Glass House

Review Time! I recently received the first three books in the Morganville Vampires series from Penguin. I have kept an eye for the this series for AGES but it's never been pulished in AUS before Penguin took the matters into their own hands so... now I have to chance ;)

(Goodreads) It's a small college town filled with quirky characters. But when the sun goes down, the bad comes out. Because in Morganville, there is an evil that lurks in the darkest shadows - one that will spill out into the bright light of day.

Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. The popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks on the school's social scene: somewhere less than zero. And Claire really doesn't have the right connections - to the undead who run the town.

When Claire heads off campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Hew new roommates don't show many signs of life. But they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood...

 

The Short Story ? - Glass House has not failed to meet my expectations! Great plot, fantastic characters and the classic take on vampires that hasn't been used in the YA genre in a long time. I loved it! Fast-paced and addictive start to a vampire series loved by many ;)

The Long Story ? - It's no secret that Vampire fiction overpopulates the YA genre, two years after the success of Twilight and we are still getting new take ons of Vampire every single year. Whether it be sparkly vampires or super powered vampires or vampires who get sick of being vampires and turn human, every author has a new take on the definition of a vampire.

So when Morganville re-visits the classic take, the Dracula take. It was more than refreshing to read! As crazy as it sounds, it's actually a nice change to read about vampires who aren't all good-looking and who aren't all about falling in love with Humans!

The concludes my first pointer about how awesome Glass House. It's not original but it's refreshing because it's how vampires are supposed to be opposed on the new take ones where vampires are harmless and sparkly ( I love Twilight). Another reason why it's so awesome? The characters.

The relationship between Claire, Eve, Shane and Michael is really touching. I have never had room mates before but the relationship between the four is what I would imagine it to be. The friendship and more-than friends ship between them four is amazing. Each character has a different personality, they might hate each other at times but they still friends and care about each other.

Then, there is the plot. So at the start Claire was pretty pathetic, she was bullied and cried alot. Then she meets her three new roomies who introduce her to Morganvilles not-so-secret secret, the vampires. From there it gets really interesting whether it be fighting the vamps or fighting the undeniable attraction.Fats-paced and filled with quirky and comfortable writing.

Overall, I loved it. it was addictive and refreshing. I couldn't stop turning the pages one after another. Whether it just me or not, I find it hard to find a book that I can turn the page one after another without losing interest, I found it in Glass House. This one goes on your TBR pile, lovelies!

Badass Bookie xx

Last Sacrifice

Review Time! Last Sacrifice marks the last chapter for Rose's adventures and well, I get a little teary just thinking about it since Vampire Academy is one of the best series' I have ever read. The good news is that there will be a spin-off series called Bloodlines, I personally feel like I'm going to hate it already because it's not the same character as (VA ) BUT then again maybe it's better ...

Australian Cover - black background

The Short Story ? - This review is so hard for me to write, I've been sitting here for ten minute I still haven't got a thing! To put it simply Last Sacrifice was fantastic, it was emotional, romantic, unpredictable, original, comfortable to read, it was everything a good book needed to be. Beautifully written and expressive, it was a great ending to the series!

The Long Story ? - The great thing about Richelle's writing is that when  read her books ( we're focusing on VA) I don't hear myself reading the book, I hear Rose's voice and Dimitri's voice and Adrian's voice and it's simply not you reading, you're just the audience watching the story unfold.

This ability to write so beautifully in first person is rare even among so many talented authors, most people say that it's when you feel like you are the character that you know you are reading a great book, I disagree. For me, it's when the character's come to life that I feel like I reading a good book. When I read Last Sacrifice, the characters came to life. Rose, Adrian and Dimitri were real people not just a few descriptive words on piece of paper. When you feel like the characters are real, that's when you know that you are reading a good book.

What else made Last Sacrifice special? Emotions. Pure emotions throughout the book. I almost never EVER cry and I cried in this book ( okay this whole series) BUT probably not for the same reasons as most of you ( I mean you guys probably cried for Dimitri right? I didn't. ) They are plenty of book that are full of emotions, but can they make me cry, or close the book in frustration? *SPOILER*When Rose broke Adrian's heart I felt she broke my heart too ( I'm still crying in the inside for him, Adrian...) I knew exactly how Adrian felt even if I have never really been heart-brokened. I felt angry at Rose, I thought she was selfish, only caring about what she wanted . As soon as Dimitri came back to her, she gave Adrian the flick, no offense but that's just so so so cruel. Adrian really cared ( loved) her and she just never really loved him back. I still a little disappointed at Rose actually. *SPOILER*

Overall, Last Sacrifice still ranks very high up on my favourite books, it was everything a good book should be. It was the last book in a series and it left no questions unanswered that were haunting us ( well me) since the cliff-hanger in Spirit Bound. However, if I had to compare Last Sacrifice to the other book in the series, it definitely wasn't my favourite. *SPOILER* I not a big fan of love triangles in general ( someone is always heart-brokened which I think in fiction shouldn't be the case since we get so much of that in reality) but the way Rose just killed Adrian ( not literally) was just too much for me ( Team Adrian here, if you are Team Dimitri this is a happy ending for you). The ending was all about Dimitri and Rose! After Rose flicked Adrian off , he disappeared not mentioned at all so not really happy ending for everyone right? *SPOILER*

However, If you havent' read the book you should still read it or even the series because unfortunately for everyone who is reading this review, your reviewer ( Badass) is part of the minority who isn't TEAM DIMITRI so therefore wasn't too pleased with the outcome of the book and since I still loved it I don't think anyone wouldn't like it :) Rating 4/5 ( One Word - Adrian )

Thought about Bloodlines -
Richelle has said in a recent interview that Sydney would be character in Bloodlines so that's a given. I also think Adrian and Jill might be part of the spin off series due to the 'ending' . However, I really hope Adrian doesn't get together with Jill OR Sydney ...that just won't do ;P

Badass Bookie xx

Blue Bloods

Review Time! My friend has been telling me to read this for ages and I finally picked it up last week and read it! I will tell you straight up - I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I will! Now this "friend" was the same "friend" who recommended me The Vampire Academy series which is the best vampire series out there! So I'm a bit disappointed in this one since it was probably one of my least favourite vampire novels!

Short Story - Too much description, too much designer brand not enough solid story!

Long Story- I don't really know what all this has to do with vampires because three quarters of the book was just descibing the inside of someones wardrobe or what a penthouse looks like. The other quarter was just that was about vampires just couldn't cover the whole point of vampires for the whole book! The book would have made a better teen drama/ chick lit then vampire paranormal. it wasn't terrible but it defeats the purpose of paranormal because all it was about was the inside of some vampires wardrobe and how awesome parties are! Um, not alot of romance either so ... Anyway in short ( or long) I didn't really enjoy this book :( Rating 2/5

Badass Bookie xx

Eighth Grade Bites

Review Time! Okay, guys I know you're like sick of reviews but this is not a catch up review so yer we're back to normal now I guess! Anyway, here are my thoughts...

Book- Eighth Grade Bites ( The Chronicles of Vladmir Tod #1)

Author - Heather Brewer

Release Date - 2nd August ( AUS)

Publisher - Penguin

Source - Publishers

Cover - 3/5

Rating - 3/5

Description- If you thought eighth grade was tough, try it with fangs and a fear of garlic. Junior high really stinks for thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod. Bullies harass him, the principal is dogging him, and the girl he likes prefers his best friend. Oh, and Vlad has a secret. His mother was human, but his father was a vampire. With no idea of the extent of his powers and no one to teach him, Vlad struggles daily with blood cravings and enlarged fangs. When a strange substitute teacher begins to question him a little too closely, Vlad worries that his cover is about to be blown. And then he realises he's being hunted by a vampire killer, and suddenly hunger, girls and bullies seem not quite such a problem after all.

Review - So I finished this book like 20 seconds ago and it was good. I think it was abit too young for me though, I found that although I enjoyed the plot and the story and think Vladmir is totally awesome, the book in general was abit too young. If it was up to me I would say it's more of a tween book then a teen, however I'm thinking maybe the story kinda ages along withvthe reader you know kinda like Harry Potter. So I will probably start the second book soon and test my theory. The plot was really exciting but I reckon they should have started the action sooner instead of leaving it til the last 60 pages or so ( it only had 182 pages so I guess it was difficult). I also thought there wasn't enought romance, I really don't think asking a girl out on a date on the two pages of the book is counted as romance which is another reason I think it is more of a tween book. Other then that I found myself enjoying the book! It was really funny and comfortable to pick and just lose yourself into. I would say anyone who enjoys funny, quirky, vampire novels would enjoy this one but keep in mind unless you're a tween or super immature or forever young you might find this book abit ehhhh childish? Nevertheless, it was a great read!

Badass Bookie xx

Solace & Grief

Review Time!  but before that, I posted buttons up in yesterdays post for next weeks Supernatural Showdown but the HTML codes didn't turn out so bare with me until I sort that out. Now, this is a 2010 debut author novel (according to Goodreads) and it's by an Australian author, Foz Meadows (what a funky name!) Anyway, it was surprisingly really good!

Now I'm going to be honest I didn't know whether I would like this book because first, I kind of over Vampire books and second the cover was like pretty plain and since I don't believe in 'Don't Judge A Book by It's Cover ' I wasn't all that sure about it. Howver, it turned out to be one of the better books I have read lately. After Glimmerglass, very single book just couldn't live up to my expectations! This one came close but than ..it didn't. The writing style in this is really easy to read, the plot was good but could have been better if the vampire part wasn't involved ( I liked thes story as it was and didn't see how the vampire part fit into it all) , loved the characters and really enjoyed the story in general. Two downs , cover and vampires but overall it was really good! Rating- 3.5/5

Badass Bookie xx

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

Another Review Today since I have finished so many books over the last week or so! So I sure many of you have already watched it or is going to watch the third Twilight movie Eclipse! ( I haven't watched it yet but I might tomorrow) Anyway, I thought it would be a good idea to read the novella The Second Short Life of Bree Tanner! Now I only finished this one yesterday so it's like fresh in my mind.

It was quite a short read only about 200 pages but I not sure why but it awlays takes my longer to read Ebooks. So anyway, very short life indeed for Bree. I not a huge twilight fan but the books are alright so I have nothing againist twilight!

Anyhow, book was alright. I found it progressed abit too slowly. it went really boring and suddenly it was interestly but before you can quite get it, it was THE END. However, it was pretty good I enjoyed it and we got to know Bree better. When I read Eclipse I thoguht she was some bad vampire who doesn't have any feeling but in this book you got to see a different side of the story. I even got abit teary at the end. BTW did you guys know Edward Cullen is a ranga??? (a redhead) I always thought he had brown hair. Anyway, good story too slow at the beginning but the ending was good. Rating 3/5

Badass Bookie xx

Changeless

Review Time! You know I actually pretty disappointed with how many books I have been able to read this week. Last Holidays I was able to read one book a day butthis holidaysit seems like start 10 books a day and finish one a week (not good). However, I did manage to finish Changeless by Gail Carriger today. Now last holidays I finished the first one Soulless and loved it so high hopes for this one. On a sidenote has anyone realised I have read alot of second in the series in the last two weeks? Anyway, I quite liked this one very much like the first but interesting plot. I love the victorian setting with the supernatural twist. It makes so much more memorable than just plain supernaturalism (is that a word?) So it started off a bit slowly like blah blah blah and than it got interesting so I guess that made it okay. There was this bomb *shock, gasp,scandal* at the end which leaves me DYING to read to the next book. However since I have this habit of reading the ending first than going back to read the whole book it wasn't so bombly (is this word too?). Anyway, I find Ivy, the best friend a great nuisance and can't stand her but that's the whole point so I will let it go. The sisters and the mum is annyoing too but they are portrayed that way and it's certainly a very entertaining read. The style of writing does take some time getting used to but that's because it's quite old fashioned. However, it's more bearable than Shakespere. The woman on the cover has a really unattractive fringe so no comment on the cover and besides that all that pretty good book so Rating- 4/5

Badass Bookie xx

The Society of S

I just finished The Society of S by Susan Hubbard so this is a fresh in my mind review :) I picked this one up in the Christmas Holidays but never made it past the prologue (hehe). So I decided to pick it up again on Monday and finished last night.( yipee) Anyway, the prologue was still very boring but I managed to get past it and into the first chapter. Now, besides the prolgues the rest of the book was actually pretty good. It was enjoyable to read. I really liked the writing style in this book it was sooooo easy to get into and understand. The plot was pretty good too and it was a different type of Vampire Story from the usual * I'm a vampire we can't be together* plot. First impressions count and since this the first of Susan's books that I have read I am pretty impressed. It can also be seen that she had to do alot of research for this book, alot of references and quoting from poems and science ( or she is a peotry and science expert). So pretty good overall, good plot, nice easy style, alrightish charcters. Bad prologue and confusing epilogue but otherwise pretty good :)

Rating- 3.5/5

Badass Bookie xx

Burned

Review Time! I finished Burned which is the seventh book of the House fo Night series a few days ago but I had some other 'stuff ' to post besides a review so this had to wait to today :P Anyway, seventh book in the series so a pretty long series ( the longest one I have read so far besides Harry Potter and Princess Diaries...I think). From all the stuff I have heard I can safely say that it's quite popular. However, not one of my favourite series (sadly, everyone go *shame!*). I was very disappointed with the sixth book which kind of went around it a BIG FAT CIRCLE then ended up in the same place ( aka nothing happened) However, I find that the seventh book was actually one of the better ones in the series. It had a plot that was good, the characters were still annoying ( Zoey) but they were bearable and they actually got somewhere with the book. However, * SPOILER ALERT* I don't get why Stevie Rae and Rapheim ( I can't spell him name sadly) just get together. It's annoying, everyone konws they like each other but they refuse to just be togther so fustrating. Um, the ending was pretty good but the start was boring. Overall, quite enjoyable, abit slow but still pretty good so Rating 3/5

BTW, which cover do you like better? I got the book with the second cover the yellow one.

Badass Bookie xx

Spirit Bound

Okay, as promised I said I would review Spirit Bound which I finished reading yesterday. Anyway, for those who don't know The Vampire Academy series is one that I think highly of. It is my favourite vampire series hands down and probably the best books in the world after The Mortal Instruments series. And I wasn't disappointed with this book either. Honestly, I LOVED it it was AMAZING beyond words  ( @#$%@#&*%$#@#@$) Great Plot, badass characters ( I HEART ADRIAN & DIMITRI BUT I THINK I"M TEAM ADRIAN) , the writing was easy to read and well we can't relate to the vampires and stuff but the emotional and relationship stuff is alot like teenage relationships in the 21st century. It is also my top tear jerker guys and that is something, I not excatly the most emotional person like I don't cry over lost love and stuff BUT Mrs Richelle Mead is a fantasic writer and when I read her books I get all weepy and wear my heart on my sleeve. So, very high praises for this book, couldn't have been written any better.

Rating 5/5 (Yes, I know amazing right? So if you haven't read it yet I will haunt you in your sleep until the day you do)

Badass Bookie xx

The Mage in Black

Hey Guys!!!!!! How are we all? I had like heaps of energy when I got home today adn now I'm like tired. Anyway, I was sick on Tuesday this week so mum let me stay home and I used the time to start and finish The Mage In Black by Jaye Wells. In case you guys don't remember, I did review the first book in this series and HIGHLY recommend it. Remember? Red- Headed Stepchild, Sabina Kane Trilogy???? Well, anyway got the second book and finished it! It was even better than the first one! For me, this one was more comfortable to read. The first one was very fast-paced and adventurous not so much romance but this one was perfect. Plus, we got to see more Sabina & Adam ;P So if you haven't read the first one- Read that first THAN read this one. Fantastic series! You know some books you just can't get into straightaway? Well, this isn't one of them I loved it from the first minute! Rating - 4/5

Badass Bookie xx

Vampire Academy vs House of Night

Vs

Okay, so Burned the seventh book of the House of Night series has recently come out and the fifth book of the Vampire Academy series ( Spirit Bound ) is coming out later this month. I thought well both of them are about vampire, a boarding school and hot guys which one is more worth your money? This is just a post I have decided to well post so convince myself which is better but you guys can use it too ;P

ps- this is pretty much subjective ( yer I'm not that neutral haha)

Okay, so first of all House of Night. It's an alright series, I enjoyed it but it was 'just another book about vampires' ( you know how after Twilight everyone keeps writing Vampire books??? yer, this is one of them) Anyway, I wasn't all that happy with this series and I can think of plenty of reasons why. Firstly, Zoey was really really annoying. Main characters should not be annoying but this was, seriously when trouble happens she was like damsay in distress ( then she turned hero but yer dasmay in distress half the time). Secondly, tooooooo many guys seriously way too many boyfriends and because of this none of the guys got much of a spotlight moment ( except for Stark which is the only worthy boyfriend). Thirdly, the sixth book was a waste of paper, nothing happened, it went around in a HUGE circle ended in the same spot, then when it finally gets interesting ( I'm talking about like the last three pages) it ends so waste of time and paper. Then there is the plot which is alright but nothing special and I just feel like too much is happening and it's taking more than it can handle. So yer rating - 3/5 ( Read it but get it from the library). Although this is my opinion because I know some girls who are like in love with the series.

Now, Vampire Academy okay, so I said that some girls are in love with House of Night well every girl I know (and guy- singular) who reads, loved this series. That says something, but well yer this is another vampire book after twilight ( although i think it was realised before twilight but got famous after it) Anyway, I can't really critize this series except that Rose is totally using Adrian ( hottest vampire on the planet and beyond) to get over Dimitri ( guy with the cool russian accent) and that is just wrong! She should TOTALLY be with Adrian because he is just so nice and not use him as a rebound guy( am I repeating myself? ) So although we're not Vampires( well I'm not , I'm a tooth faerie nah, jks haha thats not even funny) I really connected with the characters I mean it's all natural teenage romance ( House of Night - three timing-I don't know anyone who three times) you know with the love triangle, the best friend who dates the rebel ( okay, not the last part) but yer totallly awesome, my top tear jerker I would rather read VA anyday instead of HoN. Yer so rating - 5/5 (~gasp~ did she just give it a five out of five?) VA totally deserves a five and this a series that if you had to kill to get you would.

Yer, so you see it wasn't really balanced or fair but I really thought Vampire Academy was better(by far) AND I CAN"T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE !!!!!!!!!!!! *happy dance* Ohhhhh and the VA cover is wayyyy better ;P

Badass Bookiexx