Short reviews: Hidden Wings + Broken Wings by Cameo Renae

Title: Hidden Wings (#1)
Author: Cameo Renae
Published: January 16, 2013
Pages: 204
Series: Hidden Wings
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Seventeen is a life changing age for Emma Wise. As her family's sole survivor in a car crash, she is left with a broken arm and a few scrapes and bruises. But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered.

Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she’s never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now…she doesn't even know who or what she is.

A centuries old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her eighteenth birthday... things will change.

**REVIEW**

For those who are looking for a quick, young, and uncomplicated storyline. However, I found the writing to be incredibly unrefined and without structure or finesse. Everything felt very scattered. The protagonist was a little unbelievable and the characters lacked emotional depth, making them hard to connect with. This is a quick-paced read to pass the time.

(2.5/5)

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Title: Broken Wings (#1)
Author: Cameo Renae
Published: June 1, 2013
Pages: 296
Series: Hidden Wings
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Emma’s world is falling apart, and Kade, the only one who seems to hold her together, is missing. With death lingering right outside their door, decisions must be made before it’s too late.

The Midway has refused to send help, so they are left to seek out the only other who can stop Lucian.

A perilous quest sends Emma and a few Guardians into the Underworld, where the unimaginable abide, to beseech the Prince of Darkness himself. Lucifer.
Now, they must endure the deadly levels of Hell, which not one …mortal or immortal… has ever survived. Prepare for love, loss, and the unexpected.

**REVIEW**

Despite only feeling so-so about the first installment, I went ahead and picked up 'Broken Wings.'

I was intrigued by Kade and the promising plot, and ended up exceptionally underwhelmed by the unbelievable and convenient quest into Hell. It left me completely unfazed and I found myself skimming the book, either bored or just wanting to finish it.

The deal with Lucifer's son was a fun twist, though, as a character he was incredibly unrealistic. The ending was abrupt and I almost would've purchased the third book just to finish the half-hanging scene, if I hadn't known better. This will be it for me.

(2/5)

Review: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Title: Hunting Lila (Lila #1)
Author: Sarah Alderson
Published: August 4, 2011
Pages: 320
Series: Lila
Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: 17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. After a mugging exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. In a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them…


**REVIEW**
I liked the characters. I had fun reading about Jack, Alex, and Lila as a trio and was intrigued by The Unit. I really enjoyed Lila's relationship and interaction with her brother which made Jack's reaction when finding out about Lila's ability not very believable or consistent with his character or "loving brother" persona.

The whole Lila / Alex deal was entertaining, until all things Alex and all his details or words or how much she wanted him started to resemble a slight obsession. It was too distracting.

The funny thing is, why I liked Alex was also the reason why I didn't feel that him and Lila were a believable match. Alex was mature and cool-headed. And Lila felt too young and stubborn in comparison. I could definitely see why she'd be infatuated with him, but I couldn't see him having romantic feelings for her, at all. It just didn't match up.

The storyline was promising and the plot twist interesting, however, a little too convenient for my taste. Because [SPOILER ALERT: the bad guys turning out to bet he good guys just as the protagonist is captures, isn't too exciting.]

And I gradually just ended up losing interest in the story.

'Hunting Lila' is an entertaining read for those looking to read a girl-likes-boy kind of book with supernatural abilities and little action scenes.

I won't continue the 'Lila' series as of now but will check out more of Alderson's books.

(3/5)

Review: World After by Susan Ee

Title: World After (#2)
Author: Susan Ee
Published: November 19, 2013
Pages: 438
Series: Penryn & the End of Days
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

**REVIEW**

Since the sequel picked up right where 'Angelfall' left off you got to experience Penryn's off-the-bat feelings about everything.

It was painfully authentic how she struggled to cope with what her sister had been turned into. Despite Paige's horrifying transformation there's still an uncertainty about her and if the little girl could still be there. You're taken on a snaky path of revelations and learn what actually happened to Paige, the deal with the scorpion creatures, and the grand plan of it all.

I enjoyed 'World After' for the same reasons as 'Angelfall'; Ee's compelling way of telling a story and the evenly pounding pacing with bursts of action and unpredictable turns. The courageous, sensible, and likable heroine. We get to experience Penryn's fierce independence, because (besides the momentary company of her bizarre yet tremendously entertaining mother, or so) she's getting in and out of trouble on her own.

Then there's the sword. How I ended up really caring for a sword, is beyond me. I was intrigued by its way of communicating through Penryn's dreams and Raffe's memories - I think more of the latter would've been amazing and might have distracted from his absense, meanwhile opening him up to Penryn and the reader. Seeing the memories with Penryn through his point-of-view, was gold.

Raffe isn't present until late in the book, and boy, I missed him. Although I applaud Ee for a realistic, solid, and aching relationship build-up, I just craved his presence. And banter. That's why I fell in love with the first book. It's funny how I bonded more with the sword than Raffe now.

However, for those who haven't read the book yet, obviously you have to. Because Penryn and Raffe may or may not be in a beach house, in front of a fire, having heart-twisting and witty dialogue that made me want to jump around or squeal into a pillow. There may or may not be a little stripping involved, too.

The ending did leave me hanging a little and I can't imagine where it'll go from here.

(4/5)

Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Title: Angelfall (#1)
Author: Susan Ee
Published: May 21, 2011
Pages: 283
Series: Penryn & The End of Days
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

**REVIEW**

There are two kinds of amazing books: the ones you can't stop raving about, and the ones that leave you at a loss for words. 'Angelfall was the latter for me. I don't know what to say and I'm sure everything and more has already been said about this phenomenal book.

The post-apocalyptic world by Ee, where angels are the enemies of the people, was fantastically well-written. The world-building was mind-blowing. From the moment I started reading 'Angelfall' I could not tear away. Ee takes you on an insane journey, from start to finish. Perfect pacing, solid writing, crazy storyline. 

Penryn was plain kick-ass, instantly adding to the list of my favorite heroines of all time - fearless, yet vulnerable and relatable. I don't think I've ever read a book with such poignant and interesting characters. Besides strong, sharp, mesmerizing Raffe, I was immensely impressed with Ee's portrayal of Penryn's schizophrenic mother and their relationship.

Back to Raffe. I mean, seriously! Have mercy. He was intriguing, witty, real, and unpredictable. Romance is not a focus and I wouldn't have wanted it to be, because then I wouldn't have been so caught off guard and frantic when a kiss may or may not have occurred. And I wouldn't have been taken aback by what Raffe may or may not have said afterwards. And I wouldn't have realized how much I cared about these characters.

The first half of the book already had my full attention, the second half totally slammed me. There are some pretty graphic, nightmarish, did-I-just-read-that scenes. Utterly shocking twists and turns. If you won't read this book for its action or characters, you'll want to read it for the plot. Really, you'll want to read about these angels. You'll want to know if Penryn finds her little sister. Because it is that intense.

I'll start the sequel in about thirty seconds. 'Angelfall' is action-packed, well-written, and character driven - the recipe for "must read."

(5/5)

Review: Losing Logan by Sherry D. Ficklin

Title: Losing Logan
Author: Sherry D. Ficklin
Published: May 2, 2014
Pages: 230
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: What if the one thing you never meant to hold on to, is the one thing you can’t let go of?

Normally finding a hot guy in her bedroom wouldn’t irritate Zoe so badly, but finding her childhood friend Logan there is a big problem. Mostly because he’s dead. 

As the only person he can make contact with, he talks Zoe into helping him put together the pieces surrounding his mysterious death so he can move on. 

Thrust into his world of ultra popular rich kids, Zoe is out of her element and caught in the cross-hairs of Logan’s suspicious ex-girlfriend and the friends he left behind, each of whom had a reason to want him dead. The deeper they dig to find the truth, the closer Zoe gets to a killer who would do anything to protect his secrets. And that’s just the start of her problems because Zoe is falling for a dead guy.

**REVIEW**

How crazy good it feels to give 'Losing Logan' its five stars.

First off, I want to say that the story isn't depressing, it's actually strangely heartwarming. I smiled a lot while reading it and chuckled at the impressively witty banter. Secondly, what you won't learn from the premise is that 'Losing Logan' has so much emotion. The plot is simple but the soul of the book is all intertwined.

Zoe was relatable, authentic, and independent. She was sassy and snarky in the most humorous ways. We learn that Zoe and Logan were childhood friends but drifted apart once Logan became popular and Zoe did not. This sounds like the typical case of "you turned popular, I turned geek" and I highly appreciate Ficklin for not making Zoe such a character - she was the total opposite, fearlessly awesome but closed-off.

Logan was like a rock in the story, which is ironic since he's dead and the one depending on Zoe. Though, somehow she ends up needing him just as much. His character radiated a sense of warmth and calmness. I definitely grew attached to him, to the point that I wanted to pause in the middle of the book and write Ficklin to beg her to re-write the plot and have Logan come to life again. I mean, it could happen.

The absolutely hilarious and frustrating banter between the two won me over from the start. I couldn't stress how much I loved it.

I read 'Losing Logan' in one sitting, not only caught up by the characters but by the plot line and mystery surrounding Logan's death. There were little surprises here and there, for sure. I did manage to predict the killer (not because of the clues, but my own logic just asking why this person was there in the story at all.)

What isn't mentioned in the premise is the reaper following Zoe or Logan around, which was quite creepy and suspenseful. I was a little disappointed how everything turned out and ended up having a few questions about it (mostly just: well, why?)
I guess I'd been hoping for a crazy sub-plot. The ending was a tad unsatisfying and rushed. I would've loved a few more pages with Zoe and Logan, just to round everything out. The epilogue, however, almost-maybe made up for it.

There is a love triangle and I think Ficklin's execution of it was utterly beautiful. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

'Losing Logan' was fun, mysterious, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love.

(5/5)

Review: The Vanishing Girl by Laura Thalassa

Title: The Vanishing Girl (#1)
Author: Laura Thalassa
Published: March 15, 2014
Pages: 338
Series: The Vanishing Girl
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Every night after Ember Pierce falls asleep, she disappears. She can teleport anywhere in the world—London, Paris, her crush’s bedroom—wherever her dreams lead her. Ten minutes is all she gets, and once time’s up, she returns to her bed. It's a secret she’s successfully kept for the last five years. But now someone knows.

A week after her eighteenth birthday, when frustratingly handsome Caden Hawthorne captures her, delivers her to the government, and then disappears before her eyes, Ember realizes two things: One, she is not alone. And two, people like her—teleporters—are being used as weapons.
Dragged off to a remote facility where others like her live, Ember’s forced to pair up with her former captor, Caden, to learn how to survive inside until she can escape. Only Caden’s making escape seem less and less appealing.
But even as Ember falls for the boy who got her into this mess, she knows that she is running out of time. Because the government has plans for those like her, and those plans might just cost Ember her life.


**REVIEW**

A pleasant surprise.

I was hooked from the very first chapters and could not stop turning the pages.

I loved Thalassa's smooth and confident writing style and even pacing; everything carried out effortlessly throughout the story. She balanced action, mystery, and romance gracefully. There was just a flawless amount of small moments and big moments.

Ember as a protagonist immediately captured me - she was solid, level-headed, and humorous. I quickly gained confidence in her and trusted her actions. She held her own. I loved the narrating voice.

When you make a character as sexy, straightforward, and banter-driven as Caden, you'll drive the reader to either roll their eyes or chuckle at the things he says and does. Either it works or it's just annoying. I definitely chuckled. He could easily have been overdone and cliche, and I'm ridiculously relieved that he wasn't. This guy was on fire, but in a strangely endearing and enigmatic way.

Ember and Caden were good together and even though they were with each other, more or less, from start to finish, it worked. I adored their banter. However, I truly hope the gushing and craving of one another doesn't get out of hand and distract from the actual plot.

The characters in 'The Vanishing Girl' were all believable and interesting. I really liked that whichever character meant for a certain role weren't outright as expected; there was always a little more to them.

Everything regarding the teleporting, the training, and the missions were enjoyable and I can't wait to learn more about Adrian and the stones.

I finished 'The Vanishing Girl' in one go. Despite the abrupt ending I had a fair sense of satisfaction, and will definitely pick up the sequel this fall.

(4.5)

Review: Revival (The Variant Series #1) by Jena Leigh

Title: Revival (#1)
Author: Jena Leigh
Published: November 14, 2012
Pages: 282
Series: The Variant
Source: purchased

Goodreads summary: Possessing the uncanny ability to fry a television set from twenty paces can really wreck a girl’s social life.

If you’re looking for proof, just ask sixteen-year-old Alexandra Parker. After catching her boyfriend in the arms of the prettiest girl in school, she made the journey from social elite to social pariah in a haze of electricity and exploding electronics. But finding herself at the bottom of Bay View High’s social hierarchy was nothing compared to the shock of discovering who—and what—she really is.

After being zapped out of a burning bookstore by the mysterious Declan—a hero nearly as handsome as he is infuriating—Alex finds herself under the protection of the powerful Grayson family. It’s through them that she learns the truth: that the world she’s always known is nothing like it appears to be... and that she has far more in common with them than she might want to believe.

Now, on the run from a fire-wielding hit man and a secretive government organization, Alex must navigate a strange and treacherous new world filled with superhuman mutants known as Variants. As she begins to unravel the many secrets of her family’s past, she uncovers the real reason for her parents’ death twelve years earlier—and finds out that the threat to her family, and to everyone she cares about, is still dangerously real.

**REVIEW**

The first thing about 'Revival' that got my attention was the quality writing - Leigh has a smooth and natural writing style. I liked it a lot. Her point came across easily and the writing just felt very thought-out and uncluttered. The storyline flowed, having the perfect mixture of intrigue, banter, and the supernatural.

I enjoyed the fun parts as much as the serious ones and how Leigh kept the story balanced between the two. 

'Revival' was shortly narrated from different character's third-person point-of-view (but mostly the main character, Alexandra) and I loved it, which I rarely, if ever, do. It gave the story so many layers and I cared to get to know the other characters because they were all so darn likable!

There are many character involved and they're all interesting and substantial in their own way. I was curious of John Grayson's story and enjoyed reading about the Grayson family in general. I even liked the villain because he was so solid.

Although Alexandra and Declan spend some time together and are clearly attracted to each other, there wasn't really more than sweet or suggesting moments, and a pinch of jealousy involving Nathan. It was all innocent and subtle.

As mentioned, I found all characters likable, however, when it came to a potential romance I'm glad Leigh didn't pursue it. The entire book is set over a period of a week. A single week. So it wasn't realistic for any characters to develop feelings for each other.

There were some unexpected twists in the story and intriguing revelations. My only problem was that there wasn't a climax. The whole story just goes evenly. I was sure that no matter how late in the book, something shocking would occur (well, it had to?), but it never did.

The awfully small and short conflict at the very end (regarding the secret government organization) was disappointing, consisting of a conversation, easily resolved by a little talking back and forth. Yes, talking - not exactly what I'd expected.

There are also a lot of unanswered questions when the book ends, threads that's been pulled throughout the story but that still hang loose. I hope the sequel will catch you up and give you more of a conclusive experience when you finish it.

Other than that, 'Revival' was entertaining and enjoyable. Definitely look out for this author.

3.9/5

Review: The Light of the World by Tara Brown

Title: The Light of the World (#1)
Author: Tara Brown
Published: November 19, 2012
Pages: 360
Series: Light
Source: purchased
Good to know: explicit language

Amazon Summary: As if going off to college isn't hard enough, Rayne discovers she has other challenges beyond roommates or first-year workload. She discovers the fate of the world resting on her small shoulders, not to mention the creepy whispers that taunt her in her sleep each night. In the haze of her dreams she hears it, 'You're dead. You're dead and I just forgot to tell you.' The sentence is alarming in itself. Add to that, the voice whispering to her is her mother's, and you have a real nightmare. 

But what happens when the whispers in your sleep are warnings and the ghosts in the water are your friends? What happens when the guy you fall for freshman year is your family's oldest enemy? What happens when the only sleep you get is when you lie with the dead, and the only way to save yourself is to murder your parents? With the help of her new friends and old lovers, Rayne discovers her destiny has very little to do with midterms and more to do with the fate of humanity.


**REVIEW**
'The Light of the World' had a very interesting storyline.

I didn't like the first chunk of the story and still feel that if it'd been cut out of the book entirely (in other words, if the beginning had been done differently), it wouldn't have made a difference nor affected the storyline or the characters. We meet Rayne when she's just started college and meets her roommate, Mona, old friend, Michelle, and an annoying flirt, Wyatt.

This will be the key group of characters throughout the story and I have to say; some I were okay with and some I just never liked.

Rayne was okay. She wasn't a stupid girl, she had some backbone. But again, the beginning of the book just put everything in a distasteful light. There were so many, unnecessary sexual references and odd, unrealistic situations.
Rayne gets sick and stays and sleeps at a total stranger's dorm for two days which her "friends" find to be completely fine since he says he'll take care of her. What.

From one chapter to the other, very early on, two months has passed and Rayne has gone from okay to several degrees below that - carelessly sleeping around and partying, basically having hit her head.
Sure, she suffered from major heartbreak from a guy she barely knew but could not live or breathe without (oh how this bugged me; but all would later be explained). Though, I don't see why it was necessary for her to go through such a drastic change in personality. I just couldn't help but like her much, much less.

There was so little for you to hold onto in Rayne that made you relate to her and really like her as a character. I would've wished for more of Rayne's emotional thoughts, something that'd make you feel with her and understand her.

Mona was the good friend and support throughout the story, but hers and Rayne's friendship didn't grow on me, nor did Mona. She didn't have much substance and didn't bring anything to the story. The upside was that, without Mona, Rayne would've been running around for the majority of the book on her own, which would've been lonely (and, perhaps, boring.)

Rayne is supposed to have known Michelle since before, but there's literally nothing that makes you believe that they have been friends earlier.
Michelle having originally been Michael was interesting, cool, something new. But holy [insert choice of word] did I feel like this character had dropped from another planet to be in 'The Light of the World.' So out of place, irrelevant, and melodramatic.
Rayne's vision of their friendship was quite sappy, with little explanation as to why she loved Michelle so much.

[SPOILERS:] Even after Michelle had tortured her. With a sword. While she hung from the ceiling, arms dislocated. Yet again. Say what. And really, the whole thing about Michelle spontaneously deciding to stay at a church and become a nun (which we'll later learn did her absolutely no good. You'll see) was just, regretfully, comical. I was glad to get her out of the story for the moment. [SPOILERS ENDED.]

And Wyatt. This guy. Incredibly cocky and confident. I didn't like him and didn't want to like him, so it came as a shock that I ended up warming up to him (which I especially did when strange, uncanny Constantine came into the picture.)
What I didn't understand was the sudden "relationship" between Rayne and Wyatt. His kind was supposed to despise her but due to an unknown reason, he didn't. He just constantly wanted to make out, claiming he could never love something like her, but she knew he did. And she secretly loved him, too, when she wasn't hating on him. It was such a push-and-pull situation. Just... what is what, now?

She'd let Wyatt or Constantine be horrible to her and then call them up, laugh and joke, and claim to "need them."

This girl lacked some good sense.

[SPOILERS:] While in a dead-serious situation, having kidnapped a priest and tied him up to get answers, she STILL had the time and sense to recall her and Constantine's sexual past, and try to seduce him in the room. Really, just really.

She risked her life returning to Wyatt's home where his whole family wanted to kill her and had attempted so, after learning that he was planning on killing her as well, just to get a peek of him. I mean, come on! And it all ended up with her fleeing for her life, as expected. [SPOILERS ENDED.]

Also, there were multiple times that "he" and "him" were mentioned and you'd have no idea who Rayne was referring to until a page later. Sometimes it'd be Wyatt or Constantine or even her father or another random character; you had to guess back and forth. Is it Wyatt? I think so. No, wait. It could be Constantine. But I'm pretty sure it's Wyatt. Or Constantine. Oh, she's talking about her dad.

Throughout the entire story someone would be mentioned (Ellie this, Ellie that... who is that?) and things would happen without explanation until you, somewhere down the road, managed to connect the dots on your own.

And what was up with every single person cussing for no reason at all? "Shit" was said 57 times throughout the book, and "fuck" 32 times. I just had to look it up.

Yes. I had a lot of issues with the characters. I feel that they need a lot of work and love to be likable, strong characters.

The story was very fast-paced. Settings and situations would change abruptly. From one word to another, Rayne would be someplace else entirely and you wouldn't know if it was a dream or a new scene or if she'd plain out teleported. Sometimes it was hard to keep up and you'd find that the story was zooming in and out, flashing from left to right.

However, despite my rant (honestly, I had no idea how much I had to say about this book before I actually sat down and started writing this review). Believe it or not, I did enjoy 'The Light of the World.' It's an interesting, very intriguing storyline involving many supernatural elements - witches, vampires, faeries.

I didn't get invested or attached to the story, however, it kept my attention and had many unexpected turns. I really liked the idea of it (which my three points are for!) I think with adjustments and more work 'The Light of the World' could be really great.

(3/5)

Review: Angelfire, Wings of the Wicked, Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire series) by Courtney Allison Moulton

Title: Angelfire (#1), Wings of the Wicked (#2), Shadows in the Silence (#3)

Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Published: February 15, 2011 / January 31, 2012 / January 29, 2013
Pages: 453 / 516 / 469
Series: Angelfire Trilogy
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary:
Angelfire (#1)

First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.

Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

**REVIEW**

I just need a minute..

Holy crap.

I picked this book up, started reading it, and never put it down. I ended up reading all three books, back-to-back, in three days - engrossed in every page and every word.

Moulton's way of continuously and confidently raising the stakes and taking the story to the next level was exceptionally natural and believable. I will never know how she managed to execute the transition of Ellie, a pretty teenage girl with a regular life turning into the achingly fierce warrior that was always within her, so flawlessly.

There was something so impressively balanced about Ellie, how despite her power she remained vulnerable, and how despite determination there was an acceptance of doubt.

Ellie was so real, so solid, graceful, and had a great sense of humor. You trusted her, the path she chose and the choices she made. Possibly my favorite thing about her; she was never the damsel-in-distress, which doesn't mean she could take care of herself in every situation but she would always keep her head high, even when all odds were against her.

The Angelfire books were never short of action, and that is even an understatement. Demonic and angelic reapers and winged creatures, swarmed the story. The swords were always pulled and the anticipation of a fight hung in the air like mist. There's quite the bloodbath and I found myself countless of times sitting on edge.

Moulton found an interesting way to make 'Angelfire' an angel-story that hadn't been told before and it all came down to Ellie. Ellie is special in more ways than one; her backstory is intriguing and you'll be baffled, even shocked, by the secrets of her past.

There was a nice parallel to Ellie's teenage life (attending school, going to parties) and the life she was adapting to that puts the weight of human race on her shoulders. I liked that there wasn't ever a division between the two, it was all a part of the other and it kept the story stable - real. I loved that Ellie was capable of wielding her swords and fighting for her life, but that she held on to the other part of her as well.

There were so many well-developed characters. I loved Kate (the best friend), appreciated the realistic relationship Ellie had with her mother, and astonishingly, grew to care for characters that had less impact on Ellie but were a part of the story, like Nathaniel and Marcus.

And let's talk about Will. Stoic, fearless, flawed.

Despite being by Ellie, more or less, the entirety of over a thousand pages.. I couldn't get enough of him. My heart still leaped by the mention of him; his presence, his exterior, his words. I loved that he wasn't perfect, that he was complicated and unpredictable. He wasn't the knight in shining armor or the soul mate.

Oddly enough, I loved that despite their closeness, there was always a certain distance that needed to be closed. You got to fight with the love between Ellie and Will and I freaking loved it.

I don't know how many times Will turned my heart to glass, how many times my heart ached and warmed for them. In the end, I found that the 'Angelfire' books were an epic love story more than anything.

[Spoiler alert!] I had a soft spot for Cadan, he was great. Part of me so badly wanted the story to explore the possibility of Cadan and Ellie, just to storm the seas for a bit. Had the Angelfire series been four books, I think there would've been enough time for a little walk off course. However tempting a love triangle was, I found that Moulton was extremely wise in avoiding it. But I'm just saying! [Spoilers ended!]

Action, story, romance - you got it. Mythology fans should check these books out. Romance fans have to. 

(5/5)

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me (#1)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Published: November 15, 2011
Pages: 357
Series: yes (second installment 'Unravel Me' published February 5, 2013)
Source: purchased

Goodreads Summary: Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

**REVIEW**

When I come across a book and its many reviews, very positive and very negative, I sometimes feel compelled to read it just to get my own perception and my own say in it, and it's interesting not knowing if you're going to hate or love the book but you'll read it just to find out.

This wasn't entirely the case with 'Shatter Me' but a version of it. It was the power of reviews that had me stay away and the power of reviews that had me approach. I read a sample of the book and felt sort of hypnotized, to be honest with you.

It told me I wanted to know more more more. (I just had to do that. If you've read the book you'll be familiar with the repetitive words and the strikethroughs.)

Which brings me to Mafi's (controversial) writing style. I completely get the frenzy around it. It is not traditional writing - throughout 'Shatter Me' Mafi, as mentioned, repeat words and phrases (example: I don't know I don't know I don't know), uses strikethrough on words and phrases like Juliette is crossing out her own thoughts, and writes smaller parts with only lowercase letters.

It was the writing and not the storyline that caught my attention. I've never read anything remotely like it and I was impressed that someone "dared" push the limits.

The strikethroughs got to me first; it was a little distracting, I didn't understand it at first and I even considered that the book had been misprinted.

Weirdly enough, the repetitive words weren't a huge issue for me. Especially in the beginning when you meet Juliette who's been locked up in an asylum, it suited. It just really did. She'd been forced to adjust to an insane environment for two-hundred and sixty-four days in her own lonesome company - who wouldn't be repeating nonsense?

The repetitiveness were her scattered, unstable thoughts. Mafi did an excellent job of portraying Juliette as someone verging on crazy, as someone who had in fact been locked up for as long as she had.

It wasn't until later in the book when the unstable part of Juliette didn't feel as current anymore that I could've gone without her repeating thoughts because, by that point, it felt more like Mafi was trying to keep up with it  rather than something that contributed to Juliette's state of mind.

And wow have I never come anywhere close to commenting this much on the writing of a book only. Mafi has indeed left an impression, and that alone is an accomplishment.

As to the storyline - I was so caught up on the writing I'd hardly processed what the story was all about. The Reestablishment want to take advantage of Juliette's ability; and Warner, the young leader of sector 45, is the head of the case and also happens to be obsessed with Juliette.

Warner's personal intentions with Juliette were.. disturbing. The whole thing was. He would do something nice with a twisted mind. Juliette would express her disgust towards him but then manage to talk to him anyway, curiously asking him questions, and even making a "joke."

Juliette lacked logic, strength, and clarity at times. She never behaved outright cold or spitefulness towards Warner. He should've resembled every emotion of pain or hatred that she felt, and despite making her do horrible things and making her be there "working with him" at all, she could still find it in her to just talk to him.

In general, I didn't have a problem with Juliette. Her mind was a maze and I wanted to learn it but there were some things that felt out of place for sure, things that didn't fit with someone who was supposed to be broken. 

Enter Adam. Authors have got to stop using that name because sometime in the future the word "hot" is going to get replaced my "Adam."

I was surprised to respond to him so quickly. The way Mafi chose to introduce him was very interesting, a good move, and I even thought that she should've carried on with the part of Juliette, Adam, and the asylum for longer so that the "betrayal" would've made much more of an impact.

I really liked Adam. Without being the obvious, in your face, forced-upon-you perfect; he was pretty flawless - good and gentle and alluring.

I take it the history Adam and Juliette shared and what was later revealed [Spoilers starting!] Such as Adam having been in love with Juliette three years back and had volunteered to do the assignment because he cared for her. Yes, of course. [Spoilers ended!] was to strengthen their bond, it really didn't have much of an affect and came across as more to perfect their love rather than bring something to the story.

It's extremely rare that I read a book with non-existent romance and love it, so I'm not complaining when there's more romance than expected, which there was - some of it I really responded to and other had me wonder how they could possibly have the time and sense to kiss and cuddle when something so alarming and terrifying was going on.

I especially wondered and questioned how Juliette, someone who'd been locked up for nearly a year adjusted so quickly to everything. How she even managed to speak to Adam at the asylum. This is a girl who hasn't spoken or seen a human being in almost a year so I found that her adjustment was too drastic. She functioned too easily, loved too fast. In just a month or so the Juliet who may or may not have been insane, was changed.

I can't say I loved the direction Mafi chose to steer the story (when the many X-Men references came to make sense). I liked that there was so much more than Juliette and the asylum, that there was so much more to learn.. but 'Shatter Me' had been rightfully fresh up until then. Let's just say the story took a major turn into fantasy-land and I'm uncertain it will be to my complete liking.

James and Kenji were two great characters I'm looking to read more about and I'm just generally ecstatic for the next installment and what is to come.

(4.5/5)

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly (#1)

Author: Cynthia Hand

Published: January 4, 2011

Pages: 464

Series: Trilogy - 'Hallowed' (published January 17, 2012) and 'Boundless' follow

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: When Clara Gardner learns she’s part angel, her entire life changes. She now has a purpose, a specific task she was put on this earth to accomplish, except she doesn’t know what it is. Her visions of a raging forest fire and a mysterious boy lead her to a new high school in a new town but provide no clear instruction. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between the boy in her vision and the boy in her life, between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. . . . When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

**REVIEW**

I ended up reading 'Unearthly' in one sitting - skipping right over dinner. At first I wasn't sure I was going to like it; the beginning moved quickly (one moment Carla has her vision and the next she and her family have moved to a new state to fulfill her purpose), and the angel front was a little too blunt and direct for my taste.

Even though I thought it was interesting that young angels got visions about their purpose on earth, a mission they were meant to complete, there wasn't particularly a new and refreshing take on them otherwise.

I think the mystery revolving the boy Carla sees in her vision (and appears to be meant to save) could've built up for much longer. Carla finds him almost immediately, and so simply, and the whole thing just feels less exciting. Although, the vision remains an enigma throughout the book and will still have you wondering what it is that's going to happen.

Readers will have different opinions on the high school parts of 'Unearthly.' Carla being an angel (well, half) and having this vision she's trying to figure out is never forgotten but there is a good chunk of just being a teenager and I actually found those parts very charming and enjoyable.

The classroom scenes were so funny and I loved Carla's friends, they were just really great and well-written, the kind of characters you'd like as your own friends because they were that awesome.

Carla was a likable, enjoyable protagonist and narrator. I have to say the whole deal with the orange hair was a little distracting (I know, it's silly. But really, all I thought about was this weird girl with dye-damaged orange hair.)

Hand did a good job of including Carla's mom and brother in the storyline, especially Jeffrey who wasn't a necessary character but who would've been missed if he'd been removed.

A love triangle was not expected, but wait.. it was sort of a non-love triangle love triangle, done with taste 

and reason.

I was totally caught off guard by Tucker. Hand really succeeded with a believable "hate turned love relationship." I made a total one-eighty - finding him rude and obnoxious to funny and charming. I did in fact like Christian and his subtle ways, as well, but he was held at a distance where you didn't really know where you had him. Tucker had such charisma, he had me smiling like an idiot.

I was intrigued by the concept of the Black Wings (totally adored the idea that Black Wings oozed this painful sorrow about them) but the one big encounter with a Black Wing left me unsatisfied, and frankly, a little weirded out. I'd hoped there'd be more exposure to them, something I'm sure will be presented more in the second installment.

As 'Unearthly' got to its climax and everything that'd been built up regarding Carla's purpose started to unfold I found myself in an awfully tense state. There's most definitely a pleasing, interesting twist and I'm curious to see how Hand takes it from here.

(4/5)

Review: Stained by Ella James

Title: Stained (#1)
Author: Ella James
Published: September 14, 2011
Pages: 157
Series: yes (second installment 'Stolen' published April 4, 2012)
Source: grab

Goodreads Summary: After a fire destroys seventeen-year-old Julia’s home and kills her foster parents, she chases the half-demon responsible across the country and back, determined to avenge her family and discover why a host of celestial baddies want her dead. With Julia is enigmatic hottie - Cayne, who has his own score to settle with the half-demon, and who might be just as dangerous as the creature he and Julia hunt.


**REVIEW**
I'm just going to get right into it. 'Stained' started off with Julia coming home to see her home on fire and she flees, refusing to be placed under another foster care. 

Julia finds and sleeps in an old warehouse, under a tarp. She's all alone, with nothing left. It's made pretty clear from the start Suzanne and Harry, her last foster parents, were loving and caring and Julia considered them her parents. But what instantly could not be ignored by me was that Julia wasn't, in any noticeable way, upset or whatever it is that you are when you've witnessed your family burn to death. She didn't cry or hurt. It was all incredibly odd and unrealistic.

And it all just got to me more when Cayne (quite literally) dropped into Julia's life, through the roof of the warehouse, fighting a winged monster.
Julia, apparently perfectly fine from everything that's happened, runs after him and demands that he can't leave her and that he needs to answer her questions. 

When Cayne looked at her after having ignored her nagging, she went, "Ah, he's not catatonic!" and "Dang, you walk fast" - there was a little wit and a little sarcasm thrown in here and there from the girl who lost everything three days prior, the girl who (let's face it) should've been curled up in a corner shaking and crying, traumatized. It just irked me, I couldn't help it.

One minute Cayne is trying to get away and the next he gets an idea and they've agreed to team up and take Samyaza down (the demon that intended to kill Julia and whom stole something from Cayne), this arrangement was settled in the span of fifteen minutes or so it seemed. It was very sudden.

This is where the plot started to launch into action and soon Julia and Cayne finds themselves on a cross-country trip, tracking Samyaza. The story is fast-paced and there's a lot of good action - fighting, shooting, stabbing, and frankly a lot of blood.

There were a few encounters that were bewildering and unclear. I didn't understand why Samyaza would choose to fly away when he could've done more in attempt to kill Cayne or Julia, and it was never clear to me why the Stained ones were being hunted which I'm sure will be explored more in the later installments.

At first I experienced James's writing to be a bit bumpy and curt but I eventually found that I liked her nicely descriptive style. 
'Stained' is dialogue-driven and I did feel I'd wanted more of an emotional, personal depth to the characters. I didn't particularly connect with Cayne or Julia. I didn't feel like I knew them, who they were, or what they were really feeling.

Both of them had some split-personalities going on. Julia begged and pleaded to know Cayne's memories and out of nowhere, practically in the same sentence, told him it was okay if he didn't tell her. Cayne had stood his ground on not telling her and suddenly decided she should know. They were making all kinds of one-eighties. 

Another one of Julia's cases which almost had me laugh:
Julia: ".. why don't you just call André?" (so that she could go with him instead.)
A moment later. Cayne: "I called André.."
Julia: "But why?!" Hm..

Something would occur and when the next chapter came around it'd be unclear if the previous scene had really happened or how much time had passed since.

I hadn't expected the ending at all, only because it was such an out-of-the-blue end to a short book. Unfortunately the cliffhanger did not get to me. I failed to be intrigued by what was to come and I just hadn't been engrossed enough in 'Stained' to feel compelled to purchase the second installment. All-in-all it was a decent, okay read for me.

(3.2/5)

Review: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Title: A Beautiful Dark (#1)

Author: Jocelyn Davies

Published: September 27, 2011

Pages: 405

Series: yes (second installment 'A Fractured Light' published September 25, 2012)

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events.
Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

**REVIEW**

I went into 'A Beautiful Dark' with ease and fair interest. It was definitely fast-paced, things came about quickly in the beginning and characters were introduced right away.

My first thought was that Asher and Devin were everywhere. There they were from chapter one and then just.. everywhere. I found there was no time to really get to know them and have them grow on you before they were all in your face.

The boys, without a proper get-to-know-each-other conversation whatsoever, spoke to Skye and made constant comments to her as if they knew her after only one day at their new school. Although Asher and Devin were supposed to be complete strangers to Skye, she'd respond in the same manner. It just wasn't natural and felt manufactured.

Asher and Devin seemed to appear every nanosecond, wherever Skye turned, and I didn't understand why she immediately got so incredibly hung up on them.

At first I found that Asher and Devin's differing characteristics were very forced. We have the good guy and the bad boy and it was especially forced how they were clearly pushed to be total opposites with everything that they did.

Later on, you'll be enlightened why this was the case, but despite the gained understanding of it, it was just one of those things that were pretty typical.

Unfortunately both characters were just too obvious. They felt very head-on and decided. Rather than being charming it was as if they were told to be charming, if that makes sense.

I hate it when I don't have anything to say about the protagonist other than that they were all right. Though I think Skye needed to get her reactions checked. When Asher showed Skye his power (way before she knew anything about him or Devin) she hardly had any reaction to it, like what he could do wasn't strange at all. It was the same when she found out about her parents, she isn't bewildered or upset, instead she takes it all very smoothly.

The plot line in 'A Beautiful Dark' wasn't unheard of. Sadly, little made it original or fresh.

The big portion of the book when Skye's trying to find her powers didn't really go anywhere. I didn't get to the point of feeling it was boring but it was repetitive and refrained the story from moving forward.

I was pretty surprised to be closing in on the ending without having anything significant and conflicting occur. And then suddenly the storyline that had been somewhat uneventful until then, stirred up and there was excitement, action, and shock.

I was pleasantly shocked by the twist at the end, and I freaking loved it. Honestly, I didn't think 'A Beautiful Dark' had it in it. Up until then I didn't think I'd read the second installment (which is ironic since it was the description of the sequel that had me read the first book) but I might all because of the ending.

(3.5/5)