Review of: Rise(Eve, #3) by Anna Carey

Rise(Eve, #3) by Anna Carey

Page Count(Paperback Edition): 310 pgs
Publisher: HarperCollins
Released: April 2nd, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
My Rating: 2/5 stars
Read: from 10/26/14 to 12/22/14
Source: Books-A-Million
Synopsis: 

How far will you go when you have nothing left to lose?

When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America—and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser—Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started.

Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion—killing her father?

In Rise, Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight as Anna Carey's epic tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America comes to a stunning conclusion. 

(from Goodreads)

First off, Merry Christmas everyone, if you celebrate it! I had a wonderful day with family and friends, and I'm looking forward to the coming days to spend time with some special people :)

Okay so I have to be truthful here, but also give the author some credit. The first half of the book, I had huge aspirations for. I was completely happy, until the ending. From there, Carey lost me. I have no words other than I'm disappointed in this trilogy's ending.

By far, the first 2 books in the series provided more rapid heartbeats than this book had the potential to. For lack of a better word, I was bored. I was utterly heartbroken at the end of Once when Caleb died, and didn't have much faith that the author could bring me out of the depressed hole she dug. 

I don't want to spoil anything but I do have to say that the ending was very unsatisfying. I felt that so much was left unsaid and unanswered, I'm so antsy. I NEED the answers! A certain character gets killed but I knew it was coming. I'm happy hes gone actually. But there was no drama to his death!! I was baffled. After all the struggle, he was gone in a split second.

Eve remained pretty true to herself  throughout the book and pregnancy, which was a relief. Of course, the baby is Caleb's. OF COURSE it is. She decided to lead a group of girls from a mixture of schools to Califia, the women's camp in the Outlands. I have to get her credit as well; there is no way I could have survived pregnant in the wild. She's tough as a rock.

One big positive was how easily I have been able to imagine "The New America" in the past 3 books. I visualize the capital, City of Sand being located along the East Coast of the US, around where Alabama is presently. I see the outlands as everything north, east and west of the capital walls. Directly north of the capital, I picture Califia to be stantioned, with their many houses and rivers and lakes. Due west from there, I see Eve's old School, and nearby there, I see her old house and neighborhood. It's sad, I can only picture what it looked like after the virus..

Overall, Rise didn't do much for me. The epilogue left me only slightly satisfied knowing that Eve is able to have a happy life in the future. Too brief, too short, etc. Not my cup of tea as the 3rd and final book of this series.

Review of: The Elite(The Selection, #2) by Kiera Cass

The Elite(The Selection, #2) by Kiera Cass

Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 323 pgs
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Released: April 23rd, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopia
My Rating: 5 stars
Read: from  April 25 to May 02, 2013
Source: Amazon
Synopsis: 

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller, The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

(from Goodreads)

The Elite is the 2nd out of three books in Kiera Cass's trilogy, The Selection, of which I am wholeheartedly OBSESSED with! I had high expectations for this book because of The Selection, and let me tell you, I wasn't the slightest disappointed!

Since this is the 2nd book in the series and the competition between girls is narrowing down, it was definitely faster paced than with the first. I loved that, I kept right up with it as I finished it in a mere few days. I couldn't get enough of it. I was turning pages left and right.

One thing that made this book so exciting was the amount of action! The attacks on the castle became more frequent and had higher stakes, so naturally my heart was beating out of my chest. I also adored the development of Maxon and America's relationship. Though Maxon has other girls as well at the castle, it wasn't hard for me to see how much he truly cares for America and all that she stands for! I will support them till the end. (TEAM MAXON ALL THE WAY). 

I won't say it, but something happens to a pivotal character in the story that truly ripped my heart out! I was so shocked when I read the words along the lines of "She is being caned" I love this particular character so much and almost cried when this happened. Props to Kiera for making me so emotional!

As you already know, I like Maxon over Aspen. I believe that Aspen had his chance with America in the beginning, and since that didn't work out, it's Maxon's turn now! I know that America loves them both blah blah, blah, but STILL. I like Maxon better plain and simple. I just wish Maxon would man up and America would quit being so indecisive over the two of them! Ugh just pick one!(Preferably Maxon please and thank you (: )

Yes, yes yes yes yes I totally absolutely recommend this book to everyone and anyone out there because I love this series just as much as the next person and I want you to share these feelings as well with me! But please read The Selection first because reading them out of order would kinda ruin it!

♦Haley♦

Review of: Surrender(Possession, #2) by Elana Johnson

Surrender(Possession, #2) by Elana Johnson

Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 480 pgs.
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Released: June 5, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
My Rating: 5 stars
Read: from December 26th-31st, 2012
Source: Books-A-Million

Synopsis:

Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.
All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn. Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque....

(from Goodreads)

I knew I would enjoy Surrender, but I didn't know how much I would fall in love with it. This heart pounding, action-packed sequel to Possession simply blew me away, easily becoming my favorite book of 2012.

From the start, Surrender turned into an un-put-down-able book. There was no moment in my mind where I said " Oh, I'll just stop here for today". No. I was constantly on the edge of me seat going round and round in circles in my head, trying to figure out what the heck what was going on at that point, but that was a good thing! Just as soon as I sorta half figured out what happened and kinda digested it, another surprise took me, and I delved on in between the story's folds. I still can't believe all of what happened!

I was super duper happy with the characters. I am obsessed with Raine and Gunner officially. They match so well,and truly could own their world one day. Their relationship was slow and steady, in contrast to insta-love. Raine had always noticed and watched (not creepy at all haha) Gunn, but never really felt their connection until they spent time together ♥.

I was surprised when I figured out Elana didn't continue with Vi and Jag's story from Possession. I suppose there was nothing to continue with in Vi's P.O.V in Surrender, as she was brainwashed and other stuff I shall not tell for the sake of you who have not read it yet :P. The switching of P.O.V's of Raine and Gunn was quite brilliant and never was I once confused as to who was talking. You learn what is going on with Vi and Jag through Raine and Gunn's P.O.V's. I loved that aspect of it, because Vi and Jag's part in the story was never left, but rather added to. Throughout all this, you begin to learn that the Earth as we know it now was totally destroyed from a nuclear war, which is kinda scary but eye opening as this is very possible. You also learn that their world is protected from the outside, while on the inside they live with bunches of protocols to follow and to never go beyond the wall, because you will never come back.

I loved this sequel because, for one, Elana expanded on so much that was a mystery to me in Possession, like their world, the Badlands, who was Gunn's father in Possession(I'm going blank on the name lol).
Surrender was a fantastic sequel to Possession, that I thoroughly enjoyed, and all I can say and think now is: I NEED THE NEXT BOOK PRONTO. Surrender will leave you going:

♦Haley♦

Showcase Sunday, #2: Post Holiday Edition!

Showcase Sunday is a wonderful meme hosted by the lovely Vicki @ Books, Biscuits and Tea. If you would like to join, please click HERE.

I hope you are all having a great New Year! I most certainly did, but on Tuesday I go back to school. :( I got so many books over the holiday's, I feel spoiled! Plus, I got bunches of gift cards, and have already spent about half. ^_^. So this is a mix of books I bought, got as gifts and some library books I just checked out yesterday(: Enjoy!

Checked out from library

Glimmerglass (FaerieWalker, #1) by Jenna Black

Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls by Mary Downing Hahn

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

The Silenced by James Devita

Gifts to me

North of Beautiful by Justin Chen Headley 

Crossed(Matched, #2) by Ally Condie

Entwined by Heather Dixon

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Belle of the Brawl(Alphas, #3) by Lisi Harrison

Bought

Eve(Eve, #1) by Anna Carey

What's left of Me(The Hybrid Chronicles, #1) by Kat Zhang

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

So as you can see, I am kinda craving Dystopian books right now. I am so excited to start reading all these! What is your Showcase Sunday? Link me up!

♦Haley♦

"Waiting on" Wednesday #3

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Abandon(Possession, #3) by Elana Johnson


Page Count(Hardcover Edition): 480 pgs.
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: June 4th, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian

(The blue one is the hardcover for now, while the pinkish one is the e-book form.. I hope the hardcover gets the same cover as the e-book, it's so pretty!)

Synopsis: 

seduced by power,
broken by control,
and consumed by love...
Vi has made her choice between Jag and Zenn, and the Resistance may have suffered for it. But with the Thinkers as strong as ever, the rebels still have a job to do. Vi knows better than anyone that there's more at stake than a few broken hearts.

But there is a traitor among them...and the choices he makes could lead to the total destruction of everything Vi has fought for.

Vi, Jag, and Zenn must set their problems aside for the Resistance to have any hope of ending the Thinkers' reign. Their success means everything...and their failure means death.

THIS SOUNDS SO DAMN GOOD. Oh my gosh! I'm so excited for it's release! I just finished reading Surrender, the second book in the series, and wow mind=blown. I really need to have this in my hands soon. *whines* This series is a definite must-read, I can promise you won't be disappointed! 

♦Haley♦