Finally. A Mina V. Esguerra read that fitted me like a glove. *happ...moreI highly recommend No Strings Attached.
*****
Nearly everyday and twice on Saturdays.
Finally. A Mina V. Esguerra read that fitted me like a glove. *happiness*
I enjoyed No Strings Attached mainly because of relatability. Carla and I were almost the same age, and we have the same birthday! But that was just a plus :D I got The Marriage Club and the pressure she experienced from her married friends to settle down. I can relate but I am on the other side of the fence: I belonged to that Marriage Club. In my circle of friends from high school, only one girl remains single. But, let me clear this, I do not pressure her into anything. Why annoy her into settling down when she's not ready for it?
Anyway, I like Carla up until she acted like a spoiled brat. But she did raise some valid points to her best friends Mary and Tonio.
Dante is... wow. Hee! He doesn't sound like a 24-year-old to me! I want him. like really, really want him. *ahem* Dante's a History professor and a Wushu instructor. He dotes on her younger brother Miko and takes care of her single mother. Too perfect, right? I don't care! LOL
No Strings Attached is a fantastic quick read. It was perfectly imperfect (after all, I was irked when Dante didn't take the time to listen to Carla). Still, this Esguerra read managed to make me kilig from start to finish. Yay!(less)
Kristoff was too descriptive; too many words. Truth. Stormdancer is...moreI highly recommend Stormdancer.
*****
Whatever you hear about Stormdancer, it's true.
Kristoff was too descriptive; too many words. Truth. Stormdancer is a whole new level of awesome. Truth.
Even when Kristoff got it on with his ubiquitous observations of Shima, I still didn't mind much. As long as the Yukiko's story is spellbining, i can forgive anything. Stormdancer is one stunning book. :)
Every page gave me the giggles; every chapter, a delight! It was entertainment to a T. I am so thankful that I find immense pleasure reading fantasy books. Steampunk + Thunder Tigers + Hunters of the Empire: Goodness, Stormdancer is a certified bookgasm. :D
Plot: Compact, Mesmerizing Story Flow: Uninterrupted, Fast-paced Characters: Well-defined, True to form, Intense
Masaru is praiseworthy. He has the true mark of a loving father. Yukiko is kick-*ss. but Buruu is my ultimate favorite! His characterization was fantastic. Funny, sarcastic, sacrificial. Buruu's relationship with Yukiko was heartrending. I would read Stormdancer again and again for their bantering and loving/hating gestures. *applauding*
The origin of the Blood Lotus is horrifying.
Stormdancer has a beginning that will be hard to like if you yield to frustration with Kristoff's abundant words that are unnecessary. Me? I loved it from the start!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting my galley request.(less)
And I never expected that you could have a broken heart and love with it too, so much that it doesn't seem broken at all.
Oh, Peter. :(
I could have been stronger. I wasn't enough to keep something so important.
Oh, Tiger Lily. :(
I've been eyeing the gorgeous book cover since it was released. And I when finished reading, I was not surprised that the story inside was far more gorgeous than the cover let on. I marveled at the exquisite story of Tiger Lily and Peter Pan. It was bittersweet. It got me despaired and near tears. It led me to believe that,
Every kind of love, it seems, is the only one. It doesn't happen twice.
*eyes brimming with tears*
Anderson wrote so beautifully. While reading, I felt haunted and tortured. I was simply enchanted. But hey, this is not a happy story. So yeah, I am not deluded.
Peter's character is stunning. I'd never expected he will be depicted like that. So good. =) Tiger Lily's is the same. and how I love her.
"Maybe I just love some of you. Maybe not enough." Tiger Lily blinked at him, and she didn't understand how anyone could only love a part. Her greedy heart didn't work out that way.
Tiger Lily is a quick read. I became attached to Neverland, Pine Sap, Moon Eye, the Lost Boys. even Smee!
Forget the fairy tale. Anderson's version might just be the real thing. And as much as the ending broke, broke my heart, I wouldn't want it in any other way. *sniffs*
Having someone who is constant isn't such a bad thing. In fact, in can be rare.
...so good. Oh, so chocolateygood! It has flaws, yes, but who cares! Gimme, gimme, gimme COLE HOLLAND!
By the way, Ali? You rock. ;)
WARNING: This is not a retelling. As far as I know, there are no similarities between them. Having said that, I just realized that it could be a gimmick to incorporate Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in a zombie-themed book. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every bit of Alice Bell's (violent) adventures. It was awesome!
The concept of zombies here are waaay different than the usual. It takes some getting used to, but I got there. And Ali is more than capable of taking the zoms down! It's action-packed, that's why Alice in Zombieland is right up my alley.
Now, I've seen Gena Showalter Adult (Paranormal?) books out there, so it comes as no surprise that Ali and Cole have... uhm... sexy scenes. hot. smoldering. *fans self* I believe YA no longer covers these smexy books. Rather, New Adult is more like it. Along the lines of the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. =)
Those five stars came from the continuous entertainment I got all throughout by reading Alice in Zombieland. Don't get me wrong. The plot has several holes, some are not even explained in the end. But. But. It was so much FUN to read! Especially the sparring sessions. Hee.
I won't gush over Cole Holland. I won't. Because I will keep him to myself. :D
If you are a fan of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, don't expect any resemblance because you won't find it here. Pick up Ali's story if you want some gob-smacking good time with the zoms.
Kat and Daemon are H.O.T.T.E.R. than ever. The action scenes didn't hurt, either. :) Yesssss!
But let me tone down a littl...moreI highly recommend Onyx.
*****
Kat and Daemon are H.O.T.T.E.R. than ever. The action scenes didn't hurt, either. :) Yesssss!
But let me tone down a little with my fangirling ;) I have some issues with Onyx, especially with Kat's low self-esteem, but who cares. I am in love with the story, in love with Kat and Daemon, in love with Daemon, period. Sexiness doesn't even begin to cover the awesomeness of Onyx. =)
Daemon is still stab-worthy here, but his mask of arrogance and indifference started to slip in front of Katy. And how refreshing it was to read Daemon as this hot alien exhibiting human traits like want, confusion, and jealousy! The scenes where he intentionally calls the new guy with different names every time were hilarious. Take that, surfer boy.
The scenes that made me the ultimate Daemon fanatic are: (1) The first gift he gave Katy during lunch (i thought it was surfer boy!); (2) His reaction on finding out Katy's went out with surfer boy (after spending the night together talking and snuggling); and (3) He let Katy into his room for the first time (turns out Daemon's not a complete scumbag after all!). Daemon is really the star in Onyx. His character developed from this egotistical jerk in Obsidian to this unconsciously-sweet-but-still-a-smart-ass guy.
As much as I would like to not discuss Kate, it is imperative that I tell you this: Katy started out strong. But her relentless doubt over Daemon's real intentions for her was over-the-top frustrating. And to trust a new guy over Daemon? Unbelievable. But she was resentful of her actions in the end. and the new Katy was bad-ass! forged from the fires of destruction and grief, Katy came out better, stronger, and no-longer-a-pushover girl who's now Daemon's equal in every sense. :P
The interchanging of mood from funny to hot to serious was unobtrusive. A lot of LOL moments. Several swooooon moments! But definitely the alien plot (plus more fight scenes) was entertaining.
The Lux series will be one of those series that i will never,ever get tired of giving 5 stars (despite the holes i've seen or will see). They are such feel-good books! Thank you, Ms. Armentrout, for letting me escape reality even for just 6-8 hours. *winks*
Obsidian ignited a spark. Onyx fanned the flame. Katy and Daemon's fire will ROAAAAR to life like never before!
Whenever I thought of my reading experience of Archangel’s Storm, only one word comes to mind. Sophisticated...moreI highly recommend Archangel's Storm.
*****
Whenever I thought of my reading experience of Archangel’s Storm, only one word comes to mind. Sophisticated.
This is my favorite Guild Hunter story to date! Jason, you're so awesome, but Ilium is still the angel for me. :)
I’ve known since Angels' Blood that Jason will be a very interesting character. I was right. Archangel’s Storm has a sturdy storyline, fluid and very consistent characters, and (yes, I felt that I should stress this) refined and not-so-frequent lovemaking scenes. Oh yes, Nalini Singh, I am a very, very happy reader indeed!
Jason is slow-burning. His cunning and brilliant perception of people and situations are amazing. I liked the fact that Jason and Mahiya started off as suspicious of each other. No insta-love there. And their secrets are revealed one at a time. Snippets of Jason’s horrible memories from childhood appeared progressively throughout the book, making me anticipate more with every turn of a page. I reveled at the idea that Jason will never say pretty words and offer beautiful lies to Mahiya. It adhered to his character so much, making his affinity with shadows and darkness all the more enticing.
For Jason and Mahiya who never wanted to reveal all their secrets, intimacy and sex will be an issue. But Singh handled those scenes magnificently. How? It took me half of the book before there ever was a sex scene. And if you ever read any of Singh’s works, that showed restraint! Just like Jason, who contains his strength and allows no one to tie himself with. It was played beautifully, both Jason and Mahiya vulnerable to each other, making it memorable. Horrors of their past compared to finding each other and accepting the darkness with it? So worth it! I wished they have a scene where they could’ve danced at well. *winks*
In some twisted way, I like Neha. Ruthless and cruel, but she has honor. And despite the arrogance that is naturally inherent to archangels, it is apparent that Neha loved her consort.
But I’m not sure why there are Dmitri’s POV in this installment. I think I had enough of him and Honor from Archangel's Blade. It did nothing to add to Jason’s story… so why am I reading about Dmitri again?
I adored Jason's story so much. Now. I. Want. Ilium's. Please, Nalini Singh?(less)
Well, this was unexpected, me super liking Geek Girl. I didn't care if it was predictable. All that mattered to me w...moreI highly recommend Geek Girl.
*****
Well, this was unexpected, me super liking Geek Girl. I didn't care if it was predictable. All that mattered to me was that i'm two chapters in, and i am swooning with delight over Jen and Trevor! All throughout the book, i was smiling and gushing. *happy sigh* Kinda nice to read a book with little sexual innuendos and more gush factor, yes? I'm swept away. :)
The bet was no more than something to past the time for Jen before she busts her way out (again) from her current foster family. Little by little, she spends more of her time with Trevor and his family and friends. She's unconsciously blowing her friends off to spend weekends with Trev - to bowl, to watch geeky sci-fi movies, or to just plain jump on the trampoline in Trev's backyard.
Jen was alright, but Trevor... wow. The unflinching honesty and unnecessary kindness he had toward Jen were adorable. And my, he was sweet! Swoon from a nerd like Trevor? Never! But i'm eating my words, because even I, like Jen, couldn't help myself from loving Trevor.
I really like Brian. And Jane. and Jen's foster family. You might think everything turned out perfectly for Jen in the end. But i say, why not? She deserves a happy ending after the cruelty of her past.
*beams* Geek Girl is a cute, sweet, and swoon-inducing book! One that made me stay awake in the wee hours of the morning just to finish it. :)
Thank you NetGalley and Cedar Fort for granting my galley request.(less)
It will always be the zombie books that will make me cry. So strange. But it's true. There was Feed...moreI highly recommend The Reapers are the Angels.
*****
It will always be the zombie books that will make me cry. So strange. But it's true. There was Feed, then Dust & Decay, and now, The Reapers are the Angels. two days has passed since i finished this book and yet... i was still devastated. =(
Temple is uniquely at home at zombie-infested America. Even more fascinating is her being uncomfortable in those enclaves filled with people trying to just get by. She rather be travelling and smelling the rotted and acrid smell of the undead. She's going to my list of the best kick-*ass heroines ever! Another strong-willed and skilled girl who I will worship for her tenacity and guile to stay alive.
Somehow, Temple and Moses Todd has what I call a weird and f*cked-up relationship. It is by no means friendly and yet there's a mutual respect. How the author develop their relationship is unbelievable. It was my favorite aspect of the story. =)
The Reapers are the Angels hit me hard. Darkly humorous and grotesquely satisfying, it will make any zombie fans ask for more gore. and some. Mr. Alden Bell, you made me cry. But I still want more.(less)
He was free because on the inside he was tied up in knots. He lived hard because inside he was dying. Charlie made inner conflict look delicious.
I cannot ignore the awesomeness of this book (pun intended). I really, really liked Vera. If i were to go back to my teenage years (but i hope not), I would choose to be her. Oh, the irony of it all! Hating her best friend, Charlie for being dead. Hating Charlie for leaving a mess then being dead. What a fun life you have, Vera Dietz. :)
I immediately fell in love with King's writing: fluid, sarcastic, funny. The perfect combination for a screwed-up teenage girl's voice. Nothing I didn't love about it. I felt Vera's loneliness, angst, and need (for a father to be present for her). I love her eccentric father (with his hilarious flowchart diagrams!) and their dysfunctional relationship. Funny at times, hurting at most (for Vera).
Charlie Kahn is a sweet enigma. Love him, hate him. It's weird that I found his character more solid and provocative than James since Charlie's the dead one, and James is the current fling. I always feel forlorn when reading Charlie's POV. His regret reaches out to me, enveloping into this cocoon that i can't help but be bitter myself on how things turned out for him. :(
Please Ignore Vera Dietz: one of the best contemporaries out there. You wanna know how Vera copes with her grief? Imagine her writing a note in a piece of napkin, putting it in her mouth, and swallowing it.
Lost love sucks when your best friend screwed you over long before he was dead.(less)
My fascination with serial killers came back with Heartsick. With a woman as th...moreI highly recommend Heartsick.
...Yeees! Oh, how i love thee. *evil grin*
My fascination with serial killers came back with Heartsick. With a woman as the serial killer made it all the more interesting. I miss watching Dexter. =(
Archie and Gretchen have a very complicated relationship. You'd think Archie doesn't want anything to do with her after she abducted, tortured, left him wanting to die, then turn herself over to the police. Chelsea Cain is playing with my emotions, because I felt something for Gretchen other than hate and revulsion.
The story was compact. I loved Archie's POV. He knows there's something wrong with him, that his life sucked, and his mixed feelings for Gretchen were abnormal. Still, he does a good job being a cop. But the darkness Gretchen showed him during his time with her remained.
Susan the reporter is okay, too. Her life is as f*cked up as Archie's, but she hides it well. The way Gretchen read her like an open book whe she visited at the prison is so enjoyable. Hee.
I am in love with how Gretchen's mind works! Manipulative, smart, and very, very devious. This is the villain to beat!
Heartsick has gore, horror, and pain. I had an unbelievably good time reading it! It takes one to know one, right? So in order for Archie to defeat Gretchen once and for all, he has to think and act like her. like a maniac. :)(less)
If Feed murdered me with its ending, Deadline is far more torturous. It tore...moreI highly recommend Deadline.
*****
HAUNTING.
What the f*ck is going on here?
If Feed murdered me with its ending, Deadline is far more torturous. It tore my heart to pieces every single time that Shaun speaks, muses, and curses. How is it that I adore this male POV (Shaun) which is more bitter, more f*cked-up, and more "to-hell-with-them" angry? Simple. I just love Mira Grant's brutal writing.
I found Deadline more entertaining than its prequel. The nasty humor, the biting remarks, and the raw mourning all gripped me into submission - i cannot put this down!
No boring moments when Shaun is the narrator. The conspiracy is still alive and more dangeruous than ever. Together with Shaun are Becks (my heroine!), Alaric (sweet geek), Maggie (cool heiress), and Mahir (unrequited love for...). All characters are phenomenal, each with his/her own distinct personality. I enjoyed Becks the most: her spunk, and her audacity (to Shaun!). Georgia is quite the surprise. The story that unfolded in the midst of them is bigger than i'd hoped, better than i dare imagined from Grant's sick and twisted mind. Oh, my heart is so deliriously happy with the suspense and betrayal!
The Newsflesh Trilogy just got personal. Shaun Mason just captured my heart. In between terror and grief, I found solace in the incomparable relationships of the characters. And for some reason, i want Shaun's brand of craziness if ever I find myself in his shoes.(less)
I didn't expect to get (magically) swept away. I really didn't. I was expecting a whining, dra...moreI highly recommend The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
*****
I didn't expect to get (magically) swept away. I really didn't. I was expecting a whining, dramatic fifteen-year-old Charlie. But all i encountered was openness and sweet, sweet honesty. Oh, Charlie. You owned me from page one. :)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a lot of things. It dealt with drugs, sex, abuse, bullying. You might find that negatively intimidating but Chbosky's writing softened the blows that might have stung because of such delicate issues. The softening was a welcome embrace.
Charlie had a run with (almost) everything teenager-y. Unrequited first love. LSD. Make out sessions. Smoking. Abortion. With all this, he still felt he was standing on the sidelines. But he was loved by his sister. he talked to his dead aunt in the graveyard when no one else wants to be his friend. he has his English teacher who kept on giving him books that seemed to be the little stories of his life.
A tumultuous year it might've been, but Charlie made it. By being unconsciously strong, and unflinchingly accepting to things he cannot alter.
Once I started, I could not put down The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It's charisma is undeniable. Numerous chuckles erupted from me every now and then. I want to shelter Charlie from the harsh realities of life, but Charlie reveled in it. He flourished. And while things in the past cannot change, Charlie chose to move on with his life. But this time, he will be living it, and not for others. =)
I am in love with the mixed tapes! Asleep by the Smiths. Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. A song from Nirvana. Me and Charlie have similar taste in music!
And Charlie likes to read! *high five* Mostly they are classics, and yes, i will read them soon. i already added them to my TBR list! such is the power of Charlie over me. Gosh, classics. Help me. Haha!(less)
I don't know about you, but I've been crying since Book 1. And to say that my eyes will not get...moreI highly recommend Monsters of Men.
*****
GROUNDBREAKING.
I don't know about you, but I've been crying since Book 1. And to say that my eyes will not get any wetter is an understatement. *sniffs* Okay, so how do i find the conclusion on the Chaos Walking trilogy? Fan-effing-tastic. It was SPECTACULAR! Yeah, i got my heart broken now and again. But what's new with Patrick Ness, right? I'd say, feel free to crush my heart anytime, Mr. Ness. As long as I have that triumphant ending, i really wouldn't mind. :D
War makes Monsters of Men. But does it make monsters of women, too? This is the dilemma of Viola. While Todd is getting busy in keeping the Mayor in line with his promise, another war is looming. Deadlier. Nastier. Angrier. Yes! *this is me getting on my war freak mode* Aja!
War is never personal, Mistress Coyle said to Viola. Is it, really? If Todd failed to make it after the war, what's left for me? she wondered. That does not get any personal than that? All throughout, Viola bore the burden of whether to save Todd or the incoming settlers to the New World. How I love Viola's defiant strength and unwavering loyalty to those who mattered to her. That's my girl!
Todd is now grown up, and I understood his desire to just walk away from the war. from the Mayor. and the steely resolve he has to not trust the Mayor, to not let him besmirch Davy's memory, to not let him break his promise of protecting Viola is one of the major highlights of the story. Whoopee!
Can you guess who is the third POV here? :) He's like Todd is many ways. Reading his part takes some getting used to, but it was enlightening.
Monsters of Men has one of the best finales ever. What a stellar conclusion to a very imaginative and soulful story!
I was glad it ended, though. I felt like I was physically in that war myself. But the final battle is worth it. Man, every tear was WORTH it.(less)
As if the horror was not enough in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo! Why, oh why, did i wait to r...moreI highly recommend The Girl Who Played with Fire.
*****
As if the horror was not enough in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo! Why, oh why, did i wait to read this sequel? The Millennium Trilogy is meant to be consumed continuously! Stieg Larsson, I am now a fan!
Lisbeth Salander is my woman of steel. :D what a brilliant character. Here, i got to see how others perceived her. what a sordid past for a girl. =( but she fought back, and she's still fighting now that she's been accused of murder. Salander is one tough chick to bring down, that's for sure.
For a brief time, i saw what a man-wh*re Blomkvist really was. I guess age is just a number to him? LOL. Other than that, Blomkvist is still the smart and relentless journalist who will always be in pursuit of the truth. His shining moment for me was when he discovered Lisbeth's apartment. He didn't realized how painful and difficult her life is until that time.
The Girl Who Played with Fire is hardcore. It is ruthless and more brutal than its predecessor. My first 5 stars for 2012. Yay!(less)
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