{Review} Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Requiem
Series: Delirium #3
Author: Lauren Oliver
Release Date: March 5, 2013
by, Harper Collin's Childrens Books
Source: bought
Pages: 391

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.

But we are still here.

And there are more of us every day.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.

Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.

But we have chosen a different road.

And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.

We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.{Goodreads}

~Review:
  Sigh...I don't know where to begin. I guess I will start with my thoughts. That's always a good start right? I mean that is what makes up reviews...

My first thought's when starting Delirium was "Love as a disease? Really? That sounds kind of really stupid. How far can you even go with that?"

My thoughts after Delirium: "Holy flipping crap! Why the heck had I ever doubted? This is one of the best books I have ever read!!"

My thoughts after Pandemonium: "What the flipping hell!! How could Lauren Oliver do this to us!? Do I seriously have to wait a whole year to read the finale?"

My thoughts before Requiem: "It's here! It's here! It is finally here! This book is going to be the death of me! I love Julian and I hope he gets a nice little girl for himself but Alex, Alex deserves the world. It will always be Alex at the top and he better be with her at the end. Holy crap I'm opening the book! Oh my gosh! Look there is the first word!"

My thoughts on Requiem:

  Alex is in my top five favorite guys! He is sharing the second place with Puck from The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa. Now, I had my dad read this series because he is the only other person in my family who loves books as much as I. I recommend books to him and he reads the ones I most highly recommend. I got him started and currently he is on book two. My point? He asked me why I liked Alex as much as I do. My answer: I don't know. I mean really he isn't as great as some. He is missing for all (or most?? sorry no spoilers) of the second book. His appearance in the third sucks because of circumstances. I guess maybe because he was one of my first book loves. Because in Delirium he was so high on life and freedom it was contagious. He had eyes that shone, a smile that gleamed and a laugh that could brighten a room. He was kind and loving and adventurous. He loved Lena unconditionally. He showed her things she never could have known without him. He was life. He was energy. He was love.

  Lena was different from protagonists. She grew. She was weak and vulnerable and innocent and ignorant. Seeing her grow throughout each book was amazing. I loved how she was scared and weak but she turned out to be courageous because of her fear and strong because she was weak. She had to work. She had to grow. It never came easy to her. She was shown different paths. She struggled. She knew love because of Alex. I liked following her throughout the series. In this final book she was the strongest she could be. I hated that she had to share a spotlight with Hana. I liked her POVs but I would have liked more of Lena.

  There wasn't a lot of action in the book but there wasn't much during the whole series. There are bits and pieces but its more of a love story wrapped up in a pretty little dystopia bow. It didn't need action to thrill me. There was enough tension and drama coming elsewhere.

  I had high hopes for this book. It is after all one of my ultimate favorite books. In some ways it succeeded and in others it failed. I wasn't all that happy with the ending. I was disappointed. I mean I can't complain too much because in the end I was well let's just say I was happy with specific choices. I hated it took so long for Alex to open up. I hated seeing Alex the way he was portrayed in this book. It was like someone constantly punching me in the gut. Happy, high on life, loving Alex was gone leaving a mirror image in its place. One that, like a mirror, could only mimic. It wasn't real and it wasn't true. I hated a certain girl throughout the whole book. Coral. Ugh. I hated seeing the light being dim in his eyes. No smile touching his lips but to be snide and hurtful. No words sweet and loving but vicious and cruel instead. It was torture. But when he finally opened up and let his wall down it was all over. The book was at its end and it...sucked.
There was so many loose threads.

SPOILER~
* highlight the paragraph to see spoiler!*

What happened to Hana? Julian? Did they get happy endings? I mean poor Julian he deserved better than that. I am happy Alex got the girl but Julian was way to sweet of a guy to just be left. I mean I seriously thought that was messed up.

~END SPOILER

  Then there were certain deaths that were stupid. Secrets that died with the person for no one to know. The death, I feel, unjustified. It was terrible! I felt like Lauren just kind of sent everyone over the the bridge and into the water waiting to be rescued...just...floating...This big huge ending was....ended. Too fast. Too quick. Not enough answers to leave me satisfied. There was no peace. It kind of just...ended. It was good but it wasn't great. The loose ends is what turned me off the most. Then the two lovers (not saying who) didn't get a great happy ending. No big kiss. No big ending.The finale to the fireworks show was worse than the opening. It was done backwards.

  And then the mother wasn't in it like....at all. After the big cliff hanger of Pandemonium she should have been a bigger part of Requiem I thought. I think Lauren Oliver was building up to the ending so much she forgot she actually forgot it needed to end. I don't know. I don't know if she left it like that to start a spinoff. An "after its all over" beginning. The world after the rebellion. Who knows. I have a hard time believing a woman with as much talent as Lauren Oliver would end a book like that. I thought for sure I would have a settling piece after finishing it. I big breath after the storm. A feeling of contentment. I don't even to this day and I read it almost a month ago. There is just things that unnerve me. I can't fully explain it.

My thoughts after Requiem (after my befuddlement and rage: "I can't believe it's over. I will miss them all."

My thoughts on the series: "Even though it didn't end quite like I wanted it is still one of my favorite series. I will always love Alex. I will always love Alex and Lena. I will always love Julian. These characters and this story will always be in my heart and mind."

  My thoughts to you: Read this series. Don't listen to me or others about how it ended. Read the first two books because it was worth it. those two books are outstanding. They are amazing in every way. Lauren Oliver's writing is beautiful and lyrical. The first two things that come to mind when I think of her writing is birds and water....and music. Birds because they are free. They have this peace about them when you see them in flight. They are beautiful. Water because it flows. It flows so easily. It doesn't need a constant hand pushing it along it rides its own drift. It goes where it wants and where it ends up is perfect. It quenches us. It fills us. It is essential in life. Music because it is both...free and fluid. Its peace to those who seek it. It is an extension of some. It can tell a story more than other things. It lets us into different versions of people ad ourselves. Call me corny but it's all true. This series is a story of love, loss, self finding and trust. Lies, betrayal, heart-break and redemption. The third one is great. the story is awesome its just the ending that turns people off. And its really not that bad. Its worth it. Trust me.

~Rating:

4 of 5 stars!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day,

~Jaiden 

{Review} The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

The Eternity Cure
Series: The Blood of Eden #2
Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: April 30, 2013
by, Harlequin Teen
Source: bought
Pages: 434

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.{Goodreads}

~Trailer:

asdfghjkl!!!!!!!!!!! <3 ;D

~Review:
  Holy Shit...Just...just wow. I understand shit can't be holy but this shit is holy. Hahaha jkjk!! I can't even associated shit and any piece of Julie Kagawa's work in the same sentence. Its offending. Let's start over shall we?                                                     *Rewinds*

  Wow! Has Julie done it again or no? No, she has exceeded! If you knew me well and someone asked who my favorite author was it'd be so easy to answer. Answer: Julie Kagawa. Hands down. No competition. She has the remarkable way with words. She has one of those gifts that are so natural. Some people are good authors. Some are great. Some are so good that you know that's what they live and breathe. The talent just oozes out of them *rewinds* (I hate the word oozes). The talent just flows so easily. Its effortless. For them to do anything else would be absurd. I mean she is very talented in other things as well but what I am trying to say is that there are some people who are born to do a certain thing. Julie was born to write, to steal our breaths and hearts with every word she puts to paper, every character she creates, every plot, every story.

  She is extremely talented. Her writing is flawless. The ability she has to capture readers attention from the very first page is incredible. It's what miracles are made of ;D Too cheesy? Too bad. ;P I seriously have trouble with each review I do of one of her books. It's hard to find the right words. No matter what I do I can't seem to bring justice to her books. I can't explain just how amazing her and her books are. I end up just saying to read it for yourself and find out. To experience it for yourself because that's the only way you will truly understand.

  This book was like a maze. You never knew what was lurking around the corner. Was it going to be sudden death? A trap? A dead end (there is no such thing in Julie's book mazes)? A fountain of fortune? A home free run? Every page amazed me more than the last. I was hooked. No, I was transfixed. There would be little to no action at one point and then BOOM! There is action galore and your brain can't process is so you have to go back just to make sure you didn't miss anything or make it all up in your head. One part in particular made me double...triple my steps back. It happened so quick and the catastrophe was so catastrophic I was like wth!? What the hell just happened and what did I miss? It was seriously in the blink of an eye and everything went to hell. My goodness!!! I couldn't help be taken back by the genius that Julie Kagawa produced sometimes.

  The characters are awesome. I love Allie. She is cool and that katana of hers is the definition of kick-ass. I even enjoyed Jackal's presence. I love the snide remarks, wit, and all around comic relief he blesses us with. I bet he would completely enjoy that statement. Allie and Jackal's conversations were hilarious. I am not convinced that Jackal is on the good side. Why? Because he isn't plain and simple. He is on the side that has the upper hand. What he does is for himself. If he sees it benefiting him he will jump in. If he sees it as sudden death he won't. Don't let him full you. Kanin. Man that was some rough stuff. Sarren *shivers* Now THAT is an evil character. The amount of goosebumps and shivers he managed to draw from me is ridiculous. That guy is seriously creepy, insane, morbid, and did I mention...evil!!? Zeke. *sighs* Oh Zeke. I love you like I love pizza...and that is a lot. Man this boy is totes adorbs ;P He is so pure and loving you can't help but be attracted and swooned.

  That ending. Sweet baby Jesus. I died. That was one of the worst endings you could possible have! I knew it. I knew that was going to be the case because of who Sarren is and he doesn't give you what you want....sometimes death is too easy. He will give you exactly what you don't want. The thing you would rather die than have. Goodness....I can't believe Julie actually followed through. I have no hope for the next book because it has nothing going for it but tragedy. Julie Kagawa is finally going to rip my heart out. Seven books later of hers and I am finally going to have nothing left. She keeps stealing piece after piece of my heart and with this final book in the Blood of Eden series it's all going to be gone. I am going to be a zombie: emotionless, starved, and depressed. ;P That's the thing. Her writing is so incredible that she leaves you so vulnerable. She holds your heart, mind and emotions in the palm of her hand. Every book of hers does that. She is a cruel cruel mistress that you can't help but love. *sings* And I hate how I love you so...*stops singing* (Ne-yo and Rihanna)

  I can only complain about one thing in this series: the book cover switch. I have a major reading pet peeve. Well I have a few but one is the following: when half way through the series they decide to change the covers. I like my books to match. They don't match when you go and redesign the rest of the freaking series. I like the new cover (its cooler when you can see it all. When you take the book jacket off it has Allie and her katana, same with the book flaps) but I would have preferred they made up their minds before releasing the first book!

  In a world over stocked on vampire books Julie throws her piece into the mix and shakes it all up. There is no going back once you read this series. The Blood of Eden trilogy is sure to out shine every vampire book in the Young Adult genre today. It's refreshing, riveting and ravishing. (Don't judge the word choice I needed three "r" words) ;P I'm not joking. This is a series sure to sweep you off your feet. I tend to like the more realistic books and this is as real as vampires get. No "shining in the sun light" vegetarian crap. It's creepy, thrilling and heart-throbbing. These books got it all: romance, action, blood and gore, heroism, all of it! Read this book. Then read all her other books. They are all amazing. I will swear up and down on Julie Kagawa and all her series. They are what greatness is made of. Plain and simple.

~Rating:

 

Need-In-Order-To-Breathe (5 stars times a million)

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful day,

~Jaiden

{Review} Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me
Series: Shatter Me #2
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: February 5, 2013
by, HarperCollins
Source: Bought
Pages: 461

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.{Goodreads}

~Review:
  Ding-Ding-Ding!!!! We have another winner!! So many great books in a row you guys!! I'm just going to start off by saying: yes, this book has a "need in order to breathe" rating. Now, in case you are new to my reviews, the highest ranking in stars you can get is a 5. A five star rating means that I am absolutely in love and obsessed. To get a five star rating is pretty rare. Because I tend to love all the books I read and it is even rarer to get a 1-2 star rating, a lot of my rates are between 3 and 4.5. I try not to give 5 stars out to many books because...greatness needs to be rewarded and if you use the term "greatness" too loosely it begins to have no worth right? Right. So five star ratings are rare. Do you know what is even rarer? A "need in order to breathe" ranking. That ranking means that not only am I in love and obsessed but that this is one of those miracle books. The ones that have everything in it. The ones that can be greater than great. Ones that I will keep with me forever, read over and over again without getting tired of them. The ones that over take every emotion and thought in me. Steal my breathe, heart and mind. So, when I give a "need in order to breathe" ranking....you know its good and you know its more than a favorite.

  Ok, so with that said...Unravel Me is one of those books that stole my breathe, heart, and mind. I had a few problems with this book but quite frankly, the good completely out weighed the bad. It obviously had to be pretty spectacular stuff to make the top rate right? Yes, so first thing...

  Tahereh Mafi's writing. Wow-oh-wow! I thought she was good in the first one! This second book she completely shined. She showed off her talent beautifully! I don't think I have ever read a book so beautiful before. Writing that is. Tahereh breaks all the rules and it works. She has a way of looking about things so differently it really opens your eyes. She makes you look at things in a way you never thought of! This book was a masterpiece in itself because of Miss Mafi's artistic hand. She has such an amazing voice that demands to be heard. (ok not voice really but well...her author voice. The one that she turns from sound to ink on paper.) Sometimes I would just read a certain passage and have to just stop, read it again, sit back, and admire the genius she just shared with us all. I was so pleasantly surprised by her talent over and over and over again! And its not just the words that she writes but the way she writes them. She will separate sentences in certain ways that make an emphasis on certain things. Its incredible! Tahereh Mafi is on superb author who knows what she is doing and who's talent exceeds and shines! She might as well add an "i" to the end of her last name making it Mafia. Why? Because she kills and tortures us!! ;D

  Now. Juliette. *dead pans* My-oh-my. I am sorry but Juliette bugged the absolute shit out of me this book. She is so whiny and its always "poor me! poor me!". I seriously felt like slapping her 3/4 of the book. I hated her with a passion. I wanted someone to slap her and yell "get the f over yourself. Yes, it's a pitty what happened with the child. Yes, it's probably hard to have a touch so lethal but you know what? Change! Embrace your power and use it for good! You could be one kick-ass heroine but you are ruining it with all your mopey soap opera shit!" And do you know what? Someone did...kind of. Let's just say Kenji is one of my all time favorite side characters. He is flipping hilarious and the man knows what to say when its needed to be said. I will say that at the end of the book...I was left happy. I know Juliette can be one of the greatest YA heroines ever. It just sucks that we will have to wait till the final book to get her there.

  Now for the good...the other good. The good that was not Tahereh's writing. The good that has all us girls swooning 99% of the time in all YA books. The boys. Ah, yes the boys. Let's start with...Adam! I love Adam. He is adorable, charming, sweet, and one hell of a looker right? Yes. Yes indeed he is. I just have one problem...Him and Juliette. Now, now! Don't go sending me hate mail just yet all you #TeamAdam girls. Did I not just compliment the heck out of the guy!? Yes I believe I did. I think he is amazing and totally swoon worthy. I would be lying if I said I wasn't #TeamAdam from the beginning. In fact I hated Warner! I thought he was a bloody psychopath and so was anyone who could hold love for a murderer! A twisted psychotic EVIL guy! But, I indeed traded teams. I read Destroy Me and fell head over heals for Warner and then I read Unravel Me and about exploded from all the love I was having for him.

  Again, I like Adam I just don't think he belongs with Juliette. He hinders and baby's her. Warner is a better fit. He sees the power she has and knows she can be unstoppable. He doesn't wish for her to be any different (neither does Adam but let me finish!!) he truly accepts her for who she is. He strengthens her. He brings out the best in her. He gives her a backbone. I think Adam babies her WAY too much. He wants to protect her...Warner wants her to be safe but he knows that she is strong enough to not need the assistance. He would do anything for her but he can see the strength in her that others can't. So bottom line Warner should be with Juliette. I truly only liked her when she was with him. She could put all her petty insecurities and mopey thoughts away when she was with Warner. Seriously. When Juliette was with Warner all those things that pissed me off about her disappeared. Now, I want a happy ending for Adam. I wouldn't be able to deal with him unhappy. So, Tahereh..hear me loud and clear...Juliette is a better Juliette when she is with Warner. Let the series end with them together and give us an awesome chick to be with Adam! :) Thank you!!

  Warner!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh this book was filled with nothing but sexy Warner parts! It was heaven. I had to put the book down sometimes and remember how to breathe. I think I have reread certain passages more than once...twice...five...ya. I lost count ;D

  If you have not started this series please do! It is amazing. Tahereh Mafi gives us a phenomenal sequel. This woman knows what she is doing! Her writing is superb and her characters are shining stars. This series will capture the hearts of all dystopia loving readers! Don't wait till the third one comes out...or maybe do and read them all together so you aren't dying like the rest of us are now. Bottom line...Warner is a sexy beast. Wait, woah. hahaha well that is embarrassing. That kind of just slipped out on its own. *shrugs* Can you blame me? ;D What I meant to say is...WARNER IS THE SEXIEST BEAST ALIVE...(Well written). Ok ok...in all seriousness....Bottom line is, you need to read this series. (and then swoon over just how sexy of a beast Warner is hehehe) (seriously in my top 5 favorite guys...just saying!!) ;D

~Rating:

Need-In-Order-To-Breathe!!!!! (5 stars times a billion)

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!! :D

~Jaiden

{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} Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Dearly Departed
Series: Gone With the Respiration (#1)
Author: Lia Habel
Release Date: October 18, 2011
by, Del Rey
Source: Bought

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love. {Goodreads}

~Review:
  Zombie book number two....my reaction...HOLY FREAKING MOTHER OF PEARLS!!!!!! This book is so different from the first zombie book I read: Die For Me. While Die For Me is still a zombie book...it is better classified as a revenant book. Yes, they are zombies but not the flesh-eating-corpse-looking-mindless zombies that you normally imagine when you hear the word..."zombie". Now with Dearly, Departed....that is exactly what you get and exactly what I wanted...but 100x better!

  I don't even know where to begin on the list of things that made this book so good. First off, I guess, would have to be what the book is. Ya, like, its genre. It is a dystopian, steampunk, paranoramal romance, action, thriller...all wrapped up into one! Woah. I know! It blew my mind too. This book being all that was said above..made it absolutely amazing! I am forever in love with the Victorian Age. Zombies with manners...ya mind blown twice already I know! ;D Yes, some of those zombies aren't so bad they have manners! They have normal thoughts. feelings, emotions. This book just continued to blow my mind. Page after page, after wonderful page!

  I loved everything from each character: zombie and human, the witty humor between those characters, the awesome butt-kicking zombie lore, the cool gadgets and goodness..everything! I especially loved the different POV's as vast as they were. Yupp! Not just Nora's POV, not Nora and Bram's POV but also Victor's, Pamelah's, and Wolfe's!!! I loved getting to see the world throught there eyes!! This book was well thought out and ingeniously writin out!

  Dearly, Departed  was oh-so unique, captivating and just plain out awesome. This is a book I will never forget and look forward to reading over and over. While it gave me goose-bumps at some parts it also gave me butterflies with Bram and Norah's unique love. You understood the new world and how it came to be without being dragged through a boring and long history. She made it simple. sweet. but yet understandable and in a neatly disguised way not a BAM! Let me give you a run down of all that happened. I enjoyed how the history of the New Victorian era came to be. I am soo excited to read the second book! Both cover's are absolutely gorgeous! I am now a great fan of both zombies and Lia Habel. Can't wait to see what she has in store!! :D Wonderfully amazing!! I really loved this book! ..Can you tell? ;)

~Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!! :)

~Jaiden

{Waiting on Wednesday} (25) Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.

~This week I'm waiting on.....

Defiance
Author: C.J. Redwine
Release Date: august 28, 2012
Pre-Order

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.
At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.
As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. {Goodreads}

AHH! One look at the cover. Isn't that the most bad @$$ cover you've ever seen? I think it's pretty darn amazing! The trees, her red hair that stands out, the cloak, the city in the cloak...ya this cover is gorgeous!! And what an even more amazing and enthralling synopsis! I am alread in love with Logan for one and two..this book just gives me chills!! SO can't wait to read it!! :D

What about YOU! What are you excited for this week!? Leave a link in my comments! :)

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} The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules
Series: Blood of Eden (#1)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Published: April 24, 2012
by Harlequin Teen
Source: Bought (DUH!)
Pages: 485

"In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity."Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of "them." The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked--and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.
Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.
Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend--a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.
But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what--and who--is worth dying for. {Goodreads}

~Trailer:

What an awesome trailer right!!!? :O

~Review:


 A Beginning note: Wow!! Julie has done it once again....amazed me and has blown my mind with her amazing writing talent!! This book stands proud and tall in my favorites!!! A trophy worth showing off! ;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Now, everyone knows Julie Kagawa is my favorite author. Her books the Iron Fey Series got me hooked on my so called book obsession I have today. And when I heard she was coming out with a new series? I was sooo excited!! Another great book like the Iron King!! WRONG!! This book is nothing like the Iron Fey. Not. One. Bit.


 This book was truly amazing! Whatever you do. Do not go into reading this book thinking it will resemble the last books. But that often happens doesn't it? An author rights something and then their next series will be different...but you will see the similarities.Not at all the case here. Where the fae books was all beauty and glory this one was all dark and run down. The vampires took over the world and nature has destroyed the buildings and structures of man kind. 


 The only similarities you see is the amazing talent of Mrs. Kagawa. How great and wonderful her imagination spreads and transfers into words on a paper for all to enjoy. How great her details are. How she uses her words...her writing is...pure perfection. I have read enough books to see that some authors try too hard with vocabulary and their comparisons ("his touch was as light as a butterflies wings" whatever. you get the point.) Some authors over due it. Vocabulary: too many big words when not needed. Or not enough where it's like a childs book. Julie uses those big words correctly. When a simple word doesn't get the point across then she uses a more colorful word. Comparisons: way too detailed. Or no details at all. Again, Julie pulls through and uses them when she should and has a great comparison!


 Now onto the book.....Right from the beginning I was trapped in between the pages of this awesome book. You get enough information about this new world to understand it but later on you learn more. This book took vampire's to a whole new world! Since the Twilight series people have tried to write vampire books and while some have succeeded....others have failed. Julie definitely made a succeeding book! And it totally kicks the Twilight series a$$!

 Speaking of kicking a$$ lets talk about Allie...dude this chick was fantastic! She was a total kick butt character even before she became a vampire! She was fearless when it came to the people she cared about. Ya, she was taught to think for yourself, that's the only way how to survive but let's face it...Allie doesn't follow the rules. No one. And I mean...no one. tells her what to do. She tries so hard to be the best vampire she can be....but when it comes to the Hunger....she has no choice but to embrace her killer instincts..but she fights...she fights so hard and she is truly remarkable! I loved her character a lot!

 All the characters were somewhat likeable! (except for those who were made to not be liked of course) Kanin was an awesome vampire mentor. And his secrets....are just coming undone. (Can't wait for book 2 yo!!) And of course....Zeke...he was amazing! Again...not even here, the boy love interest, can you compare to the Iron Fey. He is nothing like Puck or Ash. He is so....Zeke! I loved him. I hated him. I wanted to devour him and eat him for dinner ;)

 And...I gotta finish this review up. If you are at the book store and this book is there and you ask your self....Take it....or leave it?? Your answer: Grab the freaking book and run the heck out of there to begin reading! (after paying of course! I don't want to be blamed for you stuck in jail) haha


Ya....Darn you Julie for addicting me! ;b Is there ever going to be a book from you that I won't like?? Answer: No. Because you are to great of an author!! I love everything thus far! Your writing never seizes to amaze me! My favorite author of all times write here ya'll



 This book has romance, a$$ whooping, crazy plot twists, amazing imagery and all that is great wrapped into one. Julie did a phenomenal job. Definitely worth re-reading several times!

~Rating:

4.5 wonderful stars!! :D

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: