Title: Vicious

 

Author: V. E. Schwab

 

 

My rating: 5 of 5

  

(Book read from December 5th to December 19th, 2013, for a read-along.)

 

Summary:

 

A masterful, twisted tale of ambition, jealousy, betrayal, and superpowers, set in a near-future world.

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates — brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find — aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge — but who will be left alive at the end?

In Vicious, V. E. Schwab brings to life a gritty comic-book-style world in vivid prose: a world where gaining superpowers doesn’t automatically lead to heroism, and a time when allegiances are called into question.

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

 

I've loved everything Victoria Schwab has written so far, and her latest novel isn't exception. Actually, Vicious is her best one, and I know I won't do it justice with this review, but I'll try.

I loved, loved the story. From the way it was told (going back & forth through the far past, the near past & the present), to the story itself & the idea behind it, I just adored everything about it, to the wonderful & complex characters (that you won't be able to stop yourself, but care for), and their different background stories, just everything was woven perfectly in one amazing & addicting tale, that will keep you glued to the pages to see how exactly it will play out, yet at the same time you wouldn't want for it to end. At least, that's what I felt while reading this book, and I really, really hope there will be a sequel, because I want more.

As I said, all the characters were so complex, there just aren't good or bad characters, heroes or villains, so you'll have to decide for yourself who you'll root for in this tale of betrayal, heartbreak & revenge. I was just so captivated by the characters & the story & the suspense of it. Victoria Schwab is one brilliant author that has written one unique & wonderful & brilliant novel, that I know I'll love reading again & again. The moment I finished it, I wanted to start it again. So, yeah, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next, because her imagination & stories are so different & unique, and she's such an eclectic author with one of the most amazing writing styles, and she never stops to surprise me :)

I can't recommend this book enough. It's dark & twisted & fun & wonderful & heartbreaking & amazing & villainous & suspenseful & addicting & unforgettable, everything I would wish for in a book, so if there's one 2013 book you must read, that's Vicious.

 

Challenges:

2013 Read-along Challenge

Title: The Storyteller

 

Author: Antonia Michaelis

 

Translator: Miriam Debbage

 

My rating: 5 of 5

 

(Book read from November 12th to November 30th, 2014, for a read-along.)

Summary:

 

A good girl.
A bad boy.
A fairy tale that's true.
A truth that is no fairy tale.

It begins the day Anna finds the child's doll on the floor of the student lounge. When it's claimed by Abel, the school drug dealer, Anna becomes determined to learn more about this mysterious boy with the military haircut and deep blue eyes. She follows him after school and discovers a secret: Abel is caring for his six-year-old sister, Micha, alone. Anna listens in as he tells her a fairy tale, the story of a little orphan queen pursued by hunters across the oceans for the treasure she carries: her pure, diamond heart.

It's a story with parallels to reality. Social services and Micha's abusive father could take her from Abel if they discover the truth.

Despite friend's warnings, Anna is drawn to Abel and Micha, and falls under the spell of the story of the little queen and her desperate voyage.

But when people Abel has woven into his tale turns up dead, it's Anna whose heart is in danger. Is she in love with a killer? And has she set out on a journey from which there is no return?  

 

Antonia Michaelis has written a spellbinding tale of suspense, danger, and transformative love.

  

 

 

  

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

The Storyteller is one of those rare & beautifully captivating books, that will stay with you long after you've finished them. The last sentence in the description above is perfect - The Storyteller is definitely a spellbinding tale full of suspense, danger & love, but also mystery & heartbreak, and although it's a contemporary book, it's actually quite magical, too.

How is that possible? Because of the writing style. It was magical, and beautiful, and captivating, and addicting, and the way Antonia Michaelis managed to bring the atmosphere of the book to life with her words was so, so perfect, and I loved every second of it. Also, I have to mention the translator, she definitely did a wonderful job. I know for a fact that a great book can be destroyed by a bad translation, but thankfully this wasn't the case, because none of the magic was lost by the translation from German to English (this is only a guess, I haven't actually read the original, my German is not that good). 

  

As for the story, to be honest, I don't really want to talk about it, because you have to experience it for yourself, but I loved it. I mean, sure, I predicted almost everything, (for one thing I was in total denial, because I didn't want that to be the case), but it wasn't that predictable, the mystery was actually executed in a wonderful way, as well as the way all the pieces of the puzzle were revealed, so it was actually a great mystery story & I definitely enjoyed the journey, and I loved the way the author interwove the fairy tale with the real life, it was amazingly done.

As for the characters, I adored Micha, Abel & Anna. I don't think that anyone will be able to stop themselves from caring for them, so they carved themselves a special place in my heart.

I can't recommend The Storyteller enough! It's actually the perfect read for the cold winter nights, and it's now one of my favorite reads, and I'm definitely looking forward to trying Antonia Michaelis's other books!

 

 

Challenges:

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

2013 Read-along Challenge

 2013 Books in Translation Reading Challenge

Title: Rot & Ruin

Author: Jonathan Maberry

Series: Benny Imura, #1

My rating: 5 of 5

(Book re-read on October 21st-22nd, 2013, for a read-along.)

Summary:

In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human. 

 

  

 

 My Thoughts on the Book:

I first read Rot & Ruin in 2010 when it was published, and I totally fell in love with it, and I've wanted to read it again since then, and I finally did, and I'm so glad that I did. Even though Rot & Ruin for me was one of those memorable books that left me remembering lots of details about them, even after years of reading them, I loved reading it again because of all those tiny details I didn't picked up on the 1st time, because it was my 1st Jonathan Maberry book, but now I totally did.

In Rot & Ruin, we meet Benny Imura, who just turned 15, and now has to find a job, so through his & his best friend's eyes (Chong), we see how their town survives in this post-apocalyptic world. Benny has an older brother Tom, who is a bounty hunter, but because of his own reasons, Benny doesn't like his brother, so he doesn't want to work for him. But, when he ends up not having a choice, he agrees to be Tom's apprentice.

Everything outside their town they call Rot & Ruin, and there's no law in the great rot & ruin, only danger, zombies, and just about everything out there wants to kill you, and when Tom takes Benny outside for the 1st time, Benny's world changes forever.

I love how the author starts gradually introducing Benny's world, and how he thinks everything works & what he thinks about everything & everyone, so you can say Benny is your typical teen in an untypical world, he thinks he knows best and that he's right, while not realising that he's naive when it comes to some things, so that's what makes him quite a realistic character. Also, I love how much Benny changes & grows up through the book, I really love him as a character.

And then there's his brother Tom Imura. Oh, how I love Tom Imura - without doubt Tom is one of my most fav characters ever, he's just so amazing, and I can sing his praises quite a lot, so I'll stop here.

I also really liked Nix, Lilah, Chong, and even Morgie, they were fun & interesting characters, as for the villains in the story, they were quite villainous, and once again I loved seeing them get what they deserved.

Once again I was wrapped up in this story, and couldn't stop reading it, even though I already knew how it ends since I've read it before. Rot & Ruin is one amazing post-apocalyptic YA book, filled with amazing characters, action, zombies, suspense, adventure, heartbreak, and I know it will always be one of my favs, so I can't recommend it enough!

 

 

 

Challenges:

2013 Books-In-A-Series Reading Challenge

2013 Read-along Challenge

 

Title: The Marbury Lens

 

Author: Andrew Smith

 

Series: The Marbury Lens, #1

 

 

My rating: 4.5 of 5

 

 

(Book read from October 1st to October 8th, 2013.)

 

 

Summary:

 

 
Sixteen-year-old Jack gets drunk and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is kidnapped. He escapes, narrowly. The only person he tells is his best friend, Conner. When they arrive in London as planned for summer break, a stranger hands Jack a pair of glasses. Through the lenses, he sees another world called Marbury.
 
There is war in Marbury. It is a desolate and murderous place where Jack is responsible for the survival of two younger boys. Conner is there, too. But he’s trying to kill them.
  
Meanwhile, Jack is falling in love with an English girl, and afraid he’s losing his mind.
 
Conner tells Jack it’s going to be okay.
 
But it’s not.
 
Andrew Smith has written his most beautiful and personal novel yet, as he explores the nightmarish outer limits of what trauma can do to our bodies and our minds.

 

 

  

 My Thoughts on the Book:

 

 

Believe me when I say that Andrew Smith's The Marbury Lens is something else. Also, it's not for the faint-hearted. 
 
The Marbury Lens is dark, gritty, terrifying, yet unexpectedly addicting, so you'll probably find yourself torn between not wanting to read more, because it might be too much at times, yet at the same time not wanting to stop, because you'll want to see what will happen next. At least, that's what happened to me.

The world of Marbury is full of danger & horrors, and one of the most morbid worlds I've encountered, and I wouldn't want to be a part of it. Yet, at the same time, I was more interested in what was happening there than in Jack's real life.

I don't really know how to talk about this story without spoiling it, but from the beginning, you know that this won't be an easy read, but it's in-your-face dark & realistic, and so, so terrifying & suspenseful - both in the real world & in Marbury. 
 
Jack gets kidnapped, and we follow what he goes through, and just thinking about that right now, I get the same feelings I got while reading it, so as I said, The Marbury Lens is not for the faint-hearted. After that, Jack goes to England as he planned pretending that nothing happened, and meets Henry Hewitt & gets the Marbury glasses, and delves into that fascinating & terrifying world, and through it all tries to stay sane, and not go totally crazy, although he already thinks he's gone a little bit crazy after what he calls himself - his defining moment. Soon, the lines between the world of Marbury & his real world start to blur, not knowing what's real & what's not.

Andrew Smith's writing style was awesome. He wrapped me up with his words in this unique story he created, and he made me care about what the characters are going through, and got me hooked, wondering what will happen next & I kept turning the pages, until I was finished. He made me cry, he made me sad, and he made me sit at the edge of my sit through most of the book, it was that suspenseful. This was the first Andrew Smith book that I read, but it won't be the last.

I found the characters to be really likable. Jack, poor Jack, my heart was breaking for him, and everything he's been & was going through. I think that his escape to Marbury really helped him in a way, even though he seemed & acted like an addict, but I could understand him, because of Ben & Griffin (I loved those guys). And I really liked the friendship between Jack & Conner, Conner is a real friend when he has to be. But, my favorite character without a doubt was Seth - his story was so sad & heartbreaking, and I cried so much, and he was amazing.

I was really happy with the ending, mainly because I know that there's a sequel, and I'm really looking forward to reading it, I hope it will be just as great as this one, and that what's exactly going on will finally be revealed.

I highly recommend The Marbury Lens to those who don't mind the dark, unique, gritty & different, as well as fans of horror, because this is a book that I know will stay with me for a very long time, and I know I didn't do it justice with my review, but it's one of those rare memorable books, which you just have to experience for yourself.

 

 

 

Challenges:

 

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

2013 Books-In-A-Series Reading Challenge

2013 Spooktacular Paranormal Challenge

Title: The Outside

Author: Laura Bickle

Series: The Hallowed Ones, #2

 

 

 My rating: 5 of 5

(Book read on October 3rd-5th, 2013.)

Summary:

The world is not what it once was. Two thirds of the population has been killed by a plague of vampires, and the survivors hide out in isolated territories - both protected and trapped by forces beyond their undestanding.

 

Exiled from her Amish community and shunned for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival, Katie enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two "English" friends and a horse by her side. Together they seek answers wherever they can find them - but each sunset brings the threat of vampire attack, and each sunrise, the threat of starvation.

 
 And yet through this darkness come the shining ones: luminescent men and women with the power to deflect vampires and survive the night. But can these new people be trusted, and are they even people at all?

 
 In this thrilling sequel to The Hallowed Ones, it's up to one Amish girl to save her family, her community, and the boy she loves. But what will she have to leave behind in return? 

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

The Hallowed Ones was one of the best books I read in 2012, so I was really looking forward to this sequel. And was The Outside everything I expected? Yes & no. I expected to be great, since everything Laura Bickle writes is unique & imaginative & interesting, and in that aspect I was right, but what I was surprised about was the way the story developed, it was not what I expected, but I still loved it.

What I missed was that I didn't find this story as mysterious & eerie as I did with the 1st book, but I should've expect that, since the secret was out ;) Still, there were some great run-for-you-life moments, and overall I found this story quite interesting & intriguing, but I won't go into details.

 

What I especially loved was that the author created the opportunity for Katie to experience Rumspringa in a way, as well as to have some fun, and to squeeze in some every day romance in it. I loved so much that she did that for Katie & Alex, it was like she delivered this amazing gift to them, as well as to me.

  

Saying all that, even though The Outside wasn't as creeptastic as The Hallowed Ones was, it was still amazing book that I loved, and I loved the way it wrapped up the story, and I know I'll enjoy reading this duology again, so I highly recommend it!

 

 

 

Challenges:

 

2013 Books-In-A-Series Reading Challenge

2013 Spooktacular Paranormal Challenge

Title: Midnight Blue-Light Special

  

Author: Seanan McGuire

Series: InCryptid, #2

  

My rating: 5 of 5

(Book read on October 17th-19th, 2013.) 

Summary:

Cryptid, noun:
1. Any creature whose existence has been suggested but not proven scientifically. Term officially coined by cryptozoologist John E. Wall in 1983.
2. That thing that's getting ready to eat your head.
3. See also: "monster." 

 

The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity--and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and when her work with the cryptid community took her to Manhattan, she thought she would finally be free to pursue competition-level dance in earnest. It didn't quite work out that way...

But now, with the snake cult that was killing virgins all over Manhattan finally taken care of, Verity is ready to settle down for some serious ballroom dancing—until her on-again, off-again, semi-boyfriend Dominic De Luca, a member of the monster-hunting Covenant of St. George, informs her that the Covenant is on their way to assess the city's readiness for a cryptid purge. With everything and everyone she loves on the line, there's no way Verity can take that lying down.

Alliances will be tested, allies will be questioned, lives will be lost, and the talking mice in Verity's apartment will immortalize everything as holy writ--assuming there's anyone left standing when all is said and done. It's a midnight blue-light special, and the sale of the day is on betrayal, deceit...and carnage. 

  

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

 

First of all, I have to say that I absolutely adore the world Seanan McGuire had created when it comes to the InCryptid series. Discount Armageddon was the 1st book by Seanan McGuire that I read, and right away I knew that it won't be the last, because it was a great book, filled with amazing characters & great world-building, so of course I was looking forward to the next book.

But, Seanan McGuire surprised me with writing prequel short stories featuring the ancestors of the Price family, with Fran & Johnny being the main characters, and she made me totally fall in love with them, too, as well as the world itself even more, so if you're interested, you should totally check them out on her website, since almost all of them are available for free there.

Now, when it comes to Midnight Blue-Light Special, it was another great addition to the series, that actually ended up being amazing, and it only confirmed my love for the series & the characters.

I won't go into details about the story, but it was great, there was some butt-kicking, some heartbreak, lots of awesomeness, some romance, amazing world-building, awesome characters & cryptids, and surprises, mainly in the way the story developed, it was unexpected, but I totally loved it!

And the most positive thing about this book & the way everything wrapped up, was the way it left me feeling really happy inside, and that's not something that every book can do for me.

  

And the characters, oh how much I love all of them. First of all, Verity Price - she's definitely one of my fav heroines - she's funny, smart, persistent, resilient, and she can dance, she can fight & kick some butt (both cryptid & human) - she's a Price girl :) And of course I loved Sarah as a character - actually part of the book is from her PoV, and that was a pleasant surprise - and although she's sweet, she's also one dangerous cryptid, but amazing friend. Of course there are the Aeslin mice - I never thought I'd love mice, but I love these guys. And then there's Dominic De Luca - I'm pretty sure he's awesome, and I'm hoping we'll get to know him a lot more in future books, and he & Verity are so sweet & perfect for each other. And not to forget all the supporting characters - such a colorful cast, full of different cryptids & characters, that you can't help but like, or at least find really interesting & fun.

The Incryptid series is amazing urban fantasy that I can't recommend enough. I can't wait to read the next 2 books which will follow Verity's brother Alex, I just know it will be awesome, and in the meantime, I'll just have to hope for more prequel short stories. I think I'll never get enough of the Price family & the Healys, they're awesome, and definitely one of my fav families ever!

 

  

 

Challenges:

 

2013 Books-In-A-Series Reading Challenge

2013 Spooktacular Paranormal Challenge

Title: The Creeps

Author: John Connolly

Series: Samuel Johnson Tales/Samuel Johnson vs. the Devil, #3

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Publication date: October 22nd, 2013

  

My rating: 5 of 5

(Book read on October 16th, 2013,  from an eARC received from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.) 

Summary:

In this clever and quirky follow-up to The Gates and The Infernals, Samuel Johnson’s life seems to have finally settled down - after all, he’s still got the company of his faithful dachshund Boswell and his bumbling demon friend Nurd; he has foiled the dreaded forces of darkness not once but twice; and he’s now dating the lovely Lucy Highmore.

 

But things in the little English town of Biddlecombe rarely run smoothly for long. Shadows are gathering in the skies; a black heart of pure evil is bubbling with revenge; and it rather looks as if the Multiverse is about to come to an end, starting with Biddlecombe. When a new toy shop’s opening goes terrifyingly awry, Samuel must gather a ragtag band of dwarfs, policemen, and very polite monsters to face down the greatest threat the Multiverse has ever known, not to mention assorted vampires, a girl with an unnatural fondness for spiders, and highly flammable unfriendly elves.

 

The latest installment of John Connolly’s wholly original and creepily imaginative Samuel Johnson Tales, The Creeps is humorous horror for anyone who enjoys fiction at its best.

 

  

My Thoughts on the Book:

The Creeps was absolutely amazing, and the perfect finale to this hilarious trilogy.

I read both The Gates & The Infernals over 2 years ago, and I loved them both (although I loved The Gates more between them), and I've been waiting for the next book since then, and John Connolly absolutely delivered & the waiting was so worth it, because The Creeps is definitely the best one among them, and as I already said, the perfect ending for these characters that I absolutely adore!

That being said, even though it's recommended for you to read the previous 2 books before you read this one, it's not necessary, because the author in his witty way does explain what happened in them, but believe me, you don't want to miss reading them for yourself.

The story was fun, horrific, hilarious & adventurous, and I loved every second of it, and once again I absolutely loved all the characters, and once I started reading, I couldn't stop until I finished it. And even though for most of the book I laughed at loud so many times, the author also managed to make me cry a lot at the ending, and that was so unexpected, but I don't think anyone will be able to stop themselves if they love the characters as much as I do.

And the writing style as always was amazing & addicting. There's just something special & unique to John Connolly's writing style, he brings all of his characters to life, and you wouldn't want to say goodbye to any of them, both good & bad. So, yeah, although I'm really happy with the ending that all the characters got, I can't help myself but wish for more stories featuring them, even though I know this is the end for them. but, at least, there's always re-reading, and I love re-reading my fav books, and The Creeps as well as the whole series has confirmed its place on my alltime favs list, and I can't recommend them enough to everyone, from children to adults, because I know that everyone would enjoy them!

   

 

 

Challenges:

 

2013 Spooktacular Paranormal Challenge

2013 Books-In-A-Series Reading Challenge