Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Author: Marie Lu
Title: Prodigy
Series: Legend #2
Publication: January 29, 2013
Publisher: Putnam
Genre: Dystopia
Pages: 384 pp.
Rating: 5 out 5
Source: Around the World Arc Tours
Synopsis

Jan. 4. 1932 Hours.

Ocean Standard Time

Thirty-Five Days After Metias’s Death

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengence, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

Thoughts: This is edge of your seat good. That news at the end, one word: Bewildering. Needless to say, I am extremely curious how this transpires in book three. June and Day find themselves on a train to the Patriots headquarters seeking assistance in locating Day's brother, Eden,  and medical aid for Day’s  injured leg. Their biggest problem: will the Patriots help them since they have no money to bribe them this time? No, but what they want is much more than either of them are truly prepared for...can they really kill Anden, the new Elector Primo, without giving him the opportunity to be the change that is needed in the Republic . Now, left with this awful choice they uncover a plot more twisted than either can imagine.

June has the making of a phenomenal female heroine. She's tough, calculating, perceptive, and packs a mighty punch. If this does get made into a movie, some starlet has some big shoes to fill. I love the depth of June; her physical and mental capabilities are astounding. She is not a one-dimensional character and I like the different levels that she plays in this book. Day has this magnetism about him that pulls people to him. True, he may not have the skills that June has or even the calming ability of his friend Tess, but he has this presence that commands attention. I guess also helps that he has pretty hair. The attraction between the two of them is so much fun to read. They appear to balance each other out, and I hope that they end up together. Fingers crossed!

The writing is eloquent and detailed. The author truly has a way of giving a sense of the scene that's inviting and visually engaging to the movie theatre in my head. I was emotionally invested in this story. I love the characters and this world that Lu has created. This is going down as one of my favorites!

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Author: Katie McGarry
Title: Pushing the Limits
Publication: July 31, 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 5 out 5

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with “freaky” scars on her arms. Even Echo can’t remember the whole truth of thathorrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smokinghot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo’s world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she’ll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Thoughts: Beautiful.Wow! I loved every part of this book. The ups the downs, everything is intricately crafted by the author. She has beautifully written a realistic story of love, hurt and loss. But it is also a story about two teenagers discovering themselves and what they want out of life. Echo struggles to remember the night that shattered her world. She blames her stepmother, Ashley, for destroying her family and taking her fathers' love. She feels that if it wasn't for her, her mother and brother would still be there. Echo finds herself in Mrs. Collins office, as she will be her new therapist and she claims to help her but Echo wants nothing of it. She's fine, she just needs to make until graduation and then she is ghost. 

Noah is a child of the system and has been bounced around from foster home to foster home. Now settled with his current foster family, he is determined to bide his time until graduation and then he plans to get custody of his brothers. He is afraid to love anyone else; he doesn't do well with attachments. Noah's one focus is his family and nothing else. Well that was before her met, Echo. Like her name she calls to him the sounds of his heart. Can they find love in the chaos of their world?

I liked how the author went about creating the heat between the two main characters without pushing it too far. Pushing the Limits is an emotional ride. Echo and Noah make a perfect match. The timing was just right, nothing felt forced. The characters are extremely well developed and easy to identify with. There are so many things in this book, the cliques, individuality, divorced parents and much more that any teen can find that relates to what they are going through. 

Review: Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

Author: Rae Carson
Title: The Crown of Embers
Series: Girl of Fire and Thorns
Publication:September 18, 2012
Publisher: Greenwillow Brooks
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 416 pp.
Rating: 5 out 5
Source: Cassie@CitrusReads
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Synopsis
In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy.


Elisa believed that her duty as the Chosen One had been fulfilled but she doesn't know that God's plan for her has yet to even scratch the surface. Seventeen, a widow and now a Queen, she has to prove herself to the people she now governs. It's a tough job when there are those that rather see her dead than rule. After an attack on her life, Elisa journeys to find a myth that will make her more powerful and therefore able to protect her people. In addition to the attacks on her life, the council also expects to her marry, which will supposedly make the unrest in the kingdom die down but of course they have an agenda of their own in mind for Queen Elisa. This young lady has a lot on her hands and not many adversaries, other than her ladies and then there is Hector. The chemistry between them is sweet, both of them bound by duty to their kingdom, so neither can act upon how they feel but I still have hope for Elisa to finally get her man, if her nurse butts out of her business. Elisa must decide if she will succumb to the desires of her heart or the duties imposed by her station.

It's nice to see Elisa grow, she has become much deeper than the last book and I loved her in that one. She is a realistic character with real world problems of love, duty, and fears of inadequacy. She has yet to feel truly capable and accepted as the Queen, even though the title is rightfully hers. I love the writing; the author has created an imaginative and vivid story. The characters are well developed and the plot flows considerably well. Overall, Elisa is one of my top favorite female heroines and I look forward to seeing how her story ends.

Check out my review of Girl of Fire and Thorns

Review: False Covenant by Ari Marmell

Author: Ari Marmell
Title:False Covenant
Publication:June 26, 2012
Publisher: PYR
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal
Pages: 281
Audience:12 and up
Rating: 5 out 5
Source: Publisher
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Amazon| BN| Book Depository

"Who do these people think they are?!" Widdershins was lying back, and her voice was substantially softer, but neither fact was preventing her from giving the rant everything she had." What am I, the guild's designated scapegoat? 'Something's gone wrong, must be Widdershins's fault!' 'Uh-oh, it's raining, must be Widdershins's fault!' 'Stubbed my toe! Curse that Widdershins!'"


Two Words: Amazing and Insane! Widdershins is back and trouble has found her once again! I love Widdershins, she is a tough chic that can hold her own and everyone else's too and with such snarky wit. I found myself smiling at her antics and her saucy honesty. Marmell has created an intricate and fantastic world in Davillon, with rich characters that have emotional depth that anyone can relate to dealing with loss, friendship and love. The story begins six months after the fiasco in the first book without the past and present narrative. The Church has abandoned the city and everyone blames Widdershins for what's happened. 
Wanted dead by many and loved by some, Widdershins is about fed up with it all. She is not exactly herself since the death of her best friend and is a tad rusty on her thievery. She seems more distracted and less observant of her surroundings. Now in addition to everything she is going through, she is being stalked by a mysterious aristocrat, plus tasked with discovering the origin of the dark and mysterious creature, playing fright factor with  the residents of Davillon. What she discovers is more than she or her god bargained for; can she survive to save them all? There is a hint of romance in this book but it's not the primary focus of the book. Renard is a thief that is secretly in love with an oblivious Widdershins and Julien is a guard that has arrested her on several occasions but somehow, I think he likes her. Both of these guys are great choices and very cute but Widdershins just hasn't caught on to that, yet. She has another admirer but I won't tell who. Overall, this is a great action-packed adventure.
Quote:
"I bet that hurt you to say. You look like you just swallowed a monkey."
"Widdershins..."
"A poisonous monkey."


Recommendation: to anyone that loves action, adventure, fantasy, and science fiction. Also, readers that are searching for a refreshing, strong female heroine,this is the book for you!

Review:Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Author: Anna Banks
Title: Of Poseidon
Publication: May 22, 2012
Publisher: Macmillan 
Imprint: Feiwel &Friends
Genre: YA Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 336pp.
Audience: 14 and up
Rating: 5 out 5
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
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Purchase:Amazon| BN| Book Depository

Synopsis:

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen-literally, ouch!-both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . . 


Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

My thoughts: Love the cover, book, characters and just everything. Emma and Galen are such magnetic characters, as are Toraf and Rayna.The female leads are hilarious, feisty and stubborn and the male characters are a good balance to the fire that these two ladies ignite. I liked that there is no love triangle in this one but rather two great couples that seem to find their way to each other. In addition to the romance, a mystery of what exactly is Emma, and why hasn't she shifted. They are perplexed by the fact that she obviously has the Syrena traits but her human attributes are a tad bit of a pickle. The narrative told from both of the main characters points of view worked so well, that though I knew who was speaking, my attention was not distracted by trying to figure out who each time it changed. The flow of the story is beautifully written as well the story line, which that ending left me hanging as I was still pressing the next button on my Kindle, hoping that it was some kind of joke and that there was more. Alas, it was not and now I have to twiddle my thumbs till part two comes out. Must have more of these characters, they are so full of humor and life. Great read!