Book Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Release Date: November 15th 2011
Source: Publisher for review (Thank you!)
Format: Paperback

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

My Thoughts:

SHATTER ME was simply brilliant! I’d heard fabulous things about this before I started reading it and yet, there was still a small part of me at the time that thought ‘what if I don’t like this; what if it’s another one of those books with beautiful covers, but with a pointless story’? Why did I think that before? Why on earth did I even hesitate before opening the cover ? As soon as I laid eyes on the first word, I was sucked into the novel itself; it left me no room to ponder anything other than what was written on the page. No, I was not in my room anymore; I was in the cell with Juliette.

Juliette has been locked up for 246 days, and hasn’t touched another human being in 6336 hours. (I love how numbers play such an important role in Juliette’s life!) The Reestablishment has taken control of the country, and the world is in ruins; death is common and resources are scarce. A promise to take care of the nation has turned into forceful dominion. Juliette is suddenly released and forced to join forces with the Reestablishment, who wants to use her lethal touch power as a secret weapon. But Juliette has plans of her own. And they do not include succumbing to Warner’s sexual desires or to use her gift to kill people.

All the characters were incredible! I had some kind of feeling towards all of them (whether it be love, hate, or pity!) and everyone possessed some sort of individual charm. Juliette was such an amazing protagonist; she was so compassionate, sympathising and goodeven when the entire world isolated her. She never felt like she belonged anywhere, and how she wished to be loved! It was like, she felt that if she was nice to everyone else, maybe one day, someone, anyone, would begin to accept her. Just reading about how lonely she was before she met Adam, was heart-breaking. And Adam. Oh, how caring, and loving he was! When the whole world, even her own parents believed she was a monster, he was the only one who stood by her, protected her and treated her like a human being.

The secondary characters were fantastic as well! Kenji * swoon*<3 I think I’ve just found the perfect literary boyfriend for myself! He’s witty, sarcastic and always there to lighten the mood. And yes, he has a spectacular face. So while everyone’s drooling over Adam, I think I’ll just casually claim Kenji as MINE. As for Warner, well…I certainly pitied him. In a way, he was similar to Juliette (I can’t believe I just said that!); wanting to be accepted and loved. I’m definitely looking forward to how his character will develop even further through the next few books.

You know my favourite part? TaherehMafi’s writing. It was so original, so creative and hynoptising. The crossed-out words, the fluency; as they words roll off your tongue, it felt like the characters have come to life and the situations felt so real.You have to read it yourself to understand what I’m getting at, but basically, her writing was just genius!

I feel like I can go on forever, gushing tirelessly about how amazing this book was, but before I get too carried away, I think I’ll end my review here. With phenomenal characters, an exciting plot, unique writing style, you won’t ever feel the need to stop reading. Definitely one of my favourite books this year! 

Quotes:

“All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.” 

Waiting On Wednesday #11

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine , that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Elemental

Author: Emily White 

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Expected Release Date: May 1st, 2012

Just because Ella can burn someone to the ground with her mind doesn't mean she should.

But she wants to.

For ten years—ever since she was a small child—Ella has been held prisoner. Now that she has escaped, she needs answers.

Who is she? Why was she taken? And who is the boy with the beautiful green eyes who haunts her memories?

Is Ella the prophesied Destructor… or will she be the one who's destroyed?

The plot reminds me of Shatter Me; except here, Ella can burn someone with her MIND while Juliette can kill someone with her TOUCH. Anyways, I can't wait to read this book! I also have matching bookmarks - Emily so kindly sent me some swag a while ago :) 

What are you waiting on this week? Leave links!

Book Review: Fateful by Claudia Gray

Title: Fateful
Author: Claudia Gray
Publisher: HarperCollins Aus. 
Release Date: September 13th 2011
Source: Bought/Won
Format: Paperback

The RMS Titanic might be the most luxurious ship in the world, but all passenger Tess Davies wants to do is escape her dreary existence as a maid.
Trapped in a web of painful memories and twisted family secrets, Tess vows to make a run for it as soon as the ship reaches New York. A new world awaits... and a new life!
Her single-minded obsession shatters when she meets Alec. Handsome and mysterious, he captivates her immediately - but Alec has secrets of his own. As she uncovers the darkness lurking beneath his sophisticated surface, Tess discovers a horrifying truth. Werewolves, once only the stuff of nightmares, are real - and they are stalking Alec. Tess's love for Alec puts her in mortal peril, but an even greater danger lies in front of her before their journey on the Titanic is over...

My Thoughts:

I wrote this (or at least part of it) at midnight on the plane to Sydney, after devouring the entire book whilst everyone else was sleeping around me. I couldn’t sleep, I was restless, and all I could think about was Fateful. Fateful had consumed my mind, my thoughts and the story replayed intermittently like a movie inside my head. I’ve always been fascinated by the Titanic, although I have to admit this fascination only started after I watched the movie, and it was what initially drew me to Fateful.

I don’t know about you, but whilst reading Fateful, I could not help but compare it to the marvellous award-winning 1997 movie Titanic, which I might add is without a doubt my favourite movie. With every page, I was constantly thinking of a similar scene from. I mean, they weren’t all that different: star-crossed lovers who, under normal circumstances would never have set eyes on each other, somehow fatefully meet and fall in love, only to be met with a doomed fate. But comparing Fateful to Titanic was not all that bad; since I loved Titanic, it also meant I was in love with Fateful.

The romance.Alex. Tessa.The delicious, yet heart-breaking romance. It was the sort of romance that was so real , so heart-warming yet heart-breaking and I loved it. There was also a part of me thinking about how falling in love within a mere week just seemed...too fast. But then I had to remind myself, we’re talking about true love and the Titanic. Under normal circumstances I would probably roll my eyes and the scream in annoyance, but there was a certain realness about their romance that captured my heart and won my full support. Alex and Tess were consistently fighting on the verge of life and death for each other, and as a bonus, this took place on the Titanic. (Yes, I’m contradicting myself, but that’s just how my brain works!)

Oh, how can I forget? Werewolves.The whole concept of werewolves and the Brotherhood intent on recruiting- or should I say stalking Alex was all extremely interesting. I’ve never been much of a werewolf girl (blame the vampires for stealing all my attention!), but I thought the Brotherhood was described and explained reasonably well in one novel alone.

This may not appeal to everyone, but definitely try it if you are, like me, extremely interested in the Titanic. I’m actually still debating whether I would have preferred an alternative ending since the twist at the end was so unpredictable, but it felt both good and bad. 

Overall, this was a beautifully crafted historical romance, with a paranormal twist. If you like a novel that can evoke a strong emotional response from the reader, then this is perfect for you! Highly recommeded to everyone!

[Double] Cover Reveal - Rapture & Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate!

Fallen In Love 

by Lauren Kate

Rapture (Fallen #4)

by Lauren Kate

Eeeeeekk! I think I just died! The covers are sooooo pretty <3 I had no idea there would be a spin-off called Fallen In Love; it's apparently a collection of four interwined love stories featuring the Fallen characters - Luce & Daniel, Roland, Arriane (I hope Roland & Arriane end up together! Love those two!), Miles, Shelby, (I'm not particularly fond of Miles & Shelby, but I guess it won't hurt to read their respective loves stories..) I'm not a HUGE fan of this series, but I like it enough to finish the entire series! Thus, I'm looking forward to the release of Rapture on 13th June, 2012.

I'm in love with ALL the covers <3 Such a gorgeous collection!

What do you think of the covers? Looking forward to Fallen in Love & Rapture?

In My Mailbox #12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, which allows bloggers to share what books they've borrowed, received in the mail or bought in the past week.

From Publishers: (Thank you Pan Macmillan!)

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Mythology? Paranormal Romance? I've been lusting after thus since FOREVER. I was so excited when I saw this on my doorstep! Can't wait to dive into this :)

Ashes by Ilsa J.Bick

Another Dystopian fiction! I'm currently in love with dystopian & post-apocalyptic novels, so I'm definitely looking forward to reading this! 

Won: (Thank you Jo-Anne@Cotton Candy Reviews)

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

I already own a copy of this book, so this will go up on my to-swap list.Oh, and if haven't read the VA series, READ IT NOW.!

Swap:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

YAY!!! I can FINALLY finish the Hunger Games trilogy now! I don't know how I've managed to wait this long after that killer cliff-hanger at the end of Catching Fire! Unfortunately so many people who've read the book were disappointed with the ending - was it THAT bad? Ah well, I'm still super excited to finish this series!

What did you get in your mailbox? :)

Book Review: Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

Title: Shadows on the Moon
Author: Zoe Marriott
Publisher: Walker Books Aus.
Release Date: July 7th 2011 
Source: Publisher for review (Thank you!)
Format: Paperback

Trained in the magical art of shadow-weaving, sixteen-year-old Suzume is able to recreate herself in any form - a fabulous gift for a girl desperate to escape her past. But who is she really? Is she a girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother's new husband, Lord Terayama, or a lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama's kitchens, or Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands? Whatever her true identity, Suzume is destined to capture the heart of a prince - and determined to use his power to destroy Terayama. And nothing will stop her, not even love.

My Thoughts:

Suzume witnesses the murder of her father and cousin, but luckily escapes with the help of her shadow-weaving ability. She is reunited with her mother, who was conveniently on a trip when the murder took place, and within weeks (6 weeks, if I recall correctly) she has become a stepdaughter to her mother’s new lover. Although she is not treated harshly or cruelly, she does not feel a sense of belonging, and can never forget the horrible events that took place, despite her mother’s futile attempts to convince her to start afresh. As secrets start to unravel, and confessions are made, Suzume suddenly finds herself on the run from the man that caused her family’s death.

Shadows on the Moon was a beautiful retelling of Cinderella, and everything felt so real. I was constantly aching for the pain Suzume had to suffer and then the once-in-a-lifetime-love she decided to give up all for her family.  Her story was that of Cinderella, but with a slight twist. Suzume’s story is much darker and unlike our original Cinderella, Suzume is intent on seeking revenge for her father and cousin. No, she does not live happily ever after with the Prince. Yet, it was a nice, satisfying ending; a happily ever after with her prince.

Suzume was such a strong character and very adaptable; she bottled up all her grief, suffering and pain inside, masking her inner feelings and showed the world a normal, content self. There were of course times when she could not bear the pain anymore, and eased it by hurting herself. Yet, despite all the misery and suffering she experienced, there was always that small, flicker of hope – Otieno. The romance between Otieno and Suzume was so sweet and they were just perfect for each other! He could bring out the happiness in her, and each time, she could truly be herself without having to use her shadow-weaving abilities to hide her inner feelings and thoughts. He was able to show her that life did not have to end; and she could always start afresh.

Suzume’s mother was just…selfish and thoughtless. She stood by her husband’s evil deeds, and was even willing to sacrifice her own daughter’s life if it meant saving her own precious neck and staying good in her husband’s eyes. The few times she actually acted like a real mothe, I was tempted to feel sorry for her and sympathise with her actions but immediately after, she would show her true face and I went back to hating her again. The way she treated her daughter – it was what you would expect Cinderella’s stepmother  to do; not one’s own, loving mother.

This is the first book of Mariott’s that I’ve read, but it will not be the last. This book proved what a fantastic writer Mariott is; her storytelling, characterisation, everything will be imprinted on you even after you finish reading this. It may not appeal to everyone, but this is truly worth your time!

Rating: 4 stars

Quotes: 
“People trust their eyes above all else- but most people see what they wish to see, or what they believe they should see; not what is really there.”

[Aus] Cover Reveal :Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

 Hallowed 

by Cynthia Hand

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

How utterly GORGEOUS is the cover?!?! As much as I didn't quite like Unearthly as I would've liked, the covers are definitely one of the prettiest ever <3 The release date is also not *too* far away - Jan 2012! Then I'll be able to hug & gaze adoringly at this baby every day!

Which cover do you like best?