Sonntag, 2. März 2014

Til Death (Fractured Souls #01) - Kate Evangelista

Title: Til Death (Fractured Souls #01)
Author: Kate Evangelista
Rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to NetGallery and Entangled Teen for giving me the chance to read this book before the official release date.
Sixteen-year old Selena Fallon is a dreamer. Not a day-dreamer, but an I-see-the-future kind of dreamer. Normally this is not a problem as she has gotten pretty good at keeping her weird card hidden from everyone in her small town. Except from her best friend Kyle and her grandparents, of course. But when Selena dreams of her own rather bloody death, things get a little too freaky even for her.

Enter Dillan Sloan. Selena has seen the new guy in a different dream, and he is even more droolworthy in person. Beyond the piercing blue eyes and tousled dark hair, there is something else that draws her to him. Something…electric. Unfortunately, Dillan makes it more than clear that he does not feel the same. They just met, so why would he act like he hates her?

When Dillan and Selena are forced together one weekend to work on a school project, Selena prepares to be ignored as usual. But when she stumbles across a few undead in the backyard, Dillan comes to her rescue and reveals a whole lot more. Not only is he part of a society that hunts otherworldly creatures…she is too. And she is being targeted by a force bigger and darker than anything she ever imagined. Despite her death dream, Selena is not going to give up easy, especially when she discovers that Dillan might not actually hate her after all.
Thought it was better to stick with the blurb on Goodreads for this one too. I couldn't bring myself to write one.

I found the writing for this one incredibly exciting. When you read Dillan's point of view, it's written in third person. Selena's point of view is written in first person. I think I've never read anything like that, and I found myself liking it this way. It was very interesting.

Selena's point of view focuses on the 'normal' life more, I'd say. Well, it's what she's used to anyway, so it makes sense. When I was reading her parts, I felt like I was reading a casual teenage novel and when it came down to Dillan's point of view, I was thrown into this paranomal world. Selena has those parts too, but Dillan's universe is all about that. The two had different voices, so to speak, I don't know how to put it. I think it's awesome, you could never mix those two up.

I absolutely loved reading about Dillian being haunted by Katarina. I can't wait to see how that ends... Oh, I don't want to spoil, gaaaah! I've just got to be patient, yes, I know.

I also think that Kate Evangelista is a master of writing cliffhangers. You always find yourself wanting more and more. I want the second book now, please! :D See, I want more already. You'll see why once you finish the book.

Short sentences for the other characters in this book. I felt so sorry for Bowen somehow. I absolutely loved Kyle. I found Dillan's uncle a bit strange. I'd like to read more about Penny.

The only thing that confused me was how everyone seemed to have secrets and be mysterious in their own ways.

You can read this book whether you're into paranomal stuff or not. See it as a bonus if you like. Clearly, it'd be better if you're a bit interested in that kind of genre, but this book's also something for all those you will read just any young adult book.

Some of my questions are still unanswered, so I'll definitely pick up book number two!

Searching For Beautiful - Nyrae Dawn

Title: Searching For Beautiful
Author: Nyrae Dawn
Rating: 4/5

Thanks to NetGallery and Entangled Publishing for giving me the chance to read this book before the official release date.

Before, Brynn had a group of best friends, a loving boyfriend, a growing talent for pottery. She had a life. And after…she had none.

When Brynn lost the boyfriend who never loved her, the friends who feel she betrayed their trust, and the new life just beginning to grow inside her, she believes her future is as empty as her body. But then Christian, the boy next door, starts coming around. Playing his guitar and pushing her to create art once more. She meets some new friends at the local community center, plus even gets her dad to look her in the eye again…sort of.

But can Brynn open up her heart to truly find her life’s own beauty, when living for the after means letting go of the before?
I'm sticking with the blurb on Goodreads this time. I know I suck at writing those on my own.

Searching For Beautiful
is based on a really great story. There isn't a boring start to this or anything, no, we get a point of view of things right away. We're brought right into the action, into the shocking action, I think I should say. You'll find yourself disappointed in Jason right from the start. And though I wish it wasn't true, every girl will probably find a guy like that tugged inside their head, not wanting to think about him. I really hated that character right away.

I also couldn't relate to Brynn's friends. I found them annoying. Maybe that's the reason why I don't like the stories I write - I always long for harmony. I couldn't stand friends to be distant for such a long time, acting cold, ignoring each other. They should have believed Brynn. Friends do that, don't they? What is it with me and always hating the main character's friends?

So, Christian... Finally a hispanic guy. I missed those. I sometimes couldn't understand his actions, but then I guess Nyrae created the perfect boy characters - girl just can't understand boys sometimes haha. Christian is a guitar player, but he isn't one of those typical ones. He doesn't brag about it. I also totally loved his gummy bear obsession, it was totally cute. He's make a great book boyfriend - someone with flaws, not too perfect. He had some problems of his own, which was really refreshing next to all these perfect-model-like-I've-got-no-problems-at-all guys.

Also, I liked that the story wasn't focused on Brynn's lost of her mother. It would have been too sad to read about more loss and sad emotions. I'm not sure I could have dealt with that. If Brynn was a real person, she would disagree with me now, but I have to say that she is such a strong girl. The second you read about her, you just get her. It clicks.

During the book I found myself asking if maybe I wanted Brynn to get together with Ian again. I would have liked to read more about their story. Granted, I guess there isn't much to their story, but I like to think he was a nice guy after all; he just didn't know how to treat her right. Let me live inside my own dream world, please.

Nyrae Dawn is one of my favourite authors already. I recently just found out that her other novel, Charade, is out here in Germany. I think I have to pick it up, though I read it in English already. I'm glad she finally gets some attention over here as well. By writing Searching For Beautiful she steadied her position as one of my favourite authors. Maybe this was even my favourite of her novels. I loved it! I really did! I might add that I loved the dedication in this one, really lovely, Nyrae Dawn. :)