Review: Monster High

Tags

high school, monster high, monsters, young adult

From Lisi Harrison, the New York Times bestselling author of The Clique and Alphas, comes a new series with a fresh twist on high school, romance, and the “horrors” of trying to fit in.

The monster community has kept a low profile at the local high school, but when two new girls enroll, the town will never be the same. Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father’s formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and prom.

But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters stalking the halls, Frankie learns that high school can be rough for a chic freak like her. She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver-but can a “normie” be trusted with her big secret?

I really enjoyed this spunky book. It was full of great characters and a brilliant and very clever storyline. It’s about two girls just wanting to fit in, both feeling they don’t or really want to. Frankie was brilliant, she was full of energy and life, she just wanted to be accepted and could see no reason not to be, even if she was made in her father’s lab rather than born.

Melody doesn’t want to be liked for what’s on the outside but rather what’s on the inside. She wants people to see the real her. She makes friends quickly and her interactions with Jackson are hilarious.

I loved Jackson’s secret, it was very smart and interesting to read.I hope we hear more from him in later books, it would not be the same without him.

The RAD or RIP is brilliant, I was wondering how they would all know who each other was. It’s good they have a place to show who they really are. I was hoping when I started this that everyone in the town would be a monster but it’s not so, still a great idea, get lots of funny interactions with humans.

I will be reading the next one soon.

4 out of 5 stars

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Review: On Fire

When Eric breaks the camp lighter and the fire goes out, the castaways are in real trouble. That fire is their source of heat, smoke signals, and, most importantly, clean water. No one is having much luck getting the fire going, but when Jackson gets very sick from drinking unsanitized water, the heat is really on. Can they get the fire lit again before it’s too late for one of their own?

This one had a lot more that was not in the T.V. series which was great, it still kept the same feelings and general awesomeness. I am loving getting to know the characters better, especially Lex, he is coming into he own. I feel sorry for him, he always saves the day yet he is always overlooked.

I felt that Jackson in those was portrayed as a bit of an asshole. He made a stupid decision, I am not sure it was meant like that but it seems he didn’t care about his health as where in the T.V. show the same choice was because he did it so someone else didn’t have to.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series, the final book, should be a great read.

4 stars out of 5

ARC Review: All Fall Down

Tags

ally carter, embassy row, young adult

This exciting new series from NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter focuses on Grace, who can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world, and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she’s come back to stay–in order to solve the mystery of her mother’s death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have been reading a lot of Ally Carter lately and really enjoying it. This book was no exception, it was fun, maybe a little similar to the two other series I have started by this author but not enough to put me off.

I liked Grace she was a great main character, with everything that had happened she was so sure of herself. It was nice to see her making friends, and they had confidence in her, even when she didn’t.

The idea of Embassy road was really clever, it was a good way for the characters to interact. The county it was in confused me a little because it’s not a country it’s a region in Italy, unless the author knows more than I do.

The ending was amazing, did not see it coming at all. There was plenty of scenarios as to what could happen running through my head but I never even got close to what happened.

I am looking forward to the next one in the series. I hope Alexei is in it again.

4 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Imitation

Tags

dystopian, fantasy, young adult

Everyone is exactly like me. There is no one like me.

Ven wrestles with these contradicting truths every day. A clone of wealthy eighteen-year-old Raven Rogen, Ven knows everything about the girl she was created to serve: the clothes she wears, the boys she loves, the friends she loves to hate. Yet she’s never met the Authentic Raven face-to-face.

Imitations like Ven only get to leave the lab when they’re needed—to replace a dead Authentic, donate an organ, or complete a specific mission. And Raven has never needed Ven . . . until now.

When there is an attack on Raven’s life, Ven is thrust into the real world, posing as Raven to draw out the people who tried to harm her. But as Ven dives deeper into Raven’s world, she begins to question everything she was ever told. She exists for Raven, but is she prepared to sacrifice herself for a girl she’s never met?

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The beginning of the story reminded me very much of the film The Island starring Ewan McGregor. I was a little worried it would be too alike, but I was pleasantly surprised how different the story turned out to be.

It was a great story that kept me guessing the whole way through. I never really knew the bad guys were and what they wanted. There was always something happening.

Ven was a really good main character, she never settled for her lot in life until she realised in doing so could help save many people.

Linc was an interesting love interest. He was conflicted until he found out what was going on, but he was a strong and loyal character which was great.

Overall it was a great book and I looking forward to the next one in the series.

4 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: A Gift of Ghosts

Akira Malone believes in the scientific method, evolution, and Einstein’s theory of relativity. And ghosts.

All the logic and reason in the world can’t protect her from the truth—she can see and communicate with spirits. As far as she’s concerned, though, her ability is a genetic quirk and the ghosts she encounters are simply leftover electromagnetic energy. Dangerous electromagnetic energy.

Zane Latimer believes in telepathy, precognition, auras, and that playing Halo with your employees is an excellent management technique. He also thinks that maybe, just maybe, Akira can help his family get in touch with their lost loved ones.

But will Akira ever be able to face her fears and accept her gift? Or will Zane’s relatives be trapped between life and death forever?

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It’s similar to the ghost whisperer, but not enough to make it boring. It had a lot of extra and exciting parts. The idea of everyone in the town having unique talents and accepting each others quirks, reminded me a lot of Eureka. It was a really nice touch to an exciting book.

It was good to learn with Akira about ghosts, for she did not know that much and she was learning along the way.

I really enjoyed how Akira was not the only one with talents, it was good to see others put theirs to good use. There were some interesting and unique talents.

The story was well written and beautiful. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

4 out of 5 stars.

Review: Scratch

The group is back in real time after the enormous storm. Jackson and his motley crew will have to start from scratch, but there’s a mutiny afoot.

The story is progressing nicely and there was a change from the t.v. series which was good since I felt I knew the story too well. I am still loving the story and the characters are interesting. I like how each one has their own individual personality but they are growing as a group.

I am looking forward to reading the next book. I cannot remember exactly what happens next so will be good to find out.

4 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Fifteen

Tags

young adult

Legend has it if you die in your dreams, you die in real life. Fifteen-year-old Ashling Campbell knows that’s not true because when she closes her eyes each night, she doesn’t dream about public nudity or Prom dates. Instead, she’s catapulted to the front row of her future self’s execution – fifteen years from now – where monsters have taken control of her hometown and she, or rather, her 30-year-old counterpart, is their public enemy number one.

For three months and counting, it’s been the same dream… until an encounter with an antique dreamcatcher. Ash falls asleep to discover she’s no longer a mere spectator in these dreams – now she’s astral-projecting into the body of her future self. Each night, she goes on the run with a ragtag group of rebels – who have no idea she’s really a high school sophomore and not their noble warrior. She has to make it through each night so that she can wake up and find a way to change the future. For every action she does in the present day, she falls asleep to discover it had an equal impact fifteen years later. It’s up to her to manage her two worlds and make sure she’s still got a place in both.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was an interesting concept, she was dreaming herself in the future, a world so different from our own, a world she didn’t understand. It got worse when she didn’t just see it happen she became the object of the dream, anything that happened to her future self happened to her too.

I thought this was interesting, well written and a nice story. But unfortunately I was only in like and not in love. I felt the characters were a little bland and even though the story was exciting I didn’t feel much of a connection with it. I didn’t feel like I was part of the story, like an amazing book does. Don’t get me wrong it was a good book, but I sometimes think when you have read some really good books the next few will be judged badly. I am worried that’s what happened to this one. Although I tried to be as fair to the book as possible.

Tate seemed like an unnecessary character, I could have lived without him, yes he helped the plot move along but there were other characters who could have done this too.

The idea of time travel through her dream was a brilliant idea and it was what kept me reading to the end. It kept me interested and overall I enjoyed this book.

3.5 stars out of 5

ARC Review: The Copper Witch

“Ambition or Love” Adela Tilden has always been more ambitious than her station in life might allow. A minor nobleman’s daughter on a failing barony, Adela’s prospects seem dire outside of marrying well-off. When Adela catches the eye of the crown prince, Edward, however, well-off doesn’t seem to be a problem. Thrown into a world of politics and intrigue, Adela might have found all the excitement she ever wanted-if she can manage to leave her past behind.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I love the cover it is beautiful.

The premise of the book was exciting and engaging. I was a little disappointed there was no reference to where and when it took place.

The story was intriguing, I had no idea where it was going most of the time, which was a good thing. I felt drawn into the story and I wanted more, I always wanted more. Unfortunately I wanted more at the end too. I have no idea what happened to the characters. I know it’s a series but each new book has a different main character and it would have been good to know what happened to these ones.

Adela was a good main character, although she acted too old for her 15 years. She was very sexually forward and promiscuous. She had an allure that some thought was magical, I would have liked to find out if that was the case or not. I know it is called the Copper Witch, but it was never confirmed or even hinted at strongly that she was a witch.

Edward was a good character, not really a great King since he put his own feelings above his countries, although it seemed to work out for the kingdom.

Antony was interesting. He was one of the only constant characters throughout the whole book, he kept popping even when he shouldn’t of. He seemed a good character at first but then he got careless and let his sexual instincts drive him.

This was beautifully written, with great characters and a great storyline, but more setting was needed. I like my historical fiction but I like to know when and where it is set. If it had this I think I would have given it 5 stars.

If the next story focused on the same characters I would read it, the way it is, I am not sure I will.

4 stars out of 5.

Review: Bend it like Beckham

Jess just wants to play football, but her wedding-obsessed parents have other ideas so she hides it from them. But when Jess and her friend Jules join a ladies team and get spotted by a talent scout, it all kicks off!

I love the film and I love the book. It was exactly like the film, I am pretty sure the film was made first since Jess’s scar was in it, that was put in the film because the actress had one. The dialogue was exactly the same. I did really enjoy it though. I was saying all the lines in my heads in the actors’ voices and accents.

The story-line was good, it could have been deeper on cultural differences and given the story some depth but it was a good quick read that reminded me of my teenage years.

I think it would have been better of there was more of a difference between the book and the film. I am not likely to read it again since I can just watch the film and get the exact same story.

4 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Part-Time Princess

Hold tight to your tiara, grab your scepter and be prepared for the New Adult hilarious, modern-day romantic-comedy ride of your life!

Rated PG-13 and mildly R for:

Sexual innuendo.
Hot Guys.
Hot Guys who are Princes.
Flirting.
Romance.
The occasional naughty word.
The occasional naughty royal fantasy.
The occasional naughty deed.
Romance.
Castles.
Ladies-in-Waiting.
Parties!
Cocktails.
A puppy.
Gowns.
Intrigue.
Chocolate.
Champagne.
A Royal Wedding!
Comedy.
Sexiness.
More Romance.
And—a Happily-Ever-After Ending (Just not the way you expected it!)

Lucy Trabbicio’s a down-on-her-luck, young, American, former biker-bar cocktail waitress desperate to find a job. Lady Elizabeth Billingsley hires Lucy to travel to Fredonia, the tiny jewel of a country in the Alps, for ten days ‘tops’ to impersonate her.

Say what? How the heck is that going to happen?

In the mother of all makeovers, Elizabeth’s people teach Lucy how to dress, walk, talk, eat, be coiffed and even get naked like a European Lady.

The goal?

To keep Crown Prince Cristoph Timmel interested in Elizabeth until she finishes her unexpected, pressing personal business in the States.

But fate intervenes… Lucy meets and is wildly attracted to sexy, bad-boy Nick on the oh-so-long flights to Fredonia. Unfortunately for Lucy—Nick and Elizabeth have a hot sexual history, which Nick wants to immediately resume.

Prince Cristoph proposes marriage. What’s an imposter girl to do? Elizabeth insists that she’ll make it back home in time for the wedding. Lucy accepts Cristoph’s proposal and is on the fast track to becoming a Princess but continues to fall for the wrong Prince of Fredonia—Nick. When another tiny glitch arises—someone’s trying to kill her.

The only folks helping Lucy are her wild, party hard, take-no-prisoners Ladies-in-Waiting.

When the real Lady Elizabeth decides she’s not marrying Cristoph and never returning to Fredonia, Lucy’s faced with an uncomfortable decision—continue her deception, marry the prince she’s not in love with and live a dream life albeit without Nick, her dream guy? Or tell the truth and return to poverty and oblivion?

A modern day, sexy tale with romance, twists and turns, LOL moments, a few tears and an empowering ending.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book took me a lot to get into. I didn’t feel like the wit started until half way into the book and by that point I was bored. It wasn’t a bad story I just felt like there were major plot holes and very drab scenarios.

The major plot hole that annoyed me the most was that no-one noticed it wasn’t Lizzie, so no-on noticed her change in voice, accent and mannerisms, not even her father and her closest friends. Seems very unrealistic to me. It made me annoyed every-time one of those characters came up. The only person that seemed to notice anything was Nick and she pushed him away.

I have to be honest after half way through I skimmed the rest, my interest was not being held.

There were some great plot twists and some brilliant characters, but I just wanted more. The first half was just not exciting enough, it was pretty bland and very monotone.

3 out of 5 stars