Doll Bones

        Zack, Poppy, and Alice have been friends forever. And for almost as long, they've been playing one continuos, ever-changing game- a game that takes place in a world populated with pirates and thieves, mermaids and warriors. Ruling over them all is the Great Queen, a bone-china doll imprisoned in a cabinet, cursing those who displease her.
       But the three friends are in middle school now, and Zach's father is pushing him to give up make-believe for basketball. When his father gives him no choice, Zach quits the game and lies about the reason. It seems like their friendship might be over, until Poppy declares she's been having dreams about the Queen- and the ghost of a girl who will not rest until the bone-china doll is buried in her empty grave.
      And so Zach and Alice and Poppy set off on one last adventure to lay the Queen's ghost to rest. But nothing goes according to plan, and as their adventure turns into an epic journey, creepy things begin to happen. Is the doll just a doll, or is there something more sinister at work? Has Poppy been telling the truth, or is she tricking them into playing a new game? And if there really is a ghost, will it let them go now that it has them in its clutches? 

Author: Holly Black
Page Count: 244
Genre: Middle Grade, Horror, Adventure
Series? No

**This was originally planned to be out during Halloween, life got in the way so that is why it's a bit late.**

I may be a 20-something- year-old, but that doesn't mean I can't sit down and enjoy a "Middle Grade" book. I have heard great things about the author Holly Black, but I had yet to read any of her work. Halloween was upon us, so I decided it was time to find something creepy to read. Thankfully this beauty was sitting on display right inside the door of the local library. Nothing like offering creepy and scary books to young children... not a bad idea at all. *Watches mothers cringe at the thought of late night calls because of bad dreams*

Going in with the expectations of it being for younger children, the bar was set kinda low. Most middle grade books are great reads, but they have that certain element that can hinder older children or adults from enjoying them. Thankfully, this was not the case for this book.

The cover alone had me hooked, mainly because china dolls creep me out. (Thanks to my older sister who loved to taunt me about the dolls that kill you.) So here is a story about a china doll, made out of a girl's bones, that posses one of the children. Yep, sounded creepy enough for me.

Beginning from page one, I enjoyed this story. It didn't have some of the older situations you would find in Young Adult or New Adult books, but there was a bit of drama woven into the story. The good part about the problems in this book, excluding the haunted doll and going on an adventure, most of it was something most people go through. The problems of figuring out when to grow up.

The main reason I liked this story, besides the beautiful writing, was the fact that the story centered around these 3 children's imagination. They had their own story, acting it out with action figures and dolls, a never ending story...or one they hoped wouldn't end. Why did I like this part so much? It was something I did during my childhood. I had dolls and stuffed toys and made up stories with them, it was the fun part of being a child. Reading this made me have a nice dose of nostalgia.  

Having parents thinking you need to move away from the story you are creating, or that fear of having friends or peers finding out you still play games like that, is something most children face. Having the characters go through this and finding a solution was what helped make this story a great read. Especially since the large audience for this book would be children around the same age as the characters with the same problems. (Again, excluding the haunted doll. If there is a haunted doll in the mix...they need to do more than read this book.)

I can't say this was the best read of the year, but it was definitely one of the books that made the lists of a must read. Especially for those who enjoy a good adventure book with a little ghostly activity. It wasn't as scary as I hoped it would be, but that was not a surprise considering the age the book was written for. However, I do give it a good 4 out 5 stars for me! Looking forward to reading more books from Holly Black, but maybe next time I'll make sure it's a Young Adult book.

The Assassin's Curse & The Pirate's Wish

Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to another pirate clan. But that only prompts the scorned clan to send an assassin after her. when Ananna faces him down one night, armed with magic she doesn't really know how to use, she accidentally activates a curse binding them together. 

Th break the spell, Ananna and the assassin must complete three impossible tasks-all while grappling with evil wizards, floating islands, haughty manticores, runaway nobility, strange magic...and the growing romantic tension between them. 

Author: Cassandra Rose Clarke
Page Count: 320
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance
Series? Yes. (Book 1: The Assassin's Curse)

After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Najir and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies - and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction. 

Author: Cassandra Rose Clarke
Page Count: 336
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance
Series? Yes. (Book 2: The Assassin's Curse)




First off, can I just note how beautiful these covers are! Amazing art work!!

  How can someone not be interested in a swashbuckling tale of an adventurous pirate and a cursed assassin? A tale spun about the results of one pirates actions and the magic that binds the assassin to her. Not to mention a unique world not known to a normal human. This is one of those stories that has the makings of a pretty good read.

  Thankfully, that is what this story was! I have never heard of this series until I read a review for The Assassin's Curse. It's not a brand new book, but not as popular as say The Hunger Games. I would consider it a hidden treasure personally.

  Ananna, the pirate of our story, encounters problems when she decides to ditch her own family so she wouldn't have to get married. Not a marriage of love but of politics, Ananna runs to start her life in the hopes of getting her own ship. However, when Naji comes after her with the orders to kill her, that is when the story truly begins. Because of a curse Naji has placed on him from a separate world called The Mist, Ananna and he are now stuck together.

  Thankfully, for both Ananna and Naji, the curse can be broken, with one spall problem...it's impossible. The only way to undo the curse is to complete Three Impossible Tasks. Kinda dampens the mood a bit, not to mention it's hard to complete anything on an enchanted island.

The story itself was entertaining. The magic system the book used was not entirely unique, but not the same old system every other book uses. I liked the concept of each magic user having something to do with elements. For example, Ananna's mother uses the sea to help with her magic, while Naji uses his own blood. The information given about the world and magic was well done so thankfully there was not a huge confusing info dump on the reader. The way everything was explained flowed quite nicely.

  I enjoyed the romance part to this book. There were a few couples we get to see along the journey, but nothing was rushed. This was not a boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love at first sight, The End, kind of story. Each character had to figure out the relationship and how to deal with it in their own way, and I liked that nothing felt forced or  had the instant love moment.

  The only complaint I probably had about the writing, or story in general, would be the way the author wrote. The descriptions were beautifully done, and the writing was not bad, but she made it sound like the pirate was actually talking. A few times my grammar correction mode wanted to correct a few things, but it didn't take long to block that out. I got used to it quickly, and it did help add character to the story and also made the reader feel more connected to Ananna.

  The way the first book ended and the start of the second book had a easy flow to it. We didn't start months or years later, we picked up right where the first book left off. It almost felt like this was just one book all together, and to be honest, it could have easily been made into one book. I can't say I liked one over the other, because to me they were both equally great.

I have to give both of these books a 5 out of 5 stars. If you want a fun quick adventure to read, these are a great choice! Glad I had a chance to find these gems!

The Giver

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.

  When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back. 

Author: Lois Lowry
Page Count: 180
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult.
Series? Yes (Book 1)

* BOOK and MOVIE review! *

We all know the saying, "never judge a book by the cover." Sad to say,  I didn't listen to this piece of advice when I was younger. I had the option many times in school to actually read, The Giver; but I would pick up the book and just sit it back down. I never tried to read the summary or held any interest in choosing this particular book. How could a book with an old man on the front be interesting?

  Needless to say, I was wrong. Like many people, I decided to finally read this book knowing a movie was going to be coming out based on it. My plans were to read the book then go watch the movie; however, that didn't actually happen. I ended up watching the movie first. Enjoying the movie only made me want to read this story more. For the first time in years of seeing this book around, my interest for this story was piqued.

  Dystopian books and movies seem to be taking the prime spot in today's culture. While there are some really good stories out there, sometimes it just gets tiring reading this genre. It was nice to see where some of these stories may have started. The Giver was probably one of the first dystopian books to be made popular before most people even knew what that genre of story was.  This gave The Giver a unique quality that I really enjoyed.

  I really enjoyed the aspect of the people being controlled, but not in a sinister way. There was truly no single person, or group, that wanted to control how the people of the community acted and felt. To make a better life for everyone, simple pleasures and pain humans feel were taken away. This allowed generations of people to live "happy" lives. No war. No pain. No emotional hurt. On the negative side of this concept, people couldn't feel love, true happiness, creativeness, desire, ambitions.  Even the simple joy of seeing colors and hearing music was stripped from the lives of people. Although this was a Utopia for the people, what true joy was there? Even a person's spouse and children were chosen for them by the Elders.

   On a completely different note, it was nice to see the struggle between The Giver and the receiver. Not only were they responsible for keeping the memories of all the world, they couldn't express any thoughts or feelings with their fellow citizens. How would you like to be the only person to feel love? How could you describe colors to someone who has no understanding of such a thing? Imagine not being able to read stories of magic and adventures. To live life only with what was considered practical and safe.

  Taking a look on the other side of things, the movie was a pretty good interpretation of the book. My favorite part of watching the movie was being able to see the black and white movie slowly add colors. As Jonas began seeing colors, so did the viewers. I think this was a great way to help the audience understand and connect with the characters.

  The casts of actors were a great choice, and I don't have any complaints about any of them. However, like most from book to movie adaptations, there were some differences between them. Here are a few major differences between the book and movie:
 
*Book                                                                      *Movie
- Jonas was 11, eventually turning 12.                    - Jonas and friends were 16.
- No love relationship.                                            - Jonas and Fiona have a relationship.
- Fiona and Asher were not always together          - Jonas, Fiona, Asher always together.
- Giver never shares the memory of music.            - Jonas gets the memory of music early on.
- The Chief Elder is hardly a character.                  - The Chief Elder is a major character.

  There are a few more differences between the book and movie, but the core of the story remained the same. The overall plot never changed, just a few of the details. Even though the book goes into deeper details about a few things, the movie has a nice was of showing the city and city life. The addition of Fiona and The Chief Elder's roles to the story really made the movie a bit more interesting.

  Overall, I enjoyed them both and would recommend fans of the book to see the movie. It was actually pretty good and worth a watch. If you haven't read the book, I would recommend this one to you. I would rate this a 4 out of 5 stars. Great story and it's a short, easy read.

What are your thoughts on the book or movie?

The Girl and the Clockwork Cat

Feisty teenage thief Maeko and her maybe-more-than-friend Chaff have scraped out an existence in Victorian London’s gritty streets, but after a near-disastrous heist leads her to a mysterious clockwork cat and two dead bodies, she’s thrust into a murder mystery that may cost her everything she holds dear.

Her only allies are Chaff, the cat, and Ash, the son of the only murder suspect, who offers her enough money to finally get off the streets if she’ll help him find the real killer. 

What starts as a simple search ultimately reveals a conspiracy stretching across the entire city. And as Maeko and Chaff discover feelings for each other neither was prepared to admit, she’s forced to choose whether she’ll stay with him or finally escape the life of a street rat. But with danger closing in around them, the only way any of them will get out of this alive is if all of them work together.

Author: Nikki McCormack
Page Count: 224 pages.
Genre: YA, Steampunk, Adventure.
Series? No.



* I received this as an eARC for review from Entangled Publishing *

  When the email came in that informed me that I was getting a chance to read this for review, I have to admit, I was pretty excited. The cover caught my eye right off! Can you blame me? there is a cat on the front! But, that was not the only reason I was excited. The three reasons I was pretty excited:

1. First accepted request for a book review by a publisher! 
2. First ARC to review before the release date.
3. First Steampunk novel to read! 

As you can tell, quite a few firsts there! So with that being said, let me get on with the actual book review...

  Being my first Steampunk novel, I wasn't too sure how the world was going to be set up. I know a little about the steampunk genre, but never actual read a story based on it. I was relieved to find out it wasn't something too crazy or unrealistic. Don't take me wrong, I love a good fantasy novel, but knowing this was supposed to take place in Victorian London, I was wanting something more believable. That is exactly what I got! The writing style used my McCormack made everything clear and the descriptions she used allowed me to picture everything in my head. I could almost see this as clear as a movie.

   Along with the beautiful settings, I really enjoyed the characters. Maeko was a great character to follow along with, and the way she handled the situations she was dealing with was well thought out and written. I fell in love with her pretty much right away, but she wasn't the only lovable character. Chaff, the protective, dependable mentor was also a pretty good character. Strong and loyal friend, Chaff made sure to protect those he viewed as family, and that included Maeko. Then we have Ash, the son of pirates and new found friend for Maeko. Each character is unique and has specific characteristics that end up making you enjoy them even more. Not sure if he counts but we can't for get Macak..the cat! 

   I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles, but I think this one works out pretty well. The underlining tone of romance is weaved into the story, but it's not the most dominate factor. Maeko has feelings for both boys, Ash and Chaff, and the reader will soon see they have feelings for her. I personally can't decide which one I would rather Maeko end up with. Each could be good for her on different aspects, which makes picking quite hard. Guess you'll have to read and decide for yourself. ;)

  Suspense and mystery is a personal favorite genre I enjoy, and this story had a great deal of both. When someone has been murdered and a group of teens have to figure out who did it and why, you know you are going to be in for a ride. I really enjoyed the mystery and loved how it kept you intrigued throughout the story. Each success led to another question, and new complications. It was a fast-paced story and hardly gave you a moment to put the book down. 

   While reading this story set in Victorian London with a group of teens on the trail of a mystery, I couldn't help but think of Sherlock Holmes. A younger, steampunk version that is. I enjoy a good mystery and I guess that is why I really enjoyed reading The Girl and the Clockwork Cat. I would give this book a 4 our 5 stars. Definitely one I recommend reading if you like a good suspense, mystery, steampunk novel. While any age would enjoy this, I have a feeling Young Adults would be the best age group for this book. 

The book went on sale September 2, so be sure to find you a copy! 

Have you read this book? Do you want to? Leave a comment below to let me know! 

The Fog of Forgetting

Move over, Narnia. the journey to Ayda has begun. 

Sneaking out for a quick boat ride on a summer day, the five children at the center of The Foge of Forgetting soon find themselves in unfamiliar waters. Engulfed in a curtain of dense fog, they come ashore on the lost island of Ayda and encounter Seaborne, a machete-toting wayfarer of few words. BY nightfall, the children are caught up in a centuries-old battle between Dankar, the ruler of Exor, and three mysterious siblings who rule the other realms of Ayda. At stake are four stones of power and the elusive Fifth Stone, the most important of them all. WHen 9-year-old Frankie is kidnapped by Dankar, her older sister Evelyn (13) and the three Thomposon brothers - Chase (13), Knox (12), and Teddy (6), must learn to harness the power of the daylights, the elemental forces of creation, and navigate their way through the perilous realms of Ayda to rescue her - a journey from which they may not return. 

Author: G. A. Morgan
Page Count; 303
Genre: Middle Grade/ Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure
Series: Yes (Book 1) The Five Stones Trilogy


**THIS WAS AN ARC REVIEW! **

   "Move over, Narnia, the journey to Ayda has begun." I have to admit, this statement had me a bit worried at the start. The Fog of Forgetting is a book directed toward fans of the Chronicle of Narnia and the Harry Potter series. I'm not going to lie, this means I had high expectations for this book. Harry Potter is one of my ALL time favorite book series, and Narnia is a beloved book from my childhood. (I just read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for the BookTubeAThon this summer.)

   Although, this story is more toward the Middle Grade age group, I can see how this can me enjoyed by many of all age groups. The relationship between the characters is a cute, believable telling between siblings and friends. Although the story starts with the two sets of siblings being strangers, a bond eventually forms pretty early on. The arrival on the mysterious island covered and shrouded with fog, was an interesting setting and it was enjoyable learning about the unique land and it's inhabitants along with the main characters. Unlike some stories that just dump loads of already known knowledge to the characters onto the reader, The Fog of Forgetting had a nice way of explaining everything little by little as the characters continued to learn the new information. This allowed the newness of this world to take a special quality.

   The magic was simple and nothing extraordinary, but it did have it's unique moments. The Stones and the relations ship with the Keepers and the elements added a nice quality to this magical world, and the story was well written to add them. The addition of the term "daylights' was also a nice element.

    If a reader wanted more than just adventure, then this is a story that has it. The Fog was one of the most mysterious part of the book so far. Something beautiful and eerie about the fog, yet it kept a thought in the back of the reader's mind about what it was and what it could be. Not to mention the ever pending question of, will the children ever get home? What was keeping them there?  And what will happen to them?

  All-in-all, I have to say this was a pretty interesting book. It was good for a light read if you are looking for something easy with a bit of fantasy. Did I consider this the next Narnia or Harry Potter? It was good, but not quite that good in my opinion. But, then again, that is asking me to compare this book to two of my favorite series...might be a bit biased on that point. Being only Book 1 in a series, I'll most likely pick up the other books to read. I look forward to see where this series goes and what becomes of the characters! (Especially after that ending!)  Definitely one that would be good for younger readers to enjoy, I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Fangirl

            A coming of-age-tale of fanfiction, 

                    family, and first love

    CATH IS A SIMON SNOW FAN.

Ok the whole world is a Simon Snow fan.... But for Cath, being a fan is her life - and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.

    Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. 

    Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to. 

   Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words...and she can't stop worrying about her dad who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone. 

   For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind? 

Author: Rainbow Rowell
Page Count: 433
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Coming-of-age.
Series: No

   Writing this review has come to be quite hard for me. Not because this book was awful or not worth mentioning, but because this was a book I fell in love with the moment I started reading.

Starting college is hard. I can say this from personal experience because I am currently in college. It's a time where a person breaks away from the comfortable life of High School and enter into the unknown adventures of college. Old life styles are put on a shelf far out of reach as new friends and interests start to take lead. It's a time for new beginnings and opportunities to make memories that last a life time.

  As I began to read Fangirl, Cath's life grabbed me by the hand and led me everywhere with her. I was there as she met her new roommate and the always-there boyfriend. I sat beside her the first time she picked a seat in her writing class. I read beside her as she worked with Nick, her classmate, on a story. I stayed by her side as she argued with Wren. Through it all, reading Fangirl gave me a moment to live in Cath's shoes.

  I think that is what I loved most about this story. This story had no plot line that consisted of a normal girl learning of some magical world, no love triangle that involved creatures of another species, or a dystopian world in the far future. This story has a different magic to it. The spell Rowell cast on her readers does not come from a wand, but from a pen.

  Fangirl, is the type of book that reminds a reader like me, that normally goes for the fantasy or science fiction genre, that contemporary books can sweep you off your feet too. This was one of those stories I hated to put down. I felt like every time I closed this book, I was leaving a friend behind.

  It didn't take me long to fall in love with Cath and her awkward social skills and love of fanfiction. Her passion for reading and writing are similar to mine, so it was not very difficult to feel a connection to Cath. Then we meet Levi. The charming farm boy that you can't help but like. Charming and playful. Even before finishing the first few chapters with him, I already knew I had found a lovable character.

  The passion Cath has for a book series called Simon Snow, greatly mirrored my love for another magical series, Harry Potter. It didn't take long to make a slight connection between Simon Snow and Harry Potter, and after reading a few reviews posted by other people, I'm not alone. This concept added another level to this story. Not only did we get to see Cath's love and devotion for a book and it's characters, we also get a sense of why she loves them. The little snippets of Simon Snow stories and fanfiction at the beginning of each chapter was a great addition and a pleasure to read. To be quite honest, I would LOVE to read the Simon Snow books too! (To bad they aren't real)

  Wrapping this all up in a quick summary, I would say this has to be the most enjoyable coming-of-age tale I have read in a very long time. The characters are the type that are lovable, and easy to get attached to. The setting and details are so well done, it's not hard to imagine being with Cath and her friends at college. Plus the entire story line is entertaining, never once slowing to a spot you would want to step away from.

  If I had to recommend a book to anyone right now, this would be the one I would scream out to them. Such an amazing story like this is one that should be shared. I definitley give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

  This is going to be a book I will add to my shelf as soon as I get enough money to buy it! Any other works by Rainbow Rowell will be added to my shelf automatically now that I know how magical her writing can be! It's safe to say, she will now be listed with my favorite authors.

Have you read Fangirl yet?
If you have, did you like it? Why or why not?
Do you want to read this story?

Feel free to fangirl with me about Fangirl! I hope to hear from you soon!!

Rebel Belle

Harper Prince, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts. Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him-and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

Author: Rachel Hawkins
Page count: 352
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Series: Yes (Rebel Belle, Book 1)



The first thing my boyfriend said to me as I picked up this book to read was, "with all that pink on the cover, that has to be a girl's book." Now, the pink cover is definitely something that may scare a guy away, but that is his lost because this is NOT just a girl's book.

With that being said, it probably will appeal more toward a female fan-base, but it can really be for anyone. Instead of blabbing on about this, let me just get to the review.

I have heard many great reviews for this book, and to be honest, I haven't heard any really bad ones. As with all books there is the occasional person that did not enjoy reading this. Did they call it "bad"? No. It was just not their cup of tea. So, I had high expectations going into this story, and in no way did Rachel Hawkins disappoint.

Something that really appealed to me about this story is knowing it is set in the South. Being a person who spent many holidays and summer vacations in Alabama I enjoyed reading a story I could relate to on a personal level. There is something special about reading a story set close to home, a certain magic in the words that make you feel more connected to the story. Unlike reading a fantasy story set in a far away land, or even a novel set in New York, I had no problem imagining walking the streets with Harper as she went to her school and ventured around her town. All that southern charm. I could have walked outside and could have been standing in Harper's world.

Another appealing aspect to this story is the great balance between romance, comedy, and action. The enchanting world of Paladins, Oracles, and Mages didn't overshadow the charming world of Alabama. Hawkins created this fantasy element with super powers, magic, and evil looking to destroy the normal life Harper had. On the other hand, Hawkins also created a realistic tale of teens in love with drama, friendships that weren't perfect, and the classic teen vs. teen squabble. These two worlds were woven together to create a wonderful story. Thrown into the mix skillfully was also a bit of humor.

Was this book perfect? Not completely. I really enjoyed this story, but there were a few times I didn't like the main character. Harper is a great main character, but she also comes across as immature and very "girly." This is shown in the first scene with Harper as we discover the biggest problem she had was that she didn't have lip gloss. She does seem to grow out of this a bit during the story, but these are the type of girls I don't normally like to read about. For me, Harper was one of those characters that had to grow on me as I read. Eventually I began to like her and by the end of the novel I was on her side.

The overall story was interesting and pretty fast paced. Once it's shown what Harper and David is facing and why it's a big deal, the story really starts to take off. This was one of those quick reads because each chapter left you wondering what was going to happen next.

In all honesty, this made me think a little bit about Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It had that feel to the story, and that could be why I loved this book. Not being a very girly girl my self, I enjoy seeing girls kick some major butt. Harper is still learning how to control her new power, but she is already on her way to being a pretty epic person.

I personally rated this book 5 out of 5 stars. I truly enjoyed this story and I'm excited to know that it has more to come! I will be keeping up with this series and I will surly recommend everyone I know to read this one with me.

Have you read this story?

If you have read it, did you enjoy it? Why or why not?

Let me know what you thought!

~Lauren

Icons

              Ro murmurs into my ear. "Don't be afraid, Dol. They're not coming for us." Still, he slips his arm around me and we wait until the sky is clear. 

              Because he doesn't know. Not really.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the Icon appeared in Los Angeles. The day the power stopped The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside with fellow survivor Ro-safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

They're different. They survived. Why?

When the government discovers their secret, they are forced to join faint-hearted Tima and charismatic Lucas in captivity. Called the Icon Children, the four are the only humans on Earth immune to the power of the Icons. Torn between brooding Ro and her evolving feelings for Lucas, between a past and a future, Dol's heart has never been more vulnerable. And as tensions escalate, the Icon Children discover that their explosive emotions-which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses-may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers a thrilling novel set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts- in order to save their   future.

Author: Margaret Stohl 

Page Count: 448

Genera: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Romance

Series? Yes (Book 1)

Aliens, teenagers, rebellions, and a talking computer. What could go wrong with that mix, right?

Icons is Margaret Stohl's first adventure in writing solo. She is a co-author of the Beautiful Creatures Series. (which I have yet to read!) This is the first book of a new series, the next installment, Idols, will be released this year.

Before starting this book, I had a different idea of what it would be. Yeah, I kinda got that aliens invade Earth and these teens are special...but that was it. Cracking open the book and actually beginning to read this story I found it to be something a bit different than what I had pictured. 

Like most books these days, this story is a bit dystopian. Is that a bad thing? Not really. We have a world trying to cope with the invasion of aliens that control them. A bit sci-fi, a bit dystopian. But I personally like that combination if it's done well.

I enjoyed the characters, but to be honest, I can't say any are my favorite. The main character Dol, while interesting, could have those moments when she got on my nerves. (But everyone has those moments, right?) If anyone was picked to be my favorite, I would say Tima. Why Tima? To me she was the character with the most mystery. Everyone else seemed to be almost like an open book, but Tima didn't open up too much. We learn a bit about her, but not a lot. She is mysterious, and a good mystery pulls me in. Fortis was also a likable character to me. Besides Tima, he would be my favorite. Doc was fun, but do you count the computer as a character? He's funny and has a personality not known in most computers. (If any.)

The world building wasn't too heavy. Since this story takes place on Earth, we didn't have any kind of fictional lands and worlds. However, the cities and grasslands that are formed after the Icons fall are pretty well done in my opinion. Slightly familiar, yet different. We have different people living in different areas. Each unique to their area. This helps add diversity to the characters. 

The only major problem I had with this book is the following 2 things: 

1. Love triangle. I know most books we read today have some form of love triangle to them. But, personally I didn't like this one. While most can work, I just didn't feel this one. The four main characters are split into a boy-girl pair at the start of the story. Growing up with each other and learning about each other. They already pretty much have their loves chosen. But, then their seems to be an instant love between two of the main characters right when they meet. I personally would love to see them stay with their original pairings, but maybe this will work better in the long run. Maybe it's just me.
2. Little bit of a slump. The beginning of the story is fast paced and exciting. For the first few chapters I couldn't put this book down. I had to know what happened next. After about the first 100 pages, things seemed to slow down. I kept an interest in the story, but I no longer had to stay up late to finish it. I could put this book down and not pick it up again for a few days. Was it terrible? Not at all. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Was it my favorite? Probably not my all time favorite. I recommend this to anyone who likes these type of books. One of the problems for me might be the fact that I read The 5th Wave directly before reading this one. After riding the high from one story, this one fell short with the same thrill. If I would have switched the order, I probably would have enjoyed it a bit more. 

The next one, Idols, comes out soon and I will be reading it! I can't wait to see what happens to the characters and where the story will take us. Over all, I give this a good 4.0 rating. Certainly worth the read! 

If you have read Icons, let me know what you thought about it! Or what you didn't like, either one will work! 

The 5th Wave

              THEY KNOW HOW WE THINK.

              THEY KNOW HOW TO KILL US.

 THEY'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING WORTH LVING FOR.

NOW THEY'VE COME TO TAKE THE THINGS WORTH DYING FOR. 

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains.

After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th Wave, just one rule applies: trust no one. 

Now it's the dawn of the 5th Wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from them. The beings who only look human, who ram the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. to stay alone is to say alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother - or even saving herself But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Author: Rick Yancey 

Page Count: 457

Genera: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Horror

Series? Yes (Book 1)

  Well, The 5^th Wave was not exactly what I had imagined. To be quite honest I didn’t know exactly what to expect before reading considering I have never read an alien invasion based book. Sure, I have seen plenty of movies such as, Independence Day, War of the Worlds, and Battleship, but I have never really cracked open a written work based on superior beings coming to Earth.

  When it comes to aliens, this is what I think of:

1. A friendly alien like ET wanting to phone home. 

2. Aliens flying around in UFO’s looking to destroy the world. 

3. A mad man with a blue box.

   After reading The 5^th Wave, I now have a new view of aliens and their plans to take over Earth. In my opinion, this story completely goes off the charts with its invasion. Rick Yancy has created a story where the aliens kill the humans, but not with the normal UFO’s or creepy alien robots. This book takes it on a whole other level. I won’t go into too much detail in this review because I would hate to spoil the thrill for those who have yet to read it.

    Overall, I enjoyed this story a lot. I felt like the beginning was slightly confusing at first. Mainly because the reader is just thrown into the center of the main conflict without really knowing what is going on yet. However, after a little reading I was able to find the light at the end of the tunnel, or at least I thought I had. If you begin reading this book and you start off confused as well, don’t worry! Things get clearer a few chapters in.

   The story does switch point of view between the main characters. I believe there are 4 views in total, 2 of which get more “screen time” than the others, but I felt like the voices of the characters were strong. Each character in this story is facing struggles during a pretty devastating event, and although it’s the same event, they have different obstacles to overcome. It’s interesting to see how each person reacts and thinks.

   There are a few cliché moments in the story, but on the bright side, I feel as if the execution is actually pretty well done. For those looking for a bit of romance along with a good actions story, this story has it. The romance is not a huge part of the story, but the element is there.    

   When it’s all said and done, I just have to say I would recommend reading this book. It was entertaining, and kept me at the edge of my seat until the very end. I cant wait to see what the next book has to offer!

Any thoughts on this story?