Defy the Fates by Claudia Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great finish to a fantastic YA sci-fi adventure. Still clean and full of action and morality questions. Glad I read it.

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Defy the Worlds by Claudia Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I tore through this book. And although I enjoyed the plot and action and the relative cleanliness of the book, it also contains and delves in to complex moral questions of artificial intelligence and what is the threshold for what constitutes life. I’m already reading the last book in this trilogy.

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Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Update Mar. 1, 2021: I have re-read this and I still loved it! Now I'm going to binge on the trilogy!

After reading the epic Pillars of the Earth, I needed something a little less involved and this was perfect. Almost totally clean and chock full of adventure and action, with some ethics and morality thrown in. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

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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.

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.

Serendipity

Serendipity (Only in Gooding #5)

by Cathy Marie Hake

2 stars

336 pages 

Published Nov. 1, 2010 by Baker Publishing Group

I was in the mood for a romantic novel, but I don't like all the graphic sex scenes, so I opted for a Christian version. I was quite happy with the lack of swearing and sex, but that's basically all the good I can say about this book.

It was booooring. And the ending was abrupt and did not satisfy many loose ends. But what bugged me the most was the mother-in-law. She was a horrible, horrible person. And for a Christian novel, I was surprised that the author did not offer any glimmer of kindness or charity in this character. All she did was berate, insult and degrade the woman her son had married.

I was confused, too, at the development of the love between the two main characters. It was choppy and terribly written.

I will not be reading any more books by this author 

Across the Universe

Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)

by Beth Revis

4 stars

398 pages

Published Jan. 11, 2011 by Razorbill

I liked this book despite the "Soylent Green" overtones. I really liked the plot and the pacing. Writing was pretty good, too, and the characters were well-rounded, except for the villains, but those are usually flat anyway, so no biggie.

I will be reading the next in the series. Can't wait to see what happens!

Turned

Turned (The Vampire Journals #1)

by Morgan Rice

2 stars

 
150 pages

Published Jan. 24, 2011

Not a huge fan of this book, mostly because the "I'm in love with a vampire the moment I meet him" theme is overdone. I was hoping that this would be different. It was not. At least it was short.

A bit of strong language, too, so watch out.

I will not be reading the others in the series.

A Weekend with Mr. Darcy

A Weekend with Mr. Darcy (Austen Addicts #1)

by Victoria Connelly

3 stars

 

345 pages

Published July 1, 2011 by Sourcebooks Landmark (first published Sept. 16, 2010)

 

Another Jane Austen fan fiction. I'm not sure why I keep reading this stuff. They aren't particularly well-written nor do they have very original plots. But there's something about a story with a guaranteed happy ending. 

Enchanted

Enchanted (Woodcutter Sisters #1)

by Alethea Kontis

2 stars

308 pages

Published May 8, 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books

This first half of the book was pretty amazing, and held so much potential! And then ... it just got weird and foundered and sank. I think the author was trying to cram every single fairy tale into one story - it just got too confusing and too lame. If she would have just stuck to one concept - the Frog Prince - things would have turned out much, much better.

Also, all the characters, with their odd names, made it that much more confusing.

I was so sad when this book ended, because so much was left wanting - a fabulous idea destroyed in the execution.

Big Boned

Big Boned (Heather Wells Mysteries #3)

by Meg Cabot

3 stars

280 pages

Published Nov. 20, 2007 by Avon A

I hope this is the last of the Heather Wells books, because this one finally had the right ending. I honestly read these books - not for the murder mysteries - but to see if Heather ever ended up with the "right" person.

I was happy with who she ended up with.

Size 12 Is Not Fat

Size 12 Is Not Fat (Heather Wells Mysteries #1)

by Meg Cabot

3 stars

345 pages

Published Dec. 27, 2005 by Avon Books

 
Totally predictable, but fun nevertheless. A spattering of swearing, but it's not too bad. This book follows the adventures of has-been pop star Heather Wells in her job as an assistant dorm director. I'll likely read the next in the series. Gotta see if she ends up with "the one." I'm a sucker for a good love story.

As You Wish

As You Wish (Genies #1)

by Jackson Pearce

3 stars

304 pages

Published Aug. 25, 2009 by Harper Teen

I liked this fluffy little story well enough. It's definitely not fine literature, but a cute beach read for teens.

It touches on how it's OK to not belong to the "in" group and to be yourself. And how change can be a good thing.

There was one f-bomb, which was weird because there wasn't one other swear word in the whole book. Why did the author put it in?

Roar and Liv

Roar and Liv (Under the Never Sky 0.5)

by Veronica Rossi

3 stars

68 pages

Published October 30th 2012 by HarperCollins 

A very quick little novella that takes place before "Under the Never Sky" that tells us how Liv (Perry's sister) is sold to feed her tribe. Unfortunately, the story was pretty much told in "Under the Never Sky." The only additional information was a deeper understanding of the relationship between Roar and Liv. Entertaining, but completely unnecessary to the development of the full novel.

The Crown of Embers

The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2)

by Rae Carson

2 stars

410 pages

Published September 18th 2012 by Greenwillow Books

The first half of the book was booooring. It took me forever to get through it. Slog, slog, slog.

Once I got through that though, it picked up. But then that part went way too fast. Why couldn't Carson skip the lame stuff and concentrate on pacing the good stuff? The final "battle" was like a page long, maybe two.

Don't know if I'm going to read the third in this series.

Daddy-Long-Legs

Daddy-Long-Legs (Daddy-Long-Legs #1)

by Jean Webster  

5 stars

249 pages

Published 1912 by Hodder & Stoughton

 

It is rare that I give 5 stars, but this adorable book deserves it. I believe this is one of the sweetest books I've ever read. It's witty and cute, and although it's written back in the early 20th century, it still is pertinent to today. I loved it.

I recommend to everyone! It's a quick read and you'll be a better person for reading it.
How many books can you say that about?

The Accidental Bride

The Accidental Bride (Summer Island #2)

by Christina Skye

3 stars

 

376 pages

Published Sept. 18, 2012 by Harlequin

 

I wasn't overly thrilled with this book, but it was a sweet story without all the yucky sex scenes. A bit of an unbelievable plot, with the main characters falling in love the moment they see each other - call me jaded, but it usually doesn't happen that way. I guess that's why it's a "romance" book - the idealized version of love.

I was a little bugged by the blatant use of puppies and knitting and cooking in the book - it was as if the author thought of three things that women love and stuck them in the book to appeal to the widest range. I'm surprised that kittens and rainbows did not make an appearance, although reading in front of a sunset did (which is my personal favorite). See! It caught me, too!

Doubt I'll read another one in the series. But it was a good experiment.

The Lost Code

The Lost Code (The Atlanteans #1)

by Kevin Emerson 

2.5/3 stars

435 pages

Published May 22, 2012 by Katherine Tegen Books

I'm wavering between a 2.5 and a 3 star rating.

The first couple of chapters were fantastic. I couldn't believe how gripping they were - kid at a summer camp drowns, but doesn't drown. Cool stuff happens to his body that allow him to breathe underwater.

But after he figures that whole body thing out and he finds some friends, the story kind of stalls. It picks back up toward the very end of the book with some major discoveries, but the previous lackluster story dulled the heightened tension. I really had to push through the "blah" to get to the "yah!"

I must say, though, that Kevin Emerson knows how to write a good bad guy.


There is some gore and swearing and allusions to teen sex.

I may read the next in the series. We'll see.

Siege and Storm

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2)

by Leigh Bardugo

4 stars

432 pages

Published June 4, 2013 by Henry Holt and Co.

After reading the first in this trilogy, Shadow and Bone, I couldn't wait to read this one.

I actually tried to read another book before reading this one (a light Meg Cabot book) - but I got too antsy. I had to know what was going to happen next in the lives of Alina and Mal! When that happens, I know that what I'm reading is good - the words are reaching out and grabbing me by the wrist and forcing me to sit down and read.

And luckily, No. 2 in the Grisha trilogy delivers. It's such a relief when you read a sequel and it's just as good (if not better) than the first.

We continue to see growth in all the characters. We follow the struggles to free Alina's world from evil. And just to make things more interesting - the love story hits some snags.

Little to no swearing and no sex.

Can't wait til the last book comes out. It's already on my To Read list.