The Archived by Victoria Schwab

TOTAL RATING : A+

CHARACTERS : A+
STORY : A+
CONCEPT : A
PACE : A

OVERVIEW :

Pages : 108 (Sneakpeek)
Release Date : January 22, 2013
Genre : Paranormal, Fantasy
Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
Review Copy : ARC/Sneak Peek given by NetGalley. (Thank you so much! <3 )






REVIEW :

"Imagine a file of your entire life, of every moment, every experience.

 Imagine the data is kept in a  body."

Good Greatness. This is a good read! I can't stop myself from reading it and to hell with my other chores, be it the office or home. I love it!

Mackenzie Bishop is young but she is a very strong character. She is unlike most female heroine/protagonist. She stands firm with her wants and one of them is becoming a Keeper. Just like Da, her grandfather. Well, he used to be one. Da doesn't want to pass on his magnificent job to his son, but chose an eleven year old, Mac. Imagine? An eleven year old, dealing with Histories. (And believe me, they aren't ghosts, either)
I think it's kickass!

Victoria Schwab imagined a different world from the usual paranormal themes and settings we've read. First, the dimensions- or whatever the places are called. The Outer (the mundane world), the Narrows (nightmarish alleys) and the Archive (library of the dead). You can get through them if you just have the right key. (*wink*wink).

Then, we also have the hierarchy of careers available. The Keeper (keeps the Histories from going astray), The Crews (a duo of Keepers, kinda reminds me of Shadowhunters' Parabatai) and the highest, Librarian (keeps tab of the Archive shelves of dead). I think it's pretty cool to think up of something as this. Once again, our imagination will run wild and get ourselves thinking "What if I am a bad-ass Keeper during the night. I hope the pay is good."  HAHA!

My copy, which was graciously provided and approved by NetGalley is only a short "sneak preview" of the novel. But, I am ever grateful because I get to be included with the lucky ones who will review it for the whole world of biblios. :D I am also quite restless because I can't wait for it to be published and stacked on the shelves!

I highly recommend this book for you biblios out there. It's an awesome read! I can't wait.

XOXOs.

The Selection by Keira Cass

 TOTAL RATING : A

CHARACTERS : A+
STORY : A
PACE : A
CONCEPT : A+

OVERVIEW :

Pages :  327
Release Date : April 24, 2012
Genre : Young Adult, Romance, Dystopia
Publisher : HarperTeen
Review Copy : Purchased (National Bookstore Philippines)






REVIEW :

 Oh.My.Gosh.This book is totally swoon-worthy. A cross between the dystopian world of Hunger Games and the romantic yet questionable setting of reality TV show, The Bachelor, Kiera Cass made us swoon, hope for our very own prince and grew wary of outside forces determined to crush our peaceful kingdom.

Set in the new state of America, called the Kingdom of Illea, Prince Maxon is in search of his princess through the process of a very exclusive and grand Selection. Each province of Illea will have a chance to have their own candidate. The setting for the story is dreamy. It's also quite good that Kiera Cass used the Indian Caste System to classify the families living in Illea.

The female protagonist is America Singer, who belongs to the Fives. She wasn't too involved with the idea of the Selection and is less than thrilled when she was chosen as the candidate for their province. She despised the idea of finding love in a short matter of time and worse, under the pryful eyes of the media and the whole kingdom. At the first part of the book, I can't understand why she is too reluctant. And then.. <b> OF COURSE. </b>

I recommend this book to all fairy-tale/romance sucker bibliophiles out there. This is a good read. <3

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

TOTAL RATING : A+

CHARACTERS : A+
STORY : A+
PACE : A
CONCEPT : A

OVERVIEW :

Pages : 544
Release Date : October 23, 2012
Genre : Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Review Copy : Purchased (National Bookstore (Philippines)







REVIEW :

Where to begin and How? My mind was blown into thousand little pieces. I just sat back, picked up the book, sat back again, browsed the pages, looking for something non-specific.Wow. I finished the Evolution which is the second book from the Mara Dyer series but I felt as if I'venever even finished it. With most books, we get something like the main plot, we can predict what might happen with the primary characters, but with this book, you'll spend a lot of time skimming back just to make certain assumptions/predictions. It was mind-blowing and head ache inducing, yet I could not get my fill out of it. Michelle Hodkin did an amazing job. I have not read anything like it. The concept isn't new but it's unexpected.The character of Mara Dyer isn't annoying and she's the good kind of damsel-in-distress. I also like the way she narrates the story, (foul words included). :D I also like her brother, Daniel. He is probably the best sib character I have read in a book, so far. But nothing beats Noah Shaw. I love him. I love the way he talks and cares for Mara. It is truly unconditional. 

The ending of book 2 is a TOTAL CLIFFHANGER and I can't imagine a better punishment than this, Michelle. 2013 is so far away.. I can't get anough of Noah, Mara and even evil not-so-dead Jude. This is an awesome book, I recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal/science fiction/romance genres.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

TOTAL RATING : A

CHARACTERS : A+
STORY : A
PACE :  A-
CONCEPT : A

OVERVIEW

Pages : 452
Release Date : September 27, 2011
Genre : Young Adult, Paranormal
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
My Review Copy : Purchased 








REVIEW :

     The story began with "Mara Dyer" and her friends, Rachel and Claire, playing with a 
     god-bless-them Ouija board. It was supposed to be a fun night, but then again, disaster sets in and six months after their little pajama party, Mara and her friends suffered a terrible accident. 
    Mara woke up on the hospital without any memory about that faithful night. It came as a shock for her when she found out that her bestie Rachel, Claire, and her very own ex-beau Jude are dead from the building collapse they suffered. She was the only survivor and it made her a bit of a weirdo. She started seeing things that aren't supposed to be there, doing things that aren't appropriate. It was slow-paced at first but armed with a bit of creepiness. 
    
    Don't worry because the creepy factor in this book will be rewarded with yummy-factor by the name of Noah Shaw. Oh, Noah. You are Patch Cipriano, Christian Grey, Will Herondale and Jace Wayland rolled into one. I can't even decide what I should call him. Is he your resident bad boy or your typical guy-next-door with the right amount of mysterious vibe. SIGH.


    Back to the book, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a must-read. It will make your head burst with paranoid thinking, headache-inducing mystery and swoon-worthy romance. This is the right book for any horror/paranormal/urban/romance biblios out there. :)