In My Mailbox #13

Just some books I have acquired recently, and that I am planning to read soon.

Bought:

• "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
• "Hidden Voices by Pat lowery Colins
• " The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
• "Once a Witch" by Carolyn MacCullogh
• "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
• "Sisters Red" by Jackson Pearce
• "It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini
• "Nancy Drew Girl Detective: Secret of the Spa" by Carolyn Keene
• "Nacy Drew Files: Easy Marks" by Carolyn Keene

Borrowed from Library:

• "City of Fallen Angels" by Cassandra Clare
• "The Lover's Dictionary" by David Levithan
• "Swim the Fly" by Don Calame
• "Paper Towns by John Green

Borrowed from Overdrive

• "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan
• "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Book Review - "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Publisher - Scholastic Press
Release Date - September 1, 2009
Number of Pages - 391
Series - Hunger Games #2

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS NO SPOILERS FOR THE PREVIOUS BOOK(S) IN THE SERIES

My Thoughts:

1. I thought Hunger Games was like the most amazing book when I read it, but this one was even better! It was intense, crazy and I could not put it down!

2. I loved that Gale was actually around in this book. I t was great getting to know his character better, since he was'nt around much in THG.

3. All the political issues that were explored in this book were amazing. It really added to the book and showed us, the readers, the corruption of governments in dystopian societies.

4. The twists. Oh the crazy mind-blowing twists.

5. CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!!!!!! This was honestly one of the hugest, craziest, evilest(is that even a word?) cliffhanger ever. Thankfully I have purchased Mockingjay already.


Overall this book was supermegafoxyawesomehot

A+

Book Review - "Clockwork Angel" by Cassandra Clare

Publisher - Margaret K. McElderry
Release Date - August 31, 2010
Number of Pages - 476
Series - Infernal Devices #1

Synopsis:
Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

My Thoughts:

1. The best part of the book were the well developed, engrossing, likeable characters. They all had very distinct personalities and they all seem to have secrets...
2. The plot was full of twists, turns and surprises. One moment I thought I was figuring something out and then something crazy happens and I just have no words to describe it.
3. Very rich, interesting and descriptive setting. Really captured the atmosphere of Victorian London well.
4. A thing I did not like...the automatons, clockwork people, robots, however you want to call them. I just did not like the whole concept of them. Too sci-fi for me.
5. I'm very excited to read the sequel. I can't wait to find out more about Will...

Overall, this book was really good and  recomend if robots from 19th century and arrogant mysterious characters are your thing.

Rating - A-

Book Review - "Gone" by Michael Grant

Publisher - HarperTeen
Release Date - July 1, 2008
# of pages - 558
Series - Gone #1

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.
Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.
Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.
It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else... 

I have expected this to be action-packed and fast paced. I was right. But I did not expected it to be so weird. I mean, there were flying snakes and talking coyotes. Weird.

Event though there is a lot of weird elements in this book, I still thought it was good and very well done. The characters were three-dimensional and for the most realistic.

This novel was very plot driven, and there really were no slow moments. I have found myself confused several times unfortunately.

Overall, I would recomend this to someone who likes a lot of action and craziness, and doesn't like the book to be focused on romance.

Rating - B+

In My Mailbox #12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the Story Siren.
Hi guys! It's been a long time, since I last posted, but here I am with a late IMM.

• "Beautiful Chaos" by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
• "If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince" by 
• "Poison Most Vial" by Benedict Carey
• "The Breakup 2.0" by Ilana Gershon
• "The Way It Is" by Donalda Reid

Book Review - "The Sweetest Thing" by Christina Mandelski

Publisher - Egmont USA
Release Date - May 10, 2011
Number of Pages- 352
Source - Netgalley

In the world of Sheridan Wells, life is perfect when she's decorating a cake. Unfortunately everything else is a complete mess: her mom ran off years ago, her dad is more interested in his restaurant, and the idea of a boyfriend is laughable.

But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems - only her dad's about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed. 

It's 3:30 AM, as I'm writing this, because I just had to stay up and finish the book. Just like Sheridan's cakes this book was pure perfection.

I expected this book to be a very light read, and in most parts it was, but there were some dark and depressing moments.

I loved all the food references in the book, it really complimented the theme and it made it even more fun to read because I love it when books have something that makes it stand apart from other novels in this genre.

I absolutely loved Jack and Lori. They just had really awesome personalities and were always there for Sheridan.

The setting, writing and pacing of this book is perfectly done as well.(I'm not elaborating because there is not much to say about them)

Overall this book is a beautiful coming- of- age story, that I recommend to anyone who likes food.

Rating - A+

Book Review - "Anna and the French Kiss"

Publisher - Dutton
Release Date - December 2, 2010
Number of Pages - 372
Source - Library

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?



AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

holy crap, this is like  the best book ever!
It is like a perfect sundae. The characters are the awesome scoops of ice-cream, the plot is like hot fudge, the setting is like a pretty umbrella with awesome writing and perfect pacing sprinkled on top. You gotta read it.

Rating - A+