Violence 101 by Denis Wright

Rating:
Characters: 15/20
Plot: 16/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 14/20
Recommendation: 15/20
Overall: 77/100 or C
Source: Publisher

My name is Hamish Graham and this is the journal I have to write. Doesn't worry me because I'm a good writer and I'd rather write than talk any day, although I like talking to Terry. The people who run this place don't know what to make of me. Just like the last place I was in . . .
. . . I think we should have these special schools for bad kids in hard core places like Waiouru and Central Otago where you do school subjects from 8am to 1pm and then in the afternoon you do things like compulsory mountain climbing and river crossings wearing huge packs. The kids who refuse to do it would get fed bread and water until they changed their minds. I would divide them into various teams and have mock wars. Military history would be a compulsory subject. I would also make the study of violence compulsory.
Hamish Graham is intelligent, disciplined, resourceful and fearless, and scorns all weakness. His heroes include Charles Upham, Alexander the Great and Te Rauparaha - all men of action. But he is also a fourteen-year-old with an anger problem and a disturbing past, and these have landed him in a series of boys' homes for violent and troubled young offenders.
The gripping series of events following his arrival at New Horizons culminates in a desperate rescue mission on a mountain that has already claimed the lives of two young soldiers.
This book was interesting, but where your stomach hurts from thinking about it and your mind is confused on if this is really happening. I don't understand how someone can be so violent and angry, while at the same time be really intelligent and logical. I don't believe that people are necessarily evil, but Hamish wasn't a good person most of the time. Most of his decision made me furious, but his analyzing of it, makes it strangely entertaining. Hamish is unable to relate to, which didn't make this book work well. I think that a lot of the other boys in the home would have been interesting.

The plot didn't engage me and it did at the same time, but it was like watching a psychological thriller that it sucked me in. This book was unlike anything that I have ever read before, but I don't think that this book should have been in the young adult section. A lot of it was focused on adults, trying to figure out what to Hamish, which while intriguing, was more educational then entertaining. Wright's writing was splendid, but it just didn't help the story. I would recommend this to people that are looking for an educational book and not necessarily entertaining.

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Rating:
Characters: 13/20
Plot: 15/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 16/20
Recommendation: 15/20
Overall: 78/100 or C
Source: Publisher
Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.

I was really excited for Halo, when I heard the premise. Sadly it didn't live up to my expectation. My main problem was the characters and the over drawn out plot. Bethany didn't seem to have any personality, after she see Xavier that is all that she talks about. She also doesn't seem to really having an interests. Her bother and sister, Gabriel and Ivy are very dry and didn't really bring anything to the story. Xavier on the other hand, has had a hard last few years, but it didn't really seem to effect him as it should have. He also tried to protect Bethany by her siblings instruction, who is the supernatural being. That is just ridiculous.. Seriously, you have to have a guy to protect, even if you are an angel. That was just way over the top for me. Her friend Molly was also boring and brought little to the story. I also didn't understand exactly why Bethany and her were friends. The only character that actually in liked in this book was the bad guy. He had a personality and actually believed that Bethany could protect herself, unlike everyone else in the book.

The plot was also extremely slow and also very predictable. The details were over the top and I felt that it could have been edited down. The plot doesn't start till past page 300. Before that it is just about romance and school, which I didn't find entertaining. Can I also say that this book was very cheesy? I found myself laughing at what were suppose to be serious or intimate moments. I did find parts of the plots intriguing, but there wasn't nearly enough. The concept was very original, but the execution left a lot to be desired. It seemed like almost every other paranormal book that I have read. Adornetto has a basis for becoming a great writer. She has a keen eye for detail and can make a stunning scene. My biggest problem was that it wasn't edited down enough. I would recommend this book to fans of Twilight, because it has a lot of similarities. I am sort of excited for the sequel Hades, because I can see a glimpse of what could be a decent book

Torment by Lauren Kate

Rating:
Characters: 16/20
Plot: 16/20
Originality: 15/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 15/20
Overall: 79/100 or C
Source: Won
How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean - and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future...and that Daniel hasn't told her everything. What if his version of the past isn't actually the way things happened...what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?
I was not a fan of Fallen at all. I believe that Torment was a lot better. Luce is still the same idiot that she was in the last book. Whenever someone tells her not to do something, she does that. It was so annoying. I also don't feel connected to Luce, like I do with most characters in books that I love. I didn't like that there was another love triangle in this book and it was with a different character. I did like Luce's new friends Shelby and Miles. They seemed to be genuine and sweet. I enjoyed the plot in Torment a lot more then Fallen. A few questions were answered, while other parts were unraveled. It had moments of originality, but a few parts seemed so much like other books. I found that to be annoying. Kate's writing has improved a lot, since Fallen. Torment seemed to be more intense and exciting. I am sure that this book, will be enjoyed by fans of Fallen.

The Best and Hardest Thing by Pat Brisson

Rating:
Characters: 14/20
Plot: 16/20
Originality: 15/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 16/20
Overall: 76/100 or C
Source: Publisher
Molly is the stereotypical good girl. She has even been called staintly by some school mates. After her best friend moves away, she decides to rebel againist who she is known as and date bad boy Grady Dillon. She ends up to be pregnant and Grady doesn't want anything to do with her. Molly has to make the largest choice of her life.
Molly was what really killed me in this book. She seemed to be so stupid for someone that was considered to be smart. I mean she was obsessed with Grady, yet he would be checking out other girls, when she was with him. The plot was a little slow, but I really like the plot and how it was written in mostly free verse. It wasn't that original and lacked some details. I still found it to be a quick and interesting read.

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Rating:
Characters: 14/20
Plot: 16/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 15/20
Overall: 79/100 or C
Source: Publisher

Cassie sees a mark on someone on the day that she dies. She does understand how and when it will happen, but it will sometime that the day. Cassie begins to explore the gift that she has. She starts seeking those that have the mark and bounces between decision and destiny. She is careful to hide this secret from everyone, because she does not know how the mark works and why only she can see it. Most importantly, she wonders, if you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

I sadly couldn't connect to Cassie and found a lot that she did to a bit silly. I also found Cassie's relationship with Lucas to be odd. It was sweet at the beginning, but quickly became a dysfunctional relationship. Lucas also turned out to be a complete jerk at the end and I miss the sweet and cute one at the beginning. I also found the plot to drag on and be rather redundant. It was also a lot more of a philosophical book then I expected. I mean where was all the action? It was rather original for a paranormal book and the writer is gifted. I just wish that the book was crafted with a more action pack plot and more relatable characters.

Jonas by Eden Maguire

Characters: 15/20
Plot: 16/20
Originality: 16/20
Writing: 10/20
Recommendation: 16/20
Overall: 73/100 or C
Source: Publisher

Something strange is happening in Ellerton High. Phoenix is the fourth teenager to die within a year. His street fight stabbing follows the deaths of Jonas, Summer andArizona in equally strange and sudden circumstances. Rumours of ghosts and strange happenings rip through the small community as it comes to terms with shock and loss. Darina, Phoenix's grief-stricken girlfriend, is on the verge. She can't escape her intense heartache, or the impossible apparitions of those that are meant to be dead. And all the while the sound of beating wings echo inside her head! And then one day Phoenix appears to Darina. Ecstatic to be reunited, he tells her about the Beautiful Dead. Souls in limbo, they have been chosen to return to the world to set right a wrong linked to their deaths and bring about justice. Beautiful, superhuman and powerful, they are marked by a 'death mark' -- a small tattoo of angel's wings.Phoenix tells her that the sound of invisible wings beating are the millions of souls in limbo, desperate to return to earth. Darina's mission is clear: she must help Jonas, Summer, Arizona, and impossibly, her beloved Phoenix, right the wrong linked to their deaths to set them free from limbo so that they can finally rest in peace. Will love conquer death? And if it does, can Darina set it free?

I didn't feel that I could connect to really any of the characters. I could connect to Darina's grief, but it seemed that her relationship with Phoenix was forced. Most of the time, she seemed like such a strong character, but she was so co-dependent with Phoenix. The other characters needed further development. I tried to like the plot, but the fact that the characters were vague and there weren't many other descriptions. The originality in this book could have been made better. It has so many great ideas like the idea of helping save souls of those murdered unjustly and the force field of angel wings that beat you back physically. I think that Maguire could have written a strong book with expanding the character and making the personalities and appearance more decided.

You can see more reviews at the blogs below:
http://www.princess2293.blogspot.com/. 22-Feb
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com 23-Feb
http://ultimatebookhound.blogspot.com/ 23-Feb
http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/ 23-Feb
http://fayeflamereviews.blogspot.com/ 24-Feb
http://youngadultbookbloggers.blogspot.com/ 24-Feb
http://debbiesworldofbooks.com 25-Feb
http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com/ 25-Feb
http://www.howlinggooddbooks.com 26-Feb
http://www.galleysmith.com/ 27-Feb
http://www.jennsbookshelves.com/ 1-Mar
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/ 2-Mar
http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/ 2-Mar
http://abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com/ 3-Mar
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/ 3-Mar
http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/ 4-Mar
http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/ 4-Mar
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/ 5-Mar
http://thebookscout.blogspot.com/ 5-Mar
http://darkfaerietales.com/ 8-Mar
http://www.thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com/ 8-Mar
http://www.capriciousreader.com/ 9-Mar
http://bookworm0440.blogspot.com/ 10-Mar
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/ 11-Mar
http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/ 11-Mar
http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/ 12-Mar
http://chickloveslit.blogspot.com/ 12-Mar
http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/ 15-Mar
http://alwaysriddikulus.blogspot.com/ 16-Mar
http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/ 17-Mar
http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/ 18-Mar
http://www.devourerofbooks.com/ 18-Mar
http://examiner.com (Portland) 19-Mar
http://edward-cullen.net/ 20-Mar
http://everexpandinglibrary.blogspot.com 22-Mar
http://suchalush.blogspot.com/ 23-Mar
http://loricalabrese.blogspot.com/ 26-Mar
http://pagese.wordpress.com/ 26-Mar

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Rating:
Characters: 14/20
Plot: 15/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 16/20
Overall: 79/100 or C
Cameron Smith is verily making it through high school. His sister overshadows him with his want for perfection. Then he contracts the human form of mad cow disease, which is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. He becomes that center of attention for his family. While in the hospital, Cameron is persuaded by an angel to search for a cure that will save the world or maybe he is having a vivid hallucination that is from the disease. He goes on a road trip with Gonzo, who is a neurotic dwarf or Balder, a Norse god that is cursed to be a yard gnome. On the road trip to Disney World, they learn about things that they never though that they would know, such as true love and the string theory.
I found Cameron to be an interesting character. I liked how he grew over the book, as though he was on a epic quest. Dulcie was an awesome character and I loved her. She was such a fun character. Gonzo and Balder added the comedy and were fun and great characters. The plot was a bit slow, but it was fun. I got confused at the end and with that all of the hallucinations. It was also funny at times. Bray definitely created a original book that was one of a kind. Though I wasn't a huge fan of the book, Bray is a brilliant writer that created a fantastic story that was full of fantasy mixed with the contemporary world. I think you would like this book, if you like a book with an epic quest.

Girl in The Arena by Lise Haines

Rating:

Characters: 15/20

Plot: 13/20

Originality: 16/20

Writing: 14/20

Recommendation: 13/20

Overall: 76/100 or C

Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter. Her mother actually married seven of them, the first six having been killed in the ring. The rules require her mother to never marry again if her seventh husband dies in the ring. Her father has an upcoming fight and the whole house is on edge. Lyn gives stepfather Tommy her dowry bracelet for luck, and when his opponent Uber kills him, Uber takes the bracelet and wears it. According to the rules, Lyn must then marry him...

When I heard about a book called Girl in the Arena. I expected the Girl to actually be a gladiator. I was disappointed to find out this wasn't the case. Lyn was not relatable to me. She was constantly complaining and informing you that she is a pacifist. Uber on the other hand, was developed and actually a bit interesting. The plot was rather boring. There were only two fights in the very beginning and the very end. I felt that their should have been more. The plot also resolves too quickly and it felt like the ending was rushed. It had bits of originality, but I felt that this it wasn't developed well. The writing was okay, but it was rather confusing how the chapters were formed and dialogue was put together. I honestly don't recommend this book, if you want to read it, I would suggest going to the library before buying Girl in The Arena.