Crossed (Matched #2) By Ally Condie

Title: Crossed ( Matched #2)
Author: Ally Condie
Publish Date: Published November 1st 2011 by Dutton Juvenile Pages: Hardcover, 367 pages
Read & Reviewed By: Keri




In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever


Where Matched was a quiet discovery, Crossed is a reckless journey across a merciless land to find love and freedom. The danger that was missing in the first book is found here, along with a refreshing break from the female perspective as Crossed is told in alternating chapters by both Cassia and Ky.

Picking up a few months after Matched ends, Crossed follows the intersecting journeys of Cassia and Ky as they enter the Outer Provinces and then beyond in a search for each other and the secret Rising--the rebellion that could change everything. New characters to love and suspect as introduced with Eli, Vick, and Indie. Xander makes a brief appearance at the beginning, and though he is present in spirit, we will not see him again until book 3.

What I loved most about Crossed was Ky's perspective. His bleak outlook combined with his grim determination and his ever-growing love for Cassia makes for a fascinating and complex character. It was refreshing to learn about his past and his motivations from his own voice, instead of filtered through Cassia. By learning what he has still kept secret Ally Condie creates that ever-so-crucial dramatic tension for the reader. It makes the moments between Cassia and Ky even more fraught with tension (good and bad), and makes you turn the pages more quickly the closer you get to the end.

This book got 5 out of 5 hearts from me.

Vampire Academy (VA #1) Review

Title: Vampire Academy (VA #1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Publish Date: Published August 16th 2007 by Razorbill
Pages: Paperback, 332 pages
Read & Reviewed By: Keri






Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever...


I knew this series was going to be good, but I had no idea it was going to be this good! I have officially fallen in love with the Vampire Academy series! I read the first book within a couple of hours and had to go out and buy the second one soon after. Vampire Academy is an excellent mixture of drama, mystery, action, and romance.

I am a sucker for romance, so of course one of my favorite elements of this series is the forbidden romance between Rose and her mentor, Dimitri. I can honestly say I have never wanted two people to get together more than I want these two too. The chemistry between them is intense! Mead certainly knows how to stir up the reader's emotions.

Rose is by far my favorite character in the series, I found myself laughing out loud more than once at her antics. She definitely isn’t afraid to speak her mind or kick someone’s ass for that matter!

This is the first book I have read by Richelle Mead and I have to say I am blown away by her writing skills. I look forward to reading more of her work.

I GAVE THIS BOOK 5 OUT OF 5 HEARTS!

Book Haul 1/20/12

Yay! My first book haul:

The first thing I pick up was a boxed set : The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer

1.) Eight Grade Bites

2.)Ninth Grade Slays

3.) Tenth Grade Bleeds

4.) Eleventh Grade Burns

Next I picked up Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Next is The Other Eden by Sarah Brayant



Stargazer (The 2nd Book in the Evernight series) by Claudia Gray

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

The Faerie Path ( #1 in The Faerie Path Series) By Frewin Jones

The Lost Queen ( #2 in The Faerie Path Series) by Frewin Jones

And Last is Snow White, Blood Red by Ellen Datlow, Terri Windling and Others

Watch for Reviews of these books.





The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks Review

Title: The Best of Me
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publish Date: October 11th 2011 by Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 292, Hardcover
Read & Reviewed By: Keri


THE BEST OF ME is the heart-rending story of two small-town former high school sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks. Now middle-aged, they've taken wildly divergent paths, but neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever altered their world. When they are both called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter, they will be forced to confront the choices each has made, and ask whether love can truly rewrite the past.

I was so excited when this book came out! I am a die hard Sparks fan and couldnt wait to get my hands on it. With that said this book really disapointed me! It really was a good book and I would have loved it if I hadn't have already read The Notebook. This book starts off almost exactly like the Notebook Girl is from a goody goody family and guy from the other side of the tracks. Girls parents dont like it so they split them up. After reading a couple chapters it finally starts looking like a different book. I do reccomend this book, I mean we are talking about a Nicholas Sparks book arnt we.

I rated this book 4 out of 5 hearts.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld Review

Title: Uglies (Uglies #1)
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publish Date: February 8th 2005 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 425, Paperback
Read & Reviewed By: Keri
Series: Uglies
             Pretties
             Specials
             Extras


Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that? Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.


Tally is 15 year old who was the youngest among her group of friends. She wants to become pretty so she can live and party with them. Then Shay comes along, and she isn't so lonely anymore. Shay surprisingly has the exact same birthday as Tally. Shay teaches Tally how to hoverboard, like skate boarding but in the air, and the two girls soon become the best of friends. Shay wants to have Tally run away with her, but first she takes her on an adventure, one that will lead her to the smoke.
Shay wants to go to the smoke because of her friend David. David's parents are the people who founded the smoke, so he tries to bring as many people possible with him. David is a free spirit, and couldn't even imagine what life would be like pretty. Shay always talks about and it seems like there is something special, and different about this boy. Something that would draw Shay and many others into the mystery that is the smoke.

This book had many twists and turns and mostly left you anticipating the next chapter. The book first line of the book had me wondering, "The early summer sky was the color of cat vomit." Right away I knew that the author had a creative mind and that he would right an amazing book. I was right!
Uglies is a fast paced, easy to read science-fiction novel filled will adventure. The ending leaves you hanging and wanting to run to the book store to buy the next novel in the series. This book is extremely good and definitely not a waste of your time. You will be amazed at the story and amused by Scott Westerfield's way of words. Uglies most definitely is a book that you will want to check out and read over and over again. I cant wait to start on the next book in this series!

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars on goodreads.

Forever ( The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) Review

Title: Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publish Date: July 12th 2011 by Scholastic Press, Inc.

Pages: 386, Softcover ARC

Read & Reviewed By: Keri

The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

The plot in this one continued on from where Linger ended. I won't go into details for those who haven't read the series. Let's just say that Sam and Grace's life has become much more complicated. We also get to read more about Cole and Isabel.  I liked the direction that it went in. It made sense, had just the right amount of thrill to fit the story and very realistic from the wolves' point of view. The author obviously made her research on wolf and pack behaviours.

Like the other books in the series, it encompasses a lot of different emotions - happiness, love, fear, anguish - it all paints a clear picture of what their lives are like. It was also the first book to have us walk through their wolf forms with them, which was really interesting and let us get a feel of their "other" selves and served to further substantiate the characters.

This was one amazing finale of the series. The ending couldn't have been more perfect. The last 50 pages or so were so intense.  Seriously, I cried like a baby for half an hour after I finished the book. There was a particular moment toward the end where my heart broke into thousand little pieces and tears flooded my eyes.  I was on the verge of a heart attack the entire time. That's how good it was. And the final chapter, OMGosh!

What I was really surprised about was how much I liked it better when Grace was the wolf and struggling to remain human, than when Sam was in the same situation. 
The trilogy as a whole is great. The take on werewolves is very unique and the story lines are interesting, so they've kept me very entertained and I would recommend them.