Title: Anomaly ( Schrodinger's Consortium #1 ) Author: Tonya Kuper Publisher: Entangled Teen Publication Date: November 25th , 2014 Genre: Sci-Fi, YA, Romance, Dystopian Format: eARC My Rating: 5/5 stars ( A-) Blurb: Reality is only an illusion. Except for those who can control it… Worst. Birthday. Ever. My first boyfriend dumped me—happy birthday, Josie!—my dad is who knows where, I have some weird virus that makes me want to hurl, and now my ex is licking another girl’s tonsils. Oh, and I’m officially the same age as my brother was when he died. Yeah, today is about as fun-filled as the swamps of Dagobah. But then weird things start happening… Like I make something materialize just by thinking about it. When hottily-hot badass Reid Wentworth shows up on a motorcycle, everything changes. Like, everything. Who I am. My family. What really happened to my brother. Existence. I am Oculi, and I have the ability to change reality with my thoughts. Now Reid, in all his hotness, is charged with guiding and protecting me as I begin learning how to bend reality. And he’s the only thing standing between me and the secret organization that wants me dead… My Review: I received and e ARC of Anomaly from Entangled Teen via NetGalley and YA Bound Blog in exchange with an honest review. Anomaly is a book that captures your attention just like that; when you are only a few pages in! Not only is the plot absolutely original, but also the character development is incredible . I found Josie always confused with the way she feels towards her mother. At first it was a bit confusing to read, but as the story went on, Josie became a bit stronger and started to have a bit more rigid believes. The way the author,Tonya, made physics rules an explanation of the characters' powers , which is making things appear and disappear by just thinking it , is just absolutely mind blowing. Although the setting is just a typical city, but the author's description of secret rooms and the way things appear and disappear is amazing. And now we come to the Romance part; I absolutely shipped Josie and Reid !! And the best thing is that the story was told from both of their P.O.V. So I was able to get a glimpse of what each one of them is thinking! With a story packed with humor,action, love, and trust, Anomaly is a book that I was not able to put down. Especially when each chapter left you hanging, not giving a complete closure to what happen. I loved Anomaly and I personally can't wait to read the second book in the series. I give this book 5/5 stars and an A- according to my own rating scale. Buy Links: Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│The Book Depository│iBooks If you have read and enjoyed Anomaly, then why not help it become a tv show/movie on iflist.com http://iflist.com/stories/anomaly#
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Reality is only an illusion. Except for those who can control it… Worst. Birthday. Ever. My first boyfriend dumped me—happy birthday, Josie!—my dad is who knows where, I have some weird virus that makes me want to hurl, and now my ex is licking another girl’s tonsils. Oh, and I’m officially the same age as my brother was when he died. Yeah, today is about as fun-filled as the swamps of Dagobah. But then weird things start happening… Like I make something materialize just by thinking about it. When hottily-hot badass Reid Wentworth shows up on a motorcycle, everything changes. Like, everything. Who I am. My family. What really happened to my brother. Existence. I am Oculi, and I have the ability to change reality with my thoughts. Now Reid, in all his hotness, is charged with guiding and protecting me as I begin learning how to bend reality. And he’s the only thing standing between me and the secret organization that wants me dead… My Thoughts on Anomaly: Ah, that moment when finish a really good novel that is book 1 in a series, but you have to wait longer than anyone to read book 2 because the copy you read was an ARC ! This is exactly how I feel right now;I absolutely loved this. My full review will up by December during The Anomaly Book Blog Tour ! Once again, the book is freaking awesome, probably going to be a best seller, and maybe even make it to the big screen !!! Trailer: About Tonya Kuper: Tonya Kuper is the author of ANOMALY, the first in the Schrodinger’s Consortium Series, a young adult science fiction trilogy, releasing November 25, 2014 by Entangled Teen. She fell for Young Adult lit while earning her Master’s degree in Reading Education. She's a mom to two awesome boys, an alt music junkie, a Star Wars nerd, and in love with Sherlock. Find Tonya online: Website: http://tonyakuper.com/ Twitter: @TonyaKuper Buy links: Amazon B&N Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20559783-anomaly Goodreads Giveaway Info: Here's the link to the giveaway: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/111976-anomaly Title:The Scorch Trails ( The Maze Runner #2) Author: James Dashner Publisher: Delacorte Press Publication Date: October 10th, 2010 Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi, YA Format: Paperback My Rating: 5/5 stars ( A) Blurb: Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch. There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die. The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off. There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive. My Review: The sequel of The Maze Runner keeps up with the level of mystery and thrill, but in a different way. It picks up right from where The Maze Runner ended, which is great. I Found it much easier to get into because I was already invested in the story and I was trying to figure out Wicked and all the crazy things that were happening. Not only that the element of love is added in the second book, but also it is a Love triangle. This story is about extreme manipulation with emotions and believes, and James Dashner was able to involve me with what Thomas went through. It might not be highly action packed like The Maze Runner, oh man, but the feels it gives you is phenomenal ! Every couple chapters left me humming the intro of Macklemores' Thrift Shop, which goes something like What What What , What What What? The Only thing that kind of annoyed me was how much Thomas passed out and slept in this book, probably about 20 times ! I really enjoyed the Scorch Trails and I gave it 5/5 stars and an A according to my own rating scale. Title: The Selection #1 Author: Kiera Cass Publisher: Harper Teen Publication Date: April 24th 2012 Genre: YA, Dystopian, Love Edition : Paperback My Rating: 5/5 stars (A) Blurb: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. My Review: A great enjoyable read , even though it was not what I expected it to be. I really admired how the author designed the status scale, from 1 to 8, where what you work , how much you get paid, and your social status were all decided by the government. However , this is not a book about a corrupted government, but a contest that is held when the prince is looking for a bride,and this is where the story begins. I did not know what exactly what would the Selection would be, perhaps a hand to hand combat between princesses, or something :D Although the concept of the Selection itself in kind of plain and not that creative, the way the characters were described and the conversations made me finish the book in less than day. The book is mostly character based and although there is not much of action or fighting going on, I still found myself strongly invested in the story. An applause for Kiera Cass for making me like both boys in this love triangle, but it is still Team Maxon :) I can't wait to have the second book in the series " The Elite" between my hands and read it. I gave this book 5/5 stars and an A according to my own rating scale. Author: Selene Castrovilla Title: MELT Publisher: Last Syllable Books Publication Date: Nov 6th, 2014 Genre: YA, Contemporary,Abuse,Realistic Fiction Edition: eARC My Rating: 5/5 stars ( A) Blurb: MELT is a brutal love story, set against the backdrop of The Wizard of Oz. Sixteen year old “good girl” Dorothy just blew into the small town of Highland Park – where the social headquarters is Munchkinland (Dunkin’ Donuts.) There, she meets Joey – a “bad boy” who tells no one about the catastrophic domestic violence he witnesses at home. Can these two lovers survive peer pressure, Joey’s reputation, and his alcoholism? And then there’s his family's secret – about to be unleashed. Told in dual first person, Joey's words are scattered on the page - reflecting his broken state. Dorothy is the voice of reason - until something so shattering happens that she, too, may lose her grip. Can their love endure, or will it melt away? MELT is based on true events. It is both a chilling tale of abuse, and a timeless romance. It will hit you like a punch in the face, and also seep through the cracks in your soul My Review: I received Melt from Last Syllable Books via NetGalley in exchange with an honest review. No, this isn't a plot twist of The Wizard of Oz, but the author finds a way to revive some sub meanings in her story. Does that even make sense ??? Melt is a tale that will give you knots and butterflies in your stomach, yes both at once ! You are going to MELT on these pages. This is such a captivating read from the start. I got so involved with the characters that I was afraid to leave them, afraid that I might miss out on something big if I stop reading. The abusive scenes and acts are truly brutal and anyone who has gone through similar things would strongly relate to it. I loved Doll, I mean Dorthy :) I liked how she doesn't care about what people say, how she gives people a chance to switch into their better side .She sees the good in those who were forced to undergo metamorphosis to withstand this harsh life. It was very interesting for the characters to share their point of views in the same chapter. That way you get a good sense on what each character feels at that specific moment. I did not like they way it was written at first, then I got used to it, then, I guess I understood why it was written in that way. I believe it was written in a way that the reader would catch what the character is saying or thinking in the same rate as the characters says or thinks it. And I ended up liking it. Since I dive into stories without reading the entire blurb, I was surprised at the end when the author said that it was based on a true story. I was mind blown by that fact. It also gave me that feeling of , although there is lots of evil in this world, there is also good! I am looking forward to read more of Selene's work. I am giving MELT 5/5 stars and an A according to my rating scale Title: The Night Garden Author: Lisa Van Allen Publisher:Random House, Ballantine Books Publication Date: October 7th, 2014 Genre: Women's Fiction, Magical Realism My Rating: 5/5 stars ( A- ) Blurb: For fans of Sarah Addison Allen, Aimee Bender, and Alice Hoffman, The Night Garden is a luminous novel of love, forgiveness, and the possibilities that arise when you open your heart. Nestled in the bucolic town of Green Valley in upstate New York, the Pennywort farm appears ordinary, yet at its center lies something remarkable: a wild maze of colorful gardens that reaches beyond the imagination. Local legend says that a visitor can gain answers to life’s most difficult problems simply by walking through its lush corridors. Yet the labyrinth has never helped Olivia Pennywort, the garden’s beautiful and enigmatic caretaker. She has spent her entire life on her family’s land, harboring a secret that forces her to keep everyone at arm’s length. But when her childhood best friend, Sam Van Winkle, returns to the valley, Olivia begins to question her safe, isolated world and wonders if she at last has the courage to let someone in. As she and Sam reconnect, Olivia faces a difficult question: Is the garden maze that she has nurtured all of her life a safe haven or a prison? My Review: I received an eARC of The Night House from Random House via edelweiss in exchange with an honest review. This book is a great collision of Shatter Me's Juliette and the beauty of The Secret Garden , two of my favorite reads. Lisa Van Allen has such an exquisite way of painting such a creative magical realem, then bringing to to life with her amazing description. Her writing is not only limited to this, but also the beauty of portraying a person's state of mind and the credibility of storytelling. It took me a while to be absolutely into this book, but once I did, I couldn't but it down.This book gave me butterflies in my stomach and a few tears rolling down my face. You learn lots of important lessons about life, like how you may not fit in like anyone else and still be happy and like sometimes people do stupid things with intentions to protect you, then end up hurting you.That life can take something very important from you, yet you should keep looking for a way to cope with it and make the best of it. It was told mainly from three different perspectives, where you got more up close and personal, and you get to learn about the character's past memories before any of the other characters, making you feel like a secret keeper. Sometimes I got lost to if a certain character was dead or not. There was also that one sentence that I found to be a bit creepy, in an awkward way, but that did not effect my overview of this book. I am looking forward to read more from this outstanding author with her beautiful descriptions, down to earth characters, and finally but not least, the captivating story. I gave this book a 5/5 stars and an A- according to my own rating scale. Title: The Maze Runner (#1) Author: James Dashner Publisher: Delacorte Press Publication Date: January 1st, 2014 Genre: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Ya My Rating: 5/5 stars ( A + ) Blurb: "If you ain't scared, you ain't human." When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone. Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive. Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. My Review: This is not your typical Ya Dystopian book!This is a mind blowing,exciting, terrifying, action packed read; All in just one book. The world building in this book is phenomenal. I was able to visualize such a creative place and enjoy every single description from the moving walls of the maze to the creepy and dangerous Grievers .In other words, the vivid imagery is beyond being Epic ! The story was not particularly told from Thomas's point of view, but the entire story revolves around him; as in, we always see what he sees. I really liked character building of almost everyone. From curiosity to fear to hate, this book shows you, no, makes you be in the character's shoe of emotions. Although it took me a while to get into the story, The Maze Runner turned to be a fantastic read with both great writing and an amazing plot. Many people found the slang language used annoying;however, i really enjoyed it. They only use a couple of slang words !Some of these slang words often have a funny origin, adding the element of humor to the book. I give this book 5/5 stars and an A+ according to my own rating scale. Author: Holly Black Title: The Coldest Girl in ColdTown Publisher: Little, Brown Books Publication Date : September 3rd 2013 Genre: Paranormal, YA, Vampires,Fantasy My Rating: 5/5 stars (A) Blurb: Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave. One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black. My Review: This is not " another vampire book ", the tale is captivating , dark, and embraces the Vampire Cult perfectly. The Coldest Girl in ColdTown reminded me of my favorite vampire book, A Darker Dream by Amanda Ashley, which i have reread it about 4 times because I could not find something as awesome as it. I guess it is Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in ColdTown turn for a future of multiple rereads ! I love how each chapter is marked with a dark quote from many writers, a few of which are my all time favorite. This book being my first read to any of Holly's books, she gained my respect just with the mention of Edgar Allan Poe, Emily and Charlotte Bronte , Emily Dickinson ,and Charles Dickens . Although the those quotes where written in cursive, which i struggle to read, I still loved the concept of it. The chapters are sometimes told from different point of views, but it does not have a specific pattern. The story is mainly told from Tana's point of view, but sometimes other characters get to show us flashbacks or something else in the story. There are a few of Holly's quotes that I don't agree with, so that is just an opinion ,but I loved most of the quotes. I was really engaged with what you call a story within a story, it is full of symbolism and the beauty of creativity, all of which were drowning in the element of darkness. I wanted more, i was really sad when I saw that the book was about to end. I wish there was an extra chapter or that maybe in the future we would get a Novella with more flashbacks and perhaps a few more chapters :) Although I had a kind of a slow start, I end up loving the story as well as the style of writing. Holly Black is officially one of my favorite authors, and I can't wait to read more of her books. I also liked how she stated the vampire books she read that she read and kind of inspired her to write this book, so now I have a couple of book recommendations to add to my TBR. If you like Neil Gaiman, Tim Burton, Edgar Allan Poe, then I highly recommend that you read The Coldest Girl in ColdTown. I give this book 5/5 stars and according to my own rating scale an A. |
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