368 pages
Genre: Young Adult/Suspense/Thriller/FantasyPublisher: Hyperion
Source: Bought
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
Mini Summary: "Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive." After the traumatizing events of the last book Mackanzie Bishop is back. She must fight her nightmares, figure out why people are vanishing, try to keep her job as a keeper along with her memories, and all while being a normal average girl on the outside.
My Mini Review: Victoria Schwab never dissapoints, her writing is just as magical in the sequel as it was in The Archived. The Unbound may have been a little slow at times, but it didn't matter, my attention never wavered. The Unbound is a strong sequel, one of the strongest I have ever read, and the best part, there isn't a big cliff hanger at the end. I admire Mac, the MC, even more in this installment, I still love Wes, and I liked the minor characters, new and old. I was cheering on Mac like my life depended on it. I definitely want more and I hope the third one does end up getting published. The only part of this novel I wasn't a fan of... it needed even more Wes time.
Three (Article 5 #3) by: Kristen Simmons (Feb. 14)
384 pagesGenre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Publisher: Tor Teen
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
**This review may contain minor spoilers of the previous books.
Mini Summary: Ember and Chase once again try to find safety and refuge in Three, the last book of the Article 5 trilogy. After finding the safe house destroyed they must find a new place to stay. Three finally is revealed and Ember will finally get the chance to really fight back.
My Mini Review: The Article 5 trilogy ended strong with Three. The first book was really good, the second book was okay, and this book left me feeling very satisfied. We get a lot more sensible and somewhat romantic interactions between Chase and Ember, which I enjoyed immensely. The plot was paced in such a way that I could just feel the tension rising between everyone in the novel and myself. There were also some very exceptional fight scenes and a great big rebellious stand. I don't regret reading this series. It's a young adult dystopian I enjoyed a great deal.The Outside (The Hallowed Ones #2) by: Laura Bickle (Sept. 2013)
325 pagesGenre: Young Adult/Horror/Survival
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
**This review may contain minor spoilers of the previous book.
Mini Summary: Katie is kicked out of her Amish community and must survive with her two friends in a world dominated by a plague of vampires.
My Mini Review: I feel that The Hallowed Ones really deserves more attention than it is getting, and this sequel, The Outside, only reaffirmed those feelings in me. The book starts off strong and ends strong. I really liked the different relationships this story has to offer, maybe even better than the first. There is a lot of action to keep you entertained. Not to mention there are very unique vampires (nothing like what you have probably read before in young adult literature), and how people come to find a way to deal with the vampires is just as unique. Give these books a chance. They are superb.
Split Second (Pivot Point #2) by: Kasie West (Feb. 2014)
360 pagesGenre: Young Adult/Paranormal
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
Mini Summary: Addie is having a hard time dealing with her life since her parents divorce, since she chose the path she had to take. Ever since then her world has become even more complex. Addie's ability has started acting up, she runs into a boy she feels like she should know, and finds out that her friend may be able to bring back her lost memories she so desperately wants and maybe even needs.
My Mini Review: Is it even possible for me to love Kasie West more than I already do? She once again wrote a story so enthralling and characters so real that I can't seem to get enough. If you loved Pivot Point then you will love Split Second, no doubt in my mind. Not only do we get some much needed and somewhat hilarious and painful Trevor and Addie time, we also get some Laila time. Did I mention we also get introduced to another wonderful boy besides Trevor? Well we do, and his name is Connor. (He is a love interest for Laila not Addie, calm down.) I couldn't read Split Second fast enough. It was full of good twists, great friendships, and a perfect ending. What are you waiting for?
Usually when I see people's mini reviews they didn't like or thought a certain book was okay. I'm glad all of these were really good for you! The Outside is a book I'm still considering... I liked The Hallowed Ones alright but it didn't wow me. This one seems to have all the action so I might try it out. Great reviews (:
ReplyDeleteI actually usually do mini reviews when I can't think of much to say with just average books, but this time it was because I had a huge pile of books I read and needed to review and this seemed the best and easiest way to go through that pile. lol The Outside was good, a little weird, I don't know if that helps, but there was action!
DeleteI love the idea of grouping sequel reviews together! Sometimes they are so hard to talk a lot about without ruining the previous books which limits how much you can say. Will have to remember this idea :)
ReplyDeleteExactly! Plus, I had to get so many reviews done from my pile and it just so happens that sometimes I have a hard time finding a lot of things to say about sequels without being repetitive or like you said giving something away!
DeleteOooo I know that feeling! I did 5 mini reviews today myself partially because they were quickie kids' books and partially because my backlog of books to post reviews for has somehow gotten out of hand -- a problem I never used to have!
DeleteI will be heading over there to check them out. I actually love reading mini reviews. And it's probably because of your awesome new reading schedule that gave you this problem...oh darn. ;)
DeleteI couldn't agree more about The Hallowed Ones and The Outside. Such an underrated, yet incredibly amazing series!! The rest of these series I haven't started yet but they're all on my list.
ReplyDeleteMore people really should give The Hallowed Ones a chance! It makes me happy that you read them too. :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI need to read The Unbound sometime soon, and I should start The Hallowed Ones series. I'm glad you loved these so much! Great reviews :D
ReplyDeleteGive The Hallowed Ones a try. :)
DeleteI loved Split Second too! It's one of very few series that I wish more books were being released!
ReplyDeleteKasie West is such an amazing author! I could read about the Split Second characters forever.
DeleteYay! The only one I have not read is Split Second, still need to read Pivot Point, but like you I enjoyed all of the others :)
ReplyDeleteI lied, well not on purpose, I read Archived and loved it, so I am excited about Unbound :)
ReplyDeleteIf you liked Archived I'm sure you will like Unbound! Split second was really good as well.
Delete1. I want to read this book but I am scared to become even more invested in the story knowing that there might never be a third one. Then again, I won't be doing my part in promoting this amazing story so that there might be a third book if I don't read and review it. So I will read and review it :) So glad to hear it was a strong sequel!
ReplyDelete2. Knowing that this series left you feeling satisfied I am more likely to read it. I think it might even be on audio (which would be ideal)!
3. I promise you I will read The Hallowed Ones before the end of the year. I PROMISE. I have a few more of my ALA ARCs I want to read and then I have a bit of a break before I can read any of my BEA books and this will be one of the first books I pick up in that break (along with A Mad Wicked Folly) :)
4. YESSSS KASIE WEST IS THE BESTTT
1. I love your thinking process and completely agree with it. :)
Delete2. It may not have been my favorite dystopian but I liked it a good deal!
3. I hope you like The Hallowed Ones. It was so different in a good way. I trust that you will read it and A Mad Wicked Folly when you get a chance. Finding time to read certain books is so challenging sometimes!
4. I am forever grateful you got me to read Kasie West!!!