Old Birdcages vs. New Birdcages

    Hey, you remember those pretty birdcages at the bottom of each review, right? Yeah, well, they've just been changed.  No, we haven't been taken over by aliens, it's just that as it stands I’ve gotten tired already of our old ratings.  Sure, the birdcages were elegant and relatively nice, but they’re a bit plain—so I decided to revamp them.  Of course, sticking with the whole silhouette theme for Our Thoughts Precisely, I needed to find something that would look good, as, well, a silhouette. I eventually came up with a tree, which the birdcages could hang from.  Low-and-behold, here is our rating system's new look:

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, I think they look pretty neat.  In other news, our Giveaway Policy page has finally been finished, and our Review Policy page has been updated. So, what do you think—old or new?



Review: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban

Title: The Tragedy Paper (Click on the link for the synopsis)
Author: Elizabeth Laban
Publisher/Publication Date: Knopf Books for Young Readers, January 8, 2013
Source/Format:  Library, Hardback
Age Range:  YA

 

“SOMETIMES IT’S HARD—IMPOSSIBLE, EVEN—TO KNOW HOW MUCH MAGNITUDE A CHOICE HOLDS UNTIL IT IS ALL OVER” (Laban, 246)
My Thoughts:

       The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban is a moving and thought-provoking YA novel. It captures many of the issues associated with coming of age such as relationships, self-esteem, choices, and underage drinking/prescription drug use.

       The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Tim, an alumnus, and Duncan, a senior in high school.  As a gift to Duncan, Tim left him CDs detailing his senior experience. Both characters were well-developed and dealt with self-esteem issues.  I was moved by this story because Tim’s revelations about his senior year at the Irving Boarding School facilitated Duncan’s introspection and personal growth.

       I recommend The Tragedy Paper, because it’s a YA novel with a unique storyline that has shifted away from the current trend.

I absolutely loved it.  I would recommend it to everyone.

 

 Author Website  Goodreads  Amazon Barnes & Noble

Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

Title:Poison (Click on title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Hardcover
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Disney Hyperion, March 12, 2013



My thoughts:


     Poison by Bridget Zinn was honestly a lovely story about potions, a piglet, and what one would be willing to do to save their kingdom.  It was captivating, well written, and full of characters that were likable.  Zinn crafted a story with mystery, intrigue, as well as an adorable piglet.  I really liked Poison as a whole.  It was the kind of book that had a good flow to it—one that I would read a second time, and recommend to others.

     Kyra, a potion’s master, was a good main character with a strong will.  Despite her strong bonds with her friends, she was determined to do what was right—even if it meant going on the run for committing a crime.  I liked seeing her develop as a character.  Hal, well, I really hated him.  Honestly, I’m glad Kyra found out what she did about him before things could escalate between them.  Fred was a good addition to the plot; he was funny, carefree, and likable.  Poison also had a really good cast of supporting characters.

      I liked the story.  At first I didn’t really get some of the details, but when everything was revealed at the end, I understood.  I liked the fact that everything in Poison had to do with the plot, and there weren’t any miscellaneous details floating around just because.  Overall, Poison was quick enjoyable read, and my only wish is there were would have been a sequel.

I really like it.  I would recommend it.

Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Title: Pivot Point (Click link for synopsis)

Author: Kasie West

Age Range: YA

Source/Format: Borrowed From Library, Hardback
Publisher/Publication Date Harper Teen/ February 12, 2013

My Thoughts:  

       As we go through life, we all have to make decisions in which we have to contemplate which choice will have the better outcome. Now just imagine if you had the power of divergence that allows you to have insight regarding the outcome of each choice. Would you make the decision that was most beneficial to you personally or those around you? In Pivot Point by Kasie West, Addison Coleman (Addie), who has the power of divergence, is faced with a major life decision. She must decide whether she wants to remain in the paranormal community with her mother or relocate to a norm community with her father after her parents get a divorce. So she uses her power to examine what each path has to offer. 

       The plot was well developed as West presents Addie’s life in a paranormal versus normal society.  The twists in the plot never ceased and at times I was unsure of what decision Addie should make. Addie had a love interest in each society. First, there was Trevor who was such an amiable character that I wanted to be on Team Norm. Then there was Duke who seemed a little self-centered, but could be just as charming, so I also wanted to root for Team Paranormal. It was hard to decide because I just couldn’t get the following statement by Mrs. Stockbridge, Addie’s teacher, out of my mind: “Sometimes perfection reveals the lie, Addie, not the truth” (57). Addie’s love interests in both societies had imperfections and there were well developed conflicts in both. Considering that some of the paranormal characters had the ability to persuade and affect emotions, it was hard to decipher who Addie could trust. Her friends Laila and Duke appeared to be self-centered; whereas, Trevor simply seemed to be hiding something.  As such, the complexity of the problems presented left me contemplating Addie’s best course of action. Just when I thought that I knew how the story would end, there was a slight twist that left me pleasantly surprised. 

I really liked it. I would recommend it.

 

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Title: Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers September 27, 2011



My Thoughts:

     Wow, I think this book goes beyond the meaning of fantastic.  I admit that I was hesitant on reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone, because the last book I read that had a lot of hype about it fell kind of flat for me.  But I got the book, and I loved it.  Taylor presented a book that was about angels and demons, but the way she did it just set Daughter of Smoke and Bone apart from all the others.

   We are introduced to Karou, a girl with blue hair, and a sketchbook full of monsters.  What no one knows is that the creatures in her sketchbooks are all too real.  Brimstone by far was one of my most favorite secondary characters, along with Zuzana.  Brimstone was a real mystery from the start, and it isn’t until later in the book that we find out what he really did.  Akiva was also mysterious, from the moment he first appeared; you got the feel that he was tortured and conflicted by something that happened in his past.

   The concept of the story showed how awesome Taylor is when it comes to making up plots, and twists.  I also found the usage of bones and teeth and the meaning that they held fascinating.  I really liked this book and I can’t wait to read Days of Blood and Starlight.

I absolutely loved it. I would recommend it to everyone.

Movie Review: Advanced Screening of Oblivion

Picture from OblivionMovie.com

 

Title: Oblivion by Joseph Kosinski
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Producer's: Joseph Kosinski, Peter Chernin, Ryan Kavanaugh, Dylan Clark, Barry Levine
Screenplay: Joseph Kosinski, William Monahan, Karl Gajdusek, Michael Arndt
Music: M83
Release Date: April 19, 2013
Age Range: PG-13
Content: Sci-Fi action, brief strong language, and some sensuality/nudity
For more information about the movie, visit the official site Here

Our Thoughts:

     Let me start out by saying that Oblivion was awesome!  Last night we went to an early screening of Oblivion, and I have to say that I really like this movie.  Before it actually started, fun facts about the movie rolled across the screen.  Like how Tom Cruise did all of his stunts, and that he has a motorcycle and pilot license.  As well as the fact that they filmed part of the movie at the Empire State Building.  How cool that must have been for the people visiting at the time of filming.  Also before the movie we found out that it was filmed with a brand new camera that was basically right off the production line, “the Sony CineAlta f65 Camera.”  How cool is that?  Oblivion is also the first time that Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman have worked together in a movie, and I have to say neither of their performance’s disappointed. 

     The world building was evident throughout the movie, and the shots were visually stunning to watch.  The plot follows Jack Harper, a Drone mechanic, as he lives his life flying around a desolated earth fixing broken Drones.  Soon, trouble arises, as his world begins to fall apart piece-by-piece.  Honestly, I was a little confused at first, but as the movie got further and further in, I began to understand the intricately woven mystery surrounding what really happened to earth.  It wasn’t until Jack realized it that I fully understood what was happening.  Oblivion is an action-packed post-apocalyptic joy ride, perfectly formatted for the IMAX screen.    

     And of course after the movie we got to see a live Q&A broadcasted from the New York premier of Oblivion.  The Q&A was priceless.  Some of Tom Cruise’s answers were hilarious, but I do have to agree with him.  The Bubble Ships were awesome, and it was interesting to know that some of the best car designers worked on the design for it.  The Q&A also revealed that very little of the movie was actually green screened.  The beautiful shots of the clouds were actual takes collected by positioning a camera above a volcano in Hawaii.  M83 did a wonderful job on the score for Oblivion, and it added the perfect touch to the film. 

      To say that this was only the second film directed by Kosinski, his creativity and world building were amazing.  I was so pleased with Oblivion, and I can only hope that Joseph Kosinski has a prequel or sequel in the works.  I am curious to see how the world got to the state that it was in.  I can only hope that the visuals of Kosinski’s future movies are just as captivating. This one is a must see.

Thank you to Universal Pictures for the Advanced Screening Passes!
Review written by Andrea & Breana M.

I absolutely loved it.  I would recommend it to everyone.

 

Other fun acts from the screen & off the screen:

Joseph Kosinski’s directorial movie debut was Tron: Legacy
Oblivion is the 37^th film Tom Cruise has acted in.
Oblivion is based off an unreleased Graphic novel by Joseph Kosinski & Arvid Nelson

Check out the trailer below:

ARC Review: Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace by Nan Marino

Title:  Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace (Click on title link for synopsis)
Author: Nan Marino
Source/Format:  Publisher/Bound ARC
Publisher/Publication Date: Roaring Brook Press/April 16, 2013
Age Range: 8-12

My Thoughts:

    I really liked Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace by Nan Marino. It was more than just a story about secrets and a famous young musician who was hiding out in a small town. Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace is a pleasant fictional middle grade story of Elvis, a musical prodigy, who wants to appear to be an ordinary boy as he hides "from the paparazzi," and Cecilia, an 11 year old girl, who wishes that she is more popular. There are stark differences between Elvis and Cecilia. One was musically inclined while the other was not. One was famous while the other was unpopular. Both characters just wanted to find a place to fit in and meet the expectations of others. Together they grew and found out a little more about themselves. I liked the fact that although Elvis and Cecilia were from different worlds, they seemed to be dealing with similar issues.  Also, it was nice to see how the characters evolved as they came to terms with who they really were.

     Overall, Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace is an easy read. The characters are enjoyable and realistic. I liked the story because there is a great lesson to be learned. At first, the significance of the separate chapters pertaining to the Jersey Devil legend was puzzling, but when the overall lesson to be learned was revealed, I understood exactly why the legend was included. This is a great book to share with your children as you teach them about the importance of being themselves and not falling victim to trying to become who or what others say they are.

I received a bound ARC of Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace by Nan Marino from the publisher for an unbiased review. Thank you.

 

I really liked it. I would recommend it.

 

 

My Thoughts: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me (Click title for Synopsis)

Source/Format: Won, Paperback

Age Range: YA

Publisher/Publication Date: HarperCollins, October 2, 2011

My Thoughts:

     Originally, I’d heard lots of good things about Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi around the web—good reviews, good comments on twitter, etc..  But when I finally got around to reading it, I was kind of disappointed.  It’s not that it was the most horrible book in the world, it’s just that there were some things it could have done without.  All the crossed out sentences, really, it made the book tough to read.  Sometimes there were three or more sentences crossed out on one page.  It was so often that it made my eyes hurt.  Also, I find it kind of odd that all of the detailed explanations/thoughts were the ones that got crossed out, only to be restated in a simplified—often one-word—explanation.  On top of that, I didn’t get the whole thing where the sentence would start on one line, and then there was one word after that—not even capitalized—and then four or more one-word lines later the sentence would finally end.  What?  So, it pains me to say it, but I did not finish this book. Will I be getting the second book in the series? No.

 

DNF (Did Not Finish)

MOVIE, BOOK, OR BOTH: Review of The Host by Stephanie Meyer (Novel) and Andrew Niccol (Screenplay)

Title: The Host (Movie, 2013)

Director:  Andrew Niccol

Writers: Stephanie Meyer (Novel) and Andrew Niccol (Screenplay)

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Attended an Open Roads Films Advance Screening of the Host
Rating/Review Originally Posted March 24, 2013 at The Host | gofobo

My Thoughts Regarding the Movie

I saw an advance screening of The Host. It was a good sci-fi/love story that focused on the power of love; although, it was slow paced. As a result of the inner conflict between Melanie and Wanderer, it was often humorous. There were some exciting and intense moments, but it didn’t have as much action as I expected. And I was a little disappointed in the portrayal of the resistance. I was also left with questions regarding how a “soul” took over the first host’s body and am now reading the book in hopes that it will clarify some of my unanswered questions.

For more information about the movie please click on the following link: The Host (2013) Official Website

Title: The Host: A Novel (Click on the link for the synopsis)
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Publisher/Publication Date: Little, Brown and Company, May 6, 2008
Source/Format:  Borrowed from Library, Hardback 

My Thoughts Regarding the Differences Between the Movie and Book

Okay, I finally read The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Now that I've read the book, I really like the story. I only wish that the movie was longer and provided the details found in the book. There were slight differences between the book and the movie. The book reveals how the first soul was implanted and I wish that the movie would have included this information. Also, I now get that the “souls” and the people were suffering from ignorance in the beginning. They did not understand each others’ worlds. The people of the resistance considered the aliens parasitic evil entities, and the aliens thought that the human race was evil.  As a remedy to the problems  on earth the aliens inhabited people’s bodies and attempted to create a sort of utopia.  But once the utopia was being created, I failed to understand what they, the aliens, had done differently. The aliens had biased viewpoints and chased people to their death to take over their bodies, because people weren’t deserving of the world they inhabited. But the real question I had was: Were their ways superior?

Most of the movie was similar to the book. However, the initial reservations I had about The Host (Movie) were a result of some of the adaptations. For instance, in the movie there was a scene in which members of the resistance were being pursued and they just seemed to give up without a fight. Yeah, at times the members of the resistance in the book appeared weak, but they didn’t act as hastily as they did in the movie. Meyer’s provided details regarding how Jared, one of Melanie’s/Wanderer’s love interests, knew that Melanie lived on in Wanderer’s head; whereas, the movies depiction of the same scene evoked laughter. Also the dialogue between Wanderer and Melanie seemed humorous in the movie; whereas some of their conflicts were serious in the book. And it was through these inner conflicts that Wanderer learned of Melanie’s love for her people and reconsidered her stance on the souls invasion of earth.

Now that I have read the book, I can say that I really liked The Host by Stephanie Meyer. If you're considering seeing the movie, I recommend reading the book at some point. Although there weren’t many changes in the movie adaptation, there were enough to influence my opinion of the overall storyline. Initially, the trailer had me expecting a lot of action, which left me slightly disappointed with the movie. However, after reading the book, I realized that this was the story of two worlds coming together against all odds. And it was Melanie’s and Wanderer’s love of their native lands that tested the fallacies held by the people and aliens of their worlds. It just makes one think….What would you do for the things and the people that you love?

I really like it.  I would recommend it.

 

Cover Reveal: Tremble by Jus Accardo



    Thank you to Entangled Publishing for letting us reveal the cover of Jus Accardo's Tremble, the third book in the Denazen series.   So, before you get to the awesome cover below, check out the synopsis for this book:

Synopsis

 

Dez Cross has problems. She’s almost eighteen and on the verge of losing her mind thanks to the drug the Denazen corporation used to enhance her abilities. People close to her have turned their backs on the underground and are now fighting for the wrong side. And then there’s Kale... Things couldn’t get any worse.

Until, of course, they do. Denazen is about to start a new trial—this one called Domination—and it works. But that means out with the old and in with the new. The order has been given to terminate all remnants of the second trial—including Dez. The good news is that there’s a survivor from the original trial. A woman whose blood may hold the cure for the second generation of Supremacy kids' defects. But the underground Sixes aren’t the only ones who know about her.

Dez's father is willing to throw away everything he has to keep Dez from getting the cure—including the one thing that might tear her apart from the inside out.

 

    

And now for the cover...

 

 

  

Scroll down you're almost there...

 

 

 

 

Keep going...

 

 

 

 

 

 

         Here it is the cover for Tremble!

 

                                                   

Nice, isn't it?  Yeah, I've got to say that I really do like this cover.  Paired with the awesome synopsis, well, i'm now going to run off and put this one on my TBR list.  Now on to what you really came for, the EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT, which you will find below.  So, keep scrolling. 

 

Exclusive Excerpt

“I told them you wouldn’t come alone. Yet here you are,” Kale’s dark voice said from the doorway. “You’re an odd one.”

“You don’t realize it, but coming from you, that’s kinda funny,” I said, swallowing hard and turning to face him. The light from the hall lit the entire right side of his face, leaving the left cloaked in darkness. Two sides of the same dangerous coin. I wanted to back away but resisted, meeting his gaze straight on. My Kale was in there somewhere—and he could sense weakness. “Did you kill her?”


            “She’s dead.”

            
“I figured as much,” I said, jaw tense. Another step closer. “But I’m asking if you did it.”

            He cocked his head to the left and I could see his expression. Confusion. “You asked the same thing about the other girl. Why does it matter?”

            “Because it does. It matters to you, too. You just don’t remember.”

            He took another step. Inches. He was inches from me now, the warmth from his body radiating like the sun. Every one of my muscles plunged into an all-out war with my heart. Common sense screamed for me to match his steps forward with ones away. Keep your distance—he’s dangerous!

My heart wanted to move closer. I wanted this to all be nothing more than a bad dream.

            “I feel like...when I look at you—” He shook his head and placed a hand on either side of me, up against the mattress, and brought his face close to mine. For the longest moment all he did was stare. When he did speak, there was so much rage in his voice. “You stabbed me. When that didn’t do the trick, you pushed me from the bridge. I’m asking you why?”

            “I never did that, Kale. No one’s ever pushed you from a bridge as far as I know. I promise. As for the scar, yeah. You were stabbed. Alex did it.”

            “You’re lying, Kiernan.”

            “I’m not. And my name is Dez,” I said, voice cracking under the weight of his words. “Deznee.” I wasn’t ready to give up, so I went with what had always worked for me. Something insane.

            Pushing forward, I crushed my lips to his, wrapping both arms around his neck to lock him in place. He didn’t resist and, to my surprise, didn’t shove me away. Instead, after a moment, he responded, his lips moving fervently with mine.

            The kiss only lasted a few moments. I was the one who broke it, pulling away as the clouds passed, allowing the moonlight to shine through the bedroom window once again. For a second, neither of us said a word. His cheeks glistened with my tears, making it look like he’d been crying, too, as he stared—eyes wide and mouth agape—like he’d never seen me before.

            For a crazy, insane moment, time froze. I thought maybe the kiss had done the trick. That this time the princess had woken the prince. He looked at me with a mix of shock and awe, the tiniest hint of my Kale gleamed through. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear anything else. It was there. I could see the spark in his eyes. “Kale?”

            But it didn’t last. Or maybe it hadn’t been there at all. Maybe I wanted to see it so badly that I imagined the whole thing.

            His lips parted and the corners tilted upward just a hair. “Roz is right. You are crazy.”

 

Find Jus Accardo

 

 Website  Goodreads  Twitter  Facebook  

 

 

Find Tremble

Goodreads  Amazon  Barnes & Noble  Book Depository

Author Bio
 

     Jus Accardo spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her path lay with fiction, not food, and passed on the spot to pursue writing. Jus is the bestselling author of YA paranormal romance and urban fantasy fiction. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald. Her first book, Touch was released in November 2011 from Entangled Publishing. She is currently working on the next book in the Denazen series.

Review: Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Lost Prince (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Won, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Harlequin Teen, October 23, 2012




My Thoughts:

     Let me start off by saying that I love this series, and I’m glad that Kagawa decided to do a spinoff.  I got to see some of my favorite characters of all time, but talking about them would be too much of a spoiler.  I was wowed by this book, and I feel that it lived up to the previous ones in the series.  This book is not a waste of time, and fans of the Iron Fey series should really go out and buy this one. 

     I enjoyed the characters, new and old.  I also liked seeing where Megan ended up, and what her life was like—even if it was only a few glimpses.  I’m also glad that she chose Ethan as the new main character.  I kind of felt bad for Ethan since he had to deal with the fey, and it often led to him getting in trouble.  As a reader, I really got to see how hard his life was, and how much it affected his family and those around him.  The point is that the fey made his life harder than it had to be.  I found his reactions very believable, which led to my overall enjoyment of the book.  I was glad he found someone that made him happy, no matter how hardheaded she was.

     The storyline sucked me in, and I couldn’t put it down.  The Lost Prince was a fantastic first book in the spinoff series.  I recommend this for anyone who loves the genre, or is familiar—or not—with Kagawa’s work. 

I absoluetly loved it.  I would recommend it to everyone!

 

Review: The Collector by Victoria Scott

Title: The Collector (Click on title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/ Publication Date: Entangled Teen, April 2, 2013




My Thoughts:

     From the second I saw the synopsis I’ve wanted to read The Collector, and then I finally got my copy.  I breezed through it in a few short hours, and wow, I have to say that I’m pretty impressed.  Scott did a remarkable job on putting a spin on the whole Soul Collector thing, making it almost entirely new.  The writing was entertaining with witty dialogue and snarky comments dropped into places you wouldn’t expect them to be.

     Most books I read aren’t portrayed from the viewpoint of the guy, and I have to say that I found it kind of refreshing.  Dante was exactly how the synopsis portrayed him to be: bad, and uncaring.  Still, there’s more to him than I originally thought there’d be.  Then there was Charlie, she was Dante’s polar opposite.  And it was entertaining to see Dante grow as he got to know her.  Also, there was romance but it wasn’t overbearing.   

     The plot started out running, and kept going until the very end.  There were some very minor things that I had an issue with, but overall it was a good book.  Oh, the ending, don’t even get me started.  I love it when the ending of a book surprises me with facts I didn’t even realize were there.  That’s exactly what the Collector did.  The ending also left a lot of things unfinished.  Needless to say, I have some questions that haven’t been answered.  Still, it left me wanting more and luckily the publication date for The Liberator isn’t too far away. 

I really like it.  I recommend it.

ARC Review: Conjure by Lea Nolan

Previously posted on my Goodreads page
Title: Conjure by Lea Nolan
Source/ Format: Elana Johnson, (Entangled Publishing), E-Arc
Age Range: YA
Publisher/ Publication Date: Entangled Publishing, October 23, 2012



My thoughts:

     One word: Fabulous. I love a good Hoodoo magic book, and Conjure by Lea Nolan did not disappoint. Nolan did an outstanding job capturing the mysterious and sometimes gross elements of Hoodoo, which made the book so much more enjoyable. Nolan created a fantastic world filled with danger and adventure that at some points left me saying out loud, “I don’t know anymore.” Needless to say, I enjoyed reading Conjure.

    Emma, the main character, is dealing with a mountain of trouble, after visiting her father for the summer. Thanks to her brother Jack, who was seemingly blinded by instantaneous love, they’ve unleashed something nasty. Cooper, oh, poor, poor Cooper, he’s such a nice guy, even though his family legacy is about as rotten as it gets. Missy, well, her name says it all. Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, why did you have to be such a creep from the start? The characters were unique, and I liked that. They weren’t generic, and they weren’t perfect. Even Emma had her faults, and lied to her brother and Cooper at one point. Still, that fact just enhances the story.

     The twist near the end…oh boy, you’re in for a real shocker. And the ending, oh, don’t even get me started. I’m so mad right now—mad that I have to wait for the next one to come out, that is. Take my advice: slow down, take your time, and don’t speed through this book. Because you’ll be wishing that you had the second one.

This e-copy was provided by the publisher, thank you!

I absolutley loved it. I would recommend it to everyone.

Review: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Title:Tiger's Curse (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/ Format: Purchased, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/ Publication Date: Splinter, January 11, 2011




My Thoughts:

     I admit that I put off reading Tiger’s Curse, because I’d heard that it was just a love story—and I’ve read my fair-share of those.  Some of them I’ve liked, and others, well, not so much.  Tiger’s Curse was indeed a love story, but the exotic setting, and Indian mythology made it interesting.  Houck did an excellent job of describing all the places, as well as the culture of India.  I also loved the way the cover was designed, I felt like it capture the story within. The writing was good, and the story moved at a fast pace. 

     In Tiger’s Curse, we meet Kelsey Hayes, who was a bit of an annoying character.  She had a good nature and was loyal—traits that I saw more of as the book progressed.  Her life was normal, thus, she never thought that she’d be "breaking a 300-year-old Indian curse" instead of working the entire summer.  If anything, the only issue I really had was that Kelsey agreed to go along with things a little too easily.  I felt like she didn't question it enough to make a firm decision on it.  There was a bit of an insta-love, but with everything else going on, I hardly noticed it.  I also like that Ren wasn’t a werewolf, or a vampire, but a white tiger. The story starts off a little slow, and I was left wondering where it was going.  When it finally picked up I was glad that I stuck with the story. I also like that fact that Houck wrote a prologue, which gave me an insight into what happened before the story actually started. 

     The end was satisfying enough, and I get where Kelsey was coming from when she made the decision she did.  For a paranormal romance it was a pretty good book. I might check out the rest of the series.

I like it.  I recommend it.

Review: Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

Title: Greta and the Goblin King (Click title for Synopsis)
Source/Format: Purchased, Kindle Edition
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Teen, December 11, 2012



My Thoughts:

     Greta and the Goblin King was an ok young adult book, and I found it entertaining.  But Greta was stubborn and refused to accept help, which I found kind of annoying.  Isaac was sweet in the way that he cared for Greta, and I wish that she’d been a little more willing to accept his help.  I guess she had her reasons for not trusting him, but she almost got herself and Isaac killed.  The setting, well, I wish I’d learned more about the land—more detail—and a little more about Greta’s life before she arrived in Mylean.  I like the book, and I’ll most likely read what comes next.  I recommend it to those like goblin stories filled with magic and danger.

I really like it.  I recommend it.

 

 

ARC Review: All the Broken Pieces Cindi Madsen

Previously posted on my Goodreads page
Title: All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen
Source/Format:Elana Johnson, (Entangled Publishing), E-galley
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Publishing, December 11, 2012

My thoughts:


    What just happened? No really, what just happened? Never have I ever been more shocked by a book in my life. I just don’t know what I should say about All the Broken Pieces. Well I do know one thing for sure: this book was phenomenal and original. I haven’t read a book like it. All the Broken Pieces was like a fresh breath of air to me. Cindi Madsen is definitely an author I’ll be watching for future works.

     Liv is literally broken, and she doesn’t know why. She did go through such a terrible ordeal; it’s justified to feel so…messed up. Her reaction to it all will suck you into the story, and hold you there, anxiously on the edge of your seat just to see what’s really going on. The parents seemed to really care about liv, but I couldn’t help but think that there was something really off about them. Liv goes through a roller-coaster of emotions as she tries to navigate her life. Along the way she makes a few friends, but she struggles to fit in. Spencer is just a sweet guy, and as the story progresses we get to see why he was so aloof when they first met.

     One word: original. The story wasn’t predictable, and I loved that fact. Madsen threw so many curveballs into All the Broken Pieces that I was stunned when the conclusion came. I literally had to reread it to make sure that I’d read it right. The Conclusion can be described in one word, shocking, which sums up this book. I mean shocking in a good way too. Madsen did a fantastic job; she wove a story that’s bound to be a hit. Five stars!

I absolutely loved it.  I would recommend it to everyone.