In My Mailbox (#7)

Hosted by The Story Siren

Bought:

Ebook for Review:

For Review from NetGalley:

Ebooks:

What did you get this week?

Yvonne

Ember by Madison Daniel

Goodreads Summary:

Ember is the story of Max Valentine, a teenager with secret abilities and many inner demons. His life revolves around music and his love for it. When his father dies he seeks answers with his last living relative, his fathers brother Frank. Frank lives on the island of Maui and eagerly takes Max in as his own. Max soon learns that healing his past will be more difficult than he could have ever believed. Two major complications will tempt and torment him as he tries to make sense of his abilities.

The first temptation comes in the form of a mysterious island girl. Asia Lyn Michaels is rich, spoiled, angry and beautiful. Her path crosses with Max on the beach one afternoon, forever changing both of their lives. Max saves her life and she discovers his secret. From that moment on they are connected, no matter how much they fight it.

The second temptation will test Max’s very soul. Samantha Ann Summers is sweet, artistic, smart and confident. She will help Max find his smile again and maybe even heal his past mistakes. She is possibly his soul mate and Max will fight that with every fiber of his being.

Max’s temper and indecision with the girls will send in motion events that will cost him dearly. He will test the limits of his powers and the new relationship with his protective uncle. He will gain a powerful love and lose another.

My Review: 3/5

To say the least I found this book hard to put down. The writing was clever in the sense that it was nearly impossible not to ignore the break in chapters and continue on...

However, I always have something not entirely good to say and with this book it was mostly the continuous grammar mistakes :P It is only bad luck that I am releasing my frustration on this book. Using lied instead of lay, then instead of than, than instead of then, purpose instead of propose and the one I hate the most: "I could care less"! It just doesn't make sense :P Sorry.

Otherwise I found it quite enjoyable even though the characters annoyed me on several occasions because of their overreacting and selfishness. Perhaps their only redeemable qualities are similar to those of Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. . .they love each other.

Also, the other thing that grasped my attention was the similarities to "I Am Number Four" by Pittacus Lore. Max is similar to John/Four in the ability to withstand fire and his relationship with his uncle is also similar in some ways. Asia is similar to Six in her ability to control weather. Sam is similar to Sarah with her interest in photography and her- let's call him "over protective"- ex-boyfriend. And Oz seems very like Bernie Kosar. . . etc. These are just some of the similarities I found.

I wish I had more to say apart from that I really can't wait to read Downpour

REVIEW - Angelfall by Susan Ee

Title: Angelfall
Author: Susan Ee
Series: Penryn & the End of Days #1
Publised: May 21st 2011 (Kindle Edition)
Link: Goodreads / Amazon
Source: Bought ebook

Summary:
It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

5/5

Without a doubt, THE best angel book I have ever read! This book just blew me away. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where angels are the harbingers of death, one girl must team up with the enemy if she is to have any chance of rescuing her sister from the clutches of evil.

From the very first page, the reader is catapulted into a world where angels roam the sky and humans are fighting for survival. Among those still standing is Penryn, a 17 year old girl who must call upon all her survivalist instincts if she is to have any chance of saving her family. While rescuing an angel after he has his wings cut off by his own kind, her wheelchair bound sister is taken and carried off into the night. Left with the wounded angel and her schizophrenic mother to look after, Penryn begins a journey that will change her life.

I devoured this book! Right from the first line I was sucked in and kept up until the wee hours of the morning, loving every second of this heart-pounding ride. Penryn was an amazing character. Having been trained in various self-defense and martial-arts techniques, she is a true survivalist. Strong willed, determined and head strong, she is one kick-ass heroine. She also has a vulnerability about her which makes the reader connect to her. She doesn't enjoy fighting, but she will to save herself and those she loves. The story is told in first person from her POV so we are able to feel her desperation and heart-ache as she searches for her baby sister. Raffe I loved. He is snarky and brash and even though he is the enemy, you begin to warm to him as the story progresses. You get a sense of his despair at having his wings cut off and begin to see a different side to him. The connection between Penryn and Raffe was well thought out and believable. At first they are both wary of each other, both each others enemy, but as they travel together, their partnership grows into contention, bordering on friendship.

The story itself was an action-packed thrill ride. There is no hiding from the harsh reality of what has happened to the world. The author doesn't sugar-coat anything. It's gory, raw, edgy and frightening. It is dark, fast paced and filled with so many twist and turns you will be on the edge of your seat throughout. The writing is so descriptive and flows so brilliant that every drop of blood spilled is captured in great detail. 

The ending. My god the ending! I was in bits! What a way to end a book! I am dying to get my hands on book two but we don't even have a release date yet! :( I am having withdrawal symptoms here! Please Ms Ee, put me out of my misery! 

If you haven't read this book then you need to get it like right now! One of the best books I have ever read!

Dusty Reads (#1)

Dusty Reads is a weekly meme, hosted by Xpresso Reads featuring a book that has been sitting unread on our shelves for some time. To participate and for more information, click here.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Goodreads Summary:

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

My thoughts:

I don't know why I haven't read this book yet. I've had it on my bookshelf for forever! I will get to it someday I swear lol!I've heard so many great things about it so I really don't know why I'm holding off reading it. 

What's been getting dusty on your shelf?

Yvonne

REVIEW - Ember by Madison Daniel

Title: Ember
Author: Madison Daniel
Series: Ember #1
Release date: March 16th 2012
Genres: YA Paranormal Romance
Links: Goodreads / Amazon
Source: Bought ebook

Summary:
Love never dies...but it can kill.

Ember is the story of Max Valentine, a teenager with secret abilities and many inner demons. His life revolves around music and his love for it. When his father dies he seeks answers with his last living relative, his fathers brother Frank. Frank lives on the island of Maui and eagerly takes Max in as his own. Max soon learns that healing his past will be more difficult than he could have ever believed. Two major complications will tempt and torment him as he tries to make sense of his abilities.

The first temptation comes in the form of a mysterious island girl. Asia Lyn Michaels is rich, spoiled, angry and beautiful. Her path crosses with Max on the beach one afternoon, forever changing both of their lives. Max saves her life and she discovers his secret. From that moment on they are connected, no matter how much they fight it.

The second temptation will test Max’s very soul. Samantha Ann Summers is sweet, artistic, smart and confident. She will help Max find his smile again and maybe even heal his past mistakes. She is possibly his soul mate and Max will fight that with every fiber of his being.

Max’s temper and indecision with the girls will send in motion events that will cost him dearly. He will test the limits of his powers and the new relationship with his protective uncle. He will gain a powerful love and lose another.

2.5/5

I'm really sorry to say that I didn't like this as much as I thought I would. This book had so much potential but sadly it didn't live up to it. The concept of the story was original and different and I had wanted to read this book from the moment I heard about it. 

Max annoyed me throughout the book. How the hell could he string along both girls for so long? He just came off as a jerk to me. He sleeps with one, says he loves her (after only knowing her for a short time) and yet is kissing another girl at the same time and nearly sleeps with her too! I'm sorry but what the hell?! He says he loves both girls after knowing them for like a week (I'm really starting to dislike insta-love stories). Sam seems like a really sweet girl and I can see why someone would be in love with her but she came across a little naive. Why would you continue chasing a guy if he was clearly going out with someone else? You're just leaving yourself open for getting hurt. Asia on the other hand I did not like. She was a real bitch and I just didn't see what Max saw in her. I know they had this connection after he healed her but to me it just seemed like Max liked her mainly cause she was hot (no pun intended). 

Another thing I didn't get was the POV. The story is told in first person from Max's POV yet we know what's happening from Sam/Asia's POV. How is that possible? It didn't make sense and kind of disturbed the flow of writing. 

I know I sound like I hated this book but I did enjoy the story concept and the fight scenes were good. It has the potential to be a great series but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I know a lot of people loved it and that just goes to show that everyones tastes are different. I will probably read the next book as I want to see where the story leads. From the way Ember ended I kind of have an idea about what is to come.

I don't want to put anyone off reading this book. Everyones opinions are they own so I encourage you to make your own regarding this book.