Review: Under the Never Sky by: Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by: Veronica Rossi

Publication Date: January 3, 2012

Publisher: Harper Collins

Series: Under the Never Sky #1

Page Count: 374

Format: Hardcover

Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

 Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.
Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.
A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky. 

 My Review:

The girl on the cover is what drew me in to read Under the Never Sky. She looks really rebellious and edgy. One thing I learned from reading this was that the cover portrays the story spectacularly.

 Under the Never Sky switches perspectives from Aria to Perry. Aria is what they call a Dweller, someone who lives inside the pods, which are areas closed off from the Outside. The main threat of the Outside to Dwellers is the Aether, a perpetual storm constantly brewing in what Aria calls the "never sky".

What I liked about this as far as dystopia goes is that it formed a plot all on its own and had virtually no stereotypes so often seen in dystopian books. There were some similarities but it was still significantly unique.

The world of Under the Never Sky is what amazed me most. In the places that aren't closed off in pods, the Aether storm rages in vicious rivulets across the sky. There are cannibals lurking and wolves and who knows what else out there. With Perry's help, Aria discovers a part of herself she never knew and a relationship that she never even dreamed would happen.

Perry is what people like Aria call Savages. Ridden with disease and infection, an encounter with one is the last thing Aria wants. When she meets up with Perry it takes a while for her suspicions to go away and let her see who he really is. Perry is a Scire and a Seer, a person with extremely heightened sense of sight and smell. 

From then on, Aria and Perry set off on an adventure that will shock them both. It definitely surprised me a good bit. The ending kind of confused me. There wasn't much elaboration on what happened. I couldn't really comprehend it well.

  

Official Rating:

 Four Un-Birthday Cakes!

Die For Me by: Amy Plum

Die For Me by: Amy Plum
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 341
Format: Hardcover
Series: Revenants #1
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent. Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

My Review:

This book was epic. It's been a while since I have read a book with so much passion and love in it. This was more of a good thing, I think. Being set in Paris, I completely escaped in the Renaissance architecture and the little cafes that Kate liked to hang out in.

For some reason, I really connected with Katie's character. It must've been her love of literature and old vintage things. The tragic death of her parents left her in a deep ocean of depression until her family intervenes and she is forced to go out in public. While I've never lost anyone like she did and I can't imagine how it feels, I understood what she was going through and how it affected her. I love when I can connect to characters like that.

One thing that bothered me a bit was that there was nothing unique or different about Kate. She was human and falling in love with Vincent. Nothing set her apart from other humans, really. Usually, in paranormal romances, there is some sort of factor that makes the protagonist different.

Vincent was so amazing. I don't think any Frenchman could match up with his chivalry and masculine elegance. While the whole dying-for-three-days-a-month thing was kind of creepy, he was still utterly swoonworthy when among the living.

The setting was probably my second favorite of any book, the first being the Infernal Devices by: Cassandra Clare in London. I really could tell that Amy Plum lives in France because of the rich detail in which the monuments and storefronts, etc. were portrayed.

Official Rating:

Four Un-Birthday Cakes

Ink Exchange by: Melissa Marr

Ink Exchange by: Melissa Marr
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 325
Format: Paperback
Series: Wicked Lovely #2
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

 Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.

Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.

The tattoo does bring changes—not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .

My Review:

This book was not at all what I initially expected. After reading Wicked Lovely, I thought this would be a continuation of that story, as I am sure a lot of other people thought too. However, Leslie's story was a pleasant surprise once I began reading.

What bothered me, starting off, was that I only got to see Aislinn whenever and however the other characters saw her. This disappointed me a little because I was really looking forward to seeing how she adjusted to being the Summer Queen and being more involved with the Faerie world.

Leslie's life was hard and lots of bad things had happened to her, thus making her stronger and a perfect target for Irial, especially because she thought that getting a tattoo would make things better for her. She was a pretty amazing and resilient character, I think. A lot of times she was kept in the dark about certain matters and even though I know her friends didn't want her involved in Faerie politics, I think she should've been more in the know.

Niall is probably my favorite character in the series so far.  Maybe it was the way he fought his nature or maybe it was the way he would do anything in the world for Leslie, but either way, the complexity of him was so enticing. I loved it.  He was in the first book a tiny bit, and more in this one, and I hope to see more of him later in the series.

The end was kind of heartbreaking to me, but still a proper ending. One of the characters began to gain some serious humanity, thanks to Leslie, and one took on a role that he never intended to play.

This all makes me even more eager to dive into Fragile Eternity!

Official Rating:

Three and a half Un-Birthday Cakes!

Desires of the Dead by: Kimberly Derting

Desires of the Dead by: Kimberly Derting
Publication Date: February 15, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 368
Format: Hardcover
Series: The Body Finder #2
Buy the Book: Amazon


Summary from Goodreads:

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

My Review:

The first book in this series, The Body Finder, was spectacular. It was an entirely new story and I had never heard anything like it before. The second book, however, didn't wow me as much as the first.

It started off a little slow to me, but every so often, there was something mysterious that happened, making me get goosebumps. There were a lot of morbid things that happened in this book, which made it seem a bit more indie in parts to me. This wasn't necessarily a good thing or a bad thing, it just was.

The manner in which Violet heard the echoes was really creatively done and I liked that. Her relationship with Jay grew to a point that was really heartwarming to read. Jay is one of those boyfriends who is really protective and is worried about how Violet will protect herself. Personally, I think he should have kept her on less of a leash. But, then again, his protectiveness proved to be extremely important at the end.

Desires of the Dead certainly showed a lot of promise for the next book though, and I have a feeling that it will be better than any of the others. So far it's just been two different stories kind of revolving around a killer with some other stuff mixed in. The plot for the next book , The Last Echo looks to be a lot more personal and suspenseful and I am looking forward to it.

Official Rating:

Three Un-Birthday Cakes

Hourglass by: Myra McEntire

Hourglass by: Myra McEntire
Publication Date: June 14, 2011
Publisher: Egmont USA
Page Count: 400
Format: Hardcover
Series: Hourglass #1
Buy the Book: Amazon


Summary from Goodreads:

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

My Review:

This was the first YA book I have read about time travel. I read The Time Trilogy by: Madeleine L'Engle a few years ago and loved it, so I thought I would give another shot to the subject. I am so very glad I did!

First of all, let me say how much I love Emerson's name. I have never before heard it used as a female name and I love it! Her character kind of reflects it too. She is not girly in the slightest and one of those edgy girls who knows how to protect herself in dangerous situations. Definitely a heroine.

Emerson and Michael meet seemingly by chance. Their relationship and his involvement with the Hourglass organization prove otherwise, however. The two of them have such incredible chemistry, probably one of the most electrifying (pun intended) relationships I have read about in a book.

All of the characters in this book had a good story to themselves, I think. Thomas and Dru had a really cute relationship. Emerson and Michael's brought goosebumps to my skin on occasion. Kaleb, Michael, and Emerson kind of have a potential love triangle, I think. Kaleb reminded me a lot of Jace Wayland from the Mortal Instruments series. He had a great sense of humor and kind of brooded around, but was also alarmingly strong and handsome. So, ya, Emerson definitely has a lot to think about.

This book was altogether charming and funny, yet the conflict was literally a life-or-death situation, and not in the way you might think.

                                                Official Rating:

Four and a half Unbirthday Cakes!

              Sara

Delirium by: Lauren Oliver

Delirium by: Lauren Oliver
Publication Date: February 1, 2011, Special Edition - August 1, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 441
Format: Hardcover 1st Edition
Series: Delirium #1
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

My Review:

Disclaimer: The cover above is the Special Edition cover, just because I love it so much. The one I own is the first edition, though.

I read Delirium shortly after the release date. I just decided it was so amazing that it deserved a review. It dragged me in, hook, line, and sinker! The writing style of Lauren Oliver is officially one of my all-time favorites.  She described the dystopian version of Portland, Maine, so majestically and really captured all of the drastically transformed elements of society that come with dystopia.

The setting of Portland in itself is something I really enjoyed in itself. Even though it was a fenced town and an overall dystopian environment, I loved all of the coves and beaches mentioned and visited in the book.

Lena is an incredibly strong character. Sure, she complies with all of the terms of the procedure and the laws at first and she had all of her life up until the events of the book, but still, she has the spirit of a fighter. I love female characters like that. 

As far as the genre goes, this was on of the heaviest dystopian books I've read, and I love the genre.  It was a lot more graphic in certian parts about the consequences of the law being broken. I think that when Lena realized the true nature of the government and their intentions, she was more eager to rebel, and then when she met Alex, it was the domino effect from there.

Alex and Lena's relationship gradually came into being, which I appreciated. I feel like, too many times in YA books that the relationships happen too fast, but this one was perfectly paced. 

The ending was a moderately large cliffhanger. I think, when I finished it, I literally slammed shut the book and scrambled to the computer to find the release date of the next book, foolishly hoping it would be the next day. This book comes highly recommended, just in case you are some uncivilized person who hasn't read this yet.

Official Rating:

Five Un-Birthday Cakes!

              Sara

Forbidden by: Tabitha Suzuma

Forbidden by: Tabitha Suzuma
Published: June 28, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Page Count: 464
Format: ebook
Series: None
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives--and the way they understand each other so completely--has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

My Review:

    How do I start this?
  
   Let me begin by saying what I was feeling during the first couple chapters and even before I began the book. The idea of a brother and sister having an intimate relationship was repulsing and creepy, and I had never heard of a book revolving around such disgusting nonsense. At the same time I figured there had to be some reason that Hyperion published it, right? So, I decided that giving it a chance was the best thing to do because if I didn't, it would be nagging at me until I did.
   I will analyze this book thouroughly and as best I can.
    The beginning and the first few chapters seemed pretty normal and somewhat slowgoing. I was paying special attention to the character development of Maya and Lochan, however, which made it interesting to read.
   They are basically homemakers all by themselves. Their mom still acts like an irresponsible teenager and they are always fighting to try and not have their younger siblings picked up by child services. The way it switches percspectives helped me in feeling exactly what the two of them were going through.
   Their more intimate relationship developed both slowly and suddenly. It took them both by surprise, like they had been denying there was ever anything more than family between them. They were utterly confused. It didn't make sense that they should feel anything more than a familial bond. It weighs on them so much, what they have started to realize and what refused to be ignored. They were in love and could tell no one. Anyone who knew would judge them automatically as being sick and perversed for even entertaining the idea.
   Both Maya and Lochan were tearing themselves apart, thinking there was something wrong with them. Surprisingly, in the middle of the book, I felt like yelling in there faces that there was absiolutely nothing wrong with them, that they were really and impossibly in love.
   This book taught me an important life lesson. A lot of the time, I judge people or situations automatically after acknowledging them. Now, if ever I hear about a situation like the one in this book or a simple news story, I will not judge the people involved or begin to assume anything about them or their situation. Thanks, Tabitha Suzuma, for teaching this to me and your other readers.
     I must praise Tabitha Suzuma on writing this novel so artfully. If anyone had to write a book on the very controversial subject of incest, she was the one for it.

Breaking Dawn Movie Review

      For a while before this movie came into theatres, I honestly kind of stopped caring about all the Twlilight Saga hype that was constantly circulating. It was just old news. I had read the series a few years ago and it was great and so were the movies, I just lost interest for some reason.

    Now that it came out just a few days ago, I was planning on seeing it (of course), just not immediately. So, yesterday, someone asked if I wanted to go with them to see it and I said sure, why not?

     There is so much I have to say about this movie, and I have to say it all without any spoilers! Let me start with my overall opinion of this movie. It was far better than any of the previous films and was so full of emotion, I could really feel a connection with each of the characters.

       The movie was pretty dead-on comparable to the book, which is something I always love to see! The acting was a lot better too, I think. Especially with Kristen Stewart. I really thought she absorbed Bella fully and whole-heartedly this time.
    
     As with the book, Bella gains a sense of independence when she decides to go through with her pregnancy, knowing the grave repercussions that would ensue. Her character strengthens a lot and shows ultimate sacrifice and bravery. I must give kudos to the makeup artists and camera people for this movie. The way they made Bella look shrunken in and emaciated was creepy and amazing.
    
     By the halfway point of the movie, I was so wrapped up in all of the tension and emotion that I forgot to drink my soda or reach for popcorn!
     The whole dillemma with the wolf pack was a huge element that they incorporated pretty much all of from the book. I don't know how to say more there without spoiling!
       
            Rosalie and Bella find common ground in the baby to build a sort of positive relationship (friendship?) off of. Rosalie helps her do the things that would only further everyone elses hatred for the baby but most of all, she supports her and defends her.
     
            Jacob plays a big part in the movie, that I can say. I was a bit concerned that they would focus everything on Edward and Bella, but they had a pretty steady balance of both.

     Oh! I almost forgot! During the wedding scene, they show Stephenie Meyer in the audience, looking at Bella proudly. As a writer, I almost teared up a bit watching that. It was as if she was watching Bella walk down the aisle, knowing that her character had grown up and become a stronger person than she anticipated, who could make her own decisions. It is how I imagine I would look if it were time to let my character grow up or just get married, even.

    Now its time for me to force myself to become frustrated and excited all over again. The ending literally had me about to stamp my feet on the ground right there in front of the entire audience, and demand to see another minute more! Ever since I heard that this movie was going to be split into two parts, I knew how part one was going to end. All of you who read the book can probably guess pretty well too. This movie's ending is the mother of all cliffhanger endings! UGH! It is so frustrating that I have to wait another YEAR before I see what happens. I mean, all I asked for was another minute or so, is that so much?!

 

  

The Hidden by: Jessica Verday

The Hidden by: Jessica Verday
Published: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: Ebook
Page Count: 389
Series: #3 in The Hollow Trilogy
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

A love that knows no bounds.

Abbey knows that Caspian is her destiny. Theirs is a bond that transcends even death. But as Abbey finally learns the full truth about the dark fate that links her to Caspian and ties them both to the town of Sleepy Hollow, she suddenly has some very hard choices to make. Caspian may be the love of her life, but is that love worth dying for?

Beautifully spun, emotionally gripping, and irresistibly romantic, The Hidden will leave you breathless.

My Review:

*****MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS (for those who haven't read The Haunted)*****

      Almost an entire year, I was waiting for this book to come out. Already, the Hollow Trilogy was one of my favorite series' ever, but after reading The Hidden, I know that the last book was just delightful icing on the cake.

      This installment of the trilogy contained a lot more mystery and intrigue and overall tension. The one question was finally answered that we all had been waiting for since the first book. I came to admire and connect with Caspian a lot more in this book. He was clearly going through a lot of mixed emotions about Abbey being his other half. He accepted that she should to live her life and tried, as much as it pained him, to get her to go on living, despite the fact that he would slip away if she did.
      The plot always managed to spark lots of new questions in  my head, moreso than with previous books. The lengths that Abbey is willing to go to to be with Caspian forever and the things she is willing to give up is amazing and heartbreaking all at once.
       So many emotions coursed through me while reading The Hidden. It was a perfect concoction of all bad and good feelings. Ultimately, the ending to the series was more than I could have ever expected. I always dread the ending of a series, concerned that it will not end in a comfortable place for me but this series smoothly ended in a peaceful place and left me satisfied and overjoyed at the conclusion of Abbey and Caspian's story.