Linked by Imogen Howson

Goodreads Blurb

Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere. 
Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes. 
Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed. 
Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world. 

So I seem to like linking tweets in my reviews. I should do this more often.
So here are things I tweeted while reading Linked. Excuse any...French words.
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/347504532466589697
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/347505832214282240
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/347506627047473152
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/347506702343618560

So, despite my tweets, I do have a few mixed feelings on Linked, especially on our main character, Elissa. While she was easy to relate to and had, by far, the most realistic reaction to finding out you had a secret abused twin, she also had a lot of downsides. Sometimes I felt like she was unsympathetic towards Lin, chastising her when Lin just didn't know any better and other times I felt like she just seemed so selfish (though that was rare). She also seemed super impulsive and very trusting, though I can't say Lin's paranoia was that better! But Howson did manage to create a realistic character who acted like a real teen!
On that note, the author managed to perfectly capture the attitude of an abused escapee who had next to no knowledge of the outside world. Lin was a character that we could sympathize with and she sort of reminded me of a (powerful) lost puppy who just wanted to be loved.

So I had no idea, going into this, that Linked was dystopian. Or Sci-fi. Or anything other than a thriller, actually! I have no idea how I missed that! So imagine my surprise when I discovered a world at least a thousand years into the future with other planets, planet ranks, and outstanding worldbuilding. The descriptions were vivid, though sometimes unneeded. (I felt a bit irritated that we had a two sentence description on lemon meringue pie, then neglected to learn how certain fake IDs, which would come in handy in the future, worked).

There was also a bit of an info dump in the first half of the book and it was a bit slow for me, but *SEMI SPOILER* once we got on the airship, things got a lot more interesting, a lot faster. I was absolutely riveted by then and practically screamed my head off at a giant twist. Several actually, none that I was expecting. It absolutely ripped my heart out. (Such a cruel cruel world.)

There's barely any romance and what we do have is one that's actually pretty sudden after years of hate (and secret, denied love). I'll admit, it was sort of awkward, but I couldn't help but giggle and "Awww" at a certain romantic part. What can I say? I'm a sucker for confessions.

Unpredictable and stunning, Linked makes readers think about humanity and how we can make an ultimate sacrifice when it's called for. While slow at first, this is definitely a book I'd recommend to sci-fi fans and anyone who loves a twisted plot that'll leave you gasping and wanting more.

Pages: 368
Genre: Dystopian/Sci-fi
Series: Linked #1
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Rating: 3.5-->4 stars

Mind Games by Kiersten White

Goodreads Blurb

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 
Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.
In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

I had absolutely no idea how much I absolutely loved this. Seriously. Look at my tweets.
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345205363882196994
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345204604650283008
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345200520987828227
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345197273782816768
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345190705213362176
And there were a ton more actually. But they're all pretty much the same.

Walking in, I was a bit skeptical since there were more than enough mixed reviews to make me a bit anxious. But I really shouldn't have worried! Mind Games absolutely blew my mind--and that's a complete understatement.

For a Sci-fi/Supernatural book, Mind Games definitely has some of the most broken characters I've met. They were all so fleshed out--though I do wish we met more "students" besides are heartbreaking sisters and Eden (Annie's friend).
Fia was by far my favorite of the two sisters. She was loyal, smart, and she didn't have to depend on her perfect instinct all the time. She knew what she had to do, when she had to do it, and knew what was unreasonable. I loved her stubborn nature, but her bitterness just broke my heart clean in two. She sacrificed so much for Annie and it definitely wasn't without consequences. She was the broken one, the one that needed saving--but how do you save someone who doesn't want to be saved?
Annie, while not a bad character, just didn't click with me as well as Fia. She was so much more...rude, I guess, and I don't think she fully understood exactly how much Fia was sacrificing and exactly what she needed.

As for the romance, we don't really focus on it, but I adored James so much. He cared so much about Fia and knew exactly what to do and say to comfort her. He may have been an asshole, but he's a sweet one who has all the traits of an arrogant, swoony, love interest.
There's no romance for Annie yet, but I'm pretty sure Adam is her guy. We don't really learn much about him, but he's a very...interesting character.
Kiersten  White did a brilliant job creating characters who matched our heroines personality perfectly. Fia had someone who she could find comfort in, but could understand her pain, while I feel like Adam's cheery personality would definitely help Annie start accepting the fact that she couldn't protect her sister 24/7 and that her little sister's already so much more grown up than herself.

The plot was wonderfully paced and while, I realized suddenly, nothing much happens, you just can't help but get addicted to the pages, and just keep on reading. There's something about the way White writes that just pulls you straight in until the end--where you're still going to be begging for more. What does happen keeps me on my toes though and it definitely sets up the sequel wonderfully! I can absolutely NOT wait!

I absolutely loved how Kiersten White chose to tell this story too. We alternate between the past and the present so that we get to fall in love with our characters from the beginning as well as understand them a bit more. It really is heartbreaking how they evolved into the people they were now.

My only complaint is that I would've loved more plot and more focus on their gifts and how they got them, but that's really about it--it didn't affect my reading enjoyment at all!

Stunning, beautiful, and absolutely breathtaking, Kiersten White lives up to her expectations with Mind Games! Heartbreaking characters, a kickass plot, and enchanting writing, I'm not quite sure how this book isn't loved by everyone!

Pages: 237
Genre: Sci-fi/Supernatural
Series: Mind Games #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: Feb 19, 2013
Rating: 7/5 Stars

ZOMG.

Ah, so big news. Book Haul next week.

So I bet you're wondering what the big news is. Well. I saw this yesterday.


FEIEODPWPCNSPWKFMDOWPWPDKDMX,ZODPEIDNDIWIENFJSOEIFNREPNDWPWEJD. OH MYGOD, YOU GUYS. I HAVE NO WORDS. I LOVE YOU ALL SO SO SO MUCH. I CAN NOT EVEN.

This is me

This was me when I saw

It still sort of is.

This was me staring at people who had 1000 followers

I KNOW I KNOW. Followers don't matter. BUT STILL. 1000 is a big number! HONESTLY? I never expected to get more than 10. I even said that I would quit blogging when I reached 100.

Obviously, that never happened.

YOU GUYS I HAVE 1000

YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. THIS IS THE BEST. I CAN NOT EXPRESS MY FEELS. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. Even if you all came for the giveaways ;)

OH MY GOD. I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT. Of course I have to thank EVERY SINGLE PERSON. MAINLY? The Merp Squad. THEY ARE MY LIFE.

EILEEN AT SINGING AND READING IN THE RAIN Oh my God. NO WORDS FOR HOW MUCH I LOVE HER RANDOM AND CRAZY. She's totally my best friend and when I meet her IN AUGUST I shall tackle her and possibly cause concussions. Whoops. BUT OH MY GOD. I have no words. NONE. She is the BESTTTTT. Even if she hates my favorite contemporaries and I hate her favorite contemporaries.

ANNABELLE AT SPARKLES AND LIGHTNING We have discovered that she is an angel. Literally. Have you seen her halo? It's super bright. SHE IS SO SPARKLY IN A GOOD WAY. * shoos away Edward* She's so absolutely nice (buying everyone like 5 books. UGH. She makes me feel miserly. I mean, I am, BUT STILL) and oh my GOD. DO YOU KNOW HOW PRETTY SHE IS? Also, we have almost the same taste in books!

JESSI AT AUNTIE SPINELLI READS YESYESYES to Jessi! TOTALLY FUN AND SO ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. AND SHE TOTALLY UNDERSTANDS HOW MUCH AND WHY I LOVE THE YA GUYS I DO. Seriously. MORPHEUS YOU GUYS *glares at the rest of the Merp Squad* SHE IS AMAZING and owns 4 fluffy balls of fur. That's always a plus. SERIOUSLY.

INKY AT BOOK HAVEN EXTRAORDINAIRE Morpheus. THAT IS ALL YOU GET.

Just kidding. I LOVE THIS PERSON. She's totally fun to argue with--and we do that a lot. Because she won't realize how much better Morpheus is. BUT IT'S OKAY. Because she is pure awesome and I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO TACKLE HER WHEN I SEE HER. WHICH BETTER BE SOOONNNNN.  She's so totally hilarious. HILARIOUS.

And I can't forget my other amazing friends!
SHREYA AT CHOCOLATE COATED REVIEWS who was one of my first bloggy friends! TOTAL fangirl of Cassie Clare's stuff! I think she would live on all the TMI memes if she could lol! CHOCOLATE LOVER AND ONE OF THE NICEST AND BESTEST PEOPLE EVER.

LISSETH AT READAHOLICZ GIANT fan of music and bookkksss! She was literally my FIRST bloggy friend when I Goodreads messaged her awkwardly. That is me. AWKWARD. I haven't talked to her much lately which makes me cry D:

KRYSTAL AT  LIVE TO READ A recent friend who I absolutely love to talk to on Facebook almost every day! She LOVES chocolate and ice cream. SO OF COURSE I LOVE HER. We are also both gold medalists of procrastination and probably have schoolwork to do right now. Nahhhh

But I have bad news too. I posted that when I reached 1000 I would have an EPIC EPIC giveaway. But my mom and I are short on money, which she didn't tell meeeee, so it'll have to be postponed. I'M SO SORRY D: It WILL happen, just not now. But I promise you guys will love it!

And so, I leave you with this. I feel like a magical person.