Review ~ Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

“I think a third shower might be necessary”

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Title: Sweet Peril
Author: Wendy Higgins
Series: The Sweet Trilogy #2
Length: Paperback, 371 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: April 30th 2013
ISBN13: 9780062265944
Goodreads || Amazon || Book Depository

10 Reasons why you should read Sweet Peril, if you liked Sweet Evil: 

#1 Kaidan. The son of the demon Duke of Lust has indeed less 'screentime' than in Sweet Evil but he's sexier and sweeter than ever! Now careful diaries, you may worship him, but only from a great distance for he is already taken! (Of course taken by ME... Anna is the past.). 

Bloody Hell! He's so hot the pages were sizzling!

#2 Adventures! A lot more going on than in the previous book. For example, we see places to where one would never go willingly, except if one has a serious masochism issue. More than once Anna and her minions find themselves in life-threatening positions.

#3 Kaidan! 

#4 Backstory. Higgins finally began turning on a certain light bulb and we see some things more clearly now. There is everything like in a carnival (we have that too); stories of various tragic past, a hopeful prophecy (though we already knew about this at the end of the first book but hey, at least we got confirmation, and it wa a good opportunity to bring in a ghostly messenger from Anna's past.) and we get a couple of juicy information about some of the nephilim.

#5 Kopano. This time He has more part, than in Sweet Evil, and turns out he's a lot more interesting than I first thought. The guy is the übersilent type but has a charisma that never lets us forget he is there even if he doesn't speak a word. He would be a worthy opponent to Kaidan in the battle for Anna's heart, if he had a real chance. Sweet, sexy, dangerous in his own way, and St. blender, Batman! He's a mix of the two best raw materials! I am convinced, so he's mine too!

#6 The Dukes. Yep, they are the ones we all love to hate. Well, they do not disappoint. Wherever they appear, there's bloodshed. Luckly our little rebels don't run into them at every step on the way, otherwise this would be a really short rebellion. However, we all can agree on one thing: They're a damn good conflict in the series. The readers - at least the heartless ones like myself - might even find themselves wishing for more scenes with the douche Dukes, nephilims be damned...

#7 Blake! Forgive me for bringing up another male character as a reason, but for this once it has nothing to do with my girlish enthusiasm. Namely, Blake is the joker on duty, causing some LOL moments in the midst of drama and tension. Thank you, Blake!

#8 New players! That's right, baby! Two new Nephilims are joining to Anna's little uprising. In addition, both are warrior types. Flynn and Zania, both very interesting characters, though Zania's hardness was broken by the end of the book but let's hope, she will recover. We'll light some candles for Flynn's soul.

#9 Anna. Her character has changed a lot since the last time we saw her and although she still has not reached the point where she joins my favorite female characters (still too much drama to that), but she's on the right path. She's ballsier and managed to grew a backbone. She can now kick some serious arse and could join a circus as a knife thrower. If only she would shave off a bit of her cooking obsession. Although at least I've got some good ideas for my weekend lunch.

#10 Stable bridge. No, It did not turn suddenly into an architectural tutorial book. I mean with Sweet Peril we can honestly say that we get a pretty fair transition between the first (set up) and third (showdown) volumes in the series.  It's not perfect, or extremely good, but easily beats the second books of most of the trilogies in this genre. It is a fast and easy read and slowly devoured me, Kaidan or not. Those who do not eagerly looking forward to the third book should be all named Pinocchio! 'Cuz they're obviously liars!

Review ~ Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

“I may be a loser, but hey, at least I'm a loser who can do magic, right?” 

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall #1
Length: Paperback, 323 pages
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Original Publication Date: February 1st 2010
ISBN13: 9781423121398
Goodreads || Amazon || Book Depository

Another YA book in my repertoire. I never really liked witch books, because the authors never like to put a twist on the usual, known-by everyone facts about witches. Same powers, same problems, same world building. Witch stories (at least the YA and/or Adult Fantasy novels) supposed to be fun in a basic level but I never really enjoyed reading about them. But that's where Hex hall really delivers.

It's not just about witches. There’s a secret school, hidden away from mundanes called Xavier’s School…
okay, not really, but there’s an unmistakable resemblance. However, this place is called the Hacate Hall. It’s kind of a boarding school for shifter, fairy, witch and occasionally vampire kids called “prodigium”. Hex Hall introduces us to an outcast, hilarious vampire girl, some ego-b*tch witches and fairies, just-a-bit-more-aggro-than-wanted puppies... I mean werewolves, and even Caspers. Thus 'Hex Hall' automatically transports us into Fun Realm. Add a few piece of humor bonbon, a gallon of mystery, a big chunk of evil and you got yourself a perfect witch book.

There's an ingredient that makes a witch story even more interesting: DEMONS. Yes, those evil to the core bastards have a pretty important role in the series. However, they're not the only extremely hostile entities. And this is where ‘Hex Hall’ started to remind me of Cremer's Nightshade series. The Prodigium has a Council and there are several groups in war with the supernatural and with each other, but there’s a particular not-so-secret organization hellbent on permanently wipe out every supernatural creature or “monster” as they like to call them, off Earth. They called L’Occhio di Dio. Eye of God. They are the most dangerous enemy. Reminded me a bit of Templars, actually. We don't really get more of them besides their basic history with the supernaturals, but something tells me there's more to their ongoing never ending war than we know. Talk about serious conspiracy theories.

But of course it's a YA, so let's spice our perfection with a pinch of a totally expected-but-passionate romance with the bad boy on duty (named Archer. Had to put it out there, I love this name!) from every other YA book you've read before (a jerk, who's actually just pretending to be a jerk, and has a vulnerable heart and a full, perfect six pack...or something totally else - though the six pack IS requirement - underneath his shirt.). Okay, there's a GREAT mystery floating around him, in kind of a 'too good to be true' way and really, nothing is sure where he's concerned. Nothing special but a good character (and expected, but great twist) nonetheless. Oh and I see a love triangle. All the time. They're everywhere! And again.. I like the other guy, Cal the warlock (even better name than Archer!!) more.

Now that we discussed everything major in the book, let’s talk about the main character; Sophie. Honestly, I don’t know what to do with her character. She’s equally the con AND the pro of the book. Her sarcasm is greatly appreciated. Not many YA heroines has such witty humor like hers. However, on the other hand, she’s a contrary person. The good part is that she’s not a saint, and doesn't see rainbows and unicorns in every corner. Doesn’t see the good in everybody. The bad part is that she hates mean people, but still believes them instead of her friend, just because the poor thing is a vampire, a monster. Okay, I’ll say it. She’s a racist! You don’t trust easily? Awesome, you’re precautious that means you’re smart and probably will live a long life. But don’t turn into a b*tch witch all of a sudden for no reason! Besides this, she’s good, but not awesome. Neither is she annoying (most times), so I guess that makes her an overall pro.

Hex Hall has a similar structure to Vampire Academy. (I know, I really should stop with the comparisons!) It’s a set-up novel. kind of like a prequel before the big important staff. It sets up the world and its rules, the overall story line of the series and introduces half of the major characters and one side. And LOTS of high school drama. Obviously Ending with a big cliffhanger that makes sure to let us know that we haven’t seen ANYTHING yet.

To wrap this novel sized review up, we can say that ‘Hex Hall’ is the perfect blend of magic, refreshing humor, passion and great twists. Add a great amount of mystery, several fantasy creatures, a dangerous and lethal enemy and BANG. You got yourself the pattern of a perfect YA series. THAT is Hex Hall.

Review ~ Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

“When you've been struck by lightning as many times as I have, you start to expect the worst pretty much all the time.”

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

Title: Struck
Author: Jennifer Bosworth
Series: Struck #1
Length: Hardcover,  373 pages
Publisher:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR
Original Publication Date: May 8th 2012
Goodreads || Amazon || Book Depository

When I first came across Struck, I thought its story-line was quite fresh and interesting in this genre and I knew I will read it.. someday. Then later I ran into the book trailer and my jaw dropped. It is so awesome I got excited all over again even though there was nothing new that the blurb didn't tell me earlier. It was just so intense and brilliantly made. A few months later I finally got to read the book too.

Since it's a YA book, I was actually terrified. What if the main character is whiny, stupid, or just too girly for my taste? What if the story is full of cliches? What if the romance will be a total waste of time? Well, they say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so here we go. 

It's written in first person POV, so I needed to like the main character to enjoy the book. While Mia isn't one of those tough, bad-ass girls like Rose (Vampire Academy), Katniss (Hunger Games), Jesse (Darker Days), etc, who I adore, she isn't a selfless, delicate flower either. I really liked her sarcasm and she does says anyone to f*** off and doesn't let anyone to control her. Most days anyway.

And there's the story which has everything. Some elements of paranormal, religion, conspiracy, science. All this stuff in a post-apocalyptic city in ruins. With its "slow and steady wins the race" concept, 'Struck'  rivets the readers to their seats, because  they certainly will keep guessing for a good long time, before the reasons of why either cults wants Mia are revealed. Despite the fact that I enjoyed groping in dark and coming up with all kinds of conspiracy theories while trying to figure out who are the good guys - IF there's any -, speculating about the main villain, the Prophet's abilities, how can he do all the shits he does, what's his true goal, etc... still there was a bit too much story build-up... not enough action and no smashing catharsis for me. I also expected to see more crashing and smashing between the two warring cults, but they didn't really do anything to each other, I kept waiting for them to bring a good Raiden fight or something like that, but sadly, I didn't get it. However, I confess valiantly there were some twists that surprised me at the end. The biggest was the true identity of Mia's love interest, Jeremy. I would have loved if his character takes a full 180 degree turn and becomes the exact opposite of what he was, but I knew that's not going to happen. and of course I was right. Maaaan what a waste of an ultimate twist! Okay, maybe it's because I didn't really liked his character, but whatever. It could have been a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Of all the side characters, I have to mention one person particularly. Katrina, a member of the cult called "Seekers". Boy, this girl was on fire! Whenever and wherever she showed up nothing remained peacefully. She was tough and funny. Can't we make her the protagonist??

The love story fortunately, however, wasn't the center of the story. Why fortunately? Because, while as a separate side character I sort of liked Jeremy, the relationship between Mia and him was really missing the fire that she always felt around him. I really did not feel the chemistry between them, I think it would have been better to let them be just friends or allies would have been more interesting than the unnecessary love story.

The 'Struck', despite its slower tempo, completely captured my attention and although I probably will not read the book over and over again because the charm in it is that it keeps the reader in the dark, and slowly reveals the big secrets. But for a one-time, or once/year entertaining read it's perfect. Not much chance that the reader's gonna throw it at the wall :). There are some questions left about the "Seeker" cult members, and maybe we will actually get answers to those if the sequel comes out in 2016, but there was no cliffhanger making 'Struck' a great standalone novel.

Favorite character(s): Katrina, Mia
Favorite scene(s): Basically every scene with the Seekers. They were fun.
Favorite quote(s):

“A piece of advice: if you want to remain in control of a doomsday cult, don't give a date for the end of the world unless you're really, really sure it's going to happen. Being wrong tends to undermine your authority.”

Blog Tour: Tremble by Jus Accardo - Review

Thanks for stopping by for our Tour Stop for

Tremble (Denazen #3) by Jus Accardo

presented by Entangled Pub!

Be sure to check out the preview for Jus Accardo’s new book coming out this summer 

from Entangled DigiTeen called Darker Days.You can view it at the end of the post!

I'm here to tell you a little more about Tremble, book three in the Denazen series. So yes, that means you're here to read my awesome review ;P 

Title: Tremble
Author: Jus Accardo
Series: Denazen #3
Length: 352
Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Original Publication Date:  May 14th  2013

Dez Cross has problems. She’s almost eighteen and on the verge of losing her mind thanks to the drug Denazen used to enhance her abilities. People close to her have turned their back on the underground and are now fighting for the wrong side. And then there’s Kale... Things couldn’t get any worse.

Until of course, they do. Denazen is about to start a new trial—this one called Domination—and it works. But that means out with the old and in with the new. The order has been given to terminate all remnants of the second trial—including Dez. The good news is that there’s a survivor from the original trial. A woman who’s blood may hold the cure for the second generation of Supremacy kid’s defect. But the underground Sixes aren’t the only ones who know about her….

Cross is willing to throw everything he has to keep Dez from getting the cure—including the one thing that might tear her apart from the inside out.

It's really hard to talk about this book without giving away anything important, so this won't be a long review where I go deep into the story. 

Tremble was top notch, adventurous, dramatic with a good amount of dark humour and sarcasm. The events in Tremble are definitely game changer. Readers better prepare for pulse-pounding action and stirring battle scenes, unexpected losses in many ways, shocking secret reveals and most of all.... to have their emotions rollercoastered (shhh, it's a word now!)! So many people to hate, and many more to mourn and to root for. 

Kale has changed. And I extremely enjoyed it. It's fair to say that Tremble made me really love his character. And oh snap! His sort-of-new ability kicks ass hard!!  Dez is still amazing and she's learning from her mistakes, and growing up but still keeping her sassy attitude that we all love. The minor characters were pushed back a little bit this time, but that's completely okay and I wouldn't list it as a negative. However, I'm mad about what happened with Alex (no spoiler here). I hope Jus will read this and will not kill me by saying goodbye to my favorite character and their hilarious brawlings with Kale!! Also, I want to see more Able & Aubrey, please (the bonus scene was awesome).

The book is not flawless and has it's upside downs, but frankly, I don't really care about those as long as Jus keeps giving us such a compelling, energetic story with this insane crew leading the way. I liked the series from the moment I read Touch, but Tremble took it to a whole new level and made me absolutely adore it. So here I am, desperately waiting for the next one.

"I was an adrenaline junkie by nature. But this was different. Taking risks for a cheap thrill was one thing. Standing in front of a ravenous bear with no place to run was something else. Courting death, Brandt called this. Fitting, considering Ginger, long before he was born, had dubbed Kale the Reaper. 
So here I stood. In front of Death, daring it to take me."

Get it now!

COMING SOON FROM JUS ACCARDO!

The first book in a brand new series!

DARKER DAYS by Jus Accardo.

Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course...

When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.

Seven deadly ones, in fact.

They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing...

There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything.

Read an excerpt here!

About Jus Accardo

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her path lay with fiction, not food, and passed on the spot to pursue writing. 

Jus is the bestselling author the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing and is currently working on the first book in a new adult series due out summer 2013. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

Find Jus Accardo on her

• Website
• Blog
• Twitter
• Facebook

Review - Toxic by Jus Accardo

Title: Toxic
Author: Jus Accardo
Series: Denazen #2
Length: 317
Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Original Publication Date: October 16, 2012

When a Six saved Kale's life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she'd lose the one thing she'd give anything to keep... And as if it's not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems.

After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice--surrender to Denazen for the cure...or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn't involve being bagged and tagged--or losing someone she loves--Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there's a traitor among them. Jade.

Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there's any hope of proving Jade's guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead...

Review - Touch by Jus Accardo

Title: Touch
Author: Jus Accardo
Series: Denazen #1
Length: 284
Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Original Publication Date: November 1st 2011

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

Review ~ Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: YA High Fantasy

Length: 426 pages (e-book)

Series: Throne of Glass #1

Released: August 2012
Publisher:  Bloomsbury

Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Cover Reveal ~ Andrea Cremer: RIFT

Yesteday, MTV.com revealed the exclusive cover for the next Nightshade adventure: RIFT, the first of two prequels, will be in stores August 7.

WOW! Young Xena, huh? I LOVE IT!! 

Before Calla Tor, there was Ember Morrow

Sixteen-year-old Lady Ember Morrow fulfills a family obligation by joining her friend Alistair in the Conatus Guard and begins training to help with the order’s true mission, to seek out and stop evildoers and their unnatural creations.

"...'Rift' reveals how the Searchers and Keepers came into being and how the gateway between the earth and the nether was first opened. Readers who paid close attention to the history revealed in 'Wolfsbane' will recognize quite a few names and events." - Andrea Cremer,  Hollywood Crush

Check out the cover and interview!

Review ~ The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I'm back with another review! (happy,huh?) This time I bring you a nation divided into 12 districts and a Capitol. Yes that's right. The Hunger Games!

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins

Series: The Hunger Games  #1

Released: 31st 2008 by Scholastic Press

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

So. I had a push-and-pull relationship with this book. I had heard so much about this book that I just had to get it. But i have huge collection of unread books and this wasn't at the top. However after several months i finally convinced myself to pick it up. 5 days ago, in the morning, I did, i've read barely half page and something came up, so i had to put it down. Then later, i started again from the beginning, i've read 2 pages and someone interrupted me...again. I was like, "GOD! The big daddy up there doesn't want me to read this bloody book..." . 2 days ago i picked up again, logged out from everywhere, turned on my instrumental music (ya, usually i listen instrumental musics -Two Steps from Hell, Immadiate Music, Brand X Music - while i read books.) and started to read from the 2nd page. In about 8 hours i finished and was stunned. I can say, that i'm addicted to the story, the charaters, the world of Hunger Games. I'm trying to leave out the shocking turning points from this review.

So let's see what's in the book...

There are No POV changes in this book. All first person present from Katniss. Which was a little bit weird for me, because i think (if my memory works fine this time...) this was the first story told by first person present i've ever read. But i quickly got used to it.

At the beginning Katniss tell us that she's living in the District 12 in Panem, the country that rose up out of the ashes of a place that was once called North America, -where the people can starve to death in safety- with her sister and mother. Each district has their own job. In the middle of the country there is the shining Capitol -ringed by the 12 districts- and people who rule the country. Katniss brakes the rules, and goes to hunt in the woods with her friend Gale to save her family from starving. But this is an even darker day, than usual for two families. This is the day of choosing 2 kids for the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games. Katniss also tell us that, once there was a 13th district, but it has been destroyed. But the Dark Days gave them the Hunger Games. 

The rules of the Hunger Games are simple: Every year the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl (called tributes) to compete in the Hunger Games. Over a period of several weeks, the competitors must fight to the death in a huge outdoor arena. The last tribute standing wins... - And i thought my life sucks... - The Games are televised live by the state.

From District 12 Katniss and Peeta are the chosen ones. One of them is volunteer. You probably asking, why would want anyone to be a part of the Game. The answer is simple. To save his/her family.

One of the most important things you have to do is to get sponsors. They can send gifts into the arena to their "protégé". If someone doesn't have sponsors then it's basically a dead man. These gifts could be lifesaver and the mentors can decide what gifts can you get and when will you get it. To get sponsors the tributes have to show to the people that they're worth it. They can win the Game. Thats why they get stylists. Katniss gets Cinna, he's new in the Capitol (as we can tell from how he treats Kat).

Before the Game begins every tribute get interviewed. It's another chance to get sponsors. Haymitch -Katniss's and Peeta's mentor- has a hard time with teaching Katniss how to impress the other people with her speach. Haymitch wants Katniss and Peeta to be by each other’s side every minute in public, even though they don't like eachother.

The tributes also can training their skills. All the tributes practice together. On the third day of taining, they have to perform in private what they're are capable of, what's their best skill before the Gamemakers. They get scores for it.The higher, the better. It's another chance to get sponsors. The Capitol doesn't televise this. So noone else can see what the tributes get their scores for, only the Gamemakers. Katniss shocks them with her act that she doesn't supposed to do. The question is.. Does it cost her best chance to get sponsors or they're gonna give her a good score?

What you can expect once the Game begins? Deaths. That's the cold truth. You won't know all the tributes, their names, how they died, but there a few of them who contact to Katniss, so she's gonna tell how they died, where are they from. Also you can except action. Yes, when the Game starts to be boring ergo noone dies for days the Gamemakers decide that take control of it, like they trying to drive the separated tributes together with generate fire, so they have to fight with eachother. -Those heartless bastards!-

I have to quote from one of my favorite movie:

"In the end there can be only one."

Question is... Can Peeta work with Katniss and help her, so at least one of them could win, or he teams up with other guys or he will be a 'lone wolf' and take out anyone who tries to stop him?

Can Katniss triumph over the others, who are considered to be the best and swear to the team play?

Can the brain win against power?

Let's talk about the characters:

Katniss: She's our tour guide. Actually like i said earlier, it's all first person present, so basically We are Katniss. She's a sixteen years old, very brave and smart girl. In the Game nearly nothing can stop her, she knows exactly how to hunt and how to survive. Her favourite weapon is the bow and damn.. she's pretty awesome with it. She's a very emotional person but rarely shows it, but when someone gets close to her heart, she never let them down. She saves her sister with a decision she makes what leads her to the Game. (Sis.. i highly recommend you to read this book, you have so much to learn from this girl :P)

Peeta: Is a very interesting character!! He's going to the Game with Katniss from District 12. He's not so chatty when we first meeting him. A little later on their way to the capitol, he talks more, but mostly he's argumentative. - I didn't know what to think about him. I was like "He's going to be a 'lone wolf' and trying to kill Kat or he's going to team-up with her and then screw her over??". Well i would have been sure about my later thought, but i got some spoiler, which i'm not going to tell you now, but i can tell you there are parts where i said "Screw him!! I KNEW I KNEW.. why everyone lied to me about him?? C'mon Kat, play Cupido and shot him in his heart with that arrow!!" (okay it's a little morbid, but seriously he would pisses me off if i were Kat). After that who the hell knew that this guy can be funny??? (NO! Don't lie! You didn't expected it either...) -I love his sarcasm. About his skills... well he is a big guy, and for a long time all we know, that he's really strong and that's it. - I tell you something... The military could use him as a pro spy... i swear!-

Gale: - Oooh Gale!! Would you marry me?- He's Katniss's best friend. He lives in District 12 too (obviously). He and Kat are hunt together. He's in the book only at the beginning, but he's so loveable. He got his own sarcasm as well. - I saw the movie cast before i read the book, so i already had a crush on him. 

Rue: She's one of the trubutes. She lived in District 11. She reminds Katniss of her little sister, so they're teaming up with eachother in the arena. And they're doing it well. Rue is smart and has every ability to survive in a jungle.

Cinna: He is Kat's stylist. He's a very kind and extremely creative person. I think he's my favourite character in the book. Seriosly i can't wait to see those dresses in the movie, what he designed. Sure all credits goes to Suzanne for these awesome ideas. I love how this guy treats his "client". So friendly and he gaves smart advices to Katniss. I give you one sentence, only one... 

"I asked for District 12." 

NO ONE EVER asks for D12!! This man Rocks!!

Haymitch: is the only living Hunger Games victor from District 12 and he's the mentor of Katniss and Peeta. (God save them!) Actually this man was able to get a piece of my heart with his first funny action (plummets off the stage and knocks himself unconscious). He's always drunk. Very drunk. But the kids convince him, that they're worth the try and he's helping them, eventually. It took a little much time to see his changes and his smart-head instead of his "give me a bottle of the old Johnny and that will solve the problem." personality, but the wait was worth it!

Now let’s make a short list about “What i liked / didn’t like”

What I liked:

- I absolutely loved the story of this "World".

- How the Hunger Games work. Every little detail, rules, featured events.

- The characters. Even the minor characters has something in them what makes you can not forget them.

- There isn't an easy solution for every problem. They have to fight for it. They have to suffer for even a minute rest.

- Lots of ACTION!! Yes i'm an adrenaline junkie, so bring it on baby!!

What i didn't like:

- There was one thing, i didn't like. Katniss talking about the same thing over and over. And after several times i got tired of it, that i had to read about it AGAIN.

OVERALL: I'm so so so happy that i've read this book. This is one book worth reading. I was afraid that the slowness at the beginning will be annoying and exhausting, but no. I really liked the story, so it turned out well. You know my favourite genre is in between the Urban Fantasy and the Paranormal romance, and i think this was the second (i have no idea what was the 1st...) Dystopia book i've read. And i just falling in love with this genre. I'm looking very much forward to read Catching Fire.

 

100 Most Popular YA Books

I saw this list over at I'm Loving ♥ Books and she saw it somewhere else and they saw somewhere else and so on... So no idea who came up with the list, but I was curious,too to see how many I had read/heard of/plan to read from it.
crossed out = read
bold = on my to-read list
regular = not read

1. Alex Finn – Beastly

2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones

3. Ally Carter – Gallagher Girls (1, 2, 3, 4)

4. Ally Condie – Matched

5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills

7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)

9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)

10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1, 2, 3)

12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1, 2)

13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret

15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3, 4)

16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)

17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3, 4)

18. Christopher Paolini – Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)

19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)

20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)

21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)

22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse

23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply

25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)

26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere

27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest

28. Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)

29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2)

31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why

33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)

34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines

37. John Green – Looking for Alaska

38. John Green – Paper Towns

39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)

40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1, 2)

41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1, 2, 3)

42. Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms (1, 2)

43. Lauren Kate – Fallen (1, 2, 3)

44. Lemony Snicket – Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)

45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle (1, 2, 3)

46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2, 3)

47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

48. M.T. Anderson – Feed

49. Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1, 2, 3)

50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

51. Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)

52. Markus Zusak – The Book Thief

53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger

54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

55. Mary Ting – Crossroads

56. Maureen Johnson – Little Blue Envelope (1, 2)

57. Meg Cabot – All-American Girl (1, 2)

58. Meg Cabot – The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

60. Meg Rosoff – How I live now

61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)

63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road

64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

66. Michael Grant – Gone (1, 2, 3, 4)

67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion

68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind

69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline

70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust

71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book

72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )

73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)

74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist

76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere carnal over 40 winks

79. S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)

80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip

81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride

82. Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key

83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever

84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

85. Scott Westerfeld – Leviathan (1, 2)

86. Scott Westerfeld – Uglies (1, 2, 3)

87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days

88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy

89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)

90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry (1, 2, 3)

92. Stephanie Meyer – The Host

93. Stephanie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)

94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees

95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)

96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)

97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)

99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)

100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped

Dude! I'm behind! Of course I don't want to read all of these,
some are just not my taste. There are many series
I've never ever heard of before, so i guess I suck in YA lol

If anyone make a list like this only with the
100 Most Popular Adult PNR/Fantasy Books, then let me know!!