Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan

Title: Jenny Pox
Author: J.L. Bryan
Series: Perhaps? 
Source: From author for review
Format: E-book 
Genre: Speculative Fiction - Paranormal

Synopsis (from author's page):

Jenny is a quiet, small-town girl in South Carolina whose touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague. Jenny can't control her power. Her life is friendless and lonely until she meets a boy, who possess power of his own. Her love for him brings the wrath of his beautiful and immensely popular girlfriend Ashleigh. Jenny must master her own deadly power to free Seth from Ashleigh's control. Then she must defeat Ashleigh before Ashleigh can destroy her.

What if you were born with supernatural power? Not just a mere kind, but one that is formidable enough that it can cause death on another person. What does it feels like living your life knowing you cannot touch anyone for fear that you might end up killing them? This is the destiny that Jenny Morton has to face every single day of her life. Knowing that her skin, her condition, her power – whatever term one might called it – killed her own mother when she was born is painful enough but understanding and accepting the bitter fact that she is going to be lonely, friendless her whole life is even harder to bear. However, when a tragedy happened and she learnt the secret kept by Seth, the boyfriend of her #1 enemy Ashleigh, a glitter of hope enters her life. To win Seth, she will have to confront Ashleigh and to learn controlling her "curse". What is it about Seth that drawn Jenny to him? Is Jenny the only one in this small county that has supernatural ability? If not, what is the connection between them and what brings them all here?

Jenny Pox is indeed a novel which is full with surprises. The author, J.L. Bryan, has successfully manoeuvred this book from a somewhat cliché storyline into something utterly different. He weaves three intricate elements – paranormal, mystery and romance – together making this book a little complex at the beginning but nonetheless, a very interesting read. Bryan is definitely the kind of author who does not dump information to his readers. In fact, he takes time building his story, giving away answers little by little while at the same time, making readers crave for more. The story starts off with little Jenny who is still clueless about her own power but as she grows older and understand how dangerous she really is, self-hatred starts to bloom inside of her. The way the author portrays the emotional burden that Jenny bears on her shoulders is remarkable to the point where readers cannot help but feel sad and mourn for Jenny. Bryan also goes all out when he describes the disturbing and gory details in his book that truly make me squirm whilst reading.

Bryan also did a great job in depicting the real life of teenagers in a small town and this make it a lot easier for readers to feel connected to the characters. Jenny is a very likeable protagonist with a very strong heart but her difficult life makes it hard for her to realise how much she really worth. The moment friendship buds between her and Seth, I’ve start to root for them to be together. At first it seems rather unrealistic for someone to fall in love very quickly but knowing how desperate Jenny is to find a true friend and love, it all just seems possible. Plus, it is better to see Seth with Jenny rather than the manipulative, power-craze, two-faced antagonist, Ashleigh. There is something more that correlate these three characters but you definitely need to read the book to find out. Another character that I love in Jenny Pox is Jenny’s father, who acts as a strong pillar for Jenny despite the demons that he has to fight within himself too. Even though Jenny grows up without a mother, having a father that love her unconditionally truly make things somewhat bareable for her.

In the nutshell, Jenny Pox is a bittersweet, original book that completes with a little bit of everything – from delicious romance, to gory paranormal stuffs and also some actions. With its engaging writing, well-structured and simple plotlines along with its comfortable, effective pace, the book is definitely something that readers, especially those who love paranormal romance should not missed. While some might say that this is a Young Adult book, I personally think that it fits more under adult due to some explicit and gory scenes and also some contents that might be considered offensive by certain group of people. However, if you don’t mind all these, Jenny Pox is a paranormal book with a great twist that totally worth it.

Favourite Quote: Jenny lifted one small, fuzzy-pink gloved hand and looked at her fingers. "I'm poze-nuss," she said.

Jenny Pox is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It deals with some paranormal issues and contemporary ones, like obsession to gain power, extremism and difficulties to be an outsider. A page turner and an original book with great plotlines and characters that I highly recommend.

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Title: Beastly
Author: Alex Flinn
Series: Stand alone book 
Source: Personal Copy
Format: Paperback
Genre: Speculative Fiction - Fantasy

Synopsis (from author's page):

I am a beast. A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature who walks upright – a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster. You think I’m talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It’s no deformity, no disease. And I’ll stay this way forever – ruined – unless I can break the spell.

The Adonis of Tuttle Prep, Kyle Kingsbury, owns just about everything that a person could dream of: a good look, an excellent build, a bunch of cool friends and a handful of money. All these put him on top of the school’s popularity chart, makes him the King, who is loved by everyone in the school. Well, at least that is what he makes himself believes. The situation turns ugly when Kyle decides to play a trick on a fat, ugly girl named Kendra without realising who she really is. His evil plan backfire, causing him to be cursed, where he is turned into who he really is in the inside – A Beast. Without falling in love and being truly loved in return, Kyle will remain as a beast... forever. Here begins his desperate journey to find a true love, to learn the things that he had missed and to heal himself from his tainted past. Can he find what he is looking for before his time runs out?

Set in contemporary New York City, Beastly is an updated version of the famous classical tale, Beauty and the Beast. The author, Alex Flinn, deserves a credit on her creativity where she swiftly adapts ideas from the original to fit into the modern world. For example, the kingdom is now the city of New York and the castle that has been the resident of the lonesome beast is now Kyle’s huge, yet empty apartment. Apart from that, she also includes an interesting idea of her own where she adds excerpts from a chatroom called “Unexpected Changes”, in which numbers of magical creatures afflicted with transformations gather together to discuss problems in their daily lives. This is actually my favourite part of the book as it introduces the readers to other characters like the mermaid and the frog, who are also chasing for true love. This, along with the author’s concise and fluid writing indeed make this book an interesting read.

Despite of that, there are still quite a few things about this book that fail to satisfy me. I feel that Beastly will work a lot better if the characters in it are somewhat older as it is a little hard to believe that a person at the age of 15 to 17 can really find and understand the real meaning of true love. The story can also be more believable if the author lets the characters mature a bit more, for instance by taking times telling the readers about Kyle’s transformation into his better self in a much greater details. I feel that this has been done in a rather abrupt way to the point that it has become unrealistic. It would really be nice to see more changes in him before he finds the love that is meant for him. The too easy and too sweet ending is also another thing that disappoints me. I was not hoping for a surprise when I started reading this book but I was still hoping for some additions to the fairy tale that can distinguish Beastly from the original tale other than just the mere settings.

All in all, I am not entirely satisfied with this book as I thought that it could really be a lot better especially when it comes to the ending. It is an average, fluff and light read that I believe suitable for those who are big fans of fairytale-ish kind of books complete with heart-warming romance and interesting characters.

Favourite Quote: Those who do not know how to see the precious things in life will never be happy.

Beastly is just an average read for me. Too many potential details have been left out from the story causing the book to lose some juice that can make it more interesting. Don't get me wrong; it has a good pace, simplistic writing and some tweaks from the original but I guess, I just need more for it to be interesting for me.

*This review is taking part in Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

Title: Princess of the Midnight Ball
Author: Jessica Day George
Series: Stand Alone 
Source: Personal Copy
Format: Paperback 
Genre: Speculative Fiction - Fantasy

Synopsis (from author's page):

Returning home from the war, young Galen finds work with his mother’s family in the royal gardens. There he learns that the king’s twelve daughters have a secret: every night they dance their shoes to tatters, but no one knows how or why. 

The war between Westfalian and Analousia has already end leaving Galen, a young soldier, without any place to go. He travels to Bruch in search for his mother’s sister, Tante Leisel, hoping to find a job and a place to live. Once arrives in Brunch, he finds his aunt’s family and they give him a bed, also a job with his uncle as a caretaker in the garden at the King’s palace. At that time, the King himself is desperate to uncover the mystery that surrounds his twelve princesses. Every three days, the princesses’ dancing slippers are worn out but nobody has any idea why.

When the princesses’ health begins to deteriorate, the King offers one of his daughters in marriage to any prince that manages to solve the mystery. However, when the princes that accept the challenge die of mysterious death, one after another, rumour of witchcraft abound and the church starts getting involve. Without anyone else that willing to take on the challenge, it is now up to Galen to put pieces of the puzzle together, save the princesses’ lives and also the kingdom. What is he planning to do? And what is his idea to ensure that his plan works?

Jessica Day George has successfully enchanted the readers with this enticing, magical and solid fairy tale retelling. Princess of the Midnight Ball is based on Grimm fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, though I find that George’s version has more depth and the storyline is also much stronger than the original. The backbone of this book is basically the same as in the Grimm’s version; however the author expands the story more at the places that need some extra explanations. In some way, George provides the reader with some answers towards the questions that the readers might have whilst reading Grimm’s story. So this improvement serves as a huge advantage for the readers, making reading experience much more enjoyable.

In term of characterisation, multiple alterations have been made in Princess of the Midnight Ball. For instance, the twelve princesses appear to be somewhat naughty in Grimm’s version but in George’s, they are much lovelier and each one of them come with distinct, definable traits. The author also named these girls with name of flowers and each one of those flowers could be found at the garden that the King keeps for his deceased wife. Galen’s character is also different between these two versions. In Grimm’s, Galen is described as an old soldier who keeps an ambition to be a king but in George’s; he appears to be a handsome, young, kind and down-to-earth soldier. The changes that the author made add more dimensions to each character in the book and it is amazing to see how these changes could enhance the details in the original book and make it even livelier.

Personally, this is one of the best renditions of classic fairy tale that I’ve ever read thus far. The story indeed doesn’t stray too far from the original, but the twists and turns added by the author is enough to give new breath to the classic that most of us loved. Such a remarkable read that is suitable for those who love a happily ever after story.

Favourite Quote: To Galen, war was a disease, something to be avoided, not something he wanted to talk about with the other afflicted men over the campfire.

This rendition of Grimm's Twelve Dancing Princesses is a light, quick read that is suitable for children and adult alike. The changes made by the author give new dimension to the classic, making it even more fleshier and juicier. Enchanting and adventurous tale that I would recommend to all.

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

Title: The Alchemyst
Author: Michael Scott
Series: Nicholas Flamel #1 
Source: Personal Copy
Format: Paperback 
Genre: Speculative Fiction - Fantasy

Synopsis (from book cover):

The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty. The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. Sometimes legends are true. And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.

Everything seems normal in the life of Josh and Sophie Newman until the day they find out the truth that has been safely hidden by the couple, Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel, for hundreds of years. On that day, the Newman’s twin finds themselves caught in the midst of a battle that erupts between the immortal Nicholas Flamel and Dr John Dee over the ownership of The Book of Abraham the Mage (or “The Codex”) which holds an immortality secrets and also capable of destroying the world. Dr Dee ends up stealing the book from Nicholas and also kidnaps his wife and confines her on Alcatraz Island. Realising that their lives are in great danger, Nicholas finally explains to the twin how he believes that there is a prophecy in the Codex that mentions the twin and their roles in saving the world. Here begins their journey, where they are joined by a Scáthach warrior in finding the source that could awaken the twin’s dormant magic. With Dr Dee still tailing them, will they manage to find what they are desperately looking for? Or this is just the mark of the end of the world?

The premise features in The Alchemyst is definitely an interesting one. Crossing some historical facts with numbers of mythical details and weaves them together with a good fictional story surely able to create a strong base that can pique the interests of those who enjoy reading works in fantasy genre. Michael Scott indeed came with a lot of refreshing ideas for this book but unfortunately, the execution and the style of writing leaves a lot to be desired. It is difficult to be mesmerised by the story when the flow keeps on being disrupted by unnecessary notions and dialogues. The way the author tries to integrate current pop cultures into the book also feels “forced” and after repeating the same thing couple of times, it starts to get annoying. I believe that there is no need to mention how much the twin misses the internet, the iPod and the laptop over again to make sure readers are attach to the characters and story.

The majority of characters in The Alchemyst are of people with significant historical accounts or of well-known mythical figures. This is another factor that makes this book intriguing but it seems that Scott did not use a lot of these facts to solidify the characters he creates in the book, which causes them to feel rather flat and lack of dimensions. I really wish that the author could fatten the characters and plots a little bit more with the facts that he has in hand to make the story feels even more believable and “complete”. There are also couple of other characters and historical events that I’ve never heard of in this book, so an extra details and explanations could really be a huge plus.

Overall, the idea behind The Alchemyst is vast but reading through it makes me feel like the author just touch things on the surface. This series certainly has a lot of potential, so I’ll definitely keeps on reading to see if things get better in the next instalment. If you’re a hardcore fantasy/mythology fans and rarely expect too much for the material you reads, this is perhaps something that will satisfy you. In my case, it didn’t.

Favourite Quote: I am old now, so old. Do you know how many friends I've buried over the centuries? - Nicholas Flamel

A book that has high potential that failed to live up to my expectation. There is a lot that happen in this book, in term of action but the substance is not really there. If you're not the kind who loves fantasy and not the kind who tend to hope too much, you might enjoy this more than I did.

p.s. Have you read any books in this series? If so, what do you think of them? Do leave links to your review so I can read your detail thoughts on it!

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Title: Shutter Island
Author: Dennis Lehane
Series: Stand alone 
Source: Borrowed
Format: Paperback 
Genre: Psychological thriller

Synopsis (from B&N):

Summer, 1954. U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels s come to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Along with his partner, Chuck Aule, he sets out to find an escaped patient, a murderess named Rachel Solando, as a hurricane bears down upon them. But nothing at Ashecliffe Hospital is what it seems. Is he there to find a missing patient? Or has he been sent to look into rumors of Ashecliffe's radical approach to psychiatry; an approach that may include drug experimentation, hideous surgical trials, and lethal countermoves in the shadow war against Soviet brainwashing. Or is there another, more personal reason why he has come there?

Situated offshore from Massachusetts, Shutter Island is an asylum specialise in housing the criminally insane person. US Marshall Teddy Daniels lands himself on this island for a reason – to investigate the disappearance of an inmate, a young lady named Rachel Solando. However, from the moment he and his colleague, Chuck Aule, step their feet on the island, they could smell suspicions everywhere: The general staffs that help running the place do not seem like persons they could trust, the medical personnel sounds like someone with hidden agendas and the stale, depressing atmosphere in the asylum also screams that something else is really wrong. As the strange hurricane starts brewing, Teddy finds himself trap in this island, force to solve the puzzles and begins to realise that besides his inability to trust anyone in the island, could he really trust his colleague? And most important of all, could he trust himself, what he believes and what he sees happening before his eyes?

Shutter Island is indeed a book with layer upon layer of secrets. I have to admit that I only pick this up because I didn’t get the chance to watch the movie but seriously speaking, the mystery that waits me in this book make the hours spend reading it totally worth it. The beginning of the book might be a little slow as nothing really happen for quite awhile, though Lehane’s style of writing making these dragging parts somewhat entertaining. He uses them to establish the ground at which this story is set in and also gives a general overview on Teddy’s current and previous lives. I truly enjoy the way he portrays how the people in the 50’s are like: the way they talk, their manners and the issues that they talk about which I find entirely fit with the whole settings.

Another thing that really intrigues me is his grotesque description on how the mental healthcare really like in the 1950s. Lehane appears to me as an author who loves detail and this make it easier for readers to imagine the whole things that happen throughout the story. Besides crafting an excellently creepy settings, the author also succeed in developing an interesting, mysterious character. Teddy is indeed an unpredictable man that is  very hard to read. On the outside, he appears to be a strong, stubborn person, but in the inside, he is an entirely different person. It is fascinating to see how the author dissects this man little by little, to give readers a better understanding on who he really is.

Reading through Shutter Island is like walking in a huge maze. You may be expecting something at first but after being wrong for multiple times, you simply just wait for the real bomb to drop. I honestly didn’t see such revelation coming towards the end of the book and it literally made me sits down, reanalyse back what I’ve been reading. With its creepy setting and intense storyline, Shutter Island is indeed a must read!

Favourite Quote: He wanted to ask her what sound a heart made when it broke from pleasure, when just the sight of someone filled you the way food, blood, and air never could, when you felt as if you'd been born for only one moment and this, for whatever reason, was it - Teddy Daniels

A fantastical psychological thriller with such a brilliant concept that is full with numbers of major twists and turns. As you begin to believe in something, another twist unravel, bring you to a brand new storyline that will indeed take you by surprise. Are you a fan of mystery/thriller? If yes, then this is made for you!

Midnighters Series by Scott Westerfeld

Books in this series:
(1) The Secret Hour
(2) Touching Darkness
(3) Blue Noon

Author: Scott Westerfeld
Source: Personal Copies
Format: Paperback
Genre: Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction

Midnighter is the term used to describe those who were born at the stroke of midnight. Based on its basic concept, the Midnighters series is indeed one of the most original series that I’ve ever come across thus far. Creatively written by the author, Scott Westerfeld, this series is the cross-breed from multiple genres: fantasy, paranormal and science fiction to name a few. With the right combination of suspense element, woven together with some mysteries, lore and a dash of romance, the Midnighters series – without doubt – is able to engage the interest of multi layers of readers and its varieties making it a very interesting read.

The strange world of midnighters only occurs at the heart of Bixby, Oklahoma. While normally there are only 24 hours per day, there is the 25th in this world which is known as “The Blue Hour”. For ordinary people, this extra hour passes by in a blink of the eyes but for the midnighters, they could live in this hour like usual. Only difference is that, they have to live in it along with the sinister, ancient creatures known as the Darklings and Slithers. According to the midnighter’s lore, there used to be a huge bunch of midnighters who lived and protected the small town of Bixby. However, the numbers ceased drastically for an unknown reason and the lore itself stopped about fifty years before the beginning of the book.

The new generation of midnighters only consist of five young teenagers: Rex the Seer, Melissa the Mindcaster, Dess the Polymath, Jonathan the Acrobat and Jessica – the new girl in town – whose power is not yet known until the end of book one. Despite their different personalities, they work together to investigate the truth that happen to their predecessors, saving one of their own and also saved Bixby and the world from turning into the monsters’ buffet. What sort of things do they have to do to win this seamlessly impossible battle against these creepy creatures? And what kind of sacrifice that need to be made to make this happen?

The Midnighters series proves to the readers what a genius author Westerfeld really is. He integrates some mathematical and linguistics concepts into these books making them somewhat unique till it is hard to find something else to compare them to. The author brings forth the idea that number “13” and also words with thirteen letters are crucial in the fight against the monsters along with light/heat and anything that belongs to the new world and technology. Number “12”, on the other hand, is specifically associates with the Darklings. For example, Bixby located at 36˚00’00”N (which is multiple of 12) 96˚00’00”W (another multiple of 12) and the sum of individual digits is 24, another multiple of 12. It is said in this book that The Blue Hour only happens in Bixby because of these strong associations. This mathematical assimilation into this series totally intrigues me as it makes something that is supposed to be fiction feels totally real.

The row of characters is another thing that I admire. Despite of choosing only one main character, Westerfeld put all five of them alternately onto the spotlight. Throughout the course of this series, readers get the chance to know each one of them and the reasons that make them who they are. Among all five of these characters, I fell in love with Rex since the first book in this series. He is the self-imposed leader of the group and I see that despite the refusal from some of the members, they still turn to him when they face ultimate challenges. Besides that, Rex is also a selfless person with a dark past of his own. This flaw makes him more realistic and likeable.

In a nutshell, I cannot really find anything that I hate about this series. I completely enjoyed it as it has a bit of almost everything. I’ve to admit that it may be confusing at first and that it takes a little time to let the basic concept to sink in, but once that phase is over, these books will certainly be unputdownable.

Favourite Quote: In the blue time, math kicked ass - Dess the Polymath

Skillfully and consicely written, the Midnighters is indeed a series that suit within multiple domains. With a fast, yet comfortable pace, lots of actions and plotlines that thicken up quickly, this series didn't fail in making readers sit at the edge of the chair throughout the reading course. Definitely a series that didn't disappoint!

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke

Title: Inkspell
Author: Cornelia Funke
Series: Inkheart #2
Source: Borrowed
Format: Paperback
Genre: Speculative fiction -Fantasy

Synopsis (from B&N):

Although a year has passed, not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of Inkheart, the book whose characters became real. But for Dustfinger, the fire-eater brought into being from words, the need to return to the tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller with the ability to read him back, Dustfinger leaves behind his young apprentice Farid and plunges into the medieval world of his past. Distraught, Farid goes in search of Meggie, and before long, both are caught inside the book, too. But the story is threatening to evolve in ways neither of them could ever have imagined.

Inkspell begins right at the point where the story ends in Inkheart. The only difference here is that, rather than taking place in our world, numbers of main characters from the first book are forced to enter the Inkworld due to some complicating matters. The way Funke describes the magical world in this book is really fascinating and I believe that this is one of the many things that hooked me to this book. Along with the characters, readers are given the chance to stroll into the Wayless Wood, meet the rulers of the Inkworld and also getting to know all those interesting players who inhabit the cities in the Inkworld.

Another thing that makes me like this book even more is that the characters appear to be fully developed as compared to Inkheart. Readers are able to peek into the hearts’ of each character and learn who they truly are. I really like the development in Dustfinger character, especially and also the relationship between Maggie and Farid. I am pleasantly surprised at how much I love this book in the end. I don't really like Inkheart much because it appears to be dragging too much to me but in Inkspell, the adventures and emotions capture in it alone make it way better than the series previous installment.

Favourite Quote: Isn't it odd how much fatter a book gets when you've read it several times? As if something were left between the pages every time you read it. Feelings, thoughts, sound, smells... and then, when you look at the book again many years later, you find youself there, too, a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you like a pressed flower... both strange and familiar - Mo Folchart

I'm glad that my opinion on Inkheart (Click to read my review) didn't deter me from reading the 2nd book in the series. Inkspell is surprisingly different, complete with well-developed character and interesting, heart-wrenching situation. Keep on with the series even if you didn't like Inkheart cause it really does get better!

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Title: Looking for Alaska
Author: John Green
Series: Stand Alone 
Source: Personal Copy
Format: Paperback 
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis (from B&N):

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words – and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the “Great Perhaps.” Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps. Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A stunning debut, it marks John Green’s arrival as an important new voice in contemporary fiction.

Who can predict that some final words could give a huge impact in one person’s life? “I go to seek a Great Perhaps” were the last words said by François Rabelais. This single sentence appears to inspire a young man, Miles “Pudge” Halter, to move few steps forward, leaving behind his old life and enrol to a boarding school in searching for his own brand of “Great Perhaps”. At the Culver Creek, he finds some close friends: The Colonel, his roommate, Lara Buterskaya, a shy Romanian, Takumi, a crazy Japanese and last but not least, Alaska, the girl who he begins to love silently.

Written in two parts, the “Before” and the “After”, with one pivotal event, Looking for Alaska chronicles the journey made by Pudge and his friends as they face the ups, the downs and the inevitable in the rough route that they call “life”. What is this “Great Perhaps”? And will the event that occurs manage to make Pudge able to understand and to grasp the real meaning of the “Great Perhaps” better in the end?

Judging by his excellent writing and the way he swiftly tackles the intricate subject in this book, no one would believes that Looking for Alaska is actually the first work by John Green. Written in such realistic manner, Green makes it easier for readers to relate to the characters that he creates in his book and further understand such trials that they have to go through. This relatabilty, along with bunch of interesting, real characters and crisp storylines make this book an incredibly great read.

Miles, in my opinion, is one of the most ordinary protagonists out there. He seems clueless about almost everything on his first day at Culver Creek and it looks like his bunch of “colourful” friends are the ones that start shaping and introduce him to the real world. I wouldn’t say that all the things that they teach him are good things, but nonetheless, they help him to spread his wings and gets himself out of his own cocoon. Another character that I find very interesting is Alaska herself. She is really brilliant but also incredibly torn at the same time. These factors make her somewhat unpredictable and Mile’s description on Alaska in the book sure tells a lot: “So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.”

For such a thin book, Looking for Alaska certainly is fat with messages that relate to valuable aspects in life. It is a book about love, friendship, loyalty, regrets, grief and route to maturity. Dashes of last words used by the author, peppers with some religion references help enhancing the storyline all together. This book indeed comes with some great messages but it all depends on the readers on how they want to perceive it. An incredible read that I would recommend to all.

Favourite Quote: It's not life or death, the labyrinth. Suffering. Doing wrong and having wrong things happen to you. That's the problem. Bolivar was talking about the pain, not about the living or dying. How do you get out of the labyrinth of suffering? - Alaska Young

This book totally takes me by surprise. It begins with something light, then gets to the climax with a BAM and ends with a philosophical ending. John Green did a brilliant job in capturing how it is like to be a young, insecure and friendless teen. I'd certainly recommended this book to those that enjoy books that make you think.

Need by Carrie Jones

Title: Need
Author: Carrie Jones
Series: Need #1 
Source: Personal copy
Format: Paperback 
Genre: Speculative Fiction - Paranormal

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now. She couldn't be more wrong.

Sudden passing of a love one could do numbers of things to people’s minds. The untimely demise of her stepfather had left Zara deeply depressed, relatively numb and what freak her most is that, she begins to feel like everywhere she goes, someone is there – watching her every moves. Zara’s emotional status causes great concern to her mother, who eventually decides that she would be safer under the care of Grandma Betty in Maine.

But Zara thinks that she knows better and believes that there is nothing this dreary, awkward, cold town could do to help her. Little does she know that a grandma’s love, some eccentric, quirky friends and a hot boy could put some colours to her monotonous life. Things are all right until the stalker starts ruining everything again, convincing Zara that he is more than a product of her imagination. Who is this “stalker” really is? And what is his connection to Zara and her past?

Couple of comparison has been made between this book and Twilight and as I read the first few chapters, I can clearly see why. However, as Need starts picking up its tempo, it begins to separate itself from the other series and set up its very own niche. Truthfully, I am not entirely crazy about this book but the few surprises still make it a good read. One thing that is really unique about Need is Jones’ creativity in relating certain type of phobias with every single chapter in it. The style of writing is very simple, making Need one light, quick read. Another factor that makes me like Need is its characters, which are normal despite the whole circumstances they are all in. The qualities that each character have are clearly portrayed make it easy to distinguish their purposes and roles in the book.

However – to me – Need does come with couple of issues. Its straightforwardness and lack of complexities cause it to be somewhat predictable, which spoil the fun of reading a little bit. By looking at those creepy plotlines used by the author, this book does seem like it has a lot of potential but the overly simplistic discoveries and solutions at the end of the book is really not satisfying. Plus, the way Zara accepts who the stalker really is and how he relates to her are also implausible. I wish that there is a little more depth in this sense and the creepy elements are consistent right to the end, but alas, that didn’t happen.

All in all, despite some of the problems I have with the book, I know I’ll be reading the next chapter since I need to know how the series ends. I believe that those who love paranormal and want to find something to read other than those vampires’ ones will enjoy this book.

Favourite Quote: The secret of happiness is freedom, the secret of freedom is courage

Combination of some creepy and some romance elements make this book interesting enough to caught interest of paranormal readers. If you're looking for something quick and light, this book is certainly for you. Though for those who are looking for more substance, there are parts of this book that you may not like.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Series: Stand Alone
Source: Personal Copy
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker--his classmate and crush--who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

I used to wonder what kind of tragedy that happens in one’s life that eventually leads to suicide. What sort of hardship that the person has to face till he/she thinks this life is not worth living anymore? In Thirteen Reasons Why, Hannah Baker tells us her story and in some ways, she did answer part of the questions that I have in mind. Who would have thought that some small, silly actions could cause a snowball effects that ruined a soul and be the ending of someone’s world? In this book, Hannah - in her very own way - explains to us “Why”.

Jay Asher successfully nailed readers’ attention with his frank and concise writing in Thirteen Reasons Why. Despite knowing how the book will end and having this uneasy feeling about the subject matter, I found myself continue to leaf through, trying to dive into Hannah’s world and truly understand how she feels about everything that had transpired. Hannah – to me – is not really a complicated character but the situations harden her. It is very easy for readers to recognise how different her “voice” sounds like as she slowly unravels one thing after another that finally leads to her decision to commit suicide.

Hannah begins as a cheery person, then turns sarcastic, angry and being downright distraught towards the end when she finally believes that no one is there to pull her out of the sinkhole she’s currently in. It is sad to see how “implicitly” she tried to reach out but nobody can really hear her. Can we really blame her for not crying out loud, directly tell people that she needs help? Or is it the others fault that they didn’t take time to really listen to her? These are amongst the many questions that linger in my head after I finished reading this book.

Asher is indeed an excellent writer as the simple words he used in Thirteen Reasons Why managed to instill such intricate, multi-layered emotions and let readers feel how is it like to be in Hannah’s shoes. Kudos Jay Asher!

Memorable Quote: You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. Unfortunately, you can’t be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everything. . . affects everything

Such a compelling, poignant read that I'd recommend to those who love reading book with such a heavy theme. Thirteen Reasons Why is definitely the kind of book that will stay with you for a very, very long time. It's haunting, I kid you not!

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Title: Unwind
Author: Neal Shusterman
Series: Stand alone 
Source: Personal Copy
Format: Paperback
Genre: Science Fiction

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.

What if you live in a period where your parents own the right to “terminate” your life? Period where someone else has a say on what is going to happen to you, your future more than your own self? Period where your life means absolutely nothing just because you’re incompetent, an excess or a tithe chosen at birth? These are the facts that bring three names – Conner, Risa and Lev – together. Their paths cross each others’ because they are “The Unwinds” and they have to fight really hard to remain alive, to remain whole as themselves and not just as “the remaining” of themselves as a part of somebody else. During this time, when humans themselves have become the monsters, how can all these youngsters fight for their own survival?

I rarely read a book that truly horrifies me but it seems like Unwind managed to do just that. Concisely and vividly written, Shusterman creates a world close to our own, completes with realistic, complicated and well-developed characters. It doesn’t take long for one to start feeling for these young kids, understand their suffering, thinking about how those they love and trust can betray them in such unthinkable way. This book definitely horrifies me in a very different aspect since it doesn’t really filled with any gory details about some of these chilling events stated in it. Though the parts that have been left unsaid by the author are the portions that frighten me most since they make my mind wanders, imagining the most daunting things that could possibly be happening to these kids. There is not many books that can give such effect to me and this signify how excellent this book really is.

Unwind is a book that touches numerous critical issues - from abortion to organ transplantation, legal issues to religion aspects – but Shusterman fiddles with these issues with such implicit manners till one might not notice how heavy this book really is until they take time to think deeply about it. Saying that this book is an “enjoyable” read would definitely be a lie but the messages and knowledge that was cramped into these 352 pages really make everything worthwhile. Written by an author with such a deviant imagination, Unwind is definitely a phenomenal, thought-provoking book that should not be missed.

Memorable Quote: I was never going to amount to much anyway... but now, statistically speaking, there's a better chance that some part of me will go on to greatness somewhere in the world. I'd rather be partly great than entirely useless - Samson (One of the Unwinds)

A book about humanity, about morale and about survival when your own life is at stake. Such an incredible, powerful read that will stay with you for a very long time. And definitely a book that will trigger a question in your head and keep you thinking for a long, long time. 

Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts

Title: Honest Illusions
Author: Nora Roberts
Series: Stand alone 
Source: Borrowed from friend
Format: Paperback
Pages: 492 Pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Overall Rating:

Synopsis (from author's site):

The daughter of a world-renowned magician, Roxy Nouvelle has inherited her father’s talents—and also his skill in an activity that he thought he managed to keep hidden from her. Into this colorful world comes Luke Callahan, an escape artist who captures Roxy’s heart—and keeps secrets that could shatter all her illusions.

First Paragraph: The Lady Vanishes. It was an old illusion, given a modern twist, and never failed to leave the audience gasping. The glittery crowd at Radio City was as eager to be duped as a group of slack jawed at a dog and pony show. 

My Review: Life is hard for the 12-year-old Luke Callahan. In his attempt to safe himself from the hell he calls home, he is force to be a runaway, live on the street, earning money through pick pocketing. His life takes an unexpected turn one day when he meets Max Nouvelle, a magician, who breathes life into his world: takes him in, loves him like his own son, teaches him to be his apprentice and eventually shares his hidden secret with him. With Max as his father, Lily as his loving mother and Roxy as a lovely yet snarky sister, Luke feels like he has everything he ever wanted.

As he grows older, the feeling Luke has for Roxy grows stronger, making him feels guilty, as Roxy is practically his sister. However, when Roxy makes her sudden moves, the romance buds immediately. Their happiness doesn’t last forever as the ghosts from Luke’s past creeps into his world again; forcing him to vanish in order to protect the family he comes to love. What would Luke do when he realises that he needs to stand up to claim back what he has missed and wins back the woman he loves? Will Roxy ever forgives Luke for leaving her behind at the time she needs him most? What is the real mystery behind Luke’s disappearance?

Reading through Honest Illusions is like munching a bunch of chocolate that you can’t have enough of. Written in a time progression manner, where the story travels from one period of characters’ lives to another, Honest Illusions is definitely one of the best romance novels I’ve ever read. Fluidly written, the author seems to be a master in weaving the events in the past with what happens in the present, leaving readers with no unanswered questions and complete satisfaction. The strength in this book lies in its beautiful prose, along with interesting, multilayered characters and also the structure of the story itself. Huge part of the Honest Illusions consists of what happen in the past, allowing readers to thoroughly understand what really happen to the main characters, what makes them who they are and why they act in certain ways.

The characters created by Roberts in this book are real and well balanced. Luke, for instance, is a good looking, well-behaved, strong and stubborn character, but at the same time, he is actually an extremely vulnerable person. His past shapes him that way and this can’t be shaken off by simply moves on. Roxy, on the other hand, is a delicate, beautiful and soft character but she also has strong traits in her that keeps her standing when she faces difficult situations. All these make Honest Illusions an extremely delightful read.

A story about true love between lovers, true love among family members and about trust and acceptance, Honest Illusions is indeed a kind of book that must be read by those who enjoy contemporary romance. I enjoyed it great and is definitely one of the books that I’ll re-read in the future.

Final Verdict: With its beautiful, lyrical prose, Honest Illusions is a meaningful and beautiful book with its own capability to make you laugh, cry and sigh at one time or another. This is the kind of book that will  captivate and pull you in before you realise it.

Memorable Quote: He [Luke] makes me remember not to forget. If you forget all the pain, the loneliness, the despair, you forget to be grateful for the lack of it - Maximillian "Max" Nouvelle

Seers of Light by Jennifer DeLucy

Title: Seers of Light
Author: Jennifer DeLucy
Series: Light Series #1
Source: from Omnific Publishing
Format: Paperback
Genre: Speculative - Paranormal Romance

Synopsis (from book cover):

Lilian Hunt has never truly lived. Always sensing more to the world than is easily perceived, she fears that her instincts are stubborn flights of fancy, or worse, mental instability. But some things—disappearing strangers, tangible dreams, and visits from malevolent creatures—cannot be ignored. Before it's too late, Lillian is ripped from the only existence she’s ever known and thrust into a reality that she always suspected, but could scarcely believe. She must learn the truth about who she is, the powerful beings that wish to destroy her, and the two men who would die to protect her.

Being different is something that Lillian Hunt has gotten used to for her entire life. Growing up in the hands of her grandparents after her mother left and her father passed away, Lily often finds herself having trouble fitting in and socializing with those of her own age. However, when her dreams start becoming too real and she sees and hears things that are not really there, she begins to worry that she has indeed growing insane.

Everything changes when she suddenly encounters a danger during a walk in the wood and is saved by a young man, Christian, who later tells her that she is more than she leads herself to believe. She is then trusted into a world she never knows exist, world that previously belongs to her mother, the world where Sentients – gifted humans with special talents – exist to control the supernatural beings and help keeping the balance in the world. As Lily is apart of this Sentient’s world, she also has her own power that she must learn to control and use at certain circumstances. What sort of endowment that Lily possessed and how does the new community of Sentients that takes her in helps her to learn the power that she only now finds out she has all along?

Debut author, Jennifer DeLucy, has successfully created a very interesting, intense and well thought-out world that is similar to our own though filled with supernatural beings and humans with supernatural abilities. Seers of Light is indeed an intensifying read that takes me by surprise and completely blows my mind away. It starts off rather slow at first but the story builds up quickly after the background has been established. Another aspect of Seers of Light that startles me is the fact that it is dialogue-driven, which is something I’m not completely used to before. It is distracting at first but nonetheless; it tremendously helps in picturing the development and chemistry between characters a lot better.

Another interesting part of Seers of Light is its characters. There are quite a lot of them in this book and it is surprising to see that each and every one of them is multidimensional and has their own important, distinct and unique roles. Among them all, I feel that the most important characters are: (1) Lily – a likeable and practical character that knows what she wants and is able to handle any hardship that happens in her life, (2) Christian – the “Combatant” that rescued Lily in the wood is a very emotional character but there are reasons as to why he behaves that way and (3) William – a mysterious, attractive and interesting character that feels like he has no where in the world that he could fit in. It is very interesting to see the development of these three characters and the connection between them as the story goes on.

DeLucy has indeed created a novel that rich with terrifying mystery and astounding storyline, weaves with delicious, intricate romance. The ending of this book gives closure to readers while at the same time, opens the door to possible sequel, which I hope will be released in near future. All I can say about this novel is: I.Need.More!

Favourite Quote: Taking a step forward, I stood in the light, tilted my head back and closed my eyes. It held my face and wrapped its arms around my shoulders, and for the very first time, I let hope in – Lily Hunt

Enchanting and utterly refreshing, Seers of Light is indeed a must read especially to those who love paranormal romance. I don't think I've come across book such as this one before. Definitely an original read that I highly recommended!