Allegiant- Divergent #3

Rating: 4/5

Summary (Goodreads) :The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent

So, finally I have finished reading the last book of the Divergent series!! YaY! And I own all of them too which is awesome~
Anyway, so this book was quite interesting as it was written from two perspectives- Tobias' and Tris'. At first I found it annoying and quite confusing but eventually I got used to it. I was really interested in the plotline as finally they managed to go into the outside world. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting, but it  certainly wasn't that. 

The Bureau were rather....uhh I don't know how to describe them actually. But I found the idea of people being "genetically damaged" ridiculous. Just like Tris said, I expected being Divergent meant something...more significant. But seriously? Just because you have a special gene? How ridiculous. They also made a lot of people suffer because of this idea. I mean come on, everyone are born with different genes, it's not a bad thing. Also, you can't explain people's behaviours merely because of their genes. I was happy when they decided to overthrow them. Although, I'm still not quite sure if I agree with how they did it. I mean, I know they were desperate since their whole city are in immense danger. But.....erasing everyone's memories is not pleasant. But anyway it happened so......

The characters themselves are lovely as usual. Tris and Tobias has some trouble along the way....with them not exactly trusting each other and all that. Tobias was being stupid for trusting Nita, but the way Tris acts sometimes can also be a bit....uhh yeah. But anyway, they resolved it in the end so it was all good. I also felt like they were trying to fix their broken relationships with their family. For example Tobias with his parents. I wasn't surprised when Tobias felt conflicted as his father was only banished, not sentenced to death. Also, despite everything Caleb did, Tris still saved him multiple times. I guess this shows that no matter how much you hate your family, they are still your family. In the end, you'll do anything to save them. I thought that idea was nice. 

Also, this book made me love Uriah more! Hahaha what is it with me and liking supporting characters? Ahh to bad~~
But seriously, Uriah is awesome. He always was pretty cool since the beginning, but I liked him even more here. Pity that Zeke didn't leave with them because I like him too. 

But oh my the ending.......TT^TT
Ugh it was horrible! Oh, no spoiling the ending, right, gotta remember that.
But anyway, I can't believe it! Actually, I can but why?? Aww not those two!! Tch. Either way, it was still a wonderful book. To be honest, it's not my favourite book out of the series, but I still liked it nevertheless. I'm glad that I was introduced to this series early on, and I enjoyed it 'till the end. Thank you Veronica Roth, for writing a wonderful series. 

So, what I'm trying to say is, if you like dystopian books, with a little bit (uh maybe more than a little?) of romance and adventure, do read this book. I can't promise you'll love it as much as I do, but it won't hurt to give it a try right? ^^

Apologies~

Hi everyone..
I just want to apologize for being on hiatus for so long. This year has been really busy for me with school work and stuff. They were very overwhelming so I didn't have time to read anything for my own leisure. I was really disappointed too since there are lots of books I wanted to read. But now, it's the holidays so I have lots of time to read. Therefore, I will be posting again soon! ^^
Thanks so much for everyone who are still following me, or reads my blog. Love you all!

Anyway, so the posts that are coming up as soon as I finish them....
~Allegiant
~ Breathe
~ Wolf Brother
and others which I will try to get... please look forward to them!

Ah and I just wanted to let everyone know that I created another blog in wordpress. Unlike this one, it won't only be focusing on books, but also on games. Because well, I actually love to game! So why not~~
Haha, please do check it out as well when you have time. Although right now it's pretty much empty, I'll be adding stuff soon! I'll also put the book reviews there as well.
http://sennoyume.wordpress.com/

Anyway, thanks again everyone!~~ ^o^

The ABC Murders- Agatha Christie

Phew~ it has been awhile since I last updated... :(
School has been pretty busy after all~
Anyway, there should be more posts, now that the workload has calmed down a bit. There would probably times where there wouldn't be any posts for awhile though....so just a warning about that.
Thanks for everyone who kept following me despite the fact that I haven't been posting. I haven't stopped reviewing books, and I certainly haven't stopped reading! Hehe ^^

Well then, this time it's book from Agatha Christie's marvelous series- Poirot.
Rating- 5/5
Summary- Alice Ascher, a shopkeeper in Andover, is bludgeoned to death at her place of work. Next to die is Miss Bernard in Bexhill, then Mr. Clarke in Churston. More disturbing than the alphabetic sequence of the killings or the ABC Railway guide that the killer leaves at the scene of each crime are the taunting notes Hercule Poirot receives each time the killer is about to strike again. It is one of Poirot's most challenging cases yet.

Well I've always loved detective stories and Poirot is one of my favourite series. I love it because it's interesting and cleverly written. It just never fail to surprise me at the end, and this book was no different. I loved how the story isn't told from Poirot's point of view, but Hasting's. This was good because then I could never completely tell what Poirot is thinking. I could only guess or rather, be told about what Hasting thought. It kept the mystery going as I had to try and follow the different clues. 
It's not like I could have solved it though. I was just as confused as Hasting was. But then that's what made this book interesting. After all, a mystery book is not interesting if the reader can solve it right? 
Therefore, I loved how you don't know what Poirot was thinking until the end of the book- when he reveals the murderer. 

Ahh it's hard to talk about this kind of books without spoiling it! It seems like this won't be a long review after all... 
Anyway, I just love how the plot twist and everything is not as it seems. Even though you think you  know what's happening, there's a very high chance that you don't. I think that the author did a great job of doing this. She kept all the suspect just that- suspicious. Even those who are innocent, they still remain suspicious until the very end. By doing that, it was very hard to guess who was actually the murderer. 
Ahh I couldn't even figure it out! When I finished it, I felt like- 'How could I not see that?' 
Well, I love books like that though. It's much more interesting when it's complicated~ 

The style of writing itself was also good. It's not as simple as typical young adult books, but it's not like classical books either. It was still fairly easy for me to understand what was going on..

So, if you like detective stories, and being challenged to solve a murder. If you think you can piece all the clues together and solve it before Poirot does, then you should definitely read this book! 
It's a great, thrilling story which had a pleasing ending (in a way that it was not a simple case). Personally, if you like this genre, I recommend reading the whole Poirot series. All the books are very good and just like this one, it will keep you guessing until the end!! :]

Clockwork Princess- Infernal Devices #3

Rating :5/5 

Summary (Goodreads)- Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

OMG it's the third book! OMG it's absolutely amazing! But it's over now, no I have to read it again. Ahh Tessa, Will, Jem..everyone are just so!! Phew~ Breathe..... 

Okay. Well sorry about that, I'm merely absolutely blown away by this book. So as you might know, I totally died (not literally XD) at the end of Clockwork Princess, because of so~ many things! I just couldn't wait for the third book. But unfortunately, I had to wait for 1 YEAR! That was painful....One of the downsides of reading books as soon as it came out is that I have to wait FOREVER for the next book. Therefore when it came out, I went to get it as soon as possible. And, I got the Collector's Edition!! Wohoo~ Hold on. A warning for you. If you get the collector's edition, DO NOT open the poster at the back. It contains a family tree that will spoil everything in this book. Yes, it won't only spoil who Tessa end up with, but also everyone else. So, don't open it. Finish the book first!! 

Well, for the story itself. It's really hard to write a review without spoiling anything!! 

It was just nicely written, like the other two books. I love the setting, the idea of Victorian London always intrigued me. I loved how the characters also reflected this time period. Either by their dialogue, their clothing, actions etc. 

So. If you're wondering whether Tessa's going to marry Jem as soon as the book started, you're wrong. It's not that easy. They still have to deal with Mortmain, Jem's sickness and other problems. 

Firstly, Cecily who is Will's sister started living at the Institute. I loved her character. She's nice, brave, witty and quite independent. She's also one of the few people who can stand up to Will. Reading about their little fights is rather enjoyable. I was also happy to read how Will seem to be a little bit more happy because Cecily is there. I mean, he finally get to be with his sister after so~ long! I'm totally happy for them. 

Another character that started living with the is Gilbert Lightwood. Do you remember him? He's Gideon's younger brother. I must say he's rather moody, and I wasn't sure if I should trust him at the start....but he's not a bad character. It's interesting how the new characters interacted with each other..

Also, I started  liking Gideon and Sophie even more!! They were so cute in Clockwork Prince, and they're even cuter here! Haha. Sophie is so nice and loyal, I really liked her. She also tried to ignore Gideon because he's of a higher status. (and we see the link to Victorian London here) Although the key word there, is TRIED. Gideon was also rather funny. He obviously like Sophie, and he used such random ways to get her attention. Like for example, asking for scones even though he doesn't like it? Haha I just had to laugh at that (you'll understand if you read it, I'm sure). These two quickly became my favourite characters. 

Okay, now the main characters. Uhh I'll keep this one short, because I don't want to spoil anything. (I'll try not to anyway). It's kinda hard not to talk about them and not spoil anything. Firstly Tessa. As usual, Tessa is an independent and brave person, and I admired her for that. She doesn't let Will and Jem stop her from fighting, and I think that shows what kind of person she is. In this book, she was also torn between Jem andWill. Okay we know she was torn in the other two books as well. But at Clockwork Prince she finally realised that Will love her too, and that I think, made her guilty as well as torn. Jem is also getting worse, as we know will come. The main plot for Jem in this book (I think) is getting through his sickness so he can be with Tessa and Will. Will however...~sigh~ he's such a complicated character. In this book he's more open, obviously because he know he has no curse. He started interacting with other characters more, although that doesn't mean his personality totally changed. He's just..not as closed off as before. The only thing he's still closed off about is his feelings for Tessa. His relationship with Tessa became a bit awkward at the start, and they both didn't want that, but they both weren't sure how to fix it. He's also trying to hide his feelings and is torn whether he should tell Jem or not. I think it's rather interesting, because a lot of events in this book happened in Will's point of view. I wonder...if Cassandra Clare is actually a fan of Will? Hmm... 

Anyway, I liked how these three characters interacted. It's interesting because even though they both love Tessa, Jem and Will love each other as well (for a different reason of course). Usually in a love triangle, the two guys hates each other, but in this book they have a very strong, unbreakable bond. It makes it more interesting, and more complicated as well. 

Whoa, I just realised I'm rambling.... Haha, sorry about that. As I said before I won't write my thoughts on the ending (although I'm dying too). So, you guys should all go and read it!! I really think that it was an amazing book, and the Infernal Devices is one of my favourite series. I'm just a bit sad that it's over....

No matter, I'm going to re-read it now!! XD

The Dragon Carnivale Cover Reveal + Giveaway

[UPDATE: I've deleted the first giveaway to make it simpler as it had ended...So yeah, don't be surprised if you only find one rafflecopter listed~]

Hi everyone!! Today I will be presenting a cover reveal for 'The Dragon Carnivale' by Heidi Garrett. Doesn't it look nice? I personally love dragons, don't you?? Anyway, along with this pretty cover, I'll also be posting a blurb, so I hope you'll decide to read the book after reading it. Heidi herself is also doing a cool post for us, awesome right? Of course, you can't forget GIVEAWAYS!! :]


Why Do I Write Fantasy? Or: You Never Know Who Might Show Up at Your Front Door
By Heidi Garrett

As long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with the truths that my physical senses cannot explain: the mystical things occurring on this planet. Writing fantastical stories is my testament to these other layers of reality.

There are many ways of looking at our world. Imagine sitting at home, perhaps in your living room. There’s a knock on the door. When you open it, a funny little woman is standing there. She is about half your height, and a plaid crimson kerchief—knotted under her hooked chin—covers her head. Her dress is sack-like over her square body. She’s wearing an apron that could use a good ironing and she’s carrying a battered brown suitcase that’s almost as big as she is.

“As long as you’re staring, a glass of water would be nice,” she says.

Despite her gruff manner, you sense something mysterious about this stranger, and to be honest, you’re dying to know more about her. When she crosses the threshold of your home, a strong wind slams the door behind her. You both jump. There hasn’t been a breeze all day. In fact, it’s sweltering and heat waves have been rising from the melting pavement for weeks.

When you offer it, she almost grabs the glass from your hand, and you can’t stop your staring—even though you know it’s rude—as she drinks in noisy gulps.

“What? You’ve never seen a spring faerie before?” she asks.

Before you can answer, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “Guess not, there aren’t many of us left. And I haven’t been to the Mortal World, since…” She stops. Her deeply etched face softens. Something like sorrow pools in her dark brown eyes. She waves her hand. “That’s not what I’m here to talk about.”

Your heart tugs. You want to pull her from that sad place. “What’s in your suitcase?”

She points to the table. “I’ll show you.”

The suitcase is filled with eyeglasses. There are so many. Some have square black frames, others have round wire frames; there are a few speckled frames with octagonal lenses. You spy a pair of purple ones.

She shoves a pair of thick black glasses into your hand. “Put these on. Tell me what you
see.”

With the eyeglasses settled on the bridge of your nose, you can’t see anything but yourself. You blink. You can see your hands and feet, your legs and toes. But the spring faerie—if that’s really what she is—is just a blur. You pull them off. She trades them for a pair of wire rims. With these glasses you can see her and your home.

“What’s your name?” you ask.

“Flora.”

“Like flowers blooming.”

She nods and looks away with that whiff of sadness.

Again, there is something about her that pulls at your heart. You think of the miracle of spring after a long hard winter, and that she shouldn’t be sad—if she really is a spring faerie.

“But...you don’t have any wings,” you say.

She smoothes the wrinkles in her apron. “Not all faeries do.”

“But—”

She almost jerks the wire-rim spectacles from your nose. You reach for that purple pair. She doesn’t stop you. Now, you can see down the street; your eyes travel the highway. Your view elevates, as if you are a bird. Soon you see the entire city you live in. With each pair of glasses, you see the bigger world.

When Flora tucks the temple arms of a pair of red frames behind your ears, perspective zooms around you. It’s like the lens pulls you into outer space, and you can see the entire world and all the billions of people who live on Earth.

Your heart flutters in your chest; it’s a lot to take in.

“Now—” Flora hands you a pair of fuchsia glasses with tiny rhinestones embedded in the frames. “Try on these.”

When you put them on, you’re able to see beyond the physical entirety of the world into the things that you’ve always known exist, but since you can’t see, touch, smell, or hear them, sometimes you’ve doubted. But you’ll never doubt again, because now— with these special glasses—you can actually see the bonds of love that death can never sever, the strings of fate that wrap the brown paper package of all our lives with twine, the tide of time that alters us, even as we never change...

But most importantly, you’ve seen that you belong here, on this planet. And you know—without a shadow of a doubt—that everything fits. Including you.

“I don’t ever want to take these glasses off,” you say.

Flora is already cramming the rest of them back into her bag. “Then don’t.”
__________

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fairy tale fantasy series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie.

When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.

As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are
revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her
perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her
world view.

In The Dragon Carnivale, book 3 of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie, energies in the Enchanted World are shifting and new alliances are forming; the Battle of Dark and Light has begun. Melia is desperate to make things right with Ryder, the young priest from Idonne, but first she must warn the half-bloods in the Mortal World that Umbra is coming for them, and face the powerful Dragonwitch and her spectacular Dragon Carnivale.


About Nandana’s Mark (The Queen of the Realm of Faerie Book1) …

Dark visions haunt the half-faerie Melia, but try as she might, she cannot chase away the images of destruction that are linked to her father’s ambitions. Looking for a way to stop him and the visions, she visits the Illustrator and is given a strange mark meant to bring her help. Before it arrives, a tragic accident occurs and a family’s dark legacy is revealed.

About The Flower of Isbelline (The Queen of the Realm of Faerie Book 2) …

The half-faerie Melia wants to save her sister from a false marriage, and their world from a dark power. But her sister is determined to pursue their father’s damning legacy, and the cost of denying true love will be apocalyptic.


The first two books in the series: Nandana’s Mark and The Flower of Isbelline are currently available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords. Nandana’s Mark is free.

The Dragon Carnivale is scheduled for a June 18, 2013, release.

Sign-up for Heidi Garrett’s new release email List and receive a lavender and gold Half-
Faerie bracelet while supplies last…because you’re half faerie, too, right?

Author Bio

Heidi Garrett is the author of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series. Herpersonal message to all her readers is:
Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world, too…
There is magic in all our lives; sometimes we need to look through different eyes to see it.
The Queen of the Realm of Faerie includes many strong female characters within an intricate fantasy land. It is also a fairy tale fantasy.
The first book, Nandana’s Mark, is one of those free ebooks; the second book, The Flower of Isbelline, is now available; and the third book, The Dragon Carnivale, will be released in June 2013.

The series was inspired by the 15th century French fairy tale, Melusine.
Heidi's hope is that when you read her books, you will rediscover the enchantment in your own life.

She currently resides in eastern Washington with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Being from the South, she finds it magical.

Learn more about Heidi and enjoy her stream-of-consciousness reading journal, Eating Magic, at: www.heidigwrites.blogspot.com. If you want to say hello, give her a shout out on Twitter at @heidigwrites or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heidigwrites.

Book Links
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Heidi-Garrett/e/B008Y61UYM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nandanas-mark-heidi-garrett/1112474235?ean=2940014866026
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/heidi-garrett/id554801992?mt=11
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=%22Heidi+Garrett%22&t=none&f=author&p=1&s=none&g=both
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/HeidiG



 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Anna Dressed in Blood- Anna #1

Rating- 5/5

Summary (Goodreads)- Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

I LOVE, LOVE this story! It's such an unusual story, well for me at least. I don't usually read horror stories, so I was expecting a lot from this book, and I'm glad that I enjoyed it. The writing style itself was quite simple, but I found that it worked really well with this book. Because it was simple, it was also easier to connect with the story.It was quite scary at parts though, since it's pretty gruesome. I convinced myself to not read this book at night... :P

Like, when Cas met the hitchhiker ghost at chapter 1 and then the ghost went crazy? Well, that was quite a scary opening...

I loved Cas. He was such an interesting character, and I loved the connection he had with Anna. Anna wasn't like an average ghost. At the start, I thought that she's just a ghost that Cas is going to kill, and I was wondering how the romance is going to work. But then, when we first met Anna, I realised that she's more than a mere bloody killer. There's more to her story, so I was very impressed with it.  Cas was...I guess kind of a closed person. Before this point, he didn't have any friends, he just used others to get information. He's also bent in getting revenge for his father, which added more depth into his character. It showed why he chose this path, and the actions he took. I don't think the characters are very developed yet, but since it's only the first book, then that's alright!  

I also really liked the supporting characters. At first I thought that Carmel was going to be one of those super annoying girls, but luckily she's not! She's grown on me, and I think Carmel and Thomas would make a cute pair~ :]

The twist. Oh, the twist. How wonderfully horrible it was. I really didn't think of it, until I got a bit further into the story. There were more clues dropped in (especially by Anna), and when it happened...I was like- yup, I thought so! But it was quite a nice twist, and yeah...somehow surprising as well. The ending was pretty sad though...~sigh~  But the fact that there's a second book lifted my hopes. I'm going to find it in my library! HEHEHE XD

Anyway, I really recommend this book to everyone. It's wonderful, kinda scary, exciting and original. What more do you want? :]

The Alchemist

Rating- 3.5/5

Summary (Goodreads)- PAULO COELHO'S enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom points Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transformation power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

I liked this book. It was quite a deep story with lots of important themes and messages in it. The only reason I didn't give it a higher rating is merely because it's not the type of book I usually read. Also, I had to read it for an english assignment, so it wasn't as enjoyable.... 

Anyway, reasons to why I liked this book. 

An important theme in the book was following your dreams. Santiago's dream of travelling was what sets the story in motion. At the start, he was reluctant to go but he was persuaded by two different people to go. He then sets into a journey where he learnt many important lessons. One of these lessons was when someone stole his money. He learnt to see the world as not what he wanted it to look like, but what actually does. Sometimes we idolizes people, and don't realize that they might not be who we think they are (i hope that makes sense). I admired Santiago because he doesn't give up easily. When he's faced with hardships (such as losing all his money), instead of giving up he sees the positive side of it (that he learnt something out of the experience). I think this is an important idea that Coelho had shown through Santiago's actions.

The idea of dreams was also shown as a contrast with Santiago and the crystal merchant. Santiago gave up his comfortable life, everything he knew, so he can go and pursue his dreams. However, the merchant doesn't. He thinks that if he achieve his dream, he will no longer have a reason to live. Personally, I disagreed with the merchant's opinion. I think that it's not good for someone to give up on something without trying. He's just taking the easy way out, by simply saying that it's an impossible dream. I think that Santiago was a much better role model as he showed me that we need to try our best in everything. We shouldn't give up, and nothing is impossible if we try our best. 

Other than this, Santiago also met other characters such as the english man, who's trying to study alchemy, and Fatima. Santiago and Fatima's relationship is kinda cute actually....
And the english man is also another interesting character. Although, I'm not really sure what happened to him at the end....uhh not that I'm supposed to discuss the ending anyway~ :P

Well overall, this is a pretty good book if you really want a deep story that will leave you thinking about life. However, if you're looking for a great fantasy or adventure story filled with twist and romance, then maybe you'll want to try another book. Either way, I think there are some great ideas in this book. 

Asunder- New Soul #2

Rating: 4.5/5
Summary (Goodreads):
DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy. 

I was so excited to finally read this book!  The cover is really nice, and I hoped that the story would be even better. I'm glad that Jodi Meadows didn't disappoint~ :]

One thing that I noticed the most is how much Ana has grown since the 1st book. In Incarnate, I think she depended a lot on Sam. She wasn't weak, but I just think that she's much stronger in this book. For example she focused strongly on how to save the newsouls and uncover the truth. She did many courageous things in this book like during the explosions, while making the speech, while talking to Meuric etc. I just admired her determination here. I also loved how the author is developing Ana's relationship with Sam. Although the love is clearly there, I'm glad that they didn't rush anything. I'm glad that the author wrote about how awkward their relationship can be. No matter what, there's a 5000 years gap between them. Sometimes, with books where one of the character is immortal, they don't bring up this issue very well. There certainly would be doubt, like obviously Sam had lovers in the past too. I was really impressed with how this issue was dealt with, so their relationship doesn't seem unrealistic. 

Sam was also developed nicely in this book. He's still that kind, musical guy from the first book. But, in this book we learn more about his past. I must admit...I wasn't very surprised about Stef, and I had a feeling about Cris as well~ 

The plot was very nice as well. Ana learnt more about Janan, and why everyone kept getting reincarnated. More newsouls also finally arrived, and their mothers named them after Ana! (Anid and  Arianna) Isn't that nice? There were also tension between Ana and most of the public, as they obviously don't trust them. 

Now, please don't continue if you haven't read the book~ (spoilers)

I was so surprised that Janan was only a man!! I mean~ WHAT!? And he ate newsouls in order for everyone to keep being reincarnated? That's just sick! I mean, can you imagine how many souls must have been eaten, since it has been 5000 years? It's so sad to think that the people worshiped someone so twisted like that. And the fact that they chose this life? Even though it has been many years ago and they were young, that was still very surprising. I just can't imagine how Sam's gonna react when Ana tells him about this fact. I also wonder why Janan kept everyone alive for so long. There must be something that he wants by using these people. Something that needed to be done 5000 years later, during the Year of Souls. Man, I really need that third book now!! T_T

And Cris!!! I can't believe he did that!? I really liked him, since he was nice and interesting (with his flowers :] ). I liked him way~ better than Stef. Nah, I don't like Stef at all :P 

I was so sad when he sacrificed himself! And he turned into a sylph!! That was really intriguing actually. I wonder how that works...I hope it'll be revealed in the third book. Awww~ I really wished he didn't do that! :(

Anyway, I really, really enjoyed reading this book. Now I'm gonna be dying, waiting desperately for the next book.... ~sigh~ 

Blog Tour/Giveaway- Lost Immortal Saga by KaSonndra Leigh

Hey Guys!! Yay, it's February 24th! That means, it's time for the Lost Immortals Book Tour! Firstly, here's some synapses about the books by the amazing KaSonndra Leigh~
KaSonndra is doing a guest post, however I'm still waiting for her to email me. It's rather hard, with the time difference and stuff... in the meantime, check out her books! (The Giveaways are listed at the bottom :] )

It has been fifty-five years since the angels of the Apocalyptic War attempted to wipe out humanity. Now a new nation has been built where alchemy is forbidden, and angels fear for their lives as they hide among the mortals.
The city’s leaders share one view on the ancestors of angels: shoot first, no questions.
When her twin brother falls into a strange coma, sixteen-year-old Chela Prizeon vows to discover her role among these exiles, the royal angels known as the Lost Immortals.
Chela’s only hope lies with the mysterious, but infuriating leader of a rebel group. But can she trust this boy, someone who can control her dreams and her heart.
Escape into a world filled with celestial creatures, fascinating villainy, high-stake choices, and forbidden romance.

\

“Mom always says the angels walk among us. She forgot to tell me
that sometimes they're not all fluffy and nice.”Seventeen-year-old Caleb Wood has seen people he calls the walkers
since he was a baby. It didn't take long for him to realize
something...no one can see these strangers but him. They never stuck
around or tried to touch him. And they never said a word. That was
until one day on the first day of class in his senior year when an
incredibly gorgeous girl strolls into his life...and things are never the
same again.Soon Caleb realizes he has stepped into the middle of a growing
conflict between two ancient groups. And his ability to see the
invisible ones, the half-breeds that want to modify the human race,
just might be the only hope both he and the mysterious, but infuriating, Gia, have of making it out alive.

Author Bio: KaSonndra Leigh was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She now lives in

the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. She likes to write about
people of all ages doing fantastical things in magical worlds.She loves to play CLUE, Monopoly (the Indiana Jones version), and
Pandora's Box (good writer's block therapy). She lives in an L-shaped house
with a garden dedicated to her grandmother. It has a secret library complete
with fairies, Venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue
glass.

Official Author Website: http://www.kasonndraleigh.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5137209.KaSonndra_Leigh

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kasonndraleigh

Blog: http://www.kasonndraleigh.com

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/103612

And now, GIVEAWAYS!! :)

There are two types of Giveaways available. One for those living in America, and another one for International fans (2 winners from the entire tour). There are signed copies for the Lost Immortals and Dark Seraphine for American fans, and Ebook Copies of Dark Seraphine, Lost Immortals, and Silver Moons to International winners. Also $15.00 gift card for each winner. So, what are you waiting for??

[The 1st one is for international, and the 2nd one is for American fans )

a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer- Mara Dyer #1

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.

“Thinking something does not make it true. Wanting something does not make it real.”
And yet, this is exactly what Mara can do. Isn't that an intriguing idea? This story is basically about Mara who has a rather mysterious power. One day she woke up in a hospital, not knowing what happened to her, and finding out that her best friend, boyfriend and his sister are dead. So this opened up a really interesting mystery. I was really hooked, partially because of this. I just wanted to know what happened to them that night. The first chapter I must say was kinda creepy. I think you'll probably won't get it until you finish the book, but it's pretty much a clue to what happened. Anyway, I just loved how the story switches from the past to the future, which adds to the puzzle one by one. Some parts of this book was also pretty creepy. It's not exactly a horror story, but still...
My suggestion is, don't read it alone at night.

The characters were..well written I think. To be honest though, I don't particularly like Mara. She's kinda a ...twisted person (I think personally). It's just that she has a VERY active imagination. And I mean exactly that. She also hates people really easily, I think sometimes it's unreasonable. For example she imagined her teacher dead because the teacher deliberately failed her Mara's exam even though she should've passed. I mean, I would be very angry too, but is it enough to want someone dead? Although really, it's probably also because she just experience a very bad trauma. I also feel bad for her, I mean it must be hard trying to cope with everything. I think the author showed this very well. Mara doesn't trust people easily, she gets angry easily, etc. So it was very believable.
Noah was also interesting. He's a typical bad-boy character where everyone says he's a bad guy when he's actually not. He was also mysterious because he knew who Mara is even though he never met her before. Ugh, should I have said that? Well you'll just have to find out how and why he does.
Aside from that, he's actually a kind person because he obviously cared for the injured dog Mara saved. That might not seem much, but I think it is.
Mara's mother is another interesting character. After Mara's accident, she became really paranoid and over-protective. I know that's kinda to be expected, but sometimes she goes really overboard. For example, she started forcing Mara to take her drugs/medicine (when she doesn't really have to). I think there's just more to it than mere over-protectiveness. It wasn't really explained yet, but I hope it will in the second book.

I just think it's interesting how the main female character is rather twisted. It was also very puzzling, so you should read it slowly or you'll probably get confused. But, most of it does make sense as you read on, although you'll need to read the second book I think, to understand everything (not that I've read it, but my friend said so :P )
Anyway, if you're looking for a break from typical genres like fantasy or dystopian, then maybe you should read this book! :]

Dark Seraphine- Seraphine Trilogy #1

Overall rating- 4/5

Summary (Goodreads)- "Mom always says the angels walk among us. She forgot to tell me that sometimes they're not all fluffy and nice."

Seventeen-year-old Caleb Wood has seen people he calls the walkers since he was a baby. It didn't take long for him to realize something…no one can see these strangers but him. They never stuck around or tried to touch him. And they never said a word. That was until one day on the first day of class in his senior year when an incredibly gorgeous girl strolls into his life…and things are never the same again.

Soon Caleb realizes he has stepped into the middle of a growing conflict between two ancient groups. And his ability to see the invisible ones, the half-breeds that want to modify the human race, just might be the only hope both he and the mysterious, but infuriating, Gia, have of making it out alive.

First of all, I want to thank KaSonndra Leigh for giving me an eARC copy of this book.
I really enjoyed reading it. To be honest, I didn't have any expectations for this book. But now, I can't believe I haven't heard of it earlier.

So, I liked the plot. It was interesting, although it does take awhile to understand everything. But that's okay since it kept me reading. Although...I don't really like the cover. All good though, 'don't judge a book by its cover' right? ^^

Anyway, on to the characters. First is Caleb. Haha I really liked him. He's unexpectedly funny in some ways. It's just kinda hilarious how he reacts to girls and stuff like that. Sure...it's typical teenage guys right? But I don't usually read books from a guy's POV, so that was pretty exciting. At the start I thought that he might be a really annoying guy who just uses girls. Although, main characters are never THAT bad right....? Anyway, it turns out he's pretty caring, and kinda childish? It's just that he lashes out on other people, especially girls, when he's annoyed or humiliated. I don't know about you, but that seems childish to me. So yeah, his personality was quite entertaining. It was also interesting that the love triangle in this book involves 2 girls and 1 guy, instead of the other way around. I've always wondered how it's gonna be like and boom! I found this book :D

Then there's Gia. Haha she's such a cool girl! She's quite a tomboy (which is awesome!) and is quite witty. The exchanges he has with Caleb are pretty funny! She's also quite mysterious. Like we know she's not human, but why is she hanging around Caleb? Well it is explained later on but I don't want to spoil it...
Just on thing I will say though, just because Gia is a tomboy, it doesn't mean that she never breaks down or becomes helpless. Let's face it, everyone needs help one time or another right? To avoid spoilers, I think that's all I will say about her...

Another character that was quite interesting is Erica. She's what I would call a typical popular girl. Well at least at first glance anyway. She's a cheerleader, dated the popular guys, loves pink...sounds like a snob? But there's more to her than that. Erica lost her parents (it's not really a big spoiler so I don't think it will ruin it for anyone) so she's secretely wanting some attention, and love I suppose, from other people. I knew that she was probably just using Caleb to make her ex jealous. However, I think she did ended up having some sort of feelings for Caleb anyway. It might just be me, but who knows? She can be quite confusing too....

Anyway, the relationship between Caleb and Erica are straight out false. At least from Caleb's perspective it is. Caleb can't stop thinking about Gia even when he's with Erica. He's kinda just using her to distract himself from Gia, and perhaps also make her jealous in the process. Meanwhile, Erica is also using Caleb (from what I gather) to make her ex-boyfriend jealous. So really they're using each other. Although, they did develop some kind of relationship through it I think. Perhaps friendship? I'm REALLY looking forward to see how this is going to develop in the next book....

But just in case you're wondering, I'm totally team Gia. Gia's and Caleb's relationship are rather....subtle? I don't know if that's the right word to describe it. It's just that they keep dancing around each other, and she keeps avoiding him. For a while it wasn't clear whether she truly likes him or not. Although, it did become very obvious. Gia is trying to protect Caleb by avoiding him, yet also keeping an eye on him. Meanwhile, Caleb is too confused (I mean, she's not human afterall!) and prideful I think, to make a move. So yup, it took a while...
But it wasn't too long so that's fine.

The ending. Oh man the ending. There are people that aren't who they seem, and guess who the Dark Seraphine is? Well you'll know in the last line of the book. If you're going to read it though, please don't flip to the back just to find that out though. It'll ruin the surprise! Anyway, because it was on the last line, it's such a cliffhanger!! T_T Why must authors always do this to me?? Fortunately though, the second book is coming out soon, so I can't wait!!
So, what I'm trying to say is, please go and check it out! I personally think it's a great book, and maybe you will too. I mean come on, it's from a guy's POV, and a love triangle with two girls. Isn't that different enough??

By the way, thanks to KaSonndra Leigh, I'm taking part on a blog tour for her other series- the Lost Immortals Saga. I haven't quite read it yet as I'm still waiting for the book from the library. However, I've read great reviews about them, and I'm sure it's another great series. Anyway, my turn will be on the 24th of February, and KaSonndra is kindly doing a guest post about the series' mythology world. There will be giveaways as well, so I'm sure it's going to be really interesting!
So please check it out on the day!! ^^

Fracture- Fracture#1

Rating- 3.5/5

Summary (Goodreads)- Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.
This was quite an interesting book. So Delaney fell into and icy lake and was there for 11 minutes. Which means that she should've been dead. Instead she woke up from a 6 days coma and left with a...creepy power? She then always felt a pull to whenever someone is about to die. To be honest, it's not the first time I've read something with this idea. However, I think that how this book developed this idea was pretty good. From what I can tell, she gained the power because of her near-death experience. This was also shown by Troy, who also had a near-death experience, and has the same power. Troy was a...conflicted character I suppose. But unfortunately, it wasn't a i-can't-put-it-down kind of book.

I don't know if it was just the style of writing that didn't quite hook me. Perhaps it's just because I kinda got annoyed at how Delaney and Decker kept dancing around each other. Just hurry up and get together already! I think that it's cool how they had been together since they were small. I've always wanted a guy best friend. Must be fun. I guess it was pretty obvious that Decker liked her. I mean seriously, he liked...totally panicked when she fell in. That part was probably the best part of the book. It just showed how much he cared for her. But I can't believe they didn't get together afterwards. I suppose it was kinda awkward knowing that your best friend likes you...
Not to mention that Decker made the mistake of being with Tara to try and forget how Delaney was dying. Although I still think that's stupid, it does make sense afterall. I think that when someone is in such despair/depression, they tend to do stupid things. Like what Decker did. Doesn't mean I have to like it though.

Delaney was also quite conflicted in this book. She was very confused by how she managed to survive, and trying to get back to normal. But of course, nothing can get back to the way it was before. She was fighting against her feeling for Decker, not to mention the sudden over-protectiveness of her mother. It seems like her parents had always been protective, but her mother was obviously very distressed by Delaney's accident. She became paranoid, even to the point of forcing Delaney to eat her medicines. I felt bad for her...just imagine how she must've felt, seeing her only daughter lying in a coma? It must've been heart-wrenching for her.
So, Delaney then tried to find comfort in Troy, who seemed to understand what she was going through. He was really the most confusing character in this story.

He seemed quite nice at the start..understanding. Although it was really suspicious how he knew all about her. But then he became quite obsessive, and scarier? I don't know...there was just something off about him. It was pretty much explained at the end though~ (I don't want to spoil it :P )
The ending was...I don't know if I liked it or not. It was okay I suppose. At least Decker and Delaney are finally...together? They are right? Delaney's mom's actions are also explained somewhere at the end. Though it wasn't a.. spectacular or life-changing kinda ending, it was nice. It just lacked...something? I'm not sure either if this means the story's finished, or there's going to be a second book. Perhaps, since there are things at the end that needs to be developed more.

Nonetheless, it wouldn't hurt to pick up this book and read it. So maybe give it a try? ^^

The False Prince - Ascendance Trilogy #1

I'm back!!! OMG it's been so long~  I'm so sorry but my internet was down for pretty much a month...so yeah~ I want to thank my followers who haven't given up hope on me. Thank you so much!! I'm going to start posting again as usual!! ^^

Overall rating- 4.5-5/5

Summary (goodreads)- THE FALSE PRINCE is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

Well, this book was just way better than I expected. I've been reading a lot of dystopian novels lately, so I just needed a break from it. What better genre is there to read other than fantasy?
I just love this story so much. There are twists and surprises in this story so I'll try not to reveal too much in this review...

I love the characters, they were really unpredictable. At the start, Sage seems arrogant, a little selfish and was pretty much a rebel. It seemed like he doesn't care about the plan at all, and that he's not even trying. However as the story went on, he totally surprised me. Sage actually has incredible secrets of his own, that personally I did not expect. He also turned out to be a smart (not so much in a knowledgeable kind) and very cunning. I don't want to spoil his secret, but I'll just point out that there are clues dropped throughout the book about this secret. When I finished the book, I looked back to this clues and was like... 'Oh~that makes sense now!' :P
Roden and Tobias were kinda like different sides of a coin. Tobias started out being the selfish, annoying character and Roden was the loyal, kind friend. However, that completely changed, and I was genuinely surprised. I can't wait to read more about them in the next book.
Conner was also...hard to figure out. I knew he wasn't a good guy, but I also didn't think he was necessarily evil. This is why I like the characters in this book. You read it halfway and thinks you understand the characters. But then the story flipped and everything changes. It was very surprising and exciting. A lot of things in this book was very unexpected. I also liked the minor characters such as Imogen and Mott. Imogen was a nice and kind girl, but to be honest I don't really know much about her yet. I hope this means that I'll be seeing more of her in the next book. Mott was also a nice character as he was some sort of a protector/guardian for Sage. He was strict, ruthless but kind and incredibly loyal. I just look forward to seeing how much more these characters are going to grow.

The story plot was also exciting and mysterious. There were a lot of blanks at the start so it kept me going. It also made me guess things, and want to find out the answer. It was really fun to read. I was most curious about Conner's plan. Is he really evil? Is he a nice guy that just wants the best for his country? Or is he a mix of both? Yeah it was kinda hard to determine that...
There were also interesting things that were taught to the orphans. Such as, table manners, dancing, horse-riding, sword fights etc. Did you know that when nobles ate soup, they scoop the food away from them not towrds them so that it wouldn't spill. Interesting huh?
At around halfway, I was considering 4 stars but then everything flipped and I went to about 4.5-5 stars. So yeah, I loved it. I'm really looking forward to the next one!! I hope it comes out soon!!
I think that if you enjoy some fantasy/mystery/adventure story then give it a try. There is only a very subtle romance, but the story is definitely worth reading. I hope that you'll give it a try! :]

The Iron Legends

Overall rating- 4/5

Summaries (Goodreads)- Winter's Passage

Never make a promise to a faery. They always come to collect. Now Meghan Chase must fulfill her promise to Prince Ash of the Winter Court and embark upon a dangerous journey into the heart of enemy territory—while being pursued by a relentless new foe and guarding her own foolish heart.

Summer's Crossing

What can turn enemies into reluctant allies? A call from the Exile Queen, Leanansidhe, ties legendary prankster Puck to his archenemy, Prince Ash, on a journey that may end in betrayal and will set them both on an irreversible path.

Iron's Prophecy

Before she ever knew what she might become, Iron Queen Meghan Chase was warned by the oracle that her firstborn child would bring nothing but grief. And even as Meghan and Ash celebrate their long-awaited union, the prophecy stirs

Okay well since this book has 3 different novellas...I guess I'll do 3 seperate reviews in one post~
First one is for Winter's Passage:
Omg it's Ash! And Meghan! Haha I missed reading about them! I still remember how Meghan went with Ash to the Unseelie Court. That is such an interesting, little side adventure. I liked how they both struggled with their feelings, and also their oath. Especially Ash. He doesn't overdo it, if you get what I mean. Because if he was too expressive, it wouldn't suit his personality. And it also added the mystery and thrill of trying to find out his feelings. I also liked how the Wolf came out. Now I completely understand how they met before Iron Knight. Kinda wish I read this before reading that book... :P It's interesting how the Wolf said he would kill them next time, but he ended up helping Ash in Iron Knight. I feel sorry for Ash... choosing between his love and his cold mother~ Anyway, it was a good side story.

Summer's Crossing- Yay! It's Ash and Puck! Hehe I always love scenes where they came out together! They're so funny! And this time, it's from Puck's perspective. It's interesting, because we never really know how Puck feels in the actual series. But now we do. Aww poor Puck, I'm sorry but I like Ash to be with Meghan!! I like this one better than the previous story, because it really shows how Puck chose Meghan's happiness over his own. I mean, it's obvious that he had a chance to get rid of Ash, so he can get Meghan, and probably save his life in the process. But he didn't! I was so~ glad! Puck is really a kind person...
I was really scared that he was going to hand Ash to Titania..but it turned out to be a trick! Phew~ Julie Kagawa managed to trick me there.... :D

Iron's Prophecy- Whoa~ they're married! Haha, I've been wanting to read their 'after-story' for ages! The first thing I noticed is how much Ash changed. He really became kinder huh? It kinda feels strange at the start, but then it makes sense that he would change... Well Meghan haven't changed that much really, but she certainly shows more responsibility now. She's really a good character :] Ehh I don't know what to say about this one. Some things in the Lost Prince does make more sense, now that I've read this one. How Keirran was prophecied to be either a saviour or a destroyer. And it makes more sense why Meghan hid Keirran from her family. Oh, and Grim is back!! Haha I love that cat! Anyway, yup, it was a nice story~
I'm glad Meghan didn't decide to kill Keirran!

So, overall it was a nice special stories I suppose. There were other stuff in it too which was very interesting, such as a guide to the Fey world, of the characters etc. Oh and I love Julie Kagawa's little drawings of Ash, Puck and Grim! Haha very cute~ ^^

Black City- Black City#1

Rating- 3/5

Summary(Goodreads)-  A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

It is with a heavy heart that I gave this book a 3/5 rating. I really wanted to rate it higher, since it's the type of book that I usually like. However, there were just some things that were lacking in this book.

It wasn't a bad book, not at all. The idea was in a way original, and interesting. I liked the idea of Darklings, although they are kinda similar to a vampire. But they had different abilities too such as giving out Haze from their venom. I also liked the idea of the Wrath disease, it was quite interesting finding out where the disease came from. But I have to say, it still didn't deliver a good enough story for me to give a higher rating.

The first thing is the characters. Natalie was a rich and important girl who secretly doesn't agree with her mother's ways. I liked how she was brave, and she knew what was right despite her mother's teachings. However, it is strange how she doesn't really have many guards. Okay, she has Sebastian. But really? One or two guards only? For someone who is such an improtant person, she wasn't guarded very heavily. I mean, she could still easily hang out with Ash and the others without being found out. Especially with the fact that her mother knew she was in danger. Shouldn't she be protected more? And also I was a bit annoyed with how she dismissed her friend. Alright, her friend didn't approve of Natalie's relationship with Ash and made her choose between the two of them, which was unfair. But Natalie straight away chose Ash! Without even thinking! Wait, what happened with not liking Darklings, and having a really good friend? She shouldn't have chosen Ash so quickly!

That's the other thing that I found a bit unrealistic- Natalie and Ash's relationship. At the start, they both hated each other (or at least they were wary of each other). But then, suddenly it's all lovey-dovey. How did that happen? Especially for Ash. Ash was described to be a cold guy, a bad boy and someone who despise the Sentry. Shouldn't he hate Natalie then? Okay, he fell in love with her, fair enough. However, I felt that his love should've been shown in more subtle ways. Does it really make sense for a guy with his personality to flat out send a note that says he loves her? Personally, I think it would make more sense if he kept it secret. He can still show it in small but obvious ways. Things like saving her was good, but I don't think he should've straight away declared his love to Natalie. It just made me confused to what his personality is really like. And the whole thing with Evangeline? Ugh, annoying. Usually with love triangles, I at least respect the other character. But Evangeline? I just didn't get her at all. I think that Natalie and Ash got together way too fast. It just felt a bit unrealitstic.

And yet, I still liked this book. (I don't love it though)
That's because I think it has the potential of becoming a really good series. The plot can become really interesting, and I hope that it will be. Therefore, I'm still looking forward to reading the next book- Phoenix. I hope that the characters would be developed better, and I would enjoy it more.
Nonetheless, maybe give it a try, and tell me what you think about it??

My Life Next Door

Overall rating- 4/5

Summary (Goodreads)- A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was a sweet story about I guess...a typical teenage life? Well in some way it is~ For example, falling in love, friends, family problems etc. Sam is a 17 year old girl whose mother is a politician. Her mother has an obsession with perfection, for example overly concerned about the state of their house. I suppose it is due to her being left by Sam's father~
Anyway, her mother disapproves of the Garrets who are their neighbour. That is because they are a big family with 8 kids. Now personally, I don't see any problem with this. I mean, it's not like I want that many kids, but I'm Asian and many Asian families has a lot of children. Even my Grandfather has 12 siblings! (I think. I never met them) So, I don't really know why people there had so much problem about it. I guess yeah, it would make their money situation tight and cause some problems. But the Garrets are totally fine with it, and they love their children. I was pretty annoyed with the people who always commented on the Garrets' life. Come on, mind your own business! And what's wrong with breast-feeding? I always thought that it is much healthier for a baby to be breast-fed anyway than being fed by bottled milk. Well everyone has their own opinions, but it's not right to judge other people because of it~

Anyway, so Sam met Jase and they fell in love. I found their love story quite sweet and not rushed. Which is good. Jase was a nice guy, who was loyal both to his girlfriend and his family. Especially after the accident happened. I mean, if you had to choose between your bestest friend/your love and your family, which one would you choose? Both Jase and Sam were faced with a big decision, especially Sam. I was a bit disappointed when she hid the truth at the start, but I'm glad she finally told Jase. Because, what's important there is the truth. It's true that her mother might get in a huge trouble, but will hiding the truth be worth it? It could somehow come back to haunt them one day, and the consequences might be even bigger. So, I was glad that Sam's mother did the right thing and told Jase's family the truth. And, she didn't go to jail afterall did she? Yes her life changed, which is expected afterall. How can someone's life not change after something like that?

I also liked how the Garrets decided things as a whole family. I think that's very important, as it also shows the tight bond between them. They are really a crazy but sweet family.
Another thing was Sam's mother's relationship with Clay. I did have a feeling that it was somehow a bit....strange I guess? Like Sam said, it's like her mother was controlled or hyptonised. She did things that she normally wouldn't, and it's just a bit weird. I was very shocked though when Clay made his speech. I truly didn't expect him to be so shallow! I thought he was an okay guy, not a complete jerk! Anyway....uhh I guess you should find out why yourself~

I'm not really sure what else to say about this book. The characters were pretty interesting I suppose, and they did develop at the end of the book. I think the one character who made the biggest development is Sam's mother. She's not the main character, but she truly changed. For example she accepted (in a way) the Garretts family, when she repulsed them at the beginning. And she's doing more things as a mother and less as a politician. I know that it is hard to be with her kids all the time as she is only a single parent, but she's finally becoming closer to them. So yeah, that's what I think anyway/ The plot was also interesting, though it did focus on Sam and Jace's relationship most of the time. But the book is about them afterall. Overall, I liked it, and if you like teen fiction, you probably will too. So if you haven't read it, give it a go! And if you have, what did you think of it?