Some Book Recommendations

I'm very busy preparing Runaway for publishing, but I still manage to find some time to read. Since I didn't have time to write and post reviews for books I've read recently, I'm going to do a short post now. I'm sure not all books will fit, but hey, these are some of the books I liked:

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Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress #4) by Jeaniene Frost 

Hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when half-vampire Cat Crawfield begins having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Cat's undead lover, Bones, and has ties to her past that even Cat herself doesn't know about. Original.

I really liked this book, but not as much as I liked the first three. The relationship between Cat and Bones was a bit weird and they both drove me crazy at times. However, I really, really, REALLY, love Vlad! And yeah, I want to run off and read Once Burned, but I promised myself I'd finish most of the books on my currently reading list before starting another one. *pouts* 

Born of Ice (The League #3) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

In the Ichidian Universe, the League and its ruthless assassins continue to keep rule. But at what cost? Welcome back to the future...and a whole new world.

He is an outlaw who offers no quarter.
Devyn Kell spent his life in service to the League until he learned of the double dealing and backstabbing that was costing innocent people their lives. Refusing to play those polit...moreIn the Ichidian Universe, the League and its ruthless assassins continue to keep rule. But at what cost? Welcome back to the future...and a whole new world. He is an outlaw who offers no quarter. Devyn Kell spent his life in service to the League until he learned of the double dealing and backstabbing that was costing innocent people their lives. Refusing to play those politics, he became a Runner - someone who makes sure planets get the weapons, medicine and supplies they need to survive. May the gods have mercy on any who get in his way, because he definitely won't. She is on the run from her past that could end her life.
Alix Garran is a woman on the run from a past she can't escape. Signing on to work for Devyn as a Systems Engineer, she finds a cause she can fight for - and a man she can respect. But as Alix's past catches up to her, and Devyn's old enemies turn lethal, they have to fight together...or fall alone.

The only reason I hadn't devoured this book sooner is that I wanted to have something awesome to read after reading books that I didn't enjoy as much. I'm not sure how Sherrilyn Kenyon does it, but I absolutely adore every book she writes. If she wrote hundreds of books, I'd read them all. I'm not sure I can explain it coherently, but her style and her characters are the best thing ever. :D

Dark Companion by Marta Acosta

When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.

Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in t...moreWhen foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove. Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother. The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member. Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?

This book was weird, but positively weird. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, but I enjoyed the book. I think it is very unique and creative, and I really liked the ending. I read it in a few hours, so yeah, really awesome book, even though I'm not always sure what to think of it. XD

Kiss the Dead (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #21) by Laurell K. Hamilton

When a fifteen-year-old girl is abducted by vampires, it’s up to U.S. Marshal Anita Blake to find her. And when she does, she’s faced with something she’s never seen before: a terrifyingly ordinary group of people—kids, grandparents, soccer moms—all recently turned and willing to die to avoid serving a master. And where there’s one martyr, there will be more…

But even vamp...moreWhen a fifteen-year-old girl is abducted by vampires, it’s up to U.S. Marshal Anita Blake to find her. And when she does, she’s faced with something she’s never seen before: a terrifyingly ordinary group of people—kids, grandparents, soccer moms—all recently turned and willing to die to avoid serving a master. And where there’s one martyr, there will be more…

But even vampires have monsters that they’re afraid of. And Anita is one of them…

I love Anita Blake series, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten to the 21st book, I suppose. This one wasn't as good as the last one, but it was an enjoyable read. I know a lot of people think there's too much sex and that Anita is too perfect, but I don't mind her having tons of hot men around her who don't mind sharing. Come on, isn't that every woman's fantasy? XD Besides, her life is not easy at all, so let her enjoy. I might like it more when there are crime investigations and Edward included, but there are so many books in this series, so I suppose there's something for everyone. 

The Taming by Teresa Toten, Eric Walters

Katie likes to believe she's invisible. It seems much safer than being exposed as she is--shy, poor, awkward. So getting up on stage in the school production of The Taming of the Shrew should be complete torture. But as Katie tells it, something totally unexpected happened when she stepped on stage: "My head exploded. I loved it. Acting hit me like a sucker punch and I lov...moreKatie likes to believe she's invisible. It seems much safer than being exposed as she is--shy, poor, awkward. So getting up on stage in the school production of The Taming of the Shrew should be complete torture. But as Katie tells it, something totally unexpected happened when she stepped on stage: "My head exploded. I loved it. Acting hit me like a sucker punch and I loved, loved, loved it! . . . Invisible Katie became visible Katharina." Evan Cooper is, as they say, another story. He knows just what it takes to get noticed, and he uses every one of the skills he's honed after years of being the new kid. Like tossing the keys to his father's high-end Audi to a kid he's never met, first day of school. "I have insurance for car theft," he explains to a shocked Danny. "And there's a full tank." An abuse of the power that comes with privilege and money? Sure. But more dangerously, is his romance with Katie another version of the same thing? Or is it the real thing?

I really liked this book, although I wasn't sure about it until the end. This is basically how I wanted Fifty Shades series to end. The characters are absolutely infuriating sometimes, but I usually don't mind that when the story is good and I know there's a reason for it. I wish there were more insights in some things, but the book was good nevertheless. I finished it in a few hours because I just couldn't stop reading.Loved that there were two point of views.

La ciudad y los perros by Mario Vargas Llosa

Translated to over 30 languages, this is perhaps Vargas Llosa s most violent book. Set in a military school in Lima, where an unwritten code of survival of the fittest is imposed. Here, he focuses on the brutality of military life and the strong pyramidal hierarchy that mirrors Peruvian society, where violence, exploitation and human degradation guarantee that each layer o...moreTranslated to over 30 languages, this is perhaps Vargas Llosa s most violent book. Set in a military school in Lima, where an unwritten code of survival of the fittest is imposed. Here, he focuses on the brutality of military life and the strong pyramidal hierarchy that mirrors Peruvian society, where violence, exploitation and human degradation guarantee that each layer of the social pyramid maintains its place. All the conflicts of Peruvian society arise with rage and impotence in this testimonial novel in which Vargas Llosa paints a social and political picture.

I must say I was surprised how much I liked this book. It's definitely not something I usually read, but I like changes from time to time. My first thought about this book was that everyone is crazy, but I got to like some characters so much that I wanted more when I finished reading. I love books that so nicely paint the whole social picture. Changing points of view can get really confusing, but you have to be patient because in the end it's easy to figure it out who said what. I'm thinking about rereading this now that I know some things, but I'm not sure I'll find the time. And I usually don't reread books, so yeah, you can see this one is special. :D

I've read more books, but I don't have time to mention them all. If you want to see what else I have read, check my Goodreads page. :D And now I should go back to editing. See you soon! I'm doing my best to make Runaway available as soon as possible, so maybe you won't have to wait the second half of August to read it!

Book Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

I think I saw this book for the first time on Goodreads when Kelly Creagh recommended it, and since I loved Creagh's Nevermore, I decided to check this one out. And I'm really glad I did! When I read the blurb, I knew I needed to get this one as soon as it was published. Now check out the blurb from Goodreads:

Everything is in ruins.
A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.
So what does Araby Worth have to live for?
Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.
But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.
And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.



So this book was based on Edgar Allan Poe's story of the same title, which I didn't read. *hides* (I will, because now I'm curious.) And I really didn't expect it would be this good. No, I really, really loved the book and once I started reading, I just couldn't stop for anything in the world. I'm still thinking about it because I want to read more and the next book will be out in 2013. *cries* I don't think I can wait that long. So, what did I like so much about this book? Well, almost everything. It's a bit hard to explain, but this is exactly the type of book for me. There are two really hot guys... yeah, two. I know there are always two hot guys in a love triangle, but I usually pick one and that's it. XD Here it's really hard to choose, because both boys have exactly what I like, even though I think I'm closer to choose one over the other. I also like that we're not sure in which city this is going on (unless I missed it somewhere) because that sounds like something I would write. You know, that evil might be in your city. *big grin* I also like that it wasn't too long. I mean, I want to read more of it, but I don't like it when authors add unnecessary descriptions and things to have more pages. This one has a perfect pace and you can't get bored for a second. Araby is an interesting, flawed character and that's why I enjoyed her story. She might not have anything in common with me, has a suicidal tendencies and is a bit naive, but that's not surprising since the world she grew up in is the way it is. Actually, this book reminded me a bit of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, but without the....err...cheesy romance part. Anyway, if you haven't read this, what the hell are you waiting for? :D Oh, and I would really like to see this as a movie.

Now some of my thoughts that contain spoilers, so don't click this cut if you haven't read the book!!!

Book Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

I finally found some time to read, so I immediately picked up The Immortal Rules, mostly because I absolutely loved Iron Fey series also written by Julie. Besides, I love vampires and I love dystopian setting (no, still didn't get tired of it all ahaha). Anyway, despite minor flaws, I really loved this book and can't wait for the next. Now take a look at this gorgeous cover and the blurb from Goodreads:

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.
Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.
Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.
Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.
But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

I really enjoyed this book and it was a fun and easy read. I love it that vampires still burn in the sun and need to drink human blood. Allie is a really strong character and does anything she needs to in order to survive, even if it means she has to become what she hates; a vampire. And while I liked the whole premise, I must admit there was a part at the beginning when I thought I wasn't going to like the book. It was the part when Allie becomes a vampire and her sire teaches her what to do. I thought the rest of the book was going to be the same, Allie learning things and fighting off enemies or sth, but I was pleasantly surprised. When Zeke was introduced first, I was a bit unsure would I like him or not, but I got to really like him. There were times when I wanted to scream at him for blindly following orders, but later on I understood why he did what he did. The only thing that bothered me a bit is that Allie sometimes seems almost too perfect, like she can fight off tons of rabids, and those who dislike her usually don't end up well, and things like that. I felt that was a bit too much like the usual. But despite that, Julie Kagawa does a great job and draws you into the world she created and you just can't stop reading. I don't want to reveal too much, but I highly recommend this book! :D

Book Rec: Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon

I finally found time to write this review, so here it goes. XD Do I even have to say how much I love everything Sherrilyn writes? She's like my favorite author ever and her books have everything I adore so much. Anyway, I liked the first two books in Chronicles of Nick, but they weren't as awesome as this one. It might have to do something with the fact that I've never really been a fan of Nick in Dark Hunter series, but I think I'm starting to like him a bit. Now before I write the rest of my thoughts, here is the overview from Goodreads:

The world has fallen in love with Nick Gautier and the Dark-Hunters. Now Nick’s saga continues in the next eagerly anticipated volume...

Go to school. Get good grades. Stay out of trouble. That’s the mandate for most kids. But Nick Gautier isn’t the average teenager. He’s a boy with a destiny not even he fully understands. And his first mandate is to stay alive while everyone, even his own father, tries to kill him.

He’s learned to annihilate zombies and raise the dead, divination and clairvoyance, so why is learning to drive such a difficulty? But that isn’t the primary skill he has to master. Survival is.

And in order to survive, his next lesson makes all the others pale in comparison. He is on the brink of becoming either the greatest hero mankind has ever known.

Or he’ll be the one who ends the world. With enemies new and old gathering forces, he will have to call on every part of himself to fight or he’ll lose everyone he cares about.

Even himself.

If you've seen my page on Goodreads, then you probably noticed I was reading 10 books at once. XD I really tried to just read a chapter of this and then go to another book, but I just couldn't. This was such an interesting and easy read, and I fell in love with the characters, especially Caleb. Not to mention some of my other favorite characters from Dark-Hunter world also appear, like Acheron and Thorn, so I was really in heaven. Another thing I found awesome were all the good messages in this book. Just check out this quote: “People aren't just ants rushing around over a crust of bread. Every life, no matter how isolated, touches hundreds of others. It's up to us to decide if those micro connections are positive or negative. But whichever we decide, it does impact the ones we deal with. One word can give someone the strength they needed at that moment or it can shred them down to nothing. A single smile can turn a bad moment good. And one wrong outburst or word could be the tiny push that causes someone to slip over the edge into destruction.” I really don't think I can explain enough how awesome this book is and how awesome the characters and their world are. If you love Dark-Hunter series, you're going to love Chronicles of Nick, even if you, like me, never really liked Nick as much. When I finished reading this one, I was basically like this:

And that's saying something, since I rarely find a book that leaves me speechless and wanting for more immediately. So... I really, really recommend this series. :D

Book Review: Abandon by Meg Cabot

I'm sure no one expected me to post so soon, but yeah, my friend was right! I did find my book! Something short that I could read in a few hours and not get annoyed along the way. And that awesome book is Abandon by Meg Cabot. I really, really liked this one. It kept my attention all the time! So let's see the summary from Goodreads:

Pierce knows what it's like to die, because she's done it before.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

The myth of Persephone...darkly reimagined.

Warning: might contain slight spoilers.
So, I decided to read this book since my friend said it dealt with Hades and Persephone myth, which I just find totally interesting since I love mythology, especially Greek. Not so long ago I read Everneath by Brodi Ashton which also deals with the same myth, and yeah, I expected something similar, but it was actually a completely different twist on the story. The protagonist's name is actually Pierce, which is quite unusual for a girl, but I like it. Yeah, she's rich and she's pretty! And she knows it. Thank God! I loved when she said: "Is it money to repair the stupid gate? Fine. I'll get my dad to pay for it. Just don't tell anyone about it." I was like, you go girl! I just love that she said what any girl with a rich dad would say. It made me laugh. I know some of the things she did might seem stupid, but hey, in a situation like hers when you die and weird things happen, and you're not sure if you're crazy or if all of it is real, I don't think it would be easy to be much wiser.
I did have a bit of an issue with the love interest, John, because he's one of those super old creatures who falls in love with a teen, but this time I have a theory about it and that is that since no one really cared about him or showed any interest in him as much as Pierce did, he kind of thinks he's in love with her even though they didn't have that much of an interaction. He might be a stalker too (eeep!), but I'm still not completely sure about it. She's attracted to him, but she does realize that he's dangerous and I didn't feel like she was crazy/obsessed with him. Her problem is that she wants to help everyone, but doesn't always find the best way to do it, which I find believable actually.
Also, I'm really curious about some things, ok, maybe a whole lot of things, that didn't get to be explained in this book, but I'm sure will find about it in the next book. I know this is an issue for some people since they like to get everything explained in the first book despite the fact that characters don't even know it XD. Some people are just impatient, I guess, but I really don't mind this. I also didn't have an issue with switching back from present to past and back again. I didn't find that confusing in Everneath and I didn't find it confusing here either. It just takes you a few seconds to understand whether you're in present or in past, but really, you only have to think about it a little bit. :P
I loved that Meg wrote a note at the end of the book saying how she was researching things for this book and I thought that was pretty awesome! I haven't read any other books by Meg Cabot so I'm not sure if this is different from what she usually writes. Maybe that's why there are some not really positive reviews on this one. Anyway, I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to see what happens next!

Book Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

The third book I read was Everneath by Brodi Ashton. I really, really loved this book! I mean, look at the cover? Isn't the most gorgeous thing ever? Now see the overview from Goodreads:
"Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's..."

I started reading this book just to see what it was like. It sounded so good and I figured I could take a peek inside, and see how it was. But as I started reading, I couldn't just stop. No, really, I was unable to stop myself, and that hasn't happened for a loooong time. I just wanted to know what would happen, and even now I can't stop thinking about it. I just want the next book ahaha I read this one in a day. It's a really nice, interesting and quick read, without unnecessary details and boring parts. And we actually go between present and the past to get all the story, and you know what, that works perfectly! I wasn't even a tiny bit confused and it was much better than just dumping info on us.

Warning: SPOILERS from now on. It's true that I adore mythology, so everything related to it makes me extra happy. I like all the twists and turns here on the old myths. And now let's get to my favorite part: Cole. *swoon* Yes, he's like my perfect everything lol He's a bad boy and a singer, who just might feel something for Nikki, and even though he wants to use her for his most likely evil causes, he's not actually forcing her into anything, except maybe manipulating her emotions one time, but I think that emotion had to be there already and he only made it stronger. I believe her decisions were all her own. (Yeah, I'm going to try to defend my book boyfriends any way that I can XD). Cole does come through Nikki's window a few times (and so does Jack), which is a bit creepy, but at least he wasn't watching her sleep or change clothes or something lol I hope. And he actually honored the deal when she told him to stay away. I still can't help but wonder why he didn't just kidnap her or something, if it was all so important for him to make her a new queen. But all the scenes they shared...awww! And I'm still so intrigued about him and his world.

And to agree with Cole, I just don't see Nikki/Jack thing. Jack is just, I don't know, I have no idea why they love each other and why is he so desperate and depressed without her. He's like Bella. But he doesn't bother me actually like Shay from Nightshade does, so I see he and Nikki have this apparently epic mythological love story going on, and I guess they will end up together someday because, well, it's...epic, I guess. I don't mind that, but I want as more Cole moments as possible ahah and I'll just enjoy in that. I know Nikki/Cole thing doesn't feel real at the moment, but it could be. *cough cough* Because true love is always more epic when it brings something good out of people and not just because something is meant to be or written in the stars (gah, Secret Circle). Maybe I'll get it in the next book why Jack did what he did for Nikki. I know, love, but why? Well, I can't wait for the next book! And yeha, I'm a little bit disappointed we didn't get to see that underworld or whatever it is called. I hoped Nikki would just go with Cole and discover it, then she could epically come back or sth, but hey, I guess that's the twist. XD Oh, and of course I reccomend this! :D

Book Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

The second book I read is Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. I mostly liked this book, but I had some issues with it, ok, actually one issue, a boy, to be exact. So yeah, this review might actually contain some SPOILERS, so you might not want to read my opinion on this one if you haven't read it. Oh, and this might or might have not turned into a rant about Shay, so if you like him, you might not want to read this. Just saying. Here is the summary from Goodreads:

"Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?"

I decided to read the book based on the overview and recommendations I got for it. And since all three books in this series are out, I figured I was safe because I could find out immediately what happens next. To be honest, I had expected something different. Actually, I would have enjoyed this book even more if it wasn't for the human boy, Shay. He just annoyed me so much that it soon became a struggle to read, but I continued because I really liked other characters. He is the only thing that didn't make sense to me.

So Calla is an alpha wolf, even though it mostly doesn't seem so. She is destined to be mated to Ren and there's nothing she can do except follow the rules. On top of that, she has to remain "pure" while Ren can sleep with whomever he wants. I know some of the readers had issues with all of that, but I didn't. I mean, I couldn't help but admire how good the position of women in that kind of society was shown. First you have the girl who is apparently given equality, the title of alpha, but the decisions of the male are still more important; men are still the center of everything. And I think this exactly is still the problem in our world. We apparently have the same rights, but why in most countries men are still better paid and hold more important positions? I see male presidents, still more males in the government and so on. True, some women are also there, but it's still annoying when you go to a job interview and they ask you if you plan to have kids, because, you know, you won't get the job if you plan to get pregnant. *face palm*

But let's get back to the book. So Calla is supposed to stay a virgin until the union (no, I'm not going to get into it how annoyed I am that women still get to be insulted because of this and men are like heroes or something) and this whole oppression thing leads to tons of sexual frustration. You see what you get when something is forbidden and shouldn't be lol Her sexual frustration is so great that it can be cut with a knife and she's basically attracted to both Ren and Shay. I just had a feeling the girl wanted to jump somebody's bones, and it wouldn't even matter whose. And I was like, wow, cool, this shows that women shouldn't be oppressed, and I liked that.

Now comes the issue of Shay. *sigh* I developed an instant dislike for him, and as the story progressed, I liked him less and less, especially when he started appearing all the time. The problem I had with him is that I just don't feel he's real and I don't feel the thing between him and Calla. She would basically throw herself at anything male, and I got the feeling she wanted him just because he was forbidden. I was annoyed how he seemed to be brave one moment and the next he's almost pissing his pants. Even though he's supposed to be hot, I kept imagining him like someone small, bony and twisted looking lol. And he's like so super smart, apparently learned how to use a whip by reading and pretending to be Indiana Jones. Great, then I'm a super spy and totally know how to use a gun, you know, because I pretended to be that when I was young and read about it. No, don't you dare shatter my illusion lol I'm a spy!

Not to mention he's a great dancer, but apparently a loner who moved a lot and didn't have much friends. So, with whom did you dance? A doll? lol That reminds me of a movie. XD If he went to dance classes, wouldn't he have met someone? Then he constantly makes Calla break rules, I guess that's his way not to be too perfect or sth? (Where is that 'we have a badass in here' meme when you need it). I mean, he's the chosen one! There's a book about him! Aaaaaah! I don't know. Maybe I'm the only one who had a problem with this, who knows? But I just couldn't stand him from the moment when he got to the class and started insisting that they should study Hobbes or someone, I'm not good at Philosophy lol but when would a teenage boy, especially as a new student, ask so much to study about something? I mean, you can be interested in something, but wouldn't you then study it on your own or ask the professor about it after class and not embarrass yourself in front of your new class? lol Maybe my logic is messed up, but I saw this as a sort of a social suicide :P

As for Ren, he can sometimes be a jerk, but I have a feeling he doesn't know any better. I mean, he was raised to believe his behavior is the right one, so I can't blame him for it. And yes, I like him actually. He cares for Calla and even tries to be nice. I really loved other characters, like Ansel and Bryn, because their stories were very interesting and sweet. I guess I could read just about them and their lives. The whole book would be awesome if there wasn't for Shay. All that doesn't include him is basically perfect. I loved the rest of the Calla's world and it would have been awesome if she and Ren somehow together decided to break free of the rules. I even went to read the short novella from Ansel's point of view and loved it, and too bad it was so short. I'd like to read the next book in this series, but I don't think I'm ready for more of Shay. He's become like my reference for guys I don't like in a love triangle lol Now I'm like, no, the guy's fine, he's better than Shay lol

Anyway, this was a quick read and I found myself coming back to it to read more. The plot was mostly interesting, there weren't any slow, boring parts, and in the end, I did enjoy this book. You may or may not agree with my opinion on this one, but that's perfectly ok. Books can be interpreted in thousands of ways and the beauty of it all is that we all see things differently. So if you like this boy whose name I don't want to say, take him, it's yours lol XD Oh, and yes, despite all of this, I'd recommend people to read this book because it's really fun.

Book Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

I finally found some time to read, so I immediately started reading tons of books. Ha ha. Yeah, I usually can't just start reading one book; I need to start like 5 or 6. Check my Goodreads currently reading page if you don't believe me. :P Anyway, I felt compelled to share my opinion on some of the books here, so here it goes. I'll divide this in three posts, each about one book since I realized this would be too long if I put it all in one post. lol There might be a way to put a page break or something, but I haven't figured it out how that works yet, so... it will be just fine like this, I guess. XD

The first book I finished reading was Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. I have read the first three books in the Mortal Instruments series, and I figured Infernal Devices could be interesting too. Here is the summary from Goodreads:
"Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all."

I really enjoyed this book! It was awesome from the beginning to the end. I just had to keep reading. It was also great because I'm usually not a fan of books with a historical setting, like the time of Queen Victoria, since I find them boring, and sometimes I'm annoyed by the way people used to behave at that time, but this book wasn't boring for even a second and the characters were awesome. For the first time I found myself unable to decide if I liked Will or Jem more. I usually pick one of the male characters in a triangle really fast, almost as soon as they are introduced, since one is usually more my type, but here I'm just not sure. Will is the bad boy with a secret (I know, instant swoon, right? XD) and Jem is the good, nice boy, yet he is interesting too, and doesn't make me roll my eyes every time he gets a scene. I guess that's because he isn't thrown at the heroine in some epic love story that doesn't make sense lol He actually feels real. I liked Tessa too. The girl likes to read, so how can you not love her, right? :D She cares for people around her and she's brave. She didn't exactly have any moments that wanted me to hit her in the head, so I guess I really liked her. As for the plot, I flowed rather nicely, without any boring parts. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say this is a wonderful book and you should definitely read it. I'm currently reading the second book, so we'll see how it goes.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you're having a nice day! My day hasn't started so well, mainly because the noise from the street woke me up way too early, but then I found out there was a short story Julie Kagawa wrote for Valentine's Day about Meghan and Ash's date. And omg, loved it, loved it so much! I adored Iron Fey series and this short story was so great. Anyway, if you are a fan of Iron Fey series too, go to this page (if you haven't already) and check it out: An Iron Fey Valentine I can't stop grinning like an idiot now. I just love Ash. :P No one would mind spending a day with him ahahah. Well, I hope you have fun today!
For those hoping to hear some news about Runaway, the second book in Element Preservers series, I might have some information for you very soon, so stay tuned. :)

Another Book Rec: Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Finally found some time to read, so I was able to finish Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs, and I liked it so much that I just felt like I needed to write a post about it. First let's see what it is all about:

 Overview from Goodreads: Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her-and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.




Now look at the cover. Isn't it the most beautiful thing ever? Such amazing colors, and yeah, the cover was the reason why I knew I needed to have this book immediately. I usually don't read books about mermaids. I believe there were some sort of mermaid shifters in one book series I read, but that wasn't the same since the main focus wasn't really on mermaids. Now I figured I actually like mermaids too, especially if they are like Tempest. This was a really great read, not too long, no unnecessary details, and an interesting plot which kept my attention all the time. I really like the world Tracy Deebs created and I could imagine it so easily that it almost felt like I was watching a movie. And at some points I found myself almost crying because of some things Tempest had to go through ( don't want to spoil anything.) And I could really feel what Tempest was feeling, which is awesome. Of course, there were some moments that I didn't quite like, mostly related to the fact that Kona (why does it say Kai in overview?? *is confused*) is two hundred and something years older than Tempest, if I remember correctly. I don't know why I started having a problem with romantic relationships between teens and super old creatures, but I guess I just keep wondering why would someone as old as that act like a teen and fall in love with a young, inexperienced girl. It's kind of creepy if you think it this way, but of course, everything is possible in stories! Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, even if you don't find mermaids particularly interesting. :)

My Thoughts on Divergent by Veronica Roth

Since I read Divergent only a day ago, none of my friends have read it yet and I can't say all I think on Twitter, I decided I could make another blog post. It took me only two days to read it because it was so good and I just didn't want to put it down. I would have probably read it all in one sitting if I could have, but I had to go to sleep and do some things before I could continue - which didn't make me happy, but oh well. I really enjoyed this book, although there were a few things that I didn't like, so that's why I gave it four stars on Goodreads. I know people compare it to The Hunger Games because it's dystopian, but I wouldn't want to compare it at all. It seems silly to me to compare all the books with the most famous in the genre like it's supposed to be the same or something. Now for those who didn't read Divergent or haven't heard of it, here is the summary from Goodreads:

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place her in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

So if you haven't read it yet and you like dystopian young adult fiction, go ahead and get this book immediately. It has great characters, good and interesting plot and it's nicely written.
If you have read the book, you can continue reading because now I will say things that some might consider spoilerish. So, yeah, possible spoilers ahead! 
First I wanted to say that I really don't know how would I choose a faction. No, seriously, how do you choose something like that? It decides your whole life. And yeah, reminds me a lot of choosing college, except there you can at least give up if you don't like something and switch to another. In the world of Divergent, you're basically doomed if you choose wrong. Besides, I'd probably end up being Divergent because when I did those test which were supposed to help me choose in which field to continue my education, the woman who brought the results told me it was all up to me because I was good in everything. Yeah, that was so helpful I ended up rolling my eyes as soon as I was out of her office. In that way I can relate a bit to Beatrice because she too had to choose by herself what she wanted and had more options. Of course, people could still choose to go study what they wanted despite the tests, but if you're not for something, then you have it harder to succeed. It's sort of like initiation test in Divergent. You can choose whatever you want, but that doesn't mean you're going to choose right and end up doing that kind of job.
Now when I think of factions, I probably couldn't choose one. The last thing I'd choose would probably be Abnegation. You probably think I must be the most selfish creature ever ahaha. No, actually in this I'm like Beatrice too, I can be selfless, but all the time in every situation? Uh huh. Maybe it's just the world we live in, where you have to fight for yourself because no one else will. What I don't like the most about Abnegation is their plain look, gray clothes, no looking in the mirror, children not allowed to ask question at the table.... Just no. :P As for Candor, to tell the truth all the time, I don't think so. I really wouldn't want to tell my friend her new haircut sucks, or that her dress makes her look fat. Sometimes you just can't be honest. Amity doesn't sound bad, but it's somehow too good, too dreamy or something like that. Actually, I don't know why I wouldn't want to belong there. Probably too ideal for me ahahah. Erudite sounds good, but they are too much in the scientist mode and too smart. :P I wouldn't want to go there just because Id' find it too boring. Besides, I hate studying ahaha. It doesn't even matter that I was good at Maths, Physics and things like that; I still mostly hated it. As for Dauntless, eh, I'd never pass the initiation. :D I'm just not in the shape to run and jump or anything. ahaha Too much sitting with books, I guess. Ok, a bit of exercising could fix that, but meh. I wouldn't really want to fight people, get punched in the face or jump from a building. O.o I guess I'm not really brave. Besides, I'd never survive a simulation with spiders, bugs and other icky things crawling all over me (yeah, what a fear :P). I'm not sure how that fear thing works. Does it see only your biggest fears or all fears? Because if it sees all fears, no matter how small, I'd probably never get done. :D  Oh, and if you're still reading this, you must be Dauntless. :P
Anyway, I should probably get to the things that bothered me. I don't know is it just me, but I had trouble picturing characters, especially Four. I just read the description and imagined something like a caricature, something weird and twisted, and most likely not human. So I just had to forget it and imagine how I wanted it. haha Maybe they weren't supposed to be pretty, but I need pretty people, I'm so shallow :D. Oh, and for someone so smart who can manipulate simulations, Beatrice sometimes does really stupid things, but maybe that's because she's just a teenager and isn't supposed to always do and react in the best way. For most of the book I kept thinking of Four as much older, like 25 or something, but that scene where he got drunk was perfect, so I was like yeah, finally, acting like a real teen. :P At first I had trouble seeing Four as a name and not a number, and right when I got used to it, she started to call him Tobias, and I was just noooooo! XD What else I wanted to say? Ah, yes, Beatrice and Four sort of reminded me of Vampire Academy and Rose and Dimitri, because of this whole instructor thing, but I like Rose more than Beatrice as a character, and Beatrice and Four more as a couple. :P I'm talking too much, aren't I? Oh, well, I loved this book, really did, and I can't wait for the sequel.

P.S. I basically wrote this post how ideas came to my mind, so if it doesn't make sense, if there are missing words, typos or something, I'm sorry. Spent too much time writing this already, have to go. See you soon. Oh, and if you actually read all of this, you're the most amazing person in the whole world.

Dangerous is now only 99 cents! Small Update and Book Rec!

I've been planning to update my blog for ages, but I never had time or knew what to write. Actually, I would come up with a topic while I was doing something, and then completely forgot about it when I reached my computer. I guess I'm just not used to having a blog. It seems easier to write a book than come up with a blog post. :P
Anyway, with holidays coming and everything, Dangerous (the first book in Element Preservers series) is now only 0.99$ at Smashwords, Apple, Sony and Diesel. Barnes & Noble should update the price soon and I hope my book will finally appear on Kobo too.  So now might be a great chance to grab your copy. :D
I started writing Runaway (the second book in Element Preservers) and I can't even describe how happy I am about that. I missed Ria and her messed up life. And right now the book is basically writing itself. Of course, I'm full of ideas and plots for the next gazillion of books, but I don't really have much time to write. Maybe I'd have more time if I wasn't also an avid reader who just can't stop herself from picking up a new book. But I'm sure I'll finish Runaway in time, so no worries. :D Maybe I even manage to finish earlier than expected.
I also got most of the feedback from my beta readers for Human, which is coming out in January. We are working now on editing some things and making sure everything is ready for publishing. I still don't know the exact date, but I was thinking it could be around 20th. Honestly, if my friend hadn't asked me for the exact date, I would totally think no one cared when I published it. I mean, I'm not some famous writer or anything, so I figured it just didn't matter. But my friend was all like, "are you crazy? I want a date!" so I'll try to come up with a date, but I can't promise anything. I'm just not sure how long it will take, and I didn't really write down how long it took me publish Dangerous, so I'm a bit lost. We'll see.
Now let's talk a bit about the book, or better said books, that kept me so occupied I didn't want to do anything else. There aren't many books that can grip me so much that I can't stop reading, not even for a second. Yeah, one of those books that make you think "oh, I'll just finish this chapter, then I'll do xy", and then you never get to doing what you wanted because you thought, "oh, only one chapter more. It isn't much."

Iron King by Julie Kagawa!!
Summary from Goodreads:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Now what I can say about this book except that it's pure awesomeness? I just couldn't stop reading and I immediatelly had to read the entire series, which were all awesome too! I don't really want to spoil the book for you if you haven't read it, but I seriously recommend it. The world Julie created is just awesome and described really good. The pacing is not annoying slow, but not too fast either. The characters are really lovable and will steal your heart in a second. The romance might be a tiny little bit too sudden, but it wasn't exactly 'I see you, I love you' thing, so I'm happy. There were also some tiny issues, which I overlooked because they weren't really important, like Meghan saying Ash called her for the first time by her name, and he had already done that like half a page before. What else can I say? Ash became one of my favorite male characters ever. This book actually made me like faeries because I was never really a fan of them, probably because I kept imagining them like Tinkerbell. :D Anyway, I really liked Meghan because she would do anything to save people she cares about. (I'm trying really hard not to spoil anything.)
For those who read the book, I also loved Grimalkin, because, seriously, who wouldn't love that cat? :P Now to my less popular opinion (please don't throw rocks at me), I didn't really care for Puck. It might have something to do with me being annoyed by him in Midsummer Night's Dream, but even though he was funny at times, I just couldn't bring myself to really like him and sometimes wished he'd just go away. :P
Ok, since I really suck at writing reviews, I suggest you check out this book on Goodreads and see reviews of people who know what they're doing. But if you're looking for a great read, don't hesitate to check this one out. A really great series. I read all four books and those short novellas, and now I'm just sad it's all over. I want more!!!