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young adult

reviews July 25, 2013

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium (Delirium 1) by Lauren Oliver

They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever. And I’ve always believed them. Until now. Now everything has changed. Now, I’d rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie. (Goodreads)

When people turn 18 they’ve procedure to cure themfrom a disease called love, or amor deliria nervosa. Love is the reason that made evything to turn into chaos and a cure was developed. The feeling of love for a best friend, a parent, or a pet is not tolerated.

Lena can’t wait for her procedure but then she meets Alex. At first she’s horrified at the feelings she now has but slowly starts to question the way of life. She has always wanted to be happy and ordinary and the procedure is the answer to that. But what if there is another way?

I haven’t read many dystopian books before and I’m surprised how much I liked this. And I think the idea of love thought as disease is interesting.

It started little slowly but things starts to go swiftly little by little. I actually liked Lena. At first she is rather insecure and feels like she is in her best friend Hana’s shadow. Hana is the type that catches all the attention at first and then there is Lena’s mother’s suicide that still cast a shadow on Lena’s life. I loved to see that Alex made her start believing in herself more. But when Lena’s procedure starts to approach she starts to think about running off with Alex .

While I liked the book there was few things that bothered me. I would have liked to learn why the government suddenly started to force everyone to be cured. It was said love and feelings was the reason for wars and that people were unhappy but I kept thinking if there was something that really set things off.

And it’s said that it’s dangerous to take the procedure before you turn 18 because of side effects but then later on we’re told that some people who has gotten the deliria is forced to take procedure earlier. It kinda came out like it’s a normal thing when just before it’s stated to be dangerous.

But all in all it was fascinating reading and I’m looking forward reading more of her books!

4/5
Published: Hodder & Stoughton (2011)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 393
Source: library

reviews July 25, 2013

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Fallen (Fallen 1) by Lauren Kate

Seventeen-Year-Old Luce is a new student at Sword & Cross, an unwelcoming boarding/reform school in Savannah, Georgia. Luce’s boyfriend died under suspicious circumstances, and now she carries the guilt over his death with her as she navigates the unfriendly halls at Sword & Cross, where every student seems to have an unpleasant—even evil—history. It’s only when she sees Daniel that her life looks a little better. But Daniel has a secret which will put their lives in danger… (Goodreads)

Luce was in a fire where her boyfriend died and she gets shipped to a new school for troubled kids. On her first day there Luce sees Daniel and she gets the feeling they’ve met before but he makes it clear he doesn’t want anything to do with her. And then there’s this other guy who wants her…

I really wanted to like this more. I mean with this gorgeous cover you would hope the book lives up to it. And it made me sad that it didn’t and kept waiting it to get better which never happened.

Luce was ok but when she was near Daniel or Cam I just wanted to slap her.I mean I get she’s swooning for them but really… With back cover saying it’s the “ultimate love story” I was expecting some sparks. But I didn’t feel anything between Luce and Daniel. He spends nearly whole book running away from her and telling he doesn’t want her stalking and harassing him. He made it so clear and yet she she can’t let it go and goes into stalker mode. If I was being mean I’d called that pathetic. I couldn’t feel anything between them.

And then there’s Cam who’s supposed to be this charming, popular guy and of course he seems to know always how Luce feels and what she wants. They just gave me the creeps. Plain and clear. He gave me the feeling that he was 50+ old slimey guy after teenager. But maybe that’s just me.

And there wan’t lot going on. I kept waiting something to happen and when we learn about flallen angels I thought finally! But that didn’t really go anywhere and all we hear is that Luce can’t hear everything at once because it’s such a shock. Really?! At the ned there is a battle but we don’t see it so it kinda fell flat too.

Of course the school is supposed to be highly secured place where some wearstracking bracelets but still people just seems to sneak around when they feel like it.

In the end I felt there was too much telling and too little showing. But I’m saying again that I loved the cover.

2/5
Published: Doubleday (2009)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 452
Source: my own

reviews July 25, 2013

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Graceling (Graceling Realm 1) by Kristin Cashore

In a world where people born with an exceptional skill, known as a Grace, are both feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing.

Feared by the court and shunned by those her own age, the darkness of her Grace casts a heavy shadow over Katsa’s life. Yet she remains defiant: when the King of Lienid’s father is kidnapped she investigates, and stumbles across a mystery. Who would want to kidnap the old man, and why? And who was the extraordinary Graced man whose fighting abilities rivalled her own?

The only thing Katsa is sure of is that she no longer wants to kill. The intrigue around this kidnapping offers her a way out – but little does she realise, when she takes it, that something insidious and dark lurks behind the mystery. Something spreading from the shadowy figure of a one-eyed king… (Goodreads)

When Katsa was 8 year old she accidently kills her cousin and she learns that she has the Grace of killing. Her uncle King Randa uses her to punish everyone who displeases him and Katsa learns to hate him for this. Katsa organizes a Council that tries to help people and it is the Coucil’s job to rescue the King of Lienid’s father whe he’s kidnapped. While on the rescue Katsa meets another Graceling with matching fighting skill who turns out to be Prince Po of Lienid and looking for his missing grandfather.

I have some mixed feelings about this one. I enjoyed it but I’m still having problems writing my feelings about it.

I liked Katsa, she was tough and nice but I felt that I was supposed to be more scared of her than I was. And at times she was more childish than 10 year old Bitterblue who acts much older than her age. And if you can’t feel pain then why make such a huge thing about hairpins digging into scalp?

But I liked Po (what kind of name is that?) and Raffin. Po was so cute and fun and loved the way he understood Katsa.

It wasn’t bad and I liked it but guess I was again expecting something more. I have Fire also so I’m curious to see how that one goes.

3/5
Published: Gollancz (2009)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 371
Source: my own

reviews July 25, 2013

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush 1) by Becca Fitzpatrick

A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Romance was not part of Nora Grey’s the plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen – and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life. (Goodreads)

Nora Grey’s life changes when she gets new lab partner, Patch. She can’t stand him and at the same time is afraid of him. Her suggestion of a new partner is turned down and eventually she starts have major crush on him. But then stuff starts to happen and it seems Patch might be behind them.

There was some hype about this some time ago and witch such a great cover I just had to try it too. And I’m little surprised how much I liked this! Not great and had it’s falts but I did enjoy it.

Wasn’t huge fan of Nora herself. Bit boring and too naive, or should I say too teen? After she nearly runs ove a guy, her house is burned, nearly shot to death etc. absolutely never tell your parents, police or any adult because that would be stupid. Instead go to this huge investigating mode and speaking of that, the bar scene with wigs and all was so stupid. Seriously, when you are trying to find out about a guy you think is behind trying to kill you maybe your questions shouldn’t be:

“Do you know if Patch has ever had any restraining orders?
Does he have a history of stalking?
Does he have a girlfriend?”

But of course she can’t help but be in love with this mysterious guy! Whatever…

I found this kinda hilarious. When she sees Patch’s scars her first though is: “He must be fallen angel!” Seriously?? That’s your first thought? I have to remember this when I next time see someone with scars…
And naturally when she googles fallen angel the first page up is what se needs. Why this never happens to me?

But I liked Patch. I thought he was funny and I liked his sense of humor. I liked the idea of fallen angel and I wanted to learn more of his background.

For YA novel with such hype this was really good since I don’t usually like those. And good enough for me to read the next book.

3,5/5
Published: Simon and Schuster (2009)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 391
Source: my own

reviews July 25, 2013

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments 1) by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . . (Goodreads)

Clary finds out she has ability to see people no one else can: demons, Shadowhunters, vampires and the like. This comes in handy when her mother is kidnapped and Clary is attacked by a demon. She gets help from 3 Shadowhunters (Jace, Alec, Isabelle) whom she meets when she saw them killing someone.

I’m having little mixed feelings about this one. I liked it but I’ve heard so much raving about this that I was waiting something more. It started kinda slow and I kept waiting something to happen but it got better in action wise towards the end. But it seems I’m the only one thinking that so don’t listen me…

Surprisingly there wasn’t any annoying characters even if Simon was boring but wasn’t huge fan of the triangle between Simon, Clary and Jace. And I wish there had been more Alec! And how could you not like Jace?

All in all it was good book if not great and I’ll definitely read the next one.

3/5
Published: Walker Books (2007)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 442
Source: library