Book Review: We Are The Ants - Shaun David Hutchinson

We Are The Ants - Shaun David Hutchinson

There are a few things Henry Denton knows, and a few things he doesn't.

Henry knows that his mom is struggling to keep the family together, and coping by chain-smoking cigarettes.  He knows that his older brother is a college dropout with a pregnant girlfriend.  He knows that he is slowly losing his grandmother to Alzheimer's.  And he knows that his boyfriend committed suicide last year.

What Henry doesn't know is why the aliens chose to abduct him when he was thirteen, and he doesn't know why they continue to steal him from his bed and take him aboard their ship.  He doesn't know why the world is going to end or why the aliens offered him the opportunity to avert the impending disaster by pressing a big red button.

But they have.  And they've only given him 144 days to make up his mind.

The question is whether Henry thinks the world is worth saving.  That is, until he meets Diego Vega, an artist with a secret past who forces Henry to question his beliefs, his place in the universe, and whether any of it really matters.  But before Henry can save the world, he's got to figure out how to save himself, and the aliens haven't given him a button for that.

3/5 stars (liked it)

I can’t decide if Henry was truly abducted by aliens or if it was all in his head.  The book ends two hours before the world is supposed to end.  I think Henry was truly abducted by aliens but the red button and the end of the world was not really what it appeared to be.  When Henry is told that he is the one who decides to end or save the world, it’s really a time for him to take a look at his life and see if he truly wants to live.  Through this he is forced to face the death of his boyfriend, Jesse.  Face an old friend, Audrey.  And make new a new friendship through Diego.  I really enjoyed this book.  I would have liked to learn a little more about Diego.

Book Review: Library of Souls - Ransom Riggs

Library of Souls - Ransom Riggs

The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls.  As the story opens, sixteen-year old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he's diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress.  Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.

They'll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil's Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England.  It's a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all.  Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

4/5 stars (really liked it)

I thought this was a great conclusion to the series.  I love the new found ability that Jacob has and his connection to his grandfather.  Although I thought something more was going to develop with his ability.  Loved meeting the new characters, especially Sharon.  I would love to see a short story of him and how he came to be where he was.  Addison is the best dog ever, he is very interesting.  The ending was what made me the happiest and I love Miss Peregrine.

Book Review: Blood Vow - J.R. Ward

Blood Vow - J.R. Ward

The Black Dagger Brotherhood continues to train the best of the best to join them in the deadly battle against the Lessening Society.  Among the new recruits, Axe proves to be a cunning and vicious fighter--and also a loner isolated because of personal tragedy.  When and aristocratic female needs a bodyguard, Axe takes the job, though he's unprepared for the animal attraction that flares between him and the one he is sworn to protect.

For Elise, who lost her first cousin to a grisly murder, Axe's dangerous appeal is enticing--and possibly a distraction from her grief.  But as they delve deeper into her cousin's death, and their physical connection grows into so much more, Axe fears that the secrets he keeps and his tortured conscience will tear them apart.

Rhage, the Brother will the biggest heart, knows all about self-punishing, and he wants to help Axe reach his full potential.  But when an unexpected arrival threatens Rhage and Mary's new family, he finds himself back in the trenches again, fighting against a destiny that will destroy all he holds most dear.

As Axe's past becomes known, and fate seems to be turning against Rhage, both males must reach deep--and pray that love, rather than anger, will be their lantern in the darkness.

3/5 stars (liked it)

These books are very predictable.  Love story, it can't happen, then it does, then something comes between them and then things work out.  But even though these books are predictable I love reading them.  I love the characters and the writing.  This character contained several stories.  There is Rhage and Mary's story.  They love Bitty so much but a relative comes forward and threatens their perfect family.  I love the introduction of the uncle and look forward to learning more about him.  I have a feeling he will have his own love story.  There is also Peyton and his messed up idea of love and the tension between him and Novo.  I have a feeling something's going to happen with them.  There's also the story of Axe and Elise.  I felt like even though this book was supposed to be more about them, they were more of a background feature.  I didn't care too much about their love story.

Book Review: Marked - Sara Fine

Marked - Sara Fine

In a broken landscape carved by environmental collapse, Boston paramedic Cacia Ferry risks life and limb on the front lines of a fragile and dangerous city.  What most don't know--including her sexy new partner, Eli Margolis--is that while Cacy works to save lives, she has another job ferrying the dead to the Afterlife.  Once humans are "Marked" by Fate, the powerful Ferrys are called to escort the vulnerable souls to either eternal bliss or unending fire and pain.

Unaware of Cacy's other life, Eli finds himself as mesmerized by his fierce and beautiful partner as he is mistrustful of the influential Ferry clan led by the Charon--who happens to be Cacy's father.  Cacy, in turn, can no longer deny her intense attraction to the mysterious ex-Ranger with a haunted past.  But just as their relationship heats up, an apparent hit takes the Charon before his time.  Shaken to the core, Cacy pursues the rogue element who has seized the reins of Fate, only to discover that Eli has a devastating secret of his own. Not knowing whom to trust, what will Cacy have to sacrifice to protect Eli--and to make sure humanity's future is secure?  

3/5 stars (liked it)

I feel that this book could have just been a stand alone book rather than part of a series.  I know the ending is left open but not really.  I liked Cacy and I liked Eli but not necessarily together.  I felt like they were just thrown together for the sake of it.  I really liked Moros and I liked the epilogue.  Hopefully he is featured more in the next book.

Book Review: A Dance With Dragons - George R.R. Martin

A Dance With Dragons - George R.R. Martin

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance--beset by newly emerging threats from every direction.  In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death.  But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her.  As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys.  But his newest allies in this quest are not the rag-tag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenery's claim to Westeros forever.

Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone--a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, will face his greatest challenge.  For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles.  Some will fail, others will grow in strength of darkness.  But in time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all.

3/5 stars (liked it)

These books are long and good.  But sometimes it feels like there are a lot of characters and a lot of points of views.  I think I would rather just pick less than 5 characters to closely follow and just focus on those.  My favorite character throughout the whole series is Tyrion an he is still my favorite.  I feel like some of the characters are whinny at times and need to be slapped.  Overall I will continue this series.

Book Review: Every Day - David Levithan

Every Day - David Levithan

Every day a different body.  Every day a different life.  Every day in love with the same girl.  There's never any warning about where it will be or who it will be.  A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached.  Avoid being noticed.  Do not interfere.

It's all fine until the morning A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon.  From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply.  Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with--day in, day out, day after day.

3/5 stars (liked it)

I've had this book on my to-read list for a while.  I finally got around to reading it and I'm glad I finally did.  A is very likeable and honest and caring.  He switches bodies every day but respects the body he's in and tries not to interfere.  He falls in love with Rhiannon and tries very hard not to disrupt things.  I like the developing relationship between them and the ending was great.  I can't wait to read the next one from Rhiannon's perspective.