22. Zombies Don't Cry

If you believe, full-heartily, that the zombie apocalypse is coming fast and soon: read Zombies Don't Cry by Rusty Fischer! Maddy Swift was your ordinary 16 year old girl: living under the shadow of a popular and beautiful best friend, crushing on the new popular kid Stamp, and dealing with a curse in Home Economics class with two girls already dead. Oh, and don't forget the fact she was turned into a zombie!

4 of 5 stars! There were minor spelling and grammar errors as well as mismatching details inside the story. Sometimes I got confused by what was going and was like- how did this happen? I would have to re-read some pages several times before it made sense, but it was still a good book.

21. Ashes of Dearen: Book 1

I must say this first: Wow! Ashes of Dearen: Book 1 by Jayden Woods far beat any expectations I had for it. As a free book from B&N's marketplace (I know, I know, I complain about the stories there often enough), I expected to rate it no higher than a 3!

It takes place in the smallest of the three nations in Dearen. There are actually four MC: Princess Frya (it opens with her- and I was like "Purple hair? Is this some kind of fanfiction! Ugh!"- and her younger brother Kyne overlooking the city of Dearen and the safra haze that cover it), Sean (a Wolven assassin who's mortal enemies are the Volveni aka the rulers of Dearen), Picord (the son of the Kahn- ruler of one of the three nations- and a safra addict), and Elenor (King-wife of Yamnir- I hope I spelled that right). It weaves a magical story of love and deceit and plots of stealing the ancient recipe for Safra, joy incarnate.

5 out 5 stars! I give this rating gladly. I found little to no spelling/grammar errors and the story was just- wow, amazing! It contains a few racy scenes including several homosexual ones!

20. Fifty Shades of Gray

I kept hearing great things about E.L. James's Fifty Shades of Gray and, one day, was like,  "Why not try it?" So, even though I'm not big on erotica I bought the first book.

I have to say this, if you read it you will either love it or hate.  I was more than shocked to say it actually had a plot!!! And it wasn't so heavy on M&S play that I was sickened. So I feel complied to give it:

5 of 5!!!!! What is this? Second or third 5 stars?  Not to sure... keep an open mind and read: the plot starts off very slow and quickens in the middle!!! If asked in the middle of the book what I rate it,  I would have said a 3 :)

So what changed my mind? You may ask... the ending, in truth. The MC, Ana Steele, finally stood up to enigma Christin Grey. I liked that and it was well written, believable too.

19. The Selection

I got my Nook Color in the mail on Monday :) I decided to celebrate by buying myself several novels. One of which, I finished today- The Selection by Kiera Cass was a surprisingly easy read. I really like young adult novels and this one is on my list for favorites (not THE favorite, but, ya know, its hard to top the Harry Potter series). The idea is derived from both the Bachelor and the Hunger Games: you can see it instantly. 35 girls are chosen by lottery to become the prince's bride. the MC, America Singer, is one of them. Unlike the others, she's none to happy about it. She is in love with another despite his lower ranking than her. So, of course, there is a love triangle, but unlike the Hunger Games, it has not been as obnoxious.

4 of 5 stars- I don't like how it ended in the middle of the selection and the rebels knocking on the door. :( and the second books won't be out for awhile. Lol, I wonder if I will even remember this series by that time?

18. Diamond Eyes

Diamond Eyes by Jennifer Perry is another novella from B&N's free marketplace. It was actually decent. The plot revolves around 16 year old Bella (reminds me soooo much of Bella Swan- gag me!) and Hans as they travel from the US to Britain in the 50's. It's a first love story with mystery, thievery, and murder mixed into one. A good debut work (at least i believe this is her first work), but still shaky. I felt no emotional attachment to the characters and their love felt- well, like nothing.It was rushed, they meet one moment and within hours are kissing and the fact she forgave him so easily- gah! Such a silly girl.

For better or worse 3 of 4!!!!

17. The Vow

I saw this movie with my friend several months ago and I was IN LOVE. I made it my priority, and I mean my priority, to read the book. So, I stole my mom's IPad (okay, okay- I didn't steal it; I just sat at the kitchen table and read it and, lucky for me, out internet was down do to construction and, so, my mom had no problems with me reading as she would any other day we were both off from work) and read it. My first though was WOW!!! And not in a good way.

I will say this, I am an atheist, have been since I was 10 years old (I know, I know quite young to fade from the path but I was going through a hard time and "god" was not with me and I really needed "god" to be; it was myself and my friends and family who helped me through not an all-knowing being up above.) so this may come up basis. I felt like Kim, the narrator, was shoving his fate down my throat. I swear not a page went by where "god" wasn't mentioned. God give me strength, god performed a miracle and while I think it's  a moving story- I felt tears prickling at the back of my eyes several times, though it was ruined when "god" had a helping hand- however I can't help but think of all the people "god" hasn't helped. Like Avery, the little girl who recently passed for SMA type 1; why save a grown woman but give a small child a disease and little to no chance to live?

I give it a 2 of 5 stars.

16. The Price of Longing

The Price of Longing by Amber Marshall is a dark, twisted story of Rapunzel: right up my aisle. It brings both sympathy and hatred for the old witch that stole her away from her family and I was moved to tears by the ending. But beware! There is no happy ending for the young woman and her prince.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars: I have to say I'm a sucker for happy endings and the ending left me hurting more than anything. On the plus side, it tells more of how Rapunzel ended up in the tower and it delves deeply into her feelings.

15. Save the Last Dance

I like Barnes and Noble very much; especially the amount of free books I can get for the nook app I have on my phone. Unfortunately though, not all the books are that good. Take Save the Last Dance by Heather Mar-Gerrsion for example. A love story between fifteen-year-old, hard to say what would go wrong there. First off, the MC wasn't in love with her love interest but in love with his twin brother and at the end the get together and all is hunky-doory. No, I personally wouldn't date someone who was in love with my sister first. Would you??? Please leave a comment and tell me if you disagree. I give it 2 out of 5, and 1 is giving in generosity.

14. Boy Soldier

Boy Soldier by Brad Beals was a quirky story about a young boy named Joshua left alone in the fields one day. His father and brother were off serving in the king's war and his mother gone to tend his injured brother. One day while at work collecting the harvest a peddle comes by with a summons to the king's city 'come prepared for war'. So, the boy filled with wonders and dreams of soldierhood finishes the harvest, collects a makeshift helm, sword, and shield, and sets off to the city. Through a series of humorous misfortunes he loses all three, but he continues onward to the capital. But what happens when the boy appears before the kind emptyhanded?

3 of 5 stars!!!!

13. The Silent Princess

The Silent Princess </i>by Trista DiGiuseppi was a short story about a young princess who was taught never to speak in front of men as it was unladylike. The main plot was the overthrow of her parents as monarchs as their people were starving and desperate.

I have to give it 1 of 5 for the plot skips around. At first it seems to be of the princess's upbringing and her wish to play with her father's toys- objects unnamed bit I get the feeling they were torture devices and sex toys as she states in the story: '- with blood and other body fluids she had yet to now of'. and later: 'the ones in the dungeon, not those pleasurable ones used in his chambers'. Then it switches to the mothers pov and speaks of the her hatred for her unfaithful husband. Then it was the fathers as he 'played' with his prisoners in the dungeon. Finally gets into the main plot of the peasant farmers invading the palace.

The up side of the story is that it was a fast story- I don't think I would have finished it if it was another twenty pages long!!! The downside- I really don't like that the author didn't give any of the characters names. She always referred to them by station.

12. The Enchantress

The Enchantress by Daina Rustin was a charming story about Grey, a magi, and her childhood friend Adrien, a swordsman. One day the two arrive in the town of Sternfall were a small girl playing a flute that enchants the crowds. The two meet a third magi using magic to cheat at card. Later that night, a precious key is stolen and the girl and her father are suspected of stealing it. It's up to the two to stop a plot that could release.

I give it a 4 of 5. It was a unique way of telling a story, the few complaints I have: a few spelling and grammar errors and it was much too short. Makes me very sad :(

11. Rich Love

This was a 33 page short story that I got for mt Nook app for free on the marketplace. So, I have to say, "I wasn't expecting much." And it lived up to my exceptions. Rich Love by Cierra Anderson is about Miki and Rei two high school kids who literally run into each to start their love story. It's a typical love story: love at first sight, first kiss between them, and some turmoils with a love triangle. The problem? It's much too short, not only do you not get a feel for the characters but the plot goes by too fast. They just meet and kiss? Then, it skips till the winter (note the story takes place in Japan who's school year starts in April and ends in March) break and he suddenly as a fiancee. The fiancee is, like him, from a really rich family. It seems she loves him and kisses him moments before he meets with Miki (by gads!! So, not over done). Either way it was a happy ending for the mains.

I give it 1 star of 5. There were grammar mistakes a sixth grader wouldn't have missed. The author calls the MC's best friend Sakura instead of the name "Maya" she already set her forth as. The teacher's name in their class is Uchihia and, added with "Maya Haruno" with pink hair and green eyes makes me believe this is a reference to Naruto's, a popular manga and anime in Japan. It may even be a fanfiction. In truth, I say: Not worth the ten-fifteen minutes it took me to read during lunch today.

10. Dead(ish)

You can tell I was bored at work? Two books on two days,  well I can't emphasize with the customers and frankly don't care anymore. 3 more months till I graduate!!!! Whoo!!!

The story itself was cute- a new take a haunting of an ex.

The main plot of the story is of Linda- a ghost who can't find her body so she's taken to tormenting her ex Mike who killed her. She hired a PI who she basically threatens- e.g. 'I will haunt you in-between Mike if you don't find my body!'- into finding, well, her.

It's a funny story that went by too fast with little to none suspense. 3 of 5 stars.

9. The Corpse King

I've taken to reading between customers at work lol. Today read the 'The Corpse King' by Christopher Kellen. It was a short quick opening to a new interesting series with a MC named D'Aren on I his apprenticeship journey. He and his master come across a boy-king controlled by a demon and must defeat him to vanquish the creature.

4 of 5 stars and I am sooo going to check out this series.

8: Mastiff

The opening of the book, Mastiff by Tamora Pierce, had me very confused: I was like, "When did I skip a book?". It's set four years after the first one at the funeral of Beka's fiance. On the night of his funeral, she gets a midnight visitor and is whisked away to the Summer Palace to meet the king and queen of Tortall. The prince was kidnapped! Only Beka, Tunstall, Lady Sabine, and a mage named Farmer are trusted enough by Lord Greshom to track the kidnappers down and bring the boy back down, but they have a traitor in their midst. Is it Farmer, who Beka has an instant connection with? Sabine who she had admired for four years? Or Tunstall, her partner and friend who has been a father and brother to her?

5 out of 5!!!! It has some slow parts in the middle, but the action always picks up when I thought, "When is something going to happen?" It was a great end to a great trilogy, but I can't help think "Is this the last book?" There were hints of more to come, so I would be very disappointed if she doesn't revisit this era and character.

7: The Charmed Return

I was eagerly awaiting this book and, with some extra money, I purchased it. The first five books in the series were quick reads that I picked it The Charmed Return (by Frewin Jones) expecting to be done with the last book in the series by the next morning. Whether it was because of obligations (*cough* school* cough *work* cough*) or the fast that I'm older now than when I started the series (My gads- Still can't believe I'm TWENTY-TWO!!!) I didn't finish the story very fast.

The Charmed Return opens with Anita Palmer, a supposedly normal sixteen-year-old girl  until she goes downstairs and her mother informs her that she is the fairy princess Tania- seventh daughter of Oberon and Titania- and has spent the last nine weeks in the land of Faerie. Unbelieving, she goes in search of answers that made more sense which leads her to her friend Jade. The arrival of Edric and sister Rathina confirms her mother stories and soon the four- counting Jade- return to Faerie to rid the land of the dreadful plague that had befallen them.

All in all it was still a good read. 4 out of 5 stars!!! I take points away- sorry Mr. Jones- for the huge cliffhanger at the END OF THE SERIES. Good news is that there is a supposed novella being posted on his website sometime in the year. I will be sure to review it as soon as humanly possible.

6: Grey Eyes

Grey Eyes by B. Alston and Quinteria Ramey started off really, really good but it became more and more confusing by the end.

Ana is an almost sixteen girl who has spent much of her life on the run with her mother from something unknown to her- calls her mother a manic in the book while describing her- but that quickly changes with the arrival of a stranger that leaves her mother dead and her running to a nearby clearing through training alone. She is met by a boy named Nathan who informs her that she is, in fact, a witch and not just any witch but a part of a royal line from the ancient first witch Merline (aka a female Merlin). It takes many twists and turns and many changes of her- not as a character but as her standing in the community she lives in. First she's a princess, then she finds out the source of her powers are as a conjurer (evil source of powers according to her people), and finally she finds she's truly an angel sent to earth in various lives to take down the "Source"- the first vampire Daemon who is her son in her very first life as Merline who she brought back from the dead- and rebalance magic.

All in all it was a good read, probably will read the next book in the series (maybe not too soon) so if you like Twilight I suggest reading this book. A 3 out of 5 rating.

5: Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins was by far better read than the second book in the trilogy. Katniss and Peeta are separated, one being in district 13- the head of the rebellion- and the latter being in the Capital. Katniss spends much of the novel in a state of confusion and finds herself under the thumb of President Coin and with the title of Mockingjay.

Four out of five: much about Katniss that drew me in the first book was back and Peeta was, not quite the same, which was refreshing and a little creepy. It regained the sense of urgency and budding love that was absent in the second book, but lacked the mystery quality the previous two had.

4: Catching Fire

The second book in the Hunger Games Series- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins- was a slight disappointment. Katniss was a weaker character and was used from the very beginning- and allowing herself to be such. Peeta was, as always, still a sweet character that cared more about Katniss than she may have deserved.

Katniss had recieved President Snow's wrath after her stunt with the berries by being sent back to the arena in the Quarter Quell- a special Hunger Game that occurs every 25 years. There is no doubt in either Peeta or Katniss's minds that only one will be allowed to survive- if at that- and each is determined for it to be the other. They are unaware of a deeper plot that surrounds them as the twelfth districts prepare a rebellion against the Capital- a spark provided by Katniss.

I give it a 3 out of 5: the ending seemed sloppy and rushed. Not as smooth as the first book. The MC's spend much of the book in a cold war of sorts and then suddenly half each others' backs during the last half. During the final 3, or 5, chapters I was confused as to what was going on and had to often re-read pages to understand what was going on.

3: The Hunger Games

I was a little skeptical about reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins but when my mom took me to see the movie- literally kicking and screaming on one of my few complete days off- I was instantly hooked. I went home and read the book in two days. And still managed to study for my test the following Tuesday.

Katniss Everdeen is a sixteen year old girl who lost her father shortly before her twelve birthday and has been illegally hunting to feed her mother and younger sister, Prim. Her sister, now twelve, was selected in the reaping to represent the twelfth district in the 74th annual Hunger Games. Katniss volunteers and takes her sisters place, a sure death sentence as only one person had ever survived from their district, Haymitch, now a man who spends all the time drunk. Peeta Mellark, the male tribute, has been in love with Katniss for more than ten years and states so boldly right before they entered the arena. It has many twists and turns that will keep you on your seat begging for it to end, but when it does, leaving you wanting more.

Five out of five: Strong characters, humor, tearjerker, love, mystery, all that I love in a novel.

2: Bloodhound

Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce (one of my favorite authors) is the second book in the Beka Cooper series. It's also apart of her 'Tortall' universe.

To start off my review I'm going to go over the plot of the first book Terrier. Beka is just staring her first year as a "Dog"- a member of the Provost guard- as puppy with trainers Goodwin and Tunstall, the best Dogs in the Cesspool- the very unsavory district of Corus- the capital- where Beka choose to go after being raised in the Provost's house. It follows her through her ups and downs as she gets used to the new life and soon she is dragged into a mystery of children going missing and dying by a some using the name of a legend- 'Shadow Snake'- and her best friend, wife of the son of the dirtiest criminal in the city  Crookshanks, child is killed over some strange stones. Beka uses her strange magic over dust-spinners and hearing the ghosts of the dead on the backs of pigeons to connect the two cases together.

Bloodhound takes place little more than a year later when she's  full-fledged dog and doesn't have a partner of her own, keeping getting place back with her trainers Goodwin and Tunstall. Counterfeits keep finding their way into good city gold and a revolt in the Cesspool takes place when the price of day-old bread rises. Tunstall  is injured while breaking it up and is waylaid at home. Along the way she adopts an abused scent hound named Achoo. Goodwin and Beka are sent to Port Caynn under the cover of "Provost Pet" and "Crooked Dog" to track the false coins undercover. They get pulled into the city's Rogue Court and get the Rogue's, Pearl Skinner, eye on them. Add in some romance and it makes an interesting fast read.

Five out five because it overdid many of her other preceding series which I loved and am looking forward to finishing Mastiff, the third book in the series.

1: Wither

My reading for the year is 100 books by December 31 and to write reviews on each book. So far I read 6 books and am 25 books behind schedule.

The first one I read this year was Wither by Lauren DeStafano. The MC is a girl named Rhine Ellery she lives in a world where women only lived to 20 years while men live till 25. This was caused by humans crating children in tubes to rid the world of diseases- called first generations- but left the following generations with severely short lifespans. The story starts with Rhine waking in a dark van full of a number of other girls and was one of the three girls chosen to marry a Governor- Linden. She meets and befriend his first wife- Rose- not long before she dies. The plot revolves around Rhine trying to escape from the manor with her life, escaping from Linden's first generation "mad scientist" father who's trying hard to keep his son alive, all while trying to maintain the first wife's privileges by pretending to love the naive Linden. Secretly falling in love with the servant Gabriel.

I give it a 4 out of 5 stars a great read and want to continue the series, but am unsure how it will play out.