NICOLE'S REVIEW: Push by Eve Silver

Title: Push
Author: Eve Silver
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: June 10 2014

Publishing House: Katherine Tegen Books

ISBN: 9780062192219
Source of Copy: Edelweiss

Summary:

It's either break the rules or die.

Miki Jones lives her life by her own strict set of rules, to keep control, to keep the gray fog of grief at bay. Then she's pulled into the Game, where she - and her team - will die unless she followes a new set of rules: those set by the mysterious Committee.

But rules don't mean answers, and without answers, it's hard to trust. People are dying. The rules are unraveling. And Miki knows she's being watched, uncertain if it's the Drau or someone - something - else. Forced to make impossible choices and battling to save those she loves, Miki begins to see the Committee in a glaring new light. 

And then the Game crosses a new boundary, pushes harder into Miki's and her friends' lives, and there's nothing in the rules that can save them now.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

I read this book right after Crown of Midnight (thank the universe I gave the series another chance). I was in my give-the-sequel-a-chance phase and thought why not. If you've seen my review of Rush (HERE) you'll know that I'm not a fan but to my surprise Push is actually a touch better than its predecessor.

It's a mess. After the events in the first book there's no time for Miki to get her emotions sorted out as she's thrust right back into the Game. She has to deal with bloodthirsty aliens, teammates she can't trust and her growing worries about the Committee. Her feelings must not get in the way. But when things start to unravel and lines start to blur it's all or nothing for Miki and her team because survival is of the utmost importance and things just are not what they seem.

Miki does a little growing up in this book. I'm still not a fan but I can at least give her that. Jackson is still Jackson and I there's nothing about him to write home about. He's still a douche and I doubt that's going to change no matter how sweet he is on Miki. And yes, he's alive, he's okay and did we really doubt that he was going to be anything but? (Fans of Jackson please don't pelt me with rocks, who'll paint fabulous bookish manicures when I'm gone?) 

One good thing about Push is that we get a little more info about the Game. Oh it's still convoluted and messy but at least some things are starting to make sense. I guessed that there was something going on with the Committee and I was right. Miki sees Jackson's sister in the Game and they brush it off and the Drau are winning. Let's face it, a bunch of teenagers against vicious aliens out for blood? If I'm being truthful I think the human race is doomed and the odds are not in their favor. 

All in all fans of Rush will likely enjoy the sequel. I feel like something more should have happened and there is a cliffhanger in case you guys are wondering. I'll probably be reading the next book because I'm a glutton for punishment and I'm quite curious to see how the author will wrap this series up. So much questions left unanswered and all that.

Rating:

 

                         

NICOLE'S REVIEW: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Taking
Author: Kimberly Derting
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: April 29 2014

Publishing House: HarperTeen

ISBN: 9780062293602
Source of Copy: Edelweiss

Summary:

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas 'n' Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of deja vu, she heads home only to discover five years have passed... and yet she hasn't aged a day.

Everything about Kyra's old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn't sure how to move forward unless she uncover the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin's annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they wonder if Kyra's father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others who have been taken... and returned Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Books with aliens are few and far between (those that actually manage to pique my interest) and decent alien books that I've read? I could count them on one hand. 

The Taking has promise - it has an interesting plot that involves memory gaps and alien abduction and human experimentation plus mention of super powers. Cool, right? It all went downhill when the romance was added and I had to resist banging my head up against the wall or throwing my iPad at someone. 

The last memory she had was of the fight with her father, stepping out of the car after a temper tantrum and the light. The bright light. Then nothing. Kyra lost five years of her life to who knows what and coming home and finding out that everything's changed? Not the easiest thing to deal with. Her father and mother are separated, Austin's gone off with her best friend and Tyler, Austin's younger brother, is pretty hot and she's got the tingles for him. But when strange things start to happen, Kyra has no choice but to give her father's crazy theory about alien abduction some credit. Especially when strange people appear on her doorstop overly interested by her five year disappearance.

See, the plot's not that bad. It just got overshadowed by the romance. Meaning to say that the story was focused more on the romance with a little alien stuff thrown in. Maybe a little grand theft auto and some blood. But let's talk about the romance since it is, obviously, my biggest peeve about this book.

You see, before Kyra was abducted, there was Austin. Austin was her childhood best friend, he's hot, he's handsome, he's everything Kyra wants and she is determined to never be separated from him. Who cares about all those wonderful opportunities at the big league universities if she's got this hot boyfriend right? Oh Kyra, you fool. That's the argument Kyra and her dad were having before she got abducted. So we've established that Austin is perfect, okay? Moving on.

When Kyra gets back after five years, Austin went off with her best friend to university and it was pretty obvious how heartbroken and angry she was. I was irritated because Austin seemed like a good guy and then, after five years, he's turned into this massive jerk? Apologizing to Kyra for his own sake? I don't know. I mean a lot can change in five years but from the very start Austin was never a jerk, so why now? It just didn't sit so well with me.

Now, as mentioned Austin has a little brother named Tyler. He was twelve when Kyra got taken but now he's seventeen and apparently he's also fair game. He's been in love with Kyra since forever too. What is so great about Kyra? I don't get it. The Taking is all about Kyra and her relationship with this guy. Things moved too fast and she easily dismissed her problems because some boy drew her stuff using chalk on pavement. He's hot, looks like Austin, so why not right?

Aside from too much romance, I didn't like how everything was so easy for Kyra. Chased by bad guys? Not to worry some, random alien guy who's been tracking you for months steps in to save the day. Not to mention the fact that she has powers that the other hybrids don't which makes her even more special.

Kyra is not special. She's just a lovelorn teenager who's more obsessed with her boyfriend than she is with her safety and the safety of those she loves. I'm sorry, this book is a disappointment. Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series sees more alien action than this. 

Rating:

                     

[BLOG TOUR] MICHELLE'S REVIEW: Scan by Sarah Fine, Walter Jury

Title: Scan
Author: Sarah Fine, Walter Jury
Format Acquired: Borrowed ARC

Publication Date: May 1, 2014

Publishing House: Putnam Children's

ISBN: 9780399160653
Source of Copy: Borrowed from Dianne (Oops, I Read A Book Again)

Summary:

Tate and his father don't exactly get along. As Tate sees it, his father has unreasonably high expectations for Tate to be the best - at everything. Tate finally learns what he's being prepared for when he steals one of his dad's odd tech inventions and mercenaries ambush the school, killing his father in the process and sending Tate on the run from aliens who look just like humans.

All Tate knows - like how to make weapons out of oranges and lighter fluid - may not be enough to save him as he's plunged into a secret inter-species conflict that's been going on for centuries. Aided only by his girlfriend and estranged mother, with powerful enemies closing in on all sides, Tate races to puzzle out the secret behind his father's invention and why so many are willing to kill for it. 

(Image, summary, and information courtesy of Goodreads)

Review:


Tate has no idea why his dad insists upon him being perfect. With only his loving girlfriend as his sanctuary, Tate is emotionally distant from a father who spends most of his time developing inventions that Tate could not understand. What starts as a prank when he brings one of his dad's inventions to school turns into an action-filled chase resulting in his father's death, and him discovering that the world has been infiltrated by human-looking aliens... and that what he's holding in his hands could potentially start a war millions do not know that they're part of.

The ball starts rolling pretty quick when Tate sneaks into his father's supposedly secret workroom and brings to school one of his shiny, albeit "useless", inventions. All hell inevitably breaks loose, and immediately, readers are taken on a wild romp with Tate and his super girlfriend, Christina, as they try to outwit, outsmart, and outrun the aliens who wouldn't hesitate to kill them for the invention.

I did like Tate's predilection for making science seem cool with all the makeshift inventions of his own in lieu or boring firearms, and how well he works with Christina in tandem. While she is the girlfriend who just gets roped into this whole mess, Christina is very level-headed and it almost seems like she's used to being chased down by homicidal aliens. Tate's need for proof, or at least a hint, of his father's love is bittersweet, as readers would find out for themselves in the book.

Fast-paced and quite riveting this book may be, Scan felt overly long sometimes, which I can't fault it for since I am not an action flick kind of girl. And while I did like the characters, it did feel like there wasn't enough of their characters shining through that made them tangible or corporeal-like to me.

Scan would undoubtedly appeal to huge fans of alien-themed action movies. I like my alien movies mostly rom-com (like Stephenie Meyer's The Host, no judging please) so I probably wasn't the best audience for this. Scan was nonetheless quite interesting to read, if only because I, too, won't be surprised if aliens actually live amongst us, and because I didn't realize that I can pelt out predators with oranges in the event that I'm near a grocery. (Thanks, Tate.)

Rating:

              

[Blog Tour] NICOLE'S REVIEW: The Hunt by Stacey Kade

Title: The Hunt
Author: Stacey Kade
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: April 22 2014

Publishing House: Disney Hyperion

ISBN: 9781423153290
Source of Copy: NetGalley

Summary:

Ariane Tucker has finally escaped GTX, the research facility that created er. While on the run, Zane Bradshaw is the only person she can trust. He knows who-and what- she is and still wants to be part of her life.  

But accepting Zane's help means putting him in danger.

Dr. Jacobs, head of GTX, is not the only one hunting for Ariane. Two rival corporations have their sights set on taking down their competition. Permanently. To protect Zane and herself, Ariane needs allis. She needs the other hybrids. The hybrids who are way more alien and a lot less human. Can Ariane win them over before they turn on her? Or will she be forced to choose sides, to decide who lives and who dies?

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

My review for the first book, The Rules, is right over here.

The Hunt basically starts off where The Rules left - Ariane and Zane on the run, hiding from GTX. Problem is, GTX isn't the only corporation out to get them. There are 2 more out there who would love nothing more but to get their hands on Ariane - because human experimentation is a thing and there's even a government sanctioned competition between the three to figure out who's creation is the best. Ariane's just realizing that she never really had a shot at a normal life but if she wants out from the running and the hiding, she's going to have to find a way to get in touch with the other experiments and find a way to put a stop to the whole mess.

With the recent influx of alien books, it's hard to find one that really catches your eye. (same thing dystopian novels but that's another thing) The Hunt isn't amazing but it's a good, solid, entertaining book. It's one of those books I give a 3.5 but still follow the whole series till the very end. 

Ariane's character arc was well written - she's stronger now in the second book. She's more in control of her powers and not as afraid or meek as she was in the first. She's more take-charge here and I like her this way. But at the same time, there's a certain vulnerability to her. She's never really had anyone she could trust but now she has Zane and being on the run doesn't do things for his safety so she's torn between ditching him or dragging him along. It's not easy but that's what happens when you care about people.

Zane, on the other hand, isn't just some macho jock anymore. Now that he's finally come to really care for Ariane, we see him sometimes wondering if he's good enough. He doesn't judge her for being half-alien and actually wonders if he's even worthy of Ariane. Such a cute boy. And the fact that he's willing to fight for what they have? Plus points to you. Even if he might have botched a few things up near the end. He's a good boy and I might have wanted to reach into the book and smoosh his face then maybe smoosh him and Ariane together because they deserve a happy ending.

Speaking of endings, that cliffhanger is killer. I was lucky enough to get an eARC of this book but I don't think it's possible to wait till next year (I think) for the next. I had to constantly distract myself with other shiny things so as NOT to think about the way this ended. Cliffhanger. Ugh. I want to cry. All in all, if you're in the mood for something extraterrestrial pick up The Rules then get this baby too.

The cover's a little shady. I mean I understand it but that doesn't mean it's not shady.

Rating:

     

                        

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Waterfell by Amalie Howard

Title: Waterfell
Author: Amalie Howard
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: November 1 2013

Publishing House: Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 9781460321027
Source of Copy: NetGalley

Summary:

THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE QUEEN.

Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day he can claim her birthright - the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon - until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and chalenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday - the day she comes of age.

Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpon that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Nerissa Marin is heir to the undersea kingdom known as Waterfell but she can't claim her birthright while she's hiding away in the human world. Not that she wants to. Her father told her to stay away and that's exactly what she plans to do despite the urging of her bad-tempered best friend to fight for her throne. But everything changes when the one who caused her family's devastation comes up to Nerissa and demands a battle to the death. Now Nerissa has to make a choice, give up the throne or abandon her people to the clutches of a power-hungry tyrant.

I have to admit that I thought this would be about mermaids. Sea creatures? An undersea kingdom? Mermaids. Sadly I was wrong, the sea creatures in Waterfell are more of the Loch Ness kind rather than the half human half fish kind. 

I like Nerissa. I like how she's totally capable of admitting all her flaws and strives to do better. She's scared, which is totally acceptable, seeing as how her life's been turned around and there's this evil witch of a sea monster vying for her throne. A throne which she would willingly give up if things were up to her. But they aren't and Nerissa's got people depending on her so she stands and she fights and in the end she grows a pretty sizable backbone and faces down her problems head on. You go girl! I can also see that she's a brat, but come on, she's a teenager, she's selfish and prideful but it comes with the territory. She's a princess, her father's been pretty lenient with her - so she says - so she's used to thinking of only herself. But kudos to her for manning up.

Now let me take a moment to talk about the romance. The reason why I'm having a hard time rating this book is because of the romance. Insta-love with the surfer boy who dons a smarmy grin on his face and a devil-may-care attitude and walks with a swagger that's irresistible to teenage girls. Nerissa may be a sea monster but she's still a teenager and subject to rampaging hormones. I didn't like Lo. He was so incredibly...lame and douchey. I don't understand what Nerissa saw in him and from the get-go I felt like there was something really shady about him. I mean if the romance didn't play such a big part in this story I wouldn't have been so irritated, but it did. It really did.

Taking a break from the sucky romance, I actually liked the sea monsters Howard introduced - the Aquarathi. I mean she's a legit sea monster, how can I not like that? Like a serpent. And I was actually surprised by their back story and how they came to exist in the oceans. Pretty cool. And the plot, while entertaining, was kind of predictable but it does have a whole lot of potential. 

If you're checking this out thinking that this is gonna be some story about mermaids, think again. You'll find sea creatures with sharp teeth and killer flippers that are oddly endearing and a not-so-endearing romance with a shady surfer boy and a main character who's pretty real and flawed and human. 

Rating:

                        

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Origin
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Format Acquired: Paperback

Publication Date: August 27 2013

Publishing House: Entangled Publishing

ISBN: 9781622660759
Source of Copy: Fully Booked

Summary:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he's facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything become sabout finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in the way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don't seem entirely crazy, but the group's goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Origin is the fourth book in the Lux Series. In case you haven't read the first three books, you can find reviews for them here. Obsidian (Lux#1) Onyx (Lux #2) and Opal (Lux #3). I suggest that for those who still haven't read the last few books refrain from reading this review but I'll do my best to keep things non-spoilery.

Origin is different from the first three books because now we get to see inside Daemon's head. It features the alternating POVs of Daemon and Katy. While it's an interesting experience, being inside Daemon's head is nothing too exciting. He's like your typical teenage boy except he's an alien, he has powers and he's willing to do some pretty drastic things to get his little kitten back. I'm not surprised really, given the way he's so protective of her.

I will admit to actually liking Katy's character arc because I found her too whiny and too fixated on Daemon in Obsidian. But now? It's obvious that she's matured some and has changed a whole lot. She goes through a lot of excruciating things in this book and I actually find myself rooting for her now. In the past few books I was something of an observer, I had that whole whatever-happens-happens thing going on and I wasn't too invested in the series but now I find myself cheering for Katy. I wanted her to have her happily ever after you know?

A lot more exciting things happen in this book. Katy and Daemon lose a few friends, gain more allies, get betrayed and discover a new race. Not necessarily in that order. A lot of other things happen but I'll just keep my mouth shut about it and can I just take a moment to warn you guys that this book also has a cliffhanger? ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER. Armentrout and her cliffhangers. I wasn't too happy when I read the ending because I thought that it could have ended better but alright. I'll take it.

Obviously I'm looking forward to the next book. With the way this ended?? Yeah. Goodreads says it'll be out 2014 so I've got a while to wait.

Rating:

    

                         

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Rush by Eve Silver

Title: Rush
Author: Eve Silver
Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: June 11 2013

Publishing House: Katherine Tegen Books

ISBN: 9780062192134
Source of Copy: Fully Booked

Summary:

Miki Jones's carefully controlled life spirals into chaos after she's run down in the street, left broken and bloody. She wakes up fully healed in a place called the lobby - pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game in which she and a team of other teens are sent on mission to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures.

There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Every moment of the game is kill or be killed, and Miki has only the questionable guidance of Jackson Tate, the team's alluring and secretive leader. He evades her questions, hold himself aloof from the others, and claims it's every player for himself. But when he puts himself at risk to watch Miki's back, he leaves her both frustrated and fascinated. Jackson says the game isn't really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival. And the survival o every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn't. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Rush is strange mix of time travel, aliens, romance, teen angst and insta-love with some action - the killing people kind - on the side.

When Miki gets run down on the street, she finds herself waking up in another dimension. She has unwittingly become part of this group of people who save the world in secret by killing aliens called the Drau. While she'd like to think of it as a game, it's not. Not unless you're into games where when you die mid-game, you die in real life. No respawn, no second wind.

I''ll admit to being a gamer and I've been through a few RPGs. Diablo3 being the last one I played. So when I read the premise for this game I was like "Hey this is pretty cool, it's kind of like that Hardcore mode in Diablo3". In case you guys are unfamiliar with it, it's this mode in the game where you basically have to run through the acts without dying because if you do die, well, you stay dead and you can't ever play that character again. Something like that. So obviously I was excited but when I finally got to read the book? I just wanted to curl up in a corner and cry.

Miki is a decent character, she's nothing really special but she managed to not get on my nerves. That is until she gets into a fight with her best friend Chloe because Chloe called dibs on a guy, and that guy is showing interest in Miki. Are you kidding me? If I were in Miki's shoes I'd toss Chloe to the side because you don't need friends who act like little brats. But Miki does the exact opposite, she wants to get back into Chloe's good graces and grovels. I was actually imagining doing a number of violent things to both girls because of their idiocy. 

Rush also features a sort-of love triangle. Jackson and Miki and Luke - Miki's friend who is also part of the team she gets dropped into. Jackson is like your typical YA bad boy love interest. He runs hot and cold, he's caring one minute and the next he's cold and frigid and tells you to shove off. Obviously Miki is drawn to him because aside from being their team leader, he's got secrets and that adds depth to his character. Right. Luke on the other hand is like Jackson's opposite but that's all I have to say on him. I'm not a fan of either boy. Can I also mention that there's a serious case of insta love? This is crazy.

Another thing I didn't like about Rush was the plot and the world building. I mean it's original, but the execution was just...very, very confusing. The info-dumps weren't particularly helpful too. And as I said, this book is a mix of well...aliens, time travel and some other things that make for a very puzzling read. 

I won't deny that Rush has a very interesting and highly original plot and the action scenes were okay to read but I guess it's just not for me. If you're into aliens and books that have a video game feel to it and killing stuff you could always give this one a try. 

Rating:

 

                         

[Blog Tour] NICOLE'S REVIEW: The Rules by Stacey Kade

Title: The Rules
Author: Stacey Kade
Format Acquired: ARC

Publication Date: April 23 2013

Publishing House: Disney Hyperion

ISBN: 9781423153283
Source of Copy: Blog Tour

Summary:

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don't get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don't fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane's survival - and that of her adoptive father - depends on her ability to blend in among full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight from those who seek to recover their lose (and expensive) "project".

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief's son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane fins the attention frightening - and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Are books with human experimentation a trend in the YA world right now? I've recently read a number of books with this theme going on and I'm very much interested in this topic.

All Ariane had to do was follow five rules to stay under the radar and hide the fact that she's half alien half human and created in a lab. Simple enough until a slip-up in school involving her friend Jenna and Rachel, the school's most popular girls, turns the spotlight onto her. Now she not only has to contend with both Jenna and Rachel, she has to deal with cute, caring and totally off-limits Zane, the boy who just might be worth breaking a few rules for.

I was surprised at how thrilling The Rules turned out to be. The book is told in the alternating POVs of Zane and Ariane allowing us to get a glimpse into the characters' personality. After escaping from the lab where she was created, Ariane was taught to keep her head down and blend into the crowd. Knowing the truth of who and what she is, Ariane is reluctant to form any connections yet at the same time she yearns for companionship. But circumstances declare that she be put into the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief's son, and the one person who seems to actually see her. 

Kade's characters were pretty decent and she managed to write a pretty believable male POV. Zane isn't exactly swoon worthy and I was initially wary of his interest in Ariane but he's a pretty nice guy who's been through a few rough spots. I will admit to thinking that their relationship was doomed to fail but in the end it sorts itself out and yes, I do understand Zane's role in the scheme of all things and their budding romance induced some goofy smiles and girlish giggles to which I will never admit to in person.

One thing that put me off the book was that it wasn't much of the science fiction genre - rampant cases of teenage drama everywhere - but it was bearable enough. I was expecting a lot of action scenes or more sci-fi-ish elements and the lack thereof disappointed me but somehow it didn't seem to bother me as much as it would have.

The Rules is the first book in the Project Paper Doll series and I do believe that it's off to a good start. I wouldn't recommend this if you're looking for something more sci-fi centric but if you're up for a book that's more of a high school drama with sci fi elements thrown in, cute, fluffy romance, decent characters you can sympathize with, and some unexpected twists and turns thrown in for added flavor pick this one up. I know I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

Rating:

        

                        

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: February 5 2013

Publishing House: Feiwel & Friends

ISBN: 9780312642969
Source of Copy: Purchased from Fully Booked

Summary:

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison - even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information about her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

 (Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Because of the way Cinder ended, I've been anxiously awaiting the second book's arrival at our local bookstores. I didn't expect Meyer to throw another character into the mix. I wanted the book to focus on Cinder and her alone. It made me unsure if I wanted to continue this series because I just wasn't sold on Scarlet. As it turns out I couldn't resist getting the second book and I'm just so glad that I did.

Scarlet is a totally different heroine from Cinder, whereas Cinder is a little bit lost and unsure of herself, Scarlet is tough and knows exactly what she wants. She's on a mission to find her grandmother and she's going to do whatever it takes to get her back which means crossing paths with the Wolves - a gang of criminals who are actually soldiers under the Lunars' command. Along the way she meets Wolf, a member or ex-member of the gang, and he decides to help her on her suicide mission which takes them to the Wolves' den in Paris. 

I loved Wolf, he's just so adorable, if you could call him that. He may be a big, tough-looking guy who's an excellent and ferocious fighter but really, he's just a big softie inside. His looks are incongruent to his attitude and that somehow endeared him more to me. I just loved his interaction with Scarlet and his determination to help her find her grandmother despite the cost to himself. 

Cinder makes an appearance as well; she's breaking out of jail along with Thorne - another prisoner she met charged with robbery who just so happens to have stolen a ship - who admittedly is an interesting addition to Cinder's gang. She's just found out that she's the long lost Lunar Princess and that the Lunar queen is out to get her and she totally has no idea what to do with that information. She's on her way to look for Michelle Benoit - Scarlet's grandmother - to see if Michelle can answer qustions on her past and maybe clear up a few mysteries. She does this all while trying to dodge the authorities. She is an escapee after all. 

One thing I love about Scarlet and Cinder is the world-building. Meyer does a fabulous job of it, making it so easy to imagine the world they live in; technology, aliens, mind control powers. Another is how you can see the original storyline - Cinderella for Cinder and Red Riding Hood for Scarlet - incorporated into the books with other elements added into the fray. I just loved how everything was well thought of and blended together smoothly and how the characters are all somehow intertwined in this whole messy situation.

One thing I was hoping for was more Kai and Cinder but oh well, maybe in the next books. If you're looking for a retelling of our childhood fairytales with dystopian elements look no further than Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles where bad guys really are bad and you can't help but root for the underdog.

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NICOLE'S REVIEW: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Opal
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Format Acquired: Paperback

Publication Date: December 11 2012

Publishing House: Entangled Teen

ISBN: 9781620210091
Source of Copy: Purchased from Fully Booked

Summary:

 No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn't fooling around. Doubting him isn't something I'll do again, and now that we've made it through the rough patches, well... There's a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can't protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I'm no longer the same Katy. I'm different...And I'm not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I'm capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won't turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we're stronger... and they know it.

(Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary lifted from actual book)

Review:

Opal is the third book in the Lux series, if you're reading this and you're curious about the series you can check out my take on the first two books Obsidian and Onyx.

Frankly, Opal took me by surprise. Out of the three books, I suppose I can say that I like this one the best. Opal still has its issues and is still quite predictable but it's nonetheless an easy, enjoyable read - my guilty pleasure. 

In Opal we are once again reunited with Katy and Daemon - finally together. I like the romance here better because it actually seems more real and believable. Daemon, after accepting the fact that he and Katy belong together, is totally sweet on the girl. He's still as protective and possessive but I really don't think that's bound to change. I had no problems with Daemon whatsoever - what a surprise! - he's a typical YA male love interest but it's something I can easily live with - at least he wasn't going out of his way to be a jerk, right? 

Now while I was fine with Daemon, I had a few issues with Katy. After the events of the last two books and the things the girl's been through, there's no doubt that she's going to go through some changes. She's tougher now, more willing to fight and she's realizing that she's willing to do anything for the man she loves - which scares her - but all these insights conflict with how she acts sometimes. She's constantly on the verge of tears and constantly defying Daemon like she needs to prove something - I mean who's spent more time as an alien and has control over his powers, huh? She had these little fits of jealousy too and I managed to overlook those but there was this one little scene that I could not ignore and for some odd reason managed to irritate me to no end. It's the scene where Katy has to contact Blake - she had to ask Daemon how she was supposed to do it even when she obviously still had his cellphone number. It made her seem totally dependent on Daemon and quite incapable. It's probably just me but I couldn't get over that scene and it made her seem incredibly dim-witted and slow. The development for the secondary characters was okay though. It wasn't exactly great but at least the author gave us a glimpse of how they were faring after losing one of their kin. Armentrout also introduced new players to the game but sadly she doesn't give us much information on them.

As for the plot, I can say that the events that unfolded were quite predictable and I wasn't really surprised to see Blake back in Opal - with more sinister intentions of course. It was bound to happen sometime. The book is basically about Dawson, Daemon's brother, trying to save Beth and watching as our protagonists are backed into a corner and walked into an obvious trap. A few characters were killed off but their deaths felt like nothing more but a sure way to tie up some loose ends - answering the question about what happened to the missing kids in the previous books. As for that ending - really, should I even be surprised? I was kind of betting that something along those lines was bound to happen.

Opal, truthfully, felt like a transitional book - something to set us up for the next installment in the series. Sure it's here that we see the characters cope with their grief and we watch them try to sort through their conflicted emotions, but plot-wise? Nothing really much happened aside from driving home the fact that some people just cannot be trusted. The addition of the opal to add to their arsenal of precious gems only added more drama and tension to the story aside from its cliffhanger ending. A reason though as to why I can't give Opal - or any of the other books actually - a rating higher than a 3.5 is because I'm kind of iffy of the whole Luxen vs Arum thing because background information is vague at best. Throw in the DoD and their creepy facility and some things just don't add up.

Am I looking forward to the next book in the series? You betcha, especially since I hear it's going to be told in Katy's and Damon's alternating POVs. 

Rating:

 

                          

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Onyx
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Format Acquired: Paperback 

Publication Date: August 14 2012

Publishing House: Entangled Teen

ISBN: 9781620610114

Source of Copy: Purchased from Fully Booked

Summary: Being connected to Daemon Black sucks...

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon's determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I've sworn him off, even though he's running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town...

The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked I'm a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who's got a secret of his own. He knows what's happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes.

I've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though he's never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them - from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies.

Review:

Onyx is the sequel to Obsidian (you can find my review for Obsidian here). This book fared better than the last hence the slightly higher rating. I'm probably still part of that minority who aren't head over heels for this series. Oh well.

Obsidian ended with Daemon trying to convince Katy that his feelings for her were real and not some sort of strange effect of their odd alien connection. So in Onyx, I guess it's a given that there'll be more tension between Katy and Daemon, with her unable to admit her growing attraction for Daemon, and him trying to convince Katy that he adores her. That is basically the whole theme of the book with a few other things thrown into the mix for added drama and excitement.

Here we are introduced to the DOD, or Department of Defense. Area 51 anyone? They've picked up on the strange happenings around Katy's little town and then, you know, Blake  oh-so-conveniently shows up and (surprise!) not only is he attracted to Katy, he's actually exactly like her (alien-ish). This boy then proceeds to flirt with Katy, spends some time with her then offers to teach her how to control her new-found powers. This obviously infuriates Daemon since Katy is his and he obviously owns her heart and soul and no one else is allowed within a 50 meter radius of his girl. But, as usual, Blake isn't exactly as he seems and really, did you expect anything less?

It's in the latter part of the book where the puzzle pieces come together but really, it was actually quite predictable and I wasn't exactly surprised by how things turned out, although I did get a sense of accomplishment for guessing some of the events right. (Yeah-yuhhh!)

Now why did I say that this book was better than the last? Because we only get one character here with conflicted emotions, and yes, it's Katy. At least I didn't have to deal with Daemon's I-want-you-but-I-can't-have-you jig and they both pretty much realized that they were meant to be in the end. 

So Onyx is the slightly better sequel to Obsidian and as I said in my review for the first book, this series is like drugs and as much as I'd like to give this book a lower rating, I can't. Guilty pleasure and all that. If you enjoyed Obsidian, you'd undoubtedly enjoy Onyx too.

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