Book Review: The Raven Boys

 

The Raven boys (Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

Release Date: September 18th, 2012

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Format of Novel: Paperback

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary (from good reads): Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

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At first, I didn't plan on starting this series until all of the books came out. But, I decided to give this series a chance and I'm happy that I did. This series is so much better compare to her wolf series (and yeah, this is coming from someone that loves wolves with a fiery passion). The writing style was beautiful and the cast of characters were unexpected and fresh to my crazed mind. The twists and turns between the new group of friends were never ending and that really got me to fan girl loudly while in my room. The relations between the 'raven boys' were really interesting. I loved Ronan with his tough guy act and his unique ability (which is more revealed in the sequel), Adam's yearning for independence and love, and Gansey.. Oh Gansey, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He's been trying so hard to help his friends out while looking for this mystical ruin and the Raven King.

Blue Sargent was a very nice touch as a female protagonist. I thought she was going to be a weaker character, but I was completely wrong. I like how she doesn't have a crazy ability about her, but yet she still maintain a strong will to keep going and have a stubbornness to her that literally shines like the boys do in the series. The cast of characters were a wonderful bunch all together and I wanted so much more from them.

But, what really brought my attention to this book was the word flow and the power of Maggie's writing style. It's just so freakin' beautiful and lyrical. Her writing literally pulls you right in for an all-nighter and it's so realistic that you feel like you're a character in the book. She makes her words similar to classic literature we're force to read in class, but she makes it fun.

All in all, I found this story compelling and breathtaking. Everything about this book was original and whimsical with the word flow. The series is worth reading if you enjoy the mystery and an odd bunch of people banding together to uncover those mysteries of the Raven King.

What were your thoughts about this book? Tell me in the comments below and I'll be back with another post tomorrow. Happy Howling!

Book Review: Nirvana

Nirvana: Written by J.R Stewart

Release date: November 10th, 2015

Publisher: Blue Moon Voices/Publishers

Format of Novel: ARC from netgalley/Nook

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary (from Net galley): When the real world is emptied of all that you love, how can you keep yourself from dependence on the virtual?

Larissa lives in a world where the real and the virtual intermingle. After the supposed death of her soul mate, Andrew, Larissa is able to find solace by escaping to Nirvana, a virtual world where anything is possible – even visits with Andrew. Although Larissa knows that these meetings are not real, she cannot shake her suspicion that Andrew is indeed alive. When she begins an investigation of the Hexagon, the very institution that she has been taught to trust, Larissa uncovers much more than she ever expected. Her biggest challenge, however, remains determining what is real – and what is virtual.

(I received this arc on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

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Hey fellow wolves, I'm back! So wanna hear my lame excuse for not reviewing before we start?.. No.. (it involves work..) Okay. Let's get started. Nirvana by J.R Stewart was a book that I never lean towards because of the sci-fi elements. Normally, I'll read sci-fi books if it has another significant genre to it, but not when its alone. I'm not a fan of it, but I try to get into them. Unfortunately, this is not one of those books that will spark a love of the genre for me. Especially if it takes me almost three months to finish...

While this book shows promise because of the idea of the Nirvana's virtual world, the overall execution was lacking in my opinion. The characters were at a stand point, which annoyed me. I didn't enjoy them, but yet I was pulled into them because of Nirvana and how Larissa was going to find her soulmate Andrew. Sreg was someone I enjoyed the most out of the rest of them because he had a development that stood out more than Larissa's or the other characters. I felt sorry for him in certain parts, but like the others, I almost lost interest in him in the middle.

The major problem I had with this book was the plot. I wanted it to have more drama, more action from Larissa and the 'antagonists', but I almost didn't finish the book because I got so bored with it. I wanted more and perhaps the next two books will develop further on, but this book had the debut blues where the idea was fantastic, but lacking in character development and plot growth.

Overall, I gave this book 3 stars on good reads because of the concept and the potentinal I see growing when the other books come out. If you are a fan of virtual worlds in books, then I recommend this to you. If not, then try something new like I did and read it for fun. Happy Howling guys, I'll be back with another review for you tomorrow.

Book Review: Fairest

Fairest (TLC #3.5) written by Marissa Meyer

Release Date: January 27th, 2015

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Format of Novel: Nook

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (From good reads): In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

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(Warning, minor spoilers in this review)

Okay, so I guess I did spoil myself in some way for this wonderful series, but you know what, I don't care. I wanted to learn about Queen Levana's past, and holy crow I was not disappointed when it came to her character and story. Upon reading this book, I really started to feel horrible for Levana and the people around her like little Winter. With the treatment she kept receiving from her sister and others when it came to her looks/attitude, its no wonder she grew up to be the way she is portrayed in the series. She grew up emotionally alone,cold-hearted, very shallow, but still attempted to be 'human' enough to embrace love for her new family and her niece once her sister died from the disease that is constantly mentioned in the main series. She was almost like a tragic hero with the way she was able to keep her word in advancing her country's overall growth and try to maintain a sense of humanity in her to keep her happiness around.

The other characters were a nice touch as well. Each of them had their own individuality that shined within the content, and they didn't become little shadows within the story like you normally see happening with minor characters in books. I sort of enjoyed seeing Levana's sister in action and understanding that she wasn't meant to be a ruler. However, I feel that she began to grow slowly once she gave birth to Cinder and she wasn't given a full chance to have a internal battle with her younger sister for the crown. It would've brought out more action and bitterness to get Levana to rampage on her quest for power. It was interesting to see the development of Levana's psychological mindset going downhill once she was able to achieve her goals, and I applauded a little when she did 'win' her inner peace.

However, I felt that once she 'snapped' per say, things were ehh at the end. I mean yeah, she ended up getting everything she desired, but at what true cost? More jealously and fear over her niece and step-daughter's deceased mother's internal beauty? More angst over the fact her husband couldn't love her like she really wanted? I don't know. I just felt that I couldn't really feel the dramatic impulses Levana had while enduring the journey of ruler because I already knew that she was going to be a crazy ruler. And with Meyer's writing style, it felt more like she wasn't allowing us to visualize Levana's downfall, just the major events that were occurring around her; while saving the world of the Lunars for the final book.

All in all though, I did like this book along with the other books I've read from Marissa Meyer. The concept was really strong, the other characters were fresh and stuck to the 'fairy tale' aspect to their roles, and Levana's character is more relatable rather than a giant bitch with a power to hide within her shallow beauty. The writing was well done minus the fact I did lose focus on the visuals of some events. I am going to continue this series by reading the shorts and Cress so I can caught up in time to read the last installment of the Lunar Chronicles with everyone.

Tell me your thoughts of Fairest and Marissa Meyer's other books in general down in the comments below and I'll see you guys tomorrow with another post. Happy Howling!

Book Review: Twixt

Twixt written by Sarah Diemer

Release date: April 16th, 2013 (first published on April 1st, 2013)

Publisher: Self published/Indie

Format of Novel: E-book

Rating: 4.5 out of five stars

Summary (from good reads):

You wake upon the cold ground. As you struggle to rise, as your breath exhales like a ghost, you know only two things: You can’t remember who you are. And you’re being hunted.

No one sleeps in Abeo City. The lost souls gather indoors at night as Snatchers tear through the sky on black-feathered wings, stalking them. But inside the rotting walls of the Safe Houses comes a quieter, creeping danger. The people of Abeo City have forgotten their pasts, and they can trade locks of their hair to sinister women known only as the Sixers for an addictive drug. Nox will give you back a single memory--for a price.

Like the other lost souls, Lottie wakens in this harsh landscape and runs in terror from the Snatchers. But she soon comes to realize that she is not at all like the people of Abeo City. When she takes Nox, her memories remain a mystery, and the monsters who fill the sky at night refuse to snatch her. Trying to understand who she is, and how she ended up in such a hopeless place, Lottie bands together with other outcasts, including a brave and lovely girl named Charlie. In the darkness, and despite the threat of a monstrous end, love begins to grow. But as Lottie and Charlie plot their escape from Abeo City, Lottie’s dark secrets begin to surface, along with the disturbing truth about Twixt: a truth that could cost her everything.

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I've always wanted to read this book, but never could till I finally downloaded it on my nook during the holidays. What got me attached to the story was the plot. As soon you read it, you just feel the chills riding down your spine. Right away, us as the readers get to witness the protagonist waking up in this unknown yet increasingly dark world, filled with mysterious creatures known as the 'snatchers'. Once she arrives at the lone city of Abeo within the world of Twixt, she gets to meets all these new people who are just like her. Alone and without their memories.

I enjoyed the overall concept of the world building, the Sixers, and the snatchers. They brought the creepiness into the plot and I was excited to keep on going with the book. Another thing that I found interesting was Nox. Its this very powerful drug that allows you to see a single memory if you give up a lock of hair. I found this idea to being semi-cliché, but the overall idea seems pretty awesome as a whole.

Sarah Diemer's writing in this book was beautiful and lyrical. It had a flow that was balanced and perfect enough to grasps the eerie tone that evolve throughout the story. I also did love Lottie as a person. Her character reminded me of the main character from the Maze Runners series. Both become overly curious about their past and their surroundings, and apparently putting their new friends in massive amounts of danger. Plus the romance she developed with Charlie is so freaking adorable! (Yes this story is part of the LBGT romance concept). Speaking of Charlie, oh she was a fantastic bonus to the story. She had that 'kick-ass' heroine in her, but unlike a lot of female heroes, she did have a certain venerability that makes you relate to her even more. (Minus the fact she has no memory of her past).

I really wish I can spoil every detail of this wonderful story, but I cannot. Its fast paced, the characters are realistic and the world of Twixt is wonderfully creepy, especially for the upcoming Halloween season.

Book Review: The Murder Complex

The Murder Complex: Written by Lindsey Cummings
Release Date: June 10th, 2014
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Format of Novel: Nook
Summary (From goodreads): Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?
Rating: 4.2/5 stars on good reads

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Normally I would post the cover on here, but the website or my mother's laptop is being odd so this blog is the first without a photo. Sorry in advance! I also know that I haven't been around to post reviews, work have been confusing and I got suck into the writing world for a few days. Now on to the review. The Murder Complex was fast paced, especially when I read it for the booktube-a-thon. I enjoyed the idea Lindsey Cummings came up with in terms of the world building and sci-fi elements that adapted into Meadow and Zephyr's world. The characters Meadow and Zephyr were pretty cool, but in a dystopian novel, they seemed pretty typical. Almost like in my eyes, Day and June from the Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu with Meadow being the trained assassin and Day being the 'rebel' so to speak.

The twists Lindsey had in the first book were somewhat predicable if you close read it in a way, but I enjoyed them. They were fitting for the corrupted world in the novel and executed very well. I also enjoyed the pacing considering that the chapters between the two narrators were very short. It was balanced and not really annoying to the point you just wanted to kick someone in the face. It matched the tone of the story and the action scenes that went on throughout the story.

This story was an interesting read overall, but it wasn't my top favorites of this year. Only because I felt it being very similar to the Legend trilogy (minus the world setting of the story). I will be continuing the series when I can, but this author is a sweet woman and her you tube video are hilarious if you are looking for something to watch when sitting around. Check out this book if you are just beginning to jump on the dystopian train. Happy howling everyone!

Book Review: Crown of Midnight

Crown of Midnight (TOG#2) written by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: August 27th, 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Format of Novel: Hardcover

Summary (from good reads): From the Throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron & a sol as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closet relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances--not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then on terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her & decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie.. and whom she is ultimately willingly to fight for.

(Minor spoilers in this review)

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Crown of Midnight started a little after the events of Throne of Glass with Celaena becoming the champion and carrying on her majesty's role to kill upon command. Let me tell you, I was in love with this book just like the first book and the prequel bind up "Assassin Blade" with all of the action packed fights, the growing characters, and the mystery of the far lore. The story was in my opinion the actual start of this epic six book series. The first book felt more like an intro novel by revealing the important players and the concept of the world Sarah J. Maas created for her debut.

 With this book, it was more plot driven with new mysteries and growing development. I was happily cheering when Celaena and Chaol got together. I thought their romance was sweet while it lasted and when the big climax moment happened, I was heartbroken. I was hoping that they would have a long relationship, but maybe they will reunite as mates in the next few books. The fact that we see Celaena becoming more vulnerable with her new friends, it was clear to see that she was human too instead of some powerful assassin that Maas portrays her to be throughout the book.


The other parts with Dorian and the witches were also a nice touch. I really wish I can say more about it, but I don't want to spoiler so much of this wonderful book. Especially the ending, it was a 'holy shit' moment, but it was a little noticeable if you do some close reading. Above all, this book was great just like the first one. Sarah J. Maas did a fantastic job in blending everything together and getting the ball rolling for the plot to thicken for Heir of Fire.

Book Review: Forsaken Dreamscape

Forsaken Dreamscape (Nevermor #2) by Lani Lenore
Release Date:
Publisher:
Format of Novel:
Summary (from goodreads): Four years have passed since Wren left Nevermor – since Rifter promised that he wouldn’t forget her. Now 19, Wren is shut away in an asylum, accused of madness and of murders she didn’t commit. When Rifter finally comes for her, it is not a moment too soon, and in her absence, Nevermor has changed. Under a cloud of mysterious darkness, the land has died.

At Rifter's request, Wren sets out across the broken world to gather the Wolf Pack, now separated, so that they might take back the land that is rightfully theirs. Out of love and trust, Wren agrees, but she finds out quickly that things are not all as they seem, and everyone has a different story to tell.

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Forsaken Dreamscape is the sequel to Nevermor. Taking place four years after the events, the reader gets to witness Wren returning to Nevemor to find that the world she once knew is corrupted and the Wolf Pack have separated. This book was an wonderful read much like the first book. I droved right in this and I wasn't disappointed. I loved how Lani allowed the wolf pack to become somewhat corrupted with the vast lands of Nevemor, they grew up into young adults like Wren. Each of them were darker, yet still maintained some of their 'child-like' mannerism. I fell in love with Nix even more than I did with the first book. The way he acts is in the middle of tragic and yet holds on to that crazy loyalty people don't see everyday. Rifter and others have changed as well, but I'm not going to spoil the good stuff for you all. However, I can say they changed in a twisted way in order to maintain the 'horror' elements within the novel.

Wren in my opinion has changed in a semi-positive way. She still was too naïve and too 'innocent' to grasp the larger picture, but she somehow became the 'heart' of the group by attempting to bring her family back together and save their homeland. Hopefully in the last book, she will become stronger for everyone around her.

Overall, the concept of the story was fantastic. Each of the major characters were more developed as the story went on, and the plot kept on thicken yet still stuck into to the original concept of the "Peter Pan" ordeal. This story was a wonderful and I can't wait for the final book, Shadow Sun!

Of Romantic Italians and Time Rivers

It's my birthday! Woo I'm feeling 22.. (plays Taylor Swift's song lol). So today I turn twenty two and to celebrate I decided to blog or simply praise the writing spirits about this amazing trilogy I found a while ago and still re-read like it was the Harry Potter series. So here it is everyone!

The HourGlass Door/The Golden Spiral/The Forgotten Locket

Series: Hourglass Door #1-3

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Publication dates: May 13th, 2009/May 10th, 2010/May 30th, 2011

Format of Book(s): Paperback/Hardcover/Paperback

This trilogy changed me like you wouldn't believe. I mean, a lot you probably get what I'm saying if you're a avid reader, but this trilogy was my god's send since the end of my high school career. I can't even say that Twilight or Harry Potter involved my love for reading because that would be a big bullshit-er of a lie. This trilogy holds my heart with a chain and I'm glad it does till this day. The story back in '09  was compare to the Twilight series, but it's not that series. This trilogy is about the timelines, Leonardo da Vinci's most powerful invention- the time machine. The prolonging love between Dante and Beatrice in a modern twist, and the concept of romance, fantasy, and somewhat historical content.

Every time I glance at the three books on my shelves, the memories of this beautifully written trilogy comes back to me and I just grin every chance I get. I mean, sure there's similar stuff to the twilight series, but unlike Bella, at least Abby gets up to fight instead of giving everyone the awkward duck face. Dante Alexander is one of my favorite male characters of all time, he's so sweet and caring, yet harbors in the secrets of his past and the infinite realms from the river.

I hate how this is one of the most underrated books out there in the book community. It deserves so much respect and readers that can enjoy a good adventure/romance with interesting characters. If anyone finds this trilogy, I highly suggest you read it. It may not be for everyone, but its a great read that will get you wrapped into the words and the world within the content. I hope you all have a wonderful day and see you next time. Happy Howling.

Book Review: Nevermor

Nevermor (Nevermor #1) written by: Lani Lenore
Release Date: February 12th, 2013
Publisher: Self Published/Createspace
Format of Novel: Paperback

Summary (From Goodreads): LONDON, 1873 - In the foggy city, polluted by coal smoke from the factories along the river, 15-year-old Wren is clinging to a small thread of hope: the shimmering silver dream of a better life.
Wren and her brothers, Henry and Max, are orphans. They wish to be adopted, but no one wants to take in all three of them. Wren won’t be separated from her family, but no matter how hard she fights to keep them together, she fears she will lose them nonetheless.
She wants more for both of them - for herself. She wants an escape.
Prompted by a world she sees in a dream, Wren begins to tell her brothers stories of a place where they can be carefree forever - a place called Nevermor. It is an island at the edge of the universe, where all dreams go. There is a boy who guards it, and he is known only as the Rifter. Wren believes that this place truly exists and desires her own life there, where she can keep her family together without anyone tearing them apart.
Wren gets more than she bargained for when she is kidnapped by the arrogant and volatile Rifter and taken to Nevermor against her will. It is not completely unwelcome, however. The land is beautiful and there is freedom. The Rifter and his pack of wild boys accept her, and she feels that her brothers will be happy in this place too. 
Wren falls in love with Nevermor - and with the Rifter - and yet the more she learns of the conflict between the Rifter and a wicked man called the Scourge, the more she comes to realize that Nevermor is not a place for children.
Nevermor is a dark fantasy based on the legend of Peter Pan.

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So, this book is the first ever Peter Pan re-telling that I've ever read. (I know, I'm crazy for admitting that). I was in absolute love for this book. This book was written as a prequel to a Peter Pan fan fic on fictionpress by the author. She did a fantastic job in creating a new twist into the older story and making it her own. The characters were a wonderful bunch, matching their original counterparts, but maintaining a twist of their own. I especially enjoyed the Lost boys, each of them had their own originality  The atmosphere of Nevermor was haunting and vivid. It was beautiful yet it didn't completely held a 'child-like' feel to it, which in my personal opinion, was awesome since this was based on an horror element. I loved Rifer and the mystery between him and the Scourge. They were both compelling and I kept picturing the Scourge as a mirror image of Rifer until he really appeared later on in the book.

The writing was beautiful. It felt like I was inside a fairy tale with how balance the pace was throughout the chapters. Sure there were a few parts that were slow for my taste, but this story overall was phenomenal and one of my most favorite books of 2015 thus far. Considering that this is the first book to a trilogy, I cannot spoil much for you guys until I review the second book, Forsaken Dreams.

On good reads, I gave this a 4.5 out of 5 stars, and for a self published novel, it was a nice read. I highly recommend it for people that enjoy Peter Pan and a horror twist in their stories. See you guys next time with the sequel of this trilogy and new reviews in the near future.

Happy Howling.

Book Review: The Nutcracker Bleeds

The Nutcracker Bleeds written by: Lani Lenore
Release date: December 3rd, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published/Smash words website
Format of Book: Paperback
Summary (From goodreads): A horrific retelling of the classic Nutcracker story. On Christmas Eve in 1905, a household in London finds itself under a centuries-old curse when a strange new toy is brought into the house.

A young nanny named Anne is immersed in the horrific world of her unstable charge, Olivia, when a bite from a mouse makes her the size of a doll. She must brave a world of mangled and demented toys that have come to life. Each has his own vendetta- the most unrelenting of which is the mysterious and handsomely-carved nutcracker, who becomes Anne's only sane ally.

There is war in the lower levels of the house between the rodents and the toys, yet Anne's only concern is getting Olivia and herself back to the way they once were before it is too late for either of them.
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Words cannot expressed how much I loved reading this stand alone. Most of this review will most likely be me fan-girling up a storm. But, I will try to keep this in a semi-professional level lol. So this book is more or less a re-telling of the story Nutcracker. I'm pretty sure some of you have heard of the ballet before and seen Christmas specials based on this story. However, I have never been to New York City long enough to watch it and when I'd heard of this writer on fiction press that wrote a horror version of this, I've decided to buy this book. (Along with the first two books to her Peter Pan retelling trilogy).

Upon reading this, I never wanted to leave the fairy tale. Lani Lenore did a fantastic job with bringing this world to life with the characters and the plot in general. I've never seen the famous ballet, but now I just want to go to NYC and just to see it for myself. I loved how twisted and diabolical many of the characters were throughout the adventure, especially the rats and the humans like Todd and Olivia's father. Anne, one of the leading protagonists, brought out the 'real-life' ideal into the Nutcracker's world since 90% of the time I almost forgot about that many of the enemy forces and Armand were toys. She was young, yet became quickly adapted in both Olivia's world and the curse. From that, the author was able to blend into the 'adult' themes into this and made the story so gruesome and ironic in a sense that I thought it was beautifully written. I say the word ironic because the author was able to make the toy/rat characters more humane than toys. Plus, the aftermath of the story completely brought out that sense of irony into it and other things that I don't want to spoil you all with right now.

Overall, this story was fantastic and you can read it anytime, especially during the holidays or Halloween if you celebrate it. Pick up this book if you are in a need of a tale like the Nutcracker. Happy Howling!

Book Review: Sapphique

Sapphique (Incarceron #2) written by: Catherine Fisher
Release date: September 18th, 2008
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Format of book: Paperback
Summary (from Good Reads): Finn has escaped from the terrible living Prison of Incarceron, but its memory torments him, because his brother Keiro is still inside. Outside, Claudia insists he must be king, but he doubts even his own identity. Is he the lost prince Giles? Or are his memories no more than another construct of his imprisonment?

(Possible spoilers from the first book)

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This book was the dramatic conclusion to the infamous duology, Incarceron. Compare to the first book, I felt that this book was a 50/50 thing when it came to everything. The plot of the story began a few months after Finn escape from the hell hole. You got different things going on with various point of views, which allows us as the reader to see the variety of the aftermath and the new mysteries.

I wasn't a huge fan of this book because it felt dry in certain parts. The characters didn't develop any further as I would normally see when reading trilogies, but the second book to the duology in my opinion didn't leave a fantastic conclusion. However, I did enjoy some parts of the story with the different point of views. It was nice to see the different angles of the focused characters and it was a nice touch to the book. I especially that I liked the scenes with Attia, she developed a lot more than Claudia did. But, considering this was about Finn's story, I felt that Fisher could've used Attia and Keiro's adventure in another book. Keiro was a great choice to tag along with Attia.

I wanted to embrace more of Finn and I didn't think we didn't get that with this book. Sure, he had to prove that he was indeed the long-lost prince, but given his amazing ability to tell stories and his tricks he learned from his oath-brother. Maybe it was an odd mystery of falsehood and political secrets, but since this duology is based on Finn and the journey he was forced to embark on to escape from the prison, we'll never know. (Unless, we re-read it ten times or are really into political undertones in books).

With the twist about Jared, it wasn't as dramatic as I wanted too. But, I liked it overall. The other characters were somewhat annoying as well, especially Claudia, Casper, and the fake Giles. (Burn them with fire). I almost didn't finish the book when I had to read scenes involving them. I just wanted to throw my book at the wall. Although, if it was for the vivid descriptions of this world and the scenes with Attia and Keiro; then we wouldn't be having this review today.

All-in-all, this duology was decent, the political system in the prison was well written. The characters were cool, but I wish that they developed more in my perspective. And the adventures were a great thing to read about.

What about you guys? Did you enjoy this duology? Let me know in the comments below and I'll be back with another post tomorrow. Happy Howling!







Book Review: Incarceron

Incarceron Written by: Catherine Fisher
Release date: May 3rd, 2007
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Format of book: Paperback
Summary (from Good Reads): Incarceron-- a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology-- a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, a typical medieval torture chamber-- chains, great halls, dungeons. A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here. In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison-- a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists. But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device-- a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn's escape is born..

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If you want to experience a odd mixture of steam punk, fantasy, and sci-fi, then pick up this duology. This book was a beautiful read. The world was wonderfully crafted and the characters were strong with each of them holding onto their own personalities that shinned throughout the book. Like the Trylle Trilogy, Fisher's duology developed an unique political element and the prison being a living thing is original and haunting to the reader's eyes.

 

The characters Catherine Fisher created were the ones that kept you on the edge of your feet. You got Finn's amnesia and 'visions', which makes him a iffy characters because of his ability of story telling. You got Keiro being the A-Game thief and fighter, then you got Attia, the mysterious girl. And finally, Claudia, a spoiled princess on the quest to discover the truth with the limited sources she is provided in the 'real' world. All of these characters bring the story to life with the constant drama and emotional pulls between them, and it made me wanted to jump right into the next book. Although, out of all of the characters, I fell in love with Jared the most. He is so cute and helpful with his vast intelligence of the prison and the shadowy Sapphique (the one that got away from the prison). In a personal opinion, I think he also holds a certain mysterious within him and that's why the warden kept him in the palace for so long.

 

Catherine Fisher's concept with the prison was amazing. The descriptions were so vivid that you were able to picture yourself being within the walls of the prison itself. It's so cool to see how the prison itself was a character of its own and it brought out the suspense element into the story.

 

Overall, this story is an fantastic read and if you are fan of the elements I've mentioned, definitely pick up this book. I'll see you all again with another post.

 

 Happy Howling.



Book Review: Ascend

Ascend (a Trylle Novel) written by: Amanda Hocking
Release Date: April 24th, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format of Book: Paperback (bind up of trilogy)
Summary (From Goodreads): Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself. If she doesn't surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe. But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind.. even if it's the only way to save them?

The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn't the only thing she stands to loose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she's about to make the ultimate choice.. who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life-- and now all their lives might be coming to an end.

Everything has been leading to this moment. The future of her entire world rests in her hands--- if she's ready to fight for it.

(This review has spoilers, please don't read if you haven't read the trilogy). *Apologizes for posting a day late*

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Out of all of the books, I found Ascend to be the best one out of the entire Trylle Trilogy. Compare to the other books, this one had given me what I was looking with the dramatic standpoints and the fights. It matched the fast pacing in the wording and I was glad to read it to the very end. Wendy finally grew up to be a respectable queen and it was amazing to see how much effort she had to pull in order to achieve peace. The other characters involved in a good pace as well, though I kept questioning about what happened to Rhys because he appeared in a couple of chapters and then he suddenly went poof. I love Rhys as a character so I was a little bitter about it when I couldn't find him anywhere else in the book. I mean, maybe I missed him when I was reading, but I'm not so sure.

The fight between Wendy and her father was very quick yet it was the 'big' moment for Wendy because she ended up evolving into the proper queen she was suppose to become at the end. Though at the same time, I really wanted to see more of the fight, I felt that it was rushed and a little weak. Maybe its because I'm use to reading prolonged battles from manga and other fantasy series, but in a personal opinion, this fight was meyhh yet important to Wendy's character development.

I really enjoyed how most of the major characters were able to get a 'happy' ending so to speak. Everyone was able to find that inner peace and they began the build up for a better future and in Hocking's new trilogy "Kanin Chronicles", readers will be able to see the 'new world' that Wendy and her friends are re-building. I'm not sure if I'm going to read that particular series, but maybe in the near future I will.

Overall, this trilogy was pretty good, it was unique and very fast pace. The character each had their own personalities to make them lively and original, and the concept of the trolls was cool as well. If you want to read about something completely different in terms of fantastical creatures, read this trilogy. See you guys next time for another book review and more.

Happy Howling everyone.



Book Review: Torn

Torn (a Trylle Novel) written by: Amanda Hocking
Release Date: February 28th, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format of Book: Paperback (bind up of trilogy)
Summary (From Goodreads): When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself-- that she's a changeling switched at birth-- she knows her life will never be the same. Now she's about to learn that there's more to the story..

She shares a closer connection to her Vitta rivals than she ever imagined-- and they'll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers-- and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who's strictly off limits.. and Loki, a Vitta prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she's ever wanted.. in both worlds.
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(This contains a few spoilers for those who haven't read 'Switched'.)

This is the second book to the Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking and unlike the other one, I really enjoyed Torn. The book was fast-paced like the first one and I loved how the characters were shining more in their personalities and growth. It helped me developed the patience to keep going with the story. At this time, I'm just about to finish with the final and I'm glad that Hocking managed to build up more of the political aspect in her world building.

Now with Loki, I liked how there was a twist with his character development and that he's trying to prove his worth to be with Wendy, but of course you gotta have the little mystery to the new love interest. It's almost like he was the guy version of Wendy, which was weird, but okay in a way. And with Tove? I sort of already figured out he was gay, but he's such a sweetheart. I wanted to hug him. I'm glad he's willingly to help Wendy out and protect the people he loves, but I hope he finds his true love someday. I'm also very happy that Matt is now part of the journey with Wendy, he is such a perfect big brother. I can't wait to see more of him in the next book.

What I didn't like was how Finn and Wendy's relationship developed throughout this book. It almost mirrored her biological parents' relationship, but at the same time, with the world's political rules that separates them for being a couple, it made it difficult for me to feel sympathy towards them. I just wish there was more development in Finn's character to see if he is going end up with Wendy or not, or at least, fight for her in the right way.

Speaking of Wendy's biological parents, I really disliked how it was predictable to see Wendy's father being the Vitta King. I think in my own personal idea, I would've wanted the Vitta king to be someone like the Chancellor since he's obsessed with Wendy in a sexual way, but I guess this idea was pretty cool. Queen Elora is starting to grow on me, I felt bad for her and the life she had endured before she gave birth to Wendy. It shows that she had potential to become a great mother if her 'husband' didn't want to kill her and she didn't have to dealt with the switched rule for the babies.

On good reads, I gave this book a 3.5 star rating out of five (even though it says 4 stars). It was a good continuation of the trilogy, just wish there was more action instead of training and weird ass romantic attempts on Wendy, and that the 'twists' were more 'holy shit' than 'ohh okay' moments. Hopefully in the last book, things will more dramatic and action-packed. Overall, Amanda Hocking really gave the title name 'Torn' light in her story. I will be back on Saturday with the review for the last book of the Trylle Trilogy. I will be going all out with spoilers and my overall opinion in the trilogy. So if you don't want to be spoiled on the book, please read the trilogy first.

Happy Howling.

Book Review: Switched

Switched (a Trylle novel): written by Amanda Hocking
Released date: January 1st, 2010 (self published in E-book)/January 3rd, 2012 (Official book form)
Publisher: St. Martin Griffin
Format of Book: Paperback (bind up of the trilogy)
Summary (from good reads): When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed- and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.. (First book to the Trylle trilogy)
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*I apologize if I'm out of practice with the reviews for a little bit, but I just got home from college so I'll get back in the full swing of things within a couple of days.*

So Switched in my personal opinion was an okay novel. It definitely presented itself as a build-up novel for the trilogy, which is fine by me, but as someone that just finished finals- I was impatient. The story itself was pretty cool in terms of the idea of it. I mean, I rarely see young adult stories about trolls other than Tolkin and J.K Rowling's stories, and I thought her using that concept was pretty cool. It was an original idea and Hocking has my respect for that, but I felt that the characters were a bit dry and no one was really progressing until the very end. Then again, this is a beginning novel for the trilogy, so Hocking did a good job keeping an open door for the characters to grow even more.

I did like how Finn and Wendy were progressing once they got to Trylle. They kept that weird humane emotion alive despite the fact Wendy's mother Queen Elora was a royal bitch for the majority of the book and the other characters were here and there during the lighter scenes. All of the characters had different personalities that blended with one another, keeping them fresh and have room to develop in the next two books.

The pacing kept me going for the book because I wanted to see more action from the characters and the changes within the political system. The political system in the Trylle world was interesting and I felt that it was the star point of the story, considering Wendy ends up going from normal teenage girl to future queen. I'm not one to enjoy these sort of things, but I still want to see what happens and how Wendy will change the system once she does become queen. The wording was also very simple and clear enough for me to keep going to read more about Wendy's adventure in this new land.

Overall, Switched isn't so bad, but its slow for a beginning novel to the trilogy in my personal opinion. I am going to read the rest of Wendy's story to see how everything turns out. But, I felt that this novel could've have a little more drama into it other than a bitchy mother and an over protective foster brother. I would also love to see Finn have an sudden ability, but maybe it will happen, maybe not. Who knows.

Happy Howling everyone.

Book Review: A Monster Calls

A Monster Calls: written by Patrick Ness, inspired by Siobhan Dowd, and illustrated by Jim Kay

Release date: September 27th, 2011

Publisher: Walker Books

Format of Novel: Hardcover (Library book, thank you college!)

Summary (From good reads): The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth

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You never know what a short novel can do to you unless you read it completely. As I write this to you, it would be only two days since I've read this beautiful book and I could NOT sit here and review it personally for you guys. This story, oh this story, it ripped my heart out with feels. The story was short and direct, the protagonist Conor, such a heart breaking kid considering what he was going through during this short novel, and the concept of the monster was simply beautiful to the core!

The story itself was about Conor, who is thirteen and living with his mother who is dying of cancer. During the struggles, he faces bullying, his hidden anger about his mother's illness, and the monster who has the shape of a giant tree who is also a odd story teller. Personally, I think that this was really cool having the monster tell Conor stories to teach him difficult lessons that would had be use in reality and the concept of the story as a whole was really heart-breaking and yet necessary for a coming of age story. Plus as a bonus, this story takes place in Ireland, which was a nice surprise in my opinion because of a lot of the stories I've been reading lately takes place in America or fictional worlds.

What I really liked about the story is the fact you as the reader are able to feel the emotions the monster wanted Conor to feel and to learn how to let go and move on. The story's moral was very deep and emotionally powerful enough to teach readers the stresses of overcoming a love one's death and with Conor, the author did a terrific job of doing that. I highly recommend this story and the pictures so you can capture the emotions of this novel.

Happy Howling.

I really recommend this novel

Book Review: Maze Runner series

The Maze Runner Series: Written by James Dashner
Release Date: October 6, 2009 (when the series began)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format of Novels: Paper back.
(Sorry for the no formal summary, I am doing the review on the entire series, not just this book. The website is being stupid so I couldn't post my box set of this series.)

Book order: "Maze Runner", "Scotch Trials", "Death Cure" and the prequel "Kill Order".
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I'm sure you guys had seen this series before if you are ahead of the reading world, but if you are like me and didn't find out about this series till recently-- then I welcome you to this review. So over the summer I had stumble upon this series and decided to get the box set for it. And after reading the four books in a single month, let me tell you-- what a quick ass read for all four of the books! I mean, other than the 'mystery' tone and the fast pace of the stories itself, I did enjoy the plot and a couple of the characters. (-pets Thomas and Newt's heads silently-). The story is literally about a young man name Thomas who has zero memory about his pervious life other than his name waking up on a elevator that leads to the maze and a group of weird dudes who built a life for themselves after going through the same process as him. Things are weird, confusing, and funny. The only thing that caught my attention was how the entire trilogy was based off a science experiment to fight off against this disease called the flare. Normally I'm not a fan of science fiction, but I enjoyed the suspense was nice and the characters were humorous. The only issues I had with the entire trilogy was how most of the characters were very bland while imaging them, the plot was to dry as well. I really wish Dashner added more to the series as whole because if it turned out the like the movie did, then readers would've been so much happier.

The prequel was different however, I read it first before I read the trilogy. I know what your thinking, what the heck right? Well my answer to you is that I rather read the prequels before the main series at times, especially if it is only one prequel novel.. The 'Kill Order' is takes place thirteen years before the trilogy starts. It follows a whole new set of characters like Mark, Trina, and DeeDee and how they are in the beginning stages of the flare disaster after it destroys the majority of the planet. To me personally, this story was a lot more exciting than the 'Maze Runner'. Like the trilogy, I did have the issue plot wise. I felt as so Dashner needed to make the plot twists more dramatic, and he should've focused on the point of view. Instead of focusing on just Mark (who was one of my favorites), he could've focused on the other characters, it would've given us readers a better view of what's going on in the story and see how the impact of the other major characters.

Above all, I found this series to be a decent one. It was fun to read it during these stressful times at school and I really loved watching the movie as well. Sure it wasn't one of my favorite series, but the good part of it all was the characters and man the boys are funny as hell. Gotta go for now, I'll be back to discuss NaNoWriMo and give you all more reviews.

Happy Howling fellow wolves!

Things to come in October

Hey guys, I'm here to give you a heads up about what's to come in the month of October on my end since I didn't have enough time this month to give you all book reviews and writing updates. I feel like I should explain myself to you guys so I won't feel so guilty about it and that you can keep up to date on everything, including future posts on watt pad ;P.

~I have actually submitted some poems to my school's literary magazine

~Book reviews are going to be posted on Thursdays and Saturdays only. I have four classes on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays so I need time to focus on school. I've also joined in sparring time with my friends and creative writing club to improve my writing. So yeah, basically I needed the realistic balance in life so I didn't go bananas when school started.

~I will begin posting some stuff on watt pad and returning to read other writers' material during the middle of the month. I realize that I've been really neglectful towards my duties as both a reader and writer and I want to make sure I end 2014 with a bang by keeping up with everything. However, since I'll be working on NaNoWriMo and my classes, I just hope I can find a balance for this mission of mine. Not just for you guys, but for myself as well.

~I will be posting all things writing related in another blog called xKacooleyxJournals (and yes its on here too, I will provide the link for it on Saturday.) This idea came to me after realizing that I needed a way to stick to back into the writing business. .-. With this blog, I will be posting all of my stories' process and announce updates for them instead on here. This blog is for book reviews and nerdly things :P hehe.

So yep, here are the ideas I have in my world! I hope you guys are doing well and can't wait to get this journey started.

Till next time, happy howling!

Book Review: The Restless Dead

The Restless Dead (Ten Original stories of the Supernatural): Written by M.T Anderson, Holly Black, Kelly Link, Libba Bray, Herbie Brennan, Nancy Etchemendy, Annette Curtis Klause, Deborah Noyes, Marcus Sedgwick, Chris Wooding
Release Date: July 10th, 2007
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Format of Novel: Paper back
Summary (From good reads): Enter the murky world of the undead. From a beyond-the-grave stalker to prankster devil worshippers, from a childish ghost of the future to a vampire lover with bloody ties to the past, the characters in these ten original stories will send shivers down your spine. Why do we fear the undead? Find out in this spooky companion volume to GOTHIC! TEN ORIGINAL DARK TAKES, and enjoy another graveyard walk in the company of ten contemporary masters of horror and suspense.
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I remember a few years ago that my mother gotten me this book to read. Thinking that it was a zombie book, I decided not to read it mainly because I'm not a huge fan of zombies in novels. (due to the over popularized books/shows/movies of the creature of the un dead). But since I started my job a couple of weeks ago, I decided to give a chance and man I wish I could slap my past self in the face for being stupid with books. This collection of short paranormal stories kept me on my feet and interested with each page that was turned.

The stories were a weird thing since they were pretty long. I honestly couldn't understand most of the stories that were being told, but as I gotten to the end they were about mainly ghosts, murderers, and the psychological aftermath with the families and individuals that were telling the story. Out of all stories in this book, my top favorite one was Bad Things by Libba Bray. Her story in particular was the one I was most curious about because it was about a young man and his friends trying to figure out what's causing the rise of the satanist rituals and mysterious deaths of other people. The way it was written was a page turner since it felt like you were looking at another thriller and you think that everyone was gonna die at the end, however that wasn't the case. The ending of this short story was very amazing and I was pleased with the way she wrote it as a twist.

With this book, I was pleased with the authors that wrote the ten short stories in this. I was able to understand the concept of some supernatural fiction and the methods of writing longer short stories without chapters. If you guys are aspiring paranormal writers like I am, then pick up this book to explore new authors if you haven't heard of these guys before. :)

Happy Howling!

Book Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (#1): written by Laini Taylor
Release Date: June 5th, 2012
Publisher: Little, little brown for young readers
Format of Novel: Paper back
Summary (from good reads): ~First book to the trilogy~
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
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This book is a new trilogy I have been hearing about lately and so after getting this from Barnes and Noble about a month ago, I gave a whirl. Let me just say, holy crow! Laini Taylor is amazing! This book is so so so awesome and the world building was truly a wondrous thing to grasp. I literally finished this book within a three day span, despite the fact this book was over 60 chapters. The story itself felt like I was pulled into a fairy tale and an original one at that too.

The simple idea of having the biological and the history of chimeras is truly what sparked my interest for this story. In most young adult literature, it amazes me to see that there are barely any stories about chimeras like the ones you see in this particular novel. I mean yeah there are chimeras in some Young Adult fiction, but they are normally the smaller bad guys. In this case, I was so happy to see that these wonderful creations are both good and evil. I think that with the chimeras in the story along with the angels, it really brought out a originality that I can really grin too when reading it. So as a result to it, when I get the money to do this, I'm going to get up and get the other two books just to see what happens to Karou and Akiva.

And speaking of Karou and Akiva, man oh man did I enjoy their characters. There a balance of each other and they contained that particular curiosity and selfishness that ended up causing them the issues they were gonna face towards the end of the story. But considering that this book is the first one to the trilogy, I'm pretty sure that we are gonna see more craziness soon.

Happy Howling.