Review: Tiger's Quest, by Colleen Houck

Series: The Tiger Saga #2 

Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest--this time with Ren's dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger's Curse. Fraught with danger, spellbinding dreams, and choices of the heart, TIGER'S QUEST brings the trio one step closer to breaking the spell that binds them.

Source: The Book Depository

4.5 stars

              

DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES.

This book has been sitting on my shelf for quite a while now, so I decided Spring Break was the perfect time to read it! Great book!

Interesting plot: 2/2
I think this book had a much more interesting plot than the first book in the series. First of all, Colleen Houck developed a world very carefully, that unlike many other YA books, you can actually how well thought out this was, with the legends and myths, to learning about different cultures. I like that as Kelsey is learning in the book, the reader is learning, too. I liked the fact that a main character was taken away almost at the beginning of the book, and another one came in to blow the readers away. Kishan and Kelsey's adventures went above everything I was expecting from this book. If you want a nice read, with adventures that actually make you feel you are there with them, I recommend this book to you.

Characters: 2/2

In Tiger's Curse I absolutely loved Ren and Kishan, and sort of disliked Kelsey. In this book, one character completely takes the spotlight, and I'm talking about Kishan, who in this book proved himself to be a sensitive, complex character that not only made Kelsey doubt her feelings, but also made me doubt mine. He's daring, very attractive, and has a soft side of him that makes the reader see the true man before the bad guy facade. Kelsey grew on me with this book, and a lot of people called her attitude 'clingy' at the end of the book, but I sort of get why she feels that way. I would, too.

Pace: 1.5/2

 Tiger's Quest had a good pace, but almost every adventure scene to me happened just too fast. I wish they'd last longer, to seem a bit more realistic, and not make the characters seem almost invincible. They got hurt, yes, but succeeded in a just a few pages.

Writing style: 2/2

Colleen Houck's style is very interesting and easy to read. She's sarcastic at times, and I think her division of character dialogue's and description of characters is very good. She's consistent with her writing from Kelsey's perspective  and picking up a second book from her and recognizing her writing style and character's voice was a very good sign.

Recommend it? 2/2

Yes! I liked it even better than Tiger's Curse! Read that one first, though, hehe.

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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: The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness

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Review: Obsidian, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Obsidian
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Lux #1
Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. 
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 
If I don't kill him first, that is

Source: Amazon Kindle

   

THERE ARE NO WORDS TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK.

One of the most amazing books I've ever read! Can you just... Oh, my gosh! Like I said: NO. WORDS.

I'm just fan-girling over here, I'm sorry. On to the review:

Interesting plot: 2/2
I've read several Sci-Fi, Paranormal and Fantasy books, but never had I read such a book about ALIENS (I'm not spoiling anything, look at the summary above). I have to admit I was sort of hesitant towards this book because of the alien theme, which I admit I was not a fan of. But JLA created a beautiful species that just outshone everything else I've ever read when it comes to creatures. It's not creepy or scary at all, but quite beautiful. The plot is amazing, and there's always something happening. This book was not slow at all, because even the small details and events had me dying to keep reading.

Characters: 2/2
Can I just remind myself of how awesome and amazing Katy is? First of all, she's a BOOK BLOGGER. She even does Waiting on Wednesdays and In My Mailbox! And she's such a strong character and doesn't take s*** from anybody, which is something I liked about her. She wasn't the typical "oh-my-god-save-me" type of lead character.
Then there's Daimon, one of the sexiest, funniest, to-die for character I've read (also, a bit jerk-ish). I had a love/hate relationship with him. At some points I could not stand his attitude and was glad Katy put him in place, but he was so... AWESOME beneath all that all the time, that I just couldn't hate him. He just irritated me, and then I just wanted to kiss him, *hehe*
And the sexual tension between both characters was just unreal... Just had you gripping the book with everything happening between them.

Pace: 2/2
Like I mentioned earlier, there was always something happening. The whole Alien thing just came on amazingly and with ease, and although some scenes weren't as action-packed as others, they still had some small things happening that J.L. Armentrout knew how to engage readers in these.

Writing style: 2/2
JLA has a particularly developed writing style that I've heard so much about... and she didn't disappoint. She has a really interestin writing style that really keeps you hooked to the book, and does not dwell too much on small details, so you're never bored with this book. Before I read Obsidian, I had been reading books slowly (1 book per week), and finished this one in 2 days because her writing is something you can't put down.

Recommend it? 2/2
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: Dark Companion, by Marta Acosta

When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.
Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.
The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member. 
Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?

Source: Tor/Forge

Rating:  

Dark Companion is a book that made me really excited when the Publisher accepted my NetGalley request. It looked like an amazing, dark novel that.

It was a really good book, but I don't think it was for me, really. There are people who like calm, slow novels, but I prefer fast-paced, page-gripping novels. This was unfortunately was sort of slow, specially at the beginning. I think it took a lot of time before something exciting started happening.

Like I said, it was a really good book and what made it good for me were definitely the characters. This book had intriguing male characters that had me swooning every few chapters. The main character, Jane, was very likeable as well, and her initial shyness yet strong will to accomplish things made it a lot easier for me to like her.

Overall, I recommend this book to people who are looking for a calm book, instead of a fast paced one.

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Review: The Immortal Rules, by Julie Kagawa

"In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity."Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of "them." The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked--and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.
Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.
Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend--a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.
But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what--and who--is worth dying for.

Rating:  

Let's start with the basics: this is my first ever Julie Kagawa book!

Isn't that surprising? I'm like the only person on Earth that hasn't read The Iron Fey series, but just so you know, it's on my July TBR ;)

I gave up on vampire books a while ago, but the hype surrounding this one made me very eager to read it, and I'm glad I finally did. The plot was incredible, and although I was a bit confused at the beginning, because I definitely didn't expect a dystopian vampire book, the book was amazing.

It was the sort of book that always had something happening. For example, there was action at some point, and then it calmed down and everything seemed okay for a while, but then BAM!

Something happens and you don't know what but you're grabbing onto your seat, reading frantically.

I loved it, and I recommend it for basically anyone. Like I said, I had given up on vampire books and liked it, so I think it's good for everyone. One thing, though, if you're afraid of things like blood, and killing, this novel describes things very graphically, so for some people it might be uncomfortable or even scary. But that's just a small warning.

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Review: A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Review:


I've never been a big fan of adult fantasy. I'd heard a Game of Thrones was very similar, or in the same genre as The Lord of The Rings, and I found these books tedious to read. Interesting, but long and slow (Before I get any hate mail, I'm planning on giving them a second chance soon). So, you get my idea, of how I felt about this book before. I'd heard GREAT things about the TV series, but I didn't want to watch it before reading the book (so you know, I was already thinking about reading it).


Anyway, long story short, two of my friends read it and RAVED about it. Once I had the book in my hands, I was excited to start it at once!


The story hooked me in the first 50 pages. SO GOOD! I already had favorite characters and was eager to meet the rest of them (by the way, I really can't remember every name in the book! There are way too many!). The book continued almost flawlessly and every character kept growing in me, and I loved each and every one of them.


I have to say, my excitement decreased as I kept reading, but because it has been very busy weeks, it took me more than two weeks to finish... and I hated that. Either way, a solid 5-stars and I'm excited to read the next book next month!

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