Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Review: Strange Angels: Lili St Crow **1**


Strange Angels: Lili St Crow
Synopsis: Goodreads

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)
Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

My Review:
    Okay so I read the first couple of chapters when I was first  started reading Vampire Academy because it was on the last pages as a promo.  I read them and I remember I didn’t want to keep reading. So I decided never to be interested in that book. Now there was two particular blogs that I follow and that shall remain nameless that Raved about this book. They said it was almost as good as vampire academy and it has to be read because it’s so good. SO I thought maybe I misjudged the book. So when I saw the whole set of audio books at the library I thought this is my chance. Man I should have gone with my original instincts.

                This book just had me in a bad mood. I didn’t like it at all. I can’t even say it has potential to be a great series because the way the plot played out and how the character are its just not in my future.  This book had me really annoyed and had me angry and frustrated for many reasons! I will say this, I really didn’t like the book; and the person reading it was awful. Her voice, the way she pronounced everything just made the book more awful.

                One of the many things I disliked was Dru, the main character. That’s a bad sign when the reader can’t relate or can’t stand the protagonist. She was so annoying for many reasons. One for some reason she thought she was better than everyone. It’s like she looked down to everyone that didn’t know about the “the real world”. It was so annoying. All she would talk about is how ignorant and oblivious people were. And speaking about the “real world” that was beyond annoying how they kept repeating that over and over again in the book. It was just as annoying when she would say she had “the touch”.  It’s funny that she kept talking about the touch because she barely explained what it was, and what she could really do. This chick had no clue. It’s one thing to think your bad ass, it’s another when you think you are better. Even at that Dru wasn’t badass. She didn’t fight. All she could do was point a gun and that for me isn’t making me a fan. What got me more irritated is that she spoke all the time how no one knew about the real world, but I felt like she didn’t know anything herself. It’s like all she knew was that it existed. She had no concept of what was going on around her. I don’t understand how you grow up helping your dad hunt creatures, but yet you don’t know their names, what they could so or anything. She was completely unknowledgeable about anything.

               I mean she would even talk bad about Graves all the time. I am assuming that’s her love interest for this whole series; all she talks about how odd looking he is and how when he gets older he will turn cute. But he has a weird nose, he’s too skinny, and just ughhh!!  The other thing I felt was that she was fake. All her internal dialogue she would never say. It’s one thing to be bitch, but don’t pretend to be nice in front of everyone else. She was so negative inside, but then the things she would speak up would sound soft spoken.
Even after she *** spoiler**** shot her father. She didn’t hesitate that to me is weird. The first time she shot the safety was on and then she shot again. The times when she would think about her dad, the memories were dry and fake. It’s like all she missed was having an adult. I don’t feel she really missed him. I just finished reading the demon trappers daughter, and let me tell you her father dies, he hunted demons, and he didn’t want her involved, and yet that main character you could feel she genuinely missed her father and she actually knew what was going on in her “real world”** spoiler ended****

Wow I know that sounded like a rant but I needed to get that off my chest. I didn’t like the main character at all!!!

Graves he was okay and nice but that’s about all he had going for him. I guess when I read I look for that OMG guy that can save my world if I needed him too. I think Graves is a punk therefore I wasn’t all invested in that love story. His personality was good but that’s about it. I don’t get why a character like Graves would be the main guy. He’s more like a Simon from TMI. I think I liked Kristoff better as a love interest but I don’t even know if he was meant as an option. Either way nothing going on in that department in the book.
The author’s style of writing was not for me at all. She would overly describe everything to the point I wouldn’t even know what was going at times. That drives me insane. Why must you describe every inch of everything to complete a thought. Seriosuly there was a whole chapter dedicated to Dru not wanting to give the keys to Kristoff. Like really are you serious. Not for me. The pacing was slow and there was nothing going on. I could list the main things that happened in this book in less than 5 bullets.    

The thing that gets me the most upset is that I really wanted to like this book. I hate when I feel cheated by a book. I love the covers;. I thought I was getting a kickass heroine that knew how to hunt creatures of the night who gets help from a guy she meets and saves the day falls in love and everything else. I didn’t even get not one thing from that.

I honestly don’t know what type of people to recommend this book to. But if for some reason you liked this book I would love you to leave comments and tell me what you liked. I don’t see the appeal. I think it can be said  I will not be reading the rest of the series. And I feel like I have wasted my time.
                                                           **1**

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Teaser Tuesday *7*

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB ofShould Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Clockwork Angel: Cassandra Clare
Synopsis: Goodreads
Pg: 96
"Will's expression darkened, " You think what you like it's not as if you know anything about me" 

" I know you don't like giving straightforward answers to questions. I know you're probably  around 17. I know you like Tennyson-you quoted him at the Dark House, and again just now. I know your'e  an orphan, as I am"

"I never said I was an orpahn." Will spoke with unexpected savagery. "I loathe poetry. So it happens, you really don't know anything about me at all do you?" And with taht, he spun on his heel and walked away.



I love TMI.  So you can imagine how excited to finally read this!! That Will sure does sound tough. This love affair between Tessa and him sure is gonna be good. I can only imagine all the tension in this book.

So what's your teaser for the week??


Review: Enclave: Ann Aguire ***5***


Enclave: Ann Aguire
Synopsis: Goodreads

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember. 

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.
 

My Review:
   To begin.. I saw all over many blogs that people were posting trailers of this book when it came out. I never watched it because I didn’t want anything spoiled so I just added the book on my To Read List on Goodreads. Then a few weeks later I think everyone began talking about how amazing and good Divergent was. How it’s the next best dystopian out there. So I decided the next dystopian book I buy is probably going to be that one. So to be honest I forgot about Enclave. I actually won it on Goodreads, and man that’s the best thing that has ever happened. To be honest I probably would have never bought it because I have so many books I definitely want to read and I know what they were about.  I think Enclave was AMAZING!!!!!!!! Hold up let me say it again AWESOME!!!  It was so good.
One of my favorite things about this book is the author’s writing style it was so good. The pacing  was great. I mean at first when I was reading it the protagonist had to go on a journey and I thought to myself great this is going to last half of the book because the characters are going to run into some trouble and that’s where the book stays. NOPE I was wrong… That journey lasted 2-4 chapters and moved on. There was always something new happening in the book. I mean I just stayed glued. This book did not drag at all and neither did the author waste time on senseless nonsense. Most dystopian books I read usually have the slow pacing that way they work on world building. Not this author. She proves you world build and still action, a great plot and keep your reader interested! I hate book that want to leave all the action and fun stuff till the end to build suspense for the next novel. That is why I loved this author, she gave me everything I could possibly want in  book, action, adventure, love story, strong heroine, and a series to continue my obsession!  The other thing I want to mention about this book is that the way this book began is complete transformation on how it ended. I don’t know how to explain it but everything just came to light!
The main character Deuce was awesome! She is one kick-ass heroine. I love the girls that have a goal and won’t let anyone tell them any different. She reminds me of Rose from VA. Rose desperately wanted nothing more than to be a Guardian and she wanted to be the best at it. Deuce wanted nothing more than to be Huntress. Just how Rose refused and wanted nothing to do with being a blood whore, Deuce refused to be a breeder. I like when I see that fight in a main character. Where she knows she’s worth it and can do anything she wants. I also love when the heroine has compassion and cares about her friends. The way she looked out for Stone, and took his place just to protect him. She’s awesome.
I really enjoyed how the author wrote how Deuce felt while in Topside. It was so realistic an on point. The way she was so scared from the vastness. How she still tried to count her steps even though it wasn’t necessary. How she was scared of the sun. She always wanted to travel at night just in case she burned from the sun. So funny! It was so true to her character I just enjoyed it o much. After she left the enclave, the way she looked at her scars. It was amazing and sad to her say her scars meant nothing and no one would recognize her for what she was. I liked how the author didn’t make it easy for her to part from the clave. Even though they were wrong, it was everything she knew and she still missed it in a way. Even when she thought the wolves had caught her she rather dies than be there to deal with what they had planned.
Now the main guy, he was so good! He was mysterious, strong, caring, and just ugh. Can’t find the word. I really like his character. He really was a mess inside but he kept it together. To know that the elders had threatened him all this time and he still functioned. WOW! Oh and I so want him and Deuce together. They are partners after all. I think they are too cute. I like how he respects and Deuce for what she is and doesn’t think he can control her or talk down to her. I really liked his character and how he challenged Deuce. Stalker, I knew he was going to be important. I know I know many of you probable hate him for what he does.. But that kiss. Okay wow so unexpected and I actually was giddy. Don’t ask me why. The moments she was teaching him how to read was just, so cute. I know I am probably in the minority for liking him. I still like Fade better but still!!
Seriously you guys need to grab this book ASAP!!! Like now I am so serious. This book left me thinking about it for days. I couldn’t get it off my mind. Get this book now. This book was full of awesomeness. I think Ann Aguire is a force to be reckoned with. Her book was awesome. I can’t praise it enough!!!


                                                          5

Monday, June 6, 2011

Review: Hex Hall: Rachel Hawkins **4**


Hex Hall: Rachel Hawkins
Synopsis: Goodreads

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

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

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

My Review:
    SO I bought this book because everyone said how great it was. And then demonglass came out and I saw everyone making post about this book. They always stated how much of an awesome character Sophie was and the author had a way of adding funny things in the writing. So to say that my hopes were really up for this book is an understatement. I was expecting the kind of funny light tone from Clarity. 

Okay so as I started the book I actually enjoyed the form of writing it was easy to read and it wasn’t overly descriptive which one of my pet peeves was. The book at the beginning I thought was just ehh, you know when you put a book down and it wouldn’t really bother you that’s how I felt. I guess after reading so many YA books you get tired of some cliché’s. Like new girls goes to boarding school, makes friends or dorms with school outcast, mean girls don’t like new girl, they pretend to be nice and new girl knows they are mean girls and still listens to them and gets in trouble, and new girl falls for school hottie. So to say I was unimpressed at the beginning once again is an understatement. I guess I just want something different then theses books that have this predictability to it. But wait guys don’t get scared it gets better!! The book actually got a whole lot and I ended up reading it in one day in just a few hours!!! 

So aside from the not so wonderful beginning the characters were good. Sophie was sweet and relatable. She seemed sincere and I understood her frustrations about not knowing anything about what’s going on. It kind of reminded me of when Harry Potter just started at Hogwarts and he had no idea who was who what was important and couldn’t figure out how to be a wizard. One thing that I liked about Sophie is that she never stood down to anyone. I still found funny how she kicked the Vandy and knocked her down.

Archer Cross is yummy. The one scene they got to kiss was OMG good. I mean damn that was some good writing and of course it was ruined by something I will not say because it’s a spoiler!! I like that he wasn’t a jerk to Sophie even though he’s a hottie and dating the main mean girl in the book. Cal the groundskeeper he sounds even yummier I think and I hope something will develop between him and Sophie because he is just super strong and yummy, did I mention yummy. 

**Spoilers** Skip below 
The whole twist that her father was head of the Council; was good I was not expecting that. And I also suspected Alice of the wrong doing but once I saw she gave Sophie and Elodie that protection spell I figured it can’t be her but boy was I wrong. And OMG that is crazy that Elodie had summoned Alice as her demon I was not expecting that. And Archer oh Archer why did he have to be part of the eye??? It reminded me of the Evernight series when Bianca found out Lucas was a demon hunter! I still don’t think Archer wanted to hurt Sophie or that he hurt the other girls I think that was Alice. I don’t think archer wants to be part of eye I think maybe it has to do with his family not liking the council. Im still skeptical of Archer being evil! 

*** Spoilers Over**** 
I think the book started off slow but gained some gas midway and ended with a bang. I definitely want to continue the series. I think things will be getting pretty interesting in Demonglass and I want to buy it ASAP. I think people should read this book but I don’t think it was as amazing or must read as it was made seem! Overall good book and the series has the potential to be really good!!! 


                                                            4