Book Review: Winter

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Winter by Marissa Meyer is the fourth and final book in the Lunar Chronicles series.  This story is a futuristic adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Snow White.  This book has a lot more action and is slightly more graphic with violence.  None that I thought would be inappropriate of the genre but the three previous books kind of gradually got to this point.  Because I felt that these books were aimed for older teens, the darker nature of this book wasn't to bad.

The novel becomes more of a focal point for Princess Winter, who all of the Lunar people admire her for her grace and kindness.  She refuses to use her glimmer which would hide the scars on her face.  And because of that, her mind is slowly going insane.  Because of the Lunar people's admiration of Winter, Queen Levana is jealous of Winter and tries to find ways to get rid of her (much like Snow Whites step-mother).  The crew: Cinder, Captain Throne, Cress, Wolf, and Emperor Kai come up with a plan to get Scarlet back and to destroy Queen Levana once and for all, but they must help the Lunars in a revolt so they can put the rightful Queen back in her place.

I loved this story and I was so sad to see the series end.  I fell in love with all of the characters, and they were very human despite being fictional.  The ending was quite nice but it was definitely a little open.  There is a resolution to the major conflict, including the characters minor conflicts, but you're left to come up with your own conclusion of Cinder and Emperor Kai.  I choose to believe that once all of the political things settle, they get their own happy ending between each other.  The action was intense, the personal story lines flowed well with the main story line and plot.  I had a very hard time putting this book down and I think I read this book in about a day and a half after I bought it.

The one thing that I hate about when I read books that I'm completely in love with is that I suck at reviewing them.  I seriously loved this book and this series.  And I'm definitely looking out for the next book and series that Marissa Meyer releases.  This would definitely be a series that I would recommend for my niece (who is almost 16).

RATING:
5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Fairest

Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Fairest by Marissa Meyer is a bridge between the books Cress and Winter.  This book is part of the Lunar Chronicles Series, and is a futuristic, young adult novel.  While the other four stories follow a fairytale theme, this book is more like a window into the evil step-mother life.  While this book isn't a part of the series, I felt that it was a great read and set up for the final book in the series, Winter.  This story was shorter, but explained and introduced other characters that play huge roles in the final book.

Queen Levana is known as the ruthless ruler of Luna and their people the Lunars.  Known for her glamour you follow Queen Levana as a young teenager up to her adult years.  You feel for the insecure girl who was badly scared from a fire when she was a child.  Verbally abused, she becomes obsessed with a palace guard who is older than her and happily married into another woman.  She soon realizes the power she has not just with her glamour (Which is where they can change their physical appearance) but also with other people.  With the ambition of being not only the most beautiful Queen, but also the greatest ruler of Luna, she isn't afraid to hurt, kill and destroy anyone who stands in her way.  Including family.

I loved this book.  While it wasn't necessary to the Lunar Chronicles series, I was a great way to understand the madness that is Queen Levana.  One thing that I loved about this story is that even though you find out what she went through and you start to understand how she became who she was, you don't change your opinion on her.  You don't in the end hope that she gets a happy ending.  You still want to see her get what she has coming to her in the final story Winter.  While it isn't necessary to read this book as part of the Lunar Chronicles, it was still a great read.  Yes, you can read the Lunar Chronicles book without this and they explain everything that you need, I found it was interesting to go deep into the character which is Levana.  Finding out how she became the loose cannon that she was, was interesting.  I loved every second of this book.

Rating:
5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Thumped

Thumped by Megan McCafferty

Thumped by Megan McCafferty is the conclusion to Bumped.  This is a dystopian, young adult novel set in the year 2036 and starts right after Bumped ended.  This book is geared more towards the older teens, but as an adult I understood that context, over and undertones of this book.

Thumped the sequel to Bumped, it continues the story of separated-at-birth twins, Melody and Harmony.  These sisters are now the most popular teen girls on the planet.  To their fans, they seem to be living ideal lives.  Harmony is married to Ram (a boy from her commune) and living in Goodside, the religious community that once meant everything to her.  Melody has the genetically flawless Jondoe as her coupling partner, which means money and status, and a bright future.  But both girls are hiding secrets, and both are pining for guys they can't have.  Telling the truth could mean losing everything.

Just like the first book, I really enjoyed this book, it was a fast read, and I couldn't put it down.  The issues that were touched upon in the first book get fully explored in this one.  Both sisters are trying really hard to find their own identity but also their back bone.  When Harmony is back in the religious community, she's a prisoner and under house arrest from escaping the first time but despite their displeasure in her previous antics, they are enjoying the fame and media attention that she is bringing to their community.  Melody is also a prisoner with the expectations that has happened from her "bumping" with Jondoe that may or may not have happened.  Compared to the first book, this one had more action and romance.  I really enjoyed how the events fell into place with this series.  While some could argue that the ending was cliche and typical, I really enjoyed it.  I do have to say though, a part of me wishes that this was a trilogy instead of a duo.  Even though the major issues were resolved, I couldn't help but feel attached to the characters and I wanted to see what happens next.  Again I really enjoyed this book and would recommend this book my friends.



Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Bumped

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty, is a young adult, dystopian novel and takes place in Princeton, New Jersey in the hear 2036.  This book is the first in a duology.  While this book is geared towards the young adult audience, I feel that this is for the older young adult audience.  Megan McCafferty, is best known for her Jessica Darling series, and I found that like those books her writing was similar aiming for an older young adult audience and makes it some what enjoyable for adult readers.

Bumped starts off as a virus has swept the world, making everyone over the age of eighteen infertile.  Because of this teenagers are now the most prized members of society, and adults who wish to be parents desperately bid for "conception contracts" with the prettiest, healthiest, and smartest girls.  The teens receive things like cash, college tuition, and other favors in exchange for a baby.  At sixteen, Melody as scored a record-breaking contract with a rich couple and and she's been matched with the hottest "bumping" partner in the world, Jondoe.  Melody discovers that she has an identical twin, Harmony, whom has grown up in a strict religious community and believes that her calling is to save Melody from her sinful intentions.  While Melody is trying to come to terms what she has signed up for, Harmony has been mistaken for her and is now meeting with Jondoe.  

As I've already mentioned, due to the subject matter, I feel that this book and following book are better suited for older teens.  The book was published in 2012, so during that time, shows like 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom were really popular.  One of the things that I loved so much about this book was how the brainwashing of these teens happened.  Instead of saying intercourse, they called it bumped.  Or instead of calling it a baby and forming an attachment they told to call it a bump or call it something like burrito.  They popularized and marketed selling teen pregnancy in order to fulfill a demographic of adults that can't have children.  I thought that Megan McCafferty writing was brilliant, and kind poked fun at the popularization of TV shoes like Teen Mom.  I also felt for both of the characters, both of the sisters, even though they weren't raised together, do feel a bond and both recognize how the other is being manipulated by their parents and society.  The one thing that I thought was very powerful was that how these two girls were willing to lose their individuality and self worth in order to belong and please others.  This book was a quick read, and I couldn't put it down.  With all of the different dystopian books and series out there, I feel that this book carved out its own little niche out where it stands apart from the rest out there.  There is humor, action, angst, romance, and a message that isn't shoved down your throat.  I truly enjoyed this book.


Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Cress

Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress by Marissa Meyer is the third book in the Lunar Chronicles series and it is geared towards the young adult audience.  The first two in the series are Cinder and Scarlet.  Just like the first two books in the series, Cress is a futuristic take on a classic fairy tale of Rapunzel.  

In Cress, the plot is a continuation from the first two books.  You follow the previous characters, Cinder, Captain Throne, Scarlet, Wolf, and a little bit of Prince Kai.  The four main characters, are plotting to overthrow the evil Queen Levana and her army.  They meet a girl Cress, who is a shell (which is a Lunar who can see through a Lunar person's glamour and doesn't have any of their abilities) and has been imprisoned on a satellite since she was a young girl.  She was forced to monitor and hack vital information of the people of Earth to help Levana.  The four decides to stage a daring rescue, but unfortunately it doesn't go as planned and they find themselves separated.  Cress finds herself alone Carswell Thorne, and they try to meet up with Cinder and the others.

So if you guys couldn't tell, I loved this book as much as the first two.  This book felt like there was more action and plot twists than the first two and I enjoyed every second that I read this book.  Of course, there was a bit of romance, but it didn't over power the plot and story line.  Which is something I appreciated.   You find out more about the characters involved and also there is hints of the future characters that will be major players in the final book of the series which is, Winter (Which at this moment I am patiently waiting for my book order.  I had a birthday gift card that I was waiting to use until this baby got released.)  I unfortunately find that with books that I love I have such a hard time talking about what I loved about them.  Because this series has had me hooked since I first read Cinder, I couldn't put it down.  As I said this was a refreshing change from the normal books that I normally read, and I also felt that this series stands out from the other young adult books that seem to get a lot of hype.  It has action and romance, with a fairytale and futuristic twist.  It's not quite dystopian nor is it quite science fiction.  I feel that it is in a genre on its own.

On a sad (or possibly happy) note, I've read a few articles that this series is going to be turned into a movie.  And for those of you who don't know, I have a love hate relationship with books that get turned into movies.  Especially if I really enjoyed it.  I just hope that who ever is writing the script, casting the actors and directing, gives this series the justice that it deserves.


Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Scarlet

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer is a young adult fiction novel and it is the second story in the Lunar Chronicles.  It follows the dystopian idea with a classic fairy tale twist.  Scarlet takes a bit of inspiration from the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.  The story introduces three new characters and also follows the main characters from the previous novel Cinder.  

The story starts with Cinder trying to break out of prison and ultimately has to ask the help of a fellow in mate as she is trying to break out.  The story soon introduces you to Scarlet Benoit who is searching for her missing grandmother.  When Scarlet encounters a street fighter, Wolf, who may have information on her grandmothers whereabouts she must ultimately try to trust the stranger that she is wary of.  They soon find themselves drawn to each other and as they start to unravel the mysteries, they meet Cinder and inmate, Carswell Thorne, whom is also a pilot.  Together the four will try to figure out a way to save humanity from the evil lunar queen Levana.

I have to be honest, I read this book last year, but I still remember a lot of details.  I loved this book and gave it a 5 out of 5 stars on good reads.  I loved the action, the plot twists, the bit of romance.  Yes this story has a little romance.  But I felt that the romance was appropriate and suitable for the age range the books are ultimately geared towards which I feel would be the older young adults.  I loved this book and the addition to the different characters.  I felt that the author has a clear direction in where she wants the series to go.  It's so different that a lot of the other young adult books because I feel that it has a unique take on a way of story telling and as an adult I enjoy it,  I didn't feel like the writing was dummied down in order to appeal to a younger crowd.  I honestly can't wait for the next book in the series to be released because I desperately want to know what happens to the characters that I've grown attached too.

Rating:
5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is a young adult, science fiction, romance book loosely based off of a the classic fairy tale, Cinderella.  This book is the first book of the Lunar Chronicles series and was published in 2012.  I read this book last year in March and I have to say, I loved it!  I'm completely hooked on this series and I'm going to state this now, I will be incredibly disappointed if they turn this into a crappy movie.  Yep I went there.

The story starts off when Cinder who is a android/human hybrid trying to offer her mechanical skills.  As a cyborg she is considered a second-class citizen and can't remember her past before her life saving operation.  In the market, someone suddenly take ill and you are introduced to the event that sets everything into motion, the plague that is ravaging the population of earth.  Just like every fairy tale there is an evil queen, Levana who is a ruthless leader to the lunar people who watch and manipulate those around them.  When Cinder's beloved stepsister becomes ill with the plague, her stepmother sells her to the Prince Kai's head doctor so that they can run tests on her.  But soon she finds that she is more important to the people of Earth and also important to Kai.

I have to say for a young adult novel, I thought it had the right amount of romance.  It was enough to make my heart happy, but not over done that I would have thought that this wouldn't be apporpriate for the age group that it was aimed at.  As someone who is in their later 20's instead of their teens I was thoroughly entertained by the book.  I felt the author did an excellent job of writing, it wasn't too mature but it also wasn't patronizing that I feel a lot of young adult books tend to be.  I immediately loved the character Cinder.  A lot of the time, I find that author's find that it is easier to make their main female characters to be weak and easily manipulated.  This is not the case with Cinder, she's confused, yes, and she also doesn't originally want the burden.  I found that all of the characters were intriguing and I couldn't put the book down.  The plot moved fast enough, but not so fast that it was hard to keep details straight.  I couldn't put this book down, and I immediately bought and read the sequel Scarlet and as soon as Cress came out I bought that as well.  And of course, I am patiently waiting for the next book to come out.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars because I couldn't put it down and this has got to be one of the first young adult books that I have been able to get completely en captured by.  As an adult sometimes books that are in the young adult genre are not very well written, and it is not the case with this book.  I loved it from cover to cover.

Rating:
5 out of 5

Bakers Dozen 2013: 7

Violet & Claire by Francesca Lia Block

So this is the only young adult novel on my list this year.  Now Violet & Claire is kind of hard to explain unless you are familiar with the authors writing style it's kind of hard to describe.  She kind of writes like her stories are a poem or sonnet from the past.  Her words flow together like a song and she's very rich with detail and she uses a lot of symbolism to describe what she's writing.

The story is of two different girls, Violet and Claire.  Both opposite from each other, they both need each other to be whole.  Violet is the dark one, dressed in black and dreams of writing her own silver screen creation.  Claire is light and love, almost like a real-life Tinker Bell, dressed in wings of gauze and glitter, constantly writing poems to keep the dark away.   The story takes you through the journey in L.A. through the ups and downs.

This book not only followed these girls but you also feel their pain and loneliness.  It also touches upon anorexia, rape, drug and alcohol abuse.  But because of Francesca Lia Block's writing style you might now pick up on it right away.  Even though this book is in the young adult section I do feel that a lot of the symbolism might go over a lot of young adults head.  But if you're one to be able to pick up on them than this would be a good book for you to read.

Book Review: Charmed Thirds

Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty

Charmed Thirds is the third book in a series written by Megan McCafferty.  The first two books are Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings.  Yes I have read both books before this one.  But I did read them quite sometime ago but surprisingly I remembered a lot of important details from the first two books to know what was going on with this one.  This is one of those series where I think it would be more beneficial to read the books in chronological order first, because the novel is written like a diary/journal by the main character. This book is in the young adult genre and is based on real life topics.

The novel and series is based off the life of Jessica Darling.  It is written in a diary/journal style but also with a slight first person point of view.  The book is about her life in college and dealing with her boyfriend going to a Buddhist school in California while she is going to Columbia in New York.  The character of Jessica Darling is your typical college student who is too aware of her surroundings and curses her not so glamorous life in Pineville, New Jersey.  While the first two books in the series is about Jessica in high school.  This book covers her whole college career.  There are a lot of conflicts in this story that shape the the plot but I think the main one were when Jessica cheats on her boyfriend Marcus and her parents decide to cut her off financially.  The whole book seemed very realistic and to a certain extent I think it is very easy to relate with.  The book end with graduation and Jessica going off to try and find her next step beyond college so of course there is a sequel to this book called Fourth Comings. What I liked most about this book and the two before is that Megan McCafferty is really good at adding humor into her stories.  It's almost as if Jessica Darling was a real life person, she would be a stand up comedian.

This was a really quick read and it was kind of hard to put down.  It was very addicting and I constantly wanted to know what would happen next to the character Jessica Darling.  I love the humor and plot in the story.  While it was kind of typical drama plot I think the style of McCafferty's writing kept it fresh.  There are definitely little parts and scenes that are easy to replay in your head and make you chuckle.  While there is sex and relationships in this book, there is no detail of the acts.  You just know that it happened.

I think anyone who is in the mood for a quick read with a little bit of drama and humor this is the book for you.  While there is a little bit of course language it isn't enough to turn me off from the book.  While it is addictive and a quick read, the chapters are broken up in year/semesters/months so it is easy to find a stopping point.  Again I really enjoyed reading the books.  McCafferty has done a good job developing her lead character through out the three books into an easy transition that is realistic.

Rating:
4 out of 5

On Deck:
Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Bubbles A Broad by Sarah Strohmeyer
Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding

Book Review: Invincible

Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Invincible is the second book in the Chronicles of Nick series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.  The book leaves off from where the first book, Infinity, left off.  I do suggest reading the books in order since this series seems to leave off right were the first one ended, but then I also don't think it will be overly confusing if you don't.

Another school year has started for Nick Gautier and after the trouble of before this time seems to multiply.  He's being blackmailed to join his new high school foot ball coach in this scheme to steal students belongings.  But he's more than that he steals souls.  Then add on other demons trying to kill him.  Nick finds out more about himself that terrifies him.

I loved this story.  It was a really quick read and if I wasn't so tired I probably would have read it in one day.  Even though this was a quick read, the book had plenty of details and action to keep you interesting.  This book (and series) is in the young adult genre but I would definitely consider older teens as the appropriate age group for the books.  There is some course language and descriptive fight scenes.

I love Sherrilyn Kenyon's progression of her characters and how she is developing them.  She isn't just developing them for this story but for also future stories.  I definitely can't wait too read the other books.

Rating:
5 out of 5

On Deck:
Return of the Warrior by Kinley MacGregor
Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty
Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Secrets VOL. 3 anthology
Bubble's A Broad by Sarah Strohmeyer
Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding

Book Review: Thristy

Thirsty by M.T. Anderson

So I know I was supposed to be reading a different book, but I'm having a hard time get into so I switched to this book.

Anyway, Thirsty is a young adult novel written by M.T. Anderson.  This is the first book that I've ever read by this author but I got the book from when I worked at the book store.  This book is in the horror genre and is vampire themed, and no they do not sparkle.  The book was published in 1997 and a lot of the language and descriptions are very much set in the late 90's.

The basis of the book is Chris is a high school freshman and all he wants to do is hang out with friends and date Rebecca Schwartz.  Unfortunately life isn't going to be that simple for Chris.  He goes with his brother to a Lynching (which is where the court house executes a vampire) and starts to feel funny.  He feels thirsty.  A few days later he is contacted by a celestial being who needs his help to hold the Vampire Lord Tch'muchgar in his prison and he needs Chris to do it.  With the promise that Chet the celestial being will reverse the vampirism Chris helps him.

Now I have to say I also had a hard time getting into this book because I had a really hard time following the lingo that was used in the dialogue.  Plus the main character Chris is your stereotypical whiny teenage so I had a hard time liking the character.  But about halfway through the book the plot twists and that got my attention.  You find out that Chet the celestial being isn't a good guy and Chris was tricked.  In fact it was hilarious how Chris get getting fooled.  And in the end, he is still a vampire who is heading towards a lynching of his own.

One thing that did put me off though is that there was really no explanation about what was really going on with the vampire vs human aspect.  You pretty much read the book not knowing whats going on and how things came to be.  The author concentrated mainly on Chris and his want to be human and his need to "help" the world but in the end he was tricked and even though he did essentially save the world by killing Tch'muchgar it was what Tch'muchgar paid Chet to do.  So in the end there is really no resolve to the book, it just is.  This book doesn't have a sequel so you're left to assume that Chris will eventually be lynched.

Thirsty was a pretty quick read but I was also hard to get into because a lot of the pages consist of Chris's whining and that got on my nerves.  But I do have to say that it was nice to read a book where the main character isn't really a hero so that was a bit different.  It was an all right book but it isn't something that will be going into any future bakers dozen's anytime soon.

Rating:
2 out of 5

On Deck:
Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber by Adele Lang
Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Bad Boys to Go (anthology)
Return of the Warrior by Kinley MacGregor

Bakers Dozen 8

On the Bright Side; I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison

So this is the second book in Rennison's Georgia Nicholson series and my favorite.  This is also a young adult novel and at the time that I read it it was age appropriate.  I think one of the reason's why this story stuck out in my head is because of the humor.  My taste in humor is very slap stick and kind of juvenile.  One of my favorite parts is where Georgia is holding her younger sister in her lap and her younger sister farts.  That whole scene had me giggling for about 3 hours straight.  But other than that the whole book is full of hilarity.

The whole series is based on Georgia's journal entries about her daily life and her affections of the opposite sex, especially her Sex-God boyfriend Robbie.  The story takes place right after Rennison's first novel, Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging so it is a series that you would probably want to start from first novel to the end of the series.

While the first three or four novels seem more juvenile,but you definitely see a character growth in Georgia as the series progresses.  But Rennison never looses her distinct sense of humor as the series progresses.  I have to say that she wrote an excellent modern-day, young adult version of Lucy and Ethel, as Georgia's best friend Jas plays side kick to all of Georgia's crazy antics.

This is definitely a book and series that will probably stay on my bookshelves for years to come.  If you ever feel the need to indulge you inner teenager with some humor I definitely recommend this series to anyone, young or old.

Baker's Dozen 2

So I'm back with another installment of my baker's dozen

Demon in my View by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes is on this list because it was kind of a first for me.  And just as a word of warning, a lot of the books on this list aren't necessarily fantastic literary giants, but are first for me so they have a lasting impression.  This book is one of those.

This book was one of the books that I read after I had gotten burned out on V.C. Andrews books, and this was also my very first young adult novel that I had ever read.  Actually no it wasn't.  In the Forest of the Night by the same author was actually the first book that I had ever read in this genre, but this one has more of a lasting impression that the first one.

Now the book itself is only about 170 pages so it wasn't a very long book, but I was fourteen when I read this book.  I think what first interested me into reading this book was that I saw some review or snippet about the book and I read that the author wrote her first book when she was 14 and this one when she was 16, and because I was close to that age and at the time had dreams of being a published author I thought 'I need to read this.'  And I'm glad I did.  After reading probably 20 or so V.C. Andrews books, I was kind of burnt out of reading the same thing.  This was completely different than anything that I have ever read before so it helped renew my love for reading when I was younger.

This book is about Vampires, yes, people wrote about vampires in the young adult section long before Twilight, and this held a little bit of romance but not too much that as a young teen I would have been grossed out.  Atwater-Rhodes wrote her vampire tales in the classic idea of the breed, their violent, search for blood and are the ultimate apex predator.  But she also wrote about how they are essentially a family and they wish to keep their secrets hidden.  They can go out in sunlight, go to church, aren't terrified of garlic (though the smell is very pungent to their keen sense of smell.)  But I liked how the author wrote out the whole history and family in such a small book.  And looking back at it as an adult now, I'm very impressed that she wrote so beautifully at such a young age.

Now I mentioned that there was a bit of romance in the story but it wasn't over blown, and that it true, essentially what happens is that Jessica is human and Aubrey is vampire (sound familiar huh?).  But Aubrey has every intention of killing Jessica because she is a published author and wrote a story about Aubrey without realizing that it is true.  But in the end they fall in love and become mates, and Jessica becomes a vampire.  But I think what pulled me into the story wasn't the love it was how detailed the author was about who the character Jessica was, how she came to be, what her past was, how she was tied into the vampire book from birth.

This is a stand-alone book, but the character Aubrey has a brief appearance in In the Forest of the Night but you never hear from the characters again in any of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes following vampire books (now I've read that she has released more books that are kind of sequel's to some of her other vampire books so maybe she will have more on this couples story) so she ends the book in a way that you aren't left guessing what's going to happen to the characters.  You get the feel that their going to be ok.

Although this book is relatively simple and easy to read I had to put this on my list simply because it was a first for me.  It was my first young adult novel that I had ever read and it was also my first vampire themed book that I read.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Ok, I have to admit I was skeptical about this book just because everyone raved about the Twilight Series. Now while I enjoyed the the twilight series I personally feel that it didn't live up to the hype (especially the movies).  But surprisingly this book kept me interested from the first to last word.  This is a young adult novel but I have to say because of the type of violence in the books I would say that the later teens would probably understand the nature of the book without being freaked out.

The book is set in the future, and is based on the idea of a major calamity happened and the United States as we know it changes and we're under a communist ruling nation.  The Hunger Games are created to remind the residents that the government has absolute power.  While I'm sure everyone knows the base of the book, I'll still give a quick overview.  The starts where each 12 districts give two tributes one boy and one girl to participate in the hunger games, which is a battle royal to the death.  The only one person will win the games.  The main female character Katniss Everdeen volunteer's as tribute when her 12 year-old sister is selected.  Also with her is Peeta Mellark, during their whole time they are thrown together as a "romantic" couple.  During the whole novel Katniss is struggling with her feelings for Peeta and her determination to survive for her family's sake.

This book is the first in a series of three, and the ending is definitely open for another book.  Because of the nature of Suzanne Collins writing in the books, I see this series as one where you can just pick up a random book with out reading the other ones in concession without being lost.  I think that these book appeal for young adult and also adult.  Collins didn't dummy down anything nor did she simplify any of the situations to entice a younger crowd.

I really liked this book and I can't wait to read the sequels but I will hold off because I have a massive book sale coming up, plus Christmas.  Collins got to the human side of the the characters but also tapped into the fact that when we're pushed into a situation like the hunger games our animistic and survival side kicks in.

Rating:
4.5 out of 5

On Deck:
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Book Review: Infinity

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

This story is a young adult novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon.  This is an off shoot of her Dark-Hunter series.  In the Dark-Hunter series, Nick Gautier is an adult and a squire for the Dark-Hunter Kyrian.  As Kenyon's Dark-Hunter Series developed and becomes more and more, Nick's life takes a serious turn and twist.

The Chronicles of Nick series is starts off with Nick as a 14-year-old high school freshman and becomes a squire for Kyrian after Kyrian saves him from being killed.  This is where Nick gets pulled into the Dark-Hunter world and craziness ensues.  This series is a little different from the Dark-Hunter series because everything is brought up right away with everything within the dark-hunter world, plus Kenyon added in some zombies (it is set in 'Nawlin's so you have to have some zombies).  She also added in some regular characters from her adult novels but added in some eccentric new characters that help developed the story and plot.

If you're a fan of her adult novels, the transition to a young adult novel was seamless.  She still writes in her same style that fans of Kenyon are used to but writes it so that it is appropriate for young teenagers.  She didn't dummy down her writing in anyway, which I felt was good.

If you've never read a Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter novel before this is a good one to pick up.  There is no romance or sex in the book (which is good since it's geared towards the younger market) so it's purely on the development of Nick's character and life.  If you have read one of Kenyon's adult Hunter series, you are not going to be spoiled for this series at all.

In the end, Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon was an amazing book.  I loved reading every word from beginning to end and can't wait to pick up the second book in the series.  It's action packed and I love that Kenyon is writing a story about a character that many of her readers fell in love with.  Because of Nick's age in the series I feel it is appropriate to make it a young adult novel.  It'll be interesting to see where she takes the series and if she'll make an adult novel for the character Nick Gautier.

Rating:
5 out of 5

On Deck:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James