Review: Immortal Beloved

 

Immortal Beloved
Cate Teirnan
Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 7, 2010

New name, new town, new life. Nastasya has done it too often to count. And there’s no end in sight. Nothing ever really ends... when you’re immortal. But this time is different: Nastasya knows that this new town must hold her salvation—or her death.



Nastasya was born into darkness, and has embraced it her whole life. Four hundred years ago, a tragedy robbed her of her birthright, and she’s been living a lie ever since. Now, four centuries of exploring the depths and limits of dark power has left Nastasya feeling sickened unto death. If she continues down this road, she will end up as a very dark, twisted, evil thing—with unthinkable power. Or she can begin the long, painful road toward light, and reclaim the destiny that others tried to destroy.
They’re rare. You may have never met one, never sat next to one on a plane, never eaten in the same restaurant at the same time. But the Immortals are there. Have always been there. Will always be there. Moving among humans, playing out their own cursed fate. Sometimes subtly, sometimes with huge, sweeping implications for mankind. But no one will ever know. Except you.
 

Immortal Beloved had a very intriguing premise. There are not very many books about immortals (and by that I mean there are a few but not as many as say fairies and angels). It was good to have a change from your typical vampire and werewolf tales. That being said, I enjoyed Immortal Beloved, but I had a few issues with it.


I wasn't too crazy about the main character, Nastasya. At 449 years old, she sounded like she was 15. She whined. A lot. And yes, I felt sympathy for everything she's been through, but to a point. After a while though, I grew to look past this. If wasn't so bad then, especially when she admitted she was wrong or being stupid. I liked some of the side characters, too. They were quite enjoyable. (Sorry I can't think of any off the top of my head.)

I was quite disappointed by the romance. There was practically none. When it did happen it popped out of nowhere. Pretty much all we established in this book is that Nasty thinks Reyn is sexy and she hates his guts. Other than that, nothing was accomplished in the love department.

Other than those few things, Immortal Beloved was enjoyable. It's not like anything I've read in a while. The story line was unique, and while some parts were predictable, others I never would have guessed. I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel.

Rating:

3.5 hearts

In My Mailbox (41)

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thanks for hosting IMM every week.

For Review:

In the year 2150, being a girl isn’t necessarily a good thing, especially when your sixteenth (read sex-teenth) birthday is fast approaching. That in itself would be enough to make anyone more than a little nuts, what with the tattoo and all – but Nina Oberon’s life has taken a definite turn for the worse. Her mother is brutally stabbed and left for dead. Before dying, she entrusts a secret book to Nina, telling her to deliver it to Nina's father. But, first Nina has to find him; since for fifteen years he's been officially dead. Complications arise when she rescues Sal, a mysterious, and ultra hot guy. He seems to like Nina, but also seems to know more about her father than he’s letting on. Then there’s that murderous ex-government agent who’s stalking her, and just happens to be her little sister’s dad



Waiting on Wednesday: The Lost Saint

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven.


Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot—a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel is put in danger—in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her—not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.
 

Okay, so everyone who isn't excited for this, raise your hand. Now, those of you with your hand raised (or would be raised is someone could actually see you) you should just keep your mouth shout and not say anything because you have no idea how excited I am for The Lost Saint. I absolutely loved The Dark Divine, and I can't wait to read the sequel. The cover is so beautiful, and I just hope this will live up to the first one!

In My Mailbox (40)

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

Bought:

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa.

As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
 
Borrowed:
 
Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge. That is, until Justine goes cliff-diving one night near the family’s vacation house in Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day.

Though her parents hope that they’ll be able to find closure back in Boston, Vanessa can’t help feeling that her sister’s death wasn’t an accident. After discovering that Justine was keeping a lot of secrets, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor, hoping that Justine’s boyfriend might know more. But Caleb has been missing since Justine’s death.

Soon, it’s not just Vanessa who’s afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes host to a string of fatal, water-related accidents in which all the victims are found, horrifically, grinning from ear to ear.

Vanessa turns to Caleb’s brother, Simon, for help, and begins to find herself drawn to him. As the pair try to understand the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance—and will change her life forever.

 

Review: Folly

Folly
Marthe Jocelyn
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Release Date: May 11, 2010

Three fates intertwine in this moving and passionate love story set in Victorian London.




Mary Finn: country girl, maid to a lord in London

Caden Tucker: liar, scoundrel, and heart's delight

James Nelligan: age six, tossed into a herd of boys


When Mary Finn falls into the arms of handsome Caden Tucker, their frolic changes the course of her life. What possesses her? She's been a girl of common sense until now. Mary's tale alternates with that of young James Nelligan, a new boy in an enormous foundling home.

I was expecting Folly to be totally different than it was. I'm not sure what I thought it would be about. The description didn't give much information about what it would really be about, nor did it say much about the plot. All I know is that it was in a historical time period, and it sounded like a love story, so of course I picked it up the first chance I got.

Folly wasn't a romance like I thought it would be. But that's okay, because the story was amazing without it. It was a little slow at first, but after a while it really picked up. Let me say, though, after the first 50 pages (that's just a guess, I really don't know exactly) there were no surprises. I knew pretty much everything that happened. Other than that, though, I really enjoyed the story. It's not something you see very often. At least, in that time period, I mean.

The language used in this was incredible. It sounded straight out of the nineteenth century. Marthe Jocelyn did a great job with the writing.

I loved Folly, but I must say, if your not into historical fiction, don't read it. It's not for everyone. But, if you do love historical fiction, try this out. Maybe you'll like it, too.

Rating:

In My Mailbox (39)

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

Borrowed (from a friend):

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce- Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.
 
 
 
 

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus- His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.


Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.
But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life
 
 

For Review:

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and  Rina Onur- Freshman year at Harvard--glamorous parties, blossoming friendships, steamy romances, and scandalous secrets. Skip the campus tour and get right to the good stuff: classes are for scoping guys (and their Facebook profiles), not taking notes. The library is for study dates (the medieval history stacks get a lot of action), not studying. And success is a 4.0 GPA... plus getting into the most exclusive parties. How will Callie--a California girl with brains, beauty, and big dreams--and her three roommates survive?

Get admitted to The Ivy, the first book in a provocative new series about the world of the Ivy League.

End of Days by Max Turner- In this thrilling follow up to Night Runner, Zack Thomson is back with his friend Charlie, searching for answers all the while being hunted by a creature most deadly...

While Charlie struggles with his vampirism, he, Zack, and their friends are pulled into a conflict with the mysterious Mr. Hyde, a creature who hunts vampires. As the story unfolds, and the ties between Zach and his girlfriend Luna intensify, the network of support around them collapses, forcing them to redefine their notions of good and evil and find a way forward

Review: Everlasting

Everlasting
Angie Frazier
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: June 1, 2010

Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.


The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.


What I great story! I think this book was literally made for me. It has all of my favorite aspects of a book: the time period, the romance, just enough adventure and mystery. Everything I absolutely love rolled into one.


I loved the characters. I found Camille to be very relatable even though we are from two different times. I think I probably would have made the same decisions as her. Oscar is also a big part of why I liked Everlasting (go figure). He was so sweet and amazing. He was a perfect fit for the story. I also loved some of the side characters as well. They were a lovely addition to the story.

Everlasting was a fantastic adventure. The way Angie Frazier wrote, it was fabulous. I did find it a tad predictable, but I got over it. It was still wonderful seeing the story unfold.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who asks, and I'm really looking forward to more of Angie Frazier's work.

Rating:

New Rating System

Yes, if you haven't noticed already, I have a new rating system. I figured it was time for a change.
So, here it is:

It's pretty much the typical 5 star system, except I'm using hearts not stars. Not only hearts but cool little musical hearts made of clefs. Anyway, this really shouldn't be new to any of you. 5 stars being the best rating and 1 star being the worst. I think so far I like this betting than a out of ten rating. I will also bprobably be using 1/2 stars, too, just because plain whole numbers are boring.

Let me know if you like this or not!

Books Read in August

It's quite pathetic how many books I read in August. At least for me, I usually read a lot more than this. but here's what I read:

1. Blood Promise by Richelle Meade
2. Twenty Boy Summer by Sara Okler
3. Manifest by Artist Arthur
4. Sleepless by Cyn Balog
5. The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols
6. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
7. Everlasting by Angie Frazier
8. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
9. Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
10. Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen
11. Folly by Marthe Jocelyn

For whatever reason, I just did not read that much this month. Hopefully, September will be a lot better

Mini-Review: The Iron Daughter

The Iron Daughter

Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: August 1, 2010

Rating:

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

I  just did a short mini-review for this one:

I loved the Iron King (who didn't?) and The Iron Daughter was no dissappointment. from the first page it picks up fast-pace and doesn't slow down until the last sentence. We see all the same lovable characters from the first book: Meghan, Ash, Puck. There's also a (not-so) surprising love triangle between the three.

And it all leads up to one Bang of an ending. Let me just say that I'm glad she chose what she did. I won't say anything more but I like her choice. Now I just have to wait for The Iron Queen to find out what happens next. It's torture, let me tell you!

In My Mailbox (38)

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

For Review:

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson-In this book by author Melanie Dickenson, the story of Sleeping Beauty is retold through the life of Rose, the young daughter of a woodcutter, who has fallen in love with the perfect man for her, only to be kept away from him due to a curse.

Bought:

The Haunted by Jessica Verday-After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with by the bridge where her best friend drowned - the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead - Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, determined to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into schoolwork, perfume-making and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be able to help her get over Caspian once and for all. But Abbey is never going to truly be able to move on from Caspian and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side: for Caspian is a Shade and Abbey is his destiny. The two are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow and the famous legend that binds their fates - a legend whose true ending and dark truths they are only just beginning to guess...

Library:

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernen- New name, new town, new life. Nastasya has done it too often to count. And there’s no end in sight. Nothing ever really ends... when you’re immortal. But this time is different: Nastasya knows that this new town must hold her salvation—or her death.

Nastasya was born into darkness, and has embraced it her whole life. Four hundred years ago, a tragedy robbed her of her birthright, and she’s been living a lie ever since. Now, four centuries of exploring the depths and limits of dark power has left Nastasya feeling sickened unto death. If she continues down this road, she will end up as a very dark, twisted, evil thing—with unthinkable power. Or she can begin the long, painful road toward light, and reclaim the destiny that others tried to destroy.

They’re rare. You may have never met one, never sat next to one on a plane, never eaten in the same restaurant at the same time. But the Immortals are there. Have always been there. Will always be there. Moving among humans, playing out their own cursed fate. Sometimes subtly, sometimes with huge, sweeping implications for mankind. But no one will ever know. Except you.

 

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted- . Bet is sixteen, very intelligent, but only knows as much as her limited education will allow. In Victorian England, girls aren't allowed to go to school.

Will is also 16, and though not related by blood, he and Bet act like brother and sister. In fact, they even look like brother and sister. And though they're both raised under the same roof, by the same kind uncle, Will has one big advantage over Bet: He's a boy, and being a boy means he isn't stuck in the grand house they call home. He gets to go out into the world--to school.

But that's not what Will wishes. He wants to join the military and learn about real life, not what's written in books.

So one night, Bet comes up with a plan. She'll go to school as Will. Will can join the military. And though it seems impossible, they actually manage to pull it off.

But once Bet gets to the school, she begins to realize the education she's going to get isn't exactly the one she was expecting.
 
 
 
I also got 3 Nora Roberts books from the library, but they're not shown above.

Happy Birthday to me!

Yes, today, September 2, is my Birthday! Yayyyyyyyy! :)

I have no idea what I'm going to do tonight, besides most likely go out to dinner with my family. Luckily, though, its' the last day of school for the week (I never have school on Friday) so that's always exciting.

So, I was just wondering for all of you, what is your favorite part of birthdays?

Mine, of course, is the cake. Or cupcake, rather.

I mean, look at these:

Are they not the cutest things you've ever seen? I want to eat them, but I don't, you know?

Anyway, let me know what you think!

Waiting on Wednesday: All You Got is Me

What happens when a city girl is transplanted onto a ramshackle organic farm in the middle of nowhere? Everything.


Sixteen-year-old Roar has been yanked from her city life and suddenly she’s a farm girl, albeit a reluctant one, selling figs at the farmers' market and developing her photographs in a rickety shed. And then she witnesses a crime that will throw the whole community into an uproar. Caught among the lure of a troublemaking friend, her love for a brooding boy, and her complicated feelings about her father’s human rights crusade, Roar is going to have to tackle it all. And with a camera around her neck, she’s capturing it all, too.

Yvonne Prinz and her novel The Vinyl Princess have ignited the teen blogosphere and entertainment media. Once again, she’s taken the pulse of culture and emerged with a book that is timely, quirky, and unforgettable.

I have not read Yvonne Prinz's other book, Vinyl Princess yet, but I do know that this book looks A-Mazing. I love the cover and the synopsis. I can't wait to read this one!