It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. Click on the picture to be taken to Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

Read Last Week:  

• Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier 
• Redemption on the River by Loren DeShon

Currently Reading: 

• Undeadly by Michele Vail 

 

Up This Week:  

Ironskin by Tina Connolly

In My Mailbox!

For Review:  

• Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep
• Poison by Bridget Zinn
•  Shadow on the Crown by Patricia Bracewell

Swapped:  

• Dark Souls by Paula Morris 
• Dragonfly by Julia Golding   

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!  It's hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

 

 

 

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!

Review - The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2) by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Series: 2nd (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer)

Pages: 544

Published: October 23rd 2012 by Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 9781442421790

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

 

Description: Mara Dyer knows she isn't crazy. She knows that she can kill with her mind, and that Noah can heal with his. Mara also knows that somehow, Jude is not a hallucination. He is alive. Unfortunately, convincing her family and doctors that she's not unstable and doesn't need to be hospitalized isn't easy. The only person who actually believes her is Noah. But being with Noah is dangerous and Mara is in constant fear that she might hurt him. She needs to learn how to control her power, and fast! Together, Mara and Noah must try and figure out exactly how Jude survived when the asylum collapsed, and how he knows so much about her strange ability...before anyone else ends up dead! 

 I Give This ...

The first book really captured my attention.  Mara Dyer is an extraordinary character.  Not only does she possess a special ability that seems really hard to describe, but she's believe to be slightly mentally unstable.  A fact that I was never really sure on...Is she crazy or not?  The funny thing is, even after this book I'm not entirely sure what the answer is.

Mara has a hard time convincing those around her that she isn't crazy.  Her reactions to events tend to bring unwanted to attention.  Those around her don't understand what is happening to her and I fully understand how it can make her come across as crazy.  I often wondered if she had convinced herself that some of the things going on around her were actually happening.   I think the thing that I found most interesting is that she's so focused on finding Jude that she never stops to think about how she is coming across to others.   She has to realize that the just because she thinks she's telling her family and her doctors what they want to hear, does not mean that is what they are getting out of the conversations.  To me, she really just came across as more crazy.  

The events of this book are intense.  As often as Mara is in the custody of psychiatrists, hospitals, or under house arrest, you would think very little could manage to happen.  But Noah has the uncanny ability to infiltrate were ever she goes.   It's no surprise that his access to unlimited money can open doors.  What's also amazing is that Jude has the same kind of access but completely untraceable.   The fact that he's off the radar made wonder if she was really hallucinating everything she thought he was doing.

There are a few hints and the powers the Mara and Noah both have.  I'm curious as to what the connection is between all of them.  I'm sure there's something there.  The ending was also a complete cliffhanger.  That can't be how it actually ends...really.   Please tell me we will learn otherwise in the next book!

 

Review - Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2) by Moira Young

Title: Rebel Hearts

Author: Moira Young

Series: 2nd (Blood Red Road)

Pages: 432

Published: October 30th 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry

ISBN: 9781442430006

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

 

Description: It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba’s world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh’s freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.  What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? In this much-anticipated follow-up to the riveting Blood Red Road, a fierce heroine finds herself at the crossroads of danger and destiny, betrayal and passion. 

I Give This ...

 Blood Red Road was an excellent addition to the dystopian genre.  I was curious as to were the story might go next because it seemed like things had been solved in the first book.  But, I was hooked and would follow the series no matter were it might go.

The first thing is it really does take determination to read this series.  Saba has an extremely difficult voice.  I remember that from the first one, but it really took some time to get use to what she was trying to convey.  It's kind of like reading a story in another language that you aren't exactly fluent in.   But, I fell into the rhythm of it and was suck in.   

I really felt sorry for Saba in this book.  She did this big heroic thing in the last book, but she's back to defending her thoughts and actions.  According to everyone else, she doing things for all the wrong reasons.  She makes rash decisions and is constantly putting other's in danger.  She should only trust her family and no one else is worth it.   For this alone, I really disliked Lugh.  I get that something horrible happened to him while he was in captivity.  But, he needs to stop and see what he's doing to her.  He may be her twin, but he no longer understand her.  Everything he said about Saba, I felt more directly applied to him.  It really made me want to reach through the pages and knock some sense into him.

Saba really tries to work around to the voice of her brother.  She tries to leave by herself to keep them out of danger.  She seems to have little regard for her own safety, just a stark determination to save those she loves.  But to accomplish these tasks, she beings to realize there is much more at stake here.  All of a sudden it's not just about her, but about the whole country.

There is a major event that occurs in this story that really left me reeling.   I think there's some greater force at work there that Saba left herself open to.  I'm curious how it will play out in the future book.  It can't be good. 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. Click on the picture to be taken to Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

 

 

Read Last Week:  

• Thorns by Kate Avery Ellison 
• Velvet by Mary Hooper
• Untraceable by S.R. Johannes

 

 

Currently Reading: 

• Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier

 

 Up This Week:  

• Redemption on the River by Loren DeShon
• Undeadly by Michele Vail

 

In My Mailbox!

For Review:  

• The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift

Purchased/Free:  

• Iron's Prophecy by Julie Kagawa 
• Wander Dust by Michelle Warren

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!  It's hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

 

 

 

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!

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.