Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock REVIEW

 



 

Summary:

 

 

Benevolence is not your typical princess. With her parents lost to assassins, Princess Ben ends up under the thumb of the conniving Queen Sophia. Starved and miserable, locked in the castle's highest tower, Ben stumbles upon a mysterious enchanted room. So begins her secret education in the magical arts: mastering an obstinate flying broomstick, furtively emptying the castle pantries, setting her hair on fire . . . But Ben's private adventures are soon overwhelmed by a mortal threat to her kingdom. Can Ben save the country and herself from foul tyranny?

 

What I Liked:

 

It was an interesting combination of a few fairytales with new ideas.

 

What I Didn't Like:

 

It swore once. It was a little boring and a little confusing.

 

My Rating: 3 stars

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld REVIEW

 



Uglies series: Book One
Summary:

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world - and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever . . .

What I Liked:

Everything! This book was very good and hard to put down.

What I Didn't Like:

Nothing!

My Rating: 5 stars


*Sorry I haven't posted in a couple days . . .*

Let the Storm Break by Shannon Messenger REVIEW

 



Let the Sky Fall series: Book Two
Summary:

Vane Weston is haunted. By the searing pull of his bond to Audra. By the lies he's told to cover for her disappearance. By the treacherous winds that slip into his mind, trying to trap him in his worst nightmares. And as his enemies grow stronger, Vane doesn't know how much longer he can last on his own.
But Audra's still running. From her past. From the Gales. Even from Vane, whom she doesn't believe she deserves. And the farther she flees, the more danger she finds. She possesses the secret power her enemy craves, and protecting it might be more than she can handle - especially when she discovers Raiden's newest weapon.
With the Gale Force weakened by recent attacks, and the power of four collapsing, Vane and Audra are forced to make a choice: keep trusting the failing winds or turn to the people who've betrayed them before. But even if they survive the storms sent to destroy them, will they have anything left to hold on to?

What I Liked:

This book was pretty interesting.

What I Didn't Like:

It swore a couple times. It was boring at times, and it is a romance.

My Rating: 2 stars

So apparently they changed the cover??? (I HATE it. It's too much like the Lightning Thief.)

Renegade by Debra Driza REVIEW

 



MILA 2.0 Trilogy: Book Two
Summary:

There is no one left for Mila to trust. Except for a boy she barely knows. With her mother gone, Hunter Lowe is the only person she can turn to for help, the only person who really cares about her.
But he has no idea who - and what - Mila really is. She can't bear to reveal her secret, even though he's unwittingly joined her search for Richard Grady, a man who may know more details of Mila's complicated past. Losing the last tie to her normal life just isn't an option.
Yet the road to the truth is more dangerous than ever. With General Holland and the Vita Obscura scouring the earth for her whereabouts, Mila must rely on her newfound android abilities to protect herself and Hunter from imminent harm. Still, embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity - as well as the real motives of the guy she's falling hopelessly in love with.

What I Liked:

This book had lots of action.

What I Didn't Like:

It swore a lot. Mila is on the run the whole time, and is really paranoid about everyone.

My Rating: 3 stars

Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger REVIEW

 



Let the Sky Fall series: Book One
Summary:

Vane Weston should have died in the category-five tornado that killed his parents. Instead, he woke up in a pile of rubble with no memories of his past - except one: a beautiful, dark-haired girl standing in the winds. She's swept through his dreams ever since, and he clings to the hope that she's real.
Audra is real, but she isn't human. She's a sylph, an air elemental who can walk on the wind, translate its alluring songs, even twist it into a weapon. She's also a guardian - Vane's guardian - and has sworn an oath to protect him at all costs.
When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both their families, Audra has just days to help Vane unlock his memories. And as the storm winds gather, Audra and Vane realize that the greatest danger might not be the warriors coming to destroy them, but the forbidden romance growing between them.

What I Liked:

This book had a very interesting storyline. As I have said before, I tend to stay away from romance books, but I have read a couple of the author's other books, so I decided to read it.

What I Didn't Like:

It swore a couple times. Did I mention the romance???

My Rating: 3 stars (mostly because the romance)

Apparently they changed the cover??? (I HATE the new cover)

 

The author's website is here.

MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza REVIEW



MILA 2.0 Trilogy: Book One
Summary:

Mila was living with her mother in a small Minnesota town when she discovered she was also living a lie.
She was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was never supposed to remember the past - that she was built in a computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.
Now she has no choice but to run - from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much, and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology.
Evading her enemies won't help Mila escape the cruel reality of what she is and cope with everything she has had to leave behind. However, what she's becoming is beyond anyone's imagination, including her own, and that just might save her life.

What I Liked:

This book was really good and suspenseful.

What I Didn't Like:

It swore a few times.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

The author's website is here.

The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors REVIEW

 



Summary:

Emmeline Thistle, a dirt-scratcher's daughter, has escaped death twice - first on the night she was born, and second, on the day her entire village was swept away by a flood. Left with nothing and no one, Emmeline discovers her rare and mysterious ability - she can churn cream into chocolate, a delicacy more precious than gold.
Suddenly, the most unwanted girl in Anglund is desired by all. But Emmeline only wants one - Owen Oak, a dairyman's son, whose slow smiles and lingering glances tempt her to believe she might someday be loved for herself. But others will stop at nothing to use her gift for their own gains - no matter what the cost to Emmeline.

What I Liked:

This book was very good and very interesting.

What I Didn't Like:

It swore a few times. The prince, who Emmeline is almost forced to marry, likes a guy.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata REVIEW

 



Summary:

Twelve-year-old Sumiko's life can be divided into two parts: before Pearl Harbor, and after. Before the bombing, although she was lonely, she was used to being the only Japanese-American in her class and she always had her family to comfort her.
When the government forces all of the Japanese-Americans living in California into internment camps, Sumiko soon discovers that the Japanese are just as unwanted on the Mohave reservation they have been shipped to as they were at home. But then she meets a young Mohave boy, who, after initial resentment, becomes her first real friend. Together, the navigate the racial and political challenges of the times, and both help each other understand the true meaning of friendship.

What I Liked:

Although this is historical fiction, it was really good.

What I Didn't Like:

There were some parts that were boring.

My Rating: 4 stars

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix REVIEW

 



Summary:

You've heard the fairytale: a glass slipper, Prince Charming, happily ever after . . .
Welcome to reality: royal genealogy lessons, needlepoint, acting like a "proper lady", - and worst of all - a prince who is not the least bit interesting, and certainly not charming.
As soon-to-be princess Ella deals with her newfound status, she comes to realize she is not "your majesty" material. But breaking off a royal engagement is no easy feat, especially when you're crushing on another boy in the palace . . . For Ella to escape, it will take intelligence, determination, and spunk - and no ladylike behavior allowed.

What I Liked:

Everything! This book was really good and very interesting . . . I really like Ella's character.

What I Didn't Like:

Nothing!

My Rating: 5 stars

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester REVIEW

 



Summary:

Piper McCloud lives with her normal ma and pa on a normal farm in normal Lowland County. But Piper isn't your normal girl. Ever since Piper was a baby, she's been able to hover a few feet off the ground, and if the people of Lowland County knew she could fly, they would have something to say about it. So, it only seems best that Piper be sent away to I.N.S.A.N.E., a top secret school for children with extraordinary abilities like hers. Her new friends have powers like telekinesis, X-ray vision, and the ability to create their own weather. Piper likes her new life at school, but soon, she realizes that things aren't as they seem. Now, the school she was sent to for her protection might be the most dangerous place she's ever been.

What I Liked:

This book was really good and very interesting. Piper named a cricket Sebastian!

What I Didn't Like:

It swore once.

My Rating: 4.8 stars

Croak by Gina Damico REVIEW

 



Croak trilogy: Book One
Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to up-state New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort's true occupation is much dirtier than shoveling manure.
He's a Grim Reaper. And he's going to teach her the family business.
Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner, Driggs, and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her targets like a natural born Killer.
Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice - or is it vengeance? - whenever she's forced to Kill a murder victim, yearning to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die - that is, people who aren't supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent - Lex's curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage - or will she ditch Croak and join in?

What I Liked:

This book has a very interesting storyline - I really enjoyed this book.

What I Didn't Like:

This book swore a lot.

My Rating: 4 stars

The author's website is here.

Matched by Ally Condie REVIEW

 



Matched Trilogy: Book One
Summary:

Cassia has always trusted the society's choices. And when her best friend appears on the matching screen, Cassia is certain he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
Now she is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one dares follow . . . between perfection and passion.

What I Liked:

Everything! Even though I hate romance books, this book was very enjoyable.

What I Didn't Like:

Nothing!

My Rating: 5 stars

A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce REVIEW

 



Summary:

The gold thread shimmers in the fading light. It promises Charlotte Miller a way out of debt, a chance to save her family's beloved woolen mill. It promises a future for her sister, livelihood for her townsfolk, security against her sinuous and grasping uncle. It might even promise what she didn't know she needed: lasting hope and true love.
But at what cost? To get the thread, Charlotte must strike a bargain with its maker, the mysterious Jack Spinner. But the gleam of gold conjures a shadowy past - secrets and bonds ensnaring generations of Millers. And Charlotte's mill, her family, her friends, her love . . . What do those mean to a powerful stranger who can spin straw into gold?

What I Liked:

This book is an interesting interpretation of Rumpelstiltskin.

What I Didn't Like:

It swore a few times.

My Rating: 4 stars

Shadow in the Sea Comes Out Today!

 



The book Shadow in the Sea by Sheila A. Nielson comes out today! It is the sequel to Forbidden Sea.
The author's blog is http://windwaithemermaid.blogspot.com/
I can't wait to read it!!!
Here's the summary from the author's blog:

When sixteen-year-old Sadelyn Hanson washes up on the shores of Windwaithe Island, her beauty and the strange marks on her wrist make superstitious locals suspect she is a mermaid. Feigning amnesia, Sade hides a far worse secret: she was sailing to her own murder trial when she was thrown overboard by the real killer, the cunning and cruel Captain Westwood.

Sade's quiet effort to rebuild her life on the island is threatened when she meets an actual young merman. Unable to speak his language, Sade still longs for the warm companionship he offers, despite the locals' dire legends about merfolk and their dark magic. But her confused feelings for the impossible boy become the least of her problems when Captain Westwood's ship docks at Windwaithe. With nowhere to escape, Sade must trust in the one person who doesn't fear the merfolk. A woman who had dealings with them herself—years ago.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins REVIEW



The Hunger Games Trilogy: Book Three
Summary:

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - except Katniss.
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.

What I Liked:

This book is a great conclusion to this series, even though Prim dies . . .

What I Didn't Like:

Some of it was confusing. Prim dies.

My Rating: 4 stars
*This book is two movies*

 

 

Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson REVIEW



Summary:

When, one stormy night, a mermaid comes to take Adrianne Keynnman's sister, Cecily, down into the depths of the sea, Adrianne know she must fight with every ounce of her strength to protect her little sister. On land, Adrianne toils away, trying to eke out a living for her mother, sister, and aunt, after a tragic accident stole her father. Now, life takes a strange and frightening turn as Adrianne's dreams are filled with the mermaid's singing.
When it becomes clear that it isn't Cecily the mermaid wants, Adrianne wonders how she can protect her family from their superstitious island community as the mermaid attempts to lure her into the sea, night and day . . .

What I Liked:

Everything! This book is amazing.

What I Didn't Like:

Nothing!

My Rating: 5 stars

The author's blog is here.

Eye of the Sword by Karyn Henley REVIEW



Angelaeon Circle: Book Two
Summary:

In Camrithia, a land of shadows and mystical secrets, Trevin lives to serve King Laetham. But his heart belongs to the princess, Melaia. When the king sends Trevin on a dangerous quest to find the missing comains - captains in the king's army - he must leave Melaia to the advances of a swaggering Dregmoorian prince.
Challenged to prove his worth, Trevin throws himself into his quest. He undertakes a second mission: Find the harps Melaia seeks in order to restore the stairway to heaven. Through fire caves, rogue winds, and murderous threats, Trevin remains steadfastly dedicated to his quest - even when he is falsely accused of a heinous crime. As Trevin's time runs out, he is forced to face the shame and horror of his past and a nightmare that has come to life. Will he have the courage to finish what he started?

What I Liked:

It was a lot less boring than the first book.

What I Didn't Like:

It was still a little boring.

My Rating: 3 stars

Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley REVIEW



Angelaeon Circle: Book One
Summary:

When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.
Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of angels attempting to restore the stairway. But the restoration is impossible without settling an ancient debt - the "breath of angel, blood of man", a payment that involves Melaia's heart, soul, and destiny.

What I Liked:

It's an interesting book.

What I Didn't Like:

It was a bit boring at times.

My Rating: 2 stars

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins REVIEW

 

The Hunger Games Trilogy: Book Two
Summary:

Against all odds, Katniss has survived the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled a rebellion that she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As the time draws near for Kaniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying. Katniss is about to be tested as never before.

What I Liked:

Almost everything! This book is a great sequel to The Hunger Games.

What I Didn't Like:

It swore a couple times.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

*There is also a movie*

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins REVIEW

The Hunger Games Trilogy: Book One
Summary:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

What I Liked:

I love this book . . . I've read it so many times. Katniss is a really strong character. I like 99.9% of this book.

What I Didn't Like:

It swore a few times. Gale doesn't really act like he likes Katniss and never tells her that he does.

My Rating: 4.8 stars

*There is also a movie*

Cool Pictures and Videos

So I've decided to take a little break from reviewing books . . .

Can't wait for the next season of Agent Carter . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Roundtable Rival" - Lindsey Stirling

 

"Shatter Me" - Lindsey Stirling

"Hero" - Skillet

 

"Not Gonna Die" - Skillet

 

 

 

"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"

 

 

one of the Fullmetal Alchemist opening themes (played 3 times)

 

 

 

 

SAO opening theme

 

"They're Taking the Hobbits to Isenguard" (or however you spell it) 10 hour version