Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched

Series: Matched #1

Author: Ally Condie

Genre: YA, dystopian, sci-fi, romance

Publication date: November 2010

Published by: Dutton Juvenile

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My rating: ★★★★☆
This is actually one of the first dystopian books I have read; my very first one being The Giver…but that was long ago so I barely remember, lol.

This takes place sometime in the future, but instead of telling you about I’ll just give you some quotes that will pretty much sum up their society:

Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Title: Vampire Academy

Series: Vampire Academy #1

Prequel story: Sunshine

Author: Richelle Mead

Genre: YA, paranormal romance

Publication date: August 2007

Published by: Razorbill

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

My rating: ★★★★☆
I’m not a big fan of vampire books, so I usually tend to stay away from them. And I know I sound like a hypocrite ‘cause I used to be a huge Twilight freak (don’t worry, that phase of my life has passed :P lol). But the fact that vampires drink human blood is what bothers me the most. And since the Cullen’s in Twilight were “vegetarians” and only drank animal blood, I was okay with that. Now let’s get one thing straight, it’s not that blood grosses me out or bothers me; I’m going into the medical field, so I obviously have to be okay around blood. In fact, I have seen a real life open heart surgery and a C-section (and by the way, both were totally awesome and an amazing experience), so no, blood is not a problem for me. I just don’t like that vampires need human blood to survive. *shivers* But that’s just my opinion :)

Review: I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) by Pittacus Lore

Title: I Am Number Four

Series: Lorien Legacies #1

Author: Pittacus Lore

Genre: YA, sci-fi, paranormal

Publication date: August 2010

Published by: HaprerCollins

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books - but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

My rating: ★★★★☆
I actually saw the movie before I even read the book…but I really liked both!!

Review- The Lightning Thief: Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan

Title: The Lightning Thief: Graphic Novel

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels #1

Contributors: Rick Riordan (Author), Robert Venditti (Adaptor), José Villarrubia (Illustrator), Attila Futaki (Illustrator)

Genre: Middle Grade, urban fantasy, Greek mythology

Publication date: October 2010

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

You've read the book. You've seen the movie. Now submerge yourself in the thrilling, stunning, and action-packed graphic novel.

Mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking out of the pages of twelve-year-old Percy Jackson's textbooks and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, he and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus.

Series creator Rick Riordan joins forces with some of the biggest names in the comic book industry to tell the story of a boy who must unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

My rating: ★★★★★
I saw the movie first, then read the book, and now the graphic novel! If that doesn’t give you a hint, well, I totally love this series!! :D Greek mythology in general, I should say.

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly

Series: Unearthly #1

Author: Cynthia Hand

Genre: YA, paranormal, urban fantasy

Publication date: January 2011

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

My rating: ★★★★★
Holy crap!! This book was AMAZING!!! It was just... wow lol. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would! :D