My Own Unbecoming Thanks to Mara Dyer

It has not even been ten minutes since I finished volume 2 of the Mara Dyer series and I am terribly afraid that if I don't have volume three in my hands very soon, I might not make it. On a friend recommendation (the same friend who recommended Daughter of Smoke and Bone...what an amazing friend she is!) I picked up The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin and never put it down. I read through the enter weekend, ignoring those tests that needed to be corrected, and finished it feeling absolutely enthralled. The suspense and mystery keep you on the edge of your seat. And let's not forget about the one thing that sets my heart racing...

Noah Shaw....Noah Shaw, Noah Shaw, Noah Shaw. What can I say? The moment his English accent graced the page, I was a goner. Noah is the typical bad boy with a soft heart that turns YA readers into mushy fanatics. From his sarcastic attitude, to his mischievous smirk, Noah is the incarnation of desire. And I still haven't figured out if I am ashamed to say that I had to set the book down a few times to calm my racing heart. The sexual tension is there, but that's not all folks! Noah cares. He is Mara's knight in shining armor. He has a soft spot for her in that bad boy image that he's concocted (which gives us readers a soft spot for him). As much as I love the whole girl saves herself mentality, there is nothing like knowing someone is there for you to save you whenever you need it. That female instinct to find a strong man to save her is still there ladies, it's okay to admit it. I would be all too willing to let Noah save me if he were given the chance. Goodness gracious I am getting flustered just thinking about it. I need to move on.

Let's talk about the creeper factor. These books are creepy. I wouldn't recommend reading with the lights off....Well that might make reading impossible. Let me amend that and say I recommend reading with all the lights on and at least two other people with you. (As I am writing this, the lights are out and my dog is staring into the shadows, growling. He has terrible timing when it comes to these kinds of things and is totally freaking me out) There is a constant feeling that Mara needs to look over her shoulder and have a video camera ready to have proof of occurrences for later. Then there is the ultimate question...is Mara really hallucinating everything? Is any of this even real? It's quite possible. I wouldn't put it past Michelle Hodkin. She is a mastermind of the "WTF" factor. I feel like I am losing my skills because, yet again, I have found a series that has thrown me curveballs I never would have seen coming. The end of book two - are you serious? What the heck is going on anymore???

I am at a total loss for words. I think a giant question mark (followed by a <3 for good measure) might sum up how I feel about these books because Michelle Hodkin is an absolute genius and wouldn't let me get off my couch for a whole weekend. I researched for two hours and drove for another just to get the sequel by the end of the day because I just couldn't wait until Tuesday for it to be shipped to my house. My heart has flat out skipped town in protest to the roller coaster I have put it through. Gah! I think I need to reread right this very moment. I'm a gushing teenager all over again.

Now that I've gone off, let's recap.

Descriptions: 

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Mara Dyer has woken up in a hospital bed with no recollection of how she got there or the events leading up to her admittance. She is told that her best friend, boyfriend, and boyfriend's sister were killed in an accident that she was present for. After moving to Florida to escape the tragedy, experiencing hallucinations, and losing bits of time, Mara finds herself unable to determine what is real and what isn't. She meets a mysterious boy who just might help her discover what is going on...

The Evolution of Mara Dyer

Mara still doesn't know what is happening and Noah is still at a loss for how to help her. Is Jude alive? How did he survive? Why is he torturing her? Will anyone ever believe her? What is real?

So, what are you waiting for?! Go get your copy! You can't have mine, I'm reading it again.

A Discovery.

Just try to guess what book this is about, just try! Ok, good guess, it's Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches and my mind is completely blown. Deborah brings together a beautiful mix of history, romance, suspense, and mystery. When the book first came out, I was interested mostly because I liked the color of the cover (yes, I'm superficial like that). I read the synopsis and my interest was peaked, but unfortunately the price and my long list of "Need to Reads" seemed to be looming over me. Needless to say, I began reading it last Tuesday after a friend recommended it to me and loaned me hers (my friends have the best tastes when it comes to books).

So Tuesday at midnight it began, and on it continued into Wednesday while I sat patiently at the courthouse to hear if they wanted me to be a juror. Reading for eight hours instead of correcting tests was time well spent. I could not put this book down, a difficult task since the book is nearly 600 pages. Finally, I thought, an excellent fantasy read that I don't have to pull out my high school Aeropostale clothes to buy (If you have no idea what I mean, young women such as myself may feel slightly bashful to admit to the amount of young adult novels they fawn over). I am going to digress for a moment, and please don't stop reading at what I am about to say: A Discovery of Witches is my new Twilight. There, I said it. Why? Twilight brought me into the world of YA. I was familiar with Tolstoy, Hardy, Lawrence and all the other authors whose classy romance fiction novels have been considered Literature, and have been read in many English classes. However, once I read Twilight, I was a goner. I reacted the way every author wishes his or her readers to react and when I was done reading, I read the series again. I am pretty sure I was in love with Edward, and not the "oh my gosh I love that character" kind of love. I mean when another girl said she loved him, I became the jealous girlfriend and had to stop talking to said female before I destroyed her pretty hair. So, Twilight was my go to book to get those fuzzy feelings.

It's been a few years since I read the books and I have probably found ones that I love more, but that first reaction will always stick with me. That is how I feel about Deborah's book. I slept only 8 hours this weekend because I did not want to stop reading. I forgot to eat meals and nearly refused to go Christmas tree shopping with my family just so I could keep reading. Then, when I finished all 594 pages, I wished there were more. Now I constantly fantasize about the world and the characters, and I have decided I want to go back to school to study history. I want Diana's job. And I wouldn't complain if I happened to meet a handsome vampire while in the Bodleian Library either. So, let's just say I am enthralled.

Do I need to say it was well written? I think my ranting and raving say it all. I can't really say much else because my discovery of this book (see what I did there?) and my love for it were so unexpected that I would not have wanted anyone to tell me anything more than the synopsis. The story progresses from Diana's seemingly innocent historian life to utter chaos in a matter of weeks, but it feels like a lifetime, even for the characters. The unexpected mysteries behind Diana's heritage slowly start to trickle into the story, and like all unexpected twists and turns, they are utterly brilliant. Okay, okay, sometimes I had to step back and think, "Wait, what? Seriously?" But Harkness incorporates every detail so well that even the things you weren't expecting or didn't even want to know make the story what it is, a masterpiece.

Oh and don't forget Diana's stubborn insistence on being independent. Strong female protagonists have become more and more common and Diana is no exception. She will do what she wants to do, say what she wants to say, and isn't afraid to do the exact opposite of someone's good advice just for the sake of not being told what to do. But there is a flaw in her need to take care of herself, and Diana soon realizes it. Sometimes, I just wanted to smack her and tell her to get over it and let the guy open the door for you, but that's Diana and I love her.

All in all, an excellent read and a must have for my growing library. Okay, I'm done with this completely random and terrible review, because the sequel was just delivered and I am going into my cave.

Tears of Sad Happiness...Is that even possible?

I just finished Rapture, the fourth book in the Fallen Series. I loved the series when it first came out and followed it as each new book was published. I am a sucker for love stories and this series provides the love story of the ages, as it is actually called by one of the characters in the book. I had an idea of the mystery behind who Luce was and what her destiny was, though I had a minor detail or two wrong. The ending is tragically beautiful and made me cry. I am not afraid to say it. I have a lot invested in these characters. But why, oh why, does it have to end?

One can only hope they have their own Daniel Grigori to always find them and sweep them off their feet again and again. Oh how I long to gaze into those violet eyes and see pure love and devotion reflected in them...

"Love is the only thing worth fighting for." - Daniel Grigori, Rapture

Holy Twists and Turns Batman!

Since this blog is for me and what is on my mind, I am writing this post to alleviate all the thoughts poking and prodding my skull, trying to escape. And you ask me, "What is on your mind Mrs. Snowflakes?" Well, let me tell you. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is on my mind. I just finished this book after an outstanding recommendation from a friend and I have to say, I am crazy in love. I am passionate for YA reads and I love me some romance, but it's the adventure I want most. Boy, does this story give you adventure and mystery too! Who is Karou? Why do people keep asking her this question? It seems such a simple question, but it has such a profound premise that you won't know it until it hits you. Laine Taylor provides beautiful writing with little hints to the story's plot that you don't even know are significant until the very end. 

I have to say, I am the type of reader that typically can call the shots early on since I read all similar types of books. This book, however, had a few twists that I wasn't expecting. Some of them may not have been huge, but oh were they good. If you like YA reads that provide you with an escape into the rabbit hole, then look no further. Mystery, fantasy, soul-searching, love, revenge, and adventure are all packed into this beautifully crafted story. Oh, and did I mention one gorgeous and tortured soul that just may sweep you off your feet? Go ahead, see for yourself.

"Hope makes its own magic." - Daughter of Smoke and Bone