Review: Carrier of the Mark - Leigh Fallon

Title: Carrier of the Mark (Carrier #1)

Author: Leigh Fallon

Release Date: October 4th 2011

Publisher: HarperTeens

Source: Bought

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

I don’t really have much to say about this book. To say the least, I was disappointed. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, it just didn’t exceed my expectations.

The writing is so plain and at times I felt like I’m reading fan fiction. I didn’t feel like I was reading a published book. I know this was the first book discovered on Inkpop (a HarperCollins website where anyone could post their own stories) but I expected more from this, I guess.The only reason why I gave this story a three-star instead of a two-star because of the paranormal elements. I adored it. Unfortunately, this was the sole reason why I kept reading on. 

Megan. She’s one of those heroines that doesn’t stand out. She’s not great, but she’s not awful as a character. She’s just ok-ish. Now, let’s talk about Adam DeRis. My God. Edward much? He’s like Edward Cullen minus the sparkly business.

I hated the romance. Everyone keeps saying that it’s so sweet and so hot. But it’s not. I don’t know how two people can declare their ‘love’ for each other just after like one week of dating, and less than a month of knowing.

They also can’t sleep with each other. Surprise,surprise. The reason? Because according to some ancient Irish tradition, the world will blow up if two ‘marked’ ones get intimate. Literally. Ha-ha. I don’t know why writers/publishers/everyone keeps making up some ridiculous reason for the two to not sleep together. Now, I’m not saying that they have to sleep with each other, it’s just that I would have preferred it if they don’t sleep with each other because they feel the relationship is moving too fast, not because they think the whole freaking world is going to explode if they do.

Throughout the book, I felt like I was reading Twilight. Which is not a good thing, people. Also, all the characters were very bland, boring and not very developed in my opinion. Except for Rian. God, he’s HOT. Like sizzling hot. Oh, and Aine, Adam’s fascinating twin sister. Maybe Leigh Fallon should have had the two as the main characters instead.

So. One star for Rian, one for Aine and one for the mythology. I don’t know if I can be bothered to read the sequel (Jesus. There’s TWO more).

Review: Article 5 - Kristen Simmons

Title: Article 5 (Article 5 #1)

Author: Kristen Simmons

Release Date: January 31st 2012

Publisher: Tor Teens 

Source: For Review

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

First reaction after finishing this book: Shame. What a damn shame. *heavy sigh*. Oh dear, this book could have well been my favourite of 2012 so far, but the characters just ruined everything for me. And you know how picky I am about characters, I prefer having amazing characters and zero plot but IF, like this thing here, if you've written such an original and addictive plot but with annoying and whiny characters, with love interest the charm of a goldfish, well.. you got a bit of a problem here. 

Kristen Simmons is a very talented writer. She can write pretty damn good action scenes. My heart was literally pounding every second while I was reading this book. I couldn't put it down! Every second was valuable and dangerous. Her worldbuilding was fantastic, and unlike some other dystopians or post-apocalyptic YA novels out there, this is realistic. I could actually imagine this happening for real. Which makes it even more frightening and nerve-wracking. Knowing that in maybe a 50 years or so, our society and world could end up as corrupted as this. 

This novel was intense. Like in every stage of Ember's journey there would be this obstacle that they needed to think of a plan for, and I loved reading about it. Especially the first part of the novel, it was very fresh and original, but after maybe 150 pages, when it all became very tedious and predictable. It even went to the point where I knew what was going to happen because it was so similar to the previous part of the story. I felt like everyone was very untrustworthy and I get that they don't/can't trust anyone, but I hate it when our main character does. Even when she's gone through enough shit to know better. 

What brought me down was the main character. OH GUYS. Arrrggghhhhhh! I've lost count of how many times I wanted to smack her for her stupidity and how naive she was. Oh my God! She was like one of those people in a horror movie, the one who does something incrediblity stupid and unjustified and everyone is screaming for her to go back/do something? Yep. That's our main heroine Ember. Oh geez. For someone who claimed to be smart and all that, she was freaking useless. I would have just left her there to go and die or something. And it doesn't help that her love interest soldier has the personality of a brick. Seriously. Not swoonworthy at all. He didn't show any emotion or anything. WTH. 

Call me a heartless bitch or something, but I didn't care for her mum at all. I wouldn't have bothered to go and save her if she acted like a doormat to her ex-boyfriend and had let him abuse her.The only characters that I did like, was Sean and Rebecca. I thought they were really sweet and I would have preferred them as main characters instead of secondary.

Rant over. I still feel like shaking my head at this. Thinking how much I would have loved this book if the two main characters were different. Oh well. Still unsure if I would be reading the next one.

Review: Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Prince

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: December 6th 2011

Publisher: Walker Books (UK)

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends. 

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

I only just recently started the Infernal Devices, having read and reviewed Clockwork Angel earlier this month and loved it, and before reading CP, I hope that Clockwork Prince will live up to its hype and its title as NYT Bestseller. CP lived up to it, and more. Fans of the Infernal Devices and the Mortal Instruments would most surely not be disappointed. I personally love this series million times better than the Mortal Instruments and I honestly believe that Clockwork Prince is Cassie Clare's best book yet*.
* Obviously I'm still waiting until City of Lost Souls is released in May so. Anyway. 

The love triangle intensified in this one. Oh.. Jem and Will, Will and Jem. How can you expect me to choose between them? I was one of those that preferred the man she was with at that time (like if Tessa was with Will, then I preferred Will, then if it's Jem and Tessa scenes, then I ship Jem). But if I HAD to pick one, then I would have to say Will. Will is a douche bag. But a loveable one, and unlike other dickheads out there, he actually has a valid reason why he acts like that. I just think their love and friendship just ring true and real, with hardships and arguments but nevertheless worth it. And before you ask, YES. I did cry at the end. (If you've read the book, don't tell me you didn't shed any!)

What is up with heroines becoming worse? I don't know if it's just me but main female characters are gradually becoming really annoying and unrelatable in the second book of a series/trilogy. First it was Calla (Nightshade series), then it was Clara (Unearthly series) NOW it's Tessa. What the hell? All these girls I had respected and adored in the first books. BUT. Now they're all the same. In the middle/second book. Stubborn. Can't make their bloody minds up. Going back and forth between guys. COME ON. You know you just can't kiss someone, then the next day you're kissing someone else/his best friend/worst enemy/whatever. Ugh. Makes me mad.

I was ecstatic when all my favourite characters appear on the page. Charlotte, Henry, Sophie,Cyril, Jem, Tessa, Will(!), even Jessamine - I felt like they're my family now. I enjoyed reading the sweet and blooming love story between Sophie and Gideon. So cute. And I was devestated about Jessamine, just proves that love can make you blind and ignorant to the truth :(. That's how well Cassie Clare writes. She makes you feel so much about this characters, whether good or evil. And you know how much I prefer good character developments than superb plot. Not that this didn't include action, because believe me, there are plenty.

Thank God Clockwork Prince didn't fall under the 'curse' of the second book, we got answers and more questions, and the dreaded CLIFFHANER. Please hand me Clockwork Princess now.( And it will have Tessa on the cover. But the best part will be the dress that she'll wear).

ALL RIGHT. STOP. SPOILERS OF THIS SERIES SO FAR. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE INFERNAL DEVICES SERIES.  

Ok. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT ENDING? WTF. Jem proposed. I was so delighted yet heartbroken. Well. To be honest, my heart just broke with Will. You can see how happy he was to know that the curse was false, that there never was in the first place. And just before and after he confessed his love to Tessa, that bitch(I know I'm being mean but whattevs) blurted out that she said yes to Jem's proposal. Now. Don't get me wrong, I do love Jem and Tessa, but NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING can beat Will and Tessa pairing. I just don't think Tessa really loves Jem (at least, not as much as she loves Will) and the majority of her YES only comes from her pity - that Jem is dying, and he will die soon. 

The possible endings with Tessa - and links to Jem and Will.

* Tessa ends up on her own - Jem dies from his illness eventually, Will marry someone else or dies in a battle or something..

 OR  

* Tessa ends up with Will - only if Jem dies, or if something big will happen that Cassie Clare creates. But other than that, I don't *sob* *sob* think they have a chance, or I think it's just my brain. I DO think they will end up together, just because Will is more present frequently in the books, whereas Jem is just there in Tessa's POV.

OR

 * Tessa does marry Jem, then he dies - Will dies or just goes and marry someone else. 

  

IT GOES LIKE THIS: 

Everyone that wants Will, think she will end up with Jem.

Everyone that wants Jem, think she will end up with Will.

That's life.

Review: Everneath - Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath (Everneath #1)

Author: Brodi Ashton

Release Date: January 24th 1012

Publisher: Harper Collins / Balzer and Bray

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

I was NOT expecting to love this book. At all. Not even expecting to like it one bit. BUT OHMYGOSH GUYS THIS BOOK IS JUST AMAZING!!! Sorry for the caps, but seriously. You need to read this book. Right now. I can't tell you how much this book surprised me in a lot of ways. REALLY GOOD WAYS.

I never planned on reading this one, you wanna know why? 'Cause it's a paranormal and excuse me but, I am so ******* tired of paranormal. The popular and over-rated genre is still dominating the shelves, but only a few truly deserves it. EVERNEATH is one of those who do. Like I said before, I wasn't planning on reading this not just because it's a paranormal but also because it has a mythology retelling twist. AND YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I HATED STARCROSSED by Josephine Angelini. I hate that book with a passion. Argh. Did not finish. And by then, I kinda got turned off stories with Gods/Goddesses and Mythologies. But Everneath is an exception. It's everything I wanted ABANDON (by Meg Cabot)  and STARCROSSED to be like, but wasn't. I just want to say Thank You, Brodi Ashton :-).

The mythology and the plot was very interesting, I read this in a very short period of time, and even when I was at school I couldn't get my head out of EVERNEATH. The whole Everling thingy was so creepy yet fascinating, and I along with Nikki (the protagonist) couldn't wait to unravel and find out more about Everneath. The plot kept me turning the pages even when my eyes were threatening to close because I was so tired and my mind and brain was battling out whether to give in or not. 

I really admired Nikki. Even after all the shit that she went through during the Feed, both physically and mentally, she still remained strong and calm and loyal. Her reactions and emotions felt true to me, and I even though she kinda annoyed me at the first few chapters, I could understand why she did what she did. Besides, there was nothing she could do about it now. Her scenes with Jack was very heartbreaking and bittersweet. Definitely adding Nikki and Jack to my list of favourite YA couples.

Jack. Oh, Jack. He is so dreamy and swoonworthy that he even deserves his own paragraph. At the start, I thought he would be one of THOSE jerks-players who thinks they're God's gift to women but oh no. Jack was sooo sweet and just an all round nice guy. But that doesn't mean he's perfect. Because he is so not, but that's what made me fall for him. He's still has some faults, and there were times when I wanted to smack him. BUT I am totally on Team Jack. I don't even know why everyone is thinking of Cole as a part of a love triangle. WTF? Am I the only one who doesn't think Nikki and Cole are right for each other? They didn't have any chemistry at all. Nothing. Nada. I didn't like Cole at all. Too creepy. Too stalkerish.

This book went back and forth with the NOW, and the back THEN. I thought this was perfect, and a way to give, tell and show information without overwhelming the reader with so much info. Brodi Ashton's writing was flawless. I am a big fan of her now :) I thought the whole timing was great and I loved how we only get bits and pieces about Jack and Nikki's relationship before the Feed. 

The ending. GOSH. My mouth was literally hanging. I could not believe it. It was so sweet and so perfect and oh my days I don't know how I'm going to live until the sequel(!) comes out next door. Boohoo. There is a bit of a cliffhanger, as expected as this is a trilogy. 

Overall, EVERNEATH is a book you can NOT miss. It's a book about love, a book about hate, a book about family, a book about creepy shadowy things, but most of all, it's a book about redemption and if there is even such a thing. LOVE LOVE LOVE.