Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross {Review}

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Publish Date: April 10, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday -- and discovers a world she never could have a imagined.
In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems -- the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.
But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own...brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and and hidden thorns.

Looking at the cover of Kill Me Softly you probably aren’t imagining the story inside to be so dark (despite the blood), but it is. Oh, by golly, it is. Incredibly, deliciously dark.

The first third of the book wasn’t so awesome for me. I spent it being astounded by Mira’s stupidity and unwillingness to question things. I mean, I understand Felix has magic working on his side, but come on. He’s 21, you’re a few days shy of sixteen and you just crawl in bed with him after a few hours spent together? Where is your brain, Mira?! And then when everyone is telling her he has a curse she’s all “but this is true love and you wouldn’t understand!” instead of digging a little deeper to find out exactly what this curse is.

BUT, then things start to clear up. Then we start learning about the curses and the fairytales, and let me tell you, it’s pretty gruesome. It’s one thing to read the fairytales and think they’re dark, but it’s another to think about applying it to life today. And I absolutely love how Cross weaved the fairytales into modern life.

Then there’s Blue. Oh, Blue. I kind of loved him from the start even though he acted like a complete jerk for a while. The poor guy is just so tortured and selfless. If you’re looking for a noble knight in hiding, look no further than Blue.

Felix, on the other hand, always just felt a little slimy to me. And, in my opinion, he is, but I’ll let you make that decision for yourself without ruining anything ;]

Mira became a much more complex and likable character by the end of the story which I greatly appreciated. Instead of continuing on the lovesick puppy path she starts to actually question things and search out answers.

Spoilers 

I’m feeling pretty torn about the ending, though. On the one hand, I loved it. On the other, well, let’s break it down:

-- Umm, hello, what about Felix? It alluded to the fact that he’d need to be killed, but we’re just going to end the story with him wandering around with his head intact? Not cool. I was really looking forward to seeing a fight with him.

-- What about our poor knight, Freddie? I know he already knew Mira didn’t like him that way, but what is he supposed to do with his life now? He’s spent years looking for his princess and when he finds her she runs straight into the arms of another guy. That definitely deserved some follow up.

-- The elusive parents? I know it’d be long and complicated to build a relationship between them and Mira, but all I’m asking for is one little meeting. I just wanted to meet them!

-- What’s up with her fairy godmothers saying something about fairy prison? They act like we should know what rules they broke and what trouble they’d get in instead of just telling us. Not cool.

I know I can’t have everything, but that’s a lot of stuff to introduce only to leave unanswered.

End spoilers

The Nutshell: If you love your fairytales dark then you’ll definitely like Kill Me Softly. The story is complex and fascinating and it’ll really make you question right and wrong (at least, it did me).

Pages: 336

Series: No

Rating: Direct Hit

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks {Review}

Publisher: Feiwel &Friends

Publish Date: May 22, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Galen is the prince of Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen -- literally, ouch! -- both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now if he can only convince Emma that she holds the keys to his kingdom...

Of Poseidon was an interesting new take on the mermaid – excuse me, Syrena – myth. Although, I have to mention one thing that’s been bothering me: what do the women wear as tops in Syrena form? I’m fairly certain it’s never mentioned and it’s been driving me a little batty :P

Of Poseidon starts out in a majorly depressing way and yet, I felt like I wasn’t saddened enough by it. Grossed out, sure, but not sad. I appreciated that Emma had her own way of dealing with it and her own grieving process though. Some might think that she got over it too quickly, but I don’t really think that’s a judgment you can pass on anyone else since we all have different processes.

I loved all the Syrena lore and learning about their past and the way they run things now. I always love learning history about imaginary cultures.

I really liked Rayna and Toraf. They were fun side characters that I ended up caring for just as much as Galen and Emma in the end. Speaking of Galen and Emma…Emma was strong-willed, stubborn, clumsy, and completely hung up on Galen. I love a good “I don’t need a man” kick-a** female lead, but I also appreciate the ones who go all gooey over a guy since it reminds me of being that age. What I didn’t quite appreciate was the relationship itself. Galen was a nice guy and I liked him well enough, but it seems like the readers knew more about him than Emma did. It ended up making the relationship feel a little forced.

I’ve heard people complain about the Emma=First person/Galen=Third person thing, but it really didn’t bother me at all. I barely noticed it, actually. Maybe I’m just not quite as sensitive when it comes to those things, though :P 

The Nutshell: Of Poseidon is a fantastic start to the series. Sure, I had some problems with the relationship but it wasn’t enough to detract from the story itself. If you want a new mermaid story with a little scary and a lot of kissing (read: angst) then Of Poseidon is definitely for you.

 Pages: 336

Series: Of Posidon #1

Rating: Hit

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand {Review}

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publish Date: August 28, 2012

Source: ARC from contest

Goodreads

At the Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls you will definitely learn your lesson.
Victoria hates nonsense. There is no need for it when your life is perfect. The only smudge on her pristine life is her best friend Lawrence. He is a disaster -- lazy and dreamy, shirt always untucked, obsessed with his silly piano. Victoria often wonders why she ever bothered being his friend. (Lawrence does too.)
But then Lawrence goes missing. And he's not the only one. Victoria soon discovers that the Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls is not what it appears to be. Kids go in but come out...different. Or they don't come out at all.
If anyone can sort this out, it's Victoria -- even if it means getting a little messy.

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls is spooky, disturbing, and downright awesome. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read a middle grade so dark, but I loved every minute of it, and I’m pretty sure my twelve-year-old self would have too.

First of all let me just say that Victoria’s not a very likable character. She’s prim and proper and has to have everything just so. And yet, believe it or not, I didn’t hate her. Her personality was absolutely perfect for the story.

Legrand is a master when it comes to the creep-factor, let me tell you. I thought I could feel little cockroach feet all over me while I was reading. In fact, as I wrote that I got a creepy-crawly feeling down my spine. I HATE beetles.

You know how when you know something’s afoot but you don’t know what and so you expect anything? Yeah, well I thought I did too, but Legrand threw surprise after surprise at me with the creepy goings on in the Cavendish house. There’s the birds with hands, the hanger, the changing walls, and then there’s the gofer’s! Those poor, poor things :[

The Nutshell: I adored The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls. If you’re looking for a quick, creepy middle grade read, then you should definitely pick this one up!

Pages: 352

Series: No

Rating: Direct Hit

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu {Review}

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publish Date: August 7, 2012
Source: Netgalley for honest review
Goodreads

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.
When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.
As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they're caught and deactivated, or worse.

Glitch went a little something like this for me:

[Beginning intro to world] “I can definitely dig this.”

[BAM, romance] “Wait, what?! That came out of nowhere. She’s only known him for a couple hours!”

[Middle of the story] “Well now I understand the superfast romance. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. Or this new guy. In fact, I want to punch New Guy in the nose. When is something super interesting going to happen again?”

[End] “Okay, I’ll admit that I didn’t see that coming. And I’m digging all the awesome action and Gift using and whatnot. Oh, I actually did see THAT coming.”

Bahaha. Okay, if you haven’t read Glitch then you probably won’t understand anything up there, but I had to explain my feelings in a way that would at least sort of make sense. I mean, the story was kind of iffy but I still really liked it. And since that doesn’t really make sense I thought a play by play might help :P Anyway, moving on now.

Let’s start with the romance. As you probably noticed, I mentioned two guys, but it’s not a love triangle. Yes, you heard me: it’s not a love triangle. It’s more of a…circle with a jealous dot outside of it. And I really did not like the stupid jealous dot. I don’t want to say his name since that’d be giving something away, but let’s just say I didn’t like him almost from the moment he was introduced.

I understand why the romance had to be introduced the way it was, but it still felt really awkward in the beginning. I ended up liking it, though.

As for the story itself, I liked the beginning and being introduced to the world of the controlling V-chip and drone-like people. We even got a little background of why the world was in its current state and what happened to the Old War.

The middle just felt kind of bland for me. Even though exciting stuff was happening and the story was developing at a pretty good pace I still wasn’t feeling it. I really can’t pinpoint what it was that made me feel a little bored while reading that portion.

The end, however, I quite liked. I really didn’t see the big ending twist coming at all. I liked seeing Zoe use her Gift and all the action was awesome. Nothing truly heart-pounding but still fun to read.

The Nutshell: Though some of Glitch just felt lukewarm to me I ended up liking it enough to continue being interested in the story. If you like a good dash of scifi with your dystopian then you should definitely check out Glitch. And don’t forget it’s not a love triangle ;]

Pages: 371
Series: Glitch #1

Rating: Near Miss

(Reviewed as part of Dystopian August which you can find out about here)

Chained by Lynne Kelly {Review}

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR

Publisher Date: May 8, 2012

Source: DAC ARC tours

Goodreads

After ten-year-old Hastin's family borrows money to pay for his sister's hospital uill, he leaves his village in northern India to take a job as an elephant keeper and work off the debt. He thinks it will be an adventure, but he isn't prepared for the cruel circus owner. The crowds that come to the circus see a lively animal who plays soccer and balances on milk bottles, but Hastin sees Nandita, a sweet elephant and his best friend, who is chained when she's not performing and hurt with a hook until she learns tricks perfectly. Hastin protects Nandita a s best as he can., knowing that the only way they will both survive is if he can find a way for them to escape.

Once again another book has defied all my expectations and proven I don’t always know what I like best. I only read Chained because Tara from Fiction Folio was trying to get some people to fill up slots on an ARC tour for it. I wasn’t really jazzed about reading it since it didn’t seem like my type of book at all, but I’m so glad it landed in my lap.

A lot of times we look at a book like Chained and think it’ll be silly because an animal book can’t have the same depth. Or we already know the characters will have a hard journey and will likely be triumphant in the end so we figure why bother. I’m here to tell you to stamp down those silly feelings and read it anyway because Chained is a book that deserves to be read. Sure, some of the things were a little hard to read about, but I’m still incredibly happy I got the chance to read this book.

It’s amazing the kind of depth and emotion that can be conveyed through an animal that doesn’t even talk. I loved the fact that Nandita was a real character. She had her own personality even if she lacked the words to express herself.

Hastin was such a strong boy. He was only ten when the story began and he was already stronger than I am or ever have been. He never compromised his integrity or his beliefs. He never gave up on his sister or his mother or Nandita. He didn’t even give up on Nandita’s torturer when given the chance. Everything about Hastin felt real, raw, and authentic. He’s definitely one of my favorite characters of all time.

The Nutshell: You may be tempted to cast this book aside thinking it’s not your type, but I encourage you to give it a chance. The bond between boy and elephant isn’t one you’d likely to expect to be interesting but Hastin and Nandita are proof to the contrary. Chained is a quick read that’s likely to push you outside of your comfort zone but that’s just all the more reason to read it.

Pages: 242
Series: No
Rating: Direct Hit

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis {Review}

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publish Date: April 17, 2012
Source: Library

Goodreads

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so bid and terrifying you were not sure you'd survive solving it?When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other's arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it's the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.
Terrified by their amnesia , teh two make a pact to work together to gain the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they're in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town's perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything -- not the death of Marshall's mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse's family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.
Lonely in the world of happy zombies, Marsh and Else fall into and tense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love --and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

I practically read Glimmer straight through. I probably would have read it all in one night if I didn’t have work the next day as it is, I finished it in under 24 hours – which is really fast for me. Something about the mystery and the not knowing was so addicting I didn’t want to put the book down at all.

Going into it, I thought Glimmer would start out in some sort of hospital or lab. I have no idea where this assumption came from but the point is that it didn’t bother me in the slightest that it wasn’t. I was too busy being distracted by the fact the neither of the characters had any idea what was going on which, in turn, left me completely clueless too. If you’re the type who doesn’t like to be totally in the dark then Glimmer definitely isn’t for you, but that kind of thing is my absolute favorite.

Neither Marshall or Elyse were really my favorite characters, but I didn’t dislike them either. I enjoyed seeing both of them struggle with who they once were and who they were becoming. I know that sounds kind of sadistic, but I just mean that even though the characters weren’t my favorite I could still appreciate their emotional journeys.

I’m declaring Phoebe Kitanidis a mystery master. There was always just enough mystery to keep me flipping the pages to find out what happened next but not so much that I felt like ripping my hair out. There were some moments I was left sitting there going “what in the WORLD?!” but it was in the best possible way.

The Nutshell: If you’re looking for a good non-murder mystery that will keep you flipping pages then Glimmer is definitely your book. If you enjoy being terribly confused while being fed bits of information little by little then you need to run out and get this book into your hands as soon as possible!

Pages: 352
Series: No

Rating: Direct Hit

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti {Review}

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Publish Date: March 6, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city -- Chicago -- and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called the Outfit.
As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the helns {R...Direct Hit, Review, TBR2012
Edit | View | Share | Deletep of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they're in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruiting efforts, or will she be able to thwart the devilish sets' plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

Aaaand, huge sigh of relief/accomplishment. Illuminate is one hefty book and I was really afraid to start it because I wasn’t sure how long something that big would take me, but I needn’t have worried. After getting into the story, I just wanted to devour the whole thing and forget everything else in the world.

Not only was I skeptical of the size going in, I was also wary of the paranormal factor. You’ve probably noticed paranormal reviews are few and far between around here and when they do come, it’s from a book that has really high ratings. I definitely was not disappointed by Illuminate either. The beginning did start out a bit rocky for me, though. There was lots of setup and descriptions and it all just kind of started to bog me down because I wanted to get right down to the gooey center (confession: I’m looking at a picture of a gooey chocolate cake right now, so who knows what kind of crazy adjectives I’ll come up with) of the story, but once I did get there things started to get really good.

I was nearly 100 pages in before the story really hooked me, but in the grand scheme of 514 pages that’s basically nothing.

Characters, guys. Characters, characters, characters. Agresti has created some fantastic ones in Illuminate. The side characters end up being SO much more than side characters. They’re actual a really integral part of the story. Haven’s two guy pals at the Lexington are such awesome friends I don’t even know where to begin. Even the bad guys are complex.

Haven is one supremely awesome character. She doesn’t start out all super awesome butt-kicking bad girl. Instead, she’s pretty timid and fairly average, but not to the point that she’s terribly boring. You actually get to watch her grow into a confident butt-kicking character which I found to be really refreshing. She wasn’t your typical paranormal girl who’s all “I’m scared, but I’m willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING and die for the greater good.” Instead, she’s all “I’ll fight to the death if I have to, but I’d really rather not if that’s okay too.”

And romance? Talk about a slow-build! I’m really not going to get into it because I don’t want to ruin it, but this relationship is seriously one of the most well developed I’ve ever read outside of contemp. Possibly period, ever.

The Nutshell: I realize I’m working on writing an English sized report on Illuminate, but it’s really that good. I could go on and on, but I’ll strip it down to the basics for now. 1) Fairly slow beginning, but once it gets interesting, you’ll be completely hooked. 2) Freaking fantastic characters from complex bad guys to awesome friends who are more than props in the background. 3) Haven actually grows from a timid girl to an awesome take-charge lady and the reader sees the change. 4) A slooooooooow-build relationship that is possibly one of the best I’ve seen. Ever.

Pages: 511 (says Goodreads)

Series: Gilded Wings #1

Rating: Direct Hit

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth {Review}

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR

Publish Date: May 8, 2012

Source: Publisher for honest review

Goodreads

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.
Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.
Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn't who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

Struck was one crazy, adrenaline-filled ride. I’ve just finished and my heart is still pounding!

Going in, I was quite wary since I’ve been hearing a lot of mixed reviews. Some people absolutely loved it and some people hated. I, for one, side with those who loved Struck.

Before I go any further, can I just talk about Jeremy for a second? I did have to move past the fact that he shared a name with my younger brother, but once I did…let’s just say I was a fan ;] I mean, shaggy hair and “Clark Kent” glasses? Swoony, swoon-swoon. Plus, he’s all like “Who cares about your scars, Mia, you’re still pretty.” Except, you know, way more eloquent than that.

Speaking of Jeremy and Mia, even though Struck takes place over the course of three days their relationship didn’t feel at all like insta-love to me.

I’ll give you the science in Struck is pretty unlikely, if not completely, but considering the Spark isn’t a realistic thing, I don’t think it really matters. And if I’m going to be honest, I’m a fan of fake science :P

I liked that Mia was willing to do anything for her family, though I think that was also a drawback for me. I’m coming to realize characters that blindly do whatever for the good of this or that person kind of gets on my nerves. In the end, though, Mia did what was right though it was the more difficult thing to do.

If religion makes you squirmy then you might have a problem with Struck but at the core of the story that’s not at all what it’s about so hopefully you’ll look past it.

The Nutshell: I think Struck would have made a great standalone, but I’m looking forward to the sequel nonetheless. Mia is a strong character who’s willing to do whatever it takes to make sure those she loves are safe. There’s also a super hot love interest if that’s what you’re looking for ;] Overall Struck does a fantastic job of weaving a treacherous story filled with science (albeit fictional science), love, post-apocalyptic setting, and just a dash of the paranormal (don’t think ghosts or anything, just simple things that can’t be explained by the laws of science and whatnot).

Pages: 373

Series: Struck #1

Rating: Hit

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell {Review}

Publisher: Amulet Books

Publish Date: May 1, 2012

Source: Publisher for honest review
Goodreads

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school's struggling radio station, where the other students don't find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Gram's mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and and helps others to find the fun and joy in every day life. 

Looking at Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe, one would probably think it’s all fluff, but that’s definitely not the case. Throughout the course of the story Chloe has to deal with some pretty hard stuff from cruel ex-best friends to feuding relatives.

I love the way Coriell wrote a story that defied expectations. Chloe defied my expectations as well. I didn’t really think she’d change in the end, but she did and it was awesome. In the beginning I could kind of see where her friends were coming from. Chloe did seem a little self-centered, but at the same time she has a huge heart that wants to take care of everyone she loves. Despite the fact that Chloe’s personality is basically the polar opposite of mine, I ended up really loving her and being able to connect with her.

I loved the radio station and all its inhabitants. Even though there were quite a few different characters at the radio Coriell managed to make them all completely unique. I loved reading about them and seeing Chloe find a family with them. Chloe’s talk-shows were super duper fun too :]

Though she doesn’t delve into the complete complexities of it, I really appreciated that Coriell touched on the idea that just because your problems are different than someone else’s doesn’t make them any less painful or difficult. This is something I often think about and I love that Chloe dealt with it a little too. Sure, a broken family and divorce really sucks, but that doesn’t mean that a whole, “picture-perfect” family doesn’t have problems that are just as bad for the person dealing with them.

Duncan was kind of infuriating at times, but I did like him overall, though I didn’t fall head over heels for him. But not every (fictional) guy is for every girl ;]

The Nutshell: If you’re expecting a cute read from Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe, you’ll certainly get that, but you’ll come away with something else as well. This read isn’t all fluff, there’s family problems, friend issues, and even some fiery troubles. If you want a cute read that’s also rounded out with some problems (in the story not because of it) then you should definitely give Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe a chance.

Pages: 299
Series: No

Rating: Hit

Partials by Dan Wells {Review}

Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publish Date: February 28, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials -- engineered organic beings identical to humans -- has decimated the world's population. Reduced to only tends of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together in Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity's time is running out.
When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend's pregnancy, she's determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war's origin that she never knew to ask.

Sometimes when I read a book I can kind of predict what comes next or at least the ultimate outcome. Well, that certainly wasn’t the case with Partials. Just when I thought I had everything figured out Wells threw something at me that took me completely by surprise. It’s safe to say that I didn’t find Partials the least bit predictable.

I’m not going to lie, sometimes I found myself wishing Kira would make the easy decision, but I can ultimately appreciate that it was a part of her personality. You’re probably thinking that sounds bad, but someone would fall down dead in a battle and she’d be all “I need to help them!” and I’m sitting there thinking “He’s dead! Run! Save yourself!” But like I said, I can appreciate that it’s just a flaw of her character.

I quite liked Samm and was incredibly surprised when a love triangle didn’t sprout up because of him. Marcus was a fantastic guy, but I’m not going to lie, if a love triangle were to pop up I’d be all about the Samm. I mean, this is a guy who saved Kira instead of himself (I won’t say any more than that for fear of spoiling).

The storyline of Partials was fantastic. I was a little bored in the beginning. It’s not that it was really going too slowly, but it just took a bit for me to get immersed into the story, but once I did I was never bored. Don’t let the size scare you off because once you get into the story you won’t even realize how quickly you’re turning the pages.

I also really appreciated that we got a few answers, but enough questions were left to leave me wanting more.

The Nutshell: Though it might take a little bit to get fully immersed in the story, Partials is definitely worth the read. There are plot twists and turns that Wells throws at the reader out of the blue and plenty of action but still enough down time to appreciate the finer aspects of the story. If you love dystopian and having your mind blown multiple times, read Partials.

Pages: 468
Series: Partials #1
Rating: Hit

Croak by Gina Damico {Review}

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Publish Date: March 20, 2012

Source: ARC from contest
Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her upstate off to Upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort's true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.He's a Grim Reaper. And he's going to teach her the family business.Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon capping her Targets like a natural born Killer.Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice -- or is it vengeance? -- whenever she's forced to Kill a murder victim, crazing to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die -- that is, people who aren't supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent -- Lex's curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows at the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage -- or will she ditch Croak and join in?

Croak started off pretty slow, but I found myself really enjoying it by then end. At first everything seemed really predictable. I just thought the story would end up being about Lex’s adventures as a Grim over the summer but it ended up being a lot more exciting than that.

This book is definitely an acquired taste. If you’re not a fan of sardonic characters then you should probably resolve to never read Croak since it’s chock-full of them. I find these types of characters to usually only be okay, but everyone really grew on me as I read, especially the side characters. Lex was good and all, but I really like Uncle Mort, Driggs, and the rest of the lot. Maybe I just admire the way they were able to put up with Lex’s crappy attitude :P

And let me just warn all you spider-haters out there (myself included) there is one chapter that will have you wanting to run in your room, stuff all the cracks and crevices, and hide under your covers. Even touching the book gave me the willies after reading that part!

I really liked all the eccentricities that made up croak and working in the death business. It was unique and, though morbid at times, enjoyable to read about.

The Nutshell: If you’re a fan of dark humor you’ll probably really enjoy Croak. There’s a bit of mystery thrown in so it’s not just all about how Lex spent her summer as a Grim, and of course, there’s a little romance as well. Though I wasn’t able to connect with Lex I found all the side characters rather enjoyable and complete. I’m looking forward to the sequel!

Pages: 311

Series: Croak #1

Rating: Hit

Cinder by Marissa Meyer {Review}

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publish Date: January 3, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the ruthless Lunar People watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl...
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysteruous past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

So I’ve just finished Cinder and I’m left thinking “but…where’s the rest?” Don’t get me wrong, it had a nice ending, but I want MORE. And I’m a little confused as to whether we’ll ever get to read more about Cinder and Kai or if that’s the end of the road for them.

Going into it, I kind of figured I’d love it since 1) I really like scifi and 2)everyone’s been raving about it for ages. I kind of wish I’d had less expectations, but not because it tainted my love for Cinder or anything, just because I really wish my love for it could have been more of a surprise. Awesome books are pretty much the best surprises ever.

Okay, let’s talk about the actual book now. It is for reals amazing. The characters all have full personalities whether I they’re likable or not and the world is incredibly detailed. I never even found myself wanting for more backstory or anything of the sort.

I’d heard some people saying they couldn’t really see the Cinderella parallels, but they seemed pretty obvious to me. That’s not a complaint, though. I really loved the way the fairytale was integrated into the new story. Cinder didn’t feel any lesser because it was based off of a fairytale. Cinder was able to stand on its own two feet (or one regular and one cyborg foot) as a story and it does an absolutely fantastic job of being a fairytale spinoff. I know it’s hard to believe that scifi Cinderella works, but it definitely does.

The Nutshell: I know this is a terrible review and I’ll never be able to do Cinder justice, but believe me when I say that it’s a book worth your time. If you like scifi, fairytale spinnoffs, and strong lead firls this is definitely the book for you. I advise not waiting around any longer to read this one :]

Pages: 387

Series: Lunar Chronicles #1

Rating: Direct Hit

The Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith {Review}

Publisher: Poppy

Publish Date: January 2, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Can I pretty please just hug this book right now?

For reals, I adored The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. I love everything from the fact that Oliver is adorably British to the title being an inside joke from the story.

For some reason, I was under the impression that this whole story took place in an airport and on a plane. Don’t ask me where the idea came from since now that I think about it it makes no sense that 24 whole hours would be spent between those two places. I think it was probably for that reason that the airport and plane were my favorite parts of the story, but I still really enjoyed the other parts as well.

I also love that fact that everything that happens is a little unlikely, but the title of the story already tells you that. Yes, it’s unlikely that you’ll meet a super cute British guy at the airport and end up next to him on the same flight, but it’s still possible and that’s the important part.

Speaking of cute British guys…yeah, Oliver is basically awesome. He’s funny and cute and…British! Yay for accents ;] Plus, he has green eyes and I’ve always been a sucker for those.

If you’ve read a review about this book you’ve probably heard about how it’s not just a love story. How it’s also about Hadley’s relationship with her dad. And I’m sure, like me, you kept thinking “yeah, but what about the kissing?!?” But really, the kissing is awesome and important, but so is the father-daughter relationship. Though I’d never gone through a parents’ divorce I still felt I could relate to Hadley and her thoughts.

The Nutshell: There is kissing and it’s awesome. There is a confused teen girl and she’s easy to relate with. There’s a father-daughter that needs some working through and it’s interesting to see. There’s unbelievable chance meetings and it’s swoon-making and fantastic. If those things don’t convince you then don’t forget there’s a cute British guy ;]

Pages: 236
Series: No

Rating: Direct Hit

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi {Review}

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publish Date: January 3, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, aznd 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 names 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.

Under the Never Sky was so much more than I expected. I went into it with somewhat low expectations because of all the not-so-stellar reviews I’ve come across, but I needn’t have worried about those.

When it comes to dystopian, I’m usually most attracted to shiny futuristic technology and while that does take a part in Under the Never Sky the majority of the story occurs out in the wilderness and I was surprised by how much this didn’t bother me at all. I actually found it new and interesting to be reading about something so different than the usual.

Also, while there are terrible beasts and animals that need to be worried about, Perry and Aria’s journey wasn’t ALL about worrying about them. They were also worried about food and the storms and shelter and getting to their destination on time.

And then there’s Aria. At first she doesn’t know what to do with herself and is basically just waiting around for death to overcome her, BUT THEN. But then she turns into this super awesome butt-kicking person and it’s pretty much awesome squared.

Oh yes, and I can’t forget to mention Perry. He’s got the tough-on-the-outside-mushy-gushy-heart-in-the-middle thing going for him. His mushy gushy heart doesn’t make too many appearances, but when it does, be prepared for the swoon.

One random thing: I kept picturing Perry with black hair instead of blond. I think that might be because most dystopian dudes have black hair :P

And guys, there’s kissing. And it’s a slow burn, so there’s that ;]

The Nutshell: Under the Never Sky will surprise you by breaking out of the dystopian norm and the end result is one fantastic story. All the intricacies from the Aether to the beasts in the wild had me wondering what would come at me next. If you like dystopian, slow burn romance, unknowing-girl turned-bad-a**, and swoon-worthy guys then this is definitely the book for you.

Pages: 374

Series: Under the Never Sky #1

Rating: Direct Hit

Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom {Review}

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Publish Date: January 10, 2012
Source: Library
Goodreads

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heel? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her. Ian, who promised her the most amazing night and prom. And then ditched her.

Let’s start with characters. Justina was your typical, high school girl overthinking everything and jumping to conclusions, but she was also one determined girl. I mean, if I had a night like her, I would have been on the ground somewhere just bawling my eyes out, defeated. Justina wasn’t like that, though. Yeah, she cried a few times, but then she got back up and continued on her way.

The Mikes deserve a little highlight because I think them along with Serenity and Bliss were my favorite characters. Sure, they’re stoners, but they’re sweet, thoughtful stoners :]

Now let’s go over the story. Yeah, it was crazy and zany, but it still managed to be believable. I loved that it was kind of a mystery that we got to discover and puzzle through along the way. I also really liked that because of the mystery I could go from liking a character to hating them to love them throughout the course of the story.

I loved how the stains on the dress incorporated into the story and I especially loved that there was a picture of something before each chapter that went along with that part of the night. Like a picture of the dress where curry was splattered on it. And the chapters without a dress picture had junk food titles which I found funny. I was desperately wanting nachos by the time I finished :P

The Nutshell: Ditched: A Love Story was a super cute, fun read. It was crazy, but in the best way possible. Justina is a character that really earned my respect with her determination, even if she made some bad decisions and assumptions. Chances are your prom was nothing like this, but you’ll definitely want to read about it!

Pages: 273

Series: No

Rating Hit

Starters by Lissa Price {Review}

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publish Date: March 13, 2012

Source: ARC from contest on Random Buzzers

Goodreads

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.
He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders -- seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party -- and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined...

Starters was both what I expected and a complete surprise.

I’m having some issues coming up with words today, so instead of paragraph form, we’re going to go with a list!

Likes:

1. The ending. I’m not a hater of cliffhangers, but I still really appreciate a book that very nearly wraps everything up, but leaves you with just enough questions that you’re left wanting the next book.

2. Callie. She was strong and usually knew exactly what she wanted which I can really respect. She never made any decisions that made me want to shake her which is a definite plus. She loved her brother and was willing to do anything for him. Heck, she even admitted when her love life was messed up. I really respected that.

3. The Old Man. Now, I know you think he shouldn’t be in the like category, but let me explain. He was perfectly creepy and a fantastic villain and that’s why he gets to be in the Like category. I don’t actually like him, of course :P

4. Renting. This idea reminded me somewhat of the show Dollhouse, but it was still unique. I actually thought it was interesting that people thought it was such a big no-no since they weren’t supposed to do anything damaging to the bodies. Not the I condone this type of thing.

5. The world. I really liked the fact that the world had futuristic things like airscreens, but still didn’t seem too far off.

Dislikes:

1. Blake and Callie. Upon finishing the book I can give it a little more credit, but it just felt kind of weird while I was still reading.

2. The past. I’m starting to feel like I’m never satisfied when it comes to backstory.

The Nutshell: Overall, Starters is a great dystopian with action, mystery, and just a little bit of romance. Callie is a respectable character with her love for her brother and her will to fight for what’s right. The world isn’t too heavy for those who’re wary of dystopian, but is still futuristic enough to satisfy us dystopian fanatics.

Pages: 336

Series: Starters #1

Rating: Hit

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne {Review}

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR
Publish Date: February 2, 2012

Source: Library

Goodreads

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Hollbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast.
But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.
Faye knows she's the reason, bu what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her -- and the rest of the world, too.

Harbinger was…strange. That’s honestly the best word I can think of to describe it. I’d say it’s a strange that falls onto the side of good-strange, though.

It took a while for me to really get into the story because I knew there was something more than just a regular ol’ boarding school story there. The only indication of that was the red hands, though and the synopsis had already told me about that. I wanted something more and I just wasn’t getting it. Ask and you shall receive, right? Harbinger definitely delivered on the “different” front by the end.

Sadly, though it was definitely different, it still didn’t quite work for me. It felt a bit like the ending was just kind of thrown at me. Like there wasn’t really much easing into it and then BAM crazy ending. I did appreciate the ending to some degree, though. Before reading I’d heard a lot of people wanting to know whether this was a standalone (it is) which usually means some sort of cliffhanger-like ending and I like my standalone endings to be tied up nicely. I needn’t worry, though, because I ended up being rather satisfied with the ending.

The Nutshell: Harbinger is strange. A sort-of good strange, in my opinion, but incredibly strange nonetheless. If you like strange, dying worlds, and/or reform/boarding schools, you’ll find at least something in Harbinger for you.

Pages: 309

Series: No

Rating: Near Miss (this is the first review with the new rating system and the explanation can be found to you right.)

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin {Review}

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Publish Date: March 1, 2012

Source: Publisher for honest review

Goodreads

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled -- by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends -- sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo -- Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.
Things start out great -- her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior's thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness...it doesn't mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters turned out to be a complete win.

I wasn’t really sure how I’d feel about it since contemporaries featuring younger main characters can be a little too silly for me, but this one wasn't like that at all. In fact, it completely reminded me of what I was like at that age. I won’t go so far as to say it reminded me of my freshman year since nothing very exciting ever happened to me, but it was certainly fun to read about.

I loved that Kelsey was so real. She had the same kind of thoughts I did at that age. You know the ones “my parents hate me and they just want me to be a loser forever” and “can he possibly like me? OMG he’s so cute!” I don’t exactly want to revisit that age long-term, but it was fun to feel like I was back there just for a few days.

I like the heavier stuff such as what happened with JoJo along with the kind of silly stuff such as what happened with the “old-fashioned root beer bottle.” Don’t worry, I won’t spoil, so you should totally read it for yourself. I loved that the whole story totally did document like a freshman year, though. There were friend fights and multiple crushes and first kisses.

I only have one teeny tiny complaint and that’s the alcohol use. Maybe I was a sheltered 14-year-old,but I never saw that much alcohol in my freshman year. It just seemed unnecessary is all.

The Nutshell: This is an absolute fantastic contemporary. Don’t be afraid of a younger main character because Zeitlin really knows how to make it work. If you’re a freshman (or somewhere around the age) you’ll probably be able to relate to this book and if freshman year has long since passed then Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters will totally transport you back there. There’s cute boys, zany “disasters”, some girl fights, and even an arch-nemesis with caterpillars for eyebrows. If you’re looking for a fun, cute, and light read you should definitely pick this one up :]

Pages: 288

Series: No

Rating: 5 stars

The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbet {Review)

Publisher: HarperCollins Childrens

Publish Date: January 3, 2012
Source: Library

Goodreads

On their first day in Paris, Maya and her little brother, James, find themselves caught up in some very old magic. Houses with bronze salamanders for door handles, statues that look too much like Maya's own worried face, a man wearing sunglasses to hide his radiant purple yes...nothing is what it seems. And what does all that magic want from Maya?
With the help of a friendly boy named Valko, Maya discovers surprises hidden in her family tree -- grandmothers who walked in magic, a cousin so unremarkable she's actually hard to see, and a terrible family habit of betraying one's brother. And now the shimmering glass Cabinet of Earths, at the heart of all these secrets, has chosen Maya to be its new Keeper. As she untangles the ties between the Salamander House, the purple-eyed man, and the Cabinet of Earths, Maya realizes that her own brother may be in terrible danger. To save him, Maya must take on the magical underworld of Paris...before it is too late. 

Honestly, I’m desperately sad I didn’t like this one more.

I was attracted to The Cabinet of Earths because it sounded like a new and unique idea with a good heaping helping of adventure. I did end up experiencing a really new idea, but the adventure just kind of fell a little flat. I liked the Paris aspect of it, but it didn’t play into the story as much as I’d hoped.

There are mysteries that make you want to flip forward as fast as you can to find out what happens next and there are mysteries that make you want to flip backwards because you constantly feel like you missed something. I felt like I spent ¾ of the book with my forehead creased in confusion! Confusion definitely has its place in books, but this one just didn’t work for me.

The story wasn’t all bad. I really appreciated Maya’s love and commitment to her family. The cabinet and all its elements were pretty fascinating as well. I wish it had been in the story a little more.

The Nutshell: All in all, The Cabinet of Earths wasn’t a win for me, but it had a few good elements. The fantastical elements with the cabinet and earths was interesting, the Paris setting was good, and Maya was a good protag who loved her family more than anything. My biggest complaint lies in the fact that the story simply didn’t draw me in.

Pages: 272

Series: Maya and Valko #1

Rating: 3 stars

Above World by Jenn Reese {Review}

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publish Date: February 14, 2012

Source: Publisher for honest review

Goodreads

Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean, just like all the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after remaining hidden from the Above World for centuries, her colony is now in trouble, its survival in doubt -- the tech that allows the Kampii to breathe underwater is beginning to fail. Yet the colony's elders are unwilling to venture to the dry and dangerous Above World to search for answers.
So it's up to Aluna and her friend Hoku to face the terrors of land to find a solution. Will Aluna's warrior spirit and Hoku's intelligence be enough not only to keep themselves safe but also to find a way to save their city and possibly the world?

Above World was a fast and crazy wild ride. When the book first starts you’re thrown into a shark attack within the first 5 pages! It was a bit jarring since my last book was pretty slow, but once I got used to it, it was rather enjoyable.

Jenn Reese creates a completely different world I never saw coming. I knew Above World would be a little different than anything else I’d read since the synopsis seemed to point to an underwater world without mermaids, but there’s so much more to the world than that. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, though, so I won’t get into too much. Reese’s descriptions of all the technology and how it was used kept blowing my mind, but in a good way.

Hoku was definitely my favorite character of the bunch. He was timid, but still managed to be strong when he needed to be. His character growth was the most natural. Aluna did grow as a character, but it seemed almost too manufactured. I really, really enjoyed the Aviars as a whole, but I don’t want to spoil them.

Zorro was so cool! I want one for myself :]

The Nutshell: Above World holds much more than an underwater world and its inhabitants view of the world above. There’s adventure, action, awesome characters, and a totally new earth in a strange future. From the instant you open the book you’re thrown into a whirlwind of activity and it doesn’t let up until you turn the last page. If you enjoy quick-paced middle grade and crazy futuristic worlds, you should definitely give this book a try.

Pages: 368

Series: Above World #1

Rating: 3.5 stars