Daughter Of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter Of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Rating: PG

Score: ★★★★★

Genre: Horror, Fantasy

Page Count: 420

Book #1 of the Daughter Of Smoke and Bone trilogy

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Published: 2011

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young artist is about to be caught up in the brutal otherworldly war. Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages-- not all of them human-- and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out. When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Review:

Pros:

1. Let's just start off with saying that this book had some pretty mixed reviews online, one extreme or the other: some hated it and some loved it. I was happy to know that I was part of the ladder. This fantasy/horror/romantic adventure is one of my favorite trilogies already, and I've only read the first book!

2. The story was written so poetically that really just drew me in to the story even more. The word usage and layout was so beautiful that it made me want to read for hours on end and live in the world that Laini Taylor created for her readers.

3. The characters were just unforgettable. I really loved Karou's character and just how strong and driven she was. I also loved Akiva's character, very mysterious and dark but had a bit of a sharper edge to it. The other characters were also very enjoyable such as Zuzanna's character or Brimstone, other fun people that the book mentions.

4. I could not get over all of the fantasy and horror-like aspects of the book. From the cool magic and portals to other worlds, to the dark secrets and violent attacks from enemies. The book had a dark theme to it throughout the entire story but also had it's funny moments that added something extra to the story.

5. I really loved how the book was written in not only two points of view but with chapters every now and then taking place in the past. It wasn't confusing at all like some books tend to be. I always knew which chapters were being told from who's POV and when the chapter was taking place, present or past. 

6. Lastly, I loved the incredible plot twist that was absolutely mind blowing to say the least. The dialog was amazing, the climax and plot were fantastic and the action and romance all blended so well together to create a beautiful and anticipating story.

Age Recommendation: 14+

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any more book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

FOLLOW ME:

Twitter: @BooksMusicLife1

Instagram: @Books.Music.Life

Goodreads: @BooksMusicLife1

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Rating: PG-13

Score: 4 stars

Genre: Sci-fi

Page Count: 457

Book #1 Of The 5th Wave Trilogy

Publisher: G.P's Putnam Sons

Release Date: 2013

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, just 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 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:

Pros:

1. Pretty much as soon as I heard that this book had aliens in it, I just had to pick it up! I loved a lot about this book from the sci-fi and action to the romance and of course, the aliens. This book is one for a sci-fi lover for sure!

2. I loved the characters, especially the main character, Cassie. She is such a powerful and tough female protagonist and really brought a lot of the main story alive. Even the side characters were all tough and hard like Cassie and created a really awesome line of different characters that were both loved and enjoyable to read.

3. I really loved all the sci-fi aspects of the book. Like I said before, it had aliens but not in a way I was expecting. They weren't exactly the little green men we all know. The action in this book was also pretty cool and so were the descriptions of the drones and flying saucers, well, more like giant spaceships. 

4. I also enjoyed how the story was told in 3 different points of view. It rarely works for some books and this was a game changer. I liked how all points of view weren't the same in any way, they were told by different characters but in different places and mind sets as well. 

Cons:

1. Even though I enjoyed this book, it took FOREVER for me to read. I've read longer books in the past but for some reason, this book took way longer to finish from beginning to end. It never really hooked me enough to keep me enveloped in the story and didn't really pick up until a good fourth of the way into the book for me.

2. I also didn't like the romance in this book. Yes, it added something extra to the story but at the same time, I felt like it just didn't blend well enough with the story. There was so much going on in the story that I felt like the romantic aspect was forced in a little.

Age Recommendation: 13+

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any more book requests you would like me to review, leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

FOLLOW ME:

Twitter: @BooksMusicLife1

Instagram: @Books.Music.Life

Goodreads: BooksMusicLife1

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Rating: PG

Score: 5 stars

Genre: Sci-Fy, Fantasy

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina's black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family's good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever's survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars-- they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Review:

Pros:

1. This sci-fy fantasy adventure is the first book in a new trilogy by Marie Lu (author of the Legend trilogy) and an amazing one at that. This story holds so much adventure, romance and mystery that it hooked me from the very first page. This story has been described as the X-Men meets Divergent set in a medieval era, and that description rings true.

2. I truly loved all the characters from this book! From the main to the not so important characters, I really loved them all. They were all dark and mysterious with an attitude that really made them interesting and likeable, even the bad guys in the book were loved!

3. The story line was so well written as well. It started out at a certain point and started heading to a certain end like all stories, but had these pop ups of chaos and action packed scenes that blended so well together and didn't feel too blocky or abrupt. The pop ups made the story more interesting and really added so much to the entire story.

4. I loved all the passion and emotions that flowed through the book from beginning to end. The story had anger, fury, rage, fear, romance and so much more that I couldn't put it down for a single second. It is truly a story that fans of Legend, The Hunger Games or Divergent will love as much as I did!

Age Recommendation: 13+

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any more book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

FOLLOW ME:

Twitter: @BookMusicLife1

Instagram: @Books.Music.Life

Goodreads: @BooksMusicLife1

Dash and Lily's Book Of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Dash and Lily's Book Of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Rating: PG

Score: 4 stars

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Comedy

So begins the latest whirlwind romance. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Review:

Pros:

1. First thing's first. This book is full of funny moments and exciting scenes as well as a love story that seems both crazy and sweet at the same time. I loved so much about this book and had a hard time finding anything I didn't like about this story!

2. I really liked that the story was written in duel points of view, Dash and Lily. I felt like I really got to know both characters really well and got to see what was going on in each of the their minds. Sometimes I don't think duel POV's work with a story, but this one was an exception.

3. The book is laugh out loud funny and there was not a single chapter where I didn't find myself laughing or smiling. I loved how witty and sarcastic the characters were and I loved how charming each chapter was. 

4. I loved the writing for this book as well. The point of view for Lily was written in a way that really shows off the kind of character she is, fun, wild, and yet still trying to find herself in the chaos of her family. Dash's point of view was also written in the same way, showing off his care free and daring character and written in a way that reminded me so much of John Green's writing which I enjoyed very much!

5. The characters were so sweet and funny and crazy weird at times, resembling your own set of friends. I loved the chemistry between all the characters and how goofy and care free they were also. Overall, this book was a favorite of mine.

Cons:

1. Even though I loved the story, I did feel like the ending, however, was a bit rushed and I would have loved to see a bit more romance between Dash and Lily.

Age Recommendation: 13+

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any more book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

FOLLOW ME:

Twitter: @BooksMusicLife1

Instagram: @Books.Music.Life 

Goodreads: BooksMusicLife1 

The Kidnapping Of Christina Lattimore by Joan Lowry Nixon

The Kidnapping Of Christina Lattimore by Joan Lowry Nixon

Rating: PG

Score: 4 stars

Genre: Mystery, Crime

Christina spots a man in the dark, lonely parking lot- but too late. She's grabbed, drugged, and whisked off to a dingy basement, where she struggles to stay alive. When her family pays the kidnappers' ransom, Christina thinks her ordeal is over . . . but then discovers that her family thinks she orchestrated her own kidnapping! Christina is desperate. How far will she go to prove her innocence?

 Review:

Pros:

1. This mystery crime fiction is honestly a classic. Somewhere between Nancy Drew and Clue. I really liked a lot of things about this book for that reason. It's not a newer book at all but it still has a few perks that I still found satisfying.

 2. I really liked all the characters in the book. They weren't necessarily my favorite group of book characters but I still liked them. They were all pretty smart about investigating the true mastermind behind the kidnapping scheme as well as very observant and motivated. Even the kidnappers themselves were pretty interesting characters.

3. It was also very clean with nothing inappropriate for the younger readers. I don't usually read books that maybe the younger readers would enjoy, considering I love YA, but I still enjoyed the cleanliness of it, since it didn't distract me from the story.

Cons:

1. Even though I did enjoy the book overall, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. The book promises a "thrilling suspense story that's fast-paced and exciting!" That didn't happen for me. It might have been all those things in the 70's but it isn't anymore. It was pretty steady from the beginning to the end without much suspense at all.

2. Another thing was that the story was somewhat predictable throughout. In about the middle of the book, I was already pretty sure on how the story would end, who the true mastermind was, and how they went about doing so. I don't know if it's because of the amount of mystery books I've read or if it was just the fact that the story itself was just that predictable, but it was very easy to put the pieces together and conclude the mystery.

Age Recommendation: 11+

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any more book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

FOLLOW ME:

Twitter: @BooksMusicLife1

Instagram: @Books.Music.Life

Goodreads: @BooksMusicLife1