Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release: December 11, 2012
Publisher: Entangled
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 382

Synopsis from Goodreads:

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well… There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different… And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger… and they know it

I’ve already talked about what Jennifer L. Armentrout books do to me but let me reiterate: this series turns me into a squealing, swoony, thirteen year old girl. It’s embarrassing, actually.

I was so impressed without how seamlessly Katy and Daemon went from the snarky (borderline mean, at some times) banter to being together. In the first two books, I couldn’t really imagine how it would work but oh it does. I was swooning in Opal even more so than Onyx. And Daemon is so so much hotter in this book. WHEW!

Okay storyline because that’s what’s important, right? (No, but I’ll pretend not to be totally shallow for a sec) For real, the alien/DoD/Daedalus storyline is getting so intense and complex and I keep trying to guess what is all happening and I JUST DON’T KNOW. I’ll say though: I’m super suspicious of certain people. Like Bethany. There is something up with that girl.

There wasn’t a second of this book that I wasn’t on the edge of my seat. The end will leave you with your mouth hanging open and begging for Origin (um like I have! JULY, GUYS, JULY). That is all I can say because I so do not want to spoil people but OMG will be a popular reaction to the end.

Deity (Covenant #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release: Novmber 6, 2012
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 360

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Alexandria isn’t sure she’s going to make it to her eighteenth birthday–to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she’s a goner… and so is Aiden.

If that’s not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time “training”–which really is just Seth’s code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time–she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she’s caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed… and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate…

I realized something as I read Half-Blood, Pure, and Obsidian all in one week that when I’m in a reading slump and I put on Twitter that I’m in need of book heavy on the romance with a touch of supernatural/paranormal/fantasty etc. mixed in, I’m totally talking about Jennifer L. Armentrout’s books. They are the absolute perfect books for me.

Deity doesn’t pick up right where Pure left off, but pretty close, and I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of dwelling on a certain event that happened in the previous book. I feel like many books tend to do that and the present storyline gets lost in the rehashing of past events turning over in the characters’ minds and those books are always a drag for me.

Alex continues to be one of my number one girls. How quickly she rose to my Top Female YA Characters list (which is a coveted spot – not just anyone gets on this list). I adore reckless, sassy chicks. You never know what she’s going to say or do! She has the gutsiness I wish I had. I’m also a TOTAL Aiden fangirl. Like, it’s kind of ridiculous. And all I can say on this front is: WOAH (I hate that I can’t flail more than this but spoilers, ya know).

I just…really love this series. Deity just RAMPED. IT. UP. There was a part where it was midnight and I was texting my best friend about it because I was all swoony and giggly over a scene and then BAM. Something happens that had me gasping. That is basically Deity in a nutshell: it will have you going from fangirling to shocked in a span of three pages.

(It really needs to be April now. I need Apollyon!)

Have any of you read this series? DO YOU LOVE IT?! Tell me your thoughts/link me to your reviews of the books!

Release: October 23, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 544

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

OMG YOU GUYS. I can’t tell you enough how much I loved this book. I adored The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Like, A LOT so naturally, I was worried as to how the sequel would live up. Will it still be creepy? Will it have that same chilling, mysterious feel of the first book? Will Noah Shaw still be the epitome of hotness? Hell yes, absolutely, and OH YES.

So many things happen and I will not spoil any of it because that would be cruel so I will just say: some creepy shizz goes down in Evolution. In fact, Evolution creeped me out even more so than Unbecoming, if that’s even possible. I am both amazed and a teensy bit afraid of Michelle Hodkin’s mind. The line between reality and what’s in Mara’s head is so blurred that it pulls you in and makes you feel just like her, asking yourself WHAT IS HAPPENING? over and over.

Noah continues to be hotness personified although I am still suspicious of him, as always. I CAN’T HELP IT, there’s always been nagging thoughts of guardedness when it comes to him and I don’t fully trust him. Even so, the accent he has in my head is so pretty that I really want to trust him and talk myself into it.

MaraMaraMara. I just adore her and want to make everything better for her. She’s one of my favorite characters in YA, right now. She’s a lot stronger in Evolution but at the same time, a little less steady (understandably). Ah she’s just awesome and I can’t wait for more of her!

ANSWERS. There are answers to certain questions and I was completely satisfied/blown away but fret not, there are many more questions to be answered! I adored this sequel, even though it terrified me for so many reasons. Michelle Hodkin, you are terrifying. Don’t ever change.

Release: October 2, 2012
Publisher: Greenwillow
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 373

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Inhale. Exhale.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe . . .
The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina
has been stealing for a long time. She’s a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she’s never been caught before. If she’s careful, it’ll be easy. If she’s careful.

Quinn
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it’s also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn’t every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they’d planned a trip together, the two of them, and she’d hoped he’d discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days’ worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

If you are claustrophobic/have a fear of drowning this book will cause some distress. I found myself being very greedy for air throughout the entire book. The parts where the characters would go outside the pod, I’d stop breathing and then start hyperventilating. Woah this makes me sound super weird. Hopefully I’m not the only one?

Breathing issues aside, I adored Breathe. I can’t stop thinking about the world Sarah Crossan made up and man, how much I really do not want to live in it (protect the trees, people!).

The desperation and narrow mindedness of both sides – the upper class who can afford the air they breathe and want to keep their control, and those who are desperately trying to restore the environment – is so raw and human and made me so sad (I get really into the politics and deeply-rooted issues when it comes to dystopians). Our main characters fall somewhere in the middle of these extremes. Alina took a little time for me to warm up to. I love sassy characters and she is that, but there was an edge to her, understandably, and I always require more time with them in order to love them. But by the end, I just wanted to squish her to me in a LET ME LOVE YOU kind of way.

But Bea. Bea is the character that really stood out and struck a chord with me. I’m just drawn to the characters who always strive to do the right thing no matter what and that is Bea. One of the things I was (oddly) excited for about this book was that the love triangle is so often girl + 2 boys but in Breathe, it looked like it would be a triangle with boy + 2 girls but as you get into the story you realize there is no love triangle and I was super happy about that and I will just leave it there.

The world in Breathe is unlike any other in dystopian novels and is literally and figuratively breathtaking. Read it, read it, read it! You won’t be disappointed.

Release: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 304

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this humorous love story from the author of Two-Way Street, an unlikely romance is the best sort of surprise—but the wrong secret can ruin everything. Kelsey’s not going to let one mistake ruin her life. Sure, she got kicked out of prep school and all her old friends are shutting her out. But Kelsey’s focused on her future, and she’s determined to get back on track at Concordia High.

Isaac’s been kicked out of more schools than he can count. Since his father’s a state senator, Isaac’s life is under constant scrutiny—but Concordia High’s his last stop before boarding school, so Isaac’s hoping to fly under the radar and try to stay put for a change.

When Kelsey and Isaac meet, it’s anything but love at first sight. She thinks he’s an entitled brat, and he thinks she’s a stuck-up snob. So it surprises them both when they start to fall for each other. Kelsey’s happy for the first time in months, and Isaac’s never felt this way about anyone before…But nothing’s ever completely perfect. Everyone has secrets, and Isaac and Kelsey are no exceptions. These two may have fallen hard, but there’s one thing that can ruin it all: the truth

Every new Lauren Barnholdt book that comes out, I’m usually slightly disappointed. I’m a fan and I really like all of them, I do, but none seem to live up to the awesomeness that was Two Way Street. AMAZING NEWS: The Thing About the Truth is VERY reminiscent of TWS! So much so that I might have even liked it more? Maybe?

The way it was written was the first thing that grabbed me; how the story went back and forth through time and giving little bits of the puzzle over the course of the book kept me guessing and DESPERATELY ITCHING to flip to the end to see what had gotten between Isaac and Kelsey. Isaac is way more swoon-worthy than the boys in Barndholt’s previous books (this is important, okay?) and more importantly, Kelsey is a way more awesome and less angry* and I adored the dynamic between the two. Hate to love is always a fun love story.

I just really loved this book and if you’ve never read Lauren Barnholdt DO IT. Feel free to start with this one. And if you have, I suspect you’ve already read it, right? ALSO? I feel REALLY GOOD about her next book, Right of Way (July 9, 2013) looks way awesome and is another road trip book. I love road trip books

* I find her female leads to be unnecessarily extremely angry? Which is cool and all but they always take it out on the dude in a big way.

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
Release: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 445

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, Janelle knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her reincarnation, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI-agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

(Warning: teeny tiny spoiler. Not a huge reveal but just putting it out there for spoilerphobes.)

I had no idea what Unraveling was about when I bought it; I saw it had great star ratings on Goodreads and I have a compulsive need to buy debut books the day they come out so I picked it up. And proceeded to not read it until the other day. Despite the fact that I hadn’t read the back cover, I was pulled into Janelle’s world from page one.

As I was reading, I started to get a sneaking suspicion about Ben. So I went onto Goodreads again and looked up some reviews. My suspicion was confirmed and my reaction was this: OH HELL NO. Now, normally for me, this would be the point that I’d put down the book and possibly (probably not) return to the book at a later date. But Janelle was so compelling; the story was drawn out so well that I couldn’t put it down.

Janelle is one of those characters you just wish you had even an ounce of their strength and guts. She knows what she wants and protects the ones she loves fiercely but she’s also a teenage girl with too much responsibility on her plate and I couldn’t help feeling anxious for her situation(s). Another character I adored was Struz. I just love funny bachelor guys who takes care of their best friend’s family. It’s one of my many character weaknesses.

Regardless of my reservations on the plot in the beginning and not being a huge alien/sci-fi girl, I found myself getting TOTALLY into the sci-fi. I consider myself semi smart but sci-fi usually loses me in the mumbo-jumbo so I thank Norris for making it all explainable and not expecting everyone and their dog to know what was up.
Unraveling has a little something for everyone: mystery, adventure, sci-fi, and ROMANCE, which, I’ll be honest, was my favorite part. Ben and Janelle were adorable and reminded me of a certain other alien/human couple combo.

Although Unraveling wrapped up nicely and could act as a stand-alone, there were a few question marks left at the end so I was thrilled to see there is more to come (and more Ben and Janelle!) from Elizabeth Norris. I will be restlessly awaiting for the next installment.

If you like:

You’ll want to check out Unraveling!

This Is So Not Happening (He’s So/She’s So #3) by Kieran Scott
Release: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Pages: 320

After their long summer apart, Ally and Jake were hoping for a drama free senior year. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like things will work out that way…again. — It turns out that Chloe is pregnant and says that Jake is the father. Hammond is pissed at his best friend, but mostly can’t believe that Ally would stay with Jake. But Ally is tired of being apart from Jake and is willing to make it work. But that is easier said than done when Jake starts blowing Ally off to go to doctor’s appointments with Chloe and Ally joins the school play and meets a new cute guy.

But as graduation approaches, things get more complicated as new secrets come out and Ally realizes maybe Jake isn’t the guy she thought he was. After everything they’ve been through can Ally and Jake get out of Orchard Hill with their relationship intact?

I never reviewed He Is So Not Worth It because, to be frank, I hated it. I started to review it a bunch of times but it started getting rant-y and I was getting annoyed reliving the book.

ON A HAPPIER NOTE: This Is So Not Happening is much better! The characters and relationships progressed and matured so much from the first book. But, the characters are still teenagers and have their moments of frustrating angst and drama. I didn’t love the pregnancy storyline that seemed to drag down every character but it didn’t end up being as horrible as I had imagined and I did shed a few tears for Chloe at a certain point.

Once again, the differing points of views between Ally and Jake is one of my favorite things about this trilogy. I know a lot of people don’t like switching POVs but I usually like seeing what another character is thinking and feeling as opposed to just the one.

Finally, I have to talk about Ally. I had forgotten how much I really loved Ally. I respected her for how she handled the difficult situation(s) she was in and was the voice of reason for the people around her as well. She’s just an awesome character! The one thing I would have liked to see more in this last book was more interaction and closure with her father.

Overall, everything came full circle and was wrapped up perfectly in the end of the He’s So/She’s So trilogy.

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
Release: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Pages: 418

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students–children of the wealthy and powerful–carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Oh how I want to gush and gush about The Golden Lily! And Sydney and Adrian and Jill and Eddie and everyone and everything in this series.

My absolute favorite part of The Golden Lily was the escalation of magic. Of course, magic was prevalent in the Vampire Academy series, as well as Bloodlines, but not quite to this level. I so hope this continues in the next sequels!

I can’t get over Mead’s ability to make me worship characters! First Rose, and now I can add Sydney to my list of favorite female characters. She’s tough in a different way than Rose was, in a more mental and emotional way. Although I adore Sydney, and getting to see a more vulnerable side to her was so nice to see, the secondary characters and Sydney’s relationship with her “motley crew” continue to shine and be the heart of this series. Their impact on each other is getting deeper and deeper and I just love those kinds of intense bonds. I’m loving Sydney’s slow acceptance of the vampires in her life because of their loyalty and her affection for them as people.

And, of course, Adrian! How can I write this review and not give Adrian, who just gets better and better, a mention? He’s so great in this series. As much as I loved him in Vampire Academy, it’s nice to see him change and grow up a little, but obviously keep some of that same old sarcasm and witty remarks.

One thing I didn’t get about Bloodlines was the hype of potential romance between Sydney and Adrian. I felt like there was no chemistry between them and it felt a bit forced, but after reading The Golden Lily, I can now appreciate the slow build between the two and I completely fell for them! There are so many amazing, adorable moments between these two. I’m really interested to see how Mead will eventually go about them being together since Sydney’s upbringing still prevents her from fully accepting her newfound relationships with vampires.

If you’ve read Bloodlines (and if you haven’t GO! GO! But read Vampire Academy first!), you will not want to miss the magical, heart-warming, and heart-racing (in more ways than one!) sequel that is The Golden Lily!

Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer
Release: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Philomel
Pages: 414

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is.

In the final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Andrea Cremer creates a novel with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final pages. A dynamic end to this breathtaking trilogy.

This one is not getting a rating because I just don’t know how I feel about it. Part of me loved it, part of me is just unsure. Which is usually par for the course in series-closers for me.

I’m horrible at writing spoiler-free reviews for sequels; I always want to give stuff away, but there’s a lot in this one and I know there’s still many waiting to read it so here goes my attempt!

Picking up right where Wolfsbane left off, you’re right away thrown into the action. Rarely does this happen, I find, and I loved it! Normally, people don’t pick up a sequel (I do have a friend who does this knowingly, though! Hence, “normally”) and think “hey this must be a first or a standalone novel” and read it first, confusingly. So the whole recap, we’ll-ease-you-into-this-sequel thing always drags on for those who read – and remembered – the previous book.

The characters are, as always, incredible. Especially the characters that were introduced in Wolfsbane. Connor remains my favorite, as well as Calla who is one of my favorite kick ass chicks and does plenty of that in Bloodrose. But I love them all as a cast; they all fit together so effortlessly. They may be one of my favorite ensembles from a book (that sounds like an awards show category).

I definitely liked Bloodrose a ton more than Wolfsbane. And with the action and the characters, I might have even loved this one but the end… I wasn’t thrilled with. This is a spoiler-free review so I won’t say anything about it, and I know a lot of readers will be happy with it, it just wasn’t what I wanted.