Review: Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand

   

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand 

Hardcover: 403 pages

Release date: January 17th, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Bought

Buy it on: Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Summary: 

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose-the task she was put on earth to accomplish-is not as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of  the terrifying new reality that she must face: someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

I would have put this book on my "favorites" shelf on Goodreads, but it wasn't worthy of the position. It was still deliciously good, but not amazingly great. Hallowed continues the story of the first book, where Clara's purpose is still not determined. She has visions occurring during her dreams, but at first she doesn't tell people about it. You get the vision: someone she love will die. It's one of the big revelations here in the book. The story also focuses on Clara's relationship with Christian. The book was a real tearjerker I tell you. After you find out who's going to die, you'll cry buckets of tears. The book's just so emotional and all that.


I really liked the book, everything in it, but the part where Ms. Hand pushed Tucker out of the spotlight and lets Christian take the center stage with Clara. Yes, Tuck isn't Clara's leading man here in the book. That's what I felt. And it didn't do me any good. I was left wanting more, well, more of Tuck. Every scene they have together just makes me so smitten. I melt with their sweetness. They are so good together that I can't even picture Clara and Christian beside each other. I love that Ms. Hand pours me answers to the questions my brain has gathered after the first book. I was simply mind-blown. I was giddy about Clara's parents, and I just can't tell you it's making me go nuts. The book will expand Clara's background I say to you. You'll feel happy that you're going to get some answers to your questions. I also love the new characters in the book. Billy, she's just a sweetheart. (I know, the name's weird.) You'll go gaga over this installment, even if it has flaws.


I recommend this to Unearthly fans, and those of you who have been waiting for a good angel story.

Amazing! Loved it.

Patrick

Review: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead

  

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead

Hardcover: 503 pages

Release date: August 25th, 2009

Publisher: Razorbill

Source: Bought

Buy it on: Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Summary: 

Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victime matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa - her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess - or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the end of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

This book was given to me last Christmas. I started to read it right away, but I was disappointed. It took me a week to finish this one. I expected the book to be fast paced, just like the other VA novels, but it was pretty slow for me. The story picks up where Shadow Kiss left off. Rose decided to leave Lissa and find Dimitri. Yes, the book is mainly about Rose's journey to Siberia, where she expects to find and kill Dimitri as a promise made by her to him when he turns into a Strigoi. There, she reflects her decisions she made, and whether she'll leave Lissa for good or not.

There are things I like about this book. But I'm not going to spoil all of it for the sake of the future readers. First, I liked was the way Rose gets emotional in this book. She lets her guard down, and just think before acting. But she doesn't always do that. For the future readers, you will understand me when you get into the middle of the book. Second, the revelation of the Alchemists. Yes, they have their first appearance on this book. I'm not going to explain what Alchemists are, but for one thing, you'll get mixed feelings for them. Third, Avery Lazar. She's a total b*tch. Sorry for the language, but she really is one. And I love how Mead wrote a villain that wasn't obvious she was until the end. I was like, "Rose, just slap that chick out of your lives." Lastly, the ending of the book. Seriously, the end was bamboozled with revelations and I just kept on reading it until I finished it.

For the most part, I wasn't worked up with this one. There's the part where Rose kills and tortures Strigoi vamps. I didn't like the side where her obsession for Dimitri gets her. Or the side where she just left poor Lissa without further explanation. And there's Dimitri. Spare me the lecture, I know exactly how you, Team Dimitri, feel. Dimitri's very evil in here obviously caused by Strigoi blood running in his veins. There's also less action, romance and mystery. So I was saddened that it's what I felt for like two-thirds of the book. I'd change half of the story if I could think of something better than this, but I don't have any idea.

Even if this seems to be a disappointing book, its still a favorite to me. The book is not bad, but not great. I recommend this to VA series lovers, because I know you'll love it anyway. I'm expecting a lot more on the next book so I'll go on and say VA is really amazing.

Liked it. 

Patrick

Book Review: Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Paperback: 518 pages

Release date: October 18th, 2011

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source: Bought

Amazon ││Goodreads

Goodreads Summary: Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why and most days he's too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

It's been a month since I finished reading this book. 

Beautiful Chaos continues the story of the Mortal Ethan Wate and his love, the Caster Lena Duchannes. After surviving the happenings in the tunnels and claiming herself as both Light and Dark, Lena and the rest of Gatlin experiences near-apocalyptic events and must find a way to stop this while figuring out the Eighteenth Moon. 

The series at it's finest! As of now, this is my favorite one in the series. The book isn't that slow anymore, and the story line's just keep getting better and better. The authors did an amazing job on giving more background on supporting characters like Liv and John Breed. There's heartbreaking moments and more action within the book. The cliffhanger was a real shocker for me. It left me wanting, desiring, mad, crazy, insane for more! I couldn't get over with the end. I really hope that the fourth and last book would be more amazing and better than this one. 

The characters seemed more attached to me than it ever were. Link's even more cooler with his new Incubus powers. Ridley more evil and seductive in this book. All the Casters have their powers dangerously uncontrolled. The characters bump into a lot more mishap and a lot more chaos. The book also gets an in-depth story on the background of the Caster world, and of course, Lena's history. It's just so wonderful to be back on Gatlin, and feel so much magical? I thought so too. It seems to me that the readers of this book will crave for the fourth one, now that they've read the ending. For me, it just punched a hole into my stomach, leaving me crying and mad. 

I couldn't wait for the last book. The authors did an excellent, or may I say, perfect job on creating such a turn of events. I would really recommend this series, not just this book, to all YA fans. 

Completely smitten!!

Patrick

Guest Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Hardcover: 485 pages

Release date: March 27th, 2007

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Bought

Amazon ││The Book Depository ││ Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Summary: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? 

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know.... 

One of the best books I’ve read this year.

The story revolves on three major characters: Clary Fray, Jace Wayland, and Simon (I really don’t know Simon’s surname.). Book one mainly centres on Clary discovering her true nature as a Shadowhunter while she gets help from new friends to find her lost mother. While at first reluctantly acknowledges the world of Shadowhunters, she discovers things little by little what makes someone being so different good.

The book itself is great! It’s actually nice to read a new series other than HP (although I never get tired of re-reading it) and to focus my attention to more action-packed YA novels. The characters were often very credible, but on other scenes, they make me confused. The story is perfectly woven by Clare, and many new terms were introduced (like Mundane, Runes, and the like) so new to me it’s often confusing. Anyhow, the story depicts some serious butt-kicking scenes that make me want to jump, like the scene where they run on vampires on Hotel Dumort. The book also features many mythical creatures, not just vampires and werewolves, but also faeries and warlocks.

I think that the most relatable topic here on the book is the topic about friends falling in love with another. Clare takes a serious tone on this topic and managed to do well. Girls who are independent, strong and at the same time vulnerable, can relate well to Clary. The main theme the novel shows is being strong. Clare writes characters that are so bold and strong it’s so magnificent to read.

The factors that I liked the most in this book are the story and the characters. They blend so well that the vivid pictures form in my head when I read it. My favourite part of the book is the part where Clary managed to kill a Ravener demon by using Jace’s Sensor. On contrast with my favourite part, my least favourite part of the book is the part where Valentine and Jace reveal to Clary that Clary and Jace are siblings. So much for the romance.

The book intimidated me to read it because of the rave reviews written about it. And they were right. It’s so amazing. Have I already said that it’s one of the best books I’ve read so far? It blows my mind whenever I sit and read the spellbinding story Clare had written.
I surely recommend this book to all YA book lovers, and to those who want to switch to action-packed novels.

Patrick

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Guest Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Paperback: 592 pages

Release date: December 1st 2009

Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Adult
Source: Bought
Amazon ││ Goodreads
Goodreads Summary: Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Thoughts

Three words: Thrilling, Exciting, ADDICTING!

Yes. This is the first book published from authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. The story is about a boy, Ethan, who befriends and falls in love with a girl, Lena, whom Ethan eventually discovers as a powerful witch. Well, not clearly a witch but a supernatural being who can cast spells and have unique powers. Other main characters include Ethan’s housekeeper, Amma, and Lena’s uncle, Macon, who is a dream incubus. The characters were great, a little slow but not entirely. They are written perfectly by the authors that I always assume that maybe the authors based the characters from true persons. They were credible and vivid.

The story? Ethan and Lena discovers that they have a curse which was bound to them when Lena’s ancestor tried to do a spell to bring her love, Ethan’s ancestor, back to life. They embark on a quest to stop Lena from being a Dark witch. There were many problems, including Lena’s mother, and a couple of cousins.

My favorite character was Link, because he was hilarious, and his personality was quirky, ambitious, and a really good friend. Even though he learned that Ethan’s love, Lena, was a witch, he fully supported the two especially the lover’s most trying times. I could relate to Lena, the times when she was bullied by her classmates. We both felt the same, and we both ignored and just do what we do.

The book is one of my favorites, and the story, the characters, and the setting was bold. I mean, it was plain brilliant. My favorite part of the book was the confrontation of Lena and her mother. The tension was there, it heightens as it comes to the climax. If you ask me if there were any part of the book I don’t like, I would say nothing. IF there was something I would like to change, it would be the P.O.V. (The P.O.V. was written from Ethan’s, and he sounded pretty much older than his age.) But, overall, it was a really, really, great book to read. I recommend this to people who love to read Fantasy-Romance YA novels, and those who wouldn’t mind that this is written from a male’s P.O.V.

Patrick