Book: The Impossible Knife Of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

Published January 2014 by Penguin Group|400 pages

Where I Got It: Nook store

Series: None

Genre: YA Contemporary

You can find The Impossible Knife Of Memory on goodreads & Laurie Halse Anderson on Twitter, Facebook and her website

Goodreads Summary: 

For the past five years, Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.

Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.

What I Thought:

When I saw that Laurie Halse Anderson had a new book, I knew I had to read it!  It’s right up there with Speak as one of my favorite Laurie Halse Anderson books, and I couldn’t help but relate to Hayley.

Hayley has so much going on at home with her dad, and she definitely has a lot of her own issues to deal with, not to mean everything her dad is going through.  Hayley’s dad isn’t the only going through things.

What really stuck with me was how we’d see a chapter from Andy’s POV every once in a while.  It struck me as something really different because you don’t normally see anything from the POV of the parent, and it really added to what was going on with both Andy and Hayley.

I felt like Anderson handled Andy’s PTSD and his experiences as a soldier so well and with so much care.  I’m glad Hayley has good friends in Grace and Finn and that she realized she can count on Trish, even with Trish leaving them years earlier. It’s such a great look at PTSD and how everyone deals with it and that it’s not limited to the person with PTSD but their friends and family as well.

My only complaint- which is a minor one- is that the ending wrapped up a little too nicely, especially with everything that happened in the book.  I did expect a happy-ish/hopeful ending, which we definitely got, but…something about it was a little too nice and neat.  Still, I so very much loved everything about this book, and I’m willing to overlook the ending because Laurie Halse Anderson has done such a good job at making both Hayley and her dad easy to relate to and understand.

Let’s Rate It:

The Impossible Knife Of Memory is another amazing book by Laurie Halse Anderson.  She does such a great job at creating characters who seem like real people and are so easy to relate to, even if you’ve never been through what they’re going through.  I love the few chapters from Andy’s point of view, and it really adds to Hayley’s story.  The Impossible Knife Of Memory gets 5 stars.

Book: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Published February 2014 by Feiwel & Friends|560 pages

Where I Got It: at the Nook store

Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3

Genre: YA Dystopic/Fairy Tale Re-Telling

You can find Cress on goodreads and Marissa Meyer on Twitter, Facebook and her website

Goodreads Summary: 

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

What I Thought:

Cress was so completely awesome!!!  Honestly, I think it might be my favorite in the series so far.  Cress has such an interesting story, and I LOVE what Meyer did with the Rapunzel story.  And how it connects to Cinder’s story…goodness, I wasn’t expecting some of the things that came up in this book!

I was surprised I loved Cress so much, considering how I excited I was and how much I had hyped up the book.  It definitely exceeded the already high expectations I had for Cress.  I just love how things from the first two books that I didn’t even think about come up in Cress (like something Dr. Erland mentioned about his daughter in Cinder) and how many connections there are between the characters and everything that’s going on.

There’s so much action and I liked that we had several different POV’s- Cinder, Scarlet and Cress, and it worked really well! Especially because they all have their own part in trying to put a stop to Kai’s wedding to Queen Levana.

Let’s start with Cress!  I just love her story, and I really do love her story the most.  I found her to be really sympathetic and lovable, and I felt bad that she was on a satellite for so long with only a few visits from Sybil, who worked closely with Queen Levana.

I also liked Scarlet’s story, especially when she meets Winter, who will be the focus of the next book.  Which I am anxiously awaiting, because hers another story I think I’ll love.  I like Cinder a lot, but I was so interested in what was going on with everyone else that I didn’t pay too much attention to Cinder herself.  We certainly learn some things when Cress focuses on Cinder, but I wasn’t as interested in her story as I had been with the other books.

Cress is such an awesome book, and it really makes an already awesome series even more awesome.  Plus, it’s easily my favorite cover in the series.  And I like how the covers all incorporate a really important element from the original fairy tale- a shoe from Cinderella, the cloak from Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel’s hair.  Even more cool is how the shoe, the cloak, and the hair tie are all red.

Let’s Rate It:

Cress is such an amazing addition to the series, and I’m so excited to read Winter!  I love how Meyer re-told Rapunzel, and Cress is easily my favorite book in the series so far.  Cress gets 5 stars.

Book: The Elite by Kiera Cass

Published April 2013 by HarperCollins|336 pages

Where I Got It: Nook Store

Series: The Selection #2

Genre: YA Dystopic

You can find The Elite on goodreads and Kiera Cass on Twitter, Facebook and her website

Goodreads Summary: 

Kiera Cass’s The Elite is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction, fairy tales, and reality TV. This sequel to The Selection will enchant teens who love Divergent and The Bachelor.

In America Singer’s world, a bride is chosen for the prince through an elaborate televised competition. In the second book of the Selection series, America is one of only six girls left in the running. But is it Prince Maxon—and life as the queen—she wants? Or is it Aspen, her first love?

The Elite delivers the adventure, glamour, political intrigue, and romance readers of The Selection expect, and continues the love triangle that captivated them.

What I Thought:

With The One coming out in a few months, I figured it was time to read The Elite!  I didn’t like it as much as I was expecting, given how much I loved the first one, but I still liked it!

I liked getting to learn more about the world America lives in, and how the country is really run by Maxon’s dad, who is not a nice dude.  Then again, he’s king, and it’s not at all surprising he loves being in charge and had a big role in selecting the Selection.

I just didn’t like America in The Selection!  She couldn’t decide between Maxon and Aspen and was really indecisive about who she wanted.  I get her indecisiveness, but it just got really frustrating and grating by the end of the book.  She pushed Maxon away, only to be annoyed when he showed interest in the other girls. She had trouble trusting him, even when he confided in her, and kept her distance even though she had feelings for him.

America seemed so much more petty and judgmental in The Elite than she did in The Selection, and while she had her good moments, she was also not as likable as I was expecting her to be.  I’m also not liking Aspen, although I have warmed up to Maxon a little.  I do understand Maxon a little bit better, and I’m thinking he deserves someone better than America, given how she’s acting.

As much as I like the world of Illea, the rebel attacks seem random and aren’t making a lot of sense.  How are they able to get past the security system in the palace two days in a row?  I just have so many questions, and I’m feeling like I’m not getting any answers.

As for the ending, we have another ending that seems really abrupt.  I was hoping it would be a one time thing, but it’s also frustrating because I was expecting more of a conclusion.  It really makes me feel like I’m reading one book that’s divided into parts as opposed to books that have their own story line but also come together to tell a larger story.

Let’s Rate It:

I love the world Cass created, and I love the elements of fairy tales and reality t.v. in a dystopic form, but I also wish the books didn’t end so abruptly.  And I also wish we got more explanations for the rebels.  I’m still interested in reading The One, because I want to see if any of my questions get answered, and to see if America finally makes up her mind.  The Elite gets 3 stars. 

Book: Infinite by Jodi Meadows

Published January 2014 by HarperCollins|432 pages

Where I Got It: Nook Store

Series: Newsoul #3

Genre: YA Fantasy

You can find Infinite on goodreads and Jodi Meadows on Twitter, Facebook and her website

Goodreads Summary: 

The stunning conclusion to the Incarnate trilogy, a fantasy series about a girl who is the first new soul born into a society where everyone else has been reborn hundreds of times.

Ana knows that soon life in Heart will be at risk so she escapes with her friends, seeking answers and allies to stop Janan’s ascension and keep the other Newsouls safe. But only she knows the true cost of reincarnation and the dangers she’ll encounter if she returns to stop him once and for all.

Romantic and action-filled, the rich world of Infinite is perfect for fans of epic fantasy like Graceling by Kristin Cashore and The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, while Ana’s courage to expose the cracks in society and fight for what is right is ideal for fans of dystopian novels.

What I Thought:

I’m so sad that this series over!  Infinite is such a good ending to the series, and there’s something about this series that makes me want to read it over and over.

We definitely see more of the world that Ana lives in, and we learn so much more about Ana and Sam and everything was resolved so well!  We finally learn why dragons don’t like Sam, and why the Sylph act the way they do around Ana, and the connection to phoenixes, and it all came together so well!  Range as a whole is so real and imaginative, and I just love how everything is described.  And Cris!  Oh, Cris.  Cris is pretty awesome in this book.

As much as I enjoyed Infinite, I’m not sure how I feel about the ending!  It really does fit so well with the book, and I can’t imagine a better ending for the series.  But at the same time, I expected something…different.  I’m not quite sure what but I think I expected something more than what actually happened.  I did like the epilogue as a whole, especially one part of it that made me so, so happy.

Infinite has such a different feel than the other two books- I think there is a certain darkness to this series, and it just feels different in Infinite than it did in Incarnate and Asunder.  There are some sacrifices made in Infinite, and maybe that’s where my feelings about the end come in.  It’s not surprising, and yet, I still wasn’t expecting it.

Let’s Rate It:

I didn’t love Infinite the way I loved Asunder, but I still really liked it!  I loved seeing the world being Heart and everything just came to life.  Infinite gets 4 stars.

Book: Tempest Unleashed by Tracy Deebs

Published

Where I Got It: Nook Store

Series: Tempest #2

Genre: YA Paranormal- Mermaids

You can find Tempest Unleashed on goodreads & Tracy Deebs on her website

Goodreads Summary: 

In Tempest Rising, Tempest chose to return to the sea, following in her mother’s footsteps and forging a relationship with the selkie Kona. Now many months have gone by, and she yearns to see her family again. Life under the ocean is full of rigorous training to eventually take over the throne, which leads to Tempest’s powers growing and manifesting in new ways. When Tiamat, Tempest’s power-hungry nemesis, attacks Tempest’s brother Moku on land, she returns to his side, which also brings her back to her old flame, Mark. But was the attack calculated to get Tempest out of the way? As the battle rages, Tempest’s two loves will collide to both protect her and force her to choose. And when the biggest casualty of all befalls the merpeople-the Queen loses her life-will Tempest be able, or willing, to take over the throne?

What I Thought:

I don’t tend to read mermaid novels for some reason, which is weird, because I really like mermaids.  But I really liked Tempest Unleashed!  I think it definitely bridges the gap between Tempest Rising and whatever is going to happen in Tempest Revealed. The things that happen, especially towards the end of the book…it definitely kept my interest, especially when Tempest discovers a cave that has oodles of pearls that contain her mother’s memories and regrets. Which is an interesting concept, and I really liked it because it’s something I can see mermaids actually doing.

I don’t blame Tempest for wanting to see her family, especially after being away from them for so long.  And I don’t blame her for missing her friends.  As for Kona and Mark…I can see her with both.  I like that Kona’s a selkie, and seems to have a good idea of what things are like for Tempest as a mermaid (and future heir to the merpeople throne).  But I also like Mark in the picture, because he represents her ties to the human world. This is one of the rare times when I actually really like the love triangle, because they both complement Tempest in so many different ways.  It’s weird, because I liked Kona better in the first one, and I liked Mark better in this one, so it’ll be interesting to read the last one to see who Tempest chooses.  Because I feel like her mind isn’t completely made up.

I really liked the underwater world, and it felt like such a real place!  I can totally imagine a world like this being underwater.  Other than the stuff going on with Tiamat, it seems like it’s a very peaceful place, and it’s a world I’d love to see without the threat of Tiamat.  There’s so much conflict!  There’s the stuff between Tempest and Tiamat, of course, but there’s also some conflict with Queen Hailana and who Tempest trains with.  I think her powers are interesting, and I’m finding that I can’t wait to see her learn a little more about them.

As for her family…I’m glad she got to see them and spend time with them, even if one brother is really angry with her and seems to be a slightly different character then he was when we first met him.  And Moku!  Poor Moku!  On the plus side, Moku does end up being okay, which is good, because there’s something very sweet about him.

Let’s Rate It:

I really liked Tempest Unleashed, and the underwater world.  There is a slightly darker feel to Tempest Unleashed, which I thought was interesting.  I didn’t fall in love with Tempest Unleashed, but I thought it was a great sequel.  Tempest Unleashed gets 4 stars.

Book: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Published February 2013 by HarperCollins|Pages: 480

Where I Got It: Nook Store

Series: Shatter Me #2

Genre: YA Dystopic/Paranormal

You can find Unravel Me on goodreads & Tahereh Mafi on Twitter, Facebook and her website

Goodreads Summary:

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it’s almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She’s finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam’s life.

What I Thought:

I finally read Unravel Me!  It took me awhile to actually read it, but with Ignite Me out, I knew it would be a good time to read it!

I actually really liked Omega Point and seeing what they’re all about.  And seeing everyone’s abilities was all cool.  It really is a good mix of paranormal dystopia.  I liked that Juliette and Adam spent time discovering their abilities and what they could really do.

What I really love about this book is how she uses the strikethrough and how some words are placed on the page.  There’s something about it that draws your eye to the page, and it somehow brings out Juliette’s thoughts and feelings so well.  I feel like I’m feeling what Juliette is feeling because of it.

Speaking of Juliette, I just feel for her so much.  It’s just so hard for her to trust people, and I don’t blame her at all for that, given everything that’s happened to her.  There’s something about Juliette that’s so fragile, and I can’t help but root for her!  Her abilities are definitely interesting, and I liked how accepting she became of her abilities.

I really liked her friendship with Kenji!  Kenji is a pretty amazing character, and I can’t help but love him!  I know he and Juliette are never going to happen because of Warner and Adam, but there is a small part of me that still likes Juliette with him.  And speaking of Warner and Adam…there’s so much going on with them and Juliette!

I really felt for both of them in Unravel Me.  I felt like I understood Warner a little bit better- although I have the feeling Destroy Me will completely make me change my mind about him, since people seem to find him more sympathetic after reading it- and I’m not sure how I feel about Adam.  I like him, and I felt for him, but…I don’t know.  I think I’m feeling pretty neutral about him right now.  As for Juliette ending up with either of them…I feel so torn!  I don’t particularly like her with either of them right now.

But I will say that Chapter 62 was utterly astounding!  In a good way.  I wasn’t expecting that at all, but…I still don’t know what to think about it!

There’s so much I wasn’t expecting!  Like the last few chapters.  I knew it was coming, but I didn’t expect it to happen the way it did. And now I can’t wait to read Ignite Me, because I need to know how it all ends!

Let’s Rate It:

I loved Unravel Me!  I still can’t believe it took me so long to get around to it, but I just love Juliette! Unravel Me really surprised me and I couldn’t help but be drawn in by the action at the end of the book.  Unravel Me gets 5 stars.