Firstlife~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

"If at first you don't succeed, kill your opponent."

            In the Firstlife, you decide which realm you are going to join once you enter the Everlife. Either you choose Myriad or Troika.

            Tenley does not want to chose.

            Because of her resistance, she is locked in a facility with other teenagers to be tortured into figuring out which side she will chose when she enters Everlife. During her time in the facility she is alone, watches friends and her boyfriend die, and is bullied by other inmates. Life seems meaningless. That is until Killian and Archer showed up to the facility.

Archer and Killian have been sent by the two realms to try to make Tenley join their realm in the Everlife.

            When Tenley and Sloan, a friend in the facility, escape they get a chance to see what each realm has to offer. On the run, Tenley finds herself stuck between a fight for her soul. But who can she really trust? What choice will she make if the realm she is leaning towards isn't the one where the boy she's falling for lives? Tenley is determined to make a decision for herself but will she be able to keep herself alive to make the decision?

            
             I liked this book so I gave it 3 and a half out of 5 stars. I think the whole idea of the Everlife and the realms was an extremely interesting idea and plot for a story. But the part that confused me the most was I never really felt like I knew the definite reason why Tenley wanted to be so resistant. I get maybe wanting to find your own future but she had the choice of choosing which realm to enter into, yet she was so  against choosing either side. That's a big thing that kind of bothered me was how stubborn she was. It was hard to connect with her character. Most of all though I did like the whole plot to the story and how the author created this unique way of living in these two lives. There also was some romance in this book, but it definitely was not all the story was about. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy.  



Lady Midnight~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

 

 

"But our love was stronger by far than the love, Of those who were older than we- Of many far wiser than we- And neither the Angels in the Heavens above Nor the demons down under the sea Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.."

           

            It's been five years ears since the Dark War that took the lives of thousands of Shadowhunters. Order has been restored and Shadowhunters are forbidden from helping any of the Fair Folk. After Mark was taken by the Fair Folk and his parents were killed, he was left to watch over his brothers and sister and the weight of the whole New York Institute was left on his shoulders. Emma was left trying to find out who killed her parents because she refuses to believe that it was Sebastian due to the markings on their bodies. She begins to give up hope. At least until Mark appear at their door with other Fair Folk.

            The Fae believe they can help track who killed Emma's parents since they have found even more bodies with the strange markings. If Emma and Julian help them, they have a chance to have Mark back and find the people who killed Emma's parents.

            As Emma searches for her parent's killer, she's left wondering what Julian has been keeping from her. As her parabatai, they have a special bond. A parabatai is your best friend and your partner in battle, but they can never fall in love. But why not? Can she stand to know the truth? Even more importantly, can she stand to actually find the person who killed her parents?

            I fell in love with this book so I gave it 5 stars! I LOVE Cassandra Clare's writing more than anything and I think this new trilogy is going to be amazing, just like the Infernal Devices and Mortal Instruments series that she also wrote. I loved the characters, like I usually do. Each character is unique. My favorite part of these series is Clare has made each family different. For example, my favorite characters throughout each series are any of the Herondales. They're brave and sarcastic and hilarious. Each character has their own personality that you really will not forget. I'm someone who likes romance but to a certain extent. I hate when that's ALL the book is about when it's really supposed to be about something bigger than that. A BIG thing I love about these characters is that their independent and they're mature which is the type of characters you really need in a book like this. Also, the plot to this book is phenomenal. I don't know how Cassandra Clare can keep making more and more series off these characters, but she does an amazing job at it.

            I would highly recommend reading The Mortal Instruments series before this book because you learn about every character in this book in the 6th book of the series. A lot of reading... But I promise Cassandra Clare's writing won't let you down. Also, there is prequel series called the Infernal Devices series that is about these characters ancestors. Not necessary to have to read before this book, but it gives you background information to better understand two characters Jem and Tessa that show up in this book.

            I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure! This is an amazing start to what will be an undoubtedly amazing trilogy!



Passenger-- Reviewed by Sarah Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Everything you touch surely dies.” 

     One traumatic night changes everything for violin prodigy, Etta Spencer. She loses everything that she knows and loves in the world. Etta is thrown into a world that she never knew existed, by a dangerous stranger with a agenda. Etta knows one thing and that is that she hasn't just traveled miles from home, but years.


     Etta has inherited a legacy that has she never even knew about. She inherited this legacy from a family she never knew anything about. Enter Nicholas Carter.


     Nicholas Carter loves his life at sea, free from the Ironwood family- a family that is very powerful in the colonies- and the service of his own hands. But everything changes with the arrival of a mysterious passenger; Etta. Nicholas experiences the pull of a past that he much rather have forgotten about. He can't escape the family that won't let him go so easily. The Ironwoods won't stop until they get their hands on Etta. He must protect her and the secret object that Etta is supposed to give them


    Join Nicholas and Etta on a perilous journey across continents and centuries, as they piece together clues of a traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwood's grasp.


      I thought this book was wonderful! I loved Nicholas as a character because he really embodied the want for freedom. The book gave me chills in some parts, and the characters really came to life in my head, and hopefully other people's heads when they read this book. I gave this book four and half stars because although the characters were well composed, I thought the book lagged a little in a part or two. Otherwise, I thought this book was brilliant and I would recommend it all my friends and family.


Suck-It Up-- Reviewed by Alexandra Lopez

Author: Brian Meehl
Reviewer: Alexandra Lopez

After graduating from the International Vampire League, a scrawny teenage vampire named Morning McCobb is given the chance to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a superhero when he embarks on a mission to become the first vampire to reveal his identity to humans and to demonstrate how peacefully-evolved, blood-substitute-drinking vampires can use their powers to help humanity. He ends up falling for Portia Dredful, a beautiful, strong willed girl. Things get harder, however, as he has to resist the temptation of sucking Portia's blood. Will McCob be able to resit?

I really did enjoy this book. The most that I've enjoyed from this was the explanation given to why they don’t burn. I like mythical creatures, just as much as the next guy. However it bothers me when vampires can withstand the sun. It’s basic knowledge that vampires burn in the sun. But in Suck-It Up it gives a reasonable reason why they don’t burn, which I was pleased with. Of course the book overall was good, but there could have sped up some parts. If you enjoy vampires then you should read it. I recommended to those that enjoy sparkly vampires that this isn’t your book.

Fairy Tale -- a review by Nallely Saavedra

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
*** Stars

All Morgan Sparks wants is to keep Cam by her side forever.

All her life, Morgan has been different from the rest. Most of her childhood she spent with Cam Browne, and she couldn't be any happier. But after she witnesses her boyfriend, Cam, fly on the football field, he starts to act different. Morgan can't help but feel insecure. Morgan knows Cam is hiding something, and if he won't tell her, she'll do anything to find out why. For the sake of their future she'll do anything to keep him by her side.This is a tale of two best-friends who struggle in saving their destined love.

I rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars because too many things were happening at once, so much so that it got confusing halfway through. Though, I liked Morgan because she was a straight-forward person. ^^ The ending made me really upset and mad, but if a sequel were released I'd want to read it ^^! I didn't like it that much because it didn't really explain what Morgan was emotionally feeling..it just had a short description of her emotions. I felt like Balog needed to express Morgan's pain a little more. I kind of wish Balog would've added Cam's point-of-view. I feel like that would've made it better.

Enjoy,
Nallely S. ^^

Devoured --- a review by AmyLyon

Devoured
by Amanda Marrone


****


Megan Sones really does not want to work at Land of Enchantment, the amusement park full of fairytales, but what choice does she have when her boyfriend will be working there with the girl who believes he's her soul mate. And to make matters worse her sister shows up again to show her a vision, only this vision is a bit more disturbing. And what does all of this have to do with Snow White? Perhaps tradition has forgotten a few details of the "happily ever after"... The real question is: apples or knives?

Devoured put an interesting twist on the traditional fairytale of Snow White, all the while weaving in the insanity of the family that owns the park. The characters weren't the mainstream whinners normally associated with YA fiction. And I was happy that for once the girl actually dumped the idiot for the good guy, instead of dragging things out with both. Overall, I liked this novel and would read more from this author.

City of Fallen Angels- Review by Aspen Gates

City of Fallen Angels

Cassandra Clare

*** 1/2 stars

City of Fallen Angels continues on with three leading characters Clary, Jace, and Simon trying to sort out there issues on who they really are. From Clary and Jace acknowledging the fact that they were never siblings, and can love each other conditionally, to Simon accepting that he is a vampire, but will forever be different since he can walk in the sunlight and nobody can do him bodily harm thanks to Clary giving him the Mark of Cain. However, nothing ever turns out as easy as some want it to especially these three. Clary and Jace are so happy to be together until Jace starts pulling away from Clary due to his nightmares, or are they his? Simon is still living at home with his mother, trying to hide his true self from her which really isn't helping either of them, not to mention he is dating to beautiful girls, one a werewolf and the other a shadowhunter. But that's not all that's going on with Simon someone wants him dead, but due to his mark nobody can touch him or they suffer seven fold. And to top it all off someone is killing off shadowhunter's that had originally been apart of Valentine's army and blaming it on the downworlder's which will soon cause another war that was suppose to have ended. If You don't know what I'm talking about at all then I suggest you go read the first three, City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass to help you understand this a whole lot better in the O'Hara library.

I thought City of Fallen Angles was a good continuation of The Mortal Instruments series however, it made me really angry and confused at times. There were parts in there that didn't really go well with the story, and I felt that Cassandra Clare could have elaborated on those points a little better. Also I felt that the author was really putting to much pressure and helplessness on one character through out the book and that really made me wan to throw the book out, but of course I didn't so instead I rated this book with 3 1/2 stars for that. Though I'm saying a lot of negative things about this book, there were plenty of amazing scenes and I can't wait for book number five and hopefully that will clear some things up and make this series a great story like I know it's capable of being.

Delirium --- a review by Amy Lyon

Delirium
by Lauren Oliver

****


Magdelena(Lena) is counting down the days until she is cured. Lena is anxious, hoping that the cure works for her, that she won't end up like her mother. On the day of her Evaluations, someone gained access to the labs and let loose a stampede of cows, disrupting her failings Evaluation. And whats even more puzzling is the young man laughing, laughing. But what happens when Lena and her friend, Hana, meet the very same young man after their run? And when he invites her to meet him, should she go?

The society in Delirium is similar to that of Matched, everything is decided for them and showing individuality is grounds for being put away. But this society believes that love is a disease, deliria nervosa amor, and everyone is cured after their eighteenth birthday. Apparently, a society without love operates more efficiently, like a well oiled machine. The characters were relatable, Hana loved unsanctioned music and dancing; but like every teenager, it was just a phase of rebellion. I enjoyed this book, but found the ending disappointing. This is the first in the trilogy, and I'm hoping the series gets even better. I would recommend this book to those who have read The Giver or Matched.