Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will. (Goodreads)

What can I say about this book?  It was absolutely amazing.  Heartbreaking and very hard to read at times because of all the detail about the torture Louie and the other POWs experienced, but amazing.  Louie's plane goes down, and he and his pilot, Phil, are stranded on a life raft for 47 days.  It's incredible enough that they survived for 47 days out on the ocean, but that's not where the story ends.  Louie and Phil wash up on an island which happens to be occupied by the Japanese.  The next almost two years finds them enduring immense cruelty and hardship at the hands of the Japanese.

I know I wouldn't have been able to survive what Louie and Phil did.  I would have wanted to die.  In the book, Louie himself said: "If I knew I had to go through those experiences again, I'd kill myself."  But his strength of will and determination to see his family again pulled him through the hell the Japanese put him through.

5/5

Source: Borrowed from the library

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

Passion by Lauren Kate

Publication date: June 14, 2011

"Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever."

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.  (Goodreads)

 

First off, I love this cover!  The splash of red and the clouds behind Luce are very eye-catching.  I've read the first two books in this series, Fallen and Torment, and while I haven't exactly loved them, I've liked them enough to want to continue.  Honestly, I think this series is much too drawn-out (and there's a fourth book due out next year!), but I'd like to see what happens with Luce and Daniel.  The cliffhanger endings never fail to leave me wanting more.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, to spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Cover reveal - The Iron Knight

Well, hello, Ash!

What do you think?  I'm not so sure.  The guy on the cover doesn't really 'look' like Ash to me.  Of course, I built Ash up so much in my mind that his gorgeousness could never possibly be replicated on a book cover. ;)

Still, it's exciting to see what the cover looks like!  Can't wait to read it!

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

I think I'll jump on the 'Waiting on Wednesday' bandwagon this week, though I won't link my post to the actual host blog, Breaking the Spine.

This week, I'm anticipating the release of Bloodlines by Richelle Mead.  I LOVED her Vampire Academy series...the final book left me ecstatic for one guy, but heartbroken for the other.  Well, the guy left behind by Rose Hathaway is the love interest of Sydney the Alchemist in this new series.

BLOOD DOESN'T LIE

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.  (Goodreads)

The cover doesn't really do much for me, but I guess I'll just try not to look at it too much. ;)  Bloodlines will be released on August 23rd.

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike

Illusions is the third book in the Wings series.  I realized, as I searched for my reviews of the other two books (Wings and Spells), that I hadn't reviewed them.  So I guess I'll just do a quick little overview of what these books are about.

The main character, Laurel, discovers, in Wings, that she's a faerie when a flower blooms on her back.  She's introduced to Tamani, a faerie who also happens to be Laurel's guard.  Tamani has been in love with Laurel for the longest time, but Laurel has a boyfriend, David.  In Spells, Laurel spends a summer in Avalon, the faerie realm, learning her spells and faerie lore.  She grows closer to Tamani, but denies that her feelings are more than friendly.  As she learns more about what it means to be a faerie, she also discovers that deadly trolls are out to get her.  She comes to depend on both David and Tamani to keep her safe, but finally begs Tamani to let her go.

In Illusions, the trolls are still causing problems for Laurel and Avalon, and new student, Yuki, seems shifty.  Laurel wonders almost instantly if Yuki is a faerie, and is she is, what court does she belong to?  And does she even know that she's a faerie?  Things seem fishy, especially since mysterious Klea introduced Yuki to Laurel.  Laurel isn't sure about Klea's motives, but she knows not to completely trust her.

This third installment found Laurel even more torn between Tamani and David.  Honestly, it was grating on my nerves.  Just pick someone already, Laurel!  Quit leading both boys on.  It's obvious to me that Tamani is Laurel's guy, and Laurel might finally be realizing that.  Or not.  She just can't make up her mind.

Illusions had some boring, drawn-out parts (every time Laurel talked about using her faerie magic to find out what kind of faerie Yuki is, I wanted to pluck my eyes out), but overall it was an okay read.  The discovery as to what Yuki and Klea are wasn't all that shocking, but it made a good stopping point.  I definitely think these books could have been condensed...I mean, is a fourth book really necessary?  Regardless, I'll read the final book so that I know how the story wraps up.  I won't be waiting on pins and needles, but I'll read it.

2.5/5

One final thing...what's up with the Illusions cover?  It seems so different than the other covers, especially the title font.  Not so sure I like it.  The reflection of the flower in the water is cool, but the font looks horrible.  Just my opinion.

Other ratings:

Wings: 4/5

Spells: 3/5

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.  (Goodreads)

It seems that I waited months for this book to be released.  My sister, Kira, was lucky enough to read this one before me, and she, like the entire blogosphere, it seems, highly recommended it.  So I was ecstatic when my library hold finally arrived!  Upon starting the book, I was immediately pulled into Beatrice's world.

Beatrice has been raised in the Abnegation faction her entire life.  Known for their selflessness, the Abnegation don't think twice about giving up their seat on the bus or helping the homeless ("factionless").  Selflessness definitely isn't second nature to Beatrice, though.  It is during her aptitude test that Beatrice discovers something unique about herself, something which will lead her to make a surprising choice at the Choosing ceremony.  Told not to divulge her secret to anyone, Beatrice must now find a way to fit in with her fellow initiates.  I can't say too much more about which faction she chooses because the majority of the book takes place within that faction, and to say too much would spoil the fun.

It is within her chosen faction that Beatrice meets Four.  At first, I found the chemistry between the two lacking, but that was soon resolved.  I loved the part in the book when Four invited Tris into his simulation.  This was the point where we, as readers, learn so much about Four and what he's experienced in his life.  I love that he's a character with imperfections.  And I love the way his name is explained.

Four and Tris discover a secret plot to overthrow the government, and it is this discovery that drives the rest of the book.

Overall, I found Divergent to be a lot like The Hunger Games.  Personally, I liked The Hunger Games more, but Divergent definitely has a lot going for it.  The action, the romance, the character development...all were very well done.  There were a couple of parts in the book that I didn't find as exciting (a lot of time was spent on Tris' initiation trials), which is why I'd actually fall somewhere between a 4 and a 5.  But, I'll just say 5 to keep it simple.  The ending was amazing, and I am really looking forward to continuing the journey with Tris and Four.

5/5

Afterlife by Claudia Gray

So, Hourglass left off with star-crossed lovers Bianca and Lucas facing very different futures than they'd originally thought.  Bianca turned into a wraith and Lucas became a vampire.  Honestly, I don't remember the exact details that brought us to that point, but that doesn't really matter.  Since Lucas is now one of the vampires he used to kill as a member of Black Cross, he seeks refuge at Evernight Academy after a battle with his own mother.  Bianca hides out at Evernight with Lucas, and since no one can see her unless she becomes solid and allows them to, she's free to do as she wants.  Mostly, she wants to help free Lucas from the horrible nightmares of Charity that have been plaguing him.  And she wants to know why Mrs. Bethany is hiding wraith traps all over the school.  What is Mrs. Bethany planning, and does Bianca have anything to fear from her former headmistress?

I had planned on reading this book because I read the three previous books, but when I went to pick it up I discovered that I just didn't care.  I wanted to skip it, but I gave in to my sister's request that I read it.  I can't say that I enjoyed it.  I thought it was okay, but I can't give it higher praise than that.  Honestly, I was pretty bored most of the time I was reading.

I discovered some things about Mrs. Bethany's past life that should have been interesting, but really just did nothing for me.  The fate of Bianca and Lucas was somewhat interesting, but by the time that all came about at the very end of the book I just didn't care.

There's a book about Balthazar in the works, but I am so done with this series and these characters.  I won't be reading it.

2/5

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

I loved Hex Hall, and I literally couldn't wait to read Demonglass.  My sister Kira was visiting over the weekend, and she had her copy of Demonglass with her.  I ended up reading the first 16 chapters of it while she was out running an errand, and I texted my husband and told him to buy me a copy because I just HAD to finish it, and the library hadn't gotten it in yet.  That's how much I love this series.

Demonglass picks up right where Hex Hall left off, with Sophie wanting to go through the Removal.  You won't know what that is until you've read Hex Hall, so do go and pick up a copy...you'll love it.  Sophie travels to England to spend the summer with her dad, the head of The Council, and makes some surprising discoveries. 

Sophie is such a smart aleck, she cracks me up.  I laughed out loud so many times while reading DG.  And the boys....*sigh*....oh, those boys.  I'm a 31-year-old woman who's been married for almost 11 years, and I found myself swooning big-time...over a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old.  Seriously.  Archer Cross has stolen my heart.  But Cal is really amazing, too.

I love that the action and heart-pounding started almost immediately.  Page 18 confirmed a suspicion I'd had, and really, I wasn't as upset as I thought I'd be because by that point I'd already overcome any qualms I'd had.  So much happened, and none of it bored me.  On the contrary - I was hooked from page one, and flipped those pages as fast as I could.  And that ending.  Oh, my.

I loved the interactions between Sophie, Cal, and Archer, and I enjoyed learning more about all three of them, especially Cal and Archer.  Their stories and the reasoning behind their actions were really interesting.  Rachel Hawkins has created the perfect love triangle.  I'm not really sure who I want Sophie to end up with, because I know either guy would be great.  It's hard for me to choose between Team Archer and Team Cal, and that's not usually the case with me.  Okay, okay, I admit that I'm more Team Archer, but Cal is such a close second.

I am totally enamored with these books.  This series has easily become a new favorite of mine, and the wait for the next book is going to be far too long.  I. Want. It. NOW.

5/5

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie Mercer gets into quite a scrape when a prom night spell goes awry.  Her father, a powerful European warlock, and her non-magical mother decide to send her to Hecate Hall, affectionately called Hex Hall, a reform school for Prodigium (witches, faeries, and shapeshifters) like herself.   Her first day, she's asked by three black witches to join their coven, since she's a black witch herself.  The three witches are snobs with a capital S, though, and Sophie has no desire to join their coven.  What does interest her is Archer Cross, a devastatingly handsome teen warlock.  Unfortunately, he's taken...by snotty black witch leader, Elodie.  When members of the black witch coven begin turning up with holes in their necks and their blood drained, all fingers point to Sophie's vampire roommate, Jenna.  Sophie defends Jenna, and a mystery from Sophie's past may prove Jenna's innocence.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book.  I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it.  Sophie kept me cracking up, and the slowly building romance between she and Archer was sweet.  The characters were all engaging and the mystery of the book kept me guessing.  There were a couple of parts in the book that had me gasping in disbelief and surprise.  The ending was somewhat of a shock as well.  Who knows what the future holds for Sophie and Archer, but I'm hoping it's something grand!  (And please don't let Cal the groundskeeper be Sophie's secret betrothed!  I don't know why I keep thinking he may be, but there has to be a reason Archer introduced the topic of betrothals.  Right?)

I loved this book, and I can't wait to get the sequel, Demonglass, in my hands!

4.5/5

The Iron Fey series

Last week I read The Iron Fey series (The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen)  by Julie Kagawa.  I figured I'd do mini reviews of each, since I can't remember a lot of the details now (I have a horrible memory!).  So, here goes...

In The Iron King, Meghan Chase learns she is a faery princess, daughter of King Oberon, the ruler of the Summer Court.  She journeys to the Nevernever (the land of fae) to rescue her kidnapped brother, and discovers that her best friend, Robbie, is really Robin Goodfellow, otherwise known as Puck.  Meghan also learns of a centuries-long war between the Summer and Winter Courts, but she can't help the feelings she's having for the Winter Prince, Ash.

I was immediately pulled into The Iron King, and I thought for sure that I'd love the book.  The beginning of the book was amazing, but Meghan's journey through the faery lands really dragged for me.  The ending made me like the book a bit more, but I was still somewhat disappointed overall, considering the excellent reviews the book has received.  3/5

The Iron Daughter finds Meghan in Queen Mab's Winter Court.  In The Iron King, Ash helped Meghan defeat Machina, the Iron King, and part of the deal between them was that Meghan would willingly accompany Ash to his mother's court.  Things between Meghan and Ash had been wonderful, so Meghan is surprised when Ash turns a cold shoulder to her in Tir Na Nog.  Following the changing of the seasons, the Scepter of Seasons is stolen, and fingers are pointed at King Oberon and the Winter Court.  Meghan and Ash know the real thieves are the Iron Fey, and Meghan is determined to prove that the Iron Fey are a real threat to the Nevernever.  Meghan and Ash once again join forces, this time to retrieve the stolen Scepter of Seasons.

I LOVED this book!  It was my favorite of the series, and there wasn't a moment that bored me.  I loved the characters, especially Grimalkin and Ironhorse, not to mention Prince Ash.  My goodness, is he ever swoon-worthy!  The love triangle grated on me a bit because, really, there's no way Meghan would choose Puck over Ash, but every book has to have a love triangle these days.  If that's the only bad thing I can say about the book, then that shows you how amazing this book really is.  I loved the decisions both Ash and Meghan made in the end, and I couldn't wait to begin The Iron Queen.  4.5/5

The Iron Queen was originally the end of the Iron Fey trilogy, but there is a 4th book in the works now.  Meghan and Ash find themselves pulled into an all-out war between the Summer and Winter Courts and the Iron Fey.  A new Iron King has taken over, and his influence is spreading over the Nevernever.  King Oberon and Queen Mab tell Meghan that she is the only person who can defeat the false Iron King, since iron doesn't affect her the way it does the faeries.  Meghan sets out to destroy him, knowing it's the only way the Nevernever and those she loves will be saved.

I wanted to love this book, especially since I loved The Iron Daughter so much.  I really liked this third installment, but it didn't affect me as much as The Iron Daughter did.  I do have to say that Ash was absolutely amazing in this one, and I loved every minute spent reading about him.  He and Meghan both changed so much, and I loved the way they worked so hard to set things right.  The ending was a bit disappointing, though, and I was left feeling a bit devastated.  It wasn't at all how I'd envisioned things ending, but it definitely left things hanging so that a 4th book, The Iron Knight, could be published.  The Iron Knight is Ash's story, and I am soooo excited to read it when it's released!  4/5