The Evolution of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

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? (From Goodreads)

What impresses me so much about Michelle Hodkin's writing is the way that she's so ambiguous about sanity. I usually think Mara is sane and there are crazy things happening to her, but other times I'm like...is she actually making all of this up in her head...??? I have no idea. And that's what makes this book awesome and so different from other books out there. Plus, even if she's making everything up - it's still freaking intense and scary.

So I freaked out a lot while reading this. For two main reasons. One. The creepiness. Things dying, things chasing her, people stalking, creepy dolls. Seriously, holy snicklefritz. Most of the things that go down in this book give me shivers and make me want to curl up in the corner and cry a little.

The second reason? Duh. NOAH. This boy just gets dreamier every time he opens his mouth. And says lovely, sometimes scandalous, things with his British accent. He may be one of the swooniest boys ever. Ever. Always want more Noah.

If you loved Unbecoming don't hesitate to pick up Evolution. It lives up to book one and then some. I'm cutting this short to avoid spoiler territory. All I can say is - it's fantastic. I love it. Read it.

P.S. Watch the trailer. Especially if you love Noah, or if you need to be convinced to start reading these books and want to love Noah.

October Top 5

Happy Halloween! So, this month was another crazy one. I also deviated a bit from my blog, if you haven't noticed - it's been quieter than usual this month. This is because I've discovered the joys of New Adult and had myself a bit of a marathon. There will be a post later this week breaking down this marathon, but I'm still all about YA. I did manage to read some amazing books this month between my busy schedule and the NA madness. Here are my top five YA reads in October. 

1. Black City by Elizabeth Richards

This book totally blew me out of the water. It twisted every idea I've ever had about soul mates, vampires, dystopia, life in general...This book is spectacular.

2. Dark Star by Bethany Frenette

SUPERHEROES IN MINNEAPOLIS. Plus, it mentions my home town. OH, yeah, and it's just straight up awesome. 

3. Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Miranda Kenneally writes contemporary fiction like a champ. Stealing Parker completely lived up to the awesomeness of Catching Jordan. I will now officially read anything Miranda writes. Check out my review here.

4. Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Norse mythology, Norway, and a new book crush. This book has everything I want out of a mythological adventure. Read my review here. 

5. The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Ok, I'm actually only almost done with this one. But of course, it's epic. This book lives up to book one. And duh, more Noah - always need more Noah. 

What were  your top reads this month? 

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.

Books Released This Week!

Tuesday, September 27 
       The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Synopsis: Mara wakes up from a coma with no memory of the accident that caused the deaths of her best friend, boyfriend, and boyfriend’s sister. The doctors tell her parents that starting over in a new state and a new school will be good for her and that she should let the memories come back on their own. But Mara’s new start is anything but comforting when she sees the faces of her dead friends everywhere, and her world starts to fall apart. She begins to see people’s deaths just before they happen—at least that’s what she thinks she’s seeing. On top of that, the most beautiful boy ever is pursuing her, but his intentions may not be so pure…. Part thriller, part paranormal, this hotly anticipated debut novel will have readers on the edge of their seats.

     The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen

Synopsis: 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?

      Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Synopsis: Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out. When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

      A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Synopsis: On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past. In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

Thursday, September 29 

      Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Synopsis: In this companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, two teens discover that true love may be closer than they think. For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, the outfit - more sparkly, more fun, more wild - the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door. When the family returns and Cricket - a gifted inventor and engineer - steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. 

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson 

 Synopsis: The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.