he does, his whole life begins to change. His everyday town that he thought he knew everything about has secrets that he didn't even know about.

I really enjoyed the book, I found myself getting lost in the story. You find yourself despising Mrs. Lincoln and rooting for Lena and Ethan's relationship even though everyone is against it. And throughout the whole book you keep wondering what will happen on Lena's sixteenth birthday.

The ending leaves me with questions, will there be a second one? Is there something now going to happen on Lena's 17th birthday? And, why didn't Lena's name change like all the rest of her family members?

But overall good book. :)

books books books!

I have been reading, I just haven't been posting. I finished the Percy Jackson trilogy. It was really good but the ending makes you think that there might be another series that will come along with Percy Jackson as a side character instead of the main character. Kind of like Uglies, Tally was the main character for the first three books and then time went by and there was the book Extras and Aya was the main character but Tally still had a apperance in the book. I don't know if the author Rick Riordan is going to do that because he is coming out with a new series called The Kane Chronicles which I already have in my wish list to read once it comes out.

After reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians I went on to read the last book in the Millenuium series The Girl who Kicked the Hornet Nest. You can't get it in the US yet, but if you are really wanting to read it you can get it from the UK. The book was non stop until the end. Even the last couple of pages you were really into it wonder how it was going to end! The book started where The Girl who Played with Fire ended, with Lisbeth barely alive with three gun shots: one to the head, one to the shoulder and one to the hip. The books goes with Mikael trying to get Lisbeths freedom back while she is locked up in the hosptial recovering. It is a really great book. After I was done I found the movies which were in Swedish and started to watch them with sub titles!

Right now I am reading Beautiful Creatures and so far it is really good. It takes a different aspect with the narrator being a guy instead of a girl which normally these books are. Ethan, the narrator, has been having dreams of a girl but he doesn't know who she is until a new girl comes to school. If you liked Twilight you will probably like this one. I am about half way through.