Friday, June 7, 2013

Happy Summer!

     Good news! I'm officially out of school which means that I'll be able to blog more frequently. Sorry that I haven't posted since the beginning of May, I had a lot going on. So with that til it be morrow!

Happy Reading,
Alivia :)

Friday Finds (4)

Friday Finds is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading

My Find:

Title: Across the Universe

Author: Beth Revis

Synopsis:

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

My Thoughts:

     So far, I've completed this book and I am on the second in the series. It's not quite what I expected but it's still good. I expected it to be a sci-fi romance but it's lacking the romance part. Really good series as of now, hope it only gets better!

Happy Reading,
Alivia :)

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Light (Gone #6)

Author: Michael Grant

Publication Date: April 2nd, 2013

Pages: 411

Synopsis: 

     In the time since every person over the age of fourteen disappeared from the town of Perdido Beach, California, countless battles have been fought: battles against hunger and lies and plague, and epic battles of good against evil. And now, the gaiaphage has been reborn as Diana's malicious mutant daughter, Gaia. Gaia is endlessly hungry for destruction. She yearns to conquer her Nemesis, Little Pete, and then bend the entire world to her warped will. As long-standing enemies become allies, secrets are revealed and unexpected sacrifices are made. Will their attempts to save themselves and one another matter in the end, or will the kids of Perdido Beach perish in this final power struggle?

Genre: Science Fiction

Review:

    Every feel like you're being suffocated just thinking of something super sad. That's the way I felt pretty much throughout this whole book. So stinkin' sad and depressing and heart-wrenching and it made me want to write Michael Grant hate mail. That was before I read the aftermath. Now I want to send Michael Grant love mail, he truly is a genius, he's not afraid to be different from other YA authors. That's why he's my favorite author.  I'm not just saying that either, I really believe that he is the best author of all time ever.  Love him, love him, love him!
     One thing I hated about this book was that Michael Grant decided to kill my favorite character. Why, why, why, why, why!!! When they died, I had to keep on reading the pages over and over to make sure that I had read it right.  I was too shocked to even cry, and I was on an airplane so it wasn't like I could randomly scream and have a fit, or curl up into a ball and cry in a corner. Nope, I had to have no expressions.  The book got sad 60% of the way through, exactly, because that was where my all time favorite character died.  Just after she was healed she had to go join the fight and defeat Gaia, only Gaia ended up defeating her, a hole right through the heart. Four people total of my favorite characters died. I never expected two of them to die, the other I could kind of see happening. But that doesn't mean that I was okay with it! I died four different times, that's an accomplishment.
     There were a couple of things that I did totally not expect to happen, and I congratulate you Michael Grant because I am the queen of knowing what's going to happen next. You caught me. Good job.
      This book was the perfect end to an amazing series, my favorite series for that matter. The love that I contain for this series is indescribable.  I laughed, cried, died right along with the series all while wanting to throw the book across the room.  I won't be able to live without this book series, I'm dead series. Every time I even think about it I die inside again.  Perfect, perfect, perfect.  Now, I really want to be able to actually say characters names so the rest of this review will be chock-full of spoilers. Do not read on if you haven't read this series.

DO NOT READ ON IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE SERIES!
-SPOILERS-

     Commence the start of my real review!  The four people that I died with would have to be Brianna, Jack, Orc, and, and, and CAINE!!!!!!! WHY!!!!! The people that I saw dying were Jack and Caine. I never imagined in a million, trillion, gazillion years that Brianna or Orc would die. They were my top two favorite character. I loved Orc's character development, he started out so bad then he realized all of the things that he was doing wrong and went to being a Christian. Can you imagine the faith that it would take to believe in God in a place like the FAYZ where there was death everywhere and no place to escape. Even Astrid and Brittney lost their faith.  And Brianna, everybody loves The Breeze. The hardest part was Dekka. She did not deserve that, neither did Breeze for that matter. But they were just about to get out of the place and then Breeze up and DIES!!!!!! YOU KILLED MY FAVORITE CHARACTER MICHAEL GRANT!!!! But I love you all the same because I can tell a good author from a bad author by who he or she kills off. Just like how James Patterson never killed any of his characters, not a good author. That's beyond the point. Breeze, machete swingin', faster than a speeding bullet, fun lovin' Breeze. BREEZE. Breeze, my favorite character just had to die. I'm still mad at Michael Grant I know I've said all of this already and I know I'll probably say it again. My Breeze, The Breeze, everybody loves The Breeze. I'll never be able to describe the wind as a gentle breeze anymore because Breeze was anything but gentle. She was butt kickin', BA, cool as ice while still managing to be on fire. She will be in my heart forever, and I know that I could go on for the rest of this review just talking about Breeze and how much I miss her. How can I just leave the FAYZ? You may have said that I'm free to leave the FAYZ, Michael Grant, but I know I can't. I won't leave the FAYZ. I will honor the characters with the simple things I do in life. I will commemorate The Breeze, Orc, King Caine, Computer Jack, Justin, Dahra, E.Z., Cigar, Orsay, Bouncing Bette, Howard, Hunter, Alex, even Drake/Brittney, and everyone else. There is a time when one must go on with life, that time hasn't come yet maybe it won't ever. Who really knows? 

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★(Out of my usual five stars...)

Happy Reading,
Alivia (No smiley face can explain my feelings right now.)

Waiting On Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesdays are hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine

Title: Transparent

Author: Natalie Whipple

Publication Date: May 21st, 2013

Synopsis:

    Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.

    An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.

     After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.

     Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.

My Thoughts:

     I don't know why this book looks good to me, it just does. I guess these kinds of books are the most appealing ones to me. The heroine is in a situation that she is nearly impossible to escape, though in the end she'll always escape no matter what.  That's just my kind of book.

Happy Reading,
Alivia :)

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Girl Stolen

Author: April Henry

Date Published: December 1st, 2010

Pages: 213

Synopsis:


  Sixteen-year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of the car while her stepmom fills a prescription for antibiotics. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, the car is being stolen.

    Griffin hadn't meant to kidnap Cheyenne and once he finds out that not only does she have pneumonia, but that she's blind, he really doesn't know what to do. When his dad finds out that Cheyenne's father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes--now there's a reason to keep her. 

     How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare?

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

Review:

     One of the only reasons that I read this book was because I wanted a book to red on the plane ride to California for Easter vacation. I wanted to read it before I got Light on the 2nd of April, I ended up getting done with it five days before Light came out.  It was a good stand alone book, nothing special but it was good.  I liked how it was about a blind girl who was sick and basically completely vulnerable.
     Cheyenne was a strong character, strong enough for a blind girl. She wasn't blind her whole life; she became blind the same moment her mother died, which I find really depressing.  But at least she still had a dad and an actually nice stepmom, I have had my share experiences with evil stepmothers, trust me.
     Griffin was nice in an Aladdin  way, a diamond in the ruff. Growing up stealing cars, but feeling bad when he accidentally kidnaps a girl and then making sure she doesn't get hurt by his comrades.  I liked Griffin, I didn't like his dad.
     I didn't like how badly he treated Cheyenne and how he pretended that she couldn't hear him because she was blind. So insolent. But I have to cut this review short because I'm afraid I'm writing this rather late at night. Til' it be tomorrow...

Rating:★★★★

Happy Reading,
Alivia :)

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Alice in Wonderland

Author: Lewis Carroll

Date Published: 1865

Pages: 96

Synopsis:

     An uproarious and unique whimsical children story of Alice's confrontation with the world that is eccentric. The events that take place through Alice's visit in a bizarre "Wonderland" are spontaneous and fantastically unplanned. The characters are remarkably amusing and entertaining. Its language is highly figurative that takes the reader in the realm of true imagination. Enchanting!

Genre: Children's

Review:

  I pretty much only read this book because after reading Splintered, one can't help wanting to learn all about Alice in Wonderland. So I up and bought this pleasant book on my kindle. It was really cute and I 'm glad that. This is one of those books you think you know but then you read it and realize you knew nothing about it in the first place.
    I enjoyed this book immensely. Now, I realize that this was not the book that the movie was based off of, that would be Alice Through the Looking-Glass. Nevertheless, I still liked this book. 
     Sorry that the review is so short but I can't really talk about much more now.  I'll probably have a better review for Through the Looking-Glass. For now...

Rating: ★★★

Happy Reading,
Alivia :)

Splintered (Splintered #1)

Author: A.G. Howard

Publication Date: January 1st, 2013

Pages: 371

Synopsis:

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Genre: Fantasy

Review:
     
     Wow. I just realized, this is a series, and a new one at that! I guess I'll just have to wait for Unhinged to come out. I love the cover so much!!!! Morpheus!!! Okay, I should probably start the review shouldn't I? 
     First off, Splintered was amazingly beautiful, it made me want to cry then laugh then throw the book across the room. I loved it sooo much! I was expecting it to be an amateur book, nothing special.  I was so wrong. It was magical, spell-binding, mesmerizing, heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, and the most wild ride of a life time!
     Alyssa was a strong character, but at times I felt as if she were too much of a damsel in distress kind of character. At other times when Jeb or Morpheus weren't around she could take care of herself just fine. When she was around them, she was like a desperate preppy girl, only at times! I still loved the love triangle even if it's so cliche. I knew that Morpheus obviously wasn't going to end up with her even though I know he wanted to. Morpheus always gets his way, but not with Alyssa.
    I also really liked how Alyssa's mom was also a big part of this and her condition that was explained at the end of the book. She really gave some background information surrounding Alyssa's family's history.  All she wanted to do was protect Alyssa and Alyssa ended up protecting herself and her mom.
      I really liked how A.G. Howard reinvented Wonderland. Her idea for the Hatter was really clever, even though it was super creepy. It was creative. Speaking of creativity, I thought that the way she continued the story of Alice and all that happened to her. Really, truly, fabulous ingenuity.
     Lastly, I really, really liked Jeb. He's so sweet and caring and protective of Alyssa and I thought he was very smart for dumping his preppy girlfriend just so he could be with Alyssa.  So adorably cliche, but I like cliche.  Overall, this book was truly amazing, so with that...

Rating: ★★★★★

Happy Reading,
Alivia :)