The Almost Truth by Eileen Cook: Review

The Almost Truth

Author: Eileen Cook

Pages: 256 pages

Release Date: December 4th, 2012

Status: Stand Alone

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

From the author of Unraveling Isobeland The Education of Hailey Kendrick, a smart, romantic novel about a teenage con artist who might be in over her head. 

Sadie can’t wait to get away from her backwards small town, her delusional mom, her jailbird dad, and the tiny trailer where she was raised…even though leaving those things behind also means leaving Brendan. Sadie wants a better life, and she has been working steadily toward it, one con at a time.

But when Sadie’s mother wipes out Sadie’s savings, her escape plan is suddenly gone. She needs to come up with a lot of cash—and fast—or she’ll be stuck in this town forever.

With Brendan’s help, she devises a plan—the ultimate con—to get the money. But the more lies Sadie spins, the more she starts falling for her own hoax…and perhaps for the wrong boy. Sadie wanted to change her life, but she wasn't prepared to have it flipped upside down by her own deception. With her future at stake and her heart on the line, suddenly it seems like she has a lot more than just money to lose....

This is my first contemporary book in a very long time, and it was a good book. It was pretty small compared to the other books I've been reading, but it was a good read.

The book starts off with Sadie, our narrator, conning money at a convince store with people watching her. We learn that her dad is a criminal, that her mom works at a hotel, and that she is conning people out of their money to get out of her small town.

She is heading to Berkeley in the fall, ready to start her new life. But when she gets home, she has a bank statement saying that the four thousand that she saved up from working at the hotel part-time and conning people has disappeared. Her mom admits to have taken her money to help her dad in jail, but Sadie is furious.

Sadie plans her biggest con of all: to convince the wealthy McKenna family that she is their long lost daughter. It won't be too hard: she has her best friend Brendan, she's the same age as the missing heiress, and she's got all the skill to do it.

The book is only a little over 200 pages, and I was able to figure out early on what was going to happen with the whole con. What I didn't expect was her dad's confession. That really made me feel sorry for Sadie.

It was a good book, and I felt like I was reading a Heist Society/Sarah Dessen novel cross-over. Girl with a criminal dad? Check. A boy at her side? Check. A  seemingly impossible goal? Check. A big con that may or may not work? Check, check, and double check.

What I didn't like was Brendan. He was there for Sadie, and I knew he liked her, I just didn't like him going off with other girls though; it just bothered me. I just felt like we could've gotten to know him better. But Sadie's character is really great, and I love her personality, and her ability to con. I think that's what made the story for me: Sadie, not the romance, but Sadie. She was a good narrator and I liked her a lot.

Like I said, it was a short book, but it is a good, light read. I love Eileen's dry, cynical humour in the book, and probably will pick up another one of her books.

The Almost Truth was a good book, so 3 out of 5 stars. 

Blogger Life: Book Haul (#2)

I knew that blogging would be hard, but I never expected it to be THIS hard.

I knew that book bloggers not only had to balance their normal, everyday lives with their blogging life, but I never knew that finding that balance would be such a struggle.

For example, I just finished reading Shelter by Harlan Coben (expect the review really soon guys), but to finish that book I had to give up studying for the economics test that I had today (I really don't wanna know how I did on that test). And last week, I finished Daughter of Smoke & Bone but I had to read it EVERYWHERE just to get it done on Friday. So you see, it's really hard to find that balance at first.

But on the bright side, I have A LOT of books ready to read & review!

I got Seconds Away (the sequel to Shelter) by Harlan Coben (which I'm finishing tonight), Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, Fury by Elizabeth Miles and The Lucy Variations by Sarah Zarr.

I even got this e-book from NetGalley:

 
I have so much homework to do, so many books to read and review, but so little time. Hopefully I'll find a way to make it all work, especially since I'll be tutoring science every week starting next week.

Oh and I'll be posting reviews for The Almost Truth by Eileen Cook, United We Spy by Ally Carter (cue hysterical sobbing), and Shelter by Harlan Coben.

And this Friday, I will be starting Fangirl Friday up once again, and I will be featuring Jost Bell from the Crewel books by Gennifer Albin! Isn't that cool? (And if you don't know what Crewel is, you should seriously read it! It's amazing! I have a review of the book here in my blog, which you can find in the archive section!).

Now, to do my homework! Have a great Tuesday guys!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: Review

Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Author: Laini Taylor

Pages: 424 pages

Release Date: September 27th, 2011

Status: first book of the

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept 

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hairactually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

She runs errands for a demon names Brimstone, whom helped raised her, and travels the world to do her errands through a magical door way portal (think Narnia for a little while)She runs errands for a demon names Brimstone, whom helped raised her, and travels the world to do her errands through a magical door way portal (think Narnia for a little while)

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

I think you all better prepare yourselves for some 

(I love Doctor Who gifs :D)

Anyway, I literally just finished Daughter of Smoke & Bone and my mind is literally just reeling.

This book has a lot of characters, a lot of world building, and a lot of history/backstory to take in. I swear, after the first couple chapters, I was already on chapter 10 & I barely made a dent; I just had to put the book down to take it all in. This book took me about 3 days to read (and no it's not because of homework), because I just couldn't wrap my head around everything all at once. 

So here are a few things that you should know:

1) The narrator is Karou, a sixteen year old girl (remember that age, because I forgot halfway though the story)

2) She's humans, but was raised by demons all her life 

3) She's an art student in Prague

4) She has a stalker ex-boyfriend named Kaz and her best friend Zuzana is described to be short and doll like, and is ironically, a puppeteer in training

5) She runs errands for a demon named Brimstone, who raised her, and she collects teeth. 

6) There are two races at war with each other: the chimaera and the seraphim

And 7) The chimaera are hybrid creatures made of different creatures, while seraphim are angels that are trained from a young age to be soldiers for an age old war. The two groups used to live side-by-side together till the chimaera revolted; the war has been going on for THOUSANDS of years

Poinrs 1-5 are what I got from the beginning of the novel, and it gets a little awry (yet interesting) when Akiva, a seraphim (a type of angel), and his siblings Hazael and Liraz start leaving handprints on doors and all hell breaks loose in Karou's life.

There is so much world building, but Laini Taylor is able to make everything work, which I was so happy to see unfold before my eyes. 

This novel is everything that you could want in a YA novel: romance, adventure, mystery, and of course, witty dialogue, quirky characters and a badass protagonist (Karou is like a karate master guys, the girl is amazing).

The novel kind of goes back and forth between Karou and Akiva, and weaves present day Prague and Morocco with old memories to link together what really made Akiva and his siblings leave handprints on doors.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone just hits you with its craziness. That's literally what this book was for me. It just started getting crazier and crazier as it went on, but what I loved is that it didn't seem so crazy at the end; it made perfect sense.

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS UP AHEAD. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

It starts off normal: Karou has a stalker-ish, no good, older ex-boyfriend who cheats on her. Then it gets a little weird: she has blue hair, is sixteen & lives on her own in Prague, goes to a ritzy boarding school, and eats goulash in a graveyard with her best friend Zuzana. 

Laini then amps it up a bit: she runs errands for a lion, Minotaur like creature demon and collects teeth- teeth! And she can make wishes.

At this point, Laini throws in a bit of crazy in the stew: she introduces us to the seraphim, Akiva, and his siblings who are leaving hand marks on doorways. While out on an errand one day, someone burns the doors and seals Karou from the outside.

And then Laini throws the rest of the crazy in: Akiva starts getting some emotions for her which he recognizes from when he first fell in love with his first girlfriend, Madrigal, and decides to push them down by KILLING Karou. However, Karou is amazing and is able to prevent it from happening. He continues to stalk her (even after he slaughters her family) and then they have like a rematch! It isn't until his siblings arrive do we get a little more of the backstory, and we start going (much frequently) back and forth between memories and present day.

Spoilers are done. You can breathe now.

This book was amazing, despite the fact that my mind still isn't able to keep up with all the names and the terms.

Not only do I like the way she weaves it all together to make the story go from how the present goes to the past, and what happened in the past ties together with the present, but I just love the world!

It's a crazy, mysterious world that Laini has created; it's chaotic and there's soo much that WASN'T explained in this book that I'm really curious as to see how the next book turns out.

This book was a lot of world building and focused on Karou figuring out what she was more than what the whole war thing was about,  and what her whole destiny with Akiva all ties together.

There is a lot going on in this book that I know will exploded in the next book. 3.5 out of 5 stars to this book! I really recommend this series and if you're buying or borrowing it at the library, a little advice: get Days of Blood & Starlight at the same time, because I made the mistake of not getting it. Now I have to wait.

Throw Back Thursday: Henderson's Boys

It's Throw Back Thurday!

And we're throwing back to 2009 to the release of the first book of the Henderson's Boys series, The Escape.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

It is the summer of 1940, Hitler's army is advancing towards Paris, and millions of French civilians are on the run. Amid the chaos, two British children are being hunted by German agents. British spy Charles Henderson tries to reach them first, but he can only do it with the help of a 12-year-old French orphan. The British secret service is about to discover that kids working undercover will help to win the war. For official purposes, these children do not exist

Favourite Character: Marc Kilgour :D
Favourite Scene: When Henderson first meets Marc and saves him from the Gestapo.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

It is late summer, 1940, and Hitler has conquered France. Now he intends to cross the Channel and defeat Britain before winter arrives. A group of young refugees led by British spy Charles Henderson faces a stark choice—to head south into the safety of neutral Spain, or go north on a risky mission to sabotage the German invasion plans. For official purposes, these children do not exist.

Favourite Character: PT Bivott
Favourite Scene: When Paul manages to knock PT out after he tries to escape from the safe house.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Synopsis (from hendersonsboys.com):

Charles Henderson is back home in Britain, but will the military establishment allow him to enact a plan to train teenagers as spies?

Favourite Character: Marc Kilgour
Favourite Scene: the first ever mention of Mac (aka when his mom announces that she's pregnant)
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

APRIL 1941

With no European allies, Britain has to ship fuel, weapons and more than half of its food across the Atlantic from Canada and the United States. But slow moving cargo vessels make easy prey for packs of German submarines.

Henderson and a team of young agents must go undercover to sabotage German U-Boat operations. If they dont succeed, the British people face starvation.

Favourite Character: Paul Clarke
Favourite Scene: When Henderson tells the girl in the lighthouse that Marc's his wife
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

One of Henderson's best agents is being held captive in Frankfurt. A set of forged record cards could be his ticket to freedom, but might just as easily become his death warrant. A vital mission awaits him in France—if he can find a way to escape.

Favourite Character: Marc Kilgour <3 <3 <3
Favourite Scene: Mostly the beginning, because Vogel is so nice to Marc. Oh, and when he meets Maxine again.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Spring, 1943.

The war is turning against Germany, but Hitler isn't giving up. In a secret bunker deep in occupied France, scientists are hard at work on Hitler's latest deadly weapon: code name FZG-76. Back in England Henderson's boys will need to undergo advanced sniper training if they have any chance of infiltrating the bunker. Parachuting into occupied France, they track down a secret dossier filled with invaluable material and uncover the meaning of the enigmatic code.

Favourite Character: Marc Kilgour
Favourite Scene: I can't really decided on a favourite scene.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

JUNE 1944

The allies have landed in Northern France. Henderson and his team embark on a mission to, sabotage German supply lines.

But the retreating Nazis are at their most brutal and desperate, which will make Henderson's Boys final mission their most dangerous.

Favourite Character: ALL OF THEM! Especially Rosie...
Favourite Scene: THE EPILOGUE! If that counts...
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars




Just like the Gallagher Girls series, the Henderson's Boys series is one that I grew up with, and was sad to see end.

I started reading the series back in 2009, and to be honest with you, I didn't really want to read it. But immediately, I fell in love with the series. I love Robert's style of writing, and he is one of the few male authors that I enjoy and read by choice (most of the guy writers I read are due to the English department curriculum).

I think what really drew me to the series was the fact that it was set in World War II and it wasn't a survival story (well, not entirely; there is a lot of trying to keep alive in these books!), but I rebellion story to fight for a greater good.

So thank you Robert Muchamore for being one of my favourite guy writers and the mastermind behind one of my favourite series. I loved the Henderson's Boys from begininng to end (although I would've preferred Marc marrying me).

Heaven by Alexandra Adornetto: Review

Heaven

Pages: 417
Release Date: August 21st, 2012
Status: Final installment of the Halo Trilogy
Recieved From: My school library

Synopsis (from Goodreads): 

Only sixteen when she started the series, Ally Adornetto knows how teen hearts beat, and this long-awaited conclusion is certain to be her most popular book yet.

Bethany, an angel sent to Earth, and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier, have been to Hell and back. But now their love will be put to its highest test yet, as they defy Heavenly law and marry. They don’t tell Beth’s archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, but the angels know soon enough, and punishment comes in a terrifying form: the Sevens, who are rogue angels bent on keeping Beth and Xavier apart, destroying Gabriel and Ivy, and darkening angelic power in the heavens.

The only way Bethany and can elude the Sevens is to hide in the open, and blend in with other mortals their own age. Gabriel and Ivy set them up at college, where they can’t reveal their relationship, and where there is still danger around each corner. Will Bethany be called back to Heaven – forever – and face leaving the love of her life?

Let me just start of my post by saying, Alexandra Adornetto, even though this series ended, I'd still like to thank you for making such a great series!

Now for the review...

Heaven is the final instalment of the Halo Trilogy. To be honest with you, I didn't know if I was going to even like the first book, but here I am now, feeling a little sad knowing that this is the final Halo review.

The book literally starts off where Hades left off. After the ground starts shaking in book 2, it stops like on the first line or something in Heaven.

Beth and Xavier, knowing that it's now or never to get married, rush to the Church. Thankfully, they have the priest and witness ready to marry them, but their happy mood is suddenly ruined when the reaper takes away the priest's soul. Gabriel and Ivy soon barge in and put Xavier and Beth into hiding.

They hide for awhile in a very secluded area before being moved to a university in Oxford, Mississippi called Ole Miss (one question, is that a real school or is it made up?). But unfortunately for them, the Seven and some very vengeful villains return when they least expect it, and the group has to do a lot to keep each other safe.

In the end, Beth has to make the ultimate decision and sacrifice to be with Xavier. But is love really all that powerful?

This book was very speedy plot wise. There was so much going on that I seriously lost track of how much time went by, that by the end of the book, I was just trying to process if that much time had really passed and I missed it. Like at the end, we even saw some characters disappear (what ever happened to Ivy? And Nikki?).

HOWEVER, I was NOT expecting any visitors from book 2. I seriously thought we were done with that, but I was just like blindsided by that that I was just like "Oh my gosh, Ally just Moffated me!". Well played Adornetto, well played. And she did it again when the Best Kept Secret was finally revealed! I was like:

You don't even know how Moffated I felt.

I wasn't really happy how the university experience just was sort of meshed together. There was a point where I was so happy that the two were going to uni, but as the plot progressed, I just found it unneeded for. But in the end, it just made me feel sad because of Beth (I'm not going into detail, but for all those who have read the trilogy should know what I mean!).

I wasn't all too happy about the end too, it just finished waaaaay too fast. It was like the beginning was slow, the middle was like heart stopping, and as we drew closer to the end of the book it sort of fell flat. I think it probably had to do with the fact it was only 417 pages. If it was a little longer, I think things would've wrapped up beautifully.

However, Adornetto was able to end the trilogy in a satisfying way, and ended the same way it began with the characters we loved.

Heaven wasn't as dark as Hades but it was darker than Halo. It was a pretty in between book for me, but still had the same awesome wit and dialogue that I love.

What I loved the most about the series is the way that Adornetto can write the Archangels with such hilarious personalities. I really loved Raphael the most:

"You're prettier than I imagined you," Raphael said.

 

"Uh...thank you," I said. "But I don't really..."

 

"Wait, wait, I've got one," he interrupted. "Somebody better call God. Because Heaven's missing an angel!"

 

He burst out laughing and slapped his thigh.

 

"What? I demanded.

 

"I found a book," Raphael explained. "One hundred best pickup lines."

-page 246, Heaven

#FACT: Archangel Raphael reads pickup line books.

Like 100% to you Adornetto! A plus, plus! Raphael was amazing! I really wished we got to know him more.

Overall, this book was amazing. Admittedly, it wasn't a series that I was expecting to ever read, but I am glad I did. Yes, I will agree with those that say the series is all about Beth and Xavier. But think about it guys: yes, the book may be centred around their relationship, but it is also centred around love and what it really means to have faith in yourself, your family, your friends and your other half.

An great ending to a wonderful series: 3 out of 5 stars!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare: Review

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Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 479
Status: 1st book in the Infernal Devices series
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Recieved From: My school library

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them....

Let me just begin my post by saying that I didn't go to bed till late at night (or early the next morning depending on how you look at it).

I had read the City of Bones and the City of Ashes when they first came out...and that was pretty much it for me. I didn't read City of Glass, and haven't really gotten to buy or borrowing the book. But I always meant to get back to the series-I SWEAR!

Anyways, Clockwork Angel was freaking amazing! I've always wanted to read The Infernal Devices, but I always felt guilty for not finishing the Mortal Instrument. But I saw Clockwork Angel and I HAD to take it (the books always seem to disappear in my school's library).

The story starts off with Will and Jem discovering a body of a dead girl in the streets of Victorian London. Immediately, they suspect the murder probably had Downworlders involved, and Will takes it upon himself to solve the mystery.

We are then introduced to Tessa, who has arrived on a steamer, expecting to be picked up by her older brother, Nate, but is instead picked up by the Dark Sisters, Mrs. Black and Mrs. Dark, who claim that her brother had told them to pick her up.

It then skips to a couple weeks later, where Tessa has been kept locked up in the Dark Sisters house and has been forced to tap into powers she didn't know she possessed: shape-shifting. She later escapes from the house after being rescued by the ever gorgeous, sexy and mysterious William Herondale.

Tessa soon finds herself at the doorstep of the London Institute and the mercy of the Enclave, where she is thrown into a world of mystery and deadly secrets.

I'm not going to say anything more (don't want any spoilers), but if you wanna know more, GO READ THE SERIES!

 

What I loved about this series is that it has brought back my love for the Mortal Instruments series, and now I'm really upset that I stopped at the City of Glass.

Clockwork Angel lived up to it's reputation. The plot was wonderful, the characters were amazing, and there was a lot of foreshadowing with the future books and the Mortal Instruments (which I liked).

What I love is the plot! OH THE BEAUTIFUL PLOT! I don't know what kept me reading: to find out if they'll figure out who the Magister is in time, what really happened to Nate, if Charlotte and Benedict, or Will and Gabriel, would kill each other or something, I don't know. The book was so compelling and beautifully written that I was completely enthralled! 

I especially loved the characters, and as I progressed, I that guilt I felt for not finishing TMI just started to eat me alive!

I love Tessa: she's badass, a bookworm, and she's got some pretty awesome powers. And not to mention, she has some pretty awesome comebacks:

Jessamine ignored him. "Is it dreadful, being so evil? Are you worried you'll go to Hell?" She leaned in closer to Tessa. "What do you think the Devil's like?"

 

Tessa set her fork down. "Would you like to meet him? I could summon him up in a trice of you like. Being a warlock, and all."

-page 68, Clockwork Angel

Like if I was there, I would've being letting out a whoop of laughter like Will (if I wasn't, you know, drooling all over him).

Will and Jem are so beautiful together. I love the way they compliment each other. But I just hate being torn between the two (it's my heartache for Jace and Simon all over again...dang)! Although, I can tell you I could've used a little more Magnus Bane. But he was in the book, and I'm fine with that (because it's just not right if Magnus isn't in it). 

The only character I didn't like was Jessmine. I don't know, I guess it was her description and the way that she acted that just made me think of her as a doll half the time, and whenever she had any lines, I would read them in the highest pitched voice I can ever muster. I just didn't like her, especially at the end after what happened with Thomas. That was tragic.

My favourite character though has got to be Henry. He's just so...I don't know. Sometimes I would get upset because he was so oblivious to Charlotte and how she felt, but there would be times where he was affectionate. I think what makes him my favourite character is the fact that he's so much like the 11th Doctor. Think about it: he's always locked up somewhere, working on something crazy; he's wife is strong and takes control of everything; and he's very puppy and childlike. But at the same time, he can take control of the situation and be the Shadowhunter he is and you can tell he does care about his wife. The only main difference is that Henry's ginger, and the Doctor will never be ginger (sorry Doctor).

But seriously, Clockwork Angel was beautiful, and I'm so happy to say that I was able to get the second book from my school's library! YAY! Hopefully, I'll be able to get my hands on TMI really soon.

Overall, 3.5 stars out of 5 for Clockwork Angel! 

Blogger Life: Book Haul (#1)

It's Saturday and the end of summer! I'm actually more of a fall person (because, who isn't a fan of wearing big, comfy sweaters?), but sadly, I'm not as hyped for fall as I thought I would be. No, it's not because it's raining like crazy here, but because I have a book problem.

Currently, I'm reading these books:

 

I have already started reading Heaven by Alexandra Adornetto and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (and I'm in love with both), and I will be starting Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lani Taylor real soon! (I will probably be finished Heaven and CoA by tonight, considering I don't have any homework ^_^).

But that's not my book problem. I have enough books to keep me busy for probably a little over a week (homework problems...sighs...), but the books in the second picture (excluding Daughter of Smoke and Bone) aren't the books that I have reserved. Sure, I've always wanted to read them (I heard Harlan Coben is awesome. I hope he won't go Moffat on me though), but the ones on my list still haven't arrived from the library and it's almost been a MONTH!

My school library isn't very updated (but I have given my librarian a list of books to get), but the public library is the worst! I'm happy that I get books for free and I'm happy that I can renew these books and keep them longer than my school's library system, but they are just so slow!

I get the wait list thing, and I'm fine with that! I just HATE it when they put a book that you really want to read in the library system, get you to reserve it, and later find out that it's not in the system!

Like why do you torture me like that? And then when you go to check on when they'll have it, it just says AVAILABLE SOON. Thanks library, THANKS A LOT! How am I to borrow books for free if you don't even have it/ won't tell us when you'll have it?

Now, I guess I just have to wait. And update my resume and hope I can get a job. I really need more books, my poor bookshelf hasn't been updated in awhile.