Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Series Book 1

3 stars

Quick Overview:

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England,

The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han 

Summer Series Book 1

3 Stars 

Published May 5, 2009 

Quick Overview

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

What I Thought 

This was a great read, especially for a hot, summer day. It really captures the mood of what every girl wishes her summer to be like. I really like this book, but I will probably not read all three unless they are at my library. The Summer I Turned Pretty was funny, sad, heart warming, and heart breaking, all wound into one novel. I would suggest it highly, and even though I wasn't as crazy about the Summer Series, I will definitely not stop when I go to pick up another one of Jenny Han's books.

 

City of Ashes

City of Ashes: Book Two of the Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare
3 out of 5 stars
Quick Overview:
Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

What I Thought: 
This book was okay. City of Bones was good, but when I expected City of Ashes to be even better, it missed it's mark. 
I also noticed that it would sometimes get slow. Really slow. I would read, and then lose interest and find something else to do.
To me, the love triangle thing is getting boring. Because, seriously, every single book has the same lead girl who loves one guy but then there's another guy who she has known forever and then she doesn't know if the first guy loves her or not and then we go through some battles and stuff and then the book ends and everyone chooses if they are Team ______ or Team ______. 

Just to wrap everything up, this book wasn't bad. I have a few friends who read it and loved it and talk about Clary and Jace and Simon every time we get together. But they also said that the book did have slow parts through out it.

  


 

13 Gifts

13 Gifts by Wendy Mass
4 out of 5 stars
Quick Overview:
When Tara, a self-proclaimed shrinking violet, steals the school mascot, a goat, in order to make some friends with the popular crowd and gets caught, she gets herself in a heap of trouble. In addition, her parents decide that instead of taking her on their summer trip to Madagascar to study the courtship rituals of the Bamboo Lemur, she must go stay with her aunt, uncle, and bratty cousin Emily St. Claire in Willow Falls. Tara thinks it's a good time to start over; she'll be turning 13 after all, so she might as well make the best of it and perhaps even attempt to break out of her shell (in a non-criminal manner). What Tara doesn't know is that this charmed town has something big in store for her on her 13th birthday. It's not a typical birthday. But then again, nothing is Willow Falls is exactly typical!

What I Thought:
This book is great for girls ages 10-15. Wendy Mass has made yet another incredibly relate-able, funny, and very entertaining masterpiece.
This book had those perfect a-ha moments (you know, when you feel awesome because you figured out what the villain had been up to all the time, just before the main character does) where all the pieces of the puzzle fit in.
"13 Gifts" also showed the importance of family and friends, and how family  you haven't seen in a while isn't always as bad as you think they are.
I loved this book and can't wait for the next in the, 11 Birthdays Series. 

Legend

Legend by Marie Lu
3 out of 5 stars
Quick Overview:
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

What I Thought:
 Don't let the stars turn you away, this was a good book.The color of the cover is awesome- just saying, I think the silver and gold looks really good together. :) 
 One of the few things I didn't like about the book was the text. The book is narrated by two different people, and both people have a different text color and font. I don't know why, but that messed me up a little while I was reading it.
 For the actual book itself, it wasn't bad. It was just kind of stuck there in the middle for me- I didn't dislike it, however I didn't love it either. I liked how much action "Legend" had and how it was easy to follow. I really liked the storyline of how two people, with two completely different lives could come to understand each other.  
I would also like to add that this is yet another book to a series. Oh yay.

 I guess, like I said in the "Delirium" review, I'm just getting tired of dystopian books. I think that this book was just almost getting to the 4 star point, but just didn't hit the nail on the head.

Delirium

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
3 out of 5 stars
Quick Overview:
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.
   "They say that the cure for love will make me happy and safe forever. And I’ve always believed them.
   Until now.
   Now everything has changed. Now, I’d rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie. "

What I Thought:
To start with, this book has some interesting covers. Interesting, for me, is not bad but actually really good. The cover art above was the one that made me take a second look at the book, and eventually read it. The other cover (found here) was on the book I actually read.
"Delirium" overall was good, and I liked the plot, that love is a disease. However, it seemed to have the same thing that all other dystopian books have, a harsh government that controls every little thing you do. Me, personally, am getting tired of the same exact government in every book you pick up and would like a new group of books to reach popularity.  
The characters were at the midway point in strength. I didn't feel like they needed more detail, but I also didn't get to the point where I could feel like I know them personally (If you get what I mean).
I did like this book, but it wasn't one of the best dystopian books I've read.
 

A Mango Shaped Space

A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
4 out of 5 stars
Quick Overview:
Thirteen-year-old Mia Winchell appears to be the most normal kid in her family. Her younger brother Zack keeps a chart of all the McDonald's hamburgers he's eaten in his lifetime. Her older sister Beth dyes her hair a different color every week and might be a witch. But Mia knows she is far from ordinary. She is keeping something from everyone who knows her: the fact that sounds, numbers, and letters have color for her.
When trouble in school finally convinces Mia to reveal her secret, she feels like a freak. Her family and friends have trouble relating to her as she embarks on an intense journey of self-discovery. By the time she realizes she has isolated herself from all the people who care about her, it is almost too late. She has to lose something very special in order to find herself.

What I Thought:
Not many books can make me cry while eating a bowl of ice cream. This one did.
This book was made even more special to me because my friend has synesthesia, the same thing Mia does. (I know it's cool, right.)

 Synesthesia is a condition that some people have where the different senses—touch, taste, hearing, vision, and smell—get mixed up instead of remaining separate. The most common variety is called Lexical Synesthesia, which is where letters and numbers each have individual colors. For instance, someone with this condition might say that the letter "A" has a sunflower yellow tint with a crumbly feel to it. The number 2 might be the color of wet cement.
(I got this article from here.)

When you first read the back cover it sounds like the book is simply about Mia overcoming her "differences" and becoming somewhat normal. But that's not what it is about at all. "A Mango-Shaped Space" is about a family, who despite their differences, learn to love and accept each other.
This book is REALLY cute and I would strongly suggest reading it!! 

The Night She Disappeared

The Night She Disappeared by April Henry
3 out of 5 stars
Quick Overview:
Gabie drives a Mini Cooper. She also works part time as a delivery girl at Pete’s Pizza. One night, Kayla—another delivery girl—goes missing. To her horror, Gabie learns that the supposed kidnapper had asked if the girl in the Mini Cooper was working that night. Gabie can’t move beyond the fact that Kayla’s fate was really meant for her, and she becomes obsessed with finding Kayla. She teams up with Drew, who also works at Pete’s. Together, they set out to prove that Kayla isn’t dead—and to find her before she is.

What I Thought:
This book was good. I really liked the way that you heard from everyone's point of view on the disappearance of Kayla. Another big plus in the book was how they showed newspaper articles and 911 calls throughout the book. I think these added a lot to the structure of the book. If you took these extra's away, there would simply be a book that had a creative idea, but a thin plot.
This book was a short read- I finished it in less than a day. I would recommend reading "The Night She Disappeared"  if you are ever craving getting a little scared of what might be in your closet.     

Under the Never Sky

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
3 out of 5 stars
Quick Overview:
Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.
Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.
A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

What I Thought:
To tell the truth, I got this book because of its cover design. That is not something I usually do, but that cover is just so cool. When I started reading the book, it was fast paced and kept me interested. Then maybe 15-20 chapters in, it started getting boring. I lost interest easily. It would have short peaks of interest, then go back to the simple things. I think this book was drawn out a little longer than necessary, however the end was really good too.

Also:
Check out this really cool book trailer for "Under the Never Sky":
Warning: Spoilers

Spell Bound

Spell Bound: Hex Hall Series Book Three by Rachel Hawkins
2 out of 5 stars
Quick Overview:
Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium.  Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

What I Thought:
I didn't really like this book. The first book of the series was good, however, the next two seem to get less and less as, well... good, exciting, suspenseful, etc...
It seems to me that they are dragging these books out, whereas this book could have just been larger and the series could have been over. This book is filled with fluff. Plus there is a pattern forming. Sophie gets in trouble, something or someone saves her.
Overall I liked it, but not enough to go out and buy it for my own personal copy.

Insurgent

Insurgent: Book Two of Divergent Series by Veronica Roth
5 out of 5 Stars
Quick Overview:
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. 

What I Thought:
This. Was. A. Awesome, Amazing, Epic, Really Really Cool. Book.
There is no more to say, other than to go buy this book and Divergent at ONCE.
Veronica Roth kept me on my seat the ENTIRE time. I loved, loved, loved this book. There are not many books that can make me say that, but this one did. Relationships were built between the characters that were real and not cheesy. The plot became thicker with every page. When the characters were heartbroken, so was I, because with all the details, you became Tris, and Four, and every other character in the book.
This is a MUST read!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Demonglass

Demonglass: Book 2 of the Hex Hall Series by Rachel  Hawkins
3 out of 5 stars
Quick Overview:
Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch, which was why she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, werewolves, and fairies). But that was before she discovered she's a demon, and her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping her kind off the face of the earth. What’s worse, Sophie has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is why she decides to go to London for the Removal, a risky procedure that will either destroy her powers forever—or kill her. But once Sophie arrives, she makes a shocking discovery: someone is raising new demons in secret and planning to use their powers to destroy the world. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

 What I Thought:
Some people said these books are the next Harry Potter. Definitely not.
Don't get me wrong, I really am enjoying the series, but these have a storyline so used, it isn't totally blowing you away like it was when Harry Potter got really really famous.
These books ARE good, though. They are nice easy reads for the days when you want to read, but you don't want to use your brain. :)
As for this particular book itself, I think I liked the first one better. This one lacked in some necessary detail. But like I said, this is a nice easy read.

Fire

Fire by Kristen Cashore
2 out of 5 stars
Quick Overview:
She is the last of her kind...
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

What I Thought:
When I got this book, I was hoping for something that met or even past Graceling on the Awesome Level. I don't think this book met these standards. It is REALLY slow until the end. If you haven't read Graceling, by all means, read it, but don't waste your time on this book.

Graceling

Graceling
By Kristen Cashore
4 out of 5 stars

Quick Overview:

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

     When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. 

What I Thought:
This book is great! It is slow at some points and sometimes makes you want to just put it down and start up another one, but if you push on through, it really is a great read. Katsa and Po are, well, just plain epic as they work together to discover more about their Grace's than they thought there could be.
The only thing I don't like about this book.... there isn't a part two!!!! 

Divergent

Divergent: Book 1 of the Divergent Series
By: Veronica Roth
5 out of 5 Stars
Quick Overview:
When Beatrice Prior turns 16, she must make a life changing decision between 5 factions. These factions are Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family, or being who she really is. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone- even herself.
 During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

What I Thought:
Wow. This was a great book. It has the perfect amount of action and suspense. It keeps you on the edge of your seat! I prefer more action than romance, so this book is great for all you adventure lovers. Tris and Four are characters so in depth that if you put the book down it screams at you to find out more. I LOVED this book!!
Note: There is a part in Divergent that some may find questionable.   


(This is a very late review, as this book came out a while back, however I am planning to do an Insurgent review. Insurgent came out on May 1st.)

Out of Sight, Out of Time

Out of Sight, Out of Time: Gallagher Girls Series 5
By: Ally Carter 
3 out of 5 Stars
Quick Overview:
The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

What I Thought:
This book was written very well, with amazing detail so I could picture every scene in it. However, the entire series, along with this one, was a bit predictable. There are a few times that I gasped (in horror AND excitement) but the story line is a common one.
The book is a small size, maybe 250 pages with larger text (I am not exactly sure because I read this one on my NOOK, which changes everything), and is a easy day-or-two-read.
All in all, I liked the book and the series, but I would simply go and borrow it from the library because I probably won't re-read it.