Review: Need

Need

Carrie Jones
Published by: Bloomsbury
Released: December 23, 2008
 





Description from Goodreads:

Pain shoots through my head. Fireworks. Explosions. All inside my brain. The white world goes dark and I know what's about to happen.

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you'd have to fear.

I am still a little undecided on this book. I'm stuck between finding it odd and loving it. So this review is going to be shorter than my usual ones because I'm not entirely sure how I really feel about it. It kept me wanting more, but it also drove me absolutely crazy (More than usual). I just don't know. There is definite mixed feelings.

Let's start out with the cons I guess:

The beginning is really weird. Like really really weird. Not your typical YA Paranormal weird. Legit weird. (I am totally going overboard on the "weird") I kept wondering what I was getting myself into. But I stuck it out and was plesantly surprised. You just need to get over the first four chapters.

Werewolves/Shifters and Pixies are not enemies. I had a hard time beliving that these guys are natural enemies. Every time I think of Pixies, my mind goes to Pixie Hollow with Tinkerbell and her pixie pals. I always thought of werewolves and vampires as enemies. So it was difficult to believe that these guys hate each other. Don't get me wrong, I like how it was different from most other YA Paranormal book out there. It was just something that bugged me a lot.

Now time for the pros:

I learned about a lot of phobias. Who knew there was so many phobias in the world? My personal favorite is Phobophobia: the fear of phobias :) I feel like that deserves a big DUN DUN DDDUUUNNN!! haha.

I liked how instead of a boring Chapter One, you got a phobia instead. The phobia dealt with what was going to happen in the chapter. I like how they foreshadowed what you were about to read. That is really different from all the other books I have read recently. A+ for creative chapter titles.

I like the characters. Finally, a narrator that didn't drive me crazy! Zara is probably the first character that I did not want to strangle in a very long time. Kuddos to you Carrie Jones. I did not want to strangle the girl. I did want to strangle Nick though. There was one point towards the end where I kept thinking, "Wow. You are really stupid. Come here so I can strangle your beefy neck." He turns around though (Thank the fictional Gods above).

These books kept my interest. So do I recomend going out a buying it? Maybe. I would check out the local library first to see. I'm just borrowing them from a friend, but I know these are ones that I would be happy just reading once and maybe again once in a blue moon. They are a pretty good read and maybe you will like them more than I do. Not all books are for everyone.

Review by Calypso

Casting News: VALENTINE

So this is what happens when I do normal stuff, like sleep. Valentine is cast. *Sigh* Why do I need to sleep?

Can we just all agree that this guy is perfect? The casting on this movie just blows my mind because it is really AMAZING.

Jonathan Rhys Meyer will be playing my favorite evil villian/daddy. Why did Valentine have to die in the end? I have a feeling if and when CITY OF GLASS is made into a movie, I will surely cry, especially if this guy is Valentine.  There's something to look forward to.

Does anybody else find that his name downright hilarious? I mean, the actor playing Valentine is named Jonathan. Hehe. I'm thinking of Jace and Sebastian here!

For full cast, check out the official movie website:
http://www.themortalinstrumentsmovie.com/

Now we just need Alaric and Raphael :)

~Caly

Review: Hourglass

Hourglass

Myra McEntire
Published by: Egmont USA
Released: June 14, 2011

Description from Goodreads:

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may also change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

This is the first story I have read the revolved around time travel. I know, shoot me. Why didn't I get into time traveling books earlier? I actually love them. The only other closest thing to time travel that I like is Doctor Who. That's about it. Never read anything on time travel before. Unless you count Hermione and her time turner.

I love Emerson's name. It's so unique. I just finished reading Pushing the Limits beforehand and Echo's last name was Emerson. So it was like a little connection between the two very different books. It's just such a cool name. Same with Em's sister-in-law, Dru's, name. I love them!

Okay. I really don't have any complaints about this book. I basically read it cover to cover. It's very rare for me to find a story that completely sucks me in so that it's the only thing on my mind. This one was definitely one of those rare finds. I was thinking it would just be one of those other books where I would like the over all story, but contain so many stupid errors that it would annoy the crap out of me. Nope. No complaints at all. I salute you Myra McEntire. Good job. I really want the rest of these books now. Why did I never buy the second one when I was at Barnes and Noble on Friday? Seriously kicking myself in the butt now.

What I did like about the book:

Emerson's relationship with her brother, Thomas, and his wife, Dru. They had a really good relationship with each other. It's sweet, loving. You would think Dru would be pissy dealing with Thomas's possibly crazy younger sister. She actually treats Em like a daughter. I love that. Thomas cares so much for Em, making sure she gets the best of the best for her crazy visions. He constantly worries about her. He's like the perfect older brother.

Michael. He's a gentleman, a follower of the rules (Well...kind of), caring. I can finally say that I have read about a fictional guy who isn't sarcastic. Well...There is Jem. But that is probably it. Okay, I'll bite. Vincent too. I need to stop thinking of more guys. Don't look at the bookshelf, Caly. REFUSE TO LOOK AT THE BOOKSHELF. Okay. Back on topic. I like Michael. He is different from your typical fictional love interest and it was nice to get a break from it.

There was a big twist involving a character that I never saw. Wow. It is really hard to surprise me because I have read it all, seen it all. This one threw me a curveball that had me screaming "OMG! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!" and a bunch of people staring at me at the lake. Oops. I really should read in the privacy in my home. I seriously thought that this one character was a good person. Nope. Not at all. I feel sad now because I really liked that character. I blame the fictional gods above. They can never let me like a character.

I was crying at one part. Then I remembered: They can time travel, duh. Must be handy to go back in time to prevent death. Who cares about the consequences? I certainly don't as long as you bring that darn character back from the dead. I admit, I skimmed ahead to make sure they came back. THEY DID! Yay!

So I highly recomend this book if you are a fan of time travel. Then again, it is the only book I have read on time travel...But you should still read it. It's rare for a book to not piss the living crap out of me. This is one of them. So that upon itself should be a reason to buy/read the book. You will not regret it. That and it has some really cool names. I just love the name Emerson right now. Okay. Going all weirdo right now. Just buy the book!

Review by Calypso



Review: Pushing the Limits

Pushing the Limits

Katie McGarry
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Released: July 31, 2012

Description from Goodreads:

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Let me just start by saying, Wow. This book was amazing? Wonderful? I need to go find a thesaurus for more adjectives. Awe-inspiring. Remarkable. Magnificent. Stupendous. Need I list more? For being a debut author, Katie McGarry hit the ball into the ballpark. This story is beautifully crafted, never leaving me bored, always wanting more. You feel as though you are going through the ups and downs in Noah and Echo's life right alongside them.

The names are so unique and quirky. I love Echo's name connection to Greek Mythology. I am a HUGE fan of Greek Myths and any mention of Greek Mythology immediately catches my attention. Even the other characters have names that are coming up in popularity but don't sound fresh out of the 1800's.

Now let's just focus on the characters. Noah and Echo are like two broken, scarred souls. It's official. These two are probably the top fictional characters that I really feel so sorry for. Echo struggles to keep her sanity while Noah tries to keep his family together. Echo has to deal with her over bearing father who pushes her to do things he has planned for her and her new step-mom-who-was-once-her-old-babysiter-but-is-self centered-and-pregnant. Yikes. Noah is trying to come to terms for his parents' death and pray that his younger brothers grow up safe and sound.

I would tear up everytime I read about Noah and his brothers. His loyalty to his brothers is outstanding and he would do anything to protect them, without worrying about the concequences. He is the same with Echo. He loves her and will do anything to get her to smile. He is probably one of the only characters who look past Echo's haunting scars and sees the terrified girl underneath them. Other people recoil at the scars that wind up her arms, Noah just sees her and treats them as beautiful. That guy is so sweet. I just immediately fell in love with him.

I can totally relate to Echo. She's insecure about her scars, worries about the gossip that circulates around the school about her. She wants to go and relive the past so she can change it until she sees fit. I get that. If the same thing happened to me, I know I would probably try to do the same thing. I know I would most likely cover the scars. I know I would go and hide behind my books instead of delving back into my normal life.

That brings me to the concept of "Normal." Echo's friends are really sucky if they think that bringing her back to her life beforehand would solve everything. They only really care about their social status and Echo's. They think popularity is the center of the universe. Having Echo date her creepy ex from before? Yup, that will get the rumors to stop. Having Echo sit back at their lunch table? Sure, people would come up to her again.

Lila is probably the only one of Echo's so called friends who actually truly cares about her. She is the friend that you definitely want by your side. I don't think Natalie should count. She only goes along with it because Lila forces her to. Just forget about Grace. She could only be friends with Echo as long as Echo followed her ground rules. Honey, that isn't a friend. That's a snobby witch. Her ex, Luke, says that he loves her, but as soon as he saw her scars, he became immediately disgusted. What a group of friends Echo has right there.   

Even though they semi redeem themselves in the end, I still cannot stand Echo's father and Ashley (Step-mom). They were some of the people who kept Echo in the dark. Ashley is too stuck on herself. Her father is just trying to rob Echo of her personality. I tried really hard to understand their actions, but just gave up. I really don't care for them at all. Natta.

The best part of the book? It was a happy ending! About 3/4 of the way through, I started having these nagging thoughts that the book was not going to be a very sastifying ending. I was almost scared to finish it. But I am so glad I did. BECAUSE IT IS JUST WONDERFUL! And so so so so happy and uplifting. I personally cheered for Echo and Noah. Katie McGarry, you are a goddess. Thank you for finally letting the characters have a happy ending. This is the first book in a while that I have read that actually ends happy. THANK YOU. I salute you. You are amazing. I will read anything you write.

So yeah. In my opinion, this book definitely deserves the five stars. You care so much for Echo and Noah and you want them to have a happily ever after. And you get it. Their love story just makes you want to cry because you just feel so darn proud of them for conquering everything that their dark pasts forced upon them. If you were even considering buying this book, drop the other one in your hand right now. Buy this one. It is something that you would never regret. I'm already reading it a second time. I love it that much. It's inspiring and something different from a lot of the other books that I have read so far this year. I'm begging you, READ THIS BOOK. Please.

Review by Caly





Casting News: Brother Jeremiah

So Brother Jeremiah has been cast! Now we are only waiting for Alaric, Valentine, and Raphael. Ugh! Why can't this movie come out so much sooner? Or that I own the Tardis? I must see this movie NOW!

Official Website that has updated cast for movie:

http://www.themortalinstrumentsmovie.com/

Stephen R. Hart as Brother Jeremiah

Frankly, The Silent Brothers creep the living crap out of me! The only one I can handle is probably Brother Zachariah, but that's only because Magnus and I have a theory on him that makes him less creepy than the others. I cannot wait to see how they are portrayed in the movie. This movie is going to be AMAZING!

 

Casting New: ALEC!!

Alec has finally been cast! And I am flipping out right now if you couldn't tell...

So Kevin Zegers is going to be playing my blue eyed baby. And he looks AMAZING! Apparently, the first Alec's scheduling couldn't be fixed...So he was next in line. He is just *sniffle* perfect!

And the official movie website is up!

http://www.themortalinstrumentsmovie.com/

AAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!! The wait is killing me!!



Review: Silence

Silence

Becca Fitzpatrick
Published by: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Released: October 4, 2011

Magnus' Review of Hush, Hush:

http://www.yeahwelikemaplesyrupandbooks.blogspot.com/2012/06/review.html

My review of Hush, Hush:

http://www.yeahwelikemaplesyrupandbooks.blogspot.com/2012/07/review-hush-hush-calys-thoughts.html

My review of Crescendo:

http://www.yeahwelikemaplesyrupandbooks.blogspot.com/2012/07/review-crescendo.html

Description from Goodreads:



WHEN SILENCE IS ALL THAT'S LEFT, CAN THE TRUTH FINALLY BE HEARD?

Nora Grey can't remember the past five month of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks - with no one knowing where she was or who she was with - she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom's creepy new boyfriend.

But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.

And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.

Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.

I read this book in one day. Surprising really, because I was busy all day with our school's China visit. I just breezed right through it, not able to put it down. Even though it drove me absoultely crazy (Just ask my lil' sis-that-really-isn't-my-sis Jonnadore. Long story on nickname...I drove her crazy just talking about the book) it is probably one of my favorite stories that I have read so far this year. It was actually published last October and I am really kicking myself for waiting so long to actually read these. Last year, I remember picking this up and thinking: "Nope. Angels are not my thing." Now I feel really idiotic and stupid. Why didn't I read these sooner!?!?

There was one thing that annoyed the crap out of me. Nora lost her memories of everything that had occurred since the beginning of the books. Fallen Angels? Nope. Nephilim? Gone. Patch? WWWHHHYYY?? HOW CAN YOU FORGET PATCH?? I guess that's what bugged me the most...If you couldn't tell. It was a major case of dramatic irony. We know what happened. We know that those guys are bad. We know that Jev is actually Patch's real name (That's why it suddenly appears in Crescendo. The light bulb has gone off!). It just annoyed me because Nora did not know anything. I don't know how many times I mentally screamed at her and then actually screamed when I was in the safety of my private home.

Otherwise, the book was just amazing. It was one of those books where you just have to keep on reading until you reach the acknowledgements. When you are not reading it, you are thinking about it, wondering what the heck is going to happen in further pages. I was never bored with it, annoyed yes, but never bored. It flowed really nice and always kept me guessing despite the fact that Nora had amnesia.

Three books in and I still cannot connect to Nora. She does so many stupid things, it just pisses me off so much. I'm basically just reading this book because of Patch and Vee. I was surprised that even those two bugged me. Patch kept wanting to keep Nora in the dark, going by his actual name Jev for half the book. Vee lied about Patch and never bother to bring Nora fully up to speed, only telling her what she wanted to. If I went through something like Nora did, I would want my best friend to tell me the truth and all of it. I was glad when Nora got pissed off at them and yelled at them. They really deserved it. I just wish Nora wouldn't do stupid things. If Patch says to stay inside, she should really stay inside and not leave. Bad things would happen! But then again, what YA fictional character these days doesn't follow orders and does their own thing? I guess I should probably lay off her.

Now I just have to wait until October 23 for Finale (The last one. Creative name!) I really need to own my own copies of these books. I love them so much. If you like Angels, A plot that has some twists and turns, or are a fan of amnesia...Haha. Just kidding. Read these! Hush, Hush is the first. Crescendo, second. Silence, third. And lastly Finale in October. READ THESE!! They are perfect and amazing!

Review by Caly