Book Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Summoning (Darkest Powers #1)
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Pages: 390
Published: March 31st, 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins
Buy: Here!, Here!, OR Here!

“That's what being crazy was, wasn't it? You thought you were fine. Everyone else knew better.” 

Today's review is over a book I read at the beginning of April. It is a book I read off a whim based on a recommendation from a friend, and the quality of this entire trilogy was a very welcomed and pleasant surprise! Of course I am talking about The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong which is the first book in the Darkest Powers trilogy.

Goodreads Synopsis:

After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, and meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home. 
At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behavior. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

 My Thoughts:

This book was a quick and fast paced read. Being at almost 400 pages one wouldn't think this could constitute as a 'quick read' but I found myself devouring these pages. I was engrossed in this story 100% of the time and I could not put it down. Kelley Armstrong laced these pages with a story that touched on each emotion and connected with the reader in a refreshing way.

Characters/Character Development:

-The main character in this story is Chloe, she is a character that is easy for the reader to relate to, whether the reader be male or female.
-The relationships between Chloe, Derek, and Simon play such a dynamic role in the development of the story and I adored them as a trio.
-Derek was a character that I did want more from in the beginning chapters, I was not drawn to him as much in the beginning as I was by the end of the book, Derek was a brilliant character.
-Unfortunately, Simon was not a character I felt as strongly about. I definitely feel like he was an essential character throughout the whole trilogy and he had his stronger moments, but overall I don't feel like I connected with him as much as Derek and Chloe.
-Something I really loved about the supporting characters in this book is how much they aided in carrying the plot. A couple of the supporting characters were serious game changers and (after reading the whole trilogy) really changed the outcomes of some of the plot lines.

Plot/Pacing:

-This book started with a bang. Kelley Armstrong wasted no time in developing the main plot line in this book, I find that when some books take this approach the plot becomes *blah* and lackluster, it was not the case, however, for this book.
-I found this plot line exciting, interesting and easy to follow.
-The pacing was quick but not so quick that I felt like I was missing pieces of information

Overall:

Over all I feel that Kelley Armstrong started off her Darkest Powers trilogy on the perfect note. I was so excited to continue on with the series (especially after the ending) that I read the other two in less than a week! I gave this book a 5/5 stars and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good series!

Book Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 453 pages
Published: March 25, 2008
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Buy: here!

"If you can't tell the truth to the people you care about, eventually you stop being able to tell the truth to yourself"

Hello friends!

Today's review is on City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare which as many of you know is the second installment in the Mortal Instruments series, first being City of Bones. I won't lie, at first I was having a tough time getting through this book, but fear not lovers of this series, my heart fell hard, if not harder for these characters by the end of this book and I applaud Cassandra Clare on one of the best sequels i've read!

Goodreads Synopsis:

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.
To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

My Thoughts:

Like I said above, when I first started this book I was finding it much slower paced than City of Bones, which took off right from the get go. I was discouraged because a lot of sequels nowadays shine much dimmer in the light of the books before it, and based on the first 100 or so pages I was afraid City of Ashes was going to fall into the 'good, but not as good as the first' category.

STOP: IF YOU FEEL THIS WAY…KEEP GOING!!! It get's better, promise :)

Characters/Character Development:

-The development of the relationship between Jace and Clary is SO WELL WRITTEN. You never know quite where they stand and I love it. Their relationship is one that I can feel the tension and desire between them. GAH, couldn't get enough.
-Something else that City of Ashes developed for me, which was surprising, was a serious love for Magnus Bane, he was a character in City of Bones that I didn't hate but I also didn't love. Clare makes it impossible for the reader to not fall in love with him. I need a Magnus Bane in my life, is a sassy, gay warlock in my life REALLY too much to ask??
-I really feel like City of Ashes made HUGE strides in the 'character development' department. Cassandra Clare has her characters so interwoven and the backstory SO intricate that falling in love with these characters and watching them make mistakes, fall in love, and grow as people is a real joy.

Plot/Pacing:

-The plot (as I mentioned above) was slow going at first. It wasn't uninteresting or boring, I did feel however, that with City of Bones being SO fast paced even from the beginning; I came in with a sort of expectation of the plot that just wasn't met in my opinion.
-I would say about 150-200 pages in (so roughly half way through) Clare throws some curveballs and certain events take place that I powered through the last half because I just could not stop. The fact that the middle and end were SO good and so well developed made up for the lackluster beginning.
-The content of the plot itself is a subject I could write a small novel about, so we'll leave it at this: the details and the actual development of the plot are hands down amazing. The descriptive details Clare includes transport you into the world of the shadowhunters. I can't say enough about how beautifully written these books are.

Overall:

Overall I feel like City of Ashes was fantastic, a phenomenal sequel and an exciting read. The pace, while at the beginning lagged was perfect through out the rest of the novel. I cannot wait to continue on with this series. Cassandra Clare has a way of wrapping you into her stories and she doesn't let you go until you turn the last page.

Rating:

4.5/5 Stars

Book Review: Burned by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Burned
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Pages: 544
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: October 23, 2007
Buy: Here 

Hello fellow readers,

As I sit here in this dismal college computer lab waiting for my class to start I started pondering really good books. Being an avid reader does have its advantages, one being finding a really good book. But even beyond finding a really good book, finding a book that surprised you. That was Burned by Ellen Hopkins for me. I picked this book up sometime last summer as a quick 'beach' read to get me through a blazing northern Michigan afternoon, and this book whisked me away into the life of Pattyn Von Stratten.

Goodreads snyopsis:

It all started with a dream. Nothing exceptional, just a typical fantasy about a boy, the kind of dream that most teen girls experience. But Pattyn Von Stratten is not like most teen girls. Raised in a religious -- yet abusive -- family, a simple dream may not be exactly a sin, but it could be the first step toward hell and eternal damnation.
This dream is a first step for Pattyn. But is it to hell or to a better life? For the first time Pattyn starts asking questions. Questions seemingly without answers -- about God, a woman's role, sex, love -- mostly love. What is it? Where is it? Will she ever experience it? Is she deserving of it?
It's with a real boy that Pattyn gets into real trouble. After Pattyn's father catches her in a compromising position, events spiral out of control until Pattyn ends up suspended from school and sent to live with an aunt she doesn't know.
Pattyn is supposed to find salvation and redemption during her exile to the wilds of rural Nevada. Yet what she finds instead is love and acceptance. And for the first time she feels worthy of both -- until she realizes her old demons will not let her go. Pattyn begins down a path that will lead her to a hell -- a hell that may not be the one she learned about in sacrament meetings, but it is hell all the same.
In this riveting and masterful novel told in verse, Ellen Hopkins takes readers on an emotional roller-coaster ride. From the highs of true love to the lows of abuse, Pattyn's story will have readers engrossed until the very last word.

My thoughts:

-While initially I was not a fan of the layout that Ellen Hopkins used in this book (and all her other books for that matter) I dismissed that complaint quickly as the in depth and  heart wrenching story line took me under. I loved the development of Pattyn as a character, but also as a person. At the beginning of the book she was a very meek character who answered promptly and unquestioningly to her overbearing parents. The end of the book brought an entirely different Pattyn to light, the development brought on a Pattyn with a new mind set, and an understanding of true love.

-I think this book brings about a revelation of religious freedom as well, while parents might raise a child to believe a certain religion or even political view, ultimately it is up to the child to decide their own beliefs. I think especially in this day in age that there is a certain standard that children feel that they must live up to and this book gives a refreshing take on that issue.

-Pattyn and Ethan: ermergerd. There are feels that I cannot even begin to describe here. The development and timing of their romance was beautiful and pure. I can't...just...no words.

-Lastly, this book is probably one of the most beautifully written, but also saddest books I have ever read to date. It is one that leaves you staring into a mind numbing oblivion when you finish the last page. If you read this book, give your feels time to recover.

Overall, 5/5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read but wants some depth to their story lines. Well done Ellen Hopkins!

-Jessi-

Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Pages: 496
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Published: December 18th, 2012
Buy: Amazon

"I had the strangest feeling-like I had lost something without ever really having it in the first place-that I wasn't what I once was, and wasn't all that I was meant to be. The sensation made me feel hollow down to my bones"

There are very few books that I have read that make me feel such a strong array of emotions like The Darkest Minds did. Alexandra Bracken set the stage for her trilogy in the perfect way. This book is every shade of dark as it is light, Bracken laces the pages with such an in depth, imaginative and innovative perspective that I could not put this book down.

This book takes place in what is best described as an American "post apocalyptic" setting, where a disease has killed off almost all of the children, the ones that do survive have developed powers and abilities that they can't control. The main character, Ruby, and all of the other survivors are sent to government run 'rehabilitation' camps where they are brutally mistreated and brainwashed. The book follows the journey of Ruby and the friends she meets along the way as they escape their camps and try to seek refuge in East River, home of the slip kid, who may be the only person who can help them.

Something that I definitely appreciated about this book was the a-typical approach to the romantic center piece in the story; Ruby and Liam. Bracken took an approach unlike any author/book I've read, waiting until a little over 100 pages in to introduce Liam, and taking the time to build upon the relationship he and Ruby were building. Many YA books take a more 'wam bam thank you ma'am' approach and waste no time getting the romance going. Bracken's advent was different but was a welcomed change in my book. In my opinion it didn't take away from the validity or addictive qualities that novel romances have. I was in love with Ruby and Liam as a couple but was finally given a chance to love them as individual characters.

Overall, I give this book a 5/5 stars. I don't know what else I can say about it, the character development was on point, the setting and pace of the novel were above average and flowed together perfectly. I am eagerly and desperately anticipating the second book in this trilogy!