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

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.