Review - Every Day

Every Day by David Levithan

Read: September 21 2013

Find it on Goodreads 

Rating: 5/5 stars






Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.


 My Review:


I loved this book. It seems to me that authors often use similar personalities for multiple characters because its easier to create a lot of them that way. David Levithan did not do this at all, for that I am grateful. Although the main character, A, kept the same personality no matter what body he was in, every body he inhabited had a clear and distinct personality. It amazed me how well this was done and I enjoyed watching A struggle to not lose himself/herself/itself(?) to the personalities of those people. I really wish more about A could have been revealed, the story intrigued me so much and I was incredibly sad to see it go. Does
Levithan want me to suffer? I really wish there were more books about A, but I guess that could take away from the magic of it.

Review - Twilight

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Read: 2011

Find it on Goodreads

Rating: 2/5 stars




Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. When she meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen--a vampire--her life takes a thrilling and terrifying romantic turn.



 My Review:



Since everyone was raving about this book by the time I read it I was expecting it to be pretty good.

IT WASN'T

I know that some people did enjoy reading it but I wasn't one of them. So if you are the type of person who doesn't think that Bella Swan was a shallow, boring and unnecessary characters you might not want to read this review.

This book would have been better without the love story. A couple of vegetarian vampires living in a world where only they don't drink human blood. A story like that has great potential, although this one did to until it was written. It got two stars because it wasn't the worst book I have ever read but I most definitely didn't enjoy it.

It wasn't for me but don't let that discourage you from reading it if you don't mind the fact that it is poorly written and has an amazingly stupid main character. I will spare you all from a long drawn out rant about Bella's love interest. He got on my nerves just about as much as Bella did, and honestly I'm not in the mood to relive this book.

Review - Indeliable

 

 Indelible by Dawn Metcalf

Read: September 2nd 2013

Find it on Goodreads

Rating: 3/5 stars










Some things are permanent.

Indelible.

And they cannot be changed back.

Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room—right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world—a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep, and a life that will never be the same.

Now, Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one—his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future...and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.

Somewhere between reality and myth lies…

THE TWIXT




 My Review:


This book was originally on my 'must-read' list but I'm afraid it just fell a little short to me.

It's incredibly hard to love a book if you don't like its main character. Joy was immensely hard for me to like, I struggled to see where she was coming from time and time again. But her reliance on others and tendency to over react just got on my nerves. However I liked her "best friend," Monica, even less. What kind of friend best or otherwise abandons you right after you've experienced a traumatic event? I hope none of my friends ever do that to me, I cant even begin to express how unfriendly I would feel towards them. It would be exceptable, I suppose, if they had a good reason for doing so. Let me just say that Monica had just about the worst reason ever, and Joy just brushed it off! Ugh!

Ink and Inq were the only reason I ended up enjoying reading this book. Their unique perspectives were intriguing. I especially liked Ink because he saw everything involving humans through fresh eyes. Unfortunately his lack of experience with humans was probably what drove him to be interested in Joy who I imagine he would have been much better without. Inq I liked a little less than Ink because of some of her strange behaviors that I didn't particularly agree with. Overall I really enjoyed their opinions and ways of seeing things.

But just please. Please let me throw something heavy at Joy. Like refrigerator heavy or so. She reminded me just a little too much of Bella Swan.

Review - Incarceron

   

 Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Read: July 25th 2012

Find it on Goodreads

Rating: 4.5/5 stars









Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells and corridors, but metal forests, dilapidated cities, and wilderness. It has been sealed for centuries, and only one man has ever escaped. Finn has always been a prisoner here. Although he has no memory of his childhood, he is sure he came from Outside. His link to the Outside, his chance to break free, is Claudia, the warden's daughter, herself determined to escape an arranged marriage. They are up against impossible odds, but one thing looms above all: Incarceron itself is alive . . .

My Review:



Minor spoilers


  


I loved it! So very fascinating and oh so very mysterious. Incarceron is a prison that is alive with hopes and dreams of it's own. Claudia is trapped in a world where technology is illegal and she is in an arranged marriage with, Caspar, a boy who she absolutely despises. When Claudia meets Finn a boy who lives in Incarceron she is convinced that he is Giles, the Prince, who she was told had died. Finn doesn't believe much of what Claudia says, but in order to escape their own separate nightmares they join forces to help Finn and his friends escape.

I loved how Claudia had to save Finn instead of the other way around. Girl power! Yaahh! I also really enjoyed the contrast of the two character's lives. Claudia wants freedom so she doesn't have too marry Caspar, while Finn fights for freedom so he can both see the Outside and in the process save himself from what would ultimately end his life.

Some things I didn't like were:

-The Sapients who some of whom at least seemed to think they were the most important people you could find. I disliked how they were portrayed in that way when others showed more knowledge and comprehension than the all knowing Sapients did. The Sapients bothered me because it seemed knowledge, their supposed strongest feature didn't shine as brightly as some of their other traits.

-The end because the problem wasn't even close to resolved (in my opinion).

-And also I couldn't really decide if I thought Claudia was awesome or annoying which somehow bothers me.

Review/Rant - Alyzon Whitestarr

Alyzon Whitestarr by Isobelle Carmody

Read: Didn't finish

Find it on Goodreads 

Rating: 1/5 stars







Are Alyzon’s new abilities a blessing . . . or a curse?
Alyzon Whitestarr doesn't take after her musically talented father or her nocturnal, artistic mother. In fact, she’s the most normal member of a very eccentric family . . . until the day that an accident leaves her more unique than she ever could have dreamed. Suddenly colors are more vibrant to Alyzon; her memory is flawless; but strangest of all is Alyzon’s sense of smell. Her best friend smells of a comforting sea breeze. She registers her father’s contentment as the sweet scent of caramelized sugar. But why does the cutest guy in school smell so rancid?
With Alyzon’s extrasensory perception comes intrigue and danger, as she becomes aware of the dark secrets and hidden ambitions that threaten her family. In the end, being different might be less of a blessing than a curse....



My Review:

Me: Show don't tell. Show don't tell

Friends: Are you alright.

Me: Show don't tell. Show don't tell.

Friends: Uh...were the characters alright though?

Me: KILL ALYZON. KILL ALYZON. SO STUPID. MUST CLEANZE EYES WITH ACID.


So obviously I didn't like this book. The author had a really good idea going with the whole thing but it drove me crazy. I didn't even make it halfway before I decided to quit.

Some things I didn't like:

•Info dumps - the paragraphs and paragraphs of explanations drove me insane. Even what could have been good dialouge between characters turned into paragraphs and paragraphs where we were told what the characters said! To me this took away any chance there had been to properly get to know the characters.

•Alyzon - she's the typical heroine, her family is gorgeous yet somehow she looks incredibly dull and always seems to feel unappreciated. She also likes the cutest guy at school and continually ignores the many signs that say he isn't as good as he pretends to be and ignores problems in her family that quite obviously need to be addressed.

Also its weird how all of her siblings always refer to their father as "Da" even though a lot of them seem to have issues with him. It seems like they would greet him more formally if they are that annoyed with him.

What I liked:

The idea of senses becoming stronger.


Who I would recommend this book to:

Anyone who doesn't want to use their brain

Review - The Testing

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Read: June 12th 2013

Find it on Goodreads

Rating: 5/5 stars









Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.




My Review:


I received The Testing from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't entirely sure of what to think when I picked up The Testing. Now that I've finished reading it I further wonder how people can possibly enjoy The Hunger Games so much when books like this are out there.

Cia Vale, the main character of The Testing, was amazing. Not many authors seem to be capable of creating such likable characters who aren't heavily conceited or shallow and boy crazy. I always find it a relief to find a book where the romantic interest doesn't save the heroine at every turn. It makes books that could have been amazing dull when that kind of thing is always happening.

Tomas was also a likable character, despite some of his more questionable actions. I really appreciated how he didn't protect or rely on Cia too much. That kind of behavior has made me drop a book like it was on fire in the past.


I can't wait for Independent Study to come out! I just can't!!!!!

Review - Unfurl

Unfurl by Cidney Swanson

Read: January 18th 2014

Find it on Goodreads

Rating: 1/5 stars








Against all expectations, Samantha Ruiz has survived attacks by two of Helmann’s deadliest assassins. She’s alive, but she’s far from safe. Helmann is planning a second Holocaust and wants Sam to play a starring role. Will, meanwhile, separated from Sam by an ocean, seeks a way to prevent Helmann’s apocalypse. Along with Sir Walter and Mickie, Will plays a deadly game sneaking into Geneses’ facilities, discovering unsettling clues as to Helmann’s plans. The clock ticks down as Will and Sam discover just how much they must be willing to sacrifice to stop Helmann. UNFURL, the powerful conclusion to The Ripple Series, will leave fans breathless.



My Review:


*Contains minor spoilers for previous books*

 

Why did I read this? I spent .99 cents on the whole series and I wanted to see if it would redeem itself after the first two books. It didn't. It was worse.

Not only was the dialogue still filled with long drawn out explanations, I had to sit through Will and Sam talking, thinking and crying about each other. They whined about missing each other at least twice every chapter. At least in the other books Sam thought for herself a little bit more. But in my opinion Will talked and thought like a girl much too often throughout the entire book. Him and Sam talked in a much too similar manner I hadn't noticed in the previous books that were only in Sam's POV.

Both of the characters also used the term "rippled/rippling" much to often. I wouldn't have minded it as much if the way it was said varied a little bit from time to time, but it didn't. It was always "he rippled solid", "I rippled solid", "he rippled invisible." I think the word rippled must have been used at least 50 times which gets annoying really fast, I had hoped that the author would tone it down a little but if anything it was worse in this book than the others.

Even the story's plot was a bit jumbled, though it was much better constructed than the rest of the story. At times there were too many bad guys to keep track of and the fact that none of them had the same ultimate goal made it a bit hard to keep track of which one wanted what.

I can't even begin to express how happy I am that that was the last of these books. I'm never reading any of this authors books again.

Review - Rippler

Rippler by Cidney Swanson

 Read: January 16th 2014

Find it on Goodreads

Rating: 2.5/5 stars






 Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can’t control it, and it’s getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love.

Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone’s been killing people who possess Sam's gene. A mysterious man from France sends letters that offer hope for safety, but also reveal a sinister connection with Nazi experiments.

The more time Sam spends with Will, the less she can imagine life without him. When Sam uncovers secrets from her past, she must choose between keeping Will in her life or keeping Will safe.

My Review:



 I almost didn't finish this one, but as it was a halfway decent read I don't regret taking the time to finish it. Though I do admit to putting it aside for more than a month before I finally got around to finishing it.

Sam's character wasn't my favorite, it mostly bothered me how much she relied on her precious love interest, but I enjoyed seeing her become - slightly - more independent. The dialogue also got on my nerves, they laughed and guffawed way too much for conversations that weren't really that funny.

A lot of things weren't well explained in the novel either, hopefully because it is the first in a series, and to really get the most out of it the rest of the series will likely need to be read.

I definitely wouldn't recommend this book to people who go nutty over dialogue that can be unrealistic. But anyone who doesn't mind that sort of thing will likely greatly enjoy this book.

Review - Scorched

Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Read: January 1st 2014

Find it on Goodreads

Rating: 3.5/5 stars




Trinity
Don’t leave me here... It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she’s going crazy. It wouldn’t be a big surprise—her grandpa firmly believes there’s a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it’s begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it...

Connor
He’s come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world. 

Caleb
He’s everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.

Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head—a dragon that won’t be tamed.


My Review:

With a crazy grandpa obsessed with mythical creatures and a crumbling Museum business, Trinity Foxx has a lot going on. Things only worsen when he brings a beautiful egg he believes belongs to the last of the dragons home. This leaves the two of them with next to no money and Trinity with quite a bit of anger.

This book just barely missed being four star worthy. A number of its aspects got on my nerves.

• Trinity Foxx - The name Trinity gets on my nerves enough by itself, but Trinity Foxx sounds like some preppy girl who thinks she's above everyone else. Her character was also a bit too dependent on others for my liking. Even though she kept the museum business alive and helped her grandpa with his financial problems she still let herself rely on Connor and Caleb throughout the majority of the novel.  For someone depicted as so strong she should have been more willing to make her own decisions.

• The dialogue - These characters are supposed to me in their late teens and they go around thinking and saying things like "I'm the good guy," he wanted to add. "The one they sent to save your world" and "There were men," she said at last. "They barged into my house. I freaked out and ran here to hide before calling 911. I think one of them might still be in the house." The dialogue also indicates that the author is a beginner and not the best author in the over use of "said bookisms." There were way too many she demanded, he muttered, she hissed, and she joke type dialogue tags as opposed to just saying she/he said, a technique that would have made the book seem more professional. Instead it seems like the author thought the "said bookisms" were necessary and in turn it made the book less interesting, and the characters sounded even younger than they would have with just the more simple dialogue.

Despite its many faults Scorched had a number of characteristics that made up for it's faults. The number one thing that made me like it was the dragons. I'm pretty much incapable of resisting dragons and these ones were cute (especially Trin's dragon who we saw most of) and I enjoyed their playful mannerisms. Also Fred the female dragon amused me to no end.

Caleb and Connor also had me constantly entertained. Unlike Trinity they kept me guessing for the majority of the book - with Trin it was more of a fifty/fifty chance she'd follow what either one said - they interacted with the world with much more intuition than Trinity seemed capable of.

Between the dragons and the twins I mildly enjoyed this book. Though it was much too simple for my liking as I was hoping it would do better to mentally engage me in the story. But oh well. If you are in fact looking for a quick easy read with dragons and romance then you will more than likely enjoy this book.

What to Expect

A high percentage of the books I read are YA, a factor based largely on the fact that I, myself, am a young adult. So if you are looking for reviews involving adult books with more inappropriate scenes and language, I can almost guarantee you that you won't find what you're looking for.

To get an idea of what I tend to read, here are a list of my top five favorite books that I had the privilege to read over the course of the year 2013. (I will later be posting reviews for all of them):

 1.)














2.)

 

3.)

 

4.)

 

5.)

I hope that everyone had a wonderful 2013 and will have a good 2014 as well. Happy reading!