"Prized" by Caragh O'brien

Warning: this is the second book in the BirthMarked trilogy. If you haven't read the first book I wouldn't read this.

Prized by Caragh O'brien was even better then the first book, Birthmarked. It was fast paced, suspenseful, and romance came into play. Some of the questions from the first book get answered as well. So far this trilogy seems to be a must read!

Prized picked up where BirthMarked left off. Gaia is scrambling around in the wilderness with her newborn baby sister. She has escaped the Enclave, only to be at death's door step. She's running out of supplies and she doesn't know where to go now. Her sister is starting to die. Gaia and her sister are captured and get taken to Sylum. It's a society inside the dead forest, but every thing is backwards. The woman rule over the men, the men out number the woman, and kissing or any form of affection is a crime unless your married. Gaia's sister is taken from her to see if the Sylum women can save her. There's strict laws in which Gaia needs to learn to follow if she ever wants to see her sister again, assuming she lives. As if that's not enough, once you enter the society you can't leave it for long periods of time or you die. No one has been able to figure out what causes the death. Gaia fears she may not be able to submit to all the rules. If she submits, she'd have to change who she is as a person.

I LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down, and I definitely can't wait to start the next one, Promised. My heart literally broke for Gaia. The love story Caragh Obrien decided to go with was such a tough romance. I'm telling you now, start the trilogy. You won't be disappointed. (Assuming nothing drastically goes wrong with the third book. I'll let you know.)

                                                                              Rating 5 out of 5.

"Prophet of Yonwood" by Jeanne Duprau

Warning: This is the third book in the series, The Books of Ember. If you haven't read the first two you may not want to read this.

The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne Duprau is actually more of a prequel for The Books of Ember. It gives a glimpse of what went on the last 50 years before the Disaster took place, and Lina and Doon came into existence. The main character battles with her self on deciding the difference between right and wrong. She wants answers, and not any answers. She wants the truth, as do we all.


Nickie goes with her Aunt Crystal to Yonwood with some secret motives. Her great-grandfather has passed away and left Nickie's mom and her aunt his house, which the family has owned for over 150 years. They want to sell it. Nickie goes claiming she just wants to see it, but really she wants to find a way to convince her aunt and mother to keep it. She dreams of living there one day with her mother and father, once her father returns of course. He left on an official government job, but wasn't allowed to tell them where he was headed or when he'd return. This was understandable with the world ready to burst at the seems. Threats of terrorist attacks, missiles, and so on had everyone on edge these days. Nickie had thought that the small town her great-grandfather had lived in might be different, but everyone there was just as scared. There was weirder stuff happening there too, opposed to the city Nickie came from. There was a woman with a vision. A vision of the world's destruction. 


It was cool to see what exactly happened that caused so much destruction in the world Lina and Doon currently live in. We got to see who created Ember, and who exactly left the journal that Lina found. Once again this book just like the first two can and does appeal to all age groups. Young, old, or in between. It's scary to think about, because we, the real world, have a lot of the weapons and anger built up that you see in these books. It just goes to show, if everyone can't "grow up" a little bit and work out our differences, these books could be our future. We have the power to cause are own world's demise. I happily purchased the fourth and final book, The Diamond of Darkhold, which picks up where The People of Sparks left off. Continuing the journey of Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow. I can't wait to read it later tonight. Happy reading to you all!

                                                                  Rating 4 out of 5.

"The People of Sparks" by Jeanne Duprau

 

Warning: this is the second book in a series, if you haven't read the first book, The City of Ember, you may not want to read this.

The People of Sparks by Jeanne Duprau is the continuation of The City of Ember. It's a Dystopian themed novel, filled with Love, Betrayal, Curiosity, and the Killer Instinct to survive. 

It only took a day or two for more people to emerge from Ember, filling Lina and Doon with great relief. The good feelings faded quickly though, because they were short on food, and had no idea where to go in this new world they had discovered. They all decided to head towards the gray looking pavement, at one time it looks like it could have been a road. With their food depleting at an alarmingly fast rate people begin to panic. Until they stumble upon the town called Sparks. Lina and the other Emberites aren't exactly welcomed with open arms, but they are fed and given a place to sleep. Temporarily. Things start to head downhill rather quickly and now the people of Sparks intentions may be to do more harm to the Emberites then good. What will they do now? Fight or flee? Will all the Emberites be able to decide on what is right or wrong?

This book was pretty good, I'm sure not if I liked it as much as the first book or not, but it was still pretty interesting. I really enjoyed the development of the main characters, and just seeing how they people of Ember adapted to the "new" world they discovered. This book still had the fearful urgency to survive vibe going on like the first book, which I loved.  I greatly disliked some of the new characters. Like Torren for example, however; I suppose in some ways he was "misunderstood" and attention seeking. I still recommend reading it, the world Jeanne created in the book shows exactly what hate, revenge, and war could do to man kind in the near or far future. I actually just bought the third book,The Prophet of Yonwood, and plan on diving into it here later this evening. Happy reading to you all!

                                                              Rating 3.5 out of 5.

"Gregor and the Code of Claw" by Suzanne Collins

Warning: This is the fifth book The Underland Chronicles, if you haven't read the first four you may not want to read this.

Gregor and the Code of Claw was written by the well known author of The Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins. It's a story that takes place in modern times with a fantasy twist. It has murder, mystery, suspense, love, betrayal, and everything a great novel would have. This is the last book in the series, and everything in the Underland is at stake!


Gregor has one prophecy left to fulfill. He understands it for the most part. Defeat the Bane and save everyone. Everyone's lives are at stake and it's all up to him, but for some reason no one will tell him what the end of the prophecy is. The ultimate battle is about to unfold and Gregor is realizing his feelings for Luxa are growing. He wants her safe. As everything goes down the unimaginable happens. Will Gregor succeed or will he fail, dooming everyone he's grown to love?


I'll be honest the end of this book kinda leaves you hanging. Suzanne could definitely write another book if she wanted too. I'm really hoping she does. I know this book series was targeted for a younger audience, but after reading it myself, and reading tons of reviews, it seems the young adult audience is taking over. It reminds me of the Harry Potter books not because there's wizards or anything, but because it appeals to a large age group. Despite the ending, young, old, or in between; you need to read these books. You won't be disappointed!

                                                                Rating 5 out of 5.

"Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Warning: this is third and final book of The Hunger Games. If you haven't read the first two books you may not want to read this.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins was a great ending for this dystopian trilogy. Just like the first two books, Hunger Games, and Catching Fire; this book had you on edge from beginning to end. The suspense was marvelous. 


Katniss Everdeen is now staying in the thirteenth district, which was once thought to be destroyed. Peeta on the other hand wasn't so lucky, he's was captured by the Capitol. As much as Katniss would like to go rescue him, she knows it's not possible, at least not yet. She met with the districts leader, and came up with a deal. She would continue being the rebellions poster child as long as all of the tributes were were granted immunity from any criminal charges they had or would have by the end of the war. Katniss wasn't happy about having to sit back and watch the fights go on, she wanted to be in the fight. Eventually she got put on a "mission" to do so. With very little time remaining in the war, will the Capitol manage to stay in control, or is the rebellion to strong this time?


I loved this whole trilogy so much, however; the ending just about made me cry. I couldn't believe what happened to Prim. That's who Katniss got into this mess for. She was always looking out for her little sister. I didn't really like how Katniss went temporarily crazy, however; I know it was realistic. All the stress she had been under and the deaths, it'd be unsettling for anyone. If you haven't read this trilogy it's a must! What side would you be fighting for the Capitol or the Districts? No matter where the power lies, there's always corruption.

                                                                  Rating 5 out of 5.

"Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Warning: This is the second book in a trilogy, if you haven't read the first book you may not want to read this.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins picked up right where Hunger Games left off. This book was just as thrilling as the first. Safety doesn't exist anymore in Panem. It's just a giant game in which the Capitol plays, the districts are their pawns. There's a nice little rebellion brewing again, but the Capitol intends to squash it just like the last time.

Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and all the other victors should be safe from playing the Games. If you survived the Games you never have to play again. Except at the 75th quarter quell, the rules change. The Capitol is drawing names only from the victor pool. Katniss is the only girl in the 12th district who has ever won. She knows she's going back, and the likely hood of her survival this time is next to none. Haymitch and Peeta have a fifty fifty shot. Only of them has to go, except it seems one of them is already volunteering. The next couple weeks is strict training, they'll try their best to get home. The only difference about this round of Games is that there seems to be a secret only some are in on. Katniss isn't one of them. She was left in the dark, and she has no idea. How long can she expect to survive this time in the Hunger Games?

I loved this book just as much as the first one, maybe more. Suzanne really knows how to keep you on edge. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I had to know who'd be killed off. She wouldn't kill my favorite characters would she? or would she? It's definitely a must read trilogy. If for whatever reason you haven't hopped on The Hunger Games Trilogy Train , hop on now, and let the 75 Quarter Quell begin!

                                                                                                   Rating 5 out of 5

"Death Cure" by James Dashner

Warning:This is the last book of the Maze Runner Trilogy. If you haven't read the first two books you might not want too read this.

The Death Cure by James Dashner was awesome. More and more of the truth is finally revealed, however; some things the characters and us find our are simply breath-taking.

Thomas has been locked in cell, which turns out to be his last trial. All the remaining gladers under go their last trial alone. Upon completeing the trial, they find out good & horrible news. The good news is that's the last trail. WICKED thinks it has all the kill zone patterns required. Bad news. The kill zone patterns are needed to create the cure for the flare, which they still don't have. The gladers find out most of them are actually immune to the flare. That's why their brain waves needed studied, however; everyone isn't immune. Leaving some of their friends lives in the hands of WICKED. Can they get the cure in time? They have the option to go under the knife sort of speak, and get their memories back. Some gladers are all for it, while others still don't trust WICKED, and they don't think they want to remember who they were before this whole mess. Upon the group being split up some havoc breaks out, leaving the odds of everyone surviving rather low. It turns out WICKED left out a a small detail, they only need one candidate for the cure. They need the person with the strongest brain waves, but what is required of them is unbelievable. Their lives as they know it hangs in this one persons hands. There's still only a fifty-fifty chance the cure can be created successfully. Is it worth it to try? Or will they run?


I loved this trilogy. It was so sad to see it end. Luckily I still had the  prequel to read which gave me insight on how the world became to be the way it was in the The Maze Runner. 
Now, I personally can't wait to get my hands on Dashner's new book The Eye of Minds.