Dark Companion

Dark Companion

Written by Marta Acosta

Pages:368

Published by Tor Teen July 3rd 2012

Format Read: E-book

Synopsis

Orphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, Lucien. Things seem too good to be true. They are. The more she learns about Birch Grove’s recent past, the more Jane comes to suspect that there is something sinister going on. Why did the wife of a popular teacher kill herself? What happened to the former scholarship student, whose place Jane took? Why does Lucien’s brother, Jack, seem to dislike her so much? As Jane begins to piece together the answers to the puzzle, she must find out why she was brought to Birch Grove and what she would risk to stay there..because even the brightest people make terrible decisions when they are offered the things they desire most.

 Review

I really enjoyed this book. It was a really interesting real like paranormal read. It was rather creepy at times and there was some great foreshadowing going on near the beginning of the novel. I loved the real creepy "what the hell is this guy up to" feel of the book. It was a cool take on vampires because they had most of those classic vampire traits but it was described as more of a sickness rather than the whole undead vampire that was passed down though genes. they are still hunted like vampires and treated like vampire but they aren't really vampires.

I liked the main charter, Jane's story about were she came from and how she got there. She was a prissy girl that got into the school by fault but worked her little "mousie" butt off to get there. The girl came from nothing and now she can have what ever she wants. Her personality was a mix of god and bad. At times she was great and did things like a normal person and other times she got really angry, I didn't really like this about her but I guess it added to her background and coming from the "hood" but still didn't enjoy it very much. Now if you really dislike annoying, rich, stuck up boys who like to use girls you will find this book hard to read because of one of the other mains, Lucky. He is literally the definition of stuck up rich boy and he drove me mental. But Jack on the other hand, who is Lucky's brother was great. I loved jack he was easily my favorite character in the books. he was sassy, funny and had a great fairy tale obsession.

The romance in this book was to die for. Its everything I look for in a YA romance. He did cute things like sleep near her cottage to make sure she was safe(now that I write that down it sounds kinda creepy, but I swear its cute) and he kept trying to tell her but she never understood untill the end. She didn't even get that the song he wrote about her was about her. so yes cuteness over load.

Over all I loved this book and just had a few issues with some of the characters. It was an interesting creepy read with some cute romance. I would recommend this to those who like the above. and I have to say that I wish It was a series rather than a stand alone.

4 out of 5 stars

October TBR

During October I wanna finish a bunch of series, read my first Stephen King and some more Neil Gaiman. Also want to try polish off my borrowed/library book pile.
     
  

These are the books I will definitely read and the rest is up to how I feel. I have 2 weeks of holiday in the month of October so should get plenty read!

Quote of the day #4

“Kinder than is necessary. Because it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed.” 

― R.J. Palacio, Wonder

Back to school tag!

I was tagged by Gloria @ gloriatheviolinist. So thank you Gloria!

You’ve just started back and your workload has already increased. Which sort of book would you read that wouldn’t take up too much time?

-A Fast paced easy to read YA like Hex Hall or Shatter me.

-Middle Grade books like Percy Jackson

You are in English class and your teacher says you will be spending the lesson reading an assigned book. What book did you have to read for school, but ended up really enjoying? 

-Tomorrow when the war began by John Marsden

You and your friends have had an argument and you are feeling quiet upset. What book never fails to cheer you up?
-Romances, happy ones not the roller coaster ones.

You’ve been given detention. What book do you wish you have that could pass the time?

-The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

The bell rings for lunch time! Name a food from a book you would love to try.

-I can't think of any unique foods from books right now :/
You have a ton of homework to do and one of your assignments is to write a short-story. What author’s writing style do you most enjoy reading?

-Tahereh Mafi

Uh oh, exam time! The nerves are getting to you. Which book do you read to calm yourself down?
-The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson again
You did amazingly well on your exams and are given some money as a reward. What book(s) do you rush out to buy?
-The way of kings serise by Brandon Sanderson

Summer is almost upon us. What book do you read to get you into the mood for the fun and excitement that summer brings?
-A  light and fluffy contemuary

And I will tag @ Booksbyj :)

Quote of the day #3

"Men rarely see their own actions as unjustified"

Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn:The Final Empire

Quote of the day #2

"People can be cruelest to who they love"

Veronica Rossi, Under The Never Sky

Under The Never Sky

Under The Never Sky
Written by Veronica Rossi
Pages: 374
Published:  ATOM December 1st, 2011
Form Read: Physical

Synopsis

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland--known as The Death Shop--are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild--a savage--and her only hope of staying alive.  A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile--everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Review

I went in to this book knowing nothing apart from that it was a dystopian. Im so glad I did that. I assumed it would be a book set in space and that it would remind me of Linked by Imogen Howson and Avalon by Mindee Arnett, but I was very wrong . I loved this book so much it would be one of my favorites that i'v read so far this year. I can tell I will continue thinking about it for days and weeks to come. I will remember at least drips and drabs of in a few years time. 

My favorite part of this book was the adorable romance. I'm a sucker for romance as you know so the one I got from this book was giggle worthy it was cute and sad and really everything you would want in a YA romance. The book is really more of a romance survival than a dystopian in my opinion. It definitely had the general distopian aspects there just wasn't as much as there was romance and survival. I liked how the main female was just chucked into this new world with only an angry local to guild her, help her and teach her about many things. It was cool seeing the mains relationship grow from "how the hell did I end up with you" to "I wish I didn't have to leave you".

It reminded me little of one of my favorite books Ready Player One by Ernest Cline because of the place called the realms which was a virtual reality where people on the inside got to experience "real" life and travel and all that good stuff. Over all I didnt find a fault to this book which is why it got such a high rating from me. This book was just full of good stuff. So if your a fan of dystopian, romance, survival and fighting I would highly recomend this book. I can't wait to continue on with this series.

5 out of 5 Stars

Quote of The Day #1

"And Vin Liked Solitude. When you're alone, no one can betray you"

Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn:The Final Empire

The Bookish Habits Tag

The Questions

1. When do you like to read?

• Morning
• Mid morning
• Mid day
• Afternoon
• Late afternoon
• Night, this would be my favorite time.

2. Where do you like to read?

• My favorite spot on the couch
• My room, Bed or floor
• That one tree at the "beach" in town

3. Do you need glasses to read?

• Not currently

4. How do you keep your place in a book?

• An old unfinished friendship bracelet
• In emergency a scrap of paper

5. Is there a book you've read over and over? Are you a re-reader?

• I have read the fallen and hush hush series over and over again as they where my favorite books a few years ago.
• Yes I consider myself a re-reader

6. Do you write in your books?

• Heavens no

7. Do you take notes as you read or do you take notes after?

• If i'm planning on writing a review on the book I will write down some notes after I have finished.
• otherwise no

8. Do you multi-task?

• When i'm using my bookseat yes

9. Do you need to be in a reading mood?

• Yes, but most of the time I will be in one of I force my self to read a few pages anyway

10. Weird habits?

• I often will flip to the last pages and read a few sentences before I finish.
• I will "Watch" my book shelves to make my self feel better.
• Even if i'm not reading I will often just touch the book near me while i'm doing other things.
• I'm a book smeller, I will also compare books smells when i'm board.

Created by - Mehek Naresh

The Murder Complex

 

The Murder Complex

By Lindsey Cummings

Pages: 398

Published: Greenwillow Books, June 10 2014 

Form Read: Ebook

Synopsis

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Review

I LOVED The Murder Complex. Okay so this books was amazing I loved almost every Moment of it. The main female character was so bad ass and then you had the slightly wussy but still hella bad ass male main and gah just loved everything about this novel. 

This book in my opinion is built on a plot twist, at least that how i'm explaining it in my head. The world and whats happening in it are rather confusing(still good don't get me wrong) until you find out this rather large plot twist that's basically like this is whats happening and why and who.

I really liked the dirty feeling boarded up world and honestly I loved all the murder. Murder is basically what this book is about if you hadn't guessed from the title. Every night tonns of people are killed and the wards(orphaned children who get treated like poo) get to scrape all the bodies off where ever they were killed and burn them all. Food is scarce and hard to get and you step out of line you get shot in the head. I loved the brutality of this dystopian book and haven't read another dystopian quite like it.

The one thing I didn't like about this book was the romance. It wasn't built on very well and it felt very rushed and we shoved in. It was also a little too gushy for the bad ass characters I had in my head and over all felt like it didn't belong. It would of still been a great book without it if not better without the romance in my opinion. Although I do have to say im a sucker for romance so I look forward to seeing there relationship grow in the next book. which of course I can not wait for and is being released next year. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves bad ass characters and whats a fresh look on dystopian novels.

Rating 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Classic's

Although I read a lot I don't consider my self very well read. I would like to put a stop to that feeling by reading more classics and adult fiction to get a way from my almost just young adult reading pallet. In particular I have hardly read any classics so I would like to put amends to that. Over the next year I would like to read a bunch more classics, don't really have a specific number but I do have a list I will pick and chose from though out the year.

• Girl Interrupted - Susanna Kaysen
• The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides
• Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
• Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
• Emma - Jane Austen
• Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
• 1984 - George Orwell
• Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
• To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
• The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
• The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
• The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
• Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
• Dracula - Bram Stoker
• Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Hopefully I will get to at least half of these within the next year.

Wishlist Wednesday #1

The Mistborn Trilogy

For this wishlist wednesday I am going to talk about The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I am dying to own these beautiful books. The Mistborn Trilogy is my favorite series and I just want to be able to book mark my favorite pages and have there gorgeousness on my shelf's I mean just look at them they are spectacular. These are books I could read over and over again quite happily and I cant wait to own my own copy's so I can do just that.

Meme Hosted by - Pen to Paper

Top Ten Tuesday #1

 

By - brokeandbookish

Top Authors I've Only Read One Book From But NEED to Read More

1. Cat Clark              2. Holly Black             3. George Orwell         

    

 4. Emma Pass           5. Justine Larbalestier

Loved all of these books and really need to check out some more of there authors books.

Series Overload..

After taking a look at all of the series I am currently reading I have realized I have a problem. I am currently reading a total of 17 series most of which I have only read one or two books from. How I let this list get so big I don't know but here is a list of all of them. Some I am close to finishing others not so much.

• Amulet - Kazu Kibuishi 5/6
• Linked - Imogen Howson 1/2
• Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan 3/5
• Grisha Trilogy - Liegh Bardugo 4/6
• Chaos Walking - Patrick Ness 1/6
• Steelheart - Brandon Sanderson 1/2 +2 to be realeased
• The Assassin's Curse - Cassandra Rose Clark 2/5
• The Heir Chronicles - Cinda Williams Chima 1/5
• Legend - Marie Lu 1/4
• Leviathan - Scott Westerfeld 1/3
• Crank - Ellen Hopkins 2/3
• Avalon - Mindee Arnett 1/2 +1 to be realeased
• The Giver - Lowis Lowry 1/4
• Sweet Trilogy - Wendy Higgins 1/3
• Shatter Me - Tahareh Mafi 1/5
• Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas 1/9
• Lux - Jennifer L. Armentrout 1/6

Favorites of the list so far would have to be The Assassin's Curse, Grisha Trilogy, The Giver and Throne of Glass. So I would recommend those to anyone who hasn't picked them up yet.

But in all seriousness I need to get this list under control.

The Giver

The Giver

Lois Lowry

Pages - 179

Published - First in 1993

*Warning, Mild Spoilers*

Synopsis

There is no turning back once you learn the truth.

Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. 

Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does he begin to understand the dark secrets behind this fragile community.

Review

The Giver would be the best dystopian novel I have read. It would also be one of the most intense and horrible ones I have read. The giver a short novel that got straight to the point and didn't mess around with romance and friendships gone wrong and all those things that modern dystopians had, it was purely a novel about a dystopian world where all but two people couldn't see colour. I liked the main character because he was brave and took most truth he was given with out making a big fuss about it. He instantly realize things where messed up when he got the information there was none of that "your lying!" stuff he just took the information and thought. In the end of the books he does the right thing and saves a innocent. Over all I loved this books I can't thing of any big faults that I found. I would recommend this to any dystopian lover but if your really into romance I would stay away.

I can't wait to continue on with the rest of the series next month. I'm very interested to see what happens next and if a rebellion is started. I would also love to see the movie sometime soon as I want to see how they portray the world and if the move does the book justice.

4 out of 5 Stars

Slacking off already..

I'm sorry i'm already slacking off even tho this blog is only a monthish old . Iv made a promise to my self that i'm going to get this off the ground and start stock piling posts so there is at least 1 post every two days, so this blog can become active and will hopefully interest some more people to have a look and maybe stay for awhile. I'm going to join a few more memes, monthly wrap ups, TBRs for the month and hopefully lots more reviews. So those are the things that are up and coming and i'm hoping I will stick to it.

Birthday Bookish Things

I had my birthday on September 4th and I was given two of the best things in the book world (in my opinion) I got a Kobo Glo and book Seat.
Although I will always prefer a real book in my hands I don't have allot of money to be constantly buying the books I want to read and my local library and school library don't always have what I want. My new Kobo is the lovely answer to this problem. Its ten times more comfortable to read on the my phone or computer because its made to be read on. I also got a book seat, now if you don't know what this is you should go here thebookseat. This thing is fantastic, I find I can read comfortably in bed. I can eat and read at the same time. I do have to say it works a little better for e-readers but it still works great with book books. It is also so soft, I find I just want to rub my face on it all the time (little weird but you would be doing the same thing). My reading comfort has increased with the book seat. It is rather expensive for what it is at least in New Zealand but the use I will get out of it will make that okay, plus it was a gift.