Book Review: Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast (House of Night #1)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: Marked

Authors: P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Publication Date: 2007

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Enter the dark, magical world of the House of Night, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed.

One minute, sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird is a normal teenager dealing with everyday high school stress: her cute boyfriend Heath, the school’s star quarterback who suddenly seems more interested in partying than playing ball; her nosy frenemy Kayla, who’s way too concerned with how things are going with Heath; her uber-tough geometry test tomorrow. The next, she’s Marked as a fledgling vampyre, forcing her to leave her ordinary life behind and join the House of Night, a boarding school where she will train to become an adult vampyre. That is, if she makes it through the Change—and not all of those

My Review

The concept of the story was sensational. A whole new world was introduced to us where chosen people are being marked to be vampires. After being marked, the students are then transferred to the House of Night Academy during their changing period. However, some of the marked students either successfully change into vampires or end up dying as their bodies reject these changes. Zoey becomes part of that world, and the book is based on her experiences and advnetures in the House of Night. It was absolutely an interesting read; it definitely did not get boring

Totally worth it

4/5

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #3)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: Shadow Kiss

Author: Richelle Mead

Publication Date: 2008

Publisher: Penguin Group Razorbill

Look out for Bloodlines, Richelle Mead’s new series set in the world of Vampire Academy, coming August 2011!

Is Rose’s fate to kill the person she loves most? It’s springtime at St. Vladimir’s Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason’s death, Rose hasn’t been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can’t concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even bigger secret . . . .She’s in love with Dimitri. And this time, it’s way more than a crush.

Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever…

My Review

This book has many unexpected twists... very frustrating and sad... can't wait to see what happens in Blood Primise..

Incredible Series!

5/5 :D

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: Frostbite by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #2)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: Frostbite

Author: Richelle Mead

Publication Date: April 10th, 2008

Publisher: Penguin Group Razorbill

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…

It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians—including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

My Review

Yet another amazing book by Mead :P... The action in this book is waaay gruesome compared to the first book! some things were unpredictable :(.. Richelle Mead is now one of my top favorite authors. Frostbite surpassed the first book in terms of action, love, and friendship..
Adrian's appearance was one of the best scenes in the book = mysterious, funny, and dangerously handsome..

Overall, the series is definitely worth my money and time (and verrrryyy addicting) :D

5/5

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #1)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: Vampire Academy

Author: Richelle Mead

Publication Date: 2007

Publisher: Penguin Group Razorbill

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

My Review

AMAAZING... I can't believe I haven't even tried reading it before. Everything about it was great! the characters, the action, and the romance. Rose was a kick-ass character with her sarcasm and strength (I wasn't irritaed by her at all! perfect heroine). Lissa was sweet, but kindda creepy, Dimitri was HOT!, and Christian was handsome and dark. The storyline was captivating; definitely a page turner DEFINITELY. I know I sound so positive, but it's a great book. If the first volume is this great, I can't wait to read the others (I knw it's gonna be AWESOME)

5/5

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore (The Seven Kingdoms #1)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: Graceling

Author: Kristin Cashore

Publication Date: October 1st, 2008

Publisher: Harcourt

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

     When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

     With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

My Review

A sensational story; I absolutely loved it.

Plot: In the story, there are some unique people that are feared by many, and they are called Gracelings. Graced people have two different eye colors and are graced with unique powers, such as the power to swim, read people's minds, or the power to kill people. Katsa, the lead character, is believed to have the grace of killing. Her uncle is King Randa and is using her as a tool for punishing people who oppose him. Katsa hates her Uncle's commands in which she establishes her own Council to protect people from harm. One day, she meets a Lienid, Po, who is also graced with the power, as many people think, of hand to hand combat. He is the prince of Lienid in search of his kidnapped grandfather. Katsa, one day, disobeyed her Uncle, and decided to leave the country with Po as her punishment. She travels with Po to uncover the truth about his Grandfather's kidnapping. That is where the real story begins with many twists and turns.

Likes: I did not expect the action to be this amazing, I loved each and every fight. Katsa is a very strong character and is determined to do what is right no matter the cost. I HAVE to say that Po is very sweet and he is my utmost favorite character in the book. Bitterblue is a cute strong character, I felt really sorry for her, but she was able to stand strong with all that had ever happened to her. Kristin Cashore was able to introduce me to a new interesting world in which I truly imagined myself being a part of it. She was able to make the scenes as realistic as possible which was amazing. Her style of writing is very artistic and fast paced (the book was absolutely a page turner). The book is literally filled with action, there is definitely no boring stuff in there. I Enjoyed every page of the book.

Dislikes: There are not many things to dislike except for katsa's stubborness. Argh! I did not like it when she just refuses to listen!

Overall, you should not miss out on such an amazing book; Graceling is worth it :D

5/5 :D

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: The Devouring by Simon Holt (The Devouring #1)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: The Devouring

Author: Simon Holt

Publication Date: 2008

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

"When dark creeps in and eats the light,Bury your fears on Sorry Night.For in the winter's blackest hours,Comes the feasting of the Vours, No one can see it, the life they stole,Your body's here but not your soul..."

THE VOURS: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.

When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life.

To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her?

The Devouring is an engrossing tale of terror that will have you wondering: what if your worst fears became your living nightmare?

My Review

The concept of the story is unique and in fact kind of creepy. I enjoyed how Simon created a creature that feeds off people's fears. The book was fast paced and enjoyable; it was definitely a page turner. I felt that I was part of the adventure in which Regina had to save her brother who was dvoured. The adventure was worth the read.

4/5

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall #1)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: Hex Hall

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publication Date: March 2nd, 2010

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

My Review

I have to say that this book has a little bit of everything from action, magic, romance, to suspense. I was definitely consumed by the book where I kept hungrily flipping the pages just to find out what happens next. Rachel Hawkins introduced us to a sophisticated school where not just one kind of a supernatural was introduced, but various types. She was able to mix them so perfectly together without having the book being overcrowded by supernaturals. Hex Hall had witches, warlocks (men witches), werewolves, shapeshifters, demons, AND EVEN VAMPIRES!! :P WOW..!
Well the book was mainly about a half-witch called Sophie who was sentenced to go to this reformatory school called Hecate Hall for publicly usign her magic. Sophie faces many weird incidents since then, not to mention also meeting weird people; her roommate is the only vampire student on campus!! The school was considered a safe place for supernaturals, until students are starting to get hurt, and Sophie's only friend is a suspect ( the Vampire Chick). This story is how Sophie adapts to this whole new world, after previously living so long in the human world. IT was so interesting reading about her adventure on how to get strong, and somewhat sets out on a mission to prove her friend's innocence.

This was recommended by my friend, and I do not regret for trusting her :P

WORTH the time and money

4/5

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: The Awakening by Kelely Armstrong (Darkest Powers Trilogy #2)

Synopsis from Goodreads

Title: The Awakening

Author: Kelly Armstrong

Publication Date: March 2010

Publisher: HaprerTeen

Chloe Saunders used to be a normal teenage girl - or so she thought. Then she learned the shocking truth - she is a walking science experiment. Genetically altered at birth by a sinister group of scientists known as the Edison Group, Chloe is an aberration - a powerful necromancer who can see ghosts and even raise the dead, often with terrifying consequences. Even worse, her growing powers have made her a threat to the surviving members of the Edison Group, who have decided it's time to end their experiment - permanently . . .Now Chloe is running for her life with three other supernatural teenagers - a charming sorcerer, a troubled werewolf and a temperamental young witch. Together they have a chance for freedom - but can Chloe trust her new friends?

My Review

Yet another book full of adventures and actions. Chloe Saunders is on the run to find her friends and reunite to get to safety. However, there are many obstacles ahead and things kept getting in their way. This book really made me tired and anxious, I felt like I was along on the run with them; I honestly wanted them to have a good long break and rest, but NO!! trouble is always there hiding around the corners just waiting for the appropriate moment to creep up at them . Chloe and Derek really need to cool off each other, which sometimes they did, and it was sweet. Tori was such a brat, but she does crack me up sometimes along the story. As for Simon, he is soO sweet to the point it made me want to choke him (when I think about it, he is only sweet to Chloe, but it’s like I wanted him to back off cuz I wanted Chloe to end up with Derek).

This second book is interesting because u get to read about their powers, and are actually used quite often. It is recommended.

5/5 :D

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong (Darkest Powers Trilogy #1)

Synopsis rom Goodreads

Title: The Summoning

Author: Kelly Armstrong

Publication Date: July 1st, 2008

Publisher: HarperTeen

After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.  At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

My Review

Really amazing!!! I did not expect it to be so great. Kelly Armstrong is such a great author; the book was supernatural yet so realistic. I was too involved wherein I kept imagning myself in the scences; really thrilling and amazing.

I came to love and learn to hate all of the character in which they were well developed. The story did not lag at all, it went on smoothly. Chloe is such a petite girl with great abilities which made her uniquely attractive. Derek and Simon slightly remind me of 'Sam and Dean' from 'Supernatural', though not really like them, but they were fun to read about. Tori was an annoying brat. Did not care a lot about Rae, but she somewhat has her charms. The book was well written in which it was an easy read not too complicated to understand and adapt with.

5/5 Really worth my time! can't wait to read The Awakening.

Xoxo Meera

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #1)

Synopsis by Goodreads

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publication Date: September 14th, 2008

Publisher: Scholastic

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, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, 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 dead 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 will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My Review

When I saw this book at the library, I told myslef I'll get it cuz I've heard a lot of positive reviews on it, but at the same time I wasn't expecting much.
Well, I was wrong...Woow, just as I read the first sentence, or the first chapter to be more precise :P, it is absolutely amazing it just captivated me.
The action was really realy good and I truly felt their anger and the unfairness of the laws. I teared up a bit because it is just UNFAIIIIR!!

Katniss, the main character, is an unexpectedly strong girl. Her sense of survival and her love for her lil sister Prim just amazes me... as of now, she is my most favorite character of all the books I've read. At some parts of the book, she just surprises me with her kisk-ass strength; the action was memorable. Suzanne Collins truly created an amazing world of action and suspense.:D
Peeta was kindda okay, but when Katniss is in danger, he becomes this super sweet young man :D. (I loved him)
Cinna, Katniss's stylist, uhh! I just want to be his best friend, he is soo sweet.
At the beginning, I hated Haymitch, Katniss's and Peeta's mentor at the hunger games, but as the story progresses, I started loving him sooo much.
Well, overall it is a great book and believe me, you would find it hard to put it down as much as i did. The writing style is perfect and it just flows easily. I recommend it to everyone.

I can't wait to read Catching Fire !!!

5/5

Xoxo Meera