Saturday, March 26, 2011

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets. 

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.




This book surprised me. It had been sitting on my shelf for a while, and always thought I had something better to read, so it took a while for me to pick it up and read it. And I wish I would have read it sooner, because I loved it. I loved how it was set in the 1800s, it gave a good essence to the story. I had to admit I judged the book by it's title before reading it, and I'm not proud. I thought this book would be about the typical prophecy that said that the 'chosen one' (cause there's always a chosen one) will save them all and that dark things would do anything to stop the one. This book kind of had a little of that, but it was different. The prophecy seemed genuine, original and yet believable. I also loved how the book had a little bit of everything. It had a little bit of romance, adventure, fantasy and thriller. It managed to keep me hooked without overdoing the events that happened in the book. What I always analyze more than anything in books are the characters, and Alice was a character that really stuck out. She wasn't actually there in every single part of the story, actually, she wasn't there a lot. But her presence was always there, everywhere. She was a different kind of villain, she was evil in a way that cannot be described. One last thing I loved about it that is not always found in other books, is the darkness of the story. It's this lugubrious setting and environment that made the story what it is, and the presence of death through the story it's what made it so believable and relatable. I highly recommend this book. 


How many stars?
5 stars
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Monday, March 21, 2011

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. 

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love. 




I have nothing else to say about this book except for wow. This book was definitely one of the best books I've read. It was unique in every single way, and I think we can all say we've never read something like this before. When I first saw this book and read the summary, I wasn't that interested in reading it. But when I started reading it, it was a drug. It made me addicted to it. I was caught in Katniss's world, in the Hunger Games. This is one of those books that will keep you thinking and dreaming about it even long after you've finished it. What I also loved about this book was that it wasn't all roses and rainbows and daffodils, it was realistic and drastic. I liked the graphic way it described the games and everything every character did in order to survive. It shows that part all of us have but never take into account, our survival instinct. What we would be capable of doing just to survive. Katniss was an amazing leading character, it inspired strength and desire to be free. She showed that she could make the rules herself, Katniss was definitely not a damsel in distress, but rather a Robin Hood, a Joan of Arc. If we had to describe Katniss in just one word, it would be the word heroic. And Peeta, you fall in love with this guy since he first shows up. Some authors do a great job writing a lovable male character. But Suzanne Collins did a hell of a job. So, in concluison, this book is amazing, if you're thinking about reading it, do it!


How Many Stars?
5 stars 
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Friday, March 11, 2011

Matched by Ally Condie


Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.



This book wasn't what I expected. I haven't read that many dystopia books, and I didn't think I would like this book. I just thought I'd give it a try, that it would be nothing special. Boy, was I wrong. What a good book. I loved how different from everything else I've read it was. It was really unique. Cassia's a deep character. I love the way she talks about poetry and the society she lives in. This book really makes you think. It makes you think and appreciate the choices you have today. I think the books started off a little slow, but ti picked up the pace pretty fast, and when it did, I didn't want to put it down. This book was a real surprise for me and i'm glad I read it. I recommend this book for everyone who is looking for something new and unique to read.


How many stars?
4 stars
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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

How to pick a book...

It often happens that you read a book (or a series) you love it, and then you realize you have no idea what to read next. Here are some tips that I use for when this happens to me:

1. If you read a book and you loved it, check out if that author has written other novels that you may like. Because you may not like them, but same author means more or less same writing style. And personally, if there's one thing that calls me when I read a book besides the plot and characters, is writing style.

2. If you have a Twitter account, follow authors you love. Because some of them post good recommendations and you never know what you may find.

3. Look for the book (or books) you read on Amazon. There's a recommendation list below the book synopsis, and sometimes they have really good ones.

4. If you really love to read, create a Goodreads account. You can make book lists, join groups and add friends who have the same taste. Those friends tend to have really good book recommendations.

5. If you want to read a more detail synopsis of the book, some of them have a Wikipedia page. But beware of spoilers, cause Wikipedia's full of them.

6. If you like to read, and a based-on-a-book movie is coming up, check it out, you might like it. And remember, most of the times the book is better than the movie.

7. ALWAYS make sure that you know what the book is about. Because even thought a cover is a huge part of the book, it's not the whole thing. In this case, you can judge a book by it's cover, just don't choose a book because it's cover.

Those tips have always worked for me, so I hope it works for you.

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Sunday, March 6, 2011

Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.


I've owned this book for a while now, but hadn't had a chance to read it until a while ago. I have to say I was a little concerned about the book, because the last book I read by Maria V. Snyder was Fire Study and it really disappointed me. But I decided to give the book a chance and read it. And I'm so glad I did. This book was...wait for it...amazing. What I loved most about the book was not only the narrator, but also the knowledge Maria V. Snyder had about glass blowing. She really proved she knew what she was talking about, and that gave a great quality and originality to the story. Opal was hilarious, I found myself laughing every five pages. Also, and I think this is something, or rather someone, we all loved, I fell in love with Kade. He wasn't the typical cheesy romantic guy, but he wasn't the typical bad boy either. Kade was someone you really don't notice at first, but when you get to know him better, you can't help but to fall for him. There is an originality to this book that other books don't have, the fact that it's set on a medieval, old-age era makes it fascinating. I give five stars to this awesome book and recommend it to everyone looking for a good read. 


How many stars? 
5 stars
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