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Reviews from one book-a-holic :) Expect Paranormal-Fantasy--Dystopian-Romance-YA books (either singly or mashed together)

 

Book fanatic/addict is putting it mildly.Love Reading, can Never Get Enough. Late Nights Reading + Early Mornings Reading. Or just all day. Always Goes Great With A Coffee... Or Two.

Review: Disharmony (The Telling #1) by Leah Giarratano

The Telling: Disharmony Book 1 - Leah Giarratano
View the original review on my blog!
 
http://behindamillionandonepages.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/review-disharmony-by-leah-giarratano.html
 
 
This is one hard book to review. It's a slow novel that we don't really understand at first, from what is going on, as well as what we need to know. We wonder a little what the point of the book is, seeing as it doesn't really get interesting until the end of the novel. Most of it is like "fluff", there's really no point for it and it just makes the book longer than whatit needs to be.
 
We get introduced to too many characters all at once. We wonder at the beginning, who the main character is (in Dwight), because there are too many things going on, and too many characters, that we don't know who to try and connect with or get through the rest of the story with. It iseasier to connect  with Sam than it is Luke. This is because we know that Sam is the maincharacter from the way that she connects with us as well as seems like to trust us,  shedoesn't seem to draw our attention away from her as Luke does. Easily from this we canguess straight away who both Sam and Luke are.
 
As things start picking up a little with all of their normal day to day things we feel like weare on autopilot, watching and waiting for something interesting to happen, as well aswaiting for the story to develop further.
 
When Sam starts to develop powers we wonder how this story will lead from there. DoesLuke have some sort of power too? Will he develop any sort of power? What about themysterious genius we haven't seen yet? Too many questions come about and we don't getmany answers over time, leaving us wanting the second novel. 

Then !BANG! everything starts to happen all at once. The quick change of pace brings usback into the book from our autopilot mode and into the story.  A twist or two at the end but overall we feel the need to continue with the next novel to see how it will all play out.
 
One  particular thing about this book was that we don't know who the second person we first meet here and there is. It doesn't fit in the novel with having that person there and makes it loose some of the books touch in a way. It loses the tone that is set in the book as we move back and forth from twin to twin. The second person just makes it seem sort of informal in a way. (You will understand this paragraph when you read this book)
 
We don't really know much about the book and about what kind of YA it falls under,but as we get closer to the end and the truth comes out we wonder why this different element was brought in, as well as what other creatures exist. This was well played as it was something  we didn't see coming and we feel just as surprised as Luke and Sam do when they find out about it all, as well as who some people are and what they can do, including  things about themselves.
 
 
 
 
 
 
This novel was received for review via Penguin Books Australia (NetGalley). This review is entirely my own, no bribery or any deals have been made to sway this review or change my personal opinion of the novel.
Source: http://behindamillionandonepages.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/review-disharmony-by-leah-giarratano.html
MAIL CALL! Captivate by Vanessa Garden and Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder
MAIL CALL! Captivate by Vanessa Garden and Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder

These Broken Stars

These Broken Stars  - Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner View the original review on my blog as part of the Aussie Blog Tour:

Behind a Million and One Pages


http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=337&book=9781743318522


By far, my favorite book of 2013! Beautifully crafted, magnificently detailed and leaves you completely starstruck! (hehe like what I did there with starstruck)

So I practically started this book on a Sunday (minus a few chapters the night before) and, let's just say that I stayed in bed all day reading this book. When I came up for air it was 5pm. If that doesn't give you some kind of clue at how good this book is, then read the book (which is a must) and see what kind of addiction captures you.

It is easy to get a first look at this world we are thrown into. It's space, so the general idea is there, and then we get a better look at the Icarus. Even though we know that this is one monster of a spaceship, we only need details of where Tarver and Lilac are. I can't help but fall for Tarver straight away when he sets his sights on the books at the start. And when we meet Lilac, we instantly understand who she is and get with her personality. She's the girl that we all want to be (and not just because of Tarver) and a fabulous kick-ass heroine. She stands up for what she believe's in and does anything and everything to protect the ones that she loves. Even though at the start, we don't realize how much she changes in the book until we look back. At the start, she isn't much of a heroine and more like the damsel in distress (but does show signs of her hero side), and then she flourishes when both Tarver and Lilac crash land at the mysterious planet.

While I was reading, I just though that this was your typical survival story: Boy and Girl crash land, they go searching for help and other survivors while fighting horrible beasts and finding love etc etc. But this completely turns around from that! Not that the starting survival story is boring, it's the complete opposite because this gets us more firmly in touch with Tarver and Lilac, with who they are and who they want to be. Then as soon as we feel like we are one with them, everything turns around. You don't know what to expect next and you find that you've crash landed in a whole other situation that you never thought possible. You cry (alot...... I completely balled my eyes out, making my boyfriend laugh at me while I'm completely torn from the events of this book) from this book, and you experience so many different emotions that you are stunned and shocked at the end that you just can't wait for the next.

This book was a complete surprise to me and it's fantastic in every way. For me there was no faults. It kept you guessing, and the secrets that continually pull you through this book and make you want to find out about them. Throughout the whole book, you feel like screaming because you just want Tarver and Lilac to kiss or do something!! You're screaming for romance, that when it comes you rejoice and angels come down from the
Heaven's singing Hallelujah! (ok, not really but you get the picture).

Throughout the book, you equally connect with both Tarver and Lilac. I love how it's dual POV of them both, and that makes you connect with these two more. You get to see how they change and the imagery is so vivid that it's like you're experiencing this all with them.


This is my favorite book of 2013!If you haven't had a chance to read this book yet, you don't know what you're missing out on and need to read this! And if you're an Aussie like me, you can enter the giveaway below for a chance to win one of three Paperback copies of THESE BROKEN STARS, thanks to Allen & Unwin Australia.

Seeing Light: The Seraphina Parrish Trilogy, Book 3

Seeing Light - Michelle Warren View the original review on my blog as part of the Blog Tour:

Behind a Million and One Pages

Want to find out if you are a Wanderer, Seer or Protector? Head over to my blog tour stop and take the quiz!


The must read conclusion to the Seraphina Parrish Trilogy! A perfect wrap up to a remarkable series.

We end Protecting Truth with a mountain of questions. And now, as soon as we get into Seeing Light most of our questions are answered! The biggest question that we have is what is this Prophecy?

In the first chapters we are introduced to some old characters that show a completely new side of them. If we weren't so hungry for answers, then we would have been a bit shocked at a few people's complete change in character.

Just like in the previous two books, we can't guess what is going to happen and it comes straight at us, leaving us shocked and desperately clinging on for more.

Like in Wander Dust, we started to get a bit confused with the time that Sera is in etc. There is a lot more time travel in this book than there was in Protecting Truth, so we do need to try and keep up with all of the jumps in and out of time.

At the end of this book, everything gets tied up perfectly. We really come to understand everything and everyone in Sera's life and their actions (her dad, mum etc). There were literally no questions left unanswered, making this and ending that we love, yet hate because the series is ending.

When you finish this book and you look back in the series, you start to realize just how everything pieces together so seamlessly. I highly recommend that you read the whole trilogy together, one after the other. You realize just how nicely everything fits together and will really enjoy this series.

There really isn't anything lacking in this book, as I've already said, it completely sums up the series and leaves you wanting to re-read it all again from the first book right to the third.

Hearken (Daughters of the Sea Series)

Hearken - Kristen Day View the original review on my blog:

Behind a Million and One Pages

Even as the fourth book in the series, this is just as good as the rest of the series.There's something amazingly special about this series that never fails to capture your attention and make you fall in love! You cannot go wrong with this series, once you start, you are hooked!

Are you kidding me right now? This series is still amazing even at the fourth book! I don't think I've loved a whole series the way that I love the Daughters of the Sea books! It's this one amazing book-y dreamy series that every reader wants to read and not want the series to end. In every book, there is nothing that fails to surprise you and throw you into all these twists and turns that you realize it's not just some girly book about awesome heroines that become goddesses and seriously gorgeous guys thrown into the mix.OK, I love that fact in the book (how can you not! *sigh* FINN!)

When we start, we get reacquainted with all the characters that we know and love. I've said in the past with the first book some things that annoyed me with Stasia's friends, but just like Chosen, everything is so much better in that way (review of Forsaken is below). Even though, Chosen was wrapped up perfectly if this was a trilogy, Hearken was not a far stretch from where Chosen left off and it fit perfectly in the original story that if you didn't know that this series was originally supposed to be a trilogy, you wouldn't know the difference.

All the relationships in this book, as well as the characters are all so enjoyable and they make you want to read on and to not forget this series or want it to end....ever :D

This book brings up new challenges that Stasia has to face. But not just with her, there is a whole bunch of other characters who need to face a few things as well. There are literally no words to describe how awesome Finn is. He and Stasia are the perfect couple and it feels so long ago when the series first started and he was just a boy in her *dreams*. I got a little giddy when Finn called her his fiance to his brother! yes, I admit to this!! I'm really starting to fall in love with Olivia. I absolutely love her in this book and I was anxiously anticipating each of her chapters and her struggles with who she is as well as when she needs to tell Stasia about who she really is. Sometimes it's just like when she thinks about needing to tell about her being a Paladin that something else just quickly happens and she just forgets, instead of thinking about it and the right time.

I can't believe what happened with _insert character not naming here_! (no I'm not going to reveal what happened because you just need to read this book/series for yourself :) yes I am cruel, but it is worth it!). I completely didn't expect it to happen and not the way that it did happen as well. It was such of a shock that I had to stop after the chapter finished and had to think about what had just happened.

The battles that happen in the book are so gripping and even though they are fast paced, you can still imagine it all while you're reading it! There is nothing about this book that is missing or that it's lagging.

I love what Kristen does, that when a character dies, the characters actually grieve!! The amount of books that I've read and the characters don't grieve for someone or something that they've lost brings the book down for me, because you seem to lose a bit of a connection when they don't react the way that you do. And I have to say a big thank you Kristen for this :) (this is a good thing but in a bad situation, if that makes sense. It's a love-hate)

There isn't much else that I can say about this book that I haven't already said about the other books in the series. There isn't enough words to describe how addictive this series and Hearken is.

Oh what I would do for (temporary) trace tattoos! Kristen, hint hint swag ;)
Protecting Truth (The Seraphina Parrish Trilogy, #2) - Michelle Warren View the original review on my blog as part of the Blog Tour:

Behind a Million and One Pages

Want to find out if you are a Wanderer, Seer or Protector? Head over to my blog tour stop and take the quiz!

4.5....

A fantastic sequel to a brilliant first novel! Draws you in and leaves you speechless until the final page.

So, the bad thing about reviewing the second and third books to a series is that you can't give away most things that you really really really want to. *sigh*

I really loved this book. It was a fabulous sequel to Wander Dust and even though it felt a little on the slower side for me, it was still constantly engaging you and pulling you through the book. What I mean by slower, is that there wasn't as much going on in this book. Like, we are with her through her classes where nothing in particular happens (we do react like Sera does through, amazed etc in each of her classes when something pretty cool happens) and then to her conflicting emotions of what is going to happen and what she is doing.

You all know by now that I don't like love triangles. I'm not really sure as to what I felt about this one though. It's not like throughout the whole book that Turner and Sera were actually together to make it a full on love triangle, but then towards the end of the book when you find out the truth about everything and everyone, I'm just not sure. Without even realizing it, I start to choose Turner over Bishop because of what happens when Sera finds out the truth. I can't even begin to explain this, and I'm getting stuck for words just by thinking about it (which is something I don't do with love triangles). When you get to the end-end of the book and the real truth shows, you're still so confused about who you really love, Turner or Bishop. We feel exactly like Sera does, and that's big for me from my loathing of love triangles. We agree with everything Sera does and the logic of everything and her feelings for both that we are caught in a tangle and we don't know what to do or who we want.

I love how in this book that we know what time we are in. We don't get a bit confused because we are now used to this world and are not in awe every time that it happens. We get to see some characters that we know and love, as well as the ones that we don't. Once again, I hate her father for the way that he acts. He gets angry at the things that Sera does, yet he doesn't want to take care of her or give any kind of interest in her. In short, the man frustrates me...

What I really love about these books, is that you can always relate to Sera and you feel like you're a part of her. Everything she feels, we feel. Every choice that she makes, we make the same choice. Even in the slowest parts of this book, we still feel like we are connected to Sera. There are only a small amount of books out there that connect you this deeply with a character, and this series is one of them!

When everything unravels towards the end of the book, we don't know what to expect. We can't seem to guess, or want to guess what is going to happen because we are stuck in the here and now. And then when it all hits, we are left in shock and are numbly turning the pages to figure it all out and to come to terms with it all with Sera all the way until the final page of the book.

If you haven't read this book/series yet, what are you waiting for? seriously.... what are you waiting for?
Centaur Rivalry - Nancy Straight View the original review over at my blog, Behind a Million and One Pages as part of the Touched series Blog Tour!

Review:
As if we are starting a new chapter, this book starts off a few moments after the events in Centaur Legacy. For me, it literally felt like we were starting a new chapter than starting a new book! And once again, everything that happened at the end of the previous book was effortlessly put into the start of this book. It is perfect the way that everything is retold to jog our memory as Cami and Drake tell Bianca and Gage about what happened while they were away and it fits perfectly in the book without going overboard into detail of what has previously happened.

This book is a bit more on the romantic side than the previous books. Camille and Drake are finally together together and even with bits of action thrown into the mix, everything feels perfect. It’s a happy ending in the middle of the book that we have waited two whole books for! And even if this is just the holiday/preparation book for the final book, there is nothing that is lacking from this book and without this book, the final book would feel rushed and would need to have a lot more things included, which would make it a monster sized book! We see strong characters unravel and a lot of unlikely occurrences intermingled with the perfectness of Cami and Drake.

These two characters don’t get old. We still love our headstrong and powerful heroine Cami, as well as her smexy boyfriend/fiancé/husband/Centaur Drake. We get to switch to both of these characters, as well as a mix of all the characters in the book as well. We get more from Zandra and wonder how evil a grandmother could actually be by what she has done and what she is prepared to do. We get to know Cameron, as well as the kind of person he is and see how much he has been manipulated by Zandra (well practically all of his POVs tell us how much he trusts Zandra, and all that she has done for him and how no one treats him like the way that she does etc), and you start to feel so sorry for him because we know what she is doing and what she has done when Cameron doesn’t know that.

I am completely convinced that Nancy is a Centauride and is gifted with hooking us in with her writing and making these amazing sequels that rivals the first novel. Just like Centaur Legacy, we are go straight through this book and desperately wait for the next book. We know what is going to happen and are desperate for answers and to see what is going to be thrown at us next.

Centaur Legacy (Touched Series Book 2)

Centaur Legacy - Nancy Straight View the original review over at my blog, Behind a Million and One Pages as part of the Touched series Blog Tour!

Review:
I had read Blood Debt, the first book in this series just after it came out. From reading the first book so long ago and starting this one now, you get a bit confused. You try to remember what happened and where everything was left off, especially seeing as the first chapter is from Beau’s POV. I love how straight away, even though the first chapter is a bit confusing because you’re still trying to figure out where everything is up to, that from the moment you start the second chapter everything that has happened just falls back into place. But in the second chapter the way that the events that happened in the first book are so easily manoeuvred into the second chapter and making it fit so seamlessly into the story and into Camille’s thoughts that if this reminiscing wasn’t there, the start of this book wouldn’t be as good as it was.
We start off with Beau calling Daniel, and Daniel is well..... Daniel! We can tell straight away that most of this book will focus on Beau with what he is going through, with reaching the eligible age to be chosen. I’m still not too sure on Daniel’s character; he is too overboard with his worry for Cami that it makes me turn off him. I love him as a character, but his worry for her is too much. We can tell straight away with Beau, that this book will be a tough one for him. When it all starts to unravel we can tell straight away what is going to happen and I started cheering for Beau when my prediction came true (Yes, I am a Centauride who can see the future! haha)
We then get to Camille and Drake on a plane to Ireland to find the Pasture. Straight away our insta-love with Drake is back on and we are head over heels for him again. We get caught up in everything that is happening and everything that has happened and get instantly hooked into the story. They are together (finally!!!), but they are not completely together ( ;) wink wink ). It is probably just me, but it feels like most of the trip is Cami trying to have Drake sexually and then Drake wanting Cami sexually, but then remembering otherwise that it shouldn’t happen until they are married. It’s a constant between Drake saying after they get married and Cami trying to find excuses to do it now. This wasn’t annoying for me, but it might be for some, as there are bits and pieces of this book that are like that and it might seem like half of the book is about them wanting to and trying to.
Even though this book is constantly switching between characters, nothing is forgotten as we are reminded of the other characters within each chapter or two. I can’t really say more on the story because of spoilers but let’s just say, that once you start this book, you will be completely hooked! I (unknowingly) was a few pages away from the end of the book, and stopped reading because I was curious as to how much of the book I had left and I was surprised at how fast this book went that you literally don’t even realize it.

The only thing that I wish was added, was something about Phineas after what happened and Cami returning back to the south. It felt like it was just all left out in the cold after what happened, and it felt like there should have been something happen after Cami was gone.

Jump

Jump  - Sean Williams

View the original review on my blog as part of the Aussie Blog Tour:

Behind a Million and One Pages

Want to know how D-mat works? Head over to my blog tour stop and watch the video about D-mat made by Sean Williams!




3.5....

A twist between YA Dystopian and Sci-Fi brings a story that shows us what our world could possibly become with all our technology developments today... teleportation.

I'm not sure exactly what I think about this book... I've got a mix of feelings towards it. The ending of this book is what definitely brought Jump up higher for me. It was such a rush and I thought that the start of the book should have been paced and presented more like how the ending was.

It's not a bad book, but it's not the best either. The start of the book as well as parts of the middle are confusing, as we get hardly any world building and explanation as to what everything is that is new. For me, because of this I wasn't as interested as I would have liked to because most of the time, you're trying to figure out what everything is.

Clair is also a complete mix. I don't hate her, but I don't love her either. We can see how she grow throughout the book and most of the time I wonder if it's the same person (most likely to make us wonder if she is a dupe). She becomes strong and a real leader at the end of the book, and by the end of the book, we want to see more of her and see how things go with Justin. I didn't like Zep, even though you could see that he cared for Clair, he wasn't doing the right thing by still being with Libby. And the fact that Clair didn't do more to get him to talk to Libby, she was still most likely going to go out with Zep, even though Libby is her best friend and then would be Zep's ex. That's a no go for me, it's basically betrayal! But I'm glad that what happened at the safe house happened so that I wouldn't throw the book to the ground at her stupidity and how she could do such a thing to her friend (ok I would definitely regretted it straight away because the book could have gotten damaged).

I think that it's hard for us to agree with Clair most of the time when she says that D-mat is something that should stay. She is right in a sense, but then when we think about it, in this world we are the Abstainers who don't use the system so we agree with them more because we hardly know about D-mat and what it is like. (Video below on D-mat).

I love the way that everything played out in the end. When you look back after the book is finished you can see how it all fits together. The way it was all done in the end was ingenious and now I definitely want to read Fall now! All of it is a complete shock and we are flipping through pages and pages to find out exactly what happens. Sometimes it seems like when it all unravels that Clair finds out the truth too easily, like she has known all along but didn't want to say. She is too smart at the end of the book and we wonder why she is like this now than before, it's her personality that changes a bit in the book but then it's also like she becomes a lot smarter as well.

Blink - Lloyd Poast DNF.....

The Last Girl

The Last Girl - Michael Adams

View the original review on my blog as part of the Aussie blog tour:

Behind a Million and One Pages

You can also check out my interview with Michael Adams as part of my stop!



Thrilling and a breath of fresh air! The Last Girl is everything you need in a book and the start to a trilogy.

What I really love about this book is that it's set in Paramatta!! That's kinda-sorta me (i'm Liverpool). I could so easily create every scene in my head, and not just because I know the area. Adams does a fantastic job at making you able to easily see The Last Girl come to life. From the very first page you are entranced at how you can so simply imagine everything that happens all the way until the very end. Some parts of the book make you laugh because it's just typical Aussie things to do and say and it makes the setting work so much more!

I wish we got more of an introduction to all these new gadgets in this future. It held me back a little trying to figure out exactly what they are and what it does. Danby is a bit on and off for me. Some of the things that she does, like not reacting as she should to her father. I would have liked at least a bit more emotion coming from her about it. Same thing goes for her and driving. I found that a bit strange because even though up coming 16 year olds don't drive, they know the basics about it (like using the gear shift from Park to Reverse/Drive). Seriously, it's common sense stuff. And it's not like Danby isn't smart, throughout the rest of the book she is a very smart kid and knows exactly what to do in situations. Sure, sometimes she doesn't think of the bigger picture with her actions, but still, she would do what any of us would do.

As the book continues and Danby leaves the city with her brother, things start to heat up. We can see exactly what the Snap has done with the world. Some of the things that happened, you could see coming and you could guess before Danby realized at.the.end.of.the.book (just a bit frustrating haha). Although, there are the predictable times in this book, there are some things (especially at the end) that leave us blown away. I love how along the way, no matter the trouble she faces, Danby sticks to herself and what's true to her. She will compromise and bargain to get things go the way that she believes is the best for everyone, not just for herself. From the ending, I can't wait to read the next book! She surprises me with realizations that I never thought of and I heard it all click as she started talking about it to herself.

The Night Shifters

The Night Shifters - Emily Devenport DNF

Crave (The Clann #1)

Crave (The Clann #1) - Melissa Darnell 3.5 borderline 4

Hold Tight

Hold Tight - Cherie Colyer View the original review on my blog:

Behind a Million and One Pages

4.5....

Absolutely brilliant! Completely engaging and thrilling until the very last page. Perfect follow up to Embrace that makes you fall in love with this witchy world

There is not much about this book that isn't entertaining. From start to finish you re-acquaint yourself with Madison and everything witchy. Starting from where Embrace left off, it's been a while since I have read the first in the series. Needless to say, I wasn't confused one bit as we get caught up with everything that has happened to lead us into Hold Tight.

Not that this really matters much, but I knew this series as the old Embrace cover. Now seeing these new covers I am in love! I especially love the Hold Tight cover with the magic spark there.

Back to the book, all the characters are entertaining and we instantly connect/re-connect with them all. With Madison, we follow her through the journey of trying to further her relationship with Issac, as well as trying to maintain her powers and control them. With Issac, we feel just as protective as he does to Madison as well as love his compassionate and sweet side.

We quickly get suspicious of Caden when we first meet him, just as Madison does, and when we find out exactly who he is we are completely shocked! I really didn't expect that! It also brings forth a new element to what we thought was only Witches. Turns out now Demons and Fey get thrown into the mix as well, and it is brought in in a way that isn't too overwhelming as most of what happens is unexpected and we don't realize it until it's happening and we try to get a grip on this new reality.

I wasn't really too sure about Brea, the fae that Madison summoned from a book that Issac banned her from. I wasn't really that committed to her character as the others, it was kinda hazed for me when she stepped into the scene. But she does stand out a bit in the end as she ends up helping Madison and we understand her true side as well as her intentions.

This was the same with Reed, I didn't think that he was that big of a character until we realise who he truly is. At first, we just think that he's a character who is actually who he says he is, but of course we're wrong again haha! Another character surprise that takes a turn for the worst for Madison and also for her friends as well.

I love the action in this book, it's a good pace change from her learning and doing just girly things with Kaylee as well as let us get more of a handle on things. It was brought in at the perfect time, any longer and it would have felt like the book was dragging on and on until something completely hooked us. As we follow the action until all the way until the end of the book, I couldn't guess what was going to happen. Thinking that the gang will go with the plan until it turns back on them, I didn't even think of their true plan until it was unleashed.

Madison and Issac's relationship continues to grow, her family is trying the best they can to cope, and Chase is as cute as ever! The choices that Madison has to make in this book push her to the edge, and we really can see her developing to all the changes in her life as well as the challenges that she now has to face as she embraces her witchy side.

Kind of vague, yes, but there are too many things that I really want to give away!

Bloodmaiden

Bloodmaiden - Christine E. Schulze DNF

Winter Damage

Winter Damage - Natasha Carthew DNF...