Consumed by Books: February 2014

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Review of Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

When Jonah is forced to move from Hamilton to Cross Pointe for the second half of his senior year, "miserable" doesn't even begin to cover it. He feels like the doggy-bag from his mother's first marriage and everything else about her new life—with a new husband, new home and a new baby—is an upgrade. The people at Cross Pointe High School are pretentious and privileged—and worst of all is Brighton Waterford, the embodiment of all things superficial and popular. Jonah’s girlfriend, Carly, is his last tie to what feels real... until she breaks up with him.

For Brighton, every day is a gauntlet of demands and expectations. Since her father died, she’s relied on one coping method: smile big and pretend to be fine. It may have kept her family together, but she has no clue how to handle how she's really feeling. Today is the anniversary of his death and cracks are beginning to show. The last thing she needs is the new kid telling her how much he dislikes her for no reason she can understand. She's determined to change his mind, and when they're stuck together for the night, she finally gets her chance.

Jonah hates her at 3p.m., but how will he feel at 3 a.m.?

One night can change how you see the world. One night can change how you see yourself.

(Summary from GoodReads)

I was interested in Schmidt’s debut , and since lots of people were praising Bright Before Sunrise, I decided to request it from NetGalley. Bright Before Sunrise had a few “awww” moments throughout the story. Personally, neither of our main characters were likable for me, and that detracted from my enjoyment of this story.

Brighton is the people pleaser who has lived in Crosse Pointe her whole life, whereas Jonah is the boy who moved there from a very different community. As this story started, both of their characters annoyed me, but I assumed there would be a really strong character arc throughout this story. However, as I read, I found out that neither of their characters transformed fast enough. It took too long for Brighton to stand up for herself, it took too long for Jonah to stop making assumptions. On the other hand, there was a plot point with Jonah where it felt like he changed his mind about something that had been important to him much too quickly. Also? These voices were weirdly similar for two characters who were supposedly so different. At times I had to stop and remind myself who was narrating.

The plot of this book was fun, although perhaps not the most unique. There’s a bit of a romance here, and I really liked the way it was written. To me, Jonah was most genuine when he was discussing his reaction to Brighton. When I try to think about the ending of this book, it occurs to me that not a lot comes to mind. This could be because I’ve read a lot of books, but I don’t think that’s it, seeing as how I recently reviewed a book I read last June and remembered the ending almost perfectly. I think it goes to show that Schmidt’s book, while fun, was not memorable for me.

Bright Before Sunrise is a book that doesn’t suit my personal reading tastes. I know characters like Brighton and Jonah should both exist in YA literature, but they drove me a little too crazy here. Schmidt’s novel is fun and I think a lot of readers will enjoy it a bit more than I did—it just wasn’t a standout for me.

Disclosure: I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review:

Other reviews:

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

#WednesdayYA Review of Unspoken and March Preview

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

(Summary from GoodReads)

When I started Unspoken, I adored the first two chapters. Sarah Rees Brennan’s humor felt quirky, and there was one line of prose that I loved. The honeymoon phase was sadly short lived.

To start with the positive, Sorry-in-the-Vale was a lovely, detailed setting with a Gothic vibe. Brennan’s prose was also gorgeous—I actually wrote down a passage that I liked. It was also nice to see some racial diversity among the characters—Kami was partially Japanese, and she wasn’t the only one.

Otherwise, this story wasn’t special for me. The plot felt too much like other paranormals, and the romance wasn’t anything special. There were definitely a few issues with slut shaming throughout the story. I wish I could say Brennan’s humor improved the book overall. It was definitely quirky but felt too much like Maureen Johnson’s sense of humor.

With gorgeous covers and lots of praise for all of Sarah Rees Brennan’s books, I had high expectations going into Unspoken. It has a lovely setting and gorgeous prose going for it. Otherwise, I found the first book of the Lynburn Legacy to be a pretty run-of-the-mill paranormal.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

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For those of you who don't know, March 1st is Misty's birthday. Because of this, she gets to pick what our #WednesdayYA pick is in March (I'll get to pick in April when my birthday rolls around). Here are the options she's considering:

None of us have control--Misty is going to pick whatever calls to her most. However, if you've read any of these books or are excited, please tell us in the comments. After all, we can try to sway Misty. Stay tuned and next week we'll find out our March read is!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Review of Golden by Jessi Kirby

Love, tragedy, and mystery converge in this compelling novel from “an author to watch” (Booklist).

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

(Summary from GoodReads)

So many rave reviews and recommendations of Golden rolled in long before its release. When my library obtained the gorgeous hardcover of this book, I immediately checked it out and moved it to the top of my TBR pile, despite having plenty of other books lying around. Gorgeously written and expertly plotted, Golden was exactly what I needed when I read it.

I loved how Golden was plotted. As you can probably tell, passages from the journal are interspersed throughout the story, and it focuses heavily on the idea from Frost’s poem that “nothing gold can stay.” Kirby did a brilliant job of tying this theme into Parker’s story—is she ready to take a chance in life? On love? On pursuing her passions? If I’m not already persuading you here, let me assure you that I was up way past my bedtime finishing this story.

With her third book, Kirby really gives us the full package. In addition to the plot being awesome, the prose was absolutely lovely throughout the entire story. I also found the love interest to be a sweet and entertaining part of the story.

As I finished Golden, I found myself thinking about my own life and the chances I take every day. It left me feeling reflective on what I’ve done, and on the risks I still want to take. Really the whole thing made me want to hug Jessi and tell her how this book genuinely touched me. I do not know what higher praise I can possibly give this gem of a book.

Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my library and then purchased my own hardcover.

Other reviews:

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Review of Me Since You by Laura Wiess

Laura Wiess captures the visceral emotion of a girl’s journey from innocence to devastating loss and, ultimately, to a strange and unexpected kind of understanding—in this beautiful and painfully honest new novel.

Are there any answers when someone you love makes a tragic choice?

Before and After. That’s how Rowan Areno sees her life now. Before: she was a normal sixteen-year-old—a little too sheltered by her police officer father and her mother. After: everything she once believed has been destroyed in the wake of a shattering tragedy, and every day is there to be survived.

If she had known, on that Friday in March when she cut school, that a random stranger’s shocking crime would have traumatic consequences, she never would have left campus. If the crime video never went viral, maybe she could have saved her mother, grandmother — and herself — from the endless replay of heartache and grief.

Finding a soul mate in Eli, a witness to the crime who is haunted by losses of his own, Rowan begins to see there is no simple, straightforward path to healing wounded hearts. Can she learn to trust, hope, and believe in happiness again?

(Summary from GoodReads)

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I decided to look into Me Since You after hearing rave about it on Twitter. I was dubious as soon as I opened my e-galley, because I hadn’t made the connection that this author also wrote , a book I DNFed in 2012. I’m not sure if I’ve talked about this before, books about grief are tough for me to read. I have lost people I love over the years, but no one so close as an immediate family member, which a handful of YA books with a focus on grief are about. Me Since You had a compelling storyline and sweet romance, but Wiess’s style still isn’t my favorite.

Rowan, our main character, is the daughter of a cop, and her father is at the scene when a young man jumps up the bridge with a baby. The footage from his cop car is played afterwards on the news, leading to skepticism and commentary from everyone and more tragedy. This topic is so much like stuff that happens in the real world that I’m surprised it’s the first time I’ve really seen it covered in young adult literature.

The storyline of this one is enjoyable, and the romance with Eli was probably my favorite part, both because it was sweet and because of how it was woven into the story. Plus, there’s a great subplot about Eli’s German shepherd, Daisy, which appealed to me as a dog lover. Because this story is about tragedy and its aftermath, a lot happens in the first half of the book, but it slows down a lot in the second, which worked for the story.

Wiess’s style wasn’t always my favorite, and at times, it was a little hard to tell if the emotions were genuine. At times, it just felt like a character would have a reaction that felt stereotypical or like something out of an after school special. I do feel a little weird talking about this subject, because everyone reacts differently after something bad happens, but I also want to read a good book.

Me Since You is the right book for the reader who wants a heart-wrenching book. The subject matter is memorable, but Wiess’s writing style is not. I’m not in a hurry to read her other books.

Disclosure: I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Other reviews:

Friday, February 14, 2014

Liz the Bookish Bachelorette

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So for those of you who don't know, I am a big fan of , which airs on ABC. I tend to turn on the t.v. about five minutes early so that Nathan Fillion and I can maximize our time together.

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Turning the t.v. on earlier does lead to one unfortunate thing--I always catch the end of The Bachelor. And do you know what happens at the end of that show each week? Each girl who stays gets a rose. Please enjoy this ridiculous image of a rose.

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Personally? I think they're doing it wrong. A lot of people on the show seem to get caught up easily in drama, which is probably why they get selected.

And of course, there's The Bachelorette. I don't know if the dudes on that show get roses or what, but if I ever became The Bachelorette, I'd do the dudes a favor.

I'd give them books. So here's my list, made with the assumption that The Bachelor lasts 10 weeks. And yes, sharing this on Valentine's Day was totally planned. It felt fitting.

Week 1

Who among the guys at least takes a peak at the bestsellers? It'll be interesting to see who says, "Oh, phew, I've read this" and who says "Ew, we have to read?"

Week 2

I can see a lot of guys getting a kick out of Ryan Dean West's character like I did. I want to see how they respond to him.

Week 3

There is so much awesome stuff to discuss in this book. I'll be curious to see what discussion points my theoretical bachelors bring to the the table. If they see no literary merit they may have to get the boot.

Week 4

Killer water horses sounds like a pretty random topic, I know. But I want to find out how the guys feel about animal treatment, which I think I can get an idea of from discussing this. I mean, as someone who lets 80 lbs of yellow lab sleep on my bed, I care about animals being treated well.

Week 5

I don't know if I'd expect everyone to make it through this one, but I'd like to know how they all feel about romantic comedies. I do enjoy them now and again myself.

Week 6

I decided to give them something a little more action packed. This is a fantastic science fiction/dystopian novel and I can't wait to see how the bachelors would discuss Ness's treatment of gender.

Week 7

A nice, funny read to see what kind of a sense of humor everyone has. This one will also indicate what kind of a grasp on pop culture everyone has.

Week 8

By this point it's time to toss a different genre. Who's ready for a gutting and amazing historical novel?

Week 9

Gaiman's novel is fairy tale esque and brilliantly told. What a great chance to talk about storytelling with the guys.

Week 10

We'll finish off with a brilliantly written book with a brilliantly unreliable narrator. I don't know that everyone will love or even get this book, but let's see who actually knows the phrase "unreliable narrator."

Look, if nothing else, they'll be well read by the time I'm done with them.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Review of Divergent by Veronica Roth

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

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

(Summary from GoodReads)

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With all of the YA dystopians on the market, I had to pick up Divergent because of the hype. Tons of bloggers I know love it, teens at my library have been reading, and my co-workers enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I didn’t think Divergent was original or well written enough to be a true standout in the market.

The idea of factions was really cool, but was about the only element of the worldbuilding I enjoyed. Roth’s story takes place primarily in Chicago, yet we never see anything outside of it, which really bothered me. I’ve heard this is addressed in later books, but blatant ignorance of the rest of America bugged me and read like an oversight. To be good, a dystopian novel should feel like something that could actually happen, and I don’t believe a good chunk of the country could disappear.

Roth packs a lot of action into this story, but it didn’t feel like it meant a lot. There were times when it felt like there was just action for the sake of action, and hardly even to drive the story forward. Tris and Four didn’t feel especially original to me. They were both kind of badass, but I didn’t feel like either of them had a quality that really made them stand out. While they both stood out in their own society, I don’t think that was enough to make them exceptional characters. The idea of being divergent was kind of cool, and I liked how Roth wrapped up the story.

I wouldn’t call Divergent a terrible book, but I don’t think it’s a standout in its genre or YA literature as a whole. I plan on finishing this series because it’s so widely discussed, but this one isn’t a new favorite of mine. I hope Roth develops the world more Insurgent so I can enjoy it more.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

Other reviews:

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Review of Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

(Summary from GoodReads)

I really enjoy it when YA paranormal doesn’t take itself too seriously. That said, I’m ashamed that I left Rachel Hawkins’ Hex Hall on my TBR pile for so long. Hawkins’ debut was a fun and engaging book with a delightful main character.

I’ve been following for a few years now, and I was hoping her book would be as funny as her Twitter feed. Thankfully, it totally was. Sophie is snarky and a little self-deprecating.

Somehow the plot of this one accidentally got spoiled for me, but I liked how there was a bit of a Mean Girls element to the story. Hawkins set this book in the normal world, but there are all kinds of other cool paranormal creatures here, and she does a great job of developing all of them. Sophie also had an interesting backstory and family, and that was cool.

One of my biggest compliments to Hawkins is that she did the first book in a series right. There was a complete satisfying story in this book, but still a legitimate plothole that needs to be filled.

Hawkins charmed me so much that I put Hex Hall on my favorites list for 2013. I genuinely cannot wait to get more of these characters, more of this story, and more of Rachel’s writing. This is a perfect story to give to someone who wants a fun, witchy story, especially younger readers.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Review of Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Sixteen-year-old Austin Szerba interweaves the story of his Polish legacy with the storyof how he and his best friend , Robby, brought about the end of humanity and the rise of an army of unstoppable, six-foot tall praying mantises in small-town Iowa.

To make matters worse, Austin's hormones are totally oblivious; they don't care that the world is in utter chaos: Austin is in love with his girlfriend, Shann, but remains confused about his sexual orientation. He's stewing in a self-professed constant state of maximum horniness, directed at both Robby and Shann. Ultimately, it's up to Austin to save the world and propagate the species in this sci-fright journey of survival, sex, and the complex realities of the human condition.

(Summary from GoodReads)

The words that ran through my head right after I finished Grasshopper Jungle were “…what did I just read,” but in the best way possible. Smith’s latest is one of the most bizarre novels I have ever read, both in its content and artistry.

I was immediately drawn into Smith’s novel because of the setting and the characters. Although Ealing, Iowa is a fictional town, it felt incredibly reminiscent of several real Iowa towns I know, including my own. Kudos to Smith for getting the setting right. Austin was funny and sweet and confused, and at times my heart ached as he tried to get through his life. He talks a lot about genitals and bathroom habits and sex, which could bother some readers, but I appreciated how candidly Smith approached sexuality.

Grasshopper Jungle has a couple of different stories told in varying ways. We not only hear from Austin himself, but we hear his ancestors and how he records his own history, and we hear about what’s happening with the praying mantises. These stories tie together, and I’m still thinking about how each arc and its major themes connect, which is a great sign. My only complaint would be that at times it was a little hard to remember all of the Polish names

Perhaps the best part of this novel is Austin’s relationships with the people in his life. The relationships are messy and complicated and he doesn’t know how to balance them all. Even all of the secondary characters are nicely fleshed out and made me think about the themes in this story.

This is a book that I will reread, probably several times, because there is so much to grasp and think about. Grasshopper Jungle is moving and literary and exceptional. Readers who don’t care for sex and violence won’t enjoy this book, but Grasshopper Jungle belongs in the hands of older YA readers who are confused, who want to talk about masculinity, and who want a book that is like nothing they have ever read before.

Disclosure: I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review but intend to purchase a hardcover.

Other reviews:

Monday, February 10, 2014

Review of The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

(Summary from GoodReads)

I did not hear good things about The Promise of Amazing before I read it. However, I downloaded it off Edelweiss and felt obligated to read it. Perhaps if you like bad boys, this book will be your thing. It was not my thing.

Wren reminded me a lot of myself in high school. She’s high strung and a goody two shoes. It was cool that her friends, Jazz and Mad, were different from her, but I wasn’t fanatical about them. Both of them felt too much like stereotypes.

The romance is a large part of the storyline in this one, and I didn’t like it. There was instalove, and when the relationship got going, it was based too much on physical attraction and was definitely instalove. Seriously, personalities people. I didn’t think Grayson was so much of a bad boy as a douchebag and I didn’t understand the attraction Wren’s attraction to him. In fact, I felt like he didn't have a personality outside of his douchiness.

I found the whole con plotline to be really dumb. I just don't think they could've gotten away with as much as they did. There was also a really absurd side plot involving one of Grayson’s friends.

If contemporary romance is your bread and butter, perhaps you’d enjoy this book. Unfortunately, it was just not my cup of tea.

Disclosure: I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Other reviews:

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Adaptation Corner: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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I’ve been working my through my Harry Potter reread and rewatch at the pace of an arthritic tortoise. The reread was supposed to get done before the last movie came out, and the rewatch when the boxed set of movies come out on DVD. BAHAHAHA! Anyways, as I watched The Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, I found myself utterly delighted. The acting may have been a little cheesy at time, but the bones of the story and characters I adore are still there. I also kept noticing how young all of the actors are in this film (Daniel Radcliffe’s voice hadn’t changed!), which made me feel nostalgic for my middle school years when this movie was first released.

One of the reasons I love Chamber of Secrets so much is because it’s our chance to get to know the Weasleys better. I absolutely adore how eccentric and busy they are, and I love the way the flying car and the Burrow are portrayed here. I really am dying to live in the burrow—despite the lack of personal space, how awesome would it be to get to know the Weasleys?! I especially love Arthur’s serious yet hilarious to us questions about Muggle life.

We also see some more of some of Rowling’s other awesome characters—Hermione really starts coming into her own, and as for McGonagall, all I wrote in my notes when I watched the movie is EFF YEAH MAGGIE SMITH, which is all that really needs to be said when she comes on screen. Plus, we also see the awesomeness of Fawkes.

I can see some people saying that this movie is totally overacted. Throughout this movie, I think a lot of the characters have personalities that are naturally over the top (Gildeory Lockhart, Colin Creevy) or just react to situations in ways that feel extra dramatic (Dobby, Petunia, Malfoy). Plus, there’s Ron’s reaction to the Whomping Willow, which is really in a league of its own. You have to remember that while these movies have appeal for everyone, they were probably made with kids and teens in particular in mind. And you also have to remember that actually? The Chamber of Secrets has a really dark storyline. There is blood on the walls and spiders, both of which would make me scream with terror in real life. Plus, Ginny is essentially possessed. SO CREEPY. Rowling’s comedy combined with the acting was a really nice way to make sure that this movie still had lighter moments and was suited towards a younger audience.

Overall, I was pretty pleased with the effects here. Special effects in movies are constantly changing, so it’s hard to draw any kind of comparison. Everything felt believable, and I think the tone that the whole team was going for was always achieved. Let’s not talk about how scary Aragog is, mmmkay? That said the effects definitely get stronger as the films continue on. My favorite, and maybe you couldn’t really call it an effect, was Moaning Myrte. Plus the voice acting was so well done that I really believed that Myrtle’s life and ghost were just filled with angst.

Another thing I kept noting as I was watching? Hogwarts itself. I loved seeing it and Christmas, in the snow, and just continually seeing new parts of it. And I think that’s why I love the Harry Potter movies as well as the books: they always take me back to one of my favorite fictional places, a place I wish so badly could be real, and give me a compelling story with favorite characters to follow along the way. Plus, it takes me back to the magic of discovering this series in middle school, and reminds me why I plan to push these books and movies on my children, if I ever have any.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

February's #WednesdayYA Pick!

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for your dose of #WednesdayYA! When Misty and I started this idea in January, she said we should each go through our list of books and pick a few we'd really like to read together. Because I sometimes reply too quickly to e-mails, I made us a list of five books and Misty picked Shatter Me. That said, I let her decide from the titles we'd vote on in February, so last week by Jackson Pearce, by Jasper Fforde, and by Sarah Rees Brennan went head to head (cover to cover? spine to spine? what's the best analogy to imply that they raced?). Our winner is....

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

How the voting broke down:
Unspoken--26 votes
Sisters Red--17 votes
The Last Dragonslayer--11 votes

Why I'm excited to read Unspoken:
*Hello, gorgeous cover! It's totally shallow, and also part of why I decided to buy a hardcover of this book. I figured Misty would want it too, which is why .
*While no specific review comes to mind, this book has been positively received by the blogosphere.
*I've heard Kami is a pretty fun protagonist, which always makes for a more enjoyable read.

So if you've got a copy of Unspoken lying around, pick it up and join us! If you've already read it, tell us what you thought! We'll be reading and posting all month long, and having another Twitter chat the end of the month.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Review of Cress by Marissa Meyer

***DISCLOSURE: THIS IS THE THIRD BOOK IN THE LUNAR CHRONICLES SERIES, AND THE SUMMARY AND REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR BOOKS ONE AND TWO***

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

(Summary from GoodReads)

Now that I have finished reading Cress, I would like to immediately get my hands on Winter.

We meet Cress at the very beginning of the book, and the poor girl has been stuck on a satellite by herself for a long time. She’s extremely tech savvy, but her social skills need work. She sometimes doesn’t have the most realistic expectations for her interactions with others, and I could hardly blame her. Her awkwardness combined with her genuine desire to help people made her all the more endearing.

As you can guess, Cress eventually communicates with Cinder and her crew. I won’t specify the who and how, because I want to avoid spoilers. I will say that there is a lot more Thorne in this book, and while he had a sleazy side, I was so happy to see more of him. He reminded me a lot of Mal Reynolds from Firefly, and envisioning him as Nathan Fillion made my reading experience much swoonier. In terms of the other characters, I also started to feel more sympathy towards Wolf. I loved getting to know Scarlet and Iko better.

In terms of plot, Cress is a long book, clocking in at about 450 pages, but it goes by quickly. There was always something happening, and I loved how Meyer showed us more about how different parts of the world were reacting to Cinder and the implications of her actions. I also loved how the different characters had to use their skills to complement one another. There were some fantastic twists thrown into the story—especially the one that made me really want Winter. Meyer is definitely juggling a lot of storylines here, but she blends them so well that the story never feels contrived.

Cress was yet another fantastic installment of the Lunar Chronicles series. I loved seeing more of Meyer’s awesome characters and watching their stories, which have human elements even when the characters aren’t human. I loved seeing how this world expanded, and I have no doubt that Winter is going to be a thrilling ride. I’ll be sad when this series has to end, but I’m also hoping that some of my favorite characters will get their own happily ever afters.

Disclosure: The publisher sent me an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review, but by the time you read this, I'll have a hardcover in my hands.

Other reivews:

Thursday, February 27, 2014

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Friday, February 14, 2014

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

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Thursday, February 6, 2014

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

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