Kasie West books in a row! Wow!

Booklove?

Hell, yeah!

Loner Loserdom - Fate of Clairvoyants

"One little choice can make all the difference."

One day Addie has to face her parents' decision of separating. She's confronted two different choices of life either of which will alter her future in an irreversible way. But what's the right alternative? Boldly leaving the Compound heading to Normville full of dull, normal people or staying in the well-known comfort zone stuffed with mind-blowing Paranormals just like her? It'd be too much to ask for decision-making from a teenager suffering from post-divorce epidemic satisfied with her life just as it is, let alone a non-average teenage girl who uses her remaining 97 per cent of her brain to tell the upcoming events, which she does once in a blue moon. Sometimes future is overwhelming.

There's no way left but Search for the two paths so as to decide which road she should take. Only a sneak-peak in the great unknown would tell her which direction to follow from the cross-road where she momentarily got stucked. Her answer should be easy. But is that so? One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not. It turns out on whatever passage she move along she loses someone she cares about. The real question is whom is she able to let go?

PAR•A•dise: n. a place of extreme happiness (???)

In one potential future Addie stays with her mother (masterhead of her misfortune) relaxing in her daily routine because Heaven forbids she should taste new flavours of exotic dishes. She's stuck with scrumbled eggs while she could try chocolate pencake with maple syrup. What a waste! But no regrets since there's Duke (Telekinetic) the charming talented football player (a title which can't be really hard to achieve if you've got superpowers) who bustle up just to draw Addie's attention. Regardless of their opposite personalities they seem to get along perfectly. Addie starts to think she's in love. On the other side, I find rather suspicious that he suddenly becomes interested in her after three years of attending the same high school. Big loves need time for sure (Lizzy and Darcy for a whole year you see), but three years come on! Anyway, I rooted for them putting my disbelieves on a landing-place. For a while.

"You know we’re nothing alike, right?"
"Isn’t there a reason for the saying ‘opposites attract’?"
"Yes—magnets."

NOR•Mal•ization: v. reduced to a normal state

"The ghost of Charles Dickens told me that after he turned over in his grave, he couldn’t go back to sleep. The ghost of Charles Dickens told me that after he turned over in his grave, he couldn’t go back to sleep." - Addie

"Wanted: good zombie hunter. Call 555–3681. Be prepared to provide references and past experience." - Trevor

In this alternative future Addie and Trevor are back on track to best-friend-land. They're pretty much alike owning to their mutual enthusiasm for comic books, even though he's rather keen on drawing them than reading. They' both feel like they'reclooking for something to grab on to, so they don’t lose themselves. Concerning Addie, without her ability defining her, she doesn't feel grounded. As for Trevor, he's pondering about constant 'would've beens' due to the fact that his football career is gone forever because of his shoulder injury. He's pretty much the kind of guy she's Normally attracted to. And because they don't exactly follow the rules of the friendship handbook also means she has to tell where she comes from. But who would believe her completely inconceivable illusion of Crazyland? Well, Trevor, my darling, does apparently.

Feasable destinies and 'What if?'s

"Sometimes perfection reveals the lie, Addie, not the truth."

Trevor is a cute, caring, sensitive...(I won't list all his superlative qualities though I could do that) angel whom she loves without artificiality of her old world. On the contrary, Dukes is a Mood Controller prick who used her in hope of getting from her the right hint which university he has to go. Which univesity! The lamest excuse ever. From now on there's no way she'd pick Duke over Trevor, you'd think.

The somber reality is she must choose the douchebag version because Laila's (best Memory Eraser friend) life is at stake. Addie's unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. Thus she has to make herself forget what she has lived through with Trevor in her almost cried out in frustration. How could she? How?

One way or another

I loved the tension between the two separate storylines that let me hanging in the swirling thoughts of doubts having no idea which life she'll pick. (And no, I did not read the ending beforehand...it took all my willpower to resist though. Yeah. I'm proud of myself enough.) Altough the author doesn't really unknot the details of the Paraworld (I would like to be more involved), she does know pretty much about relationships. Love you guys!

How I feel now

Arghhh. Duke is on top of my Who-I-want-to-strangle-first list. I'd better start the next book so that I can make sure Addie would find her way back to Trevor. I mean she should have found a better way. Seeing the future involves that you are able to change it right? And don't come with the shit that one tiny alteration may cause crack of doom. Make a difference. *bewildered sigh*

Rating

4 out of 5

My POV: Tbh I kinda emerged in this BookCon/OneTruePastry/crazy cupcakes/Kels@Nash fandom and I couldn't stop myself to dig up the OTP and Rex blogs online (not worth your time looking them up, they don't exist! *crying sad face who is trying to console herself with a Sprinkles' Srawberry cupcake).
The saddest part, these teens had a more interesting life going on at the age of 17-18 than I had that time LOL. These high school guys became like mini-book celebrities in no time and I found myself right in the middle of online girlish fandom over books and imaginary worlds and most importantly talking about them with a wide community who share the same interests. I'd totally be one of the 22k followers of Kels AKA Halle on every possible platform if I could. Follower of Comicbooks? not so much, because watch out IRL: I am not a fan of Nash. I mean okay, he is more into books than soccer, and c'mon he is artistic, cute, master of banters and puns. Although, Halle is a big fat liar (I like her though, don't freak out ;) he lied to her and fell for Kels even though he had Halle which is so IRL. It seems boys tend to run after cases that exist only in their heads. Hands up girls, if you agree. RSVP.
So even if Halle was a total bummer in the eyes of Nash, their online friends, her IRL friends, her brother.... re: you can go on with the list, Nash made a mistake too and did not embrace the coolest thing that happened to him, well pretty much, in his entire high school experience. As for Halle, she was hell of a good Kels who didn't slip up once with her little secret during 7 months in front of Nash and the whole Twitter globe. Plus, it is kind of messed up, but I got the explanation behind her actions even if it is total bullshit. As in, her insecurity about people not accepting her true personality, thus, she is keen on hiding behind a fake persona. Let alone the publisher-buzz about her grandmother.
Let's face it, most people think (they happen to end up mostly wrong) that it is their duty to achieve something great without a big gun relative shadowing them, 'cause they feel the pressure to live up to them and they don't fancy the idea of bringing shame to the family, if they don't. Live up to a great legend, IOW. What kept me in the reading flow was that other fascinating and quite extraordinary events I could be a part of. Let's check out the Academy nominated parents directing in Israel or Le Crew or Ollie or the emotional crises of Gramps. All of them have so many aspirations, dreams to come true, and so many things going on in their lives. I just loved watching these events unfolding before my very eyes and devouring the first season of OTP. Episode one: The Blueberry dreams, Episode two: Lemon cupcakes with Deception frosting... Episode 120: the Red Velvet revelation and so on. I don't expect a second season but I keep myself posted if there happens to be one.
EOT: TQ for the book What I Liked about you.
w00t, YMMD.

'Here is how my unlife falls apart - one high-heeled step at a time.'

The statement above cannot be more true than right now when Zera's immortal life is a huge entwined net of a mess from which she can hardly flee. As every minute of the first novel (Bring Me Their Hearts) ) cut out a well-designed path into the sequel of the trilogy I desperately returned to the first book for a joyful re-read (and re-drooling). To my utter amazement or dismay? Zera hasn't let me down pertaining to her absolute self-centeredness. I am in two minds about it though. During the fight for the retrieval of her heart, she has confronted and betrayed every possible living being. That's why I cannot wrap my mind around how Lucien still longs for her. I mean she wanted to kill him and make him a monster daa! Busted. He must suffer in some serious anti-self-sustaining state of a fatal disease. I am such a doctor when talking about books haha.

However, I kinda look up to her. She is all-time ready to trample on anybody who comes between her and her heart. It sort of disgusts me that we literally talk about the organ itself btw but I can take it as long as I don't lay my eyes on the actual venal thingy on the screen. What is more, she 'asumes' she doesn't need a man to be whole again and I admire her approach of life. That is the talking girl! Hereby I introduce you a modern Into the woods Snowhite aka Lady Zera Y'shennria. She is a feisty upbeat little heartless, isn't she?

Another thing worth mentioning is where her loyalty lies. She is determined to set out on a mortal journey in order to find Y'shennria and Nightsinger who (by the way) took advantage of her first all the way until their diabolical plan turned to ashes and they needed to flee. Soo I am a little worried about Zera's clear judgment. Or at this point, I call her right mind into question. (Doctor again. See?)

That is also a subtle way to show how difficult relationships are and there is sometimes pink between the black and white. At this point, I need to clarify that pink is the new grey, Soo fancy... ;)

And special thanks for the foul, sordid dub actor - the hunger itself behind Zera's thoughts not being loud this time. I tended to skip those parts in the first book and I was relieved I didn't have to in the sequel. Amen.

P.S.: Who on earth falls in love with someone after two weeks? Only 13-year-old Justin Bieber fan. I love you Justin <3

Rating

5 out of 5. I expected to be blown away. The moment didn't arrive so I am still waiting for my Prince Charm on a strutting stallion to snatch me far away in some wondrous epic YA story. Until then it is a solid yet flickering 5.

Nothing new under the sun but hey, what is working is working right? So basically I got a 2.0 version of Joss Stirling Savant series. Hence, I can’t help but compare them a tiny bit.

It kinda depends on your state of mind since it is dripping with love kisses and all kind of girlish trash that you can ever imagine, just what I needed after a marathon of plain urban fantasy young adult novels. Even if you are not inspired by new blood boiling upbeat story that takes you to the pinnacle of pleasure you have to make it with good old school retellings of your favourite themes. And that’s just what I did. Supernatural abilities? Check. Powerful love interest? Check. Evil branch of opposing families waging war upon each other hating one another till last blood? Check. I didn’t miss anything in the world.

Caleb and Maggie is the presentation of how a functioning relationship is supposed to work so I was having a bath in it and I was drooling all over the ebook papers. (I need to check upon myself ‘cause my tablet doesn’t take moisture very well.) I loved Caleb protectiveness and the passion was coming in waves towards me from the chapters that my hardly could bear. They were stucked together 24/7 for my greatest pleasure and Caleb kept saying things that normal average girls would crave to hear so hell yeah, I loved this book so much. There were teeny tiny annoying things that didn’t make this outstanding and it does definitely not outdo the Benedict/Savant family but I cannot care for the moment. Like Kyle and Chad. Seriously? Their reasoning did not make sense whatsoever. And the worst part is that their characters do not have personalities. Those are the kind of papercharacters in a papertown telling papershit from a papermanual. Doesn’t feel real at all, which kind of sad. And the paperpeople do not stop coming in flocks. Bish, the granny, the cousin, the other great great great someone whoever and it doesn’t seem to end for a while. I wonder what they are supposed to replace. The originality of the story maybe? But you can count on one thing like a common treat for all of them: they are all obsessed with Maggie in general and nobody is willing to admit that Caleb is any good for her. So basically the book is 450 pages because of the same paraphrased mocking sentences of Caleb embellished by a couple of ‘Do not dare touch her or you’ll die’-s and ‘if you screw her over, you’ll not live any longer’-s . Fascinating, right?

Rating

4 out of 5 ( because the story caught me in the right place in the right time – basically this is what my favourite young adult stories are all about)

Three boys fighting over the emotionally fragile but breathtakingly beautiful protagonist? Check. Kidnapped and tortured several times just so as to be saved every single time by your soul mate? Check. As I told you, not an earth rocking debut novel but it has its perks without being too over the top. Winks.

„No matter what came, she would never give up and never surrender.”

Shuffle the cards

Ernie now returned as the Diamondback in her full strength owning a full deck of card, however, it is not so easy to keep the trumps in her right hand, for the other Dealers are not exactly always above board and playing according to Hoyle. Not to mention Gabe, who seems to be two minded about this Immortal deal that prolonged his life with more than a century having no family left. It is actually really moving to see his doubts and his closeness to the final decision of giving his life up to the Forger and it is soo sad to watch Gabe struggling like this. ‘Cause we can’t see but the silver lining of immortality: never-ending the beach parties, immense wealth and a bunch of other stuff, doesn’t it sound fun? But. Here we can observe the depression that evermore casts upon Gabe.

Although Gabe doesn’t get a fair share of the story as much as I’d like, but at least I got the suspense waiting for him to get tangled in the string of this immortal madness. Because I miss him. A lot. And Ernie does too. I heart their ship because it is not perfect at all and they attempt to figure out and realize some kind of compromise in the midst of the treachery and stealth of their fellow card shufflers. Even with all the wits and creativity, she got stuck in another dimension trying to get back to Gabe before all hell breaks loose.

Jumping on my nerves

Kot was obviously a joker in the pack and I welcomed new characters and the best part I didn’t suspect what card he’s got up in his sleeve. That doesn’t relate to Nuria his nuts-grasshopper-girlfriend who Freaked. Me. Out. Ughhh…huge insects touch some soft spot of mine.

As for the long-lost father, he is definitely not playing with his full deck. I don’t dare forebode a great  future for a heartwarming daughter-daddy family reunion as he has too many bad deeds to expiate. I don’t feel too much sympathy for him so it is time to liquidate him as soon as possible, if you ask me.

Fangirling

I kinda lovehate Ernie and Gabe dialogues because while they bring so much tension, I became impatient at the same time and I was like “you know, it is time to realize you’re better together than off and please, PLEASE confess your everlasting undying love for each other and go to bed finally”. What? It is a win-win situation ;)

Rating

4 out of 5

I need to admit the tug of wars went a bit haywire, so I’m not quite sure where exactly we stand now but I’ll find out in the third volume I guess.

This book was quite deceitful I must say. I kept on reading holding my hopes up the fantasy world Bethany conjured might expand...but it didn't, for my great sorrow.
Audrey was however the kind of heroine I might have sticked with, for I loved her quips and witty sidenotes hurled at Len all the time. I was anticipating where this dog-cat fight would lead eventually. And I got what I needed...at the end of the book.

I really stress the idea of this Guardian and his Guarded ship since it has so much potential in it. But the author might have assumed other writers put a slightly much more emphasis on romance in young adults, so she thought having spared us from this slimy hideous love connection between a gorgeous-hero-wanna-be and the defender-of-the-Kins-wanna-be may be a good idea. Well, it was anything but.
a) Leon was too neglected for my liking. He was arrogant, had a knack for scolding Audrey for puttting herself in danger and this kind of passion that every relationship deserves. b) Audrey didn't seem to be able to protect herself from the evil forces of the Harrowers so another reason Leon should have been involved more at least in her training.
I don't mind putting a love interest on hold as long as I can take part of a strong heroine who has some witts. Unfortunately Audrey didn't embody these distinct characteristics. Such a shame.

You know, there wasn't any novelty to this paranormal YA fantasy regarding the core idea. Bad underworld guys need to be kicked in the ass and good earthly fellows need to save the world. The catch is not in the plot necessarily but in the characters. I can't cope with both shallow character development plus good-old-demon-hunting narrative. It is too buch to bear. You don't want that either, do you?
Not to mention the sequel. ??? It was pretty obvious from the last chapter there was no reason whatsoever to drag this drab tidbit along.

Rating

3 out of 5 due to my gigantic heart who didn't race a moment during the most exciting thing of the world (YA reading)

As her name would suggest, Rose is not exactly a silk-petaled, blooming in the moonlight type of flower. Nonetheless, she is the crown of the Garden which is basically a grandiose theater in the middle of war between two empires that had put up a stilted theme so that everyone can be called Flowers and Wilted as in the priviliged and the expendables (it is way more dramatic, isn't it?).

Apparently, intimidation is the way to pull the strings amid the aerial dancers in order to run the majestic performance smoothly. However, it didn't really become clear for me why this little show bears so much importance in these dark ages that they needed to capture random girls and force them to dance until they slip or succeed. I suppose it was a twisted way of describing a brothel? So to say the least, I am not overly flabbergasted the original idea of the novel. As I'm told, you should appreciate the simplicity of things....but it was practially short-whitted. The plot is basically a love story that desperately needed the evil uncle character from whom Rayce could easily saved Rose once...no, twice....three times...whatever, who can follow it for now anyay? At which point I have to take note: beggars can't be choosers. (Pride and Prejudice ;) But my lack of imagination doesn't rectify the lack of creativity in this story unfortunately. Not my bad...

The story telling wouldn't be so bad, if it did not focus on the whole mushy, mawkish on-and-off meddley that these two love birds profess seriously. I can't even track who rescues who, who gets captured after who, not to mention, the occassional stabs wounds that obviously shock none of them, with what the suspense and the harroing agony for the main characters are forever lost, so for the time being I feel blank. But the thing is I love being filled up with emotions. Now judge me.
A prickin the thigh? Rose is gaily running after Oren to save him. A blow in the shoulder? She is deftly plying a sword-play with non other than the Demarion king itself being notorious for his agile swordmanship and sheer cruelty. A thrust in the gut? Rayce is happily dancing on his feet after 3 days from a stab in his middle. If he had gotten eviscerated, it would have been a cliffhanger telltale. And now you can behead me if you can :P

All in all, I am pretty negative about reading the sequel. I can do without fake drama right now. No offense.

Rating

3 ot of 5 (cause it was not frightful)