Book Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Book Series: Pushing the Limits, Book #2
Author: Katie McGarry
Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, YA
Format: Audiobook (Audible)
Narrator: Christopher Gebauer & Brittany Pressley
Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins

My Ranking:

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! Usually, I am not a fan of  dual narrations. Two much like a yo-yo, bouncing between two sets of personalities, two different takes on a story and so on. But, not so with this book. I feel like both Beth and Ryan are honest narrators. They react how they react and talk about there regrets and vulnerabilities openly and honestly, no matter what they are. And even through they're not that alike, it didn't feel like I was going up and down on a string. As a matter of fact, it never has with this series and that's what I  love most about McGarry's writing style. Her characters are unique and different, their accounts of how life plays out feels amazingly authentic and real. All of her characters become even better the more their flaws are exposed and that's a truly beautiful thing. What's surprising is that if I had to pick a character that I liked more, in either book, I would have gone for the male lead in both. Noah and Ryan are amazing. Nothing against Echo or Beth, but i prefer them.

What I most appreciate about McGarry's works is that she has a special talent for capturing the essence of the pressures of family, and exploring the dynamics in brutally honest and often devastating ways. No matter what, we are damaged by our families. Okay, maybe damaged is too strong of a word. Rather it's like your family leaves a sticky residue on your skin that exists always. Whether it's failed expectations, abandon hopes, disappointments, physical pain or hurt feelings they've given you, it's something you can never shake - it's always there. And no matter how hard you try to change yourself to shed it, it never really goes away. On the flip side, you give what you get. You hurt them too, leave your residue on them. Family is who you love and hurt the most... sucks.

While reading this book, I felt that Beth's residue was anger. It was her very special friend. Something she can whip out and use against the world. And it's a sad thing. Because when there's no one left to unleash that hurt and anger onto it turns inward. Corroding your happiness, or "lightness" as she called it. But I can understand where all the anger and resentment comes from because the accounts on the relationship between Beth and her mother are heartbreaking. And for Ryan, it was the pressure to be the perfect son. Exactly who is parents wanted him to be and to hell with his own wishes.

Also, After reading Book #1 and realizing that Beth had a deep secret in her past like Echo's, I prepared for the worse. Because Echo's was 10 kinds of f***ed up. Well, this one delivered again and ... damn. Just damn. It's heartbreaking.

One last comment is that, as a sports fan, I loved Ryan's reflections on baseball. So perfect!

Will I be progressing to the next book? Most definitely! This is definitely a favorite series, no doubt.

I think that both of the narrators did fantastic jobs. I preferred Christopher's narration a bit more. Could have been because I liked Ryan more as a character. But - I think both narrators connected with the characters and performed flawlessly. I will now be stalking both on Audible....

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases. Click the link to participate.

MY PICK THIS WEEK (and it's a looooooong wait):

Book Title: Shield of Winter
Author: Nalini Singh
Book Series: Psy-Changeling, Book 13
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: June 4, 2014

Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he’s done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch—if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life.

For if the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake…

Having rebuilt her life after medical “treatment” that violated her mind and sought to stifle her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she'll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption. But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy’s fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness…

This series was the first Urban Fantasy series that I read, and it continues to be much beloved. Nalini Singh is beyond talented. This world is so rich, full of amazing characters and a unique, bad-ass plot. I could go on and on about how great it and she is, but check it out for yourself. Slave to Sensation is the first book.

Book Review: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Book Series: The Testing, Book #1
Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Genres: Dystopian, YA
Format: eBook
Length: 336 Pages

My Ranking:

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

I completely devoured this book. I had been hearing the good reviews for weeks, so I thought I'd try it out. Richly deserved; this book is stellar!

After reading the first chapter, I knew I was going to love this book. The suspense starts immediately as Cia is chosen for The Testing. The intrigue builds as her father reveals some disturbing memories of his experience and warns her to "trust no one." I was hooked!

Then, of course, there is Cia and my first impression of her is strong, capable, observant and adaptable. Perfect for a heroine in this type of dystopian society. It would be easy to assume she's a Katniss Everdeen character and this is a nod to The Hunger Games, but there is something different about this story. It felt more sinister. The feeling of "there is something creepy beneath the surface" immediately clenches in your gut and never eases - it just continues to grow as Cia learns more and more about what she's been thrown into.

The more I read the more intense and sinister the book got. It was like there was this scary monster that you could just see over your shoulder that got bigger and bigger with every flip of the page. It made for an amazing read.

It wouldn't be right for me to go into too much detail about this book. It's something you have to experience for yourself. It's just freaking amazing. I am lying here at 4 a.m. having just finished and also, yes, having to go to work in a few hours but it just grabbed me and wouldn't let me go.

I don't think this is the authors first book or series, so I will definitely be checking out more from her. I already downloaded the novella, so expect a review from that as well before the week is over. This book was a fantastic first for a series and had all the elements that I love: well-developed characters; a strong female lead with a conscious; a unique voice; a gripping plot; and fantastic pacing from start to finish!

Book Review: White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland

Book Series: White Trash Zombie, Book #3
Author: Diana Rowland
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Format: Audiobook (Amazon)
Narrator: Allison McLemore
Length: 09 hrs and 30 mins

My Ranking:

Our favorite white trash zombie, Angel Crawford, has enough problems of her own, what with dealing with her alcoholic, deadbeat dad, issues with her not-quite boyfriend, the zombie mafia, industrial espionage and evil corporations. Oh, and it’s raining, and won’t let up.

But things get even crazier when a zombie movie starts filming in town, and Angel begins to suspect that it’s not just the plot of the movie that's rotten. Soon she's fighting her way through mud, blood, bullets and intrigue, even as zombies, both real and fake, prowl the streets.

Angel’s been through more than her share of crap, but this time she’s in way over her head. She’ll need plenty of brainpower to fit all the pieces—and body parts—together in order to save herself, her town, and quite possibly the human race.

I enjoy this series a lot. I think that Rowland's take on Zombies is genius and love her interpretation so much more than the typical rotting, shuffling, brainless variety of zombie. I tend to stay away from those types of books. I think this is part of why I appreciate this series so much. There's a real explanation for Rowland's zombies and I find the scientific tidbits that delve into the nature and nurture of the zombie parasite very interesting.

That said, I wasn't too sure of this book when I first started it because there was a lot going on ... .almost too much. So much so that through the first half of the book, I found the plot to be a jumbled mess. There's the Zombie Apocalypse movie, Angel's job at the coroners office, her looming GED test, Angel's "zombie mama" drama, the zombie mafia and corporate espionage, and  even more ... it was a lot to experience. I often found myself wondering where this story was going to end up.

But, by the end, it felt like Rowland had build a stable enough bridge - dragging across that big-ass plot - and tied up all loose ends satisfactorily. Overall, I felt that the book started with us seeing the last of Angel's super white trash past and ended with us seeing Angel take her first steps into her future as the better zombie version of her self. i really appreciated her journey, and also that Rowland took the whole book to jump forward into the future with Angel and the gang instead of just smacking me in the face with "6 months have past and this is what happened" opening chapter.

Speaking of her gang - I really love all of the supporting characters in this book. I think that is part of what makes this story so interesting. All of the characters are pretty well developed - I really like Brian. I think in this book, Angel finds her place among new and old friends and her new zombified life. I dug it.

Also, I enjoyed how this book delved deeper into Pietro's operation and the "zombie corporate rivalry" was in full force. I found all of those bits and pieces most interesting, and think that this will definitely help the story move along leaps and bounds as Angel gets further entangled in that web.

I will definitely be carrying on with this series.

I think Allison does an amazing job with this series. She brings so much energy, life and enthusiasm to Angel; I was surprised that her "typical narration" voice sounds more like the more serious characters in the story. If I had to single someone out, I'd say she sounds most like her portrayal of Brian. That said, I think she brings just the right amount of spunk and sass to Angel and it makes for a very enjoyable read every time!

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Avalon by Mindee Arnett

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases. Click the link to participate.

MY PICK THIS WEEK:

Book Title: Avalon
Author: Mindee Arnett
Book Series: Avalon, Book 1
Genres: YA, Science Fiction
Release Date: January 21, 2014

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.

Kudos to whoever was wise enough to compare this book to a much beloved television series of mine, Firefly. Now, I HAVE to read it. That ridiculous cancellation left a hole in my heart that has never been filled.

However, the cover alone would have enticed me to give it a go. Very badass. Also, story sounds amazing. It's close enough to Dystopian to pique my interest but far away for me to really get excited because the genre is starting to get a bit repetitive. Also, I like the name Jeth. Overall, I'm definitely intrigued.

Reading Challenge: 100 Books In A Year 2014

Next year, I will be participating in Book Chick City's 100 Books in a Year Challenge 2014! This will be my very first challenge for my blog, so I'm very excited. If you'd like to participate, click here.

Below are the books I'm eagerly awaiting with release dates in 2014. I will hyperlink to my review blog posts as I progress. 

MY PROGRESS:

1. The Candidates (Delcroix Academy, Book #1) by Inara Scott
2. Crash Into You (Pushing The Limits, Book #3) by Katie McGarry
3. Allegiant (Divergent, Book #3) by Veronica Roth

2014 MUST-READ LIST:

• Skin Game (The Dresden Files #15) by Jim Butcher
• Shield of Winter (Psy-Changeling #13) by Nalini Singh
• Hillbilly Rockstar (Blacktop Cowboys #6) by Lorelei James
• Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi
• Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
• Avalon (Avalon #1) by Mindee Arnett
• Unhinged (Splintered, #2) by A.G. Howard
• Cemetery Girl: The Pretenders (The Cemetery Girl Trilogy, #1) by Charlaine Harris & Christopher Golden
• The Fifty-Seven Lives of Alex Wayfare (Alex Wayfare #1) by M.G. Buehrlen
• The Iron Trial (Magisterium, #1) by Cassandra Clare

Book Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Book Series: Shatter Me, Book #2
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Genres: YA, Dystopian
Format: Audiobook (Audible)
Narrator: Kate Simses
Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

My Ranking:

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

THANK GOD FOR KENJI. Juliette and Adam would have been maddening without them. I was practically cheering when Kenji finally started to chip through Juliette's "issues." I was especially glad when he told her how he really felt about her feelings, and her not helping, and being selfish, self-centered and mopey to no end. She needed that slap in the face.

Warner is like honey. It tastes so good in your mouth. But if you try to swallow too much it can choke you. Try to wash away the taste and it's still there. Coating your tongue, sticking to the rough of your mouth and slowly, slowly sliding town your throat. That's how Juliette experiencing Warner made me feel. It was like Adam was water. Cool, calm, refreshing, and just what you need on a hot summer day. But use water to wash away the taste of honey and it doesn't work. It slides over the honey... mixes and mingles with it. But the residue of honey is still there long after the water dries (Later on, after I've written this ... in or around the infamous Chapter 62, Mafi too, refer to him as honey ... I'm only glad I understand him this well).

Oh man.... Chapter 62. Wow. I don't think any YA novel has ever done that for me. To take you so close to the edge with the character. To almost feel what they're feeling. The pleasure, the apprehension, the nerves the action. Only this time, there actually wasn't "action". It was the building of the storm and it was exquisite. How can Juliette not feel anything for Warner. But then her stupid, stupid mind floats back to feelings of Adam and it's over before it's truly begun...

I don't think Juliette ever truly loved Adam. Or, I don't think Adam really, truly loved Juliette. There was this mad desperation and this sense of urgency dripping over everything that they were together. They acted as if they just had to be together without any real substance behind it. It felt too rushed; too forced. And Adam is the most transparent one of all. Kenji and Warner are magnificently layered characters. There's so much to both of them. So much. But Warner. He's the best one of all. Oh god, him with the dog... the dog... my heart broke. And his talks with her talks the "cell". He just gets her.I have always wanted him and Juliette together. It's like he sees the world as a ugly, dark, chaotic mess and he sees himself that way. And then there's a ball of light. Slightly dimmed, a little damaged but beautiful. And he's drawn to it. And he studies it, worships it, respects it, and doesn't want to change it. He just wants to help it glow... that I can believe in. Not Kent... not for me. I like how he calls her "love."

His dad is an evil jerk... Mr. Anderson... the tool.

Had I not already bought the next audiobook I doubt I would have continued the book. It's beautifully stylized, but underneath it all, there's not that much there.

I talk less about Juliette, because she kind of bugs me. I don't get her. She's always saying how she's changed, she's changed. I don't completely believe her declaration at the end. But I will be happy to be proved wrong in the next chapter, so to speak. Although that last line "Mass chaos is in my future... and I'm leaving my gloves behind." Damn, I like that!

Okay, this book I loved! I complained a lot about Shatter Me. But this book makes the story more complete. I am glad the "over explanation" balanced out. But most of all, I am glad for Warner.

Warner just might be the character, out of every other evil character, that I truly love to hate. He's brutal and he's blunt, and he can be cruel. But he's scarred and he's real and he deserves Juliette's love in the end. I think she knows that... I hope she knows that. And if she doesn't... I will love him for her.

Kate Simses portrays a brilliant narration of this world, these characters. And her interpretation of Warner continues to fascination me. His words ooze from her lips with this deliberately slow, seductive cadence that has underlining robotic, dissociative quality that's just like ... wow.

Book Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Book Series: Shatter Me, Book #1
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Genres: YA, Dystopian
Format: Audiobook (Audible)
Narrator: Kate Simses
Length: 09 hrs and 12 mins

My Ranking:

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

With the first few sentences, your immersed in a world with texture, color, scents and sounds. Every moment is full; every thought, fully realized. I've never read a book like this before. Mafi sets each scene so completely it's almost too much. It's like a sensory overload; I can feel, see, touch and taste everything that's described to such fine detail. The experience is unique and delicious.

However, after getting 75% through the story, the detailed descriptions began to really, really ... really aggravate me. The best part and the worst part about the book is the imagery and the over examination of everything Juliette is feeling. It's beautiful but distracting. Because as rich and detailed as her experience is, there overall story falters. Since Juliette doesn't know what's happening neither do we. And I am almost done and I haven't learned anything. Nothing of true substance when it comes to the plot or the world were in. This is almost like a character story of Juliette and of Warner.

Ah, Warner. I wanted to hate him. But there is something seductively terrifying about his brand of crazy. He's pretty much devoid of all personality except - to the chagrin of our protagonist - for his fascination with Juliette. And he things he does aren't even as scary as what he says. One of my favorite creepy Warner lines is this - "Inflicting pain, you see, is incredibly efficient method of getting information out of anyone and with you...," he glances at my hands, "well, it's cheap, fast, effective." He smiles wider. "And as long as we keep you alive you'll be good for at least a few decades. its very fortunate that you're not battery operated."

If that isn't cold blooded I don't know, what it is. but still I don't hate him... I'm not quite sure that means that mossy is such a good writer she's created a likable evil, creepy antagonist or or me the sad bastard type of girl who likes guy who who might very well kill them in there sleep. But hey, I guess books for the best place do fancy that type of guy, right?

(Addition after getting past 75 percent) It's almost as if Mafi heard my earlier critique and changed the style of the book. After meeting Adam's brother real life gets pumped into the book. You get a sense of who Adam is, meet funny characters and then, Omega. This is what I have been waiting for. Plot, background, and for Juliette's wall decimating ability to not seem so out-of-left-field, bat-shit crazy. It gets interesting in the last few chapters and why did he epilogue feel so content rich. It's supposed to be a tasty morsel, a little bite of extra pleasure. Not Juliette getting the means to actually lead a "normal life" via the sexy vixen, skin-tight purple catsuit.

Had I not already bought the next audiobook I doubt I would have continued the book. It's beautifully stylized, but underneath it all, there's not that much there.

Kate Simses portrays a brilliant narration of this world, these characters. The repetitive "I am not insane" in almost brought me to tears. The desperation, absolution, and fear were so ingrained into the repetition. And her interpretation of Warner is either responsible for my fascination with him, or she feed him in the same crazy but sexy way as me, which makes me not feel so bad. His words ooze from her lips with this deliberately slow, seductive cadence that has underlining robotic, dissociative quality that's just like ... wow.

Book Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Book Series: Pushing the Limits, Book #1
Author: Katie McGarry
Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Format: Audiobook (Audible)
Narrator: McLeod Andrews & Tara Sands
Length: 11 hrs and 03 mins

My Ranking:

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with freaky scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

This book definitely caught me by surprise. I had reservations; I wasn't expecting the plot to be as developed as it was. No disrespect to McGarry. But thankfully I was extremely wrong. This author delves so deep into her characters and puts everything on display. Even her secondary characters. That's what makes the story beautiful. I could explain what exactly I mean but I think it would take away from the experience. Read it for yourself. It's amazing.

Noah was my favorite character in this book. It was easy to see how Echo fell in love with him - or rather why. I loved how he didn't even see her scars. He just saw Echo. His siren.

There love story was so romantic. It was modern but sweet and real. Loved it. I really liked Echo too. It was strange but I liked her more from Noah's perspective than from her own. She felt more sure of herself. Or maybe that's just how he saw her. Probably a testament to McGarry's writing style.

Oh my god... her mother. What a monster. I wasn't expecting her to be an actual monster. But she was still - after all that time - quite frightening. I'm glad that Echo got her closure. I'm also glad that Echo finally understood her father and where he was coming from. She easily could have stayed bitter.

McLeod Andrews is also a brilliant narrator. I felt like he really got into the core of Noah and made me connect with him that much more. Tara Sands also gave a great performance.

Book Review: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Book Series: Night Huntress, Book #1
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Genres: Urban Fantasty, Paranormal
Format: Audiobook (Audible)
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

My Ranking

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unlikely partnership.

In exchange for help finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner…are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon, Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side...and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

I must admit this was an interesting one. It was kind of a slow start. Very slow... then it got good. Really good. By the end, I wanted to kick Cat for her stupidity and was laughing along with her snarky humor. Which translates to me liking her - and the story - very much. It took me a long time to get fully engrossed. But I did.

Bones is a great character. I love his personality. He's a vampire bounty hunter who's not afraid to kill things and is not apologetic. In fact, he'd laugh in your face if you asked him too. THATS how i like my vampires. Sexy, dangerous, sarcastic - and unapologetic for who they are. Plus he fully accepts and supports Cat which is awesome.

Her mother is such a 'effing bitch! I really, really, really, hate her. Explaining why would spoil to much. But, ugh! Hate hate hate!

Tavia Gilbert is the perfect narrator for this series because her Cockney accent for Bones is amazing! 'nuff said.

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Book Series: Divergent, Book #1
Author: Veronica Roth
Genres: Dystopian, YA
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Emma Galvin
Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

My Ranking:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

I loved this book! The world building was pretty mazing. I thought that the faction system was really interesting. How these people had to pick an aspect of themselves and live there lives that according to that one trait. To be always brave, always honest, always peaceful, always selfless or always intelligent; that's asking for so much. And especially the way that the initiation system is run. To choose to stay with the faction/family that you're born into, or to abandon everything you've known to become the person you really are, or at least the person you believe you are inside. And for that choice to be public. To have to stand in front of your entire community and denounce your family, friends and your whole world. The consequences are pretty dire because that choice isn't even the most difficult thing you'll have to do. You then have to prove yourself worthy to your new faction. And if you don't, you become one of the factionless - you become no one, nothing.

I loved Tris so much. It's great that she was such a strong character but was vulnerable, too. There was a realness to her that sometimes is lacking with this type of voice. I think that Tris was a great character because she had the courage to defy expectations and be the person she thought she was. In a society where your life is determined by one guiding principle, you can only imagine how hard her choice was.

The relationship between Tris and Four was pretty amazing. I really enjoyed their chemistry. I believed in the sincerity of their feelings. This was a very volatile world these two characters were thrown into and for them to fall for each other amid the chaos was pretty remarkable. I do believe in the authenticity of their relationship. I don't believe it was a case of circumstance. I believe that if Tris and Four knew found other in Abnegation they still would have had a chance. I hope they last.

An excellent start to the series. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the story and characters. Tris is someone that I can both admire and root for. I love a strong heroine. Can't wait for the next one!

This audiobook is how I discovered the awesomeness that is Emma Galvin. She brought Tris to life in such an excellent was. There's such conviction in her voice. Her pacing was perfect; she propelled the story forward with the intensity of her tone. I really felt like I was right there, experiencing everything alongside Tris. It was thrilling and I loved every second of it!

Emma is a phenomenal voice actress and my absolute favorite. She's brings her characters to life effortlessly and can capture even the tiniest emotion with her vocal inflection. I have have almost finished every audiobook she's ever read. Yes, she's that good. And if you don't agree, don't even bother saying so. You can't convince me otherwise!