Friday Reads: 4/19/13

Helloooooo again!

Smell that? That's the smell of Friday, which means its time for Friday reads!!

This weekend I only work 1/2 a shift at work, which in and of itself is a HUGE breath of fresh air. This also means I'll have some reading time!!

This weekend I hope to finish City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare:

as many of you know this is the second installment in the Mortal Instruments series. I'm a little less than half way done so we'll see how that works out for me.

Now, I don't usually read two books at once, I find its a little distracting, however, I recently was sent an ARC copy of The Siren's Secret by Heather Ostler, and it is the sequel to The Shapeshifter's Secret.

Which, I figure if i'm going to do a review on The Siren's Secret, I better read the one that comes before it (freaking duh).

What are you reading this weekend??

-Jessi-

Jessi's "Waiting on" Wednesday: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

which highlights upcoming those books that we just can't wait for!

My selection for this week comes in lieu of one of my most recent reads "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken, which was amazing, I could not get enough of that book.

The Darkest Minds is going to be a trilogy with the second installment called "Never Fade" set to be released in late 2013, rumors say November. This is a book I am definitely anticipating, the first book was incredible and there are a lot of plot lines and relationships that I am eager to see develop.

Currently, there is no cover released for it yet! Rumors have it that it is going to be released in mid summer.

What are your picks for Waiting On Wednesday??

-Jessi-

Look what Jessi is reading! Have you read it yet? If so, what did you think?

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!