[Review] Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Title: Dualed (Dualed #1)

Author: Elsie Chapman

Publisher: Random House (February 26 2013)

In the city of Kersh, everyone must eliminate their genetic Alternate twin, raised by another family, before their twentieth birthday. West Grayer, 15, has trained as a fighter, and has one month to hunt and kill her Alt. A tragic misstep shakes her confidence. Guilty, grieving, she feels unworthy, runs from her Alt and from love - both can destroy her.

I was really interested in this when I first read the blurb. The premise sounded interesting, since it has all the elements of a potentially good dystopian novel. Unfortunately, many reviews on Goodreads seemed to focus on the sheer ridiculousness of how such a society could even come to exist. Admittedly, there are several logical gaps in the plot, but don't let that deter you from starting on Dualed if you're looking for an escapist afternoon read. I personally feel that much of the criticism directed towards this book can easily be applied to other series of its genre!

In Dualed, countries all over the world are engaged in war, leaving Kersh as the only war-free zone. The city has isolated itself in order to prevent  external conflict from reaching its shores. However, this also means that overcrowding and national defense has become top priorities for the government. Their solution? Genetic engineering, such that everyone has an Alternate twin somewhere out there in the city. Before turning 20, each individual must find and kill his/her Alternate in a fight-to-death system. Failure to do so will lead to self-detonation for both parties. 

The main character, West, is a tough protagonist who has gone through alot as a 15-year-old. She makes questionable decisions at times, like becoming a Striker (an assassin who gets rid of Alternates for rich people). It didn't feel necessary to me, but I suppose it was the author's way of beefing up the story with more action. Getting rid of all her family members is a convenient way of allowing West to roam about as a lone ranger, while lending her a tinge of desperateness and coldness. But seriously...I'm getting kind of tired of seeing parents of protagonists getting into various kinds of fatal accidents. Urgh!

Anyway, Chord, her brother's best friend, plays the part of love interest and caretaker. The romance is pretty toned down, maybe because the main character faces more pressing issues like not getting killed by her Alternate. While I'd hate for the plot to be overshadowed completely by kissing and whatnot, I felt as if they were more like siblings rather than romantic partners. Chord was always looking out for West, but she only started reciprocating when she realised he might be in danger as well.  Their interactions just didn't give off any sparks-something that I hope will change in future as their relationship progresses!

As this is presumably the first book of the series, I'm hoping that more character development will follow in the sequels to come. Supporting characters are not at all fleshed out in Dualed; we don't know anything much about their personalities and motives, which makes them easily forgettable. That being said, this leaves alot of room for future character growth and plenty more we can learn about Kersh. I wonder what direction the story will take, especially since the ending was rather conclusive.  

[Movie Review special] Les Miserables

Just two days back, I was invited by ilovebooks.com to attend the movie premiere of Les Miserables!

Movie description from the official website: 

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption—a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever. 

Les Misérables is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe and still breaking box-office records everywhere in its 28th year. Helmed by The King's Speech's Academy Award®-winning director, Tom Hooper, the Working Title/Cameron Mackintosh production stars Hugh Jackman, Oscar® winner Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, with Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Les Miserables (literal translation: The Miserable Ones) is based on the critically-acclaimed, similarly-named novel by Victor Hugo. As you can see from the above description, this French classic has also been adapted into a 27-year-old musical production in Europe; it's even older than me LOL. With its star-studded cast and original fanbase, the media hype over this film has been tremendous even before its official release.

Here is the official trailer:

As someone who has never read the book nor seen the musical before, I literally went into the cinema not knowing what to expect. I didn't even know it was a musical drama film, so you can probably imagine my expression when the characters started singing all their lines! My friend was really taken aback by this, but I loved it. I really liked how ordinary sentences could be spun into different tunes to convey the intensity of the characters' emotions, so viewers could connect with the story easily. The successful pairing of music and lines made certain scenes truly poignant and beautiful T.T I can't speak for the other movie-goers, but I found myself weeping uncontrollably by the end of the movie.

In my personal opinion, the cast really outdid themselves in terms of both acting and singing. I never knew Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman could sing so well, as I've always known them to be movie stars instead! I'd never heard of Samantha Barks before, but her portrayal of Éponine and her unrequited love for Marius (Eddie Redmayne) was really outstanding. I also loved young Cosette (Isabelle Allen) and her rendition of Castle on a Cloud. That scene wasn't very long, but it stuck with me and displayed Allen's angelic voice perfectly-one of my favourites in the film!

The only thing I couldn't really appreciate would be the romance between Marius and teenaged Cosette (Amanda Seyfried). While Seyfried looked gorgeous as always and Redmayne exuded a sort of boyish charm that made me fall for him instantly, I was uncomfortable with the way their relationship was portrayed. It felt very rushed and undeveloped in a way that left me unmoved throughout the course of their romance. Nonetheless, I was willing to overlook the lacking romance as there were other plot elements which made up for it.

All in all, Les Miserables was indeed an emotionally-charged tale packed with twists and turns at every corner. It is not a movie I will forget anytime soon, that's for certain! If you're interested to learn more about the movie and the book itself, you can find the e-book here.

Many thanks to ilovebooks.com for giving me the opportunity to review such a brilliant film!

[Review] Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Title: Speechless

Author: Hannah Harrington

Publisher: Harlequin Teen Australia 

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret.

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed. 

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

I can't really remember how I felt about Hannah Harrington's debut novel, Saving June. That sounds harsh, but it's probably because I read it a year ago so any lingering emotions would probably have long disappeared. Either way, I'm really glad I still went on to read Speechless because it really left me speechless! 

Sorry, couldn't resist.

In all seriousness, this book was great. Even though it deals with tough issues like homosexuality and bullying, I never felt at any point that the story was getting overly intense or preachy. Instead, it was frank, funny, and even kind of fluffy at some parts. (It's a good thing, I'm telling you. Hannah Harrington is a pro at writing adorkable love interests!) I also liked how the premise circled around secrets and being a blabbermouth; it reminded me of Meg Cabot's Queen of Babble series. 

The main character, Chelsea, struck me as an obnoxious, shallow and superficial brat at first, but thankfully this changed pretty quickly. As she began to understand the repercussions of her actions and started trying to make amends, you could tell her heart was in the right place and that was endearing :) Chelsea does a superb job with her Vow of Silence; she stubbornly refuses to talk and communicates through writing instead. Even when she got alot of flak from her supposed best friend and many schoolmates, Chelsea never sunk too deeply into self-pity or despair. And that's why I like her so much-who doesn't like a heroine who can pick herself up? 

I won't go into too much detail in fear of spoiling you too much, but rest assured that all the side characters are all equally likeable, with the exception of the main antagonists. Overall, Speechless is a fascinating combination of diabetes-inducing romance, high school bullying, new friendships, discrimination and self-discovery.

Story Buddy Contest @ ilovebooks.com

Hello everyone:)

It has been such a long time since I’ve blogged, but I just wanted to share more about this new contest that I feel is pretty interesting!

The “Story Buddy Contest” is hosted by ilovebooks.com, Singapore's first global online bookstore. (In case you didn't know, Singapore happens to be my home country haha.) This competition is open to all international folks, so no worries about eligibility!

Basically, all you have to do is to write a short story with 2 other friends on Facebook! Submit your story, and see if the online community will give you their vote. The top 5 stories with the highest votes will then be selected for judging.

And guess what? The winning trio will walk away with ONE(1) IPAD EACH. (!!!)

If you like reading and writing-I’m guessing that you do, since you’re reading a book blog LOL-taking part should be a piece of cake! Take this chance to have fun with your friends and unleash the inner writer within you. :D

For more information and to participate, do visit their Facebook page (http://bit.ly/NAe9Bl) and like it! The instructions are pretty clear-cut and you can navigate around to see other stories, FAQ etc. Remember that the contest will run till 14 September 2012, so you have about a week or so to spin your little tale :)

Feel free to let me know if you’ve taken part so I can check out your story and maybe vote for you too :P

In My Mailbox #3

Okay, so not all of the following books are new releases and some of them I already finished reading a couple of weeks ago. But again, like my previous "Books I Loved But Did Not Review" post, I wanted to share a few titles which I thought were pretty good but didn't review! There was also a couple I stumbled upon by accident in the library. When you're searching for books there, you kind of discover new gems you probably wouldn't dare to purchase at the bookstore. Libraries offer you the freedom to grab anything seemingly interesting, without having to contemplate whether it's going to be worth the money!

1. Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough

Delaney Collins doesn't believe in fairy tales. And why should she? Her mom is dead, her best friend is across the country, and she's stuck in California with "Dr. Hank," her famous life-coach father—a man she barely knows. Happily ever after? Yeah, right. Then Dr. Hank tells her an outrageous secret: he's a fairy godmother—an f.g.—and he can prove it. And by the way? The f.g. gene is hereditary. Meaning there's a good chance that New Jersey tough girl Delaney is someone's fairy godmother. But what happens when a fairy godmother needs a wish of her own?

A cute and funny read! I know the "fairy godmother" concept might sound a little corny and ridiculous, but as long as you keep an open mind, you'll find yourself appreciating the light-heartedness of this book (aside from what happened to Delaney's mom and the emotional consequences on Delaney). The romance was sweet, but not overdone, since the story seemed to be focusing on Delaney and her dad.

2. Roadside Assistance by Amy Clipston

Emily Curtis is used to dealing with her problems while under the hood of an old Chevy, but when her mom dies, Emily's world seems shaken beyond repair. Driven from home by hospital bills they can't pay, Emily and her dad move in with his wealthy sister, who intends to make her niece more feminine---in other words, just like Whitney, Emily's perfect cousin. But when Emily hears the engine of a 1970 Dodge Challenger, and sees the cute gearhead, Zander, next door, things seem to be looking up. But even working alongside Zander can't completely fix the hole in Emily's life. Ever since her mom died, Emily hasn't been able to pray, and no one---not even Zander---seems to understand. But sometimes the help you need can come from the person you least expect.

I liked how issues such as religion (Christianity, actually), loss and family were explored in Roadside Assistance. Although there was alot about God and how Emily was trying to connect with Him again, I didn't feel as if the author was trying to preach or push the religion on me. Plus, Zander was like the perfect guy I wish I knew in real life! I can't believe such a great character exists, though. :( I haven't heard much talk surrounding this book, which is a waste.

3. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (translated by Jay Rubin)

Toru, a quiet and preternaturally serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before.  Toru begins to adapt to campus life and the loneliness and isolation he faces there, but Naoko finds the pressures and responsibilities of life unbearable.  As she retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself reaching out to others and drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman.
A poignant story of one college student's romantic coming-of-age, Norwegian Wood takes us to that distant place of a young man's first, hopeless, and heroic love.

This one comes highly recommended by many of my friends; practically everyone I know has either read it or at least heard of it! Norwegian Wood is like one of those books that leave you speechless, because you just can't find the right words to express how you feel about it. I don't think you can summarise everything in a few paragraphs because the story is just so complicated! This isn't really the kind of book I usually read, but I couldn't stop once I started. I felt that the writing was very beautiful, despite being a translation.

Some adjectives associated with it include "psycho", "addictive", "promiscuous", "absorbing" and "oh my goodness".

4. Muse (Mercy #3) by Rebecca Lim

An angel searching for answers, for her destiny…
In the third MERCY paranormal romance, Mercy wakes in a new unknown host, her love for Ryan and Luc burning stronger than ever. But who will she make the ultimate sacrifice for?"There's something very wrong with me. When I wake up, I could be anyone…"
Mercy is thrust into the excessive world of fashion when she awakes in the body of a troubled Russian supermodel, Irina: bitchy, hot-tempered and known to be dabbling in things she shouldn’t, Irina is on the verge of a very public breakdown.
Against the glamorous background of opulent Milan, Mercy continues her increasingly desperate search for Ryan to lead her back to her immortal lover, Luc. But this time Mercy is aware that her memories and powers are growing ever stronger – and she begins to doubt Luc as The Eight reveal more of her mysterious past. Are Luc’s desires as selfless as her own or does he want her for a more terrifying purpose?
The grand scale celestial battle for Mercy’s soul builds to an incredible stormy crescendo as archangels and demons clash in a cataclysmic showdown that not all will survive…

Okay, the Mercy series is not an Omg-LoveIt-Favourite of mine, but it has always been one I could count on! Once I saw Muse lying on the shelves, I was more than happy to take it. Every new book in this series just seems to get better, which is a big plus because sequels tend to suck. True fact-it's hard to beat the first book! But I already can't wait for Book 4 because this one ended on a cliffhanger urgh. Give this series a shot if you have the time...it's different, engaging and you'll like it at the very least (I think!)

5. The Implosion Of Aggie Winchester by Lara Zielin

Sixteen-year-old Aggie Winchester couldn't care less about who's elected prom queen-even if it's her pregnant Goth-girl best friend, Sylvia Ness. Aggie's got bigger things to worry about, like whether or not her ex-boyfriend wants to get back together and whether her mom will survive cancer. But like it or not, Aggie soon finds herself in the middle of an unfolding prom scandal, largely because her mom, who is the school's principal, is rumored to have burned prom ballots so Sylvia won't be elected queen. Aggie's own investigation makes her wonder if the election could be dirty on both sides.

I haven't read this yet, but the cover caught my eye right away! And this is the first time I've seen a "prom scandal" involving the school principal, her daughter, daughter's best friend, and an election. Wow.

6. Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison 

Izzie loves Mark, and why shouldn’t she? As the captain of the basketball team, he is kind and loving and he’s everything she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend. Her BFF loves . . . somebody, but she won’t say who. So when a hot new guy, Tristan, shows up at school, who better for Izzie to fix up her friend with? And what better way to do it than with a love philtre? But even the best of magic has a way of going awry—and Izzie finds she’s accidentally fallen in love with Tristan herself. And that’s a problem. First of all, there’s Mark. Second, Tristan comes with baggage—like the supernatural creatures that keep attacking whenever he’s with Izzie, and the fact that he comes from the place where Izzie’s father was killed, years ago, by an enormous, evil serpent that’s still around—and it knows Izzie is out there.

This book was one of my Waiting-on-Wednesday picks...which meant I had been squealing for it way before it was released. But guess what? Its low ratings on Goodreads pretty much said it all. I'm all for wacky, light-hearted and fun reads, and I think I've got a pretty open imagination *ahem*. But Tris & Izzie was just too much for me, it didn't make much sense or had much meaning at all! (Spoiler question: Did anyone else think that what happened near the end with Mark and Branna was incredibly bizarre?) 

And I really, really didn't like Izzie. Period.

***

That's all for now! Feel free to share if you've stumbled upon any wham-bam OMG-LoveIt-Favourites!

I'm still alive and kicking!

Hello people!

I know I've disappeared for slightly more than a month. Sorry! But I just wanted to assure you guys that this blog hasn't died yet, and this blogger is still very much a bookworm :) It's not that easy to fall out of love with reading LOL.

Anyway, the reason why I haven't been updating would be because I haven't read something that motivates me enough to blog. I'm still working on my review for Lola and the Boy-Next-Door (a super-duper cute read you MUST read if you haven't yet) so keep a look-out for that!

Books I Loved, But Did Not Review

Recently, I managed to read some books which I really liked but couldn't review. Since they were novels I enjoyed alot, I thought it'd be good to share a few of them with you, just in case you were looking for some new books to read!

1. Anna Dressed In Blood (Anna, #1) by Kendare Blake

 
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

This book might sound gory and creepy-and it is! But don't let that put you off, because I'm a scaredy-cat myself and I still managed to enjoy Anna Dressed In Blood. I was a bit hesitant when I saw that it was written from a male's POV, but Cas was really a likeable and decent protagonist. If you're looking for something unique, pick up this book ASAP-do not get scared off by the cover!

2. All These Things I've Done (Birthright, #1) by Gabrielle Zevin

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family. Engrossing and suspenseful, All These Things I've Done is an utterly unique, unputdownable read that blends both the familiar and the fantastic.

All These Things I've Done is definitely one of my favourite dystopian novels so far, and I'm looking forward to reading its sequel. Anya was a tough heroine who impressed me with her loyalty and grit! I like how it doesn't show a drastically different society that is difficult to imagine, but rather, a believable and realistic future world. I can't think of life without chocolate, but one can actually foresee crime rates rising.

3. Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention
Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...

When you first read the blurb, Shut Out might seem overly-centered on sex. But fortunately, it turned out to be alot sweeter and alot less preachy that I'd imagined! I really, really enjoyed the romance between Lissa and Cash, who has to be the most perfect guy ever (sigh...) Overall, I think I liked this much more than The DUFF, Kody Keplinger's debut novel, and I'm waiting excitedly for what she'll bring to us in future.

4. Supernaturally (Paranormalcy, #2) by Kiersten White

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees. But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal.


I LOVED Paranormalcy, so I was already anticipating Supernaturally like crazy! It wasn't as good as the first book, but then again, few sequels are. I like how the story didn't feel like a "filler", which is what many second-books-in-a-trilogy can sometimes come across as. If you haven't read Paranormalcy, you need to start now :) The third book in the series already has a gorgeous cover!

Other notable mentions:

5. Half-Blood (Covenant, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
6. Hunting Lila (Lila, #1) by Sarah Alderson (I actually read this a long time ago. Loved it!)

In My Mailbox #2

Won

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Pure Red by Danielle Joseph

Borrowed (Library)

        

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

My Beating Teenage Heart by C.K Kelly Martin

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White

The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

[Review] Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Title: Carrier of the Mark

Author: Leigh Fallon

Publisher: Harper Teen (October 4th, 2011)

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

You guys might already know from a previous meme that if I don't find a book to my liking, chances are I won't make myself finish it. To me, it just saves alot of time and unnecessary frustration. Plus if a story is suitable for your taste, you probably shouldn't even have to think about making The Decision (whether to stop or not). I know this might not be very fair to the author because every story deserves a chance, but that's just my habit and I can't help it.

Yet with Carrier of the Mark, it was a book I had requested for after winning a giveaway held over at The Traveling Reader (a super-responsible and friendly blogger who really thinks of everything <3). So even when I felt like stopping the book midway, I couldn't do it because it'd feel like a waste. The book itself wasn't very long anyway, so it's probably a good choice if you're looking for a quick read!

Firstly, the writing. I'm neither an expert on literature or a writer myself, but the author's style just didn't appeal to me at all. The prose felt very forced and direct...like everything was spelt clearly and you just had to take it at face value, you know? I know a book doesn't need to have flowery language or extra-complicated sentences in order to be likeable, and too much thinking can get tiring as well. But because the writing was so plain and one-dimensional, I felt like I wasn't involved in the story, but rather an outsider flipping through the pages and knowing A said this, B replied, C happened, then D followed. The dialogue between characters was so stiff I found myself wondering if people really did have conversations like this in real life.

Also, I'm not a fan of exclamation marks in dialogue.

Secondly, the romance was really, really fast! I know this is supposed to be a romance novel and they were helplessly drawn to each other, but that also meant I couldn't understand WHY Adam (the love interest) loved Megan so much. I mean, he can't think of anything but her and even sends a crow and his sister to stalk her-when they hadn't even exchanged more than a few words! Megan thinks it's sweet and protective of Adam, but to me, it's just plain creepy. I do not need a crow spying on me in the shower, and that is exactly what happens in the book. Everything happened so fast, they'd barely met and suddenly he was confessing his undying love to her? The author kind of skimmed over the development of the relationship, so we hardly get an insight as to how they got to know each other. Instead, we suddenly see both of them kissing and Megan believing Adam was The One after a few weeks. The quickness of their whirlwind romance was a little startling, making them seem like two hormone-crazed teenagers rushing into love rather than sensible young adults starting a new relationship. Other readers might appreciate this as a realistic portrayal of young love, but personally I thought it went way too intense, way too fast.

Perhaps I'm being too cynical here, and who knows, maybe someone else might find Adam more swoon-worthy than stalkerish. Who doesn't love a hot stud in a book? I guess sometimes hotness becomes such a cliche, it actually makes the romance seem superficial and unbelievable instead of enhancing it.

Thirdly, I was really uncomfortable with how this book closely resembled another series starting with a T and ending with a T. (In case you haven't guessed, this series involves one girl who moves to Forks, and a family of vegetarian vampires with supernatural abilities.) I couldn't help noticing the likeliness despite my attempts to avoid making any comparisons between both books. YA books always tend to overlap, whether is it in plot or character-wise, because there's bound to be some similarities when you're dealing with the same issues. Usually, I don't find it a huge problem...but for Carrier of the Mark, the signs were so obvious it was pretty hard to miss. Although the book did have some original ideas that should be expanded on, I'd like to see more originality in both its plot and characters.

It was hard to relate to Megan emotionally, I guess. The whole "I'm dangerous and I should totally stay away from you but I have the hots for you so I'll just kiss you and hope it all works out" thing? It gets old. Fast. If you know someone isn't good for you, why play with fire? Megan's lovesick behaviour at the start seemed a little silly to me, especially when Adam was obviously staying away from her, FOR HER OWN GOOD. When you don't feel a connection with the MC, that's when things go downhill.

You can probably tell from my little tirade that I couldn't bring myself to truly like this novel (oh well). I would suggest that you check it out from the library first if you're interested, but for a more comprehensive point of view, you might like to check out more reviews over at its Goodreads page.

Follow Friday #5 and Book Blogger Hop #3

Q: What superhero is your alter-ego?

Superman! I'm not a guy, but I've got muscles. Okay I'm kidding haha, I think I'd like to have him as my alter-ego because he's your typical geek at first glance, but when he throws on his costume, he's the hero who saves everyone from distress! It's like, "Laugh at me all you want, I'm the one secretly kicking ass and saving your butt!"

Q: What is your favourite type of candy?

I have an incurable sweet tooth, so asking me about my favourite candy is like asking me about my favourite family member. But thankfully, the former is still easier to answer than the latter LOL. Do chocolates count as candy? If yes...Hershey's all the way, for no reason other than because I like it best!

[Review] Past Perfect by Leila Sales

Title: Past Perfect

Author: Leila Sales

Publisher: Simon Pulse (October 4th, 2011)

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.
Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….

I'd previously read and liked Leila Sales' first book, Mostly Good Girls, so when I learnt of Past Perfect, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! And it certainly didn't disappoint, which makes me look forward to more from this author.

The main character, Chelsea, was snarky, sarcastic, and had a deadpan humor which made me laugh a whole lot. But underneath all the hilarious comments, I thought she was also a relatively down-to-earth and average protagonist whom you can easily relate to. Having a likeable MC made it easy to feel emotionally connected to the story as it progressed-even her whining was more funny than annoying!

However, every MC has her faults and Chelsea is no exception. I did feel kind of annoyed when she kept hankering after Ezra (what kind of name is that, anyway!?) even though they'd already broken up and he didn't show any interest in getting back with her. It felt as if she was overly obsessed with him to the point that he was affecting her mood all the time. To be fair, it wouldn't be very teenager-ish if Chelsea was able to handle Ezra's presence diplomatically and get over it immediately, so it wasn't really a huge problem that ruined the story or anything. I also did try to keep in mind that this was actually a big part of the story's plot (having to deal with an ex 24/7) and served as a way to show Chelsea's character growth. That being said, I was glad to see her maturing and becoming an independent person without Ezra by the end of the book.

Chelsea's parents were also really endearing. I mean, she did complain about her dad every now and then (who doesn't?) but she never went off on an emo "Oh my family sucks I hate my parents they don't understand me at all" tirade. You could see the strong relationship they had as family, and it was incredibly reassuring. I was beginning to think that a shattered, dysfunctional family was a must for YA protagonists, but this certainly wasn't true in Past Perfect. Well, except for the fact that they were acting as silversmiths in a historical village. I'm not sure if you'd consider that dysfunctional.

Speaking of the historical village, I really liked the premise of the story. Past Perfect is set in Essex, a historical colonial village cum tourist destination, which meant it strayed away from your usual high school setting. The writer effortlessly weaved history into the story and there were some interesting golden nuggets about time and culture scattered throughout the book!

There was also this "Civil War" between Chelsea's colonial village and a neighboring rival village set in another time era; it was kind of unreal that teenagers would take it so seriously, but the "attacks" on each other were so silly it added comedic effect. It also provided some conflict for Chelsea's budding romance with Dan, a boy from the other side. I was afraid that the writer would twist the story such that they became starcrossed lovers or something, but thank goodness she didn't! Dan wasn't exactly swoonworthy material, but he's somewhat like the nice, sweet, boy-next-door you can't help but warm to. They had some really adorable and witty banter that made me root for them all the way, even during a time when I thought maybe they were done for good.

Overall, Past Perfect was a light-hearted and entertaining novel that I enjoyed immensely. Don't miss this one if you're looking for a cute and enjoyable read!

Waiting on Wednesday: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

 

 Title: Incarnate (Incarnate #1)

Author: Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Harper Collins (January 31st 2012)

 

NEWSOUL
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.

NOSOUL
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 suspicious and 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? 

The reason why I got curious about this book was really because of its cover. Although some people might find it startling and maybe a tad creepy, it just called out to me at first glance! But what truly caught my attention was the plot, because how many YA books actually deal with souls AND reincarnations? (Well, not counting starcrossed lovers and soulmates. You know how skeptical I am about those) The whole premise sounds fantastic, plus the romance sounds ultra promising too! ;) 2012 releases seem so far off in the future, but thank goodness this one's out in January, which isn't as distant as it seems.

Update! (And an apology)

Hello people!!

Firstly, I’d like to apologise to everyone for being totally MIA recently. Has it really been a MONTH since I last updated this blog?! If there’s still anyone who follows my blog, not just as a follower on Google Friend Connect but as a loyal reader-I’m extremely sorry for being so irregular in blogging this month. I bet you thought I vanished from the surface of the Earth or something, and for that I feel insanely guilty!

When I started blogging, I knew it was going to take a lot of work and that’s why I put in tons of effort in growing my blog. It was work that I enjoyed immensely at the start, when it was the holidays and I had plenty of time to spare. But once school started, I was having difficulty with even finishing the books on my hands, let alone write thorough reviews about them. And whenever I did have time to do a review, my writing just sounded so weird and forced and cringe-worthy I couldn’t bear to post it. Yeah, I’m totally anal about stuff like this; if it’s not something I would want to read myself, I’d never show it to you! Eventually, I guess it just became easier to stop trying. I am so ashamed of myself right now.

But the thing is, I still LOVE reading to bits. It’s still my favourite past-time and I have so many books to start on. Plus, I’ll never stop having opinions of the novels I read :P That’s why I have no intentions of completely giving up blogging, even if it’s only to satisfy my own selfish need to share some burning thoughts and feelings. Or to have fun, especially when I get some really funny and thoughtful comments from you guys!

But first, I’ll have to get over final-year examinations in October (which reminds me, I have so much revision left untouched LOL) and work a bit more on my writing skills.  And get more inspiration and motivation in the meantime, probably? (:

Thank you also to authors who have asked me to review your book(s) even though I haven’t updated regularly. I appreciate the consideration and will always get back to you!

Once again, I’m really sorry for the long absence, especially to those who do/did follow my blog consistently. I’ll do my best, so please be patient with me!

[Review] My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

Title: My Life Undecided

Author: Jessica Brody

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, Giroux (June 7th, 2011)

My Life Undecided was a really cute, funny and relatable story which will have you laughing and squealing along with Brooklyn throughout her decision-making journey!

After reading The Karma Club, also by this author, I was looking forward to reading more from her because her books seemed to have very unique concepts. Fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed with My Life Undecided at all! Everyone has had difficulties making decisions in life, and most of us can relate to having made some really bad choices. As teenagers, decision-making is even harder because we feel like one wrong move will totally destroy our lives or something!

So why not ask an anonymous crowd of unbiased strangers to give their objective view? This is exactly what the protagonist, Brooklyn, has decided to do. After making some wrong choices, she ends up losing her parents’ trust, best friend, and social standing. This series of bad decisions leads Brooklyn to believe that she is incapable of wise judgement, and thus in a fit of inspiration, sets up a blog named “My Life Undecided”. Here, Brooklyn declares that every one of her decisions, whether tiny or huge, is now in the hands of the blogosphere-whatever option the virtual crowd votes for, she will follow. What started off as a desperate attempt to make the right decisions eventually develops into a life-changing experience for Brooklyn.

I loved the whole premise of this book! Blogging was weaved effortlessly into the story and I actually felt tempted for a moment to start a similar blog myself, LOL.  Brooklyn was someone I liked very much, simply because she reminded me a lot of my own inability to make decisions easily. Other than that, Brooklyn was also a funny, witty and snarky MC who started off as being overly-sarcastic and angst-ridden, but slowly evolved into a more mature and considerate person by the end of the book. It was enjoyable reading about how she had to follow whatever decision her blog voters chose even if she didn’t like it-the consequences were just hilarious!

What made this book even more endearing would be the romance. You have the popular, suave and charming guy on one hand, and on the other hand you have the underdog, who happens to be smart, responsible, kind, supportive and a debater (!!!) Although it was rather predictable who Brooklyn would choose in the end, I had fun reading about all the sweet moments and how she finally realises which guy is right for her. There was this heart-stopping scene in the bathroom when Brooklyn was playing Truth or Dare-let’s just say I nearly melted into a puddle reading that part, and it was by far my favourite in the book!

I loved the ending because it said a lot about Brooklyn’s character growth, and how the experience has shaped her as a person. It was adorable without being corny, meaningful without being preachy, and conclusive without being absolute. I’d recommend My Life Undecided to anyone looking for a sweet, light-hearted and comical read with a unique premise!

Giveaway at Missy's Reads & Reviews!

Missy is having an Epic 1000 Followers Giveaway over at her blog! There are six prize packs to be won and tons of extra entries you can do :)

For more information, click HERE!

[Review] Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

Title: Luminous

Author: Dawn Metcalf

Publisher: Dutton Childrens Books (July 7th, 2011)

As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.

When I first heard of Luminous, I thought the plot stood out alot from your typical paranormal fare and immediately added it to my TBR list. The idea of shedding your skin to become part of the world around you sounded refreshing! I'm not sure about you, but personally I've had times when I wished I could become something else rather than plain old me, and what better way than to throw on a new skin of air or water or even flames like Consuela does? And who wouldn't want to have a pretty pearl-pink skeleton?!

I won't even try to summarise this book because, well, there were way too many things going on! I don't mean it with a negative connotation, and readers who appreciate complexity in a story will probably love Luminous to bits. One thing about this book would be that it keeps you on your toes guessing where the story was headed; there was no predictability at all and I constantly found myself wondering what was going to happen next! You also can't help but get swept up into the alternate universe of the Flow along with Consuela. Everything sounded really different from what we are used to here on Earth. In fact, everything in the world of Luminous is unique and allows your imagination to run freely, thanks to the very descriptive imagery and beautiful language. Many reviews of this book have stated how good Dawn Metcalf's writing was, and I must say they weren't exaggerating at all!

However, the complicated storyline also meant that I had difficulty trying to keep up with the plot. There were moments when I had to pause and backtrack because Luminous was pretty fast-paced and it was easy to miss out certain details if you weren't paying enough attention. By the time I finished half of Luminous, I was already feeling slightly lost with lots of questions in my head. The wonderful writing was probably what made me press on until I finished the book, though I was steadily getting more and more confused.

Characters wise, I thought the writer did a really good job in creating characters which YA readers may not be accustomed to. The other teens in the Flow had their own unique personalities and talents-I wish we had the opportunity to learn more about their individual stories and relationships with one another! Romance lovers will be glad to hear that there is a male character with a very cool name and ability, who has a pretty deep connection to Consuela. However, I personally couldn't get into the romance and it was mainly because of Consuela herself. She felt way too cardboard-like without much emotion, especially because the story was told in third-person narrative. Even towards the end, when Consuela supposedly felt more comfortable in her own skin, I still didn't feel like she had grown much from the beginning of the book. I couldn't connect much with her on an emotional level, which was really a pity!

Luminous had TONS of potential. It had great prose, interesting supporting characters, and I loved the concept of the Flow, but overall the story just kind of fell flat for me. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I wanted more out of Luminous! Still, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something more challenging, stimulating and different.

(P.S: Sorry for being MIA for so long! Life has been pretty busy thanks to school, and I was trying to catch up on my reading as well. Thanks for sticking with me :D)

[Review] Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

Title: Sixteenth Summer

Author: Michelle Dalton

Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 3rd, 2011)

At first glance, Sixteenth Summer might seem like your typical, fluffy summer read, one that you can read while lying out in the sun somewhere. But personally, I felt it was more like a spring or autumn read-not just sweet and romantic, but also with a little more depth and melancholy than you might expect.

The tiny island with all its nature and beach scenery sounded so blissful to me! I’m just dying to step into the book and personally experience the whole island atmosphere. Will, who is from the city and used to walking in a crowd of strangers, was so awed by how Anna knew practically everyone she walked by on the streets-and he certainly isn’t the only one! I wish I could stroll along the city and make friendly talk with familiar faces everywhere. (Here, people would probably start staring at me suspiciously and wondering what I’ve got up my sleeves)

The beginning part of Will and Anna’s relationship was awkward, clumsy, embarrassing and so incredibly sweet. It’s always fun reading those books where both characters meet for the first time but manage to say the perfect things while looking cool and composed; somehow, everything goes smoothly like a fairy tale and the magical night even ends with a knee-weakening kiss. In that moment, you start dreamily fantasizing and thinking, hey, maybe this is going to happen to me too. That’s why I love romance novels so much, they give us rose-tinted stories where nothing seems to go wrong!

Yet in reality, that’s often not the case. Instead of projecting a put-together, confident image, most of us ordinary teenagers end up stammering in nervousness, blushing in shyness or fidgeting in silence. We trip over our own feet, we have colourful tongues from wrong candy choices, we have bad hair days and stains down the front of our shirts. Michelle Dalton managed to capture the real essence of first dates, first kisses, and first loves perfectly in the book. Will and Anna’s love story was simple and not at all extraordinary with sweeping lines or extravagant gestures, but it was also heart-warming and charming in its own right. I loved how they were able to transform small, mundane everyday-life matters into beautiful and treasured summer memories to keep for life.

After reading so many books involving things like the horrors of dystopian society, or world-endangering wars between paranormal creatures, Sixteenth Summer was like returning home to a familiar place of comfort. The novel reminded me that even in the world of creative fiction, normalcy can be equally engaging. The entire book was about how two simple, normal, uninteresting teenagers met, fell in love and spent the summer getting to know each other-it sounds kind of boring, but isn’t this exactly what normal people all over the world are experiencing? I thought the plot development was very realistic and natural, nothing felt forced or out of place. Although the storyline was relatively simple, I was charmed throughout and couldn’t take my eyes off the pages, which is a lot more than I can say for other books aiming for action-packed and suspenseful, but falling short disastrously.

The ending was heart-breaking and hopeful at the same time. Although I already had an inkling where the book was heading towards since the start, *highlight for minor spoiler* it was still kind of sad knowing there was a high possibility Will and Anna would never be together again. It would have been overkill if the author had thrown in a perfect, nicely wrapped-up conclusion, so I wouldn't ask for a totally happy ending, nor would I want a sequel because I think the book ended on a beautiful (if not slightly tragic) note. If you're looking for a coming-of-age story dealing with first love and growing up, Sixteenth Summer is for you!

[Review] Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Title: Hourglass (Hourglass #1)

Author: Myra McEntire

Publisher: Egmont USA (June 14, 2011)

I was anticipating this book so much that I feared it wouldn't live up to my expectations. But guess what? Hourglass was just plain awesome! I was worrying for nothing! This book was every bit as good as I'd imagined and maybe even more. I felt like I was racing through time with the characters and many of the plot twists had me going, Whoa. Never saw that coming. It was impressive how Ms Mcentire managed to drop all the big surprises and secrets at just the right moments-everything just fit perfectly!

Em was a witty, sarcastic, and tough heroine who wasn't afraid to show it when she was angry, even if she was drooling over Michael (this, I found perfectly understandable). When Michael was babying her around, thinking she couldn't cope with all the secretive stuff about the Hourglass society, she stood up and demanded to know the truth because it involved her. I was like, This is the attitude I want, girl! Give it to him! I cannot tolerate wishy-washy protagonists who whine all the time about being kept in the dark, while refusing to take action and find out what was going on. This, I'm happy to say, is exactly what Em was not.

But beneath all her snarky comments and strong front, Em also had a vulnerable, soft side. This aspect of her personality emerged during her interactions with Thomas, her brother, and his wife, Dru. Her brand of inner fangirling was just hilarious! I nearly fell out of my chair giggling whenever she said something embarrassing in front of Michael and got all awkward afterward.

The romantic tension between Em and Michael was just SIZZLING. I half-expected them to start making out there and then on their first meeting, but of course, that didn't happen! I have no idea how many sparks flew before they finally kissed, but when they did, you can practically see fireworks everywhere. God, I sound like so corny and cheesy now, but the chemistry between this power couple was really one of the key reasons that made Hourglass exceptional.

Uh, did you think I would actually miss out Kaleb? No way, the way he was described made him sound so hunky! If you like the authentic, tough, devilishly charming bad boy type with a soft heart, you'll probably fall head over heels in love with Kaleb. He's definitely not the pretentious "I'm-not-good-for-you" kind of guy! However, as much as I found Kaleb drool-worthy, I also felt that he was introduced too late into the story to really make a HUGE impact. It was a little unrealistic that he fell so deeply for Em just after a couple of meetings, when he had been a notorious heart-breaker the first time they met. I mean, Em IS lovable, but to instantly reform a serious playboy is a pretty difficult feat to achieve within a few days.

Anyway, I love Lily. Alot. She was extremely comical whenever Michael was around and I would love to have a best friend like her! Readers can expect a little twist that involves Lily and hidden abilities. I don't feel ashamed for spoiling you because there's some pretty obvious foreshadowing which made the revelation less shocking and more predictable! I'm totally shipping Lily and Kaleb together. Pretty please?!

Word play was used alot, which really lightened the slightly-heavy and serious atmosphere of the story! I particularly liked this example:

"Are you ready to get back?" he asked. I didn't raise my eyes, but I could hear the amusement in his voice. "Or do you have some time today?"

"I'm all yours." I slipped out before I could stop it. "Er...I mean, I think I'm going to be in trouble either way, since I spent the night with you...here, I mean, spent the night here." I stopped talking and sighed deeply. "I have time."

The ending of Hourglass was also really well done. You know those books ending with killer cliffhangers to pave the way for a sequel? I always end up tearing my hair out in pure frustration, because more often than not, I would have to endure another year of agony before I get to see how the story will be unfolding! But thank Heavens, Hourglass was concluded in a way that made me feel satisfied, but also super excited and hyped up for the next book.

This is a unique and promising novel that puts a different spin to time travel and science fic, a topic which I previously assumed was utterly dry and boring. The story was so engaging I found myself completely absorbed, such that I didn't even notice the clock ticking away and finished it in one setting. I would recommend this one to anyone up for something different with a distinctive voice.

Two favourite quotes:

•  Michael to Em: "You look like a miniature burglar."
•  My ass was grass, and big brother was the lawn mower.