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The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle

L.J. Smith

253 pages

A deadly love triangle.

Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him.  Determined to have Elena, he’d kill to possess her.

The Vampire Diaries, a tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.

Girls cannot resist from egomaniac, wild, sexy bad boy’s charm. I’ll be melting inside out under his lazy smile and hypnotizing black eyes. Forget Edward Cullen, erase Jack Force. Meet Damon Salvatore. He makes me drooling like an idiot. He’s the perfect vampire guy from all the book I’ve read about that blood lover.  It’s just too bad he doesn’t show up a lot.

Elena’s character changes slowly. From bitchy popular girl to sympathetic ordinary high school girl. Suddenly she didn’t give attentions to everything happened in her surroundings. She only thinks of Stefan, and Damon (she doesn’t want to say it out loud, of course).

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening

L. J. Smith

253 pages

 

A deadly love triangle.
 

Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him.  Determined to have Elena, he’d kill to possess her.

The Vampire Diaries, a tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.

This is the only book that have popular girl at school as main character. Beautiful, blond, has “cheerleader” group, being a little bitch sometimes.

Usually books in a series are the same with a single stand-alone book. They have beginning part, problems (I forget what the exact word), climax, anticlimax and conclusion. But, it’s different with this series. The first book is exactly the beginning part of the story. It doesn’t have climax like one by one battle or war between two families or competition of two girls to get a guy.

Curious. That’s a simple word from me after I know a tv series is made based on this. I never watch it so the story is happening in my imagination purely. And I can’t wait to read about Damon. I can’t stand of character like him.

Fallen

By Lauren Kate

Publisher Delacorte Press

Published Date December 8th 2009

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

REVIEW

I can’t get the story yet, though I’ve finished reading it. What’s the meaning of fallen angels’ battle? How about the dark shadow Luce always see? How can Luce die after knowing the truth in her past lives? I have to wait for the second book to understand it. Very frustrating.

The book is thick enough and boring at the first. Then, the story become interesting from page 250’s. Daniel and Cam fought each other. Not the kind of highschool student fighting over girls, but of creatures beyond human. Hard, cruel and killing.

Lauren Kate’s style reminds me of Stephenie Meyer. I mean in adoring someone we love. Bella in describing Edward and Luce in Daniel. But I prefer this book. Though it’s a little cheesy (feeling safe when Luce’s around Daniel, knowing where to look at and find Daniel watching her, rejecting and yearning of being together from Daniel, etc.), I still feel the maturity from this book. Not too embarassing – no offense but sorry for Twilighters.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian

By                        : Rick Riordan

Publisher            : Hyperion

Publishing Date : May 5, 2009

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows.

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time. In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

REVIEW

This is the best ending, beside Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. Too bad, Percy’s adventures end here. Full action and battle sequences from the beginning to the end of the book. I really can’t put the book down. Sleepy or crammed neck and tired eyes, I don’t care. Percy Jackson, I follow you til the end.

Demigods that have minor role in previous books or new characters in this one, show up to defend Olympus and the world from Kronos. They die and many of them died in honor. Gods, as usual don’t too fond with human. They do as they like and I find it a little annoying. They are gods but they can’t see what they face – it’s kind of silly, isn’t it? A few surprises and twists were there although they were not as shocked as in previous books.

I’ve said character bearing the name of Luke is always a good character. But I – and you – know that’s an exception for Luke Castellan. I hate him for make Percy and Annabeth suffer. All I can think is “how could he?” – this is the effect of me too absorbed to the story and Riordan’s writing style affetcs mine, too. But believe me. After reading this book, everyone will change their mind to “oh, poor Luke”. And indeed, I am right: Luke is a good character in every book I know. Now, the number in hatred-o-meter decrease a little bit to “sympathy”.

Read all the series OR read it in turn with others?

Confused. That is the very first thing happen everytime I read one sequel after reading other books from other series. Much more difficult to regain all the story if i don’t read it at once.

I prefer read one book from one series then continue with other series. So as not to feel bored. Now I think that’s silly enough. I will have to remember all the story from the beginning before I read the next one. Sometimes, in some part of the book, I stop and collect the important things and connect the dots. That’s just wasting time.

What do you think of that? Is it much easier to finish the series before continue to other series? I’ve done that when I read Twilight saga. But that’s because I have only that series in my hand. Now I have plenty choices.

Let me know what you’re thinking, guys.

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning

By James Patterson

Publisher           : Little, Brown and Company

Published Date : March 17, 2008

Max returns in a chilling adventure unlike any other. Safe havens for the six highly-sought-after winged kids have become increasingly hard to find, so the flock takes refuge in Antarctica with a team of environmentalists studying the effects of global warming. In this remote wilderness--whether pursued by corrupt governments, bioengineered bad-guys, or the harsh forces of nature--survival of the fittest takes a new twist!

Global warming. That’s the main theme. It’s not thrilling like Max’s previous adventures. And no love sign from Max-Fang. Dang!

I thought this book is great. With Itex, the School - or whatever its name - gone, Max and her flock will face other enemies. But no. She just did help scientists taking a note of weather changings.

Blue Bloods: The Van Alen Legacy

By Melissa de la Cruz

Publisher Hyperion CH

Published Date Oct 6, 2009

The story told in three third point of views: Schuyler’s, Mimi’s and Bliss’. Schuyler, Bliss and Mimi have their chapters in turn. But it’s too short to absorb. For a whole book, their third point of view fill the story little by little.

I don’t like it when I left Schuyler’s part. It made me read faster so I can get past on Mimi’s and Bliss’ parts and back to Schuyler again. I don’t know why. Maybe because I like it when Oliver is around (the ending doesn’t happen as I expected). it can be said he is the main male character in book 4. And as other book, the main character ended with the one they love. Unfortunately, love doesn’t meet Oliver’s way. He becomes a wise grown up man. And that makes me love him more.

I hope to read great war between Abaddon and Azrael in the next book. It kindly to happen since Jack left his bonded twin to be with Schuyler, a nothing halfblood.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth

By Rick Riordan

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Publication Date: 2008-05-06

Time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable as Kronos's army prepares to invade. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends set out on a quest through the Labyrinth.

Review

Percy is back and this time he gets mortal companion to go inside the labyrinth. And love is finding its way between Percy and Annabeth. 

Unlike the first three books, Percy and his friends don’t travel across U.S on the land. I said “not on the land” because they are going underground. The famous Labyrinth, only without the Minotaur. They can go inside it from cave in Camp Half-Blood and pop up somewhere else. Note to read: time is undetectable there.

I used to love Luke before we know he betrayed Percy. Luke is not too strong here. From the first book to this forth, his personalities are the same. Full of hatred, cruel, an evil leader and he likely loves Annabeth, too. Percy, you got strong enemy.

Intertwined

By Gena Showalter

Harlequin Teen

August 25, 2009

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls inside him: One can time-travel. One can raise the dead. One can tell the future. And one can possess another human.

With no family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they're causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he'll blink and suddenly he's a younger Aden, reliving the past. Or he'll walk past a total stranger and know how she's going to die. He's so over it. All he wants is peace.

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. For her sake, he should stay away. But it's too late....

Somehow, they share an inexplicable friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf who wants Mary Ann, and a vampire princess Aden can't resist.

Two romances, both forbidden. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger--but not everyone will come out alive....

Review

A vampire-werewolf book. Again. With a schizophrenia boy as a male character. You think vampire and werewolf story has ended, don’t you? Nope. Everything can happen. Not just the two ancient enemies, there are gblins, fairis and witches, too.you can find them all in this one book (yeah, I’m like commercial break on TV).

I don’t get the story. It is running in circle. A boy who has four souls trapped inside his head – schizophrenic?, a vampire princess, a werewolf guard and a normal teenage girl. Its topic is too wide.

In every book, there is always one charming (attractive) character to one spesific reader. To me, that is Riley. I don’t know how I can stuck to non-main protagonist. On most book or story I always drawn to non-main protagonist. The friend of the main character, the family or even the bad guy. Riley is fascinating. Handsome, cool, wild and a shapeshifter. But I don’t like it when Riley drawn to Mary Ann and Victoria to Aden. It doesn’t make sense it happened so simple. I need more reasons to see it as logical thing. Nevermind, just enjoy the story. Don’t think too much.

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

By James Patterson
2007



Max and the Flock have escaped from the evil scientists. Again. After some more fighting, being captured, and escaping, they end up with Ari on their side, which causes them to split up. Max, along with Nudge and Angel, are finally led by the Voice to Germany -- but only after it leads them to England and France, for no apparent reason. But then you know how these Deep Throat types are -- they never tell you anything straight out. 

So after some European site-seeing, they find the Itex master headquarters, where they are ... captured again! There the evil corporation is having some sort of pep rally/gladiator bout, in which Max is to be the feature attraction. Good thing Fang has been keeping that blog.

Patterson was still using many point of views in this book: first point of view of Max, third point of view of Fang and the others (but mostly, between Max and Fang). A liitle confusing for me at the beginning because I read the previous book a month ago. But after a while I can keep up with it.

Did that make me enjoy the book? Nope. I can’t differ what Max faced in reality and her dreams (depends on what the whitecoats told her). I thought everything happened in Book 1 and Book 2 are just dreams. Then once again, the whitecoats told lies to Max.

In the middle of the book, Fang’s point of view showed up as blog style. I like it when I read Fang parts. He is cool. And thank God. There is one can made me smile: Max-Fang relationship. Oh, I love Fang. I can’t describe it with words. I just feel it in my heart.

Blue Bloods: Revelations

Melissa de la Cruz

2008

Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called into question: is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.

When an ancient place of power is threatened in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all Schuyler is torn between duty and passion, love and freedom.

Romance, glamour, and vampire lore collide in the highly anticipated third book in best-selling author Melissa de la Cruz’s Blue Bloods saga.

Number one lovely character of this series: Oliver. If Schuyler doesn’t love him, I will. How can I not like him? He is so dedicated to her, cared and loved her without to much thinking. Bad Schuyler.

Almost half of the book consist of Schuyler-Jack-Mimi things. I waited for the war between Blue Bloods and Silver Bloods (Thank God, there is a little war in the end of the book). Readers can only guess of what happened next, who killed the Blue Bloods, why Dylan lost his memories, blah blah blah. But I can’t change the book I’m reading. I wanna know the triangle (or square if I count Oliver) loves’ fate. So tempting with Melissa de la Cruz’s own style: confusing and making readers blind of where they’re taking to. 

I realized in this book, Cruz used “Audio Recording Archieve” part as the timeline while in book 1, she used diary of Cordelia Van Alen’s former shell. I can’t remember what she used in book 2. I think there are no such things, right? *creased my forehead to think hard* AH! I remember now. Book 2 used news from old papers about the missing Maggie Stanford.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan’s Curse

By Rick Riordan

April 2008

336 pages

This Percy Jackson book is still an adventure comedy story. Thrilling, yet funny at few spots. I really like it. Unfortunately, Annabeth wasn’t around on almost half of the book. I hoped for Percy and Annabeth’s relationship grow – though a little. Apparently, not. How disappointing.

I realized in the first three books, Percy Jackson were always having adventure across US. From east to west, from west back to east, but with different route – north and south. Interesting for me whom never been gone there. And as usual, Riordan gave surprise in the end of the book. it made me widened my eyes for a while and imagined how the story would go. It should be more fun.

This Percy Jackson book is still an adventure comedy story. Thrilling, yet funny at few spots. I really like it. Unfortunately, Annabeth wasn’t around on almost half of the book. I hoped for Percy and Annabeth’s relationship grow – though a little. Apparently, not. How disappointing.

I realized in the first three books, Percy Jackson were always having adventure across US. From east to west, from west back to east, but with different route – north and south. Interesting for me whom never been gone there. And as usual, Riordan gave surprise in the end of the book. it made me widened my eyes for a while and imagined how the story would go. It should be more fun.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Romance was not a part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see insider her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgement.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decides whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen--and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

I like the cover once I saw it. An angel with scattered black wings. First thing came up: fallen angel. I was right. Now vampires era is up and angels take place. The story is as good as –no, it’s better than – the cover. It’s delicious. I find the story about fallen angel is more interesting than vampires. Or because I’m bored with blood-drinking-guy? I think so. Twilight Saga made me full of vampires for a while.

I’m stunned by Patch. How come I don’t? He is handsome, tall, sexy (according to me), yet mysterious. It reminds me of why I love male characters with black personalities; black hair, black outfit, black eyes. It also means he is mysterious, lesstalk, cool and attract female readers.

Though I don’t know where the story will take me, I’m forced myself to keep on reading. In the middle of the book, I feel like I read some chicklit: not so average girl (that’s how she felt) attracted to a mysterious and sexy guy. Luckily, I insisted on reading so I knew what – or who – exactly Patch is (I can guessed it easily). Fitzpatrick is dragged me to the end. The tense is on the highest point almost in the end of the book. Good job, Mam.

Blue Bloods: Masquerade, a novel by Melissa de la Cruz

2007
309 pages

Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young vampires. With her best friend, Oliver, Schuyler travels to Italy in the hope of finding the one man who can help - her grandfather. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city's wealthy, powerful, and unhuman - a true Blue Blood affair.

But it's at the after-party, a masquerade ball thrown by the cunning Mimi Force, that the real danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will forever change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

This book is more interesting than the first one. I’m not too confused anymore as I read Blue Bloods. I think I’ve got de la Cruz’s style. The tension is higher. It’s needed to sequels so as to attract readers. I like the twists here. I was surprised reading this because I didnot expect the flow. Very surprising.

I’m torn in two, between Jack and Oliver. But I prefer Oliver. He loves Schuyler without hesitation and he wil sacrifice himself if he has to. Unlike Jack. I don’t know whom he loves. He attracted to Schuyler and he realized he loves her but he loves Mimi, too. How can it be?

Vampire here has different meaning than all we know. And I’m hard to understand “the bond between twin vampires”. It’s weird twin vampires are couples.

Maximum Ride: School’s Out – Forever, a novel by James Patterson

Little, Brown & Co.
2006
409 pages

Avian-human hybrid Max and her similarly genetically enhanced Flock are on the run from the evil scientists and their nasty minions, the wolf-human hybrids called Erasers. Including Ari. Yes, he was killed in the last book, but now he's back, with no real explanation, and meaner than ever (daddy issues), now that he and the other Erasers have had wings grafted on their backs. You'd think this would make them more dangerous, but it actually seems to have made them more clumsy.

Max and the Flock engage in plenty of fighting, chases, and escape plans while Ari and the evil scientists do their scheming. Apparently there's a plot to kill off half the people in the world, method unspecified, reasons rather vague. (You know, that's what evil scientists do.)

Meanwhile the Flock get taken in by an apparently nice woman ... until it turns out that she's evil too. And they get to go to a normal school for a while ... until it turns out that the school is evil too. And Iggy finds his parents ... until (wait for it) it turns out they're evil too. Well, not evil -- just bad. And so on.

I like unfunny jokes in this story. Like Max told Iggy that he was blind. Everyone knows he is blind. it’s funny that make my lips curled up and smile. But I hate Max and Fang. If they have a cursh on each other, why they didn’t say or show it? I hope they will end up together. Or that’s what I was thinking of, that Patterson made them as couple.

I can’t get the book down. It’s exhilarating. It made me breathless when I read parts of the flock was chased by Erasers. Though I still don’t know what whitecoats’ intention to the flock. Saving the world? Max is important? What’s the meaning of that? I’m not Max and it’s all so confusing, indeed.

Blue Bloods, a novel by Melissa de la Cruz

Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapidated mansion. Schuyler is a loner—and happy that way.

But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. She has a mosaic of blue veins on her arms, and craves raw meat. The death of a popular girl from Duchesne is surrounded by a mystery that haunts her. And strangest off all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her.

Schuyler wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

I feel a little confuse reading this. Melissa de la Cruz’s style is different from books I’ve read before. She used all kind of point of view each chapter. I had to think for a while to get it. She described all the socialites life. Social committees, pretigious mansions, bilionaires families, branded fashions, private schools. I can hardly imagine all that.

The story is up not until the third of the books. Although I feel dizzy with the flow and where it took readers, I kept on reading. And I was right. The story was attracting me. I can’t put it down until I am too tired to open my eyes. Too bad, I still have to go to work. I can’t finish it in once reading.