Loving the Reviews Feb 21th - Jacquelyn Wheeler

Head on to Brandi's blog and check out the character interview by Jacquelyn Wheeler, author of Rising Shadows!

Remember: If you review one of her books, you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^

Review: Wither (Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Copy Courtesy of Simon and Schuster via Galley Grab
Release: March 22, 2011

Summary
Rhine is sixteen in a world where girls die by the time they are 20 and guys by the time they are 25 from a genetic virus. She has been kidnapped and forced to marry Linden. All she thinks about is how to escape back to her twin brother, but Linden's father is bent on using her for his genetic experiments to save his son before he too succumbs to the virus.

Commentary
I'm somewhat disappointed because I was pretty excited about this book. The premise is perhaps a bit silly because there aren't any genetic reasons for the numbers 20 for girls and 25 for guys, but the idea of what could happen with a society whose lifespan is severely shortened was novel enough for me.

The description of how the world had turned brutal worked well for me, and I liked how it affected class divisions (rich vs poor). Since Rhine had sisters wives who were also married to Linden, the author was able to give varying perspectives on their situation as well as the world, which I enjoyed although I didn't connect with any of the characters in particular.

While reading, I felt like I was observing the events in the book through a telescope. Things were happening, but they didn't feel important, as if the whole decadent household of Linden was a staged play (especially the ending). I liked the story, but I don't feel an urge to recommend to it to anyone.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Wither at Amazon

Loving the Reviews Feb 20th - Jennifer Laurens

Head on to Brandi's blog and check out the guest post by Jennifer Laurens, author of Heavenly!

Remember: If you review one of her books, you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^

Review: Princess for Hire (Princess for Hire #1) by Lindsey Leavitt

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

Summary
Desi is hopelessly in love with a very cute boy in her class. Unfortunately, he is dating her former best friend who despises her so when Desi is offered a chance to become a stand-in princess, she jumps at the chance. Little does she know that the glamorous life of subbing for princesses is harder than she imagined.

Commentary
This is definitely one of those cute, fun, fluffy, and mostly brainless reads. I picked this book up after I had read a few dystopian pieces because its pink cover and frivolous title hinted that I would get a happy story. Happily, it provided just what I needed to recharge my reading batteries for heavier material.

A lot of this book is very silly which is great for lightening the mood and to just not think about what your reading. This book captures some of the wonder of being a princess although it also adds in how reality can make things different. I enjoyed these aspects although the end gets a bit too moral of the story for such a fun book.

Granted, a lot of YA books that I read when I was younger probably had moral of the story even when they were fun although I just don't seem to remember those parts as well. The morals have likely already been embedded deep within my mind somewhere. So, this was just a generally cute read.

Star Rating: 3.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Princess for Hire at Amazon

Loving the Reviews Feb 19th - Deborah Reber

Head on to Brandi's blog and check out the interview with Deborah Reber, author of Language of Love!

Remember: If you review one of her books, you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^

Review: Life as We Knew It (Last Survivors #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Summary
Miranda's worries about tests and the mundane world of high school life changes when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. As the weather takes strange turns she learns that surviving the winter without electricity and a dwindling food supply is a reality she must brave.

Commentary
I usually am not a big fan of books which are told as diary entries (it's just a personal preference sort of things), but Life as We Knew It really pulled it off. Miranda starts out sounding like your typical teen or at least what I've come to associate with typical teens in books, which is to say kind of annoying. Once the meteor lands though her voice gets less grating and the story shines through.

One point which is interesting is that the author got a lot of the weather changes right despite not having spent any time researching the scientific impacts of a meteor hitting the moon as it did in the book. There were a couple small areas which I had questions about but the small discrepancies didn't bother me much.

The characters go through a lot of emotional changes and learn to make tough choices in a believable way. What they face is chilling in its applicability to many natural disasters, and definitely made me want to start stockpiling in case of emergencies.

I'm really glad I got around to reading this book, and I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoy stories which are focused solely on everyday people.

Star Rating: 4.0/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Life as We Knew It at Amazon

This is now a Book Party Post!

Loving the Reviews Feb 18th - Lisa Desrochers

Head on to Brandi's blog and check out the interview with Lisa Desrochers, author of Personal Demons!

Remember: If you review one of her books, you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^

Review: Assassin's Quest (Farseer #3) by Robin Hobb

Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb

Note: As this is the last book in the trilogy, there are spoilers in the summary. YOu can read my reviews of the previous books Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer #1) and Royal Assassin (Farseer #2)

Summary
Fitz is now believed dead by the vast majority of the Six Duchies. He also needs to remember what it means to be human since he melded so completely Night Eyes through the use of Wit The Six Duchies are still in danger from Forging, and salvation seems hopeless. In order to save his beloved country, Fitz meeds to regain his humanity and seek out his King, Verity.

Commentary
This series hasn't been much for happiness, and Assassin's Quest, the epic conclusion, is certainly not any happier. If anything, it is even bleaker and more frustrating than the previous ones. I don't like bleak books very much at all so I was not a fan. I finished this because I needed to know what happened.

Another thing that bothered me was how much thwarting Fitz has to get through not because I thought his journey should have been easier but because I just got really bored having Chivalry's depravity hammered into me ever other page. Basically, I just stopped caring.

I'm sure long arduous journeys and bleak outlooks appeal to some readers, but I'm not that reader. The characters themselves are very well fleshed-out, and there's a lot of detail to the story.

Star Rating: 1.5/5.0

For an explanation of the Star Rating go here.

Check out prices for Assassin's Quest at Amazon

Book Blog Hop and Follow Friday (Feb 18)

Welcome from Book Blog Hop hosted by Crazy for Books and Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee!


Book Bloggers! You write reviews, now you can win some prizes for doing so ^.^ YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO (*mind tricks on you) So go to the Loving the Reviews Link Up page

Check out the AWESOME interview I had with Shelley Workinger as part of LRC

I really caught up with reviews this week ^.^
Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer
Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger
Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson
Brayan's Gold by Peter V. Brett
One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost



If you are a fan of Science Fiction what is your favorite book? If you haven't read Science Fiction before...any inkling to? Anything catch your eye?

Favorites!
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Ender's Game (yes yes the author is evil)
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Loving the Reviews Feb 17th - C. Lee McKenzie

Head on to Brandi's blog and check out the interview with Jennifer Murgia, author of Angel Star and Lemniscate!

Remember: If you review one of her books, you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^