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: 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: 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: FATEFUL, CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: Fateful
Author: Claudia Gray
Edition: Trade Paperback
Published: September 13, 2011
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 328
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

In Fateful, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic’s first—and last—voyage.

Beware, there might be minor spoilers in this review. I couldn't keep myself from hiding them. So this book is set back in far 1912. I know right? Who would read stuff like this? Apparently me. Claudia Gray has once again surprised me with this book. A book mixed with the RMS Titanic... and werewolves. How did she ever think of that idea? I was really surprised because the two don't normally mix well, but in this book it did.

We have Tess, a young maid that is determined to escape the troubled family of the Lisles, a wealthy and very well known family in Europe. They board the Titanic in hopes of going to America starting over again because apparently in the book even though they're physically rich, they are now going into bankruptcy. That's where the plot takes its course. The family has a treasured safe that contains nothing but jewelry, and they were planning to sell it to gain money. But is there more inside than what they know? You'll have to read it to find out.

If I say more I would have just told the story in a short summary, but no. This is a review and it will remain as is. I'm still not pretty used to making reviews, but I do hope in time I would do better.

It was a really good read, and it had a good amount of twists. It has those stuff that you'll never expect and would really surprise you throughout the book. It was interesting to read what was inside the Titanic after watching the movie (which I haven't yet, but I have a few ideas about it), and I could really imagine the scenery. I guess Claudia's writing has some very good imagery if I may say so myself. I praise her for that. There were some flaws in the book, scenes that I didn't really like and could've been better, but I guess it was okay.

Fateful is a historical, romantic, paranormal read that will keep you guessing what will happen next. There will be tear-jerking moments, and it will leave you shrieking in relief for the survivors; and it will move your heart after Tess' kind consideration for her beloved family and friends (along with the treacherous Lisle family). Fateful made me shed a tear during the final moments, and it ended a good note. I recommend you reading this before you read A Thousand Pieces of You.

"Nobody else will ever be able to save me if I'm not fighting as hard as I can to save myself."

"Beauty is no guarantee of goodness."

"Because I know—if there's any justice in this world, good things are going to come to you. Better things than you ever dreamed."