Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Title: Cruel Beauty
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Received From: Library

Synopsis:  Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.
Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.
Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.
With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.
But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.
As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.  

 Review:
I am always hesitant to read books that are really hyped up. This is one of the reasons that I took so long to read Cruel Beauty. I was worried that it wouldn't live up to all of the hype and I was going to be disappointed. I shouldn't have worried though because Cruel Beauty was even better than I could have ever imagined.

I am a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings ever since I read Beauty by Robin Mckinley when I was younger. Cruel Beauty isn't a complete retelling of Beauty and the Beast but it has a similar arc to the classic story.

Overall I LOVED Cruel Beauty but I did have some small issues that I want to get out of the way so I can gush. I felt like the ending was a little rushed. I wish it had more of a slow burn rather than a fast a furious finale. I also had a few issues with the lust at first sight aspect to this book but neither of these things dampened my love of this book even a little.

The world building in this book was incredible. I am huge fan of fantasy and I love seeing how a world is developed.  This book was exquisitely crafted. No huge info dumps or anything like that. Just a slow release of information when the time called for it.

Nyx was a great character. She undertook the situation as I could see a real teen dealing with it. She had actual feelings and didn't just go along with what was happening to her. I like when a character gets angry and has real reactions to the things that are happening around her.

I think everyone who likes fairy tales should read this amazing retelling!

Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike Review

Title: Life After Theft
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Received From: Bought

Synopsis: Aprilynne Pike, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wings series, shines in this stand-alone novel that offers a humorous twist on ghosts and is perfect for fans of Ally Carter, Rachel Hawkins, and Kiersten White.
Kimberlee Schaffer may be drop-dead gorgeous . . . but she also dropped dead last year. Now she needs Jeff's help with her unfinished business, and she's not taking no for an answer. When she was alive, Kimberlee wasn't just a mean girl; she was also a complete kleptomaniac. So if Jeff wants to avoid being haunted until graduation, he'll have to help her return all of the stolen items. But Jeff soon discovers that it's much easier to steal something than it is to bring it back.
Paying for your mistakes takes on a whole new meaning in this hauntingly clever twist on The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Review: This was a very interesting book. As a whole I don't read very many books with male main characters. Not because I don't like them or think they are somehow lesser; I just connect better with female main characters.

That being said when I see a book with a very interesting premise I am going to pick it up regardless.  That is what happened with Life After Theft.

Life After Theft is a fun take on the classic klepto story. This is because the aforementioned klepto just so happens to be dead. And so our main character Jeff has to return all of Kimberlee's stolen goods so she can hopefully move on and leave him in peace.

There are quite a few bumps and bruises that Jeff experiences while returning the stuff. Including but not limited to being arrested. 

But even though this is a fun and sometimes harrowing story about returning stolen goods and actually feeling bad for taking the stuff. It is mostly a story about forgiving when someone messes up, as well as not holding someone's past against them.

Life After Theft has amazing character development. All of the major characters grew leaps and bounds and became completely different in a believable way.

I enjoyed the book, it was fun and different and I enjoyed how the romance was incorporated.  That being said I found a little of the pacing a little off. But besides that I really enjoyed it.

Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Title: Prophecy (The Dragon King Chronicles #1)
Author: Ellen Oh
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 2, 2013
Received From: Library

Synopsis: The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms... is a girl with yellow eyes.

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.

Review:
I love fantasy books, give me a stack of fantasy novels and I am set. So I was super excited to read Prophesy which is a fantasy inspired by Korean myths.

One of my favorite Asian inspired fantasies is Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon, so while I was letting Prophesy stand on its own I wanted it to be just as good as Silver Phoenix. Unfortunately while I liked Prophesy, it had no where near the magic of Silver Phoenix. 

Kira is a very, very strong female lead. She kicks ass and takes names all while being hated by everyone in the city, because her uncle the king won't allow them to know what she does. But when the city gets attacked only she can protect the prince.

I loved the ancient lore that we learn throughout the book. If you have read my blog for long you know that that is one of my favorite parts of fantasy novels and Prophesy was no exception. Though I do wish that the Monks had been a little less vague. The kind of acted like they did not really know what was going on either which was frustrating for both Kira and I.

There is a hit of romance in this book but not so much that it took away from the plot which I really appreciated.

The only real problem I had with Prophesy was that I found it predictable. Not all of it but the major plot points I guessed right away. I still enjoyed the book but it took a little of the magic out of the story.

Overall Prophesy was a captivating read and a great addition to the YA fantasy genre.

Check out my review of Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon here

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Title: For Darkness Shows the Stars 
Author: Diana Peterfreund 
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Received: From the library

Summary:  It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.
Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.
But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.
Inspired by Jane Austen's persuasion, "For Darkness Shows the Stars" is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

 
Review:  
So I am going  to preface this review by saying I have never read Persuasion. I know, I know, but I say this to bring home the point that this is not a strict retelling or anything like that. For Darkness Shows the Stars was inspired by Persuasion so even if you did not like Persuasion or if like me you had never read it I think you could really like this book!

I read this book in one day. Not one night which is when I normally read, one day I sat on the couch and besides some interruptions of having to do things I was reading this book. I was sucked in by Diana Peterfreund's masterful storytelling and was not let go until a few days after. I even find myself thinking about this book randomly it was so good.

I have read all of Peterfreund's other books including her adult books, and they are all really good. But For Darkness Shows the Stars has to be my favorite. Just the world building and the characters ugh. I don't even know. I just loved it.

Elliot is awesome! She is tough, strong, determined and broken. Sh has had to deal with so many things beyond her years that it takes a while for her to warm up to anyone. Especially when a certain Kai shows back up. I felt for her when she had to deal with him and I loved reading their letters to each other in between the chapters. It slowly opened up more of the story.

I loved the ending of For Darkness Shows the Stars it was awesome and I have to say that even though I adored this book I loved that it was a stand-alone.

I cannot wait for the companion novel Across the Star-Swept Sea but you should definitely check out this amazing book!

Kiss Me Again by Rachel Vail

Title: Kiss Me Again   
Author: Rachel Vail   
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Release Date: December 5, 2012  
Received: For review

Summary:  He closed the distance I'd opened up between us and kissed me lightly on the lips. "Maybe we can just be," Kevin whispered.

Charlie Collins doesn't know what to do about Kevin Lazarus, her crush and, awkwardly, her new stepbrother. Things were complicated enough when their parents were only dating and when Kevin was going out with Charlie's best friend, Tess. Now, post-wedding, Charlie and Kevin are crossing paths and crossing lines, and then they have to eat breakfast . . . together.

If only Charlie could get some time away from Kevin and her annoyingly happy and strange stepfamily, she might be able to deal. Yet first she has to make things right with George, her sort-of boyfriend, and Tess, whose trust she broke. But while Charlie struggles to be the perfect friend and daughter, at the end of the day Kevin is the one waiting for her at home. Would it really be so bad if they kissed again?

The follow-up to If We Kiss, Rachel Vail's addictive story of first kisses and heartbreak, Kiss Me Again at long last answers the question of what happens when a crush so off-limits it has to be a fantasy suddenly becomes something very real. 

 Review:  I read the first book in this series a few years ago and fell in love. So when I found out there was going to be a sequel I was so excited! 

Charlie and Kevin's relationship was so awkward. As it should be, how weird would that situation be? Though I have to say I felt bad for George as it was not really his fault and yet he had to deal with Charlie's moodiness.

Charlie and Tess' relationship was still in shambles from the first book and it was really sad. Reading about Charlie wanting to tell her best friend about her life and to ask her advice but then to have Tess still (understandably) upset at Charlie, was heartbreaking when I thought about how good friends they were in If We Kiss. 

Kevin's sister was probably one of my favorite parts of the book, she is so sweet and odd.

I really liked this book but I wish more would have happened in it. There was not too much plot development and I wish there had been a little more, but I did enjoy it. 

If you haven't read the first book If We Kiss and you  like romantic comedy type movie you should go read it! And then pick up Kiss Me Again.

 

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan Review

Title: Team Human  

Author: Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan 
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: July 3, 2012
Received: Bought

Summary:  Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity!

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Acclaimed authors Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up to create a witty and poignant story of cool vampires, warm friendships, and the changes that test the bonds of love.

Review:  I adored Team Human! I even emailed the authors to gush, and probably made a fool of myself. 

Just so you know Team Human is not a vampire book I mean there a vampires but it is not a vampire book. People who love vampire books will enjoy it, and people who hate vampire books will enjoy it as well.

Mel, Mel, Mel I loved Mel as a main character. She was feisty, determined, and fiercely loyal. She would do almost anything for her friends. Speaking of her friends, Anna Cathy and Ty have great personalities. They are all separate people who aren't just following the main character around like sheep. Which is something I see way too often in books these days. Cathy is so firm in her beliefs and won't let  the opinions of her friends dictate her life. Anna is so amazing! She is so much stronger than I would be in her place. Each of these girls are people I would want to be friends with.

Team Human is a book about friendship. If you are looking for that ever-elusive non-romantic relationship focused book this is the book for you. While there is some romantic tension it is not the backbone of this book.

The plot of Team Human is awesome! It is part mystery part story of friendship. And you know how I feel about a good mystery. I loved trying to figure out what was going on along with Mel.

Team Human made me laugh, tear up, and fall in love. It is a must read!

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: April 24, 2012
Received From: Bought

Summary: 

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review:

The Selection by Kiera Cass was unlike anything I had ever read before. It was a dystopian but with a fairy tale twist, but unlike in many other dystopian novels Kiera Cass was not so focused on world-building that nothing happened in the first book. Instead The Selection was engaging, fun, and entertaining. 
 
America is a wonderful protagonist. She was strong and so willing to help her family but she didn't have that robot feel where I couldn’t connect with her. America felt so real, and I am sure that if I met her she and I could be great friends. Kiera Cass has created a great cast of characters because even though there are so many, it never seems as if they are there just for filler. They all have a purpose and have such different personalities that I couldn't wait to learn more about them.
 
The dystopian part to The Selection, while important to the plot and why the Selection is happening, is not so in your face that people who don't usually like dystopians will be turned off. When I was reading it I thought of it mostly as a fairy-tale with a dystopian setting. Because truly that's what it is.
Kiera Cass has created a world with castes, romance, and unrest that kept me up all night wanting to know more. I cannot wait for the next book in the series so I can find out what happens next!
 
Cover thoughts: I adore this cover! Yes it is a girl in a dress but visually it is different and I so want that dress!

Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Title: Vesper (Deviants #1)

Author: Jeff Sampson

Publisher: Balzer & Bray/ HarperCollins

Release Date: January 25, 2011
Received From: Publisher in return for an honest review.

Summary: A compelling debut novel in which a teen girl must figure out who's causing a rash of murders in her small town--and what's causing her to turn into a monster. Ideal for fans of "Heroes" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Review:

Vesper starts with a girl giving a testimony to some “government” official and I don’t know about you, but that always intrigues me!

Vesper was so not what I expected. It was more complex and gritty, with twists that I certainly didn’t see coming. I enjoyed unraveling the mystery with Emily and wondering what would happen next. I really love mysteries so this was a fun take on a mystery.

Jeff Sampson created a situation that was different from the typical paranormal genre, and might I say that I really enjoyed how Emily wasn’t a lame, typical paranormal protagonist. She took things into her own hands and (at least at night) wasn’t afraid to investigate. I also really liked that there was no real “romance” I mean there was toward the end but it was different and interesting.

The end of Vesper left me yearning for the next book, yet satisfying what I wanted to know at the beginning of the book. That is one of my biggest pet peeves, when an author doesn't answer a fundamental question by the end of the book, Jeff Sampson didn’t do that to me which I really appreciated.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of Paranormal books and even people who are a little wary or tired of paranormal. I think they would both enjoy it!

Cold Kiss

Title: Cold Kiss

Author: Amy Garvey

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: September 20, 2011
Received From: Publisher; In return for a honest review

Summary: 

“It seemed so right. Danny was mine, I was his, and that wasn’t going to work if he was dead. So I would make him not dead, not anymore. I didn’t think any further than what it would feel like to kiss him again, to wrap my arms around him and bury my head against his shoulder.
That was my first mistake. It also turned out to be the biggest.”
When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved.
Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart.

Review:

This book was really different, I mean it’s paranormal but its also about dealing with consequences of your actions. It’s also about dealing with loss, and letting go.

Zombies and witches. Those are the paranormal creatures in this book, I was not aware that is what this book was about, but it makes sense now that I know. Wren is a hardcore witch with spells and growing into her powers etc.. So if you don’t like that kind of thing then this is not the book for you.

This book was ok, I mean its nothing like what I expected so I think that threw me for a loop at the beginning. But while it interested me I was not captivated, I was interested to see how the problem was going to be solved but honestly I would not have cared if I never knew. It was just so-so.

The main problem I had was with Wren. She just annoyed me, I mean I could see why she did it, but I feel like she was very selfish and then after she realized what she had done was wrong she wasn’t really willing to suck it up and fix her mistake. She was just very wishy washy, and primarily only thought of herself.

I loved Gabriel though, he was so sweet and was willing to help Wren even when, in my opinion, she didn’t really deserve it or thank him properly.

Overall I didn’t really like this book, it just wasn’t for me, though if you want a different take on zombies then I would recommend it.

 

 

 

Deadly Cool

Title: Deadly Cool
Author: Gemma Halliday
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Received From: Publisher in return for a honest review

Summary: 

Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he's pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren't enough, now he's depending on Hartley to clear his name. Seriously? Not cool. But as much as Hartley wouldn't mind seeing him squirm, she knows he's innocent, and she's the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school's resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer's next victim.

Review:

I WOW’ed this book earlier this month so I was super excited to get the chance to review it.

First of all I love this cover! I think it is really pretty and the headphones totally make sense after the beginning of the book, oh and I totally want the girl’s eyes!

This book, like it says on the back, is similar to Veronica Mars. I watched Veronica Mars for the first time this summer and really enjoyed it, so there were aspects of this book that were similar to the show.

I really liked Hartley but I didn’t really understand her relationship with Josh, I mean he cheated on you, and while I could see looking into the murder, I wouldn't put myself in danger to find the killer. But then again I’ve never been put in that position so I don’t know for sure what I would do.

I adore mysteries and did enjoy this one. I like how couldn't figure out who the killer was till almost the very end. The twists in this story really made it for me. 

I would recommend this story for someone who likes mysteries, and even people who aren't sure, because it’s not too complex, so anyone could enjoy it.

 

 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books

Release Date: May 1, 2011
Received From: Public Library

Summary: 

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. (REMOVED FOR SPOILER)  Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

I had heard many wonderful things about this book and all of them were true! It was engaging, entertaining, and really made me think about what I would do if I were in that situation. What faction I would choose etc..
I loved Tris as a character, she was strong, but vulnerable, and her worries were valid and sound. Her spunk is what propelled this story. The other characters were great as well, the tension between Four and Eric really showed the cracks in the system as well as creating a great foil for the conflict between Abignation and Erudite.
I’m not going to lie, most of this book was set up for the next books but Roth did an excellent job making sure it wasn’t boring or too drawn out. I especially liked the different stages and thinking about how I would react in that situation.
The romance in this book was not too in your face, for the first 3/4 of the book it was barely there which I liked because it grew not just instant love like in many other books lately.
Overall an amazing dystopian tale which will keep you on your toes and challenge what you believe about society.