Review: Need by Carrie Jones

title: Need

written by: Carrie Jones

series: Need #1

genres: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

page count: 306

publication date: December 23rd, 2008

publisher: Bloomsbury

Pain shoots through my head. Fireworks. Explosions. All inside my brain. The white world goes dark and I know what's about to happen.

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

This book had me at its first page. No, with its first word, even! Zara's obsession with phobias was genius and I loved it! However, somehow I lost my interest in reading it halfway. It all started off so amazing, but the whole idea just got boring after 200 pages or so.

Zara White has just lost her stepfather, and the author really focused on that. I have never lost a (step)parent so I can't imagine how it would feel like. I just thing it would be so empty, like a place that can't be filled. And that's how the author described it. Zara is not dealing with her emotional pain, and that's why her mother sent her to the mother of her late stepfather. Did this help her? Not really. Did it change her life? Hell yeah!

The mysterious stalker wasn't that mysterious. it was pretty obvious who and what he was. But that might just be me. I ususally don't have a hard time figuring out a books' plot. It made the book less interesting to me, and that was my main issue with this book. But I understand that as an author it's nearly impossible to find the balance between predictable and random. Too random will make everyone go 'Dafuq just happened' but predictable is equal to boring.

The characters weren't very kick-butt, but they weren't bad either. Zara White did impress me with her knowledge of phobias. Really, there are some crazy phobias out there, and Zara knows them all! The chapter names really made me enjoy the book more. They gave away a little bit about what was going to happen, but not to much. I love books with chapter names, it's so mucht better than just 'chapter 1'!

I would recommend this book to teenage girls who are looking for a quick and fun read. I give it 2.5 stars, but I might check out the next book in the series, I will give it a shot, because the story still has a lot of potential, as it was quite original and funny at multiple points.

Happy reading!

Mar

House of Night: The Graphic Novel #1

book: House of Night (Graphic Novel)
author: P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast, Kent Dalian, Joëlle Jones
series: House of Night Graphic Novels #1
pages: 132
genres: vampires, young adult, mythology
publication date: November 9th, 2011
publisher: Dark Horse comics

Until recently, Zoey Redbird was an average high-school student worrying about grades, boys, and breakouts. But priorities have a way of changing when you are Marked as a vampyre, enroll in the vampyre academy House of Night, and have to figure out a whole new social hierarchy, affinities for elemental magic, and physiological changes that make you crave blood.

I started reading this graphic novel with high expectations. Not because it was House of Night, but because it was a graphic novel and I LOVE graphic novels. Maybe I would have liked it better without those high expectations, because this graphic novel wasn't what I expected it to be.

This graphic novel's cover looks pretty attractive, but the inside drawings aren't as beautiful as I expected them to be according to the cover. It might, of course, just be me who has too high expectations, or just my own preferences, but for me it just didn't have the WOW-factor. 

The story told in this novel has nothing much to do with the actual series. It took place between the first and the second novel of the actual series. You get to know how Zoey came up with her ideas about how to rule the Dark Daughters. The story is divided into 5 parts, Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Spirit. All of them have a lesson bound to them, about some type of ancient mythology. For instance, there was one about Circe, a Witch from ancient Greek Mythology, and one about Herakles, aka Hercules, a hero from ancient Greece. *not all were Greek, but just to give 2 examples* That was my favourite part about the story, the myths. What I didn't like about it is that the myths were vampyre-ified. Nobody should mess with my myths!

A good kick-off for a graphic novel series, and I will check out the next one, but not the best graphic novel I have ever read.

I give this graphic novel 2.5 stars.

xo Mar

A review copy was provided by the press and Netgalley, in exchange for a honest review. I was not given anything in reward for a positive review, I have just given my honest opinion on this book.

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

book: Deadly Little Lies
written by: Laurie Faria Stolarz
series: Touch #2
genres: young adult, romance
pages: 288
own / library / borrowed
publication date: November 6th, 2009
publisher: Hyperion books CA


first thoughts:
I have already read and reviewed Deadly Little Lies (Touch #1). *find it HERE* I recieved that book from Netgalley. I liked that book, altough I did not entirely fall in love with it. Still, I was very intersted in reading the sequel. So that's what I did :)

the book: 
Since Ben abruptly left town, Camelia has been studying everything she can about psychometry, and wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her.

my review:

This book was not what I expected it to be... Again, the twilight-effect. More about that later ;)

The characters did develop a little, but not as much as characters usually develop between the first book and the sequel. There was an amazing character added to the series, which I can't really talk about without spoiling the book, so I won't...

There were some great plot twists, that kept the book a little interesting, but most of the book was just about the same topic repeated time after time, which is one of the things that bothered me about the first part in the series, too.

Now I will talk about the twilight-effect. In book 1 I said: "They become Chem (biology ) lab partners. The girl falls in love with the boy, even tough he is totally out of her league AND does only show how much he hates her. Then she figures out that there's somthing wrong with the boy but she just does not care and then she finds out that he kind-of-killed his ex and she still loves him" and now, in this book, the twilight-effect continued. This was just like New Moon. Ben *Edward* runs away from Camelia *Bella 2.0* and a new boy *Jacob* enters her life. The two boys don't like each other and stuff. Not that the girl attemps suicide in this book ;) Just that I keep on seeing the similarities, and how they keep on irritating me.

The writing style of the author and the pace of this book both were above average, and it was very easy to read this book. A quick and enjoyable read! It might not have worked out completely for me, but I'm sure that lots of other people will love this book. when I browsed through my friends who rated this book on goodreads, I saw mostly 4- and 5-star reviews :)

So yes, I get that others liked this book, but the twilight-effect kept on showing up and kept on annoying me throughout the book. Apart of that, the story wasn't even that bad c:

rating: 

2.5 stars

xo Mar

Manga Tuesdays; Darker than BLACK

manga: Darker than BLACK
written by: BONES, Tensai Okamura
genres: Action, Drama, Mystery, Sci-fi, Supernatural
volumes: 2
chapters: 9
anime: yes, and people say that it's way better than the manga. I don't know because I have never watched it :$
own / library / mangareader.com
this manga is completed :D


note: As you might not have noticed yet, this manga tuesday post is not created by Lua, but by Mar. We have a week with 12 exams on school, so both of us have been very busy. I decided I wanted to do a manga tuesday post, so here it is; the first manga Tuesday post written by Mar.


the manga:
A young girl's nightmare becomes the search for the truth, a search that leads her to the secret and extremely dangerous world of Contractors and the Hells Gate. Hei and Mao try to protect Kana from the Contractors who are trying to silence her forever, while Kana clings to the hope of finding her father and piecing her life together again. (source: Mangareader.com)

my review:

okay, first of all, this will be a short review. The manga also was short, so I might just not think of lots of things to say about it. This manga was very, very, very *threefold very ^^* confusing to me. I've heard lots of people saying that you should watch the anime first to make the manga clear. Maybe I should have listened... *frowns*

The manga was not very beautifully drawn, but I wouldn't say it was ugly. Definitely not. It wasn't the most beautiful I have ever seen, either. Just a little above average. My opinion on this doesn't really count, since I do not read a lot of manga. I have only read 4 of 5, actually. My history with manga started this year :)

The characters had some pretty strange names in this manga. November 11th. That's a pretty strange name, right? 

The story of this manga seeemed very intrigueing at the first look, but the story was shoujo-ified a lot. Not that it was 100% boring or someting. It was 70% confusing 25% awesome 5% annoying. I think that's the best way to describe it :)

Lots of character development in these 9 chapters, that's amazing. I was surprised by the lots of events that were put in these 9 chapters. It's possible to tell a whole book in it, I found out. And that was one of the very, very great things about it.

I will definitely give the Anime of this manga a chance. I hope it will clearify the manga. And maybe I'll read the manga again after watching it, just because I do stupid sh*t like that... 

rating: 2.5 stars, for the awesome story and characters

useful idea: watch the anime, the story is great! 

Have a happy Manga Tuesday <3

love, Mar

ps: hey, being the one that writes the manga tuesday post is actually pretty awesome. Slightly out of my comfort zone, but soon-to-be part of my reading genres collection :D

Some things about manga for non-manga readers :P :


Manga is a Japanese cartoon or comic. There are lots of them in all kind of different genres (really from porn to manga for little girls). Of most mangas there is a new chapter released every month, so that's why some are ongoing.
If you are too lazy to read, of most mangas there is an anime to watch ;)
If you consider reading manga pay attention! Manga is written from right to left!


some terms used in this post:
Shoujo= Manga for mostly teenage girls (it can be very childish, it can be really mature)

Crossed by Ally Condie

book: Crossed
written by: Ally Condie
genres: young adult, dystopia, romance
pages: 367
own / library / borrowed
release date: 1st of November, 2011
series? Matched #2
publisher: Dutton Juvenile


note: I did not really like Matched, but I decided to read this book, mostly because of the gorgeous cover. I did not love it, so if you are a Matched-lover you might not want to read this review...

the book:
In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.


Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever. (summary from GoodReads)

my review:
I did not like this one as much as matched! The characters got worse than they already were, the story was boring and I just wasn't interested in it. I have no idea why I opened this book, and most of the times I kinds have an idea why, so that's a bad thing! Also, I wanted to finish this book ASAP, so I didn't read it very well, just well enough to get an idea of what was happening, which wasn't really much.
Cassia and Ky are both runaways, while Xander is just working - he has a mysterious secret which isn't interesting at all IMO, but still I won't spoil it for you - And they are still fighting for Cassia's heart, altough you don't see much of Xander in the book.
You know, this book keeps on tricking me into reading with its beautiful cover. Seriously, it represents the book so well, I keep on asking myself how on earth such a book has such a cover. I wish every book had got a cover like this!! But enough abt the cover art :)
The characters showed no development at all, and if they did the developments were not positive. I think that there was not put enough effort in writing this book, with a little bit more it could have been epic, since the idea of matched is great! It could have been like THG with a little bit more effort, I think...
The 'romance' in this book is not great. Actually, it is not even good... *sigh* maybe I am just not the 'perfect love' kind of girl but to me it's all very unrealistic and unromantic... *double sigh*
The story of this book could have been told in 100 pages, tops, but it was told in 367, which made the story boring. There just wasn't enough happening, and everything that did happen was together with a few questionmarks, because you just did not know what it meant, and why it had to happen.
So I did not like this book, but still, I'm sure there are tons of girls *and boys?* out there who'll love it...


rating:
2.5 stars


xo Mar

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

book: Extras
written by: Scott Westerfeld
genres: Dystiopian, young adult
pages: 417
own / library / borrowed
release date: January 1st 2007
series?  Uglies #4
publisher, version I read: Simon Pulse


note: I already read and reviewed the other books in the series, Uglies, Pretties and Specials. Click on the titles and the links will take you to the reviews :)


the book: 

Aya Fuse is just an extra, someone who's not important and has a very low rank of popularity. She has to work for her 'merits' (money) and has to find a way to boost her popularity rank, which is 451369. One of the ways you can boost your rank is by kicking  a story. You kick a story when you spread gossip and/or trends via the city feeds. There are no more bubbleheads, and Tally Youngblood has become a legend. She is the most famous person in the city, but nobody has ever seen her in person. Then Aya meets the Sly Girls, and she sees a great story that will make her famous. But then she finds out something far more important and dangerous than the Sly Girls. But will kicking that story put her in danger?

my review:
The series is getting more of the same. But at least this was a new main character and a new city. Also you were introduced to one more type of people with strange brain surge, the other Extras. I did not like this city, because now it was not about who's pretty and who's ugly, but about who's popular and who isn't. When you have an average face rank, and meet someone who's pretty famous you should bow for them and use all this names to show them that they are better than you are, and to me that's horrible. It's like the whole world is one big episode of gossip girl.
Luckily, Tally Youngblood did return. She was still a very interesting character, with her own problems and own way of thinking. And she was saving the world, again *her saving the world did become kinda boring, but still* Girls rule the world :)
The cover of this book is the best cover of the whole series, I love the eyes :D She is an ugly, but looks pretty to me. Only a big nose, which makes everyone call her Nosey :)
We are also introduced to Frizz in this book. He seems awesome, because he has this awesome type of brain surge, Radical Honesty. That means he cannot lie. I think it would suck if you could not lie, but also I think it is a very good way to stop lying. I would call this a great invention which can cause a lot of trouble...
But this book was not as good as Specials, some parts bored me and wanted me to give up reading this book, while other parts of this book were great, which made me feel very confused.


so total:
2.5 stars for Extras!

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

book: Artemis Fowl

written by: Eoin Colfer

genres: humor, young, fantasy, crime

pages: 398

own / library / borrowed

release date: April 26th, 2001

series?: yes, Artemis Fowl #1

publisher: Miramax

note: I think I would have loved this book... If I were a boy 9-11 years old... I did definitely feel too old and too girly for this book. So if you loved this you might not like this review. Sorry, but I have to stay honest

the book: 

Artemis Fowl is a genius. He is a 12-year-old boy who is smarter than most men. Then he decides that he wants to have the money of the fairies. He kidnaps one of the elfBI, captain Holly Short, and tries to get the fairy gold. But fairies do live long, so they are very smart. Artemis Fowl has never been tricked. Who is smarter and wins this battle? Are it the fairies or is it a 12-year-old genius?

my review:

This was not what I espected it to be! I love the idea of a genius kid who is one of the biggest criminals in the world. I just don't like this book, I guess. It's just not my thing. Here are some reasons for that:

1) the pieces about the fairies: I have always liked fairies, but in this book they seem very dull, and I just cannot make myself like them. They have all those rules they are not allowed to break and they have to charge their powers. Like they are batteries. How stupid is that. Fairies are the ones that should fly around while cheering and throwing fairy dust, not the ones fighting trolls!

2) the way this book was written: this was 400 pages full of nothing. Because after reading, what did happen?  Nothing!! In the first page they say the boy is selfish, and it ends with him being selfish. So that's how I come to point 3

3) the romance in the book: HELL, I just cannot review this because there is none O.o It had been so long since my last book without romance... Maybe that's why I think this book was not written for girls but boys. I guess I am right. Maybe that's why only boys recommanded this book to me...

4) the cover: Not inviting people to read it at all, because it is just ugly!!

of course there were good things about this book. I think the story in general was OK, but the author could have improved the book a lot by having more interesting characters and a little bit of romance (or at least friendship) so that readers can relate a little more to it.

total:

I give this book 2.3/5 stars

xo Mar

The twilight saga part 4; Breaking Dawn the movie part 1

Finally I watched breaking dawn part one!! here's my review
-spoiler alert if you did not read the book!-


rating:
imbd: 4.0 / 10
metascore: 46 / 100
my rating: 2.5 / 5 stars


The plot:
Bella and Edward are getting married. They are madly in love. They leave for their wedding trip to isle Esmé, somewhere near Rio de Janeiro. Bella wants her 'human experience' and she gets it. But not without consequences.
- spoilers from here on -
She gets pregnant! The baby kills her from inside, but she wants to keep it, suddenly she has maternal feelings. The wolves do not want another creepy creature walking around in their territory, so they decide to kill Bella. Meanwhile Bella is just holding on to life. just. Jacob leaves his pack, and forms a new one, by himself. Bella's baby is born, it's a girl, Renesmee. Jacob imprints on her. Bella is still alive, now as a vampire. end of part 1


What I tought about it:
this part is as spoilery as possible, so don't read it if you don't want spoilers!
I was a twihard, but not anymore. I actually went to the cinema because I wanted to see if the movie was good, bad or very bad. To be honest, it was not good. But not very bad, either.
- The wedding scene
I did like the part of her wedding nightmare, that was some freaky stuff, pretty scary images. I did NOT like the real wedding, where Bella did not seem happy at all. You should be happy at your own wedding, right?! Oh, and I did really hate Bella's wedding dress! It was soo ugly!!
-The honeymoon part
Loved this part, it was the best! I also wanna live on isle Esmé! So goddamn beautiful... Also loved the romance between Bella and Edward, which was better than in all the other movies, and better than it was in the book! (but that was not an impossible task...)
- the Bella-is-pregnant-and-the-wolves-get-angry part
hated this part! It sucked, because this was my favourite part of the first half of the book. They made the baddest part of the whole saga out of one of the bestest scenes in the book. They completely ruined the part with the wolf conversation. Also, they screwed the imprint part of Jacob. The birth of Renesmee was so gross, Bella's face was looking like a skeleton covered in skin, almost grey. She was all covered in blood and stuff, and it was just, ew...
-the 'cliffhanger' ending
I HATE CLIFFHANGERS!
seriously, this so-called cliffhanger was not even that interesting, techincally you just see that Bella is still alive (or whatever you call it when you are an vampire) and her eyes are red.
- the volturi part in between the credits
I was walking away when I saw this part, which is just Aro saying that the Cullens have something (Renesmee) that they wanna have. More cliffhanger stuff -.-


Cycling home I was thinking:
What if the actors in twilight were not pretty? Would Twilight still be popular? I doubt...
2.5 stars, and they should be very happy with that...