Crossed

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

My Review
Crossed was more action packed than Matched, the first three quarters of the book will have you on the edge of your seating wanting to keep reading and wanting Ky and Cassia to find each other. It's so hard to describe what I loved about this book without giving away too much, but I can definitely say that this book is a powerful read that had me in tears at the end. There is redemption, heartbreak, and loss...but the suspense and secrets are what kept me so engaged. The thrills and butterflies of their journey and the fabulously created love triangle are perfection that most authors can only dream of being able to bring to life with their words. But one thing I can attest to - Ally Condie does it and flawlessly. If you loved Matched then you are bound to love Crossed as well. I have fallen in love with the story and the writing in general. The use of classic poems to fuel and inspire the character leaves nothing to be desired in a dystopian society of oppression and conspiracy. I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

Fallen in Love

What makes your heart race a little faster? Just in time for Valentine's Day, it's FALLEN IN LOVE, four wholly original new stories collected in a new novel set in the Middle Ages by Lauren Kate. FALLEN IN LOVE gives fans the much-talked about but never-revealed stories of FALLEN characters as they intertwine with the epic love story of Luce and Daniel. The stories include: Love Where You Least Expect It: The Valentine of Shelby and Miles , Love Lessons: The Valentine of Roland; Burning Love: The Valentine of Arriane; and Endless Love: The Valentine of Daniel and Lucinda. - Amazon.

My Review
All of the stories included in this book take place sometime during the Passion (I think?) novel, over one particular Valentine's Day. I love the Medieval England setting of each story and the way Lauren describes everything, makes me want to be there myself. Each of the stories somewhat flow together at first, but I think they are meant to be read separately. I finished this book off in a matter of a couple of hours, so it didn't take up much of my time, but it left me really, really wanting to read Rapture. So much for holding me over until the final books release! There is a lot of insight to be gained in this book and I loved reading about the different love stories. I got to know more about poor Cam and how he survived after his failed marriage to Lilith. I seriously feel bad for this dude, and I really hope we find out more about him in Rapture. In this book we get a whole different Roland then what we are used to seeing. He isn't the cool, calm, collected, and confident Roland. His first love story is ridiculously cute and so sweet! Arriane's story was also unexpected but very sad. I finally found out how she got the scars on her neck, which had been bugging the heck out of me. Loved it, can't wait for Rapture!

Beautiful Chaos

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin? For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask. Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending. - Amazon.

 

My Review

The third book brings so much more to the plate than the first two did. The action is higher in this book than in the first books, and of course it ends on a ridiculous cliffhanger, just like the second book did. The book is more depressing than the others, because in this book, Ethan is the one having most of the problems, not Lena, and after all he is the narrator. Beautiful Chaos makes me so excited for the last book in the series, but it also makes me sad that I have to wait an entire year for it! I can't wait to see what Garcia and Stohl bring to the plate when they wrap up the series! I admit that this book completely took me by surprise. As the reader, I was expecting so many others things but never that. I loved that this book took a whole new spin on love and sacrifice! What I loved most about this book is the great plot line. So much going on in the book that is kept the reader hooked and always sated. Never once did my eyes stray from the pages as I devoured it. I enjoyed that while the plot line is unraveling secrets, poems, and love popped up where I never saw it. Both authors once again did an amazing job on capturing the essence of the town and the characters! The characters' development in the story is where it needs to be. So much had changed in them that you know that these characters are at their peak. I enjoyed reading along with the characters in discovering secrets that have been under their noses. The book title is great for whats goes on in the book. Chaos. Total Chaos! Now for the ending. Did I see that coming? No. It was something that left me gasping. I won't spoil it, but yeah. Amazing ending that left me wanting more.

Beautiful Darkness

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen. Sometimes life-ending. Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems. - Amazon.

 

My Review

Beautiful Darkness was a very detailed and layered sequel that didn't disappoint me. I loved this one just as much as Beautiful Creatures. It pretty much picks up where Beautiful Creatures leaves off, the book covers a good amount of time as Lena and Ethan struggle with conflicting feelings about the night of Lena's birthday, the consequences, and the grief each are experiencing. I really didn't like Lena much throughout the book. In fact, I enjoyed the parts she wasn't in quite a bit more. She was pulling the same tricks as last time and her attitude was quite annoying. I liked Ethan pretty well, but I just wanted to scream at him "Hello! Can you please stop letting Lena treat you like garbage?!" I like Ethan as a main character. It is always fun to read a book in a male's point of view because it doesn't happen too often. I can say that I really liked Link's character and we got to see quite a bit more of him this time. I was also quite interested in the new twist in his story. I was also introduced to a few new characters that add new tension between the main characters and show surprising secrets about Caster powers and the battle of Light vs. Dark. All the twists, secrets, and surprises climax in a journey through the Caster tunnels and a suspenseful showdown between family members that will leave some dead, and some very much alive. There might be some confusion as to who is left standing at the end, but one thing is for certain: this story is not over, and I can't wait for the next one.

Heavenly

Zoe's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoe lost in her broken life. Zoe escapes the only way she knows how: partying. Matthias, a guardian sent from Heaven, watches over Zoe's autistic sister. After Zoe is convinced he's legit, angel and lost girl come together in a love that changes destiny. But Heaven on Earth can't last forever


My Review
I loved this book. I started it as soon as I got it in the mail and even though I was reading another book at the time, I finished it. I loved it. I thought it was a little too predictable, maybe that was just me though. I also kinda didnt like how fast the romance was with Zoe and Matthias. It was a very good book though I had a hard time putting it down at school and at home. Made me cry, made me laugh. I realted with the hardships of being a teenager in it. I really want to read the second one, and I hope I get the chance to. Loved it, and I'm glad I got a chance to read it.

Beautiful Creatures

Ethan Wate, a high school sophomore, plans to escape his small Southern town as soon as he can. Life has been difficult since his mother died; his father, a writer, has withdrawn into his study. Then Lena Duchannes arrives, and this strange new girl is the very one who has been occupying his dreams. She and her kin are Casters, beings who have supernatural powers. Getting to know her exposes Ethan to time travel, mortal danger, and love. The teens can hardly bear to be apart, but Lena's 16th birthday, when she will be Claimed for dark or light, is only 6 months away. To save her, they fight supernatural powers and the prejudice of closed-minded people. Yet, good and evil are not clearly delineated, nor are they necessarily at odds. In the Gothic tradition of Anne Rice, the authors evoke a dark, supernatural world in a seemingly simple town obsessed with Civil War reenactments and deeply loyal to its Confederate past. The intensity of Ethan and Lena's need to be together is palpable, the detailed descriptions create a vivid, authentic world, and the allure of this story is the power of love. - Amazon

My Review

"Mortals. I envy you. You think you can change things. Stop the universe. Undo what was done long before you came along. You are such beautiful creatures."
Great read, kept you guessing. I loved Lena. She was my favourite character. Besides Ridley, I loved her too. I was super excited and eager to read the second one seeing as this one was so good. Most young adult books these days are way too rushed. Even if it is long, and it doesn't seem all developed and things were missing. But Beautiful Creatures has everything and for once I wasn't saying, "I wish it had more to it." Also, the most important thing to me - was the love story, which was beautifully done. The authors made great choices. For one thing, it's first person which I like a lot and little time is wasted on the crush-developing stages. It just happens, rather than dragging the reader on for a long time. I do NOT like when the relationship just *happens* but it wasn't like that in this and I liked that. So thanks to you both. Their relationship feels genuine. And that the 'fantasy elements' actually serve a legitimate purpose in the story, and they make Ethan and Lena's relationship stronger and better. In the end, I enjoyed it vey much. I didn't roll my eyes like I usually do at romance 'stuff'. It wasn't cliche or corny. I didn't want to gag. Very satisfying. The authors did a great job and I loved it.