The Dark Divine --- Bree Despain

Rating: 4 Stars

Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Werewolves

Pages: 384

Official Summary:

Check out author Bree Despain's website. Click HERE!

Review:

Back to back werewolf books! To be honest, I am getting a little tired of werewolf stories...but this book was great! It had a little romance, tension, action, and drama. The good girl and bad boy romance was fun. The werewolf story was different and had a few twists.

Overall, enjoyable book. Read it! :)

Claire de Lune --- Chrisine Johnson

Rating: 3.5 Stars
Genre: Science fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 336

Official Summary:
Torn between two destinies?

Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf.

As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?

Review:
Hmmm a tricky review because I both liked and disliked the book.

Likes:

I know some of us are over the whole werewolf thing, but this werewolf story was surprisingly unique and original. Only women are werewolves and they are "born with it," although it does not manifest itself until the girl turns 16.

Humans know werewolves exist in the world but they are not adequately informed on the subject. Consequently, there is a lot of mystery and myths surrounding werewolves, as well as researchers trying to unravel the mystery. I enjoyed this aspect of the story. It is different from most werewolf books.

There were two villains in this book; Matthew's father with his "cure" for werewolves and the rogue werewolf in Claire's city who is killing people. The two villains added more interest to the plot.

Dislikes:

The story was somewhat predictable. As I read, I found myself making predictions about the plot and what would happen with the characters. Turns out that I was mostly right with my guesses! I would have liked a few more twists and turns.

I enjoyed the romance between Claire and Matthew, but it came a little too easily for my liking. This is entirely my own preference, but I like a little more tension and conflict that builds up to the romance. Does that make sense? Haha!

Claire was a likable main character. Claire was realistic with her emotions throughout the book and brave when she needed to be, but I did not feel a pull toward her. She was not a memorable character. If that sounds harsh, I apologize :)

Overall Claire de Lune was enjoyable. Worth reading, but maybe check it out from the library or borrow it from a friend.

Audience: Any teenage girl or anyone who likes to read.

I'm sorry! ....... And vote!

Hello Book Sniffers! I am sorry I have not posted in weeks! I promise I have not abandoned you. My sister is in town with her kids so we have been going, going, going! But I have also been reading new books :) So here come some new posts!

Also, take a look at the top of the blog. There is a poll allowing you to vote for what book I should giveaway next....So vote!

Book Giveaway Winner!

The Book Smells book giveaway is now over! I know you can hardly wait to hear the results, so I won't leave you in suspense any longer!

The winner is...... Heather M.! I will be emailing you :)

The first Ranger's Apprentice book is now yours!

Congratulations! Can you think of anything better than winning a free book?! Other than winning the lottery, I think not! :)

Thank you for all the drawing entries! I appreciate all you followers. You guys are awesome! Keep checking the blog. I have several new books I am reading that will need reviewing. Yay! And don't worry, I will do more book giveaways!!!

(FYI: I used random.org to generate a random number. Everyone in the drawing was assigned a set of numbers depending on how many entries they received.)

Birthmarked --- Caragh O'Brien

Rating: 5 Stars

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Young Adult

Pages: 361

Official Summary:

After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopiam world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It's Gaia's job to "advance" a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the noght one agonized mother objects, and Gaia's parents are arrested.

Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia's efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.

Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich intricate layers of codes, BIRTHMARKED explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code.

Review:

Wow. What a cool book! Very original. It was fun to unravel the plot of the book as I read, but there was twists and turns I didn't see coming! The plot was very conflicting and it really made you think about what would be the best solution to the problem. Bit by bit the author reveals information about our world and what led to the Enclave society.

Gaia is a very likable protagonist. She is vulnerable without being weak or whiny, if that makes sense. She grows throughout the story and is a strong woman in the end. I enjoyed this dynamic character.

I highly recommend this book! It smells awesome :)

Only a few days left!!!

A big thank you to those who have entered the book giveaway! For those who haven't....go ahead and enter! Click the "Book Giveaway" image at the top of the blog and simply follow the instructions. The giveaway ends Wednesday, June 9th! Yay! :)

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Mortal Instruments Series --- Cassandra Clare

Ratings:

Book 1: City of Bones (4 Stars)

Book 2: City of Ashes (4.5 Stars)

Book 3: City of Glass (5 Stars)

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Official Summary:

Click HERE to visit the Mortal Instruments website. (You can even read excerpts from the books!)

Review:

These books were already popular by the time I started reading them. They didn't sound very interesting to me so I was a little hesitant to read them....But I absolutely loved them!

The first book, City of Bones, was a little difficult to get in to. I mean it starts off at a club! That just doesn't do it for me. But then the story really takes off.

The books get better as you read them. You get attached to the characters and involved in the story. I did not want to finish the last book because I was sad for the series to end! Luckily Cassandra Clare decided to write a fourth book for the Mortal Instruments series. AND she is starting a new series! Party! :) (Don't worry my fellow Book Sniffers! I will keep you updated on when these books are going to be released!)

A few side notes concerning the Mortal Instruments books. The main character, Clary, could be annoying at times. Not like Bella Swan annoying but still she got on my nerves.

There is some mild language in these books and slightly mature content. 14+ Audience

The Mortal Instruments are not the best books you'll ever read or the best writing, but they are fun to read! Entertaining! That's why I gave the series such high ratings.