Review: Never Fade

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction

Title: Never Fade (The Darkest Minds, #2)
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Published: October 2013
Read: May 2014
Rating: 5 / 5 stars

2:12AM-- I was engrossed with reading as I'mm only a hundred or two pages away from finishing the 2000+ pages of the ebook copy. Due to having overwhelming feels, I dropped my phone on my lip, a swollen lip now as I'm typing away. Truly worth it.

Alexandra Bracken does it again! Wooing us with words that are just too beautiful and taking us in an exhilarating journey. My god, this is just soooo damn good, so good that you'll find yourself pouring non-stop to finish it. It was addicting, a drug I'd love to possess. At this point, I will read everything she writes. Everything.

If The Darkest Minds is chock full of action, humor and romance, then Never Fade is chock full of ass-kicking action, sassy humor, and an indomitable romance. That cliffhanger is truly gasp worthy. It made me mad for I have to wait for October!

Oh, dear authors. It seems that you like killing my favorite characters. Can't you all just lay off? Really.... he is one of the characters that keeps it alive and engrossing to read. I loved him. It didn't feel nice crying at 3 AM. Oh my god, I'm going to cry agai---

Never Fade never had any dull moment unlike the well-known Dystopia novels out there (namely THG and etc ahem) and it will always, always keep you on your toes.

Review: Shadow and Bone

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, High Fantasy, Paranormal, Dystopia
Title: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: May 2012
Read: May 2014
Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars

The Shadow and Bone is such an interesting book. The concept of the Grisha is completely diverse and nothing like I have ever read before. The Grisha are referred to some as witches, some as heroes. We'd like to call them as magicians or super humans but in this world they are Grishas, the masters of the small science. There are a lot of terms to get by and I treasure books like this; well-researched and engrossing. I felt like I was in a different world filled with the want to be one of the Grisha.

To reach the complete beauty of this book lies with your knowledge about Leigh's concept. If you know nothing, the better. It will completely take you by surprise. 

Hands down, one of the best high-fantasy books out there.

Review: The Winner's Curse

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Dystopia
Title: The Winner's Curse
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: March 2014
Read: 4 / 5 stars

This book made me frustrated as hell, no, make it more than hell. It made me blush and swoon with a simple act. Good lord, he was just braiding her hair and there I was hugging my phone to no end. It made me crazily mad and I just wanted to scream, "can't you all just freaking get along?" There goes Kestrel being manipulative a diplomat which is really cool of her. As some would say, she is the shit. It made me want to read endlessly, ah, the writing is just so beautiful! Pure beauty of prose. Did I mention that it made me frustrated? Damn it! I'd like to tell everyone to suck it up!!!!!!!! Did I mention that the Arin, my future husband, is effortlessly lovable. There's just something in his rebel ways, broody moods and his mysterious motifs. His connection to Kestrel is undeniable and neither of them could resist it. THEN it just falls down. All of it. But I loved that part wherein their roles were switched. This taught Kerstel to fight, fight, and fight.

The cover and the synopsis lost me. I thought this was a The Selection-ish book, boy, I was wrong! I thank the god of the books for letting me find this book on goodreads. I thank the god of amazeballs for dropping a goop on Ms. Marie. I thank the god of sleep for overcoming me just a minute from now as I finish my review. And I swear to all of Arin's gods that if I don't my advance copy next year, I will go ninja on all of you.

Perfect for fans of Peterfreund's For Darkness Shows The Stars. It is a low-simmering historical YA that will keep you on your toes.

Review: Meant to Be

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Chick Lit
Title: Meant to Be
Author: Lauren Morrill
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Published: November 2012
Read: May 2014
Rating: 3.5 / 5 stars

Meant to Be is a novel filled of London, music, and laughter. It starts with the class in a trip to London (a free trip! Where can I sign up?) but poor Julia isn't too excited since her only friend wasn't allowed to come. Julia is your typical bookworm- planned travelogue, maps with hundreds of sticky notes, practically memorized everything even the dictionary for her SATs and not to mention she's kind of bitchy and stereotypes everyone. She's the kind of girl who wrapped herself in her little world and thinks that everyone is stupid. Everyone gets assigned with a buddy and must always be together, and alas, dear Julia is assigned with Jason. Now Jason is your typical douche bag- the endless flirting and the playing with love, lazy ass and troublesome guy. Julia hated him; hated everyone who seemed to be flirting and not composed or smart as she is. Soon, Jason slowly loosens up Julia and makes her break the rules, drink beer, flirt via text to her secret man, write his essay, and even stalk follow him around.

What a fun read! It had me grinning from the beginning until the end. Well, except the end. Yes, it had me swooning over the moon but the last chapter gave no justice. It felt like the Morrill just rushed the writing and crammed the "revelations" into one chapter. Thus, the three stars. Somebody remove the last chapter and I'll give this book four or four and a half stars!

Such a shame, really, really because I love the humor. Julia is a bookworm -ah, also a discriminating bitch. But I understand since she has been picked on far too long and resorted to just... making her own world; although smart, she is freaking delusional. Jason, oh Jason. What a douche you are! Your playboy ways, dirty jokes and lazy attitude. The way you kissed Julia.... kiss... oh my god. You know what? Just let me gaze in your bright blue eyes, let me hold your fiery red hair, and my toes will curl just like that. 

This book is quite predictable but it was a fun read! I can't lie but the "swapping" completely surprised me, that's what I only like in the last chapter. Of course, the kiss too. And the flowers. And the pocket Shakespeare. Maybe I just didn't like it to end.

Kidding, my gut just tells me the last chapter didn't do justice and I can't exactly tell why.

Thankyouverymuch, Lauren Morrill. I'd like to have a trip in London with a very obnoxious ginger head.

Reading time: Meant to Be

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Chick Lit
Title: Meant to Be
Author: Lauren Morrill
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Published: November 2012

Review: The Prince of Mist

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Spanish Literature
Title: The Prince Of Mist (El principe de la niebla) (Niebla, #1)
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Translator: Lucia Graves
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Published: May 2010 (First published: 1986)
Read: May 2014
Rating: 3.9 / 5 stars

The plot revolves the Carver family as they leave the city. It was a drastic and sudden move but inevitable since it's wartime. The family was devastated, except the father, but most of them tried to go along with the idea to appease their father's childlike personality. But strange things started to happen as soon as they left the platform: cats, strange dreams and accidents; only Max thought that something was fishy, not just coincidence. Max and Alicia found comfort in the presence of Roland as they tour the limited sights of the small village and soon their paths intertwine with the man in the lighthouse and the prince of mist.

Quite different with my usual read The Prince of Mist is a refreshing one. I'm really happy, since it did not disappoint me! It was short and the perfect blend of goth, horror and menace (I'd say pure, pure evil). I can't  really comment on the writing since this is a translated version, but the plot is so well and no doubt I'd have the jeepers if I would be given the chance (and the skill) to be able to read the original one.