The Archived Review

The Archived

Written by: Victoria Schwab
# of pages: 321

Average Rating: 4.05/5
My Rating: 3/5

Release Date: January 22, 2013
Read in July 2014

Summary according to goodreads

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what she once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

My Thoughts

I went into this book with high expectations because of all the hype surrounding it. However, I also went into this book not knowing what it was about and I think that led to a slightly negative view. I was expecting to be blown away by this novel, and unfortunately I was not.

It took a little while for me to get fully enveloped into the story, but I had been told to keep going with it. I am glad I did because although it started off very different, it started to make sense and get more interesting. This novel is unlike anything I have read, and that made it more difficult to get through the beginning because it was so weird (in a sense). This author did a good job of world building, and creating a picture of the Archive and the Narrows for the reader.

Throughout reading this novel I wasn't sure who I should be in favour of, or who I should be trusting, because new information would arise causing me to start overthinking everything. I have a younger brother so I was very empathetic to Mackenzie and her feelings about what happened throughout the story, but I felt that her parents idea of leaving everything behind didn't help the healing process for anyone.

The more I think about it, the more I want to give this book closer to a 3 or 3.5 stars. There were some parts I had issues with, and the biggest one being the course of the novel. It is not very clear what timeline in which the story unfolds, and that made it harder to get a grasp on what is happening. On the other hand, nearer to the end of the novel, there was a page in particular that I felt was almost a waste as it was repetitive and didn't really provide any enlightenment to the story.

Although this is a young-adult novel, there was not a strong focus on romance. What romance there was bothered me because it didn't really make sense and it was weird, and if you've read it then you probably now what I'm referring to. All in all it was generally put on the back burner and I could really appreciate that considering everything else that was going on.

The sequel to this has already come out, and although I do not yet own it, I plan on picking it up relatively soon. Overall I felt that this novel was longer than it needed to be, and some parts were not necessary. The longer I sat and thought about this book, the more issues I found I had. Therefore I had to lower my rating from four stars to three.

Rumble Review

Rumble

Written by: Ellen Hopkins
# of pages: 546

My Rating: 2/5

Release Date: August 26, 2014
Read in August 2014

Summary according to goodreads 

Matthew Turner doesn’t have faith in anything.

Not in family—his is a shambles after his younger brother was bullied into suicide. Not in so-called friends who turn their backs when things get tough. Not in some all-powerful creator who lets too much bad stuff happen. And certainly not in some “It Gets Better” psychobabble.

No matter what his girlfriend Hayden says about faith and forgiveness, there’s no way Matt’s letting go of blame. He’s decided to “live large and go out with a huge bang,” and whatever happens happens. But when a horrific event plunges Matt into a dark, silent place, he hears a rumble…a rumble that wakes him up, calling everything he’s ever disbelieved into question.

My Thoughts

I received a copy of this novel to review, but that does not affect my opinion. 

This is an author that I usually love, and that made this one of my most anticipated books of this year. It is unfortunate that I must say this is my least favourite of her novels. If I had known what this book was about before I picked it up I probably would not have read it, but I do prefer to go into books "blind". From experience with her other novels I expected something dark, but this was very different. 

In my opinion, this novel was too focused on religion when it should have been more about Matt. He was a character that was dealing with a lot mentally, and instead I felt as though no one was helping him. I did not like his girlfriend, Hayden, because I felt she preached at him and did nothing to help him emotionally. She was too dramatic, assuming, and had a "holier than thou" attitude, which really got on my nerves. 

In fact, I can't say that I related, or even enjoyed any of the characters. Matt's parents were not connected enough to him, his school friends were not nice and, as I mentioned, I disliked Hayden very much. I can understand the way his parents handled the situation, in some way, because it is not easy to deal with the loss of a child. What did not help my opinion on the novel was the growth of a plot, or any character development until the last 75 pages. I feel that this story continued in a straight line from the beginning to the end, with no rises or falls.

Overall, I would not recommend this novel for any looking to read Ellen Hopkins for the first time, but instead to someone who has read her works and is interested in a religious-based plot. As disappointed as I was with this novel I am still grateful to Simon & Schuster for the copy, and will probably read more of Ellen's novels. 

Author Interview: Michael Grant

"If you are wicked, the Messenger will find you"

Hey guys! So when I went to BEA this past May, I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Grant and receiving an ARC copy of Messenger of Fear - scheduled to come out at the end of September. I recently read the book and really enjoyed it, so here is the interview I held with the author! Closer to the release date I will be posting a full review of the novel. 


Your GONE series was such a great one, but it was also so different from what readers can usually find on the shelf. What inspired the plot of Messenger of Fear?

There’s an old Swedish movie called The Seventh Seal.  It involves a Grim Reaper character who plays a game with a man.  So as I was pitching MESSENGER OF FEAR I’d tell people, “It’s the Seventh Seal with fewer Swedes and more teens.” This earned me many blank looks.


Which character from Messenger of Fear would you say that you relate to the most?

Oriax. Kidding.  I’d be one of the wrong-doers awaiting my just punishment.  


Do you remember what you were doing when you were inspired to write this novel? Is there any significance to the plot?

Mostly what I was doing was thinking, “Aren’t we all sick to death of dystopia? Oh, my GOD, make it stop!”  I had done GONE which is very big-canvas, lots of story, lots of characters, sort of dystopian.  And I had done BZRK which is sci-fi and very driven by gaming and technology and nihilism.  I’d written both in third person limited and it had been a long time since I’d done anything in first person.  So I knew I needed something more narrow-gauge and not dystopian.  I was attracted to the idea of doing horror, and after the moral bankruptcy of BZRK I wanted something with a different message.  And I wanted to write in first person, because I find it’s easier and I was kind of in the mood for it.


How long did you spend on the whole process of this novel?

Well, figure a period of maybe two weeks conceptualizing, creating the core characters, sketching out the world building, creating my “series bible.”  And two months for the actual writing.  And a bit of rewriting.  Maybe 12 weeks total?  Give or take a couple weeks.   


Was there any part of this novel that you did not enjoy writing? I can tell you that the scene involving the dog was not an easy one for me to read, but proved a solid example to the story.

See, this is where I’m a strange person:  all the stuff that is disturbing to readers is the stuff I love writing.  I’m never happier than when I’m thinking, “Oh, man, this scene will ruin someone’s sleep.”  I laugh to myself, sometimes out loud.  Yes, an actual LOL because I’m thinking of people pushing the book away and going, “I can’t read any more!” and then, slowly, inevitably coming back to finish the scene.  I have a sort of playful attitude toward readers, like we’re all in a game together and I’m trying to outwit them, teasing them, challenging them to engage.  I have smart readers.  I like them.  And I trust them to get what I’m up to.  


What is your favourite part of the writing process?

I hate editing.  I shouldn’t, but I always take any editing notes as a rebuke, like I haven’t my job well enough.  Actually I don’t get that many notes, and I love Katherine Tegen, but man I hate a revision letter. For me the fun parts are coming up with the initial concept, and writing the fun scenes.  I’m a first draft guy, that’s what I like, when the words are coming without me thinking about it and my fingers are just beating the shit out of the keyboard. Yeah, that’s fun. There was a lot of that with MESSENGER OF FEAR.  I told Tegen I was having so much fun she shouldn’t even pay me.  Of course she knows better than to take that literally.


How do you react of feel when people say that they read a book in a sitting or less than 24 hours? Does it bring you pleasure knowing they got so into the story? Or do you feel it wasn't properly enjoyed because there wasn't time to soak up all the little things? 

I love it.  Are you kidding? My goal in life is to keep you up all night reading.  


From the beginning of the novel, Mara was very level-headed, alert, and brave considering circumstances. As the story continues it is clear she goes through character development, but by the end she seemed to me as almost a whole new character. Is the going to change for the better or learn more about herself in the coming novels?

Character arc is tricky in series, doesn’t matter if it’s a book series or TV series, either way you have to grow the character without making the character a different person.  So what we’ll see with Mara is a growth of maturity, awareness, responsibility, and doubt.  


Another character that I am very intrigued about is Messenger. Will the next novel give any backstory as to his life and whatever wrong he might have done?

I am teasing out Messenger’s story little by little.  But there’s a big reveal in Book 2.  


Is there anything you can tell us about where the series will continue and what we can expect?

Well, the plan is for three books and two digital shorts.  I’ve already written the second book and the first short.  But I am sort of harboring this hope that the series does well enough that I can add more books. It’s very much a procedural, meaning its a bit like Law and Order in that there are defined elements that repeat.  So there’s room for more.  We’ll have to see.  It’s fun to write so I kind of don’t want to stop, I guess.  


One day I aspire to be a respected author, such as yourself, so is there any advice you would give to developing writers?

Focus on the doing and not on the being.  It’s a job, not a state of grace.  When you call a plumber you want him to know how to fix a toilet not watch him revel in his job title. As a writer you are no better than any other working stiff, and what the world wants from you is not you but the words you put on paper. Can you fix a toilet?  Can you write a scene?  Learn the job, get better at the job, do the job.  


Is there anything else you would like to add for anyone reading?

When GONE first came out I’d get these reviews on blogs or Goodreads that would say, “You didn’t tell us enough!  We want to know everything!”  I’m getting a bit of that on MESSENGER OF FEAR.  But by the end of GONE’s last book, LIGHT, everyone was saying, “He actually told us everything!”  So I guess what I would say is:  patience, people, all will be revealed, all will be clarified, I realize it’s hard not knowing, but frankly I revel in your pain so. . . Wait, that’s probably not the right way to put it.  Trust me:  in the end you will know all.


I just want to say a big thank you to Michael Grant for letting me pick his brain about his writing and this series, and you can follow him on twitter @thefayz! 

Wake by Amanda Hocking Review

Wake

Written by: Amanda Hocking
# of pages: 320

Average Rating: 3.71/5
My Rating: 3.5/5

Read in June 2014

Summary according to goodreads

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs.  She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door.  He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back.  Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever.  She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove.  They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price.  And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

My Thoughts

This is one of the first books that I have contemplated giving a half a star on the rating. The more I think about it, I feel that it was more than okay, but it won't be on my favourites shelf. I enjoyed the pacing once you get into the story, and I read it in about a 24-hour period. 

For this first 100 pages, I found that the story seemed to drag and that is was almost unnecessary. There was some background given on most of the characters, but most of the content could have been shortened or removed. 

Mermaids aren't usually my point of interest, and I would not recommend someone who hasn't read this genre before to start with this series. I mean nothing against the novel or the series, it just showed a darker side to the "sirens", and it was not what I had been expecting from the novel. 

There is a book trailer for this novel which I will link (click here), and I recommend checking that out if you are skeptical and want more information. The trailer did I good job of representing the story and isn't too misleading. 

I already own the rest of the series and eventually plan on continuing the series, but I was not immediately drawn to picking up the sequel. After the ending of the first novel I am curious as to how it will continue on. I have heard that the series gets better as you go along, so I have high hopes that I will not be disappointed. 

Conversion Review

Conversion

Written by: Katherine Howe
# of pages: 402

My Rating: 5/5

Read in July 2014

Summary according to Goodreads

It’s senior year at St. Joan’s Academy, and school is a pressure cooker. College applications, the battle for valedictorian, deciphering boys’ texts: Through it all, Colleen Rowley and her friends are expected to keep it together. Until they can’t.
 
First it’s the school’s queen bee, Clara Rutherford, who suddenly falls into uncontrollable tics in the middle of class. Her mystery illness quickly spreads to her closest clique of friends, then more students and symptoms follow: seizures, hair loss, violent coughing fits. St. Joan’s buzzes with rumor; rumor blossoms into full-blown panic.
 
Soon the media descends on Danvers, Massachusetts, as everyone scrambles to find something, or someone, to blame. Pollution? Stress? Or are the girls faking? Only Colleen—who’s been reading The Crucible for extra credit—comes to realize what nobody else has: Danvers was once Salem Village, where another group of girls suffered from a similarly bizarre epidemic three centuries ago . . .
 
Inspired by true events—from seventeenth-century colonial life to the halls of a modern-day high school—Conversion casts a spell. With her signature wit and passion, New York Times bestselling author Katherine Howe delivers an exciting and suspenseful novel, a chilling mystery that raises the question, what’s really happening to the girls at St. Joan’s?

My Thoughts

I received a finished copy of this book at Book Expo America 2014.

This novel starts with a prelude, and at first it left me confused, because I went into this book blind, but it eventually all made sense. After only about 15 pages, I was hooked. 

The way this novel was written was very unique, because it almost had two stories in one. Every couple of chapters it would switch in time to the 1700s, and give you a story from a seemingly unrelated event. I enjoyed this way of telling the two stories because the reader does not get an information dump, and instead learns things from the past, as things in the present start happening. I am not someone that is familiar with the Salem Witch Trials, but this novel raised enough points to get me interested in doing more reading about it. This author did a very good job of flowing the story well back and forth between the past and the present - both with the attitudes of the characters, the language, and the surroundings. 

Although this novel is around 400 pages, I can tell you that you get sucked into the story, and you don't even realize how quickly you are turning the pages. This is a novel that you will not want to put down, and it is so fast paced that you won't. While reading this novel I was never quite sure about how it was going to end, although I did have a good idea. I thought I had been accurate in my assumption, but there ended up being a revelation to the story that I did not expect. In the end all of the loose ends were tied up nicely, and it did not feel abrupt. Both stories - those of Ann and Colleen - got the conclusion they needed. 

Overall I really enjoyed this novel as well as the writing style, and am very interested in reading more from this author. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for something suspenseful with historical aspects, of at least a young adult age. 

The Harder I Fall Review

The Harder I Fall

Written by: Jessica Gibson
# of pages: 215

Average Rating: 3.68/5
My Rating: 4/5

Read in June 2014

Summary according to goodreads

Becca Langer was not a normal girl, she didn't have normal girl problems. For most of her life, she’s had to take care of herself, her younger brother Chad, and her drunk mother. She’s lived under the shadow of what her father did when she was ten years old. Forever branded by his actions.

College was her escape, she could get away and finally live. Her dream was to make it in the New York Ballet Company one day. That for her meant a long road full of hard work and dedication. She didn't have time for distractions, and Levi Klein was definitely a distraction.

Will Levi be able to crack through her tough exterior and really see the wounded soul underneath? Becca needs to be loved, but the question is, will she let Levi love her?

My Thoughts

I received an ebook copy of this book to review, however that does not influence my opinion of the novel.

This book is such a quick, cute, and easy read with a plot that is perfect to read in the summer. In the beginning of the novel I found Levi, the love interest, to be kind of pushy, but I think that he grew as a character throughout the story. There was actually a significant amount of character development for Becca considering her life, and it was good to experience her growth.

Since this is such a short story, there were many parts that felt rushed. I can understand that since this story took place over the course of a school year, and it was only 200 pages that there wasn't a lot of time. However, I felt that some parts did not get the attention they deserved. 

I could so easily relate to this character, and I know you guys will too, that it was simple to have an attachment to her. I was so excited for her at Christmas, and so envious that she got to spend it in New York. Reading about her experience for the first time in the city - seeing Times Square and Broadway, etc - made me nostalgic of my first time there only a number of weeks ago. Her whole trip makes me want to go back and visit so much more. Another way that I could relate is in the upcoming fall I will be attending college across the country in which I am living, and she made me so excited for that adventure.

Although the characters in this story are 18/19, I would consider it to be New Adult because of the content and them being in college. I have not read many New Adult novels, but I know some people are hesitant to pick it up because of sexual content. In this novel there were some "adult" moments, but it was non-descriptive, leaving the reader comfortable with the situation.

One of the lines in this book is; "I promise you, I will always catch you." And just, AHH THE FEELS.

I would have easily given this book five stars if it hadn't been for that ending. I am not going to discuss it in too much detail because I don't want to spoil it, but I was very disappointed. This wasn't how I expected Becca to act, especially considering all she had come through, and I found it to be a very rash decision. 

There is a companion novel coming out told from Becca's brother Chad's perspective, and I am very interested in reading it. I enjoyed the writing style of this novel quite a bit, so I look forward to reading other works from this other.

P.S, This book is currently only $1.00 and some change for kindle, so I totally recommend you guys give it a try! Click here to view it on Amazon!

The Colour of Evil Series Review

Colour of Evil 
Written by: Connie Corcoran Wilson




Colour of Evil 
    Read in June 2014
    # of pages: 279
    Average Rating: 3.44/5
    My Rating: 4/5

Red is for Rage 
    Read in June 2014
    # of pages: 258
    Average Rating: 3.67/5
    My Rating: 4/5

Khaki = Killer 
    Read in June 2014
    # of pages: 220
    Average Rating: 4.25/5
    My Rating: 4/5




Summary of first novel according to goodreads

Tad McGreevy has a power that he has never revealed, not even to his life-long best friend, Stevie Scranton. When Tad looks at others, he sees colors. These auras tell Tad whether a person is good or evil. At night, Tad dreams about the evil-doers, reliving their crimes in horrifyingly vivid detail. 

But Tad doesn't know if the evil acts he witnesses in his nightmares are happening now, are already over, or are going to occur in the future. He has no control over the horrifying visions. He has been told (by his parents) never to speak of his power. All Tad knows is that he wants to protect those he loves. And he wants the bad dreams to stop. 

At Tad's eighth birthday party (April 1, 1995) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the clown his parents hire to entertain Tad's third-grade classmates is one of the bad people. Pogo, the Killer Clown (aka Michael Clay) is a serial killer. So begins 53 nights of terror as Tad relives Pogo's crime, awakens screaming, and recites the terrifying details to his disbelieving family. The situation becomes so dire that Tad is hospitalized in a private institution under the care of a psychiatrist--who also does not believe the small boy's stories.

And then the police arrest Pogo, the Killer Clown.

Flash forward to the beginning of Tad's junior year in high school, 8 years later. Tad is 16 and recovered from the spring of his third-grade year. When Michael Clay was caught and imprisoned, the crime spree ended and so did Tad's bad dreams. 

Until now, in the year of our Lord 2003, when evil once again stalks the land.

This is a terrifying, intense story of the dark people and places that lurk just beneath the surface of seemingly normal small-town America. As one reviewer says, "Wilson nails the darkness beneath the surface of small-town Midwestern life with an intense story based on fact." 

Tad must wage a silent war against those who would harm the ones he loves. A battle to the death.

My Thoughts

I received these books to review as part of a blog tour, specifically the third book, but that does not influence my opinion.

Something that I really enjoyed about the first book was that it got into all of the details for many characters. In the beginning there were chapters dedicated to each character, giving the reader different information on their past and ideas on their personality. It is such an easy novel to get into because it grabs your attention and keeps you interested. 

The writing throughout this series is easy to read, and the chapters are short so it is easy to fly through. This author did a fantastic job of getting you interested in each of the character's lives, and feel strong emotions towards all of them - both positive and negative. 

Throughout the continuation of the series it is evident that the writer finds her groove into the story, thus leading the reader to get even more involved. I must inform you, however, that there is some darker, more adult content including murder, sex, and child molestation - so be aware if that is not something you are fond of reading.

In my opinion the third novel was the best because it wrapped everything up nicely, leaving no questions unanswered.

This is a series I would recommended for readers around 17 or older, because of the content, but it is an overall great series. You may find it odd that I am recommending such a strong series during the summer, but it is a good read because it is a quick one. Plus guess what! Book 2 in the series, Red Is For Rage will be free on Kindle June 26-30th! Make sure you pick it up!

Overall I really enjoyed this series!