book re·view : You Before Me by Jojo Moyers

3 Stars.

syn·op·sis 


Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.
What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.
Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.
What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

re·view 



Ok, this was a doozie.. Also, I have an unpopular opinion, so lets start knowing that. And be warned, this is not a love story, not even a little bit.
A friend send me the ebook for this book and told me was her favorite book, that I needed to read it right away and since I never get book recommendations from real life friends, I didn’t look up anything about it, just started reading. I had so many problems with this one, don’t even know where to start.
Firstly, the characters, I have no problem with her living at home and having less then ideal career situation, what bothered me is the lack of wanting anything other than a paycheck, and then guess what changes her mind? Will. Yes, there is no other real reason, he decides what she should be doing and she decides that she is going to do whatever he tells her to do.
Will is just selfish and obnoxious.. All of the characters are forgettable, to be honest. there is no real depth.
Other thing that was weird, was the way money was treated on this book, witch is a thing that never had me thinking one way or the other.. but here, I felt like the author just dislikes wealth, and keeps turning her nose overtime she talks about it.
The fact the Will is a quadriplegic is very one sided to me, reader is spoon fed all of the horrible things about the condition, is like the author wants us to believe that in life there is two options, you can be healthy, live an amazing job filled with rock climbing or you are stuck to a bed. There is no real talk about patients that thrive and live a fulfilling life from a chair.
As for the writing, that was the thing that made me actually finish the book, it was enjoyable and easy. My only problem with that was the sudden change in point of views in the end. It just started to flipflop in consistently between characters.

book re·view : The Marauders by Tom Cooper

3 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

When the BP oil spill devastates the Gulf coast, those who made a living by shrimping find themselves in dire straits. For the oddballs and lowlifes who inhabit the sleepy, working class bayou town of Jeannette,  these desperate circumstances serve as the catalyst that pushes them to enact whatever risky schemes they can dream up to reverse their fortunes. At the center of it all is Gus Lindquist, a pill-addicted, one armed treasure hunter obsessed with finding the lost treasure of pirate Jean Lafitte. His quest brings him into contact with a wide array of memorable characters, ranging from a couple of small time criminal potheads prone to hysterical banter, to the smooth-talking Oil company middleman out to bamboozle his own mother, to some drug smuggling psychopath twins, to a young man estranged from his father since his mother died in Hurricane Katrina. As the story progresses, these characters find themselves on a collision course with each other, and as the tension and action ramp up, it becomes clear that not all of them will survive these events.

re·view 

I picked up this book for two reasons, first is South Louisiana, since moving out of New Orleans, I keep trying to think of ways to get back there, and a book is as good as I can get now. That was great, I could see the bayou, the setting was beautiful and I also enjoyed the way the problems with the Golf and Katrina were discussed, they were there, but not in any way front and central on the story.

The second thing that made pick this up was the promise of treasure hunting, pirate treasure hunting to be more specific. And that is where the book felt disappointing to me, I went in expecting a completely different thing than I ended up getting. I envisioned a plot driven race on the bayou, I got a character driven plot where the treasure barely appears. 

The book is also written in multiple points of view, and while it was well written, I kept waiting for all of them to eventually merge in the search for - you guessed it - the treasure, and while this is a solid book, if just felt like a missed opportunity. 

I realize I complained quite a bit, but this really is a solid first book for the author, if you take is for what it is, a character driven book, set in a beautiful bayou, you will enjoy it thoroughly. 

book re·view : End of Days by Susan Ee

5 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

re·view 

I have so many feelings about this, ALL OF THEM! I have loved this story since I randomly found the book and bought it without thinking much of it, and just snowballed from there, I just love the series and I don’t think I could have asked for a better ending.

I don’t usually like reviewing books in series other than the first one just because of spoilers, but I will make exceptions now and then and this is one of them. So you have been warned, spoilers galore ahead.

After all past shenanigans, Penryn and Raffe are together for most of this one, and that brought the palpable tension between them that is just SO good, specially because now they felt more conscious of what they felt for each other. And to be honest, that with the fact that she knew she wanted to be with her people and him vice versa set the tone of the book, it kept the the tension helped with the pacing and the plot still kept the reader guessing. 

Also, character development was on point, we got to learn a lot more about certain characters without someone having to sit and tell a story, we learned while characters were experiencing the story, witch is the best way to do it.

I heard complaints about how Ee decided to close off the trilogy, but I enjoyed every word of it, I felt like it was true to the story and to the characters she built. 

book re·view : The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

4 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

re·view 

So, I'am not completely sure as to why I decided to write a review for this book, it’s been a few months since I read it, and I gave it a 4 star rating and I remember why it didn’t get 5, but that is about it. So give me a sec to go to the book and remember.. Oh! now I remember, this was beautiful!

This is part of one of my favorite kinds of books, fantasy with a dash of fairy tale in it. That with Black’s writing style, just made it an beautiful read. I also love the melding of the regular world with fantasy, I feel like it makes the immersion in the story so much more enjoyable.

I saw Hazels twists coming since the beginning, but I didn’t really mind, what i really enjoyed is how we got there, I knock done star because the switching of point of views got really tiring, specially because it wasn’t balanced between characters.

I just loved the characters and their voice, it’s creepy and lovely, reminded me a lot of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, so good. 

book re·view : Landline by Rainbow Rowell

5 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble; it has been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now.

Maybe that was always beside the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn't expect him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

re·view 

Can you say late?

Yes, I know, everyone and their mother reviewed this, and to be honest, I was not interested, but then I founded it for a couple of dollars.. so I had to get it, right? I mean, It was worth it just for the beautiful cover. But I ended up loving it, I wanted to talk about it, so lets do it.

This book was magical, I am married for almost 5 years, we don’t have kids, but a lot of things had to happen for us to come together, the biggest thing being me moving countries. We also work a lot, with crazy hours, so when we are both really busy at work, we barely see each other. It just really made me think about the things I want for our marriage, and our future together. In a lot of ways we are the couple from Gorgie's past. It made me feel good, warm and fuzzy on the inside.

I really did want to talk more about the story in itself, but my love for this book really is about how it makes me think about my own life, and my relationship. It was very surprising, the way it made me stop, and think about things, and not only my life with my husband, but also my family dynamic. 

It also made me very curious about the other Rowell books.

drink : Brazilian Lemonade

I have been seeing different takes on this all around recently and a work friend asked me if it was a real thing, or just an american invented thing with a Brazilian stamp on top. And to be honest I never gave it a second thought, yes it is common in Brazil, although, I don't know if it is our invention, and for the confused people out there, I am Brazilian, even though I live in North Carolina now.

Where I am from, this lemonade is called Swiss Lemonade and is a treat, not a daily thing, we used to get it leaving the beach, when all the sea salt made it even sweeter.

First, we use limes, so this should technically be a limeade? You can use lemons, but the end result is just too sweet, the tartiness of the limes work better with the condensed milk.

The proportions are as follows:

1/2 cup juice from about 10 limes
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
pinch salt
3 cups cold water
1 quart ice

Serve with a little zest on top for fragrance and maybe a little rum.. and  Enjoy!

book re·view : Armada by Ernest Cline

4.8 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

Zack Lightman has spent his life dreaming. Dreaming that the real world could be a little more like the countless science-fiction books, movies, and videogames he’s spent his life consuming. Dreaming that one day, some fantastic, world-altering event will shatter the monotony of his humdrum existence and whisk him off on some grand space-faring adventure.

But hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism, right? After all, Zack tells himself, he knows the difference between fantasy and reality. He knows that here in the real world, aimless teenage gamers with anger issues don’t get chosen to save the universe.

And then he sees the flying saucer.

Even stranger, the alien ship he’s staring at is straight out of the videogame he plays every night, a hugely popular online flight simulator called Armada—in which gamers just happen to be protecting the earth from alien invaders.

No, Zack hasn’t lost his mind. As impossible as it seems, what he’s seeing is all too real. And his skills—as well as those of millions of gamers across the world—are going to be needed to save the earth from what’s about to befall it.

It’s Zack’s chance, at last, to play the hero. But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can’t help thinking back to all those science-fiction stories he grew up with, and wondering: Doesn’t something about this scenario seem a little…familiar?

At once gleefully embracing and brilliantly subverting science-fiction conventions as only Ernest Cline could, Armada is a rollicking, surprising thriller, a classic coming of age adventure, and an alien invasion tale like nothing you’ve ever read before—one whose every page is infused with the pop-culture savvy that has helped make Ready Player One a phenomenon.

re·view 

On a fine vacation day in Denver, I decided to go to the Tattered Cover, because books and side note, if you are ever in Denver, go! It is BEAUTIFUL! Ugh, I can't deal. I saw this on the shelf and thought I was elucidating, because I was very sure the book wasn’t supposed to come out till the next month, but it was there, on the varnished shelf, looking beautiful, I bought it on the spot, and felt like I was getting away with something...

For the next week, it sat on my hotel nightstand. I knew once I started, I wouldn’t be able to stop and you know, vacation and all, I wanted to have some dedicated time for it, and I am pretty sure the husband wouldn’t like it I was awake till morning reading, so as the adult I am, ended up reading the entire thing on the flight back and regret nothing. 

But you know, lets talk about the book and not me..

And the elephant, yes, it reminded me a lot of Enders Game, but to be honest, I liked this a lot more than Enders and the similarities didn’t bother me at all. 

Another big part of the book is the fatherless situation, witch I can’t really give an opinion on, because I never experienced anything like it before.

My favorite thing about Cline are the references, I LOVED the playlist, since I know nothing about video games, I don’t linger too much on any of that. As always, I loved the tone of the narrating, it was witty and sarcastic and lovely.

The ending felt philosophical, about how humanity came together and what not. Am I overanalyzing this? hahaha.. But I did feel like an open ending, I don’t know if there is more to come, but it there is certainly room for that, this book is completely plot oriented, so I think it would be interesting to see a second book more character based.   

 

book re·view: The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines, #6) by Richelle Mead

4.5 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

Their forbidden romance exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s bestselling Bloodlines series.

When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, she and Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world and alter their lives forever.

Don't miss their unforgettable final chapter...

re·view 

This was probably my most anticipated book of the year and it was loove, but also conflicting, so lets talk..

Lets start by talking about the conflicting feels. I felt very rushed though this one, things that I was really curious about were never explored too deeply. I don’t want to talk too much about it but Olive pregnancy? All things about spirit? Sidney’s family? Whyyyy? Because of that, this book doesn’t really feel like it is closing the series.

Other than that, I loved where Richelle took the story, as it is, I am completely on board with the cheesiness. Overall, if you are a bloodlines fan, or just a general Mead fan, you won’t be disappointed.  

Guess who is back!

It's been two years since I posted anything here, and it's time to come back. 

I moved, changed jobs a couple of times, wrote a book that is never going to be published, and missed this terribly. 

Also decided to add a few lifestyle posts. 

Here we go!

re·view : Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead
5 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

- Goodreads

re·view 

I read this book, for the first time, 5 years ago. That was my introduction to Richelle's world. Since I wanted to write the review, I figured I needed to look though the book to remember some of the details. I ended up marathoning the whole series in about two days..

I know a lot of people say this book is not very good, that you have to go though this one and then the books get really good. I actually disagree, I think this one is epic. The thing is though, they just get progressively better.

Now talking specifically about it.
The reader gets dropped in the middle of everything, we get some Rose/Dimitri action right off the bat. And is a little confusing in the beginning, but I love that Mead doesn't do any information dumping, she actually shows the reader how and why her world works. Then, it is our job to put it together.

The dialogs are amazing..

“Dimitri: "She might be wild and disrespectful, but if she has potential—"
Rose: "Wild and disrespecful? Who the hell are you anyway? Oursourced help?"
Kirova: "Guardian Belikov is the Princess Lissa's guardian now, her sanctioned guardian."
Rose: "You got cheap foreign labor to protect Lissa?”

This is just true love.

I love characters like Rose, witty out spoken and sexy. This book introduced me to this kind of heroine, now, I just can't get enough. One of the other favorites are the characters quirks, like Dimka's novels and the fact that nobody is perfect, a lot of them are morally impaired and not very politically correct. Makes them real and relatable.

I also love the human relationships in this, Rose and Lissa's friendship is just so well written. I also really like Rose and Dimitri's thing(romance? friendship? mentorship?), I like how they get to know each other. And the steaminess..

sorry, but I'm not sorry

just going though a massive reading slump.


Cuckoo's calling hangover? 

re·view : The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike, #1)  by Robert Galbraith.

5 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

A brilliant debut mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel's suicide.
After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

You may think you know detectives, but you've never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you've never seen them under an investigation like this.

Introducing Cormoran Strike, this is the acclaimed first crime novel by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

re·view 

As Stephen J. Cannell points out in "A Deadly Game" "there's only three reasons to commit murder - love, money, or to cover up a crime." 

Even if the author goes around a bit, it always comes back to one of the tree. I have to say that I saw who did it coming, but I really did not expect the why.

The first thing that comes to mind about this book is that the writing is just so beautiful. It is everything I would expect from Jo Rowling.

I also have to say that I love mystery novels, it is probably my favorite genera, but I don't think this is just a mystery. To be honest, the mystery part is good, it is no Agatha Christie though. I also hate to break it to you, but it is not her first, The Chamber of Secrets is my favorite Potter book, and it is also a mystery.

The characters and their relationships is where it shines. In HP, I always loved the world and the magic, but there is plenty of that in the fantasy world. The characters kept me coming back, they grounded the novels in a way that it feels real.

And she hits the jackpot again on this one, Strike and Robin feel like people you might know, I just want to go to London and work for them. Strike is almost a blending of Sherlock and Watson, brilliant and tortured. Robin is just pure wit, the way I would expect Jo to be in real life. 

I love that their relationship is a friendship, yet there is always a door half open for something more. 

Also, it would probably make an excellent TV show. BBC? You there?

The special mention goes to the way she built the plot. She manages to leave clues, always pointing the other way. The way she wovens the little bits throughout the novel, creates such an intricate pattern. In a reread, you find everything right there, under your nose, and yet, you can't see.

re·view : Mistwood by Leah Cypess

Mistwood (Mistwood #1) by Leah Cypess
2.5 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.

But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

re·view 

Well, I don't have a lot to say about this one, witch is rare..
The book is fine. I liked the premise and was very exited to read it.

However, I don't like that the reader doesn't know anything about nothing, though. When I read fantasy, I need some sort of information and background to understand the world, on this one, the reader is just tossed in the water and expected to know how to swim.

The writing isn't my cup of tea either, the way she(and everybody) keeps referring to herself as the almighty shifter was just annoying. I understand where the author wanted to go with it, I just didn't like it.

Finally, the characters. I just could not get myself to care about it..

For those reasons, I don't think I will be picking up any more of Cypress's books.

re·view : The Archived by Victoria Schwab

The Archived  (The Archived, #1) by Victoria Schwab
4 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

- Goodreads

re·view 

I only hear two things about this novel, is either that the book is amazing or that it is slow paced. I will say it is a little bit of both.

The writing is beautiful and the writing alone is what made me go though the first half of the novel, because the story is just boring. The good thing is that after the first half, the story completely comes together. After that, I was hooked, immersed on the story.

When the pacing picks up, also does the story line and I started to realize just how well plotted it actually is. I love the premise, and how creepy it felt at times.

I'm ok with the love interests, I mean, I could see the villain coming for miles, but is understandable. We can see why Mac does what she does and everything.
It is still not the best love plot line I ever saw. I like that all of it happened as a side plot, so if you dislike books with love interests, this one won't bother you too much.

I really like the character, but I gotta say the best part were the parents. Am I the only one who loves when these characters have actual living, breathing parents who actually have a say in their lives? Just yes.

Now to what I didn't like, the first thing was the back and forth. Sometimes is better to show how things happened, and we learn a lot during does, but I think it could be balanced a better. If Mac just told some of the story and then the other part came from the flashbacks, the rhythm of the book could be a little better.

Second thing was the villain, could see it coming, but i still like how things turned out.

What really surprised me were the revelations about the Library. I new something was wrong, it just felt off, but I never saw that coming.

news : Dimitri's POV by Richelle Mead

She promised and here it is :

The Meeting

A scene from the first book of the Vampire Academy series, as told from Dimitri's point of view

“Dimitri!”

I turned instantly at the sound of my name, shooting a glare at the guardian approaching in the darkness.  What was he thinking?  Everyone out here tonight knew how essential secrecy was.  It didn’t matter that he was young and simply excited about his first big mission.  We had no room for errors, not when this was the only break we’d had in over a year. Realizing his mistake, he grew apologetic, though not nearly enough.

“Sorry.” He dropped his voice to a stage whisper and tapped his ear.  “Headset’s not working.  We checked the house, and they’re already gone.  They must have had warning, maybe a perimeter of spies on the streets.”  As his excitement returned, the young guardian—Laurence—began speaking rapidly.  “I was thinking about it.  They probably have a whole network of people working with them!  It makes sense, right?  How else have they managed to stay ahead of us for so long? There’s no telling how deep this conspiracy goes!  We might be facing an army tonight!”

Read the rest HERE

review : Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X #1)by Richelle Mead

4.5 Stars.

Featured in Alyssa's blog : AC Reads.

syn·op·sis 




In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of Xseries, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.





re·view 

I have a confession: Mead can do no wrong. At least in my opinion. I went in to it knowing nothing but the title and author, and since I have all the trust in the world in the author, it was the absolutely write thing for me to do.

This one has everything I love about her books, the snarky humor, sexyness and amazing characters.

It is very ambitious though, the world building is mind-boggling. She thought of everything from religion to education, technology.. (told yah, mind-boggling) Sometimes is a little too much, it is so detailed that the reader forgets that the plot line is around a murder and not just following characters around to see what they will do next.

The characters are amazing, character faults and all. March is the drunk, womanizer, genius guy that I would probably hate in real life, but because is a book, we get to understand and love him, see what he thinks and understand how his mind works. Mae is shown as this perfect porcelain doll, but soon enough, there are cracks everywhere. The side characters are amazing, I just loved Tessa!

“I can understand bitchiness in any language.” 

Yes, Tessa! YES!

The character development is just so well done, the reader really does get to see where they are coming from and why they make certain decisions, without being to much. I say that because as much as Mead gave the reader a deep understanding of her characters, she never made them predictable. Their interaction was also a thing of beauty! And the dialog is better than ever.

The plot and pacing is where it gets tricky to talk about. I love the way Mead writes, showing rather than telling, but this book just has a lot of information and a lot of character development, so I would say that the reader needs patience. The pacing is not as fast as I would like, but still there are no snails involved.

The plot is definitely back sit on this one, and sometimes it gets forgotten in the middle of all the other things. It is almost like the author just needed an excuse to group this characters together and really build the story from there. This is not to say the story lacks structure, because it really does not. 

As for the romance, I would't say is really a romance yet. There is definitely sexual tension lacing all of it, there was also a lot of steamy moments. They both look like they want to be together, but you know, feelings and reasons. Won't say any more about it.

What I would say if you asked me if you should read this?

If you never read anything from Richelle Mead, try Vampire Academy or Georgina Kinkaid, if you liked that you will probably like this.

Already a Succubus fan? Have a little patience and an open mind, chances are you are going to fall in love with this new set of characters.

Favorite quote:

“The truth is, when you banish the gods from the world, they eventually come back - with a vengeance. Humans can’t stay away from gods, and gods can’t stay away from humans. It’s the natural order of things.”

—	Richelle Mead, Gameboard of the Gods

news : San Diego Comic Con - Veronica Mars footage and Catching Fire new trailer

Veronica MARS! 

WHATCH IT NOW! DO IT!

(sobbing)

Catching Fire new trailer was fine, I don't particularly like having a bunch of trailers before the movies comes out. Half the time it just ruins the movie for me.
But I can't say I didn't like this one.

news : Vampire Academy - Dimitri gets a POV.

So, the The YA Sisterhood blog likes tournaments. They are awesome and if you don't know their blog yet, you should check it out. This is not my point though.

This week the finalle was Dimitri from the Vampire Academy books versus Will from The Infernal Devices series. Last year was the same match and Will won. 

This year, Mead wated to give us some incentive to vote, so she did this:

Richelle Mead twitter

CAN YOU BELIVE IT?

And this happened:

The YA Sisterhood

And then this:

I am freacking out, I like will, but a Dimitri POV AND a first chapter? YES PLEASE!

review : Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen

Last to Die (Rizzoli & Isles #10) by Tess Gerritsen

3.5 Stars.

syn·op·sis 

For the second time in his short life, Teddy Clock has survived a massacre. Two years ago, he barely escaped when his entire family was slaughtered. Now, at fourteen, in a hideous echo of the past, Teddy is the lone survivor of his foster family’s mass murder. Orphaned once more, the traumatized teenager has nowhere to turn—until the Boston PD puts detective Jane Rizzoli on the case. Determined to protect this young man, Jane discovers that what seemed like a coincidence is instead just one horrifying part of a relentless killer’s merciless mission.

Jane spirits Teddy to the exclusive Evensong boarding school, a sanctuary where young victims of violent crime learn the secrets and skills of survival in a dangerous world. But even behind locked gates, and surrounded by acres of sheltering Maine wilderness, Jane fears that Evensong’s mysterious benefactors aren’t the only ones watching. When strange blood-splattered dolls are found dangling from a tree, Jane knows that her instincts are dead on. And when she meets Will Yablonski and Claire Ward, students whose tragic pasts bear a shocking resemblance to Teddy’s, it becomes chillingly clear that a circling predator has more than one victim in mind.

Joining forces with her trusted partner, medical examiner Maura Isles, Jane is determined to keep these orphans safe from harm. But an unspeakable secret dooms the children’s fate—unless Jane and Maura can finally put an end to an obsessed killer’s twisted quest.

- Goodreads

re·view 

I love this series, I also love the TV show.

The plot line though the books is just so well executed!

I really liked the creepy tone on this, I half expected a paranormal being to just jump at me (I might be reading too much fantasy), the pacing was good, not only fast, but also constant though out the book.

The characters as as good as always, I liked that we got a little more of Maura's life instead of more Jane.

Maura had her heartbreak, but I really did not expect her maternal side. It was a very nice surprise. I wish there was a little more of Anthony, but you can't have everything. I do think his character is going to grow on the story.

There was one point of the story that made no sense to me though, Rizolli's parents debacle with the ex and the fiancee. For me it seemed pointless, we got some information, but nothing was tied up. If you are going to create conflict, and make that an important point on the plot, at least give the reader some king of resolution by the end of the book.

It also worth mentioning that the thing that bothered me the most was Maura and Janie's relationship. I new they were not in very good terms by the end of the last book, but I think it took way to long for them to make up. And even when they did, it was still that weird friendship with them tiptoeing around each other. A little annoying.

My favorite part was the school, I have a thing for boarding schools and I loved that most of the book was set there.

If you like Rizolli and Isles, definitely go for it. It is not the best book in the series, but it is still very good! :)

I'm back!

Everybody is nice and tanned, also ate lots of guacamole..

So, I guess it would be time to resume posting?

Tomorrow, to celebrate the return of the Rizzoli and Isles show, I'll review the latest book!

 Last to Die (Rizzoli & Isles, #10) by Tess Gerritsen