Blog Tour: Normalish by Margaret Lesh

Normalish

Author: Margaret Lesh

Publication Date: October 5th, 2012

Publisher: Musa Publishing

Genre: Contemporary

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Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Stacy questions the strange world of high school, love, her role in a harsh universe, and life, in Normalish.

People tell you high school's so great and wonderful, but they're lying. It's mostly horrible and full of disappointment. It sucks. Your best friend abandons you. The jerk you're in love with pretends to be into you, and then the big dump. The boy you've really clicked with as a friend decides to go all crushy over you, so you break his heart just like yours was -- smashed into little pieces. Your sister goes mental, and you get involved with a guy who’s even crazier than she is (who you know is a very bad idea, but you do it anyway). Math only adds another stink of failure to the whole thing.

High school blows. Just ask freshman Stacy. She’d want you to know.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed Normalish. It's written from the perspective of Stacy, a freshman in high school, who has recently realized just how much her life "sucks". It seems like everything is falling apart for her, but all she wants is to be normal. I really liked her character, she tries her best to do the right thing, most of the time, and clearly has to work on a few things. I loved the writing style as the story is written like diary/journal entries, I'm not really sure why but it's just one style that I really like reading. Maybe because it seems more intimate to be reading all of the protagonists deepest secrets.

Stacy is a character that grows throughout the book, she begins to realize that her life isn't really so bad. That she wants the things that she never thought she would and how much more her family means to her. She seems fairly mature for her age, which made it so I was actually able to connect with her on some level (since I'm not a freshman in high school any longer and all), so that made the book more enjoyable. Not that she was mature in everything, because sometimes I wanted to face palm, but not so much that I hated her.

Overall, I found that the story flows really well, I had a hard time putting this down and basically carried it everywhere's with me so I could sneak in a few minutes wherever I could. I think I'm addicted to drama because there was quite a bit of drama in Stacy's life, but it's the kind that you have to keep reading, like coming across a bad accident, you can't help but want to know more. This is definitely a book that I'll be recommending to others!

Get the book:

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Owl Recommend (18)

Owl Recommend is a feature at Owl Read It where we try to help you find your next great read :)

I love both of these books in large amounts. While they might not be a whole lot alike, they do carry the same kind of light vs dark atmosphere with amazingly well developed characters and a plot line that will leave you reeling. If you are into paranormal, I'm pretty positive you will love both of these :).

Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night
Under the Never Sky #2

Author: Veronica Rossi

Publication Date: January 8, 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Fantasy/Dystopian

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Synopsis:

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both. 

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder: Can their love survive through the ever night?

My Thoughts: Okay, I almost like this novel better than the first one - which is a hard feat because I loved Under the Never Sky!  It was sweet, surprising, overwhelming and had just the right amount of action for me.  I sped through this novel and didn't want to put it down for a moment.

At the beginning of the book, Perry and Aria are finally reunited after months apart after the previous book.  Aria has become a much more self-sufficient woman, clearly able to take care of herself for the most part now - a far cry from when she first left her home pod of Reverie and was a defenceless and sheltered Dweller.

Perry is trying to cope with the responsibility of being Blood Lord of the Tides.  He never wanted or expected to be their leader, but he is doing his best with what he has been given - which isn't a lot since the Aether storms and wandering tribes threaten their homes and their livelihood.

Everyone is still in search of the Still Blue, hoping beyond all hope that it does exist somewhere and they can make it there before their whole world succumbs to the scorching fire of the Aether.

The last book was a mission for Aria to find her mother and become self-reliant.  This book is about struggle.  Perry and Aria struggle to find a way to be together without everything and everyone trying to stop them.  The tribes are all struggling for food and maintaining their land.  Perry is struggling to be a leader and Aria is struggling to try and save everyone.

All in all, I loved this book.  It has some really sweet parts with Aria and Perry which I really, really loved.  Then, there are the parts that made me gasp and my heart wrench.  Through the Ever Night really drew me into the world and left me reeling when I was forced back into reality.  I love this whole series so far and can't wait until the next one.  If you haven't checked it out yet, pick it up!

Review: Marked by P.C & Kristin Cast

Marked

Author: P.C & Kristin Cast

Publication Date: May 1st, 2007

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Genre: YA/Paranormal/Romance/

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Synopsis:

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire -- that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

My Thoughts: I have to be honest and say that for the first few chapters of this book, I was seriously questioning my choice to read it. I don't really know why, except to say that it just felt so...lame. And maybe that's not a good excuse. But it felt cheesy, and un-serious to me, when I could tell that it was trying to be serious. But I continued on because I did actually buy the books so I gotta give them a decent chance. I can say that things did get better, but I'm still not completely sold on their awesomeness. I've heard lots of good things about this series, and I feel a little sad that I don't enjoy it as much as everyone else seems to.

If I were to describe this book quickly and easily I would say; think Harry Potter and wizard, but change it to vampires. Now don't get all excited on me. I'm in no way comparing their greatness. I am of the full opinion that very very few books surpass the masterpiece that is Harry Potter. But I can definitely see similarities in the story line. Zoey has a poor home life, she unexpectedly becomes marked to be a vampire and she's thrown into a private school for just such people. But Zoey is unique, her mark is special and different and she has been blessed by the goddess Nyx, so all these great and wonderful things are expected of her. For the most part she delivers. She manages to make a small, but good group of friends, of who I will talk more of later. And she develops an enemy almost right away. A , rich, self entitled, controlling snob and her little sidekicks. And she eventually is set on a quest to rid the school of evil and bad influences.  See what I mean? Maybe I'm crazy but it felt familiar to me.

So on Zoey specifically, my feelings about her are complicated. I feel like the fact that the story is written by two people shows through while reading it. At times I felt Zoey to be immature, childish, and sometimes even a little moronic. But other times she seemed strong, willful, and determined. Most of the time I like her, but not a lot. And then other times I'm just thing to myself; seriously?! did you really just think/say/do that? As for her group of friends, I didn't particularly like any of them either. There's Stevie Rae, who seems really nice and super friendly but I just get these weird feelings from her and I feel like she might not stay such a good friend forever. And there's the two girls they call twins, and it's supposed to be hilarious cause one is Jamaican and the other is a Caucasian blond. Most of their parts consist of just finishing each other sentences and making sarcastic comments and they kinda get on my nerves. Then there's Damien, I actually kinda like him. He's smart, and independent and doesn't seem as clueless as the rest of them can seem. The only thing that bugs me, and it's not really about him. It's that he is gay, which is fine!! But the book feels the need to constantly remind you with lewd jokes and references, and I'm just like, yeah I get it, you already reminded me a million times. It just seems overplayed.  The one character I actually really like is the Antagonist, go figure. But to me, she seemed like the strongest, smartest,   most well developed character, even if she's a giant B-word.

Despite not loving the majority of the characters, I did find myself enjoying the plot line. It is definitely unique in it's ideas and creation. That is one thing I always love about Vampire books. You rarely find two that are the same. I praise them for their unique twists on Vampires, and their great, drama filled story line that did keep me turning the pages. If it weren't for the fact that I really liked the ideas, and events involved I can't see me caring much for this series at all. But I don't want it to seem like I am just bashing this book. And I'm sorry if I come off that way. I did enjoy it, it's thrilling, captivating read, with good plot twists and great story  line. If I could just switch out some of the characters I could easily see myself giving this book a 5 star.  I would still recommend this book, because obviously not everyone is going to feel about the characters the way I do. And if you like Vampires then you should probably try this series for an awesome new take on their lore and lives and creation.

Waiting on Wednesday (52)

Waiting on Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly awaiting.

Breaking Point
(Article 5 #2)

Author: Kristen Simmons

Expected Publication Date: February 2nd, 2013

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Synopsis:

After faking their deaths to escape from prison, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.

Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper’s true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….

Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.

Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.

With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed Article 5, so I can't wait to read this one! It sounds awesome!