Book Review: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan

Title: The Tragedy Paper
Author: Elizabeth LaBan
Format: Ebook
Source: For review (NetGalley)

Tim Macbeth is a 17-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is, “Enter here to be and find a friend.” Tim does not expect to find a friend; all he really wants to do is escape his senior year unnoticed. Despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential “it” girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving’s most popular boy. To Tim’s surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, and she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone finds out. Tim and Vanessa enter into a clandestine relationship, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher.
The story unfolds from two alternating viewpoints: Tim, the tragic, love-struck figure, and Duncan, a current senior, who uncovers the truth behind Tim and Vanessa’s story and will consequently produce the greatest Tragedy Paper in Irving’s history.

When I found this book in the NetGalley newsletter, the cover interested me. I immediately checked out the synopsis. Once I read the synopsis, I definitely had to read this book. The best part was, I didn't have to request for the book, I got it immediately.

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan is a story within a story. It is about Duncan, who listens to the story of Tim through a bunch of CDs. I have to mention, I really enjoy stories within stories; they have this appealing charm to me.

The Tragedy Paper was very enjoyable for many reasons. First of all, the story of an albino was very intriguing. With Tim, we got to know about his life. We got to know about how people views him, how he reacts to the society and his being an "outcast". Tim was a very well-developed character, and his voice was genuine and interesting. Secondly, the writing technique LaBan used was refreshing and remarkable. Knowing about Duncan's story and listening to Tim's story simultaneously added up to the overall tone of the story. Readers will want to flip the pages, wanting to know what is yet to come. Because it is written in a very realistic way, readers will want to read more and find out what is going to happen with the characters.

In addition, the idea of the tragedy paper itself kept me wondering and wanting to know what it was. As the title suggests, The Tragedy Paper doesn't end happily. Without giving anything away, LaBan should be praised on how she handled her characters and the relationships. She should be further praised on how she revealed everything and everything wrapped up.

I'm not sure how to classify this book because it was many things. Mystery, contemporary, tragedy, experience, and life, all combined in one. This is a book that makes you think. Tim's voice is still in my head. Even though he is different than most people, he is wise, deep, and is understanding. Tim is one of the best characters written in YA literature. I liked Duncan as well, but I found Tim's story and character to be much more interesting.

Overall, stunning debut from author Elizabeth LaBan. This story will haunt you by its reality and poignancy.

Book Review: Auracle by Gina Rosati

Title: Auracle
Author: Gina Rosati
Format: Hardcover

16 year old Anna Rogan has a secret she's only shared with her best friend, Rei; she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe.

When there's a fatal accident and her classmate Taylor takes over Anna's body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive home life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future trapped in another dimension, Anna turns to Rei for help. Now the two of them must find a way to get Anna back into her body and stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of murder. Together Anna and Rei form a plan but it doesn't take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them.

This is the first book that I've read about astral projection. In fact, I hadn't heard about astral projection before. To everyone who says fantasy/sci-fi books are trash, IN YOUR FACE! We actually learn things from these kind of books.

Anna has a gift. She can move out of her body and start wandering around. Even though she is warned not to, she still does. That's when everything goes wrong.

I really enjoyed this book. The main reason I enjoyed it was because of the fast-paced writing and the unique idea. Even if it might sound cliche, this book was way beyond that. This book makes you realize the importance of your body and soul. It will make you realize that your body is who you are. When Anna was out of her body, I was very fascinated by the idea of auras and how each person had a different aura.

I loved the friendship between Rei and Anna; it is a very sweet relationship. Friendship is an extremely precious matter in everyday life. Also, the humor was a plus to the awesomeness of this story. Suddenly something funny popped up. Rosati knows when to make you feel emotions.

Next thing I want to talk about is how Seth's story was realistic. It always saddens me and many other people when we see innocent people accused of something they haven't done. This book clearly expressed the journey of an innocent being convicted.

I'd like to also thank ms Rosati for writing a standalone novel. While I love series, I think they shouldn't be written as much as they currently are.

Finally, I have to mention that I really like the cover design. It's unique with an awesome blend of blue colors. The typography is fantastic as well.

If you are looking for a YA book that is not typical; a book that will suck you in from the first page, then this is the book for you. Unlike some recent YA books, this book's summary is not misleading at all. You will love it. I assure you.

Book Review: Wander Dust by Michelle Warren

Title: Wander Dust (Seraphina Parrish #1)
Author: Michelle Warren
Format: Ebook
Source: For review

Ever since her sixteenth birthday, strange things keep happening to Seraphina Parrish.
The Lady in Black… burns Sera’s memories.
Unexplainable Premonitions… catapult her to other cities.
The Grungy Gang… wants to kill her.
And a beautiful, mysterious boy… stalks her.

Before I start reviewing this book, I'd like to point some things out. Firstly, I have to tell you  this. The author, Michelle Warren, is extremely talented. She did EVERYTHING to get this book to life. The book's cover, site, everything is done by her. I have to admit, she has a very unique designing skill. Second, I am thankful to have received this book for review. I've been wanting to read this book for a long time.

Review:

I was drawn into this book from the first chapter. The bizarre supernatural events intrigued me. I really like books about magic and stuff and this books piqued my interest from the first chapter.

The story follows Seraphina, when she first sees the "Lady in Black". She thinks she's crazy when she starts to see things. That, however, is not that the case. We are introduced to a magical world. 

I don't want to give much away, but I found that the world of Wanderers, Seers, and Protectors was one of a kind. These three complete each other.

Let's talk about the characters:

1-Seraphina: I found Seraphina to be one of the cool female characters. She didn't bore me with descriptions of boys she's loving or crushing over. She's determined, and witty. Yes, I liked her. 

2-Bishop: The British guy. I don't have much to say about him. He obviously was a character who knew what he was doing, and he would put himself at risk to do his job. I liked his character.

3-Sam: I really liked Sam. I loved how she was the youngest and could be the pampered one who teases the older people. I related to her a bit, since I am the youngest child :P.

Let's talk about the setting:

I have to admit, I've got to reading this book in the perfect timing. I, like Seraphina, am currently going orientation. I thought it was really cool that she was getting introduced to the Academy and stuff. Also, I loved the mythology Warren came up with, it's very original. 

However, I was confused  at some parts, but that's not a main problem.

If you're looking for a light read with a unique story and plot twists, then this is for you.

Basically, that's all I have to say about Wander Dust, I really enjoyed it and I will definitely look out for Protecting Truth.

Book Review: The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse

Title: The Forsaken (The Forsaken #1)
Author: Lisa M. Stasse
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Hardcover
Source: For review

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

First of all, I'd like to give a big thank you because I got provided with a review copy. Second, I just have to admire this cover greatly. This is perhaps the best cover out there. Very creative, and perfectly fits with the story. It's great to see a change from the girls dressed up on covers.

On to the review:

By now you might think: Enough of dystopia! It's everywhere. Soon there will be a "dystopian corner" just like there was the all famous "vampire corner". You probably are starting to get bored of them.

BUT

The Forsaken is different. It is one of the best ones out there. And that is saying something.

There are many things I loved about this books and they are:

1-World: Honestly, I don't think I've ever read about a dystopian world this unique. Stasse has a very imaginative mind. She has created a dystopian world with fresh unique ideas. All the other dystopian books have very similar atmospheres. 

2-Story: From that first page, I was hooked. The writing style and pacing of this book is perfect. There isn't a single page that won't keep you on the edge of your seat. I must admit, it was extremely addicting. There was enough of everything, in the perfect places. There were LOTS of shocking moments. There were emotional moments as well.

3-Characters: I won't go into detail about the characters. I liked each and every one of them; whether brave, cocky, mean, really anything. I must admit, I really liked Alenna, our main character's personality. She wasn't exactly strong, but she was the type who believed in teamwork and wouldn;t give up easily.

4-Romance: I am EXTREMELY grateful there wasn't a love triangle in this book! Lisa THANKS A BILLION! I'm really getting sick of this trend! I'm not a fan of romances in general, but this book had a really nice romance in it. I liked the relationship of the two lovers. 

Finally, I'd like to mention that I loved the ending. I can totally see an action-packed sequel that will blow my mind coming soon. I can't wait to read The Uprising (yes, that's what the second book is called)  I loved this book. Now, all I have to do is recommending it to people. Also, books like these motivate me! They make me feel like I will someday pursue my dreams and get a book published. 

A huge thank you to everyone who was responsible to bring this book to life. I loved it. I devoured it. I will support it.

 

Book Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Title: Incarnate (Newsoul #1)
Author: Jodi Meadows
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

New soul


Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.


No soul


Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?


Heart


Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

The cover. The cover. The cover. The cover. The cover. The cover. The cover. The cover. The cover.
It is driving me insane. Seriously. The people who designed this cover are GENIUSES!!!!!!! They should be given some honor award. It is PERFECT! I can't stop staring at it. In fact, I am staring at this cover as I am reviewing this book. Get all positive adjectives in the world and put it here;it would still be an understatement. Everything about it is attractive: the model, the colors, the butterfly, the fonts...EVERYTHING! WOW.
Enough with the cover. I'm here to review the book, not the cover =P

I have to start by saying this book was not how I expected it to be.
Some books, like this one, have an impact on you after you finish it. I will talk about what I mean exactly in details.

Things that stood out in this book:

1-Writing style: This book is written beautifully. BEAUTIFULLY. I love how Jodi Meadows writes. Very unique. Many people have unique writing styles, but how Jodi Meadows writes is just pure. It is very passionate. It's coming out of the heart.

2-World Building: Heart was one of the most imaginative worlds come to life. I have no idea how Meadows came up with it. It's beautiful. It's complex. It's overly creative. Seriously. A world that is a heart, it has a pulse. People come back to life when they die. It's a world where sylphs and dragons are real. The most interesting creatures live. Wow. Just WOW!

There definitely are more things, but I can't really put them into words. Just know this: Jodi has a magical talent.

Things that disappointed me:

1-Story Focus: This book was more about Ana than the world. It was about he she was different, how everyone reacted to her, how she was the "freak" of their world. I wanted there to be more story to it. More twists and turns.

2-Pacing: This book had action, twists, turns, but only in the end. It took time to get used to this book. I felt that nothing much was happening. It felt too slow and I felt that I wasn't enjoying this book as much as I wanted to.

However, this gets me to something I mentioned earlier: Some books, like this one, have an impact on you after you finish it.
Like I said, I felt that I wasn't enjoying this book, but once I was done with it, I kept remembering things from this book. It had an impact on me. I could feel the awesomeness of this book. I could get flashes from the book and kept enjoying the flashes.

I really liked this book, and I will definitely check out Asunder, which comes out next year. Check the cover below.

Book Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Title: Fracture (Fracture #1)
Author: Megan Miranda
Publisher: Bloomsbury UK

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it? Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

Okay, let me start by saying that the blurb of this book is just the most misleading blurb EVER! Seriously. How I expected this book to be was WAY different than what this book actually was. Some people told me it's paranormal. Others said it's contemporary. I personally think that this book could best be classified as thriller. However, that didn't stop me from finishing this book.

Let's start with the opening sentence. "The first time I died, I didn't see God."
How could anyone NOT go crazy over that? I'm serious. That itself did a great job in keeping me hooked. Then, of course, comes the idea of a girl dying and coming back to life. It's all just really fascinating.

Let's move on to the characters in this book:

1-Delaney: Delaney is the girl who died and miraculously comes back to life. I have to say, Delaney was one of the really awesome YA characters. You get to love her. Even though she isn't your Katniss or Tris (she isn't physically strong), you still get to love her. It's her personality you fall in love with, how she views the world.

2-Troy: Troy was absolutely a very complicated and well-written character. He actually managed to give me shivers. Sometimes I thought he isn't human. Although his inhuman-ness came from humanity.(Read the book you'll understand what I mean more)

I mean, he seemed to be doing inhuman actions because of pain. Who kills people thinking that it's better for them? That's unfair. However, this action can somehow be argued as human because he has a point as well, but no matter what, a person shouldn't kill people.

3-Decker: Decker was an admirable character. I guess Decker is a good friend, a person you can rely on type of guy. He's there for you and gives you hope.

I want to talk about the writing style in this book now:

When I first started reading this book, I noticed lots of medical terms. Well, I thought perhaps Miranda researched these medical conditions. However, Miranda wrote in an extraordinary way. She crafte an amazing writing skill. She managed to give us the information well. I mean, she provided us with medical terms without making us confused. At the same time, she did justice to these medical information. She managed to balance between sending her information in a light way. This made me think: "Is Megan Miranda a doctor?" I immediately Googled her, and found out that she was a biologist.
I just have one thing to say:"WOW Megan Miranda. YOU ARE INSPIRATIONAL!!!"

This book is more than just a story. It makes you think. It haunts you. It whispers to you "this could really be real". It frightens you. It makes you ponder. Ahhh. Words can't do this justice.

I loved this book. All those who haven't read this. Pick it up now. Words can't describe how great thos book is, because this book isn't just a story you read to get entertained. It's more than that. It's much more than that.

Book Review: Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Title: Article 5 (Article 5 #1)
Author: Kristen Simmons
Publisher: Tor Teen

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.
The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.
There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.
Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.
Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.
That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings—the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Before I start reviewing, I'd like to thank Tor Teen for providing me with a review copy of Article 5. Really appreciated. Thank you so much.

Cover design: The people who work at the art/cover design department of Tor Teen are geniuses. The covers they come up with are very well-designed and mesmerizing. This cover is very well-designed. It perfectly pictures the world the book is set in. And the colors. Oh the colors. There's a great blend of colors in this cover. The grayish color, the slightly beige, the red. Very very impressive. Great work!

The book:
I really loved this book for various reasons. For those who may not know, Article 5 is post-apocalyptic/dystopian. Now, this genre is very well-spread/known these days. Bookstores are full of them; publishers are publishing a lot of them. However, the question is: Is Article 5 one of the better ones or the worse ones?

The answer is definitely: BETTER ONES!

I found the idea of the Articles to be very interesting. They're sort of rules that the society should follow. Now, our main concern is Article 5. Article 5 states: "Children are considered valid citizens only when conceived by a married man and wife."

However, our main character, Ember, is not a valid citizen. 

Now, I found this idea to be very original and different. I didn't expect a dystopian like this. I found these dystopian elements very interesting. And the action. The action was GREAT!

Another character along with Ember is Chase. Chase was like Ember, interesting.

Ember: Ember wasn't exactly a strong character, but she was a character who went through a lot. She wasn't helpless, and she felt very real. I could understand her struggles. I could sympathize with her...

Chase: Chase. What can I say about him other than wanting to punch him? I seriously hated the guy. As the story went on, I could understand his significance and importance to the story.

Article 5 is Kristen Simmons's debut novel, and it's a very good one. Her writing is vivid with imagination, rich with emotions, and full of suspense. I kept turning the pages. I had to know what was going on. I kept reading and reading and reading. I also had jaw-dropping moments. I REALLY had not expected several things to happen.

Overall, I really enjoyed Article 5. Kristen Simmons is a great writer, and I cannot wait to read Breaking Point, which comes out next year.

Book Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Title: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)
Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill(UK)

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...


Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever. 

I've been hearing amazing things about this series as a whole, but I managed to ignore it. You see, I am over vampire book after the "Twilight Craze" with a few exception. In the end though, I failed and gave in. I picked this book up. I had to know why everyone was raving about it, why everyone kept telling me "READ IT, THIS IS DIFFERENT." 
Also, the ratings on Goodreads quite tempt you to read this book. They're extremely HIGH! I happen to be one of those people to check reviews before checking out/buying a book.

So, what did I think of Vampire Academy? 

Well, before I fully go into reviewing this one, I have to say that I was hooked reading this book.

Positive aspects of Vampire Academy:

1-Writing style: Well let me say this, I instantly fell in love with Richelle Mead's writing style. It has a mix of everything bundled up in its own unique style: humor, sexiness, drama...

2-The world-building: Everybody just stand up already and start cheering, clapping, and applauding for Mead. This book is indeed different than any other vampire novel in the world-building aspect. Yes, you do see the classical vampire elements, but the Moroi, Dhampir, and Strigoi are just really mind-blowing stuff to come up with. 

3-Characters: Well, one thing really amused me about the characters, especially the main character:

Rose: Although she proved to us she's a slut the whole way (which is not a good thing), I actually really liked her! That's weird, I know, but again, all credit goes to Mead for creating awesome characters.

Lissa: Lissa's Rose's best friend. I think her character was really well written, as we could see all sides of her. The happy side, the dark side, the creepy side.

Dimitri: Rose's love interest. Who wouldn't have guessed, eh? Well, he's a great character as well. I like how he's Russian and comes from a different background.

Christian: Hands down, Christian is my favorite character. Why? Well, certainly because of his weirdness. His family was a Strigoi. He is different than other people. Misunderstood. Seriously. Awesome. 

4-The story: Well, even though this book/series is called Vampire Academy, it certainly doesn't focus on vampires. There are many other things going on. Killing. Drama. Everything. Again, Richelle Mead has crafted an extremely well-written story that will keep readers hungry for more.

Negative aspects of Vampire Academy:

While I did really like Rose, I sometimes felt like I wanted to slap her and punch her. I mean, she was too free. She always wanted to sleep with guys. She proved to be a slut. I said I liked her earlier, but I liked her for her courage, for her care. I seriously couldn't understand how a someone could be this free about sexual stuff. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I definitely want to read the next five in this series.

 

Book Review: The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

Title: The Hunt (The Hunt #1)
Author: Andrew Fukuda

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (UK)

Against all odds, 17-year-old Gene has survived in a world where humans have been eaten to near extinction by the general population. The only remaining humans, or hepers as they are known, are housed in domes on the savannah and studied at the nearby Heper Institute. Every decade there is a government sponsored hunt. When Gene is selected to be one of the combatants he must learn the art of the hunt but also elude his fellow competitors whose suspicions about his true nature are growing.

The Hunt. I've had heard many things about this book. Once I checked the blurb out, and found out that it's kind of a dystopian-ish and vampire book combined into one. I KNEW I HAD TO READ IT! Who wouldn't find such a story interesting?

This book is Gene's story. It is narrated in first person point of view. Andrew Fukuda was able to bring a new genre into literature. I'd like to call it "dyspire" (dystopia/vampire). I might not be the most creative person to come up with such things, but at least I tried hehe.


On to the book.


Things I liked about this book:

1-The world:  A dystopian world with vampires? No, I cannot get over the awesomeness of this. I think I'll admire this forever. It is just way beyond unique.

2-The dangers and differences: One thing that totally blew my mind was how Fukuda manages to describe this futuristic world. Through Gene's voice, he manages to perfectly picture the dangers and differences of being a human or heper. He describes how humans have hair, how they have body odor, how dangerous it is if the humans are sensed by these vampires.


3-The story and action: I really enjoyed the idea of this book. It reminded me of The Hunger Games a little bit, with the idea of the hunt. Also, this book was quite action-packed and worked really well. I really liked this aspect. As long as there's action, I'm gonna love a book (most of the time).


Things I disliked about this book:

There is only one thing I didn't like about this book. It was actually how the first part of the book was a little slow. I felt like the pacing needed to speed up, and it quite bugged me. I felt that Fukuda could have done a better job in that part.

In conclusion, this book was very entertaining. I enjoyed it. It was very unique. It had its flows, but despite all that, it is a very good read.

Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Title: Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna #1)
Author: Kendare Blake

Publisher: Tor Teen

 Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

When I read the summary of Anna Dressed in Blood, I found it to be very interesting. I knew I HAD to read the book.

I'd like to really thank Tor Teen for providing me a copy to review this book even though it was out last year. THANKS SO MUCH :D

Anna Dressed in Blood is a ghost story. I've never really read a ghost story. No, I don't think I have read one. I might have, but I don't recall.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very fast-paced story where you wanted to read more.

What I liked about this book:

1- When I read this book, I felt that the author was a smart lady. It felt like she knew about many subjects, and put them in a story. This was really interesting actually because I actually got to learn new things from reading this book.

2-Blake's writing style was brilliant. It flowed easily and  kept you captivated. I felt like finishing the book in one sitting.

3-Cas was an intriguing character. I liked him. Blake makes him realistic.

4-History. I really admired how Blake put up history. While this history isn't real(it is a work of fiction), it felt really real and fit with the story.

What I disliked about this book:

1-While I really enjoyed reading this book, I felt that there was something missing. It lacked that element to blow me away.

I will definitely read Girl of Nightmares when it comes out because Blake's series is adventurous and highly entertaining.

  

Book Review: Brothers to the Death by Darren Shan

Title: Brothers to the Death (The Saga of Larten Crepsley #4)
Author: Darren Shan

Publisher: Harper Collins UK

The fourth and final instalment in the epic saga of Larten Crepsley – vampire, hero and victim of fate…

Just as Larten is finding a new place for himself in vampire society, trying to help vampires escape the Nazi menace, horrifying tragedy falls on his own family, thanks to the nefarious Vampaneze.

With his old friend Wester calling for war against the ancient enemies of vampires, Larten finds himself a figurehead of the campaign.

But there are more evil things than just the Vampaneze stirring. And soon, Larten might find himself grieving again – as he faces the worst and final betrayal…

This is the last book in a series about Mr Crepsley, a character we have known about since a long time ago, and I should be sad because I will read no more bout my favoirte orange-haired friend. However, this is not the case. I have just finished reading this book. I am not sad. I read the last few pages with a smile on my face.

This perhaps is/will be my favorite Darren Shan book. Not only because of the main story, but also because of many other reasons.

Before I dicuss the reasons this book is great, I'd like to review the story.

This book was heart-stirring. Seriously. I felt extremely attached to the characters. I felt like I was where Mr Crepsley, Gavner, Vancha...etc were. Darren Shan perfectly captures a scene. He makes it so real, so believable. I felt like I was witnessing the disasters of the second World War. What's even more astonishing is that Darren Shan is not a vivid describer. I have no idea what technique he uses, but he has just mastered creating something unbelievable.

The title. This title resembles the story so perfectly. Brothers to the Death. In fact its giving me the shivers because I still cannot believe what happened. It was insane. That twist was, what can I say? I never ever saw that coming, and I couldn't ever have. EVER. I can't believe it.

The emotions. It is the first time I connected this deeply with a character written by Darren Shan. I felt sad when Mr Crepsley was sad. Happy when he was happy.

The setting. I was extremely captivated by the countries Darren Shan chose for writing Mr Crepsley's story. Paris, Berlin, New York. All magnificent places. I've been to Paris and Berlin, and they're beautiful. I am really glad Darren Shan chose to tell a story in those places.

Finally, I'd like to talk about why this book made me smile.

First of all, the character of Mr Crepsley made me smile. I admired how experienced he was, how light-hearted he was, how hurt he was. All bundled in one person, or in this case, vampire.

Second, I glorify Darren Shan's way of slipping some life experiences into the book. He teaches us essential life lessons. It shows how much he has experienced during his writing process since he first started.


I think that Darren Shan should be applauded for writing such a book because it is not just a tale of vampires, but something much deeper.

Book Review: Slated by Teri Terry

Title: Slated (Slated #1)
Author: Teri Terry

Publisher: Orchad Books

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

She’s been Slated.

The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

This book is perhaps the one of the best books I have read/will read this year.

I've probably read way too many dystopians by now, and I can finally say I can differentiate between a good one and a bad one. If you have seen my reviews and ratings, you'd probably notice that I've given all of the dystopian books I've read either a 4 or a 5 star rating. You might wonder why, that's because I find dystopia extremely interesting and I'm deeply captivated into the stories.

However, this is not the case with Teri Terry's Slated. Slated exceeds expectations, pushes the limits, and is not afraid to take risks.

This book isn't a small book. It's almost 450 pages. Did that stop me from reading it quickly? No, in fact, I was reading in a super fast speed I was shocked with myself.

I was intrigued by the concept of this book. I found it exceptionally unique. This book is about a world where terrorists are not prisoned, are not punished. Instead, these terrorists are given a second chance by having their memories erased. They will have a new life, new parent, new everything. This process is called Slating. Now, Slating isn't something perfect. It has its consequences. Whoever is Slated is controlled by something called a Levo. This devices makes sure you're not too happy nor too angry. If you are, you will die.

Now that sounds really great, doesn't it?

I also loved this book for Teri Terry's writing style. This is her debut novel, and wow. She manages to keep you turning pages without you realizing. You wanna know more, and more, and MORE!

The characters are very interesting. I didn't find Kyla to be an annoying female character. She has bigger problems and things to worry about other than falling in love with a boy. Yes, there is a romance, but it is very subtle, and isn't the main part of the plot.

I think that Slated is a very unique book. The story is very realistic. When you read it, yout think: "This really sounds realistic. What if it REALLY happens in the future?"

This book sends shivers down your spine. Teri Terry has created a very realistic world. This book is not only a tale. It conveys many themes and important messages. It shows how horrific societies can be and clearly shows some real-life problems.

Teri Terry has managed to write a book that will capture the interests of many different readers and has the potential to be one of the most recognized books one day.

I cannot wait to read Fractured, the sequel to this book, which comes out in early 2013.