One Wish Away by Kelley Lynn

(source)

Title: One Wish Away

Author: Kelley Lynn

Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark

Classification: Young Adult, Contemporary, Science Fiction

Release Date: November 24, 2014

Source: e-galley via NetGalley (Thank you Bloomsbury Spark!)

Read: November 2014

Be careful what you wish for…Lyra has always been ahead of the curve. Top of her class in school, a budding astronomer, and with a best friend like Darren she barely has time to miss the mother who abandoned her family years ago. She's too busy planning to follow in her father's footsteps, and to become the youngest astronomer at Space Exploration and Discovery.When a star goes missing Lyra is determined to get to the bottom of it only to discover her braniac dad is the mastermind of a top-secret government experiment. They promise to build a perfect world, one galaxy at a time, but with every tweak of the present, a bit more of the future starts to crumble.Lyra has to go undercover to reveal the truth and let humanity decide if the consequences are worth more than wishing on a star. (From GoodReads)

GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes &Noble || Books-a-Million 

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

My Rating:

This book has a very interesting and unique story idea.

Lyra is very smart and loves space and stars. Both her father and her aunt work at Space Exploration and Discovery and she wants to be like them and work there too. One day she discovers that a star has gone missing and she is determined to find out what caused it to happen. And this leads her to discover a lot more than just a missing star.

I really liked the story concept. I found all the information about stars and the constellations to be fascinating.
And the story was easy for me to read.

But other than finding the story idea interesting and liking the information about stars, I didn't really connect much with anything else.

I don't need stories (Especially Science Fiction and Fantasy) to be realistic. But I had a hard time with how easily things happened for Lyra. And how easily she was able to tell things to her best friend, Darren. I was frustrated a lot with her character.

I didn't really connect with the characters at all. I really wanted to connect with Lyra, she is smart and determined. But overall, she just frustrated me. And I wasn't really into the romance part of the story either.
The family dynamics did catch my attention and I was interested to see what would happen with their family situation after the events that happened. But it wasn't enough to make me really enjoy the story.

And the ending.

It felt really abrupt to me. There wasn't really any closure. And a mystery character was sort-of revealed. And I was expecting more to happen, then when I turned the page, I discovered that was the end. I am not really mad that I didn't get closure, but it did feel sudden.

This book just wasn't for me.

One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington

(source)

Title: One Past Midnight

Author: Jessica Shirvington

Length: 352 pages

Publisher: Bloomsbury-Walker Books

Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary

Release Date: July 22, 2014

Source: ARC (Thank you so much Bloomsbury!)

Name of overseas edition of Between The Lives. Above all else, though I try not to think about it, I know which life I prefer. And every night when I Cinderella myself from one life to the next a very small, but definite, piece of me dies. The hardest part is that nothing about my situation has ever changed. There is no loophole. Until now, that is...
 For as long as she can remember, Sabine has lived two lives. Every 24 hours she Shifts to her ′other′ life - a life where she is exactly the same, but absolutely everything else is different: different family, different friends, different social expectations. In one life she has a sister, in the other she does not. In one life she′s a straight-A student with the perfect boyfriend, in the other she′s considered a reckless delinquent. Nothing about her situation has ever changed, until the day when she discovers a glitch: the arm she breaks in one life is perfectly fine in the other.
 With this new knowledge, Sabine begins a series of increasingly risky experiments which bring her dangerously close to the life she′s always wanted... But just what - and who - is she really risking? (From GoodReads)

GoodReads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Books-a-Million

***I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***

My Rating:

Amazing! What a unique story! I haven't read anything quite like this one before. The idea of this book is just so fascinating! And I really like the author's writing style. 

Sabine has two lives. And it has been this way since she can remember. Every stroke of Midnight sends her to her other life. And it looks as though she is the only one in this situation. At least, she hasn't found another person quite like her. She tries to accept and understand what is happening to her. She tries to balance between these two completely different lives. Not knowing which one she really belongs in. Until something happens that changes everything. Now she has to figure out what to do with this knowledge.

I really enjoyed reading this story. It really pulled me in and made me want to find out what would happen next. 
At first I was a little worried about becoming lost and frustrated with the switching of lives. Since this happens every chapter or every couple of chapters. But it wasn't difficult or frustrating for me at all. I actually really found it interesting and it was easy for me to shift lives with Sabine. Following the storyline and the characters in each life was also easy. And I think that the storylines transitioned smoothly and at a great pace!

I think for the most part I was equally interested in both of Sabine's lives. They are so different and each one was fascinating for different reasons. 
I really like that even though this is a Science Fiction/Fantasy book, it had a Contemporary feel to it as well. I was very interested in the relationships that Sabine has with her family and friends from each of her lives. I especially love the relationship developments between the siblings, in one life Sabine has a little sister and in the other she has brothers. 
And for me, her actions and results of those actions felt pretty realistic. 
I was really able to connect with Sabine's character. I felt so bad for her because she was struggling so much with what it meant to live two different lives. She really goes through a lot. I couldn't really imagine having to go through my awkward teenage years and high school twice (and at the same time!) And I love her character development through the story. 

There were several events and plot twists that I didn't see coming. And there were a couple things that I guessed while reading, but it did not take away from my love of the story at all! In fact one of them I was pretty happy I was correct. 
This book was a roller coaster of emotions for me. And I even cried a little bit at one point. 

My Recommendation:
Read this book! I highly recommend it! I really love the story. It was entertaining and deep. The story really made me think about life. Not only did I enjoy the plot, but I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships with Sabine! 

I would definitely buy this book!

Thank you SO MUCH, Bloomsbury for allowing me to read this wonderful 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. 

Cress by Marissa Meyer

(source)

Title: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3)

Author: Marissa Meyer

Length: 550 pages

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Classification: Young Adult, Retelling, Science Fiction

Release Date: February 4, 2014

Source: e-book (purchased)

GoodReads

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
 Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
 When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has. (From GoodReads)

***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: 5+

I give this book (this series) all the stars in the universe.
I LOVE this series so much.
And I love this book a lot.

This book did not disappoint me at all.

I have really taken my time in writing this review because I am not sure I can find all the right words to describe how much I love this book. And I don't think that this review will be able to convey all of my fangirl love for this book...

Marissa Meyer once again has done an amazing job creating a well-developed world with wonderfully-developed characters making an incredible story.
I love that the author created a wonderfully unique fairy tale retelling for this series. Each book leaves me so impressed with how amazing the story is. She includes major parts of the original fairy tale while still creating a new extraordinary story.
It just blows my mind to think that after loving the first two books in this series, Cress is just as spectacular or maybe even more awesome than the others. It is hard to pick a favorite, but I think Cress just might be my favorite from the entire series so far.
I was left wanting more. I didn't want this book to end. And I cannot wait until Winter comes out next November!

The Story:

Book three is a wonderful continuation of the series. It picks up pretty much where Scarlet left off. Cinder, Thorne, Wolf, and Scarlet are now on the run. They decide to try and get Cress, so they can use her help to finally go after Queen Levana. Things get crazy. And the group gets separated. I found this to be interesting and it just really added to the story. We get to see some characters develop and it is just awesome. And since the group was separated, we get to read from a couple different points of view. Which I really liked doing.
I was completely hooked to the story and all the things that were happening for each of the characters.
I found this one to be full of action, adventure, friendship, and awesomeness.

The Characters:

Not only do we have the characters that we already know and love, but we get to officially meet Cress. (Even though we had a glimpse of her in Cinder.)

It is incredible that the author has so many main characters, and it is too hard for me to pick one single favorite. I love them all so much. These are characters that I wish could be real so they could be my best friends. And with each book, my love for these characters grows stronger.

Cress is just an amazing character. I really enjoyed reading about her and from her point of view.  She has been locked up in that satellite for a long time, yet she is not completely crazy. But she is a little awkward. Which makes me really relate with her. I LOVE her creativity and imagination. I love her way of coping. And I love that she tries to see the good in things. I felt that she is full of hope. I adored her feelings towards love and romance, she is just so sweet and innocent as well. And I absolutely adored the scenes and conversations between her and Thorne. I really love her character development through the story as well.
 And she is so smart. Which is completely awesome.
I love that Meyer has created strong, smart, brave female characters. Characters that deserve to be heroines and looked up to.
I especially loved that there was more Thorne in this book. Since I love him so much. I really enjoyed getting to see his character develop. He is swoon-worthy. And I think I love him even more after reading this one...(if that is possible!)
And of course Cinder is in the book. All the scenes with her were also really interesting. I kept wanting to know what she was going to do next and what was going to happen to her. I loved watching her character continue to develop.
I thought that Wolf and Scarlet had a bit smaller role in this book, but they were not left out. And I am looking forward to reading more about them as well in the next installment.
Iko! As funny as ever. I love Iko so much, and I just adored her in this book.
And also Kai. He has a lot to deal with in this book. Pretty much all the stuff with Queen Levana. And I really liked the parts that included him and some of what he was going through. I am interested to see what happens next with his character.

My Recommendation:
This is a book series that I pretty much mention to every one. I have convinced some of my friends to give this series a try. It is one of my all-time favorite series.
I highly recommend this one to anyone that has already read the first two stories.
And if you haven't, then I highly recommend THIS SERIES to anyone that likes unique fairy tale retellings and science fiction. Amazing series. Love it so much!

REBOOT by Amy Tintera

(source)

Title: REBOOT (Reboot #1)

Author: Amy Tintera

Length: 365 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen

Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Source: e-book (purchased)

Read: May 2014

GoodReads

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation). Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum. The perfect soldier is done taking orders. (From GoodReads)

My Rating:

I bought this book for the Kindle because Epic Reads had a Read-along on Twitter and it was on sale. So I decided to give it a read.
And I am so glad that I did. I ended up enjoying this book a lot.

The Story:

I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading this book. I didn't read the description, I just bought it and started reading.
This book was slam packed full of action. I found some of the events in the book to be intense. Which made me really into the story and wanting to know what would happen next. I had a hard time putting this book down. I think that the concept of this story was really interesting. I don't think it is quite like anything else that I have read.
And I thought that the world that the author created was also really interesting. Coming back as a Reboot after you die...although not everyone does. And the longer you take to reboot the less HUMAN you are! What? So interesting.
And wow...I kept thinking how the Reboots were a little zombie-like. But not actual zombies per-se. Which also added a little bit of creepy into the mix.
This was a quick, fast-paced, interesting read.

The Characters:

I liked the characters a lot. I think they were pretty well developed. There were several characters that I felt sad for. Which made it easier for me to connect with them.
There is a romance in the story. And I like that I felt like it was more insta-lust and not insta-love. She didn't automatically fall head over heels for the male character. Instead she was intrigued by him and curious. And I love that there wasn't a love triangle. (Although love triangles don't bother me as much as it does others, it is still refreshing to read a book without one.)

Wren: I really like her character. And I love her character development throughout the story. I was very invested in what would happen to her next and how she would handle certain situations.
Callum: I really like him. And I felt so bad for him. There were several moments I wanted to jump into the story and give him a hug. I think he is sweet and I like the way he bonds with Wren.

I am really interested to find out what happens to these two, (as well as the other characters) in the next book.

My Recommendation:

I would recommend this book if you like interesting reads that have dystopian future elements. Where some not-quite-so-human teens are like the police force for a disease-stricken world.

Dangerous by Shannon Hale

(source)

Title: Dangerous

Author: Shannon Hale

Length: 400 pages

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction

Release Date: March 1, 2014

Source: ARC (ARC Tour hosted by On The Same Page)

Read: April 2014

Maisie Danger Brown just wanted to get away from home for a bit, see something new. She never intended to fall in love. And she never imagined stumbling into a frightening plot that kills her friends and just might kill her, too. A plot that is already changing life on Earth as we know it. There's no going back. She is the only thing standing between danger and annihilation. (From GoodReads)

First I want to thank Brittany, Alyssa, and Amy (On The Same Page) for hosting the ARC tour. It is fun to get to borrow a book that I am interested in reading.


My Rating:

I'm not sure why, but I had a bit of a hard time getting into the story at the beginning.
I found it to be interesting, but it didn't grab my attention and keep me hooked.
But as the story progressed, I became more interested in what was going to happen. And the book really grabbed my attention near the middle of the story.

The Story:

At the beginning of the story I felt like there was some insta-love happening between Maisie and one of the first boys that she meets away from home. (Then creating a sort of love-triangle since she already seems to have feelings for her best friend.)

I have trouble believing that this is something that could really happen, but I also except it because it is a work of fiction. I enjoy reading books that feel realistic, but I also enjoy reading things that wouldn't likely happen either.

There were some twists and turns that I didn't expect to happen though out the book. But there were also some that I did figure out before it happened. I did like that there were parts that I felt like I had figured out, but the author made me second guess my theories. And it made it interesting and hard to figure out which characters could be trusted and which couldn't. (Which I think was one of my favorite things about this book.)

The book was different from what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be set in space, when only small sections of the book actually did take place in space.
This book felt more like a Superhero type story to me.

The Characters:

Maisie is the main character. I liked her character the most, and she was pretty much one of the only characters that I felt stood out in the book.
The other characters that were part of the fireteam didn't really stand out to me. I don't really remember much about their characters. I felt like they weren't developed as well as Maisie and I didn't become attached to them.
I like the parts of the story that involved her parents and I was left interested in their lives.
I didn't really feel attached to any of the characters in particular and I wasn't emotionally involved in the relationships or the romance.

My Recommendation:

Give it a try. You might like it.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. And I am glad that I didn't give up and put it down. I don't think that this is a book that I will re-read. But I am glad that I read the book.
And I liked it enough to be interested in other books written by the author.

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

(source)

Title: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Length: 416 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins

Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

Release Date: February 4, 2014

Source: e-book (purchased)

Read: March 2014

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love.” With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her. (From GoodReads)

***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:

(It is between a 4 and a 4.5 so I rounded up.)

1.  I enjoyed reading the book.
2.  I read it quickly: I started and finished this book in 1 night.
3.  There were some surprises that I didn't see coming.
4. The ending felt rushed.

I am not disappointed that I read, but this is not an absolute favorite series. 
Would I read the entire series again someday? Probably. 
But I was not left with an "OMG! I love this series so, so, so, much!" feeling. But I do really like it, and enjoyed reading the trilogy. (And I will probably look into reading the novellas sometime in the future.)

The Story:

Overall, I think the story went along nicely. It pretty much picks up where Unravel Me left off. I felt that this book was face-paced and it kept me really interested in what was going to happy next. 

And oh boy, steamy. Just. Wow. I think that chapter was one of the steamiest scenes I have read in YA. 

But for me, the ending felt rushed. I was expecting this big EPIC finale. But instead we had the build up then the fight was over before I realized. And I was left thinking "That's it?" 

What happens next?

What happens to the characters?

I was left wanting more. 

Which left me a little disappointed. 

Not enough to hate the book or anything, but I wanted some more answers. And I wanted more of a big epic battle at the end.

So either I have to choose in my head the answers to these questions....or maybe Mafi decided to leave it a little unresolved in case she decides to visit the world again in the future. (I doubt this, but never say never...right?)

The Characters:

Juliette: I personally liked her character development. I finally felt like she went from this scared little girl to someone that can stand up for herself. She has become fierce and is on her way to being a leader. She has become more likable (at least for me) and more independent. And I love that she seems to be feeling more at ease with her power. 

Warner: I found Warner's character to be likable in this book. I was pretty surprised that I ended up liking his character as much as I do. I almost feel like I went from  absolute hate, to heart-thawing hate, to liking him in the span of the trilogy. I like how his character developed and shifted. I liked being able to see him in a different light. Maybe it was because Juliette knew more about him as the series moved on so her eyes opened up more to see his true self. I just know that I no longer hate Warner. 

Adam: I don't hate Adam. Not in the least bit. But I also didn't really like him in this book. Continuing on from Unravel Me, Adam just has more hate and bitterness wrapped up in him. Yeah, he has been through a lot. And I understand being mad and frustrated, but goodness, I really hated a lot of the things that he does in this book. And I especially did not like his attitude. He almost feels like a completely different person. Maybe this is the character he was always meant to be, but I was hoping that it was just a rough patch and he could get back to his old self eventually.

Kenji: Oh. My. Goodness. I think it is safe for me to say, I really do think that Kenji is my favorite from this series. He is funny and strong. I just want to hug and hang out with him myself. And I just adore his friendship with Juliette. And I LOVE that is just a simple boy/girl friendship without ANY form of romantic entanglements. 

My Recommendation:

If you liked the other two books, then you would probably like this one too. I feel there was character development, action, romance (steamy), and some resolution. But for me I was left with some desire to know more of what would happen next.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

(source)

Title: The Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1)
Author: James Dashner
Length: 329 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (Random House)
Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Release Date: October 6, 2009
Source: ebook (purchased)
Read: April 2014 *I read this book during a Read-a-long with some fellow blogger friends. Thank you Cassi (My Thoughts...Literally) for hosting!*

"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. (From GoodReads)

My Rating:

I really enjoyed reading this book! So much, I can't believe that I put off reading it for so long!

I think this book was full of action, mystery and suspense. One word that keeps coming to mind is INTENSE. I found this book to be very intense.

I can't wait to get the rest of the series and read them. I hope I am able to do so soon!

Title Acrostic: 

(Something new I am adding to some of my reviews, where I will use the title or part of the title of the book to create an acrostic.)

Memorable: I think this story is an unique story and it stands out from others that I have read. Yes, I do think there are some similarities from other stories that I have read, but this book is still different. And it is a book that I will remember.

Amazing: It is an amazing story. It was definitely different from what I was expecting. It grabbed my attention and kept me interested in the story. I think it is well written, full of details and world/character development. It was a fast read, and I was left wanting to continue the story. So for me, the book is amazing.

Zealous: I have found a passion for this story. I am really glad that I read it and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Extreme: This book is intense and extreme. Throughout reading, my leg was shaking. I had to take a few pauses to breathe. This is a book that kept me "on the edge of my seat".


Remarkable: I think this book is definitely worthy of the notice and attention it has received. It is an interestingly intense story that grabs the reader.

Unanswered: There are so many unanswered questions throughout this entire book. And as you find out some answers, more questions form.

Nauseating: There are some nauseating parts in the story. (Not in the sense of making me feel physically sick). Specifically scenes that involve the creepy Grievers!

Nervous: I felt pretty nervous throughout this book. I kept wondering what was going happen.

Emotional: So many emotions throughout reading this book. There were parts where I was frustrated, scared, mad, relieved, and anxious.

Ruthless: There are some things (like the Grievers) and some people in the story that I found to be ruthless.

The Story:
I think the story was well developed. Dashner describes the Maze and the Glade with wonderful detail. I didn't have a problem picturing this area in my head, and I felt that it help bring the story to life. (Sure, I have seen the trailer for the movie, but I think even without it I would have been able to easily picture it.)

And the Grievers. Seriously. Dashner is so creative! I don't think I would have been able to think of such a creature. I found them to be creepy and disturbing. I was/am afraid of them.
I wasn't satisfied with how I pictured them in my head, so I looked them up online. And wow, there are so many awesome drawings that people have made!

Here are some links:
http://acturiesa.deviantart.com/art/Maze-Runner-Griever-and-Beetle-Blade-272308207
http://gubblyn.deviantart.com/art/The-Griever-259820862
http://summerfr0st.deviantart.com/art/The-Maze-Runner-Griever-Colored-291456250


Although there were a few things that I was able to figure out, but overall the book kept me guessing and I didn't know what to expect or what would happen. There were several things that caught me by surprise!

I do understand why some people were frustrated with this book, there is a lack of information. You don't know what is going on and it takes a while to find out pieces of information. This bugged me a little at first, but it didn't bug me enough for me to quit reading or take away from my love of the book. I think it added to the suspense and mystery of what was happening. And I think it helped make the book more intense.


The Characters:

I really liked the characters. I really love that the story has a male main character. And everything is told from his point of view. I liked being able to read from his point of view the entire time.
Thomas is full of emotion and determination. I really like his character. I found him to be realistic and believable.  And I really like his relationship with the other boys in the Glade.
Chuck is a little annoying at first but it doesn't last the entire book (at least it didn't for me). I enjoyed seeing his friendship develop with Thomas.
Newt. I think he was one of my favorite characters in the book. I enjoyed watching his character develop through the story. I found his character to be funny at times too.
Minho. I really liked him too. And I like the friendship between him and Thomas. He is full of determination and strength.
Teresa. She is a character that I feel like I still don't know much about. And I want to know more about her. But I think she is strong and supportive.

I think the characters were well developed. They have their strengths and some weaknesses, that just adds to making them feel "real" to me.

If you haven't read The Maze Runner yet, then I recommend that you give it a go. It isn't for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. It was a fast enjoyable read, full of surprises and twists that kept me wanting more.

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

(source)

Title: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Length: 480 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Source: e-book (purchased)
Read: March 2014

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. (From Goodreads)

My Rating:

I had a really hard time rating this book. I kept going back and forth between 4 stars and 4.5 stars. But ultimately I am giving it 4.5 because I read the book quickly and overall enjoyed reading it.

*I do want it to be noted that I have not read either of the novellas for this series.*

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

I definitely enjoyed reading Shatter Me more. But this book did leave me wanting more. Needing to know what else happens and I immediately started reading Ignite Me upon finishing this one.

I found Juliette to be a little annoying in this book. I don't know why exactly but she bugged me a little. Maybe it was on purpose to give her character a change to grow and change. But she bugged me. I felt that she couldn't make up her mind about what she wanted (yeah, I realize she is a teenager and I as an adult have difficulty making decisions) but for some reason, this time it annoyed me a little bit.
I felt most of the book she spent focusing on Adam, and crying about Adam. But then Warner shows up and it felt like she almost completely forgot about Adam, and what else was going on. She focused more on Warner.

I did find the stuff that was going on with Adam to be interesting. And I was really wanting to know the details and what was happening. I needed to know what was going on with him.

But I didn't really like that his character changed a lot. I felt like he went from being this sweet, loving guy to someone that was kinda mean.

Something that I REALLY loved in this story was more Kenji. I really like his character, and I am glad that we see more Kenji in this book. I also that we see more development with his character and the beginning of a friendship between Juliette and Kenji.

And yes. My fierce HATE for Warner did fade during this book. In fact this is what I posted on Twitter right after finishing the book:

But at the end of Unravel Me I am still #TeamAdam. (At least I think so, but I am not 100% sure like I used to be...)

Unravel Me is a lot like Shatter Me with the writing style. And I know there are people that do not enjoy reading Mafi's purple prose and the use of strike through. But most of the time it doesn't bother me. I quite enjoyed reading a writing style that is different from what I usually read. (It can be good to mix it up.)

I did feel that the beginning of the book 2 is a little slower. And there isn't a lot of action at the beginning. But there were some surprises and shocks that I didn't see coming. And the action picks up.

If you enjoyed reading Shatter Me then I recommend continuing the story. And don't stop if you think the beginning is moving a little slow, it does pick up. And by the end I couldn't wait to start Ignite Me.

Rebel Heart by Moira Young

(source)

Title: Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2)
Author: Moira Young
Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Classification: Young Adult, Dystopian, Action and Adventure, Science Fiction
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Source: Hardback (purchased)
Read: January 2014

Saba thought her world would return to normal after they defeated the Tonton and rescued her kidnapped brother Lugh. The family head west for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But a formidable enemy is on the rise. What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? (From GoodReads)

My Rating:

***This is the second book in a series. There will be spoilers of things that happened in the first book, so if you haven't read Blood Red Road and don't want to know things that happened, please stop reading now.***

Overall, I really liked the story. I enjoyed that the action and adventure continued. But I didn't like it as much as I liked reading the first book.

And there were several things that surprised me. Some plot twists that I didn't see coming.

And now there are questions. The ending was a cliffhanger (for me at least)! And now I MUST know what happens.

So I can't wait until the final book comes out in May!

The Characters:
Saba: We get to read about a different side of Saba. In the first book she is determined, strong, and stubborn. But in the beggining of this book, she has been overcome by the emotions of her actions from the last book's ending. She has to get through the guilt and find the strength to accept what she has done and move on. I like that Young wrote Saba this way. I feel that it is more realistic and believable, that our heroine, would be feeling the pain and guilt from what she had to do. We read as Saba finds a way to overcome this pain and move on. We also get to read how she grows as a character, no longer needing to be tethered to Lugh. She becomes ready for being herself without always thinking of how Lugh would react, think, or what he would want her to do.
Lugh: He drove me a bit crazy in this book. I started to not like him as much. I felt that he wasn't very appreciative of everything that Saba had to go through to find him. And at times I felt like he was just bringing her down, instead of trying to help her get through the pain she was in.
Jack: Jack had a very small part in this book. (At least that is how it felt to me.) I definitely wanted some more Jack.
Emmi: Emmi is another character that I feel like I didn't read much about in this book. I like how she did try to help take care of Saba. And I like that their relationship didn't seem to fall apart.

The Story:
I did feel that this story started off a bit slower then the first book did. And it did take a little time for the action and adventure to pick up. But I also felt that all the stuff that Saba had to go through in the beginning (like seeing the spirits of others) was an interesting and important part of the story. It helps make Saba more human and grounded. And it gives her another challenge that she has to overcome.

There were several surprises that I didn't see coming and they added suspense and interest to the story.

But there were some events in the book that frustrated me.

Like the new love triangle.

And the fact that all the guys are now in love with Saba.

The story really picks up when Saba starts to feel better and takes off to find Jack. And from that point on, readers are then swept back into the action and adventure.

I am glad that I read this book, and it is a book that I would read again.