MINI REVIEWS : Demonglass, Silence, The Reckoning

MINI REVIEWS : Demonglass, Silence, The Reckoning

   3:49 PM       Elisa

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MINI INTRODUCTION:
From now on I'll add 'Mini Review' which contain short reviews of several books I've read long ago but still haven't made reviews of them. I have busy and procrastinator life so yeah I think this feature is necessary for this blog of mine =)

Demonglass

Author : Rachel Hawkins
Publisher :
U.S : Hyperion Book CH
Indonesia : UFUK Publishing (paperback)
Source : Bought Indonesia version
Pages : 449
Rating : 4 glasses

Review :
Like Hex Hall, I enjoyed this book very much. Sophie's voice is as crazily funny, entertaining and sarcastic as before, one factor that can make me falling for a story very easily. I love how the story is nicely developed here, with Sophie's journey and her encounter with new people, including her father (btw, I like him, what a cool father =p), with unexpected identity and facts, things getting darker and more complicated about who's the real good people and who's the real bad people. It's really shocking and gosh, what an ending! It makes me really want to get Spellbound right away! ><; One thing I like in this series is that the love story somehow doesn't really dominate the whole story, instead it focuses more about Sophie's adventure finding the truth about her identity and the other things. But I can't deny that I also want to know how Hawkins will do about love triangle between Sophie-Archer-Cal at the final book. Secretly I ship Sophie and Cal more because I feel I know about Cal more than Archer. Archer is still a blurry image even after I read two books. Well, just patiently wait until I get a chance purchasing Spellbound one day =p.

Silence

Author : Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher :
U.S : Simon and Schuster
Indonesia : UFUK Publishing (paperback)
Source : Bought Indonesia version
Pages : 592
Rating : 3.5 glasses

Review :
Thankfully my curiosity won over my soul and I didn't drop this series earlier, because somehow for some reason I couldn't really get into the story, mostly getting confused here and there and I got a hard time with the previous book, Crescendo. That book was just really frustrating for me and made me disliking almost everything (read : Nora), even Patch. Well, I never really liked him though, somehow he's not really stand out among other book boyfriends out there and especially I just couldn't understand his strange behavior. But I was glad I was still willing to read this book.
Everything seems getting better, somehow Nora is like being 'renewed', she's like other person comparing to her in previous book, probably amnesia is good for her, lol. She's maturer and willing to take a risk and surprising responsibility that appears at the twisted end of the story. Wow, truthfully I've never seen it coming, quite surprised me!
And I was more surprised because this series has the forth book. Well, just hope this series would have satisfying ending.

The Reckoning (The Darkest Power #3)

Author : Kelley Armstrong
Publisher :
U.S : HarperCollins
Indonesia : UFUK Publishing
Source : Bought Indonesia version
Pages : 366 (Paperback)
Rating : 4 glasses

Review :
I've never expected I would enjoy this series very much! It's getting better and better on each volume and The Reckoning probably is the best sequel of all. What a pleasant ending! Though most of the story of all three books is about Chloe's and her friend's attempt to runaway from an evil organization (means lack of action, actually), it's still very exciting to read, especially when their power are revealed one by one (Chloe's is the scariest, with those zombies with any unbelievable form, seriously can't read this at night!). I loved to see how Chloe becomes maturer in here. She's no longer a spoiled whiny girl and finally she can accept her destiny and her power and also willing to control it. I also love to see the relationship development between Chloe and her friends, especially with Derek. Awww, they're just really sweet together! Their relationship grows naturally, because they want to protect each other. Just sweet! I always enjoyed every parts where both of them involved in and I was beyond satisfied with the ending =D. Such a wonderful series!

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REVIEW : Marshmallow Skye by Cathy Cassidy

REVIEW : Marshmallow Skye by Cathy Cassidy

   7:34 PM       Elisa

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Marshmallow Skye (Chocolate Box Girls #2)

Author      : Cathy Cassidy
Publisher   : UFUK
Source      : Bought
Pages        : 369 (Paperback)

Summary from Goodreads :

SKYE TANBERRY is an identical twin, and she loves her sister Summer more than anyone else in the world. They do everything together, but lately Skye's been feeling like second-best - it's the story of her life. And when her friend Alfie confesses he's fallen for Summer, she pretends it doesn't hurt.

Skye wants to be her own person; but with an effortlessly cool twin, how can she? Will Skye ever step out of Summer's shadow and find her own chance to shine?

Every time I bring this book along with Cherry Crush, I feel like bring two boxes of delicious chocolate that ready to be devoured by myself *looks yummy!*, well obviously it has that design . But personally I do think that way, because I'm already in love with this series although it still has only 2 books! Both share the same taste: brilliantly written, cute, simple and heartwarming family bond, but I can say Marshmallow Skye is a bit different. This book has no single 'real' love scene even at first it looks like a sad love story, but oddly I could feel it and it's oddly beautiful. Somehow the story remind me of the old song "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You" by Savage Garden which I think that was ridiculously impossible at that moment. But this book makes it possible in very sweet way =D

Skye Tanberry is in dilemmas. She loves Summer, her inseparable identical sister, more than anyone else in this world, yes, but finally that time comes when she realizes how weird she is compared to her perfect twin sister (her obsession over vintage things is kinda weird for 15 years old young girl), feels so tired to be the second best, to be Summer's shadow although they share the same face and love. Then one day she finds a trunk full with things from the past at the spooky-rumoured cellar of Tanberry's house, and those things belong to one old relative, Clara Travers, who had committed suicide because she couldn't be with someone she loved, a gypsy guy. Since then Skye only cares about the old tragic love story, old clothes and letters from that trunk and starts to have a weird dreams, likely she is Clara, together with a gypsy boy who predicted as the one she loves. Skye also gradually falls in love with the boy in her dream but sure it's impossible to love someone who doesn't exist, or literally, a ghost from the past. Always be the second best and fall for a ghost, can't life be more misarable for her. But is it really that miserable?

This book was rather giving a melancholic feeling to me. Skye is so pitiful because she's tortured by her own negative thoughts, but strangely I felt a strong connection with her, for some reason I can understand her down feeling very well. At one time I was like wanting to shout to her ear "Oh please Skye, you're already so AWESOME so shut those negativities up! Believe in yourself!" kind, but then I thought I had no right to tell her so because sometimes I can be insecured like her, felt like other is better than me, I'm so odd no one could understand me and so on. But although she seems low spirited, I loved her determination to keep being herself in her unique way, keep being different and stand out with her own charms, not trying to be someone else she doesn't want to be to make people love her.
Skye maybe is my favorite one among Tanberry sisters. She's like the cool, calm, and mature version of her twin and her obsession over old and vintage things add romantic and sentimental image on her. And yes, I can say that what happen on her at this book is really magically romantic! I was deeply inhaling while reading the last part and really can't wait to see more about this couple! =D

What I also love about this series is the settings and how Cassidy explained it through words. They have a beautiful and mysterious impression, like old house where the Tanberry lives that hold some mysteries, an old Gypsy caravan where used to be Cherry's room, a cellar that has been keeping many goods from the past, even Clara's old bird cage that Summer uses to display some flowers. And don't forget, their dad's creative chocolate creations! Yummy~. My mind was busy imagining them all, wondering if I could live in a place like that with a unique family like Tanberry sisters, I would be soooooo happy! =D
We also find the other family members that have been appearing since Cherry Crush like Mom and Dad, Honey, Cherry, Summer, Coco even Shay, and the family drama also enrich the whole story. I enjoyed that this story not only focusing on Skye (although she gets the biggest part, of course) but the whole family get a situation development too.

Overall, actually this is a middle grade reading but I think it's definitely nothing wrong if we the olders read and love this book. It's simply cute, sweet, addicting and magically heartwarming, well, like marshmallow =D. It's also a good story with strong family bond and drama about the processes of acceptance and forgiveness between family members. I definitely can't wait to read the next sequels, about the other sisters and love to see Skye and her boyfriend-to-be again.
Happy reading! ;)

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REVIEW : Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

REVIEW : Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

   11:29 AM       Elisa

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Hex Hall

Author     : Rachel Hawkins
Publisher  : UFUK
Source     : Bought
Pages       : 420

Summary from Goodreads :

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

I was really happy when publisher here announced they'd release Hex Hall right after I just read about it. The cover's exciting, the premise sounds sooo amazing about a pack of young supernatural creatures schooling in one place and that instantly gripped me, the sucker of paranormal stories. And gladly it didn't disappoint me =)

Hex Hall is a delightful, light and refreshing reading and also would make you laugh a bit out loud like I did, because too many sarcasm and witty lines in it. It was a fast pace read and there were some little scary and tense parts that made me flipping the pages faster, wanted to know what happen next. Very exciting reading!

The background situation reminded me a bit with Harry Potter but of course it's different and has its own enchantment, an old castle turn to school and boarding house for problematic witches, warlocks, werewolves,*faeries, and only 2 vampires; no single human and some of them even hate each other.
We read this story through Sophie Mercer's head, the main character in this story and she's one reason why you would enjoy this book. She's so honest to others and herself so her voices and lines are super hillarious and full of sarcasm. I found myself giggling and kept giggling and giggling because of it. She's really easy to be loved! And also what I like more about Sophie is despite her foolish acts and thoughts, she's not a fool. Well, maybe there's a part that annoyed me because she trusted someone suspicious very easily, but she paid it with her clever act. She's also down-to-earth enough to choose her killer-suspected 'pinky' vampire friend, Jenna, than 3 popular witches who want to recruit her.

Then, there's Archer, Sophie's love interest.
Hm... what can I say about him... he's pretty cute, kind, mysterious (well, we know his true identity at last), and still his feeling for Sophie was still unpredictable here, is it sincerely or not. Honestly I don't know him very well except he sometimes threw cute jokes and I still need to find out more about him. I pretty confuse myself that everyone already like him at first, but not me. Odd right? I even more curious about Callahan, who just makes short appearances, who mostly just acted but less talked. Interesting, and I think I'll read more about him at next book =)

Overall, the story quite amusing and very entertaining. But there was something bothered me at translation version, and I'll tell it in Bahasa.

Ini untuk masukan aja buat translatornya (yang mungkin ngga akan dibaca sih disini, secara blog indo yang pakai bahasa Inggris sangat ngga populer =p). Entah memang mungkin di versi aslinya juga seperti itu, saya mendapati cukup banyak pengulangan kalimat 'atau apalah'. Kalau kadang2 saja mungkin tidak masalah, cuma karena sering banget jadi rada2 gimana gt. Kalo misal memang di versi aslinya seperti ya mau gimana lagi emang. Just sayin' =)

Hex Hall is recommended if you need light paranormal story with witty and satire writing style which makes you laugh. I can't wait to read the next sequel, Demon Glass that will be released next month based on publisher's info.

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REVIEW : The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

REVIEW : The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

   2:47 PM       Elisa

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The Awakening

Author     : Kelley Armstrong
Publisher  : UFUK
Source     : Bought
Pages       : 422

Summary from Goodreads :

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

Hm... like usual, hesitation at first. The Summoning was a quite slow read for me last time. I even put it down for a moment and read another book then after a while, I continued and couldn't stop reading it after a half book til last page, and yeah that cliffhanger ending made me want the next sequel soon. Got this in my hand, but still, I was afraid I couldn't enjoy this so I didn't immediately read it. After a few weeks, I decided to read it and... A BIG surprise! I enjoyed it well =) I think The Awakening is better than The Summoning =D

Plots, powers, and relationship among the characters are distinctly develop here. It has more action, adventure and what made me more excited, Derek *cuddle*. There's also unexpected truth about who the true friends or enemies, well at least for me it's unexpected.
Each character are digged deeper, at their powers and personalities. I love how Armstrong made a situation as the 'turning point' on friendship between Chloe and Victoria. As I read more about Victoria, I did start to like her more than before. More supernatural power of Chloe, Simon, Derek, and Victoria involve here, make the story more fascinating. I flinched and chilled as I read and imagined how strong Chloe power is, for raising the death without even trying too hard, and not just human *shivered*.

Ah Derek... just glad he makes appearance more often, and is a very strong werewolf boy. Anyway, just curious how a tiny and 'plain' romance can be so sweet. Chloe and Derek don't share lovey dovey scenes, even there's no single romantic scene in this book, but their consideration and acceptance to each other moving me. I hope there would be more developement on their relationship at the next sequel.

This book is a series that should be read in sequence so we could get the story clearly and sense the development. Very recommended for those who like paranormal series with a bit horror and supernatural teens.
I really can't wait to read The Reckoning!

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REVIEW : Sing Me To Sleep

REVIEW : Sing Me To Sleep

   10:37 AM       Elisa

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Sing Me To Sleep

Author     : Angela Morrison
Publisher  : UFUK
Source     : Bought
Pages       :


Blurb from Goodreads :

THE TRANSFORMATION

Beth has always been "The Beast" - that's what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth's only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she's selected to be her choir's soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.

THE LOVE AFFAIR

When Beth's choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek's untethered passion - for music, and for Beth - leaves her breathless. Because in Derek's eyes? She's not The Beast, she's The Beauty.

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE

When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?

THE HEARTBREAK

The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek's been hiding a dark secret from her ...one that could shatter everything.

I had very high expectation of this novel. The cover is very gorgeous, blurb caught me, I read good reviews about this, moreover this is inspired from a real story, and I like the story like this. It sounds like "A Walk to Remember" which I love so much, yeah you know how the story end now. Judge what kind of girl I am =p

So when I decided to read it and struggled to finished this...
Ugh.
Another harsh review from me, I just try to be honest. Be prepared =p

Okay, this should be a kind of tear-jerker story and I already prepared myself to sheded some tears but guess what. I didn't. It even didn't move me. I felt nothing, happy nor sad. What the.
The concept is good actually and with some magical writing talent, it can be a beautiful story. But for me, this is not the one. I don't know maybe because all this time I read kick-ass and strong mind main girls characters and adore them, or because I'm too old for high schooler drama. This book is absolutely not for me.

The first problem is the main characters. I don't like Beth and Derek, but I really really love Scott. I thhnk he's the only likeable character in this book.
Beth is maybe a real character for a girl in her age with all condition and obstacles she has, but she is shallow and pathetic. Almost all pages of this book is about Beth whinning. She whines all the time about how ugly she is, how unattractive she is, and reading all of this was really tiring. And then she gets a make-over because she has to shows herself in front of people as a main vocalist at the choir she joins and then because of that she is liked by everyone. I'm glad it's only lasics to get rid her scars from her face and does some make-ups, if she ran plastic surgery, I'll really hate this book. I can't understand the purposes of Beth's bad condition and her transformation. It might change her life, but what for? Be more likeable with more attractive outer appearance? Got a boyfriend she dream of because her new features? It's not a mistake to be pretty by some efforts, it's even a must and a nature for all girls. But somehow I feel something is wrong if we just depend on our outer appearance to be loved.

And more bothering is her deep and blind love for Derek. She is helplessly...stupidly falls in love with him. She can't live without him, can't stay depart from him after she knows Derek for just a short time, not even a month. Geez seriously such a torture to read her whinning about her love life. I can't stand a girl who helplessly begs for love, so yeah... I simply can't stand it.
Next is Derek. Beside his good looking, a rebel boy, and his high passion towards music and choir despite of his terminal illness, I didn't know him. His portion at this story can't describe him very well and from everthing he does in this book, I barely can sympathize him, even I judge him as a selfish boy who does everything to fullfill his last wish, like uses a naive girl who coincidentally is a great singer and doesn't know anything about love before. Derek barely knows about Beth but he abruptly says love to her after he heard her voice, like interests to her just because of her voice and her 'new look'. Just imagine if Beth didn't change, will Derek still like her despite of her voice? Maybe yes, but he won't love her. Because even when they are in relationship, I didn't feel his sincere love.
At the contrary, I really adore Scott, Beth's only best friend. He loves Beth since she was a kid, when she was still an ugly, and still love her while Beth blindly loves Derek. He loves Beth whatever and however her condition is. I sympathize him a lot, although at the last Beth realizes at the bottom of her heart she loves Scott and she's nothing for Derek except her talent, and back to him after Derek's death. He's obviously the second. Hmph.

Many reviewers compare her with Bella from Twilight. I think I must agree at the part of instant love, like love at the first sight. But for the rest, Bella and Edward are the way better than Beth and Derek. At least for me =p
So... I won't recommend this book to especially for those who loves strong-willed and positive girl main characters, but if you still curious, just read it. Maybe you have a better opinion about this book than me =)

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REVIEW : Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

REVIEW : Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

   4:30 PM       Elisa

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Ballad, A Gathering of Faeries

Author     : Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher  : UFUK
Pages      :
Source    : Bought

Blurb :
In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

Book that introduced me to Maggie Stiefvater is Shiver, and instantly I added her as my favorite author because her flowing, beautiful, and poetic writing style. So when I found Lament which has unattractive cover without second thought I bought it and I awed with her deep knowledge about Faery world and terms, and of course with the characters she built.

Ballad, like Lament, is beautiful, poetic and wicked. Don't ever imagine faeries here are like cute Tinker Bell with her sparkle dust. They're mostly bloody vicious and some have awful appearance. They attract human to be their prey, and kill them with no hesitation. But still... Stiefvater draws their wicked world beautifully.

This story is told alternately from James and Nuala POV. We know more about James, a prodigy bag pipe player and Deirdre's best friend who has been falling in love with her for his entire life. Sarcastic male character always win my heart, so I really enjoy his chapters, his witty voices and never-ending sarcasm cracks me alot. But behind all of James's follish acts, he hurts too much. I don't really like Deirdre here because of her selfishness. She seems using James to covered up her own heartache without concerns his feeling.
And then there's Nuala, a fierce faery girl who her first intention is making James as her prey. The relationship between James and Nuala grows in unique way, at one time they hate each other, and slowly but sure they realized that they need each other.
Another unique feature is there are Deirdre's unsent message to James inserted between chapters. I think it's the way to explain how's Deirdre conditions since Ballad concentrates more to James and Nuala. The messages are also heartbreaking... well I forgave Deirdre because of that. A bit.

Overall, I think Ballad is better and more enjoyable than Lament for me. The characters are deeper and stonger (James and Nuala), the story is unpredictable till the end with beautiful and heartbreaking story.
Seriously, how many I said 'beautiful' and 'heartbreaking'???

And the cover comparisson :

I love both version. The english version is simple but describe the story well, related to Nuala. With black background, the burn maple leave looks stand out more. Indonesia version is pretty, but the girl on the cover doesn't match with Nuala appearance (well I roughly assumed the girl at the cover is Nuala =p) which is platina blonde and un-human face. And it doesn't go together with old Lament cover I owned =x But well, it's not a big deal though.

Stiefvater fans have to read this. The same beautiful as Shiver, with different emotion. And for those haven't read any of her novels... hm... maybe you have to read Lament first before this one =). 4 stars for this novel

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REVIEW : The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

REVIEW : The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

   9:40 AM       Elisa

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The Summoning (Darkest Power #1)
Author     : Kelley Armstrong
Publisher  : UFUK Publishing (Indonesia)
Page        : 460
Source     : Bought

Blurb :
My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.
All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost—and the ghost saw me.
Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House . . . before its skeletons come back to haunt me. 

I really adore the story idea, it's exciting, a bit horror (with ghost and walking death body etc *_*) and dark, about a group of teenager that is being isolated at a place named 'Lyle House' because they have supernatural power, or are naturally supernatural being.
This story centered to Chloe Saunders, and we saw entire story environment through her eyes with first person POV. But thanks to good writing skill, I think we could know the other characters well too, of course from Chloe side, how they interacted to her.

But beside those goods... maybe this first book is as an 'introduction' about the characters and also a process of how Chloe accepted her true identity as one of supernatural being and uuh.. for almost a half book, I felt the story was slow and dragged and I admit, I struggled to finished this. Some review said this has fast pace, but I didn't feel the same way.
I started to enjoyed this again, and even couldn't stop reading it after like 2/3 book.

I find Chloe is interesting, once I thought Chloe like had double personality because we could see at times she was arguing with voices inside her head (and that voice is positive though), or maybe that was her true thoughts since at first she denied her ability.
I totally love Derek! He's my boy type, looks mean but he cares and smart. I read there will a love triangle between Simon-Chloe-Derek and i have to say, I'm team Derek xD.
Cannot wait for the next book, which confirmed to be published next month =D
If you like dark supernatural with a bit horror story, little but cute developed love string, and strong main characters this will be your book. I give 3 star for The Summoning.

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REVIEW : City of Fallen Angel by Cassandra Clare

REVIEW : City of Fallen Angel by Cassandra Clare

   4:14 PM       Elisa

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City of Fallen Angel (The Mortal Instruments #4)
Author              : Cassandra Clare
Publisher           : UFUK (Indonesia)
Page                 : 580
Source              : Bought

Blurb :
City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

(Warning, may contain spoiler ;9)
After pre-ordered this book from the publisher, finally i got this right before Eid Mubarak days off and that surprised me yet made me so happy. I couldn't wait to read the next book of this amazing series but also a bit afraid because of many negative reviews of this book. I read it in 3 days (a while ago, but just wrote the review =p) and hey, I still loved and enjoyed this book as the previous three.

I understand why some people feel bad about this book, because the lovely Jace seems push aside and become very frustating here. I did too, believe me.
Poor Jace, with all uncertain things around him like his identity (Jace Lightwood-Wayland-Herondale-Mongersten?) and his weird and horrified dreams. Also even though Jace started to stayed away from Clary I felt his relationship with Clary became more intense here. Every time he met Clary, he mostly grabbed and made out with her. Although my dirty mind still enjoy it, i missed their cute relationship at previous 3 books /:

All Jace-Clary frustating parts were healed by some side characters.
I definitely loves Simon here, who struggled with Cain's mark which made him unbeatable, and how he 'dated' 2 girls at the same time, Isabelle and Maia. Kyle Jordan's appearance should clear Simon's two timing (who's Jordan? Just read City of Ashes/Glass to know who is he =p) and I hope Simon will end with Isabelle. This couple had more chemistry before.

Jace and Simon also developed their relation here. I love sarcasm comments between them, especially that 'mango' thing. Lol that made me laughed so hard xD

And what the heck with THAT ending??! I already had a prediction about Sebastian's mysterious death, without witnessing his body of course we also can assume he's still alive, but.... *wiping sweats*
Clare seriously loves to torture us and now i desperately can not wait for City of Lost Soul ;A; *starting to counting months*

Okay soooo.... I should give this book 4.5 star. Good, yet a bit frustating.
Next, so can't wait for Clockwork Prince!

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REVIEW : Cherry Crush by Cathy Cassidy

REVIEW : Cherry Crush by Cathy Cassidy

   2:11 PM       Elisa

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Cherry Crush (The Chocolate Box Girls Book 1)
Author              : Cathy Cassidy
Publisher           : UFUK Publishing (Indonesia)
Page                 : 328

Source              : Bought

Blurb (from Cathy Cassidy's Official Website) :

The Chocolate Box Girls
Each sister has a different story to tell, which one will be your favourite?
Cherry Costello’s life is about to change forever. She and Dad are moving to Somerset where a new mum and a bunch of brand-new sisters await.
And on Cherry’s first day there her head is turned by the gorgeous Shay Fletcher.
But Shay already has a girlfriend, Cherry’s new stepsister, Honey. Cherry knows her friendship with Shay is dangerous – it could destroy everything. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to stay away from him . .

I am not familiar with the author, but the cover was very cute and tempted (pink, heart shape, chocolates, cute title etc, just see it yourself =9) so i tried this.
After stayed at my book pile for about 5 months, finally i decided to read this when i needed a light reading. And yes, this is totally light and fast reading (I read this about 4-5 hours at night =p).

The story mainly is about love and family, and full with lovable characters.

Cherry Costello is a cute, dreamer,and good girl (and wow she is half Scottish half Japanese), and she seems living her simple live with her father quite happily, but the main problem is she keeps lying to make herself looks good in front of others and she knows it. Although it doesn't make any harm to anybody, that personality flawed her cuteness and makes her looks pitiful. Thankfully the author didn't make Cherry's lying problem as the main issue for the entire story.

What is nice also how her new family happily accept Cherry and her father, well, almost all her new family, not Honey. I didn't like her at the first, she was a typical of popular-blonde-girl, often mad for no reason, egoist, and rude. But after read some chapters i knew her more and even sympathized her when Shay was 'snatched away'. Not Cherry nor Shay's fault though, because Shay couldn't take Honey's rudeness and Cherry was a nice and cute girl who was always there to heard Shay.

Shay had a player image and every girl in town liked him. I like how Shay slowly approached Cherry in many sweet ways *amused*.

I can't wait for the next book after saw the ending part. Very thrilling! If you like light, cute and sweet like chocolate's story, this book is fit for you.
I give this 4 star, despite of the simple story, i couldn't put it down and finished it in short time ;D

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