Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Appropriate For: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 390 Pages
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Narration: Third Person: Cinder
Genre: Fairytale Retelling/Futuristic
Trailer: Click Here

The Lunar Chronicles
Book One: Cinder
Book Two: Scarlet
Book Three: Cress
Book Four: Winter (2015)

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My Review:

I can't freaking believe that I gave up on this a year ago.

At the time, when I was still horrifically naive to the world, I decided that Cinder wasn't worth my time because it sported a very creepy picture of a metal leg on its cover. Cyborgs have never interested me before, and quite frankly, they scare me. Never has a book changed my opinion so fast. After I got over my initial cringe at the robotic part of things, this book was smooth sailing. 

I absolutely loved Cinder's character. She had such a strong, courageous personality, and despite her machinery, she was undeniably human. She had her doubts, she over thought things, yet in the end, she followed her heart. It was so fun and great watching her be a fumbling, awkward teenager. Her entrance at the ball almost killed me. I literally tossed my Kindle on the couch and started jumping around, waving my hands in the air while simultaneously hitting myself in the face because of the inevitable mortification to come. I felt for her. She was real and full of depth.

Another strike for my initial repulsion for this book was that it was a fairy tale retelling. I've never read one and enjoyed it. In fact, I have some less than savory experiences with that particular genre of books. However, Cinder threw all those reservations to the wind. This was an AWESOME retelling. It had a huge amount of references and events from the original Cinderella story, yet I never felt bored, as if I was reading an old, worn out tale. It had its parallels, yet it also stood out in stark contrast with it's fairytale counterpart. 

The romance was nicely written. Although the attraction sparked quickly, it was definitely not insta-love in the slightest. In the beginning, it was really only Cinder's infatuation with the prince. I mean, come on, if a prince arrived at my shop, I would definitely be making googly eyes at him. However, as their interactions became more commonplace, their relationship grew as well. I fell in love with Kai every time he made an attempt to court Cinder in his own cutesy way, and I laughed obnoxiously whenever Cinder answered with sarcasm and jabs to get him to leave her alone. I'm really looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops. 

If you're new to this series, you might be wondering how Cinder and Kai's relationship might develop since each book is focused on a different fairytale. Although each book does introduce a new person, all of the books in the series are told in alternating third person perspectives from everyone. In the end, all of the stories will intertwine into one package of awesomeness. Slightly like Game of Thrones, though not nearly as messy with all the backstories and whatnot.

In conclusion, I'm ecstatic that I decided to pick Cinder up, despite my initial cringe reaction. The writing style was beautiful, and I absolutely adored Cinder's dialogue and inner commentary. It was action packed, so much so that I read it in one sitting, never allowing my attention to wander. Filled with an familiar yet unique storyline, a sarcastic mechanic, an adorable romance, and a fast-paced adventure, Cinder is definitely a book you want to check out.

Heroine- 5/5
Romance- 6/5 ADORABLE! Another plus was that it was there, but it wasn't overpowering.
Action- 5/5 Couldn't stop reading!
Humor- 5/5
World-Building- 5/5 She made a futuristic, robotic world that didn't terrify me. That in itself is a huge feat.
Writing- 5/5
Overall- 5/5

Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier (M)

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 410 Pages
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Publisher: Knopf Books
for Young Readers
Narration: First Person: Neryn
Genre: Fantasy
Challenge: None
Source: Library

The Shadowfell Series:
Book One: Shadowfell
Book Two: Raven Flight
Book Three: The Caller

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Goodreads Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Neryn is alone in the land of Alban, where the oppressive king has ordered anyone with magical strengths captured and brought before him. Eager to hide her own canny skill--a uniquely powerful ability to communicate with the fairy-like Good Folk--Neryn sets out for the legendary Shadowfell, a home and training ground for a secret rebel group determined to overthrow the evil King Keldec. 

During her dangerous journey, she receives aid from the Good Folk, who tell her she must pass a series of tests in order to recognize her full potential. She also finds help from a handsome young man, Flint, who rescues her from certain death--but whose motives in doing so remain unclear. Neryn struggles to trust her only allies. They both hint that she alone may be the key to Alban's release from Keldec's rule. Homeless, unsure of who to trust, and trapped in an empire determined to crush her, Neryn must make it to Shadowfell not only to save herself, but to save Alban.

My Review:
Started out strong, but failed to keep hold of my attention. Basically, 90% of the novel involved walking from one place to another. Running away from something life-threatening was considered an action scene. *Gasp* The protagonist, Neryn, was the type of strong, courageous lead I expected after reading the synopsis, but.....I couldn't seem to connect with her. On paper, she was my ideal heroine, yet in my head, she felt two dimensional and hollow. Intelligence wise, I'm proud to say that she doesn't suffer from TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) syndrome. Instead of letting a pair of dreamy eyes lower her inhibitions, she remained cautious and always inspected the evidence first, thinking logically instead of emotionally. The world building was really well done. I loved the different descriptions of the fey and the accents certain characters had. On the other hand, the plot was unoriginal. 

Evil king terrorizing the kingdom in his quest for power? Check. 
Protagonist with bad-ass skills who's destined to save the world? Check. 

Nothing new there. Although Shadowfell had decent world-building and a capable, but admittedly lacking, female lead, it didn't satisfy me. Throughout the book, I found myself skimming the pages, out of my mind with boredom. Honestly, I'm surprised I even had the tenacity to finish it. Won't be reading the sequel.

Overall- 2.5/5

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 358 Pages
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Narration: First Person: Lillia, Kat, Mary
Genre: Contemporary
Challenge: None
Source: ARCycling

The Burn for Burn Series:
Book One: Burn for Burn
Book Two: Fire with Fire
Book Three: Ashes to Ashes (2014)

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Jenny's
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Siobhan's
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Goodreads Synopsis:

Big girls don't cry.....they get even.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

My Review:

Since this was marked as a DNF read at Pg. 119,
this review only reflects the portion that I got through.

Unfortunately, I have nothing good to say about Burn for Burn, so if you're an avid fan of this novel, I suggest you leave now. Or else you're going to want to suckerpunch me in the end. Burn for Burn was an absolute catastrophe. It is my reason, embodied, for not reading contemporary novels. However, the premise and the gorgeous cover were impossible to resist. Three girls seeking revenge on the people who wronged them? I mean, come on, who could resist that. Sounds a bit like modernized Furies, does it not? But even though this novel had oodles and oodles of potential, as well as an absolutely gorgeous cover to support that potential, it unfortunately fell flat and made me want to chuck it into a fire and take off running.

So this novel takes place in a teensy, tiny island called Jar Island. Kat, Mary, and Lillia are three girls who are supposedly completely different from each other, yet strive towards the same goal. Sweet, sweet revenge. Yeah, no. Even though I saw what the author was trying to do, making three completely different characters by putting them in different social circles; The Outcast, The Popular, and The Runaway, they all seemed the same to me. Completely shallow. I would've expected the popular one to be conceited and annoying, but the outcast and the runaway? They were all immature, frivolous, stupid, superficial, brats. These people kept on jumping to conclusions when they should've just asked for the truth in the first place. The levels of irritation I'm experiencing right now astounds me.

Well, this is probably one of the shortest regular reviews I've ever written. There really is nothing else to write about, because nothing was memorable to me. Perhaps, their stupidity, but I already covered that in the last paragraph. There was no action, no suspense. Just frequent moments of facepalms, headbangs, and chucking books at walls. Overall, I'm definitely not going to be finishing this novel anytime in the future. In fact, I probably won't be picking up any contemporary novels for a while either. If you're already a huge fan of contemporary, unlike me, perhaps you will enjoy this novel more. However, if you're iffy about contemporary reads, run far, far away.


Heroines- 1/5
Action- 1/5
Romance- 1/5
Writing- 1.5/5
Overall- 1/5

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 446 Pages
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Narration: Third Person: Tom
Genre: Sci Fi/Dystopian
Challenge: Dystopian
Source: ARCycling

The Insignia Series:
Book One: Insignia
Book Two: Vortex
Book Three: Untitled (2014)

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Goodreads Synopsis:

The earth is in the middle of WWIII in Insignia, the first entry in S.J. Kincaid’s fast-paced sci-fi adventure trilogy. The planet’s natural resources are almost gone, and the war is being fought to control the assets of the solar system. The enemy is winning.

The salvation may be Tom Raines. Tom doesn’t seem like a hero. He’s a short fourteen-year-old with bad skin. But he has the virtual-reality gaming skills that make him a phenom behind the controls of the battle drones.

As a new member of the Intrasolar Forces, Tom’s life completely changes. Suddenly, he’s someone important. He has new opportunities, friends, and a shot at having a girlfriend. But there’s a price to pay...

My Review:

“There really was nothing firm, nothing certain. Even here, even at this place where he thought he’d found something permanent—everything could change in a day. Everything could be lost so quickly.”

Insignia takes place in the middle of World War III, a war that's fought with robots on different planets to avoid ecological disasters on Earth, and of course, the most important reason of all, to avoid human deaths. In order to direct the robots in outer space, exceptional teenagers are combed out of the overall population to undergo an operation that will essentially make them half computer as well, therefore enabling them to establish links with other machines and control them through their neural processors. Why not adults, you ask? Because their brains are already fully developed and reject anything foreign added to them, whereas teenage brains are still malleable and will adapt to any changes made to its environment. This idea was developed pretty well. It felt realistic, as if this could actually happen in the world today. If we did advance our technology enough to be able to travel robots to and fro the solar system, then the next logical choice would be to fight our wars somewhere that wouldn't harm the human population.

Our main character was Tom, a young and talented gamer who is forced to move from town to town in order to make the money that his father usually wastes gambling. Tom is headstrong, clever, idiotic around girls, and a bit arrogant at times. He constantly rebelled against authority, which impressed me at first, because authority was so obviously corrupted, but then annoyed me later on, because he didn't pick and choose which battles were worth fighting. Instead, he rebelled against anyone who was in charge or anyone who asked him to do something he didn't want to do (You'll see more of this in Vortex). He brought so many conflicting emotions out of me, because he's both strong and weak and clever yet stupid. There wasn't much character development in Insignia, but there is a little bit more in Vortex, which I decided to read before writing this review. xD

Some of the supporting characters....surprised me. I judged a lot of them at first glance, but then realized I was completely wrong when Kincaid turned their personalities around on me. There was a bit of romance, but since all these kids are around fourteen or fifteen, it didn't really progress into anything serious. There were your average crushes, which the boys were oblivious to, and then there was a computer girlfriend, which doesn't really count as a "relationship" in my book, at least not until they meet face to face.

Insignia was pretty well paced. It took a few chapters for me to get interested in what was happening, but once I did, it was smooth sailing from there. I actually did pick this book up around seven or eight months ago and chucked it back onto the shelf, because it failed to catch my attention. When I saw it at ARCycling, I decided to give it another shot because of all the high ratings on Goodreads and all the praise I've been hearing around the Internet. I was definitely glad I did, because this is a pretty good dystopian novel in the making. I was literally up to 4 A.M., desperately trying to finish this novel, because my brain wouldn't send the signal to my fingers to close the book. I blame my burning eyes on you, Kincaid! xD

Overall, Insignia was a great dystopian novel with a realistic premise that made sense. I felt like this could actually happen someday in the world. The main character has a lot of potential, but before he reaches it, he has a lot of growing up to do, which I'm fine with, because he's still pretty young. Another thing I forgot to mention in my review is that Insignia was not scarce in the comedy department. All the characters had their very own special kind of humor, whether it's an astounding wit or adorable ignorance, Insignia will definitely bring out a few laughs from even the most stoic of people.

Hero- 3.5/5 Has a lot of potential.
Romance- 3.5/5
Action- 4.5/5 Fast paced after
you get into the heart of the story.
Comedy- 4.5/5 Hilarious
Trailer- 4.5/5 Epic and informative
Overall- 4/5

Click to Watch Book Trailer

Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 313 Pages
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Narration: First Person: Sara Jane
Genre: Contemporary/Paranormal Twist
Challenge: Paranormal Challenge
Source: ARCycling

The Cold Fury Series:
Book One: Cold Fury
Book Two: Flicker & Burn (7/13)
Book Three: Unknown

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Action packed, with fresh, cinematic writing, Cold Fury is a riveting and imaginative adventure readers will devour.

My Review:

I didn't see that coming.....at all! At first, I was a bit skeptical as to if I would enjoy this novel, because as all of my regular readers know, contemporary books aren't my cup of tea. Although I admit, I probably shouldn't be too quick to judge considering the fact that I can count all the contemporary books I've read on one hand alone. With that being said, if you know any really good, fast paced contemporary reads, feel free to recommend them to me! I'm definitely open to new suggestions, because I'm trying to get over my silly prejudices and take a step outside my comfort zone. Anyways, I digress. Cold Fury was a package of pure epicness confined within the boundaries of ink on a page. Although I did have a hard time getting sucked into the novel and reaching my equilibrium, it was nothing but fast paced action and nail-biting suspense once I did.

Sixteen-year old Sara Jane Rispoli was an admirable protagonist who wasn't afraid to kick ass when necessary or stand up for others who had the misfortune of being bullied just for being different. Her Italian heritage and background intrigued me, and I enjoyed spending my time learning about her culture and reading the Italian phrases thrown in now and then. Of course, since I'm not fluent in Italian, I can't tell you if the phrases were used correctly or not, but I did understand the gist of it, which was all that mattered to me. xD I was also pretty shocked to learn after reading the book that this completely believable, albeit slightly boyish, protagonist was written by a male author. It's a hit and miss in these situations, but T.M. successfully accomplished what he was going for. An independent, courageous, female lead who is as tough as nails, yet still has a sensitive girlish side that has her insecure moments when it comes to talking to guys, something all of us girls can relate to.

I really could've done without the romance. The majority of YA books are enhanced once the romance is intertwined with the plot, but there are a few exceptions that don't need relationships to stand independently on their own. Since that's coming from an action junkie's perspective, I guess that statement wouldn't hold true for those who favor romance over action. The relationship between Sara and Max was just...weird. It wasn't love at first sight......but love at second sight, which doesn't make it much better in my eyes. It seemed as if they jumped right into a relationship with each other like they already had one to begin with. Sorry, but just because you exchanged a few encouraging words at a party a couple years ago doesn't make you soul mates. The other problem I had was the love interest himself. Sure...he was nice, but that's all I really got from him. I never felt any sparks between them, just a constant annoyance that there had to be a romance added in the first place.

The pacing was erratic. In the beginning few chapters, I was interested in learning how Sara's family worked, judging her character based on her everyday, mundane decisions, listening to the cute little conversations between her and her younger brother, Lou, who I wholly adored. But then....the flashbacks from present to past began to grate on my nerves, and I soon found myself wishing that the author would just stick to one period of time, instead of hopping back and forth between the two. It became confusing, and I had trouble discerning what was happening, what had already happened, and what was to come. 

However, once I got used to T.M.'s slightly eccentric writing style, I slowly started becoming more and more immersed in the danger filled world T.M. created. Once I reached the half point mark, I was completely hooked! Another point I wanted to make, there were tons of movie references in this novel, movies that I had never heard of before and therefore couldn't relate to. If your a fan of classic or older movies filmed in the 1900s, you'll probably connect more with this book than I did, but to me, it was boring, and I just ended up skipping them altogether.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It took a while to get into, but once I did, it was nothing but smooth sailing from there! The romance didn't feel realistic enough and progressed way too quickly for my tastes, but it wasn't gag or bang-my-head-on-a-table worthy. Even if your not a huge contemporary fan, like me xD, I would still recommend this novel to you, because it does have a sort of paranormal twist to it. Nothing to the extent of vampires or werewolves, something a little more subtle, but no less extraordinary. 

Heroine- 4.5/5
Action- 3.5/5 Pace increased once 
I hit the half point mark.
Romance- 2/5
Totally unnecessary.
Writing- 3/5
Some of the explanations were difficult to understand. Present to past changes annoyed me.
Overall- 4/5

Skylark by Meagan Spooner

Reading Level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 344 pages
Release Date: August 1, 2012
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Narration: First Person: Lark
Genre: Dystopian/Fantasy
Challenge: None

Skylark Series:
Book One: Skylark
Book Two: Shadowlark (2013)
Book Three: The Leaden Sky (2014)

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 Amazon Summary:

Vis in magia, in vita vi.

In magic there is power, and in power, life. 

For fifteen years, Lark Ainsley waited for the day when her Resource would be harvested and she would finally be an adult. After the harvest she expected a small role in the regular, orderly operation of the City within the Wall. She expected to do her part to maintain the refuge for the last survivors of the Wars. She expected to be a tiny cog in the larger clockwork of the city. Lark did not expect to become the City's power supply.For fifteen years, Lark Ainsley believed in a lie. Now she must escape the only world she's ever known…or face a fate more unimaginable than death.

My Review:

*This review was originally posted in September 2012, 

so I apologize if it sucks as bad as I think it does. xD

Skylark is an unique and original novel with a story line that I've never encountered before. It seems like the majority of YA novels nowadays have the same plot with little to no variation at all. Sexy, paranormal bad boy who has never been tempted by girls before notices the quiet and ordinary new girl in town. Girl and boy have instant connection and fall in love. Boy denies that he's in love and stays away from girl because of some paranormal reason or conflict. In the end, love conquers all and they both live happily ever after. After a while of reading the same thing repetitively, this novel was like taking a well needed breath of fresh air.

After hearing nothing but raving reviews for this book, I finally decided to open it up and give it a try. Sixteen year old Lark Ainsley wants nothing more but to fit in with everyone else and be harvested, a technique used to draw energy (Also known as Resource) out of a human body to convert to energy for the purpose of powering the city. In the city that she lives in, most kids are harvested around the age of ten, but Lark, being the oldest whose ever went without being harvested, feels left out and alone. Finally, the day comes when she's one of the few chosen to "serve" her city. However, she soon discovers that being harvested isn't all that it's made out to be. Her whole world is flipped upside down within the matter of days and she soon learns that everything she's ever known was a complete lie.

In my opinion, I found the beginning of this novel to be kind of slow paced. I loved Meagan's descriptive and flowy form of writing. but for some reason, I wasn't able to get sucked into the world Lark resided in. However, when Lark escapes and goes on her journey to find the Iron Wood, things get a bit more interesting. I admired the way that Meagan wrote Lark's feelings and discoveries when she left her city behind and entered the real world. When Lark described the sky and the earth, I felt as if I was looking through Lark's eyes and seeing the world for the first time. 

In the beginning of her journey, Lark reminded me of a damsel in distress just waiting for Owen to sweep in and save her like a knight in shining armor. I really don't like weak protagonists, so I was getting annoyed to say at the least. However, Lark grows in character throughout the novel and learns to face her problems instead of running away from them. She learns to fight for everyone and everything she loves in her own special way, no matter the consequences. 

Overall, I had mixed feelings about this book. Skylark is not a novel I would reread over and over again, but I definitely enjoyed my time with it. Not totally sure if I'll be reading the sequel yet, but I'm still considering it. This might be an obsess worthy novel for someone else, and in which case I encourage you to give it a try.

Rating: 3/5

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Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 362 Pages
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Publisher: Tor Teen
Narration: First Person: Ember
Genre: Dystopian
Challenge: Dystopian
Source: The Strand Bookstore

Article 5 Series
Book One: Article 5
Book Two: Breaking Point
Book Three: Unknown (2014)

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Goodreads Synopsis:

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings—the only boy Ember has ever loved.

My Review:

I've heard about this novel here and there but never payed much attention to it, because although it had a pretty cool looking cover, the synopsis didn't draw me in. Sure, it was well written and summed up the story pretty well, but it lacked individuality and ended up sounding just like any other Dystopian synopsis I've read, albeit with a few meager variations. I wasn't planning on reading Article 5 anytime soon, but after I found a paperback copy in The Strand (Which is the best bargain bookstore EVER, of course that might not mean a lot, considering it's the only bargain bookstore I've ever been to.), I thought, "Ehhh, why not?" Partly because I loved the cover.....and mostly because it was such a good deal that I couldn't resist. xD

It seemed like every single time I was beginning to like Ember as a protagonist, willing to set my annoyance at her petty thoughts and stupid actions behind me, she did something, once again, to make me want to fling my book across the room. Actually, there were a couple of times when I did slam it on the floor, taking advantage of the fact that I was holding a physical book in my hands for once, instead of my fragile Kindle. Anyways, I digress. Ember seemed to contradict herself every other line. At one moment, she would call Chase a monster, someone she didn't even recognize anymore, and in the next, she was pleading with him to help her and her mother escape, screaming at him when he didn't, even when there was absolutely no possible way he could accomplish what she was asking of him. One minute she trusted him and felt nothing but safe in his arms, and then all of a sudden she was afraid of him, flinching at every move he made towards her. Make up your mind, woman!

She seemed to think that the whole world revolved around her, that everything would end up working out in the end if things were done her way. Ember never thought out her plans nor did she think about the consequences that would follow soon after. She ran on instinct alone, and because of that she wound up running face first into trouble more often than not. Although she did fight back when she was in danger, she reminded me a lot of the damsel in distress type that I despise so much.

Luckily, there was only one love interest in this novel. Thank God! I don't know if I could take the angst level if there were two men vying over her affections. Chase was logical; he thought things through before executing his plans, unlike the impulsive Ember who failed to see the bigger picture. He knew when the odds were in his favor, but he also knew to surrender and fight another day when there was no possible way of winning, or a very low chance of escaping with his life and Ember's intact. I can say with the utmost certainty that Ember did not deserve Chase, at all. If she changed her...well...entire personality, then maybe. But the childish, jumping to conclusions way she acts right now? Definitely not. 

This first sixty or so pages were pretty slow paced. I probably picked the book up and set it down dozens of times. The plot, the characters *Cough,Cough Ember*, and the world building just couldn't hold my attention. Everything was very Blah, and I even found myself falling asleep in a couple of scenes. However, once I passed the sixty page mark, the novel picked up speed gradually, and I soon found myself enjoying the storyline, despite the difficulties I had with the protagonist. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the plot after that mark, the world building left a lot to be desired. I couldn't, and still can't, imagine the world there living in.

Overall, Article 5 had weak world building, a great plot once you reach a certain point, a very yummy love interest, and an annoying, impulsive protagonist who I hope will grow in character throughout the next installment. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dystopians, is in the mood to drool over a swoon worthy guy, and who doesn't mind a whiny, self-centered protagonist.

Heroine- 2/5
Romance- 4/5
Would've been a five if there was a better protagonist.
Action- 3/5 
Slow at first, but the action gradually increased as the novel progressed.
Comedy- N/A
Overall- 3/5

Blog Tour + Excerpt: Terra by Gretchen Powell

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 286 Pages
Release Date: December 12, 2012
Publisher: Hopewell Media
Narration: First Person: Terra
Genre: Dystopian / Sci Fi
Source: CBL Book Tours

Terrestrials Series
Book One: Terra

Order On Amazon: Paperback
                               Kindle
Order On Barnes and Noble:
Nook

Author's
( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter )

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth's population, humanity is split in two. The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon makes her living as a scav, scouting the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. While on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16.

Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Fueled by curiosity, her search for the truth ultimately leads her to Adam--a beguiling boy with a secret that has the power to change humanity's existence forever.

My Review:

When I first read the synopsis, I didn't think that Terra would be anything special. Let's face it. After The Hunger Games went viral, the majority of YA authors followed in Suzanne's footsteps in hopes of becoming the next big thing. And sooner rather than later, a whole plethora of Dystopian novels, with admittedly slight variations, were born. After reading so many copycats of the original dystopian novel that kickstarted it all, I wasn't expecting anything unique or innovative. I was so wrong! Although there were a couple of similarities between Terra and The Hunger Games in the beginning, Terra soon took a completely different path altogether! I immediately fell in love with the dangerous and desperate world Gretchen created, as well as all the characters surrounding it. 

As soon as we crack open the novel, we meet Terra Rhodon, a eighteen year old girl who scavenges for things such as recyclable plastic and metal parts for a living, in order to make enough credit to buy food, if you can even call what they eat food, for herself and her younger fourteen year old brother Mica. I have to say, the whole scavenging concept was the main reason why I enjoyed this novel. Although there are many people who think that this idea was stolen from The Hunger Games, I really don't see the connection whatsoever. Maybe I need to reread it, but from what I remember of The Hunger Games, the only part that was even remotely close to scavenging was when Katniss was searching for items in the arena. Anyways, so yeah, the whole idea was fascinating to me! After reading the first page, I knew that my butt was going to stay glued to my chair until I finished it. 

Although there were a few points in the novel when I got upset with Terra's actions or thought process, these moments were scarce, and the majority of the time I found Terra to be a very likable character. She was a strong, independent young girl, forced to grow up at a young age due to her mother's death and her father's incompetence to take care of his children. After she met Adam, the blue eyed love interest, she did some....questionable things. I understood why she took those certain actions, but at the same time I wanted to reprimand her for it. In the end, I finally concluded that although I wouldn't do what she did in the exact same way, her heart was in the right place, because she was thinking about the wellbeing of her brother rather than her own needs.

Adam was absolutely adorable. Even though Terra was snappy and feisty when they first met, he was nothing but polite and understanding. The romance they both kindled veered towards the sweet and cute side rather than the hot and steamy, which I'm totally fine with! Both types are great to read about, and since most YA novels curve towards the steamy side, it's refreshing to see a delightfully awkward yet undeniably sweet romance for once. There was this one particular scene when Terra was in the shower and Adam....well for those of you who read the novel, you'll know what I'm talking about. For those of you who haven't, you'll have to get the book yourself, because I'm not too keen on giving away spoilers. xD Anyways, just the way that Gretchen described how it happened induced a "Awwwww" moment from me. xD However, that one....secret that was revealed near the end of the book about Adam, was a bit out of place. I wish Gretchen kept up with the whole Dystopian theme instead of bringing Sci Fi into this.

The action was well paced, because as I stated several times before, I was interested with the whole idea of scavenging for a living. I never once felt bored, and since this book only spanned about 250 pages, it was a quick and easy read for me. The thorough descriptions and details Gretchen used made the novel more enjoyable to read and didn't detract from the pace at all!

Overall, if your looking for a intriguing dystopian to breeze through, Terra is a worthy contender. It's perfect for anyone who wants to be able to finish a book in a short period of time. Although I wasn't all too happy with the Sci Fi twist that was incorporated into Terra, I'm still interested in reading the sequel to see what happens next.

Cover- 5/5
Heroine- 4/5
Romance- 5/5
Action- 5/5
Comedy- 3.5/5
Theme- 3/5
Overall- 4/5


About The Author: 

Gretchen Powell grew up in far-off places. She is 24 years old, half-Chinese, and the owner of two adorable miniature schnauzers. They wear many sweaters.

By day, she types and types (and types and types) for personal, professional, and cathartic purposes.

By night, she binges on episodes of Doctor Who and sleeps fitfully.

Sometime in the mid-afternoon, she writes a blog, called "Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen!" about food, fitness, and her life.

She loves words. And Harry Potter. And especially the words IN Harry Potter.

 Find The Author:

( Goodreads ! Website ! Blog ! Twitter ! Facebook )

 

Excerpt:

 

The crunch of multiple footsteps sounds in my ears, and I know the unseen speaker is not alone. With achingly slow speed, I bend my knees to pick up my bag and pivot in the direction of the voice.

 

Three huge men stand about a yard in front of me, lined up in a row. All three of them sport shaved heads, making them almost indistinguishable from one another, save for their differing skin tones. Their long brown coats hang open, revealing bare chests covered with tattoos that creep from below their waistlines all the way up to their chins.

 

Raiders.

 

The man in the middle has a chain of thick golden links hanging around his throat. As I watch it bounce against his dark chest, I realize I’ve never actually seen raiders up close before. All that time spent thinking about Lee’s final moments, what his murderers had looked like. Turns out I had it pictured all wrong.

 

How did I not hear them coming? I always hear them coming.
 

Sample Chapters

 

Enter This Giveaway

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Reading Level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 544 Pages
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Books for Young Readers
Narration: First Person: Mara Dyer
Genre: Mystery/Paranormal
Challenge: Paranormal Reading Challenge
Source: Library

Order On Amazon: Hardcover
                               Kindle
Order On Barnes and Noble:
Hardcover and Nook

Mara Dyer Series:
Book One: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Book Two: The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Book Three: The Retribution of Mara Dyer
                                                (10/22)
Author's
( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter )

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

My Review:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer left me breathless. The sequel rendered me speechless.

 

It's been days since I've read The Evolution of Mara Dyer, but even now, every single time my mind wanders in that direction, I have this almost irresistible urge to jump up and down and start hyperventilating like a little kid in a candy store. There are so many great and downright creepy things in this novel! I'm so relieved that I decided to read this in broad daylight, because if I hadn't, I would have definitely flinched at every single rustle of sound thinking that somewhere, out there, Jude was watching me.This is the type of novel to make you want to turn every single light in your house on. To check behind your shower curtain and under your bed just to make sure that there aren't any murderers lurking in the shadows. If you scare easily and still wish to read The Evolution of Mara Dyer, despite all my warnings, I urge you to proceed with caution.

 

I absolutely adored the protagonist, Mara. If I had the misfortune to be caught in her position, I would've cracked and gone 100% insane eons ago. I'm usually really good at distinguishing between the truth and the red herrings as well as figuring out answers way before the characters themselves do. But with Mara? It was just a huge jumble of puzzle pieces that I couldn't fit together no matter how hard I struggled to. Because, let's face it, she's not exactly what you would call the most reliable character.

At times you might think that she's just a misunderstood girl who wields a deathly power that no one understands. Not even herself. But other times......Michelle makes you wonder. Is she really insane? Are her hallucinations based on things that have actually occurred in the past or are going to occur in the future? Or are they the product of PSTD and a heightened sense of paranoia?  Her parents didn't make things any better either. Even though I knew that all they wanted was for their daughter to get better again, they could've at least taken the time to hear her out instead of nodding condescendingly every time she uttered a word.

 

Noah Shaw. I haven't been this swoony over a male character since Daemon Black from The Lux Series and Kaidan whatever his last name is from the Sweet Evil Trilogy. That's definitely saying something because Daemon's and Kaidan's sexiness can not even be comprehended or described from words of the English language. Why oh why can't boys like this exist in real life? British accent, dangerous, dark, mysterious, compassionate, and witty. What more could a girl ever want? The conversations between Mara and Noah always had me laughing out loud and clutching my stomach from not being able to catch my breath! Knowing my luck, those out loud moments always occurred during very inappropriate moments.

 

The relationships in this novel were beautifully written and perfectly executed. Not very often do we see such a strong bond between brother and sister. That one time when Daniel had to share his secret thoughts about Mara during an activity in the insane institution/Rehab Center was just So. Freaking. Beautiful. I was reduced to a sobbing, blubbering mess of tears. And Noah? The romance between them wasn't perfect. No romance ever is, which is why I loved this novel so much. We don't see the same, "He fell in love with her. She fell in love with him. He left because of some paranormal reason to protect the one he loved" sort of crap. Even though they did have fallouts and kept secrets from each other once in a while, they stuck together during the good and the bad times.

 

Loved the pacing of this novel! There was always so much stuff happening and your just continually bombarded left and right with questions! We get a little more background information on both of our main characters, but those answers just lead to more and more questions. I could barely make any guesses on where the novel was going next. Every plot twist, with the exception of one or two, took me by surprise. I was absolutely flabbergasted. And the end? I'm sure that everybody finds that to be such a big cliffhanger, but it can't be true. It's impossible. Michelle wouldn't do that to us. Right? .....o.o

 

Overall, please do yourself a favor and pick this book up as soon as you can. I might even get my mom to drive me to Barnes and Noble right now just to get a copy for the purpose of staring at it all day and thinking of the beautiful, masterpiece that is known as Noah Shaw. *Happy Sighs* A great read for everyone......except the fainthearted and easily spooked that is....*Evil grins*

 

Favorite Quotes:

 

“We are far too screwed up for a goddamned love triangle.”
― Michelle Hodkin, The Evolution of Mara Dyer

 

“You’re stronger than you believe. Don’t let your fear own you. Own yourself.”
― Michelle Hodkin, The Evolution of Mara Dyer

 

“I'm not sure you can appreciate how much I want to lay you out before me

and make you scream my name.”
― Michelle Hodkin, The Evolution of Mara Dyer

 

“It doesn't matter what we are. It matters what we do.”
― Michelle Hodkin, The Evolution of Mara Dyer

 

Heroine- 5/5

Romance- 5/5

Action- 5/5

Comedy- 6/5

Uniqueness- 5/5

Writing Style- 5/5

Overall- 6/5

 

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Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Reading Level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 352 pages
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Narration: First Person: Juliette
Genre: Dystopian
Source: Bought

Shatter Me Series
Book One: Shatter Me
Novella: Destroy Me (October 2, 2012)
Book Two: Unravel Me (February 5, 2013)
Book Three: Untitled (Fall 2013)

Order on Amazon: Hardcover
                               Kindle
Order on Barnes and Noble.com:
Paperback and Nook

Author's
( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter ! Facebook )

Goodreads Synopsis:

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.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

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

My Review:

*Originally Posted in August 2012.

This was actually one of my first reviews, so I apologize if it sucks. xD

  

Holy macaroons! Shatter Me was a breathtaking work of art! When I first picked up this book, I had no idea what it was about and who the author was but the cover looked interesting so I decided to pick it up. When I read the summary in the back, I literally got chills down my spine!

"I have a curse.
I have a gift.

I'm a monster.
I'm more than human.

My touch is lethal.
My touch is power.

I am their weapon.
I will fight back."

Gahhh! Chills! From the first page, I was immediately sucked into the world Tahereh created. Juliette has been locked up for 264 days. She hasn't talked to anyone in 264 days. Hasn't eaten anything or drank anything but the bare minimum of what she needs to survive. Her parents gave her away as a child. They said that she was a monster, that she didn't deserve to live, and that she took away their only happiness in life. Sad thing is, Juliette herself believes she's a monster too. She has blamed herself her whole life for killing a child accidentally by using her touch.

I love the character that Taherah created! Juliette was a survivor. After being locked up in a room for 264 days with no human interaction and nearly being starved to death, I would have gone mad. Juliette stayed strong and unbreakable through the whole time. Even when she was let out and was given the chance to live in luxury by working for the government, she didn't cry and thank them for sparing her life. She said she would rather die then hurt people for them.

Tahereh has a unique style of writing that I've never seen before. Her writing is filled with metaphors and analogys, which I loved by the way! However, the most unique aspect of her writing is the crossed out words. I have never seen, in my days, a book with crossed out lines in them. I thought that I wouldn't like it but I was wrong! The crossed out words are what Juliette really wants to say but is to afraid to say them. It made the writing even more epic and breathtaking to read. Five Stars all the way! Can't wait for the next novel Unravel Me coming out February 5, 2013!

Heroine- 5/5
Romance- 5/5
Action- 5/5
Overall- 5/5

Click to Watch Book Trailer