Dark Flame Mini Review

Title: Dark Flame

Author: Alyson Noel

Pages: 336
 Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: June 22, 2010

My Edition: Hardback

Reading Level: Young Adult

Borrowed from: the Library

Summary from Goodreads: 
At the start of this mesmerizing new installment of the Immortals series, Ever is helping her friend Haven transition into life as an immortal. But with Haven drunk on her new powers and carelessly putting them all at risk, their friendship becomes more and more strained. At the same time, Ever delves deeper into magick in order to get control over her enemy Roman and free Damen from his power. But when the spell she casts on Roman backfires, she’s bound to her deadliest enemy. Frantic to reverse the spell the moment the moon enters a new phase, she finds her efforts are fruitless—there’s a strange, foreign pulse coursing through her, one that propels her toward Roman. Desperate to break free of this terrible curse before Damen or the twins can discover what she’s done, she turns to Jude and delves deeper and deeper into dark magick, ultimately risking everything she knows and loves—including Damen.

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year,...more  
Review: 

Dark Flame was another great edition to the Immortals Series with a lot more drama and even a major quad love triangle between Ever and her men: Damen, Jude, and Roman. The plot flowed pretty slowly for the most part, but Ever was very dramatic and her trouble & drama were there every step of the way which made the story much more interesting. Between Haven becoming an Immortal & her infatuation with her new powers and Roman and also Ever's many struggles to gain the cure from Roman and to stop her dark side, there was never a dull moment.

The end was super surprising and definitely not at all what I expected. I have become a little bored with the series, but I will continue to read them because I just love Ever and Damen and wish they could finally have their happyily ever after. I hope the last two are better than the last three and as good as the first, so I'm excited to read Night Star when it comes out this November 16th, 2010!

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday (43): Night Star

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly awaiting. This week I can't wait for Night Star by Alyson Noel which is the fifth book of the Immortal Series. I just got the fourth book Dark Flame from the library, so I'm excited to start that. Plus, the cover is so pretty and fits in very well with the others in the series. Can't wait to read it when it comes out this November 23, 2010!

Night Star

By: Alyson Noel

Short Description from Goodreads:
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In this installment, Ever and Damen face down bitter rivals, jealous friends and their own worst fears—all in the hope of being together forever. Night Star is guaranteed to mesmerize fans and leave them breathlessly awaiting the sixth and final book!

Shadowland: Immortals Book 3 Review

Title: Shadowland: Immortals Book 3

Author: Alyson Noel

Publisher: 

St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: 

November 17, 2009

Pages: 368

My Edition: Hardback

Reading Level: Young Adult

Received From: 

Christmas present! 

Summary from Amazon:

Enter the realm of the Immortals—the #1 New York Times bestselling series that’s been acclaimed as breathtaking, mesmerizing, flawless and extraordinary. 

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever.  But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything.  Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland.   Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar.  Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past.  She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true.  But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…


Review:

Shadowland was a lot better than the second book in the series, but still wasn't as good as the first book, Evermore. It picked right back up where the last stopped which includes more more drama between Damen and Ever; if they share any DNA, it could send Damen to Shadowland forever. Since Ever doesn't have enough boy troubles between Damen and Roman, Jude comes into her life and seems like they have met before. Also, Ever has to face troubles when the Twins from Shadowland lose their magic and can't go back. 

There was a lot more magick and other paranormal things that made it more interesting to read. I really like how fast-paced the story was, and how quickly I read it. I've started to really like the characters and just love reading about them. So far I really enjoy reading the series and can't wait to read the next book, Dark Flame, which comes out this summer!

Rating:

The Unwritten Rule Contest Update and Friday Firsts (16)

**Update: My sister came home from college and helped me tweak a couple things, so they look different now but a lot better : ) The bookmarks are two-sided now, and I added another magnet winner also! To enter go to the original post here.**

New Pics of Bookmark Front and Back and Magnet:

 

  

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The first line can make or break a reader’s interest. Just how well did the author pull you in to the story with their first sentence? To participate in this weekly book meme is extremely easy.

• Grab the book you are currently reading and open to the first page.
• Write down the first sentence in the first paragraph.
• Create a blog post with this information. (Make sure to include the title and the author of the book you are using. Even an ISBN helps!)
• Did this first sentence help draw you into the story? Why or why not?

The book I'm currently reading is Shadowland: Book 3 of The Immortals by Alyson Noel. I'm about a third of the way through into it already, and it's really good so far. Here is the first teeny, tiny sentence:

"Everything is energy." (Damen says this)

The first sentence makes a lot of sense if you have read any of The Immortals books. It's a little short and probably not the best first sentence. I still like it though. I loved the first one but the second one was a tad disappointing. So far Shadowland has been really good, and I hope it keeps getting better.

What's your current book's first sentence?

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

 "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly awaiting. This week I can't wait for Radiance by Alyson Noel! I really like the Immortal series, so I can't to read the new spin-off series featuring Ever's little sister Riley. The cover is so pretty, and I just love the purple title!  Radiance will be released on August 31, 2010...which is just two months after the 4th Immortals book is being released.

Radiance: the Immortals Spin-Off Series

By: Alyson Noel (summary from the series's website)

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals comes a new middle-grade series featuring Ever’s younger sister, Riley.

Welcome to the Here and Now: Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she’s summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can’t quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he’s never met Riley. . . .

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

 "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly awaiting. This week I can't wait for Dark Flame by Alyson Noel! I really liked the first two books in the Immortal series, so I can't for the 4th one. I have Shadowland (book 3), but I haven't read it yet...but I can't wait too. Dark Flame will be released on June 7, 2010!

Dark Flame: Immortals book 4
By: Alyson Noel 
(summary from series's website)
In this eagerly awaited continuation of the bestselling "Immortals" series, Ever struggles to help her best friend Haven transition into life as an immortal—trying to keep her from doing anything that puts them at risk, while attempting to gain control over her enemy Roman, so she can finally obtain the antidote that will allow her and Damen to be together. But when the spell she casts backfires, resulting in a strange, foreign pulse that binds her to Roman instead, Ever turns to Jude and dark magick, desperately attempting to break free of the curse, and ultimately risking everything she knows and loves—including her beloved Damen.

Blue Moon: Immortals Book 2 Review

Title: Blue Moon (Immortals book 2)
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: July 7, 2009
Pages: 304
My Edition: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Where I got it: Library

Summary from Amazon:

Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him.  As Ever’s powers are increasing, Damen’s are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life. Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen’s past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...

Review: 
Blue Moon was a pretty great sequel to Evermore. I actually didn't like it as much as Evermore because it was a little slower paced and a little depressing. It reminded me a lot of New Moon by Stephenie Meyer because it was like when Edward left Bella, and the same kind of thing happened with Ever and Damen. Besides that, I really liked the story and was shocked several times throughout. This one is a lot more dramatic and sad for Ever which made me compassionate towards her and even mad at points to a new character that's introduced. 

Even though it was slower paced than the first book, I just couldn't stop reading. I needed to know what would happen to Damen, Ever, and their relationship. I really love Damen and Ever together because they seem like a very perfect couple! I'm very excited for the third book, Shadowland, coming out in less than two weeks. So far, I've really enjoyed the series and I hope they keep getting better and better!

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly awaiting. This week I can't wait for Shadowland by Alyson Noel which is the 3rd book in the Immortals series. I just finished Blue Moon, so I can't wait to read this! Also, expect my review for Blue Moon very soon...probably sometime tomorrow. Shadowland comes out very soon on November 17, 2009.

Shadowland 
By: Alyson Noel
Summary from Alyson's website:

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world's darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just as their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen...one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into a bleak afterlife in the Shadowland, an eternal abyss for lost souls. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source...Jude Knight.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She's always believed Damen to be her soul mate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them from the darkness inhabiting his soul, Ever's connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before...

Evermore: the Immortals book 1 Review

Title: Evermore (the Immortals book 1)
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: February 3, 2009
Pages: 320
My Edition: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Where I got it: Barnes and Noble for my birthday!

Summary from Amazon:

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's entire life story by touch. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen.

Damen Auguste is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head—wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can see straight into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. She has no idea just who he really is—or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

Review:

Wow, I really loved this book! The beginning is pretty sad, but it ends very nicely. The main character Ever is easy to relate to, and it's interesting how she can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know everything they have ever done. I also really like that you can't figure out what Damen is until the very end. I couldn't put this book down, and I really enjoyed reading it. This is Alyson Noel's first fantasy book, so I think she did pretty well writing Evermore. The books in the series seem to be coming out without much wait in between which is pretty nice. I can't wait to read the next book, Blue Moon!

Rating:

The Best and Worst of Covers (5)

Every Saturday, I will post one book cover I love and one I hate from books that I have read. I will post information on the edition of the book, the summary, and my thoughts of the cover. This week the cover that I love is Evermore which I'm about fifteen pages from finishing so expect the review very soon! Summaries from Amazon.

The Cover I Love: 
Title: Evermore
Author: Alyson Noel
Publisher: St. Mary's Griffin
Publication Date: February 3, 2009
Pages: 320
Edition: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult   

Summary:
This opening book in a new series, The Immortals, will thrill many teen fantasy-suspense readers, especially fans of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. Seventeen-year-old Ever survived the car crash that killed her parents, younger sister, and their dog. Now she lives with an aunt in Southern California, plagued not only by survivor guilt but also by a new ability to hear the thoughts of all around her. She tries to tune out all these distractions by keeping her hoodie up and her iPod cranked loud, until Damen, the cute new boy at school, convinces her to come out of her shell. Damen, however, is frighteningly clever—and has the strange ability to produce tulips from nowhere and disappear himself at critical moments. Noël (Saving Zoë, 2007) creates a cast of recognizably diverse teens in a realistic high-school setting, along with just the right tension to make Ever’s discovery of her own immortality—should she choose it—exciting and credible.

Thoughts of the Cover:

This cover is so pretty! I love the picture of the girl, she looks a lot like the girl I imagined Ever to look like. The blue tint is really pretty and the slighted raised up red tulips just puts it all together. Also, the glowing white title adds a nice touch. Evermore only came out in paperback, so  I can't compare the different covers. This cover is so good, I'm glad this is the only cover! I really liked the book so far, and I can't wait to see how it ends and read the next book in the series!


The Cover I Hate:
Title: The Midnight Charter
Author: David Whitley
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Pages: 336
Edition: Hardback
Reading Level: 11-14
 
Summary:
Welcome to Agora, a secret and closed-in city where anything can be bought and sold – goods, people, thoughts, ideas and even emotions are traded in the market. A place without money, where selling is the only way of life and debt is death. The successful merchants rule, plague festers in the pitiless slums and children are possessions until their twelfth birthday.

In the ancient tower of Count Stelli, the city's greatest astrologer, two children meet, both of whom have been sold as servants. One, Mark, an emotional, imaginative boy who was sold by his father to the Count’s grandson in return for medical treatment. The other, Lily, a reserved and thoughtful orphan girl, now owned by the count. At first, threatened with being thrown out to die on the disease-ridden streets if they displease their masters, their only goal is to work and survive. But gradually, as they begin to understand that they can shape their own destiny, they each find their path – Mark within the system, trying to learn the secret of the powerful Libran Society and gain the security it brings; and Lily, rebellious, dangerous and determined to change the city forever.

How will they survive? Can their plans succeed? And why is the shadowy ruler of Agora, the all-powerful Director of Receipts, watching them from afar…? 

Thoughts of the Cover:
I really don't like this cover! The cover is really creepy looking, but the background is kind of cool. The book was pretty good but this cover is not the best. I received the ARC for review from Henry Holt, so I don't have this cover. If I would've seen this in a book store, I probably won't have even thought of reading it. The main reason I don't like this cover is the guy who takes up practically the entire cover, I really don't understand who he is even supposed to be in the book. Even thought the cover is ugly, I would recommend reading the book because it is pretty good. The sequel is coming out next summer, so I'm looking forward to that.

What are your thoughts on these two covers?