Review of: Burn for Burn(Burn for Burn, #1) by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Burn for Burn(Burn for Burn, #1) by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Page Count(ARC Edition): 354 pgs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Released: September 18th, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
My Rating: 4/5 stars 
Read: from January 17th-25th, 2013
Source: Won in The Story Siren's Giveaway

Synopsis:

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...

THEY GET EVEN.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

(from Goodreads)

I was really excited when I learned that I had won Burn for Burn in a giveaway in September 2012. I have the September 2012 ARC version, which is super cool! Anyways, onto the review.

For me, Burn for Burn resembled much more than a revenge, getting-back-at-you kind of book. It resembled, in one sense, bullying. For example, Mary was bullied by Reeve for a good portion of her life, and that stood out to me personally. I know what it feels like to be bullied. I know the pain, sadness and humiliation that is felt.With that aspect to the story, I was really able to connect with Mary and what she dealt with way back when.

I loved the setting of this book. Jar Island sounded like this cute, quirky place that would be neat to live in. I especially loved Lillia's house, because of how gallant it seemed. Even though Lillia was most definitely rich, she wasn't stuck up at all. She knew what she had and appreciated it.

Kat was my favorite character, because she was the total opposite of Mary and Lillia. She was the stereotypical bad girl, but that image is only driven by rumors of her ex-bestfriend, Rennie. Kat was daring and dominant, but has a soft side reserved for special people, I think. Mary, for me, was kinda a dull character, but I still adored her and understood her like I have mentioned above. 

I was sort of disappointed when the girl's revenge wasn't as big as I expected it to be. Sure, as a group they had some pretty bad *** revenge on Alex, Reeve and Rennie. But individually, it didn't really impress me. Wasn't the whole part of the story based around revenge? I didn't feel much, to be honest. Except for the end though, that actually scared me. I knew Reeve bullied Mary, but I'm not sure he deserved what he got.

All in all, Burn for Burn didn't let me down, but I was hoping for bigger revenge then what was shown. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment in the series, Fire with Fire. 

P.S:(I know this is really sucky, but I'm very behind on reviews, so I wanted to get something out for ya'll :D)

♦Haley♦

Mini Reviews: The Selection and Glimmerglass

Hi guys(: I hope you all had a wonderful week, and are having a great weekend! Today, I will be doing 2 mini reviews, because I have come to the conclusion that I simply have no time to write out 2 full ones. My schedule is so hectic right now, but at least I still have time to blog! Now, let's begin(:


1. The Selection(The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass

Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 327 pgs
Publisher: HarperTeen
Released: April 24th, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Read: January 1st-5th
Source: Barnes&Noble

Synopsis:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

(from Goodreads)

The Selection was a perfect read for me. I had heard so much press about it, so I was really excited when I got my hands on it. I think the part I liked the most about it was that America was such a fighter. She was very out of the ordinary, and stood out from the rest of the Selected. The pacing was nicely put, and I didn't feel like a snail or an Olympic runner at any point. Maxon, oh Maxon. He is probably the first fiction boy I have swooned after, instead of lusting after, lol. He was so gentlemanly to America, and he truly seemed like he one day could run their country. Aspen was okay for me. I liked him a lot in the beginning, but after something happened, I kinda hated him and forgot about him until he came back into the story. The love triangle was pretty nice, unlike the forced ones you see authors make. I can't wait to read The Elite!

I thought America was very feminist for herself, fellow Selected and to her maids. She stood up for them all no matter how many chips were down. Therefore, I am marking The Selection as my first Feminist Read for my 2013 Feminist Reads Challenge.

1.The Selection(The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass 5/5 stars.
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2. Glimmerglass(Glimmerglass, #1) by Jenna Black

Page Count(Paperback Edition): 294 pgs
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Released: May 25th, 2010
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
My Rating: 3/5 stars
Read: January 6th-12th
Source: Library

Synopsis:

It's all she's ever wanted to be, but it couldn't be further from her grasp...

Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides shes had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl, she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she'll never have a chance with...until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn't sure where she'll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again.

For a good part of this book, I was confused as to what Avalon really was, and who the Council was for that matter. I also had a hard time connecting with Dana and her life. She seemed to over-react a lot, and kept trusting people who hurt her time and time again. Dana was entertaining though, so I stuck around to see what came next. As far as the plot goes, it was interesting enough to want me to stick around as well. As it progressed, I slowly grew more and more attached to the story. I definitely want to read the next book soon, but I'm not totally sold to the story yet. I may take a couple of months and then read it, who knows? (:

♦Haley♦

Cover Reveal: Sporadically Inspired By by Ashley Demi

Sporadically Inspired By by Ashley Demi

Scheduled Release Date: June 2013

Publisher: Entwined Publishing

Edition: E-book

Synopsis:

Sometimes, in a small community, it can be difficult to find reality in big dreams. Samantha can't wait to get out of town to start her life and move on from sad memories. Morgan isn't learning from the past, and Charlotte may be forced to make make a hard choice over following her dreams. It's Cali's story from which the girls find their inspiration. They believe her story is a fictional cult classic that each have read over and over. It encourages them to follow their hearts.

In the end, however, it could be Cali who needs the most help turning her sporadic inspirations into reality. . . again.

About Ashley Demi:

The story of my life is one that’s still being written, it’s about a girl named Ashley that had to go through a few chapters before she learned how she wanted to live the rest of the story. I could take you through moment after moment that got me to where I am now; in fact I’d have to take you through every single one. So instead I’ll just give you some highlights. Around May 2009 after seeing 17 Again at the movies it inspired me to pick up writing. I couldn’t tell you what it was about that one movie that was different from the tons of others I had fallen in love with over the years that finally shined light on what I had been trying to figure out since I was first asked what I wanted to be when I grew up; but there it was…my dream realized. It’s funny how after you reach that moment, you can’t believe you didn’t think of it sooner…I’ve loved movies since I was a kid and played The Little Mermaid on repeat, and had always been a daydreamer who loved coming up with a good story. I started writing my ideas in script format for movies and then decided to try one of my ideas as a book.

I’m just a girl from a small town with a big dream. Classic story…think you’ve heard it a thousand times…well I’d like to think mine’s unique. Maybe not extreme or extravagant to everyone; but to me…to me it’s a fairy tale. Oh don’t get me wrong it’s also a comedy, a horror film (you know how bad hair days can be lol), one with action, love, tears, and inspiration…but it’s my story, and it’s one of kind.

I use to think dreams were…well just that, dreams; nothing but thoughts and wishes that you kept stored away for a day you didn’t know would come or not. But then I thought why should it be like that? Seemed like a tragedy really, to keep all my dreams in my head instead of experiencing them for real. So instead I decided I wanted to live my dreams and make them my reality…make them my ‘normal’…if there is such a thing a normal lol. It won’t be easy, who knows where it will take me, or how long it will take to get there…but I can promise one thing…it’ll be one amazing ride!

Forever Inspired

Ashley Demi

Twitter: @LUVashleydemi

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AshleyDemi?ref=ts&fref=ts

Blog: http://ashleydemi.wordpress.com/

**Big thank you to Jodie Baker, Ashley Demi and all ya'll at Entwined Publishing. Thanks for letting me participate!**

♦Haley♦