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."

BOOK REVIEW: EVERNIGHT, CLAUDIA GRAY

Title: Evernight (Evernight, #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Edition: Paperback
Published: February 10, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 327
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful - even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart... and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

If you think this is another book like Twilight, well think again. The first book in the series is actually kind of boring for me. Nothing actually happens until the end. The story is somehow slow-paced at the beginning up to the middle. There's just characterization and the forming of the story. But I do have some advice for you: don't give up on the book just yet.

The story picks up its pace...

*START OF SPOILER* 

when Lucas is revealed to be part of Black Cross, a group of vampire hunters.

*END OF SPOILER*

If you read that, even with the warning and strikethrough, I'm very much sorry but I think you ruined the plot twist of the story. Overall, I give it three stars because I think the story needed more action and/or more questions that will keep you hanging for the next book. But I do really recommend you to read it because this is one of the best vampire series I have ever read.

"What had seemed like love was betrayal."

"Self-knowledge is better than self-control any day."

"If you loved someone, you couldn't let lies come between you. No matter what happened - even if you'd already lost each other forever - you owed each other the truth."

BOOK REVIEW: ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER, STEPHANIE PERKINS

Title: Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss, #3)
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Edition: Hardbound
Published: August 14, 2014
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 352
Genre: Romance, Contemporary

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Etienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love-set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona-is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins' beloved series.

Out of all the books in this trilogy, I can say that this is the most heartwarming and astounding book. From the shy beginning of Isla warming up to Josh, and Josh returning the favor, this got me swooning all over the place. I love the simple yet lovely flow of the story, with all the ups and downs, beginning to end. I also love how Stephanie put in all the characters from the previous books to give us readers a taste of nostalgia like: "Oh my God, I remember him/her!"

And the relationship between Isla and Josh was almost realistic cause it reflects the relationship of a true couple in the real world. From the sheepish conversations and sexual amusement. Also, the connection of all the characters (namely Anna and Etienne, Lola and Cricket) made me want another book where they're all the protagonists or something like that.

This book made me teary-eyed too and broke my heart. It broke my heart into tiny little pieces that you could not glue together again. It made me realize that no one is perfect, and no love could last forever without arguments. It also made me realize that with a little pinch of love and forgiveness, even the dirtiest words could go down the drain.

Isla and the Happily Ever After is a book where it will feed your heart up with content just to break it into a million pieces and one by one put it back together. It will make you love and hate the characters for doing what they do, and the realism of Isla and Josh's relationship would make you want more. Definitely a great and spectacular closure to this trilogy and I hope Stephanie Perkins' would continue to fill up the world with love.

"A blank canvas... has unlimited possibilities."

"I've always thought the best relationships are those that are as happy and content in silence as they are in action."

"I am hard on myself. But isn't it better to be honest about these things before someone else can use them against you? Before someone else can break your heart? Isn't it better to break it yourself?"

COMING SOON: THE HEIR, KIERA CASS

Title: The Heir (The Selection, #4)
Author: Kiera Cass
Edition: TBA
Expected Publication: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 352
Genre: Romance, Dystopian

Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon's heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn't expect her Selection to be anything like her parents' fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she always thought.

Oh. My. God. Will you look at that cover!? IT IS SO GORGEOUS AND PERFECT AND IS THE EPITOME OF THE SELECTION SERIES. I just discovered this cover tonight and thought of "Hey, why don't I make a new series of posts about the books that are yet to be published?" So that's how this all started. So apart from book reviews (and the possible book-movie adaption reviews), we'll have this.

My initial thoughts on the book from reading the synopsis? Princess Eadlyn. Yes, that's apparently a name in the dystopian world of Kiera Cass' the Selection. The first time reading it got me surprised because apart from the wonderful names (Celeste) from the previous books, this is a huge step. Do you know anyone named Eadlyn in the world? Well I don't and I think she's making this up.

But apparently if you search the web, you can find Eadlyn for baby names and it means "wealthy friend". And the more that I say Eadlyn, the more I'm growing attached to it. Now it's a pretty cool name, don't you think? Eadlyn. Princess Eadlyn America Schreave. OMG YES! :)

On the cover we see Princess Eadlyn, seems like she really took over from her mom. Her bright skin, and brunette hair. All I could say was "wow" because I think Eadlyn is more pretty than America. Moving on to the blurb of the book:

35 SUITORS. 1 PRINCESS. A NEW SELECTION HAS BEGUN.

It's so captivating and it's so exciting because now the tables have turned. Boys will be the ones registering for the Selection and boys will be the ones fighting for one girl. How will all this turn out? I cannot wait. I CANNOT WAIT. I WANT IT NOW. I'm just so excited. And look at the shimmering diamonds on the cover on the mirrors and Eadlyn with her back to us and her hand on her shoulder. It's all so very perfect.

I wish Kiera won't disappoint us with a fourth and fifth book. Not that I don't want the series to continue, but the ending of The One really made me feel satisfied. I don't want anything to happen to the characters and plot anymore, but since there's more sequels, all we could hope for is for Kiera to just make the series even better than before. Cheers!

INTRODUCTION: MY BOOKS

Hey guys!

I can't believe I didn't post anything for almost a week! A lot has happened and I can't already keep up. Sigh... I need to stay in more and blog.

*Inhale* *Exhale*

*Repeat 5 times*

So I'm just here to tell you guys that the My Books page is now available and now contains all my books (excluding Pokemon Adventures, the Goosebumps series, and the Geronimo Stilton series because there's a lot and it would take up half of the page... and besides it's for kids).

The promise I made that I will post at least once every day? That would be a hard thing to do. It's hard to keep up a blog while you're living life. Sigh... I need to stay in more and blog.

*Inhale* *Exhale*

*Repeat 5 times*

Then again, I'll try to work on the other pages until my blog becomes fully functional.

That's all for today. Until next time. :)