Origin

Origin (Lux #4)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

3 stars

364 pages

Published Aug. 27, 2013 by Entangled Publishing

Although I give this book 3 stars, I can't really recommend it because the language was so bad. Unnecessarily. The plot was good, action was plentiful, but the violence was a bit over the top.

I'm not sure if I'm going to read the next in the series. I was actually hoping this book was the last.

Endless

Endless (The Violet Eden Chapters #4)

by Jessica Shirvington

3 stars

446 pages

Published Aug. 28, 2012 by Hachette

Can I just say that if this was the last book in this series, I would have seriously had to hurt someone. The ending TOTALLY sucked. I was so bummed the entire rest of the day, because for some reason I thought that this was the end. Luckily I got on Goodreads to check. Whew. Disaster averted!

As it is, I still have mixed feelings about this installment in the Violet Eden series. Some good things happened. Some bad things happened. There still was all the violence and sexual tension that appear in the previous books. And some significant things happened and knowledge shared. But what's next?

I suppose the "financier" will have something to do with the next book - obviously. There was a huge fat question mark floating above his head at the end of the book.

I'm just happy that there is another book. Although, I'm hoping Number 5 is the last. There's only so much I can take, you know?

Heaven's Queen

Heaven's Queen (Paradox #3)

by Rachel Bach

4 stars

379 pages 
Published April 22, 2014 by Orbit
 
A great, happy ending to this action-filled sci-fi romp through the universe. Loved it!

There is a sex scene and more than a smattering in s-words throughout the book. I may just have to read some of Rachel Bach's other books; let's see if they are as good as this trilogy was.

The Diviners

The Diviners (The Diviners #1)

by Libba Bray

3 stars

578 pages
Published Sept. 18, 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
 
I enjoyed this book, mostly. Sometimes the flapper language was annoying and too persistent and the book was a little too long - plus there is a developing love triangle (ick!), but I overlooked all that in favor of a great, twisted, and delightfully dark plot. There is some - no, quite a lot of gruesome killing scenes, so beware. I skipped most of them. All I needed to know was who got dead.

I haven't read many books set in the flapper and prohibition era, so this was a good introduction to speakeasies, spiritualism and old-time New York. What a crazy time.
I may pick up #2 when it comes out. We'll see.

Tremor

Tremor (Pulse #2)

by Patrick Carman

4 stars

320 pages

Published Feb. 25, 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books

 
Luckily, this book - the 2nd in the Pulse Trilogy - is better than the first. It does not make you wait as long for the action like in the first book. Our heroine already has her powers, so we can get right to the juicy stuff.
The bad guys are stronger and badder, with a devious plan. The ending contained an awesome twist. Will be reading #3.

Pulse

Pulse (Pulse #1)

by Patrick Carman

3 stars

371 pages

Published Feb. 26, 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books

The first half of this book was very slow, but I was so intrigued with the premise and where the book could go, that I stuck it out. It finally picked up after slogging through the boring stuff - I'm glad I stuck with it. A promising new trilogy by one of my favorite authors, Patrick Carman.

The One

The One (The Selection #3)

by Kiera Cass

3.5 stars

323 pages
Published June 5, 2014 by HarperCollins Children's Books  
 
I'm glad this series is over. It ended well, too, which was nice. It even had an epilogue! I love epilogues.

I'm not sure there is much depth to this series, but if you want a mindless, entertaining beach read, this is a great choice.

Ruin and Rising

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3)

by Leigh Bardugo

3 stars

422 pages

Published June 17th 2014 by Henry Holt and Co.

I'm wavering between 2.5 and three stars, because this book just wasn't all that great. Actually the whole series wasn't all that great. Not bad, just not stellar. But I read all three, so I guess that says something.

Maybe it was the whining characters, or the endless killing, or maybe it was just boring.

I'm glad it's over.

Graduation Day

Graduation Day (The Testing #3)

by Joelle Charbonneau

3 stars

304 pages 

Published June 17, 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers

 

Meh. Not great. Too many questions in the prose: "Should I do this?", "How can I do this?", "Who can I trust?", etc. Too distracting.

I'm just glad this trilogy is over. It wasn't stellar - more of a Hunger Games meets whiny girl meets Rage Against the Machine. If I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't waste my time.

Chasing the Prophecy

Chasing the Prophecy (Beyonders #3)

by Brandon Mull

3 stars

512 pages
Published Mar. 12, 2013 by Aladdin

If you can get past all of the questions that are asked in the narrative (and there are so many, I started skipping those paragraphs), this is a great ending to a pretty great trilogy for kids. The questions asked by the main characters were so plentiful that it detracted from the pace and action of the book. Instead of asking so many questions, like "Is this the right thing to do? How do I know?" etc. the book's action and pace would be better served by decisive decision-making.

Despite that, the book was full of moral themes that I would love to have my kids adopt. Themes such as valuing friendship, being loyal and having faith.

I can recommend to any kid or teen wanting a action-packed, yet still clean book to read.

Empower

Empower (The Violet Eden Chapters #5)

by Jessica Shirvington

4 stars

496 pages

Published May 6, 2014 by Sourcebooks Fire (first published Nov. 12, 2013)

Finally, finally! I am done with this series. And fortunately, I didn't waste my time. The last book was quite possibly the best of the bunch. It was full of action and soul-searching and more action. The only thing that bugged me was how the the huge, pivotal change of heart that Violet had that changed the outcome of the book was handled. It was like the suffering that she had endured for the past two years was changed in two paragraphs. It was unsatisfying and abrupt.

Besides that, I enjoyed the book immensely. There was one sex scene (not graphic) and little to no swearing.

I can recommend to anyone looking for a not-too-many-books series, in which they've all been published. (Don't you hate having to wait for the next book in an on-going series??!)

Honor's Knight

Honor's Knight (Paradox #2)

by Rachel Bach

4 stars

384 pages

Published Feb. 25, 2014 by Orbit 

 

As far as sequels go, this one is a winner. I was ecstatic about the first novel, Fortune's Pawn, and was eager to get my hands on No. 2 in the trilogy. I did! And I read the thing in a day. While sick. And while my 20-month-old was sick. It was that engrossing.

The book is full of all the good stuff that was in the first book, minus the sex scene. Plus lots of answers and explanations. Not all, but definitely enough to satisfy me. I am on the waiting list for the last book, and can't wait to read it.

Fortune's Pawn

Fortune's Pawn (Paradox #1)

by Rachel Bach  

4 stars

320 pages

Published Nov. 5, 2013 by Orbit

Ah. Sci-fi at its best! I loved this book! It's full of space adventure, fighting, aliens, a mysterious enemy, love, travel ... all well thought-out and described. Bach has created a universe full of diversity, danger and beauty. I can't figure out how one person can bring such creativity and imagination to a book.

The only thing I can't figure out is if this is a YA or an adult book. I am leaning toward adult, because the main character, Devi, is almost 30 years old and is quite free with sharing her sex life. There is a sex scene in here, but it's not terribly graphic. But it is there.

There is some swearing, as well. I wouldn't let my mom read this book.

Yet saying that, I can't wait to read all the books in this trilogy! I haven't read a book that gets me excited like this in a long time.

Dark Triumph

Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2)

by Robin LaFevers

3.5 stars

385 pages 

Published April 2, 2013 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children 

 

I was so confused at the beginning of this book. It had been a while since I read the first book, and was expecting to keep following the main character in that one. But I had forgotten her name, so I was so out of it. I persevered and finally figured out that this book follows a completely different character. Once I had that straightened out, I started to enjoy the plot and action.

Like the first book, the writing is dark and depressing, yet compelling. I couldn't put it down, but I had to to preserve my sanity. The bad guy was truly bad - so bad that it was slightly unbelievable. And the end of his story was unsatisfying. I wish there had been more to it.

I will probably read this last book in this series, which I assume will follow a different character than the first two books.

Into the Still Blue

Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3)

by Veronica Rossi

4 stars

392 pages

Published Jan. 28, 2014 by HarperCollins

Finally! I got to finish this trilogy. My life can continue.

Since it had been a while since I read #2 in the trilogy, it took me a while to catch up on what had previously happened. You know how some books have the book equivalent of TV shows' "Previously Seen on ..." before the books starts to get you reacquainted with plot and characters? This book would have benefited by having that.

But it's not too bad. There aren't a gazillion characters you have to remember. And the plots pretty simple.

The one thing that bugged me about the ending and their journey to the Still Blue is the abruptness in which they found their destination. It was so easy! After 2.5 books touting the difficulty of the way, everything was so simple.

And what really bugged me was how Cinder was treated. I'm not giving anything away here. You'll have to read the book and find out, but I HATED what happened to him!!

There was a bit of teen sex that was glossed over, but little to no swearing. There also is a bit of gory violence and a few torture scenes.

Independent Study

Independent Study (The Testing #2)

by Joelle Charbonneau

3 stars

 

310 pages

Published Jan. 7, 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers

 

I finished reading this book weeks ago, but couldn't convince myself that it needed a review immediately - there were other books that were more worthy of my words and attention. Not to say this book was BAD, it was just kinda meh. But I liked it mostly.

Confused, yet?

Yeah. I am, too.

This novel built a bit on the first book, but not too much. There were some well-written suspenseful parts - being trapped in an airtight container comes to mind - and some not so well-written parts.
There was no sex and mild-to-no swearing, which bumped it up to a 3 star rating from my original 2.5.

I haven't decided if I'm a-gonna read the last book in the series. I am not super invested in the characters - so if the author wants to "kill off Tris," it wouldn't break my heart.

Mistborn

Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)

by Brandon Sanderson

4 stars

541 pages
Published July 25, 2006 by Tor Books

Wow. This book was actually pretty awesome. I enjoyed it immensely. Brandon Sanderson knows how to write an epic fantasy novel. He has created a world with well-thought-out rules and ways of life. And of course, his characters are fully fleshed out and real. I would have been disappointed if they weren't - Sanderson's novel has p.l.e.n.t.y. of pages to develop his characters. Yet if I had one gripe about the novel - it would be that ... the length. I know most fantasy books are long, long, long, but this one seemed like it could be condensed quite a bit. Some of his explanations on how the metals worked seemed redundant and overly verbose.

I am happy that the book had a good ending - enough questions remain to facilitate a sequel, but enough tied ends to make it a stand-alone book if you wanted to end it there. Which I may do, I haven't decided yet.

Everbound

Everbound (Everneath #2)

by Brodi Ashton

2 stars

358 pages
Published Jan. 22, 2013 by Balzer + Bray
 
I so wanted to love this book. I used to live near Park City, Utah, which is where the book is set, so I know the places mentioned in the book. That eased visualization a bit. But in the end that "plus" just wasn't enough for me.

The first book in this series, "Everneath," had such great potential. Teenage angst, which is usually annoying to me, was dealt with in a "See what can happen if you act rashly, not rationally!" Yeah, you get sucked underground and your life force is bled from you. Delightful. I loved it.

But this second book ... I felt like half of it was getting to the place where something actually happens. And it was SO dark. Dark and depressing. It was like I was in the Tunnels getting my life force sucked out. I need to watch a light, funny romantic comedy to counteract all the happiness suckage.

My favorite part was the very end. You gotta give Cole props. Nice one, mister.

I'm not sure if I'll read the next in the series. I kinda don't really care what happens next. We'll see.

Heat Wave

Heat Wave (Nikki Heat #1)

by Richard Castle

4 stars

198 pages

Published Sept. 29, 2009 by Hyperion

I've been on this Castle kick for the past couple of weeks - kids have been sick, I've been sick; husband, too. So I checked out the first three seasons of the show from my local library to help me veg out.

Have I told you how much I love libraries? Oh, yes. It's a well-known fact that when buying a house (which we do a lot, since we're moving every three years), I migrate toward homes that are close to libraries. In fact, now that I think about it, every home I've lived in during my married life has been within walking distance of a library. All the better to feed my addiction.

Sorry, back to the subject.

So, I fell in love with the wit and repartee and - dare I say it? - immaturity encapsulated in the main character of Richard Castle, played by Nathan Fillion. He is endearing and rascally!

I watched all three seasons in like 3 weeks, and begged my friend to let me borrow her seasons 4 and 5, which she did, bless her heart. I watched those in like 2 weeks. My daughter started watching them, too! Although I had to pick and choose the ones that were more appropriate for her. The sexy ones I nixed. While watching, I made a mental note to look into the books that the fictional Richard Castle wrote - the Derrick Storm books and Nikki Heat books.

I started with this one. 

And I loved it just as much as I love the show! Because it reads exactly like a Castle episode. The writing is exactly the same as the show's writing. The characters are the same. 

I will be reading more of these books - since I am not done with my glut of Castle.

There is some swearing - no F-bomb. A mild sex scene on page 105.

The Dark Shore

The Dark Shore (The Atlanteans #2)

by Kevin Emerson

3.5 stars

470 pages

Published May 21, 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books

If you liked The Lost Code, you'll be happy to know that No. 2 is better. Much better.

What bugged me about No. 1 is that nothing really happened - but The Dark Shore makes up for that lack with lots of action and lots of intrigue. Information is divulged and people die. The pacing is spot on and the action is not stop. Owen continues to grow a spine and is popular with the ladies. Leech sheds his sub-human attitude and makes peace and friendship with Owen. And Lilly - well, you'll just have to read what her deal is.

So why the 3.5 stars and not a 4 or 5? There is some teen almost-sex and some swearing. But what disappointed me most of all is that the author threw zombies into the climax of the book. I'm not the hugest zombie fan, I admit, but jumping on that band wagon was cliche and uninspired.

Although despite that, I am going to read the next in the series, which is expected to be out Aug. 26, 2014.