Book Review: Scarlet Woods by Brooke Passmore (Scarlet Woods #1)

Title: Scarlet Woods (Scarlet Woods #1)

Author: Brooke Passmore

Genre: Contemporary, Time Travel

Release Date: December 2012

Rating:  

Book Blurb from Goodreads:

Past, future, and love all exist in the door through time.

Modern and independent seventeen year old Morgan Westbrook thought she had seen all there was to her home town of Scarlet, Georgia, but one day while walking in the woods behind her house she discovers a mysterious door masked behind the trees. After admiring the door’s timeless beauty she walks through its entrance to venture into more woods, but what she doesn’t know is that the door is a gateway through time that takes her back to the year 1863 during the days of the Civil War in Scarlet.

Without knowing that she had traveled back in time, she stumbles upon Danny Carson, an attractive young man who is appalled to see that Morgan is wearing skimpy modern clothes instead of a nineteenth century dress. Although they find each other completely different than anyone they’ve ever known, they cannot help but feel drawn to one another. After spending time in another century, she discovers that she's time traveled back to the year 1863 and that the door took her there. For months she and Danny journey back and forth through the door to experience the joys of traveling to both of their centuries. When dilemmas of unwanted marriage, slavery, and war are thrown at them, they must face the perils that time travel has delivered them in both the future and the past.

I'd like to thank the author, Brooke Passmore for giving me a chance to read this book and review it for all of you. Thank you very much!

I honestly don't know what rate will I give this novel... Until now, I don't know. It didn't WOW-ed me. I feel it is just good but not that amazing. The novel is incredibly long. Although it's not boring but seriously, there's a lot of things going on in the book. I guess the scenes are necessary and well thought... it's just that yeah... too long for my taste. But if you'll ask me if I would want something to be removed in the scene... There's none I would want to take off in the novel.

While reading this book, I kept on remembering this old film--well, not really old, like 2006 old only--that was released in the Philippines called Moments of Love. It was of the same plot but well, in the book, the time was 1863 while in the movie, it's 1950s. The difference was that in this novel, Danny Carson was from 1863 while Morgan was from the year 2013. In the movie, it was the other way around. The male lead was from the future while the female was from the past. They don't have the special door going on in the film... and the only way they communicate was thru a telephone call. They don't really meet each other personally.

Scarlet Woods was a novel I don't usually read and first time reading a time-traveling characters. It's pretty weird how they worked it out. I kept on thinking that one day the power or magic of that special door would lose. And that one day they'll have to choose which side they'll live in. 

The characters were a bit annoying since they were, uh, stupid? or something. Actually, it's just Morgan for me that made me feel like I want to snap her little neck cause of being annoying. It's because how could she not understand that Danny was doing what he thought was the right thing. It's just that Danny is from 1863! Can't she understand that it's different from hers and Danny's time? Okay, so maybe she did, but still, ugh. Dammit. It annoyed the heck out of me. Then there's this part where she made Danny choose again! For Heaven's sake. 

And I hate that Roy Walker for doing that awful thing to Sam. I can't even keep on reading it when I got to that part. I feel Sam pain. I feel like I'm the one receiving the pain. I got teary eyed when I read Sam about to lose hope. :( 

Scarlet Woods pretty much give me a lot of emotion. One moment I was smirking, the next I want to punch Roy (for being an ass) or Morgan (for being stupid) and then made me cry too. I wonder what would happen next in the second book. Hmm... Anyway, pretty good. 

Review: Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) by José Rizal

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This book was made by our National Hero, Jose Rizal back when he was in Germany. It was made when the Spaniards are currently wrecking havoc in our land, Philippines. Rizal chose to do his own battle by writing a novel instead of arms.

Noli Me Tangere revolves around in Crisostomo Ibarra. He was a good man. He came back to Philippines after studying in Europe. Long story, so I'll just shorten it. His father was accused and then went to jail. It's just because of Padre Damaso. >:( But Ibarra didn't want a revenge. He just carried on his father's plan of building schools. Of course, there's still those who didn't want Ibarra to do good stuff and decided to assassinate him and it would be successful if not for Elias. He was saved.

And the story progress, this novel shows what the Spaniards did to Philippines, how corrupt some of them become because they thought that the Filipinos are stupid people. They abused us, called us Indios, excommunicate those who defies the Catholic Church, etc. Actually this was the time where the Priest from the Madrid showed how corrupt some of them are. There's this priest, Father Damaso, who even had a child in this novel, which is Maria Clara. Her mother was raped by Padre Damaso.

This novel is one of the greatest book Rizal made. Oh, Rizal is a genius. Dammit for his excellent brains. LOL. He's so freakin' talented, he's a know it all. He knew lots of profession, he's an engineer, writer, Ophthalmologist, poet, woodcarver, he knew how to sketch too, he knew Medicine too. He's the one who operates on his mother's eye. He's a freakin' genius. :O Like Sherlock Holmes, Sheldon Cooper combine. :O



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Review: Pale

Pale by Chris Wooding

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This book, Pale is just a short story about a new way to let people not die. It's a unique kind of book and I just wished that this is not just about 37 pages. I wanted to know more about the Pales. Why did they created the Pales and why is it for certain type of blood types only.

The Pales are not treated well in here. The MC himself back when he is still a normal person, is not good to the Pales too since in the beginning he was joining his best friend, Kyle maltreated one Pale, David. He was one of those guys who abuse the Pales, who treated them as scums.

Pales are called pales because they are injected with the serum, the Lazarus Serum, once injected before you die, you'll have some side effects. That means, your hair, skin will turn white as a chalk. They are like vampires in a way. They don't breathe anymore but still need to eat, and well they are given another chance at life.

I like how the MC, Jeb, started to like the Pales. Of course at first he's bitter because of what happened but gradually he accepted it. He became friend with other Pales. He began to open up to David, the Pale who he beaten up with Kyle.

I just wished that it's a bit longer but this short story is a good one. So 4 stars.



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Review: Effortless

Effortless by S.C. Stephens

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Got myself in a deal. :o sort of. Will read it as soon as I finish my CR.

I don't know what rate I should give this book. This is certainly better than Thoughtless. The cheating part really don't do me so I didn't quite like Thoughtless back then. But in Effortless, since they are officially together, I started to like it. Heck, I started to really love Kellan Kyle. I started to see what the girls saw in him, why they get so gaga over him. Damnit, Kellan. YOU. ARE. SO. FREAKIN'. SWEET.

And I know this is so not a proper review since I'm just gushing out my feelings over the book and that hot rockstar, Kellan Kyle... But who effin' cares?! I loved it. I'm willing to give it a 5 stars right now. But... there's just this tiny bit of annoyance for both Kellan and Kiera. Although I totally understand them both by not saying anything and keeping secrets... Holy heck, just talk!

Effortless is basically just about them having trust issues since we all know what happened to Thoughtless and HOW they got together in the first place. And since Kellan and the rest of the D-bags got... in the ride (yeah, lame words, but that's the only thing I could say without spoiling the book), trust is really hard for both Kiera and Kellan. There's always the thought of someone cheating on someone.

But in the end, it was good. I even liked Griffin at the near end. I... Damn. Kellan is so sweet with all those notes... Crap. Also, this is the only time I cried because of this book. I didn't cry in Thoughtless (uh, maybe I did, in frustration), this is just totally emotional. The sweetness of Kellan teared me up. The issues between them teared me up (only the emotional ones not the you cheat on me drama)..

I also believe this should be the end of the story. I don't know why there's still third book, Reckless which would be out by March 2013. For me this is already a closure. I just hope in the third book, there's no cheating or else, I'm not reading it.

But yes, thumbs up for this one. 4.5 stars. Unlike Thoughtless which I gave only 2 stars, this is something that will probably make my friends (wink at Melissa and Dan) happy. :)



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Review: House of Night: Legacy

House of Night: Legacy by P.C. Cast

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Er... I don't know how to rate this. I don't have any thing against the story. It's actually unique. And well, it's new. It's like a short stories of the books. I thought that I would be reading the same thing over again (just with visuals), I thought wrong. It still the same but they added a short story that is not in the main series. So I guess I'm quite okay with it.



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Live Author Chat with C.J. Redwine (Defiance)

Recently C.J. Redwine, the Young Adult book author of Defiance, joined Young Adult Books Central for a Live Author Chat. She gave some insights on how she created the world of Defiance, some trivias, etc. I made a guest post about it in my friends' blog at A Girl, A Boy, and A...

And here's the link for the complete chat with C.J. Redwine. :)

Live Author Chat with C.J. Redwine (Defiance).

Pages From My Thoughts: Exclusive Interview with Author Sangu Mandana + Th...

Pages From My Thoughts: Exclusive Interview with Author Sangu Mandana + Th...: Me : Welcome to my blog, and congratulation on the success of The Lost Girl. As we know that The Lost Girl is inspired from Frankenstein, w...

Yesssss! A giveaway hosted by a dear friend, Soumi from Pages From My Thoughts. They'll be giving The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandana away until November! :) Hurrah! That is as long as you're in Asian countries. :)

Review: Hidden

Hidden by P.C. Cast

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



There's gonna be a Live Video Chat With P.C. and Kristin Cast on Thursday, October 18th at 7PM EST to talk about their latest book, Hidden (House of Night #10).

If you want to join, RSVP here. :)

REVIEW: with spoilers. Be warned.

Okay... So, Hidden is the tenth, yes, you read it right, book in the House of Night Series which was released last October 16th. Uh, the book started where Destined, the ninth book, left off. Or more accurately, in the first chapter of this book, it was showing Neferet and what she's doing before Aurox went to Grandma Redbird's home and wreck havoc by killing Dragon Langford (Is the surname right?). So the concept is pretty good. Okay-ish. But as we all know it's really slow right from the start of this series.

I mean, I'm pretty sure almost all of you wants Neferet to drop dead as in right now, yes? I believe my friends wanted to know if Neferet dies in this book. I'll tell you later. I know you people don't have the energy to read this anymore. So yes, I'm gonna spoil it for ya.

There's good in this book. We all know how Zoey and the rest of the nerd herds plus the Queen of Bitch, Aphrodite are all 'bickering children', Thanatos words not mine but I so agree with her. And that didn't actually change from the start of the book. Plus, Zoey is being her whiny self and wallowing with grief and her snot. That didn't change too. BUT, Thank the Goddess, after 20 Chapters I think, the Goddess Nyx actually rephrase this "stop being whiny, you're not helping yourself or anyone for that matter. Stop bawling your eyes out" in a super nice way to Zoey. LOL.

Oh, remember how Erin and Shaunee un-Twined in the ninth book? Well, Erin became a bitch. As in real bitch and decided to hang out and make out (ugh, ewww) with Dallas. Shaunee is pretty nice and started to have her own identity which they all love. Also, there's Shaylin, the first red fledgling that was marked. She was gifted by Nyx the True Sight, she could see auras plus... SPOILER ALERT, she replaced Erin's place as water in the circle.

Aurox... I think we all know who Zoey saw in the Seer stone in Destined. Heath. Yes, Zoey's dead boyfriend. Heath's soul is inside Aurox's body. He became Aurox's humanity. That is why Aurox run back in the house of Grandma.

And then there's Neferet. I was like "It's not really surprising that they'll shun you, you know." when the High Counc decided against her. And she has the face to look shock at that one. Seriously, you are one heck of a nutcase, Neferet. So I was whooping for joy for about a minute when she fall off that damn balcony and said "Finally! Die, Neferet! Die!" And I actually believe it for that whole minute... BUT suddenly, I remembered that that insane woman is now freakin' immortal. Oh, for the love of all things holy. When will you die, Neferet?!

For ten books, you give them pain and sorrow... When will they have the chance to kill you for good? Sigh. From the start, she's the main enemy... UNTIL NOW. and STILL her.

2.5 stars. It's not that bad, not that good either. Gueas that's it. Oh, by the way, Kalona was now in the good side and I think on his way to Nyx's forgiveness. And Erebus is just so freakin' selfish. I hope the Goddess zap him. >:(



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Review: Freaks of Greenfield High

Freaks of Greenfield High by Maree Anderson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Nope. Didn't read the blurb but yeah, am reading it. I just have to trust JP that this is good as he said cause his recs are always good. Or else I'll just blame him and say that he's recs are now tainted if I didn't like it.

Er... It's okay, good even. Although, I don't know. It's just a bit boring when you get to 70% of it. And seriously, NOT COOL Tyler. Even though she's a cyborg, you can't do that to a girl. So minus points for this book. Only BAD GUYS do that to girls. And you're not even a bad guy! For god sake you're the male lead! >:(

Tyler was a well-known figure in school, a jock, before the books starts but then he was labeled as an emo type of guy and a freak. I was like wondering why is he labeled as freak? Does he have some weird tendencies? Super powers maybe? But when the truth was out, I was like, that's it? Just because of that? Huh. Okay. Tyler's choices sucks.

And I started to lose interest. :( But in any case, it's not really a bad read, Jay is a cool character. She and the rest of the characters made me laugh for some parts. Although I really wanted to know what happened to Jay. I want Jay's POV for that last part. :O

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Review: Spook : Slither's Tale

Spook : Slither's Tale by Joseph Delaney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Warning: Contained unmarked spoilers. Too lazy to edit it out.

First of all, the book is not that scary unless I go and imagine it all at night. Yeah, I'm sooooo brave in the morning to afternoon. :D Second, as I've mentioned in my status, I keep on thinking about Beauty and the Beast. I know, gross but well, with Slither and Nessa being a bit chummy... One might think that it's like that. But I guess its not and if it is... Uh, gross much??

Third, Grimalkin... Have I ever mentioned I really like her even though she's a dark witch? I did? In I Am Grimalkin? Well, that's just cause SHE'S SO FREAKIN' AWESOME and KICKASS. I expected Grimalkin to show in here cause of someone saying that he read a review about Grimalkin being great which is totally true. But honestly, I forgot about her when I started reading this. I was absorbed by Slither's Tale.

Slither is a Kobalos. Er, in a normal language (Lol at that), he's a monster pluck out of your nightmare. But he's a... honorable one. He honors the trade, the promise Old Rowler made with him which made him a bit okay but still monster. :p

Oh! I had this idea when I was reading the book, I just know that Grimalkin would help Nessa once she's been sold. What I didn't expect was she'll turn Nessa! I mean, I should have know since she did that when they faced the Homo--uh, something, LMAO! It's HAGGENBROOD!!! and fight side by side. But my mind was set to thinking that Nessa would be sold and Grimalkin would COME and save her to reunite with Nessa's sister. So I was shocked like Slither.

A GOOD ONE! NICE Grimalkin!!! Liking you better than Tom Ward now. LOL. :P And finally! I catch up with the latest book! I'm so proud of myself! Aren't you, Glam and JP?! :D



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Review: Poison Princess

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Will be reading with the girls!!! Yeah!!! Saw that a lot of my friends absolutely LOVED this book. My expectations are quite high. But I have a feeling I'll be one of those who'll be squeeing over this book and will be annoyed cause I'll be left waiting for the next book next year or whatever.

BTW, the girl in the cover reminds me of the cover girl in Paranormalcy. :O

THE REVIEW:

First off, Poison Princess by Kresley Cole is a very intriguing book. I was a bit horrified at the Prologue and keep on thinking "What on earth is this man doing? And what is his role in this book?" This was answered at the end of the book. Although I must admit, I didn't see the signs that I should've seen there. I'm that oblivious.

In any case, Poison Princess started with Evie telling her story about a week before the Flash happen just when she got back from the CLC. She's desperate to return back to normal, to forget that CLC didn't happen and she actually believe that she's returning back to normal. But the 'delusions', hit her again. Harder this time.

As the story goes on, questions are piling up and catching with the present. 'Where is Jackson?', 'Are they just on a mission or something?' And I also grew frustratingly annoyed with Evie cause well, why don't she tell the truth to Jack? Of course, there's the issue of secrecy. But still, why can't you trust him? *sigh inwardly*

Overall though, I really liked this book. Yes, some questions were answered. Uh, it's not really a cliffhanger... BUT for me, it is. Confusing? It's just that I still have questions and by the end I still asked "What will happen to Evie and Jack now?"

Nevertheless, Poison Princess is beautifully created and I can't wait for the next book. ;)



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Review: Hidden

Hidden by P.C. Cast

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



There's gonna be a Live Video Chat With P.C. and Kristin Cast on Thursday, October 18th at 7PM EST to talk about their latest book, Hidden (House of Night #10).

If you wanted to join, RSVP here. :)



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Review: I Am Grimalkin

I Am Grimalkin by Joseph Delaney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Whoa. A story told by a kick-ass assassin Grimalkin! It brings the reader in me back in the funk. :D Although some of her story was already told in the books before this one and especially the Grimalkin's Tale, this story will really make you grip the edge of your seat.

Grimalkin is a powerful Witch Assassin and a Dark Witch to boot. In this book, Tom Ward doesn't really appear much. Just once. And this is really a great book. You'll see a side of Grimalkin that has never been seen or maybe once. When she bore the child of the Fiend.

OH! Grimalkin trained a girl to be her successor! I love her name! Thorne. As I've scanned the Table of Contents before I read it, there's this chapter titled; Grimalkin Does Not Cry. When I read that, I know someone close would die. 

Too many people had die in this book. In the hands of the Fiend's servants and of Grimalkin's. I read it until the last where there's a short interview to the author, Joseph Delaney. The series was almost finished. Maybe just one more book or two. I was bummed by this series (back when I'm reading Spook's Destiny) cause it's just sooooo long. But knowing it will soon end, I'm having a mix feeling about it.



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Review: What's Left of Me

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



AWESOME!

The book reminded me of two other different books. The first one was The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna and the second one was The Host by Stephenie Meyer.I am not saying that those books are totally alike and I am not comparing them cause I haven't really read The Host yet. I didn't get past Chapter One then. Maybe just a bit of resemblance to The Host cause as far as I remember there's also another soul within the body.

From the first page up to the last, I was drawn to it. It is certainly a page turner. Cause well, there's someone other than Addie talking inside her head. Eva. I admit, I talked to myself--you got to admit it to that you also did that--and sometimes it answered back. LOL. I mean just as a conscience. Not really like there's another soul inside of me. I liked the story, how it was developed. Although I keep on thinking from the very start, "What if they fall in love? Like to a different guy? Isn't it too awkward?"

I have some questions when I started this one. Like "How did they know for certain that Addie and Eva finally settled?" or "Why do people born with two souls in one body? What's the basis?" The first one was certainly answered. They were tested, like maybe MRI or some equipment for the brain waves, saw a pattern or something and declared she already settled that Eva was now gone. The last one was just based on myself I guess. I mean, that's how the Zhang wanted it to be like, so as a reader I just have to accept it since this is a Dystopian book.

I also can't help but remember Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Maybe cause of the lab tests. And oh, I wonder what would happen if they did run? But Addie was right though. Where would they go? So I knew when they got to the clinic, somehow, some way, they'll device a way to escape. Course, that's what mostly one should do.

Another question that sprang in my mind, "What did the Hybrids ever did to the settlers?" I mean sure, they started a war or something. But that's something so long ago. I guess it's just a grudge then. And power hungry people.

Well, anyway, I really liked it. I'm always generous at giving ratings and since I don't really find that much fault in here, I've rated it 4.5 stars. But of course, that's just only my own opinion. One might say that there is something wrong in here, but I don't care.



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Book Review: Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff (The Lotus War #1)

Title: Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1)

Author: Jay Kristoff

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Steam-punk, Japan, Mythology

Release Date: September 18th, 2012

Rating: 

Book Blurb from Goodreads:

A DYING LAND 
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.
A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.
But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

I just noticed the cover for this book. What Yukiko was holding is a katana, as far as I could see. BUT her sword was supposed to be a tantō. >_< A much shorter sword than a katana.

Contained unmarked spoilers.

4 stars. Yep. I'm giving it 4 stars cause the story really deserves it. I know, I should explain further. And you bet this review would be a really long one.