review - Requiem

	Requiem by: Lauren Oliver | Website | Twitter Publication Date: March 5, 2013 Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books Series: Delirium #3 Format: Hardback Page Count: 391 Genre: YA, Dystopian Get your copy: Amazon | B&N
Summary: They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past. But we are still here. And there are more of us every day. Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight. After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings. Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it. But we have chosen a different road. And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose. We are even free to choose the wrong thing. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge. Summary and cover image from goodreads.
While Delirium and even Pandemonium had my complete attention, Requiem seemed to lack that same spark that initially captured me. There were some great scenes, but as a whole it was not what I was expecting. Part of this could have been to the additional POV, Hana, Lena's best friend. To all of a sudden have Hana own half the final book, left Lena's story reduced. This was most noticeable in her interactions with Julian and/or Alex, in that they were shortened to one or two paragraphs and contained the following paraphrased lines, "Julian and I are now back to normal." What? Can you explain normal? We didn't get to see any growth or real give and take in Lena's relationships. Very frustrating! The story progressed and decisions were made, but the love was just not there. It almost seemed that Lena had truly given everything to the resistance and that there were no spare emotions available to be freely given elsewhere. The story was so concerned with getting to the end that the LOVE that started this whole revolution seemed abandoned. Ironically enough, the epic conclusion and rebel resistance were the strongest parts in the final book. In the end, I was indifferent (leaning on the more accepting-side) of the conclusion and Lena's choices, but I just don't know how Lena got there.
Have you read the Delirium series? What did you think of the final book? Disappointed? Happy?

review - Siege and Storm

	Siege and Storm by: Leigh Bardugo | Website | Twitter Publication Date: June 4, 2013 Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Series: The Grisha #2 Format: Hardback Page Count: 435 Genre: YA, Fantasy Get your copy: Amazon | B&N
Summary: Darkness never dies. Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long. The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm. Summary and cover image from goodreads.
This was one my most wanted books of the summer, and it did not disappoint! Siege and Storm opens with Alina and Mal having sorted through their Shadow and Bone issues (per se) and being on the run from the Darkling. Thus begins the exciting sequel that packs in the action and romance. Siege and Storm also introduces the awesome privateer, Sturmhond. One moment while I restart my heart! He is beyond amazing. Alina's journey to control the power she wields becomes increasingly perilous for both her and Mal. She is definitely suffering from some identity issues and her growing hunger for power, a-la sun-summoning. All the while, she is navigating the political world, royal marriage proposals, and religious followings in her name. There are many great twists in Siege and Storm. Alina's final battle waits for readers in Ruin and Rising, and I can't help but think that there is a lot more to Mal and his "connection" to Alina.
Got an itch for some good fantasy? Give The Grisha series a try; you won't be disappointed!

review - Quintana of Charyn

	Quintana of Charyn by: Melina Marchetta | Website | Twitter Publication Date: April 23, 2013 Publisher: Candlewick Press Series: The Lumatere Chronicles #3 Format: Hardback Page Count: 516 Genre: YA, High Fantasy Get your copy: Amazon | B&N
Summary: There's a babe in my belly that whispers the valley, Froi. I follow the whispers and come to the road . . . Separated from the girl he loves and has sworn to protect, Froi must travel through Charyn to search for Quintana, the mother of Charyn's unborn king, and protect her against those who will do anything to gain power. But what happens when loyalty to family and country conflict? When the forces marshalled in Charyn's war gather and threaten to involve the whole of the land, including Lumatere, only Froi can set things right, with the help of those he loves. Summary and cover image from goodreads.
The bittersweet finality of a series-ending book. Melina Marchetta blew this one out of the water. There were so many characters and plot points to cover but none were neglected. Finishing the last page, I was definitely satisfied and fully content with where the characters were and their hopeful futures. Melina wrote a full-fledged epilogue; other authors take note! Lucian and Phaedra became one of my favorite story lines; their struggle to honor their respective kingdoms but stay true to the path their hearts were leading them. Ugh, the feelings! Quintana's journey and growth was amazing, considering her start in Froi of the Exiles. While there was hope in the end, Melina does not spare readers of heartbreak and lose. Series-wise, I was surprised by how much Froi's story became integral to the land of Skuldenore. Seems like Isoboe and Finnikin were just a device to introduce Froi. I wouldn't have complained if there had been more of their story in the final book, but this did not affect my love for this series. This sweeping and detailed fantasy series has permanently left its mark on my heart!
Have you read any of The Lumatere Chronicles? Fantasy at its highest? Yes, I believe so!

mini-reviews | Hopeless, Beautiful Bastard, Word and Deed

	Hopeless by: Colleen Hoover | Website | Twitter Publication Date: December 19, 2012 Series: Hopeless #1 Format: Kindle I LIVE this book, no make that Love this book! Colleen Hoover has had three slam dunks this year, Slammed, Point of Retreat, and Hopeless. Each one was utterly all-consuming. The writing is very real and easy to lose yourself in the story. Hopeless, while heartbreaking and emotional, still manages to put a huge smile on your face when reading it. (A lot of that has to do with one Dean Holder) Colleen Hoover has a certain chapter written from Holder's POV; it's free over on her website. Oh, Holder, sigh. Be still my heart! Get insight into Holder's head and see everything that he is thinking during this toe-curling scene.
	Beautiful Bastard by: Christina Lauren | Website Publication Date: February 12, 2013 Series: Beautiful Bastard #1 Format: PB from the Biblioteca This was a quick and steamy read. The hate/love (really more like "I love how you infuriate me") relationship between Chloe and Bennett was smokin'. But beyond that the story was kind of flat. There was some good angst about how or it their relationship would work, with her being his intern. But it felt like the story was just skimming the surface. I connected more with Bennett, probably because he was the first to commit to the relationship, in whatever form he could have. Chloe was the one fighting it. That role reversal (or that the reader gets Bennett's POV, fully displaying his emotions) was refreshing and interesting to read. This is what I wish the story as a whole had more of, some deeper emotion. Still planning on picking up the sequel. Funny note, despite all the passion in this book the following was my favorite line. "Would you have gone back to the room?" I asked into her ear as she carefully read an undergraduate poster on a rebranding idea for some small cellular company. Graphs were taped to the poster board, for crying out loud. - page 227
	Word and Deed by: Susannah Noel | Website | Twitter Publication Date: December 15, 2012 Series: Wordless Chronicles #2 Format: Kindle Earlier this year, I picked up Word and Breath. I absolutely loved it. I guess it came as a breath (haha) of fresh air in the genre of books I had been reading. A lot of YA that fell into the same old story lines. Word and Breath reminded me how much I loved reading thriller/crime books, while throwing in some paranormal, dystopian, and romance. While I loved Word and Breath, I felt that Word and Deed fell a little short. Probably just the dreaded middle book drag, where story lines have to be moved forward and setup for that final book. All the same characters are back, more Connor! Definitely a fan of the Librarian!!! Look forward to future Wordless books and anything by Susannah Noel!
Have you read any of them? Let me know what you thought!