{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!?

A Cry for Help!

Readers and fellow book bloggers,
I need your help and advice! There has been recent major life changes in my life and it has put a damper on my blogging and reading. I don't want to give up either of these. But I haven't read a book that really grabbed my attention since... well, since Hex Hall. And now, my blogging and reviewing feel more like work so I constantly find myself procrastinating and spending my days on that Godforsaken but ever so amazing Pinterest! (here my Pinterest BTW: http://pinterest.com/prettyniftyrdr/)
I have come across a few blog posts in the past and I was hoping if you know or have authored any such posts to share them with me. Or even just a few quick tips in the comments. Or if you want to be more specific you can always email me!
Thank you for your help!
Melina aka Pretty Nifty (YA) Reader

{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} Eve by Anna Carey

Eve (Eve #1) by Anna Carey
Published: October 4th 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN:   0062048503 (ISBN13: 9780062048509)
Pages: 318
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought myself
Shelfability: Acquire
Rating: 3 Stars

Where do you go when nowhere is safe?
Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.
In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel in Eve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.

My Review:
Cover:
I am in love with this cover, I love the color scheme and scenery. I feel like I have to be looking for something through that fog.
The Insides:
Eve was a page turner for sure. However I went into it with high expectations and I was somewhat disappointed in its lack of originality. Don't get me wrong I read this book in record time and truly enjoyed it. The flaws in the book were mostly limited to a cookie-cutter style dystopia and lack of character development. The plot was great! I loved the excitement I felt while reading it. I enjoyed reading about Eve's inner struggles but some came to conclusions too easily, or so it seems. At first she seemed to me like a brainwashed know-it-all then all of a sudden  she's a headstrong, determined free spirit?! Where did that come from? What thought process provoked such a drastic change in personality? Oh and of course there is a love triangle! Which I of course love!
I won't say not to read the book. Actually, DO read it. It's a good story, a bit "cookie-cutter" but not once did I want to stop reading it!

Final Nifty Rating: 

I'm BAAAAAACK!

It feels so good to be back! The holidays KILLED my blogging and I am now in the process of resurrecting it ! I am simply announcing today that I am back in the blogosphere. Many things went down in the past 3 weeks; I won't get into the gritty details because some things are simply not book blog material. If you are interested in my daily tribulations let me know in the comments section and I am thinking of starting a personal blog about my life as a (newly and happy) single mom. Here is a quick list (because who doesn't love lists eh?) of what is to come this week/month/year!
The List:

• Long-awaited New Years post
• Reading/blogging/real-life goals and resolutions
• The latest books I received/bought
• There might be TV/Movie reviews (let me know in the comments if you'd enjoy these)
• Reviews, Reviews, reviews...
• More Memes.
• More of my beautiful presence!

Now I love you guys, but it is time for me to kick back and read!

Currently Reading:

Up Next will be either: 

The Iron Daughter, Catching Fire, Wolfsbane, Incareron or A Need So Beautiful.

Help me choose, comment, Please!

Happy Reading to all!