The Fault in Our Stars (Review)

I did a buddy review with Megan over at  The Book Babe you can check out her awesome review of the book here.


Book: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 313
Source: Purchased

Blurb:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

 

My Rating:

3.5

 

I expected this book to be so much better than it was. The hype is what killed it for me. I went into it expecting some life changing book and it just didn't live up to it. I liked this book. I didn't hate it or love it but I was left disappointed and mostly unsatisfied. I'm not saying the book wasn't beautiful because at parts it truly was. And then others just sort of fell flat.

 

Hazel at times was a good character but for the most part she seemed to be in a different universe. I'm sure she was meant to be a very likeable, strong character but at times her character just fell flat. Augustus on the other hand was extremely charming and charismatic. He wanted to leave a mark in the world and was always living his life to his fullest.

 

There were parts of this book that made me laugh and I admit that I cried at a few parts. There are moments where the romance is absolutely swoon worthy and others where the book just infuriates you to point where you want to smack some sense into the characters.

 

I had some issues with the way things were done in this novel as well. Hazel's parents just let her go to the house of some boy she's known for less than 2 hours. Which is strange since her mother hovers over her constantly whenever she's at home so why is she so lenient all of a sudden? And another thing is in the beginning of the novel her mother pushes her to get out of the house and make friends but when she does her mother complains that she's never home and makes it seem like Hazel is just doing it on purpose even though her mother told her to.

 

This book had me really excited but turned out to be a major let down for me. It was alright but not the wonderful novel that everybody made it out to be. This book is a tear-jerker there is no doubt about that but I believe that it could have been done in a way that would have brought out the full potential that this novel could have had.

 







Timeless Chapter Sample AND Timekeeper Book Trailer

I don't know about you guys but I haven't had a chance to read this series by Alexandra Monir. It sounds wonderful and I am just dying to read it now. So for all of you who haven't read the first book Timeless here is a chapter sampler provided by Random Buzzers.

Timeless by Alexandra Monir by RandomBuzzers

And for all of you who have read the first book, here is the book trailer for Timekeeper, the second book in the series. The author actually wrote and sung the song in the trailer (How cool is that?) So if you're excited for this book check it out!

Darkness Becomes Her (Review)

Book: Darkness Becomes Her
Author: Kelly Keaton
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 273
Source: Purchased

Blurb:

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.
Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.
She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.
Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

 

My Rating:

Like the last book I reviewed I picked this book up during vacation back in July of 2012 and it sat on my shelf until recently (I really should stop doing this) and once again I really wish I had started it right away. This book had mystery (well if you don't know Greek Mythology very well it's a mystery) and a little bit of romance and even some kick-butt fighting.

This book takes place in New Orleans, only it isn't the New Orleans we know. After the hurricanes that destroyed the city the rich families of the city bought it from the United States and created their own place where they had control which was then renamed New 2. Only this isn't a normal city anymore.

This whole book we follow a girl named Aristanae around. She gets into a lot of trouble while trying to find out information about her mother and her father. People are after her, extremely powerful people who she doesn't even know and all she wants to do is find out why she's so different from everyone else, with her silver hair and teal eyes. When she goes to New 2 she meets a whole cast of interesting characters from the swoon worthy Sebastian Lamarliere to little Violet with her pointed teeth who carries around an alligator named Pascal and Crank who is 12 years old and drives a mail truck.

The characters are all very likeable. Ari was kick-butt and while her search for who she really is took a paranormal turn, she is a very relatable character. Sebastian Lamarliere is distant and aloof at first but quickly opens up and we discover that aside from his obvious attractiveness he is a really caring and intelligent person. Violet was my absolute favorite character, she was so quirky from the alligator who is her friend to the fact that she wears mardi gras masks all the time. She trusts Ari completely and even fights to save her.

If you're a fan of Greek Mythology then this book is definitely for you.  Even if you know the myth this story is based on you will have a quick, fun read that will leave you wanting the next installment in this series.



Stacking the Shelves #7

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews as a way to share all the books we got during the week!

Bought:

• The Trylle Series box set by Amanda Hocking
• Switched
• Torn
• Ascend

Library:

• Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
• Every Day by David Levithan
• Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor

Won (Sorry no pictures for these):

•  Shadow Falls Series Poster (Signed by C.C. Hunter) and 2 bookmarks
• Big thank you to Becky @ Becky's Barmy Book Blog and C.C. Hunter
• Monster book mark
• Big thank you to Amber @ Me My Shelf and I

What did you guys get this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll be sure to stop by.

Anatomy of a Single Girl Excerpt at Random Buzzers

Okay guys, there's this really awesome excerpt over at Random Buzzers for Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky. If you're interested in checking it out here is the link, (Anatomy of a Single Girl). If you read the first book, Anatomy of a Boyfriend and want to read the next in the series go check it out!

The Alchemy of Forever (Review)

Book: The Alchemy of Forever
Author: Avery Williams
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 246
Source: Purchased
My Rating: 5 stars

Blurb:

In the first novel of the Incarnation series, the immortal Serephina grapples with a wrenching truth: Falling in love might mean succumbing to death.People say “love never dies”…but love might be the death of Seraphina.

Seraphina has been alive since the Middle Ages, when her boyfriend, Cyrus, managed to perfect a method of alchemy that lets them swap bodies with any human being. Sera ran away from Cyrus years ago, when she realized that what they were doing—taking the lives of innocent people—was wrong. Yet she doesn’t want to die, so she finds young people who are on the brink of death, and inhabits their bodies.

Sera has just landed in the body of a girl named Kailey who was about to die in a car accident. For the first time, Sera falls in love with the life of the person she’s inhabiting. Sera also falls for the boy next door, Noah. And soon it’s clear the feelings are returned. But she can never kiss Noah, because for her to touch lips with a human would mean the human’s death. And she has even more to worry about: Cyrus is chasing her. If she stays in one place for long, she puts herself—and the people she’s grown to care for—in great danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that’s eluded her for centuries: true love?

 

 

I bought this book in July of 2012 at Books-A-Million during a sale for $3 and it sat on my bookshelf untouched until recently. I really wish that I had read this one sooner since I absolutely loved it.  Everything about this book drew me in, from the plot to the settings and the characters themselves.

 

I've never read a book anything like this one. The idea of Incarnates taking over new bodies every time they are about to die was a completely new thing for me and I am suprised to say that I found it very enjoyable. Plus this novel uses alchemy for these people to be able to do this and the topic of alchemy is cool to begin with before you throw in centuries old immortals jumping from body to body.

 

The characters were so well developed and had such unique personalities and I found myself being pulled into the struggles of Seraphina and hoping she found a way to make everything work out. I wanted her to find her happy ending, she deserved it. I hated Cyrus, he was such a mean guy. Sure he claimed to love Seraphina and maybe he really did but he was so controling, he wanted to regulate every part of her life and he quickly got on my nerves. Noah on the other hand I simply loved, he was such a caring and sweet boy and I really loved the dynamic he brought to Seraphina's life.

 

The story opens up in London in the middle ages and we are introduced to Seraphina while at a ball. This opening chapter was lovely and I just loved the whole masquerade theme to it even though the end of this chapter isn't quite so lovely, you will just have to read to find out what happens. The rest of the book takes place in present day California and the world is one we know all too well where everything seems normal but little do the unsuspecting people know there are centuries old being walking among them.

 

I loved the suspense this book brought, it had me on the edge of my seat a few times just praying the characters found a way to make things work and this book also brought a hint of romance that was simply adorable. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series, I hope it is every bit as exciting as The Alchemy of Forever

Know Me Better #2

 

This weekly meme is hosted by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Each week she will pick 5 questions to answer and invites us to do the same.

 

This week's Questions:

 

10 words that describe yourself?
Favorite TV Shows?
If you could take over the world, would you?
Who was the first boy you kissed?
How do you unwind?

 

 

10 words that describe yourself?

Happy

Quiet

Quirky

Procrastinator

Perfectionist

Calm

Easy-going

Smart

Caring

Thoughtful

 

Favorite TV shows?

I am totally in love with Criminal Minds, I watch it every week when the new episodes air as well as any time I come across reruns on tv. I also really like Pretty Little Liars, CSI and NCIS. A guilty pleasure show I watch all of the time is Amish Mafia, I'm not sure why but I find it entertaining.

 

If you could take over the world, would you?

I definitely would not. I would not want to have to take care of that many people, my life is busy enough.

 

Who was the first boy you kissed?

His name was Chris and I was 12 or 13 at the time. It's not really memorable since he turned out to be not a nice person.

 

How do you unwind?

I mostly read to unwind. I will also either watch Criminal Minds, a movie or play with my Yorkshire Terrier (he's great at making me unwind).

 

It's your turn now! Share one or more answers to these questions in the comments or post on your own blog and link them up here!