Book Review: Inheritance by Malinda Lo. (Adaptation #2)

Inheritance by Malinda Lo.
(Adaptation #2)
Book Summary: The triangular spaceship hovered motionless in the sky above Reese Holloway’s house, as inscrutable as a black hole. It had seemed like a good idea when they were inside: to tell the truth about what happened to them at Area 51. It didn’t seem like such a good idea now.

Reese and David are not normal teens—not since they were adapted with alien DNA by the Imria, an extraterrestrial race that has been secretly visiting Earth for decades. Now everyone is trying to get to them: the government, the Imria, and a mysterious corporation that would do anything for the upper hand against the aliens.

Beyond the web of conspiracies, Reese can’t reconcile her love for David with her feelings for her ex-girlfriend Amber, an Imrian. But her choice between two worlds will play a critical role in determining the future of humanity, the Imria’s place in it, and the inheritance she and David will bring to the universe.

In this gripping sequel to Adaptation, Malinda Lo brings a thoughtful exploration of adolescence, sexuality, and “the other” to a science fiction thriller that is impossible to put down.

Liana's Summary: Reese has been trying to hide from the press ever since she and David were about to tell the complete truth. They're bombarding her with questions! As if Reese didn't have enough problems, she's trapped between Amber and David. She likes David, yes. He's cute, and nice. But what about Amber? Can she work this whole thing out? Before both of them turn away?

Rate(1-10): 8

Let me just thank Cynthia right here and right now for letting me borrow her ARC. LOL. 

I think this was a fairly well-written sequel. Adaptation is the kind of book that you know will have a sequel-- after all, the ending.

There were a few things that I liked and disliked about this book.

I disliked:
-Reese's indecision between Amber and David. I mean, really. It's a love triangle and all but it's kind of obv. who she should stay with.

-Plot pacing. It was a little too slow for me, but it was okay.

-Julian's pressure towards Reese about her bisexuality. He was being a little too pressuring about Reese coming out. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that, but honestly, I think it sort of increased her bias towards Amber.

-How the racism of Chinese people was focused. I think Malinda was trying to show that people were assholes that made fun of Chinese people for no reason, but really? I know there's racism here and there, but oh-ho, in this book, it was like FOCUSED. Like a focus in a frickin' conic section. And this whole setting is in the future, too. Even if two years in the future. The racism shouldn't be that strong.

I liked:

-The whole, general, sci-fi thing. It's cool. After you read Adaptation, Malinda will definitely have you believing in conspiracies.

-Those twists and turns. Just wow.

-The ending. I don't think there's gonna be a third book, though.

-How the topic of bisexuality isn't focused, but still focused. Get what I mean? Like, usually, when authors write about homo, or bisexuality, they make it a BIG deal. Malinda Lo, though, added bisexuality like how it really is in the real world right now-- no big deal, love who you want to love. 

Malinda Lo's a great sci-fi author. Definitely give Inheritance a try if you liked Adaptation!

Quotes
Note: Since this is an ARC copy, quotes may not match those of the final print's.

"No. You're not invited in."

And this is why I love Ms. Sheridan

"..desperate enough to hook up with a Chinese guy."

Well ex-cayuuuuuuse me, what's wrong with being Chinese?

"The thing is, if there is something romantic going on, it's absolutely to your advantage."

Hunger Games..

"Or maybe she simply still wanted Amber."

Oh lord -facedesk-

"And she did want him."

Well you can't want both of them at the same time

"Don't you trust me?"

No.

"You need to figure that part out."

SO MEAN

"If you want to date us both, we can try."

Oh God

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Book Review: Undone by Elizabeth Norris. (Unraveling #1.5)

Undone by Elizabeth Norris. (Unraveling 1.5)
Book Summary: Before the accident. Before their universes collided. Before they fell in love.

Riveting and romantic, Undone: An Unraveling Novella contains three short stories set in the world of Unraveling, the first book in the gripping sci-fi duology by Elizabeth Norris.

Before Ben Michaels saved Janelle Tenner’s life, Janelle saved Ben when he stumbled through an interuniverse portal into a completely new world. That day, he fell in love with the girl of his dreams. And he never forgot her.

Through three stories told from Ben’s point of view, learn how Ben and his friends discovered their ability to travel between worlds, how Ben first met Janelle, and how he pined for her for years before he actually got the chance to meet her, save her life, and capture her heart. And find out what happens to Ben between the cliff-hanger conclusion to Unraveling and the beginning of its heart-stopping sequel, Unbreakable.

Liana's Summary: Before Ben saved her, when he saved her, and after he saved her. Janelle's not the only one who narrates their story-- Ben has his own part to tell. Elizabeth Norris writes a thrilling novella of the Unraveling series, a contemporary story with a delightful twist of science fiction and a taste of multiverses.

Rate(1-10): 9

I think this novella was pretty good, actually, and it answers a lot of questions, or, should I say, clarifies a lot of things.

I just love novellas with a burning passion, LOL. i don't even know

UNDONE was all in Ben's point of view, and he is, in fact, a very good narrator. (Or it's just Elizabeth Norris's writing showing its talent)..

This series is definitely worth reading, give it a try! And don't miss out on this novella~

Book Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis.
Book Summary: A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder. 

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Liana's Summary: Amy had to choose. To leave her home with her parents, or stay-- but without her parents. Of course she went with them. She wakes up to find herself aboard a spaceshift with curiously strange people and a fake sun, fake rain, and a leader-- a tyrant. Eldest. When she meets Elder, the Eldest-to-be, everything goes for a turn.

Rate(1-10): 8

There were two reasons that I read this book:
-Looking forward to read the rest of the series. Heard Shades of Earth was really good!
-People were raving about it, and I'm just like, oh..

And that's it..

There were many things that I liked and didn't like about this book. 

I liked:
-Beth Revis's science-fiction-ness. It's been a while since I'd read a sci-fi. 
-Her writing. The author just sort of captivates you with her writing and she sort of pours her emotion into it, and we can really tell if it's Amy or Elder that's talking.
-The whole general plot. There were a fair amount of twists, and in my opinion, I think they were all very well organized.
-Harley. LOL. He was the only character that I actually liked..

I disliked:
-Amy. She's annoying and her attitude stinks. 
-Elder. He's clingy and annoying. Just a bit insecure but I don't dislike him for that-- in fact, I appreciate his insecurity because it makes him a bit more realistic than the standard confident, hot, fictional cocky guys..
-Their names. WHY AMY AND WHY ELDER JUST--
-The romance. It was all too fast for me. I don't think that Amy really fell for him as much as Elder fell for her, but....... oh well.

That's really just it. I hope the romance develops a little more in the next two books, because I am definitely planning to finish this trilogy sometime soon!

Quotes~

"..frexing chance.."

Frex.. what an interesting word..

"..is a girl."

Is this where the plot starts

"She is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.."

Uh huh okay Elder let's get back to the plot

"..drift back to her breasts.."

I knew he wasn't looking at her face..

"I can't let myself think about Jason."

STOP TALKING ABOUT JASON DAMMIT

"You're beautiful..."

-cough- youmeanherboobsare -cough-

"..and all I want to do is seize her, crush her against me, feel her lips with mine."

Just stop

"..there is nothing between us at all."

Yay.

"Whoever this Jason is, I want to kill him."

this is why I dislike Elder

"That's all, I tell myself, that's all."

NO IT'S NOT FREXING 'ALL' YOU STUPID BITCH DON'T DO IT

"Flip the switch."

SOMEONE THROW THIS BITCH INTO THE STARS BEFORE SHE DOES SOMETHING


"But I can smash it."

I'm done with her

"I can't take his dream away."

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT! HAH!

"What is it?"

SHUT UP OMG.

"I won't let them hate me."

-FACEDESK- THEY'RE NOT GONNA HATE YOU

"..that's what Jason would have done,.."

stop it omg

"..where I met Jason.."

no one gives a frexing frex about Jason so stop

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Book Review: Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris. (Unraveling #2)

Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris.
(Unraveling #2)
Book Summary: Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

Liana's Summary: Janelle still remembers the look on Ben's face when he told her that he loved her. She still remembers the way he said he would come back for her. She's still waiting. She doesn't hear from Ben, and she doesn't hear anything about him at all until Taylor Barclay shows up on her doorstep begging her for help-- and the whole thing has to do with the one and only boy she fell in love with.

Rate(1-10): 9

I think, that after reading the ending of Unraveling, many readers would want to read Unbreakable. Me? I'm one of those readers, LOL. (Bet you didn't expect that.)

I'm loving this series so far, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. 

So, this whole multiverse thing is really cool, and I think Unraveling is the only book that I've read with a multiverse.. SO FAR. 

Well, if you haven't read Unraveling, don't read this review, and if you'd like to, then please read my review for Unraveling first. Because if you don't then I don't think this review would make much sense.

When I cracked open this book, I think my initial thought was GET ON WITH THE PLOT ALREADY! Mainly because my definition of 'plot' happening is Ben coming in and kissing Janelle to death and then taking her to live happily ever after. But of course, things don't just happen like that. The romance between Ben and Janelle is still there, definitely, but somehow I think that little misunderstanding there got a little weird. Also, Janelle was fairly annoying in this book. I just couldn't help but roll my eyes at her..

Elizabeth Norris is a very good writer and she's got this plot very well organized.. except she made us wait FOREVER for Ben to come in! So many false alarms.. Really, I have nothing else to say! Except-- if there's any reason to read this book, it's Barclay! Man, I love that guy now! All I really had to say about Norris's writing style and characters and plot twists were included in the review for the first book.

Let's go on to the quotes..

"The wavy hair, the dark eyes, the self-conscious half smile."


OH
MY
GOD


"This guy isn't my Ben at all."


Wow merde


"It's Cecily."


-gasp- -choke- -gasp-


"Because they've found us."


This is just like series of unfortunate events


"Because I see him."


Can I just scream now


"..is a girl."



Aw Ben don't be a manwhore


"We can't be together."


Janelle's such a cockblock


"..fix whatever is broken between us."


that you broke -cough cough-


"Janelle, you're my home."



AWWW THIS IS SO CUTE I CAN'T
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Book Review: Adaptation by Malinda Lo.

Adaptation by Malinda Lo.
Book Summary: Reese can’t remember anything from the time between the accident and the day she woke up almost a month later. She only knows one thing: She’s different now.

Across North America, flocks of birds hurl themselves into airplanes, causing at least a dozen to crash. Thousands of people die. Fearing terrorism, the United States government grounds all flights, and millions of travelers are stranded.

Reese and her debate team partner and longtime crush David are in Arizona when it happens. Everyone knows the world will never be the same. On their drive home to San Francisco, along a stretch of empty highway at night in the middle of Nevada, a bird flies into their headlights. The car flips over. When they wake up in a military hospital, the doctor won’t tell them what happened, where they are—or how they’ve been miraculously healed.

Things become even stranger when Reese returns home. San Francisco feels like a different place with police enforcing curfew, hazmat teams collecting dead birds, and a strange presence that seems to be following her. When Reese unexpectedly collides with the beautiful Amber Gray, her search for the truth is forced in an entirely new direction—and threatens to expose a vast global conspiracy that the government has worked for decades to keep secret.

Liana's Summary: Reese and David are in a tragic accident, and when they both wake up, they realize that they're different now. Different how? They don't exactly know. All throughout North America, there are deaths, all caused by birds. But why birds? When Reese meets Amber Gray, things go for a twist. Reese finds out the truth-- and is horrified by it. What can she do?

Rate(1-10): 8.5

I've been meaning to read this book for quite a while, and I think I only picked this up now because I'm about to meet the author soon.. LOL. Other than that, I mean, the cover and title are just amazing! The synopsis had me rolling my eyes at the words 'longtime crush,' though because I didn't want to read about some weak girl's crush.And no, it was not a disappointment at all and her 'crush' gosh i just hate that wordwasn't really a big part of this book. Although David was. 

So, the title. I didn't really understand the title at all until, like, 3/4 into the book. But that was fine because the moment of realization was just shocking. Speaking of moments of realization, there were quite a lot. There were plot twists and turns and things just got to a level where a reader would have never expected.

Malinda Lo writes with a surprising grace that keeps the reader reading the whole entire time, and she created a main character that's pretty realistic. Actually, Reese, the protagonist, reminds me a lot of myself. For a lot of reasons. Insecure, self-questioning, impatient, and absolutely REFUSING to 'like' someone. Reese reacted to things the way I would have reacted to things in her position, and that sort of helped with the foreshadowing a bit. At first I thought she was one of those innocent, idk-what-I'm-doing characters, the stereotypical feminine ones that you always imagine with their eyebrows raised in helplessness. But then I realized her attitude had an edge and she was somewhat annoying.. like me!

This was an enjoyable, fast-paced read with a great protagonist. I greatly appreciated the bisexuality in this story, too! It was original, and I like how it isn't labeled a 'bisexual book'. I'd  like to read the second book!

Quotes~

"Never underestimate the Chinese. We're everywhere."

That's kinda true omg. We ARE everywhere. LOL.

"...his mouth was slightly crooked when he smiled.."

ehehehe he cute he cute i approve

"At the counter, Reese set down two granola bars, a large bag of Doritos, a Diet Coke, and a bottle of water."

Is she that hungry gosh

"Maybe other girls liked that nervous, fluttery feeling in their stomachs, but she hated it. It made her feel out of control."

It's ok Reese I hate it too

"I'm straight,"

Riiiiiiiiiight

"I don't think you're straight,"

Okay Amber okay

"Someday you're gonna meet some guy and he's gonna change your mind."

some 'guy'

"I don't know your last name."

And she decides to ask her now

"..he can love more than one woman at a time."

I am mildly disgusted

"..was on her butt."

I maybe laughed a little harder than necessary at this

"Hi,"

bye

"..his mouth skimmed over hers."

omfg AWWW

"Reese's least favorite activity in the world was waiting."

can we get any more alike
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Book Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.
Book Summary: Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books - but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

Liana's Summary: The first three are dead. John is Number Four. He knows he's next. But there's nothing to do but run. Henri takes John to Ohio, where John unexpectedly falls in love and makes a best friend, refusing to leave. But Henri is insistent. However, John can get his way. As his Legacies develop, so does John's exhilaration..

Rate(1-10): 8

So, my friend was fangirling really hard about this book. (Yeah, you, Ivy. LOL) And of course, I decided that I needed to give this a try. I've been meaning to read this for 11 months already. Don't know why I didn't pick it up earlier..

Before I read it, I knew it was some sort of action-y, fantasy-ish, *vague arm motion* sorta thing. Mainly because of Ivy because she always reads these kinds of books It's actually like this fantasy-ish, multiverse-ish, thing. Pretty cool when you think about it. The whole setting is sort of like the setting in Elizabeth Norris's UNRAVELING. You find out what Lorien Legacies are when you read the book. I'd tell you, but since I found out for myself, I guess it's only fair that you do, too.

I don't know if it's my foreshadowing skills getting tougher, or what, but I was laughing when this one character died--- even though it was supposedly sad, but I was just laughing because I KNEW IT. I knew he was a goner when he first got introduced to the book! Inside, I'm happy that my foreshadowing abilities have developed this far. Maybe I'm an alien...

Anyways, character discussions!

John- He's a fairly likable protagonist. Realistic at times and unrealistic at other times, not counting the magical legacy parts. Or maybe I just don't know what I'm talking about. Yeah, likable main character.

Henri- He's like an overprotective father. I guess. He can be a little pushy sometimes and he's not stern at all. If the book didn't say that he was John's elder, everyone would have thought that they were siblings. 

Sam- I like how John made a friend that was willing to risk a lot. Sam is pretty cool. The story would have done fine BUT without Sam, I think John would have been different.

Sarah- I don't really like Sarah. I mean, she makes the romance happen but is she really a necessary character? She's like a damsel in distress. It's kind of annoying when you think about it. She's a really nice girl, but helpless and just, ugh.
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Overall, this book was pretty good (finished in one sitting and I didn't even need a bookmark), and I can't wait to pick up the next book.

"Four."


Am I the only one that thought of Tobias Eaton

"..but I'm so flustered by her smile that I don't."


oh my god I hate this already

"She looks radiant again today.."


Yeah we get it, John, you absolutely adore her

"Watch your language,"


I wasn't aware 'balls' was a bad word

"I believe you,"




"Blood rushes to my face and my shoulders stiffen."


omg so done 

"She's just a girl."


Exactly.

"...pirate heads.."



I don't like sharing a mascot with this rotten school LOL

"I thought skinny kids are supposed to be fast."



That is just an insult because my mile time is three minutes more than 9:44 omg

"Right, these huge muscles."


I just don't like this sort of romance.

"...wearing his letterman jacket.."


When is he not wearing his letterman jacket omfg

"Did you know the world is supposed to end on December 21, 2012?"


HA HAHAHAHAHAA.

"I pull on a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt over two T-shirts,....."


What dang omg
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Book Review: Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris.

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris.
Book Summary: Sixteen-year-old Janelle Tenner is used to having a lot of responsibility. She balances working as a lifeguard in San Diego with an intense academic schedule. Janelle's mother is bipolar, and her dad is a workaholic FBI agent, which means Janelle also has to look out for her younger brother, Jared.

And that was before she died...and is brought back to life by Ben Michaels, a mysterious, alluring loner from her high school. When she discovers a strange clock that seems to be counting down to the earth's destruction, Janelle learns she has twenty-four days to figure out how to stop the clock and save the planet.

Liana's Summary: Janelle Tenner dies in a tragic accident-- she feels herself dying. But the next thing she knows, she wakes up and is staring into the face of Ben Michaels, a kid that she's never even talked to. Somehow, she knows, that he has saved her life. And she's determined to find out how. When she confronts him, he is all but comfortable about telling her. As truth after truth is uncovered, Janelle realizes that the world is about to end. And she needs to find a way to stop it. Even if it means splitting up with the one she loves.

Rate(1-10): 8.5

So this is what all the buzz is about. For a long while now, I've been getting..
"Have you read Unraveling?"
"Unraveling is awesome!"
"It's a great book!"

I liked this book lots.

At first sight, I would have assumed that this was a dystopian book, but I guess not. I was sort of relieved that the book started out on a beach with normal, contemporary teenage stuff. (Which just means I need to pick up a good contemporary book pretty soon.) But then it started escalating. I liked the whole apocalypse and multiverse thing with the world ending. This might as well be considered a speculation of the supposedly end-of-the-world thing in December 2012. But definitely more interesting.

The plot had many twists, which were absolutely amazing. The author writes with this grace (it's a debut novel too!) that keeps the readers on the edges of their seats the whole time. The plot was very well organized.

I'll just jump right into character discussions.

Janelle- She's a good protagonist. She's been through a bit of character development and I feel like she's become more jaded somehow. She's definitely responsible, and that's definitely what I like most about her.

Ben- He's a great guy although I was annoyed about his secrets. But even still, he turned out to be caring and surprisingly honest. He blames himself for things that aren't really his fault. Sweet guy.

Alex- The 'guy best friend' of this story, Alex is freaking amazing. Although his persistent denial was somewhat irritating. 

Jared- I can't help but think of Jeremy from The Vampire Diaries when it comes to Jared. I mean, besides the fact that both their names start with J. They're both the little brothers that go, "I'm responsible and old enough to be part of this dangerous thing you're hurling yourself into" and they just make things sort of worse. I liked Jared, though. 

That's all I really have to say!

Quotes!

"..and he's wearing a blue collared shirt and a gray V-neck sweater,.."

That's hot

"Book club,"

I just love it when a guy loves to read

"I'm half-Asian!"

I don't know if I'm supposed to be offended at this stereotype

"Is this the kind of bike Ben works on?"

LOL she could at least try to look less interested

"How often does Ben work here?"

sooo eager

"..how will I ever leave you?"

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