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Bloody Bookaholic's Commandment:

Thou Shall Read Till Thy Eyes Bleed

Sunday 30 June 2013

Review: Losing Hope (Hopeless #2) by Colleen Hoover (***** A MUST READ TITLE)

Losing Hope (Hopeless, #2)
Title: Losing Hope
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: Hopeless
Book #: 2
Pages: 256
Reading Level: New Adult
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.53
T.B.Published: Jul. 8th, 2013.

In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

Taschima's POV:

description

Losing Hope is dreamy, passionate, painful, real, and golden. Every single bit as good as Hopeless was. Losing Hope is Hopeless, only told from Holder's story. So yeah, imagine our luck! Seeing everything from his POV makes us realize a lot of things about his strange behavoir at the beginning of Hopeless where I wasn't sure if he was even stable safe for Sky to be around. And now reading from Holder's POV I can't imagine why SKY can't understand him at first! He had really good reasons to do everything he did, but I guess the misunderstandings just adds fuel to the sexual tension.

"I knew the girl who cried at night. I knew the girl who smiled in the pictures. But I didn't know the girl that linked that smile with those tears. I have no idea why you flashed fake smiles, but cried real tears. When a guy loves a girl, specially his sister, he's supposed to know what makes her smile and what makes her cry.

But I didn't. And I don't. So I'm sorry, Les."

Holder's story is told in between chapter breaks and letters he writes to his dead sister Les. Losing Hope begins the day before Les "overdoses", about a year before Hopeless. We get to witness Holder finding his sister... no brother should have to find their dead sister. It is painful, and brutal, but it doesn't even compare to when he has to tell his mother she is dead. That is devastating, a word Holder thinks should only be reserved for the feeling when mother's lose their children. Thankfully we don't have to go through the time Holder spent living with his dad, so after the Les event we skip to the day Holder returns home to his mother, and the faitful day he meets Sky on the grocery store.

I would recommend for everyone to read Hopeless before this story, because it's so great to have all the information beforehand and just see how everything unfolds from the other side. Seeing Holder's side of things is a gift from Colleeen Hoover. Not many authors would do this, and I am so grateful that she did. I thought loved Holder before I read Losing Hope, but now he has really ruined me for other fictinal men.

We also get to meet Daniel, Holder's best friend He is the bomb, even though he likes to have relationships with crazy chicks and never calls you by your first name. We also get to see the relationship between Holder and Breckin. Breckin is such a sweet kid, he really is a very good friend and deserves someone who goes to his house for his gay boy parts.

Even though I already knew the ending, and all the secrets, it still hit me hard when I re-read it. It is a gift, to make you be able to read something again and again and experience it as if it was the very first time. The ending also has some surprising information that wasn't in Hopeless regarding Les, Holder's mother, and Sky. LOVED IT.

I am hoping to the gods Colleeen Hoover has more in store for us. Maybe she could write Daniel's story, Six's or even Breckin's. Hell, write all 3!! I would definitely buy them and read them. Colleen Hoover has a talent for writing painfully beautiful stories. I've read her other series, Slammed, and it's just as good. This author will forever be in my "must read" pile.


ARC provided by publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday 27 June 2013

Review: Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy) by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy, #2)
Title: Sweet Peril
Author: Wendy Higgins
Series: The Sweet Trilogy
Book #: 2
Pages: 371
Reading Level:YA
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.43
Published: April 30th, 2013.

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Taschima's POV:

"Traveling the world in search of possibly hostile Neph and eluding murderous Dukes seemed like a piece of cake in comparison to trying to be a good girl in the arms of Kaidan Rose"

description

Holy damn. Sweet Mercy is what this book should have been called. I am not going to lie, this is a hot piece of novel. Be beware: this book is prone to make the person reading take short and shallow breaths. But there are as many pros as there are cons, sad to say.

Let's get the cons out of the way first. Big con? The ending. I felt like the book ended not on a cliffhanger but on the wrong page. Like we needed at least 30-50 pages more to settle the characters in the next stage instead of leaving us midway through. Not cool. I didn't feel like my heart was being ripped away from me (like the first book's ending) but I also didn't feel like it was an ending. Just, another chapter. Another thing was the plot a bit shallow. As deep as a kiddie pool. I can't lie, doesn't mean I didn't devour the novel (I did) but I can still point out where it felt short. The whole book's time span was a year and some months. We went through Anna's senior year like it didn't matter, because I get for the story it didn't but it was still weird. How did this girl graduate anyways? Who knows with all the pretend partying she was doing and the not caring about her school life anymore. It all went by so fast, nothing of her "old life" was really explored. Her old friends were basically pushed to a corner and most of the time she was being all mopie about not having Kai with her (though I can completely understand).

Which brings us to the PROS. Number one, front and center, being Kaidan.

description

description

Hellooooo handsome!! Yes, that is my Kaidan too. The scenes between him and Anna are not for the faint of heart. Let's give you a small, tiny, example:

"Kaidan took a predatory step toward me and I instinctually stepped back. In that slow way he stalked forward until I was agaisnt the sink. The intensity of his face charged me, and I swore to myself I'd kill any creature that tried to come between us this time. His hands reached out and gripped the sink on either side of my waist, and without a word his hot mouth covered mine."

description

It felt like more than half the book was filled with these hot steamy scenes. Which I was definitely not complaining about!

I wanted to learn more about Blake, he is my second favorite. Maybe we could get a side story from him or something? God I hope so. All the old pals were here too, the twins, Kope, etc. I like all the side characters, they add a lot to the story.

So yes Sweet Peril was a good continuation! It has it's flaws true, but you certainly get what you are looking for between the pages. Anna wasn't as much of a good girl, which was a plus. Kaidan was as devastatingly gorgeous, and Wendy made half the book a big make out fest. What more can a girl ask for?! Guilty pleasure? Perhaps, but I am enjoying every second of it.

My last wish: can we get that whole day in Kaidan's apartment from Kai's POV? PLEASE?!?!

Other books in the series:

1st Book
PS; Remember to enter my contest for a copy of Dream Thieves (the Raven Boys #2) by Maggie Stiefvater!

PPS; Google Reader is unfortunately closing soon so if you wish to get more updates be sure to follow by BlogLovin' or RSS Feed. Both options are on your left side for your convenience.

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Review: Slammed by Colleen Hoover (author of Hopeless. She did it again!!)

Slammed (Slammed, #1)
Title: Slammed
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: Slammed
Book #: 1
Pages: 214
Reading Level:New Adult
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.39
Published: Jan 5th, 2012

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

Taschima's POV:

Falling in love can feel like poetry. Or it can feel like a slam to the heart.

description

This book was more like the slam to the heart part.

I am in love with Colleen Hoover's writing. I thought, nah, I was absolutely positive that Slammed couldn't be better than Hopeless. Well, I was right, Hopeless is still my favorite but Slammed is JUST as good. Everything about it was great, the intricate story line, the family problems faced, the characters, Will...

Oh Will, and Lake. Them together, is like poetry. It all starts the moment Lake, her mom and little brother Kel move to Michigan. Their father recently passed away and they are trying to get away from the memories, plus they needed to move because her mother, being now their sole provider, needed to get a job that could help them stay afloat. And so they move to Michigan. Lake is expecting to hate Michigan, but little does she know what Michigan has in store for her. First day, just right after getting out of their U-haul her little brother makes best friends with the boy across the street. And Lake soon enough (5 minutes later) makes friends with the little boy's brother, Will. Will asks her out and they have the best first date of their lives... and then comes the painful separation.

This book was a punch in the HEART. The relationship between Lake and Will was so mature when it counted and so profound. Lake was a girl I connected with since page one. She had thoughts that I only ever dared to think and never speak aloud. She worries about her brother, about herself, about what it means to have friends and be best friends with someone else, what it means to have the kind of connection with another person... I loved reading from her POV. Not that she can't act her age. She has a problem with confronting problems head on, prefers to carve pumpkins all day instead of talking about it. And she is prone to put on a tantrum once in a while. She can be difficult but all the other sides of her, her strong will and commitment to her family, make up for the small imperfections. She is real, and I like reading from the POV of a real strong girl.

Will was difficult! Sometimes more than he had to be, but at the same time... so worth it. His commitment to his little brother? That made me fall in love with him right on the spot. He is twenty one but he asks way older than that, and he is sexy and likes poetry and and and... I can't even. The only way he gets better? When you read Point of Retreat (Slammed #2) and it is written in his POV!!!!!!!!! That made my LIFE!

All the extra characters were essential to the story, and even though this particular title was mostly to introduce us to Will and Lake, their circumstances, their love, it also helped to put the foundation for the side characters. In Point of Retreat they become even more important. I found myself loving Kel and Caulder (the little brothers) and Eddie (Lake's best friend, she is a girl) and Gavin (Eddie's boyfriend). And Julia, Lake's mother, was amazing. Great mother figure in an NA novel. I loved her presence and how she balanced the role of mother and friend. It was perfect.

The slam poetry was another huge perk of the story. It was incredible, and used at specific points to summarize the story so well. This is the kind of book that inspires you to put your own pen to paper, push your boundaries because that's what they're there for.

I can't even begin to give this story justice. It has so many layers. Colleen Hoover is my favorite New Adult author. I loved her other novel, Hopeless more than words can say and now I absolutely am in love with Slammed. After reading it I told ALL my friends on Facebook to read it. Separately by the chat. I wrote to EACH of them and told them to buy this book immediately. I suggest you follow my advice and buy it right now too!

Other fantastic books by Colleen Hoover:
Hopeless (Hopeless, #1)

Tuesday 25 June 2013

Review: The Originals by Cat Patrick

The Originals
Title: The Originals
Author: Cat Patrick
Series: n/a
Book #: 1
Pages: 304
Reading Level:YA
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 3.88
Published: Mat 7th, 2013.

A riveting new story from Cat Patrick, author of Forgotten and Revived.

17-year-olds Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best grew up as identical triplets... until they discovered a shocking family secret. They're actually closer than sisters, they're clones. Hiding from a government agency that would expose them, the Best family appears to consist of a single mother with one daughter named Elizabeth. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns going to school, attending social engagements, and a group mindset has always been a de facto part of life...

Then Lizzie meets Sean Kelly, a guy who seems to see into her very soul. As their relationship develops, Lizzie realizes that she's not a carbon copy of her sisters; she's an individual with unique dreams and desires, and digging deeper into her background, Lizzie begins to dismantle the delicate balance of an unusual family that only science could have created.

Taschima's POV:

"Until then, I'd thought I was a triplet.
Little by little, it all came out after that.
And now, little by little, I'm starting to wish I could send it back to wherever it came from."

Would it be cheesy for me to say that The Originals was very original? Because it really was. The whole concept was unprecedented, at least I've never read anything like it. At the beginning of The Originals the concept was a bit disorienting and hard to buy but the author certainly made it work and answered all questions I had when it came to the "triplets" life schedule since they had to pretend they were ONE person. Yikes, that sounds like a headache. And what happens when they get a crush? Or when someone notices their differences? Or when they get tired of being the same person? Well, the novel answers all these questions and more.

"She's told us the story a lot, but only since we moved to California. Before then, it was all innocence and bliss. After we fled Florida, she told us about her work at the genetics lab that was secretly cloning humans while the rest of the world was getting excited about a cloned sheep."

Elizabeth Best is the model student. She gets straight As on Math and science, she is on the cheering squad, is a great writer, dances fantastically, takes night classes to get ahead of the game, and has an extra job. She sounds pretty perfect doesn't she? Elizabeth Best is also composed of three very different people—Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best. They look exactly alike, and yet are completely different. Lizzie is very dramatic and creative, Ella is the brains/the reason they get all As in science and Math, and Betsey is a firecracker and a free spirit. They all seem to be okay with the way their lives are ran, controlled, until Lizzie and Ella do the impossible and start crushing on different guys from school, David and Sean. Soon enough they will start to realize that their way of live needs to change in order for them to really live.

I enjoyed the dynamics of the relationship between the triplets. They could be mad as hell towards each other, but they always found a way to get over their issues. And they were so different! My favorite wasn't even the protagonist, Lizzie, instead my favorite was Betsey. I felt like she was the one we read about the least but she was so adamant about helping her sisters live their lives, and she was so passionate... I wouldn't mind reading a novella about only her. Lizzie, our main POV, is also a nice girl, though at times I thought she overreacted and was too dramatic for her own good.

"I wake up at midnight, heart pounding and sweating, distressed after a nightmare about Sean marrying Natasha. Rationally, I know we're teenagers and no one's marrying anyone, but when in the dream he turned and looked at me from the altar and said, "This could've been you," it felt like the worst thing that's ever happened to me."

I still liked reading the book from her POV, specially since we get to date Sean Kelly.

"His chin and mouth are sharp; his nose looks like it started out perfectly straight then met up with a tree or another guy's shoulder at some point. His hair can only be described as a side spike, like he stood sideways in front of a fan blowing hairspray instead of air. He's tall and towering even seated, watching me curiously with light brown eyes. Just as I decide that he looks like the daytime alter ego for a nighttime superhero"

description

Yeah... that cute! To top it all he is creative and yet not tortured but sweet and trustworthy. And he READS!

"What do you do after school?" I ask, a little snippily. He laughs.
"Whatever," he says. "Hang out with friends. Read. Play games. Write a little. Sometimes I take pictures."

He is very... charming. As in I imagined him being the cutest ever, sexy too. He helps Lizzie "out" herself, and he gets along with her sisters. I fell in love with him a little, he is the whole package.

While I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the lives of the triplets and really got into the story I can admit the ending was a bit... unimpressive. I enjoyed it, but it didn't shock me. I really did like how Sean stuck around through it all though!

Very cool story. Now I need to read more books by Cat Patrick! Another really cool thing about this title? Stand alone! It doesn't really need the sequel, though I am not opposed to a novella from Betsey's POV! Great read, add it to the pile.

Monday 24 June 2013

Review: In the After by Demitria Lunetta

 In the After
Title: In The After
Author: Demitris Lunetta
Series: In the After
Book #: 1
Pages: 400
Reading Level:YA
Book Rating: Photobucket.5
Goodreads Rating: 4.12
T.B.Published: June 25th, 2013.

They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.

Taschima's POV:

description

The other day all the lights in my apartment went out. I was in the middle of playing Mario Party with two other of my friends (I was kicking ass) and suddenly the world went black. Total corner-of-our-city black out. This situation is already scary on it's own but it's even more terrifying when you have read books like In The After. All I could think  to myself was "don't make a noise or they will find you and kill you. Take quiet breaths, don't turn on the lights (Ipad, phone, etc). Be very still." In The After will definitely make you afraid of the dark once more. I also thought that if they had come to Earth my friend would be one of the first ones to go, she had all electronic lights on and was talking loudly on her phone. One less human in the world. This is what In the After is like, it stays with you way after you have read it, making you question how exactly you would turn out if out of this world creatures were to invade your planet and kill all the noisy people in the world. I really enjoyed the book and it's characters. I read it in one sitting, it was just that addicting.

In The After can be divided into two parts. The first is the finding out about the creatures, the day to day of how to survive what feels like the end of the world, finding Baby, getting used to the idea that nothing is never going to be the same (the Before part of life is over, and now you have to get used to the After). The second part is after they are "saved" and what this entails. I really enjoyed both parts. I specially enjoyed the "creatures" description. They are fast like vampires and have great hearing, green looking like our make believe aliens, and they are day dwellers. The creatures are sort of blind and so they hunt in the day light, though some seem to come out at night as well if the dinner bell rings. I loved these creatures! I like how the author takes all these characteristics of other monsters and manages to create her own piece of nightmare.

The characters are all enjoyable. Amy is relatable, we get to see how she adapts to the new way of life and how her skin thickens with the passing of time. I also enjoyed Baby, though by being so young she can sometimes piss you off when the puts her trust where she isn't supposed to. Other secondary characters I enjoyes were the ex pop star turned Guardian (their own kind of post-apocalyptic warriors) and really most of te Guardians. It reminded me a little of the Dhampirs in Vampire Academy, their bond and commitment to being the best in order to defend those around them. There's not much romance, it doesn't take front row and the guy she is "interested" in wasn't spectacular (he is geeky and lovable but we didn't get to know him too well, and he needs to grow a backbone).

The ending was surprising and exciting. The way the author broke it down was enjoyable, kind of like finding pieces of the puzzle. The twists were unpredictable but made so much sense. It really answers a lot of questions you have about these creatures that came out of the blue but don't seem overly smart, just instinct driven.  I will definitely be reading the sequel to In The After, it's high in my wishlist since the ending left the doors open to a very exciting sequel.


ARC provided by publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Latest Bookworm Project: Panic by Lauren Oliver, New YA Stand Alone has a Summary!



Lauren Oliver, author of the much acclaimed Delirium series, is coming out with another book next year (March 2014). Even though I was sorely disappointed in Requiem (I still have nightmares) I am excited to read Panic. Delirium and Pandemonium were incredible so I am hoping that Panic follows in those books' footsteps.

Without further ado here is Panic's Summary, enjoy:

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes an extraordinary novel of fear, friendship, courage, and hope.

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

Already optioned by Universal Pictures in a major deal, this gritty, spellbinding novel captures both the raw energy of fear mixed with excitement, as well as the aching need to find a place to belong.

I guess the Movie industry is taking all they can get uh? Everybody is hoping to make it big with the next YA franchise. You know which book I would enjoy if it were made into a movie? The Originals by Cat Patrick. It had movie potential, the plot was pretty cool and it was different. But I don't see that happening any time soon. The summary also reminds me a bit of The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau. It sounds interesting, but if anything I am in for Lauren Oliver's writing style. We'll see how it turns out but I have high hopes for this one!

PS; Remember to enter my contest for a copy of Dream Thieves (the Raven Boys #2) by Maggie Stiefvater!

PPS; Google Reader is unfortunately closing soon so if you wish to get more updates be sure to follow by BlogLovin' or RSS Feed. Both options are on your left side for your convenience.

Sunday 23 June 2013

Hot Sequel Giveaway: Celebrating a New Era, Win a copy of The Dream Thieves (The Raven Boys #2) by Maggie Stiefvater!!!


Well guys, lately I've been in denial over the whole Google-Reader-not-working-anymore-after-July-1st-thing. It is sad really because I've been using Google Reader for over four years. It is, was, the easiest way for me to follow all the other blogs I love as well as the easiest way of you guys to follow me. But now we have to move on, it's a new era!

There is this new thing called BlogLovin'

BlogLovin' is what the cool kids are using these days. I just checked it/joined the site and it is kind of awesome actually.
  1. It is so easy to use...
  2. SO easy to register and...

  3. It transferred ALL THE BLOGS I am following to one easy webpage in under 10 seconds. MIRACLE.
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In order to keep receiving Bloody Bookaholic updates on posts, interviews, and of course giveaways like the gem that is going on today!

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, #2)

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Review: Pheonix (Black City #2) by Elizabeth Richards

Phoenix (Black City, #2)
Title: Pheonis
Author: Elizabeth Richards
Series: Black City
Book #: 2
Pages: 368
Reading Level:YA
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.28
Published: June 4th, 2013.

Ash and Natalie are just starting to build a life together when things in the United Sentry States go from bad to worse. Ash and Natalie find themselves at the center of turmoil when dictator Purian Rose threatens Natalie’s life unless Ash votes in favor of Rose’s Law—a law that will send Darklings and other dissenters to a deadly concentration camp known as the Tenth.

When Ash can’t bring himself to trade Natalie’s life for those of millions of Darklings, her fate is sealed. Enter Elijah Theroux, the handsome Bastet boy Natalie once saved from her mother’s labs, where he’d been experimented on and tortured. It was his venom the Sentry used to create the lethal Golden Haze, the heart of the government conspiracy that led to Black City’s uprising and Ash’s rebirth as the Phoenix, the face of the rebellion. Elijah is back and Ash doesn’t like him; it’s clear he’s taken with Natalie, and Ash fears she may have feelings for him as well.

But Elijah also may have the answer to taking down Purian Rose for good—a powerful weapon called the Ora. Ash, Natalie and Elijah just have to escape Black City undetected to find it. But fleeing the city and finding this weapon (if it even exists) are easier said than done, and the quest could tear Ash and Natalie apart, even pushing them into the arms of others.

Taschima's POV:

description

Oh gosh! This was GOOD! A great sequel to Black City. The way it just kept moving along, barely stopping to take a breath... and when it did take a breath? Even more exquisite! I thought it was going to be hard to top or even be as equally awesome Black City was but Phoenix definitely managed to beat the second book lull expectation. Thank goodness for that!

I think what made Phoenix such a success is the way that Elizabeth Richards dealt with our expectations. You would think the same old thing was going to happen yet again in a dystopian novel, all the signs would be there, but then something completely DIFFERENT would happen. This happened like three different times in the novel! It was a relief really, because if the things I thought were going to happen had happened then I wouldn't have liked this novel as much :P

Natalie and Ash are in the middle of a civil war. All their moves are being watched, and time is running out for Ash to choose. To save Natalie is to potentially sacrifice thousands of lives, can Ash do that? Decide between her and his people? And then Elijah comes into the picture, the cat person Natalie saved from being experimented on further in Black City, with tall tales of a secret weapon that can help them save the war. Soon enough they embark on this great adventure full of dire situations and complicated feelings.

One thing that still utterly bothered me was the constant use of "fragg". I hate this made up language, specially since the only words it makes up are the "bad" words. I believe using the word fuck, specially if only use when necessary, won't ruffle too many feathers.  I was also very confused at the beginning with the many different characters and had a hard time remembering who was who, so you may want to re read Black City before going into this one, or look the characters up on a wiki.

The relationship between Ash and Natalie got a bit complicated in this installment. Mostly due to very serious mis-communication, but it still led to some very tense sexy scenes. The is a definite love triangle thing going on between Natalie, Ash, and Elijah... But I wasn't bothered or annoyed by it. I enjoyed it! Elijah is very charming, but NOTHING compared to Ash's magnetism.

BTW guys, I absolutely HATE Sebastian with all my SOUL. He is the worst bad guy ever, if you thought you hated him in Black City then just WAIT til you read Phoenix, you will want to kill him with your bare hands. He is a disgusting pig and I hope he is castrated before he dies. That is all.

All in all Phoenix was great all around. Maybe a little slow in the beginning, but once they start running it's full speed ahead! The ending left me scratching my head. It was definitely unexpected, like the rest of the twists in the novel. But because of that it was good! Now, so long, until the third Black City title comes out, I cannot wait!

description

Other books in the series:
Black City (Black City, #1)
1st Book in series

Saturday 22 June 2013

Review: Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse #13) by Charlaine Harris (Rest in Peace Sookie... about time)

Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, #13)
Title: Dead Ever After
Author: Charlaine Harris
Series: Sookie Stackhouse
Book #: 13
Pages: 338
Reading Level: Adult
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 3.12
Published: May 7th, 2013.

There are secrets in the town of Bon Temps, ones that threaten those closest to Sookie—and could destroy her heart...

Sookie Stackhouse finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clearcut. He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.

Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime.

But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough...

Taschima's POV:

Well, at least it's over.

As far as endings go it didn't totally suck. It was pretty predictable, how everything was going to end up, who Sookie was going to end up with. I am just so glad it's over.

On this installment all of Sookie's enemies come back from their sabbatical. And every single last one of them is out for her blood. Sookie gets blamed for a crime she didn't commit, Eric and her are having marital problems (big whoop), Bill is still skulking in the woods, and Sam is getting used to being back from the grave. We basically get to see almost EVERY SINGLE important character that has grazed the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Though not some of the real important ones no Hunter or Niall :/

The beginning of this series was so wonderful. So full of possibility, so interesting and with action at every corner. But as the series progressed it's like Sookie got 20 years older. She isn't the same care free spirit she used to be, willing to take chances, now she reminds me of her grandmother. The way things ended was expected, mostly anti climatic.

However it was a really quick read. I read it in a matter of hours. On a whim. I may even re read the first ones in the series, try to point out exactly where it all started to go downhill.

SILVER LINING, the TV SHOW IS STILL GOING ON!! And they are certainly taking a different route. So hallelujah! Hurray for Eric action, and him not being such a jackass! Hopefully they will also change the ending. All of my Bon Temp eggs are on the same basket now so TV people please don't disappoint!

Sigh, I can't really expand on anything else without giving spoilers. All I can say is it wasn't as bad as it could have been, it was still pretty bad, I loved this series once a upon a time and I am glad we can finally let it rest in peace.

Eric is a douche, go figure. Bill disappears midway through the book. Sookie ends up with SAM. Which we ALL SAW COMING! Ugh, no, I didn't want her with Sam, not after EVERYTHING we've been through in these novels! It's like she pushed all the supernatural world away to go back to square one. Boring!

Wednesday 19 June 2013

HOT Cover Reveal: The King (The Black Dagger Brotherthood #12) by J.R. Ward, the Return of Wrath and Beth!!!!


THE COVER IS OUT!!!

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It just looks so BAD ASS!! Though that is not how my Wrath would like his hair. All wild and hot would be more like it. I picture my Wrath quite honestly looking like this anime character:


To each his/her own right? =D What do you think of the cover?! I am so excited for this book! (as if you couldn't tell from all the exclamation points) Wrath has always been my favorite brother, ever since the beginning, and I cannot wait to get right back into his story.

Movie News Entertainment Weekly exposes the Divergent movie! Theo James (Four) and Shailene Woodley (Tris) on cover!

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It seems we all have to keep an eye out for the next Entertainment Weekly magazine, because Divergent is going to be front and center! I have all the ones they put out on The Hunger Games (and look how THAT movie turned out, sublime!) and now I have to collect the Divergent ones as well. 

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The magazine is going to be out this Friday, June 21st. Just in time for the weekend, so you can take some time off, drink a cup of coffee, and read this baby! I will read it and post some highlights as well ;)

PS; I 100% support the casting of Theo James. Would you look at that MAN!? He is, wow, no words. He is Four. I also really like Shailene, she seems to be a good actress plus she is making so many good YA movies this year (The Fault in our Stars, Divergent). The whole cast is legendary.

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Gotta Read It: The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4), by Richelle Mead, Full Excerpt from Adrian's POV!


GUYS!!! You won't believe what is out there, a full excerpt from Adrian's POV!! I devoured Indigo Spell and now that the Fiery Heart has Adrian's POV as well? Well you can BET I am reading that baby in less than 24 hours. With no further ado, here is a tease of the excerpt and a link to the complete thing.
I’d made good progress on a bottle of tequila, sprawled on my bed and listening to Pink Floyd, when the bedroom door opened a couple hours later.  I smiled when I saw Sydney.  I was adrift on the buzz of tequila, which had effectively muted spirit and taken the edge off that terrible, terrible low.  That wasn’t to say I was bright and peppy either, but I no longer wanted to crawl into a hole.  I’d defeated spirit, and seeing Sydney’s beautiful face lifted me up even more.
There's a lot more where that came from! CLICK HERE to read the rest. They even have the excerpt in SPANISH! It's amazing the amount of time and work these guys do to please all the fans they can. For that I applaud them.

Now if you just can't get enough I have MORE excerpt hidden around here!

CLICK HERE for an excerpt from Sydney's POV, and a tiny excerpt relating to Adrian. You won't regret it.

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