October 2012 Group Reads

Unwind
(Unwind, #1)
by Neal Shusterman
Released |November 6th 2007 by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers|
Edition |Hardcover, 335 pages|

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.
The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

Throne of Glass
(Throne of Glass, #1)
by Sarah J. Mass
Released |August 7th 2012 by Bloomsbury USA Children's|
Edition |Hardcover, 416 pages|

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules
(Blood of Eden, #1)
by Julie Kagawa
Release |April 24th 2012 by Harlequin Teen|
Edition |Hardcover, 485 pages|
Source |Netgalley, E-Arc|

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.
Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.
Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.
Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.
Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

OMG! Amazing :D This book was just AMAZING! When I first started this book I was wondering would it be as good as Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. And I must say, that this book was just as good, if not better, than the Iron Fey series. I haven't decided yet :) I love them both.

Allison was an amazing character. I loved her from the very beginning! She was a tough chick who went and is still going through so much struggle. From beginning to end. In the beginning she struggled with being an unregistered. Trying to survive and scavenge for food to live another day. And when she becomes immortal, she is still struggling. Trying to learn how to be immortal, first off, and struggling with her inner self and becoming the demon she hated the most! She was just amazing!

Zeke was also amazing! I just loved him :) He was a sweetheart, but he was also tough. The fact that he tried to keep faith when almost always something went wrong. I admired that in him. And the two of them together, Allison and Zeke, were completely bad ass! They were both protectors and did the best to protect the people they cared about. There little hint of romance... *insert big smile* Just adorable.

Kanin, I actually really liked him! And can't wait to see what happens with him in the next installment! If ______ isn't dead, then is ______ alive too? IDK. I don't to spoil things, but I have so many unanswered questions! But at least the ending didn't have a HUGE cliffhanger like most books.

Overall, AMAZING! A must read! So much action, betrayal, and a need to survive! You MUST read this book :) Definite recommendation!

Double Review: Revamped by Ada Adams & The Lost Code by Kevin Everson

ReVamped
(Angel Creek, #1)
by Ada Adams
Released |February 20th 2012|
Edition |Ebook|

A simple mission turned deadly.
Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue.
When a human girl is kidnapped by a group of rogue vamps, Dawn discovers that there is more going on in Angel Creek than meets the eye. And it all connects to Ethan, the cute newcomer who seems too perfect to be true, Sebastian, the mysterious vampire with a turbulent past, and even Dawn herself. Dawn must not only succeed in revamping the troubled recruits, but must also prevent the vampire race from being overtaken by a malevolent villain who has a strange and obsessive fascination with her. As threat escalates, romance blooms, and ghosts from her past begin to surface, Dawn is sure of only one thing: her life will never be the same.

I love the cover of this book! It so pretty :) Just thought I'd get that out there. Now see I have been all vamped out for years now...I read too many books with them! But when a book this good comes along, it doesn't fall into the 'played out' category :) 
I have to say I love whole concept of this book. The whole Revamped thing was pretty awesome :) Trying to turn 4 crazy, dorky, druggie vamps into the town heroes has to be no easy thing. I felt for Dawn! lol That poor girl :)
Sebastian was probably my fave, right along with Brook lol That girl cracked me up! She acted like a true cheerleader. Bubbly. And Sebastian was just dreamy. I liked him right from the start, when he told her to never come on his property again...lol
I thought this book was a fun, entertaining and lightweight read. I would have devoured this book if I hadn't of been read 2 other books at the same time. It was definitely a page turner that left you wanting more :) I really can't wait to see what happens in the second installment and see what continues for Dawn and the gang.
I recommend this book for all you vamp lovers :) Blood Vodka and Blood Cola, I love it!

The Lost Code
(The Atlanteans, #1)
by Kevin Emerson
Released |: May 22nd 2012 by HarperCollins Children's Books|
Edition |E-ARC|

WHAT IS OLDEST WILL BE NEW, WHAT IS LOST SHALL BE FOUND.
The ozone is ravaged, ocean levels have risen, and the sun is a daily enemy. But global climate change is not something new in the Earth’s history.
No one will know this better than less-than-ordinary Owen Parker, who is about to discover that he is the descendant of a highly advanced ancient race—a race that took their technology too far and almost destroyed the Earth in the process.
Now it is Owen’s turn to make right in his world what went wrong thousands of years ago. If Owen can unlock the lost code in his very genes, he may rediscover the forgotten knowledge of his ancestry…and that less-than-ordinary can evolve into extraordinary.

Going into this book, I really didn't know what to expect. But I was really surprised by some of the awesomeness in this book :)
At first, this book started off a little slow for me. It wasn't slow as in awful, but just slow paced. I was anxious to see when things would pick up and have some true drama and action happen. In the beginning, I thought, uhh, this might not be to great, but then things started to pick up!
I liked Owen's character. He wasn't the in your face, I'm an awesome hero type of guy, he was more subtle. He was kind of awkward and nonchalant, and also a mystery. I couldn't figure him out in the beginning. That what really drew me to his character. He was different. I didn't know what to expect from him. Lily, I still don't know how I feel for her. She was very smart and drawn to Owen from the start. But, I think I like her lol She was nice and passionate throughout the entire book.
The whole thing with the gills was kind of awesome! I really liked the whole concept. That they were still human, but had a set of gills! Actual gills :) Sounds kind of gross now that I think about it though... But anyways, the whole mystery to the Atlanteans was really intriguing and really made the book. I was so into the whole mystery with finding out what meant what and who was meant to do what. The Lost Code :) It brought a whole other element to the book. The whole thing with the mystery behind the skulls and the three true Atlanteans was awesome! Who is the third Atlantean? Do we already know who it is? We know two for sure, but then there's that possible! That completely threw me for a loop :) And added a twist!
I did enjoy the romance between Owen and Lily and I also liked how it didn't take up the whole book. The book was focus more on the actually story of the book, not just the romance. The action did pick up, and when it did I really enjoyed it :) This book was a definite page turner for me once I really sat down and really got into it.
I recommend this book for those who like a good mystery, mythology, and of course, end of the world, apocalyptic books :)! Awesome :D
Thanks to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for the opportunity to review this book! All thoughts are my honest opinion.

Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Raised By Wolves
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Released |September 30th 2010 by Quercus Publishing|
Edition |Paperback, 418 pages|

At the age of four, Bryn  watched a rogue werewolf brutally murder her parents. Alone in the  world, she was rescued and taken in by the mysterious Callum, the alpha  of his werewolf pack. Now fifteen, Bryn’s been raised as a human among  werewolves, adhering to pack rule (mostly). Little fazes her.
But the pack’s been keeping a secret, and when Bryn goes exploring  against Callum’s direct orders, she finds Chase, a newly turned teen  Were locked in a cage. Terrifying memories of the attack on her mom and  dad come flooding back. Bryn needs answers, and she needs Chase to get  them. Suddenly, all allegiances to the pack no longer matter. It’s Bryn  and Chase against the werewolf world, whatever the consequences.

This is one of my first  shifter YA series that I loved, because I didn't start off reading YA. I read adult shifter books, but hadn't been introduced to the YA category at the time. Writing this review I am finding difficult since I read this book almost 2 years ago, but I'll try without spoiling :D

Bryn was adopted as a child by alpha werewolf Callum when a rogue wolf killed her parents while she hid and watched the entire thing. Soon Bryn meets Chase a boy who was recently turned. Things get a little crazy after that!

The Characters
I loved Bryn's character! She was fun :) And she also had some attitude that I liked! No push over with her. But sometimes, I felt she could be a little bit defiant and hardheaded, but after all she's only 15. LOVED LOVED LOVED Callum! I loved his whole demeanor. He was kind of suave, level headed and he showed his true emotions to Bryn which I thought was... *Awwww* ;)  His whole Alphaness just draws me to him even though he's old lol! I also like Bryn's friend Devon :) He was an added plus to the book!

Chase
When Bryn finally comes in contact with Chase, it was interesting. I was right there along with Bryn with the why can't I see him thing. I liked Chase he was sweet and adorable! Their romance, I swear, was the cutest thing to me. Now I don't want to spoil things so I am going to stop right here. But when the thing happen when Bryn did the thing lol I was like whoa. Everyone had a freak out moment.

I kind of thought things were taken to the extreme with Devon's mother, but I guess that was unusual. But when Ali reacted, I didn't think she need to do what she did lol I am cracking up! But I did think she overreacted. Plus she had kids to think about.

But overall, amazing story! This one of the reasons why I love shifters :D I highly recommend this series!

Recommendations - Shifters/Gods/Dystopian

Here are a list of some recommendations of books I enjoyed from different categories :)
All are 4 to 5 star books!
If you've read some of these, tell me what you thought of them.
Or if you want to read a few, tell me which ones :D

Shifters

Gods/Goddesses

Dystopian

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither
(The Chemical Garden Trilogy, #1)
by Lauren DeStefano
Released |March 22nd 2011 by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers|
Edition |Audio book, 9 discs|

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

Wow! I don't know why I procrastinated in reading this amazing story :) It was awesome! I'm so glad I already have book 2! 4.5 stars to Wither. But I must say, I think this book is for mature teens and up. 
I really really liked this story! At the beginning of the book, it took a chapter or two before I really got into the story. I don't know why but it just took a minute. But once I got REALLY into the story, it was amazing :)

I really loved the whole story line to it. Rhine was an amazing female lead :) She was smart, but also, she was patient. She was different from the other two girls. Cecily with her...I don't know how to describe her. She was like a kid in a candy store. And there was Jenna, quiet and stand offish. 

I don't know who I choose, Linden or Gabriel. I actually think I have come to like Linden a little bit more. He was so sweet to Rhine and so clueless at times it hurt to see. I just didn't like how he went back and forth between the girls. I thought that was gross. *shivers* I thought his relationship with the other two girls was creepy and weird lol But, I wonder will he find out all the secrets that have been kept from him.

This book had so much suspense. I was about to say it was a page turner, but considering I listened to the audio book, I went through all 9 disc and about 2 and a half days :) It was that good!

The issue with Jenna was so sad. I don't think I cared for Cecily. She was annoying to me throughout the whole book with her jealousy, selfish and whinny demeanor. And what she did, I wouldn't be able to forgive her either. But then again, she's young, but still. That's was her selfish way. *Just my opinion*

I definitely recommend this book! And can't wait to dig into Fever :) Awesome, awesome book!

Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London

Darkness Before Dawn
(Darkness Before Dawn, #1)
by J.A. London
Released |May 29th 2012 by HarperCollins Publishers|
Edition |ARC, 342 pages|

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.

I rate this book 4.5 stars :) I thought it was amazing! The cover, the characters, and the premise did not disappoint.


I've seen some reviews where the reviewer is judging the book based on the premise of the story. Comparing it to other books. I say, give a book a chance before you go into it. Go in to reading it with an open mind, because this book did not disappoint me whatsoever! I loved it :)

Vampires have won the war and are now ruling the world. How awesome is that! Something different. The whole thing with the thirty year war between the humans and vamps was intriguing. I loved when the book started talking about that point because, come on, vamps and humans fighting is a disaster waiting to happen.

I really like Dawn and Victor's character. Dawn was a strong female lead and I really like that. She didn't cower in a corner waiting to be protected. I would be scared out my mind to face Lord Valentine, the vampire ruler of her city. Dawn, only 17 and the delegate of the city is a big thing and I really liked that whose aspect of the book. And when Dawn meets Victor, Lord Valentine's son, it made the book all the more interesting.

Victor was amazing! I think I swooned over him! Who wouldn't want a guy like him. Even though he is a vamp. Living in Dawn's world, I think I would have had a more, OMG WTF you're Lord Valentine's son kind of reaction when she found out who he was. She was a little bit more calm than how I would've been. But I really enjoyed the chemistry between the too.

It was a little bit of a love triangle with Victor and Michael. Michael, her current boyfriend, and Victor. I actually didn't mind the love triangle because Dawn wasn't the Oh My Gosh what am I going to do I can't choose kind of girl. So it was A-OKay.

The only bad thing I can say is that when everything was revealed, I had already figured out who everyone was. But, me being me, I was still shocked? lol

The ending, I can't wait to find out what will happened! Will she die or will she be turned?! OR maybe she will survive and be human! I don't know, but I can't wait to find out!

This book was action packed, with some great romance and some awesome characters! I definitely recommend this book to all you dystopian and vampire lovers out there!

Thanks to J.A. London and Halli from HarperCollins Publishers for sending me an ARC of this book for my honest opinion :)!