Blood Red Road

Title: Blood Red Road 
Author: Moira Young
Series: Dust Lands # 1
Published: June 07, 2011 by  Margaret K. McElderry
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 459
Genre: YA Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic


My rating:    

Summary:Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

My Thoughts:


At first I had a hard time adjusting with the writing style. Their grammar, word spelling and language are imperfect but I love how perfect it is for their lifestyle. Obviously they are uneducated, so it fits. And once you got used to it everything turns out ok.


Now with the characters, Saba is just an ok character. Found her somewhat annoying and too proud. I know that she needs to be tough and strong because of the situation she is in but it didn’t really work out for me. I hate how she treated Emmi, her little sister, and she is too focused on saving Lugh. As if Lugh is the only reason for her to continue on living, for me it falls out to obsession. I really like Emmi, for a 9 year old kid, she is a fierce one. And I love the mysteriousness of Jack. Lugh, I am not sure about him, his character was not really emphasized well in the story.


For the plot, found the part 1 is actually stronger and better than part 2. However, I have been anticipating more action but sadly it was not delivered that much. I mean Saba is a cage fighter, she is even the Angel of Death, but the actions seem scarce, insufficient. I think the story focused more on her dreams, fear, her situation in the jail room and again getting Lugh back. And then when I think that the adventure will finally begin when they started to travel to save Lugh, again it disappointed me. Oh well…


I can’t find the reasons why but for some reasons I like this book. I am just hoping that book 2 will be better.










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The Faerie Path 4: The Immortal Realm

The Immortal Realm by Frewin Jones


My rating: 1 of 5 stars




I like the first 3 books in the series enough for me to continue on and read the 4th book, The Immortal Realm . However I totally lost interest in this series after reading this. I found myself skipping too many pages mainly because I am quite a little bit annoyed with Tania now. I am not amused anymore in their faery world. So even though I was able to finish this book, I am now sure that I am going to drop this series completely. I just wished that I stopped reading after the 3rd book…






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The Splendor Falls

The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore


My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I definitely enjoyed reading this one, though it is not as fantastic as I thought it should be. A little bit slow-paced too but I love how detailed the book is. The story plot is good too but I am a little bit disappointed because I thought it would be a creepy kind of read but it’s not. But like I said I still had fun with it, I was totally captivated by the mystery of Bluestone hill and Maddox Landing. I just wished it was explored more...






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White Cat

White Cat by Holly Black

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


3.5 stars



It was pretty good. The world of the curse workers is amazing! It is different and yet somehow you can relate to that world because it was weaved into the present times perfectly. I love Cassel because he is not perfect, or I would say I love his imperfections, his weakness. I’m not really expecting I’m going to enjoy this book but so glad I did.





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The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer 
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer # 1
Published: Sept. 27, 2011 by Simon & Schuster
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 452
Genre: YA Paranormal/Romance/Mystery


My rating: 
    

Summary:  

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

          It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.There is.She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.She's wrong.

My Thoughts:


I started reading this book with the knowledge that it is good but I’m not expecting it to be a freaking mind tripping kind of a read. I admit it is confusing at first, or maybe the entire read, but in a good way. Maybe because Mara is as confused as I am. Mara suffered a PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) after an accident involving her and her friends. She can’t remember what happened and as a reader I am really feeling what she is going through.


To be honest, I still can’t figure out how to explain and express my feelings about this book without giving out spoilers. All I know is that I really enjoyed and had fun reading this. And I really love the characters, Mara, her brothers Daniel and Joseph, Jamie and of course Noah Shaw. He is alluring and captivating, oh my heart is melting… I love the chemistry between Noah and Mara. I like the story plot though there are still some unanswered questions and not much was resolved in the story. The book is not perfect, it has its own flaws but it won’t make you stop on turning the pages until you reach the last one. And I am now in desperate need for the sequel…


Michelle Hodkin cleverly weaves together a story full of tension, romance and mystery. A job well done. Now if you still don’t have a copy of this book, don’t hesitate and pick it up.








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The Eternal Ones

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller


My rating: 2 of 5 stars




The Eternal Ones is not impressive as I thought it would be. It is a fast paced book but it doesn’t have the excitement I’m looking for. I am expecting a lot from this book because the story plot sounds so interesting. I am hopeless romantic and reincarnation is certainly most intriguing for me. But I was so disappointed because the story was not executed really well, mainly because of the unrealistic way of how the characters portrayed the reincarnating stuff. I do understand that Constance and Ethan waited for so long to be together again and continue their life together but how Haven and Iain (in the present) reactions when they finally saw each other is just unreal. Come on, they haven’t even spend a minute together and they were kissing like crazy. And then Haven just agreed to be with him immediately with no reservations, though she did hesitate a tiny bit and had a little doubt with him but it occurs only after they spend so many days together. Haven actions irritated me, one minute he hates Iain and then loves him again. Her stubbornness and impulsiveness to act without thinking is just annoying.


The fact that bothered me the most is that I was not convinced of how true, deep and powerful Haven and Iain’s love for each other, or should I say Constance and Ethan. Everything is too convenient. They don’t even need to introduce each other, they just know it. Well considering the fact that there is their visions and stuff about their past life but it is just unbelievable. And the mystery part in it is really not that good. Adam Rosier is not even that creepy.


Well even though I am not satisfied with what I’ve read I don’t despise the book completely. It is slight ok but I am not sure if I can continue on with the series. Though I think the story has a potential to be good, I don’t think I can tolerate Haven now.








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Wolfsbane

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer


My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I’m surprised to know that Wolfsbane is as good as Nightshade but not as exciting. I found myself bored in some of the chapters. And one of the reasons why Ren is simply not there, just a glimpse of him and I am not satisfied with that. Also I am not a big fan of Shay , and him featured more on this book didn’t help much. I decided to give his character a chance since Andrea Cremer seems to like him better than Ren. But Shay is such a jerk, I can’t even convince myself to like him. I found him too selfish and arrogant. I still can’t find the reasons why Calla is so smitten with him.


One thing I love about this book is the history of the Keeper, Searcher, Guardian and the Scion . I simply love the idea of the prophecy thing. And the magic that the Searcher can do is simply fascinating. Adne is one of the characters that I like to know more of. But there are some parts of the book that really made me sad. What happened to the Nightshade pack is just terrible, but I think that is just a realistic approach in their situation. And the ending, wow! What a cliffhanger. It made my jaw drop, I want more! I don’t even want it to end…


Bloodrose, I want to read it now!










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Born at Midnight

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter


My rating: 3 of 5 stars




Born at Midnight is one of those books that has a beautiful cover but the story didn’t deliver very well. It is an easy read but somehow boring. Kylie , our main protagonist, is not a likable one. Found her too immature, but given the situation she’s in, it is sort of understandable.


About the story plot, there is nothing special on it. Too bland for my taste I think. And it is just so ordinary. And is there really a love triangle going on here??? I’m not really convinced that there is one. The supposed to be tension between Lucas and Derek is simply not there. Or the intensity of attraction that Kylie should feel between Lucas and Derek really fell flat. Totally not convincing… and honestly, I’m not even surprised about the very little revelation in Kylie’s life. It is somehow predictable.


I’m not really a big fan of the book but I’m curious enough to read “Awake at Dawn” because I wanted to know what kind of paranormal Kylie is. I’m going to give the series another shot but if there is no improvement, I’m done with it.










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In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ www.thestorysiren.com

Purchased:

• EVE by Anna Carey (2011-debut novel, dystopian story, one of the books that I'm pining for since I saw it on goodreads)
• FATEFUL by Claudia Gray (Titanic and werewolves, very intriguing. Plus I love Claudia Gray's Evernight Series, though I didn't like Afterlife, so I need to have this)
• THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin (One of my most anticipated book read for 2011, so excited to read this)