Showing posts with label rated t for teen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rated t for teen. Show all posts

Monday, September 6, 2010

rated T for Teen: Fallen

i finally read it: Fallen by Lauren Kate.

synopsis from hardcover version:

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

spoiler-free opinion: i think this is one of those books you can judge by the cover; fortunately, i love the gothic-ish cover, and i loved the dark, mysterious story. there were a few aspects of the story that frustrated me, but overall, i thought it was a worthwhile read.

(4.2)

warning: the following review contains spoilers. please skip if you haven't read the book yet.



Luce did frustrate me at times because of her complete obsession with Daniel (who treated her like a pariah at first....why is this sounding strangely familiar??...). however, the story did make a good excuse for her fascination, so i felt i could overlook it.

at the end, i felt the story became slightly melodramatic, and the author didn't explain some critical details (like why the boy Luce kissed at the beginning died, and why all the fallen angels were at Sword and Cross in the first place). explanations seemed to be promised in the sequel, though, so i'll save my complaints until after i've read Torment and can see for myself if the author finally delivers.

needless to say, i'm extremely curious to see how the second book will be!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

rated T for Teen: Nightshade

i finally came up with a catchy title for my book reviews!!! (hint: look at post title) oh, the things I think of after fifteen long hours of consciousness...

SO. i'm reviewing Nightshade by Andrea Cremer today. (thanks again to Sunday Cafe for the ARC!)

synopsis: (contains mild spoilers...just remember i didn't write it!)

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

my review:

A truly seductive read. Nightshade pulled me in, layer by carefully-crafted layer, until i was completely captivated. I did not want to put this book down!

Now, I will admit that I wouldn't have read Nightshade if I hadn't won it. It sounded too much like Blood and Chocolate, which wasn't my kind of book (for the record, though, I really enjoyed the movie...).

Despite my expectations, Nightshade drew me in from the start. I loved it.

That's not to say it was perfect. Some of the sexual stuff I thought Cremer definitely could have done without, and Nightshade has one of those increasingly-overused, all-the-rage love triangles. However, the good FAR outweighs the annoying.

In fact, I give Nightshade a 4.8 out of 5. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND.