Vampire Academy

I remember buying this book, reading the first chapter and deciding for some reason I didn't like it (maybe it was too soon after Twilight or something), so I gave it away. For a few weeks I have been hearing my friends on The Bookshelf Facebook page talking about how great this series is...so I figured I should give it another try....sooo glad I did!





There are so many vampire books out there, that trying to find something that is new and out of the ordinary (and not a Twilight knock off) can be hard to find. Now you all know that I LOVE the Morganville Vampire series...well....I think this one will come in as a close contender! I sooo fell in love with this book!





The characters in this book are amazing! Rose is a kick a** dhampir...someone born to be a "guardian" of a Moroi...a vampire by birth...not to be confused with the Strigoi...those who were turned, either a Moroi, a human or a dhampir. She is so sarcastic, fun loving, brutally honest, and a lot reckless. Lissa is a Moroi...a Princess no less. She is quiet and unsure and slowly feeling herself go crazy! She and Rose share a bond that no other Moroi and dhampir share...a bond that enables Rose to feel Lissa's emotions and sometimes slip into her head and see what she is doing.

Of course you can't have a vampire novel without hot vampire guys! Well in Vampire Academy Guardian Dimitri is hotter than any vampire...hands down! Chosen to help protect Lissa and to be Rose's trainer/mentor, he never signed on to have feelings for one of them. Then there is Christian whose parent's chose to be Strigoi...the worst thing a Moroi can ever do. He is an outcast and loner, but one of the girls might just change that, and he might change her too.

As in life there is no shortage at the Academy of revenge, hook-ups, lies, fights and power plays. As Lissa and Rose manuever through this they must also keep their secrets, keep each other safe and find out exactly what is going on! With this dream team nothing is impossible!

There were so many twists and turns in this book that when the end finally came I had NO IDEA! It was a nice change from some of the more predictable books I have read lately! I can't wait to see what other things are waiting in store for Lissa, Rose, Dimitri, and Christian...I can almost guarentee that it will not be smooth sailing!

I gave this book 4 apples!!

Kissed by an Angel

I don't know why photobucket won't let me get this book cover pictures on here...if anyone knows and can help me...let me know!

Anyway...this book was actually 3 books in one...which was nice. It was Kissed by an Angel, The Power of Love, and Soulmates. To me the titles of the books are extremely misleading in a way...but they are very good at forshadowing! In Kissed by an Angel we meet Ivy who has just transferred schools because her mom is marrying a man she has had an affiar with for years. She is very quiet and VERY into Angels. Tristian fell in love with Ivy the first time he saw her and has tried everything he can think of to make her notice him...all to no avail. But when Ivy has to overcome her fear of water a relationship blooms between the two. Unfortunatly, their romance is short lived, when a car accident takes Tristians life. Seriously that is where the first book ends...good thing I didn't have to wait for the next one :)!

I the Power of Love we see Ivy struggling to accept Tristains death and the newfound feelings she suddenly has for her stepbrother Gregory. Tristian finds himself back on earth only as an angel with a missions to fulfill before he can move on. With the help of his fellow angel Lacey, he tries to warn Ivy of the empending danger she faces. He also tries to hold onto her...while she tries to hold onto him as well. Her friends are starting to think she is crazy, and one by one it seems like everyone she loves is leaving her. Who can she trust? Suddenly Will Gregory's friend is trying to help protect Ivy...but should she trust him or not?

In Soulmates...we finally know who is after Ivy...and she has turned to Will for help and support...until one note destroys all that in a heartbeat. Will she be able to save not only herself but those she loves from what seems like an inevitable ending? If she makes it will she ever find love again, or will she always want what she can't have...Tristian?

I really liked this book. I thought it was a bit predictable, but then she would throw something at me and I would wonder...Ivy was a great character who tried so hard to keep her head up no matter what she faced. Will is the silent unsung hero and you can't help but pull for them to be together, even though you heart aches for Ivy and Tristian at the same time. There was lots of suspense and mystery...a little romance...but not much. I have to hand it Elizabeth Chandler though...this was one of the cleanest books I have read in a LONG time! There was no swearing at all and no sex what so ever...so nice and refreshing in a YA book!

I gave this book 3 apples!

Wither

Don't know what's up with photobucket, but it won't let me post a picture of this book jacket...I will try again later :)!

You would think that all the stories about dystopian America had already been written...and then along comes a new one that knocks your socks off! Lauren deStefano creates a world that is both terrifying and intriguing at the same time! Imagine that you knew when and how you would die. Imagine that you knew how terrible it would be...how painful...how slow...but there is a chance there could be an antidote. Imagine a world where girls are kidnapped to be brides, and if they aren't picked...they're murdered. Welcome to Rhine's world. In Rhine's world girls only live to be 20 and boys only live to be 25. It isn't unheard of girls being kidnapped and married off to produce off spring...but when you only live until your 20...13 is the prime of your life.

When Rhine is kidnapped and married with two other young girls to Linden Ashby all she can think about is escape. She hopes her twin Rowan is looking for her...but she doesn't even know where she is! You would think that going from scrapping by to living in the lap of luxery would be awesome...not when you become friends with your dying sister wife...or when your father in law is beyond creepy...or when your 13 year old sister wife becomes pregnant...you can't figure out how to escape and when you do...you nearly die. The only thing that makes anything worthwhile is Gabriel, and then suddenly he goes missing too. Rhine plays nice to become first wife when Rose dies...but is she really just acting or does she feel something for Linden that she doesn't want too?

I am a person that fights for the uderdog! Part of me wants Rhine to open her eyes and realize how much Linden loves and respects her...and that her feelings for him are genuine as well. I like Gabriel, I just don't think there is much of a future there with him. Rhine stumbles upon many secrets that make her stomach churn and her heart ache...they will do likewise to you! As a mom, it was hard to read about young girls married at such young ages and all they had been through...and yet there are parts of the world that are this way now!

The charcters in this book are strongly written. There is nothing I like better than a strong herione and Rhine is just that, and more. The worlf deStefano created comes to life in a stunning way...you will feel the oppulance, the despair, the heartache, and the triumph as if you were there! I am very anxious to read the next book! I know it will be just as amazing as Wither!

I gave this book 3 apples!!

The Vespertine

This book is so addicting! I read it in a day! With that being said...I finished this book a little confused! It starts out in one place and then you find yourself in another...and unless you carefully read the headings in between...you will be lost too!

Amelia is sent by her brother and sister in law to Baltimore to find a husband and to be properly formed. Instantly she forms a strong friendship with Zora and her other "cousins". At the same time something weird happens...Amelia has a vision at sunset...even more weird...it comes true! At the same time she meets the mysterious Nathaniel who seems to appear when ever she wants him. She is drawn to him and can't figure out why. Suddenly, AMelia finds herself thrust into society where people want her to see a vision for her, which isn't a bad thing until they start coming true...and there is lots of death involved.

This is where I got confused! The ending was a little murky! At first Amelia is blamed for the all the bad things happening...and then it's Nathaniel...They say that he has posessed her...not sure about that! There is something about Nathaniel that seems a little off...but that's all you get! There are so many questions left at the end...but I guess that's why there are sequels right? I really did like this book, and I am interested to see what happens in the sequel!

I gave this book 3 apples

Nightshade

It seems as if werewolves are the new vampires when it come to books...not that I am complaining! Nightshade by Andrea Cremer is about Calla who is an Alpha wolf in the Nightshade Pack, is suddenly thrown into a world she only thought she knew!

When Calla saves a young man from a bear attack...which is against the rules...little does she know what kind of reprecussions await her! In just a few short weeks she and Ren (the Alpha from the Bane pack) will be united and start their own pack. There is definatly something there between her and Ren...every time his near she about melts, but she can't stop thinking about the boy she saved. She knows how and where her life will lead her, and she accepts that...until Shay walks into her homeroom.

Little did she know that Shay was the one she saved, not only that his uncle is one of the most powerful Keepers...ever. Suddenly Calla finds herself taking risks and making choices that she knows she shouldn't. Along the way she also finds herself falling in love with Shay. When she and Shay uncover terrible truths about the packs, the keepers, and the searchers, can Calla willingly go into the union with Ren, or will she follow her heart and follow Shay?

I have to say I really liked this book...and yet I didn't! I think I got tired of Calla wanting Shay when she was with him, and then wanting Ren the same way. I know that there are always love triangles...but this one really bugged me for some reason! I liked Calla! I think she was very strong, but she lost some of that strength that as an alpha she posessed when she followed Shay all the time! She let him lead her into so many things, that truthfully I don't think she would have! Shay was okay...I found him whiney and needy...not something I like in a strong male character. Ren on the other hand...sigh...he is what I love in strong male characters! I wanted to slap Calla so many times at her blindeness! Ren loves her so much and yet...she is totally oblivious to it...AUGH!!! WAKE UP CALLA!!!

The ending was a bit predictable...that being said I can't wait to read the next one! I am anxious to find out what happens to the rest of the packs, and of course Calla, Shay and Ren!

I gave this book 3 apples!

Chime

I would be lying if I said I didn't have a hard time with this book...at first! I wanted to love it right away because so many people have...and yet I found myself not really wanting to read it after about 50 pages...however I am not a quitter...boy am I glad I didn't quit! This was a really good book. Franny Billingsley had a very interesting concept for this story!

Briony is a young woman who thinks she cannot be loved because of all things...she is a witch! In the Swampsea, witches get hanged, so Briony keeps it a secret, but then Eldric moves not only to town, but into her home, and she finds herself feeling things any good witch shouldn't! Briony knows that all the bad things that have happened to her family are her fault...even Eldric doesn't.

The hardest part of this book for me was the language of some of the characters. I had hard time trying to deciphor what they were saying. Not only that, but I had a hard time with Briony's self loathing...it got old after awhile! I know that it was needed for the story, but I didn't have to like it! The ending of the book was far from predictable, which was thoroughly enjoyable for me! I really liked Briony and Eldric's relationship. He refused to back down even though Briony tried not to feel anything, and yet he was always there with something. I loved how Eldric believed in her and loved her...and wasn't afraid to show real emotion...he is a real man among men!

This was a good read. I thought the story was very interesting barring a few language barriers on my part!

I give this book 3 apples!

Entwined

I think this is one of my favorite reads so far this year! This book was so like nothing I thought it would be and yet it was more! Heather Dixon knows how to write a captivating story that is for sure!

Set in the time of grand palaces, Kings, and Queens, magic and betrayal, blood oaths and vengenace, this story will captivate you from the get go! Imagine a King with 11 daughters and one more child on the way...a wife is gravely ill...and a palace that was formaly magicked...and then imagine yourself as the eldest daughter Azalea. When Azalea suddenly finds herself promising to take care of her sisters, she doesn't know why, until the next morning. With the passing of her mother Azalea finds herself hating the King (you will too), and wondering how she and her 12 sisters will last an entire year in mourning without dancing. While talking to the dashing Mr.Bradford she discovers that there are secret magic passages throughout the castle...and one just happens to be in the girl's bedroom. No one complains when they find a magical forest where they can dance undected, and Keeper seems okay...at first.

When Azalea notices that Keeper is living up to his name by "keeping" things of theirs, she loses trust in him. Then she discovers who he really is and what he really wants...and that just might destroy her family. Azalea knows there is a magic that is so powerful it can't be named, but she wonders if she can find it in time to save herself and those she loves.

As much as you will dislike the King at first, you will grow to love him and all he stands for. Each of the girls will inpsire and amaze you in their own special way...and it is quaint how they are named alphabetically and all have flower names :)! The gentlemen in this book will capture your heart by annoying you, sadly enough, creeping you out, and being disheveled but genteel. There is nothing they wouldn't do for their "ladies", including saving their lives (sometimes on numerous occasions).

The romances in this book are sweet, and barely there, but strong and hopeful, the mystery is intriging, and the feelings are genuine. Not only are the characters well defined, but so is the story! Heather Dixon knocked it out of the ball park for me! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from her! It is a MUST READ!!!

I gave this book 4.5 apples!