Unspoken Chapter Sampler

  Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Hey guys! Just wanted to share that you can check out a chapter sampler for Unspoken right here. I'm looking forward to reading this one!

Blurb from Goodreads: Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

Review: The Blood Keeper

  The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Blurb from Goodreads: Paranormal romance fans who are looking to up the ante will be drawn to this tale of horror, fantasy, and romance. For Mab Prowd, the practice of blood magic is as natural as breathing. It's all she's ever known. Growing up on an isolated farm in Kansas with other practitioners may have kept her from making friends her own age, but it has also given her a sense of purpose—she's connected to the land and protective of the magic. And she is able to practice it proudly and happily out in the open with only the crows as her companions. Mab will do anything to keep the ancient practice alive and guard its secrets. But one morning while she is working out a particularly tricky spell she encounters Will, a local boy who is trying to exorcise some mundane personal demons. He experiences Mab's magic in a way his mind cannot comprehend and is all too happy to end their chance meeting. But secrets that were kept from Mab by the earlier generations of blood magicians have come home to roost. And she and Will are drawn back together, time again by this dangerous force looking to break free from the earth and reclaim its own dark power.

I was pretty surprised to see that this book focused on new characters, but I ended up enjoying this one even more than Blood Magic. I liked Will much better than Nick, from the last book, and liked Mab as much as Silla. She is such a unique, brave character, and I loved reading about her and her connection to magic.

 I think my favorite thing about this book is that Tessa Gratton doesn't take the easy way out at the end of the book. It makes the story so much more real when sacrifices have to be made. I can't stand books that have endings where every single thing works out perfectly, or solved with a deus ex machina, or the conflict is resolved with "Oh, never mind then." (cough TWILIGHT cough.) 

The one thing I thought could have been better is a little more recap on blood magic. Like "binding" for instance. That came up a lot, and I was like "Ok, now why are they doing this? What is it accomplishing exactly?" And I don't think it was because I read the first book too long ago, because I just read it last week haha. But I think because Mab was so accomplished at using magic, the author glossed over some of the more basic things about it, unlike the last book where we were learning about it along with Silla.

Review: Downburst

  Downburst by Katie Robison

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Blurb from Goodreads: Kit’s only goal is to stay alive. Right now, that means dodging brutal gangs while peddling fake I.D.s on the back streets of Winnipeg. But things get complicated when Kit sells a license to a girl named Aura—a girl who could almost be her twin. Caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, Kit is plunged into an underground society with heart-stopping surprises at every turn. To protect herself, she’s forced to assume Aura’s identity. But storm clouds are gathering on the horizon, and when Kit learns the truth about Aura, she knows she has to get out before the storm breaks. There’s only one problem: escape isn’t an option.

Suddenly, staying alive just got a lot harder.

I read this book in one sitting. It was seriously that good. I doubt I could have put this down if I tried; it caught my attention from the first few pages and the storyline stayed intense until the very end. This book was completely action-packed and full of suspense. 

I love a strong, brave female lead, and Kit definitely delivered. She and the other main characters are very relate-able, despite the magical context. The world built in this book feels fresh and original, and one of my favorite things about it is the Native American mythology entwined throughout.

I will definitely be reading the second book when it comes out, but for now I highly recommend checking out Downburst. A fantastic debut. It's only $2.99 on Kindle right now, too!

NPR's Top 100 YA Books

Recently, NPR held a poll to determine the top 100 books for young adults. There were 235 finalists to vote on, and I can't exactly remember all 10 I voted for (it was so hard to pick only 10!) but I did end up choosing more of the classics, such as The Catcher in the Rye, A Separate Peace, and The Hobbit. I was surprised at some of the books that didn't make the finalists, such as A Wrinkle in Time.

Anyway, here's the final list they came up with. I crossed off all the ones that I have already read, so now I have a go-to list when I need something good to read! Are there any books you were surprised to see on here? Any you think should have made the top 100?

1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
2. The Hunger Games (series), by Suzanne Collins
3. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
4. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green
5. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
6. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
7. The Lord of the Rings (series), by J.R.R. Tolkien
8. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
9. Looking for Alaska, by John Green
10. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
11. The Giver (series), by Lois Lowry (hmmmm I've only read the first one I think)
12. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (series), by Douglas Adams
13. The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
14. Anne of Green Gables (series), by Lucy Maud Montgomery
15. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman
16. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
17. The Princess Bride, by William Golding
18. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
19. Divergent (series), by Veronica Roth
20. Paper Towns, by John Green
21. The Mortal Instruments (series), by Cassandra Clare
22. An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green
23. Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
24. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher
25. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
26. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
27. Twilight (series), by Stephenie Meyer
28. Uglies (series), by Scott Westerfeld
29. The Infernal Devices (series), by Cassandra Clare
30. Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt
31. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
32. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (series), by Anne Brashares
33. The Call of the Wild, by Jack London
34. Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green, David Levithan
35. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
36. Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones
37. Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli
38. A Separate Peace, by John Knowles
39. Vampire Academy (series), by Richelle Mead
40. Abhorsen Trilogy / Old Kingdom Trilogy (series), by Garth Nix
41. Dune, by Frank Herbert
42. Discworld / Tiffany Aching (series, by Terry Pratchett
43. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
44. The Dark is Rising (series), by Susan Cooper
45. Graceling (series), Kristin Cashore
46. Forever..., by Judy Blume
47. Earthsea (series), by Ursula K. Le Guin
48. Inheritance Cycle (series), by Christopher Paolini
49. The Princess Diaries (series), by Meg Cabot
50. The Song of the Lioness (series), by Tamora Pierce
51. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson
52. Delirium (series), by Lauren Oliver
53. Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins
54. Hush, Hush Saga (series), by Stephanie Perkins
55. 13 Little Blue Envelopes, by Maureen Johnson
56. It's Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini
57. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy (series), by Libba Bray
58. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
59. The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros
60. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
61. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
62. Just Listen, by Sarah Dessen
63. A Ring of Endless Light, by Madeleine L'Engle
64. The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen
65. The Bartimaeus Trilogy (series), by Jonathan Stroud
66. Bloodlines (series), by Richelle Mead
67. Fallen (series), by Lauren Kate
68. House of Night (series), by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
69. I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith
70. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlsit, by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
71. Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver
72. Unwind, by Neal Shusterman
73. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
74. The Maze Runner Trilogy (series), by James Dashner
75. If I Stay, by Gayle Forman
76. The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley
77. Crank (series), by Ellen Hopkins
78. Matched (series), by Allie Condie (again, only read the first one in this series so far) 
79. Gallagher Girls (series), by Ally Carter
80. The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale
81. Daughter of the Lioness / Tricksters (series), by Tamora Pierce
82. I Am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak
83. The Immortals (series), by Tamora Pierce
84. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (series), by Patricia C. Wrede
85. Chaos Walking (series), by Patrick Ness
86. Circle of Magic (series), by Tamora Pierce
87. Daughter of Smoke & Bone, by Laini Taylor
88. Feed, by M.T. Anderson
89. Weetzie Bat (series), by Francesca Lia Block
90. Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen
91. Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (series), by Louise Rennison
92. Leviathan (series), by Scott Westerfeld
93. The House of the Scorpion, by Scott Westerfeld
94. The Chronicles of Chrestomanci (series), by Diana Wynne Jones
95. The Lullaby, by Sarah Dessen
96. Gone (series), by Michael Grant
97. The Shiver Trilogy (series), by Maggie Stiefvater
98. The Hero and the Crown, by Robin McKinley
99. Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson
100. Betsy-Tacy Books (series), by Maud Hart Lovelace

Whew, looks like I have a lot to choose from! 

Review: Insurgent

Insurgent by Victoria Roth

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Blurb from Goodreads: One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

I did not like this book as much as I liked Divergent. With the first book, I got that frantic, compulsive, "can't go to sleep until I find out what happens!" feeling. Not so much with Insurgent. It seemed like all that happened in the first half of the book was them going around from faction to faction, and there was very little tension at that point. The pages and pages of political discussions between factions got old pretty quickly for me. Luckily, the second half picked back up with the action, and I felt like I was finally getting the book I had expected to read.

Overall, it left me feeling slightly underwhelmed. I'm still looking forward to book number 3, but it looks like middle book syndrome strikes again!

PS: Also... we are supposed to believe that Tris and Four can just put on a different faction's clothes and no one recognizes them? Really?

Review: My Life Next Door

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Blurb from Goodreads: A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

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

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

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

I absolutely loved the first part of this book, which is all about Sam and Jase falling in love. There were many times that Sam's thoughts about their relationship and falling in love for the first time made me stop and go: "Yes! That is exactly how I felt!" It was awesome.

In the second part of the book, I feel like that relationship kind of falls to the wayside, and it focuses more on Sam's relationship with her mother instead. There were also many issues that never got resolved: what happened with her friendship with Nan? What happened to Tim? Or to Mr. Garrett? Was Jase able to go to college? It seems like some storylines were brought up and then just trailed off with no conclusion, which left me wondering what the point of them was. I really wanted more from the ending. Overall though, the wonderful first section was enough to make me overlook the issues I have with the last part.

Review: Limos, Lattes & My Life on the Fringe

Limos, Lattes & My Life on the Fringe by Nancy Rue

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Blurb from Goodreads: Outcast? Tyler Bonning is used to life on the outskirts and believes she's beyond caring what others, like the popular and wealthy Ruling Class, think of her. Until she's nominated for prom queen as a joke. Unexpectedly hurt, Tyler decides to turn her nomination into a cause and starts a Prom for Everyone campaign that will help make the event affordable. But just as her cause gains momentum, opposition at school and at home forces Tyler to question not only the campaign, but also the way she's perceived by others. As prom approaches, Tyler faces her biggest challenge yet---one her brains alone won't be able to solve. A perplexing leather book might hold the answers, but is Tyler willing to listen?

So... Christian fiction is definitely not my thing. As in there is less than a 1% chance I will actually pick up a book in this genre. I just do not appreciate being preached at. Luckily, this book didn't seem as pushy as some others I've seen, although to be honest, I skipped over most of the sections with the "magic book," so that may be why.

Otherwise, the plot was completely farfetched. Is anyone REALLY dissuaded from going to prom because they can't spend $3000 on it? I'm pretty sure I spent MAYBE $150 on prom, and you know what? No one cared. Why would the so-called "Ruling Class" even worry about what other people are doing? Also, the writing style was pretty awkward. There were sentences here and there that I had to read a few times until I understood what the author was trying to say.

Definitely not the worst book I've ever read, but I don't think I'll be reading it again.

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.