The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

YA Science Fiction

Rating: 4 Stars

In a world where humans have been eaten to near extinction, seventeen-year-old Gene has only managed to survive by painstakingly concealing his true species. If the bloodthirsty creatures surrounding him knew what he really was—a human—he would be devoured swiftly and terribly.

When Gene is chosen to participate in the government-sponsored hunt for the last remaining humans, it thrusts him into the fight of his life—and into the path of a human girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible. Now, he must learn the art of the hunt and elude his fellow hunters whose suspicions about his true human nature are growing. But most importantly, Gene and the girl he loves must find a way to forge a life together in a brutal world that’s bent on their destruction.

First Thoughts: I recieved this ARC from St. Martin's and I was very interested in it. The cover is very good and I love how the front in night and the back is day. Very cool. The thing I like most about this is from the synopsis you can tell that this is a vampire novel only it's different from the rest. He is a human who is trying to hide from the vampires but in plain site because the vampires in this novel aren't the good guys.

Writing Style: I loved this writing style. I have literally no complaints. The only thing I could say is the writing didn't feel very young adult to me. That could be explained away though, the writing was more mature because Gene had no choice but to be mature. Andrew is so good with his descriptions it's hard not to imagine what it looks like, even during those times you really don't want to.

Characters: Gene is a great character for this type of novel. He is supposed to fit in a world he clearly doesn't fit in anymore. My problem's with him are more personal that what fits for the storyline. My personal opinion is that Gene is a horrible person, his father too. Live with the vampries? Pretend you are one of those monsters because you don't want to die? Turn away from your own kind? I found it disturbing. I couldn't stand it. I wanted to throw the novel down and give up because my own reflexes to protect those I love and never pretend to be someone I'm not kicked in. I didn't though and I'm glad I didn't because my opinion of him changed a bit towards the end. I still have that feeling though.

Final Thoughts: I could not stand this book. This is completely personal. It makes me think too much. What if this really happened to us? What if everyone turned into to vampires and started killing everyone? I couldn't stand it! If this was a movie I would never watch it because I would have nightmares. It reminds me of I am Legend and I was forced to watch that movie and it scared the crap out of me. But looking past that this was a great novel. Those people who love science fiction would get a real thrill out of reading this. They won't be able to put this down. It has everything you need in a science fiction novel. Thrill, excitement, terror, and it keeps you tearing at the pages just to see what could possibly happen next. So, even though I personally didn't like it I rated this novel for what it was without my personal opinion. My own personal review would be a three instead of a four.

Ascend by Amanda Hocking

Ascend (Trylle Trilogy #3) by Amanda Hocking

YA Fantasy

Rating: 5 Stars

Ascend... The final chapter in the Trylle Trilogy.

With a war looming on the horizon, Wendy’s fate seems sealed. But everything she sacrificed might be in vain if she can’t save the ones she loves. Her whole life has been leading up to this, and it’s all coming to an end.

First Thoughts: Like the two before it, this cover is awesome. I love the swirls behind the title. I love swirls in general. But anyway, synopsis was just as short as the last one. They didn't need to be long though. If the right voice read this synopsis it would send chills down your spine.

Writing Style: This part is kind of useless to me right now because the writing style is pretty much the same as the last book. So, I'm just going to move right on.

Characters: If you look back Wendy has grown up quite a lot. She started out as the child who gets expelled from school and acts like a brat to become a mature adult who ends up queen. She makes choices no one her age should have to choose. Mistakes that can be pretty bad but she owns up to those mistakes. I may not agree with the choices of this particular character but in the end she owned up to them and that's what's important.

Final Thoguhts: There were parts that I was like "How could she?" Honestly, Amanda did such a good job covering up the end game it was completely unpredictable. I can go ahead and tell you what I expected to happen or what I wanted but that would spoil everything for those who haven't read the series. The series was not disappointing. I loved it! A great addition to my list of favorite books. Amanda Hocking deserves all the things she is getting. She is an amazing writer and has a talent for making great stories.

Torn by Amanda Hocking

Torn (Trylle Trilogy #2) by Amanda Hocking

YA Fantasy

Rating: 5 Stars

Torn - the second book in the Trylle Trilogy...

Wendy thought she finally understood who she was and what she wanted, but everything changes when the rival Vittra come after her.

She's caught between two worlds, torn between love and duty, and she must decide what life she is going to lead.

First Thoughts: I am so in love with this cover! Well, actually all the covers.They are all so beautiful. The synopsis is kind of small for this one but honestly that doesn't matter. If you have read the first one you know just whats this small synopsis means and know that it's all you need.

Writing Style: I have the same thoughts for the writing in this one like I did for Switched. This one is probably even better than the first one. You can see how much Amanda has grown through the writing, through how much Wendy grew. Just like the first one, I read the reveiws and came up with two solutions for the bad reveiws. 1. They are talking about the self published version and not the new edited St. Martin's printed version. 2. Maybe I get so absorbed in her world that she created that I don't see what those other people see.

Characters: Wendy has grown so much from the first novel. She managed to keep the real part of her though. The one who didn't fit in and wouldn't let anyone sway her from her beliefs. Starting to get annoyed with Finn though. I guess all that makes me annoyed with him is what makes him who he is. Amanda has a way to make her characters seem real and make you want to reach in the book and slap them for not doing what you want them to do just like people do to the TV when they watch sports or a horror movie.

Final Thoughts: UGH! I was literally jumping for joy when I got this ARC. I felt like I was waiting forever to read the next in the series. I am proud to say it didn't disappoint. Like I have said, it's nice to read something other than vampires. It's not just vampires for me anymore, it's also predictable books. More and more books are becoming more and more predictable and it bugs me. This was no where near being predictable. I can't wait to finish the trilogy and read Ascend.

Halflings by Heather Burch

Halflings (Halflings #1) by Heather Burch

YA Paranormal

Rating: 4 Stars

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret---and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

First Thoughts: Angels are big thing lately so when I saw it on NetGalley I had to request it. The cover is OK, not fantastic but interesting enough. I knew that I would like this one by the synopsis though. It's got mystery and of course the love triangle. Can't have a teen paranormal romance novel without the triangle.

Writing Style: Heather is a fantastic writer. She truly is. She is very descriptive. Maybe a bit too descriptive if you ask me. There were so many comparisons. I think there is a line between being descriptive in your writing and overdoing it. This was certainly overdoing it. There were moments I was like "can we get back to the story? I don't want to hear how beautiful he is in fifty different ways." It got restless.

Characters: Nikki is like the weak strong girl. Does that make sense? She is a normal person who doesn't try too hard to be something she is not and does normal things. Only not normal thing about her is the weird things happening around her. I have to say Mace seems adorable and Raven seems like the bad boy but I felt like it was trying hard to be that way. Like it was forced, like the whole love triangle was forced. I honestly think it wasn't needed to make the story.

Final Thoughts: I loved this. There was action at every turn. I am still thinking about the possibilities of who Damon is and why are they after her. I don't think I will be able to stop thinking about it until I actually find out. I hate cliff hangers but it's not so bad for a writer. A true reader can't just stop reading. They have to know everything before they can move on. Cliff hangers keep them coming back, finding out what happens next is important. Can't wait to read the next one. I did have a problem reading this book though, it doesn't work on my ereader. It kept freezing it and I couldn't even turn it off. Just gave up and read it off my computer.

Where Thy Dark Eye Glances by Chani Lynn Feener

Where Thy Dark Eye Glances (The Dreamer Trilogy 0.5) by Chani Lynn Feener

YA Fantasy

Rating: 3 Stars

Three hundred years ago Lily Bryg was someone else. Now, she's dealing with demons from the past in the form of ghosts, fairies, and even a dream stalker bent on convincing her they belong together. As a witch, Lily has an advantage. But that all changes when she's summoned back to the third realm she used to live. And where she died.

With the help of a Shade, a tattoo artist, and her three best friends, Lily tries to escape the faeries out to get her, and the evil king who wants to make her his consort. Ronan will stop at nothing to have her back, and she'll stop at nothing to keep that from happening. Too bad her life isn't the only one on the line, and returning to Bevain might be the only way to save herself, and the world.

First Thoughts: YAY!! My first review that somebody actually asked me to do! I was very surprised when it happened seeing as I didn't even have a page saying I take reviews on here but it's making think maybe I should. The synopsis is very intersting. This book definitely fits in my category of books, witches and magical powers. I haven't read a book about witches in a while.

Writing Style: This is one of the parts that makes this novella a three. There were parts that the writing was great. Places where I was intrigued and just wanted to keep going and never stop. But then there were parts I was like "what is the point of this?" It seemed like a lot of things kept getting repeated constantly, sometimes repitition isn't a good thing. Then there was all the grammatical errors. I'm not exactly perfect in writing either and always have like a million words mispelled but I would never let anyone read it that way. There were errors left and right. It was distracting.

Characters: I can tell that this book is supposed to be about Lily. Ronan wants Lily and will do anything to get her. The thing is, is that she isn't that great. She seems a bit all knowing and I know she is the 'leader' but the prophecy talks about how it has to be them all but she just hogs the limelight. If all four of them are the ones who are going to save the world it should be about all four of them. Lily described the others but we didn't really get to meet them if you know what I mean. It makes sense that Lily is what's important but I feel like no character should stand alone, they should have support but I just didn't feel like she had.

Final Thoughts: I really did love this novella. I was sad to find out it was just a novella and it ended really fast. I might actually be interested in reading the series itself. It's a very interesting take and maybe the reason this book was the way it was is because basically it was a teaser for the series. (Did I ever tell you I hate teasers?) So, overall besides all the errors and the lack of development of the characters, it was a very fun read. I'm glad I said yes and if I ever get time, I will probably start reading the actual series.

Pure by Julianna Baggot

Pure (Pure #1) by Julianna Baggot

YA Science Fiction

Rating: 3 Stars

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

First Thoughts: I found this novel on NetGalley of course. The synopsis is very intriguing and the cover is beautiful. They fit together nicely, the bright blue butterfly surrounded by dirt.

Writing Style: I didn't care much for this writing. It wasn't wonderful and it wasn't terrible. I felt like it took me forever to get into the story. Some things were explained while others took longer to be explained or wasn't explained at all.

Characters. My favorite character is Pressia. She is reserved and quiet but at the same time she is strong. When things start hitting the fan she steps up and becomes the person she is supposed to be. I don't know about Partridge though. Even though he is the most normal in the book he just doesn't fit in, strange for him I guess. He doesn't fit in anywhere, not even with the 'wretches'. Makes for a very intersting character though.

Final Thoughts: I was really brought in by that synopsis. But it wasn't what I expecting. Good or bad thing? That's really up to the other readers. Me? Definitely not my style of book. It's disturbing but in a reality kind of way. It makes you think, cherish what you have because it could be worse. You could have a doll head as a hand or birds attached to your back, or worse a brother attached to your back who is secrety planning your demise (had to add that because it's funny, well if you read this book that is). I loved it but I also hated it. I like taking a step away from my normal books and this was like an entire block away but I enjoyed it. The beginning took awhile to get through, also with me reading this during the holidays which is impossible to do. I almost gave up but I'm glad I didn't because near the end it finally picked up to become a great story. I might even consider reading the next one just out of plain curiosity.