Review: Endlessly

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Series: Paranormalcy #3

Published by Harper Teen

Genre: YA paranormal

$17.99 (US hardback)

385 pages

What it's about:

Evie's paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie's hands.

So much for normal. 

My thoughts:

This series went downhill for me. I loved loved loved Paranormalcy. I couldn't sing more praises for that book, but then Supernaturally came along and I wasn't madly in love with that book, and now that I've read Endlessly and the trilogy is over, I'm not madly in love with it.

The thing I adore about this series and that has never changed through all the books, is the voice. Kiersten White created one of the most fun and unique voices that I have ever read in a series. I'd be able to tell the difference between a Kiersten White book from any other easily without being told it was her book. She is able to create a cute and hilarious voice without being cheesey and lame. After watching a few of her vlogs and reading her blog, I fully understand why the voice in her books is so fantastic. She just seems like such a cool person.

I don't know if I can exactly pinpoint what it was about Endlessly that I didn't like as much as I loved Paranormalcy. Maybe it was that everything seemed a little too easy? Maybe it was the fact that the ending was lesss than satisfactory? (Really Kiersten, no epilogue???), or maybe it was just the fact that it was the 3rd book in a series and lately I've only been wanting to start new series. Who knows, there was just something. Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed it and finished it in a few days (which is actually kinda a long time for me) I just can't say I loved it.

My rating: 8/10

Lets talk about what makes you angry in a book

 A while back I read a post that Small Reviews did called DNFing Books in which she talks about why she will dnf (does not finish) a book. I really liked her post and wanted to do a similar one. Instead of talking about why I dnf a book (there is never a set reason to why I dnf, some books just deserve it), I want to talk about things that really tick me off when they happen in books and will definitely result in me lowering my rating for a book.

Where is my epilogue???

I get very attached to the characters I read about, especially if it has been an on going series that I have been following for years. So when I get to the very last parts of the final book and see there is no epilogue and that I'm supposed to be happy with the "happy for now" ending, I get real annoyed.

No epilogue? I'll show you!

I need to know that my favorite characters lived a long and happy life, maybe got married, popped out a few kids, grew old together and bought matching jumpsuits and hangout on their front porches and yell at kids that walk across their lawn. Who knows what happens but I need to know that something happened.

 

Someone killed the family pet

You did what?!?!?

Seriously? Do you really need to add that in? Did that really accomplish anything in your story besides pissing off the reader?

There are only a few exceptions to this rule and that is books that are all about the family pet, ex. Where the Red Fern Grows, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and Marley and Me. If your book does not have these titles, it is not okay to kill the family pet.

Insta-Love

While this might have made a great 90's pop song (Got to love Savage Garden) it's not so great in books. While love at first sight might be real, who knows, I know that lust at first sight is much more likely. When the characters decide they are willing to die for each other after knowing each other a few days, I just can't buy it. Let's just keep the insta-love for pop songs and keep it out of our books.

 

Too much religion

This is the kind of religion I like in my books ;)

I tend to stay away from books that have religion in them, but sometimes the authors like to sneak some in to books, and sometimes they put way too much into a book that didn't need to have it at all. Most of the time this seems to come in the form of a very religious small town in the south or a over-the-top angry religious relative. Most of the time these are used as excuses for the mc to run away or to hate a family member. I find these to sort of be cop outs and they just annoy me.

How can you be that dumb?

Hmm no chairs you say? It's a good thing I have my gun to sit on then.

I know that everyone can't be the brightest crayon in the box, but I do not need to read about the incredibly dimwitted characters either. If the character could be nominated for a Darwin Award, then they should not be in a book.

 I'm sure there are a few other things that annoy me when I see them in books, but these are the big ones. Sometimes these do result in me dnf-ing the book or breaking up with the series but not very often. Anyone else annoyed by these things? What annoys you when you read about it?

Happy Birthday Harry!

Today is Harry Potter's 32nd birthday!

The boy who lived is gettin' old but I still adore him. :)

I'd also like to give a birthday shout out to JK Rowling herself. The wonderful woman who created Harry and helped make my childhood fantastic.

Top Ten Tuesday- Characters I'd trade places with

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the girls over at The Broke and the Bookish

Today's top ten is characters I'd like to trade places with for 24 hours.

These are in no particular order.

1. Ginny from Harry Potter:
Not only does she have the coolest family ever, but she also marries Harry, of course I'd love to trade places with her for 24 hours. Duh. ;)

2. Anna from Anna and the French Kiss:
She's dating the American British French masterpiece, I'd gladly trade places with her.

3. Rachel from The Hollows:
While her life can really suck, her life is still insanely awesome. She lives in a church with pixies and a vampire, how awesome is that?

4. Meghan from Iron Queen:
She is a fairy queen who has Ash as a lover.

5. Bella from Twilight:
I debated about adding her to the list, but really she has an awesome life now that she's a vampire, well...sorta has an awesome life. I'd hate to be a vampire for the rest of time, but I'd love to test out all the cool things they can do. Super fast running, leaping tall buildings, crushing rocks with my hands, all that. Sounds like it could be fun for a day.

6. Annabeth from Percy Jackson:
Eh, why not? It might be fun being a demigod for a day.

7. Tessa from Clockwork Angel:
It'd be pretty cool to see Victorian London and to hang out with everyone at the Institute there, especially Will and Jem.

8. Kylie from Born at Midnight:
This girl has so many different powers. It would be really cool to be able to do some of the things she can.

9. Lend from Paranormalcy:
First boy on my list! woot woot! Lend is a one of a kind shape shifter. Might be sorta fun being him.

10. Ana from Incarnate:
Her world fascinates me to no end. What would it be like to be the only new soul in a world full of souls that are thousands of years old?

Review: Saving June

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Published by Harlequin Teen

Genre: YA contemporary

$9.99 (US paperback)

336 pages

 

What it's about:

‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going, California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

 

My thoughts:
Every time I read a book about the loss of a family member/friend/boyfriend, ext. I always wonder why I read it. It makes me depressed every time and I always cry while reading them, yet I can't seem to keep away from them. And this book was no exception. It definitely made me cry, but it also made me laugh and awww. I really enjoyed this book.

One thing that I felt would have made this book a lot stronger is if the reader was able to meet June before her death, or to be shown flashbacks with her in them. While Harper's grief over her sister's death was depressing, I never really felt a connection with June and therefore never felt all that sad about her death and I didn't really like her. I just thought she was selfish for commiting suicide and hurting her family like she did.

I also really really really disliked Harper's mom and her aunt. I thought they were horrible. I could not believe how they treated Harper. I mean, really, who treats their kids that way? Ugh. I wanted to yell at them through the whole book. You should not make your kid feel horrible and guilty because the other one commited suicide. Obviously that is just wrong on so many levels.

But besides that, I really liked this book. I always love road trip books. I like how they always have a focus on music, and cultures, and places. And while this was no Amy and Roger's Epic Detour (the book in which I compare all road trip books), it was definitely good.

My rating: 8/10

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted every Tuesday by the girls over at The Broke and the Bookish

This weeks top ten is Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings In Books


1. Hogwarts:
Between how detailed the books are, then the movies, and lastly the theme park, The Harry Potter world is definitely the most vivid setting there is. I adore everything about it and wish with my whole heart that it was real.

2. Pannem:
Damn the Capital! haha. While this is a very detailed world, I am so so so so so glad that it is not real.

3. The Maze (Maze Runner series by James Dashner):
I just finished this series and oh boy does this world completely suck, yet I'd love to be able to walk around the Glade and see the Maze.

4. The Hollows (The Hollows series by Kim Harrison):
Besides Harry Potter, I think the Hollows is the most vivid world I have the pleasure of reading about. I can perfectly imagine all the characters, the places, and the whole atmosphere of everything in that world. If I can't live in the Harry Potter world, then I'd definitely want to live in the Hollows world.

5. Chicago (Divergent by Veronica Roth):
After reading this book, who didn't sit there and decide on what faction they would have picked? And then most likely went and took the quiz and see if you were right? BTW, I'm Amity. Haha

6. Fablehaven (Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull):
I thought this world was pretty cool with all of its fantastic creatures. How cool would it be to go into your backyard and see things like faeries, centaurs, and satyrs?

7. Wonderland:
This one needs no introduction. I'm a massive AIW fan and I would love nothing more than to walk around Wonderland for a day, and hopefully avoid the Queen.

8.  The Tunnels (The Host by Stephenie Meyer):
I recently listened to the Host on audiobook for about the 4th time. Every time I read that book, I forget how much I absolutely love it. The world SM created is definitely a different take on aliens. Seriously? Peaceful aliens? But it works. And then all the humans hiding out in massive nature made tunnels underground, creating their own form of society? Amazing. Plus the tunnels have Ian in them <3

9. The Otherworld (Storm Born by Richelle Mead):
I debated about putting this one on the list because it bumped off the Nevernever, but I figured I'd go with a less known series. The faerie world Richelle created is dark yet interesting. I like how when the characters are walking around, it's not always the same layout. I kind of imagine the world like a pop-up book. Sort of like in the old Winnie-the-Pooh movies and how they have to jump from page to page. That is how I picture the Otherworld.

10. Camp Half Blood (Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan):
This is one camp that I'm really glad I don't have to go to. I have no desire to be a demigod, but I love reading about them :)

Review: The Death Cure

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Series: Maze Runner #3

Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Genre: YA dystopian

$17.99 (US hardback)

325 pages

What it's about:

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?



My thoughts:
I feel so cheated by the ending of this book.

I was so addicted to this series. When I finished The Scorch Trials, I didn't hesitate to flip to my menu on my ereader and immediately start with The Death Cure. I had to know what happens. And then for the rest of the book I was so so so tempted to skip to the end and see what happened. I was incredibly anxious. I'm really glad I didn't though, because the ending was HORRIBLE! I finished the book at 2:30am and had to sit there for a minute, thinking about what had just happened. Then when I was trying to sleep, I was fuming over what happened, and all the questions that stayed unanswered, and I couldn't go to sleep. I was just too annoyed.

I was really connected to the characters in this series. Thomas, Teresa, Newt, Minho, and even Brenda. I wanted happy endings for all of them. I wanted all of them to be safe and happy, but James Dashner didn't seem to agree with me on that one.

I was a little scared going into this book because I knew that the ending was a bad one. I have a few friends on Goodreads who gave Maze Runner and Scorch Trials 5 stars, but gave Death Cure 2 stars, so I knew something was up, yet I still got my hopes up for the ending, and then had them squashed.

Even though this ending pisses me off to no end, the series as a whole was fantastic. I would definitely still recommend that everyone who loves Hunger Games and YA dystopians should read this book.

My rating: 7/10

On a side note, did anyone else have a hard time picturing what the Grievers look like? To me they looked like the Daleks and Jabba the Huts love child.