Diva Booknerd

10:00 am 4 September 2013

The Earth Dwellers (The Dwellers, #4) - David Estes

Want a free review eCopy of [b:Fire Country|16160701|Fire Country (The Country Saga, #1)|David Estes|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358390068s/16160701.jpg|22002174] or [b:The Moon Dwellers|13931214|The Moon Dwellers (The Dwellers, #1)|David Estes|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1339737488s/13931214.jpg|19566155] to read where it all began? Simply contact me through Goodreads with your email address and chosen format.

The Earth Dwellers is a culmination of both The Dwellers and Country Saga series, resulting in a mind blowing conclusion as two merge into one. The battle is inevitable. The atrocities of both former President Nailin and King Goff pale in compassion to that of Borg Lector, President of the New City, the Earth Dwellers within the dome. The Natives and Tri Realms need to unite to stop a common enemy from Genocide, but can humanity prevail?

Told from multiple points of view, from the feisty Adele of the Moon Realm, the red hot Siena from Fire Country, with chapters From Dazz (Ice Country) and Tristan (The Sun Realm). It was brilliant! Not only does our favourite prickler Perry makes an appearance, but the collision of character world's is often hilarious at times, Siena teaching Roc 'Desert Language', my personal favourite. Yes, it was that scorchin' funny.

The Earth Dwellers, although not intentionally, carries an crucial message about being accepting of one another, without bias, bigotry, sexism or racial vilification... And I absolutely adored it, but sad to say goodbye to the characters I've grown to love.

10:00 am 2 September 2013

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - David Levithan, Rachel Cohn

3.5 Stars
http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/nick-norahs-infinite-playlist-by-rachel.html
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is an adventure around New York, where two strangers are thrown together in the strangest of circumstances, and find exactly what the other needs. Nick and Norah are both realistic, they share the same fear, disappointment and anxiety that all of us have experienced at one point in our lives. While Nick is a romantic and lyrical, Norah lacks confidence in who she is and what she has to offer the world. They're both lost, and learning to be independent after recently failed relationships. It's fast paced, loud and wonderfully offensive. I loved the quick wit and intelligence.

But it just seemed unoriginal. The characters weren't as engaging as Dash and Lily, which follows the same humorous, adventure romance format, but there is something said for two authors to collaborate for the story to flow seamlessly.

I can't help but wonder if Cohn, Levithan and John Green all attended the same creative writing course, the quirky character's are all mirror images of one other, Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska follow the same adventure based theme, and all have open endings which allow the reader to create their own happily ever after. Obviously the format works.

10:00 am 31 August 2013

The Liberator (Dante Walker, #2) - Victoria Scott

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-liberator-by-victoria-scott.html
3.5 Stars
Dante Walker is one of the hottest male young adult characters, but in The Liberator, he finally meets his match in Aspen. Aspen isn't a love interest, there is no love triangle, which fans will be thankful for. She's a troubled soul who has allowed herself to become influenced by anyone who crosses her path, in the hopes that they'll stay with her. She's feisty with an attitude that will send most young men running, and isn't the least bit impressed by Dante's killer looks and bad boy smile. She couldn't care less. She just needs a friend, someone who won't ask for anything in return. Aspen has nothing left to give.

Charlie felt like an afterthought in The Liberator. She goes through her own journey while Dante is away, all too similar to Aspen. The distance puts a strain on Charlie and Dante's relationship, but their reunion at the hands of Aspen, is all the sweeter. I loved Annabelle and her attitude towards Kraven, who is clearly rattled by her presence. My only complaint is when Dante ventures into cool mode, which almost comes across as the opposite. He is effortlessly cool, only when he isn't trying to be. It's a bit too sleazy.

The Liberator was actually pretty good. I loved Aspen, she wasn't at all what I had expected. The final few chapters have alluded to an epic finale and I'll be either go hard, or go home... And I can't wait.

10:00 am 29 August 2013

Origin (Lux, #4) - Jennifer L. Armentrout

4.5 Stars.
http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au
Origin was explosive, from beginning to end. Told in dual points of view, from the detained Kat, to Daemon, who is looking to free her. The government has devised a plan to create a perfect race, free of illness and disease, called Origins. They are being harnessed as a supernatural army, to wipe out those who want to see the humans enslaved.

The Lux series is brilliant, and Origin is no different. Loveable characters, and Jennifer L Armentrout has created a world where readers will no doubt find themselves lost between the pages and fully immersed. The cheeky reference to the character's from Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins was very cute indeed.

Loved it!

10:00 am 27 August 2013

Rowan (Blood Crave, #2) - Christina Channelle

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/rowan-by-christina-channelle.html
I love Rowan's character. She's a tough vampire, who battles each day with retaining her humanity. She's strong, sassy and her only weakness is the two men in her life, her creator Kaji and the magical Remy. She struggles with allowing herself to be happy, knowing that Remy harbors feelings that she feels she can't reciprocate, believing that he deserves a chance at a normal life, a life that Rowan could never provide. The reader will find themselves immersed in their banter and sexual tension.

Beautifully written with poetic passages, reminiscent of Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me series. Absolutely loved it and can only hope that Christina creates a Rowan spin off series, the feisty vampire deserves her own spotlight.

10:00 am 26 August 2013

Angel Evolution (The Evolution Trilogy, #1) - David Estes

3.5 Stars
http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/angel-evolution-by-david-estes.html
Angel Evolution is David Estes first novel, and a unique take on the waging good verses evil. I've found quite a few young adult authors who venture into the concept of supernatural angels and demons, do so with a side of religion, or tend to stay within the general confines of demons being associated with evil, and celestial beings will save humanity. David has rewritten both supernatural stereotypes, and made it that of his own.

I didn't like Gabriel, whatsoever... And rightly so. At the introduction of Chris, I was hoping that he would sweep Taylor off her feet.

Regardless of the characters being slightly older than the typical young adult protagonists, Angel Evolution is more suited to the teen young adult reader, as the relationships between the characters don't stray into adult territory. I must add, it was a tad too young and clean for my own personal taste, but ideal for the younger reader.

10:00 am 24 August 2013

Brightest Kind of Darkness (Brightest Kind of Darkness, #1) - P.T. Michelle, Patrice Michelle

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/brightest-kind-of-darkness-by-p-t.html
Brightest Kind Of Darkness was a unique concept and I loved it! Imagine, falling asleep each night and dreaming your entire day ahead. I loved the relationship between Nara and Ethan, and that she wasn't coerced into forming a preconceived opinion about him, even if it did ostracise her from her social clique. Ethan is a kindhearted and gentle teen, insistent on protecting Nara, but without being domineering. While Nara's father walked out on her and her mother when she was young, Ethan's parents have all but deserted him, now living with older brother Sampson, each finding a quiet peace in the other.

Well written and really engaging. Will definitely be continuing on with this series. Really enjoyed it.

10:00 am 22 August 2013

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1) - Cassandra Clare

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/clockwork-angel-by-cassandra-clare.html
Clockwork Angel lulled me into bouts of narcolepsy, often rereading the same paragraph over and over and still not being able to engage me. It felt as though it was Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series, rewritten in a historical sense and with slightly different characters. But the template was nearly identical, apart from The Infernal Devices series being far less entertaining.

Sadly, all of the main characters were wooden, underdeveloped with no memorable personalities. Where Clary was likable In The Mortal instruments, Tessa is annoying. There was really no competition between nice guy Jem and the arrogant, offensive Will. Jem is by far the more likable of the two. Cassandra Clare created a very vivid era, but it's clear that she assumes that readers have also read The Mortal Instruments, as she throws terms at the reader such as Parabi, Iratze and Seraph Blades, with little to no explanation of what they actually are.

I may be in the small minority, but it just wasn't my thing.

10:00 am 20 August 2013

Dance of Shadows (Dance of Shadows, #1) - Yelena Black

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/dance-of-shadows-by-yelena-black.html
Dance Of Shadows sounded intriguing. A romantic setting, a magical ballet performance and a love interest, and for the most part, it was. I loved the daily grind of the Academy, the professional dancers and students and the technical explanations, but I wished it had stayed within the contemporary genre and not ventured into the paranormal. It begun with shadows and whispers, but by the final few chapters, the magical setting that it was clinging to evaporated, and it felt like a complete farce.

Vanessa started with a mission to find her sister, but ended up being sidetracked, used as a doormat by the cardboard Zep, ditching her friends and begging for any bone that he would throw her way. A slightly older and more mature character with a spine would have made for a more likable protagonist. The bright sparks were gay dancer Blaine and the snippy Justin, but sadly, their characters were underdeveloped. I desperately wanted to fall in love with Dance Of Shadows, but I just couldn't. Unfortunately.

10:00 am 19 August 2013

Most readers who have discovered the Fallen series either seem to be delighted or repulsed, and I can safely say that I'm neither. It didn't invoke any emotion apart from a feeling of boredom. To put it in perspective, I would rate it slightly more favorable than Hush Hush, but even Twilight was far more entertaining.

The storyline was not only predictable, it dragged. Against my better judgement, I kept reading, wondering if perhaps there could have been a plot twist on the horizon. Sadly, no. The so called 'reveal' seemed to be what was already blatantly obvious within the first few chapters, and by then, I had no interest in any of the characters or the bizarre love triangle of good and evil.

If Luce had a backbone, a personality other than being a boy hungry doormat and stopped flinging herself at anyone who happened to make her feel special, it could have been far easier to read and tolerate. Whinging pyromaniacs who can list their hobbies as stalking, invading others privacy, able to watch fellow students die and feel it's unnecessary to intervene, and still find the time to be the poster girl for a junior Stepford Wife, have no place on my bookshelf.

10:00 am 17 August 2013

Ephemeral (The Countenance, #1) - Addison Moore

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/ephemeral-by-addison-moore.html
Ephemeral can be considered a sister series to Addison Moore's popular Celestra series, but sadly, it isn't nearly as entertaining. Where Celestra was fluffy and fun, Ephemeral fails to deliver. The main protagonist Laken lacks personality, and isn't given the opportunity for the reader to relate whatsoever. I felt as though the Celestra series gave the reader more of an insight into Wes. Cooper, although quite likable, was reminiscent of a cardboard cutout and thrown into scenes without any real purpose at times.

Each chapter seems to have begun with a weather forecast, describing how the fog looked that particular day, and each chapter ended with the same rhetorical questions being asked, what was going on, and she sure as hell was going to find out. It's a shame it took over 400 pages. As much as I've enjoyed the Celestra series, I won't be continuing with Countenance.

10:00 am 16 August 2013

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/banish-by-nicola-marsh.html
Banish is a young adult psychological thriller with a paranormal twist. Although slow to start, as the storyline unravels you'll find yourself increasingly skittish. It's intense and unpredictable, not to mention creepy and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Even being a young adult release, it scared me senseless in parts, definitely not one to read alone at night.

It felt unfinished, so I wonder if there will be a follow up to tie up lose ends. If there is, sign me up.

10:00 am 15 August 2013

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1) - Kendare Blake

4.5 Stars
http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/anna-dressed-in-blood-by-kendare-blake.html
I love, love, loved Anna Dressed In Blood! It was creepy and gruesome in parts, but being a young adult release, you should be able to sleep at night... Perhaps with the light left on. The book is told from Cas's point of view, and he doesn't hold back. He swears, he tells is straight and doesn't sugar coat his words. He also has never had any friends or connected with anyone, having chased ghosts all over the country. For the first time, he finds himself longing to stay in Thunder Bay, with new friends Carmel, Thomas and 'his Anna'.

It's a romanticised ghost story, despite the blood and gore. It does venture into creepiness, when Cas not only shares a kiss with Anna, but confesses his love for her. It's beautifully written and I can't wait to read the next in the Anna series.

10:00 am 14 August 2013

The Pledge (The Pledge, #1) - Kimberly Derting

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-pledge-by-kimberly-derting.html
The Pledge was a magical blend of dystopian and the paranormal, where citizens are segregated and ruled with an iron fist. They are monitored using passport scanners and armed guards throughout the city. The law is cruel and unjust and punishable by public hanging, especially related to the rebellion with family members turning in their own. Charlie was not only likable, she was endearing. I loved the addition of younger sister Angelina, she was a beacon of innocence within the war ravaged word Charlie lives in.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, and looking forward to continuing with the series. In comparison to Kimberly Derting's body finder series, The Pledge was fantastic, my only regret is that I hadn't read it sooner.

10:00 am 12 August 2013

Wake (Wake Trilogy Series #1) - Lisa McMann

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/wake-by-lisa-mcmann.html
At 224 pages, Wake reads as a novella, with mostly abrupt, stop start sentences...
A little.
Like.
This.
Which makes for a short and frustrating read. Having said that, I actually quite liked it. The premise was interesting, that of a dream catcher, and Janie was a likeable character. But being a short, sharp read, there weren't enough pages for the characters to have a big impact. I'll be continuing on with the series... Eventually.

10:00 am 11 August 2013

Nameless (Tales of Beauty & Madness, #1) - Lili St. Crow, Lilith Saintcrow

I couldn't get through it. Just wasn't for me sadly.

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