Suspense | Well-Read Reviews
You are here: Home / Archives for Genre / Suspense

REVIEW: #95 Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson

May 8, 2011 By 2 Comments

Title: Ultraviolet (ARC)
Author: R.J. Anderson
ISBN: 978-7613-7408-4
Pages: 304
Price: $17.95 (HC) $12.95 (EB)
★★★★★

Synopsis:

(Taken from back of book) Sixteen-year-old Alison wakes up in a mental institution. As she pieces her memory back together, she realizes she’s confessed to murdering Tori Beaugrand, the most perfect girl at school. But the case is a mystery. Tori’s body has not been found, and Allison can’t explain what happened. One minute she was fighting with Tori. The next moment Tori disintegrated — into nothing.

But that’s impossible. No one is capable of making someone vanish. Right? But Alison has always been different. Nobody seems to see the world quite the way she does ..

Ultraviolet is genre-bending paranormal YA in which Alison discovers that everything she’s believed about herself and the world is wrong– and that she’s capable of far more than anyone else would believe.

Review:

I received this book from the publisher as a digital ARC. I have never heard of R.J. Anderson as of that moment but my eyes and ears are open now. She has caught my attention. Ultraviolet was very easy to get into and I was hooked from the very beginning. It was such a relief to be able to start a book and not be able to put it down until the end. Even at the end I wanted to read more. I really hope that Anderson is currently writing a sequel.

Alison is a young girl of 16 and she wakes up in the hospital, in the psych unit. She can not remember how she got there; not right away, at least. When the memories return, they don’t make sense. Was she really capable of murder? Weeks had passed since Alison had been admitted to the hospital before she woke up. Now that she has calmed down, she is admitted to Pine Hills Mental Hospital into the Red Ward, for those who are in danger of committing violence against themselves or others. That is, until she is fit for the yellow ward.

Everyone thinks Alison killed Tori, but no one can explain how it happened in the supposed time span. How could a young 16 year old murder another girl her age and hide the body within minutes before returning home? Things just do not ad up. Alison does know that one minute she is fighting with the Tori and the next Tori is being pulled apart in a painful, excruciating way. Then she disappears. Is Alison crazy? No one just disappears. More importantly, did Alison do it? Is this some hidden power manifested within her own being?

I felt that Ultraviolet was done very well. R.J. Anderson put a lot of thought and research into the novel, having bits of truth put in. I have never heard of some of the issues Alison faces, the phenomenons, but they exist. To find out what I am talking about, well — you’ll have to read the book. Those who enjoy paranormal YA will definitely enjoy R.J. Anderson’s, Ultraviolet. I found nothing wrong with the book other than the fact that it ended with me wanting more.

Filed Under: 5 Stars, Books, General, Genre, Paranormal, Ratings, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #91 Delirium by Lauren Oliver

April 21, 2011 By 9 Comments

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Pages: 448
ISBN: 978-0061726828
[Rating:4]

Synopsis: (Taken from Amazon.com) What if love were a disease? There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it. Then, at last, they found the cure. Now, everything is different. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But then, with only ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable.

Review:

Delirium was written by award winning author Lauren Oliver, who wrote popular YA novel Before I Fall. I have heard a lot of wonderful things about Lauren Oliver’s work and have owned Before I Fall for months now, yet Delirium was my first true experience with this new author. When I heard that Delirium was a dystopian novel, I had to read it and pushed it to the front of my “to be read” pile. Delirium was a bit different as it wasn’t a focus on futuristic devices as I’ve seen in many other dystopian novels. Delirium plays with your mind, making a very realistic world and made the thought of such a strict government all the more scary. What is America without its freedom? In the future, the United States of America is extremely regulated and partnerships are made; and made without love You see, love is a disease and a disease to be feared.

The book is about a naive young girl named Lena (short for Magdalena) and she is preparing for her evaluations. She has never had a boyfriend, nor has she ever had any real interest in having one. Gender mixing is not allowed, not until people are “cured” but even then, they are usually already paired and married; destined to spend their life with a stranger. The evaluations are a time to impress the judges as they will set up each person with a fitting partner as well as decide what their future careers will be. The evaluations are meant to impress and people spend a long time in preparation for this special event.

What bothered me most about this dystopian world is the relationship between parent and child. When the government removes the feelings of love from a person’s brain through “the” operation, this also prevents loving feelings for their own children. Although the children grow up with the capacity to love, they grow up not feeling it in return. Isn’t that absolutely horrific? Lena was, in a sense, blessed. The operation failed on her mother and Lena grew up very loved and had a very different relationship with her mother than was normally allowed.

Years after Lena’s mother’s suicide — she begins to question everything. Enter Alex — a cured. Is life without love really a life worth living?

Although it took me a while to really get into the book — once Lena meets Alex and they begin to spend time together, I couldn’t put the book down. Lena’s transformation and character growth is amazing. Delirium is a thought provoking read and worth the add to your “must-read” dystopian collection. Although the beginning is stuffed with background information, it is worth pushing through and getting to the real meat of the story. I recommend picking up Delirium. You will love it.

 

Filed Under: 4 Stars, Books, Dystopian, Reviews, Romance, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #90 Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves @DiaReeves

April 12, 2011 By 7 Comments

Title: Slice of Cherry
Author: Dia Reeves
Pages: 512
ISBN: 1416986200
★★★★★

Synopsis: (Taken from Amazon.com) Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.

It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities….

Review:
I first discovered Slice of Cherry on another book bloggers “Waiting on Wednesday” entry. I found myself so intrigued with the description that I wrote it down and vowed to read it as soon as I could. Months and months later, I finally was able to obtain a copy and read it for myself. It wasn’t at all like I expected and that’s not exactly a bad thing. To put it fairly simple the book was, as described by another reviewer on GoodReads, “A Psychopathic Killer’s Narnia” and they couldn’t be more accurate.

We meet Kit and Fancy Cordelle, sisters of the exceptionally tight kind. They do everything together and are rarely without each other. After all, no one understands what its like being in their shoes; the daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer. No one else understands their urge to kill; no one except their father and he’s in Prison awaiting execution.

Initially I thought Slice of Cherry would be a realistic thriller about two young girls who are too much like their father and are too close for comfort. What I discovered was that it was a mixture of paranormal oddness. It made me wonder, “What exactly was Dia Reeves ON when she wrote this?” Even so, she’s quite the genius. There were points when it ran a little slow and bits and pieces that confused me. For example, Reeves mentions ‘cacklers’ a lot in the book, which were described as monster-like creatures. When I looked up ‘cackler’ google said they were birds and I kept wondering why was everyone scared of BIRDS? But it turns out Reeves has made up a fictional monster creature which may be mentioned in a companion novel, “Bleeding Violet”. For some reason the town these girls live in, Portero, Texas is highly magical/mysterious and not a lot of detail goes into what makes Portero such an open door to all that is paranormal. For a while, actually, I thought I was reading about a setting near New Orleans for all it’s voodoo like descriptions.

After I finished Slice of Cherry, I felt strange. Almost violated in a way; creeped out for sure. I even woke up in the middle of the night and all I could think about was how strange this book was. I am just at loss for words. It sounds like I am complaining but I am most certainly not. Only master story tellers can make you feel a wide-range of emotions, even emotions people don’t particularly like to visit often.

Slice of Cherry was a wonderfully written piece of new author, Dia Reeves, full of gore and magic, and more gore (and a little romance). I think for those that enjoy reading about serial killers, you may have the stomach to read (and enjoy) Slice of Cherry. For those who are super sensitive to horror, you may never sleep again.

Overall: Buy it.

Filed Under: 4 Stars, Books, Paranormal, Reviews, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #86 The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

March 14, 2011 By 1 Comment

 

Title: The Ask and the Answer
Author: Patrick Ness
ISBN:1441888985
Pages: 536
★★★★★

Synopsis:(Taken from Amazon.com)We were in the square, in the square where I’d run, holding her, carrying her, telling her to stay alive, stay alive till we got safe, till we got to Haven so I could save her – But there weren’t no safety, no safety at all, there was just him and his men…Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor’s new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode…”The Ask and the Answer” is a tense, shocking and deeply moving novel of resistance under the most extreme pressure. This is the second title in the “Chaos Walking” trilogy.

Review: This is the second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy. If you have not read The Knife of Never Letting Go then I highly recommend you start there and not read this review as it may contain spoilers. I am the type of person that will refuse to even read the back cover of a book in a series until I have finished the book before it. So, needless to say, I wouldn’t want to ruin anything for you.

I have to say that I thought The Ask and the Answer was rather disappointing. Todd and Viola are separated for most of the book. Rather than the face-paced adventure in book1, we are pulled through a slow sludge of chores in Book 2. Todd is forced to work with the native aliens, the spackle. Used and abused, the spackle are forced to be inventoried and sorted and Todd has to do so with the son of his enemy, the Mayor. *Yawn*

Viola is in a different location learning her way as a healer. The entire book is spent going back and forth between Todd and Viola (which I didn’t like). Todd’s lack of education was rather endearing in Book 1, but in book 2 it made him rather unlikeable and weak. There was nothing particularly impressive about either character and it caused me to not feel as into the book as I should have. I kept reading to find out what happened but never felt compelled to read nonstop.

I will read number 3 but I don’t feel the urgency to do so. I hope that Ness redeems himself in the third installment because the series has such potential for a permanent place on the ‘must read’ list of Dystopian novels for years to come.

Allison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

 

Filed Under: 3.5 Stars, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #85 The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

March 8, 2011 By 1 Comment

NOTE:

I thank everyone for supporting me as I went through a little sabbatical. I am much better now and am ready to continue on with my obligations. :) I don’t really want to go too into what I’ve been dealing with the past few months, yet. But I will eventually. So I thank you for your continued support.

Title: The Scorch Trials
Author: James Dashner
ISBN: 0385738757
Pages: 368
Review: ★★★★★

Synopsis: (Taken From Amazon.com) Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

Review: (Note: If you have NOT read The Maze Runner, please do not read this review as there are some spoilers. Instead, what are you waiting for? Go read The Maze Runner!) After reading The Maze Runner, I knew I had to continue reading this trilogy. After all, I am a sucker for a good adventurous dystopian novel and James Dashner writes a damn good one.

Thomas and a few select members from the Glade have survived the murderous trials of the maze brought on by an organization called “WICKED”. What Thomas and group fail to realize is that the trials are not over. They have only just begun.

A horrible disease has brought down the World; a disease called “The Flare” and the everyone has it, including our hero Thomas. In order to rid themselves of impending insanity, they must subject themselves to more trials and travel across the abandoned land called “The Scorch” and find their safe haven.

With Teresa being taken away, the boys are all given a specific role. What is Thomas’ role? His role is to be killed by Test Group B. You see, the boys weren’t the only group put into a maze but there was another test group made primarily of all girls and Teresa has joined them.

The Scorch Trials is riddled with new characters (eerily creepy humans affected by the Flare and have become zombie-like cranks) and Thomas finds himself unable to trust anyone, including himself.

The Scorch Trials starts quickly and is fast paced, emotional, and thrilling. Unfortunately, and I tell you this, you’ll be left with more questions and little answered. Looks like I have to wait.. yet again .. for a book in this thrilling series.

Overall, I recommend the read. Just make sure you read it with the lights turned on.

Filed Under: 4 Stars, Books, Dystopian, Reviews, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #82 The Forest of Hands and Teeth

September 26, 2010 By 8 Comments

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
ISBN: 978-0385736817
Pages: 320
[Rating:5]

Synopsis: (Taken from Amazon.com)
In Mary’s world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Review:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is probably one of the most recommended books on Twitter. You ask the twitterverse what dystopian novel you should read next and The Forest of Hands and Teeth is usually the one recommended. I don’t blame them. This book was oddly intensely interesting from the very beginning to the very end.


Keyword: Intense.


On the surface you have a typical dystopian society. They are shut off from the rest of civilization (to which they believe has perished) and they have a very specific way they like to do things. Everything from jobs to marriages are carefully decided for each member of Mary’s world. In a semi-old fashioned type of way, Mary expects to be “called” on by the boy she loves.


On the outside of this perfect little society are zombies — and lots and lots of zombies. Freakishly descriptive zombies that will give you the willies just reading about them. While Ryan never outwardly says “these creatures are zombies”, it’s pretty much a given. Even with the zombies on the outside, there is an odd sense of safety, as long as precautions are taken. No one is allowed near the fence.


The trouble is — Mary wants on the other side of the fence. She wants to find the ocean; a place that her mother had lovingly described in many childhood stories. The ocean seemed like a very real and sacred and magical place and no one believed it existed.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a story of love and survival. It’s dystopian meets zombies. It seems absolutely bizaare but it makes sense. It kind of reminds me of that movie with Will Smith (although the name doesn’t ring a bell at this very second). You know the one where disease takes over and turns people into zombies. It’s like a post-war zombie book… but good.

If you are into dystopian novels (or into zombies) I definitely recommend picking up The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Just — don’t read it too close to bed time.

Filed Under: 5 Stars, Books, Dystopian, Paranormal, Reviews, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW #81: Mockingjay (Hunger Games Trilogy #3)

September 26, 2010 By 8 Comments

Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
ISBN: 978-0439023511
Pages: 400
[Rating:3]

** WARNING: SPOILERS ** ** WARNING SPOILERS** **WARNING SPOILERS**

Mockingjay, to say the least, was not my favorite of the three. In fact, I almost wish I hadn’t read it. Mockingjay left me with a sense of disrespect for Katniss, who (over the previous two books) I had come to love and admire. Katniss was a character of passion and strength. But something happened to her.

Maybe life just got to her but she turned into such a weakling. Every turn of the page something happens in which she SHOULD have died, but even the enemy comes to the rescue and all is well again. She whines. She talks about her recovery and then she’s back on the semi-battlefield.

The war, this time, was very disappointing. Although Collins discusses neat futuristic weapons of war, there is something lacking in the “puzzle” that made the fights so enjoyable and stressful to read in Hunger Games and Catching Fire.  This time, Katniss doesn’t really HAVE to use her mind, as there are a bunch of people there helping. Katniss doesn’t HAVE to be strong because it’s not the part she’s playing. Katniss just.. is there.

It was disappointing.

Then don’t even get me started on the whole Gale/Katniss/Peeta love triangle. For some reason, I always invisioned she would end up with Gale. He was her best friend — the one that I always felt in my heart Katniss loved. I also felt that Peeta was a pity love. Peeta kind of reminded me of my college boyfriend — in that he’s a great guy and treats Katniss like a Queen but the spark’s not there. Katniss wants to love him, but it’s a guilt kind of feeling. I never BELIEVED Katniss could love him — so why does she end up in such a depressing marriage with Peeta? (He “convinces” her to have kids?) Oh come on. In Hunger Games & Catching Fire.. no one “convinces” Katniss.

What the HELL happened to her??!

I think Collins sold out on this book. With such a success over the first two — she knew she wouldn’t have to invest a lot of time or thought into the last book because “people would buy it anyway”. I don’t really think that is a sign of a true author — to lesson the quality just because it’ll sell no matter what. I mean, just look at JK Rawling who kept it happening book after book after book. So, Collins, you semi-disappoint.

Katniss should have gone out with a BANG! Instead she went out with a pop!-fizzle. Ppsfffhhh. Well .. at least now I have The Scorch Trials by James Dashner to look forward to. (Please don’t disappoint, Mr. Dashner! I am counting on you!)

Filed Under: 3 Stars, Books, Dystopian, Reviews, Science Fiction, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #79 Phantoms by Dean Koontz

May 24, 2010 By 1 Comment

Note: I can’t believe I only have 3 entries in the entire month of may. This 3rd trimester lack of energy is REALLY affecting me!! Eek!

Title: Phantoms
Author:Dean Koontz
ISBN: 0425181103
Pages: 448
[Rating:4.5]

Synopsis: (Taken from GoodReads.com)
They found the town silent, apparently abandoned. Then they found the first body, strangely swollen and still warm. One hundred fifty were dead, 350 missing. But the terror had only begun in the tiny mountain town of Snowfield, California.

Review:

It was a scary read, that is for sure. I don’t think I had as many f-ed up dreams as I did when I was reading this novel, Phantoms by Dean Koontz. The entire thing was creepy. A doctor and her younger sister (which, due to an age gap, don’t know each other very well but don’t have anyone else left) stumble upon a series of strange deaths. On top of that, the once busy town is deserted.

I was hooked towards the beginning — scared out of my mind. Though towards the end, it started losing me a little bit (once it was discovered what was happening). Although part of me was intrigued by the history of mass disappearances in the real-world (You’ll be looking them up!) I thought Koontz idea of the ancient enemy was too sci-fi for my liking. I admit, though, that it was very sci-fi, it still was spooky.

Having enjoyed the book as much as I did, I went and rented the 1998 movie, Phantoms, and wish I hadn’t. I couldn’t even get through the first 20 minutes because they had changed so much and it was so *yawn* boring. Nothing deserving of the suspenseful spook the book gave of!

If you enjoy horror (with a bit of sci-fi twist) then I definitely recommend reading Phantoms by Dean Koontz!

Filed Under: 4.5 Stars, Books, Paranormal, Reviews, Suspense Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #77 Pretties – Scott Westerfeld

April 26, 2010 By 2 Comments

Title: Pretties
Author: Scott Westerfeld
ISBN: 0439891612
Pages: 384
[Rating:2.5]

Synopsis: (Taken from Amazon.com)
Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she’s completely popular. It’s everything she’s ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun — the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom — is a nagging sense that something’s wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally’s ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what’s wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life — because the authorities don’t intend to let anyone with this information survive.

Review:

I wanted to poke my eye out multiple times through out the reading of this novel. It was the language, the superficiality. It was Tally that made me want to kick some metaphorical little girl literature butt.

Things I disliked about PRETTIES by Scott Westerfeld:

  • How many different boys does Tally have to go through before her relationships seem even remotely meaningful? Westerfeld wants us to fall in love with a boy through Tally, but she changes her mind like she changes clothes. Peris? Or David? Or Zane? Seriously! The relationships fall flat when there is build up of emotion and then — woosh — someone new. If I read Specials (and I will — just hoping Westerfeld redeems himself if he wants to be taken seriously in my mind) but if Tally has a new love interest, I will throw the book into the metaphorical fire and reject Westerfeld completely as a serious author.
  • The nicknames, “Tally-Wally” or “Shay-La” Oh come on! Are nicknames REALLY necessary? It just makes the characters sound like complete idiots.
  • “This is so bubbly-making!” Oh my god.
  • Anything that ended in -making (and it was a lot and felt like every other word through out the entire novel). I get that Westerfeld is trying to come up with a new way of writing, a language that has developed in the future (slang and what not) but I felt he failed miserably. It only made me despise these characters down to their very core.

Great literature should make you hate a character or two — but definitely not the protagonist. You shouldn’t have to roll your eyes every time she speaks. But I did — oh, how I did.

I rated Pretties a 2.5 because I did actually finish the book even though it wasn’t for me. Though it is definitely not was up to par with average. Many people seemed to like this novel — and I don’t mean to sound offensive-making (har har har) but if you enjoyed this novel, you really need to see if somehow Westerfeld has put some sort of tricking device in your head to make you lower your quality of reads.

Sponsored by:
Are you interested in 000-115 certifications? Get our self paced 70-536 & 1Y0-A08 practice questions and CISM study packages to pass your exam without any intricacy in HP0-J48.

Filed Under: 2.5 Stars, Books, Dystopian, Reviews, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #75 Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

April 26, 2010 By 7 Comments

Title: Uglies
Author: Scott Westerfeld
ISBN: 1435248244
Pages: 425
[Rating: 3.5]

Synopsis: (Taken From Amazon.com) Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can’t wait. Not for her license — for turning pretty. In Tally’s world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally’s new friend Shay isn’t sure she wants to be pretty. She’d rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world — and it isn’t very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Review:
I was highly recommended Uglies by Scott Westerfeld again and again — so naturally (being Dystopian and all) I already had high hopes. Unfortunately if my high hopes were a 5, this only reached about 70% of the way. It wasn’t particularly bad, per say — just a little above average.

It’s very hard to attach yourself to a character who is ingrained to be so superficial. Although I understand the whole point in poking fun at society in general, I don’t think it was AS beautifully done as it could be. What made the book enjoyable was Tally’s journey to find her friend, who had escaped being sent to Pretty Town. I loved the idea of hover boards and how they worked as well as the filter that filtered fresh water (even from urine!) and also hydrated their dehydrated food. (Even if it was only the same dish over and over!)

The thing about Uglies by Scott Westerfeld — is that it’s not a novel that is truly capable of being this amazing multi-dimensional novel that even highly educated adults would enjoy. It’s more of a novel that limits itself to young teenagers. It’s not particularly WELL-written. It just has a pretty neat concept with a touch of danger and excitement. It will surely attract young teens who are broadening their literary horizons to the Dystopian genre!

Filed Under: 3.5 Stars, Books, Dystopian, Reviews, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #73 Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

April 5, 2010 By 2 Comments

Title: Odd Thomas
Author: Dean Koontz
ISBN: 0007695381
Pages: 446
[Rating:4]

Synopsis: (Taken from Amazon.com) The dead don’t talk. I don’t know why. But they do try to communicate, with a short-order cook in a small desert town serving as their reluctant confidant. Odd Thomas thinks of himself as an ordinary guy, if possessed of a certain measure of talent at the Pico Mundo Grill and rapturously in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Stormy Llewellyn. Maybe he has a gift, maybe it’s a curse, Odd has never been sure, but he tries to do his best by the silent souls who seek him out. Sometimes they want justice, and Odd’s otherworldly tips to Pico Mundo’s sympathetic police chief, Wyatt Porter, can solve a crime. Occasionally they can prevent one. But this time it’s different.

A mysterious man comes to town with a voracious appetite, a filing cabinet stuffed with information on the world’s worst killers, and a pack of hyena-like shades following him wherever he goes. Who the man is and what he wants, not even Odd?s deceased informants can tell him. His most ominous clue is a page ripped from a day-by-day calendar for August 15.

Today is August 14.

In less than twenty-four hours, Pico Mundo will awaken to a day of catastrophe. As evil coils under the searing desert sun, Odd travels through the shifting prisms of his world, struggling to avert a looming cataclysm with the aid of his soul mate and an unlikely community of allies that includes the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. His account of two shattering days when past and present, fate and destiny converge is the stuff of our worst nightmares?and a testament by which to live: sanely if not safely, with courage, humor, and a full heart that even in the darkness must persevere.

Review:

In middle & high school, I used to read a lot of Dean Koontz (and John Saul). I don’t know why — but I just loved their books. The mystery, the horror. They just made an all around good read. However, years passed and I had not picked one up in a while. I asked my Twitter feed what I should read of Koontz, and it was suggested that I read Odd Thomas.

Odd Thomas kind of reminds me of The Sixth Sense — in a way. He sees dead people. He also sees these black, shapeless spirits that tend to feed off negative deaths and massacre. One day he sees this fungus face looking man — who gives him a bad feeling so he decides to pursue him and find out what his deal is.

What he finds himself in– is a whirlwind of horror. Can he save everyone who is about to be massacred? The thousands of people whose lives are in his hands?

The book, Odd Thomas, was an easy read. The only thing that I didn’t like was that he put himself into these stupid situations. Breaking into someone’s house — touching dead bodies at the scene of the crime. Odd Thomas, although likeable, didn’t seem all that intelligent with DNA matters. Although he mentioned DNA — he just didn’t care. But I guess it doesn’t matter that much when you have cops on your side, right?? Even so, I just wish Odd was more careful in this matter.

I definitely will read the sequel.. because it’s a very interesting subject and an addicting read. It is mystery with a bit of supernatural horror (although not too scary, by any means). It also touches on serial killers, which is of interest to you, then I would recommend this read.

Filed Under: 4 Stars, Books, Paranormal, Reviews, Suspense Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #69 Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

March 18, 2010 By 8 Comments

Title: Living Dead Girl
Author: Elizabeth Scott
ISBN: 1416960600
Pages: 176
[Rating:3.5]

Synopsis: (Taken from Amazon.com)

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends — her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.

Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.

This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

Review:

This book, Living Dead Girl,  has a touch of genius — touching on a topic in all its honesty that is both unsaid and harsh. We are taken into the life and mind of a teenager, abducted when she was a child while on a Field Trip with her school. Forced to be called “Alice” and dress and act like his incestuous daughter.

“Alice” is raped repeatedly day after day — but why doesn’t she attempt to escape, you ask? Some would say psychologically she had bonded to the captor, but I did not feel this way at all. Her hate for him was apparant, and her fight for survival was immense. “Alice” did what she had to do to survive the day in and day out torment of Ray.

Ray has a disgusting and vile fascination with little girls — and “Alice” knows her time with him (and her life) is expiring as she is growing older and cannot control how tall she grows, or her womanly cycles. In Living Dead Girl, we are brought on “Alice’s” journey to find a replacement for her so she can make her escape.

I was torn with this novel. On the one hand, I couldn’t put it down. On the other hand — the way it was written, it must be for young teenagers. The wording was very simple and descriptions easy to imagine. The writing level was well below college-level. More likely at a middle school level. However — the context of the text was way, WAY, too adult to have a child read. So who EXACTLY is this book geared towards?

Unless you want to look at the simplicity of the writing as the thought process of a teenager who was kidnapped (and therefore without schooling) since she was 10 — then it would make some sense. But because I am so confused as to who the intended audience is for.. I can’t exactly say it was “phenomenal”.  In bookstores, Living Dead Girl is considered YA, although I think it’s way too deep and inappropriate for children (or young adults/teenagers) to read as it discusses rape and fellatio — as well as the obvious age difference [i.e. adult with child]) It seems immoral to subject young readers to such a twisted text.

Do children need to know of such possible dangers? Sure — but in such detail? I don’t really think so. It gives me a slight “ick” factor. Then again — I was reading V.C. Andrews, “Flowers in the Attic” in the 8th grade and that (just as well) touches on absuse as well as sex and incest. So maybe — I am thinking too much about it. I have no absolute idea. I just know that Living Dead Girl was intense and a read I wouldn’t allow my below-high schooler to read.

The last issue I had with the book is the ending is rather vague. While discussing it with a reader, we both discovered we had completely different interpretations on how the book ended. One of us thought she lived, while the other thought she died. Neither of us fully understand the truth.

While mentioning @EScottwrites (the author on Twitter) and asking her about a possible sequel –she said she had no intentions but has learned to “Never say ‘never’.” It’s hard to ask an author via Twitter what happened to the character without spoiling it for others.

But if you HAVE read Living Dead Girl, I would like to hear what you think. Did she live? Die? What do you think happened with “Alice” next?

Filed Under: 3.5 Stars, Books, Reviews, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #64 Graceling by Kristin Cashore

March 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
ISBN: 0547258305
Pages: 480
[Rating:4]

Synopsis: (Taken from Amazon.com)

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

Review:

I wasn’t sure about starting this one. Although I’ve heard so many good things about it — it just didn’t sound like something I would normally pick up and read. However, when I asked Twitter what I should start reading, this got the vote. So – with that, I began my journey into this fantasy-fiction novel.

Katsa is this young woman who has her guard up – literally. Trained and Graced to kill — Katsa has little room for human relationships. Being her King’s personal “go-to-killer”, Katsa is one of the most feared woman in all of the kingdoms. But — many people fear what they don’t understand.

Tired of killing innocents, Katsa decides to start a rebellion against her king and leave on a journey to discover and kill and even bigger threat — King Leck.

Katsa, head-strong in her decisions and feelings knows what she has set out to do.. but what she doesn’t ready herself for is falling in love with another Graceling, a Prince.

The only thing I did not like about this book was the beginning – the introductory of characters. I absolutely hate when books feel the need to introduce every possible character in a matter of pages. Especially when it’s fantasy characters with unique names. It’s very hard to keep track of who is who unless you have some substance to their character. There was a lot of opportunity to introduce characters throughout the book that I do not believe Cashore HAD to introduce them all at once.

This is the ONLY issue I had with Graceling, as it may be discouraging to those who aren’t NORMALLY fantasy-fight type book readers.

Overall the book was really good — and I read it in a matter of about 2 days. You’ll come to know Prince Po and fall in love with him as he’s so gallant and charming and it’s so obvious when he’s in love. The match in personalities between Po and Katsa is ideal as she is not much of a communicator of feelings or emotions, and he does all the talking. He knows what she’s feeling and seeks out to make her life happy and comfortable in any way he can, even at the expense of his own un-happiness. (How can you NOT love a man like that?)

I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to be introduced to this type of genre, as well as anyone who enjoys sort of a medieval-type fighting life with kingdoms — and timeless romance!

Filed Under: 4 Stars, Books, Paranormal, Reviews, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: #62 Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins #Book #Dystopia

March 9, 2010 By 2 Comments

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
ISBN: 0439023491
Pages: 400
[Rating:5]

Synopsis: (Taken from Amazon.com)

**WARNING** If you have NOT read The Hunger Games, please do not read this review including the synopsis as it may provide major spoilers for you.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Review:

I finished Catching Fire in a matter of a day or two. What was not to enjoy? There was suspense, fear, wonderment, and the anticipation of love. Katniss is semi-enjoying life as a victor. Never again does she have to worry about feeding her family, or her mother working too hard to provide for her sister.  Katniss has the means to give her family a somewhat-comfortable life. Having more riches and resources than she knows what to do with, Katniss often shares with other families close by.

But – is life really that easy? The capital, primarily President Snow — is angry. Katniss’ behavior in the games has begun a revolution, an uproar.  Districts are beginning to question authority. President snow will not have this. He will not be risen against. For this – that’s it – the victors (2 from each district) go back into the ring. That will teach them.

Katniss knows she is going to die. She will do everything in her power to protect Peeta, who has only loved her unselfishly. But Peeta will do everything in his power to protect Katniss.

When Katniss is up against only winners – who will come out alive? Who’s life will have to be paid as a punishment for their own revenge?

Catching Fire was interesting ( to put it lightly)– with a quickly building climax and more motion. In all honesty, just like The Hunger Games, I couldn’t put it down. Above all else — many questions are popping up and I need answers. Unfortunately, the final sequel, Mockingjay — is still months away. (And I anticipate this with frustrated anticipation!)

If you’ve enjoyed The Hunger Games, then I definitely recommend continuing on and reading what happens next in Catching Fire.

Preorder Mockingjay: Out August 10th, 2010 – ONLY $8.50!
Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)

Filed Under: 5 Stars, Books, Dystopian, Reviews, Science Fiction, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,