Book Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Eternity Cure (Bloof of Eden #2)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Format: Ebook
Source: For review

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

Thank you Harlequin Teen for accepting my request to review this book. 

Have you heard of the "Second Book Syndrome?" Well, this book suffers from that! I've seen people saying how the second book in a series hasn't lived up to their expectations, but I hadn't ever encountered that situation. UNTIL NOW!

This book is divided into three parts. Part one had a solid interesting start. Part two was boring at its best. And part 3 is where the action began.

As you might know, I really enjoyed The Immortal Rules when I read it last month. Even though I thought the pacing was slow, it wasn't nowhere as bad as this one. In many instanced, I just wanted to put this book down and stop reading it. But I couldn't do that. I persisted. Then part three started and some awesomness started. It took 80% of the book to finally pick up pace.

Part three had action and twists and turns, blended with Kagawa's creative captivating writing style. Sadly, it was THE best part of the book.

The Eternity Cure focuses a lot on drama. A lot on finding things. A lot on Allison's struggle to not lose control, which got dreary.

It really pains me to rate this book this low, but the story went absolutely nowhere until part three. Julie Kagawa focuses too much on the drama and internal struggle. Too much about running away, about finding and chasing whoever is causing destruction. With 445 pages, the book could have been filled with MUCH more interesting things. These books are too long for their content. With how they're written, they could EASILY become shorter, keeping me hooked. Sadly, that's not the case.

As for the characters, I find Sarren to be interesting. He's a well-written villain. Jackal is another interesting character. His humor=FLAWLESS. Allison: kick-butt as always.

I have to praise Julie Kagawa for her well-done character development, writing style, and her interesting take on vampires. She has a genuine way of handling these matters.

Overall, this book was quite disappointing. I was expecting more things to happen. The Eternity Cure was definitely a filler and a build up to the conclusion. Sadly, it failed to attain my interest. The Immortal Rules was a much greater book compared to this one.

Note on the ending: I will definitely read the third one because of the semi-cliffhanger. I hope that the third and final book will attract my attention.

2.5/5 

Book Review: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Title: Girl of Nightmares (Anna #2)
Author: Kendare Blake
Format: Hardcover
Source: For review

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

Girl of Nightmares is the second book in the Ana duology. It starts of where Anna Dressed in Blood left off. Following Cas's adventures, Girl of Nightmares is just as good as Anna Dressed in Blood; in fact a little better.

Girl of Nightmares is a fast-paced action-packed book. Fullof magic, suspense, and wonderful characters. From the first page, the book will leave its readers hooked. The mystery and the suspense are the shining factors in this story. Reader will want answers, wanting to know why Anna haunts Cas's dreams.

Character development in this story is also very well-done. There's lots of friendship, relationships, and drama. Cas is an interesting character. He is determined and is always motivating. His friends are very interesting characters as well. Thomas and Carmel; very interesting. Their relationship is real and captivating. Their friendship, all three of them, is very admiring and remarkable.

Finally, the world. The world is very interesting, full of magic. The idea of the athame is very interesting. Readers get to experience a world full of twists and unexpected things. Like readers, Cas questions his world. He gets to find answers along with the readers. That was a very unique story-telling technique. Everything is resolved and wrapped up nicely.

Overall, Girl of Nightmares is a very enjoyable and quick read. Readers will be left on the edge of their seats. If a reader wants something fun, exciting, nail-biting experience, then Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares is a book he/she definitely has to read.

Book Review: Fractured by Teri Terry

Title: Fractured (Slated #2)
Author: Teri Terry
Format: Paperback
Source: For review

How do you know where to go when you don't remember where you came from?

Kyla's memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

Or so she thought.

Kyla shouldn't be able to remember anything. But she can - and she's beginning to realise that there are a lot of dark secrets locked away in her memories. When a mysterious man from her past comes back into her life, she thinks she's on her way to finding the truth. But the more she learns about her history, the more confusing her future becomes...

Set in a disturbing future world, FRACTURED is an engrossing, fast-paced read that establishes Teri Terry as a master thriller writer.

Thank you Hachette UK for providing me with a review copy for this book.

Fractured is just as thrilling as Slated, if not more. It starts where Slated left off. From that first page, Fractured will keep you hooked. You want to keep reading and reading, wanting to know what happens next. 

Fractured is a perfect sequel to Slated. Terry manages to create suspense, thriller, and even push MORE boundaries. In this book, Terry shows another side of Kyla. Terry manages to easily explain the complex character of Kyla. With every page, we realize how complicated Slating is and how conflicted Kyla is. Terry flawlessly develops Kyla's character and PERFECTLY explains the scientific/technological processes. What's very amusing is that the processes feel so real; you feel that it really happens in today's life.

Other than character development, Terry's writing style perfectly flows with the story. It is simple but engaging. It keeps you hooked. It makes you want to turn page after page after page. Kyla's voice is so refreshing and just like her, you want answers to many questions. With many new questions brought up in this book, I DO NOT know how this series will end. 
  
Fractured is more of a thriller book than dystopian in my opinion. This works very well. Fractured is a PROOF that books don't need to have action to be amazing. Fractured has a minimal amount of action; however, that does not stop you from enjoying the book.

I really admired how Fractured wasn't just a filler like most other books. It has a well-organized plot AND builds up for the final book. Authors should do this more often.

Overall, I haven't said much about this book because I don't want to spoil anything, but if you've read Slated, you will NOT be disappointed with Fractured. If you haven't read Slated, then pick it up as soon as possible. Terry has done many things this time. She has added unexpected twists, took more risks, and pushed more boundaries. The plot is so complicated right now that NO one can guess what happens next, only Terry can. Terry is a talented author with an engrossing story, memorable characters, and well-crafted world-building.