Review: Wherein Stephanie Reviews Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

Goodreads description:

Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns...

Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. Fortunately, they've been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.

Or not.

Astrid had always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend—thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to the prom—Astrid finds herself headed to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

However, at the cloisters all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from the crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to—perhaps most dangerously of all—her growing attraction to a handsome art student ... an attraction that could jeopardize everything.

My Review:

Originality: Rampant was COMPLETELY original. I mean, how often do you read about unicorns? Killer unicorns at that. Seriously.

Characters: I wasn’t all in love with the characters honestly. It was basically a convent of a bunch of teenaged girls and I had trouble telling them apart. Astrid, the main character, just seemed like she was trying to fit in too much.

Content: I liked the content, the story about killer unicorns. That’s what encouraged me to buy the book. I was however, a little disappointed in how modern it was. I expected it to be like medieval times.

Oh, and I realllyyyy hated how much they talk about sex. Apparently you can only be a unicorn hunter if you’re a virgin. The characters just focused on that topic too much for my liking.

Setting: Rampant was set in Rome. I feel like it wasn’t given justice, though. Sure, there was art described, but I think there should have been more depth with the setting, especially since it’s Italy.

Overall Enjoyment: Overall, I was a little disappointed. I had this book since around July 2011 and just recently read it. Honestly, I’d have to say I’m glad I waited. I’d still tell people to try this book out…your opinion may be different then mine. I wouldn’t say, though, to go straight to the bookstore to buy it. If you run out of books to read, glance it at the library, consider reading Rampant.

P.S. I no longer love unicorns.

In My Mailbox (5)

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren where bloggers can talk about which books they have received over the week.

This week I was glad to get:

Goodreads description: What makes your heart race a little faster? Just in time for Valentine's Day, it's FALLEN IN LOVE, four wholly original new stories collected in a new novel set in the Middle Ages by Lauren Kate. FALLEN IN LOVE gives fans the much-talked about but never-revealed stories of FALLEN characters as they intertwine with the epic love story of Luce and Daniel. The stories include: Love Where You Least Expect It: The Valentine of Shelby and Miles , Love Lessons: The Valentine of Roland; Burning Love: The Valentine of Arriane; and Endless Love: The Valentine of Daniel and Lucinda.

What was in your mailbox this week?

W.W.W. Wednesdays (12)

To play along just answer the following three (3) questions and leave your link at Should Be Reading:

1. What are you currently reading?

2. What did you recently finish reading?

3. What do you think you'll read next?

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins



Goodreads description:Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.

My thoughts:

Originalilty: Again, Suzanne Collins has made me fall in love with a book. The post-apocalyptic world of Panem is, well, I'd have to say the most original setting/theme I've ever read. The whole plot line is unique.

Characters: I still absolutely love every single character in this book, even if they're the bad guy. Collins develops her characters perfectly. The school librarian asked if I would recommend this to anyone and why. I said, "Because, you fall in love with the characters." She completely agreed with me. I almost cry everytime I see the actors who are in the movie.

Content: The content was amazingggg! There was no shortage of action, that's for sure. Every page something was happening and I loved that. I wasn't bored even once.

Setting: Again, The Hunger Games was set in Panem, but this time more happened in the other districts which was great. I felt like I finally got a feel for the rest of the country.

Overall enjoyment: I can't believe some people told me they hated this book!! I loved it soooo much! Honestly, it was the 2nd best in the series. The first was The Hunger Games. Like the school librarian asked, "Would I recommend this book/series?" ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY I WOULD!!

Booking Through Thursday (3)

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted HERE. Check it out and join in!

This week...

"I saw this article the other day that asked, “Are you ashamed of skipping parts of books?” Which, naturally, made me want to ask all of YOU.

Do you skip ahead in a book? Do you feel badly about it when you do?"

Well, I wouldn't necessarily say I skip parts of books. Sometimes when the plot gets slow I skim some words to get to the good parts, but I never skip, like, a whole page or anything like that. Frequently I will read the last sentence of a book...before reading any of the middle. I do that so I have something to look forward to when the plot gets slow.

And now I want to know...Do any of you skip parts of a book?

Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Goodreads description: 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:

Originality: I thought Nightshade was really original. I haven’t read any story where you actually get into the mind of the pack. With Breaking Dawn, from Jacob’s point of view, I didn’t really get the feel for pack life, and in Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes it was from Bryn’s point of view, and Bryn is a human so it wasn’t the same. But in Nightshade, from Calla’s POV, you get right in there with the pack and how the pack functions. I got to see the animalistic side of wolves for once. It was really interesting.

Characters: Both packs are really great! Calla runs the Nightshade pack, and Ren controls the Banes. They are both good leaders in their own ways. Calla was an amazing lead female who was just flat out confused. She’d gone through life knowing exactly what her future would be like, but as that future got closer, she wasn’t sure if it was what was right for her. Ren…is just…I don’t know. Sometimes he’s a big jerk, but he can be a good guy. And Shay? I love Shay. He’s just so curious sometimes that its dangerous.

Content: Loved the content with the wolf pack stuff. I don’t read much wolf related books, but when I do, I love seeing how each author puts a new twist to the material. There weren’t just wolves in Nightshade; there were other mythical creatures that added to the greatness.

Setting: Nightshade was set in Colorado, in the mountains. The setting was absolutely perfect for the story. Wolves actually reside in the mountains of Colorado so it made sense that they would be there. And the mountains actually added to elements of the plot.

Overall Enjoyment: I adored Nightshade and can’t wait to read the next two, Wolfsbane and Bloodrose. The pace of the story was the best. I could sit down and pick up the book and the next thing I know I’ve gotten through half the book. I’m usually a slow reader but Nightshade went by fast. I know I’m late starting this series, and most of you have probably already read it, but if you haven’t, I strongly encourage you to do so. Pick it up from your library, download it to your e-reader, or even take a trip to your local bookstore. Whatever your preferred method is, read this book. Seriously.

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine where bloggers can discuss which books they are most anxious to read. Plus, this awesome button was created by Lindsay at The Violet Hour.

This week I’m waiting on:

Lenobia’s Vow by P.C. and Kristin Cast.

Lenobia’s Vow is the second novella of the House of Night Series. It’s set to be released on January 31.

Goodreads description: The second in the enthralling new mini-series of novellas from the #1 bestselling authors of the House of Night, Lenobia's Vow tells the gripping story behind the House of Night's enigmatic riding instructor – and one of Zoey’s closest allies against evil.

 The House of Night is an international publishing sensation; with almost 12 million books in print, and an incredible 120 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, the series has taken the world by storm. Now, the excitement continues as the Cast mother-daughter duo shares the back stories of a few of the House of Night's most important – and mysterious – characters. The second of the House of Night Novellas brings us Lenobia, the strong, beautiful horseback riding instructor, who guides Zoey through some of her darkest hours, and has a dark secret buried in her own past...

In a small southern town at the turn of the century, young Lenobia is developing into a beautiful young woman with ideas of her own. But when she is Marked as a fledgling vampyre, her world turns upside down, and she is drawn to the musical streets of New Orleans. There, she learns of the city’s dark underbelly, ruled by powerful black magic. As Lenobia experiences her first love – and loss – and discovers a passion for horses to sustain her, she must come face-to-face with Darkness itself. And she may not escape without scars.

Teaser Tuesday (2)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

P.S. The button above was created by http://www.gonewiththewords.com/

Goodreads description: Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow's parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy - one sensitive, soulful boy - discovers Willow's secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the "safe" world Willow has created for herself upside down.



Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl's struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy's refusal to give up on her. 

Teaser:
     “Her breath deepens with each dip of the razor. Silence reigns, not like when she tripped, but perfect and pure.
     “You couldn’t really saw that something that hurts so badly feels good exactly. It’s more that it just feels right. And something that feels so right just couldn’t be bad. It has to be good.” 

-Pg. 3/4 

-Willow by Julia Hoban

In My Mailbox (5)

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren where bloggers can talk about which books they have received over the week.

This week I received:

Finally! After reading this book four times, I have finally gotten Willow by Julia Hoban, my favorite book of all time. This is by far the best book I’ve ever gotten In My Mailbox. 

Goodreads description: Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow's parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy - one sensitive, soulful boy - discovers Willow's secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the "safe" world Willow has created for herself upside down. 

Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl's struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy's refusal to give up on her.