Monday, October 31, 2011

October Top 5

So every month I've come up with a list of the top five books I've read that month. In September I hadn't read enough to justify making a list. This month I had the opposite problem. I read a ton and it was mostly all wonderful. So this list was difficult to narrow down to five. These are my favorite October reads (you can see the list I chose from by going to the "Read in 2011" tab).

1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin  
This book so lived up to it's hype. It's scary, passionate, and unsettling. Read my review here.


2. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon 
I need to move to Ireland. I've been wanting to move there for awhile, but this book pushed me over. So if you have ideas how I can legitimately move there, let me know. If you can happen to put me in the way of some awesome people with elemental powers, that'd be even better. Review coming soon.

3. All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin 
This is an awesome new dystopian novel. I love everything about it - the strong heroine, the prohibition parallels, the plausible future. I'll have a review up soon.

4. Possess by Gretchen McNeil  

Seriously, this book scared the pants off me. Everything was so vibrant - the characters felt like they were hanging around my living room - which also made the shadows, the scratching of phantom cats, and chanting of demon dolls much more real. I will definitely be gushing about this book for a long time.

5. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
 This is just one of those books that's so readable, so thrilling, and very literary. It's so well written and layered; I wish I could pour over this book and sort out all the wonderful things this book holds. It's scary and it's full of hysteria. Plus it takes place in London - and how can you not love that?




What were your top reads this month?

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Die for Me - Amy Plum

Synopsis: My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?


I don't know why it took me so long to pick up this book. I've heard nothing but raving about Die for Me and the cover is gorgeous, the synopsis appealing. At any rate it's been on my TBR for quite some time now. Then I made it one of the three books I intended to read to get in the Halloween spirit. While this one wasn't as frightening as the other two I read, it was still an incredible book.


I feel like this gets said a lot, in order to make the book sound fresh and appealing, but I have to say it for this one as well - This book doesn't feel like other fantasy books I've read. On one hand it fits into some categories of paranormal - especially with the romance, the history, the stereotypical characters that surround Kate and Vincent. But all these things pale to the scenery and the background of the story.


First, there's Paris. I've always wondered about all these paranormal stories that are set in America, and then their history is always originated from Europe. This makes so much more sense, to have the story actually set in Europe. It's also much more romantic and mysterious. A little more dangerous. It really does make it all a world apart, and it's pretty screwy, but between the paranormal world and the beautiful setting of Paris - Amy Plum makes this something you want to be a part of - not just read about it. I loved reading descriptions of walking through the streets of Paris, visiting coffee shops, and looking out over the river. It made me want to go back and read the book while sitting there - able to follow Kate and Vincent's spirits around the city. 


Then there's the Revenants - whose closest description is that of a zombie crossed with an angel, and maybe a ghost. They're supernatural creatures that, to my knowledge, have never been explored before. One of the great parts of the book is Vincent asking Kate, "You've heard of vampires?...You've heard of werewolves?" and when she says yes he asks "Had you ever heard of us?" she says no and he replies, "That's called staying under the radar." They create this whole new reality that feels wonderful and possible. So while the archetypes of paranormal romance are all there, this one becomes so much more explorable.


Kate was interesting to read. She's grieving the loss of her parents and she meets a group of people who are undead. It's an interesting cross-section. Vincent was even better. I liked the way he handled everything about Kate, he really was all about making sure she was happy. 


I definitely recommend Die for Me, it's incredible. If you want more, here's a video of Amy Plum introducing herself and the book. This is the first book in a trilogy. The second, Until I Die, is released on May 3, 2012. The synopsis for that book can be found here

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Reads



Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over @ The Broke and the Bookish
This weeks topic is: Top Ten Books To Read During Halloween 




1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin 



 Talk about making sure your doors are locked. This book is so wonderfully haunting and creepy. Definitely one that makes you look over your shoulder.



2. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton 



 I read this book on a sunny day in July, and I was freaking out. It lives up to its title. It's overflowing with blood and creepiness. And the villain - well, she's possibly the most creepy character I've ever come across. Thinking about this one makes me shiver. 





3. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

This one feels like a classic Halloween folk tale that you tell around a campfire every year - Like Who's Afraid of the Dark. It's an awesome and spooky story. 



4. Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black 
Great for supernatural debates and costume ideas.

5. Hereafter by Tara Hudson
 For the ghost's perspective this Halloween. And even life for ghosts get a little bit frightening. Especially when your boyfriend is alive and his grandmother thinks you're evil, or when evil spirits are trying to recruit you. 



6. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan 
Hello zombie apocalypse. (I think this is a year for zombies...) But, if being chased through the woods and up trees and over fences doesn't scare you...or the fact that they're always surrounding you...well, then you're a tough cookie.



7. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick 
Again, more zombies. But this one is seriously, like, whoa. So many details - bloody, gruesome details of flesh eating undead. And then there's plenty of being chased and trying to survive...lots of hiding things and trying to escape places. It's heart pounding, sensational, and terrifying. 



And three that I haven't read yet, but I will be reading this week because it's Halloween: 



8. Die for Me by Amy Plum
Well, the title should be enough. But inhuman love stories? I'm in. 



9. Possess by Gretchen McNeil
Possession and Halloween go together beautifully. 



10. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Jack the Ripper... enough said. 

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin


Synopsis: Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.


Holy - hello - oh my - what? - gah! - Don't talk to me right now I'm freaking out.


Yeah, that was pretty much all the coherence I had while reading this book. This book was just so fantabulously frightening and psychotic and, well, beautiful. It seems to defy classification, it breaks the boundaries of your typical YA fantasy novel, and it definitely sets the bar high for YA novels of it's genre.


Very few novels actually get reactions out of me. I understand where I'm supposed to laugh, where I'm supposed to be upset, or where I should be scared. The few that actually make me laugh out loud, or make me want to chuck my book at the wall, or make me tremble when I open my closet - those are books that are exceptional for me. And Mara Dyer even managed to go beyond that. It wasn't only sensational, it was gorgeously narrated, wonderfully developed and paced, and it was a masterfully created story.


So to talk about Mara and her story, I just have to say that I'm very impressed that Michelle Hodkin was able to convey a storyline from a character who's possibly mentally imbalanced (or at least that's the way she's portrayed) but still manage to make the story believable. Mara has all these episodes and she doesn't know if what she's seeing is really there, and the reader doesn't know what is or isn't true - yet when I was reading, I never felt overwhelmed or confused. This takes so much talent on Michelle's part, to write on such instability without spinning off or falling over. I think this plays into the pacing of the novel as well. You follow through, finding out about the world as Mara does, but it's through action. I mean, it's possibly all action that's in her head, so it's kind of a blur between physical and psychological events that propel the novel. Either way, it's intense. The pacing keeps you on your toes, whole body alert, with eyes darting to the dark corners of the room to make sure you aren't being haunted.


I also feel the need to talk about Noah. Seriously, if someone would have mentioned to me before hand that he had a British accent I would have picked up this book much faster (I read it pretty much as soon as I could, but you know what I mean...) He's pretty yummy, and he turns out to play a pretty awesome role by the end of the novel. He's just another great example of a good boy with a snarky attitude. Which brings me to the insults. Michelle Hodkins has come up with some of the best insulting word play I've come across. It's brilliant (I'm thinking particularly of the scene in which the mean girl has stolen some drawings of Mara's and so Mara calls her something completely vulgar - but awesome...If you've read it you know, if you haven't read it, you should just so you'll know why I think Mara's talent with insult is great).


So, I'm going to stop myself here because this is one of those books I could ramble on and on about. I just have to say that this is a must read. It's freak-out worthy in all aspects of boys, suspense, and story. It's intense and crazy, but it's wonderful. It's the first in a trilogy (Mara Dyer was just released at the end of September) so I am beyond excited to see where Michelle takes Mara and Noah. It's just so good, I highly recommend going and finding a copy now. It's also a great book to read with Halloween coming up...


Finally: Watch the trailer. It's incredible.


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday: Compelling Covers

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over @ The Broke and the Bookish

This weeks topic is: Top Ten Books Whose Cover Made Me Buy It

I'm just going to let these gorgeous covers speak for themselves. 
1. Wither by Lauren DeStefano (and Fever is just as incredible!)
2. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
3. A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan (I knew absolutely nothing about this book, but picked it up because it  looked like this!)

4. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

5. Possess by Gretchen McNeil

6. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

7. Wildefire by Karsten Knight (Although, this one I would have read even if the cover was terrible...)
8. Die for Me by Amy Plum (Let's face it, the title is a touch morbid - but the cover is stunning)
9.  Hourglass by Myra McEntire (honestly, would not have gone near this book without this cover, but that would have been a serious tragedy)
10. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - going with the inverse here. Both the title and the cover turned me off this book. It took me a long time to give into all the awesome reviews and get past the cover to pick up this book. And it was so worth it. 

Friday, October 14, 2011

The Mephisto Covenant - Trinity Faegen

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—she is an Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx always looming, Jax knows he has to keep Sasha safe and win her over.  But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?



The Mephisto Covenant unexpectly sucked me in. I was sort of thinking through half of the book, "Well, this is okay. Well, don't really like that so much. Okay...Huh, not sure I really like this book." I was actually pretty set to chalk this one up to a disappointment, but then suddenly I realized that I just needed to know what happens. I read this book straight through in one afternoon. I couldn't stop. 


So, there are things I really don't like about it. I don't like the love situation. It feels way too engineered. He's too much like a love sick puppy and she's too much like, I need SOMEONE in my life, and it just happend he was the one offering. Also, Sasha sets women back like, 200 years. Seriously, this could have been a Victorian novel. She in essence becomes orphaned and sent to live with new guardians. Then she has to make this decision wheter to be with Jax or not, knowing that if she is with Jax she has to live confined in his house or else she dies. Also, if she does love him, he has a chance to go to Heaven where Sasha will likely become the equivilant of a fallen woman. OH and let's not forget the fact that if they actually have sex he wil "mark" her. Um. Yeah.  


My issues aside, I think Faegen has a talent for storytelling. Even though I had problems with the characters I was still very invested in what happened to them. The tension in this novel is incredible. Sasha is nearly completely surrounded by people who see her as the enemy and they have no qualms about punishing her. She does have to stand up to immense pressure. She is meant to be an unwaveringly good person, which provides an interesting aspect as she's dealing with the evils of her world. Also, there's a unique angle into the whole demon/angel story line that is beginning to wear thin in YA. I really liked the history that Faegen provides and I like the fact that Sasha has Russian roots. Little refreshing things like that can sometimes make all the difference. 


All in all, this wasn't my favorite, but it was entertaining. The ending seemed geared towards a sequel, and if there is one, I will definitely read it. So, I apologize for the rant, but I needed to get that out. Despite some flaws, there are great aspects of this book. If you've thought about checking it out, but weren't sure, I'd say go for it. If you were already leaning towards it, you'll likely enjoy it. 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Eve - Anna Carey


Synopsis: Where do you go when nowhere is safe?
Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life. In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel inEve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.


I read a blurb that states that Eve is a cross between The Hunger Games and The Handmaid's Tale, which naturally got me really excited. It's also, why I think I feel so let down. The book was compared with one epic dystopian novel and a more mature dystopian of high literary quality. I had extremely high expectations for Eve, and so I think I was disappointed that much more.


While this book surpasses Matched by Ally Condie, I had a similar reaction to Eve. It is such a great idea - there's so much you can do with a female character who's been taught that boys are evil and should be avoided at all costs and there's so much that can come out of women who are being raised solely to give birth to children. All the concepts are great, but in execution, Anna Carey falls a bit short.


I had some issues with how quickly the action in the novel went. Everything got kind of glossed over, things happened suddenly with little build up, and it was difficult to judge the emotional reactions of the characters. The way Eve finds out about her purpose in the government is unbelievable to me. One girl, who she seems to think is crazy, mentions that the school isn't preparing her to have a good job and suddenly Eve is questioning everything. That didn't make sense to me, because she's only known what she was taught, and one little question isn't going to make you re-examine your whole life. It's like I've been taught all my life that Pluto is a planet, I'm not going to stop believing that just because some people say, "Hey, you know what...it's not."


I had some issues trying to get a grasp on the exact state of the dystopian society that Eve was a part of. I get that men and women are meant to be raised separately and that women are meant to serve the purpose of making babies, but Eve ran away too quickly. I didn't get much of a sense for how the system operated. There's a king and then there are these, almost like reform schools for girls, and labor camps for boys - but what does everyone else do? What is the function? What is the society trying to achieve or repress? I didn't really get a great sense of that because in much of the book Eve is hanging out in deserted wilderness, only getting select information.


And that ending? If you've read the book, let me know what you thought. Because it kind of made me hate Eve (the character, not the book).


I'm willing to believe that some of the issues I had with this book will be resolved in the next two books - Eve is the beginning of a trilogy - but I haven't yet decided if I'll continue with the second book. The writing in this initial installment wasn't as rich as I would have hoped and it just didn't satisfy.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over @ The Broke and the Bookish
This weeks topic is: Top Ten Book I Wish I Could Read Again For the First Time


This week's topic is a little difficult, because I can't help but thinking of books I'd want to reread. The second time through a book is awesome because, English nerd that I am, I can see the tools and methods that authors use to come to a certain conclusion. Still, here are the books I'd love to be reading for the first time, mostly for the reactions they incited. 

1. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
2. Starcrossed by  Josephine Angelini
3. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray - Although it's been so long since I've read them it would kind of be like reading them for the first time. 
4. Wildefire by Karsten Knight - This is one of those books I pass on and then every chance I get I have to ask whats' happening? do you love it? I definitely read vicariously through other's first readings. 
5. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
6. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
7. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - or Lola for that matter. 
8. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
9. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky - To an extent, this book is about experiencing things for the first time, so it seems right that it's on this list. 
10. Divergent by Veroncia Roth

Monday, October 31, 2011

October Top 5

So every month I've come up with a list of the top five books I've read that month. In September I hadn't read enough to justify making a list. This month I had the opposite problem. I read a ton and it was mostly all wonderful. So this list was difficult to narrow down to five. These are my favorite October reads (you can see the list I chose from by going to the "Read in 2011" tab).

1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin  
This book so lived up to it's hype. It's scary, passionate, and unsettling. Read my review here.


2. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon 
I need to move to Ireland. I've been wanting to move there for awhile, but this book pushed me over. So if you have ideas how I can legitimately move there, let me know. If you can happen to put me in the way of some awesome people with elemental powers, that'd be even better. Review coming soon.

3. All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin 
This is an awesome new dystopian novel. I love everything about it - the strong heroine, the prohibition parallels, the plausible future. I'll have a review up soon.

4. Possess by Gretchen McNeil  

Seriously, this book scared the pants off me. Everything was so vibrant - the characters felt like they were hanging around my living room - which also made the shadows, the scratching of phantom cats, and chanting of demon dolls much more real. I will definitely be gushing about this book for a long time.

5. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
 This is just one of those books that's so readable, so thrilling, and very literary. It's so well written and layered; I wish I could pour over this book and sort out all the wonderful things this book holds. It's scary and it's full of hysteria. Plus it takes place in London - and how can you not love that?




What were your top reads this month?

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Die for Me - Amy Plum

Synopsis: My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?


I don't know why it took me so long to pick up this book. I've heard nothing but raving about Die for Me and the cover is gorgeous, the synopsis appealing. At any rate it's been on my TBR for quite some time now. Then I made it one of the three books I intended to read to get in the Halloween spirit. While this one wasn't as frightening as the other two I read, it was still an incredible book.


I feel like this gets said a lot, in order to make the book sound fresh and appealing, but I have to say it for this one as well - This book doesn't feel like other fantasy books I've read. On one hand it fits into some categories of paranormal - especially with the romance, the history, the stereotypical characters that surround Kate and Vincent. But all these things pale to the scenery and the background of the story.


First, there's Paris. I've always wondered about all these paranormal stories that are set in America, and then their history is always originated from Europe. This makes so much more sense, to have the story actually set in Europe. It's also much more romantic and mysterious. A little more dangerous. It really does make it all a world apart, and it's pretty screwy, but between the paranormal world and the beautiful setting of Paris - Amy Plum makes this something you want to be a part of - not just read about it. I loved reading descriptions of walking through the streets of Paris, visiting coffee shops, and looking out over the river. It made me want to go back and read the book while sitting there - able to follow Kate and Vincent's spirits around the city. 


Then there's the Revenants - whose closest description is that of a zombie crossed with an angel, and maybe a ghost. They're supernatural creatures that, to my knowledge, have never been explored before. One of the great parts of the book is Vincent asking Kate, "You've heard of vampires?...You've heard of werewolves?" and when she says yes he asks "Had you ever heard of us?" she says no and he replies, "That's called staying under the radar." They create this whole new reality that feels wonderful and possible. So while the archetypes of paranormal romance are all there, this one becomes so much more explorable.


Kate was interesting to read. She's grieving the loss of her parents and she meets a group of people who are undead. It's an interesting cross-section. Vincent was even better. I liked the way he handled everything about Kate, he really was all about making sure she was happy. 


I definitely recommend Die for Me, it's incredible. If you want more, here's a video of Amy Plum introducing herself and the book. This is the first book in a trilogy. The second, Until I Die, is released on May 3, 2012. The synopsis for that book can be found here

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Reads



Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over @ The Broke and the Bookish
This weeks topic is: Top Ten Books To Read During Halloween 




1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin 



 Talk about making sure your doors are locked. This book is so wonderfully haunting and creepy. Definitely one that makes you look over your shoulder.



2. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton 



 I read this book on a sunny day in July, and I was freaking out. It lives up to its title. It's overflowing with blood and creepiness. And the villain - well, she's possibly the most creepy character I've ever come across. Thinking about this one makes me shiver. 





3. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

This one feels like a classic Halloween folk tale that you tell around a campfire every year - Like Who's Afraid of the Dark. It's an awesome and spooky story. 



4. Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black 
Great for supernatural debates and costume ideas.

5. Hereafter by Tara Hudson
 For the ghost's perspective this Halloween. And even life for ghosts get a little bit frightening. Especially when your boyfriend is alive and his grandmother thinks you're evil, or when evil spirits are trying to recruit you. 



6. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan 
Hello zombie apocalypse. (I think this is a year for zombies...) But, if being chased through the woods and up trees and over fences doesn't scare you...or the fact that they're always surrounding you...well, then you're a tough cookie.



7. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick 
Again, more zombies. But this one is seriously, like, whoa. So many details - bloody, gruesome details of flesh eating undead. And then there's plenty of being chased and trying to survive...lots of hiding things and trying to escape places. It's heart pounding, sensational, and terrifying. 



And three that I haven't read yet, but I will be reading this week because it's Halloween: 



8. Die for Me by Amy Plum
Well, the title should be enough. But inhuman love stories? I'm in. 



9. Possess by Gretchen McNeil
Possession and Halloween go together beautifully. 



10. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Jack the Ripper... enough said. 

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin


Synopsis: Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.


Holy - hello - oh my - what? - gah! - Don't talk to me right now I'm freaking out.


Yeah, that was pretty much all the coherence I had while reading this book. This book was just so fantabulously frightening and psychotic and, well, beautiful. It seems to defy classification, it breaks the boundaries of your typical YA fantasy novel, and it definitely sets the bar high for YA novels of it's genre.


Very few novels actually get reactions out of me. I understand where I'm supposed to laugh, where I'm supposed to be upset, or where I should be scared. The few that actually make me laugh out loud, or make me want to chuck my book at the wall, or make me tremble when I open my closet - those are books that are exceptional for me. And Mara Dyer even managed to go beyond that. It wasn't only sensational, it was gorgeously narrated, wonderfully developed and paced, and it was a masterfully created story.


So to talk about Mara and her story, I just have to say that I'm very impressed that Michelle Hodkin was able to convey a storyline from a character who's possibly mentally imbalanced (or at least that's the way she's portrayed) but still manage to make the story believable. Mara has all these episodes and she doesn't know if what she's seeing is really there, and the reader doesn't know what is or isn't true - yet when I was reading, I never felt overwhelmed or confused. This takes so much talent on Michelle's part, to write on such instability without spinning off or falling over. I think this plays into the pacing of the novel as well. You follow through, finding out about the world as Mara does, but it's through action. I mean, it's possibly all action that's in her head, so it's kind of a blur between physical and psychological events that propel the novel. Either way, it's intense. The pacing keeps you on your toes, whole body alert, with eyes darting to the dark corners of the room to make sure you aren't being haunted.


I also feel the need to talk about Noah. Seriously, if someone would have mentioned to me before hand that he had a British accent I would have picked up this book much faster (I read it pretty much as soon as I could, but you know what I mean...) He's pretty yummy, and he turns out to play a pretty awesome role by the end of the novel. He's just another great example of a good boy with a snarky attitude. Which brings me to the insults. Michelle Hodkins has come up with some of the best insulting word play I've come across. It's brilliant (I'm thinking particularly of the scene in which the mean girl has stolen some drawings of Mara's and so Mara calls her something completely vulgar - but awesome...If you've read it you know, if you haven't read it, you should just so you'll know why I think Mara's talent with insult is great).


So, I'm going to stop myself here because this is one of those books I could ramble on and on about. I just have to say that this is a must read. It's freak-out worthy in all aspects of boys, suspense, and story. It's intense and crazy, but it's wonderful. It's the first in a trilogy (Mara Dyer was just released at the end of September) so I am beyond excited to see where Michelle takes Mara and Noah. It's just so good, I highly recommend going and finding a copy now. It's also a great book to read with Halloween coming up...


Finally: Watch the trailer. It's incredible.


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday: Compelling Covers

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over @ The Broke and the Bookish

This weeks topic is: Top Ten Books Whose Cover Made Me Buy It

I'm just going to let these gorgeous covers speak for themselves. 
1. Wither by Lauren DeStefano (and Fever is just as incredible!)
2. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
3. A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan (I knew absolutely nothing about this book, but picked it up because it  looked like this!)

4. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

5. Possess by Gretchen McNeil

6. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

7. Wildefire by Karsten Knight (Although, this one I would have read even if the cover was terrible...)
8. Die for Me by Amy Plum (Let's face it, the title is a touch morbid - but the cover is stunning)
9.  Hourglass by Myra McEntire (honestly, would not have gone near this book without this cover, but that would have been a serious tragedy)
10. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - going with the inverse here. Both the title and the cover turned me off this book. It took me a long time to give into all the awesome reviews and get past the cover to pick up this book. And it was so worth it. 

Friday, October 14, 2011

The Mephisto Covenant - Trinity Faegen

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—she is an Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx always looming, Jax knows he has to keep Sasha safe and win her over.  But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?



The Mephisto Covenant unexpectly sucked me in. I was sort of thinking through half of the book, "Well, this is okay. Well, don't really like that so much. Okay...Huh, not sure I really like this book." I was actually pretty set to chalk this one up to a disappointment, but then suddenly I realized that I just needed to know what happens. I read this book straight through in one afternoon. I couldn't stop. 


So, there are things I really don't like about it. I don't like the love situation. It feels way too engineered. He's too much like a love sick puppy and she's too much like, I need SOMEONE in my life, and it just happend he was the one offering. Also, Sasha sets women back like, 200 years. Seriously, this could have been a Victorian novel. She in essence becomes orphaned and sent to live with new guardians. Then she has to make this decision wheter to be with Jax or not, knowing that if she is with Jax she has to live confined in his house or else she dies. Also, if she does love him, he has a chance to go to Heaven where Sasha will likely become the equivilant of a fallen woman. OH and let's not forget the fact that if they actually have sex he wil "mark" her. Um. Yeah.  


My issues aside, I think Faegen has a talent for storytelling. Even though I had problems with the characters I was still very invested in what happened to them. The tension in this novel is incredible. Sasha is nearly completely surrounded by people who see her as the enemy and they have no qualms about punishing her. She does have to stand up to immense pressure. She is meant to be an unwaveringly good person, which provides an interesting aspect as she's dealing with the evils of her world. Also, there's a unique angle into the whole demon/angel story line that is beginning to wear thin in YA. I really liked the history that Faegen provides and I like the fact that Sasha has Russian roots. Little refreshing things like that can sometimes make all the difference. 


All in all, this wasn't my favorite, but it was entertaining. The ending seemed geared towards a sequel, and if there is one, I will definitely read it. So, I apologize for the rant, but I needed to get that out. Despite some flaws, there are great aspects of this book. If you've thought about checking it out, but weren't sure, I'd say go for it. If you were already leaning towards it, you'll likely enjoy it. 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Eve - Anna Carey


Synopsis: Where do you go when nowhere is safe?
Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life. In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel inEve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.


I read a blurb that states that Eve is a cross between The Hunger Games and The Handmaid's Tale, which naturally got me really excited. It's also, why I think I feel so let down. The book was compared with one epic dystopian novel and a more mature dystopian of high literary quality. I had extremely high expectations for Eve, and so I think I was disappointed that much more.


While this book surpasses Matched by Ally Condie, I had a similar reaction to Eve. It is such a great idea - there's so much you can do with a female character who's been taught that boys are evil and should be avoided at all costs and there's so much that can come out of women who are being raised solely to give birth to children. All the concepts are great, but in execution, Anna Carey falls a bit short.


I had some issues with how quickly the action in the novel went. Everything got kind of glossed over, things happened suddenly with little build up, and it was difficult to judge the emotional reactions of the characters. The way Eve finds out about her purpose in the government is unbelievable to me. One girl, who she seems to think is crazy, mentions that the school isn't preparing her to have a good job and suddenly Eve is questioning everything. That didn't make sense to me, because she's only known what she was taught, and one little question isn't going to make you re-examine your whole life. It's like I've been taught all my life that Pluto is a planet, I'm not going to stop believing that just because some people say, "Hey, you know what...it's not."


I had some issues trying to get a grasp on the exact state of the dystopian society that Eve was a part of. I get that men and women are meant to be raised separately and that women are meant to serve the purpose of making babies, but Eve ran away too quickly. I didn't get much of a sense for how the system operated. There's a king and then there are these, almost like reform schools for girls, and labor camps for boys - but what does everyone else do? What is the function? What is the society trying to achieve or repress? I didn't really get a great sense of that because in much of the book Eve is hanging out in deserted wilderness, only getting select information.


And that ending? If you've read the book, let me know what you thought. Because it kind of made me hate Eve (the character, not the book).


I'm willing to believe that some of the issues I had with this book will be resolved in the next two books - Eve is the beginning of a trilogy - but I haven't yet decided if I'll continue with the second book. The writing in this initial installment wasn't as rich as I would have hoped and it just didn't satisfy.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over @ The Broke and the Bookish
This weeks topic is: Top Ten Book I Wish I Could Read Again For the First Time


This week's topic is a little difficult, because I can't help but thinking of books I'd want to reread. The second time through a book is awesome because, English nerd that I am, I can see the tools and methods that authors use to come to a certain conclusion. Still, here are the books I'd love to be reading for the first time, mostly for the reactions they incited. 

1. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
2. Starcrossed by  Josephine Angelini
3. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray - Although it's been so long since I've read them it would kind of be like reading them for the first time. 
4. Wildefire by Karsten Knight - This is one of those books I pass on and then every chance I get I have to ask whats' happening? do you love it? I definitely read vicariously through other's first readings. 
5. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
6. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
7. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - or Lola for that matter. 
8. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
9. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky - To an extent, this book is about experiencing things for the first time, so it seems right that it's on this list. 
10. Divergent by Veroncia Roth