Tag Archives: teen books

Mar 15 2013

Book Review: Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

aaTitle: Dark Frost

Author: Jennifer Estep

Series: Mythos Academy #3

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.

The Review:
I have been praising this series like there’s no tomorrow, and I am sure some of you out there are weary of my gushing… brace yourself for just a little more: I love this series and the overall idea behind it. Every time I pick one up, I know I’m in for a great story and fun characters. Interesting enough, I think this book was my least favorite so far. I genuinely hope that it doesn’t mean the series is in a decline (which I sadly felt happened to the House of Night series around book six), and that this one is just a fluke. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a 4/5 star book; it just didn’t have the same impact as the first two.
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Why was this one not as good? I think it had to do with predictability. While the other two were delightfully obvious in where they were going, this one took great care to hit you over the head with dozens of hints. The first couple had me thinking, “Hey, I might have this figured out.” The next several that follow took away the fun of me feeling like I was smarter than the average bear. I kept waiting for a plot twist, because things can’t possibly be that straightforward, right? Well, you’ll just have to read to find out whether they were. :P
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So aside from the fact that it wasn’t quite as good as the first two, I still devoured it and will be picking up the next one soon. I did find it to be the most heart-wrenching one yet, which is an excellent point in its favor and really bodes well for the sequel!
Other books you might like:
  • The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
  • Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast
  • Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
  • Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
  • Wicked Lovely  by Marissa Marr

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Mar 14 2013

Out This Month! (Noteworthy Releases March 12th – 31st)

Here’s a look at what’s coming out between now and the end of the month! I meant to post this at the beginning of the month. In any case, there are some really good books on the horizon! 

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Mar 12 2013
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Top Ten Tuesday! (3/12/2013)

a111Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish book blog. Since I love lists and talking about my favorite books, I decided to join in the fun. This week’s topic:

Top Ten Books At The TOP Of My Spring 2013 TBR list!

(drumroll please)

#1 Pure: I came across this book by accident while researching upcoming releases (I found the second one, Fuse, and was intrigued). Now I can’t wait to read it, and am hoping it’s as good as it sounds.

#2 Frost Burned: for as long as I’ve been blogging about the release date for this one, I should dang well be reading it soon. I just have to finish Fair Game first….

#3 Fragments: Partials was one of my favorite reads last year, and I am stoked to pick up the next one. I have no excuse why I haven’t read it yet.

#4 Eve & Adam: K.A. Applegate is the reason why I am so passionate about books. I was so enthralled with her Animorphs series as a kid that its sparked the obsession that I’ve built a career off of. Grant is her husband and the author of the popular Gone series, so I’m sure it’s going to be an amazing book (I hope).

#5 Dragon Keeper: The ending of Fool’s Fate was so profound that I needed a few months to let it sink in. Now that I’m done reeling, I’m finally ready to begin Hobb’s latest series. This is going to be so, so good!

#6 The Way of Kings: No matter what circle I’m in of book lovers, they all seem to agree that this is by far Sanderson’s best novel. Having read everything else he’s got (and loving it all) I am super eager to see for myself what all the hype is about. I have been recommending this to people without having actually read it – that is a mark of my confidence in my peers’ reviews. 

#7 Kushiel’s Scion: Kushiel 1-3 knocked my socks off, and this second trilogy following Imriel is going to be just as good – I can feel it! I tend to pick these up only when I need that guaranteed good read fix (this is why I am so far behind).

#8 Beyonders: I admit I tried this one already and put it down. Although Fablehaven is my favorite young adult series (besides HP), I just couldn’t get past a hippopotamus’s mouth as a magical portal. I’ve resigned to overlooking that the second time around.

#9 Spirit War: I loved the first three books in this series, and remember every detail vividly over a year later. These characters, this magic system, and this author are amazing!

#10 Stardoc: I find the idea of intergalactic medical care oddly fascinating, and I’ve been trying to get this one picked for my monthly Your Pick for Nik! feature. Alas, it hasn’t received a single vote, and I’m pretty sure I’ve nominated it the most times (figures). Come on, people! It promises so much world-building awesomeness how can you resist?

Of course, making this list I remembered half a dozen other books I really want to read… oh, the hardship. What about all of you out there? What are your top TBR books?

Mar 10 2013

Book Review: The Bane by Keary Taylor

a2232Title: The Bane

Author: Keary Taylor

Series: The Eden Trilogy #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won’t stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn’t need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

The Review: 

I got this book initially as an ARC, and I promised myself that I wouldn’t force myself to read it just because I got it before everyone else (as I’ve done a few times before). I liked the premise for the story, and by the first few chapters in, I was convinced this was something I would enjoy. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’re probably aware that I have a fondness for dystopian novels. Although the storyline of this particular one wasn’t incredibly original, there are some things about it that I really liked. For example, the very first scene of the book let me know right away what the stakes are in this world, who I’m supposed to be cheering for, and elements of mystery that made me want to keep reading. An excellent start that developed into a dang good book. 

It didn’t take the path I was expecting it to, and I actually found that refreshing. It had a good full-circle storyline that left me satisfied, but also left room open for a sequel – which is extremely smart of her if she hadn’t been able to get a deal for more than one book. The writing was solid and evoking, and her character development was strong. The pacing could have been a bit quicker, with a few more setting changes early on, but it didn’t take away from the story too much. She also needed a bit more word variety. There were countless examples of her using a word to describe something then repeating the exact phrasing in the next line down. It happened so often I was beginning to wonder if it was deliberate. Also, the cover doesn’t sell the story to me. I feel like it would market better with a cover that looked more like the new Mila or even Wasserman’s Skinned (see recommends below) something to highlight the technological element of the story [Note: cover updated since original post… I like it better]. 

These are minor notes, and overall I consider the book well worth your time if you’re a fan of the genre. I am excited that it is a trilogy, and I will definitely be reading the next book!

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

  • Divergent by Veronica Roth (Read Full Review)
  • Partials by Dan Wells (Read Full Review)
  • Skinned by Robin Wasserman
  • Cinder by Marissa Meyer
  • Mila 2.0  by Debra Driza
  • Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Read Full Review)

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Mar 6 2013
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Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

a1Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent #2

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris’s initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

The Review: 

This was one of those books that ended too quickly. I picked it up and before I knew it I was more than halfway through, cursing that I didn’t take longer to savor it. I couldn’t help but read fast – it was just too good. Divergent was also a major page-turner for me, but only after I made it past the first hundred pages or so. Insurgent started off with a bang and didn’t let up the entire time. The plot just kept getting thicker and thicker, setting up for what promises to be an incredible conclusion.

I think part of the reason I was completely absorbed into the story can be attributed to Roth’s talents as a writer. She is excellent at ending chapters with “hooks” which make it practically impossible to find a good stopping point. For me, the reading process was a series of, “Okay, just one more chapter…”. Also, the first-person present-tense writing style that was made so famous by the Hunger Games trilogy was used to similar effect here. It allows the reader to feel like they are involved in the play-by-play and is a good way of making suspenseful moments even more intense.

Overall, Insurgent was an awesome sequel to a strong first book. I plan on recommending it to anyone who enjoyed Suzanne Collins and actually think the series is shaping up to be just as strong as HG. I wont be certain, however, until I read the final book, which just had an announced release date of October 22, 2013. I am stoked!

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

  • The Bane by Keary Taylor
  • Partials by Dan Wells
  • Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • Delirium by Lauren Oliver
  • Matched by Ally Condie
  • Pendragon: Merchant of Death by D.J. MacHale

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Feb 28 2013

Coming Soon: Invisibility

a1Title: Invisibility

Authors: Andrea Cremer & David Levithan

Series: N/A (at the moment)

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Release Date: May 7, 2013

This is a new paranormal about an invisible boy and the only girl that can see him… sounds perfect. Cremer is the author of the Nightcreature series (which I really enjoyed) and Levithan is the author of his own handful of teen love stories (of which I have yet to read). Some of my favorite books had two minds behind them, and with what I know of Invisibility so far, it’s shaping up to be a complex, well-written novel. I will definitely be reading this one!