The City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I expected a lot out of this book with all the hype is has received. I liked it but I wasn't blown away or anything like that. (Note: I did read this via Audio Book but it does not effect the book itself)

Characters- Clary is the reason for the missing star. She annoyed the heck out of me almost all the book. She asked the dumbest questions and is surprised to hear the answers. It's common sense. Also when she first started seeing supernatural things she was spooked, that's understandable. What wasn't understandable was that she remained confused and would not stop complaining. Actually scratch that. She did stop complaining when she talked about Jace. This girl really annoyed me. Now onto the wonderful Jace. Jace is a shadow hunter and is super mysterious. I really enjoyed his dialogue. He's so charming and smart with what he says... If only the book was in his head, not Clary's. Alec... jdfjeigfieijef. I freaking loved Alec. My biggest reason is that he's gay. Before you get all 'hey it's not right to stereotype' let me explain. Being gay in a community against it takes an immense amount of strength. I'm gay as well so I know that life can not be easy for him. Other then that he is really antisocial and secretive. Just like Jace but I like Alec better. Simon was an interesting one. I really liked him and he had me laughing out loud at times. He's just a bundle of fun. That is until he acts like a 'foolish mundane'. The whole Simon is a mundane so he's just an obstacle annoyed me. What made me even angrier is that he acted foolish right after they said something. It's like he was trying to prove them right for some reason. Isabelle wasn't anything special. She was just there... She had a few good lines but she will most likely be forgotten soon. Lastly we have Magnus Bane. He was cool. He pulled off being a warlock, that dude made it look awesome. He's so cleaver and funny. Plus his serious side showed at the end. I hope there's going to be more of him.

Romance- It wasn't spectacular but it had some nice twists to it, expectantly at the end of it. Without spoiling anything I want to say this Romance is something the whole FAMILY can enjoy, BROTHERS and SISTERS. (:

Setting- Good old New York City. I really liked that church thing that they met in as well.

Story- I can't. It was all just way too confusing. All those downworlders and other types of creatures were just too much to keep up with. I seemed like the author was trying to create a unique world of monsters but in my opinion she failed. It explained it all way too quickly and sloppily. Disappointed. I liked the whole Rune system though but again they are too hard to remember. Why couldn't of there been pictures in the book or something? Authors do it all the time to help the readers but no, we were left in the dark. Now the plot itself was okay. The beginning was WAY to predictable but I can forgive that. It all had a nice flow to it and did not let me down.

Conclusion- It was all so weird. Random surprises were everywhere... It was awesome.

Misc.- I will continue the series eventually... For Alec <3

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Great words spoken by a deceptive man

"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson

Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2)

Frostbite by Richelle Mead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazing Sequel, definitely had a lot more character development.

Character- Rose is different. She is showing a darker, edgy side of herself and I loved it. Lissa was actually kind of entertaining this time. With Christian is her life she seems a lot more appealing and enjoyable. That brings us to Christian. I loved him in the last book but I thought he needed more development and I got my wish. I learned so much more about him and I like him even more now. I loved Mason so much in this book. He was HILARIOUS. That and his loyalty to Rose were breathtaking. Dimitri... Uhhh where to start. I still love him so so much but I was telepathically yelling at him the whole time. He is so arrogant and he never learns. Maybe that's why Adrian was keen to getting close to Rose. Adrian... My favorite character by far. Mysterious and charming are the two best words to describe him. He is also very determined to get what he wants, Rose. Lastly Mia. She was very nice. She wasn't amazing but this time she played a bigger part and I respected her for her every choice. I would like to see more of her though.

Romance- Love Triangle once again... but somehow I can't ever stop loving it. Rose feels so powerfully for Dimitri but he obviously won't love her back due to pride issues. Mason would do anything for her but she knows that she could never love him. That leaves the sneaky Adrian. Adrian is definitely not scared to share how he feels and welcomes Rose with open arms. Too bad Rose is busy being a hot mess in the romance department.

Setting- Starts out in Vampire Academy but soon moves to a ski resort. No complaints, loved it.

Story- Rose is slowly finishing up her senior year. She leaves with Dimitri to go take a test and is horrified to find a house full of Mori killed by Strigoi. This horrible event ruins winter plans so the academy comes up with a compromise, the students and their families get to go on an extremely protected ski trip. Rose is revealed, she gets a chance to relax. This feeling doesn't last long though, soon there is another attack and everyone is put on edge. Some students leave to get justice for the people who died... This is where the trouble begins.

Conclusion- Seriously though, it was awesome. So action packed and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I must warn you though... Death will play a big role.

Writing Style- Perfect. No Complaints. Amazing pacing and just enough descriptions. The romance was narrated awesomely as well.

Misc.- This series is so addicting. <3

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Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1)

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love drama and vampires so I thought I would enjoy this book. I was right. I wasn't great but now that the intro is over the the rest of the series is going to be great.

Characters- Rose is awesome. She is a strong independent woman and I love her already. She always does what she thinks is right and I respect her for that. Lissa kind of got on my nerves in the beginning. She is about the same age as Rose and she acts like she's 8. I grew to like her eventually but I'm still not a big fan. Dimitri... I love every second of him. He's just so amazing. Mia is crazy. She is so worried about fitting in that she will do some crazy stuff. You don't want to mess with her. I really liked Victor. He is a nice dude that is sick. I felt bad. Christian is so sweet. He has such a rebellious spirit that could get him in trouble but he doesn't care. They were all pretty cool.

Romance- SO FREAKING ANNOYING! As you can guess the romance is between Rose and Dimitri. The only problem is that Dimitri is like 7 years older than her. That shouldn't matter but he has to be stubborn and make it a big deal.

Setting- Vampire Academy (obviously). I really liked the school. It opened up a lot of possible outcomes. I agree with Rose though, It feels like a jail.

The Story- The Mori are mortal vampires. They need blood to live and can use magic involving the elements. They are sadly going extinct due to the Strigoi. The Strigoi are ruthless vampires that have no morals. They do whatever they please and they find Mori blood especially tasty. The main problem with the Strigoi are that they are immortal. The only way to kill them is with fire, decapitation, or a silver stake. The Mori aren't totally alone though. They have their guardians, the Dhampir. The Dhampir are a mix of human and vampire. They have the perfect qualities to defend the Mori. So that is what the Dhampir are meant to do. Protect the Mori for the rest of their lives. To me that seems selfish of the Mori. You can't tell people what they're meant to do for the rest of their lives, it's cruel. Rose is a Dhampir in training. She used to go to Vampire Academy with her best friend Lissa until they escaped. Lissa is not only a Mori but she is a Mori princess. Rose and Lissa share a bond that connects them. Rose can feel what Lissa feels and can sense where she is. Sadly this works only one way. Together they escaped the Academy and have been living on their own for 2 years. Sadly they are sent back and the Academy is not the same as it used to be. This time it has even more dark secrets awaiting Lissa and Rose...

The Conclusion- I loved it. Action, Twists, and Some serious romance. What else could you ask for?

Writing Style- Richelle Mead is very, very talented. She made such a perfect world with amazing characters. I cannot wait to read more of her work.



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Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book actually freaked me out. It was so dark and disturbing. People say it's scary how this one man's view of the future is so similar to our reality now... It's more than just scary. It is heartbreaking and sad. This book really puts society in the bad light that it deserves to be in.

The Characters- Montag is a cool person to read about. He's just so confused about everything and I felt so bad for him the whole time. He was just a very believable and average character that stops and thinks why. Clarisse, the new neighbor was lovely. She always asked the right questions and she saw hope where no one else saw it. I also really liked Faber. He was a scared little man that slowly came out of his shell in the name of what's right. The enemy in this story is ignorance and the firemen. The firemen are so scary. They're just so ruthless.

Romance- None. Love barley exists anymore in this world.

The Setting- The city in the 21 century. I liked it.

The Story- Books are disgraced. TV has replaced family. Anyone with books in their possession will be taken to an asylum. The books that they had will be burnt by the horrible firemen. Montag has always loved his job as a fireman. He loves the power of fire and loves to see things burn. He never asks questions. On his way home from work he meets his new neighbor Clarisse. She is a 17 year old girl that proves to be unique. Everyday Montag goes home to his wife Mildred. Mildred is a mess. She has an obsession with television, as do most people. She has 3 walls of screens and she desperately wants a fourth. TV is all she ever cares about. Montag starts to enjoy his talks with Clarisse more and more. She teaches him to actually look at the world and take it in. She starts to teach him to enjoy life. Montag has been doing something for a while and he doesn't understand why. He has been hiding books in his house! He soon questions the world he lives in and the fun begins...

The Conclusion- Very, very, very sad. There was kind of a cliffhanger which makes me angry because there's never going to be a sequel.

Writing Style- This book was written back in 1953 so I didn't expect to understand most of it. I am glad to say I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, there were some terms I didn't understand but the writing was just as awesome as authors these days.

Misc.- I read the special edition with the new intro and I loved the intro. It gave me the right mindset to fully enjoy the story. Love the title as well. I never knew paper burns at 451 degrees fahrenheit.

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The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1)

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There is a lot of hype around this book and I'm happy to admit that I enjoyed it a lot. I did have a few dislikes though.

The Characters- Perfect. Seriously though I loved each of them. Blue, our heroine was very unique. She always had a lot on her plate and she handled it very realistically. She was just a bundle of joy. Gansey was also a wonderful surprise. I loved the way he was like a father to his friends. He always meant the best but sadly his attempts almost always failed. Next we have Adam. He made me angry... very angry. He seemed like a wonderful person but he made all the wrong choices. Even though now that I think about it there is no right or wrong in his situation. He just kept stalling the inevitable. Still loved him though. Ronan wins my favorite character award by the end though. He is cleaver and hilarious. As much as I want to call him a prankster I sadly cannot. His haunting past and violent history with his brother leave him broken. It's as if life has lost any purpose for him. Truly sad but still very poetic. Noah is wonderful. I didn't see myself liking him at the beginning but he now has a spot in my heart (right next to the one reserved for Ronan). Blue's family seemed annoying at first as well. I was thinking "Oh boy, another flat, predictable family" at first but I actually liked them all pretty well.

The Romance- I can't... I just can't. There's just so much to say. I'll try to keep it short. From the synopsis we already know that if Blue kisses her true love he will die... well it gets worse. On Saint Mark's Day she sees a certain person meaning that she will either kill him or that he is her true love. Either way he destined to die so that sucks for him. Things go crazy from there. This book is big on the romance.

The Setting- Virginia, Maryland in a small town. Wasn't a big part in the story but it was in no way a bad setting. I just wasn't ever concerned with it.

The Story- I told most of the story in the romance section because that's where I thought it belonged... I do what I want *he he*. So "The Raven Boys" are students who go to this expensive private school. 9 times out of 10 they are usually selfish, rich jerks that you would want to avoid. Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah are all Raven Boys and they each have some serious back stories. I will now give you a taste of what each of their stories are without spoiling it. Gansey is the richest raven boy there is, or he's at least close to the richest. He does average in school and seems just like everyone else. But he has a secret that he shares with his friends. He has been looking for something desperately. Adam is different, there's no way you can't see that. He is probably the only Raven Boy that is struggling with money. What's even more shocking is that he is besties with Gansey, the richest Raven Boy. Even though Gansey offers to give Adam money he never accepts. He is determined to earn everything himself. I respect him for that. He also has some stuff going on at home as well, serious stuff. Ronan's story is depressing as hell so prepare yourself if/when you read the book. Ronan and his brother don't get along. I was being nice right there, they seriously hate each other's guts. After their father's mysterious death things went downhill fast. Ronan started to fail school and his brother kept acting like his father. It gets bad... Noah, the last of the main Raven Boys is weird to say the least. He's antisocial and has odd habits. He seemed pretty useless but just wait. Now onto Blue. Blue is in a family of all extremely gifted psychic but she sadly is not gifted like they are. The only gift she has is the gift to give people power which seemed useless to her. She accepts the way she is and aids her family in their job, to predict the futures of their clients. Her plain lifestyle is soon changed for the better(?) on St. Mark's Day.

The Conclusion- The climax was great and action packed. There was a cliffhanger but OMG... it was like out of nowhere. It just came out of nowhere and shocked me. The worst part is that there was only one sentience of details...

Writing Style- I have mixed feelings about Maggie Stiefvater. She is so creative and I always saw a picture in my head but it was just too much sometimes. I felt like she described way to many things at once. That just made the book unnecessarily longer.

Misc.- This is random but this book reminded me of The Outsiders a lot. That's a good thing. Now on to my favorite topic that I haven't mentioned. Adam and Ronan. I'm sorry but I just felt so much of a connection between them and I loved it. I think they would make such a great couple and I really want it to happen. Sadly it probably will not... seeing as how there are rarely any LGBT characters in books. I still have hope though. <3

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Fahrenheit 451 Got Me Thinking...

There's no such thing as a bad book. No matter how you felt about the story the words on the pages were created by someone's unique mind. They didn't just put words onto paper, they put a part of themselves onto them. No book should be wasted. Each is unique... Each needs love.

Code Orange

Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this for school and wow I've never liked a school book this much since The Giver. I almost always like school books (with the exception of Project Mulberry) but this was in a whole other category.

The Characters- There isn't very many characters but they were all cool. Mitty, the protagonist is your typical spoiled teenager who only cares about girls and having fun. He has a crush on a classmate named Olivia. She is the opposite of Mitty. She loves to learn and always tries her best. The last somewhat important character is Mitty's best friend (forgot his name). He was funny and always had Mitty's back.

The Romance- This book had a very lighthearted romance. It wasn't supposed to be very serious and the story was great without having it. It was just a sweet little detail that added to the story.

Setting- New York. I liked having him in New York a lot because being at the place 9/11 occurred makes the story even more meaningful.

The Story- Mitty is assigned a project in Biology. He has to research an infectious disease. Usually he wouldn't care about doing his work but if he doesn't he will be taken out of his advanced class. That's the only class he has with Olivia. With one weekend left Mitty knows he has to work but he sadly goes with his parents to their other house in the country. He starts to freak out. He needs to use books but there's no libraries around. He looks around the house and finds books that his mother brought home from work. Just his luck... He found a book on smallpox. Hurray! He opens the book and finds an envelope. He pours the envelope's contents into his hand. There's a bunch a scabs. Mitty then accidentally inhales some scab dust. He puts the scabs back in the envelope and continues with life. From there Mitty researches smallpox like crazy. He learns all the gruesome details. He begins to feel sick... smallpox sick. From here the story gets so intense. There's extreme paranoia and self sacrifice. Scariest of all there is some extremely disturbing bioterrorism.

The Conclusion- I have mixed feelings about this. I think he did the best thing he could given the situation but I didn't like the attitude he had after. It really blew my mind how he felt no empathy or regret whatsoever.

Writing Style- I wasn't a big fan of it at first but as I got used to it I liked it. It wasn't too descriptive and the pacing was good.

Misc.- I'm 14 and I just finished this book. I agree with some other people saying this book is a little too much for younger audiences. I handled it fine but I've read a lot more than most kids and I am more mature. The whole last quarter of it is just a little too much for some people. The ending even got me a little. It's just so dark and serious but it covers it up by making Mitty way to cheerful.

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The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies #2)

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ahhhhh It got better... MUCH better.

The Characters- This time we have 2 perspectives. John (Number 4) and Marina (Number 7). Lets start with John's perspective and discuss the people he was with. Firstly John himself was enjoying to read about. His crazy but careful personality was always compelling. His best friend, Sam was a little annoying at times to be honest. He was acting way out of character and I felt funny reading about him. It wasn't that bad though, just a little issue I had. John's other travel companion, Six was amazing. She's strong and powerful. You really don't want to mess with her. Oh wait... I forgot the most important character. Bernie Kosar!!! This time he had a much bigger role to play in the story. Now to Marina's perspective. Marina herself was very different and I instantly loved her. She's super smart and realistic. Her cesped (forgot her name) was also very interesting. Yes, she was selfish but I loved it. The drama there is intense. Marina's newfound best friend, weak little Ella, was lovely. She was very anti social and watching her slowly come out of her shell was enjoyable. Mogadorians are as evil as ever so nothing to complain about there.

The Romance- So the romance is really weird. I loved every word of it but it was just everywhere (in a good way). Loyalties are definitely tested. I don't want to spoil anything but there is sort of a love triangle going on... even though it's the most complex scenario I've ever read. You're going to love it.

The Setting- Marina's story is in a small town in Spain. She lives in a girls orphanage. John and friends on the other hand are running all over the U.S. I enjoyed both settings but I still miss Paradise, OH.

The Story- Marina is number 7. When the ship landed she left to hide with her cesped. Sadly they did not have the best of luck and they had to scavenge for the things they need. Eventually they came to a nunnery/orphanage thing. They were taken in. Slowly they adjusted to their new environment. Marina never forgot who she was and what she was destined to do. Her cesped on the other hand forgot about their life on Lorien and became a full fledged Catholic. Marina now has found something to help her through the boring life she has been living. Hope. She's seen a boy on the news. His name is John Smith and she can't shake the feeling that he's like her. In America John, Sam, Six, and Bernie Kosar are on the run. Their plan is to find a secure plan and train. And once they've trained enough they plan to search for the others. Lets just say things get a little crazy. There are so many plot twists that I didn't see coming. Everything just came together so nicely. I did have one issue though. I should have taken a star off for this but I couldn't bring myself to go through with it. So we all know that each of the 6 that are left have developed most if not all of their legacies. We also know that one of will always be telekinesis. My problem is they never use telekinesis when it's needed the most. They can lift people easily so saving a falling person should be nothing... but nooooo. I think it was a mistake to give them telekinesis if they don't use it when it's obviously needed.

The Conclusion- The ending was so action packed (as are most endings). There was new characters that I loved introduced and a lot of characters leave in one way or another. Very, very good ending.

Writing Style- Easy to read and enjoy. No complaints.

Recommend it strongly.

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I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1)

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was awesome... AMAZING writing.

The Characters- The main character's name is a little tricky. His real name is Number Four (weird I know) but he is known as John. He is a very realistic teenage boy, maybe a little too realistic for an alien. He is just an awesome main character. Sam, an alien-obsessed boy that John meets, was surprisingly enjoyable. He added a lot to the story and I can't wait to see how he develops in the rest of the series. Sarah... I loved her. She was an amazing teenage girl that I never stopped loving. Bernie Kosar wins my favorite character award tough. That little dog is so awesome and he is one of the most important characters.

The Romance- So sweet. Whenever this book got a little boring there was a nice relationship that saved the day and kept me reading. Yes is was a little easy but sometimes it happens like that. I wouldn't change a thing.

Setting- Paradise, Ohio. Nice urban town that was a nice place to stay hidden. I felt like I was there and I could see all the action going down.

The Story- The first 3 are dead, John is number 4. He is one of the only people to escape their home planet Loric after a hostile race, the Mogadorians invaded. When the invasion started 9 Lorien children and their Cepan guardians escaped to earth. Leaving the rest of their race and their planet to die in the hands of the Mogadorians. Once on earth each of the children and their guardians go their separate ways. To protect the children they were given a type of protection. As long as they stayed away from each other the children could only be killed in the order of the numbers that they were given. The Mogadorians followed them to earth and they are on the hunt to destroy the last of the Loriens. Number 1, 2, and 3 are dead. Number 4 is next. John and his guardian Henri have been smart. They've managed to stay hidden for a long time, going from town to town changing identities each time. Traveling is hard on John. He knows better than to form relationships with anyone other than Henri. They have to leave a lot. After John knew of 3's death Henri and him moved again. This time to Paradise, Ohio. John feels different here. He loves the urban setting and he meets a girl. Sarah. Sarah makes him feel like the world had stopped and that he was normal. This feeling is short lived once he develops his first legacy. Legacies are abilities that every Lorien is gifted with. From that point on things get crazy...

The Conclusion- Words can't describe how much happened... wait I guess they can. It was so awesome. Another great character was introduced and there is a death. Perfect layout for the next book.

Writing Style- I've read people say that Pittacus Lore's writing style is childish but I disagree. I think it has a nice pace to it.

Misc- I read the about the author then looked him up. This guy is cool. I don't see the problem with putting yourself into your own book and playing the part in real life. I think it's creative and different.

READ THIS BOOK

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Yey

http://theartofnotwriting.tumblr.com/post/58280579445/setting-the-record-straight-allegiant-style

Blue Skies (Atopia)

Blue Skies by Matthew Mather
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

That was depressing as hell...

I enjoyed the story and the morals to it but the setting wasn't my favorite. Very cool short read though.

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Volition (Perception, #2)

Volition by Lee Strauss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very different from Perception. Perception felt like a crime sort of book at core while Volition felt like a depressing romance with tons of action and adventure.

The Characters- Zoe and Noah are the main characters (of course) and both of them got an equal amount of POVs this time. Zoe is an emotional mess. She doesn't know how she feels about Noah and he just keeps pushing her away. Noah is a mess as well. He can't pretend to love this girl that he barely knows. That isn't his Zoe anymore. Taylor Blake was a welcomed addition to the team though. He is an arrogant troublemaker who has a lot of secrets. I enjoyed him. Taylor's pacifist "family" was very annoying at first but as i learned more I became more interested. I hated Mary... and not in a good way. She just seemed way too fake and out of place. Her brother was cool though. He was mysterious and broody. I liked him.

The Romance- IMPROVEMENT! Zoe and Noah have a lot of realistic issues and it made me want to cry. Then all these love triangles are thrown in which screws things up even more. Very well thought out but I did have a problem. Thats like all they talked about most times. By just focusing on Zoe's and Noah's relationship it takes away from the wonderful story that Perception setup.

Setting- Same as last book but this time they are on the run which makes things more interesting.

Story- Zoe and Noah are running from Zoe's grandfather and all of his goons. With all the information they know he is willing to do anything to get them back. So their faces are all over the world now. Scared and hidden they both think more about the future. With Zoe being a different person she and Noah in love anymore. This theme lasts through the whole book... It was exhausting. They find refuge in a community of pacifists. There Taylor becomes attracted to Zoe and that really messes up what was left of Noah and her's relationship. From there it is interesting but not amazing.

The Conclusion- The last 3 chapters of the book finally made it more intense and I was not disappointed. I liked the cliffhanger ending but what's the point of a cliffhanger if you can just read an excerpt from the next book. That ruins the surprise.

I'm hoping that this book's slow pacing is a one time thing. Therefore I will read the third book once it is released... I really hope it's better.

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Ambition (Perception, #0.5)

Ambition by Lee Strauss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nice quick story that takes place at the beginning of Perception. This time it's in Noah's POV. It wasn't revolutionary but it was nice.

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Perception (Perception, #1)

Perception by Lee Strauss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Indie books are always fun because I don't know what to expect and the writing style is always a surprise. This story was very well written and I'm very surprised that the author isn't more popular. That aside, the review...

The Characters- The main character in this story is another wonderful strong women. Her name is Zoe and she has no worries whatsoever. Sadly that changes very quickly and her reactions are very realistic. She has a nice personality that keeps me interested. The other main character is Noah... Ahhh good old Noah. Firstly love the name. Secondly I loved the way his character was developed. He was like a rubix cube that had colors chipped off. A nice mystery to solve. Liam, Zoe's brother, seemed cool but we were not able to meet him fully when he went missing. The way Zoe talked about him gave him depth and made his secrets even harder to accept. Jackson is Zoe's boyfriend and he's... a mess. He has a lot of internal issues and is a little obsessive when it comes to Zoe. Those were the main characters and I think each of them played a vital role in the story. The villain in the story (or should I say series) is Zoe's grandfather. He is a very powerful and intimidating man that causes nothing but trouble... I just didn't find him very interesting though.

Romance- It felt a little forced but it wasn't that bad. It was nice to see Zoe happy but I did have one little issue. The book said 15+ so I kind of expected something more. It's not like I wanted them to have sex right away but I just felt like the author didn't want to "risk" it even though it clearly says 15+. It isn't a big issue but it took a little bit away from the romance.

Setting- LOVED the setting. Dystopian. Innovations in technology have made it available for people to double their lifespan. Once these people pay a large sum of money a procedure is done and just like that they can live up to 200. The people who get this done are known as GAPS (Genetically Altered Peoples). The people who choose not to get it done or cannot afford to get it done are referred to as naturals. Eventually GAPS form exclusive cities that naturals are not allowed to enter. These cities take all the resources and everyone there has way more than they need. While GAPS are happy naturals are outside struggling to make a living. Things are only going to get worse for them. Zoe is in a GAP city and is living the good life. Noah is in the outside and is trying his hardest to provide for his family. This is where the story begins.

The Story- Zoe lives in a huge mansion with everything she needs plus tons more. She has a caring boyfriend and a couple of very good friends. She also has a brother who she loves to spend time with. Put simply her life was perfect. That is until her brother Liam goes missing. Thrown into a panic Zoe is willing to do anything to find him. She eventually gets help from her maid's son Noah. He is the perfect man to help her find him. Together they uncover so many dangerous secrets and grow close to each other. All the twists were nice. Very good at keeping me attention.

Conclusion- The end of the book is narrated by Noah for a change. The twist was very heartbreaking and had me teary eyed. The VERY end was not that great though. It was good but there was no sort of cliffhanger or plot twist. Very intense though.

Writing Style- Amazing descriptions that weren't overdone. Very good character development and good pacing. Everything about her writing was good.

Worth the read most definitely (:

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Sorry I Haven't Posted In A Few Days

I've been busy with school stuff but I have 2 (soon to be 3) books to add. They're all part of an underground series.

Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So I'm read this book finally. I was supposed to read it back in 3rd grade but I was stubborn. But alas here I am today with Charlotte 's Web complete. Now I know this is a children's book but there are some issues that I just can't ignore.

Spoiler Alert (Even though everyone knows the story by now)

I'm not going to go in depth about the story but I will cover my main like and dislikes.

Things I liked:

-Characters. Each had a unique personality and contributed in some way or another.
-I liked how this book made death into a topic that is appropriate for children. It is important for them to learn about how bacon and such is made. This was a perfect way to do that. Death being addressed so bluntly, especially with Charlotte, surprised me.
-A true story of friendship. This was not forced. It took both Wilbur and Charlotte time to learn and accept one another and once they did they were true friends. Right till the end.

Things I did not like:

- The way Charlotte died. Ok I understand that death can be hard and kids should know that but making her die alone was horrible. They started the book by slowly explaining death and how scary it is. I liked how they did that but you can't change pace like that. I was truly sad after that chapter... sad in a bad way. I don't know what much have been going through those 6 year olds when they read it but I would have cried my eyes out.
-Templeton's story was looking to be interesting but it just went flat. He was obviously a selfish animal. We all knew that. When Charlotte was about to die he had to be bribed to get the sack. Are you kidding me? The movie was so much better in this instance. He should have learned the power of being selfless and comforted Wilbur. This teaches kids nothing but to avoid selfish fat people because they're a lost cause.

Altogether it was ok but the ending was extremely unimpressive.

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Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1)

Angelfall by Susan Ee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So I read this book because of many reasons. 1) Everyone was talking about it. 2) I love post-apocalyptic stories. 3) The cover looked amazing... But geeze, I was not expecting all that awesomeness. I'm still not sure how Susan wrote such an interesting story that never got boring. I seriously loved it all which is very rare. Now to explain why I loved it...

The Characters- Penryn, the protagonist of the story, is very unique. She has the same likable qualities as other female leads (Katniss, Tris, ect.) but adds a totally new personality. I loved how strong she is, I was tired of reading books with girls who just whined. She went against the unfair stereotype that so many people have about women these days. I was very impressed. Her vulnerable side, although it was hidden, was a nice addition and gave her depth. Now on to the male lead... Raffe. God there is a lot to say. Firstly I hate the name and still cannot get used to it. This may seem weird but Penryn was easier to remember for me. Now Raffe is an angel. An angel that sadly got his wings cut off. His personality was a puzzle throughout the book. He hides his emotions very well and tries hard not to open up to people. Penryn is determined to break through his wall and find the true him. I just love his character so much... he's definitely my fav. Now onto the few minor characters. Paige, Penryn's little sister, is a 7 year old, wheelchair bound innocent girl. The crippled situation was very interesting and unlike any other book I've read. The bond between her and Penryn is so sweet. Penryn's mother (name not mentioned) was so... so... unique. She suffered from what I believed to be paranoid schizophrenia. This of course causes major issues but that's not the reason I loved it so much. I loved it because I've never read a popular YA book that involved a mental illness so much. I gives people a serious outlook on it, which they should have. Obi was a nice addition. He wasn't in the book much but when he was I loved it. He's a gentleman that is looking to get down to business. The last characters I want to talk about are Tweedledee and Tweedledum. They are identical twins otherwise known as Dee-Dum. They have a Fred and George vibe to them but are still very likable.

Romance- Not cheesy whatsoever. I wanted there to be more so bad... I just loved Penryn and Raffe.

Setting- 6 weeks after Angels have taken over the Earth Penryn is in California trying her best to survive. Very nice place and I'm glad it took place not far after the invasion. I dislike having the 100 years after perspective so this was a welcomed change.

The Story- Penryn is just a girl. Ever since the invasion she had to be the one to support her unstable mother and crippled sister. She has done beautifully if in my opinion. Avoiding all the hostile gangs and searching everywhere for food is tough. Especially while pushing her sister's wheelchair and keeping a close eye on her mother. The story begins with Penryn searching for a new place to stay. She is with her mother and sister. They are carefully running when they see something that they've never seen before. An angel! Shock fills all of them. Angels usually stay away from small town like the one they're in but alas there one is. Hidden behind a truck they watch as an Angel is attacked by 5 other Angels. He puts up a good fight but is eventually pinned down and has his wings cut off. One of the angels spot Penryn and she thinks fast. She throws the fallen angel his sword and he fights them off... but they don't leave empty handed. One takes helpless little Paige and flies away. From here all Penryn thinks about is getting her sister back and she needs the newfound Angel's help. Together the Angel (Raffe) and Penryn journey off.

The Conclusion- C-R-A-Z-Y! So much happened and there are so many questions still unanswered. Amazing ending, better than the rest of the book. It was all good though.

Writing Style- Loved Susan's writing. It was so descriptive and captivating. She is an amazing author that is going to go far in literature. I'm honored that I got to enjoy this work of art.

Cutoos Susan Ee... You kept me entertained and for that I am grateful. I wish you the best with future projects and I'm here to give my honest opinions.

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I Got No Reading Done Today

Well I guess there's always tomorrow...

Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had a lot of mixed feelings...

The characters- I only really remember a few because they're all so forgettable and uninteresting. Our protagonist, Ender Wiggin (Think that was his full name), was a very conflicted boy... and by boy I mean child, he was like 6 at the start of the book. He is the third sibling which is bad because population control laws rarely allow that. Along with being made fun of about that he has to deal with his brother, Peter. Peter is evil. He is always focussed on having control and he always abuses Ender (Which made me sad). Thankfully Ender had his sister, Valentine. She is the complete opposite of Peter. She's kind and caring and is always trying to change Peter for the better. Colonel Graff is who really gets the story going. He becomes a father figure to Ender (His real parents didn't really care about him). He says he only wants the best for Ender but little did Ender know that "the best" will come with a price. Here is where the characters start to annoy me. I started to like Alai but the people watching Ender didn't like him having friends so he was cut off from him... this happens to all the other friends Ender meets such a Petra. Petra is the only girl in the Salamander Army and she is pretty respected. I enjoyed her odd relationship with Ender but, of course, it was cut short. Bean... oh where to start. He didn't come into the story until the end but he was my favorite character. He was a little arrogant but being under Ender's wing taught them both lessons in respect. There were 2 main Villains in this book. Bonzo and the aliens. Bonzo was an ok character. He was an unstable, jealous punk (kind of like Peter). He is the head of that Salamander Army and is cruel to Ender because he was envious that Ender was proving to be a good soldier. The fight scene between Ender and him was very climactic. Although it did take place in an awkward place... you'll see what I mean. Lastly the aliens. You might think the book would be centered on them but it's not (which is understandable once you fully grasp the meaning of this book). I do kind of wish they gave SOME descriptions of them but alas they didn't sadly. I mean come on, who doesn't like some aliens?

The Setting- The setting was pretty generic. An overpopulated earth in the could be future. The citizens are in constant worry of another invasion. As the story progresses we move to battle school, a place to train young soldiers. It was in a space station kind of thing. I liked the whole layout of the Battle School, the descriptions could have been smoother but it was ok. The Battle Rooms were very hard for me to picture. I wish they were described better. Command School was the final setting of the book and it was odd. It was again in space and was a more organized Battle School basically.

The Story- The Earth has been attacked by aliens. Earth barely survived the attack. The government realizes that they need to improve themselves and fast. They need a unique soldier ready to face anything so obviously they choose 6 year old children(?) Wtf. Anyway they have been testing children for the exact qualities that they need but they have only gotten few results, none of which are truly commander status worthy. Peter the first born is tested. Too violent they say. Next Valentine. Too kind. Not willing to get her hands dirty. Lastly Ender. The perfect mix of qualities... but unstable. He is taken to Battle School by Graff to train, leaving Valentine and Peter all alone. Once at battle school Ender learns many important lessons during the Battle Room games (I forgot if they had a specific name). He meets friend which I mentioned above. All of which was cool but without many solid characters it felt flat. Down on Earth there is a totally different story going on. Peter and Valentine are planning world domination... yep I said it. 2 teenagers are plotting to take over society and the sad thing is, is that they could actually pull it off with enough planning. Don't expect an alien vs. human theme going into this like I did. Read it with an open mind and it will be very thought provoking.

The Conclusion- THERE IS A HUGE TWIST. I can usually guess at least parts of a story's climax but this was so surprising. Sadly the very end is mediocre at best. I have no desire to read all the sequels but who knows? Maybe if I have no other books to read (Not likely) I might pick them up.

Misc- I loved Free Play. The fantasy world Ender explored was very interesting. He did so many unexpected things. If only his reality was as exciting. The battle scenarios were awesome. Ender got to practice his strategies with a realistic tool and with... People (he he he).

Overall great book. I don't think the movie adaptation will be as good but I hope it is. I recommend this book to anyone to likes to read thought provoking pieces.

Note* I do not like the author as a person. He is extremely anti-gay and he likes to tell others how to live their lives. I don't know how a book like this came from that but I guess he does one thing right.

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The Shadow Empire (The Plantation, #3)

The Shadow Empire by Stella Samiotou Fitzsimons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*minor spoilers*

The story starts out with Freya exploring her feelings for Finn and Damian. With Damian kidnapped the Saviors are working their buts off trying to rescue him. With their plan all ready they get ready to leave until they are interrupted by something very unexpected (not telling). After a bunch of hectic events they manage to get Damian out of the Plantation he was trapped in. To Freya's disappointment he is extremely different. And with a baby on the way she needed him more than ever.

Throughout the story they travel a lot of places... even out of this world. Along the way Freya struggles to bring back the Damian she loved but still not loose her beloved Finn. I have to say I could not put this book down, there was never a dull moment. My only honest complaint was that the end "twist" was a little predictable and there were no big cliffhangers this time around.

This book is an emotional roller coaster so make sure you're ready. Can't wait until this Summer for the next book.

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The Dark Legion (The Plantation #2)

The Dark Legion by Stella Samiotou Fitzsimons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The last book was good, this book was incredible. All the characters and their backgrounds have been established so now it's time for the real war. We are back where we left off with Freya and the Saviors on the run. Faced with Damien's new found feelings for her, Freya is seriously thinking about the choices she has made concerning her relationship with Finn. Lucky for her she has her Sister Pip to cheer her up. The plot starts when two Sliman visit the group with no interest in hurting them. They explain the reason Freya is the way she is and they answer a lot of unanswered questions about the aliens as well. Long story short Freya and the group go with the rebel Sliman to a secure location where each of them can safely train, especially Freya. The rest of the book is super action packed and has a lot of twists that will leave you breathless... secrets that will change Freya's life.

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The Plantation (The Plantation, #1)

The Plantation by Stella Samiotou Fitzsimons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Freya is just a girl... a girl that just happens to live in a world enslaved by an army of aliens. In her world children like her are taken as slaves in places called plantations. In these plantations they are guarded by the aliens "pets", which they call the sliman. Possessed with superhuman abilities the sliman created an inescapable environment for the children... or so they thought. Frya and Finn both have escaped their plantation, Plantation 9. With the help of other kids who have escaped they have made a home for themselves in a group of abandoned buildings. Each of the children mysteriously has a gift which helps them survive. Freya feels useless because unlike the others she doesn't have any gifts or even any special skills, not to mention the fact that all she can seem to do is let everyone down. Under the rule of Damien, a super strong teenager, the group has been able to survive. But everyone in the group is getting restless, they are tired of hiding all the time. They want to take a stand and prove humans cannot be forced to do anything...

(Might have a few factual errors in my review, sorry if I do)

Amazing book, highly recommend this undiscovered gem.

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Insurgent (Divergent, #2)

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ahhhhhhh The sequel to Divergent... So sweet.

The Characters- We have most of the characters back to their same selves. The start of the war changed a lot... Will :,( Four, AKA Tobias, has gotten a lot more serious. Especially about Tris. He hates how she is always willing to sacrifice herself for the dumbest stuff. Their relationship is no longer the fairytale that I fell in love with. Domestic arguments happen A LOT and each of them hurts my heart. Christina is a mess after Will and after she found out what Tris did she stopped being relevant (thank god). Peter also steps up in importance in this book, which I was thrilled about. The war inside him was raging. He didn't know what side to choose... good or evil. I wish he was involved in the beginning more but he was a MAJOR character in the end. Caleb, Tris' brother also stepped up. Now that he is factionless he tried his hardest to fight for his family. He even had a nice little protective thing going on with Tris as well. Nice character. Jeneane... Pure evil takes form. I loved the little battle her and Tris had going on. Yes, I know Jeneane was running a war but her greatest enemy is Tris. Eric comes back as well but compared to Jeneane he was a joke. He was still an issue but not the biggest one. Lastly we have Marcus, Tobias' abusive father. He was a huge mystery through the whole book. He said he knew what the whole war was about. He said he knew a secret that could change everything. Tobias of course didn't believe it for a second. Other Characters like Uriah and Tori were important but I just didn't feel that connected to them.

The Setting- This takes place at the same time we left off and in the same city. This time the other factions are explored and so was the land of the factionless. The Erudite headquarters was a big place as well and I liked it. I had a nice image of it in my head and it felt like a movie. Minor spoiler: (view spoiler)[And hopefully the outside of the town will be explored as well. The end hinted it but I can't wait. (hide spoiler)]

The Story- As bad as this might sound it's true... war makes everything much more intense. Tris and all the other Divergent are wanted by the Erudite/Dauntless army. Most will be executed but some are needed for scientific experiments. Jeneane wants total control (she wants to control everyone's mind) but she can't accomplish that when the Divergent are immune. A lesson that Tris taught her last time she tried. But the leftover loyal Dauntless try to gather up more manpower throughout the factions. Surprisingly they find the factionless already doing the same thing. They're organized and ready to use the pain they've had to fight back.

The Conclusion- The ending of this book was shocking, not as shocking as I hoped but shocking nonetheless. This time there is a huge cliffhanger and it leaves you wanting the third and final book more than ever.

I highly recommend this book. It is super exciting and has incredible characters that you can't help but to love.

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Divergent (Divergent, #1)

Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

AMAZING BOOK!

The Characters- Remarkable. Each character has a unique personality and surprisingly I felt like each of the characters was relevant. Tris (Beatris) is the protagonist of the story and she does not disappoint. She is not perfect and she makes dumb decisions sometimes, but lets face it who doesn't? Four, our next main character, is a very likable man. He is older than Tris and way more experienced. He develops an attraction to Tris and the romance is beautiful. Christina and Will, Tris's 2 best friends, are a big part in the story's progression and I enjoyed them. Peter is our main villain for most of the story and he was by far my favorite character (especially in the second book). He will do anything for power and is willing to burn all his bridges for it. It might not be that obvious but I believe there is a good person buried somewhere in there. Another villain, Eric, is also very power hungry and manipulative. I like him but I think Peter has a lot more depth to him. Al... oh where to start. So confused and so sweet. Al joined the wrong group of people. He might look menacing but he is sweet at heart. I want to feel bad for him but he had a choice... it's his fault he made the wrong one. Even the more minor characters such as Robert were nice to learn about.

The Setting- Dystopian. So it takes place in a very large city in the near future. Society was corrupt so they made a change. They divided everyone up into 5 factions. Each faction serves a specific purpose. Those who believed aggression was to blame for the corruptness formed Amity, who stand for peacefulness. Those who blamed ignorance formed Erudite, who desire knowledge. Those who blamed duplicity formed Candor, who are completely honest to everyone. Those who blamed selfishness formed Abnegation, who are as selfless as possible. And lastly those who blamed cowardice formed Dauntless. Now as complicated as this might sound it is honestly very thought provoking and creative. My only issue with the setting is that no one tries to explore outside the town. I know Tris is curious about what is out there but it just seems a little weird that no one would at least try and explore the outside walls.

The Story- The thing that makes this story that much better is the concept of Divergence. When someone is divergent it is dangerous. Society uses simulations to complete a lot of tasks. Divergent people are able to manipulate these simulations and are much different than the rest of society. And people have trouble with anything different. They find it easier to kill the Divergent instead of understanding them. Everyone fits into one of the factions but what if you fit into more than one? That is the problem every Divergent faces. Tris fits into not just 2 (like most Divergents) but 3 factions which makes her even more of a problem. Without spoiling anything Tris makes her choice and it wasn't an easy one. The drama and fighting that happens next will keep you engrossed in the book till the very end.

The Conclusion- The last quarter of the book in general has such a different vibe. It is definitely the most action packed part of the book and A LOT happens. There isn't a cliffhanger but you will definitely want to read the sequel.

This book will not disappoint so hurry up and read it nnnnnoooooowwwwwww!

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The Death Cure (Maze Runner, #3)

The Death Cure by James Dashner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very impressed with this series as a whole. I thought this was probably the weakest of the 3. The crew is first given a choice. Either to stay ignorant or to have their lost memories back. Now anyone who knows Thomas, Newt, and Minho know that they don't trust WICKED so obviously they choose to stay ignorant. From there each character is tested. Without spoiling a really interesting twist I just want to say that The Flare is a big issue for the crew.

Just like the first 2 books in the series character development sucks. The only characters that I wanted to know more about were still mysterious. Teresa is only in like 4% of the book and she is scattered. Teresa was in the story a lot though and I really liked her personality. And even though I barely knew Newt I felt really bad for him. He was tested to his limit and he alone earned a whole star. Without him this book would have been given a 3 star review.

In my opinion James Dashner is a talented writer that has a few detrimental flaws. His biggest is character development (as I've said a lot). He is amazing at making suspense and adding surprising twists to his writing.

I recommend this book to any Maze Runner fans. The story is ok but don't expect anything that revolutionary in terms of writing style.

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The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner, #2)

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very Compelling... Very Action Packed... Very surprising. As the sequel to The Maze Runner I expected an intense thriller. Boy was I surprised. The beginning of the story starts out super fast, much faster than it's predecessor. Our beloved Thomas is thrown into a high-staked adventure with the gang... well at least most of the gang. So we know that what is happening to the teenagers are some kind of tests but we don't know much. All we know is that WICKED is behind it all. As the story progresses many secrets are uncovered. I don't want to spoil the main conflict but it is BAD... like deadly. And the whole world is involved. No one is safe.

The ending was not as impressive as The Maze Runner's ending but don't get me wrong it was still unpredictable and intense. There wasn't a cliffhanger but it is obvious that the story is not over.

The book was great overall. Great plot. Great setting. And great twists that kept me reading. But just like the last book character development is a huge issue. I still barely know any of the so called "important" characters. Teresa is just an annoying mystery that I have no desire to solve anymore and Newt and Minho are great people that I need to know more about to be totally sucked into the book.

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The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was incredible. It had me hooked from the very beginning. It is very mysterious and has very... interesting(?) characters. Thomas was a little repetitive but he had a strong spirit. I really enjoyed some of the other main characters such as Minho and Newt but I felt like I barley knew them. This book might be lacking in character development but it makes up for it with the nonstop action, mystery, and suspense. Altogether a very enjoyable read. It will have you on the edge of your seat (that is if you read in a seat).

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The Program (The Program, #1)

The Program by Suzanne Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was so amazing. I loved the idea of teen suicide being a dangerous epidemic. Adults, scared and confused, had to do something fast. They decided to test a new found solution, The Program. The program is where they send suicidal kids and teens. The idea was very unstable and dangerous but they were getting too desperate. The program's job was simple, teens come in suicidal and leave forgetting why they wanted to kill themselves. This seemed like an amazing breakthrough but is the price it costs worth it? After the teens go through the program they are wiped blank, all of their memories are gone from the past few years. As long as they were alive the parents didn't care what the consequences were, and that's were are story begins...

Sloane is always aware of her surroundings, she knows better to be herself while she is around people. They are always watching... The Handlers, just waiting for an excuse to drag one of them away. Sloane has to deal with her brother's suicide in private, fearing what would happen if she let a tear loose. The only time she can be herself is while she's with her loving boyfriend James, who was her brother's best friend. Together with their friend Miller they comfort each other and keep each other in check. When Miller's old girlfriend comes back from the program Miller looses it and kills himself. James can't take loosing him so he becomes "infected" and looses the want to live. The Handlers soon take notice of this and drag him away to the program... Sloane is devastated and can't do it anymore, she becomes infected...

From here Sloane's journey is challenging, she faces many problems. The story is very compelling and will leave you wanting to read more. The only reason I took off a star is because the ending was not close to how good I wanted it to be.

Still definitely worth the read and I'm really excited for the next book to come out next year.

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Perfect (Impulse #2)

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow, what a roller coaster of emotions.

The Characters- All the characters were very well thought out and relatable in my opinion. Cara struggling with her sexual orientation was very powerful and heart warming. Kendra's story is unfinished. She was so worried about how she looked that she put her health at risk and made a lot of bad choices. Her story just had no resolution like the others did. Sean had a lot of pressure on him and relied on Cara to ease it. That lead him to make horrible decisions and face the consequences. Andre was scared to be different. He loves to dance but his parents frown upon anything that doesn't give him money. His relationship with Jenna was also very interesting.

The setting- A simple suburban town in Nevada was nice. No complaints what so ever.

The Conclusion- Without spoiling anything I liked the end of this book. I think that all the characters got to have a different look at their choices and become better people... Everyone except Kendra (which makes me mad since her situation was deadly)

The Format- Whyyyyyyyy? I HATED how this book was written. I loved the writing but hated the format. I understand that Ellen is a good poet but if you write a book then don't make it seem like a bunch a poems... I promise you those were not poems. It was hard to keep track of the sentences and stay engaged in the story. Also the first page of each perspective was really odd as well. Sometimes it was very nice and relevant but most of the time it was way off topic and annoying. I took a star off because Ellen was making this amazing story into something it shouldn't of been.

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