Author: Chelsea (Page 87 of 111)

BOOK REVIEW – City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare

August 19, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5)
by Cassandra Clare
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

One spoiler for those who haven’t read COFA…

So…this one took me a while to finish. I’m not sure if it’s because I read so many TMI books so fast or if something in the story just didn’t do it for me. I do have to say that I didn’t have this problem with any of Jennifer Armentrout’s long series so I might have just rushed reading these instead of taking it easy after the awesome third novel.

I still love the Jace/Clary dynamic. Jace is so devoted to Clary and she loves him with a fierce passion that draws you in and keeps you there.

I love Jordan and Maia and Simon and Isabelle. I can even safely say that I now love Alec’s character and his new found vulnerability. These characters have grown and shaped into such fun people to read about. They banter and get themselves into precarious situations that are hard to tear away from. Even Sebastion-I like a good villain. He is beyond creepy and crazy, so we get a little insanity added to the story as well. I know that’s weird…liking a villain and all…but I do. He was the only thing that kept the otherworldly situation interesting for me.

Which leads me to my next point…I just couldn’t get into the otherworldly plot. Maybe it was the constant change of setting, but more than most likely, it was the idea that Jace was, once again, not himself. I mean, how many times do we have to toy with Jace’s mind? Yea, steal him away, add some peril to the story, but quit making him all….not Jace. I LOVE plot twists and romantic yearning for the other (Save me, save me, I’ve been taken! or We are in different places, but I yearn for you! or I’m supposed to kill you muahahaha), but enough with Jace losing his free will. Much like the brother/sister scenario, the free will bit is being a tad overplayed and it becomes boring or not as exciting.

Certain things happen that made me cringe, made me applaud, smile, laugh, and do the happy squeal. The ending was awesome (the way I wish it all would have been paced), and I loved the club scene. It was beyond gross and disturbing, and I found it to be highly entertaining. So much happens that I couldn’t possibly recap, but overall I can’t deny that this series (generally/most of the time) excites me, and I have grown to love all the characters-even the villains. So I can’t wait for the 6th novel to come out, and the wait/anticipation will be good for me. Bye TMI, until 2014…..

Purchase on Amazon or iBooks

BOOK REVIEW – Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

August 19, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Divergent (Divergent #1)
by Veronica Roth
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

*Re-read with my buddies Kristin (KC), Jennifer, Sarah, Maythavee, and Annie :)-my rating obviously stays 5 amazing stars*

It has been a long time since I have read a book where the romance takes a backseat to action and suspense and I have actually enjoyed it. It seems with these types of books that the author tends to write with a simplistic nature that, at first, is hard to get used to, but then ultimately becomes addicting and adds to the tone of the story. I found I was trying to immerse myself into the story on page one, but was having difficulty getting back into the simplistic writing style. But once I plunged head first into the story and embraced what was happening, I could not put Divergent down.

Tris is such a likeable female lead. She is hard and she gets gritty, but she ultimately loves. She doesn’t think so, but as the story progesses, we see her difficulties with the decision she chose and that crack in the armour that makes her human. She wanted to separate from a boring, selfless lifestyle where she was just another grey shirt that blended in, but never really belonged. But throughout her journey she shows guilt, anger, selflessness, betrayal-all the emotions possible-things she never thought she should be allowed to feel and things she never thought she’d feel again. Who can she trust? Who should she trust? All questions she must face daily if she wants to become initiated.

Four…ooohhh Four. I loved him! He was a great addition to the story and he was woven in perfectly. Not too much and not too little…just enough for me to flip through the pages (or in my case, SLIDE the pages)hastily. My next point-it has been such a long time since I have read every. single. page. without skimming. None. NO skimming. I skim even on my all-time favorite books, so this is quite a feat. Honestly.

This was a fun, gripping read that had me on the edge of my seat 90% of the time. I do wish some things had turned out differently, and I can’t say what-but in the end, I discovered everything I could ask for: suspense littered all throughout the pages, romance, betrayal, a few if-I-don’t-get-my-ass-outta-this-I-WILL-die moments, and a good family backstory. Yes, I loved her family. In other books like this I didn’t necessarily care what happened to the family. But in Divergent her family was solid and strong, and I found myself terribly addicted to what happens with her mother, brother, and father. So now I can’t wait to read Insurgent. I just hope it’s as good as the first.

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Divergent #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Insurgent #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Allegiant #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea
Four: A Divergent Collection #0.1 - 0.4 *Four's Story*

BOOK REVIEW – Enclave (Razorland #1) by Ann Aguirre

August 19, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Enclave (Razorland #1)
by Ann Aguirre
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

While I am apparently on a dystopian kick, I found this book and decided it was the perfect solution as to what I should read next. As I read it got increasingly clear that while I was enjoying the premise, the writing wasn’t pulling me in. I liked the idea of Fade, of Deuce, of Stalker, but the author didn’t write in such a way that built the intensity of a scene or the passionate embrace we were supposed to connect with.

That is honestly the reason Enclave didn’t receive more than 3.5 stars.

More than once I would think, “Finally! The scene is going to be so grotesque I can barely stand it!” or “Kiss her you fool!”. Two totally different ends of the spectrum, I realize, but that is what the story provoked in me. But, as I said before, the author merely scratched the surface of the story. In situations where she could have really reached some emotional depth that would have made the story spectacular, she left the scene almost cold or unemotional-she barely scratched the surface of what was going on and it dramatically affected the story for me. There was so much more she could have done. I knew how I was going to write that statement, but now that I am almost 90% done with Outpost and it’s been 2 days since I finished the first installment, Enclave, my feelings for the series have changed drastically because of how much I love Outpost(#2).

All in all, this read had a lot of potential, but didn’t fully deliver for me. The characters were underdone and I didn’t care much for the Enclave itself. Once the characters broke free from the boring, restraining college, things started to get interesting-albeit not written to its full potential. Even when they were in the tunnels it was more exciting. Outpost (which I will have a review for VERY soon) has proven to be written with more heart and has turned out to be an altogether better story; I can’t wait to finish it.

BOOK REVIEW – The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave #1) by Rick Yancey

August 19, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave #1)
by Rick Yancey
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Does humanity fade when the will to survive kicks in?

This was an underlying tone to literally every scene that happens in this story. The human race is dwindling and only the strong survive. Who is human? Who is a human in disguise? And finally, who has turned against their own kind or gone rogue? There are so many rules one must abide by if they wish to live, and so many rules that must be broken. How can someone truly survive alone, both mentally and physically, without going crazy?

Cassie is on the run and on her own. She knows she must trust no one and not think twice about what must be done to survive and save her brother. In the beginning we see mostly flashbacks of her former life where her family was still alive.

This wasn’t my favorite part of the book-I’m not one to like past tense situations in a book if they aren’t essential, so, for me, this book was slow during those parts. I did like seeing why she “loved Ben Parish”-the flashbacks were funny and totally relatable. Everyone has a high school crush, and I think these tidbits made the story somewhat lighthearted.

When it does finally become wholly present, we start seeing a constant switch of POVs with each new part. At first I found it a little confusing, but when the story started growing more intense I started to look forward to seeing from even the soldier’s POV as well as Cassie’s. You could see how these two people were living at the same time and how different their situations were-how quickly they were figuring things out, how close they were getting to coming to the same conclusion, and ultimately, if they would ever cross paths. It started becoming essential that I get to the next page, the next chapter-I couldn’t get through the pages fast enough! I don’t know what part because there were just so many, but after we got through the introductions to each person in each part, the story started to go by so fast with so much happening that the thought of putting the book down became unbearable.

The only thing, aside from a few lagging areas, I didn’t like was Sammy’s POV. I didn’t really care to delve into his story too far, and I think that many chapters for him was too much. He talked like everyone else but he was only 5? This was really the biggest problem for me.

So overall, this was a very intriguing read and different from anything else I have read lately. It was creepy, intense, and heartbreaking. He did manage to throw some hope and desperation in there, but more often than not, we felt like nothing could ever get better, and what were they going to do when(if) they got what they wanted anyway? I liked all the main characters and never really knew who to root for. I have so many thoughts and so many overwhelming emotions that I couldn’t possibly get them all into this review. I hate that I want the second book right now, because lord only knows when THAT is coming out. So to sum up-an intense but good story, characters that you want to hear more about, and a plot that thickens with each coming chapter. While not for everyone, anyone who wants a new story with a twist, this is the book for them.

Oh, and Cassie? Grow your hair out…for EVERYONE’s sake lol.

BOOK REVIEW – Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

August 19, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Insurgent (Divergent #2)
by Veronica Roth
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Re-read with my buddies Kristin (KC), Sarah, Jennifer, and Maythavee. So much fun guys! 🙂

Love as defined by Dictionary.com: a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
Love as demonstrated by Tris and Tobias in Insurgent and Divergent: Two stubborn people who consistently participate in selfless acts that get them into horribly dangerous situations for the other person.

If that isn’t love, it’s just foolishness…but I’d like to think it’s a little of both. Tris and Tobias find themselves in the middle of a war for the factions-even those that would rather not be involved. They don’t know who to trust or what their next move should be, which leads to one thing: What’s the lesser of two evils? Trust one known wholly evil person, or a person who has just recently resurfaced and might have a hidden agenda. Who doesn’t in this faction divided world?

I really liked the story behind Insurgent. Anybody who chooses to read my reviews knows that I like a good romance sandwiched by suspense and peril. Both Divergent and Insurgent dove head first into my favorites pile for these exact reasons, and I am now left feeling a little ache in the pit of my soul where these books ended and left us to wait for the final installment in the trilogy. It seems this has been happening a lot lately-adding books to my “not yet released” shelf. It’s driving me crazy.

A lot has happened since initiation day when everything was still normal. There are even more characters involved and a lot more at stake. People from the past who were undoubtedly out to get them [T/T} aren’t as much of a threat anymore and may even be an unknown ally. We can’t be sure, what with all the deception and lies, but Tris is realizing things are black and white-you are either good or you are bad, you might help this time and not help the next, and no one is ever truly innocent in their intentions.

Overall, a truly fun read. While not as good as the first, I still became immersed in the story and couldn’t put it down. My heart was pounding in my chest and I was nervous as shit for each and every perilous situation. With one more book to go there is a lot that can still happen, but I can only hope for twenty times the action and quadruple the romance. I can’t wait to see what becomes of Tris and Tobias-hopefully a happy ever after.

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Divergent #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Insurgent #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Allegiant #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea
Four: A Divergent Collection #0.1 - 0.4 *Four's Story*