Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Title: Cold Kiss
Author: Amy Garvey
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Acquired: Won
Age Group: Young Adult
Grade: 69% or D+
Buy It: Amazon

When Wren's boyfriend, Danny, died, Wren decided that what she wanted—what she had to do—was to bring Danny back. And so, in a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, she did.

But the Danny who returns isn't the boy Wren fell in love with, and she must hide him away while her life unravels around her. Then Gabriel transfers to her school and somehow he knows what she has done—and he wants to help make things right.

But Wren alone must undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

My Thoughts::
I was really excited when I won this book because I pretty much like all things zombie related and this one looked different from what I usually see. This isn't a zombie apocalypse novel, so I was really interested to see how a zombie would appeal to me in a more subdued, up close and personal way.

Now, I could blame the fact that I just couldn't get into this book on a reading funk...but I don't think that was the case. Maybe if the book would have started at the beginning and made the timeline more linear and immediate, I would have been more interested. But instead it had a lot of flashbacks, and flash even farther backs, that I couldn't get into the spirit of the whole zombie thing.

Wren just seemed crazy, and I know she was heartbroken and all...but not even considering any of the downfalls of what she was doing? Plus if we are supposed to feel like she was in love with Danny, I was shocked to see how fast she found herself with Gabriel. I like him and all, but it just bothered me. Besides these things, I liked Wren. She wasn't afraid to do what she wanted and let Gabriel come in and try to save the day. She was kind of bad ass at times.

Like I said, the plot didn't work that well with me. I found myself getting bored of the zombie stuff, and even the love stuff. One of the things that kept me pushing through the novel was Wren's gift that runs in her family. It was fascinating. In tons of books the main character has to hide her ability, but never an ability that runs in the family. It made an interesting family dynamic as well, that's for sure!

Overall I think that Cold Kiss would have been better if it wasn't too focused on the crazy love and boring zombies.

The Devil Inside

Title: The Devil Inside

Director:  William Brent Bell

Writer:  William Brent Bell, and Matthew Peterman

Starring: Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman and Evan Helmuth
Grade: 67% or D+

 

My Thoughts::
I went to see this movie with a bunch of my friends which I think is the best way to see a movie like this. Scary movies and high stress movies are always more fun with a group because you feed off of each others emotions. Let me tell you, this movie was soooo much better since I saw it with my friends.

The movie started out pretty intense and brought it right into the action and creepiness and background of the entire story. But let me tell you, this creepiness did not last much longer. Sure, they tried to keep it up with the wobbly camera shots because it was supposed to be real and everything. And of course there was a lot of sudden loud noises or things popping out of no where to get people to jump, but this is not a scary movie. It is a movie with shock factor and that's about it.

At certain times I WAS legit freaked out, but like I said, mostly because it was shocking. Most of the movie was spent with the audience laughing at how ridiculous some of the scenes were. Seriously, some scenes had us dying with laughter. The acting was okayyyy, but I feel like maybe it was supposed to be bad because it was supposed to be "real"? The end of the movie was so abrupt that it left the audience confused.

Overall I think that The Devil Inside was pretty darn hilarious and entertaining but wasn't a good scary movie.

Awakened by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Title: Awakened (House of Night #8)

Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Acquired: Bought

Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 68% or D+

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it? Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

For me these books are becoming a downward spiral. I've been feeling that for the last three books, and I'm pretty sure other people agree. It's time for this series to wrap it up and come to a close. It's been a good run, but I think that now the story is just dragging.

The plot still has things going for it. When we're actually paying attention to the STORYLINE I very much enjoy the books, but honestly, if it was just about the storyline we could have been done four books ago. Now it just looks like bad fanfiction. Most of it is just petty drama. I want to yell at the characters nonstop. The WORLD could be destroyed and all anyone cares about is their boyfriend. Also, it bothers me how very few people can see past Neferet. These are supposed to be old and wise vampires, so how are only the fledglings noticing that she is full of it? I am predicting that Kalona will team up with the Zoey and the gang and take out Neferet. In turn he will be allowed to serve for Nyx again.

Most of the characters are just predictable and annoying now. It never bothered me before how much they are built off of complete stereotypes, but now it is. There are few characters now that don't make me want to punch them in the face. I feel like these books could have been so great. The vampire mythology was built up fantastically. But instead of leaning on that to sell, the books are more about boy drama and tons of unnecessary lies.

Overall I think The House of Night books still have enough awesome left in them to move in the right direction. I'd recommend this books to the people who haven't jumped off this train yet.

Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Originality- 18/20
Characters- 14/20
Remembrance- 6/10
Quote-ability- 5/10
Entertainment- 15/20
Ending- 5/10
Recommend to read- 5/10
TOTAL- 68/100
Grade- D

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soul mate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…
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This series just keeps on disappointing me. Evermore had some great ideas and Blue Moon still held on, but Shadowland was just depressing.

First, the whole karma thing. I believe in karma to a certain extent but Damen made it annoying. He allowed the idea to swallow up everything and wouldn't believe it wasn't true. That's one more thing that annoyed me, it was as if everyone blamed themselves for all bad things that happen. Ever is allowed to feel bad about whatever she wants but if Damen blames one thing on himself, it's not okay.

Ever is grating on my nerves. She seems to think she is right about everything. Here's the kicker though; she's usually wrong. She knows that when she doesn't listen to anybody, she makes the wrong decisions, but she still refuses to listen.

I still like the idea of manifesting, being immortal, summerland, and the shadowland. Beyond that, all of the drama and plot is just a huge convenience. Me and my friends have a term we use when characters try to get all matriarchal and try to do something for the "greater good" no matter how the other feel about it. We call this being Bella-retarded. Unfortunately, Damen does this when he thinks it's a good idea to let Ever choose between him and Jude. You'll find out why in the book. Damen breaks up with Ever even when she begs him not to. Does this ring a bell? *coughsbellacough*

The ending was too far fetched for me as well. I could see how it happened but not why. Once again it was too convenient.

Overall I was very sad that the series didn't become as awesome as I thought it could. I'm not even sure if I'm going to read the next book. It's just way too frustrating. But if you like the creative points, and have enjoyed the series so far, go on and read it. Maybe I'm just crazy.

-Amanda