Midnight Addiction

After I got over the outrageously priced set of novellas associated with the Divergent series (Honestly, I paid $1.99 for a 34 page book? I'm pathetic.), I managed to enjoy Four: The Transfer. I loved the behind-the-scenes insight into Four's difficult decision at the Choosing Ceremony and first days as a member of Dauntless. His elaborate backstory made me fall in love with him all over again. Back up ladies, he's mine.

His weak, vulnerable nature surfaces in this companion novel, but doesn't appear in any later books in the series. For once, we are privy to his deepest dreams, aspirations, fears, and insecurities. I really enjoyed being exposed to a completely different side of Four; while he may come across as an impenetrable wall in the remainder of the series, no one can realistically uphold such a pretense for his/her entire life. Readers were exposed to a more human side of Four that was easy to relate to.

I fully suport Roth's decision to write a set of four books that focus solely on Four (how ironic). After falling in love with this installment, I can't wait to see what's in store in the remaining books. Let's just say that I've already been suckered into preordering the remaining three books in the collection for $1.99 each. That would be desperation. Now, if only I could find a way to pass the time between now and July, when the remaining books will be released...

Requiem is the third installment in the Delirium series by best-selling author, Lauren Oliver. I absolutely adored the first two books in the series: Delirium and Pandemonium. The enchanting characters, enthralling plot, original setting, and dramatic cliffhangers kept me on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Requiem. I had been looking forward to this book for several months, and it fell disappointingly short of my expectations.

Now there's not very much to put in a summary because not very much actually happens. I could summarize the entire book in a single sentence: Lena fools around with Julian to make Alex jealous in an attempt to return to their former relationship. Everything else serves as filler, focusing on that main point. In my estimation, a good 98% of the book was entirely unnecessary. In fact, I think this would have served better as a novella, rather than the final book in a series.

Contrary to Pandemonium, Requiem began several weeks after the end of its predecessor. That came as a bit of a shock - I was expecting a dramatic scene when Alex and Lena first come face to face. But no, we're going to bypass all of that potential and launch head first into a description of a forest (because that's such and intriguing start to the story. Unfortunately, the rest of the book doesn't get much better.

The most upsetting aspect of this book was the conclusion, or lack thereof. And I mean there was no ending whatsoever. (This'll be spoiler free - I promise!) At the end of the book, a war is raging on around the main characters, who are separated from one another in the attack. They manage to find one another in the mayhem and chaos just before the book comes to a close, not even revealing the outcome of the war, let alone who lives and who died or whether Lena chooses Alex or Julian. At that point, I had more unresolved questions than resolved, which was frustrating. I'm not a fan of vague, open-ended conclusions, if you hadn't already gathered that.

The pacing was also off. The beginning was slow and made the book challenging to get into. This portion of the book was very detail heavy, which can be a bit boring and monotonous at times. The ending, on the other hand, was rushed and poorly described. Don't even get me started on that again. I could talk about it all day, but I doubt anyone would stick around to hear it.

And now into the infamous love triangle. Readers were thrown for a loop when Alex appeared at the end of Pandemonium. He's back for good, ladies! Being a Team Alex fan, I developed an automatic and obligatory dislike for Julian, which continued throughout Requiem. Compared to the first two books in the series, there were hardly any cute, romantic scenes to look forward to. There were two - maybe three - quick kisses in the entire book. The characters seemed flat and lacked the passion and chemistry that had previously existed (where did it all go?). If I have to suffer through a plotless book, at least give me some romance as a respite.

Lena was partly responsible for the lack of chemistry. She had grown significantly as a character throughout the first two books, but in Requiem,she became the whiny, helpless damsel in distress, expecting both Alex and Julian to come running to her aid. She and Alex shared mutual hostile feelings toward one another, yet Lena was unwilling to assume any responsibility for the state of their relationship. Instead, she fostered feelings of both animosity toward him and developed a sense of possessiveness. When Alex began talking to a half-dead girl that they had found in the woods, Lena was immediately overcome by jealousy and wanted to leave the bleeding girl there to die. Now that's a combination of heartlessness and desperation.

Julian's sole purpose was to function as a pawn. Whenever Lena was at odds with Alex, she would make a point of holding hands with Julian or emitting a high-pitched giggle in response to something he had said. She strung him along, only to break his heart over and over again. While I'm not the biggest fan of Julian, I did feel bad for him throughout the book. He was so innocent and oblivious - he never deserved that sort of treatment.

And then we get to Alex, who appeared to be PMSing for an obnoxiously long time. He, of course, blamed Lena for their destroyed relationship and spent the entire novel waiting for an apology. Let me point out that said apology never came. Therefore, he spent the entire book brooding and surly, never really acknowledging Lena or Julian. I fell in love with Alex in Delirium, but the Alex in Requiem didn't seem like the same character. Everything that I had adored about Alex initially (his charm, sense of humor, and openness) disappeared, seemingly overnight.

No major characters die. None. Only a handful of characters die, and they're all minor, disposable characters that readers aren't emotionally attached to. I'm a ruthless killer when it comes to writing; naturally, this book was a bit of a let down, especially immediately after I read Allegiant (now that was an emotional ending).

Now that I've gotten that major venting session out, I think it's time to take out my frustration on that very taunting chocolate bunny in the pantry.

I have a rather embarrassing confession to make - but you have to promise not to laugh. Okay, here we go: this was my first experience reading a novella or companion novel. Let me pause for the collective gasp. I was a firm believer that such books would detract from my overall opinion of the series. I wanted to remember the plot and the characters exactly how they were portrayed in the series and worried that companion books would alter these perceptions for me. I'm happy to say, however, that Free Four completely changed my approach to novellas.

One of the first things that immediately struck me was the length - it was short. Really short. As in about 25 pages in length, when you remove the sneak peaks to each of the books in the series. I would have liked to read a bit more from Tobias' perspective. As one of my favorite characters (and my back up husband if something falls through with Will Herondale), I loved having insight into Tobias' thoughts and emotions, particularly during such a dramatic scene. Tris is privy to very few of Tobias' true thoughts, so this was a new and refreshing take on one of most memorable scenes of the entire series.

While it contains perfect fangirling content, it falls a bit short in the sense that no further characterization is revealed regarding Tobias or any of the other characters. Additionally, the plot was, as expected, fairly predictable. It would have been interesting to read about Tobias outside of what Tris has observed and witnessed. However, I was grateful for this small chunk of information regarding Tobias and his conflicting emotions.

While Free Four doesn't significantly add anything to the series, it certainly doesn't detract from it. Therefore, I would definitely recommend this to any Four fans who are currently suffering from Divergent withdrawal. Now, off to start the next novella.

Wow. I don't even know where to begin. I suppose the beginning would be a good place to start. Here goes.

I decided not to provide a summary for this book, simply because it would contain spoilers for Divergent and Insurgent. Because I chose to exclude this, my review is 100% spoiler-free.

While I enjoyed the book, there were several points of confusion along the way. The most frustrating of these was the switching POV. Tris and Tobias took turns narrating the story, switching between the two at the start of nearly every chapter. Their narration sounded very similar; I tended to forget which character was recounting the story at any particular moment, frequently flipping back to the beginning of the chapter to check. I much preferred the single, uniform point of view in Delirium and Insurgent because it eliminated unnecessary confusion. The series may have flowed more smoothly from one book to the next if Roth had chosen one method and stuck with it for the entire series. Additionally, I was baffled by the introduction of several new concepts, such as a distinction between the Genetically Pure (GP) and Genetically Damaged (GD), which readers are forced to keep track of throughout the book. So much information was revealed in a single sitting that I only absorbed about 60% of it. And of course, a good portion of this information was proven false, adding to the confusion.

Allegiant was built on the relationship between truth and lies. Many of the basic foundations that were introduced in the first two books were deemed untrue, causing readers to question what they know at every turn. Characters revealed their true allegiances, forming new friendships and breaking old ones. I loved the depth and realistic qualities these characters possessed, despite their numerous betrayals, arguments, and poor decisions.

Over the course of the series, Tris experienced dramatic growth character-wise. The meek, timid Abnegation transfer is hardly recognizable as the strong, independent protagonist in Allegiant. This transformation, although gradual, affected Tris' words and actions, influencing her every decision. Roth's writing style provides readers with an excellent glimpse into Tris' thoughts and emotions as she matures and embraces her future. Undoubtedly, Tris was wise beyond her years; the horrors that she experienced aged her significantly, making her wary of those around her and causing her to constantly demand the truth. Despite her hard and somewhat intimidating demeanor, Tris is portrayed as vulnerable and flawed. These characteristics make her realistic and relatable, bringing her to life.

Her relationship with Tobias was a bit rocky throughout the entire book. They were both a bit wishy-washy around one another, as if they were unsure of how to proceed. One second, Tobias was giving Tris the silent treatment and the next, he felt the sudden urge to kiss her. I wasn't particularly enthralled by the romance in this book, and it paled significantly compared to that in Divergent and Insurgent. Therefore, I was a little disappointed in this respect, to say the least. The lack of romance certainly left something to be desired.

This brings us to Tobias. The series as a whole portrays Tobias' complex, many-sided character. He constantly engages in internal conflict, questioning his choices and decisions at every turn. Despite this indecisiveness, he grew as a character throughout the books, finally learning to embrace his past. He refuses to let his troubled childhood stand in his way of working for the greater good. While I didn't agree with all of his decisions, his bravery and determination were admirable, conveying his true Dauntless-inclination.

I must've read the last page over 20 times. It left me with a numb feeling, in a state of shock and disbelief. And I have to admit, it left me in tears. Now that's a rare occurrence. I can't even remember the last time I cried over a book. The final chapters, while bordering on predictable, pack a punch. Roth has received quite a bit of criticism for her ... nonconventional ending, but I found it to be a refreshing change from many other popular dystopian series.

Oh, and I can't forget to thank the Goodreads user who spoiled the ending of the book for me. Yes, that was a hint of sarcasm. While I'm not going to mention your name, you know who you are. And no, I don't enjoy receiving spoilers via PM.

Insurgent: A person who acts in opposition to the established authority, who is not necessarily regarded as belligerent.

Insurgent is the second novel in Veronica Roth's bestselling series, Divergent. After seeing Divergent in theaters, I immediately rushed home to reread the series (and read Allegiant for the first time). Reading the books back-to-back, I retained most of what I had read in Divergent and was able to apply it to the plot and events of Insurgent. I would recommend reading these two books together due to their intricate plots and detailed characters. After rereading Divergent, I had very high expectations for Insurgent; luckily, I wasn't disappointed and found Insurgent to be a compelling and intriguing read.

As Beatrice "Tris" Prior's Dauntless initiation draws to a close, the lives of the initiates and faction members are pegged by the upcoming, inevitable war. Tris recognizes the true consequences of her actions as the book unfolds, leaving her riddled by guilt and despair. As she quickly learns, a single choice can change her life forever.

The second book in any series is often a bit tricky; readers tend to either love or hate them. In this particular case, I found the middle book to be the strongest in the series (so far). While this wasn't the case in the beginning of the book, Insurgent quickly surpassed Divergent in the final 150 pages. The ending leaves you with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, so I would clear off your schedule and make time to read Allegiant.

Insurgent picks up immediately where Divergent leaves off, jumping headfirst into the action. Roth's writing style, despite its tendency to be a bit description-heavy, immediately captivates readers. Her beautifully-crafted settings are well-developed and realistic. Her dialogue is often witty and entertaining, lightening the mood during particularly dark portions of the book. The romantic scenes involving Tris and Tobias are flawless - they're cute, yet not overly cheesy.

This brings me to Tris and Tobias' relationship which is flawed and, consequently, believable. No relationship is perfect, as evidenced by their interactions throughout the book. They engage in several fights and rifts in their relationship, particularly when each weaves an intricate web of lies to "protect" the other. The lack of trust is evident between the pair, leading to several heart-stopping moments when readers fear that their romance is beyond repair. However, it always seems to make it through relatively unscathed. To make up for their frustration and agitation with one another, Roth incorporates numerous cute exchanges between Tris and Tobias. While there aren't quite as many romantic scenes in Insurgent that leave readers with a mental "Awwww," these moments are even more powerful than those in Divergent. Because they are few and far between, readers are kept waiting with baited breath to see how their relationship will progress and if it will be able to withstand the test of time.

I was overjoyed to finally read a book with a strong female lead (it's been awhile, in case you hadn't noticed). While she had her moments, Tris was, for the most part, a strong, independent, and determined individual who refused to back down from her beliefs and values. She begins to view herself as a member of Dauntless during this book, realizing that it composes the vast majority of her personality and demeanor at this point. Instead of trying to break free of these Dauntless stereotypes, she embraces them proudly, placing "faction before blood." That being said, there were several instances where I was tempted to grab Tris by the shoulders and shake her. She made a few bad decisions during the book which often had negative consequences that easily could have been avoided. Additionally, she develops a hot-headed nature and is all too quick to defend what she believes in. This stubbornness, while present in Divergent, is much more pronounced in Insurgent. Then again, a realistic narrator must have her fair share of flaws to counterbalance his/her good traits. She never strives for perfection, which is an important quality that can be passed down in modern society.

Tobias was all over the place during this book. One minute he was madly in love with Tris and couldn't imagine spending a day without her, yet the next he was furious and wanted nothing to do with her. These fickle matters overshadowed his generosity and kindness that were not initially apparent. Roth does an excellent job of gradually revealing the many layers of her characters, Tobias included. Stories of his past provide excellent insight into his emotions and personality. Therefore, Tobias is a very complex character that cannot be described or summed up in a single word. There were several moments where I wanted to shake some sense into him, but he always commanded a deep level of respect from me and the other characters in the book.

The overarching themes of the novel revolve around the importance of family, grief, sorrow, loss, and unity. These are especially conveyed through the use of war propaganda and as direct consequences of the war. These realities are often watered down in similar novels, but Roth openly addresses them, similarly to how Suzanne Collins presented the violence in the arena in The Hunger Games.

Overall, I tremendously enjoyed this book, with the exception of the rather large and unnecessary cliffhanger. While the ending forced me to take a trip to Barnes and Noble to buy Allegiant, it resulted in me purchasing approximately $50 worth of books. Not that I need any more books at the moment. I found both the narrative and the dialogue to be well-written and enticing. The romance between Tris and Tobias was fresh and exciting. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Divergent, The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner. Its compelling plot and numerous twists and turns will keep readers on their toes and anxiously anticipating the next major plot point. And now, I think it's time to read a little Allegiant.

In recent years, dystopian novels have been filling the shelves of booksellers worldwide. Many of these books reiterate the same plot, characters, romances, etc. These similarities tend to make dystopian novels fairly predictable and a bit boring by the fifth or sixth book. Divergent, however, was a refreshing change that surpassed all of my expectations, which were set quite high to begin with. I was taken aback by the unique plot, likable characters, and dramatic ending.

Beatrice Prior grows up in a seemingly utopian society in which individuals belong to one of five factions: Abnegation, the selfless; Candor, the honest; Erudite, the knowledgeable; Amity, the peaceful; and Dauntless, the courageous. Each of these five factions coexist in harmony, each serving a distinct purpose in society. Every year, a Choosing Ceremony occurs, in which all sixteen-year-olds must chose to remain in their current faction, the one that they were born into, or transfer to another faction. In an attempt to prepare these sixteen-year-olds to make a decision that will dictate the rest of their lives, an aptitude test is administered, recommending a single faction that each individual is best suited for. When Beatrice takes her aptitude test, however, her results are inconclusive, leaving her upset and confused. She was relying on the aptitude test to point her in the right direction, but now she must examine her true identity and choose just one faction. Her decision is one that she must live with for the rest of her life.

I absolutely loved the characters! Beatrice is initially portrayed as a timid, meek girl struggling to find her true identity. Throughout the novel, her character visibly progresses, maturing as she begins to make her own decisions and is exposed to the true horrors and imperfections in her society. I found her transformation mesmerizing; the Beatrice at the beginning of the book is nearly unrecognizable when compared to the Beatrice at its conclusion. Beatrice can hardly be pegged as a damsel in distress - she is proactive in finding a solution to her problems and facing them head on, instead of lounging around and waiting for a significance other to do so for her.

That brings me to Four, the mysterious yet charming gentleman of the novel. His bad-boy reputation immediately captures Beatrice's attention, despite his initially cold demeanor. Once they get to know each other, however, he serves as the only constant in Beatrice's life; he is there to support her, no matter what. This sense of commitment forges an unbreakable bond between the two characters, to the point where they are willing to die for one another. Their romance, while cute and relatable, could have been furthered developed as the book progressed. They had a number of awkward, strained encounters that didn't seem to match up with their relationship status at the time. On a similar note, it would have been nice to see a bit more romance; there were a few brief kisses here and there, but that was the extent of their love. The novel left something to be desired in that respect.

While I loved many aspects of Divergent, there were a few components that I couldn't overlook. For example, the "utopian" society and premise for the series share many similarities with The Hunger Games. Both societies emerged as the resolution to a devastating war, which dictated many of the rules and regulations imposed upon their inhabitants. Despite the conclusion of these wars, the citizens are unhappy and their demands for change fall on deaf ears. Consequently, these citizens rise up in an organized revolt against the established government, standing firmly by their beliefs.

The plot was exciting and action-packed, keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It moved along at a rapid pace, jumping from one event to the next in a matter of paragraphs. While there were a few scenes containing violence, I was able to overlook it, and it didn't detract from the book as a whole. Roth's technique and writing style was also flawless, and I quickly fell in love with it. She had a magnificent ability to construct narratives that send readers on an emotional roller coaster, constantly rooting for their favorite characters. I am certainly interested in reading some of Roth's future works and would recommend the Divergent series to fellow readers in a heartbeat!

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the greatest American novels of the 20th century. Appropriately, I was assigned to read it for my American Lit. class. And of course I was the genius who left it to the last minute and was forced to read it over the course of two days. Fortunately, the book is relatively short, and despite my skimpy allotted reading time, this is one of my favorite classics. And no, that is not solely based upon the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the movie adaptation. As an added bonus, my teacher is showing us the film during class over the next several days. But enough of my ramblings about my 10th grade English class.

The story is retold by the writings of Nick Carroway, who serves as the first person narrator throughout the novel. Set in 1922, the book centers around the fictional city of West Egg in Long Island, New York. When Nick moves to West Egg at the beginning of the novel, he quickly hears rumors circulating about his mysterious millionaire neighbor, a many in his 30s by the name of Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is known throughout New York for his infamous parties held at his lavish estate. The source of Gatsby's wealth, however, is not immediately apparent and becomes a central question as the narrative progresses. As Nick befriends his new neighbor, he uncovers the secrets of Gatsby's past - secrets that he alone has heard. When Nick learns of the significance of the green light that can be seen across the bay from Gatsby's dock, he realizes that Gatsby is a man overcome with loneliness and grief. Buried in a world of fantasy and illusion, Gatsby remains rooted in the past, oblivious to the ever-changing world around him.

When I initially dove headfirst into the book, I had minimal knowledge of the plot and characters. I don't even think I had read the back cover prior to reading the book. Therefore, I was under the impression that I was launching into an epic love story between Daisy and Gatsby. I could not have been farther from the truth. The Great Gatsby is certainly no sappy romance. Instead, it recounts the story of a heartbroken man wishing to rekindle a romance with someone who has already moved on. While the characters' true thoughts and intentions are not immediately apparent, they become more transparent as the plot unravels, revealing their defining traits and characteristics.

My favorite component of this book was F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing style. He was gifted with words, weaving a flawless novel that captivates and enchants readers. Looking beyond the face value of his writing, a series of hidden meanings and underlying themes are revealed, making it evident why this book has withstood the test of time. F. Scott Fitzgerald drew from his own personal experience while writing The Great Gatsby, expertly incorporating raw emotions into his work. The tragic ending leaves much up to the imagination of the reader, establishing several unanswered, lingering questions.

I also enjoyed the depth and personalities of the characters. Each character has complex and conflicted emotions which gradually become apparent. Bonds are formed and broken as the characters shift and change, revealing their true identities as the novel runs its course. I was intrigued by the backgrounds of each respective character, which remained mysterious and uncertain for the majority of the book. The brief snatches of information that were revealed breathed life into each character, making them realistic and three-dimensional.

While I wouldn't recommend attempting to read this book in two days, I would recommend it to anyone who has not yet had the opportunity to read it. It certainly surpassed my expectations of any classic. It's modern language and setting are easily comprehensible, setting it apart from many other classics. Despite its somewhat slow start, the plot quickly picks up, captivating readers until the very end. It was definitely worth reading, and I would be more than willing to reread it a few years from now.

Hush was a quirky, interesting read that helped to pass the time while I waited for my power to return. The beautiful writing, intriguing plot, and truthful characters drew me into the story, causing me to forget about he impending danger of a tree falling on my house. The story was beautifully executed, but did appear to be missing a few minor components.

Blakey Henry grew up in a small town with her loving, adoptive family. She was adopted via a closed adoption service, and, after several unsuccessful attempts, Blakely has given up on finding her biological parents. Putting these thoughts aside, Blakely excitedly departs for her senior year of high school at Lakeview Academy, an elite Canadian boarding school. Before the start of the school year, Blakely vows to avoid dating altogether, hoping to eliminate an unnecessary distraction from her life. She never expects to break this promise until foreign exchange student, Max Ryder, arrives on campus. Unbeknown to Blakely, Max holds the keys to her past, a secret that would change her life forever.

I loved Blakely's bubbly, happy-go-lucky personality. She was able to make the best of every situation that she encountered, encouraging her friends to do the same. At the same time, Blakely was portrayed as an independent individual who stood very firmly by her convictions. She was extremely loyal, readily jumping to the defense of anyone around her. The ideal heroine, however, shouldn't be composed of solely admirable traits. Blakely's gullibility and indecisiveness made her appear realistic and believable.

In the first three or four chapters, we are introduced to Blakely's wide circle of friends at Lakeview Academy. When Blakely first arrives on campus, all of these characters are introduced in a rapid, flurry of names. No further details are provided about her friends, making it challenging to differentiate between them. Most of these characters play minor roles in the book, appearing intermittently throughout the book. As the story progresses, more and more is revealed about these characters. I would have preferred, however, to receive a bit of background information on each individual when we were initially introduced to them. This would have eliminated quite a bit of confusion as I struggled to connect a name with a character later on in the book.

I was immediately captivated by the plot and interesting premise. The plot follows the lives of three separate individuals, whose stories eventually become intertwined. I found these separate storylines confusing - quite a few characters were simultaneously introduced and minimal background information and explanations were provided. As the novel progresses, the plot takes a suspenseful turn, leaving readers with baited breath and sweating palms. There are quote a few twists and turns along the way with several near-death encounters.

Hush is one of my favorite YA mystery novels, which speaks volumes; especially in recent years, I've struggled to find good YA mysteries, but Hush surpassed my expectations. I'm glad I decided to pick up this thrilling and exciting read, and I am looking forward to beginning the second book in the series, Whisper.




I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I can't stand this feeling. Whatsoever. The feeling of stopping partway through a book. Giving up. I managed to read 53% of the book before throwing in the towel and admitting defeat. I try to give every book the benefit of the doubt and force myself to read at least 1/2 of every book before putting it down. Evidently this book didn't last very long. Unfortunately, it was a hot mess.

Corinthe was a Fate - until she was exiled to earth for a single foolish mistake. As she struggles to adjust to life on earth, she acquires a new role - that of an executioner. She is responsible for fulfilling destinies, influencing the lives of certain individuals by establishing and breaking relationships, causing death and destruction, and altering the course of history. When one of these destinies, however, goes horribly wrong, Corinthe embarks upon the adventure of a lifetime to correct her mistakes and return safely to her homeland.

The book had a very interesting, original premise. The intriguing summary convinced me to request this book on netgalley. I enjoyed the first two or three chapters, which introduced the characters and the setting, but it went downhill from there. I found fault with quite a few aspects of this book, namely the characters, plot, and writing style.

Corinthe came across as cold and emotionless, making her a bit challenging to relate to. She was driven by the hope of returning home, putting her feelings aside and utterly devoting herself to this goal. Her lack of sympathy was evident even during her interactions with Lucas, the love of her life. She spends the majority of the first 53% of the book attempting to kill him, despite her inexplicable attraction to him. After all, everyone expects to have a knife held to their throat on a first date. Their relationship was stereotypical and dull, particularly in the absence of chemistry. I wouldn't exactly consider it romance, either; it came across as more of a summer fling that wouldn't last more than a few months.

To put it simply, the plot was confusing. Bross established an entirely new universe, composed of many intricate details, including fictitious creatures and locations. Many of these details are not immediately revealed, and some are omitted from the text altogether. Nevertheless, the author launches into a complex storyline with many twists and turns, quickly leaving her baffled readers behind. Because I was unable to follow the storyline, I found this book to be a tedious and frustrating read.

Overall, I wasn't a huge fan of this book, as you can probably gather. From the very beginning, I found it to be a rather disappointing read. The bland characters and confusing plot were ultimately deal breakers for me. It had very few redeeming qualities, ultimately convincing me to stop reading halfway through the book. So while I loved the concept behind the book, I didn't enjoy its execution.






I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper's life is in tatters: her father is missing, her crush and childhood friend isn't interested in a relationship, and she is concerned about her mother's in characteristic behavior. Just when she thinks life can't get any worse, she is introduced to her new neighbor, Torin, who she is immediately attracted to. Torin isn't exactly who he seems, however, and she begins to uncover his dark and dangerous past. She quickly becomes tangled up in his nightmarish existence, unable to free herself or the ones she loves. Her attempts to discover the truth reveal an ominous reality which places her life on the line.

This book has an interesting, yet mysterious, premise, proposing the concept of a sinister, nonhuman race that is deeply rooted in Norse mythology. Minimal information about these creatures is supplied during the book, leaving readers in the dark for the majority of the book. Many of these characters' traits and characteristics are left to the reader's imagination. Consequently, the tale is brimming with suspense, mystery, and chilling twists and turns at every page. I was thoroughly absorbed in the story from start to finish, making it an enjoyable and compelling read.

The characters were likable and realistic, with the exception of our protagonist, Raine, in certain scenes throughout the book. She was a typical heroine with her independence, athleticism, and intelligence. I loved her witty retorts, blunt humor, and feisty demeanor but found her indecisiveness rather aggravating. Her fickle behavior was evident on numerous occasions, namely when she resolved to never speak or interact with Torin again, yet decided to knock on his front door on the very next page. This behavior continues throughout the book, making her thought process rather hard to follow at times.

Torin St. James, on the other hand, was swoon worthy with his cocky attitude and bad boy demeanor. His dark and mysterious personality allow him to perfectly fill the stereotypical love interest mold. Unsurprisingly, his aura of mystery make him even more attractive in Raine's eyes, and she attempts to unfold the secrets of his past.

The romance between Raine and Torin is well written and compelled me to continue reading. The tension between them continues to grow as the book progresses, leading to a great deal of chemistry between the two. Both characters are upfront and direct with one another, as evidenced in this quote:

"Stop being rude and condescending for starters," I said.
He chuckled, the sound rich and throaty. Sexy. A delicious shiver ran up my spine. "I thought I was being extremely polite."
I snorted. "Right."
"Do I need to apologize?" [Torin]
"Not if you don't mean it." [Raine]
"Then I won't." [Torin]

While I loved the relationship Raine and Torin shared, I felt sorry for Raine's childhood friend, Eirik, who has wanted to become more than friends for several years. Raine strings Eirik along, claiming that she loves him while fooling around with Torin behind his back. This was both frustrating and heartbreaking and continued throughout the entire book.

One of my only complaints surrounding this book was the plot. Suspense continually built up throughout the book, leading up to ... a nonexistent climax. I spent the majority of the book waiting for the tension to snap and all hell to break loose but no such luck. Instead, the storyline misleadingly built up to what I expected to be a single, crucial event that would serve as the turning point for the book. As you can imagine, this event never occurred. The author continued building suspense until the book unexpectedly came to a rather abrupt conclusion. The missing climax and numerous loose ends left me wondering if this book had been completed, or if the author had simply chosen to stop writing it. A brief internet search, however, revealed that this is the first book in a series, marginally explaining the lack of a resolution. Additionally, the book shared several similarities with Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series. This lack of originality was evident early on in the book, negatively impacting my opinion of the book as a whole.

Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and fast-paced action. Urban fantasy is becomes go an increasingly difficult genre to write, so I must applaud Walters for that. While I wasn't the biggest fan of all of the characters, I found them to be realistic and relatable. This book was certainly an interesting read that kept me on my toes the entire time. Hopefully I will have an opportunity to read the second and third books in the series in the near future.




I received this book as a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

"Just because you’re taught that something’s right and everyone believes it’s right, it don’t make it right.”

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a timeless American Classic by internationally acclaimed author, Mark Twain. Today, however, there is a great deal of controversy regarding whether or not the novel should be present in the education system. Due to several underlying themes, such as slavery, racial slurs, and its satirical tone, the novel appears on nearly every banned book list.

Before I begin, I want to establish that I didn't pick up this book of my own accord - it was a reading requirement for my high school English class. I just finished reading The Scarlet Letter for the very same class, and I found it to be a bit of a challenging read due to the writing style and 15th century vocabulary. Therefore, reading five chapters of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn per night seemed like a daunting task until I actually picked up the book. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the book was a fairly easy read, especially in comparison with other classics, making this one of my favorite classics of all time.

The story begins with a mention of Tom Sawyer, who reappears on several occasions throughout the book. Having never read Tom Sawyer, I was initially concerned that my lack of knowledge would negatively impact my reading. However, from what I can gather, the two stories are completely unrelated; one does not have to read Tom Sawyer to understand The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Anyway, the story centers around a teenager by the name of Huck Finn who lives in Mississippi Valley in the heart of slavery. The novel tells of Huck's adventures floating down the Mississippi River on a raft. During his journey, he encounters a runaway slave by the name of Jim. Together, they embark on a journey to escape their pasts and obtain freedom from societal oppressions.

From a young age, Huck was taught that slavery was morally and ethically acceptable. Even his very pious caretaker, Widow Douglass, believed that slavery benefitted society as a whole. Huck doesn't find fault with it until he matures into adolescence and begins to question the world around him. During his journey, he contemplates whether or not he should turn Jim over to local authorities and claim the $300 reward. He grapples with this concept repeatedly, eventually concluding:

"Then I thought a minute, and says to myself, hold on, - s'pose you'd a done right and give Jim up; would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I'd feel bad - I'd feel just the same way I do now. Well, then, says I, what's the use you learning to do right, when it's troublesome to do right and ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same? I was stuck. I couldn't answer that. So I reckoned I wouldn't bother no more about it, but after this always do whichever come handiest at the time."

Huck, our main character, had a troubled childhood. His mother is never mentioned and his father is the town drunk, often verbally and physically abusing his son after overindulging in alcohol. Due to his father's unreliability and constant disappearances, Huck is placed in the care of Widow Douglass, who sets out to reform Huck's behavior and instill in him a sense of religion. Huck loathes her strict rules and constant preaching about the Bible, often rebelling and wreaking havoc when her back is turned. Consequently, Huck serves as a sarcastic and satirical narrator, sharing his rather interesting view of the world, which are heavily influenced by his Southern roots and his interactions with those around him.

I enjoyed the plot overall, but found it to be a bit slow at times. I found myself skimming certain chapters in an attempt to reach a more engaging section of the book. There were several scenes that left me with baited breath, panicking about what would happen next. I found that the writing flowed nicely and Twain transitioned well from one event to the next. I loved Twain's writing style throughout the book. It was simple and lucid but managed to convey several important, driving themes. Therefore, I would recommend this book to anyone who did not have the opportunity to read it in high school or college. Don't discount this book merely because it is a classic - you may be pleasantly surprised.

“All through life, we were told never to be different. We needed to fit in with the popular kids and follow all of these trends like our lives depended on it if we planned on having any kind of happiness or social life. But sometimes, being different was good, and it meant being human.”

Oliver Hurst's life is in shambles: his SAT scores were less than stellar, his one and only friend recently moved to Utah, and he's suffering from depression. Belonging to a highly religious family, his mother automatically associates his behavior with the work of the devil, calling upon the local church for support. An exorcism appears to be in order until Oliver utters a careless, nonchalant statement which places him in an adolescent psych ward. During his first several days there, his anxiety and depression become more apparent. When he eventually comes to the realization that he is not alone, however, he begins to connect with the other patients, particularly a girl by the name of Lacey Waters. As he struggles to overcome his depression, Oliver embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

The first aspect of the book that initially stood out to me was the narration. Oliver serves as the first person narrator, conveying information to the reader in a direct and to the point manner. The narration mimics the speech of a teenage boy, explaining the word choice and dialogue. Once I came to this conclusion after the first three or four chapters, I found the book to be a much easier read.

I loved Oliver's characterization. He provided readers with insight to his thoughts and emotions, which ranged from frustrated to anxious to elated in a matter of pages. On numerous occasions, he inserted small bits of humor to lighten the overall mood of the book. Most importantly, he is one of the rare, down to earth characters in modern day literature, remaining open and honest with readers. My only complaint about Oliver is his impulsive and rash behavior at certain points throughout the book. For example, he blurts out during a family dinner that he wants to kill himself, without considering the meaning or weight of his words. Overall, however, he was a fairly well-rounded character with an interesting outlook on the world around him.

Instead of viewing his time in the psych ward in a pessimistic light, Oliver considered it a vacation from his stifling, over-zealous mother. His mother was, by far, the most frustrating character in the book. She constantly smothered Oliver's entire family with Gospel hymns, charity fund raisers, and rosary beads. Her faith-driven antics resurface throughout the book, contributing to my growing dislike for her. Therefore, it's no surprise that Oliver finds himself enjoying his stay at the psych ward. Luckily, karma rears its ugly head toward the end of the book when her true colors replace her devout facade.

The plot was original, to say the least, but I found this book challenging to get into. That may be the result of the book taking place over the course of only ten days. Certain events seemed long and drawn out, and, in some cases, unnecessary altogether. Others were abruptly cut short, resulting in an awkward transition to the next event.

I was slightly disappointed that the title was not integrated more into the book itself. Snowflakes were only mentioned during two scenes throughout the book, rendering the title a bit misleading. I wish they had had more significance in the text, instead if serving merely as a backdrop for certain scenes to take place. I would have enjoyed the book even more if the concept behind the snowflakes had been more thoroughly explained and incorporated into the novel.

The ending is a bit of a jaw dropper. In the concluding chapters, the author gradually builds up to a rather shocking event, taking readers on an emotional roller coaster. Personally, I felt that the ending was one of the weaker aspects of the book. It seemed rushed and wasn't well executed, falling short of my expectations. The ending did not, however, drastically change my thoughts on the book as a whole, as evidenced by my review. I would definitely recommend this to anyone in search of a quick, easy romance that avoids many of the stereotypes in recent YA releases.



This book was received as an ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

Kate Walker's life is in shambles - she was recently diagnosed with diabetes, her parents watch her very move, and her boyfriend breaks up with her for another girl. Kate begins losing hope that her life will turn itself around, until she is introduced to Aidan/Aiden. Aidan/Aiden is struggling with issues in his own life, particularly after losing his right arm in Afghanistan. Tormented by recurring nightmares, Aidan/Aiden finds it challenging to adjust to life outside of the army with only one arm. Kate and Aidan/Aiden are both in need of a distraction - each other.

I would have given this book 3 stars if it were not for the numerous editorial mistakes. Yes, I did receive this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but I was taken aback by the sheer number of errors. The most prominent was the inconsistent spelling of a main character's name, hence my use of "Aidan/Aiden" throughout the review. Even more alarming are the title and cover, which are very misleading. First and foremost, the book in its entirety takes place during the spring when all of the characters are in school, contrary to the reference to summer in the title. Additionally, none of the book takes place at the beach, which is featured on the cover. Grammatically, some sentences lacked dialogue tags, transitioning directly from a quote to a character's train of thought. In these situations, the lack of a new paragraphing to signify the start of a new thought made the narrative very confusing. There were numerous other errors, ranging from spelling to grammar to sentence structure. Hopefully the novel will undergo some additional revisions before it is published in March. Individually, these mistakes were not horrendous, but they compounded upon one another, making this book a very frustrating read.

As for the characters, I found them to be interesting and unique with well-developed backstories. This was my first time reading about a diabetic main character, and it provided me with a new outlook on life. When Kate learns of her disease, she enters into a state of denial. Instead of embracing her illness and trying to make the most of it, she spends the entire book moping, resulting in her immature and selfish behavior. Aidan/Aiden, on the other hand, realizes that he will now magically grow another arm, making him the more rational and level-headed of the two. Instead of concentrating solely on the negative aspects of his life, Aidan/Aiden tries to move forward and build a new life for himself, one step at a time. The book is written from a dual point of view, giving readers insight into both of their lives. These characters serve as excellent foils for one another, portraying very different characteristics.

Throughout the book, there was poor communication between the characters. They evidently had the ability to read one another's minds; characters magically knew about events and conversations that they had not witnessed. Also, the dialogue seemed strained and forced, particularly between Kate and Aidan/Aiden. The two lacked chemistry, contradicting the book's classification as a YA Romance. Instead, their interactions were awkward and uncomfortable, even for the reader. Their interest in one another was initially promising, hinting that they may develop stronger feelings for one another throughout the book. I couldn't have been more wrong when I made this assumption.

I wasn't immediately drawn in by this book; it didn't fully capture my attention until the 8th or 9th chapter. This was partially due to the complaint-ridden characters with whom I struggled to connect. I sympathized with their situations, but, Kate especially, tended to play the pity card too often for my liking. The plot was predictable, serving as the traditional cookie cutter in which girl meets boy and falls in love, they have a falling out, and then they live happily ever after. No real surprises there. It was a cute story, but lacked several key components, including characterization and plot development.

This book was received as a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer is the second installment in the Lunar Chronicles, a futuristic, sci-fi series which is loosely based on popular fairy tales, such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel. And I mean very loosely. There are only so many similarities that exist between well-known fairy tales and futuristic YA novels.

Scarlet picks up immediately where Cinder, the first book in the series, leaves off. The plot follows the lives of two very different characters: an imprisoned cyborg who escapes from a high-security prison and an ordinary farm girl whose grandmother disappears without a trace. The only thing these characters have in common is a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, which is a recurring theme throughout the book. In a desperate race against the clock to save those who matter most, their paths cross and they are forced to work together to achieve a common goal.

I read Cinder over a year ago and only had a vague recollection of the plot and characters. Fortunately, Scarlet briefly, yet effectively, summarizes the first book in the series, which immediately jogged my memory. As I mentioned previously, no time has elapsed between the two books. I prefer series in which one book picks up precisely where the previous book left off, leading to a much smoother transition between books. Overall, the plot was exciting and fast-paced, managing to capture and hold my attention. It was, however, fairly predictable; there were minimal unexpected plot twists.

Meyer introduced a wide range of new characters in this book. The most notable of these is Scarlet, who has traded in her scarlet cape for a red hoodie and replaced her basket of goodies with a handgun. Despite her prominent role in the book, Scarlet is one of the weakest characters. If I had to describe her in a single word, I would choose “naïve.” During the entire book, she was a bit slow on the uptake, always lagging several steps behind the other characters. Scarlet was also extremely impulsive, often acting without thinking. As a result, many of the less than ideal situations which she encountered could have easily been avoided.

We are also introduced to “Captain Thorne,” an internationally-wanted criminal, thief, and womanizer. His sarcastic and witty remarks provide some necessary humor to lighten up the overall dark mood. Readers also meet the big bad Wolf, sporting long, pointy canines and everything. He fails to live up to his namesake in the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, proving to be a conflicted and tortured character beneath his bad boy appearance.

That brings us to some of the returning characters from Cinder. Let’s start with Kai. I was tempted to kill him on the spot on multiple occasions during this book. All of his charm from the first book had completely vanished, leaving a weak and indecisive character in his place. He came off as a jerk in this book, especially considering some of the poor decisions that he made. Contrary to Scarlet, Kai is overly circumspect, weighing the various consequences of each decision countless times; yet he still manages to select the worst possible course of action. Cinder serves as a perfect medium between the two. She’s direct and to the point, bordering on blunt at times. She’s strong-willed and confident, a rare combination of traits for female protagonists. Undoubtedly, she was my favorite character in both Cinder and Scarlet.

One of my only complaints regarding this book was the lack of chemistry that existed between Cinder and Kai in the first book. The two do not interact a single time in Scarlet, which I found disappointing. I suspect that Scarlet and Wolf’s romance was meant to replace that of Cinder and Kai, but I feel that it did a poor job. While I enjoyed reading about Scarlet and Wolf, it seemed strange that Cinder and Kai simply faded into the background, completely disregarding their attraction toward one another without a second thought.

Meyer does an excellent job of intricately weaving together the storylines of two independent characters with seemingly no connections whatsoever. Her writing style is easy to read and allows the plot to flow smoothly from one event to the next. Readers are left with a significant cliff hanger in the final chapter. Therefore, I’m interested to see how Cress will embody the story of Rapunzel and am anxiously awaiting its release in February.

Fifteen-year-old Cammie Morgan is a student at The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a private, all-girls boarding school located in Roseville, Virginia. Beneath its typical, prep school facade, Gallagher Academy prides itself in training young women to become employable, internationally acclaimed spies. Wishing to follow in her parents' footsteps by becoming a respectable, well-known spy, Cammie dedicates herself to her studies. That is, until she meets the charming Joshua Abrams, turning her entire world upside down. Forced to choose between her forbidden boyfriend, lifelong friends, and a promising career, Cammie finds herself overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn.

When I initially picked up this book, I was searching for a quick, easy read, preferably with a bit of romance. At the time, I didn't realize exactly how fast of a read this would be. At only 284 pages, I blew through the book over the course of 2 days. I easily could have read it in one if I had been more intrigued by the storyline. The easy vocabulary, simple plot, and abnormally large font lend this book to a fifth or sixth grade audience. To say the least, I'm not a huge fan of middle school literature; I never was and I never will be. I found both the plot and the characters to be significantly watered down. The author went into explicit detail regarding every event, setting, and character. Additionally, this book fit the stereotypical mold of most novels involving a boarding school, particularly with regard to the characters and plot. Having ten years of all-girls, Catholic school under my belt, I can testify that very few of these stereotypes are actually true. I would have liked to see a more accurate portrayal of the environment at a private school. Consequently, the lack of originality significantly colored my views on the book.

Cammie served as the first-person narrator for the duration of the book. She had quite a sense of humor, which I appreciated. However, without hearing the text read aloud, it was challenging to distinguish between sarcastic and genuine comments. I frequently found myself rereading entire pages to determine which made more sense in a particular scenario. Also, Cammie appears to have forgotten to introduce readers to the staff and provide a description of the classes at Gallagher Academy. And no, Gallagher Academy is not offering Algebra or Physics. Instead, there are brief mentions of Covert Operations, Culture and Assimilation, and Research and Development. Cammie has the benefit of attending Gallagher Academy for several years prior to the start of the book. Readers, on the other hand, don't have that advantage and are left blindly guessing as to which character is which.

My main grip is the characterization, or lack thereof. Instead of gradually introducing traits and characteristics through a character's words and actions, Carter states them outright when a character first makes an appearance. This severely limits a reader's ability to use his/her imagination. Additionally, this method of characterization makes it challenging for readers to recall which character embodied which traits. On a similar note, the characters were poorly developed. They had a tendency to overreact when faced with minor provocations. On more than one occasion, situations were blown way out of proportion, making the characters appear superficial and unrelatable.

I'm slightly conflicted regarding the plot. While it was clearly intended for a younger audience, I found the general storyline cute, serving as a refreshing break from the complex, twisted books that I've been reading recently. The plot also served, however, as one of the most disappointing components of the book. Almost immediately, I noticed numerous similarities between the Gallagher Girls series and the Harry Potter series, identifying countless parallels between the two. First and foremost, Gallagher Academy and Hogwarts can be categorized as "special" boarding schools which are only open to a select few. Both authors created a secret world that remained hidden from the public eye. More specifically, one of the main teachers at Gallagher Academy arrives at the Welcome Feast late; Mad-Eye Moody in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire pulls a similar stunt. The similarities don't stop there, including the slew of unique courses and eccentric characters. For example, Cammie's best friend Liz is a spitting image of Hermonie; both are bookworms and constantly strive for academic perfection.

Overall, the accommodations made for a younger audience, the unrealistic characters, and the large number of similarities to the Harry Potter series significantly detracted from the book. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to move past these, hence my two star rating. Quite frankly, I don't understand why this series is so popular; I didn't find the plot, characters, or writing style to be exceptional, nor did I find it particularly entertaining. I didn't have high expectations for this book, despite the excellent reviews that I had read, so I wasn't exceedingly disappointed. While I will not be reading the remaining books in the series, I may read the Heist Society books at some point in the future.

The second installment in the Unseen series picks up shortly after the first book left off. The novel's protagonist, Lucy Dennison, is haunted by her past experiences. Her world is turned upside down when she stumbles across an open grave while taking an evening stroll through a cemetery. To her horror, she discovers a young girl in the grave with a dagger embedded in her chest. In her final, dying breaths, the mysterious girl imparts a dangerous power upon Lucy. With this power comes a new, deadly world that Lucy blindly stumbles into. Lucy's life is in shambles, and as she attempts to piece it back together, she becomes aware of a non-human creature that watches her every move, haunting her every waking moment. This stalker lays in silent wait, carefully calculating the exact moment to strike.

Overall, I enjoyed the first section of the book (which is technically the third book in the series) more than the second section (or the fourth book in the series). Despite the fact that I was thoroughly confused for the majority of the 3rd book, the sudden twists and turns made it an exciting read. Readers were left to guess how individual events were connected and attempt to identify Lucy's stalker. The events moved along at a fairly fast pace, keeping readers in the dark as to what would happen next and leaving them searching for answers. Beginning the fourth book, however, was like running headfirst into a brick wall. A very solid one, mind you. The plot took a turn for the worse, becoming even more confusing and rather hard to follow. The plot came to a standstill, containing a good deal of unnecessary "filler" chapters.

My main complaint was regarding the conclusion. Both books in the series were leading up to the climax, which occurred fairly late (within the last 40 pages). As a result, both the climax and the ending were rushed, leaving readers with a decent number of unanswered questions. For example, the true identity of Lucy's stalker is never fully revealed. The author hints at his identity on multiple occasions, but leaves many gaping holes. Additionally, there is a large amount of information revealed about numerous characters in the final chapters of the book. This information is hurriedly flung at readers, not giving them enough time to absorb these new developments. If these facts had been revealed gradually, it would have been a different story altogether.

I enjoyed the differing points of view, which tended to switch from Lucy's perspective to that of her stalker. The chapters that were written through her stalker's eyes were very well crafted; the author managed to conceal his identity until the final chapter. Readers are provided with brief glimpses at the stalker's plans and motives, but are left guessing as to who he truly is. Also, the transitions between different narrators were smooth and well executed, as opposed to the more common, abrupt, and choppy transitions.

Lucy's character was frustrating at times, due to her indecisiveness and naive nature. She constantly denied the events that unfolded around her, choosing to ignore the truths that were clearly spelled out in front of her. When forced to confront these truths, Lucy concocted countless excuses, placing the blame on someone else. Additionally, Lucy was overly trusting, placing her faith in complete strangers. Consequently, she was extremely gullible. Lastly, she repeated the same mistakes over and over again. It was evident that she had not learned from any of her previous mistakes.

And now for the romance, or lack there of. Despite Lucy's attraction to nearly every guy within a 50 mile radius, the novel contained minimal romance. Very minimal. As in two quick kisses in the entire series. There was no chemistry between the characters whatsoever. Readers were privy to Lucy's thoughts for the majority of the book, yet she never openly discusses her love interests. Therefore, it is impossible to determine whom Lucy truly loves.

This book was decent; it had both its flaws and its perks. It was a relatively quick read, making it much more bearable. The plot became a bit complicated at times, however, so I would definitely recommend reading the first book in the series before tackling this one. It is imperative that you read carefully, or else you will miss important details. In general, I would recommend this to someone in search of a fast, easy read that differs tremendously from other YA books.