Mini Review Bonanza Part 2

Ok, so I let another week or two slip by but here are some mini-reviews from the month of June. My new goal is to get my July reviews up before July is up...

June Series & Sequels

This was definitely a month of series readings for me. I finished Vampire Academy, Hex Hall and Kane Chronicles. Since I haven't reviewed any of the individual books, I am just going to give an overall review for the series. 

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Overall Series Rating: 4.5 Peaches

My Favorite in the 6 Book Series: Last Sacrifice (book 6)

This series started out slow to me, I enjoyed the first few books but it wasn't until the last half of the series that I was officially hooked. I also did not go into this series with high expectations. The same student that recommended this series also recommended House of Night and I couldn't even get through the first book in that series. So what saved this series? For me it was two things. First of all, the world building was a different and exiting take on vampire lore. The vampire rankings from Dhampir, Moroi and Strigoi add an extra layer of depth to this series and more is revealed throughout the books that build on Mead's vampire "history" without contradicting itself. Secondly, the characters, especially our heroine Rose Hathaway. Whenever I think of Rose I always associate this quote from Madonna to her "I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a b****, okay." Rose is tough, she is ambitious and for the most part, knows what she wants and goes for it. She goes hard and when she makes mistakes, she doesn't hide from them but grows stronger. Rose's other half is Lissa, who I spent the first few books annoyed with until she began to take on some of Rose's spirit and, I believe, finally became an equal partner in friendship with Rose. Then, of course, their are the boys Dimitri, Christian and Adrian. Is there a love triangle, yes sigh but I absolutely approve of the way it ended. Yes there are many "Team Adrian" but Rose's decision in Last Sacrifice is the most intelligent one I have seen a female MC make in awhile. She doesn't just go with the "hottest" or the bad boy but she chooses the man that challenges her to be a better person and that she challenges in return. Loved it. 

Would I recommend this book? Yes, I definitely would over many of the other vampire books out there right now. 

Hex Hall, Demonglass and Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Overall Series Rating : 4 Peaches

My Favorite in the 3 Book Series:  Hex Hall

This series is just a good time.  It has so much that I like from a sarcastic main character with a snarky love interest, good old fashioned mean girls, a supportive best friend that isn't afraid to tell it like it is and wonder of wonders, supportive parents! It raises some deeper questions about what makes one evil, there are some great fights and action and lots of laugh out loud dialogue.   I could have gone for a little more character development in some of the side characters and wished we could've known more about the Brannicks and The Eye. What I really want to know, having finished the series, is why is there a black cat on each cover?? Did I miss that in every single book? If anyone knows the answer, I will reward you!  

Would I recommend this series? Sure, especially to my high school girls who enjoy the paranormal!

 

Red Pyramid, Throne of Fire and Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan

Overall Rating: 3.5 Peaches

My Favorite in the 3 Book Series: Throne of Fire

I am going to try so hard not to compare this series to Riordan's Percy Jackson series but it's so hard! I love the inclusion of the Egyptian God's, the way Riordan describes them and even modernizes them. Oh, I loved Bast so much. She is exactly how I imagine my cat would be and I would love to take her class on napping. The idea of the House of Life and magicians fighting to control chaos or unleash it was thrilling. However, I just did not fall in love with most of the characters enough to really care for or worry for them. I'm not sure if it was the constantly changing point of view but Carter just felt flat to me, I couldn't truly understand his need to prove himself or believe in his leadership while Sadie always just felt selfish and a little too boy-crazy what with the possible end of the world. 
Would I recommend this series? Yes, in fact I have given the first book to several students and the school library but I always tell them to try Percy Jackson first!


Following are books in a series that I have not completed or am just beginning!




Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

My Rating: 4 Peaches


Oops! I actually read Lola and the Boy Next Door before reading Anna but I guess they are more like companion novels than sequels. However, I did already know a little about Anna and St. Clair from Lola but I was excited to get to know them better and super excited that this story takes place in Paris. After reading Anna, I wish I could have gone away for a year abroad in High School or college and I definitely need to plan a trip to Europe. Anna and St. Clair were fun, lovable characters and the romantic tension was pretty fantastic. What I would like now is for Perkin's next book (Isla and the Happy After which I hear is going to include Josh from Anna) to have two main characters and love interests that fall in love not already be in relationships with other characters. That was definitely my least favorite plot point from both Anna (St. Clair had a girlfriend) and Lola (Loal had a boyfriend). How about some love for the single people?
Would I recommend this book? Of course! I am not really a fan of realistic fiction but Perkins is slowly changing my tastes!

A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan

My Rating: 3.5 Peaches

I always love it when boys at my school recommend a book for me because it's usually not something I would pick up. This is definitely the case with Cirque Du Freak. It was a fun, strong beginning to a fairly long (12 books, I think) and  very popular series. The descriptions were perfect and had the effect of making me shudder and gag at certain points. I have to say my biggest turn-off was the spider, and that's a personal problem! I can definitely understand why middle school boys would devour this series! If I get a chance, I will probably read the rest of the series but I won't be going out of my way to get the books. I will also probably try to see the movie, if only because of a young Josh Hutcherson, also known as Peeta...

Would I recommend this series? I would pass this around to some of the middle school boys and some of the girls as well!

Playing With Fire (Book 2) by Derek Landy

My Rating: 4.5 Peaches

Oh Skulduggery, you are probably my favorite find of the year and I am enjoying surprising others with your complete and utter awesomeness. What do I love most about you? It has to be the way you talk to me, all sarcastic and arrogant like. Here let me show you:

"What would a thing like you know about honor? Only a heathen would bring a gun to a sword fight.' And only a moron would bring a sword to a gunfight.”

“If things go wrong, I'll lead them away. Once it's clear, get back to the car. If you don't see me in five minutes, then I've probably died a very brave and heroic death. Oh and don't Oh, and don't touch the radio--I've got it tuned right where I want it and I don't want you messing that up.”

“Is he all scarred now? Magic gets rid of most physical scars, but I like to think I scarred him emotionally.” 

“Was it a test?" she asked. "I mean,I know I'm still knew at this,I'm still a rookie. Did you hang back to test me, to see if I'd handle it alone?" "Well, kind off" he said. "Actually,no,nothing like that. My shoelace was untied. That's why I was late" "I could have been killed because you were tying your shoelace?!"An untied shoelace can be dangerous,' he said. 'I could have tripped.' She stared at him. A moment dragged by. 'I'm joking,' he said at last. She relaxed. 'Really?' 'Absolutely. I would never have tripped. I'm far too graceful.”

Ok, ok, I'll stop now but only because I need to go order book 3 right now...
Would I recommend this series? Yes, go buy it, right now!

June Stand Alone Novels

Snowed in Together by Ann Herrick

My Rating: 2.5 Peaches

Wow, apparently I only read one stand alone book this month and it was a short story that I downloaded free for my kindle at that, bad me. Anywho, Snowed In Together was not my kind of story, probably because I was never a socially inept, horny, high school boy (thank God!). However, if I were I might have felt some connection to this story. I can understand it and see how it might be realistic and a dream for some guys but overall, not for me. 

Would I recommend this book? Nope, can't really think of any reason why I would. :(

Phew, and with that I am officially caught up to the month of July! Now I have a week to get reviews up from this month!

Mini Review Bonanza!

Wow, two whole months of slacking. That may be a record for me! I'd love to blame it on a number of factors but basically the call of the beach was too much for me. So in order to catch up, I'm going to do mini reviews for each of the books I have read over the last 2 months...

May: Stand Alone's

Callum & Harper by Fisher Amelie

My Rating: 3 Peaches

This book made me feel bipolar. I wanted to love this book at so many points and at other points I wanted to rip it into tiny pieces (except that it was an ebook, so I guess the worst I could've done was delete it). The relationship that grows between Callum and Harper, the struggles they face and overcome, their wonderful friends and the ending had me smiling like a fool. However, it seemed like it was just one struggle to many. I mean, seriously, these poor kids could not catch a break. On top of that, I did not like the cop-out "two years later" jump. I had a hard enough time believing that Callum and Harper hadn't fessed up to their attraction and feelings and having this time jump told me that the author couldn't keep up the facade either so she just skipped it. I am always willing to suspend belief for stories, that's part of their draw but this took me completely out of the story and I was never able to get back in. I am completely split on this book. 
 Would I recommend others read it? I won't be singing it's praises to my High School or Middle School students, but I wouldn't discourage others from it...

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

My Rating: 5 Peaches

Now this book I loved from the very beginning and it never let me down. You've got luxurious airships, dangerous air pirates, mysterious air creatures and so much action you can't put it down! On top of that, Oppel has written some fantastic characters. I would go exploring with Matt and Kate any day of the week.  Their struggles, interactions and relationships are completely realistic and connectable. Readers will easily put themselves in either Kate or Matt's shoes and love every minute. I especially think middle school boys would just devour this book but I will also be passing this name on to all my students as a must read! Plus it's a great, light intro to the genre of steampunk with little bits of steampunkyness spread throughout. I can't wait to read more! 

Would I recommend: Oh yes and to everyone with absolutely NO reservations!

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

My Rating: 4.5 Peaches

What! A Robin Hood retelling where Will Scarlet is a girl disguised as a boy! First off, I love retellings of classic stories and Gaughen does a fantastic job re-imagining Robin and his band of thieves, especially Scarlet. She is brave but not fearless, loyal but still has issues with trust, strong and decisive but with a heart that confuses her and breaks over her mistakes. All in all, a relatable heroine who isn't perfect and doesn't try to be. So why not a full 5? Eh, love triangles (again) and I wish there would have been a little bit more of the history. Also, I just wish there was more! I hated to see this book end. 

Would I recommend Scarlet?  Most definitely, there is some violence and references to sex but nothing that should keep this book out of the hands of middle schoolers and up!

May: Series and Sequels

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Sequel to Divergent

My Rating:  4.5 Peaches

I waited very, very, very impatiently for this book to come. I had it pre-ordered several months before it came out because I loved Divergent so much so I had super high expectations for Insurgent. It picks up right where Divergent left out and I think my favorite think about Insurgent was getting to learn even more about the other 3 factions (besides Abnegation and Dauntless): Amity, Candor and Erudite. Tris and Tobias spend time amongst each faction and learning more about them helped me to better understand Tris's world and why she is the way she is. As for who Tris is, Insurgent really added depth to her character by showing more of her weakness and how she doesn't let them slow her down. She mourns her mistakes but she also learns from them, grows from them and turns them slowly into strengths. Right along side her is Tobias and as much as their relationship struggled and fought in this book, it became that much more believable to me. Tobias and Tris don't just accept each other for how they are, but  they challenge each other to become better and stronger individuals. I think that is rare in YA fiction these days. My one gripe is the ending. It's supposed to be this huge, cliffhanging reveal and, judging by some other reviews, for many it was. However, I just didn't feel the urgency or the surprise. I can't say much more without risking spoiling it for those who have yet to read it. Despite that, I am still, again very impatiently, waiting for  the next book to come out and joining in on all the title predictions, my money's on Convergent... 
Would I recommend Insurgent? The only people I wouldn't recommend this to are those who haven't read Divergent yet because they need to get off their butts and get down to the bookstore to buy it!

Linger and Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Sequels to Shiver 

My Rating: 4 Peaches and 5 Peaches

Honestly, these books started off slow and finished with a bang. The character's struggles, relationships, failures and triumphs resonated so much with me in this book. The inclusion of more Cole and Isabelle showcases a different relationship from that of Grace and Sam, one that is just as powerful and just as difficult. I love relationships that require work and actual effort and a sprinkling of snarky sarcasticness :) The evolution of Sam and Grace as individuals and partners throughout the books has left me with a completely different view of them since the first book, when I saw them as so one-dimensional. Especially Grace. I really did not like her character in the first book and now I find her completely relatable! Along with amazing character development, the action is increased and even more tense in both books. All in all, a great end to a series. I am looking forward to reading more by Stiefvater now! 

Would I recommend this series? Yep, to my high schoolers. There is some sex, cursing and violence but all in a realistic sense that adds to the story. 

Coming Soon: June Reads!

My Book Boyfriend: Ed

Looking for love in all the wrong places? Try a book! My Book Boyfriend is hosted by Missie at the Unread Reader :) 

This weeks TopTenTuesday reminded me of all the love I had for Graffiti Moon a few weeks ago and how much I adored Ed.

Ed

• dropped out of year 11
• hair that grows without a plan
• artistic but trouble with words
• graffiti artist known as Shadow

How Lucy sees Ed:

“Every time he looked at me I felt like I'd touched my tongue to the tip of a battery. In art class I'd watch him lean back and listen and I was nothing but zing and tingle. After a while, the tingle turned to electricity, and when he asked me out my whole body amped to a level where technically I should have been dead. I had nothing in common with a sheddy like him, but a girl doesn't think straight when she's that close to electrocution.” 

How Lucy sees Shadow:

“Let me meet Poet, too, but mainly Shadow. The guy who paints in the dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost in ghost forests. Paints guys with grass growing from their hearts and girls with buzzing lawn mowers. A guy who paints things like that is a guy I could fall for. Really fall for” 

How Ed sees Lucy:

“Kept dreaming of this spot she had on her neck, this tiny country. I wanted to visit, to paint a picture of what I found there, a wall with a road map of her skin.” 

"Her words are paintings, and I'm painting them on the wall in my head as she talks"

How They Get Along:

“I can't believe you're still mad at me," Ed says.
"You grabbed my arse."
"You broke my nose."
"You broke his nose?" Jazz asks. "You grabbed her arse?"
"It was two years ago-"
"Two years, four months, and eight days," I tell him.
"-and I was fifteen, and I slipped and she broke my nose."
"Wait a minute. How do you slip onto someone's arse?"Jazz asks.
"I meant slipped up. I slipped up and she broke my nose."
"You're lucky that's all I broke," I say.
"You're lucky I didn't call the police."

(My Ed is pictured as the wonderfully quirky Joseph

Gordon-Levitt. If they make this movie, my vote is for him!) 

I don't know what it is about snarky, sarcastic guys but they win my heart everytime. It helps that there is a lot more to Ed and the fun is finding it all out along with Lucy during their epic one night adventure to find Shadow. I highly recommend you go out and discover 

Shadow for yourself!

How about you? Who's your book boyfriend this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Quotes

Hosted by The Broke and Bookish for those of us that have a love of books and lists! Check them out :)

This week's theme is quotes. Now, I have trouble remembering what I said or did 5 minutes ago, but Goodreads has this fantastic quotes section. So after I read a book, I "like" some of the quotes from it. I decided to go back through the quotes I have liked since joining goodreads and use them. Fun Fact: more than 50% of my quotes were from Melina Marchetta... moving on

My Top Ten Quotes (from my Goodreads "likes"

1. "I'm scared I'm going to spend the rest of my life in a state of yearning, regardless of where I am" ~The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta       

Somehow Marchetta always puts into words the things I am feeling but can't express...

2. "I'm not going to wear a red dress," she (Katsa) said. "It would look stunning my lady," she called. She spoke to the bubble gathered on the surface of the water. "If there's anyone I wish to stun at dinner, I'll hit him in the face." ~ Graceling by Kristin Cashore

The best way to make an impression...

3. "Mum says when wanting collides with getting, that's the moment of truth. I want to collide." ~ Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Another author who's words I want to steal.

4. "It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~ Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowlings

So many wonderful Potter quotes, but this one has always stuck with me.

5. "Peter would probably throw a party if I stopped breathing." "Well," he (Four) says, "I would only go if there was cake." Divergent by Veronica Roth

I fell in love with Four right here, sarcastic humor is the way to my heart. 

6. "This is the way the world ends - not with a bang or a whimper, but with zombies breaking down the back door." ~ Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

Best opening line, ever...

7. "Remember, we're madly in love, so it's all right to kiss me anytime you feel like it." ~The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Are there deeper, more romantic quotes? Sure there are but I'll always love this one, oh 

and Finnick Odair in his underwear, what a great rhyme...

8. "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable." ~The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

I know it's long but it's about the truest statement there is.

9. "We live and breathe words... It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them." ~ Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Oh books, how I love you!

10. "Nine times out of ten, talking is a way of avoiding doing things" ~ Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede

True that, so I should probably get off my computer, and get back to work...

What are some of your favorite quotes?

Review: Skullduggery Pleasant

Skullduggery Pleasant 

by Derek Landy

My Rating: 5 peaches


Meet Skulduggery Pleasant. Sure, he may lose his head now and again (in fact, he won his current skull in a poker match), but he is much more than he appears to be—which is good, considering that he is, basically, a skeleton. Skulduggery may be long dead, but he is also a mage who dodged the grave so that he could save the world from an ancient evil. But to defeat it, he'll need the help of a new partner: a not so innocent twelve-year-old girl named Stephanie. That's right, they're the heroes. (goodreads description)



Wow, never have I fallen for a skeleton so hard and so fast. From the minute a friend began to read this book out loud to me, I knew I had to have it. I was laughing out loud just from the author's bio on the inside cover!

The Juicy

There is nothing I can say to make you understand how fantastic the writing in this book other than showing you. 

It will make you laugh out loud, literally:  

“What is it?' Stephanie whispered. 'That, my dear Valkyrie, is what we call a monster.' She looked at Skulduggery. 'You don't know what it is, do you?' 'I told you what it is, it's a horrible monster. Now shut up before it comes over here and eats us.” 

"“This is your one chance. Tell me where the key is." "Okay." Serpine raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "No, only joking. Do your worst.”

"You are such a moron"

Don't be jealous of my genius"

Then there are moments of genuine seriousness and beauty:

“There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything in between is still left to fight for. Serpine will have won only when there is no one left to stand against him. Until then, there is only the struggle, because tides do what tides do–they turn.” 

“The world is bigger than you know, and scarier than you might imagine. The only currency worth anything is being true to yourself, and the only goal worth seeking is finding out who you truly are.” 

Along with the A+ writing, Landy has created some completely original characters. No stereotypical hero versus villain here.  You are never quite sure where each character stands, as most fit somewhere in a shade of grey in the whole good/evil spectrum. There are twists amidst all the action to make this a fast paced read and an excellent book to hook reluctant reads, especially boys!

The Pits

I guess if your sense of humor is broken, you might not like this book :) It can be juvenile, but hey, it's a juvenile book! All in all, I didn't find any pits.

Awkward Fuzz

Violence- murder, descriptive fight scenes

Magic/Supernatural

Dysfunctional Families (nicely balanced by Stephanie's family)

My Book Boyfriend #2: Four

My Book Boyfriend is hosted by Missie at the Unread Reader and it's one of my favorite ways to find new books to read :)

May 1st finally came!! Of course, living overseas, I am still waiting for my copy in the mail... 

Anywho, in honor of Insurgent finally being out, my book boyfriend today is Four. 

Because so many people pre-ordered Insurgent, Veronice Roth wrote and released a chapter from Divergent from Four's point of view. If you haven't read it, you can find it here.

Four

• Real name: Tobias
• 18 years old
• dark blue eyes, dark hair
• several tattoos, including those for each faction
• muscular

How he thinks about Tris:

" But Peter's right, she's not pretty, that word is too small. She's not like the girls I used to stare at, all bend and curve and softness. She is small but strong, and her bright eyes demand attention. Looking at her is like waking up."

 

Fearless Four

"I might be in love with you." He smiles a little. "I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you, though."
"That's sensible of you," I say, smiling too. "We should find some paper so you can make a list or a chart or something."
I feel his laughter against my side, his nose sliding along my jaw, his lips pressing my ear.
"Maybe I'm already sure," he says, "and I just don't want to frighten you."
I laugh a little. "Then you should know better."
"Fine," he says. "Then I love you.” 

Funny Four

“Peter would probably throw a party if I stopped breathing.'
'Well,' he says, 'I would only go if there was cake.”

In Four's Own Words

"Before she got here everything had stalled inside me and every morning I was just moving toward nighttime... My thoughts skip back to the night before, how touching her sent warmth into my hand and through the rest of me, though I was frozen with fear. I press my hands to me head, press the memory away. I can't leave now. I like her too much. There, I said it. But I won't say it again."

My Four is played by Matt Dallas! How do you see Four?

I think my favorite thing about Four is his trust in Tris. He pushes her to her limits because he knows she can do it. They keep each other strong. 

Anyway, I can't wait to learn more about Four in Insurgent, that book better show up at my door soon or I'll be going Dauntless down at the Post Office...

Top Ten Tuesdays: Make it a Movie

Hosted by The Broke and Bookish for those of us that have a love of books and lists! Check them out :)

This week is...           Top Ten Books I Think Should Be Movies!


1. Divergent 
I just reread this book to get ready for Insurgent and I would love to see this in the theater. It's got action, a great climax and amazing characters, I'm already casting Four in my head...

2. Mistborn
Seeing the Steel Inquisitors would probably scare the pants off of me but it would be worth it. Also, there would be some fantastic special affects for the magical elements!

3. Graceling
Because I love martial arts, I love seeing girls kick butt and I loved this book.

4. Unwind
This book is great for discussion and turning into a movie would only increase its impact. I love reading books in class and then comparing it to the movie, this would be great to do in class!

5. Graffiti Moon
One of the best books I have read this year. I would love to follow Ed and Lucy around for a night. The dialogue is already snarky and absorbing, plus you could insert all the fabulous glassblowing and graffiti! Better this kind of romance than another Nicolas Sparks (imo).

6. BZRK
I just read this and I was alternately blown away and disgusted, which I am pretty sure exactly what it was going for. A lot of this book takes places in the nano, where tiny tiny things are huge. How incredible would that be on the big screen, seeing a giant flea, your eyeball or what the inside of your brain looks like...hmmm, on second thought, maybe I don't want to see all that...


7. Skulduggery Pleasant
How fun would this movie be in CG or some type of animation. A smart talking skeleton and his 12 yr old sidekick would be fantastic for kids and their parents. I wouldn't even feel the need to borrow a kid to go see this movie.


8. Hollowland
I know we are getting a Zombie love story later this year in Warm Bodies (truth to tell, I can't wait for it) so let's even it out with some Zombie killing. Mainly, I want to see the Zombie killing lion, I have tried training my cat but I think he will just end up slowing down a Zombie as a snack...


9. Heist Society
Hey, it works for Leverage. Let's see if some teenaged thieves can pull it off. The dynamics between the characters is fun and the heist itself is pretty ingenious. I see it more like Ocean's 11 than 12 or 13...


10. Ender's Game
Ok, so this is a cheat because they are already making this but I am SOOOOO excited for this movie, I want to let everyone know. IMDB it, now!