Feature & Follow Friday {3}

Feature & Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. The two blogs they are featuring this week: Books Are Vital & Once Upon A Time.

Q: When you’ve read a book, what do you do with it? (Keep it, give it away, donate it, sell it, swap it..?)

I'm mainly an e-reader so there's nothing to do with it except keep it on my Kindle. I have back ups of every book just in case I do delete it off my kindle. I buy very few actual books these days and if I do, it is something that can not be purchased on Kindle like a bonus pack or a guide that doesn't show up well on e-ink screens so those are collectibles in which I would keep.

The books I do have, I keep, even though I may never read them again. Some I keep for sentimental reasons and all I keep for the reason of me liking to collect books :0) I would love to have a huge collection of nothing but beautiful hard covers one day... to go along with a huge library in my future house lol.

Review: Existence by Abbi Glines

Existence by Abby Glines
Genre: YA

What happens when you are stalked by Death? You fall in love with him of course. Pagan Moore doesn’t cheat Death, instead, she falls in love with him.

Seventeen year old Pagan Moore, has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn’t let them know she could see them, they left her alone. Until she steps out of her car on the first day of school and sees an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead. Not only does he not go away, when she ignores him he does something none of the others have ever done; he speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What Pagan doesn’t realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul. He is Death and he is about to break all the rules.

Does the synopsis just not captivate you? And what of the cover?! Otherwise, that's about all there is to the book that I absolutely adored. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype or my expectations.

It's one of those "insta-love" situations which just doesn't do it for me. Call me a masochist, but I'd rather deal with a "frenemy" or love/hate situation. I really love the whole basis of the story (and the cover, let's not forget the cover), but it was paced too quickly. The events that happened in this book could've easily been split into 2 or 3 books. No where is it mentioned that it's going to be a series, but it is.

I just finished reading Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens (which I loved and will review soon) and that was a 500+ page book. When I was reading, I kept thinking that it was a little drawn out, but it was so thorough. It was drawn out because the MC in that book couldn't make a decision which I could understand. However, this book was just mind-boggling because it was so short. You didn't even really get a chance to fall in love with the characters because ...there was no time to!

And let's get to the whole series deal. Yeah, I thought it was a stand-alone, not part of a series. But the ending had a cliff-hanger. Reminiscent of Mara Dyer where you do a double-take and go, "Say what?" and then the book ends. In this case, you're just like, "Huh. Really?" That's it. I've mentioned it many times and I know you can all understand that I do have a love for books. That's why you're here - you love books and this is a book blog. So, even though this book wasn't up to the hype, I will still be reading whatever book comes next. I'll read it because I'm curious and I hope it does get better. I'm just disappointed in this book and that makes me sad because I had such high hopes.

This is one of those don't judge a book by its cover situations that bit me in the butt because I thought that this book would be great... the cover and synopsis drew me in. It just didn't live up to my expectations...

Waiting on Wednesday {4}

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by breaking the spine where everyone mentions a book they are anxiously looking forward too...

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep
Series: Mythos Academy #3
Publication Date: May 29th 2012

No synopsis provided yet...

Onyx by Jennifer Armentrout
Series: Lux #2
Publication Date: May 2012

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies...

Boo on those synopsis being so wonderfully boring >_< Otherwise, yes, I am awaiting two books by two different Jennifer's. I was tempted to put Pure on the list, also by Armentrout, but I like the Lux series better than the Covenant series. I'm reading more and more YA these days because of the people I'm following online are mostly YA readers, lol.

*Sighs* May is so far away though, but it'll be bittersweet for me because that's my son's birthday month as well. I want my books, but not at the expense of my baby getting older :0(

So, anyone else drooling for some Daimon? Or Logan? So many good books are coming out in 2012. Looks like it'll be an even better year than 2011 in new releases :0) What are you waiting on?! I want to know in case I've overlooked it... I need to know my TBR list is set for 2012.

Review: Covenant Series by Jennifer Armentrout

Daimon by Jennifer Armentrout
Genre: YA
Series: Convenant #.05

For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.

According to her mother, that’s a good thing.

But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.

The daimons have found her.

Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout
Genre: YA
Series: Convenant #1

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Jennifer Armentrout is a new YA author that everyone needs to check out. She has these two books out, plus another from a different series that are nice, awesome reads. I will be doing a review on the other book, Obsidian from the Lux series, soon. I just finished it earlier today; if I had to choose between the two series, I like the Lux series more.

This series is a bit reminiscent of the Vampire Academy series, but, of course, it's set up a little bit differently in a different world. It's about aether sucking daimons vs. the blood sucking Strigoi. She's the dhampir in the book basically, a half-blood which is the bottom half/slaves to the Moroi or in this case, pure-bloods. The half-blood/pure-blood is referencing how close they are to the Gods who gave them their powers. I recently read Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep and that is of the same story line, but with Greek mythology instead. They are all enjoying reads and are distinct enough that it shouldn't bother you or make you feel like you've read it already. It's not badly written and it wasn't until I was finished with the book that I drew that conclusion. While I was reading it, I wasn't immediately conscious that it's so VA-like. I just read it, immersed myself in the story, and then when I read reviews about it, I was conscious of the similiarities.

Naturally, Alex has fallen for a pure-blood, and she being a half-blood, it's forbidden between the two of them. She goes through training to become a Sentinel (or Guardian in VA), comes across daily obstacles, and tries to not test the boundaries of forbidden love. At the end of the book, she faces a very strong, important daimon and she has to fight her... it's all slightly familiar, right?

The story is enjoyable still and the world is built differently from VA. I enjoyed it and I'm a huge VA fan so for me to enjoy something that resembles the same story line, I think it's a nice feat for the book. If you're a fan of VA - totally loved the strong female character, forbidden love story, and hard obstacles - try the book. It's like reading VA all over again, except you have a different world to immerse yourself in and a new Dmitri, which is Aiden in this book :0)

If you have read it, did you notice the similarities right away? Did it bother you or did you still enjoy the book? I'm a lover of books and I rarely find/read a book I don't enjoy at least enough to give it 3 stars. There are some 2 star books in my GR shelves and I think there's only one 1 star book out of 882 books 0_o. So yeah, my reviews are always biased on a book-lover's opinion, lol.

Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare 
Genre: YA 
Series: The Infernal Devices #2

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though 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 about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Wow. That is all I can say about this book. At first, I did not want to read it because I was scared of it ending with a big cliffhanger & then making me wait a year for book #3. I read the first book a long time ago and I barely remember that! I figured maybe I can wait until it gets closer to release date of book #3 so I'll be happier, but I couldn't wait. I kept reading reviews about it so I gave in.

The book started out a bit slow because I was still trying to remember everything from the first book. You do become more and more fascinated about Tessa as the story unfolds. And Will, oh Will, he's as lovely as ever. I'm Team Will if you didn't know. I adore Jem, but Will has my heart. It's obvious this is a love triangle story.

Throughout the story, they're trying to figure more about Mortmain and they run into all these new facts and obstacles. While all that is happening, the friendship between Jem and Tessa blooms, but I do think that's only because he's her rebound. Will rejected her, she needs a shoulder, and Jem's "the nice guy". He ends up falling for her, Will's always been in love with her, but he can't commit. So yeah... ball-busting situation. Who does she end up with?! Who does she choose?! This is determined at the end of the book., but I can't help thinking that it's not really the end. After all, it's just book #2. We still have another whole book to get through so she could still change her mind for some reason. Things can happen, people can die/live/redeem themselves. Who knows?!

{Warning: Spoiler}

I accidentally read a "small" spoiler when I was about 70% done and I was a bit angry and heartbroken because I knew how it would end. I kept wishing it would end one way, but I knew it wouldn't because, again, she needs it to end a certain way in this book so more drama can unfold in book #3.

Ooh, talk about teen angst and love drama. Tessa is a mature, likeable character though so it's not eye-rolling inducing teen angst drama, but rather a lovely book that you can enjoy. I do like this a bit more than the Mortal Instrument series. You can really see how this comes before that series. Everything is unfolding pretty nicely. This book, towards the end, really got my blood flowing. Ack.

Anyways, if you're interested in getting this, dying for it, or just plain curious - get the damn book :0) Cassandra Clare is a great author and writer. She is popular for a reason - no pretentious hype there. So, get the book, devour it, and tell me what you think! Agree with me or are you Team Jem?! (I do adore Jem. Hell, he's half Chinese; I love Asians! I'm a bit biased about Asians, LOL, but whatever. I do adore him. I just love Will.)

Angelfall by Susan Ee
Genre: Dystopian, PNR
Series: Penryn & the End of Days #1

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

This is one of my top favorite angel books besides the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh, though that is more adult and UF. Not only does this involve angels, but a dystopian world as well. I have a thing for both dystopians and angels so win-win situation here. It has a beautiful cover too, does it not?

The book captivates you right from the beginning. In fact, you can read the first 5 chapters here. Uh, yes, you read right: FIVE whole chapters. FREE. Once you're done reading the first five, you will quickly realize that you need to buy the book.

I hate when you read a book and you think, "Uh, hasn't this been done before?" Not the case in this book. There will always be similarities between books that have the same genre and characters (such as werewolves, angels, vampires, etc.) Sometimes it's just a nice similarity that happens and it makes you think of other books and sometimes it's glaringly obvious where the author has gotten their inspiration. This is just refreshingly original. There are good and bad angels, but the good angels are mostly absent. The world is deteriorating not because of demons or by (what I think would be at fault one day) humans. Instead, the world is in chaos by the wrath of angels. They brought the apocalypse with them because God told them to or because it was time, which ever. Either way, humans are now living in fear of angels.

Penryn is such a strong character. She has to be, not because of her current situation in a dystopian world, but because of the problem with her mother. The mother's character is so vital in this story. Sometimes when someone gets into a life-or-death situation, they luck their way out. It's been done so many times though. Penryn actually knows how to fight and the reason why she knows how is sad, but believable, and it really works in this story. It makes the story believable and ultimately better because you can tell she is a survivor.

I would definitely recommend this story. I read a lot of books and I like 99% of the books I read. I don't know why, I just do. Either I have good taste in picking out books or I'm just not a picky reader. *Shrugs* I am picky about giving out 5 stars on GR. I reserve those for those really special books. I don't want my shelves on GR to be over-flowing with 5 star books - most of which, I can't even remember the story off the top of my head. The 5 stars are the best of the best that I will want to re-read when I have time, that I'll definitely buy hardcover copies of, and I can remember most of the story off the top of my head because it's that memorable out of all the books I've read. I struggled a bit with the rating of this book and in the end, it got 5 stars from me :0) That should tell you to run out and get this book. It's not available in print yet, but it will be soon. For now, it is available as an e-book.

I can't wait until the 2nd book. Eep!

Review: The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams

The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams
Genre: UF
Series: McKenzie Lewis #1

There can only be one allegiance.
It’s her time to choose.

Some humans can see the fae. McKenzie Lewis can track them, reading the shadows they leave behind. But some shadows lead to danger. Others lead to lies.

A Houston college student trying to finish her degree, McKenzie has been working for the fae king for years, tracking vicious rebels who would claim the Realm. Her job isn’t her only secret. For just as long, she’s been in love with Kyol, the king’s sword-master—and relationships between humans and fae are forbidden.

But any hope for a normal life is shattered when she’s captured by Aren, the fierce and uncompromising rebel leader. He teaches her the forbidden fae language and tells her dark truths about the Court, all to persuade her to turn against the king. Time is running out, and as the fight starts to claim human lives, McKenzie has no choice but to decide once and for all whom to trust and where she ultimately stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war

When I first picked up this book, I didn't expect it to be that good. I didn't have low expectations for it; I just thought it would be a good read and that's it, but it surpassed my expectations. I have not read anything from this author before. I believe this is her debut novel so there wasn't any previous works to draw on. There was no hype around this novel that I know of. I believe someone mentioned in on GR so I checked the synopsis and decided to give it a try since I like reading about the Fae. The synopsis didn't totally grab me 100%, but like I said, I wanted to give it a try. I'm glad I did.

There is a love triangle situation in this book. I love those; I don't know why, but I do. She's in love with one guy most of her life, but they can't be together and she's content with that. Then she gets kidnapped by someone else who's willing to love her even if it is forbidden. Only then does she realize how much she sacrificed for her first love and how he doesn't love her because if he did, wouldn't he drop anything and everything to be with her even if it is forbidden? Is that not what true love requires of you? Then she can't love the second guy because he kidnapped her, he's the supposed "bad guy" and he's challenging everything she's ever been taught about their world (for she's a regular mortal, not a Fae. She just works for them) and it's a bit too much Stockholm syndrome. What does she really know about the world she's been thrown in? Should she trust the one who's kept her safe, but in the dark, for years or someone who's willing to open her eye, love her for who she is, as well as keep her safe from now on? See how interesting it sounds?!

Ooh, I just loved this book. It's a great read and I highly recommend it!

Waiting on Wednesday {3}

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by breaking the spine where everyone mentions a book they are anxiously awaiting on...

 Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
Series: The Broken Empire #2
Publication Date: August 7th 2012

The Broken Empire burns with the fires of a hundred battles as lords and petty kings battle for the all-throne. The long road to avenge the slaughter of his mother and brother has shown Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath the hidden hands behind this endless war. He saw the game and vowed to sweep the board. First though he must gather his own pieces, learn the rules of play, and discover how to break them.

A six nation army, twenty thousand strong, marches toward Jorg's gates, led by a champion beloved of the people. Every decent man prays this shining hero will unite the empire and heal its wounds. Every omen says he will. Every good king knows to bend the knee in the face of overwhelming odds, if only to save their people and their lands. But King Jorg is not a good king.

Faced by an enemy many times his strength Jorg knows that he cannot win a fair fight. But playing fair was never part of Jorg’s game plan.

I'm actually really into this series. It's dark fantasy; really gory and well, dark. Sort of along the lines of Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle, but of course, very different from each other. I'm not comparing the two, just saying that they are both very dark fantasy books that aren't YA. You may think it's mature YA or along those lines, but no, very dark so be aware of that. But I enjoy the story and the character, Jorg, love to love him though he's so young. He's 14, but in his world he's a man (and he's 6' tall...wth do they eat?!) Only 8 Long freaking months to go.




Biting Cold by Chloe Neill
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #6
Publication Date: August 7th 2012

Turned into a vampire against her will, twenty-eight-year-old Merit found her way into the dark circle of Chicago’s vampire underground, where she learned there was more to supernaturals than met the eye—and more supernaturals than the public ever imagined. And not all the secrets she learned were for sharing—among humans or inhumans.

Now Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest, tailing a rogue supernatural intent on stealing an ancient artifact that could unleash catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit is also the prey. An enemy of Chicagoland is hunting her, and he’ll stop at nothing to get the book for himself. No mercy allowed. No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on

I love my Ethan! If you read Drink Deep, the previous book, you know what happened towards the end. Why isn't that mentioned at all in the blurb? WTH? What kind of "description" is that? I want to know what happens! Is it real, is it for good?

{Warning: Spoiler}

Do they have great make-up sex? What?! Well, I guess it would be less make-up, more catch-up. I want to live vicariously through Merit, damn it.

Anyways, I get that they probably don't want to give too much away especially for those who aren't caught up with the series or whatever. But what about us faithful readers? I don't want to wait 8 whole months to find out. Boo. Bet your ass, I'll be waiting for the midnight release of this :0)


Let me know what you are waiting on. Is it new, a sequel, part of a series, what? I want to know because, you know, obviously I need more books to be added to my TBR list (which currently is about 500+ strong 0_o)

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Genre: YA, UF
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Talk about original. It's refreshing and a new take on what's out there. There's a sense of angels and demons in here with talk of wings and deformity (though not in the sense that we are used to such as mixed body parts and etc.), but it's not the typical upperworld with wings = good, underworld with deformity = bad type of situation. For one, it's not a typical set up as in angels are from Goodness above and Demons are from Badness below. It's more like... different worlds that happen to be in different realms. And humans had a glimpse of it in the past and derived their own religion from it since then; hence the whole wings/angel thing from above and the whole deformed beings from below.

You meet two characters who are from different worlds, Akiva from above and Karou who's actually in-between because she's brought up by those who dwell below, but she lives in the regular mortal world. They eventually tell each other what they were taught about their world and why they are at war with each other. Then you realize... there's not a clear side of good vs bad or black vs white and neither side are "right". We're always told there's always shades of grey; the in-between. This book definitely shows that in this case.

Oh, the twists! I didn't predict what was going to happen at all. I don't run into many books that deal with ...this one Buddhism aspect of our souls/essence/energy never dying. If you've read the book, you understand what I mean. If you haven't, I stated it that way as to not give a spoiler. Readers are the biggest predictor-faces (what my hubby calls me) ever and when we're avid readers, it's easy to see where the book is leading us. So to give you a bigger hint will be giving it away. But wow, the ending and the real story with Karou. Definitely liked this book. It's just refreshing!

Anyways, I can go on and on. If you have not read this book, check it out! I haven't heard the biggest hype about it, but it certainly passed what I initially thought it would be like. Maybe the description didn't do it for me, but I didn't expect so much from this book (as in the case with Angelfall by Susan Ee and Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams - both of which reviews are coming!) So put this on your TBR/To-Buy/whatever-else list. If you are into YA, into the refreshingly new reads, I don't think you'll be disappointed with this. If anything, it'll be a nice read and a good way to spend your free time (whatever those are).

Review: Scanguards Vampires Series by Tina Folsom

There are only 5 books out so far in this series; I've read them all. You can click each individual cover to get their GR's page; it will open in a new window.

These are adult Urban Fantasy books; real vampires living in our society today inconspicuously. They mind their own business until one day they run into their mates. Then they take us on a journey of getting together, having great sex, running into a problem, breaking up, then realizing they do love each other. Yes, a bit similar to every other UF/Vampire story out there. I do enjoy the series though it's not too original. Reminds me a bit about the Darkyn Series by Lynn Viehl. There are definitely tweaks and twists to it that make it original - how/where/why they mate and all that compared to other books. I think every author puts their own twists on that to make it different. But the overall story can be a been-there/done-that/read-it deal if you read a lot of vampire UF/PNR. Nothing new, but worth reading if you're interested or have the time to.

These vampires run a security company that employes both humans and vampires. They do everything from basic bodyguard/security guard work to securing the most important VIP. The first book, you meet Samson, who is in charge of the whole corporation. It's his company; he employs everyone else. The rest of the books focuses on those who work for him, but are also considered close members of his "family". So it's a PNR as well, moving from one member to another to achieve their HEA.

It does have adult content in it so be aware of that. What I like about this series is that there's always a new problem pertaining to that particular couple. It's not one huge problem that never gets solved or goes anywhere throughout the whole series (ex: Black Dagger Brotherhood, Breeds, etc.). It's a different situation for each couple and they have to work through that situation together. It is a bit refreshing because I like new scenery since it can get tiring once you hit a book #X in the series and this villain is still alive doing the same 'ol shiz. My opinion? Definitely try it, at least a book or two :0)

Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Series: The Pledge #1

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

Yes, another YA/Dystopian book from me. I'm on a roll. I really enjoy them (dystopians) because of the grittiness of the world and the maturity level of the characters in the book. There's no running into immature teen angst here. The story ensures that the character is not a weak character; even if they started out that way, there's a good chance for growth.

I prefer the strong, independent, responsible characters who are will to put themselves into dangerous situations to survive or to provide for others. They don't wallow, mope, or give-up just because there's a huge obstacle (that may extend to life or death situations) in their way. I admire that so I like reading about it. I don't know, I think it just puts things into perspective for me when it's that kind of misery in a totally pathetic atmosphere - a dystopian world.

If you haven't picked this up yet, do it. There were some twists in here and there that I didn't quite get until I got towards the end of the book. Sometimes, it's just so easy to see the way the author is going with a book, but this was entertaining, riveting, and it kept me on my toes guessing what was going to happen next. I loved the story and it didn't have a cliff-hanger at all, which I really appreciate. It just left us off... well, wanting more, which is understandable, but it left us off at a good ending point of book one in the series.

I honestly don't know where it can go from here. I mean, there must be more twists and turns to make this good book into a great series. But so much has been unfolded from this first book already. Where to now? I can take a guess it will be about the war in the book and the current leaders... but yeah, we'll see.

I would recommend this book. It's a good, enjoyable read :0)

Feature & Follow Friday {2}

Feature & Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. The two blogs they are featuring this week: Lauren Gets Literal & Fic Book Reviews.

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to books? Maybe you don’t like love triangles or thin plots? Tell us about it!

My biggest pet peeve is when the character development and/or plot falls short. I do not like it when I can't relate or understand the character's reasoning. It's different from a well-developed annoying character vs. a shallow character because you just don't like him or her period. If the character has no growth from the beginning to the end of the book, I want to know why. It's the author's world, the author's creation. They should be able to make us envision it through their words. But if their words, their explanations, fall short, well then our visions work up crap. No fun, I tell you.

I also hate the "love at first sight" plots. It causes me seizures from rolling my eyes too many times when they fall in love right away. I can understand it if it's a were-animal situation where it's the mate recognizing one another. Just give me something to work with; preferably something believable.

And there's nothing worse than a novel with no plot at all. I understand that if I pick up a short novel, it will be short. I  just don't prefer short novels to be short because it's missing the whole middle part... and then some. But love triangles, those I love :0)