Taken by Erin Bowman

Goodreads Blurb

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.
They call it the Heist.
Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.
Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

I was so scared going into this book since some of my bloggy friends rated it less than 3 stars or just DNF'd it (I'm looking at you Eileen). On the other hand it sounded SO good and there were still a number of good reviews! And...me? I'm in the latter section!

I absolutely loved Taken! It was...well. I don't know how to explain it really! This book flew by and when I realized I was more than halfway through, I couldn't believe it! I thought I was maybe a quarter in at most...I have absolutely no idea how she did it, but Erin Bowman wrote a book that made me desperately dread the ending that was coming all to quickly.

My absolute favorite part of the book though, was definitely the first half of the book before *minor spoiler* Gray climbs over the wall. It was fascinating seeing how this society worked out--which, it turns out, was pretty surprising...(whatever am I saying?). What I do want to warn you about is that there's more to the story than what the synopsis above hints at. That's only half the story! The rest really does sound like your typical dystopian (lies fed by the government, rebellion, deaths...whoops! did I just spoil that? Nah...but now you know what to look out for!), but it was still different in a way I can't really...get. It was an aspect that I enjoyed, but it's actually really hard to pinpoint why!

Romance...hmmm, I honestly felt it could do a little better without the, you know, love triangle, but it honestly isn't that big an issue since the "other" seems to be there just as revenge and we don't really go in depth with it, but it could also be simply annoying since there's absolutely no development whatsoever. One of the girls doesn't seem interested, then all of a sudden loves Gray, then the second seems to be just...there.

My only other complaint for this was the worldbuilding--the biggest question, for me, was how did the Heists work? And how did Gray not realized something was up when he found out that all the Hesited boys....well. I can't spoil that.

This book was a fast paced book that, while I wouldn't call it "Action packed", had enough action to keep readers satisfied and reading! I could not put this down and read it in 2 sittings (i.e. 1 sitting with a half hour break to eat.), flipping page after page of amazing writing! While it was actually a bit predictable in some cases (I could guess at a few!) I could still find myself surprised by a sudden turn of events!

While I wouldn't really recommend this for people already getting tired of YA dystopia, I will say that it's definitely a great book if you're in a reading slump or if you're searching for another amazing dystopian!

Pages: 352

Genre: Dystopia

Series: Taken #1

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: April 16, 2013

Rating: 4.5--->4 stars

Book Haul + Weekly Recap

I didn't really get much! I got some swag and a surprise package! (Btw, the font may be bigger since I'm trying out a new app.)

Publisher

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch (ARC and hardback)

     Read and finished! Review should come in April!

Zenn Scarlett by Christian Schoon (eGalley)

     Not sure how this ones going to turn out! Excited though!

Gifted

Towering by Alex Flinn (ARC)

     THANK YOU SO MUCH NICOLE @ PAPERBACK PRINCESS! She knew I was aching for these! I love Alex Flinn! And, well, retellings.)

Spellcaster by Claudia Gray (ARC)

     I love Claudia Gray! That is all. 

Swag

Let the Sky Fall Swag Pack (sticker, little book...thing, bookmark, and bookplate!)

Scarlet Book plate (from A.C. Gaughen because my mom threw out my last one!)

Weekly Recap

birthday Hijack

Waiting on Wednesday

Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

Opposite Ends of the Spectrum 

Yeah sorry about lack of posts. O_O I somehow got two reviews short this week. 

Opposite Ends of the Spectrum

Opposite Ends of the Spectrum
If I Stay vs. Shut Out

(This is probably a once in a bloglife thing, but I thought it'd be fun--reviewing a cute fluff at the same time as an apparent emotional rollercoaster!)

These two were honestly completely different, but I found myself giving them a near-same rating--3 and 4 stars. I know I know, If I Stay, only 4 stars? The scandal! But...I think I just had higher hopes for it. I've read Just One Day (hello! You've seen my review!) and it was simply amazing while, If I Stay...paled in comparison. I'm not saying it was bad. I'm just saying I would have loved it a lot more if I'd read it before Just One Day. On the other hand, for Shut Out, I just didn't like have any expectations so it was surprising, though I think I'd more likely give it a 3. It just wasn't...It just wasn't.

The heroines were completely different to. While Mia (IIS) could understand things easily and was a true character with flaws, one I could understand, Lissa (SO) was completely...ugh.She drove me crazy with her COD and her need to control everything. I wanted to slap her a lot and soon she became practically OBSESSED with winning the "war" Also, I found the school society a bit sex-crazed. I mean, I know it happens, but like...not that severely. I hope. The shallowness of some of these characters really annoyed me while the characters in IIS I loved and wanted to cry for at times. They really did twist my heart at times.

I really loved Mia and Adam's slow romance which I found sweet and warm! I honestly sometimes loved the flashbacks more than I did the present because of Adam. I really really really loved Adam and wanted to smother him in hugs sometimes. When I said there were characters I wanted to cry for, I was really just talking about Adam...I just...sigh. Their's seemed like a true love that had me sighing happily throughout the book...well, until the end. On the other hand, Lissa's and Cash's relationship made me feel like a year after the happenings, they'll start growing apart. Basically, I didn't believe their relationship. It seemed more out of convenience to the story line than something that'd actually happen.So there was an *SPOILER* almost kiss...but...it just left me highly unsatisfied.

If I Stay, I think, was supposed to be a highly emotional read, but honestly I felt disappointed by it. I, mostly, had no emotions at all throughout the book and was actually a bit bored. The only times I felt something was whenever Adam was involved or when Mia was looking for answers. It was just...beautifully sad. But I don't think it was as emotional as people claim, which is why it's just a star less than 5. It wasn't strong enough for me. 

Shut Out was definitely a cute fluff that had me reading despite it's many flaws. It was fun and I was excited to see each new plan the girls and guys had to beat each other and the idea was definitely...interesting. I mean, what other book focuses on a sex strike? Yeah...that sounds weird out loud.

Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

Goodreads Blurb

A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil.

The lush city of Palmares Tres shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that’s sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June’s best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.

Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Tres will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government’s strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.

Would it be completely horrible of me to say that this is one of the worst books I've ever read? Because it really felt like it. As much as I wanted to love it (I mean, this was one of the first 2013 debut did HEARD of that had such an amazing synopsis) I really couldn't. I just...couldn't.

So I didn't realize until I was 3 chapters in that everyone was homosexual. And, I do mean everyone. Our love interest, the guy best friend, the mom, the ambassador, etc. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against it, but it would've been nice to get a warning. I could also see how it advanced the plot, but couldn't they just have changed a gender and have it work the same? We never got why everyone suddenly disregarded gender and why everyone was suddenly very...loose. I guess it does play on that "wild side" of Brazil, but...well. 

I also had a giant issue with the characters--they felt so flat to me, especially Gil. And Enki...he would be so mischievous then suddenly very serious and a tad morbid, making his character a very...complicated, changing one. June was definitely one of the worse characters I've run into. She was pretty egoistical. She thought herself as the best artist in Palmares Tres and felt like she deserved the Queen's award (think of it as the Oscars, except only one) when there were others CLEARLY better than her. 

The romance...oh man. Where do I START with this. It was all very insta lovey. Very. Gil and Enki kissed pretty much a few minutes after they saw each other, the 5 minutes in between 

used up for a very...insinuating dance. And then Enki is apparently very in love with Gil, and June very attracted to Enki, at first because of his darker skin color. A bit shallow? I thought so, at least. And then there starts this weird dance in which Enki and June are...weird. They kiss,it doesn't mean anything, the kiss more, and stuff, but they still don't really fall in love. And, using the delicate phrase of the book, Summer Kings screw like mayflies. Oh man, was that true. Weirder still, Gil who was in love with Enki was fine with sharing him with June. Ummmm...

Honestly, I didn't really understand anything happening in Summer Prince. Everything was happening so damn quickly, then we'd have a time skip and never find out what happened between then and now. The writing may have been lush, but it was definitely confusing to me. I got the main gist of it, but other than that...or maybe I was just so bored of this book, I unintentionally skimmed it? I know I definitely skipped the last 75 pages at least. To read about an ending I predicted since the beginning. I hate to say it, but saying I'm disappointed is an understatement.

My ending statement? It may have been a idea with a great potential, but the way it was executed just didn't meet up.

Pages: 304

Genre: Sci-fi/Dystopia

Series: Stand alone

Publisher: Scholastic

Release: March 1, 2013

Rating: 1

Waiting on Wednesday

Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards

Weeks after his crucifixion and rebirth as Phoenix, Ash Fisher believes his troubles are far behind him. He and Natalie are engaged and life seems good. But his happiness is short-lived when he receives a threatening visit from Purian Rose, who gives Ash an ultimatum: vote in favor of Rose’s Law permanently relegating Darklings to the wrong side of the wall or Natalie will be killed.

The decision seems obvious to Ash; he must save Natalie. But when Ash learns about The Tenth, a new and deadly concentration camp where the Darklings would be sent, the choice doesn’t seem so simple. Unable to ignore his conscience, Ash votes against Rose’s Law, signing Natalie’s death warrant and putting a troubled nation back into the throes of bloody battle.

E-excuse me? Did you say I needed to EXPLAIN why I wanted this? I'm sorry, must have heard wrong. I just LOVED Black City last year and hello? This sequel? That synopsis? THERE IS NO QUESTION. Plus apparently there's like, a love square with Elijah, so other slut  woman, Ash, and Natalie. And then this. THINGS ARE GETTING EVEN MORE INTERESTING! SQUEE!

EDIT: Hee. I may have actually gotten this. But like, I needed to tell everyone my feelings beforehand. So, like...yeah

It's Nikki's birthday & SHE'S BEEN HIJACKED!

Yes it is Nikki! It's your AWESOME-SAUCE BIRTHDAY! 

Hey! I'm Inky [also known as the BLOG HIJACK ALIEN] and I'll be your fabtastique blog host for the day. It's Nikki's birthday if you haven't already gathered, and all her Bloggy Buds have it out to get her all happied up on this joyous day. [see HERE & HERE] By the end of the day she's gonna be like this...if she isn't already: 

Now, this post is gonna be short, sweet and to the point. NIKKI IS AWESOME. She protested all the birthday fun she's getting like MAD. But let's face it. She's worth it. Lisseth (the second link above) will tell you why. I'm just here to bring gifs, balloons, cake, and a little letter. :D So....first up, our traditional party decor...BALLOONS! 

And of course it's not a birthday without a cake and lots of candles. Especially if they do this....

and YOU can do this.....

............before giving up and doing this..........

SO. We've have our happy gifs and all our birthday essentials shared with everyone. Now, it's my turn to share a little more blogger love. I wrote this random poem for Nikki's birthday! Hope you all enjoy it.  Believe me it's random.

Hahaha. As I'm re-reading it, I'm amazed I even pulled it off. But Nikki is worth it, and with that, there is only one last thing to say. And I've got GIFS here to help me:

Thanks for being one of the COOLEST BLOGGERS AROUND! Keep being awesome!!! 

XOXOXO, Inky