Juliet had it easy; she never had to kill Romeo.
Review: Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
Release Date: December, 11th, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Advance Reader’s Edition
Pages: 412
Purchase: Chapters
Synopsis: In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:
Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.
Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.
Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword…
The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?
Review:
The first word that comes to my mind when I think of this book is WOW. The synopsis was so engaging that I expected something intense but this was to a whole other level. I loved how there were multiple point of views. It kept the whole book very interesting and I would be sad that a point of view had ended and then happy because another characters started. I haven’t read much high fantasy but Falling Kingdoms really makes me want to read more. This whole new world and the two sides to it were very interesting. I never felt lost but I had to pay attention to every detail because I just wanted to absorb more of this world.
Each of the characters were very different and unique and even if I didn’t actually like some of the characters I still wanted to read their point of view. Magnus was the one character I was caught between dislike and like but he was very interesting to read about. Lucia was the shy girl in this book, the sweet one, and the one with incredible power. Cleo was of course my favorite character, she had spunk and wasn’t afraid of anything. Jonas was very intense and his and Cleo’s story was very engaging. There are so many other amazing characters like Theo, even the side characters in this book you want to know more about.
There is so much secret and deception in this book, and a whole lot of action. Some of the secrets I did predict but some would totally shock me. We got a lot of questions answered in the end but ugh, I still want to know more. The intense point the book leaves you at had you on the edge of your seat. I just can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next one. If you like any kind of high fantasy, or action, or romance, this book is perfect. It had a touch of everything and had me satisfied in the end yet wanting much more from the next one.
5 STARS
Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
Release Date: December, 18th, 2012
Publisher: Hyperion/ Hachette Book Group Canada
Format: Advance Reader’s Edition
Pages: 496
Purchase: Chapters
Synopsis: When Ruby wakes up on her tenth birthday, something about her has changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.
Review:
Thrilling, fast paced and exciting, the darkest minds was everything. I was immediately captured by the premise and the original cover. The Darkest Minds had a dark feel to the book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The way Alexandra Bracken uses imagery and powerful words just captures you into this world, and puts you in Ruby’s shoes. There are different super powers that made this experience much more intense. There’s a government that you can’t entirely trust and of course the terrorist groups. There was so much suspense packed in this one book and I just loved every second of it!
I loved the characters; Ruby was admirable, her loyalty to all her friends was very sweet and endearing. Liam oh Liam! Of course he just made the book ten times better, he was everything Ruby needed, supportive, smart, and with unique abilities of his own. I loved Liam and Ruby’s relationship they were perfect for each other. They relied on each other and respected the other persons decision. The supernatural abilities I don’t want to get in depth about, you’re just going to have to read this for yourself.
This book has loads of action, and it has your heart pounding every second. Ruby and her friends have been through some terrible things and they know how to fight. The idea of the children camps and the corrupt government was so interesting; I just wanted to learn more. I have such high expectations for the second! The end was and wan’t a cliffhanger at the sam time and that kills me because I don’t know what is going to happen next. The darkest minds is dark, intense, and just what you need if you’re looking for a good story.
4 Stars.
Book Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Rating: 5 Stars
Publisher: Feiwal and Friends
Release Date: May, 22nd, 2012
Synopsis: Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he’s heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen’s not fully convinced that Emma’s the one he’s been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help—no matter what the risk.
Review: Mermaids? I’ve never read a book about mermaids before… Well, let’s give it a try. That was my initial reaction to Of Poseidon. I have to tell you guys that I absolutely loved this book. I had high expectations but it exceeded my expectations! Humor, romance, and mystery this book had it all. I love books with humor but not just humor and that’s what Of Poseidon was. It had the right amount of everything.
The characters were enjoyable to read about. I loved how different Emma and Galen’s personalities were and I can’t pick who’s point of view I liked better. Galen was caring and so sweet and SWOON WORTHY! Emma was hilarious and totally kick butt. They had awesome chemistry together. Learning about the Syrena was really interesting as well. I loved how through the whole book we were totally not able to guess the big secret until the very end. I was shocked and I NEEEEED the next one.
Of Poseidon didn’t have one dull second, but it was a total page turner. If you haven’t read about mermaids before give this one a try and I’m sure you’ll love it. Not just the main characters but the side characters were all interesting. If there’s anything else left to say then it’s this that this was one of my top favorite books this year.
Book Review: Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
Synopsis: Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.
But her revival, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.
From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl’s fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.
Review:
This book was very unique and quite different than others I’ve read. It was quite lengthy but the writing style had made the book a page turner. Action, adventure, mystery, Unraveling had it all!
The character Janelle was really relatable and likable, she was very developed. I’m not a big sci-fi reader but Unraveling makes me want to read more.
The action in the story starts right from the first chapter, and it was never once boring. I loved how there was a count down to each chapter, it added to the thrill of the book. With all the excitement in Unraveling I’m so waiting to devour the sequel!
If you like Sci-fi you should pick it up and if you don’t after reading the Unraveling you just might! The love interest Ben is now one of my favorite fictional boys! His character had so much depth and personality. Readers can’t help but fall for him. The relationships in this book are realistic. This book reminded me a lot of the movie 2012, but it had a whole different feel as well. Unraveling is unlike anything I’ve ever read, and you should pick it up when it’s out in stores on April, 23rd, 2012.
