Half Black Soul (Alexa Montgomery Saga #2)

Half Black Soul (Alexa Montgomery #2)
H.D Gordon

Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Date Read: January 28, 2012
Source: Review Copy from Author
Format: eBook

From Goodreads:
In the past few weeks Alexa Montgomery has had her entire world flipped upside down. She's gone from living a semi-normal teenage life to a life full of vampires and werewolves who all expect her to deliver them from the control of an evil dictator.

Alexa is the last of her kind; a Sun Warrior, and now she has left the safety of Two Rivers to search for her mother, but she's left her sister behind to do so, and Nelly is the one person that she was told that she must always protect. Kayden, a vampire who is Alexa's other half, has followed her on her journey. But, secrets are about to come out, relationships will break and danger lies just up ahead. Will Alexa be able to get through all of this and make it out alive? And, will she be able to protect Nelly from danger when she is so far away?

*Spoilers from Blood Warrior in this review. If you haven't read Book 1 you may not want to read this review.

*Squeel they used part of my review for the blurb =D

Wow! This book was definitely not what I expected at all. I really loved the first book in the series, Blood Warrior and HD blew me away with her writing and her story in that but Blood Warrior is nothing compared to this book. It is a million times better and there's so many twists and turns I was shocked at the things happening.

Alexa has left the safety of Two Rivers to go find her mother. Along with her is Kayden, her other half, the Libra to her Warrior and he will do whatever it takes to protect her. But by going on her quest, Alexa has left behind her sister. The one person she was told to always protect. Secrets will come out, relationships will break and danger lies just ahead. Will Alexa be able to face all that she does and come out of it alive? And will she be able to protect Nelly from danger when she is so far away?

I absolutely loved this book. There were lots of twists and turns and most of the way through it I was shocked by the secrets that came out. I really loved that we say a different side to Nelly. Book 1 was told from Alexa's point of view but this book was told from two points of view, Alexa and Nelly. I really loved that we had these two points of view as we really saw a different side to Nelly. The perception I got from book 1 is that Alexa has this dark side to her character and she really struggles with it throughout this book. But what I didn't really expect was for us to see a darker side of Nelly. Nelly and Alexa have always been so different and come across as one being incredibly strong and will stop at nothing to protect the people they love while the other was seen as more gentle and loving. In Half Black Soul we really see that they are more similar than first thought. Nelly is just as strong and while we always knew Alexa would do anything to protect Nelly even kill for her we see that Nelly feels the same way about Alexa.
You really see a different side to not just Nelly but all of the characters. Jackson really took a backseat in this book but that doesn't mean he is less important to the story. I was shocked to find out some of the secrets in this book and it's fair to say that after this book none of the character's relationships will ever be the same again.

Half Black Soul is really so different than Blood Warrior and it explores much darker themes than the first one. It was brilliant and the first book seems insignificant compared to this one.
If you haven't read Blood Warrior this is not a series to be missed and I would suggest this series to anyone who loves YA Paranormal Romance.
Throughout reading this book This Song kept coming into my head and I really think it's the perfect song for this book and I think it really portrays the things going on this book perfectly.
I genuinely loved this book and I cannot wait for the next book. I really think this series is going to just get better and better. HD has definitely surpassed herself with this book and I cannot wait to read the next one in this series.
Phenomenal!

Die For Me (Revenants #1)

Die For Me (Revenants #1)
Amy Plum

Publication Date: May 11, 2011
Date Read: January 18, 2012
Format: Paperback
Pages: 344

From Goodreads:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel.

Wow, I don't even know what to say about this book. It was absolutely incredible. I've had Die For Me sat on my shelf since it was published and I really don't know why I didn't read it before now. I loved every moment of it and I can't wait for book 2.

After her parents are killed Kate moved to Paris with her sister to live with her family. Here she meets the gorgeous but mysterious Vincent. As she starts to fall in love with Vincent she realises that all is not as it seems and he is hiding a big secret. When all comes out will Kate let her head or her heart rule?

I loved this book, it completely drew me in right from the start and I couldn't stop reading. It's such a fantastic storyline and I absolutely adored the setting in Paris. Amy's narration completely sucked me in and I think she story-writing was absolutely superb. She had a surprise for us round every corner and it kept me reading all day long and I did not want to put the book down.
Kate is such a fantastic character. I really loved her, she is strong and vulnerable at the same time which are two very opposite traits but Amy writes her character to perfection. I felt so much for Kate, after her parents death and I love that when times got tough you could see the vulnerable side to her but saw how she was trying to stay strong for her family and I loved that.
Vincent, Oh, Vincent. I love him. He is definitely what kept me reading the book and every time there were scenes he wasn't in I was flicking through the book going when is Vincent coming back into it? He is like the perfect guy. I just wanted to reach in the book and make him real, I loved him that much. He is  so sweet and loving at the same times as being dark, mysterious and tough and protective. All the perfect qualities mixed in one perfect character.

The setting of this book was perfect, Paris. One of the most romantic cities in the world and it was the perfect setting for this book. It is the place I have always wanted to go to and I loved reading about all of the beautiful landmarks that I want to see for myself. I think this is a fantastic start to a series and I cannot wait to read the rest of this series and find out what happens with Vincent and Kate,

Life Eternal (Dead Beautiful #2)

Life Eternal (Dead Beautiful #2)
Yvonne Woon

Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Date Finished: January 5, 2012
Source: Review Copy from Usbourne Publishing
Format: Paperback
Pages: 398

From Goodreads:
Renée Winters has changed. When she looks in the mirror, a beautiful girl with an older, sadder face stares back. Her condition has doctors mystified, but Renée can never reveal the truth: she died last May, and was brought back to life by the kiss of her Undead soul mate, Dante Berlin.

Now, her separation from Dante becomes almost unbearable. His second life is close to an end, and each passing day means one less that she will spend with the boy who shares her soul.

Just when Renée has almost given up hope, she learns of the Nine Sisters—brilliant scholars who, according to legend, found a way to cheat death. She can’t shake the feeling that they are somehow connected to her dreams, strange visions that hint at a discovery so powerful, and so dangerous, that some will stop at nothing to protect it.

Renée thought she knew the truth about life and death. But there is a secret woven through history that holds the only hope for Dante and Renée. Unless they find answers soon, their time together is doomed to be cut short.

So, I finished this book like literally five minutes ago so you will have to excuse me if this review is a little all over the place but I can barely think straight right now let alone write down my feelings towards this book.
If I had to describe this book in a one word it would be WOW! This book completely blew me away.

Renee is desperate to find a way for her and her soul-mate Dante to be together, but as she starts to unravel the mystery that may save them both she puts her life in danger. Will she be able to survive long enough to find out a way for them to be together?

I really loved the first book in this series Dead Beautiful. I think it was a fantastic start to a series and I couldn't really fathom how Yvonne was going to beat the first book. But boy did she do it. I didn't think I would like this book more than the first one but I did. It is a million times better than the first book and I seriously could not put it down. I devoured this book in one day and I am left reeling needing the third instalment now.
The one thing I thought I wouldn't like about this book is that there isn't very much of Dante in this book as they got separated at the end of the first. I love Dante, he is such a fantastic character and I was really sad to find that there wasn't very much of him in this book. However, I see that it is all for the better. I love Renee, and I love what she goes through throughout this book. How she doubts her feelings and whether she is doing the right thing and I think this is just something that she needed to go through.

Noah, ::sigh::. Usually when a second male romantic interest comes into the second book in a series I get a little annoyed, however that didn't happen in this book. I loved Noah. He is so sweet and as much as I love Dante the more I read this book the more I started to love Noah and by the end couldn't really decide who I wanted Renee to be with. Well until Dante came back into it and then I completely switched back to Team Dante.

This book is one of the best zombie books I have ever read. I'm not actually sure if they are classed as zombie books but to me it is. It's a glamourous zombie, called the Undead. This is probably my favourite zombie series of all time and I love so many zombie books. It's just fantastic and Yvonne blows you away with her writing and sucks you into the story so much I was unaware of anything else going on around me. All I could focus on was the story.
One this Yvonne is an expert at is torturing her readers. I cannot believe how she ended this book. I was turning the page going Noooooo, it can't end there I need more. I am so excited for the next book in this series, which will also be the final one and I am very excited to see how it all ends.

This is just one of those books that you will be left thinking about days after finishing it. I loved every moment of it and I'm actually really sad that I read it so quickly. This series is a must-read for everyone.
Phenomenal!

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)
Tahereh Mafi

Publication Date: November 15, 2011
Date Read: December 21, 2011
Format: Hardback
Pages: 338

From Goodreads:
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting asThe Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices,Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

*Thank you to the very awesome Lesley @ My Keeper Shelf for lending me Shatter Me =)

Wow! I don't even know where to start with this review. This book was just incredible. It completely blew me away and was so much better than I ever imagined it could be. I had read so many great reviews gushing about how incredible this book was but nothing I read, or you will ever read, can truly prepare you for the awesomeness that this book is.

Juliette has been locked up in an asylum for 264 days. She has been isolated and forgotten about. Juliette has an unusual gift, she can kill with just one touch. When Juliette is enlisted to help The Reestablishment take control she knows she must escape their clutches but she doesn't know how. Can Adam, the guy she has loved since childhood help her, or will his bosses keep them apart?

I genuinely loved this book. There are no words to explain how incredible this book is. Before I started this book I was torn between reading this and 2 other books and I really couldn't decide which to read so I decided to read the first chapter of Shatter Me just to get a feel of the book. The next thing I know I am about 100 pages in. It completely hooked me and I could just not put this book down. It was expected that I would like this book as it is dystopian and that's all I really need to know about a book for me to want to read it as I just adore dystopian books but I did not expect to be gripped so early in the book.

I love Juliette, she is such an amazing character and I really felt through her. The story is told through Juliette's eyes and I just couldn't comprehend all that she had been through. I think she is an incredibly strong character to have kept on going as she did after all that had happened to her.
Adam, Oh how I love Adam. He is just incredible. I love how protective he is. Both of Juliette and of his younger brother, he will do anything to protect the ones he loves even if that risks his own life. He is an amazing character and I think everyone will love Adam.

I was very surprised by the writing style of this book. It was something that if in any other book it would probably have annoyed me heavily and put the rating of the book down but in this book it compeletely fits with the storyline and I loved it. A lot of the narration to start with is very short simple sentences which in other books do annoy me and have caused me to even not finish the book. However in Shatter Me it completely fits and it's one of the things that had me hooked right through. Juliette has been isolated for so long she doesn't even know if she remembers how to speak, so her thinking is very simple to start with, and with her being locked in an asylum it totally fits as I am sure if you were in her situation that is how anybody would start to think and process everything. The other thing that struck me is that throughout the book there are sentences that are
crossed out
. This would have heavily annoyed me in any other book but with this one it also fit as Juliette feels like some of her thoughts she shouldn't be having. She shouldn't be thinking things like this so she crosses them out. To me I see this as the way Juliette has come to process things in her mind after being in solitude for so long.


I love that Shatter Me mixes a dystopian society with Paranormal aspects. My two favourite genres of book are dystopian and paranormal so to find one that mixes them both is the perfect book for me. I loved how it merged the two and how there is a superhero aspect to it. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series and I will be
im
patiently waiting for book 2. It completely surprised me and left me reeling. It is definitely a must-read for everyone. It will take your breath away with the intensity of the emotions throughout the book and will leave you breathless and needing more.