Friday, May 10, 2013

Mini-Reviews: Sweet Peril, Taken, and The Summer I Became a Nerd

Lately, I've noticed lots of blogs doing a post with a bunch of mini-reviews.  I'm really behind on writing reviews, so I've decided to try out this method and get a handful of reviews done more quickly.  Hope it's helpful!


Goodreads summary:

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?


Mini-review:

I love this series!  It's hard for me to find good books about angels, and I think this series as well as the Unearthly series are the only angel books I've really loved.  This is a strong sequel in many ways: there's great character development, the plot thickens, and the romance between Kai and Anna is as swoon-worthy as ever.

This may sound strange, but I love the passage of time in this novel - during the first third or so, we see glimpses of Anna's life as a year passes by, and I LOVE how she grows and changes so much.  She's not as naïve as she was in the first book, and is instead a strong heroine that I was rooting for the whole time. 

There's a bit of a love triangle, but it's resolved quickly and it did add to the storyline, so I didn't mind.  I do wish Kaidan had been in the story more, though.  I adore the romance between him and Anna.  I love their chemistry and Wendy Higgins makes their romance so believable.  Overall, an amazing sequel!

My rating:  10 out of 10 (5 stars)


Goodreads summary:

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?


Mini-review:

I've read lots of negative reviews for Taken, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I started it.  Pleasantly, I was surprised.  It's not as terrible as everyone makes it out to be.  It has realistic characters and a strong plot, and I enjoyed the thrilling twists.

I'm not crazy about the main character, Gray.  He can be selfish and even a bit of a jerk at times.  So I didn't really relate to him much, yet I still think the author wrote his character well.  His voice always sounds masculine and I think his faults make him more realistic.

I love the backstory and world-building that we got, though.  I did get bored in the beginning, but there's more action and twists in the last half, so I enjoyed that.  And there's not as much romance as I was afraid there would be, even if I didn't think the addition of a love triangle was necessary.  I can see why Taken isn't for everyone, but I still think it's a unique sci-fi novel worth reading.

My rating:  6 out of 10 (3 stars)


Goodreads summary:

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.


Mini-review:

I absolutely adored The Summer I Became a Nerd.  Is it a little cheesy and predictable at times?  Yes, but I enjoyed it so much that I didn't care.  I loooved all the nerdy references in this book.  I mean, c'mon.  There's mention of Star Wars, Captain America, Spider-Man, and more!  And the author uses words like "fandom" and "adorkable," which I thought was awesome.

Plus, Logan is totally swoon-worthy.  I love that for once, the love interest is a nerdy guy (who even wears glasses!  *squeal*).  I mean, so often in books the love interest is a "bad boy" or "lonely and mysterious" type, so I loved that Logan is so sweet and funny.  And Maddie is hilarious too; I was cheering for her the whole way through the story.  This cute summer read will definitely put a smile on your face!

My rating:  10 out of 10 (5 stars)

Quick question for my readers: are my mini-reviews long/short enough?  Feel free to let me know.

~ The Bookworm

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Book Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass


Goodreads summary:

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.


My review:

Yes, I admit it: I love the Selection series.  These books aren't brilliant or mind-blowingly good, but they are pure fun.  They're like a guilty-pleasure type of read. 

Honestly, I don't think these books should be dystopian, though.  I'd prefer it if they were fantasy instead, mainly because of the fairytale mood of the stories.  *shrug*  But anyway, I have to say that it's quite refreshing to read a dystopian that is light and fun, rather than gloomy and depressing.

The Elite is a fantastic sequel.  I think it's better than the first in many ways: there's a heck of a lot more world-building, relationships are tested, complications arise concerning the country of Illea, and there's lots more character development.  And Maxon! *swoon* I love the poor guy so much.  He's so incredibly sweet, but he's really going through a tough time in The Elite and trying to make the best decisions for his country.

The only thing I have a problem with is America.  I do love how bright and funny she is, but man, I just kept wishing she would make up her mind!  She would not stop switching back and forth between Maxon and Aspen.  Then she whines when Maxon and/or Aspen doesn't pay enough attention to her.  I definitely didn't like her as much as in the first book, but after the ending of The Elite, I have a feeling she'll get better in the last book.

Besides not liking America, I'm really pleased with this sequel.  I just love how princess-y it is.  There's fashion, balls, gorgeous dresses, and fairytale-ish moments.  It's such a fun, girly read.  Yet, we also find out a lot more about the country of Illea and its background, and learn more about Maxon and some of the other characters.  A great mixture of fluffiness and plot developments, The Elite is one awesome sequel!  I can't wait to read The One next year.

My rating:  9 out of 10 (4.5 stars)

~ The Bookworm

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light and Fun

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 Books to Read When You Need Something Light and Fun."

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.  I can guarantee this book will put a smile on your face.  This book is so wonderful and fluffy and perfect, and I can't recommend it enough.

2. The Selection by Kiera Cass.  This book has gotten lots of negative reviews, but honestly I love it.  It's not meant to have any depth to it - it's just an all-around fun, guilty-pleasure type of read.

3. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks.  The hilarious characters had me cracking up nonstop! A perfect summer read.

4. Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt.  Just read this recently, and I adored it.  A sweet, heartfelt story that I really enjoyed.

5. Pivot Point by Kasie West.  This is a paranormal book, but I was delighted with how laugh-out-loud funny it was.  The main character is refreshingly sarcastic, and this was a totally fun read!

6. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.  Paranormalcy is so full of win, I don't even know how to describe it.  An entertaining story that I loved.

7. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill.  I utterly adored this book.  For one thing, it's set in England.  Also, the main character is a total nerd and I love her, and the love interest is so funny and swoony.  Awesomeness.

8. Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols.  As the title suggests, this is another great summer read.  I just love how sweet and lighthearted this book is, and it also had me laughing like crazy.

9. My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris.  Time travel?  Check.  Swoon-worthy Italian guy?  Check.  Hilarious main character?  Check.  Loved this book!

10. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan.  This book is a mash-up of gothic, paranormal, mystery, and fantasy elements, but there's also a constant humorous feel to the story.  I can't count how many times I nearly died of laughter.

I should also mention Hourglass by Myra McEntire and Airhead by Meg Cabot, they're also great. :) In case you can't tell, I had lots of fun books to choose from for this list!

What's on your TTT this week?

~ The Bookworm

Sunday, May 5, 2013

In My Mailbox (18)

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


Books I bought/received:

- Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins
- The Elite by Kiera Cass
- If I Should Die by Amy Plum

I have to admit, I've already read all of these.  Once I got them, I didn't wait to start reading them!  They were all great reads that I really enjoyed, and I should actually be posting reviews for all three books sometime (hopefully) this week!

What new books have you gotten lately?

~ The Bookworm

Friday, May 3, 2013

Book Review: Unremembered by Jessica Brody


Goodreads summary:

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

From popular young adult author Jessica Brody comes a compelling and suspenseful new sci-fi series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.


My review:

Unremembered was a bit of a disappointment for me.  I think the best word to describe it is "forgettable," it's just not unique at all.  The whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking how cliche and unoriginal it was.  It's been a week since I've read it, and to be honest I've already forgotten most of what happened in it.  (Ironic, I know, considering the title.)

Anyway, I got frustrated with the focus on the romance.  It's another "starcrossed romance" where Seraphina and the love interest (I can't remember his name...) are "destined to be together" and "couldn't ever love anyone else."  I just did not buy it at all.  And I felt like the romance lessened the thrill of the story.  I would've loved to see more action and plot twists, rather than romance.

The plot was a let-down as well.  I was able to predict almost everything that happened.  And I got bored during the first 100 pages or so.  Nothing much happens that's considered thrilling or exciting, besides Seraphina recovering in the hospital from the crash, and then moving to a new home with a foster family.  I wanted waaay more action than what I got.

I also couldn't connect with Seraphina at all.  She just had a bland personality and was so, so, so naive.  This isn't really the author's fault...after all, Seraphina's supposed to be somewhat naive, since she can't remember anything.  But it still made me really annoyed with her.  The only two characters I liked are Seraphina's foster mom and brother.  I thought the mom was genuinely sweet and liked how she tried to understand Seraphina.  And the younger brother (I think he was 13?) was cute and awkward, and I liked that he and Seraphina were able to become friends.

Unremembered was not, by any means, a terrible book.  I know others will enjoy it.  I simply found it to be too predictable, and I just wasn't a fan of the romance or the main character.  I might go ahead and read the sequel when it comes out, just to see what happens.

My rating:  4 out of 10 (2 stars)

~ The Bookworm

My Top 5 Books of April 2013

At the beginning of each month, I post a list of the books I read in the previous month and what my favorites were.  These are all the books I read in April:

- The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross
- Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
- The Collector by Victoria Scott
- Money Run by Jack Heath
- Prophecy Girl by Cecily White
- Black City by Elizabeth Richards
- Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer
- Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs
- Alice in Zomieland by Gena Showalter
- Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton
- The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross
- Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards
- Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
- Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley
- Unremembered by Jessica Brody
- The Elite by Kiera Cass
- If I Should Die by Amy Plum
- The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

My top five favorites:

1. Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout.  This is the fourth book in the Covenant series, and definitely my favorite so far!  I adore how snarky and strong Alex is, and of course Aiden is adorable!

2. Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer.  This was such an awesome contemporary.  I loved how the characters in it were so nerdy - I could totally relate to them, lol.  Normally I don't give light, cute contemporary books five stars, but I have to say, this one deserves it!

3. The Elite by Kiera Cass.  I know lots of bloggers aren't crazy about The Selection series, but I have to admit that I love these books.  They're like my guilty pleasure.  I love how girly and princess-y this book is!

4. The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa.  I was nervous about starting this, but I love it just as much as Julie's original Iron Fey series!  Ethan is a great narrator, and I love Kenzie!  (Also, who doesn't adore Grimalkin?  He reminds me of the Grumpy Cat meme, haha!)

5. Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt.  Loved how heartfelt and touching this book was.  I read it at just the right time, too - I'd been reading lots of paranormal books, and this contemporary story was so refreshing and funny!  Highly recommended.

Honorable mentions go to The Collector, Pretty Girl-13, and Alice in Zombieland!

What were your favorite reads from last month?

~ The Bookworm

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

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 Distance Between Us by Kasie West!


Goodreads summary:

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.


My thoughts:

So excited for this one!  I LOVED Kasie West's paranormal debut, Pivot Point, so I'm especially looking forward to seeing how she writes contemporary novels.  This is definitely one that I'll have to be reading right away when it comes out this summer!

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

~ The Bookworm