Rich & Compelling: Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Date Released:  September 27th 2011 
Publisher:  Little, Brown & Company
Pages: 417 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Barnes and Noble
Rating: LOVED
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (#1)

Goodreads Synopsis:Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. 

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

From Goodreads

My Review:

First off, let me just say that I LOVED and LOVED and LOVED this book! It was awesomesauce over awesomesauce! Daughter of Shadow and Bone is a type of book you just have to read to find out why it so good, really it is. *Nods head* This book was rich in details, mysterious without being lost on what's happening, and was full on addicting! PICK IT UP! This one has me hook for more book like this!

Karou, an art student in Prague, was full of amaziness! She was fierce, head on strong, and I LOVED her a lot! (Yes, I can't emphasize it enough)  She was a crafted character that easily set the tone for the book and her thoughts were definitely cool to read! Plus, she has blue hair and spunk! Who could ask for more? Other character like Brimstone and Akiva were good too. Akiva grew on my towards the middle and he and Karou really increase the depth about the book and more action definitely started to build when Karou mests him. Others like, Madrigal really annoyed me and I really hated how we only got to see it in the end than more of Karou. But I still loved all the characters!

Daughter of Shadow and Bone was no doubt one of the best book I read and now I love it a lot! It was so complex, rich in all its details, and who enchanting  If one thing, in YA we don't see lots of these type of books and to read one and love it is amazing. Just reading the back cover really don't do it justice, the writing does. Laini Taylor is super skilled in her world making and I can't believe that this was her 2012 debut novel too! *Shocked*

 eyes* The plot in the book actually moved fast! Even with all this detail, we still get an amazing plot line! Everything was paced really good, but the ending for be was both a shocker and a "what!?" moment! And when Karou and Brimstone were collecting the teeth, was also cool to actually read why and I could come up with loads of ideas. 

Overall, Daughter of Shadow and Bone is a beyond enchanting and captivating book! It's creativity was beyond charts and so was the action and lore! It's a definite read it to find out type of book. And who can't resist an amazing cover (0_0) and subtle romance weaved in? PICK IT UP NOW! Throw everything in your TBR Pile away and grab this! I'm freaking out for the sequel!

Find Daughter of Smoke and Bone On:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads

Disappointed: The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Date Released: September 18th 2012

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages: 408 pages

Format: Hardcover

Source: Teenreads

Rating: Liked a little

Series: Raven Cycle (#1)

Goodreads Synopsis:  “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

From Goodreads

My Review:



Tagline: "The Raven Boys was a book I just really was hoping for more but ended up getting something disappointed but I do have high hopes for book two"

With all the hype for The Raven Boys and winning an ARC of Teenreads I was really hoping for something amazing and completely epic, but all I got was a huge book of disappointment. The Raven Boys was a mix of paranormal, suspense, and magic which was really intriguing at first but other elements were missing.

Blue Sargent, is a clairyovant, meaning she can see dead people and talk to them. The day she heads out to a church, she talks to a boy named Gansey and after that they are all thrown in a world of intrigue and suspense. I really liked Blue a lot, she was smart, cool, and like able and I was hoping for some more longer chapters with her because she was fun to read! She was someone who always didn't flirt with any boy next to her, especially the Raven Boys. But there are also other "psychics" that were related to Blue which were I admit fun to read and they lightened up the story a bit.  

The Raven Boys (Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah) concept, to be honest sounded really cool, but reading it it could have been more developed and layered upon. It was really hard to know which Raven Boy was doing what and that for me means one confused reader. Really, I hate it when you read it all over but you still have no clue which one is doing what! 0_0

But the ending was something that made me want to turn the pages fast enough. There was a lot going on towards the end, which I'm not spoiling but reading the Raven Boys I got a lot of gernes put into one book. You got paranormal hints, touches of suspense and mystery, and romance, but no insta-love at all for sure. I definitly liked Maggie's poetic writing and this book was perfect to showcase that. I'm not a ultra big fan of her but I did like the book and would want more for her!





“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

The Raven Boys

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble



The EPIC Finale: The Reckoning - Kelley Armstrong

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
Date Released: April 6th 2010

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages:  391 pages

Date Read: August 12, 2012

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library

Goodreads Synopsis:  My name is Chloe Saunders. I'm fifteen, and I would love to be normal.

But normal is one thing I'm not.

For one thing, I'm having these feelings for a certain antisocial werewolf and his sweet-tempered brother--who just happens to be a sorcerer--but, between you and me, I'm leaning toward the werewolf.

Not normal.

My friends and I are also on the run from an evil corporation that wants to get rid of us--permanently.

Definitely not normal.

And finally, I'm a genetically altered necro-mancer who can raise the dead, rotting corpses and all, without even trying.

As far away from normal as it gets.

From Goodreads



My Review:

Tagline: "Kelley Armstrong will blow you away with all the actio, hype, and romance she binds in her last book!"

 

Asdfghjkl, I FINALLY read The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong and I'm literally still thinking about it! Kelley Armstrong takes you on a wild ride of emotions, action, and a touch of romance with Derek and Simon. I think by far one of the best books in this series. I love how its so easy to pick up her books like this one and just keep on reading without being way too much a "heavy paranormal" read and now this series is a must read! *head nods*

 





 

Right away The Reckoning starts where The Awakening left off, and I liked that about all of these books. Chloe and her friends just found Andrew and they on there way to head to his house planning before the Edison Group takes them back as there genetically altered paranormals. Chloe was just as fun and serious and I loved how she still stayed they same and true to herself! I'll definitly miss her as an amazing character, and knows how to take control of the story.

 

Of of the best parts of the book was the pacing. Really, no doubt she moves it up a notch from The Awakening and she grips you into her world you don't want to miss a second of this book!

 

Kelley Armstrong really didn't hold back on the last book! She amps up the pace and moves really fast till you are like "What?! I already finished?"  All the characters where amzing, like Tori who grew less annoying; Derek, who finally shows his feeling; and Simon the nerdy kid. But the ending? I knew that it could have been so much better and it wasn't something I expected but wanted a little more.  I think Kelley could have pushed the creativity envelope a little more, just because I was unhappy about the ending. 

.

Captivating, amazing, and writen well; The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong is a book I won't forget and definitly pick up this series if you are a paranormal junkie!

 

Read My Review Of The Summoning HERE

Read My Review Of The Awkening HERE

 



On The Run: The Awakening - Kelley Armstrong

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

Date Released: April 28, 2012

Publisher: Harpercollins

Pages: 360

Date Read: August 8, 2012

Format: Paperback

Source: Bought

Goodreads Synopsis:  If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl — someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I’m as far away from normal as it gets. I’m a living science experiment — not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization call the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters. I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control: I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends - a chaming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch - and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

From Goodreads

My Review:

Tagline: "You don't have to be alive to be awakened. In The Awakening the action is more intense and the stakes run higher than ever"

There Might by Some Spoliers!! So don't read this review if you haven't read The Summoning!

Where do I even begin with this review? 0.0

I finally got the book and finished it in 2 whole days and I'm am BLOWN AWAY by Kelley Armstong's writing, action, suspense, and her whole cast of characters! :) Despite some of its slow parts, The Awakening was a jumble of heartache and action it made up for it and I am hooked for the final book! :D

The Awakening picks up after Chloe and Rae are turned in by Aunt Lauren now under the care of The Edison Group. Simon and Derek are hiding till Chloe finds a way to contact them. Right now, Chloe doesn't know who to trust espcially the Edison Group who genetically altered Chloe and everyone eles at Lyle House. Dr.Davidoff entices Chloe with what the Edison Group is really about but she doesn't believe it. Rae also betrays her! She was the one who told that they were leaving from Lyle House. I felt sad for her but at the same time wanted her to be in the story for some firey scenes! O_O :D

The only way Chloe finds Simon and Derek is by joining the Edison Group to give Simon the insulin he need before he dies. But mostly the book was about Chloe getting ready for her final showdown with her an her friends I wanted a little bit more to add more complexity.

 I loved Chloe! She was kick-ass with all the ghost she summons, like Liz and Brady, a former experiment. Even Tori, a evil witch grew on me as the story went on. Derek also had a side that I never saw before and everyone was an amazing cast! I really liked all of them and I can't wait for the last book, to see all their powers come alive! :)

Kelley Armstrong manages to keep the pace steady, the action intense, and the romance heating. The stakes are definetly high for the next book, which I can't wait for and The Awakening had me at a great sequel! Definetly picking up all her YA books! :)