I NEED TO STOP READING TEEN ROMANCE FOR A WHILE

Crave (Crave #1)

by Tracy Wolff
Entangled Teen / Tantor Audio | April 7, 2020

     My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

     Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me.

     Which could spell death for us all.

     Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait.

TORTURE DOWN TEEN ROMANCE LANE V

I doubt anybody knows this series, but I will be rereading the Gods & Monsters series by Kelly Keaton. This series is probably unknown for a reason. It's one of the many things I read on PulseIt, now called RivetedLit. I have a history of not enjoying books from this publisher, so maybe I will do a whole reread dedicated to this publisher, LOL! I am sure the reason I liked this series was because of the romance, but as I continued with the series, I realized how awful it was (the romance and the plot.) I do remember this is set in New Orleans, but it's dark and somewhat post-apocalyptic. I also remember that it has some Greek mythology. It's tragic to see stories with potential fail. 

Note: the Goodreads summaries have more spoilers than my reviews. If you are interested in this series, don't read the summaries (they're in a blockquote,) read the reviews. 

TORTURE DOWN TEEN ROMANCE LANE II

Whenever I reread novels like these, I set out to hate them; I'm a more mature reader, I have grown out of this genre, I have read more poignant novels, I have to hate them to prove that I've matured. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel, it felt nostalgic! A year ago, I swore off JLA books after reading The Struggle because I hated where it was going, and that I "had" to read another book: I quit cold turkey. After being JLA sober for a year, I went back to my dealer-the bookshelf-and I am allured again. 

TORTURE DOWN TEEN ROMANCE LANE I

I distinctly remember reading Hush, Hush on PulseIt, now RivetedLit, years ago; I fell in love with the book, and I went to B&N to buy the entire series. As I continued with it, I hated it more and more: it dragged, there was petty drama, and I didn't understand the point of it. In middle school, I met some friends who also loved to read, and they liked this series... Is there something wrong with me? Am I the only outlier? 

A BOOK REVIEW OF THE MOVIE

Coraline
by Neil Gaiman
Bloomsbury | August 4, 2002 

      The day after they moved in, Coraline went exploring...
      In Coraline's family's new flat are twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close.
      The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another flat in another house just like her own.
      Only it's different.
      At first, things seem marvelous in the other flat. The food is better. The toy box is filled with wind-up angels that flutter around the bedroom, books whose pictures writhe and crawl and shimmer, little dinosaur skulls that chatter their teeth. But there's another mother, and another father, and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.
      Other children are trapped there as well, lost souls behind the mirrors. Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits and all the tools she can find if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself.

BAD PAST DECISIONS | ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND

My tastes in books have changed drastically over the years. I used to read mostly Romance-driven plots because they were entertaining, and I was relatively new to the book community: I didn't know there were better books out. One of my book resolutions for 2018 was to reread old books on my shelf and get rid of some. The second book on the chopping block is Alice in Zombieland. I remember loving this series because I thought it had an original concept and action-a.k.a the male protagonist was cute... After partially rereading the book, I will be discarding the whole series. I don't understand why I liked it.

THE RAVEN CYCLE DISCUSSION | BOOKS I & II

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1)

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2)

Maggie Stiefvater 

Almost everyone I know loves The Raven Cycle. I tried so hard to get into the series - the first two books. On both occasions, I complained incessantly about the slow plot. When will the action start?! Because I pushed myself to continue, I became bored and unmotivated. Fortunately, the endings redeemed the pain "I suffered" - such a drama queen. By the end of both novels, I found myself liking the characters more. I was very intrigued by their parts in the story and their personality. I know this may be somewhat controversial, but I enjoyed Joseph Kavinsky in The Dream Thieves. He's a terrible individual, but he's so exciting and thrilling to read about. Side note: if you search up his name, there are a lot of Tumblr aesthetics of him portrayed by Ash Stymest, which I find amusing, I don't know why. By the end of the novels, I also wanted more of the overarching plot. The cliffhangers enthused me and drove me to the library, in search of the next book. 

VAMPIRE ACADEMY REREAD

At the beginning of this year, I read The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare for the third time. I did this because I had such conflicting experiences with it, and needed to justify my purchase. When I first started the series, I loved it. I went to Barnes and Noble to buy a hardcover BOX set. OOF goes my wallet. Once I got the box set in the mail, I decided to reread the series, and I hated it. I found Jace annoying, and I was bored by the writing. You can read how I felt about the series HERE and my COHF REVIEW.

Since I did that with The Mortal Instruments, it only makes sense to do the same with Vampire Academy, which I also bought a box set of (softcover) while purchasing TMI. Rest in peace wallet!

I distinctly remember discovering Vampire Academy in the eighth grade, and it was a "hot commodity" among readers of the series. I brought the first book to school, a classmate I didn't particularly like asked to borrow it, I lent it to her, and I have regrets. Why didn't you say no, Vivien? Because I was intimidated by her! Another classmate asked to borrow the book, but I said no because I learned my lesson. Anyway... I loved this series. I loved Rose's sassiness, her friendship with Lissa, the drama, and Dimitri. I hope I still love those aspects and this series.

And so it begins...

CARRY ON REVIEW

Carry On 
by Rainbow Rowell
St. Martin's Griffin | October 6, 2015

     Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.
     That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.
     Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

CONCLUSION OF TMI | REVIEW

City of Heavenly Fire (TMI #6)

by Cassandra Clare
Margaret K. McElderry | May 27, 2014

         Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.
         The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris-but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?
         When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee-even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

DAY ZERO REVIEW

Before I dive into the actual review, I want to let you know that I partnered up/I am part of SocialBookCo' Book Review Programme, it's my first time working with them. SocialBookCo is a "mini company/website" that compares books from all vendors and it's supposed to help help you save money on books. They work with Amazon, eBay, Book Depository, Waterstones, etc. I do get a small commission-from 2-4%, depending on the retailer-every time you click on my link and purchase the book I'm reviewing.

Today, I'll be reviewing DAY ZERO by Kresley Cole

(Click on DAY ZERO ^ to purchase book)

WAS THE WAIT WORTH IT? | ARCANA RISING REVIEW

Arcana Rising (The Arcana Chronicles #4)
by Kresley Cole
Valkyrie Press | August 15, 2016

       When the battle is done . . .
       The Emperor unleashes hell and annihilates an army, jeopardizing the future of mankind - but Circe strikes back. The epic clash between them devastates the Arcana world and nearly kills Evie, separating her from her allies.
       And all hope is lost . . .
       With Aric missing and no sign that Jack and Selena escaped Richter's reach, Evie turns more and more to the darkness lurking inside her. Two Arcana emerge as game changers: one who could be her salvation, the other a seductive nightmare.
       Vengeance becomes everything.
       To take on Richter, Evie must reunite with Death and mend their broken bond. But as she learns more about her role in the future - and her chilling past - will she become a monster like the Emperor? Or can Evie and her allies rise up from Richter's ashes, stronger than ever before? 

RJ JONES' DEATH 2: THIS TIME IT'S PERSONAL

It's a Wonderful Death
by Sarah J. Schmitt
Sky Pony Press | October 6, 2015

        Seventeen-year-old RJ always gets what she wants. So when her soul is accidentally collected by a distracted Grim Reaper, somebody in the afterlife better figure out a way to send her back from the dead or heads will roll. But in her quest for mortality, she becomes a pawn in a power struggle between an overzealous archangel and Death Himself. The tribunal presents her with two options: she can remain in the lobby, where souls wait to be processed, until her original lifeline expires, or she can replay three moments in her life in an effort to make choices that will result in a future deemed worthy of being saved. It sounds like a no-brainer. She’ll take a walk down memory lane. How hard can changing her future be?
        But with each changing moment, RJ’s life begins to unravel, until this self-proclaimed queen bee is a social pariah. She begins to wonder if walking among the living is worth it if she has to spend the next sixty years as an outcast. Too quickly, RJ finds herself back in limbo, her time on Earth once again up for debate.

GIRL IN SHADOWS | NOT SO MAGICAL

Girl in the Shadows (Girl on a Wire #2)
by Gwenda Bond
Skyscape | July 5, 2016
eARC courtesy of NetGalley
Status: DNF

       Eighteen-year-old Moira Mitchell grew up in the shadows of Vegas' stage lights while her father’s career as a magician soared. More than anything, Moira wants to be a magician too, but her father is dead set against her pursuing magic.
       When an invitation to join the Cirque American mistakenly falls into Moira’s possession, she takes action. Instead of giving the highly coveted invitation to its intended recipient, Raleigh, her father’s handsome and worldly former apprentice, Moira takes off to join the Cirque. If she can perform alongside its world-famous acts, she knows she’ll be able to convince her dad that magic is her future.
       But when Moira arrives, things take on an intensity she can’t control as her stage magic suddenly feels like…real magic. To further distract her, Raleigh shows up none too pleased at Moira’s presence, all while the Cirque’s cocky and intriguing knife thrower, Dez, seems to have it out for her. As tensions mount and Moira’s abilities come into question, she must decide what’s real and what’s an illusion. If she doesn’t sort it out in time, she may forever remain a girl in the shadows.

CUTE, BUT THAT'S ALL

Love Charms and Other Catastrophes (Grimbaud #2)
by Kimberly Karalius
Swoon Reads | May 17th, 2016
ARC Courtesy of Goodreads

         Aspiring love charm maker Hijiri Kitamura was excited to come back to Grimbaud for her sophomore year-until she learns about the upcoming charm making competition. Grimbaud has just started to recover from the tyranny of Zita's love fortunes and it would be too easy for the winning charm maker to take Zita's place. The only solution is for Hijiri, with the support of her friends and fellow rebels, to win the contest herself.
         Unfortunately, that's easier said than done, especially when Love itself has decided to meddle in Hijiri's life. Concerned that it's favorite charm maker has given up on finding a boyfriend of her own, Love takes matters into its own hands and delivers the perfect boyfriend to her in a giftwrapped box...literally.

RE-EXPERIENCING VAMPIRE ACADEMY

I decided to pick up Vampire Academy after seeing the movie adaptation the night before. I wanted to reacquaint myself with the world, characters, relationships and "mythology". In other words, I wanted to meet Dimitri again, lol. I watched the movie, which goes against the book lover code, before I read the book. It's not that great of an adaptation by the way.

UM... WHY?

The Blood of the Hydra (Elementals #2)
by Michelle Madow
Publishing Info: April 18, 2016 | Dreamscape Publishing
Status: Complete

        A demigod who can kill with a touch. It's an ability that must be kept secret from everyone, even from those trusted most.
        Finding out that her new school had her in a special homeroom for witches was strange enough, but now Nicole must face the realization that she has the rare power to kill with just a touch. It’s a secret she needs to keep not only from the Head Elders, but from the super-sexy witch Blake, who she’s had undeniable chemistry with even before he broke up with his long-term girlfriend, the vengeful witch Danielle.
        Now Nicole and the four others gifted with powers over the elements, including Blake and Danielle, must stop a series of monsters that they previously believed to be dead from rising once again and destroying the mortal world. Three magical items are needed, including the blood of the slain hydra – ingredients that they must journey to the dangerous, mystical islands in Greece to retrieve.
        The monsters they face on this journey will be more threatening than anything they’ve encountered yet. But with the fate of the world on their shoulders, it’s up to the Elementals to return home victorious. Will they find the ingredients they need? Can Nicole and her friends pull off this mission while the tension between her, Blake, and Danielle threatens to ruin everything? And how long will it be until Nicole is forced to use her ability to kill in front of everyone, revealing the true darkness of her powers?

I'm Surprised | The Prophecy of Shadows

The Prophecy of Shadows (Elementals #1)
Author: Michelle Madow
Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing
Publish Date: January 26, 2016
eARC courtesy of NetGalley
Status: Complete

          When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly…she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers-and, to her dismay, by Blake-the school’s notorious bad-boy.
          Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.
          When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect-it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town…and possibly the world.

The Divide Review

The Divide (Dreamland #2)
by E.J. Mellow
Publish Date: October 15, 2015

        Molly finally uncovers the truth about the strange dreams that plagued her sanity for weeks. Now destined to accept a clandestine role, Molly must find the strength and courage buried deep to push forward and succeed.
        With the help of Dev, the roguish blue-eyed man of her dreams, whose dark past resurfaces to haunt him. Molly prepares to test the limits of her newly awakened powers and set right a world on the edge of being consumed by nightmares.
        But when an unknown shadow stalks her every step and a shocking revelation about her ancestry comes to light, Molly may find herself forced to make a decision that could leave her alone in the dark and standing on the wrong side of a divide.

DNF: JLA Book Review (My Best Review)

This is quite shocking to me.

I can't believe that there's a JLA book that I don't like.

What book is it?!?!?!

It's...