The city of lost souls by Cassandra Clare

The City Of Lost Souls By Cassandra Clare
Published by Simon Pulse
Pages 534
Release date- May 8, 2012
Series- The Mortal Instruments
Genre- Paranormal/fantasy
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rating- 5

 Jace and the previously dead Sebastian are missing and the clave is doing minimal to help. In the two weeks since Jace went missing Clary's been going crazy trying to save Jace from her evil brother. Thankfully she doesn't have to wait long, Jace comes back for her, only its not Jace, not really. He seems to be on Sebastian side now, pining for the greater cause, and forgiving him for killing his little brother max. It seems that the bond that Lilith put on the two boys is stronger then a physical one. Jace is entranced into agreeing with Sebastian's every move. Now Clary must figure out how to save him, kill Sebastian, and basically save the Nephelim world. Enlisting the help of her friends and Magnus, they have to search for a weapon to break the curse, and keep Jace alive. Which is a lot more difficult then it sounds.

First off this series has been a favorite of mine for ages, and im psyched that Cassie extended the series with COFA and the Infernal Devices. As a long time fan i was anxious to get The City of Lost Souls (COLS)and finally lost patience with my library's waiting list and bought my own copy. 

COLS exceed my expectations, no blew them off the roof, I love how the second part of the series has much more involvement in the other characters lives. I especially loved getting to know Izzy more, she wasn't really a favorite of mine until we got to see her venerable side. I also liked how we finally find out more about Clary's brother, Johnathan Christopher, or Sebastian (depending). Yes of course we met him on City of Glass but 90 percent of the time he was impersonating Sebastian Verlac, hence the nickname, and spent all of City of fallen angels dead. We know hes crazy because he was raised by their father, the Hitler of Clary's world, but in COLS we really get to know him up close. 

although most people hate Jonathan for multiple reasons i still cant help but feel sorry for him. He literally has no one that love's him, grew up in an extremely abusive household and was basically born to become evil. But its not like he chose to be that way. He's a living testament to Valentine's brutality and ignorance. If there's anyone I despise it's him. 

The city of Lost souls was of course amazing, and if you've read the series, their shouldnt be a doubt in your mind whether or not you should read this one. However i will attest to the wonderfulness of this series, and encourage everyone who hasn't given it a try to pick up the first one in the series, The City Of Bones. 

Have an amazing weekend and good luck to all who are going through there final exams like I am!

Dana

Sign Language By Amy Ackley

Sign Language by Amy Ackley

published by Viking Juvenile
pages- 336
release date- August 18, 2011
Genre- Realistic Fiction
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rating 5

from goodreads-
Twelve-year-old Abby North's first hint that something is really wrong with her dad is how long it's taking him to recover from what she thought was routine surgery. Soon, the thing she calls "It" has a real name: cancer. Before, her biggest concerns were her annoying brother, the crush unaware of her existence, and her changing feelings for her best friend, Spence, the boy across the street. Now, her mother cries in the shower, her father is exhausted, and nothing is normal anymore.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into Sign Language, I'm not really one for those gritty "real world" novels, but sign language was definitely not what I expected it to be. Grief is a hard subject to talk about and it certainly must be a tough one to write about. Everyone grieves in a different way, and it amazes me that something that almost all people have in common*, can be so vastly different between all people. In Sign Language we got Abby's unique view in the years before and after her fathers death.

I liked the time span that the book took place in (about 4 years), life is not something that you can rush through. Ackley did an amazing job of changing Abby as she grew up, but still keeping her true to her character. Its an amazing realistic fiction story, and stayed 'realistic' the entire time, without anything to rushed or emphasized. It was beautifully written, and the characters were some of the most identifiable I've read. After a long span of adventure and paranormals, sign language was a breath of fresh air.

I also liked how there were other things going on, not just the whole cancer thing, it was enough to keep the book not completely depressing, and again true to life.

I absolutely completely whole heartedly adored Spencer. His wonderful positive personality, despite the hardships and loneliness that he had growing up. He was the perfect friend to Abby, and I wish I had someone like that in my life.

I think that Sign Language is a book that everyone will identify with, nomatter there personal experiences, and it was -just in general- a great read. Praise to Amy Ackley for her magnificant debut and I look forward to her books of the future!

keep calm and carry on,

Dana

*once, as a poll in my sophomore year health class, my teacher had asked everyone in the class to raise their hand if they had lost someone that they loved dearly, not necessarily a family member, and not a family member that you had no attachments to, but someone you loved. about 60% of the people I'm my class raised their hands.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Published By Harcourt Children's Books
308 pages
Genre- Fantasy/Fairytale
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Release date- May 8, 2010
rating- 5!


Sunday Woodcutter is the last of ten children, and the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, and a seventh son, Which is extremely lucky and magical. And although according to her name sake, shes supposed to be forever happy, shes cant help that she feels out of place. Practically the only time shes comfortable is when shes writing her stories. Although what she writes has a strange tendency to come true.

It isn't until shes sitting in the forest and meets a frog rumble that she has her first actual friend. Sunday knows that he wasn't always a frog and although hes been cursed, she still cant stop falling for him, If only it was her kiss that would break the spell...

and when fate puts Prince Rumbold, the heir to the entire country, In Sundays path, she has to set her priorities straight, and find out where her loyalty truly lies.

Enchanted was truly amazing. I love fairy tales, and this one was no exception... I feel like there aren't a lot of this genre out there... So it just makes me more glad when I find one that  love. Unlike most fairytale retelling, this one followed no particular tale. Instead it compiled parts of hundreds of stories into one, from the frog prince, to jack in the beanstalk, to the princess and the pea. Even if you went really that into fairy tales as a kid I guarantee there is something that you will be familiar with. Meanwhile the story of Sunday was entirely its own, and not really shaped off any one story, which made it completely unique.  I found myself smiling through the entire book, and I stayed in this happy mood far after I turned the last page. It was so light and friendly, yet intense in its own right. I couldn't put it down even if i tried!

I found something to love in each character, and i love how each is so completely different. Trix is probably my favorite though not gonna lie. Its impossible to not love him after you read the book.

Enchanted was so ... Enchanting. And magical, I loved every second of the read, It's a true happily ever after story. And if you love those a fraction as much as I do, you'll love it.


merry christmas!!
Dana

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

published by Harper Teen

338 pages

Genre- dystopian, supernatural

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Rating- 5

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

 

Shatter me was definitely different. In a good way. although I'm not sure I would compare it to the hunger games, lol. (the dystopian-ness was more like that of The Quillian games, which I read way back when) Non the less it was very good. I was reading it in history during a free time, and my history teacher asked what it was about, after i told him he was like "LIKE ROUGE!" Then went into a xman tangent that took up 15 min of class time. needless to say my classmates were pleased.
 And so was I. The book was written with a unique perspective, almost like were reading Juliette's journal. Her inner most thoughts are displayed blatantly, and my heart went out for her. She honestly thought that she was a monster. Her emotions were a roller coaster throughout the novel. Before she got moved to the asylum her parents hated her. her classmates were hostile, although she was nothing but nice. Everyone told her she was a monster, and after the accident and the three years in the asylum with out any human contact at all, Juliette's mental stage was quite fragile. However she grew increasingly stronger as the novel progressed. The entire novel was through Juliette's perspective, and it was amazing to see her grow as a person. And Mafi did this really int resting thing where Juliette would strike through her thoughts or words and change it from what she was really thinking or wanting to say, to what she felt she was supposed to be thinking or saying. (its hard to explain unless you've read it.)

Adam the second protagonist (and love interest) was great to, although at first he was quite mysterious. He was like Juliette's rock. A tie to her old life and a promise for the future. although he seemed almost too perfect, or just maybe lovestruck.... although I still love him non the less.

Warner was my fave definitely. He reminded me much of Cain from the Gone Novels (and i very much love Cain also)  He seemed the most genuine of them all. even if he was slightly evil.

Solid plot, good ending, steady writing style, and great characterisation. It gets a 5 from me! I cant wait for the next!


Embrace the awesomeness!
Dana

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Ashes Ilsa J. Bick
Published by Egmont Usa
464 pages
Genre- Dystopian

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Challenge- 365+ pages
Rating- 5

Its been over three months since Alex's last Chemo session, and its her last change to make the trek up to lake superior in honor of her parents. Its something shes always wanted to do, and it seems like the last chance that she's going to be able to do it, what with a monstrous tumor chewing up her brain and all. About 6 days into the hike she meets a man Jack and his grand daughter Ellie, who are hiking also along with their dog Mina. (Ellie's about eight and lives with her grandfather ever since her father was KIA in Iraq, and her mother left when she was a child) While their talking something happens that changes practically the whole world as they know it. An Electromagnetic Pulse sweeps over all of America. whipping out all of the electricity and knocking everyone out, killing most people, including Jack, on impact. sparing only a few, driving animals insane, and changing all the teenagers, into.... well not teenagers. It becomes a fight for survival greatly aided by Tom, a soldier on leave from Afghanistan. with no electricity and no communication the trio doesn't know much about the world outside their campsite. But they know its going to be bad. Not only that but Alex can feel a change inside her. After the pulse her hands stoped shaking, and for the first time since the chemo killed her sense of smell she was able to smell the forest, taste food. Not only that but her sense of smell seems... Heightened. almost like she can smell what people are feeling, Fear, anger, love.





I wasn't sure what to expect when I started. It had gotten a raving review from a girl in my book club, and I snagged a Yalsa copy from my school library. But still, Its a zombie book, and I was like ehh? but it was an optimistic ehh, don't get me wrong. I think it helps that my ARC had an awesome cover helped a lot. I'm an admitted cover judge and the black/white one just doesn't cut it for me. BUT OH MY GOD! I was sucked in from practically the first page. Everything about Alex drew me in. How strong she was in a body dying on her. It was tragic and unbelievable. and not what the stories about. Elie was great, and like stable, not bipolar changing emotions half way throughout the book. Ellie's scared kid nature was completely realistic. (at least as realistic as you can be when the girl lives in a zombie Apocalypse) and Tom was cute. I am a complete Tom fan. He has the whole strong army man image, but the innocence of someone who went to war and saw things he wishes he would forget. The makeshift family of him, Alex and Ellie was adorable, but that was soon to end as all good things must. Once they started learning about what happened in the pulse was when Bick got really creative. And I don't want to go to spoilerly, but i really really want to talk about rule....(a kind of like safe town that their heading to) But arg I cant think of a way of doing it without ruining the whole Ashes experience for you. Just know that some crazy stuff happens there. and the plot that Bick created was so tightly knit and, well crazy. I loved rule though, although it was quite different from living on the road.

in a movie prospects, its like going from say,Zombieland, to The Village. (But like also compleatly diffrent lol :D)
Alex's super smelling senses were really cool, adding a touch of paranormal with the thriller/adventure/mystery of the whole book. quite amazing really. Oh another thing. The romance was really good. Not a lot (practically none at all) but it was good cause it didn't draw away from the story. but there was enough to keep you going.The only thing I didn't like was the extreme difference from the wilderness to Rule. I guess it was supposed to be like that but still, very different.

AND THE CLIFF HANGER ENDING! I want to turn Bick into a zombie for doing that to me. I want to know what happens next. RIGHT NOW! arg. Its like the type of book i want to read again and again and again and again, and then give it to someone else so they can do the same thing. Its just that kind of book.

So go see for your self! till then, Happy reading!
Dana

Divergent By Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Published byKatherine Tegen Books
496 pages
genre- dystopian
1st in the Divergent series
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(blog) (Fansite)
Debut author challenge
Rating- 5!!


Beatrice Prior is selfless. Or at least thats how she is supposed to be, she's part of a faction called Abnegation, one of five factions in the futuristic dystopian city of Chicago. Each faction prides themselves on having only one virtue: Abnegation (selflessness), Candor (Honesty), Erudite (Intelligence), Dauntless (Bravery), and Amity (Peace and love). Every year the 16 year olds from each faction gets to pick a new one, only once you change factions (if you do) there is no going back. If you're going to be selfless you have to be 100% selfless, and Beatrice just doesn't feel all that selfless.


So she makes a choice. One that changes the rest of her life, hopefully for the better. 


As she tries to adapt to her new lifestyle, and undergoes the most rigorous training of her entire life, and with 18 initiates compete for 8 spots (the remaining ten end up homeless and factionless) no one is on anyones side. Tris is determined to end up on top and she has an edge, a secret, that can both save her life and destroy it, she is divergent. As the tension between Abnegation and Erudite gets stronger, it's the only thing separating her from sudden death, and saving those that she loves.

Divergent was Fresh. Even though Dystopian novels are all the rage at the moment I get why this one is so different, and good. It definitely brings something new to the table. Lots of people have compared it to the hunger games, and I get that , But Divergent was definitely different too. Much more friendly and reasonably  less bloody. Hooking me from the first sentence, and following through the entire novel. Its funny i was reading the reviews off goodreads, and its about half rave, half hate. The things that the haters well um... hate, I love. The detail Roth goes into with the society, the in depth  initiation the (cheesy?) love between Four and Tris. It was fast passed at times and slower at others, but I was never bored. I read the entire 500 pages in a day and a half and am endlessly curious as to what happens in the next two books. 

Laughing and crying and staring so intently at the book i didn't know my sister was sitting in front of me staring for over 2 minuets until she burst out laughing. It was refreshingly good for the string of crappyish books I read directly before and after.

The only thing i wish was different is that you don't really get to know Tris's brother all that much, I'd say he's pretty important to the story, but he's only in like 5 scenes. Hopefully in the next 2 books well see more of him...

But till then Great Job and thanks much Veronica Roth!

Night,

Dana 

Review: Bruiser By Neal Shusterman

Brusier By Neal Shusterman
Published by HarperTeen
336 pages
Genera- Fantasy
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Rating-5

Tennyson cant believe that his sister is dating Brewster the bruiser, the out cast that was voted most likely to get the death penalty by the entire school. the rumors about him are close to horror novel summery and there is no way he belongs with his sister, Bronte, no way. Bronte doesn't think hes bad though, just misunderstood, Brewster can't care about people. at least not if he cares the least bit about himself. He has a gift, no, a curse more like it, and if he cares even a little bit, strange things start to happen, and Brew always gets the short stick when it comes to the paranormal.

Hang on a second while I gush and squeal about how amazing this book was.... Okay composed now. lol. I'm banging my head on a wall because I checked this book out 3 times before I actually read it. Three times! how could I have doubts on a book written by Neal Shusterman? I honestly don't know, It wasn't until after Everlost when I was craving more did I actually go read it. I was waiting for my dad, who was working in the library, picked it up and read half of it there. and gah it was amazing. First there's the gorgeous cover, the countless positive reviews, the intriguing tag line ("the impossible hurts") and the interesting summery. and the book in a whole was just so... good.

It was told by view points, first Tennyson, popular intelligent jock, who is kind of a bully. Have to say that Tennyson was my favorite. :) and he changes a lot throughout the book. Then there's Bronte, who I loved also, shes compassionate and loving, and a bit the opposite of her twin, Tennyson. Brewster had a few parts from his view, which was all in poetry from some form to another, which was super cool. The chapter names were vocab words, and it was cute, cause whenever Cody, Brew's 8 year old brother spoke Shusterman simply started his chapters with "Stuff." idk, it seems awesome to me. :)

I think what really brings the book together is the characters, how there all so different but all have so much love and compassion. Especially Brew since he had to sacrifice so much to have friends, and relationships. I didn't like the ending that much  but it was okay.

Recommended- YES!

Go books!
Dana

Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed By Josephine Angelini
Published by HarperTeen
487 pages
genre- Fantasy/mythology
(Goodreads) (shelfari) (amazon)
Challenge- 350+page, DBC
rating- 5!!

Helen Hamilton is not you normal girl, and she has spent her entire life trying to hide how different she really is. But she finds it increasingly difficult once The Delos family moves to the small island of Nantucket. Helen starts to have visions of women who cry blood, she starts waking up in the morning with mud and dirt and dried blood all over her, and even more strange, when she sees Lucas Delos for the first time she has an overwhelming urge to kill him.

Starcrossed was really good. The hype is no lie. and just look at the cover! I am an admitted cover judge, and this one is beautiful. you can't tell by the photo, but when you have the hardcover in the sunlight the background shines like rainbows. a fact I noticed while reading and tanning at the same time, and must I say, you get a great tan while reading a 500 page book, lots of sun.

So lets start with the characters. its cool because everyone in the Delos Family has a mythology name. Ariadne, Jason, Pandora, Hector. except Lucas has a normal name, but they explain all that in the book.  each character had a unique perspective and they were all Hilarius, serous, and i fell in love with all of them. except Creon. Still hate Creon. and probably Daphne also.

Lucas and Helen were indeed star crossed, even after they got over the urges to murder each other, they were forbidden by the gods to be together, and even after they got around that little kink, they found out an interesting bit of heritage. Sigh. almost as bad as the Immortal series. I'm sure that they'll figure it out in the next book or so.

The writing was amazing and imaginative. the story flowed beautifully, and ended on just the right note. It was a beautiful debut, and I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for the other books in the trilogy, the next one being Persephone's Garden which will probably come out sometime next year.

so this is supper highly recommended. SUPER HIGHLY. and I don't supper highly recommend may books. so you better go out and read it.

lylas,
Dana

This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas

This Gorgeous Game- Donna Freitas
Age group- YA
Pages- 208
Published by Frances Foster Books
Learn about it here
Buy it here
Rating- 5 stars (highly recommended)

Olivia Peters has always dreamed of becoming a writer, so shes overjoyed when she wins a writing contest hosted by famous author and local priest Father Mark D. Brendan picks her novel out of hundreds of other applicants as the winner of the Emerging Writers High School Fiction Prize. Now she gets her novel Published, and gets to attend a super exclusive college fiction seminar at the university where Father mark acts as her mentor, giving her advice on how to succeed as a writer.

Soon however, Father Marks enthusiasm For Olivia's writing quickly turns into something more and Father mark becomes obsessed. Olivia's innocence quickly deteriorates as she realises what is going on, but she pushes her suspicions down.  Olivia cant help but try to ask herself what game is Father mark playing, and how on earth can she make him stop? 

This book was.... indescribable, I guess. I honestly had never read anything like this before, and I`ve read a lot of books. I mean If you count all the lines that are being crossed, its incredible the author was able to pull this off. I loved how innocent Olivia was at the beginning of the book, and I also liked how each chapter was titled. (example. `on faith`, `on romance`, `on gratitude` ect.) (Sorry the quote key isn't working on my key board so I have to use ` instead. I`ll fix it later.)

I also really liked the religious aspect of it. I am Lutheran, not Catholic, so I don't know much about religion. But Olivia's family is extremely religious, her sister wouldn't even kiss anyone until she was engaged. That's one of the main reasons why Olivia didn't step up right away and say what was happening. I mean, Father mark didn't ever touch her, he just wouldn't leave her alone. But accusing a Priest is a serous accusation. Hes not even just a priest, hes also a teacher, mentor, over 50 (Olivia's 17) and hes publishing her book so technically hes her boss.

Its one of those books that just brings you in. Freitas makes you love and fear for Olivia. Although their were moments when I was frustrated that Olivia wouldn't just tell someone already. I understand why she couldn't. This book teaches you that you can never be too careful and to always rely on your friends, for anything.

(again sorry for the ` thing. I need a new keyboard... :[ )

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

The Duff- Kody Keplinger
Age group- 16+/young adult.
Pages-277
published by Poppy
learn about it here
Buy it here
Rating- 5 stars

Designated. Ugly. Fat. Friend.

Those words wont stop running through seventeen year old, Bianca Piper's head. Ever since her class mate, Wesley Rush told her that's what she was. I mean of course shes not the prettiest of her friends, but shes smart, loyal, and maybe a bit cynical.  And Wesley Rush is a man slut. So what does he know? Well apparently something, because ever since Wesley nick-named her "Duffy" she has not been able to let it go. Not with all the problems at home, not with the boy who broke her heart coming back to town. Bianca just needs a distraction... And she finds one. She ends up kissing Wesley, and she likes it. No not  in that way, more like why alcoholics drink. When Bianca's with Wesley there's nothing at stake, no feelings on the line, her need is purely physical. 

until she finds out that Wesley's not all he seems to be. His life's kind of screwed up too, and hes not that bad of a listener either. Bianca's finds herself starting to despise Wesley less and less, empathising with him, and maybe even starting to like him a little. Okay, a lot

I really liked this book. And I don't really (avec Italics) like that many.  Bianca was an amazing character. She was a hater and had some serous problems, but her personality stuck with her the whole way. Most of the time authors can't pull off being negative with out being depressive. Kody Keplinger did a phenomenal job. The friendship between Bianca, Casey and Jess was heart warming, I loved how Bianca's cynicism was balanced by Jess's Innocence. Casey was care free, loyal and non judgemental. Witch was great. If Bianca had any friend problems on top of everything else, the book would become to forced and seem fake.

Wesley was the degrading man-whore you can imagine he is, but Keplinger didn't skimp at all on his character. By the end I loved him as much as I loved Bianca, two characters that had a different author wrote this book I would hate.

The duff is one of those books you pick up and don't put down until the end. Its fast paced and funny and makes you feel happy in a 'Im not sure if I should feel happy way'. It was a great debut novel from an amazing 18 year old writer. Keplinger did an excellent job, she kept everything real, and didn't make me feel depressed or uncomfortable through the entire book. I just wanted to know what happened next.

It was beautiful and authentic, and completely deserves its five star rating. I can't wait to read what Keplinger does next.