Not A Book Review: Anti Valentine's Movement

It's Valentine's Day again dear readers and I'm here not to write about a book, but to just review about this much speculated day every year. Much to everyone's distress, I am not a believer of Valentine's Day. In fact, I may almost hate it. Why? Well, there's the annoyingly sappy mood everyone's in. I can just taste the sweetness in the air. Blegh. Then there's the draining rush everyone's in, as if they're trying to finish everything up in a matter of seconds to make more time for their dates or whatsoever. I thought I was becoming a sociopath. GAH. But when I thought it through, (yes, I think ALL my decisions through. Even those dumpling noodles I had for lunch.) and before I declared myself to be void or any romantic notion, I realized that I didn't hate love. I hated Valentine's Day. You might be saying: "Oh good Lord. She's gone nuts. Call the shrink!" but let me explain. Don't we all have that annoying classmate/co-worker/random stranger who just shoves in your face how many chocolates or flowers or love letters they got for V-Day? Or those annoying people who think they can do whatever they want. And when you tell them off, you seem like the bad guy and people will say "lay it off, man. It's Valentine's Day" Is it just me or does everyone's knuckles just  itches to come in contact with that face? I hate it when they send tons of flowers and hug each other and tell them how much they love him/her just because it's Valentine's Day. For me, it shouldn't be done on just one day a year. 1 out of 365 isn't enough. 0.2 percent of every year isn't going to cut it. Love shouldn't be built up and let loose on Valentine's Day. It should be done every hour, every minute, every second of every day that you have. You never know when you're going to die, and I doubt you'll feel very loved knowing that you got dozens of flowers for V-Day last year. If you really are passionate and serious about something, you won't feel that a day is enough, either. I'd like people to scratch the idea of a Valentine's Day out of their heads. When every and any day would be a day where you could give flowers. Or leave work a little early to have dinner with your loved one. Or just be in a sappy, romantic mood all day long. Now wouldn't that be better? Knowing that you were thought about because well, you were thought about. No more angry girlfriends who didn't get roses and chocolates from their boyfriends. No more stressed-out hubbies rushing to the corner flower shop to get his wife a not-even-thought-about bouquet of flowers. No more greedy people raising the prices of flowers up to thrice the original amount to make higher profit. (well, okay. the last one happens EVERY holiday. I doubt they'll change) But wouldn't it be really nice if that did happen? No pressure, just everyone going in their own time. Now you won't have to share a special day with a bajillion more people out there. Wouldn't it be more meaningful and sweet if you had your own day no one else but the two of you knew when? That you wake up and find yourself smelling roses just because. Now these ideas, I was truly drawn to. That you go to bed having the best feeling in the world every night because you chose not to pour it all out in a day. That, for me is love in it's rawest state. And that's something I would in fact, love. So I guess I don't really hate the idea "two hearts beating as one" or something that is blind and fair and just. I guess it's really just Valentine's Day that I hate

Disclaimer: I have in NO WAY possible any intention of offending anyone's opinions or beliefs. This is just me sharing what I think.

I hope it's Valentine's Day everyday to you, too! :)

Waiting on Wednesday (28)

Waiting on Wednesday/s are hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine in which you choose a book or books that you're excited and waiting for.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday book is:

Title: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Author: Holly Black

Publisher:

Publication date: September 17th 2013

Pre-order the book: Amazon / Book Depository

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown's gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads)

Why I'm super excited for this:

I've always been a huge fan of Holly Black and when I read the summary of The Coldest Girl in Codltown, I all but died. And the cover, just WOW. I seriously cannot wait to read this one!

Leave us a comment with a link to your WoW post and we'll check it out! :)

Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Title: Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Pages: 341 pages
Format acquired: Paperback (International First Edition)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published on: January 8th 2013
Source: Received from publisher for an honest review (Thanks, Christine!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads)

Review:

Through the Ever Night is without a doubt the second best sequel I have ever read, right beside The Evolution of Mara Dyer. It literally just surpassed my every expectation of it and completely outshined its predecessor. Veronica Rossi destroyed the mentality that second books won't be as great as the first ones because Through the Ever Night IS great and if not, greater than Under the Never Sky. The characters grow as people and you'll actually be able to experience what they're going through. The rawness of their emotions and the pureness of their feelings will reach out to you and grip you heart so that you'd feel exactly what they were feeling. And all those blanks in Under the Never Sky were filled out in Through the Ever Night. This is a sequel equipped to please and torture a reader, and it's the type of torture that you'll actually love.

When you're reading Through the Ever Night, all you'll really be able to focus on is the characters, the setting and even the Aether storms. You won't want to put your attention on anything else. You'll want to drop everything you're doing and just devote your time to worshipping the story and everything else in it, Through the Ever Night is that type of book. And I realized my mistake of reading it during class hours because it was all I could really thinking about. I literally found myself close to tears during Math class where we were learning the Similarity of Triangles. There's just something so captivating and enthralling about Through the Ever Night that you just can't help but want to read it in one sitting lest you cut the sort of hold it'll have on you. While you're reading it, it's like your mind is just there. Focused on the text in front of you and you won't want to let go. I know I didn't.

Through the Ever Night is probably one of the most emotional books I have ever read. I didn't actually shed any tears but I literally just felt my heart constrict so many times. I was a mess reading this book and I think I actually enjoyed being one...

I finally understand how much the Aether storms affect the people. It doesn't just incinerate your village, it literally destroys relationships too. Not just romantic relationships but relationships with tribes and family as well. This is where I felt the most for Perry. I felt how heavy the weight of taking care and protecting a whole tribe is. And for a nineteen-year-old to be able to carry that all on his own? It's hard. His people, the Tides, remain loyal to him but some of them also can't help but doubt him. Others question him as well. I'm sure it hurts Perry to see that some of his own people don't believe that he can keep them safe from the storm or from even starvation. You'll really understand how difficult it is, how much it hurts for people to not trust you the way they did your brother. And because of this, it lead to him doubting even himself. Doubting Aria, doubting Roar and being so unsure of what course of action to take. Being a Blood Leader puts the lives of so many into the hands of just one man and I honestly believe that Perry can handle it but I know that it's an insanely difficult task. He's matured so much from the very first book to this one. You can see the change in him and they're good changes. I don't think I've loved Perry more than I have in this book. His will to protect his people, his determination to find the Still Blue and to be able to create a better home for his tribe, and his passion for Aria create such a compassionate and strong-willed man that I can't help but just love.

I felt that Aria grew the most as a character in this book. There's such a huge difference from who she was before to who she's become as a person now. She's actually one of my Top 5 heroines of all time because of the things she's done in Through the Ever Night. Aria is faced with so may trials and so many obstacles in this book that I couldn't help but feel that these were all really necessary for her to become an even better and stronger person. In Under the Never Sky, she was a slightly delicate girl stuck in an unknown place filled with savages but in Through the Ever Night, she's this girl determined, like Perry, to find the Still Blue to be able to save people she hasn't met but are already dear to her heart. This is where you see her compassionate side, that even though there were people that wronged her, she still forgave them. I think my heart hurt the most for Aria during her stay with the Tides. I hated the way the tribespeople treated her, they talked badly about her and sneered and glared at Aria. It just wasn't right, but Aria still took it into stride. She didn't let the people's disapproval bring her down because in the end, she knew who she was. There were people who were kind to Aria too and that really just warmed my heart, the effort some of them were putting to care for someone who didn't belong. But I honestly think that it may have hurt Perry a whole lot too. His people not approving of the girl he cares very deeply for, this is actually one of the big questions that was asked in this book. Will Perry choose his people or the girl he loves? Read it to find out. *tease* It was really great to see Aria using her gift, as well. It was just another proof of how comfortable she is outside now and much she's adapted to the people and surroundings.

I know I promised myself that I wouldn't fangirl but... *FANGIRLS* OMGeee. *flails* *breathes* I'm okay. Roar. My heart can't help but beat fast every time anyone mentions his name. Roar was my favorite character in Through the Ever Night and I felt that he honestly had it worse than everyone else (I told you that it was an emotional book.) He's still the same charming Audile and still the same really good looking guy who's in love with Perry's sister, Liv, except tougher and definitely stronger as a person. But while he may have become a better person he still went through a lot of trials, mainly with Aria. I really loved his journey with her, their experiences just left me teary-eyed and left a small smile on my lips. I felt that their journey together only strengthened their friendship and created a bond between them that I know cannot be broken. My heart belonged to Roar in this book, it smiled and wept for him and its beats were meant for him as well. I seriously can't wait to read about what happens next for him...

I really liked that the Still Blue was covered more in this book. The people focused more on it even though there were believers and non-believers. And there was actually interaction with other tribes, such as the Horns which is Sable's tribe. (Try to recall who he is.) There's a commection somewhere there. The Aether storms were also tackled more here. I just realized the magnitude of how strong it really is and how much destruction is can actually cause. Evil Aether storms. Oh and Cinder also plays a pretty important role in this book, you'll finally be able to understand what he's meant to do. There are also people you'll never expect to make a comeback, return. It's these surprising twists that I loved about Through the Ever Night, you literally just won't know when they'll pop out till you read about it. All I can say is: things happen, guys. Things. Happen.

I cannot express how much I loved Through the Ever Night. It's just the perfect blend of heartwarming story and gripping scenes that will leave you breathless and turning the pages as fast as you can. The story is just so addicting that you can't help but feel like you keep needing a hit of it all the time. It's exactly what I wanted in a sequel: engaging, powerful and downright beautiful. The story evolves as it goes on and it just keeps on going. I feel like this review severely lacks the capability to show how much I loved it. Words cannot describe how much I love this book. Maybe actions? *flails arms* Or maybe not... I don't doubt that fans of Under the Never Sky will love Through the Ever Night as well. This book will not disappoint you at all. For those people contemplating or thinking about reading it, drop the contemplating and thinking part. Just do. Every second, minute, hour or day you dedicate to reading this book will be worth it. You'll love every single moment of it. I know I did. *squishes Veronica Rossi*

Rating:

I'm sure you noticed the 6/5 star rating whereas we usually use teacups, the star rating means that this book is just too perfect to give a 5/5 teacup rating. And it honestly isn't enough. Click HERE for our Rating System. :) Through the Ever Night is the very first book to be rated 6/5 stars.

Review: Altered by Jennifer Rush

Title: Altered (Altered #1)
Author: Jennifer Rush
Pages: 336 pages
Format acquired: Hardcover
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published on: January 1st 2013
Source: Purchased from Fully Booked
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them. 

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads)

Review:

If I were to describe Altered in three words, they would have to be: FourHotGeneticallyAlteredGuys. WhoAreOnTheRunFromEvilPeople. OhAndTheresAGirlToo. Yup, three words! Here's to hoping that Geraldine doesn't see this lest she disowns me. But seriously, Altered essentially revolves around a lot of action. A lot. Which is definitely fine by me since these guys (and the girl) are on the run so it's expected that there'll be a lot of running, shooting, shirtlessness, maiming and blood. The only issue I had with this book is that there really wasn't enough romance for me in it. I get that they're all too busy running away but can't they find the time for one sneaky smooch or something? But more on that later though, moving on...

I actually tore through this book really quickly, there's a sense of urgency that you'll feel once you're reading Altered. The book is definitely fast-paced and Jennifer Rush doesn't really take much time elaborating on unneeded details, she's very straightforward and gets to the point as quickly as possible. I love how there's a twist in every turn that you arrive at and there's always something to anticipate. There's a Bourne Trilogy feel to the book, you have four guys (and a girl) trying to figure out who they are by following a trail of clues left by someone and are faced with a lot of obstacles. The clues that were left and the puzzles that they had to piece together gave Altered an element of surprise that made it all the more exciting and mysterious.

While Altered may have been filled with a lot of action, mystery and suspense, it lacked in its romance aspect. There just wasn't any spark and definitely no steamy scenes between the characters. I was waiting for something to happen but all I got was unrequited love and shirtless guys. Not that I'm complaining regarding the latter one. Ahem. I honestly didn't really understand how Anna could've fallen in love with Sam. I get that he's tall, dark and handsome but the guy is just so... stoic. He has his sweet moments but I just can't imagine falling in love with someone like that. Which leads me to wonder, does Anna really love Sam? After all the things they found out, is it really love or is it because of... No spoilers. *wink* But Sam really grew on me at the latter part of the book, he made my insides all mushy.

I actually found myself falling in love with the other three hot guys: Nick, Trev and Cas. They really brought the entertainment and flavor (did I really just use flavor?) to the book. Even though Nick is probably the biggest d-bag I have ever read about, I can't really blame him for acting that way. Being stuck in an underground lab for God knows how long will really get on someone's nerves. I can't imagine living that way, being tested all the time, having my blood taken (I can't even stand the sight of needles) on a regular basis will undoubtedly drive me coo-coo. And Trev? Oh, Trev. *swoons* He's every reader's dream. He looks foreign, he's smart, HE LOVES TO READ and... I don't even need to  say anything more, do I? But he actually only gives off the "best-guy-friend" vibe and not "boyfriend material" which is really sad. And last but not the least, there's Cas. I absolutely loved Cas. He's the fun-loving type of person who will always put a smile on your face. I always looked forward to Cas's scenes with the other characters because he never failed to crack me up. It's these three characters that made me love this book so, so much because they provided me with a lot of heart, soul and a whole ton of body.

Now let's talk about our darling Anna. Anna Banana. Bananaaa. Is it obvious that I am  currently delirious? Because I am. Ha! Anyway, I really felt bad for Anna in Altered. She obviously did not know that this was going to happen to her (but who would? Living in a farmhouse with a secret lab and four genetically altered boys is sooo not weird at all.) I honestly did not really care for Anna at the first half of the book but as I read on, I couldn't help but appreciate Anna as a character and a heroine. Okay, she might not be the most badass protag out there but she's got a lot of guts and drive to be a wanted runaway. I felt that she wasn't really much of a person at the start but as the book progressed, she was definitely more exposed and grew more as a character. Who knew that underneath that shy kitten exterior was a tiger that just needed someone to pull its tail to be unleashed.

I love the fact that Jennifer Rush was able to answer most of the questions that were asked in the first part of the book but also left some unanswered to tease the readers. I loved that plot twists that were presented at every turn of the page and that you really wouldn't be able to see most of them coming. And mostly, I loved each and every one of the characters that will grow on you as you continue to read on. All in all, I enjoyed every single minute I dedicated to reading Altered and it is definitely a book worth reading. I will be waiting anxiously for the next one. (I loved the ending, by the way. Like, looooved.)

Rating:

Stacking the Shelves (18)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews! It's where bloggers can share what they got for review, bought, borrowed, won or gifted (both physical and eBooks may be included! :D)

Here's what I got this week:

Bought:

Vampire Hunter D (Vampire Hunter D #1) written by Hideyuki Kickuchi, illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano (Goodreads)

Vampire Hunter D volume 02: Raiser of Gales (Vampire Hunter D #2) written by Hideyuki Kikuchi, illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano (Goodreads)

Love Unscripted (Love #1) by Tina Reber (Goodreads)

Love Unrehearsed (Love #2) by Tina Reber (Goodreads)

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi (Goodreads)

The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long (Goodreads)

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School #1) by Gail Carriger (Goodreads)

For Review:

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1) by Julie Kagawa (Goodreads)

*signed ARC* Phoenix (Black City Chronicles #2) by Elizabeth Richards [see image below] (Goodreads)

*ARC* Dark Tide by Elizabeth Haynes (Goodreads)

*ARC* City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster (Goodreads)

*ARC* The Ward by Jordana Frankel (Goodreads)

Won:

*signed* Fallen Too Far (Too Far #1) by Abbi Glines [see image below] [Review] (Goodreads)

Thank you so much to Christine from HarperCollins, Elise from MiraInk, Abbi Glines, Miriam Forster, Elizabeth Richards, Fully Booked and my parents! Y'all rock! :D

For review:

*ARC* The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise (Goodreads)

*ARC* Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith (Goodreads)

*ARC* Transparent by Natalie Whipple (Goodreads)

Thank you so much to Christine from HarperCollins! You are awesome!! :)