Mini Reviews: Poison Princess & Shatter Me

Sorry guys, this was suppose to be up by yesterday (..or day before that..), but I got distracted. First I started playing a game (or The Game for me, man how I still love that game! Seriously hooked again.) and last night when I was suppose to write, I started knitting some mittens (except in baby blue and -pink! Cause I'm just so hardcore mature!) and there was Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang in the TV so.. no writing.
Okay, I'm just a lazy b**tard, sue me! (Please, don't.)

But the year will end soon (in a few hours!), so here's this years final reviews!

Poison Princess
by Kresley Cole

Published: October 1st 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Format: Ebook
Pages: 320
Source: Through Pulse It
Amazon |
Book Depository

She could save the world — or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Okay, so the beginning was little odd, since I was convinced Evie's going to be slaughtered right away and I thought well, that sucks and is kind of disappointing!
Then we jump back in time and it's kind of slow at first. Evie thinks she's crazy and her mum thinks she's crazy, so she spent the summer in the nuthouse. When she goes back to school, she meets the new guy, Jackson, who just makes her mad.

After a while her visions come true and the apocalypse arrives! She manages to survive with her mother and then finds out Jackson is alive too and together they start the most eventful journey.

This was just.. This rocked, I don't know any other way to put it! Evie realises she's not completely "normal" and there's also other kids with weird abilities. They ran into at least to three of them, I especially enjoyed the part about the Bringer of the Doubt ;) There definitely was some doubt going on!

Evie and Jackson make the ultimate couple, even though Evie is the nice girl and Jack the bad boy, luckily that didn't bother me that much.

And the ending.. Torture, I tell you! Evie finally realises what she's capable of, and now I just want to know what happens with Jackson!!! I was absolutely awed with Evie and her powers, it was just so freaking awesome and original! And when Jackson sees Evie.. Damn, broke my heart!

Yeah, I need to buy this, like now.


My thanks to Pulse It for the review copy!

Shatter Me
by Tahereh Mafi

Published: November 15th 2011
Publisher: Harper
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 338
Source: Borrowed
Amazon |
Book Depository

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Another book that made me wonder: "WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG BEFORE I READ THIS!??!?!" Still wondering that, but the main point is, I read this and loved it. I know, there's the whiny MC with somewhat instalove and really weird lovetriangle, but.. Hey, heart wants what it wants!

Sooo... Juliette's been in the nuthouse (hey, another one!) for almost a year, until one day she gets a roommate! And it's a boy! And soon Juliette realises that she knows that boy and kind of feels betrayed, until it's revealed he's on her side. Now all they have to do is break free from her prison, where she's hold as a prisoner by Warner, a dude who has some mummy issues.

Yeah, there could've been so much for me to hate. Like some strike-throughs, lot of metaphors (okay, I didn't get them all!), weird lovetriangles etc., but when you combined those elements, they just worked.
And what I mean by weird lovetriangle.. There's Adam, which is understandable, but then there's also Warner, who wants to own Juliette. I just find it disgusting yet so awesome. There isn't really anything romantic in their "relationship", it's actually revolting, but it really doesn't take any romance to have the hots. Seriously, you don't have to like each other, you can find each other awful and disgusting, but still can have the hots.

"Warner grips my hips and allows his hands to conquer my body.
He tastes like peppermint, smells like gardenias.
His arms are strong around me, his lips soft, almost sweet against my skin.
There’s an electric charge between us I hadn’t anticipated."

My point exactly.

I also should've been bothered by the fact that nearly every guy around found Juliette attractive. But.. there isn't exactly that many girls around (like none), and probably even ugly girls start looking hot at some point. So I'm not sure she's actually that attractive ;D Yeah, she probably is, but.. Yeah.
Aaaand Juliette is pretty insecure and miserable and blames herself for things not her fault, but what can you expect after miserable life where no one's ever been nice to you?? It would be rational to say "it's not my fault that stalker is doing that", but people many times act irrational, so, again, didn't bother me.

Now I just have to wait for the second book, hopefully I'll be getting it ASAP! Only like over a month to go.. *sigh.*

Mini Reviews: Storm & Starcrossed

| Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop here!

Storm
by Brigid Kemmerer

Published: April 24th 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Format: Paperback
Pages: 353
Source: Borrowed
Amazon |
Book Depository

Earth. Fire. Air. Water.

When Becca Chandler saves Chris Merrick from being beaten-up in the school car park, she has no idea how dramatically this one action will change her life. Chris is no ordinary guy and neither are his three older brothers. The Merrick boys are Elementals. Hot. Powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

Then there's Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time. With her life at stake, Becca doesn't know who to trust or whose secrets she should keep. and with two boy vying for her affections, and pressure rising all around her, will she find out in time who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all?

Take Cover.
The storm is coming!

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
I inhaled this book, meaning my every waking moment was spent reading this, it was just impossible to put down!
That probably should mean I absolutely love this book etc., but unfortunately no, in the end, I didn't love this, I was just pretty pissed.

Okay, I liked Becca, had strong feelings toward Chris and absolutely loved Hunter, so what could possibly go wrong?
Well, like I said, I loved Hunter and definitely wished Becca would end up with him. And I was like "yeah, at least the second book is coming out soon, so I can read more about Becca etc.!", and when I started to check out the blurb.. I notice it's not about them. I'm beyong loyal when it comes to main characters, I want to stick with them, I can't read about some other dudes! I WANT HUNTER!
What I don't want to read is three, SORRY, EIGHT!! other books just to see how the author is pimping the other brothers!

That's why I won't be reading the other book, no matter how good the first was. Ignore my cupcakes, they're just making fun of me now!

Starcrossed
by Josephine Angelini

Published: May 31st 2011
Publisher: MacMillan Children's Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 514
Source: Bought
Amazon |
Book Depository

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is - now it's getting harder. She's having nightmares of a desperate desert journey, visions of three women weeping tears of blood. And why is she possessed by the sudden, unstoppable urge to kill the handsome new boy in school, Lucas Delos?

A love written in the stars . . .

A feud started in ancient Greece . . .

A curse not even the gods can break.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
If I start counting all the Greek mythology- related books I've read, it would be.. alot. Probably the most used theme in my read- pile. Yet this book managed to surprise me! Don't you just love when that happens?? This brought something new and refreshing to this old and used category.

Helen's a teenager, but she's pretty sure she's not so normal, since she spends her nights wandering through deserts. And keep waking up covered in dust. That would be totally disgusting and I really love my clean sheets, just an FYI.
And when she sees Lucas, she.. wants to rip his head off, and that's definitely something new! Definitely expected insta-love, not head-ripping.
All of this is explained along the way, so you'll get at least some answers.

I absolutely adored the romance (yes, they start getting along!), and especially appreciated the cousin- twist. I know, it's not illegal to marry your cousin or anything, but for these two it seems to be some kind of turn-off. And when there's Greek gods related you would actually expect something like that..

Anyhow, adored this one, definitely going to re-read it SOON, since I have the second book also waiting in my bookshelf, poor thing.

Mini Reviews: Desires of the Dead & The Last Echo

| Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop here!

Desires of the Dead
by Kimberly Derting

Published: February 15th 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 358
Source: Bought
Amazon |
Book Depository

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered — and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Roses are red,
Violets are blue..

.. and who remembers how it continues?! I have it on the tip of my tongue, but seriously can't get it out! And I don't want to read the whole book again, just so again write a review. So you, nice lady/mister, please leave the right answer in the comments, thank you!

I actually did have a point with all this, since I wanted to share that creepy little note Violet received in the book. Because I absolutely loved it! It was one of the creepiest moments in the book, and unfortunately (Me, the chicken, actually writing this?!) that was one of the rare creepy-moments. I actually missed the first book's creepiness.

The biggest turn-off for me was the FBI involvement. Because I couldn't be sure if they were even real, they could've been just some weirdos faking to be the FBI! Just not that believable.
But something good came with the FBI, meaning.. lovetriangle-vibes! And I do love Jay, but this still made me squeal with happiness!

And what I was trying to tell you with the poem is that Violet (again) has her very own stalker. And like always, reader thinks she knows who's behind all of this, but Derting strikes again and in the end you are proven so wrong, again. And that's why you have to love The Body Finder- series, it's not too obvious, since I just hate obvious.

The Last Echo
by Kimberly Derting

Published: April 17th 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Paperback
Pages: 358
Source: Bought
Amazon |
Book Depository

In the end, all that's left is an Echo.

Before, Violet's morbid ability to sense the dead led her to uncover dark murders and long-buried secrets in her small town. Now that she's working with a special investigative team, Violet hopes she can help even more people--whether by saving a life or catching a killer.

Although she's relieved to finally be honest about what she can do, her instant connection with her mysterious partner, Rafe, is both confusing and unsettling, and their unique bond creates tension with her boyfriend, Jay. When she discovers the body of a college student murdered by "the collector," Violet refuses to give up on the case. With her own relationship on the line, Violet doesn't realize that the serial killer is looking to add to his collection and that she may have caught his eye. Will the life Violet has to save be her own?

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
In the beginning, I had some trouble with getting in to the story. Violet is suddenly working for the FBI nonstop, so goodbye familiar scenes and familiar faces! It was actually pretty odd! She barely went to school, almost never talked to her friends and barely ever saw Jay! Suddenly she's living someone else's life, and I just couldn't understand it. Or couldn't understand how her parents would allow that. They did get pretty pissed off like twice, but still. They hardly saw their daughter anymore!
Okay, so that really bugged me, if you didn't get it already.

And opposite to everyone else, what DIDN'T bother me.. RAFE.
I am going to be so happy if something (more) happens between those two! I know, I know, I'm one sick b*stard and lightning should strike me, but what can you do.

I still wasn't overly excited about the FBI involvement, and I'm sorry to say this: TOLD YOU SO. And what do I mean by that? Well, I was convinced there was something fishy going on, and the end of this book proves I WAS RIGHT. And not happy about it.

Overall, I eventually managed to get into the story and started liking this, but something was still little off. That's why I wasn't able to enjoy this as much as I did the first two books. I blame the FBI.

Mini Reviews: Bridget Jones's Diary & Ditched: A Love Story

Bridget Jones's Diary
by Helen Fielding

Published: October 25th 1996
Publisher: Picador
Format: Paperback
Pages: 300
Source: Bought
Amazon |

Meet Bridget Jones —
a 30-something Singleton who is certain she would have all the answers if she could:

a. lose 7 pounds
b. stop smoking
c. develop Inner Poise

"123 lbs. (how is it possible to put on 4 pounds in the middle of the night? Could flesh have somehow solidified becoming denser and heavier? Repulsive, horrifying notion), alcohol units 4 (excellent), cigarettes 21 (poor but will give up totally tomorrow), number of correct lottery numbers 2 (better, but nevertheless useless)..."

Bridget Jones' Diary is the devastatingly self-aware, laugh-out-loud daily chronicle of Bridget's permanent, doomed quest for self-improvement — a year in which she resolves to: reduce the circumference of each thigh by 1.5 inches, visit the gym three times a week not just to buy a sandwich, form a functional relationship with a responsible adult, and learn to program the VCR.

Over the course of the year, Bridget loses a total of 72 pounds but gains a total of 74. She remains, however, optimistic. Through it all, Bridget will have you helpless with laughter, and — like millions of readers the world round — you'll find yourself shouting, "Bridget Jones is me!"

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Nice read, but there's not much to say. I ended comparing this to the movie nonstop, since I've watched the movie like million and one times!
And I must admit, both have pros and cons. Book had less embarrassing moments, when the movie was filled with embarrassment. But the movie had more scenes with Darcy and Daniel, which I missed in the book.
I think I like the movie better, since I'm going to watch it yet again this Christmas (because you just have to watch it when it's Christmas!), but I don't see myself reading this again.

Oh, and I was all confused when there was all this talk about answering machines etc.! Then I had to check out when this came out, and realized I was only about 10 years old back then, and cellphones came few years later, so no wonder they didn't have cellphones..
But huge plus for the fact that this was written ages ago, yet still didn't feel outdated. Except for the part about answering machines.

Ditched: A Love Story
by Robin Mellom

Published: January 10th 2012
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 277
Source: Borrowed
Amazon |
Book Depository

THERE'S A GIRL.
Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. That said, she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

AND THERE'S A BOY.
Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first.
Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.
Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

THEN THERE'S A DITCH.
But when Justina is ditched, figuratively and literally, she must piece together--stain-by-stain on her thrift store dress--exactly how she ended up dateless...with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven.

To get the whole store, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. Can losing out at her prom ultimately lead to finding true love?

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Extremely cute and quick read, but that's it. Didn't raise any kind of feelings, except sometimes I was a little bored and occasionally annoyed by the main character. The beginning was great, cause she's pushed out from a moving car and everyone's like W00T!, who would do that?!
But in the end.. Justina is pretty annoying with a whole lot of imagination, and Ian is the most thoughtful guy in the planet, and that guy doesn't actually exist. And hopefully neither does Justina.

Yet I can't hate this book, cause occasionally it was funny, even hilarious. And you can't really hate Justina, because she obviously have some issues, like a mother, who dresses her like a blueberry. And she obviously doesn't have any sense of style, so there's another reason to feel a little sorry for her..

Quick, brainless read, so if you're between books, you can read this.

Christmas Mini Review: Magic in Manhattan series by Sarah Mlynowski

Sorry in advance, I decided that I want to include all four books into one review, so even though I try to keep it short, it may be long :)

Bras & Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski

Published: December 18th 2007 (first published January 5th 2005)
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Format : Paperback
Pages: 320 pages
Series: Magic in Manhattan #1
Source : Borrowed from library
Buy : Amazon UK | Book Depository

What if all your wishes could come true? Blink your eyes, drink a fizzing pink potion, and poof! Life is perfect. That’s Rachel’s situation. Except she’s not the one who suddenly has magical powers. Her younger sister is. And as Rachel would tell you, spellbooks are wasted on the young!

Yes, yes, of course world peace and cures for horrible diseases are important. But so is dancing without looking like she’s being electrocuted, winning back her best friend, stopping her dad’s wedding, and finding a date for Spring Fling.

Rachel’s not bewitched. Yet. . . .

thoughts

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
So, Rachel's sister Miri has magical powers, since their mother is a witch, she just never told that to them. If my sister was a witch, I would do the same as Rachel and use her powers. Because that's what sisters are for, right..? Unfortunately, this gets Rachel into so many messes and she gets humiliated extremely badly. That's something I can't handle, I have to skip those kind of parts from books and movies. I felt sorry for Rachel and I was kind of mad for her mother, couldn't she just give her a break and wait five minutes?

Well, anyway, this was a good read, I just wished there'd be little less humiliation. But overall fun and cute book!




Rating:

+ ½

Frogs & French Kisses by Sarah Mlynowski

Published: June 13th 2006 (first published January 1st 2006)
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Format : Hardcover
Pages: 288 pages
Series: Magic in Manhattan #2
Source : Borrowed from library
Buy : Amazon UK | Book Depository

Rachel has finally come to terms with the outrageously unfair fact that her younger sister, Miri, has inherited magical powers from their mom. But now the whole witchcraft thing is spiraling out of control. Mom is a magicaholic, Miri’s on a Save the World kick, and the one teeny tiny love spell that Rachel begged for has gone embarrassingly, horribly wrong.

Suddenly, the fate of everything is in Rachel’s hands.

Her family.

The world.

Senior prom.

thoughts

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
I liked this more than the first one, though once again Rachel makes a mess after mess. She's dating the wrong brother, thanks to love spell gone wrong. Her mother starts using her magic again, forgetting that's her addiction. Rachel makes promises she's having hard time to fulfill. Miri thinks it's her job to save the planet.

There's a lot of messing up, but Rachel's there to help and in the end, she'll do the right thing. And then she'll be rewarded ;)





Rating:

Spells & Sleeping Bags by Sarah Mlynowski

Published: June 26th 2007
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Format : Hardcover
Pages: 324 pages
Series: Magic in Manhattan #3
Source : Borrowed from library
Buy : Amazon UK | Book Depository

At long last, Rachel's powers have arrived and she's a bona fide get-your-broom-ready witch! And it's happened just in time. No Manhattan for her this summer—she's spending her vacation at Camp Wood Lake.

But she's having some serious issues:

Mosquitoes in the Adirondacks are incredibly thirsty.

Her stepmom keeps sending embarrassing feminine hygiene care packages.

She accidentally zapped away all her clothes.

And there's a backstabber in her cabin intent on making life miserable.

Good thing Rachel's a witch.

thoughts

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Yay, Rachel's a witch! I'm so happy about it :) Though she's not so good at it all the time. This book had a lot of romance, some action, a bad guy (or a girl) and quite a happy ending. Through out the book I was sure there's some b..witch doing some evil tricks. But was there? Find out yourself ;)





Rating:

Parties & Potions by Sarah Mlynowski

Published: December 23rd 2008
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Format : Hardcover
Pages: 320 pages
Series: Magic in Manhattan #4
Source : Borrowed from library
Buy : Amazon UK | Book Depository

Perfect hair, cute clothes, healthy tans—life’s a breeze when you’re a witch! Even special witchcraft classes Rachel agrees to attend with Miri turn out to be fun. The sisters meet other teen witches just like them—who knew? Everyone’s preparing for a magical party called a Samsorta—a debutante ball for witches. And it wouldn’t be a ball without warlocks. Cute ones. Like Adam, who wants to slow dance with Rachel, and ski with her in the Rockies—on a school night! Of course, Rachel is madly in love with her boyfriend, Raf. So why can’t she bring herself to tell Adam—funny, charming Adam—that Raf exists?

Rachel knows Raf likes her. Maybe even, gulp, loves her. But Raf doesn’t know her secret. Unlike Adam, Raf doesn’t know who she really is. And she can never tell him. Or can she?

thoughts

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
The last book in this series, and I'm so sad about it! Rachel's getting better with her magic and she's part of the witch society! It would be so cool to learn about that :) There's a cute witch boy, love triangle, hurt feelings.. You just have to love it! There's also people finding out Rachel's secret, and it doesn't go as bad as it could.

I'm going to miss her!




Rating:






Overall, this series was a little like Sabrina (you know, the teenage witch), though still different enough. I loved these books and probably will get these in Finnish, so my daughter can read these too! Fun, cute and entertaining are the right words for this series! :)

Sarah is the author of BRAS & BROOMSTICKS, FROGS & FRENCH KISSES, SPELLS & SLEEPING BAGS and PARTIES & POTIONS—all in the YA ‘Magic in Manhattan’ series, as well as GIMME A CALL and the upcoming TEN THINGS WE DID (AND PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE). Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, she also wrote HOW TO BE BAD.


Sarah’s five novels for adults, MILKRUN, FISHBOWL, AS SEEN ON TV, MONKEY BUSINESS and ME VS. ME, were published by Red Dress Ink. She also co-wrote a guide to writing chick lit (SEE JANE WRITE), co-edited two bestselling charity collections (GIRLS' NIGHT IN and GIRLS' NIGHT OUT), and contributed to various anthologies (AMERICAN GIRLS ABOUT TOWN, SIXTEEN: STORIES ABOUT THAT SWEET AND BITTER BIRTHDAY, 21 PROMS, FIRST KISS (THEN TELL), FIREWORKS and VACATIONS FROM HELL).

Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-one languages. Originally from Montreal, she now lives and writes in New York City.

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