Book Review: Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2) by Tahereh Mafi

May contain spoilers from the first book!

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Format: Paperback

Publishers: Harper Collins

Published: 31st December 2013

Pages: 461

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, 

Main Characters: Juliette, Adam, Warner
Date Read: 1st September - 24th September 2015

Rating Given:

Synopsis:The New York Times bestselling sequel to the groundbreaking dystopian novel Shatter Me! Kami Garcia, coauthor of the #1 New York Timesbestselling Beautiful Creatures series, says Unravel Me is "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense. I dare you to stop reading."
Juliette is still haunted by her deadly touch. But now that she has teamed up with other rebels with powers of their own, she'll be able to fight back against The Reestablishment to save her broken world. With the help of these new allies, she'll also finally learn the secret behind Adam's—and Warner's—immunity to her killer skin.
Unravel Me is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu. Ransom Riggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, raves: "A thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love, the Shatter Me series is a must-read for fans of dystopian young-adult literature—or any literature!" 

I've had this book sitting on my bookshelf for a little over a year now and I have just gotten around to reading it and I don't know why I have taken this long to get to it as I loved the first one and this one was no different, it may not have been as brilliant as the first but it was still a great read...

I love the cover change as this cover is stunning, even if it did take me awhile to get to that point but I love it now. I would have liked to have seen the same cover as the first one's original cover as that was lovely too but that was only because now my Shatter Me series won't match.

It may have taken me a long while to get Unravel Me read but that was not because I didn't enjoy it in fact I loved it, it was just a busy few weeks and didn't have time to pick it up. I loved that there was always something going on even when there wasn't any fighting it still had something that kept me enthralled which is nice to see that it doesn't just have to have fight sequence after fight sequence to be entertaining. There was a bit of a twist that I didn't expect with the whole revelation of why Adam can touch Juliette. I didn't like the way Adam kept pushing Juliette as she thought she was doing the right thing but for him to make her feel bad keeping arms length I didn't like that. I did love seeing Adam and Juliette together in the beginning but in the end I was rooting for Warner and Juliette and I can't wait to see what comes out of that pairing they just seem so good together, team Warner all the way. I loved the ending as it felt very epic with the fighting and the light bulb moment for Juliette I for one can't wait to see what on earth is going to happen in the end.

I pretty much love all the characters but there was one that I hated and that would be Warner's Dad he is just pure evil. Juliette is such a good character in the way that she would do anything for anyone and she hates to hurt anyone even if they deserve it, but that all changed in the end so I can't wait to see how she is in the last book. I loved Adam in the beginning but during the book he annoyed me a bit as he seemed a bit too whiney for my liking. I loved Warner he showed a different side to himself in this book that just warmed my heart.

Overall, I loved this book but I do feel like it wasn't as outstanding as the first book but a great book nonetheless.

Book Review: The Elite (The Selection, #2) by Kiera Cass

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Format: Paperback

Publishers: Harper Collins

Published: 23rd April 2013

Pages: 326

Genre: YA, Romance, Dystopian

Main Characters: America, Maxon, Aspen
Date Read: 20th August - 29th August 2015

Rating Given:

Synopsis:The Selection gets fierce as rivals stake their claim on the prince. Six girls, one life-changing prize...America Singer will leave her pre-destined life for a world of glamour and luxury, if she wins...But surviving The Selection is tough. Rivals are battling to become Prince Maxon's bride as the threat of rebel violence just beyond the palace walls escalates into war. Only six girls are left and sworn friendships are tested to breaking point. America's feelings for Maxon grow stronger, but she suspects darker mysteries in his royal past. With ex-lover Aspen waiting for her in the shadows, where do her loyalties truly lie?

I have been putting this one off for a while now as I wasn't a huge fan of the first one but I thought I would give it a go, and to be honest I'm still not a huge fan...

I do like this cover with that dress it looks stunningly luxurious. The colours are also what makes this a gorgeous cover. The only thing I don't like about this cover is the expression on the girl as she looks so mardy which I kind of get but it still lets down the cover.

When I first started The Elite I did think it was going to be better than the first one as I was really into the story, however, for me the more I read the more everything wound me up. The things that really got me annoyed was the love triangle, which I don't usually mind love triangles but this one just didn't feel realistic. America would go back and forward with who she loved but it seemed she would only go with one when the other one annoyed her. I did like the rebels as it added something more to the story but even that felt like it was rushed and not explained well. The ending did pick up for me to the point that has me wanting to read the next one which was why I gave The Elite 3 stars otherwise it could have been a lot less but because of the beginning and the ending I couldn't give it any less.

It was mainly the characters that put me off this book as they all annoyed me apart from Marlee as she seemed the nicest and most genuine character. America in the beginning I thought was so much more likeable than in the first book, however, the way she acted was nothing more than a spoilt brat. She was such a hypocrite as it was all right for her not to know who she wanted but god forbid Maxon liked someone else. Maxon really annoyed me in this book as he acted like America but I could understand his actions (even if I didn't approve). Aspen wasn't really in this as much as the other characters so it was hard to like him or dislike him.

Overall I was not able to enjoy this book all the way through but I liked it enough in the end to warrant a read of the next book.

Book Review: Made For You by Melissa Marr

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Format: Kindle (earc)

Publishers: Harper Collins

Published: 16th September 2014

Pages: 368

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance, Thriller

Main Characters: Eva
Date Read: 11th July - 19th July 2014

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
Bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely books Melissa Marr’s first contemporary YA novel is a twisted southern gothic tale of obsession, romance, and murder. A killer is obsessed with Eva Tilling. Can she stop him, or will he claim her?
When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.
For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.

This was my Waiting on Wednesday post not so long ago and was surprised when Melissa Marr's assistant got in touch to say Melissa was willing to send me a review copy of Made For You which gave me a fangirl moment. Made For You was just as good as what I had hoped if not even better...

I do love the simplicity of the cover especially the use of very little colours and the colour that was used is a beautiful colour which stands out. Not sure what reference the fly makes as to the best of my knowledge there wasn't any flies mentioned (could've forgotten about it). I love the font used for the title as it does remind me of a stalkers' note which is in keeping with the story.

This book is one of the best books that I have read all year, it was such an addictive and on the edge of your seat book that kept me guessing until the very end. I haven't read many thriller books but the other thriller book that I read had an unknown killer on the loose but that is where the similarities end as the rest of the book was different to what I have read before. What made this book different to most books that I have read was that some of the chapters was from the murderers point of view which I liked as we was able to get into his head to see just how sick and twisted he was. I would love to see this book as a film it was so engrossing and very realistic which is always a plus for me. There was a bit of romance in Made For You but it wasn't the main focus but I didn't mind as everything else was so entertaining that I forgot I love romance as the main focus. What romance we did get I loved as you could see how much they really did care for each other with some very sweet moments but also those moments when you just want to smack them upside their head. I would also say there was a hint of paranormal in Made For You but that's all I will say on that as I don't want to give anything away. The ending was great as every question you have throughout this book is answered and I found it really sweet as well.

There is so many great characters in this book that it is easy to feel for everyone of them except one although that person I felt like I understood him more than if we didn't get his views across but he was still very twisted. Eva seemed to really grow into herself thoughout Made For You as she started off being in the background and pleasing everyone but herself but once she has her accident I feel like she came out of her shell and went for things that she wanted. I would say she was a very strong character as the things that she went through and still be able to get up in the morning is just astonishing.

Overall there is so many things that goes on in this book that I could go on forever but put everything together you get one perfect book! If I could give this 10 stars I would it was just pure perfection!!

Book Review: Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1) by Tahereh Mafi

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Format: Paperback

Publishers: Harper

Published: 15th November 2011

Pages: 338

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Dystopia

Main Characters: Juliette, Adam,Warner

Date Read: 23rd February - 28th February 2014

Rating Given:

Blurb:
I have a curse.I have a gift.
I'm a monster.I'm more than human.
My touch is lethal.My touch is power.
I am their weapon.I will fight back.
No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.But Juliette has plans of her own. After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

I can't remember getting this book I just know that I have had it on my book shelf for such a long time now, I wish I had never taken so long to read it as I loved it. Although with taking awhile I can now buy the books to finish the series.

My copy is the old international copy which I am a bit gutted about as now the rest of my series won't match. I do like both versions of the cover but I'm not sure which is my favourite as it changes every month. I love the use of colour in this cover as I am a sucker for black and white also what you don't see in the picture is that it has a metallic finish to it making it shiny.

When I first started this book I wasn't sure I was going to like it and that wasn't because of me not liking the story it was mainly to do with the style of writing. In the blurb is how it is written with the strike through's which was very hard not to discard them as they was important to how she was actually feeling but as soon as I got used to that it was easy to read. I loved the slow build up of what was happening which doesn't always happen for me but I was addicted to this book from start to finish even when there wasn't much going on in the beginning. The romance side of the story was also a slow build up but again I loved it and kept thinking when they was going to realise how they felt. There wasn't any major cliff hangers which was good as this book felt like a build up for what is coming next which has got me very excited to find out.

I loved most of the characters and the characters that I didn't like was ones that wasn't actually in the book but we heard a lot about them. Juliette was a great character although at first I thought she was going to be a very weak person but the more the book went on the more she grew into herself. What I liked was that for most part of the book we didn't even know what she looked like and I didn't even realise. I did really like Adam as he seemed sweet, caring and understanding but he felt a little too good to be true. Even though Warner came across as the bad guy I still seemed to really like him as there was some things that made me think about why he is the way he is and he honestly thinks he is doing a good thing. Kenji was one of my favourite characters as he was so funny and I love that in characters.

Overall once I got past the very different writing style I fell in love with the world that Tahereh Mafi created.

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

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Format: Paperback

Publishers: Harper Collins

Published: 7th June 2012

Pages: 327

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Main Characters: America, Maxon

Date Read: 25th May - 30th June 2013

Rating Given:

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads

In a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels the Selection is the chance of a lifetime: to compete for gorgeous Prince Maxon's hear. But for America Singer it means turning her back on her secret love, and leaving home for a prize she doesn't want.

Then America meets Maxon and all her plans start to crumble. Can he life she's always dreamed of compare to a future she never imagined?

I had this book for such a long time before deciding to reading it but for the most part I wish I had put it off even longer as for a long time I couldn't get into it.

I love the cover and it is one of my favourites I just wish the story was as good as the cover.

It took me quite some time to get through this book which surprised me as I thought I was going to really enjoy it as it had all the ingredient's to be an epic read. Although I didn't love as I thought I would there was times when it picked up and those moments I really enjoyed. The romance side of the story I kind of liked in parts as sometimes it was so sweet then other times I just didn't believe it. The ending did leave me wanting more so I will be reading the next book I just hope it's better than this book.

Like the story the characters I had a love hate relationship. America seemed ok to start with as she had her own ideas and didn't care what everybody else thought, but then she started to act like everyone else so she didn't stand out. Aspen again I liked to start with but then I went off him. Maxon was the only one I liked pretty much throughout the book although there was moments when he annoyed me but I guess I knew where he was coming from.

Overall there was times when it was an ok book but there was times when I really didn't want to continue with the book.

ICONS by Margaret Stohl UK Giveaway

I was approached by the lovely publishers to see if I wanted to do a giveaway of ICONS by Margaret Stohl which I of course jumped at the chance. With the book being posted by me I have had to make it a UK ONLY giveaway because of costs, sorry to my international followers but sometime in the future I will do one for everyone.

 Click the image to find out more about this book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everyone entering!!
For everyone that doesn't win you can get your hands on it on 9th May in the UK and in America you can get it 7th May.

Book Review: Die For Me (Revenants #1)

Die For Me (Revenants #1) by Amy Plum

 

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Harper Teen

Published: 10th May 2011

Pages: 341

Main Characters: Kate, Vincent

Date Started: 24th October 2012

Date Finished: 28th October 2012

Rating Given:

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.
 

I have wanted to read this book for ages and I have had it for awhile too but I have only just gotten around to reading it. Now that I have read it I wish I picked it up sooner as I really enjoyed reading it.

This cover is just stunning and it's one of my favourite covers. I love all the patterns around the edges as it makes the cover stand out. What I never really noticed before is the location of the cover which I think has something to do with it being so small but I don't think that matters too much.

I really enjoyed this book as there was times when I was smiling ear to ear. There was some very sad moments that nearly had me in tears which I think is good as my emotions was pushed to the limit. I loved that it was a different kind of paranormal book as I haven't read about these kind of paranormals before and I did find it very interesting. There are still things that I'm still not sure about but I'm sure as the series continues it will be cleared up. I did get a bit confused as to what was happening at times which did annoy me. I have ideas on what I think is going to happen next and i am looking forward to see if any of them happen.

I loved all the characters in this book. Kate and her sister was going through a huge transition and trauma so they was both very sad to start with but they both dealt with it in different ways. Vincent I loved from the very start and he also bought out the best in Kate and she bought out the best in him and I can't wait to see if there relationship continues to grow.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I hope I continue to do so with the next book.

Book Review: Divergent (Divergent #1)

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Format: Paperback
Publishers: HarperCollins Children's Books
Published: 3rd May 2011
Pages: 487
Main Characters: Tris, Four
Date Started: 28th April 2012
Date Finished: 1st May 2012
Rating Given: ***** 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

It took me ages to actually get this book but when I did get it, it took me awhile to get around to reading it. I think that has something to do with that when I look forward to a book but then takes me ages to get it I end up not liking it but in this case I loved it and wish I never took so long to reading it.

To be honest with you all the cover is what first drew me into this book before everyone was rating about it so I am kind of glad I recieved this version but I have now found out that us UK lot have a different version which I don't like as much. I am really glad I didn't see that version first as I might not have been as willing to read the book but now it has grown on me I will have to get the UK version so that it matches the Insurgent version!

I kind of had a feeling when I started to read this book that it would be a five star book as I got into it straight away and that has only happened to books that I rate five stars. I also got what was happening and understood the book which in some dystopian books I get confused but then there are others which I get straight away and this was one of them. The style of the writing that Roth used was easily understood and descriptive so that I could actually picture the surroundings.

There was so many things going on in this book that it kept me entertained the whole way through my thoughts never strayed away from the book (which I sometimes do). I loved the whole build up to what we all probably had a feeling was going to happen. It was a action packed last couple of pages that kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked that the ending wasn't too much of a cliff-hanger but enough of one to make me want to read the next book pronto so I am glad that it's out this week not much of a wait for me.

The two main characters Tris and Four I just loved. Tris starts off with me thinking that she is a bit of a soft touch but by the end she is a strong fighter. Even though she seemed a bit of a weakling I still warmed to her from the moment the book starts and then as she grows as a person makes me like her all the more. Four from the beginning captured my heart even though he starts off a bit too harsh I just couldn't help but fall in love with his character especially when we see what he's been/going through. The interaction between these two was great to witness even if at times they where a bit mean towards each other you could still see the attraction simmering under the surface. There was some other side characters that I really liked but then there was others which where just plain evil.

Overall a stunning debut from Veronica Roth I can't wait to read more from her especially this series as it is just plain and simply AWESOME!!

Book Review: Slide (Slide #1)

Slide (Slide #1) by Jill Hathaway

Format: Paperback (arc)
Publisher: Harper Collins UK
Published: 1st March 2012
Pages: 250
Main Characters: Sylvia (Vee), Rollins, Zane
Date Started: 3rd March 2012
Date Finished: 5th March 2012
Rating Given: ***

Goodreads:
Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

I received this from a swap as I had wanted to read it for a while now as I had heard so many great things about it and yes it was a good book but I wouldn't say it's great.

This is a book about Vee a girl who slide's into other peoples bodies and sees what they are seeing or in Vee's case what they have done.

I loved the concept of this book as it was like a murder mystery which I have found that I like a bit of that in my books and this was no exception, it was very thrilling at times, it was just that sometimes it wasn't so thrilling. I was kept guessing all the way through the book as to who was the murderer or if there wasn't one which I liked as I like to guess myself and I did kind of guess something was up with the person that was helping/doing it I never guessed that it would be them actually doing this.

The beginning was straight in there telling us about what happens to Vee when she Slides which I like because some books can take awhile before they let us into anything. Although I liked that it went straight into the story I did find it quite confusing to start with and it was only when I got further into the book that I could start to understand everything that was going on.

Once we learn about what Vee can do we then go straight into the deaths of the cheerleaders which was when I really got into the book. We also learn of the dark past of Vee which you would never expect but nothing was really talked about this particular part at the end and I was quite angry at that as at that point I thought this was a stand alone novel but I have found that it is part of a series which I am really glad about as not only this part needs clearing up but there was a few things that was left unsaid and the ending did feel more like a cliff hanger than an ending.

I liked Vee's character she seems like a strong female character that has been dealt a lot in her life already and the way she deals with it is a great test of character. I loved to see her relationship between her and her farther/sister/friends/ex-friends as it shows she is not perfect like other characters in other books make out she just seems more real.

Rollins I wasn't quite sure about as he did have a lot of skeletons in his closet but I guess they where there for a reason but I am glad that we found out what they where I was just not happy in the way they was exposed.

Overall not a bad start to what I think could be a great series and I am looking forward to what is thrown Vee's way next.

Book Review: Carrier of the Mark (Carrier #1)

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: 4th October 2011
Pages: 342
Main Characters: Megan, Adam, Aine, Caitlin, Rian, Fionn and Caleb
Date Started: 12th January 2012
Date Finished: 18th January 2012
Rating Given: ****

Goodreads:
Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

When I first heard about this book I was really excited about reading it but then when reading reviews for it a lot of them was bad so I got nervous about reading it. In the end I thought I would give it a try as I might have liked it and I didn't I loved it.

I loved the setting of this book as Ireland is one of my dream places to live and I haven't read a book that was set in Ireland before. I could really imagine the place that she lived in as it was beautifully described. I think the reason why it's described so well is that Leigh Fallon lives in Dublin Kinsale which is where it's set. I have read other books set in the UK and Scotland but these authors are usually from America so I don't feel they have the description of the setting right unlike Fallon.

I think this is Fallon's debut book and it's such a brilliant start where will she go from here I hope she just gets better and better.

This book I do feel like it's similar to The Twilight Saga but this time with magic. I still love it and Twilight.

Megan's character was a good one but not the best I have read. She is quite similar to Bella's character in Twilight in the way that she lives with her Dad which she has moved into a new time where she gets obsessed with the Deris family which everyone did at first but the family kept to themselves so everyone just left them alone (there is more  but it will give away some of the plot). The biggest difference and the best is she is more feistier and has more of an opinion which was the main flaw in Bella. I am looking forward to see how Megan will cope with her ever growing powers.

I loved Adam's character but I don't think he was in the book enough so I am hoping we will get to see him some more in the coming books. I love the way he is protective of the ones he loves. He is a strong and powerful lead guy which I love in my leading men!

The relationship between Megan and Adam was great to see I am looking forward but nervous to see how there relationship will change throughout the series.

I love the magic elements of this series as I haven't read much about magic unless they are Wizards or Witches so it's a refreshing change to not even mention the term Witch/Wizards.

Overall a great start to what I hope is going to be a great series, can't wait to read the rest.