Review - Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White

Title: Perfect Lies

Author: Kiersten White

Series: 2nd (Mind Games)

Pages: 232

Published: February 18th 2014 by HarperTeen 

ISBN: 9780062135841

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside. But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

I Give This ...

I wasn't sure how I felt about this one.  I wasn't completely sold on Mind Games.  The overall plot greatly intrigued me, so I decided to read this one.

I really enjoyed that this one focused more on Annie.  Perhaps that's why the first one didn't fully connect with me, I had a hard time with Fia.  Annie's choices made a lot more sense to me.  I really enjoyed that added twist that she is blind.  I think it makes her instincts that much more powerful.  She relies on her visions quite a bit as well, which makes some of the events extremely interesting.

There are some intense moments that drove the story forward.  There were times I felt like the book was in a lull, and then bam something crazy would happen.  These events would leave me wondering what the heck Fia was up to.  I never trusted James, even in the end.  I don't think he had Fia's best interest at heart.  He saw her as a means to and end.

I loved the ending.  I did not see that what coming.  Who could have thought the blind girl carried such a punch!  I goes to show that sometimes the person you least expect can totally save the day!  

Review - The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Title: The Chaos of Stars

Author: Kiersten White

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 288

Published: September 10th 2013 by HarperTeen 

ISBN: 9780062135926

Source:  Publisher via Edelweiss

 

Description: Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.  Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal. Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all. 

I Give This ...

  

I had high hopes for this.  I'm not super familiar with Egyptian Gods (preference towards the Greek) and I though the author would be able to spin this in an interesting way.  It wasn't quite what I was hoping for.

I was conflicted on Isadora.  I couldn't quite tell if it was the typical teenage angst or if things were really as bad as it seemed.  But, she really does blossom when she moves to San Diego to live with her brother.  I think its her first chance to experience so many things we take for granted.  There's sheltered...and then there's Isadora.  But for someone who felt ignored her entire life, I found it really odd that she was constantly pushing people away.  Its like she wanted the buzz of society around her but none of the connections.

I adored the romantic interest, Rh.  He seemed so in tune to what Isadora needed.  He didn't push, but he also never backed off.  He was truly a swoon worthy character.  However, I pegged who he was way before our character figures it out.  There was a lot of back story though that I was not expecting though.  And it really pulled the story together.

The mythology was a little confusing to me.  There seemed to be some "true" Egyptian mythology woven in with some fabrication to fit the story.  It didn't seem to flow very well to me and I think it would have worked better had it been done in a different manner.  I also truly did not care for these characters.  They may not be a vital part of the story, but they make Isadora who she is.  So, it made the story fell lop-sided.   

A surprising element to the story that I truly enjoyed was Isadora's designing abilities.  It's a talent I lack, so I enjoyed reading about it.  She transformed the museum for the exhibit, redesigned the theater room at Rh's house, plus the chatter throughout the book about what she would do to change the look of a room.  I think it really brought Isadora's character to life.

I'm not giving up on Kiersten White obviously.  She has way to much to offer us dedicated readers! 

 

Review - Mind Games (Mind Games #1) by Kiersten White

Title: Mind Games

Author: Kiersten White

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 256

Published: February 19th 2013 by HarperTeen 

ISBN: 9780062135315

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: Two sisters, bound by impossible choices, are determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.  James's frozen face melts into a smile. "Do you want to know the trick to getting in trouble under the watchful eye of a psychic?"  I think of the nailed-shut windows. I think of Clarice. I think of the two, the two, the two who are now zero. Tap tap. "Yes, I absolutely do."  "Don't plan it. Don't even think about it. The second you get an inkling of what you could do, do it then. Never plan anything ahead of time. Always go on pure instinct."  I smile. "I think I can do that."

I Give This ...
 

I was extremely excited for this book.  I loved her first series, plus she shares my daughter's name!

Unfortunately, I felt this book was a little short of my expectations.  I never got a firm grasp on the characters to be fully invested in the story.  I liked Annie the most out of all the characters.  I felt sorry for all the promises by the school that were never fulfilled.  Once they realized that Fia has all the power, Annie because a bystander.  A powerful tool used to keep Fia under control.

The powers that are present at the school were a little confusing.  It seems like everything was rushed.  It seemed like forever before I had an idea about what Fia could do, and even then it didn't seem like this power that should be as coveted as it was.  Maybe it was because I just didn't really like Fia.  She was so angry all the time and resigned to the life that had been handed to her.  It didn't seem like there was much fight in her at all.

I do have to admit that I'm immensely curious how this all fits together.  There seems to be to rival groups here both after these women and girls who are blessed with these gifts.  I'm not entirely sure that either one of them has good intentions.  Although it seems that one is definitely more evil than the other.  I'll see what I think when the next book comes along. 

 

Review - Endlessly (Paranormalcy #3) by Kiersten White

Title: Endlessly

Author: Kiersten White

Series: 3rd (Paranormalcy, Supernaturally)

Pages: 385

Published: July 24th 2012 by HarperTeen 

ISBN: 9780061985881

Source: Library

 

Description: Evie's paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.  The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie's hands. So much for normal. 

I Give This ...

I've been up and down with this series.  I loved the first in the series, but the second was only so-so.  I was hoping that the last book could be just as good as the first and tie up all the loose ends. I think this did a great job of that.

Evie seems to be more herself in this book.  She's doing thing more for herself and she's not trying to run around and save everybody just because everyone tells her that she destined to do so.  She may be stubborn about refusing to help, but I don't blame her.  Very few people have let Evie be in control of her own destiny.  I know she felt manipulated by Reth, but I think showing her the truth was the only way to get her to make a decision.

There's really a lot happening in this story.  It's almost enough that it could have been stretch into a 4 book series instead of 3.  But, it wraps up nicely and I didn't feel there were any loose ends or lingering questions.  I would be curious how Evie's world changed after the events of the story, but its not a question that needs to be answered.

Great ending to the story.   If you read the first two, you should definitely read this one.   If you haven't read any of them, you should just for Evie and her bad ass attitude and her taser.     And of course for Reth and Lend.

 

Review - Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White

Title: Supernaturally

Author: Kiersten White

Series (#, other books):  2nd, Paranormalcy

Pages: 336

Published: July 26, 2011 by HarperTeen

ISBN: 9780061985867

Source: Around The World Tours

Description: Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.  But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.  So much for normal. 

I Give This ...

 

Ok, I'm being a little harsh on this one.  But, I gave Paranormalcy and 4 and this just was just missing something.  All the characters were there, they just didn't seem to be connecting the way I remembered.

Evie is living a normal life and its what she thought she always wanted.  Turns out it's not enough.  Totally not surprising to me.  When you've spent your whole life battling supernaturally creatures why would high school be exciting?  I was a little surprised that she went back to working for the IPCA so easily.  I understood that she wanted something more and liked what they were offering her.  But, it's like all the stuff that she learned at the end of book one was completely forgotten.  And since she knows the Lend and his father won't like it, lets just lie to them instead.  

Speaking of Lend, he's surprisingly absent for a lot of this book.  He's off at college fulfilling his dreams, which is another reason that I think Evie is so bored with her normal life.  I'm not saying that Evie's life should revolve around Lend, but I really expected something more there.  It's almost like he expects her to forget who she is and be content with her little place in life.  I also wonder if he isn't a little bit afraid of what she can do.  The less trouble she can get into, the less likely she is to use it.

 I did enjoy the mission that Evie is sent out.  She's sent to track down goblins that may or may not have human slaves.  As usual nothing is how it seems.  She ends up hunting down a vampire that has a blood lust for paranormal creatures.  His interactions with Evie were really interesting.  I also enjoyed what she learned about the Goblins that she was sent to investigate.

I think my favorite thing was the new character Jack.  He has some strange ties to the Faerie realm.  He's spontaneous and at time a little bit annoying.  But, I think he helps Evie see the truth in who she is and why.  At times, I wondered if he was suppose to develop into a love interest, but I was really happy to see that proven false.  I really love Lend.

So yes, I was a little disappointed.  But, that won't stop me from reading the next one in the series! 

Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy, #1) by Kiersten White

Title: Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White

Series: 1st in series

Published: August 31, 2010 by Harper Teen

Pages: 352

ISBN: 9780061985843

Source: ARC from Around The World Tours

Description: Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone--or something--starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal. Normal is so overrated. 

I Give This ...

 

First off, I want give Kiersten White 2 thumbs up for creating something fresh and new.  Although, it's still in the supernatural genre of young adult, this was something completely different than anything I've read this year.  It's always nice to come across that.  

Evie is so different than most female heroines.   She's sassy, she likes pinks, wears leopard print dresses, well you get what I mean.  For me, she was a little hard to swallow at first.  I'm a long way from that girl, but I think teenagers will eat it up.  But, Evie has a heart of gold and that's what I ended up really liking about her.  Once her perspective of things changes, her entire world is turned upside down and it's interesting to watch her struggle with what she's always know and were her heart is leading her.  Her love interests in this story are awesome.  Ren always made me catch my breathe because I was never sure what he was going to do.  He was always so intense about things.  Lend is by far my favorite.  He is so genuine and down to earth.  I think Evie and him and so much in common.

The story is fast paced.  I liked how the IPCA is brought into the story and you think it's one thing.  But, in the end you realize you've seen it through Evie's eyes all along.  For the longest time, I wasn't sure if they were the bad guys or not.  I liked the character connections.  Evie is so much fun because you get to experience her world of supernatural creatures and then you also get to go with her to experience the human teenager world for the first time.  The story closes this book nicely, but leaves you craving more of it.  I can't wait for the next one!