Saturday, March 29, 2014

Book Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter



Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimée Carter
Series: Goddess Test (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult
Pages: 293
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Year Published: 2011
First Line: “‘How did it happen this time?’”

“Every gil who has taken the test has died.
Now it’s Kate’s turn.
It’s always been just Kate and her mom- and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld- and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he’s crazy- until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.
If she fails…”

My Rating: 5/5

I can’t keep this inside. I loved this book. It was excellent and even more than I hoped it to be. It included an amazing group of characters, suspense, romance and so many amazing themes. When I was younger I had read Percy Jackson and fallen in love with the idea of Greek Mythology taking place in the present and this book is like Percy Jackson but for the next generation. At least that’s how I would describe it to fellow readers. I loved this book so much that half way through it I went online and ordered the next book in the series. Should be here the 10th of April and I can hardly wait to pick it up and start reading it. I think that this book was a great one for young adults because of how it reminds us to use our imagination. The detail in this book was so incredible that I was often sitting in my room reading it, and just yelling at the characters (that’s a good thing for me) I don’t know if that makes sense. Anyone out there that can back me up? I hope so! Not that crazy, I swear. I would suggest this book to anyone looking for suspense, romance mixed with some mythology. Please check it out and tell me what you think.
THANK YOU AIMEE CARTER FOR REMINDING ME WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MYTHOLOGY AND THE OLYMPIONS!

Thanks for reading,
Love,

Sidny xoxo

Spoiler: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Hey guys, happy Saturday! This spoiler is all about The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter. A truly amazing read. I think that this book helped me fall in love with my imagination again. For a while I’d been having trouble reading because my brain was just so tired by the end of the day but this book I could hardly put down. I had it with me at every lunch and coffee break at work and read it as soon as I got home. I can’t wait to see what Aimee Carter has in store for us as readers in the next book. One thing I think is really important to mention is the setting. Although we don’t spend a lot of time in Eden itself (well because it doesn’t actually exists, surprise right?) We do spend a lot of time in Eden Manor. In my mind I imagine it like a castle-ish house with so many rooms that you could easily get lost in. I was hoping to hear more about the libraries in this place, but maybe in the next book. That way my book nerd personality can have that to fantasize about continually.

♥Characters♥
♥Kate: At first I had trouble with this name simply because of my sister and how obsessed she is with Percy Jackson and myths right now, but after a few chapters it was easy to forget about and put this character in the spotlight regardless of her name. I feel like this character has been through so much in her life and we only get to glimpse the end of it, but she remains strong for her mother no matter what. I was so happy that she finally fell in love with Henry I was sitting her yelling at them just to get married already because they were so obviously in love with each other. I did think that in the end we all got shocked with her when we found out that the gods and goddesses were the workers around the manor, I wonder how that will play out in the second book, and especially when she got her mother back. I cried. I won’t lie to you. I hope that she has a good summer but doesn’t forget about her fantastic husband. So many more things I could say but then this would just get into too much of a rant.
♥Henry: Ok so I fell in love with him right away. I couldn’t help myself. He was just so hurt from Persephone that I wanted to fix him and make him better and yeah Kate did just that. I think it must have been hard for him to marry Persephone’s sister though. Wouldn’t that be weird? But I guess they call each other brothers and sisters anyway. I felt awful when he almost lost Kate because not only would he fade but he would have lost the only person who has ever said that they loved him. Speaking of which, did anyone else’s heart break in that moment? Mine cracked.
♥Diana: I can’t imagine lying to your daughter that way, but really what choice did she have. I do wonder what James meant when he said that they’re relationship would change? Why? Because she lost her mortal body, or because Kate is now an immortal as well? Thoughts?
♥Ava: Although she is vain, and once we found out she was a goddess easily enough to identify as Aphrodite, she was a true friend to Kate through all of this. I think that she will still be one of her closest friends through this whole series. At least I hope so.
♥James: I feel bad for him being caught in the friendzone but why would he let himself fall for someone he could never have? It must be that male thing, wanting what they can’t have. I hope he finds happiness though. He deserves it.
♥Calliope: Just before she tried killing Kate I thought it might be her, but the author definitely had me convinced that it couldn’t be her and wham there she was, the jealous, evil, beepedy beep beep that almost ruined everything. Grrr… feel my reader wrath.

♥Moments to Remember♥
♥Pg. 25
“Was that what this was about? She wanted to find me a boyfriend so Dylan would leave me alone? ‘I don’t date.’
Ava’s mouth dropped open. ‘Really?’
‘Really.’”

♥Pg. 91
“’I don’t wear dresses,’ I said through a clenched jaw. ‘Ever.’”

♥Pg. 143
“’Nice to meet you, too,’ I said. ‘Ava talked about you a lot.’
 ‘I do not,’ protested Ava. She looked at Theo and frowned. ‘I don’t.’
‘She does,’ I said, and Theo grinned.”

♥Pg.192
“’Don’t take this the wrong way, but since it’s Christmas and all.. would you stay with me tonight?’
 His eyes widened a fraction of an inch, and I quickly shook my head, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
‘Not like that. You’ve got to earn that and it costs more than just a picture, y’know.’ My weak attempt at a joke managed to break the tension enough to get him to crack an apologetic smile. ‘But could you just stay… for tonight?’”

♥Pg. 258
“He held up the deck of cards. ‘Shall we? I hear the sixth time is the charm.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Maybe you’ll win when hell freezes over.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘That could easily be arranged.’”

♥Pg. 291
“’I know it’s the end,’ I said, placing a hand on the raised dirt. ‘I’ve known that for a long time.’
 ‘No, it’s not,’ said James, moving to stand beside me. ‘It’s the beginning.’”

♥Last Line: “I may not have planned on living forever, but now that I was, Iwas going to make the most of every moment.”

Thanks for reading,
Love,

Sidny xoxo

Monday, March 24, 2014

Book Review: Cloudburst by VC Andrews



Title: Cloudburst
Author: VC Andrews
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 388
Publisher: Pocket Star Books
Year Published: 2011
First Line: “Just like there are all kinds of noise in our lives, there are all kinds of silence as well.”

“OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY…
Since being taken in by wealthy Mrs. Jordan March and living in her exquisite home like a daughter, Sasha Porter’s traumatic past- destitute on the streets, and the shattering accident that killed her mother_ seems like a fading nightmare. Beautiful and sophisticated, as bold and daring as her ‘sister,’ Kiera March, Sasha still keeps her mother’s wise words close to her heart: never fully trust anyone. Inside her privileged new world, it’s advice that will prove more precious than gold.
…CAN ANYTHING STOP THE DOWNPOUR?
Against the wishes of Jordan’s husband Donald, Sasha attract the attention of Ryder Garfield, a shy, handsome athlete, and manoeuvres her way into his heart. But Ryder’s hidden torment soon explodes in a horrific tragedy that pulls Sasha into a flood of guilt and despair. And when someone she thought she could trust targets her vulnerability, Sasha recalls her mother’s warnings- and a violent storm of dark deceptions and shocking family secrets is unleashed. Will she sink or swim?”

My Rating:  3/5

This book takes place three years after the first book is based. I found that it was a hard one to rate because it wasn’t all I thought it would be. There was suspense but I was prepared for all of it. I just sat there reading and waiting for what I expected to happen to really happen. All in all not one of VC Andrews best works. It was obvious that this is one that someone else helped her finish and I just didn’t find it interesting. The best part of this book for me was seeing the main character grow into who she was going to be. The way we all do eventually.
THANK YOU VC ANDREWS FOR A BRAVEHEARTED YOUNG WOMAN FIGHTING HER WAY THROUGH THE WORLD OF THE RICH AND SPOILED!

Thanks for reading,
Love,

Sidny xoxo

Spoiler: Cloudburst by VC Andrews

As I mentioned above this book wasn’t one I really enjoyed I think that this book was written because it was in demand but it just didn’t line up with the first one in terms of characters. As well having three years disappearing in between made it a difficult read for certain. We as readers have no idea what happened in that three year time. Anything may have. I also felt that I didn’t know Sasha very well anymore and that usually just makes me shut a book and walk away. Anyways I’ll move on to…
Characters:
♥Sasha: I think that Sasha grew up a lot from when we left her in the first book and I’m extremely happy that she’s finding who she is and over coming so much adversity but still. I feel like she was a little girl just a few minutes ago and now she’s getting all in with a movie stars son. My favourite part about her character is the way that she has the male population under her little finger.
♥Ryder:  I think that he was a really troubled boy who should have taken his therapy more seriously. It was really to bad that he died because him and Sasha seemed evenly matched. But they hadn’t really known each other that long. It was the kind of teenage relationship that started going so fast.
Donald: Who didn’t see him coming? The inappropriate comments he made and his behaviour was pretty obvious to me. I hope that he didn’t have a good life in the end though. Piece of dirt. And no that’s not the first word that came to my mind but I’m trying hard to keep my swearing words in my mind.
Kiera: I never thought that she would change how she acted. She is a jealous, spoiled rich girl. I’m happy that some consequences have found her in college though. It’s about time.
Jordan: I hope that she finds happiness after all she’s lost.

Moments to Remember♥
♥Pg. 100
“’You are a tough nut to crack,’ he said, turning back to me.
‘You’re not exactly soft yogurt.’”
Final Line: “After all, wasn’t that what we all dreamed we would find?”

Thanks for reading,
Love,

Sidny xoxo