{Review} Die For Me by Amy Plum

Die For Me
by Amy Plum
Series: Revenants #1
Published: May 10th 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 0062004018 (ISBN13: 9780062004017)
Pages: 341
Source: Bought Myself
Reading Level: 15+
Shelf Award: Lovely Romance/ Original Concept
Rating: 4.5

Where To Buy: TBD Chapters Indigo

Summary from Goodreads:In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.
When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.
Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

My Thoughts:
Cover Love: Pretty flourishes, beautiful dress, seems nostalgic to me. It's a beautiful cover but the book is better.

Review: 

A whimsical romance with a supernatural twist you will not see coming!

Yes, I cried, more than one. Luckily I was at home and no one saw me because I was all like this But more ladylike:

In all seriousness, it did take me until the second try to read it. Why? No clue! It was great! I think it might be because the pacing in the first 2-3 chapters is a little slow but it picks right up and then I was hooked to every word.

Kate is truly a troubled heroine and you can definitely feel her pain and confusion. Her inner struggle is a BIG part of this emotional novel.

Finding out about what exactly what Vincent was all about truly through me for a loop because i never expected it and honestly took a while to understand it since it was so very weird.

Anyways, I won't say much for the sake of those who've yet to read it but the idea of Revenants, is completely and utterly unlike ANYTHING I have ever read before!

You want more on Vincent? OF COURSE YOU DO!

He is officially the most concerned and romantic book boy/guy/man I have ever encountered. Oh yeah he made me sigh so many times my mom thought I was having an asthma attack when I brought the book over at family dinner.  

And as setting we have Paris! Wonderful, legendary Paris. Mon Amour, Je T' Adore! How refreshing it was to experience! 

 So did you read it? Did you like it? Do you want to read it?

{Review} Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

(Newsoul #1)

Published: January 31st 2012

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

ISBN: 0062060759 (ISBN13: 9780062060754)

Pages: 374 (hardcover edition)

Source: Bought Myself

Shelfability: Must Read/ Covet

Where To Buy: TBD 

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:
New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
No soul
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
Heart
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

My Thoughts:

Cover Love: One of the first things that sold me on this book was the cover. I know, I judge a book by its cover. Gasp away. But we all do it. Admit it! The color scheme, the butterfly, the look of utter bewilderment  felt so ethereal and a soft. Like reading it would be satin for a reader's soul. And it was!!!

Now onto the pages within the books. No, I did not immediately get entranced. It took about 20 pages. But those 20 pages did something more than some of the books who immediately entrance me. I was felt as though I was put in some sort trance while reading Incarnate. I could see, smell and hear Jodi Meadow's universe.

This book felt like spring to me. It was fresh.

Even though some parts felt not developed enough, I would have liked a more in depth description of Sylphs and other creatures, and some slightly overly so, the musical element was beautiful but not as pertinent to the story as it should have been for the amount of attention it got, I completely loved the book.

Ana was an altogether different kind of heroine. I connected with her and the pain of years abuse and isolation. I understood her distrust of others, her self doubt. Some might see it as her being whiny and defensive, but I understood it for what it was: years of conditioning. These traits became part of her personality. Jodi really depicted the image of a young girl overcoming adversity in a way that was completely relatable.

And what to say of Sam... Well of course I fell in love with the guy. He was a prince in shining armor. So devoted to her. Soulmates.

This story was not one of blood and action scenes (although brace yourself for some...) but one of personal discoveries, revelations, mystery and growth. I rarely felt such a sense of peace after reading a book. It truly was Satin for a reader's soul. Hence it's 4.5 star rating.

I highly look forward to the following books in the series! What did you think!?

{Review} Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall #1)
Published: March 10th 2010
Publisher: Hypherion
ISBN:  1423121309 (ISBN13: 9781423121305)
Pages: 318
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought myself
Shelfability: Acquire/Covet
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.
As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

My Review

Cover:

At first I wasn't sold on the cover, which is pretty much why I put off reading this literary gem for so long.

The Insides:
First page, first sentence and I was in love! The plot was brilliant, the characters (especially Sophie) were brilliant and the hot boy was smoking HOT!
This book made me laugh so much my face hurt by the time I was done. I loved the mix of species or Prodigium coming together at Hecate and truly felt entranced in this universe. The resident villain, Elodie wasn't all that evil as much as she was conniving and mischievous, I felt sorry for her at some points. Hex Hall was a great series first and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Rachel Hawkins really made sure her readers would instantly be hooked by Sophie's wit and a plot riddled with mystery, a budding (Hot and heavy) romance and very nicely developed supportive characters (ahem Cal!). 

Sometimes the book was a little predictable and some of the characters and conversations were slightly juvenile but none of that took anything away from the sheer brilliance of this book.
Final Nifty Rating:

{Review} XVI by Julia Karr

XVI (XVI #1) by Julia Karr

Published: January 6th 2011

Publisher: Speak (Penguin)
ISBN: 0142417718 (ISBN13: 9780142417713)

Pages: 325
Source: Bought myself
Shelfability: Must read/Acquire
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Some girls can't wait to be sixteen, to be legal. Nina is not one of them. Even though she has no choice in the matter, she knows that so long as her life continues as normal, everything will be okay.

Then, with one brutal strike, Nina's normal is shattered; and she discovers that nothing that she believed about her life is true. But there's one boy who can help--and he just may hold the key to her past. But with the line between attraction and danger as thin as a whisper, one thing is for sure... For Nina, turning sixteen promises to be anything but sweet

My Review:
I was very excited to start reading this book. Not because of the hype (was there some?) but because of the concept. Because just the synopsis was able to make me wonder about myself, our society and the world that awaits us. Nina lives in a nearly completely misogynistic dystopian world where the media and government work hand in hand. And honestly? It's chilling to think of a world where that is reality. Julia Karr wrote a cautionary tale that resonates with the society in which we live. The bottom line is: Don't let others think for you. Respect yourself and your individuality.
The plot was exciting in this book. Neatly paced with just enough to keep you hooked.The characters were diverse in their personalities. The classes and different backgrounds were thoroughly thought out. And there was mystery and adventure and romance! I sped through it and I was happy I did! Totally worth it. Although Nina's bestfriend, Sandy, was ridiculously naive, clueless and with all her "Media" acquired "personality", she turned out plain and annoying to me. Also, how quickly did Nina replace her with Wei!? It was a little too quick and easy for Nina if you ask me.
The concept behind the book is what gives it such a high score. I believe this book should be read in high school.
What I loved:

• The society
• The mystery surrounding Nina's father
• The pacing 
• The action scenes (totally realistic. Nina isn't a martial arts expert and she doesn't "suddenly" become one either.)
• The romance. (I am a sucker)

What I didn't like:

• The cluelessness of some characters
• the useless crushes. (waste of pages)

Final Nifty Rating: