Book Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Goodreads summary:

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

My review:

Unspoken was a charming, delightful read.  Based on the blurb and some reviews I'd read, I had a feeling I would really enjoy this book, and I definitely did!  Kami is such a fun character and the story is simply enchanting.

It's hard to classify this book.  I guess you could say it's a gothic mystery with some fantasy and paranormal elements.  And of course, there's a touch of romance, but it's nice that it doesn't take over the plot.  I thought Kami and Jared were adorable!  I love the bond they have and how they can speak in each other's minds.

And like I said above, Kami is a really fun narrator.  She is made of awesomenesss.  I absolutely love her personality - her snarky comments made me laugh so hard.  She's one of the few YA main characters who is unique, original, and well-developed.  The rest of the characters were perfect as well: Jared, Kami's whole family (especially her dad!), Angela, Holly.  They were each unique and I loved their roles in the story.

The plot, however, is a bit slow-moving.  I thought it took a while for everything to start happening.  There were a few scenes that seemed to dragged out, or some long descriptions where I got slightly bored.  Still, those are pretty minor complains, and I'd say that most of the story manages to be wildly entertaining.  And the setting is well-done; it was creepy and gothic and drew me into the story.  I love books that are set in England.

All in all, Unspoken is a really fun read, and the amazing cast of characters is definitely what made me fall in love with this book.  I think it can appeal to anyone, as it contains plenty of mystery, romance, fantasy/paranormal elements, and a delightfully gothic setting.  I can't wait to read the sequel!

My rating:  8 out of 10 (4 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Authors That I'd Put on My Auto-Buy List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Broke and Bookish.  Each week a new list topic is posted, and book bloggers fill in their choices. This week's topic is "Top Ten Authors That I'd Put on My Auto-Buy List."

My Top Ten:

1. Jennifer L. Armentrout.  Her books are always amazing!  I love everything she's written.

2. Lauren DeStefano.  I am a huge fan of this author - her books are definitely worth buying.

3. Sangu Mandanna.  She's the author of The Lost Girl, and I loved it so much, I know I will buy more of her future books!

4. Cynthia Hand.  She's SO talented - I can't wait for her new YA book to come out next year.

5. Jenny B. Jones.  I basically adore all of her books.  She's not very well-known, but I wish she was - her books are so wonderful.'

6. Tahereh Mafi.  Need I say more?  This author is unbelievably talented and writes such gorgeous prose. 

7. Cassandra Clare.  This one's pretty self-explanatory.  And yes, I've already pre-ordered Clockwork Princess. :D

8. Veronica Roth.  Like many others, I was blown away by Divergent and Insurgent and can't wait for the last book to come out!

9. Jess Rothenberg.  I loved her debut, The Catastrophic History of You and Me, so much that I want to buy her next book as soon as it releases!

10. Rachel Harris.  I adored her first book and I'm definitely going to check out her future work! 

Leave a comment with a link to your TTT!

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Immortal City by Scott Speer

Goodreads summary:

Jackson Godspeed is the hottest young Angel in a city filled with them.

He's days away from becoming a full Guardian, and people around the world are already competing for the chance to be watched over by him. Everyone's obsessed with the Angels and the lucky people they protect - everyone except for Madison Montgomery.

Maddy's the one girl in Angel City who doesn't breathlessly follow the Angels on TV and gossip blogs. When she meets Jackson, she doesn't recognize him. But Jackson is instantly captivated by her, and against all odds the two fall in love.

Maddy is swiftly caught up in Jackson's scene, a world of glamour, paparazzi - and murder. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving dead Angels' wings for the police to find on the Walk of Fame. Even the Guardians are powerless to protect themselves in the face of this threat & and this time it's up to Maddy to save Jackson.

My review:

Immortal City was just another disappointing angel book - it seems there's very few books about angels that I actually like.  At first, I thought this one might be unique because of the cool idea of guardian angels.  However, it ended up being full of cliches. 

Insta-love?  Check.  Jackson and Maddy pretty much started liking each other right away, which made no sense, especially on Jacks's side.  He kept saying he couldn't forget about Maddy and that she was so different from everyone else.  Which brings me to my next point...

What is it with all these dull, shy, plain main characters that keep popping up in YA novels?  Maddy is unpopular at school, is lonely and has only a few friends, constantly wears hoodies, never wears make-up and thinks she isn't pretty, has super low self-esteem, and immediately falls in love with Jacks, who, for some strange reason, loves her back.  Oh yes, and her parents are dead, so she lives with her uncle.  Sound familiar, anyone?

I'm just tired of these boring characters like Maddy.  Why is it that their parents are always dead, and so they live with a relative or family friend?  Why do they never wear makeup?  Who says they have to have low self-esteem?!  I've read so many books with characters just like in Immortal City, and it made this book completely unoriginal.  I didn't find the plot to be thrilling or exciting at all, either.  This book was a waste of time to me and I don't think I'll be at all interested in reading the sequel.

My rating:   4 out of 10 (2 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Goodreads summary:

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

My review:

Where do I begin with Pivot Point?  I completely loved everything about it.  The concept, the main character, the secondary characters, the world-building, and especially the humor.  If there's one thing I love to find in a book, it's humor/sarcasm/snarkiness.  Plus, most paranormal books are all serious and melodramatic.  It was so refreshing to read a paranormal story told in a snarky voice.

Which brings me to the main character, Addie, who is completely, totally awesome.  She's one of my favorite narrators I've read in a long time.  There was not a thing about her I disliked.  She was very likeable and real.  And I LOVE her comebacks.  Like, take this one scene where Duke's flirting with her.  In any other book, the main character would start blushing and stammering and drooling when a guy starts flirting.  But not Addie!  Nope, she has a hilariously witty reply instead.  I adored her!

And the concept?  Sooo unique.  I was astonished by how creative and intriguing the storyline is.  It's such a great idea and Kasie West does a wonderful job - the tension rises with each and every chapter, I was dying to know which future Addie would choose, and the ending is perfect yet oh-so-sad. 

And this author totally gets bonus points for the most unique "love triangle" ever.  Actually, it's not technically a love triangle.  In her two different futures, Addie likes two different boys.  So really, it's not quite a love triangle.  But whatever you want to call it, it was not like most annoying love triangles.  And I actually liked both guys and see why Addie likes them both.  At first, I really liked Duke, who's flirty and charming and sweet.  But as the plot developed, I started to love Trevor.  He and Addie are adorable.  I like that Trevor loves to read comic books, too. :)

Overall, this was a fantastic, refreshing read that was flat-out-fun and yet heartbreaking at the same time.  I am eagerly anticipating both the sequel to Pivot Point, and West's contemporary novel, The Distance Between Us, which comes out this summer.  Can't wait to read more of her books!

My rating:  10 out of 10 (5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Recent Cover Reveals!

Last week I made a random post with some cool cover reveals.  Well, in the week since then, there have been even more awesome cover reveals, so I couldn't resist making another post!  This may turn into a weekly thing. ;)

- Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone releases Oct. 8, 2013

- Descendant by Lesley Livingston releases Aug. 27, 2013

- Venom (the paperback copy!) by Fiona Paul (couldn't find the exact release date, sorry)

- Resist by Sarah Crossan releases Oct. 8, 2013

- Revelations by J. A. Souders releases Nov. 5, 2013

- Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis releases Sept. 10, 2013

Yay for awesome cover reveals!  Time After Time, Descendant, and Resist are all sequels I can't wait for.  Venom was an awesome read and I adore the new paperback cover.  Revelations is the sequel to Renegade, which I really really really want to read.  And Not a Drop to Drink is a YA debut!

Excited for any of these books?  Love the covers?  Leave a comment and let me know!

~ The Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday: The Dollhouse Asylum

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read.

My pick is The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray!

Goodreads summary:

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

My thoughts:

This is already one of most anticipated books for 2013.  It sounds SO GOOD.  It's such a unique concept and I can't wait to see how it turns out in the story! 

I'm already dying to know who the different couples are that are being renamed.  I bet Romeo and Juliet is one of them!  And maybe Heathcliff and Cathy from Wuthering  Heights.  If you have any guesses, let me know in the comments. :)

And of course, please leave a link to your WoW so I can check it out.  Thanks for stopping by!

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Goodreads summary:

then.

When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their loved moved from curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.

now.

That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be kill in one final, spectacular hunt.

forever.

Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.

My review:

Forever was a beautifully written conclusion to the Wolves of Mercy Falls series.  This has become one of my favorite series now - there's something so poetic and charming about Stievater's storytelling.

Like Shiver and Linger, Forever is very much a character-driven novel.  Although, since this is the last book in the trilogy, there is a small amount of action, towards the end at least.  But what I love best about Forever is the journey that the characters take.  I love Grace, she's a character that I've identified with throughout the entire series.  Sam is so sweet and tenderhearted and I've grown to love his character.  But I think Cole and Isabel might be my favorite characters.  They're both so vulnerable and strong at the same time, and I love reading about them.

Out of the whole series, I thought Forever has the strongest plot.  Sure, it's not action-packed, but there's so much more at stake as the wolves fight to stay alive and find a new home.  And of course Maggie Stiefvater's writing is as good as ever.  She's so talented at making the story flow smoothly, and her writing shines through in Forever.  The characters' emotions are real and vivid.  The descriptions are full of just enough imagery and detail.  And the ending, while leaving some things open, still wraps up the story perfectly.

As I wasn't totally crazy about Shiver, I didn't expect to fall in love with this series, but it's definitely a favorite now.  I can't wait to read more books by this talented author!

My rating: 8 out of 10 (4 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Entanglement by Dan Rix

Goodreads summary:

"...the scientific explanation is quantum entanglement, whereby the boy and girl—even when separated by great distances—react instantaneously to changes in each other's states..." —Dr. Casler Selavio, on the entanglement of halves.

In a world like ours, humans are born in pairs. When a newborn boy takes his first breath in the coastal town of Tularosa, the exact time is noted, recorded in the Registry, and later compared to the birth times of other newborns around the globe. There will be one identical match—his half. They will meet on their eighteenth birthday and they will spend their lives together. Except this time, there is no match.

Hotheaded heartthrob Aaron Harper is scheduled to meet his half in twenty-nine days, and he doesn’t buy a word of that entanglement crap. So what if he and his half were born the same day and share a spooky psychic connection? Big deal. After breaking one too many teenage girls’ hearts, he’ll stick to brawling with the douchebag rugby players any day.

Until the day a new girl arrives at school and threatens everything he takes for granted.

Cold and unapproachable, Amber Lilian hates the growing list of similarities between her and the one boy she can’t read, Aaron: born the same day, both stubborn, both terrified of meeting their halves. . . . All the more reason not to trust him. That she would rather die than surrender herself as her half’s property is none of his damn business. But once lost in Aaron’s dangerous, jet black eyes, she’s already surrendered more than she cares to admit.
Tangled in each other’s self-destructive lives, Aaron and Amber learn the secret behind their linked births and why they feel like halves—but unless they can prove it before they turn eighteen, Aaron faces a lifetime alone in a world where everyone else has a soul mate . . . and he’ll have to watch Amber give herself to a boy who intends to possess not only her body but also a chunk of her soul.

ENTANGLEMENT, a 75,000 word YA thriller, will appeal to readers of Michael Grant's GONE and Ally Condie’s MATCHED.

My review:

What a fun read!  Entanglement was a thrill ride from start to finish and was full of many shocking twists and turns.  If you're a fan of sci-fi, you should definitely check out this exciting debut by Dan Rix.

What I really enjoyed is how intricate the plot is - it's quite obvious that the author put lots of thought into the storyline, and it was so interesting to read about halves!  I've never read anything quite like this.  Although, as it says in the summary, it's a good read for fans of Gone and Matched.  Entanglement has the same tense, detailed plots like the Gone series, and it's a bit similar to Matched, as both feature a world where people don't get to choose who they marry.

The only thing I wasn't crazy about is the romance; it took me a while to start rooting for Aaron and Amber to be together.  It felt like they fell in love right away and I just didn't find it realistic.  However, eventually I began to like the romance.  Plus, there are some cute interactions between Aaron and Amber - I always liked the dialogue between them!

The last 15 percent or so of the story was definitely my favorite part.  It was full of suspense and unexpected twists, and I love the way it ended!  So, while I had a few issues with the characters at first, I would definitely recommend Entanglement - the suspense, tense action, and the unique concept of halves make this sci-fi debut stand out.

* I received a free copy for review from the author.  Thanks!

My rating:  7 out of 10 (3.5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Sorry it cuts off at the end - my camera was messing up.  I was just going to say, feel free to leave a comment with a link to your IMM. :)

Books I bought:
- Pivot Point by Kasie West
- Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Books I got from the library:
- Eve and Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
- Catherine by April Lindner
- Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
- Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Happy reading, everyone! :)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Goodreads summary:

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

My review:

Sever is a perfect conclusion to The Chemical Garden trilogy, and I'm so sad to see this series end.  It has become one of my favorite dystopian series ever.  Now that it's over, though, I have to say that the first book Wither is still my favorite out of the trilogy.  While I dearly love both Fever and Sever and gave both of them 5 stars, they don't have that same level of amazingness as Wither.

So on to Sever.  I adored it.  I was so anxious to find out how all the characters' stories would end, and if they would find a cure.  I read this book in one day.  Though it is not fast-paced or full of action, there is a sense of urgency in the writing as the characters struggle to make the right choices.  Sever is a very character-driven novel, and I appreciated that.

Lauren DeStefano's characters are so real.  They're vivid and unforgettable.  Rhine, Gabriel, Cecily, Linden, Vaughn, and Reed - each of them are wonderfully unique and compelling.  Rhine is a strong, levelheaded character that I absolutely love.  Sadly, Gabriel isn't in the story hardly at all until the very end, but I still liked his small role.  Vaughn is delightfully creepy.  He's a madman, but I love how he's not a villain just for the sake of being a villain.  In Sever, we find out the complexities of his character and understand him more than ever before.  I also loved the addition of Reed, Linden's uncle.  He's funny and I grew to love his character.

Of course, I need a whole paragraph just for Cecily and Linden.  Wow.  Cecily...I don't even know what to think about her.  In Wither, she was irritating and immature, but she was only thirteen - she was still a realistic and fascinating character.  In Sever, Cecily's now fourteen and has been forced to grow up quickly.  I grew to love the quiet strength of her character and the troubled relationships she has with nearly everyone around her.  And I felt so bad for Linden, who must make a choice between his father Vaughn and Cecily and Rhine.

The plot is great; everything is tied up and the ending is satisfying and yet still leaves a few things open.  I love the thought-provoking questions and observations about life that this book brought up.  You may think that, given the subject matter, this story would be depressing, but it's not - it shows how you can have hope no matter what and that you should live life to the fullest.

This review doesn't even begin to do this book justice.  I adore these characters so much, and the writing is touching and poetic and lovely.  I even teared up a bit at the ending - those last few paragraphs started to make me cry.  I'm so glad I got to take this journey with Rhine.  I can't wait to read Lauren Destefano's next series - the first book comes out in a year!

My rating:  10 out of 10 (5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Recent Cover Reveals!

There have been so many awesome cover reveals this past week that I'm practically exploding with happiness.  So, I decided to make a big post with some of my favorites!  Which ones are you looking forward to reading?

- Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund releases October 15, 2013

- The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson releases August 27, 2013

- Deception by C. J Redwine releases August 27, 2013

- Sweet Legacy by Tera Lynn Childs releases September 3, 2013

- The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White releases September 10, 2013

- Snakeroot by Andrea Cremer releases December 2013

- Infinityglass by Myra McEntire releases July 9, 2013

Whew!  That's a lot of gorgeous covers.  I'm super excited for all these books.  And is anyone else noticing a pattern in some of these covers - lots of blue-ish colors in them!  Any of these books on your to-read list?

~ The Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday: Deception

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read.

My pick is Deception by C. J. Redwine!

Goodreads summary:

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.

My thoughts:

Ooh, look at that cover!  This gorgeous cover was just released yesterday and I totally love it.  I love how we can actually see Rachel's face!  And the clouds and swirls and colors are so prettyyy!

The summary has me super excited for this book now, too.  I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, Defiance, and I can't wait to see how Rachel and Logan's story continues!  It sounds like it will be full of action and adventure.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?  Leave a link to your WoW in the comments!  Happy reading everyone! :)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Goodreads summary:

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?
My review:

I really, really wanted to love this book, but I just didn't care much for it at all.  Honestly, there was nothing particularly exciting or interesting about it that stuck out to me.  And what's with everyone saying it's so original?  I thought it was quite cliche at times.

My main issue is with the characters and the love triangle.  The main character Calla is kind of annoying, she's one of those shallow kick-butt heroines, and her character doesn't have any depth.  Everyone was always going on about how tough and strong Calla was, and she never seemed to do anything that extrordinary!  I also disliked how she kept going back and forth between Ren and Shay and couldn't decide who she liked.

There are quite a few minor characters, and they did get confusing at first.  None of them caught my interest or seemed well-developed, except for Calla's younger brother Ansel and her friend Bryn.  I did like them.  As for Ren and Shay, the two love interests, I neither hated them nor loved them.  Both got on my nerves occasionally, and I really wasn't crazy about either of them.

Which leads me to...you guessed it.  The love triangle.  *sigh* I'm not someone who always hates love triangles.  I can appreciate and enjoy a love triangle if it's well-done.  But I just didn't care for the love triangle in Nightshade.  I can actually see why Ren and Shay liked Calla, which is a plus, because in most books the main character tends to be whiny and self-absorbed and it makes you wonder why the guys are in love with her.  Still...I just didn't like it.  Seemed like Calla just couldn't make up her mind and was hurting both Ren and Shay with her dramatic love life problems.

Also, the problem is that the book is just too focused on the romance.  With Nightshade being 450 pages long, I was expecting some major action and plot twists and cool backstories about the werewolves, but it all fell flat.  I would really have loved to know more about the werewolves and their backgrounds.  Instead, the backstories all seemed thrown together and didn't make much sense.

I wish I could've enjoyed Nightshade more, and I can see why some people love it.  I guess it just wasn't for me.  It's really not a terrible book; I don't think it's painfully boring to read like, say, Lauren Kate's Fallen series, which I couldn't stand.  So I'm going to read the next book, Wolfsbane, and hopefully this series will start improving.

My rating:  5 out of 10 (2.5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

In My Mailbox (11)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Again, Blogger is being uncooperative about uploading pics. -_- So, here's my IMM video instead!

Books I bought/received:
- Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
- Cinder by Marissa Meyer
- Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Books I got from the library:
- Fever by Lauren DeStefano
- Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
- Immortal City by Scott Speer
- Red Glove by Holly Black
- Black Heart by Holly Black
- Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Thanks for stopping by, everyone!  Like I said in the vid, I would love it if you leave a comment linking to your IMMs so I can check them out! :)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Goodreads summary:

tick

tick

tick

tick

tick

it's almost

time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

My review:

Oh my word, you guys, this book was GOOD.  Tahereh Mafi broke my heart in this book and I really think I'm going to die in suspense as I wait for the final book in this incredible series to come out.

I don't even know how to describe Unravel Me.  It's hard to describe the emotions and feelings this book made me feel.  It's beautiful, harsh, poignant, mindblowing, and it will leave you reeling and wishing over and over for the last book.

Oh, the characters.  The characters.  Excuse me while I go gush over Warner.  I KNOW.  Warner.  I was firmly Team Adam in the first book, though I thought Warner was a fascinating character.  Then I read Destroy Me, the novella from Warner's POV.  Probably the best novella I've ever read, by the way.  And I began feeling sympathy for him.  He's not a monster; he's a person.  And slowly, throughout Unravel Me, I fell in love with him right along with Juliette. 

And Chapter 62.  I can't even.  I was an emotional wreck after reading that chapter.  Why, why, why did Tahereh Mafi have to go do that?  This is one of the most well-crafted love triangles I've ever read.  While I do really love Adam, and I felt so bad for him in this book, I think I'm Team Warner now.  There's something about Warner...his character has so much depth, and feeling, and loneliness, and he understands Juliette in a way that Adam doesn't. 

So back to the characters.  Like, Adam's little brother James.  So cute.  He wasn't in the book a ton, but he stole my heart in every scene he was in.  And can I squeal over Kenji now?  Sure, he was funny enough in the first book, but I completely adored him in Unravel Me.  He had so many funny lines, yet he showed a serious side.  I kept rooting for Kenji and admiring the tenuous friendship between him and Juliette.

Oh, Juliette.  I admit, she's not one of my favorite heroines ever, but I do like her.  Sometimes, she just seems a little too wimpy, a little too dramatic.  But she toughens up in this book and learns to put her feelings aside and do what she has to do.  So overall, I like her and was glad she had more character growth in this novel.

The writing!  How is Tahereh Mafi so talented?  I wish I could write like she does.  She has this incredible talent for creating metaphors, painting vivid descriptions, and her writing is just so lyrical and gorgeous and it blows me away.  I will read anything she writes.  Her writing touches your heart and makes you think.  I love it.

I'd ramble on about the amazingness of the plot too, but this review's already too long.  So suffice it to say that there's so much more action, so much plot development, and I loved every single one of the characters in this book, even all the minor ones (oh, except Warner's dad though.  I've probably never despised a character so much), and basically this book is perfect and you need to read it.  I know I will be reading it over and over again.

My rating:  10 out of 10 (5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Waiting on Wednesday: Mila 2.0

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read!

My pick is Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza!

Goodreads summary:

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity–style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

My thoughts:

Ooh, pretty cover alert!  I really love the cover of this book.  It's simple yet eye-catching, and it definitely has a sci-fi feel to it.

And the summary sounds so cool!  I love sci-fi books with lots of action and robots and fun stuff like that, and Mila 2.0 sounds like it will be no exception!  This book comes out on March 12, so thankfully we don't have much longer to wait. :)

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?  Leave links to your WoWs in the comments! 

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Goodreads summary:

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.
My review:

Linger was such a great sequel.  I think I like it a little better than Shiver, even.  In Shiver, I got annoyed with Sam's character quite a bit, but in Linger, there is a larger cast of characters and I really enjoyed how the story developed.

I liked all of the characters in Linger.  Grace is such a fun character to read about; her personality is a great mixture of sweet and tough and her character just seems real.  I felt what she was going through.  And Cole and Isabel?  I love them so much.  Isabel was an okay character in Shiver, but she grew on me so much in Linger.  I felt so bad for Cole too.  He's a wonderfully complex character and I thought that his story fit into the plot very well.  Even Sam didn't bother me like he did in Shiver - he seemed less sappy and wimpy and more of a character that I could feel sympathy for.

It's funny, because based on the reviews I've read, people seem to like Shiver better than Linger.  I guess I like Linger better because it's not as focused on Sam as Shiver was.  In Linger, there seems to be much more happening in the plot, rather than simply Sam's struggle to keep his humanity. 

One little thing I didn't like: Grace's parents start paying more attention to her in Linger and become more involved in her life.  I thought this was good, since her parents were noticeably absent in Shiver.  But at the same time, the way Grace handles her parents got on my nerves a bit.  Grace just seems to react too impulsively and angrily, and it made her character a little immature at times. 

Lastly I have to mention the writing.  It's so gorgeous.  Maggie Stiefvater has a wonderful talent for writing.  Her prose is delicate and poetic and lovely, and it just draws you into the story so much. that the plot is on the slow side at times, I think it works and flows perfectly, because the author's writing is just so good that she can turn any scene into something magically intriguing.

This is a solid sequel and I was impressed by the character development and the writing.  Even though I wasn't crazy about Shiver, I'm becoming more and more fond of this series as it goes on.  Depending on how well I like the final book, Forever, this series might just be going on my favorites list!

My rating:  8 out of 10 (4 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: Pulse by Patrick Carman

Goodreads summary:

From New York Times bestselling author Patrick Carman, a teen fantasy-adventure of epic proportions. In 2051, some teens have a “pulse,” the power to move objects with their minds. Compulsively readable, with thrilling action scenes and a tender love story.

The year is 2051, and the world is still recognizable. With the help of her mysterious classmate Dylan Gilmore, Faith Daniels discovers that she can move objects with her mind. This telekinetic ability is called a “pulse,” and Dylan has the talent, too.

In riveting action scenes, Faith demonstrates her ability to use her pulse against a group of telekinesis masters so powerful they will flatten their enemies by uprooting street lights, moving boulders, and changing the course of a hurtling hammer so that it becomes a deadly weapon. But even with great talent, the mind—and the heart—can be difficult to control. If Faith wants to join forces with Dylan and save the world, she’ll have to harness the power of both.

Patrick Carman’s Pulse trilogy is a stunning, action-filled triumph about the power of the mind—and the power of love.

My review:

Pulse was an okay read for me.  It was disappointing on some levels, but overall it was a unique read.

What I didn't like: the romance, and some of the characters.  The romance is pretty much like all the other love stories out there.  The main character Faith is immediately in love with Dylan and finds him mysterious, dangerous, and intriguing.  I just didn't find the love story to be convincing or realistic at all. 

And the characters.  They are all simply okay-ish.  I didn't connect much with Faith; I thought she makes some stupid decisions and is really naive and clueless.  Hawk is a good friend to her at times, and I liked her best friend Liz a lot.  I thought there were too many POVs, though.  The book got confusing sometimes with all the different characters. 

But at least the plot is pretty original.  I really like the idea of telekinesis in a dystopian world, and combined with the cool sci-fi elements, it made for an interesting plot.  I was drawn into the story, and I have to say that out of the many dystopian novels I've read, this one definitely has a unique twist.  My only other problem would be the pacing; I felt that the book simply dragged on too long.

Would I recommend Pulse?  If you're looking for strong, well-developed characters and romance without insta-love, a bit of a love triangle, and a creepy stalker dude, then no, I would not recommend Pulse.  But if you can look past the characters and romance and enjoy the creative plot, then you might want to consider giving Pulse a try.

* I won an advance copy through Goodreads First Reads

My rating:  6 out of 10 (3 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Book Review: The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse

Goodreads summary:

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

My review:

I had such high hopes for this book.  Yes, I'm sick of dystopians, but I'd hoped this one would be different.  The summary sounded absolutely amazing, what with the characters having to fight to survive and all that.

I just can't think of anything I truly liked about this book.  The main character, Alenna, is flat and Mary-Sue-ish.  She has no personality and I couldn't bring myself to care about her.  And sadly, the minor characters were a disappointment as well.

Like Gadya, Alenna's supposed friend.  I say "supposed" because half the time, Gadya would be helpful and nice and try to teach Alenna how to fight and hunt, and then two seconds later she'd be yelling at Alenna because she thought Alenna had a crush on Gadya's ex, Liam.  What kind of friend is she supposed to be?!  I got so annoyed with her.

Then there's Liam, the love interest.  What does Alenna even see in him besides his good looks?  He, too, has no personality and is a completely bland, uninteresting character.  Plus, the romance is pretty much insta-love.  Alenna immediately finds herself drawn to him the second she lays eyes on him.  I just wanted to gag...the romance is so terribly done.

And, of course, the non-existent world-building.  We pretty much learn nothing about how the world came to be that way.  That's what I tend to dislike in dystopian books - there's hardly ever decent world-building.  The Forsaken is no exception.

Basically, this book was just a painfully boring read for me.  Aside from the flat characters and ridiculous romance, there's a fair amount of action.  And I did like the twist with The Monk.  But by then, I was so disgusted with the characters, I just couldn't bring myself to care about what was happening.  There are much better dystopians out there than this, so I'd suggest skipping this one.

My rating:  4 out of 10 (2 stars)

~ The Bookworm

My Top 5 Books of January 2013

Each month, I post a list of the books I read that month, and what my top five favorite books of the month were.  Here's all the books I read in January:

- Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
- Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
- Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
- Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini
- The Essence by Kimberly Derting
- Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer
- Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson
- When it Happens by Susane Colasanti
- Neverfall by Brodi Ashton
- Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
- Spark by Brigid Kemmerer
- Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Liz Braswell
- Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
- Love Birds: Beyond Death by Lysious
- Wicked Jealous by Robin Palmer
- Everneath by Brodi Ashton (reread)
- Everbound by Brodi Ashton
- Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
- The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse
- Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
- Oath of Servitude by C.E. Wilson
- White Cat by Holly Black

I read lots of great book this month!  My top five favorites are:

1. Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout.  Talk about a fantastic sequel!  This book was a wonderful blend of action and humor, and the characters are all so amazing!  I can't wait to read Deity.

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.  Oh.  My.  Word.  You guys, why did I not read this book sooner?  It's soooo good.  And Etienne?  *swoon*

3. Everbound by Brodi Ashton.  I've decided that Everbound was even better than the first book in the series, Everneath.  Even though there's not much of Jack in this book, it still blew me away with its creativity and sheer amazingness.

4. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols.  Ahh, I love Jennifer Echols's books to death, and Going Too Far was no exception.  I was totally lost in this engrossing story.  I can't wait to read more of her books.

5. Spark by Brigid Kemmerer.  Another great sequel.  I adore Gabriel's character, and everything about this book was absolutely perfect.  I love this series so much!

And, because I can't bear to not mention the other books I enjoyed, honorable mentions go to Lola and the Boy Next Door, White Cat, Touching the Surface, and Nevermore!

What are some of your favorite books from this past month?  Let me know in the comments. :)

~ The Bookworm