BOOK REVIEW: THE YOUNG ELITES, MARIE LU

Title: The Young Elites (The Young Elites, #1)
Author: Marie Lu
Edition: Paperback
Published: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 355
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. 

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. 

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

REVIEW COMING SOON

"Pain enhances beauty."

"Don't cry. You are stronger than that."

"No. I'm not broken easily. I will never break."

"Everyone has darkness inside them, however hidden."

"Sorry, always sorry. What in the world can you buy with an apology?"

"It is pointless to believe what you see, if you only see what you believe."

"Be true to yourself. But that's something everyone says and no one means. No one wants you to be yourself. They want you to be the version of yourself that they like."

BOOK REVIEW: BALTHAZAR, CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: Balthazar (Evernight, #5)
Author: Claudia Gray
Edition: Paperback
Published: March 5, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 374
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal

For hundreds of years, the vampire Balthazar has been alone--without allies, without love.

When Balthazar agrees to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, he has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye's newfound psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel, seductive master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Now Redgrave plans to use Skye's powers for his own evil purposes.

Balthazar will do whatever it takes to stop Redgrave and exact his long-awaited revenge against his killer. As Skye and Balthazar stand together to fight him, they grow closer--first unwillingly, then undeniably. Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by her. . . .

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray's "New York Times" bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart.

REVIEW COMING SOON

"His name escaped her lips as a whisper: Balthazar."

"With you - in the only way that matters - I'm alive again."

"Balthazar was the kind of guy who used to totally correct spelling and punctuation even when he was texting, which was sort of bizarrely hot."

BOOK REVIEW: LEGEND, MARIE LU

Title: Legend (Legend, #1)

Author: Marie Lu

Edition: Paperback

Published: April 16, 2013

Publisher: Speak

Pages: 305

Genre: Dystopian, Romance, Sci-Fi

From different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths...

Until June's brother is murdered, and Day becomes the prime suspect.

In a shocking turn of events, the two uncover what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths to which their country will go to keep its secrets.

REVIEW COMING SOON

"You try to walk in the light."

"The memory fades, and I'm left hanging on to the ghosts of his words."

"If you want to rebel, rebel from inside the system. That's much more powerful than rebelling outside the system."

"Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time."

BOOK REVIEW: GONE GIRL, GILLIAN FLYNN

Title: Gone Girl

Author: Gillian Flynn

Edition: Paperback

Published: June 5, 2012

Publisher: Broadway Books

Pages: 422

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Romance

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

REVIEW COMING SOON

"I don't understand the point of being together if you're not the happiest."

"Friends see most of each other's flaws. Spouses see every awful last bit."

"There's a difference between really loving someone and loving the idea of her."

"There's something disturbing about recalling a warm memory and feeling utterly cold."

"Love makes you want to be a better man. But maybe love, real love, also gives you permission to just be the man you are."

"Because isn't that the point of every relationship: to be known by someone else, to be understood? He gets me. She gets me. Isn't that the simple magic phrase?"

BOOK REVIEW: THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS, RICK RIORDAN

Title: The Blood of Olympus (The Hereos of Olympus, #5)
Author: Rick Riordan
Edition: Paperback
Published: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Disney - Hyperion
Pages: 502
Genre: Mythology, Romance, Fantasy, Adventure

Though the Greek and Roman crew members of the "Argo II" have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen-all of them, and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood-the blood of Olympus-in order to wake. 

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps. 

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the "Argo II" will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

I learned that reviews are not supposed to be formal and well-written, but they should be all about what you thought about the book no matter how messed  up it is or whatever. You can freely express yourself and write what you just wanna write. So here we go.

REYNA. AND NICO.

They're not part of the Seven but they had their own narratives. 

"Our desires reveal us. They show us for who we really are."

"I don't define myself by the boys who may or may not like me."

"You can't choose your parentage. But you can choose your legacy."

"No one can hate you with more intensity than someone who used to love you."

"Some pain shouldn't be wished away so easily. It had to be dealt with, even embraced."

BOOK REVIEW: AFTERLIFE, CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: Afterlife (Evernight, #4)
Author: Claudia Gray
Edition: Paperback
Published: March 8, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 368
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal

It's going to be okay, Lucas, I thought, willing him to hear me past the divide between this world and the next. Wasn't he about to cross that divide to return to me? So maybe we were close enough for him to listen.

We're dead, but we can still be together. Nothing matters more than that. We're stronger than death. Now nothing else ever has to come between us. You and I never have to be apart again.

Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality: they have become what they most feared. Lucas is a vampire, and Bianca is a wraith. Together, they've overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them and fought pitched battles against enemies - mortal and otherwise. Now they must face their biggest challenge so far. They must discover if their love is strong enough to survive what comes after life...

Packed with romance, suspense and page-turning drama, Afterlife delivers a heart-stopping conclusion that won't disappoint the many fans who have made the Evernight series such a runaway success.

I CANNOT CONTAIN WHAT I FELT WHILE I WAS READING THIS.

Let me calm down a bit...

*Inhales* *Exhales*

Okay.

The last book of the Evernight series (crying cause it came to an end). It was at the peak of perfection and everything was so well written and I... I don't know how to explain it. Let me just give out some spoilers.

*START OF SPOILER*

So Bianca is a wright now, or in other terms a ghost. And wraiths hate vampires and vice-versa. Ironic>, isn't it?

And now Lucas is a vampire. Really. Ironic.

*END OF SPOILER*

I hope you didn't read through that because I would've ruined you the whole plot twist of the series. I didn't expect that. Did you? You didn't.

And did you guys notice the titles of the book were connected to the story in a way?

Evernight - the school where Bianca goes to.

Stargazer - because Bianca loves astronomy.

Hourglass - Bianca and Lucas are running out of time.

Afterlife - Bianca died and became a wright while Lucas died and became a vampire.

This is what I was telling you guys about. That you shouldn't give up on a series just because the first book is boring. I gotta tell you THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST VAMPIRE BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ. Even better than Twilight. Sorry.

It gave me answers to all the questions I had and Bianca and Lucas' love was just so perfect and they didn't give up on each other. They kept fighting until the end. Five stars because vampires.

"Forget normal, we're going to be extraordinary."

"We can always hate that which we loved, and with a fire as great as our love once was."

"Is this what it means to die? Because I'm not scared of it anymore. Not if it means I finally get this close to you."

BOOK REVIEW: SANCTUM, MADELEINE ROUX

Title: Sanctum (Asylum, #2)
Author: Madeleine Roux
Edition: Paperback
Published: August 26, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 400
Genre: Mystery, Paranormal

In this haunting, fast-paced sequel to the New York Times bestselling photo-illustrated novel Asylum, three teens must unlock some long-buried secrets from the past before the past comes back to get them first. Featuring found photographs, many from real vintage carnivals, Sanctum is a mind-bending reading experience that blurs the lines between past and present, genius and insanity, perfect for fans of the smash hit Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Dan, Abby, and Jordan remain traumatized by the summer they shared in the Brookline asylum. Much as they'd love to move on, someone is determined to keep the terror alive, sending the teens photos of an old-timey carnival, with no note and no name. Forsaking their plan never to go back, the teens return to New Hampshire College under the guise of a weekend for prospective students, and there they realize that the carnival from the photos is not only real, it's here on campus, apparently for the first time in many years.

Sneaking away from sample classes and college parties, Dan and his friends lead a tour of their own—one through the abandoned houses and hidden places of the surrounding town. Camford is hiding a terrible past, and the influence of the asylum runs deeper than Dan ever imagined.

Have you ever heard of the series Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs? If you do, I assure you that you'll like this book too. If not, WHY HAVE YOU NOT HEARD OF IT YET? It's basically a book with pictures (not a lot) and the pictures give you a visual representation of what the protagonist is looking at.

If you're wondering, "Where's the first book?"

Well, I started this blog with the book I was currently reading and I have finished the first book, which is Asylum, before the blog was even born. As you can see the cover is really creepy. Much more if you search for it on the internet while it's moving. If you judge a book by it's cover, I assume that you don't read a lot.

Even though the book is scary, the story is not. Not directing dislike, but just an opinion, to the author but I felt that I was reading a book targeted for children, not teens nor young adults. Her writing was simple and a little non-professional. It was easy for me to understand, but I'm fine with that.

The plot was somehow better than the previous book and there were more twists. It sometimes will creep you out, but it won't scare you. It's just a book. Deserving four stars because I don't read much books like this one, especially with pictures.

I do love how she works with book and pictures altogether. :)

"Everything has been so much better since I found the bright burning star."

"Just decide to move on. Just decide to forget. Just stop having nightmares."

BOOK REVIEW: HOURGLASS, CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: Hourglass (Evernight, #3)
Author: Claudia Gray
Edition: Paperback
Published: March 9, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 339
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal

Continuing the dark romance and mystery of Claudia Gray's bestselling Evernight series...

Bianca has found refuge again with the Black Cross, and she and Lucas work desperately to keep her secret. In this company, being a vampire is a death sentence, and the two of them live and train alongside the hunters without anyone noticing her increasing need for blood.

Even though she's with the boy she loves more than anyone else in the world, Bianca can't help worrying about the family and friends she left behind. Caught between three feuding worlds, it's starting to feel as though she'll never be entirely at peace again.

When another betrayal puts the lovers in mortal danger once more, they realize that all they truly have is each other. But with the secret of Bianca's birth taking hold, not even Lucas can help her win her toughest fight.

The books just keep on getting better and better. Bianca is on the run from Evernight along with Lucas and they're now with Black Cross. But the thing is Black Cross doesn't know that Bianca is a vampire and they believe that Bianca was kidnapped by her vampire parents as a child and was raised to follow their footsteps. But tell me, how cool is that?

The suspense will kill you.

It. Will. Kill. You.

Bianca is dying because of her loss of blood to drink and Lucas is running out of places to get blood. They don't know what to do. They're just running around and they can't escape Black Cross. What are they going to do?

This book kept me wanting more and I did not want it to end. I was on the verge of stopping to read and processing what I just read. It's hard if a lot of things are happening at the same time. I highly suggest to you to read the series just because of this book and the last one. I promise it will not disappoint you. Another five stars cause why the hell not? :)

"I'd rather be wrong to set you free than be right to do you harm."

"This could be our greatest nightmare. But maybe, instead this would be our only hope of salvation."

"Good soldiers don't sacrifice the cause for love. If the cause isn't love then it isn't worth the sacrifice."

BOOK REVIEW: SPELLCASTER, CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: Spellcaster (Spellcaster, #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Edition: Paperback
Published: March 5, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal

When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in the town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that a curse has been placed on his family that will cause him to go insane. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed. 

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family's terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone in the town. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

I'm sorry if majority of my reviews are about Claudia's books. It's because Claudia Gray (along with Madeleine Roux) held a recent book signing event here in the Philippines and I couldn't resist coming to and having all my books signed by them. Now onto the review.

From what it looks like this book is about magic (I see that Claudia is fond of the paranormal genre). It's all about witches (not like Harry Potter). I really love the concept of magic but from this book it's a little harder to cast a spell. You somehow recite words that's related to what you'll cast rather than letting your wand be swished-and-swashed.

Nonetheless it's an original idea. The story is kind of "meh" for me and I'm just forcing myself to read it further. The plot was really good and the twists were okay, but I think it needed more work. There's little romance in the book, and it's all about friendship and all that stuff.

I recommend you to read the book because it will eventually get better. I promise you that you'll be surprised by what will happen, and you'll thank for me that (hoping to). Four stars for this because it's not perfect, but it's good.

"No prejudice here, just support."

"Hurting someone you loved was even worse than being hurt. That stayed with you longer, and weighted you down all through the night into dawn."

BOOK REVIEW: STARGAZER, CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: Stargazer (Evernight, #2)
Author: Claudia Gray
Edition: Paperback
Published: February 1, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 332
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal

I kissed Lucas again, more slowly this time. We held each other tighter, and I started to wonder how much closer we could get-and then I remembered what it had felt like when I drank his blood.

Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all-vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.

But Bianca fell in love with Lucas-a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.

Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters Black Cross-or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her live a life of lies.

Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth thought she knew is only the beginning...

If you survived the first book, you'll be glad that you did because this is where it gets interesting. We all know that Lucas is part of Black Cross and he can't be with Bianca because of that. Bianca becomes confused with what to do, whether to stay at Evernight with her kind or come and join Lucas and pretend that she's not a vampire (and apparently suffer).

Ripped apart by family and love, you know what they always choose. It's cliche. This is a step-up from the previous book and tells more about Bianca and Lucas' relationship and what keeps them apart. And a new subplot rises with the wraiths attacking Evernight.

This really kept me up all night and believe it or not the story will keep you hooked all throughout. Although there are some dragging moments, they're just there to calm you down. And I know. Deserving five stars cause why not?

"You gotta learn how to take a compliment, because I'm not going to stop making them."

"He'd protect me and shelter me forever. But I was beginning to realize that being sheltered came at a price."

"Everyone is lonely. We have to remember that life is to be lived one day at a time. You cannot worry about past or future. Happiness is in the now."