(Review) Everlasting Bond - Christine M. Besze

Title: Everlasting Bond
Author: Christine M. Besze

Genre: Young Adult (Fantasy, Romance)
Format: ebook
Date Published: May 3, 2013
Amazon 

Summary (from Goodreads)

KATRINA DAVENPORT’S Junior year at Morgan Springs High starts off like any other—boring and routine. Little does she know, fate has other plans. COLE ALDRICH—a mysteriously attractive new addition has arrived and will change everything. Katrina's world is turned upside down, as secrets are revealed and the past comes back to find her. Will she succumb to her destiny or live to fight it?

Review:

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Big picture-wise, Everlasting Bond has it's own personality and charm. It tells the story of Katrina, a simple girl trying to live a normal life with her brother Jake and her mother who's recovering from cancer, who encounters a series of enigmatic characters who would turn her world into shambles. It's when these characters are introduced quite so cliche in the story that starts the problem within me. The paranormal aspect, vampires and werewolves , wasn't expounded enough in the beginning for me to get attached to it.

Katrina's whole personality throughout the whole ordeal made her come off as some sort of brat that only really thought about herself in the end. At some point she mentions "all the suffering she went through" and this was after Andrew told her how Cole and some others were in danger and have actually died to protect her. That really messed a lot of my sympathy points for her. She was violated, almost raped and harassed by different people. Her lack of conviction bothered me a lot. I wish Andrew and Jake's relationship were shown even more.

Overall, it was very difficult to be attached to the entire story except for some aspects that I found to be very good. Perhaps when Katrina finally decides what she wants and becomes a strong character by herself and the story could finally pick up.

Rating: ♚♚♚

(Review) Requiem (Delirium, #3) - Lauren Oliver

Title: Requiem (Delirium, #3)
Author: Lauren Oliver
Format: Finished Copy
Pages: 391 pages
Genre: Young Adult (Dystopia)
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date Published: March 05, 2013

Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads)

As her country erupts in open rebellion, Lena fights for the resistance and must make a heartbreaking choice between two loves.
After saving Julian from a death sentence, Lena escapes with him and other members of the resistance. But as she embraces her love for Julian, a boy from her past returns and causes her to question everything.
In the meantime, Lena's best friend, Hana, is engaged to Portland's young mayor and is living a safe, proscribed, loveless life. The story is told from both Lena and Hana's points of view.
As Lena struggles to save the people she loves, everything comes to a head in this exciting finale to Lauren Oliver's epic trilogy. REQUIEM is a sophisticated, wide-ranging novel that explores the large issues of society, government, and resistance, and of course, there is romance.

Review:

As much as I would love to rave about the ending (because the series as a whole was really enjoyable) I just can't help but think that that was probably one of the most underwhelming series endings I've ever read. 

The writing pattern was still switching between Hana and Lena, something that I really liked because it showed two sides of the same situation with Hana representing life within the Cureds and Lena's life in the Wilds. Both stories interested me enough, surprisingly, considering the fact that Hana doesn't really have an active hand in either side. She was just a trapped spectator. 

Also, I thought Lena was back to her "weak" stage after all the significant improvement she had in Pandemonium. I thought it was because Alex' sudden reappearance brought back some unresolved issues, not to mention her suspicion that he and Coral were getting too cozy. So many things happened in a short span of pages that it felt a little watered down and it's impact lessened. Lu's betrayal to the group, the appearance of Lena's mother and Alex' sudden disappearance would've given the story more depth if only a little more time were spent on it. 

Even the revelation of Hana's betrayal was a little bleak, and the way Lena handled it wasn't how I expected the "new" Lena to handle it though I guess it was also the fact that she might've missed her best friend that's why she couldn't act out any aggressively. What Hana did pretty much ruined Lena, and all she got was a measly slap on the face? The new Lena would've fought her, regardless of their previous status. 

Alex and Lena's newfound affection for each other wasn't explored at all in the end, something that I found to be terribly disappointing on it's own. After all the build-up from the first two books and the introduction of Julian, the culmination that it got was "Do you still love me?"...I seriously found it be very underwhelming. 

All in all, it was very vague and open-ended. I haven't read any review of it anywhere that doesn't state this. A "requiem" is supposed to be the culmination of something great and I felt like i got served cold pie.

Rating: ♚♚♚

(Review) Changeling (Order of Darkness, #1) - Philippa Gregory

Title: Changeling (Order of Darkness, #1)
Author: Philippa Gregory
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 256 pages
ISBN: 9780857077301
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Date Published: May 29, 2012

Summary (from Goodreads)

Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect: The Order of the Dragon, commissioned by Pope Nicholas V to investigate evil and danger in its many forms, and strange occurrences across Europe, in this year—the end of days.

Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape.

Despite their vows, despite themselves, love grows between Luca and Isolde as they travel across Europe with their faithful companions, Freize and Ishraq. The four young people encounter werewolves, alchemists, witches, and death-dancers as they head toward a real-life historical figure who holds the boundaries of Christendom and the secrets of the Order of the Dragon.

Review:

I dove into Changeling expecting the same thrill and excitement that I had when I first read her The Cousins' War series but I never really got the same feelings. Nonetheless, I managed to finish the book with enough enthusiasm. 

It tells the story of young Luca and Isolde, although their paths don't cross until much later. There wasn't so much to go on with these two characters, and the relationship-aspect seemed a little too early to tell. I think it's a good way to showcase their individual values to the series instead of being immediately paired from the get go. 

The whole book was pretty much an exploration into their backgrounds with Luca being some sort of Inquirer sent by a secretive order that aims to get rid of evil in the world and Isolde's quest to claim what she thinks should be hers instead of of her brothers. It's said to be an alternate look at the confusion caused by the apparent fall of Constantinople that happens during the setting of the book. It was historically accurate, the way Philippa Gregory presents Isolde as an obedient lady of good standing who behaves according to 15th century traditions and beliefs. I have never doubted Gregory in this, but in a way Isolde was a headstrong lady as well in that she has honor in her words and actions. 

One of my favourite characters would be Ishraq, Isolde's mysterious female companion of Moorish descent. I think she provided a good comparison with how differently women were being treated during the time. We have Isolde, trained as a lady of high standing and Ishqar as a woman of physical and mental strength. They fit each other really well. 

All in all, the book fell a little boring that I almost put it down at times but interestingly enough, I just couldn't. It wasn't an easy read but it wasn't that difficult either. It just has enough potential that I may as well grab the second book. 

Rating: ♚♚♚

(Review) The Promise of Amazing - Robin Constantine

Title: The Promise of Amazing
Author: Robin Constantine
Format: ebook
Pages: 239 pages
ISBN: 9780062279507
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Date Published: December 31, 2013

Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads)

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.
Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.
One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love

Review:

This book was simple at best and boring at worst. It offered very little insight into whatever it was the author wanted to convey. Perhaps Robin Constantine merely wanted to explore a specific reality, but I wished she had done it more spectacularly. It fell a little flat for me, but I nonetheless soldiered on and finished it anyways.

The Promise of Amazing is nothing more than a story of breaking out of old shells, Wren and Grayson shedding their old skins and coming together despite their differences. Wren is a do-gooder, quiet type who manages to save Grayson's life when he was choking on a cocktail sausage. It wasn't a memorable meeting, not really, but the whole event seemed to have stuck to Grayson and he has since put himself in Wren's way every time he gets.

What follows is a back and forth of "are we together or are we not" that almost gave me a headache for it's cliche settings and tackiness. What I did not expect was that no matter how cheesy it got, I still read on. The whole dynamics of their relationship were really cute, except for the whole issue with Grayson's money-making scheme past and his not-really-best-friend Luke screwing him over because he wants to do weed and hookers in Amsterdam. 

The part I enjoyed the most was that despite of everything that Grayson has hidden from Wren, she manages to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think that's a really good quality in a person, to not judge someone especially if you feel it in your gut that there might be something serious behind why he'd hide something from you. Not jumping to conclusions can make or break something good. And hearing Wren finally own up to her own mistakes was very refreshing towards the end. She has grown into a responsible lady and fully accepts the consequences of her actions, even if it led to her relationship with her dad being a little strained. Making your own mistakes is good, learning from them is even better and I feel like the change in Wren has done her good. In this aspect, I think the book has got it right. 

Rating: ♚♚♚

(Review) Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1) - Jamie McGuire

Title: Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1)
Author: Jamie McGuire
Format: ebook
ISBN: 2940012575814
Publisher: Jamie McGuire LLC
Date Published: May 26th 2011

Summary (from Goodreads)

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

Review: 

Wow.

Seriously not what i expected at all. Travis and Abby didn't seem like the kind of people who'd get along at first but you can see how much Travis gets drawn to Abby and her to him as the story progresses. It conveyed a semi-realistic, not always relatable college atmosphere, but i like it anyways. 

The dynamics between the relationships of the characters were also interesting, considering Travis seems to be ticked off by random things, sometimes i thought he was borderline. His initial "fixation" to Abby didn't really help in changing my perspective of him. Abby's inability to keep her decisions for a long time seems to parallel how most women go back and forth with their decisions and in this case, it's good for their relationship since she too seems to have a one-track mind. It helps her, and the other characters explore the consequences of their actions. 

I wouldn't say Abby was gullible, but i would've liked her more if she wasn't so easily swayed, or were firm and honest with her intentions. Overall, it's a good read :)

Rating:♚♚♚

(Review) Ink (Paper Gods, #1) - Amanda Sun

Title: Ink (Paper Gods, #1) - Amanda Sun

Author: Amanda Sun

Format: epub

ISBN: 978-0373210718

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Date Published: June 25, 2013

Summary (from Goodreads)

Ink is in their blood.

On the heels of a family tragedy, Katie Greene must move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn't know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks and she can't seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

When Katie meets aloof but gorgeous Tomohiro, the star of the school's kendo team, she is intrigued by him…and a little scared. His tough attitude seems meant to keep her at a distance, and when they're near each other, strange things happen. Pens explode. Ink drips from nowhere. And unless Katie is seeing things, drawings come to life.

Somehow Tomo is connected to the kami, powerful ancient beings who once ruled Japan—and as feelings develop between Katie and Tomo, things begin to spiral out of control. The wrong people are starting to ask questions, and if they discover the truth, no one will be safe.

Review:

This book started a little....off for me. First off, It immediately jumps into the story and throws the reader in a conversation filled with Japanese words which I didn't really expect. If it wasn't for the story being heavily anchored to Japan, i would've easily pegged this story as something many people on the internet would call a "weeaboo". I'm glad that Amanda Sun has managed to avoid that by making sure that the Japanese culture aspect of the story is nailed to the ground. 

Katie Greene's mother died eight months prior to the beginning of the story, and due to her mother's will and her grandparents' medical condition, she has to stay with her mother's sister who resides in Japan. She has tried to live her life as average as she could, but an encounter with a mysterious guy named somehow changed her life forever. The whole dynamics of their relationship reminded me a lot of Twilight. Tomohiro being the dark and mysterious character that Katie must avoid if she wants any normality in her life. Despite the many attempts to avoid each other, they still manage to get very close. Many parts of the story did look typically "manga/anime"-ish what with the whole beach episode, but I didn't really mind it that much. The whole story also included the Yakuza, who were after Tomohisa's power. After that dangerous encounter, they managed to escape with the help of another one of Tomohisa's kind only this time they were made to pick between being together or separating for the good of themselves and everyone else. The whole "we're kami and we don't have to put ourselves in the shoes of human so let's just take over like before" opened up a little too late towards the end, which I wish was introduced earlier on.

The part where the author suggests that Katie was somehow connected to something so intrinsically Japanese as the "Kami" without even hinting at any Japanese connection to her was a little weird to me, but I guess that would be explained deeper in the later books. 

Rating:  ♚♚♚

(Review) We'll Always Have Summer (Summer, #3) - Jenny Han

Title: We'll Always Have Summer

Author: Jenny Han

Format: epub

ISBN: 9781416995586

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Date Published: April 26th 2011

Summary (from Goodreads)

It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.

Review:

You have no idea how happy I am that i'm finally done reading this series. I'm not saying it in a bad way, but more like it was getting a little frustrating read Belly (or should I say "Isabel") going back and forth with her feelings between Jeremiah and Conrad. It felt like she was pushing the decision to the both of them and she can't decide what she must feel for herself. 

Maybe it's her somewhat sheltered and closed-off upbringing that made her somewhat unable to understand how people normally behave in college, but her entire reaction to Jeremiah cheating on her or why Conrad decided to leave was very frustrating. Even after finding out that Jeremiah slept with someone else during their so-called break, she still accepted his careless proposal of marriage. That did it for me. It's like she didn't grow up at all. The only part that I really enjoyed was her standing up to her mother. I get that Lauren was only looking for her daughter's well-being, and if she only knew what Jeremiah did she would have flipped at her daughter's decision to accept their proposal but I really enjoyed watching Belly stand her ground. She needed it, i think. 

I expected more from Jenny Han, but perhaps it's just inherently "Belly" that i'm disappointed in. The book ended a bit abrupt and I'm kinda glad it did. It was a fairly enjoyable read and i'm still looking forward to reading another Jenny Han book soon. 

Rating:♚♚♚

(Review) The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer, #1) - Jenny Han

 

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Author: Jenny Han

Format: epub

ISBN:  9781416968238

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 

Date Published: May 05, 2009

Summary (from Goodreads)

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.

Review:

Many of my fellow rosy bloggers on Tumblr have listed this book as their favorite, and as much as I admit to reading YA, I have not heard of Jenny Han nor this book before. I've been warned about Belly’s less-than-charming attitude towards certain situations in the book but that wasn't nearly enough to dissuade me from reading.

First off, Jenny Han’s writing is simplistic with enough descriptions for the imagery. I think it complements Belly’s personality really well and it also gave the whole story a realistic feel. I’d like to find a teen that talks like they’re always in deep contemplation during summer at a beach-front house! It was in-depth enough to give dimension to the characters, although some points i felt like the issues that connected the elders with the teens were dropped on to the reader a bit slowly and then all at once. 

Second, Belly’s attitude is a bit off-putting. I think that confrontation with her and Conrad really hit the nail on the head. Or maybe I just need to cut her some slack for acting like a fifteen-year-old who was mostly confused with how to deal with her emotions. And it wasn't like Conrad was any better. They had shitty attitudes, but that just lends the story more realism and I think that’s part of the appeal of the book. I've seen many people profess their hate for Belly, but personally I think if she was written out to be any less imperfect than she is, it would have been boring. A completely-pleasant girl in a love triangle with hot boys with the sun and sea in the backdrop would have put me off!

Lastly, not only does it deal with real-life issues like parental divorce and illness, I think it’s one of the best coming-of-age stories in the way that it doesn’t sugarcoat the inevitable changes in one’s life. I am excited to pick the next book in the series when I can, the end left me both satisfied and curious!

Rating:♚♚♚