2015 Blog: So how is it gonna be...

Hi to whoever read this post,

I realized that there has been lack of posting from my side. I don't have any excuse for that, it was a pretty hectic year for me especially the last couple of months.. I do still want to continue with the blog, because this is my baby.. And I really need to be committed..  something that I need to really work on... I have to try to ignore the lack of views on my page (don't let it discourage me!) and more of thinking that I do this because I really love books and I just wanna share my love for books.. Whether there will be someone reading my posts or not..

Well well, Happy 2015! One for sure, I have no resolution nor goal this year, I would just do whatever I wanna do and let it fly from there.. I am not good at planning anw..

So.... what are you going to read, Deska? well for January 2015, I have 4 books in mind that I want to get through, two of them (The Retribution of Mara Dyer and The Queen of The Tearling) are gifts from my friends (THANK YOU SO MUCH IKAO and AMY <3), and the other two (These Broken Stars and The Silkworm) are the two books that I really feel the need to read at the moment (other than The Golden Son by Pierce Brown that I just ordered online yesterday).

And what a dilemma, I do not know which one to start first, so I am going to do the TBR jar thing and see what books I will read first (pulling the nominees):

Okay, so here is the result, I will read these books in order:

1. These Broken Stars by Amy Kaufmann and Meghan Spooner

2. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

3. The Queen of The Tearling by Erika Johansen

4. The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

So excited! Let's Read! ;)

Book Review: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Author: Robyn Schneider

Published: August 27th, 2013 

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (Int'l Paperback Edition)

Pages: 335

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

Ezra Faulkner was supposed to be homecoming king, but that was before—before his girlfriend cheated on him, before a car accident shattered his leg, and before he fell in love with new girl Cassidy Thorpe.

Deskynowsky's Review (Free Spoilers)

I was considering 3.5 stars, but I thought about it again, and decided to give it 3 stars.. It was Ok, definitely a coming of age story, about a boy who used to be The Golden Boy, The Popular Boy, but then he had a car accident that changed his life forever... And in the state of his changed life, he found another life that he had been overlooked... He started to find the true meaning of being a life etc etc etc... I like the premise of the story... The writing style was a bit slow and kinda long (in a way) and yeah..... it was really Ok, I didn't feel any particular feelings after finished reading this book..... The characters were Ok, well-developed, thou I could not say the same to a particular female character who helped the main male character in the book post-car accident.. But I thought she had served her purpose in the boy's life here.. So.. yeah... and on-to the next read!!! :)

2014 April Book Haul!

So guys, I decided to make a book haul video for April 2014. This is the first time I did it.. hope you guys enjoy! :)

LONG TIME NO UPDATE...

Hi to anyone who reads this sadly and neglected blog..

I don't have an amazing excuse other than my work and my life are really in a crazy path at the moment.. hopefully in couple of months I will be able to get a more regular update to my book blog here.. hopefully..

I have a lot of books to show in the haul post, reviews, and challenges..

So I am wondering since it's still new year and all, what are your resolutions for 2014? My resolutions are pretty much I want to read more diverse books and increase the number of books I need to read than last year. That would be my bookish resolutions and for my life in general, I just want to be happier than before :)

Oh well, sorry I could not post any pictures, I am dying too to show you some of new books and my new shelves.. but I just could not bring my mood to be cooperative at the moment.. maybe some other time I will make a video of it instead (I think it would be more practical..)

and I hear about this bookathon 9.0! I'm INTRIGUED! I really want to participate in it! so fingerscrossed!

And before I go.. currently I am actively reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Ascend by Amanda Hocking and REREADING Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.. also I'm putting on hold on Champion by Marie Lu because I am just too scared to finish that book.. haha.. lame excuse obv..

alrighty then.. till the next post ;)

Book Review: The Passage (The Passage #1) by Justin Cronin

Buy The Passage by Justin Cronin? click here :)

SPOILERS FREE!

Year Published: 2011
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 784
Rating: 

In case, you don't know.. I read this book because of Joseph Morgan.. If you guys don't know him, google him.. It's been a long time since I really like an actor and considering myself as a fan. haha.. I like many actors and actresses, but never really thought myself as a fan.. but this time, I make an exception ;)

4.5 stars! - SPOILER FREE!

This is one of those books that could catch me off my guard.. I just can't seem to formulate coherent thoughts of what I felt after finishing this book. It was just a mix of anxieties.

It took me a while to finish this book, other than the monstrosity of how thick this book is, there is also a busy life to live.. work and everything, mostly the limited time.. but what a journey and experience reading this book.

I don't think people who can not bear a really slow and long development of a story-line can enjoy this book. But if you are patient enough and up for the long, intricate, and complexed details of a story, this book probably is for you. Because there were so much of it. I think it was from the start till well most of the stories anw.. xp There were actions here and there, but mostly the story was about a journey.. a very long one and a-very-not-smooth one. There were just so many things happened, and most of them were unexpected. Surprises and puzzles of why things happened the way it was happening were kinda overwhelming.

Okay so let's talk about the book.

This book is a sci-fi/post-apocalyptic/dystopian/adult fiction.

So basically, this was a story about a journey of the-descended-survivors in the post-apocalyptic world.. The world in the state of apocalypse because of things human-made during the Time Before. Humans created through experiment monsters (or twelve of them) that were becoming disaster when all of them broke free from their containment-facility. And their escape has created pandemic that crossing all over the states (in the USA) and created more monsters or virals. And for sure, it put down the history of human. These monsters were like vampires. So it was really interesting to read. Instead of as supernatural/paranormal creatures, vampires in this book were human-worst-made-creation. and speaking about the Twelve, there were more about them than what it seemed. They were like the originals (hah, I can't think straight when I said that.. ) and the kings of the virals (Volturi to the Twilight world) xp

The story line. I can divide the book into two parts. First, the pre-apocalyptic story. It was the intro story of how these things happened. In this book, they called it "The Time Before". and the second part, the post-apocalyptic one, where the journey and everything began. When people were starting to find answers and actually do something about it. At this point, it was like I was watching "The Walking Dead" tv series. and I love TWD, so I really enjoyed the process of the reading and the development of the story. The story was detailed and complexed. But it was amazing to see how the story developed and gave so many surprises. I like how the world setting and everything were able to shape the story itself. It was like the story was alive and forced everyone to live in such a state. Although, in the Time Before, we learned that everything happened because of humans.

It told the story from the 3rd person perspective of multi-characters in the book.. It was confusing at first, especially at the middle of the book or at the time when the story was set in the colony. There were quite many characters in the book, so sometime it was difficult to keep track on who was who.. haha.. but I got the hang of it after some pages (thou sometimes I had to get back to previous chapter to read about which characters was who). Other than the main casts (whether it was in pre- or post- apocalyptic world) were really amazing characters. I could actually feel their personal and emotional growth. So that was one of the great things about the book.

As many good story went on, it has a crazy ending. And it was told in the way that made me stunned. Okay, crazy! CRAZY!

oh and one more thing, it was like the sense of time in this book stopped. and somehow it also influenced the story (well, that was how I felt ;) )

And am actually pretty excited to read the sequel (thou I don't know when will I read it.. ) xp

Alright then... up to the next read.. :)

Book Review: Under The Never Sky (Under The Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Year Published: 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 376
Rating: 

Spoilers Free!

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered.

This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent energy storms will. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must come together to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Okay.. I am actually conflicted whether on giving this book 3 or 4 stars.. this time there is no in between..

I honestly enjoyed this book. I really like the world setting and development. I think it was unique and different. There were elements combination of sci-fi-dystopian and primitive-fantasy. It was like there was two worlds in the story. Both were very different, but related. And they were on earth. One lived in the security of isolated dome, and the other one lived constantly in danger of deadly storm (and other weird things) outside the dome. Both were also different in the sense of how they rule their own world.

Then the story plot and character development. I really like the idea of the story plot, but maybe there were quite many different things going on, sometimes I just had "what what what just happened?!" reactions. Still I adore the plot thou, think it was different and refreshing. And as for the characters, I love how complex they could be. But again there were quite many different things going on in these characters as well that also gave me "what what what?! She/He is what?!" reactions.

and here was my problem also why it can be 3 stars.. I pretty much enjoyed the first 280-ish pages and the last 50 pages. And pages between the first 280 pages to the last 50 pages were kinda let me down a bit. Somewhere along where they were on the run from the cannibal tribe and the saccharine-sweet-romance that was happening, there were slightly.....off a bit moments? well I don't know, I just felt that way.. but hey at least the last 50 pages towards the end, the story was kinda picking up again and it even surprised me.

Why it can be 4 stars.. the world setting and well.. mainly because I love the unexpected surprises that this book gave me. Quite many things, that I did not see them coming (nor even think).. and the ending, got to love that one.. Pretty good cliffhanger.. And I could not help to find myself wanting to read the sequel. So it got to be good ;)

yup, that's pretty much summed up everything ;D

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.. ;)

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 ;)

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Year Published: 2011
Pages: 307
Rating: 

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist’s apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.

Will’s mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an  extraordinary journey.

Wow.. At my current age, I do not usually read children book. Although, I believe that this book is not only dedicated for children, aite? Because I enjoyed reading it a lot.

Reading this was like reading stories within stories. There were several unfortunate events that seemed unrelated to each other, but in the greater scheme it did. How the people in it were tangled to each other through different occasions.

Each character in the book was really interesting. How different they were, but somehow they were connected. It seemed complex, but it was not. If I have children later in the future, I will make sure to make them read this. Ghost and Magic in a story is just like recipe for a good reading ;p

The illustration by Kei Acedera was also amazing. It was just exactly like what I imagined when I read this. Love it too <3

I also praise Lauren Oliver, on not specifically mentioning the time-frame of the story. It left me as a reader to imagine when the story took place. In my head, I thought it would be around the year 1800s (Charles Dickens period).

This book would be a classic children or young adult or adult story. I can not wait for her new book that will be released soon this year (if I am not mistaken) called "The Spindler". I am sure, it will be amazing too <3 <3 <3

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: HarperCollins
Year Published: 2012
Pages: 375
Rating: 

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

From the very first page, I just felt how different it is than the first series (Delirium). It left me breathless. The intensity was so high. The story, the characters, how it has changed a lot than the first one.

I love it! I am still dazing and my brain can't think properly at the moment. Lena (the heroine) has transformed so much! Her characters has developed and hardened by the circumstances. From a very obedient girl in Delirium to this strong and brave young girl. She has been through a lot. The lost of her family, friend, and love. The unfairness of the regulators (dystopian setting) has caused deep-rooted hatred in her soul. And now she must live in the wilds, far away from home where everything is dangerous and uncertain.

Other things that left me dazed are the introduction of new characters and new groups of belligerent in the book (Lauren is just so awesome!). The way that Lauren Oliver told the story is also different, it is being told in the now and the then. The now and then chapter are complimenting each other. The then chapter is telling the story of how the wilds has formed the new Lena and the now chapter is telling the story how she is falling in love for the second time.

I will not share any spoiler here, but can I just say how much I love:

- The new and improved Lena

- The wild

- THE NEW LOVE INTEREST

- The action

- The intensity

- Everything!!!

I really can not wait for Requiem (Delirium #3) next year!!! It will be the final book of Delirium Trilogy. One for sure that will happen in the 3rd book is LOVE TRIANGLE!!! I still can not believe the ending of Pandemonium. It just literally took my breath away......

I totally recommend this book to any YA-dystopian fans out there. Delirium is a very interesting book and Pandemonium is just simply beyond interesting (and also beyond my expectation)! Go and read it! it's awesome!