The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Title: The Darkest Part of the Forest

Author: Holly Black

Length: 336 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

Release Date: January 13, 2015

Source: ARC (Thank you so much to the NOVL newsletter!)

Read: November 2014

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.
Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.
At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.
Until one day, he does…
As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

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***I received an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of this book from the NOVL Newsletter in exchange for an honest review***

My first thought upon finishing this book was "Why in the world did I wait so long to read a book written by Holly Black?!"
I don't really know why the only other thing I have read before this one was the short story that was published in My True Love Gave to Me. 

But after reading The Darkest Part of the Forest, I now know that I need to read more Holly Black! 

This book is awesome! I really enjoyed reading it!

Hazel and her brother, Ben, live in a fascinating world full of humans and fairies. In the town that they live in the humans and fairies not only know about each other, but have been coexisting for years. For the most part, the fairies play pretty harmless tricks that attract curious tourists. But Hazel starts noticing that things are changing and the fairies may be more dangerous than anyone knows. And at the center of it all is the horned boy that has been asleep in a glass coffin in the forest for years. Hazel has to figure what is happening and how to protect everyone as she discovers things that she didn't know before. 

The writing style really pulled me in. The words and details made it really easy for me to be sucked into Hazel's world! 
I was so captivated by the writing, world, and characters, it was hard for me to put the book down. I really tried to take my time so I could savor the book, but I couldn't stop reading. Even when I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the story and the characters.

I absolutely love that this book has some mysterious elements to the story. The cryptic messages for example. Overall, there were some surprising twists that kept me guessing and the story very entertaining for me! Several things that I didn't see coming. There were a couple small things that I guessed, but these things made me happy.

I find Hazel to be a strong character. I love that she is determined to do whatever to keep doing what she wants to do.

Ben is another fun character. One of my favorite things from this book is the sibling relationship between these two characters. I feel like it is realistic. They are each keeping things from one another to try and protect them. I like the development and love that I see in their bond as brother and sister.

Jack is another character that I really like. I found his part of the story to be really interesting. And I really love how he is a good friend. He really cares about Ben and Hazel.

The horned boy is a bit mysterious. Even though we learn his name and information about him throughout the story, I still feel like I wanted to know a bit more. And a little bit more interaction with the characters. But I still liked this character as well.

My Recommendation:

Read it! I really enjoyed reading this book. I didn't want to put it down and I didn't want it to end. I think that the writing is beautiful and entertaining. I was enamored with the world and the characters. 
I am so glad that I was able to read this book! 
And I am really looking forward to checking out some of Holly Black's other books.

Would I Buy/Pre-order this book? Yes! This is definitely a book that I want to have a finished copy of.

My Rating:

The Walled City by Ryan Graudin

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Title: The Walled City
Author: Ryan Graudin
Length: 432 pages
Publisher: Little Brown
Classification: Young Adult, Thriller
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)
Read: October 2014

730. That's how many days I've been trapped.18. That's how many days I have left to find a way out. DAI, trying to escape a haunting past, traffics drugs for the most ruthless kingpin in the Walled City. But in order to find the key to his freedom, he needs help from someone with the power to be invisible.... JIN hides under the radar, afraid the wild street gangs will discover her biggest secret: Jin passes as a boy to stay safe. Still, every chance she gets, she searches for her lost sister.... MEI YEE has been trapped in a brothel for the past two years, dreaming of getting out while watching the girls who try fail one by one. She's about to give up, when one day she sees an unexpected face at her window..... In this innovative and adrenaline-fueled novel, they all come together in a desperate attempt to escape a lawless labyrinth before the clock runs out. (From GoodReads)

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***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*** 

My Rating:

This book is unlike any that I have read before. I think the story is interesting and unique. And it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. (But in a good way!)

The Walled City is a terrible, horrible place. There are drug lords, street gangs, brothels (with sex slaves) and a lot of poverty. Kids are living on the streets trying to survive. And young girls are getting sold into prostitution.

It is a very dark and gritty and violent (at times) story.

I think that the author did an amazing job with world building. I really felt like I could picture the Walled City. And I felt like I could picture the characters and the people that were living there.

I had no idea when reading this story that it is based off a real place. Kowloon Walled City which was in Hong Kong. While reading the story I kept thinking about how scary it would be for this to happen and how much I thought like it could happen. Then I got to the author's note at the end and read about Kowloon Walled City. The Walled City is not historical fiction, but after finding out a little bit more about Kowloon Walled City, I think that the author did a good job writing a piece of fiction of what could happen in a Walled City.

This story is told from three different points of view. Dai is haunted by his past. He is stuck in the Walled City running drugs for the drug lord. He is searching for what he needs to be able to escape the Walled City alive. Jin is living on the streets dressed as a boy to try and stay safe. She is doing alright, but she is on her own mission. She is searching for her sister that was taken away from her years ago. And the third point of view is Mei Yee. She is stuck in a brothel, wishing for a chance to escape and see the outside world again.
These are three very different people all stuck in the Walled City for one reason or another. And all three of the characters are each hiding their own secrets.

This book had a lot of action and there were several parts of the story that really grabbed me and made me worry about the characters. There were some interesting plot twists too that I did not see coming. Yes, there were a few things that I figured would happen, but they were small and didn't take away from me being captivated by the story.

I really like the characters. I think that they are well written.
Though I think I connected with Jin more than the other two. She is such a strong character. She has been through so much, yet she is determined to find her sister. She won't stop until she does. And her loyalty and strength gave me hope.
Dai is also a strong character, but he has a lot haunting him from his past. And I think I found his character to be the most mysterious.
I think Mei Yee is also strong in her own way. She wants to protect and help the other girls in the brothel. And she longs to get out.
And I really found it interesting how all three of their stories intertwine.

My Recommendation:
I found this to be a very interesting, action-packed story. It grabbed and held my attention from the beginning. I think that it is a dark and realistic story. And I really liked reading it. If you are looking for an gritty, fascinating story with diverse characters and good world building, then I highly recommend giving this book a read!

Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger

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Title: Waistcoats & Weaponry
(Finishing School #3)
Author: Gail Carriger
Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Steampunk
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thanks Little Brown!)
Read: November 2014

Class is back in session...Sophronia continues her second year at finishing school in style--with a steel-bladed fan secreted in the folds of her ball gown, of course. Such a fashionable choice of weapon comes in handy when Sophronia, her best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap, and the charming Lord Felix Mersey stowaway on a train to return their classmate Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland. No one suspected what--or who--they would find aboard that suspiciously empty train. Sophronia uncovers a plot that threatens to throw all of London into chaos and she must decide where her loyalties lie, once and for all.  Gather your poison, steel tipped quill, and the rest of your school supplies and join Mademoiselle Geraldine's proper young killing machines in the third rousing installment in the New York Times bestselling Finishing School Series by steampunk author, Gail Carriger. (From GoodReads)

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***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

***This is part of a series. There will be spoilers of things that happened in the other book(s) so if you haven't read it and don't want to know things that happened, please stop reading now.*** 

My Rating:

Wow! For me, the books in the Finishing School series just keep getting better and better! This book pulled me in quickly and I devoured it. I started it late one night and easily finished it the next day.

There is a lot of action packed into this book. There were some moments where I was extremely anxious to see how the scene was going to play out. There were a lot of things revealed in this story and some of my questions have been answered. The author has done an amazing job creating a story that leaves me with new questions due to the interesting turn of events in this installment. 

Waistcoats & Weaponry takes back up a little bit after the ending events in book two. Sophronia and her friends are all back at their schools. The girls are back in classes learning fun new skills like fighting with a fan and the art of seduction. And the boys are back at Bunson's. Sidheag receives some troubling news which makes her want to get back to Scotland quickly. Which makes Sophronia, Dimity, Soap, and Lord Mersey accompany Sidheag on an adventure to get her home.

I was a little sad that some of the characters that have had bigger parts in the other two books were not in this story very much. Pillover has a fun small part in the story. Though I did find those scenes to be entertaining. And Vieve is just mentioned a few times. But even though these characters had minor parts, the story was still captivating and unique. 

We learn more and more about our favorite characters in this book. 

Sophronia continues to be a good friend. She always helps her friends and also not stand in the way of their decisions and desires at the same time. To me it does seem that Sophronia makes up her mind about where her allegiance lies. 

We also learn and see a bit of a different side of Soap in this book. We see more of Soap as well. At least that is how it felt to me. And I am dying to know more about Soap in the next book!

Felix also has an interesting role in this story. Though I feel like things are still a bit mysterious with him. I am not sure what to think really. I am anxious to see what happens next with this character.

I found the parts with Dimity in this book to be a bit humorous. Sidheag has a lot of challenges that she is facing in this story.

This story made me love the characters more and also made me have a lot of different feelings. I felt happy, frustrated, angry, sad, and a little heartbroken at various points of the plot. And more than anything I hooked on this unique book series and can't wait to find out what happens next!

My Recommendation:

If you have read the first two books, DEFINITELY pick up this one. I found it to be a great addition to this unique storyline. I think that this book is fun, entertaining and serious all at the same time. We find out a lot of different things in this story, but are left wanting to know what else will happen to our group of characters!

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

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Title: Curtsies & Conspiracies 
(Finishing School #2)
Author: Gail Carriger
Length: 310 pages
Publisher: Little Brown
Classification: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Steampunk
Release Date: November 2013
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)
Read: October/November 2014

Does one need four fully grown foxgloves for decorating a dinner table for six guests? Or is it six foxgloves to kill four fully grown guests? Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy (won't Mumsy be surprised?). Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners. Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a field trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card. In this bestselling sequel to New York Times bestselling Etiquette & Espionage, class is back in session with more petticoats and poison, tea trays and treason. Gail's distinctive voice, signature humor, and lush steampunk setting are sure to be the height of fashion this season. (From NetGalley)

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***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*** 

***This book is part is part of a series, and so this review may include spoilers from previous books***

My Rating:

A fun and entertaining continuation to Etiquette & Espionage! I really enjoyed reading this book. In fact I liked it more than the first book in the series.

I think that Curtsies & Conspiracies picks up not long after the end of the first book. Sophronia is now in her second year of Finishing School. She is back on the airship school with her group of friends, Dimity, Sidheag, Agatha, Vieve and Soap. The girls are tested for the skills that they have been learning. And friendships are tested as well. Sophronia continues to do quite well at the school and quickly learns new skills and techniques.

This book (at least for me) had a bit more action and espionage. Which made the book really fun and entertaining to read. I was quickly drawn into the plot of the story. And found the addition of some of the boys from Bunson's to be very interesting. It was fun for the girls to practice their skills on the boys. As well as, learning more about the characters like Pillover and Felix.

I loved that there is a bit of mystery to the story and there were some surprising plot twists that kept me longing to know what would happen next. I like that the story doesn't really have much of a cliffhanger at the end, but I am still left wanting to read more so I can find out what else is in store for these characters.

I already liked the characters going into the second book, but I feel like I became a bit more attached to them while reading this sequel.

Sophronia is still a very likable character. She is quite smart and very entertaining. And I like that I am not sure where her loyalties lie. And I think she doesn't know for sure either. I love that she gathers information and likes to make her own decisions. Sophronia has some tough decisions to make during the events of this book and it is interesting to find out what happens. I really love the friendships that she has with the other characters. Their interactions are some of my favorite parts of the story.

I really liked that I learned a bit more about Dimity and Pillover and their family in this book. I really like both of these characters to it was awesome to feel like I knew them a little better. I still find Dimity to be Sophronia's opposite. But I think that is why I love their friendship so much. They really fit together well and help each other out.

I also enjoyed the parts with Sidheag and Agatha. They are fun characters that made excellent additions to the group of friends. I really like how well Sidheag and Sophronia get along. They have similar interests.

Felix is a new character. I love how he is a bit of a mystery to me. I am really curious to see what happens next for this character. I love the interactions with Sophronia.

My Recommendation:

If you have read the first book of this series and enjoyed reading it, I highly recommend reading this sequel. I found it to be just as unique as the first story, with a little more action and spying. I was very entertained and can't wait to find out what happens in the next installment!

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

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Title: Etiquette & Espionage
(Finishing School #1)
Author: Gail Carriger
Length: 307 pages
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers
Classification: Young Adult, Steampunk, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)
Read: October 2014

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea--and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right--but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school. (From GoodReads)

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***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
My Rating:

(Between 3.5 & 4. I've rounded up to 4 because I did enjoy the story and was left wondering what will happen in the next book.)

This story wasn't really what I was expecting, but I am glad that I read it. It is a fun story with a fascinating world and entertaining characters.

Sophronia is not your typical girl. She doesn't care much for fashion. She cares more about climbing around and snooping. She likes to see how things work. Which is not proper etiquette. Her mother agrees that finishing school seems to be the right fit for Sophronia to learn more about proper etiquette and manners.

I think that this is a promising start to an interesting trilogy. This is a very imaginative world full of inventions and fun characters. There are vampires, werewolves, mechanicals, and flywaymen.

At first some of the vocabulary was surprising. I haven't really read many books that have the same words. But I really enjoyed the way that the characters spoke and the language used. I feel like it really fit in well with the story. The names were also different than I am used to. Some of them I am not sure I pronounce them the correct way, but I love how the names add to the story.

This book has some action, but not as much as I thought there would be. There were some times while I was reading, where I felt like the story dragged a little slowly for me. I was interested to find out what would happen next.

I like that the story focuses more on friendship than romance. Yes, there are male characters in the story. And yes, there are boys that the girls will mention are handsome. But there wasn't really any romance in the story.

I really like the characters.

Sophronia is a fun and entertaining main character. There were several times where I was anxious to find out what she would do next. She really likes to explore and find things. I really like that she is smart. She figures things out for herself.
I especially love the friendships that she develops through the story.
Dimity is a great character. She reminds me of myself because I also hate the sight of blood. I like that in some ways she is the opposite of Sophronia. I also love how well they get along. Dimity is a wonderful friend and she really is there for Sophronia.
Soap is another fun character. His friendship with Sophronia is also very enjoyable. I like that he also is there for Sophronia and helps her.
Vieve is one of my favorite characters. So smart and clever! I also love the inventions. And this friendship with Sophronia is also loyal and heartwarming.
There are several other supporting characters that I really enjoyed reading about and like their interactions with the main characters.
I also like the little feud between Sophronia and Monique. I had no problem picturing Monique in my head. And I was very interested in the interactions between these two characters.

My Recommendation:
I think this is a fascinating world. I enjoyed reading the story and I am looking forward to reading book two and finding out more about these fun characters and what is going to come next!

Unmarked by Kami Garcia

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Title: Unmarked
(The Legion Book 2)

Author: Kami Garcia

Length: 384 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Paranormal

Release Date: September 30, 2014

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)

Read: October 2014

The heart-pounding sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Unbreakable, by New York Times bestselling Beautiful Creatures co-author Kami Garcia. He is here... and he could be anyone. Kennedy Waters lives in a world where vengeance spirits kill, ghosts keep secrets, and a demon walks among us–a demon she accidentally set free. Now Kennedy and the other Legion members–Alara, Priest, Lukas, and Jared–have to hunt him down. As they learn more about the history of the Legion and the Illuminati, Kennedy realizes that the greatest mystery of all does not belong to any secret order, but to her own family. With the clock ticking and the life of someone she loves hanging in the balance, Kennedy has to ask the question she fears most: what is it about her past that has left her Unmarked? (From GoodReads)

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***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

**This book is a sequel, so there will be spoilers for what happened in book one!**

My Rating:

I liked this book more than book one, UNBREAKABLE.  I think that it is a great continuation of a story that I already liked! 
The story really grabbed my attention and  really flew by quickly. 

The story picks up where book one left off. Andras has been released and the group needs to find a way to stop him. 

I love the action in the story. It really made me engage more with the book and kept the story entertaining and exciting. There were a few plot twists that I saw coming, but overall I think there were more that I was not expecting, which kept the story very engaging. 

I do think that the characters were further developed in this book, which I really liked. 
And there are a few more character additions. 

Kennedy's best friend, Elle, (we had some scenes with her in book one UNBREAKABLE) is a more prominent character in this book. I really enjoy their friendship. And I love their friendly banter. I also like her interactions with the members of The Legion. I feel like she adds some lightness to the story and a little bit of humor. 

I absolutely love the further relationship development between Kennedy and Jared and am glad that it seems like the love triangle is done. 

Kennedy, to me, seems more determined in this story. Her character grows from being full of self-doubt to needing answers and being able to fix what has happened. She won't stop until she completes that task. Yes, there are times where she is concerned about why she hasn't received her mark yet, but that is understandable and she doesn't only concentrate on it. I love that we find out more about Kennedy's past and she discovers things that she never knew about.

I really enjoyed finding out more about the other members of The Legion: Jared, Lukas, Priest, and Alara.  We find out more about their pasts and lives. 

I don't want to go in depth about the other new character additions because I don't want to give anything away. But I will say that I think they are interesting characters and really add some mystery to the story. 

This story ends with a bit of a cliffhanger (at least in my opinion). And now I can't wait to find out what happens next!

My Recommendation:
If you read the first book and enjoyed it, then I really think that you will enjoy this continuation. There are some mysterious reveals, plot twists, and action that make the story very entertaining. Characters become more developed and easier to care about and become attached to. 

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

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Title: Unbreakable 
(The Legion Book 1)

Author: Kami Garcia

Length:305 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Paranormal

Release Date: October 1, 2013

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)

Read: October 2014

Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a new series from New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia. I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me. When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night. Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way. Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels. (From GoodReads)

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***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***


My Rating:

Overall, I enjoyed reading this story.

There are A LOT of similarities to the TV Show Supernatural. (Which is a show that I really like!)
I didn't really mind how similar they are. In fact, I think it is part of what made me interested in reading the book. And even though there are a lot of things in common, I do feel like Unbreakable had enough action and some plot twists that made this an entertaining story to read.

I read this book really quickly and it held my attention throughout the entire story. 
The writing and story kept me interested and engaged. There were some spooky scenes as well as a couple that scared me a little bit. But overall, not too scary for me (I don't handle scary very well.)

I like the characters, but I didn't really feel that connected to any of them. 

Kennedy is the main character. She is almost killed by the same spirit that killed her mother. But luckily for her, twins Jared and Lukas, save her and explain to her what is happening. I like that she is skeptical about the things they are telling her. She also has a lot of denial regarding what she is told about her and her mother. But after so long, it starts to get a little frustrating. She will start to believe and decide to help, then she second guesses herself and everything all over again. Throughout the story. She has a lot of self-doubt. I am looking forward to more character growth and development in the next book. 

Then there is the love-triangle. My biggest dislike of the story. I usually don't really mind love-triangles. But I don't like when the love-triangle involves siblings (brothers/sisters) or best friends. These ones usually just frustrate me, make me angry, or break my heart.
So I dislike this one because it involves the brothers both liking Kennedy. I feel like overall, Kennedy knows which of the brothers she likes and which one she views more like a friend. But there are several times where maybe she doesn't know or thinks about the other one because it would just be easier. But it does seem like the love-triangle is over by the end of the book. (That is my hope). 

Jared and Lukas are okay characters. Though most of the time they almost feel like the same person. Maybe it is because they are twins and brothers can share a lot of the same qualities. They do feel very similar. With the exception of one of the brothers being the "bad boy" type character and the other one being really nice. For me, I feel that Jared was a little bit more developed than Lukas. I am also hoping for more character growth and development for these characters in the next book.

The two other characters in the group are Priest and Alara. I really like both of these characters. Priest is fun. He loves music and is very good at creating things. I found him to be really interesting. I also like that he is smart. He might be a little younger than the others, but I like that he stands up for himself and wants to help out the others. And Alara is just awesome! She is very confident and bold. She doesn't take crap from anyone. She comes off as mean and closed off, but deep down she cares a lot about others. 

I think that it is a pretty good first book to a series. And I am interested to read the next book to find out what happens next. The ending definitely made me curious to find out what happens next!

My Recommendation:

If you like shows like Supernatural (and don't mind the similarities) or if you like scary stories that involve demons and ghosts than you might like this book. 

Game by Barry Lyga

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Title: Game (Jasper Dent #2)

Author: Barry Lyga

Length: 520 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Release Date: April 16, 2013

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Little Brown!)

Read: September 2014

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Billy grinned. “Oh, New York,” he whispered. “We’re gonna have so much fun.” I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jazz, the son of history’s most infamous serial killer, Billy Dent. In an effort to prove murder didn’t run in the family, Jazz teamed with the police in the small town of Lobo’s Nod to solve a deadly case. And now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help, he can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force–running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend, Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game. (From GoodReads)

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

***This is part of a series. There will be spoilers of things that happened in the other book(s) so if you haven't read it and don't want to know things that happened, please stop reading now.*** 

My Rating:

The Story:

Wow! Barry Lyga has done it again. What an intense follow-up to I HUNT KILLERS.
This story pretty much picks up where book one left off. Billy is free. Jazz is trying to deal with the fact that Billy is free and his involvement in the situation. When a NYPD detective shows up and convinces Jazz to come with him to New York to try and catch a serial killer that is going by the name Hat-Dog Killer.

I really enjoyed reading I HUNT KILLERS so I was really excited to start GAME.
I found this book to be a bit darker and gruesome.
This book instantly grabbed my attention and made me want to know what was going to happen. And there were twists and turns that surprised me.
And the majority of the time, when I would guess something, it seemed like I was completely off base. So I really liked that the author was able to keep me on my toes and guessing.

I loved that the story wasn't just told from Jazz's point of view. In this book, we get to read from Connie and Howie's points of views also. Which was great. I really enjoyed these sections of the book as well. We also get to read some from Billy Dent and The Killer's points of view. Which was also fascinating. And I feel that these points of view are so well written, I didn't get confused by which one I was reading from.

I think there are more cliffhangers left at the end of this book than the first one. I was left wanting more. I am very anxious to read the next book.

The Characters:

I really like and find most of the characters in this story to be fascinating. They are all well-developed and written. I am really interested in finding out what else happens to them all in the next installment.

Jazz: Still struggling with his past and how that will shape his future. He is very smart and has a special way of seeing things differently from other people. I find him to be a very complex and fascinating character. I love that he cares about others, especially his friend and girlfriend. And I like that he seems very determined to figure out and stop The Killer.

Connie: I loved getting to read from Connie's point of view. She cares about Jazz so much and she wants to do what she can to help him and keep him safe. She is a very determined and strong character. I have thought and liked that about her since the first book.

Howie: Another character that I am excited to have a few chapters told from his point of view. Howie is the one that makes the most jokes. I love that he tries to have humor when things around him can not be the best. I definitely care about this character. And I love that his condition doesn't keep him from trying to live his life.

Billy Dent: Still a dark and creepy guy. We get to be inside of his head a few times during the chapters from his point of view.

The Killer: I also found this character to be dark and creepy. These chapters where we see glimpses inside the killer's head can be intense.

My Recommendation:

I think this was an excellent sequel to I HUNT KILLERS. I found this story to be complex and a bit mind blowing. I can't wait to read the next one. I highly recommend reading this installment if you enjoyed reading the first book.

Day 21 by Kass Morgan

(source)

Title: Day 21 (The Hundred #2)

Author: Kass Morgan

Length: 320 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Release Date: September 16, 2014

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thanks Little Brown!)

Read: September 2014

GoodReads

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now.It's been 21 days since the hundred landed on Earth. They're the only humans to set foot on the planet in centuries...or so they thought. Facing an unknown enemy, Wells attempts to keep the group together. Clarke strikes out for Mount Weather, in search of other Colonists, while Bellamy is determined to rescue his sister, no matter the cost. And back on the ship, Glass faces an unthinkable choice between the love of her life and life itself.In this pulse-pounding sequel to Kass Morgan's The 100, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. And the hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can -- together. (From GoodReads)

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

***This is part of a series. There could be spoilers of things that happened in the other book(s) so if you haven't read it and don't want to know things that happened, please stop reading now.*** 

My Rating:

The Story:

Overall, I still found the storyline to be interesting. And it was a pretty quick read for me. I found the pacing to be good.

This story picks up close to where the first book left off. The juveniles have been on Earth for twenty-one days now and  there still doesn't seem to be a sign that any of the Colonists are coming down to join them. They must figure out how to survive, when there are others that want them gone. 

I feel like there was a lot more drama in this book than in the first. And there were a few things that I saw coming. But it didn't stop me from reading the story. Because even though there were a few plot points that I guessed before they happened, some were still able to surprise me. 

But I felt like I have more questions than answers so far. 

I really liked that they were able to explore Earth a bit more. And that they were able to learn some things about the plants and things around them. I am really intrigued by the Earthers and want to get to know more about them.

I did enjoy the book enough to want to find out what happens next. 

The Characters:

I like that the main characters all have flaws. Most of them each have past decisions that haunt them. Yet they don't regret what they have done because they did the thing they thought was best. 

Clarke: She is struggling with what she did up on the ship before getting confinement. I like that after everything that she has been through she still has hope. She can be stubborn and determined. I like that she wants to figure things out on Earth and will do whatever she can do complete this. I was a bit frustrated with her character a couple times due to the romantic drama. But overall, I am interested to find out what will happen to her next.

Wells: I feel that he is doing what he can to protect the group and help them at the same time. He still shows that he is a natural leader. 

Bellamy: I found Bellamy to be a bit of a jerk. There were moments where I really like his character, then others when I am not sure if I like him that much. I think I understand why he reacted the way he did to a certain situation. But I struggle a little bit with how he handled it. 

Glass: I was really interested in her storyline. I really like being able to still know some of the stuff that is happening on the ship through her character. She does have a little bit of drama happen with her character. And I might not like her past decision, but I feel that I have an understanding of why she did what she did. I feel bad for her. And I really want to find out what is going to happen to her character next. 

My Recommendation:

I think if you loved/liked the first book, then you might enjoy this continuation. Although at times the drama frustrated me, I am left wondering what will happen next. Which means I will probably read the next book. 

The 100 by Kass Morgan

(source)

Title: The 100 (The Hundred #1)

Author: Kass Morgan

Length: 323 pages

Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Release Date: September 3, 2013

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thanks Little Brown!)

Read: September 2014

GoodReads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again. (From GoodReads)

***I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

My Rating:

I was pretty excited to see this title on NetGalley as a Read Now option. I have been wanting to read it for a while. 
I have seen about two episodes of the TV show. I decided I didn't want to watch more until I read the book, since I usually like to read the book before watching TV shows or movies based off of them.

The Story:

As far as the Colony has known, Earth hasn't been habitable for a very long time. As things start falling apart on the ship and resources dwindle, the Colony leaders decide it is time to send some people down to Earth to see if they can go back and live there.
To do this, they pick 100 juvenile "criminals" to travel down to Earth and see if there is any chance of survival.

I really like the plot of the story. The description instantly grabbed my attention and made me interested in the story line.

I didn't dislike the book but I didn't fall in love with it either.
Overall, I found the plot of the story to be interesting. And I liked that it was a quick read for me. I was interested in what was happening and where the story was going and the story held my attention for the entire time I was reading it.

I especially loved the way the author described things on Earth. It really did feel like the characters were seeing and experiencing these things for the first time. The descriptions were full of detail and were beautifully written. 

This story alternates between the points of view of four different characters.
There were some times during the story that I felt like there were a lot of characters that I needed to remember about. And sometimes it was hard to remember which character's point of view I was reading from. But I still enjoyed getting to see different aspects of the situation from different characters.

Not only are we reading about what is currently happening in this world, but there are also flashbacks that these four characters remember each chapter. I personally like the flashbacks. It made me feel like I knew the characters and their motives better. I really enjoyed getting these pieces of their back story.

There were a couple of things that I thought were a little hard for me to believe. They seemed to adapt to Earth rather quickly with very little problems. And one character is able to shoot with a bow and arrows, hunting, rather quickly. This character must have just been a natural.
But all of these things are little things that I was able to not really get hung up on and have them take away from my liking of the story.

The Characters:

Clarke: I feel that her character is full of anger. She has been through so much in her past and seems to have a hard time accepting what has happened. She holds onto her anger and keeps to herself. I understand why she is mad and hurt. I liked most of her character development as the story progressed, especially that she becomes able to come to terms with some things. I do feel like she has a lot of drama when it comes to boys.

Wells: I had a little bit of a hard time connecting with this character. I felt like he was selfish. But I do understand why he does the things that he does. He is a natural leader and cares about those around him. And he is dealing with some inner challenges based on the things he has done in his past. I liked that his character grew and even though he felt bad about his past actions, he didn't really seem to regret what he did. I feel that he stands by his difficult choices.

Bellamy: At the beginning of the story, I really thought I would end up not liking his character at all. But over the course of the story, he really grew on me. I was very invested in his story and what was going to happen to him. He is a bit cocky and can be a jerk, but he is also loyal.

Glass: I was really interested in this character. I really liked reading her point of view for what was going on. She has gone through so much and I enjoyed getting to find out pieces of her past and how she has developed as a character.

My Recommendation:

I liked the story enough that I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to find out what else happens. If you are looking for a story that is a quick read and deals with characters trying to survive on a planet they aren't used to, then you could like this book.