The Iron King - Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey #1)

*4 stars*

For a change, I wanted to try something different from vampires, aliens or werewolves. So why no Fairies? I've only read Fairy Fantasy once before, so it's rather empty landscape for me.As a bonus, the cover was absolutely magnificent, drawing me like a moth to the flame.

While about one third of the book, I started to have my doubts. I know a good book needs time to develop, but, when will we get anywhere? was my constant question. Petty distractions kept happening and filling the pages with pretty nothingness.

Once Ash came into the view it got much more interesting. Megans and Ashes relationship, condemned from the start, was strangely attractive.  My favorite scene was when it first started to Rain in the Iron Fey land. Ash held Meghan and retold his memories. It was sweet and really touching.

Grimalkin, Cat Sith, was one of my favorite characters. He so reminded me of my cat! The superior attitude, constant licking and cleaning, random disappearances. And the best, the all conclusive explanation to every worry in the world, "I'm a cat!" *Sigh* I wish my cat could talk.

Halfway to the Grave - Jeaniene Frost (Night Huntress #1)

*3 stars*

Not the most gripping book out there, but I must say I liked it. Not all books can be devoured through, it gets tiring.

I read it about 4 chapters at a time. I liked the fiery characters of both Cat and Bones, but that was almost all that there was. The plot wasn't overly complicated or difficult to figure out. Just enough to keep me going.

The biggest flaw for me were the one dimensional characters. I didn't feel they had their own stories... Reading about jealousy and coping with developing feelings is also fun, but not if the whole book delves around it!

What I really liked was how the author portrayed the vampires. I loved the green glowing eyes! All the other supernatural abilities were already familiar. Porcelain skin, speed and strength.

It was fun for the first couple of hundred of pages and then somewhere around chapters 20 and 25 I got so incredibly frustrated with Cat! It was her indecisiveness. I love him, I don't etc. I did love Timmie. Watching him almost wet himself every time Bones appeared was hilarious. Can't say I blame the poor guy. Bones was rather territorial.

Flowers in the Attic - V.C.Andrews (Dollanganger #1)

*5 stars*

I really just stumbled on this book by accident and wow! It must the one of the most fascinating stories I've read this past year. It has been already two weeks since I first finished it and yet all the characters are vivid and alive before my eyes. It made me think. To put the book down and really think.

I had so many favorite parts I remember clearly even after two weeks that  I don't even know where to start! I loved it! It was amazing!

Flowers in the Attic wasn't typical YA with laugh out moments, it was haunting. After a little research about the book, I discovered it had been pretty famous at time. I must have missed it, I had never even heard about the author. I found a lot of critique and nitpicking about the writing, but really? I was so consumed by the emotions I hardly noticed!

First I was mesmerised by the synopsis. The idea of a loving mother locking her darling children up to the attic and the struggles the kids had to go through to maintain mental and physical health as well as be parents to their little siblings and raising them. It was terrible and absolutely mesmerising.

Obsidian - Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #1)

*4.5 stars*

Hello again!
This time I decided to pick up J.L.Armentrouts "Obsidian", the first in Lux series. Once again in paranormal YA genres. What makes it surprising pick for me, is that firstly, it's about aliens. I don't like aliens. Quoting Kat, they're meant to be slimy and green. Vampires and werewolves are as far as I go, I've never been a big fan of sci-fi. However, there has been a lot of talk about it recently, and it piqued my interest. Secondly, I generally try to avoid series not complete yet. The wait is a killer! Keeping it all in mind, I still went on and read it.

At the beginning it reminded me of Twilight. I can't but my finger on it. Something about Kats character - the unnoticeable, a bit clumsy and not overly beautiful girl, moving from big city into a really small town. Then there's Daemon - a hotty with an unreasonable grudge against Kat. The air is thick with sexual tension. BlaBla. However the moment Kat looked Dameon with terror in her eyes, asking if he'd start sparkling I was won over 100%. Go Kat!

The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians book 1)

I really yearned to read a good, SINGULAR book - the start and an ending securely between the covers. The wait between and the cliffhangers are according to previous experience just slow and painful death However, books getting popular in last couple of years seem all to be series. It'd be all good and I do love reading, but the more riskier it is for the author and as well for the reader. The skill to keep the us interested is I think the hardest to accomplish. I hate picking up a series, loving and adoring it to bits only to be totally crushed and disappointed in the end - Hunger Games, I look at you!

But on to the book. I was rather excited about the idea of Greek gods walking around in our modern world and the mortals living blissfully happy and oblivious in their own lives. Making America the center of Western Civilization made me cringe for a minute. Of all the places, really? But in order for the action to take place in the States, OK, I let it go. And I must say, it really was not that ridiculous as the idea might sound. The author really has a way of reasoning. Like the use of dyslexia, to cover up the inability to read anything but ancient Greek fluently. Genius!

I'm also a sucker for a innocent lonely heroes. The scene beside the river, the grand discovery of Percys father and the reactions of the other cabins and Cyron... I loved it! It made me shiver.

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #1)

*5stars*

I didn't even wan't to read this book. On Goodreads there was an awful lot of negative critizism. But, which book doesn't, right? What got me reading were the quotes actually. Quirky and funny, if the whole book were like this... 

“That's why when major badasses greet each other in movies, they don't say anything, they just nod. The nod means, 'I' am a badass, and I recognize that you, too, are a badass,' but they don't say anything because they're Wolverine and Magneto and it would mess up their vibe to explain.”

It kinda was. I mean I was maddly giggling on my bed, listening an audiobook, at 3 A.M. Seriously? I don't even remember, which book last managed to make me laugh that much.

Jace was a perfect match  between a villain and a hero. He didn't go around raping the girl he confessed to be maddly in love with, like so much dark heros tend to think equals ultimate love. He was the type of guy who burning down your house and laughing still managed to look tender and romantic. And Clary? I loved her as well. She didn't whine about wanting both of the guys. She made her choices (indeed, back and fort, but anyway) and she lived with it. And the famous second lead! Simon, I luff you as well!!! Behind a whimpy kid there's an actual character. An actual story that was interesting! And the best side character, Magnus. I think I died laughing.

“Magnus, standing by the door, snapped his fingers impatiently. "Move it along, teenagers. The only person who gets to canoodle in my bedroom is my magnificent self."
"Canoodle?" repeated Clary, never having heard the word before.
"Magnificent?" repeated Jace, who was just being nasty."

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

 *2stars*

To write this review,I waited for a couple of days to pass, so I would be able to say someting at least moderately nice and all I could muster up is - What the hell just happened?

I mean, at first I was reading a totally amazing book and then in some point it turned out to be a most horrible and lame endings ever. I just can't express my disappointment in the latter half of the book. I enjoyed the first two books, loved them and now.... I just feel empty. WHYYY? There was so much potential, so much to love. *sigh*

I don't even want to waste my time, to give the book a lenghty review. I'd just end up cussing... However, I remember the feelings I had while reading the first two books and in the end, I guess it was worth it. I'll just have to pretend that the last book never happened.

Currently reading: City of Bones- Cassandra Clare

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

*4.5stars*

I finally finished the second book in The Hunger Game series and all I can say is, it's breathtaking!
I was listening to an audibook, and at the other half of the book I was just clinging to my headphones for dear life!

I loved the idea of them going back to the arena again. The moments of public unity and rebellion made me clutch my poor iPod tighter. Shivers ran down my spine, listening about the news about upsrisings and the idea of President Snow gnashing his teeth somewhere made me want to yell hooray in the middle of a bus!

The first half was somewhat slower. In times, Katnisses indescisiveness drove me crazy! Once she wanted Gale, then again Peeta. She clung to both of them, yet all the time reminding us, she won't accept neither of them.

I loved all the characters. Cinna was my personal favourite. It made me wonder, what his story was. I have a feeling, we might see him again in the 3rd book. The brute, Haymich. The sarcasm laced into his character makes him almost my 2nd favourite. How he manages to hide his sharp mind behind the drunkeness. Surprisingly, Plutarch Heavensbee is another character whom I seriously like!

The cliffhanger would have been the end of me hadn't the third book been out already. It was perfect! There were slower parts, which I might have done without, but it's amazing, how after such a magnificent first book, she manages almost as stunnig sequel!


On to the third and last book in the series - Mockingjay!

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife : Pride and Prejudice Continues - Linda Berdoll

*1star*

The writing is bad. Very bad. The sentences are ridiculously long, pointlessly long words used. Something like"betwixt"is at first laughable, but seeing it on every page becomes tiring and outright aggrivating. I mean, "..he kissed her betwixt the shoulders..." Seriously? Like one of the reviewers brought out, I can't help but to wonder did she even bother to check the definitions or blindly trusted her Thesaurus?

Her ideas are slightly better, than her sentences. Through the mist of messy sentences, parts still managed to make me smirk. It feels like by accident, she manages to come up with rather humorous and in-character moments: "Bingley bounded from his seat, hand outstretched to Darcy, "I say, Darcy, come sit by the fire or you shall catch your death!" (Mrs. Bennet would have been very alarmed. Were three days enough time to take pneumonia and die?)."

I hate leaving a book unfinished, but reading it was painful. I skipped dozens of pages and cringed at others, before at page of 75 I abandoned all hope. Nothing. Ever. Happens.
I recommend it to no one!. At times she managed to somewhat replicate Austens style, but most of the book was just miserable. After a horrible start it's bearable for awhile, yet in all, it's utter ridiculousness. Absolutely out of character and dear Ms.Austen would turn in grave upon seeing the destiny of her characters.

Don't waste your time. It's not worth it.

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

*5stars*

Oh. Wow.
I just finished with the first book in The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. And even though I was listening to an audiobook I have to say the experience was breathtaking. It took me just two days to finish.

I picked up the book somewhat reluctantly. Bestsellers often tend to be too overrated and end up disappointing me. The beginning was nice, but nothing extraordinary. A rebellious girl trying to maintain and support her family after her fathers death. With her best friend she hunts in the forbidden woods etc.
And then, boom! The Reaping Day and on the the Capital and the Hunger Games. The readers are swiftly swept into a totally mesmerising and twisted world of the rich and poor. What is the right thing to do? The game over life and death in portrayed on the border of game and reality, keeping the readers totally captivated.

One of the issues I had while reading was the character of Katniss. She turned out to be quite an egoistic one, instead of the nobody-cares-about-me-and-doesn’t-even-know-I-exist type introduced to us in the beginning. The constant reminder of how everybody is watching her and “I’m definitely on the screen” kind of attitude tired me pretty soon.
Also, I would have loved to see more of Gale and Cinna - two of my instant favorite characters. Peeta was very sweet, but that’s kinda all there was. I see, why the overall romance was importad, yet still, I would have done better with less of it.

Still, the whole book was breathtaking. In some point I discovered myself gasping for air in the bus, while listening to the audiobook, sadly it doesn't happen often. Definitely recommend it to anyone up to a good action

Now, can't wait to get on the book two - Catching Fire.