Megan Rambles About The Daughter Of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

From Goodreads: Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

This book is just so COOL. I loved it, because it was so different from anything else I've read. Usually when you read a book in English, the characters are speaking English too. The characters in Daughter of Smoke and Bone spend the entire book speaking to each other in different languages. It was cool to know that while I was reading it in English, their conversations were in Czech or another language.

Plus, the names in this book were so epic! I mean Karou and Akiva aren't names you hear every day. I loved that the characters were so unique and their names weren't shared with some other character in another book. The entire world that they lived in was just as unique too. While it took some getting used to, after about 20 pages, I was completely hooked.

Now let's pause for a moment to talk about the bad ass main character! Karou was so completely awesome! I mean, she's covered in tattoos, speaks a ton of different languages including some that aren't spoken by humans, and her hair grows out of her head blue! And she's really good at drawing, which is a skill I've always wished I had. Even though her life obviously has its complications, I found myself wishing that I could be her! She just kicks ass!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone was filled with amazing characters,  and an even more outstanding world. It was such a unique read that kept me guessing the entire time. The ending was such a surprise it left me gasping for air. My only major complaint about this book? I need more! You can expect me to be getting my hands on Days of Blood and Starlight as soon as I possibly can! I highly recommend picking up this book now, especially if you're looking for a book that is so different from everything else, it will completely blow your mind!

-Megan

Rachel Rambles About Born Wicked

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

From Goodreads:

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. Like, I thought this would probably be a good book, it would be interesting to read, whatever. But I didn't think that I would become pretty much obsessed with this story. A few pages in, I fell in love with the story and the characters and the setting and the magic and the boys.

This book is historical. Did you know it was historical? I didn't. Not until I started reading it. I don't usually read a lot of historical books, so I was a bit wary when I realized it was set in the past. But after about two seconds, I was so immersed in the story that I forgot all about what time period it was. Plus, it's not even the real past. It's alternate history, which is seriously awesome.

Cate is a main character who I can identify with in a lot of ways. Still mourning the death of her mother, it is her responsibility to look after her two younger sisters. Their father isn't much help; he basically shuts himself away from his daughters and ignores them. So Cate is on her own when it comes to taking care of her sisters. I myself have two younger sisters, so I could really understand Cate's struggles to protect them. As the oldest sibling, Cate has to be very responsible, while her sisters are a lot more carefree. I feel like I could relate to every decision Cate makes, and she is definitely a favorite protagonist of mine.

Oh, and they are witches! Which is awesome. To be honest, I'm not usually a big fan of witches in books/movies/tv, but this book was a pleasant surprise. The magic that the sisters possess feels so real and not overdone. The girls are not using magic on every page to fix their problems and create mayhem. In fact, for much of the book they are focused on restraining their magic so that others do not discover their secret. To me, it seems the book is focused more on the relationship Cate shares with her sisters and the struggle to keep their secret than their supercool magical powers.

The alternate history created in this book is so thorough and well done. With the Brotherhood in power, men are superior to women in every way. During this time period, the mindset is basically that if women are allowed to think for themselves or be equal to men in any way, witches will come back into power. It's really disgusting to read about how these women and girls are treated, and I kind of want to reach into the book and strangle some of these Brotherhood members. I consider this a good thing, of course, when a book provokes such strong emotions in me. :)

Also: KISSING AND CUTE BOYS. Seriously. The romance! Just..wow. I am totally and completely in love with Finn Belastra.

-Rachel

Rachel and Megan Ramble About Shut Out

Shut Out By Kody Keplinger
From Goodreads:
Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention

Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...

Megan: I know you read this book a really long time ago Rachel, and I'm crazy behind, but WHATEVER. This was SUCH  a good read! I loved The Duff, and if you haven't read it, I demand that you stop reading this post (or finish it, whichever you prefer) and then immediately read The Duff. Because it is completely awesome and Kody Keplinger is the best person ever! The stories she writes and the characters she creates are so realistic! 

Rachel: I absolutely love Kody Keplinger! She is one of my favorite authors ever. The Duff was freaking amazing, of course, and she did not let us down with her second book! Shut Out is amazing in its own unique way. I love the idea of it in general. Like, a sex strike?! How can that not be awesome? And with sex being such a touchy and awkward subject in YA, Kody Keplinger handled it brilliantly.

Megan: She really did! I think part of the reason that worked so well was that was awkward for Lissa to be talking about it too. Throughout the book she started to realize it didn't have to be awkward, and it was kind of stupid that it was so awkward to talk about sex. So the reader gets more used to it as Lissa does. I thought Kody Keplinger did an amazing job with Lissa's character, even if her obsessiveness annoyed me at times. At the same time I loved her little quirks because they made her even more realistic.

Rachel: I love Lissa. And Chloe. I think all the girls in this book are realistic and funny and awesome. YOU KNOW WHO ELSE IS AWESOME? CASH. I AM JUST SAYING.

Megan: OH MY GOD YES. I need a Cash! Seriously, I think I could totally have a Cash and be perfectly happy. I have to say probably one of my least favorite characters of the book was Randy. I just didn't like him, but he was really necessary to the story and fit the role he needed to play well. I just didn't like him. Because I mean CASH.

Rachel: Yeah, I mean, without Randy, the sex strike wouldn't have needed to happen in the first place and the book wouldn't exist. So while Randy is definitely important, I just don't like him. But it's cool, because Cash and the sexy library kissing scenes totally make up for it.

Megan: OH THAT SCENE. Sexy sexy library kissing scene. *fans self* I loved the whole relationship/ tension that Cash and Lissa have. I seriously need a Cash. Please go find me one. Like immediately.

Rachel: Um, sure. If I find a Cash, I will definitely let YOU have him... Anywho, I think the lovely people reading this have had enough of our fangirling.

Megan:*scrolls up* hehehehe yeah I think we've probably succeeded in scaring a few people. But oh well. Obviously we both agree that this was another great book by the awesome Kody Keplinger that you should read immediately! Already read it? Great! You're one of my new favorite people! Leave a comment below letting us know what you thought of Shut Out or The Duff. We'd love to hear from you!

Our Thoughts on The Hunger Games Movie

Beware of spoilers if you haven't read the book or seen the movie!

Rachel: WE SAW THE HUNGER GAMES AT MIDNIGHT AND WOW ALL OF THE FEELINGS ARE BEING FELT. Whenever a book-to-movie adaptation is made, the movie can never live up to the book, of course. Because you know, books are always better. But that's fine, and I was prepared for that with The Hunger Games. I was ready to see all the things they changed and a new take on the book I loved so much. And I was surprised by how amazing of an adaptation this was. Obviously, some things were changed, but for the most part, it stuck extremely close to the book.

Megan: YES! Plus, I mean I totally dressed as Katniss! And people were totally giving me weird looks and saying that I looked a lot like her. I was KIND OF proud of myself. (And also Rachel for finding me a bow) To be honest, with all of the crazy amount of advertising leading up to this movie, I was convinced that it was going to be terrible, they were going to ruin it, and I was kind of scared. AND THEN I SAW THE MOVIE. It was so much better than I expected it to be! One of the best book adaptations I've seen. There were surprisingly few things that bothered me.

Rachel: AHEM. I did not buy the bow for you, I bought the bow for ME. Who do you think I am, a member of Abnegation? Pssh.

Megan: *cracks up* Okay, but you did let me use the bow, which was nice. We got an unreasonably large number of weird looks for running around the theater with it and shooting it at random things. Some people just don't understand. ANYWAY,  I really liked the casting for this movie. Some of it I was a bit uncertain about when the cast was first announced, but I thought everyone did a really great job. All of the characters looked amazing onscreen!

Rachel: The cast was freaking amazing. Even if the rest of the movie sucked, the perfect cast would have totally made up for it. Jennifer Lawrence's portrayal of Katniss is absolutely spot-on. Josh Hutcherson is the Peeta I imagined when reading the books. And even though Liam Hemsworth had such a small part, I think he's one of the best actors in the movie. Gale and Katniss's relationship was able to be developed in such a short time, and I can't wait to see more of Gale in Catching Fire. Rue, Cinna, Haymitch, Caesar Flickerman, Effie, Prim, President Snow, Seneca Crane, Katniss's mom, all the tributes...they are all just PERFECT.

Megan: THEY SO WERE! And I loved Seneca Crane! The additional scenes that really let you see into his character were some of my favorite. You got to see more of President Snow too, and it showed you how he was so onto Katniss from very early on. I loved all of the scenes that showed how the Game Makers manipulated the arena and controlled the games. It was a whole side of the world you never get to see in the books, and I liked it a lot. Plus, we got to actually see the revolt in District 11, which was incredibly sad and also awesome.

Rachel: Yes! I loved all those scenes that were added. Overall, there were a bunch of things in the book that I was really disappointed didn't make it to the movie, but I understand why they took it out. Obviously, a lot of things had to be changed to make sense in a movie format and they definitely could have done a lot worse!

Megan: They definitely could have! Most of the book is internal monologue, so I get that some things had to be changed in order for it to translate to the screen, but I thought they did a really good job even with that. There was also a lot of suspense in this movie! I was kind of freaking out a bit towards the end, and I KNOW what happens. I believe your mom was actually driving my mom crazy because she was doing the same thing.

Rachel: Hahahaha yes! (By the way, we went to see this with both of our moms, our friend Katherine, and her mom. Everyone had read the books and we were all freaking out and it was awesome.) So, overall, this movie was done really well and I am seriously impressed. When I am no longer SICK IN BED UGHHH, I will be seeing it in theaters again and again.

Megan: Oh I know! Time to put those free movie passes to good use! Or you know, some money I shall dig up. Either way, I will be seeing this movie many times, and I shall also be getting it on DVD asap to watch it many, many times.

Rachel: Did you see The Hunger Games? What are your thoughts on it? Did it live up to your expectations? Let us know in the comments! 

Megan Rambles About Silence

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

From Goodreads:The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.


I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS!!! Okay. Okay. *breathes* I will TRY to make this coherent. But I don't know how long it will manage to stay that way.

I read Hush, Hush a long time ago, probably well over a year, and I've also re-read it once since. It was a really good, quick read and I finished it in something like 3 days the first time I read it. So imagine my excitement when Crescendo came out! I'm sad to say that I was a little bit disappointed with that one. Nora and Patch both irritated me because they weren't listening to each other long enough to hear each other without screaming and fighting. Plus, I mean, Patch wasn't around as much because he and Nora were fighting. And I need my healthy dose of Patch.

I'm SO glad I can say that I LOVED Silence! (Rachel read it first, and you can see her review of it here). It's my favorite of the series so far! Which surprised me to be honest, because I wasn't expecting to like it when I first read the synopsis. I was all, "Really? She loses her MEMORY? Oh come on!" Then I started reading it, and at first I was kind of annoyed. It was sort of annoying when Nora didn't know something that had happened in one of the other two books because I knew what happened, and I was freaking out! But then, THEN, amazing things happened! The benefit of Nora losing her memory? She gets to fall in love with Patch ALL OVER AGAIN. And the readers get to fall in love right with her!

I LOVED watching Patch and Nora work their way back into each others' lives in this book. Everything that frustrated me about the two of them in Crescendo was gone, and they got to really start over, fix the problems they were having, and move on. As soon as Patch showed up, Nora's memory loss didn't bother me as much anymore. I was just so HAPPY. Because I mean PATCH. HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE HIM?? HE'S SO HOT!!!  *clears throat* Sorry about that. It was bound to pop out eventually. This book made me remember what I loved so much about Patch and Nora being together in Hush, Hush and it made me remember why I loved the series to begin with. Plus, I was lucky enough to get the Walmart edition with the bonus chapter from Patch's point of view, which was amazing of course.

And the ending? Well. All I can say is that I don't think October is going to come quite fast enough for me....
So the lesson here is to read this book, because it is amazing, and the best one of the series so far!

You've heard what Rachel and I both thought, and now we'd love to hear your opinion! Have you read Silence or any of the other Hush, Hush series? What did you think? Let us know in a comment below! We'd love to hear from you! 

-Megan

Rachel Rambles About Where Things Come Back

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

From Goodreads:
Just when seventeen-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. . . .

In the summer before Cullen's senior year, a nominally-depressed birdwatcher named John Barling thinks he spots a species of woodpecker thought to be extinct since the 1940s in Lily, Arkansas. His rediscovery of the so-called Lazarus Woodpecker sparks a flurry of press and woodpecker-mania. Soon all the kids are getting woodpecker haircuts and everyone's eating "Lazarus burgers." But as absurd as the town's carnival atmosphere has become, nothing is more startling than the realization that Cullen’s sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother Gabriel has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared.

While Cullen navigates his way through a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young missionary in Africa, who has lost his faith, is searching for any semblance of meaning wherever he can find it. As distant as the two stories seem at the start, they are thoughtfully woven ever closer together and through masterful plotting, brought face to face in a surprising and harrowing climax.

Complex but truly extraordinary, tinged with melancholy and regret, comedy and absurdity, this novel finds wonder in the ordinary and emerges as ultimately hopeful. It's about a lot more than what Cullen calls, “that damn bird.” It’s about the dream of second chances.

This book was a beautiful, wonderful, unexpected gift from the Book Gods. When I bought the book, I knew that it was supposed to be really good (double award winning good!) and it was about a bird or something. I wasn't really sure what it was about beyond that, and if I wasn't sure if I would even like it.

Once I was just a few pages into it, I knew that I was reading something special. Cullen, the main character, is a normal teenager in a normal, albeit small, town. Nothing exciting really happens to him until his brother suddenly disappears. Cullen is left with a lot of questions and no answers, while the rest of the town obsesses over a rare bird that may or may not exist.

But the entire book is not about Cullen. The chapters alternate from Cullen's point of view to the stories of some other characters. At first, it seems that these are just random characters that have nothing to do with Cullen, but eventually everyone's paths intertwine and tangle together and start to explain a lot of things about the book. This book shows how different actions of different people can go on to affect others in a lot of ways.

Cullen is smart, thoughtful, and funny. I really connected with him as a main character. Cullen's friends and family were all extremely realistic and easy to identify with. The characters in the other half the book are all interesting to read about, and it was fascinating to see how their stories fit in with the rest of the book. I feel like I was able to really connect with all the characters, and the stories of their lives will stay with me.

This book is funny and mysterious and surprising and depressing and absolutely amazing. On the surface, Where Things Come Back is about an ordinary, even slightly boring, situation, but John Corey Whaley manages to take that simple story and transform it into something extraordinary. I would recommend this book to pretty much everyone, especially fans of John Green.


-Rachel

Rachel Rambles About Legend

Legend by Marie Lu

From Goodreads:
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias' death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.
  

Woah. This book is freaking awesome. It was such a crazy experience reading this book. There was a lot of gasping and screaming and wanting to throw the book at the wall out of frustration. Just when you think you know what's going to happen next, BANG. SOMETHING CRAZY AND UNEXPECTED HAPPENS THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING. Marie Lu just keeps throwing insane plot twists in your face, and I don't know whether to love her or hate her for it. Just kidding. I totally love her for it.

Legend alternates between the perspectives of Day and June, two fifteen-year-olds living in the Republic. In a lot of ways, they are completely different. Day is a most-wanted criminal living on the streets, while June is a wealthy prodigy working for the military. But as the book progresses, it is revealed that the two characters actually have a lot in common. They have both suffered terrible losses, and they are both extremely smart and gifted.

Day and June are not some random citizens in a dystopian world. They are a Really Big Deal. Their names are widely known: June's for being a prodigy and Day's for being a criminal. They are important not just to the story, but to the world that the story takes place in. Being a sort of celebrity is very dangerous in this book, especially when trying to break the law and rebel against the government.

While the book does not focus on the relationship between Day and June, it is certainly a large part of the story. It feels incredibly real and believable. Day and June are not utterly obsessed with each other; there is no love at first sight. Their relationship is really gradual, and it just kind of...happens. I really like the whole forbidden-love element to it; they are supposed to be enemies, after all. These are two characters who compliment each other really well, and they make an excellent team. I can't wait to see where the next book in the series takes them!

Even though Day and June are so young, they are capable of everything that an adult is capable of. In fact, they are treated as adults most of the time. I think it's really awesome that two kids can be so smart and mature and responsible and aware of the world they live in. Since I myself am fifteen, it was really refreshing to read about intelligent and capable people my age. I admire June and Day for their bravery and strength and awesomeness.

If you are a fan of dystopian books, I think you will love Legend. It has a kind of Hunger-Games-ish feel to it, while managing to be completely different. (That makes sense, right?) Anyway, I'm really glad I picked this book up.

By the way, I picked up a signed copy of this book at Doylestown Bookshop in PA. Look at the shiny gold signature! :)

 -Rachel