Welcome to the EpicReads Forums! - Reviews

My YA Book Review Blog (no replies)

EvelinesBooks — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:25:26 -0400

Hello everyone,

I've recently a Young Adult book review blog. I mostly post fantasy and dystopian book reviews.

My blog: Eveline's Books

Hope you can check it out!

The Elite Guys!! (2 replies)

sincethedawnoftime — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:18:23 -0400

The Elite is an amazing book, just like The Selection. I didn’t want to put the thing down. When it was over I almost started crying because I loved it so much and don’t want to have to wait for the next book to come out. I did scream no though.
The plot was a great continuation of the first one. I especially like how none of the characters are perfect and we get to know them even more in this book, but I think we need to know more about Aspen. I love America. She’s a feisty, but compassionate character and she stands up for what she believes in. The king though, he makes me mad for what he does to Maxon and America. Celeste never ceases to make me think of her badly but the other girls, they go from making me feel sympathetic to making me feel angry at them.
I appreciated how she explained what happened to make the government the way it is. Most of the authors don’t ever explain what happens to make the government the way they become.
I really like how the book doesn’t have just one feeling in it. Like at times I feel mad at the characters and then others I feel bad for them. Sometime I laugh and sometimes I feel sad.
I believe that Kiera is an amazing writer. I will definitely be reading the rest of her books that come out. I cant even explain how much I loved this book. I recommend this book to all dystopian likers but even if you aren’t you might like this because its not a huge part of it. Also to people who like romances.
If you like this review you should check out my blog. sincethedawnoftime-abookblog.blogspot.com

Sarah Dessen Novels (2 replies)

rhowle7615 — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:14:14 -0400

Sarah Dessen is one of the best authors I have ever read. Her books are romantic, amazing romantic. Does anyone else read them??

Stephan King Novels (no replies)

rhowle7615 — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:58:30 -0400

Does anyone here read Stephan King??

Divergent Book Review (1 reply)

sammyhamm1 — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:57:40 -0400

One choice can transform you... Abnegation, Dauntless, Erudite, Candor or Amity.

Beatrice and Caleb are now age 16 where they take the advantage of choosing a faction. Beatrice took her test and she showed up "Divergent" a dangerous rank. As an Abnegation, she is selfless. She cares for the needs of others before herself. Simple clothing and laid back are how things are.

At the faction Ceremony, Beatrice is torn between sides. Abnegation or Dauntless. She takes the knife and lets her blood fall to the coals of the Dauntless.

Beatrice meets Christina on the way to Dauntless headquarters and they quickly become friends. Beatrice who now changes her name to Tris meets Four or Tobias. Before she gets a rank, 1-10, she must pass through simulations and combat.

Coming in 10th place seems fantastic! Then she is injected with a serum and her fellow initiates trek to Abnegation headquarters and plan war. She is Divergent and the serum doesn't even put her to a daze. She is soon noticed and dragged to the headquarters.

The adventure only picks up from here. If you love a mixture of adventure, and romance, you will only get addicted to this book! The begging is a bit draggy and very boring but don't abandon it! It gets better!

AR: 4.8
Suggested Grade: 9-12

- Sammyhamm1 <3

blogs review (1 reply)

sincethedawnoftime — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:11:10 -0400

Hey i have a few revieews on my new blog. Check it out below

[sincethedawnoftime.wordpress.com]

Book Reviews (no replies)

annoushkadomynique — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:57:49 -0500

You will be able to find my reviews on my new blog, please check it out and give me some feedback :)
[annoushkareads.blogspot.co.uk]

much appreciated
Annoushka

Book Reviews (no replies)

msjohannah — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:14:51 -0500

Here's a list of my book reviews!

Defiance Reviews (1 reply)

BookishFreak — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 22:10:21 -0500

Post you reviews of Defiance by CJ Redwine here!

Shatter Me by Tahera Mafi & Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock (2 replies)

renus_ — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:21:55 -0400

http://tthepageturner.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/shatter-me-by-tahereh-mafi.html

http://tthepageturner.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/hemlock-by-kathleen-peacock.html

Loved these two! :-)

Haley G's Breathless Book Reviews (1 reply)

Haley G — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:57:57 -0500

My book blog is Breathless Book Reviews
[breathlessbookreviews.blogspot.com]

Here are some on my more recent reviews of HarperCollins books

Title & Author:
Ten by Gretchen McNeil
Genera: Horror/Thriller/Mystery
Subjects: Murder, seclusion, survival
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Length: 294 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
List Price: $17.99
Publisher: HarperTeen: Balzer and Bray
Summary/ product description: “And their doom comes swiftly.
It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.
But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.
Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?”
My Rating: 4 1/2 stars
My Review: This book was similar to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, which was my favorite book that I read in 8th grade. But even better because it’s YA. I love horror movies, and reading this book was like seeing a really good teen horror movie. I wouldn’t call it cliché, because the character pointed out the horror movie clichés and tried to go against them.
I think Gretchen did a really good job on the horror and mystery stuff. I read her 1st book, Possess, and it was awesome. She makes 3rd person limited perspective interesting.
If you’re looking for a scary Halloween read, I do recommend this. This book will have you checking behind your back to make sure no one with a knife is there. It will keep you up all night wondering who’s going to die next. The characters are all so very different, and somehow connected. They’re not all from the same school, and everyone becomes a suspect. I don’t want to spoil it, by my first gut instinct about who the killer was, was correct, though I changed my mind a few times because of misleading clues. And then there’s the whole “red herring” thing. Or maybe I should say scape goat? The only thing I can say for sure is that Meg is not the killer. She does get blamed a few times though.
Hope you enjoy this one as much as I dad. Best non-paranormal/sci-fi book I’ve read in a long time. There needs to be more books like this. New Teen Horror Stories!!! BRING ON THE SCARY!!! Happy October everyone!
Cover Art Review: It’s creepy, but not creepy enough. That island’s just too small. There should be a house on it.

Title & Author:
Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
Release Date: October 9
Series: Valkyrie Rising (bk. 1)
Genera: Paranormal Romance
Subjects: Norse mythology, mythology, supernatural, Norway, Valkyries, magic, warriors, love
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Length: 345 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
List Price: $17.99
Publisher: HarperTeen
Summary/ product description: “Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.
What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.
Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.”
My Rating: 5 stars
My Review: This is the best new mythology book (series) of the year for me. I loved this! There’s only a few YA paranormal romance series that feature Norse Mythology (Need series, Stork series). Also, very few with Valkyries (Need series, Mythos Academy series). This is probably the first YA book that I’ve seen with a Valkyrie as the main character. Talk about a unique story, Valkyrie Rising was amazing!!!
Ellie (Elsa) has always lived in the shadow of her athletic, over protective older brother Graham. She feels overly strained and stressed about this, so when she found out she was Valkyrie, she learned how to be strong and not get pushed around. As other reviews said, this book is about “Girl Power”! Be a strong female character, not a meek doormat.
I also love Tucker. This is 2nd Tucker YA character that I fell in love with (The one in Unearthly is a hot and sexy cowboy). Tucker is funny. He and Ellie bicker in the cutest most ridiculous way. I can’t help loving their relationship. And he takes he being a Valkyrie so well. He’s awesome, and not pushy as her brother. He’s a great guy.
Some other characters I want to mention. Hilda, Ellie’s grandmother, so is one tough lady! She’s also a Valkyrie and she is no old, feeble lady. Loki is probably my favorite good-but-bad character. He’s not like Loki from the Thor movie. This Loki is a shape shifter and he’s pretty funny. He’s also manipulative, but seems to be helping Ellie (for his own gain). Kjell is an okay character. You may think he’s the love interest, but he kind of get kidnapped by Valkyries, as well as Graham, and a ton of other boys 18 and up. This main plot is about saving the kidnapped boys, and I won’t spoil anything else.
My other favorite thing about this book is the setting. I’ve never been to Norway (or out of the USA) and never thought about going there because it’s just so far up north and cold. But after reading this book it may have made my list of countries I’d love to visit. This author did a guest blog post on PitchDark.com and talked about the setting with pictures of places you should see should you ever visit Norway. She also said that Skavopoll is based off of Maloy and she had to change the name last minute because Maloy is apparently more populated and developed now than it was when she visited. I GoogleEarth-ed this area and looked at pictures as I was reading. I found Selje too and the fjords are amazing and beautiful!
I recommend this if you liked: Need by Carrie Ryan, Stork by Wendy Delsol, Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, Sirens by Tricia Rayburn, Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton, and Unearthly by Cynthia Hand.
Cover Art Review: Love the landscape and fog. The creepy guy. The sparkly top makes the model looks like Taylor Swift, but a more Scandinavian Taylor Swift. (Is Taylor of Scandinavian descent? She is tall and blond….) Not sure how I feel about the bevel emboss on the title. It looks more German than Norwegian, but what do I know? The red swirls are pretty, and the border.

Title & Author:
The Turning by Francine Prose
Genera: Horror/mystery/thriller
Subjects: ghosts, babysitting, child care, children, supernatural, islands, isolation, psychological
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Length: 246 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
List Price: $17.99
Publisher: HarperTeen
Summary/ product description: “Jack is babysitting for the summer on an isolated island with no Wi-Fi, no cell service, and no one else around but a housekeeper and two very peculiar children. He immediately senses something sinister-and it's not just the creepy black house he's living in. Soon he is feeling terribly isolated and alone, but then he discovers there are others. The problem is, he's the only who can see them. As secrets are revealed and darker truths surface, Jack desperately struggles to maintain a grip on reality. He knows what he sees, and he isn't crazy…Or is he?
Where does reality end and insanity begin? The Turn of the Screw reinvented for modern-day teens, by National Book Award finalist Francine Prose.”
My Rating: 4 stars
My Review: This book was definitely creepy in some parts. And it was also very different from horror stories I’ve read. First of all, it’s written in the form of letters. Not chapters, letters. It was a very fast, short read. It keeps you wondering what the heck is going on. The children Miles and Flora are just so strange, like some creepy twins from some scary movie. Jack first impression was that the island was creepy, but he got used to it.
It’s very hard to explain this book without giving it away. It’s apparently a retelling of some story I never heard of called “The Turn of the Screw.” I read Ten by Gretchen McNeil a few weeks ago and that was also a retelling. I think Ten was more interesting with a lot of action and slasher stuff. This has a lot of psychological stuff in it. I kept wanting to put a horror movie plot to it (plot where main character turns out to be dead or plot where character get possessed). It’s not Paranoral Ativity or Shutter Island or whatever.
All I can say is that if you’re looking for a different kind of thriller-horror YA book that you should read this. If you liked Ten, then read it.
Cover Art Review: Creepy depiction of the Dark House. Wonder if this was a photo of an actual place or if it was changed in photoshop so it looked crazy and confusing. I like how the title’s is overlayed.

Title & Author:
The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini
Genera: Fantasy/humor/contemporary
Subjects: Parallel universes, other worlds, adventure, RPG, nerds
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Length: 387 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
List Price: $17.99
Publisher: HarperCollins: Balzer & Bray
Summary/ product description: “The Other Normals centers on 15-year-old Peregrine “Perry” Eckert, who’s seriously obsessed with an uber-dorky role-playing game called Creatures & Caverns. Concerned about his stunted social skills and need for fresh air, Perry’s parents decide to ship him off to summer camp to become a man. He anticipates the worst summer of his life until he arrives at camp and stumbles into the World of the Other Normals, a place where his nerdy childhood may serve him well — but not without connecting with the real world first.”
My Rating: 4 stars
My Review: This book was really funny. So many ridiculous things happened. The characters themselves were pretty funny too. It felt kind of like a parody of some epic fantasy story, with some sci-fi thrown in. Perry is very naïve for a nerdy mathlete/RPGer. And very immature. He kind of reminded me of my brother, except my brother addicted to Call of Duty and other war games instead of WoW and RPG stuff. Ada and Mortin are pretty cool characters. Perry likes Ada a lot.
There are some very unique creatures in this fantasy. Lots of unique world building. It’s almost a dystopian, but it’s really a parallel world or mystical creatures, some from mythology and other created by the author. You’d have to read it to understand how unique this book really is.
It reminds me of a few other books. Parodies by the Harvard Lampoon have similar humor. And There Is No Dog was also a funny one. If you like fantasy stories with faeries and elves and such, or are into RPG and WoW, then this is one book you can relate to. I also recommend this to all the nerdy and geeky guys out there (you are loved, we aren’t trying to make fun of you). I think this book would make a funny movie. Fantasy-comedy. It reminded me of that Scott Pilgrim movie, also.
Cover Art Review: This cover really captures the content. You have the figurines in the background and a guy who’s supposed to be Perry on a figurine stand. It’s just a good, fully, well designed and simple cover.

Title & Author:
Feedback by Robison Wells
Series: Variant (bk. 2)
Genera: Sci-fi/dystopian/thriller
Subjects: robots, androids, boarding schools, mystery
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Length: 310 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
List Price: $17.99
Publisher: HarperTeen
Summary/ product description: “Benson Fisher escaped from Maxfield Academy’s deadly rules and brutal gangs.
Or so he thought.
But now Benson is trapped in a different kind of prison: a town filled with hauntingly familiar faces. People from Maxfield he saw die. Friends he was afraid he had killed.
They are all pawns in the school’s twisted experiment, held captive and controlled by an unseen force. As he searches for answers, Benson discovers that Maxfield Academy’s plans are more sinister than anything he imagined—and they may be impossible to stop.
Variant blew readers away with its breakneck pacing, flawless plotting, and impossibly high stakes. It earned starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and VOYA, which described it as “an exciting, edge-of-your-seat read that combines psychological themes from works like Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Ender’s Game in a truly unique way.”
In Feedback, Robison Wells delivers all the answers you’ve been craving—with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the very last page.”
My Rating: 4 stars
My Review: Not as good as Variant, but not bad at all. Slower and less mysterious, but with more sci-fi. But the ending was epic. I want book 3 now!

My review of the first book, what I thought of Variant: “This book was very different and so much better than I expected. It was about the most twisted, crazy boarding school ever. The students were very odd and the whole gang thing was just plain weird. The author did an awesome job of throwing all these elements together and creating a fast paced story that kept me wondering what was going on. Sure, I already knew that there was something about robots in it, but that just intrigued me more. Oh, and there’s a lot of paintball in here. I’m sure that some guys will love this book. Especially if you like the Maze Runner series. This book is almost dystopian. It’s just a very different kind of dystopian, one that’s in the present and set in an experimental environment. The students have to work together to survive. There’s a system based off of points and punishments. The punishments are sometimes extreme. And detention here could possibly mean death.
I highly recommend this. It’s fresh and exciting. I so happy I gave it a chance. I wish there were more different and unique sci-fi books out there like this one.”

Now my review of Feedback:
So this book’s first 200 pages were not as fast paced as Variant. Sadly, no more paintball or gangs But after page 200 it picks up, and the last 50 pages or so a mind blowing. Lots of action, and a few freaky discoveries, and unanswered questions that will leave you begging for book 3. I was guessing the androids had something to do with Aliens. It didn’t get answered, so who knows what will happen in book 3?
In this book Benson’s relationship with Becky becomes more apparent. He’s really protective of her since she got injured. And also there’s some more bizarre, futuristic medical technology that can heal wounds faster. There’s some really awesome stuff in here if you look past the boring parts.
So fans of Maze Runner, the Hunger Games, the Gone series, or people who enjoyed Quarentine: The Loners by Lex Thomas, or The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse. If you have not discovered the Variant series, then you are missing out! Terminator fans may also enjoy this. And there’s some other awesome robo-stopians coming out next year like Revolution 19 and Mila 2.0.
A.I, Robots, Androids, Cyborgs. You know they make a thriller awesome.
Cover Art Review: Just as shiny and rainbow as the 1st book’s cover. Red instead of blue. It’s a good, mysterious cover.

Book reviews at The Bawdy Book Blog! (no replies)

Jennifer @ The Bawdy Book Blog — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:40:32 -0400

Here are all our reviews at The Bawdy Book Blog: http://www.thebawdybookblog.com/posts/tag/reviews-2/
We review a bunch of different genres, but the majority seem to end up falling in the YA category....there's a special place in my heart for dystopian and paranormal fiction. :)

'Smart Girls Get What They Want' Review. (no replies)

I-am-happy — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 20:12:36 -0400

FIRST OFF I'D LIKE TO thank epicreads.com for the book!

Now, onto the reviewing!

To be honest, it was great to see the story told from the geeks POV! Often you get someone popular, and outcast (but not a geek) or someone who is just there. The main character is a girl named Gigi. She is an overachiever along with both her friends, and they form the group in school that would most likely end up in the biggest universities out there.
The story progresses really well, with a lot of complications thrown in everywhere to get the reader going. Let's just say it was pretty well executed.
I did have a problem with the cliche factor of the story: popular-jock-who-just-so-happening-to-be-so-freaking-godlike meets geek-girl-with-no-social-life. Must I explain further?! The fact is this: this story line has been done so many times that by the first couple chapters the reader knows what is going to be the outcome! And, needless to say, that isn't good.
I really would have liked some things that were more unexpected to happened. Sure, it was filled with its ups and downs (and I did like them), but if I know how the book is going to end a couple chapters in, there is a little bit of editing needed done.
Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this book and do recommend it to people who don't mind a cute cliche.

-Emily

My Book Reviews (no replies)

Antoinette — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:37:43 -0400

I am fairly new to the book reviewing experience, but I started a blog not too long ago. I have quite a few books reviews up, ranging from John Green novels to debut books that have recently been released or will be soon. If anyone would like to check it out, it's [thebookramblings.tumblr.com] and my latest review is Forever Blue by Jennifer Edlund, it's a fantastic romance novel for those who love romance!

Revenants Series Reviews (2 replies)

thepagesage — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:13:02 -0500

Here are my reviews of Die for Me and Until I Die by Amy Plum:
Die for Me
Until I Die

(I really, really liked both of these!)

Delirium Reviews (5 replies)

EpicGirl — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:20:53 -0400

Have you read ]Delirium by Lauren Oliver? Post your reviews here or link us to where we can read your review with a short summary!

Tiger Lily Reviews (1 reply)

EpicGirl — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 22:30:03 -0400

Post your Tiger Lily reviews here or paste the links to the review on your blog and give us a little summary! I'll be adding some of the reviews to the Tiger Lily book page!

Insurgent Reviews (5 replies)

EpicGirl — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 12:06:43 -0400

So what did you guys think of Insurgent? Share your reviews or links to your reviews here!

my book reviews! (3 replies)

tweetybyrd — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:46:24 -0400

Hey so i have read a lot of amazing YA books so if you ask me about one that ive read then i will give you a review on it.if i havent read it...still ask.i can read it and then give you a review.by the way i am not one of those super slow readers (no offense if you are)i will have whatever book it is finished for you as fast as possible.so now its your turn.Ask away!:)

Insignia by S.J Kincaid review (1 reply)

Haley G — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:45:40 -0400

I actually got the ARC for a prepub event (where I met the author, Her 1st name is Shelly) in Naperville. Here's my review:

Title & Author:
Insignia by S. J. Kincaid
Release Date: July 10th
Publisher: HarperTeen (KT)
Series: Insignia (bk. 1)
Genera: Sci-fi, dystopian, futuristic
Subjects: computers, virtual reality, technology, war
Length: 444 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
Summary/ product description: “More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.
Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test, and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War Three. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?
Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid’s futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology.”
My Rating: 4 and 1/2 stars
My Review: This book was better than I expected. Set in 3rd person of male, 14-year old Tom Raines, I wasn’t sure if it would keep my interest, since it sounded more like it was middle grade than YA. The humor was amazing in this book, though. It was Percy Jackson series good. Really funny. The characters interacted so well. Lots of banter, but not really much real romance, but a kind of virtual one.
What I did not expect was that Tom was going to have a computer put in his brain. This was pretty awesome, and kind of scary. I’d never go through what he did. I’d say no. No brain surgery for me. But he said yes, and it was pretty cool to see the result of the neural processors. I love all the futuristic technology. The author must have done a ton of research or be really creative. Everything about the companies and the Spire is done very intricately.
Tom’s a really strong character for his age. He’s stubborn and doesn’t back down. He’s a gamer and he plays to win. His roommate Vik is funny, and they become friends. This books more about friendship, and fighting for what you believe in, not a romance or survival book.
I recommend this book to people who love reading books set in the future, or people who like video games or computers. This book is so cool!
Cover Art Review: I’m not sure what kind of special effects will be used on the cover, but I’m sure the symbol with be raised, the title probably not. It may be metallic. I love how they did the title and all the computer stuff, circuitry. It’s really interesting.

~Haley G

My blog:
[breathlessbookreviews.blogspot.com]

For Darkness Shows the Stars Reviews (4 replies)

EpicGirl — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 22:26:55 -0500

Have a review for the new Diana Peterfreund book FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS? Share it here! If you originally posted it on your blog, please share that link too because I might add these to our blogger round up post!