MICHELLE'S REVIEW: The Dolls by Kiki Sullivan

Title: The Dolls
Author: Kiki Sullivan
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: September 2, 2014

Publishing House: Harper Teen

ISBN: 9780062281487
Source of Copy: Edelweiss

Summary:

Eveny Cheval just moved back to Louisiana after spending her childhood in New York with her aunt Bea. Eveny hasn't seen her hometown since her mother's suicide fourteen years ago, and her memories couldn't have prepared her for what she encounters. Because pristine, perfectly manicured Carrefour has a dark side full of intrigue, betrayal, and lies - and Eveny quickly finds herself at the center of it all.

Enter Peregrine Marceau, Chloe St. Pierre, and their group of rich, sexy friends known as the Dolls. From sipping champagne at lunch to hooking up with the hottest boys, Peregrine and Chloe have everything - including an explanation for what's going on in Carrefour. And Eveny doesn't trust them one bit.

But after murder strikes and Eveny discovers that everything she believes about herself, her family, and her life is a lie, she must turn to the Dolls for answers. Something's wrong in paradise, and it's up to Eveny, Chloe, and Peregrine to save Carrefour and make it right.

(Image, summary and information courtesy of Goodreads)

Review:

I could never resist a book with a gorgeous cover, much less a cover with a killer (Ha, pun, HA!) shoe. Cover aside though, the synopsis also zeroed in on another perennial favorite of mine: a setting in the South! And then there's voodoo, magic, what everyone and their nana surmises as the uber rich girls' version of Mean Girls, and you got me praying relentlessly to the Edelweiss deities that they have this up for download soon.

Eveny Cheval finds herself back in her mother's hometown, and something is just a teeny bit off. Maybe it's because people need keys to get inside Carrefour, or maybe because everyone creepily knows everything about each other. Well, almost everything. After all, no one can deny that there is something at work in Louisiana just like no one can deny the power of the Dolls, who are in the all too corporeal form of self-entitled teenage fashionista brats. Despite having the Dolls interested in her however, Eveny isn't buying it, but it's only a matter of time before she finds herself just one little lost sheep that's finally come home... and changes everything.

The Dolls kept on losing me because champagne and caviar everyday for lunch sounds terribly boring  I could just not keep up with their "reality". How any authority figure could allow a reptile running amok in the school because chihuahuas and terriers are so Paris Hilton and are "not hot" is beyond me. I can only imagine how the Peregrine vs High School Principal smackdown went down about the snake:

High School Principal (HSP): Peregrine, why is there a snake in your bag? 

Peregrine (P): Don't you like Audowido? I think he adds a certain je ne sais quoi. See, look at this outfit. Then look at my outfit again with my snake wrapped around my neck. Hold on.. 

HSP: *aghast* It's a SNAKE, Peregrine! Get it off before it kills you!!!

P: *winds Audowido around her neck* Nope, because this is not actually a snake. See, it's a gorgeous boa. *snickers* It's actually all the rage in Paris right now.

HSP: *entranced* Of course, you're right. It must have been a trick of the light...

P: *blows HSP a kiss* Merci beacoup! *flounces off to luxurious lunch with entourage of hot boys*

HSP: *snorts* Huh, snake! Maybe I should get one of those myself...

Some books are downright unreal, but then there will always be a voice inside your head - Oh, just me then? - that cannot be reasoned with and will be screaming come hell and high water that, "NO, THIS IS FINE! THIS IS OKAY! COMMENCE READING, HUMAN!" The Dolls just didn't give off that same vibe for me. Neither was it fun as some of the most out there books could be, nor thought-provoking enough to make me scratch my hairless chin.

Moving on: I love fashion, and I devour fashion magazines so getting to read about designer clothes was fun for me. Those Mary Janes? Holler, I was thisclose to Tweeting the author and asking if they were Miu Mius. (Speaking of, anyone here a fan of the abruptly discontinued Poseur books? I LOVED THOSE! They were quelle amusant!) And for a town like Carrefour being filled with so many secrets AND being set in Louisiana at the same time, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in whether they do sport the big hair to match as well.

The Dolls kind of reminded me of the Sirens from Amanda Hocking's Watersong books - only that those girls were more interested in which human they were having for dinner, and these ones were much more inclined to have a serious debate whether they were stopping by either Saks or Barney's after school. But my beef with The Dolls is that this isn't a book about girls who needed to shop to induce magic. I felt like the book was taking too much detail with the clothes and their status symbols to truly focus on anything else. I needed less reminders that someone's stunning Dolce and Gabbana brocade t-strap pumps got dirt on them, and more of "I'm in Louisiana and there are terrible things happening and something must be done, but oh no Eveny watch out!" sorts of things.

The Dolls already had the basic components for anyone to devour - a dash of magic, intrigue, suspense, clothes that would make any fashion-loving girl die. Sadly and regretfully, it didn't measure up to its premise.

The Dolls could potentially appeal to reluctant readers who can nonchalantly quote Mean Girls and readers who aren't looking for anything entirely too time-consuming or something to lose sleep over. For the reader who is already heavily invested in YA lit however, I can't imagine this title possibly working out. 

Rating:

              

MICHELLE'S REVIEW: One Two Three by Elodie Nowodazkij

Title: One Two Three

Author: Elodie Nowodazkij

Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: July 1, 2014

Publishing House: Elodie Nowodazkij

ISBN: 9781495319617

Source of Copy: Requested from publisher via NetGalley

Summary: 

Last year, Natalya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.

But a car crash changed all that - and Natalya can't stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.

However, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present, and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell. But when upsetting secrets come to light, Natalya quickly shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.

Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him - and destroys herself?

        (Image and information courtesy of Goodreads; Summary courtesy of NetGalley)

Review: 

Natalya was on the track to becoming a professional ballerina, when a car crash not only affects her career, but also her family. Her full-time mom has become a full-time alcoholic, and Natalya is pretty much left to her own devices most of the time. Now that her leg's busted, Natalya can't dance... but that doesn't mean she can't live.

This book was being promoted as a Perfect Chemistry meets Save the Last Dance book, and because I do so love the Perfect Chemistry series, I had to request it. Only, it's not as Perfect Chemistry-y as I would like.

I desperately tried to get Natalya, because actually liking her was bordering a bit on the difficult side. Her POV was pretty childlike, so just reading through them and getting to understand things from her standpoint was a bit unsettling. I really had a hard time trying to remind myself that this girl was old enough to get a few unsettling kisses of her own.

The secrets that unfolded weren't much to talk about either. It's feasible, sure, but the way the drama unloaded was anti-climatic, and to me, felt more like a cop-out to the readers who are already on to it from the get-go.

One Two Three is one of those books you pick up all the while knowing how it's going to end. I usually pick up these kinds of novels with a tiny, tiny hope that something new and fresh would grip me, or that I might just -fingers crossed! - be helplessly entertained by the story. 

Unfortunately, One Two Three is only one of the many books that offers nothing new to the already standard, generic formula.

Rating: 

        

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

Title: Elusion
Author: Claudia GAbel and Cheryl Klam
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: March 18 2014

Publishing House: Katherine Tegen Books

ISBN: 9780062122414
Source of Copy: Edelweiss

Summary:

Soon, Elusion will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, a visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications - or consequences - of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, PAtrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father's unexpected death, Regan can't bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion - accusations that it's addictive and dangerous - Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claim, she discovers a disturbing wed of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty... a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

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

Review:

Regan's father created Elusion - a sort of virtual reality accessible through an app that transports users to a world where everything is perfect. Elusion recreates natural wonders that have been lost and gives users a sense of euphoria helping them momentarily forget about their problems. But ever since her father died, Regan can't seem to bring herself to Escape into Elusion, knowing that when she wakes up it'll all come crashing down on her - the pain, the grief and the loss. But when rumors start to circulate about problems within Elusion, Regan takes it upon herself to verify these rumors and prove them false because she can't have anyone sully her father's invention. 

So, while Elusion does have an interesting premise everything else just falls flat. Regan isn't engaging enough - she's kind of like a petulant child and it's boring how everything's just laid out for her. Everything came so easily for her - figuring out clues and boys and Elusion. Patrick adores her and Josh is obviously attracted to her - love at first sight anyone? And the thing is, both boys aren't even good catches mainly because I can't get a bead on them, Patrick's crazy and Josh's just a good looking military jock. No. Please. Frankly, even Regan isn't that much of a catch herself and I can't believe how fast her friendship with Patrick crumbled so quickly. Don't those years of being friends count for nothing at all?

What's even worse is how Regan is such a wuss and a sucker for Josh. I mean after he blatantly betrayed her she still manages to forgive him? I mean yeah, okay, maybe I'm overreacting but how is it okay for Josh to just give away information that's purely confidential and CLEARLY involves Regan and her father? And come on, she's only met him and she's melting into unseemly puddles around him? Let's just not go there.

Aside from that, I felt like the story was going nowhere. Regan fighting against invisible bad guys, Regan dealing with two boys who have feelings for her (barf), Regan saving the world and a few other plot twists that wanted to be all twisty but ultimately failed. A lot of the things I don't like seeing in YA books appeared here and I couldn't read this book without a few eyerolls here and there.

Sad to say that I was pulled in by the gorgeous cover. The story didn't do anything for me.

I'd like to thank Katherine Tegen for allowing access to an ARC of this book.

Rating:

   

                        

MICHELLE'S REVIEW: The Almost Girl by Amalie Howard

Title: The Almost Girl
Author: Amalie Howard
Format Acquired: ARC

Publication Date: January 7, 2014

Publishing House: Strange Chemistry

ISBN: 9781908844804
Source of Copy: Requested from publisher

Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Riven is as tough as they come. But coming from a world ravaged by a devastating android war, she has to be. There's no room for softness, no room for emotion, no room for mistakes. A Legion General, she is the right hand of the young Prince of Neospes, a parallel universe to Earth. In Neospes, she has everything: rank, responsibility and respect. But when Prince Cale sends her away to find his long-lost brother, Caden, who has been spirited back to modern day Earth, Riven finds herself in uncharted territory.

Thrown out of her comfort zone but with the mindset of a soldier, Riven has to learn how to be a girl in a realm that is the opposite of what she knows. Riven isn't prepared for the beauty of a world that is unlike her own in so many ways. Nor is she prepared to feel something more than indifference for the very target she seeks. Caden is nothing like Cale, but he makes something in her come alive, igniting a spark deep down that goes against every cell in her body. For the first time in her life, Riven isn't sure about her purpose, about her calling. Torn between duty and desire, she must decide whether Caden is simply a target or whether he is something more. 


Faced with hideous reanimated Vector soldiers from her own world with agendas of their own, as well as an unexpected reunion with a sister who despises her, it is a race against time to bring Caden back to an unexpected reunion with a sister who despises her, it is a race against time to bring Caden back to Neospes. But things aren't always as they seem, and Riven will have to search for truth. Family betrayals and royal coups are only the tip of the iceberg. Will Riven be able to find the strength for defy her very nature? Or will she become the monstrous soldier she was designed to be?

(Image, summary and information courtesy of Goodreads)

Review:

Prince Cale is dying, and the only one who could find his lost brother is seventeen-year-old Riven, a high-ranked officer of the army. She could take anyone down with a blink of an eye, but what she's not ready for is meeting Caden. Caden whose green eyes throw her off. Caden who doesn't know a thing about Neospes. Caden who doesn't know he has a twin brother who happens to be a dying prince. But when her plan goes awry, Riven finds out that there's more to the story than anyone's telling her, and it may just cost Caden's life.

For someone who's supposed to be a force to be reckoned with, Riven sure spends a lot of her time unconscious. Maybe it's because her energy depletes when she jumps between the universes, but throughout the book, she's unconscious when things take a turn, so to say.  Also, she's supposedly exceptional at being a general, but what is up with having other people save her butt all the freaking time?! And have I mentioned that she is not in the least bit cautious at all? When faced with other teenagers, she brings out the scowls and the attitude. When faced with dangerous missions? Oh yeah, she feels that it is exactly the right time to make out with the dude anywhere, weapons and death and Neospes be damned. 

That's not the only thing I was unhappy about.

Riven and Caden have no chemistry whatsoever, and it came across as random and boring. Caden liked Riven right from the get-go because she "wasn't like the other girls". Despite him having a girlfriend who is the very personification of a valley girl, Caden is very much amused by Riven just because she was different. I wanted to smack him up the head just for that. If he wasn't into his girlfriend, why bother dating her in the first place? Riven is pretty new to all these Earth customs and she doesn't exactly know how to do away with her soldier persona (even if for me, she sucks at it) so I can't really fault her for knowing what to do with Caden's flirtatiousness. 

The plot "twist" wasn't much of a twist, and it actually made the novel come across as a cliched Young Adult Novel, so if you're expecting things to look up, it doesn't. The book actually confuses me because sometimes it's more sci-fi, sometimes more romance-y, that I just wanted to give it a good shake. It's trying to be a lot of things at the same time, so you can just imagine my frustration. 

Disappointingly, The Almost Girl falls victim to the "more talking, less acting" side of the spectrum, despite having an interesting premise.

Rating:

           

NICOLE'S REVIEW: Countdown by Michelle Rowen

Title: Countdown
Author: Michelle Rowen
Format Acquired: eARC

Publication Date: October 1 2013

Publishing House: Harlequin Teen 

ISBN: 9780373210909
Source of Copy: NetGalley

Summary: 

3 seconds left to live. Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped.

2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game.

Kira Jordan survived her family's murder and months on plague-devastated city strees with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained to the notorious Rogan Ellis.

1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it.

Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira's psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan's secret proves evermore deadly, Kira's only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can't escape.

 GAME OVER.

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

Review:


Kira's been on her own for a while now, relying on her hard-won street smarts and pretty face to survive. But nothing could have prepared her for waking up in a dark room next to Rogan Ellis - notorious serial killer. She doesn't know why she's there, all she knows is that she's forced into an underground game with a ticking clock inside her head and her life on the line. She has no choice but to play because when that countdown reaches zero, it'll be game over for both herself and for Rogan.  

With a summary like that, how was I supposed to resist? Underground games with real people pitted against impossible odds with a countdown in their heads? Yes please. But as soon as I started the book and entered Level 1...it was a whole different story.

Players of this notorious Countdown have to complete six levels to pass the game. Winners get to have anything they want - money, a ticket to the Colony, a new life. Sadly, I thought the levels would be heart-pounding, cling-to-the-edge-of-your-seat thrilling but they weren't. The levels were actually pretty simple, the only reason the characters were all stressed out was because of the countdown in their heads signaling impending doom.

Kira, admittedly, wasn't a very interesting character. She's like every female character out there - pretty, strong, brave and smart - but she lacks a certain realness to her and because of that we couldn't connect with her. I couldn't point a finger on her personality and she was pretty inconsistent. 

Rogan was touted as a nefarious, notorious, bad boy and he's handsome too boot. But to me, he was just an angry boy that's a little rough around the edges who's been through a whole lot of crap. That dangerous aura Kira said he had? Nonexistent. Their whole relationship was unbelievable - a little too fast and rushed. One minute they're all into each other then the next Kira's backing off because of Rogan's secrets and she's not sure if she can trust him not to add her to his kill list.

The world building was quite confusing too and left a lot of things unanswered which irked me a lot because when I read dystopian books I expect at least a modicum of decent world building. But in Countdown....I was basically confused. The addition of psi powers made things all the more confusing as their role in the scheme of things is vague at best.

Psi powers, death, romance and countdowns in your head that signal your death abound in Michelle Rowen's Countdown. 

Rating:

 

                        

NICOLE'S REVIEW: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: December 8 2012

Publishing House: Disney Hyperion

ISBN: 9781423157373
Source of Copy: Fully Booked

Summary:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that killed most of America's children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her - East River. She joins a group of kids who have 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 what 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 having a life worth living.

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

Review:

When kids start developing powers, they're categorized into colors that coincide with their power level - red, orange, yellow, green and blue - and then shipped off into concentration camps. "Rehabilitation" camps as they're so touted. Ruby is one such kid and she's shipped off to camp at the age of 10 thanks to an incident which she had no control over. Ruby knows her powers, knows how dangerous she is and she's hidden it well. And when those powers are about to be uncovered she has no choice but to run. Run from the people after her and run towards a possible sanctuary for kids like her.

This book was a massive disappointment for me. I wasn't overly fond of any of the characters and I spent a lot of time contemplating how unbearably boring Ruby was. There, I said it. That's not to say I didn't get why Ruby was afraid of her powers, I mean if you had the ability to dive into someone's head and erase memories and command them to do stuff it'd be pretty nerve-wracking. (Although truthfully, I found that aspect rather intriguing. Bossing people around? Yes please.) And what Ruby had gone through was traumatizing but I just couldn't bring myself to sympathize with her. I like strong, kick-butt, take-charge female characters. Ruby does not fit the bill with her fear of her own powers and constant blubbering about how she's a monster and everyone should just leave her alone. I was actually hoping they'd toss her to the curb because her constant whining was getting on my nerves.

Liam is Ruby's love interest and truthfully, he wasn't all that interesting. The romance was too fast and a little bit sloppy. For a moment, there was a love triangle going on there with another boy. I'm not going to reveal his name because that'd be spoilery but can I just say that he's pretty much a psycho and a control-freak and he reminds me too much of Warner from the Shatter Me series. That's not a good thing, mind you. And I wouldn't be surprised if he pops out in the next book for fun. 

Thing is, I could've done with minimal romance and more story because this book is actually really...confusing. The first half, actually no, around three-fourths of the book was one long trip to find the elusive Slip Kid - this mysterious rebel leader who was the answer to all their problems - and is very, very repetitive. They run, get chased by bad guys, escape, run again...you get the drill. And after a few encounters like that I was starting to wonder what they were actually planning to do because from my viewpoint they were pretty directionless.

There are actually a lot of things I don't get with this book. The virus - where'd it come from, who created it, how does it spread, is it contagious, how do you contract it and why children? Another thing I'd like to ponder on are parents giving up their children - I mean each and every single parent giving up their child? Really now. Also, can someone elaborate more on their powers because while they cropped up now and again I've never actually seen them in use, save for a few instances. I also could not believe that the government cowered in fear of the children and killed off the more powerful ones, I would at least expected someone to make use of them. And the mention of rebel factions just made things more confusing.

And can I just add that ending pissed me off? I shaved off half a rainbow because of that cliched and undeniably predictable ending. Will I be picking up the next book? I honestly don't know. I'm a glutton for punishment and constantly put myself through excruciating pain - I've read a whole lot of books I really shouldn't have - and there's a possibility that I just might.

Rating:

                      

MICHELLE'S REVIEW: Nameless by Lili St. Crow

Title: Nameless
Author: Lili St. Crow
Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: April 4, 2013

Publishing House: Razorbill

ISBN: 9781595143570
Source of Copy: Purchased from Fully Booked

Summary:


A battered child is found alone in the snow by the godfather of the Seven - the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopts the girl, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.

Now sixteen, Camille keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform. She opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino princess, she knows that she is not really Family. She is merely mortal, with a buried, uneasy past. And it's not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth - and of the mysterious white-robed woman who calls from beneath New Haven's twisted secrets...

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

Review:

No matter how much money she has in her purse, or how protected she is as a Vultusino, Cami knows that she's different from everyone around her. For starters, she doesn't have fangs, and once she's dead, she's staying put in her coffin, thank you very much. Cami thinks that she is living a lie, and when the mysterious new gardener makes her question everything she's been keeping inside, Cami's not going to stay put within the Vultusino territory when she could have actual answers outside. Outside, where the truth is deadly.

Nameless is one of the strangest books I have ever read. I haven't tried any Lili St. Crow book before, so I wouldn't really know how the author goes about writing her books. Nameless has a lot of terminology, and St. Crow doesn't really spell them out for the reader so it takes a bit of a guesswork to find out what they mean. The novel may also be categorized as a retelling of Snow White, but I'd like to think that it is instead, inspired by the ebony-haired, red-lipped princess. There's obviously the apple, but I thought that the story was getting weirder and weirder as it progressed. Like, cryptic, incomprehensible, what-am-I-reading weird. I might as well be stuck in a dark room, groping the walls for the light switch.

The characters were uninteresting and too dramatic for my liking. It was hard not to get annoyed what with the lead character being too docile and fragile all the freaking time! The romance was odd and not very convincing. The romantic interest, Nico, runs hot and cold, and sometimes even both at the same time, and boy, is it frustrating. 

The Snow White aspect only really shone through in the later half of the book, so the Cami-and-the-apple thing just left a weird taste in my mouth. She was acting fine, but all of a sudden, she starts craving apples? I felt like that bit was just thrown in there because the novel was supposed to be a retelling of Snow White, and thusly felt a bit shortchanged. 

Nameless isn't really a book I'd revisit anytime soon. Granted that I might make more sense out of it if I'd read it over and over and made all these hypothetical connections in my head, I'm pretty sure I'm calling it over with this one.

Rating:

       

MICHELLE'S REVIEW: Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

Title: Greta and the Goblin King
Author: Chloe Jacobs
Format Acquired: Paperback

Publication Date: December 11, 2012

Publishing House: Entangled Teen

ISBN: 9781620610022
Source of Copy: Purchased from Fully Booked

Summary:
While trying to save her brother from a witch's fire four years ago, Greta was thrown in herself, falling through a portal to Mylena, a dangerous world where humans are the enemy and every ogre, ghoul, and goblin has a dark side that comes out with the eclipse.

To survive, Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter - and she's good at what she does. So good, she's caught the attention of Mylena's young goblin king, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her will to escape.

But Greta's not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. An ancient evil knows she's the key to opening the portal, and with the next eclipse mere days away, every bloodthirsty creature in the realm is after her - including Isaac. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back...

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

Review:

The moment I received a text message from our favorite book clerk saying that a copy of Greta and the Goblin King had been set aside for me, I just about high-tailed it to the store. I was really intrigued by the premise that it was one of two books that I brought with me on my trip, thinking that I could read it during the flight. I hurriedly took my seat, snapped my seat belt on, and promptly read it with gusto, only to have my interest wane over time. I thought to myself that this couldn't be right. I was really expecting to devour this one, not approach it in the manner you would a spooked animal! (I even cheated on the book a bit and started to read the other paperback I had in tow, only to find out I was not feeling it as well.) So with that little heads-up out of the way, I will then promptly begin my review for Chloe Jacobs' Greta and the Goblin King.

Greta is a seventeen-year-old human stuck in the kingdom of Mylena. Taken under the wing of a sprite-slash-ex-bounty hunter, Greta has become a skilled bounty hunter who will stop at nothing to find the witch and the portal in order to get back to the human world. Greta's true identity has always been a guarded secret, but even her subterfuge gives way when the goblin king Isaac invades her dreams at night, and it's getting hard to tell whether he actually cares for her or has other plans in mind. When rumor of her true parentage spreads like wildfire, every bounty hunter suddenly has their sights set on her. But even when Greta's on the run, trouble doesn't seem to have a hard time finding her. Stumbling across other humans in Mylena, Greta finds out about a side to the supernatural world that's as grim as her future if what she's running towards ends up killing her.

I initially liked Greta and Isaac, thinking that there was something convincing about them, despite finding out for myself that they weren't exactly spending time with each other. Greta reckons that Isaac, as the new goblin king, is an entirely different person, er, goblin, than the one she had meaningful conversations with. But that isn't even the only thing that nagged at me. Greta's frequent insistence that Isaac was playing her was really annoying, and I just find it difficult to continue to like Isaac since I saw for myself how domineering he could be. I mean, the guy already gets into your dreams and gets access to stuff other people are closed off to. But to actually be possessive enough to act all high and mighty and controlling? Uh, no thanks.  Isaac only appeared for a few times in the book as well, so I really found the whole romance quite a bit hard to swallow, especially when the book first and foremost struck me as a paranormal love story. The fact that another love interest, and a human one at that, was thrown into the mix did not sit well with me. The feelings he had for Greta just seemed to have been developed too quick for me to actually appreciate. I'm even chalking up the feelings he had for her to the fact that he hasn't seen a human girl in years!

Greta also said that yes, she was one of the best hunters on land, but her actions really did strike me otherwise. When I first met her, I thought she was pretty good at her job, even if she did kind of need help from the goblin king. Everyone makes mistakes after all, even experienced bounty hunters. But when I figured out that she wasn't exactly graceful at her job and needed a lot of bailing out from other people, I had to check the blurb time and time again to remember that fact. Even Greta makes Celaena Sardothien of Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass look downright dangerous, and you know that I'm not a big fan of her clumsiness either.

All the action was a blur - hardly memorable, and equally difficult to focus on. With this plot taking up most of the pages in the book, I then became quite confused as to what the story really wants to present. All I really got was a human girl who wants to go home, a main romantic interest who is almost never around except harassing her in her head when she's supposed to be resting, and an awkward human love interest who helps her on her mission instead of the other way around.

The ending itself was very abrupt and brief, and I still didn't feel like I read a paranormal love story. Greta and the Goblin King had potential too, such a shame.

Rating:

      

MICHELLE'S REVIEW: Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: Nobody
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Format Acquired: Hardcover

Publication Date: January 22, 2013

Publishing House: EgmontUSA

ISBN: 9781606843215
Source of Copy: Purchased from Fully Booked

Summary:

The most dangerous people in the world... are the one you don't even see.

Some people are Nobodies: ignored, unloved, practically invisible in every way. No one notices them. No one cares about them. They exist under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away. No one sees them coming. No one sees them leave.

That's why Nobodies make the perfect assassins.

Seventeen-year-old Nix is very good at his job. So when the organization he works for sends him after a teenage girl named Claire, he doesn't ask questions. He's a killer. She needs to die.

For sixteen years, Claire has led a normal live being overlooked. Her parents are absent. She doesn't have any friends. She has no idea what she is, or why anyone would want her dead. But she's about to find out, because from the moment Nix attempts to carry out his mission, the two are caught up in a conspiracy of murder, cover-ups, and betrayal.

Nix is a killer. Claire is his target. But when he sets eyes on her, everything changes, because only the two of them can truly see each other - and two Nobodies are more dangerous than one.

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

Review:

I got all excited over this one when I was browsing through other people's Waiting on Wednesday posts. The way the summary was written intrigued me a lot, and it was right up there on my list of books to run to the bookstore for.

Not sooner have I cracked open the book to find out that Nobody wasn't for me. 

Claire is a nobody. She's the nobody of nobodies, if you want to get more specific on just how bad her situation is. Her parents are never home, and she has no friends to speak of.   Seems like easy prey to Nix. He's a Nobody. But more importantly, he's a Nobody that has to kill Claire because she's actually an undetected Nobody - a minor blip on their radar that the Institute is determined to 'fix'. Nix can be pretty creative with his killings, why should it be any different with Claire? As it turns out, she's very different. She's the only one who truly sees him, and Nix is the only person who acknowledges her. Of course they're going to fall madly in love with each other. The only thing is, the Institute isn't too happy with the changes in the plan. Together, Nix and Claire are unstoppable, and they will stop at nothing the bring the Institute down - especially when there's more at stake than the Institute initially lets on.

What ticked me off right from the bat was the over-dramatization of events. I get it, Claire. You're a.) invisible to everyone, and b.) Nix is the most beautiful boy you've ever seen. Time and time again, my attention was called to these two points, but I guess I couldn't fault the author in bringing a touch of just how bad things are for Claire and Nix. I was also annoyed with the way that Claire and Nix instantly connected and how they claimed to already be in love with each other, given the short amount of time they knew each other. I get that everybody sees past you guys and nobody - and I really do mean nobody at all - will ever acknowledge your presence and treat you the respect you deserve as a human. What could be worse than a nobody being an actual Nobody? Getting the silent treatment is possibly one of the worst possibly punishment anyone can ever get, because it makes the message that you are temporarily nonexistent to the other person loud and clear. No, my gripe is not with that. The reason I badly wanted to tear out my hair is because they had to fall in love in a snap of a finger. The only thing I can think of as to why they fell in love, aside from the fact that they are both gorgeous, is because they didn't want to be end up alone. If Nix hadn't found her, Claire would have grown separate from other people forever. If Claire hadn't seen him aiming a gun at her, Nix probably would have shot her, even at the expense of his guilty conscience.

Another thing I found cumbersome was the pace of the plot. The start was leisure-like, and the reader is not spared the bombardment of suffocating emotions and feelings. The plot began picking up pace by the second half. Just when there were only about a few chapters left, a new turn of events developed, and the ending was tied up with a big red bow. I somehow felt cheated by it, as I felt that I could have done without all the cheesy emotions and feelings Claire was developing just by looking at Nix.

Strictly speaking, this book had a hard time capturing my attention. I caught myself glazing over a lot of the parts of the story simply because it was pulling my attention into different directions. However, Nobody is not entirely without its good parts. All the talk about nobodies and Nobodies had me thinking about the very social need in us to be acknowledged. Everyone seems to crave validation, proof that you are affecting them in the same way that they affect you. I understood Claire and Nix's craving to be accepted, and I really did quite feel bad for them. 

While this book had some interesting things to ponder over, the over-dramatization and  weird pacing of the book pretty much made me sure that I will not revisit Nobody any time soon.

Rating:

          

The Twins on Thursday: Advantage Erin by Kris Kreisman

"The Twins on Thursday" is reserved for the Twins' joint reviews. It is a special feature of our blog that discusses books that we either both like, dislike, or have mixed feelings about. This is also the day where we post reviews for books (and ARCs/Galleys) that have been sent to us by authors/galley sites/publishing houses. And because we don't believe much in uniformity, we'll be trying to mix things up a bit by adding random stuff in relation to our review (well, mostly for books we purchased anyway).

Title: Advantage Erin
Author: Kris Kreisman
Format Acquired: PDF

Publication Date: August 22, 2012

Publishing House: N/A

ASIN: B008ZQU1R8
Source of Copy: Sent for review by author

Summary:

Erin's mom is driving her crazy. Especially about tennis. Erin is good and enjoys the game. But it's not her fault she's not the megastar her mom claims to be when she was Erin's age. If only there was some way to get Mom to understand...

Spring break arrives, which means a visit to Grandma and Mom's old hometown. Grandma is eccentric, but she's also cool and understands Erin's frustrations. And she can help. By taking Erin on a visit to Mom's old high school. Not Mom's school today. But Mom's school as it was in 1970.

Erin experiences the trip of her lifetime. Back in time, where she struggles to fit in with a bunch of kids who never heard of the Internet or laptops or cell phones. Where she meets some very cool kids. And one not so cool kid named Catherine. Now known as Mom.

Talk turns to tennis, and inevitably the challenge is made and accepted. And they play the tennis match of the century. Erin had repeatedly heard how Mom was undefeated. Now was her time to do something about it. They battle hard until, in unexpected fashion, it's over. But when she returns to the present Erin learns the truth about her Mom. And Mom learns some lessons as well.

Enjoy Erin's thrill ride, her fun, her excitement, her anxiety. And discover how her trip to the past changed her present.

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

Review:

Erin doesn't get along with her mom; they fight constantly over things like tennis, going to movies and even over a pair of boots. So when Spring break arrives and they're off to visit Grandma, Erin's obviously happy about it because Grandma's cool and helps her deal with her frustrations. But this Spring break is different because Grandma's solution to Erin's problems? A trip back to the 1970's, destination Mom's old school.

Erin is not a bad protagonist - maybe just slightly dim-witted. She is obviously someone who doesn't know how to prioritize and pays too much attention to being seen as cool and popular. She complained a lot about how busy she was and how she lacked a social life - understandable since she is a teenager - but she didn't have to get in a snit about it. We don't think that missing a trip to the cinema with friends this one time will ruin a reputation, and whining about it just seemed silly. Another thing about Erin is how she constantly says that she's merely tolerating Sunshine aka Sonny - an outcast in school - and being nice to him will ruin her social standing - which is obviously more important than common decency. We get that the adolescent period is the time to find yourself and establish who you are, but that isn't a good enough excuse for someone like Erin to get away with it. 

We were caught by surprise, however, when we found out that Kreisman turned out to be a male author (Yes, we stalked his website.). He actually did some justice in embodying a bratty teenage girl - and yes, we think that he did a good job on that front.

The most inconsistent in the book would be its logic, like how time travel supposedly had this magical power to morph your clothes into whatever generation you were in, or how Erin was transported back in time without even spazzing out. If it were us, you can bet we'd be freaking out like nobody's business because we wouldn't know how to get back home. Another thing is that her grandmother sent Erin back to her mother's high school days using a computer that she donated to the school library. How is it that nobody else has found it possible to time travel as well? And whatever happened to grandma's computer that Erin supposedly found in the house? What was its actual significance to the story?

Other aspects that were unclear to us included our confusion as to why Erin had to beat her mom in tennis in the first place. Was she trying to prove something? If she beat her mom in a game, would it supposedly have changed the course of her life? We're kind of scratching our heads trying to figure that out. Another aspect we didn't like was how Erin, in the 70s, basically told Sonny's dad not to name his son Sunshine. Because of her meddling, Erin found a jerk named Aaron when she got back to the modern era. Whatever happened to embracing everyone's freak flag? Sonny liked old music, but does that mean that Erin had to go about telling his dad to change his future son's name just to be popular in high school? Sorry, Erin, but we're pretty sure that you can't go around telling people what not to name their kid. Now instead of a nice, harmless boy who has actually good taste in music, you get a meathead jock - nice job, Erin. The ending made us raise our eyebrows as well. Why would Erin's future kid bother to go back in time to challenge her to a game of tennis? Had she become a tennis freak in the future like her mom was?

Advantage Erin is far from perfect at this point, and may need some revisions. There were awkward sentences in the book, improper usage of punctuation marks, as well as discrepancies with the flow of logic. Nevertheless, this novel is easy to read and follow, and that's a good thing.

Rating: