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