Young Adult Guest Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

Title: Mind Games

Author: Kiersten White

Series: Mind Games

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Format: ARC copy

ISBN: 0062135317

Genre: Young Adult
Release date: February 19th 2013

Number of pages: 237

Review by Melissa

Ah, why book? Why do you make me want to cry? I feel like crying and smiling and laughing at the same time. You are such a beautiful book in all the wrong ways. So beautiful. The depth in which Annie and Fia love each other is incredible, no matter how broken and tainted by blood they are.

Everything in this book was crazy. The school for the “gifted” girls was evil, evil, evil. So wrong and insane. The extremes people would go just to get seers, readers, etc. just to have them aboard the so-called prestigious school. Every single one of them are messed up, Fia more than anybody else. She is the little sister to Annie who is blind and happens to be a seer, brought into the school in false hope of feeling normal and getting treatment for her eyes. Instead, Fia is trained against her wishes to be an excellent fighter, robber, stock breaker; you name it, all thanks to her precise instincts or knack of telling what’s right or wrong. She can’t be lied to easily either.

And I know you were wondering a bit about the boys in there. My heart went towards Adam, but I really don’t know if Fia will ever want to be with him. She loves bad boy James, but the romance between them or with James for that matter doesn’t take up a huge role in the story.

Reading Mind Games was a rush in words. Fia’s words and thoughts were quick and desperate, you could feel her eagerness to get out of the deep hole she was in. Her tap, tap, tap is a perfect description of how the story seemed to move. That beat is a quirk she has, and it made hyusense once I realized why she had that habit. So much sense and now I’m stuck with her hype, so I will let it run out of my system once I get over that ending. Which was EPIC. It fooled me and left me in such a mess, so many mixed emotions. But I won’t ruin it for you. Just read it, read it now.

Series in Order

#1 – Mind Games

Young Adult Guest Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .
Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Title: Pivot Point

Author: Kasie West

Series: Pivot Point

Publisher: HarperTeen

Format: ARC

ISBN: 0062117378

Genre: Young Adult
Release date: February 12th 2013

Number of pages: 343

 

 

Review by Melissa

Pivot Point without doubt has earned a special place in my list of favorite books ever. It was awesome, incredible, unique. Such an imaginative read that I devoured in less than a day. It was addictive, very fast paced, but not overwhelming, just the right amount to be entertaining and easy to follow.

I loved the plot and the alternative futures. It’s so uncommon to come across books just like this one that answers the “what if” questions like: Which choice to make? Stay or leave? Remember or forget? Addie has this amazing ability to be able to see into her future and the possible outcomes, to make a choice and decide which one is best for her. She is so mature regarding her ability, knowing the implications of using them in her everyday life, besides from being smart, witty and a total bookworm, thus making me really like her as a character. It was fun to watch her go down her two possible futures and interact on totally different settings: the normal world and the compound, home of supernatural people.
The chapters flew by in my attempt to get to know both outcomes, though I must admit I was eager to read the ones involving the normal world. Of course this has nothing to do with Trevor … okay, it had A LOT to do with him. He was just so perfect and fun to hang out with that it makes me want to have a best friend just like him and follow the best friend handbook word by word. Believe me, it’s so worth it. And this is just a small part of the awesomeness.

It’s a book where I laughed out loud with the things Addie and her best friend, Laila, would come up with. It’s a book where I doubted who to trust and made me feel apprehensive of some people for no reason. It’s a book where my heart wanted to jump out of my body and into the book pages, especially when Trevor was around. It’s a book worth re-reading countless of times until the next installment comes out and relieves me from the pain of waiting such a long time to see what happens next. I NEED to know.

Series in Order

#1 – Pivot Point
#2 – Split Second (Expected publication: February 11th 2014)

Young Adult Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.
America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.
Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Title: The Elite

Author:  Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection

Publisher: Harper Teen

Format: ebook

ISBN: 0062059963

Genre: Young Adult
Release date: April 23rd 2013

Number of pages: 323

 

I was so anxious for this book that I devoured a novella and was left unhappy about the waiting for the next one. Sometimes the worst part is wait for the next volume.

 

I devoured this book, but was left really sad, because for once I have no idea who America will chose, I an only hope it’s Maxon because he is my favorite and he showed a good side on this story, plus he’s trying to change some rules. We also got to see some very disturbing scenes of the monarchy and a few questions were answered about the rebels.

 

I kept waiting for something bad to happen and when it did was so big that I was really afraid for America, but things are more disturbing than ever and I’m afraid that the final book will have some bad things happening. America was really out of league with her latest stunt, but I liked how she fought until the end, and I get the feeling she really likes Maxon. So yay and I can’t wait for more.

SERIES IN ORDER

#0.5 – The Prince
#1 – The Selection 
#2 – The Elite
#3 – The One (Expected publication: 2014)

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

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.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Title: Unearthly

Author: Cynthia Hand

Series: Unearthly

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Format: ebook

ISBN: 0061996165

Genre: Young Adult
Release date: January 4th 2011

Number of pages: 435

Okay this book was not what I expected and I have a feeling there’s still a lot of history hidden from the past and I have no Idea why her mother is lying to her. This is more than just a normal family and I just don’t understand right now why Clara mother keeps hiding things.

Clara is an angel-blood, meaning that in her family someone had sex with an angel, so we discovers that she’s only a quarterious, her mother is the daughter of an angel and really strong, but the story is all about Clara finding and saving someone she sees in her visions, her purpose.

The interesting part is how Clara is better than a simple human, she’s stronger, has an ability with languages and really pretty. That should make her a popular in her new school, but she just moved to this town after she had a series of visions with a guy closer to a fire.

This guy is Christian and he’s constantly hiding things, with is kinda of weird, but most of all, he’s a popular and also has a girlfriend so things are complicated and Clara is only trying to fit in and pretend to be normal until the day she has to save him.

I thought everything was going fine, until summer and her friend Wendy decided to help her by loaning her brother, Tucker. I liked Tucker, but never liked the way he treated Wendy and it turns out he was into her and kinda afraid.

I liked this first book and the story sounds kinda nice so far, but what keeps me hooked are the secrets.

Series in Order

#1 – Unearthly

#2 – Hallowed
#2.5 – Radiant
#3 – Boundless

 

    

Review: Sweet Evil Extra #2 by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Evil Extra #2

Author: Wendy Higgins

Series: The Sweet Trilogy

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Format: online freebie from the author

Genre: Young Adult
Release date: October 5th 2012

Number of pages: —

Chapter 26 – Halloween (the "freckle scene"), from Kaidan’s Point of View
This scene gets us deeper into Kai’s mind than we’ve ever delved before. It *might* have made Wendy cry a little when she wrote it.

I actually enjoyed a bit more this glimpse than the first chapter, but Kai just sounds annoying now. And he expects Anna to act in love with him one minute than in the other he just thinks she’s naïve.

 

Good God can’t he pick a side? If he wants her just her just do that! Maybe he needs to see her with another guy to helps. Kope was making him jealous it could work for Anna if he actually showed some emotion.

 

SERIES IN ORDER

#1 – Sweet Evil
#1.1 –  Sweet Evil Extra #1
#1.2 –  Sweet Evil Extra #2
#2 – Sweet Peril (Expected publication: 2013)
#3 –  Sweet Reckoning

Review: Sweet Evil Extra #1 by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Evil Extra #1

Author: Wendy Higgins

Series: The Sweet Trilogy

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Format: online freebie from the author

Genre: Young Adult
Release date: September 6th 2012

Number of pages: 5

Chapter One of SWEET EVIL from Kaidan Rowe’s point of view.
Available on the author’s website as free bonus material under "Extras."

This chapter was interesting to see what is around Kai heads, but he was really a brute at first just expecting her to be a bitch like him at first and jumping to coclusions that I admit with his father that sort of thing is actually possible.

 

But it was fun seeing him lost for awhile and lost in the moment, plus he’s actually interesting trying to find a way to make her slip.

 

I liked this short glimpse into his mind and it’s funnier to watch him struggle.

SERIES IN ORDER

#1 – Sweet Evil
#1.1 –  Sweet Evil Extra #1
#1.2 –  Sweet Evil Extra #2
#2 – Sweet Peril (Expected publication: 2013)
#3 –  Sweet Reckoning

Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Evil

Author: Wendy Higgins

Series: The Sweet Trilogy

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Format: ebook

ISBN: 0062085611

Genre: Young Adult
Release date: May 1st 2012 

Number of pages: 453

Embrace the Forbidden
What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?
This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.
Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

This a good story and a bit different from my ideas after reading the summary. I liked Anna since the start but wish she could understand that life is hard and actually touhgt up a bit, because she’s naïve the hole book. Kaidan is still a mistery to me, but a good one since his father is the Demon of Lust and it’s expected of him to sleep around. I also liked some of the secundary characters, but everyone has flaws, maybe for us to think Anna is so perfect.

 

I liked Anna’s father and how he tried to save her everytime. He also loved Anna mother and that is so beautiful, especially after he became a Demon and she was still a angel. But Anna’s friends it’s difficult to actually connect with them. Ginger is a bitch half the time she talks and Marna is not a little princess and uses people just as everyone. I liked Kope, but he’s to quiet for my linking, so I think he’s hiding something. Blake is just fun and not even care half the time.

 

The little passion between Anna and Kai makes me think that maybe it’s not as real, since she is a goodie girl and he’s just the powerful dangerous guy. I didn’t buy all the romance and Kai needs to change a lot before I believe in him, especially if his supposed to battle with her against the dark side.

SERIES IN ORDER

#1 – Sweet Evil
#1.1 –  Sweet Evil Extra #1
#1.2 –  Sweet Evil Extra #2
#2 – Sweet Peril
#3 –  Sweet Reckoning

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection

Author:  Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Format: ebook

ISBN: 0062059939

Genre: Young Adult
Release date: April 24th 2012

Number of pages: 327

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself–and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I finished this book and was surprise with how much I liked, even when I usually hate a cliff. I can’t wait to see who America will pick and I cheering for Maxon, he’s better and never lied to her.

 

America is a sweet girl that had to grow up sooner and help her family, but still helps people and is actually all alone, since girls are a bickering group that doesn’t understand her.

 

This book brought me several references from another similar book released lately. The almost kidnapping she suffered to participate in a reality show was actually really good. At points the society reminded me from The Chemical Gardens series with all the poor’s people suffering without anyone giving a damn.

 

The reality show part reminded me about the Bachelor and it’s not a bad thing, but I think Maxon should pick a girl to go home every week. The book was a bit slow at that part, because not all girls were introduced to us, but were commented during some points, a bit confusing for me. Sometimes the gangs reminded me of Hunger Games, because I think the royal family is hiding something and maybe Maxon doesn’t know, he’s young, but the people know about a lie and they are trying to find a way to expos them.

 

I liked the book and will definitely read the next one.

 

SERIES IN ORDER

#1 – The Selection
#2 – The Elite (Expected publication: April 2013)
#3 – Untitled (Expected publication: 2014)

Cover Reveal: Hidden by Sophie Jordan

A dangerous journey.
Shattered bonds.
Undying passion.

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the “prince” of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter.
When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian’s sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right.
Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control.
As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there’s no guarantee they’ll all make it out alive.
But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning….

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan’s Firelight trilogy.

I feel in love with this trilogy since the first book, because it was one of the first books with dragons. And I’ve been following this series, luckily this is the last book, because I can’t wait to know what happened after Vanish, that ending was so cliffy for me.

You can find my reviews for Firelight and Vanish here.

Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Title: Vanish

Author: Sophie Jordan
Format Read:  ebook
Series: Firelight #2

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre: Young Adult
Release date: September 6th 2011
Formats Available:  hardcover, ebook, kindle, paperback, audiobook
Number of pages: 294
Rating:

 

Book Blurb:

An impossible romance.
Bitter rivalries.
Deadly choices.

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

My Thoughts:

I liked the first book and was happily waiting for the next one on this series, especially because I needed to know how Jacinda was going to handle the exposure and having to go back to the pride after everything that happened.

So I bought this one on the same week as the release and before I even started to read some reviews were popping up and was a bit disturbing what people were speaking about, so I decided to wait and when the Harper Imprint challenge was up I started to read.

Is a fast book and mostly is setting on the pride after Jacinda, Cassian and Tamra return. Things are not good for Jacinda and after losing almost everything her sister finally receives her dragon power.

Return was difficult for everyone but Jacinda had a worst time, because everyone is blaming her after leaving and the only way for things to go back how they used to is accepting Cassian as her partner and let the pride rule her life.

So knowing Jacinda as we do, she chooses the hard way and also has to deal with Will; he finds the pride and now is trying to save her.

The end has a cliff, but overall is a good book. YA until the end so just a couple of kisses. Very enjoyable. If you liked the first this is a nice series.

Purchase information:

Books in this Series: