Book Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Title: The Mysterious Benedict Society
Series: The Mysterious Benedict Society Series
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Genre: Children's, Mystery, Adventure
My Rate: 4.3/5  exceeded expectations
Published: September 1, 2010

Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children—two boys and two girls—succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help.  (Goodreads.com)

CHARACTERS ||The characters are awesome, albeit young, and well-crafted. Grand commendations to the author for such well-thought of young geniuses! They're peculiar and I was inspired to learn the Morse Code after reading this book.

WRITING || Can't remember much of the writing style but I know I enjoyed it so it must be pretty good.

OVERALL ||The best children's book ever! (and according to Julia Roberts in Mirror, Mirror, ever is a very long time) I generally don't like reading books with such childish covers, if it weren't for my friends' very PERSUASIVE persuasion, I wouldn't have bothered. But woe if I hadn't given in! The predicaments were exorbitantly stressful. I was jumping up and down literally! There were moments, especially during the long but equally exciting climax, where I felt hopeless. But then BOOM BAM! This read is for adults too! One of the few books I am still able to remember (as I read this nearly two years ago). READ IT!

Book Review: Silver Frost by Kailin Gow

Title: Silver Frost
Series: Frost Series (#3)
Author: Kailin Gow
Genre: YA Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Humor
My Rate: 3/5 so, so
Published: December 22, 2010

Breena, the beautiful half fairy, half human princess from Oregon, has ascended to her rightful place in Feyland, as Queen of the Summer Kingdom. Secretly in love with her intended Winter Prince Kian, now Breena is faced with the realization of war, and the possibility of Kian as her greatest enemy.

CHARACTERS || Slowly losing interest. Breena is torn between kingdom and love. If I were her I'd choose the former, but it's up to you to find out what really happened.

WRITING || Again with the cliff-hangers, will they ever stop? Oh yeah, I might be late in saying this but if you're not a fan of Wicked Lovely and the likes, then this isn't the book for you. It's similarity is alarming but in my opinion, I like the writing better here. And that is from a non-biased perspective. If it were otherwise, I'd say I like Wicked Lovely better because I read it first. Muahaha!

OVERALL || Again, skipped the whole intro. It's just a retelling of the story and I get bored with it (since I read it as soon as I finish reading the sequel).

Book Review: Forever Frost by Kailin Gow

Title: Forever Frost
Series: Frost Series
Author: Kailin Gow
Genre: YA Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Faerie,
My Rate: 3/5  good enough
Published: September 1, 2010

Breena's entry into Feyland is marred by danger and beauty. A prisoner in her own palace, she longs to see and touch her forbidden prince Kian. Yet her heart is also still with her friend Logan. In a stunning turn of events, Breena suddenly finds herself faced with the most heartbreaking decision in her entire life.  (Goodreads.com)

CHARACTERS ||Breena's character developed and my love for the non-typical Ice Prince Kian grew. The other monarchs were also put in the picture which is great. Still feeling sorry for poor Logan though. I am convinced of him being a dead cause.

WRITING ||  Dialogues are still as sophisticated and highfalutin as ever.

OVERALL || I skipped the whole intro because it's all just ramblings about what had happened prior to this book. It picks up exactly where Bitter Frost left. And I guess Breena is kind of decided on who she wants now. Conflicts are presented and resolved too fast. The ending is still a cliff-hanger.

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Series: N/A
Author: John Green
Genre: YA Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Humor
My Rate: 4.7/5  a book I'd read over and over again
Published: January 10, 2012

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind  (Goodreads.com)

CHARACTERS || Very wonderfully crafted characters. They certainly don't talk their age, Augustus and Hazel are VERY VERY exotic teenagers. They being the way they are is what exactly made me like this book. And I can't help but feeling if I should be wishing for more Augustus Waters in this world. These three-dimensional characters are flawed beautifully and I would have them no other way. I am so in love with everyone in this book! And digging deeper you'll find that books generally have antagonists, but in this case, it's the disease itself (it's not even Van Houten!)

WRITING ||  Very beautiful. Nicholas Sparks is a cow next to this masterpiece. Dialogues are witty, punny and creative. The questioning-their-existence soliloquies are realistic with possibly every figure of speech in the world. I am certainly looking forward to reading more of Green's works (despite everybody saying his characters are low quality versions of himself). In all honesty, I enjoyed every walking moment in this book. Not a single boring moment here, and trust me, it doesn't take alot to bore me. Wit wit wit, that's what TFIOS is full of.

OVERALL || Greatly paced, indulging and provoking. So realistic and illustrative, just enough descriptions. I got so much reality of life from this book and so many amazing things to quote. I have found myself severely perplexed at times because I am unable to decide whether to cry or laugh. Humor is perfectly woven in every situation. Great great read! Recommending it to my reading friends and everyone who's interested.

Book Review: Bitter Frost by Kailin Gow

Title: Bitter Frost
Series: Frost Series
Author: Kailin Gow
Genre: YA Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Faerie,
My Rate: 3.5/5  good enough
Published: June 21, 2011

All her life, Breena had always dreamed about fairies as though she lived among them...beautiful fairies living among mortals and living in Feyland.

In her dreams, he was always there the breathtakingly handsome but dangerous Winter Prince, Kian, who is her intended. When Breena turns sixteen, she begins seeing fairies and other creatures mortals don't see. Her best friend Logan suddenly acts very protective.

Then she sees Kian, who seems intent on finding her and carrying her off to Feyland. That's fine and all, but for the fact that humans rarely survive a trip to Feyland, a kiss from a fairy generally means death to the human unless that human has fairy blood in them or is very strong, and although Kian seemed to be her intended, he seems to hate her and wants her dead.  (Goodreads.com)

CHARACTERS || I would've loved it better if the characters did not resemble Edward, Jacob and Bella. But sadly, they kind of did. But nevertheless, the pull between the readers and the characters is present and you just can't help but wonder what will happen to Kian, Logan and Breena. The names also seem appropriate. But if you ask me, Breena isn't a very realistic character. But hey, that's why they call it fiction, don't they?

WRITING ||  Good writing. But the ending is quite a cliff-hanger and if I could write it, I would have it some other way. Because cliff-hangers are used to end CHAPTERS, not NOVELS (as this one claims to be).

OVERALL || Let me tell you that I wasn't attracted to this book in any way until I started reading it. I'm currently interested in court politics and kingdoms and whatnot, so I had read this and got what I was looking for. It lacked depth but still, this book presents a new definition of magic and it's interesting. Sometimes predictable, and not that complex that even a 10 year old can digest. If new with fae books then it's good enough but if you're kind of a veteran, then I'm afraid this will leave you kind of disappointed.

Book Review: Falling For Hamlet by Michelle Ray

Title: Falling For Hamlet
Series: N/A
Author: Michelle Ray
Genre: YA Fiction, Romance, Retelling
My Rate: 1/5  a waste of my time
Published: October 1, 2011

Meet Ophelia: a blonde, beautiful high-school senior and long-time girlfriend of Prince Hamlet of Denmark. Her life is dominated not only by her boyfriend's fame and his overbearing family, but also by the paparazzi who hound them wherever they go. As the devastatingly handsome Hamlet spirals into madness after the mysterious death of his father, the King, Ophelia rides out his crazy roller coaster life, and lives to tell about it. In live television interviews, of course.

Passion, romance, drama, humor, and tragedy intertwine in this compulsively readable debut novel, told by a strong-willed, modern-day Ophelia. (Goodreads.com)

I wish I had never read this book. I actually expected a great deal out of this modern story-telling of Hamlet. I was pained every time I read this and maybe it's the fact that I am not a fan of the original Hamlet. But yeah, this book is basically Ophelia's modern re-telling but it basically stuck to the original and that for me, is kinda sad (because again, I didn't love the original Hamlet by Shakespeare). Another thing is that it was too hormonal and too dramatic. Way more dramatic than (original) Hamlet had ever been I guess.

Book Review: So Over You by Gwen Hayes

Title: So Over You
Series: N/A
Author: Gwen Hayes
Genre: YA Fiction, Romance
My Rate: 4/5  cool
Published: April 25, 2005

Layney Logan, girl reporter. That’s all she’s ever wanted to be. The only thing Layney dislikes more than swimming in the high school dating pool is letting her arch-nemesis and co-Chief Editor, Jimmy Foster, get the better of her. So, she’ll take his stupid assignment to go on twelve blind dates and she’ll prove to him she’s twice the reporter he is. Unless she listens to her heart...

Don't judge a book by its cover. I know I did (the cover's not very nice, that I almost didn't read it) but man, was I glad I pressed on.

CHARACTERS || I loved Logan and Foster, 'nuff said. They had a real love-hate relationship. Their bickering and sweetness made my tummy dance every now and then.The supporting characters weren't that bad either. I actually had a thing for Abercrombie model for awhile. But Foster can be really... spontaneous (I guess) but yeah, they can be really REALISTIC.

WRITING || It's gorgeously written. I can't explain enough, you'll just have to read it for yourself! But lemme tell you this: the lines here are witty, and outrageously funny!

OVERALL || Buy it if you're hormonal. Even if you lack the hormones, you'll get them soon enough. In my case, I didn't really like the whole revelation thing. They were too abrupt for me, like they came out of no where. But even so, the whole of the book will make up for that fail and you'll be happy to have read the book (despite reading this negative criticism) anyway. So READ IT, READ IT, READ IT!

I'm putting the synopsis because I want to, haha.