A Court of Mist and Fury -
Sarah J. Maas

Released: May 3, 2016

Publisher: Bloomsbury AUS

Synopsis: Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights. 

~ Goodreads ~ Bloomsbury ~

* * *

What I Thought: Well well well. Let me start by saying, I absolutely LOVED A Court of Thorns and Roses. You can read my tiny spoiler-free review here. I have been dying, like many others, for this sequel. So you can imagine my surprise at how hard I found to get into it. Let me be frank - I didn't enjoy ACOMAF, for several reasons, most of which I've already seen floating around the bloggersphere. Since I've also seen a lot of attacks and hate on these people who dislike ACOMAF, I'm not going to go into detail, lest I get attacked too.

Basically, I disliked Feyre for being annoying and selfish. I hate that all the characters did a 360 and good turned bad and vice versa. I did love the backstories and new characters we got, but no - you can't just explain away Rhysand's past that easily AND make them seem like they were destined for each other for that long in the space of one conversation. Of course, I fell in love with Rhys, but how could I not when Maas made him the pinnacle of all men?

However, there was one thing that really irked me, and that was the sex scenes. I understand that YA is read by people of all different ages, but primarily it is marketed at teenagers. Meaning, a 13 year-old girl might pick this up - and think those scenes were highly inappropriate. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for adult themes in YA, but the explicitness of these was unnecessary.

Maas has such a beautiful writing style, and I have enjoyed all her other novels. She creates vivid worlds, and deep characters. And, she really knows how to write a cliffhanger. I will pick up the next book of course, to see where the story leads. I hope you all like the book much more than I did - and feel free to link your own review or leave your thoughts in the comments.

The Good: The killer ending.

The Bad: Hahahahaha. See above.

Rating:  3/5

Mad Claire

xo

The Pause - John Larkin

Released: April 1, 2015

Publisher: Penguin Random House AUS

Synopsis: Declan seems to have it all: a family that loves him, friends he’s known for years, a beautiful girlfriend he would go to the ends of the earth for. 

But there’s something in Declan’s past that just won’t go away, that pokes and scratches at his thoughts when he’s at his most vulnerable. Declan feels as if nothing will take away that pain that he has buried deep inside for so long. So he makes the only decision he thinks he has left: the decision to end it all.

Or does he? As the train approaches and Declan teeters at the edge of the platform, two versions of his life are revealed. In one, Declan watches as his body is destroyed and the lives of those who loved him unravel. In the other, Declan pauses before he jumps. And this makes all the difference.

One moment. One pause. One whole new life.

From author of The Shadow Girl, winner of the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2012 Prize for Writing for Young Adults, comes a breathtaking new novel that will make you reconsider the road you’re travelling and the tracks you’re leaving behind. 

~ Goodreads ~ Random House ~

* * *

What I Thought: I have to start by saying that synopsis is quite misleading. That's what drew me into this story, the synopsis. Two versions of his life are revealed - in one, Declan watches his body destroyed and the lives of those who loved him unravel. This is the part that misled me because we do not see the lives of those who loved him unravel. I assumed this book would be very 'Sliding Doors'-esque, with two simultaneous realities of after he jumped and after he paused. It isn't like that. It is how his life would have gone had he paused. Perhaps if I'd gone in knowing that, I might have enjoyed it much more.

Now I've got my rant out of the way with, I can say this book was quite enjoyable. It gives a deep and meaningful look into anxiety and depression, and the way it can fester and creep up on a person without them even realising it. Declan had a good life, despite something that had happened in his past that was locked away and festered, and one seemingly little thing that blew everything up and causes Declan to decide to throw himself in front of a train.

We see how Declan deals with his future after he pauses, the help he gets after he admits he needs it. How he realises it all could have been avoided if he had thought to ask for help. This book is perfect to give to young people who may be hiding their own problems, for people who don't know the extent of what some people with depression go through, and just generally anyone else who likes a good read. John Larkin is a wonderful writer and I can't wait to see what else he puts on the shelves.

The Good: The raw eye-opening look into a teenage boys' journey with depression and attempted suicide.

The Bad: As mentioned, this was NOT at all what I expected it to be, and so when I came towards the end of the book and started to realise that we wouldn't see how his family dealt with his death, the appeal of the story was lost to me. Sorry, but it's true.

Rating: 3/5

Mad Claire

xo

The Ruby Circle - Richelle Mead
(Bloodlines #6)

Released: February 10, 2015

Publisher: Penguin AUS

Synopsis: The epic conclusion to Richelle Mead's New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series is finally here...

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world.

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought: The final book in the Bloodlines series. The book where the story comes to an end. The final showdown. Wow, I must say I'm kind of underwhelmed. Even disappointed slightly. Don't get me wrong, I like a semi-nice ending on some occasions. But this ending felt way too much like the end of Last Sacrifice - way too cushy. Adrian and Sydney have it hard, hiding from both the Moroi and the humans after their marriage at the end of Silver Shadows. They end up going on separate missions, being away from each other again, which divides the plot again, until finally they come back together and save the day or something.

Don't get me wrong, I flipping loved this series all the way through.... Until this book. It wasn't really as exciting or dramatic and the shock factors aren't as surprising - really it was an overall meh book. Sorry, but there isn't much more for me to say than that.

Rating:

Mad Claire

xo

Love Letters to the Dead - Ava Dellaira

Synopsis: It begins as an assignment for English class: write a letter to a dead person - any dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain - he died young, and so did Laurel's sister May - so maybe he'll understand a bit of what Laurel is going through. Soon Laurel is writing letters to lots of dead people - Janis Joplin, Heath Ledger, River Phoenix, Amelia Earhart... it's like she can't stop. And she'd certainly never dream of handing them in to her teacher. She writes about what it's like going to a new high school, meeting new friends, falling in love for the first time - and how her family has shattered since May died.

But much as Laurel might find writing the letters cathartic, she can't keep real life out forever. The ghosts of her past won't be contained between the lines of a page, and she will have to come to terms with growing up, the agony of losing a beloved sister, and the realisation that only you can shape your destiny. 

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought: Honestly, this book was average at best for me. Don't get me wrong, there were definitely parts I enjoyed, but having high expectations, this one definitely fell short. Laurel is a boring character at best, and I didn't connect with her at all. This book delved into serious issues which could have been played out so much better but really were brushed off. This book had the potential to teach young kids about all these different problems and yet didn't.

Mad Claire

xo

Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line - Rob Thomas&Jennifer Graham

Released: November 19, 2014

Publisher: Allen&Unwin

Synopsis: Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She's traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.
Now it's spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is not a simple missing person's case. The house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica's past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined.

~ Goodreads ~ Allen & Unwin ~

* * *

What I Thought: Veronica Mars, beautiful blonde, clever intuitive PI that we all know and love is back in a new story but of course, this time in book form. This book picks up not long after the Veronica Mars movie ended, with Logan now out at sea. Veronica is getting back into the swing of things at Mars Investigations and now a massive case has landed in her lap. A girl has gone missing, and now Veronica has to find her.

Of course, it couldn't be a Veronica Mars story if it didn't have some surprises and some major plot twists - The Thousand Dollar Tan Line gives us just that. While the case is exciting, and there are the usual Keith-Veronica quips we've all come to love, it just didn't have the same feel as the TV show, or even the movie. Possibly because Veronica is no longer a teen helping her dad. Possibly because Logan Echols was no where to be found. Possibly because this is no Veronica's life and it has less of the angst it used to. Either way, I hope the next book has a bit more Logan otherwise I'm not sure exactly how I'll fare.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate this book, I just didn't love it. I am curious to see what the next book holds, but for now, I'll be loading up season one to start my Veronica journey all over again.

The Good: This novel had the usual exciting twists that we came to expect in every episode of the TV show, ones I definitely didn't see coming.

The Bad: This book took me ages to get into, I didn't feel like it had all the same pizazz as the TV show did, which is what I was expecting.

Rating:

Mad Claire

xo

The Selection - Kiera Cass

Synopsis: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought: So this book was absolutely raved about by some people I knew, so I went in with pretty good expectations. The Selection had so much promise, being pitched as a YA mix of The Bachelor and The Hunger Games. I could see the reality show aspect, but only the dystopian side of the HG.
To be perfectly honest, this book was enjoyable to read, and I kept going hoping something exciting would happen. BUT, in saying that, the only character I really liked is Prince Maxon. America absolutely annoyed me the entire time, being as fickle as her feelings. The storyline was likeable yet predictable.

I'm not sure if I'll read the rest of the series, but my bets are on her choosing Prince Maxon over Aspen - there is no way this story could end any other way. 

Mad Claire

xo

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks - E. Lockhart

Released: January 2, 2015

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Synopsis: Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14: Debate Club. Her father's 'bunny rabbit'. A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15: A knockout figure. A sharp tongue. A chip on her shoulder.

And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Landau-Banks: No longer the kind of girl to take 'no' for an answer. Especially when 'no' means she's excluded from her boyfriend's all-male secret society. Not when her ex-boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places. Not when she knows she's smarter than any of them. When she knows Matthew's lying to her. And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 16: Possibly a criminal mastermind.

This is the story of how she got that way. 

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought: So I absolutely loved Lockhart's novel - We Were Liars - so I came into this one with extremely high expectations... Unfortunately this story fell short for me. Don't get me wrong, I had a bit of a laugh, but I thought that half the book was literally Frankie dealing with her relationship with Matthew. It's about page 220 that the excitement of Frankie pulling the string for the pranks actually begins, just a fraction of the novel really. 
I also didn't quite feel like the main character grew or changed or learned anything, which I think could have been pivotal to the storyline.

This book had fantastic potential, and I can see how some people would love Frankie and her charm, but it really wasn't for me. Knowing this book was written long before We Were Liars puts some perspective into the different writing styles.
Anyone wanting a fun, fairly light-hearted read will enjoy this one!

Have you read this one? Did you prefer it to We Were Liars?

The Good: I did like the way Frankie had her time, being the mastermind pranker and having the boys do her bidding - made me laugh!

The Bad: I didn't like the way it was written (Frankies obsession with negatives of words), or the way it ended.

Rating:

Mad Claire

xo

The Break-Up Artist - Philip Siegel

Released: May 1, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen AUS

Synopsis: Becca knows from experience the damage that love can do. After all, it was so-called love that turned Huxley from her childhood best friend into a social-world dictator, and love that left Becca's older sister devastated at the altar. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, Becca strikes back—for just one hundred dollars via PayPal, she will trick and manipulate any couple's relationship into smithereens. And with relationship zombies overrunning her school and treating single girls as if they're second-class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even Becca's best friend, Val, has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend. 

One night, Becca receives a mysterious offer to break up the most popular couple in school: Huxley and the football team's star player, Steve. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date—starting rumors, sabotaging cell phones, breaking into cars…not to mention sneaking back into Huxley's good graces. All while fending off the inappropriate feelings she may or may not be having for Val's new boyfriend. 

No one said being the Break-Up Artist would be easy

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought: The Break-Up Artist is a story about love and heartbreak and how we can navigate these treacherous waters. Becca's sister Diane was heartbroken, left 6 hours before her wedding, and her best friend left her behind for her boyfriend and popularity - so Becca knows love is a terrible dangerous thing, and she wants nothing to do with it. So much so, that she starts her own little nifty business as The Break-Up artists, being paid to break up couples at school. Becca is good at what she does, and even gets asked to break up her schools hot couple. But of course not everything is as it seems and Becca has a lot to learn on a subject she clearly doesn't fully comprehend.

The Break-Up Artist has a good strong start and I desperately rushed through the story, wanting to know what would happen. And yet.
About two-thirds of the way through, I hit a wall. I could see the characters were on the edge of being emotional, mental changes but I was at the point where I didn't even care any more. The story became a bit too predictable for my liking and I seriously struggled to even finish it.

This is a fun light read, sure to give you some laughs - and a different view to love and relationships.

The Good:  Becca was so sneaky, and quite clever as the Break-Up Artist, and I couldn't help laugh at some of her ideas, they were so clever!

The Bad: Became too predictable at the end.

Rating:

Mad Claire

xo

Side Effects May Vary - Julie Murphy

Released: March 26, 2014

Publisher: Penguin AUS

Synopsis: Written from the perspectives of both Harvey and Alice, in Side Effects May Vary, Julie Murphy weaves a compelling story of friendship, relationships and love, with a little bit of death thrown in for good measure; at least for a while.

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs. So she convinces her best friend Harvey, who's loved her forever, to help with compiling a crazy just-dying-to-do bucket list, that's as much about revenge as it is about redemption. But just when Alice's scores are settled, she goes into remission. Now she must face the consequences of all she's said and done and discover just what happens when we say our 'final' words, only to find that life isn't through with us yet.

Sharp, witty and poignant - this is a book written for all ages.

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought: Side Effects May Vary, for how you feel after reading this book. You may laugh. You may cry. You may scream and shout and pull out your hair. You may be satisfied, or you may not. Side Effects May Vary, in my opinion, is not a book about a girl with cancer. It is not a story about the things she does to get revenge on the enemies in her life. It's not even really about her dealing with the consequences once she finds out she's gone into remission. This is a love story, pure and simple. Yes, it has all of the above stated things, but they are minor parts of a major love story. Had I known that when I started, I may have loved it a lot more than I did. Don't get me wrong, it was a fantastic story, but when I picked it up, expecting a cancer story or a revenge story and got a love story instead, I was kind of disappointed.

Alice is a normal teenage girl, with very normal dramatic teenage problems. Except one day she finds out she has leukaemia, and her life changes. She decides to write a list, a bucket list of sorts, and revenge is at the top of her list. However, she eventually finds out she is in remission, and life starts to go back to normal again - where she has to deal with the consequences of her actions.

Side Effects May Vary is a raw and powerful book, that shows us that every action has a consequence, and that love can be an extremely powerful and haunting force in life. This novel was definitely not what I expected, and not what I hoped for either, but I definitely still think it is one of those YA novels that needs to be read by everyone.

The Good: It has some hilarious moments.

The Bad: As explained in the first paragraph above, it was not what I expected.

Rating:

Mad Claire

xo

Cured - Bethany Wiggins
(Stung #2)

Released: March 13, 2014

Publisher: Bloomsbury AUS

Synopsis: Now that Fiona Tarsis and her twin brother, Jonah, are no longer beasts, they set out to find their mother, with the help of Bowen and a former neighbor, Jacqui. Heading for a safe settlement rumored to be in Wyoming, they plan to spread the cure along the way--until they are attacked by raiders. Luckily, they find a new ally in Kevin, who saves them and leads them to safety in his underground shelter. But the more they get to know Kevin, the more they suspect he has ties to the raiders. He also seems to know too many details about Jacqui and her family—details that could endanger them all. For the raiders will do anything they can to destroy the cure that would bring an end to their way of life. Bethany Wiggins’s reimagining of our world after an environmental catastrophe won’t fail to stun readers.

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought: Oh boy. I have to start by saying I absolutely LOVED Stung. I was blown away by how much I actually loved it and it was one of my 5-star reads for 2013. Cured, however, was a much different story. I mean sure, it had a lot going on. It was exciting. Fiona, Jonah and Bowen are back. We meet some new characters. Yet it just didn't have the same magic as Stung did. Most likely, for me, because Jacqui annoyed the freaking crap out of me, the entire time.

Jacqui has been living as a boy since she was thirteen years old - fair enough, it must be pretty damn horrible what she went through, and I'd be pretty upset too if I had to look like a boy while Fiona waltzes around accidentally flaunting all her womanly features. Yet Jacqui knows it is for her safety, and somehow still she is like a rollercoaster, up and down and who can't figure out whether she wants to be Arthur or Martha (quite almost literally though!). 

Jacqui is in search of her brother which leads her to Fiona, Bowden and Jonah. They end up running from the raiders, hiding with a random named Kevin, and all the while hiding the cure. A lot certainly goes on, and while I can see why this one needed to be from Jacqui's point of view, it didn't make it any easier to get through.

If you've read Stung, I still suggest reading Cured because it was a good conclusion to the story, and I know I certainly needed the closure!

The Good: Very interesting ending to the duology!

The Bad: JACQUI STOP YOUR JEALOUS WHINGING, please.

Rating:

Mad Claire

xo

Resist - Sarah Crossan
(Breathe #2)

Released: October 10

Publisher: Bloomsbury AUS

Synopsis: Resistance to the Pod Leadership has come apart. The Grove has been destroyed but so has the Pod Minister. Quinn, Bea and Alina separately must embark on a perilous journey across the planet's dead landscape in search of the rumoured resistance base Sequoia. Meanwhile the Pod Minister has been succeeded by his capricious daughter. Her brother, Ronan, is supposed to advise her, but his doubts about the regime lead to him being sent out of the Pod in search of Quinn. In a world in which the human race is adapting to survive with little air, the stakes are high.

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought: Resist was one of the few sequels in 2013 that I was looking forward to, so when it took me aaaages to read, I was disappointed. Resist is the sequel and final book to Breathe. We pick up not long after we leave off, with groups split, people injured and a lot dead.
Sequoia was not what I imagined, in any way, and it honestly put me off. It was weird as hell. I'm not sure if that is just me, but did not do anything to help the plot-line in my opinion.

Resist also had a lot of different POV's - which was good in a way, so you could see all aspects of what was going on, but it was also seriously confusing, trying to keep up with all the different stories going on.

The one thing I did like about Resist, was the way it ended. There was a happy, but not overly, ending. It was predictable, but not unrealistic considering the situation.

If you loved Breathe, then I really do hope you love Resist too - and I'll be definitely looking forward to reading more from Sarah Crossan.

The Good: It ended nicely - and I'm glad Crossan didn't try to drag out her story too much.

The Bad: I didn't like what happened at Sequoia - it actually ruined this story for me.

Rating:

Mad Claire

xo

Pawn - Aimee Carter
(Blackcoat Rebellion #1)

Released: December 1

Publisher: Harlequin AUS 

Synopsis: For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. 

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought:  So Pawn was not what I was expecting... I am a big fan of Aimee Carter after her brilliant Goddess series - so I was expecting big things from this novel, and again, I was a bit disappointed (Yep, been happening a lot lately.) Pawn is about a dystopian style society in which all people are tested and given ranks which will determine their occupations and their income. Kitty Doe, a dyslexic, comes out with a level 3, which is below average - giving her a shitty job in a faraway city - far away from her boyfriend Benjy. Benjy is super smart, so Kitty knows he's going to be a level 6, and together they are going to live in comfort. So she decides to become a prostitute for the month before Benjy's test, so she doesn't have to be sent away. This ridiculous idea leads to Kitty agreeing to become a level 7, and in turn turning her into someone else.

I didn't like Kitty, I didn't like Benjy, I hated almost all of the Hart family - I think the two characters I liked most were Knox and Greyson. Sure, Kitty was supposed to be fierce and manipulative and all that, but really, it didn't come across for me. I didn't really care for Benjy at all, almost forgot about him even. I loved Knox, but I didn't even want him as a love interest.

The redeeming qualities about this book were the few surprises I got, and of course the beautiful writing. Aimee Carter certainly has a way with word-building, I'll definitely give her that. But to be honest, I'm not sure I liked Pawn enough to want to read the sequel. I guess we'll just see what happens.

If you like Aimee Carter, or Dystopian style fiction, be sure to give this one a go.

The Good: Knox. Mmmmmhmmmm.

The Bad: The whole story felt a bit meh.

Rating:

Mad Claire

xo

The Iron Traitor - Julie Kagawa
(Call of the Forgotten #2)

Released: November 1

Publisher: Harlequin AUS

Synopsis: In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice. 

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as normal as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for; his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again. 

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, normal simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought: Some of you may know, I haven't actually read the original Iron Fey series. I read The Lost Prince, because it sounded awesome, and it was - so of course I was super excited for this one to be released. Now I don't know whether it was just me, or bad timing, but it took me waaaaay too long to get into this one. I mean, considering how much I loved the first one, and how long I waited for this one, it just didn't fully grab me the way it should have. Maybe it was because it felt so much like the first one - just slightly different.

So there is Ethan being badass. Again. There is Kenzie being sick and kind and bossy. Again. There are fey fights. Again. There is betrayal. Again. Of course the details are different, but generally I felt it was the same stuff. There was a wicked fey beastie that needs slaying, which was kind of awesome. But I didn't let this put me off, because I am the kind of person who needs to read the entire sequel book. Puck made an appearance as did Grimalkin, and of course Ash (although that didn't make a huge difference to me because I haven't read the original series in which I would have met these characters long ago).

Julie Kagawa does have an amazing way with words though:

"I love you," I whispered, my voice just a murmur between us. No fear, no hesitation; it was just pulled out of me, unable to stay hidden any longer.

 The KILLER KILLER cliffhanger ending certainly piqued my interest for the third book in the series, currently Untitled, so I really hope the third book can bring it back for me.

The Good: Kagawa certainly knows how to leave you wanting more!

The Bad: I just didn't feel the love for this book as much as I had hoped.

Rating:

Mad Claire

xo

Jump - Sean Williams
(Twinmaker #1)

Released: November 1

Publisher: Allen&Unwin 

Synopsis: Clair lives in a world revolutionised by d-mat, a global teleport system that allows people to transport themselves instantaneously around the world. When a coded note promises improvement – the chance to change your body any way you want, making it stronger, taller, more beautiful – Clair thinks it’s too good to be true, but her best friend, Libby, is determined to give it a try.

What starts as Libby’s dream turns into Clair’s nightmare when Libby falls foul of a deadly trap. With the help of Jesse, the school freak, and a mysterious online friend called Q, Clair’s attempt to protect Libby leads her to an unimagined world of conspiracies and cover-ups. Soon her own life is at risk, and Clair is chased across the world in a desperate race against time.

~ Goodreads ~

* * *

What I Thought: Jump was somewhat of a bit of a surprise for me. I started reading (and couldn't remember at all what the book was about) and I have to admit, it took me awhile to get into this one. It was slow-going, there was a bit of info-dumping, and yet strangely enough, I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to know all the dirty little secrets behind the D-mat and Improvement. This was enough for me to slog through the painful beginnings and get to the good stuff. Jump was totally not what I expected, and I absolutely love when this happens.

The main character, Clair, unfortunately I did not like at all. It's hard to really like a book when you can't even like the MC. Sure, she had her good moments, but all I could think of her was a cheat, a liar and a bit of dramatic teenager. Jesse was your typical estranged love interest, whom I didn't hate, but I didn't really love either. Q was the most exciting character, and Clair treated Q like crap the entire time (which didn't help my feelings toward her).

Jump did get good towards the end, and it certainly did leave me hanging on the edge of my seat. I would recommend reading Jump, if only to get to the end where you find out about Q - for me, that was worth it all. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, Crash, if only to see if it gets better.

The Good: This book definitely had some worthy moments, a lot of twists I didn't see coming - I love that kind of uncertainty and surprise!

The Bad: I had to slog through info-dumping and horrible characters just to get to the good stuff unfortunately!

Rating:

Mad Claire

xo

Transcendence - 

C.J. Omololu
Released: July 1, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury Aust

Synopsis: What if your past became your future? The rules of time are no match for destiny...

Cole fears she's losing her mind. Lately, everywhere she goes, everything she touches, triggers vivid scenes of a time she doesn't know, in a place she's never lived. Then she loses her heart too . . . When Griffon first sees Cole, he knows immediately that she is special, like him - that her visions are memories of past lives. And he is sure their paths were meant to cross in this life . . . With Griffon's help, Cole pieces together clues from many lifetimes and discovers a secret that could ruin her only chance of a future with Griffon. But risking his love may be the only way to save them both.

What I thought: Transcendence might not exactly be different but it did have the ability to pull me in. Soon after I began, I was comparing this to My Name is Memory and Lauren Kate's Fallen series. It was hard for me to read, because I felt like I was reading the same sort of thing all over again, but C.J. Omololu still had me trapped by wanted to know what was going to happen in the end. Cole is a normal teenage girl until she starts having dreams about people and places in history. Except these "dreams" come on at any time during the day and they feel very much real. As time passes, she learns that she is having memories of her past lives. Griffon, the cute boy she met on holiday, is suddenly around again and he seems to know a lot more than he is letting on.

The budding romance between Cole and Griffon wasn't fantastic and was semi-unrealistic but she is a fairly typical teenage girl with raging hormones so I just kept reading without looking too much into it.
There is a lot of action and intrigue in this story, so if past lives and reincarnation is what you want to read more of, then this story is for you!

The Good: I was sucked in by wanting to see how it ended.

The Bad: The story wasn't different enough from all the other "past lives" books I've read.

Rating:

3 bookstacks

Life After Theft - 

Aprilynne Pike
Released: May 1, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins AUS

Synopsis: Kimberlee Schaffer may be drop-dead gorgeous... but she also dropped dead last year. Now she needs Jeff's Help with her unfinished business, and she is not taking no for an answer.

When she was alive, Kimberlee wasn't just a mean girl; she was also a complete kleptomaniac. So if Jeff wants to avoid being haunted until graduation, he'll have to help her return everything she stole. But Jeff soon discovers it's much easier to steal something than it is to bring it back.

What I thought: This book had so much potential and yet I just don't think it was that great. Kimberlee was everything you expected in a mean girl, and to top it off, was a crazy klepto. She didn't really seem to have any redeeming features, and she didn't make any self-changes until the second last chapter when it didn't really matter anymore. Jeff is supposed to be helping the ghost of Kimberlee return all the things she stole. I thought this would be a story about a few stolen things, and the meaningful ways they were returned, but it wasn't. It was about a hundred stolen things and the ways Jeff and some new mates could offload them the quickest, in hopes of getting rid of Kimberlee as fast as possible. That sounds like it should have made a fairly good story? Yeah well, to me the fact that Jeff and his relationship with Sera really overshadowed all that. Kimberlee has history with Sera, and this constantly causes friction between Jeff and the ghost. The whole story is dragged out, with the feeling that Sera has some big secrets, which she has, to bring her down, which they don't. The whole time I was waiting for something to come up that gave Kimberlee a reason to be so nasty to her and yet there wasn't really anything at all.

It's a fast read, with a lot going on, but if you like ghost stories then I'd give this one a go.

The Good: They were pretty creative in giving back the stolen goods.

The Bad: I felt there was so much build up throughout the book and it just fell flat.

Rating:

3 bookstacks