Marked (House of Nigh, #1 by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

After a Vampire Tracker Marks her with a crescent moon on her forehead, 16-year-old Zoey Redbird enters the House of Night and learns that she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx and has affinities for all five elements: Air, Fire Water, Earth and Spirit. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school’s most elite club, is mis-using her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny – with a little help from her new vampyre friends

Goodreads Synopsis 

Review

I give ★★✩✩✩

I'll admit, I've been avoiding reviewing this book because I was so unhappy with it, 2 stars is me being super generous, and the ending kind of earned it a star. Like the fact that she became this person that sort of brought everything together and fixed an issue the "mean girl" (Aphrodite) But it just doesn't leave me wanting to read more even though the ending is kind of a cliffhanger. 

This is such a childish book. 

1. I'm so tired of hearing the phrase "Hags from hell." 

I get it! I get it, no need to repeat it in every damn page. I don't care how evil or stupid these girls are, I already get the fact that, that group of characters don't like those girls, but stop for the love of God.

2. Who cares I just may have created a weird bond with my ex, but let me just whatever it and not tell anyone. 

I'm sorry what?

3. Let me go for that one guy I almost saw getting a BJ in the hall that other night because why the hell not?! 

Yeah, Erik Night is the one.

4. Let me still act like a total child even with the most powers out of everyone ever met in universe.

So unlike anyone ever met in their world, Zoey has an affinity for all 5 elements: air, water, earth, fire and spirit. WOW. If only Nyx marked her brain too and talked some sense into her judgemental mind. 
5. Big deal she likes blood, she's a vampire, what's so embarrassing about that, it's like me saying "Uh, I hate Nutella, let me not tell my friends cuz' I'm ashamed of it." 

She has a weird mark, why would it be a surprise that she developed a little faster.  And what world involves vampires who don't drink blood, this is waaaaay out of my comfort zone, which was fine because I was looking for something a little different, instead I ended up with a children's book in my hand...

6. We were given very little information on her parents and the religious people to understand what was so wrong with them. 

7.  For a protagonist I see no character development in the future. 

I read a book to learn 

8.  The antagonist is no different than the protagonist, Aphoridte just picked a stupider group of friends.

Wasp and Warlike? What the actual hell?! Just say their name for the love of God, I don't even remember it because stupid Zoey decided it was easier to call them names that aren't even names or words. Way to complicate them characters.

9. What isn't wrong with Zoey's friends.

It feels like they all lack personality. 

The Twins: Oh wow they just said the same thing lets do that every time we're mentioned to prove our point. Let's call ourselves twins even if we're not related, because what makes twins twins is the fact that they always have the exact same thoughts and answers. I know twins that are quite human and not each others' parrots. The Casts made them fake characters, know what that is? I just invented it, it means you can have no emotional connection to them. The lack of thought put into these characters made me very, very, VERY PISSED. 

Daemon: Has this crush on Erik Night and everyone needs to remind him that "he's not playing for your team." We get it friends, we get it, he's just being a guy with a mini crush, can't he do that?! However the way the Casts describe him may seem offensive to those who are gay and "act all girly." Because no, no Daemon isn't this way, but let's discriminate those because they aren't the kind of gay people we would want in this perfect little book.

Stevie Rae: So she's a sweet, country girl with a country-girl accent. I have nothing against this one except... Oh wait nevermind, she's stupid.

10.  MODERN TIMES 

Blowjobs are a normal thing: no they aren't Zoey. Not everyone wants to do that. And if they do it's none of your damn business. And in the HALL?! So much idiocy...

Skinny like Paris Hilton: I have no idea how Paris Hilton even looks like, that's an irrelevant reference to a known pop star (she's a singer right?!) so I had no idea how anorexic-looking Aphrodite was. 

They made religious people seem like these really absurd, closed-minded people with no goals in life but to worship whatever they worship. Also humans are just... I don't even know, like if you're not. Vampire, you're either an idiot or a religious person. Okay....

What is up with everyone famous being a vampire because humans aren't gorgeous enough?! It's not about looks, I've seen singers look not so pretty and sing like .... Amazing...

This is definitely a vampire world I will never read about. 

Ahhhh i'm frustrated with this book, it took me so long to finish it. It's so damn boring and there's no real thinking behind it and I'm praying that the next 3 books have a more mature tone to them, at least the last one. I made the terrible mistake of buying the first 4 books. NEVER BUY A BOXSET FROM AUTHORS YOU NEVER READ FROM.

Onyx (Lux series, #2 by Jennifer L. Armentrout) Review

Blurb

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Review

There are so many reasons to love this book. 

This is the type of story way out of my comfort zone. It's about Aliens, and suggesting I read a book about Aliens two weeks from today, I would have most probably thrown the book at you and laughed it off. I used to love sci-fi so much that I began to hate it. Now I'm open to all kinds of books.

Katy has changed so much since the beginning of the book, most characters do, however her change was drastic, it sort of became more visible towards the end of the book. Of course, her feelings towards Daemon might've been a huge part of her change considering how now, she feels responsible, and is willing to do whatever it takes to protects those she loves. I love that about her because not many characters, especially girls, tend to work towards wanting to fight and be equal to their 'other half' I suppose. 

Daemon is adorable, I think him wanting to be the one to take all the responsibility ads to his attractiveness, his humor is over the top in a good way, I honestly feel like I can't get enough of him, much like Katy. 

There was so much suspense in the story, so much that my heart lied all the way in my gut, I may have stopped breathing several times, the curiosity I was filled with was just amazing, no book has ever made me feel that way, especially towards the end. I was reading and reading and there was so much description that made time feel like a ticking bomb was placed in my head. And then it stopped when dissappointment took over, the end completely blew me away and took my breath. 

This is a full description of how a good book should always make me feel, that's why it deserved *****! 

Despite the fact that it annoyed me a bit that there were deaths, and that, as inhuman as this sounds, Katy felt guilty and responsible for the deaths, I think it may have just added to the irony of how human-like 'aliens' can be compared to actual humans. If that makes sense... 

The gooey romance stuff going on were, surprisngly, one of my favorite parts of the books. 

"Say it."

"Say what?" I asked.

"Tell me what you told me earlier."

My heart leaped into my throat. I'd told him a lot of things, but I knew what he wanted to hear.

And when she expresses how she feels, about how turned upside down she is. 

"And I never felt this way with anyone else. Like I'm falling every time I'm around you, like I can't catch my breath, and I feel alive-..." 

"..we just make crazy together..." 

THIS IS PERFECT! 

I used to hate Romance, the idea, the image, the everything, it was just so not me, some books however, make it worth the wait. The first book showed no signs of gooey stuff, it was just them two fighting and arguing and when it finally got to this, I was relieved, and happy and it's definitely worth the wait, if I had to wait one more book for those, I would. 

Insurgent (Divergent series #2, by Veronica Roth) Review

Blurb

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Review time!

I'll admit to one thing, it took me a while to finish the book, if anything, I think I partially found it boring. It felt like it was all about TRIS FEELING BAD. It basically revolves around the idea of trust but all Tris tends to do is lie and lie and lie to the ones she loves and it's just so overwhelming. She hides how she feels, she hides what she knows and most of all she hides what she feels, and then when Four or Christina find out what she's been hiding, she feels bad. IT'S ALL ABOUT TRIS FEELING BAD. I don't know what to say about the book, I liked it, I was able to finish it, so it was THAT boring, I've read worse, definitely worse, but I would have liked more of "Happy Tris" and that would be very unrealistic if she would have been happier, due to the world falling apart and all those hidden mysteries, but it was in the last 100 pages that I started enjoying the book, which is why I gave it 4 stars. 

It was a book I liked, however was a bit disappointed when Tris seemed to just throw herself out there for the sake of others, despite Four point on that, I had gotten to the point of disrespecting her because she no longer valued her existence. 

I was beyond happy to find out that Christina made peace with Tris and everything was good between the friends, also that she later on started confiding in her by telling her what she knew, so much appreciation on that. 

Overall, it was a good book, I hoped it'd meet my expectations though, which were a lot higher.

Can you keep a secret? (Sophie Kinsella)

Blurb

Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets: " Secrets from her boyfriend: "I've always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken." Secrets from her mother: " I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching "Ben-Hur. Secrets she wouldn't share with anyone in the world: "I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is. Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger....

Review begins here... 

I finished this book just the other day, did I like it?
It's an easy question to answer, yes, yes I liked it, perhaps a lot more than I anticipated. This book immediately got me clinging to it from the first sentence. "Of course I have secrets."  And then this character, Emma, just gets you so attached to her, her personality becomes more familiar to yours, I felt like I could relate to her so much, her clumsiness, her secrets, you'd imagine that her secrets would be something that would put someone's life in danger, but no, it's not, it's the same kind of secrets we have, and after reading the book, after finishing it, I felt the need to just tell all of my secrets, according to this book, according to Emma, it changes you, letting everything out can change you.
This book moved me completely, I might have started seeing things from a completely different perspective, Emma's perspective.
The humor at the beginning of the book, the multiple shock moments it gave me played a huge role in how I generally feel about this book. Reading the story, it didn't quite occur to me that all events happening would somehow connect, that's what made it so interesting and amusing, how each character in Emma's surrounding develops, kind of gives the whole story a background. Her friends, one more or less responsible than the other or herself, the perfect guy and the incredibly mysterious guy, it's like the perfect, cheesy romance novel, only it's not cheesy, not to me, and trust me, I completely dislike cheesy romances sometimes, but this one was the type that just took me in. As soon as Jack appeared, all I wanted to do was flip the pages to Jack moments only because the character Sophie Kinsella created was the type of character you would want to see in any story. I can't form the right sentences to sum up how I feel about this story, it is absolutely amazing. Despite the fact that the use of "fuck" in Emma's thoughts came off to me as a bit of a surprise, because I am not used to that term, at all, but it fit right with the content of the story, with Emma's character, like every time she panicked, you could literally feel what she was going through. I'll admit the break-up came off to me as a bit of an abrupt thing, I'd expected it to be more humorous rather than just sad, I honestly hate feeling bad about characters, so that was not something I really liked, of course, the whole story covers that small bit, so it wasn't much of a bad thing, but with everything going on in Emma's life, that break up was just like another bad thing going on in her life, making it seem really complicated which I liked, therefore my final thought would be that this story is definitely worth reading, I would not stop laughing at everything, you'd imagine that it's exaggerated because all other attempted humor in books and movies are overrated, but this one had just about the right amount and the right kind of humor to make you burst out laughing on your own. I'd find myself smiling and chuckling and laughing like crazy throughout the whole story, and it's a great one. Perhaps we'll all be an "Emma" at some point in our lives, vulnerable, clumsy, and extremely paranoid.  This is a story of an extremely ordinary girl, who's life turns around because of one simple mistake, one we could all make, or perhaps wish to make, in order to meet our "Jack". I used to completely despise Romances, this one's starting to give me hope that there's better stories out there for me to read, especially from an author with such talent and sense of humor.