Book Review- Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater

Book review- Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater
Spoilers alert!

Synopsis:

     For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Book Review:

     I am a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater (pronounced steve-otter) and her books. I am also a fan of werewolves. So it seemed only natural that I should check out this book from the library and proceed to finish it in four hours.
     I'll admit, I was a little worried- was Stiefvater going to go with the traditional full-moon approach, or take the Twilight route and have emotions trigger the "shift?"
     To my surprise, Maggie chose neither, instead taking a whole new approach and having the change from human to werewolf and the reverse be triggered by the seasons- namely, the temperature.
     I was, and am, impressed at her ability to present Sam, the love interest and werewolf, and his family/past/murder attempt by parents so flawlessly. There was a lot that could have gone wrong, but there wasn't even information overload- instead, there was extremely effective foreshadowing, but I didn't feel like I was deprived of information, either. So kudos to you, Stiefvater!
    One thing that I wasn't overly pleased with was the first-kiss segment- I felt like it happened too quickly, seeing as they only met as humans for the first time, like, the night before, when he was bleeding to death. Also, he's a freaky werewolf. I would be a little hesitant.
    The werewolf wasn't an ultra- sexy muscular dude, as written in so many other books. Which was a nice change. I felt like it only empathized the fact that Sam was normal, human, before he was bitten. Jacob, step aside. There's a new werewolf in town!
    Grace, the other main character and love interest, was extremely well-written. I really understood her, and her personality was perfect for dealing with werewolves- calm, cool, and collected. Even if she could be a little too calm at times.
     I loved the wisecracking side characters, and was extremely impressed at Stiefvater's ability to express the danger represented by the hunters determined to kill the Mercy Falls wolf pack.
    This fast-paced, exciting love story is a must-read for ages 12 and up.
     Five out of five stars.

Book Review- Fallen, by Lauren Kate

Book review- Fallen, by Lauren Kate
Spoilers alert!

 Synopsis:

Some Angels are Destined to Fall

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.


Book review:

      Honestly, the first time I read Fallen, it took me forever to get through. I lost interest halfway through the book, and only recently picked it up again and finished it.
      I suppose it was well written, but nothing much really happens until, like, halfway through the story. The main character, Luce, I found shallow and self- absorbed,  focused on "oh, the beautiful Daniel Gregori", which irritated me. Also, when Daniel and Cam, a dude who is into Luce, are fighting, she didn't even do anything- instead, she stands by and watches. I mean, get in there and stop them, you idiot! Not to mention the fact that she spills all her problems to Daniel, when he obviously doesn't care and leaves her both times they go on a sort of date. Ain't nobody got time for that!
     In all seriousness, though, the plot intrigued me. I loved the fallen angel rivalry and Luce and Daniel's mysterious past. But I was a little confused on whether they are all fallen angels, or some or fallen and some aren't, because in my experience AND in the bible, fallen angels get their wings ripped out. Which didn't happen in this book.
     I also enjoyed the way Lauren Kate describes the Sword and Cross boarding school, as well as the twist ending. So I suppose this book isn't all bad.
     I have to say that when Luce went to the bar with Cam, I sat up and screamed, "You idiot!" Because who goes to a bar with a guy who barely knows her and is into her? Hello?
     The reason Luce is sent to the boarding school, lighting a boy on fire, was never thoroughly explained- WHY did she light him on fire? Or rather, how? She's human, mostly. As far as I could tell, her abilities did not extend to spontaneous combustion. This confused me.
     Despite this book's obvious flaws, I think I am going to read the rest of the series, if only because I like reading about fallen angels and want to see how Luce and Daniel's relationship progresses.
     Three out of five stars.

Book Review- Obsidian, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

Book Review- Obsidian, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Spoilers alert!

Synopsis:

Starting Over Sucks

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And Then He Opened His Mouth

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The Hot Alien Living Next Door Marks Me

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I Don’t Kill Him First, That Is.

 

Book Review:
     
        I got this book for my birthday and was a little hesitant to read it, I must admit. However, the minute I cracked the spine, I was sucked in.
       This isn't your typical boy-next-door-story, thank goodness. I despise those. No, this is about the ultra-sexy alien next door.
        I LOVE LOVE LOVE the main character, Katy, probably because, with her love of books and fiery temper, she's so much like me. When the afore-mentioned sexy alien, Daemon, opens the door shirtless and proves to be completely infuriating, she cusses him out and flips him off. I was literally like, OH YEAH!!!
        Finally, a heroine who doesn't swoon before the love interest. Thank God.
        The sexy alien's extremely good-looking sister, Dee, is perky and hilarious, and provides some comic relief. She, unlike her brother, immediately befriends Katy, much to Daemon's irritation. Actually, irritation isn't a good word- he is completely livid. During some of their arguments, Daemon and Dee say some things like, "Why can't I have this one?" and "You know what happened last time- we can't be around them."
        Them meaning humans.
         Which sent the message that they are something more than human.
         Hmmm.
         Strange events keep throwing Katy and Daemon together, which leads to romance and danger, making this a perfectly paced, exhilarating book.
         The author perfectly describes Katy and Daemon's love-hate relationship, and with witty comments and paranormal mojo, this is a must-read.
         Five out of five stars.

Book review- Blue Bloods, by Melissa de la Cruz
Spoilers alert!

Synopsis:

      

Within New York City’s most elite families, there lurks a secret society of celebrated Americans whose ancestors sailed on the Mayflower. They are the powerful and the wealthy—and in fact, they are not human. They are the Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires.
Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapidated mansion. Schuyler is a loner—and happy that way.
But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. She has a mosaic of blue veins on her arms, and craves raw meat. The death of a popular girl from Duchesne is surrounded by a mystery that haunts her. And strangest off all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her.
Schuyler wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?
Steeped in vampire lore and set against the glittery backdrop of New York City, Blue Bloods will be devoured by fans of Melissa de la Cruz.


Book Review:

      When I started Blue Bloods, my initial reaction was, oh, here we go, another vampire book, but a chapter of the way through, I realized that this was not "just another vampire book." De la Cruz immediately introduced me into a world of wealthy, powerful, Manhattanites, who happen to be Blue Bloods. Vampires.
       Schuyler van Alen (pronounced Skylar), the heroine, immediately appealed to me, probably because of her refusal to be "normal." I loved her from the start.
       Mimi Force, a secondary character, I hated. She is bossy, entitled, and a spoiled rich brat- but the great part about that is that the author obviously wanted us to think that about her. So great job, de la Cruz!
      Mimi's sort-of bestie Bliss Llewelyn (I sincerely hope I spelt that right) is a side character in the beginning, and grows more prominent in the second half of the book. I wasn't sure how I felt about her until then, when I decided that I liked her.
     The part of this book that really hooked me was in the first couple pages, when Mimi and her human "familiar" are at the club, and she is looking at her familiar and wondering whether or not to suck his blood. That section is loaded with a lot of mysterious innuendos that made the puppy dog in me sit up and bark for more.
      From the  first page, it is obvious that there is going to be a love triangle- the girl, the hottie, and her best friend she just sort of realized was male, single, and, also, hot. The triangle seemed to me extremely forced. I mean, where have we seen THAT before, people?!
      I was not extremely pleased with that aspect of the story. 
      The threat of the Silver Bloods and the whole fallen-angels-vampire connection was well written. I enjoyed the subtle references that weren't explained until later, which, also, made me want more.
      So, in conclusion, I loved this book, even with its flaws, and recommend it for anyone 12 and up.
      4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review- The School for Good and Evil, by Soman Chainani

 

Book Review- The School for Good and Evil, by Soman Chainani

SPOILERS ALERT (duh)

Synopsis:

            “The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away.”
This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil.
But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?
The School for Good & Evil is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one.

Book Review:

I found the School for Good and Evil at the library, and, knowing me and my love for fairy-tale adaptations, just HAD to check it out.

                My initial reaction when I finished it was Holy mother of penguins. And then. STUPID CLIFFHANGERS, and finally what is this book that has literally changed my life???

                I enjoyed it.

                Soman Chainani did an amazing job of showing us Sophie’s distain and anger, as well as Agatha’s bitterness and confusion. Actually, both the girls were confused for a good part of the book as to why they had been placed where they were- Sophie, the beautiful one, in Evil, and Agatha, the ugly, self-proclaimed witch in Good. I felt like the author really empathized their relationship, and wrote their thoughts and feelings so perfectly that I saw everything from their alternate points of view. Which is to say, each girl had different opinions, and each time I read something from one or the others' view, I was immediately swayed to see everything in their perspective.

                The final plot curve that the whole book was sort of built around, the fact that Agatha, the “witch”, belongs at the School for Good and Sophie at the School for Evil, was visible almost from the first page. I think it was meant as a shocker. In the end, I felt like the author was trying to say that beauty isn’t everything, and being ugly doesn’t always make you evil. So don't judge a book by its cover, kids.

               The battle at the end was absolutely magnificent, and the whole fairy-tale-love-triangle thing was beautifully written, and I enjoyed every single minute.

                Just know that the focus of the book is not the love triangle. It is just there for Sophie and Agatha as the means to an end. The love interest is a jerk, though, and only likes Sophie for her looks, but is also completely focused on the prince being the one to save his princess, which I found extremely irritating.

                But all in all, I enjoyed The School For Good And Evil more than I can say.

                Five out of five stars.

Note- This is also going to be a movie- Universal bought the rights to it, and the price was in the seven digits range. (EEP.)