I Hunt Killers: A Review

Blurb (and photo above and below are from Goodreads. I do not own them but am using them for review purposes only):

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

Title: I Hunt Killers

Author: Barry Lyga

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: 2012

Source: Library

Genre: Psychological/Straight Up Thriller, Boy Protagonist, Son of a Psycho Killer, Contemporary YA mystery

Cover: I actually couldn’t really think of a more fitting cover for the book. Good enough, no complaints.

Plot: This book is pretty much a mystery, of the who-done-it/who-is-doing-it variety. Jazz is cute in a non-obnoxious way, and we watch him deal with the aftermath of being known as a killer’s son. What makes that more interesting is that there’s a new killer in town who reminds the town of Jazz and Jazz’s “Dear Old Dad.” Throughout, Jazz has fragmented flashbacks suited to be fleshed out in a follow-up novel. But all the while, we’re following Jazz as he follows a killer, with his girlfriend and best friend at his side. As a side note, it was interesting to see the father-son dynamics in this book as well. Jazz and his father. Jazz and G. Williams. Interesting stuff. Male bonding as well, with Jazz and his hemophiliac best friend and partner in crime, Howie. 

Romantic Element: Jazz and his girlfriend Connie are refreshing. FINALLY we have a YA with a mixed race couple without it being such a blown up deal. Jazz is white; Connie’s African American, and other then mentioning her cornrows, somewhat frequently, there isn’t that much attention drawn to it. Yay for not so forced diversity, anyone? No, there’s no slow burns or build-ups, in case you were wondering, but again, this isn’t the kind of book that would make sense with that. 

Overall: I think I liked it. It was different. It was brutal (No PG here, moms). The murders are fairly graphic and intense, though we are dealing with the aftermath of looking at crime scenes…mostly. I will say though, and this is weird, the infrequent chapters from the perspective of the killer didn’t thrill me as much as Jazz’s chapters with his “Dear Old Dad,” and I was surprised by that. But overall, yay for Lyga giving us a legitimate YA, gritty horror-ish thriller. I’m wondering why I hadn’t heard of it until I stumbled upon it. Hmmm…that situation should be rectified. 

And as a super side note, this book’s method of giving the occasional voice to the bad guy reminded me of a favorite of mine, Robert Cormier’s We All Fall Down, which pretty much blew my mind and made me cry when I first read it as a youngster. 

Okay…Now I’m done. :) 

Now to leave you with a song to write by, “Psycho Killer” by the Talking Heads. Because I can.

Insurgent: A Review

Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Publication Date: May 2012

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books by HarperCollins

Source: Library

Blurb (and photo above) from Goodreads (both of which I do not own but am using for review purposes only): 

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Genre: 2^nd installment of Divergent series that is hugely popular. It’s YA, but when I get more specific than that, I feel like I’m giving something away…Eek. That normally doesn’t happen with me, as you all know.

Cover: I like her covers. They grab your attention, convey the book themes well, and are just eye-catching to me. I approve :)

Plot: Wow. Roller coaster, in the best way. It’s a thick book 400 pages +, but it’s worth the pages. There’s so much action stuffed in to these pages, it’s amazingly…active. My bestie texted me when she finished saying I had to read it NOW so she wouldn’t be suffering alone. Of course, she finished before I got my library copy, but when I was reading it, I texted her ranting about this scene and that scene—not that anything was bad. I just couldn’t believe all of the stuff happening. Like I said before, when I want to rant/dish/explain a book, something has gone horribly right.

Romantic Element: Sigh. I still love Four something ridiculous. The tattooed quiet type is something amazing to behold. Lol. It delivers here, in action packed, “Oh no!” ways.

Overall: It’s a good, solid series. Yes, it will leave you saying, when does that third one come out again? But that’s a good thing, right? If you haven’t read Divergent, get on it and join the rest of the reading world. We’re all talking about it and Insurgent. And yes, in case you were wondering, I’m sure it’s being made into a movie in the future, and I will have to see it for sure. 

Soooo? Have you read it? Are you going to? Let me know below so I know who I can talk to about its awesomeness, ending, and the love of all things Four…

Now, for a song to write by...I'm obsessed, and it might just work with this book. So here you go, "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye:

Anna Dressed in Blood: A Review

Title: Anna Dressed in Blood

Author: Kendare Blake

Publisher: Tor Teen

Publication Date: 2011

Source: Library

Blurb (and photo above) from Goodreads (which I do not own but am using for review purposes only):

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Genre: Paranormal, slightly romantic, ghost hunter, male POV YA

Cover: <3 works perfectly for this book. The dress, the hair, the color choices—all spot on. Doesn’t it make you want to pick it up and have a look? Worked for me.

Plot: Really original. I went into this a little leery. I get tired of paranormal quickly these days, unless it is done well and in an original fashion, and this hit both points. I also worried about it having a male POV, but Blake also handled that well with Cas. Nothing about this book is stereotypical, and that’s a breath of fresh air, let me tell you. For whatever reason, I hadn’t heard of this one, but I’m glad I picked it up. It moved well and had enough action, with a little romance thrown in.

Romantic Element: Like I said, it’s there, but it isn’t really the focus as much in the beginning. It almost is too light—or too abruptly involved, but it doesn’t quite go that far. It works, and it left room for a follow-up, as most YAs do. No real googley-eyed moments, but that wouldn’t fit in for this kind of book. I was satisfied overall with this light touch of romance.

Overall: If you were ever remotely interested in the YA ghost scene, this is one to read. It is fresh, reads cinematically, and is worth a perusal. And come on, how great is that title? I can dig it.

Now to leave you with a song to write by, “Lighthouse” by The Hush Sound, because it too involves ghosts, and I find it quite lovely. :)

Dirty Little Secrets: A Review

Title: Dirty Little Secrets

Author: C. J. Omololu

Publication Date: Feb. 2, 2010

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Source: Library

Blurb (and photo above) from Goodreads (both of which I do not own but am using for review purposes only): 

Everyone has a secret. But Lucy’s is bigger and dirtier than most. It’s one she’s been hiding for years—that her mom’s out-of-control hoarding has turned their lives into a world of garbage and shame. She’s managed to keep her home life hidden from her best friend and her crush, knowing they’d be disgusted by the truth. So, when her mom dies suddenly in their home, Lucy hesitates to call 911 because revealing their way of life would make her future unbearable—and she begins her two-day plan to set her life right.

Genre: Issue driven, daughter of a hoarder, contemporary YA

Cover: A little haunting, fitting for the macabre, tragic, yet realistic subject matter

Plot: So real. It moved. You felt for her, and my biggest test for if a plot worked is seeing whether or not I want to hold someone’s ear hostage and tell them every single detail about what happened. That is what happened with this book. It’s short, not sweet, realistic, dark, and moving. The pages turned themselves as you felt for Lucy, and it wasn’t just from the problems that arise with being the daughter of a hoarder; it was about the psychological ripple effect hoarding has on those who didn’t chose to live the life. And I would say more, but I will so not be accused of giving things away! :)

Romantic Element: It was present. It helped move the plot but wasn’t the focus. It was a motivator—an added stake

Overall: This book is a short read, and that read is worth it. I like that it doesn’t sugarcoat. It doesn’t pretty anything up. You end up wanting to read it because it feels like this story could and probably has happened. It’s like a new insight into untapped content—or really a new perspective on content.

Sooo? Have you read it? Are you going to? You should. Let me know below!

And, for the song to write by, I consulted the author, C.J. led me to her soundtrack, and I chose the following: “Island in the Sun” by Weezer.  :) <3

Legend by Marie Lu: A Review

Hello all!

Today, I have a review of Legend by Marie Lu. It's a good one! So read the review and let me know what you think below!

Title: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin

Publication Date: 2011

Source: Library

Blurb from Goodreads: (Blurb below and picture above are not things that I own; I am only using them for review purposes)

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias' death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills. 

Genre: Futuristic “Us versus Them” YA Romance---> Evil society, rebellious teens must stop them: Okay, before you gag about this being done over and over, this one is good. It's done really well, so it's okay, I assure you.

Cover: Honestly, when I first saw the cover, I thought it looked a little plain, but now I’ve upgraded plain to it being understated. After reading the book, I feel that it’s pretty fitting of the feel of the society depicted.

Plot: The story is told in a back and forth format, which worried me at first, but both parts are done well, the MMC’s (main male character’s) especially. Day is done fantastically, and June isn’t lacking either. There was a good balance of action on both sides, and both sides were used to progress the story. The stakes were high, and that goes with the “genre” it’s in, and I feel it was done well. Heart-pumping for the win! 

Romantic Element: This portion was good. One thing I wanted to mention is the fact that both Day and June are “pretty,” and normally in YA the characters are quirky or unclassified pretty and it takes that special someone to see his or her hotness. But in Legend, Lu made it so everyone knew that the two were hot stuff, and Lu had the characters not be pretentious. They use their looks, acknowledge that they both have them, and they move on to more important things. I liked that. It felt more original. The romance wasn’t hot and heavy, but it was there, and it kept you reading. 

Overall: I heard this book was good, and I wasn’t disappointed. I also heard people say that if you liked The Hunger Games (<3), then Legend is for you. I would say that that statement is fairly true. If that kind of story appeals to you (like it does to SO many people), then Legend is FAR from a disappointment. The only thing I’m upset about is having to wait for further installments to get more.

So, what do you all think? Did you like it? Do you want to read it? Let me know below!

Now to leave you with a song to write by, “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes.Why? Because it fits...

Happy Reading and Writing, y’all!

The Fault in Our Stars: A Review

Blurb from Goodreads: (I not own but am using them for review purposes only.)

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Publication Date: January 10, 2012

Source: The Library

Genre: A Cancer YA Contemporary Romance that isn’t a cancer story (i.e. isn’t just about the main characters having cancer). Hint: DON’T shy away from this because of the cancer element. I almost did, and that would have been a HUGE mistake.

Cover: It’s okay. I wasn’t as impressed with it at first, but I can’t really think of anything that would work better--> and so by that reasoning, it’s successful. I like the color choices.

Plot: It may feel oh-so-slightly slow moving at the beginning, but it’s necessary, and the payoff is worth it. This book is kind of amazing, and it is definitely awesome possum. The trouble with reviewing it? I don’t want to give anything away. I’m not going to rob you of its greatness. Just know, it really starts to move, and you get super invested in the characters, whether or not you realize it. 

Romantic Element: LOVE. I am officially fictionally in love with Augustus Waters. Note: I didn’t even have to Google his last name. I knew it. Why? Because I. Am. In. Love. How often have you heard me say that here? Not very, that’s for true.

Overall: Genius. Love. Hearts and hearts and hearts. I made people read it so that I could talk to them about it. I reacted like I haven’t reacted to a book in my recollection. I didn’t think I was a John Green reader. I had tried and failed to read his stuff before (not his fault. circumstances outside of my control usually---like due dates), but this one stuck, and I am SO glad it did. My recommendation? Read it and come back here and talk about it because I want to talk about it more!

And here’s a song to write by, one of my favorites by Panic! At the Disco, "There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought of It Yet," just because...

Happy Reading and Writing, y'all!