Misfit by Jon Skovron

Title: Misfit
Author: Jon Skovron
Pages: 384
Published: August 1, 2011
Publisher: Amulet Books
Goodreads Summary:

"Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn’t exactly help. 
But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much.
Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school."

Review:

         I have to admit, this story was pretty epic! I didn't really know what to expect of this book, since I've only heard so-so reviews. I also have to admit that my thoughts are quite similar to others who have read Misfit.

          While Misfit had intense and suspenseful scenes throughout the book, it also contained (in my opinion) useless information about Jael Thompson's father's past. Luckily it kept my interest because the boring religion scenes weren't too long and tedious.

          Jael Thompson was a character that got a little annoying for me in the beginning. She had anger-issues far too often with her father, and it irked me a tad bit. Her father, Paul, didn't really even do anything wrong, and Jael got hot under the collar. But it subsides towards the middle of the book.

         The whole concept of demons and half-breeds completely captivated me. I loved Astarte's (Jael's demon mother) and Paul's past together, and you can't forget Dagon! (Astarte's brother, Jael's uncle) Dagon was such a loving character, and I adored him even with his fishy appearance! Rob, a boy at Jael's Catholic school was comradely and showed lots of affections towards Jael without being annoying like Britt did, Jael's best friend at her school.

          The conclusion of this book was utterly satisfying! When Jael defeats Belial (the evil demon) and saves Britt, it all ends with a happily ever after. But there are unsolved questions that leave the question wondering: What about all of the other demons out there? Will they go after Jael? 

         With these questions still lingering in my mind, I'd love to know if Jon Skovron left us with a next installment! Because I'd gladly pick it up!

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Waiting on Wednesday (1)

Hi everyone! This is my first Waiting On Wednesday, which is hosted by Jill at BreakingtheSpine! It's basically a Wednesday meme that "spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating". This weeks WoW is:

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs (September 6, 2011)


"Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight." -Goodreads Summary

Why this is my WoW:

Ummm.. in case you haven't realized.. it has freaking Greek mythology involved. AND TRIPLETS. :) I haven't read anything from Tera Lynn Childs before (yes, sadddd ), but I am so excited for this one! It sounds amazing!

What are you "waiting on"?

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The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Gathering
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Pages: 359
Published: April 12th, 2011
Publisher: Harper (Harpercollins)
Goodreads Summary:

"Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island. 
Until now.
Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.
In The Gathering, New York Times best-selling author Kelley Armstrong brings all the supernatural thrills from her wildly successful Darkest Powers series to Darkness Rising, her scorching hot new trilogy. "

Review:

          I never read any of Kelley Armstrong's previous books, but I knew I had to check this one out, what with all the good things I've heard about it! And I am so happy I did! I devoured this book right up (no pun intended). Cougars, a naughty boy, and an isolated town! A must!

         Until now, I never read any books with cougars in it (not that I can think of). And I totally loved the cougars in the book! It's kind of like werewolves but with cats.. but anyway. Maya is a very lovable character, and is easily relatable. Her best guy-friend, Daniel, is so protective and so friendly, I absolutely loved him! I wouldn't say he was like a brother to Maya, because there were definitely some little intimate moments they have together. And Rafe... the mysterious new (ish) bad boy in town. The boy that goes out with every girl, just to turn them down. He goes after Maya, and she eventually falls for him. I didn't so much like Rafe as I did Daniel. Sorry Rafe!

          The plot and setting was right on! The fact that they were in an isolated town with forestry surrounding them, made it all the more mysterious. The plot was well thought and well written. Everything flowed together nicely, with not too many suspenseful scenes, and the should-be boring scenes were hinted with a bit of spark so it  keeps your attention!

         All in all, I really enjoyed The Gathering, and Kelley Armstrong's writing. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment in the series!

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Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Title: Beauty Queens
Author: Libba Bray
Pages: 390
Published: May 24th 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Goodreads Summary: 

"The fifty contestants in the Miss Teen Dream pageant thought this was going to be a fun trip to the beach, where they could parade in their state-appropriate costumes and compete in front of the cameras. But sadly, their airplane had another idea crashing on a desert island and leaving the survivors stranded with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner. 
What's a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program--or wrestle snakes to the ground? Get a perfect tan--or learn to run wild? And what should happen when the sexy pirates show up?
Welcome to the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Your tour guide? None other than Libba Bray, the hilarious, sensational, Printz Award-winning author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Going Bovine. The result is a novel that will make you laugh, make you think, and make you never see beauty the same way again."

Review:

          When I first read the synopsis of Beauty Queens, I was immediately intrigued by the fact that this is a glitter-fied version of Hatchet or Lord of the Flies. Hello? Who wouldn't want to read a totally girly version of that? And I am so glad I did! This book was not disappointing at all, and with Libba Bray's humor, this book cannot go wrong.

          We are introduced to the 50 Miss Teen Dream Pageant girls, and the plane crashes in the very beginning of the book. Only about 15 or so girls survive, along with Miss Teen Dream of Texas, Taylor. I loved how Libba Bray allowed each character to have their little spotlight moment in the book. Every couple pages or so, there is a "Miss Teen Dream Fun Facts Page" which I loved, giving you more insight on each character. 

          The setting of the book was also riveting and intriguing. Of course, since it takes place on an island, there is bound to be a jungle. Libba Bray adds in a boa constrictor here and there, and the way the characters use makeup and beauty tools as weapons just makes the book ten times better.

          I have to say the ending of the book really put the cherry on top. It was wild and satisfying, making the reader wanting more of the 10 beauty pageants. Overall, I am very happy with Libba Bray's work and am definitely looking forward to more.

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In My Mailbox (1)

Hello fellow readers! It's time for IMM, since it's sort of-ish Sunday! Yay! In My Mailbox is hosted by the wonderful Kristi at TheStorySiren, if you don't know who she is, you've been living under a rock.. but this is what I got this week! What did you get?

From the Library:

•  The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch
• Awaken by Katie Dacvinsky
• Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
• The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker

• Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
• The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
• Hereafter by Tara Hudson
• A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan 

• Misfit by Jon Skovron
• Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt
• Wildefire by Karsten Knight
• Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

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If I Had A Magic Lamp (1)

If I Had A Magic Lamp (IML) is hosted by Haley at Ya-Aholic, go check her out, she's fun and awesome! I'm going to choose 3 books every week that I wish I had! (Every Saturday) If I had a magic lamp, I would want...

 A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

 Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

 The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

 Those are the 3 books I want dearly if I had a magic lamp! What do you wish for?

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Greetings, readers!

        Hello! On this blog, you'll find some very bookish type things! Such as reviews, and weekly memes! I'm thinking about doing Waiting On Wednesday, hosted by Jill, and Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and The Bookish! I will also be doing In My Mailbox, which is hosted by my book blogger idol, TheStorySiren! Yay!

       If any of you guys were wondering, I am not allowed to buy books. Because my parents think the library is perfectly fine. So yes, it sucks having to read a book in a limited amount of time. So yeah! That's my little intro for you. School hasn't started for me yet, but it will in about 2 weeks! Eeep! Well, if you haven't already done so, please follow my blog! I will love you forever. 

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