books – Page 16 – Zakiya N. Jamal

Book Review: Hunger

Posted on July 6, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my Dystopia Book Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon:

It’s been three months since all the adults disappeared. Gone. Food ran out weeks ago and starvation is imminent. Meanwhile, the normal teens have grown resentful of the kids with powers. And when an unthinkable tragedy occurs, chaos descends upon the town. There is no longer right and wrong. Each kid is out for himself and even the good ones turn murderous. But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, begins calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them.

The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

This is the second novel in Michael Grant’s Gone series and Hunger is just as good, if not better than the first novel.

As the FAYZ continues kids start to go hungry, The Darkness looms ever closer, and there is war between the freaks and the normals brewing. Sam is beginning to crack under the pressure of being in charge and everyone’s kind of losing it. The FAYZ quickly turns dangerous and it’s every boy or girl for themselves.

Gone set the framework for the series but Hunger shows the real consequences of a world where there’s no adults and kids with superpowers. It’s not all fun and games. Of course kids left to do what they want were not planning for the future and only ate junk food and candy rather than preserving the meats and veggies. Meanwhile everyone’s looking for someone to take charge making it easy for the wrong people to gain a following.

It’s a free for all in the FAYZ and lives are taken but what’s worse than what the kids can do to each other is what The Darkness wants to do to them all. I won’t spoil it but it’s crazy how manipulative this antagonist is and what’s worse is everyone’s so busy dealing with the immediate problems n Perdido Beach no one’s really thinking about the bigger danger.

I loved this book and thought it was a great continuation. Grant is very real about this world he’s created. He doesn’t sugar coat things which makes for a very dark novel. However he also provides us with some comic relief and of course the romance between Astrid and Sam is very cute.

This book was very dark and scary but definitely a good read.

Favorite Line:

Superpowers don’t always make you a superhero.

Stars: 5 out of 5. I’m obsessed with this series right now.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! This book gets really intense and crazy. You’ll definitely want to reread.

Other Reviews

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Book Review: Divergent

Posted on June 25, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Finally after being on the waitlist at my library (twice!) I finally got and read Divergent and yes it’s as awesome as everyone says.

Not wanting to see the film before reading the book I had to get my hands on the book that is apparently a phenomenon. I resisted at first because it just seemed like another Hunger Games and as much I loved that trilogy I didn’t want to read the same thing all over again.

Although there are obvious correlations between the two dystopian novels Divergent was, well divergent. The main character Beatrice (who later goes by Tris) is born into the Abnegation faction of her dystopian world. There are five factions and Abnegation is the selfless one, which is as boring as it sounds. Tris can only look in her mirror on special occasions and has to wear plain clothes so she doesn’t bring attention to herself. And that’s only scratching the surface of what being in Abnegation means. Not that they’re all bad just that I personally wouldn’t pick that faction.

When Tris takes her aptitude test to help her choose her faction she is told that she is divergent meaning she doesn’t fit perfectly into one faction but instead could belong to three different ones.

In our day being divergent would be just fine but during Tris’ time it’s really dangerous (not that Tris has any idea why but she figures it out). Tris then chooses to join the Dauntless (fearless) faction where she’s put to the test, both physically and mentally.

Of course there’s a love interest. His (nick)name is Four and I personally love him and thanks to the movie I only pictured him in my mind as the handsome Theo James.

Besides trying to survive Dauntless initiation (if Tris fails she becomes factionless which is our equivalent of being broke and on the streets) there’s a revolution forming. The Erudite (smarty pants) faction is rising up against Tris’ old faction (and the faction of her parents). The Erudite want power and they’re willing to do anything to get, even brain wash people.

Overall I love Tris. She’s got a lot on her plate but she handles everything pretty well. Plus it’s really fun to watch her struggle with the idea of physical contact. Truly though it was great to see her come out of her shell and become such a strong girl that comes very close to being fearless. Also her relationship with Four is awesome.

The only negative thing I would say about the book is it is pretty dark. I wasn’t expecting so many people to *spoiler alert* die in the first book of the trilogy. I guess I was still in my Hunger Games mentality and wasn’t expecting a battle until at least the second book. I was highly mistaken.

Still, as tearjerking as this book was I loved it can’t wait until I get the next one. I think I’m number 80 on the waitlist. Oh, dear.

Favorite Line: “Then I realize what it is. It’s him. Something about him makes me feel like I am about to fall. Or turn to liquid. Or burst into flames.”

Stars: 5 out of 5. I loved it!

Borrow or Buy: Definitely buy. I’m already planning on buying it so I’ll have it in my collection always.

Other Reviews:

The Book Smugglers

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Book Review: The Impossible Knife of Memory

Posted on June 9, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

I’ve been a fan of Laurie Halse Anderson since I read Speak years ago. She has this uncanny ability to write about serious topics in a way that isn’t preachy but still drives home a point. This book was no different.

Centered around Hayley and her father, Andy, a veteran suffering from PTSD I wasn’t sure if I would like this book at first. Truthfully, in the beginning I found Hayley to be annoying. She’s very pessimistic and just doesn’t seem to try in anything she does. It’s not until she meets Finn, a strange boy who sees the good in Hayley that I myself couldn’t that I begin to like her.

In the novel, Anderson makes the point of indicating that it’s not only Andy who’s suffering from his service in Iraq. Hayley’s suffering majorly as well. She’s constantly taking care of her father, making sure no one finds out how bad things are at home. Meanwhile, they’re both running from their past, trying to forget the memories that hurt them, thereby leaving them in a limbo mind state.

Although the novel is mostly told in Hayley’s point of view there are some chapters that are Andy’s point of view, mainly his dreams and memories of the war. Sometimes I didn’t care to read these part but I think overall they really added to the narrative.

I really fell in love with this book because of Finn and Hayley. Their relationship made this book for me. What was great about them wasn’t just their shared quirkiness. It was that to Hayley her life was so dysfunctional and Finn’s was so perfect that she couldn’t fathom that maybe it wasn’t. They both struggled with opening up to each other about their issues and what was great was seeing them grow together. They needed each other and I liked them much better together than apart.

These two weren’t the only one’s dealing with family issues, either. Gracie, Hayley’s best friend, also had her own home life issues with her parents getting a divorce. What Anderson did so well was indicate that teens go through so much that their friends don’t know about or can’t understand. All kids go through something, whether it be big or small, and it always has an impact on their lives. I think Anderson did a good job of showing that.

Additionally, as the novel went on I began to like Hayley even more. I started to root for her. I wanted her to start fighting for what she wanted, to stand up for herself, and to start thinking about her future.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Hayley and Finn’s quips made me crack up and just the way Hayley viewed the world was both heartbreaking and at times very funny. Her idea that the world consists of “freaks and zombies” and nothing else was interesting. Also, her sass and blatant disrespect for authority figures was very entertaining. Her indifferent attitude was annoying at times but also very enjoyable at others. She’s the definition of a rebel without a cause and I loved it.

What is really great about this novel is Anderson presents Hayley as this girl who has lost so much and has to take on so much responsibility but at the end of the day is still just a kid. She still has child like qualities like throwing tantrums while she still has to do adult things like cleaning up after her drunk father messes.

Hayley was a very complex character and I loved getting to know her and seeing her become such an admirable character that I was very sad to part with her when the book ended. Definitely worth a second (and third) read.

Favorite Line:

‘I thought you said it wasn’t broken.’

‘Well.’ He braked to a stop as the green light in front of us turned yellow. ‘It might be a little broken.’

‘A little broken is still broken,’ I pointed out.

‘But fixable.’

Stars: 4 out of 5. I’ll admit when I first started this book I was a little disappointed. I just thought Hayley was a very unlikeable character. I’m glad I pushed through that because this is definitely a book that I can see myself reading again. Very good.

Borrow or Buy: Buy. As I said I’ll probably reread this one more times than I should.

Other Reviews

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Author Guest Post: “Why I Love the Young Adult Genre”

Posted on June 8, 2014June 8, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Books

“Why I Love the Young Adult Genre”

Guest post by author, Sherry Soule

Today author, Sherry Soule has some exciting news to share with us! She will be publishing a brand new Upper YA / Sci-Fi Romance series: the “Starlight Saga” with scorching-hot character chemistry, exciting suspense, and epic romance on June 26, 2014.

To help promote this amazing interstellar love story, “LOST IN STARLIGHT,” Sherry is doing this guest post to share the news with fellow bibliophiles.

Hi everybody, I’m author, Sherry Soule—waving from the SF Bay Area. Thanks for letting me visit today, it’s an honor to be a guest here and meet fellow booklovers.

Ever since I was a child, I have recognized that books are a way to travel to other places and have incredible adventures. Even though I am older than the average teen reader, I’ve always loved reading Young Adult books and strongly believe you’re NEVER too old to read them.

One reason that I enjoy reading YA Lit is because most novels in this genre are fast-paced and thrilling. And teenage characters tend to have a more hopeful perspective, which draws me in—plus the fact that I’m really a big kid at heart. I also adore that there are so many books created into a series nowadays, so that you can continue to have additional adventures with your favorite characters.

Could my love of YA Lit be simply because I’m still stuck at age sixteen, just a teenager-at-heart in disguise?

Could be. And like many of you, I’ve read hundreds of YA books and I can actually say that I enjoyed almost all of them. Some I genuinely loved, and these books became like good friends that I didn’t want to part with, so they adorn my bookshelves and wait patiently to be reread again one day. Other novels were simply read and then disregarded with a contented smile.

Although I buy many of my books through Amazon, I am never embarrassed to buy YA novels in bookstores, or carry them around with me. I love the genre and always have and always will.

We all have diverse tastes in literature. Most of you will have various genres that you love to read, and probably some of my favorite books are simply your forgotten reads. That is what makes the world of YA Lit, and reading as a whole, so fascinating. Each one of us will enjoy different types of characters, plots, and, of course, a writer’s voice, the way only they can tell a story.

At its core my new novel, LOST IN STARLIGHT, is basically a love story about two lonely hearts finding each other and how their “forbidden” friendship changes both of their lives. Sure, there is an element of danger regarding this star-crossed romance, but they are both young and reckless. Who isn’t at that age?

And I don’t know about you, but I need some romance in almost every book I read. Even in YA! And if you’re a hopeless romantic at heart, then you’ll enjoy reading my new book.

Thus, LOST IN STARLIGHT is the first book that I’ve ever written that focuses mostly on romance rather than any paranormal baddies trying to kill the heroine or having the plot center around a supernatural mystery to solve. And I think the heroine of my new series, Sloane, is rather unique. To me, she’s not your average “Mary Sue” or flawless heroine. She has some self-esteem issues, but she’s also headstrong and gutsy, with an eccentric fashion sense.

Thank you for letting me chat about my love of young adult literature. I hope you enjoyed this post. Now go feed your mind and read a book! Preferably one of mine. 😀

Please mark your calendars to buy your copy of LOST IN STARLIGHT on June 26^th 2014!

Read the first five chapters for free on wattpad.

VOLUME ONE of the Starlight Saga

High school reporter Sloane Masterson knows she has one helluva story when she witnesses hottie Hayden Lancaster bending forks with his mind.

Like any good journalist, Sloane sets out to uncover the truth, even if it includes a little stalking. When the superhuman feats start to pile up and the undeniable heat rises between them, Hayden has no choice but to reveal his secret: he’s an alien hybrid.

They’re as different as night and day—she’s a curvy, purple-haired, horror junkie and he’s a smoking hot, antisocial, brainiac—yet the intense fascination between them refuses to go away. Even at Hayden’s insistence that dating each other is “off limits” and crazy dangerous, their fiery attraction threatens to go supernova.

Now Sloane’s dealing with creepy government agents, über snobby extraterrestrials, and a psycho alien ex-girlfriend out for revenge. After a crash course on the rules of interstellar dating, Sloane must decide if their star-crossed romance is worth risking her own life.

About Sherry Soule

Sherry Soule lives with her family and one very spoiled black cat in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the bestselling author of the adult novel, “Immortal Eclipse” and the popular YA series: Spellbound. Sherry writes thrilling tales of romance and suspense, often mingled with a dash of the mystical and a splash of trendy fashion. Her love of literature began when she was a young girl and it has continued throughout her life.

Her published novels do not include any graphic sex scenes or explicit violence, nor excessive profanity, so that all of her novels can be read and enjoyed by both teens and adults.

Sherry’s debut novel, “Beautifully Broken” was nominated for Best Paranormal Romance in the 2011 Wizard and Witch/Sorcery category by The Romance Reviews (TRR). Her adult novel, “Immortal Eclipse” is a *TOP PICK* by Night Owl Reviews.

Places you can find Sherry Soule:

Official Blog

Twitter @SherrySoule

Please add LOST IN STARLIGHT to your TBR on Goodreads:

The awesome book cover was designed by the talented, Kristen Thompson-Oh of KCT Designs

Eager to read a sneak peek on your Kindle? FREE every Friday from Amazon

Book Review: Something Blue

Posted on June 8, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

I loved Something Borrowed (both the book and the movie) but I resisted reading the sequel for so long because I didn’t like Darcy and wasn’t sure I cared to know what happened to her.

However, Emily Giffin has this amazing ability to show more than one side to a character and I found myself understanding Darcy’s side of things and actually beginning to like her.

The novel continues right where Something Borrowed left off, showing us what was going through Darcy’s mind when she find out her best friend, Rachel, was hooking up with her fiancé, Dex. Talk about awkward.

Not that one could really feel bad for Darcy when she cheated on Dex with his best friend, Marcus, and got pregnant. Yeah, that relationship was doomed from the start.

Through the novel we see Darcy try to understand her new world in which everything’s not the way it was. She can’t fathom how someone like her (beautiful and well dressed) could be dumped for someone like Rachel (book smart but no fashion sense). Besides that she begins to question if she made a mistake choosing Marcus over Dex and worrying about the future of her baby. As Darcy begins to realize her perfect life isn’t so perfect she finds herself beginning to question everything she once held so near and dear and wondering what’s really important in her life.

By taking a trip to visit her childhood friend, Ethan, she begins to discover that there’s more to people than just what’s on the outside and that she’s more than just her looks. She begins to do things on her own and became a character I truly adored.

I loved this novel. At first I wasn’t Darcy’s biggest fan mostly because of left over resentment I felt from the prequel. However, once I stopped comparing her to the Darcy from Rachel’s POV and start really just seeing her for who she was I understood why she acted the way she did in the first novel and at the start of this novel. Not that it’s an excuse for her actions but still. Also, it made me look at the other side of things and realize Rachel was not at all innocent in any of it either.

It was very interesting getting another point of view in this story and I really enjoyed it. I also enjoyed all the romance and seeing Darcy fall but then pick herself up again. What I loved the most though is how Darcy’s love for her baby and her growing into motherhood really change her.

If you haven’t read Something Borrowed yet definitely pick that up and then read this book. It’s great.

Favorite Line: “Love and friendship. They are what make us who we are, and what can change us, if we let them.”

Stars: 5 out of 5. I really enjoyed this book and I’ve already gone back and reread parts of it. So good.

Borrow or Buy: Buy. I bought this book and it was worth every penny. Do it.

Other Reviews

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Book Review: The Boyfriend App

Posted on June 8, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

After I met Katie Sise at a YA Book Panel, I found myself asking how I’d never heard of her before and why I hadn’t picked up her book yet.

Therefore I quickly went on a library quest to find this book and lucky for me it was available on my library’s digital site. After being put on a wait list I finally got it and read it within a day. It was that good.

The novel centers around Audrey McCarthy, a computer whiz, who enters an app making contest in an effort to win a college scholarship that she desperately needs if she has any chance of going to a good school.

Based on her lack of a love life, Audrey comes up with “The Boyfriend App”, an app that originally was just to match girls up with their perfect guy and tell them when said guy was nearby. However, after seeing her friend dissed by her so-called match Audrey realizes she needs to think of an even better idea if she wants to win the contest.

Discovering a secret in Public, the big name company that makes everyone’s technology (very similar to Apple) and is running the contest, Audrey is able to make an even better app that turns her world upside down.

I loved this novel. The chemistry between Audrey and one of her best friends, Aidan, is fantastic. They obviously like each other but they’re just too chicken to realize it and although it drove me crazy throughout the novel it was great when *spoiler alert* they finally get together.

Also, what made me happy about this book was although Audrey is definitely presented as an underdog type character, she’s not pushed around. From the beginning of the novel she stands up for herself against her ex-best friend turned bully/diva, Blake. Audrey is a determined, head strong, and funny character.

From the start she knows what she wants for herself and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it without losing herself or changing her morals to do so. Additionally, what I loved about Audrey is she’s really dealing with some heavy stuff. Her father past away a few years back and now she and her mom are on their own, trying to get by. The reason the competition is so important to Audrey is because she knows how smart she is and all she wants is to better her education at a great school and get out of her town but she doesn’t have the money to do so.

That’s what I loved most about this book. Audrey didn’t want to become the most popular girl in school or something ridiculous. She just wants to go to a good college. It’s an admirable goal and I loved her more for it. Plus she was just this awesome cute little nerd that wanted to win. I supported her the whole way.

If you haven’t already, definitely check out this book. It’s a cute, fun read that’s perfect for summer reading by the pool. Also, Sise plans on writing a sequel/companion to the novel which I am now impatiently waiting for.

Favorite Line: “When somebody gets taken away from you, people try to say all kinds of things to make you feel better. Like how time heals (it doesn’t) or how sorry they are (who cares?) or how God has a plan (if He does, why is it crappy so far?). This was the first time someone said something that helped a little bit. I was grateful for it.”

Stars: 5 out of 5. Although it has many of the same qualities of many cliched teen romance novels, there were so many great characters in this novel that I became instantly obsessed with it.

Borrow or Buy: Buy. Totally worth buying. I will probably buy it at some point because I’ve been rereading parts of it since I finished it last week. I even considered renewing it for that reason. Then I figured that would be selfish. Definitely worth adding to your library.

Other Reviews:

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Author Spotlight: Eniola Prentice

Posted on June 6, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Author Spotlights

Introducing Eniola Prentice a new writer on the scene. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria where she began to pen her stories as early as nine years old, inspired by an eclectic group of writers. Still is her debut novel and the first in a series of book. It was in her third year of medical school that she was inspired by God and the unique and inspiring stories of friends that later became her family, to start writing this novel. Check out her author interview below and make sure to purchase Still on Amazon or on iBooks.

Eniola Prentice: Inspired by God and Medicine

Q: What is your story?

Eniola Prentice: Lol. I really do love that question because everybody has a story. How long do you have? I am someone who has beat incredible odds to get to where I am today by the grace of God. Getting and staying in medical school was [a] struggle, publishing this novel was a struggle but I did it by the grace of God. I have many definitions, doctor, Nigerian, female etc. but I don’t think those categories adequately tell my story. The recurring theme of my life story is never giving up and God dragging me to the finish line with the helm of his garment. I hope my life one day inspires others to chase their dreams in education, music writing, in whatever with an unparalleled tenacity. With God [and] with you, there really is nothing that is impossible.

Q: What is Still (and the Still series) about?

EP: At its core, Still is about God’s love for four flawed characters. It includes a fifth character of medical school which is an essential component of my plot. The novel is about their intertwining relationships between each other and their friends against the backdrop of medical school. The main character, Sola starts medical school with the hope that it’s a new beginning for her but as life never turns out how we plan she meets an unlikely character, Tayo who she had encountered in a past life. She also develops and ignores feelings for Ladi, another classmate while she is trying to convince Nikky, another classmate that she should steer clear of Tayo. Yes, she does have her hands full.

Q: Is Still based on personal experiences?

EP: Yes, it is a tongue in cheek memorial of my experience in medical school. When I graduated I realized just how self-absorbed we were. Our whole lives revolved around being in medical school, the gossip, [and] what we wanted to do in the future. We were aware that we were going through an exciting process and enjoyed every minute of it. Yes it was hard work but it was also fun.

Q: Tell me about your journey as a writer

EP: My journey as a writer actually started when I was younger. I wrote my first official novel or novella when I was twelve years [old]. It was called Dark Shadows. Before that, I would use stories from the Sweet Valley High series and Babysitters Club as ‘inspiration’ for my novels. I put inspiration in quotes because my sister always accused me of copying the stories and I would get upset. It led to a lot of sibling squabbling. Anyway these novels inspired me and tickled my imagination. I never took writing seriously as a medium for reaching people until a light bulb went off in my head in medical school and I began writing again. I realized the imagination I had should not be dismissed as childish but that it was a gift from God.

Q: Why was writing this book so important to you?

EP: It was important because I believe God placed it in my heart to write it. I felt He has a plan and purpose for the series so I am going to obey him to the best of my abilities.

Q: Tell us a little about your life now?

EP: My life now is in transition. I just published my novel and now I am starting medical residency in Virginia so I also have to move to a new city. I am excited about all the changes in my life and I am looking forward to starting a new chapter of life.

Check out the synopsis for Still below and buy it today.

A broken soul,

an alcoholic,

a certifiable genius,

a Christian man

and a secret that will destroy the bonds of their friendship.

When self-proclaimed atheist Fadesola, gets into medical school she believes that it’s a fresh start of sorts for her. Until she discovers her class mate is charming and handsome Tayo Smith, a man she encountered in a violent moment years ago. This revelation shatters Fadesola’s already fragile emotional state but hope comes where she least expects it. A seemingly innocent friendship with Tayo’s friend, Ladi, slowly develops into a smoldering relationship with both afraid to acknowledge their mutual feelings. Things get even more complicated when Nikky, Fadesola’s classmate and friend, ignores her desperate warnings and decides that Tayo is the man she is meant to be with. However, within the complexities of this friendship these flawed individuals will experience God’s redemptive grace in a setting each believed his love would never find them. Still, the first book of a four part series is a coming of age story about navigating through medical school in the first year, complete with hilarious hook ups and breaks ups, legendary parties and incessant studying, and experiencing the triumph of success and disappointment of failure.

Also to celebrate the release of her novel, Eniola is hosting a raffle. You can win a signed copy of the novel, a mystery gift, and a $40 Amazon Gift Card. Click here to enter.

Book Review: The Immortal Rules

Posted on May 31, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my Dystopia Book Challenge*

In her newest saga, Julie Kagawa transitions from writing about fairies to writing about vampires. I must say I enjoy the vampires much more.

Kagawa combines the YA obsession with vampires and their obsession for dystopias in The Immortal Rules. As with all dystopias, this novel takes place many years into the future when everything has fallen apart. In Kagawa’s world a disease has wiped out must of the human and vampire population, either killing them or turning them into rabids (blood thirsty creatures that are very hard to stop). This disease gave vampires the power to come out of the shadows and take over, making humans basically their slaves.

Allison “Allie” Sekemoto, the protagonist, lives in the Fringe, the most outer part of her city. Because she refuses to be conform to the vampires rules and allow them to take pints of her blood to feed, she is not allowed in the inner city and must scour for food, along with her crew. Allie hates the vampires and everything they stand for, that is until she’s given the chose between dying and becoming one.

Choosing to live (well, sort of), Allie becomes the one thing she’s always hated most and now has to deal with the consequences. Trying to keep a hold onto her humanity and not turn into one of the monsters she’s always feared, turns out to be a bit more complicated than she expected. Especially when she begins to pretend to be human to fit in with a rag team group of humans she finds outside the city walls. Caught between accepting who she’s now become and trying to remain the girl she always was, Allie begins to realize everything isn’t so black and white between the humans and vampires and if they could figure out a way to work together they might be able to find the cure to the disease that is decimating both of their species.

At first I was a little nervous to try another series by Kagawa. I wasn’t a big fan of the Iron Fey series so I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, because I got this book from the library I figured, why not? I was happily surprised.

Allie is such an interesting character. Having to fight her whole life to survive she’s never been one to keep people close. Instead, she’s fearful to let people in too much because she know anyone in her crew could die in an instant. Ironically, it’s not until after she becomes a vampire and starts falling for a human that she learns more about compassion, beginning to take risks for other people and putting others before herself.

Although there is a classic romance plot, it wasn’t a boring one. The relationship between Allie and Zeke, the second in command of the human group Allie joins, is so very complicated. Between the secrets they are both keeping from each other, the fact that one’s a vampire and the other’s a human, and that they are complete opposites emotionally, makes for an interesting love story.

Even so, what kept me hooked wasn’t just the regular “girl meets boy and falls in love” relationship. It was instead Allie’s relationship with her the vamp who turned her and saved her, Kanin, who constantly argues against holding onto one’s humanity but continues to show compassion towards Allie. Allie and Kanin, along with another vampire Kanin turned, are all connected and that three-way bond is both helpful and a hindrance to Allie.

I’m excited to know what happens next in the series and see how Allie handles all the challenges she now faces.

Favorite Line: “The closer you got to someone, the more it would destroy you when they were inevitably gone.”

Stars: 5 out of 5. I loved it. I really liked Allie and Zeke, as well as all the characters. I either actually liked them or loved to hate them. Kagawa did a good job of showing different sides to every character, making it very difficult to decide who’s side I was on.

Borrow or Buy: Borrow. As much as I loved this book I can’t see myself rereading it.

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Book Review: Revenge of the Girl With the Great Personality

Posted on May 21, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

I first fell in love with Elizabeth Eulberg’s writing when I read The Lonely Hearts Club a while back. I hadn’t read anything else by her since then until I picked up this book while I was at the Only Everything release party. I’m so glad I’ve gotten back into her novels because this one was a goodie that I enjoyed on my bus ride back from that awesome event.

The novel centers around Lexi, a girl that isn’t known for her looks but instead for her “great personality”. Though this could be seen as a compliment it’s often not taken that way because even though someone’s trying to be nice what they’re really saying is they don’t find you attractive but they think you’re a nice person. Ouch.

To add insult to injury Lexi’s little sister, Mackenzie, is a part of the pageant scene and seems to be all their mother cares about as she spends all their money on Mackenzie’s pageants, making sure she looks perfect. Well Lexi is sick of it. She’s tired of not being seen as one of the pretty girls. She hates that her long time crush, Logan, has never even considered her “that way” and only sees her as a good friend. Lexi is ready to break the “great personality” mold and step out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

What’s great about this novel is Lexi’s overall growth as a person. As Lexi becomes more and more into her makeover she begins to realize she likes dressing up and that maybe she shouldn’t be too quick to judge people. However, she also learns that it’s not all about looks and that having a “great personality” isn’t a bad thing. Additionally, she also gains the confidence she needs to start sticking up for herself and making the right choices for herself.

It’s rare that I read a book where I’m on the main character’s side for the whole book. Although there were definitely times when I said, “Lexi what are you doing??,” for the majority of the novel I loved Lexi. She’s this amazing girl who just wants this hot guy to notice her and her mother to care about her. Lexi wants what any teen would: to be noticed. I could relate and I think this book presents a great message about what makes someone truly beautiful without being preachy. I loved it and definitely recommend it.

Favorite Line: “So I can take off the makeup, but I’m still a good person. But there’s no such thing as bitch remover.”

Stars: 4 out of 5. As much as I loved this book it’s not one that I think I’ll reread over and over again. It was good but it wasn’t OMG, ah-mazing good.

Borrow or Buy: Buy. I still love this book and even though I’m not sure I’ll ever reread it I’m glad I have my own copy of it. Plus my copy is signed.

Other Reviews:

Chick Loves Lit

The Book Addict’s Guide

The Book Cellar

Bookish Ardour’s Dystopia Challenge 2014

Posted on May 20, 2014December 24, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Books

I’ve never participated in a book challenge before (which is crazy since I read so much). However, I’m really excited to join this one because I read dystopias on a regular basis and it’s probably my favorite genre of fiction.

The idea of the challenge is to read a certain number of books in this category within the year. I’m willing to include books I’ve already read this year so I’ve decided to try for the Contagion level of reading 15 dystopian books this year. Whoa.

Bookish Ardour apparently does this every year and I’m really excited to join in for the first time (even if it is almost half way through the year). I’ll be doing reviews on each book I read and I’ll indicate if it’s book I read as part of the challenge. Below is the list of books I’ve either already read this year or plan to read as part of the challenge. Feel free to join me on this reading adventure.

The List:

1. The One by Kiera Cass

2. Frozen by Melissa De La Cruz and Michael Johnston

3. Divergent by Veronica Roth

4. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

5. Allegiant by Veronica Roth

6. The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

7. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

8. Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

9. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

10. The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

11. The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa