Inheritance (Inheritance cycle #4), Chistopher Paolini

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
4/5 stars
860 pages
source: sequel to Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr

The story:

Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances. 

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

The review:

I've got to say guys, this one was a LONG one, I spent nearly two weeks reading it! Moving on, I CAN'T BELIEVE I WAITED 3 YEARS FOR THE STUPID BOOK TO COME OUT ONLY TO HAVE A CRAPPY ENDING WHERE ERAGON AND ARYA DON'T EVEN KISS, MUCH LESS GET TOGETHER! Other than that I enjoyed the book well enough.

I love the Inheritance cycle and when I finished Brisingr I kept checking back every week for a date on when this book was going to be released so you can imagine my delight when I finally got it. The whole "kill the king" part of the story in this book is just what I'd hoped for and even more. The long descriptions and interchanging POVs between Eragon, Roran, and, later, Nasuada are a bit disorienting (I never did like the way the second book is written) but other than that the story leaves no gaps and the ending is great. 

I also enjoyed how the whole "Rock of Kuthian" thing played out. The survival of the dragon race was something even I hadn't foreseen so I was delighted when I reached that part. Oh and adding the dwarves and the Urgals was a great idea. From the first book I'd wanted the dwarves to be Riders but, on my honour, the Urgals didn't even cross my mind, although I admit they'd make great Riders, given how fearless and brutal they are.

Now to the romantic part of the story. WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY DIDN'T PAOLINI GIVE US A NICE CONCLUSION?? I MEAN WOULD IT KILL HIM? Sure I get that Eragon has to leave to raise the baby dragons and yada yada yada, but what about Nasuade and Murtagh?! Couldn't we have a nice ending with them? Screw the whole "people won't like her if they see her with me"!! Go claim her run off in the sunset damn it! And what's this thing about Eragon not coming back? Is he just going to stay away AFTER HE SPENT ALL THAT TIME ACHING OVER ARYA! I DIDN'T READ NEARLY 2000 PAGES (or maybe 1500...?) TO HAVE HIM LEAVE BECAUSE OF BABY DRAGONSITTING DUTY! *angry huff* 
Anyway, Paolini better write another book, even if it's a spin-off, where they AT LEAST KISS FOR GOD'S SAKE!

Finale, Becca Fitzpatrick

Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick
2/5 stars
454 pages
source: sequel to Hush Hush, Crescendo, Silence

The story:

Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank's absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels - destroying Patch.

Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.
But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipated.

As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for.

The review:

First off, I'd like to modify my opinion of Nora. I previously stated she is boring, well, heads up, she goes beyond boring and slips into so-boring-I-was-falling-asleep-while-reading-this-book.Now that we've got that cleared, I feel this book is useless. Becca Fitzpatrick originally intended this series to be a TRILOGY. It should have stayed that way. The ending of Silence left a lot of room for another novel but it could've just served just as well for closing the series.In fact the only reason I read it was to have a feeling of closure, as some would call it, and I'll admit I wasn't really invested in it while reading it.

For where the story is concerned, it lacks in several points; for one this book presents Nora's and Patch's relationship as slightly abusive and I didn't feel the love between them. 
Second, Patch lost his appeal, he lacks sexy comments, is way too serious and doesn't manage to get Nora, his obedient little loveslave, to take it further until the very end of the book, and even then it's only clear in the epilogue which takes place THREE YEARS LATER. Also, why did Scott have to die? Why kill off one of the only actually likeable characters in this series ? I mean he may have been creepy in the beginning but in this last book I really came to like him! And what's up with Vee being a Nephil and MARRYING A HUMAN?! AND NOT ENDING UP WITH SCOTT (who shouldn't have been killed in the first place). 

I'm also rather disappointed in the book cover, I mean is that suppose to be Patch? Because, honestly, he looks like a failed abercrombie model with a Bruno Mars haircut-NOT an attractive combination. As for Nora, is that Kristen Stweard they called in? Because it sure looks like her right down to the expressionless face  And also, WHY DON'T YOU LET HER JUMP IN THE DAMN SEA, PATCH? WHY ARE YOU PREVENTING THIS??Oh and one last thing, Finale? Really? Why don't you just call it "The End" and be done with it? Oh, you want it to sound exotic, Italien or french right? WELL IT DIDN'T WORK.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
5/5 stars
409 pages
source: Goodreads

The story:

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure any more.

The review:

Although I've heard of the Shiver books and I've seen them everywhere, I've never really wanted to read them so I was reluctant to pick this book up, them being from the same author and all. However when I read the summary I knew I was hooked, I couldn't wait for it to come out and finished it in less time than I thought possible.
This book is full of surprises, nothing ever went the way I expected it to and I liked that, it was rejuvenating not to know the ending of the book from the first few chapters. First of all Gansey isn't the "perfect boy", at least not from my POV, he doesn't have any extraordinary features like most book characters do, but he does have a winning personality and his way of talking is so quirky it makes everything he says sound cute to some extent. I liked him from the first few lines. He's devoted most of his life to searching for a long lost king, Owen Glendower,and once he becomes close to someone, that person is sucked into the search as well. Secondly Blue's character greatly surprised me, she is unique, for a lack of better word. She's the only one lacking a psychic power in her family. She's fun, crafty, manages to not fall under Gansey's charm but falls under Adam's instead. Lastly, there are no scenes that go beyond a simple caress, not even a peck on the cheek. I have to say I was rather disappointed at that, loving the usual kissing scenes and all, but I can't say it really surprised me since the plot starts by saying Blue will kill her true love with a kiss.
As Blue and Adam keep connecting, Blue is drawn into Gansey's frantic search for the Ley Lines and she seems to be the catalyst to a series of events that will lead to the ultimate sacrifice that will reveal them.

This book is one of the best I've read, from the writing style to the plot's twists and turns, and I can't wait for the second book in the Raven Cycle to come out! Who knows, I might even decide to take up Shiver, just to compare it ;)

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
5/5 stars
319 pages
source:Friend told me about it

The story:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

My thoughts:

       What make me love this book? Everything. I love the new take on vampires and how little Richelle Mead involves humans. I admire how she manages to balance romance and action. Rose is one of my favourite characters because she's strong, brave but also reckless and immature in the beginning at the same time. Dimitri intrigues me; he's the silent and brooding type but behind that bad-ass exterior he's quite cool. However Lissa's character has me conflicted; I get that spirit is messing with her brain and all but sometimes her behaviour is a little too scary. Mia is annoying and a bitch in this book and I honestly can't picture the whole "popular girl" thing going on in the vampire community, so I loved it, and I do feel a bit guilty about this, when she was knocked off the top of the social ladder.

      I also believe that Richelle Mead's writing is exceptional, one of the best in young adult.Of course I'll be reading the rest of the series and posting my reviews of it and I might even pick up 'Bloodlines' which is the series following this one :).

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor Review

Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor

5/5 stars
424 pages
source: Goodreads

The story:

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

The review:

My thoughts on this book? I loved it! 

     The preview of the book didn't really appeal to me because it's not anything I've ever read before, well other than the romance of course, but after reading a bunch of adoring reviews I thought I should read it for myself. I'm so glad I did!

Taylor's unique world is totally new for me and I had a great time trying to imagine what it would look like, were it real. Her writing is fantastic, didn't get bored for a second, and her characters are lovely. Karou is, by far,  my favourite character (which is saying something because I usually favour male characters over their female partners); she's strong, beautiful, witty and stands by her promises until the end. Thanks to Madrigal, her previous life, she's also brave, tragically in love with her enemy-Akiva-and has a dream for a better world. Akiva, for me, is absolutely adorable; when he first meets Karou, he's sent to kill her but stops because of one gesture: she cocks her head to the side like a bird and like the love he lost. That small gesture causes long-locked emotions to flow through him. Akiva doubts himself all the way, he accepts all the bad things as punishment but questions the good things he receives, thinking he does not deserve them. 

     I was a bit disappointed by the ending but I do understand why Karou pushed Akiva away after what he did but if they don't get back together I will personally hunt Laini Taylor down!

     Anyway I can't wait for the sequel to this book! It's one of the best books I've ever read and I recommend it with all my heart to people who like a burning romance with a lot of supernatural.

The House Of Night series, books 1, 2 and 3

The stories:

Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast

3/5 stars

306 pages

source: Library

After a Vampire Tracker Marks her with a crescent moon on her forehead, 16-year-old Zoey Redbird enters the House of Night and learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx and has affinities for all five elements: Air, Fire Water, Earth and Spirit. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is mis-using her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny – with a little help from her new vampyre friends (or Nerd Herd, as Aphrodite calls them).

Betrayed by P.C. and Kristin Cast

3/5 stars

310 pages

source: sequel to Marked

Zoey, High Priestess in training, has managed to settle in at the House of Night and come to terms with the vast powers the Vampyre Goddess Nyx has given her. Just as she finally feels she belongs, the unthinkable happens: human teenagers are being killed, and all evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves.

Chosen by P.C. and Kristin Cast

2/5 stars

307 pages

source: sequel to Betrayed

Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare situation of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely affects the truth…

The (collective) review:

As I was going through my books the other day I spotted Marked and I thought I'd give it a try 

since it was a quick read. A day, and a book, later I thought I'd read the next two and write a 

collective review.
The series presents a world where Vampyres and humans live alongside each other in an uneasy peace. Here Vampyres occur because Changing is programed into some humans' DNA.This     Change takes four years to complete during which the fledglings, Vampyres going through the Change, attend a school called the House Of Night where they receive a Vampyre education. 

    It focuses on Zoey Redbird, a young girl from Tulsa who's life is a living hell because of her     step-father, a sort of leader from the People of Faith. She is Marked and sent of to the House Of Night in Tulsa where she behinds her new life and discovers an affinity for the five elements,    air, fire, water, earth and spirit. Unique abilities and remarkable progress make her stand-out as the most powerful fledgling the world has ever known.
In the first book we see how she struggles to fit in and bring down the head-bitch, Aphrodite,    and make herself leader of a prestigious school club called the Dark Daughters and Sons and a run-in with the evil side of that world.

    In the second book Zoey deals with her human imprinted (basically infatuated) boyfriend     Heath, her Vampyre boyfriend Erik, the death of her best friend, who didn't appear to survive the Change, and the murders/disappearances of Tulsa teenagers that are made to look like Vampyre attacks. 

    In the third book she comes to terms with her mentor's, Nepheret's, darkness and Aphrodite's wish to patch things up which turns her into a human, heals her undead best friend and creates a new race of Vampyres, and develops and steaming romance with her poetry professor which leads to her first taste of sex and the abandon of her friends and boyfriend at the end of the book.
Zoey, although very immature at times, is a very strong character and as the book progresses you can feel the change in her character and I really liked that. I also loved her kick-ass powers and really hot boyfriends. 

    During the three books we see how Nyx, the goddess Vampyres adore, Marks Zoey as her own by giving her a new set of tattoos every time she accomplishes something extraodinary.
Erik Night is really nice, hot, an amazing actor and really really loves Zoey, and she goes and cheats on him with Heath Luck and then Loren Blake. Heath is a human boy, a year older than Zoey, and her boyfriend before she was Marked. He's strong but not really bright which means Zoey has a hard time making him believe they're suppose to break up. In the first book when he tries to 'bust her out' of the House Of Night he cuts himself and Zoey laps up the blood causing an imprint to form between the two. This imprint is what saves him from the undead fledglings who want to kill him in book 3. However the bond breaks at the end of the third book when Loren Blake exchanges blood with Zoey and replace the previous impint with his own.

  Stevie Ray Johnson is best and closest friend and roommate. Nyx has blessed her with an affinity for earth, which they only realise in the second book, and she becomes the first of the new race of Vampyres after she dies the undies and Aphrodite sacrifices her own Mark for her. 

   Aphrodite is a the 'queen bitch' of the school when Zoey arrives so Zoey brings her down. She has the unique gift of having Terrible visions which help her save people from general disasters. Zoey, her circle, and Aphrodite all hate each other but they have to live with each other when Stevie Ray dies and Aphrodite takes her place as earth in the circle. During the second an third book Aphrodite's attitude lessens and she helps Zoey many times. She is also the only person apart from Zoey who is able to hide her thoughts from Neferet. 

  Damien, Erin and Shaunee are also part of Zoey's circle and are each blessed with an affinity for air, water and fire, respectively. Zoey isn't as forthcoming with them as she is with Stevie Ray but that's only because Erin and Shaunee, or the Twins as the call themselves, because Neferet's crazy intuition will pick up on their thoughts and that would put them in danger. However her keeping secrets leads to them abandoning her when she needs them most.

  Neferet is Zoey's And Aphrodite's mentor. She's a very powerful High Priestess gifted with an affinity for cats and an amazing intuition that almost allows her to read minds. During the whole first books she appears caring and motherly but her facade unravels in the second and as she threatens Zoey in the third Erik Night has a glimpse of her true nature. She has been touched by darkness and somehow manages to bring fledglings who's body has rejected the change back to life. This causes them to lose their humanity and turn into the grotesque vampire stereotypes that are known today (need for blood, burn in the sun, evil, etc...)                           

  Loren Blake is Zoey's third boyfriend. He's the youngest Vampyre Poet Laureate and the first male in over two centuries. He is unbelievably hot (take hottest guy and increase his hotness by 100), charming and seduces Zoey to get information for Neferet. He's the one who takes Z's virginity an forms an imprint with her which is broken hen he's killed. He is also the main reasons Z's friends abandoned her at the end o the third book. 

  I so far I really like the plot but I don't like the reason her friends abandon her and the large amount of cursing going on in this book. Another thing I don't like us how Zoey thinks of her dorkiness/geekiness like it's a bad thing. I'm a geek and I'm proud of it

Hush Hush

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

4/5 stars

391 pages

source: Goodreads

The story:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

The review:

        Hey guys, lately school has been really demanding which means I couldn't cram any reading in my busy schedule. However last weekend I caught up with it and managed to read the hush hush books. 

My best friend, and notorious book eater (she's one of the popular folk on Figment.com, if you've ever hear of it), advised me against reading hush hush, saying it was boring with a stupid ending. For a while I took her advice but one day, a few weeks back, I decided to give it a try. I loved it-or rather loved Patch. 

        Honestly Nora's a bit boring, I mean she's the perfect goody-two-shoes student who never gets in trouble. Patch is probably the only thing that adds danger to her life. After she goes through this whole ordeal she's still as boring as ever. She freaking breaks up with her awesome, kick-ass boyfriend in the second book! 

        Now Patch on the other hand, he's awesome. Bad boys always capture my attention but he had me falling faster than you can say "cliff". And his good looks only added to the whole attraction thing. 

        I love the story, not original but still good. And the writing's not bad either, nice and flowing but the main character is-as I mentioned before-so extremely boring she reminds me of Bella from Twilight.

All in all a good book if you enjoy Fallen Angel stories, bad boys, and a lot of action but be warned: Nora is B-O-R-I-N-G.

Obsidian

Obsidian by Jannifer L. Armentrout
5/5 stars
361 pages
source: Goodreads

The story:

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 neighbour, 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.

The review:

     Honestly when I first read this summary, I wasn't too eager to read it because, up until then, I didn't do the whole 'alien-human romance thing' but the reviews were good and I'd already read another book from the same author so I decided to give it a try. 
It was phenomenal, one of the best books I've ever read, clearly Jennifer Armentrout's best series.
     When Katy Schwartz arrives in West Virginia she expects drawling accents, not much Internet and "a whole lot of boring" but instead she gets the adventure of her life. She moves in next to Daemon Black and his twin sister Dee, two aliens from the planets Lux, lost because of the war waging between them and their enemies, the Aren.
     We immediately see a spark in the Daemon-Katy relationship, even though they try to hide it, and Katy and Dee instantly become best friends. However Katy is very observant and notices things are off with the pair, something they try to cover up. In fact when Katy gets attacked by one the the Aren she overhears a whispered conversation which makes her even more suspicious. When she finally learns of their true nature she proves to be a very valuable weapon against the enemy, going so far as to save Daemon and Dee's life.
    The book is very well written for it doesn't focus only on one side of the story. The romantic relationship between Daemon and Katy is very well written, leaving a cliffhanger at the end of the book but also the story line is perfectly fitted so that they compliment each-other without one outweighing the other.
    Katy is not your typical american teenager. She stays inside and reads rather than partying, her figure isn't perfect and she expresses insecurities over it through out most of the story, and she has a book blog she's dedicated to. Three years prior to when the book takes place, she lost her father to cancer which led her to become more of an introvert and helping her mother, who is great by the way, get back on her feet. We immediately feel she likes a challenge for she ignores Daemon's threats and then makes an enemy of another Lux, one with a crush on Daemon. I related very well to Katy's character because she reminds very much of myself, in fact I decided to make this blog after I read this book.
    Daemon is a bad boy, there's no other way to put it. He's hot, vain, gifted with all bad-ass alien superpowers, thinks humans are beneath him and comes off as a player. However when his family is threatened he turns into a real bad ass, which is why he tries to try Katy off, thinking she's a threat. However as the book progresses we see a change in his attitude towards her, he starts defending her, and protecting her and finally, after a lot of innuendos, one intense make-out session, and having his life saved by her twice, he admits his attraction to her which she rejects.
    Dee acts like a little kid. Being alone with Daemon has made her desperate for a friend, whom she finds in the form of Katy. Once she understands Katy will stay she starts distancing herself from the other luxen and starts mingling with humans. As an alien she can switch shapes and become anything  or anyone, a rare talent for her race.
This is one of the only books that leaves you wanting so much more without having a direct cliffhanger. Can't wait for the second book in the series.

My very first post!

      I've been playing around with the idea of making a blog for a while now, however I couldn't come up with a good subject and I thought putting up a blog focusing on my, rather boring, life would be pointless, hence the book reviewing blog!
     Being an introvert, I don't like to socialize much, so I've taken up reading. When I read I leave the real world behind and let my imagination give shape to the story. It's a form of escape to a world of fantasy where the petty problems a 15-year-old is usually surrounded by, don't exist.
     I really hope you guys like this blog and I'll try to update it regularly.