Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings #1)- Jackson Pearce

Sister Red Cover

Title: Sisters Red
Author: Jackson Pearce
Release Date: June 2010
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance(?)
Rating: 6.5 stars















Goodreads Description

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

I was really excited for that book. I love fairytales and fairytale retellings as well. And I really liked the book, but it couldn't really bring me to love it.

It tells the story from the sisters Scarlett and Rosie whose Grandmother was killed by a Fenris. It's told from both their POVs in the present. The story is really interesting and the fighting scenes are really action packed and also let me hold my breath sometimes.
I really liked the writing as well. Jackson Pearce has an easy writing style that makes it easy to continue reading.

My main problem was actually that I didn't couldn't identify with the characters AT ALL. I just didn't feel it and it took away a lot of what this book could've been to me. The same with the love story, I just didn't care about it.
Also, some of the secrets were so painfully obvious and they didn't see it that I wanted to go and slap the characters sometimes.

All in all Sisters Red is a entertaining read with good fighting scenes and an okay love story which I probably won't remember for that long.

New Rating System!

I'M BACK!
I know that nobody noticed that I was gone, but I AM back and since I didn't finish Sisters Red on my short holiday (Shame on me) I can't post the review here. BUT I wanted to make a short post about my new rating system, which won't be very special but still.

Basically I will just give 10 stars in the future instead of the 5 stars because you can different more.


THAT WAS IT ALREADY

I'm hopefully back with a review soon.

Poison Study (Study #1)- Maria V. Snyder

And another post today! I'm sure all my imaginary followers are very happy now.

Poison Study Cover

Title: Poison Study (Study #1)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Release Date: March 2004
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Rating: 4.5 Stars (I'm going to change my rating system really soon but for now it's still what I rated on Goodreads)













Goodreads Description

Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison...
About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.
And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.
As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear...

I read that book together with a friend and after a couple of chapters we always discussed it. And it was such a great book!

Yelena is our protagonist in this book and the story is told from her first person POV. The story plays in a area where we have Sitia, where magic is accepted and Ixia, which is ruled by a Commander who overthrew the king a couple years ago and who banned magic from Ixia. The story itself sounded from the beginning really great to me.

I love Yelena, she is so smart and she has a really strong mind. Another really important character is Valek, the chief of security who is a close friend to the commander. The two of them have to work close together and he really grows on you during the story.

The characters were really believable build. They weren't black or white and I absolutely loved that. There was a part where I was just suspecting about everyone and it was really fun talking about it with my friend.

But sometimes I just wanted to slap her because some of the things that were going on seemed pretty obvious to me and even though they suspected it NOBODY DID SOMETHING and it was so frustrating that I couldn't just reach into the book and be like "Okay guys, I'm here, I'm handling everything."

The magic became (and probably will even more in the following books) more and more important during the book and it didn't seem rushed or irreal or anything and I just really loved this as well.

Okay, what can I say. I really loved this book. There were some scenes that were written (and the action was really intense) so great that I just had to stop for a moment because I couldn't continue for a moment because in that moment I really felt it.

It was an awesome book, go read it.

Book Haul #1

So, well.. Since I'm going away for easter (five days) I won't be posting anything then and since I got two books today I thought I could make a book haul!! (I'm so excited omg)

Sisters Red Cover

Sisters Red-Jackson Pearce
Goodreads Description

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

I wanted to read this book since what feels like forever and FINALLY bought it myself. I am a big fairytale fan and I also love fairytale retellings (The Lunar Chronicles being an example). So this sounds rather dark perfect to me! From what I've heard it's rather dark, and yeah I hope I like it.
And let me just say that I love that cover. IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL!

Rebel Belle Cover

Rebel Belle- Rachel Hawkins
Goodreads Description

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.
Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.
With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

I have to admit, when I first heard that the title I didn't want to read it. BUT it's the Bookplosion read-a-long for the month and I really enjoyed Hex Hall and it does sound interesting. So a lot pros for it.

Rebel Spring (Falling Kingdoms #2)- Morgan Rhodes

This is the second book of the series so there will be Spoilers for the first one!!

Rebel Spring Cover

Title: Rebel Spring
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Release Date: December 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 3.5 Stars








Goodreads Description

Love, power, and magic collide with war in the second book of the Falling Kingdoms series
When the evil King Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, formally linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of events that will forever change the face of this land, forcing Cleo the dethroned princess, Magnus the reluctant heir, Lucia the haunted sorceress, and Jonas the desperate rebel to take steps they never could have imagined.

Auranos has fallen and the three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now united as one country called Mytica. But still, magic beckons, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the world...

I started this book in February and wasn't really in the mood for it, but then this month I picked it up again and made it till the end.
So, I really like Morgan Rhodes' writing style, the book is very easy to read and it never gets boring.
We pick up pretty much were the first book ended. Princess Cleo is a prisoner in the palace trying to figure out how the ring works her father gave her, while Magnus is still waiting for Lucia to wake up again and Jonas is gathering Rebels for King Gaius' downfall.

We meet, as you can see, our old protagonists again, as well as a couple of new faces. I personally didn't really started to care much about most of the new ones, but I have to say that I changed my mind about some of the old (Magnus). The story picks up quickly again and the changes in POV keep it very interesting.

We also learn a bit about the countries that are not Mytica but farther away across the sea somewhere and I really liked that part. I'm also pretty sure that this will become even more important in future books.

However, there are some things that really, really bothered me. I read somewhere that this series is Game of Thrones for teens and I just feel like the author tried very hard to let it seem that way. If a person dies that is kinda important I'm just always thinking that the author might have done this to let her series seem heart wrenching and somehow similar to Game of Thrones because mostly it just seemed unnecessary to me.
This is only my opinion and it is a good YA series so far but somehow this comparison bothers me.

There are also some developments I didn't like. For example a really, really cheesy kind of insta love, which may be important for the story, but should have been more realistic because I just thought it was ridiculous.
Also, sometimes I couldn't understand the actions of the characters and just wanted to slap the stupidity out of them.

In conclusion I have to say that this is a enjoyable read with a great writing style, but definitely not one of my favorites and I'm not sure if I will continue the series.

Currently Reading

I actually prefer reading one book at the time, but somehow this isn't working right now and since I'm new and everything I thought I should post what I'm currently reading

Rebel Spring Cover

Rebel Spring (Falling Kingdoms 2)- Morgan Rhodes
*SPOILERS IF YOU DIDN'T READ THE FIRST BOOK*

Goodreads Description
"Love, power, and magic collide with war in the second book of the Falling Kingdoms series

Auranos has fallen and the three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now united as one country called Mytica. But still, magic beckons, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the world...
When the evil King Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, formally linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of events that will forever change the face of this land, forcing Cleo the dethroned princess, Magnus the reluctant heir, Lucia the haunted sorceress, and Jonas the desperate rebel to take steps they never could have imagined."

 I'm halfway through it and so far I pretty like it. I'm pretty sure I will review it when I'm done, whenever that will be, because for some reason I'm very slowly with this one.

The Red Pyramid Cover

The Red Pyramid- Rick Riordan

Goodreads Description
"Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. 

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. 
Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs."

Well, I actually don't know if that counts, because I'm listening to the audiobook. I really like it, but so far the series with Percy Jackson are my favorites by Rick Riordan.

Poison Study Cover

Poison Study- Maria V. Snyder

Goodreads Description
  "Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison...

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.
And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.
As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear..."

I am reading Poison Study with a friend. I am at the very beginning and it seems just like the kind of series I love. I'm still wondering if Valek is too old to be a love interest...

A Dance with Dragons Cover

 A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire 5)- George R. R. Martin
*SPOILERS IF YOU DIDN'T READ BOOKS 1-4*

Goodreads Description
 "In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance — beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys. But his newest allies in this quest are not the rag-tag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys's claim to Westeros forever.
Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone — a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.
From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all."

Well what can I say. I love A Song of Ice and Fire as much as the tv show Game of Thrones. Season 4 just started and therefor I started with the fifth book. But I am so slowly with this series, so I'll probably not finish this until Season 4 is over again.


So, this are the four main books I'm reading right now and I actually like all of them, so that's great. You'll hear soon from me again (hopefully) :)

 

Hi

So hi Internet,
I thought I would post a review and then introduce myself. It was my first review so please don't judge me too hard if it's not so good, I will probably get better with time. :)


I always love to get recommendations for books (or tv shows for that matter) so always feel free to recommend me stuff. :)

Panic- Lauren Oliver

Panic Cover

Title: Panic
Author: Lauren Oliver
Release Date: March 2014
Genre: Contemporary YA
Rating: 3.5 Stars
On the back:
"What will you do if you win?"
Heather shook her head.
She wanted to say:
Run until I burst.
Build miles and miles and miles between me and Carp. Leave the old Heather behind;
Burn her to dust.
Instead, she shrugged.
"Go somewhere, I guess. Sixty-seven grand buys a lot of gas."

Goodreads Description

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most

My opinion 

 I actually read it because a couple of my favorite book tubers made a Panic-Read-Along this month and I thought why not. I also didn't read a stand-alone in a while, so that was perfectly timed too and I am a big fan of Lauren Olivers Delirium Trilogy (well, most of it).

I loved the way the story was told. It was third person point of view in turn of Heather and Dodge and sometimes there were passages in which a noninvolved narrator would describe things that happened in Carp. This passages were probably my favorites.

I really liked the challenges of which the game Panic consisted, even though they were extremely dangerous and I'd consider everybody to participate in something so deadly crazy. These moments let me hold my breath and were really compelling and made the book totally worth reading.

I had problems with the characters. There were quite a lot of them in Panic, mostly unimportant ones, but at the beginning I got pretty confused with all the names. There were some characters I really liked, like Heather's best friend Bishop and the nice old lady Anne, but others, like Heather's other best friend Nat, or Dodge, I couldn't stand at all.

But there was a problem I had with all the characters. Their stories were pretty flat and therefor I couldn't really bring myself to care about most of them. Sometimes I also couldn't understand the motives behind their actions which made them seem a bit implausible

I also feel like a couple of the questions that came up while reading the book weren't answered or that story lines started but were never wrapped up.

The end in general seemed rushed and I would have liked to know what happened in the time between the last chapter and the epilogue.

Conclusion

While Panic was a light read for me with flat characters which I will probably forget pretty fast again, the challenges were awesome and it was really entertaining to read it.