Monday, September 26, 2011

Beautiful Days - Anna Godbersen

Beautiful Days (Bright Young Things, #2)Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


WARNING- MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!

As a giant fan of Anna Godbersen, and also considering how much I enjoyed the first book in her Bright Young Things trilogy, I was estatic to read this installment.

It is set in the Jazz age of 1929, complete with cigarette girls, country clubs, and the glamour of NYC. I was completely drawn into the setting from page one, wishing I could be part of Letty, Cordelia, and Astrid's world. Godbersen does an amazing job of creating the world and setting and it becomes a breathtaking view. That being said, I felt like the first half of the book was "filler" and the action didn't begin until well into the second half. I felt like a lot more intrigue and scandal could have been introduced with the Grey/Hale rivalry. ***Spoiler Alert*** I also thought the abduction of Astrid fell short for me. It was not nearly dramatic enough, and her rescue came with no pretense nor antics of anything standing in Charlie's way.

I found myself relating to each character in their own unique ways. My heart broke for their sorrows, and rejoiced in their triumphs.

Overall, I did love the book, if for nothing else than for the setting and time the book was in. I found myself wanting to dress up in my best cigarette girl outfit and dance across my kitchen table. However, the story fell a little short of exciting. I'm hoping Godbersen will pick up the pace a little in the last and final installment of this trilogy. Don't disappoint me Anna! :-)







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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Dystopian Fever



Everyone has read, or has at least heard of The Hunger Games Trilogy....Which is absolutely amazing. In celebration of all things Dystopian, I have posted my top Dystopian novels (minus the obvious Hunger Games) for recommended reading!




#1: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Summary: One Choice.

One choice decides your friends, defines your beliefs, and determines your loyalties.... forever.

Or one choice can transform you.

OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5 - Dang near perfect rating! LOVED IT!





#2: Delirium


Summary: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn't understand that once love -- the deliria-- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning 18. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable and happy.


But with ninety-five days left until her treatement, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.




OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5 I LOVED this book and can't wait for more!




#3: Matched


Summary: In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.


Cassia has always trusted their choices. It's barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one...until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now, Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one else has ever dared to follow-between perfection and passion.




OVERALL RATING: 4/5 This is a local Utah author and I am a BIG supporter of our local talent! This book shows incredible promise from up and coming new author Ally Condie. Crossed is the 2nd in the series coming out soon! Make sure to put Matched on your MUST READ list!







#4: Wither


Summary: Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages, with men eager to procreate. Sixteen year old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she can survive.




OVERALL RATING: 3.5/5 I liked it, but didn't LOVE it. Good read for a cold, winters day. Has potential for the rest in the series.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Bloodlines - Richelle Mead




Title: Bloodlines

Author: Richelle Mead

Release Date: August 2011

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group



Overall Rating: 3.5/5


Book #1 in a new series by the Bestselling Vampire Academy's author Richelle Mead. Some of the same characters take on the main role in this new twist in the human world.


Review: It took a solid 4 chapters for me to finally feel interested in the story. Sydney for me was a somewhat unrelatable character in which I found somewhat boring and predictable. Adrian plays a key role and fortunately brought some spice and entertainment in any page he appeared. Even the characters Jill and Eddie fell flat for me. Maybe I'm used to Richelle writing in Rose's quirky, sassy personality and it took some time getting used to Sydney's Alchemist personality. The book eventually picked up some speed though and I found myself guessing what would happen at every turn. The bad part about that? I was always right, which left the predicitablity something that I could have left behind. I will continue reading the series, if for no other reason than because Richelle Mead is still on my Top Author list. The last sentence in the book is probably the first sentence that makes you longing for more and wanting to see what happened next. Overall, I think the series has potential, but I hope to see an increase in action and ROMANCE in the next books!