Review: Kalahari (Corpus #3)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Jessica Khoury
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 368
Rating: 6 out of 10

Summary (Thanks, Goodreads): Deep in the Kalahari Desert, a Corpus lab protects a dangerous secret…
But what happens when that secret takes on a life of its own?
 
When an educational safari goes wrong, five teens find themselves stranded in the Kalahari Desert without a guide. It’s up to Sarah, the daughter of zoologists, to keep them alive and lead them to safety, calling on survival know-how from years of growing up in remote and exotic locales. Battling dehydration, starvation and the pangs of first love, she does her best to hold it together, even as their circumstances grow increasingly desperate.
 
But soon a terrifying encounter makes Sarah question everything she’s ever known about the natural world. A silver lion, as though made of mercury, makes a vicious, unprovoked attack on the group. After a narrow escape, they uncover the chilling truth behind the lion’s silver sheen: a highly contagious and deadly virus that threatens to ravage the entire area—and eliminate life as they know it.
 
In this breathtaking new novel by the acclaimed author of Origin and Vitro, Sarah and the others must not only outrun the virus, but its creators, who will stop at nothing to wipe every trace of it.

My Thoughts: Side note: this is the third in a series but the other novels only provide basic background information. They aren't actually important to this novel at all. New characters, new plot, new location. I'm assuming that eventually all the novels will tie together but it wasn't an issue here.

ANYWAY, this novel was full of twists and turns. Surprises were around every corner. The beginning worried me because I wasn't sure that I could get into a novel that was full of whiney teenagers (I didn't read the summary before I began, to be honest with you; I just like the author) but it turned out to be fine. The various characters ended up rounding out the novel very well. The cast was necessary for all the twists and turns, for the excitement. I thought that they oddly worked well together and they seemed like real people in many ways. Their priorities were a little messed up, even for spoiled rich kids, but it was fine, I suppose.

I was a little disappointed in the major "plot twist" that was built up to be much larger than it actually was. Even so, I wanted the kids to survive, to make it through. I thought that Sarah was a genius and was constantly impressed with the survival skills. Obviously she had to have some but I am a city kid and know nothing of surviving in the wilderness (not that I want to after reading this novel). I lived a unique life through the reading of this novel.

The bad guys were an interesting sort. It was further away from the corporation that the rest of the series was but that was okay. The bad guys were still bad enough and you didn't know enough about them to think you had everything figured out. I believed that they were horrible people that would do whatever it took. 

Basically, the survival skills taught you something and that plot was kept busy and moving at a fast pace with enough near misses and character development to keep everyone happy. I enjoyed this novel quite a lot. I almost wish that it was a little bit longer. Check it out.

Review: Vitro

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Jessica Khoury
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 384
Rating: 6 out of 10

This is the sequel to Origin (Click here to view) but I don't think there are any spoilers.

Summary (Nothing is equal to Goodreads): On a remote island in the Pacific, Corpus scientists have taken test tube embryos and given them life. These beings—the Vitros—have knowledge and abilities most humans can only dream of. But they also have one enormous flaw.

Sophie Crue is determined to get to Skin Island and find her mother, a scientist who left Sophie behind years ago. She enlists hunky charter pilot Jim Julien to take her there. But once on the island, Sophie and Jim encounter more than they bargained for, including a charming, brilliant Vitro named Nicholas and an innocent, newly awoken one named Lux.

In a race for their lives, Sophie and Jim are about to discover what happens when science stretches too far beyond its reach. 

My Thoughts: I don't think that this novel was quite as wonderful as Origin was. Mostly, I think that the characters in this novel were much stupider than they were in Origin. Really, you see a scary island that everyone says horrible things about but you think that it's a fantastic idea to try to waltz right onto it? WHAT PART OF THIS TRIP WAS A GOOD IDEA? Who are you? Ditzy girl #5 in a horror movie? You just gotta run back up the stairs. You know what? Here's a concept. LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU AND DON'T GO THERE. Your mother is a grown adult and can take care of herself since she sure as shootin' wasn't taking care of you all these years...stupid head.

The island sounded pretty? You know, except for all the horrible things happening there...

Jim was just as stupid as Sophie. Maybe more so because he knew all the stories and had been there this whole time. 

Plus, I mean, the plot twists weren't major plot twists that you wouldn't see coming. 

All that said, it wasn't a terrible novel. It was written well enough and was easy to read and follow. The characters had redeeming qualities and it openly led into the next novel (which I have waiting for me at home, by the way). I concept for this series is just terrifying enough to keep you reading while worrying about the future of the world and wondering what scientists are really doing out there (Conspiracy theories ftw). 

So that's my rant.

Basically, check our Origin first. If you like that than read this one. Maybe the next one will be better.  If you are concerned about whether or not you will like this novel, I should tell you that I didn't really put it down just because I wanted to see how badly everything would end up. It wasn't not worth it.

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: Opposition (Lux #5)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 534
Rating: 6 out of 10 (oh that's so sad)

** SPOILER ALERT: This is number five in the Lux series. Check out Obsidian HERE **

Summary (Lookx at Goodreads (Lame, sorry)): Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

My Thoughts: I'm still upset that this cover is different than that of the rest of the series and I don't even own the series, I borrowed it from Kristen. I promise that she is just as upset as I am, if not more upset. It's just so different and such a let down. 

But enough about unimportant things! In the beginning of this series, I loved it. I was 100% into the story line and the characters. By this novel, I was so bored. I don't know. Maybe it's that I think that most often trilogies are too long. Five books is nearly twice as long as that! It was just too much. I still cared a lot about the characters but so much about this series seemed like a useless filler. Get to the point. Don't add a million characters that aren't necessary or plot lines that don't matter to the main element of the story. I want to get right to it. I want to know that they will end up happy but I also want to be able to trust that the story will eventually end. This novel started to drag almost. Part of the problem may have been that I read the first four novels back to back and had to wait for this one to come out. I must have lost momentum. I usually love Jennifer Armentrout's novels. I'm starting to worry that she is pulling herself too thin.

I was content with the ending even though it was a bit of a pain to get there. Everything was wrapped up. I'm not really perfectly sure how they managed to wrap up the main plot point. Like, you just scared them away? Hey, whatever. Whatever works. I don't believe it 100% but that's fine. She's the author. She's the boss.

What I'm gathering from my slightly delayed review of this novel is that I liked the series as a whole but didn't really enjoy this novel on it's own.

This is a bad review, I am so sorry.

So: Don't let this review stop you from reading this series. This novel has informed my writing, if you would believe that. I also have an unnatural attachment to Jennifer Armentrout. This series was pretty wonderful in the beginning and I was excited to find out how the whole thing would end. I wasn't too let down by the ending.

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. 

Origin (Lux #4)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Rating: 9 out of 10

This is book 4 of this series. I would stop reading here if you plan on reading the first three...cause SPOILERS. 

Summary (Goodreads is out of this world!): Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. 

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? 

And will they even be together?

My Thoughts: I just want to punch Daemon in the face for what he did. I know why he did it but it was stupid and I, many times, wanted to reach through this novel and punch him. Had other things not happened, it would have ended so horribly and I would still be a puddle, crying, all this time later. As it is, I could barely handle this novel.

I think this one is my favourite in the series so far. I'm glad the author didn't just decide to let them die in a horrible fire brought on by the pain and fury of readers everywhere...then again, the ending? WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME! I don't like what was implied and you can guarantee that if it ends the implied way, there will be trouble. I can see myself finding this author and us having a little chat. I swear I'm not as crazy as I sound, I promise.

I don't know what to do until I get the next novel. I can henceforth be found rocking my sorrows away in the darkest recesses of my room. Too much? I think not. I cannot do the dealing or handling of this novel. 

Sadly, I hate to admit that I'm glad it happened. I enjoyed the action as well as the romance. I think that it followed the natural course though it was by no means predictable. I did, however, at times, feel like it was going awfully fast. It wasn't too fast to stay caught up though so you don't need to worry about that at all. 

I think this author is doing great things with this series and it's characters. I'm excited to see what happens next.

Just read them...now.
 __________________________________________________
THIS IS REALLY BOTHERSOME TO ME BECAUSE I WAS FIRST FOR EVERY OTHER BOOK IN THIS SERIES BUT KELSEY DECIDED SHE WANTED TO BE FIRST. 

Oh hi, it's Kristen, and thus my review will commence. 

My rating is going to be a solid 9 out of 10 stars. 

My Thoughts: So, I read this in August. Yup. August. You know what month it is now? January. (Though with the way that I'm having to move schedules around, this could very well be posted in March. The irony.) So, I'm going to have to go off of memory, and mine a'int so stellar. 

Basically I want to have Daemon's babies and marry the shit out of him. In whatever order he so desires. I love Katy. I remember that I really liked the dual POV's. I liked getting a glimpse inside of Daemon's head. 

I also can be found rocking in a corner waiting for the next book. The romance was so caaaaute and I just wanted the book to never end. The action kept me going. This book is giving me life. 

Serious author crush on Jennifer Armentrout. 

Go read, now. Your life will never be the same. 

P.S Any news on a movie?!

Opal (Lux #3)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Jennifer L Armentrout
Pages: 382
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 9 out of 10

SPOILER ALERT. THIS IS THE THIRD OF A SERIES. P.S I suggest not even reading the summary if you've not read the other two. 

Summary (thanks GR): No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

Kristen's Review for Opal Here

Thought: Given the huge spoiler warning at the top, I will keep this very short and to the point.

I still love this series and this author, even more in fact. I love that she sticks to the story no matter what character might get in the way or get hurt. Her doing this making the whole story seem more realistic. Sometimes bad things happen and sometimes good things happen. That's just the way it is and this novel, really this whole series, reflects that life fact.

I'm glad that the characters are growing and changing. These circumstances require it and the author, I think, does it perfectly. Apparently, I have lots of good things to say about this author...

I think the characters are perfect for their parts and I love them for it. 

If you haven't read the first two of this series, I recommend that you go find them and read the whole series so that you can understand the awesomeness and pain that is their series. I can't wait for the next ones!

Onyx (Lux #2)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Jennifer L Armentrout 
Pages: 366
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 8 out of 10

*** Spoiler warning! This is the second to the LUX series. Click for a review of Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout (Lux #1) ***

Summary (thanks Goodreads): Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Kristen's Review of Onyx

My Thoughts: I believe that this was a good sequel to this series but I think the summary lies a little bit. Okay, maybe lies is a strong word. The summary above seems a little misleading about where this novel goes and what it's motivations are. The most important thing is that the author sticks to the story. She doesn't give in to what the readers would want. She always does what is best for the story and forces the reader to deal with it.

My biggest, most worst, awful, horrid pet peeve of this novel was all of the secrets and ignoring of advice that Katy does. Katy should have spoken with Dee and she should have listened to Daemon. I understand why Katy was a little freaked out by the connection but she could have stood to relax a little bit about it. I don't see how she could blame so much on the connection; she should know herself better than that. I love that Katy and Daemon, even while not getting along perfectly, grow together.

Speaking of Daemon (aka look a shiny thing that has pulled my focus), he gets better. I mean, I wish he didn't get all jealous but then again Katy does that too.

This is a short review but the moral of the story is that they are great and I shouldn't read a series back to back without reviewing in between. I can't remember what happens in which novel and I'm getting all tied up and confused so I apologize. I'll try to work on that but, in the mean time, you should read this series and see what I've been talking about.

So: Like I said for Obsidian...you should just buy all of her novels and then read them and you will have the best two weeks of your life. Also, read the next novel in this series; it only gets better.

Obsidian (Lux #1)

Reviewer: Kelsey

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 361
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary (I don't even like you, Goodreads): Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is

Kristen's Take Here

My Thoughts: Okay, cover aside, this book is really great. It's packs a lot into it. It's got best friendships and love and action and good and evil and non-human character. Kristen gave me this novel and told me what it was basically about. I wasn't so sure I would enjoy it but having some kind of different people without them being vampires was kind of great. 

I got right into this novel and stuck with it until the end. I couldn't get enough. Of course, having a main character that I could understand and relate to was great...a book blogger? Couldn't get any better.

I just wish that she was a stronger character. She showed many strengths but I think she could have been so much more. I'm sad that the female character never ends up equal to the attractive male love interest. I think that girls should be allowed to prove themselves and Katy does in this novel. I just wish that her proving herself was better excepted. 

I love how sassy Daemon is too. I love the sarcasm and witty banter. I think he's wonderful. Hmm...I may be in love with him...but that's beside the point! In the beginning though, he was really hard to understand. I knew what he was and still found a hard time figuring out what his problem was. At the end of the copy I had there were a few chapters from his point of view and that helped for the next novel, if only a little bit. He really grows on you.

This novel seemed both similar and different to many of the other novels I've been reading recently. Yes, it was easy and there was love and there were characters that are not of this world but it was something more than that. The characters had chemistry. Even where that chemistry didn't turn romantic, I felt the characters were feeding off each other in a way that good actors on stage or TV do. They helped each other change and grow. I love that about this novel. I wanted to get to know these characters and how they may or may not change.

Conclusion: I loved this book and read four of them in three days. I didn't put them down. I can't wait to finish the series. Give it a chance. Kristen and I have a small non-weird crush on this writer so you might as well just buy one of her novels so you can be in the loop...no, seriously, go buy all her novels.

Angelfall

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Susan Ee
Format: eBook
Pages: 283
Rating: 5 out of 10

Summary (from the wings of Goodreads): It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

So: There is no book on Earth that has taken my longer to finish that I actually finished. I started this novel with great intentions and I was doing really well. I made it about 75% of the way when I just lost interest. I thought losing interest would be like a heart attack but it wasn't. It wasn't fast or sudden. The interest was simply gone. It was horrible sad. At first I thought it was going well, had a good pace and everything but it got suddenly very boring so I quit. I finally picked it up yesterday and finished it in less than thirty minutes. I suppose that if we ignore the five months I put the book down for then it ends up being a rather quick read through.

I did love the main character though. Well, I loved Raffe a great deal more. He was a weird sort of protective. She was kind of really direct and task oriented. Which brings me to how angry I am with the half solution of one of the problems within this novel. How can she be okay with the character changes in one specific character. Ohmygosh spoilers are coming, I can feel them I must be stopped! I feel, to end this discussion, that if I were Penryn I would have been a lot more upset.

Speaking of upset, like ew on the people eating and the wing ripping and tearing and sewing and stuff of the like. It's pretty nast-tastic. I do not like the thing. I wished for it to end. I am not a fan of turning people into gross creatures...grotesque creatures. All I've got is ewy...

The end though. It was some kind of end. It was like an end but not an end? I don't know. It wrapped up but didn't? This is super difficult without spoiling anything. I feel like it could have ended at a better part though I do understand why it ended when it did. I suppose it could have been hard to find a better place to stop. 

I really like the concept of angels but I'm not so sure about the execution. Maybe the next one will be better. I'm sure Kristen will read it and tell me all about how I have to read it. Speaking of Kristen, her review is here.

Closing: It took me too long to read this book because it couldn't hold my interest even with how much I loved the two main characters. I'm not sure if I will be reading the next book in the series. It's kind of a war, dystopian type deal if you are into that.

Shadow Falls Series

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: C. C. Hunter
Format: Paperback
Series Rating: 7 out of 10

I'm far too scared to review each of these novels. I don't want to spoil anything and I'm sure that if I review them individually, I will.

Summary for Born at Midnight (from Goodreads.com): Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. 

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

My Review for Born at Midnight

Thoughts for the series: I was a little wary of starting a new series but, luckily, all of these novels have been released so it went pretty fast. This is a series that you could read in a week. None of these books took me very long. There were no huge lost gaps of time that you had to account for because the novels only cover the span of a few months. The transitions were seamless between each novel. The only trouble I had with starting the new novels was that they recap literally everything that is happening. This is a good thing when it's been months since you read the last novel but reading them in the same week means rereading or reviewing most of the story every other day. I survived though.

I loved the characters. This is really a character driven novel, not a plot novel. We get to see how each character grows and changes. Five novels is a lot of time to spend with the same characters so you really grow to love and care for them. I found that I always had an opinion about what should happen in their lives. I found it both comforting and annoying at some points that everyone had someone. On that topic, why do all girls in novels have multiple guys fighting over her? oh well. I love that the characters may not get along but as soon as they need to, they are able to work together to get stuff done.

As I said above, this series is character driven. The series is about the characters and their relationships to one another. It's about their personal growth and struggles. Well...these were mostly about the relationships but still. The point I'm trying to make is that the supernatural plot wasn't the center of the story. It affected their interactions and choices but really didn't hold the story up on its own. This led what I thought to be the climax to move quickly. I felt that there were so many times that the author could have slowed down and given the reader a bit more of the character's emotions. There were points where I could have been terrified for Kylie but the time wasn't taken. The action went by so quickly. It was the most annoying part of these novels. That might be because I like the action with love on the side not the opposite like this novel was. In addition to this, there were parts of the novel, not the climax, that the author could have had me crying. The potential was there but was missed or ignored. I'm not sure which. I wish that the author would have slowed down those scenes and pulled the reader in a little bit more. Tell me exactly what she feels, go slow, don't smooth everything over when there is obviously something huge happening here.

The books weren't too complicated. I was figuring some stuff out before they were explained to the reader. It didn't bother me but I should mention it anyway.

The wrap up was sufficient but not much more than that. I thought that some stuff needed more explanation. I won't say that the author took the easy was out with some things but I wish there would have been a little bit more in the end. Maybe a longer chapter instead of just a little section. I want to be able to tell myself that I know exactly how her future and the futures of the other characters will play out. This was the kind of series that I thought would give me all that but it didn't. It wasn't a horrible ending though so I should be happy. I did, however, love the scene that it ended with. I thought it was perfect as was the thoughts about change that the series ended with. 

So: I would recommend this series to someone who wants an easy, cute, smooth flowing story that doesn't require a lot of thought. It would be good for a person that like their love stories with a bit of action on the side as well as self exploration. Careful though, Kylie is a bit dramatic and self-pitying at some points and you may want to strangle her.

Rory (The Ghosts of Palladino #1)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Ciye Cho
Format: ebook (This novel was sent to me for an honest review)
Pages: 660 (on my eReader)
Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary (with love from Goodreads): Far beyond heaven, earth and hell is a city known as Palladino, a place ruled by ghosts and filled with demons, magic, and all sorts of darkly beautiful things. A city where no one can ever escape.

Eighteen-year-old Rory is a cake decorator who makes stunning confections. But no amount of frosting or miracles can save her when a demon kidnaps her—and carries her to Palladino. Here, Rory ends up in a deadly charm school where young women are forced to become companions for the Ghost Lords. And for her to survive, Rory must become everything that she isn’t: graceful, elegant... and perfect.

But nothing is what it seems in Palladino. Not the magic. Not the ghosts. And definitely not Martin Marius, the bizarre Ghost Lord-slash-inventor who is drawn to Rory. For amid a thousand machines and a hundred cats, Martin holds a secret that could change everything. A secret that could either free Rory... or destroy her.

Thoughts on the matter: A character that's like a real person? No way! You can't find one of those anywhere...or can you? I like Rory. She's sassy and knows what she wants (until a certain part of the story that it but shhhhhhh...no spoilers). Rory has had real hard times and real pain. In fact, thanks to the fact that it apparently doesn't matter where a group of girls is, they are all still jerks to the odd one out, she still suffers a lot when she shouldn't have to. I felt so bad for her and wanted to reach into the story so I could beat some people up for her.

Actually, all the characters really showed and stayed true. Some were sneaky and could hide coming  twists and turns while some you could figure out in a heart beat. Each character was worth their lines, easily. And Martin? What the heck was with that guy? Talk about an enigma. I liked it. Who could forget Cookie? I'd ignore any or my allergies or those of my family for a cat like Cookie.

Sadly, I felt that a lot of time was given to things that may not have been important to the story while not some very important parts seemed to be skimmed over. This bothered me because it meant spending so much time reading over what seems less important but as soon as there is a major conflict, I want more. I wasn't super clear on which part of the story was the most important. This small problem didn't cause me to lose interest or anything, it was just something that I noticed. Okay, okay, it made me kinda sad but at least the writing was clear and didn't require much thought outside of the schemes, plots, and theories that I couldn't stop throwing around in my head.

I was, however, totally distracted from most of the writing style stuff. I'd read novels by this author before (check them out, they are great!) so I knew a bit of what to expect writing wise but I had no idea where the story was going. I was surprised at where it went. The concept for this novel, I thought, was very unique and I love me my unique works. I really didn't know where we would get to by the end of this novel. I didn't see what was coming ahead until it was right there. If I did figure something out before it happened, it wasn't too far ahead of it actually happening. I'm glad it was like that. It kept me focused. 

And we've come to the cover. How gorgeous is that cover? All of the covers for this author match, which I love, and they all look incredible. They are as much of a work of art as the novel itself. I love this cover. Apparently, I'm a sucker for colour it would seem.

Basically: This is an easy and enjoyable read. I've not read another book with the same idea. The characters were perfect for their roles but I did feel that some scenes were a bit lacking. I would definitely consider rereading this novel and I recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal, science-fiction, and magic or doesn't mind not knowing whats coming next.

At least you have the benefit of reading this before decided whether or not to read this novel. I just went for it with no idea of what I was getting myself into. Now I'm just sad that I have to wait for the next one.

See more by this author. Check out Florence.