Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi

Series: Shatter Me, #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Hardcover: 338 pages
Genre: YA Dystopian
Read it in: 2 days
Source: Library
Challenges: Dystopian, Book Blogger Recommendation
Rating: ★★★★★

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Oh my God! I finished this book nearly three weeks ago and it was the last book I finished! The book I started after finishing Shatter Me, I haven't been able to finish. I'm still reading it slowly while reading another book that I knew would get me back into the gear of reading because it's a sequel to a book I loved.

Anyway, back to the OH MY GOD! This book was amazing. It's taken me so long to write a review of this book because after finished it I was going through so many emotions about it and I didn't know what to say about this book. It's a cross with SO much stuff to say, but all I can do is ramble, to not having anything at all to say because it was THAT good.

I'm still having issues with this review. All I can say is my review is going to suck, but this book most definitely does NOT suck. I can't believe I waited so long to read it! I've been dying to FOREVER, but just haven't gotten around to grabbing a copy from the library. I know this will most definitely be one of the next books I order when I do order any books because I want, no NEED, a copy of this sitting on my shelf.

1) The cover is GORGEOUS!
&
2) I need access to it 24/7!

Mafi's writing style was so awesome! Created vivid scenes in my head. SO vivid I really did get sucked in and thought I was truly living as Juliette. I love how she had Juliette writing in her book and crossing things out. I love how things were crossed out! It was extremely unique and I can say I have never seen that in a book. There probably are a few out there, but I've never come across one. I thought it was weird, but unique, at first. But quickly fell in love!

And Juliette's abilities! OMG. It reminds me of Rogue from X-Men, and I LOOOOVE Rogue. I still can't figure out which one is more bad-ass in my head yet. They both come to a close tie. :)

And Adam. God. All I can say is: MEGA. FREAKING. AMAZING. HOTTIE! I about died when he entered. He was an asshole at first, but god he's not. Definitely not. He's so sweet and amazing and I totally freaking swooned every time he was in a scene.

Overall, there isn't really much I can say. This is an amazing dystopian. I would also kind of say for those of you weird people who don't really dystopians I really do recommend this because it's not JUST dystopian. It has a supernatural element in it with Juliette's unique ability and it's a romance. And boy did I LOOOVE that romance. I can't wait for the sequel. I'm dying a little inside each and every day it doesn't pop into my head. BOO!
                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Author Info: Blog | Twitter | Tumblr | Facebook
Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads | Shelfari

The second book in this series is called Unravel Me. It will be releaseed on February 5, 2013. 

Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Blake

Series: Anna, #1
Author Info: Website / Twitter / Facebook
Publisher: Orchard Books (UK) / Tor Teen (US)
Release Date: July 5th, 2012 (UK) / August 30, 2011 (US)
ARC: 367 pages
Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 10 days
Source: Publisher
Challenge: TBR Pile, Book Blogger Recommendation
Rating: ★★★★

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. 
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

I've been wanting to read this for a long time, so once I saw it on the review list from Orchard Books I knew I had to get it!  I'm so glad I had the opportunity to review this, even though it took me forever to read it once I started it. That had nothing to do with the writing or anything either, more the fact that I was a chicken and wouldn't read it at night if my hubby was working and I was also reading an eBook at the same time. So it took me ten days!

I don't know where to begin with this book. It was downright creepy. I looove creepy things, but this nearly gave me nightmares! Which, of course, I did love! This is such a unique idea and I fell in love with it. Sometimes I have trouble getting into reading through books that have male point-of-views, but I didn't have an issue with this book at all. I got dragged in from the start.

Cas, the main character, is sarcastic and such a great guy. Yes, his occupation/hobby isn't normal for someone his age, but that makes him so interesting. He doesn't have a lot of friends, but he knows how to make his way to the top if he has to. Which really helps when he's looking for information on the "ghost stories" around his new town.

Cas makes two new friends when he comes to Thunder Bay: the beautiful popular girl, Carmel, and the scrawny outcast Thomas. When Carmel came into the picture, I thought she'd be the stereo-typical annoying popular cheerleader, but after a few events happen in the book she becomes a lot more than that and you actually see real personality there and I really liked the REAL side of her.

I really liked Thomas' character and his grandfather, Morfran. They added a lot to the story and Thomas is very helpful and a great guy. Him and Cas are hilarious together.

Anna was really creepy at first and I didn't like her. I just wanted her gone so we could continue with the story. But she WAS the story, which even though the title IS after her, I thought that by the end of the book she'd be dead and boy was I wrong! By the end of the book she wasn't as creepy, she could have her moments, but she was a great character and I'm glad we got to know her a bit.

Overall, this was a great book and I'm dying to read the sequel. I definitely recommend this to those who love a great story and a great creepy type novel. There is even a little bit of romance in it! I'm definitely adding Kendare Blake to my author watch list because she definitely knows how to write and definitely knows how to creep someone out. Great job Kendare Blake! I love your name too, by the way!

The sequel to this is called Girl of Nightmares. It will be released in the US on August 7th, 2012. 

Note: A lot of people got confused when I kept putting up the UK information for Anna Dressed in Blood. I live in the US, but I do reviewing for Orchard Books which is in the UK. Anna Dressed in Blood has already been released in the US by Tor Teen and is now newly released in the UK by Orchard Books. 

Wither, by Lauren DeStefano

Wither, by Lauren DeStefano
(The Chemical Garden, #1)
Author Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: March 22, 2011
Hardcover: 358 pages
Genre: Young Adult - Dystopian
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 8 days
Source: Own
Challenge: Dystopian, TBR Pile, Book Blogger Recommendation, ABC Reading
Rating: ★★★★★
 To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

I can't believe it took me this long to read this book. I've wanted to read it since I first heard about it before it even had a cover! But no matter how much I checked at my library's website for it after it came out, it just wasn't there. Finally MONTHS after it came out, it appeared, but I never put it on hold.

Finally, I got my own copy as payment for a layout I made for the lovely Michelle. I was excited, but it still just sat there on my TBR pile under my nightstand. FINALLY got to read it and I'm completely blown away. Sometimes, I worry when a book has too much hype. I'm worried hearing it all will give it very high expectations and then it won't live up to it in my eyes and ruin it for me. But that wasn't the case with this book. It lived up to EVERY great thing that everyone has said about this book.

I was sucked in from the very first chapter by all the amazing detail and writing. Lauren, you've definitely made a lifetime fan out of me! You're writing is beautiful! When you're reading this book, you feel as if you're really there. I felt everything Rhine felt. (LOVE her unique name.) All the pain, and anger, and longing to escape. Everything.

All the characters were vivid and real. Even the ones that I hated. Rhine and Gabriel were my favorites, of course. Which reminds me to let you all know that I am 100% team Gabriel. Yes, Linden was nice at times and you learn a lot about him. But he's not for Rhine! And who would want to share a man with two other women?

This book made me think--as all Dystopians do--what if the world is really like this in 100 years? 50 years? Maybe even 20 years from now? That is VERY scary. Girls being kidnapped out of no where and married off to a man along with a couple of other women? And being locked inside a mansion with no freedom at all? And basically only being there to continue the human races? Really freaking scary.

But overall, this was an amazing book. I'm dying to get my hands on a copy of Fever. I'm dying to see what happens, definitely after that ending! It's driving me nuts! At least one great thing came out of me waiting so long; I don't have to wait a year for the sequel. It's already out!

The sequel is called Fever. It was released on February 21, 2012. 

Forever, by Maggie Stiefvater

Forever, by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3)
Author Info: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Youtube
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Hardcover: 386 pages
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 6 days
Source: Giveaway
Challenge: Off the Shelf, TBR Pile, Book Blogger Recommendation,
Rating: ★★★★
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

In Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

 I've been dying to read this since I finished Linger. I won my copy from Ashley (from What's Your Story?) not long after it came out, and even though I wanted to read it as soon as it came in the mail, I was afraid to! I didn't want this trilogy to end. I didn't want to say goodbye to Grace and Sam. This is one of my top favorite young adult series.

Even though I'm happy with how Forever ended, I still wish there were another book in the series. I'd love to know what happens after this. After everything they've went to with their relationship and the wolves.

This series is so beautifully written, and so beautifully described and so real, that I just didn't want this to end. I cried so hard after I read the last line and realized there wasn't another chapter. I could of swore there was!

Maggie is a fantastic author, I will definitely be getting my hands on her other books as soon as possible. I really need to catch up and read The Scorpio Races. I'm so inspired by her writing. It both inspires me, AND makes me want to chuck all my writing and curl into a ball. Her descriptions are amazing and just so..poetic. Her writing truly is beautiful. At least what I've read of it. The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy is.

I'm not going to say much about anything with this book because it's the last in a trilogy and I don't want to give away any spoilers to those who decide to read this review before starting the series. So I'm just going to say that the characters are amazing. Even those who annoy you. Cole annoyed me so bad in Linger, but I loved him. I'm glad I got to learn more about him and read more from his point-of-view in this one. Also, Isabel. =) She really made me mad in the first book half the time, but she's become on of my favorite characters.

And you can't forget about Sam. Oh, Sam. He's definitely my number one favorite. He's so sweet and caring and he'd rather take care of others, even Cole, than do things for himself. Things to make himself happy. He's definitely one of my top YA dream guys. *le sigh*

Overall, I'm sad it's over, but it was a really good book. I'm going to miss this world. If you haven't read the series yet, or you have read the first two books, but not Forever. READ THEM/IT! Now! It's a great series and the writing is beautiful. Maggie is definitely an idol of mine.

My reviews for the first two books in the trilogy:

                                

Fateful, by Claudia Gray

Fateful, by Claudia Gray
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Hardcover: 328 pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Source: Library
Challenge: TBR Pile, Book Blogger Recommendation, ABC
Rating: 
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

I love Claudia Gray and I love the Titanic. The Titanic is one of my favorite movies. So when I saw that Gray was releasing a new book involving the Titanic AND werewolves, which is one of my top most favorite paranormal creatures, I knew I had to read it. Claudia Gray is already on my list of authors to watch, even though I still haven’t finished the Evernight series.

Fateful was amazing. The first time I tried to read it was the end of December and I was in a reading slump, I only read a few pages and couldn’t get into it. But when I picked it up this time I was sucked in. I read it pretty quickly.

The writing sucked me in and the descriptions were amazing. I definitely felt like I was in Tess’s shoes as a servant to a rich family back in the early 1900’s.

There were also a lot of similarities with the Titanic movie, but just the right amount. It felt like the whole Titanic atmosphere you get when you watch the movie. Add in the werewolves and its extra awesome.

I loved Tess, she was a great main character. Nothing that I can remember really bothered me about her which is good. The only people I really had problems with was Lady Regina’s family. Which I’m pretty sure most people have issues with. It’s supposed to be that way.

I also really loved Myriam and, of course, Alec. *swoon* Why didn’t I read this last year? I wanted to so bad. Stupid TBR lists! I could have known about Alex a lot sooner if it weren’t for it.

Just like the Titanic movie, this book made me cry. When the ship sunk, all the chaos, it made me cry so hard. My husband was staring at me all crazy.

Overall, I loved this book. I loved it so much that I really wish there were a sequel, but there most likely won’t be. But I’ll be hoping! Also, I think I want to start a petition to get this at least considered to be made into a movie! If you love the Titanic, and you love werewolves; I would definitely recommend it to you. Even if you just love the Titanic. This is definitely a fresh new take on it. 

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin
(Mara Dyer, #1)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Hardcover: 452 pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Source: Library
Challenge: Book Blogger Recommendation, TBR Pile, ABC Reading
Rating:  
  To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

Why did I wait so freaking long to read this?! I was wanting to read this book before it came out, but my library didn't get it in until December. December! It has already been out for nearly four months! This book was so amazing, that I really want to go back and read it already. It's sitting beside me calling my name, begging me to re-read it. 

To be honest, the first thing that drew me in was the enticing cover. I saw the cool watery widget on everyone's sidebars counting down to it's release. I was memorized and immediately looked it up on Goodreads. The summary sounded amazing and the trailer really drew me in. And still, even though I knew that it was going to be good, I didn't realize fully HOW amazing. 


Everything was amazing; the writing, the characters, the STORY, the mystery. It was all so twisted. I was a little intimidated at first because I hadn't read such a big book in a while because I had been in a reading funk, but I read it faster than I have with books three times as small! I started it on Saturday and finished on Monday. Pages after pages and chapters after chapters just flew by until I realized, "Hey, I only have a little over a hundred pages left." 


 I think the only thing I had a problem with was what the heck happened to Jaimi? I really thought he'd make it to a regular character, but somehow he slipped through the cracks and just...disappeared. Poof! Something happens with him (Not saying what.) and he's gone. And I really liked him. 

But, if I'm being honest, Noah kind of made up for it. Seriously. He's very swoon worthy.  He's definitely my favorite character. Oh, and  I don't normally do this, but I put an index card to mark one of my favorite scenes with him. It was absolutely hilarious! I have to share! 

Noah flashed flashed her a brilliant smile as he dragged a stool to the center of the room. "Definitely," he said. He sat down, and I looked at my blank page, feeling the pressure of his eyes on me the entire time.


"Um, wait--"the sub said, a note of desperation in her voice.


My eyes flitted up to the front of the classroom. Noah was in the process of unbuttoning his shirt. Sweet Jesus.


"I'm really not comfortable with--"


He pulled his tie lose. My female classmates tittered.


"Ohmigod!"


"Holy hell."


"Hot. So hot."


He lifted the hem of his T-shirt up. Good-bye, dignity. If Noah heard the girls, he made no indication. He caught my stare and shot me a sly smile."

Who wouldn't want to be in THAT art class. He could be my model any day. ;) (I hope my husband doesn't read this...Oops.) 


Overall, this book was amazing. I need the sequel now. I think I'd sell my soul for it. Some parts kind of confused me in this book, but it's meant to. I think everything will be more revealed in the sequel. If you aren't reading this book because of the hype, don't worry about the hype. Just read it. Seriously. You'll be thanking me later for it. I'm already hating myself for not reading it the very second it came out. 

The second book in this series is currently Untitled. Click here to add it to your Goodreads. It's marked to release in 2012 but no real date yet.