Review: The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Release Date: May 14th, 2013

Hardcover: 488 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins

“The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away.”

This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil.

But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?

I love fairy tales, and that's certainly doesn't come as a surprise for readers of my blog. I've certainly read and reviewed many books in this genre. But what makes School of Good and Evil special? In Chainani's novel, we get to see the makings of a fairy tale story. How does one become a princess or a prince or even a villain? And who chooses the perfect princess for a certain story? Such questions are answered when two very different girls end up at the School of Good and Evil and show that not everything in a fairy tale is completely black and white.

What I loved most about this novel was that everything was upside down. Sophie was princess material on the outside, yet Agatha was regardless of her looks a princess through and through. Agatha is an easy-to-love character; she is forgiving and faithful to her friend Sophie, even though Sophie ends up being the villain, no one expected her to become in the beginning. However not everything is black and white, Agatha also has some evil moments and Sophie tries to become a better person, not with much success. Furthermore, the character development (foremost in Sophie's case) was off-the-charts. They struggle with the roles they were given and it was interesting to see how things turned out.

The story is original and has a nice pace to it. I think, the romance was handled really well. In the beginning we only see the prince as a hottie that Sophie has obviously fallen for, regardless of his personality. But as the book unfolds, we learn to like his character and see that he is not completely Good, as well. The Prince is a jerk sometimes and doesn't trust his heart when it involves Agatha but in the end, I was a completely fan of their romance! And I really enjoyed the addition of the Storyteller's storyline and the answer to why Good has been winning against Evil for so long. 

Chainani's novel was one of the first fairy tale novels that got me to question: what is Good and what is Evil? Agatha may not look like a princess but she acts like one while Sophie tries to be good in the beginning but for the wrong reasons, and ends up being a complete villain. It's an interesting theme to think about and the author also successfully convenes the message that looks really are not everything and that actions show a lot more about one's personally. I can't wait to read the next installment and even watch the movie for this novel, since the rights for it have been bought! 

Huge thanks to Harper Collins UK for providing me with a copy for review!

ARC Review: Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza

Release Date: March 12th, 2013
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past—that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.
Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity-style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

With a brand-new premise about artificial intelligence, Mila 2.0 sure does keep us readers caught up in every twist and turn. Unfortunately even with those thrilling  twists and turns, I never felt like we arrived at the climax of the novel. Nevertheless Mila 2.0 was an enjoyable read just because of the freshness of the idea (at least, I hadn't read something similar in the YA genre until now) and the writing was pleasant to read.

The plot was for me the best part of this novel. It went as it usual does, with Mila finding out that she is not who she thought she was. From then on, the novel is filled with action and exciting moments, enough to make us readers eager to get to the last page. The only big problem with this novel, in my opinion, was the romance. Her relationship with Hunter was always a central theme in the novel, despite the lack of development between them. Furthermore he doesn't play a big role in the story but is always remembered as a big deal; the problem is: he isn't a remarkable character.

Mila was a more interesting character but I wasn't able to enjoy her much. But her emotions are well-described and probably I will enjoy her more in the sequel. Hunter, as mentioned, didn't thrill me as he should have but let's wait to see how things will play out in the course of the trilogy. Lucas, another possible love interest, was also a bit superfluous in the story; I expected him to become something more but somehow it felt like the author was holding out on us. He was left behind without even an afterthought.

Mila 2.0 was a great debut to a trilogy that has potential to become something awesome. Even though there were many things that bothered me in this novel, there were also many that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm certainly awaiting the next installment, and you should too!

Thanks to Katherine Tegen Books for providing me with a copy of Mila 2.0 for review!!

Review: What's Left of Me - Kat Zhang

Release Date: September 27th, 2012
Hardcover: 343 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

In theory, this novel had everything to be epic. What's Left of Me has a refreshing premise: two souls living in one body and only the strongest soul will prevail. What if the other soul doesn't go away? Like in a typical dystopian novel, the defected will be eliminated. This novel reminded me a lot of The Host by Stephenie Meyer but it was different in many ways, so don't worry!

The story itself was great, what really went wrong was the pace set by the author. Many chapter just dragged and nothing really happened, even though there were many opportunities to the story to be more exciting. Nevertheless I enjoyed reading the novel and I fought through the slower chapters and I'm happy that I didn't just give up. The plot is promising and I'm sure the next novel will be better, either way, I'll be reading it! Now if you are expecting What's Left of Me to be filled with romance, you are certain to be disappointed.

I had a hard time forming an opinion about the characters. In the beginning I felt more connected to Eva (the narrator) and Eddie was rather boring. But in the course of the novel, I got more and more annoyed with Eva. In the end, I guess I like them both but not as much as I was expecting to. Frankly, with the other characters I made no connection whatsoever. Ryan, the probable romantic interest was rather absent and dull, but let's hope that the sequel will provide us more in the characters' department.

Nonetheless, I read this novel rather quick. Even though the pace was much slower than expected, the story was promising enough to leave readers intrigued about the next page, the next chapter and the next book.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK for providing me with a copy of What's Left of Me for review!

ARC Review: Don't Turn Around - Michelle Gagnon

Release Date: August 28th 2012
Hardcover: 310 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins

Sixteen-year-old Noa has been a victim of the system ever since her parents died. Now living off the grid and trusting no one, she uses her computer-hacking skills to stay safely anonymous and alone. But when she wakes up on a table in an empty warehouse with an IV in her arm and no memory of how she got there, Noa starts to wish she had someone on her side.

Enter Peter Gregory. A rich kid and the leader of a hacker alliance, Peter needs people with Noa’s talents on his team. Especially after a shady corporation threatens his life. But what Noa and Peter don’t realize is that Noa holds the key to a terrible secret, and there are those who’d stop at nothing to silence her for good.

 
A fast-paced enthralling novel that you will keep you hooked till its very last page. It has been awhile since I've read such an exciting novel that I couldn't even sleep before finishing the whole thing! Gagnon totally succeeded in captivating me with a story full of twists and turns filled with mystery.

The Plot: What surprised me most about Don't Turn Around was the lack of romance (don't worry, there is enough of platonic love) and yet it had the capacity of completely grabbing my attention and not letting it go one second. Gagnon's writing is a match made in heaven for a novel like this one and I would be certainly reading anything this author throws my way. Furthermore the suspense and action is just plain exciting!

The Characters: All characters fit perfectly the genre of this book. Noa was an independent, strong main character who often remembered me of Lisbeth from "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Peter was the typical rebel. He is rich but doesn't have a good relationship with his parents since his brother died and he wants to make a different to the world with his hacker group. I loved the difference between them and the combination of their characters. The side characters complemented the story well and I found myself even liking them!

Don't Turn Around is a novel for those of you who are in search of an exciting novel with many action-filled scenes and suspense. If you are into such movies as The Bourne Identity or action movies and books in general, you shouldn't miss this one which is coming out tomorrow! Now is a great time to pre-order it, you won't have to wait so long for it to come out.

Huge thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with a copy for review! 

Michelle Gagnon is a former modern dancer, dog walker, bartender, freelance journalist, personal trainer, model, and Russian supper club performer. To the delight of her parents, she gave up all these occupations for an infinitely more stable and lucrative career as a crime fiction writer. Website / Twitter

ARC Review: Defiance - C.J. Redwine

Release Date: August 28th 2012
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Admittedly, the first thing that got my attention in Defiance was the main character's name, Rachel! But after reading the synopsis on Goodreads and reading many amazing reviews, I just knew that I had to get my hands on it. And boy, it sure was worth getting excited over it. Redwine's writing will have you reading Defiance in one sitting.

The Plot: Defiance starts rather quickly and not once did things slow down. If you enjoy many action and suspense scenes, you should certainly check this one out. Furthermore the post-apocalyptic and dystopian aspects of the story didn't feel repetitive to me, which could certainly happen as so many of my reads fall in this genre. However, certain aspects of the story were too superficially explained like the Cursed Ones' existence. But since Defiance is set to be a trilogy, hopefully everything will be explained. Overall, Defiance has an action-packed and enthralling plot.

The Characters: I'm not going to lie, I was going to love the main character either way, I mean, she is called Rachel! But I really loved the character's determination and resilience, though with time she became a bit too stubborn for me. Logan was an interesting character, but what got my attention the most, was that he is the complete opposite of Rachel. While she is more spontaneous, he likes to calculate everything and be certain of the outcome. The dual perspective was a great idea but after the romance starts to bloom, I felt like both their voices became too alike and lacked distinction.

Redwine's Defiance was an amazing summer read. Full of action, suspense and a sweet romance, this one will please almost everyone. Strong characters, awesome plot, what else do you need?

A big thanks to Balzer + Bray for providing me with a copy of Defiance for review.

C.J. Redwine loves stilettos, lemon bars, any movie starring Johnny Depp, and books. C.J. holds a degree in English Literature from Pepperdine University and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, four kids, two spastic cats, and one long-suffering dog. Website / Twitter

Review: Arise - Tara Hudson

Release Date: June 5th 2012
Hardcover: 404 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins


Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together.Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for her.

Arise was a worthy sequel to Hereafter, every bit as unputdownable as the first one. Hudson really had an original idea with this series and it's always good to know that the author won't fall into the ordinary with the next novels. Arise had everything one looks for in a novel and I'm sure the next one will be just completely amazing.

The Plot: Arise begins right where Hereafter left off. I loved the concept of voodoo and that Amelia became half-alive. Furthermore I think that Hudson writes with the right amount of everything: romance, action and sad moments. There were many twists and turns that were, though predictable, really enjoyable. I never thought I would enjoy a ghost story so much! When I finished this novel, I was sure of one thing: Arise was completely enthralling. 

The Characters: Amelia still is this careful but brave person. She cares for everyone and tries to do the right thing, always, even if it would hurt her. I like her very much, and I liked her even more after she met Gabrielle. I think Gaby gave Amelia a new edge. The new characters were all really easy to welcome and I hope we will read more about them in the next and final installment. And we can't forget Joshua, the totally swoon-worthy and sweet love interest. He cares a lot about Amelia and their relationship seems to get more mature.


Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I wasn't expecting it to be this good and I certainly wasn't expecting the voodoo aspects and the awesomeness of the new characters. I hope that Hudson will keep this up and that the third novel will be just as great as this one. If you haven't read Hereafter yet, you certainly should! 

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Tara Hudson graduated with a degree in law, mostly because she believed all the horror stories about English majors and their careers in the food-service industry. Luckily, she soon remembered how much she loved telling ghost stories, particularly to her girlfriends who liked visiting abandoned cemeteries as much as she did. Tara currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband, son, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets.