Legend

Book: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Pages: 320
Blurb: "What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets." - from goodreads.com

Rachael's Recap

Book Rating: 5 chocolate bars

Cover Rating: 3.5 chocolate bars

There have been millions of young adult dystopian books written, some good, some not so good. But, Legend was amazing! Definitely one of my favorite dystopian books ever! It was never boring.

What I loved

• June was a strong independant young women.
• Not all gooey and romantic
• Both Day and June kicked total butt

What I wished was different

Tiger's Curse

Book: Tiger's Curse
Author: Colleen Houck
Pages: 403
Blurb: "Passion. Fate. Loyalty.
Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more." - from goodreads.com

Rachael's Recap

Book Rating: 3.9 chocolate bars

Cover Rating: 3 chocolate bars

What do you expect from a summer job? Fun, getting paid a lot, and maybe even a cute guy. But definitely not a surprise trip to India, where you find out you are the one you were prophesied to break the curse that has held two princes captured in tiger form for centuries. Kelsey travels with Ren, the hansom prince, the white tiger in order to break the curse. Can she do it without losing her life? Or her heart?

Tiger's Curse brought me into a whole new venue of writing, Indian mythology. For me, Tiger's Curse was a book I had on my shelf and I never wanted to read because I thought, Indian mythology - really? But, I am sure glad I picked it up. Colleen Houck spins together a beautiful world of love, danger, and adventure that drew me in instantaneously.

Now, let's talk about the characters. Honestly, I was a little disappointed in Kylie. To me she seemed like a fairy tale princess who didn't understand anything about the outside world and thought everything was great. I also found myself - a lot of the time - wishing she would quit whining. She was much too self-conscious and it really got to me. Even though Kylie did have some characteristics I had troubles with, she had some good ones as well. She was always willing to help others and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Those are two very important characteristics I like in a female heroine. I loved Mr. Kadam in this book, he was sort of like a grandfather character. I wish we saw more of him during the book, but never the less he was great.
Now, let's get to Ren and Kishan. Those are the two brothers who are cursed into being tigers for almost 24/7.  Whenever you read a book that has brothers in it, you know you are in trouble. Both beautiful brooding boys were pretty intense and straight forward. Ren was especially protective of Kylie which at some point I totally loved, but other times I was like seriously? One thing I loved about this book (and series) is that it wasn't completely centered around one brother (read book 2!).

Overall this book was pretty good. I loved how Kylie and Ren would argue (it was funny), but I also liked how in the end you saw how deeply Ren cared for Kelsey. Another little problem I had was all the poetry! Now it may just be me, because I don't really like poetry, but it was getting tiring when they kept quoting famous poets and reading poetry all the time.

What I loved

• Kishan and Ren were the best heart breaking pair of brothers ever
• It's so unique! I mean who has ever done Indian mythology before? Plus it was really interesting

What I wished were different

• Kelsey was kind of like a Disney princess, thinking everything was great, and it got  annoying
• Too much poetry
• Way to much lack of self-esteem and whinnying in Kylie 

Wanting something totally unique and never done before? Check out Colleen Houck's amazing head spinning world of lion, tigers and bears. OK, maybe just tigers. 

Obsidian

Book: Obsidian
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout   
Pages: 361

Blurb: "Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is." - from goodreads.com

Rachael's Recap 

Book Rating: 5 chocolate bars 

Cover Rating: 3 chocolate bars 

When Katy moved to a new town she expected the standard new girl stuff. Getting use to a new town, a new school, and of course new neighbors.  When she meets Dee, her new neighbor who is also her age, she thinks things probably won't be that bad in this new town, might even be fun. Well, that was the case, until Dee's over protective, hot, annoying, twin brother, Daemon, butts in. Katy and Daemon hate each other from the very start, but can't seem to stay away from each other at the same time. Just as things are settling down, Katy learns a secret, a huge secret. Her neighbors, overly peppy Dee and obnoxious Daemon, are aliens, and since Katy has been marked by them, she has to stay close so they can protect her. 

I usually don't go for the alien books because I think they are just weird, sorry but I never liked ET. This book gives me a whole new image of what aliens are. Obsidian was super funny and extremely fun to read. Katy, the main character, is pretty nice, but not too nice that she doesn't object to flipping Daemon off when he a jerk. She is an extremely strong character who doesn't let anyone push her around.  Also, the fact that she loves books and has a book blog is pretty freaking awesome. Dee is an adorable character too, she is just always so happy and so nice. Demon had the whole bad boy act going for him. But, he was really protective of his sister, which was great I thought. He was super annoying to Katy (that made me love him more), but he could be sweet (that made me love him wayyyyyy more). But, he could also be a total jerk witch sometimes annoyed me. 

I have never read a book about aliens like this before, and I was surprised by how much I loved it. It had so many aspects in it, like mystery, romance, and humor. Jennifer L. Armentrout painted a new view of aliens for me and all her readers. When I think of aliens now I definitely don't think of little green people, I think of the green eyed boy Daemon and his sister Dee. This book had so many elements I loved in it. 

Things that I loved

• Katy didn't let people push her around
• Katy had a book blog! How awesome is that!?!?
• Not a typical alien story 
• Extremely funny
• At the end there are some scenes from Daemon's POV

Things that I wished were different

• Daemon was amazing, but sometimes he was too much of an a** hole for me to handle 

If you are looking for an extraterrestrial book that will have you begging for more by the end, then I suggest you pick up Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout.