Mini Reviews: Alive, The Star-Touched Queen, Compulsion, & A Week of Mondays

Alive by Scott Sigler (2015)
Goodreads


I was pretty disappointed by Alive. I was hoping for a non-stop dystopion/sc-fi thriller. What I got was a bunch of whiny characters and a plot that just reminded me of The Maze Runner. I honestly debated about DNFing this book, but because I wanted to know exactly what was going on with these kids I kept with it. The ending was pretty good at least. My main problem with this novel was that when the teens wake up they are 12-year-old kids trapped in 18-year-old bodies, but acted like they were 10. They were shoved into extreme circumstances without their memories which may be why they acted the way the did, but these kids were just frustrating. I'm not sure who I would recommend this book to. It is a little graphic to give it to younger teens and I am not sure older teens would really like it. I have read better.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Choski (Aril 2016)
Goodreads


I hate to say this, but I really wasn't a fan of this book. I found the writing to be overly flowery/descriptive for my tastes. I also had a hard time following along with the story. I liked the characters okay, but the MC Maya made one big decision that made me so mad that I violently shook my head and said somewhat yelled "stupid girl." I can see why a lot of people love this book, but it really did nothing for me. It may have been that I wasn't in the right mood to read a book like this. I really can't say. I just know that I had a hard time getting into the story. I listened to this book on audio and the narration was really good so that wasn't the problem. Honestly, I think this book just wasn't for me.

Compulsion by Marina Boone (2014)
Goodeads


Unlike the other reviews in this post, this one will be all positive. I thoroughly enjoyed Compulsion. It was a great fall read. Barrie Watson is a pretty cool girl and the boy next door is not bad to look at and rather sweet. When her mom dies Barrie is forced to go live with her aunt. While there she discovers that her family is famous on the small island along with magic, secrets, new friends, and enemies. I loved the southern Gothic feel this story vibrated with. There were light-hearted, intense, and kind of creepy moments. This book had a little of everything. I can't wait for book two! Good thing I already own a copy. ;)

A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody (Aug. 2016)
Goodreads


A Week of Mondays was a very fun book! It was beyond cute with a very relatable MC who goes by the name of Ellison. She had a horrible Monday (We have all been there.) and wishes that she could get a do-over, and what she gets is a full week of Mondays! Have you ever seen the movie Groundhog Day? If you thought that was fun then you are definitely going to enjoy this book. I laughed at and with Ellison. I cringed and I smiled. This girl barely makes it through one heck of a Monday and tries her best to figure out what she really wants. This book may seem a little long, but you will fly through the pages. At the very least, it will make you laugh at least a handful of times.