Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Release Date: October 23rd 2012
Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.
She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.
In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Hodkin has the incomparable ability to leave readers dying, literally, for more. The writing grabs your attention in a way and you can't never be sure of anything. I mean, I still don't know why Mara can do what she did, if her allucinations were real, or were they?  Even though, this may cause some impatience in some people, I was completely hooked all the way through the novel.

The Plot: I am blown away by the awesomeness that The Evolution of Mara Dyer provided me. I was up the whole night to finish it because I was unable to put it down, even for a second. The story picks up where it lefts off and Mara's life couldn't be more complicated. Someone is trying to make her life difficult and could this person be Jude? And not just that, her powers are still a mystery. However we do receive some new information about Mara's grandmother. It was interesting to read some chapters in her grandmother's perspective. The plot won't let you down, mystery and action walk hand in hand, not to forget the sweet romance between Mara and Noah that has its share of obstacles.

The Characters: What more can I say? I love every character in this series. I must admit that, in my opinion, everyone was a suspect. I found myself doubting every single character in this novel and that was completely amazing! I can only praise Hodkin's way of writing. Furthermore I enjoy reading from Mara's point of view so much, she really is an amazing yet complicated character. The new characters showed us some new aspects of the story that admittedly, I was really not expecting. Nonetheless it was a nice surprise.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer is a must-read. Actually, the whole series is a must-read, even though the last book is not out yet. I can only guess that it will be as amazing. The cliffhanger at the end is a killer, really. I may not survive until the release of the third installment next year. Certainly this novel changed my perspective of this novel but it didn't let me down, at all (I'm sure after reading it, you may get what I mean!) and now I totally get why Hodkin named the next novel "The Retribution of Mara Dyer".

At the age of sixteen, I lost the rights to my soul in a poker game with pirates just south of Natchez. Shortly thereafter, I joined an acting troupe and traveled the world performing feats of wonder and mischief before writing my first novel, THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER (Simon & Schuster BFYR), which is available now. Its sequel, THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER, hits shelves October 23, 2012, and the third book in the trilogy, THE RETRIBUTION OF MARA DYER, will be out Fall 2013. Website

Review: Finale - Becca Fitzpatrick

Release Date: October 23rd, 2012
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers

Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean they are fated to be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. Now Nora and Patch must gather their strength to face one last, perilous trial. Old enemies return, new enemies are made, and a friend's ultimate betrayal threatens the peace Patch and Nora so desperately want. The battle lines are drawn—but which sides are they on? And in the end, are there some obstacles even love can't conquer?

 I wasn't sure I wanted a fourth book to a originally planned trilogy, but now that I've finished Finale, I'm so happy that the author decided to conclude this series this way! The ending was perfect and fitting; I really couldn't have imagined it any other way. The plot was almost without any faults and though many sad things happened, I loved the conclusion.

The Plot: Fitzpatrick's Finale never slows down. You don't ever get a pause and that's what was so captivating while reading this novel. There was so much happening at the same time and I couldn't put Finale down for a second. Nora's problems were piling up and I loved how everything that could go wrong, almost ever did. It gave the book a new edge. Furthermore the whole thing with the devilcraft was a side story that didn't bore but entertained. However the thing that I didn't like at all was that Nora's problem with devilcraft was actually a huge deal and it was resolved like it was nothing? I mean, then why put this in the story anyway? (please read the book to understand what I'm talking about!)

The Characters: Nora shows us a new side to her. She is tougher and less whinier than usual. Although sometimes she could still get on my nerves, I really started to like her! Yet I think that her emotions could have been a lot more on edge than Fitzpatrick showed us, she was in a really crappy situation and sometimes I felt that she was too calm. Patch was his usual perfect self, no problems there, at all! Vee's secret was completely out of the blue and I didn't think it fit the story somehow; it was too fitting to be what it was. Scott, I love you!

Finale was a wonderful conclusion to one of my favorite series. Not everything can be perfect and I didn't expect it to be, either. It was good enough for me and hopefully, others will think so too! If you haven't picked this series up yet, do it now that you can read all of it in one sitting :)! And if you had mixed feelings about a fourth book, trust me, it was worth it!

Becca Fitzpatrick grew up reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden with a flashlight under the covers. She graduated college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she's most likely prowling sale racks for reject shoes, running, or watching crime dramas on TV. She is the author of the bestselling HUSH, HUSH Saga.

Review: Fever - Lauren DeStefano

Release Date: February 21st, 2012
Hardcover: 341 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing


Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.
Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.
The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

Fever was a worthy sequel to Wither. It certainly was captivating at times and it provided more action that Wither did. I'm not so sure why but Fever was a really slow read for me. I started reading over a month ago and only finished it this week, which never happens for me! Probably what bother me so much was the relationship between Gabriel and Rhine; they spent so much time together but nothing ever happened with the both of them, romance-wise.

The plot: The plot provided us with more action and suspense than Wither yet I found that the relationship between Gabriel and Rhine could have been better; their relationship didn't develop the way I thought it would, so I'm really not sure how their relationship will turn out in the end, it really could go either way. But I do understand that the difficulties along the way were a bit of an obstacle for the both of them. Overall, the plot was very satisfying, full of action and kill-me-now moments.


The characters: Rhine got to be a bit annoying in Fever. She was still very determined and sweet but I had a hard time relating to her. Gabriel showed us different sides to him; he is not just that sweet guy we got to know in Wither. The new characters were very memorable and different and they brought more life into this novel. Some old characters also made an appearance: Cecily, Linden and unfortunately Vaughn, too.


Fever was a good sequel to Wither. I'm not saying it couldn't have been better but I certainly enjoyed reading it and the cliffhanger is enormous, indeed. I can't wait to get my hands on Sever now! I am most curious about the results of Vaughn's experiments on Rhine - did he discover something?

Lauren DeStefano (pronounced: de STEFF ano) graduated Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT in 2007. Her debut novel, WITHER, the first in The Chemical Garden Trilogy, published by Simon & Schuster BFYR, is out now. Website / Twitter