Tag: talkingbookworm

Reviews, YA Paranormal

Short Book Review: Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand

Veronica Porras (TTB)

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Goodreads Summary:

For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn’t prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

In this compelling sequel to Unearthly, Cynthia Hand captures the joy of first love, the anguish of loss, and the confusion of becoming who you are.

Review:

All aboard the Cynthia Hand train!

I absolutely loved Hallowed. The writing was better. The plot got juicer. The love triangle became even more intense. Ladies and Gentlemen, the sequel to Unearthly was not just better, it was phenomenal. I seriously hope that Boundless, the last book in the Unearthly trilogy, does not falls short when put next to this book.

I don’t know exactly how I feel about Angela yet. Something about her seems to be off. I am also warming up to Christian, a lot. I would be a fool to say I am not starting to root for Christian. The twists that were in this novel regarding Clara’s father, Jeffrey and other characters were done great and I never saw them coming. It kept me on my toes. You know a book is good when it turns your mind into mush. 🙂

Rating: 5/5

Rating System:

1/5: I hate it.

2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.

3/5: I like it /A fun read.

4/5: I really like it.

5/5: I love it!

Reviews, YA Paranormal

Short Book Review: Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand

Veronica Porras (TTB)

7488244Goodreads Summary:

When Clara Gardner learns she’s part angel, her entire life changes. She now has a purpose, a specific task she was put on this earth to accomplish, except she doesn’t know what it is. Her visions of a raging forest fire and a mysterious boy lead her to a new high school in a new town but provide no clear instruction. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between the boy in her vision and the boy in her life, between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. . . . When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Review:

At first, the book was slow and the writing was weird. I was also in Fantasy slump so that probably didn’t help. The first time I attempted to read this book, I was only able to get through the first 70 pages and I quit. A month later, I decided to give it another chance and Bam! Best decision I’ve made. It takes about a hundred pages to get used to Cynthia Hand’s writing style but once that happens, it is smooth sailing from there.

There is so much I could say about this book but I don’t want to write a review full of spoils so I’m going to try to make this short and sweet. The characters in the story are infuriating at times but in a good way. The plot is a good and the world is well built. By the end of the book, I had been sucked into Clara’s world, the world of angels and angel-bloods, and I did not want to say goodbye. I love that the book wasn’t all love and gooey stuff, it had action and lots of it.

Rating: 4/5

Rating System:

1/5: I hate it.

2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.

3/5: I like it /A fun read.

4/5: I really like it, but something is missing.

5/5: I love it! It’s as close to perfection as it can get!

Random

Day 11, 12, 13, &14 of the 30 Day Book Challenge

Veronica Porras (TTB)

Life tends to get in the way of my 30 Day Book Challenge posts and I’m not liking it. Here are the three days I missed and today’s entry!

Day 11: A book you hated

” The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson”

Day 12: A book you used to love but not anymore

“I used to love Sweethearts by Sara Zarr. Now, I find it dull and lackluster. ”

Day 13: Your favorite writer

“My favorite writer at the moment is Richelle Mead. I love that woman’s writing.”

Day 14: Favorite book from the favorite writer

“This is a tough one but I would have to say Shadow Kiss.”

Book Spotlight

Book Spotlight #3 The Selection by Kiera Cass

Veronica Porras (TTB)

Book Spotlights are back! *pops fireworks*

I really love book spotlights because they give me a chance to feature a book that may not be featured otherwise that I love. This week we have The Selection, which is dystopian meets the bachelor meets a complicated love triangle. It seems to me that a lot of people haven’t read this book yet and I want to remedy that. It is a great book and the second book in the trilogy is out as well.

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Book Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Originally Published: 2012

Goodreads Summary:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.(

Reviews, ya contemporary, ya romance

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Veronica Porras (TTB)

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Goodreads Summary:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs… for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

What I like:

I absolutely adored the relationship between Augustus and Hazel. I loved the humor and the witty lines in this book. I was pleasantly surprised because I was expecting something along the lines of an Abundance of Katherines and Looking for Alaska hybrid and it wasn’t. I am not one to love every part of a book; I can always find something wrong with it, but this book just left me breathless and actually made me shed a tear. A tear for me is the equivalence of others sobbing. The letter at the end that Augustus wrote was beautiful. It left me gasping for breathe with how beautifully written it was.

What I dislike:

The only complaint I have with this book is how the relationship of Augustus and Hazel ended up turning out in the end.

Overall:

I cannot express how much I love this book so I will just say it was brilliant and it will not be easily forgotten.

Rating: 5/5

Rating System:

1/5: I hated it.

2/5: It had some redeeming qualities but overall, not a good book.

3/5: I liked it (A fun read).

4/5: I really like it, but something was missing.

5/5: I love it! A Masterpiece!

Random

Day 4, 5, 6, & 7 of the 30 Day Book Challenge

Veronica Porras (TTB)

Day 4: Favorite book of your favorite series

“My favorite book in the Vampire Academy Series would have to be Shadow Kiss.”

Day 5: A book that makes you happy

“A book that makes me happy is Divergent by Veronica Roth. I know that is a weird choice, but ugh, it makes me happy in so many ways.”

Day 6: A book that makes you sad

“The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. That book ripped me to shreds.”

Day 7: Most underrated book

“Love Story by Jennifer Echols. I don’t know anyone else that has read it except for myself and one other person and I let that person borrow the book.”

Care to share your choices? 🙂

Editor Letter, Random

This week’s important news

Veronica Porras (TTB)

Good Morning to all who live in the pacific west coast of the USA like myself. To everyone else… Hello!

First, I want to apologize for not posting Day 4 or Day 5 of the 30 Day Book Challenge. I’ve been really busy with job interviews, job search, and other responsibilities.

Second, I have a goodie for you all! Last night I went to Richelle Mead’s Event at Barnes & Nobles in Santa Monica, CA. I will be posting a special post on that event very soon! We have some information on The Fiery Heart, Gameboard of the Gods, and Blood Sisters updates! I will of course not give too much away for the sake of courtesy but I will have pictures and some of her responses to the Q&A session. Lastly, there will be pictures! I already posted one of myself with Richelle Mead at the event over at my tumblr.

That is all the news I have for you and please be patient with me this week. Hope you’re all having a lovely week.

Happy Thursday!

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Tuesday Meme

Top Ten Books Featuring Travel In Some Way

Veronica Porras (TTB)

toptentuesday-1

Thank you to The Broke and The Bookish for the Top Ten Tuesday Feature.

This week we have Top Ten Books Featuring Travel in Some Way. This Top Ten Tuesday has me thrilled because I love books that have travel in them. I tend to buy a lot of books that have the main characters traveling so this will be easy. Let’s do this!

1. Heist Society by Ally Carter

Katarina Bishop and her crew (along with the dreamy Hale) travel all around the world to accomplish the con jobs they have to do.

2. Ana and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Ana travels to England and meets St. Clair. The end. Read the book. 🙂

3. Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Roadtrip with your ex. >:)

4. Amy & Rogers Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

A road trip across America.

5. Blood Promise (VA #4) by Richelle Mead

Rose goes to Europe.

6. The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Motorcycles and a Roadtrip.

7. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

An account of traveling from the States to Europe and falling in love in the process.

8. Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Moves from the country to the city.

9. Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Moves to another city due to unfortunate circumstances.

10. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

4 girls. 4 different locations. 1 pair of pants.

What are some books that you love that feature travel in some sort of way?