Month: January 2011

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The Passage

So this book was referred to me by Penny when I wrote the tweet:

And she did not disappoint! First off, this book took me several days to finish because it has almost 800 pages. LOVE it!
It’s this sort of end of the world because of a nasty virus that makes people sort of like vampire/zombie crazy people. But it spans like over 100 years and has such an in depth story. I really enjoyed it and totally recommend it to people who like this type of genre. It also is the first of a trilogy, so I’m really looking forward to the rest of them.

4 stars and yes, recommend it.

Amazon Summary:
Fans of vampire fiction who are bored by the endless hordes of sensitive, misunderstood Byronesque bloodsuckers will revel in Cronin’s engrossingly horrific account of a post-apocalyptic America overrun by the gruesome reality behind the wish-fulfillment fantasies. When a secret project to create a super-soldier backfires, a virus leads to a plague of vampiric revenants that wipes out most of the population. One of the few bands of survivors is the Colony, a FEMA-established island of safety bunkered behind massive banks of lights that repel the virals, or dracs—but a small group realizes that the aging technological defenses will soon fail. When members of the Colony find a young girl, Amy, living outside their enclave, they realize that Amy shares the virals’ agelessness, but not the virals’ mindless hunger, and they embark on a search to find answers to her condition. PEN/Hemingway Award–winner Cronin (The Summer Guest) uses a number of tropes that may be overly familiar to genre fans, but he manages to engage the reader with a sweeping epic style. The first of a proposed trilogy, it’s already under development by director Ripley Scott and the subject of much publicity buzz

  • Hardcover: 784 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books; First Edition, First Printing edition (June 8, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345504968
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The Scorch Trials: James Dashner

This is the second book in a trilogy, following up The Maze Runner .

This book took the story to an all new level and I totally loved it! I read this book in one sitting and was really into it.
The only bad thing is it ends in a sort of cliff hanger and of course the 3rd book hasn’t come out yet.

But seriously, this is a great book (series) and I totally recommend it with 5 stars. Obviously the only caveat is you need to read The Maze Runner first, duh.

and this Q&A from the author made me so happy when he answered this question:
Q: You ended The Scorch Trials with a cliffhanger to rival the ending of The Empire Strikes Back. What sorts of things can your readers look forward to in The Death Cure?
A: I just turned in the third book, and I’m very proud of it and excited about it. Every last question is resolved, you see much more of the real world, and the ending is not what people may expect but I’m confident they’ll be satisfied with the resolution. And lots of twists and action of course!

  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (October 12, 2010)
  • Language: English
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The Maze Runner: James Dashner

I’m not really sure why it took me so long to read this book. I’ve been reading really great reviews on it for some time now, but I just never found the time.

But then I’ve been sick with some sort of mild flu or cold or whatever so I’ve been in bed and I was scanning through my Kindle Reading List and figured, ah, why not?

I started it and it was immediately pretty interesting. I finished it and LOVED it. I immediately downloaded book 2 and read the whole thing that day.

I totally recommend this book. Especially if you liked the Hunger Games trilogy, I think you’ll really like this book. Totally recommend with 5 stars.

Amazon Summary:
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (August 24, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385737955
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The Lost Saint: Bree Despain

This is a follow up to The Dark Divine and if you liked that book, than you’ll definitely like this one.

It goes into more detail with the story and more character development. It also ends in a cliff hanger, so they’ll definitely be a number three book, so woohoo!

4 stars and recommend

Amazon Summary:
The non-stop sequel to The Dark Divine delivers an even hotter romance and more thrilling action than Bree Despain’s first novel.  Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi.  She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved mother.  When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do.  She must become a Hound of Heaven.  Desparate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot – a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero.  But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble.  Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities – not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung.  Readers, ravenous for more Grace and Daniel, will be itching to sink their teeth into The Lost Saint.

  • Hardcover: 416 pages
  • Publisher: EgmontUSA (December 28, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1606840584
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The Dark Divine: Bree Despain

So I was about to start The Maze Runner when Amy over at Reading Teen suggested I read the Dark Divine (FYI definitely look at Reading Teen for some great – and way more updated- book recommendations). She said it was one of her favorite books of 2010 and I must say, it was a great book!

An intriguing storyline and easy to read, but I think what I enjoyed most about it was it was wholesome. I’m not sure if it would be considered a “Christian” book, but it definitely is whether the author intended to or not.

It’s one of those books I don’t cringe when I hear a younger (12-ish) year old girl is reading.

It has the same great intrigue for vampire/werewolf/demon creature thingies that I tend to like to read about.

My only drawback is it definitely is a “Young Adult” book and is written for that audience, not for moms who like YA books 🙂

4 stars and recommend it!

Amazon Summary:
With its eye-catching cover (pale, slender legs with purple toenails entwine with purple chiffon on a black background), intriguing title, and the hook of werewolves in love, comparisons to Meyer’s Twilight series are inevitable. However, Despain roots her story firmly in the faith of her protagonist’s family. Sixteen-year-old Grace Divine is a pastor’s daughter and has heard every joke possible about her name. But her family practices what her father preaches: community, caring, and forgiveness, including taking in a neighbor’s abused child and raising him as their own. That boy, Daniel, and Grace fall in love, and when Daniel reveals that he is a werewolf, Pastor Divine searches for remedies while trying to keep his family safe. Though the romantic passages are predictable and characterization sometimes weak, Despain raises complex issues of responsibility and forgiveness and offers no easy answers. Atmospheric and compelling, Despain’s first novel will be popular, and a sequel eagerly anticipated.

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: EgmontUSA (November 23, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1606841548