Review: Unearthly

Title: Unearthly

Author: Cynthia Hand

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Part of a Series?: First in series

Goodreads Summary: 

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.

Review:

I fully admit to smiling like a little fangirl while reading this book. Unearthly is just harmless fun. Harmless, slightly-predictable fun. 

In general, I thought the strongest part of this book was the world-building. Hand does not portray Wyoming like a backcountry hick town. But she does capture the raw beauty of the state's nature. Wyoming truly is a beautiful state, and I think Hand couldn't have described it any better than she did. Also, I really liked how the angels were presented. Hand goes farther than fallen angels and pretty wings, delving into some deep stuff for a YA paranormal story (e.g. Loved the glory and purpose stuff). I really want to read more about the Black Wings because there is definitely potential in that story line.

The characters were alright. Clara wasn't bland or annoying. In fact, she was pretty rational. Dare I say it--relatable? I mean, she did do some pretty predictable stuff [because we all knew from the moment she kissed Tucker that she'd save him rather than Christian but nothing that I gave me the urge facepalm. Usually love triangles frustrate me. Are there even such things in real life as love triangles? I don't think they really exist outside books and chickflicks. But I had to smile at the cutest scenes between Tucker and Clara. There were some really adorable moments in this book. 

I liked this book, but I'm not really...inspired by the story. It's light and fluffy. But I sort of wish there was a little more substance.

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Review: The Iron Knight

Title: The Iron Knight

Author: Julie Kagawa

Rating: 3/5 stars

Part of a Series?: Spin off of The Iron Fey series

Goodreads Summary:

My name- my True Name- is Ashallyn'darkmyr Tallyn. I am the last remaining song of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. 

And I am dead to her. 

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl... 

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing gentler feelings the Winter Prince might have had. Or so he thought. 

Then Meghan Chase- a half-human, half-fey slip of a girl- smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer faery can survive, 

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through its end- a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan's side. 

To survive the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way, Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Review:

Ah the emo! It burns! 

Ash's POV was surprisingly blue. I kept hoping that, at some point, I'd get to see the kick ass Ice prince from the past three books. But no. Kagawa put Ash into the figurative black skinny jeans and panda guyliner. 

I swear to God, this was what Ash sounded like the entire time. 

Oh no, I can't go see my girlfriend anymore because I got banished from her kingdom, and in general, I can't even step into the Iron Kingdom without having my pretty face melt off. 

Pity me, I'm too much of a hot Ice prince to care about my friends. 

I'm so sad. [I met my ex-girlfriend who I thought was dead but really wasn't. How can I choose? I have two sexy women pining after me, but I just feel so sad.

Maybe I'm not meant to be with Meghan after all. Wow, heartbreaker. I'm going to go off into the corner and cut myself now. 

Ash was continually popping emo pills. Seriously. Get it together, man. You're thousands of years old, but you whine like a preteen who lost her cell phone. Thank God for Kagawa's skill at world building. As always, her portrayal of the Nevernever and the beings in it was fantastic. She's just brilliant at description. 

Oh, and as a side note, did anyone else just laugh at how happy-go-lucky the ending was. Obviously Ash get's his soul. If that's a spoiler for you guys, then you must never have read a paranormal romance in your entire life. Well, he gets his soul, but apparently Ash isn't completely mortal but can still walk in the Iron Realm. What a lucky coincidence! Ash gets all the benefits of being an immortal faery but all the raging hormones of a human. So he can live happily ever after with Meghan, spawning hundreds of emo babies for eternity. Huzzah for them

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Review: Betrayal

Title: Betrayal (Descendents #1) 


Author: Mayandree Michel


Rating: 1/5 stars


Part of Series?: First in series


Goodreads Summary: 
Where there is love and power, there is always... betrayal.

At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.

After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is, a descendant of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for, safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it.

In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.


Review: 
"This was the worst book I've ever read." When people say that, they're usually exaggerating. But in this case, when I say, "This was the worst book I ever tried to finish but couldn't," I'm telling the complete, 100% truth. Betrayal sits in this rare bookshelf on my Goodreads account for all 8--now 9--books that I couldn't finish. To Mayandree Michel, the self-published author of this...thing, please go take an English class. Please. 


I'm not saying my own writing is perfect. But I acknowledge my errors while Michel is under the illusion that she is a good writer. Betrayal is a combination of 1st grade grammar, misplaced grammar, ridiculous description, and a WTF-what-is-going-on plot. Do I need to describe how much I hated this? No, I think I can just show you what I spent the last two nights trying to get through. 

Finally, Mr. Clarkson and I began closing up. Tonight that consisted of Mr. Clarkson locking my cash drawer away in the safe, and me aligning the greeting cards, again

Yes, that is exactly how the passage was written in my ebook. I was willing to maybe overlook a comma or two because ebooks often come with some grammatical errors. But not this. This was just something I couldn't overlook. I mean, what the hell?

While Evan spoke, his eyes penetrated mine, and drew me in the way they had in the dream. I found myself wanting to trust him.

Oh, darn those penetrating eyes.

How could I get hurt in a dream, and have the wound when I woke up? As I stared at myself on the hot asphalt stained with my blood, I resisted what the chorus of sorrowful voices surrounding me stated.

What exactly did this chorus "state"?

“This is so bizarre… every window smashed.”
“How bizarre….the piercing sound hurt my ears.”
“How could this be… it’s bizarre.”

It's bizarre that she thinks people actually talk like this. And the best one yet? Read on...

Something dashed right through me. Right through me! The vapor I’m composed of now, sensed the being that penetrated me. This person went through my phantom body, with only one desire, reaching my crushed and lifeless form. The person was wracked with agony yet it wasn’t the cries that demonstrated this fact, but the torment they left behind that mingled with my mist.

Now imagine reading passages like this for 60 pages. Then realizing there are 600 pages of this left to go! I couldn't finish the book, needless to say. Besides, I would much rather read something that has passed the inspection of professional editors.


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