Becky Book Review: Days of Blood and Starlight

So, Sarah reviewed this book a few days ago and you can read her review here. I actually read this book a few months ago but I hadn't yet posted my review. I know that Sarah gave this book a rave review, but we do actually have differing tastes in books and I did not like this book as much as Sarah did.

Description from Goodreads: Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.
In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.
While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. Forhope.

Review: This book started out really slow because you don't see Karou's story line for many many pages. And, I didn't really care for reading from the other characters' point of view as much as I liked Karou. But, once her story line finally made an appearance it started to pick up again. It was intriguing how the author melded the two lives of Karou and Madrigal and made them into this one person who is not human though she wears a human body. Also, I got insight into Akiva's life and the Angel's world, which added some more depth and purpose to the war.

The writing itself was excellent, but the story line was so slow. I did not blaze through this book, but it took a long time to read because the POV kept jumping around so much. It is like when I started to read something that I was really interested in, the book would cut to someone else's POV at that pivotal moment and then I had to wade through 30 boring pages to get back to the real storyline.

The ending was a little predictable because the author sets you up for it way before the end of the book, but I was still pleased with the conclusion. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Rating: 4 stars

Son: Book Review

Description from Goodreads: They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive?　 She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it means making an unimaginable sacrifice.

Review: Lois Lowry, how do you do it? How do you draw me into a book on the first page and make me stay up until 1am reading it because I can't put it down? How do you make a story so interesting and tie three other books that did not at first seem related to each other in this one book? And finally, why is it that I am always disappointed with the endings of your books?

Loved the book the whole time I was reading it up until the end. Like the other books in the Giver series, the story ended when it felt like it was a new beginning. Yes, she completes what feels like a chapter in the book and the character comes to a conclusion, but the conclusion is also a beginning of a new story for the character and I know that I will never hear that story because that is how Lois Lowry rolls.

So, I recommend this book to all readers, younger and older. It was an intriguing read and one that I could definitely see a kid writing a book report on. But, I recommend that you read the other books in the Giver series first as all the characters in those books make a reappearance. But, I hadn't read those books in years and barely remembered them, but still managed to enjoy this book.

Rating: 4 stars

Unearthly: Book Review

I picked up this book because one of the books in the series was in Sarah's top ten books that she wants to read next year. So, I thought, hey, I oughta see what those books are all about.

Description from Goodreads:
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees...
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.


Review:
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the main character, which doesn't usually happen with YA books because YA authors seem to think main character girls need to be needy and weak and whiny and lame and dependent. But, the main character in this book, Clara, is strong and independent and interesting and actually likeable.

The idea of being part angel is not a new thing; I've read a few books that pose this idea. But, I liked the author's take on angels. Just like I read a lot of different vampire books even though I have read the concept before. One thing that I thought was interesting that I haven't seen before is the author had all the characters who have angel blood have wings. Every other demi angel book I have read, the character has supernatural powers, but no wings.

This author knows how to write romance. I loved how she described Clara's first kiss. She describes all the little things in the moment leading up to the kiss and all the emotions running through Clara so well that I feel like I'm there in the moment with her.

The author is just so good at describing things without getting too wordy that the book is a fast read. Which I love. I hate when a book drags and it takes me forever to finish just because I have reached a boring part in the book. This book didn't have any boring parts.

The only thing that I slightly didn't like was that the book was cliffhangery. Things were left unfinished. But, I suppose that just means that I need to read the next book. Which I definitely will. I love reading books that are easy to read and make me feel, but don't make me think too much.

Rating: 4 stars

Hana: Book Review

I read Hana as an eBook that I checked out from the library. Can I just say how much I love that I can check out eBooks? It is awesome. Hana is a companion chapter to the Delirium book; you know, that book that depicts love as a disease. I recommend reading Delirium before you read this one... or this one won't make any sense at all.

Hana by Lauren Oliver

Goodreads Description:
The summer before they're supposed to be cured of the ability to love, best friends Lena and Hana begin to drift apart. While Lena shies away from underground music and parties with boys, Hana jumps at her last chance to experience the forbidden. For her, the summer is full of wild music, dancing—and even her first kiss.

Review:  I thought that this was an interesting chapter in the Delirium story. Getting to see Hana's side of the story and figuring out a bit of her back story was satisfying. Originally, I wondered why Hana had that bit of rebellion in her and what motivated her to go to the secret parties in the first place. So, it was great to see her point of view.

It was an easy read, just as easy as Delirium. I would kinda like to see the end of Hana's story. Does she marry the mayor's son? Do Hana and Lena ever reunite? I hope that we see more of Hana in the final book in the series. If we don't... then what was the point of this book? 

Rating: 4 stars