Origin by Jessica Khoury

Release Date: September 4th 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 394
Source: Copy provided by publisher for review

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost.

While the premise of this story is certainly interesting and the writing was quite good, I found that the story dragged in quite a few places.  Although I understand that Pia felt cooped up in Little Cam's facilities, I felt that the story had some uneven pacing; there were quite a few scenes in Little Cam that did not add very much the plot and slowed the overall pacing of the novel down.

The writing was pretty strong in Origin; Jessica Khoury does a great job creating vivid environments--from the sterile and secretive labs of Little Cam to the jungle, filled with its promises of danger and adventures--that readers feel like they could just step into.  Of course, given how many hidden dark secrets the staff of Little Cam may have and the unknown wealth of dangers the jungle holds, readers may not want to step in!  This only goes to show what a great job Jessica Khoury did in setting the scene for readers!

That said, while the writing was good, I didn't think all of the characters were stellar.  Eio's personality did not seem particularly special, and while it seems all good and well that he's devoted to Pia, it all happened a little too quickly for me.  Sure, plenty of novels have the love-at-first-sight thing going, but most of those characters had at least had interactions with other people of their gender before their love-at-first-sight moment.  Pia being, quite frankly, a lab experiment that was locked away in the jungle for so long, had no experience with other people of her own age.  So having her fall so deeply in love with Eio so quickly made me wonder if she fell for him just because he's the only boy her age she's ever met, especially since she already had her heart set on helping make her own "Mr. Perfect Immortal" as her companion.  

Another issue I had with Origin was the build up.  I have to admit that when the big secret was revealed, I was disappointed.  I had expected something spectacular and mind-blowing since the author had held off on the big reveal until late in the novel!  It wasn't as well fleshed-out as I had hoped it would be, and given the tone of the book, I had expected something more science-based.  But in the end, it was more magic than it was science.  After the reveal, it all ended pretty quickly as well (again, the uneven pacing of the book).  That said, I will at least give credit to the author for not dragging the story or the big reveal out into several more novels!

Lastly, I found a point the novel brought up quite interesting--how far would you go for the advancement for science?  The answer that some people might give could just chill you to the bone!  It certainly disturbed me quite a bit how focused some of the scientists at Little Cam were, and how little they thought about how their methods could be harming others.  While having passion for your field is a valuable trait that could undoubtedly help you work harder, this novel also brings up the questions concerning the morals of such research and how far people should go.  That said, how scientists are portrayed in this novel should not be how you see all scientist!  Not all scientists are souless people who care nothing for morals, ethics and others, unlike most of the scientists in Little Cam! 


Overall: 3.75 out of 5
Plot: 3.75 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
Cover: 4 stars 
 

The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 327
Source: ARC from publisher for review

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

This is one of my longer reviews, and I have some very mixed feelings about this novel, so I've split the review up on different aspects I wanted to point out!

PLOT
To be honest, there's not much of a plot. I read one blurb that described The Selection as a cross between "The Bachelor" and The Hunger Games and I'd say that description pretty accurately sums up the book as a whole. I'm not an avid view of "The Bachelor" or any reality TV for that matter but I found The Selection entertaining. Like a TV show, the novel felt like an episode in a series; it's just a segment of what happens in the overall story. By the end I felt that the whole novel was a set up for what would happen next.

ROMANCE
On Maxon and America; I wasn't really feeling that much chemistry between them. There were some sparks here and there but it seemed like they went through the mechanics of falling in love but the natural attraction and chemistry just wasn't really there--maybe this will change in the sequel(s).

The beginning of the novel had a very Twilight feel to it; America absolutely and unconditionally adored her boyfriend Aspen and was constantly praising him. His looks were described quite a few times and America fawned over him. The same features were described over and over again and nothing but Aspen's looks and supposed virtues were spoken of by America. It got rather tiresome but thankfully that bit mellowed out a bit by the time America arrived at the palace. It just wasn't a very dynamic relationship between the two and to me, it felt like they should be together more because they had already been together for two years rather than they should be together because they complement each other and are good for each other.

DYSTOPIAN?
I'm a dystopian junkie so I was disappointed with how little the caste system in The Selection was developed and described--I would have loved to learn more about the system and the different castes! If there was more world building I think I would have liked the novel a whole lot more!

CHARACTERS
Not all the characters were well developed though the author does try for a few of them, including America, Maxon, and Marlee. I definitely would’ve liked to know more about the other characters, especially the royal family and the other girls in the Selection and I would’ve loved to learn more about their stories! But since there wasn’t that much development for the other girls, it felt like they were fillers and most of them fell into a typical stock character; the mean one, the ambitious one, the one who will marry for position and wealth (and not necessarily for love), the shy one, the power-hungry one, etc.

I feel like I should make a note about the names; the names aren't conventional, I mean, the main character's name is America! There are also characters named Tiny, Tuesday, Kamber, Gavril, among others. It took some getting used to but I suppose it grew on me a bit, after all, the world they live in has changed significantly from ours (there's been a Third World War since our time to theirs!). I will say that America's last name, Singer, did not grow on me--it wasn't exactly creative (I'm sure you can guess what one of American's main talents was).

WRITING
I didn't find the writing all that great. It was rather inconsistent; some descriptions were more flowing but then there were some that spawned a few unintended snickers and others that were so basic I'm sure a grade-school student could had thought of them. The vocabulary wasn't that expansive and seemed quite rudimentary. The Selection just did not have the flow nor the polish that many other YA books exhibit, though I understand that this the author's debut novel, so hopefully it can only get better from here!

OVERALL
I know overall this review isn't the most flattering I've written for a book but I will say one thing: it was an entertaining novel to me. There are definitely parts I did not like but there were also parts I did like. It's not as creative as I thought it would be, plot and device-wise; for instance, the interview scenes reminded me very strongly of the interview scenes in The Hunger Games. Yes, I'm very mixed over The Selection. No, it is not the most creative YA novel I've ever read and it's definitely not the best dystopian novel I've ever read, but it is also not, by far, the worse YA novel I've ever read. It was a very promising premise and the author went with it, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations and was disappointing in spite of all it's potential.

Yet, despite the reservations I have, I, for one, am looking forward to finding out what happens next in the sequel! (Does this mean I would like reality TV? The characters in this novel didn't seem as blatantly catty as a lot of those girls on the reality TV do, though.) I do hope the writing improves though!

Overall: 2.75 out of 5
Plot: 2.5 stars
Characters: 3 stars
Writing: 2.75 stars
Cover: 4.5 stars (definitely an eye-catching cover!)

Looking for Fame: Lady Gaga by Paul Lester

Looking for Fame: The Life of a Pop Princess: Lady Gaga by Paul Lester

Release Date: September 1, 2010
Publisher: Omnibus Press
Pages: 192

I know this different than the books I normally review, but I am a fan of Lady Gaga so when I was offered this for review, I decided to try it.

Lady Gaga's style might be outrageous, but her music is catchy! And somehow, she's made her intense style work. But she wasn't always Lady Gaga--she first started as Stefani Germanotta.

This electrifying biography explores Stefani Germanotta's rapid rise to global stardom in the guise of the outrageous Lady Gaga. Hers has been a triumph achieved with the help of wild image-making, infectious pop hits and a teasing strand of ambiguous sexuality that has turned her into a gay icon. At heart it's the story of a unique self-made phenomenon - a Madonna for today. As an adoring fan of Freddie Mercury and David Bowie, Lady Gaga took the essence of 80s glam an reinvented it for the digital age. Commercially successful and critically accepted she shot from obscurity on Manhattan's club scene to worldwide fame in just a couple of years. This is the in-depth examination of her high-speed rise in the fame game, reported with a mix of admiration and sharp journalistic insight.

It was interesting to learn more about how Stefani became Lady Gaga. No story about one's ascension to fame has been without struggle and sacrifice, and Stefani's was no exception. Many have criticized Lady Gaga and her insane outfits, but no one can say that Lady Gaga hasn't become a huge pop icon today!

I thought this biography was pretty good; it wasn't too long, there are some color photos detailing Lady Gaga and some of her outfits. Looking for Fame seems to focus more on how Stefani actually became famous (ie getting discovered, people she met, recording sessions, etc) instead of focusing on what factors helped her shape her image of Lady Gaga. You'll definitely learn more about Lady Gaga reading this biography, but of course not every question you have will be answered! But that's one of the things that makes Lady Gaga so interesting, isn't it? She may make statements with her music, costumes and music videos, but there's still some room for your own interpretation too!

Emma and the Vampires by Jane Austen & Wayne Josephson

Emma and the Vampires by Jane Austen & Wayne Josephson

Release Date: August 1, 2010
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pages: 304

What better place than pale England to hide a secret society of gentlemen vampires?

In this hilarious retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, screenwriter Wayne Josephson casts Mr. Knightley as one of the most handsome and noble of the gentlemen village vampires. Blithely unaware of their presence, Emma, who imagines she has a special gift for matchmaking, attempts to arrange the affairs of her social circle with delightfully disastrous results. But when her dear friend Harriet Smith declares her love for Mr. Knightley, Emma realizes she's the one who wants to stay up all night with him. Fortunately, Mr. Knightley has been hiding a secret deep within his unbeating heart-his (literal) undying love for her... A brilliant mash-up of Jane Austen and the undead.

Emma and the Vampires was my first mash-up novel. I hadn't really heard of very many of them until I was offered Emma and the Vampires for review. It was interesting, I think? I am not very sure about how I should feel about this book since it is the first of its genre I've read.
Emma and the Vampires basically seemed quite like the classic, except the men were vampires. I had thought it would be more of a new take on Jane Austen's classic (i.e. an interpretation of Emma but now with the supernatural element) but it seemed more like the original with a few vampires inserted. Or the author could have parodied Emma with the added supernatural element? I'm not really sure, but this book didn't feel entirely satisfying. It's a good idea, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a bit more original--an interpretation, rather than a retelling with two species swapped.


Summary courtesy of GoodReads

I am Number Four

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers y..I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Release Date: August 3, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 488

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

John Smith is Number Four, though he has gone by many names already. Constantly on the move to avoid being killed, John runs with his guardian, Henri, from town to town, never staying long. And now with Numbers 1-3 dead, John knows he's next...

I don't want to give anything away, but fans of science fiction and those interested in UFO's, alien encounters, alien abductions and other things of the like--this book is for you! The plot sounds like one of those alien theories; aliens live among us and many unexplained events in our history were actually their doing. I am not a big believer of those theories, however, I still enjoyed reading I am Number Four. The plot isn't original, but I think I enjoyed the book because it was a story the author spins based on those theories, instead of just descriptions of an alien theory.

I am Number Four's plot may be about extraordinary beings, but I found a lot of the plot rather ordinary. It seemed like formula stuff; John joins a new school, gets picked on by the star jock (who's ex girlfriend was a cheerleader), but manages to get the jock to stop bullying him and manages to get the girl. It wasn't really special and some of the characters seemed flat. I was rather disappointed that readers don't really get to know Sarah that well; John just comes along, falls for her, and neither John nor the readers get to know Sarah better, which might be the reason the chemistry didn't feel very strong between the two of them.

The author did manage to build up a bit of emotion though. You feel for the Loriens who lost their planet, despite how hard they fought, and it tugs a heartstring or two when you realize those who were old enough to remember Lorien (the Nine's guardians) have lost everything they've known and must survive on a foreign planet.

Overall, I think I enjoyed I am Number Four, mostly because (as I mentioned above) it's a story based on UFO theories instead of just being a UFO theory printed in some pamphlet next to a grainy photo. Not the most well written book and some of the supporting characters were lackluster, but I would still like to know what happens next when the sequel comes out!

However, I must say that I am actually very excited for the movie! It stars Alex Pettyfer! Alex was in 2 other movies based on books I loved (Alex Rider & Beastly--which I am really really excited for!) and I can't wait to see him portray John in I am Number Four!

Overall: 3.5 out of 5
Plot: 3.5 stars
Characters: 3 stars
Writing: 3 stars
Cover: 4 stars (I like how the finished version looks overall)

Infinity: Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Infinity: Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Release Date: May 25, 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 480

Nick Gautier has not led an easy life; he has never known his father (seeing that his father is in prison) and lives alone with his mother, who was all but disowned by her family for keeping her son when she got pregnant while still in school. Nick and his mother live in near poverty with his mother working as a stripper at a local club to support them. Constantly bullied by his classmates because of his conditions (the secondhand Hawaiian t-shirts from Good Will his mother buys for him don't help), Nick has become an extremely cynical and sarcastic person. Since he is fiercely defensive of his mother and her honor, Nick is constantly getting into scuffles and trouble at school, earning him earfuls from his mother and the principle.

But soon it won't be just constant teasing that Nick will have to worry about; some of the kids at school have suddenly started eating other students. Nick's friend Bubba (who happens to run a store that sells various weapons for slaying dark creatures) is thoroughly convinced that there are zombies running around. But Nick doesn't believe in such nonsense, especially when the theory comes from a gun-toting, Oprah-watching, insane man.

But while trying to escape the odd events that are happening at school, Nick gets into a sticky spot with the people he thought were his friends. After a close brush with death, a mysterious man by the name of Acheron rescues him and offers him a job. Little does Nick know, this job may just open his eyes to a world he never knew existed--a world that includes gods, zombies, vampires and other beings he had once thought only existed in fantasies. Cynical and unbelieving as ever, Nick thinks the people around him are just going bonkers, but he better start believing soon, or he might just end up next on the menu for some of those creatures...

I have mixed opinions about Infinity. Overall, I'd say I enjoyed reading it, mostly thanks to Bubba and Nick's characters. Nick has a quick wit and can be extremely sarcastic at times (a trait which has unfortunately landed himself in trouble with bullies, parents and other persons of authority multiple times), but despite being street-smart, had a sense of honor and was highly protective of his mother. As for Bubba, what's not to like? He's got sarcastic comebacks that rival Nick's, has more modified weapons than is safe or legal, knows how to use a (modified, of course) cattle prod, and is obsessed with watching Oprah. (And you better not disturb him while he's watching Oprah, or you may just find yourself on the receiving end of said cattle prod.) The two of them, Nick and Bubba, really made the book for me and I had more than a few good laughs as I read Infinity.

I found Infinity confusing at times, though this could be because I have never read Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series (which is an adult series while Infinity is YA). Some of the characters' backgrounds were confusing (I had trouble keeping up with who was related to whom), as was the plot at times. Some parts of the books were also rather repetitive; for instance, Nick would get in trouble, get yelled at by his mother, say he's sorry, then the cycle would just start over.

Certain parts felt a little too far-fetched and almost forced --spoiler alert-- (skip to the next paragraph if you don't want to read the spoiler) like the part where we learn that the live zombies were turned that way because of a computer game. I thought it was a little much and had been hoping for a better reason why the certain kids had been turned into zombies.

While I love Nick's sarcasm, I think other aspects of his character were a bit baffling. For instance, he eventually becomes more receptive to the idea that certain people he interacts with, Acheron and Caleb for instance, are not really human. Despite this acceptance that there might be some paranormal beings around, Nick adamantly refuses to believe in zombies and creatures of the night. He thinks Bubba and Mark are off their rockers since they believe in zombies, hunt them, and hold zombie survival classes. I wasn't sure how Nick could believe Acheron wasn't human, but kept refusing to believe in zombies, vampires and other things Bubba and his friends hunted.

From what I heard, there has been mixed reviews for Infinity. I thought it had it's flaws but also had some redeeming qualities. I rather enjoyed Nick's wit, so I'll be interested in seeing what happens next in his adventure, along with what Bubba and Mark will do next. Hopefully the next book will help sort out some of the confusion I have concerning the plot and relationships in the first book! I am looking forward to reading Chronicles of Nick: Invincible, but meanwhile, I think I'd like to check out Sherrilyn's Dark Hunter series!

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Release Date: September 7, 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 336

Jacinda isn't human. Well, not all the time at least; she's a Draki, which means she can manifest to her dragon form. Since she's the first fire-breathing Draki for many generations, she is closely guarded by her pride. Too closely, if you ask Jacinda--she hates how Cassian, an onyx Draki who will be the next alpha, thinks she is his property. Constantly hovering and watching Jacinda, Cassian wants her as his mate simply because she is the first fire-breather in decades. The rest of the pride is no better; they believe that they have control over her just because she's unique. But as much as she enjoys living with her kind, Jacinda will not submit to their control willingly.

Being Draki comes with risks, and with her father long dead, Jacinda knows that. Still, she cannot help but want to fly alone with her closest friend, Azure, away from the pride's watchful eyes. Sneaking out for a flight with Azure one night, the pair is met by a pack of hunters and soon Jacinda is flying for her life. Taking refuge in a cave where she is soon discovered, she is surprised when one of the hunters, a teenage boy, spares her life. Her relief is short-lived however, since Jacinda's mom decides it's too dangerous to stay with the pride anymore. With Cassian and the pride's angry reaction to Jacinda's newest bout of rebellion, Jacinda's mom fears the pride's intentions for Jacinda.

Now tucked away in a small town in the desert, Jacinda hates her life. She hates how her mom wants her Draki to wither away and die, just as her mother's did. While Jacinda is miserable, her sister, Tamra, is happier than she has ever been. Tamra's draki never manifested, making her feel out of place with the pride, but now at a normal school, she fits in seamlessly.

But just how normal is this town? When Jacinda meets the hunter that spared her life that night, she feels inexplicably drawn to him. She knows she should avoid him since he and his family hunts her kind, but something tells her he, Will, is different than his family. Playing with fire, Jacinda gets to know Will better and gets far more tangled in the small town than she had originally wanted. Even as she's fighting to keep her draki alive in the hot desert, Jacinda cannot stay away from Will. How long can she and her family hide from Will's family, though? What would be more dangerous, Will's family learning her true identity--or the pride tracking her and her family down?

Firelight is a great start to a new series! Sophie Jordan has begun to create an interesting world with Draki, their own culture and the world that surrounds them. I would have loved to learn more about the Draki in this book, but hopefully there will be more information on them in the next book! I am a fan of fantasy and paranormal books, but it refreshing to read about dragons since the paranormal market has been filled with books about vampires and werewolves lately! I haven't really read a series with dragons lately, so Firelight was a nice change!

Although romance is one of the main themes in Firelight, I'm glad it also included an adventure! It's nice to see the main character not just moping around, waiting for a guy to come by and fall in love with her, but also to see her own struggles and the challenges she has to face when that guy does come by! Jacinda has never felt more out of place surrounded by people who are normal while the only other Draki around her (her mother and sister) would do anything to forget their Draki roots and just fit in. I enjoyed reading Firelight and eagerly await the next novel in the series!

Duff by Kody Keplinger

Duff by Kody Keplinger

Release Date: September 7, 2010
Publisher: Poppy
Pages: 288

Bianca Piper may come off as an extremely cynical person, but she's also confident and loyal. Her two best friends, Jessica and Casey are equally as loyal and despite not being blond and gorgeous like her two best friends, Bianca has never felt self conscious--that is, until Wesley Rush, the most arrogant womanizer in Hamilton High, calls her a Duff. The nickname Duff, or "designated ugly fat friend," makes Bianca's confidence slip a bit but she's determined not to let Wesley get to her.

Looking down on Wesley and his constant outrageous flirtations with every female that walks by, Bianca is quick to take a few verbal swipes at Wesley when he gets over-confident. Disliking Wesley with every fiber of her being, Bianca doesn't want Wes near her or her two best friends.

...Which doesn't explain why Bianca kisses Wesley at the local dance club one night. Before she knows it, Bianca's having a secret fling with Wesley. Justifying her sudden impulsiveness with the troubles that are going on at home, Bianca uses Wes as a distraction from the messed-up state her family is in. With her mother constantly away and her father looking like he might fall to his former alcohol addiction, Bianca needs an escape. She's is not looking for much more than something physical from her relationship with Wes, but when she starts to get to know Wes, she might just find that they have a lot more in common than she had originally thought!

I definitely enjoyed reading Duff! Bianca's had an amazing voice that really made the book enjoyable--though sometimes she seemed a bit too sarcastic and sometimes rather rude. Bianca curses a little too much for my tastes but then again, she's a teenager. Although I did not entirely agree with some of Bianca's choices (she rushed too quickly into some things), she is still a teen who is struggling with issues at home and struggling to stay confident. Overall, Duff is a very enjoyable read and although it may not be the most well-written book you've ever read, Bianca's strong character stands out, and her sardonic comments will give readers a few good laughs.

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Release Date: December 22, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 320

Sonny and Kelley are back in Lesley Livingston's second installment of her Wonderous Strange series! Unfortunately, Sonny and Kelley are not together; Sonny is in Faerie and trying to rid the land of the last few members of the Wild Hunt while Kelley is back in New York, acting in productions of Shakespeare's works.

These two star-crossed lovers may be temporarily separated, but they constantly think of each other. Kelley explores her new powers and has the company of the other Janus guards, but it cannot compare to having Sonny's company. However, the two cannot just spend their time pining for each other; there are dark matters brewing on the horizon--can Kelley and Sonny handle all that is to come?

I really don't want to give too much away here, but it was interesting to learn more about some other characters in the latest book in this series! Lesley Livingston's writing style is excellent and enjoyable! However, I do feel like this is a "middle book." Although it is well written, you know that there's going to be one more book, so not everything will be resolved. It's just a portion of the path the characters take as they get closer to the end. An enjoyable novel at points, but not entirely satisfying. Fans of Lesley Livingston's first novel will enjoy Darklight, but will probably be more eager for her third novel when their questions will be answered!

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Release Date: August 6, 2009
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 292

EMILY PLEASE FORGIVE ME

Those four words, scrawled in lipstick on a tray, changed Emily Carson's life. Emily was living a normal life in Pennsylvania when she found out the plane her parents were on crashed. There were no survivors, but more striking thing salvaged from the crash was the tray that held those four words.

What does that apology stand for? Emily can't imagine what her mother is saying sorry for, but if she finds out, it could unlock secrets Emily may have been better off not knowing. Should she dig for answers, or live a life in ignorance, since sometimes, ignorance is bliss?

But any answer digging (or lack thereof) needs to be put aside temporarily--Emily must now move in with her aunt, Jolie, who lives in New York. Still recovering from such a horrific loss and with the mysterious apology hanging over her head, the last thing Emily wants to do is leave everything she knows, everything comforting, behind and be forced to make new friends and a new life for herself. She not only leaves her home behind, she must leave her best friend, Georgia, behind in Pennsylvania again. She is thrust into Jolie's beautiful appartment and a private school.

Once in school, Emily struggles to control her inner turmoil, lest her new friends think her to be completely insane. Jolie has been doing everything to help her fit in, and has been very kind. But her mother's apology is still looming over her like a storm cloud. After a botched meeting to work on her chemistry project with her partner Anthony, Emily does not want any more outbursts. But her mother's apology aside, her new life does not seem too bad. She is quickly befriended by the two most popular girls at school and the hottest guy in her class, Owen, keeps catching her eye... Can she start anew? Or will she have to confront her mother's apology in order to be free from it? And where can she possibly find answers? Would ignorance really be bliss in her situation? And now that she's ruined her chemistry project, will her partner ever talk to her again? And how the heck will she pass chemistry?!

Although I enjoyed Lipstick Apology, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. It was a bit cliche to me, and it got rather predictable at many places for me. There were not as many twists and turns as I had hoped, and I did not think some of the characters were very unique. I don't want to ruin too much, but I was disappointed at how predictable a lot of the novel was; the relationships, the characters' personalities, the ending, etc. Maybe I had expections that were a notch too high to start with? The plotline definitely sounded really intriguing, but it ended up being rather disappointing.
I did love Trent, however. He was a hilarious and lively character that was really quirky, bold, and rather loveable. I really enjoyed reading about him and he definitely brought a touch of good humor in this novel, which approaches such dark, saddening topics. Lindsay was also a very sweet person--I would definitely want a supportive friend like her! I think these two characters definitely helped me enjoy the novel a bit more!

The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby

The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby

Release Date: March 19, 2009
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Pages: 320

King Henry VIII, in addition to reforming the church in England, was most well known for his six wives. Wife number 5 was Catherine Howard, pushed into the spotlight by her power-hungry relatives, the powerful Howard family. Beautiful, young, and naive, Catherine Howard was thrust into a cut-throat court fraught with heavy rivalries. But her family's plan worked: pretty Catherine caught the eye of the king, who was already disappointed by his fourth bride's looks...

Before you know it, King Henry is divorced from his fourth wife, and will soon wed Catherine. But Henry's "rose without a thorn" might not be as pure as he had thought, for Catherine holds her own secrets from her not-so-pure past. But Catherine is confident she can get rid of her past by burning the letters, keepsakes, and other tokens of the past. But can burning old letters really erase her numerous love affairs, endless flirtations, and other un-queenly actions of the past?

Unfortunately, when people from the past Catherine thought she had buried starts resurfacing, it seems that she may not be as free from her past misdeeds as she thought. It's hard to be married to a king nearly twice her age, especially when there are other young, handsome men in court. If her less-than-innocent past becomes public, Catherine could be ruined forever, and suffer severe consequences. And knowing that Henry has already had four wives before her, Catherine and her family realizes just how precarious her position as queen is. The only way to secure her position is to become pregnant and give birth to the king's son. But the king is aging, and Catherine other men are catching Catherine's eye, and such treachery is not helping her already precarious position...
But when you've caught King Henry VIII's attention, there's no going back...

The King's Rose was a different take on Catherine than I had previously read. Alisa Libby portrays Catherine not as a complete ditz, or at the very least, a completely foolish, solely materialistic girl (now and then a portray makes her seem a little too over the top), but as a girl who was undoubtedly foolish, but was a young girl forced into a court full of back-stabbing, power-hungry courtiers. Libby's version of Catherine was not entirely sensible, but not a complete airhead either. It was interesting and nice to see Catherine in a slightly better light. Sometimes I feel authors are rather harsh on Catherine: although her actions were hardly commendable, most people forget she was just a foolish girl thrown at the king by her greedy family that cared more about increasing their own power than her safety. At least Alisa Libby gave Catherine a little more credit and more depth. In this novel readers get an idea on Catherine's possible motives.

I'm a big fan of novels on the Tudor era, so I'm glad I got a chance to review The King's Rose. Recommended to historical fiction fans and/or people interested in the Tudor era!

Purge by Sarah Darer Littman

Janie Ryman is your ordinary teen--except one thing: she's bulimic. But Janie doesn't really think she is. I mean, what's wrong with binging and purging? She can stop any time she wants, right? But why hasn't she? After all, she hates throwing up, so why does she keep stuffing herself, then putting her finger down her throat?

After evading the notice of her parents and friends for a while, Janie's secret is finally discovered, and she is promptly put into Golden Slopes, a rehab center. Janie is slow to respond to the psychiatrist and nurses there, chosing instead to pour all of her thoughts into a diary.

Through these entries, we learn Janie's heart felt story and how she fell into the cycle of bulimia. Janie recounts her first time purging--she had eaten too much and had forced herself to puke. After feeling much better after purging, Janie began to do it more often. She thought she was in control of her purging, but before long, it started controlling her. As the vicious cycle continued, Janie came to hate her body more and more, prompting her to secretly binge then purge.

But when her life started to fray at the edges and more and more things mounted on top of each other: Janie's growing feelings of inferiority towards her older sister, friend and boyfriend troubles, the only way Janie feels good is by purging. Before long, it becomes habbit and everything came crashing down at her sisters wedding. After seeing her boyfriend run off with her cousin and completely humiliating herself in front of everyone, Janie tries to take her own life.

Thus, she ends up at Golden Slopes, where the Barfers and the Starvers are forced to get along and where they are not released until they recover. With nurses watching their every move so they won't purge or starve, Janie feels couped up. Janie tires of the starvers antics to avoid eating, but there is nothing she can do, as she has yet to face her own demons. Lost in the cycle, Janie struggles to understand her purging, and needs to find herself again. Can the people at Golden Slopes help her with her family troubles and feelings of inadequacy too?

Although a bit some parts are a bit predicatble, Purge was well written and realistic. Janie's honest account made the book very believable, and made Purge a good read. There are some very dynamic, but realistic, characters in Purge, which help draw the reader in. Obviously very heartfelt and honest, Janie's account will pull a heart string or two before the book's over. I would recommend this book to those who are interested in learning more about eating disorders.

How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, & Lauren Myracle

Three girls, whose seemingly only similarity is that they all work their local Waffle House, are about to embark on no ordinary road trip. Jesse and Vicks are friends, but lately that friendship has been under some strain with Jesse’s uptight ways and Vicks’ more relaxed style and her missing her college-bound boyfriend. The third girl in this unusual trio is Mel, a privileged girl who for some reason works at the Waffle House as well—and surprisingly doesn’t flaunt her wealth much. Vicks is unhappy with Jesse’s unbending Christian ways and Jesse is rather disdainful of Mel and her wealth so how on earth will these three last the long drive to Miami and survive this excursion?

When Jesse wants to get away for a bit from the troubles at home and her mother’s embarrassing activities, she offers to drive Vicks to Miami so she can see her boyfriend, who hasn’t been calling her and has only sent a text message or two at unearthly hours of the night. Their Waffle House coworker, Mel, who was standing next to Jesse and Vicks when they discussed their possible road trip, invites herself along, with Jesse only agreeing when Mel offers to cover their trip’s expenses.

Before long, these three take off in Jesse’s mom’s old car, stopping to visit unusual sites like the smallest police station and a large stuffed gator named Old Joe. Not long after they exit the museum where Old Joe was (having broken in to see the old gator since the museum was closed), they encounter a cutie guy named Marco, whom they eventually end up giving a ride to. Marco, much to Jesse’s dismay, invites them to a party where Vicks and Mel get extremely drunk and have to stay over for a night. Being a Christian, Jesse does not drink and cannot wait to leave the next morning, but Mel and Marco have begun to warm up to each other, showing some real chemistry.

Already unhappy at the pervious night’s events, Jesse is furious at Vicks the next morning, and her opinion of Mel hasn’t improved either. But Jesse isn’t the only unhappy one. Arguments break out between Vicks and Jesse as Vicks is struggling with a drunken decision that she is starting to regret and Jesse struggles with what is going on with her mother. Things only get worse when a vicious storm breaks out and the trio is forced to look for somewhere to stay near DisneyLand. With their bickering almost as bad as the weather, the rest of this road trip does not look promising…

With three distinct characters and a road trip that you’ll never forget, Mel, Jesse, and Vicks have a lot to learn, not only about each other, but about themselves as well. And if only they could learn to be more forgiving, understanding and open-minded, their trip may prove to be a lot more enjoyable and fulfilling for all three of them!

Severed Ties by Kevin Krohn

All her life, Nyne has been training in the martial arts and dealing with weapons. Ever since her mother died when Nyne was two when their house went up in flames, she and her father have moved around a lot to avoid the reason why their peaceful life was shattered in the first place—the Stanfield’s. The reason why Nyne believes the Stanfield’s are after her and her father is that her father had blown a huge corporate cover-up, and that Roger Stanfield, the VP of Rytax Pharmaceuticals, did not want this potentially reputation-destroying information to get out, so he tried to get rid of Nyne and her family.

That was years ago, and Nyne is now a freshman in college and she’s out for revenge. Her father has sent her on mission after mission to go pick off the Stanfield’s, one at a time. Fueled by her thirst for revenge, Nyne becomes a skilled killer. But even as she getting her vengeance, Nyne cannot help but wonder what a regular life with family and friends instead of constant fight and flight would have been like. Nyne and her father constantly move around and lay low for the most part, unable to put down roots and constantly making up lies to keep their cover. But with most of the Stanfield’s eliminated, Nyne is hoping that she can start her life over and try to live a normal life with her father once she finishes the job. After all, there will be no more power-hungry corporate workers to run from, but can Nyne really live a normal life? Can she deal with all those deaths on her conscience? How normal can her life really be, after knowing nothing but lies, death, and violence all her life?

On the final stretch before she can attempt to live a normal life, Nyne starts to question why she is doing all this, and if it is the right thing to do. Is there more to her past than her father has told her?—Is it actually more complex and deep than the simple story her father has had her believe? Will she falter, or can she get the job done and eliminate all the Stanfield’s once and for all? Is revenge really the right path to be taking? But she’s already gone to far to turn back—but what if she was taking the wrong path in the first place? One move could blow her cover, but one move could also change all her beliefs, and jeopardize everything she’s ever known and believed in…

Author Kevin Krohn does a fantastic job of hooking readers in. The action-packed start will compel readers to continue to read this thrilling novel! Although some of seemed a little far-fetched (or at least it seemed that some things came too easily for Nyne), Severed Ties is and undoubtedly an action-packed, suspenseful novel that will keep you guessing and hungry for more! Surprises and twists and turns will keep you reading until the very end of this well-paced adventure!
A job well done for the cover as well—it’s thought-provoking, leaves a lot to the imagination, and it really drew me in, wondering what the book would be about!
Overall, Severed Ties was a great novel dealing with revenge, decisions and consequences, the meaning of family, and growth. I can’t wait for Volume II!

The Red Queen's Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov

Henry VIII’s last wife and queen, Katherine Parr, passed away not long after the infamous king of England, but her legacy did not die out. The late queen who was greatly respected for her intelligence and compassion and is still revered has left behind her daughter, Mary. Mary was Katherine’s only child with Thomas Seymour, the man Katherine married after Henry died—because Katherine died shortly after giving birth to Mary. With her father accused of treason and executed, Mary raised by another member of British nobility.

However, after a few years, Mary came under the guardianship of Lady Strange. Mary would learn that her new guardian was not any ordinary lady—she is a white magician—and Mary is fated to be one as well. Mary has a great destiny in store for her and will become a white magician to protect Queen Elizabeth’s, the Virgin Queen’s, reign. With that said, Mary begins to study magic, spells, different gem properties, how to detect people’s auras, as well as understanding magic—and understanding the fact that magic comes with a price. White magicians are selfless and use their powers to help others, unlike their counterparts, black magicians.

After years of training, Mary’s call to duty has finally come; she is to become a lady-in-waiting to the queen. Tearfully, she leaves her beloved guardian’s side on a journey that will test everything she has learned, as well as her own character. White magicians are not supposed to reveal themselves and Mary will have to work hard to protect Queen Elizabeth and her hold on the English throne. But is she prepared for the treachery of court life?

Court life is plagued with backstabbing courtiers who will stoop to nothing to get rid of their competition and gain favor in the queen’s court. And it is not better that there is something sinister afoot that leaves Mary wondering if there’s another magician—a black one—hiding among Queen Elizabeth’s court as well.

But not all problems are related to black magic. There are other plots and misdeeds occurring, including another of Queen Elizabeth’s lady-in-waiting getting pregnant. Understanding all the trouble and reputation-ruining that could occur because of this fact, Mary is grateful that she is a white magician and has sworn not to fall in love, but she attempts to help the lady-in-waiting with her new skills. Yet even though she spurns the advances of men, Mary cannot help but feel drawn to her dark and possibly sinister cousin—Edmund Seymour. Why does her dark cousin keep popping up and glancing her way? And why isn’t Mary able to fend him off? Is he behind some of the treachery at court? And why on earth can’t Mary detect his aura? It is rather frustrating, since Mary often gets a glimpse at a person’s character through their auras—could Edmund also know magic? Possibly black magic?

Mary may have years of training, but court life will prove to be another matter that Mary must master if she is to protect Queen Elizabeth’s rule. Mary has a long and arduous journey ahead of her to fulfill the destiny set out for her—a destiny fit for the daughter of a revered queen and of a lady who is intelligent and wise in her own right. Your mind is not always the only thing you can trust; sometimes it is your heart that you must listen to and follow to make the better decision.

Although not too much is known of the real Mary Seymour, daughter of Queen Katherine, this version of Mary would have undoubtedly made her loving and intelligent mother proud. Mary matured beautifully in this novel, and her story was full of other memorable characters that will take readers on a journey back to England during the Tudor era that they won’t be forgetting anytime soon!
There were some errors here and there and the author took some creative liberties (which is fine of course—it’s what made this story possible & what it is!) but overall was quite an excellent read.

9.458 (out of 10)