Book Review: LEGEND by Marie Lu

Legend (Legend #1)
Author: Marie Lu
Published: November 29th 2012
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Summary | Add to TBR

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

My Thoughts:

I didn't expect to love this book as much as I do now. I'm not a fast reader and with lots of house chores to do, reading has been scarce lately. But Legend is unputdownable. I was rooted in my bed from the first time I open the book up to the end. It was really good.

I take a closer look at Kaede's new opponent...
For a second it seems like the crowd's attention has made her uncomfortable and I'm ready to dismiss her as a real contender until I study her again. No, this girl is nothing like the last one. She's hesitating not because she's afraid to fight, or because she fears losing, but because she's thinking. Calculating. She has a dark hair tied back in a high ponytail and a lean, athletic build. She stands deliberately, with a hand resting on her hip, as if nothing in the world can catch her off guard. I find myself pausing to admire her face.
For a brief moment, I'm lost to my surroundings...

...the instant the new girl steps into the circle and I see her stance...I know I've made a big mistake. Kaede strikes like a bull, a battering ram.
This girl strikes like a viper. -Day

June is the golden prodigy of the Republic. She got the best of genes and is destined for a bright future. She's the only person who got the perfect score in the Trial, and she's been recognized at such a young age, making her the youngest yet the best soldier in the military. Until her brother, Captain Metias died and Day became the suspect. Day is the country's most wanted criminal. And June will do everything to hunt him down and avenge her brother's death.

I think that June and Day are two of the smartest, fastest, strongest, and most brilliant characters I've ever met. And they are probably the most perceptive, intuitive of all. When something arise, they easily figure it out. Most importantly, they can immediately figure out each other. I hope that it will continue up to the next book. They somehow remind me of Tris and Four of Divergent. Brilliant and totally kick-ass. And behind those tough personalities are good hearts. These characters are driven by their fears and heartaches in the past. They were crashed but they remain whole in a world where survival is vital and only possible for the fittest. I loved those characters that exudes such great personalities. I want to see them in the big screen. This book deserves it!

Then there's a voice telling me to get up. When I look to my side, I see a boy holding out his hand to me. He has bright blue eyes, dirt on his face, and a beat-up old cap on, and at this moment, I think he might be the most beautiful boy I've ever seen.
"Come on," he urges. I take his hand.

He doesn't act like a desperate street kid. He has so many more sides to him that I wonder if he has always lived in these poor sectors. He glances at me now, notices me studying him, and pauses for a second. Some secret emotion darts across his eyes. A beautiful mystery. -June

I'd say that my most favorite part in the story is when Day first laid his eyes on June at the Skiz. It was remarkable. I loved how Day described June when he saw her, the same way I loved how June thought about Day when he first offered her his hand. I knew that the romance will blossom eventually, and I've been so ecstatic to see how everything will play out for two people who are enemies and bound by duty and responsibility--one for the Republic, the other one for his family.

I am a huge fan of dystopian novels blended with good romance and brilliantly developed characters, and Legend has both. The story is compelling, gripping and totally intense. It's a kind of book that you don't want to put down once you started reading it. The story is fast-paced and the world building is very well crafted. I cannot ask for more in this book. It has the right amount of action, suspense, romance, and drama that makes it a very satisfying read. Aside from that, I loved how the story were told from two different POVs. If you have the paperback or the hardback copy of the book, you'll see that Day's POV was written using a different color of ink, and with different font. This made the book more fun and easier to read. I got even more excited every time the POV changed.

Legend had everything I want in a dystopian book. The story is impressive and I really enjoyed it. It reminds me why I like dystopian novels so much. It's a fast read, intense, highly engaging, emotionally gripping, and a total page-turner! If you are a huge fan of dystopian novels like me, you'll surely don't want to miss it. I highly recommend Legend. It's a powerful story. It deserves a place on my bookshelf, and I'm sure it'll be a great addition to your bookshelf too. It's a must read!

My Rating:

P.S. Did I mention that I grabbed the audiobook version after I finished this book? It is that good.

P.S.S. Check Ms. Marie Lu's website and you'll find some pretty interesting stuff out there. Go check out her blog and media :) I find some sketches and art made by the author herself. There are games, teasers/trailers that you might find very enjoying. Don't forget to check out het awesome site.

Marie Lu's Official Website | Blog | Media

TBR Intervention Challenge (42)

TBR Intervention is a weekly challenge hosted by
RefractedLightWhatever you Can Still Betray, and Books4Juliet

Everyone is WELCOME to JOIN this meme. Just click the image TBR Intervention Button above to see the rules and read more about this feature.

LAST WEEK'S TBRIC:

I finished Legend by Marie Lu and it was really good! I totally loved it and definitely a 5/5 coffee cups! Thanks to all who recommended this book to me. I also started Dust by Devon Ashley, though I haven't finish it yet...again. I hope this week I can get through it already. It started good and it's reminding me of Tinkerbell :) Well, with all the little pixies and the dust...

THIS WEEK'S TBRIC:

Anyway, this week I'm planning to continue Dust. Then maybe I'll be able to read Surrender by Elana Johnson (I loved Possession!). I'm also considering Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi or Stay With Me by Paul Griffin--both are sitting on my shelf for a while now. I can't decide yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to a contemporary or dystopian book this week. 

    

My Never-Ending Booksnotes: Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

My Never-Ending Booknotes will feature my favorite lines/dialogue/quotes from the books I already finished or currently reading. I'm going to post every Wednesday, and if you want to share your favorite quotes, please feel free to do so. I would be so happy and excited to read them. Who knows, we might have the same favorites! :)

I've finished Point of Retreat last week. It's the second book of Slammed by Colleen Hoover. Have you read these books yet? I loved them! They're butterflying good! 

So, here's my NEBN for today... 

Add to TBR

And that's when it happens....my whole world comes crashing down around me.

She's standing in the doorway watching us, her mouth open likes she's about to say something, but can't....

Lake looks into my eyes and I see it...I see her heart breaking. 

I can't find my words. Lake slowly shakes her head, like she's trying to make sense of whatever she's seeing. She pulls her gaze away from mine and turns and leaves. I run after her, but she's already out the front door. I slip my shoes on and swing the door open.

"Lake!" I yell as soon as I'm outside. I reach her just as she makes it to the street. I grab her arm and turn her back  around to face me. I don't know what to say. What do I say? 

You can read my review of Slammed here. Point of Retreat will be up some time this week :)

Book Review: DARK FROST by Jennifer Estep

Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3)
Author: Jennifer Estep
Published: May 29th 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary | Add to TBR

I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?

It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.

My Thoughts:

This series is one of those that aren't in my top favorites, but it's one of those that I am anxiously waiting for. I'm not sure what captures me the most about this book--maybe the on and off romance of the lead characters that is so frustrating and exciting at the same time--or maybe just the story and the fantasy flavor. But one thing I'm sure of, I will continue to read this series.

I liked the first two books, especially the last, "Kiss of Frost". Since I am a sucker for good and sweet romance, I enjoyed this book a lot. I think it's the best of the three books. I was actually expecting more from "Dark Frost", but I got bit disappointed. I skipped reading most of the parts, because of too much repetition. Seriously, I've been reminded too much of the things I already know. I think that if you remove all the unnecessary explanations, you could wrapped up the entire story in just half of the book. It's frustrating. If you've read the first two books, you'll understand what I'm talking about. I also hope that Gwen learned to be more perceptive to the people and her surroundings. The Helheim Dagger which she was looking for was obviously been there, and it took her a while before she realized it. I hope she was more creative in her ways than just researching for the written words all the time. Gwen has improved from the first book up to this, but I hope that she'll be more kick-ass next time and learned how to appreciate herself and her powers.

Overall, the story is good. I enjoyed it though there were some downfall for me. I really liked Kiss of Frost the most, and I hope the next book will be even better than the rest of first books in the series. I guess I'm one of the VERY FEW who didn't liked it much, so better read more reviews before deciding to read it or not. People loved this book more than the first two so I think it's worth giving a shot.

My Rating:

Book Review: WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE by Sarah Dessen

What Happened To Goodbye
Author: Sarah Dessen
Published: May 10th 2011
Publisher: Viking
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Summary | Add to TBR

Who is the real McLean?

Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out.

Combining Sarah Dessen's trademark graceful writing, great characters, and compelling storytelling, What Happened to Goodbye is irresistible reading.

My Thoughts:

You could just tell when a person belonged somewhere. That is something you can't fake, no matter how hard you try. -Mclean p13

Amazing how you could get do far from where you'd planned, and yet find it was exactly where you needed to be. -Mclean, p279

Of all Sarah Dessen's books that I've read, What Happened to Goodbye is the first one that made me cry. All her books are emotional, sad, thought-provoking, and they all deals with realities in life. But this one has touched me the deepest. Of all her characters that are crafted with delicate care--making them the imperfect, flawed, and most of all real--it was Mclean Sweet who captured my heart the most. This might not be my most favorite of her books, but surely this one will forever be in my heart. I don't know what it is that makes Sarah Dessen's books very touching that it makes me appreciate the people in my life after I read them. It makes me appreciate life itself, or my life to be specific.

I think it's important that it really have meaning to you if it's going to be part of you forever. -Deb, p129

Mclean's life isn't easy. She was once been happy, and that was before his parents got divorced. Before her mom cheated her dad with the university's basketball coach. Before her mom got pregnant with the twins, before her dad sold their restaurant and decided to be a consultant instead--the reason why they are traveling and moving every six months. She's been in four different schools during the last two years, avoiding making friends, making attachments, living a life. Every time they move, she takes it as a new beginning...every time. She starts a new life that isn't hers, not Mclean, but a new girl with a different personality. She feels that she doesn't belong anywhere, and I think that what makes this book achingly sad. To feel that you are alone and that you have no place to really call home... I think that's the saddest part.

What I really appreciate about Sarah Dessen's books, are the stories of life--disappointments, struggles, painful past, but always with a hopeful future. I always love the settings and the characters that she created... it make me feel connected to them in some ways I couldn't explain. Maybe because they all felt real to me--they're ordinary people dealing with normal issues in life. I love every bit of the story, because for me, it's giving me something true and something good to think about and hold onto.

Two a.m. You know. The person you can call at two a.m. and, no matter what, you can count on them. Even if they're asleep or it's cold or you need to be bailed out jail...they'll come for you. It's, like, the highest level of friendship. -Dave, p216

This is a story of girl who is trying to forget her real self but ends up finding herself in the process. With the help of her funny, weird, and amazing friends and a smart guy who live next door, she will realize that a home isn't actually a place...

This book is emotional but blended with just the right amount of humour and wit. I enjoyed it and I am grateful that I've read such a good story. I recommend What Happened to Goodbye. I recommend Sarah Dessen. 

My Rating:

TBR Intervention Challenge (41)

TBR Intervention is a weekly challenge hosted by RefractedLight, Whatever you Can Still Betray, and Books4Juliet

Everyone is WELCOME to JOIN this meme. Just click the image TBR Intervention Button above to see the rules and read more about this feature.
LAST WEEK'S TBRIC: 
In my last week's TBRIC, I said I was going to read DUST by Devon Ashley. But I haven't read it yet. I haven't read any of those I listed! Ugh. Shoot me now. I know you want to! Haha.

BUT...I did have some fantabulous books which I finished last week. See? I didn't fail! I've read two butterflying amazing books! SLAMMED and POINT OF RETREAT by Colleen Hoover. Have you heard about the book? Have you heard about it? Golly-wow, you should read it! It's butterflying good! And if you wonder why I keep saying "butterflying", read the book to find out. *wink* It's really good. I loved those books. They're part of the series. Slammed is book 1. I finished Point of Retreat (book 2) a day after I finished Slammed. I read those two books in two days! They're just that good. 

Anyway, here's my review of Slammed by Colleen Hoover . My review for Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is also up.

Oh, before I forget, I also finish WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE by Sarah Dessen. It is really good! I really enjoyed it. I cried over the book because it was really emotional and sad and hopeful at the same time. It was a sweet read, too. I love Sarah Dessen.

THIS WEEK'S TBRIC:
This week, I am planning to read LEGEND by Marie Lu or BEFORE I WAKE by Rachel Vincent (yes!!!). And of course I'll try to start reading DUST by Devon Ashley.

How's your TBRIC? I hope you did great last week. Smile. Have a delightful weekend!

Book Review: SLAMMED by Colleen Hoover

Slammed (Slammed #1)
Author: Colleen Hoover
Published: January 5th 2012
Format: Kindle Edition
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

Summary | Add to TBR

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart. 

My Thoughts:

I hope Ms. Colleen Hoover won't mind if she see my failed attempt to review her amazing book with a...well...a slam. And please, don't tell me my score. And don't laugh. Besides, the book says:

The points are not the point. The point is poetry. -Allan Wolfe

So without further ado, here's my review entitled "Get Slammed".
Days or weeks ago, my friends recommended a book.
They said it's amazing, so I wanted to read it too.

It took me a moment or so to open Goodreads, 

Minutes to read the reviews.

Then I marked it to-read,

in my wishlist, 2012 release.

I read it in a day and a night to be exact.

It pulled me hard, I think I got Slammed.

This book made me think and care more about my family.

Think and care more about my friends.

Think and care more about death, but most of all about life.

About love.

5 Steaming Coffee Cups for the amazing characters that rocked me.

For Lake...

For Kel and Caulder...

For Eddie and Gavin…

For Julia…

Most of all, for Will…

5 Steaming Coffee Cups for the beautiful writing--

that made me laugh,

that made me giggle,

that made me smile,

that made me swoon,

that made me ache,

that made me hope,

that made me understand,

that made me feel.

5 Steaming Coffee Cups for the beautiful plot and setting--
tragic, 

complicated, 

sometimes sad, 

sometimes happy, 

but achingly real.

5 Steaming Coffee Cups for the beautiful story--

blended with amazing poetry,

laughter-inducing dialogues,

weird but amazing true friends,

smart and funny nine-year olds,

great and fantastic mom,

and two hearts trying to find their chance at love.

Most of all,
5 Steaming Coffee Cups for the romance.
Though it felt a bit too-soon for Lake and Will to fall in love,
I don't think it lessen the thrill or the excitement of the ride.
I think...maybe...probably...
there's magic in what we call love at first sight.

Slammed is funny and sad, and witty and emotional, all at the same time.

I recommend this book. 

I recommend Colleen Hoover. 

You may or may not read Slammed, 

But here's something to ponder about even if you decide not to read it,
though I still hope that you will.
'Cos when you read Slammed, you'll see that it isn't good to "carve the pumpkins".
And it's fun and easy to just try slamming.

From Slammed:

Find a balance between head and heart.

Push your boundaries, that's what they're there for.

Always remember there is nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name.

Don't take life too seriously. Punch it in the face when it needs a good hit. Laugh at it.

And laugh a lot.

Never judge others.

Question everything. If you don't have questions, you'll never find answers.

Be accepting of everything. People's differences, people's similarities, their choices, their personalities. Sometimes it takes a variety to make a good collection.

Choose your battles, but don't choose very many.

Keep an open mind; it's the only way new things can get in.

Never regret.

Days or weeks ago, my friends recommended a book.

They said it's amazing, so I wanted to read it too.

It took me a moment or so to open Goodreads, 

Minutes to read the reviews.

Then I marked it to-read,

in my wishlist, 2012 release.

I read it in a day and a night to be exact.

It pulled me hard, I think I got Slammed.

My Rating:

My Never-Ending Booknotes: Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

My Never-Ending Booknotes will feature my favorite lines/dialogue/quotes from the books I already finished or currently reading. I'm going to post every Wednesday, and if you want to share your favorite quotes, please feel free to do so. I would be so happy and excited to read them. Who knows, we might have the same favorites! :) You can find my very first post here.

I recently finished Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park, so I picked this book for my NEBN today. I also posted my review here so you can check it out if you like.

I love Julie and Matt and Finn. And there are too many funny and cute moments in the book that I want to share with you. I just need to pick one though, so here it goes:

Add to TBR

"Lift up your sweatshirt."
Matt rolled his eyes. "God, you really know how to turn a guy on."
Julie didn't budge. "If I was trying to turn you on, I could do better than that. Now, lift your sweatshirt."
Matt looked up at her and tried to look serious. "Julie, I'm completely offended that you have so little faith in my honesty. I thought at this point in our friendship that you would at least--"
"Get up." Julie leaned over and shut his laptop. "Get up!" she said again.
"You're being ridiculous," Matt said laughing, but he stood up. "I trust you implicitly, and it wouldn't kill you to show me the same respect."
"Show me!"
Matt sidestepped the chair and took a few steps backward. "You have quite the attitude today. Suspicious and mean."
Julie took a step forward, causing Matt to continue backing away. "Lift up your shirt."
"Look, I appreciate an aggressive woman, but this is really getting weird."

Do you have a quote or favorite lines to share?

Book Review: FLAT-OUT LOVE by Jessica Park

Flat-Out Love

Author: Jessica Parker

Published: April 11th 2011

Format: Kindle Edition

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Summary | Add to TBR | Get it here!

Flat-Out Love is a warm and witty novel of family love and dysfunction, deep heartache and raw vulnerability, with a bit of mystery and one whopping, knock-you-to-your-knees romance.

Something is seriously off in the Watkins home. And Julie Seagle, college freshman, small-town Ohio transplant, and the newest resident of this Boston house, is determined to get to the bottom of it.

When Julie's off-campus housing falls through, her mother's old college roommate, Erin Watkins, invites her to move in. The parents, Erin and Roger, are welcoming, but emotionally distant and academically driven to eccentric extremes. The middle child, Matt, is an MIT tech geek with a sweet side ... and the social skills of a spool of USB cable. The youngest, Celeste, is a frighteningly bright but freakishly fastidious 13-year-old who hauls around a life-sized cardboard cutout of her oldest brother almost everywhere she goes.

And there's that oldest brother, Finn: funny, gorgeous, smart, sensitive, almost emotionally available. Geographically? Definitely unavailable. That's because Finn is traveling the world and surfacing only for random Facebook chats, e-mails, and status updates. Before long, through late-night exchanges of disembodied text, he begins to stir something tender and silly and maybe even a little bit sexy in Julie's suddenly lonesome soul.

To Julie, the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family add up to something that ... well ... doesn't quite add up. Not until she forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.

Flat-Out Love comes complete with emails, Facebook status updates, and instant messages.

My Thoughts:

This review will be short. Simply because I won't be able to tell everything without giving away too much. I don't want to spoil the book for you just in case you decided to read it. 

I loved Flat-Out Love. I love Matt. I love Finn. I love Julie. I love Celeste. I absolutely enjoyed reading about these fantastic characters--from the Watkins family to Julie. Every character is something, and it's a book that I want to read again. And again. And again.

Flat-Out Love is one of the best contemporary books I've ever read. The reviews didn't let me down! Now I understand why there are so many readers who loved this book. And I mean *love* this book.

"We move to the edge of the plane again and pause. You cross your arms over your chest and lean your head back into me like I told you. I start to rock us back and forth, getting us ready to jump. And then we go."

The Watkins family is, well, kind of different. Something is off, and Julie is determined to find out what it is--the reason why Celeste is carrying a life-size cardboard cut-out of Finn, and why Matt is overly protective of her. The secret of Erin's family is so intriguing that it didn't let me put the book even when I knew that I badly needed sleep. Even though I have things figured out, I was still so anxiously flipping the page...after page...after page. I want to see how everything played out and it end up beautifully. The story is absolutely stunning, it's nothing like I've read before. The romance... Oh the romance! That's the very best thing I enjoyed about this book. I just loved how everything has been executed. I loved the Facebook statuses, I loved the instant messages between Finn and Julie. It was so entertaining, I was drawn in. I giggled a lot, a smiled hugely, I laughed out loud. It kept me awake until past three in the morning and I didn't regret it. I finished it in one day!

"I reach between us and release the buckles that holding us together. This is when I really panic. The ride up in the plane didn't scare me. Or the height, or the jump, or the noise. None of that scared me. Right now, only one thing does.
I'm terrified that when I undo that buckle and release you, that you'll get up and walk away from me. I can't think of anything more excruciating."

Beautiful, hilarious, heartbreaking, and overall captivating. With a dysfunctional family to live with, problems and issues to deal with, and a blossoming romance with an emotionally-available-yet-geographically-unavailable guy, Flat-Out Love will steal your heart in all the right places. I highly recommend this book. Read it. Please *wink*.

"Then I ask you to ignore everything you think you know and to listen only to your heart, without doubting anything. Can you do that?"

"Of course I can."

"Then I kiss you, and I make you feel everything that I feel."

My Rating:

Book Review: DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1)

Author: Laini Taylor

Published Date: September 27th 2011

Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Summary | Add to TBR

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Thoughts:

Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.

I know there are lots of you who have read and loved and adored this book. So, please don't take it against me when I say that I didn't like this book "THAT" much. I enjoyed it somehow, though maybe not as much as you did. I know, I know... maybe it's just me, but here's what I really think about the book:

The story started really slow for me up to the middle part. The first half was so confusing--the setting and even the style of writing. First, I didn't know that Prague is actually a city in Czech. I thought it was something that the author created and a result of her creative imagination (Really, I'm sorry. I'm not that smart to know everything.) Second, I couldn't relate with the characters. And it's the first thing I look forward to in any books. I need to like them, I need to feel a connection. Unfortunately, no matter how I tried, I couldn't connect with Karou the same way that I couldn't feel her relationship with Akiva. It was like Karou and Madrigal were two different people entirely.

BUT. The second half of the book is a different case. This time, the story picked up. Just when I thought that I would be bored to death, the surprises started to arise, and the secrets began to unfold. I started to understand things, letting me enjoy the rest of the story. Honestly, I didn't expect it to catch up anymore but I was surprised when I reached the other half of the book. Suddenly, everything makes sense!

I can't say that I'm excited for the next installment, but I can't deny either that I still want to read it and see what will happen to the characters. The ending wasn't at all cliffie for me and maybe it's because I wasn't that invested in the characters which is kinda bad since characters matters to me a lot--BIG TIME. The setting is interesting (but like I said, confusing) and the plot is unique, so over-all, this book is good enough, but not something I look forward to reading again.

BUT. Please don't base your decision in my review alone. People actually, truly enjoyed this book and I'm just one of the few who didn't love it enough. Read more reviews and who knows, you might actually enjoy it. Every book is something, right? Maybe not just for everyone, but they are certainly worth other people's time. Go and give it a shot.


My Rating:

TBR Intervention Challenge (40)

TBR Intervention is a weekly challenge hosted by RefractedLight, Whatever you Can Still Betray, and Books4Juliet

Everyone is WELCOME to JOIN this meme. Just click the image TBR Intervention Button above to see the rules and read more about this feature.

LAST WEEK'S TBRIC: 

Last week, my TBRIC was a disaster. You know, not totally some kind of AHBL (All Hell Breaking Loose), but you know what I mean. Haha. But anyway, I think I'm catching up little by little. This week has been good since I enjoyed my books BIG time especially FLAT-OUT LOVE by Jessica Park. I absolutely loved it! Thanks to my Starbooks friend Jenny for recommending this book, and to my Starbooks friend and co-host Dani :) for sending me a wonderful gift--this made me picked this book. If you haven't read Flat-Out Love, I highly recommend it. It's sweet, sad, hilarious, and everything you might want in a contemporary read. If I can't convince you enough, then I suggest reading the reviews from Goodreads and see what I'm talking about *smile*.

Summary | Link to Goodreads

Flat-Out Love is a warm and witty novel of family love and dysfunction, deep heartache and raw vulnerability, with a bit of mystery and one whopping, knock-you-to-your-knees romance.

Something is seriously off in the Watkins home. And Julie Seagle, college freshman, small-town Ohio transplant, and the newest resident of this Boston house, is determined to get to the bottom of it.

When Julie's off-campus housing falls through, her mother's old college roommate, Erin Watkins, invites her to move in. The parents, Erin and Roger, are welcoming, but emotionally distant and academically driven to eccentric extremes. The middle child, Matt, is an MIT tech geek with a sweet side ... and the social skills of a spool of USB cable. The youngest, Celeste, is a frighteningly bright but freakishly fastidious 13-year-old who hauls around a life-sized cardboard cutout of her oldest brother almost everywhere she goes.

And there's that oldest brother, Finn: funny, gorgeous, smart, sensitive, almost emotionally available. Geographically? Definitely unavailable. That's because Finn is traveling the world and surfacing only for random Facebook chats, e-mails, and status updates. Before long, through late-night exchanges of disembodied text, he begins to stir something tender and silly and maybe even a little bit sexy in Julie's suddenly lonesome soul.

To Julie, the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family add up to something that ... well ... doesn't quite add up. Not until she forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.

Flat-Out Love comes complete with emails, Facebook status updates, and instant messages.

I finally finished Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. It wasn't as great as I expected but it's good. I'm giving it 3/5 coffee cups. I haven't finish my review, hopefully it will be up next week. I also finished *blush* Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James. Not usually my type of read, but I enjoyed it. I've read Fifty Shades of Grey months ago, and I thought I wouldn't be able to continue the series. But since reading for me depends on my mood, I actually got the nerve to pick up the book and read it. Fifty Shades of Grey (3/5 coffee cups) was erotic, but Anna and Christian's relationship seemed to grow on me, so I decided to finally continue the series. Fifty Shades Darker is actually better than the first book, I think. Because it focused more on their relationship rather than sex. It's nice how to see Christian changed from being a dominant guy to someone who is actually sweet and romantic and gentle.

Anyway, I don't plan to review Fifty Shades, it was just out of high curiosity why I picked the books. *biting my lip now*. My reviews for Flat-Out Love and Daughter of Smoke and Bone will probably be up next week. I hope you'll come over to take a peek. And probably, I'd be able to finish What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen and write a review as well. We'll see. We'll see.

P.S. I am enjoying What Happened to Goodbye :) Loving Mclean and Dave. Love Sarah Dessen. 

P.S.S. I think I'm craving for a lot of contemporaries nowadays...Have you heard of Slammed by Colleen Hoover? I've heard it's good. I want to get a copy of that book. Maybe soon. Haha.

THIS WEEK'S TBRIC:

I want to read one or two of these books from my shelf. Maybe you can help me pick again?

I also plan to read Dust by Devon Ashley since I'm part of the  upcoming tour. I hope I'll get a whole lot of fun this week, again. I don't want another fail TBRIC. It's becoming a habit, a not-so-healthy habit, lol.

Summary | Link to Goodreads
4. The number of times my delicate wings have been broken and clamped behind my back.
68. The number inked upon my skin, marking me the sixty-eighth pixie to be stolen.
87. The number of days I’ve been wrongfully imprisoned.
88. The first day the faeries will regret stealing me.

Healthy. Cheery. Vivacious. All traits Rosalie has before becoming enslaved by the faeries to make an endless supply of pixie dust. Now that Rosalie has been traumatized by slave labor, extreme desolate conditions and multiple deaths, this hardened pixie is anything but. When this rebellious teenager attempts an escape, she’s isolated in cramped quarters until she learns her place. Just as she begins to let go of all that hope, she finds an unlikely friend in Jack, the faerie assigned to guard her. Interspecies dating is forbidden in the fae world, so their growing attraction is unacceptable. And even if Jack can find a way to free her, they know the prison is the only place they can truly be together.

I think that's it. Have a lovely and fantabulous (I love this term from Dani's vocabulary, I hope she don't mind if she'll see me using this word from now on *wink*) weekend!
P.S. While I'm doing this post, I don't know why I feel...happy, peaceful. Anyway, I hope you are all feeling good today, wherever you are :)

Time to link up! (What's with my overflowing energy?! Weird, lol.)

My Never-Ending Booknotes: Taste by Kate Evangelista

My Never-Ending Booknotes will feature my favorite lines/dialogue/quotes from the books I already finished or currently reading. I'm going to post every Wednesday, and if you want to share your favorite quotes, please feel free to do so. I would be so happy and excited to read them. Who knows, we might have the same favorites! :) You can find my very first post here.

Today, I picked one of my favorite dialogues from one of the best books I've ever read in 2012. Taste by Kate Evangelista. If you haven't read the book, I hope you will find time in the future. You can also read my review here. Enjoy!

Add to TBR

"You are being selfish, little cat," he said softly. "What makes you think I could?"

Tears fell just as the first sobs came from my throat.

"Because you are ____," I said. Luka's eyes widened a fraction. "And your father was _____."

"What makes you think I would take it?"

"Because," I swallowed another sob before it had a chance to escape, "you have to."

Helpless laughter came out of Luka. It was a sad laugh. Then his face hardened to an emotionless mask that scared me.

"For a kiss then," he said.

"A what?" I asked, slack-jawed, my brain blacking out.

"A kiss for the throne. You can give me that much, can't you, little cat?"

Do you have a favorite lines or quotes to share?

Upcoming Books Snoop | Mixed Edition

Here are some of the upcoming books that I've spotted over the week(s) and made their way to my TBR list.

If you've also spotted new titles or sequels that you would like to share with me or to everyone, feel free to join and comment. Have fun snooping around!

Hello again everyone! Have you spotted some books to be released in the future? I have some for you. Check these amazing looking books I snooped around this week. Update your TBR now :)

The Sweetest Dark
By Shana Abe
August 21, 2012

Summary | Add to TBR

“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”
Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.

Witch Born (Witch Song #2)
By Amber Argyle
September 5, 2012

Summary | Add to TBR

Brusenna thought it was finished.

She defeated the Dark Witch, saving the Haven Witches from imprisonment and death. She found love and a place to belong.

She was wrong.

Haven is not the sanctuary it appears to be. Even love is in danger of slipping away like water through cupped hands.

Some things can't be saved.

A new threat merges with the old as the Witches’ dark history begins to catch up with them. Only Brusenna knows the extent of the danger and how to stop it, though doing so might cost her everything.

Including her life.

Will Brusenna be required to make the ultimate sacrifice?

Uses For Boys
By Erica Lorraine Scheidt
January 22, 2013

Summary | Add to TBR

From an extraordinary new YA talent comes a debut novel about a girl who turns to boys—until she finally learns to lean on herself.

Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, bringing home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.
Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical, Uses for Boys is a story of breaking down and growing up.

Shards & Ashes
By Melissa Marr
February 9, 2013

Summary | Add to TBR

Gripping original stories of dystopian worlds from nine New York Times bestselling authors, edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong

The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological, or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations, and one another; their resources are few, and their courage is tested.

Powerful original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions, and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.

Stories from:
Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, Kami Garcia, Nancy Holder, Melissa Marr, Beth Revis, Veronica Roth, Carrie Ryan, Margaret Stohl

Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society #3)
By Ally Carter
February 5, 2013

Summary | Add to TBR

Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it’s that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting—or stealing—whatever they want.

No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale’s family, all bets are off when money is on the line. When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother’s billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there’s no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won’t let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother’s will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company’s fortune. So instead of being the heir—this time, Hale might be the mark.

Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she’s willing to save her boyfriend’s company if it means losing the boy.

Have a great weekend lovelies!

Book Trailer: OBSIDIAN by Jennifer Armentrout

The much-anticipated book trailer of OBSIDIAN by Jennifer Armentrout is now available for us to see! Yep, you heard me. With two gorgeous models, Pepe and Sztella, expect sizzling and smoking HOT video. Here's what I'm talking about:


I told you *winks. Though in my own personal opinion, I think it doesn't tell much about what the story is about. Nevertheless, it's really good and sexy and hot. With lots of kissing there, Obsidian fans are swooning and drooling while watching this video. Daemon Black, what's not to like?
How about you? Did you liked the trailer?

TBR Intervention Challenge (39)

TBR Intervention is a weekly challenge hosted by

Dani @ RefractedLight, Ayanami @Whatever you Can Still Betray, and April @Books4Juliet

Everyone is WELCOME to JOIN this meme. Just click the image TBR Intervention Button above to see the rules and read more about this feature.

LAST WEEK'S TBRIC:

I haven't finish Daughter of Smoke and Bone but I hope to finish it this week. It's a bit slow and most of the times confusing. I can't connect with the characters... It's a little frustrating so I hope it will get better for me soon before I get bored. 
THIS WEEK'S TBRIC: Same book. Same book. *grins
How's your TBR pile? Did you finish your book?