Sharp Objects- Gillian Flynn

Publisher: Shaye Areheart Books
Published: Sep 26, 2006
272 pages
Goodreads page

WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart 
Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg 
Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle 
As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

This book was incredibly dark and somewhat messed up in parts but that is what was so great about it.

The mystery and darkness is so captivating i was hooked throughout.

Camille's character is so messed up and reading about her and her incredibly messed up family was just so intriguing.

Gillian isn't afraid to go to dark places to keep us reading and i really love that about her writing style, i haven't read many books that were as captivating in such a messy way.

I definitely would not recommend this book for anyone under the age of 18, its very up front and there is quite a bit of adult content.

I have to say i did not pick the ending. Up until the very end i was kept guessing at who done it and was quite surprised.

This is a great read for those who like a dark and twisted story. I enjoyed it and will be picking up more of Gillian's work.

****

Four stars

The Immortal Rules- Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: April 24, 2012
485 pages
Goodreads page

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for… again.

I was quite hesitant going into this book, because as we all know the vampire genre is somewhat tainted. I however had heard nothing but good things about it so i decided to give it a go.

I really love the world and how its kind of opposite to a normal vampire story where vampires rule rather than humans.

Its great to go through Allie's transformation with her and see how she deals with becoming a monster.

I also like how vampires are actually the way they should be (not sparkling), they cant go in sunlight and they have to feed on humans.

I found this book did take me a long time to get through. It wasn't necessarily because i didn't enjoy it i think maybe i just had a lot going on the last few weeks.

Overall its a great take on vampires and i thought it was very enjoyable.

****
Four stars

Born Wicked- Jessica Spotswood

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Published: Feb 7, 2012
330 pages
Goodreads page

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

This book is about a girl named Cate, who after her mother passed away had to take on the responsibility of running the house and looking after her sisters all while keeping hidden that herself and her sisters are witches. Anybody found as a witch gets sent away and Cate must protect herself and her sisters from detection.
I liked the premise of this story, but the execution wasn't done so well. I found that the story was quite slow and it really just took me forever to get through. There wasn't enough happening to keep me interested and i was bored through a lot of it.
I like Cate's character i think shes really strong and i love how passionate she is about her sisters. 
I also like reading about the way things where back then, how women were barely educated and expected to serve their husbands. That era really fascinates me but it wasn't enough to make the book entertaining for me.
I'm kind of interested to see what happens in the next book because the end didn't go the way i thought it would but i don't have high hopes for this series, its a little flat for me.

***
Three stars

September wrap-up

The truth about forever- Sarah Dessen

Goodreads page

***

The selection- Kiera Cass
Goodreads page
****

The Elite- Kiera Cass
Goodreads page
***

Fantastic beasts and where to find them- J.K.Rowling
Goodreads page
****

Born Wicked- Jessica Spotswood
Goodreads page
***

The Selection & The Elite- Kiera Cass

Publisher: Harper Teen

Published: April 24, 2012

327 Pages

Goodreads page

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

When going into this book ill be honest and say i didn't really have high hopes for it. Hearing that it was like a version of the bachelor kind of put me off but I actually really loved this book! The plot was really unique and i loved the girliness of the dresses and the dates and everything. I love that its not your typical love story and there is more going on that first appears.
I love America's character she is really a strong person and i feel really invested in her and her relationship with Maxon.
I think the world building was done really well and everything is so well written. I'm interested to learn more about the royals and whats going on with the attacks.
The only reason i didn't give it five stars was because there is the love triangle aspect to it that I'm not so much a fan of. Although it is one of the least annoying love triangles Ive read, i still feel like its just to common among YA and would rather see less of it.

I cant fault anything else its definitely a thumbs up for this one!

****
Four stars

Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: April 23, 2013
323 Pages
Goodreads page

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.
Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Unfortunately i was pretty disappointed with this book.

It was ok to start off with but i found America incredibly annoying after a short time. It seems like she lost that strength she had in the first book and throughout the whole book she was constantly changing her mind and declaring her love for Maxon and then Aspen. It kind of drove me crazy after a while.

I like the rest of the book, the parts that weren't about the romance. I'm really keen to know more about the northerners and southerners and why they have been doing what they're doing.

Im looking forward to the next book and hopefully America will make a decision and stop bugging me with her indecisiveness but unfortunately i wasn't in love with this one.

***

Three stars

August wrap up

The Iron Daughter- Julie Kagawa

Goodreads page

****

Four stars

The Kingmakers Daughter- Philippa Gregory
Goodreads page
*****
Five stars

In Time- Alexandra Bracken
Goodreads page
**
Two stars

Confessions of a shopaholic- Sophie Kinsella
Goodreads page
***
Three stars

City of ashes- Cassandra Clare
Goodreads page
***
Three stars

Pretty happy with how much i got read this month considering its been a bit of a hectic month. September is going to be even busier for me because my baby is due this week so hopefully i can still get a little reading done.
I probably wont be posting much on here but i guess we'll see how we go.
Happy Reading!

City of Ashes- Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry books
Published: March 25, 2008
453 pages
Goodreads page

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

I really wanted to like this series. After all the hype its gotten i had high hopes for it. Unfortunately I'm finding that I'm just really not a fan. 
I don't particularly care about the characters and i find the story line kind of dull. The whole time i was reading this book i was constantly wondering when it was going to end.
I cant put my finger on specifically what it is i don't like but it kind of just isn't my thing i think.

I feel like sometimes when the characters have a conversation it always feels robotic and they will try to chuck in some witty remark or try to be funny and it really just doesn't work well.

I may read the next book out of curiosity but i am not guaranteeing anything.

I'm still interested to try out the infernal devices trilogy because i have heard quite a few people who didn't like the mortal instruments actually liked the infernal devices. So i think ill give it a go and if that doesn't interest me it may just be that Cassandra Clare's writing style doesn't work for me personally.

***
Three stars