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By: fishgirl182,
on 3/14/2014
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Publication date: 12 Feb 2013 by Simon & Schuster
Category: Young Adult DystopiaKeywords: Dystopia, End of series, RevolutionFormat: Hardcover, ebook, audiobookSource: PurchasedSynopsis: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.
Kimberly's Review:This is a hard book for me to review because I loved Wither, the first book in The Chemical Garden trilogy, so much.
Without giving too much away, Rhine has escaped the mansion only to find herself at Reed's house, Vaughn's long estranged brother.
Searching for her twin brother, and trying to come to terms with her feelings for both Linden and Gabriel, Rhine embarks on a quest that will answer her questions once and for all. But not all the answers are what she wants them to be. And some of them she wishes she never knew.
I had a lot of problems with Rhine in this book. I loved her in the first two books- independent, strong willed and wanting nothing more than to survive and go home. And while this Rhine isn't that far from the old, she is slightly different. She's been through so much and she's very damaged by the events of the previous two books. But instead of making her more sympathetic, I felt more distant to her character. Her urgent need to find her brother, and then once she does eventually find him, she doesn't scream at him all of the evil she's encountered. (This will make sense once you read the book) I was so frustrated with her! She's also super confused about her feelings for Gabriel and Linden, which just became grating on me. I'll explain.
I am probably in the minority, but I have to say that I am probably on team Linden. Yes, he's pretty dense and should have been paying more attention to the evil that was his own father. But Linden's character grows exponentially during this final book and so by the end, I was hoping that she would end up with him. He was always my favorite of the two, between him and Gabriel and though the sister wife thing does creep me out, I still think Linden is the better choice. However, this of course proves problematic because he also has Cecily, his youngest wife still on his arm.
Cecily has also grown. In Fever, book two, the story took Rhine away from both of them and when she returns, they've both matured. While I can't say I like Cecily, I don't mind her and in fact, I may actually have respected her by the end.
What is strange is that Gabriel is mostly absent in book three. This is supposed to be her big love interest! It really hurt my feelings towards Gabriel because he was MIA for so long. I re-attached myself onto Linden. Sorry Gabriel, but even when you were the main character in Fever, I still wasn't a fan. I don't think you had a strong enough personality, and I never really understood what Rhine saw in you.
Now let's talk about Rowan. Rowan, the brother who Rhine is after. Rowan, who is barely a character at all in book three. I'm really sorry but I don't get it. There is nothing special about Rowan and as for their deep, twin relationship, I didn't feel it. He seemed like a secondary character that just appeared for plot sake. I wasn't emotionally invested in Rowan. She searched the country, confronted dangers and evil, for this guy?
I read books two and three right after the other and they move very fast. I love how the story flows so quickly you can get lost for hours in the world. Their world is scary, mean and unforgiving. There's a lot to like about The Chemical Garden trilogy. I love the freshness of the story and felt like the characters were always in real danger, just escaping by their skin. I love the big reveals during the end, including Rhine's revelation and Madame's secrets.
Overall, I enjoyed Sever and the entire series. While I didn't have a great sense of the characters or motivation behind them, the plot was fast and I wanted to know what happened next. I would recommend it for older YAs as well as adults looking for a dark dystopian.
By: fishgirl182,
on 3/7/2014
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Category: Young Adult FantasyKeywords: Fantasy, Dragons, Souls, ReincarnationFormat: ebook, HardcoverSource: PurchasedSynopsis:DESTRUCTION
The Year of Souls begins with an earthquake—an alarming rumble from deep within the earth—and it’s only the first of greater dangers to come. The Range caldera is preparing to erupt. Ana knows that as Soul Night approaches, everything near Heart will be at risk.
FLIGHT
Ana’s exile is frightening, but it may also be fortuitous, especially if she can convince her friends to flee Heart and Range with her. They’ll go north, seeking answers and allies to stop Janan’s ascension. And with any luck, the newsouls will be safe from harm’s reach.
CHOICE
The oldsouls might have forgotten the choice they made to give themselves limitless lifetimes, but Ana knows the true cost of reincarnation. What she doesn’t know is whether she’ll have the chance to finish this one sweet life with Sam, especially if she returns to Heart to stop Janan once and for all.Kimberly's Review:It’s a really hard review for me to write. I had such hope for this series, especially because I enjoyed the first book so much.
While the first book in the series,
Incarnate, is catching and fresh, I felt more and more distance from the characters as the series wore on. So by the time book three, the last book, came out, I was not heavily invested in the story or the main characters. Mostly, I wanted to see how it ended.
I think there was a lot of potential in the first book. The series is easy to read. The premise is intriguing. Souls reincarnated over and over again? 5,000 years of it? Imagine the baggage! The emotional turmoil! There was so much I wanted from this series! But sadly for me, it didn’t deliver.
There’s a lot of action, but not a whole lot of descriptions. A lot of the time I felt like I was mostly reading actions and dialogue, but I didn’t have a good sense of the motivation behind each character. Nor did I feel particularly drawn to any of them. I know I’m supposed to like Ana, and her devotion to New Souls is admired, but character wise, I felt like she was hollow. I still wasn’t sold on Sam either. Even in the first book, I didn’t totally buy him as the big love interest. He is sweet and kind but totally, utterly boring. Someone told me that they sometimes find some YA books hard to read because they play into male fantasy characters for teenage girls. And for this one, I would have to agree with them.
Sam is dull. Yes, he’s a musician, he’s been alive for 5,000 years. He has a little bit of baggage, as he is eaten by a dragon like 30 times, but overall, Sam mopes about playing music and telling Ana of his undying love to her. Really, Sam? Where’s the passion, the hurt, the strength? Where’s the madness and motivation and challenge? No, Sam is more like a wet noodle from a very old bowl of soup.
The secondary characters are not solid for me either such as Stef. Stef, who is reincarnated over and over again as Sam’s best friend and sometimes love interest, fades into the background by book three and nothing is really resolved. Even the big bad guy, the big evil, the man with the plan who wants to enslave everyone, is an annoying gnat you want to swat away. He's not the immediate danger, no matter how far into the series I got. I was more concerned with the townspeople wanting to kill Ana and her friends and the pregnant mothers who may have No Soul babies.
Imagine you have a town of people who have lived and loved over and over again for 5,000 years. It’s like an never-ending high school filled with love, hope, emotional angst and incestuous relationships. (I mean that as in my boyfriend is now your boyfriend, and now he’s my boyfriend again, etc.) But instead, we barely brush the surface of the last 5,000 years and what this means to each of the characters.
I’m sorry I didn’t enjoy
Infinite. While I love the idea of the story and the possibilities of what it could have brought, I was left disappointed in the series and ending.
By: fishgirl182,
on 3/5/2014
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Publication date: 13 May 2013 by Disney-Hyperion
Category: Young Adult Fiction/FantasyKeywords: Paranormal, High School, Ghosts, WitchesFormat: Hardcover, eBookSource: ARC from PublisherSynopsis:Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.
Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.
Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?
Kimberly's Review:Izzy Brannick is strong and trained to fight monsters. And the one thing she is scared of? High School.
Izzy has been homes schooled her whole life. So when a case requires her to go to high school, Izzy bunkers down, watches a lot of high school television and hopes for the best. But nothing could prepare her for a best friend, a crush and a ghost. A really strong ghost.
Can Izzy's new friends accept who she is and help her defeat this ghost?
I'm a big fan of the
Hex Hall series so I was really excited to read
School Spirits. Izzy appears in the last book
Spell Bound, and she takes front and center in
School Spirits. Izzy is smart, strong and achingly awkward. I love how she's never been to a high school pep rally, basketball game. I love how she's learning everything there is to know about high school by watching television. The story introduces us to some "normal" teenagers like her new best friend Romy who is equal parts awesome fun and rainbow unicorn. And sweet Dex who makes Izzy a little bit dizzy.
In typical Hawkins fashion, there's a lot of fun one liners and witty dialogue. There's some romance, and ghosts and witches and danger. But best of all, there is Izzy who is really sweet and a bit sad.
The story moves quickly and while I would have liked more description, more twists, stronger motivations for the characters, I still breezed through it quickly in only two days. Enjoying the ride and wishing there was a sequel I could dive into right away.
It's a standalone after the
Hex Hall series, but you should read the series first to fully enjoy
School Spirits. I really hope this is the start of a spin off series.
*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
Visit the author online at www.rachel-hawkins.com and follow her on Twitter @LadyHawkins
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By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 2/12/2013
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ISBN 10/13: 0373210671 | 9780373210671
Category: Young Adult Fantasy
Keywords: Myths, Retellings, Series, Gods and Goddesses
Format: ebook, Hardcover
Source: NetGalley
Kimberly's Review:
Last year, I finally got around to reading
The Goddess Test, book one. Which I LOVED, and immediately grabbed for book two. Then I had wait, like
forever, to get my hands on book three, the final book. And I'm still not sure what I think about it.
This review will contain some spoilers from the first two books so if you haven't read books one and two, maybe you should stop reading now and grab a cup of tea.
 |
| Spoilers below |
Without giving too much away, Kate has been captured by Calliope and held for nine months, waiting to give birth. Henry doesn't know anything is wrong and no one is searching for her. That is, until all hell breaks loose. Cronos is ready to blast through, starting a war he intends no one to survive. Not his children, not humanity. Calliope at his side has one goal, to make Kate miserable, and she plans on doing that by stealing Kate and Henry's baby.
There are some really wonderful things about
The Goddess Inheritance. This book is a fast paced thrill ride. So much happens, I can't even begin to go into everything. Action packed. Calliope morphs into an even more sinister version of herself, and she is pretty terrifying and gross. We see Cronos a little differently in this book and get a closer look at his motivations. Together, these two are bent on destroying the world, and for most of the book, I really thought they would do it. No one is safe and it's hard to see who is on whose side and why.
There's also a lot of open questions at the end of the book and this makes me... happy! (See, you thought I was going to say something else, didn't you?) I hope this opens the road for spin off books.
Now some not so great things. I liked Kate in books one and two, but that didn't hold true for me in book three. Kate whines a lot, complains, feels helpless and whines some more. A lot of the conversations between her and Henry are about sacrifice, who is willing to give up what. I love Kate's compassion and love, but halfway through the middle of the book, she becomes this wet mop. Where is the Kate from the beginning? Who passed the tests? Who fought for Henry's love? She's in there somewhere, but it takes a while for her to get back to herself so most of the book I kinda wanted to slap her across the face.
Another thing I loved in the series was Henry and Kate together. Their trials and victories as a couple, as a unit, facing real relationship problems and lack of communication. Their fights and struggles nearly killed me in the first two books. Killed. Me. That wasn't really evident in this book. Their problems were more circumstantial and the heat and love I felt between them earlier wasn't as strong. Don't get me wrong, I love Henry and Kate. But I was expecting more from them as a couple, and was disappointed by the course of their relationship.
Here's a non-spoiler for those who have read it already:Yeah, that whole thing that happens on the island? and then there's little-to_no discussion about it afterwards? None? NONE? What?! One line? We get one line about not talking about it? (slaps forehead) I call foul!
Overall though,
The Goddess Inheritance is a solid end to a captivating trilogy. I'm sad it's over, I still want more and while I'm disappointed by some of the events that happened in book three, I still think it's one of my favorite series out there and would totally read it again.
For more about the author, visit
aimeecarter.com and tweet @
aimee_carter.
You can find more reviews by Kimberly at
The Windy Pages and tweet her @
thewindypages.
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 12/15/2012
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Publication Date: 11 December 2012 by Bloomsbury
ISBN 10/13: 1599906465 | 9781599906461
Category: Young Adult Fantasy/Fairytale Retelling
Keywords: Robin Hood, Fairy Tales, Myths
Formats: Hardcover
Source: NetGalley
Kimberly's review:
This is the third book in the series, the last one, the story to tie up all loose ends. Seeing as I haven't read any of the other ones before, I was afraid I might get lost. Thankfully, the history and mythology is carefully explained and it's a twisted history indeed!
Petunia, the youngest of the twelve dancing sisters, is abducted by a "wolf" in the forest, a young man with the mask of a wolf. She finds him to be Oliver, an earl who has lost his land, and has been reduced to robbing passing coaches. Oliver swears to get her to her destination, but when he drops her off at the gates, he realizes that something is wrong and Petunia is in more danger than she realizes. Fairy tales and myths combine for a very cute story.
I really liked the mythology and the history. I think it would have been better to follow the journey from book one, but I didn't have any problems following the thread. It was interesting and imaginative, these interwoven fairy tales. I like Petunia, but she is sixteen so a couple times I rolled my eyes at her. A lot of the book is spent with her eleven sisters, all named after flowers. I'm sure it is hard to write a story about the twelve dancing princesses, but honestly, most of the time I was confused by them. None of them really stood out with a distinct personality. They all blended together.
This goes the same way for Oliver, his band of thieves, and the sisters' husbands. I didn't feel a real connection to any of them. I may have had a different experience if I had read the series from book one.
Overall,
The Princess of the Silver Woods is fun and a clever twist on the stories of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, Robin Hood and Little Red Riding Hood. Fans of fairy tale retellings will enjoy this romp through the forest.
Find out more about the author at
www.jessicadaygeorge.com and follow her @
JessDayGeorge
It's Kimberly's turn to suggest some great gifts for booklovers. Take it away,
Kimberlybuggie!
- - -
Here it is! The holiday guide. 'Tis the season for Christmas shopping. I'm almost done (thankfully) but I am sure some of you are just starting out! (I know this, because it has not yet crossed my dear husband's mind.)
Here are some suggestions for the book lovers in your life!
Must have books for the year:
I loved Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen - I love a good Robin Hood story and this one has just enough twists to keep it fresh. Scarlet is a modern girl in a long ago time, and her strength and fearlessness is something to be admired.
Another wonderful book is Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo--YA fantasy at its finest! *Alethea's note: Yep, we all three picked Shadow and Bone for our top of 2012 lists, so I had Kimberly recommend some more books too.
New Girl by Paige Harbison - It's a dark and gothic retelling of the classic book Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier. More suitable for older readers, the story takes place in a boarding school, and the author isn't afraid to shy away from sensitive topics. Delicious, creepy and a solid retelling for fans of the original. Couldn't put it down.
Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead--a book that is thought provoking days after finishing. I can't really explain why I love this book without giving anything away. Stead is a superb storyteller whose characters really evolve through the book. You know them them by the end, these complicated and flawed kids.
Wonder by RJ Palacio - A beautiful tale of Auggie, a young boy who is physically deformed. Auggie sees life and love more clearly then others around him, and this loving book is filled with heart. You won't want to miss this well written contemporary story.
Food for my belly? Yes please!
A friend of mine is in love with a beautiful tea company from Canada called
David's Tea. And with good reason. Their large selection of fine teas are well made and heaven in a cup. Check them out! They ship to the US.
Also, I was in NYC last week and got to try the most delicious chocolate!
No Chewing Allowed offers truffles and hot chocolate packets. NOT TO BE MISSED. I might have ordered some for myself as a gift. Just saying.
You can find more reviews from Kimberly at
The Windy Pages. This list is cross-posted there.
So are
our lists good for figuring out what to give other people, or are they better for figuring out what you want to get for yourself? Answer in the comments on any of the three posts and you might win a set of Alethea's
book geek buttons!
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 12/7/2012
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Publication date: 16 August 2012 by Dial
ISBN 10/13: 0803735804 | 9780803735804
Category: Young Adult Fantasy
Keywords: Family, Fae, Missing Siblings, Fairy Queen
Format: Hardcover, ebook
Source: Borrowed ARC
Kimberly's synopsis and review:The trees swallowed her brother whole. Now Jenny, seven years later, goes back to the place where it happened. To the place she lost her brother, to where she lost her family, to say goodbye. But instead, she hears a mysterious song, reminding her of her brother Tom, and before she knows it, she's in a dangerous world. And she swears she won't leave without her brother.
I'll be honest--this book caught my eye because of the cover. Did you see it? Pretty. And I like a good fairy tale as much as the next girl so I was really looking forward to reading this book.
This is more of a traditional fairy tale. A missing sibling, a family torn apart, and the sister who is the only one who can find him. Jenny wanders through the forest, with a guide named Jack who has his own intentions. Evading the evil queen, ignorant of the rules of this land, Jenny finds herself in scary and dangerous situations. I love the danger that looms on every page. I enjoy the betrayals and dark nature of the characters. There is some beautifully descriptive writing and a couple of fun twists.
Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Jenny. She's supposed to be seventeen, but she seems younger. I'm told she has a pure, good heart, but she falls into the group of uninteresting, bland main characters. She's too good, there's little fire. Oh sure, her guide Jack sees the fire, the stubbornness, the flame. But as a reader, I really didn't see it. I was told. She seemed a rather tame teenager, honestly.
Jack is the most interesting character by far. Conflicted, with multiple allegiances, Jack's motivations are clouded and he has more depth than any of the other characters by far. By the time we meet Tom, Jenny's brother, who has been in the fairy world for seven years, even he is still too vanilla. You'd think being brainwashed, held captive, and possibly going to be a ritual sacrifice would make Tom into a more layered young man, but alas, no. And the other characters don't do fair well either. The motivations behind the kind and queen are thin, but if you look past it, you'll find a fun story and a fast moving plot.
Overall, I liked the story for the plot, for the creepiness and the world. But I couldn't identify with any of the characters. If you like more traditional fairy tales, you'll like this book!
Find out more about the author at
rflong.com and follow her on Twitter @
RFLong.
You can find more of Kimberly's reviews at
The Windy Pages.
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 8/31/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 1599559064 | 9781599559063
Keywords: Fairy Tale Retelling, Family, Sisters
Category: Young Adult/Middle Grade
Format: ebook, Hardcover
Source: Netgalley
Kimberly's review:I love retellings of my favorite fairy tales, so I've been wanting to read
Cinder and Ella for a while. Cinder and Ella are so close and dependent on each other, that their own family can't tell them apart. When Cinder begins working in the castle, Ella becomes unrecognizable to her family without her other half. Heartbroken, Ella wanders away, searching for a new home and people who will appreciate her. But the castle has dark forces at work and the sisters become the unfortunate target of the handsome, but not so nice prince.
I really like Ella. She's clever, smart and thoughtful. Even in dangerous situations, the girl is a fighter, and I love how strong she is. On the other hand, Cinder is wholesome, good and trusting. Which, honestly, annoyed me to no end. I know, I know. Maybe I'm just cynical. But Cinder is so sweet and pure, she can't even see the evil Prince is, well, evil. I mean really, Cinder? This is me virtually slapping some sense into you.
There.
The writing is sweet, and the style is light and I breezed through this book. I kept wanting to know what happened. The story read like a fairy tale. It is so easy to get swept up in the adventure. Coming in below 300 pages, this super sweet and short tale is perfect for a light read. I especially love the mythology about the trees and how each person has a tree, and it's tied to them. When Cinder and Ella's father runs away, they have a feeling he is still alive because his tree is still alive. Looking worse every year, but alive. And this gives them hope.
But why only three stars you ask? I have a couple of problems with the plot and conclusion of the book. While the ending is tied up rather nicely, Cinder and Ella's family is so selfish and mean, the ending doesn't bring any closure for me. Also, and I won't give it away, the motivations behind some of the characters, especially in the royal family, feel hollow and flimsy.
Overall, Cinder and Ella is a fast, clever retelling of the classic Cinderella story. I think a lot of readers will enjoy Ella and Cinder's adventures.
*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
Find the author online at
www.authormelissalemon.com and on
Facebook.
You can find more reviews by Kimberly at
www.thewindypages.com and tweet her @
TheWindyPages.
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 8/23/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 0375869433 | 9780375869433
Category: Young Adult Fiction
Format: Hardcover, ebook
Keywords: Camp, Murder, Mystery
Kimberly's synopsis:Calista Wood arrives at St. Bede's Academy half way through the year. She's been granted a free ride, but there's more than school on her mind. Ten years ago, her sister and another girl mysteriously vanished outside this school. Now Calista is back, searching for answers to her sister's disappearance.
Kimberly's review:
I'm sorry to say I didn't care for this book. While the opening chapter hooked me in, I felt pretty lost through the beginning half of the novel. Callie enters the boarding school with hope that this prestigious school will help her get into a better college. Within the first few chapters, many different characters are introduced, none of them very memorable.
I liked Callie's spunk and the dialogue was fast and fun at times. But for all of that, when confronted with her peers, Callie didn't feel complete to me. The story starts moving about half way when a body is found in the woods behind the school. It's not her sister's, but it starts a chain reaction that leads Callie to investigate everyone around her.
Her boyfriend Alex, is bland. The other boy she's interested in, Jack, is a little richer, but the relationship is so lukewarm for so much of the book, it's hard to see him as a romantic lead by the time it does come around. Everyone else, including Queen Bee Helen and the mean girl groupies, were really hard to visualize.
I had a real problem with a lot of the relationships in the book. None of them seemed healthy, and by the end when everything is revealed, it's so distasteful, I imagine this prep school is run by Jersey Shore grads. For me, all of that took away from the overall mystery of the sister's disappearance. I really wanted to like this book, but the mystery left me flat and the school politics were cold.
You can find the author at
www.mccormicktempleman.com.
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Kimberly at
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By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 8/21/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 1606842722 | 9781606842720
Category: Young Adult Realistic Fiction
Keywords: Kidnapped, Mother/Daughter relationships, Family, Trapped
Format: ebook, Hardcover
Emmy Rane is very young and unhappily married to a mean man. The only bright spot in her life is her Baby. Baby is her love, her life, her four month old child. And one day, when she's on a swing, Emmy goes inside to grab a blanket. And comes back to find Baby gone.
Sophie is home-schooled, works hard for her rigid mother and never gets to meet anyone or go out and play. She has no friends and spends all of her days studying. That is, until one day she meets a neighborhood boy and everything changes. Sophie begins to question everything about her lifestyle, her mother and herself.
You Are My Only is a beautifully written story about love, family and loss. Kephart's switching between Emmy's point of view and Sophie's point of view is flawless and leaves the reader wanting more. Emmy's voice is very strong. Her emotional response to her missing child seems real and heartbreaking. As she plummets deeper and deeper into despair, Emmy's journey takes on a few unexpected turns.
In contrast, Sophie's voice is equally strong, but in a different way. She's curious, suspicious and cautiously optimistic as she begins to explore the world outside of her home. As Emmy's life is spiraling down, Sophie's life is building up. She makes friends, disobeys her mother and starts to learn more about herself in the process. For me, the best part of reading this book were the strong narrations and the changing of point of views. This kept the story flowing quickly and easy. And the ending is perfect.
Take a chance and read
You Are My Only, a well-written and emotional book.
Find the author online at
beth-kephart.blogspot.com and follow @
BethKephart on Twitter.
Find more reviews from
Kimberly at
The Windy Pages.
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 6/21/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 0007442912 | 9780007442911
Category: Young Adult Dystopian Fiction
Format: Hardcover, ebook
Keywords: Series, Dystopian, Uprising
Source: Library
Jacket copy:
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.
Kimberly's Review:
All right, so let's get some things straight here.
I really liked Divergent, book one of the Divergent series. I thought it was well written, fast paced, fun and creative.
2 Comments on Insurgent - Review, last added: 6/22/2012
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 6/10/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 1599905280 | 9781599905280
Young Adult Realistic Fiction
Keywords: Sailing, Friendship, Boyfriends, Summer
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Netgalley
Jacket copy:
Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life.
Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now.
Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart?
Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.
Kimberly's Review:Clementine's summer is not going as she planned. She lost her best friend, by doing something that wasn't so nice, and is now on a summer sailing trip with her family. Isolated from everyone and everything she knew, Clementine tries to learn from her mistakes, open her heart to the future and start the road to forgiveness, including herself.
The story jumps back and forth between the present day when Clem is on the boat with her family during the summer, and her memories of her life back home. She recounts how her and her best friend Amanda were insepera
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 4/15/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 1442439513 | 9781442439511
Category: Young Adult Realistic Fiction
Keyword: Thriller, Death, Loss, Missing persons
Format: Hardcover, ebook
From Goodreads:
"Don't even think of leaving...I will find you," he whispered. "Guaranteed."
Sara and her mom have a plan to finally escape Sara's abusive father. But when her mom doesn't show up as expected, Sara's terrified. Her father says that she's on a business trip, but Sara knows he's lying. Her mom is missing--and her dad had something to do with it. Each day that passes, Sara's more on edge. Her friends know that something's wrong, but she won't endanger anyone else with her secret. And with her dad growing increasingly violent, Sara must figure out what happened to her mom before it's too late...for them both.
Kimberly's review:
I have a confession. I cheated.
So, I'm always giving my one friend a hard time be
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 4/9/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 0802722849 | 9780802722843
Category: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Vampires, Politics, Romance, Fiction
Format: ebook, Hardcover, Paperback
Kimberly's review:
Well, hell. Another fantastic installment in the Drake Chronicles series. In this story, we follow young Christabel, Lucy's cousin that has come to live with her. Christabel is a girl after my own heart. She reads, reads, reads. She's fun, strong and mostly a loner. Don't get her wrong, she likes Connor Drake. He's nice, and sweet and an overall good guy. But she's not interested in him. She likes the bad boys, you know? And Connor isn't a bad boy. Is he?
Once she's kidnapped, accidentally mistaken for her cousin Lucy, she is thrown into the Drake vampire politics and find out why the mysterious Drake brothers are the way they are. And why her cousin Lucy acts so weird...
I loved how Christabel was thrown into this world. Circumstances beyond her control wheeled her in and now she's playing catch up! I really liked her sense of humor and fearlessness. I enjoyed her murmuring poetry when she was nervous. She's a wonderful character. And of course the
Ack! I usually just ignore these things but my good friend KimberlyBuggie was the tagger, so I can hardly say no, can I? She's just too cute! And she's surrounded by bunnies... Irresistible.
So, here goes:
1. How did you get into blogging?
I taught myself HTML... it must have been 1997? I was heavily into Buffy the Vampire Slayer and ended up creating my own website where I reviewed episodes and quoted the show (but only food-related quotes!) Eventually I moved on to reviewing books, music, movies, and just blogging about everyday life. I found that I liked focusing on a single aspect as it was too much work to keep up with everything else and still hold down a job, so I picked my favorite topic--books!
2. What fictional character would you most want to be best friends with?
Alexia Tarabotti from
Gail Carriger's
Soulless series. But I look awful in hats, so Ivy can continue to hold that post.
3. What fictional world would you like to visit for one day? As character or as yourself?
Ixia/Sitia from
Maria V. Snyder's
Study and
Glass books! In fact, if you read
Sea Glass (
Glass, Book 2) I'm already there. (Thanks, Maria :) Best bookseller credit ever! I am an ACTUAL fictional character, not just by name--that's really ME! haha!)
4. How do you buy the majority of your books? Indie book store? Larger chain or Internet retailers?
I used to work for Borders, so I don't buy from Barnes & Noble unless I have a good reason, like attending a signing. I try to balance buying from
Amazon
(for my Kindle, and for great savings) as well as
Book Depository (for foreign books and giveaways) with buying from my local
indies:
Vroman's,
Once Upon a Time, and
Mrs. Nelson's. I also really super-love
The Last Bookstore in L.A. I know I probably shouldn't support big bad Amazon, but let's face it--I'm not made of money, and buying full-price is expensive! I try to spend at least $20 at each of my
indies per month.
5. Do you buy a book based on its cover?
Heck yes. I've been suckered once or twice, but most of the time the inside is as good as out. Like
Entwined
by Heather Dixon, gorgeous!
6. What does your TBR pile look like? (Picture?)
Ohmyword. Let's see if I can get them all in.
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 3/5/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 0802720749 | 9780802720740
Category: Young Adult Paranormal
Keywords: Vampire, Romance, Fiction
Format: ebook, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD
From Goodreads:
On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.
Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 1/29/2012
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Spin by Catherine McKenzie
ISBN 10/13: 0062115359 | 9780062115355
Category: Young Adult Realistic Fiction
Keyword: Music, Writing, Celebrities, Guilt, Addiction, Rehab
Format: ebook, paperback
Kimberly's synopsis:
Katie Sandford has a little problem. She's thirty years old and finally gets her dream job interview: to work for
The Line, a music magazine. But the morning of the interview comes and she bombs! Why? Could be the serious drinking she did the night before. But redemption is here! In the form of... Rehab?
Katie must go undercover at a rehab clinic to get close to a celebrity known as TGND "The Girl Next Door". If she can get the scoop and write an expose on this "IT" Girl, then she'll get a chance at the position at
The Line. Katie accepts, but doesn't know what it will cost her.
Kimberly's review:
I really enjoyed this book. Katie's voice is strong and hilarious. The writing reminds me of
Bridget Jones's Diary. Funny, personal and blatantly honest, Katie struggles through her time at rehab. At first, I thought she just had a bit of bad luck. But after reading further, Katie's character morphs into something more. She doesn't realize that this was probably the best place she could be--not for the story, but for herself. Katie's own self destruction is uncomfortable and frustrating to watch, another reason you can't put it down. Through the entire book, I was rooting for Katie, and you will too!
I wasn't sure what to make of her target, Amber T.G.N.D. Spoiled, damaged and suffering, her character's depth becomes more apparent as you read on. And Henry is... blush-worthy.
I'm surprised that this is considered YA. The protagonist is thirty years old, and all of her friends are older as well. The writ
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Publication date: 30 August 2011 by
Tor Teen
ISBN 10/13: 0765328658 | 9780765328656
Category: Young Adult Horror
Keywords: Ghosts
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Kimberly's review:
Boo!
Did I scare you?
No?
Hmm, well I guess that's ok because I have got something that will Totally. Creep. You. Out.
Seriously.
And that, my friends, is
Anna Dressed In Blood.
Cas, a ghost hunter by trade and family connection, is given a tip that will change everything he has known. Given a tip from one of his sources, he is sent to a small town to confront the long suffering ghost they call Anna Dressed In Blood. An old and very strong ghost, Anna floats through the home she was killed in leaving a trail of blood that drips like water from her red stained dress. Cas doesn't think anything is special about this ghost until he tries to kill her. And then well, all hell breaks loose.
Rave reviews made me wary of this novel. How good could it be? It's a ghost story. I've read many a ghost story before. But no! While the general plot might sound contrived, once you start reading it, you'll see it's totally original. There are so many twists, turns, surprises and no one is safe. Let me repeat that. No. One. Is. Safe. From Anna.
Cas is a fantastically complex character. He is cut off from having any real friends, doomed to roam the earth killing ghosts as his father did before him. He only has his mother for company, until now. Now, he has adopted a band of misfits and unwilling ghost busters to help him kill Anna. Because he has to kill Anna. Doesn't he?
And Anna is equally as tortured and deep as Cas. Her story is not easy to hear and there is a wonderfully gross level of gore in this YA book. The writing is fast, fun and descriptions are so real, I had a lot of moments saying, "Eww. Gross." out loud.
I was given the book by my friend Alethea to review and I wanted to find out what the hype was about.
Half way through, I went to my local book shop and picked up my own copy.
Did I scare you now?
Thought so.
By: fishgirl182,
on 10/16/2011
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The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
ISBN 10/13: 0060530928 | 9780060530921
Category: Middle Grade Ghost Story, Fantasy Fiction
Keywords: Orphan, Ghosts, Suspense
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
From goodreads:
After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.
Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family...
Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his
New York Times bestselling modern classic
Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures,
The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.
Kimberly's review:
After a tragic event and a narrow escape from a man named Jack, an 18-month-old baby finds himself adopted by the ghosts of the local graveyard. He grows up to be known as Bod, his full name "Nobody," and the novel follows young Bod from his rescue into his teenage years. As he grows more curious and fascinated with the outside world, his ghostly family watches his transformation, and experience what they haven't had in years- growing up.
A haunting and amazing adventure, Bod's got a strong voice and his adventures and growing pains are very real. His band of ghostly parents are vivid, both physically and character wise. Like other Gaiman writing, this book is suspenseful, spooky and creepy. I couldn't help reading late into the night, craving to know what was next for Bod. And for the man named Jack, who has come back to finish what he couldn't complete years ago. (The man named Jack still sends chills up my spine. Even in the middle of the day.)
For me, Gaiman's writing impacted me the most in this novel as well as
Coraline. I don't know if I'm just partial to his Middle Grade/Young Adult writing more than his adult writing. Or if these stories transport me to a time long ago when I was a kid reading ghost stories under my bed with a flash light, scaring myself awake for many sleepless nights.
By: fishgirl182,
on 10/7/2011
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Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead
Publication date: 16 August 16 2007 by
Razorbill
ISBN 10/13: 0316015849 | 9780316015844
Category: Young Adult Fantasy
Keywords: Vampires, Boarding School, Best Friends, Fighting
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
From
goodreads:
St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.
Kimberly's review:
Lissa Dragomir is a vampire princess and must be protected from another kind of vampire race, the Strigoi, who are fierce and dangerous vampires. Rose Hathaway, a half human-half vampire, is her classmate, her best friend and her partner in crime.
After two years of freedom, the BFFs are captured and dragged back to their exclusive boarding school where they have to train to become, respectively, a political figure and a fighter/bodyguard. But they soon realize that inside their school, it's just as dangerous as outside its gates.
Rose is a strong, fun and cocky character. She is quick-witted and throws herself into dangerous situations--my kind of girl! Her narration is very clear; you learn a lot about her character.
Lissa is seen through Rose's eyes and while Rose is the physically stronger and more aggressive of the two, Lissa is not a whimp. She has some special powers (not going to tell you!) and a few problems of her own. She is the last Dragomir princess alive. Um, that's a lot of pressure.
This is a great female relationship. They're totally loyal to each other. It's easy to see how they are best friends. It's refreshing to see a functioning, healthy friendship where the two characters genuinely care about each other, instead of other dramatic relationships where there is a lot of jealousy and backstabbing.
And oh, the boys! Dimitri, stoic, hot and Rose's instructor, is sexy and a lean mean fighting machine. The chemistry between them is ... whew. Sorry. Got hot in here. Lissa finds her match in an unlikely hero.
I want to stress that the story is about way more than boys, even cute vampire boys. It's about friendship, about growing up and finding oneself. Lissa and Rose may have been dragged back to St. Vladimir's unwillingly, but that doesn't mean they stop fighting for what they want, what they believe in. They continue to grow as characters, not just through the book, but throughout the series. Their relationships with each other grows and evolves, the best parts of each of them coming out to protect the other
By: fishgirl182,
on 10/3/2011
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Coraline by Neil Gaiman
ISBN 10/13: 0061139378 | 9780061139376
Category: Middle Grade Fantasy Fiction
Keywords: Alternate Realities, Suspense
Format: ebook, Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook
From
goodreads:
Coraline has often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears.
Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. And when she finds her "other" parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes. When they make it clear, however, that they want to make her theirs forever, Coraline begins a nightmarish game to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror. With only a bored-through stone and an aloof cat to help, Coraline confronts this harrowing task of escaping these monstrous creatures.
Gaiman has delivered a wonderfully chilling novel, subtle yet intense on many levels. The line between pleasant and horrible is often blurred until what's what becomes suddenly clear, and like Coraline, we resist leaving this strange world until we're hooked. Unnerving drawings also cast a dark shadow over the book's eerie atmosphere, which is only heightened by simple, hair-raising text. Coraline is otherworldly storytelling at its best.
Kimberly's review:
Coraline Jones has just moved into a large old house, with eccentric neighbors such as the "Crazy Old Man Upstairs" and Miss Spink and Miss Forcible. While exploring her new house, Coraline finds a small door which throws her into a creepy and scary adventure.
She comes out on the other side to a replica of her house, an Other Mother and Father who have buttons for eyes and who are way more fun and attentive than her real parents and a black cat that can talk! But even though Coraline likes this new world, something seems off. And of course, it is.
I'm a fan of Gaiman, but this may be my favorite book. While I was reading Coraline, I was surprised by how creepy the story became. I figured it can't be that scary! Well, I was wrong. Goosebumps ran down my arms, especially when Coraline realizes what her Other parents want from her...
Coraline's search for her kidnapped real parents and her adventure to close the door to seperate the worlds is a wonderful journey. She is brave, smart and resourceful. The book is filled with fun filled characters, humans and animals alike. The setting is beautifully crafted. I could feel the house, the rain, the Other parents and their world.
Most of all, kudos to Mr. Gaiman. The overall tone and feeling of the book is eerie, like going down a long staircase when you can't see the bottom. The story moves so fast, feeling at times like an action film. (And oh, it was. If you haven't seen the film, read the book first. I did, and it made the film that much more magical.)
And I won't
Tower of Parlen Min by Matt Xell
Category: Young Adult Fantasy
Keywords: Self Published, Adventure
Format: Kindle/Amazon.com digital
Kimberly's review:
I was asked by the author to write an honest review for this self-published book.
Ves Asirin, an orphan with a memory loss disorder, wins a trip to the Tower of Parlen Min where he will get to meet a wealthy inventor. But this awesome trip isn’t all it’s cut out to be. Secrets lurk at the tower, and Ves is the only one who can help!
The author has some really wonderful ideas. The setting is fun and Ves is such a different character. His memory loss certainly hinders him at times, but it doesn’t disable him. He is a very clear character, strong in mind and uses many tricks in order to make up for his condition. The story is full of potential.
That said, I couldn’t get through the book.
While the ideas were there, I didn’t feel like it was properly executed. The writing was disjointed at times and I had problems following the plot. There was a lot going on. Twenty kids were introduced at once and they were all described by their first and last names along with their physical attributes. This became two pages of a list of strangers, many of them not appearing in the story for a very long time after that. By that time, I had forgotten they were even there. And these characters were mostly flat and uninteresting. Then again, Ves is SO interesting, maybe he makes up for it.
However, there is a ton of action in this book. It’s geared towards boys around 10-14, Ves himself is 11 years old, but Ves didn’t really act or think like an 11 year old. Not a bad thing, but I did think he should have at least been older than the other kids there.
Matt Xell has an active imagination and I look forward to seeing how this author grows.
Visit the author online at
http://mattxell.blogspot.com.
By: Read Now Sleep Later,
on 8/15/2011
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Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sharif
ISBN 10/13: 0738723231 | 9780738723235
Category: Young Adult Realistic Fiction
Keywords: Ramadan, Muslim, blending cultures, religion
Format: Paperback
Kimberly's Review:
Almira Abdul is trying her best to honor Ramadan, an entire month where she is not allowed to eat from sunrise to sunset. While her family is not overly religious, and she has only been to a mosque twice, she feels that it's a good challenge for her... She thinks she can stand to lose a couple pounds.
What happens though is more than just food temptation! Her crush, Peter, starts noticing her at the same time her best friend starts noticing him! And while her traditional grandfather is teaching her to drive, he's also showing her how things would be if they weren't living in America.
Almira is a hilarious character. Her voice is unique and her inner dialogue charming. A few times I laughed out loud to the reference to her love of chocolate or her great infatuation of Rob Pattinson (and therefore her hatred of Kristen Stewart.)
Pop references aside, this is no light book. Almira is suffering from what many minority teenagers have difficulty with--how to blend in with the American culture while still holding onto her family's beliefs. It's not just about Ramadan. Her grandfather is a strong and aggressive character, representing the old ways. Her mother and father are somewhere in between.
Almira's friends are a diverse bunch of characters. Each has their own distinct personality and culture too. The conversations between Almira and her friends over AIM are hilarious. And let's not even get started on the new bomb shell of a girl that just started their school...
Sharif does a fantastic job navigating these touchy waters. Almira's voice is touching, desperate and loving. She is torn, observant and just doing the best she can. When there's drama at the end of the novel, Almira's sadness and panic came through brilliantly. This really feels like a high school teenager's account of her one month during Ramadan.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know what to expect from the back synopsis, but it's an adventure I'm glad I didn't miss. Kudos to Sharif whose story made me sit down in a quiet corner, with no distractions, and quietly ate up Almira's journey. To be honest, I wouldn't have normally picked this book up, let alone read it! (Or seek it out for that matter. I went to three Borders and two Barnes and Nobles with no luck. I had to buy it on amazon.) But it's well worth it!
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Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Publication date: 7 June 2011 by HarperCollins
ISBN 10/13: 0062026771 | 9780062026774
Category: Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy
Keywords: Ghost story, Supernatural, Romance
Format: eBook, hardcover
Kimberly's review:
Amelia floats, aimlessly, lost with the knowledge that she is dead. Her death, her life, her memories have all been erased and she longs for freedom and to be seen. This seems like an unfulfilled wish until she meets Joshua, a high school student whose car accident brings them closer together than she ever thought possible.
Hudson's debut novel is well written, the language flowing over each page like Amelia's ghost. I had to force myself to put the book down every once in a while, to enjoy the slow creep of the story and the blooming romance between the characters. We see her as a full character, frustrated and sad, but with a glimmer of hope that pushes her forward. She's a strong character, and she needs to be with what she's up against.
The enemy, Eli, is certainly creepy, both in a I'm-a-ghost and I-want-to-be-a-possessive-boyfriend way. Joshua is swoon-worthy. Patient, caring and sweet, he doesn't treat Amelia badly or have crazy mood swings back and forth. And really isn't that what any ghost, er, girl really wants? Hereafter is a beautiful tale that weaves love, identity and the choices we make all into one. An awesome start to an exciting series!
Visit the author online at
http://www.tarahudson.com and follow her on Twitter @
thudsonwrites
This summer, Kimberly is embarking on the
Diversify Your Reading Challenge! Authors
Cindy Pon and
Malinda Lo of
Diversity in YA are challenging readers to read beyond their comfort zones. Publishers have provided some
awesome prizes for a library and one lucky blogger/reader to win. There's still time to join! You can get all the details on the
challenge page. The deadline for entries is September 1, 2011.
Here's what Kimberly is reading for the challenge:
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3 Comments on Tag, I'm It!, last added: 3/10/2012
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i would totally pick up this book based on the cover, too. and a tree swallowing your brother? that reminds me of poltergeist. i used to have nightmares about that. sad you didn't love jenny but this books sounds interesting nevertheless.
I tried reading this book but just the first chapter raised my hackles. It seemed to be going much in the traditional way of guy protecting girl and I don't know the writing style did not suit me. Thank you for the review. It confirmed my initial feelings about the novel.
Thanks Book Wurrm! Yeah, wasn't really my cup of tea, but I think others might enjoy it!
Love the cover. Oh well.
I still totally want to read this. 12 Dancing Princesses is one of my favorite fairytales ever.
I've read the book but i would like to keep it as my own. Its a really amazing book and i wish i could get it again