Review: Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Book: Marked (House of Night #1)
By: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Publication Date: May 1, 2007

Description: 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: This is one of the additional audiobooks I borrowed from the library and may I say I'm glad I did. I had honestly been avoiding this book for quite some time. I thought it seemed dumb. I hate books about special schools and all that, plus my little sister has the book and that just makes me feel like a child. Finally, since I didn't have to pay for it, I got the audiobook and listened to it in the car.

I absofreakinglutely loved this book. Why oh why had I never read it. I cant even really explain how much I loved this book. As a character, Zoey Redbird was great. She seemed like me, only a vampyre of course. I could totally get her. I even liked her friends, I mean ALL of her friends. From the gay guy to the country best friends, they all added a little something to the book that just set it apart from the rest. Even the almost-ex-boyfriend and the new boyfriend made me fall deeper in love. This book was just great and I love me some Zoey Redbird. (I also love that she's Cherokee because I tend to read a lot of books where the MC is White American. Not that that's a problem or anything, but it's just nice to read something from a minority ethnicity, especially since I'm a minority and since I have a bit of Native American in me - don't ask what, I was never told, so I don't know.)

I usually focus on listening to my audiobooks when I'm on the move; driving somewhere or walking far to go to lunch, but as I got deeper into  this book, I found myself sitting on the edge of my bed listening to it over my iHome while my dog anxiously prodded me to play with him. It was too good for words and I immediately went back to the library to pick up the rest of the audiobooks in the series. (They didn't have Hunted, but I may just buy it.) This is literally one of those books that I'll buy the print version of just so I can add it to my shelves. So great. Even the speaker of the audiobook made me fall in love. Her voice was hypnotic and comforting and she really knew how to do all the character voices. It was great.

I realize I've told you nothing about this book specifically except about how great it was, but there's really no way to explain it. It's wonderful and if, like me, you've been pretty on the fence about it, I'd suggest you pick it up. You won't be sorry. I give it 5 stars.

Review: Florence by Ciye Cho

Book: Florence
By: Ciye Cho
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: July 1, 2012
NOTE: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Description: Seventeen-year-old Florence Waverley is out of her depth. Literally. Kidnapped and taken below the waves to the mer world of Niemela, she is the ultimate gift for merman Prince Kiren: a human familiar tied to his side. But nothing is what it seems amid the beauty and danger of a dark ocean.


Every Niemelan has a role to play, from the mermaids who weave towers out of kelp to the warriors who fight sea monsters. But in trying to survive, Florence will end up in the middle of a war between the mer and the Darkness. A conflict that will push her between two brothers: Kiren, the charmer inexplicably drawn to both her and the monsters; and Rolan, the loner who has been pushing her away since the day they met. But in order to take a stand--and find out where she belongs--Florence will have to risk it all: her life, her heart... and her very soul.

My Thoughts: Florence was an interesting view into the world of mermaids and focused on the idea that living without a purpose isn't really living at all.

We begin the book following Florence, a 17 year old loner chick who would rather watch others live than join in herself. She enjoys taking pictures and observing lives around her and seems to be very perceptive. One day, while on a field trip, she swims out farther than the others and gets kidnapped by a mermaid and dragged into the ocean. Luckily, there are these things called breathing polyp's that allow humans to breathe under water or else she would have drowned.

In the underwater kingdom, Niemela, we meet Rolan and Kiren both gorgeous and sexy hunks of prince mermen. Kiren seems to instantly show an interest in Florence as does his younger sister Princess Yolee. Florence's presence isn't welcome by the king, but at the request of Yolee, she is allowed to stay as Yolee's friend/plaything. Yolee is the sweetest little girl. She's very lovable and innocent and loyal and fun loving and I just want to pull her into my lap and keep her safe from harm. Right off the bat we see that Florence is an outsider. No one wants to talk to her or be around her, especially Prince Rolan. He is outwardly hostile toward her and constantly reminds her that she is not welcome. Prince Kiren, however, seems entranced by Florence and seems to take an unusual interest in her. ***spoiler alert*** I was initially a little wary of him, and it seemed my wariness was supported as the book went on. Over the course of the book. I begin to love Rolan more and more, and hate Kiren, and as the book came to a close, I began rooting for Rolan. Eventually, Niemela is threatened by the darkness where the sea monsters come from, and the Wise ones. What happens as a result is quite interesting.

I didn't care much for the writing in the book. The author created a Niemelan language that we could understand, but I didn't like how it was the same but different for certain words. It just confused me and I'm probably confusing you with my explanation. It was kind of like if I said all of a sudden I could speak your language, but then you have words that are different and so I really cant speak your language. I also didn't like the fact that I was never really emotionally involved in the book. It was kind of like hearing something on the news about something that happened to someone in another state. "Wow that sucks, but in other news......" The characters seemed kind of flat, except Florence of course and I didn't really grow to understand them. I also didn't like how Florence all of a sudden gained all these convenient powers that helped her know all this information. It was just too convenient for my taste. I also wanted a bit more at the end. Like a bit of closure with the Niemelans. Perhaps there will be a sequel, but I wasn't given enough information to decide if I really wanted to find out what happened.

All in all, Florence was a good book. I'm not obsessed with it, but it was interesting and the descriptions and details about the underwater kingdom were interesting. If you're really into mermaids and their battles with the creatures around them, then this is the book for you. I give it 3 stars.

Review: Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Book: Wings (Wings #1)
By: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 5, 2009

Description: Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful--too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.
In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

My Thoughts: I've recently discovered this thing called the library (I know, I know. It's been around for a while. I like to buy and keep my books. But then I realized, whats the point in buying all my books. What if they're sucky. Then I have a book that sucks taking up space. I've now decided to borrow until I decide if I like the book, and then buy it if I'm in love.) They even have audiobooks, which before I would buy, but now I get all the excitement without having to spend all the money. One of many audiobooks I've borrowed is Wings by Aprilynne Pike.

Wings follows the life of Laurel, a 15 year old who is experiencing a lot for the first time. She has been home schooled for a while and is now going to high school for the first time, making friends for the first time, falling in love for the first time, first kiss, and sprouting a flower out of her back for the first time. That last first, (as you probably already know) isn't normal for humans, so what is she? I loved the ways Laurel tried to hide them and get rid of them, but nothing worked. Then she finds out she's a faerie, and faeries are really just advanced plants and all that strange stuff, and people are after her and she has to protect her house and so on. It's a pretty good book, all things considered.

All in all the story was pretty innocent. I think I was a bit too old to read it. I didn't like Laurel's age at first. Her parents let her do way too much for my taste. Laurel made some pretty dumb decisions and I began to feel frustrated. Then, when her age stuff was clarified, I was even more annoyed. It just doesn't fit for her.

In terms of the audiobook aspect, I didn't like it. The speaker's voice seemed to constantly annoy me and she just didn't seem to make it believable.

The storyline was interesting and I was genuinely interested to know the outcome (which is the reason I'm currently reading the sequel.) This probably isn't a book I'd read again, or buy for the sake of buying, but I also didn't feel like it was a waste of time either. I enjoyed the different theories it presented and the historical details it included. I'd give it 2.5 stars.