Review: Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

The Memory Chronicles #1

Release Date: January 15h, 2013

Number of Pages: 288

Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR

Source: Bought

GR – Amazon – BD - Chapters 

Three levels. Two loves. One choice. Debut novelist, Lenore Appelhans has written a thrilling otherworldly young adult novel about a place that exists between our world (Level 1) and what comes after life (Level 2). 'I pause to look around the hive - all the podlike chambers are lit up as the drones shoot up on memories ... I've wanted to get out of here before, but now the tight quarters start to choke me. There has to be more to death than this.' Felicia Ward is dead. Trapped in a stark white afterlife limbo, she spends endless days replaying memories, of her family, friends, boyfriend ... and of the guy who broke her heart. The guy who has just broken into Level 2 to find her. Felicia learns that a rebellion is brewing, and it seems she is the key. Suspended between heaven and earth, she must make a choice. Between two worlds, two lives and two loves.

I feel like I had been pinning after this book for what seems like forever. Because of that, I ended up going into the story with pretty high expectations, but I can easily say that I wasn’t disappointed. The story got me hooked from the very first pages and I simply couldn’t put it down until I had read every last pages of it. The concept of the story was original and really interesting to read. The characters, the plot, the writing, everything worked well together.

I was told of a love triangle in this novel, and I have to say I did not find Felicia, Neil and Julian to form one. I think it was pretty clear whom Felicia really loved. I found it really interesting that we got to learn to know Felicia through her memories. I found it to really give us a better understanding of her character, and of those around her. I love getting a glimpse of her memories with Neil, a character we don’t really get to meet as much as I would have liked in the present (but at least we have her memories.) There were some memories I had trouble understanding why they were important for us to see, but most of them did help us see more of who the characters are. I cannot not talk about Julian, a character that made feel slightly uncomfortable by moment. I just thought there was something wrong with him, starting with his first appearance.

The writing and pacing just made this novel easy to read. It is the kind of book one can easily read in one sitting. One other thing I really liked about this book is that, despite its upcoming sequel, it felt complete. This book could easily stand on its own. I did end up with some unanswered questions, which hopefully will be answered in the sequel. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There were some little things that did make me raise an eyebrow, but all the great things about this book easily made me forget about those. Can’t wait for Level 3.

To Find Lenore:

Her Website

Her Twitter

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer #2

Release Date: October 23^rd, 2012

Number of Pages:527

Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR

Source: Bought

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past. She can’t. She used to think her problems were all in her head. They aren’t. She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets. She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Okay. Let’s do this.

…

I. JUST. CAN’T….

*Two hours later * Let’s do this now that I’ve had time to get my emotions in check.

Wow. Seriously Michelle Hodkin, I hate you. And I love you. But I also hate you. This book is seriously a rollercoaster of emotions. I laughed, smiled, giggled, cried, and felt my soul breaks. There is no word to describe everything this book made me feel. It’s just unbelievable. This reminded me why I loved The Unbecoming so much. Wow.  I literally cried when I finished this book. Michelle Hodkin had so many twists in this book, so many things I did not see coming. Yes, there were some I did see coming, and most of them I was screaming at Mara to just SEE them. Seriously, I just love this book. If you plan on starting this book, please schedule a few hours for you to read it, because you simply won’t be able to put it down.

I just adore Mara. She’s broken up with everything that is going on, yet she is still so strong. She’s an impressive character, and you just can’t stop yourself from rooting for her. And then, there’s Noah, the amazing, sexy, and absolutely unbelievably awesome male character. He just makes me weak in the knees every time I read about him. Still, I think we cannot forget about the other characters, like the family. I just adored their presence, and the way they really did want to help Mara get better, even if it sometimes didn’t agree with her. There were just those few scenes here and there that makes smile, especially since you have Mara who has kind of a great family dynamic and you have Noah who hasn’t one. It was just a great little touch, and it something that I really liked. Finally, I can’t forget about Jamie, who’s back! Jamie had those hilarious little scenes (my favorite being the slow-clap one. Just perfect.

This book should really be coming with a warning. You will feel all the things. It will leave you laughing (meaning reading on the subway may result in people looking at you strangely), or simply crying your eyes out (do keep kleenex near). I’m already dying to read the third book (2013 is soooo far away), since there a few things that happen I just refuse to believe really happen. Just heartbreaking.

The Trailer

Review: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

The Arcana Chronicles #1

Release Date: October 2^nd, 2012

Number of Pages: 284

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Source: ARC from BEA

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces The Arcana Chronicles, post-apocalyptic tales filled with riveting action, the dark mysticism of Tarot cards, and breathtaking romance.She could save the world—or destroy it. 

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.  

But she can’t do either alone.  

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?  

Who can Evie trust?  

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

Wow. I didn’t expect this book to be that addicting, that’s for sure. Actually, I didn’t really know what to expect from it, since I haven’t read any of her adult books. I knew many who loved her books, but I had never read anything from her. I have to say that I was expecting something a little cheesier in a way (mostly because of the cover, don’t ask me why specifically), but it was so much better than I could have hoped. I ended up reading this book by chance mostly, and I have to say I didn’t regret one minute I spent reading it. I even had to go hide during my lunch break so I wouldn’t be disturb while I was watching it.

With the characters, I was torn at first, because there were characters that I just didn’t like. For example, Jackson annoyed me, and I was a little sad to know that he would probably end up with Evie in the end. Yet, the more I read, the more I learned about him, and the more I liked him. He may be a hot Cajun boy, but he could be so harsh with her that it put me off at first. Now, I just want more. Evie was the kind of character I grew attached instantly. She was strong, and really intriguing with her visions. I was excited to see how she would survive the aftermath of “The Flash” the apocalyptic event that hit the world.

Now, Cole didn’t fail to bring in the amazingness with this book. There was just no time to get bored. I felt like I had just started it when I finally reached the last page. The world she created was so captivating, and I love the idea of teens having powers related to the Tarot Cards. And the romance was just enough not to feel like it was taking over the novel. Everything simply felt balanced to me.

Really, Poison Princess was such a great surprise to me. It may be better for an audience a little more mature than the average YA novel, but it is totally worth reading. This is one of those books that will leave you panting for more, especially because of the ending.

Review: The Blessed by Tonya Hurley

The Blessed by Tonya Hurley

The Blessed #1

Release Date: September 25^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 416

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: ARC from Publisher

 From the author of the New York Times bestselling ghostgirl series, the start to a captivating and haunting teen trilogy about three girls who become entangled with an enigmatic boy—a boy who believes he is a saint.What if martyrs and saints lived among us? And what if you were told you were one of them?
      Meet Agnes, Cecilia, and Lucy. Three lost girls, each searching for something. But what they find is Beyond Belief.

If there is one thing that I absolutely loved about The Blessed, it’s how different the book was from what I have been reading lately. No, not even lately, for about the last year. More than different, there was that weird and almost crazy side to the book that really got me hooked (and when I say crazy, I mean it in a good way.) This book was really different from what I first expected, but I really enjoyed it. I was a little skeptical at first when I heard it was about Saints. I mean, I rarely enjoy books related in anyway to religion, but here it is so different. No preaching (which is what usually annoys me when it comes down to religion in books.)

The Blessed follows three extremely different girls: Lucy, the it-girl, Cecilia, the struggling artist, and Agnes, the sensible and suicidal girl. So different, yet they are brought together by fate in a way. I was fascinated and in a way heartbroken by all they have and are going through, since it seems so extreme by moment.

There is something really dark and twisted in the book, but it is in a way what made it so addicting. There was simple so much mystery around the girls, and of course the illusive Sebastian. I have to say that Sebastian was one of the characters I never was 100% sure of his intention.

The Blessed was really a book that will catch the attention of fans of dark and twisted stories. It isn’t the kind of book I would recommend to a younger audience, since there can be some pretty violent scenes. I’m really curious to see when Tonya Hurley will be taking Cecilia, Lucy and Agnes next. No need to be religious to enjoy this book (I actually think that the fact that I’m not really religious helped me enjoy this book since I know next to nothing about Saints and their history.) Of course, being the cover lover I am, I cannot stay silent about this gorgeous cover. Simon & Schuster, you really did an amazing job with this one. 

Review: Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Burn for Burn #1

Release Date: September 18^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 368

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Source: ARC from BEA

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...THEY GET EVEN. Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister. Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay. Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him. Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

I’m a sucker for revenge books. I’m not one to usually seek revenge, so maybe that shy I like them so much. Or maybe it’s because everyone knows that revenge almost never goes according to plan. In Burn for Burn, we meet three girls who seem to have nothing in common, except they all have been wronged. Yet, even it their all their differences, they end up together getting the revenge the think they deserve.

Lilia, Kat and Mary couldn’t be more different, and I think that’s one of the big reason I liked it so much. We have Lilia: the popular girl, the cheerleader, and the girl that seems to have everything she could possibly want. Then you have Kat, the outcast, and Mary, the new girl if you want. Mary who came back after years and years to get revenge on the boy who made her childhood a living hell. They are all brought together to help one and another get the revenge they deserve. This gives us a great mix of drama, and newfound friendships.

I was surprised at first by some of the reason the girls wanted to seek revenge, especially on the first victim. I get that they feel like they were wronged, but I was curious as to why they didn’t check their facts a little more before really bringing on the punishments. Okay, maybe not for the two other victims, since I think they do deserve to be punished on some level, but still. I have to say that it all made me expect things to not go according to plan, and not to be all it seems. Appearance can be deceiving after all.

Okay, I have to talk about the paranormal aspect of this book, since I know that many were wondering about, and so was I before I started the book. I mean, when you read this summary, you wouldn’t really expect to have this little touch of paranormal added into the mix, but I’m really curious to see how it will affect the next book, since I didn’t feel it made that much difference in this book, except for one scene. It wasn’t something that put me off; it was more something that left me wondering what was the importance of it. Other than that, this book was a perfect mix of revenge, drama and friendship that will please many readers. 

Waiting On Wednesday: Simon & Schuster Edition

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It is an opportunity for us to show books we can't wait to get our hands on.

So, this week,I wanted to do a Simon & Schuster edition, as there are simply so many of there books I'm waiting for. I have to say, it was really hard to only choose three to be in this post. Here they are:

Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini

October 2012

Experience the afterlife in this lyrical, paranormal debut novel that will send your heart soaring.When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn't remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.

Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she'd rather keep buried. Memories of people she's hurt, people she's betrayed...and people she's killed.

As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she's hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves...even if it means losing them both forever.

Sever by Lauren DeStefano

February 2013

What if you knew exactly when you would die? In the not-too-distant future, genetic engineering has turned every newborn into a ticking time bomb — males only live to age 25 and females only live to age 20.

In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out. When 16-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by "the Gatherers" to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Rhine has only one purpose after she has been married to her new husband, Linden: to escape and find her twin brother.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden’s eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant to whom she is dangerously attracted, Rhine is desperate to learn the truth and protect those closest to her. But, as her sister wife Cecily keeps insisting, her role may be much bigger than that.

In the first two books of the Chemical Garden trilogy, Wither and Fever, Rhine struggles to escape the mansion and then to navigate the brutal world outside. Now in Sever, the third and final book, Rhine uncovers some shattering truths about the past that her parents never had the chance to tell her and the alarming implications regarding her own genes. She may be the one who can save the human race.

Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans 

January 2013

Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow prisoners, Felicia passes the endless hours downloading memories and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and the boy she loved, Neil.

Then a girl in a neighboring chamber disappears, and nobody but Felicia seems to recall she existed in the first place. Something is obviously very wrong. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, she learns the truth: a rebellion is brewing to overthrow the Morati, the guardians of Level 2.

Felicia is reluctant to trust Julian, but then he promises what she wants the most—to be with Neil again—if only she’ll join the rebels. Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself in the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.

Let's see why I'm excited for these titles. Well, I've been curious about Touching the Surface since I first heard of ti a few weeks ago. It sounds incredible. For Sever, it's easy. I simply adore her series, so I'm dying to know what will happen next. Finally, when it comes down to Level 2, I've been dying to get my hands on this book since I first heard of it a BEA. Hearing Lenore talk about made me really excited for it. Can't wait to read these three books!

Waiting On Wednesay: The Evolution of Mara Dyer

 Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It is an opportunity for us to show books we can't wait to get our hands on.

This week, I'm waiting for:
The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Release Date: October 23rd, 2012

Two days after Mara walks into a police station in Miami at the close of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, she is committed for psychiatric treatment for what her parents believe is a mental breakdown. But what seems like a hallucination to everyone else is a chilling reality for Mara. Someone from her past has discovered her strange, disturbing secret and that someone wants her to pay. But she's about to discover that the price is more than she can bear.

Dark and thrilling, suspenseful and passionate, The Evolution of Mara Dyer will have readers breathlessly turning pages to find out what will become of Mara Dyer next.

WOAAAAAAA IT HAS A COVER!!! I can believe that it will only be release in 6 months. I can't wait to read it. I love The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer so much!

What book are you waiting for this week?

Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Fever

Author: Lauren DeStefano

Series: Chemical Garden #2

Release Date: February 21^st, 2012

Number of Pages: 341

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Publisher

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

 In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

Wow. First, I have to say that I completely adored the first book, Wither. I absolutely fell in love with the world Lauren DeStefano has created, which is why I was extremely excited to get a copy of Fever from Simon & Schuster Canada. I simply devoured this book once I got it, even though I had exams to study for. The cover of this book, when compare to the first book really represents the story, which I think was really a great bonus. I know many readers didn’t like it, but once you read the book, you understand why it is that way.

I have to say DeStefano didn’t disappoint with the sequel. The book kept me captivated from page one. This sequel gives us a better view of what is happening in the world, outside of the mansion. We see that Rhine actually had it easy in the mansion, as the world is cruel. I don’t want to give too much away, as I would really hate to spoil anyone story. All I can say is that DeStefano did it again: She got me addicted to her writing, to her style and to her story.  

I really enjoyed the new characters. Maddie, Madame, Annabelle and Lilac were nice additions to this series, especially since I’m not a big fan of Gabriel. I find him a little flat (I prefer Linden!) I really enjoyed the interaction between Maddie and Rhine. It brought a little bit of hope to this sequel that is slightly darker than the first book. Madame was creepy, but really added something to everything Rhine was going through. All she had to live made her grow. Rhine became a little less whiny and more mature. I liked her more and more. I can’t wait to see where all of this will influence her choices in book three. I’m already dying to read it.

Fever was an amazing sequel to an excellent debut. It is seriously a must read if you enjoyed Wither. If you haven’t read Wither yet, all I can say to you is: Read it soon!! 

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Release Date: September 27^th, 2011

Series: Mara Dyer #1

Number of Pages: 450

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Bought

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. 

It can. 

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed. 

There is. 

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

Wow. Seriously, just WOW. I’m completely in love with the book right now. It’s simply one of the best books I’ve read this year. Seriously. It was amazingly good.

The story got me form page one. If you had seen me reading it, you would have seen me walking around from the bookstore to my house with my eyes glued to the book. My legs can tell you that much (It is always better to look where you’re going, you never know what will be on your way) The story was simply captivating and so well written. I couldn’t keep my mind of this book. I had to read it. Forget about homework, study or anything else. This book came first in my only day off (at least, it was my day off…)

I absolutely love Mara; she really made me believe that she wasn’t sure what was real and what wasn’t. I can’t help but feel bad for everything she’s going through, and hoping it will get better. Then, of course, I have to talk about Noah. If I’m honest, I didn’t like him at first. I thought he was self-absorb and really was kind of a jerk (mainly because of what Jamie said, but still…) but the more you read about him, the harder it is for you to keep disliking him. He was just amazing for Mara. I absolutely adore him.

Michelle Hodkin, you now have in my wonderful self an avid fan. I’m already dying for the sequel. If you haven’t been lucky enough to have read this book yet, you need to get it tomorrow, as it will be release. Seriously. I devoured it. It was THAT good. Still, be warned: Don’t start it before going to bed, you’ll probably never end up sleeping. This book is hard to put down.