Book Review: Crossed

Title: Crossed (Matched #2)
Author: Ally Condie
Genre: Dystopia, YA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10


At first, I have to admit I was a little miffed. The first half of the book just put me on edge, especially after Cassia really does get out there after Ky, and stuff just keeps on happening that kept making me swear her crazy plan was never gonna work out. It gave me a feeling of helplesness and anger, because I knew stuff she didn't, and I wanted to yell at her to hurry the eff up already.

Then... okay, sue me. I was - and still am, a bit. Like I said, sue me - too uncertain about the whole Ky and Indie shenanigans. It seems a bit far-fetched to follow along what Cassia said, and I did get a feeling, at times, like Ky (and maybe Indie too, though obviously since we don't see from her perspective, it's hard to tell) wasn't quite so certain of his love for Cassia as he himself thought he was.
And then all that build-up about this huge secret Xander had, and how it could change how Cassia saw everyone around her... and the reveal was totally anticlimatic. And speaking of Xander, I'm not entirely convinced he didn't know about the blue pills, either. Though I'm more willing to forgive him for that than to ignore that nagging little voice in the back of my voice that yells at me that Indie spells trouble in paradise for Ky and Cassia. Probably because that little nagging voice is usually right.

STILL, you'll notice I gave this a five-star.
I'm of the firm opinion that a book can be only passable all the way through, but by all the literature gods above and below, if the ending is good enough to make me itch for the next book, then the author has fully completed her purpose. The ending of Crossed didn't make me itch for the next book. It made me BEG for it. It's not one of those take-your-breath-away-OMG-what-will-happen-next? cliffies. It's the even worse kind: the kind of ending which could very well be the middle of the book. The characters are just going about their own business, off to meet a non-mentioned 'he' (my vote goes for Xander, but who knows?), and then... it's over.
I was literally left there with my chin sagging, unable to believe it had finished there. I hate open endings, because they drive me insane trying to figure out what happens next. Luckily for me - and my somewhat questionable sanity - this isn't the last book in the series!

Book Review: Clockwork Prince

Title: Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Genre: Historical, YA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 8/10


I'd have written a review sooner, but I was still reeling with the ending. I don't believe I've felt so heartbroken with the end of a book since I finished Richelle Mead's Shadow Kiss, and goodness knows that almost killed me, though I had the next one to pounce on immediately.
In this case, I'm left with a broken heart, a thoroughly confused mind and no next book to ease the pain. Extremely frustrating, to say the very least!
And yet, despite the moments when I just stared at the book, shook my head in frustration, yelled at it, let the tears fall, and/or wanted to kill some characters, you'll notice I gave it five stars.
That's because I believe that what determines if a book is good or not isn't if the author paired who we wanted or not, but if the book is able to bring out strong emotions in those reading it. And Clockwork Prince most DEFINITELY did that. I was a sobbing, blubbering mess of nerves when I'd finished it, and had no idea what to do with myself.
Clockwork Prince has that very Cassie Clare feel to it: amazing plot, incredible characters, impeccable setting... in other words, a wonderful read.

Tessa started standing up for herself more, which I loved. I adored also seeing her friendship with Jem flourish. Gabriel and Gideon were interesting to me mostly because I was trying to see some similarities between them and Alec and Izzy. They're definitely there.
Magnus is always a welcome addition to the party; I love love him to bits, and some of the best scenes involved him (though his timing for interrupting is just horrible. HORRIBLE, Magnus!).
Will's story, on the other hand... that was the beginning of the undoing of my heart. I can't imagine what that poor boy had to go trhough, how much it hurt him to do everything he did for five years, only to find out in the end... I thought he took it quite well; I'd have gone on a rampage and smashed some things. And of course, his little monets with Tessa made me squeal with utter delight. That is one man who deserves to be happy and be loved heart, body and soul, and I believe Tessa can give him that.
It shocked me, though, how RIDICULOUSLY OBLIVIOUS both Jem and Will were about the other's feelings towards Tessa. I thought they were blood brothers; surely they'd have noticed? Well, apparenyl not. I am also incredibly mad at Tessa for what she did, and for what she said to Jem. Because of her, my heart is torn to smithereens on the floor.
I want both Jem and Will to be happy, but not if the happiness of one means sacrificing the happiness of the other.

Book Review: Possession

Title: Possession
Author: Elana Johnson
Genre: Dystopia, YA
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 10/10


Possession was, for the lack of a better word, different.

I loved the charcters. I've seen many people complain about the silliness of Vi and Jag, and all that rubbish of "Vi language for..." but a wake-up call: they're 17. They're adolescents, no matter how much their lives have matured them, that is their core, and no amount of grief can change that, which I absolutely loved.

Other than that, the fast pace and witty dialogue kept me hooked. Plus, that ending. Holy flying cows, THAT ENDING!
Can't say much for the beginning, though, but I'm glad I forced myself to pay attention as it takes an important role later on in the book.

Jag made me laugh. I think he truly is an amazing guy, even though I felt the romance between those two - which, thankfully, did not fall from the sky - was a bit... uhm, I don't know. Fake, I guess? That's not quite it, though. Just not right, I suppose.
While Zenn... Zenn mesmerized me. I have, it seems, a weird pull towards the characters with severe mental problems, but either way, I loved him. Everything he did, what he didn't do, what he said and how he acted... I absolutely adored the fact that, to very last page, I still wasn't sure if I should trust him or not; on who's side he is. And, masochistic that I am, I just love a well-written, complex, confusing character for me to try and figure them out, and Zenn was no different.

Gotta say this, though - the amount of non-deaths was kind of a let-down. In a world like the one in Possession, you expect people to die to be free...

Book Review: Thoughtless

Title: Thoughtless
Author: S. C. Stephens
Genre: Adult
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 8/10 - muted, subtle, but not too in-your-face.


What can I say about Thoughtless without going off on a ramble?
Every now and then, I get tired of all the paranormal books (much as I love them to death), and just need a nice, realistic novel, whith characters so truly messed-up due to their own choices. Sadly, good books like that are few and far between, but Thoughtless... wow. It was all that, and so much more.

Kiera isn't your Mary Sue. She's just like any other girl out there who is deeply in love with her boyfriend - reckless, sometimes cute to a fault, happy, and, when the boyfriend leaves her for two months for work after she moved state to be with him, understandably devastated.
Her boyfriend, Denny, is the typical you're-too-perfect-to-be-true kind of guy. He doesn't cheat on Kiera, not ever, nevermind that he's hot (which he is), and deeply, recklessly in love with his girlfirend.
Kellan is Denny's best friend. Beautiful, confident, and exuding sex appeal, Kellan hides a syrprisingly vulnerable and broken interior with his smokin' hot looks.
Denny was an exchange student from Australia in Kellan's house during high school, and the bond between the two boys never faded. So when Denny gets offered a job in Seattle and moves from Ohio to Washington with Kiera, Kellan offers his spare room to them for a low price.
Kiera never knew what she was getting herself into when she decided to transfer to Washington University to go with Denny to Seattle. What she finds when she gets there, is that her new roommate, Kellan Kyle, is not only the singer in a band called the D-Bags, but also "the hottest guy on the East Coast".

What happens when Denny leaves for Tucson for two months wreaks all three lives forever.


I'm not sure what exactly in this book had me so hooked. I guess it was the emotions, which run so rampant on every page here. The fights are vicious, the love is intense, and every scene in between is so filled with palbable emotion, the world around you fades into the background as you get sweeped up into Kellan and Kiera's hurricane of emotions. It's a rollercoaster ride, and worth every damn second of heartbreak, tears and anger.

Cover Reveal

Fresh out of the magicl Land of Beautiful Covers, is the one for REACHED, book three in Ally Condie's MATCHED trilogy:


REACHED will be out November 13th.

Book Review: Perception

Title: Perception (Clarity #2)
Author: Kim Harrington
Genre: YA, Mystery
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

I love the feel of these books. Now a days, most books that talk about the supernatural, and abilites, focus on how a girl falls in love with some guy who is so great because he has all these great traits that come with his "condition", and while I'll be the first to admit to loving some of those books, it gets old after some time.
Kim Harrington took the supernatural - ghosts, mind reading, the works - and... twisted into something so incredibly fresh, I read both Clarity and Perception in one sitting, bitting my nails the whole way.
I always enjoy reading mysteries of the likes of Agatha Christie, or Sherlock Holmes, because I have a kick out of trying to guess who the culprit is. 9 times out of 10, I get it wrong. I remember Clarity completely blindsided me as ususal, but with Perception, I figured it out about one second before Clare did, which is no use for yelling at the book, but great fun all the same.
I loved Perception. It went by too fast, but that's my own fault for being an incorrigible book worm who refuses to so much as eat or sleep during a good book like this.
It also helps that my ship ended up together, of course! ;)

Absolutely recommended!

Book Review: Fever

Title: Fever (Chemical Gardens #2)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 9/10


WARNING: one mild spoiler. Mild, I say.

Oh dear... Fever has left me tired beyond imagination. I was so sad that for so much of it, Linden was absent, then overjoyed when he came back, then mad at his blindness, then happy again at how much he loves Rhine, and then floored with that freaking cliffhanger at the end. I hate cliffhangers. They're vicious things D:

First of all, I'd like to defend myself. I understand many people don't like Linden. That is perfectly understandable. I will never agree to the whole Cecily situation, but it's not like Cecily wasn't willing, so he's not some kind of creepy rapist, no matter what anyone says. And what I see between him and Rhine is just... beautiful. It's not about sex, or making kids; it's about being there for each other and comforting one another when the weight of their reality comes crashing down on them. I can't condemn him for wanting a friend - he never forced himself on Rhine, and I have no idea why, if because it's just not who he is, because he chose to listen to his father (I hope to god not), or simply because he loves her enough to want her to want him too. I like to think it's the latter. Actually, I've pretty much convinced myself of it.
Regardless, he was missing way too much from Fever, and I thought for sure this book would be less interesting than Wither, since, as much as I realise that Gabriel is a sweet guy and all, I still root for Linden.
Of course, DeStefano had to prove me wrong; There wasn't one dull moment in this book; not one part where I skipped over a paragraph. Everything was well-told, to the point and insanely fast-paced, whis is probably part of why I feel like I just run a 10k marathon.
I loved getting to meet new characters, all of which have a huge amount of depth to them, no matter what role they play, and most of all, I loved meeting Maddie. She reminds me a little of how I was as a child, always lost in my own fantasy world.
Cecily surprised me. I love her to death, but she really should have known better by now. I can't believe what she did to Rhine, and I'm not sure I can look over that one so easily as the first time. Also, for not telling Linden. The poor man was so torn when he found Rhine... *sigh* sorry, I'm rambling.
Anyway, before I go off on a rant again (writing reviews just after finishing a book this good always tends to lead to rambles, but I needed to talk to someone about this), let me just say... THAT BLOODY CLIFFHANGER! I hate cliffhangers. They are evil, evil things that make sure the time just doesn't go by fast enough till the next book. I'm pretty much already putting up a countdown for book 3 in my head. Goddammit.