Review for My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers, #2) by Rachel Vincent

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent


When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies. 

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul. 

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand. 

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The second book in the Soul Screamers is just as captivating as the first novel. I really liked how much Nash and Kaylee’s relationship truly strengthen throughout this book. I can really tell how much they love and care for one another. The best part I feel is how realistic their relationship really is. Yeah, they are dealing with tons of paranormal things but other than that they are just a couple of teens trying to have a normal relationship.

Surprisingly, I found myself starting to really like Tod. After so much discussion in the first book about how he was so dangerous, I was afraid to like his character. The reader really gets to see a side of Tod that makes it very difficult to not like him. Despite being a reaper, he proves that he does still have human emotions. Yeah, he does still have that dangerous element, which comes with the whole reaper thing, but I’m starting to believe he is just dangerous to everyone else. I always hate saying stuff like that because Tod could end up being the bad guy or something in the next novel and I will respond with, “Darn it Tod! You had me at the second book but then you just had to ruin it.” I hope not. :(

Emma! All I can say about this girl is how good she handles all this weird stuff. I keep waiting for her to just freak out and end all ties with Kaylee, hell I would. Nope, Emma is by far a better friend than me. Kaylee is very lucky to have her. 

Also, anyone else feeling some Tod and Emma? I’m not sure how relationships work with reapers but I would love to find out. Plus, Emma is good with all the weird stuff so she will be able to handle potential reaper boyfriend.

I could say more about this novel but honestly I want to start number three so . . . read this series, it’s awesome.

5/5 stas!


I originally posted this review in July, 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/183908070

Reviewer for My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers, #1) by Rachel Vincent

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent


She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally. 

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I began his novel, I was already prepared for the, often described, “player” and “jerk” love interest. The “player” part I got. It seems that Nash has indeed a bit more experience with relationships versus Kaylee (and other than a few casual relationships, Kaylee’s experience is like very minimum). The “jerk” description throws me off. I kept waiting for Nash to start acting like the “jerk” I was expecting but it never came. Instead, I was overwhelmed by this sweet, patient, and understanding boy who was an extremely good boyfriend. If anything, Nash was more of the “sweet player.” So there, let that be his new descriptive term.

This book was really good. The paranormal element was very different from the norm that seems popular today (vampires, and wolves). Since there was such a different element, I felt like I was truly experiencing a different world. Let me tell you, I have no desire to live in Kaylee’s world. Nor do I wish to be her. Not because I don’t like Kaylee, but due to her paranormal powers. Holy cow, I would freak out if I knew the stuff she did (and when I say “freak out,” I mean more than she does. I would need to separate myself from society. )

Kaylee is a teen trying to figure out how she fits into this big dangerous world. However, the world isn’t exactly easy on Kaylee, she has a paranormal power that has the ability to make her social life a living hell. If that wasn’t worse enough, Kaylee has to live her life in fear that her aunt and uncle will once again send her back to the mental health floor at the hospital. What do you do when everyone thinks you are heading to crazyville? Luckily, Kaylee has a friend named Emma, who is exceptional good in dealing with her weird moments. Together, along with her love interest Nash, they try to figure out why Kaylee is having these experiences.


5/5 stars!



I originally posted this review in July, 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/181194830

Afterlife (Evernight #4) by Claudia Gray

Afterlife by Claudia Gray

Destiny awaits Bianca and Lucas . . .

Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a wraith but also turns Lucas into a vampire—the very creature he spent his life hunting—they are left reeling.

Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help . . . Evernight Academy. Bianca is determined to remain with him. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging a war against wraiths, her former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her ghostly transformation has given her.

A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They've overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges after life?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**Negative review I'm afraid. Sadness! Also, I went a little spoiler crazy. No need to fear, I whited the spoilers out so just avoid them. (scroll over spoiler area to reveal text)**


When I read the last line in the book, I first flipped to the next page to see if it continued on. I then, got on the computer to see when book five would be released. Surprising there is no extra page or book five. This is really the ending and I'm terribly disappointed.

(spoiler)Out of the four books in this series,this book is probably my least favorite. Bianca is completely unreliable in this book. Since she is a wraith now, Bianca isn't able to have a real active role in the book. Most of the time, Bianca seemed more like a creepy narrator who talks about what her friends were doing. As for Lucas, he loses a lot of the qualities about him that made the reader love him. Since becoming a vampire, he is depressed and on the verge of suicide (He only remains alive out of obligation to Bianca. Nope not alive because he wants to be with her, only because he is her anchor to this world).


I didn't feel that the ending left any closure for Bianca or the reader. Since Bianca is still a wraith, her parents are hesitate in accepting her, she has limited similarities with humans or vampires anymore, and she will out live Lucas. Also, now that there is no Evernight Academy, how are the vampire who want to learn about the modern world suppose to go (if this was brought up, I may have skipped it. I disliked the ending so I rushed through it)?
I'm also not buying the whole Lucas always be with Bianca forever because he will be in her memory. Um? What? So its okay if your lover dies...you will just live forever remembering him...0.o Also, is Lucas really content on being with someone who fade in and out of this world.


I guess I was really hoping for a happily ever after and instead all I got was a lot of unresolved things.(spoiler)

2/5 stars!


I originally posted this review in March, 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/156837981

Review for Starcrossed (Starcrossed, #1) by Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire 16 years trying to hide how different she is--no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Out of all the books I have read, the reason for why Lucas and Helen were unable to have a relationship, was probably the strongest and most complicated. Since this is the case, it annoyed the hell out of me. It was that good of a reason.

I really liked the heroine, Helen, in this novel. She really reminded me a lot of my High School self. I was the super tall girl who hated drawing unnecessary attention to my freakish ways (no I wasn’t a demi god so none that kind of stuff). I was, however, extremely athletic but afraid to actually show my talent. I even was very much obsessed with gaining any sort of scholarship that would allow me to pay almost nothing for college. Therefore, I find Helen to be a very relatable person, despite all the paranormal features.

Alright, back to the book.

The love interest in the story, Lucas, is actually a very likable character. Since the moment he appeared in the novel, I was already rooting for Helen and him to get together. Oh, but Josephine Angelini had no intention of giving the reader a quick union. In this book, there is a wait. So many times I thought Helen and Lucas were FINALLY going to start dating. Then, that hope was ripped away from me before I even realized it. As I said before, Helen and Lucas cannot be together for a very good reason.

I give Lucas a lot of props for being able to resist Helen. My dear Lucas has the will power of a saint. Helen was practically throwing herself at him and he still had the resolve to walk away from her.

Overall, read this book. It’s really good plus there is no bad cliffy but you will be angry by the end of this book. (spoiler)A certain person is very manipulating. I literally cursed this person out hardcore. (spoiler)

5/5 Stars!


I originally posted this review in July 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/178689443

The Demon Trapper's Daughter (The Demon Trappers #1) by Jana Oliver

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Demon Trapper Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself—and that’s exactly what Lucifer is counting on… 

It’s the year 2018, and with human society seriously disrupted by the economic upheavals of the previous decade, Lucifer has increased the number of demons in all major cities. Atlanta is no exception. Fortunately, humans are protected by Demon Trappers, who work to keep homes and streets safe from the things that go bump in the night. Seventeen-year-old Riley, only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing attraction to fellow Trapper apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving citizens from Grade One Hellspawn. Business as usual, really, for a demon-trapping teen. When a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood, she realizes that she’s caught in the middle of a battle between Heaven and Hell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I will give The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver 5/5 stars for being truly amazing. 


I genuinely enjoyed The Demon Trapper's Daughter all the way through (my book is the American version, which means the first book in the series has a different name). Riley is truly an inspiration. I don’t know many girls that age that can go through as much as she did and still be able to wake-up every morning without giving up. I really look forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing what other trouble awaits Riley. When I say trouble, I mean, I would rather see more demons trying to kill her. Please no more deaths! This poor girl has seen more people killed and injured around her to last a life time. Though, I have a feeling, this is only the beginning. Poor Riley. 

I originally posted this review February 18, 2012 on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/239077128

Review for Angel Star (Angel Star, #1) by Jennifer Murgia

Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia


Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand; the mark of an angel.

But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows.

Divinely woven together, Angel Star takes readers on a reflective journey when one angel's sacrifice collides with another angel's vicious ambition in a way that is sure to have readers searching for their own willpower.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was drawn to this book during the time I acquired a fetish for angel boys. Garreth character is a bit different from the other angel boys I have read (*cough Patch cough*). Unlike the other angels, Garreth is very good and very pure. His only weakness being that he wishes to meet the girl he has longed protected.


I started this novel about two months ago but with school and other distractions, I had to put it aside for a bit. Nonetheless, I found myself able to get back into the story and the characters the second I picked the book up again.


Garreth and Teagan are absolutely adorable together. Garreth is a very cute boy who has truly given up everything to have a chance to get to know Teagan. I have read quite a few books, and I have to give Garreth the “sweetest boy” award.


This book does heavy rely on religious beliefs. I really have nothing against religion, I’m a very spiritual person myself, I, just would have liked the author to take an easy on this subject matter.


Angel Star is still a really good book so don’t let my opinion get in the way of reading it. :)

4/5 stars!


I originally posted this review in June, 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/155590063

Review for Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Wither by Lauren DeStefano


By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**Spoilers have been hidden in white. No need to fret. (just scroll over the white area to see spoiler text)** 

This is really my first experience with a dystopian novel/series. The last book I read of this kind would be the Giver by Lois Lowery about six years ago.

What can I say about this book? It was awesome. I got a look into a crazy, disturbed world I hope never happens.

As with the previous book I read, Firelight by Sophie Jordan, I really liked the buildup of the love story. I didn’t read the synopsis before I read this book so I actually had no idea who the love interest was at first. I was able to figure it out quickly though. I really liked that this book has the forbidden love element, which is different from other forbidden love novels. After reading the love triangle, I can honestly say I will never be able to share a man with any other women. I’m just too jealous for that kind of stuff.

(spoiler) When the main character walked in on her husband with his other wife, I found myself shouting, “You just going to let him do that?” (spoiler)


4/5 stars!Only two things annoyed me about this book.

1. 95% of the book takes place in the freaking mansion. I need some versatility here.
2. Rhine mentions her brother so many times throughout this book, I feel like I’m also dealing with the separation. Yet, after reading 328 pages, I still haven’t met him. This leaves me with no closure what-so- ever. Oh Rowan, don’t you know I’m awaiting our reunion too?

Despite these little flaws, read the book for yourself. It’s actually kind of awesome.


I orginally posted this review in May, 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/162944916

Review for Firelight (Firelight, #1) by Sophie Jordan

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

A hidden truth. 

Mortal enemies. Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book is a prime example of, “read and judge for yourself.” I was a little reluctant to read this novel after the many negative reviews. Good thing I didn’t listen to any of them!


The biggest three complaints I have seen:
1. ‘Jacinda is too whiney and annoying.'
2. ‘Jacinda complains too much.’
3. ‘Jacinda is a very unhappy person.‘


See any connections? I do. Yes, Jacinda is very unhappy for a majority of this book. Why you may ask? Well, her mother and sister hate the fact that she is a dranki. They actually want her dranki to die. What better way to accomplish this than to move her to a desert waste land so she can suffer. Well, at least that whole dranki thing will go away. Then, her mother and sister won’t have to worry about that nuisance anymore.


This book brings family acceptance to a whole new level for me. I found myself asking the same questions throughout the entire book; “Does anyone care what Jacinda thinks?,” and “Is it humane to make a 16 year old girl suffer this way?”


As for the romance, I liked it. It was very innocent and really showcased how first loves can be awkward and hard. I loved the build up! Every time I thought Sophie Jordan was going to finally have them start a relationship, she pulled them apart unexpectantly. I feel like now a days, couples are just like… boom…we’re together now right off the bat. I really like this couple and I will look forward to reading about them in future books.


Oh, and holy cows dragons anyone? This was a good change up from my usual reads: vampires, werewolves, fallen angels, normal people, sparkly people, and more normal people.


Anyways, this is a super cool book. Read it! :)

4/5 stars!


I orginally posted this review in May, 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/162946503

Review for City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instrument #4) by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare


The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most important of all—Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend. 

But nothing comes without a price. 

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her. His mother just found out he’s a vampire and now he’s homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse wrecking his life. And they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he’s dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other. 

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace. 

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I finished CoFA in record time. I definitely have mixed feelings about this book. For starts, I was nervous when I found out that Simon was going to be the main protagonist in the next three books. Simon was sort of an annoying pest (especially in City of Angels) who interfered with Clare and Jace (my ultimate preference). To be honest, when I re-read the first three Mortal Instruemtns books, I skip over his parts. Well no more! I really like Simon in this book. He seems to have matured a lot. I definitely see huge character growth from him.


I feel like City of Fallen Angels was different then the previous books. It was more dark, intense and EMOTIONAL. I had no idea what was going to happen throughout and the ending was a total cliffy. A bad cliffy.


Jace and Clary's scenes were very intense in this novel. When I say tense...I mean freaking knifes involves and craziness. I started this book thinking that I would get to see Jace and Clary playing boyfriend/girlfriend for a while before the craziness started. I knew something was going to happen to disrupt their relationship but I wasn't expecting it to start on page one.


4/5 stars!



I originally posted this review in April 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/137006223

Beginning?

Until now, I have made a home of my reviews of the books I read at: http://www.goodreads.com/hungrycookiemonster


After discussing with my dear friends on twitter, I have decided to take the plunge and start a blog! Or, shall I call it...another blog devoted to book reviews. Yep, just one more in the field of MANY book review blogs.


Oh, but this one will be quite different. Unlike my fellow book blogging friends, I find my review to be quite sarcastic and very amusing. Humor is the key to my heart and I have found I share that quality in common with most people. So sit back and relax...just enjoy the reviews. I know I do writing them!