Beautiful Creatures

Shayna:
Hey guys i know it has been a while but hannah has been on vacation, again lol and i have been sick a lot and when im not sick i've been at the barn i ride at on foal watch. and nope, no baby yet but she has been in labor for like 72 hours so i should be anytime yet :) everyone at the barn is really excited including me. we have 2 mares in foal that are due like 2-3 weeks apart. so after Luna gives birth, Summer should not be too far behind!
Sorry for the ramble but all this time has left me to do a lot of reading!

Title: Beautiful Creatures
Author: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Stars: 5
Review:
Okay so I recently got this book after watching a ton of reviews on youtube because everyone LOVED it. and i have to agree with them. This book is awesome, spectacular, exciting, sad, happy, everything! i cannot say enough great things about this book.

It is narrated by Ethan Wate. and i liked this a lot. it is rare (in the books i have read atlesat) a guy narrates a book and i love that. His love interest is Lena Duchannes and she has a big secret. i wont say what it is because i dont want to spoil ANYTHING! The characters are awesome in this book. they are very round and dynamic characters and you can really feel what they feel through the writing.

The Authors are superb! the way they write makes every emotion jump of the page. Even though this is a very lengthy book it doesnt ever get really slow. there are some parts that i thought may have been a little unneccesary but i wasnt really bothered by it.

But this book is roughly, without giving away spoilers, Ethan who has lived in Gatlin for his entire life and wants nothing else but to leave and then he starts having these dreams about a girl he has never met before. And then there is a new girl in town that lives in Ravenwood manor with her stay in Uncle, the town lunatic.But Lena has a huge secret that will change her life and ethans forever...

but definately, definately, definately get this book! It is outstanding! and i cannot wait for Beatiful Darkness to come out! the only thing that bums me out about the Caster Chronicles is that we have to wait so long for the books, im much too impatient for such a good series! We have to wait Until October for Beautiful Darkness, then Fall 2011 for the third then Fall 2012 for the fourth. Oh well im sure they will be worth it



Happy Reading!

The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger

Shayna:
So i literally JUST finished The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger like 10 minutes ago. And i had really high expectations for this book. the idea is so so so cool and original and unique. A girl starts seeing things, recieving mysterious gold envelopes with strange messages and Tarot cards. and the whole premise is from one of the cards "You are moe than you think you are". Beth Michael's is kind of a weird character i think but it relates to the story so it works. and everything does happen for a reason in this book which i like. but like i said i had really high hopes for this book and the first half was cool but then it got really weird. And i feel like the second half should have been longer. Events happen that are important and they just happen so fast and that was a little annoying. And I dont know if it is because i kind of lost interest in the book or that it just wasnt explained well is that i dont know what the seven rays are. in a way you find out but not to the extent i would have liked. And the end was kind of opened ended so i went on the website to see if there will be a sequel and there will be but i dont know when it will be out and I don't know if i will read it. I do like the love interest in this book though, Richie, kind of cliche though i think. I'd give it a 3 star.
On a funny note on the seven rays website there is a review from Randy Jackson? weird right? well there it is...
"The Seven Rays is an unforgettable book, a fascinating joyride for any reader. And so funny! THE SEVEN RAYS is the bomb!”
– Randy Jackson, American Idol Judge and creator of America’s Best Dance Crew
It was a little funny but not to the point where i really laughed out loud.

Exit Here by Jason Myers- Once your at the party, it's hard to leave...

"Retire now to your tents and to your dreams. Tomorrow we enter the town of my birth. i want to be ready."

~Jim Morrison

"This is the root of our nature, we hate ourselves and don't know why... This is the root of our nature, we numb ourselves until we die."

~400 Blows, "The root of our nature"

Exit Here is a novel about a boy named Travis who lives by sex, drugs and rock n' roll.  This book tells his story after he has dropped out of school after something happened on his trip to Hawaii. But now he is home and hasn't been the same since he got home.  There are a lot of characters in this book and some of the guys are kind of hard to tell apart but i think that might be the idea. Travis's ex, Laura, happens to always be around even if it isn't for the best.  It is no secret that Travis likes cocaine and his friends enjoy it too. Travis and his friends are deep into drugs, some deeper than others, but Travis tries to grow and change while his friends don't want to leave the party. You think that Travis is messed up, wait till you find out about his sister...
This book is really really good. But it is really graphic. There are a lot sex scences, so it isn't for young readers at all. I read Go Ask Alice in 8th grade so atleast like 15 or 16 to read this book probably. But then again i told Hannah she can't read it and she is going to be 16 soon so it all depends how exposed you are to this lifestyle. But older readers, for sure pick up this book. It is a really fast read but it is heavy. I mean crazy crazy things happen to this guy, things I oculd never imagine but they happened to him and they aren't unrealistic.
So to sum it up, really good read. Graphic language and details, lots of drugs and sex, but a really good message and great growth by Travis.
i would leave you with a quote but there isn't one that won't A)give anything away or B) the language is okay enough for everyone to read it so...
Happy reading!

Vampire Diaries:The Awakening and The Struggle

Shayna:
Okay so i know i was reading Going Bovine by Libba Bray and it is good but I don't know why I just can't push through it and finish it. So i went to Borders and picked up 2 new books, the first installment of the Vampire Diaries and The Seven Rays. I am starting The Seven Rays after I do this post and I am really excited for it!
Okay so if you watch the CW show Vampire Diaries, from what i have read in the series it is much much different from the books. Yes Elena, Stefan and Damon are your main characters but they are different from the show. To start with, Elena Gilbert is a blond in the book and is most definately a brunette in the show... not a major difference but if you buy these books separtately now instaid of a volume on the cover are the TV show characters and TV show Elena and book Elena don't really look anything alike. Not a biggy, but whatever. Damon is the stronger and older brother, very deciteful and menicing. Stefan is the hopeless romantic and is dating Elena. Once you get started with the book you realize there is on big thing that they do in the book that isn't on TV but i won't tell you to spoil it.
But plot wise...
The Awakening is basically setting up for the rest of the series. You really see that Elena is head over heels for Stefan but doesn't understand why there is a distance between them(we all obviously know why). Stefan is tortured by his past love Kathrine (her story line is MUCH MUCH different from the show and in my opinion much better). you won't really officially meet Damon until The Struggle.
In the second installment it really starts with guns blazing from the end of the first, which i liked a lot! I dont want to say too much because i don't want to spoil it. But there is a lot of Elena and Damon tension. And in my opinion even thou Damon is very dark and has killed and is VERY dangerous. I almost like him more than Stefan. Stefan is just so... boring sometime. He will say very sweet things like when they talk about the vampire mirror myth, but he doesn't really do much. But I guess loving Elena should be enough but he is so tortured from his past... eh I don't knowmaybe I'm Biased becasue Ian Somerholder is Damon on TV and who doesn't love him... Oh Boone (LOST referrance).
Anyways...
i really really really enjoyed this book. i read it SUPER fast. i got it yesterday at like 5 then read it until like 2 in the morning then finished it this morning. So really fast, i couldn't put it down. L.J. Smith is a really good writer. she kept me hooked from the first sentence. She really has her characters evolve which is awesome. You can see where Stephanie Meyer may have gotten influences from this series because much like Edward, Stefan doesn't want to be with Elena because he is affraid she won't accept him and that he will hurt/kill her. But Vampire Diaries was released in 1991 way before Twilight was even a thought(strangely enought in the first installment they say Twilight a lot... weird)
So I high recommend this book I'm picking up the second volume with books 3 and 4 in it today because huge cliff hanger at the end of book 2!! And now understand why the TV show isn't like the book because of how the Struggle ended.
Next post I'll either give you something on the next Vampire Diaries or The Seven Rays.
So until next time...

Florida :/

Hey guys its Hannah,
I just wanted to say sorry for not being able to write with Shayna for a while :/ I've been busy with a horse show last week and prepping for a Florida trip this week so after next weekend I should be able to do some heavy duty blogging with my lovely co-blogger Shayna :) So until then here's a quote from the best vampire series ever:
"{...} you and I will both be Lissa's guardians someday. I need to protect her at all costs. If a pack of Strigoi come, I need to throw my body between them and her."
"I know that. Of course that's what you have to do." The black sparkles were dancing in front of my eyes again. I was fading out.
"No. If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you."
Oh my God that last part gives me chills all the time :) So until next time happy reading!!

Thrirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

*WARNING* PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT A GIRL THAT COMMITS SUICIDE. I DO NOT CONDONE SUICIDE AND YOU SHOULD NOT READ THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE IT**

Shayna:

So Hannah has read this book but she is packing for Florida and isn't with me but she will add stuff to this I'm sure.

This book is about a girl named Hannah that commits suicide and leaves behind cassette tapes for 13 people and the 13 reasons why she did what she did. The story is narrated by Clay Jenson and he is one of the reasons why.

This book is really really good. i absolutely loved it! It has a really good message in it even thou it is about suicide.

Suprisingly this is Jay Ashers' first book and his writing style is amazing. This is such a unique book it is just awesome. I'd love to say more but i don't want to give anything away because you really should read it if you are old enough and/or mature enough. Probably like 15 and up would be okay probably. The set up for this book is really cool too, with each chapter a side of the cassette and the story goes from there.

I cannot stress enough how much i recommend this book. It is a fast read, with pretty big font and is only 288 pages, so is fairly short. It is a great book to have on your shelf to pick up again later.

Until next time...

"at the end of class, Mrs. Bradley passed out a flyer called the Warning Signs of a suicidal Individual. Guess what was right up there in the top five?

'a sudden change in appearance.'

i tugged on the ends of my newly chopped hair.

huh. who knew i was so predictable?"

Hey it's Hannah,

Ok so I just want to say that Thirteen Reasons Why is one of my favorite books ever! Its soo soo sad and it shakes you to the core but that's ok because it is so good. I also recommend 13 Little Blue Envelopes my Maureen Johnson. It's not a sad story but its good and it kind of follows the pattern of one tape tells a story, except with envelopes (hence the title ahah). When I get back from Florida I will post a legit review on it so you guys can get a better understanding on what it's about. Until then, happy reading!!

p.s. This is the cover for 13 Little Blue Envelopes:

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Okay so Hannah has been busy with school and everything else that she hasn't read this one yet(along with the other pile of books that i let her borrow). So I will be doing this review solo.

*What if the person you were ment to be with could never be yours?*

This book follows the main character Luce Price as she is entering Sword & Cross reform school for reasons that you will learn later in the book. it doesnt take long for Luce to meet Daniel Grigori, a mysterious boy at Sword & Cross that flicks her off before even saying a word to her. but still she is strangly drawn to him and cant help but feel like they have met before and he wants nothing to do with her. there is also Cam another love interest for Luce but is much more willing than Daniel. And not to mention that Luce sees Shadows and she doesn't know why.
I really liked this book but it wasn't amazing. I loved it after i finished it but now looking back I see that the plot is fairly obvious(except the mystery on why she is at S&C). I wish the first chapter wasn't there that is set in 1854. because with this chapter I feel like that i gives a lot away that you could other wise try and figure out on your own, which i would have prefered. But if you like really really cute romantic moments and some guessing on what is really going on with Daniel and Cam. i recommend this book. It is a fast read with big font so it only took me like a day and a half.
And on a side note... if you have read the Evermore series(which i will be reviewing soon) Ever(pre-immortal) and Luce are very similiar...
I am really looking forward to the next installment Torment because i know that usually the first books are just set ups for the next ones and i have really high hopes for it. I just wish it wasn't coming out in September... too long to wait.
Until next time...
"Luce... Lucifer... Any realation?"

Vampire Academy: Spirit Bound & Last Sacrifice

Spirit Bound is coming out May 18 and if you have read the other 4 books you are probably as excited as we are to get our hand on this one!
but if you go to this web site http://richellemead.com/books/vampireacademy.htm then you can read the first chapter of the book and read what will be on the back cover. From what we have gathered from the first chapter Rose is giving Adrian the chance he rightfully deserves! YAY! after reading Blood Promise I(shayna) am team Adrian because Dimitri just isn't the same and Adrian really really loves Rose and can make her happy and will support her in anything she wants to do. and if you watch this video

you can get even more of Spirit Bound. leave us a comment and let us know what you think of what is released of Spirit Bound

and Lastly today Richelle Mead released what will be the title of the final Vampire Academy books...
LAST SACRIFICE
this title brings up questions in it's self. like what did she have to sacrifice in Spirit Bound to have this one be the last one? what about Abe back in her life? will she get to Viktor in prison?
the last installment comes out December 14.
Richelle has commented saying that although Rose's story will be finished in 6 books she will be doing a spin-off. It will follow some characters we already know i think i read on her blog that Sydney will be in it? maybe I'm wrong. Who do you think it will follow? Who do you think will survive in Rose's story?
and also she is going to release a short story on how Lissa's parents fell in love.
So VA lovers even if you are bummed that Rose's story will be done soon we have a lot more VA to look forward to following other characters.

Vampire Academy: Blood Promise

****Shouldnt have to say it at this point but once again the following post has spoilers from the first three books... read at your own risk*****




Shayna:
So how did you handle the end of Shadow Kiss?? I was very very upset! it was soo sad! But i was so happy that for the first time in Rose's life she picked her own heart over Lissa. But really, how did Lissa not realize until just now that Rose had been in love with Dimitri? A best friend should notice that right? i think so. Shadow Kiss is my second favorite from those realised in the series so far now that i just re-read it for this post.
In this installment Rose travels to Siberia in search for Dimitri to kill him and save him from what he never would have wanted to become. but that was the Dhampir Dimitri and this Strigoi Dimitri is somebody else interally. And when Rose could barely defeat the half human Dimitri during the field practice will she even be able to attempt to kill him as an undead, blood thirst strigoi? Will she even be able to push her love aside for who he used to be to kill him? Or will she choose eternal life and love with him and join him and the undead?
This book also introduces a new character Sydney an Alchemist(the book explains what she does) even thou Rose is in Russia for the majority of this book not to worry she will be checking up on Lissa and her strange new behavior back in the states.
Adrian visits her too.
And yes you will meet the Strigoi Dimitri... but he isnt the same Dimitri that rose fell in love with as much as she may want him to be... he is different. She may still be in love with himbut does he still love her or just want her to have a stronger army?
I do love Blood Promise thou and it is my favorite so far. Because you see Rose really grow up and you can see when she meets some people... how much she really does love Dimitri.
oh and did i mention she meets a very important somebody that answers questions about who she really is
until next time or until Hannah gets on here...
"looks like we'll go over the lesson again next time i see you- which will be soon"

Vampire Academy: Shadow Kiss

*****Once again be cautious on what you read in this post if you have not read the first two in the series... it's hard to talk about this book without giving away spoilers*****



So how did you respond to the quick and untimely death of one of Rose's love interests? Shocking right? thats what i thought! I thought the death was ultimately not necessary but i can see why Richelle Mead did it... She isn't afraid to kill of a character to benifit the story. And what about Adrian dream walking? pretty cool right? maybe that will be useful down the line...
But moving on to the next installment...
in this book Rose still has her heart set on Dimitri but can't help but be drawn to someone else too. And the Darkness that being shadow kissed brings to Rose from Lissa is getting stronger than ever and Rose is finding it difficult to separate herself from Lissa's mind even when things are getting hot and heavy between Lissa and Christian. But now that rose has taken the lives of two strigoi on her own for the most part (with a little help from Mia) the Strigoi are pissed and want Rose dead. With strigoi on the prowl outside the wards of St. Vlad's. Can Rose control the darkness that is begining to consum her just like Anna or will it take over her? Will Rose be able to save the one's she loves when the battle inevitablely begins? And who will come first at the end of this installment? the Moroi that Rose has been taught that they always come first or her herself and her heart?
~Shayna
(Hannah isn't here with me today so she will give her review some other time)
Until next time....
"Her eyes flicked over the cards, looked at dimitri, then looked back at the cards. her expression was blank. "you will lose what you value most, so treasure it while you can." she pointed to the Wheel of Fortune card. "the wheel is turning, always turning""

Vampire Academy: Frostbite- "Hey, Little Dhampir"

****DO NOT READ THIS POST IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS POST IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST BOOK... JUST THE SUMMARY WILL HAVE SPOILERS****




Well where the first book was basically introducing you to the characters and the plot and problems and what not this one gets much more indepth into their lives and relationships and unfortunately we see a death that just isn't fair.
And in this book Rose has her handsful with the guys in her life. Rose has her very own love web in this book. With Rose's confusing feelings for Dimitri, she turns to a possible relationship with Mason then to only meet our newest love interest and total game changer... Adrian Ivashkov.
This book takes place when St. Vlad's takes a trip into the mountains for a skiing trip. and this is right after a massive strigoi attack on a prominent moroi family. In this book, you will automatically choose either a) team Dimitri (ahhhh Dimitri, why aren't you real? books 1-3. 4 ehhh jk i will always love you, because I will never cut my hair. suck it edward and jacob) b) team Mason (lovely little man her age, relatable, best friend, and loves her unconditionally. he's sweet but no dimitri, but we like him anyway. theres a spark, but no fireworks)or c) team Adrian (alcohol drinking, cigarrette smoking, womanizer with a strange UNDYING real love for Rose, you could say it was lust at first sight, which morphed into love. he also has that cheesy love for Rose going on that you only see in people who think they are a gift from god. but he makes it work so we love him anyway. You have to choose so send us an email or leave us a comment about who YOU think Rose should end up with, no spoilers please! :) But don't get too attached, by the end of this book, one player will be out of the game.
Shayna: Speaking for myself here. Out of the 4 books out in this series this is definately on of my favorites because of the introduction of Adrian. All of these books are really fast reads. in this book you also see a different side of Rose that is different from the Rose in the first book. She actually becomes very vulnerable at the end. This and all the other VA books are HIGHLY HIGHLY recommended!
Until next post:
"He held my gaze and something warm and wonderful and powerful shot between us."

Vampire Academy- "Hey Comrade!"

We will now be reviewing...


This is the first book in the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead. It is the story about three kinds of vampires based of off the Romanian myths. First we have the Moroi, the vampires that feed off of blood but do not kill and are not undead (they can die) there are both the normal and Royal moroi. Next we have the Strigoi, the undead evil vampires that thrist for the blood of the Moroi and humans. Lastly but most certainly not least the Dhampir, these people are both human and vampire but more human then vampire(they dont drink blood but have vampire reflexes and strength). The Dhampirs are the gaurdians of the moroi... this may sound really confussing but its really not. Just think Strigoi=evil, moroi=good, dhampirs=butt kicking gaurdians of the good guys.
Now for the main Charactors:
Rose Hathaway is the narrator and is a Dhampir gaurdian in training at St. Vladamir's school. She is soo awesome. We love Rose. You mess with Rose you mess with us. She could kick Bella's butt to the moon because Rose isn't a broading, annoying teenager, she is strong, confident and independent girl who will have to protect her best friend from constant danger as her gaurdian.
Vasilisa "Lissa" Dragomir is Rose's best friend and is the last of the Moroi Royal Dragomir's. She is much weaker then Rose and needs Rose to survive. Both Rose and Lissa are about 17. They have been through everything together but will there future be whatthe they hope...
Then we have Dimitri Belikov... oh Dimitri... He is a 23 year very experienced Dhampir gaurdian from Russia. Oh and did we mention he is frecking GORGEOUS! and he wears a cowboy duster... read this book and you will understand the amazingness of him. He is also Rose's mentor. Did we mention we love him???
The story follows these three charactors and some other love interests and minor characters like Mia and Christian and Mason and many more.
With the constant threat of an attack from the Strigoi everyone is on their toes as our charactors have to balance not only the typical teenage social scene but the constant threat from within the walls of the "safe" (or is it?!?!?) St. Vladamir's Academy.
Now we'd love to say so much more about how this book ends and the budding relationships but we dont want to spoil anything for you... but if you want to talk about any of it we are more then happy to talk to you about it and so send us an e-mail or leave a comment but make sure to label it *SPOILER* Oh! and we will be ending each post with a quote from a different book each post!
"And then, suddenly, he was there, charging down the hallway like death in a cowboy duster". - Vampire Academy #1

Our very first blog!

Well HELLO WORLD!
This is our very first blog entry. Together Hannah and I(Shayna) are going to be giving you book reviews on books we read. We will give you our honest opinion and will make sure that spoilers will be noted so those who dont want to read them don't have to.
We will also try and do YouTube videos on some of the reviews. Kepp an eye out we will give you that link when we have that up and running.
But as you can see from the title of our blog we LOVE LOVE LOVE Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series. In our opinion it goes far beyond the Twilight Saga... Ahhh Dimitri <3 If you think about it really, Dimitri could kick Edward's undead butt anyday... obviously!
We read mostly Young Adult Fiction and although we love vampires as much as everyone else we do read other stuff too (even thou we read a lot about vampires)
Well that was our first post and now we will go do our FIRST real reviews...