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Enthralling Reads | 2015. Powered by Blogger.
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Abby Joy B.

Altered (Altered #1)
Author: Jennifer Rush
Pages: 323
Published Date: Jan 1, 2013


Synopsis:
When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

This book is surreal engrossing and compelling. It has the beauty of keeping the readers on track of the thrilling and mind-racking adventure and discovery of the characters.

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The Darkest Minds
Author: Alexandra Bracken\
Published Date: 2012
Genre: YA, dystopia, sci-fi
Rating: ★★★★.5


Synopsis:When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Review:
The Darkest Minds aka a dark YA sci-fi/dystopia  novel that blew me away. And also the novel which ending broke my heart into a gazillion pieces and left it scattered on the floor. I am still mulling over the ending. I should've seen that coming, but I refused to believe my instincts until it all came at once *BAM* WORLD COLLAPSED.

Children with supernatural powers that have the ability to overrun the government. The government fears them so they dragged them away from their families and locked them up in their so called rehabilitation camps. Instead of helping the children to control their abilities, the rehabilitation camp turtored their minds and dispatched them in the world especially when they appear too dangeorus. The main protagonist, Ruby, suffered 6 years of pure torment in Thurmond, the biggest camp for children like her, that was until The League dragged her out convincing her that it's safer if she joins the so called league. From there, all things brooke loose. She met other kids who were also running away from the PSI and some skip-something. Together, they made their way to find the Slip Kid every child of their own was talking about. But, it wasn't as easy as 1 2 3, they were attacked a lot of times, almost on the verge of hoing back to their rehabilitation hell. 

So finally, I am done! It took me a good 3 days to finish this book and I admit that at first I wasn't entirely hooked and engrossed. The first 60-70 pages were agonizingly slow. I almost gave up and put this on hold until I came across the chapter where Ruby met Liam, Zu and Chubs. Hope flared in me as I continued to read and read and read. 

The book was hauntingly dark and wrenched with a lot of plot twists. I enjoyed every bit of the adventure slash car journey of the 4 characters namely, Ruby, Liam, Zu & Chubs. Each of them had their own powers and distinguished personalities. I found myself caving in the characters as pages dragged by. Ruby might be a little naive and fragile but her character development was suprisingly commendable. Liam, my darlin', he was like the Big Brother among them, he might looked calm and in control of the situation, but underneath lied vulnebarility and pain. Zu, I pretty much felt all the sympathy for her. She's just a kid, but the cruel world started to shake off her sanity. Chubs, he might be a little grumpy and cynical but at the end he proved to the readers that loyalty and hope are enough to keep going. These characters left me in awe. I admired how strong-willed they were and how they worked as a team. They were each others' strength, that's why one's lost is the lost of the team. They crawled inside my heart and I just loved them to bits especially Liam *swoons*

Storyline. Never in my life that I've read a novel with a similar plot as to this. It was original and creative. The plot was well thought of and well organized. The trail of events might be a little on going forward-going back but it was bearable. It might be a bit slow, but the latter picked up into an intense and action driven sequence. But as I was saying the highlight for me and thr strongest point of the book was the road trip of the 4 characters. It was just exhilirating, refreshing with a mixture of intense blow of cover. The idea of the color clustering was funny and confusing at first, but I came to embrace it. Blue, Red, Orange & Yellow. My only complain is why there's no pink (nah kidding).

Romance. It wasn't the biggest deal of the book. In fact it took 300 something pages for the story to pick up on the gnawing tension between Ruby and Liam. Their relationship was fatal but strong. They are lsot in their own world, as long as they're together no amount of PSI or The League will separate them from each other. I just liked how their relationship was developed. It wasn't rushed nor crammed. Although, it was obvious that Liam had the shots for her, still the book let both characters find their way into each others arms in a heart-fluttering and dreamy way. I totally melted in Liam's words like how come a person like him doesn't exist in our world. But, seriously, yes. 
“Did you know...you make me so happy that sometimes I actually forget to breath? I'll be looking at you, and my chest will get so tight...and it's like, the only thought in my head is how much I want to reach over and kiss you.” 
Err. The antagonists. They ade everything exciting and miserable. i just all of them to suffer, but i know in time they will. And by that time comes I'll be curled in my blanket rejoicing while chanting "HAPPY EVER AFTER DOES EXIST" I am keeping my faith. I am.

Let's not talk about the ending cause it pretty much messed up my ability to be coherent. I just can't gouge the right words to express how much the ending broke me. But without that ending, I think the next books will just come in HEY-THERE'S-BOOK-2 kind of mood not OMFG-THIS IS FUCKIGN IT IS-GUYS-BOOK-2-WHAT-HAPPENED-TO-LIAM excitement. Overall, the book taught us that there's always a spark of hope in every situation. Giving up may not be the most reasonable thign to do, but fighting for what you stand for til the end although it might cause so much personal dread still matters. Also, this book exhibits the lesson of equality. We may have a lot of skills that make others look untalented, but at the end all of our feet are on the same level ground. There's no need to be greedy. No need to be godawful. Acceptance is always the key. Well done, Ms. Bracken! 4.5 stars to be exact.


WW Read-A-Thon Update
One book done! I am going to read the novella of this so that makes 4 potential books for this Read-A-Thon! Yay, so far so good! :D



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Angelfall
Author: Susan Ee
Publish Date: 2011
Genre: YA, dystopia, sci-fi, angels
Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis:
It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.
Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.


Review:
I figured that this was a self-published book? Wow, look what the other publishers missed! Susan Ee, you really slay this genre.

This book took my breathe away. Like seriously, it's awesome! I've read a couple of angel books and I can say they all have different research and interpretation toward nephilims, archangels and the whole angel world. I cannot say that the other angel books failed in their research since I, myself, isn't the biggest fan of angel stories and history, but I can say that Ms. Susan Ee really knew what she is up to. She researched for historical and political background of angels to start a book about them. That's a major YEPEE! There's no hole in the plot, it was well-written, well-narrated (Penryn's witty POV), well-plotted(although it's just 200+ pages) and the suspense, thrill, horror, gore, dystopia, action and romance aspects were all incorporated and balanced (although I can say there were more of gore and action).

In this book, the world is in vain with angels taking over and humans dreading because of scarcity, hunger and survival. Penryn, the main character and narrator, needed to transfer her mom and crippled sister to San Francisco where there's a great possibility of survival. On their attempt, she encountered a major problem. First, an angel-is-almost-dying-and-i-need-to-help-him-but-why and my-sister-was-freaking-kidnapped-fu-everyone situation. The angel who is dying is the least of her problem but then she still helped him to fight the other angels who's thrilled to cut his wings and kill him.

Penryn
She is the main character who loves fighting back and kicking someone's ass. She loves her family the most and will do anything for them. Indeed, her loyalty and stubbornness can get her killed but she doesn't give a damn as long it is for the ones she love. She is also witty with a pinch of dry humor and I love that side of her. She is indomitable and has an adamant will in life. Kick-ass heroine over here! But above all, I love her vulnerability. Just like everyone, she can be dainty especially when it comes to love and she practically admit it. No pretends, profess, but she knows when to pull her big girl panties up and handle her own shits.
Sure, I’m pissed off. But my actions are not entirely without thought. I might regularly open my mouth without thinking, but I never start a fight without consulting my brain. For this one, I figured I’d won as soon as I made the first move. Intimidation tactics like his are common among bullies. The smaller, weaker opponent is supposed to cringe and back off.

Raffe
He is the cocky, witty, inconclusive and unf angel Penryn met and saved. He showed no interest on her on their first encounter down to the second time he talked to her down to the third and so on.. That's the magic of Raffe, he showed subtle actions that will leave the reader frustrated and flushed. His witty banters with the characters left me cackling and swooning over him.
Kinky...and teasing
“Apparently,they’ve decided that’s a gray zone. It could get them all burned.” Then he adds in a whisper, almost to himself, “But the fire can be tempting.”
Or...how about his cockiness..
“Are you really an archangel?” I whisper.
He gives me a cocky grin. “Impressed?”
“No,” I lie. “But I have some complaints I’d like to file about your personnel.”
“Talk to middle management.”
or how about Raffe-being-Raffe
"If you help me find my sister, you can have these back. I saved them for you."
"Thanks," he croaks, surveying the wings. "They'll look great on my wall.
Penryn and Raffe's relationship
HOLY BATMAN. They are one of the most frustrating, depressing, gripping, heart-rending, maudlin and whimsical couples ever. And I loved it. Their relationship wasn't just insta-love, it had an amusing development that I stomached eagerly. Susan Ee, wrote their forbidden love story in a way her readers will feel the raw pain gnawing and swallowing them. The romance part didn't overshadow anything, it was just right and fitting.
"How long did you resist?" asks Uriel. "Did you push her away? Did you tell her she meant no more to you than any other animal? Oh, Raffe, did she die thinking you didn’t care about her? How tragic. That must just tear you to pieces."
Raffe looks up with murder in his eyes. "Don’t. Talk. About. Her."
Action. Gross. Gore. Suspense. 
Woah there, this book has it all. It's amazing how Susan Ee describes every possible scenario in detail but not annoyingly long. I can perfectly picture the scenes, the places, the people in this book. The politics in the Angel world was unexpected because I had no clue that being messenger has campaigns and stuffs. The devil-sucking-blood angel-scorpion FUCK MY LIFE they were the creepiest thing in this book. And Paige... Oh dear, Paige. I can't stomach the fact that she was changed into a flesh-eating person. Just why.... Nephilims, don't touch me! No! No! Paving the way of secondary characters that made a good show and role is also the good thing about this book.

Original plot with a lot of twists and bothering scenes, check! Forbidden love well-executed till the last page, check! Family ties, check! Well researched story concept, check! Cliffhanger, check plus tears!


I need book two!!!!!



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Pivot Point
Author: Kasie West
Publish date: 2013
Genre: ya, sci-fi, fantasy
Rating: ★★★★★

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


Review:
On the paper, I write: I promised someone I care about very much that I wouldn't Erase this path, but I have to. On Friday morning, the fourteenth of November, however, after certain events occur, talk to Laila about advanced ability control. Tell her she can learn how to restore memories. This is the only way I know how to keep my promise to you
Kasie West now belongs to the "Promising Authors that will hit big" yeah that's my non-existent list. And I believe Kasie clearly belongs to that list now, especially that both her published books, The Distance Between Us and Pivot Point, made a great impact on me, and majority of the readers who had read her debut novels.

Welcome to the PARA-NORM-al life of Addieson Coleman, or, Addie.
There's this Paranormal Compound secluded from the NORMS or NORMAL where teenagers, adults with supernatural powers such as telekinesis, emotion shifter, memory-eraser, divergence and other sorts of power you can imagine dwell in. In this world, Addie is a SEARCHER. She can search through the future whenever she is tasked to weigh options. So when her parents decided to separate ways aka divorce, she is opted to choose whether to stay with her mom in the Compound or leave the Compound with her dad and live in the Norms. She used her ability to see within the range of 6 weeks the possible events that will happen in the two paths. (I suck at summarizing sorry)

This is a paranormal/sci-fi novel and I have to admit that I haven't read much sci-fi novels, but then this novel surprised me. It is well-written, well-plotted and well-narrated. ALL THE WELL. We get to see two alternating future events in the life of Addie which is very amazing and unique. I haven't read ANY book with a plot like this, so this came overwhelming me. Very creative.

I have no complain with the characters, they have their own personalities which I find myself caving in. The cryptic character of the antagonist definitely caught me off guard. The secondary character like, Laila (Addie's bff), is so realistic. Definitely the bestfriend material everyone is begging for. I like to also punctuate the involvement of Addie's parents in her story, unlike in other books, where the parents just come IN-OUT. Addie is the girl character that isn't hard to like. She is witty and cool. Her unwavering love for books made me like her more. The decision she made at the end was understandable, but also ACHINGLY PAINFUL. TOO PAINFUL. JUST. PAIN.

The romance that lingered here is also amazing and heart-warming. I never had the charm to Duke, but he is hotilicious. (LAILA's term LOL) I wasn't affected by "from smug to sweet" character cause I know he isn't good enough for Adddie.
“Our relationship feels different. Like someone has taken my favorite sweater and thrown it in the dryer and it doesn't fit right anymore. I want to pull and tug on it until it feels comfortable again.”
No spark. None. Although some scenes with Duke made my heart and stomach burst warm, it isn't enough to match up the TOE CURLING FEELING I get from TREVOR. TREVOR. TREVOR. Trevor okay, Trevor. I JUST CANT INCORPORATE IN WORDS MY FEELS FOR HIM. Sigh. Perfect Trevor is perfect.

The ending, oh my god the cliffhanger ending.
"I'm fine. I'll be fine. Yes, I want to go home with you, Dad"
HOME MEANS NORMAL WORLD, NORMAL WORLD MEANS TREVOR

My only complain is that every chapter left me CRAVING so much. Sometimes I just want to live the NORM path search of Addie. It's more fun there. (biased much) HAHAHAHA. The twists and the thriller climax were definitely the mood changer and jaw-slacking part.
Oveall, this is one of the best YA paranormal story ever existed! I can't wait for Split Second. Holy hell, I'll have to wait for a year. I'm going to cry.

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Meet Abby!


I'm an engineering student who loves skincare, books, dramas and pastel pink (i just had to write that.) This where I translate my shenanigans and whatnots in life into written posts. I'll probably rave about stuff here so you've been warned! jk! (not really)

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PS: I Like You by Kasie West
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Thought: Does Kasie West ever go wrong? I'm escalated that my first read for 2017 was a squee-filled one. This was utterly adorable. The main character, Lily, is a very witty person. It wasn't hard to love her and her family.
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