Review: Shatter Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #1
Pages: 338
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5/5

Summery:
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.

Review:
Oh my God.  Oh my God.  I love this book.  When I started it I didn't think I would like it because Tahereh Mafi had this weird way of writing that I wasn't used to, but wow.  I loved it.  This review is going to be really short because this book is so good.

The story line was amazing.  The writing was amazing.  The idea was amazing.  I mean, how did Mafi even think of this?  It's amazing.  And by half-way finished I had finally gotten used to Mafi's writing and actually really enjoyed it because it got the point across better.  I really don't know how to explain it, but it just really, really worked.  I loved the action, I loved the humor, I loved everything.

I LOVE ADAM.  And I'm serious.  I TOTALLY AM IN LOVE WITH ADAM.  He sounds so cute and caring and just the most perfect guy you could think of.  Why, oh why, can't he be real?
I also really liked Juliette.  She was strong, kick-ass, and really got on Warner's nerves, which I loved.
Speaking of Warner, I HATE HIM.  HATE, HATE, HATE HIM.  He is the most evil person I have read about in a long time and I really, really wish Juliette had killed him.
One of the most funny characters I've read in a while is Kenji.  Gosh, this dude is just so funny.  He's so full of himself and gosh, just the comments he makes, they crack me up.

All in all, hands down the best book I've read this year, and probably the best I'll read all year.  Mafi is amazing.

Review: Firelight

Author: Sophie Jordan

Series: Firelight #1

Pages: 323
Format: Hardcover

Release Date: September 7, 2010

Rating: 4/5
Cover Rating: 4/5 (I love the red hair and the scales around her eyes)

Summery:
A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Review:
I was actually very impressed with Sophie Jordan in this novel.

She got right into the action on like page five, which I love, and she explained everything, like Jacinda's history and all, so that we could understand the story.  It was a very complex plot, sometimes confusing.

When you are a girl falling for a guy, the guy has to be cute and likeable.  I don't think Sophie Jordan did as great a job in this area.  Will came across as too tough and buff and I just didn't like that.  A guy should have muscle, yeah, but he should also be kind, soft, and caring, and I don't feel like Will was like that.

In the middle of the story I got a bit confused with all the drama--do I stay with Will or run away?--I'm in love with Will--Oh, I'm not anymore--Oh wait, I'm in love again.  It was confusing and a bit unnecessary.  I know you have to have suspense and drama, but you also have to write it so that the reader can keep up, and I just couldn't.

I feel like Will did soften up towards the end, which I like, but I can't help liking Cassian better than Will because he seems nicer.

Plus, I love this cover.  The scales and glitter and red hair work perfectly together.

What are your thoughts on the book?  Leave comments, I love them. (:

Review: Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy #1
Pages: 335
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Rating: 4/5
Cover Rating: 3/5
Add this book to your to-read shelf on Goodreads
Summery:
Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.


Review:
For a debut, Kiersten White did a very good job.  I loved the story line, loved the writing, loved the characters.

I usually don't like book with institution-like story lines, but it worked out for this book.  There were twists and turns and climaxes everywhere, and it was fast paced and funny throughout.

It's always important to have good, strong characters in a book, and I think Kiersten White did a great job in this area.  She made you fall in love with them, from mermaids, to supervisors, to werewolves, you found yourselves feeling for them.  And Lend--OH MY GOD DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED!!  Totally swoon-worthy, and he sounds like the sweetest guy ever.  Lish was so nice and sweet, and Raquel was the motherly figure Evie never had.  And Evie, I LOVE Evie.  She was funny, smart, care-free, cool, and didn't care what she said.  I love the cast in this book, it's one of the best.

The writing was connected and flowed without a hitch, and sometimes I couldn't even tell I was reading a book, I actually thought I was there.
I can't wait for the next books in this series, and I'm sure they'll be just as good.



What are your thoughts about this book?  Leave comments, I love them. (: