Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

James is "away" at boarding school: basically high school, except with dorm rooms and musical prodigies. He is surprisingly alone; it seems there is no Bagpipe Student Coalition. He cannot deny it, he is only here for one reason. Dee. But despite the awful events that happened over the summer, the once best friends are still on awkward footing, to say the least. His love for her is slightly pushed to the back burner when Nuala enters the scene. James had hoped to leave behind the Other World forever. It seems, however, that Thornking-Ash, the prestigious academy, has some secrets, and unfortunately for James, he is about to stumble upon them all.

Ballad is the sequel to Lament. If I didn't write a review of Lament (OMG how did I not review that one?) then here is the summary: OhemgeeitwasthebestbookI'vepossiblyeverread. Seriously. So here is my review of Ballad:

OhemmgeeitwasthebestbookI'veeverread. Seriously. This book made me want to find Maggie Stiefvater, buy her a throne, and sit at her feet so that some of her writing magnificence would float down to me. I can't begin to tell you how close I am to making an "I Heart Maggie" tee shirt. This book, was fantastic.

At first I was less than thrilled because it changed from Dee's to James' point of view. But it took me 15 pages to fall head-over-heels in love with James. And I quote: "We played our roles according to where we sat in the orchestra. Brass players: jerks. Woodwinds: snobby cliques. Strings: overachievers with their hands up all the time. Percussion: class clowns. Bagpipers: me." Ahhhh his POV is so great! James is a snarky little know-it-all who manages to belong in the front and back row of the classroom. He is a still wounded from his heartbreak over Dee, but he hides behind humor. Everything he says is golden.

Then Nuala comes around, and I like her. Immediately. I'm not sure what more there is to say.

The book is full of Faerie legends, which I love, but James has a pretty good grasp on reality, and you don't see much of the Fey, with the exception of Nuala, but she was so different from the rest of them that it was like a whole new world.

Ballad is full of mystery and suspense. It's got a looming quality to it, although the tone is generally upbeat. James is hilarious and keeps up the comic relief, so it never felt too dark.

My favorite part of Ballad was the snark. It came from James mostly, but Nuala gave it right back. Even outside of dialogue, in James' head, it was a great place to be. Honestly, I cannot name one bad quality in this book. I would recommend it to anyone who liked the first, but I think even if you read them out of order it won't mess you up TOO bad. (You should still read Lament first, though.) So, seriously, you have to read these.

On a side note: I am naming my children after Maggie. (Boy: Stief. We'll call him Steve.) Love her!

5 million/ 5
Shay-la <3

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Science, once the human race's greatest ally, has betrayed them all. Experimental genetic research has led to a doomed generation. Males die at the age of 25, and females even younger, at the hands of an incurable virus. To keep the human race alive, young women are kidnapped and either killed or forced into polygamous marriages. Rhine is one such young woman. She is only 16, but knows she won't live much longer. She is forced into wedding Lindon along with two other brides. In this dark lifestyle, lines between friend and foe are blurred, and Rhine is determined to find a way to spend whatever time she has left as a free woman.

My review:
I LOVED IT. Rhine is believable, bright, and a perfect main character. Her experience so far has been truly horrific, but she is not dark or broody. She plots. I love it! Rhine is my favorite type of heroine.

The other characters are terrific too! Cecily is one of the blurred-line characters. I love to hate her at first, but then just love her. Jenna is cool and aloof, but I ended up loving her in the end. Gabriel is believable and nice, and I enjoyed any part of the book that had him in it! Linden was also a blurry character. Rhine is supposed to hate him, but it gets complicated. Then you have the housemaster, who is creeperiffic. The perfect villain. *shiver*

There was no part of the book during which I found myself bored, disappointed, or disinterested. I always wanted to read it! It took me two days straight to read it, and I never wanted to put it down!

What was happening in the world was sad, gloomy, and horrible to think about. It was really awesome to read though, because while what happened to Rhine is tragic, I was sucked in. I HAD to know what was going to happen!

Sure, some of it (like how only America exists anymore?) made me raise my eyebrows, it's fiction, so sure. Let's go with that. The characters are really what the book is about.

I adored this book and everything about it! I can't wait for the next one!

As close to 5 as you can get without actually being 5/5
Shay-la

The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey #2) by Julie Kagawa

Meghan rescued her brother Ethan from the Iron King, but who will rescue her? As a prisoner of the Winter Queen, she knows the Iron Fey have not been defeated. No one at court is there to listen, and there is nothing Meghan can do. Ash is aloof and cold, Puck is still recovering in the Wyldwood, and her only companion is a mischievous phouka she doesn't trust. But the Iron Fey won't leave Meghan alone, and she is beginning to run out of options.

Let's start this review by being honest: I did not want to write it. I do not want to review this book.

I have no idea why this series has to be so wrong! I wanted to like it sooo much! The covers are beautiful and I had heard such fantastic things! I love books about Faerie. Just, not this one. :'(

Let's talk about the things I liked: The Shakespearean references. The king and queens and are Oberon and Tatiana, plus Mab. Plus you have Puck. I also really liked the premise of a race of faeries born of modern dreams and technology, even though they are deadly. It's a neat idea.

But. Meghan is appalling. The quickest way to ruin a book is to ruin the main character. Meghan is flighty and emotional, she is rash, uncouth, clumsy, fickle, petty, and weak. That sounded really mean, but I simply cannot help my negative feelings, as I have previously stated. Meghan spent way too much time pining over Ash, and she ALWAYS says the wrong thing. I don't understand how she got everyone in Faerie to fall in love with her, she's a mess! Maybe, to some, it is part of her charm. "Nobody's perfect": Meghan's motto.

I thought a lot of things that happened in the book were too convenient, but there was also a lot of tragedy. It evened out. I don't like how violent Faerie is all the time. I haven't seen enough GOOD sides of it to understand why Meghan loves it. Everyone wants to bleed you or steal your firstborn, and all of the mythical creatures are cruel. It makes me sad. There are some good sides, just not enough.

I managed to read this really quickly, and I did get intrigued by the plot. The parts that aren't about Ash's tragically fickle brain are pretty cool to read. There were slow spots, but most of it moved right along. So, all-in-all, not a super horrendous book to read. Just pretty bad. I'm sure a ton of readers disagree and really liked the books, so don't let me ruin the series for you! I might have to read the third to finish the series and put my mind at ease.

2/5
Shay-la

Stormglass (Glass #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Opal is an older, more experienced version of the girl who saved the city four years ago. She is studying at the Keep under the Master Magicians to learn more about her glassmaking powers- a type of magic that has never been discovered before Opal. When traumatic deaths terrify the Stormdance Clan, Opal is the Masters' first choice. She is sent to the cliffs to witness the mystery of Stormdancing- a type of magic as misunderstood as her own. Opal, putting on a brave face, is not sure she can solve the cause of the tragic deaths. But she delves headfirst into the investigation, risking her own life to help the clans. Soon she realizes that this magic is close to home: dangerously close.

My review:
I was nervous about this book because I loved Poison Study so much, and I hoped Stormglass would pull me into the world just as much. Once I started reading, I was not disappointed!
I have to say, I was not disappointed because I stopped comparing the two series immediately. Opal was quite different, her magic was different, and I loved her just as much as Yelena.
The story was captivating, and I enjoyed learning about a new clan with previously undescribed talents. I wish there would have been more Stormdancing and dancers, but alas, tragedy. In particular I enjoyed Kade, although I thought I wouldn't at first.
The glassblowing was cool to read about as well! It was something I had never thought much about, but Snyder obviously has researched it a lot. Opal's talents made her interesting to read about and gave her real depth.
Speaking of, I enjoyed Opal being the main character. She has grown up so much, but is still not entirely confident in her abilities. She has fears, but doesn't let them keep her from accomplishing great feats for others' benefit. She is selfless, determined, and tough to keep down. She also makes a lot of wise decisions, and is quick when it comes to solving a mystery. I love how prone to action she is, but also somewhat reluctant to leave home. Opal is a very 3-dimensional character.
The plot doesn't stop moving-- ever! Opal spends weeks on the road, constantly moving and learning. I read through it quickly trying to find out what would happen next and why.
There were only small things that kept this book from a 5/5. Every once in a while I would find a sentence that was worded awkwardly, or a description would lose me. I felt like the author was writing AT me. The way she described Opal's feelings was not very subtle or natural. I like when I don't have to be told how the character is feeling exactly, but can just decipher her through context and actions. This book was not done that way. It sometimes gives Opal's emotions an awkward forcedness. (If that's a word?)
With all of the other amazingness that Snyder has written, I did not have time to dwell on the negatives. The characters, plot, and world were too cool! I loved this first book, and I can't wait to read the rest!

A note: If you haven't read the Study series, you should probably do so before reading the Glass books. (Don't fret, you won't regret picking them up!)

4.3/5
Shay-la

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Tessa has been brought to London by tragic circumstances. Determined to start anew with her brother, she is instead captured and held in a world she had no idea existed. Forced into practice sessions, she develops powers unlike anything seen before, even in the Downworld-- a community filled with magical creatures. Even when Tessa is rescued she cannot escape the Downworld. The Shadowhunters need Tessa's magic to solve a clockwork mystery that threatens even the mortal world. Vampires, warlocks, and demons scare Tessa, but not as much as the fact that she may be one of them.
My review:
This was not what I expected. It was written very differently than The Mortal Instruments, which I liked. However, the story was lacking something. Depth? I have no idea. All I know was that I was left wanting.
I enjoyed the setting a lot, I love Steampunk and London settings, as well as Era novels.
I also liked the characters, for the most part. I think Tessa was brave, smart, and witty. I also think she was underwritten. All we know about Tessa was that she likes reading, is a girl, and has a brother. And she hates chocolate. There was not enough of her voice in the story.
I also liked Jem. He's hot, strong, funny, and very very wise. He plays the violin, has an exotic background, and a tragic past. Most of the time, broody serious guys hold no appeal for me, but Jem is a positive force in this otherwise bleak situation for Tessa. He always helps her, and never hurts her. There isn't a selfish bone in his body.
Then there's Will. And that makes me sad, because I know I'm supposed to like him. He's supposed to be a troubled boy who takes life too lightly and jokes too much simply because his insidey parts are sad. But I call BS. He's a jerk to Tessa, hot and cold, and does a horrible job of being mysterious. He isn't a horrible person, but he thinks he is. Boo hoo. Another Edward complex. Sorry, but he needs to get over what happened when he was twelve and stop being a little pansy girl.
Team Jem.
Henry and Charlotte are soooo awesome! Henry is probably my favorite character. I wish he would have been in the story more often! Jessamine was hard to read, but I have a feeling I will end up liking her a lot.
The plot moved quickly, and maybe that was what was missing. There was so much happening it felt like only a day had passed since the beginning. It didn't feel natural. Tessa got sucked right in, and stayed there. However, the book was never boring.
Because I knew about the Downworld already, it didn't feel like an introduction to a new world. It felt like the same story with different characters. Tessa did not hesitate to learn everything about the Shadowhunters, so she already knew a lot about them. I didn't feel like I was learning along with her. I was looking forward to a new look on this world, but it ended up feeling like a rewrite where the names were changed (and it's easy to see what Jace's name would be), and women wore dresses.
I know it seems like I just tore this book apart, and I suppose I did. But there were things that I liked, like the writing, Tessa, and the fact that it took place in that time/place. It redeemed the book a lot. This was not a bad or boring read. I just did not get addicted to the story like I had expected to.
If you have not read the book, please don't let the bad deter you. I am glad I read it, and I will keep reading the series! A lot of readers loved this book!
3/5
Shay-la

Last Sacrifice (VA 6-- Finale!) Richelle Mead

Rose has been framed. The queen is gone, and Rose has been wrongfully imprisoned. Her once allies are gone now, and she feels utterly alone. Only, there is a plan. A plan she, for once, has not concocted. On another whirlwind adventure, there are too many problems Rose can't solve. She finally has to realize that she can no longer do it all alone, and there are people behind her that are willing to make that sacrifice.

The conclusion is here! I picked up the book, filled with dread. Book 5 has ended technically the right way, so why aren't I happy? There are too many pieces not in place! And this better all come together! That was the attitude I had when I began reading. I was terribly afraid of Richelle's power over my sanity.

No prologue! A promising beginning. But is it a ruse? It seemed like the book was constantly promising something brilliant, and I was constantly peeking over my shoulder. I was sure the darkness was going to come and steal away all of Rose's progress! I had invested a ton of time into these characters, and I was perilously close to losing it all!

The book kept me enthralled, just like its predecessors. Of course I loved it, Rose was there! Past the beginning, there was not a lot of violence, but there were a lot of internal battles. Rose came about a LOT of epiphanies. She had a lot of struggles to overcome that all the fighting in previous books didn't allow time for. I was glad to see deeply into Rose's character; she has developed so much.

Of course, there was a lot of romantic tension too. No spoilers, but I got pretty frustrated with a certain Russian guy. It made for great reading, though. Nothing like going back to first base with your soulmate to amp up the expectations. It was weird, being caught in a love triangle, because c'mon. We know who wins. Although I almost found myself conflicted, because both dudes are so great, and I could see Rose loving both of them.

On the negative side, this book was blendy as well. I was confused as to which part of the book was the climax, the turning point, what-have-you. There were many! It's not necessarily a bad thing, just confusing. It seemed to lack structure. It left me conflicted, because everything was great in the book! I loved every second! But there was something about the way it was put together that made the events less profound than I thought they should have been. There was, like the previous book, a LOT of falling action at the end. No piece was left unplaced, and while I respect that, it was a little unnatural feeling. Forced?

But this book was still fantastic! Despite what may be not-award-winning writing, there is so much to love in these books! Richelle Mead has created a fantastic world, with intricately made characters and astounding detail. I completely admire the way, even in the last book, readers are still learning about the vampire world. There were new settings, and new characters. There will always be more to learn.

I hated that this book had that negative side, because I loved this series so much! I loved watching Rose's character develop, and all the myseteries revealed. It has become my favorite series, with no competition! My favorite book was Blood Promise, no doubt. But the first book is almost tied with it, because it was so fabulous, and started it all.

I won't tell you how I felt about the ending, because that would give everything away. I still love Richelle Mead, and the city is not burning, however. So that should tell you all you need to know!

It's all over, and I'm really sad. The effects of the books will take awhile to fade, and I still haven't really come to terms with the fact that I won't get to read about Rose and Dimitri anymore! :'(

So, if you haven't read the series, do it. You will not regret one second you spend reading Vampire Academy! It will change your life! :)

Book rating:4.3/5

Series: A million/5

Shay-la

Spirit Bound (VA 5) by Richelle Mead

The end of Blood Promise left us all heartbroken and wanting more. How are things going to get better? HOW, I ASK YOU? Well, in response, Richelle Mead gave us Spirit Bound.

First off, this book was really weird! Not weird weird, but definitely triggered a strange reaction in me. No prologue (hooray!) and not too much recap, though honestly, by book 5, Mead should expect her readers to remember what a Moroi is, right? Anyway, the end of 4 left a little trickle of hope inside readers, and I had great expectations for book 5. I knew what needed to happen! And anything less was going to lead to some horrible crimes (see review for book 4).

I loved the book. It was a huge adventure, full of heart-pounding action. As always, I was totally in love with Rose. She was impressive. I had to admit, she is a little too impressive sometimes, with things going a little too right for her, but I would never dream of complaining! She is a super heroine, and that it that! Right from the beginning, I know Rose is going to start trouble, and I was super pumped!

Also, hi Dimitri! You're scary now, but I still love you!

The thing I disliked the most was the setup of the book. It was like the previous, with the climax being right smack in the middle of the book. I felt it left wayyy too much room at the end for falling action. Kind of dull, but I still enjoyed reading it. I can see why some of it was necessary to the story, but almost wished it had been saved for another book or something? I'm no author. I also usually enjoy books in a series to have their own plots, and it came off feeling a little bit too blendy. I have already forgotten where book 4 ended and 5 began. Well, almost.

There was a lot of hope and heartbreak smashed between these covers. I was so full of feelings I lost touch with reality a little. It took me two days to finish because it was quite lengthy. It pretty much ruined any outside life I had, and I even started to narrate my own actions like Rose would do in my head. (Cmon book nerds, you've done it!)

Point is: another great addition to the series. Not the best one, but still great!

4/5

Shay-la

Blood Promise (Vamp Academy 4) by Richelle Mead

Rose is on an impossible quest. She know's it's impossible, but it's hers alone. She's across the world, and she's in trouble. There are many ways this could end, but they all involve death.

I tried, when writing the overview, to keep out spoilers. Which made it very vague. But, after Goodreads.com ruined the end of Frostbite for me by including the ending in the overview of Shadow Kiss, I couldn't stand to do that to anyone else. So, there you have it. I summed up the book in four short sentences.

So this book worked me up so much I started having chest pain, drove to the ER, and was diagnosed with a deadly disease. I'm kidding of course, but a part of me wanted to die half of the time! I thought I was going to explode from all the pent up emotion. I wanted to cry the whole book, and did the last half. The last two pages I was shaking my hands in the air and trying not to scream! Ahhhh! So instead I whined to all my fellow VA addicts. And now I'm going to whine again.

I seriously almost want to give this book a zero. I wish I could, and I would, if it wasn't so friggin' great. Because it was fantastic. What kind of book makes you want to explode the whole time? A great one. It was a bittersweet experience.

On the plus side, she's in Russia, which is pretty sweet. She's typical bad-a Rose on a mission. Even though I knew she was being foolish, I wanted her to. She was right, even though she was wrong, you know? Of course you do! It's Rose. Another plus was the new characters. Mead is constantly building on her addictive world, and there's alway something new to learn! I found out a ton about hidden dhampir worlds, Strigoi hunting, and spirit using. What I didn't learn, however, was how to pronounce "dhampir." And honestly, I'm faking "Strigoi" and "Moroi" too. I just guess while I'm reading and hope I never have to say them out loud and embarrass myself.

Okay, now the down sides. There was a prologue. Ugh! I skipped it again when I was sure I didn't need it. I can appreciate it being useful to people who waited a while between books, but I'm reading in fervent, rushed succession. So they are just annoying to me. There was a lot of recap, but it wasn't bad, and Rose is so far away from everyone that it wasn't too distracting. Also, if you've read the book, you know what the other downside is. I mean, WTF! Right? Ah!!!!

The book drove me insane. It dangles little nuggets of cheer in front of you, then BAM. You're dead inside. I would feel dead now if I didn't have the other two books. At first, I was like, WHY ARE THERE MORE! ROSE SHOULD JUST DIE NOW SO I CAN BE COMPLETELY MISERABLE IN PEACE!

But now I understand. I also suspected something like this would happen. And if the series doesn't end like I want it to, I'm burning down something. Then I'll have some very angry hotel staff on my case, and I'll try to fight them off Rose-style, and I'll probably end up in prison. "Oh hey look, there's Victor! Hey Mr. D! So you gotta tell me about this big secret?! I'll give you Lissa! Honestly!"

You get the picture.

I have some hope left, because none of my friends who finished are in prison and the world isn't in flames, so it can't be all bad, right? RIGHT?!

Sorry, this was more of a therapy session than a review, but I oddly feel a lot better now. And you understand. It was fantastic. If you haven't read the series, DO IT! (Command may be revoked later, depending on the ending).

4.5/5

Shay-la

Shadow Kiss (V.A. #3) by Richelle Mead

Rose has witnessed the inevitable and the impossible. She has become more than girls her age: a warrior, a guardian. But even Rose is not invincible. She begins questioning her sanity, her place in the world, and who she has become. Yet again, she is unable to focus on herself, because eerie events keep pointing to a horrible truth: nowhere is safe anymore.

I didn't waste time on the overview. Trust me, this book is full to bursting of plot, and it was thrilling to read. Most of the excitement was saved for very last, but I enjoyed the entire book and tore through it like a madwoman (hello, Dimitri was there!)

I don't really know how much opinion or review is necessary here. I love the series, love Rose and Dimitri, and the book did not disappoint.

There was a lot less to complain about than in Frostbite. Rose is mature and does an awesome job kicking butt the whole time. She managed to swallow her petty arguments most of the time, and I think I love her even more now!

Also, there was a lot of Dimitri in here. A lot. And it made me very very happy.

And then, it made me sad.

And then, ecstatic!

But alas, sad again.

It pretty much took me on a roller coaster that will be continued in the next book: Blood Promise, I think. Spoiler alert: *ugh!* End spoiler.

I'm thrilled about the next book. There was definitely a cliffhanger ending. It took a lot of self control to type this instead of going to pick up the next book!

Anyway, great book. Great story. I'm gonna go read the next one now!

4/5

Shay-la

Frostbite: A Vampire Academy Novel by Richelle Mead

Love triangles, politics, and family drama are just a part of Rose's daily routine at St. Vladimir's. Lissa, Dimitri, and Mason are all she has time to think about until the day Rose sees first-hand the damage done to a Moroi family murdered in their own home. Someone is targeting the royals, and the usual Strigoi rules are no longer applicable. She doesn't have time to think about her personal life, but it burns to ashes around her anyway. She has to prove to everyone, including herself, that she can be mature enough to handle her guardian responsibilties, but her ridiculous love life isn't make things any easier.

For those who haven't read the first book, I will try to keep it as spoiler-free as possible, but no promises. :)

I finished this book today and didn't waste time busting out the laptop. I know this review is going to sound like insane babbling, but rest assured, the book lived up to its hype.
That's not to say it didn't take some time to "wow" me. Frankly, it sucked at first. (Ouch, that hurt to type!) I skipped the prologue because it was a badly-written recap that bored me to tears and made Rose sound like an idiot. It didn't set the stage at all. Then, it took a few chapters after that for me to really get back into my initial love for the story. It was a giant recap that I didn't need. One big pet-peeve I have is too much recap in a novel. It wasn't done well, it was blatant and didn't feel natural to read. I got distracted by all of it, and it really disappointed me. I hadn't noticed anything bad about Mead's writing in Vamp Academy 1, but this writing really felt awkward. I knew in my heart, however, that it would get better, and it really did.

After all of the details of the first book were more-or-less out in the open, the recapping stopped and I got to focus on the "now." The plot was really fantastic. It kept me reading quickly and I was dying to know what would happen!

And Dimitri was there. He makes everything okay. I was very frustrated with him, of course, but I was just happy to see him. I was like "OOH Dimitri! Hi! It's me! Shaylin! Hey...where are you going!?" Mason's cute, don't get me wrong. But he's not Russian or 24. I do love a good love-triangle though, if you could call it that. It's pretty one-sided.

Rose does stupid stuff a lot, as usual, but I love her. She's one of the best main characters I've ever found. Her dumbness frustrated me a little at times, but she's smart and always picks up quickly. It's so much better reading about a smart heroine. Refreshing, and I don't have to scream solutions into the Kinde nearly as often.

The end...(like, the last 20%) killed me. I was so tense, and reading so quickly, I think I might have stopped breathing at times. It was beautiful, action-packed, violent, romantic, and just perfect, really. It was a tear-jerker, I will warn you. I didn't cry, because I read the cover of Shadow Kiss, the next one, and it GAVE THE END AWAY! Don't read it!!!!!

Yay for this author! She has woven a brilliant world and brilliant characters. I will be reading the rest in rapid succession, and I hope they live up to their predecessors' genius.

4.2/5 (-.8 for the beginning, the rest was pretty fantastic)

Shay-la

The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld

Moz and Zahler have played guitar together for six years. Pearl has been in a few short-term bands. Minerva has pipes that make singers weep with envy. Alana Ray plays paint buckets on the street. By chance, Pearl meets Moz, creating a chain reaction that ultimately leads to a full-fledged record deal. The unlikely combination of players is magic--almost literally. When Minerva sings, the floors shake, Alana sees visions, and Moz falls in love. With some mysterious plague vexing the island of Manhattan, the band learns their music is bigger than fame. They could hold the key to saving New York, and the plague-ridden world.

I read Peeps, the first book, a couple years ago, so I was relieved to find this one had different characters, and I wasn't lost. It struck me as more of a companion novel in that way, but having read the other I felt like I had special insight into the story. And yes, the other characters pop back up later.
I loved the book! I'm just gonna throw that out there right off! Scott Westerfeld is my hero, and likely my favorite author. He throws in mounds of research into his books, and has a vision for world-building. His characters are real and flawed and lovable. He cracks me up with his dialogue and lingo. Brilliant writing! The Last Days is the epitome of his work, and represents all of his talents fantastically! He is such a rock star!

The book switched perspective, but stays in the first-person POV. I had NEVER seen that before, and it got confusing, but I loved having the close connection with all of the characters. Who would have thought that could work so well? (Me, because it's Scott and he can do whatever he wants!)

My favorite character? Probably Alana Ray. She was smart, but still completely insane. Minerva was neat to read about too, but a little too psycho even for my taste.

I love the Peeps series, the premise is so cool. Mysterious black goo, cannibalistic diseases, rogue hordes of rats, all done without being overly horrific, and still light-hearted and optimistic.

I loved the descriptions of the music. Stories of band-forming teens are becoming cliche, but Westerfeld created the ultimate band of teen warriors (so to speak). This is like the Mac-Daddy of teen bands. The drummer plays paint buckets, so, yeah. They win the originality award.

As you can clearly tell by my ranting, the book was so fabulous. Love the series. Read it!

4.9/5 (-.1 because Moz is annoying, but that's it)

Shay-la

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

We watched as the world came to an end in Life As We Knew It, but the moon tragedy didn't just affect Pennsylvania. It reached the entire country. In New York City, Alex is alone. He is now responsible for his two teenaged sisters, and he has no way of knowing if his parents are among the living anymore. His life is now making sure that they can eat, and he begins trying things he never would have considered before to keep his family alive. In the end, he has the church and his Catholic school, but he is not sure how long they will last. Hoping his prayers are sufficient, Alex suffers tragedy as he tries to become the man of the family.

This is a retelling of sorts, of the events in Life As We Knew It. This time, it is in third-person POV, following Alex, and set in NYC. It was more of a companion novel. First off, I really liked Alex's POV. He was stronger, and more responsible. He made a terrific main character, though his story was more of a tearjerker.

The story kept me enthralled, for sure. I wanted to keep reading straight through, but alas, I had to sleep. Alex had a lot of good opportunities that Miranda, from the other book, never did, but he suffered more tragedy I think. There was one part of the story where I had to slap my hand over my mouth in horror! Still, he was one of the lucky ones.

The only thing I didn't like about the book was how Alex really never registered all the weird things around him. The author would just mention an event almost in passing, like "Oh and the snow was gray instead of white. Proly cuz all that volcano stuff." I'm being dramatic, but it seems Alex didn't really stop to consider the significance of any changes. I guess it's understandable, he was mostly concerned about food.

Time seemed to pass more quickly for Alex as well. He wasn't stranded in the house, didn't really have to worry about freezing to death, and had electricity at least one day a week. Like I said, he had it pretty good. I didn't get that "end of the world" feeling that I got from the other book.

Standing alone, if I would shut my mouth and stop comparing the stories, the book was great. I really liked it (as far as comparisons go, maybe more than the other). I don't have any really strong opinions about the book, but it made me think. I enjoyed that. I hear there is another, and will definitely seek it out!

4/5

Shay-la

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The world becomes a different place after the moon is struck by the asteroid. It changes in ways nobody has predicted. People knew it would be a historical event, but what they didn't know was how the moon would change forever. How the tides would rage and earthquakes would plague the world. Miranda chronicles the events in her journal, not realizing their importance at the time. But things spiral downward, forcing everyone into isolation, sickness, and starvation. Her diary tells the tale of a family in what could be the last days of human existence.

This was another book a friend pushed me to read, and I'm glad I did. It was very different than wat I usually read, in that it was told through diary entries, and it wasn't exactly dytopian or supernatural. It was entirely believable.

Miranda's character developed a lot through the story. She started out as a typical, selfish teenager, who I didn't agree with most of the time. She developed into a strong, determined woman who had responsibility thrust upon her. The rest of the characters were developed nicely as well, like they would be seen through the eyes of a teenager.

The story sucked me in toward the middle and I sped through, though it took me awhile to get into it, honestly. I grew to really care about what happened to them, which was tragic. These people went through so much, it made me think about my day-to-day life and what I would miss most if I was in this story. That's a sign of a good book, it really makes you think.

Keeping it short and sweet, it was a good book. I loved the story and will definitely read the next one, called The Dead and The Gone.

4/5

Shay-la

Wake by Lisa McMann

Janie has a gift.
Or a curse.

She is pretty sure it's the latter.

Since childhood, she's been forced to witness the fears, hopes, and stresses of others. Through their dreams. As the dreams begin to take a physical and mental toll on Janie, she finds there is someone she can turn to after all-- Cabel, the boy down the street who has suddenly entered her life. Then there is the woman at the nursing home, who Janie suspects may know what she's going through.

I'm bracing myself for this, because this book was not pretty, especially at the beginning. The writing threw me off right at the start, which seems to have happened to a lot of readers. It was choppy and simplistic, which matched the mind of young Janie, but it should have matured more with her. Instead, there were just more curse words, like a toddler putting on big-girl shoes. I thought there was an unwritten rule: if a book is in present tense, it should be in first person. I don't know why I thought this. I always thought a third-person book would be weird in the present tense. I was right! It took a long time to get used to.

On the plus side, the book read very very quickly. The short sentences and chapters meant that there was not a lot of content to process, and I finished the book within a few hours. I think that redeemed the book a little, because I didn't feel like I had wasted time or had to force myself to read.

I liked Janie. She was strong and cool and mature. I even liked Cabe, although I thought his story was out-of-nowhere. I did like the story. I wanted to know what would happen, and even though about 1/4 of the way through I thought about quitting, I was glad I finished.

The profanity annoyed me, it happened too often and it was unnatural at times. I've never read a book with "Jesus" used in vain so often!

So, in conclusion, this book did not change my life. It wasn't great, or absolutely horrible. It was just pretty bad. I know a lot of people liked it, and it does have some redeeming qualities. Overall, it just didn't do it for me.

2/5

Shay-la

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Sam has everything, but can she keep it? Her story begins at her death-- on Cupid day, of all days. She is certain that she has died, but she wakes up in the morning, without a scratch. Then she discovers that today is Cupid Day. Again. Seven times she is allowed to relive her last day, each time trying to discover the importance of February 12. Fights with her best friends, crazy parties, and uncertain romances plague Sam every day for a week, and she is all alone this time.

What I heard about this book before I decided to read it was "yeah, it was okay." Not really a high recommendation. I wasn't overly excited, to be honest, but the premise of the book was so intriguing I decided to pick it up for some light vacation reading.

I was pleasantly surprised. I really liked Oliver's writing, which I didn't notice when I read Delirium. It bordered on stream-of-consciousness, which I usually hate, but it was relatable and useful stuff, not just random babbling. She has the very rare talent of subtle writing. She lets the reader feel for themselves and solve the puzzle along with the main character. She hardly ever straight-up tells you anything, but drops enough clues that you figure it out yourself. The tone changes are subtle enough to feel real, and you can feel so many things along with Sam. Foreboding, regret, anger, to name a few. It really sucked me in, and every once in awhile I had to pull myself away and go back to reality.

Sam was a love/hate character. I was on her side, but I knew she was doing the wrong things sometimes. Deep down, you know she's not a good person. Not in her actions, anyway, but at the same time you have enough insight to know that she isn't as terrible as you think. She was funny and strong and stood up for herself, especially toward the end.

The other characters are great, too. She really developed them, especially Lindsay, who is my favorite, although like Sam she is not exactly a moral paragon. Kent is adorable. :)

My only qualm was with the language. There was a lot of cursing, especially at the start of the novel. It calmed down later. Also, there was a LOT of drinking. My high school experience wasn't like that at all, but that's probably because I wasn't involved in it. It probably happens, which is sad.

I was rooting for Sam the whole time! The book really kept me involved, and I still keep thinking about it. It was sassy and fun, but touching too! I was pleasantly surprised by Lauren Oliver's debut novel, and would recommend it to anyone who likes the Mean Girls genre, but I think it would appeal to an even wider audience.

4/5

Shay-la

The Iron King (The Iron Fey book one) by Julie Kagawa

Description: Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

If I could describe Meghan Chase in one word it would be: blundering. That's what she does the whole book. She blunders through Faerie, or the NeverNever, in alarmingly dangerous oblivion. She rushes right into situations, panics, gets herself into a mess, and then relies on the other lead characters to dig her out of the hole. My main worry is that one day Grimalkin or Puck won't be there to save poor Meghan from the lake she fell into because she didn't realize water worked the same way in Faerie, and she'll drown because she can't remember how to move her arms. Phew, now that that speech is over, my chest feels lighter, and I can talk about the rest of the book.

Kagawa's true talent lies in description. The world she built is stunning and beautiful, and I loved it. The courts, the lands, and the fairy tales all blended to make the plot pretty fantastic. For instance, Faeries are kept immortal by tales that people tell of them. As long as the memory of the faerie is kept alive, the fey cannot die. It was a unique detail I had not encountered in a book about faeries before. Most of the other faerie stuff was typical: Winter/summer courts, Shakespeare characters, and changelings. The uniqueness of the descriptions kept it from feeling like any other Fey book, however.

Ash is the main love interest. He is dark and sarcastic enough to hold my interest, and doesn't really soften up too much. Of course, since Meghan is a weak little brat, she falls for him in an instant like a mortal under a spell. It was a little pathetic, but I liked Ash and was glad they were an item. It happened too fast for my taste (I mean, cmon, there are two more books so far). But I suppose that's okay.

All minor qualms with the book were either compensated for by all of the great faerie details, or overshadowed by my hatred for the main character. She asked stupid questions, didn't EVER learn, and whined. A lot. She was pretty dumb, for the savior of the Faerie world. There were a few redeeming qualities that kept me from chucking the book, like her determination and her love for others. For that, Julie Kagawa, I thank you.

Overall, liked the book a lot. I will be reading the rest! Let's just hope Meggie gets a little more awesome.

4/5

Shay-la

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Rose and Lissa have been on the run for two years. Neither are sure what they are running from, but they know they can't go back to St. Vladimir's Academy. Rose is a dhampir, sworn to protect her best friend Lissa, a Moroi. When they are caught and dragged back to the academy, Rose is forced to train with Dimitri to catch up to the rest of the dhampir warriors. Rose almost returns to normal when something goes very wrong with Lissa. Ousted by "The Royals" and threatened by pranks, she cannot return to normal. What Rose and Lissa find out is enough to scare them both, though Rose has never let fear hold her back before.

Yay! I finally read it! After having pushed this one off as a so-so Vamp knock-off, I never picked it up. However, with a lot of pushing from my friends, I got excited about it and checked it out. I'M SO GLAD I DID! I finished in in 12 hours, and wanted more.

I love Rose!!!! She's so bad! She is always up for a fight and always sticks up for herself. I loved being in her POV, because it was never boring. She is sarcastic and tough and fabulous.

Then there's Dimitri...sigh...so amazingly mature and tough, but soft enough to mentor Rose through all of the high school drama. The best part was that there wasn't even a hint of romance until about 3/4 in. And even then, it's subtle and pushed back to the back burner. Unlike her weaker female counterparts, Rose doesn't fall easily or give up her dignity. It made for tantalizing room for development, as well as enough time to build her character.

The plot was always moving and intriguing, which was why it took less than a day to read. There was plenty of action and some violence, though not overdone. And I have to say, these are probably the most sensible vampires I have ever read about. Like, they make sense, the way they exist. It's almost believable that they could be real. Kudos, Richelle Mead on an awesome 1st book, and I can't wait to read them all in rapid succession!

5/5!!!

Shay-la

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

Ani is neither Fey nor mortal, though she has been leaning to one side as of late. Her hunger for touch and for emotion sets her apart from the rest of the Hounds. When the courts begin targeting her as a valuable asset, she runs. She is not alone, however, as the third oldest faery in existence is there to protect her, guide her, and nourish her. Quickly, she and Devlin realize they were destined for each other, and not even the brewing war can make them turn back now.

It has been a couple years since I read Fragile Eternity, book 3. So I was a little behind in all that was happening. On the plus side, the change in characters was not as jarring. I loved Ani!!! She is exactly what I love in a main character: strength, optimism, and some snark (or a lot, in her case). I loved Devlin too, but who wouldn't? He's sexy and strong, albeit a little old for Ani (like, REALLY old). I suppose when one is immortal, age isn't even a number anymore.

There was a lot of plot in this book! Things were constantly happening, and I had no choice but to finish it quickly. There was a lot of steamy stuff as well to keep it interesting. Never over the top or cheesy.

I was kept guessing along with Ani, not quite sure where things were going. I loved it. At some points, however, I felt truly lost. Sometimes Devlin and Ani would have a conversation that would leave me feeling like I had missed something. I also didn't get the whole weird chanting thing at the end, and didn't know how all three of them just randomly seemed to know what to do and say, although I had no idea where the incantation came from. The weird Devlin thing at the end bothered me too. Won't give too much away, but if I was Ani I would be creeped out that my eternal boyfriend also had this other woman he wanted (romantically? I'm not sure, but it sure seemed like it).

I loved this book! I am always immediately drawn in by Melissa Marr's world!

4.8/5

Shay-la

Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia is happy. She trusts the Society, as they have provided the citizens with a long, healthy life that was previously unattainable. She eagerly looks forward to the night of her Match banquet, the night she will discover with whom she will live for the rest of her life. She is thrilled to see the face of her best friend flash across the screen, and knows that a marriage between them is bound to be successful and happy. But then, she sees another face, so shockingly unheard of that she barely believes it. The face belongs to Ky, an outsider. Ky seems to be popping up in Cassia's life a lot lately, and she has to wonder whether her feelings for him are truly her own. Something is awry, and Cassia has no choice but to find out what.

Um, this book was weird. It was the second book I had ever gotten on audio, and the voice, no offense, was a little annoying. However, I don't think that was why the book was weird.

What was weird was that I'm not a picky reader. I hate being overly critical and ruining the story. However, I was very "meh" about it. I tried verrrry hard to enjoy it, and the story did have its up-sides, but I was not impressed.

Cassia was clueless, and remained so throughout the book. I really like a strong heroine, and I didn't find that in Cassia. She asked the wrong questions, played dumb, and was pouty. Not even in a good snarky way. You can tell the author wanted her to be very nice and ordinary, but it left Cassia with very little personality. I also felt that she jumped from obedient, ordinary citizen to rebellious and defiant far too quickly, and with very little hesitation. That was how I felt, at least, and perhaps the way I read the book affected that too.

And Ky. Meant to be the hot, brooding outsider, his character sounded like every cliche. I knew immediately that Cassia would fall in love with him. That also happened too fast, with no solid reasoning behind it. I didn't really find anything special in Ky besides his shady mystery of a past and the fact that he could write. Those don't make a person lovable.

The writing style also bothered me. I kept waiting for something to happen, but it seemed like the whole book was Cassia's thoughts about every little thing. There were paragraphs of it, not describing her doing something, just thinking these really long metaphor-filled sentences. It was boring to hear, honestly. There was not a lot of climatic drama or action.

I'm being harsh, because the book did have an interesting premise. I love dystopia. The idea of a person being Matched with a spouse, job, and home was very timely and interesting. I guess those pieces weren't glued together to story closely enough, like it was all about Cassia and how the Society immediately affected her. I was interested in it, and would like to learn more about how the Society came to be, the current border wars, and the other jobs, besides Matching/ Sorting. (Btw, what the heck was Cassia's job? Looking for patterns in numbers and sorting them? How does one just find patterns, and what did they represent? Surely they were good for something, or Cassia was just wasting time at her "job.") But again, maybe I'm being too harsh.

The characters, even the main ones, disappointed me. The writing was not good, the story was boring, but the premise was interesting. Despite myself, I can't help but want, just a little, to read the next book. I hate giving up on a story, and I want to know--again, just a little--what will happen to Cassia. The book kept me wanting to know how Cassia would get through it, and what would happen next, and that's a positive book trait.

It wasn't all bad! Don't be too distraught! There were thousands who really enjoyed Matched, just check Goodreads.com...I don't know why I'm on the other side, because I'm usually not. Perhaps in time I will try it again in print to see if it helps.

2.5/5

--Shay-la

The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson

The Reluctant Heiress takes place in (where else for Ibbotson?) Early 20th Century Vienna. Tessa is working herself ragged for a touring Opera company, but she is not who she seems. When Guy Farne, a wealthy Englishman, buys Vienna's most valuable palace, she becomes unwillingly involved in the festivities and finds herself in a dangerous position: love.

I have read and loved all 5 of Eva Ibbotson's standalone novels. She is truly a brilliant, lyrical writer, and weaves a nice heart-warming love story. Once I read one, I became addicted. They are all very similar, with different characters and slightly different plots, but I love them even if I can predict the end.

This one was no exception, it followed the classic storyline, however, I didn't like it nearly as much as the others! Maybe it was because I read it last? But no, the leading man was FLAT and seemingly perfect for Tessa, but more jerky than acceptable. She fell for him with seemingly no reason. He was distant and mean most of the book. And in the end, he is shockingly cruel to his admittedly crueler fiance.

The other characters were brilliant! Jacob and Klovsky. The Aunts. Even Maxi. But Tessa also fell flat for me. She was TOO classic Eva. There was not much to distinguish her. She was nice, but too altruistic.

The end was a good one, what should have happened, but I found myself unattached to the story, unlike all of the others, which I lived and breathed for!

Sadly, didn't measure up. However, since it was the last book, perhaps I am being unfair. I still love her and her writing, and it went pretty quickly. So:

3/5
--Shay-la

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare!!!!!

Yayyyyy!!!!! It's Finally here!!!!! I'm ashamed to say it was out for almost 2 weeks before I could get my hands on it. I made up for lost time by devouring it quickly. My understanding is that these last few books will be like their own trilogy, adding onto the original trilogy. Clare marked the change by putting 2 characters on the front of the cover, instead of one.

Jace is distant, Simon is alone, Clary is confused. The ending of the third book left the characters in a nice place, but now things are starting to get messy. Simon can't tell his mother about anything, and refuses to be a part of his own world. A new player is determined to use his Daylighter abilities and now he is even less sure who to side with. Jace is also being torn by his love for Clary and his fear of loving Clary. He is plagued by nightmares and can't even look at her. She is left in a mixed up state, not knowing how to help Jace, or even what is wrong with him. In the background looms a danger that none of them have faced, that will defeat them unless they fix the division among them.

Okay...hmm...what to say first. The book was great, especially the end! It wasn't my favorite, it seemed a little less kick-a than the first 3. Not a whole lot of action or fights, mostly mystery and arguments that required more thinking and talking than battling. Sadly.

And Jace. WTF! He is whiney the whole book, and I get pretty frustrated with him. I know he's going through something awful, but he didn't handle it well. At all. Simon rocks though, like always. I love him as a vampire! I wish he would have been able to explore his abilities more. Not the Mark of Cain, that's creepy. I mean his super-fast reflexes and sight and strength! COOL! But Simon is Simon, and he doesn't really appreciate losing his humanity.

Saddest of all was Clary's character. She was weak and not very interesting this book. It seemed like Jace and Simon and the other lead characters were the ones causing the action, and she was simply reacting. There was one exception, and that was pretty awesome. But otherwise, meh. She isn't studying the Shadowhunter lore or tactics, but expects to be treated like one of them? She has 17 years of time to make up for, but instead she just wants Jace to kiss her. I don't blame her, I want him too as well, but she should be out learning to kick butt! Instead she kills demons with luck and backup.

All the negative out of the way, I still love the MI series. It was a necessary addition to the trilogy, I believe. That ending.................................ouch.

In fact, most readers seem to agree that the ending was the best part. You find out everything then, and it's shocking. A little out of nowhere? Maybe. Creepy? Ohhh yeah. My heart was pounding the whole time though, and I kept screaming at the book. My best friend was next to me, about 10% behind me, and I kept waiting for her to catch up and freak out like I was. (It was so good we sat next to each other and read, with occasional commentary).

So, in closing, I would like to add that no matter the negatives of the book, I was addicted to learning about the characters. I have to know what happens next, and that's why this series is a huge success.

4/5

***Shay-la***

The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb

Calder is a Fetch, a Death escort who travels with souls to the other side. It only take one Death scene to change him forever. Convinced it is God's will, Calder defies his vows and leaves his position to join the mortal world in search of his Star Fetch. What he gets is more complicated and dangerous than what he had intended. He finds himself sucked into memories of his mortal life, part of a political war, and plagued by restless spirits. In order to set both worlds right, he has to find the key and open the door to his world again.

This book was written in storybook prose that was so different from what I was expecting. I expected a personal, modern take on death, a darker romance. Instead, it was a light-hearted, innocent, and intriguing story for which one could use words like "tale," "spun," and "fairytale."

Not to say I didn't like it. I realllly did. Calder was smart and cute and wise and I liked his pov.

The world building was awesome! I've never thought of Death like that. It was very detailed, although I felt some holes were left. Fetches are present for Death Scenes, in which a soul makes a decision to live or die. If they die, the Fetch escorts the soul through the Aisle of Unearthing to the River, which takes them to Heaven. The thing I liked most was the religious factor. Fetches are God's workers, and they pray and meditate, as well as recite psalms. It is refreshing to find an author who takes a position on God, instead of carefully avoiding the topic.

It was an adventure, and I liked how the historical mortal world was realistically tied in. The book claims to be a romance, but that didn't come in to play much, only at the end.

It was a nice story, and a very very intriguing take on the spiritual realm. It kept me reading for a while! Though there were some aspects that weren't exactly what I look for in a novel, it was a great read.

4/5

Shay-la

Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala

Miranda, or more recently, Rand, has a secret. She has suffered the loss of her sister and blames her parents for driving her away. She tries to cling to Xanda's memory, tries to be like her. In the end, she pushes away her oldest friend and loses her new ones. Now, she has no one, except a tiny secret in her belly...

This was my first ever Audiobook, and for good reason! I never have time to listen! My daily drive in 1.5 minutes long, and only on weekends do I spend any time in the car. I got Tell Me a Secret because the podcast is free on iTunes, and I thought it would be good to pass the time on longer drives into town. It definitely did pass the time, and I'm glad I stuck with it, thought I considered giving up...

It wasn't boring; it was angering. The narrator, Rand, was horrendous! She was a jerk and a pushover at once. The poor thing is bullied by everyone and barely has enough room left for a personality of her own. When something goes wrong, she might try once to fix it, but chickens out when it doesn't go perfectly. I was so annoyed by her weakness, I almost couldn't connect with her.

When she meets Kamran, I was excited for her! I thought maybe something happy would happen to little Rand and she would get over herself...but instead, two lines on a pregnancy test add another problem. Here, I started to feel for her, but she totally didn't handle it the right way.

She never sticks up for herself, so when her new "friend" Delaney starts telling lies about her, steals her boyfriend, and leaves Miranda completely alone, she doesn't plead her case. After that, it became much harder to be on her side. Miranda's home life is horrible. They never talk about Xanda, and rarely talk at all. Her naggy mother tries to persuade her to give the baby away, but Rand knows she can't. She sees the baby as a way to escape, and it's no wonder why. All she needs is someone to love her for once, and maybe learn not to push them away.

Gradually, Rand learns. She starts to see things in a new way, and gains some perspective. Things start looking up, and by the end, she's a real girl. It was interesting to watch it all come together. This story was heart-wrenching and emotional, for me anyway. Rand doesn't have many emotions. The topic of teen pregnancy is hard-hitting and relevant now, and this was a very different approach. It was well-written, with a few too many metaphors for my taste, but neatly put together.

The reader Jenna Lamia was awesome! She did voices and accents that I thought were funny but believable. She sounds like Miranda. It was a very good experience as my very first audiobook!

Anyway, to wrap it up, it was a good book and good reader. Cupala is a good writer, but Miranda frustrated me so much it detracted from the overall experience.

3.3/5

--Shay-la
--Shay-la

The Return: Nightfall (Vampire Diaries)

In a whole new series, L.J. Smith continues the story of the teenage vampires, Stefan and Damon, and their life with the mortals Bonnie, Meridith, Elena, Matt. Elena is back, but not back to normal. As Stefan works to bring Elena back to health (and sanity), a whole new type of danger is present in Fell's church. It will take all of them to foil it in a fast-paced battle where no one is sure who can be trusted...

Wow. This will be hard to do. The book was sooo confusing for my emotions! I thought the Vampire Diaries ended so nicely at Dark Reunion, and was unsure why she wanted to write more. I think this was a good reason that she made it a new series, like an alternative world for people who wanted to read more.

Let's just say...I liked the book. Really, I did. After reading a lot of mixed reviews, I came to see a lot of the negative sides of the book, but most of them didn't bother me while reading. And a lot of things I wasn't sure how to feel about. So I didn't dislike most of it. I was whipped around a lot between viewpoints and situations all around...that was fine, and made it a quick read. But the book also whipped me between like and dislike. I loved parts, and hated others, and some were uncomfortable or hokey while others were edgy and scary.

It's a whole new decade in this series, though it continues right where Dark Reunion left off. You can see evidence of the new decade in the technology mostly. Damon buys a video phone, which is hilarious, because back in the other books, mobile phones weren't heard of yet. I had to laugh. It was a very unique and brave thing to do, bringing characters from the 90s into the 2000s. I'm surprised at how well it worked. You can also tell it's been modernized by the language. Smith doesn't shy away from profanity, though it is still rarely used, for the most part. And the situations have become more mature, very edgy, and not as (juvenile?) as the previous series. Lots of nudity? I don't know why she seemed to be obsessed with naked characters in the book, but let's just say it would make an awkward movie.

The characters remained the same, primarily. It's always difficult to tell for me, because I didn't make them up. But I think she did a good job portraying their personalities considering how long its been since she's written about them. Same old bossy, self-important Elena, same heroic Matt, and same shifty Meredith. Stefan is a bit much. He's suddenly all mushy and lovey with Elena, which they have never been before. It was always a "fight next to me" romance, while now it got soft and cuddly...Damon isn't himself most of the book, so I couldn't get an a grip on him. You have to read it to understand what I mean. He alllllmost got soft on me, and I was about to get mad, but then he was back to the smart-a I love.

The plot moved quickly, I think I read 400 pages the first day. I'm not sure if that was because the book was good or I was just that attached to the characters. Things kept happening that made me stressed out! So much happening! The villain, like the previous one, also came out of nowhere, but I guess fighting vampires and old lovers over and over would have gotten old. There was some Asian influence in this book? Weird...There was a lot of horror, and some gross detail that cheesy 90s L.J. would have blushed at.

And it was loooong. I read nonstop, so it went by fast, but it was twice the length of her other books!

About 5/6 of this book was good. Then, the end. Whaaaat? There were mashed up sentences and fast scenes where I didn't understand anything and random details that came out of nowhere...I felt lost. I had to re-read several sections. Then it got weird, and I was like, really? Where the heck did THAT come from? I predicted how the end would play out though. I suspected, but I had hoped it wouldn't come to that...it did. :(

P.s., the one thing I had hoped would happen didn't! But hey, as long as poor Elena is okay, then all is well...grrr...

Yes, I liked it a lot, still. It was weird and awkward and probably a bad book. But I liked it. I will read the next one, Shadow Souls, as well, and might even like that one. Please don't let my snarky comments keep you from reading the book, because I enjoyed it. Only a book that important to me could frustrate me so!

4/5

--Shay-la

The Vampire Diaries 4: Dark Reunion

The town of Fell's Church has been rocked by another tragedy. The citizens are trying to cope, but strange things keep happening, and no one is able to move on. This goes especially for Bonnie, whose psychic powers are going to be exercised more than ever before, because it's up to them now. With Bonnie's visions leading the way, Stefan, Damon, and Meredith have to save
Fell's Church as two worlds collide.

I want to say, first of all, that if you haven't read #3, GO AWAY! Because the ending is shocking, and I'm going to give it away in the review.

Next, I thought it was unique and brave of L.J. Smith to continue the series after Elena passes. It's a side of the story a reader rarely gets to see: what happens after. The main character is gone forever (or is she?), and it was a weird feeling, that the story has to move on, because that's how life works, but rarely books.

I loved being in Bonnie's pov. She was always fun to read about, and I like her character. Meredith still freaks me out, I'm not sure what to do with her, but I respect her coolness.

Stefan is a little whiney, but handles it well, considering. I mean, they had only been together for a few days before tragedy struck, and kept striking, and she finally died for good. They didn't get to be a happy couple at all.

Damon is surprisingly helpful in all this. I liked that he was a bigger part of the story now. I always knew there was supposed to be some sort of something between he and Elena, but never got that feeling from him. Now it's nice to get to know him better, because he's a witty dude, and a bad-A. You even get to have a little of his point of view.

Dark Reunion was, well, dark. Darker than the others, with a lot of blood and spiritual warfare going on. A couple of the scenes were pretty horrific. Nothing was overdone, it didn't take from the book, but it was icky.

The villain kind of came out of nowhere. He/She didn't really have any motive, but they were mercilessly killing the whole town. I didn't really understand what they wanted from Bonnie or Elena or Meredith...maybe they wanted revenge on Damon or Stefan, but I don't really remember it being expressly mentioned.

Oh, and side note: Stephenie Meyer totally stole every idea she ever thought she had, from L.J.

The book was good. I think I read it more quickly than any of them. I was really surprised to find that I was excited to read the next one. I started off this series with little expectation, and actually grew to love it and care about the characters and plot.

Elena still isn't my favorite. She is strong and very smart, and I appreciate that. But I think I liked her being a vamp. Now that she's dead, she's not as involved in the plot, but she's still there. Bonnie is my favorite!

This is the last book in the Vampire Diaries, but L.J. also write a new series called The Return. She wrote it the previous series in the eeeeaaarrrrly 90's, and wrote The Return in 2009, I think? But it is a continuation of their story. I picked it up as soon as I was done Dark Reunion, and I've already started...review coming soon!

The Vampire Diaries 3: The Fury

*Note: I used the Brazilian cover I think, because it was so cool*

The Fury is book 3 of The Vampire Diaries series, which I have been reading a enjoying, to my surprise. Since I read the edition in which both 3 and 4 are combined into one book, I'm going to try and keep my stories straight. Caution: If you haven't read the Vampire Diaries 1 and 2, there will be spoilers...

Elena was the "golden girl," who had everything and could do anything. But in The Struggle, book 2, she became more than an average teenage girl: she became a vampire, like her true love Stefan. However, Elena is all too mortal, and the town is thrown into chaos and danger when a new power comes to threaten them.

This book was very similar to the previous, with the same characters and feel to it, but there were a lot of changes that I liked. For one, Elena rocks. She's not just a petty high school girl in love; she's a friggin vampire! And she's bloodthirsty and crazy at first, even mistaking Damon for the one she loved. It's great, and I like her a lot better as a vamp.

The new danger is a good mystery-- I didn't feel like I had to yell "duh!" at the book when the characters solved the clues. I was trying to figure it out myself. The book was written in the same style, mostly from Elena's pov, but it had some darker undertones.

When they finally figured it all out, I was impressed. The characters were strong and it was a nice twist. The ending...ouch! There was a lot more emotion in this one, I found myself more strongly attached to the story than I thought.

Honestly, that's all there is to say. Much like the first two, it was a quick read, and probably even better than its predecessors. So far, it's been my favorite.

4.6/5

Splendor (The Luxe #4) by Anna Godbersen

In the conclusion to The Luxe series, all of the characters have been fighting for a happy ending. Now it's time to find out who will get it. Will Diana ruin Penelope's plot to keep Henry? Will Elizabeth recover from her husband, Will's, death and have their child in a safe home? Will Penelope get her prince? And will the once maid Carolina convince the world of her worth and capture the man of her dreams?

Ouch. It's over, and I'm sad. I loved loved the saga of all of these mad New York society folk. It was a whole new world, full of very believable emotion and a whirlwind of drama. Anna Godbersen is an artist, let me tell you! It was like she was there, describing it all in detail. So much research must have gone into these novels.

Diana was always my favorite, of course. I was dying for her to finally get Henry! I thought theirs was the one love that might be real. I hoped against hope for them. We catch up with the two in Cuba, where Henry is pretending to be a soldier and Diana is searching the world to be with him, unbeknownst to New York's high society. I thought this part was great, Diana really shines in this part of the world, where she is free to be as bold as we know she is. And again, Godbersen made me feel like I was there.

Elizabeth is still in pathetic shape. However, in this book she actually starts to shine again. In Rumors, #2, I started to get a feel for the real Elizabeth, the strong woman who actually thought for herself. In the middle of this book, I started to see her emerging again, much to my relief. I knew it, though. I knew how that would end. Although, she is probably the best off of the characters at the end of the day.

Penelope was really annoying in #3, a petty wife trying to make Henry love her. In the beginning of Splendor, she starts that way again, ugh. But finally, with Henry gone, she finds the old Penelope and says "Screw you" to society again. It's fun for awhile, although I kept wondering when it would come back to bite her in the end...

Carolina has undergone the most drastic change. She is finally an independent heiress, but comes to realize it's not what she wants most anymore. What she wants is Leland, the handsome rich guy she so happens to now live beside. I wanted her to have him, the poor girl. But she went about it the worst way possible. I kept cringing at her behavior, because I wanted her to succeed. She was a likeable character, unlike before, when I hated her a little for being such a petty, evil, and selfish creature. Now, I loved her, and wanted the best for her.

The endings were bittersweet. I was left feeling a bit incomplete, but I know it was how it had to be. It was a simple, but sad ending to the complex Luxe series.

I just cannot get over how well done these books are. She puts so much thought into them with the snippets from the columns and books at the beginning of each chapter. There were so many twists and turns as well. That, with all of the minute details she added to the story, really impressed me. I highly recommend picking this series up if you like romance, era novels, or the gossip girl feel. I'm truly sorry to see the series end.

4.6/5
but 5/5 to the series as a whole!

Shay-la

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

In a world not so different from ours, science has made a breakthrough. The greatest threat to society is Amor Deliria Nervosa, a disease once celebrated as man's greatest gift. Now, scientists have cured the condition known as love. At eighteen, Lena is excited to be so close to freedom. Her cure date is set, and she can't wait. Because the government knows best, and she can't stand the fear of falling prey to the danger of the Deliria. As an orphan, Lena only wants safety, comfort, and security. That is all the cure promises for her. A nice life free from the toils of emotion and stress.

But what if...? And suddenly, Lena's life is different. She finds something worth holding on to, and begins to think that safety isn't worth the sacrifice anymore.

Oooh I was hyped for this one. Don't worry, it didn't disappoint! It was a great book! I thought I knew what the book was about, but it completely blew my ideas away. It wasn't what I expected. Most of all, there was more depth. There was so much more to the society than the "no-love" laws. It's a different world in which the government is not to be doubted, and most don't even want to resist.

Oliver really made me love the characters. The best friend, Hana, was perfect! I always love the best friends, I think sometimes authors actually put more thought into secondary characters like Hana than the narrators, like Lena. I don't know. I loved Hana, she really stuck out next to Lena, who described herself as ordinary, nondescript, and in-between. I think this made Lena relatable, but maybe a little boring. What was beautiful was Lena's development. She changed completely throughout the book. It was great to see her change from a plain, unambitious girl into a bold, strong, and secure woman. Her perception of herself and the world brightens, and suddenly she's a great main character. Alex is pretty great too. He remained shrouded in mystery much of the time, but not in that annoying, on-purpose way. It fit him so well. When you get to know Alex, he makes sense as a character, like someone I might know. He's realistic and imperfect, but also recites poetry <3 !

The relationship between Alex and Lena was so well done! I always hate insta-romance. Love at first sight is romantic, but not believable. Instead, Oliver really developed their relationship from the ground up, if that makes sense. It was slow. They meet a few times before there's even a hint of romance. I loved it, it was so easy to believe, and I fell in love along with them.

The Amor Deliria Nervosa was a constant background presence. You were always aware of it lurking in the corners, but it wasn't the central focus. The book was all about the characters trying to find happiness in a world that discourages it. That wasn't what I expected. There was so much focus on Lena, I felt there could have been a bit more on world-building. I was curious about how the government worked, and how society had changed so drastically, but it wasn't discussed in depth. Of course, it didn't distract me from how well the book was written, and how much I liked it.

I will warn you...I cried. The end was so quick, I felt like everything that had been building up finally snapped in one huge, fast explosion, and then it was done. And I had whiplash.

In short, this book was really beautiful. It made me think so much! It wasn't a book I was absolutely glued to, but I thought about it a lot when I wasn't reading it, which makes a good read in my opinion.

4.7/5

Shay-la

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

In the final book of the dystopian trilogy The Forest of Hands and Teeth, the story of the post zombie-apocalypse world continues...

This book continues the drama of Chaser, Gabry, and Elias as they attempt to find safety in a sea of the Undead. However, a new character is added to the mix: Annah, Gabry's long lost twin sister who has grown up in the Dark City with Elias. At last the two have found each other, but this is nothing like a happy ending. A horde has found the city, and its residents are in a frenzy. Annah, Gabry, Elias and Catcher escape with their lives, but it comes with a steep price...

Yay! I finally got it! I couldn't wait to get this one, but I was almost dreading reading the end. I was NOT ready for this series to be over. It went by so quickly...

The book is from Annah's point of view, and it is definitely refreshing. Annah has grown up in the Dark City after wandering the paths in the Forest with Elias. She remembers the Village and her twin sister, and knows what it's like to be alone, starving, and to work hard. This is my favorite type of heroine. She knows what needs to be done and is tough enough to do it.

There was a TON of zombie action in TDAHP. Maybe more than the other books, I don't quite remember. Especially toward the end, and let me just say...*shiver* it's horrifying. But pretty sweet to read.

The romance was convenient, but that's all I have to say on the negative side. Annah and "he" are a good match, and I really liked him most of the time. It was a good romance with some drama, sorrow, and heat. Nice mix.

The plot moved quickly for the most part. There were some pieces where I was kind of waiting for something more interesting to happen, but those didn't last long. And when something happened, something happened. Something kind of surprising, and maybe silly, but maybe cool. I couldn't decide how I felt about the method they chose, if you get my drift. I don't want to give anything away. I thought it was again, convenient maybe? And unrealistic, but who am I to call a zombie book unrealistic? It was still neat, and I liked the idea.

The only part that really bothered me about the book: the phrase "It was all my fault." Good grief! I'd had enough of that by the time they got over it. They wasted half of the book feeling guilty, not just Annah, every single main character. It got to the point of whiney. I was like "Okay, it's both of your faults, moving on..." But they didn't. Not for a long time. I guess I understand, they were separated for so long and had gone through so much, it's natural to feel guilty, but I didn't enjoy being included so much.

That said, it didn't detract too much from the awesomeness of the dystopia. The drama was awesome, and it was suspenseful, scary, and fast-paced. There was even some love! It brightened the otherwise dark situation that was the apocalypse. So, if you're not sure the doom and gloom is for you, there are glimmers of hope throughout the book!

I loved it, probably the best of the three, although it may be tied with The Dead Tossed Waves. The ending didn't kill me, even if it was the final book. Ryan wrapped it up without making anything final, which I loved. There was some closure, but there was still room for more, if readers dare to hope...?

4.5/5

<3 Shay-la