Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent: Review

I died on a Thursday-killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. The good news? He didn't get it. The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school... Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend. But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life....

Wow. 

The Awesome

The plot. After If I Die, I didn't think the plot could get any better. But it did. Before I Wake amped up the tension and the suspense, and the stakes are higher than ever. Nobody is now safe from the hellions, and they will stop at nothing to get Kaylee's soul. I'd elaborate more because the summary is a bit vague, but I wouldn't want to spoil it. But the plot, in a word? Brilliant. 

The drama. As if the creatures of the Netherwold after Kaylee was bad enough. No, Kaylee has to deal with the drama of everything- of going back to school, the pestering of her classmates, and worse of all, Nash. Oh gosh, the drama was written so well! There were such heartbreaking moments, and I couldn't help but sympathize for the characters that I used to dislike. 

The writing. This was my favorite of all. The way Rachel Vincent wrote the book- it was just so easy to get lost in the Soul Screamers world. Everything flowed so smoothly, and the way it was written utterly gripped me. I loved her voice as Kaylee, and it was so easy to relate to her, to sympathize with her, and just love her as a main character. 

The romance. Aah, the romance was just so unbelievably sweet! Tod and Kaylee are officially my favorite couple ever! Their chemistry was perfect, and every moment where they were together was absolute perfection. Tod was just so sweet! And it wasn't just their romance that I liked- weirdly enough, Sophie and Luca's was too! It was adorable just how protective Luca was of Sophie. And finally, Nash and Sabine. Those two seriously put the fun in their dysfunctional relationship! In a way, I almost feel sorry for Sabine, seeing as how messed up Nash is. 

That scene. I'm not saying what scene. But a little bit after halfway through the book, that scene happens. I'm not spoiling what happens, but if you've read it, you'll know what I'm talking about. It was such a huge shock to read about it, and I was seriously crushed because of what happened. 

The ending. Before I Wake had one hell of an explosive ending. It seriously blew me away- I did not see that coming at all! It was a serious jawdropping cliffhanger that left me all the more excited- in other words, desperate- for WAMS.

And for my favorite passage...

Tod was in my desk chair when I shuffled into my room in my Grinch slippers. "How much of that did you hear?" 

"Enough. You were cute." 

He scowled. "I am not cute. I am the dreaded Grim Reaper. People fear me, you know. There's a whole song about it." 

"Only because they don?t know about the dimples. People don't fear a man with dimples."

And cue the swooning!

The Bad

It had to end. ;)

The Rating

6 stars! But in my opinion, that doesn't even give the book half the credit. I absolutely loved every single moment of it, and it transported me to a whole different world. If I described in detail every single bit that I loved about the book, this review would never end. I'm just disappointed that it had to end!

Jen

Soul Screamers #5- If I Die by Rachel Vincent: Review

The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

Aww, it's the last month of the SSRC! How time flies... And before we know it, Before I Wake's gonna be released! Now, I don't know about you, but this book is a freakin' must have... Now on to my thoughts on If I Die, the latest Soul Screamers book.

If I Die was the best reread. Ever. The first time I read this book, I fell in love with it. Now, it's twice as much. The whole time I was reading the series, If I Die was the only book I had in mind, and I just could not wait to finally read it!

Seeing as how I've already reviewed it (Fun fact: If I Die was my first ever review here!), I don't know what else to say. But yeah, I enjoyed it right from the start, and there wasn't a single dull moment. 

And Tod, well... Let's just say he was one of the best things that ever happened to this book. So yeah, I loved it so much I can't even begin to express how much.

And... ahh, I don't know what to say anymore! I guess writing a second review is way harder, since this is the only book I've already reviewed. But rest assured, this is one of my most favorite series, and I totally recommend it to all fans of paranormal romance. 

Now I'm totally excited for Before I Wake! Time to start the countdown! :)

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

Soul Screamers #4.5- Reaper by Rachel Vincent: Review

Tod Hudson was a typical teenager. He liked girls, sports, food and tolerated his younger brother, Nash. In fact, he had his whole life in front of him--and due to his bean sidhe heritage, it was going to be a very long life indeed. And then the car accident occurred.

Suddenly Tod's future wasn't so sure, and he had to make a choice. Life... Death... or something Between....

Of all the Soul Screamers novella, this is my favorite one, and always will be. Reaper was amazing, and I enjoyed every second of it. It not only gave us a glimpse into Tod's mind, but it answered so many questions I had about the Hudsons' past. 

While I enjoyed Reaper, this novella was painful to read. Why? It screamed "sacrifice", and it was heartbreaking. You're sure to see Tod in a new way after reading this. I just couldn't believe Tod gave up everything for Nash- it was just so unbelieveably sweet and selfless.

On a brighter side, this novella was full of Tod's sarcasm, and they often made crack up. Come on, who else makes jokes about Death? And in this case, I'm talking about it literally. Reaper was full of laugh out loud moments which never failed to lighten the mood. 

Here's my favorite passage from the novella:

The reaper shifted in his seat, but made no move to stand. “That’s what you were buried in.” His careless gesture took in my stiff shirt and the pressed black pants I’d never seen in my life.

I looked like a waiter.

So yeah, I'm giving this 6 stars. It was the perfect quick read, and the fact that it was Tod narrating it probably helped. ;) It was the perfect blend of heartbreak and humor, and I couldn't help but wish this novella would turn into a full length novel. 

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

The Iron Fey #4- The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa: Review

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

I am so thankful that Julie Kagawa wrote this book. And for her editor for convincing her to. C'mon, if things ended at The Iron Queen? I would have been devastated!

The Iron Knight started off slowly with Prince Ash, devastated over Meghan. And so he does something that many other fey have done but never succeeded: he wants to earn a soul, so he can be with Meghan in the Iron Realm. 

I LOVED Ash. I loved his devotion and love for Meghan. How he never stopped fighting for their love, and he never gave up on finding a way to be with her. He pushed himself to the extreme, all because of his love for her. If that isn't love, I don't know what is!

And damn, does Kagawa know how to write a thrilling plot or what? Things picked up very quickly once Ash began his journey to the End of The World. It the adventure of the journey that I've grown to love in this series. But that wasn't the best part. 

I loved the gauntlet. The tests they went through were brilliant. But what I loved the most was the last quarter of the book. The part where Ash goes through three tests to earn his soul. They were heartbreaking- seeing him like that, but knowing that he wouldn't ever give up. And the last test? It was a-ma-zing! I actually thought it was reality- but was the ending totally crushing! You just have to read it for yourself. I know I'm not making much sense, because I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts into words!

The Rating

6 stars!!! It was the perfect conclusion to an epic series. I'm not usually a sucker for really happy endings, but I loved how Kagawa ended the Iron Fey. The ending was sweet and simple, and I adored it. I actually tried putting off reading this book, because I didn't want then series to end!

My only complain? Puck was all alone! Seriously, I felt so bad for him! But anyway, in spite of that, The Iron Fey series is something nobody should miss out on. Go read it. Now. 

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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The Iron Fey #3- The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa: Review

My name is Meghan Chase. 

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it. 

This time, there will be no turning back.

Oh. My. Gosh. I'm speechless. This book was just... Ugh, I can't find the proper words! But in three words? I. LOVED. THIS. So so so soooooo much! I would have had reviewed The Iron Daughter, but I didn't want to stop reading, and I plowed straight through The Iron Queen. It did NOT disappoint. 

The Awesome

Everything. I read The Iron King, and I loved it. I read the Iron Daughter, and I loved it even more. Well, guess what? The Iron Queen surpassed both books. Do you guys have any idea just how high my expectations were, yet they were exceeded? Damn it, there wasn't a single thing I hated about it- except that it had to come to an end!

To be more specific...

The plot. Ahh, I loved the plot. Meghan, Ash, and Puck must work together to defeat the False King- the one who pretends to be the new Iron King. They journey throughout the Iron Realm to find his identity and kill him, in order to save both Summer and Winter. The plot was filled with action, with one adventure after another, with heart wrenching romance, hilarious moments, painful goodbyes, and so much more. 

The ending. Gah, that ending! It was heartbreaking! It almost made me cry! And I never cry. Ever. Not once have I cried over a book, but the ending of The Iron Queen almost made me break down in tears! Ahhh, how could Kagawa have ended it like that? It was the ultimate sacrifice, the most painful ending I have ever read. 

The Rating

 6 stars, all the way. If I could, I've give it a bazillion stars, but hey, I'm guessing that would be a tad bit unrealistic. :P But seriously, I've never connected with a book as much as I did with The Iron Queen. I want to live in this book- I don't want this series to end! It has everything that I'm looking for, yet so much more than I expected. 

Ahhh, I want to go to Julie Kagawa, look her in the eye... And tackle her with a big hug. I want to thank her for creating such a wonderful world that I've experienced like none other. Seriously, how does she do this? Reduce me into a gushing fangirl, barely coherent?

The Iron Knight, here I come!

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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Enjoyed this book as much as I did? :) If you have reviewed this book, leave a link! I want to see what others thought of this book which I so obviously adored!

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Divergent by Veronica Roth: Review

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. 

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her. 

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Oh my. This book... This book was WOW. I'm speechless. This book was utterly amazing. This review was extremely difficult to write...

The Bad.
The names. I was having such a hard time thinking of something about this book which I didn't like. And the only thing I didn't like were the names. Yes, shallow of me, I know, but that was the only thing I could come up with! I didn't like Tris' real name- sorry all Beatrices out there- and Four's real name. But then, I liked all the rest, so this is like the crappiest "The Bad" review I've ever done. :P

The Awesome.
The book. I'm skipping "The Good", and going staight right to the awesome. Because that's what the whole book was. Heaps and heaps of awesomeness rolled into one book called "Divergent". I can't even begin to describe just how much I adored this book.

The concept. Okay, the idea? Totally genius. This is dystopian fiction at its best, you guys! The world Roth created? Scary, dangerous, and utterly captivating. It's seriously unlike any book I've ever read before. I mean, the idea of picking one faction to spend the rest of your life in- or become factionless, an outcast- is terrifying. And what's worse? Their perfect little organized world is not as perfect as they thought.

The characters. I love Tris. I love Four. Heck, I love them all! (Except Peter. He's an ass.) They're placed through hell, and constantly pushed to their limits, but they always pull through whatever predicament they're in. They're stronger than I ever thought they could be, and they constantly surprise me.

The ending. Ah crap. What an ending indeed! Roth, you cruel little thing, do you enjoy torturing us? Those last few chapters were so freaking painful to read, plus she left it with so many inanswered questions! I need to know what happens next!!! It wasn't a killer cliffie, but a cliffie all the same.

The Romance. I love Tris and Four together. I love how they fell in love. It wasn't insta-love, thank God. Slowly, they gain each other's trust through special moments. And that first kiss- Whoa. I love it so much! Plus, there's no love triangle! Tris amd Four all the way!!! :D (I refuse to call Four by his real name. He will forever remain Four to me.)

The Rating. Even the biggest idiot on Earth would know I'm giving this book 6 out of 5 stars. I'm even running out of descriptions to describe just how AMAZING this was! After reading this book, my standards got raised up way higher. I don't care what genre you like, go read this, NOW. This is so worth bumping up your TBR pile. But a little warning though- this is NOT for the faint of heart.

Now only if I had Insurgent right now... The wait will not be easy....

And if you've lived under a rock for the past months, here's the cover of Insurgent: 

Pretty, right? Now I just hope I survive the wait.

Jen @ Midnight Book Thief

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The Maze Runner #3- The Death Cure by James Dashner: Review

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Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test. 

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.

Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

You know how there's some books that you love so much that you just have to devour it in one sitting? And then regret it afterwards for not savoring the book? Yeah, this happened to me with this one. I could NOT stop thinking about this book! I just literally finished this book a few minutes ago, and my thoughts are still a bit incoherent. But I will try to write a review that is as sane as possible.

Okay... so where do I start? This is one hell of a book. James Dashner is bloody brilliant. The world he has created is not only captivating, but dangerous and heart-pounding as well. I remember when I read The Maze Runner last summer, and found the whole thing to be quite impossible. All that went to my head was that, "Damn, this author must have a pretty good explanation for this one!" And surprise, surprise, he did! But since I'm reviewing The Death Cure and not The Maze Runner, more on that later.

One main thing I love about this book is that it's main concept is survival. I've read all too many books with it's main point being love- Oh no, we're not meant to be! We can never be together! But no! I can't last a day without him! Oh I'll miss him so much! 


Saps.


I swear, one more book like that, and I'd be all:

Now where was I?

Oh yes, like I said. Survival. As I read the book, I couldn't help but feel what Thomas and the rest were going through. All the fear of being caught, the suffering and pain of losing their friends... Survival being the main point of the story is actually sensible, and it's one that gripped me from the start. I mean, who cares about love when you could die any moment? And speaking of dying...

This book was painful to read. So many characters from the start, characters you have grown to love and care for, gone. All gone. I remember feeling sad when Chuck died back in book one, but the death scene of another beloved character in this book.... well, let's just say that it almost made me teary-eyed. And no book has ever made me cry before. Ever. I won't say who, so that I won't spoil anything. But there was yet another character who died, but since I wasn't a big fan of that person, I wan't all that sad.

Now for the ending... It almost made me want to smack Dashner in the head. I mean, it was good- they found a solution to their problems. But even if it was a bit anti-climatic, however, I wan't expecting it, so it was okay, I guess. I'm having a hard time explaining my thoughts on the ending- I have conflicted feelings towards it. I mean, I was happy the Gladers got their happy ending, but after all the excitement and tension prior to that, it just felt a bit... okay. Just... okay. Eh, I'm making no sense. Shuck it (Sorry, I just could not resist putting that!) , they lived happily ever after, I'm gonna shut up about my complaints and be happy.

Unlike some books *cough* Mockingjay *cough* which made me want to tear my hair out until I look like this:

Ahem... a random experience while reading the book: Remember the car scene where they were escaping, and Cranks start attacking them, and they're trapped inside? Now the scary part was that I was reading this as well in the car. At night. In the parking lot, alone in the back seat. *shudders* Not a pretty experience...

But anyway. I rate this book... 6 out of 5 stars. Yes, I'm giving this a six as well. I loved the series so much I was able to look over its flaws. It was unique, completely original, and one hell of a ride. I'm just really sad it's over, but I'm looking forward to more of Dashner's books. I totally recommend this book to everyone- especially to dystopian lovers and fans of Hunger Games and Gone.

.....My head is still reeling with that ending.....

WICKED is good.


I just could not resist putting that tiny spoiler. Because in a way, it's true. Okay, I'll end this before I spoil anything major. :D

Jen @ The Midnight Book Thief

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Did you also read The Death Cure? Loved it as much as I did? Hated it? I would love to know!