Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Wow! This book is way better than I thought it would be. I bought this book as a bargain book at Books-a-Million because it was cheap and I had heard many good comments about it and I must say I'm glad I did. It was a pleasant surprise to enjoy this book so much and I am thrilled with how it ended. I am ready to pick up the next book. This was a very interesting take on Cinderella. I can't wait to see how Little Red Riding Hood, Repunzel, and Snow White fit into the picture. I will most definitely buy the rest of this series and recommend it to many people.

Book Summary
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

This book was just as good as the first! I can't wait to read Sweet Reckoning. I was very happy to see more character development in this story as well as watching as the plot continued to unfold. Read this book! You won't regret it! Book SummaryAnna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things. Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind. When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Oh my gosh! I absolutely loved this book! The characters were described well and the story was well written. I felt like I was going through everything Ana was going through and I got to watch as she changed throughout the book. This is definitely a book I will be recommending to others. Book SummaryEmbrace the Forbidden What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels. Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

The Iron-Jawed Boy by Nikolas Lee

This was a great book. I love it how the kids started out as normal people and then learn that they are actually gods returning home to their duties. Nikolas Lee is a very creative writer and I do plan on reading his other books in this series. Book Summary Year 2300 Protea: Capitol of the Eldanarian Isle Two hundred years have passed since the lands of the Outerworld humans were destroyed, save but a handful of rebellious cities. In their ruin, the last gods of Earth, the Illyrians, rose victorious. And ever since, it's with a cruel iron fist they've ruled over their subjects--desperate to keep their thrones. Fast approaching his teens, Ionikus Reaves knows the gods' malevolence all too well, orphaned by them after their call for a military draft on Eldanar, his home island. But when a power once dormant in Ion boils to the surface, he's whisked off to a hidden world of the island, where he comes face-to-face with the mighty Illyrians. For Ion is a Guardian--a reincarnated god bound to serve and protect the pantheon he's so quickly learned to hate. Now torn between his obligations as a Guardian and his hatred of the gods he's to guard, Ion finds himself in the middle of a war within himself. A war that could uncover a dark secret of the gods'...and split the pantheon in two.

Legacy Code by Autumn Kalquist

This book was a great idea. It had a very intriguing plot line and Autumn Kalquist did a great job writing songs to go along with her books. I am going to be honest and say that the more I read it the more bored I got. It started out well but I lost interest quickly. The ending is one that many wouldn't like but I didn't mind it as much as I normally would. I will probably read it again. Hope you love this book because it truly was a fascinating concept.

Book Summary
The last humans fled a dying Earth 300 years ago, but there was something they couldn’t leave behind: the Legacy Code.

Every colonist in the fleet carries mangled genes that damage the unborn, and half of all pregnancies must be terminated.

The day Era Corinth is supposed to find out if her baby has the Defect, her ship suffers a hull breach. And it may not have been an accident.

As the investigation unfolds, Era begins to question everything she’s been taught about the fleet, their search for a new Earth, and the Defect. But the answers she seeks were never meant to be found...

Gone by Lisa McMann

	This book was ok. It seemed shorter than the other two books and to be completely honest it didn't hold my interest for near as long. It had a good ending though and I do have an appreciation for McMann's unique writing style. Not the best bit definitely not the worst either.

Book Summary

Things should be great for Janie; she has graduated from high school and is spending her summer with Cabel, the guy she's totally in love with. But deep down she's panicking about how she's going to survive her future when getting sucked into other people's dreams is really starting to take its toll.

Things get even more complicated when she meets her father for the very first time and he's in a coma. As Janie uncovers his secret past, she begins to realize that the choice thought she had has more dire consequences than she ever imagined.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

This book was an amazing conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. Laini Taylor continued her unique lyrical writing all the way to the end of this series. The character additions in this book were a bit confusing and even boring at first; not much happened to them and all you wanted was to know what happened to Akiva and Karou. Towards the end you learned to love the new characters as much as the old. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first but that is probably because I love reading about how the characters meet. Anyway this was an anticipated conclusion to an interesting series and rightfully so because it left the reader feeling complete. I couldn't have imagined it ending any other way.

Book Summary
In this thrilling conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, Karou is still not ready to forgive Akiva for killing the only family she's ever known.

When a brutal angel army trespasses into the human world, Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat--and against larger dangers that loom on the horizon. They begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves--maybe even toward love.

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera, and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

The Sound of Us by Ashley Poston

This book was better than I expected. I picked it up so I could read it in between reading my other books and I was pleasantly surprised. Ashley Poston writes a fantastic story of love and loss while using big words with a clear meaning. If you haven't read this then you should really think about it because it truly makes you think about things. Book SummaryAmerica's favorite pop band, Roman Holiday, is done, dead, and so totally last year. For eighteen-year-old rockoholic Junie Baltimore, this is music to her ears. But when she discovers their sexy ex-lead singer hiding out on the boardwalk, her summer vacation becomes the cover story of the year. She's willing to keep him a secret, but when a sleazy paparazzo offers her the cash she needs to save the bar her father left behind, could she sell out for the chance to save her future? Who is she kidding? That's a no-brainer...but she never planned on falling head over heels for the lead singer.

The One by Kiera Cass

This book was the perfect ending to The Selection series. I am very happy with who she ends up with. I felt like I was right along side America through out this whole process. I would not have had this series end any other way. It changes your perspective on everything you thought you knew about the selection and helps you love the characters you hated from the beginning. Book Summary The highly anticipated conclusion to Kiera Cass's #1 New York Timesbestselling Selection series, The One will captivate readers who love dystopian YA fiction and fairy tales. The One is the perfect finale for fans who have followed America's whirlwind romance since it began--and a swoon-worthy read for teens who have devoured Veronica Roth'sDivergent, Ally Condie's Matched, or Lauren Oliver's Delirium. The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants. Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series! Book Summary For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This book was beautiful. I usually get annoyed with a series once the fourth book comes around but this series was a pleasant surprise. Jennifer Armentrout is able to keep the readers attention in this book just as much as the first in this fourth installment of the Lux series. This book contains the seriousness you would expect from aliens that are being chased down and captured as well as the fluffiness that comes with Katy and Daemon's relationship. If you haven't picked up this series yet then you are missing out.

Book Summary
Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Book Summary

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

This book was just as good as the first. Laini Taylor does an excellent job of keeping her readers attention and drawing out the picture. I can't wait to read the final book in this beautifully crafted series. Book SummaryOnce upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.  This is not that world.  Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is--and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it. In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life. While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

This book was wonderful. There is no words to describe how good this book was. If you have heard of this book series before then you should definitely read it, if you have already read it then you know how good it is, and if you have no idea what this book is then you NEED to read it like now. Laini Taylor has a wonderfully creative mind that takes a whole new twist on the creatures of this story. I plan to stick with the series until the end and I hope everyone else decides to too.

Book Summary
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 grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly 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 one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored 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?

Horde by Ann Aguirre

This book was fantastic! The ending was wonderful and Ann wrapped up the series quite nicely. I would definitely read more books by her after reading this series. If you haven't read any of these books you should read them now. You won't regret it. I was able to obtain a copy of this book thanks to a book giveaway that Ann Aguirre hosted. I am so thankful for this opportunity. Below is the first book in the series, Enclave.

Book Summary
The epic conclusion to the USA Today bestselling trilogy.

The horde is coming.

Salvation is surrounded, monsters at the gates, and this time, they're not going away. When Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan set out, the odds are against them. But the odds have been stacked against Deuce from the moment she was born. She might not be a Huntress anymore, but she doesn't run. With her knives in hand and her companions at her side, she will not falter, whether fighting for her life or Fade's love.

Ahead, the battle of a lifetime awaits. Freaks are everywhere, attacking settlements, setting up scouts, perimeters, and patrols. There hasn't been a war like this in centuries, and humans have forgotten how to stand and fight. Unless Deuce can lead them.

This time, however, more than the fate of a single enclave or outpost hangs in the balance. This time, Deuce carries the banner for the survival of all humanity.

Book Summary

New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters - or Freaks - who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight - guided by Fade's long-ago memories - in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.

Ann Aguirre's thrilling young adult novel is the story of two young people in an apocalyptic world- - facing dangers, and feelings, unlike any they've ever known.

Caged by Sophie Davis

This series is one that I really enjoy. I read Talented because it was free and the book description sounded interesting but once I actually read it I wished I had read it much sooner. Caged is book two in the Talented Saga. Talia's gift is so cool and I absolutely love Erik as a character. Donavan drives me nuts. I mean what kind of guy apologizes over and over again and then makes the same mistakes? I bet your thinking the stupid ones. That's my point! This guy is obviously not worthy of Talia and should have been cast aside ages ago. Anyway, read the series because I enjoyed it and hopefully you will too.

Book Summary
After her brush with death at Ian Crane’s compound, Talia Lyons feels like a prisoner, confined in her childhood home. Plagued with seizures- the result of an unidentified drug injected in her neck by Crane’s men- Talia must put her dream of becoming a Hunter on hold. So when Agency Director McDonough asks Talia to go undercover at the School for the Talented, to find the spy who set the trap for her in Nevada, Talia jumps at the opportunity.

Soon she learns that her new-found freedom comes with a price- working with Donavon on a daily basis. As if that isn’t awkward enough, her former teammate, Erik, also shows up at the School. But at least Talia has the unexpected company of her best friend Penny; to not only assist her in uncovering the spy, but also to deal with the complications that the guys create.

As Talia becomes more entrenched in her assignment, she quickly learns the lengths that the Agency and Mac will go in the name of war. With Crane’s influence spreading, Talia learns that there are few Operatives without ties to the Coalition. Forced to face hard truths and dangerous conclusions, Talia realizes that it is those closest to her who are hiding the biggest secrets. As the task of finding the traitor becomes more problematic, desperation and frustration rule Talia’s world. It becomes clear that Talia can’t do this alone. But who can she trust, when everyone around her is lying?

Book Summary of Talented
When Talia Lyons was just a child, her parents were murdered before her eyes. Offered a choice between accepting their fate and exacting revenge, Talia trains to become one of the country’s deadliest assassins in order to kill the man responsible for their deaths: Ian Crane. Luckily, Talia was born with a gift- the ability to read and influence the minds of others. At sixteen, Talia is poised to graduate from the McDonough School for the Talented, where she learned to control her abilities. Now there is only one obstacle standing between her and the retribution she craves... Talia herself.

Her greatest asset may also be her undoing; while a formidable weapon in the field, Talia’s talents prevent her from both shutting off the mental connection she shares with her questionable boyfriend and blocking out the thoughts of a beguiling fellow recruit. But Talia can’t afford to have the feelings and distractions of a normal teenage girl, when her life is far from normal.

She must regain the single-minded determination that has brought her this far, or it may cost Talia her life when she finally faces Crane. And even after being molded in to a weapon of war, she’ll still have to find the strength it takes to pull the trigger.

Fade by Lisa McMann

Finished Fade today and honestly wasn't to drawn in by the book. The plot was cool and the author has a really neat way of writing but I guess I'm just not to fond of the characters. Just because this book isn't my favorite doesn't mean it can't be yours. I would read this series just to get a change in writing style.

Book Summary
SOME NIGHTMARES NEVER END.

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open - but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared....

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

                                                  
To be completely honest, this book was not near as good as the first, Wicked Lovely. After reading Wicked Lovely I was very attached to Aislinn so having the second book be all about Leslie was not appealing to me. I think I could have enjoyed reading this more if Leslie had always been the main focus. I did like that this book was focused on making your own decisions and continuing on with life even after all the things that were less than pretty.

Book Summary

Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.

Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.

The tattoo does bring changes—not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .

Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Thanks to winning a giveaway on goodreads I was able to read this lovely piece of art. I honestly would probably have never read this book if I had to get it from the library or buy it because I don't like venturing that far from fantasy so I am super glad I won this book. I love how the author is able to perfectly capture the thought process of a teenager. What I enjoyed even more was how well drawn out Emma's grief is. Yes the book was a bit repetitive and dull with Emma's thought process sometimes but I think that's what I like about this book. The author was able to show everyone just how bad life can get but yet still have hope. This book shows how understanding what someone is going through or just being there for them can truly help them. I would love to read more books by this author after reading this.


Book Summary

Life. Death. And...Love?

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.

Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

Currently reading Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott and Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr. Should hopefully finish both books soon.