BOOK REVIEW: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1)

Publication Date: September 27, 2011
Synopsis (Goodreads):
Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
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Review:

Whoa!That was..thrilling and unexplainable!

I sometimes don't read the blurbs of books I choose to read and I'm glad that so far, I liked all of them! This one is one of those books. Some blurbs just give so much away it takes out the surprising factor.

I have to admit, I've read one-third of the book but I was still too confused. At first, I was like, "What's with the teeth? Gross..." I don't get anything. Until..yeah..of course secrets were revealed. I'm happy I kept on reading and learned a lot from it. I love the building of tension. The author took her time and I love how she described the scenes, people and the worlds the book is about.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is basically the story of Karou, her journey of learning the truth about herself and her past. The book will bring you into a unique world and characters that will work your imagination in full blast! This is definitely worth reading!

Rating:

Memorable Quote:

“Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.” 

“Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?” 

REVIEW: Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J.R. Ward

January's Feature: VAMPIRES

MY CHOICE:

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

Publication Date: September 6, 2005
Synopsis (Goodreads):

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.
 
The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

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Review:

I haven't read other book that concentrates on vampires since Twilight. Then I saw this reading challenge and I thought it's an opportunity for me read more about the different creatures of paranormal books.

I chose Dark Lover because it's on my list for quite sometime now. I've been hesitating from reading the series because it's a long one and I've been contemplating if I can catch up. Then I saw high ratings other people gave the book so I finally decided to read it.

My first reaction: "WHY DID I WAIT THIS LONG TO START THE SERIES?!"

There's a lot of things to love about the book. I especially love all the characters! I had the tendency to be confused with a book with a lot of characters or guys in this case, but I wasn't. The author gave distinct characteristics about each character that you'll remember them well. They are not just the fighting and all serious types and I always love to see their witty sides. All of the brothers are so intriguing I can't wait to read their stories!

The romance part was predictably fast and steamy. What I love about Wrath and Beth's relationship is that they changed each other for the better especially with Wrath. Wrath learned how to love and be selfless.

There are a bunch of POVs which I think has it's positive and negative sides. The only negative side is that there are a lot and you may be confused at times. But I have to commend the author for pulling it off. I think it's a necessary move for readers to understand the sides of the protagonists and antagonists.

All in all, the story is quite unique and I can't wait to read the sequel! If you haven't started the series yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Rating:

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Memorable Quote:

“Some bridges you crossed on your own, no matter who drove you to the edge” 

BOOK REVIEW: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Rachel Mead

Publication Date: August 16, 2007
Synopsis (Goodreads):

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school-it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's-the very place where they're most in danger. . . . Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi-the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires-make Lissa one of them forever.

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Review:

Before I go to the review proper, I just want to say, now I know why they compared Pure by Jennifer Armentrout to Vampire Academy. If you haven't read Pure yet, I must warn you. This part may contain some spoilers. 

Basically, Pure is not about Vampires but the construction of characters and storyline are similar. Both main characters have gone away from the academy and when they got back, they were given punishment and had to train with someone. That someone, as the story went on, is their love interest. Also, both characters have the same personality- stubborn,strong-willed and protective of those important to them. One thing that sets them apart is the reason of the main character's existence. Both books are good but I liked Pure better. I don't know if it's because I read it first or maybe just because the flow of the story for Pure was better. 

Anyway,let's go back to the REVIEW part.

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Rose, the main character is most of the time annoying but there are times when I start to like her then she goes back to being annoyingly stubborn again. She's overprotective of Lissa so she had the tendency to be bad and push people away. What I like about her over protectiveness is that she's being selfless and thinks about Lissa more than herself. I like her strong-willed and outgoing character.

Lissa,a Moroi Vampire Princess and Rose's bestfriend, is kind, beautiful and fragile. It seems she's always the one needs saving but in the latter part of the story, she realizes she also has the power to protect the ones she loves. 

The characters are good but I had the hard time connecting with them. I may have liked them at some parts but I wasn't really into them.

I was a bit confused on the first parts of the book because some terms,like Strigoi or Moroi were not defined as it was first mentioned. I just realized who they are as the story went on. I haven't read the blurb, I just went straight to reading the book so I had no idea. Again, my mistake. 

It has a slow start but as the story went on it caught up with the pace I liked. The story itself is very intriguing and there are tidbits of unpredictability which is good. It wasn't entirely focused on romance so I'm glad. The romance parts are cute and lovely. They made me smile.

Overall, I liked and enjoyed the book despite some issues. I'll definitely read the next book. If you want to read a vampire book which isn't just about the good looks, read this one!

Rating:

Memorable Quotes:

“If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you.” 

“Taking a deep breathe, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life.
I walked away.” 

BOOK REVIEW: The Dark Light by Sara Walsh

Date Published: August 28, 2012
Synopsis: 

Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.

That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind.

Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she.

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Review:

Before I started reading, I didn't really know what to expect. The synopsis don't give away much right? So I was excited to learn what are the secrets behind those lights and the guy with a big tattoo on his back. I made a theory that this is about an alien invasion and the guy is one of the aliens from another world. Well.. I am absolutely wrong! But right in some sense. STOP! No spoilers! Haha!

First thing, I love the cover! It instantly caught my attention. Who wouldn't? With the eye-candy sexy back. 

The book has a unique storyline which is why I love it. I can't think of any book to compare it to. It started in a slow pace and I got a bit bored because I really want to know what the book was about. Yeah I know, impatient me. But looking back, I realized that the author took the time to describe Mia's world and the life in Crownsville. As I move on to every page and chapter, it kept me interested especially halfway through the book with all the action and revelations.

I like Mia's character, the protagonist. From the beginning, you'll know that she's a great person. She grew up without her parents, just with her Uncle and her brother,Jay. She's just a highschool student  but she sees to it that she's always there to look for her brother. She loves her brother very much that when he went missing, she decided that she'll do everything just to get him back. She's strong-willed and acts according to her instincts.

Then the hot tattooed guy is Sol. Aside from being good looking, his personality is exceptional. He may be odd at first and you may doubt his intentions, but you will like him as you get to know him more. I like how the mystery about him was uncovered little by little. 

The relationship between Mia and Sol was predictable (the romantic part) but it's still sweet and fun. 

The other supporting characters are also likable. I can still remember all of them so it's a good thing. Of all the supporting,I especially like Delane,Sol's friend. I like that he's honest,kind and dependable. 

*Irrelevant thought. You may skip this part! There's a point where I thought there will be a love triangle between the three but oh well. After all, it's unnecessary. Mia will still end up choosing Sol. It's always like that. What the! I'm just contradicting myself. LOL*end*

Overall, I like it! It was a fun and wonderful adventure! I feel that there will be a sequel of this. I like how it ended but there's some unfinished business. I'm still unsatisfied with the antagonist. It's like he's there but he's never there. I need more! Please Sara, will there be sequel?

Rating:

UNIQUE and A GOOD READ!

Memorable Quote:

"You see, no matter how life changes, some things always stay the same."


*I won the book from All Things Urban and Fantasy's Deadly Destinations giveaway so I just want to say thank you! Especially to Sara Walsh for the signed hardcover copy and bookmark. 

BOOK REVIEW: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me #1)

Date Published: November 15, 2011
Synopsis (Goodreads) : 
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

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Review:

Shatter Me is about a 17 year-old girl, Juliette, who's been locked up in an asylum because of an unintentional murder. With just one touch, she could give pain or worse, death. She's been locked up for 264 days and the world she once knew will never be the same. The Reestablishment promised their people a better life, better future, hope, but instead they stole it from them. There's an impending war and the Reestablishment thought of using Juliette as a weapon, to destroy those who are against them.

Juliette's character remind me of someone. Maybe you also know who it is and you're right! Rogue from X-men. She has this inconvenient power where she can't touch anyone without them being hurt. She has experienced seclusion from people, even her parents. I can't imagine anyone who could stay sane with what she'd gone through. I bet I'd go crazy if that happens to me. Because of that, I sympathize Juliette. She felt unloved and dead inside. She became unsure of herself and her sanity so I understand that her character had a hard time containing different emotions she hasn't felt for a long time. She learned to become strong and to fight for herself and for the one she loved.

Adam is someone from Juliette's past. Since he met her, he became protective of her. They haven't spoken a word to each other until he came back to her life. He has the usual "hero" image- gorgeous,strong and reserved. He's one of those who experienced a hard childhood so he's grown to protect those he loved. He was annoying at first but I've learned to love his character. 

The "other" guy from the book is Warner. He's a young, corrupt, possessive, cruel, power-obsessed leader. He became very interested of Juliette because of her power. He feels he's the only one who understands Juliette because he, too, experienced hatred from people. So he planned to convince Juliette to use her power as a way to get back to those who've hurt them. He has this complex crazy character which makes me hate him. I especially hate the part where he *spoiler* used a toddler for Juliette to use her power. That's just so bad and mean. I want to kill him for doing that.*end* But I'm interested on how he will turn out. Will he change?

I was fascinated by the unique writing of Tahereh Mafi. The crossed out phrases, her use of colorful words to describe and the repetition of words. But as the story goes on, I became uncomfortable and I thought it was overused. Her world building wasn't elaborated much but I have a picture in my mind and I think that was enough. I liked the storyline although the pace was slow at first but it caught up when it came to the middle part. And I shouldn't forget to say that I love the cover! I like that there's two sides, black and white then the girl exudes of power. Loved it!

Overall, I enjoyed the book and I'll definitely read the second book.

Rating:

Memorable Quotes:

"Sometimes I think the loneliness inside of me is going to explode through my skin and sometimes I'm not sure if crying or screaming or laughing through the hysteria will solve anything at all. Sometimes I'm so desperate to touch to be touched to feel that I'm almost certain I'm going to fall off a cliff in an alternate universe where no one will ever be able to find me."

" I want to put this fist attached to my wrist right through the window.

Just to feel something.

Just to feel human."

"Truth is a jealous, vicious mistress that never ever sleeps, is what I don't tell him. I'll never be okay."

"Hate looks just like everybody else until it smiles. Until it spins around and lies with lips and teeth carved into the semblance of something too passive to punch."

"I'm an encyclopedia with too many blank pages."

"Because moving forward is the only way to survive."

BOOK REVIEW: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #1)

Date Published: March 27, 2007
Synopsis:
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

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Review:

This book has been on my TBR list for quite sometime now but I had a hard time getting it started. Maybe because it's on its 5th book now and I didn't think I could catch up. But what convinced me to read City of Bones is because I heard they're in the process of making a movie of it which will be shown next year so  before that'll happen, i want to read the book first so I can fully understand the movie and for comparison.

I was a bit confused at the first few pages of the book on who's the story-teller. There were shifting of point of views every now and then but mostly it was Clary.

I'm not in love with the characters yet. I had a hard time getting into Clary's character. I don't know why but it's just how I felt about her. I liked Simon's character. He always has something to say- making jokes that are mostly off which makes him funny. He's easy-going which makes his character likable. Jace is cocky, full of himself but gorgeous nonetheless. His childhood experiences mold him to become a strong and heartless shadowhunter. These two guys will take a big part in Clary's life. Love triangle? That, I'm not so sure. :)

I'm still in awe after some revelations in the last part of the book. The truth was, it came to my mind and I thought that would be too dramatic if that's the case and it did! Sometimes I hate it when I think too much and make predictions. 

What will happen now?- That's the question I've been asking myself since I finished the book. 

I must say my imagination was used in full blast. I had a hard time with all the descriptions, different characters and world-building. This is the first book so I expected that there will be a lot of information to take in. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book. It's full of action, adventure, betrayal, complications, sadness and love. 

Rating:

ACTION-PACKED READ!

Memorable Quotes:

"Clary, you're an artist,like your mother. That means you see the world in ways other people don't. It's your gift, to see the beauty and the horror in ordinary things. It doesn't make you crazy-just different. There's nothing wrong with being different." -Luke

If there was one thing she was learning from all this, it was how easy it was to lose everything you had always thought you'd had forever." -Clary

The boy never cried again, and he never forgot what he'd learned: that to love is to destroy, and that to be loved is to be the one destroyed." -Jace

"But you have to learn to bend a little, or you'll break." -Clary

BOOK REVIEW: The Underworld (Fallen Star #2) by Jessica Sorensen

Date Published: July 31, 2011
Book Description (Goodreads): 

Gemma thought her mind was gone, but she was wrong. And now she is left trying to figure out the truth to what Stephan is planning to do with her and the star, before it’s too late.

But finding out the truth is hard, especially since Gemma doesn’t know who she can trust. There may be only one person who Gemma can turn to for answers, but that means having to go to the one place no one wants to go—The Underworld.

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Review:

Once again, I was left hanging. I'm glad that a lot of questions were answered in this book. This is definitely better than the first one.

It was mentioned in the prequel, The Fallen Star, that Gemma's mom, Jocelyn, is in the underworld. From the title itself, you will have an idea of what the book is mostly about. 

With the characters, Gemma and Alex will still have a lot of arguments/fights but it'll get better as the story goes on. For most parts, it's just Gemma, Alex and Laylen. As for Aislin, I noticed that she ain't a big part of the book, she just comes and goes. Laylen will have changes within himself that I think will make the story muc interesting. 

There's more action, death walkers, fairies and visions. All in all, it was a good read and I enjoyed it!

If you were disappointed with the first book, this is definitely better but just don't get your hopes too high. And for those who liked the first one, I think I won't need to encourage you to read this. So just read it!

Happy reading!

Rating:

ENTERTAINING READ!

Quotes:

“Everyone will hurt you if you let them in.” 

“You remember the word we said when we pressed our hands together, right?"

I nodded. Forem. But what does it mean?"

"Forever,” he said his breath shaky. "It means we're bonded together forever.”