Monday, September 30, 2013

Best of the Bunch - September 2013


Best of the Bunch is a monthly blog hop at the end of each month hosted by Sally @ Always Lost in Stories, where you share which books you've read and reviewed in the month, decide on your personal favorite and give that book your Best of the Bunch award!


READ
Crewel (Crewel World, #1)Destiny, RewrittenFairy Tail, Vol. 28Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1)Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, #2)

Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Destiny, Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
Fairy Tail Vol. 28 by Hiro Mashima
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

REVIEWED
The Shambling Guide to New York CityThe Collector (Dante Walker, #1)Frozen (Heart of Dread, #1)Obsidian (Lux, #1)Ink (Paper Gods, #1)

The Shambling Guide to New York City by Mur Lafferty (Review)
The Collector by Victoria Scott (Review)
Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz & Michael Johnston (Review)
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Review)
Ink by Amanda Sun (Review)


BEST IN THE BUNCH
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1)
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
This book was so fresh and original for a fairytale retelling! So far I adore the whole series (all two books of it ;), but the first book really had the wow factor that made it a 5-star read. I can't recommend it (and the series) highly enough!

Review: Ink (Amanda Sun)

Ink (Paper Gods, #1)
Title: Ink
Series: Paper Gods, Book 1
Author: Amanda Sun
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy
Told: First Person Singular (Katie), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (some strong language, violence, scary situations)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase OnAmazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.


*          *          *
Three Words: Twilight in Japan.

Writing: An easy breeze of a read (thank goodness). The "translated" dialogue was well done, and typical Japanese things were well described without Americanizing them, leaving them familiar but still foreign. Loved the glossary in the back - while I recognized most of the Japanese words and phrases, it was nice to be able to double-check, and I learned a few things.

Setting: Japan, my favorite place on Earth. It felt authentic, and the descriptions were lush but not overbearing.

Story: A brilliant and original idea trapped in one of the worst obsessive romances I've ever read. Katie is a normal American girl forced to live in a foreign country after the sudden death of her mother. She has a hard time fitting in until she meets an immediately falls for Tomo, handsome kendo star and all-around jerk with a dark secret. She becomes instantly obsessed and stalks him until he reveals his secret power - and how she seems to bring out the worst in it. But this doesn't stop them from fighting against all odds to be together, even if her presence constantly puts them both in danger, not only from his power but from those who would wish to control them.

Overall, this felt like a badly done copy of Twilight. Girl falls for a boy who is drawn to her in dark ways but gives up all to be with him, even if it means her death. But where I think I felt there was a pretty good reason for Bella to be with Edward (although for the life of me I can't remember what it was right now), I did not feel that way with Katie and Tomo. At all. Her obsession with him felt completely unjustified and utterly idiotic - he was known for getting into fights, being associated with the wrong crowd, and he treated her horribly. I don't care if his sketch glared at her - this should've been another red flag, not permission to stalk him! I felt she deserved everything she got.

As for the plot, where this could've been about Katie's search for her connection to Tomo's power and her discovery of her own strength, it was simply about the romance. They did nothing to look for answers to their problems. Instead they stumbled about like bumbling idiots, pushing each other away as they held onto each other all the tighter, and then despairing that nothing could be done. As if answers were no longer available at libraries and shrines if only they actually tried to find them. Simply put, there really wasn't a plot - only the romance.

Characters: Katie might've had a personality, but I never saw it because she met romantic interest Tomo in the very first scene and from there became absolutely obsessed with him. After that, her whole life and mind couldn't fathom much of anything else but him. Every decision she made revolved around him, and even as he hurt her, body and soul, she only obsessed about him more. I don't care how many times she said she was doing something for herself - it was easy to see it was a complete and utter lie. Tomo was a jerk - a confused, tormented, and grief-stricken jerk, but a jerk nonetheless. He looked for easy answers to his problems (when he looked for answers at all), and folded under the slightest pressure. I found him to be a coward and an idiot, and if I'd cared for Katie at all I would've despaired.

Romantic Relationship: Sickening. Katie "meets" Tomo when he's breaking up with his girlfriend in the nastiest way, and instead of being repulsed, she falls for him. Seriously?? He proceeds to be mean to her, but she stalks him until he comes around. When it turns out that she's bad for him, and he'll probably end up killing her, this only draws them closer, and despite every instinct in her screaming to run away, she refuses to and buries the two of them deeper into the destructive soup. Not even Twilight was this bad.

Conclusion: If it hadn't been set in Japan (my obsession), I would've stopped around Page 90 and not lost a wink of sleep over the DNF. The setting was its only saving grace for me, as the story itself was sad and sickening. This original idea could've shone, but instead it was buried under an obsessive teen romance. While I love the setting, I see a New Moon scenario coming for Book 2, and absolutely refuse to subject myself to such torture.

For Fans Of: The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer (and only the hard-core ones)

Scribble Rating
2 of 5 Scribbles

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Ultraviolet Catastrophe Blog Tour: A Look In Lexie's Backpack


Welcome to my stop on the Ultraviolet Catastrophe Blog Tour! Here you can check out an awesome new release, get a peek into the main character's backpack (and her personality), and enter to win a copy of the book along with some sweet swag! 


THE BOOK


Title: Ultraviolet Catastrophe
Author: Jamie Grey
Release Date: September 24, 2013

SummaryQuantum Electrodynamics. String Theory. Schrödinger's cat. For sixteen-year-old Lexie Kepler, they’re just confusing terms in her science textbooks, until she finds out that her parents have been drugging her to suppress her outrageous IQ. Now Branston Academy, a school run by the world’s most powerful scientists, has tracked her down and is dying for her to attend - as a research subject.

She takes refuge at Quantum Technologies, a secret scientific community where her father works as a top-notch scientist, and begins her new life as “girl genius” at Quantum High. But the assignments at her new school make the Manhattan Project look like preschool - and Lexie barely survived freshman algebra.

Her first big assignment – creating an Einstein-Rosen bridge – is also her first chance to prove she can hold her own with the rest of QT's prodigies. But while working with the infuriatingly hot Asher Rosen, QT’s teen wonder, Lexie uncovers a mistake in their master equation. Instead of a wormhole, the machine they’re building would produce deadly ultraviolet rays that could destroy the world.

When the lead scientist on their project turns up as a popsicle in the cryo chamber, Lexie learns that the “mistake” in the equation is actually a carefully crafted plan to sabotage Quantum Technologies. And all signs point to Branston Academy being the culprit. Now Lexie and Asher have to use their combined brainpower to stop Branston from stealing the plans and selling the doomsday device to the highest bidder, before everyone at QT is caught in the ultraviolet catastrophe.

Goodreads      Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Smashwords     Kobo


THE AUTHOR

Jamie Grey spent most of her childhood writing stories about princesses who saved the day and pretending to be a daring explorer. It wasn’t until much later that she realized she should combine the two. Now, as a tech-obsessed gamer geek, her novels mix amazing scientific developments, future worlds, and the remarkable characters that live in them.

Jamie lives in Michigan with her significant other and their pets, who luckily tolerate her overspending on tea, books, and video games. You can learn more about her at jamiegreybooks.com, or follow her on twitter @jamie_grey.

Site      Twitter      Facebook      Goodreads


A Look in Lexie’s Backpack




Looking at her, Lexie Kepler seems like a typical 16 year old girl. But Lexie is anything but normal. Most of the things she carries you’d find in any teenager’s bag, but she’s got her own geeky spin.

These are the things she never leaves for school without:

First off, she uses a messenger bag that was her Dad’s a long time ago. It’s retro-cool.

She also always stuffs a hoodie in there, because Quantum High is always cold. Something about scientific experiments and needing a climate-controlled environment. Whatever the reason, shivering through class isn’t fun.

She also always has hair ties, because there’s nothing worse than having Hermione hair falling into your eyes during the middle of an experiment. One wrong move could blow the place up!

Lexie also always has her cellphone (with a T.A.R.D.I.S. cover – a must for Doctor Who fans), and her tablet for checking email and doing homework.

Earbuds are also always a must to block out the noise in the library when she’s doing research. And of course a pair of fingerless gloves because it gets chilly in there.

Lexie takes most of her notes on her tablet, but sometimes you just need a piece of paper, so she always has her Albert Einstein notebook with her.

And last but not least, a tube of pink lip-gloss. Gotta keep those lips moisturized, just in case a hot genius boy wants to sneak a kiss.

Hey, a girl can dream, right?


THE GIVEAWAY

And now, the giveaway! Win an ecopy of Ultraviolet Catastrophe, along with some really awesome UC swag! Good luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (9/28/13)


Time for another Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where I share the books that I've added to my shelves this week.

EPIC LIBRARIAN HAUL:
(I have several of these titles already up for trade on the YA Exchange here!)

The titles I was immediately excited about were:
  • Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter - I haven't read Alice In Zombieland yet, which is actually a shock since I'm such a major Alice fan, but I'll definitely be grabbing it soon!
  • The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas - Definitely excited for this one! Will be getting to it very soon.
  • This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales - This author will be here on the 30th for the Fierce Reads tour, so I was excited to be able to read it before she came. But it's really not my kind of read, so I'm struggling.
  • Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano - It seems like everyone was excited for this book - except me. I'm giving it a try, though.
  • Relic by Renee Collins - I already snagged a finished paperback from the publisher during a Twitter giveaway, but I'm definitely excited to read this book!

OTHERS:
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1)Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, #2)
  • Cinder and Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Hbk - Purchased New) - You know a series is good when I purchase the hardcovers new to get them signed. So excited for the Fierce Reads tour stop here on the 30th!
So what books did you add to your shelves this week?

Friday, September 27, 2013

The Friday Reads Review (9/27/13)




Welcome to The Friday Reads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
Perfect Ruin (Internment Chronicles, #1)Wild Ones, Vol. 2 (Wild Ones, #2)

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano (ARC)
This is one of those titles everyone is excited to read - except me. It just didn't sound that exciting to me, and it's proving just that. Simple, slow, subdued - don't know if I'll finish it.

Wild Ones Vol. 2 by Kiyo Fujiwara (Pbk)
One of my favorite manga series. I think after powering through Cinder and Scarlet, I needed a manga break.


>> JUST FINISHED <<
Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, #2)
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (ARC)
4.5 Stars. Would've been 5, but there were SO. MANY. POVs. Still, an EXCELLENT read in an EXCELLENT series. And Wolf and Scarlet - OMG. Cannot wait to get my hands on Cress!


>> READING NEXT <<
Curtsies & Conspiracies (Finishing School, #2)Samurai Awakening

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger (ARC)
I'm due for my review re-read, and I could really use a dose of Lady Gail right now.

Samurai Awakening by Benjamin Martin (Hbk)
Book 2 in this series will be releasing in November, and since I'm on a manga kick without any new manga to read this seems like the next best thing.


So what are you reading this week?

Thursday, September 26, 2013

5 Things About Project IM


Since I can't offer a summary about Project IM right now (it's still in the initial brainstorming stages, among other reasons), I thought I'd at least offer a few highly vague yet somewhat telling things to give you an idea what it's about. So I give you:


5  THINGS  ABOUT  PROJECT  IM
  1. It's set in an imaginary city. That is round. Because apparently I can only create round imaginary cities.
  2. It's a utopian city. That quickly turns apocalyptic due to a handful of disgruntled men and one selfish politician. Because can there really be a genuinely interesting story set in a utopia?
  3. It's narrated by a boy. Who is following/helping/in love with a girl.
  4. Said girl is rather oblivious. And absentminded. And on the plain side. Yet she is All The Awesomesauce to him. And the city. Well, most of it.
  5. There is magic. Okay, it's not exactly magic - it's more like powers. But they are wicked powers.
  6. There is a lot of running.

(Yes, I know that's one too many. Since when have I ever done the proper number of items on a numbered list?)

So there you go, five (six) things about my current WIP, Project IM! I'll try to offer more tidbits about it in the future as I make progress on the story.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday: Cress

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event hosted by Breaking the Spine, in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Cress (Lunar Chronicles, #3)

Title: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Summary (from Goodreads):

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: I know I'm late to the Lunar Chronicles hype, but better late than never! I just devoured Cinder and Scarlet this month in prep for the author's visit on the 30th, and now I'm DYING to get my hands on Cress! Especially since we're finally adding the Rapunzel character, Cress, into the main POVs - I've been waiting impatiently for her sheltered hacker voice since late Book 1 when she was introduced. And of course there will be more Scarlet and Wolf... Where is an ARC when I need one? T-T


So what book are you waiting on?

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

New WIP: Project IM

Shortly after last month's post about finishing the first draft of Project P, I settled on Project VIN for my next WIP. After throwing the imaginary confetti, I started printing research, tacking up inspirational pics on my Writing Wall, and sketching an outline. I even drafted the first few chapters, feeling out the story. The aliens were creeping me out, the body count was getting higher, and all was going quite well, thank you very much.

And then Project IM did this to Project VIN:


With a power-packed push that sent Project VIN to the back recesses of my mind, Project IM forced itself to the forefront of my imagination and demanded my full attention. It literally smothered Project VIN, whispering in my ear how Project VIN was boring and needed more research than I wanted to give it right now and really should percolate a while longer and wouldn't it be better as a YA book instead of NA perhaps I should give it some more thought before fully devoting myself to it? Then Project IM flaunted its shiny utopian goodness and lack of research needs and infinite possibilities and sure its female MC was still alluding me but wouldn't it be fun to finally catch her?

So needless to say...I'm now working on Project IM.

Don't look at me like that. I'd like to see you resist it someday.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Review: Obsidian (Jennifer L. Armentrout)

Obsidian (Lux, #1)
Title: Obsidian
Series: Lux, Book 1
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Supernatural
Told: First Person (Katy), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (language, strong sensuality, violence, attack, crude innuendo)
Format Read: Paperback (purchase)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase OnAmazon | B&N | Book Depository
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.


*          *          *

Three Words: Twilight but aliens.

Writing: A pretty easy read, although an occasional lack of contractions made it a bit choppy at times. Any long-winded bouts of dialogue between Daemon and Katy struggled to follow a linear pattern; actions were overly described, which was mostly okay but sometimes weighed down the text.

Setting: A small town in West Virginia. I truly felt the author's love for the state, although a little too much. Everything felt a little too real, like she was trying so hard to be accurate, and it sometimes dragged the story down. But otherwise, it made for a nice backdrop.

Story: The plot felt like a too-close copy of Twilight, but without the obsessive romance. New girl moves to a backwater town - the polar opposite of what she's used to - and meets a dark, hot and moody boy that she feels electrically connected to. A love/hate relationship ensues, and then she discovers that he (and his family) are nothing close to normal, and in fact have supernatural abilities. Her knowing their secret puts them all in danger, and they end up having to fight his (and now her) enemy together, whether they like it or not - all the while fighting their attraction for each other. And by the end, it turns out she isn't quite the human they thought she was. We even got a history lesson, and she turns out to be just like a native woman of old. Overall: Twilight, but not quite as well done.

Characters: Katy, our average new girl in town, was a book blogger! This made her more relatable in the beginning, but eventually it just felt like the author needed her to have a home-bound hobby and went with it to try and attract more reviewers. For the most part, Katy was pretty strong and brave, albeit foolish, but I guess I liked her. Daemon, all-powerful alien hunk extraordinaire, was moody but fun - when he was moody. When he was being nice he tended to ramble, and it confused the story. For an all-powerful alien though, he could be helpless when the story called for it, which was disappointing. Dee was sweet and fun and tended to light up any scene she was in - probably my favorite character.

Romantic Relationship: They are extremely attracted to each other, but they fight it. Actually, truly fight it. Sure they almost kiss once or twice, and end up tangled together at one point, but by the end of the book they're still fighting it. She's human (well, supposed to be), and being with a human has previously proved bad for his kind. He's a powerful alien, and being around him puts her in constant danger. They accept these as valid reasons against being together and try to stay away from each other, despite the feelings growing between them. They actually use their brains. Sure, I know it won't last into the second book, but the story, and the romance, was better with them actually resisting at first.

Extras: The paperback edition included several chapters from Daemon's POV. They were interesting and rather telling to what he really thought of Katy, despite how he acted.

Conclusion: The plot was way too much like Twilight for me, but minus the obsessive romance it wasn't too bad a read. The paperback edition had the first two chapters of Lux Book 2 (Onyx) at the end, and while I hadn't planned on reading it before them, I'm now interested enough to continue the series.

For Fans Of: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer


Scribble Rating
3 of 5 Scribbles

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (9/21/13)


Time for another Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where I share the books that I've added to my shelves this week.

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1)RelicHover (The Taking, #2)
  • Cinder by Marissa Meyer (ARC - Traded) - The author is coming to town on the 30th, so I wanted to be sure to have a copy on hand to get signed! Just finished reading the book this week and loved it.
  • Relic by Renee Collins (Pbk - Won) - Won from the publisher on Twitter - really looking forward to reading it soon!
  • Hover by Melissa West (Pbk - Won) - Also won from the same publisher, although it wasn't what I was originally promised. It's Book 2 of a series I haven't read yet, but since it's sci-fi I'm interested.
So what books did you add to your shelves this week?

Friday, September 20, 2013

The Friday Reads Review (9/20/13)




Welcome to The Friday Reads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, #2)
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (ARC)
The author is coming to town on the 30th (thank you, Fierce Reads Tour!), so I finally picked up this series - and I'm glad I did! I'm not quite enjoying Scarlet (Book 2 of the Lunar Chronicles) as much as Book 1 (Cinder, see below) - there are just so many POVs - but it's still really good. 


>> JUST FINISHED <<
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1)
Cinder by Marissa Meyer (HBK)
An excellent and engrossing read - I can't believe I waited so long to read it! A completely original fairytale retelling, and the writing reads more like watching a television show (which is a good thing, I promise! ;). Review to come.


>> READING NEXT <<
The 100 (The Hundred, #1)
The 100 by Kass Morgan (ARC)
This got set aside in the pursuit of the Lunar Chronicles, but I plan to pick it back up when I finish.


So what are you reading this week?

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday: Blackout

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event hosted by Breaking the Spine, in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Blackout

Title: Blackout
Author: Robison Wells
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Summary (from Goodreads):

Laura and Alec are trained terrorists.

Jack and Aubrey are high school students.

There was no reason for them to ever meet.

But now, a mysterious virus is spreading throughout America, infecting teenagers with impossible powers. And these four are about to find their lives intertwined in a complex web of deception, loyalty, and catastrophic danger—where one wrong choice could trigger an explosion that ends it all.

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: Reviewers have been comparing this to X-Men, and since humans with powers is one of my favorite reading topics, of course this one piqued my interest!


So what book are you waiting on?

Monday, September 16, 2013

Review: Frozen (Melissa de la Cruz & Michael Johnston)

Frozen (Heart of Dread, #1)
Title: Frozen
Series: Heart of Dread, Book 1
Author: Melissa de la Cruz & Michael Johnston
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Fantasy
Told: Third Person Multiple, Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (language, violence, sensuality)
Format Read: ARC
Find On: Goodreads
Summary:

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.


*          *          *

Three Words: A fantastical mess.

WritingPoor storytelling, forced dialogue, painful grammar and punctuation, flat description, the worst action scenes I have ever encountered. It was a relatively easy read at first, but by the middle it felt like I would never get through it. I constantly craved description, but what little I did get felt flat. 

Setting: Should've been interesting but was instead extremely unbelievable from so many angles. The world was basically just frozen trash - everywhere. Too much was left up to the imagination, and with such little description, most action took place in white space.

Story: Brilliant premise, horrific execution. The story follows Nat's journey to the Blue, first on land as they make for water, and then on water as they try for the doorway. Both legs of the trip felt unbelievably long and aimless, and basically took place in a white space of trash heaps and black water. There was no Inciting Incident in the beginning - Nat just up and started her journey one random day for no particular reason. She'd been putting it off for a while (just how long we didn't learn until much later - I thought it was years, but it turned out to be weeks, totally skewing the book's overall timeline for me) and then suddenly up and goes. There had even been a perfectly good moment several days earlier, but it went completely to waste. Any action was stinted and underwhelming - a one-page car race, seriously? - and consisted of quick writing and a lot of confusing yelling. Scenes that could've actually lent some entertainment and interest were skipped over entirely, leaving me confused and feeling left out. The end was a grand affair that felt completely foreign to the rest of the book, and while it was certainly better than what we'd previously been offered in the action department, it did not fit at all.

Characters: I really don't know what to say about the two main characters, Nat and Ryan. I didn't dislike them, but I didn't particularly like them either - I guess I simply just didn't care about them. I never connected with either of them, and really cared less what happened to them. I never felt that either of them had a strong personality - they were whatever the story needed them to be, which made them a bit all over the place (and that is no way for a character to be). The secondary characters were much more memorable and sure-footed in their personalities, and I understood and even liked a few of them. Shakes was probably my favorite, if I have to have a favorite.

Romantic Relationship: The only good thing I can say is that it was dragged out, instead of them throwing themselves at each other right off the bat. This is not to say it wasn't insta-love, as they flirted from the get-go, but at least they fought against it at first.

Fantasy Aspect: Don't let the dystopian setting fool you - there are fantastical beings and creatures in this book. I went into Frozen expecting magic, but I got fantasy creatures instead, and needless to say it was extremely disappointing.

ConclusionA complete and utter mess that still has my head spinning. It had some very interesting ideas, but the bad writing and poor storytelling smothered the originality. And it turned out to be Dystopian FANTASY. It's a miracle I made it through the entire book, and I most definitely will not be continuing the series.

Scribble Rating
1 of 5 Scribbles

Sunday, September 15, 2013

The Sunday Post (9/15/13)

Sunday Post

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news - post a recap of the past week on your blog, share what's coming up on your blog for the week ahead, and showcase books and things you've received.




THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG

Monday   Review: Frozen by Melissa Cruz & Michael Johnston
Wednesday   Waiting On Wednesday: Blackout by Robison Wells
Friday   The Friday Reads Review (9/20/13)


BOOKSHELF ADDITIONS

No Angel
No Angel by Helen Keeble (ARC) - Won from @EpicReads during #TeaTime!