Series Sunday: Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu

Titles: Legend, Prodigy, Champion
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam
Series: Legend
Review: 5 Stars

As promised, here's my series review of the Legend trilogy by Marie Lu! For ages, I've been poked and prodded to read these books. I've heard they're amazing, spectacular, etc. My school had a book fair right after Champion came out and bought all three books. So, once the library had the books all ready, I picked up Legend. It sat in a stack for a while, but eventually I picked it up and loved it! Right before winter break, I picked up Prodigy. It sat in that same stack for a VERY long time. Finally, after school got back in, I gobbled Prodigy up! I went to the library the next day and was like I NEED CHAMPION NOW!!!!! Champion was down the hatch in 24 hours. If you look back at my (very spoilery) review of it, you can see how well that went over.

The story is dual POV between June and Day. June is kick-butt. She's been training as a soldier all her life and is the only person to have scored a perfect score on this special test they take that determines what they do with their lives. At the beginning of the story, June's brother dies and she has to face the fact that she's lost the last of her family. June has incredible resilience and the rest of the characters should seriously trust her judgement more. I swear, if they had just done even half the things she suggested, the characters wouldn't be in nearly as much trouble as they were. Day is stubborn as all get out. He also happens to be a criminal and the possible murderer of June's brother (he's not). Day has a bajillion secrets, but then again, so does June. He is smarter than he gives himself credit for, and has a loving family, even if they don't know if he's alive. Also, he's younger brother Eden, easily the cutest character in the books. Day and June both go through some horrible things. Some of which, play into a very drastic decision June makes at the end of Champion.

The one major problem I found in the book were plot holes. One of them being the plague. For most of the books, it's a major factor and kills a ton of people. If you trace the character's problems to its origin, it's the plague. So, at the end of the novel, why is it not followed up on. Readers never truly know what happened with it. Also, Day and June's relationship itself. Even though we do get a bit, I feel like the readers don't get quite enough closure. Even still, with these to aspects, the books rocked! The action was intense and constant. There was definitely romance. The writing was to the point. Also, the fonts were in different colors! SO COOL! The series was fun, a quick read, and utterly broke me emotions at the end! A full five stars!

Series Sunday: Revenants Trilogy by Amy Plum

Titles: Die For Me, Until I Die, If I Should Die
Author: Amy Plum
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: Revenants
Review: Four Stars

*Sigh* I can't believe this series is over! Confession time, I got the final book on release date but didn't read it until winter break. Why? Because I'm the master of procrastination. That said, I LOVED it! The ending was just so perfect... *whimpers* I almost cried when it ended, not because it was sad, but because it was so right. I really enjoyed the first two books, but, if memory serves, they just didn't do it for me. If I Should Die swept them off their feet and now I'm dying to reread the entire series.

The main character is Kate. Before the novels start, her parents are killed in a car wreck. She and her older sister, Georgia, move to Paris, France to live with their grandparents. And yes, this takes place in France! There, she meets Vincent. He's handsome and kind, everything you could want in a guy, except for the fact that he happens to be an immortal revenant. Kate manages to deal with this amazingly well. And when everything stands in her way, Kate simply doesn't give up. How her plot line ended for me wasn't much of a surprise, but I liked it. Kate is incredibly selfless. She is ready to sacrifice everything for those she loves. She always manages to fight for what's right. She also makes mistakes. Instead of being 100% right 100% of the time, Kate messes up. She makes inaccurate assumptions. But then she fixes it. Kate cleans up her own messes, and needs no one to do it for her.

The overall plot of the books was good. I feel like book one and part of book two didn't tie into the end plot, but then again, I also haven't read the books in months. I remember bits and pieces. There's definitely romance. Like, the completely swoony kind. There's actions, I distinctly remember explosions and, at one point, someone gets chopped to piece. (Don't worry, he'll just come back, revenants tend to do that) There are so many amazing characters that I couldn't list them all if I tried. There's Charlotte, another revenant who is like the kick-butt girl of the group. Ambrose, the only American revenant in the France, is like the awesome big brother you never had. The list goes on and on. I love each and every character to bits, flaws and all. This trilogy is definitely worth the read! I give it four stars.

P.S. Be on the lookout for Amy Plum's new book, After the End, coming this spring!

Series Sunday: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Titles: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games
Publisher: Scholastic
Review: Three Stars

It has been brought to my attention that I have not reviewed The Hunger Games. I plan to remedy that now. I first discovered the books at my birthday party a few years ago. My friend had brought over the first book, so I 'stole' it since it looked good. Before that, I had never heard of the series. So, that night, I read a good chunk of book one. I flew through the rest of the books afterwards. At the time, I was in love. Now? Not so much. Looking back, I see

many faults with the Hunger Games that I missed before.

Everyone pretty much knows who Katniss, Peeta, and Gale are. No explanation needed. But here's the thing, at first glance, Katniss is depicted as a survivor, a warrior, a revolutionary. And while she is those things, she's also unbearably weak. Katniss complains and complains and complains. I don't mind a little whining from characters, that's natural, but it doesn't cease. Katniss, despite being awesome at archery, can't see what's right in front of her. Katniss mopes. Her character, while better than Twilight's Bella, has more similarities to her than I care for.

Peeta is pathetic. There's no other way to put it. He can paint, that's wonderful.

Peeta should not have survived. As a character, I don't mind him, but he's weak and could not truly survive in a world such as the Hunger Games. He's been living the good life all his life. Someone cannot simply take that and suddenly become a survivor. At least Katniss has true experience to draw from. Lastly, Gale. In short, I despise him. He's annoying and distracts Katniss from what she needs to do. Gale is infuriating. He actually should be dead as well, though for the opposite reason as Peeta. Gale is too outspoken. The guards (can't remember what they're called) should have killed him. Between the three of them, Katniss is the most equipped for that world. She is able to fight for what she believes in, but she does it quietly. The only two characters I really liked were Rue and Prim. Rue was sweet and nice and did what needed to be done. SPOILERS Did she have to die? And Prim was always there, she always knew just what to do. Why did she have to explode? Why Suzanne? Why?

My biggest problem with the books is the writing. Suzanne Collins is a children's author and it shows. It's like she's trying to write horror stories for ten-year-olds. The book is written for children. But the content is not. All the action scenes are blown out of proportion. Mutant dogs with the eyes of fallen contestants? Cannibalistic monkeys? Mutant alligators? Really? And the end Mockingjay. I still don't get what happened, after reading it multiple times. SPOILER The ground split open then everything exploded and Prim died. What the what? And how did Katniss figure out that Coin was bad? Events don't match up. END SPOILER The story, while fun, was not what I'd call an amazing read. I love how it took problems we have today and amplified them times a million. That was cool. I can find the origins of all their issues. But maybe she amplified them a little too much. Overall, these books get three stars.

P.S. I think I have an allergy to the super popular series. I dislike Twilight, Harry Potter, and The Hunger Games.

Series Sunday: Ruby Red Trilogy by Kerstin Gier

Titles: Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, and Emerald Green
Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher: MacTeen Books
Series: Ruby Red
Review: Five Stars!

Wow, just wow. Aside from a few character points, these books could not have been better. I read Ruby Red at the prompting of a friend soon after it came out. The books are nothing but awesomesauce and let's leave it at that. No tears are allowed nor needed-which was a nice break. I'll try not to spoil anything, but if you haven't read the books, there may be minor spoilers ahead!

The main character is Gwyneth Shepard. She's a pretty cool chick. Gwen is a normal girl, except for the fact that she suddenly starts uncontrollably jumping back in time. One nice thing is that, while Gwen doesn't know the full extent of her world (and honestly, who does?), she knows about time travel and has had gifts her entire. On a side note, her gifts are never fully explained nor accepted, I demand an explanation Kerstin Gier! Anyway, Gwen thought that her cousin was the one with the time-travel gene and it turned out to be her instead. And the revelations don't stop there. Chapter after chapter, new information is piled on top of Gwen. The only problem, most of it is useless. People keep very important secrets from her. One of them, I won't say which due to spoilers, I figured out in the first book, possibly with the help of my mother, but Gwen didn't find out until Emerald Green. Dang you foreshadowing!

The other main character is Gideon. Honestly, I had some issues with him. He goes back and forth between acting ignorant, selfish, like a pig, and totally in love. It's enough to turn any girl off. He's nice looking, according to Gwen anyway, but that's one of his few appealing factors. He turns himself around and even has some really sweet moments, but dang, it takes a while to get there. My one large complaint with him though is his and Gwen's "insta-love". Along with love at first sight, which I actually only care for so-so, the two of them manage to be head-over-heals for each-other in a matter of days to a couple weeks. Christine over at PolandBananasBooks actually first pointed that aspect out here. It's a nice love story, but not particularly believable.

Ms. Gier definitely has the confusing aspect down. Time travel, like many subjects in science, makes very little sense. We don't know much about it, and so the questions are limitless. Multiple times, I've tried to think about the logistics of Gwen and Gideon's time traveling adventures, and all I get out of it is a massive headache. Seriously, time travel hurts, whether you actually travel or not. Though the time travel itself, while having it's own twist, matched facts as well. I found the story accurate and fun. It's like a cross between Doctor Who and the Hourglass trilogy and fans of either would enjoy it. So pick up the books today and I'd love to here what you think!

P.S. I promise no spoilers, but the ending of the series, in my opinion, was perfect! What did you think about what was revealed in the epilogue of Emerald Green? SPOILER Plus, if you check out my Unhinged Speculations page, I nailed it!

Series Sunday: The Gallagher Girls Series by Ally Carter

Round Two!

Titles: I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You, Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy, Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover, Only the Good Spy Young, Out of Sight Out of Time, United We Spy; Double-Crossed (Crossover Novella)
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Series: Gallagher Girls
Review: Five Stars

I can't believe I forgot to review this earlier! The Gallagher Girls series is one of the BEST in the world! Teenage Girls + Spies + Geniuses + Boys + Covert Operations + Explosions = Pure Awesomeness! The books are riddled with facts that might be useless to the average person, but are super interesting none the less. I'm serious when I say I've learned a ton from these books. The Gallagher Girls are amazing. Something to say now, from an outsiders point of view, I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You (LYKY) has almost nothing to do with the rest of the series. And overall, it doesn't. But there are about two lines in there that catapult the main character from regular spy prodigy, to not-so-regular spy prodigy. The devil is in the details, as they say.

The main character is Cammie, The Chameleon, Morgan. She's far from ordinary, yet she's what's known as a real pavement artist. Cam can blend in in just about any scenario. Her parents are spies and she's expected to go high places after she graduates from the Gallagher Academy, a school for spies. Cammie is relatable and much like any other teenage girl. She makes mistakes, which are later amended in any way she can. Secrets and lies are a way of life for Cammie. All information is on need-to-know basis only. That leaves her in the dark more than once and her need for information gets her into more than one sticky situation. The Gallagher Academy is riddled with secret passageways, which Cammie explores endlessly. Fun fact: Cammie can name 46 different lethal household items, speak 14 different languages, and can kill a grown man 7 different ways with her bare hands. Pretty cool, right? Bex is Cammie's best friend and roommate and has been using Barbie as a weapon since age 7. Though I hate how she acts in book five, overall she's a fun, kick-butt, spunky character. Liz is Cammie's other roommate/best friend. She's the brains of the operation, and that's saying something, considering that they all go to a school
for geniuses. Macey is the bear-at-the-door of sorts in the series. Cam, Bex, and Liz meet her at the beginning of LYKY and she is NOT welcome. She quickly becomes one of their closest friends and their best, and only, consultant in the boy department. Cammie meets Josh in LYKY. He's a normal boy who does not belong in her world. He's also the first boy Cammie ever dates. After that ends poorly, Cammie meets Zach in Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (CHHS). Zach seems to know everything about her, yet she knows nothing about him. Whenever she asks, he'll point to himself and say "Spy." Zach is the male protagonist of the story and I love his character, faults, lies, half-truths and all. Cammie's mother is the headmistress of the academy and Mr. Solomon is a new teacher in LYKY. Her mom is overprotective more often then not, but she does the absolute best she can. Mr. Solomon is really something. He's a top
notch spy with a hidden past. One that can cause serious trouble at the academy. We meet Cammie's aunt Abby in Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover (DJGC) and let me say this right now, she is probably one of my favorite characters in the book. She is sassy, spunky, and outright hilarious. Abby isn't afraid to lay her life on the line for her duty, which is tested in DJGC.

Funny story. United We Spy came out on the 17, which was actually a week earlier than I thought it was. When I realized that it was out, I raced to the book store at about eight o'clock at night and bought the book. I preceded to fly through it and was done by noon the next day. These books are easy reads that are full of fun facts. Action is fast paced and romance is just right. The younger YA reader would definitely enjoy these books. I got the first three as a gift back in 2010 (I think). I loved them even then at age 11. They're appropriate for all ages, which is something you don't find much of in YA. Whatever you think this story is, it's not. At the end of CHHS/the beginning of DJGC, everything changes. And when I say everything, I mean everything. Cammie's world goes from slightly tilted to completely upside-down and backwards. Get ready for a thrilling ride that grips you even after the pages end!

Series Sunday: The Hourglass Trilogy by Myra McEntire

Titles: Hourglass, Timepiece, Infinityglass
Author: Myra McEntire
Publisher: Egmont
Number of Books: Three
Review: Five Stars

I liked this series. It wasn't my favorite, but I liked it. As far as each book went, Hourglass was definitely my favorite. Why? Because Em was the main character. All the other characters didn't really make me tick, but Em did. Infinityglass pulls up in second place, not because I loved the characters (though Hallie was pretty cool), but because it had a fast-paced, fun plot. And lastly comes Timepiece. Timepiece seemed to fall into the second book slump. Meaning, I liked the characters, but found them dull at times and I had to slog
my way through the book due to plot issues. Overall, I really liked the series and I can't wait to see what Myra has in store for us next!

I feel like the over-arching main character is Em. While each book has their own, Em was the original and is in each. Em's parents died about a year previous to the book. She is fun, spunky, and quirky.  Em has an awesome sense of humor that I can't get enough of. She's also a brown (black?) belt in karate. It's super funny to imagine the looks on her friends faces when she shows them exactly how well she can take care of herself. Her character has the biggest arc, simply because we have the most time with her. That time gives Em time to change slowly as well as the things surrounding her. Em's boyfriend is Michael. I find him swoon-worthy at times (so much so that I need to reread the
first book soon), but he also drives me crazy. Michael treats just about everyone like they need-to-know less than him. He withholds information until, eventually, someone gets hurt. Lily is Em's best friend and female protagonist of book two. She's a cool chick and I love her snark. Kaleb is the male protagonist of Timepiece, and gah! Kaleb turns out okay, but for the longest time, he drives me crazy with his neediness and weakness. Hallie is the main character of Infinityglass and plays a pivotal role in the story. That being said, I don't believe readers get enough of her backstory. So while I love her character, I can't feel for her because we don't have enough info. Dune is the male protagonist of Infinityglass and again, while I really love his character, I have a couple issues with it. We get enough of his backstory, but Dune himself is never resolved. What he can do and how exactly he does it is still up in the air at the end of Infinityglass.

The end of the series? Pure perfection. I laughed out loud so many times at that last line. It is funny and well, just go read the books. It doesn't make sense out of context, but it is endlessly funny to the reader. And this is in the epilogue by the way. The writing of these books was superb. Even when the plot was in a slump, the writing was still fun. There is some content in here for older readers, especially in book two. The overall plot arch is well-done. It stretches from page one of Hourglass to page whatever of Infinityglass. I find myself reminiscing about the series already, and can't wait until I have the time to reread it! I give these books four stars.

Series Sunday: The Clann Trilogy by Melissa Darnell

Titles: Crave, Covet, Consume
Author: Melissa Darnell
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Number of Books: Three
Review: Four Stars

I have been waiting for these books for over TWO years! My library wouldn't order them and I had so many other books to buy that I couldn't pay for them. I finally decided to just do it a couple weeks ago. I bought the first book and it rocked! I went back to the book story and they had book three but not book two, which put the series on hold for about a week. I finally finished the books on friday and have been dying to review them. Admittedly, these books weren't as

good as I was expecting, but they were still awesome! After getting halfway through The Book Thief and sobbing my eyes out, I needed something much lighter, and The Clann answered!

The story is dual POV between protagonists Savannah and Tristan. Savannah grows up a normal girl in Texas, but has been hated by the Clann her entire life. She's been betrayed by friends and pushed around nonstop. Does that stop Savannah? Of course not. Despite a lifetime of harassment, Savannah still stands. Throughout the series, Savannah is a voice of reason in their ragtag group. Even when things go from bad to worse, Savannah is there. She sees the bright side of things and doesn't stop until she's overcome any obstacle in her path. Tristan on the other hand, is a different story. I actually don't like his character a whole lot.  "how he was raised", but I don't care. The characters live in modern times and he need to realize that. Tristan continues to mock Savannah and gives up instantly when told they can't be together. Even if he doesn't realize it, Savannah is fighting to the end. Savannah sacrifices just about everything for him, and even still he's wrapped up in his desire for revenge, even if that pushes her away. Savannah's mother is a decent character but she is not a bit of a wimp, she's a wimp. Period. She runs away and treats her dog better than she does her daughter. Savannah's dad is a nice guy, but geez, I'm pretty sure he still lives in the 1800's. Tristan's sister Emily is an awesome character is book one and two, but gets on my nerves in book three. To be fair, she has an excuse and comes around in the end. I have to say, the characters weren't like what you find in your average book, and it probably makes them more realistic. Sure, he has his redeeming qualities, but overall, I view him as a bit of a jerk, self-obsorbed, and kinda sexist. On the last count, it's supposedly

The plot of the books is fun. It's fairly simple and predictable, but there are a few twists and turns that caught me by surprise. Each book takes off right where the other left off, which gives them a cool sense that they flow into each other. It'll often end in the middle of dramatic moment, which is continued in the next book. It adds to the overall plot arc and makes for a better story. Some events in the story were over-dramatized, especially in book three. Overall, I really liked the books and give it a four star rating.

Series Sunday: Angelfire Trilogy by Courtney Allison Moulton

Titles: Angelfire, Wings of the Wicked, Shadows in the Silence, Novella: A Dance With Darkness

Author: Courtney Allison Moulton

Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books

Number of Books: Three Books, One Novella

Review: Four stars

This series wasn't some "Oh my god, this was amazing!" series, but it was good. I read Angelfire and fell in love. It took me a while to get into Wings of the Wicked, but I ended up reading in a few hours once I did. I was excited to pick up Shadows in the Silence, but yet again, I didn't feel the incentive to pick it up. Eventually, I picked it up and loved it. I went out to lunch on the day I  was finishing it, and ended up reading under the table while everyone was talking and chanting "No. No. No!" again and again. So yes, they were compelling and fun, but they didn't scream "Read Me!"

The main character is Ellie. Her world is shaken up, turned upside-down, and left sideways over the course of the series. Yet through it all, Ellie stands up strong, solving, or stumbling on, one problem after another. Did I mention Ellie is an archangel in a human body? Well, she is. Evie is able to slay any demon with her sharp tongue, but she's not made to be a fighter, at first. By the end of the series I'm pretty sure I was screaming "Yes! Yes! Yes! Kick their butts!" at her. Evie that kind of heroin. She picks up on abilities easily, partially because she remembers them from her millions of past lives. Evie doesn't care what
anyone thinks, and isn't afraid to say so. Even when she's been ordered to stay away from the male protagonist, Will, she does as she wishes and doesn't take no as an answer. Despite what she's told, Evie knows that love makes her stronger and gives her another thing worth fighting for.

With each book, the plot starts slow, but picks up almost immediately. In short, it's like a freight train out of control. Each twist and turn in the plot bring new focus and meaning to the story. Relationships are made (and destroyed mercilessly by the author, thanks a lot). Not once is there hesitation. Events occur that many authors don't like to venture into. Characters die. You will most likely cry/scream/throw the book against the wall or some combination of the three while reading this series. It's really good and is painful in all the right ways. The heroine is not helpless and, while Evie does accept help, more often than not, she doesn't need it. Yet it's amazing that she has friends and loved ones (sobs) who are willing to throw themselves in front of her in the face of danger. It's well paced and doesn't once feel forced or cheesy. The reluctance keeps me from giving it a five, but everything else builds up to this story getting, and deserving, a strong four stars!

P.S. I couldn't help but squeal when I noticed that the necklace Ellie is wearing on Shadows in the Silence looks exactly like one I got at the Renaissance Fair a couple years ago!


Author Bio:

I was born in Austin, Texas on August 18, 1986 and grew up in Michigan. In the first few years of my life, my family bounced around several states until we finally settled in mid-Michigan. I was a Girl Scout who dabbled in gymnastics and volleyball until I discovered horseback riding and it quickly consumed my heart and soul. When I discovered the Goosebumps books in the third grade, I decided I wanted to be RL Stine when I grew up.

I own a horse (a Swedish warmblood mare named Pia) and my passion is hunter/jumpers. My other passion is photography, and if you don't see me on a horse, you will probably see me with a camera in my face. I collect 1980's My Little Ponies and Breyer model horses, own over 400 movies, love playing Pokemon and MarioKart, and dream about sneaking into the polar bear exhibit at the zoo some day.

When I was sixteen, I wrote a one-act play about violent vampires for my creative writing class that became my first novel. For NaNoWriMo in November 2008, I wroteANGELFIRE and signed with a literary agent in February of 2009. In November 2009, we sold the trilogy to Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. I am now represented by Rosemary Stimola of the Stimola Literary Studio.

You Can Find Her At:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Tumblr

Blog

YouTube

deviantART

Synopsis:

First there are nightmares. Then come the memories. Now she must hunt.

Ellie can’t shake the terrifying dreams about monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her. Then she meets Will and feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. When they meet on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie’s power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Will holds the key to Ellie’s memories, whole lifetimes of them, and she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. In order to survive, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives, the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Angelfire is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

You Can Find Them At:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Series Sunday: The Demon Trappers Daughter Series by Jana Oliver

Titles: The Demon Trappers Daughter, Soul Thief, Forgiven, and Foretold
Author: Jana Oliver
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Number of Books: Four
Review: Four Stars

I enjoyed these books. It took me a couple tries to get into them, but I was intrigued from the moment I saw the title and synopsis. It looked fun, quirky, and interesting-which it was. As the series progresses, each book is better than the last. I enjoyed each book more and read each one faster. What's interesting is the plot layout of the series. The first three are regular buildup and then final event, but then book three ends with a cliffhanger that left me going "What? I
thought this was a trilogy!" So I looked it up and ordered the fourth book, Foretold, from the library. There was no contest about it, I enjoyed it infinitely more than the other three. But there was one odd part. Foretold is like a really long denouement up until the last maybe third of the book. It's the characters figuring things out and resolving issues. They live in Atlanta, but travel to a small town farther south. When they get back, everything has gone to Hell in a hand basket, quite literally. It was an interesting plot twist and I enjoyed getting to know the male protagonist as well as his background more in this story.

The main character is Riley Blackthorn. She's a demon trapper for a living, and crazy things, well, crazier than normal, start to happen to her after her father dies. In the stories, she matures and grows by leaps and bounds. She's the only
woman in the trapping business, as well as one of the youngest. Because of that, she is treated like a child by many and even scorned by others for entering a job that has been all male for a long time. Yet Riley stands tall and doesn't crumble beneath the pressure. She makes mistakes, like anyone else. Though our problems are *slightly* different, I can still relate to Riley and her predicament. She's a likable character that I can't help but root for, through the good and the bad, the calm and the crazy, the sunshine and the storm. She makes some decisions that make me want to bang my head against the wall, but she learns from them and makes a better one the next time. The male protagonist Denver Beck, though everyone calls him Beck. This. Boy. Makes. Me. Want. To. Smash. My. Head. Against. A. Brick. He is difficult, not understanding in the least, and secretive about things he doesn't need to be. He
treats Riley like a child and pushes her away for the longest time. Though she makes her own choices, him pushing her away lead her to some of them. By the end of the series, Beck is a decent guy and I like him, but if only he could have been that way throughout the books. I like how he also has his weaknesses, which will not be disclosed in case of spoilers. Yet he learns to overcome and deal with these weaknesses, which is the best someone can do. Riley also a witchy friend named Ayden and a necromancer who she eventually becomes friendly with, Mortimer. The two of them are fun side characters that I adore and wish there was more of in the story.

The story is fun and easy. Many characters have heavy accents (Scottish, Southern, etc) which can make the dialogue hard to read, but it's fun decoding it as well. The reader sees strengths and weaknesses in everyone, and all the characters grow past their initial judgment. I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation, but I wasn't leisurely strolling through the book either. It was a nice fast pace with just enough plot twists to keep it interesting. Overall, I enjoyed this series and may one day read it again. It gets a solid four stars.

Series Sunday: Masque of the Red Death Saga by Bethany Griffin

Titles: Masque of the Red Death, Dance of the Red Death, Glitter and Doom-Novella
Author: Bethany Griffin
Publisher: Greenwillow
Number of Books: Two
Review: Four Stars

I really enjoyed the first book in the series. Masque of the Red Death was different and interesting. It kept me on my toes and I couldn't put it down. It's based off of the Edgar Allen Poe poem, Masque of the Red Death. Though I hadn't read it before I read the books, after I finished, I read the poem and could see the resemblance, especially in Dance of the Red Death. It was an interesting idea that developed into a very unique story.


The main character is Araby Worth. For a good bit of the first book, I see a very weak, broken girl who has moments of strength. I don't like her right off the bat, but I pity her. As she grows stronger, I like and enjoy her character more and more. I like her relationships with others, from her best friend April to her father to her memories of her twin brother Finn. The relationships develop and either grow stronger or break off entirely. There's a love triangle in the book between Will and April's brother, Elliot. While Elliot's and Araby's relationship feels forced and fake, Will and Araby seem to fit together perfectly. Either way, the relationships encounter obstacles and issues that they must get past. This shapes Araby into a lovable heroin. Her view changes throughout the books, as does the readers.


The plot is slow at points, especially in Dance of the Red Death. While Masque of the Red Death is face paced and quirky, Dance of the Red Death is just not as fun. Both books are deep and thought out which create for a good story. They were both amazingly written and eloquent. I felt as if I was reading pure poetry at points. They're the perfect mix of creepy, romance, and action that I couldn't help but enjoy them. I had to persevere through them sometimes, but it was overall worth it. Even if I don't pick up the books again, I'll surely remember them. They receive a strong four star review.

Series Sunday: Abandon Trilogy by Meg Cabot

Wow! These books blew me away. I read some of Meg Cabot's other novels when I was younger (Allie Finkle anyone?), but these are a whole other level of awesome. The Abandon books are fun, interesting, deep, and sizzling hot. The romance in these books is off the charts. While there's minimal adult content, the tension is perfectly done. I can't stop turning the pages. Each book was better than the last. The final book Awaken came out a couple weeks ago and rocked! Often times, the final book, especially in a trilogy, disappoints me but this did not. It summed up the story, tied the loose ends, and all the while had just as much or more, action, romance, and intrigue as the previous books. A fun read for sure!


The main character is Pierce Oliveira. She is a strong heroin who has dealt with way more than many people. Two years previous to the books, Pierce died. Since then, she's had to put up with her best friends suicide, being labeled mentally unstable, her parents divorce, and a very rocky relationship with fellow protagonist, John. Yet she made it out alive, and better at that. She's only more determined to protect those she loves. That determined attitude alone assures readers that she won't give until she, and everyone else, get the happy endings they deserve. From matchmaker to riding on horseback into battle, Pierce does it all. A fury is after you? No problem. Relationship issues? Easy peasy. Possessed? She'll be right over. No matter the problem she faces, she comes out on top, no matter what others tell her. Even when those closest to her doubt her, she comes through for them. And trust me, there's a lot of doubt.

The plot is simply amazing. I followed every twist and turn with glee. It's an emotional roller coaster that doesn't stop just because the book has. The unpredictable happens and normal is thrown out the window. It's an original take on the Persephone myth and Greek mythology as a whole. A few questions are left unanswered, but overall, the end of the series is satisfying. On a side note, the conversations are hilarious. Whenever two characters are discussing a touchy or unwanted subject, hilarity ensues, mostly due to Pierce. I laughed, cried, screamed, and squealed my way through these books. They get a solid 4.5 stars!

Series Sunday: The Goddess Test Trilogy by Aimee Carter

These books blew me away! I actually finished the series after the final book came out back in February, but haven't reviewed any of the books yet. The books are based in Greek mythology and add a new take on the traditional myths. I ate up the each book right after I got them. Let me tell you, with books that good (and with that much of a cliffhanger) it is really painful to wait a year for the next one! The plot is intricately woven, nothing is coincidence, and everything has its consequences. They're different from the typical YA books, which is really nice. It doesn't have the typical love triangle, nor is the general plot even close to other YA's. The books are an amazing read that you don't want to miss.

The main character is Kate Winters. She is a strong and humane character. When
she makes judgements, she considers the all the aspects. She doesn't just think about what that person did, she looks at the whys and considers where they're coming from. She has an incredibly strong, no-nonsense, will. Nothing gets past her. She doesn't forget when someone wrongs her or those she loves, but she is spectacular at forgiving. Sadly, often the people she gives second chances will just come back and hit her harder. Yet each time, she manages to stand up taller and faster. Once someone has lost her trust, they won't get it back, and she'll sacrifice everything to protect those she loves. Henry is the male protagonist and love interest of Kate. Throughout the first two books, he has trouble admitting his feelings to her. He has been wronged and let down so many times in the past, so severely, that he's scared to open up to her. It's obvious to
everyone but Kate that he loves her so much, that he's scared to death of loosing
her. But after some time, and realizations, he comes to know that not loving Kate at all is so much worse than the chance of loosing her. Though he drives me batty at points, Henry has a good heart and a strong will. Like Kate, things don't get past him and he doesn't forget, even things best forgotten. He is less empathetic than her, but even still, he very much understands human nature. Another character is Ava. She is Kate's best friend and, though she makes an idiot of herself at points, she is always there for her in the end. James is another of Kate's friends. He doesn't get her as much, but makes each moment she has with him memorable.

The plot of these books is a fast-moving, non-stop, jet from pages to reality. I can't help but see the story play out right before my eyes. The characters are vivid and complex. After reading them, I can't get the books out of my head for hours. The pace is amazing and the romance is heart-stopping. I love this author's take on the gods of Greek mythology. Instead of showing the demi-gods or any of the more human offspring, it's from the point of view of the immortals themselves. There's also an anthology that has much needed backstory for many of the characters that simply doesn't fit in the books, but that readers need to know for motivations to be clear. The story is profound and deep. I can see myself rereading the series for years to come. I give it five stars!

Series Sunday: Perfect Chemistry series by Simone Elkeles

Swoon, squeal, squee, etc! I love these books to the ends of the earth. I read each one in only hours. I simply cannot put how they make me feel into words. If you follow the blog on Twitter, you'll notice I  first said ‘Just finished Perfect Chemistry by @SimoneElkeles! I preceded to dance around my room squealing. An amazing book w/ lots of feels. Loved it!’ I then said ‘Is @SimoneElkeles a magical-fairy-goddess or something? I just finished her book Rules of Attraction and I can't read any other books now!’ And, after I swiftly finished the final book, I stated ‘I've accepted @SimoneElkeles as my supreme ruler. I finished Chain Reaction in a few hours flat. I won't read another book for ages now!’ Yes, that's right folks. Simone Elkeles is a magical-fairy-goddess and my supreme ruler. She is the queen of contemporary. These books take feels to a whole new level.

Gah! There are so many characters. Book one is told from Alex Fuentes and Brittany's points of views. Book two follows Alex's younger brother Carlos Fuentes and Kiara. The final book follows the youngest Fuentes, Luis, and Nikki. Let me say this, the Fuentes brothers are really something. They have the most attitude I've ever seen, attract females by the bushels, and are trouble magnets. Each character comes with their own set of problems though. Alex is in a gang when he meets Brittany. Brittany is a popular girl with an overbearing mother and handicapped older sister (whom she adores). Carlos has gang issues, along with attitude to spare, and Kiara is shy and stutters. Luis was the golden child, until he learns some secrets from his childhood, and Nikki can't get over her past. The one thing every one of them has in common is that they will do anything to A) solve their problems and B) protect the ones they love. They also have a habit of falling for the one person who's best for them, but the hardest to love in the first place. Loyalty runs deep and so does love. The Fuentes brothers often say 'Mi familia comes first'. What often gets those three into trouble is the fact that the bad guys know that they'll do anything to protect their family. Each time, towards the middle of the book, I would get crazy mad at one or both of the characters. They have this crazy thing where they almost can't help but make idiotic decisions, all part of being a teenager I suppose. Yet I still love them.

These books are filled with action, romance, and real-life issues. It addresses things that most authors will skirt around. Oh, and you can't forget the español! Because the Fuentes family is from Mexico, there is a lot of spanish in the book. It's actually rather fun trying to decipher what they're saying. Just a warning, these are definitely for older readers. There is totally adult content in there. The plot in these books is amazing. It just keeps rolling. I was interested from page one to three hundred. I felt everything that the characters did and more. I sympathized with them and could see their stories in my mind. One of my favorite parts was the epilogues. Each book has one and they are CUTE to say the least. These books were fun, deep, interesting, and everything that a reader could want. I give the series a full five stars!

Series Sunday: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

I liked these books. I've read better, I've read much worse. Maybe sci-fi just isn't my style. When I say these books are sci-fi, they are REALLY sci-fi. There's genetic alteration, communication chips imbedded in the characters ears, clones, a few aliens, oh, and did I mention the gigantic spaceship? Everyone lives aboard the giant spaceship Godspeed. There are the folks that take care of the ship, and then the lesser known...others. People from earth-specifically with science, medical, or military expertise-were frozen in cryo chambers and left there to be woken up when they reach their destination, Centauri-Earth. The idea behind this story is amazing and is well told. It could have been a bit better paced, but I was satisfied in the end.

The story is duel-POV. One of the characters is Amy. She is from earth and her parents were going to be frozen, so she decided to go with them. It's addressed that, while frozen, Amy can still think and dream. That wasn't supposed to happen and she wonders about it in the first book. It isn't brought up again and the question of what happened was never really answered. Amy starts off as a scared teenager, but matures and grows courage as the series progresses. She feels fear for her parents and newfound friends. She also learns what it feels like to be a scapegoat, as many of the people on the ship dislike her, including it's leader. Amy meets the second main character, Elder, right after she wakes up. Elder is going to be the leader of Godspeed someday, AKA Eldest. I don't like his character as much as Amy's. Maybe it's because he has never seen earth, therefore is less relatable. Maybe it's the way he speaks, the members of Godspeed have added many new words to the english language. Or it could simply be him as a whole. He was raised very different than many are. For example, he has been taught that the three causes of discord are A) Lack of leadership, B) Differences, and C) Individual thought. Readers, of course, think this is totally bogus and, eventually, so does he. His character does develop though. He learns who, and what, he is willing to do anything for, even die. Amy is one of those people. It becomes obvious fairly quickly that they like each-other and their relationship is built and tested throughout the series. There are many other characters, but none of them really stand out in my mind. I don't really like them or they simply are not complex enough.

Let me say this, the last book in the series was a real doozie. The author warned that she liked to kill characters off and that many would be in book three, but whoa! There were characters dying left and right. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure at least one person dies every chapter save the last three or so. The series wraps up better than I had hoped. While it's not a fairy tale ending, everyone more less gets something they want. It's a tad abrupt. There is enough of a wrap-up for it to be a conclusion, but another chapter or two would have been well-loved. Book two, A Million Suns, was by far my favorite book in the series. If you're a geek (like me!) and love things such as Star Wars and Star Trek, this is for you! Overall, I give it a four star rating.

Series Sunday: Shadow Falls Series by C.C. Hunter

I have to say, this is series might very well be the love of my life. It is everything someone could want in a book series. There's magic (lots of it), supernaturals (plenty of 'em), heartbreak (painfully so), love, forgiveness, life lessons, and most important, family. These books really push forgiveness and family. The characters, of all ages, make mistakes. More often than not, they own up to these mistakes. Many of the families in the story are pretty messed up. There's distrust, contempt, and misunderstanding, but there's also love, acceptance, and forgiveness. It's a story about magic, don't get me wrong, but it's also a story about real issues. That being said, there's something very special about these books. Unlike most, if you strip the books of the magic and the supernatural, you still have a story. A story about a girl who struggles with who she is, her family, and her friends. A story about a girl who can find the strength

in herself to overcome these things and be the best woman she can be.

Kylie Galen is the main protagonist. She is an amazing role model for young women. She is exemplary at many things, but struggles in others. In the beginning, she is caught at a party and is then sent to Shadow Falls camp for teens with 'issues'. Kylie's parents are getting divorced and she is not happy about this in the least, but as she learns new things about Shadow Falls and herself, she grows up. Kylie matures tremendously over the course of the book. She goes from regular, slightly outsider-ish, normal girl, to extremely strong, heroin of a woman. Her friends help her along the way. And she does not shy away from this help. The other characters are just as amazing as Kylie. Of course, there is a love triangle. One of the boys is Lucas. Readers meet him a
few chapters in, and get a big surprise. Kylie knew Lucas when they were children, he lived next door. Lucas is werewolf, and has obviously staked his claim on Kylie's heart. BUT! There's also Derek. He is half-fairy, and meets Kylie on the way to Shadow Falls. He is nice, and funny, and is very much the opposite of Lucas. While Lucas puts off the bad-boy vibe, Derek is good through and through. The role of my favorite character is a tie between Kylie's new friend at Shadow Falls Della and the head of the camp, Holiday. Della is a vampire and has spunk to spread around. She doesn't take anyone's attitude, but has plenty of her own, which will often get her in trouble with her and Kylie's roommate, Miranda. Miranda is a dyslexic witch. Her and Della are constantly arguing in the most hilarious ways. Miranda has multi-colored hair and plenty of ingenuity. For example, she has a toad following her around. It happens to be
her piano teacher who she cast a spell on that whenever her thinks, well interesting, thoughts about young girls, he is turned into a toad. Holiday is a fairy and is amazing. She is the voice of reason in the series, and helps all the characters tremendously. The head of security is Burnett. He's a vampire who won't admit it, but is in love with Holiday. He *might* get turned into a kangaroo at some point... Other characters include Perry, Steve, Fredrika (Kylie's arch-nemisis), Sara, and Kylie's mom (deemed the Ice Queen in book one), along with plenty of ghosts.

The series is well plotted and never has a dull moment. I'm able to read these books in a few hours flat, I love them so much. Each book, along with contributing to the overall story, has a story of its own. Kylie can see
ghosts,which makes for some interesting encounters. Readers can't help but love the characters and each of their stories. Everyone has a backstory, some crazier than others. There is a fairly obvious antagonist who has not-so-obvious evil schemes. Pacing is amazing and I can really feel the characters. Like I said earlier, strip the story of anything supernatural and you still have a story. These are some of the most phenomenal books I've read and I highly recommend them. Keep your eyes peeled, the author said that there will be a spin-off series about everyone's favorite vampire, Della. Excited doesn't even begin to cover the feelings I got when that was announced. These books are so good, I just can't let them go. I give them a full five stars.