{Review} Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed
by Josephine Angelini
(Starcrossed #1)
Published: May 31st 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 0062011995 (ISBN13: 9780062011992)
Pages: 487
Source: Bought Myself
Reading Level: 16+
Shelf Award: Favorite
Where To Buy: TBD , ChaptersIndigo
Rating: 4 Stars

Summary From Goodreads:Set on the island of Nantucket, STARCROSSED tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a young woman whose destiny is forever altered when she meets Lucas Delos and tries to kill him in front of her entire high school. Which is terribly inconvenient, not only because Lucas is the most beautiful boy on the island, but also because Helen is so achingly shy she suffers physical pain whenever she is given too much attention.
Making matters worse, Helen is beginning to suspect she’s going crazy. Whenever she’s near Lucas or any member of his family she sees the ghostly apparitions of three women weeping bloody tears, and suffers the burden of an intense and irrational hate. She soon learns that she and Lucas are destined to play the leading roles in a Greek tragedy that the Three Fates insist on repeating over and over again throughout history. Like her namesake, Helen of Troy, she’s destined to start a war by falling in love. But even though Lucas and Helen can see their own star-crossed destiny, they’re still powerfully attracted to each other. Will they give up their personal happiness for the greater good, or risk it all to be together?

Cover Love
Gorgeous cover. It is wonderful enough to look at that I am probably getting it blown up and hanging it on my wall! Totally a dreamy cover!
My Thoughts
OK so here is the deal with Starcrossed. I loved it. But there were a (very little)few things that kept me from thoroughly enjoying it. Things I now proceed to enumerate so we can hurry and get on to the good stuff.
You know how some Heroines are just "too good" well Helen was like that. I understand she doesn't want to hurt anyone but still...
Then the issue of her criticizing her body like she's so ugly. Gah!
Now I am sure the author had her reasons and I am not criticizing her work. These are my universal pet peeves in all the books I read.
Now onto the good stuff!
With her flaws aside, Helene was a good heroine, loyal and protective... And those were her redeeming qualities when it came to her whining about learning to fight.
The pacing was perfect. Not once did I want to stop reading. If I somehow got bored even in the slightest all I had to was turn a page and I was right back in.
The characters both main and secondary were all very well written. My heart was simply torn apart about the impossibility of their love. Nonetheless, I loved the romances between Lucas and Helen and Jason and Claire. I almost hope there is a spinoff or something about those two!
The Greek concept was amazing and extremely well developped! Now thanks to Starcrossed my love of mythology based books has been renewed!
Yes there were MANY similarities to Twilight. And that's not a bad thing at all. I LOVED Twilight. I read the whole series 4 times!! But honestly... I might read the Starcrossed series 5 times.

So yeah, that was the deal on Starcrossed!
A 4 star book and a spot on my "Favorites" shelf!

What did you think? Will YOU run to get Dreamless on the 29th?
Because I WILL!

{Review} Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight (Firelight #1) by Sophie Jordan
Published: September 7th 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 0061935085 (ISBN13: 9780061935084)
Pages: 323
Source: Bought myself
Shelfability: Must read/Acquire
Rating: 4 Stars

A hidden truth. Mortal enemies. Doomed love. Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form. Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy. Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book, Jordan created a beautiful mythology. I haven't read anything like it before and that's what makes it a must read for me (That and the awe-inducing cover, hmmm purdy!). I loved how diverse the draki are. Although this book did not make my jaw drop down to the floor, it is definitely worth a read. Jacinda is teenager uprooted from her home by her mother for protection. She is daring and will do anything to keep her draki alive in the worst conditions. However, some of her decisions were often self centered and she was very confused and indecisive up until the end. As for some of the other Characters in the book; I truly enjoyed Will, he is my favorite character followed by Jacinda, Tamra came across as superficial and materialistic and Cassian and his father were bordering on physically abusive. I enjoyed the concept and story but I think the characters needed a bit more focused. Nevertheless, I have Vanish and I look forward to reading it.

Final Nifty Rating: 4 Nifty Stars

{Review} City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)
Published: March 27th 2007

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 1416955070 (ISBN13: 9781416955078)
Pages: 485
Source: Bought myself
Shelfability: Must read/Acquire
Rating: 4 Stars

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? read more...

My review: 
Simply put, this book was an epic of the likes of Harry Potter. I know how much I risk by making such a comparison. It was honestly very different from the other novels I read recently and it was refreshing. Now, why HP you may ask? Well, it's an adventure, an epic. And that's what it focuses on. The romance really takes a backseat but it's still there and obvious. Every character is fleshed out perfectly. I can almost believe they were actually living in this world.
The dialogue was something else! I laughed out loud (LOL!) many many times while reading this. One thing that was a little irritating was how clueless some characters were. I facepalmed. And I didn't understand (I guessed I missed something) how Clary found out Alec's well, thing-a-majig there. (no spoilers for the rare few who have yet to read this)
All in all, I am SO HAPPY I finally read this! I went and bought City of Ashes and City of Glass right away!

Favorite Character: Jace (witty and sexy and he knows his stuff)
Least Favorite: Alec (self centered, whiny) but it wouldn't be as good without him!

Final Nifty rating: 4 Nifty Stars!

Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Title: Born At Midnight (Shadow Falls #1) 
Author: C.C. Hunter
Published: March 29th 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 416

Source: Bought it myself 

From Goodreads:

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever.  Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.”  Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either.  Or does she? 

They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason.  As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas.  Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past.  Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. 

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

My Review:

Well this was a good read! I have to admit at first I wasn't sold on it. Had it been a stand-alone it would have sucked. But it's a series! Thank God! 

I'd say that aside from an original take on YA fantasy it is a novel with a big take on acceptance of yourself and others! I really Liked that!

What I liked:

• The character development... You really connect and grow with Kylie and understand how she grows.
• The coming of age, this really is a book for young adults. NOT teenagers ages 15 and under. It was a bit more heavy on the, uuum, sexual tension but I identified with that and I appreciate the honesty C.C. Hunter wrote with about this issue. I never came across something quite like that in a YA novel.
• I loved how Kylie REALLY couldn't decide between Lucas and Derek. I wouldn't want to be her. Or would I?
• I loved the transition most of the camps newcomers went through. It truly was a journey of acceptance! 
• The honest dialogue!
• I LOVE THE COVER!!!

What I Didn't like:

• How whiny Kylie was at first, it was annoying and almost gave up on reading the book.
• The development came slow... The big BANG, heart racing scene came too near the end. 
• Did not really get many answers concerning Kylie and all the mystery surrounding Shadow Falls. I wanted to see (aka read about Kylie seeing) the falls. But I guess this is kept for the other books.
• Sometimes the writing was annoying, too much repetition. But that's probably because I'm picky.

Favorite character: Della

Favorite boy/love interest: How the heck can I know!? ( one of the many reasons why I love this book)

Least Favorite Character: Fredericka (the author did a good job!)

I really did enjoy this book! and I do recommend it to anyone who likes YA. 

So READ IT!