The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: 10/18/11

Pages: 409

Reviewed by Sabrina

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

My Thoughts

The Scorpio Races is a slow paced, dystopian novel set in an alternate timeline, taking place on the fictional island of Thisby. Despite what the title and summary suggests, the plot does not focus on the actual race. Instead, the attention is on the capall uisce (water horses).

One problem I had with The Scorpio Races was that I did not see a lot distinction between Puck and Sean's viewpoints. I liked Sean's point of view more though, since he has a conflicted relationship with his water horse, Corr. That, and Puck irritated me in the beginning. Sean wants to trust Corr but putting that trust there could get himself killed.

The atmosphere fit the story nicely. I love how Maggie Stiefvater created a nice amount of tension and fear in certain scenes (e.g. when a wild water horse confronts a human, Sean needing to trust Corr, etc). What I loved even more was that she had written a more realistic, light romance between Sean and Puck that did not drag down the story. It was the huge (really slow) amount of buildup that did. But the ending was nice, the writing was beautiful, and the story was fine so...

The Unchosen Life by Danka V.

Title: The Unchosen Life

Author: Danka V.

Release Date: 8/30/11

Pages: 238 

One soul mate… One true love… And the fact that they are not the same person!

People believe that every soul has its other half somewhere in the world. A soul mate or so I’ve been told, and they spend a lifetime seeking that other half, hoping to find it… I don’t need to hope anymore because mine found me… And tried to take my life! Today, twenty-four years since I was born, I finally do believe that there is a true love in life and that somewhere out there, there is that other one who will, once they show up, complete your own soul. But I learned much too late that they are not the same thing! My name is Elena Wolchek and this is my story.

My Thoughts

The Unchosen Life is a love story with a small touch of supernatural. Elena has always felt that there was something mysterious about her, even the people she's with had noticed from the beginning. A series of strange dreams and an encounter with her other half, help her realize her power. Instead of being satisfied, she's terrified and wishes to have a normal life. She just wants to be happy with her loved one, not get killed by her soul mate.

Elena is your headstrong, tough girl, who can sometimes be too stubborn for her own good. She desperately tries to distance herself from falling in love because she's not only afraid that they'll get hurt, she's also afraid of the pain that comes after it. She's a wonderful character at times and it was nice to see her heart finally opening up.

The pacing was a little slow, along with the plot. There are some info dumps that cause the story falter and be unbalanced at times, but I loved the concept of the story. Bittersweet moments and missed chances filled the pages. The Unchosen Life is a nice read that I would recommend for those of you who love humor and romance. Hopefully, the next book will have more action and focas on the paranormal side!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: 11/15/11

Pages: 338

Reviewed by Sabrina

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

My Thoughts

The romance of Shatter Me is the greatest theme that urges the reader on, so for those of you who love romance and the supernatural, I suggest you read it. If you're a dystopian fan, not so much. 

The haunting descriptions and thoughts of Juliette were beautiful and unique, but I got really tired of them after a couple of chapters and despite her amazing descriptions, she gives a vague picture of the post-apocalyptic world. Despite this, the book was fairly interesting and in some ways, surprising. There were a lot of run-on sentences and crossed out words in the story that, instead of turning into a huge annoyance, made Juliette a more realistic character in her situation (It's still an annoyance though). She believes more in herself throughout the pages. She loses whatever insanity and sadness she has within her. But she is really irritating at times. 

Adam is Juliette's familiar/mysterious good guy love interest, who always puts Juliette first and foremost.  The only things I don't like about him is that scenes with Adam become are way too steamy (I wondered if I was really reading a YA book) and, as much as I like Adam and all, my interest in him sort faded away (Sorry!). 

The insane, cold Warner is your ruthless antagonist, who happens to be quite handsome. He was the more interesting, infuriating and complex character to me rather than the relationship of Juliette and Adam as the story went on. He was a unique kind of villain that I don't see very often in novels. 

The Secret Power Beneath by Frank Acland

Title: The Secret Power Beneath (Free Energy World #1)

Author: Frank Acland

Pages: 140

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Hans Swensen holds a position of great responsibility in a hidden nation built in a subterranean cave system beneath the mountain wilderness of Norway . His people are able to exist in secret because of the discovery of an inexhaustible form of energy that has led to the development of a society more technologically advanced than anywhere on earth. While physically utopian, there is an oppressive side to this society, with a totalitarian form of government in place which is fearful of dissent, disorder and abvove all, discovery by the outside world.

Hans knows something that imperils his people, and he must fight against all odds -- including his cousin, Fredrick, the President of the Nation of Bergsland -- to save his people from destruction.

When two young vacationers stumble upon this strange world accidentally, they are taken captive and find themselves caught up in events that test them to the very core -- and become involved in a drama that will determine their own future, the future of this nation and the secret power that drives it.

My Thoughts

Will and his sister, Natalie, go on vacation, they never expect to find a hidden world. After an avalanche that separated them from the others, they travel on, in search of a way out. Meanwhile, Hans Swensen is on a mission against his cousin, Fredrick, ruler of this lost world.

This is more for those who want action and adventure. The Secret Power Beneath was interesting and a bit exciting. I guess the main problem was that, again, that it was slow at some parts and this book may have not been much of my cup of tea. But do not let that discourage you from getting The Secret Power Beneath because that's just my opinion.

The author was able to make a fantastic concept of how a world remained hidden for all these years, who, like others, wish to remain hidden. The Secret Power Beneath is good for a quick read that will help you enjoy and pass the time.

The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

Title: The Juliet Spell

Author: Douglas Rees

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 304

Reviewed by Sabrina

I’m Juliet.

At least, I wanted to be.

So I did something stupid to make it happen.

Well, stupid and wonderful.

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.

I didn’t get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren’t any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I’d cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?

Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William’s younger brother.

Good thing he’s sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he’s from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.

Still, there’s something about him that’s making my eyes go star-crossed....

Will Romeo steal her heart before time steals him away?

My Thoughts

The Juliet Spell was pretty interesting. It was…good. I liked the idea of the story although some parts didn’t make sense to me. I liked that this was one of the books that has a strong relationship between the MC and their parent. The Juliet Spell had been entertaining but there was like a glass wall separating me from the story. It was way better then I expected though. If your looking for a quick, fun read, this may be for you. If you were looking for something deeper, well...you better go looking elsewhere.

I’m really distressed at the fact that none of the characters had been really worried about messing up the past and letting characters of the past see a lot of the future. I’m also sceptical that everyone had easily believed and took into stride that Edmund had come from the past and was the brother of Shakespeare.

I didn’t see how Edmund fell in “love” with Miranda and I really hesitate to call what Miranda was feeling “love.” I didn’t see any romance between them until halfway into the book and that seemed too rushed. I was rooting for Drew, her new best friend, who bonded with Miranda much more than Edmund and was a far more loveable character.

Edmund seems to have only tiny flaws according to Miranda. He has a beautiful voice, super handsome, tall, brilliant, strong, great acting/directing skills, cool talents, awesome accents, and everybody loves him. Bad things about him? He’s a bit sexist, missing two of his teeth, and from the past. That's about it.

I didn’t like Miranda. She’s either moaning about wanting to be Juliet or obsessing over some guy who doesn’t like her back. Wash, rinse, and repeat.


The ending saved this book from getting a 2. Normally books don't usually end the way it did and I liked it.

*Note: this book has been received through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour: Tower of Parlen Min by Matt Xell

Title: Tower of Parlen Min (The Narrow Escapes of Ves Asirin #1)

Author: Matt Xell

Pages: 345

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Ves Asirin wins a trip to the Tower of Parlen Min. There, with 19 other children, he competes in the Sword Challenge; a series of puzzles and tasks, for $12 million. As fantastic and glorious as the tower seems to be, Ves finds that it keeps a dark and secret history that he has been connected to for over 150 years, a secret that will define his destiny ... if he can escape 'The shadow'.

My Thoughts

I wanted to take a break from the romance and drama of YA so I gave the Tower of Parlen a try. It went way beyond my expectations. I loved that a piece of the mystery came along bit by bit. The story is really deep and complex. Brilliantly thought out.

The first thing I felt for Ves was sympathy.Why? Because he was an orphan, he was often alone and he was bullied frequently. He also has a condition where his memory would reset and he would forget everything (which reminded me much of Forgotten actually). To top it off, he's only 11 years old. Despite his memory loss, he's a smart, brave, adventurous, crazy, talented kid. He uses a scrapbook for a memory. He has an amazing talent for art and fencing. He gets into trouble a lot because of his adventure streak so I'm not too sure about the smart part. I liked that he started to change from the experiences from the tower and became more open.

The second thing I felt for Ves was anger and disgust at his attitude (I didn't like all of the changes). I gritted my teeth together and forced myself to read through the parts where he acted like a major jerk. I seriously wanted to shake and scold him for his rotten attitude.

The last thing I felt for Ves was sympathy again. I shouldn't explain that because I would be spoiling. I will say that I was screaming, "NOOO! WHY?!? IT'S NOT FAIR!" and that earned a few stares from my family.

The main thing I didn't like was that the story got off track a bit at the middle and that I was given the names of ALL the children at the tower at the same time. I had to repeatedly go back to see who was who. Some characters weren't even that much important.

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Title: What My Mother Doesn't Know

Author: Sonya Sones

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 259

Reviewed by: Suzanne/Lucky

My name is Sophie.
This book is about me.
It tells
the heart-stoppingly riveting story
of my first love.
And also of my second.
And, okay, my third love too.

It's not that I'm boy crazy.
It's just that even though
I'm almost fifteen
it's like
my mind
and my body
and my heart
just don't seem to be able to agree
on anything.

My Thoughts

Truth be told, I picked up this book for a reading assignment in my English class, merely hoping for a short, somewhat-interesting read.

Boy, was I wrong.

In these two-hundred and fifty-nine pages, there was romance, drama, humor, confusion--all in a poem format! It was interesting and funny, with the whole--wait, I don't want to ruin the entire book for you! Haha!

But, as with every good book, there's something bad with it. In this case, I found it was the lack of character descriptions. Only Murphy and Dylan got any description whatsoever, and that was hair and eye color only for one. Murphy got some description, but what about Rachel? Grace? Sophie's mother? Sophie herself?

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Title: Wings, Wings #1

Author: Aprilynne Pike

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 294

Rating: ★ ★ ★

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Laurel discovers she is a faerie, sent among humans to protect the gateway to Avalon. Thrust into the midst of a centuries-old battle between faeries and trolls, she's torn between a human and a faerie love, as well as her loyalties to each world (sure she is). In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

My Thoughts

This book was hard to describe. The only word I could think of was 'interesting'. I thought the plot was a few pages late. Sometimes I would get bored, flip through the pages and say, "M'eh."

Laurel was okay. I related to her a little bit. Her actions and reactions were reasonable. I didn't believe the romance on her part. She really didn't seem 'torn' between two guys. Other than this one time, she treats David more like a best friend than a love interest. She even says so. Overall, Laurel's not my favorite character but ok.

This was probably the first book where I was torn between two guys in a love triangle. I was rooting for David at first but in the end, I found myself rooting Tamani a little bit. I wanted to stick to David but I could resist from liking Tamani just a little.

Everything about Wings was just ok. Fortunately for this book, it was interesting enough for me to want to read the next one.

Quick Question: What's the deal with authors putting Stephanie Meyer's quotes on the cover of their books? I know she wrote Twilight and all but I don't really care about her quote, or any other famous author's quote (no offence). I just care if the plot's interesting to me, not some one liner quote describing how good the book is by a famous author or some guy I don't know. I guess Twilight fans would read it if it was recommended by her.