Review #8: Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Deity (Covenant #3)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
To Be Published: November 2012 by Spencer Hill Press
Pages: 360, paperback

My Rating: 5/5 stars (Can we make that a 10/5?)

** I received an ARC from the publisher

Summary from Goodreads:

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

*****
I'm trying my best, but this isn't going to be spoiler free. Mild spoilers ahead.
 

I have to start off with saying that Deity is the best book I've read by Jennifer L. Armentrout to date! It's that "Oh My GODS". Let's say it together now: OH... MY... GODS!

JLA opens Deity with a dream sequence which gave us a twisted flashback to Pure, then we're pretty much back to sharing a bed with Seth, Alex wanting him out of her bed, and all the things that she'd left behind during her trip to New York returning to haunt her.

And let me tell you that the 'Ish' hit the fan majorly.

 

Alexandria is feeling even more alone with Seth always lurking and Marcus becoming even more creepy than usual. But we got what we had been begging for since the beginning of the series- Aiden St. Delphi, hotness galore. It's entirely too much to handle that the entire world implodes on itself.

 

Jennifer doesn't seem to know what she's doing to her loyal fan base, because my life completely stopped for the release of Deity. The wait until the next book is slowly killing me and I have no idea how I'm continuing on... The ending of Deity is more than anything anybody expected and I'm sure to here the outrage and rioting fans soon.

 

I'm ready to read everyone else's opinions as soon as possible. I hope you ladies enjoy the ride as much as I did...

Review #7: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Title: The Golden Lily(Bloodlines #2)

Author: Richelle Mead

Published: June 2012 by Razorbill

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

*Spoilers Included*

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spin off series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

*****

I'm sorry but I have to open with: Oh my goodness, that dedication was so sweet and the story is simply divine!

I devoured this book within a few days with my busy work schedule. I seriously carried it everywhere I could so I always had the chance to get a page or two completed. From the opening chapter to the very last word I felt as if I was constantly on the edge of my seat.

I enjoyed all the new characters that were introduced. Well, everyone except for the boyfriend... What was his name again? Bradley? Brian? Brendon? Brent? Brayden? No seriously, I can't remember. And the fact that no one else could remember his name either paid homage to just how unimportant he was.

There were plenty of fun moments. Some of my favorites would be Sydney trying to teach Adrian how to drive a stick shift, Sydney using more magic, and Jill's dreamy mood swings-

"Sydney, khaki raelly suits you".

Richelle Mead left all kinds of hints for readers throughout the entire novel that this ending had me throwing the book across the room, jumping up and down, screaming and raving. Sydney Sage drives me completely mad! How can anyone deny what's staring them in the face?

The teaser chapter from Bloodlines #3 that was published with this release has me even more excited for our next installment.

Review #6: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsidian
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: December 2011 Entangled Publishing
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Starting over sucks.When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

*****

Can I take Katy's place? I would kill for some of Daemon Black in a neighbor, lol.

Jennifer L. Armentrout's characters and plot lines have me drooling for more.
Take Katy- normal book blogging female; moves to a new town and meets hot alien male
next door, Daemon. The action is here, the chemistry is here, the mystery is
here... It was everything and more and I'm beyond excited to read the next book
in the series!

I must admit that I didn't believe that I was going to like this story. It sounded like a Roswell knock-off and I loved the original series the way it was. After being (secretly)entered into a giveaway of a signed copy, I was happy to find out that oh boy was I wrong! After reading four books by Ms. Jennifer L. Armentrout, if she rewrote the Bible or the dictionary I'm pretty sure that I would read it and rave about it. She's doing something right and I'll be looking forward to what's next.

Now is it August 14th 2012 yet?

Mini Review #2: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Published: 2011 Harper Collins

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

GoodReads Summary:

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.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

*****

I read this beautiful piece of art during the Christmas holidays, and let me tell you how killer it was for me to find the time to read while I worked in a busy retail store. It was damn near impossible! All my free time was used to read. I hardly slept because I was so enthralled with Juliette's struggles. I was literally was hiding in the restrooms at work to read Shatter Me on my kindle app for Blackberry. If that doesn't attest to how highly I think this novel then I don't know what else to tell you other than read it for yourself.

Tahereh Mafi's writing style is lyrical and viewing the wasted world she created through Juliette's eyes is beyond words. The setting and characters were built and described so well that I felt as if I could touch them. I was very emotionally invested in these characters and I'll be waiting on the edge of my computer chair for the title and release date of the next installment of the Shatter Me series.

Review #4: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Title: Bloodlines
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: 2011 by Razorbill
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars


GoodReads Summary:

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

*****

My mind is still whirling about this one. I know I've said many times that I'm sick and tired of vampires, but this... This was totally different and I loved it! I haven't read the Vampire Academy series, but I think I will be reading it soon. These vampires are way different from anything I've read before and the twist of human alchemist has me really excited.

I loved the characters of Sydney and Adrian. Their interactions had me laughing out loud in the breakroom at work and drawing the attention of my coworkers who thought I was losing it. The storyline was absolutely enthralling for me. Excitement plus being unable to put the book down for long enough that I barely slept and completed the novel in less than twenty-four hours is proof enough to myself of the awesomeness of the storyline.

I can't wait for the next installment of the Bloodlines series. I know I'll be telling my friends and family that are readers to pick up Bloodlines.

Review #3: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Title: Nevermore
Author: Kelly Creagh
Published: 2010 by Atheneum
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars


GoodReads Summary:


Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

*****

OH! MY! GAWD! Do you know how angry I was with this 'ending'?! With how thick this book is I would have sworn that there would actually be an ending and not a sequel.

I sat on the edge of my seat throughout this novel. I loved watching Isobel and Varen grow as characters and their interest in each other develop and change. The Edgar Allan Poe references and the mystery of it all was very exciting in and of itself. I had always been an avid Poe fan and I loved the history (as well as a minor lesson about not judging books by their covers) that was incorporated in the story.

I'm still upset that I didn't know this would be a series of books, but seeing as how greatly impressed I was and the many tears I shed throughout the last fourth quarter of the novel; it's safe to say that I will be waiting for the second novel in this set.