Review: Vampire Academy, by Richelle Mead

Series: Vampire Academy #1
St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Source: Amazon Kindle Store

     

I'm probably the last person on Earth to read this book, and after hearing tons of people raving about it, I was very excited to read, but unfortunately, it was not as good as I had expected.

Interesting plot: 1/2
Vampire Academy is a book I think I got a negative view of it because of how much I expected of it. The plot was interesting when it came to character development and the whole world behind the book. Everything about Moroi people and dhampirs and all of that is explained with detail and makes the reader interested in the world we're reading about. However, I think this book specifically had some ups and downs that made the story slow it times. Still, I wanna find out what happens in the next bok.

Characters: 2/2
I thought character development was actually pretty good in this book, I just didn't enjoy reading about some of the characters. To me, the best two characters were Rose and Dimitri. Not only did their personalities developed and change through the book, but their relationship as well. One character I didn't enjoy reading about, though, was Lissa, who I thought was very difficult on herself unnecessarily, but that might be just me. I really wanted the author to develop the villain character a lot more, since his villainy comes as a very big surprise, but a sort of uninformed surprise that just came as confusing.

Pace: 2/2
I think it's because everyone was gushing about that I thought it would start as a book I wouldn't be able to put down, but I think it started out really slow, and I made a note when I thought it picked up and it is when my Kindle said I was about 60% into the book. The rest of the book was really interesting and with a good plot but then it happened just SO fast. Some problems for the characters lasted for 1 or 2 pages. So I really want to read the next book in the series and see how the author balanced pace in the next one.

Writing style: 2/2
Richelle Mead has a great writing style, and specially how she uses the connection between Rose and Lissa, and she changes the speaker's voice as if she were feeling as Lissa is, which I find is difficult for various authors. Her words flow flawlessly, and she's a great writer when it comes to keeping the story easy to understand and make the reader want to keep reading.

Recommend it? 1/2
DEFINITELY YES.

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Review: Glitch, by Heather Anastasiu

Glitch (Glitch #1)by Heather AnastasiuAmazon | Book Depository | GoodreadsIn the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.
When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.
As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.
In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Source:  St. Martin's Griffin

Rating: 

  

Glitch is a dystopian novel that touched on subjects I had seen in other novels but Heather Anastasiu gave it her own touch, and it was a good book! Great for fans of Matched and Divergent, both of which I was reminded of while reading the book.

Interesting plot: 1/2

The story was very creative, and things like the Resistance was something that I hoped would develop a lot further in this book, but unfortunately it seems like I need to wait for the next book. The whole idea is pretty incredible, and the world Anastasiu developed was completely out of the ordinary in books I've read before.

Characters: 1/2

I'm only giving this one point because my favorite character was definitely Adrian. He was caring, brave, thoughts things through, etc. Although Zoe is a strong character, she's just missing something more... I guess a little more character or soul, but I completely understand Heather's reason to do this, considering Zoe is character who's kind of struggling to attach herself to her new thoughts and personality.

But there was one character I could not stand at all; he was selfish, rude, hateful.. and that was Max. He started as someone I thought was a sweet character, but he only cared about himself, and his attitude towards everyone surrounding him left me thinking he was foolish, and selfish.

Pace: 2/2

This book never got slow, and though I thought some parts were incredibly fast and I didn't know what was happening, they were few and the fast-paced, action-packed chapters filled the rest of the pages.

Writing style: 2/2

Heather Anastasiu writes amazingly, and for the dystopian world she created, she managed to write in a way you understood the world the characters lived in, including her vocabulary,

Recommend it?: 2/2

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Review: Switched, by Amanda Hocking

 

Switched, by Amanda Hocking

Series: Trylle Trilogy #1

Summary: When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.
Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.
Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

In all honesty, without Goodreads I would probably never had read this book. I had never read anything that has to do with trolls, mainly because they're not really my thing, and I imagined them to be, you know... ugly, and smelly.

Reading Switched was a shock, especially because I wasn't hesitant or anything (I mean, I had read wonderful reviews and recommendations about it), but I was wary of the fact that it was a world of trolls. Well, I was definitely shocked by an incredibly creative world in which trolls are in fact beautiful, fancy people. It was a pleasure reading about the introduction to Wendy's world, the story behind everything, it was just fantastic.

If there's one thing I didn't like about Switched was the fact that the thrill part of the book came at the very end, with less than 50 pages left. I normally like books that have a big conflict in the middle, and then spend the rest of the book solving it. But I understand, that for a world like this one, it does need a big introduction. 

I'm really excited to read the sequels!

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