Scarlet by Marissa Meyer Review

Title: Scarlet (Lunar Chroicles #2)
Author: Marissa Meyer   
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends  
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Received: For review in return for a honest review  

Summary:  Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Review:  If you have not read Cinder you need to go do that. If the words sci-fi Cinderella retelling don't make you want to read it maybe my review will. Either way if you have not read Cinder I am warning you that this review will contain spoilers for Cinder, not for Scarlet just Cinder. 

 Scarlet was just as good as Cinder. A lot of the time second books tend to drag and not be nearly as good as the first book. But Scarlet does not fall into that trap. Maybe it is the introduction of a new POV or maybe it is the added cast of characters, but Scarlet manages to stay fresh where others fail. 

In case you could not figure it out, Scarlet is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. A retelling that will blow your mind with how different it is from the source material. It takes place in the same world as Cinder just in a different country.  Scarlet is just as sassy as Cinder but they are different she is less insecure and even more kick-ass if you can believe it. If you fell in love with Cinder then you will like Scarlet. She is sassy and I swear I want her red hoodie. 

There are also some other new characters such as Wolf who is not all he seems, and Thorne who I thought was going to be annoying but I really liked getting to know. And don't fret, there are still some of your favorite characters from Cinder such as Iko, Queen Levana (though if you like her *side eye*) and of course Kai. 

 The two stories of Scarlet and Wolf looking for her grandmother and Cinder trying to escape Queen Levana may seem like they would not come together but they fall in place perfectly and are told through alternating chapters interspersed with chapters about Kai. 

Basically if you liked Cinder get ready for even more fun in Scarlet. Also while some questions are answered you will be joined with me in wanting Cress which does not come out till next year. 

Georgetown Academy book two by Jessica Etting and Alyssa Schwartz Review

Title: Georgetown Academy: Book Two
Author: Jessica Koosed Etting, Alyssa Embree Schwartz  

Publisher: Coliloquy
Release Date: October 15, 2012 
Received: From publisher in return for a honest review

  Summary:  In the halls of Georgetown Academy, gossip and rumor abound. But when photographic proof shows up on the front page of The Huffington Post? Then it’s a national scandal.

While Ellie tries to put her life back together, Evan just might get everything she’s ever wanted—the perfect boyfriend and her dream career. But her loyalties will be put to the test when it turns out to be the very people she’s closest to who are standing in her way.

Brinley is determined to find out who is behind the photo leak, all while her own dirty secret spirals out of control. And California girl Taryn is sick of being walked all over and ready to start playing by the rules of D.C., for better or for worse.

In a world where reputation and appearances are everything, knowledge is power. But you’ll have to learn how to use it if you want to come out on top. 

Review:  The second Georgetown Academy is very similar to the first. There are lies, backstabbing, and politics. But in this installment Ellie is left reeling after what happened at the end of book one. 

 Ellie's scandal is the main issue that is present in the book. I liked seeing ho different people manipulated the situation, and I have to say I was surprised to find out who took the picture. The way Brinley's situation screamed Gossip Girl to me. So if you are a fan of that type of drama this is the series for you.

I really liked that we got to know the boys of Georgetown Academy a little more. Learning more about Hunter, Luke, Gabe, and Brooks helped to flesh out the story and made it more believable.

Overall I feel the same about this book that I did the first one, it is a great short read, especially for fans of Gossip Girl. Again I wish there had been more than one interactive part but I felt like this one was better than in the previous book.

Check out my review of the first book!

Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Review + Giveaway

Title: Nobody   
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes 
Publisher: EgmontUSA  
Release Date: January 22, 2013 
Received: For review  

Summary:  There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away.

That’s why they make the perfect assassins.

The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated.

Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they’ve ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them. 


Review:  We all feel like nobody every once in a while, but what if you found out you actually were Nobody? That is what Claire must come to terms with in Nobody.

 Claire and Nix are two great main characters. They, as we learn throughout the book, are Nobodies, people who no one really notices. But while Nix has grown up knowing he is a Nobody, Claire is just learning it. I enjoyed Claire's journey into realizing what she is, Nix is so sure of what he thinks and when Claire's existence tears that all apart their resulting journey is both complex and interesting.

I like books that are semi-grounded in reality but have a cool scientific twist ad Nobody definitely has that. I loved learning about the Institute, the Nobodies, and the Nulls. Barnes has painted a picture so real that I was getting shivers thinking about the possibility of Nulls existing and about real people who are basically the real life equivalent of Nulls.

The way the book is written is kind of strange. Instead of alternating between characters each chapter. The chapters are broken up and they go back and forth between Claire and Nix. After a little while I got used to it but it is different when you first pick it up.

Overall I liked Nobody and am looking forward to the next one.

 If you would like to win a copy of Nobody along with Jennifer Lynn Barnes' standalone Every Other Day fill out this Rafflecopter form! 

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Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood Review

Title: Born Wicked  

Author: Jessica Spotswood 
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile 
Release Date: February 7, 2012 Pb: January 3, 2013

Received: From the Library

Summary:  Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

Review:  Historical and Fantasy in one magical book; what more can a girl want? I loved Born Wicked and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read it.

With magic, secret societies, prophesies, and romance Born Wicked has something for almost any YA lover. It is a fantastic debut that really shows off what Jessica Spotswood can do.

I liked most of the characters in this book, even the ones that I thought I was not going to like I started warming up to by the end of the book. I liked how different all three sisters were, even if Maura drove me mad, they each had their own goals and motivations but thy were tied together as a family. I thought the family dynamic was illustrated very well. 

As the story went on the plot got even more twisted and complicated but I never got lost or felt like I was being info dumped on. I cannot wait for the next book to see where Cate's decision takes them! 

I recommend this book to everyone but especially people who loved Marissa Doyle's Betraying Season, and Bewitching Season, and if you haven't read them pick them up as you wait for the second book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles.

Favorite books of 2012!

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

Adult fiction: Cheating at Solitaire by Ally Carter (This book came out a long time ago but it is so good!) A newer one is Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot Contemporary YA: A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith Dystopian/Post-apocalyptic YA: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa Paranormal: Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan Fantasy:The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, and Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Retelling: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Historical: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Now that is not at all to say that I did not like either of these books! On the contrary I really liked both of them, but I guess since they were so hyped I expected to LOVE them.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? 

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman. I really liked this book and while I thought I would like it I was surprised how much I liked it.

 4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore and The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

 5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

The Girl of Fire and Thorns series by Rae Carson (I have yet to read the second but the first one was one of my favorites!) and the Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo. Both of these books were interesting fantasy worlds that I fell in love with!

 6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Sarah Rees Brennan, I had never read any of her other books before but I fell in love with her two newest books. Rae Carson, Leigh Bardugo, and Anna Banks (Of Poseidon is hilarious)

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Nine Rules to Break When Romanceing a Rake by Sarah Maclean was m first foray into Romance and I fell in love with it and the other books in the series!

 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund. I read both of these books in a day and could not put them down.

 9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore because I loved it and want to read it again and again. Also The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater because it was so beautifully written and I loved the characters!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

This cover is so gorgeous and fits the book so well!

 11. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater was one of the most beautifully written and lyrical books I have ever read.

12. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, while I did not cry like many other readers, I was really touched by this story and thought about it for days after.

 13. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, and Clarity by Kim Harrington

 14.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

Longest — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling at 759 pages
Shortest — Georgetown Academy by Alyssa Embree Schwartz and Jessica Koosed Etting at 126 pages

15. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah Maclean I never would have actually (rather than just thinking about it) read this book if not for the insistence of Erica at the Book Cellar 

What were your favorite books of the year?

 

Georgetown Academy by Alyssa Schwartz and Jessica Etting Review

Title: Georgetown Academy Book One   
Author:  Alyssa Embree Schwartz, Jessica Koosed Etting  
Publisher: Coliloquy, LLC  
Release Date: October 24, 2012  
Received: For review

Review:   
Gossip Girl meets Politics: that is the basic gist of the Georgetown Academy series. Everyone is watched and their parents and their political exploits are the talk of the town and dictate the student's every move. And don't forget, the media is always there to catch it all. 

 Georgetown Academy is an "active fiction series" which basically means it is similar to choose your own adventure. Because it is only available as an e-book it makes the digital contest come to life easier than it could in a  traditional book. And while I was happy with the way the "active fiction" made the story more interesting there was only one point in which I could choose which girl I wanted to follow. I wish there had been at least one more. That being said seeing the world through all the girls' eyes was fun and added depth to  the story. And trust me after reading one choice you will want to read the rest.

I liked the political side of the book as well. While it may be fiction I can see the lives of prominent political people being similar to this so I liked experiencing what it might be like.

While the main characters are sort of stereotypical as the story progressed they became more fleshed out which i was really glad to see.

So if you are looking for a quick read to fill your new e-reader or to use your gift card on I recommend Georgetown Academy! Oh, and the second one is already out so you don't have to wait!

 

2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt Question 45

Looking for this, hunters? I have today's trivia questions from Fiction Fervor's 2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt here for you. 2012YASSH challenges you with your knowledge of young adult books published this year, and if you enter, you might win a prize! Check out it here for more info. And be sure to read the rules!

Without further ado, today's questions come from Reached by Ally Condie.

Easy: What department’s insignia looks like a blood-red circle?

Medium: What is the most common symptom of the Plague?

Hard: What did Cassia trade to pay for one of the Hundred Dresses?

Enter your answers in the form below!

Good Luck!

2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt Question 31

Looking for this, hunters? I have today's trivia questions from Fiction Fervor's 2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt here for you. 2012YASSH challenges you with your knowledge of young adult books published this year, and if you enter, you might win a prize! Check out it here for more info. And be sure to read the rules! Have fun! And if this is the first you've heard of it, it is not too late to get started!

Without further ado, today's questions come from Destined by Aprilynne Pike.

Easy: What close friend of Tamani died to protect Avalon?

Medium: What is the name of the weapon David yielded in battle in Avalon?

Hard: What is David’s final request of Chelsea at the end of the book?

Enter your answers in the form below!

Good luck!

Why I love YA

There are many reasons why I love YA. 

Contrary to what many may believe there are amazing books that fall under the YA category. Some of the best books I have ever read are YA and I think many people miss out on them because they are YA. 

YA books as a whole are awesome. They tell such great stories that draw you in and never let you go. The characters are so relate able and make you fall in love with them with every book you read.

All of the YA authors I have met are so nice, and they are so funny and awesome. It is great to have a chance to chat with them on twitter. I think that YA would not be as great if the authors weren't so great.

The blogging community is great (most of the time). I have met so many people who love YA just as much as me through blogging and I would never trade that. 

Basically I love YA and I wish everyone would give it a shot, so they could experience the wonderfulness that it is!

If you want to share why you love YA and have a chance to win lots of books check out Beth Revis' contest (another awesome YA author)

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races  

Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press 

Release Date: October 18, 2011 
Received: Library

Summary:  It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.  


Review:  I listened to The Scorpio Races on audio and it was so beautiful. If you have the chance to listen it rather than read it I would definitely recommend it. But even if you can't you really need to read it.

I had read all of Maggie Stiefvater's other books and had fallen in love with her style and voice. Her Shiver series while good, was not as amazing of a fit for her voice as her first two books, Linger and Ballad. But The Scorpio Races was the perfect fit for her lyricism and style. The minute I started listening I knew I was in for a treat.

Puck and Sean are awesome main characters, their stories were seamlessly wound together and I loved the dual POV, it made the story richer and more beautiful. Puck is such a strong female character and even though she was not out saving the world, but she was out doing whatever she could to save her family. Sean on the other hand is alone and is doing all he can to get what he wants and needs but is not selfish about it which is not seen very much in books.

Finn, Puck's brother was one of my favorite characters. He was so sweet and awesome I loved his personality and wanted him to be my little brother. Also he was always surprising me and I love that about him.

Thisby the island that The Scorpio Races takes place on it almost a character in itself. It could not take place in any other place. Maggie Stiefvater brought it to life and I felt like I was there. I really want Thisby to be real so I can experience it. But because it isn't I feel like I have been there.

The audio narration is awesome. There are two narrators, one for Puck and one for Sean and they are the perfect voices for them. Especially the man who voiced Sean, I fell in love with his voice and I would listen to him read the phone book if I had the chance. But I also loved the voice of Puck, she was sassy and fit Puck's personality perfectly!

You need to read this book. I am mad at myself for waiting this long to read it. Also it is a stand alone so if you are tired of all the series' and need a break, or if you just want an awesome book to read I recommend The Scorpio Races.