Goddess Interrupted: review

Title: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2)
Author: Aimee Carter
Genres: Greek mythology retelling
Summary: Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person whom she would really rather not meet. Henry's first wife, Persephone.

I really, really hate writing bad reviews for books. It makes me sad. I debated a while if I should even post it on here. BUT these are my opinions, and sometimes it's hard not to just blurt them out. So, I really mean no offense to the author, or the characters. This is what I thought of Goddess Interrupted:


3.something stars.

First. STUPID CLIFFHANGER! -_- I wasn't going to, but NOW I have to keep reading the series. XD It's sillily addicting like that.

Okay.

Pretty much, the plot of Goddess Interrupted is.......A PITY PARTY! *celebrate* so if you LOVE in books:

-Lack of communication in a relationship

-whining

-Bellaness

-I don't deserve to live!

-Why does everybody hate me?

-I'm such a burden. (curls up in a ball of misery)

-I'm in a love triangle: my husband still loves his first wife! He won't kiss me!

-sobbing. (I should have counted the number of times that word was used. SUCK IT UP, KATE)

- etc.

...then you'll LOVE THIS BOOK.


I loved the first book. It was fun, unique and after reading it, I found out it is the first in a series. Wonderful. I always end up wishing that there were more to the standalone books and fewer in series. Do you get that feeling too?

This whole freaking book was centered around marriage. Now, I am not against marriage, but, unlike Kate, I do NOT believe it is necessary for a woman to be married, to be happy in her life. I mean, she is SO dependent on NEEDING Henry to love her. The problem is, for the entire book she expects HIM to fix it and not actually just TELL him how she is feeling! AKA: unloved.

There are so many problems with relationships in here too. Half the time I don't even understand why someone is hurting who, and for what random past 'wrong' they did to them over someone sleeping with someone else. Infidelity and fidelity are almost interchangeable. Why? Because the gods live eons and eons and, well, no one can stay with another THAT long without getting bored. So it is known, but not really dealt with between the gods.

The action scenes in here are LAME. Every time a fight came up, Kate was either immediately knocked out or transported right outta there, while someone more fit to the job, (hm, like A MALE?) I think she punched Calliope at one point? But that whole scene was a mess, so I'm not actually sure what happened.

It's degrading and embarrassing how women act like and are treated in the story. I can't get over it. 

Henry, I know you've been hurt for thousands of years, but dude! Just SAY SOMETHING. Then everything will be fine!


Excuse my rant. I need to stop now, before I totally kill this book.


-Jane

Guest post! Forbidden: review

My friend, Rishelle, wrote this wonderful review on a book I will  never, ever read, and I would like to share it! So, here is her review, I hope you enjoy!

Title: Forbidden
Author: Tabitha Suzuma
Genres: contemporary ya, drama, family
Summary: She is pretty and talented - sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But... they are brother and sister.

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.


(Hey followers of Jane Speare at Much Ado About Books. Much thanks to her for posting my review here! I hope you like it.)

Heartbreaking!

This book was probably one of the best all a round books I've ever read. I would say that everyone should read it, but that is not true. Not everyone can fully enjoy this book (enjoy thats not the word, except). 

Before reading:
I was bored in yearbook and logged on to Goodreads. I looked through my recommend books from this site. I saw Forbidden there, I read the summery and was instantly intrigued. Why, you may ask. It's a story about a bother and sister romance. Yeah well sometimes I like twisted stories like that. It makes me think. How can it work out? What will the ending be like? -I'm one of those people who are very good guessers and can usually guess the ending of a book or a movie. So one in which I cannot guess the ending excites me.

I marked this book to read in February, and it has be lingering in the back of my mind since, saying read me, read me, you want to know what happens!
So a week ago a gave in and put it on hold at the library. It came in a few days after that and I picked it up on Friday. Saturday (yesterday) I started it. And today (Sunday) I finished it!

One thing is that this story is very different from my normal reads. Honestly their is no action, and the story progresses at a slow rate. Normally I hate that in a book. But for this one I couldn't put it down, not for a minute. It pained me that I had to sleep and do my chores on Sunday (today), and I had to make sure I ate considering I missed two meals on Saturday because of this book.

NOTE
This book is not for everyone! It deals with not only a brother and sister relationship, but a completely screwed up family. 
And as a warning, there is a very graphic part of this book...(and I'm not talking a bloody sort of graphic).
I would say this book is for older teens and up. If I were to rate this in movie ratings it would defiantly be R. (being 17 I guess thats no big for me). But defiantly for mature only!
I also think being an only child helped with this book not bothering me as much in the relationship part.

So here we go...
This book takes place in London. Which I didn't figure out until the third chapter, I think. (The one problem with that is they said soccer, in England, Europe, pretty much everywhere except the U.S. soccer is called football. Sorry but it bothered me.) 
The Whitely's are a broken family to say the least. Their parents got married because their mum was pregnant with Lochan. The couple and four more kids, then their dad left. He was sick of their mum. He moved to Australia with a new wife and that was that, they never heard form him again, -well for a few years they got calls and birthday presents but soon that stopped as well as the child support. (The story takes place five years after their father left.) The mum- now at first I tried, I mean I really tried, to give her the benefit of the doubt. But she is a class A bitch, pardon my language but I hate that alcoholic slut! She never wanted kids and blames them for everything, especially Lochan, because she got pregnant with him! She expects Lochan and Maya to take care of the three younger ones Kit, Tiffin, and Willa. She is a sunken partier at 40 something and dates these guys who will never marry her. She is almost never home.

Lochan is the oldest he is 17 a senior in high school. He also is extremely shy. It's more than shy he has an extreme phobia. He gets panic attacks. He never talks or looks at anyone outside of his family. Maya is 16 and beautiful. She is a junior in high school. She is a good liar, she fakes that she is just like the other kids when she is not. Together Lochan and Maya raise their younger siblings. Kit is 13 and a rebel. He is so distraught about his fathers gone and he hates that his brother is in charge so he rebels. At the beginning of this book you see that he is about at the peak of his rebellion. (Just have to add this, my favorite line of the whole book is said my Kit "F***-a-doodle-doo" haha) I loved seeing how this was effecting him, being at such a young and impressionable age it was truly hard for him. I also loved seeing him change in little ways so you could see that he really was not all bad, just had a terrible childhood. Tiffin is 8 I believe. And he is a big soccer star. He is a typical 8 year old. He wants to play video games, eat too much candy and play with his friends. Last is young Willa only 5. She was a baby when her father abandoned them, so she has no memory of him. She is sweet and kind. Adorable. And has to deal with too much at her age. Due to her brothers being a hand full for Lochan and Maya, Willa does not nearly get enough attention. 

Lochan and Maya have taken on the role of parents. Growing up the two (being only 13 months apart in age) were best friends. And all their lives they have been there for one another, through everything. They fell in love and honestly who can blame them they were practically married, taking care of three children.

Now I get it, its sick and wrong. But they know that and they try to stop the relationship, only to cause a major depression. They are lonely and distraught. Everything that has happened to them has caused them to come to this.

Thought the book I found myself conflicted. Because I know its wrong for them to be together, but I wanted them to work out. Because they deserved to be happy, after everything they deserve it! 

Sometimes I myself forgot that they were siblings. The romance between them was sweet. It wasn't cheesy like Twilight or anything. It was real. Their love felt real, the worst part was they had to hide it, be ashamed of it and fear it. They are the worst kind of star-crossed lovers, or forbidden lovers. This is no vampire human relationship or rich and poor relationship. This is a brother and sister who share a unique kind of love.

Before I talk about the ending I'm gonna talk about the writing. Tabitha Suzuma captured my heart and tormented it. Loved her writing, I loved hearing both Lochan and Maya's thoughts (thats my favorite in a romance to see the boy and the girls side). It was beautifully written.

The ending is so heartbreaking I couldn't breath. And even though I finished the book hours ago I can still feel the threat of tears. 

Now here comes the controversy. In history (Royalty) marrying siblings or cosines was ok to keep the thrown in the family, keep the bloodline pure. Now its against the law, but is it the laws place to tell us who we are to love? I understand birth defects are a problem with this situation. But Lochan and Maya don't want kids, they raised their siblings for god sakes. Should they be aloud to love each other? I think yes.

I just finished this book and already I want to read it again! Honestly this may be the best book I've ever read! and thats saying something.

-I feel bad because my friend has been trying to get me to read this book for her book club tomorrow and I'm 1/4 though it, but this book has just grabbed me too much, sorry Jane.

I think I'm gonna reread this before I give it back to the library!

5 stars no question!

~~~~

*claps* Thanks Rishelle!

Arise: review

Title: Arise (Hereafter #2)
Author: Tara Hudson
Genres: ghost ya, paranormal
Summary: Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together.Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for her.


Isn't the cover so pretttttyyy?? But I think they cut her head off. Ohmygod, is that why she is a ghost!? O.O Kidding. But I do love the cover.


Arise is a great sequel to Tara Hudson's debut, Hereafter, but I think I liked the first one just a little bit better.

I have to start out by making a Twilight reference...I can't resist! And I'm just pointing it out neutrally. So the main plot of this book: Amelia (the ghost) is figuring out that she can't stay with Joshua (the human) forever. Duh moment. So when she tells him this, "You'll be forty someday still dating an 18 year old girl!" And of course, like Bella, he is okay with it. "I don't mind!" It's kind of funny because it's pretty much the plot of New Moon...alright, Twiference over. :)

Amelia and Joshua are a cute couple, even though they've obviously both been slipped a heavy dose of INSTA-LOVE. But since they are both equally head-over-heels it's okay, it balances them out. And it's fun and light enough to keep me reading.

Gabriella is a new supporting character introduced in Arise, and she became my favorite character. She's funky, and new, ultimately full of surprises! Wink, wink.

Most of the book is set in New Orleans because Joshua's family goes there to celebrate Christmas and visit family. Amelia tags along of course, and soon she realizes there are a lot of voodoo abracadabra magic stuff going on. It's a dangerous place for a ghost to be and the demons don't give up that easily. And it creeped me out just a little, with her ever-more-frequent "dematerializing". Also, although her dad is mentioned a few times, I'm guessing that Amelia finding and recovering him from the Netherworld will the be the plot of the last book, Elegy. (Elegy: comes from the Greek 'mournful poem) Ohhh exciting...

Last year, Hereafter introduced me to the overlooked genre of ghost books. and since then, the few other ghostlike books/series I've read, I've liked. A few examples are Anna Dressed in Blood, Born at Midnight, and Dead Beautiful. Not all of them have only ghosts, but they're a central theme, in my opinion. Oh and the Evernight series! I knew there was one more. But I read those awesome books years ago, and they have vampires in them too. The ghosts are knows as wraiths. ;)

Even though I pointed out a few little annoying things in Arise, I am actually still excited to read the last one because of the crazy turn of events that happened in the last third of the book. Honestly I didn't see it coming and it made everything super-cool!

-Jane

Dreamless: review

Title: Dreamless (Starcrossed #2)
Author: Josephine Angelini
Genres: greek mythology retelling ya, urban fantasy
Summary: As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.


I'm so happy I finally got to this! It was super fun, and I read it in a day and half. Now I really can't wait for the last one...but it's so far away. I wonder what it will be called!?

I love that moment--however delayed it may be--of figuring out the title of a book. Like WHY it is called that? You know that, right? Yep. Had that about halfway through, though felt slightly slow when I did.

Alright. Once again, it's always easier to write reviews on books I hate, than ones I thoroughly enjoyed, so I'll try my best.

THERE ARE SPOILERS FOR STARCROSSED.

I only read Starcrossed once, a few months before it came out. I remember about 20% of it. It took me a few pages to remember who the Mortal-Best-Friends were: Claire and Matt. And what happened to Daphne: she disappeared. Also, what the status between Lucas and Helen was: sorted out almost immediately, seriously you can't miss it.

There! Now you don't have to go back and reread it before picking up this awesome sequel.


I just love the mythology in this series! I haven't found good quality modern retelling Greek mythology since Percy Jackson. She ties in all these crazy gods attacking innocent mortals and you're like, awesome.
There is a strong main cast of characters, all the teenagers the 'reincarnations?' of the ancient heroes/people. My favorite it Hector! I feel the need to hug him every time he is mentioned. Which isn't a lot in Dreamless, by the way. Because of the whole Outcast thing.

In Starcrossed...the romance is awesome. Lucas is a great love-interest and doesn't sparkle or anything, which is always nice. BUT then you find out the whole Scion thing, and who Helen's parents are and then it all goes downhill. HELLO THEY ARE RELATED. But it's so sad!! They fell in love, Helen and Lucas (Paris) and now they're cousins! It should bother me more, but I am still rooting for them in the end, even though Orion is okay.

Orion is more than okay. He is a good rivalry for Lucas, but...not...because the two become sort of friends (new twist on that cliche!) and also, Orion and Helen aren't related as closely so it's kind of not as creepy for them to be together!

*group hug*

Still team Lucas. He can fly.

As far as the plot of Dreamless goes, honestly, there was a LOT of misleadingness--a great relief on my part!
Oh it's so hard to write this without spoilers.........................................................................................okay. I guess all i can say is, if you are suspecting something bad is going to happen maybe rethink it. Especially at the end. Concerning memory.

I almost forgot, I had some major deja vu when reading this. And I STILL can't put my finger on what it is! The thing that triggered it: Helen was sick the entire book with a sort of demigod sleeping disorder. She doesn't really tell anybody, but just accepts it as a part of fate and ignores it. Where have I read that before? The main character getting sicker and weaker as the book goes on? Anybody??

There is this one scene SMALL SPOILER ALERT! where I actually felt like I was choking and gagging, which I kept telling myself it is good writing if I can't breathe. But that was my reaction only because Helen's throat had just been cut, not because of some squealy scene. I seriously felt like it was happening to me too, while she is hopelessly trying to communicate and blood is spurting out of her neck... Probably best part of the book in my opinion. END SPOILER.

Giggling. That's what happens to me when the whole banished, Outcast thing pops up. And that's originally how Helen and Lucas had met, right? Set eyes on each other, both belonging to different houses, and BAM. "I have the sudden need to kill you." "Ditto." Totally a turn on, right? I know.
It's just such a crazy idea and so creative, and a big part of the arc-story in the series. Looove.

A heads up, the ending is one of those rare ones that leaves you reasonably hanging, but NOT where you are annoyed as hell, picking your jaw off the floor, or throwing the book against a wall. It has an end enough to keep you happy and wanting more at the same time.

Well, I don't think I'm missing anything. Wait, yes I am. I have something to admit. When I read Starcrossed, I knew it was mythology based. That's it. So when I went to Changing Hands to meet Josephine Angelini and get my book signed (^_^) I was met with a surprise. In her talk in taking turns between Veronica Roth (!!!!got Divergent signed too!!!!) and Aprilynne Pike (Huge fan as well!), she mentioned her new book Starcrossed was a retelling of the Helen of Troy story. My reaction: "Wait, WHAT?" *Facepalm* I think everyone knew that but me.

You will LOVE this book, if you're at all a fan of Die for Me by Amy Plum, the Percy Jackson series, or anything mythology in general.

Only a year till I learn the fate of Helen and Lucas...
-Jane

Flirting in Italian: review

Title: Flirting in Italian (standalone, but there will be a companion novel)
Author: Lauren Henderson
Genres: contemporary ya, 'chic lit'
Release Date: June 12th, 2012
Summary: The Goodreads summary completely sucks, but the one on the back of my ARC is about a page long, and I really don't feel like typing it up. I hope when the publishing date comes closer, a better summary will appear, so keep an eye out. It's a lot more interesting than this current summary: Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys! Seriously, that's the lamest summary of a book. Ever. -I'll keep an eye on the page and update this post if it does change. 




So, I have mixed feelings about this book. At some parts I loved it, and some parts I had to notice bad pacing and a wobbly storyline. If I didn't look up the author, I would think this is her debut, but by the end, it made some sense.

I didn't really know what to expect when I started Flirting in Italian. I opened it up to read the first chapter, which is what I usually do when deciding if I want to read a book. So, I had been standing in the middle of my room reading over 50 pages without looking up, when I realized apparently this is a book I want to read...so I sat down and finished it.

As a traveller, I am a sucker for books that take place in other countries. It's always a nice change of scene from the boring, stupid American school setting. My two recent favs: Anna and the French Kiss, which takes place in Paris, France. And the setting of Wanderlove, is Central America. This took place in a town near Firenze, Italy. (I've been there!) Honestly I'm not sure if the exact location was mentioned.

The part I didn't like of the book was the sort-of-there-sort-of-not premise. Violet wants to go to Italy because of a random painting she sees in a museum of a girl who looks like she could be her twin. The portrait is from the 1800s, but Violet has always felt strangely left out of the family genes, a 'throwback'. She could pass for Italian, even though her mom is Norwegian and her dad is Scottish. What would you do? Well Violet convinces her mom to take a summer study course in Italy when she really plans on investigating the history of the painting.

It just seemed lame, you know. Because once she gets there, three other girls are taking the course with her (more on that in a second) and 80% of the book is them all out partying with a bunch of Italian guys! Really? Here and there, she goes back to her original mission. And she finds out the portrait of the girl is from the family tree of the hot guy love interest, Luca. Oh, and he is a prince, and lives in a creepy old castle. They might be distant cousins! Gasp.

The part I DID love a lot: the three girls she is staying with. Kelly, the poor bookish redhead from Essex; and Kendra and Paige, the Americans. And they are VERY typical spoiled rich little American teenagers. Violet, our protag, lives in London, which took me a few pages to figure out.
Immediately, they are all so well defined by where they come from. It was fun for me to read from Violet's point of view, the kind of things she notices that the American girls do. Their antics, expressions, I've never read it from a foreigner's point of view. Those were the moments that made me crack up. Kelly, on the other hand, kind of bonds with Violet because they are both from the same place, though opposite upbringings.

It's a fun and silly read, and if you're in the mood for something to take your mind off your problems, this is a great escape. First I thought this was a standalone book, but nearing the end, and only having a week of the eight (of the course) gone by, I figured it would be continued. And at the end, my hunch was confirmed. There will be a companion, Following in love in Italian.

...that doesn't sound right. Shouldn't it be Falling in love in Italian?? But I've seen two sources with it, so it's not a spelling error. Unless I'm the first to find that mistake... ;)

A solid three stars! And a half. Yeah, three and a half stars.

If this book were a food: strawberry frosting.

-Jane

Independent Book Blogger Award

Please vote for me! I would really love it. :) Voting starts April 10th, and ends the 23rd!

Also, if anybody wants me to put their blog button thingy on the side of my blog, I will totally do it, as soon as someone helps me figure out how to post my own...

-Jane

Vote for this blog for the Independent Book Blogger Awards!
Vote

Illuminate: review

Title: Illuminate (Gilded Wings #1)
Author: Aimee Agresti
Genres: ya paranormal, angels, urban fantasy
Summary: Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit. 

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel? 


This was so much better than I expected!

I am not a fan of the angel genre. I have tried a few of the popular series' like Fallen, Unearthly, Angelfire, Angel (no-not the Max Ride one!), Daughter of Smoke and Bone...and I was very unimpressed with all of them, putting them all down halfway through (mostly because it's a God themed genre of books, and as an atheist, it didn't grab me)...I know, very sad. I didn't realize until recently that the City of Bones books are totally angel books. Those don't count! I worship those books. :) It's just way differently approached, so it's set apart. This is also true for Illuminate.

It starts off strong, not focusing much at all on the high school setting and soon enough we are swept up in the amazing Lexington Hotel. I learned lots about Chicago history! Al Capone and the Outfit being the centre of things. I have to say that the setting and all it's surprises has to be my favorite part of the book. The Vault- nightclub, felt real and vibrant. The focus of photography, from the black and white original pictures from the 20s to the new ones Haven takes that start to...change.

At first, Haven really annoyed me! For about the first 30 pages. She comes off as a true nerd in every term, so I should have related to her, but it was in the bookish college fast track way, not the sic-fi way I am, I guess. So she says things like, "She folded the napkin into an isosceles triangle."...yeah, sort of wordy, but it doesn't last long, or maybe I just got used to it. Haven really grows up in here though, in her coming of age story. She is smart of course, but is way out of her league. Unfortunately she follows directions blindly from a diary that has writing appearing in it nightly...Riddle anyone? So besides that stupidness, she is a very resourceful and determined protagonist.

Dante is pretty cool, but I don't like his favorite word, 'superhot'. There really needs to be a space there. My favorite character was Lance! Keep an eye on him. :)

The selling point in me picking up Illuminate was Josephine Angelini's blurb on the cover..."Part The Picture of Dorian Gray, part The Devil Wears Prada...." I read no further. What could THAT mean?? What a bizarre mix!!! And I have to say now, after reading it, that's exactly the way to describe it!

I don't really know what to say about the plot. It's in the angel genre, no doubt, but as this is the first book in the series, or trilogy-not sure yet, there is not much angelic stuff till the end (which I liked!) And there is no God connection/mention, though there is Satan, I suppose. More focused on the mythology of it, than the religion aspect. It's all weaved into something strange and hooking, and I am glad to have read this. I can't wait till the next one! Loved the ending, but I do need more.

-Jane

The Count of Monte Cristo: review

Title: The Count of Monte Cristo
Author: Alaxandre Dumas
Genres: adventure, historical fiction, French literature
Summary: Falsely accused of treason, the young sailor Edmond Dantes is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island fortress of the Château d'If. Having endured years of incarceration, he stages a daring and dramatic escape and sets out to discover the fabulous treasure of Monte Cristo, and to catch up with his enemies. 

A novel of enormous tension and excitement, The Count of Monte Cristois also a tale of obsession and revenge. Believing himself to be an 'Angel of Providence', Dantes pursues his vengeance to the bitter end, only then realizing that he himself is a victim of fate.

Alright. How do I start? I always have such a hard time reviewing books over a thousand pages... (1243 for my copy)

The first half: I loved the sort of storybook life Dantés has for his future with the lovely Mercédès. Until of course, he is sent to jail. Then that was kind of depressing. But those whole 14 years in there, with Abbé Faria, and what he goes through to escape, I just couldn't stop reading! The detail of everything, from the tools he creates (like that knife from the metal ring in the water bucket handle, among others), to the book that's written on old rags of clothing. And his actual escape, I was so hooked!

The Transformation!: From this point on, until pretty much the very end, there is no more Edmond Dantés. There is the Count of Monte Cristo, godlike figure. Mysterious and endlessly rich, entity belonging to no country, and whom everyone either absolutely loves, or greatly despises. Brilliant. I can't get over it. I mean, *I* was convinced at some points that he was otherworldly!

The middleish: I got bored. I'm so sorry, Dumas, but that whole Italy affair with the random guy Franz, and Albert and Vampa, it took me twice as long to read through those parts, as it took to read the other 1000 pages of the book. But! I do know it does totally pertain

After about page 450 or so to the end. Aka. Arrival to Paris: This is where it gets completely interesting again! Over the span of about a page. All those trivial characters and places, relationships and secrets, they alllll start to tie together! From this point on, it's non-stop engaging.

It's kind of erie how manipulative Monte Cristo is. Every single action he does manages to either totally help his new neighbor, and/or destroy an old enemy's marriage. Yes, it's that black and white. I would hate to be along his track of revenge because boy do those three people who sent him to jail sure regret it, even though they don't ever know it. That's Fernand, Danglars, and Caderousse-oh, and the fourth who sealed the deal to Edmond's fate, de Villefort. (That's a badass name by the way, kind of like Vader or something.)
Morrel on the other hand, is his one true friend from the beginning, so MC forgives him and really helps him...not die and stuff.

The ending: I thought it would end up differently!!! Seriously, for a whole 25 pages or so, the suspense and confusion of everything ending, I was like "Whoa!! That would rock and fit perfectly and be dramatic and everything ohmygod!" But it didn't. It actually made sense, and was almost sweet? Which was okay, don't worry. It's a good ending, I just didn't want the book to end, and honestly, that doesn't happen to me with books written before the 19th century. I still keep looking at my nightstand expecting to see it there, bookmark tucked in the middle that never seems to move, notes sticking out of it, but no, it has migrated toward my 'already-read-classics bookshelf'. I liked it better than The Three Musketeers, which was pretty awesome, just not quite as awesome as this one.

My favorite (or at least most memorable) characters:

Monte Cristo- nuff said. He rocks my world now.

Valentine- You know, I kind of hate her and love her at the same time. Pyramus and Thisbe! But oh-so-dramatic. She is one of those whiney obedient daughters who really should take more initiative in her life. She is incredibly devoted to Noirtier (also very fascinating character! Not a man of many words.) but seriously needs to move out.

Mlle Eugénia de Villefort- the ONLY feminist in this entire book! I can't count how many times I felt the need to rip a page out from everything everyone was saying that put women down! I know, I know it IS the times. Still, it is infuriating. So this girl is probably in only mentioned in about 50 pages all together, but I will remember her. The way she has this independence and doesn't want to marry, but run away to become a traveling musician with her friend; I was surprised Dumas wrote this character back in the 1800s. *claps happily*

Lucian Debray- is it just me, or is he secretly a werewolf? I mean he is like the most random character in the book. I think he was introduced in Paris, but for all I know, he was in there the whole story and I only noticed him then? Pretty sure he is a journalist, but he didn't seem to have much point in anything. I don't even remember if he was going to marry anybody!

Julie and Emmanuel- such a sweet couple, they kept popping in at times, and since Julie is Morrel's daughter MC does look over her and help her have her fairy-tale ending. I think that's because he couldn't have his.

All in all, this is now one of my all time favorite books. It's complexity is genius, and Dumas was a fantastic writer; it's witty, funny, and ever so insightful.

-Jane

Wishlist Wednesday

I just stumbled upon this blog hop today on Red Headed Bookworm's blog, and so I have decided to join in the fun! Wishlist Wednesday is hosted by Dani, at Pen to Paper, and it's a meme in which you can post a book that you've had on your wish list for a while, but haven't found the time to actually read yet.

So what do you need to do to join in?

• Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
• Please consider adding the blog hop button to your blog somewhere, so others can find it easily and join in too! Help spread the word! The code will be at the bottom of the post under the linky.
• Pick a book from your wishlist that you are dying to get to put on your shelves.
• Do a post telling your readers about the book and why it's on your wishlist.
• Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of this post.
• Put a link back to pen to paper (http://vogue-pentopaper.blogspot.com) somewhere in your post.
• Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

So, the book on my wishlist is...Dreamless, by Josephine Angelini!

It is the second in the Starcrossed trilogy, and comes out in May.

Goodreads summary: As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos. 

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.


I actually do have this on my shelf now, an ARC. But it's been sitting there for two weeks or so. I really liked the first one, but forgot a whole bunch, so now I am debating whether to reread the first, Starcrossed, or to just dive right in to Dreamless and hope it does a good catch up. Either way, I am bound to start it soon! (Oh, just after this pile of books sitting on my dresser I forgot about.)


-Jane

The Book Life!

I always like promoting things about my favorite books...well, Cinder is way high on my list this year.

The Book Life blog! The Month of Cinder! :)

Again, I highly recommend Cinder, it's one of those rare great debuts. :)


-Jane