Review: Evernight by Claudia Gray

Goodreads description:

Bianca wants to escape.

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

First line: “It was the first day of school, which meant it was my last chance to escape.”

Positive:

Names- I always have trouble creating unique names, and then Claudia Gray just has the coolest names ever. Vic, Raquel, Patrice, Bianca, and….wait for it… Balthazar! Sorry, I just think Balthazar is the most awesome name. Oh! And there’s Ranulf. We see more of Ranulf in later books, but I <3 him J

Creepy eeriness- The story and setting is dark and twisty. I loved it! The whole school was really amazing. It was like, I don’t know, an old building and century old students stuck in the present. A lot of conflicts there, which really made the whole thing that much better.

Writing- The writing is just pure genius. I could finish these books in a day if I could stay home from school! And it take some amazing fluency to make me read that fast. I was a little tentative about how much I’d enjoy these books at first, but I’m so captivated by them.

Negative:

All of a sudden change- We go through the whole book and everything seems really normal, human stuff. And then all of a sudden people are vampires and it turns out that the main character, Bianca, has known all along. It was confusing to me at first. I didn’t really like it, but I think it’s a cool way to write the story. No, it did not take away from the quality of the book.

Cover Analysis (1)

Cover Analysis is a meme inspired by Monica here where I’m going to just basically post my thoughts on a cover.

I love the picture of Raven. It looks like something a real goth girl would look like- dark makeup, dark clothes, dark hair. OH! And can I just say those striped tights are amazing? Emilie Autumn would be proud xD

I think the bat stamp on her hand is to symbolize how Raven goes to this club called “The Coffin Club”. I guess sometimes clubs will stamp someone’s hand when they go in, and well The Coffin Club seems like the place to have bat stamps.

The coffin is interesting. The way it’s propped up like that makes it seem as if it is in a mortuary at the moment. I’m unsure of the location, though. I presume it’s Alexander’s room, but with the stairs in the background, it makes me think it’s in a hallway. Hmm…. Then there’s the stickers on the side of the coffin. I have no clue what half of them are, but you can tell the coffin has been personalized.

The paper on the wall was also on the cover of the first book- Vampire Kisses. It was smaller then, and in Raven’s hand. I never really noticed it was also in this cover. It looks more like a poster than a note(as it was in the first cover). Or maybe a painting, since Alexander is an artist. I just realized, though, that what makes the most sense is if it was a movie poster. Kissing Coffins is a movie referenced throughout the entire book, and with the words placed on the paper like that, it could be hinting at it being a movie poster.

Another thing I’ve noticed is the lamp. It’s fashioned as an old, antique candle-holder. But instead of candles, there are light bulbs to symbolize how Alexander lives in this old house, it a modern world. 

Review: Kissing Coffins by Ellen Schreiber

Goodreads description:

Not far from Dullsville, someone's lurking in the dark. . . .

After meeting the handsome and shadowy Alexander Sterling, goth-girl Raven's dark world has a bright, new glow. But as in her favorite movie, "Kissing Coffins," Raven knows that love always has its complications, especially when Alexander has a big secret to guard.

When Alexander suddenly disappears, Raven leaves Dullsville to begin a dangerous search to find him. Can she stay safe, no matter who--or what--she encounters on the way?

First line: “It was like a final nail in a coffin.”

Positive:

Nicknames for everything- Goth Guy, Dullsville, Hipsterville, Nerd Boy. I remember my friend and I had codenames for everything just like this. So it’s easy for me to relate.

Hipsterville- Like I said, it has a cool nickname but we don’t really know the name of the town. Hipsterville is where Raven’s Aunt Libby lives. It’s a huge contrast from Dullsville, where Raven herself lives. Everything in Hipsterville is cool. Especially Hot Gothics!

Hot Gothics- I’m pretty sure that’s a play off of Hot Topic. Oh well. I really wish there was a store like Hot Gothics here. Honestly, how can a girl dress like a goth without the right clothing store?! We don’t even have a Hot Topic here! Ugh, I feel like I’m living in my own personal Dullsville.

The Coffin Club- The Coffin Club is a place for fellow goths to hang out and be themselves. I wish there was a club like that here. Only place we have to hang out is “The City”, which is a “club” for middle and high schoolers. Booorrriingg. I stopped going there a few years ago because there’s just nothing to do. Other places to go? Well, when you’re 18 you can go to clubs in the middle of no where with inebriated rednecks. Yay. Welcome to Kansas -.-

The ending- The end was well written and gives you something to look forward to in the next book. It ends in a cliffhanger which just makes you want to go out and get book #3 right away.

Negative:

Maturity level- Again I was disappointed in the some of the content. I still feel like the characters have a lot of growing up to do.

Uncertainty- I’m not sure where Dullsville is actually at. Ellen Schreiber never really says the name of the town which, I wish she would. I like knowing where the characters live. It makes it easier for me to picture the scenes. This isn’t really a terrible thing that ruins the book. I mean, my favorite book of all time doesn’t even state a location.

Review: Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber

Goodreads description:

The mansion on top of Benson Hill has been empty and boarded up for years. But a new family has moved in. A family that never ventures out during the day. Who are these creepy people -- especially the handsome, dark, and elusive Alexander Sterling? Or rather, what are they? Could the town gossip actually be true? Are they vampires?

Raven, who secretly covets a vampire kiss, both at the risk of her own mortality and Alexander's loving trust, is dying to uncover the truth.

Positive:

Humor- In the “about the author” at the back of the book, it says that Ellen Schreiber was a comedienne before writing. You can really tell through her writing. The Vampire Kisses series is hilarious.

Goth- Raven is a gothic character but it’s not like she’s all gloomy and depressed. She’s just a normal teen who loves black stuff and coffins and graveyards. Okay, I like that stuff too. Raven is someone to look up to if you don’t necessarily “fit in”.

Negative:

Maturity level- A lot of the bickering between characters makes you think “really, what are we, five?”. Honestly, I loved this book the first time I read it, but now that I’m re-reading it, I’d have to only recommend it to someone in middle school. Definitely not a mature story.

Cover Reveal: Redheads Are Soulless by Heather M. White

High School senior, Sofia Black, has had a very hard life. Since her father's death 7 years ago, she has had to look after her drug addicted, alcoholic mother. School isn't any better for her either. The other kids constantly tease, and ridicule her. All she wants is to get out of her small hometown in Alabama.

When new student, Jason, shows up, Sofia's world is turned upside down. She doesn't understand why he wants to befriend her so badly... And, just when she thinks she can trust him, trouble appears.

Jason's twin brother, Robbie, moves into town, and things go haywire. Sofia is now running for her life - and Jason is forced to share hidden secrets with her. She learns the truth about her father's death, and finds out that she may not be as "human" as she once thought. She struggles to accept her fate, while fighting for her life.

Do I even need to go into how amazing this cover is?? Are you kidding me??? This is just...wow. I'm in awe right now. That red hair! Omg. I love red hair. And the title? Hehe. The font is incredible too. I could fangirl at this cover all day but I think you'd just get tired of me. So I'll stick to staring at this cover for hours on end ;)

Links: 

Author's blog: http://heatherstiara.blogspot.com/

And the blog of the lovely Heather who created that awesome cover- she truly is a "super gurl": http://www.supagurlbooks.blogspot.com/

Blogger Award (2)

This award was given to me by the wonderful blogger at Peek-a-booK!. Thank you so much, by the way :)

2 rules apply when receiving this award:

1. say 7 random things about yourself
2. pass it along to 15 more blogs

Here we go:

1. I am somewhat tri-lingual. I naturally speak English, and then I took two years of Spanish. Currently, I’m trying to teach myself Russian, but I only know a few simple phrases. Next year, I’m taking French.

2. I’m a self-proclaimed genius. Okay, not really. But I am kinda smart. I’ve been in advanced math classes since 7^th grade. Right now I’m in pre-calculus/trigonometry and next I’m taking AP Calculus (Yikes!).

3. I have an obsession with strange animals. Example: platypus, narwhal, and ground squirrel. I see ground squirrels around my school all the time. And no, they are not just like regular squirrels!

4. I’m terrible with decision making. Seriously. If I’m forced to make a decision I’ll have an inner panic attack and just pick the first thing I can think of.

5. I think bats are really cute. Don’t judge me, okay?

6. I. Love. Twilight. Look, I know it’s kind of a sucky movie. But that doesn’t matter. I loved the book, it’s actually what got me started reading YA. When the movie came out on DVD I watched it everyday after school for at least a month. And just this past weekend I watched it twice. I’m sure I’ve seen Twilight about 100 times.

7. I dye my hair. A lot. I really need to stop. Right now it is red, but it’s fading and you can see my blonde roots. It’s just so…ugh. My mom says I should dye it brown this time, but I think I should just let it fade. Pretty sure my hair is dead by now.

Here are the 15 blogs I've passed this on to:

Carabosse's Library

Book Absorption

Cover Analysis

SupaGurl Books

Reading Angel

Pocketful of Books

Sated Faery

My Pathway to Books

Life of a Bookworm

Making The Grade

Pure Imagination

Reading At Dawn

Reading Writing Breathing

Rescue Reads

The Broke and the Bookish

The Reading Nook

Review: Ruby by VC Andrews

Goodreads description:

In the heart of the bayou, Ruby Landry lives a simple, happy life. But innocence can't last forever...

The only family Ruby Landry has ever known are her loving guardian, Grandmère Catherine, a Cajun spiritual healer, and her drunken, outcast Grandpère Jack. Although thinking about her dead mother and mysterious father sometimes makes her feel as mournful as the wind sighing through the Spanish moss, Ruby is grateful for all she has. Her life is filled with hope and promise...especially when her attraction for handsome Paul Tate blossoms into a mysterious, wonderful love. But Paul's wealthy parents forbid him to associate with a poor Landry, and Grandmère urges her to follow her dream of becoming a great painter, foreseeing a time when Ruby will be surrounded with riches in the dazzling city of New Orleans! Yet she cannot know how close that uncertain future looms....

In a faded photograph, Ruby glimpses for the first time the image of her father -- and learns of a shameful deception and a shocking scheme of blackmail that now must come to light. Stunned by these revelations, she is devastated when Grandmère dies, leaving her to seek out her father in his vast New Orleans mansion. There, in a house of lies, madness, and cruel torment, Ruby clings to her memories of Paul to keep her heart alive. For only their love can save her now....

Positive:

Setting- I loved the bayou setting with the swamp and then when it switched to New Orleans. The detail was very well written, just like it usually is with VC Andrews. I’m pretty sure this is my favorite scene in an Andrews novel.

Main character- Ruby is a strong, smart character. I’d say she’s a main character girls can look up to. Yes, she makes mistakes, but those mistakes are understandable. I love that she’s able to stay strong after all she goes through.

*Gasp* factor- There are so many surprises in Ruby. Like, at first you don’t really know much about her family aside from her grandparents. Then by the end, we find out she has so many unexpected relatives that it’s shocking to find out.

Negative:

Beau’s change throughout the novel- Beau is Ruby’s love interest in the novel. When we first meet him, he’s an arrogant, sophisticated “blue blood”. And then by the end he seems to change. It just seems to me that he’s putting on a façade to get Ruby to like him.

If you haven’t read this, or any VC Andrews novel, then I strongly suggest you do. This is actually the book that got me started reading. Without this, I probably wouldn’t like reading, and then I wouldn’t have this blog. So go read this, for my sake :D