The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Page Count: 488
Release Date: December 18, 2012
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Series: The Darkest Minds #1
Source: Christmas Present

Read the synopsis here on Goodreads.

My Review:

I heard a lot of hype about this book, so I decided it was one that I had to read. Luckily for me, I received it as a Christmas present.

For the most part, The Darkest Minds lived up to all of the raving. There were a few things I didn't like too much, but I'll address that later.

I truly enjoyed the storyline of this novel. While there are books out there with slightly similar plots, there is a great level of uniqueness to The Darkest Minds. When children turn 10 year old, there are subject to one of two thing; death or developing special abilities. Ruby ends up with special abilities. However, sometime drastic happens with her parents and she is shipped of to Thurmond, a "rehabilitation" center. After several years there, the operator of the camp figure out her secret and she is forced to escape. Along the way, she meat Liam, a fellow escapee from a different camp, and his friend. Together they search for a place that is supposed to be a haven for people like them and form bonds with each other along the way.

Alexandra Bracken does an amazing job with the character development in this novel. Ruby, the lead character, is a strong individual. She has basically been on her own for years and therefore she is able to stand up for herself. Yet, because of this, she is afraid to let herself get close with anyone. Liam is a great character, as well. He's strong and unlike Ruby, he is willing to get close to people. There were also great supporting characters in this novel. I especially liked Suzume.

As for the romance in this novel, it honestly didn't really go that far. After much time, Ruby is able to let her guard down just a little and let herself get close to Liam, but it honestly doesn't really go much farther than that.

Now for the ending, it was honestly the most disappointing part of the novel for me. Even though it cuts off a good place, I personally just don't like the way it went down.

There were a few points of The Darkest Minds that I didn't like. For starters, I didn't think there was enough explanation about the abilities of the different "color". While I was able to figure out what some of the "color" were capable of, I am still lost regarding the other. Also, there wasn't a lot of backstory to the novel. While you do eventually learn a bit about Ruby's past, I just don't feel like you learn enough and I was left confused a few times. Other than that, the novel was great.

When I first saw this novel, I didn't understand the cover at all. I had no idea what the symbol stood for. However, after reading the book, I now understand the cover and I like it.

I would definitely recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading the sequel.



Rating: 4/5

Review also posted on Goodreads.

Stacking the Shelves (07)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we highlight the books we receive each week.

 

Bought

• While He Was Away by Karen Schreck
• Warm Bodies by Issac Marion
• Into the Dark by Alison Gaylin

 Sorry about the lack of post over the last couple of weeks. I have a new job and it's hard for me to find time to work on my blog sometimes. I'm going to try to get more post out in the upcoming weeks.

 

Well, that's all for me this week.

 

What did you get this week?

 

       *All book links are to Goodreads.*

Stacking the Shelves (06)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we highlight the books we receive each week.

 

Bought

 

•  City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
• Stolen Nights by Rebecca Maizel
• Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

 

The Trylle Trilogy Box Set

• Switched by Amanda Hocking
• Torn by Amanda Hocking
• Ascend by Amanda Hocking  

• Beneath Still Waters by Matthew J. Costello
• Dead Wrong by Susan Sleeman
• Dangerous Melody by Dana Mentink
• Fatal Flaw by Ginna Gray

Random Buzzers

 

• The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab

 I've been waiting on this one since December. It finally showed up a few days ago. 

 

E-books (bought)

•  Everneath by Brodi Ashton
• Crewel by Gennifer Albin

E-books (free)

• Jenny Pox by JL Bryan

Well, that's all for me this week.

What did you get this week?

*All book links are to Goodreads.*

Alice in Zombieland

 Alice in Zombieland
Author: Gena Showalter
Page Count: 404
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: White Rabbit Chronicles #1
Source: Library 

Read the synopsis here on Goodreads.

My Review:

I'll be honest; there were a couple of time were I thought this book was going to end up on my DNF list. There were some points in the book that I had to struggle to get though. In the end, however, I decided to stick it out, and I'm glad I did. Once through the tough parts, ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND turned out to be a fantastic book.

Despite the title, this isn't really a retelling of Alice in Wonderland. There are some aspects of the story that allude to Alice in Wonderland but it doesn't try to retell the story with zombies thrown in.

In the beginning, I really did think that Ali's dad was crazy, but as the story progresses, you learn that he is not. In fact, after the accident that take her family away from her, Ali is able to see the monsters too.

The characters were amazing. Ali is a strong lead character, and while she annoyed me sometimes, she is able to stand up for herself and her friends. Cole is a kind of a dark, brooding character, but I think he is a perfect match for Ali. The supporting characters also play a big role in the tale. Without them, this story just wouldn't have turn out the way it did.

Overall, a very good read. I would recommend this to fans of zombie books.

Rating: 4/5

Review also posted on Goodreads. 
 

Waiting on Wednesday: Icons

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Icons

by Margaret Stohl 

448 pages

Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Expected Publication: May 7, 2013

Series: Icons #1

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

- Goodreads.com description 

I am a big fan of the Caster Chronicles, Margaret Stohl's novels with Kami Garcia. Therefore, I am very eager to see what Margaret Stohl produces own her own. 

What's your Waiting on Wednesday pick this week?

Stacking the Shelves (05)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we highlight the books we receive each week.

 

Bought

• Spirit Walk by Richie Tankersley Cusick
• A Clean Slate by Laura Caldwell

 

ARCycling

• Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway. Received from ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***
• Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. Received from The Book Belles

This was my first time participating in ARCycling. Thanks so much to the ladies over at ARCycling and the bloggers who donated their books.  

 

E-books (bought)

 

•  Crash by Nicole Williams

 

Netgalley

• Unbroken by Paula Morris

What did you get this week?

 *All book links are to Goodreads.*

Eon

Eon
Author: Alison Goodman
Page Count: 531
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Firebird
Series: Eon #1
Source: Purchased
*Paperback Info*

Read the synopsis here on Goodreads.

My Review:

 ** Possible Spoiler** 
  
A very good book. At one point in time, I absolutely did not like fantasy novels. However, after putting my dislike aside, I have found that I really enjoy fantasy.

This book had been sitting at the bottom of my to read pile for over a month when I finally decided that it was time to read it. Very glad I decided to read it. Even though Eon was over 500 pages long, it was not long and drawn out. It is very well paced and keeps you drawn into the story. You get plenty of back story also. The author created a wonderful world in this book. Very action packed. I also enjoyed the Asian mythology and culture.

Eon is a twelve year old boy training to take part in the Dragoneye ceremony. But that is not his true identity. Eon is actually a sixteen year old girl named Eona, who has to hide her real identity because females are not allowed to be Dragoneyes. At the ceremony, Eon is picked by the Mirror Dragon, who had disappeared 500 years earlier.

Throughout the novel you learn more about Eon/Eona and the struggles she goes through training to be a dragoneye. While the first half of the novel doesn't have many big events, the second half certainly makes up for it. Eona was kind of slow in figuring things out, but I've noticed that this happens in a lot of books, so it really didn't bother me that much. I personally thought the ending was a bit predictable, but I still enjoyed the way it played out. The novel does end in a cliffhanger and leaves you eager to read the next book.
Rating: 5/5
Review also posted on Goodreads.