Tag Archives: teen books

Apr 23 2013
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Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE/LESS Than I Did! (4/23/2013)

a111Top 10 Tuesday is a feature hosted every week by The Broke and the Bookish. I love it because it gives me a chance to sit and stare at my library once a week and admire all the excellent books I’ve read. This weeks category is:

Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE/LESS Than I Did

Less:

#1 The Night Circus: I am really picky with ARCs and don’t usually take home any fiction because I never end up reading them. So when this one came out of the box, something abobut it perked my interest and I broke my rule and took it home, and I am so glad I did. It was beautiful, magical, and absorbing and to this day one of the best books that I’ve ever read. 

#2 Kushiel’s Dart: I bought this one based on a recommend from a trusted coworker. For the longest time I kept passing it over because, frankly, I thought the premise sounded a little boring. When I finally did get around to it I kicked myself for not picking it up sooner. It has every element I expect from a good book and more.

#3 Succubus Blues: Honestly I found the cover somewhat less than appealing, but I really loved the vampire Academy books, so I thought I would give it a try. I am a really scattered reader and almost never read sequels back-to-back. I devoured this entire series in about a week and a half and to this day it is still one of my all-time favorites.

#4 Dead Witch Walking: I didn’t really find the covers of these to compelling at first (they’ve gotten a lot better as of late) but I was just getting into the urban fantasy genre and had my go-to person for book recommends tell me it was worth reading. The first hundred pages or so where a bit of a struggle, but after that the entire series captured me. These books are amazing and they have some of the best sidekicks of any series I’ve ever read. Read full review

#5 Beautiful Disaster: I am sure I am not the only person who does this, but I picked this one up solely because I received an ARC for the second book. And I love it. In my review, I had some criticisms of basic outlining for the story but other than that found the book to be incredibly absorbing and fun. I have resolve to read anything else this author writes because her writing was outstanding! Read full review

More:

#6 Falling Kingdoms: I find it exhausting to consider all the things I didn’t like about this book. No world building, too many viewpoint characters, and a week outline to name a few. Awesome cover gods – you really let me down here. Read full review

#7 Inkheart: I have yet to hear another negative review of this book, so I’m the absolute minority. But come on! The story is about a girl who can bring characters from her books to life. The possibilities are endless!! And, sadly,  untapped. Not more than a handful of characters ever made their way out from the pages. And the girl spent a great deal of time wandering from one place to another trying to figure out what was going on. I’m angry for what this book could have been.

#8 Bitterblue: Graceling was one of my favorite books ever (and fire was pretty good too). I had host of issues with this particular book, however, and I was certain that I would love it. Not so… Read full review

#9 The Maze Runner:  This one was probably my biggest disappointment out of everything on this list. It’s one of the bestsellers of the teen fantasy genre that people absolutely rave about it. It also has one of the coolest concepts of any series I’ve ever read, so it’s a real shame that the author didn’t take it where I thought I could go. Withholding information to create suspense can work to an authors favor, but all of the false tension made me tired of not knowing what was going on (and bored).

#10 Eve & Adam: Written by the author that got me hooked on reading as a kid with the Animorph series, I  snagged this one the minute it hit the shelf. Unfortunately, despite some really strong writing passages near the beginning of the book, the story left me seriously wanting. Read full review

Apr 22 2013
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Your Pick for Nik! – May’s Nominations

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To cast your vote, just leave a comment indicating your chosen titles (up to 3) – and may the best book win!

It’s that time again for us to pick our next book!

Voting starts today (April 22, 2013) and you’ll have all the way until Sunday the 28th to choose your favorites (Remember: YOU CAN VOTE FOR MORE THAN 1).

For those of you new to the book club, Your Pick for Nik! is a monthly feature where I turn over control of my reading list to you!

Here’s how it works: I will nominate titles from my TBR list and YOU will choose which one gets featured. It can be one you’ve already read and want to discuss, one you want to read but wish to see my feedback on first, or – and this is my favorite part – you can read it along with me!

Depicted below are my 10 nominees for April. Simply vote for your favorites, and let the best book win! At 10:00 am (MST) on Monday the 29th I will announce the winner. Come the end of May, I will post a thorough review of the chosen title – and hopefully find out what you thought of it as well!

This month, I included a few popular selections from last month per request.

April’s Nominations: 

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Title: Orphans of Chaos

Author: John C. Wright

Series: Orphans of Chaos #1

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: What if your teachers taught you everything-except who you really are?

For Amelia and her friends, the strict English boarding school she lives in is all she has ever known. The sprawling estate, bordered by unknown territory on all four sides, is both orphanage, academy, and prison. The school has a large staff, but only five students, none of whom know what their real names are, or even how old they are.

Precocious and rebellious, all five teenagers are more than just prodigies. Amelia can see in four dimensions. Victor can control the molecular arrangement of matter. Vanity can find secret passageways where none existed before. Colin is a psychic. Quentin is a warlock.

And, as time goes by, they’re starting to suspect that none of them are entirely human . . .

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Title: Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe

Author: James M. Ward

Series: Halcyon Blithe #1

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: Halcyon Blithe, being a young man of good breeding and lineage as well as endowed with those qualities and abilities of a sorcerous nature and wishing to fulfill his full potential, is ready to assume his proper place in the world. He aims to seek his fortune among those who tend and sail the awesome nautical juggernauts-the dragonships. With this is mind, Blithe gladly accepts his rank as Midshipwizard and becomes a member of the crew who man the dragonships-vessels which harness the bodies and strength of living dragons with seafaring technology.

Combining elements of Hornblower with Harry Potter, and Robert Louis Stevenson with Robin Hobb, Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe is a nautical tale rich in magic and intrigue. A tale set against a panorama of fantastic naval battle as we follow the career of a young midshipwizard as he moves up through the ranks of His Majesty’s Navy.

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Title: The Darkest Minds

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Series: Darkest Minds #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

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Title: Dualed

Author: Elsie Chapman

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: The Hunger Games meets Matched in this thrilling high-concept YA where citizens must prove their worth by defeating the other version of themselves—their twin.

Two of you exist. Only one will survive. The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.

c3Title: Pure

Author: Julianna Baggot

Series: Pure #1

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

#8 Beyonders by Brandon Mull

Beyonders by Brandon Mull

Title: Beyonders: A World Without Heroes

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: Beyonders #1

Genre: Young Reader

Overview: Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable—until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he’s ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.

In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

a1Title: Alien Taste

Author: Wen Spen

Series: Ukiah Oregon #1

Genre: Scifi/Urban

Overview: Abandoned as a child, Ukiah Oregon was found running with a wolf pack. Now considered one of the greatest trackers in the country, this private investigator puts his nose to the ground to track down missing fugitives. When he crosses paths with a criminal gang called the Pack, Ukiah discovers just how much he has in common with the Pack.

aaTitle: Hex Hall

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Series: Hex Hall #1

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Overview: Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It’s gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie’s estranged father–an elusive European warlock–only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it’s her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

abTitle: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Series: Legend #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Glaswright's Apprentice by Mindy L. Klasky

Glaswright’s Apprentice by Mindy L. Klasky

Title: The Glasswrights’ Apprentice

Author: Mindy L. Klasky

Series: Glasswright #1

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: A mere glasswrights’ apprentice must uncover an elusive brotherhood whose deadly venom reaches out to stain the heart of her guild, the heart of her family — and the heart of her king….

Apr 19 2013
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Book Review: The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

z1Title: The Sweetest Dark

Author: Shana Abe

Series: The Sweetest Dark #1

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance / Historical

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.
 
England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

The Review:

There are several things I really liked about this book. For one thing, the writing style and overall voice were amazing! The overall presentation of the story was unlike anything I have ever read and it made me instantly happy that I picked it up. I also really liked the main character and got behind her story right away. She is smart and sassy and generally the type of person you want on your side. I was completely sold… For about the first 50 pages.

It’s not that she lost me completely – throughout the story the strengths I listed above were still present. She simply Made some outlining decisions that I thought could have been better. For example, the first half of the book was working towards a big reveal (which is a tool used by writers to keep the readers interest as the plot unfolds). Unfortunately the big reveal in this story was something we already knew from reading the Overview. It just wasn’t enough to keep me excited, especially since it also lacked in the romance department. I didn’t realize how essential romantic tension was until I read this book. The whole idea of a preordained soulmate is romantic in itself, but the blind acceptance of that left a bad taste in my mouth.

Speaking of bad taste (on a random note), there seem to be a tad bit of unnecessary profanity in this book. Don’t get me wrong I think swearing can really add to my enjoyment of a book when it is used to help define character or is simply for humorous effect. It did neither here – Abe dropped the F-bomb in a situation that wasn’t serious enough to draw it from an otherwise proper character. While swearing doesn’t bother me in the least, I don’t think it has a place in a teen genre.

Overall, I think the unique approach to this story along with Abe’s obviously excellent writing skills make this a worthwhile read, despite my concerns. She also tied it up well enough that I am genuinely looking forward to reading the second book. I still gave the book 4 out of 5 stars, and I’m pretty sure my little holdups wont bother many other people – it really is a great book!

Recommendations: I would probably feel comfortable recommending this one to teenagers 15+. While there is nothing blatant, there are still a few suggestive elements that would get me in trouble with some parents around here. As always, use your own discretion.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Apr 17 2013
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Book Review: Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck

a1Title: Tiger’s Curse

Author: Colleen Houck

Series: Tiger’s Curse #1

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Rating: 2/5 stars

The Overview: The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

The Review:

I wanted to like this one, I really did. I’m a sucker for books with exotic animals or different cultures, and this one had both (which were actually the best elements of the story). I even had one of my coworkers swear up and down that this was her “most favorite book ever!” Combine all of that with the strong sales trend I’d been noticing and a killer cover to boot and, needless to say, it didn’t’ take much to talk me into buying this one.

But I didn’t like it. I hate it when that happens.

The basic idea for the book was great, But there were elements to the actual plot line that I think could have been stronger, specifically regarding conflicts. For at least the first 50 to 100 pages there were no conflicts or inciting moments to let us know what the overall arc of the story was supposed to be. There was, however, a plethora of false tension while the main character discovered what we already knew from reading the back of the book. This is a poor choice of pacing on the authors part. The basic conflict of the story should be evident right up front if you really want to grab your readers. The sooner the better, in my opinion.
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In the teen genre, at least some sort of romantic tension has to be present for me to enjoy the book… as long as it’s done right. Tiger’s Curse has so much senseless turmoil between characters that I got bored with that element of the plot pretty quickly. I actually think that without stronger and external conflicts to drive her story Huock was forced to create trouble out of thin air to have something to write about.
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Overall this one was a disappointment for me, not for the story idea or the writing, but with general outlining. I’ve read so many brilliant books of late that it just didn’t stack up. Like I said, though, it sales are strong and I’ve talked to at least three people who absolutely loved it.
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Recommendations: I would recommend this to people looking for a light read. There was also a great deal of fabulous Indian culture throughout which gave the book a unique flavor, so I might actually recommend this to people in the mood for something different (with disclaimers).
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Other books you might like:
 
Apr 5 2013
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Book Review: Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

a3Title: Eve & Adam

Author: Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate

Series: ??

Genre: Teen Fiction

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: In the beginning, there was an apple – And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.

Just when Eve thinks she will die – not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy. Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect . . . won’t he?

The Review:

Reactions to this book are all over the board. People either seem to love it or hate it. I’m sort of in the middle, as I liked it, but I didn’t love it. That’s a hard thing for me to admit because I’ve had such a long history with these authors that I feel as though I owe it to them to love their stuff. After all, Applegate is responsible for the series that sparked my love of reading (see Animorphs). Alas, the book just didn’t quite come together for me.

I’m usually pretty good at going with the flow as far as characters are concerned, but in this book I just didn’t get the relationships between all of them. All of them were odd, but I had the hardest time with Eve’s bff, Aislin. She didn’t seem to add any value to the story and I wasn’t on board with their relationship or how they treated each other. This odd compilation of characters and motives made the book feel a bit disjointed, and that’s partly why I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I wanted to.

There were some cool elements to the book. I found the setting and the technology to be entirely fascinating.I also liked reading from Solo’s perspective – specifically his strategies for outsmarting the “enemy”. The writing itself was also quite interesting. The imagery at the beginning was especially strong, and I will probably go back and study it for my own craft. The duo writer angle was a unique one too – there were several places where the tone of the book changed, and I’m assuming that’s were one author stopped writing and the other took over. The idea of each writer being in charge of a main character’s motives and personality is pretty cool, and I think if there was one place where the relationship development was successful, it was between Eve and Solo (where I saw this phenomenon take place the most often).

Overall, it was not the stellar read that I was hoping for, but an interesting piece nonetheless. I don’t regreat thhe time I spent reading it, as the positives edged out the negatives and I sort of liked how it wrapped up. I’m interested to see where they take the story in the next book, if there is one… the internet was rather inconclusive.

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

Apr 2 2013
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Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character!

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Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish, this is a fun weekly feature where bloggers like myself get to geek out about our favorite books. This week’s category is:

Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character!

I had a blast putting this one together and I’m especially looking forward to seeing what kind’s of heart-throbs make everyone else’s lists.

1: My best friend and I have actually had full-blown conversations were we try to decide who is the “hottest” guy in fiction. My answer is always Dimitri – I’m certain of it. How can I tell without ever actually having seen him? Beats me. All I know is everything about him, from the way he thinks to how he treats Rose, Dimitri Belikov is my top pick!

2: I really like Adam. I think he’s charming, funny, and sexy in a way that is very low-key. He almost reads like the guy who is okay by society standards but to you is the most gorgeous person on the planet.

3: The winner is clear for me, but I feel like the other contender would get a ton of votes from other women. They are both crush-worthy, but I always find myself drawn to Jean Claude.

4: Okay, okay, I haven’t actually read this series. It’s all about Ian Somerhalder on the show. I don’t care how the book tells it, I’m team Damon all the way!

5: Seth is not a “sexy” character compared to some of the others but he’s on my list because he has all the qualities of someone I would actually consider dating. An intelligent, attractive, book-loving writer who cares for the girl with all his heart? My kind of guy exactly! In fact, I’m pretty sure I married one just like him… ;)

6: I find Logan incredibly crush-worthy even though I would never date him. Although physically my type, I’ve never been okay with the guy being a “man-whore”. In Logan’s case, I think I liked him so much because of those moments when he dropped the act and treated Gwen like she was the most precious thing in the world.

7: This book provided yet another love-triangle, and I’m pretty sure I picked the guy I think would be best for the main character as well as myself. Jace was just fiercely loyal and compassionate, though part of his appeal might have been because he was off-limits.

8: Okay, I’m probably referencing the movie more than the book with this one, but for me Aragorn’s appeals are the choices he makes and his excellent character. Even if I were going based on movie alone, I would still probably pick him, but Orlando Bloom would put up a great fight.

9: This is one of the few books that doesn’t have a triangle. Jocelyn is a dream-guy, and I can’t even pinpoint exactly what it is I like about him. The fact that he’s so perfect for Phedre is oddly part of his appeal, but I think it comes down to how well Carey described him physically and how he treats his true love.

10: Team Edward (Woot!) but let it be clear that I’m on his side for the book only. As far as the movies are concerned, Jacob wins hands-down.