Review: Hush, Hush Series 1-3 by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1) by Becca Fitzpatrick
391 pages, paperback
Finished on 19/5/2012
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Coming of Age, Action
Synopsis via GoodReads:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick
427 pages, hardcover
Finished on 19/5/2012
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Romance
Synopsis via GoodReads:

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperately searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick
438 pages, hardcover
Finished on 26/5/2012
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Romance, Some Action
Synopsis via GoodReads:

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

Motivation to Read Them: They were "all the rage" after Hush, Hush came out, and I was a little behind, but I still bought and read it. I loved it from the beginning, reread it this year, and continued the series.

Review: I absolutely LOVE this series! Fitzpatrick had me hooked from the first few chapters. I honestly just can't believe it took me so long to finally read Crescendo. They get better and better as you along.

Nora is just a regular kid who's trying to pass chemistry without too much trouble. And then her teacher decides to change up the seating chart. And so Vee, Nora's best friend, is replaced by Patch, a clear-to-see bad boy. A hot one at that. Nora was pretty much annoyed with him from the beginning, and I must admit that I was as well. After that wonderful day, everything is a fast-paced thrill of events.

The plot, like I said, is fast-paced, but it's a good kind of pace. You're drawn into it automatically. You always want to know what's going to happen next. The events flowed freely into each other. Sometimes there would be so much tension, and then somehow the things that occurred on the next few pages would make everything very calm. If only for a few pages before the next epic adventure started. :)

The characters, well, I'm not sure "ahmazing" is a strong enough adjective. I loved these characters. SO. Much. As I mentioned before, when we were first introduced to Patch in Hush, Hush I wasn't very fond of him. But I'm pretty sure that now he's my favorite character, even over Nora. Every charrie had something, I believe, that I loved about them, that made me connect with them, even if only a little.

This series is just so ahmazing. My words don't do the novels enough justice whatsoever. I sped through these books when I read them. And not on purpose either; I realized afterwards that I read those books the fastest I read a lot of things in a long while. I'm telling you, get them. They're very much worth it.

(Each book received this rating.)

Review: When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright

When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright
266 pages, Library Book (hardcover)
Finished on 24/5/2012
Genres: Young Adult, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction
Synopsis via GoodReads:

Lahni Schuler is the only black student at her private prep school. She's also the adopted child of two loving, but white, parents who are on the road to divorce. Struggling to comfort her mother and angry with her dad, Lahni feels more and more alone. But when Lahni and her mother attend a local church one Sunday, Lahni hears the amazing gospel choir, and her life takes an unexpected turn.

It so happens that one of Lahni's teachers, Mr. Faringhelli, has nominated her for a talent competition, and she is expected to perform a song in front of the whole school. Lahni decides to join the church choir to help her become a better singer. But what starts out as a way to practice singing becomes a place of belonging and a means for Lahni to discover her own identity.

Motivation to Read It: My cousin read this and said that it was really good. I saw it at the library and put it in my hands automatically.

Review: This novel was better than I thought it would be. Lahni really clicked with me, and the author had more than one plotline going on at once, which really added flavor to the book.

Lahni is almost in high school, she's nowhere near the top of the social ladder at her school (a school she doesn't even like at that), and then some crazy guy starts stalking her. But she finds a new home when she and her mom start going to church.

The characters were really good. I had to keep reminding myself that Lahni was just in the 8th grade. Sometimes she seemed a couple years older than what she was, but that's a good thing; just means she was mature :). Donna and Amber were your usual "queens" of the school, but every book has them I think.

The plot, like I said before, had little stories running off of it. There was the problems with her parents and the crazy stalker kid. These added some extra flavor to the story, which I really liked. The main plotline, which was Lahni's singing and being in the talent competition at her school, was amazing. I really enjoyed reading about Lahni's experience with this. She definitely earned more confidence in herself.

Overall, this book is really great, and I think you should take some time out to sit and read it. It isn't too long of a read, and it's a great story.

Review: Ordinary Wisdom by K. Blue

Ordinary Wisdom by K. Blue
98 pages, paperback (ARC)
Finished on 27/3/2012
Genres: Young Adult/Mature Teen
Synopsis via GoodReads:

This collection of short family stories is heartwarming and genuine. Each story is a lesson learned by experiencing everyday life. From childhood to adulthood there are lessons in all that we do and experience. The trick to growing as a person is to recognize their significance and continue to learn.You may find that you identify with the experiences of this wonderful family. You may even be reminded of times in your past and the lessons you have learned. Be prepared to smile, laugh and maybe even cry a little as you enjoy reading of ordinary wisdom.

Motivation to Read It: I am a part of a group of book reviewers that was emailed by a book tour planner asking if we wanted to host this book on our blog's during a tour. It sounded interesting, and I replied to the email.

*Disclaimer:
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid in any way.

Review: K. Blue has really shown some light with this novel. She uses personal experiences in her life and what she learned from them to try and help us with things that happen in out daily lives. K. had me laughing at some parts, shaking my head and thinking "Oh dear, that's not good" in others.

I was kind of sad to reach the end of the book. It was interesting to learn about the things that she went through. But overall, I loved it. She takes us through good lessons, and I think it would help all of us even in the smallest of ways to read Ordinary Wisdom.

I loved this book and think it's definitely worth reading!

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Revolution
By Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher: Ember, 2010
472 pages, paperback
Date Finished: 15/5/2012
Genres: Young Adult, Adventure, Coming of Age, Some Action, Romance, Some Historical Fiction, Some Realistic Fiction

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.
~from goodreads.com~

Motivation to Read It: Close friends of mine on GoodReads, and Leanne, read it and said that it was absolutely ahmazing. It was also our first Moderator Book of the Month.

Review: Andi has a lot to deal with. Her dad walked out her on her, her mother, and her younger brother; Truman, her younger brother, was hit by a car; and her mother has been mute ever since. She goes to a prestigious school, only to be on the verge of not graduating with her class. Then her dad makes her go to Paris with him. That's when the real "fun" begins.

Long story short, she finds a diary from a now-dead girl that lived in Paris during the French Revolution, Alexandrine Paladis. She gets caught up in Alex's story, and a BUNCH of freaky things start happening. This was/is definitely a page-turner from the beginning!

Revolution appealed to me the most because the French Revolution was such a big part of the novel. The FR was my favorite chapter in World History, so you can imagine this made me really happy. Donnelly even taught me a few new things! Like I said, this spectacular novel pulls you in from the beginning. Every second you want to know what's going to happen next, with both Alex and Andi.

The plot was super good. Everything just flowed right together. Near the end, it did get to the point where I kind of wanted to put it down; I must admit, it gets a little creepy in the last maybe 75 pages, but it's totally worth it! The characters were also marvelous. I'm not sure I even have a favorite. By chapter 5 or 6, I was already feeling what Andi was feeling. I dreaded being with certain characters, loved being around some, got super irritated by others. It's super easy for you to fall into the character's place really fast, and you don't even realize you're speeding through the pages all the while, practically living the characters' experiences.

Basically, I'm saying that this book is super awesome, and you should totally give it the time of day. Sadly, and fortunately, it's a stand alone. Pros- don't have to struggle to keep up with upcoming books dealing with Andi. Cons- It wouldn't hurt to have a sequel. Anyway, I think any history geek would love it! :)

Vampire Academy & Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)

By Richelle Mead

Publisher: the Penguin Group, 2007

332 pages, paperback

Date Finished: 13/11/2011

Genres: Young Adult, Coming of Age, Action, Adventure, Romance, Fantasy

Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever...
~from goodreads.com~

~First Line: "I felt her fear before I heard her screams."
~Last Line: "From far away, I heard the sound of cawing, almost like laughter."

Review: This is and always will be one of my favorite series of all-time. Rose and Lissa, but especially Rose, make me feel like my problems aren't all that when I read about theirs. When I reread this novel, I couldn't put it down for anything in the world.

Rose Hathaway is a dhampir -- half human, half Moroi (vampire). She has a psychic bond with here best friend Lissa Dragomir. Liss is a Moroi princess, the last left of her family line, the Dragomirs. At thebegininng of the novel, you witness the girls being captured (more like finally found) and being taken back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school only for Moroi and dhampirs.

The plot was really really great! The girls were always getting into some kind of action, although it was more Rose than Lissa. (Rose acts, then thinks; Lissa's the opposite, which is why she gets along better with people.) The romance aspect added to the book, too. You can't help but be pulled into it. "But he's not popular." "He's too old for you!" These are only a few of the things I said while flipping through the pages. :)

Rose is one of those kick butt people that everyone likes but would never want to get into a fight with. (Her and Chuck Norris desperately need to have a showdown!) Lissa is a kind, sweet, loving person who just wants to live up to her brother's ghost. She's really good at compulsion and still hasn't specialized in an element(magic), which isn't something she likes mentioning.

Two more characters that you definitely need to know are Dimitri Belikov, Rose's seven-years-too-old-for-her-crush and training mentor, and Christian Ozerathe son of two Moroi-turned-Strigoi parents (Strigoi = bad, Moroi = good, Moroi turning Strigoi = horrible). Dimitri totally has feelings for Rose. It's super obvious; he can't help himself sometimes. Christian is sweet like Lissa, who he likes, but has a fierce side like Rose. Definitely a nice combination, Ms. Mead.

Overall, GET THIS BOOK. Read it. It will become an addiction. A good one, but an addiction all the same. And I'll still be here for you to thank later :)

Plot Rating: 5
Character Rating: 5
Cover Rating: 4
GoodReads Rating: 5

Overall rating:
and three-fourths :)

______________________________________________

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2)

By Richelle Mead

Publisher: the Penguin Group, 2008

327 pages, paperback

Date Finished: 23/11/2011

Genres: Young Adult, Coming of Age, Romance, Some Adventure, Action, Fantasy

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…

It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians—including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...
~from goodreads.com~

~First Line: "Things die."
~Last Line: "Lots of things."

Review: The sequel to Vampire Academy was even better than the first. Although it had some sad parts, too, but don't all books?

Rose and Lissa escape the perilous hands of Lissa's "Uncle" Victor. Only to be pulled into even more drama. But of course, that's one of the best parts of these books :D.

Two more really important characters in this novel are Adrian Ivashkov, who I would love to meet in person, and Mason Whose-last-name-I-can't-remember. Adrian is a bad boy. Period. I can't even explain without giving him away. Picture, and charcterize, the baddest bad boy you can imagine; Adrian is probably two levels down from that. Ahmazing, huh?

Mason is one of Rose's classmates and a really good friend of her's, too. I've always thought that Rose and Mason make such a cute couple together. hHe understands her like other people don't and most never will. When they "fought" it was so heart-breaking, kind of.

The plot . . . all I can say without including spoilers is that I wish the novel had a completely different ending. I think you will think the same thing whenever you read it. Quite sad indeed.

Without a doubt, this book was really good, and anyone who still hasn't started reading this series: please start. SOON! :D

Plot Rating: 5
Character Rating: 5
Cover Rating: 4.5
GoodReads Rating: 5

Overall rating:
and seven-eighths :)

Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed (Matched, #2)

By Ally Condie

Publisher: Dutton Books, 2011

367 pages, hardcover

Date Finished: 8/11/2011

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Futuristic, Romance, Adventure, Coming of Age

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.
~from goodreads.com~

~First Line: "I'm standing in a river."
~Last Line: "It looks, I imagine, as if someone painted stars or flowers at exactly the right time; a momentary capture of beauty that will too soon vanish."

Review: The sequel to Matched was better than I thought it was going to be. I was glued to the pages and didn't want to have to put the book down for anything.

Cassia has been relocated a lot in the beginning of Crossed (remember how her family left the city at the end of Matched?). But anyway, she's out trying to find Ky. She goes through a lot I must say.

You read this book, alternately, in both Cassia's and Ky's perspectives. I think that was my favorite part. In Matched, I was always hoping to hear his thoughts if only for one sentence.

The plot of Crossed was super awesome! Ky and Cassia want to get to each other so bad that they do everything they can, no matter what the cost is. Kyle makes a couple of friends, Eli and another boy whose name starts with a V. Cassia makes a friend in a girl named Indie. Indie is trustworthy, and, like Cassia, she has secrets. Only thing is, the secret Indie has causes more turmoil when it comes to the light.

The characters in general were really great. Everything you learn about them in this book, and what you get to reflect on, had its own peace in the puzzle. The perfect character setup. Feel what the charries feel, etc. :P

Altogether, this novel was ahmazing! The third and final book in the Matched trilogy, which is untitled as the moment, will be out sometime in 2012. Keep your eyes open for it!

Plot Rating: 5
Character Rating: 5
Cover Rating: 5
GoodReads Rating: 5

Overall rating:

Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Always a Witch (Witch, #2)

By Carolyn MacCullough

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011

288 pages, Kindle Edition (eARC)

Date Finished: 10/10/2011

Genres: Young Adult, Some Action, Fantasy, Romance, Coming of Age

Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.
~from goodreads.com~

~First Line: "I was born on the night of Samhain."
~Last Line: "Looking back at her, I smile, close my eye in her trademark wink, and say, 'ah.' "

Review: The second installment in the Witch series was absolutely amazing! I definitely think it was better than Once a Witch, which baffles me because I loved the series debut as well! If you stull haven't read this series, I encourage you to! They're fun reads, and, once you get sucked into the plot, the pages will fly by quickly. :)

The main character, Tamsin, did a little time-traveling in Once a Witch, but in Always she goes all out. Gabriel wasn't too happy that he was purposely left out of the loop, but I haven't figured out if it would be for the better or worse that he showed up. A little of both I suppose.

Anyway, I loved this plot. The first few pages pulled me right in, and I was reluctant to do anything besides read this book. Tamsin was always in the middle of something, as if going back in time before her family was in Hedgerow wasn't enough trouble already. But I must say, the things she got herself into were very interesting!

The characters were even better as well. I'm not sure who was better, Gabriel or Tamsin. They're probably tied. Tamsin wants to handle things on her own, but Gabriel is the caring boyfriend that won't let her. Rowena was still a selfish bleep but would you expect?

Overall, this book was ahmazing. The last chapter or so was really great. Tamsin finally made that giant decision that her grandmother foretold. I'm astonished at the choice she made, but proud of her for it. I hope Carolyn MacCullough delivers another book in this series soon! :D

Plot Rating: 5
Character Rating: 4.5
Cover Rating: 4
GoodReads Rating: 5

Overall rating:
and five-eighths :)

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millenium, #1)

By Stieg Larsson

Publisher: Vintage Books, 2008

644 pages, paperback

Date Finished: 23/9/2011

Genres: Adult, Some Action, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Mystery

Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.
~from goodreads.com~

~First Line: "It happened every year, was almost a ritual."
~Last Line: "She tossed Elvis into a dumpster."

Review: I started reading this book last August, but forgot all about it and never finished it. This year, thanks to a BuddyRead, I started it again and am happy to say that the novel was amazing! The first 200 pages were really slow, but I'm glad that I kept reading! :D

Mikael "Kalle" Blomkvist is a financial journalist who has just been sentenced to serving 3 months of gaol (Swedish for jail). Our second main character (or secondary, she can be both) is Lisbeth Salander. She works a security agency; besides her tattoos and piercings, which she has a lot of, she definitely isn't very social.

Mikael is hired by Henrik Vanger, a legend of the Vanger Cooperation, to solve the mystery of his niece that's been missing for over 30 years. Eventually, Mikael learns of Lisbeth and they end up solving the mystery together.

The characters in Dragon Tattoo were really awesome, too. I loved Lisbeth's the best, though; Blomkvist definitely came very close behind her. Lisbeth's character was so . . . wow. I honestly can't think of a word to describe her. She's spunky and cool, but not afraid to give you a hard time if she (a) doesn't know you, or (b) doesn't trust you.

The plot of the novel was superb! It definitely wasn't like anything I've ever read before. I looved the "solve the mystery" stuff. The only thing that's kind of close to this that I've read is Angels and Demons (and all other Dan Brown books). But even still, Larsson just had an element that made this book so much different. Truly amazing.

I can't say too much more about this book without spoiling it. Just go buy a copy and read it. Then we can all celebrate by going to see the American movie version next year in theaters. An ahmazing novel indeed!

Plot Rating: 5
Character Rating: 5
Cover Rating: 4
GoodReads Rating: 5

Overall rating:
and three-fourths :)

Quotes from the book:

" 'Martin was dafter than a syphilitic polecat -- where do I get these metaphors from?' "

"This was how much time she had needed in the darkness of the building's stairwell to run through her plan one last time, consider alternatives, steel herself, and mobilise the courage she would need."