Book of the Moment: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Title: Bloodlines
Author: Richelle Mead
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Razorbill
Released Date: August 23, 2011
Source: Library
Interest: Author



Synopsis

Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning...

My Thoughts:

Words could not describe the excitement I felt when this precious book finally arrived to my local library. I made my mother drive me all the way there and I basically grabbed the book 5 minutes before the library closed. I am dedicated.

Bloodlines was amazing. Just excellent. I was excited to meet new characters as well as seeing some of the old characters weave in. Rose Hathaway will forever remain my favorite bad ass female character of all time, but I was willing to let some of the light shine on the newest female lead, Sydney. Sydney is unlike Rose. Sydney is collected yet over thinks everything. Rose is impulsive and spontaneous. While each can benefit from those attributes, they can also cause them to make mistakes. But Rose's chapter is over, and it is now Sydney's time.

Sydney seemed rather plain at times to me and I was always excited when you could see her break that stone face whenever Adria Ivashkov was in the picture. Is this little thing between the beloved Adrian and Sydney a new forbidden romance? Well time can only tell. I could feel the romance simmering and while it never reached an all time boil, you can see that this juicy little love tale is inevitable.

I also liked the new scenery for this spin off series and thought it was quite different from the nature wise St, Vladimirs Academy. In this book at least, we normal people can relate a little bit to the humans added in this new series. It's interesting to see how the Moroi and dhampirs relate around the humans and the world that's apart from theirs.

I was so immersed in this book that I was actually able to finish it in a night. Which is so rare for me these days with homework, social life, and high school. So if I was able to achieve that, then you know that this book is worth the staying up.

Also, watch for the next book The Golden Lily to come out on June 12, 2012!

Book of the Moment: Eve by Anna Carey

Title: Eve
Author: Anna Carey
ARC: 318 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Source: local bookstore friends
Interest: Blog Buzz



Synopsis:

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

~Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Eve by Anna Carey was just such a good dystopian thrill that I managed to read it in a few hours. Yes, Eve is a good sized book but the the whole story was just so darn good that I found myself trying to read every single page during any spare time I had. Since high school started for me, I haven't able to find a good book that's made me want to tear my self from my social life and facebook and such. I'll admit, I have been giving way more importance to my social life then I have for my blog. I've been taking a pro longed break and I have to get back on the wagon! But in order for that to happen, I had to read a really good book and that was Eve. My insatiable thirst for books has returned, hopefully better than ever and maybe my next few books will keep my mind off of Homecoming. Maybe. Hopefully...

Eve is a dystopian read in the future of 2032 where 98% of the world's population is dead due to a plague and it's vaccine. Dystopian books has been a huge hit in the YA world and this book has just added to it's montage of Hunger Games esque books. Most of the dystopian books I've read really haven't had the idea of breeding as a way to get the world back up again and because of that idea, this book was edgy and fresh. The fact that girls as young as 18 birthed litters of kids that wrecked havoc on their bodies was chilling and made me shudder in disgust.

Anna Carey wrote up a damn good adventure and a strong girl with that. Eve is the main character and has never seen a real life man due to her upbringing in an all girls' schools and having been taught that all men are ruthless and wild. While sure, some men are like that in Eve's wilderness of a world, there are also kind and different guys like Caleb. From Eve and Caleb's first encounter you can tell that they were going to fall in love. It was no annoying insta love but rather took time. Their romance was tentative and innocent in my opinion with just a few shared kisses here and there. But being brought up to think that men were horrible her whole life, of course it was tentative and very new for the both of them. It was adorable and I loved the fact that Caleb was a nice guy. And that he had dreads! :)

Eve was a great dytopian tale that I think is going to do really well in the YA world. The concepts were original and if you loved The Hunger Games or Enclave then your definitely going to love Eve.

In My Mailbox (2)

IMM is quite the spectacular and popular meme that goes around the blogosphere, originated by the amazing Kristi from The Story Siren. It's kind of brilliant...

 

 

Eve by Anna Carey

Goodreads | Indiebound

Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

Goodreads | Indiebound

Flyaway by Lucy Christopher

Goodreads | Indiebound

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Goodreads | Indiebound

Book of the Moment: Amplified by Tara Kelly

Title: Populazzi
Author: Tara Kelly
ARC: 293 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Source: local bookstore friends
Interest: Synopsis




Synopsis:

When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it. . . . In this fresh new novel by critically acclaimed author Tara Kelly, Jasmine finds out what happens when her life gets Amplified.

~Goodreads

My Thoughts:

You gotta love a good ol' book with a kick ass female main character who has a great sense of music and bad ass 'tude. That was exactly what I got from Amplified by Tara Kelly. I love YA books that do with the music business. I LOVE them. The characters always, always have a great story to tell. The passion that they exude is inspiring and makes you want to pick up a guitar yourself. Even if your musically inadequate like a certain someone... *cough* *cough*.

Jasmine Kiss, who by they way has the COOLEST full name ever, made me at times love her yet also made me want to cringe in annoyance. I loved how Jasmine didn't let anyone mess with her but there were times when she was just really harsh and her outlook on life seemed a little bleak. Maybe it's a tortured musician thing, I don't know. All the characters in the book had problems people could relate with, including Jasmine who's mother abandoned her when she was at a wee age.

The description of the songs that were played and the description of the characters were also stellar. Kelly did a great job of putting a good image in my head and I had a lot of fun reading Amplified. This book had a raw feel to it that seemed like the author put her heart and soul about music into this book.

Though I loved the passion behind the music in this book. I had not one clue about any bands stated in this book. It was "industrial rock" which makes some like me go blank. I'm more of a Muse, Florence + The Machine, and indie rock type of gal.

This is a great book and if you loved books like the awesome Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway, then your sure going to love this!

Book of the Moment: Populazzi by Elise Allen

Title: Populazzi
Author: Elise Allen
ARC: 400 pages
Publisher: Harcourt
Released Date: August 1, 2011
Source: local bookstore friends
Interest: Blogg Buzz




Synopsis:

 Cara has never been one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and always ready with the perfect thing to say. A girl at the very top of the popularity tower. One of the Populazzi.
 
Now, junior year could change everything. Cara’s moving to a new school, and her best friend urges her to seize the moment—with the help of the Ladder. Its rungs are relationships, and if Cara transforms into the perfect girlfriend for guys ever-higher on the tower, she’ll reach the ultimate goal: Supreme Populazzi.

The Ladder seems like a lighthearted social experiment, a straight climb up, but it quickly becomes gnarled and twisted. And when everything goes wrong, only the most audacious act Cara can think of has a chance of setting things even a little bit right.
~Goodreads

My Thoughts:



I was very excited about picking up this book because I knew that Elise Allen had worked with Hilary Duff on her YA novel, Elixir and I was very impressed by it so I just had to check out Elise Allen's debut.

First off you can tell from Elixir to Populazzi that the writing styles are pretty different. Elixir had this mellow but slowly brewing chaotic-ness that would follow you through the story. Hilary Duff probably had more to do with the book then I accounted her for.  It didn't have a super girly narrative and wasn't all dolled up in teen slang and I appreciated that.

However...Populazzi was the epitome of a teen novel with a totally teen voice. Even in the first chapter I found my self rolling my eyes on several occasions, just annoyed by the teen chatter. Sure, I talk about those things but I'm positive I don't sound like that much of an air head when I do.

I've read books about girls climbing the social ladder to become the "It Girl" but frankly, I didn't really see anything different. The only thing that really made me finish this book at all was the humor. Cara cracked some jokes here and there and well I do admit I was a little curious on how Cara was going to turn out.

Although this book was realistic fiction, it really shouldn't be. I'm officially in high school and stuff like this doesn't happen in real life! Sure there are those popular kids but it just seemed so off to me! I felt like Cara was a little pathetic because of her need to be the cool girl and I felt like her friend, Claudia, was just NOT a good friend. She was the one who encouraged the obsession and I found myself just not impressed with these two at all. Cara completely changed hereself for a boy and that was probably the lowest point for me. It was so enraging... and funny, I do have to say. You can't get anymore pathetic. But atleast she realizes her mistakes in the end. I liked how she exentually handled her self in the face of extreme embaressment and admired her strength.

This book was an ok read and didn't have me rushing to devous every page. But if your looking for an easy realistic fiction read about popularity and mean girls, then by all means, pick this book up. It's total chick-lit.

Book of the Moment: Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren

Title: Torrent
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Paperback: 388 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook
Released Date: September 1, 2011
Source: Author
Interest: Series




Synopsis:

 When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in the third and final book in the River of Time series.  

Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times.   But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population. In the suspenseful conclusion of the River of Time series, every decision is about life … and death.  
~Goodreads


My Thoughts:



Thanks to the lovely Lisa T. Bergren, I was able to get a copy of Torrent sooner then expected!

Torrent is the third book in Bergren's River of Time series and it is the final book at that! Readers started off learning about Gabriella and Lia when they first entered through the time portal into way back then Italy. Compared to Waterfall and Cascade, in Torrent the girls have grown up so much! Although they are there for a shorter time then the people who actually live there, what with the time difference with the time portal, they mature quickly in all the craziness of battling for castles, brides, and such!

Marcello and Gabriella's love deepens ( if that even seems possible), however Luca and Lia's budding romance stays the same. These books I feel are more about Gabriella than Lia and I would love it if Bergren visits the possibility of going deeper into Luca and Lia's romance. I really love the character of Luca just because he shines some humour when ever the going gets tough!

Torrent, like the previous two books, kept me on my toes and made me flip the pages in an anxious matter. Gabriella gets into some more trouble and it makes you wonder how she manages to escape it all! She's such a tough girl but she still has a never ending humour that makes you love her. She's a nice, funny, yet bad ass. A perfect combination!

There are parts in the book that made me want to cry and parts that made me want to woop in joy. Torrent will send you back and literally make you believe that the author herself lived back then. This is a great book for historical romance buffs! Torrent ended the series well and I can't wait to read Bergren's upcoming projects! They, like the River of Time series, will also be released in a timely manner that has a somewhat short release date in between each book so we don't have to titter in anticipation for like a year!

Look out for Torrent, in bookstores  tomorrow!

Book of the Moment: Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

Title: Tiger's Quest
Author: Colleen Houck
Hardcover: 457 pages
Publisher: Splinter
Released Date: June 7, 2011
Source: Library
Interest: series





Synopsis:

Kelsey Hayes is no ordinary college freshman. In fact, the eighteen-year-old girl has just returned from India, where she risked her life—and her heart—to rescue a handsome Indian prince from a terrible curse. Back home in Oregon, Kelsey is determined to move on, despite the lingering feelings she has for the man she left behind. She meets Li, a completely average guy who offers the promise of an ordinary, curse-free life. But just when Kelsey is ready to move on, Ren reenters her life, on a quest to reclaim her heart. Danger threatens their newly rekindled love and to save him, Kelsey must journey with someone else—a man who wants her for himself. The saga begun in Tiger’s Curse continues in Tiger’s Quest, as Kelsey finds herself in an epic battle between good and evil. From the shores of the Pacific Northwest to the jungles of India, the mountains of Nepal and Tibet, and the mystical realm of Shangri-la, this suspenseful tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption is not to be missed.
~Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I am so SORRY that this post has been taking such a long time. It's been like a week or more since my last review and that's like 1 YEAR in the blogosphere! The reason for my absence is that I just started high school. And well...it's been a mixed review for me. There are perks like open campus, meeting new people, and dances. But then there are the downsides...like being just an awkward freshman and getting lost every 5 minutes...

It's been an interesting experiance so far...

But on to the review, I am so happy to have finally read Tiger's Quest. I had read Tiger's Curse on my vacation and I ate that stuff up! I think I read more then I went down the water slides, it was that good. But did Tiger's Quest match the first in excellence?

Mehhh, somewhat. Tiger's Quest was as journey filled as the first but I just didn't like it as much. I love the relationship between Ren and Kelsey a lot more then Kelsey and Kishan, who is Ren's equally hot, younger brother. Kishan was too brash for Kelsey and I found him hard to be interesting as the first book depicted. I found myself zoning out a lot and felt disapointed whenever I did. The first book was just so excellent that I was sad to see that this book didn't match it.

Plus, why can't a series just not have a love triangle where you have to pick Team X or Team Y? I mean, Ren is obviously going to end up with Kelsey even if the ending makes it seem like not an option. This is a typical love triangle and I found myself for once, just not digging it.

Although I didn't like Tiger's Quest as much as the first book, I will be looking out for Tiger's Voyage. I highly recommend reading Tiger's Curse but I caution you with Tiger's Quest just because I feel like it wasn't as good but is still essential to read in order to get and understand the whole series.