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Love and Other Unknown Variables by: Shannon Lee Alexander

10/7/2014

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Scientifically, I know beginnings don't exist. The world is made of energy, which is neither created or destroyed. Everything she is was here before me. Everything she was will remain. Her existence touches both my past and my future at one point- infinity. 
Lifelines aren't lines at all. They are more like circles.
Its safe to start anywhere and the story will curve its way back to the starting point. Eventually.
In other words, it doesn't matter where I begin. It doesn't change the end.
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Love and other Unknown Variables by: Shannon Lee Alexander
Synopsis: Charlie Hanson has a clear vision of his future. A senior at Brighton School of Mathematics and Science, he knows he’ll graduate, go to MIT, and inevitably discover solutions to the universe’s greatest unanswered questions. He’s that smart. But Charlie’s future blurs the moment he reaches out to touch the tattoo on a beautiful girl’s neck. 


The future has never seemed very kind to Charlotte Finch, so she’s counting on the present. She’s not impressed by the strange boy at the donut shop—until she learns he’s a student at Brighton where her sister has just taken a job as the English teacher. With her encouragement, Charlie orchestrates the most effective prank campaign in Brighton history. But, in doing so, he puts his own future in jeopardy. 

By the time he learns she's ill—and that the pranks were a way to distract Ms. Finch from Charlotte’s illness—Charlotte’s gravitational pull is too great to overcome. Soon he must choose between the familiar formulas he’s always relied on or the girl he’s falling for (at far more than 32 feet per second squared).

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Alright... review time!


*I want to say a huge thank you to Entangled Teen for sending me an early ARC of this novel*

This book was incredible. It was nothing like I expect it to be. Based on the cover and the synopsis, I kind of expected this book to be more of a cutesy, romance book that would have me squealing and fangirling because of the cute couple (Charlie and Charlotte). I was not at all expecting to find tears streaming down my face. Nor was I prepared for the perfect mixture of sadness and hope that caused my heart to do these weird little cartwheel things in my chest. Im not going to say anything else in the non-spoilery section of this review because I believe that it is best to go into this knowing as little as possible. If you haven't read this, do it. Now. Fans of the Fault In Our Stars will LOVE this.


**DO NOT read any farther if you have not read this book. Spoiler ALERT. You have been warned. **
I freakin LOVED this book. The quotes, the romance, the dialogue. It was all perfect! I think the thing that really made me love this book though was the characters. I could see a bit of myself in each of them.


In Charlie, I saw my inner nerd. My need to always be pleasing teachers and the pressures of always being expected to be the best at everything. I loved seeing the reckless feeling that came him when he skipped school that one day to visit Charlotte! That made me laugh. I saw myself in him when he struggled to decide what to do with his future. I saw myself in him whenever he referenced Harry Potter. ;) I used to be obsessed with math and science and while I still did a lot of reading, I didn't understand the power that words really held. Its just been in the last year that I realized how much more a poem can move you and understand you then the process of photosynthesis. I loved watching Charlies journey. But most of all, Charlie and I shared the same want to love people. Not necessarily a boy/girlfriend, just a friend. Just putting someone who we care about above ourselves. Caring about the people who we love.


In Becca, Charlie's sister, I saw my love to read. I understand her fear of going out on her own adventure and meeting new people. Sometimes its easier to just submerse yourself in a book. I absolutely loved when she sat in her room crying over Charlottes death and the first thing she did was build a wall around herself from books. She literally did what a lot of people do internally. I loved that about her.


In Greta and James, I saw the friendships I have with my friends. The way Charlie, James and Greta stuck together through thick and thin made me think of not only my own best friends, by the friends Ive lost as well. I think everyone needs to find a Greta in their own life.


In Jo, Charlotte's sister, I saw not really myself, but some of the adults around me. Jo had so much pressure on her shoulders and you could see the effect it had on her. She was so worried about Charlotte, she wasn't focussing on herself as much.


And lastly Charlotte. I saw myself in her wanting to be free. To just be able to take a step back and disappear to a different place and be a different person. To not be around people who know all your flaws but be around people who will take you for who you are in the moment. At the same time, I absolutely loved watching Charlotte realize that maybe its not so bad to have people know about who you are. Charlie helped give her a place to be herself without the fear of being ridiculed and judged. In my eyes, he gave her safe home and I think that was one of the best gifts he could have given her.


The ending of this book was so heart breaking yet so hopeful. I respected Charlottes decision to forgo treatment, but I wish the rest of her family had as well. She knew she was going either way but she wanted to go as a whole person not a shell of what she used to be. My heart completely went out to Charlie but I knew he would someday learn to live with the pain. Someday, hopefully the angels wing will heal itself.


Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with your opinions and perspectives on this book! :)

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Isla and the Happily Ever After by: Stephanie Perkins

8/12/2014

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Isla and the Happily Ever After by: Stephanie Perkins
(third book in the Anna and the French Kiss companion trilogy)

Synopsis: From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.




Alright... review time!! If given the option, I would give this book hundreds upon thousands of stars. In the past year or two, I have read a lot of contemporary romance books. Out of all of them, I have never read any that even compare to Stephanie Perkins writing. She is so unbelievably talented. She somehow is able to have the perfect combination of romance, comedy, and deep soul searching in all her books and it absolutely takes my breathe away. While reading Isla, I laughed, screamed, cried, giggled, and fangirled... I basically experienced every emotion possible. I applaud Miss. Perkins for that. If you haven't read her books.... you really need to sort out your priorities. :)


**Do not read past this point if you have not read this incredible book. You will be SPOILED**


Isla and Josh..... I honestly did not expect to love these characters as much as I did.

Isla: Wow.... I think I have to say that she is my favourite girl to read about from the series. It had nothing to do with that fact that she was a better person or because she was funnier or anything like that. It was because I could relate the most to her out of all of them. Like myself, Isla reads a lot and loves to learn. She's at the top of all of her class and because of that she puts a lot pressure on herself. People always think that being the smartest kid in the class is easy and that they have it a lot easier. Sometimes thats not the case. Its hard to always have people judging you, always expecting your best and if, God forbid, you mess up once, they will never let you forget it. I loved that fact that Isla was quiet about her successes and that she was more reserved. Truthfully though, I think the main reason I really connected with her was because of her insecurities. She looked at herself and questioned why she was special. Why anyone would love her. What her purpose was. She was in a really place and she was able to pull herself out of it and I really look up to her for that.

Josh: This dude was FREAKIN ADORABLE. Like why can't I go to school with guys like this? Gahhhh. I think one of the main things I look for in male characters (and guys in everyday life) is someone who has a passion. Not just someone who enjoys sitting on the couch and has a passion for alcohol shopping, but someone who has a passion for something that can alter your opinion on the world. Examples: literature, cinematography, nature, photography and in Josh's case, art. Yes, his sexy grin, flirtatious charm and jokes were amazing and had me giggling and dying inside but I think it was those moments when Josh saw beautiful architecture or talked about a book that I really fell in love with him. The effect that his mural in the tree house had on Isla was beautiful and the way Josh traveled to his own place and got in his "art zone" was gorgeous. His love for the magic of art made me fall in love with him.

I absolutely LOVED the setting, plot twists and especially, the dialogue! All the characters are freaking hilarious and just amazing. And that ending..... just slayed me! Josh's graphic novel both broke my heart and mended it all at the same time. Also, when Anna, Etienne, Lola, Cricket, Meredith, Isla and Josh all go together at the end of the book.... BEST ENDING EVER! The proposal. I in no way, shape, or form saw that coming! Beautiful and in my opinion, a genius way to give readers the closure we needed!

I seriously can't get over this book and I highly doubt that I ever will. Perkin's writing is always something that I can come back to for a pick me up and I will definitely be rereading this book in the near future! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with you opinions and perspective on this masterpiece of a novel! :)

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Panic by: Lauren Oliver

8/11/2014

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Panic by: Lauren Oliver
Synopsis: Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.


Alright.... review time! 


Im not really sure how I feel about this book... Im stuck somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4 star rating.


Y'all should know that Im a HUGE Lauren Oliver fan. Like 100% obsessed with her writing which is why Im really confused. Ive heard a lot of mixed reviews about this novel so I was totally stoked to read it for myself. It was a lot different then I thought it would be. Truthfully, I was a little disappointed. 

Don't get me wrong, I still really liked this book. I was just expecting a 6 star book. 

I think the thing that really grabbed me the most was the storyline and plot. I think that Panic is so unique and there are so many stories that could be make from this idea. I loved the intense events the characters had to participate in. I did find that it was a little hard to believe that it was only this specific years Panic game that caused the cops to get involved though. I liked the action and the switch between the characters perspectives.

I am sorry to admit though, I wasn't the biggest fan of the characters. I think that is the main reason why I didn't fully connect with this book. I didn't find that the characters were that deep. I guess what Im trying to say is that I didn't find them to memorable. I didn't understand why they did things or acted in specific ways. I didn't really care what happened to them, I just wanted to know who would win. The only character that I really felt a connection with was Heather because I felt bad about her home life. I give her a lot of credit for just taking her sister and leaving. I hated Nat and I felt like she was a bit of a brat. Dodge was ok I guess. Its admirable that he was trying to get revenge for his sister but he should have been there to support her, not ruin someone else's life. I did like Bishop though! He was cute and it was nice to see how much he cared for Heather. 

I could go on and on about this books pros and cons. I liked the plot and the small town feel etc, but I just didn't connect with the characters! Maybe my opinion will change once I reread some parts and think about it more but as of right now, Im disappointed that I didn't like it more.


Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with your opinion and perspective on this novel! :)

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The Ring and the Crown By: Melissa de la Cruz

8/7/2014

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The Ring and the Crown By: Melissa de la Cruz

Synopsis: Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the Lily Throne, and Aelwyn Myrddn, bastard daughter of the Mage of England, grew up together. But who will rule, and who will serve? 

Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second, Supreme Ruler of the Franco-British Empire. With the help of her Head Merlin, Emrys, Eleanor has maintained her stranglehold on the world's only source of magic. She rules the most powerful empire the world has ever seen. 

But even with the aid of Emrys' magic, Eleanor's extended lifespan is nearing its end. The princess must marry and produce an heir or the Empire will be vulnerable to its greatest enemy, Prussia. The two kingdoms must unite to end the war, and the only solution is a match between Marie and Prince Leopold VII, heir to the Prussian throne. But Marie has always loved Gill, her childhood friend and soldier of the Queen's Guard. 

Together, Marie and Aelwyn, a powerful magician in her own right, come up with a plan. Aelwyn will take on Marie's face, allowing the princess to escape with Gill and live the quiet life she's always wanted. And Aelwyn will get what she's always dreamed of--the chance to rule. But the court intrigue and hunger for power in Lenoran England run deeper than anyone could imagine. In the end, there is only rule that matters in Eleanor's court: trust no one.


Alright... review time! This was a very....... interesting read. I honestly don't know how to describe it besides saying its "interesting". Truthfully, it was like the Soap Opera "The Young and the Restless" in the 1900s. Let me give you an example, I came down stairs and my mom asked me how my book was and I replied with this:

"Ohh yes, its really interesting mom! This one girl, Isabelle just ran away to marry her like second generation cousin removed and then he was murdered and she found out she was pregnant and she doesn't know if its her ex husbands (the prince who basically sexually abused her) or if the kid is her perverted uncle's. He used to sexually assault her as well, you see??"

It was in that moment that I realized that maybe there was like 7 too many plot twists thrown into this book. haha! This novel switches between 5 or 6 points of view which was also very hard to follow. I loved the magic and the role that the merlins and magic people played in society but the relationships between the characters really lost the book some major points. I really think that one of the main things that angered me about this book though, was the fact that none of the couples ended up together. Like I had to read through 300 pages of all the love triangles and forbidden romance and dramatic SOAP stuff and its all for NOTHING! *facepalm* 

I really enjoyed the world in which this story took place and i liked the characters (although I couldn't really relate to them) but Melissa de la Cruz really needs to calm down with the plot twist and drama. I honestly felt like I should have had a pen and paper and been taking notes to keep track of it all... 


Okay! Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with you opinions and perspective in this novel!! :)

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

8/7/2014

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows By: JK Rowling

Synopsis: Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing - if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfill the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him?
The epic finale to an epic series.






I finished rereading this about 2 days ago I believe. I am still having difficulties gaining a coherent thought. Like honestly, these books are so vast, detailed and intricate, its impossible to cover all everything. I think most importantly, I want to say thank you to the wonderful JK Rowling. Thank you for giving me something to identify with. Thank you for creating characters that I could relate too. Thank you for giving me a world unlike anything any one has ever seen. Thank you for writing something that helped make me the way I am today. 

"After all this time?"
"Always," said Snape.

I will ALWAYS be a fan of these books. I will ALWAYS strive to be brave like a Gryffindor, kind like a Hufflepuff, smart like a Ravenclaw and ambitious like a Slytherin. I will ALWAYS value my friends and do my best to support them in everything they do. I will ALWAYS stand by what I believe in and not let people push me around. I may be a muggle, but I will ALWAYS have the heart of a wizard. Thank you.




Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with your opinion and perspective on this book! :)



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Just One Day by: Gayle Forman

4/17/2014

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Just One Day by: Gayle Forman
Synopsis: Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.

A book about love, heartbreak, travel, identity, and the “accidents” of fate,Just One Day shows us how sometimes in order to get found, you first have to get lost. . . and how often the people we are seeking are much closer than we know.

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Alright... review time!


I have heard soo much hype about this book and Gayle Forman's writing so I was extremely excited to read this. I must admit though, I was expecting a bit more.


 I LOVED the traveling aspects, the food, and the languages in this book but I found that the characters, romance and turn of events was a little choppy and confusing at times. I really liked the very beginning of this book but I found that the one day spent in Paris was a little hard to follow but still good. I did find Allyson a little annoying at times and I couldn't really relate to her and understand all her decisions. I also liked Willem but I didn't think he was anything special. Although the college scenes were a tad boring at times, I really enjoyed seeing Allyson change her classes and really discover herself as a person instead of being her parents perfect golden girl. I also freakin LOVED Dee. He was amazing. Also, Allyson's mom drove me crazy. She was so controlling etc but I did like the tension and the mood that her craziness created.

I loved that Ally went back to Europe and I really liked watching her find the little clues on her way to Willem. I did lose a lot of respect for Willem though when you find out how he was had relationships with almost EVERY girl in Europe. I highly enjoyed reading about Allyson's travels but I found that the ending was a bit of a let down. I was just DYING to see them have their first convo together since Paris but it never happened. Maybe you get to see that in the next book. There were aspects that I hated and aspects that I loved. I don't plan on running out to buy the next book but if I see it for cheap somewhere I will probably pick it up.




Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with your opinions and perspective on this novel! :)
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Talented By: Sophie Davis

3/29/2014

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Talented By: Sophie Davis
Synopsis: When Talia Lyons was just a child, her parents were murdered before her eyes. Offered a choice between accepting their fate and exacting revenge, Talia trains to become one of the country’s deadliest assassins in order to kill the man responsible for their deaths: Ian Crane. Luckily, Talia was born with a gift- the ability to read and influence the minds of others. At sixteen, Talia is poised to graduate from the McDonough School for the Talented, where she learned to control her abilities. Now there is only one obstacle standing between her and the retribution she craves... Talia herself.

Her greatest asset may also be her undoing; while a formidable weapon in the field, Talia’s talents prevent her from both shutting off the mental connection she shares with her questionable boyfriend and blocking out the thoughts of a beguiling fellow recruit. But Talia can’t afford to have the feelings and distractions of a normal teenage girl, when her life is far from normal.

She must regain the single-minded determination that has brought her this far, or it may cost Talia her life when she finally faces Crane. And even after being molded in to a weapon of war, she’ll still have to find the strength it takes to pull the trigger.

If James Bond and Sookie Stackhouse had a love child with a yearning for vengeance, her story would be TALENTED: an adventure about powerful teenagers who aren’t afraid to embrace their fears and fight for what they believe in.


Alright... Its review time! I obtained an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. When I saw the gorgeous cover and read the captivating synopsis I knew that I needed to read this book. The summary made this book sound like it was about this kick ass female assassin with mind blowing abilities who is feared by the entire country. That is definitely NOT what I got from this book... I was hoping that I would fall in love but I couldn't get past the characters.


****** SPOILER ALERT DO NOT READ ANY FARTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK******


Ok, where should I begin? I felt like this book had a very good start. I was intrigued by the post apocalyptic world and I thought that the world building wasn't half bad. Reading about what happened to  Talia's parents was really heart breaking and I loved Talia's need for revenge. I liked that the McDonoughs took her under their wing and raised her. I also really enjoyed reading about Donavon and Talia's relationship as children and how they grew up together. Ill get into more detail about their relationship later. The bickering that went on between Erik, Talia and Henri was very entertaining but I really wish there had been more relationship building and more background behind Erik and Henri. It didn't explain a lot about why they were so close. Another aspect that always brought a smile to my face was Penny. She was such an amazing friend. Her happiness and cheerfulness was so enlightening and she was always there for Tal 24/7.


  Talia Lyons just frustrated me throughout the entire book. I was hoping that she would be this totally badass independent young woman. Instead I found her very immature and very dependant on other people. On the 3 missions that the author went into detail about, Talia had to be rescued because she kept getting stabbed, shot, or because she had some sort of mental break down. GAHHH!
I also found her relationships with Donavon and Erik very confusing.


   I wasn't the biggest fan of Donavon from the get go. It would just be little things that he would say that would rub me the wrong way. And then when Erik started warning Talia about him... i knew Donavon was gonna cheat in her. When she walked in on him and the blonde chick I was soooo angry. It brought me so much happiness when she went rage and threw him against the wall. I was just hoping that she would light a match and roast some marshmallows over his cabin... :) And then Donavon didn't even apologize or try to talk to her!! I hate him with a passion! 


  I loved Erik and Talia's relationship in the beginning. You could see how much he wanted to be with her but he kept trying to give her space after what happened with Donavon. I wanted them to hook up soo badly. And then when they finally did... I was elated, at first. Then after a few nights of them kissing and him staying the night I was a little confused. Erik was apparently falling in love with her and he had all these deep feelings but he never vocalized them! He never told her how beautiful she was or how thankful he was to have her. Maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic but I felt like their relationship was purely physical which is why I wasn't too upset when he yelled at her and left. 


   I highly enjoyed the world building, dialogue, and a couple of the characters but it definitely wasn't my favourite book ever. I would give it about 3 stars. I went into this book with really high expectations and was kind of let down. 


Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with you opinions and perspective on this book!! :)
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Inheritance by: Christopher Paolini

2/23/2014

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Inheritance by: Christopher Paolini
Synopsis: It began with Eragon... It ends with Inheritance.

Not so very long ago, Eragon — Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider — was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chance.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the spellbinding conclusion to Christopher Paolini's worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.


Alright.... its review time!!!


Holy!!!!! I seriously can't live like this.... that ending... the tears... the sadness.... i completely forgot how much i love these books!! The feels i am experiencing right now, UGH!! I love the length of these books and after all 4 of them i feel like I i know the characters soooo well. The deep connection I feel with all of them is something that is really hard to find in books and is a sure sign of an amazing author! I love Christopher P's writing. It is soooooo magical! He is a very verbose and descriptive writer which I love because it makes the world and character building so much more believable and real. I also love all the different and unique names used for the characters and cities. It helps make the reader feel like you are in a completely new world and anything is possible. It also just makes makes the story much memorable and enjoyable (although pronunciation is a pain sometimes)  Every time I picked up any of these books to read I was immediately sucked into the world and I had troubles getting out! Once you start these books you can not put them down!


** Do not read any farther if you have not read ALL FOUR of the books in this series. SPOILER ALERT **

The ending of this book seriously broke my heart. I am angry yet happy and then I'm crying and laughing and.... i do not know what to think! It is extremely sad that Eragon is leaving the empire and everyone in it. Especially right after Roran had his daughter. It kills me that he is leaving Arya and may never see her again. At the same time it is so wonderful that Eragon is gonna train the new generation of riders and that he is gonna rebuild the dragon race. I just don't understand how he can say that he is never gonna come back! Imagine how the people of the empire will respond to that! The saddest part though was the goodbyes. Eragon experienced everything with Nasuada, Arya, Orik, Orrin, Roran, etc etc and for him to leave them all behind... there is not a goodbye that could encompass all of the feelings that Eragon had towards each and every one of them. It breaks my heart. 

At least Eragon has Saphira and vice versa. I absolutely love the bond between the riders and the dragons. To have someone understand you so intensely and deeply is just an endearing concept. I was soo happy when Arya become a rider because after losing her mother and all the battles. After all of her hardships, she now has someone who can understand her pain and help her through it. Not to mention Firnen and Saphira <3 Is it bad that I ship two dragons this hard? I love how Saphira got her wish for a mate even if she had to leave him.

I highly recommend these books to anyone who enjoys fantasy and a detailed story! WOW!! I will always remember these books and I am very happy that I decided to reread them! JUST WOW!



Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with you opinions and perspective on this series! :)




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Just Listen by: Sarah Dessen

2/16/2014

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Just Listen by: Sarah Dessen
Synopsis: Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything" — at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.

This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong.

Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.


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Alright... review time! 


**Do NOT read this review if you have not read this book**

**1.5 stars**

I can't even put into words how disappointed i am with this book. This book was slowing predictable. There was basically zero romance which annoyed me and I didn't even find Owen very likeable. His reaction to what Annabel went through was really weird. I felt that after spilling her entire life story he would have more of an reaction. The main character Annabel... ugh, she annoyed me sooooo much. She was so oblivious to how people around her were feeling (Clarke and Owen especially) and I felt like she didn't try very hard to make friends or keep her friendships going. I found her to be very helpless. She didn't stand up for what she believed in (except for music) and she let Sophie control her for to long. She saw how wrong and abusive she was but she did nothing to defend herself or her friends. Ive had many friends like Sophie and by letting Sophie do what she wanted Annabel just gave her more power. I can't even begin to explain how much that angered me. 

The book I read before this one was Hopeless By Colleen Hoover and it also had to do with sexual assault and that book i found was more believable. It showed the mental and physical struggle the victim went through and the repercussions of rape. It also showed the reactions of the victims family and her boyfriend. I found the fact that Annabels mom went into a deep depression after Annabels grandma died and then her daughter gets raped and she doesn't even cry or freak out. That just doesn't sit well with me. I guess everyone does deal with grief in their own way though.

The only thing I liked about this book was that I was able to relate to a lot of the stuff Annabel was going through and felt, even if i didn't agree with how she delt with it. This is my personal opinion but this book was a total let down. I don't plan on reading anymore of Sarah Dessens books. I don't recommend this novel.


Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with your opinions and reviews on this novel! :)
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Vampire Academy By: Richelle Mead

1/17/2014

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Vampire Academy Series By: Richelle Mead
Book #1: Vampire Academy
Book #2: Frostbite
Book #3: Shadow Kiss
Book #4: Blood Promise
Book #5: Spirit Bound
Book #6: Last Sacrifice

Vampire Academy Synopsis: St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.


Alright... Its review time! I finished this series during Christmas break and I am seriously still recovering. I had heard a lot of mixed things about these books (especially surrounding the whole "vampire thing") but I am SO happy that I read them. I absolutely lost myself in this intricate and well woven world and I have been going through withdrawals for the past month. Richelle Mead is easily one of my favourite authors and I will never forget these books. The world building was stunning, the characters were out of this world and the humour had me constantly laughing. This is a book world that I would love to live in. I HIGHLY recommend these books to anyone who enjoys fantasy, romance, and supernatural amazingness... :D


****** SPOILER ALERT DO NOT READ ANY FARTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT READ ALL 6 OF THE BOOKS IN THIS FANTASTICALLY,BRILLIANT SERIES******


Ok... where do I seriously begin? *sigh* One of the main reasons I love these books is because of how unique the Moroi/Dhampir/Stigoi world is. It angers me so much when people say "This book is just like Twilight ...." "All the characters are like Edward and Bella...". Don't get me wrong, Im a fan of the Twilight books but they seriously ruined any chance vampire books have of not being judged or compared. I have no idea how anyone could say anything like that though because in my opinion these books are NOTHING like Twilight.


One main reason are the characters. For me to throughly enjoy a book and fall in love with it, I have to like the main protagonist. Its almost impossible to become fulling invested in a book when you hate the person who's perspective the entire story is told from. This was not the case with Rose Hathaway. I love this chick. Like level 3 girl crush. #jennamarblesreference #longhashtags :) Rose is probably my favourite female character ever. She is totally kick-ass, independent, reliable, brave, beautiful.... the list goes on and on. One my favourite qualities about her is the fact that she takes control and adapts to almost any situation. Always equipped with a witty or sarcastic retort and a stake, she takes matters into her own hands and doesn't let anyone push her around. Rose doesn't need someone to come in and save her from sticky situations. Unless you count getting locked in prison for treason and murder.... ;)


Another character that just kills my heart is... drum roll please.... Dimitri Belikov... yeah cuz that wasn't obvious or anything. <3 This man just melted me. Ok, I admit the whole long hair thing he had going on wasn't exactly my cup of tea but I quickly got over that. His gentle, caring, and romantic side had me falling in love with his and Rose's love every single book. Not to mention the fact that he is a "Guardian god" as Mason would say. Like Rose, he is self sufficient and always ready to protect those he loves. Him and Roza are almost exactly alike which makes them perfect for each other. At the end of Shadow Kissed when Dimitri got turned into Stigoi my world was flipped upside down. I was so shocked and heart broken. I didn't see the purpose in reading anymore. Thank goodness I did because when Lissa turned him back I was seriously the happiest person in the world.

One other character I want to talk about is Adrian Ivashkov. I will talk more about him in the review I will write for Richelle Meads spin off series Bloodlines but for now we can all fangirl for a few sentences. Adrian is so protective, stunningly attractive and HILARIOUS! I love his sarcasm and artistic brilliance. When Rose and Dimitri ended up together in the end I was so ecstatic but at the same time I felt so horrible for Adrian. Thats why I was very thankful for the Bloodlines series because Adrian finally found someone.... Im not saying who though.... 

The relationships are the other thing that made me fall head over heels for these books. As I was saying before, Rose and Dimitri are perfect for each other and I was rooting for them the entire series. Each part that had the 2 of them in it had me on the edge of my seat and left me with my heart racing. Again as I had mentioned, when Dimitri turned Strigoi I was seriously done. I didn't see it coming at all. He had my blood boiling all throughout Blood Promise when he kidnapped Rose and was drinking from her. I got to the point when I... almost wanted him to die... *gasp* I know, shocking! Then finally in Spirit Bound and he was turned back... it was just a perfectly aimed bullet to my feelings. LOL I was waiting with baited breath for the reunion between Rose and Dimitri but it never came. Mrs. Mead knows exactly what to do to mess with my emotions. Between Rose being stuck in prison for murdering Queen Tatianna (which she didn't do), Dimitri acting like a moody 14 year old girl and all the characters other little problems, I seriously couldn't handle it. I thought all hope was lost in Last Sacrifice. Not to mention the title of that book. Like Mrs. Mead are you trying to make me cry before I even start the book???


This last book had my emotions all over the map which I actually loved. Its a little confusing, I know. The best part in any other books in my opinion was the hotel room near the end of Last Sacrifice when Rose and Dimitri were professing their love for each other and other stuff ;) The tears just wouldn't stop coming but they were tears of joy. My favourite line ever :
"I don’t belong to anyone. I make my own choices." 
"And you’re with Adrian," said Dimitri.
"But I was meant for you." 
-Rose and Dimitri (Last Sacrifice)
This series is so memorable. If you haven't read it please do so. I felt like I have a lasting relationship with these characters and I feel like I know them so well! 


Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with your opinion and perspective on these books!
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    Jamie

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