"Marked" by PC and Kristin Cast (H1)

PC and Kristin Cast

Marked

By PC and Kristin Cast

The House of Night Series, Book 1 



# Pgs: 320

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Overview:



The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire—that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny—with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

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Review:

I've been meaning to do something like this for a while. Do what? Why, I'm glad you asked.

You see, I have a slight problem with this series. My problem is that the series is on book eleven... and pending. Meaning Cast has stretched this series as much as possible when she could've ended it at book three or four. I would've even been happy if it had ended earlier, but it hasn't.

At the beginning, I loved the series. Of course, everyone was going through the "vampire" stage at the time, so this worked out perfectly. I loved how Cast worked in some myth with the novel, some folklore. I love how Cast wrote the series in typical teenage-esk, meaning she carried on writing like it was actually the mind of a teenager writing it. I enjoyed all that, I loved the first book. Because Cast has been stretching out the series as much as possible, at one point I ended up losing my love for the series. In stead, I carried on reading strictly for the loyalty Cast had one over at that point, because of my desire to see where it would end.

But it didn't end, and then I just stopped reading the series. Once Cast finished the series, then maybe I'll go back to reading it, but until then I'm not going to stick to something that seems to be all over the place. As The House of Night series carries on, things just seem to go all over the place and to just drag on. It's boring and agonizing to read. I'm just a little mad about this series.

In any case, I'm supposed to be writing singularly about the first book in the series. With that in mind, please once again consider my statement from earlier. I loved the first book. I read it about four or so years ago, just when it first came out, but I saw the book sitting on my shelf gathering dust and decided to write about it. The first thing that appealed to me oh so long ago was the whole paranormal, vampire thing going on. It was pretty big back then, with Twilight just starting to go big, and The Vampire Academy series just starting to make a little noise. It was the perfect time for PC's book to come out.

As a fan of the paranormal, mythology, folklore, urban legends... I really enjoyed how Cast tied those kinds of aspects into her plot line. I loved how Cast developed her individual characters, each with their own kind of codes that they follow, their own beliefs. The first book in the series, Marked, is light-hearted, kind of funny, and introducing just the right about of complications to keep me wanting to read more. I definitely recommend reading the first book...

...I guess my problem lies more with the rest of the series.

Oh well. To each their own.

Best Book Series (G2)

The Best Book Series

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Regardless of whether or not you consider some of these book series outdated, over-rated, or just plain stupid, there was some point in our lives when these books were a hit. If you keep an open mind, and ignore social media and public opinion, then most of these books are still pretty good. At some point in the existance of any of the series below, they caught public attention. And love it or list it, attention is attention, so these books have done well for themselves so far. That's good for them, but it's even better for you if you're in the mood to read a bunch of books in a series and haven't read any of the books that I'm about to list below... because then you've got something to consider. Interested? Check these out.

• The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
• The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
• The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer
• A Song of Fire and Ice series by George RR Martin
• The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
• The Infernal Devices series also by Cassandra Clare
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
• The House of Night series by PC and Kristen Cast
• The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
• The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
• The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
• His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
• A Series of Unfortunate Events by Daniel Handler
• Lord of the Rings series by JRR Tolkien
• The Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larsson
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth series by Carrie Ryan
• The Giver Series by Lois Lowry
• Divergent series by Veronica Roth
• The Maze Runner series by James Dashner
• The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Again, these are just twenty book series listed in no particular order. There's probably a couple of these titles that you will recognise. Why? Because the best movies are based off of books. Or become an over-blown, dramatic teenage vampire love story that people either obsess over or want to murder quite violently. You know how it is. With that in mind, don't base the book off of the movie. That's like judging the book off of the cover, and sometimes a stupid cover is hiding something enchanting and original. Whatever. It's up to you.

"Never Fade" by Alexandra Bracken (G1)

Oh My God

Never Fade

By Alexandra Bracken

The Darkest Minds series, Book 2

# Pgs: 512

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Overview:

Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children''s League call Ruby "Leader", but she knows what she really is: a monster. When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children''s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America''s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn''t recognize her. As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

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Review:

Oh my God.

I think that's pretty much all I'm capable of saying at the moment.

I just finished reading book two in Alexandra Bracken's The Darkest Minds series, and wow.

There was this little caution that crossed my path warning me that since the first book in the series was so good, the second book was going to be crap. I was worried that Bracken wouldn't be able to hold a candle to it, but boy did she hold a candle. More than a candle--a giant ball of raging lightning fire that pretty much just blew up my mind--if that makes any sense.

Let me get down to what was particularly so good about it. The whole series is an original idea. Sure, there have been telekinesis books before, mind reading stories, books about kids that could control the natural element, and yes--there have been books that basically had all that. The whole originality aspect of it came from the way she wrote it, the plot line and the characters. There's nothing magical about it; it's completely scientific and political in the way these "powers" come to be. There's a developed history in this world, a depth to it, each character has their own personality, and Bracken has a gift of drawing the reader in to this world. It's a struggle for survival for the reader as well as the characters.

Never Fade kept my curiosity reeling and my concentration singularly addicted to reading the pages, to living the story. You like action? There's action. Plenty of action. In fact, it was like "Bam, here's some action for you! Didn't have enough? Bam! There's some more!" And when you think that it's going to be all smooth sailing from here, you get hit with a barrage of even more mind blowing action. Of course there's romance and tragedy; the pacing set just right for these factions of the novel to keep me constantly on my toes and guessing.

To be honest, I'm completely flabbergasted by some authors' ability to get the reader completely hooked to a series; not every author can do it. It's amazing and terrible at the same time because I know that at some point I'm going to be bawling my eyes out that the series is over. This is a fine example of two of my problems with a book series; it's been only five minutes, and I'm already dreading the day this series will end. It's been only five minutes, and I'm already impatient for more.

Gah! When's the next book coming out?!

I need to read more!

"The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks (F2)

Sparks-I think Your Name is Fake.

The Lucky One

By Nicholas Sparks

# Pgs: 416

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Overview:

After U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman buried in the dirt during his tour of duty in Iraq, he experiences a sudden streak of luck — winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph — his lucky charm.

Back home in Colorado, Thibault can't seem to get the woman in the photograph out of his mind and he sets out on a journey across the country to find her. But Thibault is caught off guard by the strong attraction he feels for the woman he encounters in North Carolina - Elizabeth, a divorced mother — and he keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate love affair, his secret soon threatens to tear them apart — destroying not only their love, but also their lives.

Filled with tender romance and terrific suspense, THE LUCKY ONE is an unforgettable story about the surprising paths our lives often take and the power of fate to guide us to true and everlasting love.

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Review:

It's true that this book has been out for a while now, and if you don't know that it has been made into a movie well... now you do.

I read a couple of Nicholas Sparks' books mostly because my sister is obsessed with this author. I have to admit, while I'm not completely into the whole dramatic, mushy-gushy romance types of books, this wasn't half bad. In fact, it seemed to have just the right amount of everything. The horrors of war, the disgust that came with reading through the mind of a bad cop, the life of a single mother just trying to survive...

The book didn't turn out any of the ways I thought it would as my own choices would've strongly differed... but then again, I've never been in the position that some of these characters have been. It was saddening towards the end, and slightly misleading, but I'll let you read those chapters and decide for yourself.

This wasn't a perfect book, definitely not one of Sparks' best, but it was still able to evoke enough emotion for me to cry at the end and... I'm really not a crier. Some of you are probably going to disagree with me, but as I've stated, this isn't really my type of book. And it was good, just not good enough to make me want to read another of Sparks' books. I guess I'm not really the fan my sister is.

I guess I'd have to rate this as a two or three out of five.

Sorry Sparks, but this book just didn't really do it for me~
~and I think your name is fake dear Nicholas Sparks. You write romance books, so like when true lovers kiss and feel the "Sparks" flying, perhaps you expect the readers to too? Feel the "Sparks" fly, that is, when reading your books.

Yup. I think your name is fake.

"SYLO" by D.J. MacHale (F1)

Aliens. That is the Question.

SYLO

By D.J. MacHale

The SYLO Chronicles Series, Book 1



# Pgs: 416

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Overview:



The ultimate action-fueled end-of-the-world conspiracy trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author D.J. MacHale

THEY CAME FROM THE SKY
parachuting out of military helicopters to invade Tucker Pierce’s idyllic hometown on Pemberwick Island, Maine.

They call themselves SYLO and they are a secret branch of the U.S. Navy. SYLO’s commander, Captain Granger, informs Pemberwick residents that the island has been hit by a lethal virus and must be quarantined. Now Pemberwick is cut off from the outside world.

Tucker believes there’s more to SYLO’s story. He was on the sidelines when the high school running back dropped dead with no warning. He saw the bizarre midnight explosion over the ocean, and the mysterious singing aircraft that travel like shadows through the night sky. He tasted the Ruby—and experienced the powers it gave him—for himself.

What all this means, SYLO isn’t saying. Only Tucker holds the clues that can solve this deadly mystery.

LOOK TO THE SKY
because Pemberwick is only the first stop.

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Review:

Once again, still having trouble getting into Long Lankin. I'm sure that it has nothing to do with the book as I've heard it's actually supposed to be a pretty good read. I just need to be more patient and shove through it. In any case, I've actually got a pretty good book for you to consider. This one comes to you from the bestselling author of the Pendragon series; it's SYLO by D.J. MacHale.

My thoughts for this book? Unbelievable. A really good book. I checked it out yesterday and just finished reading it a minute ago. It's a suspenseful, action-packed sci-fi book. From the very first words I was drawn into it. It started off with a relatively normal setting that progressed into this mass hysteria type of a book that was strangely quite believable. The imagery the author created from the very beginning of the novel threw me into this world a chaos and conspiracy that kept me guessing. Each of the characters within its pages were highly developed with their own individual personalities I couldn't help but appreciate.

Towards the end, the imagination I created from the book's descriptions coupled with what "evidence" I had gathered up to that point tricked me, in a sense. Like a person might see things that aren't there very late at night, I "saw" connections in the novel that weren't there. Rather than that being a bad thing, as it usually might, it was a very delightful and clever trick that I have no doubt the author knew he created when he wrote it. Even if I hadn't enjoyed this book to the extent that I did, MacHale ended it with a cliffhanger... and I have a terribly monstrous curiosity...

All in all, it's probably too soon for me to be gushing about this book as I just literally finished reading it, but I found this book as a highly enjoyable read. MacHale set a questionable pace at some points, and the book is, perhaps, better fit for someone with a shorter attention span because of its faster pace. I reccommend this book for sci-fi lovers and people who love to be engulfed in a world of imagery. I could see this book at one point becoming a movie, but we'll see when book two is out...

"Send" by Patty Blount (E2)

Click No

Send

By Patty Blount

# Pgs: 304

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Overview

It's been five years since I clicked Send.
Four years since I got out of juvie.
Three months since I changed my name.
Two minutes since I met Julie.
A second to change my life.

All Dan wants for his senior year is to be invisible. This is his last chance at a semi–normal life. Nobody here knows who he is. Or what he's done. But on his first day at school, instead of turning away like everyone else, Dan breaks up a fight. Because Dan knows what it's like to be terrorized by a bully—he used to be one.

Now the whole school thinks he's some kind of hero—except Julie. She looks at him like she knows he has a secret. Like she knows his name isn't really Daniel...

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Review:

Okay, I'll admit it, Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough should've been the book that I'd blog about next. I'm just having some trouble getting into the book. Unlike the problem with that book though, Send by Patty Blount I read immediately and finished around ten last night.

It's a book about bullying, and the consequences of your actions on others as well as on yourself. Another realistic fiction, but this one was actually ok. It kind of makes the reader think about what the people around them are hiding.

I don't know if there's a second book, and if there is I don't know that I would read it. I was happy enough with the way this fictional piece ended. Not exactly a happy ending, but that's a good thing. Not all things in life end in happy endings, and sometimes it's difficult to find a book like this that demonstrates that. The main character, "Dan", is complex. In the story he tries his best to hide his family and make up for something he did earlier in life that affected another greatly. This story follows along as he tries to prove to himself that he still has some worth, despite the fact that he feels he cannot be forgiven for what he's done.

In the end this book begs the question on whether or not "Dan" deserved what he got earlier in life, and if by the end he is truly forgiven....

I recommend this book to someone who likes realistic fiction, or to those who like to think things like this through, to people who like to dissect books.

Worms Are Blind... Mostly. (E1)

What to Do if Reading in the Dark

Some of you might recall my previous post about the problems with a book series... Well this is another extension on a somewhat book related topic. Please note that in no way am I promoting the reading of books in the dark. If you choose to do so, then whatever consequences there may be are your responcibility. I just know from experience that if you're going to read in the dark, you're going to have to be crafty. Especially if you're a high school student living with parents who don't appreciate you being up all hours of the night and don't accept your excuse of not being able to put the book down. And so, without furthur ado, here are five things you need to know if you're going to read in the dark...

1. Keep a flashlight on hand, always, and know how to hide it.
2. Make sure your bedroom door is shut, the shades are drawn, and if you're really nervous about someone seeing light seep out, plug up the crack under your door like you would do if there were a fire.
3. Memorize the general positioning of things.
4. If you are nearsighted, and the lighting is dim, the surrounding dark, do not wear your glasses.
5. Keep a clock on hand.

1)   Throughout my time of reading in the dark, I've used my phone's light, candle light, a weird glowing... thing, moon light, and just flicked the switch on my bedroom wall. I've generally found that a flash light works best. Something big enough where you can just click it on but is not bulky or a hastle to use. It's also a good idea to have some place to stash it before or after you go to bed. I know at least my parents wonder why I have a random flash light lying around.

2)   If you're going to read in the dark, it has to be dark. My mom stays out, for example, at all hours of the night working. If she comes home and notices the light on in my room... Or, if my dad get's up at night because the dog is woke him up again, someone who's accustomed to the dark will notice even the slightest sliver of light peeking through. Which leads me to my next point...

3)   Memorize the general layout of your room, or area. If you're going to read completely in the dark, then this is a good thing to know. Especially in the case of emergencies. Quick! Stash the book! Put out the light! Fall asleep quick! Sleep tight!

4)   This actually goes for everyone. Reading in a dim lighting actually isn't a good thing. It will put a dent in your eyesight. That's why you need to have a good flash light and need to be prepared to take the risk, if so you choose. However, concerning nearsighted people, don't wear your glasses while reading in the dark. This will definitely hurt your eyes in the end. Sure reading in the dark can be a good thing, for me at least, but I know that over the years my eyesight has gotten plenty worse. A good part of that came from reading in the dark with terrible lighting.

5)   If you're going to read in the dark, then it's a good idea to have a clock of some sort on hand. If not to look up every five seconds from your book because you feel guilty for reading, then at least to set a time for yourself as to when you will absolutely stop reading your book. You have to go to bed at some point, and as unhealthy as it is to read in the dark, it is so much worse to become sleep deprived. So set a time to go to bed, and keep a clock on hand to just take a glance at after every chapter or between a set number of pages.

And so, these are some of my tricks to the trade. Pretty basic, but hopefully helpful. What do you think? What something good to know when you're staying up late to read in the dark?

"The Immortal Rules" by Julie Kagawa (D2)

Surprise

The Immortal Rules

By Julie Kagawa

The Blood of Eden Series, Book 1



# Pgs: 464

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Overview:



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.

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Review:

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa is the first book of the Blood of Eden series. This is a paranormal series about, what else? Vampires. This is also yet another book that takes place in a post apocalyptic type world.

My experience when reading this book was at first apprehension. Vampires and another "end of the world/trying to survive the apocalypse" type book? I'm sure you can understand my insecurities. Yet instead of the complete crash and burn of this book like I was expecting, I was pleasantly surprised. This book honestly kept me in its grips from beginning to end. It's an action packed novel with engaging characters and a thrilling plotline with fresh ideas. The main character, Allie, is a tough, complex heroine who's compassionate despite the things otherwise implied. By the end I was completely invested in the book and nearly bursting with my impatience to read the next book.

When book one is good, I can't help wanting to read when I find out that there's another book in the series.

The Immortal Rules is a compelling paranormal read and I can't wait to read book two. Reccommended for anyone with love of a paranormal, scy-fi, touch of romance read.

Book, Line, Sinker (D1)

The Problems with a Book Series

For those of us who are avid readers, there's always been one point in our lives when we've become frustrated with a series of books. I know I'm not alone when I say that there has been some times after reading the first, second, or eighth book in a series where I've wanted to set the book on fire before dumping the ashes in an acid incinerator and launching the wastes to the moon. In other words, the book series has problems. So what are they? I've tried to sum it up in five points.

1. The waiting for the next book in the series.
2. Idiotic turns of events from one book to another, or the plot line of a story becomes repetitive.
3. Problems with the order of a book series
4. The author has no clue when to stop the series and so it just stretches on and on when it could've ended at book three.
5. The worst: You love the series too much when it ends.

1)   Ok, so the book wasn't terrible. In fact it was good enough, or so fantastic, that you are driven to immediately read the next book in the series. The problem? It doesn't come out for another two years, or six months, or (in extreme cases) three days. There's nothing wrong or abnormal with waiting a couple of days or a couple months for the next book in a series.. But in today's day and age, how many of us actually have time to wait until the end of the year, or for two years, or for three years for the next book to come out? In that time, readers might forget that drive they felt for the book in the first place. They might forget about the title, or the author, or that they even read the book in the first place. Not to rush the authors, and sometimes the wait is worth it, but that's when an unfinished book series could become a regret.  

2)   It starts out with a great book, that leads to another similarly great book, that leads to another freakishly great book that is just like the first two. We've all read one of these series. And it's after we notice the repetitive book plot that the whole series goes down the toilet. Who wants to read something that just repeats what's already been done? I mean, I've heard that there's nothing new under the sun, but come on! If you're going to write, be original about it. Make a connection between the books in the series so that if one thing changes, it makes sense. Likewise, I don't want to read a book series where one thing happens in this book, and in the next book it's like it never happened at all.

3)   Yeah, this one is kind of simple, and it's more of our problem than anyone elses. Unless it's clear cut on the spine or the cover that this book comes after this book, and that book is first, I'm going to be confused. It has to be obvious because in the rush to read, who pays attention to the order the books come in until it really matters? When it's clear cut, it's simple, and it's quick. Unless it's not. That's when people (like me) make mistakes and grab the wrong book and waste time.

4)   Instead of writing out about this one, let me give you some examples; The House of Night series, the Ranger's Apprentice series, and the Blue Bloods series. Each of these book series are original in their ideas, but they should've ended much sooner than they have. Or they should've ended sooner but these series might still be stretching on right now-I don't know because I stopped reading the series and wasting my money when it got boring and just stupid. Now, there's nothing wrong with writing an extremely long series so long as you keep the ideas flowing, originality fresh, and you don't stretch it on for the sake of keeping the series alive. Compare those books listed above to the Harry Potter series, to The Chronicles of Narnia, or even A Series of Unfortunate Events. Those series are pretty long, but the authors knew when to stop and still keep the book series interesting. Can you see what I'm trying to say here?

5)   And last but not least, you love the series so much and yet it still ends. It's a bittersweet feeling. On the one hand, the series is finally over and that was a great ending. On the other hand, the series is over and that was the ending. Once again, this is more the reader's problem than anyone elses. And maybe this isn't a problem so much as it is just bittersweet ending. Unless you've obsessed about the book series since book one, have changed your name to the main character's, write your own sultry fanfiction about the series, and fantasize your life as if you lived in that world. Then, something is extremely wrong and maybe you should get some help. Especially if the series you've been obsessing about just ended or is becoming a movie or television series. Seriously, go and get some help before you hurt someone. :)

That said, these have been my five problems when dealing with a book series. Leave a comment if you can relate, or have your own five problems about book series. Thanks for reading!