Waiting on Wednesday 132: Opposition

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Name: Opposition (Lux #5)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Release Date: August 5th, 2014

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In the stunning climax to the bestselling Lux series, Daemon and Katy join forces with an unlikely enemy to ensure the survival of not only their love for each other, but the future of all mankind. 

Opposition will bring forth a new dawn to the Lux universe, where man must stand with alien to survive, and the future, no matter the outcome, will never be the same.

Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Is anyone else disappointed with the lack of summary for this book? I hope they come out with a better one soon! But, besides that, I am sure that nothing else about this book will disappoint me! I'm upset with the prospect of this being the final Lux book (especially since JLA's Covenant series just ended), but I am looking forward to reading some of her new books. I can't wait until August!!

What are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week? Let us know in the comments!

Boundless (Unearthly # 3) by Cynthia Hand Review

Name: Boundless (Unearthly # 3)

Authors: Cynthia Hand

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: January 22nd, 2013

Format: E-book
Buy the book on Amazon
448 pages

Summary:

The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

Goodreads

My Review:

Boundless was a great read!  It had one of the most interesting plots of the three books, and I loved how it tried to balance Clara having a normal life with her angel life.  Needless to say, it did not work out that well.  The book starts off with Clara, Christian, and Angela at Stanford University.  The three are attempting to live normal, college lives, while still not forgetting about their "purposes."  I wished that this book would have focused more on them trying to live normal lives, but everything quickly went to hell (literally) and soon the lives of the characters at school was forgotten.

I was intrigued by the role that Angela played in this book.  Her character always interested me from the start; she seemed to genuinely like Clara as a friend, but at the same time she was always a little bit strange to me.  She seemed to be full of information that wasn't necessarily good, and I had always wondered where she got this information from.  As for the love triangle aspect, Clara debated for a lot of the book over who to choose.  While listening to her pine for Tucker for the beginning of the novel was not my favorite part of the book, I think that the action and plot-twist at the end eventually outshone that momentary annoyance.

I liked the ending, though I can't say that I absolutely loved it.  The ending was wrapped up like a gift, and I wish that Clara hadn't been handed what she wanted quite so easily, though she did go through a lot of difficult and traumatic events.  Most of this book was a bit grim, but I think it fit very well with what Cynthia Hand was trying to accomplish with this series finale.  I was really hoping that Boundless would tie up some loose ends that had been bugging me throughout the series, but unfortunately some of my pressing questions were left unanswered.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this book, and would definitely recommend this series to anyone interested in YA series about love triangles and fate.

My Rating:

The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass Review

Name: The One
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: May 6th, 2014
Format: E-Book
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336 pages

Summary:
The highly anticipated conclusion to Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series, The One will captivate readers who love dystopian YA fiction and fairy tales. 

The One is the perfect finale for fans who have followed America's whirlwind romance since it began--and a swoon-worthy read for teens who have devoured Veronica Roth's Divergent, Ally Condie's Matched, or Lauren Oliver's Delirium. 

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants. 

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

Goodreads

My Review:
After months of waiting, the final book in the Selection series, One, has been released. I'm not going to lie and say that I absolutely loved this book...because I didn't. I thought it was a fine ending to what started as a magnificent series. I absolutely LOVED the first book, and the second book fell flat for me. This book, I definitely went into with an open mind but again this book just didn't hit it for me.

First the bad: what really bothered me about this book was how rushed it was!!! Considering this was the last book in the series, I thought it would be at least 400 pages. I thought the beginning of the book definitely was at a good pace, but the ending of the book felt so rushed and it really left me unsatisfied. Some of the plotlines in this book were either dragged out for wayyy too long, or they were so so so so short. I also didn't like how little worldbuilding we got out of this series. I would have loved to learn more about how the society ended up with the castes and how they got to be under a King. There was so much more to be developed and I still had so many questions at the end of this book. What also disappointed me was that this book felt like it wasn't meant for the YA audience, I could see my middle school self reading this book and loving it, but as an older teen not so much. Yes, the book ended with ******SPOILER****** Maxon and America together which is what I really wanted, but the way Kiera Cass got to that result just didn't seem right to me.

What I did like about this book is of course the romance between Maxon and America. I think they are so sweet together and I am glad they ended up together. I also really liked the minor characters as well, it was nice to see America get along so well with her maids and other members in the royal guard. The drama in this book was great too! Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat at points (even though many parts were rushed).

Overall, what started as a phenomenal series for me ended up falling flat. If only there was more character development, world building, and being longer, I definitely would have liked this book more. Yes, the ending was happy and I was happy reading it--but as a series as a whole Kiera Cass could have done so much more with this book instead of rushing to finish it.


My Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday 131: Idols

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Name: Idols (Icons # 2)

Author: Margaret Stohl

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release Date: July 8th, 2014

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The Icons came from the sky. They belong to an inhuman enemy. They ended our civilization, and they can kill us.

Most of us. 

Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas are the four Icon Children, the only humans immune to the Icon's power to stop a human heart. Now that Los Angeles has been saved, things are more complicated - and not just because Dol has to choose between Lucas and Ro, the two great loves of her life. As she flees to a resistance outpost hidden beneath a mountain, Dol makes contact with a fifth Icon Child, if only through her visions. When Dol and the others escape to Southeast Asia in search of this missing child, Dol's dreams, feelings and fears collide in an epic showdown that will change more than just four lives -- and stop one heart forever.

In this riveting sequel to Icons, filled with nonstop action and compelling romance, bestselling author Margaret Stohl explores what it means to be human and how our greatest weakness can be humanity's strongest chance at survival.

Goodreads

My Thoughts:

From one of the co-writers of the Beautiful Creatures series comes another new series, this time for kids a little bit younger. I was fortunate enough to receive a free copy of the first book (Icons) right after it came out, and found it a really quick and engaging read. Plus, aren't the covers awesome?

What are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week? Let us know in the comments!

Sentinel (Covenant # 5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout Review

Name: Sentinel (Covenant # 5)

Authors: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: November 2nd, 2013

Format: Paperback
Buy the book on Amazon
297 pages

Summary:
It's a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself.

Goodreads

My Review:

I started reading this series when it first came out three years ago, and no matter how old I've grown, I've always been unable to do anything but love JLA's books, and Sentinel is no exception!  This series started out strong, and finished just as strong.

Every time JLA comes out with a new book, I'm so impressed by the quality of the stories that she is able to craft.  I have been wondering for years how this series would end, and now that it is finally here, I can safely say that I would have never guessed any of it!  While it was wrapped up a bit neatly in the happily-ever-after kind of way, it wasn't done in a way that made me hate the ending.  Instead, I loved the way that it ended; I was hoping for a happily ever after and I got one; yet, at the same time, I didn't feel cheated.  Some hard things happened, and none of the characters ended up with exactly what they wanted, but it was nice to see some of them come pretty close!

As always, the main character Alex was fantastic.  One of the reasons I first started reading this book was because I loved her sassy humor and her headstrong character.  She really grew up in this book; she knew she would have to make some sacrifices, and she did them with the willingness and grace of someone who was much older than her.  I often talk about the progression of characters throughout novels and series, but watching Alex grow up was definitely in my top five favorite characters.  While I have always loved Aiden (seriously, he's perfect), he has always been so steady and unchanging, that it is hard to appreciate how everything around him has really affected him.  However, with Alex, the transformation is clear; she has become an entirely new person.  I cannot help but appreciate novels where the main characters really change by the events that happen around them.

I am so sad to see this series end.  I know JLA will continue to come out with plenty more fantastic books (she's a writing machine!), I will definitely miss all the characters I have met and the world that was created in this series.  I am very interested in Greek mythology and when books use Greek mythology well, I can't help but love them.  Sentinel was a wonderful conclusion to a fantastic series, and while I'm upset that there won't be any more books in this series (though I hear there will be a spin-off about Seth!!), I know that this is one series I will be re-reading in the future!

My Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday 130: Five Ways to Fall

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Name: Five Ways to Fall

Author: K. A. Tucker

Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: June 24th, 2014

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Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change. She moves to Miami with the intention of hitting reset on her irresponsible life, and she does quite well…aside from an epically humiliating one-night stand in Cancun with a hot blond bouncer named Ben. Thank God she can get on a plane and leave that mistake behind her.

Football scholarship and frat parties with hot chicks? Part of charmer Ben Morris’s plan. Blown knee that kills any hope of a professional football career? So not part of the plan. Luckily Ben has brains to go with his knockout looks and magnetism. After three long years of balancing law school with his job as a bouncer at Penny’s Palace, he’s ready to lead a more mature life—until his first day of work, when he finds himself in the office of that crazy, hot chick he met in Cancun. The one he hasn’t stopped thinking about.

If Ben truly were a smart guy, he’d stay clear of Reese. She’s the boss’s stepdaughter and it’s been made very clear that office romances are grounds for dismissal. Plus, rumor has it she’s trouble. The only problem is, he likes trouble, especially when it’s so good-looking…

Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The first two books I read by K. A. Tucker were Ten Tiny Breaths and One Tiny Lie, and I loved them both so much! I can readily admit that I'm not a huge fan of romance books, but Tucker does such a fantastic job of writing these New Adult books that it's impossible for me to not read them. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this!

What are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week? Let us know in the comments!

Ignite Me (Shatter Me # 3) by Tahereh Mafi Review

Name: Ignite Me (Shatter Me # 3)

Authors: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: February 14th, 2014

Format: E-book
Buy the book on Amazon
416 pages

Summary:
The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love.”

With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.

The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu. Tahereh Mafi has created a captivating and original story that combines the best of dystopian and paranormal, and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and satisfying end.

Goodreads

My Review:

Ignite Me was a wonderful conclusion to a fantastic series!  Although I cannot deny that the first book was by far my favorite, I still thought that this book was a great conclusion that really wrapped up everything that happened in the series, while still having an intriguing plot of its own.

Some of the events that occurred throughout the book were a bit predictable; at times, it seemed that I knew exactly what was going to happen next.  Yet, at the same time, the series as a whole was far from predictable, mainly because the main character, Juliette, completely changed as the books progressed.  The first image we see of Juliette is a broken girl in an insane asylum; she doesn't trust anyone around her, and more importantly she doesn't trust herself.  However, by the end of the third and final book, Juliette really steps up and discovers her true potential.  She becomes a powerful young woman who takes responsibility for her actions and has the ability to make the choices that are best for her, even if not everyone around her agrees.

I am not generally a huge fan of love triangles, and so that was one of the things that I didn't particularly enjoy about this book.  However, I do have to give Tahereh Mafi a great deal of credit for how this triangle turned out to be much less annoying than many of the others I have read.  Throughout this book especially, Juliette really knows what she wants.  While there are definitely two boys who each want to be with her, it is not as if the book centers around her thinking which one should I choose?  Juliette recognizes that there are more important things for her to focus on, and rightfully so.  That being said, the two boys still were clearly fighting over her.

In general, I found Ignite Me to be a great read!  Mafi is a fantastic writer, and every time I found myself growing a bit bored of the story, she would pull be right back in with her beautiful prose.  I would definitely say that the first book, Shatter Me, was my favorite, but I was still impressed with the series as a whole.  I hope that Mafi continues to write many more books in the future; I would love to read anything she writes!

My Rating:

Book Trailers: Round Nine

Hi everyone! Here are some of the book trailers that we at Catching Books loved watching from the past few months. We hope you like them, too!

I'm so excited to read The One and so I loved watching the trailer! I also thought that the trailer for Killer Instinct was really interesting, and creepy. I've been hearing a lot about that book lately, and I hope I get the chance to read it!

What are your thoughts? Do you like book trailers? Which one do you like the most? 

Let me know in the comments :)