Cathing Fire by Suzanne Collins

Cathing Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins

YA Fantasy Dystopia

Rating: 5 Stars

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn.

First Thoughts: As soon as I was done with The Hunger Games I put the jacket back on and shoved it in the box and immediately took out Catching Fire. The cover follows the same pattern of the first one with the Mockingjay, perfect representation of the books. I didn't even need to read the synopsis to want to read this but it is good and if someone picks it up they would definitely be interested in picking up the first book if they hadn't already.

Writing Style: The writing is pretty much the same as my first review. Still no complaints.

Characters: Katniss is still Katniss. She didn't let the Hunger Games destroy who she was and ends up fighting for her life as well as the people she loves again. This time it's more towards them than towards herself, she already considers herself marked for death and doesn't want to bring anyone down with her. She is courageous and strong. I love Peeta in this one more than the first. He knows the truth now but continues to stand by her side. No matter what happened in the first book he still loves her and will risk his life to save her.

Final Thoughts: Not as fantastic as the first one but it was still pretty awesome. I never expected all that to happen. I am still just thinking about it and just reeling. I can see why this series became such a hit and i can't wait to read the last one to see how all this comes together.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games (Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins

YA Fantasy Dystopia

Rating: 5 Stars

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

First Thoughts: For years this book has been on my radar but I just never could get it. Many of my blog friends have read it and it was just there but I never got to. With the movie coming out and how excited I am for that I finally just bought a box set and got down to business. I have been hearing a million good things about this book so I really expect it to be that good. The thing I love about this is the simple cover. It's simple but it is everything for the book. I love it when the covers actually make sense.

Writing Style: I have literally no complaints on the writing by Suzanne. I immediately fell into the story and connected and sympathized with the novel. Suzanne has created this world that I can't even believe could exist with the life we live now. She is so good at making it real you realize how lucky we actually are.

Characters: Katniss is a very cool character. The only thing I dislike about her is the fact she can play people very easily. I think she thinks she's playing them when she's really not. She may claim she doesn't love Peeta, but I know she does. The only reason she is confused about it is because she also loves Gale. Gale is a reminder of the old life, the one where things were normal and she would never come across Peeta. But things aren't normal anymore so I don't know where that is all going to go.

Final Thoughts: Freaking amazing! I have not felt the way towards a book like this since the first time I started reading Harry Potter. It's been a very long time. In no way is this like Harry Potter but to me it is by the feelings this book gives me, the anticipation I feel when I finish to just move on to the next one. The good thing is that this series is already over so I don't have to wait for the next one, I just have to walk over to my bookcase. I was already excited for the movie but now I am even more excited since I read the book and know what's going on. Sixteen days seems too far away.

Fated by Alyson Noel

Fated (The Soul Seekers #1) by Alyson Noel

YA Fantasy

Rating: 4 Stars

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she's never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she's encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she'll get to know her grandmother-a woman who recognizes Daire's bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers-but it's an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace's brother is an evil shape-shifter who's out to steal her powers. Now Dair must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one one guy she's meant to be with...or if he's allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

First Thoughts: Really? Who wouldn't just fall in love with this cover? It is just brilliant! I was excited fro this series from the beginning and when I got it from St. Martin's I went nuts! The synopsis just draws you in. I have never heard of a Soul Seeker and it really got me interested in finding out what exactly that was and what that would make the story to be.

Writing Style: I have to say the writing style in the Immortal Series was a little bit easier to deal with than this one. The size of the words on the pages just seemed really small like they packed so much in. The only good thing about that is they packed in a lot of the good things like imagery and descriptions that seemed necessary. Not overdoing it.

Characters: Daire is a neat character to fall into. She's strong from the beginning because her mother made her that way but she just didn't have the courage. That would come from the sitting on the sidelines and being treated like crap by the "superstars" around her. Alyson did really well in building this character and showing us how she became who she is. I would like to see more of Dace though. This is obviously about Daire and how she fits into this new life but I know he is important to the story yet we didn't get much from him.

Final Thoughts: I loved the book. It was very exciting and very interesting. I may not know exactly what a Seeker is yet but that could have been done purposely so we grow with Daire and not know all the answers. I have to admit though I am liking this book better than the Immortal Series, way better. Cannot wait for the next one.

Magical March Reading Challenge!

I have been in this blogger world for awhile now and I noticed something that book blogs did that I was interested in doing but just didn't have the time for. That would be reading challenges. So I have decided I will finally just go ahead and do one.

The timing all works out for me for March. I got a pile of books from St. Martin's to read and why not make it a little more intersting? Some of them don't fit in this challenge but oh well, I still have a TBR pile that just keeps growing so I will be attacking that too.

So here it goes! I am joining the Magical March reading challenge hosted by Roof Beam Reader. I am aiming for at least 4 books so I am aiming for Sorcerer's Class. These are the books that I have that fit in this challenge and are hoping to get through, not in any specific order:

1. Hunger Games (Have had for awhile but hasn't been able to get to it yet)

2. Mocking Jay

3. Catching Fire

4. Wake by Amanda Hocking

5. 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

6. Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Obviously that's more than my goal of 4 but I might just skip over Mocking Jay and Catching Fire but haven't decided yet only because I haven't read the first one yet.

There is still time to join this reading challenge if you are interested. If you meet your class you get entered to win a free book (each price goes by class you acheive). Head on over to this page HERE at Roof Beam Reader and take a look!