Monday, July 25, 2011
Paranormalcy
Just finished reading Paranormalcy to get ready for Supernaturally. I just love Paranormalcy it is a great funny book and I can't wait for the next one it comes out tomorrow! But for now, I am going to read Torment...but I probably won't be able to finish it because I won't be able to wait to start Supernaturally tomorrow!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Fallen - Lauren Kate
Have you ever had that feeling like you knew someone from before when you meet them for the first time? That is how Luce feels about Daniel. The whole novel she is tugging at this feeling she has, this itch at the back of her mind that she has known Daniel from somewhere before. The prologue tells you she does but just enough to wet your appetite for this book. Throughout the novel you get bits and pieces of who they really are.
I thought all the characters had great and unique personalities. Penn the book worm with her layers of clothes, Arriane with her craziness, Gabbe with her southern drawl. All are different and fun to read about.
Great book, very enticing to read, keeps you guessing and wanting more from the ominous black shadows that follow Luce around, to her haunted past, to her quirky friends. If you read and liked Hush Hush you will like this book. Also, the love story is similar to Twilight, that feeling of urgent love.
I thought all the characters had great and unique personalities. Penn the book worm with her layers of clothes, Arriane with her craziness, Gabbe with her southern drawl. All are different and fun to read about.
Great book, very enticing to read, keeps you guessing and wanting more from the ominous black shadows that follow Luce around, to her haunted past, to her quirky friends. If you read and liked Hush Hush you will like this book. Also, the love story is similar to Twilight, that feeling of urgent love.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Beauty Queens - Libba Bray
Beauty Queens is a funny story, but at times quite annoying with the excess stuff like Commercial breaks and footnote that would take way from the story. I know the author is trying to make fun of politics, reality shows, government, etc...but sometimes she just went a little overboard making the book unappealing to read.
The book is about 14 surviving beauty queens whose plane crashed onto an island. They learn to live on the island while waiting for rescue, but rescue might never come. Each girl has their own personalities. There is the ditzy girl, the pre pre med girl, the smart girl, the girl with the dark secret etc. Out of the 14 girls 10 are named. 4 are left to be called Miss Ohio, Miss New Mexico, Miss Montana and Miss Arkansas. There is a reason to this later on. For a while, I actually thought Miss Arkansas died and I skipped over it in the book because she never ever is referenced in the book but only once. Almost, to the end of the book they say Miss Arkansas name again, but for most of the book, I kept thinking what happened to Miss Arkansas? Because everyone had dialogue but her.
You get to learn the history of the 10 girls that are named, and learn why they went into the Miss dream pageant. It was interesting learning their back stories. They all had different reasons to be a beauty queen and they are not as dumb as you think!
I think I would have liked the book more if it had less snarky footnotes and commerical breaks.
The book is about 14 surviving beauty queens whose plane crashed onto an island. They learn to live on the island while waiting for rescue, but rescue might never come. Each girl has their own personalities. There is the ditzy girl, the pre pre med girl, the smart girl, the girl with the dark secret etc. Out of the 14 girls 10 are named. 4 are left to be called Miss Ohio, Miss New Mexico, Miss Montana and Miss Arkansas. There is a reason to this later on. For a while, I actually thought Miss Arkansas died and I skipped over it in the book because she never ever is referenced in the book but only once. Almost, to the end of the book they say Miss Arkansas name again, but for most of the book, I kept thinking what happened to Miss Arkansas? Because everyone had dialogue but her.
You get to learn the history of the 10 girls that are named, and learn why they went into the Miss dream pageant. It was interesting learning their back stories. They all had different reasons to be a beauty queen and they are not as dumb as you think!
I think I would have liked the book more if it had less snarky footnotes and commerical breaks.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Witches of East End - Melissa de la Cruz
The three Beauchamp woman have been restricted from using magic for centuries and have stayed pretty much magic free the entire time. Until one day Freya decides she doesn't want to be constrained anymore and just wants to do something small to help someone. Then, one by one they have an excuse to do a small bit magic, until it escalates into a larger problem! But that's not all happening in North Hampton, there is something new and strange that has arrived in town, something wicked.
The three Beauchamp ladies are: Freya about to be engaged, reads intense emotions and does love spells. Ingrid seer, healer and Librarian. Joanna mother, renovator and makes inanimate objects come to life.
Witches of East End is a riveting book, kept me wanting more the entire time. Melissa De La Cruz does an excellent job flowing the story. It was an easy read and I wasn't disappointed. The ending set up the next novel in the series as well.
I have never read the Blue Blood series, but it is crossed referenced a lot in this novel. Some of the characters from the Blue Blood series makes an appearance and it almost makes you want to know what is going on in that series from the way she places them in this book.
The three Beauchamp ladies are: Freya about to be engaged, reads intense emotions and does love spells. Ingrid seer, healer and Librarian. Joanna mother, renovator and makes inanimate objects come to life.
Witches of East End is a riveting book, kept me wanting more the entire time. Melissa De La Cruz does an excellent job flowing the story. It was an easy read and I wasn't disappointed. The ending set up the next novel in the series as well.
I have never read the Blue Blood series, but it is crossed referenced a lot in this novel. Some of the characters from the Blue Blood series makes an appearance and it almost makes you want to know what is going on in that series from the way she places them in this book.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Cordovan Vault - J Monkeys
Quinn and Kayla never liked each other in school, always pulling pranks on each other. Things get worst when Quinn's guardian Lorelei, his sister, falls in love with Kayla's guardian Jim, her brother, and they end up under the same roof together! Then, Jim and Lorelei marry! What is worst than that, Jim and Lorelei ditch their wedding reception for no apparent reason ultimately leaving Quinn and Kayla alone...together.
Quinn and Kayla are able to put away their differences as they try to figure out why their siblings left so abruptly for no apparent reason. Hoping for explanation at home, after the reception, all they find is a note saying they went to Philly instead of Hawaii for their honeymoon and an old letter from Kayla's mother that Jim wants her to solve. This leads to a purple key, a diary, a static phone call at 3am in the morning, hidden room in their pantry with a CD saying "PLAY ME" and a explanation on it saying "We are not who you think we are", and then their house exploding! All in one night!
Their findings lead them to Philly with the purpose of finding who they really are, where their siblings are, and who is trying to hurt them!
This books reminds me a lot of Da Vinci Code meets National Treasure meets a Rick Rhordian novel. This book even mentions one of Rick Rhordian novels, which I thought was funny. The beginning is very fast pace from the get go with one thing happening after another with action and adventure. But, as soon as they get to the Last Tain things start to slow down to a crawl as they are trying to figure out how to find their brother and sister and make money so they could continue on their quest.
Their are some things that confused me a bit, like for two kids trying to stay hidden, they were sure exposing themselves with easy access as they promoted the coffee bar and Quinn's music. Another thing that confused me was at one point Kayla is doing a search about Blue Hydrangea flowers and the page she finds has nothing to do whatsoever about the flowers but suspiciously about who might be following them, I didn't get how the two connected.
Thought the historical references were pretty cool especially the reference to door colors, but when I googled that to learn more I couldn't find any info about it and actually found out Red doors have a different meaning than said in the book. But their is lots of historical reference that were interesting to read about. I love learning bits of history in novels, putting truth in fiction is my favorite. I am not sure exactly if this book does that or not with my findings of door colors but it was still interesting!
The paranormal parts of the book are a little vague, and I am hoping the next book gets more into what they exactly are, are they witches, aliens, something else? There is still a lot happening after the book ends so their is lot to look forward to in the next book!
I really enjoyed this book, there are very subtle clues at the book progresses and if you catch on to them you might figure out the clue before the characters in the book do! Very fun to read and I look forward to the next one!
Quinn and Kayla are able to put away their differences as they try to figure out why their siblings left so abruptly for no apparent reason. Hoping for explanation at home, after the reception, all they find is a note saying they went to Philly instead of Hawaii for their honeymoon and an old letter from Kayla's mother that Jim wants her to solve. This leads to a purple key, a diary, a static phone call at 3am in the morning, hidden room in their pantry with a CD saying "PLAY ME" and a explanation on it saying "We are not who you think we are", and then their house exploding! All in one night!
Their findings lead them to Philly with the purpose of finding who they really are, where their siblings are, and who is trying to hurt them!
This books reminds me a lot of Da Vinci Code meets National Treasure meets a Rick Rhordian novel. This book even mentions one of Rick Rhordian novels, which I thought was funny. The beginning is very fast pace from the get go with one thing happening after another with action and adventure. But, as soon as they get to the Last Tain things start to slow down to a crawl as they are trying to figure out how to find their brother and sister and make money so they could continue on their quest.
Their are some things that confused me a bit, like for two kids trying to stay hidden, they were sure exposing themselves with easy access as they promoted the coffee bar and Quinn's music. Another thing that confused me was at one point Kayla is doing a search about Blue Hydrangea flowers and the page she finds has nothing to do whatsoever about the flowers but suspiciously about who might be following them, I didn't get how the two connected.
Thought the historical references were pretty cool especially the reference to door colors, but when I googled that to learn more I couldn't find any info about it and actually found out Red doors have a different meaning than said in the book. But their is lots of historical reference that were interesting to read about. I love learning bits of history in novels, putting truth in fiction is my favorite. I am not sure exactly if this book does that or not with my findings of door colors but it was still interesting!
The paranormal parts of the book are a little vague, and I am hoping the next book gets more into what they exactly are, are they witches, aliens, something else? There is still a lot happening after the book ends so their is lot to look forward to in the next book!
I really enjoyed this book, there are very subtle clues at the book progresses and if you catch on to them you might figure out the clue before the characters in the book do! Very fun to read and I look forward to the next one!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles) - Julia Crane
Keegan lives like a human being, but she is really an elf. She has the main elf power of invisibility and the inner eye. And she is very excited to meet her life mate when she comes to age. In elf society a life mate is chosen for you but you can not see your life mate until you are the age of 18. Life mates are cloaked from each other till the youngest turns 18 and they know nothing about each other not even there name. But Keegan's situation is special, her brother Thaddeus, a seer, has told Keegan her life mates name: Rourk. Now she constantly thinks of Rourk's name.
Every time Keegan thinks of Rourk's name, he gets a mental picture of where Keegan is. At first it was easy for him to ignore it but now every time she thinks of his name he must go and find her and see what she is doing. He knows what she looks like, but he doesn't know her name. And she doesn't know what he looks like all she knows is his name.
Everything seems simple and everyday for Keegan until her and her friends go to a new age fair and Keegan encounters a dark elf. When she tells her parents what happens, her parents get all panic stricken and inform Keegan that things have been happening that she hadn't known about, and now it is time for her to know!
The story for me feels a bit off, disjointed. There are paragraphs just placed in places that don't go along with the previous paragraph just so that specific thing can be referenced later on. Things happen too quickly and things that don't need to be described are, when big events are not described enough. The concept is interesting and different but it doesn't fully flow well in my opinion.
****May be spoilers below****
There are many things that bothered me in this novel to make me give it three stars. When Keegan tells her parents about the dark elf she sees at the new age fair they get all scared. They inform her about the war that has been going on since the beginning of time shielded from human eyes and her father is the chosen one. And now the time is growing near and her family must prepare all because she saw a dark elf at a fair. No other back story other than that. No reason why the father is the chosen one. Also, the parents get all mad that she went to the new age fair because that is where you run into dark fairies. Well...later on it is known that there are creatures everywhere. So, why couldn't she had seen a dark fairy at starbucks?
Thaddeus, Keegan's brother, is this big important seer/warrior. And he is not allowed to interfere with fate. So he doesn't tell his sister about something bad that happens but it is okay for him to interfere and tell Keegan Rourks name so he could help her in a time of need? It is also told he is the prophecy child, but there is no backstory to that. How did he become the prophecy child what is the prophecy?
Thing don't go together well, don't seem to mesh well. There is a point where she just learns about the war that is happening, her father is the chosen one, and she goes up to her room to read text messages and swoon over guys. Or Keegan can walk briskly to her favorite starbucks or think about walking to a party with her friends from her house. But at the same time she lives on a 70 acre lot with farmland everywhere and a long windy driveway.
There are conversations not needed, for instant she talks to a friend about helping with english later and then that is all it isn't talked about again, just that bit of conversation for no reason. Then there are paragraphs that are just placed there that don't go with the rest of the page. There is a brief paragraph where Donald is talking to Keegan but she was too busy thinking of Ireland and he bolts...the only reason that is there is to set up a scene later on where he is in Ireland helping with the fight. But the paragraph just seems to float there disjointed from the rest of the story.
The romance is rushed and annoying. Before they even say hi or one word to each other they are lip locked and everyone is cheering and clapping. They don't even know each other, they have barely met before and just because they are chosen for each other it is okay to kiss right away? And everyone cheering? Why would they care? There is so much emphasis put on Keegan like she is a Queen or something but no reason why. Everyone is dying but everything still goes on, but when it happens to her the world stops and no one can move except her loved ones. Or no on talks until she wakes up. How is she any different than anyone else?
Things conflict as well. It is mentioned many times that partners are cloaked from each other till 18 but Keegan's mother tells a story about how Keegan's mother and father met before they were 18 and destined to be together.
Small things that bother me: Rourk kills a human just because he is foddling Keegan after she was crowd surfing. The battle scenes are very rushed and there is this sentence where Keegan decides to check out the battle for the first time, sees a friend get hurt, runs to rescue him, and "kills a couple men before she made it" like no biggie it is an everyday thing. Or Keegan wants know know why they don't telport and her mom says "your father likes to get frequent flyer points" well that doesn't make sense because you only need frequent flyer points to get free mileage...which you don't need if you are telporting it is a weak answer that doesn't really answer the question.
This book just needed to be thought out better, more details where needed to help the story line and plot. Places felt rushed and disjointed. Didn't run together smoothly. But, it was a very interesting concept. I enjoyed the connection between Rourk and Keegan how she thought of his name and he could see her that was neat.
Every time Keegan thinks of Rourk's name, he gets a mental picture of where Keegan is. At first it was easy for him to ignore it but now every time she thinks of his name he must go and find her and see what she is doing. He knows what she looks like, but he doesn't know her name. And she doesn't know what he looks like all she knows is his name.
Everything seems simple and everyday for Keegan until her and her friends go to a new age fair and Keegan encounters a dark elf. When she tells her parents what happens, her parents get all panic stricken and inform Keegan that things have been happening that she hadn't known about, and now it is time for her to know!
The story for me feels a bit off, disjointed. There are paragraphs just placed in places that don't go along with the previous paragraph just so that specific thing can be referenced later on. Things happen too quickly and things that don't need to be described are, when big events are not described enough. The concept is interesting and different but it doesn't fully flow well in my opinion.
****May be spoilers below****
There are many things that bothered me in this novel to make me give it three stars. When Keegan tells her parents about the dark elf she sees at the new age fair they get all scared. They inform her about the war that has been going on since the beginning of time shielded from human eyes and her father is the chosen one. And now the time is growing near and her family must prepare all because she saw a dark elf at a fair. No other back story other than that. No reason why the father is the chosen one. Also, the parents get all mad that she went to the new age fair because that is where you run into dark fairies. Well...later on it is known that there are creatures everywhere. So, why couldn't she had seen a dark fairy at starbucks?
Thaddeus, Keegan's brother, is this big important seer/warrior. And he is not allowed to interfere with fate. So he doesn't tell his sister about something bad that happens but it is okay for him to interfere and tell Keegan Rourks name so he could help her in a time of need? It is also told he is the prophecy child, but there is no backstory to that. How did he become the prophecy child what is the prophecy?
Thing don't go together well, don't seem to mesh well. There is a point where she just learns about the war that is happening, her father is the chosen one, and she goes up to her room to read text messages and swoon over guys. Or Keegan can walk briskly to her favorite starbucks or think about walking to a party with her friends from her house. But at the same time she lives on a 70 acre lot with farmland everywhere and a long windy driveway.
There are conversations not needed, for instant she talks to a friend about helping with english later and then that is all it isn't talked about again, just that bit of conversation for no reason. Then there are paragraphs that are just placed there that don't go with the rest of the page. There is a brief paragraph where Donald is talking to Keegan but she was too busy thinking of Ireland and he bolts...the only reason that is there is to set up a scene later on where he is in Ireland helping with the fight. But the paragraph just seems to float there disjointed from the rest of the story.
The romance is rushed and annoying. Before they even say hi or one word to each other they are lip locked and everyone is cheering and clapping. They don't even know each other, they have barely met before and just because they are chosen for each other it is okay to kiss right away? And everyone cheering? Why would they care? There is so much emphasis put on Keegan like she is a Queen or something but no reason why. Everyone is dying but everything still goes on, but when it happens to her the world stops and no one can move except her loved ones. Or no on talks until she wakes up. How is she any different than anyone else?
Things conflict as well. It is mentioned many times that partners are cloaked from each other till 18 but Keegan's mother tells a story about how Keegan's mother and father met before they were 18 and destined to be together.
Small things that bother me: Rourk kills a human just because he is foddling Keegan after she was crowd surfing. The battle scenes are very rushed and there is this sentence where Keegan decides to check out the battle for the first time, sees a friend get hurt, runs to rescue him, and "kills a couple men before she made it" like no biggie it is an everyday thing. Or Keegan wants know know why they don't telport and her mom says "your father likes to get frequent flyer points" well that doesn't make sense because you only need frequent flyer points to get free mileage...which you don't need if you are telporting it is a weak answer that doesn't really answer the question.
This book just needed to be thought out better, more details where needed to help the story line and plot. Places felt rushed and disjointed. Didn't run together smoothly. But, it was a very interesting concept. I enjoyed the connection between Rourk and Keegan how she thought of his name and he could see her that was neat.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Beastly - Alex Finn
I, like probably many others, decided to read this book because of the movie that just came out. Although, I have not watched the movie yet but I have finished this book. I really enjoyed it! I haven't watched Beauty and the Beast (The Disney movie) for a very long time, and have forgotten a lot that happens in the movie, but as I read this book I began to remember bits and pieces of Beauty and the Beast and it was fun to remember the childhood memories from the movie by reading this book.
Beastly starts off with Kyle, the most handsome 9th grader at Tuttle, a private school for most rich kids. He has just been elected prince for Spring Dance Court, and pretty much knows he has it in the bag. Kyle comes across very snobby, rich and arrogant. He is a true friend to no one and doesn't care about anyone but his self and doesn't mind putting someone down for the benefit of a laugh. The author does a great job making him unlikeable to the reader.
He plays a joke on an ugly girl at school, but instead of crying and running away like he thought she just shrugs it off and seems pleased that he did exactly what she thought he would. And by playing the joke it gave her the opportunity to put a spell on him...a spell to make him as ugly as he is in the inside out, a beast. And he can only break the spell if someone is to love him and kisses him with true love before 2 years are up...but that is kind of hard when he is an ugly beast.
It is a very great story told in the view of the beast. How he coops with the curse that was put upon him. How he goes to every surgeon his father can buy and no one can help. And soon his father can't even stand to be around the beast and sends him off with the maid to live alone. The story does a really good job showing how Kyles personality changes, it changes so much that he ends up changing his name to go with his new personality.
The story is punctuated between parts of the book with a Forum chat lead by Mr. Anderson. A chat where humans that have been turned into creatures can go to discuss how it has changed there life. The screen names in the chat are: Froggie, Grizzlyguy, and BeastNYC all from fairy tales where princes are turned into creatures. There is also SlientMaid who is thinking about getting a transformation to be with the sailor she rescued.
This a really fun and entertaining twist of beauty and the beast. There are a bunch of funny quotes in the book like "Of course, maybe I'd end up like one of those crazy old people with, like, sixty cats. And one day, the neighbors would complain about the smell, and it would turn out I'd died and the cats had eaten me"
This book has made me want to read more of this authors fairy tale books with a twist I really like how she portrays an old story and makes it fun and different!
Beastly starts off with Kyle, the most handsome 9th grader at Tuttle, a private school for most rich kids. He has just been elected prince for Spring Dance Court, and pretty much knows he has it in the bag. Kyle comes across very snobby, rich and arrogant. He is a true friend to no one and doesn't care about anyone but his self and doesn't mind putting someone down for the benefit of a laugh. The author does a great job making him unlikeable to the reader.
He plays a joke on an ugly girl at school, but instead of crying and running away like he thought she just shrugs it off and seems pleased that he did exactly what she thought he would. And by playing the joke it gave her the opportunity to put a spell on him...a spell to make him as ugly as he is in the inside out, a beast. And he can only break the spell if someone is to love him and kisses him with true love before 2 years are up...but that is kind of hard when he is an ugly beast.
It is a very great story told in the view of the beast. How he coops with the curse that was put upon him. How he goes to every surgeon his father can buy and no one can help. And soon his father can't even stand to be around the beast and sends him off with the maid to live alone. The story does a really good job showing how Kyles personality changes, it changes so much that he ends up changing his name to go with his new personality.
The story is punctuated between parts of the book with a Forum chat lead by Mr. Anderson. A chat where humans that have been turned into creatures can go to discuss how it has changed there life. The screen names in the chat are: Froggie, Grizzlyguy, and BeastNYC all from fairy tales where princes are turned into creatures. There is also SlientMaid who is thinking about getting a transformation to be with the sailor she rescued.
This a really fun and entertaining twist of beauty and the beast. There are a bunch of funny quotes in the book like "Of course, maybe I'd end up like one of those crazy old people with, like, sixty cats. And one day, the neighbors would complain about the smell, and it would turn out I'd died and the cats had eaten me"
This book has made me want to read more of this authors fairy tale books with a twist I really like how she portrays an old story and makes it fun and different!
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