Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam
Genre: YA Dystopia
Expected Publication: March 18th
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Page Count: 400
Goodreads
Amazon

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher*

Ever since I discovered this book, I knew that I absolutely had to read it. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and the idea of the book really just drags you in. I jumped into the book as fast as I could and I didn't want to put it down at all. For 400 pages, the plot moves quickly and didn't drag at all. You just end up being sucked into this dangerous and striking futuristic world that, after reading a few duds, really brightened my mood.

Right off the bat, there is some amazing character development going on. The characters just felt so real. Regan and Patrick, Josh and Regan's mother . . . they all just came to life almost immediately. I loved Regan's determination and how she really strove to gather information before she acted out. It was kind of nice to see more of a reserved personality when it came to making decisions rather than the popular rash decision making going around. 

The thing that stuck out most about this novel was the imagery. It was like taking a deep, refreshing breath once I opened up the book and soaking in all the goodness of it. The world of Elusion was so enchanting and magical. Everything about it had such a dreamlike quality that it's not hard to imagine a piece of technology like this being popular. Even out of the world of Elusion, the world building was just so vivid. I can see a world like the one depicted in Elusion being a possible future that it was almost scary to read about.

The one thing that I didn't like was the romance. I've been finding this to be a problem lately with the books I've read and I'm finding less and less of a tolerance for it. Maybe I'm just being too picky with the book, but I didn't find the romance to be convincing. Regan's relationship with her best friend Patrick and her dad and her mother just felt so authentic, but when it came to the romance, I wasn't buying it. Maybe this also had to do with the fact that I wasn't that particularly drawn towards the love interest either. Hopefully in the next book (since we're left with such a crazy cliffhanger, of course there's another book) this romance will better develop itself.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a new, original, and exciting read. It was such a roller coaster of a plot and completely unpredictable for the most part. I'm so excited to see where things go next with this series. It's such a twisted and thrilling idea that it stands out so much in my mind compared to the other books I've read so far this year.

4.5 Splashes

Avalon by Mindee Arnett

Avalon by Mindee Arnett
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Expected Publication: January 17th, 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Page Count: 432
Goodreads
Amazon

A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.

 *A review copy was provided from the publisher*

So this book just so happened to appear when I needed it most. I absolutely love everything sci-fi. I harbor so much love for anything that involves space. And I've been thinking lately to myself "Where's a new and different sci-fi novel out there?" And then this one was like "Heeeeyyy". So, yes, this novel came at a very convenient time.

I didn't absolutely love Jeb, but he was a pretty cool guy. Even though he was technically some delinquent and thief and stuff, he was a good guy that would do anything for his family, friends, and his ship, Avalon. But still, I didn't connect with him on any level. I also didn't find him to be that much of a dynamic character, but he wasn't intolerable. He was just kind of there as the story was told and I can't help but think that the disconnection was caused by the novel being written in third person.

Another little bone to pick was the insta-romance. Okay, it wasn't more of an instant romance than it was instant random crush. I don't know about you, but I don't randomly start crushing on a person whom I barely know about. I just didn't buy it, especially in the situation that they were all in. Every time said crush feels would be mentioned, I'd just groan internally because I found it to be a wee bit on the rushed side.

But I did enjoy the book a lot! If you don't focus on the characters but stay into the plot and all the shit that's going down, this novel was pretty darn cool! Like, unexplainable things are happening and plots are getting twisty before you even know it and none of it was in the least (in my opinion) that predictable and once you got into that, the book's pages flew by. It is very original, from the repertoire of books I've read, and I was a content reader.

Avalon was the perfect mix of Firefly and total coolness and I recommend that everyone pick up this book sometime. The pace was quick and those four hundred or so pages flew by. I cannot wait to read the next installment! There's so much I want to know about this world still!

4 Splashes

Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper

Grasping at Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication: May 25th, 2012
Publisher: Starry Sky Publishing
Page Count: 328
Goodreads
Amazon

Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories.

Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.

Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her.

While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be.

X-MEN meets MY NAME IS MEMORY in Karen Amanda Hooper’s latest young adult release.

I hadn't heard much about this book, so when going into it, I wasn't expecting much. The concept sounded very interesting. I love the idea of reincarnated souls and--dare I say--soul mates. Usually, with something like that included in the synopsis, I don't think that I'd pick it up. However, there was something that made me want to give this book a try, and I'm glad I did because this books was fantastic.

I crack this book open and find myself utterly invested in the plot in a matter of minutes. Right from the start, this book had me hooked. I just wanted to know more about what was going on and why. Even when readers first meet her twin brother Mikey, you could feel the connection between them. Being a twin myself, I connected with Maryah almost immediately and loved the relationship she had with him.

Speaking of Maryah, I thought that she was a very real character. Sometimes, I feel like the main character is too accepting of being introduced into the supernatural. It's very difficult to find the right balance between denial-and-eventual-acceptance, instead of denial-and-complete-reader-annoyance. And this book had it! I didn't find Maryah to be too accepting or too annoying when she learns about who and what she is. Never once did she truly give up and I thought that she was sweet, even after everything that had happened to her.

And if you haven't figured it out yet, the premise for this book is absolutely magical. Everyone has a soul that, after it leaves the body, decides whether it wants to remember or erase their memories when they reincarnate. And there's this chance that if you choose to remember, you get these powers and you get to do all sorts of cool stuff. Honestly, if this were true, I'm POed my soul's never wanted to remember!

Anyway, I liked this book a lot. All of the characters were very dimensional and they all brought the story to life in my head. Very rarely do I come across a YA paranormal that didn't have that distinct taste of cliche and overdone plots. I do recommend this book and I hope that others will enjoy it as much as I did.

4 Splashes

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication: December 1st, 2009
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Page Count: 563
Goodreads
Amazon

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

I finally read this book! Finally! I am definitely a late comer to this series and I'm kinda bummed on what I've been missing out on all this time. Sadly, I watched the movie before I read the book so my whole idea what different than what I'd thought the book was. The movie definitely did not keep true to the book, but I thought, besides the book, it wasn't that bad of a movie.

I really loved Ethan's voice. He was such a cute kind of guy to read about. He definitely had an unrealistic male thought process, but it didn't bother me that much because the story was very interesting. I loved that he'd do anything for his girl, but it kinda freaked me out how a sophomore was in this series and I-will-die-for-you relationship. It definitely had almost a--hate to say it--Twilight feel, but it wasn't that distinct, fortunately.

What was absolutely amazing about this book was the world building. Absolutely memorizing. From the southern feel of Gatlin to the lifestyle that is Lena's everyday life. I loved all the magic that was included in it and it wasn't at all confusing to read about.

With that said, I definitely feel like I enjoyed it more when I had first read it than I do now. Sure, it's been two months since I read it, but, now thinking back on it, I can't really think of anything that significant about it that would make me want to rave about it now. The writing was consistent and had plenty of imagery and was very authentic. The story kept me reading; I finished it in four days, but maybe with all the hype there was over this series, I was expecting more. That's not to say that this book wasn't that good, but it just didn't have that final Wow Factor that would distinguish itself from a good book to an absolutely amazing book.

Besides a very serious relationship among teenagers in the first book, I really did enjoy Beautiful Creatures a lot. The plot, besides this book being over 500 pages, was a quick read and the characters were very interesting to read about. They all had personality and were dimensional.

4 Splashes

Crash by Nicole Williams

Crash by Nicole Williams
Genre: NA Romance
Publication: December 18th, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Page Count: 365
Goodreads
Amazon

Jude Ryder and Lucy Larson are this generation's Romeo and Juliet: Explosive. Sizzling. Tragic.

A steamy summer encounter with bad boy Jude means trouble for Lucy. Her sights are set on becoming a ballerina, and she won't let anything get in her way . . . except Jude.

He's got a rap sheet, dangerous mood swings, and a name that's been sighed, shouted, and cursed by who knows how many girls.

Jude's a cancer, the kind of guy who's fated to ruin the lives of girls like Lucy—and he tells her so.

But as rumors run rampant and reputations are destroyed, Lucy's not listening to Jude's warning. Is tragedy waiting in the wings? This racy romance is hot, hot, hot!

 All of a sudden, there seemed to be so much craze about this book a few months ago in the book world. Like--BAM!--here's this shiny new book with a hot romance and just pure awesome NA flashing in my face. For obvious reasons (the promise of a sexy man), I decided that yes, I did want to read this book, and my prayers were answered in the form of a discounted price on Amazon. Bought in the blink of an eye.

I absolutely adored Lucy in the first few pages of the book. The novel starts off with her on the beach and spotting this unbelievably attractive guy on the beach. So, like any other girl would do, she tries to nab his attention in the most conspicuous way ever because--let's face it--we're not that suave. And when they first meet, it's like lightning! Their chemistry is sizzling hot you could start a fire with it. I am immediately intrigued by this bad-boy character and want to see more of him. 

And being that I mainly read YA, I was kind of okay with this bad-boy Jude with the mysterious past. But then, when I started reading more about him, I began to less and less like Jude. I don't know if it's just me, but I don't generally like dealing with bad boy bullshit. If he's an asshole when you first meet him, chances are, he's just an asshole in general. Jude wasn't the I've-had-a-tough-life-but-am-actually-a-total-softie-once-you-get-to-know-me bad boy; he was the I've-made-mistakes-and-have-a-totally-messed-up-past-and-I-kinda-lust-you-Lucy-but-I'm-going-to-take-out-all-my-anger-on-you-but-then-apologize-and-everything-will-be-fine bad boy. To me, I thought he was mean, but since Lucy had this whole saving-people complex, she took his bull that wouldn't have flown by me. So once I really got to see what kind of character Jude was, I didn't like him anymore.

But I liked the romance. And this is where my weakness fell in. I'm not usually a sucker for this kind of stuff in books, but I have no clue. I enjoyed it and I am not ashamed!

Other than that, I really did enjoy this book. I loved the fact that Lucy was a dancer. I love dance and I used to dance, so I love it when I find a character that was equally as passionate about dance as I am. And I truly did love Lucy as a character in general. I only wish that she hadn't fallen for a total jerk, but then what would have been the book?

Crash is definitely a quick and steamy read that'll keep readers occupied and interested!

4 Splashes

Belladonna by Fiona Paul

Expected Publication: July 16th
Publisher: Penguin/Philomel
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
TBD

The Synopsis:
In Renaissance Italy, love, lust, intrigue and secret societies converge to stunning results!
In the second in the stunning Secrets of the Eternal Rose series, Cassandra Caravello is trying to forget Falco, the wild artist who ran off with her heart, as she grows closer to her strong, steady fiancé, Luca. But Luca seems to have his own secrets. When he’s arrested by soldiers in the middle of the night, Cass’s life is once again thrown into chaos. She must save Luca, and that means finding the Book of the Eternal Rose—the only evidence that will prove he’s innocent.


So begins her journey to Florence, a city haunted by whispers of vampirism, secret soirees and clandestine meetings of the Order of the Eternal Rose. And home to Falco, who is working for the Order’s eerily stunning leader, the Belladonna herself.


Can Cass trust her heart to lead her to the truth this time?
Nothing is as it seems in this seductive thriller, where the truth may be the deadliest poison of all.

I'm not going to explain to you guys how much I love historical fiction because I feel as if I've explained it enough in past reviews.  There's just something about the wonder and magic of historical fiction that enraptures me in its pages.  In Paul's writing, the incorporation of mystery and danger along with the historical accurateness of Venice and Florence, Italy is spellbinding.  It was fantastic!

Cass certainly has changed from the girl readers knew in Venom.  She's vulnerable without Falco, her personality is colder, her determination and hatred of the Order of the Eternal Rose has intensified.  She's matured.  There definitely isn't this reckless trait in her anymore.  However, that doesn't mean that this made her character less interesting.  Her character growth from the first to the second book was believable and interesting to read about.  Still, she bravely ventures all around Venice and Florence, but this Cass knows what to do and is better prepared for the horrors that lay beneath the bustling surfaces of the cities.

Sadly, I felt that now much went on in the book until the very end to keep readers excited and anxious for the next installment.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the book, but it's just that things were pretty evenly paced throughout the entire book until the very end, where it spiked.  There was plenty of mystery and such to keep me interested, but maybe a more definitive climax in the story would have made the story that much more enjoyable. 

So things get pretty interesting in this one when Luca gets thrown in jail and it seems that her only way of getting him free is to find the Book of Eternal Rose.  So I was wishing there was a bit more interaction Falco, but in the end, I suppose it was all right.  I'm curious to see what Paul plans to do next, but it's all part of the big idea with these trilogies.  And if you were wondering, I am Team Falco. 

Belladonna reveals that there is more to the Order than what Cass and Falco thought.  The book is filled with mystery and wonder.  Enticingly dangerous midnight parties, intense midnight chases, and secret midnight meetings ensue.  Lets just assume that the entire book takes place at midnight, alright?  But it was fantastic!  Just glorious, and it was great to read about Renaissance Italy.  The image painted by Paul of Italy was beautiful and enchanting.  Fans of mystery, historical fiction, and of the beautifully dangerous will enjoy Belladonna, but first ya gotta read Venom first, if you haven't already!

Four Splashes

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Genre: YA Dystopia
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication: March 1st, 2012
Page Count: 525

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

I really, really enjoyed Divergent.  I was a little late coming to the series, but I ended up reading it under the pressure of everyone and ended up loving it.  I thought that the potential that the book had was unbelievable and I liked the world that Roth had painted for readers.  It's a scary and weird world to think of having, and it was all so amazingly interesting. 

It's just too bad that my expectations for Insurgent fell a little flat. 

First of all, this baby is quite the hefty one.  I'm not at all bothered by a book that happens to be 70980 pages.  I'm all 'Bring it on!'  But in Insurgent, those 525 pages stretched.  I feel as if those 525 pages could have been snipped a little.  There were events and paragraphs that, I felt, could have either been shortened or cut out completely.  The pacing was slow, considering that this is, in fact, a dystopian thriller-action-adventure.  I was trudging through the pages, waiting for things to move on, but things were slow going.

Secondly, Tris got on my nerves.  Major time.  I hated where she seemed to be playing this unintentional game where she would antagonize Tobias for not being honest, and then they would have a little screaming match or whatever, and then Tris would go behind his back and wonder why Tobias didn't trust her.  If she really wants this relationship to work, she shouldn't be acting immature and going behind his back.  I mean, I didn't understand her logic.  If she were going behind his back, but not complaining about how she wished Tobias would trust her, then I wouldn't be upset because then I wouldn't be thinking of Tris as a hypocrite.  And to top it off, she was acting like a baby!  I understand that she's scarred after murdering her friend and all, but GET OVER IT.  You are in a situation where weaknesses should be dealt with behind closed and locked doors.  Also, it just old after 525 pages.

But other than that, I did enjoy this book.  The writing was fantastic, if a little extensive.  The plot thickened and Things were revealed and new clues and such were introduced.  There was plenty of death and action and flying bullets and fists.  The reason why I hope to forgive Tris in Book 3 is because I know that she is strong and adaptable (Abnegation to Dauntless.  If that doesn't scream major life change, I don't know what does).  I like the relationship between Tobias and Tris because they know that either one of them could die at either moment and they're real, not all lovey-lovey (though they were for a little while and it scared me), and then there was when they were fighting constantly and I didn't like that either.  I only wish they hadn't just dropped the L word after weeks of being together.

Insurgent explores the crumbling of a too-perfect society and the rebels that rise from it.  It's bloody, daring, thrilling, and epic.  Things were rough here and there, but this book is overall pretty awesome, and I hope that everyone gets the chance to read it because I do believe that this series is almost a symbol to the YA community or something.

4 Splashes

Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Sever by Lauren DeStefano
Genre: YA Dystopia
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication: February 12th, 2013
Page Count: 371
Goodreads
Amazon

Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

The only reason why I was even drawn into this series was the fact that all of the books in the series have these beauteous covers.  There's something so haunting and alluring about them.  They just beckon you from their spot on the shelf.  I can't get over how much I adore the covers.  

However, while I love the covers, I couldn't have said the same for the content of the first two books.  It's not that they were terribly written or that they had disastrous plots or anything.  There was just something that didn't connect with me.  Looking back on my thoughts of each book, I kind of disliked Rhine.  Also, I wasn't feeling Rhine and Gabriel's love for one another.  In addition, I didn't find the plot to be that amazing to me.  I mean, I gave the first book three stars and I was iffy on that at the time.

Luckily, things have change drastically!  I crack open Sever expecting there to be some high-tension last battle kind of idea and stuff, but oh, was I wrong!  I remember taking a break from the book and reflecting on it, and I thought to myself 'Damn, this book is depressing'.  Things have occurred throughout the series that have really put a heavy weight on Rhine in this book.  And to be able to finally have the ability to connect with Rhine for the first time in the entire series was something special and amazing.  Rhine's emotions and story and thoughts were believable, yet sad.

Speaking of the story, I very much enjoyed it.  I feel as if it moved faster than the first two books in the series.  The stakes were higher and emotions were wrought thin.  The writing was spectacular.  I loved the imagery and the writing was so poetic and melodic.  I actually enjoyed being inside Rhine's head for a change.  It's not that I hated her, though; it's just that I couldn't relate to her and found her to be a bit boring before.  Thinking about it, she really doesn't speak much . . .

I was so engrossed in the story and was so emotionally involved that I cried my eyes out for the last fifty pages of the book or so.  And I'm not joking.  It's been a while since I've cried all ugly tears in a while, and I was glad that Sever made me be all disgusting and emotional.  It was a pleasure to be at the mercy of DeStefano's evil author ways.  

Sever has left such an imprint on my heart.  The story was moving and haunting at the same time.  Evil guys will be evil, but somehow the good guys have to find a way to shine through the viscous blackness.  DeStefano painted such a gritty and raw story for readers and her writing captivated my mind and made me feel all good inside . . . until she made me cry and all, that is . . . But that's a different story.  Fans of dystopia, a depressing yet moving and emotional story, and a determined heroine will possibly enjoy this series.  Sever made the perfect ending to the Chemical Garden Series. 

4 Splashes

Wasteland by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan

Wasteland by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
Genre: YA Post Apocalyptic
Publisher: HarperTeen
Expected Publication: March 26th
Page Count: 352

Welcome to the Wasteland. Where all the adults are long gone, and now no one lives past the age of nineteen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan’s post-apocalyptic debut is the first of a trilogy in which everyone is forced to live under the looming threat of rampant disease and brutal attacks by the Variants — hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin. Esther thinks there’s more to life than toiling at harvesting, gleaning, and excavating, day after day under the relentless sun, just hoping to make it to the next day. But then Caleb, a mysterious stranger, arrives in town, and Esther begins to question who she can trust. As shady pasts unravel into the present and new romances develop, Caleb and Esther realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin.

 *A review copy was provided for me to review*

The first time I got a glance by this cover, I was instantly intrigued.  There's just something about it that caught my eye. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but that was quite alright.  Hermaphroditic outcasts and a mystery were sure to keep me interested.

Esther was a different girl compared to the rest of the inhabitants of Prin.  She didn't mind the Variants and did not agree with the ways of how they were ruled by Levi.  She wasn't mindless and subordinate like her sister and tried her best to stand up for what she thought was right in her own way.  Sadly, I didn't really create that connection between reader and character with her.  I liked her--didn't mind her or anything--but I didn't feel like I'd care either way what happened with her, unfortunately.

However, I really did care about this story.  I got invested in the story and couldn't wait to see what would happen next.  So unpredictable!  I can't say that I'm a master at figuring the plot of a book out, but I can easily recognize when a story goes generic.  So in Wasteland, I couldn't figure anything out.  I had no idea what these authors had up their sleeves when writing this book.  I was surprised over and over again.  I truly loved this story!

My only major problem about this book would be the writing style.  I've read some pretty complicated writing styles--yet loved it--but for some reason, this book's writing style confused me!  I didn't understand why it would keep tripping me up and I would then get frustrated at myself and then I'd have to distract myself because I wasn't able to read when I was all upset.  I'm not saying that the writing was bad; it was just different.

Wasteland was a gritty and unpredictable read about what people will do for survival.  This post-apocalyptic read featured a tyrannical evil dude bent on manipulating others for his own gain.  Besides the lack of a relatable character who I thought to be too childish for her age and the writing style, this book was good!  The story was so original and I had to keep reading to see what would happen.  Turns out,  Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan are master plotters.  I may just like them a lot.  Fans of dystopia, post-apocalyptic, and awesome plots will possibly enjoy Wasteland.

4 Splashes

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

The Synopsis:
One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different.
When Liza's brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul.
She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him.
To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests--or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.
From New York Times best-selling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope.

My Thoughts:
This marks the first ever MG I have read in a really long while.  Meaning, I haven't read a MG since I was about ten or so.  So as you can see, it's been a while.  My main concerns with reading a MG now was that I thought that the story would be too childish and I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I would have when I was ten.  Was I wrong?  Oh, yes.  Wrong I was.

Liza is a defiant, sassy, and stubborn girl that has a deep love for her brother.  She'll do just about anything for him, so when he goes missing and is replaced by a not-Patrick, she bravely sets off into a world unknown, full of wonders and terrors.  She has no idea what she is getting herself into, and I have to say that's one of the main reasons why I loved her character.  Her strong belief in things unseen and in herself was admirable and enjoyable to read about.  Oh, sure, she had her doubts here and there, but who doesn't?

We meet a whole menagerie of wonderful and horrible creatures in Liza's journey Below.  Each one of them was masterfully created and vividly described by Oliver.  Honestly, I would have expected nothing less of her.  The imagery in the  Delirium Series was spectacular.  So to see that shine in The Spindlers was a happy moment for me.  She created such a different and lively world in this book that it was almost as if this place were real and not made up from the mind of Oliver.  Or is it . . . ?

And Liza's adventure was quite the epic one!  She travels all throughout Below, meets new and different creatures, and battles many foes to reach the nest of the spindlers.  While it took me a while to get into the story, mostly because I didn't have much time to read and would only catch a chapter or two at a time, The Spindlers was fast-paced and exciting.  Once I had really gotten into the story, I was turning pages faster and faster as I went along with Liza on her journey.

Being that this is the first MG I've read in a long while, I was thoroughly surprised and entertained.  The Spindlers tells an epic tale of a girl named Liza who must traverse Below and face many foes to save her brother's soul.  It was fast-paced and jam-packed with vivid imagery and imagination.  If you're looking for an MG that fits these standards, The Spindlers may be the one for you.

Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck

The Synopsis:

With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the bestselling Tiger's Curse series, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tigers' true destinies once and for all.

My Thoughts:
As you've seen on my blog reviews for this series, there were a lot of problems that couldn't be ignored and had to be addressed.  The story for each and every one of the books is spectacular.  They're such original ideas and put the imaginative cells of my to work, but the faults do happen to make the overall story less enjoyable.

Kelsey, for example, had many lessons to learn.  She was not a very likable character and even in this book, I did not like her personality.  Her constant denial and naivete annoyed me to no end.  Also, I wish she would just make her mind up over which guy she wanted.  There was too much testosterone going on with the brothers for my taste.  However, what I did like with the end of this book was the fact that all of the lessons that Kelsey had to learn were huge slaps in the face.  She learned that her destiny wasn't what she had thought it to be and there was a type of satisfaction that came with it.

As always, the story itself was the most interesting part of the book.  There was so much action and adventure that I couldn't even explain it all in this review.  First, they set out to retrieve the fourth and final gift from Durga.  To do that, they end up in this other world that happens to be inside of a volcano.  Lots of action and adventure ensue and then they end up . . . wait for it . . . TIME TRAVELING!  I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm not going to say much about it other than it was very, very interesting to read about.  Then, more action and adventure took place and the book ended.  I also found it interesting how events and hints dropped in previous books played full circle in this one.

I feel as if Houck's writing abilities improve with each book.  The first book was terrible, writing skills-wise.  I was still cringing throughout the series, Tiger's Destiny included, but it wasn't as cringe-worthy as the first.  There were just these moments that would be so awkward that bothered me.  Why, oh why, do things have to be written in such an uncomfortable manner?  In addition, the lack of imagery wasn't as big of a problem as it was for the others of this series.  I found that it was a lot easier to picture things in my mind in this book, and that was a good thing.  Imagery, I feel, is such an important part of the book, so when an author totally neglects it or butchers it to bits and pieces, it makes my heart sad.  Luckily, the imagery was okay or I would have been fuming.

The Tiger's Curse Series and me have had a very turbulent relationship.  We've had moments of smooth flight (the things that I liked) and we've also had moments of near-crashing experiences (the things I didn't like).  The ending was not at all what I thought it to be and I must give some kudos to Houck for that.  I didn't know that I had created some type of character-reader attachment, so when the end came on a very bittersweet note, I actually cried a little.  The action, adventure, and originality of Tiger's Destiny is what made me enjoy the book, but it's unfortunate that I couldn't have given this book more praise because of its many faults.

Skylark by Megan Spooner

The Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Lark Ainsley has never seen the sky.
Her world ends at the edge of the vast domed barrier of energy enclosing all that’s left of humanity. For two hundred years the city has sustained this barrier by harvesting its children's innate magical energy when they reach adolescence. When it’s Lark’s turn to be harvested, she finds herself trapped in a nightmarish web of experiments and learns she is something out of legend itself: a Renewable, able to regenerate her own power after it’s been stripped.
Forced to flee the only home she knows to avoid life as a human battery, Lark must fight her way through the terrible wilderness beyond the edge of the world. With the city’s clockwork creations close on her heels and a strange wild boy stalking her in the countryside, she must move quickly if she is to have any hope of survival. She’s heard the stories that somewhere to the west are others like her, hidden in secret—but can she stay alive long enough to find them?

My Thoughts:
The cover is what originally drew me in.  I mean, just look at that cover!  The colors are gorgeous!  I didn't know what to expect from the synopsis.  The idea sounded different, but I didn't know what to expect from it.  But what really made me want to read this book was all of the positive reviews and talk that was given about it.  I heard nothing but good things and I was extremely curious to see what everybody was talking about.

Unfortunately, I didn't get Lark sometimes.  She didn't seem to be a consistent character.  At first, Lark was this mature and reserved character, but then it all changed for the majority of the book, and that's when I found her to be the most annoying.  Then, towards the end, she went back to being something I would expect from her.  I get that she came from a very secluded area, but for a lot of the adventure, she was whiny and was always the damsel in distress.  However, she did grow as a character by the end and it was nice to see such growth and strength in a character.

In the beginning of the book, I would get so confused and have to reread sentences again and again.  It's not because of the imagery (I thought that the imagery was pretty good) but it was because the reader is bombarded with a bunch of futuristic terms that would throw me off.  It wasn't that big of a deal, especially when I started getting into the swing of things, but it is one of those things that made things a little less enjoyable in the beginning.

The story was something I've never come across before.  I can definitely pick out elements of other dystopian books, such as Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, where Girl gets kicked out of the only home she's ever known and thrust upon this dangerous, uninhabited, unknown world where Girl then meets dark and dangerous and mysterious Boy.  But the mix of magic and dystopia was something crazy awesome and masterfully crafted.  The fact that neither the reader nor characters understood it completely was very interesting and made for a page-turning story.

Skylark was a different and highly entertaining book.  I flew through the pages, hoping that questions would be answered and became invested in the story and characters.  The plot twists were so surprising and I had some moments where I'd just have to put the book down to soak it all in, to process it all.  While we got off to a rocky start, I enjoyed the story.  Fans of dystopia, post-apocalyptic, and magical elements will possibly like this book.

Ten by Gretchen McNeil

The Synopsis:
SHHHH!
Don't spread the word!
Three-day weekend. Party at White Rock House on Henry Island.
You do NOT want to miss it.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.
But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.
Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

My Thoughts:
With just those three phrases on the bottom of the cover, I knew I was going to be hooked.

 Ten teens.  Three days. One killer.

Say whatttt?  This is a murder mystery for YA? Yes, please!  It's kind of disturbing for that I got excited about reading a book about murder, but it sounded like something I'd enjoy.  I didn't have high expectations for it, but I thought that it would be an enjoyable, quick, dark read for me to get sucked into.  And since I haven't read much of murder/mystery, I thought it'd be something new and different to add to my reading repertoire. 

I felt as if Meg was a fictional version of me.  While she wasn't outgoing she had many moments of courageousness and bravery and was very aware of her surroundings.  She wasn't talkative and when she did speak, she had important things to say.  So, it wasn't just useless banter that would take up pages.  Plus, with her perceptive mind, much of the setting was explained very well.

Honestly, I wouldn't have minded more meat to the book.  I get that the book only takes place in the matter of three days, but do the characters eat anything or go to the bathroom (not that I exactly want to know that detail)?  I felt like because the story was so fast-paced, there wasn't any other details about the book besides the murders.  With this missing, I didn't really get to know each of the characters.  I didn't feel anything when people died, nothing.  T.J, whom Meg spends much of her time with, made no type of character-reader attachment for me.  I wanted to feel something with these characters, but I didn't, and it bothered me. 

Other than that, the story was pretty good.  It was one death after the other, and it created a lot of suspense and adrenaline.  I flew through the pages (read the book in one day), waiting to see what happened next.  I kept on playing the guessing game and turned out that I was wrong. 

Ten was sick and twisted, but in the good way.  The lack of character development and attachment made it less enjoyable for me, but the murders made up for it, I guess.  Ten was a super fast read, only reaching 294 pages, but was attention-consuming and adrenaline-pumping.  Fans of murder/mysteries, twisted stories, and horror stories might enjoy this book.

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

The Synopsis:
It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.
His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.
Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.
Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.






My Thoughts:
I don't know about others, but after finishing reading Anna Dressed in Blood, I was a little questionable about where Blake was going with the story.  I had thoughts such as "Was there even enough to spin the story into a second successful book?"  I had my doubts.  There just didn't seem as if there was enough meat to the story for a second one.  Honestly, I would have been content with just the one book.  Why did there have to be a sequel?

However, I was glad to return into Cas's mind.  He was sarcastic and kick ass as ever and wholly entertained me.  For a moment in the beginning of Girl of Nightmares, though, I was afraid I was losing him.  I get that with the ending of Anna, he'd be all depressed, but he was almost this--dare I say?--New Moon Bella Swan.  I get it, Cas, you were depressed.  But don't mope around like a complete dodo mush-head and expect me to be okay with it.  It was a little uncharacteristic, I felt.

For most of the book, I had no idea where the story was going.  Expanding what I said earlier, I wasn't sure what else Blake could do with the plot.  Keeping this in mind, I did find Girl of Nightmares to be unpredictable, which is a great thing, except that in the beginning--mixed in with Cas's depressing mood--I had a hard time getting wrapped up into the story.  I was extremely curious as to where Blake would bring the story, but things were a little dull for me at first.

What I super enjoyed was the fact that it still held a 7 on the creepiness scale!  It wasn't as scary as the first one (or maybe this is just because I've grown a tolerance to these kinds of books) but, especially at the very end, my interest level was sky high and I had a hard time tearing away from the book because it was just that sick and adrenaline-filled.  It was awesome!  If only I had started reading books like this earlier, because it was great!

While the book got off to a shaky start, Girl of Nightmares did not let me down in the end.  I've not read many books in this genre, so I can't compare the book to others, but I suppose this series will be the kind of standard I will look for in other books of this kind.  I jumped into this series being a doubter of all things scary and creepy, and with this series, I came out a believer and lover of all things that go bump in the night.  Thank you, Kendare Blake!

Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck

The Synopsis:
With the head-to-head battle against the villainous Lokesh behind her, Kelsey confronts a new heartbreak: in the wake of his traumatic experience, her beloved Ren no longer remembers who she is. As the trio continues their quest by challenging five cunning and duplicitous dragons, Ren and Kishan once more vie for her affections--leaving Kelsey more confused than ever.














My Thoughts:
Alright, guys.  This is the last of the Houck books I'll be reviewing for a while now.  Honestly, I've never felt like this before where I really enjoyed the books, but the reviews are the same with the same problems and the reviewing task of my job just become arduous.  I've contemplated reviewing Tiger's Quest and Voyage or not because THEY ARE THE SAME.  While completely different with different adventures and characters and overall conflicts, underneath all that busyness are the same nagging problems that bother me.  SAME.  NAGGING.  PROBLEMS.

Kelsey, why do I want to strangle you so?  Get over this 'I'm ugly' nonsense because you wouldn't have TWO AMAZINGLY SMOKING HOT THREE HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD PRINCES wanting to get acquainted with your lips.  Because of this odd mindset that has been going on for THREE LONG BOOKS, you've become an extremely unlikable and flat character in my mind.  I've no attachment to you whatsoever.  I gave you a chance in the first book, figuring you'd come to change throughout the saga.  I became a little bothered how you've not changed in the second book at all.  But now it's the end of the third book and I'm ready to kick your butt to the curb.  You would have been a great and inspirational character to the YA genre if you weren't such a numskull.

And with the end of the third book, I've come to notice, that while the writing has greatly improved, the imagery is almost nonexistent.  Being that I've never been to India and went inside the Shore Temple, I have no idea how to picture the world Houck has brought readers to.  It is imperative that, when an author writes a book that takes place in an entirely different country than most of the demographic, the imagery has to be off the charts.  I assume that India is scorching hot.  But, never once does Kelsey complain about how hot India can get.  I mean, she goes from freezing Oregon to tropical India.  I better have at least a few clues that she is a little bit uncomfortable in this new country. 

This is what the Shore Temple looks like.  My mind did not conjure a somewhat similar image.



And Ren?  Seriously?  Memory loss?  After he came back, the cause of the problem was obvious to me and it bothered me how none of the other characters saw how predictable it was.  And Kishan?  Step back, man.  Step back.  You are deep in dangerous Team Ren territory.

That being said, I might as well mention that I greatly did enjoy this book.  I greatly enjoy the series.  But once these nagging problems stay constant throughout a number of books, they become hard to ignore and make me a little ticked off.  The adventure in this book was outstanding.  Being that I love and live right next to the ocean, I enjoyed being taken on this aquatic adventure that led me all the way to the abysmal depths of the ocean.  Jellyfish!  I was so happy to see them cuties included in the story.

And once again, while my review may seem like I am totally bashing the book to bits and pieces, I have to mention that I loved the book.  It's more of the action and adventure and Indian mythology/prophecy thing that sucked me in.  I can see why people have dropped the book--I just named all the reasons above--and maybe I'm being masochistic, but I will finish the series and hope that something good, at least, comes from all of those pesky problems.



Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

The Synopsis:
Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest--this time with Ren's dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger's Curse. Fraught with danger, spellbinding dreams, and choices of the heart, TIGER'S QUEST brings the trio one step closer to breaking the spell that binds them.












My Thoughts:
So while I was not exactly 100% infatuated with Tiger's Curse, I was very eager to get my hands on the second and third book in the series.  I don't know if it was because the series features big kitties or that there's a lot of action or maybe just a combination of the two, but all I know is that I was very, very, very curious to see what would happen next.

Honestly, I feel like this review is going to be almost exactly like my Tiger's Curse review.

Kelsey still got on my nerves a lot of times.  The book starts off with her coming home from India and she's all depressed because she left all Mr. Hot Man alone and rejected.  She was still so insecure about herself.  I mean, she gets home and goes to college and not even a few months into the semester, she's got three--no four, if you include Ren--vying for her attention!  Seriously!  I can't even get that many dates if I tried.  And she still feels like she's not pretty.  I don't know about you, but I call that thick-skulled.  That doesn't even qualify as denial because if she was just in denial, she would know deep down that she was wrong . . . but she didn't.  And she dates them all at once, and I just found that a little trashy, if you ask me.  I mean, she wasn't looking for anything exclusive, necessarily, but who juggles around four guys at once?  Also, I feel like she hasn't grown as a character.  Or, if she has, it has been this very imperceptible shift in character.

To my liking, there was plenty of action and adventure.  I get the feeling that it wouldn't be a Houck book if there wasn't action and adventure.  And plenty of violence and evil people.  Well, I wouldn't be reading a book, really, if it didn't have any of those characteristics, either, so . . .

For the love that is good and holy!  Must there be a love triangle?  I think that the book would have been plenty successful and just as enjoyable without the triangular romance.  I mentally cringed through a lot of the book because I could see it coming and I was not liking where things were going.  I found it unnecessary and if the one point of the triangle really cared (no, I am not giving away names) he would have backed off.  Just my opinion. 

Writing wise, it was great!  It was such an improvement from the first book.  There wasn't nearly as many awkward situations or sentences that would make me actually cringe.  That was a good sign, I imagine.  It was much smoother writing and had plenty of imagery.

For this review, even though it seems as if I totally bashed the book and hated it, it's actually the exact opposite.  I deeply enjoyed the book despite all of its many flaws.  It's mostly the story that really has me interested in the story.  It was masterfully woven and is a perfect example of what a little bit of imagination can do to the mind.  While I still wasn't feeling the Indian culture, I felt the surroundings, and while I did not connect with the MC, the characters felt like people, if a little out there and strange.

Tiger's Quest will have you turning pages faster than you can imagine with its fast-paced action and adventure.  The story is what will really suck you into the book and make you fall in love with it.  The writing was such an improvement from the first book and the imagery will have you almost smelling the wild jungle air.  For those who enjoy evil opposing forces, action and adventure, and Indian mythology, I would suggest picking up the Tiger's Curse Saga.

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

The Synopsis:
Passion. Fate. Loyalty.

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.





My Thoughts:
I had almost picked up this book a really long time ago when it first came out, but I didn't, and I'm not really sure why.  I think I vaguely remember my close friend, a fellow bookworm, had thought it was kind of meh.  I was still curious about the book--I mean, just look at the cover--but I thought that it could wait.  And then Jenna at Making the Grade had this 'Month of the Tiger' and it was all Tiger's Curse and Colleen Houck.  Being that I follow that blog closely, I thought that a month of recommending this series was plenty of nagging I needed to pick up the book.

I'm not sure that I fully understand Kelsey.  She wasn't a character that was exactly remarkable, but she was brave and courageous.  What I absolutely hated about her was the fact that she kept on trying to convince Ren that she wasn't as beautiful as he thought.  Um, EXCUSE ME. If there's an extremely hot, drool-worthy guy telling me that I'm beautiful and complimenting me REPEATEDLY, I think I'd be convinced that I'm probably not that ugly as I think I am.  Just saying.  But she never learned.  She didn't grow as a character.  Even though this series is, like, five billion books long, I expect there to be at least a minute growth in character.  She was also a little annoying.  She didn't think that she was worthy of Ren's love.  How could you think that, Kelsey?!?!

Another thing that bothered me as I read was the writing.  It was amateur.  Some of the situations the characters were put in was awkward at times, too.  Also put into mind that this book is a monstrosity.  It's long and weighs at least three pounds.  It's a hefty one.  So when it's full with this writing that isn't exactly right, it's a little off-putting.  However, this is Houck's first book, and I hope that as the series progresses, the writing will improve.

But those are the reasons why this book was not given five stars from me.  There were some things that I actually did enjoy about this book.  For one, the mythology.  Once again, I will mention how much of a history geek I am, so historical and mythological accuracy in books are key to me.  And it was great how Houck tied in all these Hindu aspects into the story.  Plus, it made me super happy when Mr. Kadam, the only character that I really connected to, would explain to Kelsey about the caste system and tell her stories about Durga and the other gods.  However, I didn't feel much of the local Indian culture in the story.  Since a majority of the book takes place in India, I would have expected more of the Indian culture to make more of an appearance in the story.

Another thing that I enjoyed about the book was that it was filled to the brim with action and adventure.  I can't fully enjoy a book if it doesn't have adrenaline-packed scenes or a scenic surrounding.  Besides the beginning, there really wasn't a slow, dull moment in the story.  I was glued to the book and I'm pretty sure I disappeared from the real world for a while when I was reading this book.

Despite the sometimes unlikable main character and weak writing, there was a lot to enjoy about Tiger's Curse.  Tying in an old curse that has turned man into tiger with Hindu mythology was almost intoxicating for me and very enjoyable.  I may not have enjoyed the characters at times, but the story was plenty of reason to keep me reading on.  If you're a fan of big kitties, ancient curses, mythology, and action and adventure, you should maybe consider putting Tiger's Curse on your TBR list.

Endlessly by Kiersten White

The Synopsis:
Evie's paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie's hands.

So much for normal.









My Thoughts:
Let me start off by saying that the Paranormalcy series has been a blast to read.  Just looking at the covers, I knew that I would somehow love the books one way or another.  I loved getting to know all about Evie and her insecurities and falling for Lend.  It has been a fun series with plenty of ups and downs for the characters, and once I finished reading Endlessly, I knew that the story and all of its characters were done justice.

Evie is one of the most alive characters I've ever read.  Even though she strived for some type of normalcy, never once did she ever doubt the decisions she made.  Sure, she had the entire race of supernaturals on her hands and a whole lot of stress that no person should never be put through, but never once did she give up and her determination for both a normal life and also a safe life was admirable.  And it was such a great experience as a write to see how much Evie's matured throughout the entire series.  I know I've put in reviews for the other books that I found her annoying and naive, but I can't even complain about that now.  She became such a strong character and I enjoyed being in her head throughout the series.

Things were a lot heavier than I expected them to be in this book.  It was deep.  The situation was a lot worse than I thought it'd be.  First of all, the Dark Faerie Queen?  I would not want to mess with that mama.  I didn't think that she was Queen Mab from the Iron Fey Series evil, but the DFQ had her own air of evilness.  And don't even get me started on the new director to IPCA.  Oh, how she got on my nerves!  You bad lady! 

And I might as well say this: Jack is back! *happy dance*

And is it possible that I cared enough for all of the characters that I had the FEELS?  The answer is: Yes!  It is possible!  They weren't like "AWWWWW, somebody hold me!  I have the FEELS!!" but it was more like a "Oh, how my heart flutters and my eyes get all misty!".  Those kind of Feels.

Endlessly had the right amount of spunk and fierceness that I could only describe as a work of White.  It was highly entertaining and the story was an original idea inspired by all the things that go bump in the night.  Endlessly was the perfect end to a series.  Be prepared to see a different side of Evie and all the paranormals and see a whole different kind of evil.  For those that love a book with the perfect balance of light and dark and paranormal influences, the Paranormalcy series is something I'd be putting on your TBR list.