Just finished Silence, the third installment of the Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick. I'm home sick today and thought, 100 pages left, might as well devour it and take a nap!
Let me just say ... and I may be short on words for this review ... this book was in a word "scrumptious". From beginning to end you're on a no holds bard thrill ride of twists and turns. I mean if you read the jacket to this book you'd have no idea how this story was going to pick up from the second book's end. I was completely aghast at where this book picks up. I'm not going to spoil it because this book hasn't been out that long but when you read it you'll fall in love with this series all over again. I desperately want to go back and re-read the entirety of the three books again but there are books on my reading list and other things going on my life that will pull me from reading for a bit. I will re-read these in the not so distant future you can count on it.
Pick up a copy of this novel and you won't put it down, I promise! You're going to love it! Maybe I'll post more about the book later when I come off my high from just how yummy this one was ... !
Monday, January 23, 2012
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
I finished reading Crescendo, the much anticipated second novel in Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush series a few days ago but eagerly speed on to read the third book, Silence as soon as I was finished. I'll review Silence next.
I said in the Hush, Hush review that some of the characters got on my nerves at first. Trying out new authors and reading new characters can do that to a person. But upon finishing Crescendo I can tell you with absolute certainty that I am in love with these characters. She writes them all so well you just fell like you know them. They are people you've known your whole life, we all know a bad boy (or a thousand, let's face it a dated a lot of them in another life ...). We've all had the best friend who could talk us into doing ridiculously stupid things all in the name of friendship and we've all been that person would do anything for their friends/family if someone threatened them.
**Spoilers** I told you I'd have some this time around ...
We met new characters in this installment. Scott Parnell, another fallen angel, bad boy and old friend or annoyance in Nora's life as a child. He used to force her to eat fried bugs ... gross! But that's what boys do when they're younger right?! haha! I hated him at first as well ... seemed dear old mom had a plan to move Patch out of Nora's life and have Scott fill the void but it didn't work out quite as she had planned. *Sigh of relief* He does redeem himself a bit though in the end and you'll see why when you read the book. Nora does use him a wee bit to get Patch's blood boiling just like Patch uses Marcie Millar, long time frenemy of Nora's. They've known each other 11 years and Nora can never quite pin down what she did to this evil wicked spoiled rotten brat but none the less, Marcie hates Nora and would do anything to smear her name across campus and has, time and time again. Again, who hasn't known someone like that? If you were lucky enough to escape this type of person throughout Elementary to High School and into College or wherever life took you, I wish I knew what you do about how to befriend people.
This story spoke to me on a number of levels ... I would find myself screaming at the book in silent ... thinking, "No you really don't want to do that ... this isn't a good idea ... " but the characters never listen. Becca does what Cassandra Clare has become famous for as well, she tortures her characters and in turn tortures her reader right along with them. You feel everything they are going through. You're smiling one minute and almost screaming at the book the next or you're crying because they're in pain and then they're wrapped in a loving embrace and you're back to warm and fuzzy all within a few chapters. I kept texting my friend Angela, whom I turn to about these books saying how much things infuriated me but she always encourages me to keep going! For that I thank you friend!
This is an amazing story and I'll continue my gush and love of it on my next review for Silence.
I said in the Hush, Hush review that some of the characters got on my nerves at first. Trying out new authors and reading new characters can do that to a person. But upon finishing Crescendo I can tell you with absolute certainty that I am in love with these characters. She writes them all so well you just fell like you know them. They are people you've known your whole life, we all know a bad boy (or a thousand, let's face it a dated a lot of them in another life ...). We've all had the best friend who could talk us into doing ridiculously stupid things all in the name of friendship and we've all been that person would do anything for their friends/family if someone threatened them.
**Spoilers** I told you I'd have some this time around ...
We met new characters in this installment. Scott Parnell, another fallen angel, bad boy and old friend or annoyance in Nora's life as a child. He used to force her to eat fried bugs ... gross! But that's what boys do when they're younger right?! haha! I hated him at first as well ... seemed dear old mom had a plan to move Patch out of Nora's life and have Scott fill the void but it didn't work out quite as she had planned. *Sigh of relief* He does redeem himself a bit though in the end and you'll see why when you read the book. Nora does use him a wee bit to get Patch's blood boiling just like Patch uses Marcie Millar, long time frenemy of Nora's. They've known each other 11 years and Nora can never quite pin down what she did to this evil wicked spoiled rotten brat but none the less, Marcie hates Nora and would do anything to smear her name across campus and has, time and time again. Again, who hasn't known someone like that? If you were lucky enough to escape this type of person throughout Elementary to High School and into College or wherever life took you, I wish I knew what you do about how to befriend people.
This story spoke to me on a number of levels ... I would find myself screaming at the book in silent ... thinking, "No you really don't want to do that ... this isn't a good idea ... " but the characters never listen. Becca does what Cassandra Clare has become famous for as well, she tortures her characters and in turn tortures her reader right along with them. You feel everything they are going through. You're smiling one minute and almost screaming at the book the next or you're crying because they're in pain and then they're wrapped in a loving embrace and you're back to warm and fuzzy all within a few chapters. I kept texting my friend Angela, whom I turn to about these books saying how much things infuriated me but she always encourages me to keep going! For that I thank you friend!
This is an amazing story and I'll continue my gush and love of it on my next review for Silence.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
I just finished reading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick about 20 minutes ago and I'm speechless. I love reading books by new authors and seeing how different authors write and reading the stories that they have come up with and gotten millions to fall in love with. Becca Fitzpatrick does an amazing job of hooking you but it took me a few chapters. I remember telling my husband that I was having a hard time with the characters in the beginning. You have three main characters: Nora Gray, the main heroine; Vee, her best friend and Patch Ciprianno, the angel/bad boy. I'm not spoiling that he's an angel, if you look at the cover art, you already know there is something about angels in this series.
Patch is a real pain in the ass. He's a true blue bad boy, hell bent on annoying you with his sly smiles, good looks and bad behavior. He gets under your skin and not always in a warm and fuzzy, I want him so bad, kind of way. He's a predator in every sense of the word.
Then you have Nora Gray, the heroine. She's a twit to put it best. She is constantly keeping things from her mom which if you watch any terrible movie always shows us is a bad idea. Getting help when you're in trouble is the answer, not trying to sweep it all under the rug. But she has her reasons, for instance, her father was murdered years ago and the wounds within her and her mother are still fresh. Her mother works far from home and travels a lot so they can afford to keep their farmhouse in the country where all their memories with her father are. Nora doesn't want to lose all of this by telling her mother what is going on with her, even if most of the time she feels like what is going on with her is simply her being psychotic. I guess we've all been there a time or two as teenagers, hell, maybe as young adults or adults as well.
But the cream de la cream of annoying fictional characters is Vee, the best friend. Dumb as a box of rocks this one is. She's written brilliantly, don't get me wrong. Becca writes a good character for you to smack your forehead to for every bonehead thing this girl does or says. She's constantly not "thinking" she's just a "do'er". Vee falls for the bad guy in the story of course, and I don't mean Patch, but a true blue bad guy and aims to suck Nora in with her even when Nora has figured out there is something not right about these two guys they have been hanging out with.
The story ends awesomely and I won't throw out any spoilers till my review of Crescendo which should be up by end of the weekend. I'm off to start reading the next installment now!
Patch is a real pain in the ass. He's a true blue bad boy, hell bent on annoying you with his sly smiles, good looks and bad behavior. He gets under your skin and not always in a warm and fuzzy, I want him so bad, kind of way. He's a predator in every sense of the word.
Then you have Nora Gray, the heroine. She's a twit to put it best. She is constantly keeping things from her mom which if you watch any terrible movie always shows us is a bad idea. Getting help when you're in trouble is the answer, not trying to sweep it all under the rug. But she has her reasons, for instance, her father was murdered years ago and the wounds within her and her mother are still fresh. Her mother works far from home and travels a lot so they can afford to keep their farmhouse in the country where all their memories with her father are. Nora doesn't want to lose all of this by telling her mother what is going on with her, even if most of the time she feels like what is going on with her is simply her being psychotic. I guess we've all been there a time or two as teenagers, hell, maybe as young adults or adults as well.
But the cream de la cream of annoying fictional characters is Vee, the best friend. Dumb as a box of rocks this one is. She's written brilliantly, don't get me wrong. Becca writes a good character for you to smack your forehead to for every bonehead thing this girl does or says. She's constantly not "thinking" she's just a "do'er". Vee falls for the bad guy in the story of course, and I don't mean Patch, but a true blue bad guy and aims to suck Nora in with her even when Nora has figured out there is something not right about these two guys they have been hanging out with.
The story ends awesomely and I won't throw out any spoilers till my review of Crescendo which should be up by end of the weekend. I'm off to start reading the next installment now!
Crossed by Ally Condie
Last weekend I finished Crossed, the sequel to Matched written by Ally Condie. I will say that I am deeply impressed by my interest in dystopian societies. If you've read my review of Matched you know that we left off with Cassia and her family being moved from Oria, a province in the Society to a new province and Cassia is sent to work at some camps for a little manual labor. While doing this she is trying to plan her escape to try to find the love of her life, Ky.
**Spoilers**
Cassia escapes and finds Ky in what they call the "carving" which I imagine to look a lot like some red rocky mountains you'd find in Arizona or New Mexico. They come together again, free for the first time to be with one another and Cassia becomes consumed with trying to find the Rising. Ky for reasons we learn later doesn't want anything to do with the Rising and vows to let her go do what she wants and leave her if she is determined to find them and join up agains the Society, but that he wants no part of it.
It's a wonderful book, you have to adjust to reading this second novel by reading every chapter from Cassia or Ky's perspectives. It does take some getting used to but it picks up quick and is action packed. Full of young love and wonder about what life could be like if they took down the Society. All in all a great book and a wonderful second addition in this series. I can't wait to see how she keeps this series going in Book 3 due out sometime later this year, hopefully!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Well Happy New Year again everyone. For the first book of the year I started with Clockwork Prince the much anticipated second novel in the Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare. It has to be said that Cassie Clare is one of my favorite YA authors and has a brilliant writing style and amazing stories to wrap you up in. I'm a huge fan of The Mortal Instruments Series also by Clare. That being said ... if you haven't read Clockwork Angel, the first book in this series, you should go pick it up immediately and read it then come back to my blog after having read Clockwork Prince as well.
This novel was brilliant and hooked me from the beginning. I never wanted to put it down but again that whole being a mom to a 20 month old and going on Christmas holiday to Texas did not help in the reading process. So reading got put off until we got back and it took me 3 days to devour. I love the Shadowhunter world that Cassie has created for us all to live in and reading about it set 150 years before The Mortal Instruments and being set in London is refreshing. Clockwork Prince picks right up where Angel left off. The Shadowhunters of the London Institute are trying to find Mortmain, the evil man behind the mechanical automaton creatures who in the last book attacked Tessa and Jem at the park and all the way back to the Institute. They were deceived by Tessa's brother Nate who is now in cahoots with Mortmain but for a reason we don't find out till middle of this book. In the midst of the Shadowhunters having to find any information they can on Mortmain, they have to do so in 14 days to try and save their claim to the Institute before evil Benadict Lightwood, another Shadowhunter full of smug propriety and hatred, takes over.
We follow the adventures of our favorite characters, Jem, Will and Tessa as they try to uncover what is going on with Mortmain, where he is and what connection he could possibly have with Mortmain and his automatons. While searching for clues we learn finally of Jem's affections toward Tessa, he makes them known and catches her off guard. She is still clearly hung up on Will and all his mysteriousness. Meanwhile, Will is caught in both the war against Mortmain and a war to try to have a curse against himself reversed so that those who love and care for him will not die if they get too close. We learn he cares to do this so that he can finally profess his love of Tessa to her directly and so he can once and for all be happy.
*SPOILERS*
Unfortunately while he is off searching for the keys to his past Tessa herself is falling in love with Jem and they grow close. Close enough to warrant a proposal from Jem without Will's knowledge and she accepts. When Will finally professes his love to Tessa she breaks his heart into a million pieces with the news of her engagement and I sense she is sort of regretting getting engaged but I have to say I am Team Jem on this one. I do love Will don't get me wrong but I'd like to see Jem happy even if Clare decides in Book 3 to end Jems life (due to his ailing illness from a long time opium addiction). Clare tortures her readers and her characters but a little happy ending at least with a wedding would be nice for Jem and Tessa even if by the end of the book he succumbs to his illness. I guess we'll just have to wait with bated breath for Clockwork Princess scheduled for November 1, 2012 release.
I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I do and this series. And again if you've not read The Mortal Instruments, pick it up today! It'll be the best decision you've made literarily in a while!
This novel was brilliant and hooked me from the beginning. I never wanted to put it down but again that whole being a mom to a 20 month old and going on Christmas holiday to Texas did not help in the reading process. So reading got put off until we got back and it took me 3 days to devour. I love the Shadowhunter world that Cassie has created for us all to live in and reading about it set 150 years before The Mortal Instruments and being set in London is refreshing. Clockwork Prince picks right up where Angel left off. The Shadowhunters of the London Institute are trying to find Mortmain, the evil man behind the mechanical automaton creatures who in the last book attacked Tessa and Jem at the park and all the way back to the Institute. They were deceived by Tessa's brother Nate who is now in cahoots with Mortmain but for a reason we don't find out till middle of this book. In the midst of the Shadowhunters having to find any information they can on Mortmain, they have to do so in 14 days to try and save their claim to the Institute before evil Benadict Lightwood, another Shadowhunter full of smug propriety and hatred, takes over.
We follow the adventures of our favorite characters, Jem, Will and Tessa as they try to uncover what is going on with Mortmain, where he is and what connection he could possibly have with Mortmain and his automatons. While searching for clues we learn finally of Jem's affections toward Tessa, he makes them known and catches her off guard. She is still clearly hung up on Will and all his mysteriousness. Meanwhile, Will is caught in both the war against Mortmain and a war to try to have a curse against himself reversed so that those who love and care for him will not die if they get too close. We learn he cares to do this so that he can finally profess his love of Tessa to her directly and so he can once and for all be happy.
*SPOILERS*
Unfortunately while he is off searching for the keys to his past Tessa herself is falling in love with Jem and they grow close. Close enough to warrant a proposal from Jem without Will's knowledge and she accepts. When Will finally professes his love to Tessa she breaks his heart into a million pieces with the news of her engagement and I sense she is sort of regretting getting engaged but I have to say I am Team Jem on this one. I do love Will don't get me wrong but I'd like to see Jem happy even if Clare decides in Book 3 to end Jems life (due to his ailing illness from a long time opium addiction). Clare tortures her readers and her characters but a little happy ending at least with a wedding would be nice for Jem and Tessa even if by the end of the book he succumbs to his illness. I guess we'll just have to wait with bated breath for Clockwork Princess scheduled for November 1, 2012 release.
I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I do and this series. And again if you've not read The Mortal Instruments, pick it up today! It'll be the best decision you've made literarily in a while!
Matched by Ally Condie
Well it's a new year and before it ended I read Matched by Ally Condie. Being a huge fan of The Hunger Games I am intrigued by other dystopian society type novels. This one in particular caught my attention by the interesting cover art, a girl sitting in a bubble, looking for a way out. Much like The Hunger Games there is what is called the "Society" much like you'd think of The Capital. This Society is several generations in the future from us now where the Officials have decided that we had too much excess in our lives. Too much access to technology, too many songs, books, paintings, etc ... We were desensitized so they scaled everything back. A committee was put together long ago to choose the Top 100 of everything basically. There are now only 100 Songs, Poems, Paintings, etc ... in the world that people know and learn about. Everything that was not chosen by this selection committee is now taboo and considered contraband. Nobody seems to question anything the Society tells them to do. They just live there lives and go with it. Everyone has adequate housing, they are given food specifically to cater to their individually monitored diet plans and are even scheduled to die by their 80th Birthday because 80 is a nice round number and you have lived a long and full life by 80 presumably.
Our story follows Cassia Reyes and her friends and family. The story is called Matched because before your 18th birthday, each citizen is given the option to choose whether they want to be a "Single" or a "Couple". If you choose to be a couple then you are put into the selection pool to be matched with the person in the Society who is your optimal match for producing offspring. Most people get matched to a person they have never met and have a strangely arranged courtship based on pre-arranged port calls (meaning a screen much like a video call) or outings where you are babysat by an Official assigned to you to monitor your courtship. **Spoiler** Cassia is matched to her long time friend Xander who lives on her street which is a rare occasion. She also later finds out there was another person who was her potential match, his name is Ky. Of course Cassia was over the moon when she found out Xander was her match, what could be better than already knowing the person you're going to spend the rest of your life with right?! But finding out there could have been someone else you were paired with for all time who is "off limits" because he happens to be considered an "Aberration" through no fault of his own and is now not given the choice to be matched or single.
All in all this was a very entertaining read save for being a bit slow at times. I'll quote here one of my favorite authors, Cassie Clare on her review of Matched ...“This futuristic fable of love and free will asks: Can there be freedom without choice? The tale of Cassia’s journey from acceptance to rebellion will draw you in and leave you wanting more.”
–Cassandra Clare, New York Times bestselling author of The Infernal Devices andThe Mortal Instruments series
I am now reading the next book in the series Crossed which was released in August 2011. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!
Our story follows Cassia Reyes and her friends and family. The story is called Matched because before your 18th birthday, each citizen is given the option to choose whether they want to be a "Single" or a "Couple". If you choose to be a couple then you are put into the selection pool to be matched with the person in the Society who is your optimal match for producing offspring. Most people get matched to a person they have never met and have a strangely arranged courtship based on pre-arranged port calls (meaning a screen much like a video call) or outings where you are babysat by an Official assigned to you to monitor your courtship. **Spoiler** Cassia is matched to her long time friend Xander who lives on her street which is a rare occasion. She also later finds out there was another person who was her potential match, his name is Ky. Of course Cassia was over the moon when she found out Xander was her match, what could be better than already knowing the person you're going to spend the rest of your life with right?! But finding out there could have been someone else you were paired with for all time who is "off limits" because he happens to be considered an "Aberration" through no fault of his own and is now not given the choice to be matched or single.
All in all this was a very entertaining read save for being a bit slow at times. I'll quote here one of my favorite authors, Cassie Clare on her review of Matched ...“This futuristic fable of love and free will asks: Can there be freedom without choice? The tale of Cassia’s journey from acceptance to rebellion will draw you in and leave you wanting more.”
–Cassandra Clare, New York Times bestselling author of The Infernal Devices andThe Mortal Instruments series
I am now reading the next book in the series Crossed which was released in August 2011. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!
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