Review: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)

Reviewer: Kristen

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Pages: 340

Format: Paperback

My Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Summary (This Christmas, I am thankful for Goodreads): Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

My Thoughts: This is my second time reading this. I read it a long time ago, before there was any sequels and I forgot about it. I didn't realize that there were any sequels to the series until I walked into the book store and saw the beautiful new covers. And then, I saw them on BookOutlet, and that was my sign. I bought all of them, and dove right into the series. Apparently, I had forgotten everything that had happened. That's good though, it's almost like a clean slate. 

The writing took me a little while to get used to. It was different, but it was actually crucial to the story because it added so much to Juliette's character and it gave the reader such an insight into her life. Her mental state came through, we saw some of her deepest darkest secrets and fears, and had it not been written in the way it was, the story wouldn't have been nearly as powerful as it was. 

The story follows Juliette as she tries to navigate a world that has literally thrown her into a mental hospital for being born with powers that pose a threat to the new and remarkably corrupt government. I know, I know, it sounds like your typical young adult dystopian novel, but trust me. It is nothing like I have ever read. 

I binge read the crap out of this series, so I'm going to stop this review here. This was my least favourite book in the series, and yet I still really enjoyed it. 

Final Thoughts: Read it, internet friends!

Review: Red Queen

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Pages: 338
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Summary (Goodreads, I love you): The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

My Thoughts: I really need to stop being skeptical about hype surrounding young adult books, especially fantasy books, because without fail, I always end up loving them, and Red Queen was no exception. I loved the world that Victoria Aveyard created, because it was the perfect dystopian setting without being ridiculous or over the top or unbelievable. Everything that happened felt like it  could happen, which isn't even when you're playing with fantastical ideas and characters. 

Maven was definitely a character that I didn't see coming. I didn't expect to root for him even after that huge reveal about him. But, despite that, I'm actually looking forward to what he does next and how it affects Mare and everything that is going on around her. I'm not sure what I think about Cal. If you've read Throne of Glass, he kind of reminds me of Chaol, and I've got some seriously mixed feelings about the both of them. I'm thinkin I'll need to spend some more time with Cal in the next instalment before I decide what to think about him. 

But Mare. I love Mare. Seriously. She is fantastic, and quick, and smart, and extremely capable and she is going to change the game, I just know it. She is a game changer, and she is giving the palace a run for it's money. I'm super excited to see what happens next, because her character could go in either direction. I'm super excited to see where Aveyard takes the rest of  the series because I love literally every character that she introduced.  

Also, how amazeballs is that cover?!

Final Thoughts: If you are a lover of all things young adult and dystopian, this is the perfect novel for you. I cannot wait for The Glass Sword next year! 

Review: An Ember in the Ashes

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Pages: 446
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 9 out of 10

Summary (you rock, Goodreads): Laia is a slave. 

Elias is a soldier.

Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.


My Thoughts: You know, when a book is so popular that everyone is talking about it? And I mean everyone. Friends, bloggers, neighbours, parents... you know, the whole nine yards. Usually that means the book is better than good, better than great, and down right spectacular. And I am happy to report that An Ember in the Ashes lived up to all the hype it generated, and then some. 

I'm always worried when I start a popular book because I want to love it and talk about it and just rejoice because it is just that great. I have not shut up about Laia and Elias since I've read the story because they are just that fantastic. They come from two completely different worlds, one the conquered and one the conquerer. They could not have come from more different circumstances if they tried, yet they are both so similar. They are both desperate for a way out of the life they currently lead. Elias wants out of the military that is controlled by his openly psychotic mother, and all Laia wants is for her and her family to stay safe and healthy. They are both forced into unbelievable circumstances and have to fight for their survival. The alternating POV's work incredibly well in this novel. Though, I admit, sometimes I'd start looking forward to Elias' POV more than Laia's (this never happens for me, I usually always prefer the female POV because it seems more realistic to me, but Elias was just so great that it wasn't even an issue). 

The only thing that I really had a problem with was the worldbuilding. Sometimes I had trouble invisioning everything that was happening, and I think that if there was just a few more details it would have gone a long way. So, that's the only reason that I couldn't give this a 10 out of 10. But, with the fantastic characters, it's easily overlooked. 

I'm super excited that the sequel was announced because I have so many questions and I need answers to allllll of them! Like Chef, what's going on there? And Laia's brother? And Elias? And Helene? There's just so many questions! 

Final Thoughts: I understand the hype. I am the hype. You need to read this, yesterday.

Review: Plus One

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Elizabeth Fama
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 373
Rating: 4 out of 10

Summary (I'll be your Plus One, Goodreads): It takes guts to deliberately mutilate your hand while operating a blister-pack sealing machine, but all I had going for me was guts.

Sol Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller in an America rigidly divided between people who wake, live, and work during the hours of darkness and those known as Rays who live and work during daylight. Impulsive, passionate, and brave, Sol deliberately injures herself in order to gain admission to a hospital, where she plans to kidnap her newborn niece—a Ray—in order to bring the baby to visit her dying grandfather. By violating the day-night curfew, Sol is committing a serious crime, and when the kidnap attempt goes awry it starts a chain of events that will put Sol in mortal danger, uncover a government conspiracy to manipulate the Smudge population, and throw her together with D'Arcy Benoît, the Ray medical apprentice who first treats her, then helps her outrun the authorities—and with whom she is fated to fall impossibly and irrevocably in love.

Set in a vivid alternate reality and peopled with complex, deeply human characters on both sides of the day-night divide, Plus One is a brilliantly imagined drama of individual liberty and civil rights—and a compelling, rapid-fire romantic adventure story.

So: I'm tired of novels about the struggle that is social justice. Don't we have enough of those? It's our normal life a struggle enough. Sigh.

The night versus day concept was interesting and the cover was beautiful but the follow through was lacking. WHO JUST KIDNAPS A BABY? A character that does that is a hard character to get behind. Is it really worth your life? It's nice that you want to help your only remaining family member but I bet he would tell you not to do this too.

I loved D'Arcy but, man, was he stupid too. I thought his father was pretty great. 

Also, to make matters worse. The ending sucked. It just stops, leaving you in the middle of nowhere, on a desert road where robbers will come and rob you and take everything you own, leaving you to die and let the bird pick out your eyes...okay, sorry, I'm bitter. 

This novel wasn't as good as I'd hoped. I think that this novel is for younger readers who can deal with a little violence but don't expect too much from a story. It was too... simple (?) in many ways. It was a story with conspiracy but little detail or explanation at how we arrived at ideas or how a teenager managed to accomplish all that she did. 

I didn't like this novel. What do you think about it?

P.S. I think a prequel book for this series could be something really cool with a bit of work. I want to know what happened to get us to the point we are at in this novel. 

Review: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4)

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Sarah J Maas
Pages: 645
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 11 out of 10. Aelin insisted so Rowan made me do it. 

** Spoilers, if you haven't read up to Heir of Fire! Actually, if you haven't started/finished any of the Throne of Glass series, I would stop reading too, just to be on the safe side! **

Summary (You rattle my stars, Goodreads): Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world. 

My Thoughts: So, you know when you absolutely love a story something fierce, so when the next instalment comes out, it's almost guaranteed it won't live up to what you've built up in your head? Yeah? That feeling? IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. Sarah J Maas is brilliant, and this story is brilliant, and I am so shocked to be able to say that this is definitely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, my favourite book in the series. 

The characters this time around were probably my favourite part of the book. I re-read the series in anticipation of Queen of Shadows (and boy, I am glad that I did, because I forgot a whole lot of events that had happened. Also, SJM is the queen of foreshadowing... seriously). I love how much the characters have grown, and changed, and accepted who they are. They're unapologeticly themselves, and I am here for it. None of them have stayed the same, which is one of my biggest pet peeves. When monumental events happen, people change! It's natural! And I'm so glad that all the characters reflected that. Even though all the characters had such different journeys, they are perfectly woven together. I loved all the new characters that were introduced (Nesryn!!!), and I loved all the badass characters we were already introduced to, but who played such a huge role in this novel! (I'm looking at you Lysandra and Kaltain). In Heir of Fire, I tended to skim Manon's parts, but I was actually looking forward to what she was doing in QOS. And Rowan. Oh my god, Rowan. I love Rowan. Seriously, I just love him.

I don't want to say much more because this was one incoherent review as it is, and also for spoilery reasons. If you've read this, I'd love to discuss it with you and see what you think!

Seriously, I am in awe. Queen of Shadows has solidified my love for this series, hardcore.

Final Thoughts: Basically, this is what I looked like for the duration of the book. 

Review: Revolution 19

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Gregg Rosenblum
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 265
Rating: 4 out of 10
[The ratings have been low lately. I don't know what's up with that. Maybe I finally started reading our review policy. If something seems funny about my rating and you don't believe it, please feel free to check out my goodreads (link on the side) or our review policy here. We try to pride ourselves on having honest reviews but it seems like rating is harder than anything else that we have to do. Our deepest apologies if there has been any confusion.]

Summary (Via the Goodreads revolution): Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.

Only a few escaped the robot revolution of 2071. Kevin, Nick, and Cass are lucky —they live with their parents in a secret human community in the woods. Then their village is detected and wiped out. Hopeful that other survivors have been captured by bots, the teens risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world—by infiltrating a city controlled by their greatest enemies.

Revolution 19 is a cinematic thriller unlike anything else. With a dynamic cast of characters, this surefire blockbuster has everything teen readers want—action, drama, mystery, and romance. Written by debut novelist Gregg Rosenblum, this gripping story shouldn’t be missed. 

What I Think: The problem with this novel was not the central plot of the story. It equal parts scared and interested me. I thought that it was unique enough. It wasn't brand-spanking new, sure, but still. It seemed to make enough sense. The problem wasn't in the perspective which allows insights into the minds of most of the characters and also allows the reader to get a rather large picture of what is happening in the world. The problem was not that the main focus of the story was not a love story. It was refreshing to have a story focused on love of family, parents and siblings, over everything else. Actually, that may have been my favourite thing about this novel. I enjoyed the interaction between siblings. 

The problem was that the novel felt incredibly long when it was actually, after thinking on it, too short. The novel should have slowed down and expanded on...well, just about everything. It could have been so much more. I expected it to be so much more. I'd wanted to read this novel for so long and was disappointed that it didn't really get into too much. It could've slowed down a bit and still be alright. Maybe the solution to this problem could have been to put the first two books in this series together. I'll let you know after I read the next one but it probably won't be any time soon since I wasn't really too interested in this novel. 

I found that, due to the strange pace of the novel as well as the many, many characters that seemed thrown at me in the few pages that made up this novel, I was missing and/or ignoring huge hunks of description. This may have just been me. Actually, it's extremely likely that this is my own fault and nothing more but it still bothered me. 

Conclusion: I wish this novel had slowed down and gone into more detail. I liked the sibling interaction; it was different. This novel wasn't my cup of tea. I think that it would be more enjoyed by middle school or high school aged kids, boys in particular. In my mind, it just could have been more and that makes me very sad.

Review: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, 2)

Reviewer: Kristen 
Author: Sarah J. Maas 
Pages: 418 
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 10 out of 10 

SPOILER ALERT: Second in the series, friends! 

Summary (via Goodreads): Celaena Sardothien is the king's Champion—yet she is far from loyal to the crown, for the man she serves is bent on evil. But working against her master in secret is no easy task. As Celaena tries to untangle the mysteries buried within the glass castle, she can trust no one, not even her supposed allies Crown Prince Dorian, Captain of the Guard Chaol, and foreign princess Nehemia.

Then, an unspeakable tragedy shatters Celaena's world. She must decide once and for all where her loyalties lie . . . and whom she will fight for. 

An action-packed and romantic adventure that readers “will never want to leave” (Kirkus Reviews), the next chapter in this smash hit New York Times best-selling series is sure to please Sarah Maas's enormous and ever-growing fan-base–and to set the stage for an explosive third book.

My Thoughts: I'm so mad at all of you for not warning me about the HEARTBREAK I would endure. Seriously - y'all are supposed to look out for me! Kidding... kind of. 

So when I started this, I had that all to familiar feeling that all readers get - that the sequel would suffer from the dreaded sequelism. You know, the obvious middle book, with no big plot lines and basically just a set up for the next instalment. I am so, so, so excited that this didn't happen, and I'm even more excited that this sequel surpassed the first one. That hasn't happened since like... Catching Fire. 

The author was definitely not scared to take risks. She took some big ones, but they allllll paid off. The characters are changing in ways that seem natural to their storylines, and each and everyone of them are coming into their own larger picture. I'm so excited to see where Dorian is heading, and what happens of Chaol, and of course, Celaena. SPEAKING OF CELAENA: THAT ENDING WAS NOT FAIR AND DID UNNECESSARY THINGS TO MY HEART AND I NEED EVERYONE TO READ THIS SO THEY TOO CAN EXPERIENCE IT AND DISCUSS IT WITH ME. 

On that note, I seriously have to go start Heir of Fire. Seriously... it's sitting right beside me. See ya on the flipside! 

Final Thoughts: I can say with all the confidence in the world that this is - and will be - the best series I have read this year. Hell, it may be the best series I've read in the past 3 years. 

Review: 1984

[The cover looks super sketchy to me in the editing box because it's white. I'm sorry if it still looks bizarre on the home page.]
Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: George Orwell
Format: Really old, hand-me-down paperback
Pages: 326
Rating (based on nothing more than how much I liked it, entertainment value): 7.5 out of 10

Summary (I'm watching you Goodreads): Written in 1948, 1984 was George Orwell's chilling prophecy about the future. 

While 1984 has come and gone, Orwell's narrative is more timely that ever. 1984 presents a "negative utopia", that is at once a startling and haunting vision of the world — so powerful that it's completely convincing from start to finish. No one can deny the power of this novel, its hold on the imaginations of entire generations of readers, or the resiliency of its admonitions — a legacy that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time.

Thoughts: I despise reviewing classics or super famous works because, really, who am I to say anything about novels like this. I wish I could write something that was profound but I really doubt that I have anything to say that hasn't already been said...not that I have anything intelligent to say about this novel at all.

My dad warned me that I wouldn't like it at all but a hundred pages in and I was pretty interested in what was happening. The world was interesting. I enjoyed  was intrigued by the idea of the novel. It was scary how similar it is to present day. I mean, there isn't as much censorship though it exists. I could connect it a lot to things that were happening in the world today. It was really terrifying actually. I was impressed by Orwell's ability to predict the future.

This novel, to me, was like the young adult of the classics. It felt more like a dystopian novel that I might read now than something that was written in 1948. It didn't seem like other classics I've read in the past that are so complicated as to be un-understandable. It wasn't impossible for me to understand the language in this novel either, thank God. My problem with classics is that they are always a million pages and impossible to follow the dialogue because I don't speak 1800, heck I hardly speak 2014! This novel didn't have the same problem for me.

If you are on the boarder about whether or not you want to read this novel. I think you should do it. It was scary and could happen in the future. So much of it was like present day. It was easy to understand. If you haven't spent a lot of time reading classics because they seem like too much of an undertaking, this is the book for you. It's just long enough, just short enough, just easy enough to follow along with. 

The end nearly broke my heart in two. It wasn't the "aw" kind of heartbreak. It was the "really?" and "I can't take this" and the "Why would the author do this to me?" kind of heartbreak. Nobody can claim that the author didn't stick to the true story, the heart of the story, or that he did what he had to do. That said, after reading Harry Potter and The Hunger Games and Divergent, the ending was a bit of a let down. Yet, what was I expecting? A modern ending on an old novel? That just doesn't happen. If it did, the story would be lost.

So: This is the easiest to read classic I've read yet. It was like the YA of classics which was a nice break for me while on vacation (I hadn't opened the novel yet and was very worried I would hate it and not be able to follow what was happening). Stick with it and let me know what you think about it! 

Review: Ruins (Partials Sequence #3)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Dan Wells
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 464
Rating: 7 out of 10 (This makes me so sad but it's true)

** This is the third in this series. Start with Partials. Read the review here **

Summary (from Goodreads): Kira, Samm, and Marcus fight to prevent a final war between Partials and humans in the gripping final installment in the Partials Sequence, a series that combines the thrilling action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Blade Runner and The Stand.

There is no avoiding it—the war to decide the fate of both humans and Partials is at hand. Both sides hold in their possession a weapon that could destroy the other, and Kira Walker has precious little time to prevent that from happening. She has one chance to save both species and the world with them, but it will only come at great personal cost.

The Story of My Copy: I need you to understand my pain so that you can understand my disappointment. Thus begins the saga of my copy...

March 11, 2014: Release date. After school, I race to the book store. Now, I've been waiting for this novel for too long. I'm so excited to get it. Kristen joins me at the book store to share in my joy. We head straight back to the Teen Section. I find Partials and Fragments in five seconds flat. Alas, where is Ruins? IT'S NOT THERE! I run to the fancy, new-fangled computer thing that tells you where the books are in the store. Guess what? THEY DON'T HAVE IT IN YET! Kristen and I wander around the store while I try to contain my tears. Of course, she mocks me by telling me that it's the final book in the series and she reads the summary to me, just to be mean, I'm certain of it. Now, I'm basically crying as I go up to a worker and ask her about the novel. She messes around on the computer for like an hour before telling me to try again tomorrow. What happens the next day? A HUGE SNOW STORM and I can't leave my house. The next day? I have school and my parents get home from Cuba. I called home to tell them I wasn't going to home until I got my book because I needed it. I go back to the book store after school. Now, it's getting close to closing time thanks to my night class on Thursdays. I run to the back but it's STILL NOT THERE! I find a computer that says they are in stock but I can't find them anywhere. I find a worker guy instead and I flirt my face off. I literally tell him that he will be my favourite person in the entire world if he will get my this novel from the stock room. He goes off and is gone for so long that I fear he won't come back with it. He finally returns with an "I guess I'm your favourite person in the whole world." I considered kissing him. He even offered me my choice between two copies in case one was bent or something. Then, I run to the line...where I stand for 30 minutes thanks to the attractive man working the register. I could've murdered him right then and there. So now I finally have my novel but can't start it because I'm going away for the weekend and have no time to read it. I thought I was going to die.

Thus we come to what I thought of the novel that took an entire week of my life: It was such a let down. I mean, it mostly tied everything up but it took forever to get there. There were plot points that seemed to come out of nowhere, and I don't mean that in a good way. They were suddenly just in my face with no build up to them and they were a big deal. There were too many plot points to just have them all show up suddenly at the end. The worst one was the thing with Kira's dad which just happens and isn't explained all too well. It was like plot overload.

I'm glad that from the first novel, we were able to get a glimpse into many of the character's heads. This novel focuses a lot more on the other characters, not just Kira. It's a good thing too because so much is happening and she is no longer at the center of it. I find it interesting that so many people came to the same conclusions about all their problems at the same time when nobody else considered these solutions for years.

The most upsetting part was the end. It ends alright. It ends rather suddenly I felt. What it really needed was an epilogue. I need to know that they survived. I want to know what the world is like after the novel ends. Do things change? Do they stay changed? Do the characters survive the winter? I just want to know if it ends happily ever after. All it did was end and I'm so sad because of it. I am happy with where all the characters ended up, I just wish we could see farther into the future than just the last moment of the novel. For all I know, they all died within the next two months and I hate that.

I don't know what to do with where the reader is left. I'm just sad. Ask me again in a few months. Oh but, can this please be made into a (really good) movie (that doesn't mess up the plot or the characters), please? I'd go see it.

So: Getting this book was a pain in my ass and it let me down. It might slip from my favourite series. I almost regret all of those book challenge answers where I call it my favourite. I'm so sad. I'm taking a break from reading. Finish the series if you've started. If you haven't started it, it's a good read and worth your time but the ending might disappoint you like it did me. I mean, maybe it won't. Let me know what you think. 

Persistence of Vision

Reviewer: Kristen 
Author: Liesel K. Hill
Pages: 386
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 10 out of 10

Summary (thanks Goodreads): In a world where collective hives are enslaving the population and individuals have been hunted to the verge of extinction, Maggie Harper, and independent 21st Century woman, must find the strength to preserve the freedom of the future, but without the aid of her memories.

After experiencing a traumatic time loss, Maggie is plagued by a barrage of images she can't explain. When she's attacked by a creep with a spider's web tattoo, she is saved by Marcus, a man she's never met, but somehow remembers. He tells her that both he and her creepy attacker are from a future in which individuals are being murdered by collectives, and Marcus is part of the rebellion. The collectives have acquired time travel and they plan to enslave the human race throughout all of history. The flashes Maggie has been seeing are echoes of lost memories, and the information buried deep within them is instrumental in defeating the collective hives.

In order to preserve the individuality of mankind, Maggie must try to re-discover stolen memories, re-kindle friendships she has no recollection of, and wade through her feelings for the mysterious Marcus, all while dodging the tattooed assassins the collectives keep sending her way.

If Maggie can't fill the holes in her memory and find the answers to stop the collectives, the world both in her time and in all ages past and future will be doomed to enslavement in the grey, mediocre collectives. As the danger swirls around her and the collectives close in, Maggie realizes she must make a choice: stand out or fade away...

---------------------- This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for a fair review. ---------------------- 

My Thoughts: Oh. My. God. Seriously though. I think it suffices to say that this is one of my new favourites. I loved Maggie. I loved Marcus... okay, I really loved Marcus. But more than that, I loved the premise of the novel. More often than not, when you're reading a story that deals with time travel it's easy to get confused. However, the writing ensures that you'd be hard pressed to get lost. Though written in third person, the story follows Maggie. She's a twenty something year old girl who luckily (or is she so lucky) to have the brain chemistry that the BCO is looking for. And thus begins this epic tale. So, the BCO travel back into the past because Maggie is essential for the prophecy. And so, Maggie quickly becomes part of the team. For a while. A year, to be exact. However, after a failed mission and some memory loss (I know, right?!) the BCO returns Maggie to her home"time". After being back, the BCO needs her again, and this is where the story really begins. Persistence of Vision throws a lot of information at you, but you never feel like you're drowning in it. It all seems crucial and essential to the story. There were points in the book where I laughed, where I wanted to scream, and where I wanted to hit my head against the wall a few times for not connecting dots sooner. This novel literally has everything that I look for in a book. Originality, romance, a fight for something better. This book completely captivated me, and it was all I could think about for days. Even after I finished the book, I would talk about it and try to figure out what happens next. Suffice to say, I'm eagerly awaiting the next one. 

On a kind of side note, this book would make an amazing movie. 

Final thoughts: I honestly believe that this could be the next big thing. You need to get your hands on this asap. You won't regret it for a second!

On a second kind of side note, thanks to Liesel K. Hill for sending me this book! 

_________________________________________________________

Reviewer: Kelsey

Rating: 8 out of 10

Basically: I really like novels that make you question the world around you. So much could really be happening in the world that we don't know about. I love that. I don't know everything, obviously. I'm totally open to novels that question the world. This novel did. It also makes you think about the future and where we as a people are headed. I don't like where we are heading if this novel becomes reality.

I enjoyed the premise of this novel. I also loved the characters. I felt sooooooo bad for Maggie. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be missing time or to have to learn all of this while everyone is acting weird around her. That said, I think Marcus has it so much worse. She can't remember him at all and that's totally unfair. 

Final Thoughts: I agree with Kristen. This book could be huge. You won't regret taking the time to read this novel!

Kristen is currently hoarding the second one so I'll have to steal it from her so I can find out what happens.

Review: Deity (Covenant, #3)

Reviewer: Kristen 
Author: Jennifer L Armentrout
Pages: 330
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 9 out of 10

Spoilers! 

Summary (you rock, Goodreads): History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden. 

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome. 

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed. 

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

My Thoughts: As much as this one frustrated me, and boy did it frustrate me, this is definitely my favourite one thus far. The characters went in some seriously weird directions, that I now understand. Aiden is growing on me, but he still is no Seth. Even after what Seth did at the end of this novel. I'm so excited to see where this story is going, because I honestly have no idea. 

That ending though, is by no means fair, and I'm going to get my hands on the next one. Like right now. I really needed it like 3 minutes ago. Okay. I'm going. Pick this up. Now. 

Final Thoughts: Okay, if you haven't been convinced by my other reviews, be convinced by this lack of one. I can't even write it I'm so excited to start the next one! 

Review: Article 5

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Kristen Simmons
Format: Paperback
Pages: 362
Rating: 5 out of 10

Summary (Goodreads sticks to the rules): 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.

My Thoughts: Five out of ten sounds really harsh but from our review outline it fits right. I feel kind of bad but it definitely wasn't my favourite book ever. It was an okay read and it was easy enough but I excepted more from it. 

The most incredible thing about this novel was the pure hate and anger I felt while reading the reform school part of the novel. It was the bed written part of this novel. I was so upset. I was so disgusted at how they were being treated. What scares me the most about novels like these is that I could totally see some of these things happening to the world. I don't think authors have to work really hard to see the worst parts of society and make them even more horrid. The moral of this story for me is that I would have just given up and been "good" because I don't have the strength or patience to deal with these problems. Thank God I don't live in this novel.

This novel seemed to go fast at some points and slower at other time. I'm tired of a few things in novels though. I wish that authors could come up with other ways of carrying plot. First, we can/can't/can/can't be together relationships suck. Also, I don't enjoy characters that cause other people to die. I don't like that characters need to have people die for them. Let's have to strong characters. I mean, Ember had really strong moments but the stunt she pulls at the end kind of undoes the respect that she managed to gain. She could have been so much more.

Poor Chase. He breaks my heart.

So: Some parts will stick with me...maybe forever but I'm sure if I'm going to buy the next two novels in the series. I don't feel a huge need to find out how the series ends like most series make me feel. I don't know. It was kind of just okay. I guess it was worth what I paid.

Review: Pure (Covenant, #2)

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Jennifer L Armentrout
Pages: 329
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 8 out of 10

Spoilers!

Summary (thanks, GR): Alex lives--and loves--recklessly, until a single decision leads to a heartbreaking revelation. As a mysterious threat closes in and she confronts a Council that wants to see her in servitude, Alex face a choice between love that is fated... and love that is forbidden.

My Thoughts: This one is going to be even shorter than the last one, because the second book always bleeds into the third and I don't want to say anything too spoileresque.

I liked this book too. I finished it in a day, and I couldn't stop thinking about everything that was happening. And hot damn, a lot of things happen in this novel. At some point, we're introduced to Seth, the strongest half-blood there is, someone even the pures fear. Seth is, in my opinion, much more realistic than Aiden, and I know that at this point liking Seth more is only going to end in some serious heart break. We end up learning that Alex and Seth have some weird voodoo magic god power that ties them together (where I see similarities to JLA's other series Lux). Their bond becomes stronger whenever they're together. When Alex awakens, their bond will make Seth a god-killer. So, with this knowledge we go forth in trying to decide whose good, whose evil, whose using them and who we can trust. It's a bumpy ride.

This book is even more adventure-packed than the first one. The characters develop extremely well. I'm so excited by this series, and you should be too!

Final Thoughts: Checcck it out, home skillets!

Review: Half-Blood (Covenant, #1)

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Jennifer L Armentrout
Pages: 281
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary (via Goodreads): The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals--well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

My Thoughts: So, this one is going to be short because Jennifer Armentrout did this thing where she pulled me into the series and refused to let go, which resulted in me reading the first three back to back. I swear, I almost didn't even come up for food. Total lie.  Another random note: if the word lure ever pops up randomly, it's because damn autocorrect kept doing it's job and correcting pures to lures. 

Anyways, I really, really, really (almost insipidly so) liked this novel. I didn't love it, but I definitely was no where near disliking it.  I did, however, find it a lot like her other series (Lux), and in the probably next review I'll talk about how. I liked the premise of this novel a lot, I don't think that I've ever read anything about gods. Now, I'm not all up to date on my Greek mythology, so I have no idea how accurate the descriptions of the gods where, but I mean, seemed pretty accurate to me. 

Holy bejeezus though, the gods doing the nasty with the mortals created one big mess. Like all good dystopian novels, theres some sort of caste system that's happening. And I'll try to break that down for ya. It goes gods (like Poseidon and Apollo) and their the highest. Obviously. Then we have the pures. They happened when the gods did the nasty with the mortals. Then we have the half-bloods. These cuties were made when the pures did the dirty kind of fun stuff. Basically, mortals are pretty alluring is what I'm gathering. Anyways, the pures are in charge of half-bloods. It's almost like a secret society. I made it confusing, but I promise Jennifer Armentrout does a better job with it. 

Our main character, Alex, is a half-blood. Her mother removed her from the little secret society of pures and half-bloods, and they were on the run in the mortal world, until trouble strikes. Alex is forced to go back to the school, where she focuses all her energy on training to become a Sentinel. (A kick ass daimon fighting half-blood). Of course, there she meets cute sexy perfect forbidden because of their blood guy Aiden (who I don't like but I'm not going to talk about that in this particular review) . He's training her, stuff happens, and all three of these books have suddenly blended together. 

Basically, I really liked Alex. I really disliked Aiden. The story pulled me in and I didn't want to stop reading. I promise, if you pick it up, you won't want to stop reading either! 

Final Thoughts: If you're a JLA fan (and seriously, whose not?) you should definitely check this out!

Review: Allegiant

Reviewer: Kristen  
Author: Veronica Roth 
Pages: 525
Format: Hardback 
My Rating: 5 out of 10


Summary (thanks Goodreads): The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

My SPOILER FREE Thoughts: So, the smart thing to do would have been to write this review right after having read this. I read it the week it came out, and, yeah, that was a while ago. I had, however, set up the review where I put my original rating and last line of the review. Since then, my thoughts have definitely changed. 

In the spirit of full disclosure, apparently immediately after reading this, I rated it an 8. I also ended the original version of the review with, "Definitely, without a doubt, my favourite in the series." Now that I've had months to think about it, I've changed my mind. 

For the most part, I understand why authors do what they do to characters, and I understand how important it is to keep characters organic. With the success of Divergent, I'm glad that Tris and Tobias both, for the most part, stayed the same. I didn't feel like Roth catered to what the fans wanted. Which is good, A+ for that! What I don't understand, though, is when authors do things for the shock factor. And frankly, I think a lot of the aspects of this novel were done for the shock factor. If you've read this, you definitely know what I'm referring to. 

Also, I felt like nothing of consequence happened. Dare I say, it felt like Breaking Dawn? There was build up, and then it fell flat. It felt like none of their plans came to fruition. The story didn't go where I thought it would, which I suppose is good. There wasn't enough grandeur, especially not for the final book in a popular series. 

Anyways, I don't really know what to say. I feel like people far more qualified than I have beat this horse past recognition. I've just gotta put down the bat. 

It was okay. It wrapped some things up, but not enough. 

Final Thoughts: A big old MEH

_______________________________________________

Reviewer: Kelsey
Rating: 5 out of 10

Thoughts: It was blah. I thought it was really long and kind of unnecessary. I'm glad that there was some kind of wrap to the series but I really think that this was not the best fit to end it. 

I would be okay with some of the...choices that the author made, had they been necessary or executed well. I don't think that either of those things applied to what she did. In fact, I felt that she undid all the work she did to wrap up the series. I expected so much more. 

Like, there isn't even that much to say...

I'm unhappy with this novel.

To End: This ending simply wasn't good enough for all the build up. I'm going to compare it to the end of Breaking Dawn...where nothing happens. Perhaps that's harsh given what does happen. I guess, to me, it just felt like one HUGE loose end. I'm so unsatisfied. 

The Elite (The Selection #2)

Reviewer: Kristen
Author: Kiera Cass 
Pages: 323
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 7 out of 10

** Spoiler Alert! Even reading the summary will spoil you. You've been warned! **

Summary (you da bomb.com, Goodreads):Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

My Thoughts: So, the last review I totally just spewed on and on about the characters. I'll try to refrain from doing that this time, because my opinion on most of them haven't changed. This book got me, I read it one sitting and I'm now anxiously counting down the days until the next one comes out. May 6th, for those of you not in the know. 

So, this one basically reaffirmed my hatred for America. Okay, put away the eagles, this girl is talking about the character. (I'm so funny, right?! Just... play along...) I really really disliked her, which is awkward. You'd think I'd want to be done with her character, but that is not the case. This one she gets bad for flip flopping between Aspen and Maxon. Seriously, at a few points, her mind literally changes every chapter. It was bad, but I kept going and I'm glad that I did. 

For some reason, this story stuck with me. It wasn't written in any fantastic way, and the narration wasn't to die for, but I can't get it out of my head. So, I guess that's the mark of a good novel, right? Maxon only made me love him more, Aspen only made me hate him more. (Remember when I said I wouldn't talk about characters....hahahahahah) 

And on that note...

Final Thoughts: It was a good read, I mean, I am biting my nails to the stubs waiting for the next one. (Only somewhat of an exaggeration). 

___________________________________________________

Reviewer: Kelsey

Rating: 6 out of 10

What I think: Like the first in this series, I think that this novel could be a lot more. Also, like the first in this series, I quite enjoyed this novel. It pulled me in, though I couldn't say why or how it managed to do that. 

I hate Aspen even more. Can't he just leave it all alone?

I'm not sure what to do with Maxon. I saw some things with him coming and other I didn't. He seemed to jump around a lot like I thought America did in The Selection. I'm mad at some of his choices. Am I surprised at what the author did for plot twists? Not really.

America still can't make up her bloody mind and it still bugs me. I feel like her emotions and interests are just made up as the author goes because I can't grasp her character. I think I have a handle on her than she randomly changes her mind. Clearly, it will end with her making some kind of decision. I have my own thoughts on who she should choose, of course.

The end of this novel pointed to a decision but I have a feeling that, in the end, it won't make a difference. It makes me angry. It's like she's made up her mind but keeps bouncing back to the other guy. Frankly, I'm tired of her and her nonsense. She's basically using two people and leading them on. Why bother fighting for something you don't want? I hope this issue is quickly resolved cause it's starting to bore me. I'd prefer more of a story that wasn't focused on her bouncing around.

So: I plan on finishing the series but I'm not really happy about it. I'm tired of America not choosing because I feel she already made a choice, not once but twice. The ending of this novel didn't do it for me but I really have no say in it so whatever. I'm not sure why I get so interested in these novels when they are in front of me. We shall see what happens.