{Review} The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse

The Forsaken 
Series: The Forsaken (#1)
Author: Lisa M Stasse
Release Date: July 10, 2012
by, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: *an ARC was provided for review purposes*
Pages: 375
A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy.

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. {Goodreads}

~Trailer:

Woah! I absolutely love this trailer!! So cool! 

~Review:

  I was so happy to receive an advanced readers copy of The Forsaken! Miss Stasse is one of the sweetest authors and I was thrilled to read her book! But even though the author may be nice....when it comes down to a review...you have to be honest. Good or Bad? SOOO good! I loved this book! I especially loved how the setting wasnt so far in the future. Today, most dystopian books are set where the new government has been around for decades or centuries. This one was fresh and new. Which made it that much more believable. I loved the world set up.

  Now, nothing is cooler than the Wheel, a place where those teens who have failed the personality test are sent...to die (basically). With harsh conditions, wild animals, and a crazy brainwashed tribe of teens....the Wheel is someplace I do not want to be sent. But...at the same time..I do...no, I don't..maybe? There is seriously danger surrounding you! This place is crazy intense and super scary. I loved it! And another thing I loved...the characters! My fav...Daniel haha idk why but I just did! But he has his secrets...secrets that may just tie him to the enemy tribe...dude! Those guys were freaky! *shivers* Ya, no chit-chat with those brain-washed crazies!! 

  And the main character, Alenna, was absolutely awesome! I loved how she wasn't the hard-as-steal kick ass character but also wasn't the poor-me-I-can't-do-this whinny character that everyone hates. She was her own mix. Her own kick-ass character that I loved! Yes, she wasn't slaying every bad guy she came across with....and she was whinny at times..but...do you know what? After she whined, she would see it and try hard to face that fear and become better..even if she sucked at first. She never gave up. She was real, reliable, relatable, believable. Who the hell goes from city girl to goddess warrior in one day? No one! You have to be trained, work hard, learn to survive! And that is exactly what Alenna did. And that's why I liked her so much. She's not afraid to admit she is scared but she doesn't let that fear consume her. Here is an example of what I'm talking about:

"'That's llife on the wheel for you.' She looks me square in the face. 'Having second thoughts?'

Definately! But I'm still going.'"

  See? She is scared..but she is willing to do what she needs to do anyways! Love her! Haha and...insert romance....I loved Liam and Alenna! Their relationship didn't move to fast but when you are on the wheel...you kinda have to seize the moment you know? So fast but..not too fast. And it was innocent and so very cute! Can't wait for more!! :D

  With danger lurking in every shadow, crazy blood-thirsty teenagers, and innocent love, The Forsaken was a pleasant surprise. For me, even better than the Hunger Games! While reading the HG at times I felt the characters lacked depth, but The Forsaken's characters were real and had the depth I like all characters to have. The Wheel was intense and crazily scary! Lisa's writing pulled me in and had me wanting more when it all ended! I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. A great debut title and a new favorite series! If you are a fan of Divergent and the Hunger Games, you will love this book too! Get your little hands on a copy when you can!

~Rating:

4.5 of 5 wonderful stars!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope you have a great day!! :)

~Jaiden

{Review} Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed
Series: Matched (#2)
Team: Ky
Author: Ally Condie
Release Date: November 1, 2011
by, Dutton Juvenile
Source: Bought
Pages: 367

Rules Are Different Outside The Society
Chasing down an uncertain future, Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky--taken by the Society to his sure death--only to find that he has escaped into the majestic, but treacherous, canyons. On this wild frontier are glimmers of a different life and the enthralling promise of a rebellion. But even as Cassia sacrifices every thing to reunite with Ky, ingenious surprises from Xander may change the game once again.Narrated from both Cassia's and Ky's point of view, this hotly anticipated sequel to Matched will take them both to the edge of Society, where nothing is as expected and crosses and double crosses make their path more twisted than ever. {Goodreads} 

~Trailer:

~Review:
 Crossed was kind of the answer to my prayers...relating to the Matched Trilogy. As you remember(if you saw my review of Matched) I mentioned that Matched lacked some depth. Well Hallelujah!! This book had depth!! A whole new depth to depth ;) You finally got more information of the Society and how it came to be. And you got more depth from the characters. 

 Cassia is strong in this book. She has to be. I loved her! She is no longer an empty vesicle.Cassia is who she is and is comfortable with that and is willing to go to any extremes to find Ky. She is no longer the Societies little robot. No. She is rebellious!! I loved to read from her POV! Oh! And speaking of POV's!! Did anyone know that this book was alternating POV's?? Alternating POV's from both Cassia and uhem!!!....KY!!!!! :O 

 Ya. Awesome right!? I love Ky. He is the only one who has had depth from book 1 and he is the reason this book goes into deeper than deep in depth! Every thing about this boy is so good!! Loved Loved! Reading from Ky's perspective. Oh and be for warned... *spoiler* Even though Xander isn't in this book...you still have that love triangle goin on. EEp!! I loved getting more about Xander! I think that was my favorite part. You got to see him...HIM! And sides/stories you never saw coming! Idk bout my teams ya'll ;) Xander just got hotter than hott with a touch of secrets adding to a bad-boy rep muahah

 The only thing that bugged me througout the book was the "Enemy". For starters....they all of a sudden showed up. In thin air! Out of absolutely no where in book 1. And it still failed to be explained in book 2. I understand they are a bit of a mystery but come on! From all the talk about everything else....as much as everyone seems to know about the Rebellion, the Pilot, the Society...no one knows why there even is an Enemy? When they started? Why they started? Seriously!!? Ya, it bugged. But not enough to ruin the book for me. And then the end...who in the flipping world is 'him" and it wasn't just in the end. Throughout the book there would be a mysterious "him/her" spoken about but you knew nothing about who it was! And no, it wasn't mysterious.

 Altogether this book was just what I needed to save the Match trilogy for me. Crossed is poetically beautiful with its adventurous tale of finding yourself in a world where you are told who to be; to fight for the things you were never supposed to love; and to make the decisions that may or may not just save your life. I really loved Crossed and am looking forward to see how its all going to end in Reached. :D

~Rating:

4 stars!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Have a great day!! :)

~Jaiden

{Review} Matched by Ally Condie

Matched
Series: Matched Trilogy (#1)
Author: Ally Condie
Team: Ky
Release Date: November 30, 2010
by, Dutton Juvenile
Source: Bought
Pages: 366

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow. {Goodreads}

~Trailer:

~Review:
 I wasn't too sure about this book. I had heard and seen so many different things about this book varying from "amazing! This book is great. A favorite for sure." to "I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately I couldn't. I was bored." But when Christmas and my birthday cam along I had all this book money....what should I buy was the question and I decided. I'll give this book a try. And so I bought book 1 and 2. And you all know...I have a huge To-Read pile and I am soo far behind on it because of school so I  just got to read it. And again...I was hesitant. It wasn't until my book-sharing-cousin texted me and and told me that she absolutely loved it! So..what the heck!

 There are so many dystopian books these days and it's hard for the greats to stand out. And even though I don't particulary agree with the "amazing! This book is great." reviews....I don't necessarily agree with the "I didn't like it all. I was bored." reviews. You can say I was in the middle...leaning a bit more towards the great reviews. I liked it. I liked it a lot! At times I felt that there was a lack of depth in the story, the Society, and the characters. Even though the world made sense...stuff was missing. A Society with no past, no reason of being. All of a sudden there was an unspeakable War. An unexpected peak of interest in an experiment..involving Ky and Cassia. A lot of questions that never got answered....


 Cassia was an interesting character. She was clueless. One of the Societies robots. she does what she is told and doesn't ask questions. She truly believes that the Society only wants the best for her. That is until she gets a malfunction in her microcard. Two Matches? Not normal. Heck! It shouldn't even be possible! The best way I could describe her was a candle. One spark and....she went out in flames. She started to see clearer. She got a spark of rebellion....a spark produced from her grandfather and love. True love. Ky. He was adorable! He wasn't the bad boy I was expecting. He was probably the only character...the only thing that had depth in this story. I loved him. 

 And back to no depth....Xander and Cassia...what was it? For being her match and best friend..by the end of the story. I had no freaking idea about him! She said that she never needed to look at his microcard because she already knew him so well but never gave us anything about him!! I wanted to like him but his lack of any character building...I didn't get to even know him. Which made me deeply sad. Hopefully we get to see more....I sure hope so. All I want is more depth...more insight.

 Altogether, this book brought a unique idea to the dystopian world. I don't regret buying this book and can't wait to start the second which...btw....is told from alternating POV's ....Ky's and Cassia's!!! :D Miss. Condie did an excellent job create the guessing game and  a gorgeous poetic romance that left my heart aching for the doomed couple. When it comes down to it...this book didn't disappoint. Slow at times, yes. Horribly bad and not worth the read. No. Do what I did...give it a chance. Borrow it..buy it...just read it. You might be pleasantly surprised. :)
 

~Rating: 

 

 3.5 stars! :)

Thanks for stopping by! 

Have a great day!! :)

~Jaiden

{Review} Timepiece by Myra McEntire

 Heads up!!! Because I read both books right after each other in 4 days....I am doing a double review. Yes the header says Timepiece but right before I get to the review I am going to do a quick review of book #1 (Hourglass) and the trailer section will be devoted to Hourglass as well because well...there is no Timepiece trailer! lol So, I just wanted to give you guys a for-warning before gettin started! Thanks! :)

 Timepiece 
Series: Hourglass (#2)
Author: Myra McEntire
Publish Date: June 12, 2012
by EgmontUSA
Source: Bought
Pages: 336

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts. {Goodreads}

~Trailer: 

Hourglass Review:
 I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into when I picked up Hourglass. I was kinda confused about what it was actually about...ghosts or time-travel? Or could it be both? Then I read it and everything made sense! This is series the most unique book I have ever read!! Myra is a complete genius! She kinda has to be to think up something like this. No. Scratch that. Because not only did she think up something like this but also because she could explain it...through science! Real or not real...it made sense. Sometimes we create fiction but have no way to explain it but by...fiction! But Mrs. McEntire does a amazing job trying to bring science into it...it's more believable when it can be explained right? Right! Wow! Ya it was pretty freaking genius!


 Not only was the plot and idea so unique but also the writing style and all the characters! Myra McEntire is one of those rare (and loved) authors who can pull off the description of writing in perfection...remember when I ranted about Julie Kagawa and the differences between writing styles (comparisons [too much or too little] and vocabulary [again too little or too much])? Yes!? Good! No!? Here ya go...5th paragraph...! Well anyways...with that being said/shown Myra is in the perfection catagory!! Yippee!!! Her descriptions/comparisons were perfectly done! No trouble! Her vocabulary was also! Ya, she had me going to the dictionary more than 3 times but...that's my fault! I have a TERRIBLE vocabulary! (that and a spelling problem...but! working on it don't worry haha) 


 Now for the characters: Emerson was awesome!! I seriously didn't think she would be as awesome as she was! I totally had her pinned out to be someone else before reading the book (do you ever do that? Imagine the character a certain way just based in the synopsis?) She was so fierce! And a bit abusive haha She could hold her own that's for darn sure! Hahaha her and Michael's first talk was the BEST thing ever! I laughed my freaking butt off! Goodness that was awesome! Haha and also her second..third? I dont remember...the scene when they are running(you'll know when you read it or if you have) Funny stuff! Michael was awesome! He wasn't my favorite and too be honest....I liked Kaleb for Emerson...Michael had this temper thing that kinda bugged but Kaleb and Emerson's  relationship just flowed! Idk o well! I'll talk about that later! 


 Finally......Sorry this "quick" review  ended up being a lot bigger than anticipated hehe! You all need to go get this book now! I completely regret reading this book so late! Hourglass is a beautiful unique gift that has you seeing time-travel through new eyes! It did a 180 on my interpretation of time-travel for sure. I seriously can't think of another word to use but unique because that's just what it was! And so wonderfully written so! I have a new favorite series and author! I'd rewind time over and over just to read the book again...but even though I don't get to time travel...I will re-read! So this book gets a 4-star rate!! :D
 
 ~Review:
  Ugh! Sorry guys! Too much needed to be said about the book above! And time escaped me so I had no choice but to do a double review. Anyways! 


 Holy mother of pearl!!! This book was SO flipping good! You have all heard about second book syndrome right? This book...no problem!! This book had it ALLLL!! And woah! Major shock when I heard it was from Kaleb's POV! But oh..I am SO not complaining there! I love Kaleb! He is gah!!! Indescribable! And I really really wanted him and Emerson! :( Theyre relationship like I said..flowed! They were cute and flirty and they would pick on each other and they understood each other! Sure! They didn't make electrical appliances explode (which is cute between Michael and Emerson) but they had sparks!


 The relationship in the end I accepted and really came to love but only at the end. It gained my approval because it did become really cute and uhm a hella sexy!!! ;D


 I loved the more information we get about the time-gene, the Houglass, etc.! Very enlightening haha But wow! This book was crazy!! Seriously It had soo many twists and turns!! I was cringing, about to cry, laughing my butt off!....Kaleb+a full POV from him= the funniest banter ever! God I love this boy!!! I also love how we got to see more of Lily and the secrets she holds! She became a strong character and I really came to like her! :) She is tough in so many ways and is also quite the comedian! 
  
 Now back to the crazy...Chronos, Teague, Jack, Poe!! Oh goodness Poe!! I think I really could have come to like you.... *sniffle sniffle* Sure you did what you did but...there were reasons. I don't think you meant them...Oh well we will see what happens I guess! But again..moving on....so many doors were opened in this book and then some were shoved closed...right on your face! Rude!!! ;b But the biggest doors are wide open....well...maybe not. They are cracked an waiting to be opened so they can release all their secrets...but that's what the final book is for. DUH!!


 Please hurry up Infinityglass!! I need you! Like an actual need!!! Is there anyway I can time travel nto the future, read the final book, then come back!? No?? Phewy!!! >:b *sighs* So much waits in Infinityglass! This book was about all the crazy and all the time-continuum screw ups! Thanks to Jack everything is all wack and the only way to fix it all is by finding the Infinityglass! Grrrrr!!!!


 Ok. I'm gonna end this rant by saying you really need to read this series! It is truly remarkable! The Hourlgass Series will blow your mind and leave you thinking  about all that has happened long after you've read it! Again. this one word.....UNIQUE! It truly is and I'm a wee bit obsessed! Oh! Before I go....what's the chances of getting the third book from Michael's POV? Lily's?? Kaleb again!!!!!? :D Idk...I'm just super excited!! This book gets.....
 

~Rate:

 

4.5 Stars!! (Saving 5of 5 for book three!! Heehehe!!!!!)

lol Thanks for stopping by! :)

Have a great Day!!

~Jaiden

{Review} Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder
Series: Lunar Chronicles (#1)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Published: January 3, 2012
by Feiwel & Friends
Source: Bought (physical copy)
Pages: 400

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. {Goodreads}

~Trailer:

~Review:
 This book was amazing! This book is so unique and completely and entirely wonderful!! Even though it has the Cinderella theme to it...do not expect a re-telling. No. This book was far beyond a re-telling...it was so beautifully crafted into an almost original. If you ask to read me the story of Cinderella..you better read me Cinder cus no version of Cinderella is better than this one. (And I am hoping I made some sense in this paragraph!)

 Marissa Meyer was completely and entirely genius! Everything from the time, the effort in creating a history for this futuristic world, the Lunars, the secrets, the disease, the beginning, the end!!!! Wow....I'm at a loss for words yet again! I seem to be in a good book streak! ;D I loved how not everything went as Cinderella went but still had those recognizable moments. And those moments were re-told so uniquely to fit this story. The dad...the ball....everything! It was sooo awesome!

 I think I'm safe to say that Cinder was a bit of an intro book. You got who Cinder is, who Kai is, the disease that is infecting them all, the world's peace, the Lunars who are threatening war, some history of the Lunars, how all came to be what the world is now, etc.....But the real action starts at the very last page. That is what makes me sooo excited for the rest of the series!

 Because of me feeling it was more of an intro I don't have too much to say but I will say this: This book was a wonderful master piece. All who haven't read it. Read it. Yes, it's a retelling of Cinderella. Yes, you kind of know the basics for what is going to happen because it's a retelling of Cinderella but dont and I mean don't you even dare to think you know it all cus guess what!? You don't. No. Not at all. You will find so many pleasant surprises that..if your like me.... you will find yourself loving the story of Cinderella even more because of Cinder. And I do. I wish Cinder was the original story. Cus its just that bad ass! (pardon my language).

 I really enjoyed this book. You will to so you know what to do! I'm giving Cinder a 4.5 star rating (yes th pic will only be four stars but only cusgoodreads doesn't allow half ratings therefore my blog rate pics don't either!) only because of my feeling of an intro but that's just how I feel. But I have this awesome heart pounding feeling that this next one will get one of those rare 100000000 star ratings! Hurry up Scarlet!!!!!! I need you now! ;D

Thanks for reading! :)
*You need to read this book asap!!* ;b
~Jaiden

~Rate: