Wild (DNF Review)

Wild | Alex Mallory

Published by: HarperTeen, July 8th 2014

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Retellings

Pages: 448

Format: Ebook

Source: HarperTeen, via Edelweiss

The forest is full of secrets, and no one understands that better than Cade. Foraging, hunting, surviving— that’s all he knows. Alone for years, Cade believes he’s the sole survivor. At least, until he catches a glimpse of a beautiful stranger…

Dara expected to find natural wonders when she set off for a spring break camping trip. Instead, she discovers a primitive boy— he’s stealthy and handsome and he might be following her. Intrigued, Dara seeks him out and sets a catastrophe in motion.

Thrust back into society, Cade struggles with the realization that the life he knew was a lie. But he’s not the only one. Trying to explain life in a normal town leaves Dara questioning it.

As the media swarm and the police close in, Dara and Cade risk everything to get closer. But will the truth about Cade’s past tear them apart?

A YA Tarzan retelling.

This book was kind of a risk for me. I don't love contemporary stuff, but I do love retellings, and I was quite familiar with Tarzan going into this book, so I hoped I would like it. I didn't. This had all the trappings of the contemporary stuff I don't enjoy - a slow pace, characters that aren't outstanding, and a plot that doesn't really interest me. To tell you the truth, I wasn't exactly sure where this book was going, and I wasn't so interested to find out. The only thing I really liked were parts of Cade's backstory and life, and there wasn't enough of that to keep me invested.

DNF at 39%

The Forever Song (Review)

Blood of Eden: The Forever Song | Julie Kagawa

Published by: Harlequin Teen, April 15th 2014

Genre: YA, Dystopia, Paranormal, Post Apocalyptic

Pages: 393

Format: Hardback

Source: Purchased

Vengeance will be hers.

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster? With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

Monster.

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions - her creator Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost - the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie. 

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, her triumph will be short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

THE FINAL HUNT IS ON.

WHY does this series have to end? It could easily have gone on for another three books. I don't care if the Eden story has wrapped up, give me three books of the trials of getting the cure out there. Give me three books of Jackal sitting around insulting people. Actually, you know I'd rather have the latter. Seriously, gimme.

This series is utterly devastating, thrilling, and punches you in the stomach at every given opportunity. Julie Kagawa doesn't miss a chance to throw in something high impact, bloody and violent, or emotionally charged. I love almost everything about this series, and this book, and were I invested in the relationship between Allison and Zeke I would have literally no issue with it whatsoever.

This final book builds on the wreckage of The Eternity Cure, pushes everyone (especially me) to their breaking point, and drags you around an emotionally draining maze of a plot. Avoid at all costs (but seriously - read this series.)

I LOVE this series, and my love of it kinda snuck up on me. I'm so upset that it's over, that Allison will have no more adventures, no more revengendas. I'm not entirely ready to say goodbye to these characters. (So please, Julie, give me a Jackal spinoff. We all know you're not opposed to writing spinoffs *looks pointedly at the iron fey*)

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

--

"'No one gets to decide what kind of monster I am but me.'"

"'You cannot stop it, little bird, You can only beat your wings against the bars of your cage, and you don't even realise you are trapped.'"

Reading round up (50)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week. I'VE BEEN RECORDING MY READING PROGRESS FOR FIFTY WEEKS!! Huzzah, that's almost a year!! Maybe I'll do a giveaway when we get to 52.

27th October

Finished Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake (143 pages) and it was awesome and horrible. Anna, why?

28th October

Started Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza (13%) and I'm reaaaally hoping I don't have to skim half a book of boring romance for the good stuff again. 

I also read two stories in the Lost Locket of Lahari Anthology, one of which was pretty good, the other was not (29%).

29th October

 Currently Reading: Mila 2.0 Renegade | Debra Driza
Current page/percent: 45%
Read today: 32%
Thoughts: I like this much more at this percent than I did the first book! And we just ditched the bland love interest! And a HOUSE BLEW UP!! It's picking upppp.

30th October

Currently Reading: Mila 2.0 Renegade | Debra Driza
Current page/percent: 100%
Read today: 55%
Thoughts: Still a buttload of problems, but better than the first book all round.

31st October

Started The Darkest Minds (about 20 pages) but I have zero patience so I'll read it properly later. Instead I'm reading The Forever Song (123 pages) because Kagawa can pick me out of any book slump.

1st November

Currently Reading: The Forever Song | Julie Kagawa
Current page/percent: page 226
Read today: 103 pages
Thoughts: Jackallison is my OTP, guys. Stanning until the end.

2nd November

Currently Reading: The Forever Song | Julie Kagawa
Current page/percent: page 393
Read today: 167 pages
Thoughts: Ughhhhhhhhh. I knew something like that would happen to my bb Kanin. How rude.

Books finished this week: 3

 

Banished | Liz De Jager

This has been on my tbr for a year or so, and it was just over £1 on kindle!! I looove the cover (but not so sure about the cover of book 2. It doesn't even look the same.)

Ferals | Jacob Grey

Been eyeing this one. Bless it being on EW.

I released an anthology of fairy tales.

Reviewed this week: Anna Dressed In Blood // Mila 2.0 Renegade //

Mila 2.0 Renegade (ARC Review)

Mila 2.0: Renegade | Debra Driza

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books, May 13th 2014

Genre: YA, Science Fiction

Pages: 448

Format: Ebook

Source: Katherine Tegen, via Edelweiss

There is no one left for Mila to trust. Except for a boy she barely knows.

But Hunter has no idea who—and what—Mila really is. She can’t bear to reveal her secret, even though he’s unwittingly joined her search for Richard Grady, a man who may know more details of Mila’s complicated past.

Yet the road to the truth is more dangerous than ever. With General Holland and the Vita Obscura scouring the earth for her whereabouts, Mila must rely on her newfound android abilities to protect herself and Hunter from imminent harm. Still, embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity—as well as Hunter’s real motives.

Perfect for fans of I Am Number Four and Divergent, this action-packed and heart-wrenching second installment of MILA 2.0 will leave readers breathlessly awaiting the series conclusion.

Mila 2.0 and me have a pretty complicated relationship. I like it, but somehow dislike it at the same time. But I did end up liking this book a fair bit more than book one - and there's something about these books that keep me coming back to them. I don't know whether it's because I'm fascinated by Mila's ability to be whiny and annoying while also getting shit done, or whether it's because I'm interested to see how the story plays out. Either way, there's something quite gripping.

Mila herself was the same as in book one  - she was morose and whiny and I can forgive some of that as being grief if I hadn't know she was that way before her mum died. She made god awful decisions, to the point where I found it hard to read on. (Honestly, her boyfriends mum warns her off and she's like yeah okay you're right, and then goes on to become a true robot because she's so upset ... by her boyfriend's mum. jeez.) But despite my issues with Mila, there's just enough about her that I end up liking her. Hunter even managed to gain a fraction of my respect in this book.

These books have a unique blend of boring romance, alright characters, and pretty decent sci-fi thriller elements. I stay for the thrilling android elements, the villains, and the shocking twists.

Characters ★★☆☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

Anna Dressed In Blood (Review)

Anna: Anna Dressed In Blood | Kendare Blake

Published by: Orchard Books, July 5th 2012

Genre: YA, Horror, Paranormal

Pages: 373

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. They follow legends and local lore, destroy the murderous dead, and keep pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

Searching for a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas expects the usual: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

Yet she spares Cas's life.

This book was nothing like I thought it would be. For one, I didn't realise the book would be from Cas's POV. I thought the story would be told by Anna, and I'm really glad it wasn't because I love the story we got. I heaped a tonne of really high expectations on this book - it had to be well written, creepy, dark, and have decent enough characters for me to be invested. Luckily, my wishes were granted.

Anna Dressed In Blood is bloody and vindictive and unnerving. But underneath the horror and the hauntings, it has a pretty big heart. The characters are easy to love, the story is unforgettable, and I especially love how the world is much more expansive than I expected - not only ghosts, but telepaths, voodoo, and Obeah. I got what I wanted and a whole lot more with this book. It even managed to break my heart into tiny tiny pieces.

It had better be put back together by the next book, or I'll haunt my own house.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★☆☆