Review : Hunting Lila By Sarah Alderson

 
Hunting Lila By Sarah Alderson

Ratings: 3 of 5 stars

Hunting Lila is a frenetic, light-hearted mash up of teen romance and comic-book action, with a back beat of mystery and suspense.

Lila’s mother was brutally murdered when Lila was only 12 years old. Her father, stricken with grief, left her brother to live with his best friend Alex in the United States, but dragged Lila with him to London. While away from her brother and Alex, with whom she’s been in love for as long as she can remember, Lila discovers that she possesses a unique talent – psychokinesis. She is able to keep her ability secret until one day, in a dark London alley, two teenagers try to mug her and she uses it to defend herself. Not knowing what to do and where to hide, Lila gets on the first plane to California, where she hopes to find safety with her brother, and of course, with Alex. But her brother and Alex aren’t exactly normal 22-year-olds. They are both US Marines, working for the highly-trained, top-secret Unit. As soon as their enemies find out that Lila is Jack’s sister, she finds herself in even more danger than before.

This is one of those stories where all the houses are nice, all the characters are pretty, and true love really does conquer all, but it also packs a few surprises and smartly-written dialogues.I'm not really in a hurry to read the sequel so I guess I'll just go for the next book im my pile.

Random thoughts: For those of you who have read it, do you remember that one scene fairly at the beginning when Lila wakes up, goes down to the kitchen and finds Alex there? They make tea. She puts the kettle on the stove. They talk. They decide to got to bed. The kettle is never mentioned again. Am I just too blind to notice what happened to their tea? If not, I'm glad the house didn't burn down.

Review: The Goddess Test By Aimee Carter

 
The Goddess Test By Aimee Carter

Ratings : 1 of  5 stars

The whole book was a big FACE-PALM moment for me.This was a truly terrible book, but I feel so bad giving it such a low rating. It's like I just kicked a puppy.A really stupid puppy that's wet my bed for the 1447th time, but still...kicking a puppy.

Allow me to point out to you the things the ancient Greek gods DIDN’T care about: Anger, Envy, Greed, Pride, Sloth, Gluttony and LUST. You know what’s so great about being a god? You don’t have to conform to some measly human notion of morality and sin. You don’t have to ‘test’ the humans in order to give them immortality. You don’t have to pass your decision through a ‘council’. You just do what the hell you want, because you’re a god, not a paper-pusher. Accountability is a human notion; gods are above it. That’s kind of why they are called gods.In the event that said gods wanted to make humans prove that they were worthy of being immortal, they sent them on a quest.That, in case, you didn’t know, is a heroic endeavour meant to test strength, courage and intelligence. Not moral fiber.Again, the Greek gods didn’t HAVE moral fiber, so they couldn’t care less about it.I mean, COME ON. Is that the best you can do? ‘You shared your clothes with your friends, my dear, so you can live forever!’
Now lets talk about Henry. He is the worst representation of a romantic hero that I can think of. Unless we are now trying to portray the Greek gods and especially Hades as Victorian maidens. He moans and sighs and languishes in a manner that s an embarrassment to gods everywhere. The heroine too, could use some increase in IQ. I believe, as she exists currently, she falls in two categories of unlikeable women: goody-two-shoes and too stupid to live. The ‘twists’ in this book were laughably obvious. From Kate’s mother’s identity to that of James, to that of the murderer, it took me about five seconds to figure out. Maybe next time we could try for an actual mystery? Just a suggestion.  

I probably don't need to say this at this point, but I did not like the way Greek Mythology was handled in this book.And since I'm such a generous person i WILL give this book 1 complement. The cover is gorgeous, the premise is fine, but the inside is a whole lot of HELL NO.

Review : Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

 

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Ratings: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a fun read, a bit darker than the MI books, but still easy to enjoy. I know that many of the diehard MI fans say this one isn't quite as good, but I disagree. Clockwork Angel was a better first installment to a series than City of Bones was. Did I like it better than my favorite MI book, which was City of Glass? No. City of Glass is still my favorite. But if I'm only comparing first book vs. first book, this one blows CoB out of the water.

The Infernal Devices is set in Victorian London, which I've found, is a time period that I absolutely cannot get
enough of. It's such an fascinating time period to read about.... not that Clockwork Angel is a history lesson of any sorts, but the ambiance of the setting is something that really made this novel even more impressing. Such rich details! Tessa, the main protagonist, possesses an admirable determination similar to Clary in the Mortal Instruments. I loved thetwo heartthrobs, Jem and Will. Notice how I phrased it so Jem came before Will. That is because I am firmly rooting for Jem - he seemed more down to earth and calm than Will, who, although was okay sometimes, was much too wild and hurtful. I almost forgot Jem is half Asian! And half British. Very hot. Nicely done, Cassandra Clare.

I don't normally ever compare books with other books, but I just really don't know how to review this book without mentioning The Mortal Instruments. They are complete opposites but the concept is so insanely the same.As for the actual clockwork angel . . . don't think you're going to find out what that is. Just don't even think about it when you start reading the book and don't try to keep guessing as the story goes along. If there is an answer, it's not in this book. Overall, I highly recommend this to fans of the Mortal Instruments series or if one needs a good book in general.

Review: Allegiant By Veronica Roth

Allegiant By Veronica Roth

Ratings : 4 of 5 stars

The fun and laughter is over. I have finally read Allegiant, and I feel empty inside. Empty but accepting,
and understanding.

I always hate it when a book series ends but this takes it to a whole new level. Veronica roth promised the readers before the release of the book that she wouldn't kill four and while she keeps to her word she also manages to do something even more unacceptable. so here i am in my bed crying over the ending like a baby and planning to read the book again in the hope the somehow the ending magically changes.

You know what? Who gives a shit about the technicalities. We're all here crying
(read: sobbing our eye sockets dry) because of that ending. Veronica whispered threats into my ear,
aimed a gun at my head, looked away for a moment to lull me into a false sense of security before
SHOOTING MY PUPPY IN THE FACE.
Don't misunderstand, this book was great! READ IT NOW. But it's like half of me wants to worship this majestic object and the other half wants to fling the beast into the faces of my enemies.

Review : Champion by Marie Lu

 

Review : Champion by Marie Lu

Ratings:5 of 5 stars

It's all too much for me to process. Too . Damn . Freaking . Much . This is by far and easily the most
emotional YA Dystopian book I've ever read, hell, it's even more emotional than any cry-fest and heartwrenching
contemporary novels I know. Marie Lu breaks the record with every book she writes, it's crazy.

This series has come a long, long way from where it started and has managed to shatter boundaries and exceed expectations.
This final book is brimming with action and suspense. The pacing doesn't slow down for a second and it suits the
high-stakes plot. The previous book left us with some shocking information about Day that will surely be at the
forefront of most readers' minds when picking up this conclusion - it doesn't disappoint. It's true that there were
only a limited number of ways this could end but with Lu it doesn't seem to matter because she has your mind constantly
running through the options and wondering where she'll take you next. The sense of constant uncertainty instilled in my
brain throughout this book was terrifying and intoxicating. It's been a while since I read a book so completely
unputdownable.The last two or three chapters of this book literally had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't look away. It takes a skilled writer to have you questioning what will happen right up until the last page. And it takes an even more skilled writer to bring tears to my eyes.  Overall, Champion is a bittersweet yet an outstanding way to end and say goodbye to this series. I hate farewells, but...

Goodbye, our Prodigy June Iparis.

Goodbye, our Legend Day Altan Wing.

Goodbye, our Champions.

Review: Isle of Night By Veronica Wolff

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised with this book.I didn't know what to expect but the reason I read it was
because a review I glanced at and only read the first line of said this book was a cross between Vampire
Academy and The Hunger Games. Those two series are two of my favorites so I knew I had to read this book.

Annelise Drew is a spirited genius who was "recruited" by Ronan to go to the Isle of Night where there is a type of boarding school that trains girls to be watchers/assassins whose aim is to protect Vampires. The vampires in this book are anything but sparkly.They are dangerous and the school is set up and runs on the principle of survival of the strongest.Training to become a Watcher is tough business and Annelise sure struggles a bit at first. It was great to see her slowly come into who she was and embrace her new life. 

The concept behind the novel was also very intriguing.Stick of a bunch of tough girls hellbent on survival on an island run by vampires and make them survive to the death? Somebody better die. And somebody better be doing some killing. Isle of Night does all it sets out to do without pulling punches or giving its characters an easy way out.All in all it is a great book and is the start to a YA series that is sure to be a hit.

Review: Anew by Chelsea Fine

Review: Anew by Chelsea Fine

Ratings: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. I was engrossed the whole time, and each chapter just seemed to get better and better. The writing is phenomenal, the story is original, and Fine’s storytelling is topnotch. And I cannot forget about the cliffhanger! which by the way is the only fault in the book.

Scarlet Jacobs doesn't remember anything of her life before she appeared alone in the woods two years ago. The only thing her amnesiac mind sees clearly is a design of a mysterious symbol. After so long without any more glimpses of her past Scarlet is about ready to give up. And then she meets the Archer brothers. Scarlet's life will be turned upside down with the revelation of a terrible curse cast on her...wait for it... five hundred years ago!

The characters a lively and interesting, the plot is filled with secrets The characters' relationships were heart breaking, both literally and figuratively. Overall, Anew is a WONDERFUL book, and you should definitely check it out if you haven’t already.