Monday, November 30, 2015

REVIEW: Generation by Heather Hildenbrand


Generation (Clone Chronicles, #3)
After months of pretending to be Raven Rogen, Ven feels less like a clone and more like a human than ever. But when Raven’s father, Titus—the same man who engineered Ven—discovers her plan to escape, everything she’s worked so hard for is taken away in one explosive moment.
Now she’s imprisoned in Twig City, the secret warehouse where she grew up. She spends her days plotting ways to get back to the outside world, determined to topple Titus’s empire and free every last Imitation. But Titus’s reach is extensive and his plans are more deadly than she realized.
In the shocking conclusion to the Imitation series, one wrong move could mean the end for Ven and everyone she’s come to love.


I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

NOTICE: THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL INSTALLMENT IN A SERIES. THERE MY BE SPOILER FOR THE PREVIOUS BOOKS. Review of Book OneReview of Book Two




MY THOUGHTS
After the horrible cliffhanger ending in the last book, I definitely needed this book in my hands. Thankfully, this book begins where book two left off. Ven wakes up in Twig City, imprisoned again. She's determined to get back outside and see her friends in the rebellion, to see what's left of the rebellion. But she's been 'asleep' longer than she thought and the rebellion is beginning to grow, even inside Twig City. The Imitations will be freed and Titus will be stopped, but Ven needs to figure out how exactly she can do that.

While the second book had middle book syndrome, this book definitely did not! It took a bit for the book to pick up of pace, of course, but as most conclusions go, there was a lot of action. I'm going to be a bit vague here. Conclusions are high on action, but also high on answers and spoilers! Let's just say that a lot happens in this book, and I am satisfied with the conclusion!

I remember what I really liked about the first book was the change in Van. In the first book, she's really out of her element. She doesn't see herself as human. It is outstanding the amount of change between the beginning of book one to book three. Ven is now a strong girl who believes in a cause and has even become some kind of leader in a rebellion. She had to go through a lot to get to this point, but it's a very interesting how she has changed and grown.

As for romance, I was torn about it in the last book. The romance bothered me in the last book. In this book it didn't bother me. I wasn't wild about it, but it didn't distract from the plot at all, in fact it took the backseat, which I like.

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, this is a great conclusion to a very interesting sci-fi trilogy! I enjoyed this series, and I do recommend it! I have a ecopy of Heather Hildenbrand's other book, Dirty Blood, so now I guess it's time to start another series by her!

I hereby give this book
3.5 Stars
Meaning: I liked it, but it wasn't quite amazing.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

New Releases in YA! (December 1st-5th)

Every week I list all (or almost all) of the YA books (and the occasional MG) that are coming out within that week!
Here's what you get to look forward to this week:
P.S. Click on the book's cover for the Goodreads page!



What books, if any, do you plan to buy?

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Stacking the Shelves (November 28th 2015)

Hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Stacking the Shelves is where all the book nerds can post about the lovely (or not so lovely) books that they've got this week.

I hope all the other Americans out there had a great Thankgiving! Mine was pretty normal, though very cold! In fact, the ice was getting so bad that there still might be a possibility of a power outage! The next few weeks will be busy for me! The next week is my last full week of school, and then I have to take the lovely finals, so I'll be busy! After that, no school, no work, and plenty of time to read & review books!

P.S. The covers take you to the book's Goodreads page!


Books I've Read in the Last Week

Library


Amazon Ebooks
Chameleon was free, The Family was $1.99

Trade

Borrowing


For Review
Thanks to Entangled Teen, Siobhan Davis, and Xpresso Reads Book Tours!

Books I Reviewed
(The covers are linked to my review)


NEW DISCOVERIES
I add books to my TBR pile so often, that I decided to include the new additions to my ever-growing list.
I DID NOT RECEIVE OR BUY THESE BOOKS. I only added them to my TBR list.

WITHOUT COVERS:
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray


Anyway, what books did you haul in this week?

Friday, November 27, 2015

REVIEW: Dumplin' by Julie Murphy



Dumplin'
Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.
Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.
With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.









MY THOUGHTS
Willowdean is a fat girl and she's not afraid to say it. She's comfortable in her own body, despite her mom's (the former beauty queen) insistence that she lose weight.  Will grows feelings for her co-worker, Bo, and ends up having a summer relationship with her. For some reason, Will begins to feel doubt about herself, so she does something that she never expected to do: enter her mom's beauty pageant.

I had high expectations for this book and it just wasn't what I expected. First of all, it was a bit boring. Will doesn't even get the idea to go into the pageant until more than halfway through the book! That's the main part of the book! And everything also felt incredibly draggy. Honestly, not a whole lot happened. Still, there were enjoyable moments.

Besides the mostly positive reviews, I wanted to read this book because of the meaning it provides. This books deals with body positivity, something that the book world needs. I know that many, myself included, are not comfortable in their own skin and I like having a character that is actually comfortable in her skin, and heck, I like the fact that there's a fat MC without a focus on getting skinny (like most books).

I must mention, though, that Will did bother me at times. She wasn't very good with her relationships. Meaning: she picked fights with those close to her and I thought some of it was unnecessary. For example: she got in a huge fight with her best friend,Ellen, because Will didn't want her to be in the pageant. Why? Because Ellen might actually win. Will wasn't aiming to win this thing and she wasn't letting her best friend enter because there's the small chance she might win. What? Will just have issues with relationships in this book. She was also against the misfits entering and was borderline judgmental about them. While I don't like some things Will did, we all have our flaws and some of the other characters weren't squeaky-clean either. It bothered me at points, but it's all realistic.

There's romance in this book. I don't want to say much about the romance because it's just more of Will's bad decision making. She kind of rebounds and leads a poor, sweet guy on. I also didn't particularly like Bo's decision making either.

IN CONCLUSION
I know I sound like I didn't like this book. I kept complaining and complaining, but I actually liked it. Most of my complaining is because I heard so many amazing things about this book beforehand and was kind of let down. Overall, I liked the idea of this book and how it talks about being comfortable in your own skin. It's a needed book in the YA market.

I hereby give this book
3.5 Stars
Meaning: I liked it, but it wasn't quite amazing.

Cover Lust: Hold Still by Nina LaCour


Cover Lust is something that I do every week where I feature a book cover that I absolutely love!

Hold Still
I am a girl ready to explode into nothing.

That night Ingrid told Caitlin, I'll go wherever you go. But by dawn, Ingrid was dead and Caitlin was alone. Suddenly Caitlin has to deal with a completely unfamiliar life—a life without the art, the laughter, the music, and the joy she shared with her best friend. When she finds the journal Ingrid left behind, Caitlin gets a chance to learn about another side of her friend; and the journal becomes her guide as she deals with forging new friendships, finding a first love, and learning to live without the one person who knew her best.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble













 Why did I pick this cover? 
I love the photography in this cover! I love the blurring on the edges that suggest movement, as well as the text. I especially love the color scheme!
 What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments!

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Cover vs Cover: Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor

This week's pick is...

Into the Dim VS.  Into the Dim
Original                  Redesign
I hate the redesign so much! The pedant(?) and the text look tacky and the entire cover is just your run-of-the-mill fantasy cover! The original is so much more interesting! WHY DID THEY HAVE TO CHANGE IT?!?!
   Final Verdict: Original
Do you agree? Give me your thoughts on which cover is the best!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

REVIEW: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson



Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer, #1)
Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.








MY THOUGHTS
I've had such luck with books lately! This book has been yet another anticipated read that met, maybe even exceeded my high expectations!

Lee has always been able to detect gold, enough gold to keep her family safe. She's kept it a secret, but someone knows and will do anything for the gold, and to have control of her. To escape, Lee decides to flee to California and meet her best friend along the way. But it's not easy, not at all, and she certainly can't travel as a girl.

The entire premise of this book is just so interesting! It's about a girl who can detect gold, during the Gold Rush Era. This was all done really well, and the plot did revolve around Lee's ability, but the setting actually felt more important. That sounds bad, but I actually loved it. This book includes Lee's journey to California, that's the majority of the book. While in some other books, I find traveling a bit boring, this was actually very interesting! Lee has to go through a lot to get to California, so there's not a dull moment, and the historical element was incredible! It really did feel like I was in that period!

I didn't realize this while going into this book, but it has one of my favorite tropes: a girl dressing as a boy. Major props in general for having my favorite trope, but it also was done in a very satisfactory way. Meaning: She was a boy for the majority of the book. Anyway Lee is a great MC. She's obviously strong and resourceful, she's able to go through so much and make it. Jeff is her best friend and he's also an amazing character! Actually, all the characters in this book are so well-developed, even the horrible ones!

Lastly, there isn't really a romance in this book. This is a shame because I was shipping things, but I expect romance in the next book. Maybe just a little bit?

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I loved this book! It was as amazing as I expected! The plot was unique, the historical elements were fantastic, and all of the characters were incredible well-developed! I admit I am very curious what will happen next in this series!

I hereby give this book...
5 Stars!
Meaning: A new favorite!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, where you talk about whatever book you are IMPATIENTLY WAITING for!

This week I am waiting for...



The Rose and the Dagger (The Wrath and the Dawn, #2)
The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.



Release Date: May 3rd 2016



Why am I waiting?
The Wrath & the Dawn has to be one of the best books I've read this year! IT WAS AMAZING! That said, I NEED THEE SEQUEL!
What book are you waiting for this week?

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

REVIEW: Noir by Jacqueline Garlick



Noir (The Illumination Paradox, #2)
With Urlick imprisoned for the murder of Professor Smrt, Eyelet must find her way back through the Infirm-infested woods, to the forbidden city of Brethren, to free Urlick before it’s too late.

Along the way, she elicits the help of Crazy Legs, Urlick’s longtime friend. Together they overthrow a travelling freak show train destined for Brethren, with plans to use it to distract the city, so Urlick can make an escape. But Eyelet is lead astray, when a haunting image from her past appears in an abandoned factory at the edge of town. There she unearths a series of ungodly secrets and soon finds herself, imprisoned.

Will C.L. be able to save them both from their fates?
Or will he too, fall prey to the tyranny of Brethren's newest Ruler?

Rumor has it the Ruler has secrets of her own.
Secrets she’s determined to keep.
Seems an heir may have been overlooked.
The true heir to the Commonwealth throne.




I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

NOTICE: THIS IS A SEQUEL FOR ANOTHER BOOK. THERE MAY BE SPOILERS FOR THE PREVIOUS BOOK. Review of Book One


MY THOUGHTS
This book takes off where after the cliffy in the last book. Urlick is imprisoned and Eyelet must travel to save him from potential death. And then a whole bunch of stuff happens...

Yeah, that's a terrible summary, you can read the synopsis and it basically gives away many of the crazy things and dangers these characters endure, which is a lot . If you're worried about middle book syndrome, don't be. Sure, the two main characters are separated, which is common in middle books, but A LOT happens. I couldn't have possibly have given this book a good synopsis without giving anything away. This book is very action-packed and just when you think that everyone's good, there's another danger. I will admit that because so much was going on, everything felt a bit jumbled and scattered. Throughout it all, though, we also learn a whole bunch of new information and there were plenty of surprises. Boy, were there surprises.

Like the last book, this book is from both Eyelet's and Urlick's perspective. This is pretty darn handy because they are separated a lot and we kind of need both sides of the story. Again, I didn't love them, but neither did I hate them. Their characters felt like normal YA characters, but they were both developed characters.

Now, the ending. It sucked. Jacqueline Garlick likes to torture us apparently because this book ends in another cliffhanger. And it's a horrible cliffhanger! The type of cliffhanger that messes with your emotions and causes you to stare at the page, as if another, new page will appear with the actual ending. Needless to say, I basically need the next book.

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I thought that this was a great sequel. If you excuse the emotional trauma from the ending, I enjoyed it. I just need the next book now. Please?

I hereby give this book
3.5 Stars
Meaning: I liked it, but it wasn't quite amazing.

Monday, November 23, 2015

REVIEW: The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness



The Rest of Us Just Live Here
What if you aren’t the Chosen One? The one who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you’re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions.

Award-winning writer Patrick Ness’s bold and irreverent novel powerfully reminds us that there are many different types of remarkable.





MY THOUGHTS
Mikey is just an average guy. Sure, his family is a mess, but all Mikey wants is to graduate high school, leave this town, and get the courage to finally ask his crush out. That's it. Yeah, weird things are happening in his town, glowing blue eyes and whatnot, but that;s not Mikey's problem. Mikey just wants to finish his last school year with his friends before the indie kids blow up the high school. Again.

There are times when you just know you're going to love a book. I knew I was going to love this book to second I found out that Patrick Ness was writing yet another book. Part of that was because Patrick Ness is an author god, but also, the premise is just too amazing! A book about a main character who is not the chosen one? Who just has to deal with the crap that the chosen one creates? YES PLEASE! I am so glad to say that this book exceeded my expectations. Yes, it's that good.

My favorite part of this book has to be how it just pokes fun at all the YA tropes. First off, I need to explain some things. In the 'world' that this book takes place in, there are indie kids. Indie kids are basically the main characters of YA novels. They have weird names, are too cool for prom, and die a lot. Also, all the weird things that happen always seem to be related to them. There's been soul-sucking ghosts, zombies, whatever, and the indie kids are always related to it. There was also mention of a few years ago where everything was vampires and romance (*cough* Twilight *cough*) and another mention of indie kids "dying beautifully of cancer". Seriously, it hits all the tropes. I haven't even hit all of them.

Mikey and his friends are essentially the classmates of the indie kids. They go to school with them and know them, but it's like how you know your classmates. Still, they have to deal with the things the indie kids do. I really liked this unique perspective on this because it gives you an idea of what the 'extras' have to go through in books. Yeah, they notice the vampires, the zombies, and whatever. Mikey and his friends do have run-ins with the weirdness going on in fact, and some of it really affects them (some doesn't. Because the weird things always go after the indie kids).

The main thing, though, is while this perspective is unique in the YA world, it's really just normal. Mikey is normal. His friends are (mostly) normal. This book is mainly just about Mikey and his friends and I enjoyed reading about a normal group of friends just trying to have average lives, in their weird world. It also felt just so real. The characters have real problems. Mikey and his sister(s) have problems with their family, but Mikey also struggles with anxiety and OCD. Other characters also have very real struggles shown (though, Jared had some out-of-ordinary ones). And it was all shown realistically! It seems like it would be boring to read about, but I really liked it and I thought it was amazing!

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I loved this book so much! It's just so weird, so unique, so gosh darn interesting, and yes, very amusing at times. Please just pick up anything that this man writes.

I hereby give this book...
5 Stars!
Meaning: A new favorite!