Let the Sky Fall

Let the Sky Fall
Author: Shannon Messenger
Page Count: 416
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Let the Sky Fall #1
Source: Purchased

Read the synopsis here on Goodreads.

My Review:

**Possible Spoilers**

It's not often that I find a book that I don't want to put down, but I found one with this book. I had a hard time putting this book down when I needed to attend to something else. I actually stayed up til midnight trying to finish reading it when I had to be at work by 6 A.M the next morning. That's how much I liked this book.

The plot of this book was unlike other books I've read. I was drawn to it instantly. The writing is brilliant.

Vane is a seventeen year old who survived a tornado when he was seven years old. He remembers nothing about his life before the tornado. He has constant dreams about a girl, who turns out to be real. Audra is a Windwalker whose mission is to protect Vane at all costs. After a mistake reveals them to their enemies, Audra must help vain recover his past and prepare for the battle that lies ahead of them. Vane has a rough time dealing with the new revelations, but with Audra's help, he is able to overcome the difficulties and harness his true nature.

Interesting characters in this novel. Vane is a typical teenage boy. He thinks and acts like a teenager in high school. As much as I hate high school drama and stuff like that, I was glad that Vane acted his age. A lot of novels have characters that act too old or too young for their age, so I appreciate that the character actually acted his age. Audra is Vane's guardian. Her task is to protect Vane and help him uncover his true nature. I was able to connect with the character's in this novel and I liked that.

Let the Sky Fall is told from two points of view; Vane's and Audra's. The chapters alternate with the points of view. Each chapter tells whose POV it is and it's very easy to keep up. I was never confused about who was talking. I actually enjoyed the multiple POVs. I was able to learn about both characters and see their world the way each of them saw it, instead of just having one view.

I enjoyed the romantic aspect of the novel also. While there is a bit of an insta-love aspect to the romance, it is not that bad. They technically have known each other for many years, ever though Vane did not know for sure if Audra was real or if she was just a figment of his imagination. The concept of being bonded by just one single kiss was interesting also. I have never read a book with that concept before. Just one kiss will bond a couple together, forever. It was different and captivating.

The ending was good but sad, in my opinion. So much happens and I have so many questions. The novel cuts off at a good place, though, and leaves a nice opening for the sequel.

The world building in Let the Sky Fall is great. The descriptions are so vivid that I could actually visualize what was going on without difficulty.

The cover is awesome. It draws the eye to the book and in my opinion, the people on the cover portray Vane and Audra perfectly. The colors on the cover remind me of an actual sky.

Let the Sky Fall is a wonderful book and I definitely recommend it. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book.

Rating: 5/5

Ashes of Twilight

Ashes of Twilight
Author: Kassy Tayler
Page Count: 320
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Series: Ashes Trilogy #1
Source: Christmas Present

Read the synopsis here on Goodreads.

My Review:

**Possible Spoilers**

I had been eying this novel for a while after it was published, so when I received it as a Christmas present, I was extremely happy.

Ashes of Twilight was different from a lot of dystopian / steampunk novels that I've read. While it had some of the same elements as other novels, the novel put a bit of a spin on things.

For over 200 years, people have lived in an underground world, known as the Dome. A comet had crashed into Earth and destroyed everything with fire. The people believe that outside the dome, the Earth is consumed by fire and therefore inhabitable. Everything that happens in their life is chosen for them; the inhabitants have very few choices of there own. Wren is a part of the lower class group of people, known as the "shiner". They live in underground cavern below the rest of the inhabitants. It is there job to mine for coal and serve the upper class royal. One day, a friend of Wren's escapes from the dome and learns the truth about the outside world. He is killed because of what he knows. His death helps to spark a revolution, with Wren at the forefront.

I was actually able to connect with the characters in this novel. There is great characterization and you learn so much about the characters. Wren has had to deal with the circumstances of her birth and I felt that it help to mold her into a strong lead character. She stands up for what she believe and doesn't back down for anyone. Pace lives above and witnessed what happened to Wren's friend. He protect Wren, while at the same time she's is protecting him.

The world building in Ashes of Twilight is phenomenal. The descriptions of the world are so vivid and life-like the a could easily visualize what I was reading. At times, it felt like I was in the novel.

The romance aspect of this novel wasn't the best, but I still enjoyed it and it added to the novel. While I am not a fan of insta-love by any means, it sort of felt necessary for this novel, in my opinion. The characters don't have a lot of time play around with their relationship, so perhaps insta-love was the right thing for this novel. Wren has finally found someone that accepts her and who isn't worried about her bloodline. So, with this novel, I liked the romance and I felt that it didn't add any distractions to the novel.

However, I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed. The whole novel leads up to it and then it ends. For me, it left many questions unanswered. Still, it does answer some and the novel does finish nicely, leave an opening for the next novel to pick up on.

I loved the cover of this novel. It is what initially drew me to this novel. At first, I didn't understand it's relation to the book, but after reading the novel, I have to say that the cover ties in wonderfully.

All-in-all, this was a great book and I really enjoyed reading it. If you are a fan of dystopian and steampunk novel, I recommend this book to you. Perhaps you will enjoy it, too.

Rating: 4/5   

*Review also posted on Goodreads.*

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden
Author: Jessica Sorensen
Page Count: 276 (ebook)
Release Date: December 13, 2012
Publisher: Jessica Sorensen
Series: The Coincidence #1
Source: Purchased

Read the synopsis here on Goodreads. 

 

My Review:

While I'm not usually a big reader of contemporary novels, I can definitely say that this book played a big role in changing my mind about that. It's not often that a book is able to draw me in from the first page, but this one certainly did.

This novel started off great from the very beginning. There was never a dull moment for me. I absolutely loved the story line. Callie and Kayden grew up in the same town and went to the same school, but that's it. They never interacted with each other. Circumstances of Callie's past have cause to change and shut herself off from the world around her. Kayden is harboring a secret of his own. When they end up at the same college, this slowly change for both of them and they end up falling for each other.

Jessica Sorensen didn't shy away from any touchy subject in this book. While some might say that they don't agree with it, I personally thought it helped at the the intrigue of this novel.

The characters are very well developed. Both Callie and Kayden are dealing with things that happened in their past, even if their ways of dealing with it may not very healthy. Callie, while she is afraid to trust anyone, she is still a strong character. Kayden is a bit of a playboy and tries to keep himself from feeling. There are also some great secondary character, especially Seth. He is one of Callie's best friends and they first person she opens up to about her past.

I enjoyed reading the story from two points of view. You are able to look into both of the lead characters' lives.

The romance is this novel was so different from many of the books I've read and that is a very good thing. There is no insta-love, thankfully. Their relationship develops over time and isn't smooth sailing all the way. This made the novel so much better. While a not a fan of drama and angst, I feel that a little bit helps at some sustenance to a novel.

The ending. What an ending. There was such a build up to the ending then it cuts off. I'm am so eager to find out what happens next. It's such a huge cliffhanger. I don't know what else to say about it.

The cover is awesome. In my opinion, it portrays so much emotion. The cover is what initially drew me to the book. It's intriguing and make you wonder what is happening inside the book.

All in all, I fell in love with this book. I would recommend it to everyone. That being said, if you haven't read this book, you should definitely check it out.

Rating: 5/5

Review also posted on Goodreads.

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.

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. 
 

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. 
  

Carnival of Souls

Carnival of Souls
Author: Melissa Marr

Page Count: 306
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: N/A
Source: Library

Read the synopsis here on Goodreads.

 

My Review:

Unfortunately this was another book that ended up on my DNF list. I had hoped I would enjoy Carnival of Souls. I had heard many good things about it and thought I would enjoy it. In the beginning, I was enjoying it, but as I read on it became less enjoyable for me. I made it about 100 pages through this book before I decided that I just couldn't read it anymore.

The plot just wasn't there for me. It started off okay, but then kind of dropped off. There was no action or spunk in this novel, at least in the part I read. Also there was a lot of information, some of which I don't think was necessary.

Seeing as how I didn't finish this novel, I have no idea how it ends. Maybe it has a good ending; I don't know.

On a good note, I did like the cover. It is intriguing and is what made me had me interested in the novel in the first place.

Overall, this novel just wasn't for me.

Rating: DNF

Review also posted on Goodreads.  

Shatter Me

Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Page Count: 338
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Publisher: Harper
Series: Shatter Me #1
Source: Won a copy from a giveaway on Libby Blog. 

Read the synopsis here on Goodreads. 

My Review:

 I really enjoyed this book. I love dystopian novels, so this was one I had to read. The cover was really cool, even though the picture really didn't have anything to do with the story line. I felt that the author did a great job with this book. The characters were very well written and the story flowed well. It didn't randomly skip around. I liked that.

I absolutely despised Warner. He infuriated me. I know this is going to sound rude, but his character was the most conceited and arrogant character I've read about in a long time. I guess the novel needed a bad guy, but I still don't like him. He had Juliette torture a baby, for goodness sake. Other than Warner, I liked the other characters.

I would have given Shatter Me 5 stars, but I honestly didn't understand the repeated words and some of the crossed out words and phrases. I know that they had something to do with the story line, but sometimes they left me confused. Also, while you got some background about Juliette's life, I kind of felt like her "power" was never really explained. I understand what she is able to do, but I'm still a bit confused. Other than that, I had absolutely no problems with the book.

I look forward to reading Unravel Me. The ending was definitely a cliffhanger and leaves you wondering what is going to happen next.

Disclaimer: I received a this book for free from a giveaway at Libby Blog. This in no way influenced my opinions about this book. 

Rating: 4/5
Review also posted on Goodreads.  
   

Try Not to Breathe

Try Not to Breathe
Author: Jennifer R. Hubbard
Page Count: 233
Release Date: January 19, 2012
Publisher: Viking
Series: N/A
Source: Library

Read the summary here on Goodreads.

My Review:

This was a very inspiring novel. While I didn't especially enjoy this novel, I still felt like it was a good book.

I was unable to relate to the subject matter in Try Not to Breathe. I know very little about suicide. What I do know, I learned in nursing school. Even so, I still felt a pull to get to know the protagonist more.

This novel does focus on a subject that is all to real. The author did a great job tackling this issue. Nothing about the novel feels fake or forced. It shows you that everything won't be fine in the blink of an eye, but does give you a positive outlook.

Ryan, the protagonist, is sixteen and has just recently gotten out of a mental hospital after a suicide attempt. He feels as if he is invisible. After his release, his parents constantly watch him, afraid that he will try again. During his summer vacation from school, he meets Nikki, a girl who has her own issues. Ryan begins to trust Nikki and little by little his walls come down.

The characters in this novel are so real. They display real emotions and experiences. It did not feel as if the author had to force herself to write a teenage character.

I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I felt as if it ended to soon and it left me with a lot of questions.

As for the cover, I liked it. At first, I didn't really understand how it pertained to the novel, but after I finished reading, it made more sense to me.

In the end, I give this novel a 3/5. I liked the novel but a wasn't not completely satisfied by it. Even so, I will still recommend it.

Rating: 3/5

Review also posted on Goodreads. 
     

Dearly, Beloved

Dearly, Beloved
Author: Lia Habel
Page Count: 496
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Publisher: Del Ray
Series: Gone With the Respiration #2
Source: Purchased

Read the summary here on Goodreads.

My Review:

This was a good book and I enjoyed reading it; however, I did not enjoy it quite as much as I enjoyed Dearly, Departed. To me, there just wasn't as much action and suspense as the previous novel and it left it a bit lacking for me.

The pace is also a bit slow at times. There were some times throughout the book where I had to push through to be able to continue reading. The reader is given a lot of information in a short period of time and it becomes a tad bit overwhelming. The pace does eventually pick up and reading becomes more enjoyable.

Even with the flaws, there was plenty that I enjoyed about this novel. You get to read more about Nora and Bram and you learn more about the zombies. They are some new topics introduced that keep you on your toes.

The plot, while it was slow going at first, does draw you into the novel. Once the action begins in the novel, it does make up some for the slow start. While it is not as action packed as Dearly, Departed was, there is enough action to keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen to the characters next. The romantic factor of the novel was still there; however not as pronounced as in the previous novel.

Nora and Bram's relationship is still going strong in Dearly, Beloved. Being that their relationship is already established, it was a bit slow and uneventful at times. Even so, I enjoyed learning more about them. Bram is still his brave, heroic self. He'll do anything to protect Nora and his friends. Nora seems a just a bit different to me. While she is still a strong female character and willing to stand up for herself, she's different. In my opinion, in Dearly, Departed she came across as an innocent girl, even though she didn't exactly go along with the society's standards. In Dearly, Beloved most of that innocence is gone. She make some very rash decisions and shockingly enough, most of those decision have good outcomes. I appreciated how their relationship stayed strong throughout the novel. I have read so many sequels where the couples break up for the stupidest reasons, so I was extremely glad that did not happen in this one.

The supporting characters in this novel really help make the novel what it is. Pamela, Nora's best friend, is there for Nora, even though she doesn't agree with everything Nora is doing. I didn't particularly like Vespertine all that much, but in the end she was an important part of the story. As for Micheal, I wish I had been in the novel so I could have gotten rid of him myself. Laura, a new character who is introduced in this novel, made the story a bit more interesting. I enjoyed being able to read from another zombie's point-of-view.

I like the multiple POVs, but I felt as if the novel could have done with out a few of them. Some of them just didn't feel necessary.

The author does a wonderful job with world building. Her details really make you feel like you are there. The way the characters are written is amazing. You are able to get to know the characters so personally, even the one's you don't like.

The ending. WOW. I have to say the ending is what saved my rating on this novel. Originally, I was going to give Dearly, Beloved a 3/5 rating, but the ending helped to bump it up a notch. The ending was amazing! When I read it, I honestly didn't believe what I had just read, so I re-read it. I was so shocked and happy. I was just sitting there, hold the book in my hand and thinking "Did that really just happen?". It is not really much of a cliffhanger, but it does leave the door wide open for more. No word yet if there will be another book, but I am most certainly hoping for one. I need to know what happens next.

All-in-all, a good book. Even though I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book, I still had a good time reading it. There were some flaws in the novel, but most of them are able to be overcome. I would definitely recommend it. 

Rating: 4/5

Review also posted on Goodreads.   
  

Tiger's Curse

Tiger's Curse
Author: Colleen Houck
Page Count: 456 (Paperback)
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Splinter
Series: The Tiger Saga #1
Source: Purchased
*Paperback Info*

Read the synopsis here on Goodreads.

 

My Review:

I enjoyed this book. I was a little hesitant to read it at first, but it turned out to be a good book. The last few books I've read have no background story about what is happening in the book, but this one did. You get plenty of background about the curse, Ren's life, and other things. You are not left wondering what in the world is going on. I liked that. Tiger's Curse also has a lot of details about the Indian culture and their history. I felt as though I was in India while I was reading this book. The author created a fabulous world in this book. It seemed so real; it was like you were right beside Ren and Kelsey.

Speaking of Kelsey, I liked her character throughout most of the book until she decided to suddenly do a complete 360 with her feelings. For the first 300 pages of the novel so was all lovey-dovey with Ren and then in the course of like 2 pages, she has turned her feelings around and doesn't want to be with him. I understand that she was trying to be a realist and realized that a relationship may not work out between them, but she could at least give Ren a chance. I certainly hope they work things out in the following books. I was also stunned by the fact that she was basically all over Ren's brother, Kishan, when he showed up at the end of the book, considering how much she was doing to stay way from Ren.

All in all, I thought this was a great book. The character's were well written, despite Kelsey's attitude for the last 100 pages. I will be reading Tiger's Quest as soon as I can get my hands on a copy of it or can download it on my NOOK. Would definitely recommend this one to anyone who has read it yet.

Rating: 4/5 
Review also posted on Goodreads 
 
 

The Demon Catchers of Milan

The Demon Catchers of Milan 
Author: Kat Beyer 
Page Count: 288 
Release Date: August 28, 2012 
Publisher: EgmontUSA 
Series: N/A 
Source: Won an ARC copy from Oodles of Books

Read the synopsis here on Goodreads.

My Review:

DNF - Honestly, I had high hopes for this book to begin with. The synopsis was very intriguing and made me want to read this book. Unfortunately, this book just did not live up to my expectations. I was able to make in through just over 100 pages before I gave up. There was not as much action as I thought there would have been and the descriptions, while they did give me some sense of Milan, were just too much. It seemed to me in the part that I read that there were more descriptions that anything else. I was confused as to what was supposed to be happening.

Maybe one day I will try to read this book again, but for now I'm done.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy of this book from a giveaway at Oodles of Books blog. This in no way influenced my opinions about this book.

Rating - DNF  

Delirium

Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Page Count: 441
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: Harper Teen
Series: Delirium #1
Source: Library

Read the summary here on Goodreads.

My Review

I really enjoyed this book. I had been wanting to read it for a while, so when I found it at my local library, I grabbed it up.

The plot of this book was interesting. The government and society sees love as a disease. Everyone is to be cured when they turn eighteen. People who are accused of being sympathizers are locked up. Lena is counting down the days to her procedure because she very strongly believes that it is a good thing. She lives with her aunt and uncle, as her parents are deceased. She meets Alex and her beliefs change drastically. She finds out some truths about some thing and does what she believes is the right thing for her to do.

Very good characterization in this novel. While I thought Lena was a bit whinny at time, all together she was an interesting character. She has several struggles throughout the novel with her beliefs and her duty. Alex is a strong male character. His way of life is totally opposite of Lena's and I believe that made him a perfect match for her. As for Hana, she was an awesome supporting character. As Lena best friend, she is the person that Lena is closest to and she covers for Lena while Lena is with Alex.

The romance in this novel was a bit like those in other YA/Dystopian novels, but with a twist. Since love is considered a disease and is forbidden, Lena and Alex have to be extremely careful.

I liked how each chapter had an excerpt from the guidelines of Delirium's society. It gave you a feeling of actually being a part of the society and help with some of the confusion when Lena would make a reference to it.

The ending, oh what can I say about it? I was somewhat happy with some of what happened but other parts of the ending had me screaming WHAT!?! Then there is a cliffhanger. You are definitely left wondering what is going to happen next.

All in all, a great book. I look forward to reading Pandemonium.

Rating: 4/5

Review also posted on Goodreads.

   

 

Falling Kingdoms

Falling Kingdoms
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Page Count: 412
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill 
Series: Falling Kingdoms #1
Source:  Library

Read the summary here on Goodreads.

My Review:

Awesome book! I was once a person who wouldn't even pick up a book that had anything to do with fantasy; now I enjoy fantasy books. This wasn't the best fantasy novel I've read, but it was definitely an amazing book.

The title of this book is very appropriate. The kingdoms of Mythica are actually falling because of poverty and war.

The novel is written in third person from several characters' point-of-view. You are able to get to know Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus. Cleo is the princess of Auranos. She kind of comes across as a spoiled brat, but in my opinion she is anything but. Sure, she has been raised in royalty and is used to being pampered, but she genuinely cares for people and is willing to do what she has to do to save them. Jonas is a wine seller's son who is out to avenge his brothers death. He wants Cloe to suffer. Magnus is the prince of Limeros. He's a bit different from the other characters. While I liked him, I felt that his dark side greatly overshadowed the good side. Lucia is the princess of Limeros and is a sorceress. She cares for her brother very deeply. However, she is not really who she think she is. I felt that we didn't get to learn as much about Lucia as we did about the other characters in the novel.

The plot was full of energy. There is struggle for control of the kingdoms and even a bit of a love story thrown in. The novel was extremely well paced. For me, there wasn't a single part were it was slow and unbearable. I had a good time reading Falling Kingdoms, aside from the emotional turmoil that you go through when some of the supporting characters are killed. However, you are left with a cliffhanger. A huge cliffhanger. I am very eager to find out what happens.

While I found the cover of the book cool and intriguing, it really had nothing to do with the book. If anything, it is kind of misleading.

I quite liked how Falling Kingdoms had a Cast of Characters listed in the front of the book. It definitely help me with the confusion when I would forget who was who. Great reference tool.

All in all, a great book and one that I would definitely recommend. I look forward to reading the next book.  

Rating: 4/5

Review also posted on Goodreads. 

The Iron Thorn

The Iron Thorn
Author: Caitlin Kittredge
Page Count: 492
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers 
Series: Iron Codex #1 
Source: Purchased

Read the summary here on Goodreads.

 

My Review:

I've heard a lot of different opinions about this book; some good and some bad. In my opinion, it was an excellent book.

There were a couple of times were the pacing was slow and a little draw out, but other than that, The Iron Thorn was a very well paced novel.

The characters were amazing. You think you know who they really are, but as the novel progresses, you learn that the characters are not really who you thought they were. They all have their secrets, but those secrets eventually come to the surface. Aoife is a strong female character who sticks up for herself and doesn't listen when others try to tell her what to do. While I didn't agree with her attitude all the time, I still like her as a character and thought she grew throughout the novel. Dean starts out as her guide, but eventually becomes much more. He is also not who he seems to be. Cal got on my nerves a bit during the novel, but all-in-all, he's a good guy and Aoife's best friend. No one's secret shocked me more than his.

The storyline of this novel was very intriguing. The novel takes place in an alternate version of the 1950s in Massachusetts. Aoife lives in a world where belief in magic and such are forbidden and condemnable by death. Her family suffers from an illness that causes them to go mad. Her mother is locked in a madhouse and her brother disappeared. Aoife attends the School of Engineers and is a ward of the state. After she receives a strange letter from her brother, she and Cal escape from the school and set off to save him and enlist the help of Dean, who becomes their guide. There is a lot the happens in this book from the time the set off to the end. There is hardly ever a dull moment.

You definitely get the steampunk aspect in this novel. It takes a little getting used to. I had some trouble with the lingo that it used in this novel because I had no idea how to pronounce some of it. Other than that, a great steampunk novel.

My only really big problem with this book was that I could not figure out how to pronounce Aoife's name. I finally just pronounced it the way I thought it was supposed to sound and went on. I found out once I finished the book that it is pronounced "EE-fah". Maybe I should have looked it up before I read the book.

The end is most certainly a cliffhanger and leaves you eager to read the next book.

While The Iron Thorn is about 500 pages long, I thought every page was worth the time I put into reading it. I look forward to reading The Nightmare Garden.

Rating: 5/5

Review also posted on Goodreads. 

 

Dearly, Departed

Dearly Departed
Author: Lia Habel
Page Count: 470
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Publisher: Del Rey
Series: Gone With the Respiration #1
Source: Won from Lisa Loves Literature blog. Thanks!

Read the summary here on Goodreads. 

My Review

I thought I'd never enjoy about book about a zombie romance, but I was wrong! This book was amazing. Also, a perfect read for Halloween.

The characters are very well written. You get a strong female character, which doesn't happen in a lot of books. Nora wasn't afraid to stand up for herself when she needed to. Yes, she was kind of scared at first when it came to the zombies, or the undead as they prefer to be called, but seriously, what person in their right mind wouldn't be a little scared when surrounded by dozen of people who could quite literally eat you at any moment. She does break down a couple of times throughout the book, but she had very good reasons for it. Nora is also interested in war and politics, unlike the other girls her age, who are interested in making their debut. I can relate to that; I am the kind of person who was never really interested in what everyone else my age was interested in. Then you have Bram, who is very intriguing and later in the book, Nora's love interest. He is also dead. He is one of the zombies who has managed to maintain his mind, thanks to science.

The descriptions were very vivid. You don't find many books that are able to draw you into the character's world as if you were really there.

Dearly, Departed, in my opinion, had a very original and somewhat unique plot. While there are plenty of zombie stories out there, this one has a spin to it. You experience many different genres in the book. There's a horror and a dystopian aspect to it and there is even some steampunk aspects in the story. You also have romance and action and suspense. Honestly, what more can you ask for in one book. The romance between Nora and Bram is one of the focuses of the novel. Even though their relationship develops in a short span of time, it didn't feel like it was rushed.

Now, about the multiple POVs. Some people have liked them, others not so much. While I am not usually a fan of multiple POVs, I actually liked them in this novel. While most of story is told by Nora and Bram, the POVs from the other characters help to develop the story and to build the suspense of the story. In my opinion, if there had not been the multiple POVs, the story just would not have developed the way it did.

The novel is very well paced. Even though it is 470 pages long, it is not long and drawn out. So often, you find novels of this length that you could have cut out at least a hundred pages and still would have had the same story. That was not the case with Dearly, Departed. I felt that every page was necessary.

The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger. While the book wraps up nicely, you are most definitely left wondering what will happen in the next book. What will happen with Bram and Nora and the other characters?

Lastly, the cover. While I felt that I didn't really relate to the story all that much, I still liked it.

All-in-all, this was an absolutely amazing book. I honestly wasn't able to find anything in the book to criticize. At times, I had to force myself to put the book down so I could turn my attention to other things. I would recommend this book to people who are fans of THE WALKING DEAD or zombies in general.

I look forward to reading Dearly, Beloved. 

Rating: 5/5 

Review is also posted on Goodreads.