Book Review: The Revolution of Ivy by Amy Engel

The Revolution of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #2)
by Amy Engel
Paperback, 290 pages
Release Date: November 3rd, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: YA Dystopia
Get the Novel:
      Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Goodreads Summary: Ivy Westfall is beyond the fence and she is alone. Abandoned by her family and separated from Bishop Lattimer, Ivy must find a way to survive on her own in a land filled with countless dangers, both human and natural. She has traded a more civilized type of cruelty--forced marriages and murder plots--for the bare-knuckled brutality required to survive outside Westfall's borders.

But there is hope beyond the fence, as well. And when Bishop reappears in Ivy's life, she must decide if returning to Westfall to take a final stand for what she believes is right is worth losing everything she's fought for.

Cindy's Review: 

The Revolution of Ivy by Amy Engel is the long-awaited sequel of The Book of Ivy. This duology follows Ivy Westfall, the daughter of an underground rebel in a dystopian society called Westfall. Ivy’s grandfather founded the town, but lost the authority to govern the new nation. Instead, the Lattimer family mandates the town. Separating between the poor and the rich, the townspeople diverge in their lifestyles and opinions. The side of the poor are supporters of the Westfalls, while President Lattimer’s followers, the rich folks, approve of Lattimer’s dictatorship. 

To keep peace, the two sides are placed in arranged marriages every year. Ivy, as the daughter of Justin Westfall, is expected to marry the son of President Lattimer, Bishop, at the age of sixteen. Her father and sister, Callie, eagerly hatch a plan for Ivy to break Bishop’s armor and use her advantage to kill him; thus taking down the heir of the Lattimer lineage and allowing the Westfalls to restore their power. Forced into a marriage she does not want, but at the same time, hoping to receive her father and sister’s approval, Ivy complies with the scheme. 

As time passes, Ivy finds that Bishop is not what she had imagined him to be. Defying her family’s demand to kill him, Ivy sets a trap for herself so she can be caught. She takes the blame of the murder attempt and is casted out of Westfall. Ivy is left to die beyond the fence.

The Revolution of Ivy follows Ivy’s survival and growth outside the fence. Though Ivy faces natural obstacles, she receives aid from Caleb and Ash, siblings who live as itinerants in the wild. Throughout the story, readers see Ivy’s character growth and conflicting thoughts about her tangled life. During the first half, Ivy tries to accept that Bishop will no longer be a part of her life and puts him in her past. When Bishop suddenly appears before her, Ivy fights against him. Not wanting to resolve their conflicts and not willing to admit her innocence, seeing Bishop again is painful.

When news was brought back about Westfall’s chaos and downfall, Bishop and Ivy head back to save Callie from execution and to keep Westfall from crashing down into a civil war. With the conclusion filled with action, Bishop and Ivy prove to be worthy of mending the political disarray of Westfall.

The Revolution of Ivy is a page-turner that will keep readers at the edge of their seat with excitement. Its quick and steady pace allows for readers to stay fixated with the plotline. Readers will be left satisfied and content as they turn the last page. 

Once more, Engel produced a novel of perfection, bundled with action, romance, and humor.

The Rating: (1-10): 8.5

Happy Reading~

Book Review: The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel

The Book of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #1)
by Amy Engel
Release Date: November 4th, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Paperback, 282 pages
Genre: YA Dystopia
Get a Copy:
      Amazon | B&N 

Goodreads Summary:  After a brutal nuclear war, the United States was left decimated. A small group of survivors eventually banded together, but only after more conflict over which family would govern the new nation. The Westfalls lost. Fifty years later, peace and control are maintained by marrying the daughters of the losing side to the sons of the winning group in a yearly ritual.

This year, it is my turn.

My name is Ivy Westfall, and my mission is simple: to kill the president’s son—my soon-to-be husband—and restore the Westfall family to power.

But Bishop Lattimer is either a very skilled actor or he’s not the cruel, heartless boy my family warned me to expect. He might even be the one person in this world who truly understands me. But there is no escape from my fate. I am the only one who can restore the Westfall legacy.

Because Bishop must die. And I must be the one to kill him…

Cindy's Review: 
At a Glance/The Cover: 
I was introduced The Book of Ivy through a lot of blog promo posts because of the blog tour. The synopsis just snatched my attention and wouldn't let me forget about it. I wanted to read it SO MUCH. The reviews were pretty good, but I knew that plot is something I personally would read and like. So I made the ultimate decision to pre-order The Book of Ivy on Amazon. Let me tell you, I totally did not regret it.   

The Characters/My Opinion:
Ivy Westfall - Ivy proved to be a person that has a heart. Not cold, like her sister, Callie. But Bishop can practically melt anyone's cold heart. According to Bishop, Ivy is easy to read, so I kind of relate that statement to the title: The Book of Ivy. Although, Ivy isn't that kickass heroine that's strong enough to have her own stubborn opinion, she does end up kicking up some courage and made some I mean A LOT of sacrifices for something she feels is right. 

Bishop Lattimer - He seems so perfect that he isn't even a real person. Can someone actually be that nice? Now that I think about, Bishop doesn't really have that strong of a personality besides being super genuine and kind. But when you're reading the book, you forget all about that. He's literally the best person ever. How could anyone hate him? Maybe if he had some humor or another quality that showed his personality though.....that might have made Bishop stand out even more. 

I have been on a dystopia hiatus because I got tired of how similar all the plots were and how the characters practically do the same thing and tell the same story. But The Book Ivy was such a suspenseful one, I couldn't resist.  I read the synopsis and just had to pre-order it on Amazon. It's like that perfect dystopia novel that I would enjoy. Of course, a lot of other books kind of has this kind of plot. I can totally compare The Book of Ivy to Delirium by Lauren Oliver.  

Overall Thoughts: 
If you're tired of dystopian YA novels, well, I recommend that you read The Book of Ivy anyways. It was a good book to get only a little dose of those dystopian stories considering it was only 200 pages or so. Okay. Maybe that's long, but it definitely felt really short. Unfortunately, that cliffhanger's got me thinking about the next and final book in the series, The Revolution of Ivy, coming out in November. I really wish Ivy and Bishop the best! :) 

The Rating: (1-10): 10~

Happy Reading~

Blog Tour: Remake by Ilima Todd

Welcome to my stop on the Remake Blog Tour

hosted by iRead Book Tours.

Blurb: 
Male or Female?

Nine is the ninth female born in her batch of ten females and ten males. By design, her life in Freedom Province is without complications or consequences. However, such freedom comes with a price. The Prime Maker is determined to keep that price a secret from the new batches of citizens that are born, nurtured, and raised androgynously. 

But Nine isn’t like every other batcher. She harbors indecision and worries about her upcoming Remake Day—her seventeenth birthday, the age when batchers fly to the Remake facility and have the freedom to choose who and what they’ll be. 

When Nine discovers the truth about life outside of Freedom Province, including the secret plan of the Prime Maker, she is pulled between two worlds and two lives. Her decisions will test her courage, her heart, and her beliefs. Who can she trust? Who does she love? And most importantly, who will she decide to be?

Cindy's Review:
At a Glance/The Cover:
I was captured by the blurb. As of now, I'm more into chick lits than dystopian genres, but when there was a review opportunity for one, why not try it? And I didn't regret it! AT ALL. It would be like a normal book I would buy or check out at the library. The plot and storyline was definitely captivating and I enjoyed this story immensely. :)

The Characters/My Opinions:
Nine - Nine is the main character of the book. She's number nine in a batch of 10 girls obviously... and she looks different from the rest of them. She's an experiment. She has the freckles, while everyone else looks 'perfect'. Nine feels insecure and gets bullied by the other batchlings. And it's come the time to make a decision for her future. For her looks. For the rest of her life. 

Theron - Theron is Nine's best friend. He's one of the male counterparts of their batch. He's part of the 10 boys, and look normal like the rest of them. Unlike Nine's hesitant decisions, he's already got most of his future chosen. 

Nine and Theron's relationship in the beginning. I swear I see that spark. But the batchlings just think they're harmlessly playing with each other like friends. They have underdeveloped bodies and no hair. I know, it sounds and looks weird, but that's how the story goes. They are like oversized children. But there's still heart thumping going on and the sparks. 

And I was fangurlin' about their cuddles and such. So who knows to my surprise there's another guy in this story. 

Kai - That name tho. :) I like it. Yeeep. But at first, I really didn't like Kai. He appeared as a jerk. He seemed really rude. And I was like 'there's Theron, no way you can come in'...but later on...Okay, first, I'll tell you how Kai fits in. 

On the day of Nine and Theron's remake, the plane crashed. And that was Nine's first sight of the outside world. Outside her safe Freedom One where the Prime Maker protected her. It's a scary, dangerous place, full of sharks and people who don't believe in Freedom. The rebels. 

When Nine wakes up in an island, with strangers helping her, she learns more about the rebellion. Their ideas. And their principles. And she learns about family and love. And of course, she meets the guy. 

And throughout the rest of the book, we see their relationship develop and see them know about each other more. And throughout the time period, Nine's off her hormone pills, so she's actually looking more like a teenage girl now, if you're wondering. 

Overall Thoughts: 
The romance was a bit of a surprise for me. :) But I'm happy with how everything went. 

I have to say, this is one of the best blog tour book I've read. Ever. 

So yes, I enjoyed this one immensely. 

If you're into dystopian novels, come check this one out! :)

The Rating: (1-10): 9

The Author: 
Ilima Todd was born and raised on the north shore of Oahu and currently resides in the Rocky Mountains. She never wanted to be a writer even though she loves books and reading. She earned a degree in physics instead. But the characters in her head refused to be ignored, and now she spends her time writing science fiction for teens. When she is not writing, Ilima loves to spend time with her husband and four children.


Links: 
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Book Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)
by Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: February 4th, 2014
Publisher: Harper Collins
Hardcover, 416 pages
Content: YA Fantasy
Get a Copy: 
      B&N
      Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew - about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam - was wrong.

Cindy's Review:
At a Glance/The Cover: 
It's the last book of the series! Tahereh Mafi is such an amazing author! I loved the first book so much, Shatter Me. The covers aren't the best looking but they're aren't bad at all. Does it have a meaning though? I'm not really sure. I haven't found it's hidden meaning yet. 

"Aaron Warner Anderson"
Hot name, right? Umm. Just him is hot in general. 

I started this whole series as Team Adam. I hated Warner in Shatter Me. I read the second book, Unravel Me. I wasn't loving Adam as much. But I still hated Warner. AND THEN I READ DESTROY ME. Yeah, I read it after I read Unravel Me. Actually I didn't. Well. Somewhere along the way, something like this happened. It kind of changed my thoughts towards Warner. I realized he actually had a heart. I still liked Adam, but I was my hatred towards Warner was wavering. 

"I want to lock myself in the toilet."
In the TOILET? I'm sure you'll drown. Don't worry, Warner is harmless.

The Characters / My Opinion:
Aaron Warner Anderson - YEP. THEN I READ UNITE ME. NOW, I'm totally in love with Warner. Like he's so hot. Omg. That scene in the beginning. Omg. Omg. Omg. Omg. That was on fire. That chemistry between Warner and Juliette though. Whew. Totally hot. And truly, Warner's a lovely person. He hides a lot behind his cruel cover. 

"He has a soft spot for fashion."
Ooh. That walk-in closet though. AND he's knows how to dress nice. Double yes.  

Adam Kent - Adam kind of got annoying in the third book. I was annoyed. He was a bit annoying. He's mad at Juliette but he's also clingy. Ugh. Guys like that. I truly don't like clingy guys. It's cute if they're a little jealous, but he's like CLINGY JEALOUS. Sorry Adam. I loved you but like, what Kenji said in the book was so right. 

"Stay."
Oh. Warner. I'm totally dying for you. 

Kenji - I still love Kenji. He's HILARIOUS. The best guy friend you can ever have. #BGFF. I'm sooo glad Kenji became Juliette's best friend. And he's still as sassy as ever. Or cocky. Or just funny. However you like to explain it. 

"'Hey, um, I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for a friend of mine,' he says. 'Have you seen her? She's a tiny little thing, cries a lot, spends too much time with her feelings."
LOLOL. Cries a lot. You gotta love Kenji. A lot. 

Juliette - Although Juliette is the main character, I'm all about the guys. Personally, Juliette wasn't the best protagonist I ever read. She's only okay. During the second book, I was a bit annoyed with her. I'm glad she chose the right decision in the end.

"'So-so-so wait, so he tells you he loves you...and you said? What?' Kenji demands, dumbfounded. 'Thank you?'"
Another Kenji moment. He just makes me crack up every time he opens his mouth.  

Overall Thoughts:
Yeep. Definitely glad I continued on this series. IT WAS SO WORTH IT. I NEVER IN MY LIFE TRULY CHANGED TEAM PREFERENCE. I'm pretty sure I haven't. For example, in Delirium, I stayed Team Alex all the way. In the Hunger Games, I stayed Team Peeta all the way. In Matched, I stayed Team Xander all the way. In the Selection, I'm still on Team Maxon. It hasn't ended yet, so I don't know about all the way, but I'm pretty sure I'm staying on Team Maxon cuz I still hate Aspen as much as ever. You get the idea. 

"'Water that never moves.' I say to him. 'It's fine for a little while. You can drink from it and it'll sustain you. But if it sits too long it goes bad. It grows stale. It becomes toxic.' I shake my head. 'I need waves. I need waterfalls. I want rushing currents.'"
Warner.  

This was the only series I ever changed the guy I liked. And it for a good cause. CUZ WARNER. WARNER turns out to be sooooo soooo much better than I ever thought. Perfect. Rich. Perfect. Tall I hope. Hot. Abs. Dundundun. #Perfect. 

"All this managed to prove is that you are extremely good at turning me off."
Ooh. Ooh. He's such a dick, isn't he? Except that doesn't physically make sense. 

The Rating: (1-10): 10!!!
All thanks to the wonderful characters in this book. :)

"'I know I am an extremely attractive man, J, but I am not Bruce Lee.'
'Who's Bruce Lee?'
'Who's Bruce Lee?' Kenji asks, horrified. 'Oh my God. We can't even be friends anymore.' 
'Why? Was he a friend of yours?'
'You know what,' he says, 'just stop. Just - I can't even talk to you right now.'"
Typical me here. LOL. Except for the Bruce Lee part. Hahah. I just had to add extra quote of Kenji. Because I can't get enough of him. Not that way guys. 

Happy Reading~

Book Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) 
by Veronica Rossi
Release Date: January 8th, 2013
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: YA Fantasy
Paperback, 352 pages
Get a Copy:
      Barnes and Nobles
      Amazon

Goodreads Summary: It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both. Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder,Can their love survive through the ever night? In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Cindy's Review: 
At a Glance:
Well, I already know what this book is about. I never got around to reading it, because the first book wasn't that appealing to me, for some random reason. Maybe I had really bad book tastes back then.

Okay. Just a thing, this one's gonna be really awkward since I probably can't remember anything.

And let me just say something about the cover first. It isn't exactly my ideal cover. I don't really find the cover as fascinating as it should be. It is pretty, but it doesn't really connect to the book. And Perry. Err...let's just say I didn't think he'd look like that. Even his clothing doesn't look right....especially his clothing. Where is his blood lord necklace and all? 

Characters/Plots:
Aria - I find myself thinking on the behalf of Aria for....well, mostly everything. Sometimes, I think about Perry. But either way, to me. Aria is more of the main character, even though both her and Perry have a POV. I guess I find Aria tolerating. There isn't something about her that makes me go, "ewww...this girl. Ugh. So annoying." Or anything, but then at the same time, I don't go "wow! She's so cool!" and then dream and fangurl and make up fanfictions about them. LOL. Yes. I do those things.

Perry - Okay. So Perry. No lie. But he sounds cute in  the book. And a good personality too. He has authority. Not weeny or weak. I like my protagonists strong. :D Yes. And then I'll be so proud of them. LOL. He's also brave. Yep. I also like courageous, daring protagonists too. That makes the adventure. 

Maybe it's me, but I find Perry not as goofy as in the first book. Maybe I got things mixed up though. And things wrong. Cuz like I said, I read these a gazillion years ago. Perry is more uptight with the whole blood lord thing. 

There were many more problems and plots in the sequel. In the first book, it was more of a romantic story and introduction of background, setting, and a general problem. But the second book provides a hot, romance packed with dark problems and rush hours. Much more heart-accelerating. :D

Final Thoughts:
Cuz I suck at doing reviews. Does anyone offer reviewing classes? Omg. LOL. 

Okay. Overall, I think this book was an okay adventure read. Although I didn't read it in one night sitting, I did manage to finish the book pretty fast. Like two days. Not dragging long like To Kill a Mockingbird. Omg. 

I really need to keep my acronyms down. I say them way too much. And reviews are supposed to professional too. But without some personality, a review is boring. Okay. Why am I saying all this? Well. Bye~

AND READ THE BOOK ONLY IF YOU READ THE FIRST ONE. OF COURSE.

The Rate: (1-10): 8

Happy Reading~ 

Book Review: Destiny's Flower by Linda Harley

Destiny's Flower (Saldiora #1)
by Linda Harley
Release Date: September, 2012
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Paperback, 313 pages
Source: Author
Achieve a Copy: 
       B&N | Amazon

Book Summary: Doctor Lynn Davis is kidnapped by handsome Lord Kyle von Talion and taken to a far of planet, Saldiora. As she finds herself in this unfamiliar culture, she must learn to fight with a sword, ride a talking horse, and endure the politics of a royal court if she is to survive. Kyle has his hands full from keeping Lynn from making cultural blunders and ensuring her safety. The Juntu's are plotting to take over Saldiora and consider Lynn to be a threat to their success. Will Lynn live long enough to fulfill her destiny and save the kingdom of Saldiora?

Cindy's Review: 
The one regret I have from reading this book is not reading it sooner. Why didn't I? I received it like a month ago in the mail, but I haven't got to reading it. I know it's summer and all, but then y'all know, summer can busier. Like even my weekends are taken. :( Well. Either way, super glad I did read it~ :D Since I took so long to read and review it, I'll make this review especially juicy. <3

At First Glance:
I really didn't think this book would be that appealing. Like the teaser didn't take hold of my attention and twist it until I had to open the book. The cover? Well, at first, I thought the cover had nothing to do with the book. It obviously had something to do with the title though. Hehe.

The Characters/Summary:
Lynn Davis - Lynn was a great protagonist. But she's so old! At least to me. She's too old to be single. LOL. I dunno much about her looks though. The author didn't describe her that much. All I remember is that she has red hair. And I kind of like it like that. The reader can imagine how they look. Not everything is about looks. Unless you're reading new adult romance. LOL. :) She may or may not be a princess. <   This just says so much. But then.....well, I can't really say I'm spoiling the book. You'd kinda get a hint while reading. At first, I thought Lynn cried too much. She did cry a lot. But then,s he was like kidnapped from her home, soo..... But then she got better. And became stronger. She stood up to brats and all. :)

Kyle von Talion - I love their sexy last names. Lynn's is von Astrium. It's just so sexy. LOL. And Kyle. I dunno his age but he has this cool energy around him. I just like guys with high authority. Especially the medieval novels. Or novels with royalties. 

Of course, there's got to be a spoiled brat princess, who also may be evil. This just kind of reminds me of this Chinese drama I finished not long ago. Ohmergerd. Except the girl wasn't a lost princess. And the guy was actually the king's younger brother. That drama tho. My feels. And the guy's cute too. Ohmergerd. Okay. Back to the book. 

Destiny's Flower also kind of reminds me a bit of The Selection. Or actually a lot. Because, the ten girls are in a competition to marry the prince. And each girl were picked from the ten houses. Von Talion. Von Astrium. etc. Yep. And in a way, both America from The Selection and Lynn got special connections. Ish. They just have more of a chance to win than other girls. Probably because they're the main character.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, this book. Great for medieval fans~ Over here!! And there's some romance definitely. Although they don't do anything. I'm debating about the love triangle though. I don't know. I think the second book would give us waaay more information. 

Really can't wait for the second book~ :D You can find out more about Destiny's Flower @ www.rosebuz.com. 

Rating: (1-10): 9~ 

Happy Reading~ 

Blog Tour: Horse Charmer by Angelia Amos

Welcome to my stop on the Horse Charmer Blog Tour

hosted by Tasty Book Tours.

You can find the schedule HERE. 

*Horse Charmer is on sale for $.99 (ebook) to celebrate the two year anniversary*

Blurb: 

A gifted princess. A special horse. A quest for the truth. 

At sixteen years old, Cassia would rather spend her days in the royal stables than in the royal court. But as the eldest child of King Robet and Queen Sarahann she obediently performs her duties as the Princess of Karah. 

Her safe world changes forever when her father is murdered in the neighboring kingdom of Vespera. Cassia grapples with his loss as her mother prepares her for her new role as queen. Her first task - she must travel to Vespera to marry a prince she barely knows to fulfill the treaty her father signed just before his death. 

Nothing is as simple as it seems with political intrigues and unusual powers shadowing Cassia on her search to find out who killed her father and why.

Cindy's Review: I find the cover of Horse Charmer really pretty. It gives off the really calm, quiet feeling with the lush green trees and the horse. The book definitely have something to do with a horse, obviously. The title. HORSE charmer. And the cover. A girl riding on a HORSE. But the horse in Horse Charmer is not referring to the horse. It's referring to Cassia.

Cassia - Cassia is the eldest princess of Karah. When her father was suddenly murdered, Cassia would stop at nothing to find out who murdered her father, especially when that murderer is acting as a friend. The King of Vespera came with a contract, that was supposedly signed by her father also, that she is going to marry the Prince of Vespera. Of course, Cassia goes against this decision because she already likes someone else.  But Cassia was also getting dreams from her father. 

She doesn't know if it's real, but in the dream, her father told her he never signed the treaty. Being more and more suspicious of the King of Vespera and having signs pointed to him, Cassia decides to go to Vespera and find out herself. There, Cassia learns a lot of things about herself and makes a lot of decisions. When the day came that she has to marry the Prince, she secretly escaped and headed toward Julian, whom is the head of the Talents, who can provide answers.

That's when Cassia discovered she actually had a Talent. It's call Horse Charmer. She can talk and control horses. And what's even more amazing is that Cassia's horse is an Old One. One of the ancient wild horses that doesn't obey anyone. Even someone as powerful as Julian. Through their adventure to justice of her father's death, Cassia and her horse worked together to find the true criminal. 

In the end, Cassia's Horse Charmer Talent helped a whole lot. It also helped prove her father's death. 

This book reminded me a lot of Graceling by Kristin Cashore. In Graceling, there were Gracelings, whom are some special people who had their own special power. In Horse Charmer, Talents are very much alike Gracelings. Both Talents and Gracelings have to learn how to control their power or talents. Though they are very similar, there are some differences between Talents and Gracelings. Gracelings are more the living and battling power. Like Mind Reading, Survival, Reading Emotions, etc. Talents are more like natural skills. Horse Charmer, Dream Reading, etc. Both books have their own unique-ness so yeah. ;D 

The ending, though, of Horse Charmer reminded me of Graceling  very much. Both main characters, Cassia and Katsa used their powers to kill the evil enemy... 

Either way, I really like Horse Charmer. It gave this happy ending episode. Reading about Talents and Cassia's talent was also entertaining. I guess, Horse Charmer is a dystopian, but it still gave some medieval setting to it, much like Graceling. And I also like the romance. It's so cute. To me, romance was pretty big part to the story, since I'm a romantic maniac,  but according to the title, it's all about the Horse Charmer.

I rate this a 9~ c; 

Author Bio: 

    Angelia Almos' love affair with horses began when she was five years old and talked her parents into her first riding lesson. Horses have always been a huge part of her life. The initial idea behind Horse Charmer came to her when she was fourteen. The image of a teenage girl riding her horse through a meadow appeared. Who was this girl? Where was she going? What was she running from? Those questions led to the creation of Horse Charmer.

Links:

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Blog: http://angeliaalmos.blogspot.com
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Book Review: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron (Incarceron #1) 
by Catherine Fisher
Release Date: February 8th, 2011
Publisher: Firebird Fantasy
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: Paperback, 442 pages
Source: JMMS Library
ISBN: 978-0-14-241852-9
Get a Copy: B&N | Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells and corridors, but metal forests, dilapidated cities, and wilderness. It has been sealed for centuries, and only one man has ever escaped. Finn has always been a prisoner here. Although he has no memory of his childhood, he is sure he came from Outside. His link to the Outside, his chance to break free, is Claudia, the warden's daughter, herself determined to escape an arranged marriage. They are up against impossible odds, but one thing looms above all: Incarceron itself is alive . . .

Cindy's Review: I borrowed this book, I guess, for fun. Truthfully, I saw my friend's little sister reading this and she said it was good, so I decided to give it a try. This book didn't really blow my mind or grab my attention nonstop. Maybe it was because I was reading this during CST testings and I just couldn't focus. I think I flipped through pages more than reading. I got bored. So I probably skipped a lot of important stuff. But I'm pretty sure I got the basics down though. 

The key in the cover is basically the key that connected Finn's world and Claudia's world. Finn is inside the Incarceron, like a prisoner. No one had gotten out of that prison. And the prison is a one huge, scary thing too. Incarceron is like a robot. People created him. But Incarceron started getting its own brain and crontrolling itself. No one can stop Incarceron. 

Finn lives inside Incarceron. He was told that he was born in there. When he found a crystal key, he realized it was his opportunity to escape. So far, only the legendary Sapphique had ever escpaed this prison. And it's only a legend. The key can channel to Claudia.

Claudia has the same crystal key. Therefore, Claudia and Finn can talk to each other, even though he lives in a different world. Claudia is about to get married to a prince, but he isn't the original heir to the throne. It was said that the queen had killed Giles for a chance for her son to be king. And Claudia definitely doesn't want to marry him..

So I've decided, this one's gonna be a mighty short review. Cuz I'm not exactly feeling that I know a lot of this book right now. ;/ 

It wasn't until later I realized Catherine Fisher was the author of the Snow-Walker Saga. I really really loved that book. So, let's hope this book just wan't written for me. 

Rating: (1-10): 7.5

Happy Reading~ 

Book Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite (The Selection #2) 
by Kiera Cass
Release Date: April 23rd, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: Hardcover, 323 pages
Source: Bought 
ISBN: 978-0-06-205996-3
Get a Copy: B&N | Amazon 

Goodreads Summary: The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestsellerThe Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Cindy's Review: For those who never read The Selection, this review most likely won't make sense. So either go read the book ;D or read my review: The Selection. 

I read this book like so long ago it's last month, but it feels really long ago Why do I have to wait that long to review? Omg. I forget stuff. But then, I'm super lazy, I don't review it immediately after I finish reading. I have a review pile. And it's still huge now. There's gonna always be a review pile like 24/7. Last time I finished reviewing the whole pile was when I had nothing to read. Now.....well, I'm running out of time to even read due to all school stuff. You don't even want to look at my calendar. I only review on the weekends, so that makes thing worst. And I went to the Bay Area 2013 Maker Faire yesterday btw, which was a Saturday. I'm typing this on a Sunday.  I schedule my posts over the week, so that explains why this doesn't make sense. 

Well, so don't blame me if I forget some stuff. I'm surprised I actually spent a whole paragraph or more  on myself. Now for those who are waiting for the review. I'm getting to the point.....

The Cover: 

I really love those covers. They have amazing dresses and it just gives The Selection feeling to it. I kind of like The Selection cover better. I think that dress is prettier. And I like blue more than red. ;D Okay, yeah. I'm so weird. I ALWAYS have to talk about covers. I know. But then, I try to relate the cover to the story, so I hope that's better.  I don't remember if there was a red dress scene in The Elite. Was there a scene where queen b**** Celeste ripped her dress? Or was that a scene in The Selection. I'm pretty sure that dress was red. Or maybe not. But I'm not sure which book that scene is from.

Okay. Let's move on to the plot and characters. I'm talking so much. Ugh. 

The Characters: 

America Singer - You know, I feel like America got more sure of herself. She isn't that shy. And when Aspen goes to her, she won't be like 'You can't be near me! Go back to work!' She would let Aspen hug her or something. America says she feels like she' s being used by Maxon, but I get the feeling that she's using him. Despite how much, America seems to be saying, she likes Maxon, but she likes Aspen, I still feel like America is just using Maxon. For example, whenever something happens, America literally runs to Aspen and asks for a hug or kiss. I mean, JUST MAKE UP YOUR MIND LADY! Even though I bet the book was written to make readers like this. 

Aspen - So in the review of The Selection, I mentioned that I disliked Aspen and America should end up with Maxon. I don't really hate Aspen that much anymore. I mean, he's Aspen, a boy who lost the love of his life and striving to get her back. I think the real fault is America. If America doesn't let Aspen hug and kiss her, then it wouldn't have happened. Aspen wouldn't have forced her. America is totally cheating on Maxon. And then, there was this time period where America didn't really interact with Maxon at all, I'm just like, Ohmygawd.....America!! Yeah. She's driving me nuts. The bad way.

Maxon - Okay. I admit. I can't fangurl all over Maxon and be like, 'He's so goddamn cute. And gorgeous." I just can't. Maybe he is. But like, Maxon changed a bit in The Elite. It's like he grew up. I don't like how he has all these Celeste moments. I mean, like they were making out. But that doesn't compare to Aspen and America kissing, but the AA kiss actually have deep feelings. Which I don't want. And plus, Maxon really does like America. Like there's no other person in his heart. Unlike someone.

You see, this book has got me quite worked up. The love-triangle drives me crazy. I totally won't die if America chooses Aspen, but I still want America to end up with Maxon. What kills me though, is when America have to run to Aspen when she wants support. I mean, just go to Maxon., sheesh. That's what he's there for! 

The Plot: 

*Takes a deep breath. Okay. I'm over this. Let's talk more about the plot than my thoughts of the main characters. There was definitely more action in The Elite. There were more cute scenes for Maxon and America. And there also definitely more scenes for Aspen and America. I'm glad this second book wasn't a slow motion read. 

This book started with 6 girls remaining. By the end of it though, there's only 5, so one girl was eliminated. 

For those who haven't read this series, like OHMYGAWD YOU SHOULD READ IT. <- not lying over here. 

The Rating:(1-10) ~10, 9.96.....

Yeah. I give really confusing ratings. I mean, this book totally deserves a 10, but I just have this big thing about never giving book series a 10. I just feel like stand-alones or the first book in a series deserves a 10.

Happy Reading~ 

 

P.S. And yeah. No quotes, cuz I was too focused on reading......

Book Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Angelfall (Penryn & The End of Days #1)
by Susan Ee
Release Date: May 21st, 2011
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Genre: YA Fantasy 
Format: Paperback, 283 pages
Source: Liana
Get a Copy: B&N | Amazon

Goodreads Summary: It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

Locus Magazine, March 2012 Finalist for Cybils Bloggers Award for Best YA Fantasy & Sci-fi Book of the Year 2011

Cindy's Review: Yep. This one is another one of the Liana recommendations. ;D This book wasn't really as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, it involves angels but there was a plot twist. I was really tired of reading about angels, or half-angelsfor that matter, who fell in love with a human. Although this one does have a similar idea, the whole plot thing is different.

"The sky flames like a bruised mango in vivid orange, red, and purple."
I really like this authors writing. She writes so poetic. And so good. ;D 

Penryn - The story starts at the end of the world, where angels are taking over Earth. Ruling Earth. Killing humans. etc. Penryn always thought angels were evil. She still does. When angels took her sister away, she would do anything to get her back. And that involves getting an angel as captive to give her information. 

"The rosy love I'm supposed to feel for her is slashed with black and splattered with gray."
Another example with how Susan's words are so artistic and beautiful.

......okay. I can feel an unfinished review. As much as I tried to like this book, I just can't get to like angels. They annoy me. Sorry guys. I'm sick and tired of angels, vampires, fairies, and anymore of those fictional supernaturals. I think I might need a break from them.

"Skyline Boulevard abruptly ends at Highway...."
Omg. Does this book take place in California? East Bay? Skyline is where my brother got married. LOL. And it leads to my summer school. hmm. But there's no highway 92 around here. 

Raffe -  Although Raffe does sound pretty hot.....

The rating: (1-10): 8
The storyline and plot wasn't so bad, just angels. UGH. 

Happy Reading~