Review: Oleah Chronicles: Justice by Michelle Johnson

Oleah Chronicles: Justice
Author: Michelle Johnson
Publisher: Michelle Johnson
Publication: May 15, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Science Fiction
My Rating:

After discovering the truth about her Oleah origins, Angel thought she could still have a normal life, consisting of normal things – like her seventeenth birthday party. But there is no such thing as normal for Angel anymore. She learned that the hard way after Sindrell – the most powerful sorceress in the universe – crashed her party, destroyed the city, and took her best friend, Julie, captive. Determined to defeat Sindrell for good, Angel must risk her life, along with the fate of the entire universe to get Julie back…alive. The only way she can do this successfully, is to embrace her Oleah instincts and learn what it takes to become a true warrior. Problem is, Sindrell has an insurance policy of her own that will put millions of lives in danger – including Zander’s – to ensure her quest for power is brought to fruition. One way or another. In order to protect Zander, and save Julie, Angel has to make a choice… but will it be the right one?

Oleah Chronicles: Justice picks up where we left Angel Seriki in Oleah Chronicles: Truth. This time our heroine is doing everything she can to rescue her best friend Julie and to become stronger by training under the guidance of her Oleah parents and of course, together with the love of her life Zander.

I loved that the sequel was a light read and it introduced a whole new premise. The introduction of new characters was also a great thing since it offered a refreshing feel to the readers. What I just didn’t quite enjoy was how some scenes became abrupt. I thought the world building here also lacked and fell flat. Also, I was expecting a lot of romantic scenes between Zander and Angel, but… 😦 Then there’s Julie who kept annoying me most of the time. 😦 However, there’s this Zander line that made me swoon. 🙂

“Sometimes, you don’t realize you’re broken until someone brings you the piece that’s been missing in your life. You are my missing piece, Princess. Going back to a world that you’re not in, is not an option. My life belongs to you.”

The book was still beautifully done and though it lacked on some levels, the plot was spot-on and Angel’s character development was evident. In addition, the book’s ending was a BANG and it certainly made a difference. It made me question what will happen to Julie and Angel’s friendship now that there’s a huge change between them. 🙂

(Thank you to the author Michelle Johnson for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!)

Rating:

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Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
(Harry Potter #2)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Published: September 1, 2014
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
My Rating:

Harry Potter can’t wait for his holidays with the dire Dursleys to end. But a small, self-punishing house-elf warns Harry of mortal danger awaiting him at Hogwarts. Returning to the castle nevertheless, Harry hears a rumour about a Chamber of Secrets, holding unknown horrors for wizards of Muggle parentage. Now someone is casting spells that turn people to stone, and a terrible warning is found painted on the wall. The chief suspect – always in the wrong place – is Harry. But something much more terrifying has yet to be unleashed.

These new editions of the classic and internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning series feature instantly pick-up-able new jackets by Jonny Duddle, with huge child appeal, to bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers. It’s time to PASS THE MAGIC ON …

I think there’s no need to make a proper review for this book because everyone knows how great this book and this series is. So I have to put everything through GIFs. 🙂

Things I loved in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets:

THE AWESOME FLYING CAR!

THE WHOMPING WILLOW! (I couldn’t even imagine how cute and hilarious this tree when it punched Ron and Harry in the earlier chapters. Ha!)

MOANING MYRTLE (I haven’t seen the movie yet, but is this Moaning Myrtle? The character grew in me and I felt sad for what happened to her. :(( )

HAGRID (One of the best characters ever!)

THE BATTLE BETWEEN BASILISK AND FAWKES (I think this one is the best part here. It was pure epicness!)

What I didn’t quite like:

Not much happened in the first half of the book which brings me to realize that I enjoyed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone a lot better. Needless to say, I did have fun going to Harry’s adventure here. His character continues to amaze me and his friendship with Ron and Hermione are goals! I have to read the next books ASAP!

Rating:

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Review: Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Temptation
(The Sweet Series #4)
Author: Wendy Higgins
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: September 8, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
My Rating:

Bad boy Kaidan Rowe has never wanted for anything—money, popularity, musical talent…hot girls—but seducing them is part of his duty as a Nephilim, slave to the demon Dukes. As the son of the Duke of Lust, Kaidan has learned his father’s ways, becoming a master of passion, a manipulator of chemistry. Disobeying his father would mean certain death. Thankfully for Kaidan, he’s good at his job. And he enjoys it.

Until he meets Anna Whitt—smart, feisty, and inexplicably good—the one girl seemingly immune to his charms. The daughter of a guardian angel and a fallen one, she makes him wish for more than he could ever deserve.

Determined to save all the Neph from their dark lives, Anna joins forces with Kaidan to overcome the Dukes’ oppressive ways. In the light of her affections, Kaidan must undergo his toughest test of all, a battle of the heart.

Sensual and swoonworthy, this companion volume to the Sweet Evil series, told from the perspective of the mysterious Kaidan Rowe, gives readers revealing insights into the true emotions that drive him.

 

(Buddyreading this book with my sissy Avy)

Reading this book was reminiscing everything in Sweet series and bringing back the feels! I am not really fond of reading a book that rehashes the entire series using the voice of the male mc but this one was an exception because, *sigh It’s KAIDAN ROWE’S POV and why not?

I knew Kaidan was sexy in Sweet Evil, Sweet Peril, and Sweet Reckoning but I think he’s way sexier here. Lots of naughty things were running inside his head and I can’t help but blush. LOL. I think I even loved him better here because I was able to really see through his thoughts and his emotions and the way he regarded Anna. Right in the feels!

“Anna has ruined me with a craving for something far more substantial. She possesses the only thing that can fill the deep void within me, and nothing else comes close.”

Anna and Kaidan have always been one of my favorite OTP’s that’s why it was kind of difficult for me to read this book without missing this couple so bad! But I’m really glad because I already forgot lots of scenes in the series and I’m happy to rewind all of those, especially those scenes I consider my favorites. All in all, it was a worthy somewhat-reread of the entire series. Kaidan Rowe is truly worth it all!

“I can’t simply have a tiny slice of Anna. I’m no masochist. It has to be all or nothing.”

Rating:

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Review: Sempre by J.M. Darhower

 

Sempre
(Sempre #1)
Author: J.M. Darhower
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: February 25, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, New Adult, Dark, Romance Contemporary, Suspense
My Rating:

THIS IS A STORY ABOUT SACRIFICE… DEATH… LOVE… FREEDOM. THIS IS A STORY ABOUT FOREVER.

Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco grew up under vastly different circumstances. Haven, a second-generation slave, was isolated in the middle of the desert, her days full of hard work and terrifying abuse. Carmine, born into a wealthy Mafia family, lived a life of privilege and excess. Now, a twist of fate causes their worlds to collide. Entangled in a web of secrets and lies, they learn that while different on the surface, they have more in common than anyone would think. In a world full of chaos, where money and power rule, Haven and Carmine yearn to break free, but a string of events that began before either of them were born threatens to destroy them instead.

Murder and betrayal are a way of life, and nothing comes without a price-especially not freedom. But how much will they have to sacrifice? Can they escape their pasts? And, most of all, what does it mean to be free?

(Buddyreading this book with my lovely sis Eunice)

“When love strikes someone like lightning, so powerful and intense it can’t be denied. It’s beautiful and messy, cracking a chest open and spilling their soul out for the world to see. It turns a person inside out, and there’s no going back from it.”

I believe this is one of the best books written so far.

Sempre is yet another masterpiece where J.M. Darhower uses a dark theme as a plot device for a YA/NA romantic genre.

The story centered around Haven who grew up as a slave under the Antonelli family. She was about to escape and ask for help when she stumbled upon Dr. Vincent DeMarco who brought her to his home and basically gave her shelter. In return, she was also to work as his slave– with restrictions and certain rules to never get out of the house or open any code inside. In her new home she met the notorious bad boy Carmin DeMarco, a Mafia prince who has the entire world under his fingertips. What soon blossomed between them was an unexpected love which eventually became a complication to their situation where danger continues to threaten them and heavy decisions matter.

I loved the concept of this book and the exquisite romance of two young people who fell in love against seemingly impossible odds. I expected it to be something different, something that I’m used to in a Mafia romance, but I was surprised by its uniqueness. The writing of J.M. Darhower and the ardent tone she used gave me a plethora of different emotions.

She was quiet, running her fingers across his abs and tracing his scars with her fingertips. “How about we just be Haven and Carmine? We don’t know the ending, but we can always hope for the best.”

“I like that,” he said. “Besides, there’s a reason we don’t know how a story ends.”

“Why?”

“Because it doesn’t.”

Carmine and Haven’s love story was one of a kind. I absolutely loved their exchange of lines and the way their cheesy yet heart-warming conversations moved me. It also helped a lot that Carmine was such a cocky, sarcastic, yet very passionate and sweet guy. Just a heads up, this guy is extremely jealous and possessive but I admit to myself that I didn’t have any problem with him being that way because well, who am I to complain? His character was defined so perfectly and I just could’t do anything but SWOON.

“You were brought to me for a reason, for us to save each other. Because you weren’t the only one needing to be saved, Haven. I was drowning, and you rescued me.”

At first I did have a little problem with the pacing. The book, I admit, did drag out too long. BUT! I realized when I got to Chapters 40 and beyond that those dragging scenes were a necessity. They were like spices that made the whole book entirely meaningful and dramatic. If the story did not finish with a BOOM, and if the story didn’t have that beautifulclimax, then I’d probably resent its slow-pacing but then I loved how the overall story turned out so it didn’t become a problem with me.

There were many places Carmine would go back to, many things he would have done differently, but one thing he wouldn’t take back was what he had done to save her.

As a whole, this book was a real surprise. The drama, the sentiments, the dilemma, and even the slow-burn flaw that the author managed to convey were so overwhelming and thought-provoking. I cried a lot of times as I went through its pages (How could an author do that to me?) and I experienced a great deal of adrenaline-rush after reading those action scenes in the near-end. It was just so good!!!

To those who love heavy drama and romance with action-packed scenarios, you definitely should read this book. I cannot be alone in this, guys! I have to get you to read and experience the beauty of this book, too!

Their love existed, despite everything else, and it was the love that would go on forever. The moment was etched in time, transcending the constraints put on them by life..

Rating:

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Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

The Wrath and the Dawn
(The Wrath and the Dawn #1)
Author: Renée Ahdieh
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Published: May 12, 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Historical Fiction
My Rating:

One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph’s reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she’d imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It’s an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid’s life as retribution for the many lives he’s stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.

I AM AT A LOSS FOR WORDS.

This book is a thousand times worth the read! I’d say, it deserves the hype! The synopsis alone is irresistible and the cover is gorgeous. Even way better when we talk about the overall story which permeated a magical and captivating writing that left me beyond amazed.

The Wrath and the Dawn is a retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. To be honest, I don’t have any idea what the original tale was about and after reading this book, I felt the sudden urge to read A Thousand and One Nights because of how The Wrath and the Dawn was perfectly crafted.

The book introduced the heroine Shahrzad, otherwise called Shazi by her friends, who volunteered to become the new wife of the formidable Khalid Ibn al-Rashid, the caliph(ruler) of Khorasan who was known for his reputation of killing his previous wives after the wedding night. Shahrzad’s sole purpose was to find revenge for what happened to her friend Shiva who fell victim in the hands of Khalid. Little did she know that Khalid was not a monster that she originally thought but a troubled ruler who hid secrets that she eventually wanted to uncover.

I loved that even if it’s YA fantasy, a huge part of the book focused on romance. I’m a fan of YA books with a romantic element and perhaps you already know that by now. 😉 It’s basically part of my deal! So when Shahrzad and Khalid’s romantic interactions were played out spectacularly here and not just once or twice but as many as I’ve counted, I swooned so hard! This kind of YA book is my undoing!

The fantasy element was vaguely defined here but I don’t have any issue with it because I’ve read way heavy fantasy books lately and I guess the light volume of fantasy here best suited me.

“Some things exist in our lives for but a brief moment. And we must let them go on to light another sky.”

What even astounded me most, of course, was Renee Ahdieh‘s writing. God, this author is new to me but she already captured my heart! She weaved her words beautifully and she perfected the art of captivating her readers with the way she built the world and created the characters.

“You are not mine.” He dropped his palm from the door. “I am yours.”

The setting was simply beautiful! I loved that it was established in a deserted land which was something new to me and I adored the way the map was designed in the first pages of the book.

When it comes to the characters, I loved both Shazi and Khalid. Shazi was a tough and feisty character, not necessarily badass like the heroines other YA books were trying to convey, but a vivacious, witty, and alluring character.

“Shahrzad is a difficult girl, and I am a monster. I suppose that makes for a good match.”

Khalid, on the other hand, was PERFECT. No words needed. If you’ll ask me right about now who’s my newly added book boyfriend on my list, that would be KHALID. Y’all know for sure how I love royal characters the way I love Dorian Havilliard, Cal, and Nikolai Lantsov so yes, that’s one of the many reasons (besides him being so gentle and sweet yet a very strong character) why Khalid knocked me off my feet!

“There is no one I would rather see the sunrise with than with you.”

The ending was bittersweet and somewhat a cliffhanger which left me longing for more! Thankfully the second book will be released this month, so yay!

Honestly, I have no negative things to say about this book. That’s because I was 100% entertained. I enjoyed the writing style and the way the story was framed as a whole. If you haven’t read this book yet, I suggest you to give it a try. Don’t be intimated with the hype because as I’ve said, it’s worth it!

“For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the dark sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you.”

Rating:

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Mini Review: Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

Kindred Spirits
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: Macmillans Kids UK
Published: February 25, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Short Story
My Rating:

‘Everybody likes everything these days. The whole world is a nerd.’
‘Are you mad because other people like Star Wars? Are you mad because people like me like Star Wars?’
‘Maybe.’

If you broke Elena’s heart, Star Wars would spill out. So when she decides to queue outside her local cinema to see the new movie, she’s expecting a celebration with crowds of people who love Han, Luke and Leia just as much as she does. What she’s not expecting is to be last in a line of only three people; to have to pee into a collectible Star Wars soda cup behind a dumpster or to meet that unlikely someone who just might truly understand the way she feels. Kindred Spirits is an engaging short story by Rainbow Rowell, author of the bestselling Eleanor & Park, Fangirl and Carry On, and is part of a handful of selected short reads specially produced for World Book Day.

This short story is Fangirl junior. So cute and irresistible and I loved it!

Elena is a Star Wars obsessed. When another sequel of the film series was about to hit the theater, she camped out for four days prior to the show and eventually met guys, Gabe and Troy who are also Star Wars fanatics.

I loved the fun moments that happened here. Even the witty and nerdy banters shared by Gabe and Elena. They just clicked with every part of me! These characters are very interesting and adorable and though the story was only short, it captured my heart because of how the entirety of it made me happy.

And oh, there’s a plot twist here that made me LOL. If you want to be entertained for a few minutes, go grab Kindred Spirits!

Rating:

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Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses
(A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s
Published: May 5, 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, New Adult
My Rating:

Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price.

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.

 

“He’d shown me pools of starlight… He’s saved my life like some kind of feral knight in a legend, and I’d gulped it down like faerie wine…”

I was completely blown away after finishing A Court of Thorns and Roses. I finally realized why this book has hit the shelves with a storm and became an all around hype in the entire book community. Apart from the fact that it’s the work of a genius in a person of Sarah J. Maas, this book is a complete deal.

The plot. Everything was so perfect in terms of its plot. I loved how Sarah J. Maas based the fairy concept on such a popular tale as “Beauty and the Beast” that she plotted the majority of its storyline into ACOTAR’s story and used Beauty and the Beast’s main characters as the basis for this book’s characters.

The pacing. There was no such thing as slow-paced here. Ever. I couldn’t even remember if there was a single part of the book where I felt bored or sleepy. Every chapter, every paragraph, every single line, screamed intensity.

The world-building. Stunning. I am at a loss for words just thinking about how Sarah J. Maas built the amazing world of this book. How everything started as a myth when a lady was holding a Cauldron and the whole fairie continent was magically created. I also loved how the whole continent was divided into different courts: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Day, Night, Winter, and Dawn court and how they were all managed by High Lords. Speechless.

The characters. Feyre is one unique and well-developed character. Better than Celaena in my opinion. She’s strong-willed and very responsible. I liked her character so much that I found myself teary-eyed at times because of the knowledge that she’s the only one who feeds her family, thus her hunting at the woods. Even when she felt so terrified of the forest and the creatures lurking in it, she braved her soul because of her obligations. And with no whining on her part. Also, she’s the kind of character that you will like because she’s simply not annoying. She takes responsibility in her every decision. She’s also cunning and wise despite the fact that she’s illiterate. Yes. We’re having an imperfect, no-Mary Sue character here, guys.

On the other hand, I loved Tamlin. A High Lord fae with an air of mystery and well, sexiness. Who doesn’t want to sign up? He was described so beautifully and intricately here that I couldn’t help but sigh at the sheer perfection of his characterization.

“I love you. Thorns and all.”

The romance. I have been looking for books that balance both the fantasy and romantic aspects and never have I expected that this book was it. WHY??? WHY did I resist the temptation of reading it? This book basically has been sitting on my shelf for months! Now I see what I’ve totally missed all this time. The romance was all kinds of beautiful. There were swoony and even steamy scenes which kind of… surprised me. (Really, Sarah J. Maas? You could definitely write intimate scenes that are way beyond my imaginings in a fantasy book?) I didn’t know this was sort of a New Adult book– which was good, because it just made the romance all the more compelling.

“I don’t want you to live somewhere else. I want you here, where I can look after you– where I can come home and know you’re here, painting and safe.”

The later part of the book hinted a love triangle because… *sigh Rhysand.

Yes, we are meeting the other piece of the love triangle! And what a delicious piece, too. I don’t normally root for two guys in a love triangle but here I am, shipping either Tamlin or Rhysand for Feyre!

“Each of us has a beast roaming beneath our skin, roaring to get out.”

The ending. The final chapters of this book proved to be a big and epic surprise. WOW, I was so amazed by the things that took place… especially when Amarantha, the evil Queen, was introduced. That’s when the whole lot of action took place and everything became too overwhelming for me to take. I ended up panting and my heart was beating loudly because I got so nervous.

Now that is how you start a series! Sarah J. Maas, you did it again. You truly are a queen. Rightfully so! A Court of Thorns and Roses is another one of those books one will shelve as a new favorite. It’s beautiful in every single way and it’s complete with all the elements you are looking for in a fantasy retelling. If you haven’t read this book yet, do yourself a favor and start it now.

Rating:

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Review: Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross

Whatever Life Throws at You
Author: Julie Cross
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Published: October 7, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Drama
My Rating:

Life loves a good curveball…

Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas’s life is completely upended the moment her dad returns to the major leagues as the new pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. Now she’s living in Missouri (too cold), attending an all-girls school (no boys), and navigating the strange world of professional sports. But Annie has dreams of her own—most of which involve placing first at every track meet…and one starring the Royals’ super-hot rookie pitcher.

But nineteen-year-old Jason Brody is completely, utterly, and totally off-limits. Besides, her dad would kill them both several times over. Not to mention Brody has something of a past, and his fan club is filled with C-cupped models, not smart-mouthed high school “brats” who can run the pants off every player on the team. Annie has enough on her plate without taking their friendship to the next level. The last thing she should be doing is falling in love.

But baseball isn’t just a game. It’s life. And sometimes, it can break your heart…

This book makes me want to read more sports romance books. It’s a Young-Adult-slash-New-Adult read that is all kinds of cute and adorable. I enjoyed every bit of it not just because everything was swoony but because the book also depicts life lessons and narrates a touching family drama that will make your heart melt. It wasn’t just all about falling in love with someone but it also deals with family issues and morals.

When 17 year-old Annie Lucas met the gorgeous 19 year-old baseball pitcher Jason Brody, she didn’t expect herself to get infatuated with him after their series of encounters. Annie’s dad is Jason’s and his teammate’s new coach, and she’s just a high school student. Thus, falling in love with him meant she’s on her way towards forbidden love.

I had a very great time diving into this book. The connection I had with the cute characters, the beautiful settings, the drama aside from the romance, and the sporty theme was so unexpected. It didn’t fail to hold my attention and got me all wrapped up more than I thought I could. In the end, it put a smile on my face.

I especially felt connected to the characters. Both Annie and Jason Brody are likable characters. Annie is one responsible girl. Her attitude is typical 17 year-old but I like her because everything she says and does are on-point and the way she cares for her dad makes me want to hug her. Jason, on the other hand, is amazing. Apart from the fact that he’s seriously a hot athlete, he’s very different compared to some dudes in sports romance books that act like they own the world. Although Jason was every girl’s target in this book, still, he doesn’t abuse his popularity and play around women. He’s just… so perfect! And very ideal.

When it comes to the romantic aspect, well…. I really loved the fact that there was NO INSTA-LOVE. The romance was developed naturally. Annie and Jason’s chemistry here was off the charts as well. I was literally rooting for them all throughout the book!

What I also loved was how Julie Cross described the dynamics of baseball game here. I was impressed. I mean, I’m not a baseball fan and I only know a few basic rules about this sport but it felt like I was watching a real live baseball game because of the way the action in the field was being described. Bravo to that!!!

All in all, Whatever Life Throws at You is a great sports romance book that I will highly recommend to everyone. It’s quickly engaging and with likable characters and side characters (Lenny London included).

“Life is funny sometimes… the worst possible things can get you to the best possible places. If you just enjoy the game.”

Rating:

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Review: Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story by Jonathan LaPoma

Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story
Author: Jonathan LaPoma
Publisher: Laughing Fire Press
Published: September 14, 2015
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult, New Adult, Adult
My Rating:

Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story follows a group of recent college graduates who struggle with feelings of alienation and their addictions as they try to survive a year of teaching at two dysfunctional Miami public schools.

A poetic and insightful coming-of-age novel, Developing Minds is centered on 24-year-old Luke Entelechy, an aspiring writer who sees his creative output suffer when he begins teaching at one of Miami’s most challenging middle schools. As the year progresses, however, Luke begins to relate to the neglect and abuse his students suffer, and is faced with a “haunting” decision: continue to let his dark past destroy him, or rise above the struggle to realize his potential as an artist and a “real” human being.

Equal parts disturbing and humorous, Developing Minds offers a brutally honest look at the American public school system and the extreme measures many teachers take to cope with working in it.

At first I really thought this book has something to do with ghosts and scary stuffs, but there weren’t any. The attached “ghost story” in the title is purely metaphor. Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story is actually a coming-of-age contemporary story that presents college graduate Luke Entelechy who came to Miami with his friend Billy to dive into the world of teaching. Despite his reluctance to the profession, and despite the fact that he originally wanted to be a writer, he accepted the challenge of education because that’s the only way to compensate his financial needs.

Applying for a teaching job in Miami was a tough one because Luke wasn’t able to land a job so easily and he even ended up being hired by an admin from an F-rated school. What’s even tougher was the fact that kids with all types of personalities were attending there.

This book basically depicts the reality of educational and school system, its strengths and its flaws and most of all, the struggle the educators are facing behind the black boards and classroom doors. Being a teacher is indeed a tough job, more so when you’re assigned to a school where there’s an unhealthy environment and where most kids don’t learn the art of respect. Through this book I was able to visualize the educational system in Miami and became aware that not all schools are really outstanding and perfect.

Racism, drugs, and sex are also few of the subjects matters that were being explored here and for that, I admired the author because these things scream reality.

Luke’s personal battle against his decisions were also significantly defined here. In my opinion, he did some good decisions but there were also bad ones, including the decision he made in the end. For me, it was a bit of a cowardly move because there wasn’t any resolve that I found. What happened to the kids he taught in Miami? Was he able to make a difference in their lives? That was what I’ve been longing to see but sad to say, it didn’t happen.

“School was claiming my absolute best. Every day was a struggle to stop the panic from taking over. Every day was a fight to stay at the head of that classroom without the kids realizing the utter terror I felt facing them day in and day out.”

As for the author’s writing, I loved it. Jonathan LaPoma has a spot-on writing style and he tags along humor with it. I was laughing my ass out at some point because Luke and Billy’s interactions were really witty and hilarious! If you are a teacher or someone that is related to education or even a student, I know you will very much appreciate the message behind the story of this book. I, myself, felt awed while reading this.

(A copy of this book was sent by the author and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Rating:

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Review: Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

Glass Sword
(Red Queen #2)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: February 9, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopia, Romance
My Rating:

The thrilling second book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Red Queen trilogy follows Mare Barrow on her mission to defeat the traitorous Maven.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness of her own heart.

 

Gripping, intense, and an achingly beautiful comeback. This sequel to the Red Queen is Victoria Aveyard at her very best!

Sequels have always been very crucial in a series because they can either be a success, a failure, or in between. Thankfully, this sequel fell to the success side.

Red Queen ended up with a promise. Glass Sword started off by fulfilling that promise.

It’s actually hard not to love this book because first and foremost, everything started with a BANG! Lots of actions were already happening even at the very first pages that I found myself gripping the edge of my seat.

I was particularly amazed by how Victoria Aveyard weaved the plotline of this book with so much thrill and adventure. The searching for new bloods and the painful, action-packed experiences Mare and the gang experienced as they journeyed from places to places. The introduction of new characters that are so interesting and with unique traits and abilities. So exceptional!

Yes, there were parts that are dragging, but who cares? They actually gave so much time to take it all in and anticipate what’s about to come. Was I surprised? Hell, yes! There were so many shocking scenes and revelations here. Even heartbreaking ones that made me cry.

“I stare at the polished metal, examining my reflection. The girl I see is both familiar and foreign, Mare, Mareena, the lightning girl, the Red queen, and no one at all. She does not look afraid. She looks carved of stone, with severer features, hair braided tight to her head, and a tangle of scars on her neck. She is not seventeen, but ageless, Silver but not, Red but not, human–but not. A banner of the Scarlet Guard, a face on a wanted poster, a prince’s downfall, a thief… a killer. A doll who can take any form but her own.”

Mare’s character development, I admit, was kind of an on-and-off here. Sometimes she was so weak and hopeless but most of the time her strength was the one that made sense to everything. On the other hand, Cal— Holy freakin’ Cal! This guy– *sigh This brooding prince, ONCE AGAIN, swept me off my feet! His character development in this book amazed me to no end! Seriously, I love him even better here! He was indeed born a leader as the way he acted always had an air of command. And when he brought the “That’s my girl” line to Mare…. *squeals! Who wouldn’t swoon over?

The romantic parts in this book was my most favorite, of course. I was so happy that there was a bit of a romantic development here between Mare and Cal! MY SHIP! It was certainly sailing in all its glory!!!

The ending, however, made me flinch and cry and feel a bit of frustrated. WHAT ON EARTH JUST HAPPENED? I was screaming at the top of my lungs because once again, CLIFFHANGER! And we all have to wait another year before the third book comes out!

All in all, Glass Sword is a beautiful, satisfying, made-me-swoon-and-cry sequel. Everything that happened here was remarkable and right in target.

“If I am a sword, I am a sword made of glass, and I feel myself beginning to shatter.”

 

Rating:

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Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: July 2, 2013
Genre: Romance, Young Adult Adult, Contemporary
My Rating:

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she’s beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

“Feelings can be the most costly thing in the universe.”

The cover and the premise of this book somewhat deceived me. Ha! Yes, it was cute and adorable. Funny, even. But that’s not just about it. My expectations were different.

Caymen Meyers is a teenage girl who works for her mom’s doll store. One day a rich and cute guy named Xander Spence comes over to their store to buy a doll for her grandma. Because he obviously has the air of wealth, Caymen sees him as just another one of those spoiled, rich kids who treat poor people differently. Which turns out wrong. As they begin to form friendship, Caymen slowly warms up to him and realizes that he’s completely different from what she expected to be like.

What I loved about this book was the humor. Nothing else. The rest was a let-down. First, I really thought Caymen was a likeable character but she’s not. She’s hilarious but her sarcasm and dry humor are a total turn-off. Aside from that, I was also a bit bothered by the way she perceives her family’s social and financial status. She keeps pointing out that they are poor but if we take a closer look, they’re actually average because they can pay the bills, they can eat three (or more times) a day, AND they even have a business for chrissake! In a way, it was so lame and pathetic to make it a big deal and to even view the rich people as haughty and superior.

My huge problem in this book was also the romantic aspect. I couldn’t find myself swooning over the characters. Their interactions seem pointless and insignificant. Also, while I loved Xander’s character, I find him unbeliveable. Seriously, he’s too rich to be true! And whoa, a guy who owns hundreds of hotels and who is often featured in gossip magazines would be interested with a plain girl? Isn’t it too cliche and Cinderella-ish? In my opinion.

So, yes. It didn’t work out for me. Maybe if I read this book years ago when I was still in my teenage years, I would’ve appreciated it, because why not? It’s cuteness overload! But then stories like these rarely amaze me these days, so yeah.

Rating:

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Review: Tangle of Thornes by Lorel Clayton

Tangle of Thornes
(Eva Thorne #1)
Author: Lorel Clayton
Publisher: LC Books
Published: January 15, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
My Rating:

When Eva’s brother is murdered in a city of rude elves and matriarchal dwarves where humans have no rights, she is forced to investigate the crime herself. What she discovers brings her up against a powerful slave-trading cartel, dark gods, and—worst of all—her twin sister. Both her family and the elven authorities want her hushed. She has no money and no magic of her own with which to combat them, but she does have an illegally-freed slave, a senile nanny, and an ex-almost-boyfriend on her side. Even when she nearly loses her job and almost loses her head in a sword fight on the same night, she isn’t deterred. It’s when the nanny goes missing that she really starts to worry.

Femme fatale turns hard-boiled investigator in this first Eva Thorne novel. Set in a fantasy world where magic and machines can’t stand against the God of Death, humans are on the run from the god’s invasion. Highcrowne is the only refuge, but that means living in the Outskirts of an ancient city ruled by Avian mages, indifferent dwarves, and elves who’d prefer to see humans as their slaves. It’s worst for Eva’s people, Solhans, because they were the ones who summoned the Dead God into the world. No one wants her kind in Highcrowne and there are plenty who would be happy to see her brother dead. There are too many motives and not enough time to unravel them, because other people are dying … and Eva is fast running out of vacation time.

I find Tangle of Thornes a refreshing fantasy read. It’s a story about a girl named Eva Thorne who had a brother named Viktor who was brutally killed by an unknown person. Determined to find out who the culprit behind her brother’s death, she went to a particular world to seek for help– a world enriched with dwarfs, elves, dark gods, and every otherworldly creatures. Because Eva is a Solhan, a human who is below the level of everyone in this world, she wasn’t able to easily get the needed help. Thus, she went through every corner of the place in order to attain her goal– which led her to various people who played critical roles in her journey.

This book is fantastic when it comes to its concept. It has rich characterization plus a witty writing style that will keep you entertained. I loved how the authors’ writing made everything light because of the solid-rock humor in it. However, I had a problem with the world-building. The image of the world the authors created was easy to perceive but as I went through the pages, there were a lot of questions that kept bugging me. Like, how did this world become like this? Was there a story behind the elves’ indifference towards humans? How and where did they get those slave humans? Maybe I needed more explanations on these things.

But as a whole, this book is beautiful and enjoyable in a way. I loved Eva’s character and how vibrant and strong-willed she became while carrying out her mission. She’s the kind of character that is so easy to like and relate to. The side characters were also funny and with depth. This book may not be that perfect, but it’s not that bad at all. It’s actually a promising start to a great series! If you love fantasy with entertaining mythical creatures, I know you will love this book, too.

Rating:

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Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls
(The Mortal Instruments #5)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: July 2, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
My Rating:

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Cassandra Clare did a wonderful job once again!

City of Lost Souls, the fifth book of The Mortal Instruments series, picks up where City of Fallen Angels left off. I don’t want to give anything away by describing the things that have happened here, but the series already becomes more and more interesting. This sequel is actually a much better response compared to the City of Fallen Angels because all the events here were pretty much powerful and more remarkable.

I love how it started off as a bang!, eventually giving a slow-burn feels when the Shadowhunters were trying to figure out how they can come up with a solution to the dilemma, and ending up with a great and action-packed resolve. Although all throughout the book I must admit that I was really getting frustrated especially because of how badly things were turning for Jace. I mean, c’mon, why does Cassandra Clare keep torturing Jace and making him suffer all the time? It’s fricking unfair!

The best part of this book is SIMON. My boy always saves the day! He played a great part here and I think this is the book where he really shines best! When it comes to Clary, her character improved here (although I prefer her character development in City of Glass) but still, I like how bold she was here and how she resorted to critical-thinking. Alec and Magnus’ relationship here was tested big time and I don’t know what to feel about what happened to them here. As for Isabelle, once again this chick astounded me. As usual, she’s a fierce, in-your-face character and that’s what I loved about her! Maia and Jordan’s relationship was also highlighted here. I love the sweet reunion! And of course,Sebastian . Blimey, I am not usually a fan of villains but it’s so ironic how I fangirled over a bad guy all throughout the book!

The action scenes were great and although it happened at the final chapters, they still didn’t fail to bring out the adrenaline rush. The ending, on the other hand, was a blast and was well-executed. It had a surprise factor that will leave you wanting for more. All in all, it was a great come back. Cassandra Clare writes beautifully, but then I have always thought so! This book is really a world I could get lost in!

Rating:

(I’ve recently did a reread on books 1-4 of this series. Check out my mini reviews here:

• City of Bones
• City of Ashes
• City of Glass
• City of Fallen Angels

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Review: Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard

Cruel Crown
(Red Queen #0.1 – #0.2)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: January 5, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
My Rating:

Two women on either side of the Silver-Red divide tell the stories no one else knows.

Discover the truth of Norta’s bloody past in these two revealing prequels to #1 New York Times bestseller Red Queen.

Also includes an exclusive excerpt of the hotly anticipated second book in the Red Queen series! Glass Sword transports readers to the world of Silver tyranny, a Red dawn rising, and one girl’s resolve to break down the system that will hold her back no longer.

Queen Song
Queen Coriane, first wife of King Tiberias, keeps a secret diary—how else can she ensure that no one at the palace will use her thoughts against her? Coriane recounts her heady courtship with the crown prince, the birth of a new prince, Cal, and the potentially deadly challenges that lay ahead for her in royal life.

Steel Scars
Diana Farley was raised to be strong, but being tasked with planting the seeds of rebellion in Norta is a tougher job than expected. As she travels the land recruiting black market traders, smugglers, and extremists for her first attempt at an attack on the capital, she stumbles upon a connection that may prove to be the key to the entire operation—Mare Barrow.

 

Cruel Crown consists of two novellas, Queen Song and Steel Scars. While I loved Queen Song, Steel Cars disappointed me in an epic level. I’m still glad I was able to experience them, though– Queen Song, especially, because it was simply amazing. 🙂

My reviews for both novellas:

 

QUEEN SONG

“There is nothing so terrible as a story untold.”

Queen Song is one of the novellas of Red Queen series. Here, we are told about the backstory of Queen Coriane, the mother of Prince Cal from Red Queen. Coriane belongs to the Silver blood, under the House Jacos— a not-so-well-endowed clan compared to other Silver bloods. She writes her life events in a dairy and conveys her emotions there. Her ordinary life changed when Prince Tibe, heir to the court of Norta, fell in love with her and asked her hand for marriage, which of course, became the reason why the traditional Queenstrial was never realized. This led to conflicts and certain intrigues that tested Coriane’s strength and belief while carrying her crown as a Queen.

It’s Victoria Aveyard’s flawless and breathtaking writing style that made me embrace this novella. Once again I was amazed by how she was able to bring this story in an epic level. There were no action scenes here but all the events were simply engaging. I loved how the simple plotline surprisingly became extraordinarily beautiful in the end.

The romance between Coriane and Tibe was sweet and raw, heartbreaking at times. There was also a good pacing here and the Silver blood’s powers were drawn neatly.

Perhaps Coriane’s character development was the one that’s lacking here. She came out fragile and weak in the beginning but she was starting to get tough in the near-end. Unfortunately, she went back to being weak again in the end, surrendering to her fate and accepting her vulnerability that she couldn’t do anything to save herself and the people she cared about.

All in all, this novella is totally compelling despite some minor flaws. It’s nice to know Coriane’s story after she was mysteriously mentioned in Red Queen. It was written in a poignant yet beautiful prose, something that holds you together to read it. When it comes to the ending, it was a bit hazy and mind-boggling, thus leaving us with a big question: WHO DID IT?

Rating:

 

STEEL SCARS

I thought by reading Steel Scars I would be in for a badass story. Nope.

It was the most boring novella I’ve read for a YA fantasy book. Farley’s character is dull and boring. The only one that made this novella quite interesting is Shade Barrow, but everything is disappointing.

I don’t know if I’m the only one who has this problem, but the narrative reports by the Scarlet Guard are too difficult to comprehend. I don’t even know what those are all about. They are too technical!

I expected some revelations and actions scenes. There are NONE. 😦

Rating:

CRUEL CROWN OVERALL RATING:

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Review: Amaranthine by Lanie Jacobs

Amaranthine
(Willow Shadows #1)
Author: Lanie Jacobs
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: August 7, 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery
My Rating:

With Graduation only weeks away, Khalida’s normal everyday boring life is turned upside down in one day. One day is all it took to change everything she ever knew. Never knowing her past, Khalida, is thrown into a world of vampires and just not any vampires, ones who will hunt to the end to kill her. Everyone around her is in danger and she must fight to protect those she loves. Thrust into the chaos, Luke, a boy whom she could never walk completely away from, one who would give his life to protect hers. And Carey, the ex-boyfriend who will stop at nothing to make sure that the darkness that surrounds Khalida succeeds in taking everything away from her. Though, Luke, would take on the world to save her, can he help Khalida save her from herself?

“Khalida was always his heart, but based on the rippling pain that scored across his heart, she was his soul.”

Gripping, intense, and charged with a combination of action and mystery. This debut novel is wonderfully written. It’s about a girl named Khalida who didn’t know she’s a hybrid vampire until she was nearing her 18th birthday and she accidentally bit the neck of her boyfriend Luke who’s also a vampire.

This book started so strong that even if I was still at the beginning chapters I was already on the edge of my seat. It was fast-paced and every chapter brought out some surprises. The characters were also introduced in a mysterious and interesting way. What I greatly noticed about this book was the author’s writing style which was surprisingly good for a debut novel. It wasn’t Stephenie-Meyer-and-Richelle-Mead-writing-style-perfect but if this author continues to do her thing, then I guess she’s on her way to becoming one of them.

I had a bit of a hard time adjusting with Khalida’s attitude, though. I admit I was really annoyed with her most of the time because of her aggressive and careless decisions which led her and other people to trouble. Nevertheless, I was glad her character developed in the last few chapters and she came out strong in the end. Never too late for that! Luke, however, was a great character for me. I loved how he continued to protect Khalida and kept his patience under control in dealing with her attitude. Also, this guy’s a caveman! He’s very territorial with his girl, which was kind of cute. 🙂

I also enjoyed the romantic plot here. It’s quite amazing how the author didn’t exert a great effort in initiating the romance between Khalida and Luke because they’re already lovers (although on and off) so the romantic build-up was already there.

The huge plot twist was the book’s ultimate strength here.. WOW, I DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING! Not at all. And that cliffy ending! Ugh. Why did it happen? Overall, this book was a great read. Definitely waiting for the sequel to come out. 🙂

(A free copy of this book was given by the author Lanie Jacobs in exchange for an honest review.)

Rating:

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Review: Never Never: Part Three by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Never Never: Part Three
(Never Never #3)
Author: Colleen Hoover, Tarryn Fisher
Publisher: Colleen Hoover, Tarryn Fisher
Published: January 19, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, New Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal
My Rating:

New York Times bestselling authors Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher are back with the much-anticipated final installment in the Never Never novella series.
Together, Silas Nash and Charlize Wynwood must look deeper into the past to find out who they were and who they want to be. With time ticking down, the couple are in a race to find the answers they need before they lose everything. Can they regain what they once had? And will it restore who they once were?

“I could spend every day getting to know you all over again, Charlie, and I don’t think I’d get sick of it.”

When I started reading this finale of Never Never series, I’ve already decided to rate it either 4 or 5 stars. That moment when you’re confident enough that the final book will give you the grandest, most surreal surprise. (Guess we all deserve that after those series of cliffhanger endings..) I must say my expectations were too high on this because I’ve enjoyed the first and the second book real hard! (Part 1 – 4/5 stars; Part 2 – 5/5 stars).

The first half of the book hooked me big time! The thrill of getting closer to finding out the mystery behind Silas and Charlie’s amnesia was overwhelming and so were the series of events which were getting edgier as the chapters went by. I swear I got a lot going on on my mind and I was forming way too many theories, trying to figure out the dreaded truth! And BAAAM! The anticipated plot twist. Wait, is that even a plot twist?

In my opinion, it’s just an explanation. Nothing really exciting and I couldn’t bring myself to consider it a twist. It’s painful to say this but I was significantly less impressed with the revelation I’ve been freaking out over the months. There was this huge revelation about Charlie’s dad though, but… Is that it? After all? Ugh.

I guess the only thing that does not make this book a total let-down was of course, the beautiful and powerful writing of Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher. The story was a quick, fast-paced read and there were no boring parts all throughout the book. The romance also got me on my feels on a lot of levels. I guess those were the factors that held me together.

(Some beautiful quotes I’ve highlighted, by the way. 🙂

“I don’t see anything ever happening in this life that could make me not want you all over my skin.”

 

“I love you. Enough to camouflage you into my skin.”

 

“Fate is the magnetic pull of our souls toward the people, places, and things we belong with.”

 

“We can’t take back who we’ve been in the past, Charlie. But we can control who we are in the present.”

Overall, Never Never: Part Three was good, but I wasn’t really wowed. It could be an epic finale if there was a better twist. It really lacked the freak-me-out factor. But well… it wasn’t really that bad at all since the ending and the epilogue were great and the questions were answered in the end.

“Never stop. Never forget.”

Rating:

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Review: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
(Harry Potter #1)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Published: September 1, 2014 (First Published: June 26, 1997)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
My Rating:

When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him that apparently he’s the last to know. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord’s curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Leaving his unsympathetic aunt and uncle for Hogwarts, a wizarding school brimming with ghosts and enchantments, Harry stumbles upon a sinister mystery when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers which could be valuable, dangerous – or both. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

These new editions of the classic and internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning series feature instantly pick-up-able new jackets by Jonny Duddle, with huge child appeal, to bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers. It’s time to PASS THE MAGIC ON …

Beyond amazing! Way to start the new year! 🙂

I’ve read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone way back in High School but I wasn’t able to finish it because sad to say, my book was lost. 😦 And now, thanks to my lovely friend Allie who gave me a copy of this book, I became interested to read it once again and bring back the old times’ feels.

And WOW! Just WOW! Thank goodness I decided to read it again because it felt so magical and magnificent and totally breathtaking! — exactly what I’ve felt the first time I’ve read this.

Harry Potter is such a great, well-fleshed out character. Despite being parentless and being bullied both in the Muggle world and Hogwarts by some kids, he still stood up and even became a great friend to Ron, Hermione, Neville, and the others.

This story had lots of exciting adventures and I really enjoyed everything that happened in this book. It was just so awesome! The secondary characters are also perfect. I especially love Hermione and her genius mind! Ron’s loyalty towards Harry is also awe-inspiring, as well as Neville’s adorable clumsiness. When it comes to its plotline, it’s amazingly done. The twist was unpredictable and there was humor in every page that made me laugh. What’s even great are the lessons and the message that are instilled to every reader, fantasy and magic aside.

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

I loved all the chapters and my favorites are:

The Boy Who Lived, The Vanishing Glass, Diagon Alley, The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, The Sorting Hat, and Quidditch.

No wonder why this book and the whole series continues to be a real sensation. J.K. Rowling is so brilliant she bewitched me with her world! So excited to find out more about this series and to see what’s in store for Harry in the next books. 🙂

Rating:

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Review: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell
(Bloodlines #3)
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication: February 12, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
My Rating:

An ancient magic.
A heart-wrenching decision…

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist. She protects vampire secrets – and human lives.

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she is struggling to decide between following her Alchemist teachings – or her heart.

Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch, a former Alchemist who is now on the run. As Marcus pushes her to rebel, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought.

There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as Sydney searches for the person attacking powerful young witches, she realizes that she must embrace her magical blood – or else she will be next.

I’ve read this gem together with sis Bea. You can read her beautiful review here. 🙂

The Indigo Spell has put a spell on me! Once again, Richelle Mead captivated me with yet another amazing Bloodlines sequel.

This book was overloaded with so many happenings that are very significant and important. In this sequel, Sydney Sagedelved into more dangerous situations– discovering her magical abilities and even finding out the conspiracies hidden by The Alchemists. Adrian was there for her all the time, supporting her and looking after her in every perilous occurrences.

Sydney’s character became incredible here, though I must say I have mixed feelings with her. She was at times, very stubborn and too reluctant to give in to her heart’s desire which is to return Adrian’s feelings. Nevertheless, I admire her bravery and her usual critical-thinking that can always make the situations bearable and manageable. Adrian’s character was also great. He became more passionate and swoony and a total bae!

The romance in this book was beyond amazing. I mean, who couldn’t resist the romantic scenes between Sydney and Adrian? Those scenes absolutely outdid the ones in the previous books. I couldn’t stop myself shipping them because it’s hard not to. They’re too perfect! *sigh And their chemistry!

I guess what I truly love about this sequel, apart from the great romantic development, was the action scenes. Totally amazeballs! Those scenes, especially the one where they were running away from the evil witch, were EPIC! Simply adrenaline-pulling that I found myself truly thrilled.

At some point, I found some dragging parts but the remaining chapters saved everything. I was about to rate it 4 stars but Chapters 24 and 25 were a game changer and it’s hard to resist it when you’re fangirling over everything– especially when it has something to do with SYDRIAN.

Overall, a great sequel! Hands down! The series gets better and more thrilling and I can’t wait to find out what will happen in The Fiery Heart.

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Review: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily
(Bloodlines #2)
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication: June 12, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
My Rating:

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. Alchemists protect vampire secrets – and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California – tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formorly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age-old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and her sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi – the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that – special, magical, powerful – that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Braydon, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else – someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she’s supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she’s been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists – or her heart?

Another successful buddyread with my sis Bea. You’ll see her beautiful review when you click her name. 🙂

One word to fully describe the awesomeness of this book: ADRIAN.

Holy craaap! This boy is one of the best, swoon-worthy fictional guys and it’s so unfair we could not see him in the flesh!

After reading this book, I was left utterly speechless and blown away. It was way too good! Most sequels in a series tend to give me some doubts with their potentials because oftentimes an author changes his or her tune and the end product sometimes disappoints me. But in this sweet, sweet sequel, I put all my faith and 100% belief that it will turn out good and I was right. It was one of the most amazing installments in a series. Because Richelle Mead apparently does not disappoint.

I loved how The Golden Lily lived up to the interesting plot and romance that made the first book Bloodlines an enjoyable read. In this book, Sydney Sage and Adrian Ivashkov‘s character was greatly developed as they continued to hide under the radar of the enemies of St. Vladimir Academy. There were lots of things that happened here and new characters were introduced, too.

I wasn’t disappointed with the way things had panned out in this book. The plotline was so good and the pacing was fast. No dull moments as well. It was also nice to see the (non-insta-love) romantic development between Sydney and Adrian. Their romance, in a way, was slow-burning and tension-fueled and I totally loved it!

What also basically got me hooked was how likable the characters were. Sydney is a female lead that I will love to befriend in real life because she is so smart, determined, and mature. I loved how she has this positive attitude that everything can be done– no matter how difficult that thing is. She especially encourages and inspires Adrian to be the best that he can be, and that is something. Adrian is also one great male lead. Since Vampire Academy, this guy already took my breath away because of his humor and romantic gestures. He didn’t change in this series. In fact, his character became even better!

I also loved the humor and the witty exchange of dialogues here. When you pair Sydney and Adrian together, everything collides so perfectly!!!

Apart from that, Richelle Mead also made this book even more interesting because of the side characters like Eddie, Jill,Angeline, Sonya, Trey, Dimitri, etc. The value of friendship and family love was so touching!

These are my favorite lines from Adrian that basically knocked me off my feet:

“I tried to be a better person for her (Rose)– but it was to impress her, to get her to want me. But when I’m around you, I want to be better because… well, because it feels right. Because I want to. You make me want to become something greater than myself. I want to excel. You inspire me in every act, every word, every glance. I look at you, and you’re like… like light made into flesh. You have no clue how beautiful you are or how brightly you shine.”

*gasps

All in all, I had a great time with The Golden Lily. After reading it, all I wanted to do was read the next book which is The Indigo Spell. 🙂 It was just everything I wanted in a sequel!

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Review: Air Awakens by Elise Kova

Air Awakens
(Air Awakens #1)
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication: August 27, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal
My Rating:

A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond…

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

An overall stunner!

I went into this book barely knowing anything and without any specific expectations because I had a vague idea what it was about. Sorcerers? Library apprentices? Royal characters? It’s quite hard to imagine them all tangled up into one big knot. Luckily as I went through the pages, I didn’t experience difficulty in absorbing everything because it was so darn good!

The book mainly centers on the heroine Vhalla Yarl, a library apprentice who later on discovered that she was entirely something else… something more than just a library girl. And then there’s this swoony, smart, a totally mysterious crown prince and sorcerer Aldrik who later on became her mentor in discovering more magical things. Things became more interesting from there and more discoveries were unraveled about Vhalla and everything in the palace.

This book is an incredibly written debut novel. Elise Kova sure knows how to manipulate everything in her plot– from the characters’ development and of course, the series of events. The world was also beautifully constructed and it sucked me right in. It actually has the Grisha feels and a bit of Red Queen feels. I just wish there’s a map at the beginning though, to have my imagination be more stimulated about its beautiful world.

And as for the characters– I adore them with all my heart. Vhalla is total sweetheart. Smart, feminine, and a very strong character. And of course, my lovey dovey Prince Aldrik who is now added to my list of book boyfriends. *swoons!

Prince Aldrik is what I’m looking for in a YA fantasy book. He’s cocky and a bit sarcastic, but there’s gentleness in him that will have you falling in love. He’s also protective over Vhalla. You see, this is why I love royal characters! I basically swooned over Dorian from Throne of Glass and Prince Cal of Red Queen so there’s no reason to dislike this newly found fictional boyfriend! Okay, Pearl, just stop blabbering! Anyway, Vhalla and Aldrik’s relationship was also admirable here. There was no insta-love. Everything progressed at just the right and perfect timing.

What was slightly missing, in my opinion, was the twist. I kept wanting to know how things would pan out all throughout the book. Plus, there was a slow plot progression at first. Somehow, the book picked up and things started to become interesting after a few chapters and there were already some actions that made the book magnificent in the end.

The ending was surreal! The author left the final pages in a place where I can anticipate that there’s so much more to come. Overall, it’s a stunning, brilliant, and a promising start to a great series. I will definitely read the next book, Fire Falling. 🙂

(Thank you to Elise Kova for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. :))

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