More Than This Review

Goodreads

TITLE: More Than This

AUTHOR: Patrick Ness

PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/10/2013

PAGES: 480

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: A boy named Seth drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments, losing his life as the pounding sea claims him. But then he wakes. He is naked, thirsty, starving. But alive. How is that possible? He remembers dying, his bones breaking, his skull dashed upon the rocks. So how is he here? And where is this place? It looks like the suburban English town where he lived as a child, before an unthinkable tragedy happened and his family moved to America. But the neighborhood around his old house is overgrown, covered in dust, and abandoned. What's going on? And why is it that whenever he closes his eyes, he falls prey to vivid, agonizing memories that seem more real than the world around him? Seth begins a search for answers, hoping that he might not be alone, that this might not be the hell he fears it to be, that there might be more than just this...

OVERALL IMPRESSION: First of all, I urge anyone looking into more information about this book to not do too much research. You don't want to be spoiled on anything and it's really hard to talk about this book without spoiling things. 

I've heard nothing but great things about Patrick Ness, but I hadn't read anything by him, so I was really excited to see what I thought about his books.

Just by starting the preface of this book, I knew I was going to love it. The writing is amazing. It just sounds so pretty and makes me want to keep going. I had lots of confusion while reading this, but I was very intrigued throughout the whole book.

That's really all I can say without giving anything away, but I really enjoyed this book.

CHARACTERS: I really like Seth. He seems like a really awesome kid.

COVER: The cover pretty much sums up the whole book.

**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Stained Review (ARC)

Goodreads

TITLE: Stained

AUTHOR: Cheryl Rainfield

PUBLISHER: Harcourt Children's Books

PUBLICATION DATE: 11/19/2013

PAGES: 304

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Seventeen-year-old Sarah Meadows covers the walls of her bedroom with images of beautiful faces she clips from magazines--and longs for "normal." Born with a port-wine stain covering half her face, all her life she's been plagued by stares, giggles, bullying, and disgust. Why can't she be like Diamond, the comic-book hero she created? Diamond would never let the insults in. That's harder for Sarah.

But when she's abducted on the way home from school, Sarah is forced to uncover the courage she never knew she had. Can she look beyond her face to find the beauty and strength she has inside, somehow becoming a hero rather than a victim? It's the only way Sarah will have any chance of escaping the prison--both seen and unseen--that this deranged killer has placed around her.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I flew so fast through this book. It is intense, scary, and amazing. When I was reading this, I felt like I was there with Sarah. I felt her struggle, her fear and desperation as well as her bravery. This book made me want to pick up everything Cheryl Rainfield has ever written.

CHARACTERS: Sarah is such a strong and inspiring character. Nick is amazing as well. He never gives up on Sarah and is there for her and her parents. Needless to say, I hated the character that kidnaps Sarah. He was cruel and disgusting.

COVER: The cover's alright. It's not my absolute favorite, but I do like the purple writing.

*I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Teardrop by Lauren Kate Review (ARC)

Goodreads

TITLE: Teardrop

AUTHOR: Lauren Kate

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/22/2013

PAGES: 464

MY RATING:

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): Never, ever cry...

Seventeen-year-old Eureka won't let anyone close enough to feel her pain. After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean.

And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother's death and Ander's appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don't make sense.

Can everything you love be washed away?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I didn't enjoy reading this book. I feel like it took forever to get to the meat of the story. I was just reading and reading trying to get to the good part. And then, just when I thought it was going to pick up and the story line would progress, it slowed back down and dragged on. The last chapter finally got interesting - and then the book was over. 

I feel like the second book in the series will be better with more plot progression, but I'm not sure I'll ever pick it up to find out.

CHARACTERS: Eureka was an okay character. I feel like the romance between her and Ander was way too sudden and didn't really make any sense to me. I really liked Brooks and I do want to know what is going to happen to him. 

COVER: The cover is gorgeous! I love the colors and the embossing. And I love how the model's dress is made up of water.

**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Not a Drop to Drink Review (ARC)

Goodreads

TITLE: Not a Drop to Drink

AUTHOR: Mindy McGinnis

PUBLISHER: Katherine Tegen Books

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/9/2013

PAGES: 320

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water. Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most important, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirst or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. They mysterious footprints by the pond, the nighttime threaths, and the gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won't stop until they get it...

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I had no idea what to expect or what this book was about, I honestly just picked it up because of the cover. I was pleasantly surprised. This was a good story. It kept me interested the whole way through. It made me think about the things that I have in my everyday life that I take for granted and how far would I go to protect them.

The epilogue left everything in a good place and I feel satisfied with it.

CHARACTERS: I love the characters of both Neva and Eli. Neva is so sweet and innocent and she just makes you fall in love with her. Eli tries really hard and is very caring. I actually liked every one of the characters in this book and enjoyed reading about them all.

COVER: I really like the cover. The yellow tinge to it gives it a very post apocalyptic feel.

**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

The Eye of Minds Review (ARC)

Goodreads

Amazon

TITLE: The Eye of Minds

AUTHOR: James Dashner

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/8/2013

PAGES: 304

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Michael is a gamer. And like most gamers, he almost spends more time on the VirtNet than in the actual world. The VirtNet offers total mind and body immersion, and it's addictive. Thanks to technology, anyone with enough money can experience fantasy worlds, risk their life without the chance of death, or just hang around with VirtNet friends. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun. Why bother following the rules when most of them are dumb, anyway?

But some rules were made for a reason. Some technology is too dangerous to fool with. And recent reports claim that one gamer is going beyond what any gamer has done before: he's holding players hostage inside the VirtNet. The effects are horrific -- the hostages have all been declared brain-dead. Yet the gamer's motives are a mystery.

The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker.

And they've been watching Michael. They want him on their team.

But the risk is enormous. If he accepts their challenge, Michael will need to go off the VirtNet grid. There are back alleys and corners in the system human eyes have never seen and predators he can't even fathom -- and there's the possibility that the line between game and reality will be blurred forever.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This book is so amazing. I loved it so much! The book wastes no time jumping into the action packed story, and I love when books do that. I feel like I don't have a whole lot to say about this book because it was just so good. 

The ending was also amazing. I predicted some of it, but I was also surprised by other parts. All I can say is read this, you will not be disappointed. I cannot wait for the next installment to come out. I am really interested to see how Michael (the main character) explains everything to Sarah and Bryson (the supporting characters) and how they react to it.

CHARACTERS: I don't really know a whole lot about the characters. This book is more focused on the plot, and I'm okay with that. I feel like the next book will have a little more character development in it.

COVER: I like the cover a lot. It's so shiny!

**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Chasing Shadows

Goodreads

TITLE: Chasing Shadows

AUTHOR: Swati Avasthi

GRAPHICS: Craig Phillips

PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/24/2013

PAGES: 320

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Before: Corey, Holly, and Savitri are one unit--fast, strong, inseparable. Together they turn Chicago concrete and asphalt into a freerunner's jungle gym, ricocheting off walls, scaling buildings, leaping from rooftop to rooftop. But acting like a superhero doesn't make you bulletproof....

After: Holly and Savitri are coming unglued. Holly says she's chasing Corey's killer, chasing revenge. Savitri fears Holly's just running wild--and leaving her behind. Friends should stand by each other in times of crisis. But can you hold on too tight? Too long?

In this intense novel, Swati Avasthi creates a gripping portrait of two girls teetering on the edge of grief and insanity. Two girls who will find out just how many ways there are to lose a friend...and how many ways to be lost.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: During the first couple of pages, I thought I wasn't going to enjoy reading this. Then something in the story happened and I was hooked. The ending wraps up very nicely and left me completely satisfied. The graphic novel aspect of the book was interesting. For me, I found it distracting and wanted to get back to the written story, but I understand how some people would really enjoy it.

CHARACTERS: Holly makes me so mad. She's so reckless and one-track minded. She doesn't care who she hurts to get what she wants.

COVER: The cover is really nice. It's not one of my favorite covers, but it does fit the story very well.

*I received an ARC copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Fangirl Review

Goodreads

TITLE: Fangirl

AUTHOR: Rainbow Rowell

PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Griffin

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/10/2013

PAGES: 416

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Cath doesn't think she's good at life--but she's really good at being a fan. She's been writing fanfiction since she was twelve, and she's gotten kind of famous in that world. But college is another "story." She's got a mean roommate (with a too-friendly boyfriend), her twin sister's ignoring her, her dad's a mess, her writing professor is pushing her too hard...She keeps having to rise to the occasion, but all she really wants to do is stay in her room and write. Is Cath ready to live her own life, write her own stories, and open her heart to someone? Or will she just go on living inside her fictional world?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I really enjoyed reading this. I fell in love with the story, the characters, everything. I felt super warm and fuzzy and happy after finishing this book. This story connects with me and how my college days were. I was also the girl who just wanted to stay in her room and was afraid to venture outside of my comfort zone. I really enjoyed reading about Cath and the way she changed and learned to give new experiences a chance before shutting them out completely.

CHARACTERS: My favorite character is Levi. His character is just so awesome. He's always there for his friends with no questions asked and he's so nice to everyone.

COVER: I think the cover is cute and sums up the book pretty well. I like the simplicity of it.

**I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Wasteland Review

Goodreads

TITLE: Wasteland

AUTHORS: Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan

PUBLISHER: Harper Teen

PUBLICATION DATE: 3/26/2013

PAGES: 336

MY RATING:

BACK COVER SUMMARY: The citizens of Prin don't have the problems that plague typical teens. At 15, they marry. At 17, they reproduce. And at 19, they die.

There's also the looming threat of rampant disease, acid raing, starvation, and brutal attacks by the variants -- hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin.

Ester thinks there's more to life than toiling under the relentless sun. Her best friend is a variant, and she longs to join the fringe community, to escape the judgment of Levi, the corrupt ruler who controls the Source. When a mysterious stranger named Caleb arrives in town, shady pasts begin to unravel, and the two rebels realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin.

Wasteland is the thrilling first book in a fast-paced trilogy with high stakes...of life or death.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I didn't like this story. I was excited at the beginning of this book after reading the summary, but it fell flat for me. The story didn't seem to go anywhere. I was really interested in the variants, but we don't get to find out much about them and that was disappointing. Harper Teen usually comes out with some amazing books and they are definitely my favorite publisher when it comes to putting out the best books, but I feel like they missed with this one. I am pretty sure that I will not be picking up any of the other books in this trilogy.

CHARACTERS: I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I felt like they were flat and didn't have very strong personalities.

COVER: I do like the cover. I love that the title is made up of wood boards. The cover is the most exciting part of this book.

**I received an ARC copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend Review

Goodreads

Amazon

TITLE: Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend
AUTHOR: Louise Rozett
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen
PUBLICATION DATE: 6/25/2013
PAGES: 279
MY RATING:

SUMMARY (From Goodreads): Rose Zarelli has big plans for sophomore year--everything is going to be different. This year, she's going to be the talented singer with the killer voice, the fabulous girl with the fashionista best friend, the brainiac who refuses to let Jamie Forta jerk her around...

...but if she's not careful, she's also going to be the sister who misses the signals, the daughter who can only think about her own pain, the "good girl" who finds herself in mid-scandal again (because no good deed goes unpunished) and possibly worst of all...the almost-girlfriend.

When all else fails, stop looking for love and go find yourself.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I didn't know that this was the second book in a series when I got it. I don't have the first book and I don't really plan on reading it because I have too many books in my TBR pile, but I figured I'd give it a shot and try to read it anyway.

In the opening scene, I feel like there's way too many characters. I don't know if they're in the first book, but when reading this I got a little lost. I'm assuming that we gradually meet these characters in the previous book and if I had read that one first, I would be able to keep track of everyone. 

The book was okay. Not one of my favorites, but I did read through it pretty quickly. I just feel like nothing really exciting happened in the story line.

CHARACTERS: I feel like there wasn't a lot of character development or growth with any of the characters.Also, Robert is so annoying and when reading any scenes with him in it, I just wanted him to go away.

COVER: The cover is fine. I like the blue streak in the model's hair.

**I received a finished copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Dare You To Review

Goodreads

Amazon

TITLE: Date You To

AUTHOR: Katie McGarry

PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen

PUBLICATION DATE: May 28, 2013

PAGES: 456

MY RATING:

INSIDE COVER SUMMARY: If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does...

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock--with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Ask out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams--and his life--for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This book was amazing. I loved every bit of it. I read the first book in the series and while back, so I didn't remember a whole lot about what happened in that book, but this is a completely different story. This book follows two other characters, and you could easily read this book without having read the first one. 

This book was so emotional and I love reading books that can make me feel something.

CHARACTERS: Beth and Ryan are both really great characters, but I really enjoyed reading about Beth's story. It is so heartbreaking, and I feel all of her joy and devastation as she struggles to find herself throughout the book.

COVER: The cover is great! I love that the image from the book jacket is printed under the cover directly on the book too. It looks like it should be a poster!

**I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Ink Review

Goodreads

Amazon

TITLE: Ink
AUTHOR: Amanda Sun
ILLUSTRATORS: Petra Dufkova (cover), Ross Siu (interior)
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Teen
PUBLICATION DATE: 6/25/2013
PAGES: 326
MY RATING: 

INSIDE COVER SUMMARY: On the heels of a family tragedy, Katie Greene must move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn't know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks and she can't seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

When Katie meets aloof but gorgeous Tomohiro, the star of the school's kendo team, she is intrigued by him...and a little scared. His tough attitude seems meant to keep her at a distance, and when they're near each other, strange things happen. Pens explode. Ink drips from nowhere. And unless Katie is seeing things, drawings come to life.

Somehow Tomo is connected to the kami, powerful ancient beings who once ruled Japan--and as feelings develop between Katie and Tomo, things begin to spiral out of control. The wrong people are starting to ask questions, and if they discover the truth, no one will be safe.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I had some trouble connecting with/concentrating on the story because of the Japanese words mixed in. There's a glossary at the back of the book which helps, but it's a little annoying having to flip to the back and search for the word every couple of pages -- I would have loved to see footnotes instead, because I really did enjoy seeing the Japanese words - they added to the authenticity of the story/setting.

A little less than halfway through, the book really picks up speed and got me extremely interested.

I liked the ending of the book. It set us up for the next book in the series, but made me feel good about the ending at the same time.

CHARACTERS: Yuki (a friend of the main character) seems like a really good friend, but I don't really know much about her. I'd really like to learn more about Jun and find out what his plans are.

**I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Tackle Your TBR Readathon Final Results

I started out really strong on this Read-a-thon, but the further along into to it I got, the less I read. I honestly think it was just because I flew through the books that I really really wanted to read, and then I was left with the books that I've had forever that I want to read one day, but I'm just not crazy excited to read them RIGHT NOW. Anyway, here's my results:

SUNDAY 9/8/2013

Books Read: Dare You To (Pages 319 - 456)

 Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend (Pages 1 - 115)

Pages Read: 252

MONDAY 9/9/2013

Books Read: Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend (Pages 116 - 279)

5th Wave (Pages 1 - 36)

Pages Read: 199

TUESDAY 9/10/2013

Books Read: 5th Wave (Pages 27 - 208)

Pages Read: 181

WEDNESDAY 9/111/2013

Books Read: 5th Wave (Pages 213 - 361)

Pages Read: 148

THURSDAY 9/12/2013

Books Read: 5th Wave (Pages 362 - 457)

This Dark Endeavor (Pages 1 - 17)

Pages Read: 112

FRIDAY 9/13/2013

Books Read: This Dark Endeavor (Pages 18 - 38)

Pages Read: 20

SATURDAY 9/14/2013

Books Read: This Dark Endeavor (Pages 39 - 93)

Pages Read: 54

SUNDAY 9/15/2013

Books Read: None

Pages Read: 0

MONDAY 9/16/2013

Books Read: This Dark Endeavor (Pages 94 - 221)

Pages Read: 127

TUESDAY 9/17/2013

Books Read: This Dark Endeavor (Pages 222 - 298)

The Diamonds (Pages 1 - 14)

Pages Read: 90

WEDNESDAY 9/18/2013

Books Read: The Diamonds (Pages 15 - 97)

Pages Read: 82

THURDSAY 9/19/2013

Books Read: None

Pages Read: 0

FRIDAY 9/20/2013

Books Read: None

Pages Read: 0

SATURDAY 9/21/2013

Books Read: None

Pages Read: 0

TOTALS

Total finished books: 4

Titles of finished books: Dare You To

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend

5th Wave

This Dark Endeavor

Pages Read: 1262

Tackle Your TBR Readathon Update #3

For some reason I've been slowing down a lot on my reading these last few days. I think it's because out of all the TBR books that I own, I'm not super excited to read them. I do want to read them all eventually, but none of them are pulling at me very strongly at the moment. But, here's my update from the last few days.

WEDNESDAY

Books Read: 5th Wave (Pages 213 - 361)

Pages Read: 148

THURSDAY

Books Read: 5th Wave (Pages 362 - 457)

This Dark Endeavor (Pages 1 - 17)

Pages Read: 112

FRIDAY

Books Read: This Dark Endeavor (Pages 18 - 38)

Pages Read: 20

TOTALS

Total finished books: 2

Titles of finished books: Dare You To

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend

5th Wave

Pages Read: 902

Tackle Your TBR Readathon Update #2

MONDAY

Books Read: Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend (Pages 116 - 279)

5th Wave (Pages 1 - 36)

Pages Read: 199

TUESDAY

Books Read: 5th Wave (Pages 37 - 208)

Pages Read: 171

TOTALS

Total finished books: 2

Titles of finished books: Dare You To

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend

Pages Read: 622

Tackle Your TBR Readathon Day #1 Update (Sunday)

SUNDAY

Books Read: Dare You To (Pages 319 - 456)

                                                             Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend (Pages 1 - 115)

Pages Read: 252

TOTALS

Total finished books: 1

Titles of finished books: Dare You To

Pages Read: 252

Another Little Piece Review

TITLE: Another Little Piece
AUTHOR: Kate Karyus Quinn
PUBLISHER: Harper Teen
PUBLICATION DATE: 6/11/2013
PAGES: 432
MY RATING:

SUMMARY (from Goodreads): On a cool autumn night, Annaliese Rose Gordon stumbled out of the woods and into a high school party. She was screaming. Drenched in blood. Then she vanished.

A year later, Annaliese is found wandering down a road hundreds of miles away. She doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know how she got there. She only knows one thing: She is not the real Annaliese Rose Gordon.

Now Annaliese is haunted by strange visions and broken memories. Memories of a reckless, desperate wish...a bloody razor...and the faces of other girls who disappeared. Piece by piece, Annaliese's fractured memories come together to reveal a violent, endless cycle that she will never escape--unless she can unlock the twisted secrets of her past. 

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I enjoyed this book so much. I loved every second of reading it and flew through it very quickly. One of my favorite types of books to read is stories revolving around split personalities or past lives, basically when there's more than one personality living inside one person, whether there's actually two being inside one body, or there's flashbacks to another life, that sort of thing. I really liked following along with Annaliese and trying to figure things out with her.The ending of this book was great. Everything was wrapped up nicely with a perfect little bow. :)

CHARACTERS: I loved Dex. He was my favorite character in the book. I really enjoyed the way his character developed over time and the pace of details that we learn about him.

COVER: The cover is gorgeous. I love the outfit the girl is wearing and I also love that we cannot see her face, it gives it that mystery of who is she? I like the font on the title as well.

**I received an ARC copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon

I have so many books in my collection that I haven't read. I mean, ton of them. I have an entire bookshelf dedicated to books I need to read, as well as a huge stash of books that I keep under my desk that I haven't read yet either. Here's some pictures...

The bottom two shelves don't count, those aren't mine :)

I know this one's hard to see, but most of the stacks are 3 rows deep...

So, needless to say, I have got to get reading! 

That's why I will be participating in the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon hosted by Tressa's Wishful Endings & Colorimetry.

There will be giveaways and challenges as well! So go check it out!

Ghost Time Review

TITLE: Ghost Time

AUTHOR: Courtney Eldridge

PUBLISHER: Amazon Children's Publishing

PUBLICATION DATE: 6/11/2013

PAGES: 416

MY RATING: 

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Thea Denny hates the tenth grade, and her home life isn't easy. But she's passionate about making art -- and about her math-genius boyfriend, Cam. One day Cam mysteriously vanishes -- and then things really get weird. The stars on the school flag go missing, eerily cut out. Intimate videos of Cam and Thea start going viral online -- videos they never took. The FBI gets involved. And Thea can hear the voice of Melody -- a beautiful, disabled girl her age, whose illness has left her mute since birth. Cam once claimed to be the world's foremost hacker...Is he trying to reach her, send her a sign -- or is Thea losing her mind?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: What? That's what I said to myself as soon as I finished reading this.

It took me a little bit to get used to the writing - we hear Thea's scattered thoughts, it was a little annoying to me, but I adjusted eventually.

The whole story line captivated me. I was really interested in finding out what happened to Cam and why all of the strange things were happening throughout the story. 

The timeline jumps back and forth starting from the disappearance of Cam and going backward and forward in time with each chapter. It sounds like that would be confusing, but I had no trouble following it, and for me it really added to the interest of the story.

Then, I got to the end and I was extremely disappointed. From what I now understand, is that there is going to be a followup book to this one. When I was reading it, I had no idea, I thought it was a standalone book. I felt like the book kept picking up speed, going faster and faster, and then just - BAM. It stopped and there nothing. No crash, no explosion, just nothing. It just ended and left me feeling unsatisfied. I understand that authors want to pull you in and get you excited to read the next book in a series, but this one just left me confused with no idea where the story is going to lead next. I don't think I'll be picking up the next one in this series.

CHARACTERS: The characters were fine. I didn't get particularly attached to any of them, but I am curious to see where they take Mel's character. I liked hearing her thoughts and her feelings towards her father.

COVER: I do like the cover. I'm not really sure how it ties in with the book, because I'm so confused about what this book was trying to accomplish, but I do like the way the cover looks.

**I received an ARC copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest opinion.

The End Games Review

TITLE: The End Games

AUTHOR: T. Michael Martin

PUBLISHER: Balzer + Bray

PUBLICATION DATE: 5/7/2013

PAGES: 384

MY RATING:

DNF

BACK COVER SUMMARY: In the rural mountains of West Virginia -- armed with only their rifle and their love for each other -- the brother follow Instructions from the mysterious Game Master. They spend their days searching for survivors, their nights fighting endless hordes of "Bellows" -- creatures that roam the dark, roaring for flesh. And at this Game, Michael and Patrick are very good.

But the game is changing.

The Bellows are evolving.

The Game Master is leading Michael and Patrick to other survivors -- survivors who don't play by the rules.

And the brothers will never be the same.

T. Michael Martin's debut novel is a transcendent thriller filled with electrifying action, searing emotional insight, and unexpected romance.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I really wanted to like this book. I haven't read a good zombie story in a long time so I was really hopeful about this one, but it just didn't do it for me. 

The language in the first chapter threw me off. It didn't feel natural or something -- it's hard to put my finger on it, but I had a hard time reading through it. 

This book was very boring for me. It needed more action. I found myself trying to find other things to do in order to avoid reading this book. Reading isn't supposed to be a chore, but this one was becoming a chore for me, so I gave up on it. Maybe I'll pick it up again in the future, but for now, I just can't continue it.

CHARACTERS: I really like the relationship between the two brothers, Michael and Patrick. I feel like Patrick is such a trooper, dealing with everything and hanging in there. And the way Michael takes care of his brother is heartwarming, you can tell he would do anything to protect him.

**I received an ARC copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Passion and Poison Review

TITLE: Passion and Poison: Tales of Shape-Shifters, Ghosts, and Sprited Women

AUTHOR: Janice M. Del Negro

ILLUSTRATOR: Vince Natale

PUBLISHER: Marshall Cavendish Children's Books

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/1/2007

PAGES: 164

MY RATING:

INSIDE COVER SUMMARY: Janice M. Del Negro's unique storyteller's voice enriches this collection of eight original tales about strong, resolute females. Whether she's spinning a story about a brave housekeeper who does not suffer fools gladly or a woman who uses her wits to avenge her sister's death, she embroiders her tales with elegant language and vivid imagery. There are characters and settings that will chill the bones, from the skulls in a moonlit mausoleum to the apparition of a wealthy woman who turns up "in a cyclone of light and fog" to three cauldrons filled with hair, bones, and blood. Mysterious shape-shifters and ghostly figures appear, but the women here handle them with grace and conviction. As these characters act to achieve justice and fairness, they become heroines in the landscape of the imagination.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I thought this book was going to be really terrifying, but it was not super scary. The book states that it is for ages 10 and up, so it's more of a middle grade than a young adult book. This was a very quick book to read through, and I was thoroughly entertained. The stories are quick and slightly spooky. I really enjoyed the illustrations that are scattered throughout the book, they helped to set the mood. My favorite story in the collection is Sea Child and I also really enjoyed The Severed Hand.

COVER: The cover of this is pretty creepy. The pop of red on the woman's necklace and the red squiggly title just stand out and make you immediately think of blood.

**I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Arclight Review

Amazon

TITLE: Arclight

AUTHOR: Josin L. McQuein

PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books

PUBLICATION DATE: 4/23/2013

PAGES: 400

MY RATING:

SUMMARY (From Goodreads): No one crosses the wall of light...except for one girl who doesn't remember who she is, where she came from, or how she survived. A harrowing, powerful debut thriller about finding yourself and protecting your future--no matter how short and uncertain it may be.

The Arclight is the last defense. The Fade can't get in. Outside the Arclight's border of high-powered beams is the Dark. And between the Light and the Dark is the Grey, a narrow, barren no-man's-land. That's where the rescue team finds Marina, a lone teenage girl with no memory of the horrors she faced or the family she lost. Marina is the only person who has ever survived an encounter with the Fade. She's the first hope humanity has had in generations, but she could also be the catalyst for their final destruction. Because the Fade will stop at nothing to get her back. Marina knows it. Tobin, who's determined to take his revenge on the Fade, knows it. Anne-Marie, who just wishes it were all over, knows it.

When one of the Fade infiltrates the Arclight and Marina recognizes it, she will begin to unlock secrets she didn't even know she had. Who will Marina become? Who can she never be again?

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This was a pretty good book. It was really intense right from the very beginning. I really enjoyed learning right along with Marina. At times I felt like I was next to her, taking everything in with her. I predicted a major plot point, but it didn't diminish the story at all. 

CHARACTERS: My favorite character in this book is Tobin. I just love his determination. Rue was also an interesting character to learn about throughout the story. 

COVER: I really like the cover. It gives off that creepy vibe that is found in the book. 

**I received an ARC of this book for review from Amazon Vine.

Girl In The Wall Review

TITLE: The Girl in the Wall
AUTHOR: Josin L. McQuein
PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books
PUBLICATION DATE: 4/23/2013
PAGES: 400
MY RATING:

INSIDE COVER SUMMARY: Ariel's birthday weekend looks to be the event of the season, with a private concert by rock star Hudson Winters on the grounds of her family's East Coast estate, and all of Ariel's elite prep school friends in attendance. The only person who's dreading the party is Sera, Ariel's former best friend, whose father is forcing her to go. Sera has been the school pariah since she betrayed Ariel, and she now avoids Ariel and their former friends. Thrown together, Ariel and Sera can agree on one thing: This could be one very long night.

They have no idea just how right they are.

Only moments after the concert begins and the lights go down, thugs open fire on parents and schoolmates alike, in a plot against Ariel's father that quickly spins out of control. As the entire party is taken hostage, the girls are forced apart. Ariel escapes into the hidden tunnels in the family mansion, where she and Sera played as children. Only Sera, who forges an unlikely alliance with Hudson Winters, knows where her friend could be. As the industrial terrorist could be. As the industrial terrorist plot unravels and the death toll climbs, Ariel and Sera must recall the sisterhood that once sustained them as they try to save themselves and each other on the longest night of their lives.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Fun might be the wrong word to use with the subject matter of this book, but I did find myself having fun while I was reading this. I liked hearing about the plan to save everyone as it was unfolding. The last part of the book had a lot of intense chaos. I could really picture it all in my head as I was reading about it. I am really satisfied with how the story ended.

CHARACTERS: I liked all of the characters in this book. I feel like everyone had a purpose and they all fit well together. 

COVER: I like the cover that is under the dust jacket. It's bright pink and super pretty! The image on the cover is okay. I really like how the title is written.

**I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Masque of the Red Death Review

TITLE: Masque of the Red Death

AUTHOR: Bethany Griffin

PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books

PUBLICATION DATE: 4/24/2012

PAGES: 319

MY RATING:

SUMMARY (From Goodreads): Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup...and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club--in the depths of her own despair--Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliot, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for--no matter what it costs her.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I haven't read the original Masque of the Red Death by Poe, but I did read the plot on Wikiepedia so I'm a little familiar with the story. I can definitely see how this book by Griffin was inspired from Poe's version and I would like to read the original one day soon.

I would say this is a solid book the whole way through. I enjoyed reading it. I felt like I was in the world as everything was unfolding, so much so that I wondering if I should be wearing a mask while I was reading. The ending was intense and exciting and I cannot wait to see what is going to happen in the next book. 

CHARACTERS: Let's start off by saying that I am team Will. I felt a little creeped out by Elliot, and I think Araby and Will would make a better couple. 

I'm a little bit uneasy about the relationships between all of the characters at the end of the book. I want to see how the relationships will unfold in the next book and see what will happen between certain people.

COVER: I love the cover. It's haunting and creepy and just awesome.

*I won an ARC copy of this book from Angie @ Libby Blog

Card Share #5

Here's a couple of cards I've made in the last two days: