Die For Me by Amy Plum

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love? (blurb from inside cover)

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, or even what it was really about.  Sometimes I think it's best to go in not knowing too much, and I think that worked for me with Die For Me.  Having now read the summary on Goodreads, I'm glad I hadn't read it before reading the book...boy, is it spoilery!

I found that I was immediately pulled in by Kate's voice, which made the first quarter of the book really interesting.  As she met Vincent, though, I felt like things really started slowing down.  I'd hoped that upon discovery of what Vincent is, my interest would increase again, but I never really felt like that happened until close to the end of the book.

Amy Plum created a unique world with unique characters.  I can honestly say that I've never read a book with characters quite like Vincent and his family before, and I liked that.  I came to really enjoy Vincent and his friends.  Their banter with Kate was engaging and funny.  The Parisian setting was also something I enjoyed.  I loved reading about all the Parisian sites, and I felt like a tourist of sorts, just as I had while reading Anna and the French Kiss.  Overall, I found Die For Me to be a pretty good read.

3.5/5

Everlasting by Alyson Noël

Their darkest enemies now defeated, Damen and Ever are free to embark upon their final quest—to free Damen from the poison lingering in his body. If they can just find the antidote, they’ll finally be able to feel each other’s touch—and experience the passionate night they’ve been longing for. But their fight to be together will lead them into the most formidable terrain yet…into the dark heart of Summerland.

Here in a land of scorched earth and endless rain, Ever and Damen will discover their relationship’s hidden origins, expose a secret history they never imagined…and come face to face with the true reason fate keeps tearing them apart. Only then, when the final mystery is unraveled and the last secret revealed, Ever and Damen’s future will hinge on one ultimate decision that will put everything at stake….even eternity. (Goodreads)

This is the sixth book in The Immortals series, and am I glad this series is finally over!  Dragging a story out over six books just seems like too much to me, especially when most of the things that happened with these characters easily could have been condensed into three or four books at most.

In Everlasting, Damen and Ever are finally free to be together, but the curse that Roman placed on them, which doesn't allow them to ever physically touch, is still in place.  And Ever and Damen are still searching for the antidote.  While Ever wants to find the antidote, she feels that there's more expected of her, only she's not sure what that might be.  While in the dark part of Summerland, Ever and Damen come across an old woman named Lotus, who tells them that they need to journey back to where it all started, into a life that the two don't remember having ever lived.

Honestly, I thought the first part of this book was pretty good, but as the pages kept coming and coming I started to feel burned out.  Overall, the series was tied up nicely, and I enjoyed being able to see how the journey for other characters in the series ended.  It was a good read, but I'm glad it's done!

3/5

Summer's Crossing review, and The Iron Knight cover

Title: Summer's Crossing (#3.5 in the Iron Fey series)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Source: Kindle e-book (currently FREE on Amazon)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summer's Crossing takes place after The Iron Queen, and follows Puck and Ash on an adventure into the Summer Court.  Leanansidhe, the Exile Queen, has come to collect on a favor that Ash owes her.  She asks Ash to bring her back the violin Queen Titania has stolen from her.  What follows is an ingenious, hilarious story told from Puck the Prankster's point-of-view.

In a nutshell, I loved it.  Puck was his usual sarcastic self, and Ash was the brooding ice prince.  It's a novella, so it's short, but I don't feel like I was missing out on anything, in spite of the length.  I love that we were given a glimpse into Puck's thoughts, though I firmly remain in Ash's corner.  My thirst for The Iron Knight has been reawakened, and I can't wait to get my hands on it when it's released!

Speaking of The Iron Knight...

This is the full cover for The Iron Knight, with Ash on the front and Puck on the back.  What do you think?  I love the blue, but I don't love the guys.  Sorry.  I think I actually prefer the guy that's supposed to be Puck (the smirk really fits him!), though neither of them really strikes my fancy.

Between the Lines by Tammara Webber

Reid Alexander is hot, hot, hot in Hollywood.  He signs up to play the role of Will Darcy in a modernized  high school version of Pride & Prejudice, and it is during auditions to find 'Lizbeth' that he meets Emma Pierce.  The chemistry between Reid and Emma is almost as hot as Reid himself, and Emma gets the part.  This is Emma's first major role; she's done plenty of commercials, but has never landed a leading role in an actual Hollywood adaptation.

During filming, Emma meets Graham Douglas, who plays bumbling Will Collins.  Graham and Emma begin running together each morning, and they develop a special camaraderie.  Where Reid will be happy acting for the rest of his life, Emma wants more out of life, and Graham encourages her to seek bigger and brighter opportunities.

Emma falls for both boys, but all three of them have major issues and problems to resolve.

My husband gave me a Kindle for my birthday, and I've mostly downloaded free books onto it (though I have bought a few of the cheaper YA books, like the Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking).  After reading some reviews of this book, I decided to spend the 99 cents to buy it.  And, I enjoyed it.  The story and characters were engaging, and I liked the alternating points-of-view between Reid and Emma

I guess I should really say that I enjoyed most of the characters.  Reid was an exception.  I started out really liking him and thinking that perhaps he wasn't such a bad boy, but by the end of the book I was completely disgusted with him.  Graham, on the other hand, was adorable and I found myself wishing the book had been told from his point-of-view alongside Emma's.

I never once felt like I didn't want to be reading this book.  It was cute, engaging, and well-written.  My real main problem (besides Reid, but my aversion to him shows that Ms. Webber did a fantastic job writing his character) was with the large amounts of underage drinking and the foul language which was so prevalent throughout the book.  Plus, Reid kept pressuring Emma to be intimate with him.

A cute story, but there was just too much questionable behavior for my tastes.  Still, there is a sequel coming out later this year, and I'm pretty sure I'll read it.  I'd like more of Graham's story.

3.5/5

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