Mini Review Monday #3

I decided to start doing some mini reviews to allow me to tell you what I thought of a book, without the full review depth. The reason why I decided to do this is because some books have been out of a while and there are plenty of reviews on Goodreads if anyone wants further details, and the other is that some of the books I've read are actually novellas and I wouldn't be able to write full reviews on something that is generally under 100 or so pages. 
I'm not sure if this will be a weekly, fortnightly or monthly thing. More than likely it will be just when I need to so a short review. 

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead Series: Vampire Academy #1
Published: August 16th 2007 
Publisher: Razorbill
Genre: Young Adult, Vampires, Fantasy


St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.



My Thoughts

Vampire Academy has been out for some time, and has a lot of 'followers'. I managed to get my hands on the whole series about over 1 year ago but near got around to reading. Lets be honest, the cover does nothing to motivate me to read it. I'm a huge cover lover and will buy books based on their covers. This series was one I purchased due to the reviews and people that rave about the series. With the movie coming out I thought now was a good time to mark it off my TBR (that I it's listed in my 2013 reading challenge!). 

I wasn't completely wrapped up in this book. It was a slowish start, and there were times that I just forced myself to read it just so I could get to the end. Don't get me wrong, there were parts that I loved and really enjoyed - those were the parts where something actually happened! Otherwise the book is just Rose going to class, Rose going to training, Rose "watching" Lissa through their bond, rinse and repeat, and add some mean girl business caused by Mia or Rose in between. 

The ending was more interesting with something other than the academy daily life involved and I liked the characters enough to read the next in the series. That said, I already have the rest of the series so I may as well read them, but I must admit I'm hoping Frostbite has some more momentum. 

★★★ Liked It

eARC Review: Contaminated by Em Garner

Title: Contaminated

Author: Em Garner

Publication Date: July 23, 2013

Publisher: Egmont USA

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Zombies

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description

After the Contamination—an epidemic caused by the super-trendy diet drink ThinPro that turned ordinary citizens into violent, uncontrollable creatures—the government rounded up the "Connies" to protect the remaining population. Now, two years later, the rehabilitated are being allowed home, complete with shock collars that will either control, or kill, them.

Velvet Ellis has struggled to care for her ten-year-old sister since her parents were taken in the round up. When she finds her mother in one of the "Kennels," Velvet resolves to do whatever it takes to put her family back together. But the danger isn’t over. It’s beginning all over again…

Review

Warning: Slight spoilers - I apologise

Contaminated started off a little slow. We meet Velvet and Opal who are sisters. Velvet only does half a day at school, the other half she works so she can look after her sister. Velvet is also out looking for her mum. After Velvet finds their mum, who they try to integrate back into society. Though they aren't accepted, and are forced to move back to their home pre-contamination days. 
The story picks up pace after they find their mum. It's interesting, learning about the Connies and watching how their mum reacts. The latter half of the novel held my attention better.

We don't really get to see a lot of Opal, but I liked what we did get to know about her, and with her being young you can understand her ability to except change the way she did. 
I wasn't sure about Velvet, until the school scene with the principal. Her little speech to him was awesome, and something I could totally see myself do if I were in her shoes. From that point on my opinion of her went up and I decided there and then that I liked her too.

Dillon is Jean's son, she runs the Conkennel for found Connies (Contaminated people). Dillon turns into the love interest. I really liked Dillon. I'm not sure why, he was just a nice character to read.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, the best part being the reactions and changes in Velvets mum. I'm interested to see on what is happening now though, as the book left on a slight cliffhanger - things are changing again, but now we don't know how. 

On a side note, I wish to whine about the cover and title change. Originally it was called Velvet and this was the cover:

I think that bright cover is awesome and eye catching, while the new cover seems mass market and common. Also since the Connie's aren't really zombies the current cover isn't suitable. 

★★★ 
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Blog Tour: Review: Living Dead by Glenn Bullion with Giveaway

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Title: Dead Living 

Author: Glenn Bullion

Publication date: January 7th 2013

Publisher: Permuted Press 

Genre: Horror/Zombies

Synopsis:

It didn’t take long for the world to die. And it didn’t take long, either, for the dead to rise.

Born on the day everything ended, a world filled with the walking dead is the only one that Aaron knows. Kept in seclusion, his family teaches  him the basics. How to read and write. How to survive.

Then Aaron makes a shocking discovery. The undead, who desire nothing but flesh, ignore him. It’s as if he’s invisible to them.

The survivors of the old suburb of Lexington call a high school their home. They live day to day, without any of the luxuries mankind used to enjoy. Samantha is a product of the new world. Alone, cold, looking out only for herself. She and the other residents of Lexington feel their hope dwindling. They need change. They need someone who can face the corpses. They need someone who can live in a city of the dead.

They need Aaron.

Review

I didn't know what to expect with this book. I have only read one other zombie book and loved it, and that was for a blog tour too. So I jumped at the chance to read and review another blog tour zombie book, and I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed. 

This started a little slow and predictable. The first chapter had a few hick ups (Sidney instead of Sydney, a few detail errors; ie, a zombie stuck in the truck who couldn't get out and was there for most of the chapter until the last paragraph where he somehow managed to get out) but nothing serious. There was a jump in time (14 years of it) which threw me a little because I thought the initial characters were going to be the story but they were more background details. After that the perspective changes and from there onwards it only grows in both story and pace.

I didn't grow attached to Samantha but I did like that she grew as a character within the story. Aaron was by far the best character. I loved his interaction and calm demeanor. They were the main lead characters though there were some other 'shady' characters that you weren't really meant to like anyway and the rest of the characters were more of a 'supporting cast'. This is a zombie book that is fairly focused on the romance more than the zombies. There isn't much detail to how the outbreak started but more of the life after it has happened and evolution.

There are some twists to keep the story interesting, and some blood and gore but not a whole lot. It's a quick read and would be a good place to start if you haven't read a zombie book before.

★★★ 1/2

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Author Bio

I live in Maryland with my wonderful wife and four cats. I love gaming, computer technology, movies, and of course, reading and writing. I love science fiction and especially horror and the paranormal. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, zombies, anything supernatural, all beautiful subjects. 

I’ve been writing since I was twelve years old. There’s just something about creating a story that I like. I always try come up with something that hasn’t been done, or is unique in some way. It could be someone with demonic powers, or something much more simple, such as a person that zombies ignore. It’s fun to create a character, give him or her a personality and background, and watch them evolve through a story.

I’ve tried other subjects, but always drift back to horror and paranormal. There’s a reason why we keep going back to horror movies and books, why they’ve made fifty Friday the 13th movies. People like to be scared, but more than that, I think paranormal and horror stir the imagination like nothing else. We’re all just a little nervous to open that closet door at midnight, or look under the bed.

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3 copies of Dead Living [winner's choice of Print (US/Can) or eBook (INTL)]

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eARC Review: Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield

Title: Chantress

Author: Amy Butler Greenfield

Series: Chantress Trilogy, Book #1

Publication Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

Source: eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss 

Description

Lucy’s Chantress magic will make her the most powerful—and most hunted—girl in England.

“Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing—and she is swept into darkness.

When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses—women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England.

Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion…

Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic.

Review

This is difficult for me to review as I fell sick not long after I started reading it and was so sick I couldn't even read. This also made me fall behind in Uni, so I'm not sure if the added stress to do assessments and catch up took away some of my enjoyment, or I just didn't get swept away with the first half of the story. I felt the first half was slow moving, but that might just have been me and the time (due to commitments) it took me to read that half.
What I can say is that Chantress stuck with me a few days after reading it, and I certainly enjoyed the latter half of the book much more.

Lucy was a lovely, likeable character who grew both with the story and with her power. I enjoyed learning "magic" with her, and magic through music was wonderful.
I actually liked Nat, a secondary character, and more later, the best. I liked his stand-offishness, and like how he developed through the story and warmed more as the story went on.

The middle where Lucy learns her powers is a little dull. While it is good to see her grow into her powers, it is slow moving and goes on for a bit. It was from here (towards the end of this 'section') that the story picked up. Things started to happen, and it was fast moving as the events unfolded. It did end a bit to easily and conveniently, but I was enjoying the story by this point so it didn't detract from it.

One pet peeve, and I only bring this up because I seem to be reading it in all the books lately - "I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding". *Sigh* Is this a trend now or what?

Overall, this is a great start to the trilogy and the mixed pacing, in the end, didn't stop me from liking the story. 

★★★ 1/2

Liked It

Buy Link

 Amazon

Author Bio

Amy Butler Greenfield was a grad student in history when she gave into temptation and became a writer. Since then, she has become an award-winning author. 

Born in Philadelphia, Amy grew up in the Adirondack Mountains and later studied history at Williams College, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Oxford. She now lives with her family in England, where she writes, bakes double-dark-chocolate cake, and plots mischief.

Author Links

 www.amybutlergreenfield.com | twitter.com/ab_greenfield

 

ARC Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Title: The 5th Wave

Author: Rick Yancey

Series: The Fifth Wave, #1

Publication Date: 7th May 2013

Publisher: Penguin Australia

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Source: Netgalley & Penguin Australia

Description

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

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, only 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 roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker 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.

Review

Warning: This review is loaded with rant, and sarcasm, read at your own risk

First of all, let me say Oh My Goodness! The HYPE behind this book is phenomenal. Some trusted bloggers I follow are gushing about this book. I was so excited by their raving, but I was also concerned it wouldn't live up to the hype for me (wouldn't be the first time *cough* Crewel *cough*). I didn't let that stop me requesting it from Netgalley (and I later got a copy at the Penguin Teen Event about a month back). 
I loved the start of this book. I didn't want to put it down. It wasn't the best thing I've read but it drew me into the story enough to keep me turning the pages. 
Well, until I got to the end of part one, page 101 to be exact. That's where the story lost me. I started hating it, even screaming at it, but I'm getting ahead of myself. 

Multiple POV's. I'm not a fan of multiple POV's as it is. Not introducing them or giving some form of a "heads up" that the POV is changing and who to - REALLY frustrating. One minute your reading Cassie, for 101 pages and multiple chapters, then you finish part one and the first line of the next part is "Call me Zombie". Why would you call Cassie, Zombie? Keep reading, oh you are someone new, and somewhere new. Super. Part two finishes, and GUESS WHAT! 
"It should have been easy. All he had to do was wait." 
Again, nothing to do with "Zombies" story nor Cassie's. Oh, you're someone new too, and, you're where? 
and so the parts of the book go. It's like "guess who" (you all know that game yeah?). 
To top it off, no where and when I requested it at the time, no one, made mention of the multiple POV's. I was so constantly confused and it was frustrating. 

There is also a POV of a 5 year old. Yep, that's right. A 5 year old. It was so pointless. I'm sure most of you have had a conversation with a 5 year old at one point or another. Can you imagine how much fun that POV is to read! JennyJen's review (see here) summed it up perfectly - 

"I see this. I see that. There's that thing and then I see another thing. Now I see a person." Insert another FML here for good measure.

Here's an example, just so you know I'm not joking:

"Yep. And manned watchtowers and twenty-four seven video surveillance and twenty foot fencing topped with razor wire and big mean guard dogs that can smell a non human five miles away."Sammys nose crinkles. "That doesn't sound like heaven! That sounds like prison!" p.188

"My little brother was around your age," Megan says to Sammy. It sounds like an accusation: How come you're alive and he isn't?" p. 191

Yeah, all 5 year olds think and speak like this. Especially when they are scared and have no family around them. I sure as heck know my son doesn't (he's 4 and a half btw). 


The sad part is that for an alien book (not mentioning the clichés) we learn basically nothing about the aliens themselves. Ok, there is a little bit in there but I wont spoil it for you, it would ruin what little there is to spoil. The whole alien invasion thing is just so disappointing (I also wont mention the fact that if they were to attack, we'd be squished before we know it, I'll pretend I buy into the 5 wave eliberate plan).   

That brings me to the romance. Don't get excited - it's pathetic. Firstly Cassie meets him after he tried to kill her. She feels like she shouldn't trust him, but those eyes/lope sided grin/dimples (take your pick, they are all there) makes her forget her fighting attitude and her suspicions. Argh! 
Then he's all madly in love with her, but he's meant to have lost the love of his life so what the?! Not to mention Cassie is "in love" with a high school crush  but oh he's probably dead, lets no worry about him, I'll just keep looking into this strangers warm chocolate eyes and crooked smile, oh but he's creepy and something isn't right, but those eyes, oooo. BLAH. 

Basically from pages 105 until around 358, I was wanting to throw it across the room. My poor husband kept giving me sad "oh you poor pathetic thing" looks (that's totally a look, I swear!) because I kept screaming at it. 
By the time the characters started getting a clue and worked out what was happening, I had already worked it out about 200 pages beforehand. 
If aliens invaded and the population behaved like this, I'd be worried for humanity for a completely different reason then the invasion. In fact, I think the population would deserve to be nullifed if they acted like this! It was completely frustrating reading how dumb they were. No one questioned anything, it was ridiculous. We are not sheep that follow their shepherd- real people would question things, not just follow blindly.

I know this sounds like I didn't like it, but I kind of did. It was mainly the simpleness of the characters in the middle and the silliness of them all that I didn't like. Cassie was great at the start of the book, right up until part 2. Ringer was kick ass and I actually kind of loved her ballsiness. 

I found this to be good, but not great. The only reason I've given 3 stars and not 2 is that despite its size I read it fast and I wanted to know what would happen (and if they'd get an idea!), which means I found it interesting (mainly the beginning and end). 
I believe there is another book coming out. I'd read it, but only to get better closure then the current ending we have. As my favourite character was actually the alien - yes there is a small POV on his side - I want to know where he ends up in all of this. 


Do I think you should read it? Sure, why not. With this much hype, I'm pretty sure I'm in the small percentage of people that thought it was only ok. 

★★★ 
Liked It

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway: I Am Alive by Cameron Jace

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Title: I Am Alive

Author: Cameron Jace

Series: I Am Alive, #1

Publication Date: May 23, 2012

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Source: eBook for Blog Tour

Author Note: starting 12/1/2012 this is a newly professionally edited version

Description

Every girl dies - not every girl really lives.

Sixteen-year-old Decca Tenderstone feels captivated when she meets Leo, who is arrogant, silent, beautiful, and shoots almost every one he meets.

the usual boring girl meets badboy story... hmm... with a twist ...

They live in a dystopian future in Los Angeles where every sixteen-year-old is ranked on a scale from one to ten to determine their future. Outranks, who are considered a danger to society, are forced to attend the Monster Show, a brutal sacrificing ritual that is broadcasted worldwide on live TV, where rebellious teens are labelled Bad Kidz or Monsters and get to fight for their lives in deadly games.

To prove that you're still alive you have to scream I Am Alive every six hours. Lower your voice, and you're dead.

Decca doesn't need Leo's company. She has secrets of her own. While they both can't stand each other, she will find out why she doesn't fit into any rank.

Nothing will stand in her way as she has to make choices concerning love, life, staying alive, growing up, and finding out who she really is.

Buy Link

Amazon

Review

I Am Alive is based in a society, more specifically a district called Faya, where people are ranked from 1 to 10 when they turn 16. This ranking determines their future. Their career and status in life. A 10 has never been found, and anything under 5 is a "monster". "Monsters" go into an arena, on ranking day, to compete to the death. Those that live through the challenges then fight Carnivore, a genetic mutant tiger. No one wins against him, but if they do they get to be ranked and live with everyone else. 

Decca is the main character and the story is told from her POV. She is determined and strong willed. I didn't mind her, but gee was she also very annoying. She "talked to herself a lot", as well as having "flash backs" and dreams. 

I liked Leo better. He was originally ranked a 9 but found himself in the monster arena for a song he sung. In the beginning he didn't talk much (for a good reason, and no, I'm not telling) and when he did talk it was brief and to the point. He was all business, and you learn later on why. I kind of enjoyed the fact he irritated Decca. 

There were a lot (I felt like there were a lot) of short punctuated sentences. I know they were there for a purpose but I think it was a case of point lost due to the amount of them.

For example:

"Oh. My. God. What have I done?" (Loc 386 8%)

"I hesitate. I can't. I won't" (Loc 906 19%)

"Audience praise. Audience Hail. Audience boom" (Loc 916, 19%) 


The world building wasn't too bad, but there were points that I couldn't really picture, especially at the end where she fell. I couldn't picture where she was or the difficulty of where she was. 
I was a little confused as to the explanation of why the z's (zwitter instead of twitter for example) and the history when it was discussed towards the end as well as the justification for everything - ranking, arena, etc. It all just seemed to lack purpose. 
The ending was a surprise though. I mean I figured it was possible but not to that extent. 
The technology was interesting. The iAm's that were really smart smartphones. The clairVos were awesome though hearing others that are experiencing your experiences would be so annoying! 

Overall I enjoyed it. I was reading it at night and would look forward to getting into it. While it was very Hunger Games-ish, it was different enough to make it interesting. 
This is/was so hard to rate. I don't think it deserves a 3 star rating because it was really good, but I couldn't justify a 4 star rating. So I've done something I haven't done before- I've given a 1/2 star rating. 

If you haven't read The Hunger Games, you'll enjoy this. If you have read The Hunger Games, you'll still enjoy this. The setting and the characters make it interesting and different enough that you wont get bored with it. 

★★★ 1/2
Liked It 

Author Bio

Wonderlander, Neverlander, Unicorn-chaser, enchanter, musician, survived a coma, & totally awesome. Sometimes I tell stories. Always luv the little monsters      I write young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction mostly. The Grimm Diaries series is a seven book saga that deals with retellings of fairy tales from a young adult POV - it connects most of the fairy tales together and claims to be the truth about fairy tales.      I live in San Fransisco and seriously think circles are way cooler than triangles.

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1 ebook copy of I Am Alive by Cameron Jace

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