Gone by Lisa McMann

Third and final book in the Wake trilogy, I do have Wake and Fade reviewed. If you would like to read them click on their titles and you will be taken to my reviews. I can do a review of the trilogy as a whole if requested, otherwise I will just continue on with the planned reviews to come. If you would like for me to do something like that, say something. I will leave my Tumblr link at the very bottom of this, and if you would like to say so there go right on ahead. Anonymous is on for those who would like to utilize it.

Janie knew what her future was going to be like, or so she thought. She'd make peace with it and not avoid it until the last minute. The only thing she didn't want, was to drag Cabel down with her. He will stay with her, even though she knows what he fears through his dreams. It makes her an emotional and mental train wreck. She knows what she has to do to set him free. She has to disappear completely, and this is going to hurt them both. The next thing Janie knows a stranger comes into her life and everything she thought she knew comes undone. The future she thought she knew has a twist to it. Her choices are more desperate, and she has to choose between the lesser of two evils to live with.

For a final book, I would say this one wasn't bad. It tied up loose ends, it answered questions, and it didn't leave me hanging. It left enough up to the imagination at the end and the rest is how ever the reader perceives it to be. I really enjoyed reading Gone, it picked up not too long after Fade. The trials of the three teachers are over and Janie's cover was blown. No surprise there, she was forewarned that that could happen. I couldn't put this book down, I wanted to know what was going to happen with Janie and what her big decision would be at the end. And I wanted to know who this mysterious guy would end up being, though I pretty much knew. I liked how it was portrayed that being in a relationship at a young age isn't always the easiest thing, especially when you have to act so grown. Some relationships won't be a walk in the park, they need work and communication from both sides. Communication, yet again, is an essential for a relationship. Even though Janie could see the inner turmoil in Cable through his dreams, he wasn't talking about it. I know I didn't mention this before, but both Fade and Gone, the copies I checked out from my library smelled amazing. I don't know how or why but they did.

I was disappointed in how predictable most of Gone was. I was hoping for the same mystery as in the first book, but I found that I knew what was going to happen pretty soon after reading the back of the book. I knew there would be two choices and only two choices for Janie to make. Go into seclusion or stay with Cabe and suffer the consequences of being a dream walker. That was pretty much the whole entire basis of this book. Janie making her decision. I was hoping for more action, but I was really let down. Yes, things did happen that we as readers wanted to know since Wake, but it was what had to happen to give this book length. Things could have been much worse, but this book had so much potential. I am severely angry when it comes to Janie's mom and why she is a drunk. *SPOILER-ALERT* The mystery man is obviously Janie's father. Come to find out he doesn't live that far away from her. He lives a secluded life and has his consequences because of it. He's also a dream walker. All because Janie's mom couldn't be with him, she became a drunk.*SPOILER-ENDED* She has a child and she should look at it as, she still has a piece of him that she can give unconditional love to.

In all I was more disappointed in Gone. I still think it was a great read, and I loved it, I just wish there was more than what was given. I absolutely still recommend this book and this trilogy, and I would love to own all three. Would I reread Gone as much? Probably not. People of all ages could get into this trilogy, not just young adults. I will say it again, if you want my review of the trilogy as a whole, you can leave a comment on this review saying so, or go to my Tumblr (link at the bottom) and say so there.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Page Count: 214 pages (hardcover)

Next Book: Swept Up by Kayla Dawn Thomas

Thank you for reading!
~Jade


Tumblr link: http://jades-reviews.tumblr.com/ (If you want to ask me a question or talk look at the very top, and where it says "Questions? ASK ME HERE!" click that and it will enable you to ask away.

I Kissed a Zombie, and I liked It by Adam Selzer

This is a stand-alone book by Selzer, who does have a number of other books published. I honestly don't know how this review is going to turn out at the moment of typing this. I really hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings. I don't intend to, and this is my honest thoughts and feelings of this book. If you loved or liked this book there is not a thing wrong with that.

Uniquely named Algonquin (Ali) Rhodes is the high school newspaper's music critic. While reviewing a gig she gets awestruck by a singer named Doug. He looks goth, and not a fake kind of goth. They are introduced after he gets done singing, and upon a little questioning he talks very quietly almost like a whisper. Once they are dating, Ali finds herself falling hard and because of this she doesn't notice a few things about Doug. He doesn't change his clothes, his head is slightly shaped differently, and he really doesn't speak. It isn't until a classmate points out the obvious for Ali, that it all comes crashing down. Doug isn't exactly a goth, he's a zombie. Seeing things in a new light, Ali learns that zombies are really hard to get rid of. Not to mention the vampires, that are practically like the mafia, don't appreciate Ali's critique that makes fun of the band.

I loved Ali's full name, Algonquin. I thought it was really different and I haven't read any other book with that name for any character. I like her whit for the most part and I really wish that she would have used her brain a little more than she did. I like that vampires, werewolves, and zombies are known and how that came to be. Obviously not all zombies are mindless because Doug is up and walking without moaning "brains". He's alive because he drinks embalming fluid to keep him going, where as if he doesn't he will turn to dust which is what happened with most of the other zombies. I love the message at the end the "don't take life for granted". I think a lot of younger people do do this and don't realize that you won't have your younger years forever. Don't just waste it away, enjoy it, because eventually you won't be able to. The vampires straight out annoyed me but in a good way, it's been a while since I have read a book where the main character doesn't like them. I also like the point that gets made of, get your head out of your S.O. butt and back into your life. Your life cannot just stop because your boyfriend or girlfriend is there. You have to live for yourself. I chuckled just a couple of times, I wish I had more because this book had a lot of potential for it, but it just didn't happen.

Now, this is the part where I hope not to offend anyone. For this being a younger young adult novel I can see where some of this is relevant, but for the most part I found it annoying. Ali lets herself be blinded over the fact that Doug sings a few songs that she loves and he really puts some emotion behind his singing. She blatantly ignores the very, very obvious fact that Doug is a zombie. Then once she finds out she decides to break up with him but never gets around to it. She decides to break up with him over a few things; him not texting her back that very moment, him not telling her that he is a zombie the very moment that they met, and a few others. Also along the lines of her not realizing that he is a zombie, Megamart are the people who made the zombies rise and used them as slaves. Doug takes her to Megamart to specifically pick up his medication. She then goes into this rant about Megamart, and reveals a few things that all point to Doug being a zombie. Yet it still didn't click for her. For a girl with a head on her shoulders she sure as hell let one thing knock it off. I really didn't see a plot to this book. Live life fully? Don't take things for granted? Don't be an ice queen? What? My favorite annoyance is the sexual innuendos list. "We might have to do #7 from out list later." They hadn't been dating long and yet she is ready to go all out with him. Don't put this in a YA book. I really could go on about what annoyed me in this book but I won't.

I can see this being a younger adult novel, it's small, and it's a quick read. I think younger girls especially need to see how dumb it can look for them to be completely and utterly wrapped up in their S.O. It took for Ali to see how others where acting, before she realized that she was doing the same, and it looked bad. There is nothing wrong with being in love, just don't make it the end all be all when you are still so young . I liked a few of the messages but overall this book annoyed me and made me want to hit my head against the wall. If I saw this book for sale I most likely wouldn't get it. I recommend this book to those who have read this review and still want to read it but you have been warned.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Page Count: 177 pages (paperback)

Next Book: Gone by Lisa McMann

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

Fade by Lisa McMann

Second book in the Wake trilogy, I do have the first book Wake reviewed and it is linked. I will have the third book reviewed soon. I made darn sure to check out both books this time instead of one at a time. Gone won't be next, but it will be after the next book review. If you are interested keep on the look out for it, or just wait until I link it back in this review.

Things haven't changed, yet. Janie and Cabel still have a secret relationship and trying to find time for themselves is near impossible. With little clues, something very wrong is happening at Fieldridge High, but no one is speaking up about it. It isn't until Janie enters a classmates dream that things begin to open up. Nothing goes as planned, nothing is easy. Janie has a lot on her plate, and Cable is no help. His behavior ends up getting them both in trouble. It's one hit after another for Janie, she learns the truth about her ability, and it's not the greatest. Her fate is all but sealed as a dream catcher, but what's to come is what could break a person.

Oh the feels, oh so many feels with Fade. This was just as good as the first, and I have high hopes for the third and final book. There was just as much excitement, and drama as the first, only I would say there is more emotion this time around. You're heart can't help but go out to Janie, and everything that she is going through. I'm grateful that she has Cable, but there is more growing that needs to be done mentally and emotionally for them both. I love the fact that I was glued to the book from page one. I had to finish it once I started, things got in the way of that but I was grabbing Fade every chance I got. I was most definitely kept interested throughout the book. I loved the plot and how we got to see Janie go undercover and deal with a problem. I'd say that Janie grows some in Fade she begins to see that she has to be a big girl about her life and not about another's life. She really has to start thinking about her own life and what is going to happen. I love Captain, she's like the tough mother that both Cable and Janie need. Captain is for sure on my top five favorite characters.

I was a little disappointed in a few things. They were minor and shouldn't pose a problem, but I was hoping for one of them not to happen. I know I have mentioned this before. I've noticed that with second books if the two main characters are love interests, this reoccurring theme almost always happens. *SPOILER-ALERT* After the bust goes down and Janie does her job, Cable pretty much breaks up with her. This is more at the end of the book, but it happened nonetheless. *SPOILER-ENDED* I was hoping that McMann would stay away from this, but I understand. Cable's reasoning for this though, had me wanting to bang my head against the wall. I understand with his father being majorly abusive, but still Janie? Janie wouldn't be like that. Also, there was a huge predictable spot in the book, as to the drawback to being a dream catcher. I saw that coming from the very beginning. I think a lot of people also did too. I wouldn't say that it ruined the book for me because there was so much more going on in the book.

Without really intending to, I have been reading books lately that need a sort of trigger warning. Fade is one of them, but it is still a very clean book. There is talk of rape, a number of times throughout the book. It goes with the plot, and the undercover work that Janie has to do. There is nothing graphic, and there are no details. There is also talk of being drugged. This next one is more of a warning for parents. There is talk of sex, once again, not graphic and not detailed. It is hinted toward. If you think you can handle mentions, and hints, then you can handle reading Fade. I guess I will do this more often if I see a need to put a trigger warning on a book.

I recommend this book and the previous Wake to everyone, young and "old". I would love to own this book. I don't see a problem with younger people reading, I don't think the topics in this would be anything that they can't handle. Obviously if a parent hasn't had a few talks with them they may be curious as to what is going on. For a young adult book, I loved it. Even with the predictable parts I wanted to keep reading. It was just a little bump in the road. I just wish that this were a longer book, along with the first. I would most definitely reread Fade again.
 

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Page Count: 248 pages (hardcover)

Price: ???

Next Book: I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

 

Thanks for reading!

~Jade

Strong Like Me by Laurel Veil

This is another book I won from a Goodreads giveaway*. Veil has four other books out not including Strong Like Me. This is a stand-alone as far as I can tell, and for sure for those in middle school. Though I think people of all ages could read this book and learn a thing or two. I will repeat this later on.

She has money, she has good looks, and she has a mansion for a house. But everything Jessica has is about to be ripped apart right before her very eyes. Her nasty attitude has granted her more enemies than friends, though they say to "keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer". Someone, or something, is through with her spoiled brat-itude. Just days before her sixteenth birthday disturbing visions of her very bleak future, and images of her closet skeletons come to haunt her. Though when given the chance to start anew, she starts to see her parents in a whole new light. The people who should be helping her are just hurting her, and those who Jessica doesn't suspect are the ones that will help her the most. Can Jessica make amends, or will she just be doomed?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I think it is perfect for middle school kids. It touches on topics that are relevant at that time be it in the earlier years or later. Though there were predictable points for me I take that in consideration that this is for younger readers, and there were really cool twists too. I was kept interested all throughout the book, I don't think there was once when I wanted to put down the book for another. Jessica is a hard character to like at first but you come to see why she is the way she is, and it makes you just a little sympathetic towards her. Quite honestly her parents bugged me more than she did. There is a strong correlation between Strong Like Me and Scrooge, when more of the paranormal part of the book comes out. I really don't want to say too much more because this is a smaller book.

Besides the fact that I wanted to strangle Jessica (which I am sure everyone will) I didn't not like anything about Strong Like Me. Normally I will state what I didn't like about a book here, instead I will touch on the touchy subjects that are mentioned or talked about or hinted upon. None of these are promoted or made to look "cool". I am sure that by middle school a kid has had the "stay away from drugs, and don't drink underage" talk. There are two of the touchy subjects. *SPOILER-ALERT* The one other one is (I think to be) really underage pregnancy, and the heart-breaking loss of that. It's a little hard to guess when it happened but that's what it read to be for me. *SPOILER-ENDED* If you are a parent and you see something that you may not like for your child to read, let me reassure you that they are touched upon. It isn't on every single page. It is not glorified, it doesn't go in depth, and I don't think you would have any reason to worry about it. Personally, I've had worse health classes and I think any middle school aged kid could easily handle the few spots.

Even though I said this is for sure for those in middle school, I still think everyone can read this and learn something from it. If you don't learn anything from it, because you already know to treat people nice and respectfully, then you may just read the book to enjoy it. I know I did. That was a wordy way of saying I think everyone can read this book and like it. If you are a parent and you are still not sure if you want your child to read this, I encourage you to read it for yourself. It is quick and the chapters are not long. I finished this book within two days of sporadically reading it. I recommend everyone to read this, and I am happy that I own it. I do feel that I will reread this book when I am unsure of what to read next.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Page Count: 143 pages (paperback)

Price: ???

Next Book: Fade by Lisa McMann

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

*Note: I am in no way being coerced into making a review. Leaving a review is happily welcome but not required thus if I don't like a book I will say so. This review is based upon my true feelings and thoughts about the book. I promise you I wouldn't let anything sway my opinion about a book.

Trinity-The Prophecy by Kylie Price

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway* that Kylie Price herself hosted. The Prophecy is the first book so far, there is a second book planned as far as I know. Price does have another book out called Wings of Vengeance. I did mention The Prophecy in my November and December book haul, and along with the book a few other goodies came all the way from Australia! I want to visit Australia in the warm months, and I am happy to have something that came from there *strokes book lovingly*.

Since fifth grade Trinity, Nikkee, and Sky have been best friends. It seemed that nothing could tear them apart. Until Trinity's eighteenth birthday, a day that should have been a big deal. The big 1-8, but it turned out to be anything but a milestone. Time was running out for Trinity, a prophecy foretold that she would be scratched by beast and bitten by monster. By the next full moon she would have to choose a side. So many questions pop up in Trinity's mind, will her friends still be there for her? Which side would she pick? What would happen afterwards?

I don't think I have read many books where an individual who has been attacked by a werewolf and bitten by a vampire has survived without being in a lot of pain or just died. I liked that a lot about The Prophecy. I couldn't put the book down, even with a few things that bugged me which I will get into later. I loved that there was a bigger backstory that kept being hinted toward and then finally told. The backstory really had me interested because it was the reason (for this particular book) as to why some supernatural creatures where created. I'm very curious to see how the second book pans out in terms of Trinity and her decision. Character-wise, I loved Nikkee I think she is another best friend that everyone should have. Sky, I wasn't too crazy about just because of the way that she acted but it is still very redeemable. I really want to see more from Garth though, he really intrigued me and he wasn't in the book all that much. Even though things moved really quickly, I feel as though it worked really well for The Prophecy. If it wasn't as fast paced as it was I could see myself having a hard time finishing the book. I laughed a few times which I always enjoy from a book. The preview for the second book realllly has me wanting more. The action in The Prophecy started and ended very well and I didn't have a problem with any of it. This ends with my love-hate relationship of a 'to be continued' cliffhanger, but I will take where it ended.

There where a couple of things I wasn't too happy about. They did drop my rating just a bit but not dramatically at all. The first one was the first third to almost fourth of the book I felt like it was "and then this happened, and then this happen, and then, and then" etc. Though those words weren't said all the time that is how it felt. It bothered me, but I could ignore it easily and soon it just stopped. The other thing was Nikkee seemed a little too good of a friend to be true. Nikkee is rich and it is mention a number of times that she is, and like I said it just read to be too good to be true. I hope that made sense.. But that's how I felt, if you feel different that's perfectly fine. The final thing that really bothered me that I could have missed, was that Trinity seemed to have little inner turmoil going on. I don't feel that there was a lot, and I don't know about anyone else but if I was told the things that Trinity was (and I won't even spoil them because it will ruin a good portion of the plot) I would have lost it mentally. Trinity held it together nicely, yes. She did have a smaller breakdown, yes. She did have Nikkee to help vent and talk things over with, yes. I guess I would've liked to have read a little more in terms of a inner battle with herself. There was some, it just didn't feel like enough to me.

All in all I really, truly did enjoy The Prophecy. It was a very good read and I loved it. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who wants to read it. I don't see anything wrong with an advanced reader in middle school reading this. It's a pretty clean book even with the fighting in it, much worse is seen in movies. There is some Australian terminology, but if you use your context clues it's not very hard to figure out what it means. Obviously I own the book, and I would reread this many times before I would put it down for a length of time. I will review the next book, and any of Price's other books when I can.

Rating: 4.7 out of 5.

Page Count: 320 pages (paperback)

Price: ???

Next Book: Strong Like Me by Laurel Veil

Thanks for reading!
~Jade

*Note: I am in no way being coerced into making a review. Leaving a review is happily welcome but not required, thus if I don't like a book I will say so. This review is based upon my true feelings and thoughts about the book. I promise you I wouldn't let anything sway my opinion about a book.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Second book in the Lunar Chronicles, I do have the first book Cinder reviewed and it is linked as well. Like the last book, Scarlet is a spinoff, only this time of Little Red Riding Hood. The next book is Cress. The fourth book Winter comes out late this year. There is a short story that goes along with this series, called Glitches. You can get free on Amazon for your Kindle. There are a few other books and short stories that go along with the series, one other is also free.

Cinder has returned for the second book. She's trying to escape from prison and if she succeeds she will become the most wanted person in Commonwealth. Then halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother has gone missing. She meets Wolf, a street fighter, who may or may not have information about her grandmother. As much as Scarlet doesn't want to trust him, she is drawn to him and he to her. The two of them begin to decipher a mystery, and they come up against yet another when they meet up with Cinder. Together they must try and stay one step ahead of Queen Levana. The one who rules Lunar and is meaner than mean and will do anything to get Prince Kai to become her prisoner....I mean king...

For a YA novel I really think adults and "older" people could enjoy this read. I'm really glad that Cinder was still a main character in this book, along with Scarlet and a few others. So far my list of people that I like is growing, most of the new characters introduced in Scarlet I came to enjoy. Captain Thorne is the comic relief that we need from time to time with his whit and I like that about him. I found Wolf to be very endearing, because I knew he wanted to do good but just had a rough start to life. Along with a few things that where out of his control, but he didn't let that deter him, especially after he met Scarlet. I wasn't too sure how both Cinder and Scarlet where going to be able to coexist in this book together, but their plot lines came together nicely. Meyer did a great job with the two. I didn't have one problem with the action in this book, it started earlier and lasted long enough for me. I find it fascinating that in just a short amount of time I read two separate books both with a bad guy named Jael. I wonder if I will find a book where he is the hero of sorts? Once again as in Cinder, you can see the parallels between Little Red Riding Hood and Scarlet. I am wondering how Cinder and Kai's relationship is going to pan out though, or if it does. I also liked that Levana's character is continuing to be unraveled slowly and in a way that is keeping me interested. Along with that we as a reader are learning some very interesting things that are going on on Lunar. I hope that Meyer will divulge more on what is going on on Lunar.

Honestly, I don't have anything to rant about that I didn't like. As I said before whereas I have had problems with when the action starts in a book, I didn't have it for Scarlet. The spoiler that is marked ahead, if you have read Scarlet, then it shouldn't be a spoil for you. *SPOILER-ALERT* I have seen a theme from the first book to the second one, where someone dies. In the first book it was Peony, and then there is grandmother in this one. And quite possibly a second yet to be confirmed or revealed as a hoax. I wonder who is next, I wonder if someone will perish in Cress? *SPOILER-ENDED*

As of now, I recommend this book and the previous to anyone and everyone. Not just young adults. I would even say that an advanced reader in middle school could conquer this book. There isn't anything that I would say is something that a parent may take offense with. Even with the bloodier descriptions, they could have been a lot worse, and I guarantee that you see worse in movies. I hope I continue to be happy with this series and if I am not you will know. I would reread this book and I do want to own it. If you haven't read these books yet, I say go for it!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Page Count: 454 pages (hardcover)

Price: $17.99

Next Book: Trinity-The Prophecy by Kylie Price

Thank you for reading and I hope that everyone has a great 2015!

~Jade