Black Dawn by Rachel Caine

Black Dawn (Morganville #12) by Rachel Caine ☆☆☆☆

While I still love the series, I had a lot of problems with this book in particular. Things just weren't clicking for me at all.

Partly it's because I still don't like the format change. I am starting to like it being told from multiple perspectives because I love hearing what makes the other characters tic, but the fact that every perspective is in first person except for Claire's will forever get on my nerves. I can easily jump from perspective to perspective, but I cannot jump from first to third person like that. Not only does it drive me insane, but it is confusing as hell, that's the point of consistency.

Aside from that quip (that I'm sure I'll have with the next book as well), there was something about the story itself that wasn't working for me. I want to say that it didn't quite seem like it had the fear necessary for the story line. Everyone seemed to be worrying about the wrong things and wasting a lot of time. They did a lot better locked in the library in Blacke than they did locked in Town Hall in this book. And even the characters just seemed off for me. I don't feel for them as much.

I did buy the next book as a pre-order, but I have a feeling it'll be sitting on my book shelf for awhile while I catch up on some other series that have been waiting for me throughout the entire Fall semester of school. Only a few more weeks before Spring semester starts...

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare ☆☆☆☆☆

This is the first steampunk novel I have ever read and I have to say I love it! London is enough to love on its own (it's one of my destination dreams), but that time period is romantic and classic. Sometimes I wish I lived in that era, but I don't think I could live without electricity and indoor plumbing.

What I loved most about Tessa is her passion for reading. It definitely isn't a trait that many women of the time have, or admit to, when they feel their purpose is to serve their future husbands and children. She learns a lot about herself in this book and what it means to be who she is, inside and out. The contradictions she finds in herself and carefully balanced between the stark contrasts of the other characters of the novel. It's a lost of "lost boys" set up, with all the orphan children, and they look to each other for support, whether consciously or unconsciously. And the differences between them, and the dark secrets them keep, are what set them apart from each other while also tying them all together.

I am extremely excited that I decided to read this series! I wasn't sure I was going to. But after finishing City of Glass, I noted that her website said she started Clockwork Angel before moving onto the originally unplanned fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series. On her website, she encouraged new readers to read in the order of publication, which is what I decided to do. So I'll be flipping back to Mortal Instruments next before I approach Clockwork Prince. Can't wait for more steampunk and Shadowhunters!

Last Breath by Rachel Caine

Last Breath (Morganville #11) by Rachel Caine ☆☆☆☆☆

My god..... After my less than perfect review of the last book I had no idea at all what to expect with this one, and it knocked me out cold and twisted me in knots simultaneously.

The main thing I didn't like about the last book was how she suddenly broke her structure of 3rd person perspective from Claire's point-of-view and jumped into 1st person Shane often. This book began with an Author's Note that she was going to do something very similar with this one. While I still didn't really like it, it had nothing to do with the character switch this time. The character switch was completely necessary for this particular story line, and structured well. What bothered me was that Claire was still 3rd person while everyone else was 1st person. She might as well have just started writing Claire in 1st person too to keep it symmetrical throughout.

This story confused me and there were times I wondered if I was ever going to pull myself out of the fog and figure out what was really going on. And then the most unexpected thing happened. The book ripped me apart and I was in tears. I never expected this book to make me cry and completely blamed my friend who read it before me for letting me walk into it without warning (which is when she reminded me that I've done that to her twice in the last month and that we enjoy the heartbreak in the end). I battled it out to the end as Morganville fell apart again, and you know what...my friend was entirely right, it was all worth it in the end. And the ending was a total open cliff hanger (the likes of the first few books of the series) and also shocked me to my core. How will I ever hold myself back from diving into the next book right away?! At least I know it's there on my shelf ready for me :)

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City of Glass (Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare ☆☆☆☆☆ 

This series is just getting even better for me. I really liked this book for the ways in which the characters surprised me. I especially loved how the characters revealed themselves in no holds barred scenarios. There were things that everyone seemed to be holding back, and amidst those things were what held them up.

One interesting thing I found myself realizing after reading is that I credited Valentine with a lot more depravity than he was guilty for, but at the same time, he was guilty of a lot more depravity than I anticipated as well. And despite those depravities, I'm still not sure how I feel about him. In some ways I feel sorry for him. And I know it's the best way he could have been written, because it's easy to hate the bad guy, it's harder to doubt your hate.

My only possible complaint after reading is that things seemed a little too neat and tidy at the end. And while that's never necessarily a good way to end a story, I do appreciate snippets of what I expect will unravel those tidy endings in the next book. I love those subtle details. There were just enough of them throughout the book to let me in on what was going on before the characters figured it out, while still allowing me to enjoy it as the characters figured things out. And sometimes I did get surprised by things. But it was good to see those subtle details in the end that make me question things still.

The only other thing I can really say about this particular book is that I had to break out the Google Translate on my phone for the Romanian. It was the one time in this series that there was not a direct translation contained, or any context clues to figure out what was said (such as there were with Latin quotes often repeated by the characters and roughly explaining the meanings rather than translating). Though looking it up was fun and gave a great new element to the story. I can definitely say I was better off knowing what was said and I kind of wish that translation would have been included in some way.

The Lost Files: The Fallen Legacies by Pittacus Lore

The Lost Files: The Fallen Legacies (Lorien Legacies #0.5) by Pittacus Lore ☆☆☆☆☆

This was not what I expected at all! The first Lost Files installment to be published was Six's Legacy, which came out after I Am Number Four to chronicle the backstory of Six who appeared towards the end of that novel. The second installment, Nine's Legacy, appeared after The Power of Six where Nine is briefly introduced toward the end without much in the way of backstory. Both of these installments were great in giving a deeper look into these characters and what made them into who they became when Number Four finally met them.

It was great hearing that the story behind the three fallen legacies would be introduced before the final novel in the series, The Rise of Nine. So part of me thought there would be these three broken stories detailed where One, Two, and Three started, and where they ended up when they were found by the Mogadorians. And that's not what happened at all. The Fallen Legacies chronicles, instead, the point-of-view of a young Mogadorian that gets introduced to truths of the Loriens that his culture ignores in their quest for absolute power. I loved watching him transform, and how he often felt helpless in his own personal battles. Best of all, I'm left with the abundant hope that he'll become a central part of the final novel and I'm now eagerly waiting to see how that novel plays out. Now if only they'd finish the movie franchise instead of stopping with the first.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare ☆☆☆☆☆

This book was aggravating...in a good way!

And gratefully, it was a lot better than the first one! There were several things corrected with this book that changed my mind about the series.

First of all, it finally veered away from the other notable storylines it was borrowing from (i.e. Harry Potter, Star Wars, and others). Valentine began to differ a lot from Voldemort/Vader. The storyline of this book became more original and much more interesting. I didn't want to put it down!

One of my other big complaints about the first one was the switching of point-of-view throughout the book. It was aggravating for me to switch back and forth, especially when most books stick with one character throughout, or they alternate chapters with characters rather than small sections. This time the POV switching didn't bother me. I want to say it's because I got used to it since the first one, but honestly, I think it was just a lot more fluid. The purpose was clear for the POV switches this time and it moved more like a movie than a book.

Speaking of which...can't wait for the movie! I love the casting for Hodge and Brother Jeremiah, and I'm sure I'll come to enjoy the rest with time. I'm so engrossed in this series now I think I'll move on to the next book now instead of what I intended to read.

Bite Club by Rachel Caine

Bite Club (Morganville #10) by Rachel Caine ☆☆☆☆

Oh my, this book has changed all my perceptions of the Morganville series. I don't believe I have ever given any of the books less than five stars, and yet, this book almost got three and a half--not even the full four stars.  And in nearly all of the reviews I have written, I've mentioned that I often don't even care about the story line because I love the characters so much. That changed here.

First thing, there was a major change in structure that entirely threw me off. The books have always been from one point-of-view and in third person. If you wanted to be in the characters themselves and in first person, you read the short stories she posts on her website. In this book, though, all that changed. The structure was mostly the same, but in almost every chapter there was an "interruption" of Shane's point-of-view in first person perspective. The change was unsettling. Yes, I did like seeing inside his head, but after nine previous books with a set structure, I didn't find myself enjoying the interruptions so much.

Second thing, I actually hated all the characters in this book. I hated each and every one of them and each for their own reason. That's why it would have gotten three and a half stars, because I still liked the world, story, and all, but the characters all pissed me off. That being said, they redeemed themselves in the end....somewhat. I still have some reservations. The end of the book is left at a point where a lot of talking needs to be done and forgiveness be made, and I couldn't yet find my forgiveness for all of them either. I couldn't believe how angry I got. (I do love Myrnin though, he's insane and had some quotable things I was gushing to my friend about as she read it before me.)

I'm definitely still hooked on the story and characters, but I'm going to consider each book more closely now. I expected to fall head over heels for this book like the others and it just didn't happen. And I even realized that suddenly the story behind the characters had become important to me because I thought things got tied up too easily in some situations. I'm looking forward to the next book, but not necessarily as anxiously as before.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare ☆☆☆☆

This book started out iffy for me, where it would have been lucky to get three stars, but it won four from me int he end.

The first issue I had was point-of-view switching. I prefer stories to stay in one POV throughout, or to stick with alternating POV chapters, but POV switching several times in one chapter sets me off. This is how the first chapter starts, with several POV changes that I got pissed off. But a friend urged me to keep reading. The POV switching did diminish a lot (and in one instance of storytelling by a character I actually liked the change), but it still lost a little something for me. 

And then, my first mistake with this book was reading a negative review that highlighted similarities with several fandoms, the most obvious being Harry Potter. I can entirely see how this story spawned from Harry Potter fanfiction. I'm sure I would have eventually noticed these similarities on my own through reading, but they were all laid out for me in one shiny place. Here's the thing, for me there is a line to be crossed when it comes to being influenced by another story and flat out using elements from those stories. For example, in working on a vampire story I suddenly realized I was setting in Texas, I quickly had to rethink my choice of states because I didn't want to be compared to Morganville.

On to the good stuff. This story had one thing that guarantees a good book for me specifically: the arrogant, snarky bad boy who is secretly broken and trying to be good. Oh, how I love those bad boys! And Jace was just the guy for me! I really liked the characters, and loved them even more from how they differed from their influenced counterparts. For example, it became obvious that Clary was based off Ginny from Harry Potter, but I really loved that Clary's red hair was curly. That detail set her apart for me. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions with each other. And there was one thing I totally called from the beginning that had my friend rolling because I guessed it so soon and she couldn't confirm or deny my suspicion. That's another thing that makes a good book for me, when I figure something out before the main character of the book, and not because it's blatantly obvious, but because the writer left good clues for me to decipher.

In the end, I'm glad I gave this series a shot and I do intend to keep reading it, even though the heavy influences of other stories was a little too much for me. And I can't wait to see what happens next. The surprise ending (though not a surprise thanks to reading that bad review too soon) did not bother me at all, even though I know it upset a lot of people, but I have faith in where everything goes from here. I want to see these characters grow even further! Glad there is a movie in the works :)

Almost by Anne Eliot

Almost by Anne Eliot ☆☆☆☆☆

 This book was recommended on my Kindle after I finished Easy by Tammara Webber because it deals with a similar subject matter: almost-rape. The summary immediately pulled me in, the kind of book I love, so I bought it without a second thought. And it was unexpectedly great. It was exactly the kind of book I love.

My love for the book didn't start out from the beginning though. I had a hard time understanding how Jess's almost-rape could have such a horrible PTSD impact. I know several people that have gone through such a situation and worse, without such a consequence. However, once I got towards the end of the book, everything started clicking and I realized it wasn't necessarily the almost-rape that was the culprit.

The cover is horrible, but the story far makes up for it. It also had an interesting structure. It was an alternating narrative, which I hadn't expected, but the set up wasn't always set either. While most of the book alternated between Jess and Gray every other chapter, there were a few instances in which Jess got chapters back to back.

Besides the fact that I loved this book and loved the characters, there were also a lot of other great aspects. Jess starts out with the mentality that "Boys in Books are Better" which is a mentality that my friend and I have. There were numerous places that I highlighted because I loved the way it was written or the way that one character thought. And I have to say the one thing that I am most proud of in the book was the section in the back listing statistics about rape and almost-rape, and resources for someone who is dealing with that situation themselves.

Ghost Town by Rachel Caine

Ghost Town (Morganville #9) by Rachel Caine ☆☆☆☆☆

So this totally isn't what I had planned to read. I usually only read two Morganville books at a time, and I was already set to read something else, but I decided to glance at the first chapter of this book and I was hooked.

The story line was an original take on what a ghost town can mean and it was beyond interesting. There were so many sides of all the characters exposed, and many couldn't even be expected.

And I cried. Cried!

I think this is the first Morganville book that made me cry and I cherish it for that reason. Each of these books has pulled a strong emotion out of me and it shows the strength and creativity of the writing (beyond the characters, as I've prided in earlier reviews). The last book made me feel frustration, and this one made me follow the sense of mystery and made me feel a deep loss and sadness with the echoes of "ghosts" of the town.

This series makes me ache, in sad ways and in good ways. I'm looking forward to the next book, but at the same time, I know I really do need to take a slight break from the series to regroup before the next ache, whether good or bad.

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

Kiss of Death (Morganville #8) by Rachel Caine ☆☆☆☆☆

Okay, so this story line was pretty cool. It went in so many unexpected directions. And I was left wondering why the characters themselves weren't as frustrated as I was while reading it.

Great road trip novel, and oh, was it ever the road trip from hell. As it got closer and closer to the end, I was wondering where the story line was going to go after all, getting more twisted and twisted in the process. And the epilogue at the end worried me. Usually a epilogue takes place years (or even decades) in the future, but it was not the case. It could have been a regular chapter and been just fine.

I'm still loving my characters, and falling in love with them even more in each book. And I'm glad the story line beyond surprised me in this case. Looking forward to the next book. Five more to go at this point :)

Fade Out by Rachel Caine

Fade Out (Morganville #7) by Rachel Caine ☆☆☆☆☆

Another sunrise finish for me. Don't know if I'll ever sleep normally again, but at least a sunrise finish fits perfectly with a vampire novel ;)

I've come to the conclusion after reading this book that I don't really care what the story line is anymore because I love the characters so much. Each of the characters is strong in their actions and their voices, and sometimes that's hard to pull off when writing. A lot of people fall on stock characters (stereotypes) or flat characters (nothing interesting), but each of these characters stands on their own. She has proven with her short stories that the story could be told from any point of view because she's in all of their heads. That's a good place to be.

And what I especially noticed during this book is that even her secondary characters are strong. Kim was an unexpected secondary character and yet I felt like I knew her just as much as those I have adored throughout the rest of the series. And what kind of world I live in without Shane, oh how I love that boy.

So truth be told, I loved the story, but of course I loved the characters more. The story line was secondary to me. My biggest complaint is that the books seem shorter and shorter with each one I pick up and I blow through them way too fast. Maybe that's why I only ever read two at a time, or it would all end too soon for me.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver ☆☆☆☆☆

This book ripped me to shreds. But of course, there is more to say than that.

First off, the structure was really odd and hard to get used to. The first book had set chapters, each with it's own epigraph letting you in on a closer view of the world and society. This book threw all of that out the window. There were no chapters. Only a back and for between "Now" and "Then" with every other section (rather than chapter). Some sections were incredibly long and some incredibly short. And what was hardest to get used to wasn't the switch of time at all. It was the fact that there were no chapters because there was no way in telling how far I was into the book without numbers. Maybe that's one reason I couldn't stop reading, I didn't want to lose my place so to speak.

I have to say this is the fastest I've ever read a book. Or at the very least the second fastest. I started it at 5am, went to sleep around 7am, woke around 3pm, and have been reading non-stop ever since. And here it is before midnight. I can just imagine what would have happened if I hadn't gone to sleep at all. Referencing the book ripping me to shreds... I wish I had had some warning because I practically cried myself to sleep. I was so upset that I physically couldn't handle the pressure built up in me. And that is another reason I couldn't put the book down once I picked it back up in the afternoon. It continued to rip me apart and there just wasn't a place I could stop. I didn't even take a break to eat.

I avoid books that have such an emotional impact on me. And after a recent book series sent me into a downward spiral of depression that I hadn't expected, I was honestly trying to avoid emotionally impacting books even more. But towards the end of the book, in one tiny little moment a calm settled over me. So startling that I cried out and gripped my Kindle so tight I was afraid I was going to crack it (yes, literally). And in this one instance, the cliff hanger ending, I could handle it. I'm still desperate for the next book and extremely looking forward to the story it'll contain, but I'm satisfied for the moment and can move on to my next book easily.

I still think I need the rest of the night to recover from it though. I think my soul broke more than my heart did. Oh, Lauren Oliver, this isn't the first time you hurt me so badly, and I doubt it'll be your last. Your writing is beautiful and melodic, and after every heart break I swore I wouldn't read you again, but now I can't help it. And yes, this is where Pandemonium picks up the fifth star that Delirium and Hana did not. Requiem is going to be the highlight of March for me!

Hana by Lauren Oliver

Hana: A Delirium Short Story (Delirium #1.5) by Lauren Oliver ☆☆☆☆

Why yes, it is almost 5am. I just finished reading this side story and I wanted to put my thoughts down before I lost them.

This short story (more like novella length) is told from Hana's point-of-view, which is really refreshing. Partly, I like her point-of-view more. This probably explains my earlier aversion to Lena's point-of-view at the start of Delirium. But it wasn't the only reason I liked this.

There were a lot of things I wanted to know that went on behind the scenes, and I was able to see those things. It gave me a wider look of the story and helped me answer some questions. Questions that Lena hadn't bothered to ask Hana herself, or at least didn't think enough to relate them in her narration of events.

I even got to see how Hana first thought of Lena and how she began to see her. This idea, specifically in this story, made me ask another question that was not answered and I wonder if the thought is entirely my own creation, although it seems there is a set up for it. And the end was another cliff hanger, just like the novel itself. But, it was a cliff hanger that seemed to relate to a suspicion I had in the novel. It didn't quite answer my suspicion, only made me more suspicious about it. So in the end, it answered a lot of questions I had, but also left two gaping ones for me to consider. Oh well, I'm off to read the sequel until I pass out around sunrise, we'll see if those questions get any more answers or not.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver ☆☆☆☆

I had high expectations for this book from the start, from the moment I read the synopsis. Love is a disease that needs to be cured. Yes! After horrible and severe broken relationships in my past, I could see exactly how this fear would develop. And I like the further description in text in that love is the cause of the heart giving out, from the bad (a literal broken heart) to even the good (the racing heart beat that accompanies butterflies in the stomach). Everything, all of it, causes stress on the heart that eventually causes it to give out. It makes perfect sense.

My issue was that I had a hard time initially getting into the story. I wasn't excited when I was reading it and didn't have a desire to keep reading like my life depended on it. Thus, it took several days to read it instead of my usual two days or less. The issue was world building. Although it is the present and can easily become a reality, there was just something about it that wasn't gripping me. Maybe it was that Lena was so stuck in her beliefs that I wasn't able to question the world with her as a narrator. Honestly, I'm not exactly sure what it was. However, I emotionally connected in chapter five when Alex was introduced. And it wasn't because I was hoping for a love story (even though I do love love stories). It was that everything started changing and the descriptions became a little more natural. And I was a little more excited to read than in the first few chapters when I nearly put the book down.

Overall, I really liked the story, and even though I had entirely planned on reading something else after this, I'm thinking I might just move on to the sequel. It's already out and I'm already in this world, so why not. And besides...it ended in a cliff hanger, and I hate cliff hanger endings. They make me sad :( The only thing I'm worried about is that I know the next book ends in an even bigger cliff hanger and I don't know if I can handle waiting so long for the next book after reading that. We shall see.

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3) by Simone Elkeles ☆☆☆☆

Not my favorite book of the series, but still a good read. My favorite has to be the second book. I fell in love with Carlos and it was great seeing him in this book again. I especially like the guy, Giancarlo, that plays Carlos in the book trailers, but that's beside the point. Speaking of which though, my favorite part of this series is the book trailers for this book and the last. They fully encompass what happens in the book in just a few short scenes, that makes me want to read the book faster. And if it ever becomes a movie, I hope they keep the same guys playing the brothers.

Oh, the Fuentes brothers. How suave and sexy they are, all cocky and knowing they have it going on. I love the bad boys. But that's no surprise...

Things I like about this book:
- Luis doesn't end up with a white girl like Alex and Carlos. That was becoming a bit of a cliche match up with the last book.
- The brothers really spent time bonding. They casually avoided each other before, but in this book they came together in all the best ways, even when odds were against them.
- Spanish code-switching. The Spanish is well integrated into the story and it makes the story more real for me since there is a lot of code-switching where I live. Even though I had to look up translations for a lot of it....

Thing I didn't like about this book:
- That all the brothers end up with the happily ever afters in high school. Each one of them met his girl in senior year and couldn't live without her. Sure I could suspend my disbelief and go for it, with the exception that this book clearly mentions a statistic that only 5% of couples stay together after high school. All three of them in the 5%? I doubt it. Still love the love stories though.
- The epilogues. I've despised them in every book. It feels like a fan fiction attempt at wrapping the story up, not letting the story really speak for itself. The only thing I really benefited from this last epilogue is seeing that the brothers are still incredibly close even after twenty-six years.

I'm glad I finished the series out. I'm going to miss the Fuentes brothers. I'm not really going to miss their girlfriends. There were things about each of them that I just couldn't stand, but I loved the boys enormously and it was worth the read on each book for those boys alone. And worth it for the covers too, seeing as how the first cover is what drew me to the series :)

Easy by Tammara Webber

Easy by Tammara Webber ☆☆☆☆☆

Wow. Just, wow.

This book has utterly and completely blown me away. I knew I'd love it instantly from the synopsis. And it was everything it promised and more.

I fell in love with Landon and Lucas, head over heels without a second thought. Webber had me so engrossed in the story that I was right there along with Jacqueline. I consider this quite a feat, especially since the story is told in past-tense.

Facial piercings, tattoos...gah! I was doomed the second I started reading. Tattoos is definitely one of my requirements for a significant other in real life, so in literary life it's a bonus beyond all bonuses. Oh my love for this book....

And the cover...how can anyone not love this cover? The tattoo already peeking out. Again, utterly and completely blown away. There are several sections I went back and bookmarked (rather than highlighted because they're large sections) to read again and again. And in fact, this is one of the few books that I can imagine myself reading again and again. I wish I could start at the beginning right now actually, but then I'd never lessen my TBR stack before school starts again next month :)

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades #3) by E.L. James ☆☆☆☆☆

Just finished reading and sad to see the series come to a close. I have to say that overall the second book was my favorite, but that doesn't mean I enjoyed this one any less. I love that as the series progressed it became more about mystery, intrigue, and the troubles of building a solid relationship than about the erotica that fueled a lot of the first book.

One of the things that got to me in this book though was how much it skipped around. It skipped months from the second book to the third and ended up having to do flashbacks through dream sequences. This wouldn't have been such an issue except that it happened often.

This book also felt too short. I am extremely sad to see the series end and I didn't feel like I really got my fill of the story and the characters. It did end well, but I'd love this series like a TV series that goes on for a long time. In fact, it'd make an excellent TV series and I'd be eagerly anticipating watching it each week. I did enjoy the bonus short stories at the end, but I'd love to see more of them. Finally seeing things from Christian's point-of-view was eye opening and should not be overlooked for other things. This series was well worth my time!

Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades #2) by E.L. James ☆☆☆☆☆

This book blew me away in so many ways. First to mention is that some of the things revealed in this book explain things in the first book that suddenly make the plot of the first book not as contrived, forced, and cliche.

This book doesn't have as much erotica as the first and that is entirely okay with me. Because this book isn't about the erotica, it's about the characters, and I have completely and totally fallen in love with the characters, especially Christian. He's the embodiment of all my literary loves, the arrogant bad boy that's trying to be the good guy.

I fell for Christian so much that I dream about him at night. Well, make that I dream about him at day as I have been going to bed well past sunrise since I started the series because I can't bear to put it down every night. And I sleep incredibly well. Instead of my usual fitful 10 hours of sleep a night (thanks to a carefree summer), I've been waking up after 6 hours fully rested, relaxed, and ready to read more. I'm actually a little sad that the next book is the last because I don't want to leave the characters behind. This book in the series definitely warrants the five stars. Off to the next....

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1) by E. L. James ☆☆☆☆

This isn't necessarily a young adult book, but then there are a few times I read outside YA. I know that everyone picked up this book for the erotica, and I had to pick up the book to see what all the fuss was about. Overall the writing wasn't that great and the plot seemed simple, contrived, and cliche. The erotica was definitely worth the read, but that isn't why I ended up loving the book in the end.

The characters grew on me. And with everything they did and went through, it reminded me of all the good and bad things in my past relationships, things I hadn't thought about in a long time. Surprisingly, it helped me cope with a lot of the bad and think about it in a new way. And the good....it reminded me that I actually don't want to be single forever and I need to start opening myself up to people again.

So despite the bad writing that greeted me, and the erotica that pulled everyone else in, this book did more for me than any of that. And on top of all of that, it ended with a cliff-hanger so big I immediately started the next book even though it was already sunrise because I had stayed up all night finishing the first. That's always a sign of a great book.

Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine

Carpe Corpus (Morganville #6) by Rachel Caine ☆☆☆☆☆

 I've been reading this series slowly, but two at a time. And I was really excited after I started this one when I suddenly remembered that in meeting Rachel Caine she said that the series was originally only slated for six books, so I have now officially finished the story arc. It's a great place to finish...for now. I have every intention of reading the following six follow up books, but I have other reading to squeeze in too!

So watch can I say about this book? I loved it! It went in so many different directions that I couldn't expect. It had appeals I'd been dying for since book one (those that read it know exactly what that means). And overall, it just ended perfectly. All the loose ends were tied up, the series could have easily have finished, and yet it's still also perfectly left open for more.

My only quip...as the story does start wrapping itself up in the end, there is a side story thrown in and wrapped up quickly in just a few pages and it felt almost unnecessary. In fact, it could have ended just before that and let the story start the next book. I'll eventually get to the next book, but taking a break after the arc is tied up is just the right spot for a break. I'm going to miss Shane while I read something else though, and I won't be able to stay away from him for long :)

Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine

Lord of Misrule (Morganville #5) by Rachel Caine ☆☆☆☆

I'm so behind in this series, but mainly that's because I pace myself. If I read the whole series at once I wouldn't have time to read anything else.

This book could have easily gotten five stars from me, but it felt too short. I'm definitely picking up Carpe Corpus next so that it doesn't feel as short. The book didn't completely blow me away, but it was like coming home again. I love Morganville and it's Texas influences, which is probably why it makes me feel so at home. 

And I love Shane! I've loved him since the first book. I love the bad boy with the snarky comments. The bad boy that tries so hard to be good. So it's a given. I love how all the characters and written and how they interact with each other. I have a problem with some of the physical descriptions, but that's not that important.

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead ☆☆☆☆

I almost want to say this book was lucky to get four stars, but that's where I am really conflicted. There is a lot wrong with the book, but there is still also a lot that is right with it.

The story was just as gripping as all the other books in this series and the series is spun off from, Vampire Academy. And even though I enjoyed reading it, I found it took me awhile to get into it and I didn't find it that hard to set it down if something else came up. The culprit? There was no surprises.

The end of the Vampire Academy series ended with major surprises. The clues Mead left ended up leading in several directions, ones that seemed obvious and were wrong in the end and ones that I didn't see coming, but became obvious in hindsight. Bloodlines was similar. While there were a lot of obvious things going on, there were still surprises throughout. But in this book? Nothing surprised me. And I think that was the biggest let down when I finished it right now. I figured out all the clues before Sydney did and I hated her for her naivety as a character. And the clues were so obvious that I was hoping for those surprising twists that the other books had, but I didn't find them.

My other problem with the book was typos. Both the series before this and this series is riddled with typos and a new copy editor definitely needs to be hired, or at least someone needs to start doing their job because I've never read any other series with this many typos. Along the same lines as the typos, there are a lot of "writing techniques" used in here that no trained writer would actually use. In fact, some of the ones I caught were techniques I was told to avoid in my first fiction class for my undergrad Creative Writing degree.

Despite the flaws, I still liked the story. And most of all, I still love the characters. I fell in love with Adrian even more and wished I could smack him upside the head several times. And I realized just how much I missed his snark, though I would have loved even more of it.

I thought it was ridiculous that the next book in the series will be out in February, less than a year away. To me it showed why there is are many typos, because there isn't enough editing time to be had. But still, I can't help but be glad that I don't have that long to wait to keep this story going. Can't wait :)

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth ☆☆☆☆☆

I literally just finished the last line and I am stunned into silence. I remember back to reading the first book last year when I said I would have loved to give it an 11 out of 5 stars. You can double that statement with this book. A lot of books in the middle of a series become nothing more than filler to get the arc to the end of the series. This book goes well beyond that. It created so much more than the first book was able to and went in more directions than I literally could have dreamed. I have fallen even more in love with this series, and can now appreciate fully my decision to re-read the first book in conjunction with this one.

It's really hard to express the emotions I've had throughout this book at this point. I'm not exclamation point happy because I'm honestly just stunned. The first several chapters were to die for, I was laughing so hard that I was covering my mouth to keep my neighbors from hearing my through our thin walls at 4am. I love the Dauntless snark and it reminds me so much of the snarky conversations I've had with friends and lovers in the past. It felt like home. :)

And as funny as those first several chapters were...things eventually got very real, and real means painful, confusing, and quiet. I was fully engrossed in the story like any other character. I was screaming at the characters. I hated them, hated how they were acting. And it had nothing at all to do with how they were written, they just stood out from the story for me that much that I hated them as if they were real. Bookish people, you get it and I know you do!

I also reminded myself how much I hate books where a war of some kind is taking place. I came to this conclusion during the Harry Potter series. (Sirius!!!) The first book of this series easily slipped from memory as it was just one book, but then came the Hunger Games series for me (Rue!). And now this series has officially become a series for me...and hell, I really hate reading war books. Loss cannot be avoided, but I care about the characters so much that I hate to see any go, even small ones that barely stand out. As much as I hate reading it and want to blame her, I know as a writer myself that she probably hurts more than any of her readers do over the losses. She lives with those characters every waking day as she writes.

All said and done, this series is amazing. I will recommend it over and over until the day I die. I have already begged and prodded people to read it and to join in with me. And to break the seriousness of my shock from this book turned into review with a little humor...and to also express how awesome I am at getting others to read the series, I present the most awesome discussion I have had while reading this series with my best friend (her first time with the entire series).

(During the last half of Insurgent)

E: Do you ever wonder if the Dauntless read stories about us haha, I mean not that half of them could read, but ya know
A: Hahahaha I can honestly say I don't think so. If they have, they were probably so bored they stopped haha
E: Hahaha point made!

Free Four (Divergent #1.1) by Veronica Roth

Free Four (Divergent #1.1) by Veronica Roth ☆☆☆☆☆

This is a joint review. I read Divergent last July and left an awesome review. And here I re-read it and loved it even more. I even noticed things I hadn't noticed the first time. Like how Tris could just as easily have ended up with Uriah and it would have been cute! Don't get me wrong though I'm a Four/Tris girl all the way. And I got to fall in love with Four all over again which is more amazing each time.

What made it even better was that I got to read Roth's side story told from Four's point of view just after I finished re-reading Divergent. Can I just say O-M-G?! I didn't think it was possible to love Four even more until the moment I started reading this side story. I already wished I could rip him out of the story and have him for myself and now I'm begging for the chance to do it! I fell for him on an even deeper level. He's a total jerk, but he also cares too much for his own good. And he doesn't always think about what he says before he says it, as evidence by both these stories.

I'm totally psyched to start Insurgent now!!! (Yeah yeah yeah, I know I'm behind, but I had school and stuff to get to first!)

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis ☆☆☆☆☆

This sequel to Across the Universe exceeded all my expectations. It had twists and turns that surprised me when I didn't think I could be surprised. When I thought I figured out something about one person, it ended up being more about someone else. Not only did this sequel have excitement, but it had a mystery with clues to follow. And while I love being able to figure things out in a book (often before the main character), I loved that I couldn't figure it out in this one. As they deciphered the clues, they explained to me their logic which I hadn't figured out on my own. And it all made sense. And I have to give serious credit for the amount of literature referenced and used in this story. While I'm familiar with the texts used, my hope is that it will introduce young adults to those amazing works of literature that need to be read. My only wish with it would have been that The Little Prince would have appeared in more than just a reference because that book truly is a life changer. Overall, this book was gripping in all the right places and I can't wait for the final installment in January 2013. Sci-Fi was never my kind of read, but I couldn't get enough of this series.

Thumped by Megan McCafferty

Thumped (Bumped #2) by Megan McCafferty ☆☆☆☆

I have a bad habit when it comes to books. Even if I don't like a book I read, if it is part of a series I tend to keep reading the series. I guess it's hoping that it gets better. I had my doubts about the first book, Bumped. I had no intention of really reading this book, but when it came out I picked it up anyway.

In the beginning, I wasn't sold. The things I didn't like about the first book were even more present in the second. The characters still weren't developed enough for me. In fact, my biggest problem with this book was Jondoe. He actually had one of the most developed characters in the first, and in this book he lost all character development he had and became a very flat, stereotype character more akin to a female role.

Remember I said I had a bad habit of reading books in a series even when I didn't like the first? Well it goes for the individuals books as well, if I don't like a book I'm reading I still trudge through it. Often times lately I've been surprised at how well the book turns out in the end. Honestly, this book probably deserves the 3 stars I gave the first, but it gained an extra star in the end. While this story was too light for me, missing a lot of plot and character development, and also missing complexities it needed, I had to admit that it has a moralistic point in the end that is good for teens to think about.

This series covers the topics of teen pregnancies and how it could quickly become a commodity if people over 18 couldn't conceive anymore. Think it's not relevant? All these teen mom TV shows lately show it's entirely relevant. We may not have that dystopian virus, but teen pregnancy becomes a commodity in TV ratings. So for having a good purpose, the series is a win overall for me. I still wish it had been fleshed out more like it deserved, but for the tween and teen groups it works. It's simple enough to get the complex issue across.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz ☆☆☆☆

I learned something pretty cool when reading this book. When you know an author, have heard them read, and hear them talk on a regular basis...yeah you hear them reading the book to you when you're reading it. It was really weird, but amazing at the same time. Saenz is a professor of mine, currently and in the past, and hearing him read and talk so many times, I could hear his voice in my head reading the book to me. Another cool superficial thing about this book, the cover is extremely beautiful! Ok, now to the real stuff.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is about two 15 year old boys that each have a hard time identifying with other people and find friendship in each other. And although this book is about two teenage boys, I could still completely identify with it myself. Ari is angry all the time and many say he also always looks sad. He hasn't quite found his place in life and isn't sure he ever will find it. Dante is charming and easy going, but although people easily take to him, he doesn't easily take to other people. One of my favorite parts of YA Lit is that it covers the topics of trying to understand yourself and how you relate to the world. I'm working on my Master's and I still don't feel like I've found my place, so this book was a great look into the characters and also into myself. Many reviews have said that this is a great book for boys, but I would argue that it's a great book for anyone.

Now, obviously I wasn't completely in love as I only gave it four stars, but it was within reason. I felt like a lot of portions of the beginning were too predictable and actually took me out of the story because of it. After finishing it, I realize that those sections were completely necessary, but I do still feel that they could have been toned down a little. They weren't subtle enough. But I do still love this book and believe that it's another great example of his writing. It's also been my first experience with a lyrical novel and I'm looking forward to reading more of them in the future.

The Lost Files: Nine's Legacy by Pittacus Lore

The Lost Files: Nine's Legacy (Lorien Legacies #2.5) by Pittacus Lore ☆☆☆☆☆

I was lucky enough to borrow this from someone because I just couldn't wait to read it. And it didn't disappoint.

When first meeting Nine in The Power of Six, he's almost wicked. He's described as being about the same age as Four, but there's something scary about him and you crave to know why. Starting Nine's Legacy you would never anticipate that they were the same person. Nine is a regular teenage boy that's impulsive and even a little shy. And all that changes so effortlessly that you can't help but hurt and feel a little wicked with him. I loved getting to know Nine and I can't wait to see how much further, and how he can change Four in the process.

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies #2) by Pittacus Lore ☆☆☆☆☆

This book went in so many directions I would have never expected, especially as the sequel to I Am Number Four. The most interesting was that this book was told in alternating narratives between John and number Seven, Marina. While alternating narratives isn't necessarily strange (as many books use it now), what was strange was how they used it. As you started a chapter, there was never any indication who was narrating. There was no name at the top of the chapter as a clue. You have to figure it out as you read based on contextual clues. And swapping between a male perspective and a female perspective is even more jarring. At first it happens two chapters at a time, and once you get used to the pattern it changes. A couple chapters even have both narratives speaking in tandem. It was incredibly interesting.

I loved how far John and Sam's friendship grew, and how their friendship with Six further developed. I loved getting to know Marina and how she relates to her Cepan and the people around them. I even love that I got to hate two characters that I should have loved. One I loved and then hated, the other I hated and grew to admire in the end. This book was incredibly complex in how everything was pulled together, and the battles with the Mogs were extremely detailed. There was even small things that became so interesting. Parts of Six's backstory were pulled into the narrative, but I still found it beneficial that I read the Lost Files: Six's Legacy before picking up the sequel. I can't wait to read the next novella installment, Lost Files: Nine's Legacy, (hurry up library and get this ebook), and the next full book, The Rise of Nine, in August!

The Lost Files: Six's Legacy by Pittacus Lore

The Lost Files: Six's Legacy (Lorien Legacies #1.5) by Pittacus Lore ☆☆☆☆

Much thanks to my local library for carrying this ebook so I didn't have to buy it :)

I really liked this book. I Am Number Four is one of the few instances where I watched the movie before reading the book, and yet I loved them both nearly equally in the end. And one of my favorite parts of both is Six. I especially loved her toughness in the movie with her motorcycle and leather jacket (and Australian accent haha). So, getting to see her story and her background after seeing Four for so long was pretty awesome.

There wasn't anything in particular I disliked about this book to give it four stars instead of five. I guess mostly it was just because I didn't love it. I liked it a lot, but didn't love it. Part of that may have been because it skipped through time very quickly to be able to cover all her backstory over the course of about eight years in about eighty or so pages. Definitely a recommended read though for anyone interested in this series.

Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie ☆☆☆☆

When I started the book it immediately took me off guard. It was an alternating narrative between Cassia and Ky, and I had to go back to the first book to see if I potentially forgot that the first book was that way. It was not. It was a little weird to suddenly jump into an alternating narrative without any forewarning. That being said, it was also definitely interesting. Seeing inside Ky's mind was a nice twist. The only downside was that often the narratives were very close to being the same and it dragged the story line a little.

Overall, I liked the book. The first book I had problems with the first half of the book, but quickly fell in love with the characters and the half way point and couldn't put it down. With this one, I had the desire to read it and finish reading it, but I didn't feel excited enough through the process. That's where it lost a star for me. I liked it, I'm still going to finish the series as the next book comes out, but I didn't love it.

In my review of the first book, Matched, I shared my favorite quote from the book, so it's only fitting that I do the same for this book. And so, my favorite quote from the book, the only one I highlighted: "I don't fool myself that I hold her together--she does that on her own--but holding her keeps me from flying apart."

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay (Hunger Games 3) by Suzanne Collins ☆☆☆☆

I just finished this book the night before last and I've been considering my review ever since. I gave the first two books of the series 5 stars each, and yet on this one I only gave it 4. I had to repeatedly question why I was taking away from the score like I was.

I mean, there are things I love about this book. Out of the three it was the only one to make me cry. Without being spoilery, I cried about halfway through the book when Katniss realized what it meant to break. And I was bawling uncontrollably at the end, especially with the cat. Those that have read the book will understand these well.

Basically it came down to this... I didn't like a lot of the things that happened in the book, but it's a book about a war and needless to say people will be lost. I'm actually coming to the conclusion I need to stop reading books where a war breaks out (especially after Harry Potter). The more I thought about it though, it wasn't why it lost a star. Even if I didn't like certain scenes, I have to admit that they are necessary to the story. No matter how sad that makes me.

My gripe with this book came in the last chapter or two. Time moved WAY too quickly. Days, weeks, and months were skipped over in the course of one sentence. And this seemed to happen every other page. It was driving me crazy because so much could have been done in that space. Besides all the wasted time, it was entirely focused on Katniss and I hated not seeing what happened with the other characters. I invested so much time in all the other characters besides her to never see their actions in the end.

In the end, there was so much that could have happened that was left out and so much I wanted to know that was never answered. It lost a star because I wasn't satisfied. That doesn't change the fact though that it was an amazing series and I'd read it again in a heartbeat. Can't wait for the movies!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire (Hunger Games 2) by Suzanne Collins ☆☆☆☆☆

A lot of second books end up being nothing more than filler to get the reader from the excitement of book 1 to the finale of book 3, this book didn't follow that schema. Catching Fire was equally thrilling and well developed as Hunger Games, in some aspects perhaps more so. I expected to be entertained by this book, but I did not expect to be filled with more anxiety than the first book. If it was hard enough to put down Hunger Games, it was impossible for the sequel.

In Hunger Games, you ask a lot of questions involving "how is that possible" or "what if this happens instead" trying to get to the ending that our happily ever after wiring that has been programmed into us. And while those questions are answered, they come back ten fold in this book, just as puzzling and painstaking as before, with twists and turns no one could have anticipated. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I probably would. I can't wait to finally pick up the last installment!

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen ☆☆☆☆☆

I heavily criticize book blurbs that say things like "riveting" and "breathtaking" and "thrilling." Mostly because it feels like the authors writing the blurbs are arbitrarily picking words out of a thesaurus. I have to make this book an exception. I honestly picked it up because I love reading books before I see the movie adaptations and I had put off the movie for too long that everyone was talking about it. And yet, when I picked up the book the blurbs made me roll my eyes. That changed when I read it. If asked to describe the book myself I would say "seductive" and "alluring" among the words I previously criticized on other blurbs.

This book had me from the very beginning. I felt the pain Jacob felt in every word. I understood his escape and willingness to do the most menial work just to forget about his personal reality for one minute. I respected his love of animals and his drive to protect them at all costs. And even more, I fell in love with circuses all over again. I remember seeing Ringling as a kid, when it wasn't $30 a ticket to get in. And since then I've seen maybe two other circuses that held no spectacle for me. And the grittiness of the old train bound circus was disturbing, but also beautiful in a way that circuses today could never be. It made me wish I could live one day back then just for that moment. How often does anyone feel that way while reading a book?

It was beautiful and sensual, and had me captivated from one page to the next. I didn't want to put it down. I dreamed of elephants, of circuses, and of falling in love in all the wrong places with just the right person. This is definitely a book I will read again and again, and that I will recommend even more often.

Now, seeing as how I finished the book, I also finally watched the movie. I have to say I was disappointed. I can forgive a movie for not being like the book, but when the movie can't even live up to all the wonder in the book, I have to wonder what the point was. There was so much in the book that was more important to the story than what they even showed. That pain Jacob felt was never expressed in the movie in any moving or memorable way. And the relationship between Jacob and Walter had no meaning or purpose in the movie. While giving the book five stars, I'd have to give the movie three stars in comparison. On its own, having not read the book I'd have probably given it four.

Where There's A Wolf, There's A Way by Lisi Harrison

Where There's A Wolf, There's A Way by Lisi Harrison ☆☆☆

I gave the first two books of the series a higher score. While I did find most of the story trivial, it was a fun, mindless read. These books came in handy after reading especially soul-crushing books where I needed a mental vacation in literature. Having borrowed this book months ago, I decided to finally read it after Hunger Games and it took me forever to get through this.

My main problem with the first book grew exponentially in this one. I do not like brands, or name brands. This series is all about being "new" and "hip" so it constantly throws out information about the latest "hit" songs, the UGG boots, and every clothing label or accessory label known to man. That gives me a headache. And while it might be fun for pre-teen label queens in the making, what impact would the book have ten years from now on the next generation? None that I can see.

It still has great characters and there are some interesting developments about them that rap up from the second book, but I don't think I could read a 4th book when they decide to put one out. I love the characters and I like seeing them in book form battling societal norms rather than short cartoons online, but this book just lost the momentum for me. It'd problem get 2 stars if I didn't love the characters.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ☆☆☆☆☆

Wow! I don't know what else to say except that I regret not picking this book up sooner. I'm thankful I had so many people pushing me to put it at top of my to-be-read stack and reading it as soon as possible. I was blown away.

I've been really caught up in dystopian societies and this one comes from a whole new level. After the first two chapters I was rightfully nauseated. It reminded me of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson that I read in high school and has stuck with me every day since because of its brutality and horror.

But it didn't stay that way... I easily got caught up in the little details with Katniss and would often let the "reality" of the situations just as she would. I got so caught up in the survival mode that I literally felt like I was in the book. When I finished the second part, my heart was beating so loud in my ears that I couldn't sleep. I ended up turning my lamp back on and reading until I felt myself calm.

It isn't often that I lose myself so entirely in a book and it is the most amazing experience of reading a book. I'm thinking of buying the next book at putting it at the top of my TBR stack above books that have been waiting a very long time, just so I can get a taste of the world and the story again. This book is definitely a must read for anyone that hasn't already picked it up. I can't wait to see how the movie transforms everything!