Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter (Goddess Test #2)

Author: Aimee Carter
Published March 27th 2012 by Harlequin Teen
296 pages
Series: Goddess Test
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.

Review:

The book is a good sequel for the Goddess Test series. I liked how the story went and developed. I wasn't able to review the first book which is The Goddess Test. But if you want a really good story based on the major Greek gods and goddesses, this series is a good start. Read The Goddess Test first!

In Goddess Interrupted, Kate as Henry's wife returned to the Underworld after six months in the mortal world as part of their deal. But after her return, she didn't expect that immortality has its price - Calliope's escape, Henry's cold shoulder, meeting Persephone, and a Being that could destroy the world including the immortals.

I'd say the book really lived up to my expectation. There are more adventures and some back story about the confusing relationships of the other gods and goddesses. Calliope's never-ending wrath and jealousy is as always, so annoying. There's lot of Kate's rant about Henry's treatment to her but that's bearable for some reasons. Maybe some can relate to it. Overall, Goddess Interrupted is a good read and I really enjoyed it.

For those who read the first book and liked it, Goddess Interrupted is a must-read! I want the third book now!

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles (Leaving Paradise #1)

Author: Simone Elkeles
Published April 1st 2007 by Flux
303 pages
Series: Leaving Paradise
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

Review:

My first review for the month! I've been a fan of Simone Elkeles writings ever since I read Perfect Chemistry a year ago. It's not new to me how adorable her books are! But I'm always impressed whenever I read her books.

I liked the story of Leaving Paradise. The love story of an ex-con who falls in love with his victim is kinda new to me. I liked the character development and how the story went. It may be a little mushy at times but it still turned out good. Maggie's character is admirable. She may be a timid girl because of her limp but she still manages to stand on her ground and take the risks. Caleb is one tough guy but with a soft heart. I think all of Miss Elkeles' characters in her books are always likable. It's because of how she described their personalities. The author always make it a point to describe their strengths and weaknesses.

Leaving Paradise is an interesting read and very engaging. And oh, another thing, I love the author's titles for her books! Clever and intriguing! :)

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Perfect Chemistry
Rules of Attraction
Leaving Paradise

Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #2)

Author: Nalini Singh
Published February 2nd 2010 by Berkley
323 pages
Series: Guild Hunter
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find that she has become an angel-and that her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel Raphael, likes having her under his control. But almost immediately, Raphael must ready Elena for a flight to Beijing, to attend a ball thrown by the archangel Lijuan. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan's power lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena...

Review:

I really liked this but not as much as the first one. This second book will still surprise you with new mysteries and characters.

The book picks up where the first book left off. Elena wakes up after a year of sleep. She wakes with wings but in a weak condition. She has to gain her strength to attend the ball of Lijuan, the most powerful and eldest archangel in the Cadre. There are also threats and murders by this angel who wants to be part of the Cadre. Raphael, the Archangel of New York, wouldn't let Elena hurt by anyone. Not even when she's his weakness.

I liked this book because I got to know some of what had happened in the past and the truth behind Elena's nightmares. It also had a glimpse of Raphael's past. We'd like to know more about this archangel right? I also liked the mysteries involved in this book. As usual, Nalini Singh's writing is impressive. Although lots of characters are introduced, the book won't leave you confused.

I'm intrigued with Illium's character. I think we have to know more about him as well. Actually most of the characters are intriguing. I think that's why you'd want to read the series more. That is, to learn what these angels and vampires' secrets. The story of this one was set mostly in the Refuge. The sensual parts are not as intense as the previous book but of course it would leave you wanting more. The end was kind of a cliffhanger.

Archangel's Kiss is a good sequel for the series. It's sort of answered the questions in my mind after reading Angels' Blood. I think the third book would be interesting by how this book has ended. Let's see what will happen back home!

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter, Book 2)

A Lot Like Love by Julie James

Author: Julie James
Published March 1st 2011 by Berkley (first published January 25th 2010)
274 pages
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

Jordan Rhodes is invited to all of Chicago's best parties, but there's only one the FBI wants to crash. To get her brother out of jail, she agrees to take Agent McCall as her date. But when the mission gets botched, requiring their "relationship" to continue, it starts to feel less like an investigation-and a lot like something else.

Review:

It's been a while since I read contemporary adult fiction. This book was a good choice. It gets me off from the fantasy worlds I've been reading these days for a while.

Nick is a dedicated undercover agent of FBI. He's used to getting assignments one after the other. That is, until he meets the billionaire heiress Jordan Rhodes who sweep him off his feet. But that is so much unlike the Nick McCall who's had problems when it comes to commitment. Jordan Rhodes however, is a matured woman who will do everything for family. Her involvement with the investigation turns out to be a start of a real relationship.

This was an enjoyable read. The plot is not new to me but the author will impress you with her writing style. I liked how she developed the characters and the turn of events. It's also an interesting read with so much information about wine. I'm not much of a wine person but I got more interested as I read on. Sometimes my aunt will prepare wine when we have special occasions but of course the men in our family will always choose hard drinks instead. Just like Nick in this story. I liked the part when Jordan is describing how Nick should taste the wine and Nick doesn't seem to understand how it works. The minor characters are likable and bring more depth to the story.

A Lot Like Love has more to it than you would have expected. Just like a bottle of wine.☺

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

A Lot Like Love (Berkley Sensation) 

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (Delirium #1)

Author: Lauren Oliver

Published February 1st 2011 by HarperCollins
441 pages
Review Copy from NetGalley and Publisher
Series: Delirium
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Review:

I didn't know anything about this book before I read it. So I was surprised when I read the first sentence from the book. So intriguing! And I kept reading to know what this book is all about.

The book is about Lena Haloway. She is very much looking forward to being cured and living a safe, predictable life until she met Alex. Love has been declared as a dangerous disease and people of the right age should be cured. And after meeting Alex, Lena understands that an emotional connection to another person is something she's always been missing -- and now it's something she won't live without. 

I enjoyed reading this. I was fascinated by the concept of love as a serious illness, that when you get infected, you should be cured. If only that's possible when you have heart aches right? But indifference is a more serious condition. I think the book is more of a love story than dystopian. Well for me it came out good although some people have mixed feelings on this one. I liked the character development. From the "I want to be cured" Lena to the "In love" Lena. And of course the mysterious Alex. You would see how this has changed the whole point of the story. 

This book made me realize... What if we really have a cure for love? Would you want to get cured and live a peaceful life or would you stay in love and bear the consequences? Oh well... one word for this, Sacrifice.

Delirium is a great start for a series. Good concept and such a nice cliffhanger at the end. I will definitely read the next book!

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Delirium

Outside In by Maria V. Snyder (Insider #2)

Author: Maria V. Snyder
Published March 1st 2011 by Harlequin Teen
320 pages
Review copy from NetGalley and Publisher
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

ME?

A LEADER?

Okay, I did prove that there’s more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion—between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we’re free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again—while still touching base with Riley, of course. He’s the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there’s outside and then there is Outside.

And something from Outside wants In.

Review:

I enjoyed reading Outside In and I didn't really expect that I would. The dystopian genre appeal to me so much ever since I read a series in that same theme.

Trella is back on exploring air ducts but this time without the fear that she will be caught by the PopCops. The rebellion has ended and the Insiders have a new committee to lead them. What they don't know is freedom might not be beyond their reach.

When I read the first book, Inside Out, I was impressed with the world building. The futuristic theme may be a usual one for a story but the author managed to create her unique stories for the series. I liked the character development. In this book, Trella's character is admirable. You'd learn she's not always as tough as we think but she also has her weaknesses and limitations. It's good to read the development of Trella and Riley's relationship. The new characters are introduced timely with respect to the events happening in the book. The conspiracies and conflicts are well written that you wouldn't stop reading until you know who's the real culprit.

Although there are parts that could be a little boring or should I say confusing with all the terms used in the book, Outside In is still a good sequel for the first book.

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Outside In (Harlequin Teen) 

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #1)

Author: Cassandra Clare
Published February 19th 2008 by McElderry (first published March 27th 2007)
485 pages
Series: The Mortal Instuments
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with odd markings. This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with gorgeous, golden-haired Jace. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Review:

Well, what can I say? I have mixed emotions. I'm not sure if I love it or hate it. There were some parts that I totally love reading but some parts were just too much to bear!

The book has been on my shelf for months and I just couldn't bring myself to read it. Maybe because of lack of time, or I just don't want myself reading it only because of the hype it gets. Finally, I decided to read it since it's vacation and I can read it without too much distractions like school. heh!

So it started out fine. It's not like the other books that you will just judge based on the first few chapters. You have to keep reading to decide whether it's a good read or not. After reading the first part, well, I was a little confused. Information overload! There were jargons from the world of Shadowhunters. I was like Clary, feeling confused. The book got better on the second part. I finally understood why the book's title is City of Bones. It became more enjoyable especially with all the action-packed, romance and the "unraveling the truth" parts. Well there's this one truth that I just don't get. I think it's stupid. It's supposed to be tragic because of the feeling that has already arisen... I don't want to spoil!!! oh, my favorite chapter is The Midnight Flower. :)

The characters are likable and well developed. Miss Clare is good in describing her characters. Clary is one tough chick. If I was the one who can see creatures I'm not supposed to see, I'd totally freak out! And then we have Jace, the lovable Jace. Girls are swooning over him. Not the girls from the book okay! I think it's because of how Jace's personality was introduced in the book. Quite arrogant but still lovable.

The reason why I have mixed feelings on this one is because of the story building. The whole concept is good but some parts are irrelevant in my opinion. The twists about the characters, hmm not great. Surprising yes, but I think they totally ruined the reader's imagination. I don't know. It's quite hard to explain. In Filipino, if you read a good twist you'd say, "Aaah, kaya pala ganun!" but a bad one would be "Nyeh ano kaya yun!?". I'm out of my mind.

Reading City of Bones was like a roller coaster ride. It has it's ups and downs, twists and turns. I guess it was still an enjoyable ride. :)

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments)

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

Author: Wendelin Van Draanen
Published May 13th 2003 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
224 pages
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

In alternating chapters, Bryce and Juli tell the story of their relationship, beginning in second grade when Bryce moves in across the street from Juli. Juli instantly develops a crush on Bryce, who does not reciprocate, and throughout elementary school he tries to avoid her persistent and unwelcome attentions.

In middle school, however, they both begin to notice Bryce's substantial character flaws. Just as Bryce begins to try to change, and to notice Juli's good points, her ardor starts to cool. Meanwhile their families, and their perceptions of their world, also undergo dramatic changes.

Review:

This was an easy and a simple read but you will be surprised how good this book is! The book is cute in it's own way. Since I'm tired of reading book series, I decided to give this a shot. It's been on my radar for months now and I heard that it was adapted into a movie as well.

The book started with Bryce's point of view and his version of their first meeting. Just reading the first chapter already caught my attention to read it all the way to the end. Each chapter switches narration from Bryce talking to Juli talking, so you really get both sides of the story. You can feel with the switch of voice how each of them reacted on different kind of events from the story. I think that's a good way to also get to know the characters more.

I love Juli's character. She's this weird but witty girl who will do everything to get her crush's attention. The only thing is she won't look beyond what her eyes are seeing. And this really remind me of my childhood days. That stage in your life - first crush, first kiss, first love.

Flipped is written in a unique way wherein it captures the readers with it's simple but meaningful narration. I'm gonna watch the movie soon! :)

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Flipped

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder (Insider #1)

Author: Maria V. Snyder
Published April 1st 2010 by Harlequin (first published March 24th 2010)
320 pages
Series: Insider
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

Keep Your Head Down.

Don't Get Noticed.

Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

Review:

Dystopian has been a favorite genre of me ever since I read The Hunger Games series. Well, I'm really intrigued with all the conspiracies and end-of-the-world stories in this genre. I saw that the second book of Inside out, which is Outside In, is available on netgalley. So I decided to read the first book already. Inside Out has already been on my to-read pile for a long time!

Trella is a scrub in the Inside. Scrubs are people in the lower levels who work for the Uppers to maintain Inside. They do the laundry, cleaning, cooking and all the hard work. When a prophet tried to convince Trella that there's still hope for the scrubs, Trella sees herself sneaking through the pipes to spy on the Uppers. Trella doesn't know that a rebellion will begin because of it.

Inside Out is one of those books that has a brilliant concept but too short for a 320 pages book. I know that's already pretty long but that's only what I thought. At first, I was kinda confused of the settings. The beginning was slow but as I read on, it became fast-paced and adventurous.

The main characters are likable. Trella is one tough girl. She's only 17 but her personality makes her older than her age. It was interesting because they use weeks to count their age. I thought I'm going to do a little math but the lazy side of me didn't bother anymore. :) Cogon is really brave and he will fight for the sake of others. He is well-liked by many scrubs. It's just sad what happened to him in the end. When Riley was introduced in the book, I have a feeling that he will play an important role in the story. Just read the book to find out!

The book was a good read! It's not as exciting as I expected but the concept really impressed me. Will definitely read the sequel!

♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

Inside Out (Harlequin Teen)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Millennium #1)

Author: Stieg Larsson

Published June 23rd 2009 by Vintage

590 pages

Series: Millennium Trilogy

Originally posted on The Book Gaga 
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Summary:

Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch—and there’s always a catch—is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson’s novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don’t want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.

Review:

I was really intrigued what this series is all about. So I checked reviews before actually buying the series. The title and the cover are also catchy! When I started reading it, I’m excited because the prologue has some mystery. I really like mystery suspense books! After the first chapter I thought I would get bored with all those financial controversies. However, when Lisbeth Salander was introduced to the story, I kept reading until I got really hooked to the story. It’s not only all about the mystery but also the morals explained about domestic violence in Sweden.

- So that was my short review of the first book. At that time I was still confused if the series amazed me. But one thing's for sure,  Lisbeth Salander's character blew me away!

´¨) 
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) 
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ♥ xoxo, Edil ♥

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #2)

Author: Ilona Andrews

Published April 1st 2008 by Ace 

260 pages

Series: Kate Daniels
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Summary:

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic goes wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate's going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale; a divine one.

When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more is at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest - and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can't stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive...

Review:

This book is definitely better than the first one! I thought I wouldn't survive reading it after the first few chapters, but as I went on the story became interesting and intriguing. 

Kate Daniels never failed to make me excited on her next moves. She's a kick-ass heroine. The stubbornness was still there but she's so adorable! In this book, there's already a development on the relationship between her and Curran which I really anticipated. 

It was a nice read to start the year! A mix of adventure, suspense, action and a little romance will keep you reading til the last page. When I read the first book of the series, I admit I was not that impressed. I liked the world building but there's too much going on that I think it already complicated the story. However this time, the author managed to tell a story that is captivating eventhough there's a lot of ideas involved. 

Well now I'm impressed and I'll keep on reading the series! 

´¨) 
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) 
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ♥ xoxo, Edil ♥ 

Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, Book 2)