Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X, #1)

*this is a netgalley review

Summary:

"In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.
When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.
Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of Xseries, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense"

Plot: The story line starts off quickly and you are instantly intrigued by all that is happening and than the book hits a lull and kind of it like a roller coaster from there on... you hit an exciting part and then slow down and back and forth. Lots of side stories, that may seem random but I promise they are not. Overall, Mead is really building the RUNA world and Mae and Justin's story lines for the series here.

Characters: I love both the Main Characters Mae and Justin. They each have their faults and their strengths which makes them very relate-able and like-able characters. Yet, they each have that extra umph that makes them special as well.

Pros: For those who are only familiar with Mead's Young Adult work this book is a nice medium for you. Although, it is definitely an adult book.

Cons: Due to the cramming of information it can get a little confusing at times.

Final Thoughts: The beginning and ending are what really sold me on Gameboard of the Gods. I like Mead's concept and take on the Gods and how she uses them. Although, there weren't A LOT of Gods in the story line like I expected. I can tell they will play a bigger role in the series. Mead's adult writing is a tiny bit slower paced than her Young Adult writing but I got used to it. If you are a loyal Mead fan, you can safely add this to your must read list.

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)

 

Summary:

"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year."

Plot: Personally, I felt that Mockingjay lacked the shock and awe that the previous two books did. Everything seemed predictable to me and overall frustrated me.

Characters: FINALLY Gale steps up the plate and becomes a character, but still he lacks enough depth for me to have feelings for him. I cannot even comment on Peeta. Cause really WHY?! Take the one thing I love about this series and change it. UGH.

Final Thoughts: Personally, I was really disappointed with the series. I was iffy about book one, book two made me obsessed and book three made me think it was a fluke. The book was all gore and no real context. I didn't even feel like the ending was right. It was almost like Collins gave up and just gave us all the ending we wanted, without really taking us from A to B. Yes, there were some clever moments, but overall I wasn't impressed. Too Predictable and Infuriating.

Edgewood

Summary:

"From bestselling author Karen McQuestion—a brand new, spellbinding novel.
The night Russ Becker witnesses a strange astronomical event, his world changes forever. Before long Russ discovers he's developed incredible superpowers, and he’s not the only one. Three other young people—beautiful Mallory, arrogant Jameson, and mysterious Nadia—have had the same experience and all of them now have powers of their own. Mallory can control peoples’ minds, Jameson moves objects with his thoughts, and Nadia has empathic abilities.
At first the four relish their newfound gifts, but things become serious when they learn they are being hunted by an organization that wants them for its own nefarious purposes. When Russ’s family is threatened, he’s forced into action. What transpires will change all of them in ways they never imagined."

Plot: In general the concept of the plot isn't really something we haven't heard before, but as I kept reading McQuestion would add newer small elements to the story, that really changed where the plot was going.. although you might not have noticed right away. By the time you get to the ending of book 1, you realize where you that this cliche was going, isn't where it was going at all.

Characters: Russ is the main character and I loved him. Because he is that sweet, cute boy. (if this was a 90's teen adventure movie, you would totally have a crush on him, even if he wasn't the hottest) Overall, genuinely good guy. I really enjoyed his nephew Frank and his sister grew on me. There are a bunch of quirky fun characters who appear in the book and add a lot to the story.

Final Thoughts: Edgewood was way, way, way better than I anticipated. I enjoyed the Comic Book Hero type of story. What I loved most though was how well Karen could write a teenage boy, very believable and I am definitely intrigued to see where book 2 (Wanderlust) goes.

Mystic City

Summary:

"Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself."

While Lawrence creates an interesting new New York, with beautiful imagery. The story itself is highly predictable and reminds me of the movie Titanic, as well as Romeo and Juliet (which is mentioned in the book). It was decent read and I see a lot of potential, but overall it wasn't as mindblowing as I had hoped it would be.

Velveteen

Summary:

"The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it’s not a fiery inferno, it’s certainly no heaven. It’s gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn’t leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.
Bonesaw.
Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she’s figured out just how to do it. She’ll haunt him for the rest of his days. 
It’ll be brutal... and awesome.
But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.
Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her."

Plot: The storyline was flat there was no proper build up for all the areas that were suppose to be twists and turns in the plot. They just read as a lot of crazy information all at once.

Characters: So So So one dimensional. I can only tell you two things about velvet see was murdered and she is bitchy that is it, i don't know much about her to be invested and it is like that will the rest of the characters don't even get me started on the mess of an insta-love attempt with nick and velvet.

Final Thoughts: The plot needed to be mapped out better. When we read the summary of this book we are under the impression that Velveteen is stuck in purgatory and seeking revenge for her murder by hunting the man who killed her. Yet that is such a small part of the plot! We are mainly in purgatory learning the worlds rules and problems. I would have preferred that the problems were switched. I would have liked more time with one saw and revenge and a little time learning about the roles in purgatory it would have been a nice Segway into book two. However, after this book being so anti-climatic I would not even bother reading book 2. The only thing I could say is maybe people who like more darker and morbid books, may enjoy this.

Dearly, Beloved (Book 2)

Summary:

"Can the living coexist with the living dead? 
That’s the question that has New Victorian society fiercely divided ever since the mysterious plague known as “The Laz” hit the city of New London and turned thousands into walking corpses. But while some of these zombies are mindless monsters, hungry for human flesh, others can still think, speak, reason, and control their ravenous new appetites.
Just ask Nora Dearly, the young lady of means who was nearly kidnapped by a band of sinister zombies but valiantly rescued by a dashing young man . . . of the dead variety.
Nora and her savior, the young zombie soldier Bram Griswold, fell hopelessly in love. But others feel only fear and loathing for the reanimated dead. Now, as tensions grow between pro- and anti-zombie factions, battle lines are being drawn in the streets. And though Bram is no longer in the New Victorian army, he and his ex-commando zombie comrades are determined to help keep the peace. That means taking a dangerous stand between The Changed, a radical group of sentient zombies fighting for survival, and The Murder, a masked squad of urban guerrillas hellbent on destroying the living dead. But zombies aren’t the only ones in danger: Their living allies are also in The Murder’s crosshairs, and for one vengeful zealot, Nora Dearly is the number one target.
As paranoia, prejudice, and terrorist attacks threaten to plunge the city into full-scale war, Nora’s scientist father and his team continue their desperate race to unlock the secrets of “The Laz” and find a cure. But their efforts may be doomed when a mysterious zombie appears bearing an entirely new strain of the virus—and the nation of New Victoria braces for a new wave of the apocalypse.
Lia Habel’s spellbinding, suspenseful sequel to Dearly, Departed takes her imaginative mash-up of period romance, futuristic thriller, and zombie drama to a whole new level of innovative and irresistible storytelling."

Plot: Talk about going darker. Habel couldn't have written a better sequel. When book one ended I wasn't sure what she was going to do with the story to make it better and man, did she write a story with so much depth and the perfect mix of creepy, mystery and love.

Characters: I was SO happy to see Nora and Bram again. However, there was a whole bunch going on. I enjoyed Pam's character, cause her evolution is a practical and logical one, as well her families and I applaud Habel for doing that, instead of taking the easy way out. I like the introduce of Edmund Lopez and Laura. Laura being a truly unique character, who has something sweet and young about her, while being morbid in her own way. I like seeing growth also in Vespertine and learning a new plot line for her. I would have enjoyed more Chas and I kept getting the Doctors mixed up. Also, Coalhouse's role in the book was unexpected and I went on an emotional roller coaster with him for sure and even shortly, with Mr. Delgado.

Pros: Great Sequel, Awesome writing, pure awesome!

Cons: NONE!

Final Thoughts: I stayed up till 5am to finish reading Dearly, Beloved and when I finished I was elated! There was SO much going on and it was SO worth it. Nora and Bram's relationship makes me all giddy inside and I just adore them as a couple. I have also just fallen in love with Bram. Which is weird, cause normally the whole Zombie thing would be hard for me to get past but Habel does such a good job and humanizing him. As I mentioned before this book is darker. That took me by surprise, once we started transitioning to Michael's character, I was so creeped out by him and his plot. I would just say that Beloved, makes Departed look like fluff when compared. Overall, I cannot WAIT for the third book! There is going to be a third book right?! I might die, if there isn't one! Also, I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book and series. I thought I loved Dearly, Departed but Dearly, Beloved opened up a whole new set of emotions for me.

Rash

Summary:

""Of course, without people like us Marstens, there wouldn't be anybody to do the manual labor that makes this country run. Without penal workers, who would work the production lines, or pick the melons and peaches, or maintain the streets and parks and public lavatories? Our economy depends on prison labor. Without it everybody would have to work -- whether they wanted to or not."In the late twenty-first century Bo Marsten is unjustly accused of a causing a rash that plagues his entire high school. He loses it, and as a result, he's sentenced to work in the Canadian tundra, at a pizza factory that's surrounded by hungry polar bears. Bo finds prison life to be both boring and dangerous, but it's nothing compared to what happens when he starts playing on the factory's highly illegal football team. In the meantime, Bork, an artificial intelligence that Bo created for a science project, tracks Bo down in prison. Bork has spun out of control and seems to be operating on his own. He offers to get Bo's sentence shortened, but can Bo trust him? And now that Bo has been crushing skulls on the field, will he be able to go back to his old, highly regulated life?Pete Hautman takes a satirical look at an antiseptic future in this darkly comic mystery/adventure."

Plot: Rash has a plot that mocks where our society is heading, with out being too cynical or political. There are many layers to this book, that made me laugh, and also left me in awe with how accurate this future could be.  It is simply put. Genius.

Characters: I find myself liking this book more for the plot and the concept then for the actual characters. They are just pawns, in getting the point across, they do there job and are like-able, but besides that there isn't much to them and I am completely ok with that.

Pros: Great book for for boys, excellently written, and awesome concept.

Cons: None.

Final Thoughts: I saw Pete Hautman last week at The Los Angeles Festival of Books and instantly wanted to read his books. So, I headed to the library and I picked up the first book of his I saw, that book was Rash. I will admit, I wasn't sure about it, but I am SO SO SO glad I picked it up. I personally think, screw 1984, this is what kids in school should be reading. It is written, well enough where students will be entertained and won't miss the point. I also, like that although geared more towards boys (which is awesome for YA) the book is for the most part gender neutral. I highly recommend this book to any reader. It is also a fairly short book.

Ruby Red

Summary:

"Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust."

Plot: I LOVE this plot! I love  the unique-ness, the time traveling, the history! I just love it, and this was just a build up plot, yet it managed to still be slightly thrilling. While leaving SO much up to the next books in the series! Obsessed!
Characters: I really like these characters a lot. Gwenyth comes of as a normal girl, who has some special qualities about her, but other then that she is typical, then she has he best friend Lesley, whose personalities compliment each other well. Gideon is slighty older and completely swoon-worthy, with a touch of arrogance to him, but not that makes you dislike him in the slightest.
Pros: Time Traveling!, Hard To Put Down, mysterious,
Cons: Wish it was just a tad bit longer, but I understand why it ended where it did.
Final Thoughts: I was surprised with how little action this book had, but being able to still keep me enthralled in the story. I just can't even begin where to start on this book. It would make a great movie/movies. Gier writes in a total relate-able fashion, that had me laughing and just wanting to know more about the mystery. I did like that this was the build up book. Usually, authors will put a lot of effort into the 1st book to make it action packed and thrilling, so that you will want to read the series and then they make the next books in the series the slower paced books, that explain why all the action happened in the first book and will be happening in the next books. I call them build up books. But this book, took the time to explain all that now, while still remaining entertaining.  I am interested in seeing if some of the things Gier mentioned in the book were irrelevant to the story or will be brought back up in the series. She seems to me to be someone who would make every detail count... I would recommend this book to the mystery,history, time travel lover. It is that perfect different book.

White Cat

So, I literally just finished reading White Cat By Holly Black and I am not sure how I feel and to be fair I really wasn't sure what I wanted from this book when I picked it out at the library... So I guess I was a blank slate... but lately I have been on a book low and I need a high.. not meaning I haven't read any good books, just meaning I haven't read enough GREAT books and I feel like this is depressing me into not like other books as much as they may deserve. Although, I did enjoy Please Ignore Vera Dietz and Demon Glass A LOT. Those weren't enough to satisfy me, I guess.

White Cat is about a family of curse workers. Curse workers are normal people who are born with powers that can affect people by their touch. So in this world which is basically modern day America but instead of Mob Families you have Criminal Curse Worker families and in this world being a worker (good or bad) is illegal and to try and prevent being worked.... Everyone wears gloves.  So the main character Cassel grows up in a family of workers and con artists and although he is a great con artist, he is not a worker. So, he spends most of his life feeling like he his on the outside looking in when it comes to his family as workers, since they are so secretive about the going ons of the family business.

As far as the book goes I did enjoy it, I liked how original the idea was and that was most definitely refreshing, but at times.. I felt it was hard to keep up with and I just couldn't fully get lost in it. It was just missing the extra umph of writing in my opinion. However, although at times I was uncomfortable will the darkness of the book, I think Black did a great job at balancing that and keeping the book still YA friendly. In the end I would most definitely read the second book in series and see if it can suck me in even more.

Demon Glass

 

Demon Glass is the 2nd book in the what I believe would be the Hex Hall Series By Rachel Hawkins and although I didn't give the 1st book an amazeballs review.. the book was still intriguing enough for me to  want to read the next book and I am most glad I did! 

[SPOILER ALERT If You Have NOT read Hex Hall and want too,  this part of the review will give some shockers away]

Demon Glass follows Sophie as she copes with the fact that the person she loves is actually a demon hunter and the fact that Sophie herself is in fact not a witch but a Demon. After, a few troubling issues at Hecate... Her Dad requests that she move to England and live with him and the council for the Summer. Jenna joins the trip, as well as the hunky groundskeeper Cal. Soon there ensues a love triangle, a little spy work to solve a demon farming mystery and so forth.

[END SPOILER]

Anyways, maybe that wasn't a spoiler.. but Hey! I don't want to risk anything! Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the book. I definitely enjoyed it more then the first one. Although still cheesy in ways and kind of predictable. I feel that Hawkins definitely found more of her own voice in this book... and the cliffhanger was perfect. I felt so much more invested in the characters this time around and towards the head I was really worried for them. As far as the cliffhanger mentioned.. I did not see it coming... I for some reason felt that their would only be two books and the story would end there, so I was shocked when it ended with an opening for a third book... which I am  more excited then ever to read!  I want to know more!