Book Review: Crank by Ellen Hopkins

AUTHOR: Ellen Hopkins

SERIES: Series (Glass and Fallout)

PUBLISHER: Margaret K. McElderry Books  

PAGES: 537

SOURCE: Bought

OUTLINE:In Crank, Ellen Hopkins chronicles the turbulent and often disturbing relationship between Kristina, a character based on her own daughter, and the "monster," the highly addictive drug crystal meth, or "crank." Kristina is introduced to the drug while visiting her largely absent and ne'er-do-well father. While under the influence of the monster, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: "there is no perfect daughter, / no gifted high school junior, / no Kristina Georgia Snow. / There is only Bree." Bree will do all the things good girl Kristina won't, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys who can provide her with a steady flow of crank

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Quick Thought (or not)

If you haven't read any Ellen Hopkins books you're missing out. I know I say this with just about all her books I've read and reviewed, and it never changes.  

I read Crank at the end of 2013, and although it took me awhile to finish it that in no way portrays my feelings for a book such as this. Normally, I do my reviews with a quick thought, pacing, characters, and ending. This book however isn't that type of review layout I'm going to use because truthfully there's no way to put it into that. 

While I'll admit I love my vampires, werewolves, dystopian, witches, spies and all the others, Crank is not a book to be taken lightly. It is not a love story between a boy and a girl, but a girl and her addiction. It is not a book for the weak of mind, or the heartless. You have to read it with an open mind, and a caring heart. You're probably thinking why should I do that when this girl, Kristina gets addicted to this monster. 

Kristina's life hasn't been easy with an almost absent father, and when she goes and visits him her world as Kristina is turned upside down, and Bree steps up. As Kristina lets Bree take over she soon discovers the monster, and it is soon after that she begins to crave it, need it. willing to do anything for that next high. I can't tell you how she's feeling, but I know from talking to some who have done this that it's not something you'd wish on anyone else. I don't remember Kristina having anybody to lean on, or anyone who would stand beside her, and guide her through this darkness. With a dad not much better, and a 0n/0ff again boyfriend who helps her get that fix Kristina seems to be doomed, but near the end something happens that could pull her out of this slump. The question is will Kristina take charge of her life again and show Bree that Kristina is the stronger one

Now that I've sat here, and done the review I think I should really try and read the last two. The ending to Crank will leave you with questions as to what happens with Kristina/Bree and the obstacles she's facing. Sometimes falling and hitting rock bottom brings hope, and other times it's the place where it ends.

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters I'd want on a deserted island with me

Hi everybody! How's everyone's week been going? 

 If you want to see all the other top ten post head on over to The Broke and the Bookish.

Rose from Vampire Academy

We all knew I would go go with Rose no matter what. 

Katniss from The Hunger Games

Who else could hunt for food like Katniss?

Deuce from Enclave

The girl wanted to be a warrior fighting zombie like creatures. Umm why wouldn't I want her.

Four from Divergent

I need something to look at. :)

Dimitri from Vampire Academy

It's dimitri!

Cas from Anna dressed in blood

Yes, he fights ghosts, but he would make an excellent addition.

Lynn from Not a drop to drink

She can hold her own against anyone

Ren from I become shadow

She's like a ninja

Jared and Lukas from Unbreakable

They're two kick as brothers

Alex from Delirium

Who else could make it in the wild, or this case deserted island.

Novella Review: Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout

AUTHOR: Jennifer L.Armentrout
PUBLISHER: Spencer Hill Press

SERIES/STANDALONE: Series (Novella)
PAGES: 74

SOURCE: Bought

Outline:

Aiden St. Delphi will do anything to save Alex. 

Even if it means doing the one thing he will never forgive himself for. 
Even if it means making war against the gods.

Quick Thought (or not)

I've read the first book in the Covenant Series which is Half-Blood, and my rating/liking for that book was straight in the middle with 3 stars. Check out the full review to see why. Even though I had that kind of relationship with the book I wanted to give it another try. I wanted to be one of those people who loved it. I like a lot of Jennifer's other series. I wanted to enjoy this one as well. I figured what better way to try and get back into it with a novella. Yes, I realize what happens in this one is after the 3rd book which I haven't read. I thought is necessary though to see if I wanted to go further into the story and invest my time with these characters. 

Was reading this novella worth it? Will I continue on with The Covenant series? Yes! The story line itself seemed like it took a turn away from where I initially saw it going, which is a good thing because no book stands a chance against what I was holding its first book against. 

Pacing

It's a novella so it was fine. It took place over a few days and it didn't drag out anything. It was straight to the point.

Characters

This Novella is basically Aidans mini story. We get to take a gander inside his mind to see how he feels about Alex, and what the gods think they should do with her. I was really surprised that I could grow to like his character in a short time, but I did. He knew what would happen to her if he didn't try the elixir, but would he lose the girl he loved also by giving her the elixir. It really looked like it was a lose/lose situation for Aidan, but he handle it.

Apollo, was one god I couldn't like he was an ass,and if all else failed with the elixir he'd have no problem getting rid of the "problem"

It was just nice all around to see Aidan's friends stick up for him and Alex,

Ending 

It's not really an ending per se because it's between books 3 and 4. I was content with it because I knew once I actually started reading the series I would learn more. :)

Quotes

-You're kind of gross. Might want to think about shaving,too, unless you're going for the homeless look with no chance of getting laid." Deacon to Aiden

"She's going to be okay, right? I mean, someone will find a way to break the connection and she'll be snarky-but-no-homicidal Alex in no time?" Deacon

"Aiden has gone rambo on us."

Novella Review: Lenobia's Vow by P.C Cast

AUTHOR: P.C Cast
PUBLISHER: St. Martins Griffin

SERIES/STANDALONE: Series
PAGES: 174

SOURCE: Bought

Outline:

The second of the House of Night Novellas brings us Lenobia, the strong, beautiful horseback riding instructor, who guides Zoey through some of her darkest hours, and has a dark secret buried in her own past...

In a small southern town at the turn of the century, young Lenobia is developing into a beautiful young woman with ideas of her own. But when she is Marked as a fledgling vampyre, her world turns upside down, and she is drawn to the musical streets of New Orleans. There, she learns of the city’s dark underbelly, ruled by powerful black magic. As Lenobia experiences her first love – and loss – and discovers a passion for horses to sustain her, she must come face-to-face with Darkness itself. And she may not escape without scars.

Quick Thought (or not)

I haven't read a House of Night book in a long while. I don't know if it's because I was just "burned" out on them, or if I thought they just started getting ridiculous. There are 12 books so it's bound to get tiresome after awhile. After reading Lenobia's Vow though I can see why I started the series. It's hard not to fall in love with some of the characters, and with the world that was created around the Vampyres and the House of Night. 

Pacing

This is a novella so with that in mind it was really good. We got to start off with Lenobia where she was born and raised and see who she was before being Zoey's horse instructor. We get to see her leave home to embark on a journey to the New World. Through the journey though things happen, and it takes it slow that way we can watch,learn, and grow with her.

Characters

Since this was a novella featuring Lenobia there aren't many other characters to talk about, but I will name a few.

Being as it is Lenobia's Vow we will start with her. As stated above I haven't read the HoN books in awhile, and I really only got around to reading up to the 7th book. I don't remember too much about Lenobia, but from reading her story she's a very strong, caring woman who would do anything for those she cares about (especially the horses) 

Martin was a worker on the ship who cared for the horses, and of course meets Lenobia and from there I'm sure you can guess what happens. I really enjoyed Martin. He didn't treat Lenobia any different when secrets were shared. He told her stories of the new world where woman could be free to marry and love whoever they wanted. 

Sister Marie Madeliene was the Nun who was with the girls taking them to the new world to meet their husbands. When things went awry on the ship it was Sister Marie who stood beside Lenobia, and kept her safe from those who wished to harm her.

Ending 

This isn't one of those type Novellas where you have to read other books before it to understand. It might help you understand what happens at the end though. :) It really is just a story about a bastard daughter  (the books words not mine) making a new life for herself. I will say what happened at then end sucks, and I wish it could have been different, but it defines who a person is. 

Book Review: Crash by Lisa McMann

AUTHOR: Lisa McMann
PUBLISHER: SimunPulse

SERIES/STANDALONE: Series (Bang,Gasp)
PAGES: 233

SOURCE: Bought

Outline:

If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of three books from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.

Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

Quick Thought (or not)

Before starting Crash I was going into it hoping I would love it because everyone else seems to love her books. Sadly, Lisa McMann's book always seem to be a miss for me. It's not that I particularly hate them. I guess I should say I have more of a love/hate thing for them. I feel almost the same way about this one as I did with her first book Wake. I love the concept of the book, but I can't really put my finger on what didn't work. Needless to say I haven't yet read the other two books in that series either. I do however have them on my shelf. I've wanted to try and read those to see if maybe it's just a first book thing with this author. I also have her book Cryer's Cross. What do you guys think?  

Readthon: Summer Surge Challenge 1: Spell it out

Hosted by Book Badger

So here is my spell it out challenge.

 

Something strange and deadly by Susan Dennard (Read)

Wings of the wicked by Courtney A. Moulton

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

Magnolia league by Katie Crouch

Mephisto Covenant: Redemption of Ajax y Trinity Fagan

I become Shadow by Joe Shine (read)

Nameless by Lili St.Crow

Girl of nightmares by Kendare Blake (read)

Below here are a few pictures I took of it spelled out with the books. I took it from different angles. lol. What can I say I'm a visual person.

I chose swimming because when I was younger that's pretty much all I did all summer long. My grandma had a pool and my cousins and I would always be over her house swimming and eating pizza most days playing goofy games in the pool. We would be mermaids, singers (like the girl version of Backstreets Boys or the Spice girls.) it was fun to be little and have cousins who were around your age.

Book Review: The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

AUTHOR: Stacey Kade
PUBLISHER: Hyperion

SERIES/STANDALONE: Series (Queen of the dead, body and soul)
PAGES: 281

SOURCE: Bought

Outline:

Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star… and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot body, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks—is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes—watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying about me now that they think I can’t hear them. To top it off, I’m starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don’t know where I go when I’m gone, but it’s not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn’t hard enough already. I’ve done my best to hide my “gift.” After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost—an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around—is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like “temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation,” and my principal, who thinks I’m a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?

Quick Thought (or not)

I've wanted to read this forever. Why? Cover Loving!

 I can honestly say that the cover is what had me hooked because face it the synopsis is all to familiar. Ghost, Popular girl, freak of a boy meet and have to learn to work together to make things right. I know it sounds like I'm hating on the book, but I'm really not. That's quite the opposite. This is one of those books where the characters made it a book I wanted to finish.