Book Review: The Offering (The Pledge, #3) by Kimberly Derting

 

 Read from August 05 to 06, 2014

"True love—and world war—is at stake in the conclusion to The Pledge trilogy, a dark and romantic blend of dystopia and fantasy.

Charlie, otherwise known as Queen Charlaina of Ludania, has become comfortable as a leader and a ruler. She’s done admirable work to restore Ludania’s broken communications systems with other Queendoms, and she’s mastered the art of ignoring Sabara, the evil former queen whose Essence is alive within Charlie. Or so she thinks.

When the negotiation of a peace agreement with the Queendom of Astonia goes awry, Charlie receives a brutal message that threatens Ludania, and it seems her only option is to sacrifice herself in exchange for Ludanian freedom.

But things aren’t always as they seem. Charlie is walking into a trap—one set by Sabara, who is determined to reclaim the Queendoms at any cost."

OH MY GOD!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE I FINISHED THIS SERIES!!!

This was soooooo amazing!!! I was near tears when this ended and all I wanted to do was scream and yell and jump around like a maniac!!!

That was absolutely amazing!!! I am so mindblown!!!!

I absolutely loved everything about this!!!! I loved the romance, the suspense, the thrill, the tragedy and the happy moments!!! I loved Charlie and Max and Brook and Xander and Sage and all the awesome awesome characters!!!

I'm absolutely against Layla/Sabara and Niko, but I seriously respect their love! Whatever they did, they loved each other, and that just makes their romance a real tragedy.

Anyway, I LOVED THIS!!! It was so good! And I recommend this to every reader out there! This trilogy was amazing! A hands down awesome trilogy!!! Derting is one hell of a writer!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: The Essence (The Pledge, #2) by Kimberly Derting

 

Read from August 01 to 05, 2014

"“Danger, dread, mystery, and romance” (Booklist) continue in the second book of The Pledge trilogy, as Charlie’s reign is under siege from the most unusual of enemies.

At the luminous conclusion of The Pledge, Charlaina defeated the tyrant Sabara and took her place as Queen of Ludania. But Charlie knows that Sabara has not disappeared: The evil queen’s Essence is fused to Charlie’s psyche, ready to arise at the first sign of weakness.

Charlie is not weak, but she’s being pushed to the brink. In addition to suppressing the ever-present influence of Sabara, she’s busy being queen—and battling a growing resistance determined to return Ludania to its discriminatory caste system. Charlie wants to be the same girl Max loves, who Brook trusts, but she’s Your Majesty now, and she feels torn in two.

As Charlie journeys to an annual summit to meet with leaders of nearby Queendoms—an event where her ability to understand all languages will be the utmost asset—she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. And the only person she can turn to for help is the evil soul residing within."

I really liked this! I loved the connection between Charlie & Max! And there were so many new characters introduced! Strangely, I'm starting to like Sabara - or should I say Layla - too and even Niko!

I really loved Charlie's relationships with the different characters in this book! There's so many new stuff happening and she's obviously scared, and she's just making new friends and allies!

I loved the rest of the queens too! They were all so individual and had their own personalities! Very kickass too!

And that ending!!!! I was so mindblown!!!! I loved the epilogue so much!!!!! Amazing!!!!!!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: Winter's Passage (The Iron Fey, #1.5) by Julie Kagawa

 

 Read on July 31, 2014 

"Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl..until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey. 

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

An eBook exclusive story from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series."

This was awesome! I loved reading this, even though I've already read up to Summer's Crossing.

First of all, Ash and Meghan are so my OTP!!! They're so perfect for each other and I fangirl every time they appear together! Also, the Big Bad Wolf was super-cool!!! That was one hell of a character! Amazing!

So, as always Julie Kagawa amazed me with her writing!!! I always get a feels explosion!!! Thank God I wandered into this fandom!!!!

My Goodreads review 

Book Review: Summer's Crossing (The Iron Fey, #3.5) by Julie Kagawa

 

Read from July 29 to 31, 2014 

"A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

An ebook exclusive novella from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series."

OMG!!! This was so awesome! It made me laugh, made me gasp, made me giggle, and it was so awesome!

Ash and Puck teaming up is one heck of a bromance! Their adventure in Summer's Crossing really thrilled me! I was cheering them on throughout the story!

I really loved Puck's POV! His personality really showed in Kagawa's writing that way!

So, I loved loved loved this enovella and I was so psyched that Ash and Puck were working together and I couldn't have asked for anything better!!!

My Goodreads review 

Book Review: Insatiable (Insatiable, #1) by Meg Cabot

Read from July 25 to 29, 2014

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper.Meena Harper is familiar with the supernatural. After all, she knows how you're going to die. (Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.) But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for Lucien Antonescu--whom she meets and then makes the mistake of falling in love with--a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side for which an ancient society of vampire hunters would prefer to see him dead.The problem is Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met with whom she could imagine herself having a future. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's destiny, she's never been able to look into her own. Lucien seems to be everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, though he might turn out to be more of a nightmare.So now would be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future... if she has one.

What attracted me at first to this was the NYC glamour! I am a sucker when it comes to all things NYC! ;)

But then I kept reading and was mindblown!!! My brain was turned to mush and all I kept thinking was: OMFG LUCIEN!!! That guy was so damn hot and had far too few scenes!

I can't believe Meg Cabot wrote something this amazing! I absolutely loved this to pieces! I loved Cabot's signature witty interior dialogue, and her protagonist was awesome too, and I loved her whole cast of characters!

I fangirled so much while reading this! I honestly can't comprehend why some people seem to find this "unsatisfactory" or something equally as bad. This is so much better than some books I've read!

I really loved the way Cabot seems to have connected the Harper siblings to the classic Dracula characters! That was pretty cool!

So, Insatiable was one hell of a rollercoaster ride, and now I'm dying to read Overbite!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey, #3) by Julie Kagawa

Read from July 21 to 23, 2014

My name is Meghan Chase.I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.This time, there will be no turning back.

Basically what happened when I was done reading this was *scream scream scream*!

The Iron Queen was absolutely amazing!!! There was so much going on and it kept me on my toes throughout this rollercoaster ride!

I tend to be disappointed in female protagonists most of the time, but Meghan has got to be one of the strongest female leads I've ever read of! There's so much strength in her that makes reading a story about her worthwhile!

And then there were the rest of the characters! Ash and Puck, as per usual, melted my heart! Amazing characters and I'm so happy to see them both once again by Meghan's side! Grimalkin was amusing as usual... and Team Meghan kicked butt!!!! One of the best teams around, hands down!

The Iron fey wriggled into my heart... no other way to describe it! I loved Glitch, Razor and the gremlins, and all the other Iron fey! They were amazing!!!

Lastly, the ending! The ending left me breathless!!! Meghan was so amazing and everything that saddened me balanced everything that was kickass! Regardless, this story was an emotional rollercoaster; the kind that leaves you gasping for more, of course!

Note to self: order The Iron Knight NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: Rain (The Paper Gods, #2) by Amanda Sun

Read from July 02 to 05, 2014

American Katie Green has decided to stay in Japan. She's started to build a life in the city of Shizuoka, and she can't imagine leaving behind her friends, her aunt and especially Tomohiro, the guy she's fallen in love with. But her return is not as simple as she thought. She's flunking out of Japanese school and committing cultural faux pas wherever she goes. Tomohiro is also struggling—as a Kami, his connection to the ancient gods of Japan and his power to bring drawings to life have begun to spiral out of control.When Tomo decides to stop drawing, the ink finds other ways to seep into his life—blackouts, threatening messages and the appearance of unexplained sketches. Unsure how to help Tomo, Katie turns to an unexpected source for help—Jun, her former friend and a Kami with an agenda of his own. But is Jun really the ally he claims to be? In order to save themselves, Katie and Tomohiro must unravel the truth about Tomo's dark ancestry, as well as Katie's, and confront one of the darkest gods in Japanese legend.

This. Was. AMAZING!!!

Throughout the story, I was totally with the characters! I felt what they felt, feared what they feared, and that was an amazing feeling! I love Katie and Tomohiro and even Jun, regardless of what he is (*wink*).

I was a lot like embarking on an amazing journey and Sun gave her world so much more substance in Rain! This was so amazing and I'm so glad that it didn't disappoint after how amazing Ink was!

You've got amazing talent, Amanda Sun, and we're so lucky that we got to experience some of it! Goddamn amazing piece of writing!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey, #2) by Julie Kagawa

Read from June 28 to July 02, 2014

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Oh my God! This was so amazing! I loved everything about it!!! I can't even - GOD, IT WAS AMAZING!!! Julie Kagawa is one of the most amazing writers EVER!!!

As always, I loved the character dynamics and I absolutely loved the Nevernever!!! The mystic quality of that world is absolutely breathtaking, even in words!

The characters were amazing and there was so much going on and I loved how much character development went on in there! And we even got a glimpse of Ethan, which just added to the awesomeness!

And that ending!!! I'm gonna love Ash for the rest of my life for the decision that he made!!! Had me fangirling so hard!!! Ash & Meghan FTW!!!

And how come no one noticed that Meghan is the Iron fey's heir? Made me love her all the more though!!! XD

My Goodreads review 

Book Review: The Iron King (The Iron Fey, #1) by Julie Kagawa

Read from June 26 to 28, 2014

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny--one she could never have imagined...Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school...or at home.When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.But she could never have guessed the truth--that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face...and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Oh my God!!! Why haven't I read this before??? This was amazing! It made me all giddy and bubbly and excited, and at the same it made me tear up and broke my heart a million times!

I really loved how mystical and fantastical the Nevernever was! That really stood out for me and also how Kagawa seemed to associate some elements from A Midsummer Night's Dream into this! I absolutely loved how the setting was very much like the traditional Fairyland concept!!! Amazing!

And then the characters! Meghan is pretty cool, of course, but my heart goes out to Ash and Robbie/Puck! I love their banter and how Meghan fits into all of this! And of course, the sibling dynamic between Meghan and Ethan was amazing! Really emotional and I think Kagawa had the whole fandom rally behind the siblings! And then there was Meghan and Ash!!! That was amazing!!! I loved their relationship hands down!!! Amazing!!!

And the rest of it was amazing!I loved the traditional concepts and the character developments and the interactions!!! Simply, this book was amazing!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: Ascend (The Trylle Trilogy, #3) by Amanda Hocking

Read from June 20 to 21, 2014 

Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself.  If she doesn’t surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe.  But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind…even if it’s the only way to save them?

The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn’t the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice…who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end.

Everything has been leading to this moment.  The future of her entire world rests in her hands—if she’s ready to fight for it.

This was really good! After all the changes and chaos in Torn, Ascend was like a breath of fresh air!

I just absolutely loved how everything got concluded like that and everyone was so happy at the end that it left me smiling to myself when I finished reading! And that epilogue and short story at the end literally killed me! So fluffy and so many feels!

Hocking ended this series in the most amazing way possible and it felt soooo good to see everyone get their happily ever after! 

Amazing conclusion, amazing series!

My Goodreads review 

Book Review: City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments, #6) by Cassandra Clare

 

 Read from June 14 to 17, 2014

"Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world changed in the sixth and last instalment of the internationally bestselling The Mortal Instruments series.

Erchomai, Sebastian had said. I am coming.

Darkness returns to the Shadowhunter world. As their society falls apart around them, Clary, Jace, Simon and their friends must band together to fight the greatest evil the Nephilim have ever faced: Clary's own brother. Nothing in this world can defeat him - must they journey to another world to find the chance?"

[SPOILERS]

I have no word a to describe how amazing, spellbinding, beautiful, awesome, epic and perfect this book was!

Cassandra Clare, you are the God of Writing!

There was so much going on and it was so emotional that I ended up crying multiple times! Everything felt so real, and I realized that the Shadowhunter-verse is so real for me!

There was Clary and Jace and Simon and Isabelle and Alec and Magnus and Jordan and Maia and the Blackthorns and Tessa and Jem and everyone was so amazing!

This has got to be the best book I have ever read! It absolutely changed the way I look at the world, and I'm always gonna keep looking back to try and spot a glamoured Shadowhunter!

And I cried so much! I cried when Jordan died,when Clary hallucinated how everything could have been, when Johnathan died, when Simon got his memories erased, and throughout the epilogue!!!

This has got to be the best conclusion and TMI has got to be the best series ever! I have never read anything so beautiful ever before!

And I lived in it. Everything was so realistic and the characters were actually real people to me, they still are! When I look back at how far I've come with these characters since CoB I just tear up! The Shadowhunters have been a real part of my life since I first stumbled into their universe and I will always have a special place in my heart for them!

And I know that this isn't the end, that there's TDA and TLH coming up, but I just can't shake off the feeling that TMI is the heart of the Shadowhunter-verse and ending that series is like a blow to me heart!

My Goodreads review

Blood Review: Starcrossed (Starcrossed, #1) by Josephine Angelini

Read from June 11 to 13, 2014

Destiny brought them together.

The gods will keep them apart.

When shy, awkward Helen Hamilton meets Lucas Delos for the first time, she thinks two things: the first, that he is the most ridiculously beautiful boy she has seen in her life; the second, that she wants to kill him with her bare hands.

An ancient curse means Lucas and Helen are destined to loathe one another. But sometimes love is stronger than hate, and not even the gods themselves can prevent what will happen next...

OH MY GOD!!! This was soooooooo amazing!

I loved everything about this and it kept me on my toes throughout the whole novel! Amazing!

I loved the demi-god concept! The whole cycle and everything was absolutely interesting, and the characters were absolutely great!

The chemistry between the couples was absolutely amazing! I absolutely loved Lucas and Helen, regardless of what Daphne says! They are so hot and amazing together! Jason and Claire are sooooooooo cute!!! Matt and Ariadne are cute too!

And the Delos clan! Amazing! I would kill to be in a family like that! The Delos are totally awesome, and they are a main factor that drew me in, in addition to Lucas and Helen!

I love the plot so far and am seriously dying to read the two sequels! ARGH! The feels in this book killed me sooooo much! Left me dying! I love Josephine Angelini so much for writing something this awesome!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: Life Eternal (Dead Beautiful, #2) by Yvonne Woon

Read from May 23 to 25, 2014 

Renee Winters has changed. When she looks in the mirror, a beautiful girl with an older, sadder face stares back. Her condition has doctors mystified, but Renee can never reveal the truth: she died last May, and was brought back to life by the kiss of her Undead soul mate, Dante Berlin. 

Now, her separation from Dante becomes almost unbearable. His second life is close to an end, and each passing day means one less that she will spend with the boy who shares her soul. 

Just when Renee has almost given up hope, she learns of the Nine Sisters--brilliant scholars who, according to legend, found a way to cheat death. She can't shake the feeling that they are somehow connected to her dreams, strange visions that hint at a discovery so powerful, and so dangerous, that some will stop at nothing to protect it. 

Renee thought she knew the truth about life and death. But there is a secret woven through history that holds the only hope for Dante and Renee. Unless they find answers soon, their time together is doomed to be cut short.

Oh. My. GOD!!!

This was utter perfection! Life Eternal was sooooooooo amazing!!! It skyrocketed way beyond my expectations and was utter perfection!!!

First, I loved everything about it! Renee was amazing! Dante was amazing! Noah was amazing! Everything was amazing!!!

And the ending!!! Oh my God!!! I literally suffered from a mini heart attack! I'm really heartbroken about how Noah ended up in the end but I still loved it to teeny tiny bits!

And Dante, OH MY GOD!!! When Renee realized the The Reality, I teared up so bad 'cause goddamnit, Dante is the greatest boyfriend ev-er!!! Amazing!!!!

Yvonne Woon is one hell of a writer! If I ever meet her in person I would most probably fall at her feet and kiss her feet 'cause SHE JUST INTRODUCED PERFECTION TO THIS WORLD!!!!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: The Pledge (The Pledge, #1) by Kimberly Derting

 

Read from January 19 to 20, 2014

 "A gripping dystopian fantasy (Kirkus Reviews) that brims with romance and suspense, from the author of The Body Finder.

In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines your class, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place;looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she's been hiding her whole life. The only reprieve from oppression is within the drug-filled underground club scene. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she's never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. As the violent clashes between the totalitarian monarchy and the rebel forces escalate, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible grip of a deadly regime.

Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder series, writes powerfully and movingly of a girl with dangerous powers in an unusual and expertly crafted setting."

The Pledge is the first book that I've completed reading on PulseIt and it was mind-blowing!!!

This novel drew me in from the very first word! Actually, first glimpse, because that cover is absolutely amazing! I loved everything about The Pledge! The plot was very intriguing and the characters were really good!

I loved the idea of the Queendoms. It was a pleasant change to read of the struggles of our lead character in a world of girl power! I loved Derting's POV shifts; the way that she lets us glimpse the rest of the entourage just pumps up the excitement!

And then there's Charliena "Charlie"... and Max... and Xander... and Brooklyn... and Angelina!!! Amazingly strong characters; kept me rooting for them from the very beginning! I love the chemistry between Charlie and Max, and Xander's mysterious and witty self! I love the part where Xander curtsies in the ending chapter! And that epilogue!!! So much promise amid steaminess that left me dying for more! Absolutely epic!

So, as you can most obviously see, I loved reading this book (which I did in around 24 hours) and I am dying to read the rest of this trilogy! And this just got a VIP pass to my Amazon wish list ;)

My Goodreads review

Book Review: Forsaken (The Demon Trappers, #1) by Jana Oliver

Read from December 25 to 29, 2013

Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself—and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on...

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get—even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart—and her life?

This. Was. Amazing!!! Totally blew my mind to Mars! I loved everything about it!

Of course, from the start of the book, it's obvious that Riley and Beck have something going on, though they seem to be pretty oblivious (at least Riley was). I love the tension and chemistry between them. It kept me on my toes throughout the story! I kept making muffled squeals!

I was pretty mad at Simon and that made me feel bad. The guy's pretty decent, but helllllooooo, Beck? I was sort of hoping that he'd die in the end. Meh, when did I get so homicidal?

And of course, Riley is an awesome lead! She kept me interested and I love her impulsiveness! And she's kicking hell's butt one demon at a time, so whooooooo! Go Riley!!!

Overall, this book got a 5/5 and I was near-screaming when I finished it! I am dying to read the rest of the series and maybe I'll Amazon -which I hardly do - coz I feel like an active volcano right now! You nailed it, Jana Oliver!!!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) by Cassandra Clare

Read from September 15 to 21, 2013

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy. 

Tessa Gray should be happy – aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shaodwhunters of the London Institute.  

A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

I was a mess by the time I finished reading this book! I just wanted to cry, laugh and do a happy dance all at the same time!

The last book that made me cry was Private Peaceful and this made me tear up even worse! That ending was so beautiful! The epilogue just killed me! Tore-my-heart-into-tiny-pieces killed me!

Oh, and Tessa, and Will, and Jem... oh my God! They will always be my heroes! Especially Will! Clare made me love them all by bearing their souls in this series, but I always loved Will from the first time he appeared, unknowingly breaking through to Tessa's rescue. It just killed me to read that epilogue! And Jem! Our sweet, angelic Jem! My heart stopped when Will saw Jem at Cadair Iris! And then Tessa, and Sophie, and Charlotte, and Henry, and Gabriel, and Gideon, and everyone! This ragtag team of Shadowhunters of the London Institute will always have a special place in my heart! Always!

And although this series had romance and drama and humour, what really got me was the bond between Will and Jem! The parabatai bond between these two will continue to be something sacred in my eyes, because what they have is not something that can be explained with mere words! Their love just ripped my heart in two!

All in all, The Infernal Devices is the most beautiful series I've ever read! I will never forget just how amazing, epic, phenomenal, beautiful this series is! Cassandra Clare, you have written the most amazing, epic, phenomenal, beautiful books I've ever read! And if I do meet you face-to-face by some amazing luck, I'll most probably drop to the floor and kiss your feet for your epicness!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: Ink (The Paper Gods, #1) by Amanda Sun

Read from July 21 to 25, 2013

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

This was absolutely amazing! I was mind-blown by how good it was! I was literally sucked into the story from the very first chapter!

Katie was a pretty good main character. She was strong, brave and had a broken past, what with her mom's death. And then there's Tomohiro, the drop-dead gorgeous start kendo player of Suntaba High School. I literally melted into a gooey mess as soon as Tomohiro made his first appearance. Oh yes, Tomohiro - with his mysterious past and bad boy attitude - got me with his first ever mention. And then Jun! Personally, he seemed like a nice guy that was just trying to hit on our Katie, but then Sun goes straight ahead and pulls a plot-twister on us. Way to go, Sun!

The plot was so good! I loved everything about the story-line! I loved how Japanese it was and how Katie tries to meld into this foreign culture and the way that Katie finds a surprising friend in Tomo! And it was never boring! Every chapter, every word held me enchanted! And the tension was great! Trying to figure out what's going on and keeping a close eye on anything suspicious was so fun! 

Overall, Amanda Sun has created a mesmerizing world and I am so dying to the read the sequel, Rain. Eeeeeeeeeee! This wait is killing me!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

 

Read from April 13 to 17, 2013

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. 

My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity.

Basically, the only reason why I dragged this book off its lonesome shelf in a bookstore was because I watched the ending scenes of that movie. It was so heartwrenching that I just grabbed the book and stuffed it in my cart. I'm glad I did!

It was no secret that the story was going to be sad from the very beginning, and it was! It was as if the very family in the story had forgotten what life was like before disaster struck, and I liked that. Having witnessed a cancer patient's deterioration over a span of two years myself, I knew that was what it was like. So, in a way, the story gripped me from the start.

I was glued to book throughout and it was impossible to distinguish between my feelings and those of the characters. Picoult's writing was so intense that I didn't realize that I was feeling the very exact emotions of the characters until I neared the end.

Throughout, the novel was a great page-turner! There was nothing boring about it! It was as if I myself was trying to do what the characters were trying. I couldn't bring myself to hate anyone either. It was hard to judge (am I thinking what the rest of you who read this book are thinking?) who was doing the right thing when the very line between good and bad was blurred.

And that ending was shocking! I was so shocked that I actually gasped out loud! Anyway, I'm not going to say too much about that because I just might spoil it!

Overall, this book was real good! A must for all readers!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

Read from April 02 to 09, 2013

They've gone now, and I'm alone at last. I have the whole night ahead of me, and I won't waste a single moment of it... I want tonight to be long, as long as my life...

As young Thomas Peaceful looks back over his childhood from the battlefields of the First World War, his memories are full of family life deep in the countryside.

But the clock is ticking, and every moment he spends remembering how things used to be, means another moment closer to something which will change his life for ever.

This was so beautiful! I've always loved English countrysides and this was so perfect! There was something so radiant about the Peacefuls' lives and then you can literally feel that radiance dulling into a somber gray as the war approaches!

I'll admit that Morpurgo was and is one of my all-time favourites. I've read a handful of his books before and they were really good, but Private Peaceful was by far the most beautiful! Personally, I wouldn't have read the book if I hadn't read about in Wordsmith, but reading it was a truly marvellous experience!

Tommo was the main character here, but Morpurgo had me loving Charlie from the first chapter itself. There was something very charming and attractive about Charlie that made me go, "Oh, I love him!" from the very first.

Oh, and that ending! It was amazing! Sad, yes, but truly amazing! It brought me to tears reading those last paragraphs! And it was soooo unexpected! I was literally punched in the gut by that ending! Absolutely marvellous!

Even when remembering the book after a week or so, I feel compelled to try and jump into that world! Its charm and beauty never ran out!

My Goodreads review

Book Review: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare

Read from January 07 to 13, 2013

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, while her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will - the wall he has built around himself is crumbling.

Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers to who she is and what she was born to do? As their search for the truth leads the three friends into peril, Tessa's heart is increasingly torn, especially when one of their own betrays them...

This was so amazing!!! It was sooooo good! I've never read anything like this! It was absolute perfection! I loved everything about it! It had me fangirling like crazy! I've never fangirled  like this ever before!!!

First of all, I love the teamwork between Jem and Will. Their parabatai brotherhood is one of the most amazing details in this series. By making it impossible to choose between the two Shadowhunters, Clare makes their relationship so believable! I'll most probably slap someone senseless if they so much as call those 2 characters fictitious!

Then there's the tension! OH. MY. GOD!!! The tension between Tessa and Will, and Tessa and Jem had me tingling all over! It was electrifying!!!

And then all the questions! Clare kept me dying to know the answers to all the questions that kept on arising from end to beginning!

Actually, the whole this was so damn perfect that it almost made me cry when the book ended! It was so damn perfect!

BUT THEN THERE'S CLOCKWORK PRINCESS COMING UP!!!

I loathe it and love it at the same time. Loathe it because it would be the last book of TID! How is that even possible?!? So far, I have its beautiful cover to satisfy me though:

And then the jacket cover!

This series is phenomenal!!! I just feel as if I could keep typing about it for aeons! But that would probably never happen since that's near impossible...

SHADOWHUNTERS FTW!!! 

My Goodreads review