Review ~ Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake

synopsis:

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

purchase links:

amazon | B&N | iTunes | Book depository

Review:

Antigoddess became a struggle to read about halfway in the book. It's not a bad book, per se, but I didn't like it. Too many things were unexplained, even when I got past halfway of the story,which made the whole thing seem to go nowhere.

The representation of Greek mythology is accurate in the characters, which I liked very much. However, I didn't feel much sympathy for them. Perhaps it's because I really didn't get their background; what happened to the gods before they got sick? All background I got was two thousand years ago, which didn't really help at all. Plus, one of the main characters, Cassandra, was so lame and so dense for someone so important in the plot.

I wouldn't have minded that the book is slow-paced if the book wasn't so vague in the details. I kept hoping that things would get clearer the deeper I get into the plot, but in the end all I had was a mountain of questions without so much as a single answer to any of it. There was a showdown between the gods and goddess, but no reason was mentioned. Why are the gods and goddesses killing off each other? Why do they believe that killing one another will make the last one standing live? Why do they want weapons? Why is there a war? Why are they dying? Why was Apollo not affected? Why do they believe that Cassandra is a weapon? Why did Olympus fall? Why did the gods scatter around the world? Why, why, fucking why?

I don't like reading books, especially a first in the series, that fires me a mile of questions a minute but not give me answers where the answers should be in the story. I think it's a ploy to keep things interesting, to keep the readers guessing and hungry for more, but all it does is confuse the hell out of me and lose my interest. I hoped the action would at least make up for the lack of details, but meh. No such luck. The writing is not bad, but it's completely lacking.

I don't think I'll be reading the other books.

~ Zee

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Review ~ The Hollow Boy (Lockwood and Co. #3) by Jonathan Stroud

Synopsis:

As a supernatural outbreak baffles Scotland Yard and causes protests against the psychic agencies throughout London, Lockwood and Co. continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in exterminating spirits. Anthony is dashing, George insightful, and Lucy dynamic, while the skull in the jar utters sardonic advice from the sidelines. There is a new spirit of openness between the team now that Anthony has shared his childhood story, and Lucy is feeling more and more like her true home is at Portland Row. It comes as a great shock, then, when Lockwood and George introduce her to an annoyingly perky and hyper-efficient new assistant, Holly Munro. Meanwhile, there are reports of many new hauntings, including an old school where bloody handprints and a glowing boy are appearing. But ghosts seem to be the least of Lockwood and Co.'s concerns when a living assassin makes an attempt on Fittes's and Rotwell's lives. Can the team get past their interpersonal issues to save the day on all fronts? Danger abounds, tensions escalate, and new loyalties form in this third delightfully terrifying adventure.

Purchase links:

amazon | B&N | iTunes | kobo | Book Depository

Review:

Jonathan Stroud did it again with this amazingly new series. Although this is the third book, it is the first time I am writing about a review for this series.

Lockwood and Co. is set in London, where the world accepts the existence of ghosts and the harm they inflict upon civilians. People have taken up defenses against this otherworldly presence and have turned ghost hunting into a business. These businesses mainly employ children as they have the clearer way to see, feel, and hear ghosts. One such company is Lockwood and Co.

The story is funny and exciting, which seems to be a trademark of Stroud. Though the story is told in Lucy's POV, I grew to love the witty, smart, and mysterious Lockwood. I keep imagining him as some kind of a Sherlock type of character: a quick-witted, silver-tongued devil that can be a bit dense at times but always pulls through at the last minute.

Actually, the way the characters’ traits compliment each other is great. However, with the addition of new characters that will join this trio, I would love to see how they would fill Lockwood and Co.'s shortcomings.

Lucy's pettiness over the new recruit Holly only enhances her character, making her more believable and solid in my mind. I will love to see this character grow even more.

It is great how at the end of each book there's a kind of a glossary so you can keep track of the terms, classifications of ghost, uses of anti-ghost objects, and such. This was really well researched because I remember reading up on various items mentioned and their uses to ward off evil spirits.

So far, I haven't encountered problems with this series, though I have to admit the first two were a bit better than Hollow boy. I hope Stroud can come up with a much exciting plot for the next one.

~ Djan

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Audiobook Review ~ November 9 by Colleen Hoover

This is my first-ever audiobook, and I think I’m already addicted. Now that I have two jobs that occupies most of my time, audiobooks are great for me to keep up on my reading list. I can listen while working. However, though I’d like to listen to more, I don’t think I’ll be hearing novels often. The paperbacks are just much cheaper. Anyway, on to my review.

If you want the short version of my thoughts, I’ll indulge you. While listening to this audiobook, I was like:

1^st November 9: Interesting.

2^nd November 9: This is weird. *some minutes later* I’m falling in love with words.

3^rd November 9: WHAT THE HELL? *speechless*

4^th November 9: Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.

5^th November 9: I can’t even.

Last November 9: THAT’S IT? WHERE’S THE REST OF THE BOOK?

Synopsis:

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Purchase links:

amazon | B&N | iBooks | kobo | book depository | audible | iTunes (audio)

Review:

Performance:

This has been a half-pleasant-half-annoying experience for me. I didn’t like Angela Goethals’s narration. I don’t think her narration technique (and even her voice) fit Fallon's character. I got the impression that she was trying to sound seductive and husky but failing miserably. She sounded awkward. I can’t really imagine her as the Fallon in the book. It’s a little contradicting. Her reading speed is also too slow, enunciating each word down to the last sound. It annoyed me for two reasons: 1) I got impatient and the slow reading was wasting my time, and 2) I had to keep changing the reading speed every chapter because I listen to Fallon’s POV at fast-forward and Ben’s POV has to be normal speed because then Zachary’s narration would be too fast. Zachary Webber’s narration was okay for me.

The Story:

A book within a book—I feel like everyone who has read November 9 is sharing some kind of an inside joke.

What I like about Colleen Hoover is she has a knack in sucking me into her story whether I like it or not. There’s always something keeping me immersed in the world she built. No matter how cheesy, annoying, sweet, or heartbreaking it becomes, there’s still something in her words that makes me stay even when all I want is to leave that story and never revisit it again. Her writing style is flexible. If someone gave me this book to read without telling me who wrote it, I wouldn’t have pegged it as Hoover’s work. It’s amazing.

November 9 is mostly about redemption, but it’s also about finding yourself and falling in love in two different ways. It’s full of beautiful words. I liked it so much that when the bomb dropped, it felt like it dropped straight to my heart.

What didn’t work for me was Ben and Fallon as individuals. Their story happened in the span of five years, but it didn’t feel like it. It felt like they were never separated at all, not just because of their ease in each other’s company but because of the lack of character development that should have been there since it was always a full year before they see each other again. A million things can happen in one year, yet this book failed to show the changes in the characters, or even the things that happened to them in the year they’ve been apart. I’m not satisfied. It was always them, a lot of them and not enough her and him.

I have a love-hate relationship with the plot twist. Now that’s what I call a plot twist, but it ruined some of the story’s appeal. I am convinced with Fallon’s reaction to it all, and how she handled it, but. . .that plot twist dampened Ben’s sincerity about his feelings to Fallon. Suddenly I was wondering if his feelings was genuine or he was just confusing it with some other emotions. (It hurts to be cryptic but I don’t want to spoil it any more than I already have).

The ending felt a little rushed, but overall, I liked this book. Hearing it in audiobook heightened the experience because some of the lines were golden and the way the narrators delivered it was epic. I am glad I listened to the audio version first.

I love Colleen Hoover, but this book gave me so much heartache that I’m starting to rethink my feelings for her.

~ Zee

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Review ~ Breakout (Dred Chronicles #3) by Ann Aguirre

Synopsis:

All hell is breaking loose in the edge-of-your-seat follow-up to Havoc and Perdition from New York Times bestselling author Ann Aguirre…

The prison ship Perdition has become a post-battle charnel house with only a handful of Dred’s soldiers still standing and now being hunted by Silence’s trained tongueless assassins. Forging an uneasy alliance with mercenary commander Vost—who is their only chance at escape—the Dread Queen will do whatever it takes to end her life sentence on Perdition and keep the survivors alive long enough to cobble together a transport capable of getting them off station.

If Dred and her crew can win the deadly game of cat and mouse, the payoff is not only life but freedom—a prize sweeter than their wildest dreams. Yet the sadistic Silence would rather destroy Perdition than let a single soul slip from her grasp…

Purchase links:

amazon | B&N | iTunes | kobo | book depository

Review:

I must say I am satisfied with the conclusion of the Dred Chronicles.

The Dred Chronicles began in a prison ship called Perdition, on an asteroid in outer space. Perdition is the final place where the worst of the worse criminals are sent. It is a so-called dump site for those deemed too dangerous by society, where no ordinary prison can hold them.

Perdition has long since been left to the inmates, where the most powerful claimed territories and subordinates. All manner of bloodthirsty fiends can be found in this place.

The way Ann Aguirre wrote this series is riveting. Sci-fi fans can have their imaginations taken for a ride into a new place. The twists and turns are not frustrating but they keep you excited. It is truly a well-researched and thought out novel.

The characters are realistic (or as realistic as they come), and they can give you an unexpected pleasure on how they react. I usually judge how well a character is by how much they come alive inside my mind, and Dred really does as well as some of the other characters. Dred will surely be imprinted inside your mind as one heck of a kick-ass heroine.

Don't even get me started on the setting. The idea about a whole place with tons of high profile criminals crammed together means that it will only be a matter of time before they take over so what did the author do? She placed it on a barren rock in outer space and made the whole thing manned by machines and computers. The place being operated by machines means no human guards can be killed by riots. The criminals have the place to themselves, running it how they see fit. The strongest and smartest are on top, Dred being one of them when she took over her side of Perdition with other key characters. Of course, being outside a planet means there is a limit in how destructive the tenants can be or else they risk killing everyone on board, including themselves.

Expect a lot of blood bath, betrayals, and a dark and gloomy tone in this book, with a lot of exciting twists and sucker punches that you wouldn't want to miss.

The Dred Chronicles is a great read for those who are searching for a little sci-fi excitement, and if you've been following the Sirantha Jax series, you'll get to see some of the stories of other characters like Jael and Tam. Bored is an emotion you'll never feel once you've turned that first page.

~ Djan

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Bookish Diary ~ The Difference Between Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement

Getting a new and original angle in writing the next bestseller or award-winning piece can be hard in the days when every subject and context seems to have been tackled. A great amount of research must be done to avoid plagiarism or copyright infringement. You don't want to spend all your time writing about how an orphan with a scar on his forehead saves the wizarding world only to find out that it's already been done. You'll just be known as a fan fiction writer and won't even be paid because publishers won't touch your story with a ten-foot pole for fear of legal repercussions from the author who wrote it first. Before writing, get to know these facts about copyright, plagiarism, and how best to protect your original ideas when they do come.

During a seminar held by Mr. Kevin Hernandez, a senior law student from University of the Philippines that I had the pleasure of attending a couple of weeks  ago, I learned all about copyright and the laws that govern them that is essential for aspiring writers (and other creative people) to know.

Plagiarism vs Copyright Infringement.

Plagiarism is the 'crime' most unwitting students commit. But did you know that copyright infringement is usually present during plagiarism?

For a quick explanation, plagiarism is the failure to cite sources (e.g. quotations, pictures, articles), while copyright infringement is the failure to get consent from the authors of said source. So, basically copyright infringement can occur even if you do not plagiarize. Do not mistake one with the other.

That leaves us this question: So do you have to email every author every time you want to quote a favorite line in a novel? The answer is no. As long as the quote is for personal use, research, educational studies, you can quote it as long as you cite its source so as not to plagiarize. This is called 'fair use' doctrine.

The 'Fair Use' doctrine

The 'fair use' doctrine grants us the right to use materials for criticism, comments, teaching, or scholarly research regardless of copyrights. This means as long as we do not make money out of it, it is okay. Of course, this must also fall under the four factors of fair use, which are:

1. Purpose and Character. I repeat, as long as it is not for money or personal gain, you can quote without consent. Just cite the source.

2. Nature of copyright. Is it fact based or fiction? Government laws, news ideas, factual information, or even ideas can be used. These are often unprotected by copyrights and ruled to be in public domain depending on the nature of how you express them. Writing with malicious intent or defacing a person or group cannot be grounds for infringement or plagiarism but you can get serious jail time with libel. For fiction based, like novel fan fictions, are allowed as long as you do not sell them without permission from the original authors. Main concern here really is all about money.

3. Amount of substantiality of the portion or how much you use. Citing the whole article would be a bit much.

4. Effect on potential market value.

What is Copyright?

Copyright is the exclusive right to reproduce your intellectual property. Copyright is immediately granted upon the creation of the work as long as they fall under the two categories of copyrights, which are:

Original Works - These are the works that you thought up yourself. These are protected upon the sole fact of their creation, meaning that if you want to publish a novel, you must first turn that story line idea in your head and into the novel itself. Meaning, if you just dish out the idea, whether it is verbal or written, others can steal it. So before you brag about how you will be the next bestselling author to an agent or a publisher make sure you got the complete novel printed out and ready to be read.

Derivative Works - Derivative works are a compilation of original works, or works based on an original idea. Books such as compilations of short stories or fan fictions fall under this category. If you are planning to sell such works, you have to obtain a written consent from the original author and publisher, because sometimes the copyright for the written works may belong to the publisher so getting the go ahead from the author may not be enough.

Your intellectual properties are copyright protected as long as you are alive and 50 years after that. This cover news articles, thesis, screenplays, books, and other written works. Photos have 50 years of copyright protection from the date of publication. For unpublished photos, it is 50 years from creation.

Usually for authors, the copyrights belong to your publisher although it is still your intellectual property and your name is still on the cover of the book. That means the publisher has rights to how they might use your story. This can be amended on how you would draw up your contract with them.

Important things to remember:

1. Mere data, news of the day, laws, government works, ideas, comments, and criticism are unprotected by copyrights and considered public property. This means that use of scientific data on sci-fi books, crime-solving procedures, and the rest can be use for your write-ups. Of course, you need professionals to explain them to you so maybe thanking them wouldn't hurt.

2. Using quotations and other copyrighted materials for social media posts and blogs are okay as long as you do it just for fun and for personal use and not for economic gain.

3. Your blog posts, comments, text messages, and photos posted on internet and social media websites are automatically copyright protected.

4. Submissions of literary works or photos to newspapers, magazines, or online portals usually just grant the publication a one-time reproduction right unless you give your consent to grant them bigger rights to do so.

5. Try to mix different factors to your story to create an original write-up. Fan fictions are actually a great way to practice as long as you just do it for fun. The possibilities are endless, especially if you write for fiction and know how to mix up different genres together.

6. Remember to get permission from the author or publisher if for example you use a part of their book to be mentioned by your character. Same goes for movies, TV shows, or music. Ever read Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn? There are some songs mentioned there so the author would surely secure consent. Unless the person is dead for 50 years and above, a citation would do.

~ Djan

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Review ~ Relish (Vicious Feast #2) by Kate Evangelista

Synopsis:

I left Lunar Manor broken, seeking comfort in the hands of Laurel "the Dragon" Hardy, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Gossip. Okay, I may have used him to ease the pain He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named caused by his confession of loving someone else. On New Year's Eve! Granted, he was drunk off his ass, but still! I stay with Larry mainly because the dreams are getting worse. Worse enough to wake me in the middle of the night needing the touch of another to save me from losing my mind.

Unfortunately, the handsome bassist of the uber successful indie rock band, Vicious, is never far from my mind. I thought I was rid of him once and for all only to have him show up at my hotel in London. Luka Visraya's power over me is intense. No matter how far I run, I always end up circling back to him.

If you think my story is just some romance about two lovers getting back together, think again. Little did I know that returning to Luka meant I'd be plunging myself into a world more familiar than I ever thought possible. Trust me when I say I didn't believe it either when the truth finally came out.

Review:

What on Earth did I just read?

As soon as I hit the climax, I decided that Relish is such a huge disappointment to me. The book was going so well, but once the revelations hit. . .it went downhill, and fast. Relish didn’t seem like a paranormal book at all until the climax, which is very bad, considering that this book is a paranormal one—or supposedly, anyway.

I like Kate Evangelista’s writing style—it’s solid, it’s entertaining, it’s good. Relish, though, needs to be polished. The world-building sucked, if you considered the book all in all. I was so excited to read this book because I really liked Savor, but then Relish is such a huge let down. This book could be so much more, if only the world-building and twists are placed right.

The ending was rushed, considering all the paranormal things happened (and was revealed) there. I understand the twist, but it didn’t do the story justice. I got the impression that this book is two different stories forced into one, and not in a good way. It was pretty good until the last 60 pages, from where the story went from confusing to completely bizarre.

I’m very disappointed with this book. I hope there are no more books like this from Kate Evangelista, because I really like the way she writes. She just needs practice in world-building when it comes to paranormal stories.

~ Zee

P.S. This book is out of print (but temporarily, I think). It has become a limited edition because the original publisher closed its doors to the publishing community some time ago. The first book, Savor, is currently circulating in local book stores (Philippines) under Sparks Books. I'm not sure if they are going to publish Relish locally, too.

Anyway, I need good recommendations so I'd stop reading books I end up not liking. *sigh*

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Review ~ This Man (This Man #1) by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Synopsis:

Young interior designer Ava O’Shea has an appointment for a first consultation at The Manor with the owner, Mr Jesse Ward. She is expecting nothing more than an overweight, cravat wearing, well-to-do countryman, and on arrival, nothing would suggest otherwise. How wrong could she be? This Man is devastatingly handsome, charming and confident. He is also a conceited, hedonistic playboy, who knows no boundaries. Ava desperately does not want to be attracted to him, but she can’t control the overwhelming effect he has on her. Every instinct is telling her to run, so she does, but Jesse Ward is not so willing to let her go. He wants her and is determined to have her. She knows she is heading for heartbreak, but how can she run when he won’t let her?

Purchase links:

amazon | B&N | kobo | iTunes | Book depository

Review:

It really sucks when a book that had thousands of people swooning and falling in love didn't impress me.

I liked the writing style, the secondary characters named Sam and John, and the mysterious past of the male MC. I didn't like everything aside from those three, though.

This Man dragged until about 90% of the book, and the plot is second to nonexistent. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, considering the genre of this book.

Ava O'Shea is everything I hate in a female MC--no backbone, confusing as hell, and very submissive. If she's a man, she's what one would call someone who thinks with his dick. I liked her at first when she was still listening to her warning bells, but that escalated quickly. It's a good thing she's only a character in a book, because I'd really worry for her if she went around falling in love with a man who stalked her.

Jesse Ward is described as hot, but I beg to differ. Since fictional characters don't have a virtual face, readers fall in love with their personalities and words and actions. This man may have been described as hot by the female MC, but from what I have read there is nothing hot about him. I found him creepy, to be honest.

Both MCs were a little predictable, and too frustrating. I don't get them at all. I'd probably read the sequel, though. I'd really like to know the mystery behind Jesse Ward.

~ Zee

Am I going to like the sequel better? Should I read until the third book? Should I skip a book? 

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Review ~ My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.

There’s only one problem: she’s not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman) who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner.

Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other’s broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the potential of their energy together. Except that Roman may not be so easy to convince.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Book Depository

Review:

I am sorely disappointed at how this book turned out in the end. It started really well, but then it escalated quickly.

The premise was really promising. My Heart and Other Black Holes is a story supposedly about depression and suicide. I say supposedly because the story got lost somewhere along the way. Sure, the suicide bit was firmly in the plot, but the depression bit, which was the whole reason behind the desire for suicide, went up in smoke, and romance materialized in its place. I never thought I would dislike romance in a story, but I did in this book because it was the primary reason why the story went in shambles.

The romance part ruined some of the important things in this book: Aysel’s recovery from depression, making amends with her family, and finally understanding her father. These all became loose ends in the end because Aysel suddenly fell in love and all she could think about was saving Roman from his depression, too. That’s just a no-no for me. I know they say love conquers all, but not just like that. I’m really sad about how love is portrayed in this book.

I don't recommend this book to people who are expecting a justified recovery from depression.

~ Zee

Sorry, folks. This book is just not for me.

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Bookish Diary ~ 7 Habits of Bookworms That Will Drive You Crazy (but only if you're not one of them)

The craziest people I've known so far are either writers or readers, and sometimes there's no distinction between the two. Just ask my fellow blogger Zee. Book lovers tend to have irksome habits ranging from annoying to full on torment.

1. Endless book suggestions. The words 'Hey, can you suggest a couple of books I can try out?' are most deadly when uttered in the presence of a bookworm. But don't worry, you can finish the list by the time you're 80 years old—if you read one book a day. Annoyance level: Mild

2. Are you done yet? If you happen to read something they suggested you can get endless tirades of 'are you done yet' questions. They'll text you, message you, call you, post on your wall on Facebook, and tweet you to the point that you won’t get the book finished because your notifications keep pinging. Annoyance level: Irritating

3. Threats of spoilers. So you're about to read a series that's been released just three days ago, but of course your bookworm friends already got the details because they already got it as soon as the bookstore opened and they’ve finished it before the day is done. Now you're at the mercy of hints of who is going to die, who will end up with whom, or what that certain character has to hide. They'll have you begging not to say another word. In the end, you'll end up being a shut-in for a week, never seeing anyone, not opening messages, or even going online. You'll hide, frightened at every text, email, or call. Kinda like a perfect plot for a horror movie. Annoyance level: Profanity may be included.

4.  You'll find yourself playing nurse to an escapee from the psych ward. When your closest friends are bookworms, you'll experience a roller coaster of emotions only psychologists and psychiatrists in mental institutions experience. Those friends will be close to tears; crying to you about the death of a beloved fictional character one minute then angrily punching you for the way an author wrote a scene. There are good and bad times in the world of literature and you get to experience them live in 3D. Annoyance level: Bad

5. Bookstores are sacred places. Yes. Sacred places that need three hours to comb through even though you already got what you came for. Annoyance Level: Irritating (if you’re not passionate about books)

6. Bodily harm may occur when you hate on their favorite book or author. That’s just an absolute no-no. If you’re hating on the characters/authors they are rooting for, it’s better to just keep your mouth shut. For the record, though, I still think Nicholas Sparks’s books are stupid and made to prey on sad single women's fantasy of romance. Annoyance level: Painful

7. Get suck into endless debates about books, books, authors, characters, and books. When you've been friends for a while you'll find yourself disagreeing about certain things like who is the best character or why this or that artist is perfect for the movie adaptation of your favorite books. This won't end until all you talk about is books and nothing else, which can be bit of a bummer if you’re a little sick of the stuff. Can't they understand it's just a hobby for you? Sheesh. Annoyance Rating: Very Bad

Yeah, bookworms are the most annoying people when it comes to their first love, but you will not find better people whom you can call in the middle of night because this certain book got to you in a way no other did. They won't judge you. They won't look at you funny the next they. They just listen to you let it all out, and often they offer the best suggestions for the post book traumatic stress you have.

~ Djan

What are some things you can add on this list? There can't be only 7!

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Review ~ Again (Fate #4) by Elizabeth Reyes

Synopsis:

No regrets. Just lessons learned.

Having lived through the torment of losing his first love to someone else—all because he never spoke up—Sydney Maricopa vowed never to repeat that mistake again.

So when he finally admits he’s fallen for his new best friend, he refuses to lose her too, especially once he realizes his feelings for her might be requited. There’s only one problem.

Her perfect boyfriend.

Still, Sydney’s determined to fight for the girl he loves this time. He has what it takes to go up against Mr. Perfect. Most importantly, he and his new best friend have something even her boyfriend can’t compete with—their profound connection. One he intends to use to win her over.

Until he finds out what she’d be giving up if she chooses Sydney.

Something no one should ever give up. Would he dream of selfishly asking her to? Or should he do the honorable thing and sacrifice his own happiness for hers? Allow the girl he loves to sail off into the sunset with another man as he stands back and watches in agony . . . again?

Purchase links:

amazon | B&N | iTunes | kobo | Book Depository

Review:

This author has done it again. No pun intended.

With all the books she has published so far, you'd think you know her style, but then she does something different that would really surprise you. I had a lot of mixed feeling throughout this book. One second I loved it, the next I hated it. Then I went from swooning to shouting in frustration at the characters. I think it's safe to say that this book took me in a roller coaster ride, albeit not a very extreme one.

Again portrayed a long journey of two lovers from being friends to lovers, then to nothing at all and back again. I enjoyed reading their banters and easy camaraderie. I like it that the theme of this book is different from all the other from this author. It's the first time she tackled a story where the age gap can be a little problematic, but I like how she handled this one.

This book made my chest tighten in tension, which then led to me hating the author because of it. Elizabeth Reyes sure knows how to build an intense moment.

Oh, and when did Sydney become so hot?

The only thing that ruined the whole appeal to me is the conflict. It's too cliche, and annoying. Bad decisions, selfish reasons, and stupid presumptions on Sydney's part. He was doing so well, but then his intelligence took a dive down the drain when the conflict came. I wish the situation would have been handled differently, something I haven't seen before.

When the climax hit, it took me a while to figure things out, but when clarity hit me in the nose, I realized that I had predicted what was going to happen way before it did, but the author had excellent tactics that took my mind off it. It was a very good distraction. In this case. I didn't mind that the conflict was predictable, because of the diversion tactics.

All in all, I really liked this book. I'd recommend it to readers who fancies HEA at the end of the tunnel but a lot of obstacles along the way.

~ Zee

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