Wishlist Wednesday #34

Wishlist Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by the ever sweet Dani from Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

Greta and the Goblin King (Mylena Chronicles #1) 

by Chloe Jacobs
Expected publication: November 13th 2012 

by Entangled Publishing, LLC

Summary from Goodreads:

While trying to save her brother from the witch three years ago, Greta was thrown into the fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon. To survive, 17-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape. But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil being knows she’s the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the boys she finds stranded in the woods will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back . . .

Babble:
The mere mention of the Goblin King brings back flashes of David Bowie as the debonair and sinister villain in the movie Labyrinth. But seriously, since I'm an avid fan of epic fantasy with its alternate world, witches and magic then this might just be right up my alley.

Review: Beautiful Redemption

Beautiful Redemption (Caster Chronicles #4)
by Kami Garcia , Margaret Stohl
Published October 23rd 2012
by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary from Goodreads:

Is death the end . . . or only the beginning?
Ethan Wate always dreamed of leaving the stifling Southern town of Gatlin.

But he never dreamt that finding love with Lena Duchannes would drive him away. Lena is a Caster girl whose supernatural powers unveiled a secretive and cursed side of Gatlin, so powerful it forced him to make a terrible sacrifice.

Now Ethan must find a way to return to Lena - and Gatlin - as she vows to do whatever it takes to get him back. Even if it means trusting old enemies or risking their loved ones' lives.

Can Ethan and Lena rewrite their fate and their spellbinding love story in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series?

Thoughts:
I still think that the series should have ended by book 2 because book 3 and 4 although quite enjoyable seems like a bit of a stretch for me. Now, let me explain. I am a fan of the series and was really excited when they decided to make a movie out of it. But after the events of book 1 and 2 and the whole plotline relating to Lena's becoming a Light/Dark Caster, I feel as if the authors are simply putting a spin on another new unnecessary plotline in order to prolong the series. Now, instead of Ethan trying to save the love of his life, it's the other way around.

Lena is trying to bring Ethan back from the dead again (she already did that once in the first book) but now Ethan is trapped in the Otherworld and needed a few things to crossover. And now it's up to Lena, Link, Amma and a whole host of other secondary characters to make it happen.

The book is divided into 3 parts told from the point of view of Ethan and Lena. The first part reminded me of when Harry Potter died in the last book and trying to make sense of what's really happening. Then he realized that he can actually goes back because of the resurrection stone and he has to since he's the only one who can kill Voldemort.

But here instead of 1 chapter (as in Harry Potter style) we have 18 chapters of Ethan scrambling around meeting some dead folks in the Otherworld before finally deciding that he has to go back. Seriously, I just don't get it. I'm more interested to find out more about those other secondary characters since I just knew that Ethan would ultimately succeed in his quest. He's the hero after all. The bittersweet ending is rather predictable for anyone who have been faithfully following the series but I still nearly shed a tear. That ending kind of redeemed the series for me (and the fact that Liv get together with the sexy hybrid incubus- John) otherwise I just might chucked this book away and wait for the movie to come out instead.

Verdict: 4 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Dark Star

Dark Star
by Bethany Frenette
Published October 23rd 2012
by Disney Hyperion

Summary from Goodreads:

Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in the Twin Cities, so it's hard for Audrey not to feel safe. That is, until she's lured into the sweet night air by something human and not human--something with talons and teeth, and a wide, scarlet smile. Now Audrey knows the truth: her mom doesn't fight crime at night. She fights Harrowers--livid, merciless beings who were trapped Beneath eons ago. Yet some have managed to escape. And they want Audrey dead, just because of who she is: one of the Kin. 

To survive, Audrey will need to sharpen the powers she has always had. When she gets close to someone, dark corners of the person's memories become her own, and she sometimes even glimpses the future. If Audrey could only get close to Patrick Tigue, a powerful Harrower masquerading as human, she could use her Knowing to discover the Harrowers' next move. But Leon, her mother's bossy, infuriatingly attractive sidekick, has other ideas. Lately, he won't let Audrey out of his sight. 

When an unthinkable betrayal puts Minneapolis in terrible danger, Audrey discovers a wild, untamed power within herself. It may be the key to saving her herself, her family, and her city. Or it may be the force that destroys everything--and everyone--she loves.

Thoughts:

This book is not that bad considering that it has one element that I'm always looking forward to in any fantasy book; kick-ass chicks! But unfortunately there's nothing new and inspiring about it either.

There's the pre-requisite main protagonist who has a secret superhero mother, her geeky best friend and the brooding mysterious other guy who happens to be her mother's sort of sidekick. Audrey is your average snarky teenager who has the ability to read the future through a special set of cards while her mother is the city's superhero; Morning Star. 

The first few chapters are rather uninteresting but when Audrey's true origins are revealed, things really kick up a notch. Apparently, Audrey and her mom are actually beings known as Kin who took human form when they descended on Earth. Each Kin have their own distinct powers.

I would really have love it even more if I didn't have this nagging feeling that I've encountered this plotline countless of times before. Girl with special powers? Check! Girl who came from a long line of powerful ancient beings? Check! This reminded me so much of The One by Heather Self.

Nonetheless, the story become a lot more exciting towards the end and I might just give it a solid four stars if not for that totally unnecessary romance plot.

Verdict: 3 stars.
In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon 

Review: Midnight City

Midnight City (Conquered Earth #1)
by J. Barton Mitchell

by St. Martin's Griffin

ARC from Netgalley  

Summary from Goodreads:
In a post-apocalyptic world controlled by alien invaders, two teens and a young girl with mysterious powers embark on a dangerous journey. What they find will change everything...

Earth has been conquered. An extraterrestrial race known as The Assembly has abducted the adult population, leaving the planet’s youth to fend for themselves. In this treacherous landscape, Holt, a bounty hunter, is transporting his prisoner Mira when they discover Zoey, a young girl with powerful abilities who could be the key to stopping The Assembly. As they make their way to the cavernous metropolis of Midnight City, the trio must contend with freedom fighters, mutants, otherworldly artifacts, pirates, feuding alien armies, and perhaps most perilous of all: Holt and Mira’s growing attraction to each other. 

Thoughts:
This book left me in a bit of a dilemma. I usually don't review any books that I did not finish or only read halfway but seriously never have a book with such potential made me so confused.

Yes, I did it read it but halfway through I'm just utterly confused. There are too many secondary characters to keep track off and not to mention so many things happening that made the story so jumbled up. And you guys know how much I just hate multiple point of views. It's supposed to be told from a third person POV but seriously the view change according to the character.

I'll give it another try in the future but for now I just don't have the time and patience to slogged through a story that does not excite me.

In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon 

Review: Two and Twenty Dark Tales

Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes
Published October 16th 2012

by Month9Books

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

Thoughts:

I was actually yearning for something short and sweet so this anthology is just right for me. I'm a fan Gretchen Mcneil's and Sarwat Chadda's earlier books so that was another reason for me to get excited about this one.

This is certainly not your average happily ever after tales since I found that some of the short story are kind of gruesome and harrowing. The nursery rhymes that we grew up with have been given a dark twist and not all of the story ends with a happy note. It is as if the writers are out to outdo each other in giving the best Edgar Allan Poe's version of the nursery rhymes.

But if you're out for something out of the ordinary then this might just be for you. It is quite a good book to curl up with during the Halloween season.

Verdict: 4 stars.

In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Wishlist Wednesday #33

Wishlist Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by the ever sweet Dani from Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

Luminosity (Raven Chronicles #1)
by Stephanie Thomas
Expected publication: November 13th 2012 

by Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since. 

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me. 

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I think I’ve already helped them win.

Babble:
This one looks strangely creepy and amazing. And the blurb sounds so mysterious. I'm really hoping I can get my hands on this when it gets out. Stories about oracles and dreamcatchers sounds intriguing.

Review: Mystic City

Mystic City (Mystic City #1)
by Theo Lawrence
Published October 9th 2012

by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself. 

Thoughts:
I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, I was drawn to the so called mystical element but the romance between Aria and Hunter is actually the main focus of the story. I know so many people enjoyed the book but since I'm not such a big fan of overpowering instant love, it's hard for me to truly appreciate the significance of the romance.

It's quite slow in the middle and everything important is revealed slowly, building up to the big twist at the end. I would have like it better if the concept of mystics are explored a bit further but understandably since this is an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, the relationship struggles between the two leads will take centre stage.

For fans of a story featuring young star crossed lovers this might just be the book for you but for true fans of fantasy, you might just want to look elsewhere.

Verdict: 3 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: The Lost Prince

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1)
by Julie Kagawa
Published October 23rd 2012
by Harlequin Teen
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

Thoughts:
Please don't hate me when I admit I was not overly fond of Meghan Chase in The Iron King. I actually bought that book and was turned off by Meghan's incessant whining and just being this useless damsels in distress wholly dependant on Puck and the mischievous Grimalkin to guide her in Nevernever to rescue her little brother; Ethan. So I never did read the other books in the series and boy now I wished I did.

Ethan has grown up to be this brooding, handsome guy but with a chip on his shoulder. He despised the feys and missed his half-sister Meghan who has left their family to be the ruling Iron Queen. A new type of ghostly feys are preying on the exiled feys and half-breeds so it's up to the reluctant Ethan to stop them.

The characters
There's a bunch of new characters in this book. Kenzie the smart and popular girl who got sucked into Nevernever with Ethan and Todd the unfortunate half-breed. But I really like Keirran the best. He's totally cheeky and unpredictable. He reminded me a lot of Puck. The interaction between Keirran and Ethan is very amusing to read. There's some nice funny moments between them.

The adventures
There's a lot more action in this one compared to The Iron King. And the action kept me glued to the pages. At first, I didn't really understand why Kenzie would willingly sacrificed part of her life to be able to have the sight and help someone she just met (Ethan). But then when her true secret was revealed, I feel so sorry for her.

Overall, I really think this is a much better story compared to the first book in The Iron Fey series and I really need to read the rest of the books to get a clearer picture of the Nevernever world.

Verdict: 4 stars.
Available on: Amazon

Follow Friday #9

Hi, everyone! It's time for another FF Friday.

Q: When you step out of your USUAL genre what do you like to read? Best books in that genre?

Now, that's a tricky question because I read all kinds of genres. Fantasy is my favourite right now but I used to like mystery, whodunit, cozy mystery, historical romance..I even read the Princess Diaries series. Sometimes I do read 'heavy' non-fiction books or maybe self help books but really they bore me to sleep. However, I love reading biographies and wished I had more time (and money) to read them.

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Taking Back Forever

Karen Amanda Hooper, author of Tangled Tides and Grasping at Eternity, is sharing her newest cover today. The sequel to Grasping at Eternity, book 2 of The Kindrily series, is titled Taking Back Forever.

Karen and her cover designer, Alexandra Shostak, have worked side by side to create the Taking Back Forever cover. After lots of hard work (and a lot of love) here it is…

Forever is worth the fight. 

Maryah erased all memory of her past lives, but she couldn’t erase her soul mate Nathan, or his undying love. Now, Maryah and Nathan have a second chance at a future together, but first Maryah must remember the person she used to be and embrace her supernatural gifts—more than one kindrily member’s life depends on it. 

Maryah’s power is Harmony’s best hope of finding her kidnapped soul mate, Gregory. But Harmony isn’t big on asking anyone for help, and she’s tired of waiting, so she’s taking matters into her own hands. Heaven help anyone who stands in her way.

The cover of the first book is beautiful too.

Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories. 

Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.

Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her. 

While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be. 

To celebrate, Karen and Alexandra are giving away signed paperbacks of Grasping at Eternity. 

(Signed by Karen AND Alexandra!) 

Contest is open internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alexandra Shostak is a writer of dark and fantastical things, mostly meant for teenagers. She is a freelance cover designer, and is available to do covers and interior artwork directly for authors. She is also a former Irish dancer, a guitar player, and the person who can get you through the zombie apocalypse without getting bitten.

If you’re especially worried about the zombie apocalypse, you can find her in one of these places:

www.alexandrashostak.com

www.coversbyalexandra.com

www.yaconfidential.com

or on Twitter as @a_shostak

 Karen was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years, and is currently sunning and splashing around Florida with her two beloved dogs. She's addicted to coffee, chocolate, and complicated happily-ever-afters. Due to her strong Disney upbringing, she still believes in fairytales and will forever sprinkle magic throughout all of her novels.

www.KarenAmandaHooper.com

Twitter: @karen_hooper

Wishlist Wednesday #32

Wishlist Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by the ever sweet Dani from Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

Mind Games (Mind Games #1)
by Kiersten White
Expected publication: February 19th 2013 

by HarperTeen

Summary from Goodreads:
Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

Babble:
Apparently the UK edition is entitled Sister Assassin which sounded way cooler in my opinion. But then again, I'm practically biased when it came to Kiersten White's books. I adore her Paranormalcy series and was hoping that this one turns out just as brilliant and awesome.

Review: The Poltergeeks

Poltergeeks (Poltergeeks #1)
by Sean Cummings
Published October 2nd 2012
by Strange Chemistry
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

15-year-old Julie Richardson is about to learn that being the daughter of a witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection. 

In fact, there's a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. After a large-scale paranormal assault on Julie's high school, her mother falls victim to the spell Endless Night. Now it's a race against time to find out who is responsible or Julie won't just lose her mother's soul, she'll lose her mother's life.

Thoughts:
For me, the book hit all the right notes. A romance that is sweet instead of overwhelming, a quirky young female witch and host of colourful characters that makes reading the book such a joyful experience.

The story is light, funny and entertaining with just a bit of mystery since Julie found out that someone has been targeting her family. Her relationship with her mother and her best friend turned boyfriend is also heartwarming and I'm so glad that they ended up together.

Recommended for: fans of witches
Verdict: 4 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review:The Assassins's Curse

The Assassin's Curse (The Assassin's Curse #1)
by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Published October 2nd 2012

by Strange Chemistry

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her. 

And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be.

Thoughts:
The Assassin's Curse has all the elements of a book that I was looking for. A strong, feisty heroine, a wonderful imaginative fantasy setting, a plotline that keeps you at the edge of your seat and a romance that is not too overwhelming. Yes, this book is certainly made for me.

From the get go, we are introduced to Ananna as she tried to make her escape from becoming a pawn in her parents' plan to marry her off to another pirate clan and thus uniting the two clans together. And when the Hariri clan found her missing, they decided to dispatch an assassin to kill her off to save some face.

I just love Ananna and Naji. Both are very different in their own way and when Ananna accidentally save the assassin's life they are inexplicably bound together. Since Naji is now involuntarily cursed to protect Ananna instead of finishing her off, they decided to travel together to escape the mysterious woman who is trying to kill Naji and the new band of assassins sent to finish Ananna.

The magical setting are so different since it was set in a dessert and the mystical elements played an important part in making the story so engrossing and unique. I just wished that there are more YA fantasy books like this. Truly a brilliant debut that even adults can enjoy!

Verdict: 5 stars.
In my Debut Author & Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Happily Ever After Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop of the Happily Ever After Giveaway Hop hosted by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Murphy's Library.

Rules:

1. One winner will get to choose one book from my list of favourite fairy tale books with happy endings which are shown below.

2. As usual it's open to International followers as long as The Book Depository ships to you.

3. Fill in the rafflecopter and that's it.


 
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner: Stuck in a Good Book Giveaway Hop

Stuck in a Good Book Giveaway Hop

Mary Preston

Congrats! Thanks for entering and there's lots more giveaway coming up so don't be sad if you didn't win.

Music musings

I'm taking a break from reading and reviewing books for a few days. I know everywhere we go, PSY is taking over the charts with his zany Gangnam Style but I'm having a case of Shila fever.

Shila is my fellow Malaysian who won a singing competition held in China called Asian Wave where singers from China, Singapore, India, Thailand, Korea and Malaysia compete with each other. Hope you guys will enjoy her singing as much as I did. :)

Review: The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There

The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There (Fairyland #2)
by Catherynne M. Valente (Author), Ana Juan (Illustrator)
Published October 2nd 2012
by Feiwel and Friends
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

September returns to Fairyland to reunite with A-Through-L, Saturday, and Gleam, and to confront her shadow-self, who has become the queen of Fairyland-Below, the upside-down world beneath the Fairyland of the first novel, filled with creatures of water and shadow, tales of ancient Fairyland before the human world was born, and not a few hungry buffins, blind birds of ice and moonlight. The yearly revels of Fairyland-Below climax in a mysterious rite September must avert or else lose her shadow forever.

Thoughts:
As in the first book, September yet again stumbled upon the Fairyland and found herself in unusual circumstances. Apparently the folks in Fairyland have forgotten about September's earlier adventures and how she defeated the mischievous Marquess and restore order in Fairyland. Now, Charlie Crunchcrab; the ferryman has become King Crunchcrab but all is not well in Fairyland since the shadows from Fairyland-below are stealing people's shadows which created utmost chaos. It's up to September once again to confront the shadows and fix things up in Fairyland since her actions in the first book inadvertently cause the shadows to become rebellious in the first place.

I think it takes a certain type of people to really appreciate Valente's style of writing. It's whimsical, quirky and dark humour may not appeal to everyone and the astounding vocabulary even made me scratch my head a couple of times.

But for those who have the patience and the flair for this kind of writing will indeed truly appreciate the creativity and the extraordinary talent needed to create such immense and rich fantasy world that equals Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, C.S. Lewis Narnia or even L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz.

I really enjoyed the series but in reality I'm not sure kids will enjoy let alone understand the story. If I'm going to read the book to my little son, a dictionary will indeed be helpful. Or maybe a chart depicting all the characters since I had a hard time explaining how a Hreinn looks like.

Verdict: 4 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: League of Strays

League of Strays
by L.B. Schulman
Published October 1st 2012

by Amulet

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

This suspenseful debut follows a group of teenage misfits in their delicious quest for revenge on those who have wronged them at their high school. When a mysterious note appears in Charlotte’s mailbox inviting her to join the League of Strays, she’s hopeful it will lead to making friends. What she discovers is a motley crew of loners and an alluring, manipulative ringleader named Kade. Kade convinces the group that they need one another both for friendship and to get back at the classmates and teachers who have betrayed them. But Kade has a bigger agenda. In addition to vandalizing their school and causing fights between other students, Kade’s real intention is a dangerous plot that will threaten lives and force Charlotte to choose between her loyalty to the League and her own conscience.

Thoughts:
I was not aware of the controversy surrounding the book when I first requested it on Netgalley. I was expecting some delicious thriller about revenge but what I got instead is a whole lot of teenage angst.

Getting back on those who have wronged you in the past seemed like an interesting idea but in reality I would not stoop to the same things that these characters did just to get revenge. The clash of different personalities in the League piqued my interest in the beginning but halfway through I just lost interest in the story and was seriously turned off by the psychotic Kade. And although I understood Charlotte's predicament of being a wallflower, I just don't think it condone her actions.

I know this is fiction, but I'm seriously disturbed by the story. Bullying is a serious problem, so I'm just worried that the book will give certain ideas to teens on how to cope with bullies.

Verdict: 2 stars.
In my Debut Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Breathe

Breathe (Breathe #1)
by Sarah Crossan
Published October 2nd 2012
by Greenwillow
ARC from Edelweiss

Summary from Goodreads:

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe . . .
The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina
has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Thoughts:
The book is told from the point of view of three characters; Bea, Alina and Quinn and are divided into five parts. To be honest, I'm growing tired of the whole dystopian trend. There are some that truly outshine all the others but most of the books have been using the tried and true plotline over and over again.

A government which oppressed its citizens, secrets unfolding, teenagers fighting for survival, strong female character and a love triangle in the mix. Yes Breathe has all of that and I nearly give it up by Part II since I did not particularly enjoy the love triangle which was set up very early in the story. Bea; a poor teenager living in the Pod has been in love with her best friend Quinn for the longest time. But Quinn being the quintessential spoiled rich guy fell hard for the lovely Alina at first sight.

Alina is actually a member of the Resistance; a secret movement planning to toppled the current government who is controlling the Pod and creating the manufactured air. When one of her mission goes astray, Alina is forced to flee the Pod using Quinn's privilege and status as a Premium. In the Pod, Premiums are the rich and powerful elite who live in Zone One while Bea and Alina live in Zone Three and are known as the auxiliaries.

I found the main characters to be extremely frustrating especially Alina and Quinn. Alina is supposed to be this strong, feisty heroine but I found her to be rude, selfish and ungrateful most of the time. And Quinn just reminds me of Peeta from The Hunger Games. A nice good looking guy who is a bit clueless as to what's really going on around him.

As much as I hate the two main characters, I'm glad that the author did not waste any time in developing the actual conflict or prolonging the so-called secret of the sinister Breathe corporation. The secret is out by the middle of the story and what's left are for the characters to deal with the outcomes of their actions. The action-packed tone of the book sort of make up for the lack of interesting characters. And by the end of the story, I'm only rooting for the survival of Bea due to her kindness and compassion for others and was so glad that Quinn finally realised that she's the right one for him. I definitely read the rest of the series just to find out what's going to happen next.

Verdict: 3 stars.
In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Desolate

Desolate (Desolation #2)
by Ali Cross
ebook, 236 pages
Published July 3rd 2012

Review copy

Summary from Goodreads:

Where darkness lives, all becomes desolate . . .
It’s been two months since sixteen-year-old Desolation Black chose Earth over Hell and her friend Miri over her eternal love, Michael.

Desi goes through the motions of life: school, training, remaining vigilant against the forces of darkness, but her dreams are full of the choices she wishes she could change. When she’s injured by a strange demon, old temptations arise, and the lines between good and evil blur. Desi discovers those choices aren’t so final after all.

And this time, the power of love—for a friend, for a lover—may not be enough to save her from the darkness that lurks within.

Thoughts:
Desolate picks up several weeks after the events in Become where Desi was forced to make a painful decision of sacrificing her angel boyfriend; Michael in order to save her best friend; Miri.

Desi is understandably guilt ridden by her decision to stay on Earth instead of embracing her destiny as Lucifer's daughter since Michael was taken to Hell by her father. Miri on the other hand is haunted by dreams of a mysterious Apocalypse rider that will descend to wreak havoc on Earth.

As Desi and her group of fallen Asgardians tried to make sense of what is happening, they discovered that Heimdall; the Bifrost guardian has been abducted by Lucifer/Loki. What follows is a desperate mission to rescue Heimdall to ensure dying souls are able to crossover to the next realm otherwise they are stuck on Earth and become the living death a.k.a zombies.

I much preferred the action-packed pacing of the second book to the first one. But the introduction of so many new characters is quite overwhelming at times. At one point, I'm even wondering who or what certain characters supposed to be since they are derived from Norse and Greek mythology. Maybe a short glossary or introduction of the characters is needed. Further character development would make the story much more enjoyable instead of focussing too much on Desi and Michael's relationship.

Verdict: 3 stars.
In my Self Published Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon