Once Upon A Time

For as long as I remember, I always love reading. I think I got it from my father. He is an avid reader and often asked me to read anything when I was a child. He also likes to buy books. One of his collection is a book by Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, Dibawah Bendera Revolusi which published on 1963. If you want to take a look, here is it:

It’s in hardcover and has a box, to prevent the book from damage but I think he cannot avoid it since it’s an old book and he didn’t take good care of it. I once read that it’s quite a famous book and people still look for it for their collection. I don’t know whether or not it’s true but he still has it and sit proudly on his bookshelf. I’d like to think that it is mine also, since there is no one who loves to read in the family aside the two of us. Yet, I never read it. I tried it once a couple years ago but it’s so hard for me to understand it since it was written in Indonesian old spelling and some chapters are in Dutch. I still want to read it, though. Maybe someday.

As for me, I grew up by reading detective stories. How I love Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and crazy in love with Jupiter Jones, Pete Crensaw and Bob Andrews from Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators. When I was in junior high school I began to read Agatha Christie’s books and never get enough of hers. I think I have more than 20 books of her books. But in the beginning, I only have 2 books, Elephants Can Remember and The Seven Dials Mystery, my aunt gave it to me as a birthday presents. I used to trade it to borrow Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and another Agatha Christie’s books from my high school friends. As I get older, my father didn’t buy me books anymore. I have to save my pocket money to buy it. Then, it became a habit too. I love buying books as much as love reading it. Most of my childhood collections are gone now, but I still have a few of them on my bookshelf. Here they are:

How about you? What’s your story?

Review: The Archers of Avalon #3, Avow by Chelsea Fine

Blurb from Goodreads

Scarlet remembers. Everything. Her past lives, Tristan, Gabriel, Nate: she remembers it all–including how to get to the Fountain of Youth. But time is running out.

Heather and Gabriel have been kidnapped by Raven, while the curse that has plagued Scarlet and Tristan for centuries has shifted, putting the star-crossed lovers in more danger than ever before. Water from the Fountain of Youth is the only thing that can save Scarlet and her loved ones. But the water comes at a price.

With lives–and hearts–at stake, Scarlet leads her friends on a dangerous journey to the Fountain of Youth. Where eternal life is possible, but death is certain.

Kindle Edition, 407 pages

Published: December 11th 2012 by Firefall Publishing (first published December 1st 2012)

edition language: English

series: The Archers of Avalon #3

My Thought

Me: Hey…I know you’ve read Anew, what do you think?

My BFF: O-M-G Rachmi, I’m glad you talked about it non-stop till I read it. I finished the whole series, I hate to say this, but you are absolutely right. It was awesome. The series was awesome!

Me: I’ve told you

My BFF: I know you will say it. Thanks though for making me didn’t leave behind, at least I’m one of 4846 readers now 😀

Me: I’ve gave you my opinion now what do you think about it, aside of awesomeness? 😛

My BFF: I agree with your opinion, even the part about Tristan who always keep his words, though I still love my vampire 😉 so I guess I don’t have anything to say except it was awesome.

Me: Wow….you are speechless, huh?

My BFF: Yeah…I am. With many flashbacks in the beginning and middle of the story, I cannot guess what will happen with the characters in the end, can you?

Me: Hmm…..actually I love those flashback scenes. I never thought that Chelsea Fine will write many lives of Tristan, Gabriel, Nathaniel and Scarlet. So when she did I kind of surprised because it made the story from Anew and Awry clearer. I get a whole of their life story, not only a glimpse of their past and present life. It was like Chelsea Fine put the last puzzle for the story, every part that unclear, potholes from the prequels became clear here. Yet, I feel like their journey to Fountain of Youth too easy. I mean they spend centuries to find it and when Scarlet remembered basically it is just in front of their eyes. I also can guess what will happen to the characters in the ending. I guess I’m pretty good guessing the story or maybe it was because the author actually wrote clues along the story.

My BFF: Well…I think I’ll never pay more attention like you do. I let you be the one who do that because you are an observant reader, I guess. Oh, I have one thing to say that you haven’t mentioned. You didn’t say this series is hot, I mean I can feel the chemistry between Tristan and Scarlet. Their relationship though it was awry but so sweet, so unconditional but not in a cheesy way. I love it, I love reading their story, their banter and I can tell you that I can fell the sexual tension, their passion and their love to each other.

Me: You are indeed a hopeless romantic 🙂

My BFF: Hey, what can I say 😀 what your favorite scene from the series by the way? Mine is when Tristan and Scarlet spent their time in the cave, you know what I mean, right?

Me: Yeah, I know it but I’m not quite fond of it.

My BFF: Why? It was a very sweet romantic full of sexual tension kind of scene, you know.

Me: I don’t know I just feel that they are in the middle of their life and death journey and then there was that scene. I think they have to take their priority, which is their life is their top priority if I can say it.

My BFF: Oh come on, they can have a break from their messy life for a while and enjoy each other company. They fall in love for centuries and have to stay away from each other, for goodness sake. They deserve it!

Me: Hey….it just my opinion.

My BFF: So, we agree then The Archers of Avalon is an awesome series that I will read it again and again in the future. I will never get tire read this story.

Me: Yup, I told you this is an awesome series.

My BFF: Yeah….you don’t have to remind me again but why you gave it 4 stars?

Me: It’s because my questions from Anew and Awry still left unanswered, I still love it though. I won’t give it 4 stars if I didn’t love it.

My BFF: Oh, I have a question too from Avow. I think those are not important questions because it didn’t influence to the story. I mean without we questioning it, the story still awesome and Chelsea Fine didn’t have to explain everything.

Me: I guess it was just our curiosity. I understand that the author cannot describe all of the things in books. Well, maybe it is better to be left behind. It’s like it kept that way for reader imagination but I feel I need to know the way the fountain of youth works to physical appearance of the immortal. I need to know about when or how the Archer brothers and Nate have their youth and gorgeous features.

My BFF: It was just your curiosity because obviously I didn’t mind of unanswered question. Just left it behind, will you?

—-

That’s… my journey with Archer brothers, Scarlet, Nathaniel and Heather and even with Laura, Raven, Clare and Ashmen. A wonderful journey from Chelsea Fine.

I’ll surely read your other books, Ms. Fine. Oh, I’ve read Sophie & Carter by the way so I’m waiting forward for your many books in the future.

Favorite dialogue:

“Tristan followed so close behind her she could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck. Again.
“Ten foot rule,” called Nate.
“Bite me!” Tristan hollered back, more hot breath caressing her skin with his words. A wonderful shiver ran through her body. Damn him and his beautiful mouth and hot breath and his leather-smelling shirt. She assumed he was headed to his own room in the basement, but when she walked into the guest bedroom, he followed her inside. She turned around to tell him to leave her alone, but his bright green eyes derailed her words. He was so pretty…
No! No. He was not pretty. He was in danger of dying. Focus on the danger, Scarlet. She glared at him. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sleeping with you.”
Was he insane? She lifted a brow. “I thought you were mad at me.”
“I’m concerned. Not mad.”
“Huh. Well either way you’re not sleeping with me.”
“Yes, I am.”
He was insane. “No,” Scarlet repeated. “You’re not. You could die, Tristan. We can’t touch and we certainly can’t…sleep together.” She felt her face flush.
A look of amusement crossed his face. “I meant sleep, Scar.”
“Oh. Well.” She cleared her throat. “I don’t want to wake up next to a corpse, so, like…scram.”

Result: 4/5 Stars

Review: The Archers of Avalon #2, Awry by Chelsea Fine

Blurb from Goodreads

Sometimes love is meant to be. But sometimes…love is the death of you….

Seventeen-year-old Scarlet has just died. Only, dying isn’t unusual for a girl under a centuries old curse that left her semi-immortal.

This time, though, she comes back to her current life instead of awaking in a new one, and she realizes the curse is changing. Together with the immortal Archer brothers, Scarlet must piece together her life and try to break the curse before her impending death comes again.

ebook, 495 pages

Published: June 12th 2012 by Firefall Publishing (first published June 10th 2010)

edition language: English

genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

series: The Archers of Avalon #2

My Thought

This time, I want to create something new for my review format. Instead of like any other reviews, I wrote it in a conversation style. Although it’s only my imagination, I had fun wrote it. Hope you like it too.

My BFF: So, how is sequel of Anew? Have you finished it?

Me: Yes, I have. It was so good. Have you read Anew?

My BFF: Why? Do I have to read it A-S-A-P?

Me: Yes, you have too, what are you waiting for? You’ve already had it.

My BFF: Why do you want me to read it A-S-A-P? Yeah, I know you gave Anew 5 stars and it was your first 5 stars for this year so it must be awesome, well….at least for you. And why you won’t stop talking about it? Who do you think you are, Oprah?

Me: What do you mean?

My BFF: Well, you know Oprah used to talk her favorite books and she asked people to read it. But she has her own book club so she has a good reason to do that while you have no reason at all.

Me: Of course I have reason The Archer of Avalon series is awesome. I don’t want you to be left behind. That’s why I keep talking about it.
My BFF: How do you know the series is awesome? You only read 2 of 3 and I don’t know whether Awry is good or not. Yeah, you said it was awesome but I need more reasons aside of awesomeness.

Me: You want more reasons? I can give you reasons. So as I said in Anew, this book still has what I love from a book. It is a paranormal romance but it also has humor, a lot of humor and a good one. I love reading about Heather and Nate, her noisy and bubbling even incoherent one, his nerdy. Love their banter. As supporting characters they really have a special place in my heart and they make the story more alive. The story itself was so good. What happen to Archer brothers and Scarlet reveal here. I especially love their past, Chelsea Fine wrote it in flashback but whenever she wrote their past it connected to their present. I mean she didn’t just write their past in one chapter then continue to their present in another chapter. She intertwines it. So I can feel the connection between their past and their present. It answer why, when and how from the story.

My BFF: Why you always have questions from the book you read? Oh speaking about question did this book answer your questions from the previous one? I know that you will piss off when you didn’t find it hehehe

Me: Why I always have questions? I guess curiosity take the best of me 😀

My BFF: curiosity kills the cat

Me: I’m not a cat

My BFF: obviously, maybe we can call you curious Rachmi from now on.

Me: So, I’m not a cat but a monkey now?

My BFF: Hey, it’s compliment, you didn’t answer my questions by the way.

Me: What questions? Oh….yeah, Awry answered one of my two main questions. It was a good answer actually and made sense to me, I still waiting for an answer for another question though.

My BFF: Hmm….I think you are weird, maybe you miss something from the book because obviously other readers didn’t bring it out.

Me: Maybe, I think I have to ask them whether I miss it or not.

My BFF: Ok, how about the main characters, are they still awesome?

Me: Of course they are still awesome and I have more Tristan here 😀

My BFF: What about Tristan, I know that he has green eyes, gorgeous face, more gorgeous body, a badass. Basically swoon worthy kind of thing, right? So what’s new about him?

Me: Well…he is indeed swoon worthy, I love reading his qualities but what I love most about him is he keeps his words. I think I rarely read male character who true to their words nowadays.

My BFF: What do you mean are you saying most male characters are liar?

Me: No, I didn’t mean that. Let me tell you this way. I read a lot about male character who thought that he is dangerous to female character, his love interest. He keep saying that she shouldn’t be near him, that he isn’t good for her and she have to stay away from him. BUT he do all of those things. He seems can’t stay away, keep near her or even sometimes kind of stalk her.

My BFF: Oh I know who you are talking about, my favorite vampire, right?

Me: Yeah and lots of male characters like him. But Tristan is different. When he said to Gabriel to kept Scarlet away from him. He indeed stays away from her. He keeps their distance and even he go away from the story for a few chapters. He is true to his words. That’s what I love the most. He doesn’t pretend doesn’t want or need Scarlet so keep pull her away but keep meet her coincidentally.

My BFF: Ok, I understand your opinion but I still love my vampire. Oh, I remember you said that you can guess what happen with the characters. Are your guess right? It sucks when I can predict the story, you know.

Me: I know I also love unpredictable story. I had 2 guesses after reading Anew, one of it was right but the other was wrong! So this book still has a surprise for me. And it still feels good because I didn’t think about it at all.

My BFF: Ok…I get it I think I have more than enough reasons to read this series. So what will you read next?

Me: Are you kidding me? Do you have to ask? Of course my next reading will be book #3, Avow.

Favorite dialogue:

“Nate called out, “Team Meeting!” and pointed a finger in the air.
When he had everyone’s attention, Nate cleared his throat. “There are a few Team Awesome things we need to discuss.”
Tristan leaned over to Gabriel. “What’s Team Awesome?”
“It’s our team name,” Heather smiled.
“We’re not a team,” Gabriel said.
“We are a team,” Nate corrected. “We’re Team Awesome and I’m team captain.” He looked at Tristan. “You can call me Captain. Or Captain America, if you’d like. I’m even willing to settle for Captain Jack.”
Tristan crossed his arms. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
Heather’s eyes lit up. “Ooh! Can we choose code names? Can I be Catwoman?”
“We’re not choosing code names.” Gabriel looked incredibly annoyed and Tristan almost smiled.”

Result: 5/5 Stars

Review: The Archers of Avalon #1, Anew by Chelsea Fine

Blurb from Goodreads

Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery…until she met a boy with a familiar voice.

Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet’s determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he’s kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer.

Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet’s world becomes even more muddled. While she’s instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she’s impossibly drawn to Tristan–and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past…might just be the death of her.

Paperback, 385 pages

Published: December 7th 2011 by Firefall Publishing (first published December 5th 2011)

edition language: English

genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

series: The Archers of Avalon #1

My Thoughts

My first 5 shining stars of 2013 goes to….

First of all I want to thank my friend Sarah, who convinced me to read this book A-S-A-P *Heather mode*. Although it wasn’t as soon as possible as I wanted to, I’m glad I read it now when I have all of the series so that I don’t need to wait longer for the sequels. And most of all thank you to Ms. Chelsea Fine who wrote this amazing book that without a doubt will be on my favorite series shelf and I will definitely read it again and again and again in the future.

There are reasons why I loved and enjoyed this book, so let me explain it. Reincarnation and long lost soul mate are one of common stories. But then again I believe there aren’t stories that don’t influenced by other stories. It authors jobs to make it their own story. I don’t mind if the story has similarity and influenced by others as long as it has its originality. Anew is a story like that, though the main theme wasn’t new, Ms. Fine brought it differently it makes this reincarnation-long-lost-soul-mate kind of story become her own story. It is kind of fresh story to me. This story has many elements, romance, humor and paranormal but none of it overwhelmed each other. It’s perfect and completed those elements.

The characters are also perfect. No one has bigger portion than another. And most important is I can feel and connect with all of them. I love scarlet & heather friendship, I like their B-F-F *again in heather mode* though heather is kind of noisy-witty bestfriend she completes scarlet personality. She made me look forward her wittiness. She’s the one who keep scarlet normal and I can see that they are only 17 year old. I also love the Archers brothers, their look alike with different personality, again it make me see that there aren’t similar person, each person is unique and I love the fact their difference influenced their act. Laura and Nate as supporting characters are also great, I look forward for their story and I believe they have bigger role in the sequels.

Character name is one of my elements to connect to the story. It’s weird, I know but I find there are uncommon character name nowadays. If the names suitable with the story I can feel they are really belong to the story thus it makes me connect to the story itself. Gabriel, Tristan, Nathaniel and Scarlet are names from a long time ago. I mean there are classic story and famous people with those names, so it makes sense if they came from hundreds years ago. And Gabriel and Tristan are my most favorite boy names so of course I love it 😀

Although Anew is not pure unpredictable story, I still got surprises here and there. It also made me keep wondering, keep guessing where the story goes and made my heart beat with the characters. But there are issued that I think need to be explained more. Yet it didn’t stop me to give it 5 stars because I still hope there will be more explanation and description in the sequel, after all this is just a prequel, a beginning to the whole story.

All in all I loved and enjoyed Anew and surely can’t wait for the sequel, Awry. As Tristan said, if you had this book, you have to read it today. It’s so worth reading and I bet you won’t regret it.

Favorite Quotes:

“Knowing death is nearby gives you a chance to live…deliberately.”

“Before he knew he was immortal. Before life was no longer fragile. Those were the days when life truly meant something. When life was hard but worthwile, and love was valuable because your days were numbered. That was living.”

“Scarlet watched a leaf fall to the ground, lying dead amoung the other leaves on the forest floor. “A brief life seems pointless.”
Tristan thought for a moment. “Isn’t that what life is, though? A brief opportunity to exist? A short gift?”

Result: 5/5 Stars

Review: Queen of the Realm of Faerie #2, Flower of Isbelline by Heidi Garrett

Blurb from Goodreads

Now, the half-faerie Melia must save her sister from a false marriage, and their world from a dark power. Her sister is determined to pursue their father’s damning legacy—even if the cost of denying true love is apocalyptic. Melia races to possess the magic basin and sword, but will she be in time to stop her beautiful sister from unleashing the powerful Umbra from the Void?

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series is inspired by the 14th century French fairy tale, Melusine.

ebook, 3rd edition, 195 pages

Published December 2012 by Half-Faerie Publishing

edition language: English

genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

series: Queen of the Realm of Faerie #2

My Thoughts

This second book of The Queen of The Realm of Faerie series is the beginning of Melia’s journey. In the end of Nandana’s Mark we knew that Plantine was captivated by Lord Zacharia Goring. He needs her as Umbra’s ‘body’. In order to avoid Umbra’s incarnation Melia together with Ryder and Sinjiin have to prevent it. And so her journey begins.

Like other fantasy stories, Melia needs companion to help her along her journey. Aside Ryder and Sinjiin, Flora, Tuck and Tatou accompany her. Each companion has own purposes and different from Melia’s goal but it makes the story interesting because in some way they have to make priority.If you think Nandana’s Mark was slow-paced, you wouldn’t find it here. This story is fast-paced and there are a lot of actions. I mean there are surprises and more adventure than book one because Melia’s journey didn’t easier. Although her main purpose is to go to Stronghold, she has to take many routes with interesting adventure. Each journey intertwined and influenced each other.

As a sequel, Ms. Garrett didn’t waste time and pages to tell the story. The introduction of the world building and the characters had already done in Nandana’s Mark. It made this book worked faster than the prequel. And make me as a reader couldn’t keep my eyes of it. I also love the way she introduce her next focus character from previous book. It’s like she prepares it for her reader to pay more attention to her next characters, at least that’s what I felt. In Nandana’s Mark she told Flora only in two chapters but then she has bigger role here. She is one of Melia’s companions. Similar case for Sevondi, the dragonwitch also has more stories here (and after the cover and the title of book 3 reveal) I bet main focus of The Dragon Carnivale, will be about her. It makes me think that she indeed writes her books as a series. She has already planned it before wrote it.

But I have to admit that I’m quite hard to connect to the time setting in The Realm of Faerie that seems parallel to my time, with the guns and movies that mention in it. But then again, I guess I have to adjust my mind and keep remember that it indeed has the same time as our world.

All in all, I love this sequel more than Nandana’s Mark and look forward for book #3, Dragon Carnivale.

Result: 4/5 Stars

*Paintings courtesy of Allan Lee.

Review: Queen of the Realm of Faerie #1, Nandana’s Mark

Blurb from Goodreads

As a half-faerie and an outcast, Melia longs to fly–like her mother and the other fullblood faeries. However, her lack of wings becomes the least of her concerns when startling visions of destruction, linked to her father’s ambitions, escalate. Desperate to stop them, Melia visits the Illustrator and receives a strange mark on her forehead. The mark will draw a green-eyed stranger–one who shares her obsessions–to the Realm of Faerie.

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series is inspired by the 14th century French fairy tale, Melusine.

ebook, 210 pages

Published August 14th 2012 by Half-Faerie Publishing

edition language: English

genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

series: Queen of the Realm of Faerie #1

My Thoughts

Fantasy is my most favorite genre. It’s full of imagination and magic. I didn’t mean other genre doesn’t have it but fantasy book always has stories beyond my imagination and allow my thought wandering to the mystical place with awesome characters. Nandana’s Mark has a lot of thing a fantasy book I loved and it contains with characters from original story. I love when story takes from the original. A story that I used to know then the author creates a new one. Here I met elves, faeries, trolls, witches, dwarves with their metalwork skill, serpentine and even a tool that can see what happen in the present and future, a tool similar to the mirror of Galadriel or Dumbledore’s Pensieve. Here it called Ormrun, a bejeweled basin forged by Gweff, the dwarf.

I have to admit it was a little bit hard reading this book in the beginning of the story. There are a lot of name for a lot of character and places. In some parts I cannot differentiate whether it is a place or character’s name. On the other hand, I love those names. It feels and sounds suitable with the story. The elves and faeries name sounds beautiful, as beautiful as their appearance. The places name match with its magical world. I even think one of the character’s names, Ryder, is a good choice for him. He isn’t from The Realm of Faerie so his name has sound different from Melia’s kin but fit with the whole story. I kind of hope his name has another meaning, more than just a word to call him. Just like Aragorn who also known as Strider. Yet, I like the way Ms. Garrett wrote her story. The writing was beautiful and flawless. I can’t believe this is her debut. She and her editor surely did a great job.

Another thing that quite hard for me was its geography. After read chapter one I knew that there are two worlds, The Enchanted World and Mortal World. At first I thought that The Enchanted World is consists of Illialei and Tyrannis then I read about Ryder. I feel he isn’t from The Enchanted World but I know that he isn’t from Mortal World either. That left me a question where is he come from? Then it reveals in a couple more chapters that The Enchanted World actually consists of The Realm of Faerie and many other places while Illialei and Tyrannis are countries in The Realm of Faerie. The Realm of Faerie itself described in chapter 11 so I misinterpreted it for 10 chapters. It kind of irritated me, but to be honest I actually can avoid it if I look at in the back of the book. There are glossaries in the back but I’m kind of person who don’t like to look at the end of the book to avoid spoiler. So I didn’t realize there are glossaries in it until a while. It taught me to look carefully to book’s contents though 😀To avoid the confusion of its geography I think it will be good if Ms. Garrett put a map on the book or even better 2 maps. A map about The Realm of the Faerie put in the front and The Enchanted World in the back of the book. I bet it will help readers to read and picture it easily.

Other than that, I love Nandana’s Mark, it has everything I love from fantasy book. I honestly think it needs to be recognized and read by many readers.

Result: 4/5 Stars

Review: Luminescent Juliet #1, In The Band by Jean Haus

Blurb from Goodreads

When family problems push Riley Middleton into giving up a percussion scholarship in another state and attending college from home, her friends push her to try out for a local rock band. Of course, Riley makes the band. She rules at the drums.

Riley soon finds out rock bands have a different dynamic than marching bands, especially when each of her male band mates has a major ego and is a major player. Two of them relentlessly flirt with her. The other—a dark, sexy rock god she can’t help being attracted to— is a total jerk and pushes her to quit. She becomes determined to ignore his rudeness and his hotness. Even if she was interested in jerks, a hook up would probably get her booted out of the ego-ridden band, and playing keeps her sane. Behind the drums, the world and its troubles evaporate.

If she wants to stay in the band, Riley needs to ignore the growing sparks between her and her band enemy. But as she gets to know the man behind the stage persona, ignoring him proves to be more difficult than flowing through a time sig shift.

Kindle Edition, 301 pages

Published October 19th 2012

edition language: English

genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult

series: Luminescent Juliet #1

My Thought

“Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you” (Gayle Forman, If I Stay)

This is a story about make choices. Riley chose to play drum when she bored with her piano lesson. It brought her to Virginia with percussion scholarship. But there is another choice that she has to choose, her mother and her sister need her. So she gave up her scholarship to choose her other choices.

Actually I chose this book just because its cover, it’s suitable for my reading challenge and I didn’t expect much of the story. I’ve read 2 novellas from Jean Haus, Sleeping Handsome and Happily Ever After?
though I liked it, it was like another YA books. But In The Band surprised me, it has a very good story with a very well describe characters.

I love Riley, she knows what she wants to do and what she wants to be. Yet when life didn’t turn as simple as she thought she didn’t hesitate to look her other choices. For me she’s brave and an independent woman, although she changes her choices because she has to. I also love Romeo, his love for Riley didn’t hold her life. He respects her and understands her choices.

This is an emotional book for me. I’m not sure whether it’s because Jean Haus writing or because I’ve been in Riley’s shoes or both of it. One thing for sure this book will be on my favorite shelf. For me it isn’t just about love story but also about choices, priority and trust.

Favorite Quotes:

“Question how much I can give up until I lose myself.”

“Sometimes life is hard and painful and just plain sucks. And other times life is beautiful and brilliant and amazing.”

Result: 4/5 Stars

Review: The Seven Deadly #1, Vain by Fisher Amelie

Blurb from Goodreads

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah…then you’re gonna’ hate my story.

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price…And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Kindle Edition, 392 pages

Published: February 7th 2013 by Fisher Amelie (first published December 24th 2012)

edition language: English

genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult

series: The Seven Deadly #1

My Thoughts

They said you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Sophie Price is surely knows what she got but she’s willing to let it go to feel to be loved and to be wanted. She’s extremely beautiful with a body to die for and extremely rich but she’s also manipulative. She always gets what she wants. Boys dream her and girls envy her.

I think she’s the most self absorbed character I’ve ever read. The way she describes herself makes me hate her then love her because she’s so honest.

I could’ve been considered a dichotomy of dressers. I never showed much in the way of skin because, well, my father would have killed me, but that didn’t stop me from choosing pieces that kept the boys’ tongues wagging. For instance, everything I owned was skin tight because I had the body for it, and because it always got me what I wanted. I loved the way the boys stared. I loved the way they wanted
me. It felt powerful.

Basically she is not typical female character I read. She’s so complex. She’s manipulative and she knows it, she has everything but she’s lonely, she willing to change but she’s afraid the changing.

Despite Sophie, I also love her relationship with Ian, her love interest. Although they feel a connection since the first time they met, I love how their take time to their relationship. It isn’t an instant love or love at the first sight yet I can feel their spark for each other and more believable for me.

Although I could guess what will happen to Sophie when she has to face the courtroom, I was surprised it will be in Uganda. In the other hand, it make Sophie’s story more interesting. Knowing she has everything and have to face limitedness.

In the end it makes this story different from other NA books, it isn’t just about Sophie’s love story but about how she find herself, be a better woman and take a step to make a change not just waiting the world to change. The reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because I feel the ending a little bit cliché and too rush. But I’m sure Sophie is one of female characters I’ll remember for a long time.

I love Amelie playlists, but I have my own soundtrack for Sophie and Ian. It’s What About Now by Daughtry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roDXSHSEuoo

Favorite Quote:

“No one can know sincere happiness, Sophie, without first having known sorrow. One can never appreciate the enormity and rareness of such a fiery bliss without seeing misery, however unfair that may be.”

Result: 4/5 Stars

Review: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale # UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn

Blurb from Goodreads

Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated, that is until she saves her crush’s life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her newfound fame brings misfortune as an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its next fairytale victim.

To break the fairy tale curse on her family and stop these deadly events, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.

Kindle Edition, 216 pages

Published: 2011 by Chanda Hahn

edition language: English

genre: Paranormal, Young Adult

series: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1

My Thought

I’m sure most of people in this planet know who Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm are or at least familiar with some of stories they were collected. The brother Grimm and their stories are the main theme of this book. The main character, Wilhelmina or Mina Grime is a great great great granddaughter of Wilhelm Grimm. Apparently when the brothers collected the stories they made a deal with the fae. It caused a very long curse among The Grimms and Mina tended to break it free by write a new story.

I liked the beginning of the story. It was funny and I can feel her awkwardness. I also liked her relationship with her bestfriend, Nan. Although they have different characters, I can feel they are really bestfriend.

But then, as the stories go I’m annoyed with Mina. Her naivety to what really happen and couldn’t figure out in which story she really is make me want to scream at her. I cannot believe how come she’s so clueless when there are lots of clues around her.

Usually I don’t mind of typos and grammatical errors as long as I understand it. English isn’t my first language so who I am judging what is wrong and how is supposed to be when I’m still learning it. Yet in this story, I cannot ignore those typos and grammatical error, it’s so inevitable and I have to reread a couple of time to understand it. The writing also quite distracts me it didn’t as smooth as any other books I’ve read. Sometime I feel like there isn’t a connection between sentences and paragraphs. I cannot feel it. But I like the ending, it’s quite unpredictable and it’s make me want to read the sequel, Fairest

Result: 2.5/5 Stars

Review: The Sweet Trilogy #2, Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Blurb from Goodreads

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Paperback, 371 pages

Published: April 30th 2013 by HarperTeen

edition language: English

genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

series: The Sweet Trilogy #2

My Thoughts

Although this is one of the most anticipated books of 2013, I didn’t feel in a rush to read it since I didn’t quite like Anna Whitt, the narrator and the main character of the story. Then, most of my friend like, 90% of them read it as soon as it released and gave it at least 4 stars. They tempted me, so here I am a week after it was out writing its review.

I liked this book better than its prequel, Sweet Evil.
There are significance improvements in this second book of Sweet Trilogy. Anna isn’t a clueless-helpless-innocence-naive nephilim anymore. She prepares herself with martial arts, she (sort of) works for her dad and she knows her role and willing to take part of the mission. I like her here. I also found Kaidan as her love interest more interesting for me. I liked that he stay away from Anna to keep her save. His love for her but kind of hesitate to let her in add the tension to their relationship. I’m eager to know what will happen next. And the demons, the whisperer and other bad guys are truly evil here which I like because it brings something to look for and more action to the story.

But I have one doubtful thing. Can the demon be erased from the earth? It sounds a wishful thinking for me. Demon represents bad and evil things. As much as their evilness, there will always be dark alongside the light.

In the end, this book makes me begin to love Anna, Kaidan, Patti, Kopano, Blake, Ginger, Marna, Zania and even the Dukes.

Result: 4/5 Stars