Taste by Kate Evangelista

Year Published : 2012
Pages : 259
ARR/ARC (ebook provided by the author, Thanks Kate!)
Rating : 

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans. When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn't realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Wow, I enjoyed reading this a lot! (Thanks Kate for the opportunity to review this book :D )

It was interesting and always proved my guesses wrong..

When I read YA romance paranormal/supernatural story, I am often able to guess or predict some events in the story, but this one might have fooled me a bit.. hehe.. in a good way..

It's a quick reading, I just sat this sunday morning with my IPad and started reading this book.. and suddenly I found myself at noon and already finished reading this book, I wonder why I didn't start reading this sooner (I am so sorry Kate..).. It has engaging writing that lulled me to read all of it till the end..

As for the story-plot, it has its uniqueness, it's still a YA typical romance story, but the story twist in the book is really exciting and different.. who would have thought about this particular supernatural race in the world of supernatural creatures. ;)

and as for characters, the heroine is really super-stubborn person ever! There is also a love-triangle story happening, the two guys-involved are interesting characters (and I like certain prince with black-blue hair), and I also like other characters in the story thou for me, I felt that there is not so many details to know more about them, but the writer has written those characters just with perfect-information needed for the story. oh and one more thing about the heroine, this girl is so stone-headed person, I felt like I wanted to smack her on the head.. hehe.. kidding.. But I feel the need to state this on my review.. xp

I also enjoy the way the writer bring the reader to keep wandering on the early chapters. The book doesn't reveal the real mystery or at least give the hint of what the heck is happening sooner, so it really teased me a lot.. And at some parts of the story I did not expect some things would go that way, it surprised me.. and oh how I love surprises <3

Well, I think this book is really enjoyable and fun to read.. It also brings a lot of fangirling-feels.. and a couple of serious-mild-heated-make-out-sessions.. ;)

Unwind (Unwind Trilogy #1) by Neal Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year Published: 2007

Pages: 335

Rating:

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.

This book is an example of a perfect dystopian story. 

Everything is in right portions. It has all elements that are needed in a dystopian book.

I love everything about this book. I have no complains other than that I wish this book would be thicker and longer also gave more details of the life of Connor, Risa, and Lev. I was so sad when I finished reading this, but then at the same moment am so happy that I read this recently so I don't have to wait for 5 years for the sequel to come out. XD

The story grabbed me from the start till the end. The pace and the plot of the story were perfect. And the most important thing of all was the characters! I LOVE THEM! I WANT TO MARRY ALL OF THEM! Connor, Risa, and Lev (also other characters). Their characters developed through out the story beautifully.

This was actually the first time I read a book that told a story from multi-perspectives. But it works just great for this book and I just couldn't help to love everything in it.

I can just go on and go on about how much I really love and enjoy reading this book.. So I really and strongly recommend you who read this post, if you haven't read this book, you should, darlings.. Otherwise, you just miss something reallllllyyyy good.

Now I am just wishing that Mr. Mailman will deliver the sequel of this book, Unwholly just in time.. :)

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Publisher: HarperCollins Australia

Expected publication: January 2013

Pages: 488

Rating: 

When Ruby wakes up on her tenth birthday, something about her has changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." 

She might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control. Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her--East River. 

She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can't risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

So... I have a bit of mixed feeling..
I am not so sure that I don't like or like it.. It was in the middle..

It was Dystopian story where all kids have some kind of powers that caused the Government to issue a kind of security policy to capture all of those kids and put them in a special rehabilitation camp.. As what all dystopian-theme-stories, there were some belligerent/resistance movements.. The heroine was a girl named Ruby who was a girl with a-very-special-power, the dangerous kind.. She was prisoned for six years and by some accidents got help from a certain belligerent group to get out from the camp.. But then she found out that the group was not what it seemed.. so she ran away and stumbled to another runaway group consisted of three other kids with power who also escaped from other similar camp in other area..

Actually the story was pretty much fast-built.. at first it was quite interesting, but then at some point it was gone downhill..

There was some moments where I felt like my heart-racing and then there was other moments where I didn't feel amuse/intrigue.. I guess it was kinda happen in the middle towards the end..

There was indeed some elements of surprise that kept me reading it till the end.. But it did not really help to pick up the mood..

The character.... as for the heroine, at first I felt there was a gap on her character. Her character changed quite drastically once she was gone out from the camp. But then it was answered in other chapters and it gave some kind of understanding why she was behaving like that. But unfortunately, for others there was not so much developments.

However, I really liked a certain faked goodie-toe-shoes/hero/bad boy named Clancy Gray. He was a mystery and definitely not-in-the-good-side, and that what made his character really interesting. I felt there was more about him than what I read. I think his story deserved to be made into a novella. :D

But, it was pretty interesting dystopian story. Thou I believe it can be better and hopefully the second book would have "more-elements" that can hypnotize its readers ;)

What's New #2

Hi!!!!

It has been quite some time since I posted Whats New #1..

Well, actually my reason is that I am still waiting for Mr. Mailman to deliver my order of Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh.. And for some reasons which I don't know, it hasn't arrived yet :( (I hope I'll get it soon..)

Oh well anw, during the waiting I got myself some pretty good stuffs to read, either I bought or received for reviews.

Here they are...

Bought:

Unwind by Neal Shusterman & Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
both were purchased at Bookdepository

Adele: The Biography by Marc Shapiro was purchased at Periplus
Graceling by Kristin Cashore was purchased at Times  (thanks for the awesome voucher!

E-books:
Finnikin of The Rock by Melina Marchetta (Lumatere Chronicles #1) and Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
both were purchased at diesel-ebooks

For Reviews (from Publishers or/and Authors):

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
(HarperCollins Australia)

Taste by Kate Evangelista
Thanks Kate! Sorry for the delay, I''ll read this soon....

Broken by A.E. Rought
(Angry Robot & Strange Chemistry)

Ever by Jessa Russo
(Curiosity Quill Press) 

Demons (The Seers #2) by Heather Frost
(Cedar Fort Books)
The problem with this book is that I haven't read the first one (T.T)

Yup, guys.. Those are pretty much what I got recently.. ;)

Happy reading! <3

Bookmarks: Awesome Owls!

Hi!

Two days ago, I read this post on how to get cute owl bookmarks. I really thank Helena for sharing this owl-print-kit on her blog-post (Go and visit her awesome blog by simply click on her name). 

You can check her post about the owl bookmark at

http://lenalostinbookland.blogspot.com/2012/09/cute-owl-bookmarks.html

So I went to Cano Digital Copy and Printing (This is like the best printing-place ever in my country! Great quality with great price! - ofc near at my Uni)

And as promised to her, I would love to share the results! hehe

I actually printed this in Dove paper

This is also in Dove paper

this one is Glossy, but this picture doesn't do any justice on how those really look like

If you would love to print this also, I really suggest you to print it in Glossy paper. In my opinion, it has better result than the Dove one.

So, what do you think? ;D

Book Highlight! : The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Publisher: Hyperion
Date Published: expected January 2013 (I am gonna die waiting ><)
Pages: 336

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was: a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive. 

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous--it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now that her little brother is gone too, Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall. 

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hardwon redemption.

I got approved on Netgalley for the sneak-peak of The Archived by Victoria Schwab. Basically, it was only the first nine chapters of the book. But, OH MY GOD! Now, I am sure the waiting for the book will be torturous! I need all chapters! I need the book right now!

This book will blow me away totally! what have those nine chapters done to me?! There was mystery (checked!), detective-feel (checked!), paranormal (checked!), a bit of crime (checked!), ghost (checked!), hunt (checked!), library (checked!). Romance? I felt there would be, but what nine chapters could tell me about it? (T.T) There was this guy, with spiked black hair, eyeliner (punk much?) and a very taunting smirk.. I really want more.. I wish I can tell more.. huhu..

So, the story would evolve around this girl (the heroine) named Mackenzie Bishop. And she was the Keeper. The Keeper was like a hunter who hunt lifeless-soul/ghost or to be exact their histories to be kept into the Archived at the Library of the dead. woooooooooo! but that was not just it, there were more.... she just moved to her new resident which used to be a century-old-old-Hotel and now an apartment! and guess what, as The Keeper of Histories of the dead she was able to see the past. And there was something! SOMETHING terribly wrong at her new resident! and I am really CURIOUS!

Hah....... January 2013.... where are you.......

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Year Published: 2012

Pages: 446

Rating: 

More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.

Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test, and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War Three. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?

Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid’s futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology.

At first, I find myself battling in giving this book 3.5 stars or 4 stars. But then am settled to give it 3.5 stars.

At the very first 200 pages this book was really blowing me away. It was the use of some awesome terminologies that really did it to me. It got to be something to do with major I took at the Uni, I am an international security student, so when I read Insignia, it felt like I was sent back to those weapon and war technology classes and I was so excited. I made this paper about 5th generation war-fare and this book was definitely all about 5th generation war-fare. The time when war and conflict will be settled and took place in space.

I get it if some people find this book is not their "crowd" or meet their "taste". The use of some confusing security terminologies and also the political world-setting that shape the story could be the factor. Sometimes, it really was confusing. haha. However, that's what made it so interesting, because some people in this certain science already predict this kind of thing might happen in the future, so I was just so surprised that Kincaid really brought it in to the realm of YA books. So my brain was actually working and calculating throughout the story. haha..

I think that was the strong point and the very first thing that made me fell for this book. It wasn't like any of YA books. Although, after the excitement of the first 200 pages, I was experiencing a bit of the downhill-side of the story (maybe because I was already excited with the intensity and familiar with those confusing terminologies, concepts, and world setting), suddenly the story turned to be very teenage-ish. Thou, the characters were indeed teenagers, and it was totally normal. But deep-down inside I hope for something more and extravagant.

But don't worry, at the last 100 pages, the story started to pick up the intensity. There was some real-action-game going on.

Other things that I really like were the sense of humor and friendship of the characters in the book. I found myself laughing out loud through some parts of the story (it was pretty often thou) and also I couldn't stop myself comparing the friendship in this book with the one from Harry Potter (thou it was totally different world), it felt similar and familiar on that part.

Romance... there was always romance in YA books ;) definitely different and unpredictable. ;D It was and still is a big question mark on what will happen there.

I will definitely read the sequel thou. It was totally enjoyable and quite an intriguing read for me ;)

Will Be Back

Hi to all people who visit my blog xp

I haven't been updating my blog recently. These last couple of days had been pretty busy: Graduation and some other stuffs too.

I will post "What's new this week #2"

and review of Insignia by S.J. Kincaid (I can not wait to review this one.. <3 <3 <3)

Okay! Till then!

Wish you all an awesome day!

Cheers,
Deska

The Immortal Rules (A Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Mira Ink
Year Published: 2012
Pages: 485
Rating: 

"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.

I always love a good vampire story.. And yes, this one was full-packed of action, vicious, and devilish vampire.. And even better, it was a dystopian vampire story.. Vampire and Dystopia.. am in Eden already ;)

Let me tell you a fact, that this was actually my first Julie Kagawa. I haven't yet read The Iron Fey Series, but I seriously have ordered the bookset collection. I can't miss it, because I just fell in love with Julie Kagawa's writing style. It was like a lullaby and sent me to wherever she transported me through her writing.

Okay, about The Immortal Rules, what I really like the most was the world setting, the monsters, the plot of the story. 

Vampire ruled the world. The vampire on this book was cruel and evil. A really bad-ass vamps and they were not feeding from animals. Yes, they couldn't sate their hunger through animals blood. Human was their prey and it would stay that way forever. Even the most humanized vamps must feed human-blood. What a conflicted issues to our heroine here, Allison Sekemoto (a human turned vamp obviously). She must decide what kind of monster she was. Because there was no choice there. All vamps were monsters.

I really enjoyed reading this book a lot. At the beginning, it basically gave you description about the world they lived in. During Allison's human time, the story was a bit long and lacked of action stuffs. The real action started when she turned to be a vamp. I really love the phase of the story where she was adapting to her new life as a vamp with the help of her mentor/sire. Maybe because I really like the character of Kanin (the mentor). And afterwards, the book was a non-stop action. So vivid and kick-ass! <3

My fave character was and still is Kanin. He was so mysterious and not enough of his story in the book. But the ending of this book promised me a lot of Kanin in the sequel *so can not wait*

The romance, at first I didn't really buy it thou. But then maybe about 125 pages toward the end, I started to believe their romances. Zeke, the love interest was an okay character I think. He didn't interest me much at first, but the development was there, I started to think "okay, I see the potential there."

I really like the ending. Can not say it here, or it will be a real full spoiler.

It's really a good reading and a page-turner.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Siobhan Dowd, Jim Kay (Illustrator)

Publisher: Walker Books
Year Published: 2011
Pages: 215
Rating: 

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

I have to thank Patrick Ness for the excellent writing, the late Siobhan Dowd for the amazing story and ideas, and remarkable illustration by Jim Kay.

There is nothing wrong with this book. It's flawless and heart-breaking.

This is the harsh fact of tales. This is reality. This is life. There are just so much to think about after reading this book and so much emotion to sort out.

This book is not just an ordinary story book, there's a deep-meaning of truth in it. It keeps me awake (the fact that I am typing this review at 2 AM). I can't stop thinking and mourning at the end of the book. I literally cried because I can relate so much to the main character from the book. I know what he felt, because I've been in his position too. It teared me apart.

I recommend this book to all of you who read this post. I can't say anything more about this book. It's difficult to say. There are just too much feelings going on now. Somehow this book has a personal-meaning to me. and it hurts so much.

I am sorry, if I am getting too emotional, but it's hard not to.

Hide and Seek by Sara Shepard (The Lying Game #4)

Publisher: Harper Teen
Year Published: 2012
Pages: 228
Rating: 
My friends and I used to play lying games.

Now my twin sister is living one.

When I was alive, my family seemed picture-perfect. My adoptive parents adored me, and my little sister, Laurel, copied my every move. But now that my long-lost twin, Emma, has taken my place to solve my murder, we're both learning just how flawed my family really is.

Laurel is shooting Emma nasty looks and sneaking around with my ex-boyfriend. And it turns out my parents are keeping a huge secret--could it be the reason I'm dead?

How far would they go to keep the truth buried? No one can harm me now, but Emma is still fair game. And if she's not careful, she'll end up buried, too. . . .

This is the 4th book of The Lying Game series by Sara Shepard (yes, she's also the author of Pretty Little Liars series). The previous books had its own surprises, but it was quite predictable. We all know that probably there gonna be six books in total for TLG series, so it's just obvious that we will not know who is Sutton's killer until the very last book. HOWEVER, this 4th book was really surprising me :D

In this 4th book, we learned more about the facts of Emma and Sutton. In my own opinion, it was really mind-blowing (the facts would give you "WTH/WTF was just happening?!" moments, coz I knew I did). At the end of book, the only question formed in my head was "who would have thought?"

I really love how Sara takes her time in revealing the secret one by one. Now I understand why this book will not end that quickly or it will spoil the element of surprises. Although, I hope it will not stretch to be more than six books (see PLL? it's like more than 10 books already xp)

It is actually a very quick reading, only 288 pages. But I really like this series. It was such a page turner. If you are looking for a quick-reading with a bit of element of mystery/crime/teen drama, Sara Shepard's teen books (PLL or TLG series) will be perfect for you. I really can not wait for the 5th book ("Cross My Heart, Hope to Die") that will be published next year.

Until then..... Happy Reading! XD