Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater  

Publisher:  Scholastic Press      

Publication date: October 21st 2014
My rating: 5 stars

The third installment in the mesmerizing series from the irrepressible, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.
There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.
Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.
The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.
Friends can betray.Mothers can disappear.Visions can mislead.Certainties can unravel.

She did it again. I never thought anything compare to The Dream Thieves or Sinner which are her best work yet, in my opinion. But she did it. 

The story picks up where it left off. Boys are starting school again and Blue's mother is still missing. They're still trying to find Glendower, the long lost king. Gray Man's employed is in Henrietta looking for a payback. Now, I don't want to reveal anything else about the plot cause even the blurb is rather vague. 

What I want to talk about are the characters. It seems Adam is the main one this time. Others all had their chapters but I feel as if he was in all of them a lot more. He's my favorite Raven Boy, like I mentioned a hundred times already. He's still hardworking as ever. Honorable, honest and proud. He's also spending more time with Ronan, if you know what I mean. *wink, wink* 

Then there's Ronan. *sigh* This guy! I mean, he's like a feral cat you want to bring home but are scared it's going to ruin your sofa. You never know what to expect from him. He's unpredictable, wild, but at the same time extremely loyal to his family and friends. There is still so much we don't know about him. 

Gansey is still a mystery to me. At times I think he has no personality and he's just there in every chapter. I know he's suppose to be the King of the gang but I don't see it. :/ Everybody likes him-boys in school, new people he meets and even Adam let go of his jealousy. He's helpful in a way a human can help a paranormal creature-basically not. I guess I'm the only one who doesn't care about his character. 

Blue's trying to find her missing mother and is dealing with her feelings towards Gansey at the same time. She was focused and determined throughout the whole book. She might even discover some hidden power deep inside her. 

If you're expecting kisses in this book, like me,  you'll just going to have to wait for the 4th installment. Even though the book was focused towards the character development, romance was pushed even further out back. There were some progress and Pynch shippers will be happy to hear it. I can't wait for the next book because I feel that's when Pynch is going to happen. 

The pacing was perfect and every chapter ended on a cliffhanger which made me scream. The book was unputdownable. And the writing is poetic. At times I had to go back and re-read parts because I thought there was something between the lines. How Maggie does this every time, I don't know. She'll always be on my auto-buy list. 

Cover is beautiful. I love the colors but I'm not sure who's on it. Blue? It could be her. 

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater  

Publisher: Scholastic Press      

Publication date: July 1st 2014
My rating: 5 stars

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

It's no secret I love Cole ever since I first read about him in The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I did feel like Cole's story wasn't finished and guess what? I was right! The fact Maggie decided to write Sinner means the world to me. 

The story starts with Cole being his charming self and he's gone to Los Angeles to find Isabel and along the way, to make a new record. When he does, he sees Isabel is not quick to forgive him for being a hot mess (I'm putting it mildly). He's been using drugs to induce his change in warm weather. He's doing it to escape from his thoughts and past that are still haunting him. 

It's hard to explain why I love Cole and Isabel together. They are both messed up people. Cole, a showman and Isobel, an ice queen. But  when they're together, sparks fly. The beginning of the book was playful and I was smirking at their bickering. Later, I was consumed with a severe case of feels. Their scenes weren't swoony. They were raw and real. Don't think Maggie wrote anything like this before. I feel as if this book was her most distinctive story so far. I mentioned this in one of my status updated- Sinner was everything I hoped The Piper's Son would be. I had high expectations for TPS because it's Melina freaking Marchetta we're talking about here but I ended up being disappointed because I didn't feel the connection with the book. That wasn't the case with Sinner. 

Maggie Stiefvater isn't known for writing contemporary books but I have to say, this book was one of those strange paranormal novels which doesn't talk much about paranormal stuff. The essence of this book is based on personal growth and not on fangs and paws. If you, like me, prefer contemporary novels over paranormals, then you'll be smitten with it because our dear author brought out all the guns. And if you're not a fan of contemps then you'll still enjoy it because of Cole and Isabel. Mrs. Stiefvater made me love this book more than I love The Dream Thieves and Linger. 

I don't really know what to say about this book. It was phenomenal! It made me think outside my box. It was the kind of book you would put on a special place in your shelf because it deserves it so I encourage you, go and order it! 

If you're interested, check out the mix I made for this book.

sinner from autumn.book.girl on 8tracks Radio.

After the End by Amy Plum

After the End by Amy Plum 

Publisher: Harper Teen      

Publication date: May 6th 2014
My rating: 3 stars

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.
At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.
When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.
Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

Juneau lives in Alaska believing World War III destroyed the rest of the world and her clan was lucky to escape. One day, on a hunting trip she sees a town filled with people living their lives. When she returns her clan has disappeared so she sets off to find them. She meets Miles, a city boy and he starts helping her. 

All this is fine it's just that both of them were annoying. Juneau gives her two dogs to a lady so she can take care of them until she returns. Now this wouldn't be strange if she knew this person before but she just met her and thought she looks harmless. What kind of logic is that? I know Juneau is just discovering the new, evolved world but she shouldn't have to be so naive. 

Then there's Miles. He's a rich boy/wannabe delinquent who ends up suspended from high school for doing some naughty things. His father's not pleased and doesn't let him roll into Yale. LOL Yeah, right! Punish him with not going to school. That's the best thing you can do for your neglected son. I'm sure he'll still be loyal to you and not to the strange girl he just met. Miles was annoying most of the time like one those mean characters from cartoons. Nothing major but still enough to piss you off. 

I didn't think much about the book until the two main characters got separated. The pace quickened as soon as they got away from each other. This is where things got interesting. I know they're suppose to be together so the romance could start but I wasn't feeling it. There was too much childish bickering between these two and it wasn't even the cute bickering where you were waiting for the moment where they'd realize they love each other. 

After the End is still so much better than the first Amy Plum book I've read, Die for Me. I still plan to read the sequel which will probably be out next year. 

Of Triton by Anna Banks

Of Triton by Anna Banks

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends      

Publication date: May 28th 2013
My rating: 3.5 stars

In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.
As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

I wasn't a fan of the first book but let me tell you this- I got hooked! I was flipping those pages like my life depended on it. 

Book #2 starts right after Of Poseidon finished. Emma's mom turned out to be Galen's supposedly dead sister-in-law, or King Grom's mate Nalia. Well, Nalia kidnaps Emma because she thinks Galen is trying to get her arrested for the murder of Grom who's actually alive. Yeah... these characters are still pretty ridiculous but a little bit less than they were in book #1. Running doesn't take long and once the long lost lovers glance at each other everything is okay. Well, except for the fact Grom's mated with another Syrena just before he ran to find Nalia. What a mess...

Now everyone's trying to annul his 'marriage' which is practically impossible because of the silly, outdated Syrena laws. Grom can annul everyone else's marriages but not his own. Only the Archives can do that and their leader actually has some different solutions on his mind. Even though Emma start complaining about Grom and Nalia being a pair before her mom met her dad, she finds it in her heart to move past it and help her mom find happiness. haha Oh Emma, you selfless girl. *sarcasm*

Now we get to the good part. The romance between Emma and Galen isn't the center of attention in Of Triton. It was a very nice change because the less nagging I got from Emma and Rayna, the better. I can't deal with high level of drama and bullshit anywhere. There were still times where I wanted to punch these two but, again, it wasn't as bad it was in #1. So, less romance, more Syrena politics. The Royal families have to obey the laws which were written when Poseidon and Triton were still alive and since then a lot has changed. Many of the Archives are apposed and aren't interested in an update. Their arguments also weren't up to date but who could blame them. They've been stuck in water for so long without any proper legal help. I don't judge this part harshly because it's a fun, YA book and it shouldn't be taken too seriously. 

All in all, Of Triton showed so much progress and I'm glad I stuck with it. I'll be reading Of Neptune as well, once it gets out. Fingers crossed for no idiotic moments with Emma and Rayna! So if you're looking for a quick paranormal read pick something else, I'm just messing with you. Of Triton was a book with a pretty cover, pretty characters which make the worst decisions. Read this mess, now!

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends      

Publication date: May 22nd 2012
My rating: 2 stars

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom...
Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

To quote Emma "Oh, my sweet goodness" this book was annoying. Everything about it was annoying-the characters, the 'plot' and the relationship development. 

Emma's on a vacation with her friend Chloe when a shark attacks Chloe, tears her leg of, killing her in the process. Can't say I was upset because Chloe's character was created for the sole purpose of dying right then and there. Luckily, Emma also met Galen that day. She actually bumped in him and made this whole scene about how embarrassing it was to slam into the hottest guy she ever saw. She really wouldn't stop talking about it. Get over it! 

After Chloe dies and Emma looses her phone, Galen decides it's a good idea to track her down even though she lives very far away because she's also a Syrena, like him. He buys a house and a car in the same city. He even starts going to her school where they have the same class schedule. Creepy much? Don't even get me started on the window climbing. 

Everything about this book screamed Twilight. I wonder what was the author thinking creating characters which fought all the time about the most trivial thing. Since the book was more for the younger readers, I really don't think it's a good idea. Kids read all kind of things and become inspired with the actions of these characters. I'm sure there are better ways of solving problems without yelling and punching. 

The best part of this book was the Syrena mythology. The underwater city, how mermaids change their legs into fins and all the Poseidon and Triton rivalry. 

My friend told me the second book, Of Triton is better than the first so I'm going to check it as well. Based on my not so good experience with Of Poseidon I would probably skip the sequel but I'll take her word for it. 

Everbound by Brodi Ashton

Everbound by Brodi Ashton

Publisher: Balzer + Bray      
Publication date: January 22nd 2013
My rating: 4 stars

Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.
Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.
Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.
In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

It's a rare treat to stumble upon a book where I ship the main characters with both guys. I usually go for the underdog which frequently leaves my ships unsailed in the harbor. 

If you haven't already read the first book you should probably stop reading cause I will be posting some minor spoilers. 

Everbound starts up not long ago after Jack sacrificed himself for Nikki. He's now in Everneath and Nikki's trying to persuade Cole to help her get him back. Nikki doesn't have a life on Earth so the obvious choice would be to hunt Jack down. What else's she going to do with her time?

It's strange how riveting these books are once you start reading them. Well, at least it's strange for me because I never think of mythology as something new and fresh. Same things goes for retellings. We all already know how those stories go so there isn't much left to be desired. But Brodi Ashton's books are effortless and gripping. At this point I don't think she can go wrong with the final book. 

Now to the love triangle which isn't actually a triangle since Nikki obviously loves Jack. Cole somehow succeeds to weasel his blond head into the equation. I don't know how he does it every time. There's something about him. I just can't hate him. I still don't think he's a bad guy, even though he tricks Nikki every chance he gets. I start to think he'll change and do something selfless. Guess I'll have to hope he'll advance from his current state for mind. There's still one more book left. 

I'm so glad I decided to wait and read Everbound near the release of Evertrue.  The ending was unexpected, to say the least. 

A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchison

A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchison

Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab    
Publication date: September 1st 2013
My rating: 5 stars

There's a girl who could throw herself head first into life and forge an unbreakable name, an identity that stands on its own without fathers or brothers or lovers who devour and shatter.
Sixteen-year-old Ophelia Castellan will never be just another girl at Elsinore Academy. Seeing ghosts is not a skill prized in future society wives. Even when she takes her pills, the bean sidhe beckon, reminding her of a promise to her dead mother.
Now, in the wake of the Headmaster's sudden death, the whole academy is in turmoil, and Ophelia can no longer ignore the fae. Especially once she starts seeing the Headmaster's ghosts- two of them- on the school grounds.
At the center of her crumbling world is Dane, the Headmaster's grieving son. He, too, understands the power of a promise to a parent- even a dead one. To him, Ophelia is the only person not tainted by deceit and hypocrisy, a mirror of his own broken soul. And to Ophelia, Dane quickly becomes everything. Yet even as she gives more of herself to him, Dane slips away. Consumed by suspicion, rage, and madness, he spirals towards his tragic fate- dragging Ophelia, and the rest of Elsinore, with him.
Yet even in the face of certain death, Ophelia has a choice to make- and a promise to keep. She is not the girl others want her to be. But in Dot Hutchison's dark and sensuous debut novel, the name "Ophelia" is as deeply, painfully, tragically real as "Hamlet".

I'VE NEVER BEEN THAT GIRL.

YOU KNOW HOW THIS STORY ENDS.

Hamlet's my favorite Shakespeare tragedy. His other work combined together can't top this masterpiece. So when I first saw someone was publishing a retelling I just had to have it. Not everyone has the talent and the guts to try out to integrate Shakespeare into their work. Dot Hutchison did an outstanding job. 

Ophelia is one of those characters in Hamlet I didn't care for. She was spineless and pretty much everything I don't like in a woman. My heroines need to be strong and independent but A Wounded Name's Ophelia made this well-known story interesting and made me like her even though she was still weak. She tries so hard to please her father, to be a good, obedient daughter and great wife one day to some yet unknown gentleman. She takes pills which are trying to get rid of the apparitions she keeps seeing all around. Her life flips upside down when Dane's father, Hamlet senior dies. 

After Hamlet's death, his brother marries Dane's mother and gets the title of the super intendant which only makes Dane angrier so he starts doing all sort of crazy things around the campus. His two best friends, Horatio and Ophelia are there by his side and are trying to comfort him. Dane's rage and bitterness leaves Ophelia bruised after his every episode. On the positive side, he doesn't remember anything but it doesn't stop Ophelia from allowing him to abuse her after their every secret meeting. OK, I'm gonna stop here and not discuss the plot any longer because most of you know what happens in the end. 

Even though I didn't like Dane/Hamlet in A Wounded Name he did redeem himself in the end. He acted like a spoiled, proud, revengeful, ambitious, mad brat most of the time and he didn't treat his friends well even though they were always there for him. Was he always like this or did I miss something when I first read Hamlet all those years ago? 

I just have to mention the incredible work Dot did with the setting. The lake, the graveyard... You people can't miss this book! You'll regret not getting to know the paranormal aspect of this story. Bean nighe, scary looking washer ladies which dance and sing around the lake whenever it's time for someone to die. I had to look up the term bean nighe and I wished I didn't because those pictures will haunt me tonight, when I go to sleep. 

A Wounded Name is a book full of unfulfilled promises, revenge, death and madness with a beautiful, lyrical writing which will captivate everyone. I can't wait to see what will Dot Hurchison come up next. Truly an unforgettable book. 

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Publisher: Penguin   
Publication date: February 21st 2012
My rating: 2.5/3 stars

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever. 
BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally. 
But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after. 
With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

The main reason I picked this book up that I was in the mood for something light. Something to distract me from my depression. I've got a lot of work to do at home and not much time for books so, whenever I got the chance I would listen to this audiobook and I finally finished it. It didn't have the desirable effect. It wasn't as uplifting as I hoped it would. Well, it kinda was but it wasn't an easy, breezy book. 

Most of all, it should be shorter. I just checked how many pages does it have and it's 375, in hardcover. That is a lot. It did have some filler chapters, with small hints, a certain male character provided us with. 

I did think it was good, more than good but it seems that nothing can get me out of this funk. A story about dying, watching loved ones go on with their lives certainly didn't help out. Also, the story was predictable, so I would recommend it to younger readers. 

Book Review: Sanctum by Sarah Fine

 Book: Sanctum (#1 Guards of the Shadowlands)
Author: Sarah Fine
File type: Ebook
Release date: October 16th 2012
Publisher: Marshall Canvendish Children's/Amazon Children's Publishing.
My rating: 3 stars.

synopsis:

“My plan: Get into the city. Get Nadia. Find a way out. Simple.”

A week ago, seventeen-year-old Lela Santos’s best friend, Nadia, killed herself. Today, thanks to a farewell ritual gone awry, Lela is standing in paradise, looking upon a vast gated city in the distance—hell. No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn’t just anyone—she’s determined to save her best friend’s soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife. 

As Lela struggles to find Nadia, she’s captured by the Guards, enormous, not-quite-human creatures that patrol the dark city’s endless streets. Their all-too-human leader, Malachi, is unlike them in every way except one: his deadly efficiency. When he meets Lela, Malachi forms his own plan: get her out of the city, even if it means she must leave Nadia behind. Malachi knows something Lela doesn’t—the dark city isn’t the worst place Lela could end up, and he will stop at nothing to keep her from that fate.




I wish I could say that this book was awesome. But unfortunately, I can't.

Sanctum comes forward with a really unique and refreshing concept. I, in no way, can question the originality of the story.A mission to rescue your bestfriend from the dark streets of Hell? Me Gusta. Now add a hot guard ,a badass female,a strong protagonist, a thoroughly sarcastic and smart writing style and the evergreen beauty of hell to the mix. Me SUPER Gusta. 

I should've loved the damn book. What's not to like? It has everything that usually wows my idiot mind. I didn't even carethat the guy's name was Malachi and I tend to run away from awkward names because awkward names mean awkward situations where the girl tenderly looks at the guy and the guy begs her to say his name so that he can hear it and then she says, that awkward name and rather than melting into a gooey puddle of nonsense, I'm either on the floor laughing or just mentally cringing everytime that awkward name is mentioned. And Malachi, for me, is an awkward name.

BUT

I did not mind it. 

For every 'Malachi' there was my heart demanding me to melt. And melt, I did. Initially.

Sanctum started out really great! I was so mesmerized by it's awesomeness that I knew, in my mind, that THIS was going to be epic. Seventeen year old, Lela Santos is a likable female. She's tough and strong. She doesn't take bullshit and neither does she give bullshit. I understood her love for Nadia and I agreed with whatever she did and whatever she thought because when I looked at her, I saw her doing and thinking things a normalteenage girl whose been through a lot in her past would normallydo. And then she said bye bye world and arrived in heaven. I loved how her loyalty towards Nadia led her towards the Suicide gates in hell, so that she could rescue Nadia's soul even if she had to sacrifice her eternal peace for it. Sentiments towards best friends are my undoing among many other things. It was because of these sentiments that I had liked Code Name Verity. And then she meets Malachi. The guard of the dark city.

See, I had absolutely no problem with the details and setting of the plot. I was really in favour of the whole 'I'll kick your ass if you lay your fingers on me' feel. I was also particularly in love with Malachi because the strong man had a sensitive side to him from the very beginning. What I didn't like was the Lela-Malachi dynamic. 

It was so unreal and weird for me to see both Lela and Malachi falling for each other as quickly as they did. Considering Lela's feelings about touch, I was pretty surprised to witness the 'I WANT TO KISS HIM AND WILL KILL HIM.' side of her. I wouldn't blame the girl and in a way, she was voicing my thoughts in the book as well, but it just didn't work. All things considered, the pace of the romance was very fast for me. And also very weird.

Everytime, there was a scene of conflict and everytime Malachi saved Lela, all I could think was how convenient it was for Lela to be so stupid in the presence of Malachi when all the while before she even entered hell, she was smart. I'm all for the protection mode of a guy but dude, please. Give it a rest. 

By the second half, I was sure that this book was disappointing. But the presence of Ana's and Raphael's character made it worthwhile. 
It all felt so bland to me and after some point, I was irritated with Lela and her actions. And the end was also pretty okay to me. All of this was enough for me to say 'WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?' to the book.
I liked this book. It wasn't all there but it was alright. Maybe.