Waiting on Wednesday: For Darkness Shows the Stars (24)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

This week, I am waiting on...

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diane Peterfreund

Expected Publication Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Synopsis: Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Eighteen-year-old Luddite Elliot North has always known her place in this caste system. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. But now the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress and threatening Luddite control; Elliot’s estate is floundering; and she’s forced to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliott wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she abandoned him.

But Elliot soon discovers her childhood friend carries a secret—-one that could change the society in which they live…or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she has lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

Why I'm Waiting on This Pick: This book sounds amazing! The romance, the futuristic feel, the crumbling society--it sounds great. The only thing I'm not too crazy about is the name "Kai." I don't know how I'll get over my distaste for that name when reading the book. I can't wait to pick this one up!

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 391
Synopsis: Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create. 

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying. 

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn.

Review: Catching Fire has always been my favorite book in The Hunger Games trilogy. I think it's because of the new characters. In this second installment, Katniss is thrown back into the arena with previous victors, which I completely adored because my favorite thing about Suzanne Collins's writing is her characters.

   Finnick and Johanna and Beetee; they all stole pieces of my heart because they're just all freaking fabulous. But, of course, my favorite character is the wise and drunken Haymitch Abernathy. I love Haymitch. Love him. So much. I love him a lot, if you couldn't tell.

   Aside from the characters, another aspect that I loved about this book was the plot. It was so surprising--even though this is a reread, I still found myself gasping. I was absorbed into this destructive and cruel world. I was rooting for these greatly developed characters. I was anticipating the shock factor or the crazy twist and Suzanne Collins did not disappoint.

   I don't really know what else to say besides the fact that this is my favorite book in the series--and rightfully so. Catching Fire is dramatic, surprising, twisting and turning in every way possible, causing readers to devour this book like Katniss devours lamb stew.

   5 keys.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Publication Date: May 11, 2004
Publisher: Speak
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 376
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Macy Queen is looking forward to a long, boring summer. Her boyfriend is going away. She's stuck with a dull-as-dishwater job at the library. And she'll spend all of her free time studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father's recent unexpected death. But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother's open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew. Before long, Macy joins the Wish team. She loves everything about the work and the people. But the best thing about Wish is Wes—artistic, insightful, and understanding Wes—who gets Macy to look at life in a whole new way, and really start living it.

Review: This is my favorite Sarah Dessen book, so of course I had to reread it! I'm not sure if I liked this book as much as I did during my first read, but that's okay, because it's still a book that I think everyone should read.

   Macy is a flat character. I'm not going to lie. All of Dessen's leads are usually very flat. Macy was not an exception. I did like her, but I wish she could've jumped off the page more. As usual, Dessen's other characters were very lively, very real, and very awesome.

   The Wish catering crew was chaotic and hilarious. I loved Delia and the way she welcomed disasters like she welcomed her own children. I loved Kristy and her outgoing attitude and her search for an "extraordinary" boy. I loved Monica and how she never spoke full sentences. I loved Bert and his obsession with the world's end. And, of course, I loved Wes.

   Wes is, by far, my favorite Dessen boy--which is saying something, considering how amazing Dessen boys are. Wes has his own history, sometimes scary and sometimes heartbreaking. He also understands Macy like no one else seems to be able to. He knows what to do, what to say, and he's just so sweet. Wes is also a sculptor, so bonus points for artistic talent!

   I love Sarah Dessen's books because they always have so many elements and layers to the story. It's not just a fluffy romance. It's truly anything but. There are family troubles, self-discovery, lots of change in character, and other things along those lines. You're guaranteed a change in Macy from the beginning to the end.

   I truly recommend The Truth About Forever to all Dessen fans, and even those who are not, because it's filled with messages, finding your true self, and a really sa-woon-worthy boy.

Waiting on Wednesday: If I Lie (23)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

This week, I am waiting on...

If I Lie by Corrine Jackson

Expected Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Synopsis: A powerful debut novel about the gray space between truth and perception. 

Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town. 

Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.

This book sounds completely different and unique. It's not the usual YA contemporary. You know the type: fluffy and light and romantic. It's also not one that extremely heavy, like books about cancer, disorders, suicide, etc. I don't think it fits into either category. It kind of stands on it's own, and I like that. Plus, the book sounds awesome-amazing-I-need-it-now-worthy! :)

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Publication Date: October 1, 2006
Publisher: Dutton
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 215
Synopsis: In this new novel from the acclaimed author of Looking for Alaska, Colin Singleton always falls for girls named Katherine--and he's been dumped 19 times, to be exact. Letting expectations go and allowing love are in the heart of his hilarious quest to find his missing piece and avenge dumpees everywhere.

Review: Reading The Fault in Our Stars inspired me to reread another one of Green's books. I chose the only one my library had available--An Abundance of Katherines. (Coolest title ever, I think. Only because I have a fondness for the word "abundance.")

   John Green writes humorously. His humor isn't juvenile, though. It's the kind of funny that only becomes funny after you think about it. Actually, his whole writing style is just like that. I can only describe it with the word "intellectual."

   Colin a washed up child prodigy with a broken heart. He has a problem with falling for and getting dumped by girls named Katherine. This has happened exactly 19 times. His best friend, Hassan, drags him out and together, they go on a road trip. Don't be fooled--this isn't a road trip book. But it's still a great book.

   Despite the fact that I find math and trivia interesting, this book had an abundance of it. I got bored sometimes, and I also found some scenes or passages to be unnecessary. However, for the majority, of the book, I liked what was going on.

   I liked all the characters well enough. Colin was relatable and at times admirable. He threw pity parties for himself sometimes, but he also knew when he needed to do something. Hassan was just funny. He was definitely most of the comic relief in the book. I really liked Hollis, Lindsey Lee Well's mother. She was just the sweetest lady ever.

   The character I really didn't like was the love interest, Lindsey Lee Wells. She had too many different personalities, and none of them seemed genuine. She admits this herself, but for me, that wasn't enough. Also, the way she spoke. She sometimes ended her sentences in "yo," so I sat there thinking, "Er. She's a rich girl from Tennessee. Not a thug in a gang." I couldn't connect with her, unfortunately.

   An Abundance of Katherines is a unique, humorous, and intellectual book that will definitely leave an impression on all readers.

   3.5 keys.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Publication Date: October 1, 2008
Publisher: Scholastic
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 374
Synopsis: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. 

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Review: It's been two years since I last read this book. It's incredible (and embarrassing) how much I can forget in two years. It was almost like reading this book again for the first time, because most of the time, I would be like, "What? Gale has black hair?" or, "Is that how this tribute died?" Yep. Pretty shameful on my part.

   The Hunger Games is the book that opened me up to YA literature. After reading it two years ago, I quickly read another YA novel, and soon enough, I was in love with the genre. It's easy to remember why I loved this book. It's a truly remarkable book.

   The world building is brilliant. I can imagine District 12 and the arena in which the tributes compete. I can feel the angst, the sorrow, the fear of the tributes. I can truly grasp the concept. This book keeps readers on the edge of their seats. This book seriously glues itself to your hands. This book is definitely one of a kind.

   As mentioned before, I could really feel the emotions of all the characters, except for one. Unfortunately, that one character was the most important one--Katniss Everdeen. I felt like the prose was too dry and emotionless. Don't get me wrong; the writing was good. Katniss herself wasn't. I wanted a deeper connection with her. I wanted to truly feel what she felt. It didn't happen for me.

   The first time I read this book, I liked Gale. I had a grudge against Peeta--a really huge, strong grudge. After rereading this book, I can say that I love Peeta. He's sweet and caring. Adorable and charismatic. I liked the romance aspect in this book and how Katniss doesn't even have a clue as to what love can possibly be. Nowadays, girls in YA are willing to die for their true loves. Katniss hasn't even realized that she loves anyone yet--except Prim, of course.

   The Hunger Games is breath-taking and thrilling with the pages flipping themselves. I love this book so much. I don't think I can ever get tired of it. I'm so excited for the movie!

   5 keys.

P.S. This review counts for Presenting Lenore's Dystopian February!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Harper Collins
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 374
Synopsis: Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse. 

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive. 

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Review: I'm really torn on this book. It definitely was not what I was expecting, and I'm sure if that's in a positive or negative way. What I am sure of is that this book is slow. Very, very slow.

   It took me ages to get through this book. The pacing was just too slow for me. It was definitely the worst part of the book. To be honest, if you ignore the pacing, the book is really great. But the speed of the book took a lot out of my enjoyment.

   Veronica Rossi's writing is really wonderful. The prose in Under the Never Sky was beautiful and flowing, but it was also very descriptive. Veronica Rossi fully developed the atmosphere and world in this book. The building of this strange never sky was very well created.

   I couldn't connect with the characters sometimes, especially since this book is written in third person which I'm generally not a fan of because of this reason. Aria and Perry were both developed well, but I didn't have that strong click with them. Maybe it was because that the world they lived in was so alien, and I was too busy trying to put pieces together. Then again, maybe not.

   The romance between Aria and Perry was very unique. They started out hating each other, but ended up falling in love. Their relationship was slow building, just like the rest of the book, but I liked it that way. It was more believable and enjoyable.

   Despite the slow pace, Under the Never Sky is a very unique and wonderfully written debut that'll surprise readers.

   3.5 keys.

Waiting on Wednesday: My Life Next Door (22)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

This week, I am waiting on...

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Expected Publication Date: June 14, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Synopsis: "One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time." 

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen year old Samantha wishes she was one of them… until the day Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. 

Jase can sense that his beautiful neighbor is missing something in her sterile home, and as the two fall fiercely in love, his family makes her one of their own. 

But when the bottom drops out of Sam's world, which perfect family will save her–and will her perfect love survive? 

Set among the haves and have-nots of a coastal New England town, My LIFE NEXT DOOR captures the angst, the heartache, and the raw-nerve emotions of first time love—and biting loss.

This book has been on my "to-read" on Goodreads for forever! Ever since I've heard about it, I've been dying to read it. I'm so envious whenever it appears in someone's IMM, because I want to read it so badly. Katie from Katie's Book Blog said it was great in ANNA proportions (meaning Anna and the French Kiss). So you know it's going to be great. 

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Broke My Heart a Little (13)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Broke and the Bookish!

This week's topic...

Top Ten Books that Broke Your Heart a Little

1) Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare - Okay. My heart did not break a little. My heart shattered into billions of shards. My poor Will Herondale... 

2) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - If you've read this book, you know why. 

3) Where She Went by Gayle Forman - By the end, my heart was mended, but throughout the whole novel, my heart would break and mend itself like crazy.

4) New Moon by Stephenie Meyer - Er, come on. You must've been a Twihard at some point in your YA reading life. This one tore through me!

5) Delirium by Lauren Oliver - The ending. The ending. The ending. I mean--I just--I can't even... The ending! D:

I only have five books this week! Sorry! Usually, books have happy endings and my heart doesn't break. What's on your top ten? ;)

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Publication Date: December 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 281
Synopsis: What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

This is the second review for this book. The first one can be found here.

Review: I think I'll start this book off with a little story. I took this book to school today and one of my friends read the back and said, "You know, romance books these days are so predictable! I mean, you can obviously tell that Jordan and this Tyler Green boy are going to end up together." I started laughing. If you've read this book, you know why. Predictable? Catching Jordan is anything but.

   I don't think it's been long enough since my first read to have reread this book. I still remembered every single detail, which sucks some of the fun out of rereading. Nevertheless, I did enjoy this reread. My favorite thing about this book is the humor. All the boys on the team are just so funny, as well as Jordan. The humor is sometimes crude, but it's realistic, which makes it great.

   I love the characters. Jordan thinks she knows what she wants, but then ends up realizing that she doesn't know at all. She's sometimes determined, and sometimes completely confused. Because of that, I found her very relatable. My favorite of all Jordan's teammates is probably Carter. He's quiet and nice, and of course, super sweet. And then there's Sam Henry. I mean... is there anything to say about him? Sam Henry. My goodness...

   This book has lots of different elements going for it. There's the romance/angst aspect which I loved! I am such a sucker for some good teenage angst. There's also the football aspect. I'm clueless when it comes to football, but that's alright. It definitely works for this book. And there's the self-discovery portion. Jordan discovers and learns along her journey, which I was always like in a contemporary.

   The only thing I wasn't that crazy about the second time around was the writing. Sometimes, it felt awkward. Not because it didn't flow smoothly. It felt awkward because at times, the monologue was so unrealistic. But I suppose that's because I was analyzing it too carefully.

   Catching Jordan is a totally fun and completely hilarious debut that I had an absolute pleasure rereading!

Waiting on Wednesday: Survive (21)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

This week, I am waiting on...

Survive by Alex Morel

Expected Publication Date: August 2, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
Synopsis: Jane runs away from Life House, a facility for kids with mental health disorders and addictions. She boards a plane to Montclair, New Jersey, though her destination does not matter—she doesn’t plan to be alive when the plane lands. Jane has planned the perfect suicide: she’ll fall asleep on the plane and never wake up. As she’s reaching for her pills in the cabin’s bathroom, the plane hits turbulence. Another jolt, and the engine’s down. The plane crashes into the mountains of Montana, and Jane and a boy named Paul are the only two survivors. 

What starts out as a death mission quickly becomes a fight for life.

Not only is the cover super awesome, but the story itself sounds AMAZINGGG. A fight for life? Count. Me. In. Please. Gosh, this book sounds so good, it's ridiculous. asdfghjkl.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday? :)

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Publication Date: December 2, 2010
Publisher: Dutton
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 372
Synopsis: Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

*This is the second review for this book. The first review can be found here.*

Review: Anna and the French Kiss is book crack. It's addicting and I can never get enough. This book has everything a girl wants--a swoon worthy boy, friends, romance, cuisine and Paris.

   I love Anna Oliphant. She is one of my favorite MCs in YA literature and she's my favorite character in this book. Anna is always so hilarious and dorky, which I completely adored. She made mistakes along the way, but always ended up redeeming herself. Anna didn't always make the right choices, but it didn't frustrate me. Stephanie Perkins does a wonderful job at thoroughly explaining Anna's thoughts and letting readers feel the same way Anna does.

   Etienne St. Clair. The boy all readers fall in love with. He's basically perfect. Good looking, funny, kind, caring, and he has a British accent. To me, he was more than just a love interest. He was a legitimate best friend. Yes, sometimes he was stupid as heck and hurt Anna, but really, he just cared too much for everything.

   I didn't notice how long this book was until my second read. For a contemporary, I mean. But even then, I felt like the book was too short. I want more! More, more, more! I've never read another book where the romance is crafted so perfectly, so flawlessly, and so believably. I swear, if Stephanie Perkins ever stops writing these kinds of books, I'm going to die.

   5 keys.

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Publication Date: May 19, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 293
Synopsis: Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush. 

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life. 

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Review: I really didn't expect to like this book. I honestly just read it for AR points, but in the end, I'm really glad I read this! It was very cute and very fun. There were issues here and there, but as a whole, I think I enjoyed this book quite a lot.

   I really liked that this book was about mermaids. I don't think I've ever read a mermaid book, and I'm glad this was my first. There was an abundance of fish lingo littered throughout this book, which I thought was so adorable! It was really creative and I found myself smiling.

   My main problem was the main character. Lily was like one of those seven year old girls that obsessed over the Jonas Brothers when they were popular. She was delusional and obtuse. I wanted to shake her and tell her the obvious things, but she was far too oblivious. It drove me bananas.

   The characters did fall flat for me throughout most of the book. The only person who really stood out to me was Quince. He was adorable and really sweet. But even then, I sometimes felt like he wasn't truly three dimensional.

   Forgive My Fins is a quick and fun read that surprised me in a good way, floating my boat throughout my whole reading experience.

   3.5 keys.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Publication Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Tor Teen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 316
Synopsis: Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . . 

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. 

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay. 

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home. 

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Review: Thrilling and romantic, Anna Dressed in Blood is immediately one of my favorite books ever. I've never come across a book anything like this one before. To give you an estimate on how much I liked this book, I created an analogy.

   Anna Dressed in Blood : Paranormal  : :  Anna and the French Kiss : Contemporary

   Yeah. It was that great.

   It took me around fifty pages to get into the book, but after that, I was completely sucked into Cas's world. I'm not a big fan of male POVs, but for this book, I'm willing to make an exception. I liked Cas as a character. He was snarky and smart and realistic. At least, as realistic as a ghost slayer can be. The secondary characters were very great as well. Thomas was nerdy in that adorable way. I loved how he had this huge crush on Carmel--it was so cute! Carmel was another character I really liked. She was the "Prom Queen," or the popular girl. But she was not at all stereotypical. I loved the way she broke the mold and how logical she was. She reminded me of Hermione Granger at times.

   My favorite character was easily Anna. She had many layers and was such a good person, despite the amount of people she murdered. Her story was so horrific and I felt like she was the most developed character in the whole book--which is saying a lot. I loved the dynamic between Anna and Cas. They easily hopped onto my list of favorite fictional couples. They were never cheesy, corny, or overly romantic. I found myself thinking, "My goodness, just kiss already!" They were so perfect and, gah, I ship them so hard.

   This book was so unique. I haven't read a good share of ghost books, to be honest, but I highly doubt any of them are as amazing as Anna Dressed in Blood. The writing was very good and there was never a dull place. I found myself hating to put this book down, because I just needed more.

   I need the sequel, Girl of Nightmares, now please! Anna Dressed in Blood is one of those books that takes you by surprise because of the complete amazingness of it all. Terrifying, captivating and extremely well executed, Anna Dressed in Blood is an absolutely phenomenal book that I recommend to every kind of reader. Plus, the cover is gorgeous! Tor Teen is so good with illustrated covers.

   5 keys.

February is "Reread Favorites" Month on The Book Basement!

Hey, everyone! You know when you read a really amazing book that you just HAVE to reread, but don't have the time to? Well, I've been feeling like that a lot, so I decided to make February my "Reread Favorites" Month!

What am I doing?
I'm just taking the month to reread the books I've been wanting to read.

What does this include?
Personally, I'm hoping to get to:

• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
• Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
• The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
• Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
• The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
• This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
• Any or all of the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling

I probably won't get to all of them (especially the HP series) but oh well!

What about reviews?

I'm going to be posting reviews for every book I read. Yes, I will be posting ANOTHER review for Anna, Virtuosity, etc. I think duplicate reviewing is good as a reader, so that I can see how my perspective has changed between the first and second reading. Plus, I'll be reading some new books, too!

I hope you guys can bear with me through this month! I'm going to be having a blast rereading all these favorite books. :) Much love! 

January 2012 Wrap-Up!

My goal for January was: 10

The actual number for January was: 12 completed, 1 DNF

The books that I read in January:

1) Catching Jordan by Jordan Kenneally - 5 keys - review

2) Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 3 keys - review

3) Unearthly by Cynthia Hand - 4.5 keys - review

4) Nightshade by Andrea Cremer - 2.5 keys - review

5) Where She Went by Gayle Forman - 5 keys - review

6) The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothernberg - 4 keys - review

7) Legend by Marie Lu - 4.5 keys - review

8) The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - 3.5 keys - review

9) My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody - 2.5 keys - review

10) Graceling by Kristin Cashore - 3.5 keys - review

11) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - 4.5 keys - review

12) Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman - DNF 1 key - review

13) Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig - 4 keys - review

So that's all I read this month! To be honest, I'm pretty pleased with myself. :) My standout favorites of this month were: Catching Jordan, Where She Went, and The Fault in Our Stars. They're all contemporaries! How crazy!

Goal for February: 10.